“Our little baby died last night,” he said, when he had seated himself. “It was undoubtedly because of his mother’s milk. She has had too much to bear lately.”
“He means by that that Norby is to blame for this too,” thought the pastor. “It is high time I talked to him. Dear Wangen,” he said aloud, “will you do an old pastor a favour? Will you get up on my sledge, and drive over with me to Norby?”
Wangen started up involuntarily, and put his hand to his head. “To Norby?” he said in astonishment.
“Yes. We’ll try and put an end to this matter, dear Wangen.”
Wangen smiled and his eyes began to glow. “He’s afraid at last, is he?” he said. “And so he sends you.”
The pastor shook his head. “I’ve come on my own account, my friend,” he said. “Let me tell you that it is easiest for the innocent one to forgive. Show this now. Come with me to Norby, and there I’ll say: ‘Knut, I want to talk to you a little, and Wangen is going to hear what I say.’ Then we three’ll go into a room by ourselves, and I shall say: ‘You two, who want to send one another to prison, you’re both guilty. Shake hands! Sign a declaration that henceforward neither of you will ever mention the matter again’; and when we go into the other room, I shall say to the others: ‘There won’t be any inquiry; for Wangen and Norby think that this has nothing to do with either the authorities or any one else; they have arranged the matter between themselves.’ In a couple of days, people will have found something else to talk about, and in a month’s time the whole thing will be forgotten. Now put on your things, Wangen, and come with me!”
But instead of this, Wangen sat down, and smiled a little uncertainly.
“And who is to pay the two thousand krones that Norby is responsible for?” he asked.
The pastor was a little perplexed. He had not thought of that, and involuntarily he stroked his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
“We-ell—But dear me! Peace between people is worth more than two thousand, especially when it’s a case of going to prison. I’ll say to Norby—let me see—I’ll say: ‘If you haven’t given security for Wangen before, then do it now! Pay this! You’ll never miss it!’ I’m sure my friend Norby will be reasonable.”