"This is too much for us all at once; we can't well give our answer yet." "No," continued the mother; "we were not expecting such great news--nor to get it like this." Hans stood quiet for a minute before he said: "It is true enough that Mildrid should first have asked her parents' leave. But remember that neither of us knew what was happening till it was too late. For that is really the truth. Then we could do no more than come at once, both of us, and that we have done. You must not be too hard on us." This left really nothing more to be said about their behaviour, and Hans's quiet manner made his words sound all the more trustworthy. Altogether Endrid felt that he was not holding his own against him, and the little confidence he had in himself made him the more desirous to get away. "We do not know you," he said, and looked at his wife. "We must be allowed to think it over." "Yes, that will certainly be best," went on Randi; "we ought to know something about the man we are to give our child to." Mildrid felt the offence there was in these words, but looked imploringly at Hans. "That is true," answered Hans, beginning to turn his gun under the one hand; "although I don't believe there are many men in the district much better known than I am. But perhaps some one has spoken ill of me?" He looked up to them. Mildrid sat there feeling ashamed on her parents' account, and they themselves felt that they had perhaps awakened a false suspicion, and this they had no desire to do. So both said at once: "No, we have heard nothing bad of you." And the mother hastened to add that it was really the case that they hardly knew anything about him, for they had so seldom asked about the Haugen people. She meant no harm at all by saying this, and not till the words had passed her lips, did she notice that she had expressed herself unfortunately, and she could see that both her husband and Mildrid felt the same. It was a little time before the answer came: "If the family of Tingvold have never asked after the Haugen people, the fault is not ours; we have been poor people till these last years." In these few words lay a reproach that was felt by all three to be deserved, and that thoroughly. But never till now had it occurred to either husband or wife that they had been in this case neglecting a duty; never till now had they reflected that their poor relations at Haugen should not have been made to suffer for misfortunes of which they had been in no way the cause. They stole an awkward glance at each other, and sat still, feeling real shame. Hans had spoken quietly, though Randi's words must have been very irritating to him. This made both the old people feel that he was a fine fellow, and that they had two wrongs to make good again. Thus it came about that Endrid said: "Let us take time and think things over; can't you stay here and have dinner with us? Then we can talk a little." And Randi added: "Come away here and sit down."