her boys; she had thought of them when she saw the starlings.  She was so occupied with this that she walked right across to the side of the road and trod on a piece of board, which tilted up and nearly threw her down; but under the board Spring reigned.  They had come with the thaw, they were certainly dandelions!  However ugly they may be in the summer, the first ones are always welcome.  She stooped down and gathered the flowers; she put them with the roses.  The dandelions looked very shabby there, but they were the first this year, and found to-day!

After this she was absolutely boisterous.  She skipped down the hills when her errand was finished.  She greeted friends and mere acquaintance alike, and when she again saw Cecilie she put down the flowers, made a snowball, and threw it at her back.

When she got home she wrapped the children well up and put them into the sledge with Tea.  “Mamma, mamma!” they shouted and pointed up towards the hotel.  There stood Aksel Aaroe.  He bowed to her.

Soon afterwards he came across.  “You are quite alone,” he said as he entered.

“Yes.”  She was arranging the flowers and did not look up for she was trembling.

“Is it a birthday to-day?” he asked.

“Do you mean because of the flowers?”

“Yes.  What lovely roses, and those in the glass—­dandelions?”

“The first this year,” she answered.

He did not look at them.  He stood and fidgeted, as though he were thinking of something.

“May I sing to you?” He said at last.

“Yes, indeed.”  She left the flowers, in order to open the piano and screw down the music-stool, and then drew quietly back.

After a long and subdued prelude, he began with the “Sunset Song,” by Ole Olsen, very softly, as he had spoken and moved ever since he came in.  Never had he sung more beautifully; he had greatly improved, but the voice was the same, nay, there was even more despair and suffering in it than when she had heard it for the first time.  “Sorrow, sorrow, oh, I am lost!” She heard it again plainly.  At the end of the first verse, she sat bending forward, and weeping bitterly.  She had not even tried to control herself.  He heard her and turned round, a moment afterwards she felt him approach her, it even seemed to her that he kissed her plait, certainly he had bent down over her, for she could feel his breath.  But she did not raise her head, she dare not.

He walked across the room, returned and then walked back again.  Her agitation subsided, she sat immovable and waited.

“May I be allowed to take you for a drive to-day?” she heard him say.

She had known the whole morning that they would go for a drive together, so she was not surprised.  Just as that had now been fulfilled, so would the other be—­everything.  She looked up through her tears and smiled.  He smiled too.

“I will go and see about the horses,” he said, and as she did not answer he left her.