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diff --git a/31496.txt b/31496.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b8b73b --- /dev/null +++ b/31496.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9480 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ditte: Girl Alive!, by Martin Andersen Nexo + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ditte: Girl Alive! + +Author: Martin Andersen Nexo + +Release Date: March 4, 2010 [EBook #31496] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DITTE: GIRL ALIVE! *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + DITTE: GIRL ALIVE! + + + BY + MARTIN ANDERSON NEXOe + + + _Translated from the Danish_ + + + NEW YORK + HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1920 + BY + HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + + + + + +CONTENTS + +PART I + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I DITTE'S FAMILY TREE 3 + + II BEFORE THE BIRTH 10 + + III A CHILD IS BORN 22 + + IV DITTE'S FIRST STEP 26 + + V GRANDFATHER STRIKES OUT AFRESH 33 + + VI THE DEATH OF SOeREN MAN 39 + + VII THE WIDOW AND THE FATHERLESS 47 + + VIII WISE MAREN 52 + + IX DITTE VISITS FAIRYLAND 69 + + X DITTE GETS A FATHER 79 + + XI THE NEW FATHER 87 + + XII THE RAG AND BONE MAN 103 + + XIII DITTE HAS A VISION 115 + + XIV AT HOME WITH MOTHER 124 + + XV RAIN AND SUNSHINE 138 + + XVI POOR GRANNY 144 + + XVII WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY 151 + + XVIII THE RAVEN FLIES BY NIGHT 163 + + XIX ILL LUCK FOLLOWS THE RAVEN'S CALL 172 + + + +PART II + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I MORNING AT THE CROW'S NEST 183 + + II THE HIGHROAD 192 + + III LARS PETER SEEKS THE KING 203 + + IV LITTLE MOTHER DITTE 219 + + V THE LITTLE VAGABOND 230 + + VI THE KNIFE-GRINDER 239 + + VII THE SAUSAGE-MAKER 250 + + VIII THE LAST OF THE CROW'S NEST 267 + + IX A DEATH 284 + + X THE NEW WORLD 291 + + XI GINGERBREAD HOUSE 303 + + XII DAILY TROUBLES 311 + + XIII DITTE'S CONFIRMATION 320 + + + + + + +PART I + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DITTE'S FAMILY TREE + + +It has always been considered a sign of good birth to be able to +count one's ancestors for centuries back. In consequence of this, +Ditte Child o' Man stood at the top of the tree. She belonged to one +of the largest families in the country, the family of Man. + +No genealogical chart exists, nor would it be easy to work it out; +its branches are as the sands of the sea, and from it all other +generations can be traced. Here it cropped out as time went on--then +twined back when its strength was spent and its part played out. The +Man family is in a way as the mighty ocean, from which the waves +mount lightly towards the skies, only to retreat in a sullen flow. + +According to tradition, the first mother of the family is said to +have been a field worker who, by resting on the cultivated ground, +became pregnant and brought forth a son. And it was this son who +founded the numerous and hardy family for whom all things prospered. +The most peculiar characteristic of the Man family in him was that +everything he touched became full of life and throve. + +This boy for a long time bore the marks of the clinging earth, but +he outgrew it and became an able worker of the field; with him began +the cultivation of the land. That he had no father gave him much +food for thought, and became the great and everlasting problem of +his life. In his leisure he created a whole religion out of it. + +He could hold his own when it came to blows; in his work there was +no one to equal him, but his wife had him well in hand. The name Man +is said to have originated in his having one day, when she had +driven him forth by her sharp tongue, sworn threateningly that he +was master in his own house, "master" being equivalent to "man." +Several of the male members of this family have since found it hard +to bow their pride before their women folk. + +A branch of the family settled down on the desert coast up near the +Cattegat, and this was the beginning of the hamlet. It was in those +times when forest and swamp still made the country impassable, and +the sea was used as a highway. The reefs are still there on which +the men landed from the boats, carrying women and children ashore; +by day and by night white seagulls take turns to mark the place--and +have done so through centuries. + +This branch had in a marked degree the typical characteristics of +the family: two eyes--and a nose in the middle of their faces; one +mouth which could both kiss and bite, and a pair of fists which they +could make good use of. In addition to this the family was alike in +that most of its members were better than their circumstances. One +could recognize the Man family anywhere by their bad qualities being +traceable to definite causes, while for the good in them there was +no explanation at all: it was inbred. + +It was a desolate spot they had settled upon, but they took it as it +was, and gave themselves up patiently to the struggle for existence, +built huts, chopped wood and made ditches. They were contented and +hardy, and had the Man's insatiable desire to overcome difficulties; +for them there was no bitterness in work, and before long the result +of their labors could be seen. But keep the profit of their work +they could not; they allowed others to have the spending of it, and +thus it came about, that in spite of their industry they remained as +poor as ever. + +Over a century ago, before the north part of the coast was +discovered by the land folk, the place still consisted of a cluster +of hunch-backed, mildewed huts, which might well have been the +originals, and on the whole resembled a very ancient hamlet. The +beach was strewn with tools and drawn-up boats. The water in the +little bay stank of castaway fish, catfish and others which, on +account of their singular appearance, were supposed to be possessed +of devils, and therefore not eaten. + +A quarter of an hour's walk from the hamlet, out on the point, lived +Soeren Man. In his young days he had roamed the seas like all the +others, but according to custom had later on settled himself down +as a fisherman. Otherwise, he was really more of a peasant and +belonged to that branch of the family which had devoted itself to +the soil, and for this had won much respect. Soeren Man was the son +of a farmer, but on reaching man's estate, he married a fisher girl +and gave himself up to fishing together with agriculture--exactly as +the first peasant in the family had done. + +The land was poor, two or three acres of downs where a few sheep +struggled for their food, and this was all that remained of a large +farm which had once been there, and where now seagulls flocked +screaming over the white surf. The rest had been devoured by the +ocean. + +It was Soeren's, and more particularly Maren's foolish pride that his +forefathers had owned a farm. It had been there sure enough three or +four generations back; with a fairly good ground, a clay bank +jutting out into the sea. A strong four-winged house, built of +oak--taken from wrecks--could be seen from afar, a picture of +strength. But then suddenly the ocean began to creep in. Three +generations, one after the other, were forced to shift the farm +further back to prevent its falling into the sea, and to make the +moving easier, each time a wing was left behind; there was, of +course, no necessity for so much house-room, when the land was eaten +by the sea. All that now remained was the heavy-beamed old +dwelling-house which had prudently been placed on the landward side +of the road, and a few sandhills. + +Here the sea no longer encroached. Now the best had gone, with the +lands of Man, it was satiated and took its costly food elsewhere; +here, indeed, it gave back again, throwing sand up on to the land, +which formed a broad beach in front of the slope, and on windy days +would drift, covering the rest of the field. Under the thin +straggling downs could still be traced the remains of old plowland, +broken off crudely on the slope, and of old wheeltracks running +outwards and disappearing abruptly in the blue sky over the sea. + +For many years, after stormy nights with the sea at high tide, it +had been the Man's invariable custom each morning to find out how +much had again been taken by the sea; burrowing animals hastened the +destruction; and it happened that whole pieces of field with their +crops would suddenly go; down in the muttering ocean it lay, and on +it the mark of harrow and plow and the green reflection of winter +crops over it. + +It told on a man to be witness of the inevitable. For each time a +piece of their land was taken by the sea with all their toil and +daily bread on its back, they themselves declined. For every fathom +that the ocean stole nearer to the threshold of their home, nibbling +at their good earth, their status and courage grew correspondingly +less. + +For a long time they struggled against it, and clung to the land +until necessity drove them back to the sea. Soeren was the first to +give himself entirely up to it: he took his wife from the hamlet and +became a fisherman. But they were none the better for it. Maren +could never forget that her Soeren belonged to a family who had owned +a farm; and so it was with the children. The sons cared little for +the sea, it was in them to struggle with the land and therefore they +sought work on farms and became day-laborers and ditchers, and as +soon as they saved sufficient money, emigrated to America. Four sons +were farming over there. They were seldom heard of, misfortune +seemed to have worn out their feeling of relationship. The daughters +went out to service, and after a time Soeren and Maren lost sight of +them, too. Only the youngest, Soerine, stayed at home longer than was +usual with poor folks' children. She was not particularly strong, +and her parents thought a great deal of her--as being the only one +they had left. + +It had been a long business for Soeren's ancestors to work themselves +up from the sea to the ownership of cultivated land; it had taken +several generations to build up the farm on the Naze. But the +journey down hill was as usual more rapid, and to Soeren was left the +worst part of all when he inherited; not only acres but possessions +had gone; nothing was left now but a poor man's remains. + +The end was in many ways like the beginning. Soeren was like the +original man in this also, that he too was amphibious. He understood +everything, farming, fishing and handicraft. But he was not sharp +enough to do more than just earn a bare living, there was never +anything to spare. This was the difference between the ascent and +the descent. Moreover, he--like so many of the family--found it +difficult to attend to his own business. + +It was a race which allowed others to gather the first-fruits of +their labors. It was said of them that they were just like sheep, +the more the wool was clipped, the thicker it grew. The downfall had +not made Soeren any more capable of standing up for himself. + +When the weather was too stormy for him to go to sea, and there was +nothing to do on his little homestead, he sat at home and patched +seaboots for his friends down in the hamlet. But he seldom got paid +for it. "Leave it till next time," said they. And Soeren had nothing +much to say against this arrangement, it was to him just as good as +a savings bank. "Then one has something for one's old days," said +he. Maren and the girl were always scolding him for this, but Soeren +in this as in everything else, did not amend his ways. He knew well +enough what women were; they never put by for a rainy day. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BEFORE THE BIRTH + + +The children were now out of their care--that is to say, all the +eight of them. Soeren and Maren were now no longer young. The wear +and tear of time and toil began to be felt; and it would have been +good to have had something as a stand-by. Soerine, the youngest, was +as far as that goes, also out of their care, in that she was grown +up and ought long ago to have been pushed out of the nest; but there +was a reason for her still remaining at home supported by her old +parents. + +She was very much spoiled, this girl--as the youngest can easily be; +she was delicate and bashful with strangers. But, as Maren thought, +when one has given so many children to the world, it was pleasant to +keep one of them for themselves; nests without young ones soon +become cold. Soeren in the main thought just the same, even if he did +grumble and argue that one woman in the house was more than enough. +They were equally fond of children. And hearing so seldom from the +others they clung more closely to the last one. So Soerine remained +at home and only occasionally took outside work in the hamlet or at +the nearest farms behind the downs. She was supposed to be a pretty +girl, and against this Soeren had nothing to say: but what he could +see was that she did not thrive, her red hair stood like a flame +round her clear, slightly freckled forehead, her limbs were fragile, +and strength in her there was none. When speaking to people she +could not meet their eyes, her own wandered anxiously away. + +The young boys from the hamlet came wooing over the downs and hung +round the hut--preferably on the warm nights; but she hid herself +and was afraid of them. + +"She takes after the bad side of the family," said Soeren, when he +saw how tightly she kept her window closed. + +"She takes after the fine side," said the mother then. "Just you +wait and see, she will marry a gentleman's son." + +"Fool," growled Soeren angrily and went his way: "to fill both her +own and the girl's head with such rubbish!" + +He was fond enough of Maren, but her intellect had never won his +respect. As the children grew up and did wrong in one way or +another, Soeren always said: "What a fool the child is--it takes +after its mother." And Maren, as years went on, bore patiently with +this; she knew quite as well as Soeren that it was not intellect that +counted. + +Two or three times in the week, Soerine went up town with a load of +fish and brought goods home again. It was a long way to walk, and +part of the road went through a pine wood where it was dark in the +evening and tramps hung about. + +"Oh, trash," said Soeren, "the girl may just as well try a little of +everything, it will make a woman of her." + +But Maren wished to shelter her child, as long as she could. And so +she arranged it in this way, that her daughter could drive home in +the cart from Sands farm which was then carrying grain for the +brewery. + +The arrangement was good, inasmuch as Soerine need no longer go in +fear of tramps, and all that a timid young girl might encounter; +but, on the other hand, it did not answer Maren's expectations. Far +from having taken any harm from the long walks, it was now proved +what good they had done her. She became even more delicate than +before, and dainty about her food. + +This agreed well with the girl's otherwise gentle manners. In spite +of the trouble it gave her, this new phase was a comfort to Maren. +It took the last remaining doubt from her heart: it was now +irrevocably settled. Soerine was a gentlefolks' child, not by birth, +of course--for Maren knew well enough who was father and who mother +to the girl, whatever Soeren might have thought--but by gift of +grace. It did happen that such were found in a poor man's cradle, +and they were always supposed to bring joy to their parents. +Herrings and potatoes, flounders and potatoes and a little bacon in +between--this was no fare for what one might call a young lady. +Maren made little delicacies for her, and when Soeren saw it, he +spat as if he had something nasty in his mouth and went his way. + +But, after all one can be too fastidious, and when at last the girl +could not keep down even an omelet, it was too much of a good thing +for Maren. She took her daughter up to a wise woman who lived on the +common. Three times did she try her skill on Soerine, with no avail. +So Soeren had to borrow a horse and cart and drove them in to the +homeopathist. He did it very unwillingly. Not because he did not +care for the girl, and it might be possible, as Maren said, that as +she slept, an animal or evil spirit might have found its way into +her mouth and now prevented the food from going down. Such things +had been heard of before. But actually to make fools of themselves +on this account--rushing off with horse and cart to the doctor just +as the gentry did, and make themselves, too, the laughing stock of +the whole hamlet, when a draught of tansy would have the same +effect--this was what Soeren could not put up with. + +But, of course, although the daily affairs were settled by Soeren +Man, there were occasions when Maren insisted on having her +way--more so when it seriously affected _her_ offspring. Then she +could--as with witchcraft--suddenly forget her good behavior, brush +aside Soeren's arguments as endless nonsense, and would stand there +like a stone wall which one could neither climb over, nor get round. +Afterwards he would be sorry that the magic word which should have +brought Maren down from her high and mightiness, failed him at the +critical moment. For she _was_ a fool--especially when it affected +her offspring. But, whether right or wrong, when she had her great +moments, fate spoke through her mouth, and Soeren was wise enough to +remain silent. + +This time it certainly seemed as if Maren was in the right; for the +cure which the homeopathist prescribed, effervescent powder and +sweet milk, had a wonderful effect. Soerine throve and grew fat, so +that it was a pleasure to see her. + +There can be too much of a good thing, and Soeren Man, who had to +provide the food, was the first to think of this. Soerine and her +mother talked much together and wondered what the illness could be, +could it be this or could it be that? There was a great to-do and +much talking with their heads together; but, as soon as Soeren +appeared, they became silent. + +He had become quite unreasonable, going about muttering and +swearing. As though it was not hard enough already, especially for +the poor girl! He had no patience with a sick person, beggar that he +was; and one day it broke out from him with bitterness and rage: +"She must be--it can be nothing else." + +But like a tiger, Maren was upon him. + +"What are you talking about, you old stupid? Have _you_ borne eight +children, or has the girl told you what's amiss? A sin and a shame +it is to let her hear such talk; but now it is done, you might just +as well ask her yourself. Answer your father, Soerine--is it true, +what he says?" + +Soerine sat drooping by the fireplace, suffering and scared. "Then it +would be like the Virgin Mary," she whispered, without looking up. +And suddenly sank down, sobbing. + +"There, you can see yourself, what a blockhead you are," said Maren +harshly. "The girl is as pure as an unborn child. And here you come, +making all this racket in the house, while the child, perhaps, may +be on the point of death." + +Soeren Man bowed his head, and hurried out on to the downs. Ugh! it +was just like thunder overhead. Blockhead she had called him--for +the first time in the whole of their life together; he would have +liked to have forced that word home again and that, at once, before +it stuck to him. But to face a mad, old wife and a howling girl--no, +he kept out of it. + +Soeren Man was an obstinate fellow; when once he got a thing into his +three-cornered head, nothing could hammer it out again. He said +nothing, but went about with a face which said: "Ay, best not to +come to words with women folk!" Maren, however, did not +misunderstand him. Well, as long as he kept it to himself. There was +the girl torturing herself, drinking petroleum, and eating soft soap +as if she were mad, because she had heard it was good for internal +weakness. It was too bad; it was adding insult to injury to be +jeered at--by her own father too. + +At that time he was as little at home as possible, and Maren had +no objection as it kept him and his angry glare out of their way. +When not at sea, he lounged about doing odd jobs, or sat gossiping +high up on the downs, from where one could keep an eye on every +boat going out or coming in. Generally, he was allowed to go in +peace, but when Soerine was worse than usual, Maren would come +running--piteous to see in her motherly anxiety--and beg him to +take the girl in to town to be examined before it was too late. +Then he would fall into a passion and shout--not caring who might +hear: "Confound you, you old nuisance--have you had eight children +yourself and still can't see what ails the girl?" + +Before long he would repent, for it was impossible to do without +house and home altogether; but immediately he put his foot inside +the door the trouble began. What was he to do? He had to let off +steam, to prevent himself from going mad altogether with all this +woman's quibbling. Whatever the result might be, he was tempted to +stand on the highest hill and shout his opinion over the whole +hamlet, just for the pleasure of getting his own back. + +One day, as he was sitting on the shore weighting the net, Maren +came flying over the downs: "Now, you had better send for the +doctor," said she, "or the girl will slip through our fingers. She's +taking on so, it's terrible to hear." + +Soeren also had himself heard moans from the hut; he was beside +himself with anger and flung a pebble at her. "Confound you, are you +deaf too, that you cannot hear what that sound means?" shouted he. +"See and get hold of a midwife--and that at once; or I'll teach +you." + +When Maren saw him rise, she turned round and ran home again. Soeren +shrugged his shoulders and fetched the midwife himself. He stayed +outside the hut the whole afternoon without going in, and when it +was evening he went down to the inn. It was a place within which he +seldom set his foot; there was not sufficient money for that; if +house and home should have what was due to it. With unaccustomed +shaking hand he turned the handle, opened the door with a jerk and +stood with an uncertain air in the doorway. + +"So, that was it, after all," said he with miserable bravado. And he +repeated the same sentence over and over again the whole evening, +until it was time to stumble home. + +Maren was out on the down waiting for him; when she saw the state he +was in, she burst into tears. "So, that was----" he began, with a +look which should have been full of withering scorn--but suddenly he +stopped. Maren's tears moved him strangely deep down under +everything else; he had to put his arms round her neck and join in +her tears. + +The two old people sat on the down holding each other until their +tears were spent. Already considerable evil had fallen in the path +of this new being; now fell the first tears. + +When they had got home and busied themselves with mother and child +and had gone to rest in the big double bed, Maren felt for Soeren's +hand. So she had always fallen asleep in their young days, and now +it was as if something of the sweetness of their young days rose up +in her again--was it really owing to the little lovechild's sudden +appearance, or what? + +"Now, perhaps, you'll agree 'twas as I told you all along," said +Soeren, just as they were falling asleep. + +"Ay, 'twas so," said Maren. "But how it could come about ... for men +folk...." + +"Oh, shut up with that nonsense," said Soeren, and they went to +sleep. + + * * * * * + +So Maren eventually had to give in. "Though," as Soeren said, "like +as not one fine day she'd swear the girl had never had a child." +Womenfolk! Ugh! there was no persuading them. + +Anyhow, Maren was too clever to deny what even a blind man could see +with a stick; and it was ever so much easier for her to admit the +hard truth; in spite of the girl's innocent tears and solemn +assurances, there was a man in the case all the same, and he +moreover, the farmer's son. It was the son of the owner of Sands +farm, whom Soerine had driven home with from the town--in fear of the +dark forest. + +"Ay, you managed it finely--keeping the girl away from vagabonds," +said Soeren, looking out of the corners of his eyes towards the new +arrival. + +"Rubbish! A farmer's son is better than a vagabond, anyway," +answered Maren proudly. + +After all it was she who was right; had she not always said there +was refinement in Soerine? There was blue blood in the girl! + +One day, Soeren had to put on his best clothes and off he went to +Sands farm. + +"'Twas with child she was, after all," said he, going straight to +the point. "'Tis just born." + +"Oh, is it," said the farmer's son who stood with his father on the +thrashing-floor shaking out some straw. "Well, that's as it may be!" + +"Ay, but she says you're the father." + +"Oh, does she! Can she prove it, I'd like to know." + +"She can take her oath on it, she can. So you had better marry the +girl." + +The farmer's son shouted with laughter. + +"Oh, you laugh, do you?" Soeren picked up a hayfork and made for the +lad, who hid behind the threshing-machine, livid with fear. + +"Look here," the boy's father broke in: "Don't you think we two old +ones had better go outside and talk the matter over? Young folk +nowadays are foolish. Whatever the boy's share in the matter may be, +I don't believe he'll marry her," began he, as they were outside. + +"That he shall, though," answered Soeren, threateningly. + +"Look you, the one thing to compel him is the law--and that she will +not take, if I know anything about her. But, I'll not say but he +might help the girl to a proper marriage--will you take two hundred +crowns once and for all?" + +Soeren thought in his own mind that it was a large sum of money for a +poor babe, and hurried to close the bargain in case the farmer might +draw back. + +"But, no gossip, mind you, now. No big talk about relationship and +that kind of thing," said the farmer as he followed Soeren out of the +gate. "The child must take the girl's name--and no claim on us." + +"No, of course not!" said Soeren, eager to be off. He had got the two +hundred crowns in his inner pocket, and was afraid the farmer might +demand them back again. + +"I'll send you down a paper one of these days and get your receipt +for the money," said the farmer. "It is best to have it fixed up all +right and legal." + +He said the word "legal" with such emphasis and familiarity that +Soeren was more than a little startled. + +"Yes, yes," was all Soeren said and slipped into the porch with his +cap between his hands. It was not often he took his hat off to any +one, but the two hundred crowns had given him respect for the +farmer. The people of Sands farm were a race who, if they did break +down their neighbor's fence, always made good the damage they had +done. + +Soeren started off and ran over the fields. The money was more than +he and Maren had ever before possessed. All he had to do now was to +lay out the notes in front of her so as to make a show that she +might be impressed. For Maren had fixed her mind on the farmer's +son. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A CHILD IS BORN + + +There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far +as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth. +Exactly the same number of both! One would almost think the old +saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own +star. In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on +plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest +instruments and peering out into the heavens. They watch and take +photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to +make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star. Another +celestial body--added to the milliard and a half already moving +gracefully round. + +Every second a human soul is born into the world. A new flame is +lit, a star which perhaps may come to shine with unusual beauty, +which in any case has its own unseen spectrum. A new being, fated, +perhaps, to bestow genius, perhaps beauty around it, kisses the +earth; the unseen becomes flesh and blood. No human being is a +repetition of another, nor is any ever reproduced; each new being is +like a comet which only once in all eternity touches the path of +the earth, and for a brief time takes its luminous way over it--a +phosphorescent body between two eternities of darkness. No doubt +there is joy amongst human beings for every newly lit soul! And, no +doubt they will stand round the cradle with questioning eyes, +wondering what this new one will bring forth. + +Alas, a human being is no star, bringing fame to him who discovers +and records it! More often, it is a parasite which comes upon +peaceful and unsuspecting people, sneaking itself into the +world--through months of purgatory. God help it, if into the bargain +it has not its papers in order. + +Soerine's little one had bravely pushed itself into the light of day, +surmounting all obstacles, denial, tears and preventatives, as a +salmon springs against the stream. Now she lay in the daylight, red +and wrinkled, trying to soften all hearts. + +The whole of the community had done with her, she was a parasite and +nothing else. A newly born human being is a figure in the +transaction which implies proper marriage and settling down, and the +next step which means a cradle and perambulator and--as it grows +up--an engagement ring, marriage and children again. Much of this +procedure is upset when a child like Soerine's little one is vulgar +enough to allow itself to be born without marriage. + +She was from the very first treated accordingly, without maudlin +consideration for her tender helplessness. "Born out of wedlock" +was entered on her certificate of birth which the midwife handed to +the schoolmaster when she had helped the little one into the world, +and the same was noted on the baptismal certificate. It was as if +they all, the midwife, the schoolmaster and the parson, leaders of +the community, in righteous vengeance were striking the babe with +all their might. What matter if the little soul were begotten by the +son of a farmer, when he refused to acknowledge it, and bought +himself out of the marriage? A nuisance she was, and a blot on the +industrious orderly community. + +She was just as much of an inconvenience to her mother as to all the +others. When Soerine was up and about again, she announced that she +might just as well go out to service as all her sisters had done. +Her fear of strangers had quite disappeared: she took a place a +little further inland. The child remained with the grandparents. + +No one in the wide world cared for the little one, not even the old +people for that matter. But all the same Maren went up into the +attic and brought out an old wooden cradle which had for many years +been used for yarn and all kinds of lumber; Soeren put new rockers, +and once more Maren's old, swollen legs had to accustom themselves +to rocking a cradle again. + +A blot the little one was to her grandparents too--perhaps, when all +is said and done, on them alone. They had promised themselves such +great things of the girl--and there lay their hopes--an illegitimate +child in the cradle! It was brought home to them by the women +running to Maren, saying: "Well, how do you like having little ones +again in your old days?" And by the other fishermen when Soeren Man +came to the harbor or the inn. His old comrades poked fun at him +good-naturedly and said: "All very well for him--strong as a young +man and all, Soeren, you ought to stand treat all round." + +But it had to be borne--and, after all, it could be got over. And +the child was--when one got one's hand in again--a little creature +who recalled so much that otherwise belonged to the past. It was +just as if one had her oneself--in a way she brought youth to the +house. + +It was utterly impossible not to care for such a helpless little +creature. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +DITTE'S FIRST STEP + + +Strange how often one bears the child while another cares for it. +For old Maren it was not easy to be a mother again, much as her +heart was in it. The girl herself had got over all difficulties, and +was right away in service in another county; and here was the babe +left behind screaming. + +Maren attended to it as well as she could, procured good milk and +gave it soaked bread and sugar, and did all she could to make up for +its mother. + +Her daughter she could not make out at all. Soerine rarely came home, +and preferably in the evening when no one could see her; the child +she appeared not to care for at all. She had grown strong and erect, +not in the least like the slender, freckled girl who could stand +next to nothing. Her blood had thickened and her manners were +decided; though that, of course, has happened before,--an ailing +woman transformed by having a child, as one might say, released from +witchcraft. + +Ditte herself did not seem to miss a mother's tender care: she grew +well in spite of the artificial food, and soon became so big that +she could keep wooden shoes on her small feet, and, with the help +of old Soeren's hand, walk on the downs. And then she was well looked +after. + +However, at times things would go badly. For Maren had quite enough +of her own work to do, which could not be neglected, and the little +one was everywhere. And difficult it was suddenly to throw up what +one had in hand--letting the milk boil over and the porridge +burn--for the sake of running after the little one. Maren took a +pride in her housework and found it hard at times to choose between +the two. Then, God preserve her: the little one had to take her +chance. + +Ditte took it as it came and could be thankful that she was with her +grandparents. She was an inquisitive little being, eager to meddle +with everything; and a miracle it was that the firewood did not fall +down. Hundreds of times in the day did she get into scrapes, +heedless and thoughtless as she was. She would rush out, and lucky +it was if there was anything to step on, otherwise she would have +fallen down. Her little head was full of bruises, and she could +never learn to look after herself in spite of all the knocks she +got. It was too bad to be whipped into the bargain! When the hurt +was very bad, Grandfather had to blow it, or Granny put the cold +blade of the bread-knife on the bruise to make it well again. + +"Better now," said she, turning a smiling face towards her granny; +the tears still hanging on the long lashes, and her cheeks +gradually becoming roughened by them. + +"Yes, dear," answered Maren. "But, Girlie must take care." + +This was her name in those days, and a real little girlie she was, +square and funny. It was impossible to be angry with her, although +at times she could make it somewhat difficult for the old ones. Her +little head would not accept the fact that there were things one was +not allowed to do; immediately she got an idea, her small hands +acted upon it. "She's no forethought," said Soeren significantly, +"she's a woman. Wonder if a little rap over the fingers after all +wouldn't----" + +But Maren ignored this. Took the child inside with her and +explained, perhaps for the hundredth time, that Girlie must not do +so. And one day she had a narrow escape. Ditte had been up to +mischief as usual in her careless way. But when she had finished, +she offered her little pouting mouth to the two old ones: "Kiss me +then--and say 'beg pardon'," said she. + +And who could resist her? + +"Now, perhaps, you'll say that she can't be taught what's right and +wrong?" said Maren. + +Soeren laughed: "Ay, she first does the thing, and waits till after +to think if it's right or wrong. She'll be a true woman, right +enough." + +At one time Ditte got into the habit of pulling down and breaking +things. She always had her little snub nose into everything, and +being too small to see what was on the table, she pulled it down +instead. Soeren had to get a drill and learn to mend earthenware to +make up for the worst of her depredations. A great many things fell +over Ditte without alarming her in the least. + +"She'll neither break nor bend--she's a woman all over," said Soeren, +inwardly rather proud of her power of endurance. But Maren had to be +ever on the watch, and was in daily fear for the things and the +child herself. + +One day Ditte spilled a basin of hot milk over herself and was badly +scalded; that cured her of inquisitiveness. Maren put her to bed and +treated her burns with egg-oil and slices of new potato; and it was +some time before Ditte was herself again. But when she was again +about, there was not so much as a scar to be seen. This accident +made Maren famous as a curer of burns and people sought her help for +their injuries. "You're a wise one," said they, and gave her bacon +or fish by way of thanks. "But 'tis not to be wondered at, after +all." + +The allusion to the fact that her mother had been a "wise woman" did +not please Maren at all. But the bacon and the herrings came to an +empty cupboard, and--as Soeren said: "Beggars cannot be choosers and +must swallow their pride with their food." + +Ditte shot up like a young plant, day by day putting forth new +leaves. She was no sooner in the midst of one difficult situation, +and her troubled grandparents, putting their heads together, had +decided to take strong measures, than she was out of it again and +into something else. It was just like sailing over a flat +bottom--thought Soeren--passing away under one and making room for +something new. The old ones could not help wondering if they +themselves and their children had ever been like this. They had +never thought of it before, having had little time to spend on their +offspring beyond what was strictly necessary; the one had quite +enough to do in procuring food and the other in keeping the home +together. But now they could not _help_ thinking; however much they +had to do, and they marveled much over many things. + +"'Tis strange how a bit of a child can open a body's eyes, for all +one's old. Ay, there's a lot to learn," said Maren. + +"Stupid," said Soeren. From his tone it could be gathered that he +himself had been thinking the same. + +Ditte was indeed full of character. Little as she had had to +inherit, she nevertheless was richly endowed; her first smile +brought joy; her feeble tears, sorrow. A gift she was, born out of +emptiness, thrown up on the beach for the wornout old couple. No one +had done anything to deserve her,--on the contrary, all had done +their utmost to put her out of existence. Notwithstanding, there she +lay one day with blinking eyes, blue and innocent as the skies of +heaven. Anxiety she brought from the very beginning, many footsteps +had trodden round her cradle, and questioning thoughts surrounded +her sleep. It was even more exciting when she began to take notice; +when only a week old she knew their faces, and at three she laughed +to Soeren. He was quite foolish that day and in the evening had to go +down to the tap-room to tell them all about it. Had any one ever +known such a child? She could laugh already! And when she first +began to understand play, it was difficult to tear oneself +away--particularly for Soeren. Every other moment he had to go in and +caress her with his crooked fingers. Nothing was so delightful as to +have the room filled with her gurgling, and Maren had to chase him +away from the cradle, at least twenty times a day. And when she took +her first toddling steps!--that little helpless, illegitimate child +who had come defiantly into existence, and who, in return for life +brightened the days of the two old wornout people. It had become +pleasant once more to wake in the morning to a new day: life was +worth living again. + +Her stumbling, slow walk was in itself a pleasure; and the +contemplative gravity with which she crossed the doorstep, both +hands full, trotted down the road--straight on as if there was +nothing behind her, and with drooping head--was altogether +irresistible. Then Maren would slink out round the corner and beckon +to Soeren to make haste and come, and Soeren would throw down his ax +and come racing over the grass of the downs with his tongue between +his lips. "Heaven only knows what she is up to now," said he, and +the two crept after her down the road. When she had wandered a +little distance, in deep thought, she would suddenly realize her +loneliness, and begin to howl, a picture of misery, left alone and +forsaken. Then the two old people would appear on the scene, and she +would throw herself into their arms overjoyed at finding them again. + +Then quite suddenly she got over it--the idea that things were gone +forever if she lost sight of them for a moment. She began to look +out and up into people's faces: hitherto, she had only seen the feet +of those who came within her horizon. One day she actually went off +by herself, having caught sight of the houses down in the hamlet. +They had to look after her more seriously now that the outside world +had tempted her. + +"We're not enough for her, seems like," said Soeren despondently, +"got a fancy for the unknown already." + +It was the first time she had turned away from them, and Soeren +recognized in that something of what he had experienced before, and +for a moment a feeling of loneliness came over him. But Maren, wise +as she had grown since the coming of the little one, again found a +way. She threw her kerchief over her head and went down to the +hamlet with Ditte, to let her play with other children. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GRANDFATHER STRIKES OUT AFRESH + + +All that Soeren possessed--with the exception of the house--was a +third share in a boat and gear. He had already, before Ditte came +into the world, let out his part of the boat to a young fisher boy +from the hamlet, who having no money to buy a share in a boat repaid +Soeren with half of his catch. It was not much, but he and Maren had +frugal habits, and as to Soeren, she occasionally went out to work +and helped to make ends meet. They just managed to scrape along with +their sixth share of the catch, and such odd jobs as Soeren could do +at home. + +Once again there was a little one to feed and clothe. For the +present, of course, Ditte's requirements were small, but her advent +had opened out new prospects. It was no good now to be content with +toiling the time away, until one's last resting-place was reached, +patiently thinking the hut would pay for the burial. It was not +sufficient to wear out old clothes, eat dried fish, and keep out of +the workhouse until they were well under the ground. Soeren and Maren +were now no longer at the end of things, there was one in the cradle +who demanded everything from the beginning, and spurred them on to +new efforts. It would never do to let their infirmity grow upon them +or allow themselves to become pensioners on what a sixth share of a +boat might happen to bring home. Duty called for a new start. + +The old days had left their mark on them both. They came into line +with the little one, even her childish cries under the low ceiling +carried the old couple a quarter of a century back, to the days when +the weight of years was not yet felt, and they could do their work +with ease. And once there, the way to still earlier days was not so +far--to that beautiful time when tiredness was unknown, and Soeren +after a hard day's work would walk miles over the common, to where +Maren was in service, stay with her until dawn, and then walk miles +back home again, to be the first man at work. + +Inevitably they were young again! Had they not a little one in the +house? A little pouting mouth was screaming and grunting for milk. +Soeren came out of his old man's habit, and turned his gaze once more +towards the sea and sky. He took back his share in the boat and went +to sea again. + +Things went tolerably well to begin with. It was summer time when +Ditte had pushed him back to his old occupation again; it was as if +she had really given the old people a second youth. But it was hard +to keep up with the others, in taking an oar and pulling up nets by +the hour. Moreover in the autumn when the herrings were deeper in +the sea, the nets went right down, and were often caught by the +heavy undertow, Soeren had not strength to draw them up like the +other men, and had to put up with the offer of lighter work. This +was humiliating; and even more humiliating was it to break down from +night watches in the cold, when he knew how strong he had been in +days gone by. + +Soeren turned to the memories of old days for support, that he might +assert himself over the others. Far and wide he told tales of his +youth, to all who would listen. + +In those days implements were poor, and clothes were thin, and the +winter was harder than now. There was ice everywhere, and in order +to obtain food they had to trail over the ice with their gear on a +wooden sledge right out to the great channel, and chop holes to fish +through. Woollen underclothing was unknown, and oilskins were things +none could afford; a pair of thick leather trousers were worn--with +stockings and wooden shoes. Often one fell in--and worked on in wet +clothes, which were frozen so stiff that it was impossible to draw +them off. + +To Soeren it was a consolation to dwell upon all this, when he had to +give up such strenuous work as the rowing over to the Swedish coast, +before he could get a good catch. There he would sit in the stern +feeling small and useless, talking away and fidgeting with the sails +in spite of the lack of wind. His partners, toiling with the heavy +oars, hardly listened to him. It was all true enough, they knew +that from their fathers, but it gained nothing in being repeated by +Soeren's toothless mouth. His boasting did not make the boat any +lighter to pull; old Soeren was like a stone in the net. + +Maren was probably the only one, who at her own expense could afford +to give a helping hand. She saw how easily he became tired, try as +he would to hide it from her--and she made up her mind to trust in +Providence for food. It was hard for him to turn out in the middle +of the night, his old limbs were as heavy as lead, and Maren had to +help him up in bed. + +"'Tis rough tonight!" said she, "stay at home and rest." And the +next night she would persuade him again, with another excuse. She +took care not to suggest that he should give up the sea entirely; +Soeren was stubborn and proud. Could she only keep him at home from +time to time, the question would soon be decided by his partners. + +So Soeren remained at home first one day and then another; Maren +said that he was ill. He fell easily into the trap, and when this +had gone on for some little time, his partners got tired of it, +and forced him to sell his part of the boat and implements. Now +that he was driven to remain at home, he grumbled and scolded, but +settled down to it after a while. He busied himself with odd jobs, +patched oilskins and mended wooden shoes for the fishermen and +became quite brisk again. Maren could feel the improvement, when +he good-naturedly began to chaff her again as before. + +He was happiest out on the downs, with Ditte holding his hand, +looking after the sheep. Soeren could hardly do without the little +one; when she was not holding his hand, he felt like a cripple +without his staff. Was it not he whom she had chosen for her first +smile, when but three weeks old! And when only four or five months +old dropped her comforter and turned her head on hearing his +tottering steps. + +"'Tis all very well for you," said Maren half annoyed. "'Tis you she +plays with, while I've the looking after and feeding of her; and +that's another thing." But in her heart she did not grudge him first +place with the little one; after all he was the man--and needed a +little happiness. + +There was no one who understood Ditte as did her grandfather. They +two could entertain each other by the hour. They spoke about sheep +and ships and trees, which Ditte did not like, because they stood +and made the wind blow. Soeren explained to her that it was God who +made the wind blow--so that the fishermen need not toil with their +oars so much. Trees on the contrary did no work at all and as a +punishment God had chained them to the spot. + +"What does God look like?" asked Ditte. The question staggered +Soeren. There he had lived a long life and always professed the +religion taught him in childhood; at times when things looked dark, +he had even called upon God; nevertheless, it had never occurred to +him to consider what the good God really looked like. And here he +was confounded by the words of a little child, exactly as in the +Bible. + +"God?" began Soeren hesitating on the word, to gain time. "Well, He's +both His hands full, He has. And even so it seems to us others, that +at times He's taken more upon Himself than He can do--and that's +what He looks like!" + +And so Ditte was satisfied. + +To begin with Soeren talked most, and the child listened. But soon it +was she who led the conversation, and the old man who listened +entranced. Everything his girlie said was simply wonderful, and all +of it worth repetition, if only he could remember it. Soeren +remembered a good deal, but was annoyed with himself when some of it +escaped his memory. + +"Never knew such a child," said he to Maren, when they came in from +their walk. "She's different from our girls somehow." + +"Well, you see she's the child of a farmer's son," answered Maren, +who had never got over the greatest disappointment of her life, and +eagerly caught at anything that might soften it. + +But Soeren laughed scornfully and said: "You're a fool, Maren, and +that's all about it." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE DEATH OF SOeREN MAN + + +One day Soeren came crawling on all fours over the doorstep. Once +inside, he stumbled to his feet and moved with great difficulty +towards the fireplace, where he clung with both hands to the +mantelpiece, swaying to and fro and groaning pitifully the while. He +collapsed just as Maren came in from the kitchen, she ran to him, +got off his clothes and put him to bed. + +"Seems like I'm done for now," said Soeren, when he had rested a +little. + +"What's wrong with you, Soeren?" asked Maren anxiously. + +"'Tis naught but something's given inside," said Soeren sullenly. + +He refused to say more, but Maren got out of him afterwards that it +had happened when drawing the tethering-peg out of the ground. +Usually it was loose enough. But today it was firm as a rock, as if +some one was holding it down in the earth. Soeren put the +tethering-rope round his neck and pulled with all his might, it did +give way; but at the same time something seemed to break inside him. +Everything went dark, and a big black hole appeared in the earth. + +Maren gazed at him with terror. "Was 't square?" asked she. + +Soeren thought it was square. + +"And what of Girlie?" asked Maren suddenly. + +She had disappeared when Soeren fainted. + +Maren ran out on the hills with anxious eyes. She found Ditte +playing in the midst of a patch of wild pansies, fortunately Maren +could find no hole in the ground. But the old rotten rope had +parted. Soeren, unsteady on his feet, had probably fallen backwards +and hurt himself. Maren knotted the rope together again and went +towards the little one. "Come along, dearie," said she, "we'll go +home and make a nice cup of coffee for Grandad." But suddenly she +stood transfixed. Was it not a cross the child had plaited of grass, +and set among the pansies? Quietly Maren took the child by the hand +and went in. Now she knew. + +Soeren stayed in bed. There was no outward hurt to be seen, but he +showed no inclination to get up. He hardly slept at all, but lay all +day long gazing at the ceiling, and fumbling with the bedclothes. + +Now and then he groaned, and Maren would hurry to his side. "What +ails you, Soeren, can't you tell me?" said she earnestly. + +"Ails me? Nothing ails me, Maren, but death," answered Soeren. Maren +would have liked to try her own remedies on him, but might just as +well spare her arts for a better occasion; Soeren had seen a black +hole in the ground; there was no cure for that. + +So matters stood. Maren knew as well as he, that this was the end; +but she was a sturdy nature, and never liked to give in. She would +have wrestled with God himself for Soeren, had there been anything +definite to fight about. But he was fading away, and for this there +was no cure; though if only the poison could be got out of his +blood, he might even yet be strong again. + +"Maybe 'tis bleeding you want." + +But Soeren refused to be bled. "Folks die quickly enough without," +said he, incredulous as he had always been. Maren was silent and +went back to her work with a sigh. Soeren never did believe in +anything, he was just as unbelieving as he had been in his young +days--if only God would not be too hard on him. + +At first Soeren longed to have the child with him always, and every +other minute Maren had to bring her to the bedside. The little one +did not like to sit quietly on a chair beside Grandad's bed, and as +soon as she saw a chance of escape, off she would run. This was +hardest of all to Soeren, he felt alone and forsaken, all was +blackness and despair. + +Before long, however, he lost all interest in the child, as he did +in everything else. His mind began to wander from the present back +to bygone days; Maren knew well what it meant. He went further and +still further back to his youth and childhood. Strange it was how +much he could remember things which otherwise had been forgotten. +And it was not rambling nonsense that he talked, but all true +enough; people older than he who came from the hamlet to visit him +confirmed it, and wondered at hearing him speak of events that must +have happened when he was but two or three years old. Soeren forgot +the latter years of his life, indeed he might never have lived them +so completely had they faded from his mind. + +This saddened Maren. They had lived a long life, and gone through so +much together, and how much more pleasant it would have been, if +they could have talked of the past together once more before they +parted. But Soeren would not listen, when it came to their mutual +memories. No, the garden on the old farm--where Soeren lived when +five years old--that he could remember! Where this tree stood, and +that--and what kind of fruit it bore. + +And when he had gone as far back as he could remember, his mind +would wander forward again, and in his delirium he would rave of his +days as a shepherd boy or sailor boy and heaven knows what. + +In his uneasy dreams he mixed up all his experiences, the travels of +his youth, his work and difficulties. At one minute he would be on +the sea furling sail in the storm, the next he would struggle with +the ground. Maren who stood over him listened with terror to all +that he toiled with; he seemed to be taking his life in one long +stride. Many were the tribulations he had been through, and of which +she now heard for the first time. When his mind cleared once more, +he would be worn out with beads of perspiration standing on his +forehead. + +His old partners came to see him, and then they went through it +again--Soeren _had_ to talk of old times. He could only say a few +words, weak as he was; but then the others would continue. Maren +begged them not to speak too much, as it made him restless, and he +would struggle with it in his dreams. + +It was worst when he imagined himself on the old farm; pitiful to +see how he fought against the sea's greedy advance, clutching the +bedclothes with his wasted fingers. It was a wearisome leave-taking +with existence, as wearisome as existence itself had been to him. + +One day when Maren had been to the village shop, Ditte ran out +screaming, as she came back. "Grandad's dead!" she burst out +sobbing. Soeren lay bruised and senseless across the doorstep to the +kitchen. He had been up on the big chest, meddling with the hands of +the clock. Maren dragged him to bed and bathed his wounds, and when +it was done he lay quietly following her movements with his eyes. +Now and then he would ask in a low voice what the time was, and from +this Maren knew that he was nearing his end. + +On the morning of the day he died he was altogether changed again. +It was as if he had come home to take a last farewell of everybody +and everything; he was weak but quite in his senses. There was so +much he wanted to touch upon once again. His talk jumped from one +thing to another and he seemed quite happy. For the first time for +many months he could sit on the edge of the bed drinking his morning +coffee, chatting to Maren whenever she came near. He was exactly +like a big child, and Maren could not but put his old head to hers +and caress it. "You've worn well, Soeren," said she, stroking his +hair--"your hair's as soft as when we were young." + +Soeren fell back, and lay with her hand in his, gazing silently at +her with worship in his faded eyes. "Maren, would you let down your +hair for me?" he whispered bashfully at last. The words came with +some difficulty. + +"Nay, but what nonsense!" said Maren, hiding her face against his +chest; "we're old now, you know, dear." + +"Let down your hair for me!" whispered he, persisting, and tried +with shaking fingers to loosen it himself. Maren remembered an +evening long ago, an evening behind a drawn-up boat on the beach, +and with sobs she loosened her gray hair and let it fall down over +Soeren's head, so that it hid their faces. "It's long and thick," he +whispered softly, "enough to hide us both." The words came as an +echo from their bygone youth. + +"Nay, nay," said Maren, crying, "it's gray and thin and rough. But +how fond you were of it once." + +With closed eyes Soeren lay holding Maren's hand. There was much to +do in the kitchen, and she tried again and again to draw her hand +away, but he opened his eyes each time, so she sat down, letting +the things look after themselves, and there she was with the tears +running down her furrowed face, while her thoughts ran on. She and +Soeren had lived happily together; they had had their quarrels, but +if anything serious happened, they always faced it together; neither +of them had lived and worked for themselves only. It was so strange +that they were now to be separated, Maren could not understand it. +Why could they not be taken together? Where Soeren went, Maren felt +she too should be. Perhaps in the place where he was going he needed +no one to mend his clothes and to see that he kept his feet dry, but +at least they might have walked hand in hand in the Garden of Eden. +They had often talked about going into the country to see what was +hidden behind the big forest. But it never came to anything, as one +thing or another always kept Maren at home. How beautiful it would +have been to go with Soeren now; Maren would willingly have made the +journey with him, to see what was on the other side--had it not been +for Ditte. A child had always kept her back, and thus it was now. +Maren's own time was not yet; she must wait, letting Soeren go alone. + +Soeren now slept more quietly, and she drew her hand gently out of +his. But as soon as she rose, he opened his eyes, gazing at Maren's +loosened hair and tear-stained face. + +"Don't cry, Maren," said he, "you and Ditte'll get on all right. +But do this for me, put up your hair as you did at our wedding, will +you, Maren?" + +"But I can't do it myself, Soeren," answered the old woman, +overwhelmed and beginning to cry again. But Soeren held to his point. + +Then Maren gave in, and as she could not leave Soeren alone for long, +she ran as fast as she could to the hamlet, where one of the women +dressed her thin gray hair in bridal fashion. On her return she +found Soeren restless, but he soon calmed down; he looked at her a +long time, as she sat crying by the bed with his hand in hers. He +was breathing with much difficulty. + +Then suddenly he spoke in a stronger voice than he had done for many +days. + +"We've shared good and bad together, Maren--and now it's over. Will +you be true to me for the time you have left?" He rose on his elbow, +looking earnestly into her face. + +Maren dried her bleared eyes, and looked faithfully into his. "Ay," +she said slowly and firmly--"no one else has ever been in my thought +nor ever shall be. 'Tis Christ Himself I take as a witness, you can +trust me, Soeren." + +Soeren then fell back with closed eyes, and after a while his hand +slipped out of hers. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE WIDOW AND THE FATHERLESS + + +After Soeren's death there were hard days in store for the two in the +hut on the Naze. Feeble as he had been, yet he had always earned +something, and had indeed been their sheet anchor. They were now +alone, with no man to work for them. Not only had Maren to make +things go as far as possible, but she had to find the money as well. +This was a task she had never done before. + +All they had once received for their share in the boat and its +fittings had gone too; and the funeral took what was left. Their +affairs could be settled by every one, and at the time of Soeren's +death there was much multiplying and subtracting in the homes round +about on Maren's behalf. But to one question there was no answer; +what had become of the two hundred crowns paid for Ditte for once +and for all? Ay, where had they gone? The two old people had bought +nothing new at that time, and Soeren had firmly refused to invest in +a new kind of fishing-net--an invention tried in other places and +said to be a great success. Indeed, there were cases where the net +had paid for itself in a single night. However, Soeren would not, and +as so much money never came twice to the hamlet in one generation, +they carried on with their old implements as usual. + +The money had certainly not been used, nor had it been eaten up, +that was understood. The two old folk had lived exactly as before, +and it would have been known if the money had gone up through the +chimney. There was no other explanation, than that Maren had put it +by; probably as something for Ditte to fall back upon, when the two +old ones had gone. + +There was a great deal of talking in the homes, mostly of how Maren +and Ditte were to live. But with that, their interest stopped. She +had grown-up children of her own, who were her nearest, and ought to +look after her affairs. One or two of them turned up at the funeral, +more to see if there was anything to be had, and as soon as Soeren +was well underground they left, practically vanishing without +leaving a trace, and with no invitation to Maren, who indeed hardly +found out where they lived. Well, Maren was not sorry to see the +last of them. She knew, in some measure, the object of her +children's homecoming; and for all she cared they might never tread +that way again--if only she might keep Ditte. Henceforth they were +the only two in the world. + +"They might at least have given you a helping hand," said the women +of the hamlet--"after all, you're their mother." + +"Nay, why so," said Maren. They had used her as a pathway to +existence--and it had not always been easy; perhaps they did not +thank her for their being here on earth, since they thought they +owed her nothing. One mother can care for eight children if +necessary, but has any one ever heard of eight children caring for +one mother? No, Maren was thankful they kept away, and did not come +poking round their old home. + +She tried to sell the hut and the allotment in order to provide +means, but as no buyers offered for either, she let the hut to a +workman and his family, only keeping one room and an end of the +kitchen for herself. After settling this she studded her own and the +child's wooden shoes with heavy nails. She brought forth Soeren's old +stick, wrapped herself and the little one well up--and wandered out +into the country. + +Day after day, in all weathers, they would set out in the early +morning, visiting huts and farms. Maren knew fairly well for whom +Soeren had worked, and it was quite time they paid their debts. She +never asked directly for the money, but would stand just inside the +door with the child in front of her, rattling a big leather purse +such as fisher folk used, and drone: + +"God bless your work and your food--one and all for sure! Times is +hard--ay, money's scarce--ay, 'tis dear to live, and folks get old! +And all's to be bought--fat and meat and bread, ay, every +scrap!--faith, an old wife needs the money!" + +Although Maren only asked for what was her due, it was called +begging, when she went on this errand, and she and the child were +treated accordingly. They often stood waiting in the scullery or +just inside the living room, while every one ran to and fro to their +work without appearing to notice them. People must be taught their +proper place, and nothing is so good as letting them stand waiting, +and that without any reason. If they are not crushed by this, +something must be wrong. + +Maren felt the slight, and the smart went deep; but in no way shook +her purpose--inwardly she was furious, though too wise to show it, +and, old as she was, quietly added experience to experience. Perhaps +after all it was the child who made it easier for her to submit to +circumstances. So that was how she was treated when she needed help! +But when they themselves needed help, it was a different matter; +they were not too proud to ask _her_ advice. Then they would hurry +down to her, often in the middle of the night, knocking at the +window with the handle of a whip; she _must_ come, and that at once. + +Maren was not stupid, and could perfectly well put two and two +together, only neglecting what she had no use for. As long as Soeren +was by her side and held the reins, she had kept in the background, +knowing that one master in the house was quite enough; and only on +special occasions--when something of importance was at stake--would +she lend a guiding hand, preferably so unostentatiously that Soeren +never noticed it. + +Blockhead, he used to call her--right up to his illness. About a +week before his death they had spoken of the future, and Soeren had +comforted Maren by saying: "'Twill all be right for you, Maren--if +but you weren't such a blockhead." + +For the first time Maren had protested against this, and Soeren, as +was his wont, referred to the case of Soerine: "Ay, and did you see +what was wrong with the girl, what all saw who set eyes on her? And +was it not yourself that fed her with soft soap and paraffin?" + +"Maybe 'twas," answered Maren, unmoved. + +Soeren looked at her with surprise: well to be sure--but behind her +look of innocence gleamed something which staggered him for once. +"Ay, ay," said he. "Ay, ay! 'twas nigh jail that time." + +Maren good-naturedly blinked her heavy eyelids. "'Tis too good some +folks are to be put there," answered she. + +Soeren felt as if cold water were running down his back; here had he +lived with Maren by his side for forty-five years, and never taken +her for anything else but a good-natured blockhead--and he had +nearly gone to his grave with that opinion. And perhaps after all it +was she who had mastered him, and that by seeming a fool herself. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WISE MAREN + + +The heavy waves crashed on the shore. Large wet flakes of snow +hurled themselves on bushes and grass; what was not caught by the +high cliffs was frozen to ice in the air and chased before the +storm. + +The sea was foaming. The skies were all one great dark gray whirl, +with the roaring breakers beneath. It was as if the abyss itself +threw out its inexhaustible flood of cold and wickedness. Endlessly +it mounted from the great deep; dense to battle against, and as fire +of hell to breathe. + +Two clumsy figures worked their way forward over the sandhills, an +old grandmother holding a little girl by the hand. They were so +muffled up, that they could hardly be distinguished in the thick +haze. + +Their movements were followed by watchful eyes, in the huts on the +hills women stood with faces pressed flat against the window-panes! +"'Tis wise Maren battling against the storm," they told the old and +the sick within. And all who could, crawled to the window. They must +see for themselves. + +"'Tis proper weather for witches to be out," said youth, and +laughed. "But where is her broomstick?" + +The old ones shook their heads. Maren ought not to be made fun of; +she had the _Gift_ and did much good. Maybe that once or twice she +had misused her talents--but who would not have done the same in her +place? On a day like this she would be full of power; it would have +been wise to consult her. + +The two outside kept to the path that ran along the edge of the +steep cliff, hollowed out in many places by the sea. Beneath them +thundered the surf, water and air and sand in one yellow ferment, +and over it seagulls and other sea birds, shrieking and whipping the +air with their wings. When a wave broke they would swoop down and +come up again with food in their beaks--some fish left stunned by +the waves to roll about in the foam. + +It seemed foolish of the two keeping just inside the edge of the +cliff, against which the storm was throwing itself with all its +might, to fall down well inland. The old woman and the child clung +to each other, gasping for breath. + +At one place the path went through a thicket of thorns, bent inland +by the strong sea wind, and here they took shelter from the storm to +regain their breath. Ditte whimpered, she was tired and hungry. + +"Be a big girl," said the old one, "we'll soon be home now." She +drew the child towards her under the shawl, with shaking hands +brushing the snow from her hair, and blowing her frozen fingers. +"Ay, just big," she said encouragingly, "and you'll get cakes and +nice hot coffee when we get home. I've the coffee beans in the +bag--ah, just smell!" + +Granny opened the bag, which she had fastened round her waist +underneath her shawl. Into it went all that she was given, food and +other odds and ends. + +The little one poked her nose down into the bag, but was not +comforted at once. + +"We've nothing to warm it with," said she sulkily. + +"And haven't we then? Granny was on the beach last night, and saw +the old boat, she did. But Ditte was in the land of Nod, and never +knew." + +"Is there more firewood?" + +"Hush, child, the coastguard might hear us. He's long ears--and the +Magistrate pays him for keeping poor folks from getting warm. That's +why he himself takes all that's washed ashore." + +"But you're not frightened of him, Granny, you're a witch and can +send him away." + +"Ay, ay, of course Granny can--and more too, if he doesn't behave. +She'll strike him down with rheumatism, so that he can't move, and +have to send for wise Maren to rub his back. Ah me, old Granny's +legs are full of water, and aches and pains in every limb; a horrid +witch they call her, ay--and a thieving woman too! But there must be +some of both when an old worn woman has to feed two mouths; and you +may be glad that Granny's the witch she is. None but she cares for +you--and lazy, no folks shall ever call her that. She's +two-and-seventy years now, and 'tis for others her hands have toiled +all along. But never a hand that's lifted to help old Maren." + +They sat well sheltered, and soon Ditte became sleepy, and they +started out again. "We'll fall asleep if we don't, and then the +black man'll come and take us," said Granny as she tied her shawl +round the little one. + +"Who's the black man?" Ditte stopped, clinging to her grandmother +from very excitement. + +"The black man lives in the churchyard under the ground. 'Tis he who +lets out the graves to the dead folks, and he likes to have a full +house." + +Ditte had no wish to go down and live with a black man, and tripped +briskly along hand in hand with the old one. The path now ran +straight inland, and the wind was at their back--the storm had +abated somewhat. + +When they came to the Sand farm, she refused to go further. "Let's +go in there and ask for something," said she, dragging her +grandmother. "I'm so hungry." + +"Lord--are you mad, child! We daren't set foot inside there." + +"Then I'll go alone," declared Ditte firmly. She let go her granny's +hand and ran towards the entrance. When there, however, she +hesitated. "And why daren't we go in there?" she shouted back. + +Maren came and took her hand again: "Because your own father might +come and drive us away with a whip," said she slowly. "Come now and +be a good girl." + +"Are you afraid of him?" asked the little one persistently. She was +not accustomed to seeing her granny turned aside for anything. + +Afraid, indeed no--the times were too bad for that! Poor people must +be prepared to face all evils and accept them too. And why should +they go out of their way to avoid the Sand farm as if it were holy +ground. If he did not care to take the chance of seeing his own +offspring occasionally, he could move his farm elsewhere. They two +had done nothing to be shamed into running away, that was true +enough. Perhaps there was some ulterior motive behind the child's +obstinacy? Maren was not the one to oppose Providence--still less if +it lent her a helping hand. + +"Well, come then!" said she, pushing the gate open. "They can but +eat us." + +They went through the deep porch which served as wood and tool house +as well. At one side turf was piled neatly up right to the beams. +Apparently they had no thought of being cold throughout the winter. +Maren looked at the familiar surroundings as they crossed the yard +towards the scullery. Once in her young days she had been in service +here--for the sake of being nearer the home of her childhood and +Soeren. It was some years ago, that! The grandfather of the present +young farmer reigned then--a real Tartar who begrudged his servant +both food and sleep. But he made money! The old farmer, who died +about the same time as Soeren, was young then, and went with stocking +feet under the servants' windows! He and Soeren cared nought for each +other! Maren had not been here since--Soeren would not allow it. And +he himself never set foot inside, since that dreary visit about +Soerine. A promise was a promise. + +But now it was _so_ long ago, and two hundred crowns could not last +forever. Soeren was dead, and Maren saw things differently in her old +days. Cold and hardship raised her passion, as never before, against +those sitting sheltered inside, who had no need to go hunting about +like a dog in all weathers, and against those who for a short-lived +joy threw years of heavy burden on poor old shoulders. Why had she +waited so long in presenting his offspring to the farmer? Perhaps +they were longing for it. And why should not the little one have her +own way? Perhaps it was the will of Providence, speaking through +her, in her obstinate desire to enter her father's house. + +All the same, Maren's conscience was not quite clear while standing +with Ditte beside her, waiting for some one to come. The farmer +apparently was out, and for that she was thankful. She could hear +the servant milking in the shed, they would hardly have a man at +this time of the year. + +The cracked millstone still lay in front of the door, and in the +middle of the floor was a large flat tombstone with ornaments in the +corners, the inscription quite worn away. + +A young woman came from the inner rooms. Maren had not seen her +before. She was better dressed than the young wives of the +neighborhood, and had a kind face and gentle manners. She asked them +into the living room, took off their shawls, which she hung by the +fire to dry. She then made them sit down and gave them food and +drink, speaking kindly to them all the while; to Ditte in +particular, which softened Maren's heart. + +"And where do you come from?" asked she, seating herself beside +them. + +"Ay, where do folk come from?" answered Maren mumblingly. "Where's +there room for poor people like us? Some have plenty--and for all +that go where they have no right to be; others the Lord's given +naught but a corner in the churchyard. But you don't belong to these +parts, since you ask." + +No, the young woman came from Falster; her voice grew tender as she +spoke of her birthplace. + +"Is't far from here?" said Maren, glancing at her. + +"Yes, it takes a whole day by train and by coach, and from the town +too!" + +"Has it come to that, that the men of the Sand farm must travel by +train to find wives for themselves? But the hamlet is good enough +for sweethearts." + +The young woman looked uncertainly at her. "We met each other at the +Continuation School," said she. + +"Well, well, has he been to Continuation School too? Ay, 'tis fine +all must be nowadays. Anyway, 'twas time he got settled." + +The young woman flushed. "You speak so strangely," said she. + +"Belike you'll tell me how an old wife should speak? 'Tis strange +indeed that a father sits sheltered at home while his little one +runs barefoot and begs." + +"What do you mean?" whispered the young woman anxiously! + +"What the Lord and every one knows, but no-one's told you. Look you +at the child _there_--faces don't tell lies, she's the image of her +father. If all was fair, 'twould be my daughter sitting here in your +stead--ay, and no hunger and cold for me." + +As she spoke, Maren sucked a ham bone. She had no teeth, and the fat +ran down over her chin and hands. + +The young woman took out her handkerchief. "Let me help you, +mother," said she, gently drying her face. She was white to the +lips, and her hands shook. + +Maren allowed herself to be cared for. Her sunken mouth was set and +hard. Suddenly she grasped the young woman by the hips with her +earth-stained hands. "'Tis light and pure!" she mumbled, making +signs over her. "In childbirth 'twill go badly with you." The woman +swayed in her hands and fell to the ground without a sound; little +Ditte began to scream. + +Maren was so terrified by the consequence of her act, that she never +thought of offering help. She tore down the shawls from the fire and +ran out, dragging the child after her. It was not until they reached +the last house in the hamlet, the lifeboat shed, that she stopped to +wrap themselves up. + +Ditte still shook. "Did you kill her?" asked she. + +The old woman started, alarmed at the word. "Nay, but of course not. +'Tis nothing to prate about: come along home," said she harshly, +pushing the child. Ditte was unaccustomed to be spoken to in this +manner, and she hurried along. + +The house was cold as they entered it, and Maren put the little one +straight to bed. Then having gathered sticks for the fire, she put +on water for the coffee, talking to herself all the while. "Ugh, +just so; but who's to blame? The innocent must suffer, to make the +guilty speak." + +"What did you say, Granny?" asked Ditte from the alcove. + +"'Twas only I'm thinking your father'll soon find his way down here +after this." + +A trap came hurrying through the dark and stopped outside. In burst +the owner of the Sand farm. There was no good in store for them; his +face was red with anger and he started abusing them almost before he +got inside the door. Maren had her head well wrapped up against the +cold, and pretended to hear nothing. "Well, well, you're a sight for +sore eyes," said she, smilingly inviting him in. + +"Don't suppose that I've come to make a fuss of you, you crafty old +hag!" stormed Anders Olsen in his thin cracked voice. "No, I've come +to fetch you, I have, and that at once. So you'd better come!" +seizing her by the arm. + +Maren wrenched herself out of his grasp. "What's wrong with you?" +asked she, staring at him in amazement. + +"Wrong with me?--you dare to ask that, you old witch, you. Haven't +you been up to the farm this afternoon--dragging the brat with you? +though you were bought and paid to keep off the premises. Made +trouble you have, you old hag, and bewitched my wife, so she's dazed +with pain. But I'll drag you to justice and have you burned at the +stake, you old devil!" He foamed at the mouth and shook his clenched +fist in her face. + +"So you order folks to be burnt, do you?" said Maren scornfully. +"Then you'd best light up and stoke up for yourself as well. +Seemingly you've taken more on your back than you can carry." + +"What do you mean by that?" hissed the farmer, gesticulating, as if +prepared at any moment to pounce upon Maren and drag her to the +trap. "Maybe it's a lie, that you've been to the farm and scared my +wife?" He went threateningly round her, but without touching her. +"What have you to do with my back?" shouted he loudly, with fear in +his eyes. "D'you want to bewitch me too, what?" + +"'Tis nothing with your back I've to do, or yourself either. But all +can see that the miser's cake'll be eaten, ay, even by crow and +raven if need be. Keep your strength for your young wife--you might +overstrain yourself on an old witch like me. And where'd she be +then, eh?" + +Anders Olsen had come with the intention of throwing the old witch +into the trap and taking her home with him--by fair means or +foul--so that she could undo her magic on the spot. And there he sat +on the woodbox, his cap between his hands, a pitiful sight. Maren +had judged him aright, there was nothing manly about him, he fought +with words instead of fists. The men of the Sand farm were a poor +breed, petty and grasping. This one was already bald, the muscles of +his neck stood sharply out, and his mouth was like a tightly shut +purse. It was no enviable position to be his wife; the miser was +already uppermost in him! Already he was shivering with cold down +his back--having forgotten his fear for his wife in his thought for +himself. + +Maren put a cup of coffee on the kitchen table, then sat down +herself on the steps leading to the attic with a cracked cup +between her fingers. "Just you drink it up," said she, as he +hesitated--"there's no-one here that'll harm you and yours." + +"But you've been home and made mischief," he mumbled, stretching +out his hand for the cup; he seemed equally afraid of drinking or +leaving the coffee. + +"We've been at the farm we two, 'tis true enough. The bad storm +drove us in, 'twas sore against our will." Maren spoke placidly and +with forbearance. "And as to your wife, belike it made her ill, and +couldn't bear to hear what a man she's got. A kind and good woman +she is--miles too good for you. She gave us nought but the best, +while you're just longing to burn us. Ay, ay, 'twould be plenty warm +enough then! For here 'tis cold, and there's no-one to bring a load +of peat to the house." + +"Maybe you'd like _me_ to bring you a load?" snapped the farmer, +closing his mouth like a trap. + +"The child's yours for all that; she's cold and hungry, work as I +may." + +"Well, she was paid for once and for all." + +"Ay, 'twas easy enough for you! Let your own offspring want; 'tis +the only child, we'll hope, the Lord'll trust you with." + +The farmer started, as if awakened to his senses. "Cast off your +spell from my wife!" he shouted, striking the table with his hands. + +"I've nought against your wife. But just you see, if the Lord'll put +a child in your care. 'Tis not likely to me." + +"You leave the Lord alone--and cast off the spell," he whispered +hoarsely, making for the old woman, "or I'll throttle you, old witch +that you are." He was gray in the face, and his thin, crooked +fingers clutched the air. + +"Have a care, your own child lies abed and can hear you." Maren +pushed open the door to the inner room. "D'you hear that, Ditte, +your father's going to throttle me." + +Anders Olsen turned away from her and went towards the door. He +stood a moment fumbling with the door handle, as if not knowing what +he did; then came back, and sank down on the woodbox, gazing at the +clay floor. He looked uncommonly old and had always done so ever +since his childhood, it was said people of the Sand farm were always +born toothless. + +Maren came and placed herself in front of him. "Maybe you're +thinking of the son your wife should bear? And maybe seeing him +already running by your side in the fields, just like a little foal, +and learning to hold the plow. Ay! many a one's no son to save for, +but enjoys putting by for all that. And often 'tis a close-fisted +father has a spendthrift son; belike 'tis the Lord punishing them +for their greedy ways. You may fight on till you break up--like many +another one. Or sell the farm to strangers, when there's no more +work in you--and shift in to the town to a fine little house! For +folks with money there's many a way!" + +The farmer lifted his head. "Cast off your spell from my wife," he +said beseechingly, "and I'll make it worth your while." + +"On the Sand farm we'll never set foot again, neither me nor the +child. But you can send your wife down here--'tis no harm she'll +come to, but don't forget if good's to come of it, on a load of peat +she must ride!" + +Early next morning the pretty young wife from the Sand farm, could +be seen driving through the hamlet seated on top of a swinging +cartload of peat. Apparently the farmer did not care to be seen with +his wife like this, for he himself was not there; a lad drove the +cart. Many wondered where they were going, and with their faces +against the window-panes watched them pass. From one or another hut, +with no outlook, a woman would come throwing a shawl over her head +as she hurried towards the Naze. As the lad carried the peat into +Maren's woodshed, and the farmer's wife unpacked eggs, ham, cakes, +butter and many other good things on the table in the little sitting +room, they came streaming past, staring through the window--visiting +the people in the other part of the house with one or other foolish +excuse. Maren knew quite well why they came, but it did not worry +her any longer. She was accustomed to people keeping an eye on her +and using her neighbors as a spying ground. + +A few days afterwards the news ran round the neighborhood that the +farmer had begun to take notice of his illegitimate child--not +altogether with a good will perhaps. Maren was supposed to have had +a hand in the arrangement. No-one understood her long patience with +him; especially as she had right on her side. But now it would seem +she had tired of it and had begun casting spells over the farmer's +young wife--first charmed a child into her, and then away again, +according to her will. Some declared Ditte was used for this +purpose--by conjuring her backwards, right back to her unborn days, +so that the child was obliged to seek a mother, and it was because +of this she never grew properly. Ditte was extraordinarily small for +her age, for all she was never really ill. Probably she was not +allowed to grow as she should do, or she would be too big to will +away to nothing. + +There was much to be said both for and against having such as wise +Maren in the district. That she was a witch was well known; but as +they went she was in the main a good woman. She never used her +talents in the service of the Devil, that is as far as any one +knew--and she was kind to the poor; curing many a one without taking +payment for it. And as to the farmer of the Sand farm, he only got +what he deserved. + +Maren's fame was established after this. People have short memories, +when it is to their own advantage, and Anders Olsen was seldom +generous to them. There would be long intervals in between his +visits, then suddenly he would take to coming often. The men of the +Sand farm had always been plagued by witchcraft. They might be +working in the fields, and bending down to pick up a stone or a +weed, when all of a sudden some unseen deviltry would strike them +with such excruciating pains in the back, that they could not +straighten themselves, and had to crawl home on all fours. There +they would lie groaning for weeks, suffering greatly from doing +nothing, and treated by cupping, leeches and good advice, till one +day the pain would disappear as quickly as it had come. They +themselves put it down to the evil eye of women, who perhaps felt +themselves ignored and took their revenge in this mean fashion; +others thought it was a punishment from Heaven for having too fat a +back. At all events this was their weak spot, and whenever the +farmer felt a twinge of pain in his back he would hurry to +propitiate wise Maren. + +This was not sufficient to live on, but her fame increased, and with +it her circle of patients. + +Maren herself never understood why she had become so famous; but she +accepted the fact as it was, and turned it to the best account she +could. She took up one thing or another of what she remembered from +her childhood of her mother's good advice--and left the rest to look +after itself; generally she was guided by circumstances as to what +to say and do. + +Maren had heard so often that she was a witch, and occasionally +believed it herself. Other times she would marvel at people's +stupidity. But she always thought with a sigh of the days when Soeren +still lived and she was nothing more than his "blockhead"--those +were happy days. + +Now she was lonely. Soeren lay under the ground, and every one else +avoided her like the plague, when they did not require her services. +Others met and enjoyed a gossip, but no one thought of running in to +Maren for a cup of coffee. Even her neighbors kept themselves +carefully away, though they often required a helping hand and got it +too. She had but one living friend, who looked to her with +confidence and who was not afraid of her--Ditte. + +It was a sad and sorry task to be a wise woman--only more so as it +was not her own choice; but it gave her a livelihood. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +DITTE VISITS FAIRYLAND + + +Ditte was now big enough to venture out alone, and would often run +away from home, without making Maren uneasy. She needed some one to +play with, and sought for playmates in the hamlet and the huts at +the edge of the forest. But the parents would call their children in +when they saw her coming. Eventually the children themselves learned +to beware of her; they would throw stones at her when she came near, +and shout nicknames: bastard and witch's brat. Then she tried +children in other places and met the same fate; at last it dawned +upon her that she stood apart. She was not even sure of the children +at home; just as she was playing with them on the sandhills, making +necklaces and rings of small blue scabious, the mother would run out +and tear the children away. + +She had to learn to play alone and be content with the society of +the things around her; which she did. Ditte quickly invested her +playthings with life; sticks and stones were all given a part and +they were wonderfully easy to manage. Almost too well behaved, and +Ditte herself sometimes had to put a little naughtiness into them; +or they would be too dull. There was an old wornout wooden shoe of +Soeren's; Maren had painted a face on it and given it an old shawl as +a dress. In Ditte's world it took the part of a boy--a rascal of a +boy--always up to mischief and in some scrape or other. It was +constantly breaking things, and every minute Ditte had to punish it +and give it a good whipping. + +One day she was sitting outside in the sun busily engaged in +scolding this naughty boy of a doll, in a voice deep with motherly +sorrow and annoyance. Maren, who stood inside the kitchen door +cleaning herrings, listened with amusement. "If you do it once +more," said the child, "we'll take you up to the old witch, and +she'll eat you all up." + +Maren came quickly out. "Who says that?" asked she, her furrowed +face quivering. + +"The Bogie-man says it," said Ditte cheerfully. + +"Rubbish, child, be serious. Who's taught you that? Tell me at +once." + +Ditte tried hard to be solemn. "Bogie-doggie said it--tomorrow!" +bubbling over with mirth. + +No-one could get the better of her; she was bored, and just invented +any nonsense that came into her head. Maren gave it up and returned +to her work quietly and in deep thought. + +She stood crying over her herrings, with the salt tears dropping +down into the pickle. She often cried of late, over herself and over +the world in general; the people treated her as if she were +infected with the plague, poisoning the air round her with their +meanness and hate, while as far as she knew she had always helped +them to the best of her ability. They did not hesitate in asking her +advice when in trouble, though at the same time they would blame +_her_ for having brought it upon them--calling her every name they +could think of when she had gone. Even the child's _innocent_ lips +called her a witch. + +Since Soeren's death sorrow and tears had reddened Maren's eyes with +inflammation and turned her eyelids, but her neighbors only took it +as another sign of her hardened witchcraft. Her sight was failing +too, and she often had to depend upon Ditte's young eyes; and then +it would happen that the child took advantage of the opportunity and +played pranks. + +Ditte was not bad--she was neither bad nor good. She was simply a +little creature, whose temperament required change. And so little +happened in her world, that she seized on whatever offered to +prevent herself from being bored to death. + +One day something did happen! From one of the big farms, lying at +the other side of the common, with woods bounding the sandhills, +Maren had received permission to gather sticks in the wood every +Tuesday. There was not much heat in them, but they were good enough +for making a cup of coffee. + +These Tuesdays were made into picnics. They took their meals with +them, which they enjoyed in some pleasant spot, preferably by the +edge of the lake, and Ditte would sit on the wheelbarrow on both +journeys. When they had got their load, they would pick berries +or--in the autumn--crab-apples and sloes, which were afterwards +cooked in the oven. + +Now Granny was ill, having cried so much that she could no longer +see--which Ditte quite understood--but the extraordinary part of it +was that the water seemed to have gone to her legs, so that she +could not stand on them. The little one had to trudge all alone to +the forest for the sticks. It was a long way, but to make up for it, +the forest was full of interest. Now she could go right in, where +otherwise she was not allowed to go, because Granny was afraid of +getting lost, and always kept to the outskirts. There were singing +birds in there, their twittering sounded wonderful under the green +trees, the air was like green water with rays of light in it, and it +hummed and seethed in the darkness under the bushes. + +Ditte was not afraid, though it must be admitted she occasionally +shivered. Every other minute she stopped to listen, and when a dry +stick snapped, she started, thrilled with excitement. She was not +bored here, her little body was brimming over with the wonder of it; +each step brought her fresh experiences full of unknown solemnity. +Suddenly it would jump out at her with a frightful: pshaw!--exactly +as the fire did when Granny poured paraffin over it--and she would +hurry away, as quickly as her small feet would carry her, until she +came to an opening in the wood. + +On one of these flights she came to a wide river, with trees bending +over it. It was like a wide stream of greenness flowing down, and +Ditte stood transfixed, in breathless wonder. The green of the river +she quickly grasped, for this was the color poured down on all +trees--and the river here was the end of the world. Over on the +other side the Lord lived; if she looked very hard she could just +catch a glimpse of his gray bearded face in a thicket of thorns. But +how was all this greenness made? + +She ran for some distance along the edge of the river, watching it, +until she was stopped by two ladies, so beautiful that she had never +seen anything like them before. Though there was no rain, and they +were walking under the trees in the shadow, they held parasols, on +which the sun gleamed through the green leaves, looking like glowing +coins raining down on to their parasols. They kneeled in front of +Ditte as if she were a little princess, lifting her bare feet and +peeping under the soles, as they questioned her. + +Well, her name was Ditte. Ditte Mischief and Ditte Goodgirl--and +Ditte child o' Man! + +The ladies looked at each other and laughed, and asked her where she +lived. + +In Granny's house, of course. + +"What Granny?" asked the stupid ladies again. + +Ditte stamped her little bare foot on the grass: + +"Oh, Granny! that's blind sometimes 'cos she cries so much. Ditte's +own Granny." + +Then they pretended to be much wiser, and asked her to go home with +them for a little while. Ditte gave her little hand trustingly to +one of them and trotted along; she did not mind seeing if they lived +on the other side of the river--with the Lord. Then it would be +angels she had met. + +They went along the river; Ditte, impatient with excitement, thought +it would never end. At last they came to a footbridge, arched across +the river. At the end of the bridge was a barred gate with railings +on each side, which it was impossible to climb over or under. The +ladies opened the gate with a key and carefully locked it again, and +Ditte found herself in a most beautiful garden. By the path stood +lovely flowers in clusters, red and blue, swaying their pretty +heads; and on low bushes were delicious large red berries such as +she had never tasted before. + +Ditte knew at once that this was Paradise. She threw herself against +one of the ladies, her mouth red with the juice of the berries, +looking up at her with an unfathomable expression in her dark blue +eyes and said: "Am I dead now?" + +The ladies laughed and took her into the house, through beautiful +rooms where one walked on thick soft shawls with one's boots on. In +the innermost room a little lady was sitting in an armchair. She was +white-haired and wrinkled and had spectacles on her nose; and wore +a white nightcap in spite of it being the middle of the day. "This +is our Granny!" said one of the ladies. + +"Grandmother, look, we have caught a little wood goblin," they +shouted into the old lady's ear. Just think, this Granny was +deaf--her own was only blind. + +Ditte went round peeping inquisitively into the different rooms. +"Where's the Lord?" asked she suddenly. + +"What is the child saying?" exclaimed one of the ladies. But the one +who had taken Ditte by the hand, drew the little one towards her and +said: "The Lord does not live here, he lives up in Heaven. She +thinks this is Paradise," she added, turning to her sister. + +It worried them to see her running about barefooted, and they +carefully examined her feet, fearing she might have been bitten by +some creeping thing in the wood. "Why does not the child wear +boots?" said the old lady. Her head shook so funnily when she spoke, +all the white curls bobbed--just like bluebells. + +Ditte had no boots. + +"Good Heavens! do you hear that, Grandmother, the child has no +boots. Have you nothing at all to put on your feet?" + +"Bogie-man," burst out Ditte, laughing roguishly. + +She was tired now of answering all their questions. However, they +dragged out of her that she had a pair of wooden shoes, which were +being kept for winter. + +"Then with the help of God she shall have a pair of my cloth ones," +said the old lady. "Give her a pair, Asta; and take a fairly good +pair." + +"Certainly, Grandmother," answered one of the young women--the one +Ditte liked best. + +So Ditte was put into the cloth boots. Then she was given different +kinds of food, such as she had never tasted before, and did not care +for either; she kept to the bread, being most familiar with +that--greatly to the astonishment of the three women. + +"She is fastidious," said one of the young ladies. + +"It can hardly be called that, when she prefers bread to anything +else," answered Miss Asta eagerly. "But she is evidently accustomed +to very plain food, and yet see how healthy she is." She drew the +little one to her and kissed her. + +"Let her take it home with her," said the old lady, "such children +of nature never eat in captivity. My husband once captured a little +wild monkey down on the Gold Coast, but was obliged to let it go +again because it refused to eat." + +Then Ditte was given the food packed into a pretty little basket of +red and white straw; a Leghorn hat was put upon her head, and a +large red bow adorned her breast. She enjoyed all this very +much--but suddenly, remembering her Granny, wanted to go home. She +stood pulling the door handle, and they had to let this amusing +little wood goblin out again. Hurriedly a few strawberries were put +into the basket, and off she disappeared into the wood. + +"I hope she can find her way back again," said Miss Asta looking +after her with dreaming eyes. + +Ditte certainly found her way home. It was fortunate that in her +longing to be there, she entirely forgot what was in the basket. +Otherwise old Maren would have gone to her grave without ever having +tasted strawberries. + +After that Ditte often ran deep into the forest, in the hope that +the adventure would repeat itself. It had been a wonderful +experience, the most wonderful in her life. Old Maren encouraged her +too. "You just go right into the thicket," she said. "Naught can +harm you, for you're a Sunday child. And when you get to the charmed +house, you must ask for a pair of cloth boots for me too. Say that +old Granny has water in her legs and can hardly bear shoes on her +feet." + +The river was easily found, but she did not meet the beautiful +ladies again, and the footbridge with the gate had disappeared. +There were woods on the other side of the river just as on this, the +Lord's face she could no longer find either, look as she might; +Fairyland was no more. + +"You'll see, 'twas naught but a dream," said old Maren. + +"But, Granny, the strawberries," answered Ditte. + +Ay, the strawberries--that was true enough! Maren had eaten some of +them herself, and she had never tasted anything so delicious either. +Twenty times bigger than wild strawberries, and satisfying too--so +unlike other berries, which only upset one. + +"The dream goblin, who took you to Fairyland, gave you those so that +other folks might taste them too," said the old one at last. + +And with this explanation they were satisfied. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DITTE GETS A FATHER + + +On getting up one morning, Maren found her tenants had gone, they +had moved in the middle of the night. "The Devil has been and +fetched them," she said cheerfully. She was not at all sorry that +they had vanished; they were a sour and quarrelsome family! But the +worst of it was that they owed her twelve weeks' rent--twelve +crowns--which was all she had to meet the winter with. + +Maren put up a notice and waited for new tenants, but none offered +themselves; the old ones had spread the rumor that the house was +haunted. + +Maren felt the loss of the rent so much more as she had given up her +profession. She would no longer be a wise woman, it was impossible +to bear the curse. "Go to those who are wiser, and leave me in +peace," she answered, when they came for advice or to fetch her, and +they had to go away with their object unaccomplished, and soon it +was said that Maren had lost her witchcraft. + +Yes, her strength diminished, her sight was almost gone, and her +legs refused to carry her. She spun and knitted for people and took +to begging again, Ditte leading her from farm to farm. They were +weary journeys; the old woman always complaining and leaning heavily +on the child's shoulder. Ditte could not understand it at all, the +flowers in the ditches and a hundred other things called her, she +longed to shake off the leaden arm and run about alone, Granny's +everlasting wailing filled her with a hopeless loathing. Then a +mischievous thought would seize her. "I can't find the way, Granny," +she would suddenly declare, refusing to go a step further, or she +would slip away, hiding herself nearby. Maren scolded and threatened +for a while, but as it had no effect, she would sit down on the edge +of the ditch crying; this softened Ditte and she would hurry back, +putting her arms around her grandmother's neck. Thus they cried +together, in sorrow over the miserable world and joy at having found +each other again. + +A little way inland lived a baker, who gave them a loaf of bread +every week. The child was sent for it when Maren was ill in bed. +Ditte was hungry, and this was a great temptation, so she always ran +the whole way home to keep the tempter at bay; when she succeeded in +bringing the bread back untouched, she and her Granny were equally +proud. But it sometimes happened that the pangs of hunger were too +strong, and she would tear out the crump from the side of the warm +bread as she ran. It was not meant to be seen, and for that reason +she took it from the side of the bread--just a little, but before +she knew what had happened the whole loaf was hollowed out. Then she +would be furious, at herself and Granny and everything. + +"Here's the bread, Granny," she would say in an offhand voice, +throwing the bread on the table. + +"Thank you, dear, is it new?" + +"Yes, Granny," and Ditte disappeared. + +Thereupon the old woman would sit gnawing the crust with her sore +gums, all the while grumbling at the child. Wicked girl--she should +be whipped. She should be turned out, to the workhouse. + +To their minds there was nothing worse than the workhouse; in all +their existence, it had been as a sword over their heads, and when +brought forth by Maren, Ditte would come out from her hiding-place, +crying and begging for pardon. The old woman would cry too, and the +one would soothe the other, until both were comforted. + +"Ay, ay, 'tis hard to live," old Maren would say. "If you'd but had +a father--one worth having. Maybe you'd have got the thrashings all +folks need, and poor old Granny'd have lived with you instead of +begging her food!" + +Maren had barely finished speaking, when a cart with a bony old nag +in the shafts stopped outside on the road. A big stooping man with +tousled hair and beard sprang down from the cart, threw the reins +over the back of the nag, and came towards the house. He looked like +a coalheaver. + +"He's selling herrings," said Ditte, who was kneeling on a stool by +the window. "Shall I let him in?" + +"Ay, just open the door." + +Ditte unbolted the door, and the man came staggering in. He wore +heavy wooden boots, into which his trousers were pushed; and each +step he took rang through the room, which was too low for him to +stand upright in. He stood looking round just inside the door; Ditte +had taken refuge behind Granny's spinning wheel. He came towards the +living room, holding out his hand. + +Ditte burst into laughter at his confusion when the old woman did +not accept it. "Why, Granny's blind!" she said, bubbling over with +mirth. + +"Oh, that's it? Then it's hardly to be expected that you could see," +he said, taking the old woman's hand. "Well, I'm your son-in-law, +there's news for you." His voice rang with good-humor. + +Maren quickly raised her head. "Which of the girls is it?" asked +she. + +"The mother of this young one," answered he, aiming at Ditte with +his big battered hat. "It's not what you might call legal yet; we've +done without the parson till he's needed--so much comes afore that. +But a house and a home we've got, though poor it may be. We live a +good seven miles inland on the other side of the common--on the +_sand_--folks call it the 'Crow's Nest'!" + +"And what's your name?" asked Maren again. + +"Lars Peter Hansen, I was christened." + +The old woman considered for a while, then shook her head. "I've +never heard of you." + +"My father was called the hangman. Maybe you know me now?" + +"Ay, 'tis a known name--if not of the best." + +"Folks can't always choose their own names, or character either, and +must just be satisfied with a clear conscience. But as I was passing +I thought I'd just look in and see you. When we're having the parson +to give us his blessing, Soerine and me, I'll come with the trap and +fetch the two of you to church. That's if you don't care to move +down to us at once--seems like that would be best." + +"Did Soerine send the message?" asked Maren suspiciously. + +Lars Peter Hansen mumbled something, which might be taken for either +yes or no. + +"Ay, I thought so, you hit on it yourself, and thanks to you for +your kindness; but we'd better stay where we are. Though we'd like +to go to the wedding. 'Tis eight children I've brought into the +world, and nigh all married now, but I've never been asked to a +wedding afore." Maren became thoughtful. "And what's your trade?" +she asked soon after. + +"I hawk herrings--and anything else to be got. Buy rags and bones +too when folks have any." + +"You can hardly make much at that--for folks wear their rags as long +as there's a thread left--and there's few better off than that. Or +maybe they're more well-to-do in other places?" + +"Nay, 'tis the same there as here, clothes worn out to the last +thread, and bones used until they crumble," answered the man with a +laugh. "But a living's to be made." + +"Ay, that's so, food's to be got from somewhere! But you must be +hungry? 'Tisn't much we've got to offer you, though we can manage a +cup of coffee, if that's good enough--Ditte, run along to the baker +and tell him what you've done to the bread, and that we've got +company. Maybe he'll scold you and give you another--if he doesn't, +we'll have to go without next week. But tell the truth. Hurry up +now--and don't pull out the crump." + +With lingering feet Ditte went out of the door. It was a hard +punishment, and she hung back in the hope that Granny would relent +and let her off fetching the bread. Pull out the crump--no, never +again, today or as long as she lived. Her ears burned with shame at +the thought that her new father should know her misdeeds, the baker +too would know what a wicked girl she was to Granny. She would not +tell an untruth, for Granny always said to clear oneself with a lie +was like cutting thistles: cut off the head of one and half a dozen +will spring up in its place. Ditte knew from experience that lies +always came back on one with redoubled trouble; consequently she had +made up her little mind, that it did not pay to avoid the truth. + +Lars Peter Hansen sat by the window gazing after the child, who +loitered along the road, and as she suddenly began to run, he turned +to the old woman, asking: "Can you manage her?" + +"Ay, she's good enough," said Maren from the kitchen, fumbling with +the sticks in trying to light the fire. "I've no one better to lean +on--and don't want it either. But she's a child, and I'm old and +troublesome--so the one makes up for the other. The foal will kick +backwards, and the old horse will stand. But 'tis dull to spend +one's childhood with one that's old and weak and all." + +Ditte was breathless when she reached the baker's, so quickly had +she run in order to get back as soon as possible to the big stooping +man with the good-natured growl. + +"Now I've got a father, just like other children," she shouted +breathlessly. "He's at home with Granny--and he's got a horse and +cart." + +"Nay, is that so?" said they, opening their eyes, "and what's his +name?" + +"He's called the rag and bone man!" answered Ditte proudly. + +And they knew him here! Ditte saw them exchange glances. + +"Then you belong to a grand family," said the baker's wife, laying +the loaf of bread on the counter--without realizing that the child +had already had her weekly loaf, so taken up was she with the news. + +And Ditte, who was even more so, seized the bread and ran. Not until +she was halfway home did she remember what she ought to have +confessed; it was too late then. + +Before Lars Peter Hansen left, he presented them with a dozen +herrings, and repeated his promise of coming to fetch them to the +wedding. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE NEW FATHER + + +When Ditte was six months old, she had the bad habit of putting +things into her mouth--everything went that way. This was the proof +whether they could be eaten or not. + +Ditte laughed when Granny told about it, because she was so much +wiser now. There were things one could not eat and yet get pleasure +from, and other things which could be eaten, but gave more enjoyment +if one left them alone, content in the thought of how they would +taste if----Then one hugged oneself with delight at keeping it so +much longer. "You're foolish," said Granny, "eat it up before it +goes bad!" But Ditte understood how to put by. She would dream over +one or other thing she had got: a red apple, for instance, she would +press to her cheek and mouth and kiss. Or she would hide it and go +about thinking of it with silent devotion. Should she return and +find it spoiled, well, in imagination she had eaten it over and over +again. This was beyond Granny; her helplessness had made her greedy, +and she could never get enough to eat; now it was she who put +everything into her mouth. + +But then they had watched the child, for fear she should eat +something which might harm her. More so Soeren. "Not into your +mouth!" he often said. Whereupon the child would gaze at him, take +the thing out of her own mouth and try to put it into his. Was it an +attempt to get an accomplice, or did the little one think it was +because he himself wanted to suck the thing, that he forbade her? +Soeren was never quite clear on this point. + +At all events, Ditte had learned at an early age to reckon with +other people's selfishness. If they gave good advice or corrected +her, it was not so much out of consideration for her as for their +own ends. Should she meet the bigger girls on the road, and happen +to have an apple in her hand, they would say to her: "Fling that +horrible apple away, or you'll get worms!" But Ditte no longer threw +the apple away; she had found out that they only picked it up as +soon as she had gone, to eat it themselves. Things were not what +they appeared to be, more often than not there was something behind +what one saw and heard. + +Some people declared, that things really meant for one were put +behind a back--a stick, for instance; it was always wise to be on +the watch. + +With Granny naturally it was not like this. She was simply Granny +through all their ups and downs, and one need never beware of her. +She was only more whining than she used to be, and could no longer +earn their living. Ditte had to bear the greatest share of the +burden, and was already capable of getting necessities for the +house; she knew when the farmers were killing or churning, and would +stand barefooted begging for a little for Granny. "Why don't you get +poor relief?" said some, but gave all the same; the needy must not +be turned away from one's door, if one's food were to be blessed. +But under these new conditions it was impossible to have any respect +for Granny, who was treated more as a spoiled child, and often +corrected and then comforted. + +"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 +Soeren?" + +Indeed, no, Granny did not wish to die. But she could not help +thinking of the grave; it drew her and yet frightened her. Her tired +limbs were never really rested, and a long, long sleep under the +green by Soeren's side was a tempting thought, if only one could be +sure of not feeling the cold. Yes, and that the child was looked +after, of course. + +"Then I'll go over to my new father," declared Ditte whenever it was +spoken of. Granny need have no fear for her. "But do you think +Grandfather Soeren's still there?" + +Yes, that was what old Maren was not quite sure of herself. She +could so well imagine the grave as the end of everything, and rest +peacefully with that thought; oh! the blissfulness of laying one's +tired head where no carts could be heard, and to be free for all +eternity from aches and pains and troubles, and only rest. Perhaps +this would not be allowed--there was so much talking: the parson +said one thing and the lay preacher another. Soeren might not be +there any longer, and she would have to search for him till she +found him, which would be difficult enough if after death he had +been transformed to youth again. Soeren had been wild and dissipated. +Where he was, Maren must also be, there was no doubt about that. But +she preferred to have it arranged so that she could have a long rest +by Soeren's side, as a reward for all those weary years. + +"Then I'll go to my new father!" repeated Ditte. This had become her +refrain. + +"Ay, just as ye like!" answered Maren harshly. She did not like the +child taking the subject so calmly. + +But Ditte needed some one who could secure her future. Granny was no +good, she was too old and helpless, and she was a woman. There ought +to be a man! And now she had found him. She lay down to sleep behind +Granny with a new feeling now; she had a real father, just like +other children, one who was married to her mother, and in addition +possessed a horse and cart. The bald young owner of the Sand farm, +who was so thin and mean that he froze everybody near him, she never +took to, he was too cold for that. But the rag and bone man had +taken her on his knee and shouted in her ear with his big blustering +voice. They might shout "brat" after her as much as they liked, for +all she cared. She had a father taller than any of theirs, he had to +bend his head when he stood under the beams in Granny's sitting +room. + +The outlook was so much better now, one fell asleep feeling richer +and woke again--not disappointed as when one had dreamt--but with a +feeling of security. Such a father was much better to depend upon, +than an old blind Granny, who was nothing but a bundle of rags. +Every night when Granny undressed, Ditte was equally astonished at +seeing her take off skirt after skirt, getting thinner and thinner +until, as if by witchcraft, nothing was left of the fat grandmother +but a skeleton, a withered little crone, who wheezed like the leaky +bellows by the fireplace. + +They looked forward to the day when the new father would come and +fetch them to the wedding. Then of course it would be in a grand +carriage--the other one was only a cart. It would happen when they +were most wearied with life, not knowing where to turn for food or +coffee. Suddenly they would hear the cheerful crack of a whip +outside, and there he would stand, saluting with his whip, the +rascal; and as they got into the carriage, he would sit at attention +with his whip--like the coachman on the estate. + +Maren, poor soul, had never seen a carriage at her door; she was +almost more excited than the child, and described it all to her. +"And little I thought any carriage would ever come for me, but the +one that took me to the churchyard," she would say each time. "But +your mother, she always had a weakness for what is grand." + +There had come excitement into their poor lives. Ditte was no longer +bored, and did not have to invent mischief to keep her little mind +occupied. She had also developed a certain feeling of responsibility +towards her grandmother, now that she was dependent on her--they got +on much better together. "You're very good to your old Granny, +child," Maren would often say, and then they would cry over each +other without knowing why. + +The little wide-awake girl now had to be eyes for Granny as well, +and old Maren had to learn to see things through Ditte. And as soon +as she got used to it and put implicit faith in the child, all went +well. Whenever Ditte was tempted to make fun, Maren had only to say: +"You're not playing tricks, are you, child?" and she would +immediately stop. She was intelligent and quick, and Maren could +wish for no better eyes than hers, failing the use of her own. There +she would sit fumbling and turning her sightless eyes towards every +sound without discovering what it could be. But thanks to Ditte she +was able by degrees to take up part of her old life again. + +Perhaps after all she missed the skies more than anything else. The +weather had always played a great part in Maren's life; not so much +the weather that was, as that to come. This was the fishergirl in +her; she took after her mother--and her mother again--from the time +she began to take notice she would peer at the skies early and late. +Everything was governed by them, even their food from day to day, +and when they were dark--it cleared the table once and for all by +taking the bread-winner. The sky was the first thing her eyes sought +for in the morning, and the last to dwell upon at night. "There'll +be a storm in the night," she would say, as she came in, or: "It'll +be a good day for fishing tomorrow!" Ditte never understood how she +knew this. + +Maren seldom went out now, so it did not matter to her what the +weather was, but she was still as much interested in it. "What's the +sky like?" she would often ask. Ditte would run out and peer +anxiously at the skies, very much taken up with her commission. + +"'Tis red," she announced on her return, "and there's a man riding +over it on a wet, wet horse. Is it going to rain then?" + +"Is the sun going down into a sack?" asked Granny. Ditte ran out +again to see. + +"There's no sun at all," she came in and announced with excitement. + +But Granny shook her head, there was nothing to be made of the +child's explanation; she was too imaginative. + +"Have you seen the cat eat grass today?" asked Maren after a short +silence. + +No, Ditte had not seen it do that. But it had jumped after flies. + +Maren considered for a while. Well, well, it probably meant nothing +good. "Go and see if there are stars under the coffee kettle," said +she. + +Ditte lifted the heavy copper kettle from the fire--yes, there were +stars of fire in the soot, they swarmed over the bottom of the +kettle in a glittering mass. + +"Then it'll be stormy," said Granny relieved. "I've felt it for days +in my bones." Should there be a storm, Maren always remembered to +say: "Now, you see, I was right." And Ditte wondered over her +Granny's wisdom. + +"Is that why folks call you 'wise Maren'?" asked she. + +"Ay, that's it. But it doesn't need much to be wiser than the +others--if only one has sight. For folks are stupid--most of them." + +Lars Peter Hansen they neither saw nor heard of for nearly a year. +When people drove past, who they thought might come from his +locality, they would make inquiries; but were never much wiser for +all they heard. At last they began to wonder whether he really did +exist; it was surely not a dream like the fairy-house in the wood? + +And then one day he actually stood at the door. He did not exactly +crack his whip--a long hazel-stick with a piece of string at the +end--but he tried to do it, and the old nag answered by throwing +back its head and whinnying. It was the same cart as before, but a +seat with a green upholstered back, from which the stuffing +protruded, had been put on. His big battered hat was the same too, +it was shiny from age and full of dust, and with bits of straw and +spiders' webs in the dents. From underneath it his tousled hair +showed, so covered with dust and burrs and other things that the +birds of the air might be tempted to build their nests in it. + +"Now, what do you say to a little drive today?" he shouted gaily, as +he tramped in. "I've brought fine weather with me, what?" + +He might easily do that, for even yesterday Granny had seen to it +that the weather should be fine, although she knew nothing of this. +Last evening she touched the dew on the window-pane with her hand +and had said: "There's dew for the morning sun to sparkle on." + +Lars Peter Hansen had to wait, while Ditte lit the fire and made +coffee for him. "What a clever girl you are," he burst out, as she +put it in front of him, "you must have a kiss." He took her in his +arms and kissed her; Ditte put her face against his rough cheek and +did not speak a word. Suddenly he realized his cheek was wet, and +turned her face toward his. "Have I hurt you?" he asked alarmed, and +put her down. + +"Nay, never a bit," said the old woman. "The child has been looking +forward to a kiss from her father, and now it has come to +pass--little as it is. You let her have her cry out; childish tears +only wet the cheeks." + +But Lars Peter Hansen went into the peat shed, where he found Ditte +sobbing. Gently raising her, he dried her cheeks with his checked +handkerchief, which looked as if it had been out many times before +today. + +"We'll be friends sure enough, we two--we'll be friends sure +enough," he repeated soothingly. His deep voice comforted the child, +she took his hand and followed him back again. + +Granny, who was very fond of coffee, though she would never say so, +had seized the opportunity to take an extra cup while they were out. +In her haste to pour it out, some had been spilt on the table, and +now she was trying to wipe it up in the hope it might not be seen. +Ditte helped her to take off her apron, and washed her skirt with a +wet cloth, so that it should not leave a mark; she looked quite +motherly. She herself would have no coffee, she was so overwhelmed +with happiness, that she could not eat. + +Then the old woman was well wrapped up, and Lars Peter lifted them +into the cart. Granny was put on the seat by his side, while Ditte, +who was to have sat on the fodder-bag at the back, placed herself at +their feet, for company. Lars took up the reins, pulled them +tightly, and loosened them again; having done this several times, +the old nag started with a jerk, which almost upset their balance, +and off they went into the country. + +It was glorious sunshine. Straight ahead the rolling downs lay +bathed in it--and beyond, the country with forest and hill. It all +looked so different from the cart, than when walking with bare feet +along the road; all seemed to curtsey to Ditte, hills and forests +and everything. She was not used to driving, and this was the first +time she had driven in state and looked down on things. All those +dreary hills that on other days stretched so heavily and +monotonously in front of her, and had often been too much for her +small feet, today lay down and said: "Yes, Ditte, you may drive over +us with pleasure!" Granny did not share in all this, but she could +feel the sun on her old back and was quite in holiday mood. + +The old nag took its own time, and Lars Peter Hansen had no +objection. He sat the whole time lightly touching it with his whip, +a habit of his, and one without which the horse could not proceed. +Should he stop for one moment, while pointing with his whip at the +landscape, it would toss its head with impatience and look +back--greatly to Ditte's enjoyment. + +"Can't it gallop at all?" asked she, propping herself up between his +knees. + +"Rather, just you wait and see!" answered Lars Peter Hansen proudly. +He pulled in the reins, but the nag only stopped, turned round, and +looked at him with astonishment. For each lash of the whip, it threw +up its tail and sawed the air with its head. Ditte's little body +tingled with enjoyment. + +"'Tisn't in the mood today," said Lars Peter Hansen, when he had at +last got it into its old trot again. "It thinks it's a fraud to +expect it to gallop, when it's been taking such long paces all the +time." + +"Did it say that?" asked Ditte, her eyes traveling from the one to +the other. + +"That's what it's supposed to mean. It's not far wrong." + +Long paces it certainly did take--about that there was no +mistake--but never two of equal length, and the cart was rolling in +a zigzag all the time. What a funny horse it was. It looked as if it +was made of odd parts, so bony and misshapen was it. No two parts +matched, and its limbs groaned and creaked with every movement. + +They drove past the big estate, where the squire lived, over the +common, and still further out into the country which Granny had +never seen before. + +"But you can't see it now either," corrected Ditte pedantically. + +"Oh, you always want to split hairs, 'course I can see it! When I +hear you two speak, I see everything quite plainly. 'Tis a gift of +God, to live through all this in my old days. But I smell something +sweet, what is it?" + +"Maybe 'tis the fresh water, Granny," said Lars Peter. "Two or three +miles down to the left is the big lake. Granny has a sharp nose for +anything that's wet." He chuckled over his little joke. + +"'Tis water folks can drink without harm," said Maren thoughtfully; +"Soeren's told me about it. We were going to take a trip down there +fishing for eels, but we never did. Ay, they say 'tis a pretty sight +over the water to see the glare of the fires on the summer nights." + +In between Lars Peter told them about conditions in his home. It was +not exactly the wedding they were going to, for they had married +about nine months ago--secretly. "'Twas done in a hurry," he +apologetically explained, "or you two would have been there." + +Maren became silent; she had looked forward to being present at the +wedding of one of her girls at least, and nothing had come of it. +Otherwise, it was a lovely trip. + +"Have you any little ones then?" she asked shortly after. + +"A boy," answered Lars Peter, "a proper little monkey--the image of +his mother!" He was quite enthusiastic at the thought of the child. +"Soerine's expecting another one soon," he added quietly. + +"You're getting on," said Maren. "How is she?" + +"Not quite so well this time. 'Tis the heartburn, she says." + +"Then 'twill be a long-haired girl," Maren declared definitely. "And +well on the way she must be, for the hair to stick in the mother's +throat." + +It was a beautiful September day. Everything smelt of mold, and the +air was full of moisture, which could be seen as crystal drops over +the sunlit land; a blue haze hung between the trees sinking to rest +in the undergrowth, so that meadow and moor looked like a glimmering +white sea. + +Ditte marveled at the endlessness of the world. Constantly something +new could be seen: forests, villages, churches; only the end of the +world, which she expected every moment to see and put an end to +everything, failed to appear. To the south some towers shone in the +sun; it was a king's palace, said her father--her little heart +mounted to her throat when he said that. And still further ahead---- + +"What's that I smell now?" Granny suddenly said, sniffing the air. +"'Tis salt! We must be near the sea." + +"Not just what one would call near, 'tis over seven miles away. Can +you really smell the sea?" + +Ay, ay, no-one need tell Maren that they neared the sea; she had +spent all her life near it and ought to know. "And what sea is +that?" asked she. + +"The same as yours," answered Lars Peter. + +"That's little enough to drive through the country for," said Maren +laughingly. + +And then they were at the end of their journey. It was quite a shock +to them, when the nag suddenly stopped and Lars Peter sprang down +from the cart. "Now, then," said he, lifting them down. Soerine came +out with the boy in her arms; she was big and strong and had rough +manners. + +Ditte was afraid of this big red woman, and took refuge behind +Granny. "She doesn't know you, that's why," said Maren, "she'll soon +be all right." + +But Soerine was angry. "Now, no more nonsense, child," said she, +dragging her forward. "Kiss your mother at once." + +Ditte began to howl, and tore herself away from her. Soerine looked +as if she would have liked to use a parent's privilege and punish +the child then and there. Her husband came between by snatching the +child from her and placing her on the back of the horse. "Pat the +kind horse and say thank you for the nice drive," said he. Thus he +quieted Ditte, and carried her to Soerine. "Kiss mother," he said, +and Ditte put forth her little mouth invitingly. But now Soerine +refused. She looked at the child angrily, and went to get water for +the horse. + +Soerine had killed a couple of chickens in their honor, and on the +whole made them comfortable, as far as their food and drink went; +but there was a lack of friendliness which made itself felt. She had +always been cold and selfish, and had not improved with years. By +the next morning old Maren saw it was quite time for them to return +home, and against this Soerine did not demur. After dinner Lars Peter +harnessed the old nag, lifted them into the cart, and off they set +homewards, relieved that it was over. Even Lars Peter was different +out in the open to what he was at home. He sang and cracked jokes, +while home he was quiet and said little. + +They were thankful to be home again in the hut on the Naze. "Thank +the Lord, 'tis not your mother we've to look to for our daily +bread," said Granny, when Lars Peter Hansen had taken leave; and +Ditte threw her arms round the old woman's neck and kissed her. +Today she realized fully Granny's true worth. + +It had been somewhat of a disappointment. Soerine was not what they +had expected her to be, and her home was not up to much. As far as +Granny found out from Ditte's description, it was more like a +mud-hut, which had been given the name of dwelling-house, barn, etc. +In no way could it be compared with the hut on the Naze. + +But the drive had been beautiful. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE RAG AND BONE MAN + + +All who knew Lars Peter Hansen agreed that he was a comical fellow. +He was always in a good temper, and really there was no reason why +he should be--especially where he was concerned. He belonged to a +race of rag and bone men, who as far back as any one could remember, +had traded in what others would not touch, and had therefore been +given the name of rag and bone folk. His father drove with dogs and +bought up rags and bones and other unclean refuse; when a sick or +tainted animal had to be done away with he was always sent for. He +was a fellow who never minded what he did, and would bury his arms +up to the elbows in the worst kind of carrion, and then go straight +to his dinner without even rinsing his fingers in water; people +declared that in the middle of the night he would go and dig up the +dead animals and strip them of their skin. His father, it was said, +had gone as a boy to give his uncle a helping hand. As an example of +the boy's depravity, it was said that when the rope would not +tighten round the neck of a man who was being hung, he would climb +up the gallows, drop down on to the unfortunate man's shoulder, and +sit there. + +There was not much to inherit, and there was absolutely nothing to +be proud of. Lars Peter had probably felt this, for when quite young +he had turned his back on the home of his childhood. He crossed the +water and tried for work in North Sea land--his ambition was to be a +farmer. He was a steady and respectable fellow, and as strong as a +horse, any farmer would willingly employ him. + +But if he thought he could run away from things, he was mistaken. +Rumors of his origin followed faithfully at his heels, and harmed +him at every turn. He might just as well have tried to fly from his +own shadow. + +Fortunately it did not affect him much. He was +good-natured--wherever he had got it from--there was not a bad +thought in his mind. His strength and trustworthiness made up for +his low origin, so that he was able to hold his own with other young +men; it even happened, that a well-to-do girl fell in love with his +strength and black hair, and wanted him for a husband. In spite of +her family's opposition they became engaged; but very soon she died, +so he did not get hold of her money. + +So unlucky was he in everything, that it seemed as if the sins of +his fathers were visited upon him. But Lars Peter took it as the way +of the world. He toiled and saved, till he had scraped together +sufficient money to clear a small piece of land on the Sand--and +once again looked for a wife. He met a girl from one of the +fishing-hamlets; they took to each other, and he married her. + +There are people, upon whose roof the bird of misfortune always sits +flapping its black wings. It is generally invisible to all but the +inmates of the house; but it may happen, that all others see it, +except those whom it visits. + +Lars Peter was one of those whom people always watched for something +to happen. To his race stuck the two biggest mysteries of all--the +blood and the curse; that he himself was good and happy made it no +less exciting. Something surely was in store for him; every one +could see the bird of misfortune on his roof. + +He himself saw nothing, and with confidence took his bride home. No +one told him that she had been engaged to a sailor, who was drowned; +and anyway, what good would it have done? Lars Peter was not the man +to be frightened away by the dead, he was at odds with no man. And +no one can escape his fate. + +They were as happy together as any two human beings can be; Lars +Peter was good to her, and when he had finished his own work, would +help her with the milking, and carry water in for her. Hansine was +happy and satisfied; every one could see she had got a good husband. +The bird that lived on their roof could be none other than the +stork, for before long Hansine confided in Lars Peter that she was +with child. + +It was the most glorious news he had ever had in his life, and if he +had worked hard before he did even more so now. His evenings were +spent in the woodshed; there was a cradle to be made, and a +rocking-chair, and small wooden shoes to be carved. As he worked he +would hum, something slightly resembling a melody, but always the +same tune; then suddenly Hansine would come running out throwing +herself into his arms. She had become so strange under her +pregnancy, she could find no rest, and would sit for hours with her +thoughts far away--as if listening to distant voices--and could not +be roused up again. Lars Peter put it down to her condition, and +took it all good-humoredly. His even temperament had a soothing +effect upon her, and she was soon happy again. But at times she was +full of anxiety, and would run out to him in the fields, almost +beside herself. It was almost impossible to persuade her to return +to the house, he only succeeded after promising to keep within +sight. She was afraid of one thing or another at home, but when he +urged her to tell him the reason, she would look dumbly at him. + +After the child's birth, she was her old self again. Their delight +was great in the little one, and they were happier even than before. + +But this strange phase returned when she again became pregnant, only +in a stronger degree. There were times, when her fear forced her +out of the house, and she would run into the fields, wring her hands +in anguish. The distracted husband would fetch the screaming child +to her, thus tempting her home again. This time she gave in and +confided in him, that she had been engaged to a sailor, who had made +her promise that she would remain faithful, if anything happened to +him at sea. + +"Did he never come back then?" asked Lars Peter slowly. + +Hansine shook her head. And he had threatened to return and claim +her, if she broke her word. He had said, he would tap on the +trap-door in the ceiling. + +"Did you promise of your own free will?" Lars Peter said +ponderously. + +No, Hansine thought he had pressed her. + +"Then you're not bound by it," said he. "My family, maybe, are not +much to go by, scum of the earth as we are. But my father and my +grandfather always used to say, there's no need to fear the dead; +they were easier to get away from than the living." She sat bending +over the babe, which had cried itself to sleep on her knees, and +Lars Peter stood with his arms round her shoulder, softly rocking +her backwards and forwards, as he tried to talk her to reason. "You +must think of the little one here--and the other little one to come! +The only thing which can't be forgiven, is unkindness to those given +to us." + +Hansine took his hand and pressed it against her tearful eyes. Then +rising herself she put the child to bed; she was calm now. + +The rag and bone man had no superstition of any kind, or fear +either, it was the only bright touch in the darkness of his race +that they possessed; this property caused them to be outcasts--and +decided their trade. Those who are not haunted, haunt others. + +The only curse he knew, was the curse of being an outcast and +feared; and this, thank the Lord, had been removed where he was +concerned. He did not believe in persecution from a dead man. But he +understood the serious effect it had upon Hansine, and was much +troubled on her account. Before going to bed, he took down the +trap-door and hid it under the roof. + +Thus they had children one after the other, and with it trouble and +depression. Instead of becoming better it grew worse with each one; +and as much as Lars Peter loved his children, he hoped each one +would be the last. The children themselves bore no mark of having +been carried under a heart full of fear. They were like small +shining suns, who encircled him all day long from the moment they +could move. They added enjoyment to his work, and as each new one +made its appearance, he received it as a gift of God. His huge fists +entirely covered the newly born babe, when handed to him by the +midwife--looking in its swaddling clothes like the leg of a boot--as +he lifted it to the ceiling. His voice in its joy was like the deep +chime of a bell, and the babe's head rolled from side to side, while +blinking its eyes at the light. Never had any one been so grateful +for children, wife and everything else as Lars Peter. He was filled +with admiration for them all, it was a glorious world. + +He did not exactly make headway on his little farm. It was poor +land, and Lars Peter was said to be unlucky. Either he lost an +animal or the crop was spoiled by hail. Other people kept an account +of these accidents, Lars Peter himself had no feeling of being +treated badly. On the contrary he was thankful for his farm, and +toiled patiently on it. Nothing affected him. + +When Hansine was to have her fifth child, she was worse than ever. +She had made him put up the trap-door again, on the pretense that +she could not stay in the kitchen for the draught, and she would be +nowhere else but there--she was waiting for the tap. She complained +no longer nor on the whole was she anxious either. It was as if she +had learned to endure what could not be evaded; she was +absent-minded, and Lars Peter had the sad feeling that she no longer +belonged to him. In the night he would suddenly realize that she was +missing from his side--and would find her in the kitchen stiff with +cold. He carried her back to bed, soothing her like a little child, +and she would fall asleep on his breast. + +Her condition was such, that he never dared go from home, and leave +her alone with the children; he had to engage a woman to keep an eye +on her, and look after the house. She now neglected everything and +looked at the children as if they were the cause of her trouble. + +One day when he was taking a load of peat to town, an awful thing +happened. What Hansine had been waiting for so long, now actually +took place. She sent the woman, who was supposed to be with her, +away on some excuse or other; and when Lars Peter returned, the +animals were bellowing and every door open. There was no sign of +wife or children. The poultry slipped past him, as he went round +calling. He found them all in the well. It was a fearful sight to +see the mother and four children lying in a row, first on the +cobble-stoned yard, wet and pitiful, and afterwards on the +sitting-room table dressed for burial. Without a doubt the sailor +had claimed his right! The mother had jumped down last, with the +youngest in her arms; they found her like this, tightly clasping the +child, though she had not deserved it. + +Every one was deeply shocked by this dreadful occurrence. They would +willingly have given him a comforting and helping hand now; but it +seemed that nothing could be done to help him in his trouble. He did +not easily accept favors. + +He busied himself round and about the dead, until the day of the +funeral. No one saw him shed a single tear, not even when the earth +was thrown on to the coffins, and people wondered at his composure; +he had clung so closely to them. He was probably one of those who +were cursed with inability to cry, thought the women. + +After the funeral, he asked a neighbor to look after his animals; he +had to go to town, said he. With that he disappeared, and for two +years he was not seen; it was understood that he had gone to sea. +The farm was taken over by the creditors; there was no more than +would pay what he owed, so that at all events, he did not lose +anything by it. + +One day he suddenly cropped up again, the same old Lars Peter, +prepared, like Job, to start again from the beginning. He had saved +a little money in the last two years, and bought a partly ruined +hut, a short distance north of his former farm. With the hut went a +bit of marsh, and a few acres of poor land, which had never been +under the plow. He bought a few sheep and poultry, put up an +outhouse of peat and reeds taken from the marsh--and settled himself +in. He dug peat and sold it, and when there was a good catch of +herrings, would go down to the nearest fishing hamlet with his +wheelbarrow and buy a load, taking them from hut to hut. He +preferred to barter them, taking in exchange old metal, rags and +bones, etc. It was the trade of his race he took up again, and +although he had never practised it before, he fell into it quite +easily. One day he took home a big bony horse, which he had got +cheap, because no-one else had any use for it; another day he +brought Soerine home. Everything went well for him. + +He had met Soerine at some gathering down in one of the fishing huts, +and they quickly made a match of it. She was tired of her place and +he of being alone; so they threw in their lot together. + +He was out the whole day long, and often at night too. When the +fishing season was in full swing, he would leave home at one or two +o'clock in the night, to be at the hamlet when the first boats came +in. On these occasions Soerine stayed up to see that he did not +oversleep himself. This irregular life came as naturally to her as +to him, and she was a great help to him. So now once more he had a +wife, and one who could work too. He possessed a horse, which had no +equal in all the land--and a farm! It was not what could be called +an estate, the house was built of hay, mud and sticks; people would +point laughingly at it as they passed. Lars Peter alone was thankful +for it. + +He was a satisfied being--rather too much so, thought Soerine. She +was of a different nature, always straining forward, and pushing him +along so that her position might be bettered. She was an ambitious +woman. When he was away, she managed everything; and the first +summer helped him to build a proper outhouse, of old beams and +bricks, which she made herself by drying clay in the sun. "Now we've +a place for the animals just like other people," said she, when it +was finished. But her voice showed that she was not satisfied. + +At times Lars Peter Hansen would suggest that they ought to take +Granny and Ditte to live with them. "They're so lonely and dull," +said he, "and the Lord only knows where they get food from." + +But this Soerine would not hear of. "We've enough to do without +them," answered she sharply, "and Mother's not in want, I'm sure. +She was always clever at helping herself. If they come here, I'll +have the money paid for Ditte. 'Tis mine by right." + +"They'll have eaten that up long ago," said Lars Peter. + +But Soerine did not think so; it would not be like her father or her +mother. She was convinced that her mother had hidden it somewhere or +other. "If she would only sell the hut, and give the money to us," +said she. "Then we could build a new house." + +"Much wants more!" answered Lars Peter smilingly. In his opinion the +house they lived in was quite good enough. But he was a man who +thought anything good enough for him, and nothing too good for +others. If he were allowed to rule they would soon end in the +workhouse! + +So Lars Peter avoided the question, and after Granny's visit, and +having seen her and Soerine together, he understood they would be +best apart. They did not come to his home again, but when he was +buying up in their part of the country, he would call in at the hut +on the Naze and take a cup of coffee with them. He would then bring +a paper of coffee and some cakes with him, so as not to take them +unawares, and had other small gifts too. These were days of +rejoicing in the little hut. They longed for him, from one visit to +another, and could talk of very little else. Whenever there were +sounds of wheels, Ditte would fly to the window, and Granny would +open wide her sightless eyes. Ditte gathered old iron from the shore +as a surprise for her father; and when he drove home, she would go +with him as far as the big hill, behind which the sun went down. + +Lars Peter said nothing of these visits when he got home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DITTE HAS A VISION + + +Before losing her sight Maren had taught Ditte to read, which came +in very useful now. They never went to church; their clothes were +too shabby, and the way too long. Maren was not particularly zealous +in her attendance, a life-long experience had taught her to take +what the parson said with a grain of salt. But on Sundays, when +people streamed past on their way to church, they were both neatly +dressed, Ditte with a clean pinafore and polished wooden shoes, and +Granny with a stringed cap. Then Granny would be sitting in the +armchair at the table, spectacles on her nose and the Bible in front +of her, and Ditte standing beside her reading the scriptures for the +day. In spite of her blindness, Maren insisted upon wearing her +spectacles and having the holy book in front of her, according to +custom, otherwise it was not right. + +Ditte was nearly of school age, but Maren took no notice of it, and +kept her home. She was afraid of the child not getting on with the +other children--and could not imagine how she herself could spare +her the whole day long. But at the end of six months they were +found out, and Maren was threatened, that unless the child was sent +to school, she would be taken from her altogether. + +Having fitted out Ditte as well as she could, she sent her off with +a heavy heart. The birth certificate she purposely omitted giving +her; as it bore in the corner the fateful: born out of wedlock. +Maren could not understand why an innocent child should be stamped +as unclean; the child had enough to fight against without that. But +Ditte returned with strict injunctions to bring the certificate the +next day, and Maren was obliged to give it to her. It was hopeless +to fight against injustice. + +Maren knew well that magistrates were no institution of God's +making--she had been born with this knowledge! They only oppressed +her and her kind; and with this end in view used their own hard +method, which was none of God's doing at all. He, on the contrary, +was a friend of the poor; at least His only son, who was sitting on +His right hand, whispered good things of the poor, and it was +reasonable to expect that He would willingly help. But what did it +help when the mighty ones would have it otherwise? It was the squire +and his like, who had the power! It was towards them the parson +turned when preaching, letting the poor folks look after themselves, +and towards them the deacon glanced when singing. It was all very +fine for them, with the magistrate carrying their trains, and +opening their carriage door, with a peasant woman always ready to +lay herself on all fours to prevent them wetting their feet as they +stepped in. No "born out of wedlock" on _their_ birth certificate; +although one often might question their genuineness! + +"But why does the Lord let it be like that?" asked Ditte +wonderingly. + +"He has to, or there'd be no churches built nor no fuss made of +Him," answered Maren. "Grandfather Soeren always said, that the Lord +lived in the pockets of the mighty, and it seems as if he's right." + + * * * * * + +Ditte now went three times a week to school, which lay an hour's +journey away, over the common. She went together with the other +children from the hamlet, and got on well with them. + +Children are thoughtless, but not wicked; this they learn from their +elders. They had only called after her what they had heard at home; +it was their parents' gossip and judgment they had repeated. They +meant nothing by it; Ditte, who was observant in this respect, soon +found out that they treated each other just in the same way. They +would shout witch's brat, at her one minute and the next be quite +friendly; they did not mean to look down upon her. This discovery +took the sting from the abusive word--fortunately she was not +sensitive. And the parents no longer, in superstition, warned their +children against her; the time when Maren rode about as a witch was +entirely forgotten. Now she was only a poor old woman left alone +with an illegitimate child. + +To the school came children just as far in the opposite direction, +from the neighborhood of Sand. And it happened, that from them Maren +and Ditte could make inquiries about Soerine and Lars Peter. They had +not seen Ditte's father for some time, and he might easily have met +with an accident, being on the roads night and day in all sorts of +weather. It was fortunate that Ditte met children from those parts, +who could assure her that all was well. Soerine had never been any +good to her mother, although she was her own flesh and blood. + +One day Ditte came home with the news that she was to go to her +parents; one of the children had brought the message. + +Old Maren began to shake, so that her knitting needles clinked. + +"But they said they didn't want you!" she broke out, her face +quivering. + +"Yes, but now they want me--you see, I've to help with the little +ones," answered Ditte proudly, gathering her possessions together +and putting them on the table. Each time she put a thing down was +like a stab to the old woman; then she would comfort and stroke +Granny's shaking hand, which was nothing but blue veins. Maren sat +dumbly knitting; her face was strangely set and dead-looking. + +"Of course I'll come home and see you; but then you must take it +sensibly. Can't you understand that I couldn't stay with you always? +I'll bring some coffee when I come, and we'll have a lovely time. +But you must promise not to cry, 'cause your eyes can't stand it." + +Ditte stood talking in a would-be wise voice, as she tied up her +things. + +"And now I must go, or I shan't get there till night, and then +mother will be angry." She said the word "mother" with a certain +reverence as if it swept away all objections. "Good-by, dear, _dear_ +Granny!" She kissed the old woman's cheek and hurried off with her +bundle. + +As soon as the door had closed on her Maren began crying, and +calling for her; in a monotonous undertone she poured out all her +troubles, sorrow and want and longing for death. She had had so many +heavy burdens and had barely finished with one when another +appeared. Her hardships had cut deeply--most of them; and it did her +good to live through them again and again. She went on for some +time, and would have gone on still longer had she not suddenly felt +two arms round her neck and a wet cheek against her own. It was the +mischievous child, who had returned, saying that after all she was +not leaving her. + +Ditte had gone some distance, as far as the baker's, who wondered +where she was going with the big parcel and stopped her. Her +explanation, that she was going home to her parents, they refused to +believe; her father had said nothing about it when the baker had +met him at the market the day before, indeed he had sent his love to +them. Ditte stood perplexed on hearing all this. A sudden doubt +flashed through her mind; she turned round with a jerk--quick as she +was in all her movements--and set off home for the hut on the Naze. +How it had all happened she did not bother to think, such was her +relief at being allowed to return to Granny. + +Granny laughed and cried at the same time, asked questions and could +make no sense of it. + +"Aren't you going at all, then?" she broke out, thanking God, and +hardly able to believe it. + +"Of course I'm not going. Haven't I just told you, the baker said I +wasn't to." + +"Ay, the baker, the baker--what's he got to do with it? You'd got +the message to go." + +Ditte was busily poking her nose into Granny's cheek. + +Maren lifted her head: "Hadn't you, child? Answer me!" + +"I don't know, Granny," said Ditte, hiding her face against her. + +Granny held her at an arm's length: "Then you've been playing +tricks, you bad girl! Shame on you, to treat my poor old heart like +this." Maren began sobbing again and could not stop; it had all come +so unexpectedly. If only one could get to the bottom of it; but the +child had declared that she had not told a lie. She was quite +certain of having had the message, and was grieved at Granny not +believing her. She never told an untruth when it came to the point, +so after all must have had the message. On the other side the child +herself said that she was not going--although the baker's counter +orders carried no authority. They had simply stopped her, because +her expedition seemed so extraordinary. 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. + +Old Maren was deep in thought; she had known before that the child +understood, that it was bound to come. + +"Whatever it may be," said she after a few moments, "you've behaved +like the great man I once read about, who rehearsed his own +funeral--with four black horses, hearse and everything. All his +servants had to pretend they were the procession, dressed in black, +they had even to cry. He himself was watching from an attic window, +and when he saw the servants laughing behind their handkerchiefs +instead of crying, he took it so to heart that he died. 'Tis +dangerous for folks to make fun of their own passing away--wherever +they may be going!" + +"I wasn't making fun, Granny," Ditte assured her again. + +From that day Maren went in daily dread of the child being claimed +by her parents. "My ears are burning," she often said, "maybe 'tis +your mother talking of us." + +Soerine certainly did talk of them in those days. Ditte was now old +enough to make herself useful; her mother would not mind having her +home to look after the little ones. "She's nearly nine years old now +and we'll have to take her sooner or later," she explained. + +Lars Peter demurred; he thought it was a shame to take her from +Granny. "Let's take them both then," said he. + +Soerine refused to listen, and nagged for so long that she overcame +his opposition. + +"We've been expecting you," said Maren when at last he came to fetch +the child. "We've known for long that you'd come on this errand." + +"'Tisn't exactly with my good will. But in a way a mother has a +right to her own child, and Soerine thinks she'd like to have her," +answered Lars Peter. He wanted to smooth it down for both sides. + +"I know you've done your best. Well, it can't be helped. And how's +every one at home? There's another mouth to feed, I've heard." + +"Ay, he's nearly six months old now." Lars Peter brightened up, as +he always did when speaking of his children. + +They got into the cart. "We shan't forget you, either of us," said +Lars Peter huskily, while trying to get the old nag off. + +Then the old woman stumbled in, they saw her feeling her way over +the doorstep with her foot and closing the door behind her. + +"'Tis lonely to be old and blind," said Lars Peter, lashing his whip +as usual. + +Ditte heard nothing; she was sitting with her face in one big smile. +She was driving towards something new; she had no thought for Granny +just then. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AT HOME WITH MOTHER + + +The rag and bone man's property--the Crow's Nest--stood a little way +back from the road, and the piece up towards the road he had planted +with willows, partly to hide the half-ruined abode, and partly to +have material for making baskets during the winter, when there was +little business to be done. The willows grew quickly, and already +made a beautiful place for playing hide and seek. He made the house +look as well as it could, with tar and whitewash, but miserable +looking it ever would be, leaking and falling to pieces; it was the +dream of Soerine's life, that they should build a new dwelling-house +up by the road, using this as outhouse. The surroundings were +desolate and barren, and a long way from neighbors. The view towards +the northwest was shut off by a big forest, and on the opposite side +was the big lake, which reflected all kinds of weather. On the dark +nights could be heard the quacking of the ducks in the rushes on its +banks, and on rainy days, boats would glide like shadows over it, +with a dark motionless figure in the bow, the eel-fisher. He held +his eel-fork slantingly in front of him, prodded the water sleepily +now and then, and slid past. It was like a dream picture, and the +whole lake was in keeping. When Ditte felt dull she would pretend +that she ran down to the banks, hid herself in the rushes, and dream +herself home to Granny. Or perhaps away to something still better; +something unknown, which was in store for her somewhere or other. +Ditte never doubted but that there was something special in reserve +for her, so glorious that it was impossible even to imagine it. + +In her play too, her thoughts would go seawards, and when her +longing for Granny was too strong, she would run round the corner of +the house and gaze over the wide expanse of water. Now she knew +Granny's true worth. + +She had not yet been down to the sea; as a matter of fact there was +no time to play. At six o'clock in the morning, the youngest babe +made himself heard, as regularly as clockwork, and she had to get up +in a hurry, take him from his mother and dress him. Lars Peter would +be at his morning jobs, if he had not already gone to the beach for +fish. When he was at home, Soerine would get up with the children; +but otherwise she would take a longer nap, letting Ditte do the +heaviest part of the work for the day. Then her morning duties would +be left undone, the two animals bellowed from the barn, the pigs +squealed over their empty trough, and the hens flocked together at +the hen-house door waiting to be let out. Ditte soon found out that +her mother was more industrious when the father was at home than +when he was out; then she would trail about the whole morning, her +hair undone and an old skirt over her nightdress, and a pair of +down-trodden shoes on her bare feet, while everything was allowed to +slide. + +Ditte thought this was a topsy-turvy world. She herself took her +duties seriously, and had not yet been sufficiently with grown-up +people to learn to shirk work. She washed and dressed the little +ones. They were full of life, mischievous and unmanageable, and she +had as much as she could do in looking after the three of them. As +soon as they saw an opportunity, the two eldest would slip away from +her, naked as they were; then she had to tie up the youngest while +she went after them. + +The days she went to school she felt as a relief. She had just time +to get the children ready, and eat her porridge, before leaving. At +the last moment her mother would find something or other, which had +to be done, and she had to run the whole way. + +She was often late, and was scolded for it, yet she loved going to +school. She enjoyed sitting quietly in the warm schoolroom for hours +at a stretch, resting body and mind; the lessons were easy, and the +schoolmaster kind. He often let them run out for hours, when he +would work in his field, and it constantly happened that the whole +school helped him to gather in his corn or dig up his potatoes. +This was a treat indeed. The children were like a flock of screaming +birds, chattering, making fun and racing each other at the work. And +when they returned, the schoolmaster's wife would give them coffee. + +More than anything else Ditte loved the singing-class. She had never +heard any one but Granny sing, and she only did it when she was +spinning--to prevent the thread from being uneven, and the wheel +from swinging, said she. It was always the same monotonous, gliding +melody; Ditte thought she had composed it herself, because it was +short or long according to her mood. + +The schoolmaster always closed the school with a song, and the first +time Ditte heard the full chorus, she burst into tears with emotion. +She put her head on the desk, and howled. The schoolmaster stopped +the singing and came down to her. + +"She must have been frightened," said the girls nearest to her. + +He comforted her, and she stopped crying. "Have you never heard +singing before, child?" he asked wonderingly, when she had calmed +down. + +"Yes, the spinning-song," sniffed Ditte. + +"Who sang it to you then?" + +"Granny----" Ditte suddenly stopped and began to choke again, the +thought of Granny was too much for her. "Granny used to sing it when +she was spinning," she managed at last to say. + +"That must be a good old Granny, you have. Do you love her?" + +Ditte did not answer, but the face she turned to him was like +sunshine after the storm. + +"Will you sing us the spinning-song?" + +Ditte looked from the one to the other; the whole class gazed +breathlessly at her; she felt something was expected of her. She +threw a hasty glance at the schoolmaster's face; then fixed her eyes +on her desk and began singing in a delicate little voice, which +vibrated with conflicting feelings; shyness, the solemnity of the +occasion, and sorrow at the thought of Granny, who might now sit +longing for her. Unconsciously she moved one foot up and down as she +sang, as one who spins. One or two attempted to giggle, but one look +from the master silenced them. + + Now we spin for Ditte for stockings and for vest, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + Some shall be of silver and golden all the rest, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + Ditte went awalking, so soft and round and red, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away, + Met a little princeling who doff'd his cap and said, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + Oh, come with me, fair maiden, to father's castle fine, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + We'll play the livelong day and have a lovely time, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + Alas, dear little prince, your question makes me grieve, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + There's Granny waits at home for me, and her I cannot leave, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + She's blind, poor old dear, 'tis sad to see, alack! + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + She's water in her legs and pains all down her back, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + --If 'tis but for a child, she's cried her poor eyes out, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + Then she shall never want of that there is no doubt, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + When toil and troubles tell and legs begin to ache, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + We'll dress her up in furs and drive her out in state, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + + Now Granny spins once more for sheet and bolster long, + Spin, spin away, Oh, and spin, spin away! + For Ditte and the prince to lie and rest upon, + Fal-de-ray, fal-de-ray, de-ray, ray, ray! + +When she had finished her song, there was stillness for a few +moments in the schoolroom. + +"She thinks she's going to marry a prince," said one of the girls. + +"And that she probably will!" answered the schoolmaster. "And then +Granny can have all she wants," he added, stroking her hair. + +Without knowing it, Ditte at one stroke had won both the master's +and the other children's liking. She had sung to the whole class, +quite alone, which none of the others dared do. The schoolmaster +liked her for her fearlessness, and for some time shut his eyes +whenever she was late. But one day it was too much for him, and he +ordered her to stay in. Ditte began to cry. + +"'Tis a shame," said the other girls, "she runs the whole way, and +she's whipped if she's late home. Her mother stands every day at the +corner of the house waiting for her--she's so strict." + +"Then we'll have to get hold of your mother," said the schoolmaster. +"This can't go on!" Ditte escaped staying in, but was given a note +to take home. + +This having no effect, the schoolmaster went with her home to speak +to her mother. But Soerine refused to take any responsibility. If the +child arrived late at school, it was simply because she loitered on +the way. Ditte listened to her in amazement; she could not make out +how her mother could look so undisturbed when telling such untruths. + +Ditte, to help herself, now began acting a lie too. Each morning she +seized the opportunity of putting the little Swiss clock a quarter +of an hour forward. It worked quite well in the morning, so that she +was in time for school; but she would be late in arriving home. + +"You're taking a quarter of an hour longer on the road now," scolded +her mother. + +"We got out late today," lied Ditte, trying to copy her mother's +unconcerned face, as she had seen it when _she_ lied. Her heart was +in her mouth, but all went well--wonderful to relate! How much wiser +she was now! During the day she quietly put the clock back again. + +One day, in the dusk, as she stood on the chair putting the clock +back, her mother came behind her. Ditte threw herself down from the +chair, quickly picking up little Povl from the floor, where he was +crawling; in her fear, she tried to hide behind the little one. But +her mother tore him from her, and began thrashing her. + +Ditte had had a rap now and then, when she was naughty, but this was +the first time she had been really whipped. She was like an animal, +kicking and biting, and shrieking, so that it was all her mother +could do to manage her. The three little ones' howls equaled hers. + +When Soerine thought she had had enough, she dragged her to the +woodshed and locked her in. "Lie there and howl, maybe it'll teach +you not to try those tricks again!" she shouted, and went in. She +was so out of breath that she had to sit down; that wicked child had +almost got the better of her. + +Ditte, quite beyond herself, went on screaming and kicking for some +time. Her cries gradually quietened down to a despairing wail of: +"Granny, Granny!" It was quite dark in the woodshed, and whenever +she called for Granny, she heard a comforting rustling sound from +the darkness at the back of the shed. She gazed confidently towards +it, and saw two green fire-balls shining in the darkness, which came +and went by turns. Ditte was not afraid of the dark. "Puss, puss," +she whispered. The fire-balls disappeared, and the next moment she +felt something soft touching her. And now she broke down again, this +caress was too much for her, and she pitied herself intensely. Puss, +little puss! There was after all one who cared for her! Now she +would go home to Granny. + +She got up, dazed and bruised, and felt her way to the shutter. When +Soerine thought that she had been locked in long enough, and came to +release her, she had vanished. + + * * * * * + +Ditte ran into the darkness, sobbing; it was cold and windy, and the +rain was beating on her face. She wore no knickers under her +dress--these her mother had taken for the little ones, together with +the thick woollen vest Granny had knitted for her--the wet edge of +her skirt cut her bare legs, which were swollen from the lash of the +cane. But the silent rain did her good. Suddenly something flew up +from beside her; she heard the sound of rushes standing rustling in +the water--and knew that she had got away from the road. She +collapsed, and crawled into the undergrowth, and lay shivering in a +heap, like a sick puppy. + +There she lay groaning without really having any more pain; the cold +had numbed her limbs and deadened the smart. It was distress of soul +which made her wince now and then; it was wrung by the emptiness +and meaninglessness of her existence. She needed soothing hands, a +mother first of all, who would fondle her--but she got only hard +words and blows from that quarter. Yet it was expected that she +should give what she herself missed most of all--a mother's +long-suffering patience and tender care to the three tiresome little +ones, who were scarcely more helpless than she was. + +Her black despair little by little gave place to numbness. Hate and +anger, feebleness and want, had all fought in her mind and worn her +out. The cold did the rest, and she fell into a doze. + +A peculiar, grinding, creaking and jolting noise came from the road. +Only one cart in all the world could produce that sound. Ditte +opened her eyes, and a feeling of joy went through her--her father! +She tried to call, but no sound came, and each time she tried to +rise her legs gave way under her. She crawled up with difficulty +over the edge of the ditch, out into the middle of the road, and +there collapsed. + +As the nag neared that spot, it stopped, threw up its head, snorted, +and refused to go on. Lars Peter jumped down and ran to the horse's +head to see what was wrong; there he found Ditte, stiff with cold +and senseless. + +Under his warm driving cape she came to herself again, and life +returned to the cold limbs. Lars Peter thawed them one by one in his +huge fists. Ditte lay perfectly quiet in his arms; she could hear +the beat of his great heart underneath his clothes, throb, throb! +Each beat was like the soft nosing of some animal, and his deep +voice sounded to her like an organ. His big hands, which took hold +of so much that was hard and ugly, were the warmest she had ever +known. Just like Granny's cheek--the softest thing in all the +world--were they. + +"Now we must get out and run a little," said the father suddenly. +Ditte was unwilling to move, she was so warm and comfortable. There +was no help for it however. "We must get the blood to run again," +said he, lifting her out of the cart. Then they ran for some time by +the side of the nag, which threw out its big hoofs in a jog-trot, so +as not to be outdone. + +"Shall we soon be home?" asked Ditte, when she was in the cart +again, well wrapped up. + +"Oh-h, there's a bit left--you've run seven miles, child! Now tell +me what's the meaning of your running about like this." + +Then Ditte told him about the school, the injustice she had had to +bear, the whipping and everything. In between there were growls from +Lars Peter, as he stamped his feet on the bottom of the cart--he +could hardly tolerate to listen to this tale. "But you won't tell +Soerine, will you?" she added with fear. "Mother, I mean," she +hastily corrected herself. + +"You needn't be afraid," was all he said. + +He was silent for the rest of the journey, and was very slow in +unharnessing; Ditte kept beside him. Soerine came out with a lantern +and spoke to him, but he did not answer. She cast a look of fear at +him and the child, hung up the lantern, and hurried in. + +Soon after he came in, holding Ditte by the hand, her little hand +shaking in his. His face was gray; in his right hand was a thick +stick. Soerine fled from his glance; right under the clock; pressing +herself into the corner, gazing at them with perplexity. + +"Ay, you may well gaze at us," said he, coming forward--"'tis a +child accusing you. What's to be done about it?" He had seated +himself under the lamp, and lifting Ditte's frock, he carefully +pressed his palm against the blue swollen weals, which smarted with +the slightest touch. "It still hurts--you're good at thrashing! +let's see if you're equally good at healing. Come and kiss the +child, where you've struck her, a kiss for each stroke!" + +He sat waiting. "Well----" + +Soerine's face was full of disgust. + +"Oh, you think your mouth's too good to kiss what your hand's +struck." He reached out for the stick. + +Soerine had sunk down on the ground, she put out her hands +beseechingly. But he looked inexorably at her, not at all like +himself. "Well----" + +Soerine lingered a few moments longer, then on her knees went and +kissed the child's bruised limbs. + +Ditte threw her arms violently round her mother's neck. "Mother," +said she. + +But Soerine got up and went out to get the supper. She never looked +at them the whole evening. + +Lars Peter was his old self the next morning. He woke Soerine with a +kiss as usual, humming as he dressed. Soerine still looked at him +with malice, but he pretended not to notice it. It was quite dark, +and as he sat eating his breakfast, with the lantern in front of him +on the table, he kept looking at the three little ones, in bed. They +were all in a heap--like young birds. "When Povl has to join them, +we'll have to put two at each end," he said thoughtfully. "Better +still, if we could afford another bed." + +There was no answer from Soerine. + +When ready to leave, he bent over Ditte, who lay like a little +mother with the children in her arms. "That's a good little girl, +you've given us," said he, straightening himself. + +"She tells lies," answered Soerine from beside the fireplace. + +"Then it's because she's had to. My family's not thought much of, +Soerine--and maybe they don't deserve it either. But never a hand was +laid on us children, I'll tell you. I remember plainly my father's +death-bed, how he looked at his hands, and said: 'These have dealt +with much, but never has the rag and bone man's hands been turned +against the helpless!' I'd like to say that when my time comes, and +I'd advise you to think of it too." + +Then he drove away. Soerine put the lantern in the window, to act as +a guide to him, and crept back to bed, but could not sleep. For the +first time Lars Peter had given her something to think of. She had +found that in him which she had never expected, something strange +which warned her to be careful. A decent soul, she had always taken +him for--just as the others. 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +RAIN AND SUNSHINE + + +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. At times Lars Peter came home early, having been unlucky in +selling his fish. Then she would sit up with her parents until one +or two o'clock in the night, cleaning the fish, to prevent it +spoiling. Soerine was one of those people who fuss about without +doing much. She could not bear the child resting for a moment, and +drove her from one task to another. Often when Ditte went to bed, +she was so tired that she could not sleep. Soerine had the miserable +habit of making the day unhappy for the children. She was rough with +them should they get in her way; and always left children's tears +like streams of water behind her. When Ditte went to gather sticks, +or pick berries, she always dragged the little ones with her, so as +not to leave them to their mother's tender mercy. There were days +when Soerine was not quite so bad--she was never quite happy and +kind, but at other times she was almost mad with anger, and the +only thing to do was to keep out of her way. Then they would all +hide, and only appear when their father came home. + +Soerine was careful not to strike Ditte, and sent her off to school +in good time--she had no wish to see Lars Peter again as he was that +evening. But she had no love for the child, she wanted to get on in +life; it was her ambition to build a new dwelling-house, get more +land and animals--and be on the same footing with the other women on +the small farms round about. The child was a blot on her. Whenever +she looked at Ditte, she would think: Because of that brat, all the +other women look down on me! + +The child certainly was a good worker, even Soerine grudgingly +admitted it to Lars Peter. It was Ditte who made butter, first in a +bottle, which had to be shaken, often by the hour, before the butter +would come--and now in the new churn. Soerine herself could not stand +the hard work of churning. Ditte gathered berries and sold them in +the market, ran errands, fetched water and sticks, and looked after +the sheep, carrying fat little Povl wherever she went. He cried if +she left him behind, and she was quite crooked with carrying him. + +Autumn was the worst time for the children. It was the herring +season, and their father would stay down at the fishing +hamlet--often for a month at a time--helping with the catch. Soerine +was then difficult to get on with; the only thing which kept her +within bounds was Ditte's threat of running away. There were not +many men left in the neighborhood in the autumn, and Soerine went in +daily dread of tramps. Should they knock at the door in the evening, +she would let Ditte answer it. + +Ditte was not afraid. This and her cleverness gave her moral power +over her mother; she had no fear of answering her back now. She was +quicker with her fingers than her mother, both in making baskets and +brooms, and did better work too. + +What money they made in this way, Soerine had permission to keep for +herself. She never spent a penny of it, but put it by, shilling by +shilling, towards building the new house. They must try hard to make +enough, so that Lars Peter could work at home instead of hawking his +goods on the road. As long as the people had the right to call him +rag and bone man, it was natural they should show no respect. Land +they must have, and for this, money was necessary. + +Money! money! That word was always in Soerine's mind and humming in +her ears. She scraped together shilling after shilling, and yet the +end was far from being in sight, unless something unexpected +happened. And what could happen to shorten the wearisome way to her +goal, only one thing--that her mother should die. She had really +lived long enough and been a burden to others. Soerine thought it was +quite time she departed, but no such luck. + +It happened that Lars Peter returned one day in the middle of the +afternoon. The shabby turn-out could be seen from afar. The cart +rocked with every turn of the wheels, creaking and groaning as it +was dragged along. It was as if all the parts of the cart spoke and +sang at once, and when the children heard the well-known noise along +the road, they would rush out, full of excitement. The old nag, +which grew more and more like a wandering bag of bones, snorted and +puffed, and rumbled, as if all the winds from the four corners of +the earth were locked in its belly. And Lars Peter's deep hum joined +the happy chorus. + +When the horse saw the little ones, it whinnied; Lars Peter raised +himself from his stooping position and stopped singing, and the cart +came to a standstill. He lifted them up in the air, all three or +four together in a bunch, held them up to the sky for a moment, and +put them into the cart as carefully as if they were made of glass. +The one who had seen him first was allowed to hold the reins. + +When Lars Peter came home and found Soerine in a temper and the house +upside down, he was not disturbed at all, but soon cheered them all +up. He always brought something home with him, peppermints for the +children, a new shawl for mother--and perhaps love from Granny to +Ditte, whispering it to her so that Soerine could not hear. His good +humor was infectious; the children forgot their grievances, and even +Soerine had to laugh whether she wanted to or not. And if the +children were fond of him, so too were the animals. They would +welcome him with their different cries and run to meet him; he +could let the pig out and make it follow him in the funniest gallop +round the field. + +However late he was in returning, and however tired, he never went +to bed without having first been the round to see that the animals +wanted for nothing. Soerine easily forgot them and they were often +hungry. Then the hens flew down from their perch on hearing his +step, the pigs came out and grunted over their trough, and a soft +back rubbed itself up against his legs--the cat. + +Lars Peter brought joy with him home, and a happier man than he +could hardly be found for miles. He loved his wife for what she was, +more sharp than really clever. He admired her for her firmness, and +thought her an exceedingly capable woman, and was truly thankful for +the children she gave him, for those he was father to--and for +Ditte. Perhaps if anything he cared most for her. + +Such was Lars Peter's nature that he began where others ended. All +his troubles had softened instead of hardening him; his mind +involuntarily turned to what was neglected, perhaps it was because +of this that people thought nothing throve for him. + +His ground was sour and sandy, none but he would think of plowing +it. No-one grudged him his wife, and most of the animals he had +saved from being killed, on his trips round the farms. He could +afford to be happy with his possessions, thinking they were better +than what others had. He was jealous of no-one, and no exchange +would tempt him. + +On Sundays the horse had to rest, and it would not do either to go +on his rounds that day. Therefore Lars Peter would creep up to the +hayloft to have a sleep. He would sleep on until late in the +afternoon, having had very little during the week, and Ditte had her +work cut out to keep the little ones from him; they made as much +noise as they possibly could, hoping to waken him so that he might +play with them, but Ditte watched carefully, that he had his sleep +in peace. + +Twice a year they all drove to the market at Hilleroed, on top of the +loaded cart. The children were put into the baskets which were +stacked in the back of the cart, the brooms hung over the sides, +under the seat were baskets of butter and eggs, and in front--under +Lars' and Soerine's feet, were a couple of sheep tied up. These were +the great events of the year, from which everything was dated. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +POOR GRANNY + + +On rare occasions Ditte was permitted to go and stay with Granny for +a few days. It was the father who managed this, and he arranged his +round so that he could either bring or fetch her home. + +Granny was always in bed when she arrived--she never got up now. +"Why should I trudge on, when you're not here? If I stay in bed, +then sometimes kind folks remember me and bring me a little food and +clean up for me. Oh, dear! 'twould be much better to die; nobody +wants me," she complained. But she got up all the same, and put on +water for the coffee; Ditte cleaned the room, which was in a +deplorable condition, and they enjoyed themselves together. + +When the time was up and Ditte had to go, the old woman cried. Ditte +stood outside listening to her wailings; she held on to the doorpost +trying to pull herself together. She _had_ to go home, and began +running with closed eyes the first part of the way, until she could +hear Granny's cries no longer, then----But she got more and more +sick at heart, and knew no more, until she found herself with her +arms round Granny's neck. "I'm allowed to stay until tomorrow," +said she. + +"You're not playing tricks, child?" said the old woman anxiously. +"For then Soerine'll be angry. Ay, ay," said she shortly afterwards, +"stay until tomorrow then. The Lord'll make it all right for +you--for the sake of your good heart. We don't have much chance of +seeing each other, we two." + +The next day it was no better; Maren had not the strength to send +the child away. There was so much to tell her, and what was one day +after the accumulation of months of sorrow and longing? And Ditte +listened seriously to all her woes; she understood now what sorrow +and longing meant. "You've quite changed," said Granny. "I notice it +from the way you listen to me. If only the time would pass quickly +so that you might go out to service." + +And one day it was all over; Lars Peter had come to fetch her. +"You'd better come home now," said he, wrapping her up, "the little +ones are crying for you." + +"Ay, you're not to be feared," said old Maren. "But it seems like +Soerine might be kinder to her." + +"I think it's better now--and the little ones are fond of her. She's +quite a little mother to them." + +Yes, there were the children! Ditte's heart warmed at the thought of +them. They had gained her affection in their own peculiar way; by +adding burdens to her little life they had wound themselves round +her heart. + +"How's Povl?" asked she, when they had driven over the big hill, and +Granny's hut was out of sight. + +"Well, you know, he's always crying when you're not at home," said +the father quietly. + +Ditte knew this. He was cutting his teeth just now, and needed +nursing, his cheeks were red with fever, and his mouth hot and +swollen. He would hang on to his mother's skirt, only to be brushed +impatiently aside, and would fall and hurt himself. Who then was +there to take him on their knee and comfort him? It was like an +accusation to Ditte's big heart; she was sorry she had deserted him, +and longed to have him in her arms again. It hurt her back to carry +him--yes, and the schoolmaster scolded her for stooping. "It's your +own fault," the mother would say; "stop dragging that big child +about! He can walk if he likes, he can." But when he was in pain and +cried, Ditte knew all too well from her own experience the child's +need of being held against a beating heart. She still had that +longing herself, though a mother's care had never been offered her. + +Soerine was cross when Lars Peter returned with Ditte, and ignored +her for several days. But at last curiosity got the upper hand. +"How's the old woman--is she worse?" asked she. + +Ditte, who thought her mother asked out of sympathy, gave full +details of the miserable condition that Granny was in. "She's always +in bed, and only gets food when any one takes it to her." + +"Then she can't last much longer," thought the mother. + +At this Ditte began to cry. Then her mother scolded her: + +"Stupid girl, there's nothing to cry for. Old folks can't live on +forever, being a burden to others. And when Granny dies we'll get a +new dwelling-house." + +"No, 'cause Granny says, what comes from the house is to be divided +equally. And the rest----" Ditte broke off suddenly. + +"What rest?" Soerine bent forward with distended nostrils. + +But Ditte closed her lips firmly. Granny had strictly forbidden her +to mention the subject--and here she had almost let it out. + +"Stupid girl! don't you suppose I know you're thinking of the two +hundred crowns that was paid for you? What's to be done with it?" + +Ditte looked with suspicion at her mother. "I'm to have it," she +whispered. + +"Then the old woman should let us keep it for you, instead of +hanging on to it herself," said Soerine. + +Ditte was terrified. That was exactly what Granny was afraid of, +that Soerine should get hold of it. "Granny has hidden it safely," +said she. + +"Oh, has she, and where?--in the eiderdown of course!" + +"No!" Ditte assured her, shaking her head vehemently. But any one +could see that was where it was hidden. + +"Oh, that's lucky, for that eiderdown I'm going to fetch some day. +That you can tell Granny, with my love, next time you see her. Each +of my sisters when they married was given an eiderdown, and I claim +mine too." + +"Granny only has one eiderdown!" Ditte protested--perhaps for the +twentieth time. + +"Then she'll just have to take one of her many under-quilts. She +lies propped up nearly to the ceiling, with all those bedclothes." + +Yes, Granny's bed was soft, Ditte knew that better than any one +else. Granny's bedclothes were heavy, and yet warmer than anything +else in the whole world, and there was a straw mat against the wall. +It had been so cosy and comfortable sleeping with Granny. + +Ditte was small for her age, all the hardships she had endured had +stunted her growth. But her mind was above the average; she was +thoughtful by nature, and her life had taught her not to shirk, but +to take up her burden. She had none of the carelessness of +childhood, but was full of forethought and troubles. She _had_ to +worry--for her little sisters and brothers the few days she was with +Granny, and for Granny all the time she was not with her. + +As a punishment, for having prolonged her visit to Granny without +permission, Soerine for a long time refused to let her go again. Then +Ditte went about thinking of the old woman, worrying herself into a +morbid self-reproach; most of all at night, when she could not sleep +for cold, would her sorrows overwhelm her, and she would bury her +head in the eiderdown, so that her mother should not hear her sobs. + +She would remember all the sweet ways of the old woman, and bitterly +repent the tricks and mischief she had played upon her. This was her +punishment; she had repaid Granny badly for all her care, and now +she was alone and forsaken. She had never been really good to the +old woman; she would willingly be so now--but it was too late! There +were hundreds of ways of making Granny happy, and Ditte knew them +all, but she had been a horrid, lazy girl. If she could only go back +now, she certainly would see that Granny always had a lump of sugar +for her second cup of coffee--instead of stealing it herself. And +she would remember every evening to heat the stone, and put it at +the foot of the bed, so Granny's feet should not be cold. "You've +forgotten the stone again," said Granny almost every night, "my feet +are like ice. And what are yours like? Why, they're quite cold, +child." Then Granny would rub the child's feet until they were warm; +but nothing was done to her own--it was all so hopeless to think of +it now. + +She thought, if she only promised to be better in the future, +something must happen to take her back to Granny again. But nothing +did happen! And one day she could stand it no longer, and set off +running over the fields. Soerine wanted her brought home at once; +but Lars Peter took it more calmly. + +"Just wait a few days," said he, "'tis a long time since she's seen +the old woman." And he arranged his round so that Ditte could spend +a few days with her grandmother. + +"Bring back the eiderdown with you," said Soerine. "It's cold now, +and it'll be useful for the children." + +"We'll see about it," answered Lars Peter. When she got a thing into +her head, she would nag on and on about it, so that she would have +driven most people mad. But Lars Peter did not belong to the family +of Man; all her haggling had no effect on his good-natured +stubbornness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY + + +Ditte was awakened by the sound of iron being struck, and opened her +eyes. The smoking lamp stood on the table, and in front of the fire +was her mother hammering a ring off the kettle with a poker. She was +not yet dressed; the flames from the fire flickered over her untidy +red hair and naked throat. Ditte hastily closed her eyes again, so +that her mother should not discover that she was awake. The room was +cold, and through the window-panes could be seen the darkness of the +night. + +Then her father came tramping in with the lantern, which he put out +and hung it up behind the door. He was already dressed, and had been +out doing his morning jobs. There was a smell of coffee in the room. +"Ah!" said he, seating himself by the table. Ditte peeped out at +him; when he was there, there was no fear of being turned out of +bed. + +"Oh, there you are, little wagtail," said he. "Go to sleep again, +it's only five o'clock---but maybe you're thinking of a cup of +coffee in bed?" + +Ditte glanced at her mother, who stood with her back to her. Then +she nodded her head eagerly. + +Lars Peter drank half of his coffee, put some more sugar in the cup, +and handed it to the child. + +Soerine was dressing by the fireplace. "Now keep quiet," said she, +"while I tell you what to do. There's flour and milk for you to make +pancakes for dinner; but don't dare to put an egg in." + +"Good Lord, what's an egg or two," Lars Peter tried to say. + +"You leave the housekeeping to me," answered Soerine, "and you'd +better get up at once before we leave, and begin work." + +"What's the good of that?" said Lars Peter again. "Leave the +children in bed till it's daylight. I've fed the animals, and it's +no good wasting oil." + +This last appealed to Soerine. "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 Soerine 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. + +When it was daylight, she got up and lit the fire again. The others +wanted to get up too, but by promising them coffee instead of their +usual porridge and milk she kept them in bed until she had tidied up +the room. They got permission to crawl over to their parents' bed, +and thoroughly enjoyed themselves there, while Ditte put wet sand on +the floor, and swept it. Kristian, who was now five years old, told +stories in a deep voice of a dreadful cat that went about the fields +eating up all the moo-cows; the two little ones lay across him, +their eyes fixed on his lips, and breathless with excitement. They +could see it quite plainly--the pussy-cat, the moo-cow and +everything--and little Povl, out of sheer eagerness to hurry up the +events, put his fat little hand right down Kristian's throat. Ditte +went about her duties smiling in her old-fashioned way at their +childish talk. She looked very mysterious as she gave them their +coffee; and when the time came for them to be dressed, the surprise +came out. "Oh, we're going to have our best clothes on--hip, hip, +hooray!" shouted Kristian, beginning to jump up and down on the bed. +Ditte smacked him, he was spoiling the bedclothes! + +"If you'll be really good and not tell any one, I'll take you out +for a drive," said Ditte, dressing them in their best clothes. These +were of many colors, their mother having made them from odd scraps +of material, taken from the rag and bone man's cart. + +"Oh--to the market?" shouted Kristian, beginning to jump again. + +"No, to the forest," said the little sister, stroking Ditte's cheeks +beseechingly with her dirty little hands, which were blue with cold. +She had seen it from afar, and longed to go there. + +"Yes, to the forest. But you must be good; it's a long way." + +"May we tell pussy?" Soester looked at Ditte with her big expressive +eyes. + +"Yes, and papa," Kristian joined in with. + +"Yes, but not any one else," Ditte impressed upon them. "Now +remember that!" + +The two little ones were put into the wheelbarrow, and Kristian held +on to the side, and thus they set off. There was snow everywhere, +the bushes were weighted down with it, and on the cart track the ice +cracked under the wheel. It was all so jolly, the black crows, the +magpies which screamed at them from the thorn-bushes, and the rime +which suddenly dropped from the trees, right on to their heads. + +It was three miles to the forest, but Ditte was used to much longer +distances, and counted this as nothing. Kristian and Soester took +turns in walking, Povl wanted to walk in the snow too, but was told +to stay where he was and be good. + +All went well until they had got halfway. Then the little ones began +to tire of it, asking impatiently for the forest. They were cold, +and Ditte had to stop every other moment to rub their fingers. The +sun had melted the snow, making it dirty and heavy under foot, and +she herself was getting tired. She tried to cheer them up, and +trailed on a little further; but outside the bailiff's farm they all +came to a hopeless standstill. A big fierce dog thought their +hesitation suspicious and barred their way. + +Per Nielsen came out on the porch to see why the dog barked so +furiously; he at once saw what had happened, and took the children +indoors. It was dinner-time, the wife was in the kitchen frying +bacon and apples together. It smelt delicious. She thawed their +frozen fingers in cold water; when they were all right again, all +three stood round the fire. 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. They had never +been out before, their eyes went greedily from one thing to another, +as they were eating; on the walls hung copperware, which shone like +the sun, and on the fire was a big bright copper kettle with a cover +to the spout. It was like a huge hen sitting on eggs. + +When they had finished their meal, Per Nielsen took them out and +showed them the little pigs, lying like rolls of sausages round the +mother. Then they went into the house again, and the wife gave them +apples and cakes, but the best of all came last, when Per Nielsen +harnessed the beautiful spring-cart to drive them home. The +wheelbarrow was put in the back, so that too got a drive. The little +ones laughed so much that it caught in their throats. + +"Stupid children, coming out like that all alone," said the +bailiff's wife, as she stood wrapping them up. "Fortunately 'twas +more good luck than management that you came here." And they all +agreed that the return to the Crow's Nest was much grander than the +set-off. + +The trip had been glorious, but now there was work to be done. The +mother had not taken picnics into account, and had put a large +bundle of rags out on the threshing-floor to be sorted, all the wool +to be separated from the cotton. Kristian and Soester could give a +helping hand if they liked; but they would not be serious today. +They were excited by the trip, and threw the rags at each other's +heads. "Now, you mustn't fight," repeated Ditte every minute, but it +did no good. + +When darkness fell, they had only half finished. Ditte fetched the +little lamp, in which they used half oil and half petroleum, and +went on working; she cried despairingly when she found that they +could not finish by the time her parents would return. At the sight +of her tears the children became serious, and for a while the work +went on briskly. But soon they were on the floor again chasing each +other; and by accident Kristian kicked the lamp, which fell down and +broke. This put an end to their wildness; the darkness fixed them to +the spot; they dared not move. "Ditte take me," came wailingly from +each corner. + +Ditte opened the trap-door. "Find your own way out!" said she +harshly, fumbling about for Povl, who was sleeping on a bundle of +rags; she was angry. "Now you shall go to bed for punishment," said +she. + +Kristian was sobbing all the time. "Don't let mother whip me, don't +let her!" he said over and over again. He put his arms round +Ditte's neck as if seeking refuge there. And this put an end to her +anger. + +When she had lit the lantern she helped them to undress. "Now if +you'll be good and go straight to sleep, then Ditte will run to the +store and buy a lamp." She dared not leave the children with the +light burning, and put it out before she left. As a rule they were +afraid of being left alone in the dark; but under the present +conditions it was no good making a fuss. + +Ditte had a sixpence! Granny had given it to her once in their +well-to-do-days, and she had kept it faithfully through all +temptations up to now. It was to have bought her so many beautiful +things, and now it had to go--to save little Kristian from a +whipping. Slowly she kneeled down in front of the hole at the foot +of the wall where it was hidden, and took the stone away; it really +hurt her to do it. Then she got up and ran off to the store as +quickly as she could--before she could repent. + +On her return the little ones were asleep. She lit the lantern and +began to peel off the withered leaves from the birches which were to +be made into brooms; she was tired after the long eventful day, but +could not idle. The strong fragrance from the birches was +penetrating, and she fell asleep over her work. Thus her parents +found her. + +Soerine's sharp eyes soon saw that everything was not as it should +be. "Why've you got the lantern lit?" asked she, as she unbuttoned +her coat. + +Ditte had to own up, "but I've bought another!" she hastened to add. + +"Oh--and where is it?" said the mother, looking round the room. + +The next moment Soerine stood in the doorway. "Who gave you +permission to get things on credit?" asked she. + +"I bought it with my own money," Ditte whispered. + +Own money--then began a cross-examination, which looked as if it +would never end. Lars Peter had to interfere. + +There was no fire in the room, so they went early to bed; Ditte had +forgotten the fire. "She's had enough to do," said Lars Peter +excusingly. And Soerine had nothing to say--she had no objection when +it meant saving. + +There was a hard frost. Ditte was cold and could not sleep, she lay +gazing at her breath, which showed white, and listening to the +crackling of the frost on the walls. Outside it was moonlight, and +the beams shone coldly over the floor and the chair with the +children's clothes. If she lifted her head, she could peep out +through the cracks in the wall, catching glimpses of the white +landscape; the cold blew in her face. + +The room got colder and colder. She had to lie with one arm +outstretched, holding the eiderdown over the others, and the cold +nipped her shoulders. Soester began to be restless, she was the most +thin-blooded of the three and felt the cold. It was an eiderdown +which was little else than a thick cover, the feathers having +disappeared, and those they got when killing poultry were too good +to be used--the mother wanted them turned into money. + +Now Povl began to whimper. Ditte took the children's clothes from +the chair and spread them over the bed. From their parents' bed came +the mother's voice. "You're to be quiet," said she. The father got +up, fetched his driving-cape, and spread it over them; it was heavy +with dust and dirt, but it warmed them! + +"'Tis dreadful the way the wind blows through these walls," said he +when again in bed; "the air's like ice in the room! I must try to +get some planks to patch up the walls." + +"You'd better be thinking of building; this rotten old case isn't +worth patching up." + +Lars Peter laughed: "Ay, that's all very well; but where's the money +to come from?" + +"We've got a little. And then the old woman'll die soon--I can feel +it in my bones." + +Ditte's heart began to jump--was Granny going to die? Her mother had +said it so decidedly. She listened breathlessly to the conversation. + +"And what of that?" she heard her father say, "that won't alter +matters." + +"I believe the old woman's got more than we think," answered Soerine +in a low voice. "Are you asleep, Ditte?" she called out, raising +herself on her elbow listening. Ditte lay perfectly still. + +"Do you know?" Soerine began again, "I'm sure the old woman has sewn +the money up in the quilt. That's why she won't part with it." + +Lars Peter yawned loudly; "What money?" It could be gathered from +the sound of his voice, that he wanted to sleep now. + +"The two hundred crowns, of course." + +"What's that to do with us?" + +"Isn't she my mother? But the money'll go to the child, and aren't +we the proper ones to look after it for her. If the old woman dies +and there's an auction--there'll be good bids for it, and whoever +buys the quilt'll get the two hundred crowns as well. You'd better +go over and have a talk with her, and make her leave everything to +us." + +"Why not you?" said Lars Peter, and turned round towards the wall. + +Then everything was quiet. Ditte lay in a heap, with hands pressed +against mouth, and her little heart throbbing with fear; she almost +screamed with anxiety. Perhaps Granny would die in the night! It was +some time since she had visited her, and she had an overpowering +longing for Granny. + +She crept out of bed and put on her shoes. + +Her mother raised herself; "Where're you going?" + +"Just going outside," answered Ditte faintly. + +"Put a skirt on, it's very cold," said Lars Peter--"we might just as +well have kept the new piece of furniture in here," he growled +shortly afterwards. + +What a long time the child took--Lars Peter got up and peeped out. +He caught sight of her far down the moonlit road. Hastily throwing +on some clothes, he rushed after her. He could see her ahead, +tearing off for all she was worth. He ran and shouted, ran and +shouted, his heavy wooden shoes echoing on the road. But the +distance between them only increased; at last she disappeared +altogether from view. He stood a little longer shouting; his voice +resounded in the stillness of the night; and then turned round and +went home. + +Ditte tore on through the moonlit country. The road was as hard as +stone, and the ice cut through her cloth shoes; from bog and ditch +came the sound, crack, crack, crack; and the sea boomed on the +shore. But Ditte did not feel the cold, her heart was beating +wildly. Granny's dying, Granny's dying! went continuously through +her mind. + +By midnight she had reached the end of her journey, she was almost +dropping with fatigue. She stopped at the corner of the house to +gain breath; from inside could be heard Granny's hacking cough. "I'm +coming, Granny!" she cried, tapping on the window, sobbing with joy. + +"How cold you are, child!" said the old woman, when they were both +under the eiderdown. "Your feet are like lumps of ice--warm them on +me." Ditte nestled in to her, and lay there quietly. + +"Granny! mother knows you've hidden the money in the eiderdown," she +said suddenly. + +"I guessed that, my child. Feel!" The old woman guided Ditte's hand +to her breast, where a little packet was hidden. "Here 'tis, Maren +can take care of what's trusted to her. Ay, ay, 'tis sad to be like +us two, no-one to care for us, and always in the way--to our own +folks most of all. They can't make much use of you yet, and they're +finished with me--I'm worn out. That's how it is." + +Ditte listened to the old woman's talk. It hummed in her ears and +gave her a feeling of security. She was now comfortable and warm, +and soon fell asleep. + +But old Maren for some time continued pouring out her grievances +against existence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE RAVEN FLIES BY NIGHT + + +It was a hard winter. All through December the snow swept the +fields, drifting into the willows in front of the Crow's Nest, the +only place in the neighborhood where a little shelter was to be +found. + +The lake was entirely frozen; one could walk across it from shore to +shore. When there was a moon, the rag and bone man would go down and +with his wooden shoe break the ice round the seagulls and wild +ducks, which were frozen in the lake, and then carry them home under +his snow-covered cape. He would put them on the peat beside the +fireplace, where for days they stood on one leg gazing sickly into +the embers, until Soerine at last took them into the kitchen and +wrung their necks. + +In spite of there being a fire day and night, the cold was felt +intensely in the Crow's Nest; it was impossible to heat the room. +Soerine, with the bread-knife, stuffed old rags into the cracks in +the wall; but one day when doing this, a big piece of the wall +collapsed. She filled up the hole with the eiderdown, and when Lars +Peter came home at night, he patched it up and nailed planks across +to keep it in place. The roof was not up too much either; the rats +and house-martens had worked havoc in it, so that it was like a +sieve, and the snow drifted into the loft. It was all bad. + +Every day Soerine tried to rouse Lars Peter to do something. + +But what could he do? "I can't work harder than I do, and steal I +won't," said he. + +"What do the others do, who live in a pretty and comfortable house?" + +Yes, how did other people manage? Lars Peter could not imagine. He +had never envied any one, nor drawn comparisons, so had never faced +the question before. + +"You toil and toil, but never get any further, that I can see," +Soerine continued. + +"Do you really mean that?" Lars Peter looked at her with surprise +and sorrow. + +"Yes, I do. What have you done? Aren't we just where we started?" + +Lars Peter bent his head on hearing her hard words. But it was all +quite true; except for strict necessities, they had never money to +spare. + +"There's so much wanted, and everything's so dear," said he +excusingly. "There's no trade either! We must just have patience, +till it comes round again." + +"You with your patience and patience--maybe we can live on your +being patient and content? D'you know why folk call this the Crow's +Nest? Because nothing thrives for us, they say." + +Lars Peter took his big hat from the nail behind the door and went +out. He was depressed, and sought comfort with the animals; they and +the children he understood, but grown-up people he could not. After +all, there must be something lacking in him, since all thought him a +peculiar fellow, just because he was happy and patient. + +As soon as he had left the kitchen, the nag recognized his footstep, +and welcomed him with a whinny. He went into the stall and stroked +its back; it was like a wreck lying keel upwards. It certainly was a +skeleton, and could not be called handsome. People smiled when they +saw the two of them coming along the road--he knew it quite well! +But they had shared bad and good together, and the nag was not +particular; it took everything as it came, just as he did. + +Lars Peter had never cared for other people's opinion; but now his +existence was shaken, and it was necessary to defend himself and his +own. In the stall beside the horse lay the cow. True enough, if +taken to market now it would not fetch much; it was weak on its legs +and preferred to lie down. But with spring, when it got out to +grass, this would right itself. And it was a good cow for a small +family like his; it did not give much milk at a time, but to make up +for it gave milk all the year round. And rich milk too! When +uncomplimentary remarks were made about it, Lars Peter would +chaffingly declare that he could skim the milk three times, and then +there was nothing but cream left. He was very fond of it, and more +so for the good milk it had given the little ones. + +One corner of the outhouse was boarded off for the pig. It too had +heard him, and stood waiting for him to come and scratch its neck. +It suffered from intestinal hernia; it had been given to Lars Peter +by a farmer who wanted to get rid of it. It was not a pretty sight, +but under the circumstances had thriven well, he thought, and would +taste all right when salted. Perhaps it was this Soerine wanted? + +The snow lay deep on the fields, but he recognized every landmark +through the white covering. It was sandy soil, and yielded poor +crops, yet for all that Lars Peter was fond of it. To him it was +like a face with dear living features, and he would no more +criticize it than he would his own mother. He stood at the door of +the barn gazing lingeringly at his land. He was not happy--as he +usually was on Sundays when he went about looking at his +possessions. Today he could understand nothing! + +Every day Soerine would return to the same subject, with some new +proposal. They would buy her mother's house and move over there; the +beams were of oak, and the hut would last for many years. Or they +would take her as a pensioner, while there was time--in return for +getting all she owned. Her thoughts were ever with her mother and +her possessions. "Suppose she goes to some one else as a pensioner, +and leaves everything to them! or fritters away Ditte's two hundred +crowns!" said she. "She's in her second childhood!" + +She was mad on the subject, but Lars Peter let her talk on. + +"Isn't it true, Ditte, that Granny would be much better with us?" +Soerine would continue. She quite expected the child to agree with +her, crazy as she was over her grandmother. + +"I don't know," answered Ditte sullenly. Her mother lately had done +her best to get her over to her side, but Ditte was suspicious of +her. She would love to be with Granny again, but not in that way. +She would only be treated badly. Ditte had no faith in her mother's +care. It was more for her own wicked ends than for daughterly love, +Granny herself had said. + +Soerine was beyond comprehension. One morning she would declare that +before long they would hear sad news about Granny, because she had +heard the raven screaming in the willows during the night. "I'd +better go over and see her," said she. + +"Ay, that's right, you go," answered Lars Peter. "I'll drive you +over. After all, the nag and I have nothing to do." + +But Soerine wouldn't hear of it. "You've your own work to do at +home," said she. However, she did not get off that day--something or +other prevented her. She had grown very restless. + +The next morning she was unusually friendly to the children. "I'll +tell you something, Granny will soon be coming here--I dreamed it +last night," said she, as she helped Ditte to dress them. "She can +have the alcove, and father and I'll move into the little room. And +then you won't be cold any longer." + +"But yesterday you said that Granny was going to die soon," objected +Ditte. + +"Ay, but that was only nonsense. Hurry up home from school. I've +some shopping to do, and likely won't be home till late." She put +sugar on the bread Ditte took to school, and sent her off in good +time. + +Ditte set out, with satchel hanging from her arm, and her hands +rolled up in the ends of her muffler. The father had driven away +early, and she followed the wheel-tracks for some distance, and +amused herself by stepping in the old nag's footprints. Then the +trail turned towards the sea. + +She could not follow the lessons today, she was perplexed in mind. +Her mother's friendliness had roused her suspicions. It was so +contrary to the conviction which the child from long experience had +formed as to her mother's disposition. Perhaps she was not such a +bad mother when it came to the point. The sugar on the bread almost +melted Ditte's heart. + +But at the end of the school hour, a fearful anxiety overwhelmed +her; her heart began to flutter like a captured bird, and she +pressed her hand against her mouth, to keep herself from screaming +aloud. When leaving the school, she started running towards the +Naze. "That's the wrong way, Ditte!" shouted the girls she used to +go home with. But she only ran on. + +It was thick with snow, and the air was still and heavy-laden. It +had been like twilight all day long. As she neared the hill above +the hut on the Naze, darkness began to fall. She had run all the way +and only stopped at the corner of the house, to get her breath. +There was a humming in her ears, and through the hum she heard angry +voices: Granny's crying, and her mother's hard and merciless. + +She was about to tap on the window-pane, but hesitated, her mother's +voice made her creep with fear. She shivered as she crept round the +house towards the woodshed, opened the door, and stood in the +kitchen, listening breathlessly. Her mother's voice drowned +Granny's; it had often forced Ditte to her knees, but so frightful +she had never heard it before. She was stiff with fear, and she had +to squat on the ground, shivering with cold. + +Through the keyhole she caught a glimpse of her mother's big body +standing beside the alcove. She was bent over it, and from the +movement of her back, it could be seen that she had got hold of the +old woman. Granny was defending herself. + +"Come out with it at once," Soerine shouted hoarsely. "Or I'll pull +you out of bed." + +"I'll call for some one," groaned Granny, hammering on the wall. + +"Call for help if you like," ridiculed Soerine, "there's no-one to +hear you. Maybe you've got it in the eiderdown, since you hold it so +tightly." + +"Oh, hold your mouth, you thief," moaned Granny. Suddenly there was +a scream, Soerine must have got hold of the packet on the old woman's +breast. + +Ditte jumped in and lifted the latch. "Granny," she shrieked, but +she was not heard in the fearful noise. They fought, Granny's +screams were like those of a dying animal. "I'll make you shut up, +you witch!" shouted Soerine, and the old woman's scream died away to +an uncanny rattle; Ditte wanted to assist her grandmother, but could +not move, and suddenly fell unconscious to the ground. When she came +to herself again, she was lying face downwards on the floor; her +forehead hurt. She stumbled to her feet. The door stood open, and +her mother had gone. Large white flakes of snow came floating in, +showing white in the darkness. + +Ditte's first thought was that it would be cold for Granny. She +closed the door and went towards the bed. Old Maren lay crouched +together among the untidy bedclothes. "Granny," called Ditte and +crying groped for the sunken face. "It's only me, dear little +Granny." + +She took the old woman's face entreatingly between her thin +toil-worn hands, crying over it for a while; then undressed herself +and crept into bed beside her. She had once heard Granny say about +some one she had been called to: "There is nothing to be done for +him, he's quite cold!" And she was obsessed with that thought, +Granny must not be allowed to get cold, or she would have no Granny +left. She crept close to the body, and worn out by tears and +exhaustion soon fell asleep. + +Towards morning she woke feeling cold; Granny was dead and cold. +Suddenly she understood the awfulness of it all, and hurrying into +her clothes, she fled. + +She ran across the fields in the direction of home, but when she +reached the road leading to the sea, she went along it to Per +Nielsen's farm. There they picked her up, benumbed with misery. +"Granny's dead!" she broke out over and over again, looking from one +to the other with terror in her eyes. That was all they could get +out of her. When they proposed taking her home to the Crow's Nest, +she began to scream, so they put her to bed, to rest. + +When she woke later in the day, Per Nielsen came in to her. "Well, I +suppose you'd better be thinking of getting home," said he. "I'll go +with you." + +Ditte gazed at him with fear in her eyes. + +"Are you afraid of your stepfather?" asked he. She did not answer. +The wife came in. + +"I don't know what we're to do," said he, "she's afraid to go home. +The stepfather can't be very good to her." + +Ditte turned sharply towards him. "I want to go home to Lars Peter," +she said, sobbing. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ILL LUCK FOLLOWS THE RAVEN'S CALL + + +On receiving information of old Maren's death, four of her children +assembled at the hut on the Naze, to look after their own interests, +and watch that no-one ran off with anything. The other four on the +other side of the globe, could of course not be there. + +There was no money--not as much as a farthing was to be found, in +spite of their searching, and the splitting up of the eiderdown--and +the house was mortgaged up to the hilt. They then agreed to give +Soerine and her husband what little there was, on condition that they +provided the funeral. On this occasion, Soerine did not spare money, +she wanted the funeral to be talked about. Old Maren was put into +the ground with more grandeur than she had lived. + +Ditte was at the funeral--naturally, as she was the only one who had +ever cared for the dead woman. But in the churchyard she so lost +control over herself, that Lars Peter had to take her aside, to +prevent her disturbing the parson. She had such strong feelings, +every one thought. + +But in this respect Ditte changed entirely. After Granny's death, +she seemed to quieten. She went about doing her work, was not +particularly lively, but not depressed either. Lars Peter observed +that she and her mother quarreled no longer. This was a pleasant +step in the right direction! + +Ditte resigned herself to her lot. It cost her an effort to remain +under the same roof as her mother; she would rather have left home. +But this would have reflected on her stepfather, and her sense of +justice rebelled against this. Then too the thought of her little +brothers and sisters kept her back; what would become of them if she +left? + +She remained--and took up a definite position towards her mother. +Soerine was kind and considerate to her, so much so that it was +almost painful, but Ditte pretended not to notice it. All advances +from her mother glanced off her. She was stubborn and determined, +carrying through what she set her mind on--the mother was nothing to +her. + +Soerine's eyes constantly followed her when unobserved--she was +afraid of her. Had the child been in the hut when it happened, or +had she only arrived later? Soerine was not sure whether she herself +had overturned the chair that evening in the darkness? How much did +Ditte know? That she knew something her mother could tell from her +face. She would have given much to find out, and often touched upon +the question--with her uncertain glance at the girl. + +"'Tis terrible to think that Granny should die alone," she would +say, hoping the child would give herself away. But Ditte was +obstinately silent. + +One day Soerine gave Lars Peter a great surprise, by putting a large +sum of money on the table in front of him. "Will that build the +house, d'you think?" asked she. + +Lars Peter looked at her; he was astounded. + +"I've saved it by selling eggs and butter and wool," said she; "and +by starving you," she added with an uncertain smile. "I know that +I've been stingy and a miser; but in the end it pays you as well." + +It was so seldom she smiled. "How pretty it made her!" thought Lars +Peter, looking lovingly at her. She had lately been happier and more +even tempered--no doubt the prospect of getting a better home. + +He counted the money--over three hundred crowns! "That's a step +forward," said he. The next evening when returning home he had +bricks on the cart; and every evening he continued bringing home +materials for building. + +People who passed the Crow's Nest saw the erection of beams and +bricks shoot up, and rumors began to float round the neighborhood. +It began with a whisper that the old woman had left more than had +been spoken of. Then it was said that perhaps, after all, old Maren +had not died a natural death. And some remembered having seen Soerine +on her way from the Crow's Nest towards the hamlet, on the same +afternoon as her mother's death; little by little more was added to +this, until it was declared that Soerine had strangled her own +mother. Ditte was probably--with the exception of the mother--the +only one who knew the real facts, and nothing could be got out of +her when it affected her family--least of all on an occasion like +this. But it was strange that she should happen to arrive just at +the critical moment; and still more remarkable that she should run +to Per Nielsen's and not home with the news of her grandmother's +death. + +Neither Soerine herself nor Lars Peter heard a word of these rumors. +Ditte heard it at school through the other children, but did not +repeat it. When her mother was more than usually considerate, her +hate would seethe up in her--"Devil!" it whispered inside her, and +suddenly she would feel an overwhelming desire to shout to her +father: "Mother stifled Granny with the eiderdown!" It was worst of +all when hearing her speak lovingly about the old woman. But the +thought of his grief stopped her. He went about now like a great +child, seeing nothing, and was more than ever in love with Soerine; +he was overjoyed by the change for the better. Ditte and the others +loved him as never before. + +When Soerine was too hard on the children, they would hide from her +outside the house, and only appear when their father returned at +night. But since Granny's death there had been no need for this. The +mother was entirely changed; when her temper was about to flare up, +an unseen hand seemed to hold it back. + +But it happened at times that Ditte could not bear to stay in the +same room with her mother, and then she would go back to her old way +and hide herself. + +One evening she lay crouching in the willows. Soerine came time after +time to the door, calling her in a friendly voice, and at each call +a feeling of disgust went through the girl. "Ugh!" said she; it made +her almost sick. After having searched for her round the house, +Soerine went slowly up to the road and back again, peering about all +the time: passing so close to Ditte that her dress brushed her face: +then she went in. + +Ditte was cold, and tired of hiding, but in she would not go--not +till her father came home. He might not return until late, or not at +all. Ditte had experienced this before, but then there had been a +reason for it. It was no whipping she expected now! + +No, but how lovely it had been to walk in holding her father's hand. +He asked no question now, but only looked at the mother accusingly, +and could not do enough for one. Perhaps he would make an excuse for +a trip over to ... no ... this ... Ditte began to cry. It was +terrible that however much she mourned for Granny--suddenly she +would find she had forgotten Granny was dead. "Granny's dead, dear +little Granny's dead," she would repeat to herself, so that it +should not happen again, but the next minute it was just the same. +It was so disloyal! + +Now that it was too late, she was sorry she had not gone in when her +mother called. She drew her feet up under her dress and began +pulling up the grass to keep herself awake. Hearing a sound from the +distance she jumped up--wheels approaching! but alas, it was not the +well-known rumbling of her father's cart. + +The cart turned from the road down in the direction of the Crow's +Nest. Two men got out and went into the house; both wore caps with +gold braid on. Ditte crept down to the house, behind the willows; +her heart was beating loudly. The next moment they reappeared with +her mother between them; she was struggling and shrieking wildly. +"Lars Peter!" she cried heartrendingly in the darkness; they had to +use force to get her into the cart. Inside the house the children +could be heard crying in fear. + +This sound made Ditte forget everything else, and she rushed +forward. One of the men caught her by the arm, but let her go at a +sign from the other man. "D'you belong to the house?" asked he. + +Ditte nodded. + +"Then go in to the little ones and tell them not to be afraid.... +Drive on!" + +Quick as lightning, Soerine put both legs over the side of the cart, +but the policemen held her back. "Ditte, help me!" she screamed, as +the cart swung up the road and disappeared. + + * * * * * + +Lars Peter was about three miles from the Crow's Nest, turning into +the road beside the grocer's, when a cart drove past; in the light +from the shop windows he caught sight of gold-braided caps. "The +police are busy tonight!" said he, and shrugged his shoulders. He +proceeded up the road and began humming again, mechanically flicking +the nag with the whip as usual. He sat bent forward, thinking of +them all at home, of what Soerine would have for him tonight--he was +starving with hunger--and of the children. It was a shame that he +was so late--it was pleasant when they all four rushed to meet him. +Perhaps, after all, they might not be in bed. + +The children stood out on the road, all four of them, waiting for +him; the little ones dared not stay in the house. He stood as though +turned to stone, holding on to the cart for support, while Ditte +with tears told what had happened; it looked as if the big strong +man would collapse altogether. Then he pulled himself together and +went into the house with them, comforting them all the time; the nag +of its own accord followed with the cart. + +He helped Ditte put the children to bed. "Can you look after the +little ones tonight?" he asked, when they had finished. "I must +drive to town and fetch mother--it's all a misunderstanding." + +His voice sounded hollow. + +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. + + + + + + +PART II + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MORNING AT THE CROW'S NEST + + +Klavs was munching busily in his stall, with a great deal of noise. +He had his own peculiar way of feeding; always separating the corn +from the straw, however well Lars Peter had mixed it. He would first +half empty the manger--so as to lay a foundation. Then, having still +plenty of room for further operations, he would push the whole +together in the middle of the manger, blowing vigorously, so that +the straw flew in all directions, and proceed to nuzzle all the +corn. This once devoured, he would scrape his hoofs on the stone +floor and whinny. + +Ditte laughed. "He's asking for more sugar," said she. "Just like +little Povl when he's eating porridge; he scrapes the top off too." + +But Lars Peter growled. "Eat it all up, you old skeleton," said he. +"These aren't times to pick and choose." + +The nag would answer with a long affectionate whinny, and go on as +before. + +At last Lars Peter would get up and go to the manger, mixing the +straw together in the middle. "Eat it up, you obstinate old thing!" +said he, giving the horse a slap on the back. The horse, smelling +the straw, turned its head towards Lars Peter; and looked +reproachfully at him as though saying: "What's the matter with you +today?" And nothing else would serve, but he must take a handful of +corn and mix it with the straw. "But no tricks now," said he, +letting his big hand rest on the creature's back. And this time +everything was eaten up. + +Lars Peter came back and sat under the lantern again. + +"Old Klavs is wise," said Ditte, "he knows exactly how far to go. +But he's very faddy all the same." + +"I'll tell you, he knows that we're going on a long trip; and wants +a big feed beforehand," answered Lars Peter as if in excuse. "Ay, +he's a wise rascal!" + +"But pussy's much sharper than that," said Ditte proudly, "for she +can open the pantry door herself. I couldn't understand how she got +in and drank the milk; I thought little Povl had left the door open, +and was just going to smack him for it. But yesterday I came behind +pussy, and can you imagine what she did? Jumped up on the sink, and +flew against the pantry door, striking the latch with one paw so it +came undone. Then she could just stand on the floor and push the +door open." + +They sat under the lantern, which hung from one of the beams, +sorting rags, which lay round them in bundles; wool, linen and +cotton--all carefully separated. Outside it was cold and dark, but +here it was cosy. The old nag was working at his food like a +threshing machine, the cow lay panting with well-being as it chewed +the cud, and the hens were cackling sleepily from the hen-house. The +new pig was probably dreaming of its mother--now and again a sucking +could be heard. It had only left its mother a few days ago. + +"Is this wool?" asked Ditte, holding out a big rag. + +Lars Peter examined it, drew out a thread and put it in the flame of +the lantern. + +"It should be wool," said he at last, "for it melts and smells of +horn. But Heaven knows," he felt the piece of cloth again +meditatively. "Maybe 'tis some of those new-fashioned swindles; 'tis +said they can make plant stuff, so folks can't see the difference +between it and wool. And they make silk of glass too, I'm told." + +Ditte jumped up and opened the shutter, listening, then disappeared +across the yard. She returned shortly afterwards. + +"Was anything wrong with the children?" asked Lars Peter. + +"'Twas only little Povl crying; but how can they make silk of +glass?" asked she suddenly, "glass is so brittle!" + +"Ay, 'tis the new-fashioned silk though, and may be true enough. If +you see a scrap of silk amongst the rags 'tis nearly always +broken." + +"And what queer thing's glass made of?" + +"Ay, you may well ask that--if I could only tell you. It can't be +any relation to ice, as it doesn't melt even when the sun shines on +it. Maybe--no, I daren't try explaining it to you. 'Tis a pity not +to have learned things properly; and think things out oneself." + +"Can any folks do that?" + +"Ay, there _must_ be some, or how would everything begin--if no one +hit on them. I used to think and ask about everything; but I've +given it up now, I never got to the bottom of it. This with your +mother doesn't make a fellow care much for life either." Lars Peter +sighed. + +Ditte bent over her work. When this topic came up, it was better to +be silent. + +For a few minutes neither spoke. Lars Peter's hands were working +slowly, and at last stopped altogether. He sat staring straight +ahead without perceiving anything; he was often like this of late. +He rose abruptly, and went towards the shutter facing east, and +opened it; it was still night, but the stars were beginning to pale. +The nag was calling from the stall, quietly, almost unnoticeably. +Lars Peter fastened the shutter, and stumbled out to the horse. +Ditte followed him with her eyes. + +"What d'you want now?" he asked in a dull voice, stroking the horse. +The nag pushed its soft nose into his shoulder. It was the gentlest +caress Lars Peter knew, and he gave it another supply of corn. + +Ditte turned her head towards them--she felt anxious over her +father's present condition. It was no good going about hanging one's +head. + +"Is it going to have another feed?" said she, trying to rouse him. +"That animal'll eat us out of house and home!" + +"Ay, but it's got something to do--and we've a long journey in front +of us." Lars Peter came back and began sorting again. + +"How many miles is it to Copenhagen then?" + +"Six or seven hours' drive, I should say; we've got a load." + +"Ugh, what a long way." Ditte shivered. "And it's so cold." + +"Ay, if I'm to go alone. But you might go with me! 'Tisn't a +pleasant errand, and the time'll go slowly all that long way. And +one can't get away from sad thoughts!" + +"I can't leave home," answered Ditte shortly. + +For about the twentieth time Lars Peter tried to talk her over. "We +can easily get Johansens to keep an eye on everything--and can send +the children over to them for a few days," said he. + +But Ditte was not to be shaken. Her mother was nothing to her, +people could say what they liked; she _would_ not go and see her in +prison. And her father ought to stop talking like that or she would +be angry; it reminded her of Granny. She hated her mother with all +her heart, in a manner strange for her years. She never mentioned +her, and when the others spoke of her, she would be dumb. Good and +self-sacrificing as she was in all other respects, on this point she +was hard as a stone. + +To Lars Peter's good-natured mind this hatred was a mystery. However +much he tried to reconcile her, in the end he had to give up. + +"Look and see if there's anything you want for the house," said he. + +"I want a packet of salt, the stuff they have at the grocer's is too +coarse to put on the table. And I must have a little spice. I'm +going to try making a cake myself, bought cakes get dry so quickly." + +"D'you think you can?" said Lars Peter admiringly. + +"There's more to be got," Ditte continued undisturbed, "but I'd +better write it down; or you'll forget half the things like you did +last time." + +"Ay, that's best," answered Lars Peter meekly. "My memory's not as +good as it used to be. I don't know--I used to do hundreds of +errands without forgetting one. Maybe 'tis with your mother. And +then belike--a man gets old. Grandfather, he could remember like a +printed book, to the very last." + +Ditte got up quickly and shook out her frock. + +"There!" said she with a yawn. They put the rags in sacks and tied +them up. + +"This'll fetch a little money," said Lars Peter dragging the sacks +to the door, where heaps of old iron and other metals lay in +readiness to be taken to the town. "And what's the time now?--past +six. Ought to be daylight soon." + +As Ditte opened the door the frosty air poured in. In the east, over +the lake, the skies were green, with a touch of gold--it was +daybreak. In the openings in the ice the birds began to show signs +of life. It was as if the noise from the Crow's Nest had ushered in +the day for them, group after group began screaming and flew towards +the sea. + +"It'll be a fine day," said Lars Peter as he dragged out the cart. +"There ought to be a thaw soon." He began loading the cart, while +Ditte went in to light the fire for the coffee. + +As Lars Peter came in, the flames from the open fireplace were +flickering towards the ceiling, the room was full of a delicious +fragrance, coffee and something or other being fried. Kristian was +kneeling in front of the fire, feeding it with heather and dried +sticks, and Ditte stood over a spluttering frying-pan, stirring with +all her might. The two little ones sat on the end of the bench +watching the operations with glee, the reflection of the fire +gleaming in their eyes. The daylight peeped in hesitatingly through +the frozen window-panes. + +"Come along, father!" said Ditte, putting the frying-pan on the +table on three little wooden supports. "'Tis only fried potatoes, +with a few slices of bacon, but you're to eat it all yourself!" + +Lars Peter laughed and sat down at the table. He soon, however, as +was his wont, began giving some to the little ones; they got every +alternate mouthful. They stood with their faces over the edge of the +table, and wide open mouths--like two little birds. Kristian had his +own fork, and stood between his father's knees and helped himself. +Ditte stood against the table looking on, with a big kitchen knife +in her hand. + +"Aren't you going to have anything?" asked Lars Peter, pushing the +frying-pan further on to the table. + +"There's not a scrap more than you can eat yourself; we'll have +something afterwards," answered Ditte, half annoyed. But Lars Peter +calmly went on feeding them. He did not enjoy his food when there +were no open mouths round him. + +"'Tis worth while waking up for this, isn't it?" said he, laughing +loudly; his voice was deep and warm again. + +As he drank his coffee, Soester and Povl hurried into their clothes; +they wanted to see him off. They ran in between his and the nag's +legs as he was harnessing. + +The sun was just rising. There was a red glitter over the +ice-covered lake and the frosted landscape, the reeds crackled as if +icicles were being crushed. From the horse's nostrils came puffs of +air, showing white in the morning light, and the children's quick +short breaths were like gusts of steam. They jumped round the cart +in their cloth shoes like two frolicsome young puppies. "Love to +Mother!" they shouted over and over again. + +Lars Peter bent down from the top of the load, where he was half +buried between the sacks. "Shan't I give her your love too?" asked +he. Ditte turned away her head. + +Then he took his whip and cracked it. And slowly Klavs set off on +his journey. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HIGHROAD + + +"He's even more fond of the highroad than a human being," Lars Peter +used to say of Klavs, and this was true; the horse was always in a +good temper whenever preparations were being made for a long +journey. For the short trips Klavs did not care at all; it was the +real highroad trips with calls to right and left, and stopping at +night in some stable, which appealed to him. What he found to enjoy +in it would be difficult to say; hardly for the sake of a new +experience--as with a man. Though God knows--'twas a wise enough +rascal! At all events Klavs liked to feel himself on the highroad, +and the longer the trip the happier he would be. He took it all with +the same good temper--up hills where he had to strain in the shafts, +and downhill where the full weight of the cart made itself felt. He +would only stop when the hill was unusually steep--to give Lars +Peter an opportunity of stretching his legs. + +To Lars Peter the highroad was life itself. It gave daily bread to +him and his, and satisfied his love of roaming. Such a piece of +highroad between rows of trimmed poplars with endless by-ways off +to farms and houses was full of possibilities. One could take this +turning or that, according to one's mood at the moment, or leave the +choice of the road to the nag. It always brought forth something. + +And the highroad was only the outward sign of an endless chain. If +one liked to wander straight on, instead of turning off, ay, then +one would get far out in the world--as far as one cared. He did not +do it of course; but the thought that it could be done was something +in itself. + +On the highroad he met people of his own blood: tramps who crawled +up without permission on to his load, drawing a bottle from their +pocket, offering it to him, and talking away. They were people who +traveled far; yesterday they had come from Helsingoer; in a week's +time they would perhaps be over the borders in the south and down in +Germany. They wore heavily nailed boots, and had a hollow instead of +a stomach, a handkerchief round their throat and mittens on their +red wrists--and were full of good humor. Klavs knew them quite well, +and stopped of his own accord. + +Klavs also stopped for poor women and school-children; Lars Peter +and he agreed that all who cared to drive should have that pleasure. +But respectable people they passed by; they of course would not +condescend to drive with the rag and bone man. + +They both knew the highroad with its by-ways equally well. When +anything was doing, such as a thrashing-machine in the field, or a +new house being built, one or other of them always stopped. Lars +Peter pretended that it was the horse's inquisitiveness. "Well, have +you seen enough?" he growled when they had stood for a short while, +and gathered up the reins. Klavs did not mind the deception in the +least, and in no way let it interfere with his own inclinations; +Klavs liked his own way. + +Things must be black indeed, if the highroad did not put the rag and +bone man into a good temper. The calm rhythmic trot of the nag's +hoofs against the firm road encouraged him to hum. The trees, the +milestones with the crown above King Christian the Fifth's initials, +the endless perspective ahead of him, with all its life and +traffic--all had a cheering effect on him. + +The snow had been trodden down, and only a thin layer covered with +ice remained, which rang under the horse's big hoofs. The thin light +air made breathing easy, and the sun shone redly over the snow. It +was impossible to be anything but light-hearted. But then he +remembered the object of the drive, and all was dark again. + +Lars Peter had never done much thinking on his own account, or +criticized existence. When something or other happened, it was +because it could not be otherwise--and what was the good of +speculating about it? When he was on the cart all these hours, he +only hummed a kind of melody and had a sense of well-being. "I +wonder what mother'll have for supper?" he would think, or "maybe +the kiddies'll come to meet me today." That was all. He took bad and +good trade as it came, and joy and sorrow just the same; he knew +from experience that rain and sunshine come by turns. It had been +thus in his parents' and grandparents' time, and his own had +confirmed it. Then why speculate? If the bad weather lasted longer +than usual, well, the good was so much better when it came. + +And complaints were no good. Other people beside himself had to take +things as they came. He had never had any strong feeling that there +was a guiding hand behind it all. + +But now he _had_ to think, however useless he found it. Suddenly +something would take him mercilessly by the neck, and always face +him with the same hopeless: _Why_? A thousand times the thought of +Soerine would crop up, making everything heavy and sad. + +Lars Peter had been thoroughly out of luck before--and borne it as +being part of his life's burden. He had a thick skull and a broad +back--what good were they but for burdens; it was not his business +to whimper or play the weakling. And fate had heaped troubles upon +him: if he could bear that, then he can bear this!--till at last he +would break down altogether under the burden. But his old stolidness +was gone. + +He had begun to think of his lot--and could fathom nothing: it was +all so meaningless, now he compared himself with others. As soon as +ever he got into the cart, and the nag into its old trot, these sad +thoughts would reappear, and his mind would go round and round the +subject until he was worn out. He could not unravel it. Why was he +called the rag and bone man, and treated as if he were unclean? He +earned his living as honestly as any one else. Why should his +children be jeered at like outcasts--and his home called the Crow's +Nest? And why did the bad luck follow him?--and fate? There was a +great deal now that he did not understand, but which must be cleared +up. Misfortune, which had so often knocked at his door without +finding him at home, had now at last got its foot well inside the +door. + +However much Lars Peter puzzled over Soerine, he could find no way +out of it. It was his nature to look on the bright side of things; +and should it be otherwise they were no sooner over than forgotten. +He had only seen her good points. She had been a clever wife, good +at keeping the home together--and a hard worker. And she had given +him fine children, that alone made up for everything. He had been +fond of her, and proud of her firmness and ambition to get on in +the world. And now as a reward for her pride she was in prison! For +a long time he had clung to the hope that it must be a mistake. +"Maybe they'll let her out one day," he thought. "Then she'll be +standing in the doorway when you return, and it's all been a +misunderstanding." It was some time now since the sentence had +been pronounced, so it must be right. But it was equally difficult +to understand! + +There lay a horseshoe on the road. The nag stopped, according to +custom, and turned its head. Lars Peter roused himself from his +thoughts and peered in front of the horse, then drove on again. +Klavs could not understand it, but left it at that: Lars Peter could +no longer be bothered to get off the cart to pick up an old +horseshoe. + +He began whistling and looked out over the landscape to keep his +thoughts at bay. Down in the marsh they were cutting ice for the +dairies--it was high time too! And the farmer from Gadby was driving +off in his best sledge, with his wife by his side. Others could +enjoy themselves! If only he had his wife in the cart--driving in to +the Capital. There now--he was beginning all over again! Lars Peter +looked in the opposite direction, but what good was that. He could +not get rid of his thoughts. + +A woman came rushing up the highroad, from a little farm. "Lars +Peter!" she cried. "Lars Peter!" The nag stopped. + +"Are you going to town?" she asked breathlessly, leaning on the +cart. + +"Ay, that I am," Lars Peter answered quietly, as if afraid of her +guessing his errand. + +"Oh! would you mind buying us a chamber?" + +"What! you're getting very grand!" Lars Peter's mouth twisted in +some semblance of a smile. + +"Ay, the child's got rheumatic fever, and the doctor won't let her +go outside," the woman explained excusingly. + +"I'll do that for you. How big d'you want it?" + +"Well, as we must have it, it might as well be a big one. Here's +sixpence, it can't be more than that." She gave him the money +wrapped in a piece of paper, and the nag set off again. + +When they had got halfway, Lars Peter turned off to an inn. The +horse needed food, and something enlivening for himself would not +come amiss. He felt downhearted. He drove into the yard, partly +unharnessed, and put on its nosebag. + +The fat inn-keeper came to the door, peering out with his small +pig's eyes, which were deeply embedded in a huge expanse of flesh, +like two raisins in rising dough. "Why, here comes the rag and bone +man from Sand!" he shouted, shaking with laughter. "What brings such +fine company today, I wonder?" + +Lars Peter had heard this greeting before, and laughed at it, but +today it affected him differently. He had come to the end of his +patience. His blood began to rise. The long-suffering, thoughtful, +slothful Lars Peter turned his head with a jerk--showing a gleam of +teeth. But he checked himself, took off his cape, and spread it over +the horse. + +"'Tis he for sure," began the inn-keeper again. "His lordship of the +Crow's Nest, doing us the honor." + +But this time Lars Peter blazed out. + +"Hold your mouth, you beer-swilling pig!" he thundered, stepping +towards him with his heavy boots, "or I'll soon close it for you!" + +The inn-keeper's open mouth closed with a snap. His small pig's +eyes, which almost disappeared when he laughed, opened widely in +terror. He turned round and rushed in. When Lars Peter, with a frown +on his face, came tramping into the tap-room, he was bustling about, +whistling softly with his fat tongue between his teeth and looking +rather small. + +"A dram and a beer," growled the rag and bone man, seating himself +by the table and beginning to unpack his food. + +The inn-keeper came towards him with a bottle and two glasses. He +glanced uncertainly at Lars Peter, and poured out two brimming +glassfuls. "Your health, old friend," said he ingratiatingly. The +rag and bone man drank without answering his challenge; he had given +the fat lump a fright, and now he was making up to him. It was odd +to be able to make people shiver--quite a new feeling. But he rather +liked it. And it did him good to give vent to his anger; he had a +feeling of well-being after having let off steam. Here sat this +insolent landlord trying to curry favor, just because one would not +put up with everything. Lars Peter felt a sudden inclination to put +his foot upon his neck, and give him a thorough shock. Or bend him +over so that head and heels met. Why should he not use his superior +strength once in a while? Then perhaps people would treat him with +something like respect. + +The inn-keeper sank down on a chair in front of him. "Well, Lars +Peter Hansen, so you've become a socialist?" he began, blinking his +eyes. + +Lars Peter dropped his heavy fist on the table so that everything +jumped--the inn-keeper included. "I'm done with being treated like +dirt--do you understand! I'm just as good as you and all the rest of +them. And if I hear any more nonsense, then to hell with you all." + +"Of course, of course! 'twas only fun, Lars Peter Hansen. And how's +every one at home? Wife and children well?" He still blinked +whenever Lars Peter moved. + +Lars Peter did not answer him, but helped himself to another dram. +The rascal knew quite well all about Soerine. + +"D'you know--you should have brought the wife with you. Womenfolk +love a trip to town," the inn-keeper tried again. Lars Peter looked +suspiciously at him. + +"What d'you mean by this tomfoolery?" he said darkly. "You know +quite well that she's in there." + +"What--is she? Has she run away from you then?" + +Lars Peter took another glass. "She's locked up, and you know +it--curse you!" He put the glass down heavily on the table. + +The landlord saw it was no good pretending ignorance. "I think I do +remember hearing something about it," said he. "How was it--got into +trouble with the law somehow?" + +The rag and bone man gave a hollow laugh. "I should think so! She +killed her own mother, 'tis said." The spirit was beginning to +affect him. + +"Dear, dear! was it so bad as that?" sighed the inn-keeper, turning +and twisting as if he had a pain inside. "And now you're going to +the King, I suppose?" + +Lars Peter lifted his head. "To the King?" he asked. The thought +struck him, perhaps this was the miracle he had been hoping for. + +"Ay, the King decides whether it's to be life or death, you know. If +there's any one he can't stand looking at, he only says: 'Take that +fellow and chop off his head!' And he can let folk loose again too, +if he likes." + +"And how's the likes of me to get near the King?" The rag and bone +man laughed hopelessly. + +"Oh, that's easily done," said the inn-keeper airily. "Every one in +the country has the right to see the King. When you get in there, +just ask where he lives, any one can tell you." + +"Hm, I know that myself," said Lars Peter with assurance. "I was +once nearly taken for the guards myself--for the palace. If it +hadn't been for having flat feet, then----" + +"Well, it isn't quite as easy as you think; he's got so many +mansions. The King's got no-one to associate with, you see, as +there's only one King in every land, and talk to his wife always, no +man could stand--the King as little as we others. That's why he gets +bored, and moves from one castle to another, and plays at making a +visitor of himself. So you'd better make inquiries. 'Twouldn't come +amiss to get some one to speak for you either. You've got money, I +suppose?" + +"I've got goods on the cart for over a hundred crowns," said Lars +Peter with pride. + +"That's all right, because in the Capital nearly all the doors need +oiling before they are opened. Maybe the castle gate will creak a +little, but then----" The inn-keeper rubbed one palm against the +other. + +"Then we'll oil it," said Lars Peter, with a wave of his arm as he +got up. + +He had plenty of courage now, and hummed as he harnessed the horse +and got into the cart. Now he knew what to do, and he was anxious to +act. Day and night he had been faced with the question of getting +Soerine out of prison, but how? It was no good trying to climb the +prison wall at night, and fetch her out, as one read of in books. +But he could go to the King! Had he not himself nearly been taken +into the King's service as a guardsman? "He's got the height and the +build," they had said. Then they had noticed his flat feet and +rejected him; but still he had said he almost---- + + + + +CHAPTER III + +LARS PETER SEEKS THE KING + + +Lars Peter Hansen knew nothing of the Capital. As a boy he had been +there with his father, but since then no opportunity had arisen for +a trip to Copenhagen. He and Soerine had frequently spoken of taking +their goods there and selling direct to the big firms, instead of +going the round of the small provincial dealers, but nothing had +ever come of it beyond talk. But today the thing was to be done. He +had seen posters everywhere advertising: "The largest house in +Scandinavia for rags and bones and old metals," and "highest prices +given." It was the last statement which had attracted him. + +Lars Peter sat reckoning up, as he drove along the Lyngby road +towards the eastern end of the city. Going by prices at home he had +a good hundred crowns' worth of goods on the cart; and here it ought +to fetch at least twenty-five crowns more. That would perhaps pay +for Soerine's release. This was killing two birds with one stone, +getting Soerine out--and making money on the top of it! All that was +necessary was to keep wide awake. He lifted his big battered hat and +ran his hand through his tousled mop of hair--he was in a happy +mood. + +At Trianglen he stopped and inquired his way. Then driving through +Blegdamsvej he turned into a side street. Over a high wooden paling +could be seen mountains of old rusty iron: springs and empty tins, +bent iron beds, dented coal-boxes red with rust, and pails. This +must be the place. On the signboard stood: _Levinsohn & Sons, +Export_. + +The rag and bone man turned in through the gateway and stopped +bewildered as he came into the yard. Before him were endless +erections of storing-places and sheds, one behind the other, and +inclosures with masses of rags, dirty cotton-wool and rusty iron and +tin-ware. From every side other yards opened out, and beyond these +more again. If he and Klavs went gathering rags until Doomsday, they +would never be able to fill one yard. He sat and gazed, overwhelmed. +Involuntarily he had taken his hat off, but then, gathering himself +together, he drove into one of the sheds and jumped down from the +cart. Hearing voices, he opened the door. In the darkness sat some +young girls sorting some filth or other, which looked like +blood-stained rags. + +"Well, well, what a dove-cote to land in," broke out Lars Peter in +high spirits. "What's that you're doing, sorting angels' feathers?" +The room was filled with his good-humored chuckles. + +As quick as lightning one of the girls grasped a bundle and threw +it at him. He only just escaped it by bending his head, and the +thing brought up against the door-post. It was cotton-wool covered +with blood and matter--from the hospital dust-bins. He knew that +there was a trade in this in the Capital. "Puh!" he said in disgust, +and hurried out. "Filthy, pish!" A shout of laughter went up from +the girls. + +From the head-office a little spectacled gentleman came tripping +towards him. "What--what are you doing here?" he barked from afar, +almost falling over himself in his eagerness. "It--it's no business +of yours prying in here!" He was dreadfully dirty and unshaven, his +collar and frock-coat looked as if they had been fished up from a +ragbag. No, the trade never made Lars Peter as dirty as that; why, +the dirt was in layers on this old man. But of course--this business +was ever so much bigger than his own! Good-naturedly, he took off +his hat. + +"Are you Mr. Levinsohn?" asked he, when the old man had finished. +"I've got some goods." + +The old man stared at him speechless with surprise that any one +could be so impudent as to take him for the head of the firm. "Oh, +you're looking for Mr. Levinsohn," he said searchingly, "indeed?" + +"Ay, I've got some goods I want to sell." + +Now the old man understood. "And you must see him, himself--it's a +matter of life and death--eh? No one else in the whole world can buy +those goods from you, or the shaft'll break and the rags'll fall out +and break to pieces, and Heaven knows what! So you must see Mr. +Levinsohn himself." He looked the rag and bone man up and down, +almost bursting with scorn. + +"Well, I shouldn't mind seeing him himself," Lars Peter patiently +said. + +"Then you'd better drive down to the Riviera with your dust-cart, my +good man." + +"What, where?" + +"Yes, to the Riviera!" The old man rubbed his hands. He was enjoying +himself immensely. "It's only about fourteen hundred miles from +here--over there towards the south. The best place to find him is +Monte Carlo--between five and seven. And his wife and daughters--I +suppose you want to see them too? Perhaps a little flirtation? A +little walk--underneath the palm-trees, what?" + +"Good Lord! is he a grand sort like that," said Lars Peter, +crestfallen. "Well--maybe I can trade with you?" + +"At your service, Mr. Jens Petersen from--Sengeloese; if you, sir, +will condescend to deal with a poor devil like me." + +"I may just as well tell you that my name is Lars Peter Hansen--from +Sand." + +"Indeed--the firm feels honored, highly honored, I assure you!" The +old man bustled round the cartload, taking in the value at a glance, +and talking all the time. Suddenly he seized the nag by the head, +but quickly let go, as Klavs snapped at him. "We'll drive it down +to the other yard," said he. + +"I think we'd better leave the goods on the cart, until we've agreed +about the price," Lars Peter thought; he was beginning to be +somewhat suspicious. + +"No, my man, we must have the whole thing emptied out, so that we +can see what we're buying," said the old man in quite another tone. +"That's not our way." + +"And I don't sell till I know my price. It's all weighed and sorted, +Lars Peter's no cheat." + +"No, no, of course not. So it's really you? Lars Peter Hansen--and +from Sand too--and no cheat. Come with me into the office then." + +The rag and bone man followed him. He was a little bewildered, was +the man making a fool of him, or did he really know him? Round about +at home Lars Peter of Sand was known by every one; had his name as a +buyer preceded him? + +He had all the weights in his head, and gave the figures, while the +old man put them down. In the midst of this he suddenly realized +that the cart had disappeared. He rushed out, and down in the other +yard found two men engaged in unloading the cart. For the second +time today Lars Peter lost his temper. "See and get those things on +to the cart again," he shouted, picking up his whip. The two men +hastily took his measure; then without a word reloaded the cart. + +He was no longer in doubt that they would cheat him. The cursed +knaves! If they had emptied it all out on to the heap, then he could +have whistled for his own price. He drove the cart right up to the +office door, and kept the reins on his arm. The old fox stood by his +desk, looking at him out of the corners of his eyes. "Were they +taking your beautiful horse from you?" he asked innocently. + +"No, 'twas something else they wanted to have their fingers in," +growled Lars Peter; he would show them that he could be sarcastic +too. "Now then, will you buy the goods or not?" + +"Of course we'll buy them. Look here, I've reckoned it all up. It'll +be exactly fifty-six crowns--highest market price." + +"Oh, go to the devil with your highest market price!" Lars Peter +began mounting the cart again. + +The old man looked at him in surprise through his spectacles: "Then +you won't sell?" + +"No, that I won't. I'd rather take it home again--and get double the +price." + +"Well, if you say so of course--Lars Peter Hansen's no cheat. But +what are we to do, my man? My conscience won't allow me to send you +dragging those things home again--it would be a crime to this +beautiful horse." He approached the nag as if to pat it, but Klavs +laid back his ears and lashed his tail. This praise of his horse +softened Lars Peter, and the end of it was that he let the load go +for ninety crowns. A cigar was thrown into the bargain. "It's from +the cheap box, so please don't light it until you get outside the +gate," said the impudent old knave. "Come again soon!" + +Thanks! It would be some time before he came here again--a pack of +robbers! He asked the way to an inn in Vestergade, where people from +his neighborhood generally stayed, and there he unharnessed. + +The yard was full of vehicles. Farmers with pipes hanging from their +lips and fur-coats unbuttoned were loading their wagons. Here and +there between the vehicles were loiterers, with broad gold chains +across their chest and half-closed eyes. One of them came up to Lars +Peter. "Are you doing anything tonight?" said he. "There's a couple +of us here--retired farmers--going to have a jolly evening together. +We want a partner." He drew a pack of cards from his breast-pocket, +and began shuffling them. + +No, Lars Peter had no time. "All the same, thanks." "Who are those +men?" he asked the stable-boy. + +"Oh, they help the farmers to find their way about town, when it's +dark," answered the man, laughing. + +"Are they paid for that then?" asked Lars Peter thoughtfully. + +"Oh, yes--and sometimes a good deal. But then they fix up other +things besides--lodging for the night and everything. Even a wife +they'll get for you, if you like." + +"Well, I don't care about that. If they'd only help a man to get +hold of his own wife!" + +"I don't think they do that. But you can try." + +No, Lars Peter would not do that. He realized these were folk it was +better to avoid. Then he sauntered out into the town. At Hauserplads +there was an inn kept by a man he knew--he would look him up. Maybe +he could give him a little help in managing the affair. + +The street-lamps were just being lit, although it was not nearly +dark; evidently there was no lack of money here. Lars Peter +clattered in his big boots down towards Frue Plads, examining the +houses as he went. This stooping giant, with faded hat and cape, +looked like a wandering piece of the countryside. When he asked the +way his voice rang through the street--although it was not loud for +him. People stopped and laughed. Then he laughed back again and made +some joke or other, which, though he did not mean it, sounded like a +storm between the rows of houses. Gradually a crowd of children and +young people gathered and followed in his wake. When they shouted +after him he took it with good humor, but was not altogether at his +ease until he reached the tavern. Here he took out his red pocket +handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. + +"Hullo! Hans Mattisen," he shouted down into the dark cellar. "D'you +know an old friend again, what?" His joy over having got so far made +his voice sound still more overpowering than usual; there was +hardly room for it under the low ceiling. + +"Not so fast, not so fast!" came from a jolly voice behind the +counter, "wait until I get a light." + +When the gas was lit, they found they did not know each other at +all. Hans Mattisen had left years ago. "Don't you worry about that," +said the inn-keeper, "sit down." After Lars Peter had seated +himself, he was given some lobscouse and a small bottle of wine, and +soon felt at peace with the world. + +The inn-keeper was a pleasant man with a keen sense of humor. Lars +Peter was glad of a talk with him, and before he was aware of it, +had poured out all his troubles. Well, he had come down here to get +advice; and he had not gone far wrong either. + +"Is that all?" said the inn-keeper, "we'll soon put that right. +We've only to send a message to the Bandmaster." + +"Who's that?" asked Lars Peter. + +"Oh, he has the cleverest head in the world; there's not a piece of +music but he can manage it. Curious fellow--never met one like him. +For example, he can't bear dogs, because once a police-dog took him +for an ordinary thief. He never can forget that. Therefore, if he +asks, you've only to say that dogs are a damned nuisance--almost as +loathsome as the police. He can't stand them either. Hi! Katrine," +he called into the kitchen, "get hold of the Bandmaster quick, and +tell him to come along--give him plenty of drink too, for he must +be thawed before you get anything out of him." + +"No fear about that," said Lars Peter airily, putting a ten-crown +piece on the table, which the inn-keeper quickly pocketed. "That's +right, old man--that's doing the thing properly," said he +appreciatively. "I'll see to the whiskey. You're a gentleman, that's +certain--you've got a well-filled pocketbook, I suppose?" + +"I've got about a hundred crowns," answered Lars Peter, fearing it +would not suffice. + +"You shall see your wife!" shouted the inn-keeper, shaking Lars +Peter's hand violently. "You shall see your wife as certain as I'm +your friend! Perhaps she'll be with you tonight. What do you think +of that, eh, old man?" He put his arm round Lars Peter's shoulders, +shaking him jovially. + +Lars Peter laughed and was moved--he almost had tears in his eyes. +He was a little overcome by the warmth of the room and the whiskey. + +A tall thin gentleman came down into the cellar. He wore a black +frock-coat, but was without waistcoat and collar--perhaps because he +had been sent for in such a hurry. He had spectacles on, and looked +on the whole a man of authority. He had a distinguished appearance, +somewhat like a town-crier or a conjurer from the market-place. His +voice was shrill and cracked, and he had an enormous larynx. + +The inn-keeper treated him with great deference. "G'day, sir," said +he, bowing low--"here's a man wants advice. He's had an accident, +his wife's having a holiday at the King's expense." + +The conductor glanced rather contemptuously at the rag and bone +man's big shabby figure. But the inn-keeper winked one eye, and +said, "I mustn't forget the beer-man." He went behind the desk and +wrote on a slate, "100." The Bandmaster glanced at the figure and +nodded to himself, then sat down and began to question Lars +Peter--down to every detail. He considered for a few minutes, and +then said, turning towards the inn-keeper, "Alma must tackle +this--she's playing with the _princess_, you know." + +"Yes, of course!" shouted the inn-keeper, delightedly. "Of course +Alma can put it right, but tonight----?" He looked significantly at +the Bandmaster. + +"Leave it to me, my dear friend. Just you leave it to me," said the +other firmly. + +Lars Peter tried hard to follow their conversation. They were funny +fellows to listen to, although the case itself was serious enough. +He began to feel drowsy with the heat of the room--after his long +day in the fresh air. + +"Well, my good man, you wish to see the King?" said the Bandmaster, +taking hold of the lapel of his coat. Lars Peter pulled himself +together. + +"I'd like to try that way, yes," he answered with strained +attention. + +"Very well, then listen. I'll introduce you to my niece, who plays +with the princess. This is how it stands, you see--but it's +between ourselves--the _princess_ rather runs off the lines at +times, she gets so sick of things, but it's incognito, you +understand--unknowingly, we say--and then my niece is always by +her side. You'll meet her--and the rest you must do yourself." + +"H'm, I'm not exactly dressed for such fine society," said Lars +Peter, looking down at himself. "And I'm out of practice with the +womenfolk--if it had been in my young days, now----!" + +"Don't worry about that," said his friend, "people of high degree +often have the most extraordinary taste. It would be damned strange +if the _princess_ doesn't fall in love with you. And if she once +takes a fancy to you, you may bet your last dollar that your case is +in good hands." + +The inn-keeper diligently refilled their glasses, and Lars Peter +looked more and more brightly at things. He was overcome by the +Bandmaster's grand connections, and his ability in finding ways and +means--exceedingly clever people he had struck upon. And when Miss +Alma came, full-figured and with a curled fringe, his whole face +beamed. "What a lovely girl," said he warmly, "just the kind I'd +have liked in the old days." + +Miss Alma at once wanted to sit on his knee, but Lars Peter kept her +at arms' length. "I've got a wife," said he seriously. Soerine +should have no grounds for complaint. A look from the Bandmaster +made Alma draw herself up. + +"Just wait until the _princess_ comes, then you'll see a lady," said +he to Lars Peter. + +"She's not coming. She's at a ball tonight," said Miss Alma with +resentment. + +"Then we'll go to the palace and find her." The Bandmaster took his +hat, and they all got up. + +Outside in the street, a half-grown girl ran up and whispered +something to him. + +"Sorry, but I must go," said he to Lars Peter--"my mother-in-law is +at death's door. But you'll have a good time all right." + +"Come along," cried Miss Alma, taking the rag and bone man by the +arm. "We two are going to see life!" + +"Hundred--er--kisses, Alma! don't forget," called the Bandmaster +after them. His voice sounded like a market crier's. + +"All right," answered Miss Alma, with a laugh. + +"What's that he says?" asked Lars Peter wonderingly. + +"Don't you bother your head about that fool," she answered, and drew +him along. + + * * * * * + +Next morning Lars Peter woke early--as usual. There was a curious +illumination in the sky, and with terror he tumbled quickly out of +bed. Was the barn on fire? Then suddenly he remembered that he was +not at home; the gleam of light on the window-panes came from the +street lamps, which struggled with the dawn of day. + +He found himself in a dirty little room, at the top of the house--as +far as he could judge from the roofs all round him. How in the name +of goodness had he got here? + +He seated himself on the edge of the bed, and began dressing. Slowly +one thing after another began to dawn on him. His head throbbed like +a piston rod--headache! He heard peculiar sounds: chattering women, +hoarse rough laughter, oaths--and from outside came the peal of +church bells. Through all the noise and tobacco smoke came visions +of a fair fringe, and soft red lips--the _princess_! But how did he +come to be here, in an iron bed with a lumpy mattress, and ragged +quilt? + +He felt for his watch to see the time--the old silver watch had +vanished! Anxiously he searched his inner pocket--thank Heaven! the +pocketbook was there alright. But what had happened to his watch? +Perhaps it had fallen on the floor. He hurried into his clothes, to +look for it--the big leather purse felt light in his pocket. It was +empty! He opened his pocketbook--that too was empty! + +Lars Peter scrambled downstairs, dreading lest any one should see +him, slipped out into one of the side streets, and stumbled to the +inn, harnessed the nag and set off. He began to long for the +children at home--yes, and for the cows and pigs too. + +Not until he was well outside the town, with a cold wind blowing on +his forehead, did he remember Soerine. And, suddenly realizing the +full extent of his disaster, he broke down and sobbed helplessly. + +He halted at the edge of the wood--just long enough for Klavs to +have a feed. He himself had no desire for food then. He was on the +highroad again, and sat huddled up in the cart, while the previous +evening's debauch sang through his head. + +At one place a woman came running towards him. "Lars Peter!" she +shouted, "Lars Peter!" The nag stopped. Lars Peter came to himself +with a jerk; without a word he felt in his waistcoat pocket, gave +her back her coin, and whipped up the horse. + +On the highroad, some distance from home, a group of children stood +waiting. Ditte had not been able to manage them any longer. They +were cold and in tears. Lars Peter took them up into the cart, and +they gathered round him, each anxious to tell him all the news. He +took no notice of their chatter. Ditte sat quietly, looking at him +out of the corners of her eyes. + +When he was seated at his meal, she said, "Where're all the things +you were to buy for me?" He looked up startled, and began stammering +something or other--an excuse--but stopped in the middle. + +"How was mother getting on?" asked Ditte then. She was sorry for +him, and purposely used the word "mother" to please him. + +For a few moments his features worked curiously. Then he buried his +face in his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +LITTLE MOTHER DITTE + + +At first, Lars Peter told them nothing of his visit to the Capital. +But Ditte was old enough to read between the lines, and drew her own +conclusions. At all events, her commission had not been executed. +Soerine, for some reason or other, he had not seen either, as far as +she could understand; and no money had been brought home. Apparently +it had all been squandered--spent in drink no doubt. + +"Now he'll probably take to getting drunk, like Johansen and the +others in the huts," she thought with resignation. "Come home and +make a row because there is nothing to eat--and beat us." + +She was prepared for the worst, and watched him closely. But Lars +Peter came home steady as usual. He returned even earlier than +before. He longed for children and home when he was away. And, as +was his custom, he gave an account of what he had made and spent. He +would clear out the contents of his trouser-pockets with his big +fist, spreading the money out over the table, so that they could +count it together and lay their plans accordingly. But now he liked +a glass with his meals! Soerine had never allowed him this, there +was no need for it--said she--it was a waste of money. 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? From a certain time in the +evening until he woke the following morning in that filthy bedroom, +all was like a vague dream--good or bad, he knew not. But in spite +of his shame he felt a secret satisfaction in having for once kicked +over the traces. He had seen life. How long had he been out? Jolting +round from farm to farm, he would brood on the question, would +recall some parts of the evening and suppress others--to get as much +pleasure out of it as possible. But in the end he was none the +wiser. + +However, it was impossible for him to keep any secret for long. +First one thing, then another, came out, and eventually Ditte had a +pretty good idea of what had happened, and would discuss it with +him. In the evenings, when the little ones were in bed, they would +talk it over. + +"But don't you think she was a real princess?" asked Ditte each +time. She always came back to this--it appealed to her vivid +imagination and love of adventure. + +"The Lord only knows," answered her father thoughtfully. He could +not fathom how he could have been such a fool; he had managed so +well with the Jews in the stable-yard. "Ay, the Lord only knows!" + +"And the Bandmaster," said Ditte eagerly, "he must have been a +wonderful man." + +"Ay, that's true--a conjurer! He made I don't know how many drinks +disappear without any one seeing how it was done. He held the glass +on the table in his left hand, slapped his elbow with his right--and +there it was empty." + +To Ditte it was a most exciting adventure, and incidents that had +seemed far from pleasant to Lars Peter became wonders in Ditte's +version of the affair. Lars Peter was grateful for the child's help, +and together they spoke of it so long, that slowly, and without his +being aware of it, the whole experience assumed quite a different +aspect. + +It certainly had been a remarkable evening. And the princess--yes, +she must have been there in reality, strange though it sounded that +a beggar like him should have been in such company. But the devil of +a woman she was to drink and smoke. "Ay, she was real enough--or I +wouldn't have been so taken with her," admitted he. + +"Then you've slept with a real princess--just like the giant in the +fairy tale," broke out Ditte, clapping her hands in glee. "You have, +father!" She looked beamingly at him. + +Lars Peter was silent with embarrassment, and sat blinking at the +lamp--he had not looked upon it in the innocent light of a fairy +tale. To him it seemed--well, something rather bad--it was being +unfaithful to Soerine. + +"Ay, that's true," said he. "But then, will Mother forgive it?" + +"Oh, never mind!" answered Ditte. "But it was a good thing you +didn't cut yourself!" + +Lars Peter lifted his head, looking uncertainly at her. + +"Ay, because there must have been a drawn sword between you--there +always is. You see, princesses are too grand to be touched." + +"Oh--ay! that's more than likely." Lars Peter turned this over in +his mind. The explanation pleased him, and he took it to himself; it +was a comforting idea. "Ay, 'tis dangerous to have dealings with +princesses, even though a man doesn't know it at the time," said he. + + * * * * * + +Lars Peter thought no more of visiting Soerine in prison. He would +have liked to see her and clasp her hand, even though it were only +through an iron grating; but it was not to be. He must have patience +until she had served her time. + +To him the punishment was that they had to live apart in the coming +years. He lacked imagination to comprehend Soerine's life behind +prison walls, and therefore he could not think of her for long at a +time. But unconsciously he missed her, so much so that he felt +depressed. + +Lars Peter was no longer eager to work--the motive power was +lacking. He was too easily contented with things as they were; there +was no-one to taunt him with being poorer than others. Ditte was too +good-natured; she was more given to taking burdens on her own +shoulders. + +He had grown quieter, and stooped more than ever. He played less +with the children, and his voice had lost some of its ring. He never +sang now, as he drove up to the farms to trade; he felt that people +gossiped about him and his affairs, and this took away his +confidence. It made itself felt when housewives and maids no longer +smiled and enjoyed his jokes or cleared out all their old rubbish +for him. He was never invited inside now--he was the husband of a +murderess! Trade dwindled away--not that he minded--it gave him more +time with the children at home. + +At the same time there was less to keep house on. But, thanks to +Ditte, they scraped along; little as she was, she knew how to make +both ends meet, so they did not starve. + +There was now plenty of time for Lars Peter to build. Beams and +stones lay all round as a silent reproach to him. + +"Aren't you going to do anything with it?" Ditte would ask. "Folk +say it's lying there wasting." + +"Where did you hear that?" asked Lars Peter bitterly. + +"Oh--at school!" + +So they talked about that too! There was not much where he was +concerned which was not torn to pieces. No, he had no desire to +build. "We've got a roof over our heads," said he indifferently. "If +any one thinks our hut's not good enough, let them give us another." +But the building materials remained there as an accusation; he was +not sorry when they were overgrown with grass. + +What good would it do to build? The Crow's Nest was, and would +remain, the Crow's Nest, however much they tried to polish it up. It +had not grown in esteem by Soerine's deed. She had done her best to +give them a lift up in the world--and had only succeeded in pushing +them down to the uttermost depth. Previously, it had only been +misfortune which clung to the house, and kept better people away; +now it was crime. No-one would come near the house after dusk, and +by day they had as little as possible to do with the rag and bone +man. The children were shunned; they were the offspring of a +murderess, and nothing was too bad to be thought of them. + +The people tried to excuse their harshness, and justified their +behavior towards the family, by endowing them with all the worst +qualities. At one time it was reported that they were thieves. But +that died down, and then they said that the house was haunted. Old +Maren went about searching for her money; first one, then another, +had met her on the highroad at night, on her way to the Crow's Nest. + +The full burden of all this fell on the little ones. It was +mercilessly thrown in their faces by the other children at school; +and when they came home crying, Lars Peter of course had to bear his +share too. No-one dared say anything to him, himself--let them try +if they dared! The rag and bone man's fingers tingled when he heard +all this backbiting--why couldn't he and his be allowed to go in +peace. He wouldn't mind catching one of the rogues red-handed. He +would knock him down in cold blood, whatever the consequences might +be. + +Kristian now went to school too, in the infants' class. The classes +were held every other day, and his did not coincide with Ditte's, +who was in a higher class. He had great difficulty in keeping up +with the other children, and could hardly be driven off in the +mornings. "They call me the young crow," he said, crying. + +"Then call them names back again," said Ditte; and off he had to go. + +But one day there came a message from the schoolmaster that the boy +was absent too often. The message was repeated. Ditte could not +understand it. She had a long talk with the boy, and got out of him +that he often played truant. He made a pretense of going to school, +hung about anywhere all day long, and only returned home when +school-time was over. She said nothing of this to Lars Peter--it +would only have made things worse. + +The unkindness from outside made them cling more closely to one +another. There was something of the hunted animal in them; Lars +Peter was reserved in his manner to people, and was ready to fly out +if attacked. The whole family grew shy and suspicious. When the +children played outside the house, and saw people approaching on the +highroad, they would rush in, peeping at them from behind the broken +window-panes. Ditte watched like a she-wolf, lest other children +should harm her little brothers and sister; when necessary, she +would both bite and kick, and she could hurl words at them too. One +day when Lars Peter was driving past the school, the schoolmaster +came out and complained of her--she used such bad language. He could +not understand it; at home she was always good and saw that the +little ones behaved properly. When he spoke of this, Ditte hardened. + +"I won't stand their teasing," said she. + +"Then stay at home from school, and then we'll see what they'll do." + +"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. But it's a shame you should suffer for other +people's wickedness." + +Lars Peter seldom went out now, but busied himself cultivating his +land, so that he could be near the children and home. He had a +feeling of insecurity; people had banded themselves together against +him and his family, and meant them no good. He was uneasy when away +from home, and constantly felt as if something had happened. The +children were delighted at the change. + +"Are you going to stay at home tomorrow too, Father?" asked the two +little ones every evening, gazing up at him with their small arms +round his huge legs. Lars Peter nodded. + +"We must keep together here in the Crow's Nest," said he to Ditte as +if in excuse. "We can't get rid of the 'rag and bone man'--or the +other either; but no-one can prevent us from being happy together." + +Well, Ditte did not object to his staying at home. As long as they +got food, the rest was of no consequence. + +Yes, they certainly must keep together--and get all they could out +of one another, otherwise life would be too miserable to bear. On +Sundays Lars Peter would harness the nag and drive them out to +Frederiksvaerk, or to the other side of the lake. It was pleasant to +drive, and as long as they possessed a horse and cart, they could +not be utterly destitute. + +Their small circle of acquaintances had vanished, but thanks to +Klavs they found new friends. They were a cottager's family by the +marsh--people whom no-one else would have anything to do with. There +were about a dozen children, and though both the man and his wife +went out as day laborers, they could not keep them, and the parish +had to help. Lars Peter had frequently given them a hand with his +cart, but there had never been much intercourse as long as Soerine +was in command of the Crow's Nest. But now it came quite naturally. +Birds of a feather flock together--so people said. + +To the children it meant play-fellows and comrades in disgrace. It +was quite a treat to be asked over to Johansens on a Sunday +afternoon, or even more so to have them at the Crow's Nest. There +was a certain satisfaction in having visitors under their roof, and +giving them the best the house could provide. For days before they +came Ditte would be busy making preparations: setting out milk for +cream to have with the coffee, and buying in all they could afford. +On Sunday morning she would cut large plates of bread-and-butter, to +make it easier for her in the afternoon. As soon as the guests +arrived, they would have coffee, bread-and-butter and home-made +cakes. Then the children would play "Touch," or "Bobbies and +Thieves." Lars Peter allowed them to run all over the place, and +there would be wild hunting in and outside the Crow's Nest. In the +meanwhile the grown-ups wandered about in the fields, looking at +the crops. Ditte went with them, keeping by the side of Johansen's +wife, with her hands under her apron, just as she did. + +At six o'clock they had supper, sandwiches with beer and brandy; +then they would sit for a short time talking, before going home. +There was the evening work to be done, and every one had to get up +early the next morning. + +They were people even poorer than themselves. They came in shining +wooden shoes, and in clean blue working clothes. They were so poor +that in the winter they never had anything to eat but herrings and +potatoes, and it delighted Ditte to give them a really good meal: +sandwiches of the best, and bottles of beer out of which the cork +popped and the froth overflowed. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE LITTLE VAGABOND + + +Lars Peter stood by the water-trough where Klavs was drinking his +fill. They had been for a long trip, and both looked tired and glad +to be home again. + +At times a great longing for the highroad came over the rag and bone +man, and he would then harness the nag and set off on his old rounds +again. The road seemed to ease his trouble, and drew him further and +further away, so that he spent the night from home, returning the +following day. There was not much made on these trips, but he always +managed to do a little--and his depression would pass off for the +time being. + +He had just returned from one of these outings, and stood in deep +thought, happy to be home again, and to find all was well. Now there +should be an end to these fits of wandering. Affairs at home +required a man. + +Povl and his sister Else hurried out to welcome him; they ran in and +out between his legs, which to them were like great thick posts, +singing all the while. Sometimes they would run between the nag's +legs too, and the wise creature would carefully lift its hoofs, as +though afraid of hurting them--they could stand erect between their +father's legs. + +Ditte came out from the kitchen door with a basket on her arm. "Now, +you're thinking again, father," said she laughingly, "take care you +don't step on the children." + +Lars Peter pulled himself together and tenderly stroked the rough +little heads. "Where are you off to?" asked he. + +"Oh, to the shop. I want some things for the house." + +"Let Kristian go, you've quite enough to do without that." + +"He hasn't come home from school yet--most likely I'll meet him on +the way." + +"Not home yet?--and it's nearly supper-time." Lars Peter looked at +her in alarm. "D'you think he can be off on the highroad again?" + +Ditte shook her head. "I think he's been kept in--I'm sure to meet +him. It's a good thing too--he can help me to carry the things +home," she added tactfully. + +But Lars Peter could no longer be taken in. He had just been +thanking his stars that all was well on his return, and had silently +vowed to give up his wanderings--and now this! The boy was at his +old tricks again, there was no doubt about that--he could see it in +the girl's eyes. It was in his children's blood, it seemed, and much +as he cared for them--his sins would be visited on them. For the +little ones' sake he was struggling to overcome his own wandering +bent, and now it cropped out in them. It was like touching an open +wound--he felt sick at heart. + +Lars Peter led the horse into its stall, and gave it some corn. He +did not take off the harness. Unless the boy returned soon, he would +go and look for him. It had happened before that Lars Peter and +Klavs had spent the night searching. And once Ditte had nearly run +herself off her legs looking for the boy, while all the time he was +quite happy driving round with his father on his rounds. He had been +waiting for Lars Peter on the highroad, telling him he had a +holiday--and got permission to go with his father. There was no +trusting him. + +When Ditte got as far as the willows, she hid the basket in them. +She had only used the shop as an excuse to get away from home and +look for the boy, without the father knowing anything was wrong. A +short distance along the highroad lived some of Kristian's +school-fellows, and she went there to make inquiries. Kristian had +not been at school that day. She guessed as much--he had been in +such a hurry to get off in the morning! Perhaps he was in one of the +fields, behind a bush, hungry and wornout; it would be just like him +to lie there until he perished, if no-one found him in the +meanwhile. + +She ran aimlessly over the fields, asking every one she met if they +had seen her brother. "Oh, is it the young scamp from the Crow's +Nest?" people asked. "Ay, he's got vagabond's blood in him." + +Then she ran on, as quickly as she could. Her legs gave way, but she +picked herself up and stumbled on. She couldn't think of going home +without the boy; it would worry her father dreadfully! And Kristian +himself--her little heart trembled at the thought of his being out +all night. + +A man on a cart told her he had seen a boy seven or eight years old, +down by the marsh. She rushed down--and there was Kristian. He stood +outside a hut, howling, the inhabitants gathered round him, and a +man holding him firmly by his collar. + +"Come to look for this young rascal?" said he. "Ay, we've caught +him, here he is. The children told he'd shirked his school, and we +thought we'd better make sure of him, to keep him out of mischief." + +"Oh, he's all right," said Ditte, bristling, "he wouldn't do any +harm." She pushed the man's hand away, and like a little mother drew +the boy towards her. "Don't cry, dear," said she, drying his wet +cheeks with her apron. "Nobody'll dare to touch you." + +The man grinned and looked taken aback. "Do him harm?" said he +loudly. "And who is it sets fire to other folk's houses and sets on +peaceful womenfolk, but vagabonds. And that's just the way they +begin." + +But Ditte and Kristian had rushed off. She held him by his hand, +scolding him as they went along. "There, you can hear yourself what +the man says! And that's what they'll think you are," said she. "And +you know it worries Father so. Don't you think he's enough trouble +without that?" + +"Why did Mother do it?" said Kristian, beginning to cry. + +He was worn out, and as soon as they got home Ditte put him quickly +to bed. She gave him camomile tea and put one of her father's +stockings--the left one--round his throat. + +During the evening she and her father discussed what had happened. +The boy lay tossing feverishly in bed. "It's those mischievous +children," said Ditte with passion. "If I were there, they wouldn't +dare to touch him." + +"Why does the boy take any notice of it?" growled Lars Peter. +"You've been through it all yourself." + +"Ay, but then I'm a girl--boys mind much more what's said to them. I +give it them back again, but when Kristian's mad with rage, he can't +find anything to say. And then they all shout and laugh at him--and +he takes off his wooden shoe to hit them." + +Lars Peter sat silent for a while. "We'd better see and get away +from here," said he. + +Kristian popped his head over the end of the bed. "Yes, far, far +away!" he shouted. This at all events he had heard. + +"We'll go to America then," said Ditte, carefully covering him up. +"Go to sleep now, so that you'll be quite well for the journey." +The boy looked at her with big, trusting eyes, and was quiet. + +"'Tis a shame, for the boy's clever enough," whispered Lars Peter. +"'Tis wonderful how he can think a thing out in his little head--and +understand the ins and outs of everything. He knows more about +wheels and their workings than I do. If only he hadn't got my +wandering ways in his blood." + +"That'll wear off in time!" thought Ditte. "At one time I used to +run away too." + +The following day Kristian was out again, and went singing about the +yard. A message had been sent to school that he was ill, so that he +had a holiday for a few days--he was in high spirits. He had got +hold of the remains of an old perambulator which his father had +brought home, and was busy mending it, for the little ones to ride +in. Wheels were put on axles, now only the body remained to be +fixed. The two little ones stood breathlessly watching him. Povl +chattered away, and wanted to help, every other moment his little +hands interfered and did harm. But sister Else stood dumbly +watching, with big thoughtful eyes. "She's always dreaming, dear +little thing," said Ditte, "the Lord only knows what she dreams +about." + +Ditte, to all appearance, never dreamed, but went about wide awake +from morning till night. Life had already given her a woman's hard +duties to fulfil, and she had met them and carried them out with a +certain sturdiness. To the little ones she was the strict +house-wife and mother, whose authority could not be questioned, and +should the occasion arise, she would give them a little slap. But +underneath the surface was her childish mind. About all her +experiences she formed her own opinions and conclusions, but never +spoke of them to any one. + +The most difficult of all for her to realize was that Granny was +dead, and that she could never, never, run over to see her any more. +Her life with Granny had been her real childhood, the memory of +which remained vivid--unforgettable, as happy childhood is when one +is grown up. In the daytime the fact was clear enough. Granny was +dead and buried, and would never come back again. But at night when +Ditte was in bed, dead-beat after a hard day, she felt a keen desire +to be a child again, and would cuddle herself up in the quilt, +pretending she was with Granny. And, as she dropped off, she seemed +to feel the old woman's arm round her, as was her wont. Her whole +body ached with weariness, but Granny took it away--wise Granny who +could cure the rheumatism. Then she would remember Granny's awful +fight with Soerine. And Ditte would awaken to find Lars Peter +standing over her bed trying to soothe her. She had screamed! He did +not leave her until she had fallen asleep again--with his huge hand +held against her heart, which fluttered like that of a captured +bird. + +At school, she never played, but went about all alone. The others +did not care to have her with them, and she was not good at games +either. She was like a hard fruit, which had had more bad weather +than sunshine. Songs and childish rhymes sounded harsh on her lips, +and her hands were rough with work. + +The schoolmaster noticed all this. One day when Lars Peter was +passing, he called him in to talk of Ditte. "She ought to be in +entirely different surroundings," said he, "a place where she can +get new school-fellows. Perhaps she has too much responsibility at +home for a child of her age. You ought to send her away." + +To Lars Peter this was like a bomb-shell. He had a great respect for +the schoolmaster--he had passed examinations and things--but how was +he to manage without his clever little housekeeper? "All of us ought +to go away," he thought. "There're only troubles and worries here." + +No, there was nothing to look forward to here--they could not even +associate with their neighbors! He had begun to miss the fellowship +of men, and often thought of his relations, whom he had not seen, +and hardly heard of, for many years. He longed for the old +homestead, which he had left to get rid of the family nickname, and +seriously thought of selling the little he had, and turning +homewards. Nicknames seemed to follow wherever one went. There was +no happiness to be found here, and his livelihood was gone. "Nothing +seems to prosper here," thought he, saving of course the blessed +children--and they would go with him. + +The thought of leaving did not make things better. Everything was at +a standstill. It was no good doing anything until he began his new +life--whatever that might be. + +He and Ditte talked it over together. She would be glad to leave, +and did not mind where they went. She had nothing to lose. A new +life offered at least the chance of a more promising future. +Secretly, she had her own ideas of what should come--but not here; +the place was accursed. Not exactly the prince in Granny's +spinning-song, she was too old for that--princes only married +princesses. But many other things might happen besides that, given +the opportunity. Ditte had no great pretensions, but "forward" was +her motto. "It must be a place where there're plenty of people," +said she. "Kind people," she added, thinking most of her little +brothers and sister. + +Thus they talked it over until they agreed that it would be best to +sell up as soon as possible and leave. In the meantime, something +happened which for a time changed their outlook altogether, and made +them forget their plans. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE KNIFE-GRINDER + + +One afternoon, when the children were playing outside in the +sunshine, Ditte stood just inside the open kitchen door, washing up +after dinner. Suddenly soft music was heard a short distance away--a +run of notes; even the sunshine seemed to join in. The little ones +lifted their heads and gazed out into space; Ditte came out with a +plate and a dishcloth in her hands. + +Up on the road just where the track to the Crow's Nest turned off +stood a man with a wonderful-looking machine; he blew, to draw +attention--on a flute or clarionet, whatever it might be--and looked +towards the house. When no-one appeared in answer to his call, he +began moving towards the house, pushing the machine in front of him. +The little ones rushed indoors. The man left his machine beside the +pump and came up to the kitchen door. Ditte stood barring the way. + +"Anything want grinding, rivetting or soldering, anything to mend?" +he gabbled off, lifting his cap an inch from his forehead. "I +sharpen knives, scissors, razors, pitchforks or plowshares! Cut +your corns, stick pigs, flirt with the mistress, kiss the maids--and +never say no to a glass and a crust of bread!" Then he screwed up +his mouth and finished off with a song. + + "Knives to grind, knives to grind! + Any scissors and knives to grind? + Knives and scissors to gri-i-ind!" + +he sang at the top of his voice. + +Ditte stood in the doorway and laughed, with the children hanging on +to her skirt. "I've got a bread-knife that won't cut," said she. + +The man wheeled his machine up to the door. It was a big thing: +water-tank, grindstone, a table for rivetting, a little anvil and a +big wheel--all built upon a barrow. The children forgot their fear +in their desire to see this funny machine. He handled the +bread-knife with many flourishes, whistled over the edge to see how +blunt it was, pretended the blade was loose, and put it on the anvil +to rivet it. "It must have been used to cut paving-stories with," +said he. But this was absurd; the blade was neither loose nor had it +been misused. He was evidently a mountebank. + +He was quite young; thin, and quick in his movements; he rambled on +all the time. And such nonsense he talked! But how handsome he was! +He had black eyes and black hair, which looked quite blue in the +sunshine. + +Lars Peter came out from the barn yawning; he had been having an +after-dinner nap. There were bits of clover and hay in his tousled +hair. "Where do you come from?" he cried gaily as he crossed the +yard. + +"From Spain," answered the man, showing his white teeth in a broad +grin. + +"From Spain--that's what my father always said when any one asked +him," said Lars Peter thoughtfully. "Don't come from Odsherred by +any chance?" + +The man nodded. + +"Then maybe you can give me some news of an Amst Hansen--a big +fellow with nine sons?... The rag and bone man, he was called." The +last was added guiltily. + +"I should think I could--that's my father." + +"No!" said Lars Peter heartily, stretching out his big hand. "Then +welcome here, for you must be Johannes--my youngest brother." He +held the youth's hand, looking at him cordially. "Oh, so that's what +you look like now; last time I saw you, you were only a couple of +months old. You're just like mother!" + +Johannes smiled rather shyly, and drew his hand away; he was not so +pleased over the meeting as was his brother. + +"Leave the work and come inside," said Lars Peter, "and the girl +will make us a cup of coffee. Well, well! To think of meeting like +this. Ay, just like mother, you are." He blinked his eyes, touched +by the thought. + +As they drank their coffee, Johannes told all the news from home. +The mother had died some years ago and the brothers were gone to +the four corners of the earth. The news of his mother's death was a +great blow to Lars Peter. "So she's gone?" said he quietly. "I've +not seen her since you were a baby. I'd looked forward to seeing her +again--she was always good, was mother." + +"Well," Johannes drawled, "she was rather grumpy." + +"Not when I was at home--maybe she was ill a long time." + +"We didn't get on somehow. No, the old man for me, he was always in +a good temper." + +"Does he still work at his old trade?" asked Lars Peter with +interest. + +"No, that's done with long ago. He lives on his pension!" Johannes +laughed. "He breaks stones on the roadside now. He's as hard as ever +and will rule the roost. He fights with the peasants as they pass, +and swears at them because they drive on his heap of stones." + +Johannes himself had quarreled with his master and had given him a +black eye; and as he was the only butcher who would engage him over +there, he had left, crossing over at Lynoes--with the machine which +he had borrowed from a sick old scissor-grinder. + +"So you're a butcher," said Lars Peter. "I thought as much. You +don't look like a professional grinder. You're young and strong; +couldn't you work for the old man and keep him out of the +workhouse?" + +"Oh, he's difficult to get on with--and he's all right where he is. +If a fellow wants to keep up with the rest--and get a little fun out +of life--there's only enough for one." + +"I dare say. And what do you think of doing now? Going on again?" + +Yes, he wanted to see something of life--with the help of the +machine outside. + +"And can you do all you say?" + +Johannes made a grimace. "I learned a bit from the old man when I +was a youngster, but it's more by way of patter than anything else. +A fellow's only to ramble on, get the money, and make off before +they've time to look at the things. It's none so bad, and the police +can't touch you so long as you're working." + +"Is that how it is?" said Lars Peter. "I see you've got the roving +blood in you too. 'Tis a sad thing to suffer from, brother!" + +"But why? There's always something new to be seen! 'Tis sickening to +hang about in the same place, forever." + +"Ay, that's what I used to think; but one day a man finds out that +it's no good thinking that way! Nothing thrives when you knock about +the road to earn your bread. No home and no family, nothing worth +having, however much you try to settle down." + +"But you've got both," said Johannes. + +"Ay, but it's difficult to keep things together. Living from hand to +mouth and nothing at your back--'tis a poor life. And the worst of +it is, we poor folk _have_ to turn that way; it seems better not to +know where your bread's to come from day by day and go hunting it +here, there and everywhere. It's that that makes us go a-roving. But +now you must amuse yourself for a couple of hours; I've promised to +cart some dung for a neighbor!" + +During Lars Peter's absence Ditte and the children showed their +uncle round the farm. He was a funny fellow and they very soon made +friends. He couldn't be used to anything fine, for he admired +everything he saw, and won Ditte's confidence entirely. She had +never heard the Crow's Nest and its belongings admired before. + +He helped her with her evening work, and when Lars Peter returned +the place was livelier than it had been for many a day. After supper +Ditte made coffee and put the brandy bottle on the table, and the +brothers had a long chat. Johannes told about home; he had a keen +sense of humor and spared neither home nor brothers in the telling, +and Lars Peter laughed till he nearly fell off his chair. + +"Ay, that's right enough!" he cried, "just as it would have been in +the old days." There was a great deal to ask about and many old +memories to be refreshed; the children had not seen their father so +genial and happy for goodness knows how long. It was easy to see +that his brother's coming had done him good. + +And they too had a certain feeling of well-being--they had got a +relation! Since Granny's death they had seemed so alone, and when +other children spoke of their relations they had nothing to say. +They had got an uncle--next after a granny this was the greatest of +all relations. And he had come to the Crow's Nest in the most +wonderful manner, taking them unawares--and himself too! Their +little bodies tingled with excitement; every other minute they crept +out, meddling with the wonderful machine, which was outside sleeping +in the moonlight. But Ditte soon put a stop to this and ordered them +to bed. + +The two brothers sat chatting until after midnight, and the children +struggled against sleep as long as they possibly could, so as not to +lose anything. But sleep overcame them at last, and Ditte too had to +give in. She would not go to bed before the men, and fell asleep +over the back of a chair. + +Morning came, and with it a sense of joy; the children opened their +eyes with the feeling that something had been waiting for them by +the bedside the whole night to meet them with gladness when they +woke--what was it? Yes, over there on the hook by the door hung a +cap--Uncle Johannes was here! He and Lars Peter were already up and +doing. + +Johannes was taken with everything he saw and was full of ideas. +"This might be made a nice little property," he said time after +time. "'Tis neglected, that's all." + +"Ay, it's had to look after itself while I've been out," answered +Lars Peter in excuse. "And this trouble with the wife didn't make +things better either. Maybe you've heard all about it over there?" + +Johannes nodded. "That oughtn't to make any difference to you, +though," said he. + +That day Lars Peter had to go down to the marsh and dig a ditch, to +drain a piece of the land. Johannes got a spade and went with him. +He worked with such a will that Lars Peter had some difficulty in +keeping up with him. "'Tis easy to see you're young," said he, "the +way you go at it." + +"Why don't you ditch the whole and level it out? 'Twould make a good +meadow," said Johannes. + +Ay, why not? Lars Peter did not know himself. "If only a fellow had +some one to work with," said he. + +"Do you get any peat here?" asked Johannes once when they were +taking a breathing space. + +"No, nothing beyond what we use ourselves; 'tis a hard job to cut +it." + +"Ay, when you use your feet! But you ought to get a machine to work +with a horse; then a couple of men can do ever so many square feet +in a day." + +Lars Peter became thoughtful. Ideas and advice had been poured into +him and he would have liked to go thoroughly through them and digest +them one by one. But Johannes gave him no time. + +The next minute he was by the clay-pit. There was uncommonly fine +material for bricks, he thought. + +Ay, Lars Peter knew it all only too well. The first summer he was +married, Soerine had made bricks to build the outhouse and it had +stood all kinds of weather. But one pair of hands could not do +everything. + +And thus Johannes went from one thing to the other. He was observant +and found ways for everything; there was no end to his plans. Lars +Peter had to attend; it was like listening to an old, forgotten +melody. Marsh, clay-pit and the rest had said the same year after +year, though more slowly; now he had hardly time to follow. It was +inspiriting, all at once to see a way out of all difficulties. + +"Look here, brother," said he, as they were at dinner, "you put +heart into a man again. How'd you like to stay on here? Then we +could put the place in order together. There's not much in that +roving business after all." + +Johannes seemed to like the idea--after all, the highroad was +unsatisfactory as a means of livelihood! + +During the day they talked it over more closely and agreed how to +set about things; they would share as brothers both the work and +what it brought in. "But what about the machine?" said Lars Peter. +"That must be returned." + +"Oh, never mind that," said Johannes. "The man can't use it; he's +ill." + +"Ay, but when he gets up again, then he'll have nothing to earn his +living; we can't have that on our conscience. I'm going down to the +beach tomorrow for a load of herrings, so I'll drive round by +Hundested and put it off there. There's sure to be a fisherman +who'll take it over with him. I'd really thought of giving up the +herring trade; but long ago I bound myself to take a load, and there +should be a good catch these days." + +At three o'clock next morning Lars Peter was ready in the yard to +drive to the fishing village; at the back of the cart was the +wonderful machine. As he was about to start, Johannes came running +up, unwashed and only half awake; he had just managed to put on his +cap and tie a handkerchief round his neck. "I think I'll go with +you," he said with a yawn. + +Lars Peter thought for a minute--it came as a surprise to him. "Very +well, just as you like," said he at last, making room. He had +reckoned on his brother beginning the ditching today; there was so +little water in the meadow now. + +"Do me good to get out a bit!" said Johannes as he clambered into +the cart. + +Well--yes--but he had only just come in. "Don't you want an +overcoat?" asked Lars Peter. "There's an old one of mine you can +have." + +"Oh, never mind--I can turn up my collar." + +The sun was just rising; there was a white haze on the shores of the +lake, hanging like a veil over the rushes. In the green fields +dewdrops were caught by millions in the spiders' webs, sparkling +like diamonds in the first rays of sunshine. + +Lars Peter saw it all, and perhaps it was this which turned his +mind; at least, today, he thought the Crow's Nest was a good and +pretty little place; it would be a sin to leave it. He had found out +all he wanted to know about his relations and home and what had +happened to every one in the past years and his longing for home had +vanished; now he would prefer to stay where he was. "Just you be +thankful that you're away from it all!" Johannes had said. And he +was right--it wasn't worth while moving to go back to the quarreling +and jealousies of relations. As a matter of fact there was no +inducement to leave: no sense in chasing your luck like a fool, +better try to keep what there was. + +Lars Peter could not understand what had happened to him--everything +looked so different today. It was as if his eyes had been rubbed +with some wonderful ointment; even the meager lands of the Crow's +Nest looked beautiful and promising. A new day had dawned for him +and his home. + +"'Tis a glorious morning," said he, turning towards Johannes. + +Johannes did not answer. He had drawn his cap down over his eyes and +gone to sleep. He looked somewhat dejected and his mouth hung +loosely as if he had been drinking. It was extraordinary how he +resembled his mother! Lars Peter promised himself that he would take +good care of him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE SAUSAGE-MAKER + + +Nothing was done to the land round the Crow's Nest this time; it was +a fateful moment when Johannes, instead of taking his spade and +beginning the ditching, felt inclined to go with his brother carting +herrings. On one of the farms where they went to trade, a still-born +calf lay outside the barn; Johannes caught sight of it at once. With +one jump he was out of the cart and beside it. + +"What do you reckon to do with it?" asked he, turning it over with +his foot. + +"Bury it, of course," answered the farm-lad. + +"Don't folks sell dead animals in these parts?" asked Johannes when +they were in the cart again. + +"Why, who could they sell them to?" answered Lars Peter. + +"The Lord preserve me, you're far behind the times. D'you know what, +I've a good mind to settle down here as a cattle-dealer." + +"And buy up all the still-born calves?" Lars Peter laughed. + +"Not just that. But it's not a bad idea, all the same; the old +butcher at home often made ten to fifteen crowns out of a calf like +that." + +"I thought we were going to start in earnest at home," said Lars +Peter. + +"We'll do that too, but we shall want money! Your trade took up all +your time, so everything was left to look after itself, but +cattle-dealing's another thing. A hundred crowns a day's easily +earned, if you're lucky. Let me drive round once a week, and I'll +promise it'll give us enough to live on. And then we've the rest of +the week to work on the land." + +"Sounds all right," said Lars Peter hesitatingly. "There's trader's +blood in you too, I suppose?" + +"You may be sure of that, I've often earned hundreds of crowns for +my master at home in Knarreby." + +"But how'd you begin?" said Peter. "I've got fifty crowns at the +most, and that's not much to buy cattle with. It's put by for rent +and taxes, and really oughtn't to be touched." + +"Let me have it, and I'll see to the rest," said Johannes +confidently. + +The very next day he set off in the cart, with the whole of Lars +Peter's savings in his pocket. He was away for two days, which was +not reassuring in itself. Perhaps he had got into bad company, and +had the money stolen from him--or frittered it away in poor trade. +The waiting began to seem endless to Lars Peter. Then at last +Johannes returned, with a full load and singing at the top of his +voice. To the back of the cart was tied an old half-dead horse, so +far gone it could hardly move. + +"Well, you seem to have bought something young!" shouted Lars Peter +scoffingly. "What've you got under the sacks and hay?" + +Johannes drove the cart into the porch, closed the gates, and began +to unload. A dead calf, a half-rotten pig and another calf just +alive. He had bought them on the neighboring farms, and had still +some money left. + +"Ay, that's all very well, but what are you going to do with it +all?" broke out Lars Peter amazed. + +"You'll see that soon enough," answered Johannes, running in and +out. + +There was dash and energy in him, he sang and whistled, as he +bustled about. The big porch was cleared, and a tree-stump put in as +a block; he lit a wisp of hay to see if there was a draught +underneath the boiler. The children stood open-mouthed gazing at +him, and Lars Peter shook his head, but did not interfere. + +He cut up the dead calf, skinned it, and nailed the skin up in the +porch to dry. Then it was the sick calf's turn, with one blow it was +killed, and its skin hung up beside the other. + +Ditte and Kristian were set to clean the guts, which they did very +unwillingly. + +"Good Lord, have you never touched guts before?" said Johannes. + +"A-a-y. But not of animals that had died," answered Ditte. + +"Ho, indeed, so you clean the guts while they're alive, eh? I'd like +to see that!" + +They had no answer ready, and went on with their work--while +Johannes drew in the half-dead horse, and went for the ax. As he ran +across the yard, he threw the ax up into the air and caught it again +by the handle; he was in high spirits. + +"Takes after the rest of the family!" thought Lars Peter, who kept +in the barn, and busied himself there. He did not like all this, +although it was the trade his race had practised for many years, and +which now took possession of the Crow's Nest; it reminded him +strongly of his childhood. "Folk may well think us the scum of the +earth now," thought he moodily. + +Johannes came whistling into the barn for an old sack. + +"Don't look so grumpy, old man," said he as he passed. Lars Peter +had not time to answer before he was out again. He put the sack over +the horse's head, measured the distance, and swung the ax backwards; +a strange long-drawn crash sounded from behind the sack, and the +horse sank to the ground with its skull cracked. The children looked +on, petrified. + +"You'll have to give me a hand now, to lift it," shouted Johannes +gaily. Lars Peter came lingeringly across the yard, and gave a +helping hand. Shortly afterwards the horse hung from a beam, with +its head downwards, the body was cut up and the skin folded back +like a cape. + +Uncle Johannes' movements became more and more mysterious. They +understood his care with the skins, these could be sold; but what +did he want with the guts and all the flesh he cut up? That evening +he lit the fire underneath the boiler, and he worked the whole +night, filling the place with a disgusting smell of bones, meat and +guts being cooked. + +"He must be making soap," thought Lars Peter, "or cart grease." + +The more he thought of it the less he liked the whole proceeding, +and wished that he had let his brother go as he had come. But he +could do nothing now, but let him go on. + +Johannes asked no one to help him; he kept the door of the outhouse +carefully closed and did his work with great secrecy. He was cooking +the whole night, and the next morning at breakfast he ordered the +children not to say a word of what he had been doing. During the +morning he disappeared and returned with a mincing-machine, he took +the block too into the outhouse. He came to his meals covered with +blood, fat and scraps of meat. He looked dreadful and smelled even +worse. But he certainly worked hard; he did not even allow himself +time to sleep. + +Late in the afternoon he opened the door of the outhouse wide: the +work was done. + +"Here you are, come and look!" he shouted. From a stick under the +ceiling hung a long row of sausages, beautiful to look at, bright +and freshly colored; no-one would guess what they were made of. On +the big washing-board lay meat, cut into neat joints and bright red +in color--this was the best part of the horse. And there was a big +pail of fat, which had not quite stiffened. "That's grease," said +Johannes, stirring it, "but as a matter of fact it's quite nice for +dripping. Looks quite tasty, eh?" + +"It shan't come into our kitchen," said Ditte, making a face at the +things. + +"You needn't be afraid, my girl; sausage-makers never eat their own +meat," answered Johannes. + +"What are you going to do with it now?" asked Lars Peter, evidently +knowing what the answer would be. + +"Sell it, of course!" Johannes showed his white teeth, as he took a +sausage. "Just feel how firm and round it is." + +"If you think you can sell them here, you're very much mistaken. You +don't know the folks in these parts." + +"Here? of course not! Drive over to the other side of the lake where +no-one knows me, or what they're made of. We often used to make +these at my old place. All the bad stuff we bought in one county, we +sold in another. No-one ever found us out. Simple enough, isn't +it?" + +"I'll have nothing to do with it," said Lars Peter determinedly. + +"Don't want you to--you're not the sort for this work. I'm off +tomorrow, but you must get me another horse. If I have to drive with +that rusty old threshing-machine in there, I shan't be back for a +whole week. Never saw such a beast. If he was mine I'd make him into +sausages." + +"That you shall never do," answered Lars Peter offendedly. "The +horse is good enough, though maybe he's not to your liking." + +The fact was they did not suit each other--Johannes and Klavs; they +were like fire and water. Johannes preferred to fly along the +highroad; but soon found out it wouldn't do. Then he expected that +the nag--since it could no longer gallop and was so slow to set +going--should keep moving when he jumped off. As a butcher he was +accustomed to jump off the cart, run into a house with a piece of +meat, catch up with the cart and jump on again--without stopping the +horse. But Klavs did not feel inclined for these new tricks. The +result was they clashed. Johannes made up his mind to train the +horse, and kept striking it with the thick end of the whip. Klavs +stopped in amazement. Twice he kicked up his hind legs--warningly, +then turned round, broke the shafts, and tried to get up into the +cart. He showed his long teeth in a grin, which might mean: Just let +me get you under my hoofs, you black rascal! This happened on the +highroad the day he had gone out to buy cattle. Lars Peter and the +children knew that the two were enemies. When Johannes entered the +barn, Klavs at once laid back his ears and was prepared to both bite +and fight. There was no mistaking the signs. + +Next morning, before Johannes started out, Kristian was sent over +with the nag to a neighbor who lived north of the road, and got +their horse in exchange. + +"It belonged to a butcher for many years, so you ought to get on +with it," said Lars Peter as they harnessed it. + +It was long and thin, just the sort for Johannes. As soon as he was +in the cart, the horse knew what kind of man held the reins. It set +off with a jerk, and passed the corner of the house like a flash of +lightning. The next minute they were up on the highroad, rushing +along in a whirl of dust. Johannes bumped up and down on the seat, +shouted and flourished his whip, and held the reins over his head. +They seemed possessed by the devil. + +"He shan't touch Klavs again," mumbled Lars Peter as he went in. + +The next day Johannes came back with notes in his pocketbook and a +mare running behind the cart. It was the same kind of horse as the +one he drove, only a little more stiff in its movements; he had +bought it for next to nothing--to be killed. + +"But it would be a sin to kill it; it's not too far gone to enjoy +life yet, eh, old lady?" said he, slapping its back. The mare +whinnied and threw up its hind legs. + +"'Tis nigh on thirty," said Lars Peter, peering into its mouth. + +"It may not be up to much, but the will's there right enough, just +look at it!" He cracked his whip and the old steed threw its head +back and started off. It didn't get very far, however, its movements +were jerky and painful. + +"Quite a high flier," said Lars Peter laughingly, "it looks as if a +breath of air would blow it up to heaven. But are you sure it's not +against the law to use it, when it's sold to be killed?" + +Johannes nodded. "They won't know it when I've finished with it," +said he. + +As soon as he had had a meal, and got into his working clothes, he +started to remodel the horse. He clipped its mane and tail, and +cropped the hair round its hoofs. + +"It only wants a little brown coloring to dye the gray hair--and a +couple of bottles of arsenic, and then you'll see how smart and +young she'll be. The devil himself wouldn't know her again." + +"Did you learn these tricks from your master?" asked Lars Peter. + +"No, from the old man. Never seen him at it?" + +Lars Peter could not remember. "It must have been after my time," +said he, turning away. + +"'Tis a good old family trick," said Johannes. + + * * * * * + +That there was money to be made from the new business was soon +evident, and Lars Peter got over his indignation. He let Johannes +drive round buying and selling, while he himself remained at home, +making sausages, soap and grease from the refuse. He had been an apt +pupil, it was the old family trade. + +The air round the Crow's Nest stank that summer. People held their +noses and whipped up their horses as they passed by. Johannes +brought home money in plenty and they lacked for nothing. But +neither Lars Peter nor the children were happy. They felt that the +Crow's Nest was talked about more even than before. And the worst of +it was, they no longer felt this to be an injustice. People had +every right to look down on them now; there was not the consolation +that their honor was unassailable. + +Johannes did not care. He was out on the road most of the time. He +made a lot of money, and was proud of it too. He often bought cattle +and sold them again. He was dissipated, so it was said--played cards +with fellows of his own kidney, and went to dances. Sometimes after +a brawl, he would come home with a wounded head and a black eye. +Apparently he spent a great deal of money; no-one could say how much +he made. That was his business, but he behaved as if he alone kept +things going, and was easily put out. Lars Peter never interfered, +he liked peace in the house. + +One day, however, they quarreled in earnest. Johannes had always had +his eye on the nag, and one day when Lars Peter was away, he dragged +it out of the stall and tied it up, he was going to teach it to +behave, he said to the children. With difficulty he harnessed it to +the cart, it lashed its tail and showed its teeth, and when Johannes +wanted it to set off, refused to stir, however much it was lashed. +At last, beside himself with temper, he jumped off the cart, seized +a shaft from the harrow, and began hitting at its legs with all his +might. The children screamed. The horse was trembling, bathed in +perspiration, its flanks heaving violently. Each time he jumped up +to it, the nag kicked up its hind legs, and at last giving up the +fight, Johannes threw away his weapon and went into his room. + +Ditte had tried to throw herself between them, but had been brushed +aside; now she went up to the horse. She unharnessed it, gave it +water to drink, and put a wet sack over its wounds, while the little +ones stood round crying and offering it bread. Shortly afterwards +Johannes came out; he had changed his clothes. Quickly, without a +look at any one, he harnessed and drove off. The little ones came +out from their hiding-place and gazed after him. + +"Is he going away now?" asked sister Else. + +"I only wish he would, or the horse bolt, so he could never find his +way back again, nasty brute," said Kristian. None of them liked him +any longer. + +A man came along the footpath down by the marsh, it was their +father. The children ran to meet him, and all started to tell what +had happened. 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. He +examined the horse's limbs to make sure no bones were broken; the +nag carefully lifted one leg, then the other, and moaned. + +"Blood-hound," said Lars Peter, softly stroking its legs, "treating +poor old Klavs like that." + +Klavs whinnied and scraped the stones with his hoofs. He took +advantage of his master's sympathy and begged for an extra supply of +corn. + +"You should give him a good beating," said Kristian seriously. + +"I've a mind to turn him out altogether," answered the father +darkly. "'Twould be best for all of us." + +"Yes, and d'you know, Father? Can you guess why the Johansens +haven't been to see us this summer? They're afraid of what we'll +give them to eat; they say we make food from dead animals." + +"Where did you hear that, Ditte?" Lars Peter looked at her in blank +despair. + +"The children shouted it after me today. They asked if I wouldn't +like a dead cat to make sausages." + +"Ay, I thought as much," he laughed miserably. "Well, we can do +without them,--what the devil do I want with them!" he shouted so +loudly that little Povl began to cry. + +"Hush now, I didn't mean to frighten you," Lars Peter took him in +his arms. "But it's enough to make a man lose his temper." + +Two days afterwards, Johannes returned home, looking as dirty and +rakish as he possibly could. Lars Peter had to help him out of the +cart, he could hardly stand on his legs. But he was not at loss for +words. Lars Peter was silent at his insolence and dragged him into +the barn, where he at once fell asleep. There he lay like a dead +beast, deathly white, with a lock of black hair falling over his +brow, and plastered on his forehead--he looked a wreck. The children +crept over to the barn-door and peered at him through the half dark; +when they caught sight of him they rushed out with terror into the +fields. It was too horrible. + +Lars Peter went to and fro, cutting hay for the horses. As he passed +his brother, he stopped, and looked at him thoughtfully. That was +how a man should look to keep up with other people: smooth and +polished outside, and cold and heartless inside. No-one looked down +on him just because he had impudence. Women admired him, and made +some excuse to pass on the highroad in the evenings, and as for the +men--his dissipation and his fights over girls probably overwhelmed +them. + +Lars Peter put his hand into his brother's pocket and took out the +pocketbook--it was empty! He had taken 150 crowns with him from +their joint savings--to be used for buying cattle, it was all the +money there was in the house; and now he had squandered it all. + +His hands began to tremble. He leant over his brother, as if to +seize him; but straightened himself and left the barn. He hung about +for two or three hours, to give his brother time to sleep off the +drink, then went in again. This time he would settle up. He shook +his brother and wakened him. + +"Where's the money to buy the calf?" asked he. + +"What's that to you?" Johannes threw himself on his other side. + +Lars Peter dragged him to his feet. "I want to speak to you," said +he. + +"Oh, go to hell," mumbled Johannes. He did not open his eyes, and +tumbled back into the hay. + +Lars Peter brought a pail of ice-cold water from the well. + +"I'll wake you, whether you like it or not!" said he, throwing the +pailful of water over his head. + +Like a cat Johannes sprang to his feet, and drew his knife. He +turned round, startled by the rude awakening; caught sight of his +brother and rushed at him. Lars Peter felt a stab in his cheek, the +blade of the knife struck against his teeth. With one blow he +knocked Johannes down, threw himself on him, wrestling for the +knife. Johannes was like a cat, strong and quick in his movements; +he twisted and turned, used his teeth, and tried to find an opening +to stab again. He was foaming at the mouth. Lars Peter warded off +the attacks with his hands, which were bleeding already from several +stabs. At last he got his knee on his brother's chest. + +Johannes lay gasping for breath. "Let me go!" he hissed. + +"Ay, if you'll behave properly," said Lars Peter, relaxing his grip +a little. "You're my youngest brother, and I'm loth to harm you; but +I'll not be knocked down like a pig by you." + +With a violent effort Johannes tried to throw off his brother. He +got one arm free, and threw himself to one side, reaching for the +knife, which lay a good arm's length away. + +"Oh, that's your game!" said Lars Peter, forcing him down on to the +floor of the barn with all his weight, "I'd better tie you up. Bring +a rope, children!" + +The three stood watching outside the barn-door; one behind the +other. "Come on!" shouted the father. Then Kristian rushed in for +Ditte, and she brought a rope. Without hesitation she went up to the +two struggling men, and gave it to her father. "Shall I help you?" +said she. + +"No need for that, my girl," said Lars Peter, and laughed. "Just +hold the rope, while I turn him over." + +He bound his brother's hands firmly behind his back, then set him on +his feet and brushed him. "You look like a pig," said he, "you must +have been rolling on the muddy road. Go indoors quietly or you'll +be sorry for it. No fault of yours that you're not a murderer +today." + +Johannes was led in, and set down in the rush-bottomed armchair +beside the fire. The children were sent out of doors, and Ditte and +Kristian ordered to harness Uncle Johannes' horse. + +"Now we're alone, I'll tell you that you've behaved like a +scoundrel," said Lars Peter slowly. "Here have I been longing for +many a year to see some of my own kin, and when you came it was like +a message from home. I'd give much never to have had it now. All of +us saw something good in you; we didn't expect much, so there wasn't +much for you to live up to. But what have you done? Dragged us into +a heap of filth and villainy and wickedness. We've done with you +here--make no mistake about that. You can take the one horse and +cart and whatever else you can call your own, and off you go! +There's no money to be got; you've wasted more than you've earned." + +Johannes made no answer, and avoided his brother's eyes. + +The cart was driven up outside. Lars Peter led him out, and lifted +him like a child on to the seat. He loosened the rope with his cut +and bleeding hands; the blood from the wound on his cheek ran down +on to his chin and clothes. "Get off with you," said he +threateningly, wiping the blood from his chin, "and be smart about +it." + +Johannes sat for a moment swaying in the cart, as if half asleep. +Suddenly he pulled himself together, and with a shout of laughter +gathered up the reins and quickly set off round the corner of the +house up to the highroad. + +Lars Peter stood gazing after the horse and cart, then went in and +washed off the blood. Ditte bathed his wounds in cold water and put +on sticking-plaster. + +For the next few days they were busy getting rid of all traces of +that summer's doings. Lars Peter dug down the remainder of the +refuse, threw the block away, and cleaned up. When some farmer or +other at night knocked on the window-panes with his whip, shouting: +"Lars Peter, I've got a dead animal for you!" he made no answer. No +more sausage-making, no more trading in carrion for him! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE LAST OF THE CROW'S NEST + + +Ditte went about singing at her work; she had no-one to help her, +and ran about to and fro. One eye was bound up, and each time she +crossed the kitchen she lifted the bandage and bathed her eye with +something brown in a cup. The eye was bloodshot, and hurt, and +showed the colors of the rainbow, but all the same she was happy. +Indeed, it was the sore eye which put her in such a happy mood. They +were going away from the Crow's Nest, right away and forever, and it +was all on account of her eye. + +Lars Peter came home; he had been out for a walk. He hung up his +stick behind the kitchen door. "Well, how's the eye getting on?" he +asked, as he began to take off his boots. + +"Oh, it's much better now. And what did the schoolmaster say?" + +"Ay, what did he say? He thought it good and right that you should +stand up for your little brothers and sister. But he did not care to +be mixed up in the affair, and after all 'tis not to be wondered +at." + +"Why not? He knows how it all happened--and he's so truthful!" + +"Hm--well--truthful! When a well-to-do farmer's son's concerned, +then----. He's all right, but he's got his living to make. He's +afraid of losing his post, if he gets up against the farmers, and +they hang together like peas in a pod. He advised me to let it +drop--especially as we're leaving the place. Nothing would come of +it but trouble and rows again. And maybe it's likely enough. They'd +get their own back at the auction--agree not to bid the things up, +or stay away altogether." + +"Then you didn't go to the police about it?" + +"Ay, but I did. But he thought too there wasn't much to be made of +the case. Oh, and the schoolmaster said you needn't go to school for +the rest of the time--he'd see it was all right. He's a kind man, +even if he is afraid of his skin." + +Ditte was not satisfied. It would have done the big boy good to be +well punished. He had been the first to attack Kristian, and had +afterwards kicked her in her eye with his wooden shoe, because she +had stood up for her brother. And she had been certain in her +childish mind that this time they would get compensation--for the +law made no difference whoever the people were. + +"If I'd been a rich farmer's daughter, and he had come from the +Crow's Nest, what then?" she asked hoarsely. + +"Oh, he'd have got a good thrashing--if not worse!" said the father. +"That's the way we poor people are treated, and can only be thankful +that we don't get fined into the bargain." + +"If you meet the boy, won't you give him a good thrashing?" she +asked shortly afterwards. + +"I'd rather give it to his father--but it's better to keep out of +it. We're of no account, you see!" + +Kristian came in through the kitchen door. "When I'm bigger, then +I'll creep back here at night and set fire to his farm," said he, +with flashing eyes. + +"What's that you say, boy--d'you want to send us all to jail?" +shouted Lars Peter, aghast. + +"'Twould do them good," said Ditte, setting to work again. She was +very dissatisfied with the result of her father's visit. + +"When're you going to arrange about the auction?" she said stiffly. + +"They'll see to that," answered Lars Peter quickly, "I've seen the +clerk about it. He was very kind." Lars Peter was grateful for this, +he did not care to go to the magistrate. + +"Ay, he's glad to get rid of us," said Ditte harshly. "That's what +they all are. At school they make a ring and sing about a crow and +an owl and all ugly birds! and the crow and his young steal the +farmer's chickens, but then the farmer takes a long stick and pulls +down the Crow's Nest. Do you think I don't know what they mean?" + +Lars Peter was silent, and went back to his work. He too felt +miserable now. + +But in the evening, as they sat round the lamp, talking of the +future, all unpleasantness was forgotten. Lars Peter had been +looking round for a place to settle down in, and had fixed on the +fishing-hamlet where he used to buy fish in the old days. The people +seemed to like him, and had often asked him why he didn't settle +down there. "And there's a jolly fellow there, the inn-keeper, he +can do anything. He's rough till you get to know him, but he's got a +kind heart. He's promised to find me a couple of rooms, until we can +build a place for ourselves--and help me to a share in a boat. What +we get from the auction ought to be enough to build a house." + +"Is that the man you told us about, who's like a dwarf?" asked Ditte +with interest. + +"Ay, he's like a giant and a dwarf mixed together--so to say--he +might well have had the one for a father and the other for a mother. +He's hunch-backed in front and behind, and his face as black as a +crow's, but he can't help that, and otherwise he's all right. He's a +finger in everything down there." + +Ditte shuddered. "Sounds like a goblin!" said she. + +Lars Peter was going in for fishing now. He had had a great deal to +do in this line during his life, but he himself had never gone out; +his fingers itched to be at it. Ditte too liked the thought of it. +Then she would be near the sea again, which she dimly remembered +from her childhood with Granny. And they would have done with +everything here, and perhaps get rid of the rag and bone name, and +shake off the curse. + +Then they had to decide what to take with them. Now that it came to +the point, it was dreadful to part with one's possessions. When they +had gone through things together, and written on Kristian's slate +what was to be sold, there wasn't much put down. They would like to +take it all with them. + +"We must go through it again--and have no nonsense," said Lars +Peter. "We can't take the whole bag of tricks with us. Money'll be +needed too--and not so little either." + +So they went over the things again one by one. Klavs was out of the +question. It would be a shame to send him to strangers in his old +age; they could feed him on the downs. "It's useful to have," +thought Lars Peter; "it gives a man a better standing. And we can +make a little money by him too." This was only said by way of +comfort. Deep down in his heart, he was very anxious about the nag. +But no-one could face the thought of being parted from it. + +The cow, on the other hand, there was quite a battle about. Lars +Peter wished to take it too. "It's served us faithfully all this +while," said he, "and given the little ones their food and health. +And it's good to have plenty of milk in the house." But here Ditte +was sensible. If they took the cow, they would have to take a field +as well. + +Lars Peter laughed: Ay, that was not a bad idea, if only they could +take a lump of meadow on the cart--and piece of the marsh. Down +there, there was nothing but sand. Well, he would give up the cow. +"But the pig we'll keep--and the hens!" + +Ditte agreed that hens were useful to keep, and the pig could live +on anything. + +The day before the auction they were busily engaged in putting all +in order and writing numbers on the things in chalk. The little ones +helped too, and were full of excitement. + +"But they're not all matched," said Ditte, pointing at the different +lots Lars Peter had put up together. + +"That doesn't matter," answered Lars Peter--"folks see there's a +boot in one lot, bid it up and then buy the whole lot. Well, then +they see the other boot in another lot--and bid that up as well. +It's always like that at auctions; folks get far more than they have +use for--and most of it doesn't match." + +Ditte laughed: "Ay, you ought to know all about it!" Her father +himself had the bad habit of going to auctions and bringing home a +great deal of useless rubbish. It could be bought on credit, which +was a temptation. + +How things collected as years went by, in attics and outhouses! It +was a relief to get it all cleared away. But it was difficult to +keep it together. The children had a use for it all--as soon as they +saw their opportunity, they would run off with something or +other--just like rats. + + * * * * * + +The day of the auction arrived--a mild, gray, damp October day. The +soft air hung like a veil over everything. The landscape, with its +scattered houses and trees, lay resting in the all-embracing wet. + +At the Crow's Nest they had been early astir. Ditte and Lars Peter +had been running busily about from the house to the barn and back +again. Now they had finished, and everything was in readiness. The +children were washed and dressed, and went round full of +expectation, with well-combed heads and faces red from scrubbing and +soap. Ditte did not do things by halves, and when she washed their +ears, and made their eyes smart with the soap, weeping was +unavoidable. But now the disagreeable task was over, and there would +be no more of it for another week; childish tears dry quickly, and +their little faces beamingly met the day. + +Little Povl was last ready. Ditte could hardly keep him on the +chair, as she put the finishing touches--he was anxious to be out. +"Well, what d'you say to sister?" she asked, when he was done, +offering her mouth. + +"Hobble!" said he, looking roguishly at her; he was in high spirits. +Kristian and Else laughed. + +"No, now answer properly," said Ditte seriously; she did not allow +fun when correcting them. "Say, 'thank you, dear'--well?" + +"Thank you, dear lump!" said the youth, laughing immoderately. + +"Oh, you're mad today," said Ditte, lifting him down. He ran out +into the yard to the father, and continued his nonsense. + +"What's that he says?" shouted Lars Peter from outside. + +"Oh, it's only something he's made up himself--he often does that. +He seems to think it's something naughty." + +"You, lumpy, lump!" said the child, taking hold of his father's leg. + +"Mind what you're doing, you little monkey, or I'll come after you!" +said Lars Peter with a terrible roar. + +The boy laughed and hid behind the well. + +Lars Peter caught him and put him on one shoulder, and his sister on +the other. "We'll go in the fields," said he. + +Ditte and Kristian went with him, it would be their last walk there; +involuntarily they each took hold of his coat. Thus they went down +the pathway to the clay-pit, past the marsh and up on the other +side. It was strange how different everything looked now they were +going to lose it. The marsh and the clay-pit could have told their +own tale about the children's play and Lars Peter's plans. The +brambles in the hedges, the large stone which marked the boundary, +the stone behind which they used to hide--all spoke to them in their +own way today. The winter seed was in the earth, and everything +ready for the new occupier, whoever he might be. Lars Peter did not +wish his successor to have anything to complain of. No-one should +say that he had neglected his land, because he was not going to reap +the harvest. + +"Ay, our time's up here," said he, when they were back in the house +again. "Lord knows what the new place'll be like!" There was a catch +in his voice as he spoke. + +A small crowd began to collect on the highroad. They stood in groups +and did not go down to the Crow's Nest, until the auctioneer and his +clerk arrived. Ditte was on the point of screaming when she saw who +the two men were; they were the same who had come to fetch her +mother. But now they came on quite a different errand, and spoke +kindly. + +Behind their conveyance came group after group of people, quite a +procession. It looked as if no-one wanted to be the first to put +foot on the rag and bone man's ground. Where the officials went, +they too could follow, but the auctioneer and his clerk were the +only ones to shake hands with Lars Peter; the others hung aimlessly +about, and put their heads together, keeping up a whispering +conversation. + +Lars Peter summed up the buyers. There were one or two farmers among +them, mean old men, who had come in the hope of getting a bargain. +Otherwise they were nearly all poor people from round about, +cottagers and laborers who were tempted by the chance of buying on +credit. They took no notice of him, but rubbed up against the +farmers--and made up to the clerk; they did not dare to approach the +auctioneer. + +"Ay, they behave as if I were dirt," thought Lars Peter. And what +were they after all? Most of them did not even own enough ground to +grow a carrot in. A good thing he owed them nothing! Even the +cottagers from the marsh, whom he had often helped in their poverty, +followed the others' example and looked down on him today. There was +no chance now of getting anything more out of him. + +After all, it was comical to go round watching people fight over +one's goods and chattels. They were not too grand to take the rag +and bone man's leavings--if only they could get it on credit and +make a good bargain. + +The auctioneer knew most of them by name, and encouraged them to +bid. "Now, Peter Jensen Hegnet, make a good bid. You haven't bought +anything from me for a whole year!" said he suddenly to one of the +cottagers. Or, "Here's something to take home to your wife, Jens +Petersen!" Each time he named them, the man he singled out would +laugh self-consciously and make a bid. They felt proud at being +known by the auctioneer. + +"Here's a comb, make a bid for it!" shouted the auctioneer, when the +farm implements came to be sold. A wave of laughter went through the +crowd; it was an old harrow which was put up. The winnowing-machine +he called a coffee-grinder. He had something funny to say about +everything. At times the jokes were such that the laughter turned on +Lars Peter, and this was quickly followed up. But Lars Peter shook +himself, and took it as it came. It was the auctioneer's profession +to say funny things--it all helped on the sale! + +The poor silly day laborer, Johansen, was there too. He stood behind +the others, stretching his neck to see what was going on--in ragged +working clothes and muddy wooden shoes. Each time the auctioneer +made a remark, he laughed louder than the rest, to show that he +joined in the joke. Lars Peter looked at him angrily. In his house +there was seldom food, except what others were foolish enough to +give him--his earnings went in drink. And there he stood, stuck-up +idiot that he was! And bless us, if he didn't make a bid too--for +Lars Peter's old boots. No-one bid against him, so they were knocked +down to him for a crown. "You'll pay at once, of course," said the +auctioneer. This time the laugh was against the buyer; all knew he +had no money. + +"I'll pay it for him," said Lars Peter, putting the crown on the +table. Johansen glared at him for a few minutes; then sat down and +began putting on the boots. He had not had leather footwear for +years and years. + +Indoors, a table was set out with two large dishes of sandwiches and +a bottle of brandy, with three glasses round. At one end of the +table was a coffee-pot. Ditte kept in the kitchen; her cheeks were +red with excitement in case her preparations should not be +appreciated. She had everything ready to cut more sandwiches as soon +as the others gave out; every other minute she peeped through the +door to see what was going on, her heart in her mouth. Every now and +then a stranger strolled into the room, looking round with +curiosity, but passed out without eating anything. A man entered--he +was not from the neighborhood, and Ditte did not know him. He +stepped over the bench, took a sandwich, and poured himself out a +glass of brandy. Ditte could see by his jaws that he was enjoying +himself. Then in came a farmer's wife, drew him away by his arm, +whispering something to him. He got up, spat the food out into his +hand, and followed her out of doors. + +When Lars Peter came into the kitchen, Ditte lay over the table, +crying. He lifted her up. "What's the matter now?" he asked. + +"Oh, it's nothing," sniffed Ditte, struggling to get away. Perhaps +she wanted to spare him, or perhaps to hide her shame even from him. +Only after much persuasion did he get out of her that it was the +food. "They won't touch it!" she sobbed. + +He had noticed it himself. + +"Maybe they're not hungry yet," said he, to comfort her. "And they +haven't time either." + +"They think it's bad!" she broke out, "made from dog's meat or +something like that." + +"Don't talk nonsense!" Lars Peter laughed strangely. "It's not +dinner-time either." + +"I heard a woman telling her husband myself--not to touch it," she +said. + +Lars Peter was silent for a few minutes. "Now, don't worry over it," +said he, stroking her hair. "Tomorrow we're leaving, and then we +shan't care a fig for them. There's a new life ahead of us. Well, I +must go back to the auction; now, be a sensible girl." + +Lars Peter went over to the barn, where the auction was now being +held. At twelve o'clock the auctioneer stopped. "Now we'll have a +rest, good people, and get something inside us!" he cried. The +people laughed. Lars Peter went up to the auctioneer. Every one knew +what he wanted; they pushed nearer to see the rag and bone man +humiliated. He lifted his dented old hat, and rubbed his tousled +head. "I only wanted to say"--his big voice rang to the furthermost +corners--"that if the auctioneer and his clerk would take us as we +are, there's food and beer indoors--you are welcome to a cup of +coffee too." People nudged one another--who ever heard such +impudence--the rag and bone man to invite an auctioneer to his +table, and his wife a murderess into the bargain! They looked on +breathlessly; one farmer was even bold enough to warn him with a +wink. + +The auctioneer thanked him hesitatingly. "We've brought something +with us, you and your clever little girl have quite enough to do," +said he in a friendly manner. Then, noticing Lars Peter's +crestfallen appearance, and the triumphant faces of those around, he +understood that something was going on in which he was expected to +take part. He had been here before--on an unpleasant errand--and +would gladly make matters easier for these honest folk who bore +their misfortune so patiently. + +"Yes, thanks very much," said he jovially, "strangers' food always +tastes much nicer than one's own! And a glass of brandy--what do you +say, Hansen?" They followed Lars Peter into the house, and sat down +to table. + +The people looked after them a little taken aback, then slunk in one +by one. It would be fun to see how such a great man enjoyed the rag +and bone man's food. And once inside, for very shame's sake they had +to sit down at the table. Appetite is infectious, and the two of +them set to with a will. Perhaps people did not seriously believe +all the tales which they themselves had both listened to and spread. +Ditte's sandwiches and coffee quickly disappeared, and she was sent +for by the auctioneer, who praised her and patted her cheeks. This +friendly act took away much of her bitterness of mind, and was a +gratifying reward for all her trouble. + +"I've never had a better cup of coffee at any sale," said the +auctioneer. + +When they began again, a stranger had appeared. He nodded to the +auctioneer, but ignored everybody else, and went round looking at +the buildings and land. He was dressed like a steward, with +high-laced boots. But any one could see with half an eye that he was +no countryman. It leaked out by degrees that he was a tradesman from +the town, who wished to buy the Crow's Nest--probably for the +fishing on the lake--and use it as a summer residence. + +Otherwise, there was little chance of many bids for the place, but +his advent changed the outlook. It really could be made into a good +little property, once all was put in order. When the Crow's Nest +eventually was put up for sale, there was some competition, and Lars +Peter got a good price for the place. + +At last the auction was over, but the people waited about, as if +expecting something to happen. A stout farmer's wife went up to Lars +Peter and shook his hand. "I should like to say good-by to you," +said she, "and wish you better luck in your new home than you've had +here. You've not had much of a time, have you?" + +"No, and the little good we've had's no thanks to any one here," +said Lars Peter. + +"Folks haven't treated you as they ought to have done, and I've been +no better than the rest, but 'tis our way. We farmers can't bear the +poor. Don't think too badly of us. Good luck to you!" She said +good-by to all the children with the same wish. Many of the people +made off, but one or two followed her example, and shook hands with +them. + +Lars Peter stood looking after them, the children by his side. +"After all, folk are often better than a man gives them credit for," +said he. He was not a little moved. + +They loaded the cart with their possessions, so as to make an early +start the next morning. It was some distance to the fishing-hamlet, +and it was better to get off in good time, to settle down a little +before night. Then they went to bed; they were tired out after their +long eventful day; they slept on the hay in the barn, as the +bedclothes were packed. + +The next morning was a wonderful day to waken up to. They were +dressed when they wakened, and had only to dip their faces in the +water-trough in the yard. Already they felt a sensation of something +new and pleasant. There was only the coffee to be drunk, and the cow +to be taken to the neighbor's, and they were ready to get into the +cart. Klavs was in the shafts, and on top of the high load they put +the pig, the hens and the three little ones. It was a wonderful +beginning to the new life. + +Lars Peter was the only one who felt sad. He made an excuse to go +over the property again, and stood behind the barn, gazing over the +fields. Here he had toiled and striven through good and bad; every +ditch was dear to him--he knew every stone in the fields, every +crack in the walls. What would the future bring? Lars Peter had +begun afresh before, but never with less inclination than now. His +thoughts turned to bygone days. + +The children, on the contrary, thought only of the future. Ditte had +to tell them about the beach, as she remembered it from her +childhood with Granny, and they promised themselves delightful times +in their new home. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A DEATH + + +The winter was cold and long. Lars Peter had counted on getting a +share in a boat, but there seemed to be no vacancy, and each time he +reminded the inn-keeper of his promise, he was put off with talk. +"It'll come soon enough," said the inn-keeper, "just give it time." + +Time--it was easy to say. But here he was waiting, with his savings +dwindling away--and what was he really waiting for? That there might +be an accident, so he could fill the place--it was not a pleasant +thought. It had been arranged that the inn-keeper should help Lars +Peter to get a big boat, and let him manage it; at least, so Lars +Peter had understood before he moved down to the hamlet. But it had +evidently been a great misunderstanding. + +He went about lending a hand here and there, and replacing any one +who was ill. "Just wait a little longer," said the inn-keeper. +"It'll be all right in the end! You can get what you want at the +store." It was as if he were keeping Lars Peter back for some +purpose of his own. + +At last the spring came, heralded by furious storms and accidents +round about the coast. One morning Lars Jensen's boat came in, +having lost its master; a wave had swept him overboard. + +"You'd better go to the inn-keeper at once," said his two partners +to Lars Peter. + +"But wouldn't it be more natural to go to Lars Jensen's widow?" +asked Lars Peter. "After all, 'tis she who owns the share now." + +"We don't want to be mixed up in it," said they cautiously. "Go to +whoever you like. But if you've money in the house, you should put +it into the bank--the hut might easily catch fire." They looked +meaningly at each other and turned away. + +Lars Peter turned this over in his mind--could that be the case? He +took the two thousand crowns he had put by from the sale to build +with, and went up to the inn-keeper. + +"Will you take care of some money for me?" he said in a low voice. +"You're the savings bank for us down here, I've been told." + +The inn-keeper counted the money, and locked it up in his desk. "You +want a receipt, I suppose?" said he. + +"No-o, it doesn't really matter," Lars Peter said slowly. He would +have liked a written acknowledgment, but did not like to insist on +it. It looked as if he mistrusted the man. + +The inn-keeper drew down the front of the desk--it sounded to Lars +Peter like earth being thrown on a coffin. "We can call it a deposit +on the share in the boat," said he. "I've been thinking you might +take Lars Jensen's share." + +"Oughtn't I to have arranged it with Lars Jensen's widow, and not +with you?" said Lars Peter. "She owns the share." + +The inn-keeper turned towards him. "You seem to know more about +other people's affairs in the hamlet than I do, it appears to me," +said he. + +"No, but that's how I understood it to be," mumbled Lars Peter. + +Once outside, he shrugged his shoulders. Curse it, a fellow was +never himself when with that hunch-backed dwarf. That he had no +neck--and that huge head! He was supposed to be as strong as a lion, +and there was brain too. He made folk dance to his piping, and got +his own way. There was no getting the better of _him_. Just as he +thought of something cutting which would settle him, the +inn-keeper's face would send his thoughts all ways at once. He was +not satisfied with the result of his visit, but was glad to get out +again. + +He went down to the beach, and informed the two partners of what he +had done. They had no objection; they liked the idea of getting Lars +Peter as a third man: he was big and strong, and a good fellow. +"Now, you'll have to settle with the widow," said they. + +"What, that too?" broke out Lars Peter. "Good Lord! has the share to +be paid for twice?" + +"You must see about that yourself," they said; "we don't want to be +mixed up in it!" + +He went to see the widow, who lived in a little hut in the southern +part of the hamlet. She sat beside the fireplace eating peas from a +yellow bowl; the tears ran down her cheeks, dropping into the food. +"There's no-one to earn money for me now," she sobbed. + +"Ay, and I'm afraid I've put my foot in it," said Lars Peter, +crestfallen. "I've paid the inn-keeper two thousand crowns for the +share of the boat, and now I hear that it's yours." + +"You couldn't help yourself," said she, and looked kindly at him. + +"Wasn't it yours then?" + +"My husband took it over from the inn-keeper about a dozen years +ago, and paid for it over and over again, he said. But it's hard for +a poor widow to say anything, and have to take charity from others. +It's hard to live, Lars Peter! Who'll shelter me now? and scold me +and make it up again?" She began to cry afresh. + +"We'll look you up as often as we can, and as to food, we'll get +over that too. I shouldn't like to be unfair to any one, and least +of all to one who's lost her bread-winner. Poor folks must keep +together." + +"I know you won't let me want as long as you have anything yourself. +But you've got your own family to provide for, and food doesn't +grow on the downs here. If only it doesn't happen here as it +generally does--that there's the will but not the means." + +"Ay, ay--one beggar must help the other. You shan't be forgotten, if +all goes well. But you must spit three times after me when I've +gone." + +"Ay, that I will," said the widow, "and I wish you luck." + + * * * * * + +Here was an opportunity for him to work. A little luck with the +catch, and all would be well. He was glad Lars Jensen's widow wished +him no ill in his new undertaking. The curse of widows and the +fatherless was a heavy burden on a man's work. + +Now that Lars Peter was in the hamlet, he found it not quite what he +had imagined it to be; he could easily think of many a better place +to settle down in. The whole place was poverty-stricken, and no-one +seemed to have any ambition. The fishermen went to sea because they +were obliged to. They seized on any excuse to stay at home. "We're +just as poor whether we work hard or not," said they. + +"Why, what becomes of it all?" asked Lars Peter at first, laughing +incredulously. + +"You'll soon see yourself!" they answered, and after a while he +began to understand. + +That they went to work unwillingly was not much to be wondered at. +The inn-keeper managed everything. He arranged it all as he liked. +He paid for all repairs when necessary, and provided all new +implements. He took care that no-one was hungry or cold, and set up +a store which supplied all that was needed--on credit. It was all +entered in the books, no doubt, but none of them ever knew how much +he owed. But they did not care, and went on buying until he stopped +their credit for a time. On the other hand, if anything were really +wrong in one of the huts, he would step in and help. + +That was why they put up with the existing condition of things, and +even seemed to be content--they had no responsibilities. When they +came ashore with their catch, the inn-keeper took it over, and gave +them what he thought fit--just enough for a little pocket-money. The +rest went to pay off their debts--he said. He never sent in any +bills. "We'd better not go into that," he would say with a smile, +"do what you can." One and all of them probably owed him money; it +would need a big purse to hold it all. + +They did not have much to spend. But then, on the other hand, they +had no expenses. If their implements broke or were lost at sea, the +inn-keeper provided new ones, and necessaries had only to be fetched +from the store. It was an extraordinary existence, thought Lars +Peter; and yet it appealed to one somehow. It was hard to provide +what was needed when a man was on his own, and tempting to become a +pensioner as it were, letting others take the whole responsibility. + +But it left no room for ambition. It was difficult for him to get +his partners to do more than was strictly necessary; what good was +it exerting themselves? They went about half asleep, and with no +spirit in their work. Those who did not spend their time at the inn +drinking and playing cards had other vices; there was no home life +anywhere. + +Lars Peter had looked forward to mixing with his fellow-men, +discussing the events of the day, and learning something new. Many +of the fishermen had been abroad in their young days, on merchant +vessels or in the navy, and there were events happening in other +countries which affected both him and them. But all their talk was +of their neighbors' affairs--the inn-keeper always included. He was +like a stone wall surrounding them all. The roof of his house--a +solid building down by the coast, consisting of inn, farm and +store--could be seen from afar, and every one involuntarily glanced +at it before anything was said or done. With him, all discussions +ended. + +No-one had much good to say for him. All their earnings went to him +in one way or other--some spent theirs at the inn, others preferred +to take it out in food--and all cursed him in secret. + +Well, that was their business. In the end, people are treated +according to their wisdom or stupidity. Lars Peter did not feel +inclined to sink to the level of the others and be treated like a +dumb animal. His business was to see that the children lacked for +nothing and led a decent life. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE NEW WORLD + + +Ditte stood in the kitchen, cutting thick slices of bread and +dripping for the three hungry little ones, who hung in the doorway +following her movements eagerly with their eyes. She scolded them: +it was only an hour since dinner, and now they behaved as if they +had not tasted food for a week. "Me first, me first!" they shouted, +stretching out their hands. It stopped her washing up, and might +waken her father, who was having a nap up in the attic--it was +ridiculous. But it was the sea that gave them such enormous +appetites. + +The more she hushed them, the more noise they made, kicking against +the door with their bare feet. They could not wait; as soon as one +got a slice of bread, he made off to the beach to play. They were +full of spirits--almost too much so indeed. "You mind the king of +the cannibal islands doesn't catch sight of you," she shouted after +them, putting her head out of the door, but they neither heard nor +saw. + +She went outside, and stood gazing after them, as they tore along, +kicking up the sand. Oh dear, Povl had dropped his bread and +dripping in the sand--but he picked it up again and ran on, eating +as he went. "It'll clean him inside," said Ditte, laughing to +herself. They were mad, simply mad--digging in the sand and racing +about! They had never been like this before. + +She was glad of the change herself. Even if there had been any +opportunity, she could not play; all desires had died long ago. But +there was much of interest. All these crooked, broken-down +moss-grown huts, clustered together on the downs under the high +cliffs, each surrounded by its dust-heap and fish-refuse and +implements, were to Ditte like so many different worlds; she would +have liked to investigate them all. + +It was her nature to take an interest in most things, though, unlike +Kristian, she didn't care to roam about. He was never still for a +moment; he had barely found out what was behind one hill, before he +went on to the next. He always wanted to see beyond the horizon, and +his father always said, he might travel round the whole world that +way, for the horizon was always changing. Lars Peter often teased +him about this; it became quite a fairy tale to the restless +Kristian, who wanted to go over the top of every new hill he saw, +until at last he fell down in the hamlet again--right down into +Ditte's stew-pan. He had often been punished for his roaming--but to +no good. Povl wanted to pick everything to pieces, to see what was +inside, or was busy with hammer and nails. He was already nearly as +clever with his hands as Kristian. Most of what he made went to +pieces, but if a handle came off a brush, he would quickly mend it +again. "He only pulls things to pieces so as to have something to +mend again," said his father. Sister stood looking on with her big +eyes. + +Ditte was always doing something useful, otherwise she was not +happy. With Granny's death, all her interest in the far-off had +vanished; that there was something good in store for her she never +doubted, it acted as a star and took away the bitterness of her +gloomy childhood. She was not conscious of what it would be, but it +was always there like a gleam of light. The good in store for her +would surely find her. She stayed at home; the outside world had no +attractions for her. + +Her childhood had fallen in places where neighbors were few and far +between. The more enjoyment it was to her now to have the society of +others. + +Ditte took a keen interest in her fellow-beings, and had not been +many days in the hamlet before she knew all about most people's +affairs--how married people lived together, and who were +sweethearts. She could grasp the situation at a glance--and see all +that lay behind it; she was quick to put two and two together. Her +dull and toilsome life had developed that sense, as a reward for all +she had gone through. There was some spite in it too--a feeling of +vengeance against all who looked down on the rag and bone man, +although they themselves had little to boast about. + +The long, hunch-backed hut, one end of which the inn-keeper had let +off to them, lay almost in the midst of the hamlet, just above the +little bay. Two other families beside lived in the little hut, so +they only had two small rooms and a kitchen to call their own, and +Lars Peter had to sleep in the attic. It was only a hovel, "the +workhouse" it was generally called, but it was the only place to be +had, and they had to make the best of it, until Lars Peter could +build something himself--and they might thank the inn-keeper that +they had a roof above their heads. Ditte was not satisfied with the +hut--the floors were rotten, and would not dry when she had washed +them. It was no better than the Crow's Nest--and there was much less +room. She looked forward to the new house that was to be built. It +should be a real house, with a red roof glistening in the sun, and +an iron sink that would not rot away. + +But in spite of this she was quite happy. When she stood washing up +inside the kitchen door, she could see the downs, and eagerly her +eyes followed all who went to and fro. Her little brain wondered +where they were going, and on what errand. And if she heard voices +through the wall, or from the other end of the hut, she would stop +in her work and listen breathlessly. It was all so exciting; the +other families in the hut were always bustling and moving about--the +old grandmother, who lay lame in bed on the other side of the wall, +cursing existence, while the twins screamed at the top of their +voices, and the Lord only knew where the daughter-in-law was, and +Jacob the fisherman and his daughter in the other end of the hut. +Suddenly, as one stood thinking of nothing at all, the inn-keeper +would come strolling over the downs, looking like a goblin, to visit +the young wife next door; then the old grandmother thumped on the +floor with her crutch, cursing everything and everybody. + +There was much gossip in the hamlet--of sorrow and shame and crime; +Ditte could follow the stories herself, often to the very end. She +was quick to find the thread, even in the most difficult cases. + +Her life was much happier now: there was little to do in the house, +and no animals to look after, so she had more time of her own. Her +schooldays were over, and she was soon to be confirmed. Even the +nag, whom at first she had been able to keep her eye on from the +kitchen window, needed no looking after now. The inn-keeper had +forbidden them to let it feed on the downs, and had taken it on to +his own farm. There it had been during the winter, and they only saw +it when it was carting sea-weed or bringing a load of fish from the +beach for the inn-keeper. It was not well-treated in its present +home, and had all the hard tasks given it, so as to spare the +inn-keeper's own animals. Tears came into Ditte's eyes when she +thought of it. It became like a beast of burden in the fairy tale, +and no-one there to defend it. It was long since it had pulled +crusts of bread from her mouth with its soft muzzle. + +Ditte lost her habit of stooping, and began to fill out as she grew +up. She enjoyed the better life and the children's happiness--the +one with the other added to her well-being. Her hair had grown, and +allowed itself the luxury of curling over her forehead, and her chin +was soft and round. No-one could say she was pretty, but her eyes +were beautiful--always on the alert, watching for something useful +to do. Her hands were red and rough--she had not yet learned how to +take care of them. + +Ditte had finished in the kitchen, and went into the living room. +She sat down on the bench under the window, and began patching the +children's clothes; at the same time she could see what was +happening on the beach and on the downs. + +Down on the shore the children were digging with all their might, +building sand-gardens and forts. To the right was a small hut, neat +and well cared for, outside which Rasmus Olsen, the fisherman, stood +shouting in through the window. His wife had turned him out--it +always sounded so funny when he had words with his wife, he mumbled +on loudly and monotonously as a preacher--it made one feel quite +sleepy. There was not a scrap of bad temper in him. Most likely his +wife would come out soon, and she would give it him in another +fashion. + +They were always quarreling, those two--and always about the +daughter. Both spoiled her, and each tried to get her over to their +side--and came to blows over it. And Martha, the wretch, sided first +with one and then with the other--whichever paid her best. She was +a pretty girl, slim but strong enough to push a barrow full of fish +or gear through the loose sand on the downs, but she was wild--and +had plenty to say for herself. When she had had a sweetheart for a +short time, she always ended by quarreling with him. + +The two old people were deaf, and always came outside to quarrel--as +if they needed air. They themselves thought they spoke in a low +voice, all the time shouting so loudly that the whole hamlet knew +what the trouble was about. + +Ditte could see the sea from the window--it glittered beneath the +blazing sun, pale blue and wonderful. It was just like a big being, +softly caressing--and then suddenly it would flare up! The boats +were on the beach, looking like cattle in their stalls, side by +side. On the bench, two old fishermen sat smoking. + +Now all the children from the hamlet came rushing up from the beach, +like a swarm of frightened bees. They must have caught sight of the +inn-keeper! He did not approve of children playing; they ought to be +doing something useful. They fled as soon as he appeared, imagining +that he had the evil eye. The swarm spread over the downs in all +directions, and suddenly vanished, as if the earth had swallowed +them. + +Then he came tramping in his heavy leather boots. His long arms +reached to his knees. When he went through the loose sand, his great +bony hands on his thighs, he looked as if he were walking on all +fours. His misshapen body was like a pair of bellows, his head +resting between his broad shoulders, moved up and down like a buoy; +every breath sounded like a steam-whistle, and could be heard from +afar. Heavens, how ugly he looked! He was like a crouching goblin, +who could make himself as big as he pleased, and see over all the +huts in his search for food. The hard shut mouth was so big that it +could easily swallow a child's head--and his eyes! Ditte shut her +own, and shivered. + +She quickly opened them, however; she must find out what his +business was, taking care not to be seen herself. + +The ogre, as the children called him, mainly because of his big +mouth, came to a standstill at Rasmus Olsen's house. "Well, are you +two quarreling again?" he shouted jovially. "What's wrong +now--Martha, I suppose?" + +Rasmus Olsen was silent, and shuffled off towards the beach. But his +wife was not afraid, and turned her wrath on to the inn-keeper. +"What's it to do with you?" she cried. "Mind your own business!" The +inn-keeper passed on without taking any notice of her, and entered +the house. Most likely he wanted to see Martha; she followed on his +heels. "You can save yourself the trouble, there's nothing for you +to pry into!" she screamed. Shortly afterwards he came out again, +with the woman still scolding at his heels, and went across the +downs. + +The fisherman's wife stood looking round, then catching sight of +Ditte, she came over. She had not finished yet, and needed some +object to go on with. "Here he goes round prying, the beastly +hunch-back!" she screamed, still beside herself with rage, "walking +straight into other people's rooms as if they were his own. And that +doddering old idiot daren't throw him out, but slinks off. Ay, +they're fine men here on the downs; a woman has to manage it all, +the food and the shame and everything! If only the boy had lived." +And throwing her apron over her head, she began to cry. + +"Was he drowned?" asked Ditte sympathetically. + +"I think of it all day long; I shall never forget him; there'll be +no happiness in life for me. Maybe it's stupid to cry, but I can't +help it--it's the mean way he met his death. If he had been struck +down by illness, and the Lord had had a finger in it--'twould be +quite another thing! But that he was strong and well--'twas his +uncle wanted him to go out shooting wild duck. I tried to stop him, +but the boy _would_ go, and there was no peace until he did. 'But, +Mother,' he said, 'you know I can handle a gun; why, I shoot every +day.' Then they went out in the boat with two guns, and not ten +minutes afterwards he was back again, lying dead in a pool of blood. +That's why I can't bear to see wild ducks, or taste 'em either. +Whenever I sit by the window, I can see them bringing him in--there +they are again. That's why my eyes are dimmed, I'm always crying: +'tis all over with me now." + +The woman was overcome by grief. Her hands trembled, and moved +aimlessly over the table and back again. + +Ditte looked at her from a new point of view. "Hush, hush, don't cry +any more," said she, putting her arms round her and joining in her +tears. "Wait--I'll make a cup of coffee." And gradually she +succeeded in comforting her. + +"You've good hands," said the old woman, taking Ditte's hand +gratefully. "They're rough and red because your heart's in the right +place." + +As they were having their coffee, Lars Peter returned. He had been +to see the inn-keeper, to hear how the nag was being treated, and +was out of humor. Ditte asked what was troubling him. + +"Oh, it's the nag--they'll finish it soon," said he miserably. + +The fisherman's wife looked at him kindly. "At least I can hear your +voice, even though you're talking to some one else," said she. "Ay, +he's taken your horse--and cart too! He can find a use for +everything, honor and money--and food too! D'you go to the +tap-room?" + +"No, I haven't been there yet," said Lars Peter, "and I don't think +to go there every day." + +"No, that's just it: you're not a drinker, and such are treated +worse than the others. He likes folks to spend their money in the +tap-room more than in the store--that's his way. He wants your +money, and there's no getting out of it." + +"How did he come to lord it over the place? It hasn't always been +like this," said Lars Peter. + +"How--because the folk here are no good--at all events here in the +hamlet. If we've no-one to rule us, then we run about whining like +dogs without a master until we find some one to kick us. We lick his +boots and choose him for our master, and then we're satisfied. In my +childhood it was quite different here, everybody owned their own +hut. But then he came and got hold of everything. There was an inn +here of course, and when he found he couldn't get everything his own +way, he started all these new ideas with costly fishing-nets and +better ways and gear, and God knows what. He gave them new-fangled +things--and grabbed the catch. The fishermen get much more now, but +what's the good, when he takes it all! I'd like to know what made +you settle down here?" + +"Round about it was said that he was so good to you fisher-people, +and as far as I could see there was no mistake about it either. But +it looks rather different now a man's got into the thing." + +"Heavens! _good_, you say! He helps and helps, until a man hasn't a +shirt left to his back. Just you wait; you'll be drawn in too--and +the girl as well if she's pretty enough for him. At present he's +only taking what you've got. Afterwards he'll help you till you're +so deep in debt that you'd like to hang yourself. Then he'll talk to +you about God and Holy Scripture. For he can preach too--like the +devil!" + +Lars Peter stared hopelessly. "I've heard that he and his wife hold +some kind of meetings, but we've never been; we don't care much for +that sort of thing. Not that we're unbelievers, but so far we've +found it best to mind our own affairs, and leave the Lord to look +after His." + +"We don't go either, but then Rasmus drinks--ay, ay, you'll go +through it all yourself. And here am I sitting gossiping instead of +getting home." She went home to get supper ready for the doddering +idiot. + +They sat silent for a few minutes. Then Ditte said: "If only we'd +gone to some other place!" + +"Oh, things are never as black as they're painted! And I don't feel +inclined to leave my money and everything behind me," answered Lars +Peter. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +GINGERBREAD HOUSE + + +Now that the children were surrounded by people, they felt as if +they lived in an ant-hill. The day was full of happenings, all +equally exciting--and the most exciting of it all was their fear of +the "ogre." Suddenly, when they were playing hide-and-seek amongst +the boats, or sat riding on the roof of the engine-house, he would +appear, his long arms grasping the air, and if he caught hold of one +of them, they would get something else to add to their fear. His +breath smelt of raw meat, the children declared; they did not make +him out better than he was. To run away from him, with their hearts +thumping, gave zest to their existence. + +And when they lay in bed at night listening, they heard sounds in +the house, which did not come from any of their people. Then came +steps in stocking-feet up in the attic, and they would look towards +Ditte. Kristian knew what it meant, and they buried their heads +underneath the bedclothes, whispering. It was Jacob, the fisherman, +creeping about upstairs, listening to what they said. He always +stole about, trying to find out from the talk a certain _word_ he +could use to drive the devil out of the inn-keeper. The children +worried over the question, because he had promised them sixpence if +they could discover the word. And from the other side of the wall, +they could hear the old grandmother's cough. She had dropsy, which +made her fatter and fatter outside, but was hollow within. She +coughed up her inside. + +The son was on a long voyage, and seldom came home; but each time he +returned, he found one of the children dead and his wife with a new +baby to make up for it. She neglected her children, and in +consequence they died. "Light come, light go!" said folk, and +laughed. Now only the twins remained: there they lay in the big +wooden cradle, screaming day and night, with a crust of bread as a +comforter. The mother was never at home. Ditte looked after them, or +they would have perished. + +A short distance away on the downs, was a little house, quite +different from the others. It was the most beautiful house the +little ones had ever seen: the door and the window-panes were +painted blue; the beams were not tarred as in the other huts, but +painted brown; the bricks were red with a blue stripe. The ground +round the house was neat: the sand was raked, and by the well it was +dry and clean. A big elder--the only tree in the whole hamlet--grew +beside the well. On the window-sill were plants, with red and blue +flowers, and behind them sat an old woman peeping out. She wore a +white cap, and the old man had snow-white hair. When the weather was +fine he was always pottering round the house. And occasionally the +old woman appeared at the door, admiring his handiwork. "How nice +you've made everything look, little father!" said she. "Ay, it's all +for you, little mother," he answered, and they laughed at each +other. Then he took hold of her hand, and they tripped towards the +elder tree and sat down in the shade; they were like a couple of +children, but she soon wanted to go back to her window, and it was +said that she had not gone beyond the well for many a year. + +The old people kept to themselves, and did not mix with the other +inhabitants of the hamlet, but when Lars Peter's children passed, +the old woman always looked out and nodded and smiled. They made +some excuse to pass the house several times a day: there was +something in the pretty little place and the two old people which +attracted them. The same cleanness and order that ruled their house +was apparent in their lives; no-one in the hamlet had anything but +good to say of them. + +Amongst themselves, the children called it Gingerbread House, and +imagined wonderful things inside it. One day, hand in hand, the +three went up and knocked on the door. The old man opened it. "What +do you want, children?" he asked kindly, but blocking the door. Yes, +what did they want--none of them knew. And there they stood +open-mouthed. + +"Let them come inside, father," a voice said. "Come in then, +children." They entered a room that smelt of flowers and apples. +Everything was painted: ceiling, beams and walls; it all shone; the +floor was painted white, and the table was so brightly polished that +the window was reflected in it. In a softly cushioned armchair a cat +lay sleeping. + +The children were seated underneath the window, each with a plate of +jelly. A waterproof cloth was put on the table, in case they spilled +anything. The old couple trotted round them anxiously; their eyes +gleamed with pleasure at the unexpected visit, but they were uneasy +about their furniture. They were not accustomed to children, and +Povl nearly frightened their lives out of them, the way he behaved. +He lifted his plate with his little hands, nearly upsetting its +contents, and said: "Potatoes too!" He thought it was jam. But +sister helped him to finish, and then it was happily over. Kristian +had gulped his share in a couple of spoonfuls, and stood by the +door, ready to run off to the beach--already longing for something +new. They were each given a red apple, and shown politely to the +door; the old couple were tired. Povl put his cheek on the old +woman's skirt. "Me likes you!" said he. + +"God bless you, little one! Did you hear that, father?" she said, +nodding her withered old head. + +Kristian thought he too ought to show his appreciation. "If you want +any errands done, only tell me," said he, throwing back his head. "I +can run ever so fast." And to show how clever he was on his legs, +he rushed down the path. A little way down, he turned triumphantly. +"As quick as that," he shouted. + +"Yes, thanks, we'll remember," nodded the two old people. + +This little visit was the introduction to a pleasant acquaintance. +The old people liked the children, and even fetched them in when +passing, and bore patiently with all their awkwardness. Not that +they were allowed to tumble about--they could do that on the downs. +The old man would tell them a story, or get his flute and play to +them. The children came home with sparkling eyes, and quieter than +usual, to tell Ditte all about it. + +The following day, Ditte went about pondering how she could do the +old people a service for their kindness towards the children, and, +as she could think of nothing, she took Kristian into her +confidence. He was so clever in finding ways out of difficulties. + +It was the fisher-people's custom to put aside some of the catch +before it was delivered to the inn-keeper, and one day Ditte took a +beautiful thick plaice, and told Kristian to run with it to the old +couple. "But they mustn't know that it is from us," said she. +"They'll be having their after-dinner nap, so you can easily leave +it without their seeing you." Kristian put it down on the little +bench underneath the elder; but when later on he crept past, to see +if it had been taken, only the tail and the fins remained--the cat +had eaten it up. Ditte scolded him well, and Kristian had to puzzle +his brains once more. + +"Father might get Klavs, and take them for a drive on Sunday," said +he. "They never get anywhere--their legs are too old." + +"You silly!--we've nothing to do with Klavs now," Ditte said +sharply. + +But now she knew what to do! She would scrub out the _little house_ +for them every night; the old woman had to kneel down to do it every +morning. It was a sin she should have to do it. After the old people +had gone to bed--they went to rest early--Ditte took a pail of water +and a scrubbing brush, and some sand in her pinafore, and crept up. +Kristian stood outside at home, waiting for her. He was not allowed +to go with her, for fear of disturbing the old couple--he was so +noisy. + +"What d'you think they'll say when they come down in the morning and +find it all so clean?" cried he, hopping first on one foot and then +the other. He would have liked to stay up all night to see their +surprise. + +Next time the children visited the old people, the old man told them +a story about a little fairy who came every night to scour and +scrub, to save his little mother. Then Kristian laughed--he knew +better. + +"It was Ditte!" he burst out. He put his hand to his mouth next +moment, but it was too late. + +"But Ditte isn't a fairy!" broke out sister Else, offended. They +all three laughed at her until she began to cry, and had to be +comforted with a cake. + +On their way home, whom should they meet but Uncle Johannes, who was +looking for their house. He was rigged out very smartly, and looked +like a well-to-do tradesman. Lars Peter was pleased to see him. They +had not met since their unfortunate parting in the Crow's Nest, and +now all was forgotten. He had heard one or two things about +him--Johannes kept the gossips busy. The two brothers shook hands as +if no unpleasantness had come between them. "Sit down and have +something to eat," said Lars Peter. "There's boiled cod today." + +"Thanks, but I'm feeding up at the inn later on; we're a few +tradesmen up there together." + +"That'll be a grand dinner, I suppose?" Lars Peter's eyes shone; he +had never been to a dinner party himself. + +"Ay, that it will--they do things pretty well up there. He's a good +sort, the inn-keeper." + +"Some think so; others don't. It all depends how you look at him. +You'd better not tell them you're my brother--it'll do you no good +to have poor relations down here." + +Johannes laughed: "I've told the inn-keeper--he spoke well of you. +You were his best fisherman, he said." + +"Really, did he say that?" Lars Peter flushed with pride. + +"But a bit close, he said. You thought codfish could talk reason." + +"Well, now--what the devil did he mean by it? What nonsense! Of +course codfish can't speak!" + +"I don't know. But he's a clever man--he might have been one of the +learned sort." + +"You're getting on well, I hear," said Lars Peter, to change the +subject. "Is it true you're half engaged to a farmer's daughter?" + +Johannes smiled, stroking his woman-like mouth, where a small +mustache was visible. "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?" + +"Ay, he looks grand," admitted Ditte. "But I don't like him all the +same." + +"You're so hard to please." Lars Peter was offended. "Other folks +seem to like him. He'll marry well." + +"Ay, that may be. It's because he's got black hair--we women are mad +on that. But I don't think he's good." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +DAILY TROUBLES + + +It was getting on towards Christmas, a couple of months after they +had come to the hamlet, when one day Lars Peter was mad enough to +quarrel with the inn-keeper. He was not even drunk and it was a +thing unheard of in the hamlet for a sober man to give the +inn-keeper a piece of his mind. But he had been more than stupid, +every one agreed, and he himself too. + +It was over the nag. Lars Peter could not get used to seeing the +horse work for others, and it cut him to the heart that it should +have to work so hard. It angered him, too, to be idle himself, in +spite of the inn-keeper's promises--and there were many other things +besides. One day he declared that Klavs should come home, and he +would begin to drive round again. He went up to the farm and +demanded his horse. + +"Certainly!" The inn-keeper followed him out and ordered the horse +to be harnessed. "Here's your horse, cart and everything belonging +to it--is there anything more of yours?" + +Lars Peter was somewhat taken aback. He had expected opposition and +here was the inn-keeper quite friendly, in fact almost fawning on +him. "I wanted to cart some things home," said he, rather +crestfallen. + +"Certainly, Lars Peter Hansen," said the inn-keeper, preceding him +into the shop. He weighed out all Lars Peter ordered, reminded him +of one thing after another, laying the articles in a heap on the +counter. "Have you raisins for the Christmas cakes?" he asked. +"Ditte bakes herself." He knew every one's doings and was thoughtful +in helping them. + +When Lars Peter was about to carry the things out to the cart, he +said smilingly, "That will be--let me see, how much do you owe for +last time?" + +"I'd like to let it wait a bit--till I get settled up after the +auction!" + +"Well, I'm afraid it can't. I don't know anything about you yet." + +"Oh, so you're paying me out." Lars Peter began to fume. + +"Paying you out? Not at all. But I like to know what sort of a man +I'm dealing with before I can trust him." + +"Oh, indeed! It's easy enough to see what sort of a fellow you are!" +shouted Lars Peter and rushed out. + +The inn-keeper followed him out to the cart. "You'll have a +different opinion of me some day," said he gently, "then we can talk +it over again. Never mind. But another thing--where'll you get food +for the horse?" + +"I'll manage somehow," answered Lars Peter shortly. + +"And stabling? It's setting in cold now." + +"You leave that to me!" + +Lars Peter drove off at a walking pace. He knew perfectly well that +he could find neither food nor stabling for the horse without the +inn-keeper's help. Two or three days afterwards he sent Kristian +with the horse and cart back to the farm. + +He had done this once, but he was wiser now--or at all events more +careful. When occasionally he felt a longing for the road and wanted +to spend a day on it in company with Klavs, he asked politely for +the loan of it, and he was allowed to have it. Then he and the horse +were like sweethearts who seldom saw each other. + +He was no wiser than before. The inn-keeper he couldn't make +out--with his care for others and his desire to rule. + +His partners and the other men he didn't understand either. He had +spent his life in the country where people kept to themselves--where +he had often longed for society. It looked cosy--as seen from the +lonely Crow's Nest--people lived next door to each other; they could +give a helping hand occasionally and chat with each other. But what +pleasure had a man here? They toiled unwillingly, pushing +responsibilities and troubles on to others, getting only enough for +a meager meal from day to day and letting another man run off with +their profits. It was extraordinary how that crooked devil scraped +in everything with his long arms, without any one daring to protest. +He must have an enormous hold on them somehow. + +Lars Peter did not think of rebelling again. When his anger rose he +had only to think of fisher-Jacob, who was daily before his eyes. +Every one knew how he had become the wreck he was. He had once owned +a big boat, and had hired men to work with him, so he thought it +unnecessary to submit to the inn-keeper. But the inn-keeper licked +him into shape. He refused to buy his fish, so that they had to sail +elsewhere with it, but this outlet he closed for them too. They +could buy no goods nor gear in the village--they were shunned like +lepers, no one dared help them. Then his partners turned against +him, blaming him for their ill-luck. He tried to sell up and moved +to another place, but the inn-keeper would not buy his possessions +and no-one else dared; he had to stay on--and learn to submit. +Although he owned a boat and gear, he had to hire it from the +inn-keeper. It told so heavily on him that he lost his reason; now +he muddled about looking for a magic word to fell the inn-keeper; at +times he went round with a gun, declaring he would shoot him. But +the inn-keeper only laughed. + +Ditte talked a great deal with the women. They all agreed that the +inn-keeper had the evil eye. He was always in her mind; she went in +an everlasting dread of him. When she saw him on the downs she +almost screamed; Lars Peter tried to reason her out of it. + +Little Povl came home from the beach one morning feeling ill. He was +sick, and his head ached, he was hot one moment and cold the next. +Ditte undressed him and put him to bed; then called her father, who +was asleep in the attic. + +Lars Peter hurried down. He had been out at sea the whole night and +stumbled as he walked. + +"Why, Povl, little man, got a tummy-ache?" asked he, putting his +hand on the boy's forehead. It throbbed, and was burning hot. The +boy turned his head away. + +"He looks really bad," he said, seating himself on the edge of the +bed, "he doesn't even know us. It's come on quickly, there was +nothing the matter with him this morning." + +"He came home a few minutes ago--he was all gray in the face and +cold, and he's burning hot now. Just listen to the way he's +breathing." + +They sat by the bedside, looking at him in silence; Lars Peter held +his little hand in his. It was black, with short stumpy fingers, the +nails almost worn down into the flesh. He never spared himself, the +little fellow, always ready; wide awake from the moment he opened +his eyes. Here he lay, gasping. It was a sad sight! Was it serious? +Was there to be trouble with the children again? The accident with +his first children he had shaken off--but he had none to spare now! +If anything happened to them, he had nothing more to live for--it +would be the end. He understood now that they had kept him +up--through the business with Soerine and all that followed. It was +the children who gave him strength for each new day. All his broken +hopes, all his failures, were dimmed in the cheery presence of the +children; that was perhaps why he clung to them, as he did. + +Suddenly Povl jumped up and wanted to get out of bed. "Povl do an' +play, do an' play!" he said over and over again. + +"He wants to go out and play," said Ditte, looking questioningly at +her father. + +"Then maybe he's better already," broke out Lars Peter cheerily. +"Let him go if he wants to." + +Ditte dressed him, but he drooped like a withered flower, and she +put him to bed again. + +"Shall I fetch Lars Jensen's widow?" she asked. "She knows about +illness and what to do." + +No--Lars Peter thought not. He would rather have a proper doctor. +"As soon as Kristian comes home from school, he can run up to the +inn, and ask for the loan of the nag," said he. "They can hardly +refuse it when the child's ill." + +Kristian came back without the horse and cart, but with the +inn-keeper at his heels. He came in without knocking at the door, as +was his custom. + +"I hear your little boy's ill," he said kindly. "I thought I ought +to come and see you, and perhaps give you a word of comfort. I've +brought a bottle of something to give him every half hour; it's +mixed with prayers, so at all events it can't do him any harm. Keep +him well wrapped up in bed." He leaned over the bed, listening to +the child's breathing. Povl's eyes were stiff with fear. + +"You'd better keep away from the bed," said Lars Peter. "Can't you +see the boy's afraid of you?" His voice trembled with restrained +fury. + +"There's many that way," answered the inn-keeper good-naturedly, +moving away from the bed. "And yet I live on, and thrive--and do my +duty as far as I can. Well, I comfort myself with the thought that +the Lord has some reward in store. Perhaps it does folks no harm to +be afraid of something, Lars Peter! But give him the mixture at +once." + +"I'd rather fetch the doctor," said Lars Peter, reluctantly giving +the child the medicine. He would have preferred to throw it out of +the window--and the inn-keeper with it. + +"Ay, so I understood, but I thought I'd just have a talk to you +first. What good's a doctor? It's only an expense, and he can't +change God's purpose. Poor people should learn to save." + +"Ay, of course, when a man's poor he must take things as they come!" +Lars Peter laughed bitterly. + +"Up at the inn we never send for the doctor. We put our lives in +God's keeping. If so be it's His will, then----" + +"It seems to me there's much that happens that's not His will at +all--and in this place too," said Lars Peter defiantly. + +"And yet I'll tell you that not even the smallest cod is caught--in +the hamlet either--without the will of the Father." The inn-keeper's +voice was earnest; it sounded like Scripture itself, but there was a +look in his eyes, which made Lars Peter uncomfortable all the same. +He was quite relieved when this unpleasant guest took his departure +and disappeared over the downs. + +Ditte came down from the attic, where she had hidden. "What d'you +want to hide from that hunch-back for?" shouted Lars Peter. He +needed an outlet for his temper. Ditte flushed and turned away her +face. + +Soon afterwards a knock sounded on the wall. It was their lame +neighbor. The daughter-in-law was at home, and sat with the twins in +her arms. + +"I heard he was in your house," said the old one--"his strong voice +sounded through the walls. You be careful of him!" + +"He was very kind," said Ditte evasively. "He spoke kindly to +father, and brought something for little Povl." + +"So he brought something--was it medicine? Pour it into the gutter +at once. It can't do any harm there." + +"But Povl's had some." + +The old woman threw up her hands. "For the love of Jesus! for the +love of Jesus! Poor child!" she wailed. "Did he say anything about +death? They say in the village here every family owes him a death! +Did he say he'd provide the coffin? He manages everything--he's +always so good and helpful when anything's wrong. Ay, maybe he was +good-tempered--and the child'll be allowed to live." + +Ditte burst into tears; she thought it looked bad for little Povl, +if his life depended on the inn-keeper. He was vexed with them +because the little ones were not sent to Sunday-school--perhaps he +was taking his revenge. + +But in a few days Povl recovered, and was as lively as ever, running +about and never still for a minute, until suddenly he would fall +asleep in the midst of his play. Lars Peter was cheerful again, and +went about humming. Ditte sang at her washing up, following the +little lad's movements with her motherly eyes. But for safety's sake +she sent the children to Sunday-school. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DITTE'S CONFIRMATION + + +That autumn Ditte was to be confirmed. She found it very hard to +learn by rote all the psalms and hymns. She had not much time for +preparation, and her little brain had been trained in an entirely +different direction than that of learning by heart; when she had +finished her work, and brought out her catechism, it refused to stay +in her mind. + +One day she came home crying. The parson had declared that she was +too far behind the others and must wait for the next confirmation; +he dared not take the responsibility of presenting her. She was in +the depths of despair; it was considered a disgrace to be kept back. + +"Well,--there's no end of our troubles, it seems," broke out Lars +Peter bitterly. "They can do what they like with folks like us. I +suppose we should be thankful for being allowed to live." + +"I know just as much as the others, it's not fair," sobbed Ditte. + +"Fair--as if that had anything to do with it! If you did not know a +line of your catechism, I'd like to see the girl that's better +prepared to meet the Lord than you. You could easily take his +housekeeping on your shoulders; and He would be pretty blind if He +couldn't see that His little angels could never be better looked +after. The fact is we haven't given the parson enough, they're like +that--all of them--and it's the likes of them that have the keys of +Heaven! Well, it can't be helped, it won't kill us, I suppose." + +Ditte refused to be comforted. "I _will_ be confirmed," she cried. +"I won't go to another class and be jeered at." + +"Maybe if we tried oiling the parson a little," Lars Peter said +thoughtfully. "But it'll cost a lot of money." + +"Go to the inn-keeper then--he can make it all right." + +"Ay, that he can--there's not much he can't put right, if he's the +mind to. But I'm not in his good books, I'm afraid." + +"That doesn't matter. He treats every one alike whether he likes +them or not." + +Lars Peter did not like his errand; he was loth to ask favors of the +man; however, it must be done for the sake of the child. Much to his +surprise the inn-keeper received him kindly. "I'll certainly speak +to the parson and have it seen to," said he. "And you can send the +girl up here some day; it's the custom in the hamlet for _the +ogre's_ wife to provide clothes for girls going to be confirmed." +His big mouth widened in a grin. Lars Peter felt rather foolish. + +So Ditte was confirmed after all. For a whole week she wore a long +black dress, and her hair in a thin plait down her back. In the +church she had cried; whether it was the joy of feeling grown-up, or +because it was the custom to cry, would be difficult to say. But she +enjoyed the following week, when Lars Jensen's widow came and did +her work, while she made calls and received congratulations. She was +followed by a crowd of admiring girls, and small children of the +hamlet rushed out to her shouting: "Hi, give us a ha'penny!" Lars +Peter had to give all the halfpennies he could gather together. + +The week over, she returned to her old duties. Ditte discovered that +she had been grown-up for several years; her duties were neither +heavier nor lighter. She soon got accustomed to her new estate; when +they were invited out, she would take her knitting with her and sit +herself with the grown-ups. + +"Won't you go with the young people?" Lars Peter would say. "They're +playing on the green tonight." She went, but soon returned. + +Lars Peter was getting used to things in the hamlet; at least he +only grumbled when he had been to the tap-room and was a little +drunk. He no longer looked after the house so well; when Ditte was +short of anything she had always to ask for it--and often more than +once. It was not the old Lars Peter of the Crow's Nest, who used to +say, "Well, how goes it, Ditte, got all you want?" Having credit at +the store had made him careless. When Ditte reproached him, he +answered: "Well, what the devil, a man never sees a farthing now, +and must take things as they come!" + +The extraordinary thing about the inn-keeper was, that he seemed to +know everything. As long as Lars Peter had a penny left, the +inn-keeper was unwilling to give him credit, and made him pay up +what he owed before starting a new account. In this way he had +stripped him of one hundred-crown note after the other, until by +Christmas nothing was left. + +"There!" said Lars Peter when the last note went, "that's the last +of the Crow's Nest. Maybe now we'll have peace! And he can treat us +like the others in the hamlet--or I don't know where the food's to +come from." + +But the inn-keeper thought differently. However often the children +came in with basket and list, they returned empty-handed. "He seems +to think there's still something to get out of us," said Lars Peter. + +It was a sad lookout. Ditte had promised herself that they should +have a really good time this Christmas; she had ordered flour, and +things for cakes, and a piece of pork to be stuffed and cooked like +a goose. Here she was empty-handed; all her beautiful plans had come +to nothing. Up in the attic was the Christmas tree which the little +ones had taken from the plantation; what good was it now, without +candles and ornaments? + +"Never mind," said Lars Peter, "we'll get over that too. We've got +fish and potatoes, so we shan't starve!" But the little ones cried. + +Ditte made the best of a bad job, and went down to the beach, where +she got a pair of wild ducks that had been caught in the nets: she +cleaned and dressed them--and thus their Christmas dinner was +provided. A few red apples--which from time to time had been given +her by the old couple at the Gingerbread House, and which she had +not eaten because they were so beautiful--were put on the Christmas +tree. "We'll hang the lantern on the top, and then it'll look quite +fine," she explained to the little ones. She had borrowed some +coffee and some brandy--her father should not be without his +Christmas drink. + +She had scrubbed and cleaned the whole day, to make everything look +as nice as possible; now she went into the kitchen and lit the fire. +Lars Peter and the children were in the living room in the dusk--she +could hear her father telling stories of when he was a boy. Ditte +hummed, feeling pleased with everything. + +Suddenly she screamed. The upper half of the kitchen door had +opened. Against the evening sky she saw the head and shoulders of a +deformed body, a goblin, in the act of lifting a parcel in over the +door. "Here's a few things for you," he said, panting, pushing the +parcel along the kitchen-table. "A happy Christmas!" And he was +gone. + +They unpacked the parcel in the living room. It contained everything +they had asked for, and many other things beside, which they had +often wished for but had never dreamt of ordering: a calendar with +stories, a pound of cooking chocolate, and a bottle of old French +wine. "It's just like the Lord," said Ditte in whose mind there were +still the remains of the parson's teaching--"when it looks blackest +He always helps." + +"Ah, the inn-keeper's a funny fellow, there we've been begging for +things and got nothing but kicks in return; and then he brings +everything himself! He's up to something, I'm afraid. Well, whatever +it may be--the things'll taste none the worse for it!" Lars Peter +was not in the least touched by the gift. + +Whatever it might be--at all events it did not end with Christmas. +They continued to get goods from the store. The inn-keeper often +crossed off things from the list, which he considered superfluous, +but the children never returned with an empty basket. Ditte still +thought she saw the hand of Providence in this, but Lars Peter +viewed it more soberly. + +"The devil, he can't let us starve to death, when we're working for +him," said he. "You'll see the rascal's found out that there's +nothing more to be got out of us, he's a sharp nose, he has." + +The explanation was not entirely satisfactory--even to Lars Peter +himself. There was something about the inn-keeper which could not be +reckoned as money. He was anxious to rule, and did not spare himself +in any way. He was always up and doing; he had every family's +affairs in his head, knew them better than they did themselves, and +interfered. There was both good and bad in his knowledge; no-one +knew when to expect him. + +Lars Peter was to feel his fatherly care in a new direction. One day +the inn-keeper said casually: "that's a big girl, you've got there, +Lars Peter; she ought to be able to pay for her keep soon." + +"She's earned her bread for many a year, and more too!" answered +Lars Peter. "I don't know what I'd have done without her." + +The inn-keeper went on his way, but another time when Lars Peter was +outside chopping wood he came again and began where he left off. "I +don't like to see children hanging about after they've been +confirmed," said he. "The sooner they get out the quicker they learn +to look after themselves." + +"Poor people learn that soon enough whether they are at home or out +at service," answered Lars Peter. "We couldn't do without our little +housekeeper." + +"They'd like to have Ditte at the hill-farm next May--it's a good +place. I've been thinking Lars Jensen's widow could come and keep +house for you; she's a good worker and she's nothing to do. You +might do worse than marry her." + +"I've a wife that's good enough for me," answered Lars Peter +shortly. + +"But she's in prison--and you're not obliged to stick to her if you +don't want to." + +"Ay, I've heard that, but Soerine'll want somewhere to go when she +comes out." + +"Well, that's a matter for your own conscience, Lars Peter. But the +Scriptures say nothing about sharing your home with a murderess. +What I wanted to say was, that Lars Jensen's wife takes up a whole +house." + +"Then perhaps we could move down to her?" said Lars Peter brightly. +"It's not very pleasant living here in the long run." He had given +up all hope of building himself. + +"If you marry her, you can consider the house your own." + +"I'll stick to Soerine, I tell you," shouted Lars Peter, thumping his +ax into the block. "Now, you know it." + +The inn-keeper went off, as quietly and kindly as he had come. Jacob +the fisherman stood behind the house pointing at him with his gun; +it was loaded with salt, he was only waiting for the _word_ to +shoot. The inn-keeper looked at him as he passed and said, "Well, +are you out with your gun today?" Jacob shuffled out of the way. + +The inn-keeper's new order brought sorrow to the little house. It +was like losing a mother. What would they do without their +house-wife, Ditte, who looked after them all? + +Ditte herself took it more quietly. She had always known that sooner +or later she would have to go out to service--she was born to it. +And all through her childhood it ran like a crimson thread; she must +prepare herself for a future master and mistress. "Eat, child," +Granny had said, "and grow big and strong and able to make the most +of yourself when you're out amongst strangers!" And Soerine--when her +turn came--had made it a daily saying: "You'd better behave, or +no-one'll have you." The schoolmaster had interwoven it with his +teachings, and the parson involuntarily turned to her when speaking +of faithful service. She had performed her daily tasks with the +object of becoming a clever servant--and she thought with a mixture +of fear and expectation of the great moment when she should enter +service in reality. + +The time was drawing near. She was sorry, and more so for those at +home. For herself--it was something that could not be helped. + +She prepared everything as far as possible beforehand, taught sister +Else her work, and showed her where everything was kept. She was a +thoughtful child, easily managed. It was more difficult with +Kristian. Ditte was troubled at the thought of what would happen, +when she was not there to keep him in order. Every day she spoke +seriously to him. + +"You'll have to give up your foolish ways, and running off when +you're vexed with any one," said she. "Remember, you're the eldest; +it'll be your fault if Povl and sister turn out badly! They've +nobody but you to look to now. And stop teasing old Jacob, it's a +shame to do it." + +Kristian promised everything--he had the best will in the world. +Only he could never remember to keep his good resolutions. + +There was no need to give Povl advice, he was too small. And good +enough as he was. Dear, fat, little fellow! It was strange to think +that she was going to leave him; several times during the day Ditte +would hug him. + +"If only Lars Jensen's widow'll be good to the children--and +understand how to manage them!" she said to her father. "You see, +she's never had children of her own. It must be strange after all!" + +Lars Peter laughed. + +"It'll be all right," he thought, "she's a good woman. But we shall +miss you sorely." + +"I'm sure you will," answered Ditte seriously. "But she's not +wasteful--that's one good thing." + +In the evening, when she had done her daily tasks and the children +were in bed, Ditte went through drawers and cupboards so as to leave +everything in order for her successor. The children's clothes were +carefully examined--and the linen; clean paper was put in the +drawers and everything tidied up. Ditte lingered over her work: it +was like a silent devotion. The child was bidding farewell to her +dear troublesome world, feeling grateful even for the toil and +trouble they had given her. + +When Lars Peter was not out fishing she would sit beside him under +the lamp with some work or other in her hands, and they spoke +seriously about the future, giving each other good advice. + +"When you get amongst strangers you must listen carefully to +everything that's said to you," Lars Peter would say. "Nothing vexes +folks more than having to say a thing twice. And then you must +remember that it doesn't matter so much how you do a thing, as to do +it as they like it. They've all got their own ways, and it's hard to +get into sometimes." + +"Oh, I'll get on all right," answered Ditte--rather more bravely +than she really felt. + +"Ay, you're clever enough for your age, but it's not always that. +You must always show a good-tempered face--whether you feel it or +not. It's what's expected from folks that earn their bread." + +"If anything happens, I'll just give them a piece of my mind." + +"Ay, but don't be too ready with your mouth! The truth's not always +wanted, and least of all from a servant: the less they have to say +the better they get on. Just you keep quiet and think what you +like--that no-one can forbid you. And then you know, you've always +got a home here if you're turned out of your place. You must never +leave before your term is up; it's a bad thing to do--whatever you +do it for. Rather bear a little unfairness." + +"But can't I stand up for my rights?" Ditte did not understand. + +"Ay, so you ought--but what is your right? Anyone that's got the +power gets the right on his side, that's often proved. But you'll be +all right if you're sensible and put your back to the wall." + + * * * * * + +Then came the last night. Ditte had spent the day saying good-by in +the different huts. She could have found a better way to spend these +last precious hours, but it was a necessary evil, and if she did not +do it they would talk of it behind her back. The three little ones +followed close at her heels. + +"You mustn't come in," said she. "We can't all go, there's too many, +they'll think we want to be treated to something." + +So they hid themselves nearby, while she was inside, and went with +her to the next house; today they _would_ be near her. And they had +been so the whole day long. The walk along the beach out to the +Naze, where they could see the hill-farm had come to nothing. It was +too late, and Ditte had to retract her promise. It cost some tears. +The farm where Ditte was going out to service played a strong part +in their imagination. They were only comforted, when their father +promised that on Sunday morning he would take them for a row. + +"Out there you can see the hill-farm and all the land round about +it, and maybe Ditte'll be standing there and waving to us," he said. + +"Isn't it really further off than that?" asked Ditte. + +"Oh, it's about fourteen miles, so of course you'd have to have good +eyes," answered Lars Peter, trying to smile. He was not in the humor +for fun. + +Now at last the three little ones were in the big bed, sleeping +peacefully, Povl at one end, sister and Kristian at the other. There +was just room for Ditte, who had promised to sleep with them the +last night. Ditte busied herself in the living room, Lars Peter sat +by the window trying to read Soerine's last letter. It was only a few +words. Soerine was not good at writing; he read and re-read it, in a +half-whisper. There was a feeling of oppression in the room. + +"When's Mother coming out?" asked Ditte, suddenly coming towards +him. + +Lars Peter took up a calendar. "As far as I can make out, there's +still another year," he said quietly. "D'you want to see her too?" + +Ditte made no answer. Shortly afterwards she asked him: "D'you think +she's altered?" + +"You're thinking of the little ones, I suppose. I think she cares a +little more for them now. Want makes a good teacher. You must go to +bed now, you'll have to be up early in the morning, and it's a long +way. Let Kristian go with you--and let him carry your bundle as far +as he goes. It'll be a tiresome way for you. I'm sorry I can't go +with you!" + +"Oh, I shall be all right," said Ditte, trying to speak cheerfully, +but her voice broke, and suddenly she threw her arms round him. + +Lars Peter stayed beside her until she had fallen asleep, then went +up to bed himself. From the attic he could hear her softly moaning +in her sleep. + +At midnight he came downstairs again, he was in oilskins and carried +a lantern. The light shone on the bed--all four were asleep. But +Ditte was tossing restlessly, fighting with something in her dreams. +"Sister must eat her dinner," she moaned, "it'll never do ... she'll +get so thin." + +"Ay, ay," said Lars Peter with emotion. "Father'll see she gets +enough to eat." + +Carefully he covered them up, and went down to the sea. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Ditte: Girl Alive!, by Martin Andersen Nexo + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DITTE: GIRL ALIVE! *** + +***** This file should be named 31496.txt or 31496.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/4/9/31496/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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