It took him a long time to do
so; he was evidently embarrassed. Thore rising, asked them to be
seated; they sat down, side by side, on the bench in front of the
window. Thore took his seat again.
And the wooing proceeded as shall now be told.
The school-master: "We are having fine weather this autumn, after all."
Thore: "It has been mending of late."
"It is likely to remain pleasant, now that the wind is over in that
quarter."
"Are you through with your harvesting up yonder?"
"Not yet; Ole Nordistuen here, whom, perhaps, you know, would like very
much to have help from you, Oyvind, if there is nothing else in the
way."
Oyvind: "If help is desired, I shall do what I can."
"Well, there is no great hurry. The gard is not doing well, he thinks,
and he believes what is wanting is the right kind of tillage and
superintendence."
Oyvind: "I am so little at home."
The school-master looks at Ole. The latter feels that he must now rush
into the fire; he clears his throat a couple of times, and begins
hastily and shortly,--
"It was--it is--yes. What I meant was that you should be in a certain
way established--that you should--yes--be the same as at home up yonder
with us,--be there, when you were not away."
"Many thanks for the offer, but I should rather remain where I now
live."
Ole looks at the school-master, who says,--
"Ole's brain seems to be in a whirl to-day.
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