All at once a loud snore came from the armchair and a glance and a smile flew back and forth between the two young people; then followed gradually quieter breathing; one might have begun a little conversation, only Hauke did not know how. But as she stretched out her knitting and the birds became visible in their entirety he whispered across the table:
"Where did you learn that, Elke?"
"Learn what?" the girl asked back.
"To knit birds?" asked Hauke.
"Oh, that? From Trien' Jans, out at the dike, she can do all sorts of things; she served here once in my grandfather's time."
"But you weren't born then, were you?" asked Hauke.
"No, I hardly think I was; but she often came to the house afterwards."
"Is she so fond of birds? I thought she only liked cats."
Elke shook her head. "She raises ducks, you know, and sells them; but last spring after you killed her Angora, the rats got at the ducks in the back of the duckhouse. Now she wants to build another one at the front of the house."