great fire.

Among the many he had helped to an education, his neighbor Lars
Hogstad stood foremost. Lars was not much younger than Canute, but
had developed more slowly. Being in the habit of talking much of
what he read and thought, Canute found in Lars--who bore a quiet,
earnest manner--a good listener, and step by step a sensible
judge. The result was, that he went reluctantly to the meetings of
the board, unless first furnished with Lars Hogstad's advice,
concerning whatever matter of importance was before it, which
matter was thus most likely to result in practical improvement.
Canute's influence, therefore, brought his neighbor in as a member
of the board, and finally into everything with which he himself
was connected. They always rode together to the meetings, where
Lars never spoke, and only on the road to and from, could Canute
learn his opinion. They were looked upon as inseparable.

One fine autumn day, the parish-commissioners were convened, for
the purpose of considering, among other matters, a proposal made
by the Foged, to sell the public grain-magazine, and with the
proceeds establish a savings-bank. Canute Aakre, the chairman,
would certainly have approved this, had he been guided by his
better judgment; but, in the first place, the motion was made by
the Foged, whom Wergeland did not like, consequently, neither did
Canute; secondly, the grain-magazine had been erected by his
powerful paternal grandfather, by whom it was presented to the
parish. To him the proposal was not free from an appearance of
personal offence; therefore, he had not spoken of it to any one,
not even to Lars, who never himself introduced a subject.