"And what did Storm do?" asked Ingmar, unable to keep from laughing.
"He was so astounded at first that he couldn't say or do a thing. But, as luck would have it, Hellgum had arrived a few moments before and was in the kitchen talking with Gertrude."
"Was Hellgum with Gertrude?"
"Yes; Hellgum and Gertrude have been friends ever since the day that he acted upon her advice in the little matter with Gunhild. When Gertrude heard the racket in the schoolroom, she said: 'You're just in time to see something new, Hellgum. It would seem that henceforth the children are to instruct the schoolmaster.' Then Hellgum laughed, for he comprehended that this sort of thing was ludicrous. He promptly drove the children out, and abolished the nuisance."
Ingmar noticed that the old man was eying him in a peculiar way; it was as if a hunter were looking at a wounded bear and wondering whether he should give it another shot.
"I don't know what you expect of me," said Ingmar.
"What could I expect of you, who are only a boy! Why, you haven't a penny to your name. All you've got in the world are your two empty hands."
"I verily believe you want me to throttle Hellgum!"
"They said down at the village that this would soon blow over if you could only induce Hellgum to leave these parts."
"Whenever a new religious sect springs up there's always strife and dissension," said Ingmar. "So this is nothing out of the common."