The peasant hesitated a little.

"I should like very much to have him baptized by himself," said
he, finally.

"That is to say on a week-day?"

"Next Saturday, at twelve o'clock noon."

"Is there anything else?" inquired the priest.

"There is nothing else;" and the peasant twirled his cap, as
though he were about to go.

Then the priest rose. "There is yet this, however," said he, and
walking toward Thord, he took him by the hand and looked gravely
into his eyes: "God grant that the child may become a blessing to
you!"

One day sixteen years later, Thord stood once more in the priest's
study.

"Really, you carry your age astonishingly well, Thord," said the
priest; for he saw no change whatever in the man.

"That is because I have no troubles," replied Thord.

To this the priest said nothing, but after a while he asked: "What
is your pleasure this evening?"