Isak has noticed the same thing before.  When Os-Anders or any of the other Lapps have been there, Oline makes coffee in Inger’s little pot for a long time after.  She does it while Isak is out in the woods or in the fields, and when he comes in unexpectedly and sees it, she says nothing.  But he knows that he is the poorer by a cheese or a bundle of wool each time.  And it is to his credit that he does not pick up Oline in his fingers and crush her to pieces for her meanness.  Altogether, Isak is trying hard indeed to make himself a better man, better and better, whatever may be his idea, whether it be for the sake of peace in the house, or in some hope that the Lord may give him back his Inger the sooner.  He is something given to superstition and a pondering upon things; even his rustic wariness is innocent in its way.  Early that autumn he found the turf on the roof of the stable was beginning to slip down inside.  Isak chewed at his beard for a while, then, smiling like a man who understands a jest, he laid some poles across to keep it up.  Not a bitter word did he say.  And another thing:  the shed where he kept his store of provisions was simply built on high stone feet at the corners, with nothing between.  After a while, little birds began to find their way in through the big gaps in the wall, and stayed fluttering about inside, unable to get out.  Oline complained that they picked at the food and spoiled the meat, and made a nasty mess about the place.  Isak said:  “Ay, ’tis a pity small birds should come in and not be able to get out again.”  And in the thick of a busy season he turned stonemason and filled up the gaps in the wall.

Heaven knows what was in his mind that he took things so; whether maybe he fancied Inger might be given back to him the sooner for his gentleness.

Chapter IX

The years pass by.

Once more there came visitors to Sellanraa; an engineer, with a foreman and a couple of workmen, marking out telegraph lines again over the hills.  By the route they were taking now, the line would be carried a little above the house, and a straight road cut through the forest.  No harm in that.  It would make the place less desolate, a glimpse of the world would make it brighter.

“This place,” said, the engineer, “will be just about midway between two lines through the valleys on either side.  They’ll very likely ask you to take on the job of linesman for both.”

“Ho!” said Isak.

“It will be twenty-five Daler a year in your pocket.”

“H’m,” said Isak.  “And what am I to do for that?”

“Keep the line in repair, mend the wires when necessary, clear away forest growth on the route as it comes up.  They’ll set up a little machine thing in the house here, to hang on the wall, that’ll tell you when you’re wanted.  And when it does, you must leave whatever you’re doing and go.”