Part 37 (1/2)

”I'll stick to Sorine, I tell you,” shouted Lars Peter, thumping his ax into the block. ”Now, you know it.”

The inn-keeper went off, as quietly and kindly as he had come. Jacob the fisherman stood behind the house pointing at him with his gun; it was loaded with salt, he was only waiting for the _word_ to shoot. The inn-keeper looked at him as he pa.s.sed and said, ”Well, are you out with your gun today?” Jacob shuffled out of the way.

The inn-keeper's new order brought sorrow to the little house. It was like losing a mother. What would they do without their house-wife, Ditte, who looked after them all?

Ditte herself took it more quietly. She had always known that sooner or later she would have to go out to service--she was born to it.

And all through her childhood it ran like a crimson thread; she must prepare herself for a future master and mistress. ”Eat, child,”

Granny had said, ”and grow big and strong and able to make the most of yourself when you're out amongst strangers!” And Sorine--when her turn came--had made it a daily saying: ”You'd better behave, or no-one'll have you.” The schoolmaster had interwoven it with his teachings, and the parson involuntarily turned to her when speaking of faithful service. She had performed her daily tasks with the object of becoming a clever servant--and she thought with a mixture of fear and expectation of the great moment when she should enter service in reality.

The time was drawing near. She was sorry, and more so for those at home. For herself--it was something that could not be helped.

She prepared everything as far as possible beforehand, taught sister Else her work, and showed her where everything was kept. She was a thoughtful child, easily managed. It was more difficult with Kristian. Ditte was troubled at the thought of what would happen, when she was not there to keep him in order. Every day she spoke seriously to him.

”You'll have to give up your foolish ways, and running off when you're vexed with any one,” said she. ”Remember, you're the eldest; it'll be your fault if Povl and sister turn out badly! They've n.o.body but you to look to now. And stop teasing old Jacob, it's a shame to do it.”

Kristian promised everything--he had the best will in the world.

Only he could never remember to keep his good resolutions.

There was no need to give Povl advice, he was too small. And good enough as he was. Dear, fat, little fellow! It was strange to think that she was going to leave him; several times during the day Ditte would hug him.

”If only Lars Jensen's widow'll be good to the children--and understand how to manage them!” she said to her father. ”You see, she's never had children of her own. It must be strange after all!”

Lars Peter laughed.

”It'll be all right,” he thought, ”she's a good woman. But we shall miss you sorely.”

”I'm sure you will,” answered Ditte seriously. ”But she's not wasteful--that's one good thing.”

In the evening, when she had done her daily tasks and the children were in bed, Ditte went through drawers and cupboards so as to leave everything in order for her successor. The children's clothes were carefully examined--and the linen; clean paper was put in the drawers and everything tidied up. Ditte lingered over her work: it was like a silent devotion. The child was bidding farewell to her dear troublesome world, feeling grateful even for the toil and trouble they had given her.

When Lars Peter was not out fis.h.i.+ng she would sit beside him under the lamp with some work or other in her hands, and they spoke seriously about the future, giving each other good advice.

”When you get amongst strangers you must listen carefully to everything that's said to you,” Lars Peter would say. ”Nothing vexes folks more than having to say a thing twice. And then you must remember that it doesn't matter so much how you do a thing, as to do it as they like it. They've all got their own ways, and it's hard to get into sometimes.”

”Oh, I'll get on all right,” answered Ditte--rather more bravely than she really felt.

”Ay, you're clever enough for your age, but it's not always that.

You must always show a good-tempered face--whether you feel it or not. It's what's expected from folks that earn their bread.”

”If anything happens, I'll just give them a piece of my mind.”