"If he doesn't do just that, there are many other ways in which he can force me." "I do not think so. Obedience is certainly your duty so long as it is not sin; but it is also your duty to let him know fully how hard it is to you to obey in this case. I think when he hears that, he will reconsider the matter; for at present, like most others, he believes it to be only child's play. You must show him it is something more." "You may think he is not easy to do with; he watches me like a tethered goat." "But you break the chain again and again in one day." "That is not true." "Yes, every time you secretly think of me, you break it." "Yes, that way, but are you certain that I think of you so often?" "Were it else, you would not be here now." "Oh! but you sent me a message to come." "But you came because your thoughts drove you." "Rather because it was a fine day." "You said just now it was too hot." "To go up the hill, yes; but down again?" "Then why did you come up?" "To be able to run down." "Then why are you not going?" "Because I wish to rest." "And talk to me about love?" "I couldn't deny you that pleasure." "While the little birds sang,"-- "And all were asleep;" "And the bells they rang,"-- "O'er the green wood's steep." Here they both saw Marit's grandfather come limping out on the farm, and go to the bell string to ring the people up. The people came slowly down from the out-houses, drawled sleepily to the horses and rakes, scattered themselves in various parts of the field, and soon all was life and work again. The grandfather only went out of the one house and into the other, and at last up on to the top of the hay loft and looked all round. A little lad came bounding up to him, apparently he had called him. The boy went down in the direction of Pladsen, and the grandfather, in the meantime, went round about the farm, often looking up to the mountain, but little suspecting that the dark spot on the "great stone" was Marit and Ovind. But again Marit's dog brought misfortune, for seeing a strange horse drive into Heidegaard, he seemed to think it part of his business to bark at the top of his voice. They tried to quiet him, but he had got roused, and would not give over; the grandfather stood below and stared straight up. But matters grew still worse, for the sheep dogs hearing the voice of a stranger, ran up, and seeing a great wolf-like champion, these straight-haired Finnish dogs all united against him, and so frightened Marit, that she ran away without even saying good-bye; while Ovind, in the midst of the battle, kicked and struck, but only succeeded in driving the dogs further away, for they soon found themselves another battle field; he after them again, and so on, till at last they were close to the edge of the beck; here Ovind rushed on them again, and got them all into the water, just where it was really deep; and they crawled out, looking quite ashamed, and going each his own way; so ended the fray.