Part 6 (1/2)

The house was cold as they entered it, and Maren put the little one straight to bed. Then having gathered sticks for the fire, she put on water for the coffee, talking to herself all the while. ”Ugh, just so; but who's to blame? The innocent must suffer, to make the guilty speak.”

”What did you say, Granny?” asked Ditte from the alcove.

”'Twas only I'm thinking your father'll soon find his way down here after this.”

A trap came hurrying through the dark and stopped outside. In burst the owner of the Sand farm. There was no good in store for them; his face was red with anger and he started abusing them almost before he got inside the door. Maren had her head well wrapped up against the cold, and pretended to hear nothing. ”Well, well, you're a sight for sore eyes,” said she, smilingly inviting him in.

”Don't suppose that I've come to make a fuss of you, you crafty old hag!” stormed Anders Olsen in his thin cracked voice. ”No, I've come to fetch you, I have, and that at once. So you'd better come!”

seizing her by the arm.

Maren wrenched herself out of his grasp. ”What's wrong with you?”

asked she, staring at him in amazement.

”Wrong with me?--you dare to ask that, you old witch, you. Haven't you been up to the farm this afternoon--dragging the brat with you?

though you were bought and paid to keep off the premises. Made trouble you have, you old hag, and bewitched my wife, so she's dazed with pain. But I'll drag you to justice and have you burned at the stake, you old devil!” He foamed at the mouth and shook his clenched fist in her face.

”So you order folks to be burnt, do you?” said Maren scornfully.

”Then you'd best light up and stoke up for yourself as well.

Seemingly you've taken more on your back than you can carry.”

”What do you mean by that?” hissed the farmer, gesticulating, as if prepared at any moment to pounce upon Maren and drag her to the trap. ”Maybe it's a lie, that you've been to the farm and scared my wife?” He went threateningly round her, but without touching her.

”What have you to do with my back?” shouted he loudly, with fear in his eyes. ”D'you want to bewitch me too, what?”

”'Tis nothing with your back I've to do, or yourself either. But all can see that the miser's cake'll be eaten, ay, even by crow and raven if need be. Keep your strength for your young wife--you might overstrain yourself on an old witch like me. And where'd she be then, eh?”

Anders Olsen had come with the intention of throwing the old witch into the trap and taking her home with him--by fair means or foul--so that she could undo her magic on the spot. And there he sat on the woodbox, his cap between his hands, a pitiful sight. Maren had judged him aright, there was nothing manly about him, he fought with words instead of fists. The men of the Sand farm were a poor breed, petty and grasping. This one was already bald, the muscles of his neck stood sharply out, and his mouth was like a tightly shut purse. It was no enviable position to be his wife; the miser was already uppermost in him! Already he was s.h.i.+vering with cold down his back--having forgotten his fear for his wife in his thought for himself.

Maren put a cup of coffee on the kitchen table, then sat down herself on the steps leading to the attic with a cracked cup between her fingers. ”Just you drink it up,” said she, as he hesitated--”there's no-one here that'll harm you and yours.”

”But you've been home and made mischief,” he mumbled, stretching out his hand for the cup; he seemed equally afraid of drinking or leaving the coffee.

”We've been at the farm we two, 'tis true enough. The bad storm drove us in, 'twas sore against our will.” Maren spoke placidly and with forbearance. ”And as to your wife, belike it made her ill, and couldn't bear to hear what a man she's got. A kind and good woman she is--miles too good for you. She gave us nought but the best, while you're just longing to burn us. Ay, ay, 'twould be plenty warm enough then! For here 'tis cold, and there's no-one to bring a load of peat to the house.”

”Maybe you'd like _me_ to bring you a load?” snapped the farmer, closing his mouth like a trap.

”The child's yours for all that; she's cold and hungry, work as I may.”

”Well, she was paid for once and for all.”

”Ay, 'twas easy enough for you! Let your own offspring want; 'tis the only child, we'll hope, the Lord'll trust you with.”

The farmer started, as if awakened to his senses. ”Cast off your spell from my wife!” he shouted, striking the table with his hands.

”I've nought against your wife. But just you see, if the Lord'll put a child in your care. 'Tis not likely to me.”

”You leave the Lord alone--and cast off the spell,” he whispered hoa.r.s.ely, making for the old woman, ”or I'll throttle you, old witch that you are.” He was gray in the face, and his thin, crooked fingers clutched the air.