As the girl caught sight of the new arrival she started and the color
came to her face. He went up to her. "How are you, Signe?" he said. "How
do you like life on a _saeter_?"

"Well, I hardly know," she said, seemingly quite embarrassed.

"Oh, I'll tell you," broke in the busy Hansine, as she came with a pail
full of salt. "She just goes around and looks at and talks about what
she calls the beauties of nature. That she likes; but as for milking, or
churning, or making cheese, well--"

Then they all laughed good naturedly.

Hansine was a large, strong girl, with round, pleasant features. She and
the cows were good friends. At the sound of the _lur_ every afternoon
the cows turned their grazing heads towards home, and, on their arrival,
each was given a pat and a handful of salt. Then they went quietly into
their stalls.

It was quite late that evening before the milk had been strained into
the wooden platters and placed in rows on the shelves in the milk house.
Hr. Bogstad and Signe had proffered their help, but they had been
ordered into the house and Signe was told to prepare the evening meal.
When Hansine came in, she found the table set with the cheese, milk,
butter, and black bread, while Signe and Hr. Bogstad sat by the large
fireplace watching a pot of boiling cream mush.

The object of Hr. Bogstad's visit was plain enough. He had been devoting
his attentions to Signe Dahl for some time, and now that he was home
from college on a vacation, it was natural that he should follow her