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"Unwelcome I know I am," replied Lovisa, disdainfully noting the terror of Britta and the astonished glances if Errington and his friends "unwelcome at all times, but most unwelcome at the hour of feasting ad folly, for who can endure to receive a message from the Lord when the mouth is full of savory morsels, and the brain reels with the wicked wine? Yet I have come in spite of your iniquities.
I would do good to all if I knew how, tell me can I comfort you, or make your life more cheerful? It must be hard to be so old and all alone!" "Your death would comfort me!" returned Lovisa grimly. "Why do you keep Britta from me?" "I do not keep her," Thelma answered. "She stays with me because she is happy. Why do you grudge her, her happiness?
It was strongly imbedded in the earth but each day I went to it each day I moved it! Little by little I worked till a mere touch would have set it hurling downwards, yet it looked as firm as ever." Gueldmar uttered a fierce ejaculation of anguish he put one hand to his throat as though he were stifling. Lovisa, watching him, smiled vindictively, and continued
Thelma rose, surprised as his gesticulations, and came towards him; to her utter astonishment she found herself confronted by old Lovisa Elsland, and the Reverend Mr. Dyceworthy's servant, Ulrika. On both women's faces there was a curious expression of mingled fear, triumph, and malevolence. Lovisa was the first to break silence.
For I loved you, proud Olaf! I loved you " The bonde uttered an exclamation of incredulous astonishment. Lovisa fixed her eyes on him with a dark scorn. "Yes, I loved you, scoffer and unbeliever as you were and are! accursed of God and man!
"Oh no, no!" exclaimed Thelma anxiously. "It would vex me so much! Britta and I have often been alone before. We are quite safe, are we not, father?" "Safe enough!" said the old man, with a laugh. "I know of no one save Lovisa Elsland who has the courage to face thee, child!
"Daughter of Satan!" said Lovisa then, in intense piercing tones that somehow carried with them a sense of awe and horror. "Creature, in whose veins the fire of hell burns without ceasing, my curse upon you! My curse upon the beauty of your body may it grow loathsome in the sight of all men! May those who embrace you, embrace misfortune and ruin! may love betray you and forsake you!
Ulrika uttered an exclamation of astonishment. "You! and yet you hate him now?" Lovisa raised her hand with an imperious gesture. "I have grown hate like a flower in my breast," she said, with a sort of stern impressiveness. "I have fostered it year after year, and now, it has grown too strong for me! When Olaf Gueldmar was young he told me I was fair; once he kissed my cheek at parting!
And she laughed silently. Ulrika's face grew paler, and the hand that grasped the folds of her shawl trembled violently. She made an effort, however, to appear composed, as she answered "I have sworn to obey you, Lovisa, and I will. But tell me one thing how do you know that Thelma Gueldmar is indeed a witch?" "How do I know?" almost yelled Lovisa. "Have I lived all these years for nothing?
Ulrika gazed at her with as much wonder as her plain, heavy face was capable of expressing. Lovisa saw the look and smiled darkly. "One would think you had never known what love is!" she said, with a sort of grim satire in her tone. "Yet even your dull soul was on fire once! But I when I was young, I had beauty such as you never had, and I loved Olaf Gueldmar."
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