All at once there was a dead silence, which made Mother Stina look up.  The silence was due to the sudden appearance of Karin, who had just come out from the house.  Now it was quite plain what they all thought of Karin and her dealings, for as she went across the yard every one drew back.  No one put out a hand to greet her, no one spoke to her; they simply stared disapprovingly.

Karin looked tired and worn, and stooped more than usual.  A bright red spot appeared on both cheeks, and she looked as miserable as in the days when she had had her struggles with Elof.  She had come out to find Mother Stina and ask her to go inside.  “I didn’t know till just now that you were here, Mother Storm,” she said.

Mother Stina at first declined, but was finally persuaded.

“We want all the old antagonisms to be forgotten now that we are going away,” said Karin.

While they were going toward the house Mother Stina ventured:  “This must be a trying day for you, Karin.”

Karin’s only response was a sigh.

“I don’t see how you can have the heart to sell all these old things, Karin.”

“It is what one loves most that one must first and foremost sacrifice to the Lord,” said Karin.

“Folks think it strange—­” Mother Stina began, but Karin cut her short.

“The Lord, too, would think it strange if we held back anything we had offered in His Name.”

Mother Stina bit her lip.  She could not bring herself to say anything further.  All the reproaches which she had meant to heap upon Karin stuck in her throat.  There was an air of lofty dignity about Karin that disarmed people; therefore, no one had the courage to upbraid her.  When they were on the broad step in front of the porch, Mother Stina tapped Karin on the shoulder.

“Have you noticed who is standing over there?” she asked, and pointed to Ingmar.

Karin winced a little, but was careful not to look over at her brother.  “The Lord will find a way out for him,” she murmured.  “The Lord will surely find away out.”

To all appearances the living-room was not much changed by reason of the auction, for in there the seats and cupboards and bedsteads were stationary.  But shining copper utensils no longer adorned the walls, the built-in bedsteads looked bare, stripped of their coverings and hangings, and the doors of the blue-painted cupboards, which in the old days were always left standing half open, to let visitors see the great silver jugs and beakers that filled its shelves, were now closed; which meant that there was nothing inside worth showing.  The only wall decoration the room boasted was the Jerusalem canvas, which on that day had a fresh wreath around it.

The large room was thronged with relatives and coreligionists of Halvor and Karin.  One after another, they were conducted with much ceremony to a large, well-spread table, for refreshments.

The door to the inside room was closed.  In there negotiations for the sale of the farm itself were pending.  The talking was loud and heated, especially on the part of the pastor.