Axel himself was altogether out of it with these two town-folk; he found it dull with them, and preferred to go out and look over his land. The pair of them were left to do as they liked, and Eleseus managed things grandly. He told how he had been over to the neighbouring village to bury his uncle, and did not forget to mention the speech he had made over the coffin. When he took his leave, he asked Barbro to go part of the way home with him. But Barbro, thank you, was not inclined that way. "Is that the way they do things where you've been," she asked--"for the ladies to escort the gentlemen home?" That was a nasty hit for Eleseus; he turned red, and understood he had offended her. Nevertheless, he went down to Maaneland again next Sunday, and this time he took his stick. They talked as before, and Axel was out of it altogether, as before. "'Tis a big place your father's got," said he. "And building again, now, it seems." "Ay, it's all very well for him," said Eleseus, anxious to show off a little. "He can afford it. It's another matter with poor folk like ourselves." "How d'you mean?" "Oh, haven't you heard? There's been some Swedish millionaires came down the other day and bought a mine of him, a copper mine." "Why, you don't say? And he'll have got a heap of money for it, then?" "Enormous. Well, I don't want to boast, but it was at any rate ever so many thousands. What was I going to say? Build? You've a deal of timber lying about here yourself. When are you going to start?" Barbro put in her word here: "Never!" Now that was pure exaggeration and impertinence. Axel had got his stones the autumn before, and carted them home that winter; now, between seasons, he had got the foundation walls done, and cellar and all else--all that remained was to build the timbered part above. He was hoping to get part of it roofed in this autumn, and had thought of asking Sivert to lend him a hand for a few days--what did Eleseus think of that? Eleseus thought like as not. "But why not ask me?" he said, smiling. "You?" said Axel, and he spoke with sudden respect at the idea. "You've talents for other things than that, I take it." Oh, but it was pleasant to find oneself appreciated here in the wilds! "Why, I'm afraid my hands aren't much good at that sort of work," said Eleseus delicately. "Let me look," said Barbro, and took his hand.