"No, you shall not remain here," said Irma when she was alone with Walpurga. "It is better, a thousand times better for you, that you should go home again. Next summer, I'll come to see you. I'll never forget you. Rely upon it." Walpurga now felt bold enough to express her wishes in regard to the farm; but Irma was immovable. "You know nothing about these things. Take my word for it--it will be far better for you, if you go home again." CHAPTER VI. "How do you live in the country in winter?" asked the queen while she sat by the cradle of her child. "Well enough," replied Walpurga, "but wood is getting to be quite dear. We're glad when spring returns. To be sure, my Hansei has good earnings in the winter, when the wood can be brought down the snow road to the valley. Mother always says our Lord's the greatest of all road-masters, for He can make roads and make it easy to bring the wood where no man can." "You have a good mother. Give her my love, and when I again go to the mountains, I shall visit her." "Oh, if you only would!" "And now," resumed the queen, "tell me how you pass your time during the winter." "When the housework for the day is done, the women spin. The men spend the day in the forest, cutting wood, and, when night comes, they're so tired that they hardly ever cut kindling-wood." "And do you sing much at such times?" "Of course. Why not?" "And do you never read to each other?" "No, never. But we like to tell stories, and frighten each other as much as we can." "And do you sometimes dance?" "Yes, at carnival time; but there's not much of that nowadays. They say it used to be much better in old times." "Do you never find the day hang heavy on your hands?" "No, never; we've no time for that." The queen smiled when she looked at the astral lamp that stood on the table, and thought of the many expedients that society employed to kill time. The queen at length said: "And do you feel quite sure that your husband is always true to you? Do you never think of his being otherwise?" "Mother often says that the men are all good for nothing, but she says my Hansei's not like the rest of 'em. He'd be heartily ashamed of himself if he spoke a loving word to another woman. It would haunt him day and night, and he'd never be able to look any one in the face again. He's not one of your sharp, clever folks--far from it; but he's good, thoroughly good at heart; a little bit close in money matters, and he's always afraid that, some time or other, we might come to want. However, one who has to save every kreutzer can easily get used to that. But, thank God, that's over, now."