serious question when it came to touch themselves. The
women particularly were excited, and at the parish house, on the day
of the next meeting, the road was black with the gathered
multitude. It was a warm summer day, the windows were taken out,
and as many stood without as within. All felt that that day would
witness a great battle.

Lars came, driving his handsome horse, saluted by all; he looked
quietly and confidently around, not seeming surprised at the
throng. He seated himself, straw in mouth, near the window, and
not without a smile saw Canute rise to speak, as he thought, for
all the dead lying over there in the old churchyard.

But Canute Aakre did not begin with the churchyard. He made a
stricter investigation into the profits likely to accrue from
carrying the road through the parish, showing that in all this
excitement they had been over-estimated. He had calculated the
distance of each farm from the nearest station, should the road be
taken through the neighboring valley, and finally asked:

"Why has such a hurrah been made about this railroad, when it
would not be for the good of the parish after all?"

This he could explain; there were those who had brought about such
a previous disturbance, that a greater was necessary in order that
the first might be forgotten. Then, too, there were those who,
while the thing was new, could sell their farms and lands to
strangers, foolish enough to buy; it was a shameful speculation,
which not the living only but the dead also must be made to
promote!