"The next was also a girl, and Rebecca was her name. I must say that she was the one who understood me the least. She had such a good head for learning she could have been a priest like her brothers. And the way she could make up poetry was something wonderful! Folks said there was nobody in all Sweden beat her writing cradle songs. Just the same she got married, but 'twas only to a school teacher."
At that point the jungfru was interrupted by the maid coming in with fresh coffee, and they must all have a second cup.
"I wonder if there was any one in that batch who could make a decent cup of coffee?" Lieutenant Lagerlöf ventured.
"The Lieutenant takes the words out of my mouth!" exclaimed the jungfru. "It may sound queer, but the one who had a real turn for cooking was the fourth boy, Isaac. He was so clever at whipping up a sauce and basting a roast that one could have right good help from him round the stove."
"He must have excelled, though, at preparing baby-food," Herr Tyberg observed.
Snickers went up not only from the chimney-corner, but from all parts of the room. Fru Lagerlöf, however, kept a straight face.
"What a wonderful memory Jungfru Anna must have to be able to remember all that!" she said, so as to keep the old girl in good humour.
Ordinarily the jungfru was quick to take offence, but
