Thus had Jan pictured to himself Glory Goldie’s homecoming.  But his dream did not come true.

That day he and Katrina did not have a long wait at the pier.  The boat arrived on time, but it was so overladen with passengers and freight bound for the Broby Fair that at first glance they were unable to tell whether or not the little girl was on board.  Jan had expected that she would be the first to come tripping down the gangplank; but only a couple of men came ashore.  Then Jan attempted to look for her on the boat; but he could get nowhere for the crush.  All the same he felt so positive she was there that when the deck hands began to draw in the gangplank he shouted to the captain not to let the boat leave as there was another person to come ashore here.  The captain questioned the purser, who assured him there were no more passengers for Svartsjoe.

Then the boat pulled out and Katrina and Jan had to go home by themselves, and the moment they were inside the hut Jan cast himself down on the bed—­so weary and disheartened that he did not know how he would ever be able to get up again.

The Ashdales folk who had seen the father and mother return from the pier without Glory Goldie were greatly concerned.  One after the other, the neighbours dropped in at Ruffluck to find out how matters stood with them.

Was it true that Glory Goldie had not come on the boat?  They inquired.  And was it true that they had received no letter or message from her during the whole month of September?

Jan answered not a word to all their queries.  It mattered not who came in—­he lay still.  Katrina had to enlighten the neighbours as best she could.  They thought Jan lay on the bed because he was in despair of losing the hut.  They could think what they liked for all of him.

Katrina wept and wailed, and once inside the friends felt they must remain, if only out of pity for her, and to give what little comfort they could.

It was not likely that Lars Gunnarson would take the house from them, they said.  The old mistress of Falla would never let that happen.  She had always shown herself to be a just and upright person.  Besides, the day was not over yet, and Glory Goldie might still be heard from.  To be sure it would be nothing short of marvellous if she had succeeded in earning 200 rix-dollars in less than three months’ time:  but then, that girl always had such good luck.

They discussed the chances for and against.  Katrina informed them that Glory Goldie had earned nothing whatever the first weeks, that she had taken lodgings with a family from Svartsjoe, now living in Stockholm, where she had been obliged to pay for her keep.  And then one day she had had the good fortune to meet in the street the merchant who had given her the red dress, and he had found a place for her.

Would it not be reasonable to suppose that the merchant had also raised the money for her?  That was not altogether impossible.