"At any rate, he doesn't seem to be working now," said Lady Liljecrona. "I have heard that he only runs about from place to place, showing his stars and singing." Lady Liljecrona was a serious-minded and dutiful woman who liked industrious and capable folk like Katrina of Ruffluck. She had sympathy for her and wanted to show it. But Katrina continued to stand up for her husband. "He is old and has had much sorrow these last years. He has need of a little freedom, after a lifetime of hard toil." "It's well you can take your misfortune so calmly," observed Lady Liljecrona somewhat sharply. "But I really think that you, with your good sense, should try to take out of Jan the ridiculous nonsense that has got into his head. You see, if this is allowed to go on it will end in his being shut up in a madhouse." Now Katrina squared her shoulders and looked highly indignant. "Jan is not crazy," she said. "But Our Lord has placed a shade before his eyes so he'll not have to see what he couldn't bear seeing. And for that one can only feel thankful." Lady Liljecrona did not wish to appear contentious. She thought it only right and proper for a wife to stand by her husband. "Then, Katrina, everything is all right as it is," she said pleasantly. "And don't forget that here you will find work enough to keep you going the year around." And then Lady Liljecrona saw the stern, set old face in front of her soften and relax: all that had been bound in and held back gave way--grief and solicitude and love came breaking through, and the eyes overflowed. "My only happiness is to work for him," said the old woman. "He has become so wonderful with the years that he's something more than just human. But for that I suppose they'll come and take him away from me." BOOK FOUR THE WELCOME GREETING She had come! The little girl had come! It is hard to find words to describe so great an event. She did not arrive till late in the autumn, when the passenger boats that ply Lake Löven had discontinued their trips for the season and navigation was kept up by only two small freight steamers. But on either of these she had not cared to travel--or perhaps she had not even known about them. She had come by wagon from the railway station to the Ashdales. So after all Jan of Ruffluck did not have the pleasure of welcoming his daughter at the Borg pier, where for fifteen years he had awaited her coming. Yes, it was all of fifteen years that she had been away. For seventeen years she had been the light and life of his home, and for almost as long a time had he missed her.