Life seemed irrelevant; successseemed idle. Well
come in for a bite if it isnt inconvenient. Niels was untying his horses from the
fence in order to leave againwhen he saw Mr. Vogelseemed to enjoy it; she looked at
him sideways with a quietsmile . Then she bowled him over as if hewere a
child.
When they reached Ellens yard, the girl stepped out
of the house.
Then both laughed; and Niels, too, felt atease. I
have the horses to look after, Niels said.
He wished to flee; but thestrength had gone out of
his limbs. Then she bowled him over as if hewere a child. All through the winter
Niels worked at clearing yard and field, atsquaring and fitting timbers
She rode over to Lunds to ask them to drive for
adoctor.
No doubt herhusband, then her lover, had seemed the
fairy prince to her.
He wanted to get away and lookedhelplessly at the
crowd.
Lunds voice shrilled out, betraying
undisguisedalarm.
For the first time she hadsmiled and even laughed.
Somehow Niels felt that a barrier had arisen between him and hisfriend. So far they
had had their interests in common.
When the grown-ups had finished their supper, they
made room forthe children.
Amundsen came somewhat closer before he
replied.
The airwas strangely quiet for a summer day in the
north.
It wasnot lonely now; it was peopled with dreams. I
have no intention of selling, Niels said. He never spoke a word beyond what was
exactly neededto convey his meaning . She rode over to Lunds to ask them to drive
for adoctor. Oh, mamma, her husband broke in, how you talk! Wevethree acres of
potatoes in; and the crop is sold already for twentycents a bushel. You see, he
said, I have a brother living in Minnesota who isvery well off. Niels frowned in
rebellion; but he asked, though ungraciously.