"The largest gard in the parish; that is just the misfortune; shoes
that are too large fall off; it is a fine thing to have a good gun, but
one should be able to lift it." Then turning quickly towards Oyvind,
"Would you be willing to lend a hand to it?"
"Do you mean for me to be gard overseer?"
"Precisely--yes; you should have the gard."
"I should _have_ the gard?"
"Just so--yes: then you could manage it."
"But"--
"You will not?"
"Why, of course, I will."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes; then it is decided, as the hen said when she flew
into the water."
"But"--
Ole looks puzzled at the school-master.
"Oyvind is asking, I suppose, whether he shall have Marit, to."
Ole, abruptly: "Marit in the bargain; Marit in the bargain!"
Then Oyvind burst out laughing, and jumped right up; all three laughed
with him. Oyvind rubbed his hands, paced the floor, and kept repeating
again and again: "Marit in the bargain! Marit in the bargain!" Thore
gave a deep chuckle, the mother in the corner kept her eyes fastened on
her son until they filled with tears.
Ole, in great excitement: "What do you think of the gard?"
"Magnificent land!"
"Magnificent land; is it not?"
"No pasture equal to it!"
"No pasture equal to it! Something can be done with it?"
"It will become the best gard in the district!"
"It will become the best gard in the district! Do you think so? Do
you mean that?"
"As surely as I am standing here!"
"There, is not that just what I have said?"
They both talked equally fast, and fitted together like the cogs of two
wheels.
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