yes,andtheclergymanwasobligedtobowhisheadtothestroke.andyetkailykkewentscot-free."

"hehadarighttodoashedidinthosetimes,"saidholberg;"butnowwehaveleftthosetimesbehindus."

"youmaygetafooltobelievethat,"criedmothersoren;andshegotupandwentintotheroomwherethechildlay.sheliftedupthechild,andlaiditdownmorecomfortably.thenshearrangedthebed-placeofthestudent.hehadthegreencoverlet,forhefeltthecoldmorethanshe,thoughhewasborninnorway.

onnewyear'smorningitwasabrightsunshinyday.thefrosthadbeensostrong,andwasstillsostrong,thatthefallensnowhadbecomeahardmass,andonecouldwalkuponit.thebellsofthelittletownweretollingforchurch.studentholbergwrappedhimselfupinhiswoollencloak,andwantedtogotothetown.

overtheferry-housethecrowsanddawswereflyingwithloudcries;onecouldhardlyhearthechurchbellsfortheirrsorenstoodinfrontofthehouse,fillingabrasspotwithsnow,whichshewasgoingtoputonthefiretogetdrinkingwater.shelookeduptothecrowdofbirds,andthoughtherownthoughts.

studentholbergwenttochurch.onhiswaythereandonhisreturnhepassedbythehouseoftax-collectorsivert,bythetown-gate.herehewasinvitedtotakeamugofbrownbeerwithtreacleandsugar.thediscoursefelluponmothersoren,butthetaxcollectordidnotknowmuchabouther,and,indeed,fewknewmuchabouther.shedidnotbelongtotheislandoffalster,hesaid;shehadalittlepropertyofherownatonetime.herhusbandwasacommonsailor,afellowofaveryhottemper,andhadkilledasailorofdragor;andhebeathiswife,andyetshedefendedhim.

"ishouldnotenduresuchtreatment,"saidthetax-collector'swife."iamcomeofmorerespectablepeople.myfatherwasstocking-weavertothecourt."

"andconsequentlyyouhavemarriedagovernmentalofficial,"saidholberg,andmadeabowtoherandtothecollector.

itwasontwelfthnight,theeveningofthefestivalofthethreekings,mothersorenlitupforholbergathree-kingcandle,thatis,atallowcandlewiththreewicks,whichshehadherselfprepared.

"alightforeachman,"saidholberg.

"foreachman?"repeatedthewoman,lookingsharplyathim.

"foreachofthewisemenfromtheeast,"saidholberg.

"youmeanitthatway,"saidshe,andthenshewassilentforalongtime.butonthiseveninghelearnedmoreaboutherthanhehadyetknown.

"youspeakveryaffectionatelyofyourhusband,"observedholberg,"andyetthepeoplesaythatheill-usesyoueveryday."

"that'snoone'sbusinessbutmine,"shereplied."theblowsmighthavedonemegoodwheniwasachild;now,isuppose,igetthemformysins.butiknowwhatgoodhehasdoneme,"andsheroseup."whenilaysickuponthedesolateheath,andnoonewouldhavepityonme,andnoonewouldhaveanythingtodowithme,exceptthecrowsanddaws,whichcametopeckmetobits,hecarriedmeinhisarms,andhadtobearhardwordsbecauseoftheburdenhebroughtonboardship.it'snotinmynaturetobesick,andsoigotwell.everymanhashisownway,andsorenhashis;butthehorsemustnotbejudgedbythehalter.takingonethingwithanother,ihavelivedmoreagreeablywithhimthanwiththemanwhomtheycalledthemostnobleandgallantoftheking'ssubjects.ihavehadthestadtholdergyldenlowe,theking'shalf-brother,formyhusband;andafterwardsitookpalledyre.oneisasgoodasanother,eachinhisownway,andiinmine.thatwasalonggossip,butnowyouknowallaboutme."

andwiththosewordsshelefttheroom.

itwasmariegrubbe!