Chapter III
That winter, Axel was left to himself again at Maaneland. Barbro was gone. Ay, that was the end of it.
Her journey to town would not take long, she said; 'twas not like going to Bergen; but she wasn't going to stay on here losing one tooth after another, till she'd a mouth like a calf. "What'll it cost?" said Axel.
"How do I know?" said she. "But, anyway, it won't cost you anything.
I'll earn the money myself."
She had explained, too, why it was best for her to go just then; there were but two cows to milk, and in the spring there would be two more, besides all the goats with kids, and the busy season, and work enough right on till June.
"Do as you please," said Axel.
It was not going to cost him anything, not at all. But she must have some money to start with, just a little; there was the journey, and the dentist to pay, and besides, she must have one of the new cloaks and some other little things. But, of course, if he didn't care to….
"You've had money enough up to now," said he.
"H'm," said she. "Anyway, it's all gone."
"Haven't you put by anything?"