And as to thriving--well, the wife's not falling off
anyway, by the looks of her."
They work on until evening, drawing up now and again to straighten
their backs, and exchange a word or so.
"And so you didn't get the tobacco?" says Sivert.
"No, that's true. But 'twas no loss, for I've no use for it, anyway,"
says Fredrik.
"No use for tobacco?"
"Nay. 'Twas but for to drop in at Aronsen's like, and hear what he'd
got to say." And the two jesters laughed together at that.
On the way home, father and son talk little, as was their way; but
Isak must have been thinking out something for himself; he says:
"Sivert?"
"Ay?" says Sivert again.
"Nay, 'twas nothing."
They walk on a good ways, and Isak begins again:
"How's he get on, then, with his trading, Aronsen, when he's nothing
to trade with?"
"Nay," says Sivert. "But there's not folk enough here now for him to
buy for."
"Ho, you think so? Why, I suppose 'tis so, ay, well...."
Sivert wondered a little at this. After a while his father went on
again:
"There's but eight places now in all, but there might be more before
long.
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