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They must, they would have the song again, this time Aarö's haughty opposition should be useless; but he would not give way, and at last some of the audience gave up the attempt, though others continued insistent. During this interval several ladies escaped out of the crowd: they passed near Ella. "Did you see Fru Holmbo, how she hid herself and cried?"
The bouquet had been ordered for the best house in the town, and Fru Holmbo said so. "That does not matter," answered Ella. Such genuine admiration of a bouquet had never been seen and Ella got it. From there she went to "Andresen's at the corner." One of the shopmen took lessons in book-keeping from her. She wished to put him off, and asked him to tell the whole of the large class.
"And how is Fru Holmbo?" asked Ella. She was frightened when she had said it, but she felt an intense bitterness which would break out. She had noticed how thin and pale Fru Holmbo looked she evidently missed Aarö, and that was too much! The friend smiled: "Oh! have you heard that silly rumour? No, Aksel Aarö was only the medium between her and the man to whom she was secretly attached.
The two friends had lived together abroad. Some months ago there had been a talk about a business journey to Copenhagen, and Fru Holmbo went there also. But there had undoubtedly been something between them for a long time." That night Ella wept for a long time before she fell asleep. She lay and stroked her plait, which she had drawn on to her bosom.
Immediately behind her, on the same bench, stood Fru Holmbo, magnetised, beautiful as a statue. She no more saw Ella's distress than she did the clock in the market-place. This absolute indifference calmed her, she recovered her self-possession. The neighbourhood of the others, which had been so terrible to her, was of no consequence, so long as they did not perceive anything.
She came back again just as Fru Holmbo was opening her shop. As Ella entered the "flower-woman" was holding an expensive bouquet in her hand, ready to be sent out. "I will have that!" cried Ella, shutting the door behind her. "You!" said Fru Holmbo a little doubtfully; the bouquet was a very expensive one. "Yes, I must have it;" Ella's little green purse was ready.
We have only just received his first letter since he left; but in it he writes that when we see 'the girl with the plait, we are to remember him to her. She cried at Möhring's song; other people might have done so too," he wrote. The tears sprang to Ella's eyes. "No, no," said Fru Holmbo consolingly, "there is no harm in that."
"I see that you know who it is from," said Fru Holmbo, and Ella blushed more than ever. With a rather superior smile and the prettiest lady in the town had a superabundance of them she said, "Aksel Aarö is not fond of writing.
In the course of the spring Fru Holmbo met Ella in the street as she was coming from the pastor's house with her prayer-book in her hand. "Are you going to be confirmed?" asked Fru Holmbo. "Yes." "I have a message for you; can you guess from whom?" Now, Fru Holmbo was a friend of Aksel Aarö's sister and very intimate with the family. Ella blushed and could not answer.
Ella was so short, that when she came into the crowd, she had not seen Aksel Aarö when she heard several whispers of "There he is," and some one added, "He is coming towards us." It was Fru Holmbo for whom he was looking, and to whom he bowed; but just behind her stood Ella. When she felt that she was discovered, the bud blushed rosier than its calyx. He left Fru Holmbo at once.
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