Jan having answered all questions correctly and promptly, the pastor turned to Lars and put a query to him in a low tone of voice.

“It was not as serious as it appeared,” said Lars.  “I took it out of him.  He works at Falla every day now, as he has always done.”

Lars had not thought to lower his voice, as had the pastor.  Every one knew of whom he was speaking and many glanced anxiously at Jan, who sat there as calm as though he had not heard a word.

Later, when the catechizing was well on, the pastor happened to ask a trembling youth whose knowledge of the Scriptures was to be tested, to repeat the Fourth Commandment.

It was not wholly by chance the pastor had chosen this commandment as his text for that evening.  When seated thus in a comfortable old farmhouse, with its olden-time furniture, and much else that plainly bespoke a state of prosperity, he always felt moved to impress upon his hearers how well those prosper who hold together from generation to generation, who let their elders govern as long as they are able to do so, and who honour and cherish them throughout the remaining years of their lives.

He had just begun to unfold the rich promises which God has made to those who honour father and mother, when Jan of Ruffluck arose.

“There is some one standing outside the door who is afraid to come in,” said Jan.

“Go see what the matter is, Boerje,” said the pastor.  “You’re nearest the door.”

Boerje rose at once, opened the door, and glanced up and down the entry.

“There’s nobody out there,” he replied.  “Jan must have heard wrongly.”

After this interruption the pastor proceeded to explain to his listeners that this commandment was not so much of a command as it was good counsel, which should be strictly followed if one wished to succeed in life.  He was himself only a youth, but this much he had already observed:  lack of respect toward parents and disobedience were at the bottom of many of life’s misfortunes.

While the pastor was speaking Jan time and again turned his head toward the door and he motioned to Katrina, who was sitting on the last bench and could more easily get to the door than he could, to go open it.

Katrina kept her seat as long as she dared; but being a bit fearful of crossing Jan these days, she finally obeyed him.  When she had got the door open, she, like Boerje, saw no one in the entry.  She shook her head at Jan and went back to her seat.

The pastor had not allowed himself to be disconcerted by Katrina’s movements.  To the great joy of all the young people, he had almost ceased putting questions and was voicing some of the beautiful thoughts that kept coming into his mind.

“Think how wisely and well things are ordered for the dear old people whom we have with us in our homes!” he said.  “Is it not a blessing that we may be a stay and comfort to those who cared for us when we were helpless, to make life easy for those who perhaps have suffered hunger themselves that we might be fed?  It is an honour for a young couple to have at the fireside an old father or mother, happy and content—­”