"A very great deal quicker." "A great deal? We should have had money; yes, yes; but one can chew without all one's teeth; he who drives only with oxen still gets on." The mother stood and winked at Thore, who often glanced up quickly at her as he sat and rocked himself backwards and forwards, stroking his hands down over his knees; the schoolmaster blinked at him. Thore cleared his throat a little, and tried to begin, but Ole and Ovind were talking so incessantly, laughing and making such a noise, that it was impossible for any one else to be heard. "Could you be quiet a little, Thore has something to say," breaks in the schoolmaster, at which they stop and look at Thore. At last he begins in a low tone, "It has happened that at this place we have had a mill, and of late years it has happened we have had two. From year to year we have always had a penny or two from these mills; but neither my father nor I have touched the money, excepting that time Ovind was away. The schoolmaster had it in charge, and he says it has prospered,--but now it is best that Ovind should get it for Nordistuen." The mother stood in the corner, making herself quite little, as with a face glowing with pleasure she gazed at Thore, who, on his part, sat immoveable, and looking almost stupid; Ole Nordistuen sat in front of him with gaping mouth; Ovind was the first to recover himself from the surprise, and breaking out: "Good luck attends me!" went across the room to his father, clapped him on the shoulder. "Oh father!" said he, rubbed his hands, and went back again. "How much money will it be?" Ole asked at last, speaking in a low tone to the schoolmaster. "Oh, not so very little." "A few hundred?" "More than that." "More than that? Ovind, more than that! Good gracious, what a farm it will be!" He rose up and laughed aloud. "I must go up with you to see Marit," said Ovind, "we'll take the chaise that is standing outside, and be quick there." "Yes, quick, quick! Do you, then, want everything quick?" "Yes, quick and rash." "Quick and rash! Exactly as when I was young, exactly!" "Here is your cap and stick, and now I'm going to turn you out!" "You turn me out, ha, ha, ha! But you are coming with me, really, are you not? The others must come too; we must sit together tonight so long as there is a spark in the embers, come along!"