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She could say no more; but she did not weep aloud, although it was plain that her heart was almost bursting. Not until Black Marianne burst out crying did Amrei weep with her. They returned home, and when Damie said "Good night," Amrei whispered into his ear: "Now I know that we shall never see our parents again in this world."
Then Damie, in a frightened tone, replied: "It was only a thought. Believe me I never intended to do it I can't do anything of that kind. But because they always call me "skittle-boy," I thought I ought for once to threaten and swear and strike as they do.
And then he said to the stranger, half in a whisper: "She's a strange child. Black Marianne, who, you know, is a peculiar sort of person, has put all sorts of odd notions into her head." Amrei looked around in astonishment, and gave her hand to her uncle, trembling. Damie, who had done so already, now said: "Uncle, have you brought us anything?" "I haven't much to bring.
Never had there been greater lamentation over a "lucky number" than arose when Damie drew one and was declared exempt. He was in complete despair, and Barefoot almost shared his grief; for she looked upon this soldiering as a capital method of setting Damie up, and of breaking him of his slovenly habits.
Only Coaly Mathew's dog barked after it for a while, and acted as if he wanted to seize the spokes with his teeth; but at the pond he turned back again, barked once more in front of the door, and then slunk into the house. "Hurrah! she's gone away!" cried Damie, as if he were glad of it. "It was Farmer Landfried's wife. Didn't you know Farmer Rodel's black horses? they carried her off.
The hat, alone, Damie could not be induced to wear; when he had put on the coat, Amrei laid her hand on his shoulder and said: "There, now you are my brother and my father, and now the coat is going to be worn again with a new man in it. Look, Damie, you have there the finest coat of honor in the world; hold it in honor, and be as worthy and honest in it as our dear father was."
He took off his father's clothes again, and Barefoot packed them in the sack she had once worn as a cloak in the days when she kept the geese. This sack still bore her father's name upon it, and she charged Damie specially to send her back the sack at the first opportunity. The brother and sister went out together.
Barefoot gazed for a minute at the charcoal-burner's black face, and then asked impatiently: "Where is my Damie?" The old man shook his head. Then Barefoot asked again with a stamp of her foot: "Is my Damie with you?" The old man unfolded his hands and spread them right and left, implying thereby that he was not there. "Who was it that sent to me?" asked Barefoot, still more impatiently.
You should have gone home first, and meanwhile I should have stayed somewhere at Coaly Mathew's in the forest, if we could have done no better. Then you could have come with your mother to fetch me, or could have written to me, and I could have come to you with my Damie. But do you know what I think?" "Not everything you think."
And when any of your things are torn, send them to me I'll mend them for you, and continue to knit for you. And now, come, let us go to the churchyard." Damie objected to this plan, making the plea that he felt the parting heavy enough, and did not want to make it any heavier. His sister gave in.
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