Last came the school-master, silently took Oyvind and his parents by the hands, and made a sign to start for home; he wanted to accompany them.

The four were together once more, and this was to be the last evening.

On the way home they met many others who took leave of Oyvind and wished him good luck; but they had no other conversation until they sat down together in the family-room.
The school-master tried to keep them in good spirits; the fact was now that the time had come they all shrank from the two long years of separation, for up to this time they had never been parted a single day; but none of them would acknowledge it.

The later it grew the more dejected Oyvind became; he was forced to go out to recover his composure a little.
It was dusk now and there were strange sounds in the air.

Oyvind remained standing on the door-step gazing upward.