"Ah!" said grandmother, who was watching her. "Then must you wear my old cloth slippers," which were better, though they would come off continually.
"Now bring me my big scissors, that I may cut off this troublesome hair," cried Dame Ingeborg. "I do not like that long mane; Olga's head is far neater!"
And, in spite of poor Hansa's entreaties, all her long, beautiful, shining locks were cut short off.
But Hansa proved herself a merry little maid, who, after all, did not care for such trifles. Besides, this, she was so helpful in straining the milk, preparing the breakfast, and bringing fresh twigs for the beds, that Dame Ingeborg quite relented toward her, and said:
"You are very nice indeed—for a Lapp child. If you could only spin, I'd really like to keep you."
Then Hansa moved quickly toward the great spinning-wheel which stood near the open door, and, before a word could be spoken, began to spin so swiftly, yet carefully, that grandmother, in her surprise, forgot to say "Ah," but kissed the clever little maid instead.
"She'll be proud," said the boys, "because she is so wise. Let us go by ourselves and play,"—and away they ran.
"Come," said Olga to Hansa; "though they have run away, they will not be happy without us,"—which wise remark showed that she knew boys pretty well; and the two little maids went hand in hand, and sat down beside the boys.
"We have no room for two girls here," said Olaf, and he gave poor Hansa a very rough push.
"What can you do to make us like you?" said Erik.