"Oh, mother, you cannot do that—but I will tell you. I saw some one there who would have been the right one, but she was the wrong one."
"For heaven's sake! You did not fall in love with a married woman?"
"No, but still she was the wrong one. Why should I make many words about it? She was a servant-girl."
The son drew a deep breath, and for some time both he and his mother were silent. At last the mother laid her hand on his shoulder, and said:
"Oh, you are good! And I thank God that He has made you so. You did well to put that out of your mind. Your father would never have consented to it, and you know what a father's blessing means."
"No, mother, I will not make myself out better than I am. I myself was annoyed that she was only a servant; I knew it would not do, and therefore I went away. But it is even harder than I expected to get her out of my mind—but now it's over, it must be over. I have promised myself not to make any inquiries about her, not to ask anybody where she is, or who she is, and, God willing, I shall bring you home a worthy farmer's daughter."
"Surely you acted fairly by the girl, and did not put any foolish notions into her head?"
"Mother, there's my hand—I have nothing to reproach myself for."
"I believe you," said the mother, and she pressed his hand repeatedly.
"And now, good luck, and my blessing go with you!"
The son mounted his horse, and his mother looked after him. But suddenly she called out again: