Oh, but it was all a
misery.
Ragnhild was not to go away, her mistress had said. But it was cook that
was left in charge of everything, and kept the keys, which was best for
all concerned.
On Saturday the Captain came back home on leave. Nils said he never used
to do that before. Fine and upright in his bearing he was, for all that
his wife was gone away, and he was sober as could be. He gave me orders,
very short and clear, about the timber; came out with me and showed me
here and there. "Battens, down to smallest battens, a thousand dozen. I
shall be away three weeks this time," he said. On the Sunday afternoon he
went off again. He was more determined in his manner now--more like
himself.
We were through with the field-work at last, and the potato-planting was
done; after that, Nils and the lad could manage the daily work by
themselves, and I went up to my new work among the timber.
Good days these were for me, all through. Warm and rainy at first, making
the woods all wet, but I went out all the same, and never stayed in on
that account.
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