why did the rattrap peddler decline the invitation given to him by the ironmaster?

Dear student

The peddler was feeling repentant over stealing the thirty kronor and to go up to the manor house would have been like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. He simply wanted a chance to sleep in the forge and then sneak away without a sound. The ironmaster on the other hand assumed that the peddler was feeling embarrassed because of his miserable clothing and invited him in for Christmas. The peddler felt compelled to refuse the warm invitation over and over again but the ironmaster was adamant until he eventually gave in.

Regards