"You must go away," she said coldly and briefly; "You and your father, and this creature," and she pointed contemptuously to the staring Sigurd. "Do you understand? You must leave the Alten Fjord. The people are tired of you--tired of bad harvests, ill-luck, sickness, and continued poverty. You are the cause of all our miseries,--and we have resolved you shall not stay among us. Go quickly,--take the blight and pestilence of your presence elsewhere! Go! or if you will not--"
"We shall burn, burn, burn, and utterly destroy!" interrupted Lovisa, with a sort of eldritch shriek. "The strong pine rafters of Olaf Güldmar's dwelling shall be kindled into flame to light the hills with crimson, far and near! Not a plank shall be spared!--not a vestige of his pride be left--"
"Stop!" said Thelma quietly. "What do you mean? You must both be very mad or very wicked! You want us to go away--you threaten to set fire to our home--why? We have done you no harm. Tell me, poor soul!" and she turned with queenly forbearance to Lovisa, "is it for Britta's sake that you would burn the house she lives in? That is not wise! You cursed me the other day,--and why? What have I done that you should hate me?"
The old woman regarded her with steadfast, cruel eyes.
"You are your mother's child!" she said. "I hated her--I hate you! You are a witch!--the village knows it--Mr. Dyceworthy knows it! Mr. Dyceworthy says we shall be justified in the Lord's sight for wreaking evil upon you! Evil, evil be on those of evil deeds!"
"Then shall the evil fall on Mr. Dyceworthy," said the girl calmly. "He is wicked in himself,--and doubly wicked to encourage you in wickedness. He is ignorant and false--why do you believe in such a man?"
"He is a saint--a saint!" cried Lovisa wildly. "And shall the daughter of Satan withstand his power?" And she clapped her hands in a sort of fierce ecstasy.
Thelma glanced at her pityingly and smiled. "A saint! Poor thing, how little you know him!" she said. "And it is a pity you should hate me, for I have done you no wrong. 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!"