“This must be the way folks feel who live in Paradise,” said a youth, looking very solemn.

After the singing there were fireworks, and when the rockets went up into the indigo night-sky and broke into showers of red, blue, and yellow stars, Jan was so carried away that for the moment he forgot about Glory Goldie.  When he came back to himself she was gone.

“It can’t be helped now,” thought Jan.  “I only hope all will go well with her, as usual, and that Superintendent Soederlind or any of the other watchers won’t lay hands on her.”

It would have been futile for Jan to try to find her out in the big, dark orchard:  he knew that the sensible thing for him to do was to remain where he was, and wait for her.  And he did not have to wait very long!  There was one more song; the last strains had hardly died away when he saw Superintendent Soederlind come up, with Glory Goldie in his arms.

Lieutenant Liljecrona was standing with a little group of gentlemen at the top of the steps, listening to the singing, when Superintendent Soederlind stopped in front of him and set the little girl down on the ground.

Glory Goldie did not scream or try to run away.  She had picked her apron full of apples and thought of nothing save to hold it up securely, so that none of the apples would roll out.

“This youngster has been up in an apple tree,” said Superintendent Soederlind, “and your orders were that if I caught any apple thieves I was to bring them to you.”

Lieutenant Liljecrona glanced down at the little girl, and the fine wrinkles round his eyes began to twitch.  It was impossible to tell whether he was going to laugh or cry in a second.  He had intended to administer a sharp reprimand to the one who had stolen his apples.  But now when he saw the little girl tighten her hands round her apron, he felt sorry for her.  Only he was puzzled to know how he should manage this thing so that she could keep her apples; for if he were to let her off without further ado, it might result in his having his whole orchard stripped.

“So you’ve been up in the apple trees, have you?” said the lieutenant.  “You have gone to school and read about Adam and Eve, so you ought to know how dangerous it is to steal apples.”

At that moment Jan came forward and placed himself beside his daughter; he felt quite put out with her for having spoiled his pleasure, but of course he had to stand by her.

“Don’t do anything to the little girl, Lieutenant!” he said.  “For it was I who gave her leave to climb the tree for the apples.”

Glory Goldie sent her father a withering glance, and broke her silence.  “That isn’t true,” she declared.  “I wanted the apples.  Father has been standing here the whole evening holding onto my hand so I shouldn’t go pick any.”

Now the lieutenant was tickled.  “Good for you, my girl!” said he.  “You did right in not letting your father shoulder the blame.  I suppose you know that when Our Lord was so angry at Adam and Eve it wasn’t because they had stolen an apple, but because they were cowards and tried to shift the blame, the one onto the other.  You may go now, and you can keep your apples because you were not afraid to tell the truth.”