Isak admired each thing in silence. She took out a bundle of little collars--Leopoldine's, they were. And gave Isak a black neckerchief for himself, shiny as silk. "Is that for me?" said he. "Yes, it's for you." He took it carefully in his hands, and stroked it. "Do you think it's nice?" "Nice--why I could go round the world in such." But Isak's fingers were rough; they stuck in the curious silky stuff. Now Inger had no more things to show. But when she had packed them all up again, she sat there still; and the way she sat, he could see her legs, could see her red-bordered stockings. "H'm," said he. "Those'll be town-made things, I doubt?" "'Tis wool was bought in the town, but I knitted them myself. They're ever so long--right up above the knee--look...." A little while after she heard herself whispering: "Oh, you ... you're just the same--the same as ever!" * * * * * And after that halt they drove on again, and Inger sat up, holding the reins. "I've brought a paper of coffee too," she said. "But you can't have any this evening, for it's not roasted yet." "'Tis more than's needed this evening and all," said he. An hour later the sun goes down, and it grows colder. Inger gets down to walk. Together they tuck the rug closer about Leopoldine, and smile to see how soundly she can sleep. Man and wife talk together again on their way. A pleasure it is to hear Inger's voice; none could speak clearer than Inger now. "Wasn't it four cows we had?" she asks. "'Tis more than that," says he proudly. "We've eight." "Eight cows!" "That is to say, counting the bull." "Have you sold any butter?" "Ay, and eggs." "What, have we chickens now?" "Ay, of course we have. And a pig." Inger is so astonished at all this that she forgets herself altogether, and stops for a moment--"_Ptro_!" And Isak is proud and keeps on, trying to overwhelm her completely. "That Geissler," he says, "you remember him? He came up a little while back." "Oh?" "I've sold him a copper mine." "Ho! What's that--a copper mine?" "Copper, yes. Up in the hills, all along the north side of the water." "You--you don't mean he paid you money for it?" "Ay, that he did. Geissler he wouldn't buy things and not pay for them." "What did you get, then?" "H'm. Well, you might not believe it--but it was two hundred _Daler_." "You got two hundred _Daler_!" shouts Inger, stopping again with a "_Ptro_!" "I did--yes. And I've paid for my land a long while back," said Isak. "Well--you are a wonder, you are!" Truly, it was a pleasure to see Inger all surprised, and make her a rich wife. Isak did not forget to add that he had no debts nor owings at the store or anywhere else. And he had not only Geissler's two hundred untouched, but more than that--a hundred and sixty _Daler_ more. Ay, they might well be thankful to God!