The school-master drew in the boat. The father laid down his oars,
Oyvind sprang past him and out of the boat, shook hands first with his
mother, then with the school-master. He laughed and laughed again;
and, quite contrary to the custom of peasants, immediately began to
pour out a flood of words about the examination, the journey, the
superintendent's certificate, and good offers; he inquired about the
crops and his acquaintances, all save one. The father had paused to
carry things up from the boat, but, wanting to hear, too, thought they
might remain there for the present, and joined the others. And so they
walked up toward the house, Oyvind laughing and talking, the mother
laughing, too, for she was utterly at a loss to know what to say. The
school-master moved slowly along at Oyvind's side, watching his old
pupil closely; the father walked at a respectful distance. And thus
they reached home. Oyvind was delighted with everything he saw: first
because the house was painted, then because the mill was enlarged, then
because the leaden windows had been taken out in the family-room and in
the bed-chamber, and white glass had taken the place of green, and the
window frames had been made larger. When he entered everything seemed
astonishingly small, and not at all as he remembered it, but very
cheerful. The clock cackled like a fat hen, the carved chairs almost
seemed as if they would speak; he knew every dish on the table spread
before him, the freshly white-washed hearth smiled welcome; the greens,
decorating the walls, scattered about them their fragrance, the
juniper, strewn over the floor, gave evidence of the festival.
They all sat down to the meal; but there was not much eaten, for Oyvind
rattled away without ceasing. The others viewed him now more
composedly, and observed in what respect he had altered, in what he
remained unchanged; looked at what was entirely new about him, even to
the blue broadcloth suit he wore. Once when he had been telling a long
story about one of his companions and finally concluded, as there was a
little pause, the father said,--
"I scarcely understand a word that you say, boy; you talk so very
fast."
They all laughed heartily, and Oyvind not the least. He knew very well
this was true, but it was not possible for him to speak more slowly.
Everything new he had seen and learned, during his long absence from
home, had so affected his imagination and understanding, and had so
driven him out of his accustomed demeanor, that faculties which long
had lain dormant were roused up, as it were, and his brain was in a
state of constant activity. Moreover, they observed that he had a
habit of arbitrarily taking up two or three words here and there, and
repeating them again and again from sheer haste. He seemed to be
stumbling over himself. Sometimes this appeared absurd, but then he
laughed and it was forgotten. The school-master and the father sat
watching to see if any of the old thoughtfulness was gone; but it did
not seem so. Oyvind remembered everything, and was even the one to
remind the others that the boat should be unloaded. He unpacked his
clothes at once and hung them up, displayed his books, his watch,
everything new, and all was well cared for, his mother said. He was
exceedingly pleased with his little room. He would remain at home for
the present, he said,--help with the hay-making, and study. Where he
should go later he did not know; but it made not the least difference
to him. He had acquired a briskness and vigor of thought which it did
one good to see, and an animation in the expression of his feelings
which is so refreshing to a person who the whole year through strives
to repress his own. The school-master grew ten years younger.