“the best of all things for you，” replied thegypsy. So Ib held the nut very tight.
then the woman promised to lead the children tothe right path， that they might find their way home： and they went forward certainly in quiteanother direction to the one they meant to take; therefore no one ought to speak against thewoman， and say that she wanted to steal the children. In the wild wood-path they met aforester who knew Ib， and， by his help， Ib and Christina reached home， where they foundevery one had been very anxious about them. They were pardoned and forgiven， althoughthey really had both done wrong， and deserved to get into trouble; first， because they hadlet the sucking-pig fall into the water; and， secondly， because they had run away. Christinawas taken back to her father's house on the heath， and Ib remained in the farm-house on theborders of the wood， near the GREat land ridge.
the first thing Ib did that evening was to take out of his pocket the little black nut， in whichthe best thing of all was said to be enclosed. He laid it carefully between the door and thedoor-post， and then shut the door so that the nut cracked directly. But there was not muchkernel to be seen; it was what we should call hollow or worm-eaten， and looked as if it hadbeen filled with tobacco or rich black earth. “It is just what I expected!” exclaimed Ib. “Howshould there be room in a little nut like this for the best thing of all? Christina will find her twonuts just the same; there will be neither fine clothes or a golden carriage in them.”
Winter came; and the new year， and indeed many years passed away; until Ib was oldenough to be confirmed， and， therefore， he went during a whole winter to the clergyman ofthe nearest village to be prepared.
One day， about this time， the boatman paid a visit to Ib's parents， and told them thatChristina was going to service， and that she had been remarkably fortunate in obtaining agood place， with most respectable people. “Only think，” he said， “She is going to the richinnkeeper's， at the hotel in Herning， many miles west from here. She is to assist the landladyin the housekeeping; and， if afterwards she behaves well and remains to be confirmed， thepeople will treat her as their own daughter.”
So Ib and Christina took leave of each other. People already called them “the betrothed，”and at parting the girl showed Ib the two nuts， which she had taken care of ever since thetime that they lost themselves in the wood; and she told him also that the little wooden shoeshe once carved for her when he was a boy， and gave her as a present， had been carefullykept in a drawer ever since. And so they parted.
After Ib's confirmation， he remained at home with his mother， for he had become aclever shoemaker， and in summer managed the farm for her quite alone. His father had beendead some time， and his mother kept no farm servants. Sometimes， but very seldom， heheard of Christina， through a postillion or eel-seller who was passing. But she was well off withthe rich innkeeper; and after being confirmed she wrote a letter to her father， in which was akind message to Ib and his mother. In this letter， she mentioned that her master and mistresshad made her a present of a beautiful new dress， and some nice under-clothes. This was， ofcourse， pleasant news.
One day， in the following spring， there came a knock at the door of the house where Ib'sold mother lived; and when they opened it， lo and behold， in stepped the boatman andChristina. She had come to pay them a visit， and to spend the day. A carriage had to comefrom the Herning hotel to the next village， and she had taken the opportunity to see herfriends once more. She looked as elegant as a real lady， and wore a pretty dress， beautifullymade on purpose for her. There she stood， in full dress， while Ib wore only his workingclothes. He could not utter a word; he could only seize her hand and hold it fast in his own，but he felt too happy and glad to open his lips. Christina， however， was quite at her ease;she talked and talked， and kissed him in the most friendly manner. Even afterwards， whenthey were left alone， and she asked， “Did you know me again， Ib?” he still stood holding herhand， and said at last， “You are become quite a grand lady， Christina， and I am only arough working man; but I have often thought of you and of old times.” Then they wanderedup the GREat ridge， and looked across the stream to the heath， where the little hills werecovered with the flowering broom. Ib said nothing; but before the time came for them topart， it became quite clear to him that Christina must be his wife： had they not even inchildhood been called the betrothed? To him it seemed as if they were really engaged to eachother， although not a word had been spoken on the subject. They had only a few more hoursto remain together， for Christina was obliged to return that evening to the neighboringvillage， to be ready for the carriage which was to start the next morning early for Herning. Iband her father accompanied her to the village. It was a fine moonlight evening; and when theyarrived， Ib stood holding Christina's hand in his， as if he could not let her go. His eyesbrightened， and the words he uttered came with hesitation from his lips， but from thedeepest recesses of his heart： “Christina， if you have not become too grand， and if you canbe contented to live in my mother's house as my wife， we will be married some day. But wecan wait for a while.”
“Oh yes，” she replied; “Let us wait a little longer， Ib. I can trust you， for I believe that Ido love you. But let me think it over.” then he kissed her lips; and so they parted.