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Tales of Two Countries by Alexander Lange Kielland
page 58 of 180 (32%)
"Oh yes," answered Ola with an effort.

"What a cross-grained being you are!" exclaimed Hans, indignantly.
"But even if you're devoid of all sense for female beauty, I think
you might at least show more interest in--in your brother's future
wife."

"If you only knew how she interests me," thought the nefarious Ola,
hanging his head.

But meanwhile this delightful meeting had thrown Hans into an
ecstatic mood of amorous bliss; he swung his stick, snapped his
fingers, and sang at the pitch of his voice.

As he thought of the fair one in the light-green frock--fresh as
spring, airy as a butterfly, he called it--the refrain of an old
ditty rose to his lips, and he sang it with great enjoyment:

"Hope's clad in April green--
Trommelommelom, trommelommelom,
Tender it's vernal sheen--
Trommelommelom, trommelommelom."

This verse seemed to him eminently suited to the situation, and he
repeated it over and over again--now in the waltz-time of the old
melody, now as a march, and again as a serenade--now in loud,
jubilant tones, and then half whispering, as if he were confiding
his love and his hope to the moon and the silent groves.

Cousin Ola was almost sick; for, great as was his respect for his
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