"There has been a hard frost during the night," the schoolmaster put in.
This was followed by a dead silence, which lasted several minutes. Presently Halvor got up, and the others started, as if suddenly awakened from a sound sleep.
"I must get back to the shop," said Halvor.
"What's your hurry?" asked Mother Stina.
"I hope Halvor isn't going on my account," said Karin meekly.
As soon as Halvor was gone the tension was broken, and the schoolmaster knew at once what to say. He looked at the lad Karin had brought with her, and of whom no one had taken any notice before. He was a little chap who could not have been much older than Gertrude. He had a fair, soft baby face, yet there was something about him that made him appear old for his years. It was easy to tell to what family he belonged.
"I think Karin has brought us a new pupil," said Storm.
"This is my brother," Karin replied. "He is the present Ingmar
Ingmarsson."
"He's rather little for that name," Storm remarked.
"Yes, father died too soon!"