before him, the freshly white-washed hearth smiled welcome; the greens,
decorating the walls, scattered about them their fragrance, the
juniper, strewn over the floor, gave evidence of the festival.

They all sat down to the meal; but there was not much eaten, for Oyvind
rattled away without ceasing. The others viewed him now more
composedly, and observed in what respect he had altered, in what he
remained unchanged; looked at what was entirely new about him, even to
the blue broadcloth suit he wore. Once when he had been telling a long
story about one of his companions and finally concluded, as there was a
little pause, the father said,--

"I scarcely understand a word that you say, boy; you talk so very
fast."

They all laughed heartily, and Oyvind not the least. He knew very well
this was true, but it was not possible for him to speak more slowly.
Everything new he had seen and learned, during his long absence from
home, had so affected his imagination and understanding, and had so
driven him out of his accustomed demeanor, that faculties which long
had lain dormant were roused up, as it were, and his brain was in a
state of constant activity. Moreover, they observed that he had a
habit of arbitrarily taking up two or three words here and there, and
repeating them again and again from sheer haste. He seemed to be
stumbling over himself. Sometimes this appeared absurd, but then he
laughed and it was forgotten. The school-master and the father sat
watching to see if any of the old thoughtfulness was gone; but it did
not seem so. Oyvind remembered everything, and was even the one to
remind the others that the boat should be unloaded. He unpacked his
clothes at once and hung them up, displayed his books, his watch,