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Updated: June 5, 2025
"There's a deal of gossip about," was all he said. "If only you keep her and don't have the same bad luck that I had. I had a sweetheart who was a farmer's daughter, but she died before we were married." "Is that true, Father?" broke out Ditte, proud of her father's standing. "What do you think of him, my girl?" asked Lars Peter, when his brother had gone. "Picked up a bit, hasn't he?"
Lars Peter stared at them for a moment, as if he could not take in what they had said, then set off at a run; Ditte followed him into the stable. There stood Klavs, looking very miserable; the poor beast still trembled when they spoke to it; its body was badly cut. Lars Peter's face was gray. "He may thank the Lord that he's not here now!" he said to Ditte.
And how awful he could be in his rage it made her flesh creep, when thinking of it. She certainly would be careful not to come up against him again. On the days when Ditte did not go to school, there were thousands of things for her to do. She had to look after the little ones, care for the sheep and hens too, and gather nettles in a sack for the pigs.
Ditte nodded and followed him out to the cart. He turned and set the horse in motion, but suddenly he stopped. "You know all about it, better than any one else, Ditte," said he. "You can clear your mother." He waited quietly, without looking at her, and listened. There was no answer. Then he turned the cart slowly round and began to unharness.
Ditte gave it willingly, and took care to have it ready for him after all, he was a man! Lars Peter was really ashamed of his trip to town, and not least of all that he had been made such a fool of. The stupid part of it was that he remembered so little of what had happened. Where had he spent the night and in what society?
"Ay, 'tis all very well for you," said the old woman "you've got sight and good legs, the whole world's afore you. But I've only the grave to look forward to." "Do you want to die?" asked Ditte, "and go to old Grandfather Sören?" Indeed, no, Granny did not wish to die. But she could not help thinking of the grave; it drew her and yet frightened her.
It was beyond Maren unless the child had imagined it all. Ditte kept close to the old woman, constantly taking hold of her chin. "Now I know how sorry you'll be to lose me altogether," she said quietly. Maren raised her face: "Do you think you'll soon be called away?" Ditte shook her head so vehemently that Granny felt it.
"Very well, then, but be careful with the fire and don't use too much sugar." Then they drove away. Lars Peter was going to the shore to fetch fish as usual, but would first drive Sörine into town, where she would dispose of the month's collection of butter and eggs, and buy in what could not be got from the grocer in the hamlet. Ditte listened to the cart until she dropped asleep again.
Ditte tried to get them away, but they were hungry. "You shall have some too," said the bailiff's wife, "but sit down on that bench and be good; you're in my way." They were each given a piece of cake, and then seated at the scoured table.
"We'll only be fined for every day; and then one day they'll come and fetch me," said Ditte bitterly. "They won't easily take you away by force. Somebody else would have something to say to that." Lars Peter nodded threateningly. But Ditte would not she would take her chance. "I've just as much right to be there as the others," she said stubbornly. "Ay, ay, that's so.
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