Väsyneen haudalla: Alkuperäinen novelli

On the edge of a quiet lake stands a striking red‑painted house, its wide eaves and towering lindens hinting at the prosperity of its owner. Antti Niemeläinen, a sixty‑year‑old widower, has built his wealth through hard work and a stern, uncompromising character that earns the respect of the local community. He lives with his two children, the beautiful and spirited twenty‑two‑year‑old Maria and her thirteen‑year‑old brother Heikki, while the memory of their mother, Leena, still lingers in the empty rooms.

One bright May afternoon Maria, left alone with the elderly caretaker, hums cheerful tunes while polishing rooms and washing dishes, savoring the carefree rhythm of youth. When she playfully challenges the caretaker’s superstitions, the old woman peers at Maria’s palm and predicts a marriage that will place the young woman in a great house as its mistress. Their quiet reverie is broken by the sudden arrival of a small boat, its lone passenger revealed as Ojalan Kaarlo, a figure Maria has not seen for weeks, hinting at a possible new direction for her life.