"
This, however, was beyond the mark, for it _was_ the ring after all.
But a gold ring it was not, and that he had never promised her--'twas
an invention of her own; silver it was, with gilt hands clasped, real
silver, with the mark on and all. But ah, that unlucky voyage of hers
to Bergen! Barbro had seen real engagement rings--no use telling her!
"That ring! Huh! You can keep it yourself."
"What's wrong with it, then?"
"Wrong with it? There's nothing wrong with it that I know," she
answered, and got up to clear the table.
"Why, you'll needs make do with it for now," he said. "Maybe I'll
manage another some day."
Barbro made no answer.
A thankless creature was Barbro this evening. A new silver ring--she
might at least have thanked him nicely for it. It must be that clerk
with the town ways that had turned her head. Axel could not help
saying: "I'd like to know what that fellow Eleseus keeps coming here
for, anyway. What does he want with you?"
"With me?"
"Ay. Is he such a greenhorn and can't see how 'tis with you now?
Hasn't he eyes in his head?"
Barbro turned on him straight at that: "Oh, so you think you've got
a hold on me because of _that_? You'll find out you're wrong, that's
all.
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