VI


The priest listened patiently, and did not reject the idea at once.

"Really, now!" he said, with a smile. "Why, perhaps you're right. But it
will cost a lot of money. And why should we trouble about it at all?"

"It's seventy paces from the house to the well we started to dig. Seventy
steps for the maids to go through mud and snow and all sorts, summer and
winter."

"That's true, yes. But this other way would cost a terrible lot of money."

"Not counting the well--that you'll have to have in any case; the whole
installation, with work and material, ought not to come to more than a
couple of hundred Kroner," said I.

The priest looked surprised.

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

I waited a little each time before answering, as if I were slow by nature,
and born so. But, really, I had thought out the whole thing beforehand.

"It would be a great convenience, that's true," said the priest
thoughtfully. "And that water tub in the kitchen does make a lot of mess."