food which he and his mother ate.

"This is the only thing I can do for Herr Arne," thought Torarin,
"in return for all the times he has bought my fish and allowed me
to sit at his table."

"Poor and lowly as I am," thought Torarin, "it is better for the
maid that she go with me to the town than that she stay here among
the country folk. In Marstrand are many rich burgesses, and
perhaps the young maid may take service with one of them and so be
well cared for."

When first the girl came to the town she sat and wept from morning
to night. She bewailed Herr Arne and his household, and lamented
that she had lost all who were dear to her. Most of all she wept
for her foster sister, and said she wished she had not hidden
herself against the wall, so that she might have shared death with
her.

Torarin's mother said nothing to this so long as her son was at
home. But when he had gone on his travels again she said one
morning to the girl:

"I am not rich enough, Elsalill, to give you food and clothing
that you may sit with your hands in your lap and nurse your
sorrow. Come with me down to the quays and learn to clean fish."

So Elsalill went with her down to the quays and stood all day
working among the other fish cleaners.