children. In the wild wood-path they met the forest bailiff, who knew Ib; and by his help, Ib and Christine both arrived at home, where their friends had been very anxious about them. They were pardoned and forgiven, although they had indeed both deserved to get into trouble; firstly, because they had let the sucking-pig fall into the water, and secondly, because they had run away.
Christine was taken back to her father on the heath, and Ib remained in the farm-house by the wood. The first thing he did in the evening was to bring forth out of his pocket the nut, in which 'the best thing of all' was said to be enclosed. He placed it carefully between the door and the door-frame, and then shut the door so as to break the nut; but there was not much kernel in it. The nut looked as if it were filled with snuff or black rich earth; it was what we call hollow, or worm-eaten.
'Yes, that's exactly what I thought,' said Ib. 'How could the very best thing be contained in this little nut? And Christine will get just as little out of her two nuts, and will have neither fine clothes nor golden carriage.'
And winter came on, and the new year began; indeed, several years went by.
Ib was now to be confirmed, and the clergyman lived a long way off. About this time the boatman one day visited Ib's parents, and told them that Christine was now going into service, and that she had been really fortunate in getting a remarkably good place, and falling into worthy hands.
'Only think!' he said; 'she is going to the rich innkeeper's, in the inn at Herning, far towards the west. She is to assist the hostess in keeping the house; and afterwards, if she takes to it well, and stays to be confirmed there, the people are going to keep her with them.'
And Ib and Christine took leave of one another. People called them sweethearts; and at parting, the girl showed Ib that she had still the two nuts which he had given her long ago, during their wanderings in the forest; and she told him, moreover, that in a drawer she had carefully kept the little wooden shoes which he had carved as a present for her in their childish days. And thereupon they parted.
