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The very thought that had occurred to Ingmar the moment before, now came to Karin. She, too, wondered whether she should or should not speak. But she felt that she would have to hold to the truth, even if it hurt Ingmar; therefore she said that if people would not hearken to the voice of God, one could not help but think them ungodly. Then Halvor joined in.
"I believe I have managed this farm as well as any one who has borne the name of Ingmar Ingmarsson," he mused. "I can get more for my hay than father ever got for his, and I'm not satisfied to let the weed-choked ditches which crossed the farm in his time remain. What's more, no one can say that I misuse the woodlands as he did by converting them into burn-beaten land.
And what wonderful things had happened at home while he was up in the forest! Ingmar had heard only a few vague rumours about Hellgum's teachings; but now Karin and Halvor told him of the great happiness that had come to them, and of how they and their friends were trying to help one another to walk in the ways of God. "We are sure you will want to join us," said Karin.
So long as I believed there was no other course open to me, it wasn't so bad; but now that I know you could have been mine, I can't " "Why Ingmar! I came here to bring you happiness." Meanwhile, the folks at the house had become impatient, and had gone out on the porch, where they were calling: "Ingmar! Ingmar!" "Yes, and there's the bride, too, waiting for me!" he said mournfully.
"Tell her that Ingmar Ingmarsson is about to sit down to the wedding feast," said the master. "He has no time to talk to her." On receiving this answer, she sighed and went her way. When she came again it was late in the evening, as the sun was setting. This time she gave her message to a child that was swinging on the gate. The child ran straight to the house and told the bride.
"Yes, I think there is a woman coming out to-day," the guard answered. "One who has been in for infanticide," Ingmar explained. "Oh, that one! Yes, she'll be out this forenoon." Ingmar stationed himself under a tree, to wait. Not for a second did he take his eyes off the prison gate. "I dare say there are some among those who have gone in there that haven't fared any too well," he thought.
"Then the old man looks up and says: 'This is a difficult problem, my son. I guess I'll go in and talk it over with the other Ingmarssons. "So father goes back to the living-room, while I remain in the kitchen. There I sit waiting and waiting, but father does not return. Then, after hours and hours of this, I get cross and go to him. 'You must have patience, little Ingmar, says father.
"If you become a school-teacher, he'll never let you have the farm," the old man went on. "You think not?" "Think think? Well it's plain how you have been brought up. Have you ever driven a plow?" "No." "Or tended a kiln, or felled a huge pine?" Ingmar sat there looking quite placid, but the table kept crumbling under his fingers. Finally the old man began to take notice.
"Do you call this revenge, Ingmar?" asked Gertrude, in dismay. "What else should I call it? Why didn't you bring me this money at once?" "I wanted to wait until the day of your wedding." "If you had only come before, I'm sure I could have bought back the farm from Berger Sven Persson, and then I would have married you." "Yes, I knew that." "And yet you come on my wedding day, when it's too late!"
Karin sent the maids into the kitchen to make fresh coffee and to prepare a special supper. Then she took the pastor's big fur coat and hung it in front of the fire to dry, lighted the hanging lamp, and moved her spinning wheel up to the table, so that she could talk with the menfolk. "I couldn't have had a better welcome had Big Ingmar himself been alive," thought the pastor.
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