Kristian now went to school too, in the infants' class. The classes were held every other day, and his did not coincide with Ditte's, who was in a higher class. He had great difficulty in keeping up with the other children, and could hardly be driven off in the mornings. "They call me the young crow," he said, crying.
"Then call them names back again," said Ditte; and off he had to go.
But one day there came a message from the schoolmaster that the boy was absent too often. The message was repeated. Ditte could not understand it. She had a long talk with the boy, and got out of him that he often played truant. He made a pretense of going to school, hung about anywhere all day long, and only returned home when school-time was over. She said nothing of this to Lars Peter—it would only have made things worse.
The unkindness from outside made them cling more closely to one another. There was something of the hunted animal in them; Lars Peter was reserved in his manner to people, and was ready to fly out if attacked. The whole family grew shy and suspicious. When the children played outside the house, and saw people approaching on the highroad, they would rush in, peeping at them from behind the broken window-panes. Ditte watched like a she-wolf, lest other children should harm her little brothers and sister; when necessary, she would both bite and kick, and she could hurl words at them too. One day when Lars Peter was driving past the school, the schoolmaster came out and complained of her—she used such bad language. He could not understand it; at home she was always good and saw that the little ones behaved properly. When he spoke of this, Ditte hardened.
"I won't stand their teasing," said she.
"Then stay at home from school, and then we'll see what they'll do."
"We'll only be fined for every day; and then one day they'll come and fetch me," said Ditte bitterly.
"They won't easily take you away by force. Somebody else would have something to say to that." Lars Peter nodded threateningly.
But Ditte would not—she would take her chance. "I've just as much right to be there as the others," she said stubbornly.
"Ay, ay, that's so. But it's a shame you should suffer for other people's wickedness."