Part 12 (1/2)

”But they said they didn't want you!” she broke out, her face quivering.

”Yes, but now they want me--you see, I've to help with the little ones,” answered Ditte proudly, gathering her possessions together and putting them on the table. Each time she put a thing down was like a stab to the old woman; then she would comfort and stroke Granny's shaking hand, which was nothing but blue veins. Maren sat dumbly knitting; her face was strangely set and dead-looking.

”Of course I'll come home and see you; but then you must take it sensibly. Can't you understand that I couldn't stay with you always?

I'll bring some coffee when I come, and we'll have a lovely time.

But you must promise not to cry, 'cause your eyes can't stand it.”

Ditte stood talking in a would-be wise voice, as she tied up her things.

”And now I must go, or I shan't get there till night, and then mother will be angry.” She said the word ”mother” with a certain reverence as if it swept away all objections. ”Good-by, dear, _dear_ Granny!” She kissed the old woman's cheek and hurried off with her bundle.

As soon as the door had closed on her Maren began crying, and calling for her; in a monotonous undertone she poured out all her troubles, sorrow and want and longing for death. She had had so many heavy burdens and had barely finished with one when another appeared. Her hards.h.i.+ps had cut deeply--most of them; and it did her good to live through them again and again. She went on for some time, and would have gone on still longer had she not suddenly felt two arms round her neck and a wet cheek against her own. It was the mischievous child, who had returned, saying that after all she was not leaving her.

Ditte had gone some distance, as far as the baker's, who wondered where she was going with the big parcel and stopped her. Her explanation, that she was going home to her parents, they refused to believe; her father had said nothing about it when the baker had met him at the market the day before, indeed he had sent his love to them. Ditte stood perplexed on hearing all this. A sudden doubt flashed through her mind; she turned round with a jerk--quick as she was in all her movements--and set off home for the hut on the Naze.

How it had all happened she did not bother to think, such was her relief at being allowed to return to Granny.

Granny laughed and cried at the same time, asked questions and could make no sense of it.

”Aren't you going at all, then?” she broke out, thanking G.o.d, and hardly able to believe it.

”Of course I'm not going. Haven't I just told you, the baker said I wasn't to.”

”Ay, the baker, the baker--what's he got to do with it? You'd got the message to go.”

Ditte was busily poking her nose into Granny's cheek.

Maren lifted her head: ”Hadn't you, child? Answer me!”

”I don't know, Granny,” said Ditte, hiding her face against her.

Granny held her at an arm's length: ”Then you've been playing tricks, you bad girl! Shame on you, to treat my poor old heart like this.” Maren began sobbing again and could not stop; it had all come so unexpectedly. If only one could get to the bottom of it; but the child had declared that she had not told a lie. She was quite certain of having had the message, and was grieved at Granny not believing her. She never told an untruth when it came to the point, so after all must have had the message. On the other side the child herself said that she was not going--although the baker's counter orders carried no authority. They had simply stopped her, because her expedition seemed so extraordinary. It was beyond Maren--unless the child had imagined it all.

Ditte kept close to the old woman, constantly taking hold of her chin. ”Now I know how sorry you'll be to lose me altogether,” she said quietly.

Maren raised her face: ”Do you think you'll soon be called away?”

Ditte shook her head so vehemently that Granny felt it.

Old Maren was deep in thought; she had known before that the child understood, that it was bound to come.

”Whatever it may be,” said she after a few moments, ”you've behaved like the great man I once read about, who rehea.r.s.ed his own funeral--with four black horses, hea.r.s.e and everything. All his servants had to pretend they were the procession, dressed in black, they had even to cry. He himself was watching from an attic window, and when he saw the servants laughing behind their handkerchiefs instead of crying, he took it so to heart that he died. 'Tis dangerous for folks to make fun of their own pa.s.sing away--wherever they may be going!”

”I wasn't making fun, Granny,” Ditte a.s.sured her again.

From that day Maren went in daily dread of the child being claimed by her parents. ”My ears are burning,” she often said, ”maybe 'tis your mother talking of us.”

Sorine certainly did talk of them in those days. Ditte was now old enough to make herself useful; her mother would not mind having her home to look after the little ones. ”She's nearly nine years old now and we'll have to take her sooner or later,” she explained.

Lars Peter demurred; he thought it was a shame to take her from Granny. ”Let's take them both then,” said he.