"And there's a thousand other things besides in that cathedral," exclaimed Inger delightedly. "There's the silver chest to begin with. It's Holy St. Olaf his own silver chest that he had. But the Marble Church--that was a little church all of pure marble--the Danes took that from us in the war...." It was time for the women to go. Oline took Inger aside, led her out into the larder where she knew all the cheeses were stored, and closed the door. "What is it?" asked Inger. Oline whispered: "Os-Anders, he doesn't dare come here any more. I've told him." "Ho!" said Inger. "I told him if he only dared, after what he'd done to you." "Ay," said Inger. "But he's been here many a time since for all that. And he can come if he likes, I'm not afraid." "No, that's so," said Oline. "But I know what I know, and if you like, I'll lay a charge against him." "Ho!" said Inger. "No, you've no call to do that. Tis not worth it." But she was not ill pleased to have Oline on her side; it cost her a cheese, to be sure, but Oline thanked her so fulsomely: "'Tis as I say, 'tis as I've always said: Inger, she gives with both hands; nothing grudging, nothing sparing about her! No, maybe you're not afraid of Os-Anders, but I've forbid him to come here all the same. 'Twas the least I could do for you." Said Inger then: "What harm could it do if he did come, anyway? He can't hurt me any more." Oline pricked up her ears: "Ho, you've learned a way yourself, maybe?" "I shan't have any more children," said Inger. And now they were quits, each holding as good a trump as the other: for Oline stood there knowing all the time that Os-Anders the Lapp had died the day before.... * * * * * Why should Inger say that about having no more children? She was not on bad terms with her husband, 'twas no cat-and-dog life between them--far from it. They had each their own little ways, but it was rarely they quarrelled, and never for long at a time; it was soon made up. And many a time Inger would suddenly be just as she had been in the old days, working hard in the cowshed or in the field; as if she had had a relapse into health again. And at such times Isak would look at his wife with grateful eyes; if he had been the sort of man to speak his mind at once, he might have said, "H'm. What does this mean, heh?" or something of the sort, just to show he appreciated it. But he waited too long, and his praise came too late. So Inger, no doubt, found it not worth while, and did not care to keep it up.