Errington approached her,--she turned to him and stretched out her hands with a little appealing gesture.
"My friend," she said softly, "do you think I deserve so many curses?
Is there something about me that is evil ?" What Errington would have answered is doubtful,--his heart beat wildly--he longed to draw those little hands in his own, and cover them with passionate kisses,--but he was intercepted by old Gueldmar, who caught his daughter in his arms and hugged her closely, his silvery beard mingling with the gold of her rippling hair.
"Never fear a wicked tongue, my bird!" said the old man fondly.

"There is naught of harm that would touch thee either on earth or in heaven,--and a foul-mouthed curse must roll off thy soul like water from a dove's wing! Cheer thee, my darling--cheer thee! What! Thine own creed teaches thee that the gentle Mother of Christ, with her little white angels round her, watches over all innocent maids,--and thinkest thou she will let an old woman's malice and envy blight thy young days?
No, no! _Thou_ accursed ?" And the _bonde_ laughed loudly to hide the tears that moistened his keen eyes.

"Thou art the sweetest blessing of my heart, even as thy mother was before thee! Come, come! Raise thy pretty head--here are these merry lads growing long-faced,--and Britta is weeping enough salt water to fill a bucket! One of thy smiles will set us all right again,--ay, there now!"-- as she looked up and, meeting Philip's eloquent eyes, blushed, and withdrew herself gently from her father's arms,--"Let us finish our supper and think no more of yonder villainous old hag--she is crazy, I believe, and knows not what she says half her time.

Now, Britta, cease thy grunting and sighing--'twill spoil thy face and will not mend the hole in thy grandmother's brain!" "Wicked, spiteful, ugly old thing!" sobbed Britta; "I'll never, never, never forgive her!" Then, running to Thelma, she caught her hand and kissed it affectionately.

"Oh, my dear, my dear! To think she should have cursed you, what dreadful, dreadful wickedness! Oh!" and Britta looked volumes of wrath.