Peer was anxious to hear what the priest would have to say about his
father. Involuntarily he stole a little nearer, though he felt somehow
that it would not do to come too close.

A hymn was sung at the graveside, the band accompanying. Peer took off
his cap. He was too taken up to notice that one of the mourners was
watching him intently, and presently left the group and came towards
him. The man wore spectacles, and a shiny tall hat, and it was not until
he began to sneeze that Peer recognised him. It was the schoolmaster,
glaring at him now with a face so full of horror and fury that the
spectacles almost seemed to be spitting fire.

"You--you--Are you mad?" he whispered in Peer's face, clenching his
black gloved hands. "What are you doing here? Do you want to cause a
catastrophe to-day of all days? Go--get away at once, do you hear me?
Go! For heaven's sake, get away from here before any one sees." Peer
turned and fled, hearing behind him as he went a threatening "If ever
you dare--again--," while the voices and the band, swelling higher in
the hymn, seemed to strike him in the back and drive him on.

He was far down in the town before he could stop and pull himself
together. One thing was clear--after this he could never face that
schoolmaster again. All was lost. Could he even be sure that what he had
done wasn't so frightfully wrong that he would have to go to prison for
it?

Next day the Troen folk were sitting at their dinner when the eldest son
looked out of the window and said: "There's Peer coming."