They looked so indifferent and unconcerned sitting there that Jan could hardly think they wanted to see him; so he simply raised his cap as he went past them into the house, without speaking.

The men remained where they were.  Jan wished they would go sit where he could not see them.  He knew that Lars had harboured a grudge against him since that ill-fated day in the forest and had hinted more than once that Jan was getting old and would not be worth his day’s wage much longer.

Katrina brought on the midday meal, which was hurriedly eaten.  Lars Gunnarson and the clerk still sat on the fence, laughing and chatting.  They reminded Jan of a pair of hawks biding their time to swoop down upon helpless prey.  Finally the men got down off the fence, opened the gate, and went toward the house.

Then, after all, they had come to see him!

Jan had a strong presentment that they wished him ill.  He glanced anxiously about, as if to find some earner where he might hide.  Then his eyes fell on Glory Goldie, who also sat looking out through the window, and instantly his courage came back.

Why should he be afraid when he had a daughter like her? he thought.  Glory Goldie was wise and resourceful, and afraid of nothing.  Luck was always on her side, so that Lars Gunnarson would find it far from easy to get the best of her!

When the two men came in they seemed as unconcerned as before.  Yet Lars said that after sitting so long on the fence looking at the pretty little house they had finally taken a notion to step inside.

They lavished praises upon everything in the house and Lars remarked that Jan and Katrina had reason to feel very thankful to Eric of Falla; for of course it was he who had made it possible for them to build a home and to marry.

“That reminds me,” he said quickly, looking away from Jan and Katrina.  “I suppose Eric of Falla had the foresight to give you a deed to the land on which the hut stands?”

Neither Jan nor Katrina said a word.  Instantly they knew that Lars had now come to the matter he wanted to discuss with them.

“I understand there are no papers in existence,” continued Lars, “but I can’t believe it is so bad as all that.  For in that event the house would fall to the owner of the land.”

Still Jan said nothing, but Katrina was too indignant to keep silent any longer.

“Eric of Falla gave us the lot on which this house stands,” she said, “and no one has the right to take it away from us!”

“And no one has any intention of doing so,” said the new owner in a pacifying tone.  He only wanted to have everything regular, that was all.  If Jan could let him have a hundred rix-dollars by October fairtime—­

“A hundred rix-dollars!” Katrina broke in, her voice rising almost to a shriek.

Lars drew his head back and tightened his lips.

“And you, Jan, you don’t say a word!” said Katrina reproachfully.  “Don’t you hear that Lars wants to squeeze from us one hundred rix-dollars?”