But now it was time for her to go; she must not be away when the supper-bell rang.

The mother thanked her again and again, and the children begged her to stay longer.

As she went out of the house she saw a man just taking from his shoulder a shovel, which he placed against the house.

Elsli recognized him at once as the weary laborer whom she had seen before, and who had reminded her of her father.

And as he stood there now, with his two boys affectionately clinging to his sides, and looked sadly yet kindly at her, he seemed still more to resemble her father, and she could not keep the tears from her eyes.