Ditte, who thought her mother asked out of sympathy, gave full details of the miserable condition that Granny was in. "She's always in bed, and only gets food when any one takes it to her."
"Then she can't last much longer," thought the mother.
At this Ditte began to cry. Then her mother scolded her:
"Stupid girl, there's nothing to cry for. Old folks can't live on forever, being a burden to others. And when Granny dies we'll get a new dwelling-house."
"No, 'cause Granny says, what comes from the house is to be divided equally. And the rest——" Ditte broke off suddenly.
"What rest?" Sörine bent forward with distended nostrils.
But Ditte closed her lips firmly. Granny had strictly forbidden her to mention the subject—and here she had almost let it out.
"Stupid girl! don't you suppose I know you're thinking of the two hundred crowns that was paid for you? What's to be done with it?"
Ditte looked with suspicion at her mother. "I'm to have it," she whispered.
"Then the old woman should let us keep it for you, instead of hanging on to it herself," said Sörine.