Fie! Shame on them all that have judged so hardly!

[Seats herself on the edge of the bed.

Both the land and the farm-place are lost to our line;

The old man was hard, but the law was still harder;—

There was no one to help me, and none would show mercy;

Peer was away; not a soul to give counsel.

Kari.

But here, in this house, you may dwell till you die.

Åse.

Ay, the cat and I live on charity.