"Nothing else, Miss Hjelm, than that you may understand that I don't believe in witchcraft." A speaker's physiognomy is often more intelligible than his words; and as Miss Hjelm saw the both hearty and spirited or jovial expression in the counsellor's face, she had not that inclination, which she under other circumstances would have had, quickly to break off the conversation and go away. It is possible, also, that his situation as Superior Court Counsellor--as that counsellor mentioned by Miss Brandt--did not, after a moment's consideration, appear to her so dreadful as at the first moment of surprise. So she answered: "But, Mr. Counsellor, is there then anybody who has accused you of believing in witchcraft?" "No, dear madam; but for all that I can assure you, that at the moment the clock struck twelve I thought that you, by two o'clock, most fly away in the form of a bird." "As the clock struck twelve now, at noon?--not at midnight?" "No, just a little since." "That is remarkable. Can you satisfy my curiosity, and tell me why?" "Because under ordinary circumstances it appears to me impossible for a lady to make her toilette and drive ten miles in less than two hours." "That is quite true, Mr. Counsellor; but neither do I intend to drive ten miles to-day." "It was for that reason that I said, fly." "Neither fly. And to convince you and quite certainly rid you of the idea of witchcraft, you can stay here, if you please, until--what time was it?" "Two o'clock." "That is two long hours; but the Counsellor can, if he please, lay that offering upon the altar of education." "Oh! I know another altar, upon which I would rather offer the two only all too short hours"--. "Let it now be upon that of education. You promised my cousin and me that you would read to us about popular science of nature and interesting facts in the life of animals." "Yes, dear madam; but _I_ cannot fly: my carriage stands waiting at the tavern." "Oh, I beg pardon! an agreeable journey, Mr. Counsellor." "Yes; but I don't understand why I shall drive the ten miles." "Every one knows his own concerns best." "Oh, yes! that is true. But I at least don't know mine." Miss Hjelm made no answer to this, and there was a little pause. "I would," continued the counsellor, somewhat puzzled, "take the great liberty to propose that you should ride with me." "I have already told the Counsellor that I did not intend to go to town to-day," answered Miss Hjelm, coldly. "Yes," continued Bagger, following his own ideas, "and so I thought, also, that we could as well stay here." At this moment Bagger was so earnest and impassioned, that Ingeborg, in hearing words so very wide of what she regarded as reasonable, began to suspect his mind of being a little disordered, and with an inquiring anxiousness looked at him.