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For if it comes to what I think it will, then I must not stay a moment longer." The girl nodded. Both rose to their feet. "Kyllikki," he said, with emotion, taking her hands, "it may be this is the last time I see you alone. Do not think hardly of me because I am what I am." "You could not be otherwise," she answered warmly. "I understand." "I shall be grateful to you for that always.
I will drive them away, all of them, if they try to come between us; oh, I am strong enough, I know. You are mine, Olof, do you hear? All mine mine.... Oh, why do you sit there so? Speak to me, Olof!" Her passionate earnestness burned like bright flames about him, gradually warming his heart to life again. "Kyllikki, how good you are!" he said, and his eyes glistened as he spoke.
"I am building myself a house, and have other plans of a like sort. But there is one thing I miss, and the lack of it grows stronger every day: a friend and comrade, one that I could respect and trust entirely. Not one to share my good fortune, but one to be with me in toil and want. "Kyllikki, you can never guess how I have suffered in doubt and questioning of late.
Still his mother tried to stop him, and his wife Kyllikki begged his forgiveness in tears. He stood listening to them and brushing out his long black hair, but at last he became impatient, and threw the brush from him and cried out: 'I will not stay, but keep that brush, and when ye see blood oozing from its bristles, then ye may know that some terrible misfortune has overtaken me.
"Give him to me!" cried Olof, stretching out his arms impatiently. And Kyllikki smiled and handed him a tiny bundle wrapped in woollen rugs. Olof's hands trembled as he felt the weight of it in his arms. "Help her down, Antti; and come back a little later on I won't ask you in not just now," he said confusedly to the driver. The man laughed, and Kyllikki joined in.
And they laughed and watched the extraordinary scene after all, it would have been strange if something out of the common had not happened at Olof's wedding. Once more Olof set his partner down and bowed to another. Formally this time, as if with emphasis: it was Kyllikki he had chosen now. The girl stood dismayed, uneasy, not knowing what to think.
"Is this the end?... And this night, this night that I have looked forward to in my brightest dreams this new dawn that was to be ... crushed, crushed, a trampled wreath and veil ... and this is my wedding night!" He flung himself face downward on the sofa, sobbing violently. "Your wedding night?" said Kyllikki softly. "Your wedding night? How many such have you not had before?
"Then why, she can go as his mistress, if she please, but not as my daughter!" Silence again. Kyllikki flushed angrily; Olof was hardly able to restrain himself. But he realised that the two must be left to themselves for what concerned themselves he could only make matters worse. "Choose," said her father, coldly and with dignity. "And make haste about it the fellow here is waiting.
And you know he at least, has a father and mother who have learned something of life; maybe he will not need to go through all we have done to get so far...." "Ay, that was what I was thinking," said Olof. And no more was said, but heartfelt wishes hovered protectingly about the little bed. "Look now!" cried Kyllikki, after a while. "He's fallen asleep! Isn't he lovely?"
Again he glanced at the little red face on the pillow, and an expression of earnestness, almost of gloom, came over his own. "Olof," said Kyllikki softly, taking his hand, "will you tell me what you are thinking of just now?" He did not answer at once. "No, no you need not tell me. I know. But why think of that now, Olof?
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