"
"Write by the same mail as before."
"Which?"
"Let the whirlwind, that brought the first letter to its
destination, also take care of this, in which you demand your word
back."
"Oh, that you do not mean! Or, if you mean it, then I may honestly
confess that I am not young any more or have not received another
youth. I have not courage to write anything, for fear it should
come to others than to you."
"So I see that, after all, I may act as witch to-day. Write, and I
will take care of the letter: do you hesitate?"
"No: only it took me a moment to comprehend the promise involved
in this that you will take care of my letter. I obey you blindly;
but what shall I write?"
"Write: 'Dear fairy,--Since I woo Miss Hjelm's hand and heart,'--"
"Oh, you acknowledge it! O Ingeborg, the Lord's blessing upon
you!" said Bagger, and would rise.
"'I ask you to send me my billet back.'--Have you that?"
"Yes, Ingeborg, my Ingeborg, my unspeakably loved Ingeborg! How
poor language is, when the heart is so full!"
"Now, name, date, and address. Have you that? 'Postscriptum. I
give you my word of honor, that I neither know who you are, or how
this letter shall reach you.'--Have you that?"
"That I can truly give. I am as blind as"...
"Let me add the witch-formulae."
"O Ingeborg, you will write upon the same paper with me, in a
letter where I have written your name!"
"Hand me the pen. We must have the letter sent to the mail before
two o'clock.
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