When all was over, his relations and friends came to offer their congratulations; then his companions having heard that he was to travel next day came to say good-bye; and many of the younger ones, whom he had driven in the sledges, and whom he had assisted at school, cried a little at the thought of his departure. At last Ovind and his parents left for home accompanied by the schoolmaster. On the way there were several more came to offer him their good wishes and to take leave; otherwise they did not speak much till they sat again in the quiet room at home. The schoolmaster tried to help them to keep their courage up, but now that it was come to the point, they all three, never before having been parted for a single day, dreaded the separation for two whole years, but none of them wished to shew their feelings. As the time passed on Ovind grew worse and worse, and at last he went out of doors to quiet himself. It was growing dark, he stood upon the steps and looked up listening to the gentle sighing of the wind. Then he heard his own name called down from the ridge, quite softly, yet there was no mistaking it, it was repeated twice. He looked up, and could just discern a woman's figure looking down from among the trees. "Who is that?" he asked. "I hear you are going away," she said in a low tone, "so I thought I would come and say good-bye to you, seeing you hadn't come to me." "Dear, is that you, Marit! I'll come up to you." "No, don't, I've been here so long, and then I should have to stay still longer, and no one knows where I am, so I must be quick home." "It was kind of you to come," said he. "I couldn't bear that you should leave in that way Ovind; we have known each other since we were children." "Yes, we have." "And now we haven't spoken to each other for half-a-year." "No we haven't." "We were separated so strangely that time too." "Yes, I think I must come up to you." "Oh no, don't! but tell me, I hope you are not grieved with me?" "Dear, how could you think so?" "Good-bye then Ovind, and thank you for all the pleasant times we have had together!" "Marit!" "Yes, but now I must go, they will miss me. "Marit,--Marit!" "No, I daren't stay longer, Ovind; farewell!" "Farewell!" The rest of the evening he was, as it were, in a dream, answering absently when they spoke to him. They attributed this to the thought of his coming departure, which was quite a natural thing, and which certainly did occupy his attention at the moment when the schoolmaster took his leave, and slipped something into his hand, which he afterwards found to be a five dollar piece. Soon, however, it passed out of his mind, and he thought only of the words that had come down from the ridge and gone up again. CHAP. VIII. BE SURE THAT YOU BURN IT.