One afternoon, toward the end of August, as Jan was sitting upon the flat stone in front of the hut, smoking his pipe, he glimpsed some bright frocks in the woods close by, and heard the ring of youthful voices.

Katrina had just gone down to the birch grove to cut twigs for a broom:  but before leaving she had said to Jan that hereafter they must arrange their matters so that she could go down to Falla and dig ditches; he might stay at home and do the cooking and mending, since he was too fine now to work for others.  He had not said a word in retort, but all the same it was mighty unpleasant having to listen to such talk; therefore he was very glad that he could turn his thoughts to something else.  Instantly he ran inside for his imperial cap and stick, and was out again and down at the gate just as the young girls came along.

There were no less than five of them in the party, the three young misses from Loevdala and two strangers, who were evidently guests at the Manor.

“Go’-day, my dear Court ladies,” said Jan as he swung the gate wide open and went out toward them.  “Go’-day, my dear Court ladies,” he repeated, at the same time making such a big sweep with his cap that it almost touched the ground.

The girls stood stockstill.  They looked a bit shy at first, but he soon helped them over their momentary embarrassment.

Then it was “good-day” and “our kind Emperor.”  It was plain they were really glad to see him again.  These little misses were not like Katrina and the rest of the Ashdales folk.  They were not at all averse to hearing about the Empress and immediately asked him if Her Highness was well and if she was not expected home soon.

They also asked if they might be allowed to step into the hut, to see how it looked inside.  That he could well afford to let them do, for Katrina always kept the house so clean and tidy that they could receive callers there at any time.

When the young misses from the Manor came into the house they were no doubt surprised that the great Empress had grown up in a little place like that.  It may have done very well in the old days, when she was used to it, they said, but how would it be now should she come back?  Would she reside here, with her parents, or return to Portugallia?

Jan had thought the selfsame things himself, and he understood of course that Glory Goldie could not settle down in the Ashdales when she had a whole kingdom to rule over.

“The chances are that the Empress will return to Portugallia,” he replied.

“Then you will accompany her, I suppose?” said one of the little misses.

Jan would rather the young lady had not questioned him regarding that matter.  Nor did he give her any reply at first, but she was persistent.

“Possibly you don’t know as yet how it will be?” she said.

Oh, yes, he knew all about it, only he was not quite sure how people would regard his decision.  Perhaps they might think it was not the correct thing for an emperor to do.  “I shall remain at home,” he told her.  “It would never do for me to leave Katrina.”