“Have you seen anything of the Storms lately?”

“No!” replied Karin stiffly.  “I don’t care to associate with such ungodly people.”

Here was an answer that set Ingmar thinking.  He wondered whether he had better speak or be silent.  If he were to speak it might end in a break with his family; at the same time he did not want them to think that he up held them in matters that were altogether wrong.  “I have never seen any signs of ungodliness about the schoolmaster’s folks,” he retorted.  “And yet I have lived with them for four years.”

The very thought that had occurred to Ingmar the moment before, now came to Karin.  She, too, wondered whether she should or should not speak.  But she felt that she would have to hold to the truth, even if it hurt Ingmar; therefore she said that if people would not hearken to the voice of God, one could not help but think them ungodly.

Then Halvor joined in.  “The question of the children is a vital one,” he said.  “They should be given the right kind of training.”

“Storm has trained the entire parish, and you, too, Halvor,” Ingmar reminded him.

“But he has not taught us how to live rightly,” said Karin.

“It seems to me that you have always tried to do that, Karin.”

“Let me tell you how it was to live by the old teaching.  It was like trying to walk upon a round beam:  one minute you were up, the next you were down.  But when I let my fellow-Christians take me by the hand and support me, I can tread the straight and narrow path of Righteousness without stumbling.”

“I dare say,” Ingmar smiled; “but that’s too easy.”

“Even so, it’s quite difficult enough, but no longer impossible.”

“But what about the Storms?”

“Those who belong with us took their children out of the school.  You see we didn’t want the children to absorb any of the old teaching.”

“What did the schoolmaster say to that?”

“He said it was against the law to take children away from school, and promptly sent a constable over to Israel Tomasson’s and Krister Larsson’s to fetch their children.”

“And now you are not on friendly terms with the Storms?”

“We simply keep to ourselves.”

“You seem to be at odds with every one.”

“We only keep away from those who would tempt us to sin.”

As the three went on talking, they lowered their voices.  They were all very fearful of every word they let drop, for they felt that the conversation had taken a painful turn.

“But I can give you greetings from Gertrude,” said Karin, trying to assume a more cheerful tone.  “Hellgum had many talks with her last winter; he says that she expects to join us this evening.”

Ingmar’s lips began to quiver.  It was as if he had been going about blindfolded all day, expecting to be shot, and now the shot had come; the bullet had pierced his heart.