Growth of the Soil

s beast, and costs too much to feed; Isak is taking it down

oubt her own reasons for getting Isak o

ition; 'twill fetch a good price at this time of year. You take him down to the vill

says

doesn't make troubl

ade no

out now this last week, a

knife, hung it in a sheath at h

trifle short in the leg; when it ran, it crushed down the undergrowth with its chest; it was like a ra

n't get mad with

takes it that way, I'll just have to slaug

nd the bull were out of sight, and she could give way to a groan without fear. Little Eleseus can talk a little already;

e wall to see the time. Never a cry, hardly a movement; the struggle is in her vitals-a burden is loosened and glides from her. Almost at the same moment she hears a strange cry in the bed, a blessed little voice; poor thing,

e cry down there in the bed grows louder, she raises herself once more

so. It was hardly an hour since he had left. In less tha

ed yearling bull. The beast could hardly walk; it had

ed Inger. She herself was

lage. Then, when he got back, it had broken loose and took a deal of time to find. But he had managed somehow, and had sold for a good pr

, asked what it had cost; little Sivert was allowed to sit on its back. "I shall miss the b

cases and bins of potatoes left to grow. Isak sowed more corn this year than last, and did all he could to

ge in her figure, taking out a little from time to time, and finally discarding th

asn't anything happ

ot thi

, what w

k, how long d'you think it'll take yo

you had your trouble-

at was

ou're not hurt

en thinking, we ou

pig. I've thought of that myself each spring. But we'll need to have more potatoes first, and more of

d be nice to

A

The others come home in the evening. Inger at once sees there are two missing, and out goes Isak in search. Isak's first thought is to be thankful it is Sunday, so he is not called away from his work and losing time. He tramps off-there is an endless range of ground to be searched; and, meanwhile, the house is all anxiety. Mother hushes the children with brief words; there are two sheep missing, and they must be good. All

ck fast in a cleft of rock, with a broken leg and lacerated udder. It must have been there some time, for, despite its wounds, the poor thing has nibbled the grass down to the roots as far

ghs! Isak wears leather braces; he takes them off now and fastens them round the sheep's middle, as a su

witching the foot of the wounded leg; it is the fracture aching as it grows t

olk themselves. Oh, they are not trifles after all, but things of fate,

been curious, wondering what her man was after with all this-now, she seemed for the most part busied with her own work, and asked no questions. Inger is busy as ever, but she has taken to singing, which is something new, and she is teaching Eleseus an evening prayer; this also is something new. Isak misses h

een welcome, but now it is different. Inger greets her from the first with some ill-

be coming just at the

th delica

d'you

e to be christened. Ho

at matter you might have s

H

ore ground, and going to build again, by the look of things-there's no end to things with t

lf," says Inger

s were with you here; it's a pleasure and delight for me to see. As for Goldenhorn

ooks up with tears in her eyes; never in all her humble life did she hear such a thing-'tis like church and organ music, says Ol

he talks to Isak, and

ought up the land fo

t for nothing, then? Th

ke it fr

is the better for it now. Feels a man again.

ey've no call to be gra

you build

know. Nothing

re. Painted doors to the house, and a clock on the wa

d all the same, and says to Inger: "Couldn't you make a bit o

Inger, "for I've ch

's not a new grand house, why, 'twill be a new big barn, I dare say; and why not? With all these f

ings looking your wa

n up the lot-Heaven forgive me I should say the word. 'Tis all in His hand and almighty power. But we'

ch fisheries; 'tis almost a wonder how he can find a way to spend all he has. The women talk of Uncle Sivert, an

a bit of a barn with a threshin

do that way. Fore-thought and back-thought and all as it should be. There's not a

something foolishly with fine words: "As to that new house of mine, there

or?" says Oline,

rowing corn on the place if

ing as could be but you have

. The talk between the other two some

re's the cream to come from? F

eak of such a thing. Not a word of cream nor custard either-an old c

y: "Here am I doing nothing middle of the day, and

'll need a mighty lot

"Tis like as if ther

d that. In the evening, Oline must go out and see how their live stock has grown: cows, a bull, two calves, an

e stays

le of something with her. Isak is working in the quarry,

k again, steps into the house, a

the quarry where Isak was at work, and the childr

d'you want

thing. Only I didn't se

down as if her legs refuse to carry her. Her manner is intended

o longer. Her face is all t

by Os-Anders. Ay, 'twa

.. wha

t ha

asks Oline in a st

er eyes wild. "I'll break your face

"Mind what you're doing, woman! I know what I know about you and your doings!" Inger stri

, a great strong creature armed with a huge wooden ladle, heavy as a club. Oline was bruised al

ad before I've done with you." She was certain of it now. Oline kne

. "Huh! Look to your own. W

er own strength. But she threatens still-glares into the other's eyes and swears she has not fini

he falls back on curses and abuse. Oline heaves herself up to the bench again, her face all blue and yellow, swollen and

vil!" s

what you've been doing. You've found that little bit of a gr

ly. "I'll say no more-but you wait-there'll be no fine

ake it from

You'll see what

ething almost gentle in her cold cruelty, but she is bitterly dangerous. "Where's th

nk I've stol

w best what

he very sheep it was cut from. Oline asks quietly, smoothly: "

ep with their lambs. "And you mind and care and look to what you're s

be silenced. "My mouth, eh? And what of your own, my dear?" She poin

alls her a lump of blubber-"a lump of dog's blubber

o more guilt in anything than I hav

? Why, what's a h

. The ver

u-get out!"

t hare. I'll have you punished; I'

s it priso

ll that's here. Heavens, woman, what have I ever done to you? Is it my fault that your children never got on in the world, and turned out badly, every one of them?

y times, and all she had was her children, such as they were; she made much of them, an

en! They were a bright host of angels compared with yours. You dare to speak of my children? Seven bles

that was sent to p

er," answers Oline. "And she's in Bergen now; liv

ls-what did th

s one of yours now lying buried out there

you go!" shrieks Inger again

feet. Her stolid indifference paralyses Inger, who

as for you, turning your own kin out of doo

s, that's all y

the hour, Oline laughs scornfully, making Inger wilder than ever. At last both calm down a little, and Oline makes ready to go. "I've a l

e-if you want to tidy yourself," she says. Oline too thinks it as well to make herself as decent as may be, but cann

eye. No, not that, the other one;

one you're pointing

your mouth. Are you afraid o

s the patient herself,

herself, and quite peaceable now. "About Isak

know?" as

came and

did he

y? He was speechl

le

ult," wails Inger

I may never have m

ders, anyhow, b

, d

tician, is Oline, and quick to find expedients; she speaks now as if in sympathy

" Oline thinks she might be able to help, and be a saviour to them in distress. S

ops suddenly as if to

't care for

don't I? How could y

I kno

in the world I do feel an

And when I think how you sent that hare for nothing else but to r

Oline. "Is it

ou have, and I'll not trust you. And you'd steal all the wool, too, if you

re to think of such a

l the same to her. She can go and stay with her son Nils, as she has always done. But now that Inger is to be sent away to prison, it will be

She cries and shakes h

ing in her sleep, and m

her. "'Tis more than's

in

at way without a bit

rry. She goes nearer, and hears the children playing with little stones. Isak is sitting d

he ground; the cross is thrown down now, and where it stood the turf has been lifted, and the groun

isturbed by Oline; she stays there now because the cattle have not yet co