Did the aged
woman, then at the close of her life, recognise anything of her
own youth in the girl? Outwardly too they resembled each other.
Helene was dark, as Fru Hejberg had been; was about the same
height, with the same figure, but stronger; had a large mouth,
large grey eyes like hers, into which the same roguish look would
start. But the greatest likeness was to be found in their natures:
in Fru Hejberg's expression when she was quiet and serious; in a
certain motherliness which was the salient feature in her nature.
"What a healthy girl!" said she; bade some one bring Helene to
her, and drawing her towards her, kissed her on the forehead.
Helene and her companion had crossed to the other side of the
hill, for he positively must see the "Buckthorn Swamp"; but when
they got down there he did not know it again: it was covered by
luxuriant woods.
"Yes! It is old Helgesen who deserves the credit of that," she
said. "He noticed that an artificial embankment had converted this
great flat into a swamp, so he cut through it. I was only a child
then, but I had my share in it. They gave me a bit of ground down
by the river to plant Kohl Kabi in.
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