At last the man re-emerges--yes, it _is_ Nikolai. It was his back and hands, but he has got a beard now, too. He looks splendid. Imagine Carpenter Nikolai being here! We greet each other, and we talk as he shakes me slowly and ponderously by the hand. Our conversation is halting, but we get on. Yes, of course, he has gone into the shop on business, in a kind of way. "You've not bought the silver cow, have you?" "Oh, no, not that. It didn't amount to anything, really. In fact, I didn't buy anything." By degrees, I discover that he is buying a horse. And he tells me that he has dug that piece of land of his, and is turning it into pasture, and his wife--oh, yes, thank you for asking--she lives in health to this day. "By the way," he said, "have you come here over the fjeld?" "Yes, I came last winter. In December." "What a pity I didn't know!" I explained that I hadn't had the time to visit his home then; I was in a hurry, there was some business-- "Yes, I understand," he said. We said little more, for Nikolai was as taciturn as ever. Besides, he had other business to attend to; he cannot absent himself from the farm for long, and had to return next day. "Have you bought your horse yet?" "Well, no, I haven't." "Do you think you will?" "I don't know yet. I'm trying to split a difference of five and twenty _kroner_." Later I saw Nikolai going to the goldsmith's again. He seemed to do a great deal of business there. "I could have company across the fjeld now," I thought. "It's spring, and do I not always travel in the spring?" I began to pack my knapsack. Nikolai emerged once more, apparently as empty-handed as he had entered. I opened my window and called to him to ask if he had bought the horse. "N-no--the man won't meet my price." "Well, can't you meet his?" "Y-yes, I could," he replied slowly. "But I don't think I've got enough money on me." "I could lend you some." At this Nikolai smiled and shook his head as though my offer were a fairy tale. "Thank you just the same," he said, turning to walk away. "Where are you going now?" I asked. "To look at another horse. It's old and small, still--" Was I thrusting myself on the man? I? Nonsense! I don't see that at all. He felt offended because I had passed his door last winter without stopping and now I wanted to make him friendly again. That was all. But as I wanted no cause for self-reproach, I stopped packing, nor would I ask Nikolai if I might go back with him. But I went out for a walk in the town. I had as much right to do that as anyone. I met Nikolai in the street with a colt, and we stopped to exchange a few words. "Is it yours?" "Yes, I've bought her; the man met me halfway after all," he replied with a smile. We walked along to the stable together and fed and petted the horse. She was a mare, two and a half years old, with a tawny coat and an off-white mane and tail--a perfect little lady.