No, but yesterday I pretty near got scared. There came a man with a big bag under his arm. I didn't know him at first, but it was only Arnes.

_Gudfinna._

And what did he want of you?

_The Boy._

He asked me to show him the way to a spring. He was thirsty.

_Gudfinna._

You had better not have too much talk with him. (_Hands him the shoes._) There! Now they will last till to-morrow anyway. (_Kneels down, pulls out a box, and examines its contents._)

_Enter Halla from her chamber._

_Halla._

It is time for the sheep to be milked.

_The Boy._

I am going now to drive them home. I was waiting for my shoes.

_Halla._

Have you seen anything of the cows to-day?

_The Boy._

No. (_To Oddny._) When I get rich I'll give you a cow's tail to tie up your plaits with.

_Oddny._

Hold your tongue!

[_Exit the Boy._

_Halla (smiling)._

I heard him teasing you a while ago.

_Oddny._

He's forever pestering me about Kari-- as if I cared!

_Halla (with a little laugh)._

Well, Sigrid doesn't take such good care of Magnus's clothes as you of Kari's. [_Exit._

_Oddny (is silent for a moment and looks at the door)._

If I were a widow and owned a farm, the men would be noticing me too, even if I had been nothing but a poor orphan servant girl before I married-- like some others.

_Gudfinna (rising, a pair of stockings in her hand)._

What are you talking about? (_Pushes the box under the bed._)

_Oddny._

Do you know who was Halla's father?

_Gudfinna._

That is what no one seems to know. Some would have it that he was a parson. (_She darns the stockings._)

_Oddny._

Yes, or a vagabond. There were also some ugly whispers about a stain on her birth.

_Gudfinna._

You'd better bridle your tongue!

_Oddny._

I am not so dull as you imagine. When Halla thinks no one is looking, she doesn't take her eyes from Kari. And she has made him overseer; that seems queer to others besides me. Last Sunday at church some one asked me if there was anything between the widow and the "overseer."

_Gudfinna._

And what did you say?

_Oddny._

I told them that it was quite possible Halla had her lines out for him, but that I did not think Kari would swallow the fly, even if it had gold on its wings.

_Gudfinna._

Much good it did you, the gospel you heard in church! I am sorry for you, poor girl! You are crazy about a man who has neither eye nor ear for you, but that is no reason why you should be running around spreading gossip. Halla is not the kind of woman that is fond of men.

There was never a harsh word between her and her husband, G.o.d rest his soul, but there was not much love-making between them either. No, indeed!

_Oddny._

Well, what of that! He was a man up in years and had a fine farm.

_Gudfinna._

He was an upright and honest man, and Halla made him a good wife, my dear.