"
"That may be so," said the boy, "but all the same you should go there.
You shall see that it will be well for you."
"We can try, but it is doubtful that they will even let us enter,"
observed the two little girls as they walked up to the house and
knocked.
The master was standing by the fire thinking of the horse when he heard
the knocking. He stepped to the door to see what was up, thinking all
the while that he would not let himself be tempted into admitting any
wayfarer. As he fumbled the lock, a gust of wind came along, wrenched
the door from his hand and swung it open. To close it, he had to step
out on the porch, and, when he stepped back into the house, the two
little girls were standing within.
They were two poor beggar girls, ragged, dirty, and starving--two little
tots bent under the burden of their beggar's packs, which were as large
as themselves.
"Who are you that go prowling about at this hour of the night?" said the
master gruffly.
The two children did not answer immediately, but first removed their
packs. Then they walked up to the man and stretched forth their tiny
hands in greeting.
"We are Anna and Britta Maja from the Engaerd," said the elder, "and we
were going to ask for a night's lodging."
He did not take the outstretched hands and was just about to drive out
the beggar children, when a fresh recollection faced him.
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