"Tell us, what was it?" Herr Tyberg struck in.
Again came a titter from the chimney-corner. The jungfru shot the children and Herr Tyberg each a glance that scared them into silence.
"The third was a boy called Noah. And d'you know, Frua, he was so good at fishing, and brought home such big catches that both me and his mother was thankful to him. He became a priest in Halland, and every year he sent his folks a big barrel of salted salmon."
"Oh, speaking of salmon" The Lieutenant started to say something about their ordering another firkin of salmon, but couldn't get a word in for the jungfru.
"The next was a boy named Shem," she rattled on. "He was as great a hunter as Noah was a fisher. Oh, you'd ought t've seen all the grouse and hares he brought home! And he became a priest, too, and got a vicarage down in Skåne; and every winter he sent home a reindeer he'd shot himself."
After Shem she took breath and looked round. Her hearers sat silent and subdued. None thought of interrupting her.
"The one that came after the three boys was a girl whose name was Sara. And I'd be willing to swear before God and man, that never have I seen any one with such a knack at putting up pickles and making jam and fruit juice. All the same, she didn't get married; she went to Stockholm and kept house for her brother the Court Chaplain.
