[Subsection]

One Sunday in the late summer Mother and Aunt Anne went visiting the other farms and took Åsmund with them. Ivar had gone over to the farms too.

Per was walking in the yard, thinking how long and boring Sunday was. You looked forward to it all week, and when it came it was boring.

The yellow horse was tethered in the hayfield. The barley field was cut. Father was nowhere to be seen. Usually he was in the habit of lying out in the yard on Sunday.

When Per came indoors, Father was not there either. Only the cat lying in a chair, and a low buzzing from a couple of flies up in the ceiling. Per was surprised and went out into the bedroom. There sat Father reading an old newspaper. Per came in so quietly that he had no time to hide it. For he started in surprise and tried to hide it!

He was reading that piece about himself written many years ago. A PIONEER, it said in big letters. Beneath it was his picture. Father was standing in uniform; he had been on army exercises. It was faded too.

"What do you want?" he said to Per sharply, putting the newspaper with the picture face downwards.

Per did not know what to reply.

"You can go out again, then," said Father, still sharp and hostile. "Can't a man be left in peace?"

Per left. He felt as if he had committed a sin. He regretted having gone in. Father had been helpless, sitting there with the old newspaper, reading those bragging words about himself.

No, he did not regret it. He was glad he had seen him.