Ronia, The Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren

Author:Astrid Lindgren [Lindgren, Astrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-19T07:00:00+00:00

Ten

Matt was not to be seen in the stone hall for the next few days, nor was he at the Wolfs Neck when the children were exchanged. Lovis was there instead to receive her daughter. She was supported by Fooloks and Jep, and they had Birk with them. Borka and Undis were waiting with their robbers beyond the Wolfs Neck, and Undis, full of anger and triumph, burst out as soon as she saw Lovis. “That child-robber Matt—I can well understand he’s too ashamed to show his face!”

Lovis was too proud to answer. She drew Ronia to her and was about to move away without a word. She had thought a lot about the reason her daughter had put herself in Borka’s hands, but at this meeting she was beginning to see something. They were looking

at each other, Ronia and Birk, as if they were alone at the Wolf’s Neck and in the world. Yes, no one could help seeing that these two had a bond between them.

Undis noticed at once, and she did not like what she saw. She caught hold of Birk fiercely.

“What is there between you?”

“She is my sister,” said Birk. “And she saved my life.”

Ronia leaned against Lovis and cried. “Just as Birk saved mine,” she muttered.

But Borka was turning scarlet with anger.

“Has my son been going behind my back and keeping company with my enemy’s offspring?”

“She is my sister,” said Birk again, looking at Ronia.

“Sister!” shouted Undis. “Oh, yes, we know what that will mean in a year or two!”

She seized Birk and tried to pull him away.

“Don’t touch me,” said Birk. “I’ll go by myself, and I won’t have your hands on me.”

He turned and went, and there came a cry of misery from Ronia.

“Birk!”

But he had gone.

When Lovis was alone with Ronia, she wanted to ask a few questions, but she had no chance.

“Don’t talk to me,” Ronia said.

So Lovis left her in peace, and they walked home in silence.

Noddle-Pete greeted Ronia in the stone hall as if she had been rescued from the brink of death. “I’m glad you’re alive,” he said. “Poor child, I’ve been so afraid for you!”

But Ronia went off and lay down silently on her bed, drawing the curtains around her.

“There’s nothing but misery in Matt’s Fort,” said Noddle-Pete, shaking his head gloomily. Then he whispered to Lovis, “I’ve got Matt in my bedroom. But he just lies there staring and never says a word. He doesn’t want to get up, and he doesn’t want to eat. What will we do with him?”

“He’ll come when he’s hungry enough,” said Lovis.

But she was worried, and on the fourth day she went to Noddle-Pete’s room and spoke her mind.

“Come and eat, Matt! Stop sulking! Everyone’s sitting at the table, waiting for you.”

Matt came at last, glum and so thin that he was scarcely recognizable. He sat down at the table without a word and began to eat. All his robbers were silent too. It had never been so silent in the stone hall.

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