It was not the way at Sellanraa to show one’s feelings overmuch, and Eleseus dreaded the moment when he would have to say good-bye.  He was well equipped now; again his mother had given him a stock of woven stuff for underclothes, and his father had commissioned some one to hand him money as he went out of the door.  Money—­could Isak really spare such a thing as money?  But it was so, and no otherwise.  Inger hinted that it would doubtless be the last time; for was not Eleseus going to get on and rise in the world by himself?

“H’m,” said Isak.

There was an atmosphere of solemnity, of stillness in the home; they had each had a boiled egg at the last meal, and Sivert stood outside all ready to go down with his brother and carry his things.  It was for Eleseus to begin.

He began with Leopoldine.  Well and good, she said good-bye in return, and managed it very well.  Likewise Jensine the servant-maid, she sat carding wool and answered good-bye—­but both girls stared at him, confound them! and all because he might perhaps be the least bit red about the eyes.  He shook hands with his mother, and she cried of course quite openly, never caring to remember how he hated crying.”  Goo—­ood-bye and bl—­bless you!” she sobbed out.  It was worst with his father; worst of all with him.  Oh, in every way; he was so toil-worn and so utterly faithful; he had carried the children in his arms, had told them of the seagulls and other birds and beasts, and the wonders of the field; it was not so long ago, a few years....  Father stands by the glass window, then suddenly he turns round, grasps his son’s hand, and says quickly and peevishly:  “Well, good-bye.  There’s the new horse getting loose,” and he swings out of the door and hurries away.  Oh, but he had himself taken care to let the new horse loose a while ago, and Sivert, the rascal, knew it too, as he stood outside watching his father, and smiling to himself.  And, anyway, the horse was only in the rowens.

Eleseus had got it over at last.

And then his mother must needs come out on the door-slab and hiccup again and say, “God bless you!” and give him something.  “Take this—­and you’re not to thank him, he says you’re not to.  And don’t forget to write; write often.”

Two hundred Kroner.

Eleseus looked down the field:  his father was furiously at work driving a tethering-peg into the ground; he seemed to find it a difficult matter, for all that the ground was soft enough.

The brothers set off down the road; they came to Maaneland, and there stood Barbro in the doorway and called to them to come up.

“You going away again, Eleseus?  Nay, then, you must come in and take a cup of coffee at least.”

They go into the hut, and Eleseus is no longer a prey to the pangs of love, nor wishful to jump out of windows and take poison; nay, he spreads his light spring overcoat across his knees, taking care to lay it so the silver plate is to be seen; then he wipes his hair with his handkerchief, and observes delicately:  “Beautiful day, isn’t it—­simply classic!”