I looked up; a
woman with a white kerchief on her head was standing by the corner of
the hut. It was Eva, the blacksmith's daughter.
"_Goddag_, Eva!" I called to her.
She stood by the big grey stone, her face all red, sucking one finger.
"Is it you, Eva? What is the matter?" I asked.
"Asop has bitten me," she answered, with some awkwardness, and cast down
her eyes.
I looked at her finger. She had bitten it herself. A thought flashed
into my mind, and I asked her:
"Have you been waiting here long?"
"No, not very long," she answered.
And without a word more from either of us, I took her by the hand and
let her into the hut.
XVII
I came from my fishing as usual, and appeared at the "ball" with the gun
and bag--only I had put on my best leather suit. It was late when I got
to Sirilund; I heard them dancing inside. Someone called out: "Here's
the hunter, the Lieutenant." A few of the young people crowded round me
and wanted to see my catch; I had shot a brace of seabirds and caught a
few haddock. Edwarda bade me welcome with a smile; she had been dancing,
and was flushed.
"The first dance with me," she said.
And we danced. Nothing awkward happened; I turned giddy, but did not
fall. My heavy boots made a certain amount of noise; I could hear it
myself, the noise, and resolved not to dance any more; I had even
scratched their painted floor.
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