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lagging behind their tongues。
〃Look at them over there；〃 he whispered； detaining Clara as
she passed him。 〃Aren't they the Old Guard？ I've just counted
thirty hands。 I guess they've wrung many a chicken's neck and
warmed many a boy's jacket for him in their time。〃
In reality he fell into amazement when he thought of the
Herculean labours those fifteen pairs of hands had performed： of
the cows they had milked； the butter they had made； the gardens
they had planted； the children and grandchildren they had tended；
the brooms they had worn out； the mountains of food they had
cooked。 It made him dizzy。 Clara Vavrika smiled a hard；
enigmatical smile at him and walked rapidly away。 Nils' eyes
followed her white figure as she went toward the house。 He
watched her walking alone in the sunlight； looked at her slender；
defiant shoulders and her little hard…set head with its coils of
blue…black hair。 〃No；〃 he reflected； 〃she'd never be like them；
not if she lived here a hundred years。 She'd only grow more
bitter。 You can't tame a wild thing； you can only chain it。
People aren't all alike。 I mustn't lose my nerve。〃 He gave
Hilda's pigtail a parting tweak and set out after Clara。 〃Where
to？〃 he asked； as he came upon her in the kitchen。
〃I'm going to the cellar for preserves。〃
〃Let me go with you。 I never get a moment alone with you。
Why do you keep out of my way？〃
Clara laughed。 〃I don't usually get in anybody's way。〃
Nils followed her down the stairs and to the far corner of
the cellar； where a basement window let in a stream of light。
From a swinging shelf Clara selected several glass jars； each
labeled in Johanna's careful hand。 Nils took up a brown flask。
〃What's this？ It looks good。〃
〃It is。 It's some French brandy father gave me when I was
married。 Would you like some？ Have you a corkscrew？ I'll get
glasses。〃
When she brought them； Nils took them from her and put them
down on the window…sill。 〃Clara Vavrika； do you remember how
crazy I used to be about you？〃
Clara shrugged her shoulders。 〃Boys are always crazy
about somebody or another。 I dare say some silly has been crazy
about Evelina Oleson。 You got over it in a hurry。〃
〃Because I didn't come back； you mean？ I had to get on； you
know； and it was hard sledding at first。 Then I heard you'd
married Olaf。〃
〃And then you stayed away from a broken heart；〃 Clara laughed。
〃And then I began to think about you more than I had since I
first went away。 I began to wonder if you were really as you had
seemed to me when I was a boy。 I thought I'd like to see。 I've
had lots of girls； but no one ever pulled me the same way。 The
more I thought about you； the more I remembered how it used to be
like hearing a wild tune you can't resist； calling you out at
night。 It had been a long while since anything had pulled me out
of my boots； and I wondered whether anything ever could again。〃
Nils thrust his hands into his coat pockets and squared his
shoulders； as his mother sometimes squared hers； as Olaf； in a
clumsier manner； squared his。 〃So I thought I'd come back and see。
Of course the family have tried to do me； and I rather thought I'd
bring out father's will and make a fuss。 But they can have their
old land； they've put enough sweat into it。〃 He took the flask and
filled the two glasses carefully to the brim。 〃I've found out what
I want from the Ericsons。 Drink skoal； Clara。〃 He lifted
his glass； and Clara took hers with downcast eyes。 〃Look at me；
Clara Vavrika。 Skoal！〃
She raised her burning eyes and answered fiercely： 〃Skoal！〃
The barn supper began at six o'clock and lasted for two
hilarious hours。 Yense Nelson had made a wager that he could eat
two whole fried chickens； and he did。 Eli Swanson stowed away two
whole custard pies； and Nick Hermanson ate a chocolate layer cake
to the last crumb。 There was even a cooky contest among the
children； and one thin； slablike Bohemian boy consumed sixteen and
won the prize； a gingerbread pig which Johanna Vavrika had
carefully decorated with red candies and burnt sugar。 Fritz
Sweiheart； the German carpenter； won in the pickle contest； but he
disappeared soon after supper and was not seen for the rest of the
evening。 Joe Vavrika said that Fritz could have managed the
pickles all right； but he had sampled the demijohn in his buggy too
often before sitting down to the table。
While the supper was being cleared away the two fiddlers began
to tune up for the dance。 Clara was to accompany them on her old
upright piano； which had been brought down from her father's。 By
this time Nils had renewed old acquaintances。 Since his interview
with Clara in the cellar； he had been busy telling all the old
women how young they looked； and all the young ones how pretty they
were； and assuring the men that they had here the best farmland in
the world。 He had made himself so agreeable that old Mrs。
Ericson's friends began to come up to her and tell how lucky she
was to get her smart son back again； and please to get him to play
his flute。 Joe Vavrika； who could still play very well when he
forgot that he had rheumatism； caught up a fiddle from Johnny
Oleson and played a crazy Bohemian dance tune that set the wheels
going。 When he dropped the bow every one was ready to dance。
Olaf； in a frock coat and a solemn made…up necktie； led the grand
march with his mother。 Clara had kept well out of that
by sticking to the piano。 She played the march with a pompous
solemnity which greatly amused the prodigal son； who went over and
stood behind her。
〃Oh； aren't you rubbing it into them； Clara Vavrika？ And
aren't you lucky to have me here； or all your wit would be thrown
away。〃
〃I'm used to being witty for myself。 It saves my life。〃
The fiddles struck up a polka； and Nils convulsed Joe Vavrika
by leading out Evelina Oleson； the homely schoolteacher。 His next
partner was a very fat Swedish girl； who； although she was an
heiress； had not been asked for the first dance； but had stood
against the wall in her tight； high…heeled shoes； nervously
fingering a lace handkerchief。 She was soon out of breath； so Nils
led her； pleased and panting； to her seat； and went over to the
piano； from which Clara had been watching his gallantry。 〃Ask
Olena Yenson；〃 she whispered。 〃She waltzes beautifully。〃
Olena； too； was rather inconveniently plump； handsome in a smooth；
heavy way； with a fine colour and good…natured； sleepy eyes。 She
was redolent of violet sachet powder； and had warm； soft； white
hands； but she danced divinely； moving as smoothly as the tide
coming in。 〃There； that's something like；〃 Nils said as he released
her。 〃You'll give me the next waltz； won't you？ Now I must go and
dance with my little cousin。〃
Hilda was greatly excited when Nils went up to her stall and
held out his arm。 Her little eyes sparkled； but she declared that
she could not leave her lemonade。 Old Mrs。 Ericson； who happened
along at this moment； said she would attend to that； and Hilda came
out； as pink as her pink dress。 The dance was a schottische； and
in a moment her yellow braids were fairly standing on end。
〃Bravo！〃 Nils cried encouragingly。 〃Where did you learn to dance
so nicely？〃
〃My Cousin Clara taught me；〃 the little girl panted。
Nils found Eric sitting with a group of boys who were too
awkward or too shy to dance； and told him that he must dance the
next waltz with Hilda。
The boy screwed up his shoulders。 〃Aw； Nils； I can't dance。
My feet are too big； I look silly。〃
〃Don't be thinking about yourself。 It doesn't matter how boys
look。〃
Nils had never spoken to him so sharply before； and Eric made
haste to scramble out of his corner and brush the straw from his
coat。
Clara nodded approvingly。 〃Good for you； Nils。 I've been
trying to get hold of him。 They dance very nicely together； I
sometimes play for them。〃
〃I'm obliged to you for teaching him。 There's no reason why he
should grow up to be a lout。〃
〃He'll never be that。 He's more like you than any of them。
Only he hasn't your courage。〃 From her slanting eyes Clara shot
f