THE AGREEMENT.
"It was just as I thought!" exclaimed our heroine, as she looked, with
pouting lips at the reflection of her pretty figure in the clear waters
of the spring. Never before had her hair been so nicely arranged, and
her neat white apron, which she had kept concealed beneath her cloak
during her entire conversation with Magde and her father, and which she
had carefully tied about her waist as soon as she had entered the
meadows, how pretty it looked! But how was she repaid for all her
trouble? She was about disencumbering herself both of her apron and a
little scarf which she had thrown over her shoulders, when she heard a
voice that she had already learned to distinguish, calling to her in the
distance.
With pleased astonishment she lifted her eyes, and saw an individual
whom we need scarcely inform our readers was the owner of the knapsack.
He was descending a hill, holding to his lips a blade of grass, upon
which he would occasionally blow a vigorous and ear-piercing blast.
"Have you come at last, my naiad queen?" said the youth. "We were such
pleasant companions last evening, that I came hither in the hope of
finding you at your bath again."
"A naiad queen might bathe her feet before you; but I--" She ceased
speaking, and a deep blush suffused her cheeks.
"Ah! then you know something about the naiads, my child?"
"Yes, and about the sylphs, too," replied Nanna, nodding her head, proud
at having an opportunity of displaying her knowledge before one whom,
besides her father, was the only person that she had ever cared to
interest.
"You surprise me! What have you read?"
"O, a little of everything. My father has a large book case, and I have
a small collection of books, myself."
"Hm, hm," said the embryo secretary, "but enumerate to me some of the
books you have read."
"Do you really wish to know?"
"Yes, dear Nanna,--pardon me--Mademoiselle Nanna I should have said.
Now Mademoiselle, please be seated, the grass is quite soft. I wish to
catechise you a little."
"But I shall not answer you, sir, if you call me Mademoiselle; it sounds
so cold and disagreeable."
"Well, I will be careful not to do so; but let us make a commencement."
"With my qualifications?"
"Certainly; but why do you sit at such a distance?"
"We are not so far from each other."
"That proves you to be no mathematician. Now, tell me, how many yards
distance are there between us?"
"Three, I think."
"Poor child, you have not reached your A B C's in arithmetic; but I will
be your instructor."
"How so?"
"You shall soon see." He quickly unloosed his neckcloth. "This," he
continued, "is precisely one yard in length. Now, I will measure the
ground, and when I have measured three yards, then--"
"What then?"
"Then I will seat myself; for you have yourself chosen the distance."
The unsuspecting Nanna had not the slightest idea of the little plot the
young man had arranged to entrap her. The poor child was unaccustomed to
mirth; for although Magde, Ragnar, and Carl, often indulged in
boisterous sports, still Nanna never could feel an inclination to
mingle with them, but had merely smiled at their ridiculous jokes. Never
had the clear ringing laugh of gleeful childhood issued over her lips;
but upon the present occasion her innocent heart entered into the spirit
of her gay companion, and when he deliberately measured three lengths of
his neckcloth from the spot where he was sitting, and then gravely
seated himself at her very side, a merry laugh broke from her lips, in
which the youth joined.
"Well," said he, assuming a comfortable position, "I can touch you, at
least, now."
"Yes," replied Nanna seriously, for she was musing on Magde's words of
caution, "yes, you can; but I do not wish you to."
"You do not?"
"I do not," replied she firmly.
"What an obstinate little creature you are!"
"You desired to know what I have read," said Nanna, wishing to change
the subject of conversation.
"True, but why do you hide your little hand under your apron, I shall
not touch it without your permission?"
Nanna smiled as she slowly withdrew her hands from their place of
concealment and folded them upon her lap.
"Now, my child," said the young man with an assumed air of dignity,
"first of all, you may commence at the beginning."
"When I was a little girl, my father bought for me some picture books,
which as I read, he explained to me. Next as I progressed further--"
"Well, what happened?"
"Next I studied the catechism, which I liked very much, then I commenced
reading the bible, a book which I love above all others, the new
testament especially. All that I do not understand my father explains to
me, and after he has finished, I go alone to my room, and as I read I
cannot refrain from weeping--But my tears are not sorrowful, I think
only of--"
"Of what?"
"I know not whether I should tell you that."
"Certainly you should; am I not your friend?"
"Well then--but do not speak about it to any one--I cannot help thinking
that if I had lived when our Saviour was upon earth, I should have been
one of the holy women."
"Who ever heard of such ambition! Why perhaps you would like to have
been the virgin Mary, herself?"
"Oh," exclaimed Nanna, turning her face, that she might conceal the
blush, which his words of ridicule, as she esteemed them, had called
forth.
"But, my child," continued her companion, "we will dwell no longer upon
your holy thoughts, so different from others of your age; proceed if you
please."
"Aside from the books I have mentioned, at my father's request, I
studied history, geography, natural philosophy, and finally ancient
mythology."
"You surprise me! Your education has not been neglected; but you can
write, can you not?"
"Certainly, and I have also practised drawing a little."
"Indeed! upon my honor, Mademoiselle Nanna you frighten me!"
"Why?"
"Because I cannot comprehend how you can use all your knowledge in this
valley."
"I have often thought of that," replied Nanna, sighing deeply.
"Perhaps, it is not such a terrible matter after all," said Gottlieb, "I
must thoroughly convince myself."
Gottlieb now commenced to examine and cross-question Nanna in the
various departments of learning that she had mentioned, and was pleased
to discover by her accurate replies that she comprehended thoroughly all
that she had studied. In fact, Nanna was quite his equal in her
knowledge of Ancient Mythology, which had always been her favorite
study.
"But how is it possible that your father should be so well educated?
Yesterday, when we were walking together, you told me that he had
resided in this valley nearly half his lifetime, with scarcely
sufficient means to support himself and family."
"Alas! a sorrowful story is connected with my father's younger days;
but he never speaks of it. He had high hopes, when young, and had they
been realized, he would have been a man of consequence; but the death of
his patron crushed everything."
"I must call upon your father some pleasant evening. Do you think he
would be pleased to see me?"
"Of course, and Magde would also."
"Your sister-in-law? Well, well, I will soon visit them both; but listen
now--"
"I will."
"As the error has already been committed--"
"What error?"
"That you should have been taught more than you ought to know; but
still, it is now too late to repent as you have already learned a
little, and I do not think there will be any harm in teaching you more."
"Who will teach me?"
"I shall of course.--I have an idea."
Nanna glanced inquiringly towards her companion. "You might be able," he
continued, "to earn a little competency for yourself; would you be
willing to become a school-teacher?"
"O, yes, nothing could be better! Then I would not be obliged to think
of--of--"
"Of marriage?"
"Yes, of marriage."
"And I am of your opinion, for to speak candidly, whom could you
marry?"
"I do not know; there is the parish tailor, who has already spoken to
Magde about it--"
"The parish tailor!--Aha!"
"And Captain Larsson who owns a sloop, offered Ragnar two barrels of rye
flour if he would speak a good word to me about him."
"Two barrels of rye flour as a bribe! And your brother's reply?"
"O, Ragnar is not to be played with," replied Nanna; "'if you wish to
purchase my sister,' said he, 'you had better speak to her yourself, she
has not authorized me to sell her.'"
"So you have two lovers!"
"Yes, and the sexton, an old widower, is the third. He has considerable
wealth, and therefore applied to my father, himself."
"Without success?"
"Yes, father told him I was too young."
"Do you not prefer either of your suitors?"
"I would rather throw myself into lake Wenner, than to marry either of
them."
"Then let us speak of the school. It will give you a little income, and
is, as far as I can see, the only method of using your accomplishments
to advantage."
"You are right. It is my only choice."
"I fear so too, for a lover suitable for you would not in all
probability find his way hither; but in me you have found a friend at
least."
"Thank God, for that."
"But it is necessary that we should make one agreement--"
"What is it?"
"That we shall not fall in love with each other."
"Oh, there is no danger!"
"Ah! who can be sure of that? You possess beauties beyond your personal
charms, Miss Nanna, that may conquer me in spite of myself."
"You are also beautiful; but I do not believe that--that--"
"You do not believe that you would ever fall in love with me, you were
about saying. Upon my word that is so much the better, for to speak
truly I am placed in as bad circumstances as you are yourself."
"You are!"
"Yes, yes, I speak the truth. My only ambition is to become an assistant
in my father's office."
"If that is the case," said Nanna, "you must fall in love with a rich
girl only."
"I shall be careful of my own interests I assure you," replied Gottlieb,
"but now this perplexing point is rightly settled--is it not?"
"Yes, you are to marry a wealthy girl, and I am to keep a school, is
that the agreement?"
"Yes, and now we must make another arrangement, which is that we must agree
to meet each other during the evening hours at this spot. I own many
books that will be useful to you, and if you can sing--"
"I can sing a little, and the old sexton says my voice is beautiful."
"Allow me to hear you sing."
"To-morrow, I cannot this evening."
"O, you should not refuse a friend in that manner. It would be quite
different if I was your lover."
Without further words, Nanna commenced singing an old ballad, and her
sweet voice, as she trilled forth the beautiful words of her song, fell
upon the ear of her young companion like the soft music of a bird.
"You sing excellently, Nanna, and I think your voice would be improved
if you could play upon the guitar. I have one at home, and might bring
it with me."
"But the guitar would not benefit my future pupils."
"It will serve for your amusement after your scholars have left you in
the afternoon. You will find such a relaxation quite necessary, and when
you play upon it, and sing one of your beautiful ballads, you will think
of your friend."
"And drive away the tedium of the long hours.--O, sir, you are too
kind!"
"Stop, Nanna! Call me Gottlieb, not sir. You know friends should--"
"Thanks, Sir Gottlieb! What a beautiful name! But it is quite late!"
Nanna, who was fearful that Magde, anxious at her long absence, would
come in search of her, arose from her seat upon the grass, and hastily
departed.