"Can people go there free?" inquired Oyvind.
"The school-fund pays," answered the father, who was eating.
"Would you like to go?" asked the mother.
"I should like to learn something, but not to become a school-master."
They were all silent for a time. The mother hummed again and gazed before her; but Oyvind went off and sat down by himself.
"We do not actually need to borrow of the school-fund," said the mother, when the boy was gone.
Her husband looked at her.
"Such poor folks as we?"
"It does not please me, Thore, to have you always passing yourself off for poor when you are not so."
They both stole glances down after the boy to find out if he could hear. The father looked sharply at his wife.