He had changed his clothes, his father had come in from the mill, white
with meal, and had also dressed. They just stood talking about taking
a short walk before supper, when the mother came in quite pale.
"Here are singular strangers coming up to the house; oh dear! look
out!"
Both men turned to the window, and Oyvind was the first to exclaim:--
"It is the school-master, and--yes, I almost believe--why, certainly it
is he!"
"Yes, it is old Ole Nordistuen," said Thore, moving away from the
window that he might not be seen; for the two were already near the
door.
Just as Oyvind was leaving the window he caught the school-master's
eye, Baard smiled, and cast a glance back at old Ole, who was laboring
along with his staff in small, short steps, one foot being constantly
raised higher than the other. Outside the school-master was heard to
say, "He has recently returned home, I suppose," and Ole to exclaim
twice over, "Well, well!"
They remained a long time quiet in the passage. The mother had crept
up to the corner where the milk-shelf was; Oyvind had assumed his
favorite position, that is, he leaned with his back against the large
table, with his face toward the door; his father was sitting near him.
At length there came a knock at the door, and in stepped the
school-master, who drew off his hat, afterward Ole, who pulled off his
cap, and then turned to shut the door.
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