“Well, Mother Karin,” he began, “are you afraid to look at me?”
He had come especially to hear how it was in his home, and whether they expected him. They must know that he had worked out his time.
The innkeeper’s wife gave him the best of news. His wife had worked like a man. She had leased the estate from the new owner, and everything had succeeded for her. The children were healthy, and it was a pleasure to see them. And of course they expected him. His wife was a hard woman, who never spoke of what she thought, but she knew that no one was allowed to eat with Captain Lennart’s spoon or to sit in his chair while he was away. This spring, no day had passed without her coming out to the stone at the top of Broby hill and looking down the road. And she had put in order new clothes for him, home-woven clothes, on which she herself had done nearly all the work. By that one could see that he was expected, even if she said nothing.
“They don’t believe it, then?” said Captain Lennart.
“No, captain,” answered the peasant woman. “Nobody believes it.”
Then Captain Lennart would stop no longer; then he wished to go home.
It happened that outside the door he met some dear old friends. The pensioners at Ekeby had just come to the inn. Sintram had invited them thither to celebrate his birthday. And the pensioners did not hesitate a minute before shaking the convict’s hand and welcoming him home. Even Sintram did it.
“Dear Lennart,” he said, “were you certain that God had any meaning in it all?”
“Do you not think I know,” cried Captain Lennart, “that it was not our Lord who saved you from the block?”
The others laughed. But Sintram was not at all angry. He was pleased when people spoke of his compact with the devil.