Part 30 (1/2)

”Ay, what did he say? He thought it good and right that you should stand up for your little brothers and sister. But he did not care to be mixed up in the affair, and after all 'tis not to be wondered at.”

”Why not? He knows how it all happened--and he's so truthful!”

”Hm--well--truthful! When a well-to-do farmer's son's concerned, then----. He's all right, but he's got his living to make. He's afraid of losing his post, if he gets up against the farmers, and they hang together like peas in a pod. He advised me to let it drop--especially as we're leaving the place. Nothing would come of it but trouble and rows again. And maybe it's likely enough. They'd get their own back at the auction--agree not to bid the things up, or stay away altogether.”

”Then you didn't go to the police about it?”

”Ay, but I did. But he thought too there wasn't much to be made of the case. Oh, and the schoolmaster said you needn't go to school for the rest of the time--he'd see it was all right. He's a kind man, even if he is afraid of his skin.”

Ditte was not satisfied. It would have done the big boy good to be well punished. He had been the first to attack Kristian, and had afterwards kicked her in her eye with his wooden shoe, because she had stood up for her brother. And she had been certain in her childish mind that this time they would get compensation--for the law made no difference whoever the people were.

”If I'd been a rich farmer's daughter, and he had come from the Crow's Nest, what then?” she asked hoa.r.s.ely.

”Oh, he'd have got a good thras.h.i.+ng--if not worse!” said the father.

”That's the way we poor people are treated, and can only be thankful that we don't get fined into the bargain.”

”If you meet the boy, won't you give him a good thras.h.i.+ng?” she asked shortly afterwards.

”I'd rather give it to his father--but it's better to keep out of it. We're of no account, you see!”

Kristian came in through the kitchen door. ”When I'm bigger, then I'll creep back here at night and set fire to his farm,” said he, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes.

”What's that you say, boy--d'you want to send us all to jail?”

shouted Lars Peter, aghast.

”'Twould do them good,” said Ditte, setting to work again. She was very dissatisfied with the result of her father's visit.

”When're you going to arrange about the auction?” she said stiffly.

”They'll see to that,” answered Lars Peter quickly, ”I've seen the clerk about it. He was very kind.” Lars Peter was grateful for this, he did not care to go to the magistrate.

”Ay, he's glad to get rid of us,” said Ditte harshly. ”That's what they all are. At school they make a ring and sing about a crow and an owl and all ugly birds! and the crow and his young steal the farmer's chickens, but then the farmer takes a long stick and pulls down the Crow's Nest. Do you think I don't know what they mean?”

Lars Peter was silent, and went back to his work. He too felt miserable now.

But in the evening, as they sat round the lamp, talking of the future, all unpleasantness was forgotten. Lars Peter had been looking round for a place to settle down in, and had fixed on the fis.h.i.+ng-hamlet where he used to buy fish in the old days. The people seemed to like him, and had often asked him why he didn't settle down there. ”And there's a jolly fellow there, the inn-keeper, he can do anything. He's rough till you get to know him, but he's got a kind heart. He's promised to find me a couple of rooms, until we can build a place for ourselves--and help me to a share in a boat. What we get from the auction ought to be enough to build a house.”

”Is that the man you told us about, who's like a dwarf?” asked Ditte with interest.

”Ay, he's like a giant and a dwarf mixed together--so to say--he might well have had the one for a father and the other for a mother.

He's hunch-backed in front and behind, and his face as black as a crow's, but he can't help that, and otherwise he's all right. He's a finger in everything down there.”

Ditte shuddered. ”Sounds like a goblin!” said she.

Lars Peter was going in for fis.h.i.+ng now. He had had a great deal to do in this line during his life, but he himself had never gone out; his fingers itched to be at it. Ditte too liked the thought of it.

Then she would be near the sea again, which she dimly remembered from her childhood with Granny. And they would have done with everything here, and perhaps get rid of the rag and bone name, and shake off the curse.

Then they had to decide what to take with them. Now that it came to the point, it was dreadful to part with one's possessions. When they had gone through things together, and written on Kristian's slate what was to be sold, there wasn't much put down. They would like to take it all with them.

”We must go through it again--and have no nonsense,” said Lars Peter. ”We can't take the whole bag of tricks with us. Money'll be needed too--and not so little either.”