[Subsection]

The summer passed like the previous one, except that there was more work suitable for Per.

You do it, Per. Per can do that; he has plenty of time.

Do you love earth, Per? asked God, rising up enormous from behind hills and out of valleys. You only had to shut your eyes to see him.

No! replied Per in fear.

Then God did not ask for a while.

Sometimes it was God who asked, sometimes Father. Sometimes both of them as one man appeared out of the hollows and asked.

Father dug on his cleared land again in the autumn after he had finished the harvest. In the field beyond was the new horse. He was yellow and was called Goldie. Father and Goldie had got to know each other that summer. Now, after the harvest, Goldie was browsing on the second crop in the meadow, wandering about in an atmosphere of great peace and repose, feeling at home on this farm. In the evening when it began to grow dark, he stood in the home meadow, tall and solitary and comforting, and grew dark too. But Father never forgot to go down and fetch him in the twilight and put him in. They would appear in the yard, emerging from the soft darkness, large and indistinct. Then they were gone.

The yellow horse had known for a long time who Father was. Per did not know, however much he wondered about it.

Per and Olav were in the fourth grade that winter. So were Åsne and Signe---but that wasn't important; they were never with them. They seemed to be quite clever, the two girls, but it wasn't important. And yet, not entirely unimportant either, perhaps.

To be the first! That was the first commandment, now as before. And then you were the first.

There was much more homework to do now. The world widened around you. Some of the big boys were preparing for confirmation. Some girls too. It was not so easy to show off in front of them, but Per and Olav slaved away and surprised the big ones on one occasion after another: there was Per on their heels, sometimes even in front, and Olav close behind. They were praised and looked about them boastfully. It was no fun.

In the morning darkness on the way to school God would tower unbelievably huge behind a hill and say: Per---

Per stood still. He could see nothing, but there was a presence round about him.

Per, it said from behind the hill.

He hurried on, his conscience pricking him. You're only doing it to get away from Bufast, said the hill.

It was no use denying it, but he did so just the same.

Per---

Yes, that's why! he made haste to say, and ran past the threatening hill.