"
"Does she mean so? Is she really coquettish? Yet I think I have
been successful so far," said Bagger to himself, and waited for
the Tuesday with comparative ease; in truth he did not at all
understand why he should be troubled to go to town.
As early on Tuesday forenoon as proper, he went over to the farm,
and was somewhat surprised that there was to be seen no
preparation for a town journey. Ingeborg, in her usual morning
dress, was seated at the sewing-table. He waited until towards
twelve o'clock, calculating that two hours was the least she
needed in which to dress and drive to town. The long hand
threatened to touch the short hand at the number twelve, without
any appearance of Ingeborg's noticing it. She only now and then
cast a stealthy look at him, for it had not escaped her, nor the
others, that he was in expectancy and excitement. When the clock
struck twelve,--he was just alone with her,--he asked suddenly, in
a quick, trembling voice:
"Miss Hjelm, you know I am Superior Court Counsellor?"
"No: that I did not know," she said almost with dread, and arose.
"No: that I have never known!"
"But allow me, dear lady, so you know it now," he said, surprised
that the title or profession produced so strong an effect.
"Yes, now I know it," she said, and held her hand upon her heart.
"Why do you tell me that? What does that signify?"
"Nothing else, Miss Hjelm, than that you may understand that I
don't believe in witchcraft.
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