Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his house in the story the rat trap?

In "The Rat Trap" by Selma Lagerlöf, the ironmaster invites the peddler to his house out of a sense of compassion and hospitality. He mistakes the peddler for an old acquaintance, believing him to be someone of respectability. Additionally, the ironmaster wants to offer the peddler warmth and shelter, as he feels pity for his plight as a wandering vagabond in the cold. This act of kindness ultimately plays a crucial role in the peddler's transformation throughout the story.