Amid these and similar reflections, Rönnaug took the way across the fields in order not to be seen from the place. The grass where she walked had not been mown; she trampled it mercilessly under foot, but she paused before a patch of flowers whose varied hues and leaves she could not help contemplating. Suddenly she heard voices. In front of her there were several willow copses through whose branches she espied the pair she was seeking. There sat Skarlie and Magnhild in the grass, he in his shirt-sleeves and without a hat. Half-frightened for Magnhild and utterly without respect for _him_, Rönnaug immediately stood guard. Concealing herself from view she took her post between two copses. Skarlie and Magnhild could be seen quite distinctly, for the space behind them was open. "Then I shall certainly close up down at the Point, and I will follow you." "You may if you choose. But spare me further threats. For the last time: I have resolved to go. I wish to travel in order to see and to learn. Some day I hope to return and teach others." "Do you intend to come back to me?" "That I do not know." "Oh, you do know very well." "Perhaps I do, for if you should lead a better life I presume I would come back to you; but I do not believe you capable of changing, and so I might just as well say at once that I shall not return to you." "You do not know all I mean to do for you." "What, your last will and testament again? Suppose we drop this subject now." She sat twirling a flower, upon which she was intently gazing. Skarlie had placed his shorter leg under him; his face was all puckered up and his eyes stung. "You have never appreciated me." "No--that is true. I have much to thank you for which I have taken without thanks. Please God, I shall one day show my gratitude." "Cannot we make it right now? What is it you want? To travel? We can travel; we have means enough." "As I said before, let us drop this subject now." He sighed, and taking up his cutty, he laid his forefinger over it. It was already filled; he produced a match-box. "If you can smoke there is hope for you," said Magnhild. "Oh! I am not smoking; it is nothing but habit,"--he drew a long sigh. "No, Magnhild, it is impossible for things to go well with me if you leave me. For that is about equal to closing up my house and driving me out into the world. The gossip of the people would be more than I could bear." He looked now positively unhappy. Magnhild plucked several flowers; but if he expected an answer from her it was in vain. "It is hard for those who have strong natures," said he; "the devil gains the upper-hand over them in many ways. I thought _you_ would have helped me. One thing I must say: if we two could have had a right cozy home together, and a child"-- But here she sprang up quickly, and the flowers fell from her lap.