For three years she has persisted in thwarting me, and for three years we have not been happy together.

This is bad; and if he is at the bottom of it, I will tell him so that you may hear it, you, his father, that it will not do him any good.

He may as well give it up." "Yes, yes." Ole looked a moment at Thore, then he said,-- "Your answers are short." "A sausage is no longer." Here Oyvind had to laugh, although he was in no mood to do so.

But with daring persons fear always borders on laughter, and now it inclined to the latter.
"What are you laughing at ?" asked Ole, shortly and sharply.
"I ?" "Are you laughing at me ?" "The Lord forbid!" but his own answer increased his desire to laugh.
Ole saw this, and grew absolutely furious.

Both Thore and Oyvind tried to make amends with serious faces and entreaties to walk in; but it was the pent-up wrath of three years that was now seeking vent, and there was no checking it.
"You need not think you can make a fool of me," he began; "I am on a lawful errand: I am protecting my grandchild's happiness, as I understand it, and puppy laughter shall not hinder me.