“No,” replied Canute, pacing the floor, “this is more than I knew beforehand.  Now I begin to think that even railroads can be bought too dearly.”

This electrified the audience, and Canute continued that the whole affair must be reconsidered, and made a motion to that effect.  In the excitement which had prevailed, he said it was also true that the benefit to be derived from the road had been considerably overrated; for if it did not pass through the parish, there would have to be a depot at each extremity; true, it would be a little more trouble to drive there, than to a station within; yet not so great as that for this reason they should dishonor the rest of the dead.  Canute was one of those who, when his thoughts were excited, could extemporize and present most sound reasons; he had not a moment previously thought of what he now said; but the truth of it struck all.  Lars, seeing the danger of his position, thought best to be careful, and so apparently acquiesced in Canute’s proposition to reconsider; for such emotions, thought he, are always strongest in the beginning; one must temporize with them.

But here he had miscalculated.  In constantly increasing the dread of touching their dead overswept the parish; what no one had thought of as long as the matter existed only in talk became a serious question when it came to touch themselves.  The women particularly were excited, and at the parish house, on the day of the next meeting, the road was black with the gathered multitude.  It was a warm summer day, the windows were taken out, and as many stood without as within.  All felt that that day would witness a great battle.

Lars came, driving his handsome horse, saluted by all; he looked quietly and confidently around, not seeming surprised at the throng.  He seated himself, straw in mouth, near the window, and not without a smile saw Canute rise to speak, as he thought, for all the dead lying over there in the old churchyard.

But Canute Aakre did not begin with the churchyard.  He made a stricter investigation into the profits likely to accrue from carrying the road through the parish, showing that in all this excitement they had been over-estimated.  He had calculated the distance of each farm from the nearest station, should the road be taken through the neighboring valley, and finally asked: 

“Why has such a hurrah been made about this railroad, when it would not be for the good of the parish after all?”

This he could explain; there were those who had brought about such a previous disturbance, that a greater was necessary in order that the first might be forgotten.  Then, too, there were those who, while the thing was new, could sell their farms and lands to strangers, foolish enough to buy; it was a shameful speculation, which not the living only but the dead also must be made to promote!