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"Is this your answer?" she demanded.
"By the sword of Odin!" cried the _bonde_, "the woman must be mad! _my_
answer? The girl has spoken for herself,--and plainly enough too! Art
thou deaf, Lovisa Elsland? or are thy wits astray?"
"My hearing is very good," replied Lovisa calmly, "and my mind, Olaf
Gueldmar, is as clear as yours. And, thanks to your teaching in mine
early days,"--she paused and looked keenly at him, but he appeared to
see no meaning in her allusion,--"I know the English tongue, of which we
hear far too much,--too often! There is nothing Britta has said that I
do not understand. But I know well it is not the girl herself that
speaks--it is a demon in her,--and that demon shall be cast forth before
I die! Yea, with the help of the Lord I shall--" She stopped abruptly
and fixed her eyes, glowing with fierce wrath, on Thelma. The girl met
her evil glance with a gentle surprise. Lovisa smiled malignantly.
"You know me, I think!" said Lovisa. "You have seen me before?"
"Often," answered Thelma mildly.


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