Soon after this Anders got married, but Baard was not invited to the wedding. During the same year, Anders' only cow was found dead close to his house, and no one could tell how it happened. One misfortune followed another, and everything seemed to go wrong; at last, in the middle of the Winter, his hay loft and everything in it was burnt to the ground, and it could not be found out how the fire originated. "Some one who wishes me evil has done this," said Anders, and he wept. He was now reduced to poverty, and all his energy for work was gone. The next evening Baard appeared at his brother's house; Anders was lying down, but sprang up at the unexpected sight. "What do you want here?" said he, then stood fixedly gazing at him. Baard waited a little before he answered, "I came to help you, Anders; you are in trouble." "Things have gone with me as you would have them, Baard! Go, or I cannot restrain myself." "You are mistaken, Anders, I regret ..." "Go Baard, or we are both victims!" Baard retreated a few steps, then in a trembling voice he said,--"If you would like the watch you shall have it." "Go, Baard!" screeched the other, and Baard went. Now with Baard things had been thus:--Finding his brother fared so ill, his heart was softened, but pride held him back. He felt a desire to go to church, and there he made good resolutions, but failed in carrying them out. He often went so near that he could see the house, but either some one came out at the door, or there was a stranger, or Anders stood and chopped wood,--there was always something in the way. But one Sunday in the Winter, he again went to church, and Anders was there too. Baard saw him, he looked very pale and thin, and he wore the same clothes he had done when they lived together, but now they were old and worn. During the sermon he looked up at the pastor, and Baard thought he seemed good and kind, and he remembered their childhood's years and what a good lad he had been. Baard himself went up to the altar that day, and he made the solemn promise before God, that he would be reconciled to his brother cost him what it might. This resolution took hold of him in the same moment as he drank of the wine, and when he rose he meant to go and sit by his brother, but some one was in the way, and Anders did not look up. After service there were also hindering things,--there were so many people,--his wife walked beside him, and Baard did not know her; he thought it would be best to go home to him alone, and talk openly with him. When evening came, he went. As he reached the room door, he listened, and heard his own name mentioned; it was by the wife. "He came up to the altar to-day," said she, "he was certainly thinking of you." "No, he never thought of me," said Anders, "I know him; he thought only of himself."