"
"What were you doing, then?"
"I was talking with some one."
"Was it with the Pladsen boy?"
"Yes."
"Hear me now, Marit; to-morrow you leave home."
"No."
"Listen to me, Marit; I have but one single thing to say, only one: you
_shall_ go."
"You cannot lift me into the carriage."
"Indeed? Can I not?"
"No; because you will not."
"Will I not? Listen now, Marit, just for sport, you see, just for
sport. I am going to tell you that I will crush the backbone of that
worthless fellow of yours."
"No; you would not dare do so."
"I would not dare? Do you say I would not dare? Who should interfere?
Who?"
"The school-master."
"School--school--school-master. Does he trouble his head about that
fellow, do you think?"
"Yes; it is he who has kept him at the agricultural school."
"The school-master?"
"The school-master."
"Hearken now, Marit; I will have no more of this nonsense; you shall
leave the parish. You only cause me sorrow and trouble; that was the
way with your mother, too, only sorrow and trouble. I am an old man.
I want to see you well provided for. I will not live in people's talk
as a fool just for this matter. I only wish your own good; you should
understand this, Marit. Soon I will be gone, and then you will be left
alone. What would have become of your mother if it had not been for
me? Listen, Marit; be sensible, pay heed to what I have to say.
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