You have spoiled the game now four or five times--that is surely not kind of you, do you think it is ?" They had by this time arrived at Marianne's cottage.

Erick stopped at the hedge and turned round.

He said, quite friendly: "Do not be angry, Kaetheli, you see I have to act so." "Yes, but why?
Tell me now, what you do and why you have to spoil everything ?" demanded Kaetheli, rather huffed, for she could not yet get over the fact that she had crawled all for nothing into the incomparable hiding-place in the goat-shed.
"I will tell you, Kaetheli, for you must not think that I purposely spoil everything for you.

I did not think of that," said Erick, excusing himself.

"Do you see, there is a beautiful song which my mother sang every day, and also on the last day, and I should so much like to hear that song again.