"Indeed!" said Miss Hjelm, in a voice which atoned for her
brevity.

"The party was at the shooting-ground."

"So!" said Miss Hjelm again, with as correct an intonation as if
she had learned it for "I don't care." "Take care, Miss Brandt,"
she added, stooping to avoid an apple-branch.

"Take care?--oh, for that branch!" said Miss Brandt, and avoided
it as charmingly and coquettishly as if it had been living.

"It was very gay," she added, "even more so than wedding-parties
commonly are; but this was caused a good deal by Counsellor
Bagger."

"So!"

"Yes, he was very gay ... I was his companion at table.

"Ah!"

"Oh, only to think! at the table he stands up declaring that he is
engaged."

"Was his lady present?"

"No, that she was not, I think. Do you know who it was?"

"No, how should I know that, Miss Brandt?"