Her daughter must have been seized with a new zeal.
On the evening of the third day of the fair, Nikolai strolled up to the factory district by lamplight.
He had been fairing on his own account, and had bought a workbox as a surprise for Silla--one with looking-glass inside the lid--and this afternoon he had put some mounting and a nice lock upon it.
He could surely in some way succeed in meeting her and showing it to her--so easily and with such a spring the lock went! And scissors and needle case he had put inside.

She should have the key in her own keeping, and he would keep the box.
He had tied it in a handkerchief and put two cakes on the top, so that the person who could guess that it was anything but a workman's bundle that he was carrying would be more than clever.
He passed close beneath his mother's windows where there was a light, and peeped in to see if Silla might happen to be standing at the counter, and then strolled about indifferently up and down the streets.
It was so strangely deserted and empty here this evening.
And, look as he would through the gate and the paling, it was not possible for him to discover a light in Mrs.Holman's window.
After having exhausted every artifice, he stationed himself on the watch for a long time where the roads crossed and one went up to the Valsets' cottage.
But fortune did not favour him this evening; he remained standing there with his workbox.
It was dark all down the street except near the lamp-post.
There was somebody! There she was! He hurried up.
No, it was that Jakobina Silla had been so much with in the summer.
There would at any rate be no harm in asking her.
"Isn't Mrs.Holman at home this evening ?" he asked, taking off his cap.
"No; she's down at the fair, helping sell." The inference flashed with a passionate joy upon Nikolai; then he would be able to go in and see Silla.
"And so, when the cat's away the mice will play," continued Jakobina.

It was pretty well known that the smith came there for Silla's sake, and her vexation at her three friends having got tickets, and not her, filled her with spiteful gaiety.

"Silla has taken a little trip into the town, too!" she added, laughing.
"Silla!" "Yes, why shouldn't she?
Mrs.Holman is sitting in the cold down there at a stall, kicking and stamping her feet; why shouldn't her daughter do the same at the fair ball ?"--Jakobina was great at saying witty things--"especially when she perhaps has some one who will both dance with her and treat her," she said, letting off another shot, as Nikolai seemed to be struck dumb.
"Who's put that lie into your head, girl ?" "If I'm lying, so's Kristofa; and that Silla went down with her and Gunda a couple of hours ago I saw with my own eyes.

The one I mean can afford to give fair-tickets to either three or six.