Erland's seduction of Kristin; their clandestine affair; the confrontation when she must finally confess it to Simon; and the dreadful effect that her deceit and duplicity has on her family, makes up the last half of the book. Although Kristin could not have hoped to marry someone so far above her rank under normal circumstances, Erland's rakehell reputation makes him less than acceptable in Lavrans' eyes. We see Kristin's shame and the helplessness of her sexual involvement, but it is clear that the true message of this book isn't about the perils of illicit love, but about loss of honor — Kristin's, Erland's, and the damage they have done to the honor of their families. Their efforts to redeem it will continue throughout their lives, and there will be many stumblings and woundings in that process.
Volume I ends with the reconciliation of Kristin with her father, the marriage of Erland and Kristin, and a heartbreaking revelation about her parent's marriage.
Volume 2: The Mistress of Husaby
This book tells the story of the early years of Kristin's married life. Three months pregnant at her wedding, Kristin has kept her secret to herself. When it ultimately becomes obvious to Erland, he shows clearly his disappointment that the world will know that his first legitimate son was conceived before the wedding. Kristin finds his lukewarm response hard to bear, especially because she herself is convinced that her child may be malformed as payback for her sin. The description of Nikulaus's birth is harrowing, and Kristin's joy when she finds the baby perfect is palpable.
Eventually, Erland and his father-in-law, Lavrans, become reconciled. Simon, Kristin's former fiancé, marries her youngest sister, Ramborg. The families become very close, and things seem happy until Lavrans dies. Two years later, Ragnild follows her husband in death.
As the years pass, Erland and Kristin have seven sons. Erland is a faithful and loving husband, but often impulsive and tactless. The manor of Husaby, let drift during the years of his disgrace, thrives under Kristin's capable management. Erland, however, has little interest in farming or running his estate. He takes to a more adventurous life and has great success at it. Slowly he wins his way back to positions befitting his family's background.
As Erland's duties as warden (a high official) of a northern district expand, Kristin, left at home to rear the seven sons, is often bitter and exhausted. During one of their times of conflict and anger, Erland briefly takes up with another woman, more to spite Kristin than from any fondness for the woman. When he breaks off with her, the woman sets out on a revenge that will cost him dearly. She has taken letters from his wallet that implicate him in a scheme to threaten the monarchy. Imprisoned for high treason, he endures the rack without implicating his accomplices. Kristin stands by him, and Simon, her brother-in-law and former fiancé, eventually wins his release.
Volume 3: The Cross
Forced, as one of the terms of his release, to forfeit his estate at Husaby, Erland, Kristin and their sons now live at Jorundgaard, the estate Kristin inherited from her father. Simon Andresson and his family have become very dear to Erland and to Kristin. The two families are bound ever more tightly by many shared experiences, not only Erland's rescue from prison, but also by Kristin's care of her nephew Andres, Simon and Ramborg's eldest child, when he was deathly sick.
The years pass and it becomes apparent that Ramborg has begun to resent Kristin, sensing that Simon has never stopped loving her — as indeed he has not. Despite Simon's pains to conceal his feelings, Erland, too, recognizes them, and the two men have a final falling out. Their enmity puzzles and distresses Kristin and her family, but Kristin will not gainsay her husband, who declines to discuss the matter, so the families no longer share visits.
As their sons grow up and become involved with girls, Kristin and Erland have many arguments. Erland accuses Kristin of smothering them; Kristin accuses Erland of being too lax. Tensions build, and at last there is a terrible confrontation during which Erland's resentment of having to live on Kristin's land bursts out. The upshot is that he removes himself to a small property he owns in the mountains. For many months, although their sons try to broker a peace, the two pridefully remain at a standoff.
Kristin is called to Simon's deathbed, but her knowledge of herbs and cures cannot save him. At the end, he extracts from her a promise to journey to her husband's retreat and make up the quarrel. She makes good her promise, and is reconciled to Erland. An ecstatic few days ensue, during which an eighth child is conceived. Kristin leaves believing that Erland will soon come down the mountain to live with the family, but Erland believes she will come to live with him. He considers the older boys capable of going out into the world to make their own ways, and expects Kristin to bring the two youngest ones with her.
When Kristin's pregnancy becomes obvious, there is gossip in the village concerning Kristin and Ulf, Erland's kinsman and the manager of Jorundgaard. The baby is born, but is very weak, too weak to eat properly. Despite Kristin's efforts, he dies before he is three months old. An angry priest accuses Kristin of adultery and neglect of the child. The bishop, who is called in, believes in her innocence, but wants to know why her husband has not come forward to defend her. One of the sons rides secretly to his father, and Erland rushes to testify for Kristin - but a confrontation with the crowd when he arrives erupts into violence, and Erland receives a mortal wound.
A year later, in the spring, Munan, her youngest surviving son, also dies.
