"
Wiseli put her things silently together in a shawl, and tied the two
corners together crosswise; then she tied her scarf about her head, and
stood ready.
"So," said her cousin, "now we will go," and turned towards the door;
but Wiseli sobbed out suddenly,--
"Then I must leave my mother all alone."
With these words she ran to her mother, and clasped her in her
arms again.
Her cousin Gotti stood rather disconcerted, and looked on. He did not
know how to explain how things were with her mother, if she did not
understand without words; for he was not strong in the matter of
expressing himself: he had never given himself the trouble to try. At
last, he said,--
"Now come, come along. A little child like you must be obedient. Come;
and, after this, no crying. That does not mend matters one bit."
The child swallowed her sobs, and followed the cousin Gotti silently
through the door. Once only she glanced backward, and said softly, "God
will watch over you, mother;" and then went forth with her bundle on her
arm, and left the little house which had been home to her. Just as she
and her cousin Gotti went together across the field, Trine came towards
them down the road, with a covered basket on her arm. The neighbor stood
in the doorway, and looked after the departing couple. Trine went
towards her, saying,--
"To-day I am bringing the sick woman something good.
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