Chapter 3 - Page 2

promise they parted, after she had allowed him--and that there
might be no mistake, twice over--to take the accurate measure of her
foot; and there were roses of joy in her cheeks, as she called after him
to be sure and not forget them.

The year after Salvé came with the shoes. There were silver buckles in
them, and they were very smart; but if they were, they had cost him more
than half a month's pay.

Elizabeth was more carefully dressed now, and might almost be called
grown up. She hesitated about accepting the shoes, and didn't ask
questions about everything as she used to do. Nor was she so willing to
stand and talk with him alone by the boat--she liked to have him up
within hearing of the others.

"Don't you see how high the sea is running?" he said, and tried to
persuade her that the boat would be dashed to pieces on the rocks. But
she saw that it wasn't true, and went up with a little toss of her head
alone. He followed her.

She must have learned all this in Arendal, where in the course of the
autumn she had been confirmed, and where she had lived with her aunt.
But she had grown marvellously handsome in that time--so much so,
indeed, that Salvé was almost taken aback when he saw her; and when they
said good-bye, it was no longer in the old laughing tones, but with some
slight embarrassment on his side--he didn't seem to know exactly how
matters lay between them.

After that she filled his head so completely that he had not a thought
for anything else.