Kristin returns to Jørundgaard in the springtime, one year after she left, and nobody dares to speak to her of the situation with Simon. Due to poor weather and conditions during the year, the village is concerned that the upcoming harvest will be a bad one. While talking with her mother and Ulvhild one day about how she spurned Simon, Kristin discovers that Erlend has finally spoken with her uncle and attempted to ask for her hand in marriage. Lavrans has taken the request very angrily, and Ragnfrid accuses Kristin of impropriety in her relationship with Erlend. Kristin and her mother have a tense argument, and Ragnfrid warns Kristin to be careful lest she ruin her relationship with her father.

Lavrans attend the local town council meeting to plan how to handle the winter with such a bad harvest and returns drunk. He tells Kristin that Simon has found another woman to marry and is planning his wedding, and he also reveals that Erlend and his uncle have paid him a visit to ask again for Kristin’s hand in marriage, which he again refused. Lavrans tells Kristin that he does not like Erlend and that Erlend has acted wickedly and irresponsibly in the past; he tells Kristin that he will never agree to a marriage with Erlend as long as he is alive.