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She wanted to begin her new life with a service in the old church. "I should love to go to church," she said to Ingmar, never thinking that it might be embarrassing for him be seen there with her. She was all devotion and gratitude! Ingmar's first impulse was to say that she couldn't; he felt somehow that he had not the courage to face the curious glances and gossiping tongues of these people.
"How I have longed that you might come!" she said. Ingmar's heart began to beat faster at the thought of her being so pleased with him. "Why, Brita, have you really been longing for me?" he said, quite moved. "I have wanted so much to ask your forgiveness."
"I'd just like to know," said Ingmar. Then the old man began unfolding a big plan he had in mind: Ingmar was to persuade Tims Halvor to put up a sawmill below the rapids, and afterward lease it to him. For many years the old man's dream had been to find a way by which Big Ingmar's son might come into his own again. Ingmar stood quietly looking down at the foaming rapids.
Again a tremor passed through Ingmar's body; his lips quivered, and he tried to say something. "You needn't say anything now," said the old peasant. "That will keep till another time." He withdrew a few paces, then suddenly turned back. "I hear that folks are saying you could take over the farm if you cared to. It would be the greatest service you could render this parish."
Karin and Halvor were perplexed at Ingmar's show of temper; since telling him that about Gertrude, they could not seem to get anywhere near him. "Let Hellgum talk to you," pleaded Karin. "Oh, I'll let him talk to me," said Ingmar, "but first I'd like to know just where I stand." "Surely, Ingmar, you must know that we wish you well!" "But Hellgum is to run the sawmill?"
There was one thing, however, of which Ingmar was certain: if all this misery was to be forced upon him, Hellgum should not escape with his skin. He went down to Strong Ingmar's but in the hope of meeting the preacher. When he got to the door, he caught the sound of loud and angry voices. There seemed to be a number of visitors inside, so he turned back at once.
We will do all that we can for the Ingmarssons." "Thank you," said Karin. The two women talked over what had best be done for Ingmar's welfare. Meantime, Storm took the boy with him to the classroom, and gave him a seat next to Gertrude. During the whole of the first day Ingmar never said a word.
But they could get nowhere, for the dancers followed each other so closely that no one who had not been there at the start could squeeze in between them. The old man stopped short, rapped on the fender with his bow, and said in a commanding voice: "Room must be made for Big Ingmar's son when there's any dancing in my shack!"
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