Luckily it
chances that most of the Heidegard freeholders are young people who
wish for improvements and desire help; they have money, too. So I
shall begin among them. I shall regulate everything from their stables
to their water-pipes; I shall give lectures and work; I shall fairly
besiege the old man with good deeds."
"Those are brave words. What more, Oyvind?"
"Why, the rest simply concerns us two. You must not go away."
"Not if he orders it?"
"And keep nothing secret that concerns us two."
"Even if he torments me?"
"We gain more and defend ourselves better by allowing everything to be
open. We must manage to be so constantly before the eyes of people,
that they are constantly forced to talk about how fond we are of each
other; so much the sooner will they wish that all may go well with us.
You must not leave home. There is danger of gossip forcing its way
between those who are parted. We pay no heed to any idle talk the
first year, but we begin by degrees to believe in it the second. We
two will meet once a week and laugh away the mischief people would like
to make between us; we shall be able to meet occasionally at a dance,
and keep step together until everything sings about us, while those who
backbite us are sitting around. We shall meet at church and greet each
other so that it may attract the attention of all those who wish us a
hundred miles apart.
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