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down of all the shrill and noisy feelings of the soul。 Up there； in the
heart of the primeval forest； her whole being seemed to herself a
symphony of melodious whispers with a vague delicious sense of
remoteness and mystery in them； which she only felt and did not attempt
to explain。 There； those weird legends which； in former days； still held
their sway in the fancy of every Norsewoman； breathed their secrets into
her ear； and she felt her nearness and kinship to nature； as at no other time。
＇6＇ The saeter is a place in the mountains where the Norwegian
peasants spend their summers pasturing their cattle。 Every large farm has
its own saeter； consisting of one or more chalets； hedged in by a fence of
stone or planks。
One night； as the sun was low； and a purple bluish smoke hung like a
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thin veil over the tops of the forest； Brita had taken out her knitting and
seated herself on a large moss…grown stone； on the croft。 Her eyes
wandered over the broad valley which was stretched out below； and she
could see the red roofs of the Blakstad mansion peeping forth between the
fir…trees。 And she wondered what they were doing down there； whether
Grimhild had done milking； and whether her father had returned from the
ford； where it was his habit at this hour to ride with the footmen to water
the horses。 As she sat thus wondering； she was startled by a creaking in
the dry branches hard by； and lifting her eye； she saw a tall； rather
clumsily built； young man emerging from the thicket。 He had a broad
but low forehead； flaxen hair which hung down over a pair of dull ox…like
eyes； his mouth was rather large and； as it was half open； displayed two
massive rows of shining white teeth。 His red peaked cap hung on the
back of his head and； although it was summer； his thick wadmal vest was
buttoned close up to his throat； over his right arm he had flung his jacket；
and in his hand he held a bridle。
〃Good evening；〃 said Brita； 〃and thanks for last meeting；〃 although
she was not sure that she had ever seen him before。
〃It was that bay mare； you know；〃 stammered the man in a half
apologetic tone； and shook the bridle； as if in further explanation。
〃Ah； you have lost your mare；〃 said the girl； and she could not help
smiling at his helplessness and his awkward manner。
〃Yes； it was the bay mare；〃 answered he； in the same diffident tone；
then； encouraged by her smile； he straightened himself a little and
continued rather more fluently： 〃She never was quite right since the time
the wolves were after her。 And then since they took the colt away from
her the milk has been troubling her； and she hasn't been quite like herself。〃
〃I haven't seen her anywhere hereabouts；〃 said Brita； 〃you may have to
wander far； before you get on the track of her。〃
〃Yes； that is very likely。 And I am tired already。〃
〃Won't you sit down and rest yourself？〃
He deliberately seated himself in the grass； and gradually gained
courage to look her straight in the face； and his dull eye remained
steadfastly fixed on her in a way which bespoke unfeigned surprise and
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admiration。 Slowly his mouth broadened into a smile； but his smile had
more of sadness than of joy in it。 She had； from the moment she saw him；
been possessed of a strangely patronizing feeling toward him。 She could
not but treat him as if he had been a girl or some person inferior to her in
station。 In spite of his large body； the impression he made upon her was
that of weakness； but she liked the sincerity and kindness which expressed
themselves in his sad smile and large； honest blue eyes。 His gaze
reminded her of that of an ox； but it had not only the ox's dullness； but also
its simplicity and good…nature。
They sat talking on for a while about the weather； the cattle； and the
prospects of the crops。
〃What is your name？〃 she asked； at last。
〃Halvard Hedinson Ullern。〃
A sudden shock ran through her at the sound of that name； in the next
moment a deep blush stole over her countenance。
〃And my name；〃 she said； slowly； 〃is Brita Bjarne's daughter
Blakstad。〃
She fixed her eyes upon him； as if to see what effect her words
produced。 But his features wore the same sad and placid expression； and
no line in his face seemed to betray either surprise or ill…will。 Then her
sense of patronage grew into one of sympathy and pity。 〃He must either
be weak…minded or very unhappy；〃 thought she； 〃and what right have I
then to treat him harshly。〃 And she continued her simple； straightforward
talk with the young man； until he； too； grew almost talkative； and the
sadness of his smile began to give way to something which almost
resembled happiness。 She noticed the change and rejoiced。 At last；
when the sun had sunk behind the western mountain tops； she rose and
bade him good… night； in another moment the door of the saeter… cottage
closed behind her； and he heard her bolting it on the inside。 But for a
long time he remained sitting on the grass； and strange thoughts passed
through his head。 He had quite forgotten his bay mare。
The next evening when the milking was done； and the cattle were
gathered within the saeter enclosure； Brita was again sitting on the large
stone； looking out over the valley。 She felt a kind of companionship with
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the people when she saw the smoke whirling up from their chimneys； and
she could guess what they were going to have for supper。 As she sat
there； she again heard a creaking in the branches； and Halvard Ullern
stood again before her； with his jacket on his arm； and the same bridle in
his hand。
〃You have not found your bay mare yet？〃 she exclaimed； laughingly。
〃And you think she is likely to be in this neighborhood？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； 〃and I don't care if she isn't。〃
He spread his jacket on the grass； and sat down on the spot where he
had sat the night before。 Brita looked at him in surprise and remained
silent； she didn't know how to interpret this second visit。
〃You are very handsome；〃 he said； suddenly； with a gravity which left
no doubt as to his sincerity。
〃Do you think so？〃 she answered； with a merry laugh。 He appeared
to her almost a child； and it never entered her mind to feel offended。 On
the contrary； she was not sure but that she felt pleased。
〃I have thought of you ever since yesterday；〃 he continued； with the
same imperturbable manner。 〃And if you were not angry with me； I
thought I would like to look at you once more。 You are so different from
other folks。〃
〃God bless your foolish talk；〃 cried Brita； with a fresh burst of
merriment。 〃No； indeed I am not angry with you； I should just as soon
think of being angry withwith that calf；〃 she added for want of another
comparison。
〃You think I don't know much；〃 he stammered。 〃And I don't。〃 The
sad smile again settled on his countenance。
A feeling of guilt sent the blood throbbing through her veins。 She
saw that she had done him injustice。 He evidently possessed more sense；
or at least a finer instinct； than she had given him credit for。
〃Halvard；〃 she faltered； 〃if I have offended you； I assure you I didn't
mean to do it； and a thousand times I beg your pardon。〃
〃You haven't offended me； Brita；〃 answered he； blushing like a girl。
〃You are the first one who doesn't make me feel that I am not so wise as
other folks。〃
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