"'Then you must say grace after meals,' said the peasant. . . ."

"No, I won't go on with the story," said Mogens impatiently.

"Very well, then don't," said Camilla, and looked at him in surprise.

"I might as well say it at once," continued Mogens, "I want to ask you
something, but you mustn't laugh at me."

Camilla jumped down from the chair.

"Tell me--no, I want to tell you something myself--here is the table
and there is the hedge, if you won't be my bride, I'll leap with the
basket over the hedge and stay away. One!"

Camilla glanced furtively at him, and noticed that the smile had
vanished from his face.

"Two!"

He was quite pale with emotion.

"Yes," she whispered, and let go the ends of her apron so that the
apples rolled toward all corners of the world and then she ran. But
she did not run away from Mogens.

"Three," said she, when he reached her, but he kissed her nevertheless.

The councilor was interrupted among his asters, but the
district-judge's son was too irreproachable a blending of nature and