"They'll go on till midnight and never get home to-night," whispered Helga, as she slipped out with Oscar.
On returning to the farm they found people striking tents and leading horses from the crowded horsefold to prepare for the return journey.
"I'm afraid I'm too tired to go back to-night," said Helga.
"Then stay--stay by all means," said Oscar.
"And you?" asked Helga.
"I must go home in any case--there's Thora," said Oscar.
"Your mother will look after her," said Helga.
But Oscar shook his head, and ordered Gudrun, the housekeeper, to make one of the two guest-rooms ready for Helga.
At that moment some young townspeople were clearing the floor for a dance and they called on Oscar and Helga to lead off with a waltz. They did so with great delight, and when the waltz was finished they joined the round dance which followed it, and then they danced a second and a third waltz, until they were flushed and hot and had to go out to cool.
By this time it was dark, and the people who meant to encamp for the night had lighted fires at the mouths of their tents and were beguiling the hours with various pleasures. One of these was fortune-telling. An old woman, not thought to be overwise, was going from tent to tent, making random shots amid shrieks of laughter.