Then Th.o.r.e says, "A sharp cut mends sooner than a tear, and you will find no scar upon me."
Ole: "I did not know the lad that time. Now I see that things prosper under his hand; Autumn answers to Spring; he has money at his finger ends, and I should like to get hold of him."
Ovind looks at his father, and he at the mother, she from them to the schoolmaster, and at last all eyes were fixed upon him.
"Ole means that he has a large farm--"
Ole interrupts: "A large farm but ill cultivated;--I cannot do more, I am old, and my feet refuse to obey my commands, but it would repay anyone to have a pull up there."
"The largest farm in the district, and no mistake!" says the schoolmaster.
"The largest farm in the district; that is just the misfortune, for great shoes won"t keep on; it is all right to have a good gun, but you must be able to lift it." (With a quick glance at Ovind,) "You could perhaps give me a lift could you?"
"To manage the farm?"
"Just so; you should have the farm."
"Should I GET the farm?"
"Just so; and so you would have the charge of it."
"But?--"
"Will you not?"
"Yes, of course."
"Yes yes, yes yes, then it is settled, said the hen, when she flew on to the water."
"But?----"
Ole looks inquiringly at the schoolmaster.
"Ovind wants to know if he is to have Marit?"
Ole quickly, "Marit into the bargain, Marit into the bargain!"
Ovind jumped up and laughed for joy, rubbed his hands, and ran about, repeating continuously, "Marit into the bargain! Marit into the bargain!"
Th.o.r.e laughed in deep chuckles; the mother sat up in the corner, with eyes constantly fixed on her son, till the tears came.
Ole, very eagerly: "What do you think of the farm?"
"It"s excellent soil!"
"Excellent, isn"t it?"
"And matchless pastures!"
"Matchless pastures! Will it carry through?"
"It shall be the best farm in the district!"
"The best farm in the district? Do you think so? Do you mean it?"
"As true as I stand here."
"Just as I said!"
They both of them spoke equally quickly, and corresponded to each other like a pair of wheels.
"But the money, you see, the money? I have no money."
"We shall get on slowly without money, but still we shall get on!"
"We shall get on! To be sure we shall get on! But things would improve much quicker if we HAD money you say?"
"A very great deal quicker."
"A great deal? We should have had money; yes, yes; but one can chew without all one"s teeth; he who drives only with oxen still gets on."
The mother stood and winked at Th.o.r.e, who often glanced up quickly at her as he sat and rocked himself backwards and forwards, stroking his hands down over his knees; the schoolmaster blinked at him.
Th.o.r.e cleared his throat a little, and tried to begin, but Ole and Ovind were talking so incessantly, laughing and making such a noise, that it was impossible for any one else to be heard.
"Could you be quiet a little, Th.o.r.e has something to say," breaks in the schoolmaster, at which they stop and look at Th.o.r.e.
At last he begins in a low tone, "It has happened that at this place we have had a mill, and of late years it has happened we have had two.
From year to year we have always had a penny or two from these mills; but neither my father nor I have touched the money, excepting that time Ovind was away. The schoolmaster had it in charge, and he says it has prospered,--but now it is best that Ovind should get it for Nordistuen."
The mother stood in the corner, making herself quite little, as with a face glowing with pleasure she gazed at Th.o.r.e, who, on his part, sat immoveable, and looking almost stupid; Ole Nordistuen sat in front of him with gaping mouth; Ovind was the first to recover himself from the surprise, and breaking out: "Good luck attends me!" went across the room to his father, clapped him on the shoulder. "Oh father!" said he, rubbed his hands, and went back again.
"How much money will it be?" Ole asked at last, speaking in a low tone to the schoolmaster.
"Oh, not so very little."
"A few hundred?"
"More than that."
"More than that? Ovind, more than that! Good gracious, what a farm it will be!" He rose up and laughed aloud.
"I must go up with you to see Marit," said Ovind, "we"ll take the chaise that is standing outside, and be quick there."
"Yes, quick, quick! Do you, then, want everything quick?"
"Yes, quick and rash."