Next day the mail boat comes in. Isak climbs up on a rock by the storekeeper's wharf, looking out, but still no Inger to be seen. Passengers there were, grown-up folk and children with them--_Herregud_!--but no Inger. He had kept in the background, sitting on his rock, but there was no need to stay behind any longer; he gets down and goes to the steamer. Barrels and cases trundling ashore, people and mailbags, but still Isak lacked what he had come for. There was something there--a woman with a little girl, up at the entrance to the landing-stage already; but the woman was prettier to look at than Inger--though Inger was good enough. What--why--but it was Inger! "H'm," said Isak, and trundled up to meet them. Greetings: "_Goddag_," said Inger, and held out her hand; a little cold, a little pale after the voyage, and being ill on the way. Isak, he just stood there; at last he said: "H'm. 'Tis a fine day and all." "I saw you down there all along," said Inger. "But I didn't want to come crowding ashore with the rest. So you're down in the village today?" "Ay, yes. H'm." "And all's well at home, everything all right?" "Ay, thank you kindly." "This is Leopoldine; she's stood the voyage much better than I did. This is your papa, Leopoldine; come and shake hands nicely." "H'm," said Isak, feeling very strange--ay, he was like a stranger with them all at once. Said Inger: "If you find a sewing-machine down by the boat, it'll be mine. And there's a chest as well." Off goes Isak, goes off more than willingly, after the chest; the men on board showed him which it was. The sewing-machine was another matter; Inger had to go down and find that herself. It was a handsome box, of curious shape, with a round cover over, and a handle to carry it by--a sewing-machine in these parts! Isak hoisted the chest and the sewing-machine on to his shoulders, and turned to his wife and child: "I'll have these up in no time, and come back for her after." "Come back for who?" asked Inger, with a smile. "Did you think she couldn't walk by herself, a big girl like that?" They walked up to where Isak had left the horse and cart. "New horse, you've got?" said Inger. "And what's that you've got--a cart with a seat in?" "Tis but natural," said Isak. "What I was going to say: Wouldn't you care for a little bit of something to eat? I've brought things all ready." "Wait till we get a bit on the way," said she. "Leopoldine, can you sit up by yourself?" But her father won't have it; she might fall down under the wheels. "You sit up with her and drive yourself." So they drove off, Isak walking behind.