TheneighborsteasedCanuteagooddealuntilheknockedoneofthemdown。HegavenosignofsufferingfromherneglectexceptthathedrankmoreandavoidedtheotherNorwegiansmorecarefullythanever，Helayaroundinhisdenandnooneknewwhathefeltorthought，butlittleJimPeterson，whohadseenhimgloweringatLenainchurchoneSundaywhenshewastherewiththetownman，saidthathewouldnotgiveanacreofhiswheatforLena’slifeorthetownchap’seither；andJim’swheatwassowondrouslyworthlessthatthestatementwasanexceedinglystrongone。
CanutehadboughtanewsuitofclothesthatlookedasnearlylikethetownmanIsaspossible。Theyhadcosthimhalfamilletcrop；fortailorsarenotaccustomedtofittinggiantsandtheychargeforit。Hehadhungthoseclothesinhisshantytwomonthsagoandhadneverputthemon，partlyfromfearofridicule，partlyfromdiscouragement，andpartlybecausetherewassomethinginhisownsoulthatrevoltedatthelittlenessofthedevice。
Lenawasathomejustatthistime。WorkwasslackinthelaundryandMaryhadnotbeenwell，soLenastayedathome，gladenoughtogetanopportunitytotormentCanuteoncemore。
Shewaswashinginthesidekitchen，singingloudlyassheworked。Marywasonherknees，blackingthestoveandscoldingviolentlyabouttheyoungmanwhowascomingoutfromtownthatnight。TheyoungmanhadcommittedthefatalerroroflaughingatMary’sceaselessbabbleandhadneverbeenforgiven。
“Heisnogood，andyouwillcometoabadendbyrunningwithhim！Idonotseewhyadaughterofmineshouldactso。IdonotseewhytheLordshouldvisitsuchapunishmentuponmeastogivemesuchadaughter。Thereareplentyofgoodmenyoucanmarry。“