“Nor the day I ride to the gard again,” replied Baard, his face very white, swinging himself into the saddle.

Neither of them ever again set foot in the house where they had lived with their father.

A short time after, Anders married into a houseman’s family; but Baard was not invited to the wedding, nor was he even at church.  The first year of Anders’ marriage the only cow he owned was found dead beyond the north side of the house, where it was tethered, and no one could find out what had killed it.  Several misfortunes followed, and he kept going downhill; but the worst of all was when his barn, with all that it contained, burned down in the middle of the winter; no one knew how the fire had originated.

“This has been done by some one who wishes me ill,” said Anders,—­and he wept that night.  He was now a poor man and had lost all ambition for work.

The next evening Baard appeared in his room.  Anders was in bed when he entered, but sprang directly up.

“What do you want here?” he cried, then stood silent, staring fixedly at his brother.

Baard waited a little before he answered,—­

“I wish to offer you help, Anders; things are going badly for you.”

“I am faring as you meant I should, Baard!  Go, I am not sure that I can control myself.”

“You mistake, Anders; I repent”—­

“Go, Baard, or God be merciful to us both!”

Baard fell back a few steps, and with quivering voice he murmured,—­

“If you want the watch you shall have it.”

“Go, Baard!” shrieked the other, and Baard left, not daring to linger longer.

Now with Baard it had been as follows:  As soon as he had heard of his brother’s misfortunes, his heart melted; but pride held him back.  He felt impelled to go to church, and there he made good resolves, but he was not able to carry them out.  Often he got far enough to see Anders’ house; but now some one came out of the door; now there was a stranger there; again Anders was outside chopping wood, so there was always something in the way.  But one Sunday, late in the winter, he went to church again, and Anders was there too.  Baard saw him; he had grown pale and thin; he wore the same clothes as in former days when the brothers were constant companions, but now they were old and patched.  During the sermon Anders kept his eyes fixed on the priest, and Baard thought he looked good and kind; he remembered their childhood and what a good boy Anders had been.  Baard went to communion that day, and he made a solemn vow to his God that he would be reconciled with his brother whatever might happen.  This determination passed through his soul while he was drinking the wine, and when he rose he wanted to go right to him and sit down beside him; but some one was in the way and Anders did not look up.  After service, too, there was something in the way; there were too many people; Anders’ wife was walking at his side, and Baard was not acquainted with her; he concluded that it would be best to go to his brother’s house and have a serious talk with him.  When evening came he set forth.  He went straight to the sitting-room door and listened, then he heard his name spoken; it was by the wife.