He raced home from school and counted his savings. He had enough money for the trip to Stockholm. Once there, he would call upon Herr Banker.
He decided to say nothing to Greta, however. He would keep his plans a secret until he could surprise her by returning home with the loan for Hanssonborg.
But he must see Nils at once. He went out into the fields to look for his brother, singing at the top of his voice. A cow stopped chewing to listen. A frisky little colt kicked up its heels and whinnied shrilly.
Greta was sitting in her mother's study. She raised her head when she heard Erik's voice across the fields.
"Happy little Erik," she sighed, and smiled through her tears.
Her mother said, "That does not answer my question, Greta. Will you tell Baron Karl that he may announce your engagement?"
Fru Hansson's desk was strewn with business papers. They had rows and rows of figures all over them. A photograph of the Baron stood above. It smirked down, as much as to say, "After I am master of Hanssonborg, you will not have to worry about these matters."
Greta looked at her mother's hands. They were thin and wrinkled. They were also white and delicate. They must never have to work.
"Please, Greta, give me your answer," repeated Fru Hansson pleadingly.
And Greta said, "Very well, mother. I'll tell Baron Karl today that he may announce our engagement."
[Illustration: FOLK DANCING AT THE MIDSUMMER NIGHT FESTIVAL IN DALECARLIA _Swedish Travel Information Bureau, Inc._]
Erik left for Stockholm. When he was gone, Greta missed him sadly. She missed his happy singing.
Now the only songs she heard were the Baron's laments and her mother's pleading, "When are you going to set your wedding date, Greta?"
To the Baron she replied as sympathetically as she could. To her mother she continued to answer, "Give me a little more time."
At last, however, both Fru Hansson and the Baron began to be annoyed. They wanted to send out wedding invitations. They could not understand why Greta kept delaying the wedding date. And poor Greta realized that she could not delay it much longer, that she must soon give in.
Erik, however, had not forgotten his decision to ask help of Herr Banker. He was, in fact, going that very evening to Herr Banker's home in Stockholm. But all day long, he and his schoolmates were busy sightseeing in the historic city.