Erick told about his mother, and how they had lived together, and of her beautiful singing; and Sally never grew weary of hearing again and again the same stories, and would keep on asking questions.
So they sat on their bench under the tree on the sunny Sunday afternoon in the first week in October, and Sally had just begun her questions.
This time she wanted to know why the mother had sent Erick to Lower Wood to school and not to Upper Wood, where all good people from Middle Lot came--Kaetheli, for example.

Then Erick told her that his mother had asked Marianne about the schools, and after Marianne had explained everything to her, and that fewer children went to Lower Wood and mostly children who were not so well-known, then his mother had at once decided that he should go there.

"For you see, Sally, we were obliged to be alone and hide ourselves until I had become an honorable man." "But why?
I do not understand it at all," Sally said somewhat impatiently.

"And then afterwards when you had become an honorable man, what did you want to do, if you did not know anyone ?" "I should very much like to tell it to you, Sally," Erick answered very seriously, "but you would have to promise me that you would tell it to no human being; never, not if it should take many, many years." "Yes, yes, I will surely promise that," Sally said quickly, for she was very anxious to hear the secret.
"No, Sally, you must consider it well," said Erick, and held his hands behind his back, to let her have time, "then if you have decided that you will tell no human being one single word, then you must promise it to me with a firm handshake." Sally had fully decided.

"Just give me your hand, Erick," she urged.
"So, I promise you that I will tell to no one a single word of that which you want to tell me." Now Erick felt safe.