In truth, a strange difference had developed itself between brother and sister; Damie had a certain begging propensity, and then again the next minute showed a kind of pride; Barefoot, on the other hand, was always good-natured and yielding, but was nevertheless supported by a certain self-respect, which was never detracted from by her willingness to work and oblige.

She now succeeded in pacifying her brother, and said: 

“Look, I have an idea.  But first you must be good, for the coat must not lie on an angry heart.  Farmer Rodel still has in his possession our dear father’s clothes; you are tall now, and they will just fit you.  Now it will give you a good appearance if you arrive at the farm in such respectable clothes; then your fellow-servants will see where you come from, and what worthy parents you had.”

Damie saw that this was sensible, and Barefoot induced old Farmer Rodel—­with considerable difficulty, for he did not want to give up the clothes so soon—­to hand the garments over to Damie.  Barefoot at once took him up to her room and made him put on his father’s coat and vest then and there.  He objected, but when Amrei had set her heart on a thing, it had to be done.  The hat, alone, Damie could not be induced to wear; when he had put on the coat, Amrei laid her hand on his shoulder and said: 

“There, now you are my brother and my father, and now the coat is going to be worn again with a new man in it.  Look, Damie,—­you have there the finest coat of honor in the world; hold it in honor, and be as worthy and honest in it as our dear father was.”

She could say no more.  She laid her head on her brother’s shoulder, and tears fell upon the paternal coat which had once more been brought to light.

“You say that I am soft-hearted,” said Damie, “and you are much worse yourself.”

And Barefoot was indeed deeply and quickly moved by anything; but she was strong and light-hearted like a child.  It was true of her, what Marianne had observed when she went to sleep for the first time in the old woman’s house; she was waking and sleeping, laughing and weeping, almost all at the same time.  Every occurrence and every emotion affected her very strongly, but she soon got over it and recovered her balance.

She continued to weep.

“You make one’s heart so heavy,” said Damie complainingly.

[Illustration:  TEARS FELL UPON THE PATERNAL COAT]

“It’s hard enough to have to go away from one’s home and live among strangers.  You ought rather to cheer me up, than to be so—­so—.”

“Right thinking is the best cheer,” replied Amrei.  “It does not weigh upon the heart at all.  But you are right—­you have enough to bear; a single pound added to the load might crush you.  I am foolish after all.  But come—­let us see now what the sun has to say, when father walks out in its light once more.  No, I didn’t mean to say that.  Come, you yourself surely know