"Nothing, mother; only I couldn't stay up there any longer." And that
was all the explanation her mother could get until the father came home
that evening. He was tired and a little cross. From Hans he had heard a
bit of gossip that irritated him, and Signe saw that her secret was not
wholly her own. She feared her father.

"Signe," said he, after supper, "I can guess pretty well why you came
home so soon. I had a talk with Hr. Bogstad before he went to the
_saeter_."

The girl's heart beat rapidly, but she said nothing.

"Did he speak to you about--why did you run away from him, girl?"

"Father, you know I don't like Hr. Bogstad. I don't know why; he is nice
and all that, but I don't like him anyway."

"You have such nonsensical ideas!" exclaimed the father, and he paused
before her in his impatient pacing back and forth. "He, the gentleman,
the possessor of thousands. Girl, do you know what you are doing when
you act like this? Can't you see that we are poor; that your father is
worked to death to provide for you all? That if you would treat him as
you should, we would be lifted out of this, and could get away from
this rock-ribbed island on to some land with soil on? Our future would
be secure. Can't you see it, girl? O, you little fool, for running away
from such a man. Don't you know he owns us all, as it were?"

"No, father, he does not."