sitting by the fire with her eyes red and swollen as though she had
been weeping. Canute placed a huge chair for him, and said
roughly,--

"Warm yourself."

Lena began to cry and moan afresh, begging the minister to
take her home. He looked helplessly at Canute. Canute said
simply,

"If you are warm now, you can marry us."

"My daughter, do you take this step of your own free will?"
asked the minister in a trembling voice.

"No, sir, I don't, and it is disgraceful he should force me
into it! I won't marry him."

"Then, Canute, I cannot marry you," said the minister,
standing as straight as his rheumatic limbs would let him.

"Are you ready to marry us now, sir?" said Canute, laying one
iron hand on his stooped shoulder. The little preacher was a good
man, but like most men of weak body he was a coward and had a
horror of physical suffering, although he had known so much of it.
So with many qualms of conscience he began to repeat the marriage
service. Lena sat sullenly in her chair, staring at the fire.
Canute stood beside her, listening with his head bent reverently
and his hands folded on his breast. When the little man had prayed
and said amen, Canute began bundling him up again.