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Andresen is no fool; he has taken over the place on lease for the meanwhile, and manages the business himself. Gone through the stock in hand, and found a deal of unsalable truck in Eleseus' store, even to such things as toothbrushes and embroidered table centres; ay, and stuffed birds on springs that squeaked when you pressed in the right place.
There was no arguing with Oline, she bewildered her adversaries with talk and cast them down. When she learned that Uncle Sivert had sent for Eleseus, she grasped at that too, and made her own advantage of it: "There you are, and see if I was talking nonsense. Here's old Sivert calling up his kinsfolk and longing for a sight of his own flesh and blood; ay, he's nearing his end!
When he took his leave, he asked Barbro to go part of the way home with him. But Barbro, thank you, was not inclined that way. "Is that the way they do things where you've been," she asked "for the ladies to escort the gentlemen home?" That was a nasty hit for Eleseus; he turned red, and understood he had offended her.
The investigation took some time. Inger was called up and examined privately; she denied nothing. The grave in the wood was opened, and its contents removed, the body being sent for examination. The little body it was dressed in Eleseus' christening robe, and a cap sewn over with beads. Isak seemed to find speech again. "Ay," said he, "it's as bad as well can be with us now.
There was not so much in her daily life wherein she could improve; true, she might bury her gold ring deep in the bottom of a clothes chest, and she could write to Eleseus and tell him to be converted too; after that, there was nothing more she could find beyond doing her work well and not sparing herself.
He had been looking forward to Inger's delight when she saw it; now, Eleseus and Sivert played with it, and it was a joy to them. And Isak, watching them, forgot his trouble for the moment. Moreover, Oline had a message from the Lensmand; the State had at last given its decision in the matter of the land at Sellanraa. Isak had only to go down to the office and pay the amount.
But his father, never understanding it all in the least, opened her eyes and ears one day and said: "Look you here. Here's all that is left of the money from that mine." "That's all?" said she. "And what's come of the rest?" "Eleseus, he's had the rest." And she clasped her hands at that and declared it was time Eleseus began to use his wits. Poor Eleseus, all set on end and frittered away.
"Here's visitors indeed!" says Brede, showing Isak and Eleseus into the room with the new lamp. "And I'd never thought to see. Isak, you're never going away yourself, and all?" "Nay, only to the smith's for something, 'tis no more." "Ho! 'Tis Eleseus, then, going off south again?"
"Well, there's but nine there now." Eleseus counted again, and thought for a moment inside his little head; then he said: "Yes, but then Os-Anders had one to take away; that makes ten." There was silence for quite a while after that. Then little Sivert must try to count as well, and says after his brother: "That makes ten." Silence again. At last Oline felt she must say something.
It was not the way at Sellanraa to show one's feelings overmuch, and Eleseus dreaded the moment when he would have to say good-bye. He was well equipped now; again his mother had given him a stock of woven stuff for underclothes, and his father had commissioned some one to hand him money as he went out of the door. Money could Isak really spare such a thing as money?
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