Growth of the Soil

by Knut Hamsun

"Ay, and eggs."

"What, have we chickens now?"

"Ay, of course we have. And a pig."

Inger is so astonished at all this that she forgets herself altogether, and stops for a moment—"Ptro!" And Isak is proud and keeps on, trying to overwhelm her completely.

"That Geissler," he says, "you remember him? He came up a little while back."

"Oh?"

"I've sold him a copper mine."

"Ho! What's that—a copper mine?"

"Copper, yes. Up in the hills, all along the north side of the water."

"You—you don't mean he paid you money for it?"