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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dry Fish and Wet, by
+Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Dry Fish and Wet
+       Tales from a Norwegian Seaport
+
+Author: Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
+Translator: W. Worster
+
+Release Date: April 22, 2011 [EBook #35918]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRY FISH AND WET ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ DRY FISH AND WET
+
+
+ _Translated from the Norwegian
+ by W. WORSTER, M.A._
+
+
+
+
+ DRY FISH AND
+ WET
+
+
+ Tales from a Norwegian Seaport
+
+ BY
+ ELIAS KRAEMMER
+
+ GYLDENDAL
+ 11 HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON, W. 1
+ COPENHAGEN . CHRISTIANIA
+ 1922
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                           PAGE
+
+     I. The Town                           1
+
+    II. Knut G. Holm                       4
+
+   III. Bramsen                           25
+
+    IV. Hermansen of the Bank             36
+
+     V. Mrs. Rantzau's Story              56
+
+    VI. "Rebecca and the Camels"          73
+
+   VII. Holm & Son                        86
+
+  VIII. Malla Trap                       101
+
+    IX. Clapham Junction                 115
+
+     X. The Ship comes Home              131
+
+    XI. The Concert                      136
+
+   XII. Old Nick                         141
+
+  XIII. Cilia                            160
+
+   XIV. A Royal Visit                    189
+
+    XV. Peter Oiland                     200
+
+   XVI. Emilie Rantzau                   213
+
+  XVII. The _Eva Maria_                  239
+
+ XVIII. The _Henrik Ibsen_               250
+
+   XIX. Nils Petter's Legacy             265
+
+    XX. The Admiral                      277
+
+   XXI. Dirrik                           311
+
+
+
+
+DRY FISH AND WET
+
+
+
+
+I
+
+THE TOWN
+
+
+The last census showed a population of 19,991 inhabitants, but if
+anyone asked "Holm at the Corner" how big the place was, he would say
+"between twenty and thirty thousand"--a figure he considered
+reasonable enough, counting the annual increment in the families he
+knew.
+
+The town had its own traditions. Natives could speak with pride of
+the days, now long passed, when the firms of C. B. Taline and Veuve
+Erik Strom had great cargoes of coffee coming direct from Rio, while
+Danish vessels by the dozen lay alongside the warehouses discharging
+corn, and unwieldy Dutchmen took in baulks large enough to cut up
+into arm-chair sections--ay, there was proper timber in those days,
+not like the thin weedy sticks that come down the river now!
+
+And the place had other memories, apart from trade and commerce.
+There was a whole gallery of clerics whose brilliant names cast a
+glow of distinction long after they themselves were dead and gone;
+old men remembered them, and the town could feel itself, as it were,
+related to episcopal sees all over the country. Great trading houses
+of old standing came to ruin, fortunes were shattered, and crisis
+after crisis came and went, but every such period merely added a
+fresh chapter to the history of the town, making new stories for
+fathers to tell their sons. In course of time, a whole collection of
+such stories had grown up about these merchant princes, for trade
+was, after all, the chief interest of the place and so remained. When
+the old men got together, talk would invariably turn upon such
+matters as Nils Berg's grand speculations in the Crimean War, or the
+disastrous failure of Balle & Co.; while the younger ones, who were
+in the swim, enlisted further shareholders in their factories and
+ship-owning concerns. It was a town with plenty of grit in it, no
+lack of young stock to carry on the work.
+
+True, there were times when it seemed to languish, to be dwindling
+away, when periods of crisis had swept away what appeared to be its
+chief support; but a breathing space was all that was needed, and
+soon the old spirit was awake once more, and life went on as bravely
+as before.
+
+And so it went on for generation after generation, while the river
+flowed, broad and smooth as ever, down the valley, pouring its
+ice-water into the fjord each spring. Up the hillsides on either hand
+the roads turned up and curved among thicket and bush, and the higher
+one climbed the clearer showed the town below with its rows of houses
+and its churches.
+
+Those who were born in the town and had spent their youth there, but
+whom fate had later moved to other parts of the country, made it a
+practice, when they came home, to climb the hillside and look out
+over the town, as it lay there rich in memories. And the longer one
+had been away, the stronger they seemed to grow; for there is a
+strange power in such memories of a little, old town.
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+KNUT G. HOLM
+
+
+Knut G. Holm had had his ups and downs; no one knew exactly how he
+stood. Failure and crisis had raged about him, and many a time public
+opinion had given him but a short while to keep above water himself,
+but he always managed to get through somehow, though there were times
+when he had not credit for five shillings, when the commercial
+travellers gave his corner premises the stealthy go-by, in the
+confident belief that he would put his shutters up next day. But he
+never did. And at last it grew to a proverb, that Knut G. Holm was
+like a cat; you might throw him out of a top-floor window, but he
+would always land on his feet in the end!
+
+In the little office behind the shop there was always a little
+gathering before dinner-time, between one and two, to hear Holm
+holding forth; for he was a man with an unusual gift of speech, and
+whatever might happen in the place, he was always the first to get
+hold of it.
+
+Dealer Vagle was a fool to pay L1600 for that dairy farm--Knut Holm
+had no hesitation in saying as much; nor was he afraid to make public
+his opinion that Jorgensen the hatter was not such a fool as he
+looked in selling the property referred to. Everyone knew Holm's
+"gossip-shop," as the office was generally called, but no one took
+offence at his extravagant talk, for all knew he meant no harm, but
+was really one of the kindliest of men.
+
+He was always terribly busy, for he had a hand in everything, from
+the Silicate Products Company, of which he was a director, to the
+machine shops, of which he was chairman, and which paid a steady 20
+per cent. per annum.
+
+Knut Holm was no longer a youth, he was nearing fifty-seven; but to
+judge from his fair-haired, rotund figure as one met him in the
+street, always with his coat unbuttoned and his silk hat at a rakish
+angle, one would have set him down as ten years younger.
+
+There was a peculiar briskness in his gait as he walked up the street
+in business hours, stopping to speak with every soul he met, and yet
+with such haste that the person last addressed would generally be
+left staring open-mouthed, without having had the chance of uttering
+a syllable.
+
+Holm had long been thinking of getting in a lady clerk, a reliable
+person who could look after the office and keep the books up to date.
+Peder Clasen and Garner had both been with him for many years, but
+both felt more at home outside in the shop, and never troubled about
+bookkeeping more than strictly necessary, and hardly that, with the
+result that the books were generally half a year behind. Nothing had
+come of the lady-clerk idea, however, until one day Dr. Blok looked
+in and asked if Holm could find any use for a young lady he knew, and
+could safely recommend, a Miss Betty Rantzau. Her mother taught
+singing; had come to the town some six months before; and the
+daughter was a willing and well-educated girl; it would be a good
+action to find her something to do. Clasen and Garner, not to speak
+of Holm himself, awaited her arrival with considerable interest. She
+was tall and slender, with a wealth of fair hair, and pretty teeth
+that showed when she smiled. She offered her hand with frank
+kindliness to Clasen as she came in. "So we are to work together,"
+she said. "Very kind of you, I'm sure," stammered Clasen in
+confusion. "Mr. Holm is in the office; will you please to go in?"
+
+Soon after, she was duly installed on the high stool in the office,
+with Holm himself sitting opposite, at the other side of the desk.
+She managed the old daybook with surprising ease; Holm glanced at her
+from time to time as she worked. He found it difficult to open
+conversation; it was queer to have a woman about the place like this,
+and at such close quarters. He felt himself obliged to be a little
+careful of his words,--a thing he was altogether unaccustomed to in
+the office.
+
+Next day, the usual meeting in the "gossip-shop" was of unusually
+brief duration, for as Vindt, the stockbroker, declared when he came
+out, "Damme, but it's spoiled the whole thing, having a blessed woman
+in there listening to every word you say." Whereto Holm replied that
+it was "sort of comfortable to have a pleasant young face to look at,
+instead of a wrinkled old pumpkin like yours, Vindt!" Vindt growled,
+and took his departure hastily.
+
+And it was not many days before Holm was chatting away easily to
+Betty, as she worked at her books, pretending to listen attentively
+the while to all his stories.
+
+"I'm not disturbing you, I hope?"
+
+"No, indeed, Mr. Holm. It's very nice of you, I'm sure, to talk to
+me." She slipped down from her chair, and stroked the back of the big
+ledger with her slender white hands.
+
+"I've walked a deuce of a way to-day"--he sat down on the sofa and
+wiped his forehead--"went right out to the cemetery, to lay a wreath
+on C. H. Pettersen and Company's grave. You've heard of C. Henrik
+Pettersen, I dare say? Grocery and provision stores over the square
+there; had it for years and years. First-rate man he was; my best
+friend."
+
+"Good friends are very precious, Mr. Holm."
+
+"Why, yes, they are, mostly. And C. H. Pettersen and Co. was an
+uncommon firm, I must say, both for quality and weight. I know there
+were some mischief-making folk used to say he sold margarine as dairy
+butter, but that was just pure malice, for the quality was so good
+I'll swear they couldn't tell the difference. And when they're both
+alike, what does it matter what you call them?"
+
+"Has he been dead long?"
+
+"Eleven years it is to-day since he handed in his final
+balance-sheet; I go out every year to lay a wreath on his grave, out
+of sheer gratitude and affection for his memory."
+
+"You don't often meet with friendship like that."
+
+"You're right there. Ah, one needs to have friends; when you haven't,
+it's only too easy to get low-spirited--especially now, since I've
+had this bilious trouble."
+
+"Oh, that must be horrid."
+
+"Horrid, yes, it's the very devil. Only fancy, a man like me, that
+used to eat and drink whatever I pleased--as far as I could get it,
+that is--and now that I can get whatever I've a fancy to, I have to
+live on brown bread and weak tea. You'd think Providence might have
+managed things better than that, now, wouldn't you?"
+
+"Oh, but I'm sure, if you're careful, you'll soon be all right again.
+And as long as you're properly looked after----"
+
+"Ah, that's just the trouble, I must say. I've been used to something
+very different. I dare say you know I've been married twice----"
+
+"Twice? Oh yes, I fancy I did hear about it."
+
+"So you can understand it's a great deal to miss."
+
+"Yes, indeed. Let me see; wasn't your first wife English?"
+
+"Maggie--yes; oh, a charming creature, Miss Rantzau; I wish you could
+have seen her. The loveliest brown eyes, and hair as black as a
+raven's wing, and a complexion of milk and roses. And the sweetest
+disposition; good inside and out she was. Too good, I suppose, for
+this world as well as for me."
+
+"Your first wife did not live very long?"
+
+"We were only married a year: hardly enough to count, really. It's
+just a beautiful memory----"
+
+"And how did you come to meet her, Mr. Holm?"
+
+"It was in Birmingham--I was over there on business. I dare say
+you've noticed I put in an English word now and again in talking;
+it's all from the time of my first marriage."
+
+"Yes, I have noticed you use foreign words now and again."
+
+"It's all from those days with Maggie. Oh, you should have heard her
+say: 'I love you, darling.' Lord save us, what a lovely creature she
+was! I declare I love England myself now, all for Maggie's sake."
+
+"And your son, the engineer, she was his mother?"
+
+"Yes, to be sure. Poor Maggie, it cost her life, that little bit of
+business."
+
+"And your second wife?"
+
+"She was a Widow Gronlund from Arendal. Ah, that was a queer story.
+There I was, you see, with little William, Maggie's boy, sorrowful
+and downcast as a wet umbrella. Of course you'd understand I'd no
+wish really to go and get married again all at once; I wrote to
+Skipper Gronlund of Arendal--he was a cousin of mine--and asked if he
+and his wife would take the boy and look after him. They were willing
+enough, the more by reason they'd only one child of their own Little
+Marie, a girl of the same age."
+
+"So they took the boy?"
+
+"Yes. He was there for four years, and then I began to feel the want
+of him and went up to Arendal to see him. But what do you think
+happened then? Just as I got to Arendal there came a wire saying
+Gronlund's ship had gone to the bottom, and that was the end of
+Gronlund!"
+
+"And then you married her?"
+
+"Exactly. What else could I do? Amalie, Mrs. Gronlund that is,
+wouldn't give up the boy, and I couldn't tear him away by force,
+could I? Very well, I said, what must be must, man is but dust, and
+so we got married."
+
+"Mrs. Gronlund was not altogether young, I suppose?"
+
+"Nothing much to look at, more's the pity, but an excellent
+housekeeper and a good-hearted soul."
+
+"And so it turned out happily after all?"
+
+"Ay, that it did, but it didn't last long, worse luck. Amalie still
+kept longing for her Gronlund, and she got kidney disease and went
+off to join him--and there I was left once again all on my own, and
+this time with Maggie's boy and Amalie's girl."
+
+"But you were glad to have the children, surely?"
+
+"Well, yes, at times. But I can't help calling to mind the words of
+the prophet, Children are a blessing of the Lord, but a trial and a
+tribulation to man. It's true, it's true.... Well, William was going
+in for engineering, you see, and he was away in Germany at his
+studies--studying how to spend money, as far as I could see, with a
+crowd of mighty intelligent artist people he'd got in with. And what
+do you suppose he's doing now?"
+
+Betty was working at her books again, writing away with all her might
+in the big ledger, while Holm went on with his story.
+
+"He wants to be a painter--an artist, you'd say, and daubs away great
+slabs of picture stuff as big as this floor--but Lord save and help
+us, I wouldn't have the messy things hung up here. I told him he'd
+much better go into the shop and get an honest living in a decent
+fashion like his father before him--but no! Too common, if you
+please, too materialistic. And that's bad enough, but there's worse
+to it yet. Would you believe it, Miss Betty, he and those artist
+friends of his have turned Marie's head the same wry fashion, and
+make her believe she's cut out for an artistic career herself--a born
+opera singer, they say; and now she carols away up there till people
+think there's a dentist in the house. Oh, it's the deuce of a mess, I
+do assure you!"
+
+Betty looked up from her book. "You must have the gift of good
+humour, Mr. Holm."
+
+"Well, I hope so, I'm sure. Shouldn't like to be one of your doleful
+sort."
+
+"A kind and hard-working man you've always been, I'm sure. A perfect
+model of a man."
+
+"Perfect model--me? Lord preserve us, I wouldn't be that for worlds.
+Can't imagine anything more uninteresting than the perfect model
+type. No--I've just tried all along to be an ordinary decent man,
+that finds life one of the best things going. And when things
+happened to turn particularly nasty--no money, no credit, and that
+sort of thing--why, I'd just say to myself, 'Come along, my lad, only
+get to grips with it, and you'll pull through all right.' And then I
+could always console myself with the thought that when things were
+looking black, they couldn't get much blacker, so they'd have to
+brighten up before long."
+
+"Yes, it takes sorrows as well as joys to make a life."
+
+"That's true. But we make them both for ourselves mostly. If you only
+knew what fun I've got out of life at times; have to hammer out a bit
+of something lively now and then, you know! Look at us now, for
+instance, just sitting here talking. Isn't that heaps better than
+sitting solemnly like two mummies on their blessed pyramids?" And he
+swung round on his high stool till the screw creaked again.
+
+"Yes, indeed, it's very nice, I'm sure." Betty began putting her
+books away, Holm walking up and down meanwhile with short, rapid
+steps. Upstairs, someone was singing to the piano.
+
+"Nice sort of evening we're going to have, by the look of things.
+House full of blessed amateurs with fiddles and tambourines. Serve
+them right if they were packed off to a reformatory, the whole----"
+
+"Oh, but surely, Mr. Holm, you needn't be so hard on them. Young
+people must have a little entertainment now and then--especially when
+they've a father who can afford it," she added a little wistfully.
+
+"Afford it--h'm. As to that ... if they keep on the way they're going
+now, I'm not sure I shan't have to give them a bit of a lesson...."
+He crossed over to the desk, and, spreading out his elbows, looked
+quizzically at Betty.
+
+"What do you think now--is Knut G. Holm too old to marry again?"
+
+"Really, I'm sure I couldn't say," answered the girl, with a merry
+laugh. And, slipping past him, she took her jacket and hat.
+
+"Good-night, Mr. Holm."
+
+"Good-night, Miss Betty. I hope I haven't kept you too long with all
+my talk, but it's such a comfort to feel that there's one place in
+the house where there's somebody sensible to talk to."
+
+He stood for some time looking after her.
+
+"Not bad--not bad at all. Nice figure--trifle over slender in the
+upper works, perhaps; looks a bit worried at times; finds it hard to
+make ends meet, perhaps, poor thing. H'm. But she's a good worker,
+and that's a fact. Yes, I think this arrangement was a good idea."
+
+Garner came in with the cash-box. "We've shut up outside, Mr. Holm.
+Was there anything more you wanted this evening?"
+
+"No--no thanks. H'm, I say, that row and goings on upstairs, can you
+hear it out in the shop?"
+
+"About the same as in here. But it's really beautiful music, Mr.
+Holm. I slipped out into the passage upstairs a little while back,
+and they were singing a quartette, but Miss Marie was taking the
+bass, and going so hard I'm sure they could hear her right up at the
+fire station."
+
+"I've no doubt they could, Garner. But I'll give them music of
+another sort, and then--we'll see!" He flung the cash-box into the
+safe with a clang, and Garner judged it best to disappear without
+delay.
+
+Outside in the shop he confided to Clasen that the old man was in a
+roaring paddy about the music upstairs; and the pair of them fell to
+speculating as to what would happen when he came up.
+
+"Oh, nothing," said Clasen. "Those youngsters they always manage to
+get round him in the end."
+
+"Might get sick of the whole business and give up the shop--or make
+it over to us, what?" added Garner, "as his successors," and he waxed
+enthusiastic over the idea as they strolled along to Syversen's Hotel
+for a little extra in the way of supper.
+
+Holm was walking up and down by himself in the office, while the
+music upstairs went on, until the globe on the safe rattled with the
+sound. He was in a thoroughly bad temper for once. "There! Just as
+everything was going nicely--and a balance-sheet worth framing!
+Ha-ha! and only the other day that miserable worm of a bank manager,
+Hermansen, wouldn't take my paper for L400. Lord, but I'd like to
+show that fellow one day; make him understand he was a trifle out in
+his reckoning with the firm of Knut G. Holm. Do a neat little deal to
+the tune of a few thousand, cash down--something to make him scratch
+his silly pate. I can just imagine him saying to himself: 'Remarkable
+man that Knut Holm. Never really had much faith in him before, but
+now....' Yes, that's what he said a few years back, I remember;
+hadn't much faith in the business. Well, I must say, things _were_
+looking pretty bad at that time. But I'd always reckoned on William's
+coming into the business; new style, Holm and Son. And now there's an
+end of all that. No, it doesn't pay to go building castles in the
+air; it's just card houses that come tumbling down with a crash. Here
+have I been toiling and moiling all these years, morning till night,
+building up the business step by step to what it is now. Had to
+knuckle to that swine of a Hermansen ugh--ugrh--isch! Lying awake at
+night trying to work out some way of getting over to-morrow, with the
+bills falling due--and now there's that pack of wastrels sitting up
+there. 'Poor old man'--that's their style--'quite a decent old chap
+in many ways, no doubt, but no idea of culture, no sense of lofty
+ideals; spent his life standing behind a counter and that's about all
+he's fit for.' Oh, I know the tune when they get on that topic! I've
+marked it often enough when I'm with them and their precious friends.
+They'll eat and drink at my expense, and then slap me on the
+shoulder in their superior way, thinking all the time I'm just an old
+drudge of a cab horse, and lucky to have the chance of encouraging
+real Art! Oh, I'll talk to them! It'll be a real treat to give them a
+proper lesson for once. They shall have it this evening. So on, old
+boy!"
+
+When Holm walked into the big drawing-room upstairs he was greeted
+with acclamation. "Hurrah for Maecenas! hurrah for the patron of Art!
+Hurrah!"
+
+"Here, Frantz, you're a poet; get up and make a speech in honour of
+my noble sire."
+
+Frantz Pettersen, a podgy little man with a big fair moustache,
+lifted his glass.
+
+"Friends and brothers in Art, in the eternal realm of beauty! the
+halls wherein we live and move are bright and lofty, it is true, and
+our outlook is wide, unbounded. But let us not therefore forget the
+simple home of our youthful days, though it be never as poor and
+dry."
+
+"Dry--what do you mean? It's not dry here, I hope?"
+
+"My mistake. Dark, I should have said. Poor and dark.... Well, my
+friend, this noble fatherly soul, who a moment ago entered upon us
+like a vision from another world--a visitor from the lower regions,
+so to speak (Hear!)--him we acclaim, by all the gods of ancient myth,
+by the deities of the upper and the nether world--steady, boys--not
+to speak of this. And you, my fortunate young friend, whose lot it is
+to claim this exalted soul by the worthy name of father, rejoice with
+me at his presence among us in this hour. Do not your hearts beat
+high with thankfulness to the providence that has spared him to you
+so long? What says the poet (now what does he say, I wonder? Let me
+see). 'My father was a----' something or other. Anyhow, never mind.
+To come to the point, we, er--raise our glasses now in honour of this
+revered paterfamilias whose toil and thingummy in this materialistic
+world have crowned the work of his accomplished children. _Skaal!_"
+
+The speech was received with general acclamation.
+
+Holm was taken by surprise, and hardly knew what to say. He could
+hardly open the campaign at such a moment with a sermon; mechanically
+he took the glass offered him. But hardly had he touched it with his
+lips than he asked in astonishment:
+
+"When--where on earth did you get hold of that Madeira? Let me look
+at the bottle. I thought as much. Tar and feather me, if they haven't
+gone and snaffled my '52 Madeira! Six bottles that I'd been keeping
+for my jubilee in the business--all gone, I suppose. Nice children, I
+must say!"
+
+He sat down in an arm-chair, fanning himself with a handkerchief.
+
+"These golden drops from the cellars of our revered friend and
+patron----" began Frantz sententiously.
+
+"Oh, stop that nonsense, do," growled Holm. And, snatching up a
+bottle of the old Madeira, he took it into the dining-room and hid it
+behind the sofa.
+
+"Dearest, darling papa, you're not going to be bad-tempered now, are
+you?" whispered Marie, throwing her arms around his neck.
+
+"I'm not bad-tempered--I'm angry."
+
+"Oh, but you mustn't. Why, what is there to be angry about?"
+
+Holm was dumbfounded. Nothing to be angry about indeed. He ought
+perhaps to say thank you to these young rascals for allowing him to
+stay up with them?
+
+"Shall I sing to you, papa?"
+
+"Sing! no, thank you. I'd rather not."
+
+"But what's the matter? What's it all about?"
+
+"What's the matter--good heavens, why, my '52 Madeira, isn't that
+enough?"
+
+"Oh, is that all? I'm sure it couldn't have been put to better use.
+You ought to have heard Frantz Pettersen making up things on the spur
+of the moment; it was simply lovely."
+
+She had clambered up on his knee, with her arms round his neck; the
+others were still in the drawing-room.
+
+"Lovely, was it, little one?" said Holm in a somewhat gentler voice.
+
+"Yes, papa--oh, I don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much as this
+evening. And only fancy, Hilmar Strom, the composer--there, you can
+see, the tall thin man in glasses--he said I had a beautiful
+voice--beautiful!"
+
+"Don't you believe it, my child."
+
+"What--when a great artist like that says so? Oh, I was so happy--and
+now you come and...." She stood up and put her handkerchief to her
+eyes. Just then William came in.
+
+"Hullo, what's the matter? What are you crying for?"
+
+"Papa--papa says I'm not to believe what Hilmar Strom said--that I'd
+a beautiful voice. Ugh--it's always like that at home--it's
+_miserable_." She leaned over in a corner of the sofa, hiding her
+face in her hands.
+
+"Yes, you're right. Oh, we shall have pleasant memories of home to go
+out into the world with." And William stalked off in dudgeon.
+
+Holm sat there like a criminal, at a loss what to make of it all. Oh,
+these young folk! They always seemed to manage to turn the tables on
+him somehow. He couldn't even get properly angry now.
+
+And Marie--he was always helpless where she was concerned. He was
+sorry now he had not brought her up differently. But he had never
+said an unkind word to her--how could he, to a sweet little thing
+like that? Only last year she had nursed him herself for three weeks,
+when he was at death's door with inflammation of the lungs; that
+girl, that girl! He went over to the sofa and put his arms round her.
+
+"There, there, little one, it's not so bad as all that."
+
+"Hu--hu--hu--I didn't know--I didn't know about the old Madeira. It
+was me--hu--hu--that brought it up."
+
+"Well, well, never mind about the Madeira, child. We can get some
+more; only don't cry now."
+
+She turned towards him.
+
+"Then you're not angry with me any more, papa?" "No, no, child.
+There--now go in and enjoy yourself again."
+
+"Oh, but it's so horrid, papa--I'm sure the others must have noticed
+us."
+
+Just then William came in and reported that the scene had made a
+painful impression on the guests; Strom, the composer, and Berg, the
+sculptor, were for going off at once, and were only with difficulty
+persuaded to stay.
+
+Holm did not know what to say to this; the transition from accuser to
+accused was too sudden.
+
+"Couldn't you make us some punch, father; it would sort of set things
+right again if you were to come marching in yourself with a big bowl
+of punch."
+
+"Punch? H'm--well--I could, of course, but then..."
+
+"Oh yes, that lovely punch, papa, you know, with champagne and hock
+and curacao in--and all the rest of it."
+
+"Well, I suppose I must. Now that I have once got into all this--this
+artist business, why..." And off he went for the key of the cellar.
+
+No sooner was he out of the room than William burst out laughing.
+
+"Oh, Marie, you are the most irresistible little devil that ever
+lived." And he waltzed her round and round.
+
+"Well, it wanted some doing to-day, William, I can tell you. I was
+half afraid I shouldn't manage it after all. As it was, I had to cry
+before he'd come round."
+
+"First-rate. Woman's tears are the finest weapon ever invented--and
+punch on top of all--bravo! Come along, we must go and prepare the
+rest of the band for what's coming."
+
+Out in the kitchen, Holm was busy over a punch bowl, solemnly
+stirring the brew and dropping in slices of lemon one by one.
+
+"I am an old fool, I know, to let them get round me as they do. H'm.
+And the longer I leave it, the worse it will be. We shall have to
+come to a proper understanding some time; it can't go on like
+this...."
+
+"Papa, are you nearly ready?"
+
+"Coming, coming, dear, in a minute. Open the door, there's a good
+girl."
+
+The entry of the host with a bowl of punch was the signal for a
+general demonstration of delight. Frantz Pettersen promptly sat down
+at the piano and started off, the rest of the party accompanying with
+anything they could lay hands on. One had a pair of fire tongs, one
+beat a brass tray, one rang a couple of glasses against each other,
+and so on. The words were something like this:
+
+    "Our host he is a lasting joy,
+     A perfect Pa for girl and boy,
+     A perfect Pa, hurray, hurrah,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurroo!
+
+     He stands with head so meekly bowed,
+     Withal a man of whom we're proud,
+     We're proud of you, hurrah, hurroo,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurray!
+
+     All honour to the grocery trade
+     Whereby his fortune it was made,
+     And a nice one too, hurrah, hurroo,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurray!
+
+     It must have been a decent pile
+     For his cellar's stocked in splendid style,
+     Put it away, hurrah, hurray,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurroo!
+
+     Though somebody must have made, we fear, a
+     Sad mistake with that Madeira,
+     Maderiah, hurray, hurrah,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurroo!
+
+     But now he casts all care away
+     And gladly joins our circle gay.
+     Our circle gay, hurrah, hurray,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurroo!
+
+     The flowing bowl he brings us here,
+     So drink his health with a hearty cheer,
+     Hip, hip, hurrah, hurrip,
+       Hurrah, hurrip, hurra-a-ay!"
+
+Holm did not know whether to laugh or cry at this exhibition, but
+chose the former; after all, it might be worth while to see how far
+they would go. He made speech after speech, and the company shouted
+in delight. Graarud, the literary critic of the _People's Guardian_,
+declared that Knut Holm was a credit to the merchant citizens of his
+country, and as fine a specimen of the type as was to be found.
+
+Listad, another literary man, who edited a paper himself, was making
+love to Marie, but with little apparent success. He was a
+cadaverous-looking personage, but an idealist, and earnest in the
+cause of universal peace.
+
+The speeches grew more and more exalted in tone as the evening went
+on. Pettersen invited the company to drink to the "coming dawn of Art
+in the land--a dawn that would soon appear when once the daughter of
+the house raised her melodious voice to ring o'er hill and dale."
+This was too much for Holm; he slipped into the hall and, putting on
+an overcoat, went out to get some fresh air.
+
+It was a fine, starlight, frosty night, the river flowed broad and
+smooth and dark between the piers, the gas lamps on either side
+shedding long streaks of light across the silent water.
+
+He swung round the corner, but--heavens, who was that sitting so
+quietly on the steps in front of the shop? He went up, and found a
+twelve-year-old boy leaning against the wall.
+
+"Why, little man, what's the matter? What are you sitting out here
+for in the cold?"
+
+The lad rose hurriedly to his feet and made as if to run away.
+
+"No, here, wait a bit, son; there's nothing to be afraid of." Holm
+took the boy's hand, and looked into a pale childish face with deep
+dark eyes, and framed in a tangle of fair hair.
+
+"I was only listening," he sobbed.... "The music upstairs there...."
+
+"You're fond of music, then?"
+
+"Yes; I always go out in the evening, when nobody can see, and sit
+outside where I know there's somebody that plays. And Holm's up
+there, they've got the loveliest piano."
+
+"Would you like to learn to play yourself?"
+
+The boy looked up at him in astonishment.
+
+"Me?"
+
+"Yes, you. If you're so fond of music, wouldn't you like to learn to
+play?"
+
+"I've got to help mother at home, because father's dead. And when I'm
+big enough I'm going to be a sailor. Please, I must go home now."
+
+"Mother getting anxious about you, eh?"
+
+"No, she knows where I go of an evening; she doesn't mind."
+
+"Well, what's your name, anyhow?"
+
+"Hans Martinsen."
+
+"Here you are, then, Hans, here's two shillings for you."
+
+"Oh, er--that for me! I could go to heaps of concerts.... Thank you
+ever so much."
+
+He clasped the outstretched hand in both his little fists, and looked
+up with beaming eyes.
+
+"And now look here, little Hans. At eleven o'clock to-morrow morning
+you come round and ask for me. Here in the shop."
+
+"But, are you--are you Mr. Holm, then?" He loosed the hand.
+
+"Well, and what then? That's nothing to be afraid of, is it, little
+Hans? But now, listen to me. I want you to come round here to-morrow
+morning, as I said. And perhaps then we'll have some real nice music
+for you. And you can bring your mother too if you like."
+
+"Music--to-morrow--oh, that will be lovely. And won't mother be
+pleased!"
+
+"And now run along home, like a good boy, and get warm. You've been
+sitting here in the cold too long already. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night, good-night!"
+
+Holm watched the little figure hurrying with swift little legs across
+the bridge, till it disappeared into the dark on the farther side.
+
+He stood for some time deep in thought. The dawn of Art--what was it
+Pettersen had said? What if he, Holm, the despised materialist, were
+to be the first to discover the dawn here! It was a strange
+coincidence, anyway. "And such strange, deep eyes the little fellow
+had; it went to my heart when his little hands took hold of mine....
+Ay, little lad, you're one of God's flowers, I can see. And you
+shan't be left to perish of cold in this world as long as my name's
+Knut Holm."
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+BRAMSEN
+
+
+On the morning after the party, Holm sent down for Paal Abrahamsen or
+"Bramsen" as he was generally called. Holm and Bramsen had known each
+other from childhood; they had gone to the same poor school, and had
+grown up together. After their confirmation, Bramsen had gone to sea,
+while Holm had got a place in a shop, and commenced his mercantile
+career. But he never forgot his old friend, and when in course of
+time he had established a business of his own, he made Bramsen his
+warehouseman and clerk on the quay, where he now held a position of
+trust as Holm's right-hand man. He was a short, bandy-legged man,
+with a humorous face set in a frame of shaggy whiskers, and a
+remarkably mobile play of feature. Agile as a cat, he could walk on
+his hands as easily as others on their feet, and, despite his
+fifty-five years, he turned out regularly on Contrition Day to
+compete with the boys for prizes in the park; and he was a hard man
+to beat!
+
+"Paal he can never be serious," complained Andrine, his wife, who was
+something of a melancholy character herself, and constantly
+endeavouring to drag him along to various meetings and assemblies
+which Paal as regularly evaded on some pretext or other.
+
+Holm's relations with his old comrade and subordinate were of a
+curious character. Down at the quay, when they were alone, they
+addressed each other in familiar terms, as equals; but in public,
+Bramsen was always the respectful employee, observing all formalities
+towards his master.
+
+When the message came down from the office that Mr. Holm would be
+coming down to the waterside at 7.30 in the morning to see him,
+Bramsen turned thoughtful.
+
+They had held a similar conference once, some years before, when the
+firm of Knut G. Holm looked like going to ruin--Heaven send it was
+not something of the same sort now!
+
+Holm looked irritable and out of sorts. "Bramsen," he said, "I'm sick
+and tired of the whole blessed business."
+
+Bramsen scratched his chin meditatively, and laid his head on one
+side. "H'm," he observed after a pause. "More trouble with that there
+guinea-pig up at the bank, fussing about bills and that sort?"
+
+"No, no, nothing to do with that. We're all right as far as money
+goes."
+
+"All right, eh? But you're put out about something, that's plain to
+see. Liver out of order, perhaps?"
+
+"Oh no!"
+
+"Why, then, there's nothing else that I can see."
+
+"It's those wretched youngsters of mine."
+
+"Ho, is that all?"
+
+"All! As if it wasn't enough! I tell you they're going stark mad, the
+pair of them."
+
+"Seems to me they've been that way a long time now."
+
+"Oh, it's all very well to talk like that. But really, it's getting
+beyond all bearing. William's taken it into his head to go and be a
+painter."
+
+"Well, and not a bad thing, either, as long as he does the work
+decently, with plenty of driers and not too much oil in the mixing.
+Look at Erlandsen up the river, he's made a good thing out of it."
+
+"Oh, not that sort of painting. It's an artist, I mean. Painting
+pictures and things."
+
+"Pictures!" Bramsen looked dumbfounded. "Painting pictures? Well,
+blister me if I ever heard the like. Wait a bit, though--there was
+Olsen, the verger; he'd a boy, I remember, a slip of a fellow with
+gold spectacles and consumption, he used to mess about with that sort
+of thing. But he never made a living out of it--didn't live long,
+anyway."
+
+"But that's not the worst of it, Bramsen. There's Marie--she wants to
+be a singer."
+
+Bramsen almost fell off the sugar-box on which he was seated.
+
+"Singer--what! Singing for money, d'you mean? Going round with a
+hat?"
+
+"Something very much like it, anyway--only it'll be my money that
+goes into the hat. What are we to do about it, eh?"
+
+"H'm ... Couldn't you pack the boy off to sea? And the young
+lady--send her to a school to do needlework and such like?"
+
+"Oh, what's the good of talking like that? No, my dear man, young
+people nowadays don't let themselves be sent anywhere that way.
+There's the pair of them, they simply laugh at us."
+
+Holm walked back to the office deep in thought. On his return, he
+found Hans Martinsen, and Berg, the organist, awaiting him.
+
+Bramsen remained seated on his sugar-box and murmured to himself:
+"Well, it's a nice apple-pie for Knut Holm, that it is. Lord, but
+they children can be the very devil."
+
+A little later, Garner came down to the quay, and found Bramsen still
+meditating on his box.
+
+"What's wrong with the old man to-day, Bramsen? He looks as if he was
+going in for the deaf-and-dumb school; there's no getting a word out
+of him."
+
+Bramsen sat for quite a while without answering. Then at last he said
+solemnly:
+
+"It's my humble opinion, and that's none so humble after all, that
+there's a deal of what you might call contrapasts in this here
+world."
+
+"Meaning to say?"
+
+"It's plain enough. Folk that's got a retipation, they does all they
+can to lose it, and they that hasn't, why--there's no understanding
+them till they've got one."
+
+Garner was still in the dark as to whither all this wisdom tended,
+and began absently slitting up a coffee-sack.
+
+"Look you, Garner," Bramsen went on. "It's this way with the women:
+they've each their station here in life, as by the Lord appointed.
+Some gets married, and some goes school-teaching, or out in service,
+and such-like--and all that sort, they stick to their retipation; but
+the woman that goes about singing for money in a hat, her
+retipation's like a broken window--it's out and gone to bits and done
+with."
+
+Garner laughed and looked inquiringly at the other.
+
+"_Now_, do you understand, Garner, what's the trouble with Holm?"
+
+"Oh, so that's what you're getting at, is it? Miss Holm wants to go
+on the stage."
+
+"Singing, my boy; singing for money, and if so be that was to happen
+to any daughter of mine, I'd give her a dose of something to make her
+lose her voice--ay, if it was rat poison, I would."
+
+It was a regular thing for Garner and Bramsen to have a comfortable
+chat down at the waterside, when the old sailor would generally
+relate some of his experiences at sea. These yarns especially
+delighted Garner, who came of a peasant stock himself, and knew
+nothing of the sea or foreign parts until he came to the town. He
+tried now to open up the subject again.
+
+"Ever been in the Arctic, Bramsen?"
+
+"Have I? Why, I should think so. I was up that way in '76, on a
+whaling trip with Svend Foya."
+
+It was a habit of Bramsen's at the beginning of a story to make some
+attempt at a literary style, but he invariably dropped it as he went
+on.
+
+"Dangerous business, isn't it?"
+
+"Why, that's as you take it or as you make it. If one of the brutes
+gets your boat with a flick of his tail, there's an end of you, of
+course. I remember once we were after a big fellow; had a shot at him
+and got in just aft of the spout-holes. And then, take my word for
+it, he led us a dance. Off he went, full-speed ahead, and us full
+speed astern, but blister me if he didn't win the tug-of-war and sail
+off with us at nineteen knots, till we were cutting along like a
+torpedo boat. He wasn't winded, ye see, for his blowpipe was intact,
+and his gear below-decks sound and ship-shape. But at last we got him
+fairly run down, and settled him with a straight one through the
+heart."
+
+"A whale's heart must be pretty big?"
+
+"Why, yes, he's what you might call a large-hearted beast. About the
+size of a middling chest o' drawers or a chiffonier."
+
+"Rough on a whale, then, if he got heart disease," laughed Garner.
+
+"Why, as to that, I suppose it would be in proportion, as you might
+say. But he's built pretty well to scale in the other parts as well,
+with his main arteries about as big round as a chimney."
+
+"I wonder you didn't go up with Nansen to the Pole."
+
+"And what for, I'd like to know? Messing about among a lot of nasty
+Eskimos; no, thankye, I'd a better use for my time." And Bramsen went
+on again with his whaling yarns for a spell, until Garner found it
+was time to get back to the shop.
+
+Outside the store shed sat a row of urchins fishing from the edge of
+the quay. Bramsen was a popular character among the waterside boys;
+he would chat and fish with them at off-times, or help them in the
+manufacture of a patent "knock-out" bait, from a recipe of his own,
+the chief ingredients being flour and spirits. There was always a
+shout of delight when the small fish appeared at the surface, belly
+upwards. But to-day the knock-out drops appeared to fail of their
+effect, whether because the fish had grown used to French brandy, or
+for some other reason. Bramsen soon left the boys to their own
+devices, and went back into the shed. Here, to his astonishment, he
+found Amanda, his daughter and only child, weeping in a corner.
+
+Amanda was about fifteen, a lanky slip of a girl, with her hair in a
+thick plait down her back, twinkling dark brown eyes, and a bright,
+pleasant face.
+
+"Saints and sea-serpents--you here, child? What's amiss now?"
+
+"Mother--mother wants us to go to meeting this evening, and you
+promised we should go to the theatre and see _Monkey Tricks_, and
+they say it's the funniest piece."
+
+Bramsen grew suddenly thoughtful. What if the child were to go
+getting ideas into her head, like Miss Holm, and want to go about
+singing with a hat--h'm, perhaps after all it might be as well to
+take her to the meeting with Andrine.
+
+But the mere suggestion sent Amanda off into a fresh burst of tears.
+
+"There, there, child, I'll take you to the theatre, then, but on one
+condition."
+
+Amanda looked up expectantly. "Yes?"
+
+"You're never to think of singing for money yourself, or going on the
+stage, or anything like that. You understand?"
+
+The girl had no idea of what was in his mind, and answered
+mechanically, "No, father--and you'll take me to see _Monkey Tricks_
+after all?"
+
+"All right! but don't let your mother know, that's all."
+
+Amanda was out of the door like an arrow, and hurried home at full
+speed. That evening she and her father sat up in the gallery,
+thoroughly enjoying themselves. Bramsen, it must be confessed, had
+taken the title literally, and waited expectantly all through the
+piece for the monkey to appear, and was disappointed in consequence,
+but seeing Amanda so delighted with the play as it was, he said
+nothing about it. Had he been alone he would have demanded his money
+back; after all, it was rank swindling to advertise a piece as Monkey
+Tricks, when there wasn't a monkey.
+
+Meanwhile, Andrine had gone to the meeting, and waited patiently for
+the others to appear--they had promised to come on after. Here,
+however, she was disappointed, as usual.
+
+When the backsliders came home, they found her deploring the vanity
+of this world, the imperfections of our mortal life, and the weakness
+of human clay against the powers of evil.
+
+Bramsen and Amanda let her go on, as they always did, exchanging
+glances the while; occasionally, when her back was turned, Bramsen
+would make the most ludicrous faces, until Amanda had to go out into
+the kitchen and laugh.
+
+Bramsen was fond of his wife; she was indeed so good-hearted and
+unselfish that no one could help it; while Amanda, for her part,
+respected her mother as the only one who could keep her in order. And
+indeed it was needed, "with a father that never so much as thought of
+punishing the child."
+
+Bramsen himself had never been thrashed in his life, except by his
+comrades as a boy, and had always conscientiously paid back in full.
+He had had no experience of the chastening rod, and could not
+conceive that anything of the sort was needed for Amanda.
+Consequently, the relation between father and daughter was of the
+nature of an alliance as between friends, and as the years went on,
+the pair of them were constantly combining forces to outwit Andrine.
+
+Bramsen had no idea of the value of money, or its proper use and
+application, wherefore Andrine had, in course of time, taken over
+charge of the family finances, and kept the savings-bank book,--a
+treasure which Bramsen himself was allowed to view on rare occasions,
+and then only from the outside, its contents being quite literally a
+closed book to him. Amanda and he would often put their heads
+together and fall to guessing how much there might be in the book,
+"taking it roughly like," but the riddle remained unsolved.
+
+Every month Bramsen brought home his pay and delivered it dutifully
+into Andrine's hands; he made no mention, however, of the
+ten-shilling rise that had been given him, but spent the money on
+little extras and outings for himself and Amanda, whom he found it
+hard to refuse at any time.
+
+A month before, it had been her great wish to have an album "to write
+poetry in"; all the other girls in her class had one, and she simply
+couldn't be the only one without. Bramsen could not understand what
+pleasure there was to be got out of such an article; much better to
+get a song book with printed words and have done with it. But Amanda
+scorned the suggestion, and the album was duly bought. She had got
+two entries in it already, one from Verger Klemmeken of Strandvik, an
+old friend of her father's, who wrote in big straggling letters:
+
+    "Whene'er these humble lines you see,
+     I pray that you'll remember me."
+
+and one from Miss Tobiesen, an old lady at the infirmary, who had
+been engaged seven times, and therefore judged it appropriate to
+quote:
+
+    "'Tis better to have loved and lost
+     Than never to have loved at all."
+
+Amanda then insisted that her father should contribute something, but
+Bramsen declared in the first place that the album was much too fine
+a thing for his clumsy fist, and furthermore, that he couldn't hit on
+anything to write. Amanda, however, gave him no peace till he
+consented, and at last, after much effort, the worthy man achieved
+the following gem:
+
+    "I, Amanda's only father,
+     Love her very much but rather
+     Fear she causes lots of bother
+     To her wise and loving mother."
+
+This elegant composition was unfortunately not appreciated by Amanda,
+who, to tell the truth, was highly displeased. Fancy writing such a
+thing in her book--why, the whole class would laugh at her. Bramsen
+was obliged to scratch it out, but in so doing, scratched a hole in
+the paper, leaving no alternative but to take out the page
+altogether, much to Amanda's disgust.
+
+Bramsen's highest ambition in life was to be master of a steamboat;
+not one of the big vessels that go as far as China, say, or
+Copenhagen--that, he realised, was out of the question, in view of
+his large contempt for examinations, mate's certificates and
+book-learning generally. The goal of his desire, the aim of all his
+dearest dreams, was a tugboat, a smart little devil of a craft with a
+proper wheel-house amidships and booms and hawsers aft.
+
+A grand life it would be, to go fussing about up and down the fjord,
+meeting old acquaintances among the fishermen and pilots--yo, heave
+ho, my lads! He had often suggested to Andrine that the contents of
+the savings-bank book might be devoted to the purchase of a tug, but
+Andrine would cross herself piously, and urge him to combat all
+temptation and evil inspirations of the sort. Bramsen could not see
+anything desperately evil in the idea himself; he found it more
+depressing to think that he should spend the remainder of his days in
+the stuffy atmosphere of the warehouse on the quay. Was it
+reasonable, now, for a man like himself to be planted, like a
+geranium in a flower-pot, among sugar-boxes, flour-sacks, and
+store-keeping trash?
+
+"Ay, life's a queer old tangle sometimes," murmured Bramsen to
+himself, "and we've got to make the best of it, I suppose." And he
+cast a longing glance through the doorway of the shed, at Johnsen, of
+the tug _Rap_, steaming down the fjord with his tow.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+HERMANSEN OF THE BANK
+
+
+Hermansen was manager of the local bank. He and Knut Holm had never
+been friends, and though outwardly their relations were to all
+seeming amicable enough, the attitude of each toward the other was
+really one of armed neutrality.
+
+The banker was in all things cold, precise and dignified, with a
+military stiffness of bearing, and devoid of all softer sentiment or
+feeling.
+
+Entrenched behind his counter at the bank, he would glance frigidly
+at any bill presented, and if the security appeared to him
+insufficient, he would hand it back with the remark: "We have no
+money to-day," though the coffers might be full to bursting.
+
+He was an old bachelor, and Holm was wont to declare that if
+Hermansen, at the Creation, had been set in Adam's place in the
+Garden of Eden and found himself alone with Eve, he would have
+declined to discount any promissory notes of hers, and our planet in
+consequence have been as uninhabited as the moon.
+
+Hermansen was really quite a good-looking man; his tall, slender
+figure in tight-fitting coat, his iron-grey hair brushed a little
+forward on either side of his clean-shaven face, the narrow,
+close-set lips, combined to give him an appearance of distinction
+fitted for a member of the diplomatic corps.
+
+He was a smart man of business, not only in the affairs of the bank,
+but also for his own account. Whenever an opportunity occurred of
+making money, whether by purchase of real property, bankrupt stock or
+other means, he was always ready to step in at the most favourable
+moment. He was generally considered one of the richest men in the
+town, and could afford to speculate at long sight; he was too wise,
+however, to give any grounds for the suspicion that he took undue
+advantage of his position. But, as Holm would say, "he's a devilish
+sharp nose, all the same; he can smell a coming failure years before
+the man himself has ever thought of it." And it was Holm's great
+ambition to get the better of him and make the banker burn his
+fingers in a way he should remember. But it was no easy matter, and
+up to now all his attempts in that direction had recoiled upon
+himself.
+
+There was that affair of the building site behind the Town Hall, for
+instance; Holm's temper went up to boiling point even now whenever he
+thought of it.
+
+Hermansen, he knew, had had an eye on the place for years, and Holm
+was sure that by snapping it up himself he would be able to make a
+few hundred pounds by selling it again to his rival. Accordingly,
+when the site was put up for auction, he bought it in himself under
+the very nose of the banker, and gladly paid five hundred for it,
+though he knew four hundred would have been nearer the mark.
+
+On the day following the sale he encountered Hermansen in the
+street.
+
+"Ah, Mr. Holm, so you were left with that site yesterday?"
+
+Aha, thought Holm, he's working up to it already.
+
+"Why, yes, I thought I'd take it. Fine bit of ground, you know,
+splendid situation--but I'm open to sell, at a reasonable advance, of
+course."
+
+"Thanks very much--but I'm not a buyer myself. By the way, I suppose
+you know there's a condition attached to the building: no windows to
+overlook the Town Hall. That means the frontage will have to be in
+the little back street behind, on the shady side. H'm, lowers the
+value of the property, of course. Still, taking it all round, I
+should say it was quite a fair deal."
+
+Holm stood looking helplessly after him; he had had no idea of any
+such condition attached, and the thought of his oversight made him
+furious for months after. The site lay there vacant to this day, a
+piece of waste ground, with a big open ditch running through it.
+Vindt, the stockbroker, had named it "Holm's Canal," after a larger
+and more celebrated piece of water with which Knut Holm had nothing
+to do. And some ill-disposed person had written to the local paper,
+complaining of the "stink" which arose from the water in question.
+
+Holm found the office considerably pleasanter and more comfortable
+since Miss Betty's installation. An outward and visible sign of the
+change was the vase of fresh flowers which she placed on the desk
+each morning, showing that even a dusty office might be made to look
+cheerful and nice.
+
+Already the two of them chatted together as if they had known each
+other for years, and the relations between master and employee grew
+more and more cordial.
+
+Holm, of course, was always the one to open conversation; he talked,
+indeed, at times to such an extent that Betty was obliged to beg him
+to stop, as she could not get on with her work. This generally led to
+a pause of a quarter of an hour or so, during which Holm would sit
+watching her over his glasses while she entered up from daybook to
+ledger with a certain careless ease. Wonderful, thought Holm to
+himself, how attractive a fair-haired girl can look when she's dark
+eyebrows and eyelashes, and those blue eyes. Pity she always keeps
+her mouth tight shut, and hides her lovely teeth.
+
+He sat lost in contemplation, watching her so intently that she
+flushed right up to her fair head.
+
+"There's the telephone, Mr. Holm," she said desperately, at last, by
+way of diverting his attention.
+
+"Thanks very much, but I never use the telephone myself. I don't care
+to stand there like a fool talking down a tube, and likely as not
+with half a dozen people listening all over the place. No, thank you,
+I don't think my special brand of eloquence is suited to the
+telephone service."
+
+Holm always refused to speak to people on the telephone, possibly
+because he knew that he often said a good deal without reflection and
+did not care to have witnesses to it, afterwards. Anyhow, he regarded
+the telephone as one of the plagues of modern times. "If the devil
+had offered a prize," he would say, "for the best instrument of
+bother and annoyance to mankind, that fellow Edison should have got
+it."
+
+The telephone rang, and Betty went to answer it.
+
+"It's Nilson, the broker, wants to speak to you."
+
+"Ask what it is."
+
+"He says the big Spanish ship that came in the other day with a cargo
+of salt for Hoeg's is to be sold by auction for bottoming, and he
+thinks it's to be had at a bargain."
+
+"Right! thanks very much. I'll think about it."
+
+Holm brightened up at the prospect of a deal, and forgot all about
+Betty, blue eyes, dark lashes, fair hair and all.
+
+"Garner, get hold of Bramsen sharp as ever you can, and tell him to
+go on board that Spaniard at Hoeg's wharf, and have a thorough look
+round."
+
+A few minutes later Bramsen himself appeared, breathless with haste.
+
+"I've been on board already, Mr. Holm, pretty near every evening.
+They've a nigger cook that plays all sorts of dance tunes on a bit of
+a clay warbler he's got; it's really worth hearing...."
+
+"Yes, yes, but the vessel herself. Is she any good, do you know?"
+
+"Well, not much, I take it, though it doesn't show, perhaps. I talked
+to the carpenter, and he said her bottom was as full of holes as a
+rusty sieve; it's only the paint that keeps her afloat. He showed me
+a queer thing too, that carpenter; I've never seen anything like it."
+
+"What sort of a thing?"
+
+"It was a magic cow, he said, got it in Pensacola. You just wind it
+up, and it walks along the deck, and lowers its head and says,
+'Moo-oh!'"
+
+"What about the upper works?"
+
+"Well, I didn't see the works. But the upper part's just brown hide,
+stuffed, I suppose."
+
+"Nonsense, man; it's the ship I mean."
+
+"Oh yes--well, she's smart enough to look at, with lashings of paint
+and gilding and brass fittings everywhere--the Spanish owner's no
+fool, I'll be bound. Bottoming, indeed; I don't believe a word of
+it."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Mean! why,"--Bramsen lowered his voice--"it's just a fake, if you
+ask me, to make folk think they've got an easy bargain."
+
+"Anyone else been on board looking round?"
+
+"Yes. Skipper Heil was there all day yesterday."
+
+"Heil? Wasn't he skipper of Hermansen's _Valkyrie_?"
+
+"That's it! And I'm pretty sure 'twas Hermansen sent him down to
+look."
+
+"Bramsen, listen to me. Not a word to a soul of what you know about
+the ship; you've got to be dumb as a doorpost. If anyone asks, you
+can tell them in confidence that I sent you to look over her, and not
+a word more, you understand?"
+
+"Right you are, Mr. Holm. But you're not thinking of going in for the
+business yourself?"
+
+"You leave that to me."
+
+"Very good, Mr. Holm."
+
+When Bramsen was gone, Holm strode up and down the office deep in
+thought.
+
+"I wonder, now, if we couldn't manage to nail old Hermansen there.
+H'm. It's risky, but I must have a try at it all the same."
+
+He put on his hat, and continued his sentry-go up and down, with his
+thumbs in the armholes of his waistcoat. Already he saw in his mind's
+eye the Spaniard hauled up to the repair shops, and plate after plate
+taken out of her bottom, till only the superstructure remained. And
+finally, he himself, as representative of the concern, would go up to
+the bank and present a bill for the repairs--a bill running into
+three--four--five figures!
+
+He fairly tingled at the thought of that bill. Seven-sixteenth-inch
+plates, re-riveting, frame-pieces and all the various items Lloyds
+could hit upon as needful.
+
+It was no easy matter to work out a plan of operations on the spur of
+the moment. But there was no time to be lost. It was Wednesday
+already, and the ship was to be put up for auction on the Friday.
+
+First of all, he must go on board himself, openly, as a prospective
+buyer. This, he knew, would be at once reported to Hermansen, who
+would have his intelligence department at work.
+
+On Thursday afternoon, then, Holm boarded the Spaniard accordingly,
+and went over the vessel thoroughly in the hope that Hermansen would
+get a report that he, Holm, was keenly interested.
+
+Early Friday morning he went down again, and was climbing up the
+ladder on the port side, but on glancing over the bulwarks he
+perceived the clean-shaven face of the banker, who was just coming on
+board from the opposite side.
+
+Holm's first impulse was to bundle off again quickly, but in stepping
+down, he managed to tread on Bramsen's fingers, eliciting a howl
+which brought the whole crew hurrying along to see what was the
+matter. There was nothing for it now but to go on board, which he
+did, nodding in the friendliest fashion to Hermansen as he came up.
+
+"We're competitors, then, it seems," said the banker politely.
+
+"I think not," said Holm seriously. "She's very badly built, and I
+don't feel like going in for it myself."
+
+"Yes? I dare say," answered the banker, with a sidelong glance at
+Holm, who appeared to be scrutinising the upper rigging.
+
+"The fore and aft bulkheads are shaky too," said Holm, well knowing
+that these were as good as could be. Indeed, had the rest been up to
+the same standard, the vessel would have been worth buying.
+
+Hermansen walked forward, and Holm went aft. On completing the round,
+they came face to face once more.
+
+"Bottom's not up to much, from what I hear," remarked Holm casually,
+as he climbed over the rail on his way down.
+
+"Very possible--very possible." There was a slight vibration in the
+banker's voice as he spoke, and Holm judged that things were going to
+be as he wished.
+
+The auction was fixed for one o'clock, and Holm was there punctually
+to the moment. Hermansen was nowhere to be seen. "Funny," thought
+Holm to himself. "I hope to goodness he hasn't smelt a rat."
+
+The conditions of sale were read; the bidding to be understood as in
+agreement therewith.
+
+At last the banker appeared, and sat down unobtrusively in a corner.
+His presence always made itself felt in any gathering, as imparting a
+certain solemnity to the occasion. Holm, who had been chatting gaily
+with the magistrate and Advocate Schneider, sat down quietly.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, to business. The frigate, _Don Almariva_, is
+offered for sale to the highest bidder, subject to the conditions
+just read. What offers?"
+
+"2000," said Holm. A long pause followed.
+
+"2000 offered, 2000. Any advance on 2000.... Come, gentlemen...."
+
+Holm began to feel uneasy.
+
+"2050." It was the banker's sonorous voice.
+
+"2200," snapped out Holm, on the instant.
+
+"2250," from the corner, a little more promptly than before.
+
+"2400," Holm was there again at once.
+
+Matters were getting critical now: Holm sat looking steadily in front
+of him, not daring to look round. The minutes were uncomfortably
+long, he felt as if he were on a switchback, or in the throes of
+approaching sea-sickness.
+
+"2400--two thousand four hundred pounds offered, gentlemen. Any
+advance on 2400? 2400, going----"
+
+Holm was on the verge of apoplexy now. What if he should have to
+present that bill for repairs to himself, after all?
+
+Skipper Heil moved over to Hermansen and whispered in his ear. All
+were turned towards the pair--all save Holm, who sat as before, stiff
+as a statue in his place, looking rigidly before him.
+
+The auctioneer stood with his hammer raised, his eyes on the banker
+in his corner.
+
+"Going--going----"
+
+"2500," said the banker. At last!
+
+Holm gave a start as if something had pricked him behind, and looked
+across with a curious expression at Hermansen, who sat as impassive
+as ever.
+
+The hammer fell. Holm went across to the banker, raised his hat and
+bowed. "Congratulations, my dear sir; the vessel's yours. A little
+faulty in the bottom, as I mentioned before, but still, taking it all
+round, _I should say it was quite a fair deal_!"
+
+Holm went out into the street, and, meeting Bramsen, who had been
+present out of curiosity, took him by the shoulders and shook him.
+"Bramsen, my boy, I've got him this time. Hermansen's let himself in
+for it with a vengeance!"
+
+"Lord, Mr. Holm, but you gave me a fright before it was over. I don't
+believe I've ever been in such a tremble all my sinful life--unless
+it was the time I jumped across old Weismann's bull."
+
+"Weismann's bull? What was that?"
+
+"Why, it was one day I was standing outside the warehouse as innocent
+as a babe unborn, filling up a herring barrel, and before I knew
+where I was there was a great beast of a bull rushing down on me at
+full gallop. They'd been taking him down to the slaughter-house, and
+he'd broke away. Well, I couldn't get into the barrel, seeing it was
+more than half full as it was, and there wasn't time to get across to
+the sheds; the brute's horns were right on top of me, like a huge
+great pitchfork, and I reckoned Paal Abrahamsen's days were numbered.
+And then suddenly I got a revelation. I took a one--two--three, hop
+and a jump, and just as the beast thought he'd got me on the nail, up
+I went with an elegant somersault and landed clean astride of him, as
+neat as a--as an equidestrian statue."
+
+"But how did you get down again?"
+
+"Why, that was as easy as winking, seeing he flung me off and down
+Mrs. Brekke's cellar stairs, so I felt it a fortnight after."
+
+On his way down to the office, Holm met a number of people who were
+all anxious to know who had bought the Spaniard. Holm was at no pains
+to uphold _Don Almariva's_ reputation. When Nilsen the broker came up
+to congratulate him on his supposed purchase, he exclaimed: "Not me,
+my lad! Why, she's full of holes as a rusty sieve." And he walked
+off, singing:
+
+    "He needs be something more than bold,
+     Who'd fill his purse with Spanish gold."
+
+Altogether, it was a red-letter day for Knut Holm. And on entering
+the office he confided to Betty that he had paid Banker Hermansen in
+full for that matter of the building site. He told her, also, how he
+and the banker had been secretly at war for years past, confessing
+frankly that up to now the honours had been with the other side.
+
+It was Hermansen who had hindered his election to the Town Council,
+and possibly afterwards to parliament; all along he had barred his
+way--until now. And to-day, at last, the wind had changed, he had
+gained his first victory; now perhaps the banker's fortunes would
+begin to wane, in the town and farther afield--for he was a man of
+some influence in the country generally.
+
+Holm stood at first bent slightly over the desk, but as he talked,
+and his enthusiasm increased, he drew himself up, a figure of such
+power and energy that Betty felt the banker would need to be well
+equipped indeed to outdo him. She grew more and more interested as
+he went on, following him with her eyes, until he came over to her
+and said: "I don't mind telling you, Miss Betty, it's not only Banker
+Hermansen, but the whole pack of them in the town here, that shrugged
+their shoulders and laughed behind my back at everything I did.
+
+"Yes, and I've felt it, too, you may be sure, though I didn't show
+it. I've been cheerful and easy-going all along, and, thanks to that,
+I can say I've done two things at least: I've pleased my friends and
+vexed my enemies!
+
+"And then the children upstairs, they've never really understood me;
+just looked on me as a sort of automatic machine for laying golden
+eggs. Lord, but I'd like to put their nose out of joint one day, the
+whole lot of them--make them take off their hats and look up to see
+where Knut G. Holm had got to."
+
+He tried to take her hand, but she drew it back sharply, and with a
+blush retreated behind the shelter of her books.
+
+"You think I'm a queer sort, don't you?"
+
+"Not that, Mr. Holm. I was thinking you're a strong man. I've always
+longed to meet men that were not afraid to face the real hard things
+of life."
+
+"You're right in that; one doesn't often find a man who's ready to
+risk anything really for his own convictions. It's easy enough to get
+into one's shell and rub along comfortably in flannel and carpet
+slippers, to shout with the crowd and agree politely to all that's
+said, be generally amiable and popular accordingly--but it's too
+cramped and stifling for me. I must have room to breathe, if I have
+to get out in the cold to do it."
+
+He strode through into the shop, and she heard him talking to Garner
+about having the whole of the premises altered now, lighter and
+brighter, with big plate-glass windows, and the floor sunk to make it
+loftier.
+
+Betty sat for a long while thinking deeply over what Holm had said.
+Several times she turned to her books, but only to fall back into the
+same train of thought; somehow it was impossible to work to-day.
+
+A strange man, he was, indeed, and she did not quite like his being
+so confidential towards her. But an honest heart, of that she felt
+sure, and a man one could not help liking and helping as far as one
+could. Holm came into the office a little while after, and found it
+empty. Betty had gone. He stood awhile by her desk, then picked up
+the glass with the yellow roses in, and smelt them.
+
+"Women, women"--he looked at the roses--"these little trifles are the
+weapons that count. H'm. Now would it be so strange after all if I
+did marry again? There's not much comfort to be looked for upstairs
+as things are now--and she's a clever girl as well as pretty. The
+youngsters, of course, would make no end of fuss, but I'd have to put
+up with that."
+
+Just then William came in, smoking a cigarette.
+
+"Wanted to speak to you, father."
+
+"Right you are, my boy! speak away!"
+
+"Well, it's like this. Marie and I, we can't go on as we have been
+doing lately."
+
+Holm turned quickly. "You mean to say you're going to turn over a new
+leaf?"
+
+"I mean, we must get away from here. Marie's budding talent will
+never thrive here, and I--I shall grow stale if I don't get away
+soon. We want to travel."
+
+"I see--well, travel along with you then; don't mind me."
+
+"We want to go to Paris. Mrs. Rantzau, who is herself a distinguished
+artist, says it's the only thing for us, to go to Paris and complete
+our education. There is no hope of developing one's talents in a
+place like this--they simply wither and die."
+
+"Ah, that would be a pity."
+
+"Father, you must let us go. Don't you think yourself, you ought to
+make some little sacrifice for your only son?"
+
+"You think I haven't done enough? Wasn't it for your sake I married
+your foster-mother? Haven't I thrown away hundreds of pounds on your
+miserable education as you call it, and your fantastic inventions in
+the engineering line that never came to anything? I could ill spare
+the money at the time, I can assure you."
+
+"Oh, now I suppose we're to have the old story over again, with the
+L150."
+
+"It won't do you any harm to hear it again. Where would you have
+been, or I and the lot of us, in 1875, if Knut G. Holm hadn't got
+that L150 from C. Henrik Pettersen. Down and under, and that with a
+vengeance."
+
+"It was very good of Pettersen, I'm sure."
+
+"Pettersen it was; it couldn't have been anyone else. The money was
+sent anonymously, as you know, the very morning I was thinking of
+putting up the shutters and giving up for good. Just the money, and
+a slip of paper, no business heading, only 'Herewith L150, a gift
+from one who wishes you well.' That was all, no signature, only a
+cross, or an 'x' or whatever it was, at the foot."
+
+"Only an 'x'?"
+
+"That was absolutely all. I puzzled my brains to think out who the
+good soul could be, but could never bring it round to anyone but C.
+Henrik Pettersen, my old friend. Though it wasn't like him, and
+that's the truth."
+
+"You mean he was close-fisted generally?"
+
+"He was a business man, my boy, if ever there was one. But we knew
+each other better than most. I was in the know about his dairy butter
+at fifty per cent. profit--though the Lord knows I wouldn't say a
+word against him now he's dead and gone."
+
+"But didn't you ask him straight out if it was he that sent the
+money?"
+
+"I should think I did. But he was one of those people that won't say
+more than they want to. I could never make him out myself. He used to
+just sit there and smile and never say a word, but got me on to talk
+instead."
+
+"Well, I suppose it couldn't be anyone else?"
+
+"It was him sure enough. He was an old bachelor, and an eccentric
+sort of fellow, with nobody to leave his money to, so it wasn't
+altogether strange he should send me that little bit of all he'd
+made, in return for all the yarns I'd told to brighten him up.
+Anyway, things took a turn for the better after that, and I pulled
+round all right, so I've nothing to worry about now, in spite of all
+you've cost me."
+
+"It wasn't so much, I'm sure. And if only that aerial torpedo of mine
+had gone right, I'd have paid you back with interest."
+
+"But it went wrong--and so did you, my good sir; and if you talk
+about sacrifice, why, I think it was sacrifice enough, after I'd
+thrown away L200 on the wretched thing, to come out myself to the
+parade ground and see the thing go awry."
+
+"By an unfortunate accident."
+
+"A very fortunate accident, if you ask me, that it didn't come down
+where we stood, or it might have done for a whole crowd of innocent
+folk that were simple enough to come out and look."
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure, what you want to drag up that old story
+again for."
+
+"Because I want you to keep to earth in future. Stay at home--on the
+mat, if you like it that way."
+
+"Will you help us to go to Paris, or will you not?"
+
+"Honestly, then, I should call it throwing money away to do anything
+of the sort."
+
+"But if you knew that people who really know something about art
+considered it absolutely necessary for our future, for the
+development of our talents as artists, then would you let us go?"
+
+"Competent judges to decide, you mean?"
+
+"If you will, we've both of us faith enough in our calling, and in
+our future as artists."
+
+"Well, that sounds reasonable enough, I admit."
+
+"You will not accept Mrs. Rantzau's decision alone? She is well
+known, not only as a teacher of singing herself, but her husband had
+a great reputation as an author and art critic, so she's heard and
+seen a great deal. And she said the other day that the little
+seascape of mine up in the Art Society's place was excellent; the sky
+in particular was finely drawn, she said."
+
+"I've no doubt she's a very clever woman. I haven't the honour of her
+acquaintance myself, but I must say I think a great deal of her
+daughter, in the office here."
+
+"Oh, Betty's just the opposite of her mother--she's no idea of art
+whatever."
+
+"No, poor child, I dare say she's had quite enough both of poverty
+and humbug."
+
+"Really, father, I don't think you're justified in saying things like
+that."
+
+"That may be, my son. But if you two young people are set on making
+artists of yourselves, why, do. And if you can give me a reasonable
+guarantee that it's any good trying, why, I won't stand in your way."
+
+"I think we can, then."
+
+And William went up to tell Marie what had passed. Holm sat for a
+while occupied with his own thoughts, and came at last to the
+conclusion that the children were "artist-mad," and got it badly. He
+must manage to get hold of this Mrs. Rantzau, and see if she could
+not be persuaded to use her influence to get these ideas out of their
+heads--especially now, since her daughter was in the office.
+
+There was a gentle tap at the door. It was little Hans, who stood
+timidly looking up at him.
+
+"Well, Hans, lad, and how's the music getting on? I hope you've made
+friends with your teacher?"
+
+He drew the boy over to a seat beside him on the sofa. Hans carefully
+placed his cap over one knee, for his trousers were torn, and he did
+not want it to be seen.
+
+"Have you been for your lesson every day?"
+
+"Yes, till the day before yesterday, but then I hurt my hand chopping
+wood for mother, so I've got to wait a few days till it's well." And
+he held out one thin little hand, showing two fingers badly bruised
+and raw.
+
+"Poor little man! I must tell Bramsen to lend you a hand with the
+chopping."
+
+"And, please, I was to bring you this letter from Mr. Bess; he asked
+me to take it up to you myself. It's the bill for my lessons, I
+think," he added quickly, "and he wants the money because of the
+rent." Hans was well acquainted with such things from his own home
+life, and having heard the organist and his wife talking about the
+rent falling due, he at once took it for granted that the case was as
+urgent then as when his own mother lay awake at nights wondering how
+to meet a similar payment.
+
+Holm took the letter and read:
+
+  "In accordance with your request, I have been giving lessons for
+  some time to little Hans Martinsen, whose gift for music is
+  really surprising. Though I do not consider myself fully
+  qualified to judge the precise value of his talent, I would say,
+  as my personal opinion, that the child shows quite unusual
+  promise. And I am convinced that with skilful and attentive
+  tuition, he could in time become a player of mark.
+
+  "I am an old man now, and am not otherwise competent to train
+  such talent as it should be trained, but as a lover of music
+  myself, I beg you to assist the child; you will find your
+  reward, I'm sure. If I could afford it, I would gladly contribute
+  as far as I was able, but as you know I am not in a position to
+  do so. I will not, however, accept any payment for the lessons
+  given, but should be glad to feel that I have made some little
+  offering myself towards his future."
+
+Holm read the letter through once more.
+
+"Little man, we must send you to Christiania to study there. I'll
+arrange it all, and you shall have the best teacher that's to be
+had."
+
+Hans sat twirling his cap, and made no answer.
+
+"Well, Hans, aren't you glad? Wouldn't you like to go on with your
+music?"
+
+"Yes, but I can't. I can't go away and leave mother; there'll be
+nobody to help her then."
+
+"Don't worry about that, my boy; your mother shall go with you. No
+more washing; all she'll need to do will be just to look after you."
+
+"But--how? Mother couldn't go away like that!"
+
+"We'll manage that all right. It's very simple. I'll lend your mother
+the money, do you see, and then, when you've learnt enough and can
+play properly yourself, you can pay it back--if you want to, that
+is."
+
+"Oh--oh, how good you are! May I run home and tell mother, now?"
+
+"Yes, run along and tell her as quickly as you like. Only understand,
+not a word to anyone else about it. I'll come round this evening,
+anyway, and fix it all up."
+
+Hans, in his delight, forgot all about hiding the hole in his
+trousers; he grasped his friend's hands and looked at him with
+glistening eyes.
+
+"Is it really true--that I'm to go to Christiania?"
+
+"True as ever could be, little lad, and now off you go--I'll come
+along soon."
+
+Holm took the organist's letter and read it through once again.
+
+"Noble old fellow--so you'd sacrifice your hard-earned money and give
+your trouble for nothing? Not if I know it; you shan't be a loser
+there. And as for Hans, I'll see to his education myself. He shall go
+to Paris instead of those madcap youngsters with their parties. My
+'52 Madeira too! But we'll soon put a stop to that."
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+MRS. RANTZAU'S STORY
+
+
+She was a teacher of singing, and had only recently settled in the
+town. Holm had never seen her, but now that her daughter was working
+in his office, and Marie had begun taking lessons with Mrs. Rantzau
+herself, he felt it his duty to call.
+
+Moreover, he had some secret hope that it might be possible here to
+find an ally in his plan for combating Marie's artistic craze. In
+addition to which, she was Betty's mother....
+
+The place was four storeys up, and Holm, tired after his climb, sat
+down at the top of the stairs for a moment before ringing the bell.
+
+Tra-la-la-la-la-la--he could hear a woman's voice singing scales
+inside, the same thing over and over again. A little after came
+another voice, which he took to be Mrs. Rantzau's.
+
+"Mouth wide open, please; that's it--now breathe!"
+
+Holm rang the bell and Mrs. Rantzau opened the door.
+
+He stood dumbfounded for a moment, staring at her.
+
+"Heavens alive--it can't be--Bianca, is it really you?"
+
+She turned pale, came close to him and whispered:
+
+"For Heaven's sake, not a word." Then, taking him by the arm, she
+thrust him gently into a room adjoining.
+
+He heard the young lady take her departure, and a moment later Mrs.
+Rantzau stood before him.
+
+She was still a magnificently handsome woman. The dark eyes were deep
+and clear as ever, the black hair waved freely over the forehead,
+albeit with a thread of silver here and there. Her figure was slender
+and well-poised, her whole appearance eloquent of energy and life.
+
+"If you knew how I have dreaded this moment, Mr. Holm," she began,
+then suddenly stopped.
+
+"H'm--yes. It's a good many years now since last we met, Bianca--beg
+pardon, Mrs. Rantzau, I mean."
+
+"Fifteen--yes, it's fifteen years ago. And much has happened since
+then. I didn't know really whether to go and call on you myself, and
+ask you not to say anything about the way we met, and how I was
+living then. But then again, I thought you must have forgotten me
+ages ago."
+
+"Forgotten! Not if I live to be a hundred."
+
+"And then, too, I thought it might be awkward for Betty if I tried to
+renew our old acquaintance; you might be offended, and not care to
+keep her on at the office...."
+
+"But--my dear lady--however could you imagine such a thing?"
+
+"Oh, I know how good and kind you were when I knew you before--but
+people change sometimes. And you can understand, I'm sure, Mr. Holm,
+that my position here, my connection with my pupils, would be ruined
+if the past were known. Not that I've anything to be ashamed of,
+thank God, but you know yourself, in a little town like this, how
+people would look at a woman--or even a man, for that matter--whose
+life has been so--so unusual as mine."
+
+"Dear lady, I understand, of course, but I should never have thought
+of mentioning a word of our relations in the past."
+
+"Thanks, thanks! Oh, I can see now you have not changed. Kind and
+thoughtful as ever; you were good to me, Mr. Holm--not like the
+others." Her voice trembled a little, and she grasped his hand.
+
+Holm flushed slightly, murmured a few polite words, and thought--of
+Betty.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau continued: "I should like you to understand, to realise
+yourself the position I was placed in then. Will you let me tell you
+the whole story--if you've time?"
+
+"Indeed I've time--you took up quite a considerable amount of my time
+before, you know," he added kindly.
+
+"Ah, I see you're the same as ever, Mr. Holm, always bright and
+cheerful over things."
+
+"Why, yes, I'm glad to say. It would be a pity not to."
+
+"Well, let me begin. My life hasn't been a path of roses--far from
+it; it's been mostly thorns. If only I could write, I might make
+quite an exciting story of it all. I'm forty-two now, started life as
+a parson's daughter up in the north, was married to a poet, and lived
+with him in Paris; my child was born, and I was left a widow then. I
+had to keep myself and Betty by the work of my hands; sang at
+concerts, and accompanied in Hamburg, lived as a countess in
+Westphalia----"
+
+"What--a countess?"
+
+"Well, very nearly. But I'll tell you about that later. I taught
+French in Copenhagen, and painting in Gothenburg, was housekeeper to
+a lawyer in a little Norwegian town, nearly married him but not
+quite, and ended up here teaching singing. So you see I've been a
+good many things in my time."
+
+"But tell me--tell me all about it," exclaimed Holm eagerly.
+
+"Mr. Holm, you know the darkest part of all my life; it is only fair
+that you should know the rest. I've nothing to be ashamed of, for
+after all I have managed to earn a livelihood for myself and Betty. I
+was seventeen when I left home, and they said I was quite
+good-looking----"
+
+"You're equal to anything on the market now, as we say in
+business----"
+
+"Well, I came straight from the wilds of the Nordland to Christiania,
+and they called me 'the Nordland sun.' I was the most sought after at
+all the dances, and perhaps one of the most brilliant, for I came to
+the gay life of the capital with the freshness of a novice. It was
+not long before I became engaged to a young writer--a poet, he
+was----"
+
+"The devil you did! Beg pardon, I'm sure, but to tell the truth I've
+no faith in that sort of people, as Banker Hermansen would say."
+
+"We were both of us young and inexperienced; he dreamed of gaining
+world-wide fame by his pen, and I used to weep over his passionate
+love poems. I was eighteen and he twenty-two, and I promised to
+follow him to the end of the world, for better or worse.
+
+"Then one fine day we landed in Paris, without caring a jot for our
+people, our friends, or our own country. We were married there at the
+Swedish Church, and there I was, a poet's wife, with my people at
+home trying to forget the black sheep of the family.
+
+"A few years passed. But every day saw the breaking of one of the
+golden threads in our web of illusion, and when Betty was born we
+were in desperate straits.
+
+"Poor old Thor, he used to sit up late at night writing stuff for the
+papers at home, all about magnificent functions he'd never been to at
+all, and warming his frozen fingers over a few bits of coal in the
+stove."
+
+"And he might have made quite a decent living in an office," put in
+Holm sympathetically.
+
+"Unfortunately, he imagined he was a genius, and gradually, as things
+got worse and worse, the struggle for a bare existence made him
+bitter, till he hated the world, and looked upon himself as a martyr
+condemned to suffering.
+
+"Then he took to staying out late of an evening, and wrote less and
+less. By the time we had been there a year, the poet's wife was
+washing lace to keep the home together. In the autumn of the second
+year, he went down with pneumonia, and a week after the 'Nordland
+sun' was a widow. I couldn't go home, for I'd cut myself adrift from
+them completely when I married. There was nothing for it but to
+struggle along as best I could by myself, unknown and friendless in
+the great city. But, thank Heaven, I've always had my health and a
+cheerful temper, and little Betty was such a darling."
+
+"Yes, she's a wonderful girl."
+
+"She and I have fought our way together, Mr. Holm, and a hard fight
+it has been at times, believe me.
+
+"Well, we got along somehow in Paris, for a few years, doing
+needlework, or giving music lessons at fifty centimes an hour. It was
+a cheerless existence mostly, as you can imagine, and if it hadn't
+been for the child I should have broken down long before.
+
+"Then at last I got the offer of a place as accompanist at a concert
+hall in Hamburg, with a salary of a hundred marks a month for three
+hours' work every evening and two rehearsals a week. This was
+splendid, and I was in the highest spirits when I left Paris.
+Besides, it was a little nearer home, and I used to be desperately
+home-sick at times, though I knew it was hopeless to think of going
+back.
+
+"Imagine my feelings, then, when I got to the place and found it was
+a common music hall; though very decent, really, for a place of that
+sort."
+
+"It was a beautiful place--at least, I thought so, when I saw you
+there."
+
+"Well, there I sat, night after night, accompanying all sorts of more
+or less third-rate artistes. It used to make me wild, I remember,
+when they sang false, or were awkward in their gestures; I used to
+look at them in a way they would remember. And really, I managed to
+make them respect me after a time, though I was only twenty-five
+myself.
+
+"Then, besides my evenings there, I gradually worked up a little
+connection giving music and singing lessons outside, till I was
+making enough to live fairly comfortably.
+
+"But one day the whole staff went on strike, and left at a moment's
+notice, and there we were. The manager--you remember him, I dare say,
+Sonnenthal; man with a black waxed moustache and a big diamond
+pin--he came running in to me and said I must sing myself; it would
+never do to close down altogether in the height of the season. He
+thought he would get at least a couple of other turns, and if I would
+help it would get us over the difficulty.
+
+"I told him I couldn't think of it--said I had no talent for that
+sort of thing; but he insisted, and offered me fifty marks a night if
+I would.
+
+"Fifty marks was a fabulous sum to me for one night, then, after
+living on a franc and a half a day in Paris, and it meant so much for
+Betty. I began to think it over.
+
+"And really I felt sure myself that I could do better than these
+half-civilised cabaret singers, from Lord knows where, that I'd been
+playing to for so long. But the parson's daughter found it hard to
+come down to performing like that.
+
+"Then Sonnenthal offered me sixty marks. He thought, of course, it
+was only a question of money. It was too good to refuse, and I
+agreed.
+
+"He got out new posters, with big lettering:
+
+                   'SIGNORA BIANCA
+  The World-renowned Singer from Milan now Appearing.'
+
+"I remember how furious I was when the dresser came in to make me up,
+and I flung her paints and powders across the room. Sonnenthal came
+round and wanted me to go on in short skirts, but I told him in so
+many words that I was going to do it my own way or not at all; and,
+knowing how he was situated, of course he had to give in.
+
+"I think he was impressed by the way I stood up to him. A little
+Roumanian girl, a pale, dark-eyed creature, who was simply terrified
+of Sonnenthal, like all the rest of them, came in to me afterwards
+and threw her arms round my neck and thanked me for having given him
+a lesson at last.
+
+"It was with very mixed feelings that I went on that night for my
+first performance. The audience, of course, was composed of all
+sorts, and the performers were often interrupted by shouting, not
+always of applause.
+
+"The house was full--it was packed. Sonnenthal knew how to advertise
+a thing.
+
+"I gave them 'A Mountain Maid' to start with, a touching little
+thing, and I put enough feeling into it to move a stone, but not a
+hand was raised to applaud. Then I tried 'Solveig's Song' from _Peer
+Gynt_--that too was received with chilling silence.
+
+"When I came off after the first two, I could see the others smiling
+maliciously: there's plenty of jealousy in that line of business. But
+it set my blood boiling, and I felt that irresistible impulse to go
+in and do something desperate, as I always do when anything gets in
+my way.
+
+"I rushed on again, and gave the word to the orchestra for 'The
+Hungarian Gipsy,' a thing all trills and yodelling and such-like
+trick work--a show piece.
+
+"I put all I knew into it this time, and yodelled away till the
+audience left their beer-glasses untouched on the tables--and that's
+saying a good deal with a crowd like that.
+
+"When I finished, the hall rang with a thunder of applause--everyone
+shouting and cheering. I had to come before the curtain again and
+again. But I wouldn't give them an encore that time. I thought it
+best to have something in reserve, and not make myself cheap like the
+others.
+
+"As I came off the last time, I couldn't help saying half aloud what
+I thought of my respected audience--_clowns_!
+
+"But I'd found out how to handle them now, and I gave them the stuff
+they wanted, and plenty of it. I knew the sort of thing well enough.
+For years they'd sat listening to the same type of short-skirted,
+rouged and powdered womenfolk, with the same more or less risky
+songs, the same antiquated kick-ups and the same cheap favour in
+their eyes. I took care myself always to appear as a lady, chose
+first-rate songs, and, as my salary increased--for I drew Sonnenthal
+gradually up the scale as I wished--I was able to dress in a style
+that astonished them.
+
+"Do you remember when I sang 'The Carnival of Venice'?"
+
+"Do I not! Saints alive, but you were a wonder to see. Every evening,
+all the month I was there, I came just to sit and look at you."
+
+"Listen, you mean?"
+
+"Well, perhaps that's what I ought to say. Anyhow, I know I strewed
+flowers enough at your feet that winter, though they cost me a mark
+apiece."
+
+"Yes, you were kind, I know. But do you remember the dress I wore for
+that carnival thing? The bodice all white roses, and red and yellow
+for the skirt--it was a success--a sensation! 'Flowers in spring'
+ah!"
+
+She rose to her feet, and took a step forward, singing as she moved.
+
+"When I came to that part, they all wanted to join in, but I had only
+to hold out my hand, so, and all was quiet in a moment, you
+remember?"
+
+"Yes, indeed, you had a wonderful power over the sterner sex; I felt
+it myself, I know. I swear I've never been more completely head over
+ears before or since."
+
+"Oh, nonsense, Mr. Holm," she protested, with a hearty laugh, "we're
+past that sort of thing now, both of us. But you were good to me
+then, and I shall never forget it. I had enough and to spare in the
+way of offers and attentions, not to speak of making people furious
+because I always refused their invitation to champagne suppers behind
+the scenes."
+
+"That was just what gave you the position and influence you had, I
+think."
+
+"Yes, I think it was. I know that all the time I was there, yours
+was the only invitation I ever accepted, because you were a
+fellow-countryman, and so kind and considerate as well.
+
+"I remember as if it were yesterday that dinner at the 'Pforte.'
+There was a pheasant, with big tail-feathers large as life, do you
+remember? And when we got to the coffee, you wanted to hear the story
+of my life----"
+
+"And you were silent as an Egyptian mummy."
+
+"My parents were still living then, Mr. Holm, and I wished at least
+to spare them the sorrow of learning that their daughter was
+performing on the music-hall stage. Well, but I must go on.
+
+"Fortunately, you were the only fellow-countryman I ever came in
+contact with while I was there; and, of course, I kept my nationality
+a secret as far as possible.
+
+"When the summer came, I was so sick and tired of the life and the
+half-civilised surroundings, that I threw it up, and went to
+Copenhagen. I had saved enough by that time to keep me more or less
+comfortable for a while at least. But there was one little adventure
+I must tell about, before I left."
+
+"This is getting quite exciting," said Holm, changing his seat and
+placing himself directly opposite her. "Go on. I'm curious to know."
+
+"Well, I was as near as could be to becoming a Countess."
+
+"Were you, though! How did it happen?"
+
+"It's not altogether exceptional, you know, in the profession. But my
+little affair there is soon told. One of my most devoted admirers was
+a tall middle-aged man, well built, handsome, with dark hair and a
+big moustache. He looked like a military man. He was always most
+elegantly dressed, in a black frock-coat, with the red ribbon of some
+Order in his buttonhole.
+
+"One evening, when I'd just finished dressing for the 'Carnival of
+Venice' thing, a card was brought in, bearing the name of
+Count--well, never mind his name. It was the Count that did it, I'm
+afraid.
+
+"I invariably used to return cards brought in that way, and take no
+notice. But this time I suppose my vanity got the better of me for
+once, and I let him come in.
+
+"He made me a most respectful bow, and handed me a magnificent
+bouquet tied with ribbon in the Italian colours. I was supposed to be
+from Milan, you know. He spoke excellent French, and seemed
+altogether a gentleman of the first water--or blood, I suppose one
+would say.
+
+"He told me about his home, his estates and his family affairs in the
+most simple and natural manner. I could not help liking him a little
+from the first. He was in Hamburg on business--some lawsuit or
+other--and dropping into the place one evening to pass the time, he
+could not help noticing me particularly.
+
+"He was not sparing of his compliments, I must say; he praised me up
+to the skies, as an artist, of course. My voice had astonished,
+delighted, enchanted him, he told me so at once. And ended up by
+advising me to try the opera stage--offered to help me himself in
+every way possible, which, he said, might mean something, as he had
+many influential friends in that quarter. I told him, however, quite
+frankly, that I was perfectly aware myself as to the qualifications
+needed for operatic work, and had sense enough to realise that I
+could never succeed in that way. He was evidently surprised at my
+attitude, but I simply thanked him for his kindness, and got rid of
+him then for the time being. But he came again regularly every
+evening, bringing me flowers, and at last he made a formal proposal
+in the most charming manner, laying his title, estates and all the
+rest of it at my feet.
+
+"It was tempting, of course, but thank goodness I had always had a
+pretty fair share of common sense, especially as I got older. I told
+him I regretted I did not know him sufficiently well to take so
+serious a step, but promised to think it over."
+
+"That was a plucky thing to do. There are not many who would have
+taken it like that."
+
+"It was just plain common sense. The Count was a little huffy,
+though, and hinted that he had expected me to say yes on the spot.
+
+"This happened about a week before my engagement was up, and I had
+already, as I told you, decided to go to Copenhagen for a bit.
+
+"I must confess that there were moments when I was weak enough to
+think seriously of accepting the Count, but, fortunately, chance came
+to my help. There was an old Catholic priest at the house where I was
+staying, and I told him all about it. He undertook to make inquiries
+about the Count, and a few days after he had found out everything
+there was to know. He _was_ a Count right enough----"
+
+"No, really? I hadn't expected that."
+
+"Well, he was--but as poor as a church mouse! He had been an officer
+in the army, and inherited an ancient title and a castle with heavily
+encumbered estates from his father, but squandered all there was left
+in his youth; now he was a sort of travelling inspector for an
+insurance company, and lived for the rest by his wits."
+
+"And that was the end of the Count?"
+
+"Yes, of course; but, you see, I was very near becoming a Countess."
+
+"And then you went to Copenhagen?"
+
+"Yes, and after that my story's simple enough. I stayed there some
+years, teaching music and painting, managed to get along comfortably
+enough. Betty started going to school, and we were as happy as could
+be."
+
+"But how did you manage to escape further offers all that time in
+Copenhagen?
+
+"Oh, you seem to imagine I had nothing else to think of but getting
+married. No, indeed, when one's gone through as much as I have, one
+thinks twice before venturing a second time. Well, as the years went
+on, and being in Denmark and more in touch with my own country, I
+began to long for home again. I thought surely all would be forgotten
+by now, and I should be able to make a living there. But it was not
+so easy after all. I got a step nearer when I was offered a post as
+teacher at a school in Gothenburg; I stayed there five long years. I
+had already sent Betty to board with a decent family in Norway, that
+she might not grow up altogether a foreigner, and now I was only
+waiting for the chance of coming home myself.
+
+"My parents were dead. I had no relatives or friends to come back to,
+and yet for all that I was longing to be there again.
+
+"At last the day came; I shall never forget the moment when we
+sighted the first glimpse of land. It seemed as if all my years of
+exile had been a dream. I felt myself full of life and strength and
+happiness, and I vowed to make a new career for myself in my own
+country.
+
+"I got a place as housekeeper to an old lawyer in a little town on
+the coast, and lived there very comfortably for a year; but it was
+too narrow, too confined, so I moved to here--and here I am, doing
+what I can to make life tolerable. I've my health and strength,
+plenty of energy, and I'm very happy. And there you have it all, Mr.
+Holm--the life story of Emilie Rantzau. You can't say it's been an
+easy one altogether."
+
+"No indeed, and I admire you for the way you have fought through so
+many handicaps and trials."
+
+"Thank Heaven, I've never lost my strength of will, and now at last
+things seem to be getting brighter. Betty's so happy here, and
+delighted with her place at the office."
+
+"Not more than I am to have her, I assure you. It's been like
+constant sunshine about the place since she came."
+
+"Well, then, Mr. Holm, I hope you will keep my secret as if it were
+your own. I have nothing to be ashamed of in my past, but all the
+same I should not like it to be known here as things are now."
+
+"You need have no fear of that, my dear lady, I assure you. I only
+hope you may be happy here, and feel yourself in every sense at home
+now you have come back--and I'm sure you deserve it after the long
+struggle you have had. But I must say it has not left its mark on
+you, for you're charming enough to turn the head of more than one
+respectable citizen in this little town."
+
+"It's very kind of you to say so, but I think there's no fear of
+that. By the way, I'm your daughter's music-mistress, too. She seems
+very intelligent."
+
+"H'm, as to that ... to tell the truth, I wanted to speak to you
+about her. I really don't know what to do with the child lately, the
+way she goes on."
+
+"Really--oh, but surely----"
+
+"I'll tell you all about it, if I may?"
+
+"Yes, do."
+
+"Well, it's like this. My excellent son and heir, you must know, was
+a decent enough lad to begin with. But then he somehow got in with a
+whole crowd of muddle-headed youths that call themselves artists,
+poets and acrobats of that sort. H'm ... you see, I'm a plain man
+myself, and to my mind the whole thing's nothing better than sheer
+downright laziness. They simply won't trouble to go in for any steady
+solid work in life, but go on living on this artistic humbug, as long
+as they can find anyone to provide for them."
+
+"Like yourself, you mean?"
+
+"Exactly. I've done a good deal in that line--up to now. Well, these
+young beauties have given the lad the idea that he's the making of a
+great artist, a budding Rubens at the least, whereas I'm convinced he
+couldn't even turn out a presentable signboard. And as for the girl,
+she's the coming Patti of her day, nothing less.
+
+"I've raged about it, been as cross and discouraging as could be, but
+precious little difference it makes. No, they must be off to Paris,
+if you please, the pair of them, on their own. And that's where I
+want you, if you will, to help me stop their little game. Marie, I
+know, looks up to you like a sort of Providence."
+
+"But really, Mr. Holm, she _has_ talent, you know."
+
+"Talent be hanged. I don't care if she has. What you've got to do is
+to tell her she's got a voice like a sore-throated sheep--that's what
+I want. And as for the boy, you can help me to cure him too, if you
+only will. You've had some experience, you know, in getting round the
+men; an old hand like you could easily manage him, I'm sure."
+
+"Really, Mr. Holm, that was a pretty compliment, I must say."
+
+"It was honestly meant, anyhow; you needn't be angry. Let's be frank
+with one another. We're old friends, you know, after all, Bianca."
+
+"Holm, for Heaven's sake, _never_, never let that name pass your lips
+again. Promise me!" she said, with a glance of earnest entreaty.
+
+"Forgive me, forgive me. May the devil cut out my sinful tongue if
+ever I utter it again. It's the most infernal nuisance, that tongue
+of mine, always getting me into trouble one way or another, like an
+alarm clock, you know, that goes off the moment you come near it."
+
+"I'll do my best, Mr. Holm, to make your daughter give up her idea of
+making a career in that way. As a matter of fact, I should have said
+the same thing even if you had not asked me."
+
+"Thanks, thanks. And the boy--how are we to manage about him?"
+
+"We must think it over, each in our own way, and see what can be
+done. There must be some way of putting a stop to their running wild
+like that, especially with two hardened old diplomatists like you and
+myself working together."
+
+"I'm sure we can; and now I'll say good-bye. For the present, at any
+rate, all we can do is to wait the course of events, as the grocer
+said when his wife ran off with the apprentice!"
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+"REBECCA AND THE CAMELS"
+
+
+On the day after Holm had been up to Mrs. Rantzau, William and Marie
+came into the office. Each wore an air of serious importance, and
+Holm at once suspected something in the wind.
+
+"Father, we want to read you something. It's from an article in the
+paper."
+
+"Right you are, my boy--go ahead!"
+
+"It's about that picture of mine, the big one of 'Rebecca and the
+Camels,' that's on exhibition now in Christiania."
+
+"What's she doing with the camels?"
+
+"Giving them water."
+
+"Oh, I see. Watering the camelias; yes, go on."
+
+"Father, I don't think it's nice of you always to be making fun of
+William," put in Marie.
+
+"Making fun? Not a bit of it, my dear offspring, I'm highly
+interested."
+
+"Don't you want to hear what the papers say about my work?"
+
+"That's just what I'm waiting for, if you'll only begin."
+
+William opened the paper and read out solemnly:
+
+  "This large canvas, 'Rebecca and the Camels,' is the work of that
+  promising young painter, William Holm.
+
+  "The most surprising feature of the picture, at a first glance,
+  is the courage and self-confidence displayed by this young artist
+  in handling so lofty a theme.
+
+  "Naturally, some of the details are not altogether happy in their
+  execution, but, taken as a whole, one cannot but admit that it is
+  a real work of art, and the country may be congratulated on
+  adding a fresh name to the roll of its talented artists.
+
+  "With the further study which, we understand, he is shortly about
+  to undertake in Paris, William Holm should have a great future
+  before him."
+
+"Very nice, my son, very pretty indeed. And I suppose it's your pet
+particular friend, Listad, who wrote it? Does credit to his
+imagination, I'm sure."
+
+"It was written by a critic of ability and understanding."
+
+"It would be, of course."
+
+"And after that you surely can't have any objection to our going to
+Paris?"
+
+"We should like to go at once, papa," added Marie.
+
+"I dare say you would. But I think we ought to have a little more
+conclusive proof of your talent first. Well, I will make you an
+offer. William, you can send your picture to Copenhagen, and have it
+exhibited there anonymously: then we will abide by what the critics
+say. If it's good, why, I give in; if it's slated, then you agree to
+start work in the office here with me forthwith, and leave your
+paint-pots till your leisure, to amuse yourself and your friends
+apart from your work with me.
+
+"And you, Marie, you can tell your music-mistress, Mrs. Rantzau, that
+you are seriously thinking of going to the opera, and ask her candid
+opinion of your prospects. If she advises you to do so, well and
+good, you shall go to Paris; if not, then you stay at home and begin
+to learn house-keeping like any other young woman. Isn't that fair?"
+
+"Yes, that's fair enough," said William. "I'm not afraid of what the
+Copenhagen critics will say."
+
+"And I know Mrs. Rantzau will tell me I ought to go on."
+
+As soon as they had gone, Holm stole off quietly to Mrs. Rantzau and
+told her all that had passed.
+
+The young people started on their packing at once, Marie in
+particular was busily occupied in completing her wardrobe. A new
+travelling-dress was ordered, and various purchases made.
+
+"Don't you think it would be better to wait until we have heard the
+decision of the authorities," suggested Holm.
+
+"Oh, but I shall hear from Mrs. Rantzau to-morrow," said Marie. "And
+it doesn't really matter, does it, if you don't get the answer till
+after I've gone?"
+
+"H'm, I think I'd rather have it settled first, if it's all the same
+to you."
+
+A week passed, however, and every day Marie had to try over again
+with Mrs. Rantzau; strange how particular she was now!
+
+William had sent off his picture to Copenhagen, and was all anxiety
+to learn what had been said about it. The dealer had been instructed
+to send him press cuttings as soon as they appeared.
+
+On Saturday morning, when Holm went up into the drawing-room, he
+found the pair very subdued. William was in the smoking-room, which
+was in darkness, looking out of the window, and Marie lay on the sofa
+in tears.
+
+On the table lay an open letter from Mrs. Rantzau, as follows:
+
+  "MY DEAR MISS HOLM,--I have for the past week carefully and
+  conscientiously tested your voice in order to give my verdict
+  without hesitation as to your chances of making a career as a
+  singer.
+
+  "I regret that as a result I can only advise you most seriously
+  to relinquish the idea.
+
+  "You have certainly a pleasing voice, but its compass is only
+  slight, and would never be sufficiently powerful for concert
+  work.
+
+  "By all means continue your training, you will find it worth
+  while, and your voice might be a source of pleasure to your home
+  circle and friends. I am sure you will be a thousand times
+  happier in that way than in entering upon a career which could
+  only lead to disappointment.--Sincerely yours,
+
+                                          "EMILIE RANTZAU."
+
+Holm read the letter, and went over to Marie.
+
+"Don't cry, my child; you shall go to Paris all right, but we'll go
+together this time, for a holiday."
+
+"Oh, I'm so miserable--hu, hu!"
+
+"It won't be for long." And Holm sat comforting her as well as he
+could, until at last she went out of her own accord to lay the table
+for supper--a thing she had not troubled to do for a long time.
+
+"Aha," thought Holm, "things are looking up a bit."
+
+It was not a particularly cheerful meal, however, and William went
+off to his own room as soon as it was over.
+
+A few days later a bundle of newspapers arrived by post from
+Copenhagen. William took the parcel with a trembling hand, and
+hurried off to his room to read them.
+
+Not a word about "Rebecca and the Camels," beyond the dealer's
+advertisement of the exhibition. Ah, yes, here was something at last.
+And he read through the following, from one of the morning papers:
+
+  "NORWEGIAN CAMELS"
+
+  "A decidedly humorous work of art has been on exhibition here the
+  last few days.
+
+  "We have rarely seen visitors to the gallery so amused as were
+  the groups that gathered before the large-sized canvas indicated
+  as representing 'Rebecca and the Camels.'
+
+  "The young lady with the water-jug appears to be suffering from a
+  pronounced gumboil, and is evidently utterly bored with her task
+  of acting as barmaid to the camels; which latter, be it stated,
+  are certainly but distantly related, if at all, to the honourable
+  family of that name as represented in our Zoological Gardens.
+
+  "Indeed, we have it on good authority that a formal protest will
+  shortly be lodged by the family in question against the
+  unrightful adoption of a distinguished name by these
+  monstrosities; the dromedaries, too, albeit less directly
+  concerned, are anxious to disclaim any relationship.
+
+  "As for the setting, it must be admitted that the sky is
+  undoubtedly as blue as anyone could wish, while cactus and
+  cabbage grow luxuriantly about the hoofs of the so-called camels.
+
+  "Such unfettered and original humour is rare in Norwegian art; we
+  are more accustomed to works of serious and mystic significance
+  from that quarter. Presumably, the painting in question
+  represents a new school, and we can only congratulate the country
+  on the possession of so promising a young artist."
+
+William turned very pale as he read. Then, taking up the bundle of
+papers, he thrust the whole collection into the stove, and began
+nervously walking up and down.
+
+An hour later he went downstairs to the office, and took his seat at
+the desk, opposite Miss Rantzau.
+
+Just then Holm entered from the shop. He made no remarks, but put on
+his coat and went down to the waterside, where he found Bramsen
+sitting in a corner, looking troubled and unhappy.
+
+"Why, what's the matter, Bramsen?"
+
+"Oh, Lord, everything's going contrariwise, it seems."
+
+"Why, what's happened?"
+
+"Well, there's Andrine gone and joined the Salvation Army, with a hat
+like _that_!" And he made a descriptive motion of his hands to his
+ears.
+
+"The devil she has!"
+
+"Ay, you may well say that. Downhill's better than up, as the man
+said when he fell over the cliff. But," and he sighed, "it never
+rains but it pours. Amande's gone and got laid up too."
+
+"Amande? Poor child! What's wrong with her?"
+
+"Doctor says she's got tulips or something in her ears."
+
+"Polypi, I suppose you mean."
+
+"Well, something of that sort, anyway."
+
+"Sorry to hear that, Bramsen. And I'd just come down to tell you how
+splendid I was feeling myself; haven't been so happy for years. What
+do you think! William's started work at the office, and Marie's given
+up the singing business. Isn't that a surprise?"
+
+"Ay, that it is. Never have thought it--as the old maid said when
+a young man kissed her on the stairs. I'm glad to hear it,
+though--they've been pretty average troublesome up to now."
+
+"I should say so. Well, let's hope Andrine will come to her senses as
+well, after a bit."
+
+"She must have got it pretty badly, I tell you, Knut. Why, only this
+morning if she didn't hand me over the savings-bank book, said she'd
+given up all thoughts of worldly mammon for good." And Bramsen drew
+out the book from his pocket.
+
+"What do you say to that, L130, 16s. 2d. She must have been a wonder
+to put by all that."
+
+"You're right there, Bramsen; she must be a born manager."
+
+"And now I'm going to try a steamboat. There's one I know of that's
+for sale, the _Patriot_, and I believe it's a bargain."
+
+"Don't you go doing anything foolish now, Bramsen; you're
+comfortably off as you are, and if you want more wages, why, you've
+only got to say so."
+
+"No, thanks, Knut. I'm earning well enough, and doing first-rate all
+round. But it's the freedom I want, to set out on my own again."
+
+"Well, you could take a run down the fjord on one of the coasting
+steamers any time you like."
+
+"Ah, but it's not the same. Look at that fellow Johnsen now, with the
+_Rap_ hauling away with all sorts of craft, for all he drinks like a
+fish. Only last year he went on board so properly overloaded, he fell
+down the hold and smashed a couple of ribs."
+
+"And you want to go and do likewise? You're a long sight better off
+where you are, if you ask me, Bramsen."
+
+"Well, I'll think it over, Knut. As long as I've got all this worldly
+mammon in my inside pocket, I feel like doing things with it. And
+there's no knowing but Andrine might get converted back again any day
+and want it back--and where'd I be then?"
+
+"H'm. I hope you'll have her back again the same as ever, before
+long."
+
+"Why, as to that, I hope so too, and that's the truth. But that's the
+more reason not to lose the chance now she's taken that way. I've
+thought of trying a share in a vessel too. There's Olsen, skipper of
+the _Baron Holberg_. You must know Olsen, I'm sure--fellow with a red
+beard--Baron Olsen, they call him. He offered me a fourth share in
+the brig for L65."
+
+Bramsen livened up after a while, and the two friends were soon
+chatting away in their usual cheery fashion.
+
+"What would you say to me marrying again, Bramsen?"
+
+Bramsen sat without moving for a while, then took out his clasp-knife
+and began whittling at a splinter of wood.
+
+"Well, what do you say?
+
+"I'd say it's a risky thing to do."
+
+"It generally is, I suppose, but it's always turned out all right up
+to now."
+
+"You've had a deal of truck with the womenfolk in your time, Knut.
+Got a way of managing them somehow. Seems to me you start off with
+being sort of friendly with them in a general way, and then they get
+to running after you and want to marry you straight away. Ay, you've
+a sort of way of your own with the women for sure. Me being a simple
+sort of an individual, it's the other way round--why, I had to ask
+Andrine three times before she'd have me. Would you believe it, she
+was as near as could be to taking John Isaksen, that's built like a
+telegraph post, and never a tooth in his mouth, so he was that afraid
+of crusts they called him Crusty John."
+
+"Well, women are queer cattle, you're right in that."
+
+"Ay, that they are. Like a bit of clockwork inside, all odd bits of
+wheels and screws and things, little and big, some turning this way
+and some that. And the mainspring, as you might say, that's love, and
+that's why there's some goes too fast, by reason of the mainspring
+being stronger than it should, and others taking it easy like, and
+going slow...."
+
+"And some that stop altogether."
+
+"Why, yes, till they get a new mainspring and start going again. If
+not, why, they're done for, that's all."
+
+"You've a neat way of putting it, Bramsen. Like a parable."
+
+"And then they're mostly cased up smart and fine, and we wear them
+mostly near our hearts----"
+
+"Bravo! Right again!"
+
+"Well, now, begging your pardon, Knut, might I be so bold as to ask
+if it's a widow you've got your eye on this time?"
+
+"No, indeed, my dear fellow, it's not."
+
+"Good for you, Knut. I've never cared much for second-hand goods
+myself, there's always something wrong with them somewhere, and they
+soon go to bits."
+
+"You're not far out either. I like them new myself."
+
+"But I was going to tell you, I'd a rare time of it here the other
+day. You've maybe heard about me gammoning the youngsters down
+here--ay, and others too for that matter, simple folk like Garner,
+for instance--that I could talk Chinese through having picked up the
+lingo the five years I was on board the _Albatros_ in the China
+Seas?"
+
+And, by way of illustration, Bramsen showed his eyes round sideways,
+screwed up his mouth and uttered the following syllables:
+"Hi--ho--fang--chu--ka--me--lang--poh--poh--ku!"
+
+Holm laughed till he had to sit down on a barrel. Bramsen was in his
+element now; Andrine and the Salvation Army, Amanda and her tulips,
+were forgotten.
+
+"Well, the day before yesterday, while I was stacking fish up in the
+loft, in comes an old gentleman, sort of learned and reverend looking
+he was.
+
+"'Mr. Paal Abrahamsen?' says he, and looks at me solemn-like through
+a pair of blue spectacles.
+
+"'That's me, your Highness,' says I, for I judged he must be
+something pretty high. Then he puts down his stick, a mighty fine one
+with a silver top, and opens a big book.
+
+"Aha, thinks I to myself, it'll be the census, that's it. For you
+know there's been all this business about taking people's census ever
+since New Year. Well, if he wanted my census, I was agreeable, so I
+started away polite as could be:
+
+"'Surname and Christian names, married or single, and so on, that's
+what you'll be wanting,' says I.
+
+"'No, my friend,' says he, 'I only called to inquire--you speak
+Chinese, I understand. Several years in the country, were you not?'
+
+"Well, I reckoned he couldn't be a Chinaman himself. I gave a squint
+up under his spectacles to see if his eyes were slantywise, but they
+were all right.
+
+"'H'm,' says I, 'I know a little, but it's nothing much. Not worth
+counting, really.'
+
+"'Don't be afraid, my good man. It was just a few simple words and
+phrases in the language I'd very much like to ask about. My name
+is'--well, it was Professor something or other--Birk or Cork or Stork
+or something--'from Christiania,' he said.
+
+"'Well,' thinks I to myself, 'it doesn't look as if he knew much more
+than I do myself. I may bluff him yet.' And we squatted down on a
+barrel apiece, with an empty sugar-box between us for a table.
+
+"'Mr. Abrahamsen,' says he, 'if you'd kindly repeat a sentence,
+anything you like, in Chinese.' And he takes up a grand gold
+pencil-case and starts to write in the book.
+
+"'Aha,' thought I, 'now we're sitting to the hardest part,' as the
+miller said when he got to the eighth commandment. Anyhow, here goes.
+And I rattles off, solemn-like: 'Me--hoh--puh--fih--chu--lang--ra--
+ta--ta--poh--uh--ee--lee--shung--la--uh--uh--uh!' And down it all
+goes in his book like winking.
+
+"'Very good, very good. And now, what does it mean?'
+
+"'What it means----' Well, that was a nasty one, as you can imagine.
+Funny thing, but I'd never thought about that. 'Mean--why--well, it
+means--H'm. Why, it's as much as to say--well, it's a sort of--sort
+of national anthem, as you might call it. _Sons of China's Ancient
+Land._ Not quite that exactly, but something like it, you understand.
+Chinese is--well, it's different, you know.'
+
+"He looked at me pretty sharply under his glasses, but I stood my
+ground and never winked a muscle. And then, bless me if he wasn't
+mean enough to ask me to say it all over again.
+
+"Well, I could have stood on my head in the dark easier than remember
+what it was I'd said before. So I puts on an air, superior-like, and
+says to him:
+
+"'Wait a bit, it's your turn now. Let's see if you can manage it
+first.'
+
+"'Well, my good sir, to begin with, _Sons of Norway's Ancient Land_
+is a sort of national anthem if you like, but I hardly think it's
+been translated into Chinese. And in the second place, the word for
+_sons_ is "Yung-li," not "Me-hoh," as you said.'
+
+"'Beg pardon, Professor, but there's different dialectrics out there,
+same as here: some talks northland and some westland fashion, not to
+speak of shorthand, and it's all as different as light and dark.'
+
+"Well, as luck would have it, that set him laughing, and he shuts up
+the big book and tucks away the pencil in his waistcoat pocket. And
+he thanks me most politely for the information.
+
+"'You're very welcome, I'm sure,' says I.
+'Ah--dec--oh--oh--shung--la--la--poh!'
+
+"But if we ever get another of that learned sort along, why, I'm
+going to tell them Paal Abrahamsen's dead and gone, poor lad, and
+can't talk Chinese any more. I never was much good at these
+examinations."
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+HOLM & SON
+
+
+There was a marked change in the office now. Every day, when Holm
+came in, he would find William seated at his desk, opposite Miss
+Betty. Early and late, William was always there, working away to all
+appearance like a steam engine. This in itself was excellent, of
+course, but, on the other hand, it destroyed all chance of a
+comfortable chat with Betty _tete-a-tete_. And every day Holm felt
+more and more convinced that Betty and he were made for one another.
+Or at least that Betty was made for him.
+
+"You must get the hang of the outside business too, my son," he
+observed one day. "Down at the waterside, for instance, there's a lot
+needs looking after there."
+
+"Yes, father," said William respectfully, "but I want to get
+thoroughly into the bookkeeping first, and Miss Rantzau is helping
+me."
+
+There was nothing to be said to this, of course, but it was annoying,
+to say the least. And Holm senior, thinking matters over in his
+leisure hours, would say to himself:
+
+"Knut, my boy, you've been a considerable fool. You should have sent
+the youngsters off to Paris as they wanted, then you could have
+fixed things up here in your own fashion while they were away."
+
+The thought that William might enter the lists against him as a rival
+for Betty's favour never occurred to him, however, until one day when
+Broker Vindt came round and found his friend Holm standing behind the
+counter in the shop, with William in possession of the inner office.
+
+Vindt was the generally recognised and accredited jester of the town;
+there was nothing he would not find a way of poking fun at, and even
+Banker Hermansen had smilingly to submit to his witticisms.
+
+Vindt was an old bachelor, a dried-up, lanky figure of a man, with a
+broad-brimmed felt hat set on his smooth black wig and a little
+florid face with a sharp nose.
+
+"Beg pardon, Holm," he began, "would you mind asking if the senior
+partner's disengaged for a moment?"
+
+"Oh, go to the devil!"
+
+"Well, I was thinking of taking a holiday somewhere--and I dare say
+he'd put me up. Better than nothing, as the parson said when he found
+a button in the offertory box. You might say the same, you know; be
+thankful he's keeping you on at all."
+
+"It's a good thing, if you ask me, to see young people doing
+something nowadays."
+
+"Ah, my boy, it all depends _what_ they're doing! Apropos, the other
+young person in there, is she to be taken into partnership as well?
+Deuced pretty girl that, Holm."
+
+"Vindt, you're incorrigible. Come upstairs and have a glass of wine.
+I've got some fine '52 Madeira...."
+
+"Started as early as that, did you? No, thanks all the same. I think
+I'll wait till the little Donna inside there's moved upstairs for
+good, then perhaps we may get a look in at the office again some
+day."
+
+And Vindt strode out of the shop. Crossing the square, he met
+Hermansen, who had just come from the repair shops, where the
+Spaniard was being overhauled. The only part of her hull that could
+be considered sound consisted of a few plates at the after end.
+Wherefore Vindt naturally offered his congratulations, "All's well
+that ends well, eh, what?"
+
+The banker swallowed the pill without wincing, and merely observed:
+
+"Yes, it's an unsatisfactory business, patching up old wrecks.
+Apropos, Vindt, how's the gout getting on? Going anywhere for a cure
+this summer?"
+
+"Can't afford it, I'm afraid. Bills for repairing wrecks, you know,
+are apt to be a bit heavy when they come in."
+
+Hermansen gave it up after that, but he was considerably annoyed when
+he returned to the bank, as Petersen, the cashier, could see from the
+way he flung down his gloves and hat--it was rarely the banker showed
+so much irritation.
+
+Meantime, Holm was thinking over what Vindt had said. "Wait till the
+little Donna's moved upstairs for good...." Now what on earth did he
+mean by that? Vindt could not possibly have any idea that he, Knut
+Holm, was contemplating marriage. William and Betty, then?
+Nonsense--the idea was preposterous; it certainly could never have
+entered his head, far less Vindt's. Still, it was certainly queer,
+the way the boy stuck to the office and never stirred out....
+
+In days past it had been impossible to keep him at the desk for an
+hour on end; now, he hung over the books as if he were nailed to the
+stool.
+
+"Anyhow, we'll make an end of it some way or other. I'm not going to
+sit here and be made a fool of."
+
+And Holm went into the inner office. By a rare chance, William had
+gone out, and he found Betty alone.
+
+The girl had her mother's irresistible charm. Not so handsome, true,
+but of a gentler type, thought Holm to himself as he looked at the
+fresh young face.
+
+And that fair curling hair of hers went splendidly with the dark
+eyebrows.
+
+"You're working too hard; you mustn't overdo it, you know," he said
+kindly.
+
+"Not the least bit, really; I like it. I've quite fallen in love with
+the big ledger here, it's such a nice comfortable old-fashioned
+thing."
+
+"So you like old-fashioned things? Perhaps you would include me in
+the category of old?"
+
+"You, Mr. Holm! Of course not. Why, you're just in the prime of
+life."
+
+"Well, yes, I hope so. But what would you say, now, if a man--in the
+prime of life--were to say to you, My dear Miss Betty, will you come
+and help to brighten up my home? You're too good to wear yourself out
+with working in an office, when you might be filling a man's life
+with comfort and content."
+
+Betty got down from her stool and stood looking at him in
+astonishment.
+
+"Really, Mr. Holm, I don't know what you mean!"
+
+"Oh, I know I'm much older than you, Miss Betty, but my heart's as
+young as ever, and I can offer you a good home and devoted affection,
+better, perhaps, than you would find elsewhere."
+
+He placed himself opposite her and endeavoured to meet her eyes, but
+she took refuge behind the ledger, and would not look up.
+
+"I've seen ups and downs in my time, Miss Betty, and learned a good
+deal of life; you won't find me such a poor support to lean on."
+
+"Oh, please, Mr. Holm, please don't say any more. I--I must go home
+now, mama will be waiting...." She broke off, and began hurriedly and
+nervously putting on her things.
+
+Holm put out his hand and held hers a moment or two, then she ran
+out, and soon her light, firm step had passed out of hearing.
+
+Holm was annoyed.
+
+"H'm, you're out of practice, that's what it is. Getting old.
+Shouldn't have sprung it on her suddenly like that. Never flurry a
+turtle dove; slips out of the ark if you do, and never comes back.
+But you don't see Knut Holm giving up the game for a little thing
+like that; no, we must get our old friend Bianca to lend a hand.
+She's sensible enough to know a good son-in-law when she sees one."
+
+Next morning, when Betty arrived at the office, Holm went along to
+call on Mrs. Rantzau; it was to her he must now look for help.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau grew very serious when Holm enlightened her as to his
+feelings for Betty. She pointed out at once the great difference in
+their ages, and was very doubtful on that head. Nevertheless, she
+undertook to speak to Betty herself.
+
+She could not but admit that the offer was a tempting one and that
+Betty's future would be assured--which to a woman in her position was
+important enough. She would in any case give the matter her most
+earnest consideration.
+
+Holm took all this to mean that Mrs. Rantzau herself was not
+disinclined to approve of the idea, but that it would take time to
+get it settled.
+
+He felt more cheerful now, and hoped for victory in the end. Mrs.
+Rantzau, he was convinced, would use her utmost influence with her
+daughter, though of course they would think it looked better not to
+accept at once!
+
+On returning to the office he fancied Betty was more than usually
+friendly, and came to the conclusion that she had perhaps begun to
+think more seriously over the matter.
+
+In order to prepare the children in any case, he thought it best to
+take William into his confidence, without further delay, as to his
+intention of marrying again. William was accordingly asked to come
+upstairs.
+
+When they entered the drawing-room Holm locked the door, and motioned
+William to a seat on the sofa beside him.
+
+"But what on earth are you making all this mystery about, old man?"
+said William.
+
+"Old, did you say? You might be thankful, my boy, if you were as
+youthful as I am."
+
+"Why, what's the matter now?"
+
+"I want to speak to you seriously, my son. For seventeen years now I
+have been a lone, lone man...."
+
+"Seventeen years?"
+
+"That's what I said. It's seventeen years now since Mrs. Gronlund
+died. But what is time? A mere trifle. Anyhow, I'm getting tired of
+this lonely life."
+
+"Very natural, I'm sure."
+
+"And I have therefore resolved to marry again."
+
+"Have you, though? Good idea."
+
+"Yes; don't you think so? And I have decided to take a wife who is
+first of all a good-hearted and domesticated woman, but at the same
+time one who will be able to brighten up the home."
+
+"Excellent! I quite agree. A sound and healthy man of your type
+should certainly marry as soon as opportunity occurs. And I don't
+mind saying that the life we two have led here all these years hasn't
+exactly been an ideal existence."
+
+"Perhaps not--though you might have been worse off. However, now that
+I am about to bring home a bride for the third----"
+
+"And last time?"
+
+"--I cannot but feel a certain emotion in saying to you, my son, as I
+do now: look up to her as a mother, love her as she deserves, for she
+is a woman in a thousand."
+
+"I'm sure, father, you could not have made a better choice. Mrs.
+Rantzau is, I believe, an excellent woman."
+
+"Mrs. Rantzau! What on earth are you talking about?"
+
+"Why, isn't it her you mean? Both Marie and I have noticed you've
+been visiting her pretty often of late."
+
+"Me--to marry a woman that age!"
+
+"But she must be much younger than you!"
+
+"Oh--that's different. Men can marry at any age and keep on
+marrying."
+
+"But who is the favoured one, then?"
+
+"The favoured one, as you are pleased to call her, is Miss Betty----"
+
+"Betty! _You_ marry Betty Rantzau?"
+
+"Yes; don't you think it's a good idea? Suit us all round."
+
+"Oh, it's ridiculous, impossible!"
+
+"And why, may I ask?"
+
+"Well, to begin with, Betty won't have you, and, besides----"
+
+"Well...?"
+
+"Betty belongs to me!"
+
+Holm jumped up from the sofa, and stood facing William, who sat
+quietly and calmly as ever.
+
+"William--I should never have expected this of you. H'm, I've borne
+with a good deal, one way and another, and had a lot of low-down
+tricks played on me in my time, but this...."
+
+"Betty's the only woman I've ever cared for, father; from the first
+time I set eyes on her I've...."
+
+"A passing fancy, nothing more. A few weeks' holiday in Paris, and
+you'll have forgotten all about it."
+
+"There you're mistaken. I'm serious for once."
+
+"And I'm serious too. And this time I'm not going to give in."
+
+Holm turned sharply on his heel and went down to the office. He had
+expected to find Betty there, but she was out. On the desk lay a
+note, in her writing, asking to be excused for leaving the office;
+she was not feeling well, and had gone home.
+
+He strode up and down in great agitation. Knut Holm was thoroughly
+angry now.
+
+His own son as a rival! Was there ever such a ridiculous state of
+things? If Vindt got any inkling of the situation, there would be no
+end to the gossip he would make of it--it would be impossible to
+remain in the place.
+
+Give way at once, and submit? No, that was not Knut Holm's way. And
+indeed, the very thought made him feel miserable at heart, for he had
+grown really fond of Betty.
+
+Well, let her choose for herself, that was the best way. She and her
+mother could work it out together, and see which looked most like
+business.
+
+He went down to the waterside to hunt up Bramsen; in times of real
+difficulty, when he felt uncertain how to act, it was always helpful
+to spend an hour listening to Bramsen's honest and genial talk.
+
+Up in the loft he found Bramsen, lying at his ease on a couple of
+coffee-bags, studying a telegram.
+
+"Hullo, Bramsen, what are you up to now?"
+
+Bramsen half rose, and sat holding one hand to his forehead, waving
+the telegram in the other.
+
+"Well, if this isn't the queerest...."
+
+"There's a deal of queer things about just lately. What's happening
+now?"
+
+"Why, you know I told you how I'd got all that worldly out of
+Andrine, when she joined the Salvation Army?"
+
+"Well, has she come to her senses again?"
+
+"Getting on that way, anyhow. It was just as I thought. When she got
+up this morning she began sort of throwing out hints that I'd better
+let her have the bank-book again after all."
+
+"Aha, that looks like coming round."
+
+"Well, you can guess I'd been expecting something of the sort, and so
+I started in a little speculation while there was time."
+
+"Not trying steamboats, I hope?"
+
+"No, no. But I got wind of a good thing in another way altogether.
+You know Johnsen I told you about?"
+
+"Bramsen, don't tell me you've got mixed up in any sort of deal with
+that drunken old fool?"
+
+"Drunk? He's as right as can be now. Turned teetotal, and made some
+money too. Any amount. Well, last week he came along to me and said
+he and Baron Olsen had gone shares and bought up a boat that was
+lying at Strandvik--_Erik_ was the name. They'd got her dirt cheap,
+but they'd let me come in for a third share, and be managing owner,
+with Johnsen as skipper. Well, I agreed. The _Erik_ went off last
+week, and now here comes a telegram from some place called Havre; but
+it's a queer sort of message. I can't make head or tail of it myself.
+Here, see what it says: 'Drink dock yesterday.--JOHNSEN.' Drunk in
+dock, if you ask me--and him a teetot'lar and all!"
+
+Holm took the telegram and read it over, but could make nothing of
+it. "Drink dock yesterday" was all it said.
+
+"Well, it's something to do with drink, anyway, by the look of
+it--whether he means he got drunk in dock, or drank the dock dry to
+be out of temptation, he's probably got delirium tremens by this
+time, and drunk the ship as well."
+
+"Holm--you don't think he's gone off the rails again--honestly?"
+Bramsen jumped up from his couch and stood aghast.
+
+"Well, whatever did you want to be such a fool for, Bramsen? Managing
+owner indeed--why, you've no more idea of managing than those
+coffee-bags."
+
+"Ho, haven't I? And me been round the Horn and Cape of Good Hope as
+well, and nearly eaten by crocodiles in Bahia, dead of yellow fever,
+and all but burned in Rio, an ear with frostbite in the Arctic, been
+shooting monkeys in Mozambique."
+
+"Monkey yourself, if you ask me."
+
+"That may be; but, anyhow, you can't say I don't know anything about
+shipping. Your smart shipowners sitting all day in their offices and
+looking out places on the map, you suppose they know more about it
+than me that's been thirty years navigating on my own all over the
+torrential globe. I'm not good enough to manage a bit of a ship
+myself, eh? I'm a plain man, I know, but I'm no fool for all that,
+and I don't see what call you've got to go throwing wet blankets on
+all my deals and doings anyhow."
+
+Bramsen was thoroughly offended now, and Holm found it difficult to
+bring him round.
+
+"It's not that, Bramsen; you know I don't mean it that way. But I do
+think it's foolish of you to entrust your property to an
+irresponsible fellow like Johnsen."
+
+"Well, what's a man to do when everything's going by the board all
+round? Ay, it's other little matters that's the trouble as well. I
+don't mind telling you, Knut, but, flay and fester me, you must
+swear you won't say a word to a soul."
+
+"You know I can keep a secret, Bramsen."
+
+"Well, it's this way. Armanda's only just been confirmed, and, would
+you believe it, if the girl hasn't gone and got engaged already, with
+Johnsen's son; Carljohan's his name, and a devilish smart lad too. I
+know he failed for his mate's certificate this year, but after all
+that doesn't go for much, for he can walk on his hands as easy as his
+feet, and he's as nimble as a squirrel up aloft."
+
+"But have you given your consent?"
+
+"Consent?" Bramsen stared in astonishment. "Consent? They never asked
+for it, and I never asked myself--how should I? I'd never have done
+anything but ask for consent all the times I was engaged, and then,
+what about you? Have you asked anyone's consent?"
+
+"No, but...."
+
+"Well, there you are! Anyhow, we had a sort of celebration party up
+at home one evening when Andrine was gone to meeting. Take my word
+for it, but old Johnsen was a bit sore that night; and wishing he'd
+never gone in for teetotalling! But the rest of us had a fine
+uproarious time of it, and I tried my hand with young Carljohan at
+one or two little wrestling tricks. Aha, he's a good one, but he'll
+need to learn a bit more before he can get over me. There's a dodge
+or two I learned from a Mulatto on the coast of Brazil many years
+ago...."
+
+"But what's all this got to do with the boat?"
+
+"Why, you see, Armanda says Carljohan must get a berth as skipper, so
+we must use the chance, while her mother's all Salvationing, to get
+hold of a share in a vessel, put in old Johnsen as skipper at first,
+and let the youngster take it on after.... See?"
+
+"Oho! Women again, Bramsen, what?"
+
+"Ay, they do us every time, and that's the truth. But we can't get on
+without them all the same. Like pepper in the soup--gets you in the
+throat now and again, but it gives you an appetite."
+
+Bramsen had by now almost forgotten the telegram; he grew serious
+again, however, as it caught his eye.
+
+"'Drink dock yesterday--drink dock....'" he scratched his whiskers
+and muttered curses at Johnsen and his telegram.
+
+Holm sat looking at the thing.
+
+"Bramsen," he said at last, "I've got it. Don't you see what it is?"
+
+"No, I'm blest if I do."
+
+"It's come through a bit wrong, that's all, mutilated in transit.
+'_Erik_' it ought to be. '_Erik_ dock yesterday'--that is--he's got
+there all right and docked yesterday."
+
+Bramsen turned a somersault over the coffee-bags, slapped his thighs
+and stood doubled up with laughter.
+
+"Well, to be sure! A nice lot they telegraph people must be over
+there! And I was certain sure he'd gone on the drink and sold us all
+up this time--ha, ha, ha!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+While Holm and Bramsen were thus consoling each other down at the
+quay, Mrs. Rantzau and Betty were sitting quietly in the little
+parlour now that the pupils had gone.
+
+Betty was crying, with her arms round her mother's neck, while her
+mother pressed the girl closely to her, patting her hair tenderly.
+
+"Don't cry, Betty, my child; you know we've always had each other,
+good times and bad. Ah, my dear, it's a sad childhood you had, but I
+could do no more. You must do as your heart tells you, my child."
+
+"Oh, mother, and we were so happy together, and everything going so
+well."
+
+"We'll manage somehow, Betty dear; you've never known me give up yet,
+have you, child?"
+
+"No--but it's so cruel to think of you having to work and slave all
+the time--and we might have lived in luxury the two of us--but I
+can't, mother, I can't."
+
+"Never think of it, Betty dear; I am well and strong, and we'll get
+along all right. And if you don't care to stay on at the office there
+after what's happened, why, there must be other places you could
+get."
+
+"Yes, I know--but it was so nice there, and I was just getting into
+things so well. And--and--Mr. William was so nice and kind."
+
+She fell to crying once more, but Mrs. Rantzau sat up sharply.
+
+"William--was he nice to you, you say?"
+
+"Yes, so kind and friendly, and he told me about things---- Oh, he's
+a good man, I know."
+
+"Told you about what things, Betty?"
+
+"About his life, and how he'd wanted to be an artist, and was
+studying for it and all that--but then he thought it was his duty to
+help his old father with the business."
+
+Betty grew calmer after a while, and told her mother a great deal of
+what had passed between Holm and herself, and what William had said.
+
+Emilie Rantzau lay awake till late that night thinking over what
+Betty had said. It was difficult to get a clear idea of the
+situation, for the various scenes seemed contradictory. Had William
+honourable intentions regarding Betty?--that was the main thing.
+
+But she had met with so many disappointments in life, that it almost
+seemed as if Fate were purposely deluding her with visions that were
+never to be realised. Again and again she had seen the future opening
+before her in happiness and prosperity, only to find the prospect
+vanish like a mirage, leaving her alone as before in the desert of
+life.
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+MALLA TRAP
+
+
+Forty years earlier the corner premises occupied by the firm of Knut
+G. Holm had belonged to Melchior Trap, who had his business there.
+Melchior Trap was one of the great traders of the place in his day,
+and a man looked up to by all.
+
+He was supposed to have made a fortune in the Crimean War, but lost
+most of it later, though enough remained for him to leave his
+daughter and only child, Malla Trap, a comfortable income after his
+death.
+
+Knut Holm, as a lad of fifteen, had entered the service of Melchior
+Trap, starting in the shop, and gradually working his way up, until,
+when the old man died, he was able to take over the business himself.
+
+Malla Trap was then a friend of old standing; some, indeed, of the
+older generation declared that Holm in his young days had been in
+love with his master's daughter, but that the old patrician would not
+hear of the match.
+
+However this might be, Malla Trap was a regular visitor at the
+Holms', and as far back as the children could remember, Aunt Trap had
+always come round to dinner every Sunday, where a special place was
+laid for her at table.
+
+She was now about sixty, tall, thin, and with greyish hair that hung
+in two heavy curls on either side of her forehead.
+
+But Malla Trap was no ordinary old maid with black crochet mittens
+and knitting-needle, sitting roasting apples over a stove in an
+over-heated room.
+
+No; on a fine winter's day, with clean, smooth ice across the fjord,
+one might see Malla Trap's slender figure skimming along on skates as
+gaily as any girl of seventeen.
+
+She had a splendid constitution and physique--weakness was a thing
+unknown to her. And she had carefully hardened herself from youth up,
+for she had a dread of becoming old and invalid.
+
+As an instance of her prowess of endurance it was stated as a
+reliable fact that she had set out one bitterly cold morning to skate
+across the fjord, and, falling through a patch of thin ice a couple
+of miles out, had not only managed to extricate herself, but instead
+of making at once for home, continued on her way to Strandvik. There,
+arriving at the house of her old friend Prois, she declared she was
+frozen so stiff that anyone might have broken her across the middle
+like a sugar-stick.
+
+A slight cold was the sole effect of her bath, which otherwise seemed
+to have been merely refreshing!
+
+She had always had leisure and means to arrange her mode of life as
+she pleased, and had made the most of her opportunities in that
+direction. Her whole existence was conducted in a casual, easy-going
+fashion, not tied down to habit, rule and order.
+
+Her idea of charity, and manner of exercising the same, were no less
+eccentric.
+
+One Christmas, for instance, she had presented each of the old
+derelicts at the Seamen's Home with a pair of ski, declaring that
+with a little practice they would soon learn to use them, and that
+the exercise would give them a new lease of life. The poor old gouty
+invalids were hard put to it to hobble along on their feet with the
+aid of sticks, and had certainly never dreamed of running about on
+ski.
+
+When Pastor Arff, who was extremely stout, complained of heartburn,
+she gave him a skiff, with oars complete, on the express condition
+that he should get up at six every morning and row a couple of miles
+up and down the river.
+
+"I assure you, my dear Pastor, you'll feel as lively as a fish if you
+do!"
+
+She would go to meetings in the afternoon, and sit among the earnest
+sisterhood, taking an interested part in discussions as to mission
+work among the heathen, and then go on in the evening to see the
+latest and riskiest pieces at the theatre, which she thoroughly
+enjoyed. It was a known fact that she had tried to enliven the work
+of the local soup-kitchen by introducing raisins as an ingredient in
+the pea-soup, but the old ladies on the committee had put their foot
+down--that was going too far. Malla Trap urged them to try it--it was
+delicious, she declared--but without avail.
+
+The townsfolk were so used to her eccentricities that no one ever
+took much notice of them, for all knew she was a thoroughly good
+soul, who in her unobtrusive way had brought happiness to many a home
+in distress. It was not always by direct gifts that she effected
+this; her confident and encouraging manner gave new hope and strength
+to many who were sinking under the burden of their struggle. Her
+tall, erect figure came like a breath of the fresh north-west wind,
+sweeping clouds from the sky.
+
+Not many knew that it was Malla Trap who had given Bertelsen the idea
+of starting a paper shop when the firm in which he was cashier
+failed, and he found himself thrown out, with a wife and children to
+look after, and no means of support.
+
+The scene would probably have been something like this:
+
+"Now, my dear man, it's no good giving up like that."
+
+"But what am I to do?--there's nowhere to turn--only the workhouse.
+That's what it'll be--the workhouse."
+
+"Nonsense, Bertelsen! pull yourself together, do. Look here! I've an
+idea. There's that shop in the square, next to Holm; it's vacant, and
+you could get it cheap. Start a little business there with paper,
+cardboard, wall-papers and that sort of thing. It'll be a success--it
+_must_!"
+
+He looked up a little--paper--business--his thoughts took a definite
+direction. Hope began to dawn, and Malla Trap had accomplished a
+piece of the finest missionary work a human soul ever can--she had
+made a sunny thought to grow in a tortured and despairing mind.
+
+Her best friend was Miss Strom, a woman of considerable wit and
+education, and daughter of the late governor of the province.
+
+When the pair of them were together, Beate Strom would lecture at
+length, pointing out to Malla Trap the necessity of paying some
+regard to public opinion; it really would not do to go on acting in
+that independent fashion.
+
+"It's no good, my dear," Malla Trap would say. "If I can't do things
+my own way, which is at least honest and decent enough, why, I might
+as well give up altogether."
+
+"Not at all," said Beate Strom earnestly; "one must consider what
+people say."
+
+"Nonsense, Beate! You're far too well brought up, my dear, that's the
+trouble."
+
+And when Malla Trap gave a supper-party, with lobster mayonnaise and
+black pudding, Beate Strom gave her up as hopeless. There was a
+limit, she declared, to the extent to which innovations should be
+permitted.
+
+But Malla Trap simply pleaded that they were her favourite
+dishes--and why shouldn't she? Was she to sit and eat plain bread and
+cheese when she felt like lobster mayonnaise and could get it? No,
+thank you!
+
+As already mentioned, Miss Trap was a regular visitor at Holm's, and
+had her own place at table.
+
+The children were fond of her, and she of them. Whenever anything
+went wrong, or they were in trouble, both William and Marie would go
+to Aunt Trap for advice.
+
+After his last conversation with his father, William was at a loss
+what to make of the affair. It was natural, therefore, he should
+confide in Aunt Trap.
+
+He told her that he could not be certain himself as to the state of
+Betty's feelings towards him, but was almost sure she was favourably
+inclined at least.
+
+Malla Trap asked him earnestly if it were not after all only a
+passing fancy on his part; she was very sceptical as to the nature of
+men's tender feelings.
+
+William, of course, declared emphatically that it was true and
+enduring love, and that he would be blighted for ever if he could not
+make Betty his wife.
+
+At last Malla Trap believed him, and promised to do what she could to
+put matters right.
+
+She decided first of all to go and talk to Mrs. Rantzau, with whom
+she had some slight acquaintance; but on the way she encountered Mrs.
+Rantzau herself walking with Hermansen, and from the manner in which
+the pair appeared absorbed in each other's society, Malla Trap judged
+it best to postpone the call for the present. Immediately after,
+Vindt, her cousin, came strolling along, and stopped to speak.
+
+"Well, Mrs. Mallaprop, how's things with you?"
+
+"Very well, thanks, rude boy."
+
+Vindt stood a moment pointing with his stick to the pair that had
+just passed.
+
+"What do you say to that, my lanky cousin--pretty bit of goods the
+banker's got hold of there. Who is she?"
+
+"Mrs. Rantzau, the music teacher."
+
+"Oho! So that's the lady, is it! Well, I must say, she looks quite
+smart."
+
+"When are you coming to see me?"
+
+"My dear child, think of your reputation! What would the world say if
+I were to go visiting a love-lorn female without a chaperon in the
+world?"
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Come home and have dinner. I've a nice piece of
+fish."
+
+"And apple sauce, what? No, thank you; I was ill for a fortnight last
+time I sampled your new-fangled menus. But I mustn't take up your
+valuable time. _Addio, cara mia!_"
+
+And Vindt strode off, in time to see Hermansen and Mrs. Rantzau
+disappear round the corner. He began to wonder what it could mean.
+
+Banker Hermansen running off in business hours with a lady all
+dressed up--this was something altogether unprecedented, and enough
+to set others beside Vindt agape. Hermansen, a man devoid of all
+tender feeling, whose heart was popularly supposed to be made of
+rhinoceros hide--surely he could not be going that way like any other
+mortal?
+
+Vindt was so occupied with the phenomenon that he walked full tilt
+into Listad and the schoolmaster, the former of whom buttonholed at
+once and began delivering a long harangue about the new Ministry and
+the political situation.
+
+"... Such a state of things, my dear sir, is more than gloomy; it is
+desperate. And the _fons et origo_ of the whole trouble lies in the
+fact that...."
+
+"That there's too many amateurs poking their fingers into the
+business as it is, and an ungodly mess they're making of it, instead
+of sticking to their work and doing something useful."
+
+Listad thought he had never met a ruder fellow than this
+unceremonious broker; never encountered a citizen with a more callous
+disregard to higher political aims, and the needs of the country.
+
+"But what--what is to become of a nation if its individual units
+allow themselves to be swallowed up in mere material strivings, deaf
+to the call of lofty ideals, blind to the moral welfare of the land,
+and of humanity at large? I ask you, how will such a people fare?"
+
+"First-rate, if you ask me," said Vindt, and walked off.
+
+Meantime Malla Trap had come to the conclusion that she might as
+well take up the business in hand with Holm himself at once; it would
+have to be done sooner or later.
+
+She went up to the drawing-room, and told the maid to go down and ask
+if Mr. Holm could spare a few minutes.
+
+Holm was somewhat surprised at the message; Malla Trap did not often
+come round like this of her own accord in the middle of the week.
+
+"Well, my dear Miss Trap, is there anything special the matter since
+we have the pleasure of seeing you to-day? Or were you feeling
+lonely, perhaps?"
+
+"Lonely enough I am at times, Knut Holm."
+
+"Why, yes, I suppose--when one is all by oneself--er--one feels that
+way now and then. I know myself I often feel the want of company,
+someone to confide in----"
+
+"Ah, but you've memories, Knut Holm, happy memories."
+
+"That's true--but even then--it's apt to be dull all the same in the
+long-run, with nothing but memories."
+
+"I hear you are thinking of marrying again."
+
+"And who's been kind enough to tell you that?"
+
+"Oh, I had it from a reliable source. But honestly, Knut Holm, I
+think you will do well to reflect before you do."
+
+"I've put in quite enough reflection over it already, my dear Malla
+Trap, worked it out all round. I know it means a lot of extra expense
+and bother, with new arrangements and all that, but seeing I can't
+reasonably expect to live more than another twenty years or so, I
+fancy there'll be enough to manage it."
+
+"So that's what you call working it out, is it? Working out sums of
+money! I thought you were a man of loftier ideals than that."
+
+"I was, in my younger days, Malla Trap. Do you remember the time when
+we two were fond of each other?"
+
+"I don't think I've forgotten it."
+
+"We were as good as engaged, weren't we?"
+
+"I had your promise, Knut Holm, and I trusted you. I waited and
+waited, but you never came."
+
+"Yes, it was a pity, I know. But, you see, your father was so furious
+when he heard about it, and treated me in such a manner, that I
+simply couldn't put up with it. And then, afterwards, there were
+those affairs with Maggie and Mrs. Gronlund--but I'm sure I don't
+know what we want to go dragging up all that for. We've got along
+quietly and comfortably now together these many years; let bygones be
+bygones, say I."
+
+"Oh, I've forgiven you everything long ago. But I haven't forgotten,
+and I've my own reasons for reminding you of it all to-day for the
+first and last time. So go on."
+
+Holm walked up and down restlessly, wondering what Malla Trap could
+have in mind. It did not occur to him for the moment that she might
+be acting on William's behalf, or he might have been less frank. As
+it was, he went on with a touch of forced gaiety:
+
+"Well, well, my dear Malla Trap, if you must have the old story set
+out in detail, don't mind me. I'll tell you all about it. I had to
+marry Maggie, you see; as a gentleman I could do nothing else. And as
+for Mrs. Gronlund, why, seeing she wouldn't give up the boy, I had to
+take her as well. Altogether, you see, it's been the boy's fault all
+along. If it hadn't been for him, you and I might have fixed things
+up after all."
+
+"Best as it was, I dare say. But I ask you now, for the sake of our
+old friendship, do not make another woman unhappy."
+
+"But, my dear soul, Maggie and Mrs. Gronlund were as happy as could
+be. I really think I've a sort of gift for making women happy, when I
+love them."
+
+"Ha, ha! Excuse my laughing, but really, Knut Holm, I can't help it.
+You loved me once, or so you said, at least."
+
+"Oh, we were only children then."
+
+"But I can't say you ever made me happy in that way."
+
+"I assure you, Malla Trap, I've been more sorry than you know about
+that business."
+
+"Oh, I don't think you ever troubled much to think what a forsaken
+woman feels, what misery it means to her."
+
+"Well, honestly, I don't find it easy to put myself in her place, as
+it were--no, I can't say---- It must be very unpleasant, of
+course.... H'm. But you seem to have got along pretty comfortably all
+the same, as far as one can see."
+
+"As far as one can see, yes." Her voice was earnest now. "Has it
+never occurred to you to think why Malla Trap grew into the
+eccentric, half-foolish creature people turn to smile at now? Do you
+know what it means to lose one's whole objective in life? Ah, no, you
+wouldn't understand; no one else, perhaps, could understand how a
+woman's life can be made empty, aimless, a mere chaos of
+existence--though, Heaven be thanked, there have been little rays of
+sun-light here and there. And when the whole poor comedy is ended,
+why, I hope there may be some few that will spare a kindly thought
+for Malla Trap."
+
+"If I knew how I could help you, Malla Trap, I'd do it gladly. But,
+honestly, I can't see what you're driving at just now."
+
+"I want your son to be happy, that's all."
+
+"Oh--so that's where the trouble lies, is it? Very sensible of him,
+I'm sure, to get you on his side, but if you'll excuse my saying so,
+Malla Trap, you'd better leave things alone."
+
+He strode up and down, and the casual, easy-going air he had assumed
+gave way to a more serious expression. At last he stopped, and stood
+facing her.
+
+"There are critical moments in every man's life," he began, "and,
+and--I reckon I've had my share. I've been on the verge of
+bankruptcy...."
+
+"In 1875, yes."
+
+"Why--how did you know?"
+
+"Oh, I knew how matters stood then, well enough."
+
+"There wasn't a soul that knew it except C. Henrik Pettersen."
+
+"You think so, do you?"
+
+"There was Hermansen at the bank, he had some idea, I dare say, but
+nobody else."
+
+"I knew." She drew off her gloves and smoothed them out on the table.
+Holm stood still, looking earnestly at her.
+
+"Was it--was it you, then, that sent me the hundred and fifty
+pounds?"
+
+"You've guessed it at last, then? Yes, it was I. I knew you were in
+desperate straits, that you would be ruined if you did not get help
+from somewhere."
+
+"After I'd treated you so badly?"
+
+"A woman's heart's a strange thing."
+
+"But why did you never tell me before to-day?"
+
+"I should never have told you at all, if it hadn't been for William's
+sake. I'm proud of the boy; he's been good to me, and a homeless old
+woman's grateful for a little kindness. Well, now you know it--and
+now I ask you again to give up Betty Rantzau; there'll be nothing but
+trouble come of it, if you go on. And they're fond of each other, I
+may as well tell you that at once."
+
+"That boy--that boy! It's as I said before; he's been the trouble all
+along."
+
+"This time, at least, it's for your own good."
+
+"That remains to be seen. But I can't get over that business of the
+hundred and fifty pounds."
+
+"Say no more about it, Knut Holm."
+
+"And that artful old rascal of a Pettersen; to think I should have
+wasted a wreath on his grave every blessed year since he died. Eleven
+wreaths at four shillings a time--true, I left out the ribbon last
+time, that was so much saved. But he shouldn't have had a single
+flower out of me, if I'd known."
+
+"Then it's agreed that you let William marry Betty?
+
+"I never said anything of the sort. But the hundred and fifty--my
+head's all going round. How am I to pay you back again? Really, I'm
+sorry--you must excuse me...."
+
+And he strode out of the room. Miss Trap sat smoothing out her gloves
+on the table. Thinking matters over, she came to the conclusion that
+Holm would give in, but the way did not seem quite clear as yet.
+
+A little later William looked in.
+
+"Has he gone?"
+
+"Just this minute."
+
+"What did he say? Did you manage it, Auntie Trap?"
+
+"He's obstinate, my boy, but I think we shall get him round all
+right. Your father only wanted to try you, William. He's a strange
+man, is Knut Holm."
+
+"Do you think that was all it was?"
+
+"Yes, I should say so. He could hardly find a better way of making
+you serious about it, than by playing the part of a rival."
+
+"Oh, we must have Betty up--we've settled it all between us, now."
+And before Miss Trap could say a word, he was gone. Two minutes later
+he came back, leading Betty by the hand.
+
+"This is Auntie Trap--yes, you must call her Auntie now, for it's she
+that's managed it all. Though it was really only a sort of trial
+father got up, so Auntie says--he's a wonder, the old man, what?"
+
+"May I call you Auntie as well, Miss Trap? I've never had an aunt
+myself, and it's nice. Mother and I have always been alone."
+
+"I know, my child. Call me Auntie by all means, and God bless you
+both. It's all to be for the best. I'm sure father was only wanting
+to try you. I know Knut Holm of old; he's his own queer ideas at
+times, but his heart's in the right place."
+
+And she put her arm round Betty's neck and kissed her.
+
+"Lovely it must be for you two young people on the threshold of the
+promised land. But remember, as you look towards it, that it only
+comes once in a lifetime--just this one moment, when the mists have
+cleared away, and the future is bright before you. I wish you
+happiness, children."
+
+She walked out, erect as ever, but with her wise eyes, as it were,
+veiled. William and Betty watched her a little way up the street.
+
+They stood hand in hand by the window, looking out over the river;
+Betty laid her head on his shoulder. Never before had the river and
+the hillside seemed so beautiful as to-day.
+
+There came into Betty's mind the memories of her childhood, like dark
+shadows gliding by. The high-walled courtyard in Hamburg and the
+rooms in a narrow street in Copenhagen stood out clearest of all. She
+shivered a little, and put her arms round her lover's neck.
+
+"Come, William, let us go and tell mother. She will be so happy."
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+CLAPHAM JUNCTION
+
+
+Everyone knows the great railway station at Clapham Junction just
+outside London, where so many lines meet and cross, and where trains
+start for so many different parts.
+
+Our little town, too, had its junction of ways just outside, where
+the high road branches out into three, each in a different direction.
+It was the accepted meeting-place for all secretly engaged couples,
+being a convenient spot that could be reached, accidentally as it
+were, by two people happening to come along by different routes.
+
+It was Vindt, the humorist, who had christened it Clapham Junction,
+and he was the first to ferret out the fact that Banker Hermansen and
+Mrs. Rantzau had been walking together along the road by the shore
+several mornings in succession.
+
+Vindt went round to the bank on some pretext of business, but really
+to see if the banker was in a softer mood than usual. After all, the
+man was no more than human!
+
+But no; there he stood behind the counter, stiff and coldly polite as
+ever. Nice sort of man for a lover, thought Vindt.
+
+What could the banker and Mrs. Rantzau have in common?
+
+It was not easy to imagine. Some said he was fascinated by her voice,
+others laid the blame on her black eyes; the fact remained that the
+pair were more and more frequently together. Vindt had not been down
+to Holm's for a long time now; he hated the sight of women in
+business, and that Holm should have been one of the first to
+introduce a petticoat within the private sanctum among good cigars
+and vintage port--it was unpardonable. In the present state of
+things, however, he felt desperately in need of someone to talk to.
+This affair of Hermansen's was so unparalleled a marvel that he
+simply must open his mind to someone about it.
+
+He thrust his head in at the doorway, and discovered Holm standing
+behind the counter.
+
+"All alone, old stick-in-the-mud?"
+
+"Not a soul in the place. Come in. Haven't seen you for ages."
+
+"You've been otherwise engaged. Fair charmer inside there now?" He
+pointed inquiringly towards the office.
+
+"No, I'm all alone. Come inside, and have a glass of '48 port."
+
+Vindt carefully laid down his heavy, ivory-handled cane, hung his
+coat and neck wrap over a chair, and stood with his hands in his
+pockets, facing him.
+
+"Well, and what's the trouble now?" said Holm, struggling with a
+refractory cork.
+
+"Holm, what do you say: could you imagine me in love?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, could you imagine old Hermansen on his knees whispering tender
+nothings to a woman?"
+
+"What on earth...? Look here. Where have you been to lunch to-day?"
+
+"I haven't been anywhere to lunch. But I'll tell you where I have
+been: I've been out to Clapham Junction, and seen our banker friend
+and the Sea Lady...."
+
+"And who?"
+
+"High C Lady; nightingale; your little Donna's mother--Rantzau, isn't
+it?"
+
+"Hermansen and Mrs. Rantzau?" Holm looked at him earnestly.
+
+"Aha, had an eye on her yourself, what? Well, you've had some
+experience of widows, so you're not a new hand at the business."
+
+"What's all this nonsense you've got hold of to-day, Vindt?"
+
+"Why, I'm sorry to crush the budding flower of love within your
+heart, but so it is. You've always come off second-best with
+Hermansen--and now he's snapped up Mrs. Rantzau under your nose. A
+marriage has been arranged--etc. etc."
+
+Holm's face was flushed--no doubt with his efforts to open the
+bottle.
+
+"Come along!" said Vindt. "What about that little drink? I'm sure I
+want something to console me."
+
+Holm could not get the cork out. He sat down, and was unusually
+silent.
+
+Vindt began to feel conscience-stricken. Surely Holm had not been in
+earnest, then?
+
+"Holm! You don't mean to say you're--you're...."
+
+"Hurt, you mean? No, no, my boy--but I've been had all the same....
+Well, never mind. What with the Spaniard, and now the widow, I
+should say he'd soon find he'd got his 'hands full.'"
+
+"Well, here's to the happy pair!"
+
+"Oh, by all means. But can you tell me, Vindt, how he managed it? I'd
+give five bob to have heard him in the act. Hermansen proposing...."
+
+"Oh, that's easy enough. This is the style." Vindt buttoned up his
+coat, put his stick under his arm and held his hands behind his back.
+
+"Honoured Madam, allow me to draw upon your indulgence to the extent
+of craving your protection. I am not altogether a worthless document,
+have never before been discounted for anyone's account, but have lain
+untouched as a sole bill of exchange in my portfolio. Having
+ascertained that you had established yourself here, I ventured,
+honoured Madam, to apply to you, with a view to learn how far you
+might be disposed to open a joint account, free of all commission, to
+our mutual advantage."
+
+"Bravo, Vindt! I'll take my oath it's the first time in his life he's
+ever done anything free of all commission--poor devil, I declare I'm
+almost sorry for him myself."
+
+They talked over the affair of the engagement for some time, and Holm
+grew so thoroughly cheerful after a while that Vindt was convinced
+his heart was not involved.
+
+"Holm, will you do me a favour?" Vindt judged that Holm was now in
+the best of tempers, and proposed to utilise the opportunity. He was
+anxious to lay hands on a couple of hundred pounds. It was worth
+trying at any rate.
+
+"Well, what is it?"
+
+"Give me your signature on the back of a piece of paper, that's all.
+A couple of hundred."
+
+"My dear Vindt, I should be sorry to lose an old friend like you."
+
+"Lose an old friend?"
+
+"Why, yes. You see, I've had some experience of backing bills. Take a
+couple of instances out of many. You remember young Lieberg? Smart,
+well-got-up young fellow, with a taste for the good things of life,
+but a trifle thin in the wearing parts. I backed a bill for him, and
+we were first-rate friends. At the first renewal I had to remind him,
+with all respect, of the paper's existence, and he was mortally
+offended--although I offered to lend him interest and payment. And in
+the end I had to pay up myself. Well, I thought after that he'd look
+on me as his best friend. Whereas now, when I meet him in the street,
+he cuts me dead. That's what you get for it!
+
+"Then there was Kautz, the shipowner. He went bankrupt, as you know,
+and let me in for L800, but in spite of that I signed, and helped him
+to come to an arrangement. A very nice little piece of business it
+turned out for him, for the year after he was a richer man than he'd
+ever been before, and he gave a thundering big party, invited all the
+town--excepting me!"
+
+"My dear Holm, if it ever should happen to me, I'd take care you were
+invited too."
+
+"Very good of you, I'm sure. But I'll tell you another little story.
+Consul Pram was a big man, with a big position, as you know, but a
+jovial soul, and easy to get on with. I've a liking for men of that
+sort. Well, it was in 1875, when things were at their worst all
+round, for shipping and trade and everything else we get our living
+by. I don't believe there was a business in the town that wasn't
+eternally worried about how things were to turn out.
+
+"Then one day Pram came up to me. 'Puh,' said he, 'it's hot,' and sat
+down, puffing. It was midsummer and pretty warm.
+
+"'You're right there,' said I, putting away my balance-sheet. I'd
+just tacked L200 on to the valuation of the premises to make it come
+out.
+
+"'Times are pretty bad,' said he.
+
+"'Not for a nabob like you, surely,' said I, feeling a bit anxious
+all the same. There was a matter of L150 between us. And I'd no idea
+where to rake up any funds beyond.
+
+"'I'm not sure if I'll pull through myself,' said he.
+
+"'Nonsense, Consul--with your credit----'
+
+"'Still....'
+
+"'Hermansen at the bank will let you have all you want. _You're_ safe
+enough.'
+
+"'I've lost courage altogether now. It's hopeless to keep going any
+longer in this place.'
+
+"'But Lord save us, man, _you_ mustn't go under. If you did, there'd
+be more than myself would have to go too.'
+
+"'Well, you'll have to keep me out then, Holm, that's all.'
+
+"Only fancy me backing a bill for a man like Pram when I was barely
+hanging on by my eyelids myself.
+
+"Well, it was then the wonderful thing happened. Just in the middle
+of the day, after Pram had gone, came a letter enclosing
+L150--anonymous! I've never felt so glad in all my life, Vindt--it
+was like a message from Providence telling me to keep up my
+pluck--and Consul Pram as well!
+
+"That afternoon I went round to his office, and backed a bill for
+L500. And next day Pram told me, laughingly, that he had got the bank
+to discount it, and Hermansen had said, 'Shouldn't have too much to
+do with that Holm if I were you, Pram. Not first-rate paper, really.
+But of course I'd take anything with _your_ name on!'
+
+"Some time after I backed another bill for Pram, and helped him in
+various little ways, for the man was almost out of his senses with
+worry; I'm sure he'd have gone smash if he'd been left to himself. I
+met his wife, too, about that time, with the boy. She is a woman of
+commanding presence, as you know, and handsome, to look at, anyway.
+She gave me her hand most cordially, and said, 'My sincerest thanks,
+Mr. Holm, for all you have done for us. _I shall never, never forget
+it._'
+
+"Six months after, the trouble was over, and young Pram was getting
+up a sledge party, inviting all the young people in the town. Marie's
+name was on the list. 'No, leave her out,' said his mother. 'He's
+quite a common person really, is that Holm.'
+
+"And later, I understand, young Pram complained to the bank manager
+that his father had had dealings some time back with Knut G.
+Holm--bill transactions, but in future he would not hear of anything
+of the sort.
+
+"The bank manager had good sense enough to answer that there was
+hardly any danger now in having dealings with Knut G. Holm!
+
+"Well, my dear Vindt, you can see for yourself that all this doesn't
+incline one to further obligations. There are one or two honourable
+exceptions, of course, but as a general rule, I must say, gratitude
+is a delightful quality, but forgetfulness is far more commonly met
+with!
+
+"Still, I've never said no to a friend. One must run the risk of
+losing both friend and money, and if by some miracle both can be
+kept, why, so much the better. Now, where's your bill?"
+
+Holm took the document, scrutinised it closely, and said:
+
+"But, my dear man, this isn't for you at all?"
+
+"I didn't say it was."
+
+"Syvertsen--Syvertsen--what's he got to do with it?"
+
+"Well, you see, he's a young man reading for the Church, and
+consequently in need of cash. So I argued it out like this: an old
+sinner like myself ought to keep on good terms with the clergy;
+wherefore I undertook to act as first signatory in the present
+instance, making myself responsible for the interest. Now I want you
+to sign as second, guaranteeing the repayments; in consideration of
+which, you might reasonably demand the services of a priest, free of
+charge, at your third wedding."
+
+When Vindt had left, Holm fell to pondering over various little
+circumstances that he had not particularly noticed before. It
+occurred to him now, that for the last fortnight he had had a message
+from Mrs. Rantzau almost every day, asking him to come and see her at
+nine o'clock precisely, on important business!
+
+And, thinking over this, he called to mind that he had on nearly
+every occasion encountered Hermansen at the same time. It could mean
+but one thing, she had been using him to bring the banker up to the
+scratch. Well--much good might it do her! "She'll get a fine
+husband--oh, a remarkably fine husband," muttered Holm to himself
+with a sly chuckle.
+
+He walked over to the window and looked across at the bank. It seemed
+in some curious way to have grown smaller; the great gilt letters,
+"BANK," above the entrance, were no longer impressive.
+
+Strange, how quiet it was in the shop to-day! Not a sound but Garner
+counting over the cash, putting the ten-shilling notes in bundles of
+ten, and the small silver coins in paper rolls.
+
+Miss Rantzau was away, and had not even sent a message.
+
+"Have you seen anything of my son to-day, Garner?"
+
+Garner laughed and showed his teeth. "He--he--no. Isn't he down at
+the quay, then? No, I don't know...."
+
+Holm perceived that there was something in the wind, and refrained
+from further inquiries.
+
+A little later the maid came in: would Mr. Holm please come upstairs,
+there was a lady to see him.
+
+It was Mrs. Rantzau. She was all in black and looked very handsome
+indeed. Holm could not help admiring her magnificent figure, and
+thought to himself that Hermansen certainly seemed to have made a
+better bargain here than recently with the Spaniard.
+
+"I dare say you are surprised to see me here now," Mrs. Rantzau
+began. "But exceptional circumstances...." she flushed, and broke off
+in some confusion.
+
+"Heard the news, my dear lady. Congratulations! You've found an
+excellent husband, a thorough----" he checked himself, hesitating
+between compliment and sincerity.
+
+"You know my past, Holm, and you will not wonder at my seeking a
+safe haven after my troubled life--and I hope and believe he will
+never have reason to regret."
+
+"Indeed not, my dear lady; he's a very lucky man if you ask me. And
+at his age, too----"
+
+"I don't think he's any older than yourself, Holm," put in Mrs.
+Rantzau, with a smile.
+
+"Well, perhaps not--but he looks it, anyway."
+
+"There was one thing more, Mr. Holm. My daughter's future is more to
+me even than my own, and it is chiefly on her account that I have
+come."
+
+"Aha, I thought as much. So you're in the plot as well, of course?"
+
+"The plot?"
+
+"Yes, it _is_ a plot. First there's William turns as contrary as a
+rusty lock, then they set Miss Trap on to me, and now it's you!"
+
+"Well--I came to tell you that the two young people love each other.
+Be good to them, Holm, and you will make your son and my daughter
+happy together."
+
+"And by doing so I become a sort of relation of--of Banker
+Hermansen?"
+
+"Well, is there anything wrong in that?"
+
+"Hermansen and I as a sort of--well, what should we be? Can't be each
+other's half-uncles--twins-in-law. Bless my soul, it's really almost
+comical!"
+
+"It's a serious matter to me, Holm. My child's future...." There were
+tears in her eyes as she spoke.
+
+"My dear lady, for Heaven's sake don't let's turn serious. I simply
+can't stand that sort of wedding-day solemnity, weeping on one
+another's necks as if it were a funeral. It simply comes to this:
+I've been had. Well, the only thing to do is to put the best face on
+it one can."
+
+She held out her hand. "Thanks, Holm. Thanks. I can assure you I
+shall never forget all your kindness. You are a good man, Holm."
+
+"Thanks for the unsolicited testimonial. Well, I dare say I might be
+worse. And when it comes to getting out one's final balance-sheet,
+it's as well to have a little on the credit side here and there."
+
+He walked across to the window and stood for some time without
+speaking.
+
+"Have you seen William to-day?" he said at last.
+
+"Yes, he came round to see us, and walked back here with me. I expect
+he's in the office now."
+
+"Well, we'd better have him up, and get the matter settled out of
+hand at once."
+
+As he was moving towards the door, Bramsen looked in.
+
+"Beg pardon, Mr. Holm," he began, then stopped and stood looking from
+one to the other. "Er--h'm. Hopes I don't intrude?"
+
+"Not a bit, Bramsen; come in! What's the trouble?"
+
+"Why, 'twas just a bit of a private matter, if...."
+
+Holm went over to him. "Anything wrong, Bramsen?"
+
+"Andrine's come home and chucked the Salvationing business for good
+and all."
+
+"Why, so much the better."
+
+"Ay, but there's the book...."
+
+"What book?"
+
+"The savings-bank book--she wants it back. And now there's nothing in
+it, for when I bought the ship, d'you see...."
+
+"We must talk it over later, Bramsen. I'm busy just now."
+
+"Busy, eh? I see," said Bramsen, looking sideways at Mrs. Rantzau.
+And, lowering his voice, he whispered slyly, "_That's a fine one
+you've got there!_" and retired.
+
+"Bramsen," Holm called after him, "tell William to come up, will you?
+You'll find him in the office."
+
+William came in directly after, went up to his father and took his
+hand.
+
+"Thank you, father," he said. "I didn't understand at first, but Miss
+Trap told me all about it. That you only wanted to try us----"
+
+"Eh? Try you? Yes--yes, of course.... Yes, my son; it was--er--it was
+the only way I could see to make a sensible man of you, and get that
+artistic nonsense out of your head. Good idea, don't you think?
+Competition's a good thing all round--checks abnormal fluctuations of
+the market, you know."
+
+"Father, I'm the happiest man on earth."
+
+"Your respected mother-in-law, I've had the pleasure of meeting her
+before...."
+
+"Have you, though?"
+
+"Yes--abroad. It's many years ago now," put in Mrs. Rantzau hastily.
+
+"And now, William, you'd better go off and fetch Betty, I think,"
+said Holm. "And we'll have a little party this evening. I hope you
+will come too!"
+
+"Thank you so much, Mr. Holm; I hope I can. But I must just speak to
+Alfred first."
+
+"Alfred?"
+
+"My fiance, Banker Hermansen."
+
+"Oh yes, yes, of course. I really didn't know he had a Christian
+name--he's always been just Banker Hermansen."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Holm came down into the shop, muttering to himself,
+"Alfred--Alfred...." until he had to go into his inner office where
+he could laugh unobserved. Of all the extraordinary things....
+
+He thought of Bianca in the old days, and called to mind the
+"Carnival of Venice," the little supper at Pfortes--and in the midst
+of it all loomed the stiff, upright figure and solemn, clean-shaven
+face of Banker Hermansen.
+
+He had never dreamed of such a marvel, still less expected to meet
+with it as a reality.
+
+That same afternoon came a card from Hermansen: would be glad if Mr.
+Holm could find time to come round some time during the day--a
+private matter. "And if you would not mind coming in by the side
+door, you will find me alone in the office."
+
+Holm had once before been invited to call upon the banker
+"privately"--in 1879, when he had been called upon to show his
+balance-sheet.
+
+The mere thought of it gave him cold shivers even now. A devilish
+business! And the nasty mean way all his valuations were cut down....
+
+He went in by the side entrance, and noticed how empty and deserted
+the place looked. The long counter and all the green-covered desks
+stood as if yawning wearily in the afternoon sun. It was almost
+uncanny to find everything so quiet.
+
+The banker did not seem to notice his entry at first, but sat intent
+upon some papers at the big oak table.
+
+"Good afternoon, Banker!"
+
+"Ah, there you are! Forgive my troubling you to come round, Mr. Holm,
+but...."
+
+He broke off, uncertain how to proceed. The two ancient antagonists
+exchanged glances.
+
+For the first time in his life Holm felt himself master of the
+situation towards Hermansen; this time it was the banker himself who
+had to show his balance.
+
+"Well, Mr. Holm, I dare say you have heard...."
+
+But Holm ignored the opening. "No, no, my friend," he thought to
+himself, "you can play your miserable hand alone, _I'm_ not going to
+help you out."
+
+"I have committed the indiscretion of--er--becoming engaged," said
+the banker, with a faint smile.
+
+"Hearty congratulations, my dear Banker," said Holm, offering his
+hand.
+
+There was a pause, the banker evidently waiting for Holm, with his
+customary fluency, to break the ice. Here, however, he was
+disappointed; Holm merely set his teeth and fell to polishing his
+silk hat on one sleeve. The banker tried again.
+
+"Mrs. Rantzau, my fiancee, has informed me that we shall be--er--in a
+sort of way related." He smiled invitingly, and thought: he must come
+round after that.
+
+Holm was a little in doubt how best to proceed now; he was not averse
+to prolonging the other's awkwardness.
+
+"Highly honoured, I'm sure. Yes, my son has been so fortunate as to
+gain the hand of--er--your fiancee's daughter. A charming young lady,
+charming. Takes after her mother." He checked himself; he had said
+more than he wished.
+
+A long pause.
+
+The banker shifted some books on the table, then suddenly he slipped
+up to Holm, laid one hand on his shoulder and said:
+
+"We haven't always got on as well as we might together, Holm;
+circumstances have sometimes been against our friendly co-operation;
+but don't you think, now, we might forget all that and try to start
+on a more friendly footing? We're both old enough now to be glad of
+peace and amity, and our new relations ought to bring us closer
+together--what do you say?"
+
+Holm was quite taken aback; he had never seen the banker in this mood
+before; the man was positively getting sentimental. He had unbuttoned
+his coat, and his voice was quite gentle.
+
+"It shan't be my fault if we don't, Hermansen. I'm willing to let
+bygones be bygones. Time cures all sorrows--patches up a doubtful
+balance-sheet, as you might say----"
+
+"My dear Holm, pray don't mention it."
+
+"Well, well, it might have been worse--as the auditor said. You're in
+luck's way, though, Hermansen. I've had the honour of some slight
+acquaintance with your fiancee in former days."
+
+"No, really! Where did you meet her?"
+
+"Oh, it was some years ago--we met at the house of some mutual
+friends--abroad. A noble woman, Hermansen, a woman of splendid
+character."
+
+"One might almost think you'd been my competitor there, Holm, what?"
+said the banker, with a laugh.
+
+"Why, I won't say but I might have been inclined.... But the
+lady--er--showed better taste, worse luck," answered Holm, with a
+bow.
+
+"Thanks for the compliment! You're quite a diplomatist, Holm--I
+haven't seen you in that role before."
+
+Holm put his head on one side and looked at the banker with a
+quizzical expression.
+
+"Haven't you--though? Not in the little matter of the Spanish
+frigate?"
+
+"Ah, yes--you had me there, I'm afraid. Very neatly done, though,
+very neat. There'll be a nice little profit on the repairs, I'm
+sure--but it's all in the family now."
+
+The conversation was becoming more genial in tone, and when the
+cigars were lit the two old antagonists were chatting away like the
+best of friends.
+
+Holm invited the banker to a "little family party" the same evening,
+to celebrate the double event. Hermansen accepted with thanks, and
+the pair separated with a cordial shake of the hand.
+
+Holm walked back to the office with his hat at a more than usually
+rakish angle, as was his way when in high spirits. He swung his stick
+cheerfully, and felt a comforting sense of superiority in all
+directions. There was no one to oppose him now.
+
+"Hello, you're looking unusually perky to-day! What's it all about?"
+This was from Vindt, who was sure to be quick on the scent of
+anything new.
+
+"I've just come from my so-called brother-in-law, Hermansen, that's
+all, my boy."
+
+"Oho! Distinguished brother-in-law, what?"
+
+"Well, I'm quite satisfied with him myself. And--er--h'm--he'll be my
+boy's father-in-law too, you know, in a way."
+
+Vindt stood a moment sniffing at the stump of his cigar, then,
+thrusting one finger into the buttonhole of Holm's coat, he said
+solemnly:
+
+"Mrs. Emilie Rantzau and daughter: Knut G. Holm and son and Banker
+Hermansen, Knight of the Order of Vasa, etcetera. H'm. That's the
+worst of these cheap smokes; they stick when you've got half-way. So
+long, old stick-in-the-mud!"
+
+"Queer old stick," said Holm to himself as the other walked away.
+"Getting quite crabby of late. But he ought to have married himself
+long ago."
+
+And Holm went home to make arrangements for a thoroughly festive
+evening.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+THE SHIP COMES HOME
+
+
+It was Sunday. Bramsen and Andrine had had a settling up, the day
+before, of various matters outstanding, and the savings-bank book had
+been handed over, with its "Cr. balance 19s. 6-1/2d."--being all that
+remained from the interregnum period of Bramsen's term of office as
+Chancellor of the Exchequer.
+
+Andrine opened the book and stood aghast.
+
+"But--but, sakes alive, Paal, where's all the money gone?"
+
+"The money--why--the money--h'm...." And in his embarrassment he
+looked appealingly at Amanda, who nudged him encouragingly in the
+ribs and whispered:
+
+"Go on--it's all right. Tell her straight out."
+
+"Why, you see, Andrine, it's like this. When you handed over charge
+of all this worldly mammon, that's naught but vanity and vexation of
+spirits and so on, and a clog upon the soul...."
+
+"Oh, leave out all that and say what you've done with the money."
+Andrine was quivering with impatience.
+
+"Well--I--I bought the ship."
+
+"Ship--what ship?"
+
+"The _Erik_, 216 ton register, B. I. to 1901, 12-1/2 ft. with full
+cargo...."
+
+"Overhauled last year," prompted Amanda.
+
+"Heavens! Fool that I was not to have known what you'd be up to. And
+now here we are as penniless as Adam and Eve."
+
+Andrine held her apron to her eyes, weeping "buckets and hosepipes"
+as Bramsen later put it to Holm.
+
+Bramsen and Amanda were alarmed at the way she took it, and
+endeavoured to console her as best they could. Neither said a word as
+yet about Amanda's engagement; it was plain that to mention it now
+would bring on a seizure at least.
+
+"Oh--oh--oh, how could I be such a fool!" sobbed Andrine.
+
+"Well, now, to tell the truth, Andrine, I'd never have thought it of
+you myself, to take up with the like of that nonsense. But seeing
+we've got you back again now, safe and sound, why, best say no more
+about it."
+
+"What--whatever did you want to go buying ships for, Bramsen?"
+
+"Why, you see, it was mostly because of Carljohan...." Bramsen in his
+eagerness had said too much, and Amanda judged it best to disappear
+into the kitchen for a while.
+
+"Carljohan who?" Andrine stopped crying and looked up sharply.
+
+"Why, Johnsen's son."
+
+"What's he got to do with it?"
+
+"Why, he's a deal to do with it, now he and Amanda's fixed things up
+together."
+
+"Amanda! That child! And you let them!" Andrine drew herself up
+impressively, and Bramsen cowered.
+
+"Don't you forget, Andrine," he said, "we weren't so very old, you
+and I, when we got spliced together; and he's a first-rate lad. There
+isn't a knot or a twist he doesn't know, and you should see him up
+aloft--a cat's not in it. And wrestling too--mark my words, he'll
+make his way in the world, and I'm sorry for the man that comes
+athwart him."
+
+"Oh yes, you can talk! But seems to me you've been doing your best to
+ruin us all while I've been away."
+
+"We're not ruined yet, my girl, nor likely to be, I hope. Just wait
+and see." And Bramsen patted his wife on the cheek.
+
+Andrine calmed down after a while, and when Amanda came in with
+steaming coffee and hot cakes, the three sat down in peace and amity,
+and were soon discussing the excellent qualities of Carljohan and the
+ship.
+
+"It's been pretty rough these last few days--we'll soon see what
+she's good for," said Bramsen, thinking of the ship.
+
+"If only they come home safe and sound," sighed Amanda, thinking of
+Carljohan.
+
+And so, on Sunday morning, behold the three of them walking down to
+church; neither Bramsen nor Amanda thought of playing truant to-day,
+so thankful were they to feel that Andrine had "come round" and all
+was well.
+
+And Bramsen was, to tell the truth, relieved to have got it over.
+With the bank-book once more in Andrine's care, he felt the
+responsibility lifted from his shoulders. The reins of government
+were once more in Andrine's hands, and he had his ten shillings extra
+per month unbeknown to her as before.
+
+Amanda had always chosen their place in church up in the gallery
+close to the pulpit. From here one could see the parson turning the
+leaves of his sermon, and so calculate roughly how far he was from
+the end. Furthermore, there was the loveliest view over the harbour
+and the fjord through one of the big windows.
+
+There had been a number of wrecks during the recent gales, and Amanda
+could not keep her thoughts from Carljohan and his ship. The voice of
+the parson, and the singing rang in her ears like the rush of waters;
+she sat staring blankly at her hymn-book, open at No. 106, though
+there had been three since that.
+
+Once or twice she woke, to hear her father's voice trailing behind
+the rest in a hymn, sounding all through the church, till people
+turned to look. Amanda flushed with embarrassment, but Bramsen went
+on all unconscious, plodding through each verse in his own time,
+regardless of the rest.
+
+But always she fell back upon her own thoughts, of the ship and
+Carljohan; it was a wonder to her how Mother Christiansen, whose
+husband was also on board, could sit there so calmly, as if there was
+nothing to fear. And she with all those children to think of!
+
+The sermon now--but Carljohan was out on the North Sea and terrible
+weather. Great seas breaking over the bows, till the fo'c'stle was
+almost hidden.
+
+And up in the rigging was Carljohan shortening sail--oh, how the
+vessel pitched and rolled, till the yards almost touched the water.
+
+If he should lose his hold--if he should be swept away--Amanda gasped
+at the thought, and clutched her father's hand.
+
+"What is it, Amanda? Are you ill?" whispered Bramsen anxiously.
+
+"No, no; only keep still. I'll be all right directly."
+
+The organ pealed and the sound of the hymn filled the church.
+
+Amanda could not sing a note; she was certain now that something had
+happened to Carljohan. Her tears flowed in streams, and she was hard
+put to it to hide them behind handkerchief and book.
+
+She could hear Mother Christiansen's cracked voice just behind, and
+tried in vain to join in herself.
+
+Already she glanced out of the big window beyond the choir. On the
+farther side of the harbour lay a vessel at anchor.
+
+But--it had not been there before! Surely ... yes, it was a vessel
+just in--its flag still flying!--Heavens, it was the _Erik_!
+
+She stood up to make sure. Yes, it was she. It was she! There was the
+big white figure-head--there was no mistake.
+
+And Amanda joined in the singing with her masterful voice, till those
+near at hand looked at her in wonder. Bramsen himself stopped singing
+for a moment to listen. Then he took up the verse again and sang on
+bravely as before.
+
+
+
+
+XI
+
+THE CONCERT
+
+
+There was to be an evening concert at the Assembly Rooms. The local
+papers for the previous day had leading articles about "Hans
+Martinsen, the boy musician who has been studying in Christiania, and
+is now appearing for the first time in public in his native town.
+Critics from all quarters are unanimously agreed as to his remarkable
+talent, and already prophesy a brilliant future, though his powers,
+at this early stage, have naturally not yet attained their full
+development. It is to be hoped that the music-loving section of our
+community will be numerously represented, that the promising young
+artist may receive the support and encouragement he deserves."
+
+The fine hall was splendidly illuminated. The great windows fronting
+the street shed a glow of light over the crowd of staring idlers
+outside.
+
+Malla Trap crossed the road, making towards the entrance, but meeting
+a group of young girls who were admiring the illuminations, she
+stopped to speak to them.
+
+"Well, children, going to the concert?"
+
+"No--o," answered one or two regretfully, curtsying as they spoke.
+They knew Miss Trap as a sister at the poor school, which most of
+them had attended.
+
+"Well, come along, and I'll get you in."
+
+The girls followed delightedly, and Malla Trap took tickets for them
+all.
+
+Across the bridge came Hans Martinsen, with his mother. On reaching
+the entrance he had to stop and look round, everyone was nodding and
+waving to him in kindly greeting.
+
+"Good-day, Hans!" came in a fresh young voice behind him. He turned,
+and saw a girl smiling and nodding. "I'm coming in to hear you play."
+And she waved a big yellow ticket.
+
+"Why, surely--is it you, Amanda? How are you getting on?"
+
+"Splendid, thanks. This is Carljohan; he's just come back from a
+voyage."
+
+"And your father and mother? Give them my love, won't you?"
+
+"Thanks, I will. Oh, but Hans"--she came close to him and
+whispered--"Dear Hans, _do_ play 'The Little Fisher-Maid' to please
+me--will you?"
+
+"I'm not sure if I can, Amanda."
+
+"Oh, of course you can. Why, you played it hundreds of times at old
+Clemmetsen's."
+
+"Well, I'll see.... But I must go in now. Good-bye."
+
+The great hall was filled to overflowing. All the musical element was
+present as a matter of course, and in addition a number of those who
+never went to concerts as a rule, as for instance the Mayor and
+Broker Vindt, who took seats at the back. Up in the gallery were a
+number of Hans' old schoolfellows, all greatly excited at the event.
+
+Suddenly the buzz of talk was hushed, and all eyes were turned
+towards a group coming up the centre of the hall.
+
+It was Banker Hermansen, still and solemn, with Mrs. Rantzau, fresh
+and smiling, at his side. Behind them walked William Holm and Miss
+Rantzau, evidently somewhat embarrassed by the general scrutiny.
+
+Holm senior, who was also one of the party, lagged behind a little,
+stopping to exchange a word with the Mayor and his friend.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau found her place in one of the upper rows, and stood
+looking down for Holm, beckoning with a smile when she caught his
+eye. She let her gaze wander over the assembly, and something like a
+murmur of applause went up. Mrs. Rantzau was undeniably a splendid
+woman, and was at her best that evening.
+
+"Get along up to the front with you, old fossil," said Vindt, with a
+friendly nudge, and Holm walked up, nodding genially to acquaintances
+all round.
+
+"Fine figure of a woman, what?" whispered the Mayor, glancing towards
+Mrs. Rantzau.
+
+"H'm," said Vindt. "Handsome enough to look at, but a bit of a
+handful to look after, if you ask me. Like the cakes in a cookshop
+window--I like 'em, but they don't agree with me!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+There was silence in the hall as the first notes rang out. All were
+watching the young performer; a little anxiously perhaps, as if in
+fear lest he should break down. And all felt that in some degree the
+honour of the town was here at stake, for the boy was one of their
+own.
+
+But the little figure at the piano sat calm and free from
+nervousness; he was in another world, where he felt himself at home.
+The watching eyes and listening ears did not trouble him; he seemed
+gazing inwardly at a starry sky far above them all.
+
+The music swelled and sank, now wild and furious as the north-east
+wind raging over the rocky coast in autumn, then gentle as the
+evening breeze of a summer's day.
+
+Eyes glistened now with fervour, hearts beat proudly. All present
+seemed to share in his happiness, to have some part in the triumph of
+his genius.
+
+The applause was hearty and unanimous.
+
+"Bravo, Hans!" came a deep voice from the gallery. All turned to see
+who had spoken. Ah, there--it was Bramsen, standing up with both
+hands outstretched and clapping thunderously.
+
+Amanda flushed with embarrassment, and nudged her father to make him
+stop. But he snapped out impatiently, "You leave me alone!" and went
+on clapping.
+
+Among the numerous extras was a "Ballad theme with variations," which
+the more exacting critics considered somewhat out of place. One there
+was, however, who thought otherwise, and that was Amanda. The soft,
+swaying rhythm of "The Little Fisher-Maid" filled her with delight,
+and she clapped as enthusiastically as her father had done.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Father, I think I've learned something from that concert this
+evening," said William, as they walked home.
+
+"Well, my boy, and what was that?"
+
+"Why, that genius is like pure gold; if Nature hasn't put it there
+it's no use trying to make it."
+
+"You're right, my son. And sensible people don't try. It's no good
+setting up to do the work of your Creator. What do you say, Banker?"
+
+"Eh, what's that?" Hermansen was walking arm in arm with Mrs.
+Rantzau, and the pair of them were evidently oblivious of all but
+each other.
+
+"I say, the best thing we can do in this life's to live like sensible
+people."
+
+"_Errors and omissions excepted_," answered the banker, and he
+pressed his fiancee's hand long and tenderly.
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+OLD NICK
+
+
+"This where Petter Nekkelsen lives?"
+
+The speaker was an awkward-looking lad, acting as postman in
+Strandvik for the first time.
+
+"No, you muddlehead." Old Lawyer Nickelsen held out his hand for the
+letters. "This is where Peder, comma, N. Nickelsen, full stop, lives.
+And a nice lot of louts they've got going around, that can't learn to
+call folk by their proper names!"
+
+Thor Smith, the magistrate's clerk, was of the same opinion, but
+liked a touch of honest dialect occasionally; he was not unwilling on
+occasion to contradict Old Nick.
+
+"Honest dialect, indeed! Rank impertinence, I call it! But wait a
+bit, young fellow; in a few years' time you'll be wishing these
+understrappers at the North Pole, or some other cool place."
+
+The two men filled their pipes, and took up their position on the
+veranda of Lawyer Nickelsen's house, continuing their discussion as
+to the merits of natural simplicity, concerning which they held
+diametrically opposite views.
+
+The lawyer was a bachelor of sixty-seven, and kept what he called a
+home for young men of decent behaviour and tolerable manners. In
+particular he had, ever since he first came to the place forty-three
+years earlier, kept open house for the magistrate's clerks
+successively, taking them under his paternal care and protection from
+their first entering on their duties in the town.
+
+Smith and Nickelsen sat on the veranda, but somehow the discussion
+fell curiously flat. Smith was unusually absent and uncommunicative,
+to such a degree that Nickelsen at last asked him point blank what
+was the matter.
+
+"Oh, nothing. H'm. I say, Nickelsen, that fellow Prois--he's an
+intolerable old curmudgeon."
+
+"Oho, so that's the trouble! Won't have you for a son-in-law, what?"
+
+"Oh, don't talk nonsense."
+
+Smith stepped aside, and scraped out the tobacco from the pipe he had
+just filled, but Old Nick's searching glance perceived that he had
+flushed up to the roots of his hair.
+
+"My dear Smith, I agree with you that Tulla Prois is a charming girl.
+A pity, though, they couldn't find another name to give her. They
+were making songs about it last winter."
+
+"Oh, don't drag in that silly stuff, Nickelsen, for Heaven's sake. I
+can't see anything funny in it myself."
+
+Old Nick laid down his pipe and put on his glasses, and sat watching
+the other with an expression only half serious. He found himself hard
+put to it not to laugh. At last, finding nothing more suitable to
+say, he ventured in a tone of unnatural innocence: "Smith, what do
+you say to a drink?"
+
+Old Nick was irresistible. Smith could not help laughing himself.
+"Oh, you incorrigible old joker," he said, giving the other a dig in
+the ribs.
+
+The ice once broken, and under the influence of a glass of good
+Madeira--Old Nick invariably had "something special" in that
+line--Smith opened his heart, and revealed Tulla Prois in the leading
+role of Angel, etcetera, Papa Prois being cast for the part of
+hard-hearted father, or "intolerable old curmudgeon"--which amounted
+to much the same thing.
+
+"I met him yesterday, just come back from Christiania, with a whole
+armful of parcels he could hardly carry. I went up as politely as
+could be, and offered to lend a hand, and what d'you think he said?"
+
+Old Nick shook his head and tried to look interested.
+
+"Shouted out at the top of his voice so all the street could hear
+him, 'No, I'm damned if you do!' Nice sort of father-in-law that,
+eh?"
+
+"There's a dance on at the Seamen's Union to-morrow, Smith. You're
+going, I suppose?"
+
+Smith brightened up at once. "Yes, of course, we must go; you must
+come along too, Nickelsen. But--but--isn't old Prois chairman of the
+committee?"
+
+"Quite so--and for that very reason all the more chance of your
+meeting your--young lady, I was going to say."
+
+"Then you'll come?"
+
+"Me? Go to a dance, with my gout and all? Well, I don't know, perhaps
+I might. Get myself up spick and span, and have my corns cut
+specially for the occasion--I might pass in a crowd, what?"
+
+The dance took place, and on the following day Old Nick sat pondering
+and trying to remember what had happened after twelve o'clock, his
+memory being somewhat defective.
+
+No--it was no good. He could not remember a thing. He had a vague
+recollection of talking to Tulla Prois, and saying a whole lot of
+extravagantly affectionate things, but beyond that all was confusion.
+
+"Only hope I didn't make a scene, that's all. H'm--Puh--weakness of
+mine--infernal nuisance. And I don't seem to get any better--oh,
+well, what's the odds after all!"
+
+The final note of resignation in his monologue revived his
+inexhaustible natural good spirits, and with a contented smile he sat
+down to indite the following letter to Smith, who was, he knew, in
+court that day:
+
+  "DEAR SMITH,--For various reasons I find myself unable to
+  recollect anything of last night's happenings. And being in
+  consequence much troubled in mind lest something scandalous may
+  have taken place, and my position of unimpeachable respectability
+  in the town undermined, you are hereby invited to dine with me
+  to-day, in order that we can discuss the matter and, if
+  necessary, find some means of meeting the situation.--Yours,
+
+                                          "OLD NICK."
+
+Old Martha, Nickelsen's housekeeper, shuffled along to the
+court-house, with strict injunctions to bring back an answer, and
+returned half an hour later with a scrap of paper from Smith, on
+which were scribbled the following lines in pencil:
+
+  "MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,--Ten minutes ago I said to a man convicted
+  of illicit dealing in spirits, 'You are _in culpa_, my good man,
+  and you may as well confess it first as last.' But at the same
+  moment it struck me fairly to the heart that I might say the very
+  same thing to myself.
+
+  "Yes, I am _in culpa_---- To think that dance should have proved
+  the occasion of my downfall! So beautiful she was--and so
+  gracious towards me, that my heart beat in quiet delight--until
+  that old shark--that bottle-nosed shark, her father.... Ugh!
+
+  "He got me on to talking politics, and I, fool that I was, I took
+  the bait, declared myself a Republican, Jacobin, Anarchist,
+  showed myself a thousand times worse than I am, simply because
+  the sight of his bottle-nosed caricature of a face turned me
+  sour. Fool, fool that I was! I forgot he was her father, and now
+  my hopes are simply done for. The old man was furious, said he
+  couldn't forget me, and so on. So altogether I am utterly
+  miserable, not to say desperate. For I know if I'm to lose Tulla
+  Prois, then----
+
+  "I shall come round to dinner. Thanks.--Yours,
+
+                                          "SMITH."
+
+Old Nick sat quietly for a moment, then burst out laughing, and went
+out into the garden to hoist the flag, by way of celebrating--well,
+had anyone asked him, he would probably have answered "the morning
+after the night before."
+
+It was nothing unusual, however, for Old Nick to hoist his flag,
+especially of late, since Schoolmaster Pedersen opposite had taken to
+hoisting "clean colours."[1] The first time Old Nick saw this, he at
+once ordered a huge white sheet with the Union mark in one corner.
+And every time the "clean colours" were hoisted, up went Old Nick's
+as well, and his flag being of uncommon dimensions, hid from the
+seaward side not only the opposition flag, but a good deal of the
+schoolmaster's house as well.
+
+ [1] "Clean Colours"--the Norwegian flag without the Union mark,
+ _i.e._ as repudiating the Union with Sweden.
+
+At dinner that evening Old Nick did his utmost to make things
+cheerful, but in vain; Smith was miserable, and miserable he
+remained.
+
+"You don't know what feeling is, Nickelsen--or else you've
+forgotten."
+
+"Oh, my dear fellow, I only wish I had a mark for every time I've
+been in love."
+
+"In love, you! You don't know what it is."
+
+"Yes, my boy, and seriously, too. I'll tell you what happened to me
+one time at Kongsberg that way. I was clerk to old Lawyer Albrektsen,
+and lived a gay bachelor life up there. The local chemist was a man
+named Walter, and had four daughters, one prettier than the others;
+but the eldest but one was a perfect picture of a girl, bright and
+cheery, and with a pink-and-white complexion, you never saw. Enough
+to turn the head of any son of Adam, I assure you. We went for walks
+and danced together, and were really fond of each other; in a word,
+the double barrel of our hearts was just on the point of going
+off--when an event occurred which severed once and for all the tender
+bonds that were about to unite Petrea Walter and yours truly.
+
+"It was my birthday, the twentieth November, as you know, and I had a
+few friends coming round in the evening, as usual, to celebrate the
+occasion. The punch was made in the old style, with Armagnac and
+acid. Well, we got more and more lively as the evening went on, and
+one bowl after another was emptied. And then came the disaster; we
+ran out of acid. Punch without acid was not to be thought of--and
+there were no such things as lemons in those days. Well, the fellows
+all voted for going round to the chemist's and ringing him up for
+more. I tried all I knew to keep them from it, but they couldn't
+hear a word, and at last off we all went to Master Walter's.
+
+"We lowered down all the oil lamps in the street on our way--this
+incidentally, as illustrating the distressingly low degree of
+civilisation in Kongsberg in those days.
+
+"When we got to the place, the first floor was all in darkness. There
+she lay asleep, up there, my beloved Petrea! All dark and silent
+everywhere, only a faint gleam from the lamp in the shop below shone
+out into the street. I begged my friends to keep quiet, while I tried
+as softly as could be to wake up the man in charge. But alas, fate
+willed it otherwise. Carl Henrik, my old friend, was by way of being
+a poet, and never lost a chance of improvising something. He stood up
+on the steps 'to make a speech,' but just as he was going to begin,
+the door opened, and there was old Walter himself in dressing-gown
+and slippers, with a candle in his hand. Carl Henrik made an elegant
+bow, and reeled off at once:
+
+    'Good Master Walter, we confess
+     It's wrong to wake you up like this,
+     But hear our plea, we pray you, first;
+     We're simply perishing with thirst,
+     And since you're there, and know the stuff,
+     Pray let us have it--_quantum suff_!'
+
+"Old Walter was furious. 'What the devil!' he cried out. 'Is the
+fellow mad?'
+
+"I dragged Carl Henrik down from the steps, and went myself, hat in
+hand, and begged his pardon; said we were awfully sorry, we thought
+it was the assistant on duty. 'Well, and what then--is anyone ill?'
+'Why, no, sir, I'm glad to say, but it's my birthday to-day, that's
+all.'--'Yesterday, you mean,' roars out Carl Henrik from
+below.--'It's my birthday, and I only wanted to ask if you'd let us
+have a little acid for the punch.'
+
+"'I'll give you punch,' said the old man, and landed out at me,
+sending me headlong down the steps into the arms of the poet; Carl
+Henrik urging me to bear up bravely against what he called the blows
+of fate.
+
+"I met Petrea out next day, but the moment she caught sight of me she
+slipped across the street into the flower shop opposite. I waited
+outside a full hour, but no sight of Petrea--she must have gone out
+the back way so as not to meet me. Well, that was the end of the
+first Punic war, my dear Smith, and I left Kongsberg with a wounded
+heart--though I'm bound to say it healed up again all right pretty
+soon."
+
+Smith had brightened up considerably by now, but, try as he would, he
+could not admit that Old Nick's experience as related was analogous
+to the present situation.
+
+"I tell you, Nickelsen, this is a serious affair; as a matter of
+fact, we're--we're secretly engaged, Tulla and I."
+
+"Uf!" said Old Nick; he had nearly broken the neck of a bottle of old
+Pontet Canet he was opening. Old Nick drank a glass, sniffed at the
+wine, put on a serious air and said solemnly:
+
+"It's getting cloudy."
+
+Smith hung his head; he found the situation cloudy.
+
+"What do you think I ought to do? Go up and beg old Prois's pardon?"
+asked Smith.
+
+Old Nick sat for quite a while thinking deeply, holding the Pontet
+Canet up to the light. "H'm--h'm." Then suddenly he jumped up, and
+slapped Smith on the back with a serviette.
+
+"We can save the situation. I've got an idea. We'll get up a public
+banquet for old Prois. Yes, that's what I say. And we'll send out the
+invitations ourselves--you and I."
+
+"But, my dear man, you can't give a public banquet without some sort
+of pretext, and what are we to tell people it's for? Old Prois he's
+warden of the Pilot's Guild, but he hasn't done anything notable in
+the town, that I'm aware of, up to now."
+
+"Oh, we must find something or other. Let me see--he's on the Health
+Committee--no, that won't do."
+
+"He lent a flag to the committee for the Constitution Day
+festivities," said Smith sarcastically.
+
+"No, that's not enough. But wait a bit. He must have been on the
+Rates Committee twenty-five years now--yes, of course. That's the
+very thing. I'll be chairman, you can be secretary. Dinner at Naes's
+Hotel on Saturday next--make it a Saturday, so folk can have Sunday
+to sleep it off after."
+
+Smith was very doubtful still.
+
+"But suppose he thinks it's a hoax--then we'd be worse off than
+before."
+
+"A hoax!" said Old Nick. "Well, so it is in a way, but nobody'll know
+except you and me. All the others will take it up as easy as winking.
+Only give them a decent dinner, man, and they'll be ready enough, all
+the lot of them; there's always room for a bit of a spread of that
+sort, and we've had nothing now for quite a while. No, all we've got
+to do now is to get out the invitations first of all. Hand me the pen
+and ink over there."
+
+And the pair of them sat down and drew up the following in due form:
+
+                "INVITATION
+
+  "A Public Banquet will be given on Saturday, the 17th October
+  1887, at 4 p.m., at Naes's Hotel, to celebrate the occasion of
+  our esteemed fellow-citizen, Warden Prois, completing his
+  twenty-fifth year of service on the Rates Committee. Menu will
+  comprise three courses, plus dessert and one half-bottle of wine,
+  coffee and liqueur, at 4s. per head.
+
+                                "THE COMMITTEE.
+        "NICKELSEN,              SMITH,
+            "Chairman.               Secretary."
+
+As soon as Old Nick had finished the draft, a heated discussion took
+place as to the price to be fixed per head. Smith was of opinion that
+four shillings and three courses was too little, and would appear
+mean to the guest of honour. To this Old Nick retorted that they
+could not well go higher than four shillings if they were to get the
+"rank and file" to come at all--this category including such
+personages as Pettersen the watch-maker, Blomberg the tailor, and
+other esteemed fellow-citizens, who would gladly share in the honour,
+but were forced to consider the limitations of their purse.
+
+Smith also objected to the word "committee" under the invitations.
+"We're not a committee," he urged.
+
+"Aren't we, though," said Old Nick. "You and I--that's committee
+enough for anything. And besides, it's the proper thing on these
+occasions, makes it look more official like." And so it was agreed.
+
+Old Nick then set out on a round to gather in recruits for the
+banquet. First of all the parson and the doctor must be got hold of;
+these two agreed at once without any difficulty, being comparatively
+new arrivals in the place, and taking Lawyer Nickelsen's
+recommendation as sufficient.
+
+Next came Halvor Berg, the biggest shipowner in the town, and known
+to all as a cautious and particular man, much sought after by the
+natives in all matters requiring assistance and advice. He was thus
+an influential man, and it was important to get him to subscribe, for
+the first thing people would ask was sure to be, whether Halvor Berg
+was coming.
+
+Old Nick and Halvor Berg were good friends, so the reception in this
+case was good enough. They chatted comfortably for a while, more
+especially about Berg's boats, the _Seaflower_, _Ceres_, and so on,
+until Old Nick suddenly produced his list. "Oh, by the way, I want
+your name to this, Halvor. I ought by right to have taken it round to
+the old magistrate first, he's waiting for it, but it won't matter if
+you sign now while I'm here."
+
+"Sign?" said Halvor Berg, and proceeded to study the document with
+great earnestness. Old Nick occupied himself meantime in
+surreptitiously setting the pointer of Halvor Berg's barometer down
+to hurricane level.
+
+At last, having ploughed his way conscientiously through the
+invitation, Berg looked up, with a searching glance at Old Nick, who
+faced him without moving a muscle.
+
+"H'm. H'mmm--look here, you know, Nickelsen, don't you think we could
+find some one else to give a banquet for instead of Prois?"
+
+"Well, no, I can't see that we could. I don't know anyone else that's
+been on the Rates Committee for twenty-five years."
+
+"He'd have been more use to the place if he hadn't been on it at
+all," grumbled the other.
+
+"Oh, well, if you don't feel inclined to join with the leading people
+in the town on such an occasion, why...." Old Nick began folding up
+the list, but very slowly.
+
+"Of course I'll come in--only I can't see what he's done to deserve
+it, hang me if I can."
+
+"Look here, Halvor Berg, you can surely understand that when the
+parson, the doctor and myself go in for a thing like this, we've some
+reason for it."
+
+"All right, all right! Hand me the list, then."
+
+And he wrote with big, sprawling letters "H. Berg," at the same time
+inquiring whether an after-dinner toddy was included in the four
+shillings.
+
+On leaving Halvor Berg's, Old Nick regarded the matter as settled;
+when this cautious old card had put his name, the rest of them would
+soon follow after.
+
+Sukkestad, the dealer, was inclined to hesitate, and could not make
+out what Prois had really done either, but since Halvor Berg was in
+it, why, he might as well put down his four shillings too.
+
+Apothecary Peters, who had only been a week in the place, was most
+grateful for the honour done him in inviting him to be present, and
+insisted on paying down his four shillings on the spot--at which Old
+Nick was incautious enough to remark that it was not wise to skin
+your beast before you'd killed him--Old Prois being the beast.
+
+The rest followed as one man, and by the evening the list counted
+over sixty names, from all classes of society. Even old Klementsen,
+who had been parish clerk for fifty years, without getting so much as
+a silver spoon for his trouble, set down his name with a smile,
+albeit with an inward gnashing of teeth.
+
+Thor Smith sat up in the magistrate's office, sweating over a
+taxation case. In the inner office was the old magistrate himself,
+with his wig awry, smoking his coarse-cut tobacco.
+
+"Filthy hole of a place this is," soliloquised Smith. "Hang me if it
+isn't enough to make a man weep. I wonder how Old Nick's getting on
+with that list now? Oh, it's no good, I know; things never do go
+right." He glanced out of the window and up along the street, in case
+Old Nick might be coming along.
+
+But--what on earth--a green tartan frock, and a toque with a white
+feather--she herself! He placed himself in the window, as if by
+accident--aha, she catches sight of him. And such a blush--and then
+she looks down. Won't she look up again? Yes, just once.
+
+A smile of understanding, and she hurries away, as if from some deed
+of guilt. Thor Smith flattened his nose against the pane, staring
+after her as long as he could still see a thread of the green skirt,
+and for some time after.
+
+He was awakened from his reverie by the magistrate himself, who came
+up behind and looked over his shoulder inquisitively.
+
+"Well, and what are we looking out at, eh?"
+
+"Oh, only those two funny old women over in the woollen shop; I never
+saw such queer things as they are."
+
+"Nothing to look at in them that I can see," said the magistrate,
+who was by no means a woman-hater. And, taking his hat and stick, he
+bustled out.
+
+A moment later Old Nick entered, flushed and out of breath. "Old man
+in?"--"No."--"Good!" He flung himself down in a chair and handed the
+list across to Smith.
+
+"Puh! Devil take it, but this is hard work. And all for you and your
+lady-love. You don't deserve it."
+
+Smith took the list and began counting the names. "Seventy-two--why,
+that's splendid, Nickelsen; you're a trump."
+
+"Yes; don't you think I deserve a medal for it, what? Oh, by the way,
+though, we must hurry up and get hold of Prois himself now, or we'll
+have somebody else telling him all about it beforehand."
+
+The esteemed fellow-citizen was busy down at the waterside, with a
+big pile-driver repairing the landing-stage. The men hauled at the
+ropes, while he stood by, calling the time in approved sing-song:
+"And one ohoy, and two ohoy, and three...." he stopped short at sight
+of Smith and Nickelsen approaching. He looked by no means pleased as
+he handed over command to Pilot Iversen, and told him to carry on
+with the pile-driving.
+
+Tulla Prois was in the kitchen, making fish-balls; but on seeing the
+three men enter in solemn procession, she ran off in a fright to the
+attic, hid herself in a corner and burst out crying violently;
+evidently the matter was to be decided now once and for all. "Oh,
+it's mean of Thor," she murmured. "Why couldn't he wait till father
+was in a better temper?"
+
+Meanwhile, Old Prois was wondering what on earth the two men could
+want with him.
+
+He did not even glance at Smith, but when they got inside, invited
+them both to sit down.
+
+Old Nick settled himself on a big birchwood sofa, with soft springs,
+into which he sank about half a foot deep. Above the sofa hung a
+picture of the "Cupid" (Captain Prois), with the port of Hull in the
+background, and all the seamen wearing stovepipe hats.
+
+Old Nick cleared his throat a little, and started off with his
+introduction, pointing out the meritorious work of his host on the
+committee during the "considerable span of years" which he had
+devoted to the service of the community.
+
+Prois sat dumbfounded, at a loss to understand what was coming.
+
+At last, thinking he had sufficiently stimulated the other's
+curiosity, Old Nick came to the point:
+
+"Consequently, and, I should add, chiefly at the instigation of my
+friend Smith, as secretary of the said committee, our fellow-citizens
+have empowered us to request the honour of your presence, my dear
+Warden, at a ceremonial banquet, to take place on Saturday next at 4
+p.m., where we may hope to--er--find some suitable expression for our
+feelings--er, h'm--our appreciation of the fact that you have been
+for twenty-five years so closely associated with this important--this
+_most_ important of our local institutions."
+
+Old Prois flushed slightly, tried to look unmoved, coughed, and
+finally requested the pair to "take a seat"--which they had already
+taken--and then rushed out into the passage calling in a voice of
+thunder for "Tulla, Tulla!" Then out to the kitchen, to send the maid
+to find her.
+
+Meantime Old Nick sat stuffing an embroidered antimacassar into his
+mouth, laughing till the cushioned sofa and the picture above shook
+in dismay. He made faces at Smith, who, however, was not in the mood
+to appreciate the humour of the situation, which fact seemed further
+to increase Old Nick's amusement.
+
+At last came a voice outside--"Where the deuce have you been, child?
+Hurry up and bring in some cakes and wine at once." Old Nick threw
+the antimacassar under the sofa, and his face resumed its most
+serious expression.
+
+"Excuse my running off a moment, gentlemen, but I--er--you must allow
+me to offer you a glass of wine, with my best thanks for the
+invitation. I--er--really, it's too good of you, I must say. I'm sure
+I haven't done anything special for the place, but--well, since my
+esteemed fellow-citizens are good enough to think so, why...."
+
+"I'm sure, Warden, your work has been most arduous and most
+valuable," said Smith, "and as secretary myself, you must allow me to
+judge." He spoke with some warmth, hearing Tulla approaching with the
+wine--and indeed the girl was trembling to such a degree that the
+glasses rang like a peal of bells.
+
+Smith greeted her somewhat bashfully as she entered, but Old Nick
+chucked her under the chin in his superior paternal manner, and asked
+how she had got on at the dance. Thor Smith nudged his friend
+surreptitiously as a sign to him that the subject was one better left
+alone.
+
+Old Prois poured out the wine, expressing his thanks for the honour
+anew, and drank a glass in the kindliest manner with Smith, the
+latter flushing with pleasure. Tulla stood over by the piano,
+intently occupied in putting her music in order, and wondering what
+on earth it all meant.
+
+Old Nick was suddenly seized with a fit of coughing, under cover of
+which he managed to empty his glass of Muscatel into a flower-pot by
+the window. Then, catching sight of a hen crossing the courtyard, he
+developed an enthusiastic interest in Black Minorcas and White
+Leghorns. Prois, it should be mentioned, was a keen fowl-fancier, and
+had a whole collection of prize medals from various exhibitions, of
+which he was particularly proud.
+
+Naturally enough, then, Old Nick had to be shown the fowl-runs,
+though until that date his fondness for the tribe had been
+exclusively confined to the table. He and his host accordingly went
+out together.
+
+This left Thor Smith and his Tulla alone, blessing the Black Minorcas
+and the White Leghorns impartially, and not forgetting Old Nick;
+while for the rest, they utilised the opportunity just as other
+sensible young people in love would, to wit, by settling down in the
+big sofa and exchanging kisses under the "Cupid," while the men down
+at the landing-stage chanted their "one ahoy, and two ahoy, and
+three...." The pile-driver had got to sixteen when they heard Old
+Nick's voice outside: "Yes, those white-cheeked Leghorns are
+splendid, really splendid."
+
+And Thor Smith and his Tulla judged it best to wake up from love's
+young dream.
+
+The Banquet was a magnificent success; Thor Smith's speech for the
+guest of honour's family being particularly notable for the warmth
+and earnestness with which it was delivered.
+
+Dessert and the half-bottle of sherry having been disposed of, the
+general feeling, which had been somewhat dull at first, grew more
+jovial, and speeches were numerous. The coffee and liqueurs brought
+the diners to the stage of embraces and assurances of mutual
+affection. Even Rod and Hansen, the two shipbrokers, who in the
+ordinary way hated one another cordially whenever one closed a
+charter more than the other, might be seen drinking together, and
+assuring all concerned that never were business competitors on
+friendlier terms. Here's luck, Rod, and Cheer-oh, Hansen!
+
+Smith and Warden Prois became quite friendly, not to say intimate, in
+the course of the evening; they sat a little apart, in animated
+discussion of something or other, but apparently on the best of
+terms. And they finished up towards morning by drinking eternal
+brotherhood and embracing each other.
+
+The guest of honour was escorted to his home by such members of the
+party as were still able to keep their feet; and Old Nick, in a
+farewell speech, expressed the wish that he, the Warden, might long
+retain the memory of that evening in his head, which charitable
+sentiment was greeted with delighted applause.
+
+A week after that memorable occasion Thor Smith went round to the
+Warden's, and presented himself in due form as a suitor for the hand
+of Miss Tulla.
+
+He had previously arranged with Old Nick, whom he had visited on the
+way down, that if all went as he wished, and the matter was settled
+at once, he would wave a handkerchief from the garden steps, so that
+Nickelsen, on the look-out at his corner window, would see, with a
+glass, the result of the suit.
+
+Scarcely had Old Nick arrived at his post, glass in hand, when lo,
+not one, but two handkerchiefs waved from the Warden's garden.
+
+He walked up and down the room, rubbing his hands in keen
+gratification, but turned suddenly serious, and murmured to himself:
+"Ay, they're the lucky ones, that don't have to go through life
+alone. Well, thank Heaven, I've never been given to grieving over
+things myself, and that's a blessing, anyhow." He lit a cigar, and
+the passing cloud was wafted away as usual by his inherent good
+humour.
+
+"Oh, I can't wait any longer; I must go round and be the first to
+offer congratulations." And off went Old Nick, hurrying down the
+street to the Warden's.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+CILIA
+
+
+"The one who eats most porridge, gets most meat," said Cilia Braaten,
+ladling out a large second helping for Abrahamsen, the mate, who
+innocently accepted.
+
+"No more for me, thanks," said Soren Braaten. He knew his wife's
+economical trick of getting her guests to eat so much of the first
+course that they had little cargo space left for the second.
+
+Cilia Braaten was a woman who could hold her own, and was regarded as
+one of the cleverest shipowners on the fjord, closing charters
+herself, with or without a broker.
+
+Cecilia was her proper name, but she was invariably called Cilia for
+short.
+
+Soren Braaten, her husband, was hardly ever referred to at all, his
+wife having charge of everything that mattered, including the
+chartering of the two vessels _Birkebeineren_ and _Apollo_--and
+Heaven help Soren if he failed to obey orders and sail as instructed
+by Madam Cilia.
+
+Soren was a kindly and genial soul, who would not hurt a fly as long
+as he was left to sail his _Birkebeineren_ in peace. True, he would
+grumble once in a while, when his wife seemed more than usually
+unreasonable, and throw out hints that he knew what he was about, and
+could manage things by himself.
+
+"Manage, indeed. A nice sort of managing it would be! What about that
+time when you fixed _Birkebeineren_ for a cargo of coals to the
+Limfjord, where there's only ten foot of water, and she draws
+nineteen? If I hadn't come and got you out of it, you'd have been
+stranded there now." And Cilia threw a glance of indignant
+superiority at Soren. The story of that Limfjord charter was her
+trump card, and never failed to quell Soren's faint attempts at
+retort.
+
+Altogether, Cilia was unquestionably ruler of the roost, and managed
+things as she pleased, not only as regards Soren and the two ships,
+but also Malvina, the only daughter, who, like the rest, obeyed her
+without demur.
+
+Soren had no reason to regret having given the administration of the
+household and the business into her care; for their fortunes throve
+steadily, and Cilia was, as mentioned, one of the smartest shipowners
+in the fjord. She invariably managed to get hold of the best freights
+going; the shipbrokers at Drammen seemed by tacit consent to give her
+the first refusal of anything good.
+
+All, then, seemed well as could be wished with the family as a whole,
+and one would have thought Cilia herself must be content with things
+as they were. This, however, was by no means the case; Cilia had
+troubles enough, though, as so often happens, they were largely of
+her own making.
+
+Soren's complete lack of tender feeling was one of the things that
+often worried her. It was particularly noticeable in his letters. He
+would write, for instance, in this style:
+
+  "MADAM CILIA BRAATEN,--Arrived here in London fourteen days out
+  from the Sound. All well, and now discharging cargo. Have drawn
+  L120 from the agents here, which please find enclosed. I await
+  instructions as to further movements, and beg to remain--Yours
+  very truly,
+
+                                          "S. BRAATEN."
+
+Cilia flung the letter in a drawer and raged. Was this love? The
+simpleton--he should have been left to manage things for himself--and
+where would he have been then? This was all the thanks one got for
+all the toil and trouble. Why couldn't he write letters like Mrs.
+Pedersen got from her husband, who was skipper of the _Vestalinde_,
+commencing "My darling wife," and ending up with "Ever your loving--"
+That was something like affection! A very different thing from
+Soren's "Yours very truly." Mrs. Cilia was bursting with indignation.
+
+She pondered the matter for some time, seeking to find a way of
+making Soren a little more demonstrative. And next time she wrote,
+she put it to him delicately, as follows:
+
+  "MY DEAREST HUSBAND,--I was very glad to receive your letter with
+  the L120, but sorry you say nothing about how you are yourself. I
+  often think affectionately of you, but there is a coolness about
+  your letters which makes me quite unhappy to think of. You know I
+  love you, and you know, too, how sorry I am to have to send you
+  up into the Baltic so late in the year, but the freight was so
+  good that I could not refuse it. Put on warm things, and see you
+  have plenty of good food on board, and if you make a good voyage
+  of it this time I hope to have another nice remittance from you
+  before Christmas. And do let us agree for the future to sign our
+  letters--'_Ever your loving_'
+
+                                          "CILIA BRAATEN."
+
+The result of this appeal to Soren's tender feelings was not long
+delayed. It happened that Gudmunsen, skipper of the _Apollo_, while
+in Christiania with a cargo of coal, went on the spree there to such
+an all-obliterating extent that Mrs. Cilia received no accounts, and
+no freight money. She therefore wrote to Soren, who was in London,
+asking him to cable by return what was to be done with Gudmunsen. The
+reply came back as follows:
+
+  "Chuck him out.--Ever your loving
+
+                                          "SOREN BRAATEN."
+
+And thenceforward his letters and telegrams were invariably signed
+"Ever your loving."
+
+When Soren came home late that autumn, Cilia thought he might fairly
+have a year ashore, as they had laid by a good deal, and could afford
+a rest. Soren grumbled a little, and suggested that it would be
+desperately dull hanging about on shore all the summer, but Cilia
+undertook to find him entertainment enough. "We've all that bit of
+ground down there to plant potatoes, then the house wants painting,
+and a new garden fence--oh yes, and we ought really to have another
+well dug round at the back, and----"
+
+Soren had visions of Cilia standing over him and ordering him about
+at these various tasks, while he toiled in the sweat of his brow. Oh,
+a nice sort of rest it would be! No, give him his old place on board,
+where he could do as he pleased.
+
+There was no help for it, however. Abrahamsen, the mate, was put in
+charge of _Birkebeineren_ that summer, and Soren had to stay at home.
+
+Soren Braaten had never had any social position to speak of in
+Strandvik, and indeed he had no wish for anything of the sort. His
+comrades at the Seamen's Union were good enough company for him. It
+was different with Cilia, however; as their means increased, she
+began to feel more and more aggrieved at never being asked to parties
+at Holm Berg's or Prois's, and as for the Magistrate's folk, they
+never so much as gave her a glance when she passed them in the
+street. And only the other day she had met that impertinent upstart,
+Lawyer Nickelsen; if he hadn't dared to address her simply as
+"Celia!" Oh, but she would show them! And she went over her plan--it
+was to be carried out this summer, while Soren was at home. Soren was
+to be renamed, and appear henceforward as Soren Braathen--with an
+"h," Shipowner. Malvina was to be a lady, and, if possible, married
+off to some young man of standing. Then, surely, the family would be
+able to take the rank and position in society to which their
+comfortable means entitled them.
+
+While Cilia was occupied with these reflections in the kitchen--it
+was the day _Birkebeineren_ was to sail--Abrahamsen and Malvina were
+sitting in the summer-house in an attitude eloquent of itself. To be
+precise, they were holding each other's hands.
+
+"It's none so easy for me, Malvina," the mate was saying, "as a
+common man, to ask your father and mother straight out--and there's
+no such desperate hurry as I can see till after this voyage."
+
+With him Malvina agreed, and the loving couple separated, not
+without mutual assurances of undying faith and affection for better
+or worse, whatever obstacles might be placed in their way.
+
+Meantime, Soren Braaten had stolen down to the cellar, where he had a
+carefully hoarded stock of English bottled stout, with which he was
+wont to refresh himself at odd moments. Seated on a barrel, he was
+enjoying the blessing of life and liquor in deep draughts, without a
+care in the world. True, he had seen through the skylight Malvina and
+the mate in what might be construed as a compromising position, but
+trusting in this as in all else to Cilia's management, he took it for
+granted that she was a party to the affair.
+
+_Birkebeineren_ sailed, and Abrahamsen with her, leaving Soren at
+home to his fate. The potato-planting was shelved for the time being,
+as were the various other little jobs Cilia had mentioned; her one
+idea now was that he should appear as a gentleman of leisure, which
+Soren was unfeignedly content to do. In order, however, that he
+should not find the life too monotonous, she found him an occupation
+which to her idea was not incompatible with the dignity of a
+shipowner he was to look after Fagerlin. Fagerlin was the big
+brindled cow, and at present, being summertime, was allowed to take
+the air in the garden. Soren was accordingly charged to see that
+Fagerlin behaved herself, and did not eat up the carrots or the tiger
+lilies. Soren found the work comparable to that of the local customs
+officer, consisting as it did for the most part in sitting on a bench
+and smoking, with back numbers of the _Shipping Gazette_ to while
+away the time.
+
+Cilia, however, was still constantly occupied in finding further
+means whereby the family might attain that position of importance and
+consideration in local society which, she was forced to admit, was
+lacking at present.
+
+In this she found an unexpected ally in the person of Lieutenant
+Heidt, the magistrate's son, an old acquaintance from the days when
+Cilia had been parlourmaid at the house. True, he had been but a
+little boy at the time, but they had never quite lost sight of each
+other, and had grown most intimate, especially of late, since Cilia
+had taken to lending him money, in secret.
+
+Lt. Heidt was of opinion that Soren ought to go off to some health
+resort; it was customary among people of the better class, he
+declared, to suffer from gout, or insomnia, or some such fashionable
+ailment, necessitating a few weeks' cure at one of the recognised
+establishments every summer. "And they put it in the papers, you
+know, who's there; it would look quite nice, say, in the _Morning
+News_, to see Shipowner Braathen, of Strandvik, was recuperating at
+So-and-so."
+
+Cilia found the suggestion excellent, and began hinting to Soren that
+he was suffering from sleeplessness and gout. Soren was astounded,
+and indeed was disposed to regard the insinuation of sleeplessness as
+a piece of sarcasm, in view of the fact that he regularly took a
+couple of hours' nap each day irrespective of his customary ten hours
+at night. His protests, however, were in vain; he must go to
+Sandefjord, whether he liked it or not.
+
+A brand new trunk with a brass plate, inscribed with the name and
+title of "Shipowner S. Braathen, Strandvik," was procured for the
+occasion, and Soren was escorted in full procession down to the
+boat, and packed off to Sandefjord. Before leaving, he had been given
+careful instructions by his better half as to behaving in a manner
+suited to his station, and also furnished with a well-lined
+pocket-book. This last was so unlike Cilia that Soren wondered what
+on earth had come to her: open-handedness in money matters had never
+been a failing of hers--far from it.
+
+Lt. Heidt and Cilia had further discussed the question as to whether
+Malvina ought not to be sent to some _pension_ abroad, or at least to
+stay with a clergyman's family, for instance, somewhere in the
+country. This plan, however, was upset by Malvina's opposition. She
+flatly refused to do anything of the sort; and as the girl had
+inherited a good half at least of her mother's obstinacy, Cilia
+realised that it was hopeless to persist.
+
+During Soren's absence, Lt. Heidt suggested that it would be well to
+use the opportunity and refurnish the house completely, for, as he
+said, it would never do for people in such a position as the
+Braathens to have a "parlour" suite consisting of four birchwood
+chairs without springs and that horrible plaster-of-Paris angel that
+had knelt for the past twenty years on the embroidery-fringed
+bracket--it was enough to frighten decent people out of the house!
+Cilia entirely agreed, and only wondered how it was she herself had
+never perceived it before; this, of course, was the reason they had
+had no suitable society. But she would change all that. Malvina was
+highly indignant when she heard of the proposed resolution. The
+parlour was quite nice as it was, to her mind, and as for the angel,
+her father had given it to her when she was a child, and it did not
+harm anyone; on the contrary, she loved her angel, and would take
+care it came to no hurt.
+
+Lt. Heidt very kindly offered to go in to Christiania with Mrs. Cilia
+and help her choose the furniture; would indeed be delighted to
+assist in any way with the general rearrangement of the Braathen's
+_menage_. Cilia gratefully accepted, and the pair went off
+accordingly to the capital, duly furnished with the requisite funds,
+which Cilia had drawn from the bank for the occasion. On the way, she
+begged her companion to take charge of the money and act as
+treasurer; she had heard that pickpockets devoted their attention
+more especially to ladies.
+
+On arrival, Heidt suggested dining at a first-class restaurant which
+he himself frequented, and meeting on the way there two young
+gentlemen of his acquaintance, he introduced them to Mrs. Braathen,
+and invited them without further ceremony to join the party. They
+were frank, easy-mannered young fellows, and Cilia took a fancy to
+them, at once recognising them as belonging to "the quality."
+
+And such a dinner they had! Oysters and champagne to start with, game
+of some sort, and claret--it was a banquet to eclipse even the
+betrothal feast at Prois's; to which last, it is true, she had not
+been invited--but he should repent it, the supercilious old sweep!
+
+Heidt's friends, too, proved most entertaining company, especially
+the one who, it appeared, was a poet; he had a store of anecdotes to
+make one split one's sides with laughing, and Heidt himself was in
+high spirits. He drank with her, and said, "Your health,
+mother-in-law," and the others joined in with congratulations. Cilia
+could not help laughing, though she was inclined to consider it
+rather too much of a joke. Still, it was all done in such a jovial,
+irresistible fashion that she let it pass.
+
+After the coffee, the whole party set out to make purchases. First,
+glassware. Heidt thought it was a good idea to begin with glasses
+after dinner; one was more in the mood for it, he declared. An
+elegant service of cut-glass, with the monogram "S. & C. B." was
+ordered. Cilia hesitated a little at the delicate, slender-stemmed
+wine-glasses, which she declared would "go to smithereens" in a
+"twinkling" at the first washing-up, but was assured that this was
+the essence of good taste in such matters, and finally gave in.
+
+Then came the furniture for the "salon" as Heidt called it. But when
+Cilia found herself tentatively seated on a sofa with a hard,
+straight back reaching half-way up the wall, she could not help
+thinking that the old one at home was really more comfortable; a
+thing like this seemed made to sit upright in, and as for lying
+down----! The others, however, declared it elegant and "stylish,"
+with which she felt she must agree, and the sofa was accordingly
+noted. Various so-called "easy-chairs," which to Cilia's mind were
+far from easy, were then added. A round settee with a pillar rising
+from the centre was to crown the whole. Cilia had never seen such an
+arrangement before, and was rather inclined to leave it out. But the
+dealer explained, "You place the article in the centre of the
+apartment, under a chandelier. A palm is set on the central
+pillar--and there you are!"
+
+"Wouldn't a nice geranium do instead?" asked Cilia confidentially.
+
+"Well--ah--oh, certainly, yes," said the man, and Cilia agreed.
+
+"Then there are works of art," said Heidt. "No truly cultured home
+can be without them." And he invited Cilia to contemplate a life-size
+terra-cotta Cupid. It was terribly expensive, and she did not really
+approve of "stark-naked boys" as a decorative motif, but Heidt and
+his friends agreed that it was a "triumph of plastic beauty," and a
+work of art such as no one in Strandvik had ever seen, far less
+possessed. And Cilia took the Cupid with the rest.
+
+"Now we're all complete," said Heidt, "and I'll answer for it, a more
+recherche little interior than Shipowner Braathen's it will be hard
+to find." And Cilia saw in her mind's eye Lawyer Nickelsen and the
+Magistrate himself abashed and humbled before all this magnificence.
+
+As for Prois and Holm Berg--poor things, they had never dreamt of
+anything like it.
+
+When they got home, Cilia could not help feeling that it had been
+rather a costly outing--but what matter? The vessels were earning
+good money.
+
+There was a letter from Soren, giving his impressions of Sandefjord.
+
+  "MRS. CILIA BRAATHEN, MY DEAR WIFE,--I write this to let you know
+  I have now had fourteen sulphur baths, kinder being thumped and
+  hammered every morning from nine to ten, then breakfast, and
+  about time too, seeing I have to drink five glasses of sulphur
+  water and one of salts on an empty stomach.
+
+  "In accordance with your instructions, I have duly informed the
+  doctor here that I am in need of insomnia, which he assures me
+  will improve with continued treatment.
+
+  "There are any amount of people here on the same business, Danes
+  and Swedes too, and all seem to be enjoying it like anything,
+  which is more than I can understand. There's a band plays here
+  all day, but the days seem to go very slowly all the same. Take
+  care of yourself till I come back.--Ever your loving
+
+                                          "S. BRAATHEN."
+
+Malvina, too, had a letter from her father:
+
+  "MY DEAR DAUGHTER,--Your letter was a great comfort to me in this
+  place, which the same I would liken unto Sodom and Gomorrah, not
+  only for the sulphur and brimstone but other things beside.
+
+  "It was no surprise to me when you say you are in love with
+  Abrahamsen, seeing I was watching you holding hands with him that
+  day in the summer-house.
+
+  "I give you my blessing and welcome, which please find herewith.
+  He's not much of an expert, as you might say, in navigation,
+  looking all ways round for the sun, but with God's help I dare
+  say you'll be able to manage him. And as for your mother, you'll
+  just have to square it with her the best you can, which is more
+  than I ever could myself.
+
+  "I am getting on famously here all round, all except the
+  insomnia, which I haven't been able to manage up to now. I still
+  get my night's rest and my afternoon nap, for all their nasty
+  waters inside and out. But don't tell your mother I said so, but
+  let her think I'm getting on that way.
+
+  "Don't forget to write and let me know how she is and all that's
+  doing.--Yours respectfully,
+
+                                          "S. BRAATHEN.
+
+  "P.S.--What you say about Lieutenant Heidt has written you a
+  love-letter, don't worry about that, but sufficient unto the day
+  and so on. You can tell him you could never love anybody that
+  hadn't got his mate's certificate, which I'm pretty sure he
+  hasn't nor ever likely to be."
+
+Cilia had a desperately busy time unpacking all the things from
+Christiania, but, thanks to Lt. Heidt, who was always at hand ready
+to help, the work was soon got over.
+
+The house was changed beyond all recognition. _Now_ let the Prois's
+and Lawyer Nickelsen come, and see what they'd say! Lt. Heidt came
+round every day now, and was so attentive to Malvina that Cilia felt
+all but sure of him already for a son-in-law, and reproved her
+daughter severely for being so "stand-offish" with him. But Malvina,
+remembering who was primarily responsible for the deposition of her
+plaster angel, and the substitution of a stark-naked boy, found it
+impossible to regard the culprit with anything but marked disfavour.
+
+Never was Cupid looked upon so sourly by the fairer sex. Cilia, it is
+true, had gradually brought herself to look him straight in the face
+when she entered the room, instead of turning aside, but Malvina
+still flushed and averted her eyes. The angel at least was decent; no
+one need be ashamed of that!
+
+At last everything was in order, and Cilia was able to look round
+proudly on an establishment fitted for persons of "quality." Hitherto
+it had always been her custom to go bareheaded within doors; now,
+however, she adopted a dainty white cap with a cluster of dark red
+auriculas on top, as befitted a lady of means and position.
+
+When Soren came home, the first thing she did was to usher him into
+the drawing-room with a triumphant gesture. There! what did he think
+of that?
+
+Soren stood for a moment dumbfounded, and when at last Cilia invited
+him to sit down, he took out his handkerchief, spread it out
+carefully on the settee, and seated himself gingerly, glancing up now
+and again at the geranium, as if fearing it might fall on his head.
+
+At the first opportunity he went off with Malvina to the wash-house,
+where the two had a long confabulation, the end of which was a solemn
+declaration on the part of Soren to the effect that his spouse must
+be "a trifle wrong in the upper works." And he swore that she had far
+more need of the Sandefjord waters than he had ever had.
+
+Cilia, of course, must give a party to show off the establishment in
+its new finery. Invitations were sent out on printed cards a week
+beforehand, the list including Heidts, Prois's and Lawyer Nickelsen.
+Cilia had really half a mind to "leave out all that haughty lot," but
+if she did, where would the leaders of society be at all?
+
+Soren was ordered to get himself a tail coat for the occasion. It was
+his duty as host, Cilia said. But for the first time in his life
+Soren refused to obey, and that so emphatically that his wife was
+startled. "If you and all the rest of them can't have me in my Sunday
+coat as it is, why, well and good--I'll go out fishing that day and
+you can have it all to yourselves." With which mutinous declaration
+Soren went out into the kitchen and confided to Malvina that he'd
+"had about enough of all this nonsense." Malvina cordially agreed,
+and did her best to keep him in that frame of mind.
+
+Cilia pondered over the matter for some time; she had never before
+known Soren to disregard her injunctions in that fashion. But let him
+wait; she'd give him "Sunday coat" with a vengeance once the party
+was well over.
+
+The first thing Abrahamsen learned when he returned was news of the
+wonderful changes Cilia had made in the house. "Fitted up like a
+palace," said old Holm Berg. Then, too, of course, there were plenty
+of people to tell him of Malvina's engagement to Lt. Heidt, and how
+the latter had been round at the house "every blessed day all
+through the summer." Consequently, it was with heavy heart and
+ill-forebodings that the mate set out to call. Fortunately, however,
+he found Malvina alone in the front room, cleaning windows, and was
+able to arrange a meeting with her in the wash-house as soon as he
+had been in to deliver his report to Cilia. This was soon effected,
+Cilia being so occupied with preparations for the party that she even
+forgot to ask how much of the freight money was left.
+
+Abrahamsen went down then to the wash-house, where doubts and fears
+were soon disposed of, despite the fact that the lovers' affectionate
+_tete-a-tete_ was interrupted by a violent rattling in the tub, where
+Soren kept his bottled beer--the stout, alas, was gone long since.
+
+The wash-house cellar was, as Soren put it, his "free port and patent
+breakwater" where he could anchor in safety whenever the waves of
+domestic strife ran over high.
+
+A regular triple-alliance was now concluded between Soren, Abrahamsen
+and Malvina to meet the treacherous plottings of the two remaining
+powers: Cilia and Lt. Heidt. The Congress of the wash-house agreed
+to adopt and maintain an attitude of armed and watchful neutrality
+for the present, only proceeding to open hostilities in case of need,
+when concerted action would be taken according as circumstances might
+require.
+
+While this conference was taking place, Lt. Heidt, who had arrived
+meantime, was closeted with Cilia in long and earnest conversation,
+in the course of which he declared that his intentions towards
+Malvina were entirely honourable, and that it was his dearest wish to
+become a son-in-law of the house.
+
+The Lieutenant was all for an immediate decision, the engagement then
+to be publicly declared on the following day at the party. Cilia,
+however, foresaw difficulties in effecting this: it would be
+necessary to prepare Malvina gradually for the honour and happiness
+in store for her. Finally, it was agreed that Cilia should use her
+utmost efforts, and tackle Malvina that same evening, get a
+satisfactory answer out of her if possible, and then fire off the
+news at dinner next day. The Lieutenant on his part was to hold
+himself in readiness for immediate action at the opportune moment.
+The pair then separated, with assurances of mutual esteem and
+affection.
+
+Cilia was so overwhelmed that she was obliged to remain a full
+half-hour alone in the splendours of the newly furnished salon,
+meditating upon the wonderful good fortune that was about to fall
+upon the house. A real lieutenant, and the magistrate's son to
+boot--an alliance with the leading family in the town! Thus was the
+name of Braathen to be lifted from the potato-patch of vulgar
+insignificance to the gardens of rank and "quality."
+
+Abrahamsen, stealing out by by the back way, was just in time to
+perceive Lt. Heidt taking leave of Cilia, and noting the cordiality
+between the two, he realised that there was rough weather ahead
+before he could hope to lay alongside his dainty prize. He confided
+as much to his intimate friend, Thor Smith, the magistrate's clerk.
+The latter had an ancient grudge against young Heidt, who had at one
+time made some attempt at cutting him out with Tulla Prois, and that
+in the basest manner, which Smith had never forgiven him.
+
+But he should pay for it--Smith would see to that!
+
+When Abrahamsen had set forth the position in detail, Smith pressed
+his hand, and swore to aid him by all means in his power. Here at
+last was a chance of getting even with his rival.
+
+That same evening Smith went round for a chat with Old Nick, as he
+often did. On reaching the house, however, the housekeeper informed
+him that Nickelsen was engaged in the office--Skipper Braaten was in
+there with him.
+
+Smith pricked up his ears at this, and at once concluded that the
+consultation must have something to do with the matrimonial plans
+afoot in the skipper's household.
+
+He waited, therefore, and a little while later Nickelsen entered,
+looking very thoughtful. His air, however, changed to one of cautious
+reserve when Smith greeted him with:
+
+"Well, have you been through the Code of Matrimonial Law with Soren
+Braaten?"
+
+"What makes you think so?" said Nickelsen.
+
+"My dear old Nick, don't try that on with me. I've just heard about
+it from my particular friend Abrahamsen. And I don't mind telling you
+I'm out to put the brave Lieutenant's nose out of joint if I can."
+
+"H'm--well, it's right enough. And as for the Lieutenant, why,
+'twould be easy enough. But Cilia's a different matter, now she's got
+her head puffed up with all this 'fashionable' nonsense. Old Soren
+has fairly got his blood up this time though; he wanted her declared
+unfit to act, and a legal guardian appointed--what do you say to
+that?"
+
+"Look here, Nickelsen, what if you and I put our heads together and
+fixed it up ourselves for Malvina and Abrahamsen?"
+
+"Good Lord above us, what are you thinking of? Do you want me to play
+_postillon d'amour_ for all the loving couples in the town?"
+
+"Well, it's a noble mission, you know, really. Just think how Tulla
+and I look up to you with--er--with affection and esteem--since that
+banquet affair."
+
+"You can think yourself lucky it went off as well as it did," said
+Old Nick.
+
+"Oh--this'll come off all right too, you'll see. Come along, let's
+set to work and draw up a plan of campaign. We're getting quite old
+hands at the game."
+
+Old Nick was not without some scruples, but after further pressure he
+at last consented to give his support as far as he could.
+
+As a result of mature deliberation the following scheme was drawn up,
+to be submitted to Soren Braaten and Abrahamsen for consideration:
+
+1. Soren to arrange that Thor Smith and Abrahamsen be among the
+guests invited to the party.
+
+2. Soren to say a few words of welcome to the guests at table,
+whereupon Lawyer Nickelsen would make a "flowing and eloquent" speech
+proposing the host and hostess.
+
+3. Immediately after this the grand scene, wherein Soren Braaten,
+rising again, delivers a speech, prepared beforehand by Nickelsen and
+Smith, announcing Malvina's engagement to Abrahamsen.
+
+This surprise attack, the conspirators reckoned, could not fail to
+throw the enemy's forces into confusion.
+
+Both, however, knowing Cilia's temper, her energy and force of
+character, were agreed that the plan had its weak points. She might,
+for instance, prefer to make a scene rather than surrender
+unconditionally. Nevertheless, both Smith and Old Nick thought she
+would probably give way; and having regard to the sound strategic
+principle that a purely defensive position is generally untenable,
+they thought best to urge the Triple Alliance to take the offensive
+at the earliest opportunity.
+
+No sooner said than done. Soren and Abrahamsen were sent for, and
+lost no time in making their appearance; both had a feeling that
+great events were in the air.
+
+Meantime, the enemy was not inactive. The Lieutenant, certain of
+victory, now that he had secured so powerful an ally as Cilia, had
+already confided his intentions to his father. The magistrate, in his
+own mind, could not help thinking that a daughter of his former
+parlourmaid was hardly a match for his son, but on the other hand it
+might make a man of him. And the Braatens were said to be quite
+wealthy people. Malvina was the only child, so that from that point
+of view, no objection could be raised. Finally, he declared himself
+willing to give his consent, but, learning that the engagement was to
+be formally announced at dinner on the following day, he became
+serious, and went down quietly to his office to prepare a speech
+suited to the occasion. His consent to the marriage was one thing,
+but he was resolved that it should not lead to overmuch intimacy
+between the two families. And this he was anxious to point out, with
+all possible delicacy, of course, but definitely enough to permit of
+no misunderstanding.
+
+The party assembled at Old Nick's, including Thor Smith, Abrahamsen
+and Soren Braaten, were unanimous in declaring the proposed scheme
+admirable. The only hesitation was on the part of Soren, who, being
+himself cast for the leading part, naturally felt the risk. The
+others, however, insisted that no one else could do it, and he
+therefore agreed to sacrifice himself in a forlorn hope for the
+general good.
+
+On being handed the speech, carefully written out by Old Nick
+himself, Soren scratched his head and looked thoroughly miserable. He
+had never made a speech in his life, and had no sort of confidence in
+his declamatory powers. There was no help for it, however, and with a
+sigh he thrust the paper into his waistcoat pocket.
+
+Before leaving he was instructed to make known the details of the
+plan to Malvina, and charge her to be as amiable as possible to
+Heidt, in order to avoid any suspicion in the minds of the others as
+to the conspiracy afoot.
+
+On reaching home, he sought out Malvina and explained the situation,
+whereafter the two in concert managed to get Cilia to invite Thor
+Smith and Abrahamsen at the eleventh hour; Cilia herself, as far as
+could be seen, had no suspicion of any covert motive underlying the
+request.
+
+Nearly all that night Soren sat up in his bedroom brooding over the
+speech. "Gentlemen and--er--h'm--I should say ladies and
+gentlemen--er--I rise to this--I rise on this occasion..." etc.
+Soren toiled at the speech, sweating properly, and cursing at
+intervals, till nearly morning. And when at last he fell asleep, it
+was only to dream that Old Nick stood over him, tweaking his nose
+with the fire-tongs, while he strove in vain to get beyond the
+opening sentence of his oration.
+
+He awoke, however, in excellent spirits, and ceased to worry about
+the speech at all, arguing to himself that it would come off all
+right once he got going. He ran up the flag with his own hands, and
+meeting Cilia in the kitchen as he came in, he chucked her under the
+chin with a cheerful: "Well, old lady, feeling fit?" Whereat Cilia
+was considerably taken aback, being all unused to such attentions.
+
+There was great excitement in the town as to how the much-talked-of
+party would go off, and, long before the appointed hour, the garden
+fence was lined outside by the youth of the neighbourhood, awaiting
+the arrival of the guests.
+
+"There's Holm Berg, boys, stovepipe and all--and here's the
+Lieutenant with his pig-sticker--and look at Old Nick in his white
+gloves, and walking like he was on stilts--hurraa--a--a!"
+
+The house was brilliantly illuminated and looked very festive indeed;
+so overwhelming was the display that most of the natives stole away
+into odd corners where they could see as much as possible without
+being seen. Lt. Heidt was thoroughly at home, and helped to look
+after the guests, though this, indeed, was superfluous, Soren himself
+exhibiting so much sangfroid and confidence of manner that he might
+have been on board his own vessel and in sole command. He shook
+hands with each as they arrived, and bade them welcome with smiling
+self-possession. Cilia hardly knew him in this new guise as master of
+the house, and a shiver of excitement thrilled her as she thought of
+the developments in store. She had, indeed, sufficient reason for
+anxiety, inasmuch as she had had a serious talk with Malvina just
+before the guests arrived, endeavouring to extract from her a promise
+to give a favourable answer to Lt. Heidt. But there was no getting
+anything definite out of Malvina; she demanded time to think it over.
+
+The first slight stiffness among the guests soon disappeared, and, by
+the time dinner was served, most of them felt quite sufficiently at
+home to do full justice to an excellent repast.
+
+There were to be no speeches until dessert, and now the fateful
+moment was near.
+
+Malvina was in a corner with Lt. Heidt, the latter so tender and
+smiling that old Mrs. Berg nudged the parson's wife and whispered,
+"Look, I'm sure he's proposing now!" The lady addressed, however, was
+somewhat deaf, and looked up with an inquiring "Eh?" Mrs. Berg did
+not venture to repeat the observation out loud, and substituted a
+remark about "the jelly delicious, don't you think?"
+
+Malvina turned pale and red alternately with emotion; there was no
+getting out of the corner, for Heidt barred the way. Now and again
+she cast a despairing glance at the Cupid, as if asking aid; but no,
+the figure only stared back with a silly smile--ridiculous creature!
+
+Abrahamsen, in the passage adjoining, was watching the pair with
+ill-repressed impatience. The sight of the young lieutenant bending
+close and whispering confidentially to Malvina made him tingle, and
+he clenched his fists. Abrahamsen was an ill man to jest with, and,
+as Soren was wont to say, he had a pair of fists as heavy as the
+flippers of a full-grown seal.
+
+Coolest of all the conspirators was Old Nick, who walked about,
+smiling and content, enjoying his own observation of the entire
+menagerie, as he called it. Towards Cilia he was deference itself,
+and won her heart completely by addressing her as "Mrs. Braathen."
+
+At last Soren tapped his glass; all eyes were at once turned towards
+him. He started off simply and easily; he had just one thing to say
+and that was, he thanked them all for their presence there this
+evening, and was very glad to see them under his humble roof. Your
+health! Cilia was quite proud of her husband for once, and not a
+little surprised; it was not a bit like Soren. Where on earth had he
+picked it up? She herself had previously asked Lt. Heidt, as a friend
+of the family, to say a few words of welcome, but Soren had managed
+it excellently already. Well, so much the better; it would show Lt.
+Heidt that even he was not indispensable.
+
+Old Nick then rose, and proposed "our host and hostess" in a speech
+so fluent and cordial that even the parson's wife, who had scarcely
+heard a word of it, declared it was "perfectly charming."
+
+All drank with Cilia, who curtsyed and nodded and smiled, and nodded
+again, until her head almost fell off; never in her dreams had she
+imagined such an exalted moment.
+
+The regulation speeches were now over, and nothing more was expected
+beyond a few words from the parson, when, to Cilia's astonishment
+and the surprise of the guests, Soren again stepped forward and
+raised his glass.
+
+Cilia's first thought was that her husband had taken a drop too much,
+but his calm, easy manner disposed of that idea in a moment. She
+wondered what on earth was going to happen, and for the first time in
+her life the foundations of her despotic power seemed shaken.
+
+There was a tense silence among the guests; what could he have to
+say? Old Nick stood beside him, chatting easily with Malvina as if
+nothing were amiss. Thor Smith was out in the passage with
+Abrahamsen. Justice Heidt, who had been waiting all the evening for
+the "declaration," drew a little nearer, in the belief that it was
+coming.
+
+Soren drank off his own glass of sherry, and having reinforced it
+with Old Nick's and the parson's, which stood nearest on the table,
+he gave vent to a long sigh, or grunt, and commenced as follows:
+
+"Ladies and Gentlemen: as mentioned, there's a thing we call a union,
+which means, well--a sort of union, you know" (loud applause from
+some of the younger men, who thought Soren was referring to the Union
+of Norway and Sweden), "and you can't have any sort of union
+without--h'm--respect and--h'm--affection on both sides." (Here the
+speaker directed a lowering glance at Lt. Heidt, who was moving
+towards the table.)
+
+"There was a whole lot more I was supposed to say about this, but
+I've forgotten the rest. And, anyhow, it's a bit of a large order to
+expect an old skipper like me to rattle out all that stuff about
+garlands of roses and bonds of something--or--other." Old Nick gave
+a despairing glance at Thor Smith, who shook his head sadly. "Well,
+anyhow, it's as well to take the bull by the horns, so here you are.
+Abrahamsen, you've had charge of the old _Birkebeineren_ two voyages
+this year, and I hereby make no bones about giving you my girl
+Malvina, to sail her without deviation or any delay, as the apple of
+my heart, across the ocean of life, with all due care and seamanship,
+as set forth in the bills of lading. And seeing as that same ocean's
+given to foul weather and suchlike perils, dangers and accidents of
+the sea or other waters, you'll need to keep a sharp look-out and
+navigate according. And, well, the Lord be with you. Amen."
+
+Cilia, who was nervous and unsettled enough beforehand, now lost her
+head completely, and as the guests crowded round to offer their
+congratulations, she sank into a chair holding a handkerchief to her
+eyes. And when Malvina came up to embrace her, she broke down
+completely.
+
+Lt. Heidt turned sharply about in military fashion, and strode
+magnificently out into the hall. On the way he encountered Old Nick,
+who was rude enough to smile at him, and say, "Rather neat that,
+don't you think?"
+
+Justice Heidt retired quietly, inwardly congratulating himself with
+the thought that it was just as well he had escaped closer connection
+with so plebeian a family!
+
+When the guests had left, Soren sat down beside his wife and took her
+hand, endeavouring to comfort her as well as he could. Cilia still
+wept, however; as if all the tears she might have shed in her life,
+but never had, were bursting forth at once. So copious indeed was the
+flow, that Soren privately reckoned out it would have sufficed to
+water half the carrot patch at least.
+
+It was with strange thoughts that Cilia retired to rest. She was
+beginning to realise that she had been dethroned; her power
+within-doors and abroad was gone for ever; she had made a fool of
+herself with a vengeance. It was a bitter thing to feel. She went
+over in her mind the events of the summer: Soren's journey to
+Sandefjord, her own expedition to Christiania with Lt. Heidt, the
+party, and the new furniture--how could she ever have been so
+foolish, so insane!
+
+Towards morning she grew calmer; she had decided what to do, and was
+herself again.
+
+She rose before the others were stirring, and lit a big fire in the
+kitchen. Her sharp features showed firm and decided as she stood
+before the stove, stiffly upright, one hand fiercely clenching a
+crumpled roll of something white. This she presently threw into the
+flames with a deep sigh--but a sigh of relief, as if in casting off a
+burden. It was her dainty indoor cap, with the auriculas, that was
+sacrificed; the thing hissed and spluttered, vanishing at last in
+sooty fragments up the chimney.
+
+When Soren and Malvina came down, they found her on all fours in the
+parlour, hard at work packing up carpets and curtains, knick-knacks
+and chandeliers. They stood watching her for a while, but Cilia
+sharply ordered them to help--and willingly they did! Not a word was
+exchanged between the three; they simply went on packing and packing,
+closing up the cases and packing more, till they were ready to be
+carried out into the yard.
+
+In the course of the morning Abrahamsen turned up, and lent a hand
+with the packing-cases. It was almost as if it were a question of
+getting some evil influence out of the house as quickly as possible.
+All four worked together with perfect understanding, and not a word
+was said either of the engagement or of the party.
+
+"What are we to do with that fellow there?" said Abrahamsen, pointing
+to the Cupid.
+
+Soren scratched his chin thoughtfully for a while, and, as a result
+of his cogitations, suggested "making a fountain." He had seen dozens
+of suchlike figures in the course of his travels. You set them up in
+gardens, with a hole bored through and a tube let in. Why not stick
+it up on the pump outside; it would look fine then! But Malvina
+insisted on getting rid of the thing altogether; it had caused
+mischief enough as it was. Thus Abrahamsen had an inspiration. "Let's
+make Lawyer Nickelsen a present of it; he's got a couple of things
+much the same to look at. I dare say he'd be glad to have one more."
+The proposal was received with acclamation, Cilia herself offering no
+objection, but declaring they might do what they pleased with the
+thing.
+
+Abrahamsen accordingly took the unfortunate Cupid, stuffed it into a
+sack, and marched off with it. Nickelsen was not a little surprised
+to receive a visit from the mischievous god, but on learning what was
+taking place in its former home, he consented to shelter the poor
+outcast. He also shook hands with Abrahamsen, and said:
+
+"My dear Abrahamsen, I congratulate you--and I must say Cilia is
+wiser than I thought. It's not many people would have the sense and
+character to repair an error so resolutely as she has done."
+
+There was general astonishment in Strandvik when Cilia's elegant new
+furniture was seen being loaded on board a coasting-vessel down at
+the quay; still further wonder when it transpired that the entire
+consignment was destined for Christiania, to be sold by auction
+there.
+
+Cilia went aboard calmly and quietly, paying no heed to gossip or
+impertinent questions. And indeed there were few who ventured to
+question her at all, for her manner was severe enough to keep even
+the most inquisitive at arm's length. As soon as the vessel had left,
+she had all the old furniture put back in its place. Malvina brought
+out her plaster angel, wiped it carefully, and set it up on the same
+old bracket again.
+
+It was surprising how comfortable everything seemed at home now.
+Soren was so delighted he went about rubbing his hands, and even
+Cilia herself seemed gentler and more tractable than before. So much
+so, indeed, that Soren decided to give up his quarters in the
+wash-house, and drank his bottled beer on a settle in the kitchen, as
+if it were the most natural thing in the world; and Cilia made no
+protest, but set out glass and tray for him herself! Soren felt he
+was the happiest man in the world, and it was not many weeks before
+all was back in the old routine, Cilia devoting herself in earnest
+to the business of shipowning and chartering. Abrahamsen was
+transferred to the _Apollo_, and Soren went on board his old friend
+_Birkebeineren_, a skipper once more.
+
+One thing Cilia found more astonishing than all else, and that was
+that both Lawyer Nickelsen and old Prois himself took to calling at
+the house now and then; nay, more--she and Malvina were actually
+asked to tea at the Prois's. Cilia was finding out that there were
+more things in heaven and earth than were dreamt of in her
+philosophy.
+
+Passing by Cilia's well-kept garden in the spring, one might see a
+number of wine-glasses, minus the stems, but engraved with the
+monogram "S. & C. B.," placed protectingly over tender seedling or
+cuttings planted out in the round or oblong borders--"all that's left
+of the days when mother went wrong in the upper works," said Soren
+Braaten.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+A ROYAL VISIT
+
+
+"Heard the news, Nickelsen?" cried Thor Smith, looking in at
+Nickelsen's door.
+
+"No, what?"
+
+"The King's coming."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense--what d'you mean?"
+
+"It's true, honour bright. The Council's all head over heels already,
+fixing up a committee for the arrangement."
+
+"No, really? Why, that'll be first-rate. Just wanted something to
+brighten things up a bit; it's been very dull lately." Old Nick
+rubbed his hands gleefully. "Come along, let's walk down that way a
+bit and see if we can get hold of somebody in the know."
+
+"Hallo, here's Holm Berg! I say, are you on this committee?"
+
+"No, thank goodness, I managed to get out of it. Not but that there
+were plenty anxious to get in!"
+
+"Who's on it, then, do you know?"
+
+"Well, there's Heidt, of course, as Justice, but he was quite put out
+about it himself, and wished His Majesty I won't say where. You see,
+it means getting new uniform, for the gold braid's all worn off his
+old one."
+
+"Well, and who else?"
+
+"Oh, let's see; the parson, Governor Hansen, Watchmaker Rordam and
+Dr. Knap--oh yes, and Prois, of course, as Warden."
+
+"What, old Prois?"
+
+"Yes, and he was quite cut up about it too. Said he was too old for
+such tomfoolery."
+
+It was a busy time all round for the loyal citizens of Strandvik; and
+the worst of it was, they had only three days to make all
+arrangements. The royal party would arrive on Thursday at four
+o'clock and dine in the town. And to-day was Monday.
+
+The committee held meetings morning and afternoon. A band was asked
+for by telegram from the naval station at Horten, and a special cook
+from Drammen; both, fortunately, promised to come.
+
+A triumphal arch was set up at the Custom House, and Nachmann, the
+German wine merchant, sent up four cart-loads of bottles to the Town
+Hall, where the banquet was to be held. Nachmann was in high feather,
+and declared loyally that a Royal House was an excellent institution
+and an encouragement to trade and commerce.
+
+But what was the King to drive in? Consul Jansen had a very
+respectable pair-horse carriage of his own, lined with grey silk, and
+suitable for most "special occasions," but unfortunately one of the
+horses was lame, and the other a confirmed runaway. What was to be
+done?
+
+Lt. Heidt had just got a new mount, but so miserably emaciated a
+beast that one could almost see daylight through its ribs. There was
+no possibility of using such a bag of bones for such a purpose.
+
+Finally, the choice fell upon Baker Ottosen's black mare, a famous
+beauty. But one mare's not a pair; there was nothing for it but to
+take Governor Hansen's old "Swift," so called from the fact of its
+never on any occasion exceeding the easiest amble. It was hoped that
+the close proximity of the mare would liven it up a little.
+
+For three whole days Aslaksen of the livery stables practised the
+pair up and down through the streets, to the great edification of the
+urchins, who ran after the carriage shouting and cheering.
+
+Tar barrels and rockets were set ready in place out in the fjord, and
+all the candles in the stores were bought up for the purpose of
+illumination.
+
+From early morning the committee wa abroad, in full evening-dress,
+and desperately busy.
+
+Old Justice Heidt stood in his shirt-sleeves and new gold-braided
+breeches making his most deferential bow to an old American clock:
+"May it please Your Majesty, in the person of the town's ..." he had
+to look up the paper and read through his speech once again.
+
+Excitement increased as the day wore on. Stout peasant girls with red
+roses in their hats, and lanky youths with blue and green ties, and a
+bottle of spirits in their hinder pockets, began pouring into the
+town.
+
+The committee was working feverishly. Everything was now practically
+ready, flags and bunting everywhere, and as many green wreaths as
+seven old women had been able to prepare in three days. All that
+remained was the great centre-piece, with the arms of the town, to be
+hung above the royal seat in the banqueting hall.
+
+Watchmaker Rordam, who, in addition to having charge of all the
+time-pieces in the town, further acted as instrument maker, turner
+and decorator, had undertaken to paint the aforesaid piece. But at
+one o'clock he suddenly retired in dudgeon, and the arms of the town
+were nowhere. The cause of this disaster was Old Nick, who had come
+up during the morning to the hall to see how the decorations were
+getting on. Rordam was there just putting the finishing touches to
+his masterpiece.
+
+"Ah, Rordam, painting a picture, are you? Tell me, what it's supposed
+to be, exactly?"
+
+"Eh?" said Rordam, with a frown. "Can't you see? Why, the town arms,
+of course--a bear holding a pine tree on a blue ground, and a goddess
+with the scales of justice in red in the other corner."
+
+"No, really?" said Old Nick. "Devil take me, if I didn't think it was
+Adam and Eve stealing apples in the Garden of Eden."
+
+Rordam was furious, and swore he would not put up with such
+impertinence, he had not come there to be insulted. He had undertaken
+the work as a loyal citizen's contribution to the general good,
+without fee or remuneration of any sort, and if Lawyer Nickelsen
+thought he could paint a better coat-of-arms, why, let him take over
+the business, and welcome. And, tearing down his painting, the
+indignant watchmaker took himself off.
+
+Old Nick likewise found it advisable to disappear, after a vain
+attempt to bring the injured painter to reason, assuring him that it
+was only a joke, no harm intended, etc. etc.
+
+The committee was summoned in haste, and stood staring blankly at the
+empty space where the bear and the goddess of justice should have
+appeared.
+
+Their anger was very naturally turned upon Old Nick.
+
+"Really, I think he might have kept his remarks to himself," said Dr.
+Knap. "Old muddler that he is."
+
+"He never can keep a still tongue in his head," agreed Justice Heidt.
+
+It was now past one o'clock: the King was to arrive at four, and
+there was no painting a new design in three hours. Hang up a big
+Norwegian flag? That, of course, could be done; but it would seem a
+very poor sort of decoration without the arms of the town. Then
+Governor Hansen had a bright idea: "Let's get up an impromptu lunch
+at once, and ask Rordam along, as if nothing was the matter."
+
+"Do you think he'll come?" asked Justice Heidt.
+
+"Sure enough--if we just let him know it's a special lunch for a
+small select party. Send the message in your own name, Justice, and
+I'll wager a bottle of Montebello he'll come."
+
+Half an hour after, Rordam arrived, and was received by Justice
+Heidt, who clapped him on the shoulder and thanked him heartily for
+his splendid decoration of the hall.
+
+"And I must say we are fortunate in having in so small a town an
+artist of taste like yourself. I am sure His Majesty will wish to
+thank you personally. By the way, that coat of arms, it will be ready
+in time, I hope? Dr. Knap was just saying it was a magnificent piece
+of work."
+
+"Why--er--that is--I wasn't altogether pleased with it myself, so I
+took it down."
+
+"Oh, nonsense, my dear fellow! I am sure it's excellent. Hang it up
+again and don't worry about that."
+
+The shield was set in place again accordingly, and the committee
+unanimously expressed their admiration. The figure of the bear in
+particular was highly praised. "As lifelike as anything you'd see in
+a menagerie," said Warden Prois cautiously. "And the young lady too,
+I'm sure," said Dr. Knap, with a sly nudge to Heidt. Rordam was
+pacified, completely won over, and so gratified at the amiable
+condescension of the notables at lunch that he felt he could afford
+to despise a mere lawyer like that fellow Nickelsen.
+
+At half-past three precisely the committee members of Council and
+other leading personages went down to the quay where the Royal party
+was to land. The appearance of Warden Prois, with his gold-laced
+cap, ditto tunic, belt and dirk (all newly ordered for the occasion)
+was the signal for cheering from the assembled urchins. The
+demonstration, however, so annoyed the old man that he angrily
+ordered them to "keep quiet, you little devils," at which undignified
+utterance on the part of a person in authority, Justice Heidt frowned
+severely.
+
+The four town constables were likewise dressed for the occasion with
+new trousers and white cotton gloves, and made a brave show.
+
+"Boom--boom--boom!" came the salute from the fire-station, and
+Ottosen's black mare reared so violently that Aslaksen's
+silver-braided silk hat fell off. Worse was to come, however. As the
+band from Horten struck up, "Swift" became troublesome. At last the
+Warden himself had to spring to the heads of the frantic pair and
+hold them, or the whole equipage would have gone over the side into
+the water. His Majesty, no doubt from previous experience of
+provincial turn-outs, preferred to walk, and the party moved off,
+accompanied by a burst of cheering, towards the Town Hall; Aslaksen,
+with his carriage and ill assorted pair, following shamefacedly in
+the rear.
+
+At the upper end of the Royal table sat the Justice and other
+notables; the King's suite were distributed between the members of
+the committee. For the convenience of the latter, Heidt had had cards
+set round at each place, with the names of the guest seated next.
+Warden Prois, who had been introduced to his particular charge, but
+had not managed to catch the name, slipped away stealthily outside,
+put on his spectacles and endeavoured to read his card. "His
+Excellency ... M.--M.--Megesen--no, Pegestik--devil take me if I can
+make head or tail of it." At last he decided for "Negesuk" as the
+Excellency's name--Swedish names were always queer.
+
+It was a very festive affair, and full justice was done to the
+fourteen courses and Nachmann's good wine. The official speeches were
+all delivered with laudable precision, excepting Governor Hansen's.
+That worthy came to a standstill, and had to fumble in his waistcoat
+pocket for the written copy, consisting of two lines scrawled on a
+bit of paper, the crumpled appearance of which suggested that it had
+been liberally consulted already.
+
+The talk flowed easily and without embarrassing restraint. Old
+Klementsen quietly pocketed a copy of the menu, to take home to his
+wife; it was only fair that she should have her share of the feast.
+
+"Mr. Chamberlain Negesuk, may I have the honour?" Prois raised his
+glass courteously towards his neighbour, who drank with him and bowed
+in return, albeit with some stiffness of manner. This, however, the
+Warden attributed to their proximity to the Royal person.
+
+"Ah--my name is Von Vegesak," said the courtier, with a bow.
+
+"The deuce it is," said Prois; "it doesn't look like it on the card."
+And he put on his glasses and turned the card about.
+
+"Oh, but that's not my birth certificate, you know," answered Von
+Vegesak, with a smile.
+
+"Well, anyhow, here's to you, Mr.--Mr.--Vegesak."
+
+At one end of the Royal table sat Governor Hansen and Captain
+Palander, deep in conversation about--horses! Horses were the one
+theme in which Hansen was really interested, devoting especial
+attention to trotters, and once he got on to his favourite subject
+there was no stopping him.
+
+"Curious thing," he observed, "I had a trotting horse a few years ago
+called Palander--ha, ha, ha! Yes, that was really its name. But I
+could never get any pace out of it on ordinary going; ice underfoot
+was the only thing to make it go."
+
+"Very good claret this," murmured the King to Justice Heidt.
+
+"Yes, Your Majesty; we have it from our worthy dealer here, Mr.
+Nachmann, a citizen of the town."
+
+"Quite right, Your Majesty; a genuine brand and _premier one_."
+Nachmann rose to his feet and turned his moonlike countenance towards
+the King.
+
+"Thanks for good wine, then, Nachmann," said His Majesty, raising his
+glass.
+
+"Proudest moment in my life, Your Majesty. I'll take the liberty of
+laying down a few bottles in memory of the occasion--until Your
+Majesty honours us again. Most humble servant, Your Majesty."
+
+And Nachmann bowed deeply, but with evident pride. How they would
+envy him now, P. A. Larsen, Lundgren, Carl Fleischer, and all the
+rest of them, who fancied nobody sold good wine but themselves! He
+would get the editor of the _Strandvik Gazette_ to quote the Royal
+compliment to the firm of Nachmann & Co.--it was a credit to the town
+to have such a business in its midst.
+
+When Nachmann rose, there was a sudden silence; one could have heard
+a pin drop. But since His Majesty took the occurrence in such good
+part, the others could do so too. Nevertheless, Justice Heidt
+considered Nachmann's behaviour unjustifiable and a breach of
+etiquette. He cast a glance of stern reproof at the wine merchant,
+but the latter was so elated that he misunderstood its meaning, and,
+raising his glass, nodded pleasantly in return: "Your health,
+Justice!"
+
+Old Klementsen, the parish clerk, who had hardly eaten at all for two
+days in order to get full value out of the banquet for his twelve
+shillings, had been shovelling away as hard as he could stuff, and
+drinking in proportion. He was now in high feather as a result, and
+his one idea now was to get up and make a speech in honour of Carl
+Johan, whom he had seen in 1840.
+
+His neighbours with difficulty restrained him, tearing the tails of
+his coat in their efforts to keep him in his seat. Finally, they got
+him down into the police cells on the ground floor, when he delivered
+his loyal oration to the warder.
+
+Up in the gallery sat the ladies of the town, perspiring in their
+Sunday best; it was almost hot enough up there to boil a lobster. All
+were thirsty too, and matters were not improved by the sight of their
+respective husbands and fathers in the hall below eating and
+drinking _ad libitum_ of the best, while they themselves had neither
+bite nor sup.
+
+Miss Svane, headmistress of the girls' school, could not restrain her
+emotions, and declared warmly that "it was easy enough to be a loyal
+subject of His Majesty if that was how they did it!"
+
+Cilia Braaten had never seen a King at meals before; she was
+gratified with the new experience, and had no thought for anything
+else until Miss Svane delivered her envious dictum. Then, however,
+she resolutely sent off a boy for six bottles of lemonade, in which
+the ladies drank to His Majesty's health--and, literally speaking,
+drank it warmly.
+
+At last the time came for the Royal party to leave, and the departure
+took place amid an endless thunder of cheering. Rockets whizzed, the
+gun at the fire-station boomed in salute. But in the banqueting-hall
+the fun grew fast and furious.
+
+Bowls of punch were brought in, and Schoolmaster Iversen made
+thirteen speeches, to which nobody listened at all. Skipper
+Abrahamsen jumped up on the table and made another for the Norwegian
+play, in the course of which he managed to empty his glass of punch
+over Warden Prois's new uniform, at which that worthy, very naturally
+incensed, cursed the patriot emphatically for behaving like a monkey
+on a tightrope.
+
+Even aged Klementsen had come to life again, and found his way
+upstairs from the cells, somewhat pale but resolute still. His
+appearance was greeted with a burst of cheering, and a party of
+enthusiasts chaired him round the hall, singing patriotic songs the
+while. The singing and shouting continued well on towards morning,
+and a street sweeper declared he had heard them howling out "God
+save our gracious King" at half-past six--but his watch, no doubt,
+must have been fast!
+
+Next day the _Strandvik Gazette_ contained a poem entitled "A Royal
+Visit," from which the following verses concerning the banquet may be
+quoted:
+
+    "'Twas plain to see that Strandvik town
+       Lacked neither meat nor mirth,
+     The banquet might have brought renown
+       To any place on earth.
+     The dishes, numbering fourteen,
+       Were rich enough to make,
+     If such his daily fare had been,
+       The Royal tummy ache.
+     And healths were drunk and speeches very wittily were said,
+     And those who had no speech to make, they drank the wine instead.
+     But yet in spite of speeches gay
+     And wit and wine, I dare to say
+     His Majesty was glad to get away!"
+
+
+
+
+XV
+
+PETER OILAND
+
+
+Peter Oiland, the new master at the girls' school in Strandvik, was a
+tall, thin man of about thirty. He had taken a theological degree,
+and his solemn, clean face gave him a somewhat clerical air; his
+manner, too, appeared calm and reserved.
+
+"Not much fun to be got out of him, by his looks," said Old Nick, the
+first time he encountered Peter Oiland's lanky figure and serious
+countenance on his way up through the town.
+
+It was not from any predilection of his own, however, that Peter
+Oiland had come to study theology, but a result of circumstances
+which left him no choice in the matter. His studies had been carried
+through at the expense of an old uncle, who was parish clerk at
+Sandefjord, and whose dearest wish it was to see the boy in Holy
+Orders. Only fancy; to be handing the cassock to a nephew of his own.
+
+Peter, then, had taken his degree accordingly, and endeavoured
+conscientiously to suit himself as far as possible to the clerical
+role for which he was cast in life; how he succeeded we shall
+presently see.
+
+His quiet and sober dignity of manner gained him the entry to the
+Sukkestads' house, where he was soon a frequent guest; not that he
+found himself particularly attracted by Sukkestad and his wife, or
+their severely earnest circle of friends. The attraction, in fact,
+was Andrea, the daughter of the house and only child, for whom he
+entertained the tenderest feeling. Andrea was a buxom, pink-and-white
+beauty of eighteen summers. Her light blue eyes and little stumpy
+nose were quite charming in their way, while the plait of long, fair
+hair over the shoulders gave her an air of childish innocence.
+
+In a word, Peter Oiland was desperately in love, while Andrea, who
+had never before been the object of such attentions, began to lie
+awake at nights wondering whether he "really meant it." The solution,
+however, came quite naturally.
+
+Andrea played the piano, and sang touching little songs of the
+sentimental type, such as "When my eyes are closing," "The Last Rose
+of Summer," or "The Deserted Cottage"--which transported Peter Oiland
+to the eighth heaven at least. One evening, when she had finished one
+of her usual turns, he took her hand and thanked her warmly, pressing
+it also quite perceptibly--and Andrea, well, she somehow managed to
+press his quite perceptibly in return--by accident, of course. And
+then these hand-clasps were repeated, nay, became a regular thing, to
+such an extent that the pair would press each other's hands when
+seated on the sofa with Mamma Sukkestad between them. That good lady,
+however, did not notice, or affected not to notice, these evidences
+of tender passion taking place behind her back.
+
+Thanks to his intimacy with Sukkestad, and also to his own reputation
+as a sober and earnest man, Peter Oiland was chosen, after only a
+couple of months' residence in the place, as one of the two
+representatives of the town to attend the mission meeting at
+Stavanger. Sukkestad himself was the other.
+
+On the evening before their departure, he was invited to a party at
+the Sukkestads', together with the members of the Women's Union.
+
+Peter Oiland had already succeeded in making himself a special
+favourite with Mrs. Sukkestad, and was on very confidential terms
+with her; relations, indeed, became quite intimate, when Andrea
+confided the secret of their mutual feelings to her mother.
+
+After supper, preserved fruit and pastry were handed round, which
+Peter Oiland inwardly considered a somewhat insipid form of
+entertainment. He had often felt the lack of a glass of grog on his
+visits to the house, and this evening he deftly turned the
+conversation with Mrs. Sukkestad to the subject of "colds," from
+which he declared himself to be suffering considerably just lately.
+Mrs. Sukkestad recommended hot turpentine bandages on the chest and
+barley water internally. Oiland, however, hinted that the only thing
+he had ever known to do him any good was egg punch. Mrs. Sukkestad,
+who was one of those stout little homely persons always anxious to
+help, and with a fine store of household recipes ever available, set
+to work at once to find some means of getting him his favourite
+medicine, while Peter coughed distressingly, and screwed up his eyes
+behind his glasses.
+
+"I tell you what," whispered Mrs. Sukkestad at last. "Sukkestad is an
+abstainer, you know, so we've never anything in the way of spirits in
+the house as a rule. But I've half a bottle of brandy out in the
+pantry that I got last spring when I was troubled with the toothache;
+I was going to use it for cleaning the windows, really, but if you
+think it would do your cold any good, I'd be only too pleased."
+
+"Thanks ever so much, it's awfully good of you," said Peter Oiland
+hoarsely.
+
+"Well, then, be sure you don't let anyone know what it is. I'll put
+it in one of the decanters, and say it's gooseberry wine."
+
+"Yes, yes, of course; I understand."
+
+And, shortly after, Peter Oiland was comfortably seated in a corner
+with a lovely big glass of grog, enjoying himself thoroughly, and, to
+complete his satisfaction, Andrea sang:
+
+    "Thou art my one and only thought,
+       My one and only love...."
+
+Peter drank deep of the joy of life, and eke of grog, and Andrea
+seemed more charming than ever.
+
+Later in the evening he held forth to the ladies--among whom, as
+above mentioned, were all the members of the Women's Union--about the
+blacks of the South Sea Islands, and gave so lurid a description of
+the state of things there prevailing as to make his audience fairly
+shudder.
+
+"And would you believe it, on one of the islands in the Pacific, a
+place called Kolamukka, belonging to Queen Rabagadale, they eat roast
+baby just as we do sucking pig, the only difference being that they
+don't serve them up with lemons in their mouths."
+
+Sukkestad thought this was going rather too far, and broke in, "Oh,
+come now, Oiland; you're exaggerating, I'm sure. Thank goodness, all
+the poor heathens are not cannibals."
+
+"Have to quote the worst examples, to make it properly interesting,"
+said Oiland, which dictum was supported by Mrs. Writher, who
+declared that one could not paint these things too darkly; it was
+hard enough as it was to make people realise the dreadful state of
+those benighted creatures.
+
+When the guests had left, Mrs. Sukkestad felt some qualms of
+conscience at the thought of having "served intoxicating liquors" in
+her house. She lay awake for hours, debating with herself whether she
+ought to confess at once to her husband. The excuse about having a
+cold was--well, rather poor after all. Suppose Oiland had a weakness,
+a leaning towards drink, and she had led him astray! His cough, too,
+had vanished so quickly, it was suspicious. However, she decided to
+say nothing for the present.
+
+It was a fine, bright, sunny day when Sukkestad and Peter Oiland, as
+delegates from Strandvik to the meeting at Stavanger, stepped on
+board the coasting steamer, which was already half full of delegates
+with white neckerchiefs and broad-brimmed felt hats.
+
+The smoke-room was thick with the fumes of cheap tobacco and a hum of
+quiet talk from decent folk in black Sunday coats and well-polished
+leg boots. A swarthy little commercial traveller, with a bright red
+tie and waxed moustache, sat squeezed up in a corner puffing at a
+"special" cigar with a coloured waistband.
+
+Peter Oiland gave a formal greeting to the company assembled as he
+entered; those nearest politely made way for him.
+
+"It's a hard life, teaching," observed a stout little man with a
+florid, clean-shaven face and glistening black hair brushed forward
+over his ears. "Tells on the nerves."
+
+"You find it so?" put in Peter Oiland. "Well, now, it all depends on
+how you take it--as the young man said when he took a kiss in the
+dark."
+
+There was a somewhat awkward silence; the company seemed rather in
+doubt as to the speaker's sympathy with their ideas.
+
+Presently the sea began to make itself felt, and Peter Oiland found
+occasion to relate the anecdote of the old lady who had been in to
+Christiania for a new set of false teeth, and, being sea-sick on the
+way back, dropped them overboard; next day the local papers had an
+account of a big cod just caught, with false teeth in its mouth!
+
+A smile--a very faint one--greeted the story, and the passengers
+relapsed into their customary seriousness, not without occasional
+glances between one and another: what sort of a fellow was this they
+had got on board?
+
+"H'm!" thought Peter Oiland. "Have another try; wake them up a bit.
+Must be a queer sort of party if I can't."
+
+Just then Sukkestad appeared in the doorway.
+
+"This way, this way, if you please," shouted Peter gaily. "Gentlemen,
+my friend and colleague, Bukkestad--beg pardon, Sukkestad; slip of
+the tongue, you understand. Come along in, old man! Jolly evening we
+had at your place last night--first-rate fun."
+
+Sukkestad did not know whether to laugh or cry, or take himself off
+and have done with it. The fellow must be mad!
+
+The commercial, who had been hiding his face behind an old newspaper,
+burst out laughing, and hurried out on deck.
+
+Peter Oiland settled his glasses on his nose, and went on:
+
+"Smart lot of ladies you'd got hold of, too, Sukkestad; quite the
+up-to-date sort--eh, what? Ah, you're the man for the girls, no doubt
+about that."
+
+"Really, Mr. Oiland, I don't know what you mean. Party--girls--I
+never heard of such a thing."
+
+Peter then fell to telling stories, in the course of which one after
+another of the delegates disappeared. When he came to the story of
+the clerk who handed the parson his cassock with the words: "Tch!
+steady, old hoss, till I get your harness on," the last one left the
+room; no one was left now but the little commercial, who had found
+his way back again, and was thoroughly enjoying it all. The sea was
+calm now, and the moon was up, so the pair seated themselves on deck.
+And in the course of the evening the delegates below, endeavouring to
+get to sleep in their respective berths, were entertained by a series
+of drinking-songs much favoured by the wilder youth of the
+universities, Peter Oiland singing one part and the commercial
+traveller the other.
+
+The pair were so pleased with each other's company that the
+commercial, whose name was Klingenstein--"Goloshes and rubber goods,"
+decided not to land at Arendal as he had intended, but to go on to
+Stavanger instead. Peter Oiland recommended this course, as offering,
+perhaps--who could say--an opportunity for getting into touch with
+the South Sea Islands, and selling goloshes to the heathen.
+
+"As a matter of fact," Peter added, "I know a man in Stavanger who
+lived some years on one of the South Sea Islands, personal friend of
+Queen Nabagadale; useful man to know." There was then every reason to
+believe that Klingenstein might open up a new market in elastic
+stockings and such like.
+
+The moon went down about midnight, and Peter Oiland thought he might
+as well do likewise. Thoroughly pleased with himself and all the
+world, he went below and found his way to his cabin. The upper berth
+was occupied by a man in a big woollen nightcap. "Evening!" said
+Peter in the friendliest tone, as he sat down to take off his boot.
+
+"Sir," said the gentleman in the nightcap, "permit me to observe that
+you might have a little consideration for people who wish to rest."
+
+"Delighted, I'm sure," said Peter. "But what's the matter? Can't you
+get to sleep? Awful nuisance, insomnia, I know."
+
+"Well, when people are so tactless as to sit up on deck just over
+one's head, stamping and shouting out ribald songs...."
+
+But before his indignant fellow-passenger could finish his sentence,
+Peter Oiland was in his berth and snoring--snoring so emphatically,
+indeed, that he of the nightcap, after having listened to this new
+melody for three solid hours, got up in despair and went off to lie
+down on a sofa in the saloon.
+
+Peter Oiland slept like a mummy till ten o'clock next morning, not
+even waking when the steamer touched at her two ports of call.
+
+Coming on deck, he could not fail to perceive that the other
+delegates were somewhat cold and reserved in their manner towards
+him, while as for Sukkestad, he had retired to an obscure corner of
+the second-class quarters.
+
+"Poor fellow, he's not used to travelling," thought Peter Oiland. "I
+must go and cheer him up a bit." And he went across to Sukkestad and
+asked if he didn't feel like something to eat.
+
+Sukkestad was not inclined to be friendly at first, but Oiland took
+no heed; on the contrary, he took his reluctant colleague by the arm
+and dragged him off, willy nilly, to the dining-saloon. There was an
+excellent spread, hot and cold meats, and Peter Oiland's heart warmed
+at the sight.
+
+Klingenstein was already seated and hard at work on the viands, with
+serviette tucked under his chin; he rose, however, and bowed in fine
+style as Oiland made the introduction: "Mr. Krickke--beg pardon,
+Sukkestad--Mr. Vingentein--er, I should say, Klingenstein." The two
+new acquaintances looked at one another rather blankly for a moment,
+then both stared at Oiland, who, however, appeared entirely
+unconcerned, and fell to with excellent appetite upon a generous
+helping of steak and onions.
+
+Oiland ordered a bottle of beer and a schnapps, whereat Sukkestad
+shook his head mournfully, and inquired whether he really thought
+that was good for his health. Oiland, however, declared it was good
+for sea-sickness, and he never felt easy on board ship without it.
+
+Sukkestad grew thoughtful. What would happen when they got to
+Stavanger? He wished he could get out of it somehow, and go back home
+again.
+
+At last the voyage was over, the two delegates went ashore and put up
+at the Hotel Norge.
+
+The first thing Sukkestad noticed, on coming down into the hall, was
+the name "Plukkestad" written on the board against the number of his
+room. This was too much; he rubbed out the offending letters with his
+own hand, and wrote instead, with emphatic distinction, "C. A.
+Sukkestad." He strongly suspected Oiland of being the culprit; he had
+gone downstairs a few minutes before, but having no proof he
+preferred to say nothing about it.
+
+Sukkestad was now thoroughly ill at ease; his one constant thought
+was to find himself safely home again without any scandal. He saw
+little of Oiland the first day; the schoolmaster had hired a carriage
+and set off round the town to see the sights. In the evening, Oiland
+asked how the meeting had gone off that day, and if anyone had
+noticed his absence. Sukkestad answered emphatically, "No," inwardly
+hoping that Peter would not appear at the meetings still to come.
+
+"Well, I think I've seen about all there is to see in this old
+place--Harbour, Cathedral, Town Hall, Mirror House, and statues of
+famous men--done it pretty thoroughly, I should say."
+
+At the meeting on the following day Peter turned up, and astonished
+the assembly by delivering a long harangue on "The Civilising
+Influence of Missionary Work." Sukkestad nearly fainted.
+
+Peter's speech produced a great effect, the listeners growing more
+and more interested as he went on. "Who is he--what's his name?
+You've got a regular speaker there, Sukkestad." Sukkestad was utterly
+at a loss, but vowed never again to expose himself to such surprises,
+either of one sort or the other.
+
+At last the conference was ended, and the two delegates from
+Strandvik set out for home.
+
+It was with great relief that Sukkestad found himself on board the
+steamer; Peter might do what he pleased now, for all he cared. As it
+turned out, however, Peter was amiability itself towards his
+travelling companion, though the latter did not seem to appreciate
+his attention, but endeavoured to keep to himself--a matter of some
+difficulty on board a small steamboat. An hour before they got in to
+Strandvik, Oiland came up to him and begged the favour of a "serious
+word" with him. Sukkestad wondered what on earth was coming, as the
+other took him by the arm and dragged him off to the forepart of the
+ship.
+
+"I have had the pleasure of being a frequent guest in your house,"
+Peter began, buttonholing Sukkestad as if to make sure he did not
+escape.
+
+"I shouldn't have thought it could be any pleasure to you," put in
+Sukkestad dryly.
+
+"It has indeed, my dear fellow; and I have the more reason to say so,
+since your daughter Andrea----"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Forgive my saying so, Mr. Sukkestad, but your daughter has made a
+deep impression on me."
+
+"Really, Mr. Oiland, this...." Sukkestad trembled at what was to
+come.
+
+"A deep impression on me. And I think I may venture to say that she
+herself----"
+
+"Pardon me, Mr. Oiland. My daughter has no feelings in any matter
+before consulting her father's wishes."
+
+"Oh, but she has, my dear father-in-law, I assure you."
+
+"Father-in-law Mr. Oiland, this is most unseemly jesting." Sukkestad
+tried to break away, but Peter held him fast.
+
+"But, my dear sir, what objection can you have to the match? We've
+always got on splendidly together, and I'm sure this present voyage,
+and our little adventures on the way, will always be among our most
+cherished memories--won't they, now?"
+
+"Oh, this is too much! I would recommend you, Mr. Oiland----"
+
+"Most kind of you. I was sure you would. And I'm quite an eligible
+suitor, really, you know. Got my degree--rather low on the list, I
+confess, but, anyhow.... I ought to tell you, though, that I don't
+propose to enter the Church."
+
+"Something to be thankful for at least," said Sukkestad.
+
+"So glad you agree with me. Delighted, really. Well, my dear fellow,
+I can understand you're a little overwhelmed just at the moment, but
+we can settle the details when we're at home and at leisure. We're
+agreed on the essential point, so that's all right."
+
+Oiland let go his hold, and Sukkestad hurried off to his cabin and
+began getting his things together in feverish haste. What, give his
+daughter, his only child, to a fellow like that? Never!
+
+They got in without further event, and parted on the quay, Oiland
+shaking hands fervently with a hearty "Thanks for your pleasant
+company," while Sukkestad murmured absently: "Not at all, not at
+all."
+
+Sukkestad had hardly got inside the house when Andrea came rushing up
+to him. "Oh, wasn't it a lovely speech of Oiland's? The parson's just
+been in and told us; simply splendid, he says it was."
+
+"Well, my child, that's a matter of opinion."
+
+"Oh, father, you're always so severe," said Andrea, turning away with
+tears in her eyes.
+
+A quarter of an hour later Sukkestad and his wife were unpacking in
+the bedroom, and a serious conference took place between the two. He
+recounted Oiland's behaviour on the voyage. "And I do hope things
+haven't gone so far between them as he says," observed Sukkestad
+sternly, with a meaning glance at his wife. The latter turned away,
+wiping her eyes on a corner of her apron, and sniffing the while.
+"Marie, you don't mean to say you've been a party to it yourself?"
+
+"I--yes--no, that is---- Oh, don't be angry with me. I did think he
+was such a nice man, really I did."
+
+"Well, we must see what can be done," said Sukkestad.
+
+That evening it was decided that Andrea should be sent as a Warder to
+the Moravian Mission at Kristiansfeldt.
+
+Andrea wept bitterly, but to no purpose; she had to go, whether she
+liked it or not.
+
+Peter Oiland came several times to the house, but got no farther than
+the doorstep; the maid invariably greeted him with the words: "Mr.
+Sukkestad's compliments, sir, but he's not at home."
+
+On the occasion of his last attempt before Andrea's departure, he had
+just got out of the gate when he heard the drawing-room window open,
+and Andrea's well-known voice singing:
+
+    "Thou are my one and only thought,
+       My one and only love...."
+
+He stopped and looked up, but saw only the stern countenance of Papa
+Sukkestad hastily closing the window, and the music ceased abruptly.
+
+It was quite enough for Peter, however, and he walked home gaily,
+confident now that all would go well.
+
+Andrea went off without having spoken to Oiland, but the post was
+busy between Strandvik and Kristiansfeldt, for letters passed daily
+either way--while Mrs. Sukkestad went about complaining that Andrea
+never wrote home.
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+EMILIE RANTZAU
+
+
+Old Marthe Pettersen, who had been housekeeper to Old Nick for nearly
+thirty years, had taken pneumonia and died a fortnight after
+Christmas; she had at least chosen a convenient time, having made all
+culinary preparations for the festival beforehand.
+
+Old Nick was inconsolable, for Selma Rordam, whom he had got in as a
+temporary help, was hopelessly incapable; either the cod would be
+unsalted and insipid or she would serve it up in a liquor approaching
+brine, not to speak of throwing away the best parts, and boiling the
+roe to nothing. And last Sunday's joint of beef had been so tough
+that he had seriously considered sending it in to the Society for
+Preservation of Ancient Relics. His breakfast eggs were constantly
+hard boiled, despite his ironic inquiries as to whether she thought
+he wanted them for billiard balls. And as for sewing on buttons--for
+the past fourteen days he had been reduced to boring holes in the
+waist of his trousers and fastening them with bits of wood.
+Everything was going wrong all round.
+
+"Very inconvenient, yes," said Nachmann, called in to discuss the
+situation. "But you'll see it'll come all right in time. Now you take
+my advice and advertise in the papers for someone; she's sure to
+come along: 'Wanted, an ideal woman, to restore domestic bliss.'" The
+pair sat down accordingly to draft out an advertisement, each to
+write one out of his own head.
+
+Nachmann's, when completed, ran as follows:
+
+  "MATRIMONIAL.
+
+  "Bachelor, middle-aged, no children, would like to make
+  acquaintance of an educated lady of suitable age--widow not
+  objected to. Must be accustomed to domestic duties and of bright
+  and cheerful temperament. Private means not so essential as
+  amiability. Reply to 'Earnest,' office of this paper."
+
+Old Nick tore up this effusion, and inserted his own, which said:
+
+  "HOUSEKEEPER.
+
+  "Lady, middle-aged, thoroughly capable cook and housekeeper,
+  wanted for elderly gentleman's house in seaport town.
+  Remuneration by arrangement; ability and pleasant companionship
+  most essential. Particulars to 'Cookery,' c/o this paper."
+
+During the week that followed Old Nick was positively inundated with
+applications. There were cook-maids, hot and cold, with years of
+experience at first-class hotels; reliable women from outlying
+country districts; widows from small townships up and down the coast;
+while a "clergyman's daughter, aged twenty-three," who already
+considered herself middle-aged, gave Old Nick some food for thought.
+
+Among all these various documents, some large, and small, and bold,
+others timidly small, was a little pink envelope addressed in a
+delicate hand. The letter contained, ran as follows:
+
+  "DEAR SIR,--In reply to your advertisement in to-day's paper I
+  venture to offer my services as housekeeper. I am a widow without
+  encumbrance, age thirty-seven, with long experience of keeping
+  house, and able to undertake any reasonable work desired.
+
+  "I am of a bright and cheerful temper, with many interests,
+  musical, good reader, and would do my utmost to make your home
+  pleasant and comfortable in every way.
+
+  "Trusting to be favoured with a reply, when further particulars
+  can be forwarded.--I beg to remain, yours very truly,
+
+                                          "EMILIE RANTZAU."
+
+Old Nick sat for a long while staring thoughtfully before him.
+
+"Widow, thirty-seven, long experience of keeping house, bright and
+cheerful temper.... I tell you what, Nachmann, this looks like what
+we want."
+
+"Heavens, man, but she's musical--what do you want with that sort of
+thing in the house? No, no, my friend; the devil take that widow for
+his housekeeper--not you. She'd play you out of house and home in no
+time, my boy."
+
+"Well, you know, really, I was getting a bit sick of old Marthe. Felt
+the lack of refined womanly influence now and again. And I must say
+this--what's her name--Emilie Rantzau rather appeals to me. There's
+something, I don't know what to call it, about her letter. Sort of
+ladylike, you know."
+
+"Yes, and perfumed too, lovely, m-m-m. Patchouli!" said Nachmann,
+holding the envelope to Nickelsen's nose.
+
+After some further deliberation Old Nick wrote to Mrs. Emilie
+Rantzau, and learned that she was the widow of a Danish artist, had
+spent many years abroad, and wished now to find a position in some
+small town where she could live a quiet, retired life, occupied
+solely with her duties.
+
+Her letters were so frank and sincere, that they made quite an
+impression on Old Nick, and he decided to engage her. She was to come
+on Saturday, and on the Friday before, Nickelsen did not go to his
+office at all, but stayed at home, going about dusting the rooms with
+an old handkerchief.
+
+Thinking the place looked rather bare, he obtained a big palm and an
+indiarubber plant to brighten things up a little.
+
+He was queerly nervous and ill at ease every day, with a feeling as
+if some misfortune were on the way. What would she be like, he
+wondered? If the experiment turned out a failure, there would be an
+end of his domestic peace. Perhaps after all he would have done
+better to stick to the Marthe type....
+
+They were seated at dinner, and her fine dark eyes played over his
+face.
+
+"No, you must let me make the salad. I promise you it shall be good."
+And she took the bowl, her soft, delicate hand just touching his as
+she did so.
+
+Old Nick murmured something politely, and was conscious that he
+flushed up to the roots of his white mane.
+
+"Queer sort of woman this." It was on the tip of his tongue to say it
+aloud, but he checked himself in time. The joint was served, and for
+the first time in his life he forgot to pick out the marrow. Fancy
+forgetting that! In old Marthe's time he invariably sent for toast,
+and a spoon to get it out with; now he sat attentively listening to
+Mrs. Rantzau's stories of the theatre in Copenhagen.
+
+"Very nice claret this of yours, Mr. Nickelsen. I know '78 is
+supposed to be the best--good body they say. Funny, isn't it, to talk
+of wine having a body."
+
+She looked across at him with a smile, showing two rows of fine white
+teeth. Then, rising, she went over to the sideboard to show him that
+she too knew how to carve a joint. Old Nick took advantage of the
+opportunity to observe her more closely.
+
+Dark, glistening hair, tied in what is called a Gordian knot at the
+back, with a tiny curl or so lower down, and a beautiful white neck.
+She was not tall, but her figure was well rounded, and the
+close-fitting dark dress showed it off to perfection.
+
+Old Nick was so intent in studying her that he had not time to look
+away before she turned round and laughingly exclaimed:
+
+"Well, are you afraid I shall spoil the joint?"
+
+"No, indeed; I see you are an expert at carving."
+
+In his confusion he upset the sauce tureen. But Mrs. Rantzau laughed
+heartily, holding his arm as she declared she must evidently have
+brought misfortune in her train.
+
+Old Nick had been rather uneasy at the thought of what to say to her,
+but she made conversation so easily herself that he had only to put
+in an odd remark here and there: "Yes, of course, yes." "No, indeed."
+"Exactly."
+
+In the evening Thor Smith, Nachmann and Warden Prois came round for
+their weekly game of cards. They were all remarkably punctual to-day:
+the clock had not struck seven before all three were in the hall, and
+all with unfeigned curiosity plainly on their faces.
+
+"I'm dying to see how the old man gets on with this gay widow," said
+Thor Smith, touching up his hair and tie before the glass--a nicety
+he had never troubled about on previous visits to Old Nick.
+
+Red paper shades had been put on the lamps, and the table was fully
+laid with tea-urn, cups and saucers, cakes and little fringed
+serviettes.
+
+Old Nick, in a black frock-coat, advanced ceremoniously towards them;
+he said very little, however, and seemed generally rather ill at
+ease.
+
+"Rather a change this," thought Warden Prois. He was more accustomed
+to finding Old Nick on such occasions in dressing-gown and slippers,
+with his old rocking-chair drawn up, and his feet on the table. Then,
+when he heard his visitors arrive, he would send a gruff hail to the
+kitchen: "Marthe, you old slow-coach, hurry up with that hot water,
+or I'll...." But to-day he was as polished and precise as an old
+marquis.
+
+Prois glanced over towards Nachmann, and Thor Smith in despair picked
+up an ancient album that he had seen at least a hundred times before;
+the only pictures in it were portraits of the former parson, and of
+Pepita, a dancer, who had adorned the stage some forty years earlier,
+when Old Nick was young.
+
+Then Mrs. Rantzau came in. She wore a black velvet dress, with a
+little red silk handkerchief coquettishly stuck in the breast.
+
+Old Nick introduced them. She was certainly handsome, as she greeted
+each of the guests with a kindly word and a smile.
+
+Tea was served, and she handed a cup to Smith and one to Prois.
+Nachmann had retired to the farthest corner of the sofa, as if on his
+guard.
+
+She held out a cup towards him. "Mr. Nachmann, a cup of tea now?"
+
+"Excuse me, I can drink most things made with water, including soda,
+potash and Apollinaris, but tea--no. It affects my nerves. Mr. Prois,
+now, is a confirmed tea-drinker; he'll have two cups at least, I'm
+sure."
+
+Prois gave a furious glance at Nachmann, and struggled desperately
+with some sort of cake with currants in, and these he managed to spit
+out on the sly, hiding them in his waistcoat pocket.
+
+At last the toddy and the cards appeared. Mrs. Rantzau sat close at
+hand, working at her embroidery, a large piece of canvas with a
+design representing Diana in the act of throwing a big spear at a
+retreating lion.
+
+Nachmann, the only one who had retained his self-possession, was
+master of the situation.
+
+"Now, what's that supposed to be, may I ask?"
+
+"Oh, you can see, Mr. Nachmann. I'm sure it's plain enough."
+
+"Well, now, honestly, my dear lady, I should say that Diana there is
+the very image of your charming self, and the terrified animal in the
+corner looks remarkably like our host. I do hope you'll be careful
+with that spear!"
+
+Mrs. Rantzau was plainly offended, and gave him a sharp glance of
+reproof from her dark eyes.
+
+"Ah, now you're angry, I can see. But really it was quite innocently
+meant."
+
+Mrs. Rantzau rose and left the room hastily. There was an awkward
+pause, until Thor Smith took up the cards and began to shuffle.
+
+"Water isn't hot," muttered Old Nick, clasping both hands about the
+jug.
+
+"Only wait a little, old boy, and you'll find it hot enough, or I'm
+much mistaken. Ah, well, such is life without a wife.... Here, I say,
+where's your head to-night, Nickelsen. Bless my soul, if you haven't
+given them the game!"
+
+Old Nick complained of headache that evening, and the party broke up
+earlier than usual. So early, indeed, that Thor Smith had scarcely
+finished his first glass, or the first cataract, as he called it,
+whereas ordinarily the third would be reached and passed in the
+course of the evening's play.
+
+The three friends walked home together, all very serious, and greatly
+troubled in mind as to Old Nick's future.
+
+Prois in particular took a most gloomy view. "It's a dangerous age
+for that sort of thing; comes on suddenly, before you know where you
+are." He was thinking of his own experiences in that direction; it
+was only four years since he had been wild to marry that young
+governess at the Abrahamsens', the disaster, however, being
+fortunately averted by the intervention of Pedersen, the
+telegraphist, who cut in and won her before he, Prois, had screwed
+himself up to the question.
+
+Old Nick hardly knew the place again when he came down to breakfast
+next morning, to find Mrs. Rantzau presiding at table in a pink
+morning-gown and dainty shoes. The walls were decorated with Chinese
+paper fans in flowery designs, and Japanese parasols; the sofas had
+been moved out at all angles about the room. A big palm waved above
+his writing-table, and all the papers on it were neatly arranged in
+two piles of equal size, one on either hand.
+
+At sight of this his blood began to boil; his writing-table was
+sacred; no human hand but his own had touched it for the past forty
+years. Old Marthe herself, when dusting the room, had been as shy of
+coming near it as if it had been a red-hot stove. Nevertheless, Old
+Nick found himself unable to say a word; Mrs. Rantzau's smile and her
+dark eyes threw him into utter confusion.
+
+One day, happening to come in for some papers, he found her in the
+act of taking the documents of a case pending--"Strandvik Postal
+Authorities _v._ Holmestrand Town Council"--to clean the lamps with.
+But here he was obliged to put his foot down and protest. If he could
+not trust his papers to be left in safety on his table, why, he might
+as well move out of the house.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau looked at him with great imploring eyes, and was so
+contrite; he must forgive her, she was so dreadfully stupid; she had
+no idea that papers could be so important.
+
+Old Nick could not help smiling, and peace was restored, on condition
+that for the future only newspapers should be used for cleaning
+purposes. This naturally led to Old Nick's finding the one particular
+journal he wanted to read after dinner had been sacrificed.
+
+She was undeniably handsome, however, especially in that pink
+morning-gown as she sat at the breakfast-table, while Old Nick
+revived his early memories and endeavoured to play the youthful
+cavalier.
+
+Friends of the house were soon thoroughly convinced that Old Nick was
+done for; the widow had captivated him beyond recall. Thor Smith,
+thinking a warning might yet be in time, sent him anonymously the
+following lines:
+
+    "Be careful of taking a widow to wife,
+     She'll lighten your purse and burden your life."
+
+Nickelsen, however, recognised the writing, and promptly sent back a
+reply:
+
+    "Best thanks for your advice, my friend,
+     'Twas really kind of you to send;
+     But still, considering whence it came,
+     I can manage without it all the same.
+     So keep your triplets, one--two--three,
+     A widow without is enough for me!"
+
+A grand ball was to be held at the Town Hall, in aid of the Fund for
+National Defence. Old Nick had no intention of going himself, but
+Mrs. Rantzau pointed out that it was his duty, as a loyal and
+patriotic citizen, to attend. Accordingly, albeit not without
+considerable hesitation, he decided to go. She tied his dress-bow for
+him, and put a red rosebud with a tip of fern in his buttonhole. She
+herself, with Old Nick in attendance, sailed into the ballroom like a
+queen, with pearls in her hair, and her dark blue silk dress fitting
+like the corslet of a Valkyrie.
+
+The company made way for her involuntarily, and she was placed at the
+upper end of the hall, between Mrs. Jansen and Mrs. Heidt. The last
+named lady, who was ceremonious and reserved by nature, besides being
+conscious of representing the aristocracy of the town, was chilliness
+itself towards this newly risen star. Mrs. Jansen, on the other hand,
+a kindly soul, felt obliged to show her some little attention, and
+introduced her to a number of those present.
+
+Dr. Stromberg, a middle-aged bachelor, had the reputation of falling
+in love with every new specimen of the fair sex he encountered. True
+to his character, he at once attached himself to Mrs. Rantzau, whose
+conquest of Strandvik was thus begun.
+
+Old Nick sat in a corner talking to Winter, the Customs Officer, his
+eyes incessantly following the blue silk gown as it passed. His old
+heart was so restless and unruly, he began to wonder seriously if
+something had gone wrong with the internal mechanism. Cards, drinks,
+old friends, all were forgotten that evening he had no thought but
+for that figure in the blue silk dress that was ever before his eyes.
+He had experienced hallucinations before, when things seemed to dance
+round and round, but to-night, with nothing stronger than soda
+water--neat--it was past all comprehension.
+
+In a circle of men, old and young, stood Emilie Rantzau, smiling and
+alert. She was sought after at every dance, until Mrs. Thor Smith,
+nee Tulla Prois, observed indignantly that one might think the men
+had never seen a woman from another town before--and Heaven only knew
+what sort of a creature this one was. Mrs. Jansen herself began to be
+rather uneasy, when she saw her husband lead out the widow as his
+partner for the lancers--or "lunchers" as Cilia Braaten called it.
+And matters were not improved when the Consul started talking French
+with Mrs. Rantzau at supper, of which his wife did not understand a
+word.
+
+"She's charming, my dear, a most interesting woman, and speaks French
+like an educated Parisienne," said Jansen to his wife.
+
+Poor Mrs. Jansen was beginning to experience the pangs of jealousy,
+and determined to purchase a _French made Easy_ the very next day.
+
+"Bless my soul, if there isn't Justice Heidt asking the angelic widow
+for a dance," exclaimed Thor Smith, pulling Nachmann by the sleeve.
+
+"Angelic widow's good," said Nachmann. "But there's angels and
+angels, you know. And they'd have to be a bit on the dusky side to
+pair off with Old Nick, what?"
+
+Mrs. Heidt got up and went into an adjoining room, sending her
+husband a glance as she passed which sobered him considerably for the
+moment. It was not long, however, before the brilliant dark eyes had
+made him forget both his dignity and his domestic obligations.
+
+Old Nick was very taciturn that evening as he walked home with Mrs.
+Rantzau. She, however, laughed and joked, and told stories of "all
+those silly old men" with such wit and good humour that he was forced
+to admit it would have been a pity not to have gone to the ball.
+"Yes, a very jolly evening; very nice indeed, yes."
+
+On the following day the "angelic widow" and her conquests at the
+ball were the general topic of conversation. The ladies, old and
+young, married and the reverse, agreed that she was detestable, and
+were sure there must be something "queer" about her. Mrs. Heidt and
+Mrs. Knap had a two hours' consultation together, at the end of which
+it was decided that no effort should be spared to check "that
+woman's" further encroachment upon local society.
+
+All the men, with exception of Thor Smith and Nachmann, were
+enthusiastic in praise of the new arrival, and her popularity on that
+side was assured.
+
+Emilie Rantzau, however, had her own plans, and let people talk as
+they pleased.
+
+One day she astonished Mrs. Jansen by calling on her with a proposal
+that the ladies of the town should get up a bazaar in aid of the
+Seamen's Families Relief Fund. On another occasion she went to Mrs.
+Heidt, and begged her to support the National Women's Movement; she
+also invited Governor Abrahamsen to help start a society for helping
+ex-convicts to turn over a new leaf. Even Klementsen was urged to
+help her in getting up a subscription for a new altar-piece.
+
+In addition to these more or less philanthropic movements, she
+arranged excursions to the country round, the beauties of which, she
+declared, were not appreciated as they should be, and further,
+obtained the assistance of Consul Jansen in forming a Society for the
+Furtherance of the Tourist Traffic in Strandvik and Neighbourhood.
+
+The Consul was delighted with the idea, and vowed he must have been
+blind not to have discovered earlier the natural beauties of the
+neighbourhood. He gave a grand champagne supper and proposed Mrs.
+Rantzau's health in a speech, concluding by comparing that lady to "a
+breath of ocean fresh and free." The toast was received with
+acclamation.
+
+Altogether, the upper circles of Strandvik society were thrown into a
+state of unprecedented excitement and activity.
+
+Mrs. Heidt, Mrs. Knap and Mrs. Abrahamsen vied with one another in
+their efforts to outdo Mrs. Rantzau; they would show her at least
+that they were as good as she.
+
+It was a fight to the bitter end.
+
+Societies were started, with "evenings" after, where Emilie Rantzau's
+plans were discussed.
+
+Mrs. Heidt thought and thought till she grew giddy and had to have
+hot fomentations of an evening; the unusual mental effort had brought
+on insomnia. Sukkerstad hoped to find in Mrs. Rantzau an ally to the
+cause of temperance, and paid her a ceremonial call, in company with
+Watchmaker Rordam, who, a short while back, had suddenly joined the
+Temperance Association, "Strandvik's Pride." And the pair of them
+explained to her, with all the eloquence at their command, how
+greatly her patronage would be appreciated by all.
+
+Emilie Rantzau, however, hardly thought her own interests in the town
+would be greatly furthered by closer association with Sukkerstad and
+his circle; on the other hand, it was just as well to keep on good
+terms with all sections of local society. She therefore informed the
+deputation that she would think over the matter, and assured them
+meanwhile of her earnest sympathy with the good cause.
+
+The same day she hurried up to Consul Jansen, switched on her
+eloquent dark eyes, and suggested that the Temperance Movement was
+one they ought to support, but that the best way of doing so would be
+to get up a little subscription, and raise enough for an excursion--a
+steamer trip for the afternoon, with tea and lemonade. "It would look
+well, you know, and all that--and get them off our hands for a bit,"
+she added meaningly.
+
+No one could refuse her, and in the course of one afternoon she
+managed to collect eight pounds, which she dispatched to Sukkerstad
+and Rordam for the purpose indicated. Sukkerstad was so enthusiastic
+in his appreciation that he determined to convene a meeting of the
+committee and propose a vote of thanks and an address.
+
+All the members turned up, with the exception of Rordam, who, in his
+joy at the eight pounds, had given way to a sudden relapse, which
+rendered him incapable of further temperance work for the time being.
+
+After some discussion, the committee decided to purchase a portrait
+of Mrs. Rantzau from the photographer, and hang it up in their hall;
+this was voted preferable to the address.
+
+Mrs. Heidt was beginning to lag behind; it was impossible to keep
+pace with a woman of such untiring energy and initiative as Mrs.
+Rantzau.
+
+Four ladies were gathered one day in her drawing-room, to talk over
+what was to be done; they could not suffer themselves to be set aside
+like this. What they wanted was some grand idea, something to
+vanquish the enemy at a single blow, and show the rest of the town
+that Emilie Rantzau was not wanted.
+
+It was Mrs. Knap who had the happy thought--the Peace Movement. The
+cause of universal peace was surely one which nobody in Strandvik
+could refuse to aid.
+
+Mrs. Abrahamsen was more inclined to concentrate on a bazaar and
+lottery in aid of the proposed crematorium, which institution she
+regarded as most desirable from the humane, the sanitary and various
+other points of view.
+
+Mrs. Knap protested energetically against the idea; she had recently
+had an accident with a box of matches, which had gone off suddenly
+and burnt her hand. She for her part would have nothing more to do
+with burning--for the present, at any rate.
+
+Finally, after some heated argument, it was agreed that a grand
+harvest festival should be held, the proceeds to be devoted to the
+cause of universal peace.
+
+Emilie Rantzau was to be kept out of it altogether; they would not
+have her help in the arrangements, not a contribution--not so much as
+a bunch of flowers was to come from her; it was to be a festival "for
+ourselves and by ourselves." The old ladies were already triumphant;
+this intriguing minx, this person from nowhere, who had tried to
+force herself into society, should be made to feel their power and
+her own insignificance. The festival was to be held in the park on
+Sunday, from five to nine; there would be illuminations, coloured
+lanterns, fireworks and so on. Singing,--male and female
+choir,--lecture by a Professor from Christiania, recitation by a
+famous actor, solos by an amateur and an "amatrice"--it was a
+programme so magnificent that the whole town was amazed.
+
+Meantime, Mrs. Rantzau sat quietly at home, in her pink morning-gown,
+pouring out coffee for Nickelsen. She was very quiet and gentle in
+manner--there was a curious atmosphere about the situation generally.
+
+There lay the morning papers, white, uncrumpled, untouched. The
+coffee now seethed gently in little regular gasps, like a
+school-mistress out on a mountaineering expedition; the sun peeped in
+through the windows, casting gay gleams over Old Nick's white mop of
+hair and Emilie's raven locks.
+
+"Why shouldn't I be happy the few years I've still to live? And who
+is to have my money when I'm gone?" Old Nick sat staring absently
+before him.
+
+She bent over towards him, handing his cup; he felt her soft, curling
+tresses close to his cheek, and her hand just touched his own.
+
+"Mrs. Rantzau!" he exclaimed, flushing as he spoke; his voice was
+unsteady.
+
+"Why, how serious you are all of a sudden! You quite frightened me,"
+she said, with a laugh, looking up at him innocently.
+
+"Mrs. Rantzau," he began again, "do you know that poem of Byronson,
+that--that begins:
+
+    "'When blushing blood,
+      In humble mood
+      Turns to the man whose mind is proved,
+      When timid, shy
+      She seeks....'"
+
+"Lord bless me, old boy, spouting poetry so early in the morning! Did
+you think it was Constitution Day--or the day after?"
+
+Old Nick looked round anything but amiably at Nachmann's unbeautiful
+face smiling in the doorway; Mrs. Rantzau left the room without a
+word.
+
+A long and earnest conference ensued between the two men, after which
+they went out for a long walk together.
+
+Emilie Rantzau felt now that her position was secure; it was only a
+question of time before she could appear as Mrs. Nickelsen. And
+inwardly she vowed vengeance on the women who had systematically
+excluded her from the Peace Festival; she pondered how best to get
+even with Mrs. Heidt and the rest.
+
+It took a deal of thinking out, but at last she hit upon a way.
+Quickly she put on her things, and hurried round to her faithful
+supporter, Consul Jansen.
+
+On Saturday evening, the _Strandvik News_ appeared, and created an
+indescribable sensation throughout the town by printing immediately
+under the big announcement of the festival in the park, the following
+lines:
+
+               "_N.B._                 _N.B._
+
+  "After the conclusion of the festival, an impromptu dance for
+  young people will take place in the Town Hall. Tickets, three
+  shillings each. The surplus will be devoted to the Society for
+  Tending Sick and Wounded in the Field. Mrs. Emma Jansen and Mrs.
+  Emilie Rantzau have kindly consented to act as hostesses."
+
+Mrs. Heidt started up in a fury, and declared it was a disgraceful
+piece of trickery on the part of that Emilie Rantzau. She could
+forgive Mrs. Jansen, perhaps, as being too much of a simpleton
+herself to see through the artful meanness of the whole thing.
+
+On Sunday evening, after the festival, all the young people and a
+number of the older ones flocked to the Town Hall, where Mrs. Rantzau
+received them with her most winning smile.
+
+Mrs. Heidt, Mrs. Knap and Mrs. Abrahamsen went each to their several
+homes, boiling with indignation; they had not even been invited to
+look on.
+
+Some few there were, perhaps, who failed to see any immediate
+connection between a Peace Festival and the Society for Tending Sick
+and Wounded in the Field, but all enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and
+that, after all, was the main thing.
+
+Emilie Rantzau was the queen of the ball, and well aware of it. She
+felt she had vanquished her rivals now, and was left in victorious
+possession of the field. One thing, however, caused her some slight
+anxiety, and that was that Nickelsen did not put in an appearance,
+though he had promised to come on later--what could it mean?
+
+Old Nick was sitting at home, deep in thought, and with him were Thor
+Smith, Nachmann and Warden Prois.
+
+"You must see and get clear of this, Nickelsen," said Prois warmly,
+laying one hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Yes, I suppose I must. But the worst of it is, I've got fond of her,
+you see, and I've been hoping she'd brighten up the few years I've
+got left."
+
+"I know, I know," said Prois. "I've been through exactly the same
+thing myself, a few years back, but, thanks to Providence, I got out
+of it all right."
+
+"Don't blame it on Providence, Warden," put in Nachmann. "It was that
+telegraph fellow you had to thank for cutting you out."
+
+"It's not a matter for joking," said Prois sharply; and Nachmann
+withdrew to a corner of the sofa, quite depressed by the seriousness
+of the situation.
+
+Thor Smith could stand it no longer; this unwonted solemnity was too
+much for him. He slipped out into the hall, and, sitting down on an
+old leather trunk, laughed till he cried.
+
+There was a long conference at Old Nick's that evening, and it was
+one o'clock before he faithfully promised to follow his friends'
+advice, and thrust out Emilie Rantzau from his house and heart.
+
+How this was to be accomplished must be decided later; meantime the
+conspirators would take it in turn to dine with Old Nick and spend
+the rest of the day with him, to guard against any backsliding.
+
+Old Nick agreed to it all, helplessly as a child.
+
+How could they get her to go? The question was argued and discussed,
+but no one could hit upon any reasonable plan. At last they decided
+to call in Peter Oiland, who had lately been on terms of intimacy
+with Old Nick, and see what he could do.
+
+Peter Oiland put on a serious face, and looked doubtfully over at
+Prois, whose mind was becoming almost unhinged by these everlasting
+conferences and endless discussions, while the seriousness of the
+situation forbade any over-hasty steps.
+
+"Well, we can't very well turn her out by force," said Peter Oiland.
+"The only thing to do is to try and get at the soft side of her: an
+appeal to the heart, you understand."
+
+"H'm; her heart's like the drawers in my store," said Nachmann. "In
+and out according to what's wanted."
+
+Peter Oiland determined nevertheless to make an attempt. He would say
+nothing for the present as to the details of his plan; he had an
+idea, and hoped it might succeed.
+
+Meantime, Emilie Rantzau continued her triumphant progress; she was
+leading society in Strandvik. Her dresses, her manner, were a
+standing topic among the ladies of the town, who hated and admired
+her at once. She on her part was happy enough, but at a loss to
+understand why Nickelsen was so unpardonably tardy in making his
+declaration; still, it could only be a question of time; she felt
+safe enough.
+
+One day there came a letter from Christiania, which in a flash threw
+Strandvik and its entire society into the background. It ran as
+follows:
+
+  "MY DEAR EMILIE RANTZAU,--Years, many years, have passed since we
+  last met. Do you remember a fair young man whom you often saw at
+  Mrs. Moller's, when you were a boarder there as a girl? But there
+  were so many of us young students who were all more or less in
+  love with you at that time, and I hardly dare suppose you would
+  have any special recollection of my humble self. It would be only
+  natural that you should have forgotten. But I have never, never
+  forgotten Emilie Storm, as you were then.
+
+  "I was poor and unknown at the time, and poor, alas, I remained
+  for many years, until at last I had no longer any hope of meeting
+  you again, as I had dreamed--yet I have followed your career, and
+  kept myself informed as to your circumstances. I learned of your
+  husband's death, and that you are now obliged to earn your
+  livelihood as housekeeper to an old bachelor in a little
+  out-of-the-way place.
+
+  "To think that you--you, Emilie, who have never for a single day
+  been absent from my thoughts, should be wasting away your life
+  among the yokels of an insignificant seaport town.
+
+  "And I--I am alone and lonely now, back at home after many long
+  years of toil in the great cities of Europe, and the fortune I
+  have made is useless to me. For money cannot purchase happiness,
+  or bring back the dreams of youth.
+
+  "Emilie, shall we try to come together? Shall we renew our old
+  acquaintance, and see if we can find that mutual sympathy which
+  binds one life to another?
+
+  "If you are willing, then let us meet. My name you need not know.
+  I should prefer you to find me as I am now, not as the ardent
+  youth I was when first we met, but as a man, sobered by trials
+  and experience, who has nevertheless maintained the ideals of
+  early days unscathed throughout the battle of life. You may reply
+  to
+
+                                         "ABRAHAM HERTZ.
+                                   "POSTE RESTANTE, CHRISTIANIA."
+
+She read the letter through a dozen times at least, and sat puzzling
+her brains to try and recollect a "fair young man," who had been one
+of her admirers at Mrs. Moller's. She could make nothing of it. She
+had been only seventeen at the time, and had had such a host of
+admirers before and since; it was too much to expect that she should
+recollect them all.
+
+But was it meant in earnest now, or was the whole thing a vulgar
+hoax?
+
+This lawyer of hers was but a poor creature after all; red-nosed,
+almost a dotard--ugh! To think of getting away from it all and go to
+Christiania, perhaps Paris, Vienna, Rome--away! And then to be
+rich--rich! Poverty was a dreadful thing to face, dreadful even to
+think of. Was she to grow old, and ugly, and poor?
+
+  "MR. ABRAHAM HERTZ,--Your kind letter received. I set great store
+  by old friends, and should therefore be glad to renew the
+  acquaintance, but must confess that I am unwilling to enter upon
+  a correspondence with one who remains anonymous. How can I be
+  sure that I am not exposing myself to a mischievous practical
+  joke?
+
+  "I should be glad of a photo, in order if possible to identify
+  the 'fair young man.'
+
+                                          "E. R."
+
+Two days later came a registered letter.
+
+  "MRS. EMILIE RANTZAU,--How could you ever think I was joking?
+  However, that you may no longer doubt for a moment the
+  seriousness of my intentions, I enclose L50, with the request
+  that you will come to Christiania as soon as possible. If you
+  will put up at Mrs. Irving's _pension_, I will meet you there.
+
+  "Enclosed is a photo of the fair young man, but for Heaven's
+  sake do not imagine that it resembles your admirer now, with his
+  eight-and-forty years.--Au revoir.
+
+                                          "A. H."
+
+Emilie had never handled a L50 note before in her life. She spread it
+out on the table, smoothing it with her fingers so tenderly that Old
+Nick, had he seen her, would have been frantic with jealousy. She
+even kissed the portrait of His Majesty in the corners before hiding
+the note away in her breast.
+
+Old Nick was utterly astonished when Mrs. Rantzau informed him that
+she found herself compelled to leave Strandvik, the air,
+unfortunately, did not agree with her. She seemed, too, remarkably
+cool in her manner towards him; her customary smile had faded
+somewhat, and her ardent eyes, that had been wont to focus themselves
+upon his own, seemed now to flicker vaguely in no particular
+direction.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau's sudden departure occasioned much comment. Her most
+faithful admirer, Consul Jansen, turned up with a big bunch of
+flowers, and hoisted the flag in his garden at half-mast.
+
+Old Nick, of course, went down to the quay to see her off. As a
+matter of fact, however, he was now beginning to find the situation
+rather humorous--a symptom which Thor Smith diagnosed as indicating
+that his old friend was well on the way at least to convalescence, if
+not to complete recovery.
+
+Mrs. Rantzau stood on the upper deck in her dark blue dress, with the
+little toque coquettishly aslant on her head. She waved her
+handkerchief, and Consul Jansen cried: "_Adieu, au revoir!_"
+
+"Merci, Monsieur le Consul; je regrette que vous soyez oblige de
+rester ici parmi ces dromadaires-ci." That was Emilie Rantzau's
+farewell to Strandvik. As for Old Nick, she did not even grant him so
+much as a nod.
+
+On the way home he encountered a procession of urchins, ragged,
+bare-legged and boisterous, waving Japanese fans and Chinese
+parasols--properties which he seemed to recognise.
+
+"Here, you boys, where did you get those things from?"
+
+"Mr. Nachmann gave us them. He threw them out of Nickelsen's window,"
+cried the youngsters in chorus.
+
+"H'm," grunted Old Nick. "Very funny...." and he stalked on his way.
+
+Nachmann and Prois were busy moving the sofas back against the wall,
+and restoring the card-table to its former place.
+
+"Here, what do you think you're doing?" shouted Nickelsen from the
+doorway.
+
+"Salvage Corps, getting ready for a little party," said the Warden
+dryly.
+
+That evening Old Nick's little circle of friends assembled at his
+house. Cards and the tray of glasses were laid out as in the old
+days. The host, in his old brown dressing-gown, sat with his
+slippered feet up on the table, and puffed at his long-stemmed pipe.
+
+"Well, you may think yourself lucky to have got out of that as you
+did," said Nachmann, touching Old Nick's glass with his own.
+
+"I can't think what made her go off like that, all of a sudden," said
+Old Nick, almost wistfully.
+
+"You can thank Peter Oiland for that," said Thor Smith.
+
+"Peter Oiland?"
+
+"Yes, it was he that got her away. What about those letters you sent
+her, Oiland? What did you say in them?"
+
+"H'm," said Oiland, with a serious air. "My dear friends, it is ill
+jesting with affairs of the heart. Emilie Rantzau's secret is locked
+for ever in my breast." And he gazed reflectively into his glass as
+he stirred his grog.
+
+"How did you manage to get them sent from Christiania?"
+
+"Posted them myself when I was in with Sukkestad, my respected
+father-in-law to be, buying furniture."
+
+"But the photo, and Mrs. Moller's, and all that?"
+
+"Well, the photo was one Maria Sukkestad gave me last year of her
+beloved spouse--taken years ago, when they were engaged."
+
+"Oh, Peter, you're a marvel! But suppose she'd recognised him?"
+
+"I hardly think she could," said Oiland dryly.
+
+"But how did you know about Mrs. Moller's?"
+
+"She told Mrs. Jansen she'd stayed there, and I heard about it after.
+But all that was easy enough. The worst thing was, it came so
+expensive--L50 is a lot of money," and he sighed.
+
+"L50?" said Nickelsen, looking up sharply. "What do you mean?"
+
+Thor Smith rapped his glass, and said with mock solemnity:
+
+"Our efforts in the cause of freedom having met with the success they
+deserve, we naturally look to you, as the intended victim, for
+reimbursement of all costs incurred in effecting your deliverance.
+And we hope after this you'll have the sense to know when you're well
+off, and not go running your head into a noose again, old man. Three
+cheers for Old Nick--hurrah!"
+
+It was a festive evening, culminating in a song written specially for
+the occasion:
+
+    "Our dear Old Nick is a queer old stick,
+       And a bachelor gay was he,
+     Till the widow's charms occasioned alarms,
+       In the rest of the Company.
+       This will never do, said we,
+       We must settle affairs with she,
+     So we played for Old Nick, and we won the trick,
+       And a bachelor still is he--
+       Give it with three times three--
+     A bachelor gay, and we hope he may
+       Continue so to be!"
+
+
+
+
+XVII
+
+THE _EVA MARIA_
+
+
+"Close on seven-and-thirty years now since I came aboard as skipper
+of the _Eva Maria_, and you can understand, Nils Petter, it's a bit
+queer like for me to be handing her over now to anyone else," said
+old Bernt Jorgensen solemnly. His brother, Nils Petter, listened
+respectfully.
+
+"Never a thing gone wrong. I've always been able to reckon out
+exactly what the four trips to Scotland and Holland each summer
+brought in; but then, as you know, Nils Petter, I didn't go dangling
+about on shore with the other skippers, throwing money away on whisky
+and such-like trash."
+
+"No, you've always been a steady one," said Nils Petter quietly.
+
+"Ay, steady it is, and steady it's got to be, and keep a proper
+account of everything. In winter, when I was at home with the mother,
+I'd always go through all expenses I'd had the summer past; that way
+I could keep an eye on every little thing."
+
+"Ay, you've been careful enough about little things, that's true. I
+remember that tar bucket we threw overboard once. We never heard the
+last of it all that winter."
+
+"It's just that very thing, Nils Petter, that I've got to thank for
+having a bit laid by, or anyhow, the _Eva Maria's_ free of debt, and
+that's all I ask." Old Bernt was not anxious to go into details as to
+the nice little sum he had laid up with Van Hegel in Amsterdam, not
+to speak of the little private banking account that had been growing
+so steadily for years.
+
+"Not but that I've need enough to earn a little more," he went on;
+"but I've made up my mind now to give up the sea, though it's hard to
+leave the old _Eva Maria_ that's served me so well."
+
+Bernt Jorgensen had been very doubtful about handing over the vessel
+to Nils Petter's command. Nils was a good seaman enough, but with one
+serious failing: he invariably ran riot when he got ashore, and there
+was no holding him.
+
+Still, Nils Petter was his only brother, and perhaps when he found
+himself skipper he would come to feel the responsibility of his
+position, and improve accordingly. Anyhow, one could but try it.
+
+Nils Petter stood watching his brother attentively, as the latter
+solemnly concluded: "Well, you're skipper of the _Eva Maria_ from now
+on, Nils Petter, and I hope and trust you'll bear in mind the duty
+you owe to God and your owners."
+
+Nils Petter grasped his brother's hand and shook it so heartily that
+Bernt could feel it for days--it was at any rate a reminder that Nils
+Petter had serious intentions of reforming.
+
+But Nils Petter was the happy man! First of all, he had to go ashore
+and tell the good news to his old friend, Trina Thoresen, who, it may
+be noted, had been one of his former sweethearts. She had married
+Thoresen as the only means of avoiding a scandal, and murmured
+resignedly as she did so: "Ah, well, it can't be helped. Nils Petter
+can't marry us all, poor fellow!"
+
+Nils Petter's large, round face was one comprehensive smile, and his
+huge fists all but crushed the life out of Schoolmaster Pedersen, who
+was impudent enough to offer his hand in congratulation. "Skipper!"
+said Nils Petter. "Captain, you mean--he--he!" and he laughed till
+the houses echoed half-way up the street, and Mrs. Pedersen looked
+out of the window to see what all the noise was about.
+
+Nils Petter was undoubtedly the most popular character in the town;
+he was intimate with every one, regardless of sex or social standing.
+
+"A cheery, good-natured soul," was the general estimate of Nils
+Petter--somewhat too cheery, perhaps, at times; but never so much so
+that he abused his gigantic strength, of which wonderful stories were
+told. At any rate it took a great deal to move him to anger.
+
+He was in constant difficulties about money, for as often as he had
+any to spare, he would give it away or lend it. Now and again, when
+especially hard up, he would apply to his "rich brother" as he called
+him, and never failed to receive assistance, together with a long
+sermon on the evils of extravagance, which he listened to most
+penitently, but the meaning of which he had never to this day been
+able to realise himself.
+
+Well, now we shall see how he got on as officer in command of the
+_Eva Maria, vice_ that careful old model of a skipper, Bernt
+Jorgensen. The vessel was fixed for Dundee, with a cargo of battens
+from Drammen, and Bernt had himself seen to everything in the matter
+of stores and provisions, etc., according to the old regime. Nils
+Petter certainly found the supplies of meat and drink on board a
+trifle scanty--drink, especially so. Six bottles of fruit syrup--h'm.
+Nils Petter thought he might at least make a cautious suggestion.
+"Say, Brother Bernt, you're sure you haven't forgotten anything.
+Fresh meat, for instance, and a bottle or so of spirits?"
+
+"Never has been spirits on board the _Eva Maria_," answered Bernt
+shortly. And Nils Petter was obliged to sail with fruit syrup
+instead.
+
+Just outside Horten, however, they were becalmed, and the _Eva Maria_
+anchored up accordingly.
+
+"D'you know this place at all, Ola?" said Nils Petter to his old
+friend Ola Simonsen, the boatswain, as they got the anchor down.
+
+"Surely, Captain--know it? Why, I was here with the old _Desideria_
+serving my time."
+
+"Right you are, then. We'll get out the boat and go on shore first
+for a look round."
+
+It was late that night when they returned, Nils Petter at the oars,
+and Ola sleeping the sleep of the just in the bottom of the boat.
+Nils Petter was singing and laughing so he could be heard half a mile
+off. After considerable effort he managed to hoist the boatswain over
+the vessel's side, the whole crew laughing uproariously, including
+Nils Petter himself, who was quite pleased with the whole adventure,
+and cared not a jot for discipline and his dignity as skipper.
+
+Ola Simonsen having been safely deposited on board, Nils Petter
+handed up a number of items in addition. One large joint of beef, six
+pork sausages, one ham, one case of tinned provisions, and one marked
+significantly, "Glass: with care."
+
+Towards morning a light, northerly breeze sprang up, and they
+weighed anchor again. Nils Petter, instead of pacing the after-part
+with his hands behind his back, as became the dignity of a captain,
+came forward and took up his post beside the windlass, sent the rest
+of the crew briskly about their business, and fell to singing with
+the full force of his lungs, till the agent on the quay went in for
+his glasses to see what was happening.
+
+Nils Petter was the very opposite of his brother, who would make a
+whole voyage without saying a word to his crew except to give the
+necessary orders. Nils Petter, on the other hand, chatted with the
+men and lent a hand with the work like any ordinary seaman.
+Altogether, the relations between captain and crew were such as would
+have been thoroughly pleasant and cordial ashore.
+
+There were beefsteaks for dinner as long as the beef lasted out, and
+Nils Petter shared in brotherly fashion with the rest--there was no
+distinction of rank on board in that respect; it was an ideal
+socialistic Utopia!
+
+The case marked "Glass: with care" was opened, and each helped
+himself at will, till only the straw packing remained. It was a
+cheery, comfortable life on board, as all agreed, not least Nils
+Petter, who laughed and sang the whole day long. No one had ever
+dreamed of such a state of things on board the _Eva Maria_, least of
+all Bernt Jorgensen, who was fortunately in ignorance of the idyllic
+conditions now prevailing in his beloved ship.
+
+The only occasion throughout the voyage when any real dissension
+arose between Nils Petter and his crew was when opening one of the
+tins brought on board at Horten. The contents defied identification
+despite the most careful scrutiny. The label certainly said "Russian
+Caviare," but Nils Petter and the rest were none the wiser for that.
+A general council was accordingly held, with as much solemnity as if
+the lives of all were in peril on the sea.
+
+"I've a sort of idea the man in the shop said eat it raw," ventured
+Nils Petter.
+
+Ola Simonsen was reckless enough to try.
+
+"Ugh--pugh--urrrgh!" he spluttered. "Of all the...."
+
+"Itsch--hitch--huh!" said Thoresen, the mate. "Better trying cooking
+it, I think." (This Thoresen, by the way, was the husband of Trina
+Thoresen, before mentioned, and a good friend of Nils Petter, who, in
+moments of exaltation would call him brother-in-law, which Thoresen
+never seemed to mind in the least.)
+
+While the tin of caviare was under discussion, all on board, from the
+ship's boy to the captain, were assembled in the forecastle, intent
+on the matter in hand. So much so, indeed, that the _Eva Maria_, then
+left to her own devices, sailed slap into a schooner laden with coal,
+that was rude enough to get in her way.
+
+Fortunately, no great damage was done beyond carrying away the
+schooner's jib-boom, and matters were settled amicably with the
+schooner's captain, whom Nils Petter presented with an odd spar he
+happened to have on deck and the six bottles of fruit syrup, which he
+was only too pleased to get rid of. And the _Eva Maria_ continued her
+course in the same cheerful spirit as heretofore.
+
+Nils Petter's first exploit on arriving at Dundee was to send the
+harbour-master headlong into the dock, whence he was with difficulty
+dragged out. He got off with a fine of L20, which was entered in the
+ship's accounts as "unforeseen expenses."
+
+Those on board found themselves comfortable enough, the skipper being
+for the most part ashore. This, however, was hardly fortunate for the
+owner, as Nils Petter's shore-going disbursements were by no means
+inconsiderable, including, as they did, little occasional extras,
+such as L2, 10s. for a plate-glass window in the bar of the "Duck and
+Acid-drop," through which aforesaid window Nils had propelled a young
+gentleman whom he accused of throwing orange-peel.
+
+At last the _Eva Maria_ was clear of Dundee, and after Nils Petter
+had provisioned her according to his lights--which ranged from fresh
+meat to ginger-beer and double stout--there remained of the freight
+money just on L7. This he considered was not worth sending home, and
+invested it therefore in a cask of good Scotch whisky, thinking to
+gladden his brother therewith on his return.
+
+Nils Petter and the _Eva Maria_ then proceeded without further
+adventure on their homeward way, arriving in the best of trim eight
+days after.
+
+The first thing to do was to go up to the owners and report. Nils
+Petter was already in the boat, with the whisky, and Ola Simonsen at
+the oars.
+
+"What the devil am I to say about the money?" muttered Nils Petter to
+himself, as he sat in the stern. For the first time since the voyage
+began he felt troubled and out of spirits.
+
+"Fair good voyage it's been, Captain," said Ola, resting on his oars.
+
+"Ay, fair good voyage is all very well, but the money, Ola, what
+about that?"
+
+Ola lifted his cap and scratched his head. "Why, you haven't left it
+behind, then, Captain, or what?"
+
+"Why, it's like this, Ola; there's expenses, you know, on a
+voyage--oh, but it's no good trying that on; he knows all about it
+himself. H'm ... I wish to goodness I could think of something."
+
+Nils Petter frowned, and looked across at the cask of whisky. Ola,
+noticing the direction of his glance, observed consolingly that it
+ought to be a welcome present. "Ay, if that was all," said Nils
+Petter, "but the beggar's a teetotaller."
+
+They landed at the quay. Nils Petter and Ola got the cask ashore, and
+rolled it together over to Bernt Jorgensen's house. The owner was out
+in the garden, eating cherries with the parson, who had come to call.
+
+At sight of the latter, Nils Petter gave Ola a nudge, and ordered him
+to take the cask round the back way, while he himself walked solemnly
+up to his brother and saluted.
+
+"You've made a quick voyage," said Bernt Jorgensen, his voice
+trembling a little. "I'd been expecting to hear from you by letter
+before now, though." And he looked up sternly.
+
+"Yes--yes, I suppose ... you're thinking of the freight," said Nils
+Petter, inwardly deciding that it might be just as well to get it
+over at once, especially now the parson was here.
+
+"It was always my way to send home the freight money as soon as I'd
+drawn it," said Bernt Jorgensen quietly.
+
+"Expenses come terribly heavy in Dundee just now," said Nils Petter.
+"And--and--well, it's hard to make ends meet anyhow these times."
+
+Here an unexpected reinforcement came to his aid. The parson nodded,
+and observed that he heard the same thing on all sides; hard times
+for shipping trade just now. The parson, indeed, never heard anything
+else, as his parishioners invariably told him the same story, as a
+sort of delicate excuse for the smallness of their contribution.
+
+When the brothers were alone, Nils Petter had to come out with the
+truth, that all he had to show for the trip was one cask of whisky.
+"That I brought home, meaning all for the best, Bernt, and thinking
+L7 wasn't worth sending."
+
+Bernt, however, was of a different opinion, and delivered a lengthy
+reprimand, ending up with the words, "The _Eva Maria's_ never made a
+voyage like that before. Ah, Nils Petter, I'm afraid you're the
+prodigal son."
+
+Nils Petter bowed his head humbly, but reflected inwardly that if all
+the prodigal sons had been as comfortably off on their travels as he
+had on that voyage, they wouldn't have been so badly off after all.
+
+As for the cask of whisky, Nils Petter was ordered to drive in with
+it to Drammen and sell it there, which he did, after first privately
+drawing off six bottles and supplying the deficiency with water.
+
+If Bernt Jorgensen had had his doubts the first time Nils Petter went
+on board the _Eva Maria_ as skipper, his misgivings now were
+naturally increased a thousand-fold. Nils Petter, however, promised
+faithfully to reform, and send home a thumping remittance, if only he
+might be allowed to make one more voyage. And in the end, Bernt, with
+brotherly affection, let him have his way.
+
+This time the charter was for Niewendiep, or "Nyndyp," as it was
+generally called, which port Bernt knew inside and out, as he said,
+so that Nils Petter could not palm off any fairy-tales about it.
+
+The voyage was as quick as the preceding one, and, less than four
+weeks from sailing, Nils Petter appeared once more rowing in to the
+quay. This time, however, he brought with him, not a cask of whisky,
+but "something altogether different"--in honour of which the _Eva
+Maria_ was decked out with all the bunting on board.
+
+Bernt Jorgensen had come down himself to the waterside on seeing the
+vessel so beflagged, as it had not been since the day of his own
+wedding, thirty years before. He stood shading his eyes with one
+hand, as he watched Nils Petter in the boat coming in. "What on earth
+was that he had got in the stern? Something all tied about with
+fluttering red ribbons."
+
+"Hey, brother!" hailed Nils Petter joyfully, standing up in the boat.
+"Here's a remittance, if you like!" And he pointed to a buxom young
+woman who sat nodding and smiling at his side. Without undue ceremony
+he hoisted the lady by one arm up on to the quay, and the pair stood
+facing Bernt, who stared speechlessly from one to the other.
+
+"Here's your brother-in-law, my dear," said Nils Petter in a dialect
+presumably meant for Dutch, nudging the fair one with his knee in a
+part where Hollanders are generally supposed to be well upholstered.
+The impetus sent her flying into the arms of Bernt, who extricated
+himself humidly.
+
+"Her name's Jantjedina van Groot, my good and faithful wife," Nils
+Petter explained. Bernt Jorgensen, who had not yet recovered from his
+astonishment, only grunted again and again: "H'm--h'm----" and made
+haste towards home, followed by Nils Petter and his bride.
+
+This time nothing was said about the freight money, which was just as
+well for all concerned, seeing it had all been spent in the purchase
+of various household goods and extra provisions with which to
+celebrate the occasion. Nils Petter's new relations in Holland, too,
+had had to be treated in hospitable fashion--which was just as well
+for them, since he never called there again!
+
+Bernt Jorgensen decided that it would be more economical to pension
+off Nils Petter, and get a skipper of the old school to take over the
+_Eva Maria_; after which there was rarely any trouble about the
+freight money.
+
+"Ah, but expenses now aren't what they were in my time," Nils Petter
+would say.
+
+Which, in one sense, was perfectly true.
+
+
+
+
+XVIII
+
+THE _HENRIK IBSEN_
+
+
+"Well, and what are you doing with that brat of yours,
+_Birkebeineren_," asked Hansen the shipbroker, one day, meeting Soren
+Braaten in the street. "Got any freight yet?"
+
+"No, worse luck. These wretched steamers take all there is. I can't
+see what's the good of steam anyway. We got along all right without
+it before, but it's all different now. Doesn't give a poor man time
+to breathe."
+
+"Yes, the old windjammers are rather out of it now," Hansen agreed.
+
+"Going to rack and ruin, as far as I can see. And what's the sense of
+all this hurry and skurry, when all's said and done. It's against
+nature, that's what I say. When I think how we used to get along in
+the old days. Why, I never heard but that the merchants over in
+England and Holland were pleased enough with the cargoes when they
+got there, whether we'd been a fortnight or a month on the way, and
+we made a decent living out of it and so did they. But now? As soon
+as a steamer comes along, it's all fuss and excitement and bother and
+complaint all round."
+
+"You ought to see and get hold of a steamboat yourself, Soren; we
+mustn't be behindhand with everything, you know. Why, up in Drammen
+now, they've seven or eight of them already."
+
+"Thank you for nothing. Let them buy steamers that cares to; it won't
+be Soren Braaten, though."
+
+And Soren walked homeward, inwardly anathematising the inventor of
+steam, who might have found a better use for his time than causing
+all that trouble to his fellow-men.
+
+Cilia was in the kitchen when he came in; the first thing she asked
+was whether he had got a charter for _Birkebeineren_.
+
+The vessel had been lying in Christiania now for nearly a month; such
+a thing had never happened before.
+
+Remittances? Alas, these had so dwindled of late as to be almost
+microscopic. Things were looking gloomy all round.
+
+Cilia sat by the fire looking thoughtfully into the blaze. She
+dropped her knitting, and stuck the odd needle into her hair, that
+was fastened in a coil at the back of her head. The wool rolled to
+the floor, but when Soren stooped to pick it up, she ordered him
+sharply to leave it alone. There was something in her voice that
+startled Soren. Ever since the battle royal of a few years back, she
+had been quiet and sensible, and things had gone on between them as
+smoothly as could be wished.
+
+Suddenly she rose to her feet, and stood with one hand on her hip,
+the other holding the bench.
+
+"Soren, it's no good; we can't go on like this any longer."
+
+Soren gave a start; he could feel there was thunder in the air.
+
+"We'll have to buy a steamer. Sailing-ships are out of date."
+
+"What's that you say, mother? We two old folks to go fussing about
+with steam? Nay, I'd rather stick to the old planks till they rot!"
+
+But Cilia went on firmly, altogether unmoved. "We've a decent bit of
+money in the bank, and shares in other things besides, but the
+interest's not what it might be, and I don't see the sense of letting
+other people take all the profits that's to be made out of shipping,
+while we that's nearest at hand are left behind."
+
+"I don't suppose they're overdone with profits, these here
+steamboats, when it comes to the point," grumbled Soren. And no more
+was said about the matter for that day.
+
+But Cilia pondered and speculated still; she read the shipping papers
+and the shipbrokers' circulars as earnestly as she studied lesson and
+collect on Sundays.
+
+She found a valuable ally, too, in her son-in-law, Skipper
+Abrahamsen, who was tired of the "old hulk," as he called
+_Birkebeineren_, and longed to be captain of a steamer himself.
+Fortunately, Soren never heard a word of this, or it would have been
+ill both for Cilia and Abrahamsen, for he could not bear to hear a
+word in dispraise of his beloved ship.
+
+Malvina, of course, sided with her husband and her mother, and their
+united efforts were daily brought to bear upon Soren, till at last he
+grew so tired of hearing about "that steamboat of ours," that he fled
+out of the house, and went round to call on Warden Prois whenever the
+talk turned that way.
+
+There was a little attic in the Braaten's house that had never been
+used for anything but a box-room; this was now cleared in secret by
+Cilia and Malvina, and then the three conspirators held meetings and
+discussions. Abrahamsen and Cilia had quietly made inquiries of
+various shipbuilding concerns, and received a mass of estimates and
+plans.
+
+Cilia studied the question of engines till her brain was going twelve
+knots easy. Compound and triple expansion, boiler plate, and cylinder
+stroke--her mind was busy with every detail; for Cilia was not one to
+do things by halves when once she started.
+
+Abrahamsen was examined and cross-examined till the sweat poured off
+him; he, of course, had to appear more or less familiar with all
+these things, since he aspired to command a steamer.
+
+Malvina sat silent, looking on with wide eyes and taking it all in;
+she was looking forward to a free passage on a real steamboat for
+herself.
+
+Soren wondered a little what they could be up to in the attic, but,
+being comfortable enough below with a glass of grog and the _Shipping
+Gazette_, he let them stay there as long as they pleased. One
+evening, however, it struck him they were at it a good long time; it
+was past eleven, and no sign of their coming down yet. Accordingly,
+he stole up quietly in his stocking feet, and looked through the
+keyhole. What he saw did not improve his temper. On a table in the
+middle of the room was the smartest little steamer one could imagine.
+Red bottom, sides black above, with a gold streak, the rudder and two
+masts sloping a little aft, flag at fore and maintop--a sight to see.
+Cilia, Malvina and Abrahamsen stood round examining the model with
+glee.
+
+Soren was about to retire, but stumbled over an old trunk left
+outside, and fell head over heels into the room among the others.
+There was an awkward pause, until Cilia broke the silence by asking
+Soren: "What do you think of that--isn't she a beauty?" pointing to
+the model as she spoke.
+
+"Why, yes, she's a handsome boat enough," said Soren, rubbing his
+shins.
+
+"Oh, father, we _must_ have a steamer of our own," said Malvina,
+coming up and clinging to his shoulder.
+
+"Why, child, what are you doing here? I thought you'd have had enough
+to do at home with the boy," he said softly.
+
+"It's the steamer we wanted to see. Mother thinks we could manage all
+right with compound, but Abrahamsen says it'll have to be triplets."
+
+"Triplets, forbid!" muttered Abrahamsen.
+
+"Have it whatever way you please, for all I care," said Soren. And he
+stumped off downstairs.
+
+But the pressure from all sides was too much. Soren had to give way
+at last, and sign a formal document inviting subscriptions for shares
+in "a modern, up-to-date steamship."
+
+S. Braaten having entered his name for fifty shares at L50, it was
+hoped that the remainder would be subscribed by tradesfolk in the
+town. Cilia had laid stress on the importance of appealing to local
+patriotism, and the circular accordingly pointed out that "in
+neighbouring towns it has already been wisely recognised that the
+shipping of the future will be steam, and that the day of the sailing
+vessel is past; our town alone, though it has always occupied a
+leading position in the shipping world, is sadly behindhand in this
+respect, counting as yet not a single steamer. It is in order to meet
+this long-felt want"--etc.
+
+The appeal to the citizens of Strandvik was not in vain. A few days
+later the necessary share capital was subscribed.
+
+Soren Braaten, however, was ill at ease; it had gone against the
+grain to sign a document declaring that the day of the sailing vessel
+was past, and he would have liked to add an explanatory note to the
+effect that he had signed under protest. There was no help for it,
+however; for peace and quietness' sake he had to give way.
+
+At the preliminary general meeting, Soren was elected Managing
+Director of the Company, despite his most energetic protests.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was a fine sunny day when the _Henrik Ibsen_ was due to appear.
+The name had been chosen at the suggestion of Lawyer Nickelsen, who
+explained it as fitting for a trading vessel, from the fact that the
+poet in question was expert at moving in dark waters and foggy
+regions, and made a very good living out of it; he hoped that the
+steamer would do likewise.
+
+Flags were in evidence all over the town, and the quay was crowded.
+Never had there been such excitement in Strandvik since the day of
+the Royal visit.
+
+Almost every other man was a shareholder; even Klementsen the parish
+clerk and Pedersen the schoolmaster had, despite their widely
+differing political views, gone halves together in a share.
+
+"From what I see in the papers about oil freights from New York and
+corn freights from the Black Sea, the vessel ought to pay at least
+twenty per cent," said Pedersen, with an air of superior wisdom. And
+he brought out a big sheet of paper covered with calculations in
+English pounds, shillings and pence, which had taken him all the
+afternoon to work out.
+
+Klementsen had to put on his spectacles and study the figures
+earnestly; which done, the two newly pledged shipowners solemnly
+declared "it looks like very good business."
+
+Nachmann was also a shareholder, but had only taken up his holding on
+condition that he should be purveyor of wines to the ship, "a smart,
+round vessel like that must get things from a decent firm." He had
+been busy to-day with a whole cart-load of various wines for the
+dinner, which the shareholders were to have on board during the trial
+trip.
+
+Away in the harbour lay the _Apollo_, _Eva Maria_, and
+_Birkebeineren_; they had had no charters this year. The old craft
+looked heavy and stout as they lay in the sweltering sun, with pitch
+oozing from their seams like black tears. It almost looked as if they
+were weeping at having to lie idle, instead of ploughing through the
+good salt waters off Lindemor or the Dogger.
+
+Soren Braaten, rowing out over the fjord to meet the steamer, passed
+close by his old ship _Birkebeineren_. He cast a loving glance at the
+dear old piece of timber, and wished he had accepted any freight,
+however poor, so he had kept out of all this new-fangled business
+with engine-power and steam. He felt like a traitor to his class, and
+to all the old things he loved.
+
+He passed the _Eva Maria_, and there was Bernt Jorgensen standing
+aft. Bernt had declined to take up shares in the steamer; on the
+contrary, he had argued earnestly against the project, declaring that
+Strandvik owed too much to the old sailing ships not to hold by them
+to the last.
+
+"Aren't you coming on board the steamer?" cried Soren as he came
+within hail.
+
+"No, thankye, I've no mind for it. I'm better where I am," answered
+Bernt, and, crossing over, sat down on the half-deck.
+
+He hoisted his flag with the rest, though he felt little inclined to;
+but it would look strange if the _Eva Maria_ were the only one to
+refrain. But the bunting was only half-way up when the halliards
+broke, and the flag remained at half-mast.
+
+Bernt felt it was something of an ill-omen. He went into his cabin,
+but through the porthole he could see the _Henrik Ibsen_ come gliding
+into the harbour amid general salutation.
+
+The steamer was bright with brass work and new paint; the great gilt
+letters of her name at the stern shone over the water. On the bridge
+stood Skipper Abrahamsen, with three gold bands on his cap, and all
+the crew were in uniform--blue jerseys, with the name worked in red.
+
+Bernt Jorgensen looked round his own cabin; the worn, yellow-painted
+walls, the square of ragged canvas that did duty as a tablecloth, the
+sofa with its old cracked covering of American cloth--it was all poor
+enough, but would he change with the dandified newcomer over yonder?
+
+He struck his fist on the table. "Let's see if he's as smart at
+earning money as you've been, _Eva Maria_. It'll take him all his
+time, I fancy."
+
+The cheering sounded across the water, as he sat bowed over the table
+with his head in his arms, thinking of old times, from the day he
+first went to sea with Uncle Gjermundsen, on board the _Stjerna_.
+Three shirts, a pair of canvas breeches, a straw-stuffed mattress
+and a rug were all his kit. But what a clipper she was in those days,
+with her twelve knots close hauled. And Uncle Gjermundsen was the man
+to get the best out of her too. No gold-braided cap for him, and not
+much of a man to look at, little, dry and crooked-backed as he was;
+but when he went overboard with a line that black November night to
+save the crew of an English brig on the reef and sinking, there was
+many an upstanding man might have been proud to know him. But he and
+his ship were gone now, and both the same way. He stood by his ship
+too long, last man on his own deck he would be, and so the rest were
+saved and he went down. But it was all in the papers about it, the
+speech that was made in his honour at the Seamen's Union, and the
+verse:
+
+    "He stood alone on the sinking wreck,
+       A sailor fearless and bold,
+     For he knew that the last to leave the deck,
+       Comes first when all is told."
+
+And what lads they were on board the _Stjerna_, tarry and
+weather-stained, but the harder it blew the smarter they went about
+it. There was Nils Sturika, that Christmas Eve off Jomfruland, when
+the pilot was to come aboard. The whole ship was like a lump of ice,
+and the fore-rigging ready to go by the board, with the lee shrouds
+and backstays torn away. They had to make the signal, but the foretop
+halliards were gone. And then it was Nils Sturika went up the
+topgallant shrouds by his hands, with the flag in his teeth, and
+lashed it fast to the pole.
+
+But they got the pilot, and made in to Risorbank just in time.
+
+Nobody shouted hurrah for Nils, and a stiff nip of grog was what he
+got when he came down; instead of a medal with ribbon and all that
+he'd maybe get nowadays.
+
+Bernt Jorgensen was roused from his meditation by the sound of the
+salute on board the _Henrik Ibsen_. He rose and went up on deck to
+see what was going on. The shareholders, with wives and children,
+nephews and nieces and relatives generally, were making a tour of the
+vessel.
+
+Cilia was down in the saloon, seated in state on a red plush sofa.
+She did not feel altogether comfortable, to tell the truth, having
+acquired a horror of showy furniture since her own escapade in that
+direction. But she was proud to feel that "we" had achieved the
+distinction of giving Strandvik its first steamer.
+
+The trial trip was to take place while dinner was being served in the
+saloon.
+
+The _Henrik Ibsen_ steamed along the fjord, beflagged from deck to
+top, and greeted with cheers from all along the waterside; not a
+citizen of Strandvik but felt a thrill of pride in his citizenship
+that day.
+
+The dinner was a most festive affair. The conversation ran gaily on
+the topic of freights and steamship traffic. Old Klementsen already
+saw in his mind's eye a whole fleet of Strandvik steamers putting out
+to sea with flags flying, and coming home laden deep with gold to the
+beloved little town.
+
+Justice Heidt, guest of honour in his capacity as principal
+representative of local authority, made a speech, in which he
+referred to "Strandvik's first steamship, a tangible witness to the
+high degree of initiative among our business men. The vessel has been
+named after a great poet, and it is our hope that it will, like its
+famous namesake, add to our country's credit and renown in distant
+lands. Good luck and prosperity to the _Henrik Ibsen_." The toast was
+received with hearty cheers from all.
+
+Someone proposed the health of Soren Braaten, as leader in the
+enterprise, and Cilia's too, as the guiding spirit of the
+undertaking; then the captain's health was drunk, and many more.
+
+All were excited to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Old Klementsen,
+delighted to feel himself a shipowner, sat in a corner with a magnum
+of champagne before him, delivered an oration on the subject of
+time-charter on the China coast; he had read an article on the
+subject in a paper, and was greatly impressed by the same.
+
+"Beautifully steady, isn't she?" said Cilia to her husband. Hardly
+had she spoken, however, when, "Brrr--drrrrum--drrrum--drrrum"--the
+passengers were thrown headlong in all directions, and Cilia herself
+was flung into the arms of Justice Heidt, the two striking their
+heads together with a force that made both dizzy for the moment.
+
+Bottles, glasses and plates were scattered about, adding to the
+general confusion.
+
+So violent was the shock that many thought the boiler had burst, and
+something approaching panic prevailed.
+
+Schoolmaster Pedersen was screaming like a maniac. In his anxiety to
+see what was happening, he had thrust his head through one of the
+portholes, and could not get it back despite his utmost efforts.
+Everyone else was too much occupied to help him, and there he stood,
+unable to move.
+
+The rest of the party hurried up on deck, all save Klementsen, who,
+having emptied his magnum, felt himself unable to get up the
+companion, and wisely refrained from making the attempt.
+
+The _Henrik Ibsen_ had struck on a sunken reef. The excitement of the
+occasion, together with the generous good cheer, had had their effect
+on the crew, who had not paid much heed to their course, with the
+result that the vessel had taken her own, until brought up all
+standing by the unexpected obstacle.
+
+The bow had run right on the shelf of rock, and things looked
+distinctly unpleasant, until Soren Braaten explained that
+"unfortunately" there was shallow water on all sides, when the
+company began to feel somewhat easier in their minds.
+
+Cilia's head was treated with vinegar bandages, and Justice Heidt's
+nose bound up as if in sympathy with the damage inside. But the
+festive spirit among the shareholders generally was at a low ebb, and
+anyone taking advantage of the moment might have bought shares then
+at well below par.
+
+Aha, there is a tug already, the _Storegut_; things looked brighter
+in a moment, perhaps they might get off at once. But then came the
+question, had she sprung a leak? No; sound as a bell. A proper sort
+of steamer this.
+
+A hawser was passed from the tug, then full speed
+astern--Hurrah--she's moving! The Henrik Ibsen drew slowly off the
+reef and was soon clear once more. The passengers brightened up, and
+soon the steamer was on her way back to Strandvik, the tug standing
+by in case of need.
+
+Nachmann's supply of champagne was inexhaustible, and Thor Smith got
+on his feet with another speech for "the splendid vessel which has
+stood the test so manfully to-day. The _Henrik Ibsen_ was not built
+for picnic voyages over sunny seas; no, she had shown what she could
+do and borne it magnificently." Cheers for the _Henrik Ibsen_ and
+general acclamation.
+
+Then the whole company joined in the song:
+
+    "And what though I ran my ship aground,
+       It was grand to sail the seas!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At last the _Henrik Ibsen_ set out on a real voyage in earnest, and
+Soren Braaten was glad enough; he felt in need of rest after all he
+had been through.
+
+He told Cilia, indeed, that he would rather go sailing in the Arctic
+than have it all to do over again. No, this steamship business was a
+trial.
+
+Hardly had Soren settled down to his well-earned rest, when, only
+four days after the vessel had sailed, came a telegram from Hull
+announcing her arrival and awaiting orders. That meant wiring off at
+once to the brokers in Drammen and Christiania asking for freights.
+The telegraph, indeed, was kept so busy, that old Anders the
+messenger declared the wretched steamboat gave more work than anyone
+had a right to expect. Now and again, at weddings and suchlike, it
+was only natural to have a few extra telegrams going and coming; but,
+then, he would take them round in bundles at a time, and be
+handsomely treated into the bargain. Whereas this--why, he'd hardly
+as much as got back from delivering one wire to Soren Braaten, when a
+new one came in, and off he'd have to go again. And a man couldn't
+even stroll round with them at his ordinary pace; it was always
+"urgent" or "express," or something of the sort, that sent him
+hurrying off as if the wind were at his heels.
+
+And as for being handsomely treated! It was a thankless task if ever
+there was one. When Anders appeared with his seventh wire in one day,
+Soren almost flew at him. "What, you there again with more of those
+infernal telegram things!"
+
+Soren Braaten had had more telegrams the last fortnight than in all
+his life before; and, worst of all, they were so briefly worded, it
+took him all his time to make out the sense. If things went on at
+this rate he would very soon be wanting another cure at Sandefjord,
+and this time in earnest.
+
+There was never any rest, this steamer of his flew about at such a
+rate; just when you thought she was in England she'd be somewhere
+down the Mediterranean or the Black Sea. Soren said as much to his
+old friend Skipper Sorensen, who answered: "Better be careful, lad,
+or she'll run so fast one day she'll run away with all your money."
+And Soren was anxious about that very thing, for the remittance
+seemed to him rather small in comparison with the length of voyage
+involved.
+
+Soren found himself at last hopelessly at sea both as to charters and
+accounts, and confided to Cilia one day that he was going to throw up
+the whole thing; as far as he was concerned, "the wretched boat can
+manage itself."
+
+Cilia thought over the matter seriously. Her first idea was to take
+over the chartering herself, but when Soren began talking about
+freight from Wolgast to Salonica, and Rouen to Montechristi, her
+geography failed her.
+
+Fixing the old _Apollo_ or _Birkebeineren_ for voyages in the Baltic
+or the North Sea was easy enough. Cilia knew the name of every port
+from Pitea to Vlaardingen, from London to Kirkwall, but outside the
+English Channel she was lost.
+
+The end of it was that Soren went in to Christiania and got a broker
+he knew there to take over the business, and glad he was to get rid
+of it. The week after, he went on board _Birkebeineren_, rigged her
+up, and sailed with a cargo of planks to Amsterdam. Even though he
+made little out of it beyond his keep, it was nicer than sitting at
+home in a state of eternal worry about the steamer.
+
+"It pays better than the savings bank, anyway," said Cilia, when he
+grumbled.
+
+"Maybe; but it's a wearisome business all the same, this steam
+chartering. And we've other things to think about but what pays
+best."
+
+And off he went on board his own old-fashioned _Birkebeineren_.
+
+
+
+
+XIX
+
+NILS PETTER'S LEGACY
+
+
+The news ran like wildfire through the town: Nils Petter Jorgensen
+had been left a million gylden by his wife's uncle in Holland. It was
+true as could be; Justice Heidt had had a letter from the Queen to
+say so.
+
+"Jantje!" roared Nils Petter out into the wash-house, where his wife
+stood in a cloud of steam and soapsuds.
+
+"What is it, husband?" Jantje appeared in the doorway, little, stout
+and smiling, with her sleeves rolled up and the perspiration thick on
+her forehead.
+
+"Come into the parlour a minute."
+
+"Oh, I haven't time now, husband. There's the washing to be done."
+
+"Oh, bother the washing! We've done with all that now," said Nils
+Petter loftily. And, thrusting his thumbs into the armholes of his
+waistcoat, he strode stiffly in, followed by Jantje.
+
+"Jantje, sit down on the sofa. Ahem ... er ... an event has
+occurred..."
+
+"Have they made you captain, husband; you have got a ship? We can go
+to Holland together, is it not?" Jantje clapped her hands together,
+and looked at him expectantly. Poor Jantje had never seen her native
+land since the day she sailed away on board the _Eva Maria_, and
+still felt strange in Norway, speaking the language with difficulty
+as she did.
+
+"We're rich, Jantje; we're millionaires, that's what it is."
+
+Jantje turned serious at once; her first thought was that Nils Petter
+must have taken a drop too much--a thing that rarely happened now
+since he had been married.
+
+"Don't you think you'd better lie down a little, husband?" she said
+quietly, pointing to the bedroom.
+
+"Oho, you think I've been drinking? Well, here's the letter from the
+Justice; you can see for yourself."
+
+Jantje took the letter and studied it intently, but could not make
+out a word of what it said.
+
+"Your Uncle Peter van Groot died in Java last year, and left millions
+of gylden, and no children----"
+
+"Praise the Lord!" exclaimed Jantje.
+
+"And all those millions are ours now, seeing we're the nearest heirs
+since your mother and father died."
+
+"Poor Uncle Pit--kind old Uncle Pit," sighed Jantje, wiping her eyes
+with the back of her hand. Then, rising to her feet, she went on: "If
+that's all, husband, then I'll go and finish the washing."
+
+"Washing, now? No, you don't, Jantje. Off with you at once and put on
+the finest you've got: your green dress and the coral brooch."
+
+"But the things will be spoiled in the water, husband."
+
+"Never mind; let them. Hurry up and get dressed now."
+
+Jantje went off to dress, but not before she had slipped out into the
+wash-house, wrung out the wet things and hung them up to dry.
+
+Nils Petter put on his best blue suit, a starched shirt with collar
+and cuffs, a black tie and stiff hat.
+
+Then Jantje appeared, wearing her green dress, her face all flushed
+and aglow with hurrying.
+
+The pair sat for a moment looking at one another.
+
+"Jantje!"
+
+"Yes, husband?"
+
+"What shall we do with it all?"
+
+Such a question from Nils Petter was too much for Jantje all at once.
+She looked helplessly round the room as if seeking for somewhere to
+put it.
+
+"It's a question what to do with any amount of capital these days.
+Shipowning's a risky business...." Nils Petter paced up and down
+thoughtfully.
+
+Then Jantje had an inspiration. "Husband, there's the big
+clothes-chest, room for lots of money in that." And she hurried out
+into the passage and began dragging out the chest.
+
+"No, no, Jantje; leave it alone. The money'll have to be put in the
+bank, of course. We can't keep it in the house."
+
+There was a knock at the door. "Come in!" It was Watchmaker Rordam.
+"Congratulations, my boy. Grand piece of luck, what? Must be
+strange-like, to get all that heap of money at once."
+
+"Well, ye-es," said Nils Petter; "it's a trouble to know what to do
+with one's capital, though; these savings banks pay such a miserable
+rate of interest." Jantje looked at him in surprise. Why, only a
+fortnight ago, when he had had to renew a bill at the bank, he had
+declared loudly against the "pack of Jews" for charging too high a
+rate.
+
+"You won't forget your old friends, Nils Petter, I hope, now that
+you've come into a fortune," said Rordam.
+
+"Trust me for that, lad," said Nils Petter. "I haven't forgotten how
+you helped me out when I was near being sold up; I owe you something
+for that. Being thankless towards friends that lent a hand when times
+were hard is a bad mark in the register and the sign of an
+unseaworthy character, and it shan't be said of Nils Petter
+Jorgensen." And he gripped Rordam's hand emphatically.
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to a drink?"
+
+"Not for me, thanks," answered Rordam. "I've--I've given it up," he
+added, not without some reluctance.
+
+"Don't mind if I have one?"
+
+"No, indeed."
+
+"Jantje, give me a drop of Hollands. It's a plaguy business thinking
+out how to invest big sums of money."
+
+Rordam had never had any experience of that sort of business, but
+thought he would not mind a little trouble, given the occasion.
+
+Nils Petter drank off his glass. Rordam stuck to his refusal bravely,
+which so won Nils Petter's admiration that he bought of the
+watchmaker a splendid clock, costing five pounds, an elegant piece of
+work with a marble face and gilt lions above. Furthermore, on
+leaving, Rordam was given a piece of paper with the following words:
+
+  "Mr. Watchmaker Rordam to receive L50--fifty pounds--when I get
+  the legacy.
+
+                                          "N. P. JORGENSEN."
+
+This last was a gratuity, which Nils Petter felt he ought to give for
+old friendship's sake.
+
+Rordam was delighted; at last he would be able to pay off the many
+little odd debts that had been worrying him for years past.
+
+Hardly had Rordam gone when Schoolmaster Pedersen came in, bringing a
+large oleander as a present for Jantje.
+
+Nils Petter and the schoolmaster had never been very friendly,
+holding different political opinions; Nils Petter especially waxed
+furious whenever he saw Pedersen's anti-Swedish flag hoisted in the
+garden. A couple of years ago he had gone in and cut it down, but the
+matter was, fortunately, smoothed over, Pedersen being an easy-going
+man, while his wife and Jantje were very good friends.
+
+"I just looked in, my dear Jorgensen, to see if you'd any use for a
+secretary. A man in your position, of course, will have any amount of
+writing and bookkeeping work, and you know I'd be glad to make a
+little extra myself."
+
+Nils Petter was not much of a scholar. The few occasions when he had
+to use a pen caused him no little difficulty; his big, unaccustomed
+fingers gripped the pen-holder as if it were a crowbar.
+
+"Why, I dare say I might.... And what would you want a year for
+that?"
+
+"I'd leave that to you."
+
+"Would L200 be enough?"
+
+Pedersen jumped up in delight and almost embraced Nils Petter. "It's
+too much, Jorgensen, really."
+
+"It won't be too much; there'll be a deal of work to do. But I
+forgot, one thing you'll have to do: get rid of that beastly flag of
+yours."
+
+Pedersen turned serious. "The Norwegian flag is our national emblem,
+and that alone. As a true patriot, I must stand by my convictions.
+Norway...."
+
+Nils Petter broke in angrily. "Norway, Norway! There's a sight too
+much of that if you ask me. I've sailed with the good old Union flag
+round the Horn and the Cape of Good Hope as well, and it's been
+looked up to everywhere. You can take and sew in the Swedish colours
+again, if you want the place--not but what the old flag's handsome
+enough," he added in a somewhat gentler tone.
+
+Pedersen thought this rather hard; but L200 a year was not to be
+sneezed at, and, after all, there were limits to what could be
+reasonably demanded of a patriot. He was accordingly appointed
+private secretary, on condition that the Union colours be included in
+his flag forthwith, and set off home rejoicing. And feeling that he
+could now afford a little jollification, he bought a joint of beef, a
+bottle of wine, and a bag of oranges for the children.
+
+Later in the day Bernt Jorgensen came round; he, too, had heard of
+the wonderful legacy.
+
+"You'll need to be careful now, with all that money, Nils Petter; a
+fortune's not a thing to be frittered away."
+
+"Trust me for that, brother. And you shall have a share of it too,
+for you've been a good sort. I will say, though, a trifle on the
+saving side at times, but never mind that now. Look here, Bernt,
+would you care to sell the _Eva Maria_?"
+
+Bernt Jorgensen was so astonished at this sudden changing front that
+he hardly knew what to say. Hitherto Nils Petter had always been
+deferential and respectful towards him; now, however, he seemed to be
+adopting an air of lordly condescension.
+
+"Well, what do you say?"
+
+"Sell you the _Eva Maria_! Well, it'd mean a lot of money for you,
+Nils Petter."
+
+"Oh, that's all right. I've got plenty."
+
+Bernt Jorgensen would not decide all at once, but wanted time to
+think it over.
+
+During the next few days Nils Petter was inundated with visitors, and
+Jantje was kept busy all the time making fresh coffee in her best
+green dress, which caused her not a little anxiety, lest it should be
+soiled. Nils Petter told her not to worry; she would get a new one.
+But it was not Jantje's way to be careless with things.
+
+Various speculators came offering properties for sale in various
+parts of the country, producing such masses of documents that
+Pedersen, as secretary, had his work cut out to find room for them in
+the parlour.
+
+By way of finding a ship for his friend Thoresen, Trina's husband,
+Nils Petter had purchased the brig _Cupid_ from Governor Abrahamsen
+for L500, also the Sorgenfri estate, situated a little way out of the
+town. This latter property, with a fine two-storeyed house looking
+out on the fjord, ran him into something like L1200. In each case it
+was stipulated that "the purchase money shall be paid in cash as soon
+as my inheritance from Holland is made over."
+
+N. P. Jorgensen and his secretary had both been up to view the
+Sorgenfri estate, and were very pleased with it on the whole. They
+agreed, however, that some alterations would have to be made, such as
+laying out a park, with fish-pond, and building a skittle-alley,
+which last Nils Petter was especially keen on, having been greatly
+devoted to that form of sport in his youth.
+
+Then came a number of letters addressed to "N. P. Jorgensen,
+Esquire," during this time.
+
+His old friend, Shipbroker Rothe of Arendal, was forming a company to
+acquire a big steamer for the China trade, which was to give at least
+30 to 40 per cent. He wanted only L3000 to complete, and invited Nils
+Petter, for old acquaintance's sake, to take up shares to that
+amount.
+
+"Good fellow, is old Rothe," said Nils Petter to his secretary. "I
+used to have a drink with him every evening when I was up there with
+the old _Spesfides_ for repairs. We went in for our mates'
+certificate together, too. Write and say I'll take shares for the
+L3000; that'll put him right."
+
+It was late in the evening most days before Nils Petter and his
+secretary had got through the day's correspondence, and Nils Petter,
+who was accustomed to turn in about eight or nine o'clock, was so
+tired and sleepy that he wanted to leave everything as it was; but
+Pedersen was zealous in his work, and declared it was the first
+essential of a business man to answer letters promptly.
+
+There was no help for it; Nils Petter was obliged to sit up, wading
+through all sorts of documents, company prospectuses, particulars of
+house property, mines, steamships, etc. etc. Secretary Pedersen left
+nothing unconsidered. Nils Petter all but fell asleep in his chair.
+And when at last he got to bed he would lie tossing and talking in
+his sleep, till Jantje had to get up and put cold water bandages on
+his head. Every morning he shuddered at the thought of that day's
+burdens, especially when the postman came tramping up with bundles of
+letters and circulars, one bigger than another.
+
+Jantje and Nils Petter sat drinking their coffee in the kitchen, one
+each side of the table in front of the hearth. This was the best time
+of the day, Nils Petter thought; he could take it easy as in the old
+days, sitting in his shirt sleeves, and caring nothing for letters
+and investments.
+
+Jantje, too, liked this way best; she was always uncomfortable when
+she had to put on her green dress.
+
+The coffee-pot was puffing like a little steam-engine on the hob, and
+Jantje was cutting the new bread into good thick slices.
+
+"Jantje!"
+
+"Yes, husband; what is it?"
+
+"Seems to me we were a good deal better off before we got all this
+money."
+
+"Ay, that's true, that's true."
+
+"And I don't somehow feel like moving up to Sorgenfri--it's nice and
+comfortable here."
+
+"Oh, thank you, thank you, husband. I'm so glad. I'd never feel happy
+away from here."
+
+Nils Petter and Jantje had one great regret--they had no children.
+They had often talked of adopting one. The question cropped up again
+now. Jantje had heard that Skipper Olsen's widow had just died,
+leaving a four-year-old boy with no one to look after him but the
+parish; they decided, therefore, to take him and bring him up as
+their own. Jantje busied herself making preparations, and Nils
+Petter, disregarding Pedersen's insistence, flatly refused to be
+bothered with letters just now; he too had things to do about the
+house, getting ready for the boy.
+
+The news soon spread that little Rasper Olsen was to be adopted by
+Nils Petter. Had ever a poor orphan such a stroke of luck! They
+called him the millionaire boy.
+
+When at last Jantje came in, leading the little fellow by the hand,
+Nils Petter's delight knew no bounds; he laughed and sang, and lifted
+the pretty, chubby lad and held him out at arm's length.
+
+The boy took to Jantje at once, and when he began to call her "Mama,"
+she wept with joy, and had to run and find Nils Petter that he might
+hear it too. He tried to get the child to call him "Papa," but here
+he was disappointed; Rasper would not call him anything but "Nils
+Petter," as he had heard everybody else do.
+
+The first night, one of the richest heirs in the country slept in a
+washing-basket, to the great delight of Nils Petter, who amused
+himself swinging basket and boy together over his head till the child
+fell asleep.
+
+Nils Petter was getting altogether unreasonable, so at least his
+secretary thought. He declined altogether to go to the office now,
+and went out fishing in his boat instead. And Jantje put on her old
+house frock again and stood over wash-tub just as before.
+
+"Extraordinary people," said Pedersen. "Really, it's a pity to see
+all this money thrown away on folk with no idea of how to use it."
+
+And indeed Nils Petter and Jantje gradually were fast slipping back
+to their old way of life. All Pedersen's arguments and entreaties
+could not persuade them to move out to Sorgenfri and take up a
+position suited to their means. In vain the schoolmaster urged "the
+duties involved by possession of worldly wealth, responsibilities
+towards society in general," and so on; Nils Petter cared not a jot
+for anything of the sort; he was going to live his own way, and the
+rest could go hang.
+
+One day Justice Heidt came round, and asked to speak to Nils Petter
+privately.
+
+"There we are again," grumbled Nils Petter; "more about that wretched
+money, I'll be bound."
+
+"I am sorry to say," began the Justice, "I have bad news for you
+about this legacy business--very bad news indeed."
+
+"Well, I've had nothing but trouble about it from the start," said
+Nils Petter, "so a little more won't make much difference."
+
+"The legacy in question proves to be considerably less than was at
+first understood--in fact, I may say the amount is altogether
+insignificant."
+
+"Well, it'll be something anyway, I suppose?" Nils Petter felt he
+ought to have a little at least for all his trouble.
+
+"I have a cheque here for 760 gylden, and that, I am sorry to say, is
+all there is."
+
+"Well, to tell the truth, Justice, I'm not sorry to hear it. I've
+been that pestered and worried with this legacy business, I'll be
+glad to see the last of it."
+
+Nils Petter went round to the bank and changed his cheque; it came to
+1140 crowns. Of this Pedersen received 200 for his secretarial work,
+Rordam another 200, the remainder was put in the bank as a separate
+account for little Rasper. Nils Petter and Jantje were glad to be rid
+of Sorgenfri, the brig, and the postman. The last named, it is true,
+still brought an occasional letter for "N. P. Jorgensen, Esquire,"
+but Nils Petter never bothered to look at them.
+
+And when Nils Petter set little Rasper on his shoulders and asked:
+"Which would you rather have, a million or a thrashing?" the boy
+invariably answered, "Thrashing," at which Nils Petter would laugh
+till it could be heard half-way down the street.
+
+
+
+
+XX
+
+THE ADMIRAL
+
+
+Some people seem to have the privilege of being as rude and
+ill-mannered as they please. They are generally to be found among
+those whose superior share of this world's goods enables them to lord
+it over the little circle in which they move.
+
+They may be compared to bumble-bees that rarely sting, and only upon
+provocation. Ordinarily, they are very harmless, and for my part I
+much prefer a bumble-bee to the dainty and delicate mosquitoes that
+look so innocent, as they smilingly perforate the epidermis of a
+fellow-creature with a thousand little stabs.
+
+"The Admiral" was a big bumble-bee. As a young officer in the navy he
+had been a reckless blade, and, having gained the rank of lieutenant,
+was obliged to leave the service for some piece of insubordination.
+He then entered the navy of a minor eastern power, where his dominant
+qualities of impudence and unscrupulousness were appreciated to such
+a degree that he rose to the rank of Admiral. Hence the title. It was
+stated that he "flogged niggers and shot down cannibals," without the
+formality of trial by jury--or indeed any formality at all.
+
+Thanks to the Admiral's zeal, the two gunboats which constituted the
+navy in question were kept in excellent order, but as the four guns
+of the combined fleet enabled him to command the capital, including
+the government, he became a trifle over-bearing.
+
+One day, when the King came on board to pay a visit of inspection,
+with his two wives, the Admiral declared that he would keep the
+younger lady for himself, a wife being one of the items lacking in
+the inventory on board. The King, as a good husband, naturally
+declined to entertain the idea. Had it been the elder of the two, the
+matter might perhaps have been discussed, but as the Admiral
+stubbornly insisted on taking the younger, the parties exchanged
+words, and, ultimately, blows. This stage having been reached, the
+Admiral took his sovereign by the scruff of the neck, and his queen
+by the stern, and heaved the pair of them overboard. Fortunately the
+gunboat was not far off shore, and their majesties, who could swim
+like fishes, made straight for land. But the waters thereabouts are
+infested with sharks, and they were forced to put on full speed to
+escape with their lives.
+
+The Admiral and the younger consort stood on the deck of the gunboat,
+watching the august swimmers with interest through a glass.
+
+The King, having scrambled ashore, stalked solemnly up to his
+palm-shack palace, clenched his fist and shook it violently at the
+Admiral, vociferating "schandalous." This was a word he had learned
+from a German Jew, who traded in glass beads, and adorned his
+notepaper and visiting-cards with the inscription:
+
+  "By Royal Warrant to His Majesty the King of Zumba-Lumba."
+
+Now the King knew nothing of revolution, not even the name, and there
+was not a bolshevik to be found in all his dominions. Nevertheless,
+he felt instinctively that the Admiral's behaviour was an outrage
+against the supreme authority vested in himself by right divine.
+
+But what could he do against the Admiral and his four guns? Of the
+four hundred warriors that composed his army, only about half were
+armed with muskets of an ancient type, procured by the Admiral
+himself in days gone by. And the ammunition amounted to practically
+nil, the Admiral having been far-sighted enough to store most of the
+cartridges on board the gunboats, serving out a small allowance now
+and then to the King and his army, wherewith to keep lions and tigers
+at a respectful distance from the huts of the capital.
+
+The King thought over the matter for quite a while, and at last sent
+for one of his numerous brothers-in-law. Here, as in other kingdoms,
+the family relationship was a most useful factor, providing a kind of
+mutual insurance in support of the throne.
+
+His Majesty's kinsman, then, was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and
+Minister Plenipotentiary, and instructed to proceed, in that
+capacity, to the neighbouring territory of Hampa-Denga, and inform
+the British Resident there that His Majesty the King of Zumba-Lumba
+wished to place himself under British protectorate at once.
+
+One morning, a few days later, the Admiral lay in his hammock on
+deck, H.M.'s late consort in another hammock at his side, fanning him
+with a palm-branch. He was in the best of spirits, refreshed alike by
+his morning bath and an excellent breakfast. The parrots were
+chattering noisily in the great fragrant agaves on shore, birds of
+paradise rocked on the topmost crests of the palms, with impertinent
+young monkeys vainly trying to tweak their tails. The ex-queen chewed
+betel and smiled at him, and he, in return, tickled the soles of her
+feet till she screamed. It was a perfect little idyll; a very
+paradise.
+
+Neither of the pair noticed anything unusual until suddenly a young
+English officer appeared on deck.
+
+He had come, it appeared, to deliver a dispatch to the Officer
+Commanding the Fleet. And this is how it ran:
+
+  "SIR,--Pursuant to negotiations with His Majesty the King of
+  Zumba-Lumba, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty has
+  this day placed himself under British protectorate.
+
+  "Accordingly, the Zumba-Lumba navy will henceforward be under the
+  Administration of the Governor at Hampa-Denga and the naval
+  station there.
+
+  "The bearer of this, Sub-Lieutenant Algernon Smith, is deputed to
+  take over for the present the command of the Zumba-Lumba
+  Fleet.--I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
+
+                   "C. W. MELVILLE ST. PATRICK, C.B., R.N.
+
+    "H.B.M.S. _Cyclope_, 6th February 1873."
+
+The Admiral's first impulse was to take this young spark by the
+collar and throw him overboard, as he had done a day or so before
+with His Majesty and his wife. But on glancing over the side, he
+perceived, under shelter of a small island, the white painted hull of
+H.M.S. _Cyclope_, and thought better of it; instead, he turned to the
+bearer of the letter, and, with kindly condescension, invited him to
+come below and have a drink.
+
+Whereupon they descended to the cabin, where the Admiral initiated
+his young colleague into the maritime affairs of the Zumba-Lumba.
+
+Then the Admiral packed up his things.
+
+He regretted that he had not a visiting-card, not even a photograph
+to give his successor, but handed over instead the younger wife of
+his late master as a trifling souvenir.
+
+On reaching the deck, to his indescribable annoyance he perceived the
+King, with his brother-in-law, his four hundred warriors, and the
+elder wife, standing on the shore, slapping their stomachs, the
+superlative expression of mischievous delight in those parts.
+
+The foregoing brief narrative is to be taken as a truthful and
+dispassionate account of the manner in which the Admiral attained his
+title and dignity.
+
+The remainder of his doings during his sojourn abroad, before he
+returned to settle down in his native town on the coast, is soon
+told.
+
+The Admiral was not a man to be long idle, and, as a sailor, he could
+always find a way. He captained vessels for Chinese and Japanese
+owners, both sail and steam. He started a fleet of tugs at Tientsin,
+and obtained a concession for dredging the harbour of Shanghai, with
+a host of other things, making a very considerable fortune out of the
+whole.
+
+Then he turned his steps towards home, and purchased the house of his
+fathers on the hill just above the Custom House.
+
+He dismantled the old place almost entirely of its furniture, and had
+it fitted up according to his own ideas, as a sort of bungalow.
+
+There were weapons all over the place; spears, bows and arrows,
+pistols and guns of all sorts. Pot-bellied idols smirked in every
+corner; lion and tiger skins were spread on the floor. But the
+drawing-room on the ground floor and the office in the side wing,
+that had been his father's in the old days, he left untouched. He
+even went so far as to have the successive layers of wallpaper, that
+in course of years had been hung one over another, carefully removed
+one by one until he came to the identical one that had adorned the
+place when he was a little lad and his mother and father were still
+alive. Then he went about all over the town, trying to buy up the old
+pieces of furniture that had been sold and scattered about thirty or
+forty years before. He went far up into one of the outlying villages
+to get hold of one particular birchwood cabinet which he had learned
+was to be found there. He also managed to unearth his father's old
+writing-desk, and had it set up in its old place in the "office." And
+at last he really succeeded in restoring the two rooms almost
+completely to their former state. Then and not till then was he
+satisfied, and began, as it were, to live his life over again.
+
+The Admiral was now a man about sixty. A giant of a man to look at,
+with hands and arms of an athlete and well proportioned.
+
+He had a big, curved nose, a trifle over large, perhaps. And the eyes
+that shone out from beneath the great bushy brows were not of the
+sort that give way. His whole face bore the stamp of unscrupulous
+firmness, softened a little, however, by the heavy whiskers generally
+affected by naval officers in those days, and which in his case were
+now perfectly white.
+
+When the Admiral came home he brought with him a little girl twelve
+years old. A queer little creature she was, with somewhat darker skin
+than we are accustomed to see, and brilliant black eyes.
+
+"My daughter," said the Admiral, and that was all the information to
+be obtained from that quarter.
+
+It was generally surmised that she must be the offspring of his
+alliance with the young Queen of Zumba-Lumba, who had, as we know,
+been on board the gunboat; _ergo_, she was of royal blood. And the
+whole town accordingly styled her simply "The Princess."
+
+As to whether he had contracted other alliances elsewhere none could
+say, for the old servant, or lady companion, whom he had brought with
+him from abroad, was dumb as a door-post when the talk turned in that
+direction.
+
+She was English and somewhat over fifty. Miss Jenkins was her name,
+but the Admiral invariably called her "Missa." Missa was the only
+person who ever ventured to oppose him. Now and then the pair of them
+might be heard arguing hotly, always in English, till at last he
+would shout at her: "Mind your own business, please!" This was his
+stock phrase for terminating an argument when he did not care to
+discuss the matter further.
+
+The Princess was to be confirmed. And there was a great to-do in view
+of the event.
+
+The parson, naturally enough, requested the usual
+particulars--parents' names, place of birth, date, certificate of
+vaccination, etc. The whole town was curious now, and great
+excitement prevailed; at last the mystery would be solved. The parson
+had to go down to the Admiral himself, and inform him, as politely as
+possible, that the law required compliance with certain formalities;
+an especially important point was that the names of both father and
+mother should be correctly stated.
+
+"She has no mother," the Admiral categorically declared.
+
+"But, my dear Admiral, she must have had a mother. In the ordinary
+course of nature...."
+
+"The course of nature's extraordinary where she comes from."
+
+"But you must have been married, surely?"
+
+The Admiral glared, and his bushy brows contracted.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"You."
+
+"I?" The Admiral chuckled.
+
+"Yes," said the parson, lowering his voice a little; he was beginning
+to feel a trifle uncomfortable.
+
+"Oh, in the tropics, you know, there are no such formalities."
+
+"But surely that's immoral?"
+
+"We don't know the word in those parts." And the Admiral rose to his
+feet.
+
+The parson plucked up courage and said quietly: "But you yourself
+were a Christian, Admiral, were you not?"
+
+"Mind your own business, please," answered the Admiral, at the same
+time opening the door politely, that the parson might slip out. The
+latter also availed himself of the chance; he was not without a
+certain uneasy feeling that if he failed to do so now, his exit might
+take a less peaceable form.
+
+How the question was finally settled the writer cannot say; the fact
+remains that the town was no wiser than before.
+
+The Princess was confirmed, and received into the best society of the
+town, as one of themselves. She was slender and finely built, with a
+pretty face and charming eyes. The only thing that marked her as
+different from the other girls was the yellowish-brown of her skin,
+and even this seemed to be growing fainter as the years went by.
+
+As to her antecedents, she herself never referred to the subject, and
+no one was ever indelicate enough to ask her.
+
+Altogether, then, matters were going very well indeed, both for the
+Admiral and the Princess. He began to feel at home in his old town,
+and did not regret having settled down there.
+
+And the townsfolk, for the most part, gradually got used to the rough
+old fellow and his ways, though there were still a few who declared
+they could not "abide" him.
+
+Consul Endresen, for instance, and Henry B. Karsten the ship-chandler
+were not accustomed to be treated with such utter disregard by a
+so-called "Admiral."
+
+Admiral indeed! Ha, ha! The whole thing was a farce. The old humbug;
+he was no more an admiral than Ferryman Arne. They turned up their
+noses at him, but kept their distance all the same, with an
+instinctive feeling that he might literally go so far as to take them
+by the scruff of the neck if he felt like it.
+
+The two firms were old-established and respected in the place, having
+occupied a leading position in the commercial life of the town for
+generations, by reason of their wealth, superior education and
+incontestable ability. And in consequence neither felt at home
+elsewhere than in their native place, where they were used to play
+first fiddle generally. There was no competition between the two;
+they were wise enough to realise that any such conflicting element
+might easily destroy the lead their fathers had established.
+
+But they would not suffer any outsider to intrude on their domains,
+whether in business or in social life; here they shared in common an
+undisputed supremacy.
+
+The young Karstens and Endresens were brought up according to the
+principles of their respective dynasties, and were sent abroad for
+their commercial education, that they might be properly fitted for
+the distinguished position they would be called to fill.
+
+Skipper Hansen and Blacksmith Olsen's offspring found it was no easy
+matter to compete with them.
+
+Wealth, however, was the only thing they really respected at heart,
+the old as well as the younger generation.
+
+They would devote themselves several times a week to calculating how
+much the other notables might be worth, and were ill pleased that
+anyone should be better off than themselves.
+
+It was even said that old Karsten took to his bed out of sheer envy
+on hearing that someone else had made a heap of money.
+
+Endresen was wilier and rarely showed his feelings, but it was a
+well-known fact that he would be irritable and unreasonable when he
+heard of others making a successful deal. The clerks in his office
+said so.
+
+Then came the sudden appearance of the Admiral in their midst. At
+first they did not understand this brutal and domineering force. The
+old Karstens themselves had been accounted proud and haughty
+enough--though perhaps not exactly brutal; but they were, as we have
+said, of a privileged caste. But this so-called Admiral, what was he?
+A scion of the town, it is true, inasmuch as he was a son of the old
+shipbroker who had formerly occupied the house now purchased by the
+newcomer. But he, the father, that is, had been no more than a
+"measly broker," who had just managed to scrape some sort of a
+livelihood together by fixing contracts for the vessels owned by
+Endresens and selling coal to the Karstens' factories.
+
+The Admiral himself, however, was evidently rich, a man of unbounded
+wealth, indeed, and enough to buy up Endresen's and Karsten's
+together. His Income Tax Return spoke plainly in plain figures; no
+farce about that! The fact was there, and could not be ignored; an
+abominable thing, but none the less true. There was nothing for it
+but to give him his title of Admiral, and with a serious face. Had it
+been some poor devil without means, they would have jeered him out of
+the place.
+
+When the Admiral came striding up the main street, a stout, imposing
+figure, even Henry B. Karsten himself had to make way. He would wave
+one hand in salutation and say "Morning!" in English, using the same
+form of greeting to all, with the sole exception of Arne the
+Ferryman, who was always honoured with a shake of the hand.
+
+But the Princess fluttered about the place like a dainty little
+butterfly. Old Missa looked after her as well as she could, and never
+lost sight of her if she could help it. But the Princess seemed to
+have wings! She would manage somehow or other to vanish in a moment:
+_presto!_ gone! And there was Missa left behind in despair.
+
+She would soon come fluttering back again, however, smiling and
+irresistible as ever, and throw her arms round Missa's neck and beg
+to be forgiven.
+
+The Admiral grumbled and swore he would "put the youngster in irons"
+if she did not keep to the house; but the youngster only laughed,
+perched herself on the Admiral's knee, and pulled his long white
+whiskers; and then he might fall to dreaming ... dreaming of distant
+lands, of moonlight nights beneath the palms and agaves, long and
+long ago.
+
+He fussed and grumbled and stamped about the house, calling Missa a
+lumbering old mud-barge that couldn't keep a proper look-out; but the
+Princess fluttered on as before, entirely undismayed.
+
+There was to be a grand festival in the town, a charity entertainment
+in aid of the Children's Home.
+
+All the young people of the town were to assist. There was to be a
+theatrical performance, and an exhibition of dancing on the stage.
+Young Endresen and Karsten junior, of course, took a leading part in
+the arrangements; "for a charitable object," they could do no less.
+It was generally understood, however, that the real object of both
+young gentlemen was to see something of the Princess.
+
+The two heirs-apparent waged a violent struggle for the Princess's
+favour. True, they had been duly instructed by their respective
+fathers, as these by their respective fathers before them, in the
+principle that "the house of Endresen" or "the house of Karsten"
+expected every son to do his duty--_i.e._ not to marry beneath his
+rank, and also, to "consolidate the standing of the firm," as it was
+conveniently put. As regards the question of rank, this was, in the
+present instance, a somewhat debatable one, but the question of
+consolidation was plain as could be wished. Here was a considerable
+fortune to be gained for the town, and thus for one of the two firms.
+It was certainly worth a struggle.
+
+The Admiral had grumbled and stormed for a whole week before
+consenting to the Princess participating in the affair.
+
+The Princess was to dance--a dance she had composed herself.
+
+There was great excitement; the local theatre was crammed. The
+leading notabilities of the place had booked up all the stalls at
+more than twice the usual prices. Everyone who could get about at all
+was present. Even old Endresen, who generally affected to despise all
+such theatrical tomfoolery, had found a seat in the front row, and
+confided to his next-door neighbour that he had seen "Pepita" dance
+in Paris--had even thrown her a bouquet--"but I was very young, then,
+I must say," he added, with a smile.
+
+Old folk in the town still told the story of how Endresen, as a young
+man, had led a gay life in Paris; a life so gay, and so expensive,
+that the Endresen senior of the period had promptly ordered him to
+come back home at once. "And he's turned out a real good man for all
+that," they would hasten to add.
+
+The theatrical performance went off quite successfully, but without
+arousing any great amount of enthusiasm. There was applause, of
+course, and the principal actors had to appear before the curtain;
+the leading lady was duly praised for her interpretation. But it was
+the Princess all were waiting for.
+
+At last the curtain rose. The scenery was ordinary enough: a
+"woodland scene," with the usual trees and a pale moon painted on the
+background. It was the standard setting, as used for classical
+tragedy, vaudeville and, in fact, almost anything.
+
+Enter the Princess, daintily as if on wings. She wore a long white
+robe, that moved in graceful waves about her slender figure; diamonds
+shone and glittered in her hair. No one present had ever seen such
+stones, and young Endresen swore they were genuine. She wore a row of
+pearls too round her neck, and heavy gold rings about her bare
+ankles.
+
+The spectators seemed literally to hold their breath with every nerve
+on the strain. The little figure up there was like a vision; her feet
+hardly touched the floor.
+
+First, she glided softly across the stage, her white robe rising and
+falling like the gentle swell of the sea on a summer's day, then
+faster and faster. She whirled round, bent right down to the ground,
+and fell in a heap, only to spring up again in a moment and whirl
+round again at a furious pace.
+
+The public was simply spell-bound. No one had ever seen, ever dreamed
+of such a sight.
+
+Her great black eyes shone towards them, while that queer smile
+played about her mouth; she seemed to move in a world of her own. The
+dusty old scenery faded into nothingness; they saw but the girl
+herself, and sat staring, enchanted, hypnotised.
+
+Gone! It was over. The curtain fell, and a silence as in church
+reigned for some seconds after; the spectators were getting their
+breath again, so to speak. Then something unusual happened. Old
+Endresen rose to his feet, clapped his hands and cried: "Encore,
+encore!"
+
+Forgotten were his seventy years, his dignity, everything; he was
+young again, young and infatuated as he had been in Paris half a
+century before, when he joined in the cry of the thousands shouting,
+"_Vive Pepita, vive l'Espagne!_"
+
+At last the general enthusiasm found vent in shouts of applause like
+the roar of a bursting dam. Handkerchiefs were waved; all rose to
+their feet.
+
+Then once more she glided in across the stage.
+
+Again an outburst of delighted applause.
+
+One young man in particular seemed intent on outdoing all the rest--a
+fair-haired little fellow with a snub nose and pince-nez.
+
+He sat in the stage box, and his shrill voice could be heard all over
+the theatre as he cried in unmistakable west coast dialect: "Bravo,
+bravissimo! Bravo, bravissimo!"
+
+All looked at him and laughed. It was Doffen Eriksen, or Doffen,
+simply, as he was generally called. He came from Mandal originally,
+but had been several years in the town, first as head clerk at
+Eriksen's, and later with other local firms. His natural tendency to
+continual opposition, and lack of respect for his superiors, indeed
+for all recognised authority, prevented him from ever keeping a
+situation long.
+
+He had recently gone over to the Socialist party, but at the very
+first meeting had abused his new comrades with emphasis: thieves,
+scoundrels and political mugwumps were among the expressions he used.
+The last in particular aroused their indignation, and after a few
+weeks he was excluded from the party. He was now a free-lance, with
+no regular employment.
+
+Then it happened that the Admiral advertised for an assistant to help
+in the office. The Admiral used his office chiefly as a place where
+he could give way to bad language as often as he pleased; he felt he
+ought to keep himself in training, and arguing with Missa was too
+milk and watery for his taste.
+
+The work in the office consisted for the most part of keeping the
+accounts of a couple of small vessels which he owned, together with
+the cutting out of coupons and cashier work. The Admiral himself
+never condescended to take up a pen; one had coolies to do that sort
+of thing, he would say.
+
+His two skippers were rated and bullied every time they came home
+from a voyage, but they were so used to the treatment that they never
+noticed it.
+
+It was worse, however, for the clerk, who had to endure the same
+thing day after day.
+
+During the last year or so, the Admiral had had four or five
+different specimens in the office, but they always made haste to
+better themselves at the earliest opportunity, or simply "got the
+sack." They were all either "a pack of fools that couldn't think for
+themselves," or "a lot of impertinent donkeys that fancied they knew
+everything."
+
+And when, after one of his usual outbursts, the unfortunate in
+question found it too much, and gave notice to leave, the Admiral's
+standard answer was "All right! then I'll have to get another idiot
+from somewhere."
+
+Doffen applied for the post, referring to his previous experience,
+and stated that he had been "simply thrown out of various situations,
+not through any lack of ability, but because the principals were so
+many blockheads, who could not bear to hear a free and independent
+man express his frank opinion." He was at present disengaged, on the
+market, and perfectly willing to undertake any kind of work whatever,
+"even to playing croquet." The Admiral read the application through;
+it was the only one he had received in answer to his advertisement.
+
+He grunted once or twice as he read. Missa laid down her needlework
+and prepared for a direct attack.
+
+The opening seemed to take his fancy, but when he came to the part
+about playing croquet, he exclaimed:
+
+"What the devil does the fellow mean? Playing croquet?"
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Oh, the new slave I'm getting for the office."
+
+"Well, why not. He might play with Baby."
+
+"Oh go to...." The Admiral got up and put the application into the
+fire.
+
+Next day Doffen, as the sole applicant, was accorded the post. He sat
+down at the high desk, on one of those scaffold-like office stools
+with a big wooden screw in the middle. It was a matter of some
+difficulty to climb up, Doffen being small of stature, but with the
+aid of some acrobatic backwork, he soon learned to manage it.
+
+Opposite his place was the Admiral's seat. He loved to sit there, in
+the very spot where his father had sat, year after year, as far back
+as he could remember.
+
+It was not often the Admiral showed any evidence of gentler feeling,
+but it happened at times, when very old folk chanced to come into the
+office. They would stand still for a long time, looking round in
+wonder, and finally exclaim:
+
+"Why, if it's not exactly as it used to be in your father's time!"
+and then the Admiral would jump down from his stool and slap the
+speaker on the shoulder.
+
+During the first few days Doffen had not seen much of the Admiral,
+who had hardly looked in at the office at all. He wanted to get some
+idea of the "new slave's" manner and behaviour before he sat down.
+
+On the day after the performance, the Admiral walked in and took his
+seat. Silence for a few minutes.
+
+At last Doffen thought he ought to say something, and observed with
+the utmost coolness:
+
+"Your daughter danced very nicely last night."
+
+"H'm." The Admiral only grunted, and looked out of the window. Doffen
+imagined he had not heard.
+
+"I was saying, Admiral, your daughter gave a deuced fine performance
+last night." Doffen raised his voice a little, thinking the Admiral
+must be hard of hearing.
+
+"And what the devil's that got to do with you?" Doffen slammed down
+the lid of his desk with a bang.
+
+"To do with me? Why, I paid for my ticket, anyway."
+
+"I didn't ask her to dance for you, my lad, and devil take me but it
+shall be the last time."
+
+"What's that to do with me?" retorted Doffen coldly.
+
+The Admiral began to feel in his element; here at last was a man who
+could stand up to him.
+
+"Can't you see she's like a young palm? Haven't you got a spice of
+feeling in you, man?"
+
+"That's my business, Admiral."
+
+The Admiral stopped short. He was on the point of bringing out his
+own favourite retort: "Mind your own business," and here was this
+fellow taking the very words out of his mouth. He went out of the
+room without a word.
+
+Several times after that the Admiral launched his attacks at the new
+clerk, but invariably got as good as he gave. More than that, Doffen
+would even take the offensive himself.
+
+"What do you think you're doing with these two hulks of yours,
+Admiral, eh?"
+
+"Hulks?"
+
+"Yes, these two old wooden arks. The skippers go floundering about
+like hunted cockroaches at sea, and the ships themselves go pottering
+from pillar to post; it's high time you got some system into the
+business."
+
+"You mind your own business, please," said the Admiral, rapping on
+the desk. But at that the other let himself go in his barbarous
+dialect, like a gramophone:
+
+"It is my business, and as long as I'm stuck here on this
+spindle-shanked contrivance of a stool I'll say what I think. Take me
+for a dumb beast, do you? Not me! It'll take more than you know to
+stop me talking. We're used to rough weather where I come from."
+
+And Doffen went on in the same strain long after the Admiral had got
+out of the room. The Admiral himself, however, listened with delight
+from the other side of the door, as Doffen thumped his desk again and
+again, still in the full torrent of speech. It was worth while going
+to the office now. No more sitting glowering at a servile,
+stooping-shouldered little scrap of a man, who scribbled away for
+dear life and shrank in terror every time he entered. Now he would
+generally find the room in a thick haze of tobacco smoke so that he
+himself could scarcely breathe. Doffen's pipe was rarely out of his
+mouth. Several times the Admiral had invited him, in well-chosen
+words, to take his beastly pipe to a hotter place, but only to be met
+with the retort that it might be as well, seeing there was never a
+box of matches here when a man wanted a light. The Admiral came more
+and more often to the office now. Here at least he could be sure of
+getting a fair go at any time, for Doffen was always open for a game.
+
+After a while a tone of jovial roughness grew up between the two of
+them, and authority was relegated to the background, exactly as
+Doffen wished.
+
+Altogether there was every prospect of an idyllic understanding
+between the two parties, until one day Doffen fell in love, over head
+and ears in love beyond recall.
+
+The Princess had captivated him completely. If she chanced to come
+into the office for a stamp, or to deliver a letter, his heart would
+start hammering like a riveting machine.
+
+His brain was so confused he hardly knew what he was doing. He would
+lie awake at nights in a torment of hatred against the Endresen and
+Karsten boys, who were rivals for her favour. And, after all, who was
+better fitted than he? Had he not got the Admiral's papers into
+proper order? Had he not managed to knock the old porpoise himself
+into shape, till he was grown docile and tractable as a tame rabbit?
+
+The Princess smiled on Doffen as she smiled on everyone, and each of
+course fancied himself specially favoured. Even old Consul Endresen
+brightened up at the sight of her, and was always ready to stop for
+a chat; he would draw himself up and endeavour to play the gallant
+cavalier. He had been a widower now for many years, and it was
+commonly believed that he was not unwilling to enter once more into
+the bonds of holy matrimony, should a favourable opportunity occur.
+
+The Admiral growled fiercely whenever Baby was out, and Missa wept
+and wrung her hands over the young ladies of the present
+day--particularly in this barbarous country.
+
+Paying attentions? It was one continual paying of attentions all day
+long. The young men of the place were sick with longing when she was
+not to be seen, and Doffen suffered most, having occasion to see her
+every day. To make matters worse, she had taken to coming into the
+office more frequently of late, and would perch herself up on her
+father's high stool. There she would sit and gossip with him for half
+an hour at a time. Six times a week at least Doffen was in the
+seventh heaven of delight. She asked him questions about everything
+under the sun, consulting him on every imaginable subject. And then
+she would thank him with one of those wonderful smiles, and a look
+from those dark eyes of hers--oh, it was beyond all bearing.
+
+Doffen pondered long and deep, seeking some way of coming to the
+point.
+
+He must not let the others get there before him, and he decided on a
+_coup de main_, which, as he had read in the life of Napoleon, was
+the proper way to win a battle. He would go directly to the Admiral
+himself.
+
+One morning, then, the Admiral came into the office, looked long and
+attentively at Doffen, and finally said:
+
+"What's the matter with you, man? You're getting to look like a
+plucked goose, for all the sign of life in you!" And he jumped up on
+his stool.
+
+"It's a dog's life being a man," declared Doffen sententiously.
+
+"You find it easier, no doubt, to be a monkey," said the Admiral.
+
+"Well, anyway, I'd be a sort of relative of yours," said Doffen. "And
+it's as well to be on good terms with the devil, they say."
+
+The Admiral laughed. This was a bad sign.
+
+Ugh! So Doffen was going to be funny, and make jokes. That sort of
+polite conversation was a thing the Admiral detested; it was blank
+tomfoolery; soup without salt.
+
+No; what he enjoyed was proper high temper on both sides like a
+couple of flints striking sparks. Anything short of that made life a
+washy, milk-and-watery dreariness. And most people, according to his
+opinion, were just a set of slack-kneed molly-coddles that sheered
+off at the first encounter. Devil take their measly souls! When he
+did happen to meet with a fellow-citizen who could get into a proper
+towering passion, he felt like falling on his neck out of sheer
+gratitude and admiration. Here, at last, was a _man_! Women he placed
+in a separate category: they were "fellow-creatures," just as
+rabbits, for instance, whose chief business in life was to have young
+ones.
+
+Doffen, then, ought to have realised that the moment was not
+opportune for a _coup de main_. He had, however, only the day before,
+seen the Princess out for a long walk with young Endresen, and he
+felt he must act promptly, so he went on:
+
+"You could make a happy man of me, Admiral!"
+
+"You're happy enough as it is, man."
+
+"No, not quite. There's one thing wanting."
+
+"And what's that?"
+
+"Your daughter----"
+
+"Hey? Are you off your head?"
+
+"Your daughter," repeated Doffen. "I'd be a good husband to her, and
+a proper son-in-law to you."
+
+"I'll give you son-in-law!" roared the Admiral, and, picking up the
+big Directory, he sent it full at Doffen's chest; the latter, taken
+by surprise, came tumbling down from his stool, and fell against the
+wood-box in the corner.
+
+"You miserable nincompoop!" snorted the Admiral, as he rushed out of
+the room.
+
+Doffen lay in the corner by the wood-box, groaning pitifully. The
+noise had been heard all over the house, and the Princess came
+rushing in to see what was the matter.
+
+"Are you ill, Eriksen?" she asked, taking his hand.
+
+"Oh, I think I must be dying," he said, touching his chest.
+
+"No, no," said she. "It's not so bad as all that."
+
+"And if so, I shall have died for you."
+
+"Let me help you up on the sofa, now, and I'll fetch you a glass of
+water."
+
+With her support he limped across to the sofa.
+
+"Better now?" she asked, handing him the glass of water.
+
+"Oh, I'm so fond of you," said he, and tried to take her hand.
+
+"Oh, do stop that nonsense!" said she, with a laugh.
+
+"Stop? How can I stop when I love you as deeply as ... as ..." he
+paused, unable to find a sufficiently powerful expression, then
+suddenly the inspiration came, and, raising himself on his elbow, he
+went on--"as deeply as is possible _in this line of business_!"
+
+"Oh no, really; you can talk about this another time, you know. Come
+along now, Eriksen, pull yourself together and be a man."
+
+"Then it's not a final refusal--not a harsh and cruel 'no' such as
+your father flung at me just now--with that heavy book? Say it's not
+that!"
+
+But she was gone.
+
+Doffen lay back on the sofa once more, closed his eyes, and thought
+of her. At last he fell asleep, and lay there, never noticing when
+the Admiral peeped in through the door, "to see if the carcass was
+still alive." The sound of Doffen's snoring, however, reassured him,
+and he went away again, contented and relieved.
+
+The Princess sat in her room, highly amused with the thought of her
+latest admirer. What a funny creature he was! She rather liked him
+really, for all that; he was always so willing and kind, and if one's
+ardent worshippers themselves agree to be reduced to the status of
+"just friends," why, it may be very handy at times to have them in
+reserve. No, she would not quarrel with Eriksen, because of this, not
+at all.
+
+But, to tell the truth, it was getting quite a nuisance with all
+these admirers. Everyone of them was always wanting to meet her and
+go for a walk with her, and talk of love! Oh, she was so utterly
+weary of them all. These simpletons who imagined she was going to
+settle down and stay in this little place all her life!
+
+Heavens alive, what an existence! No, thank you, not if she knew it!
+
+It was annoying, in this frame of mind, to recollect that she
+promised Endresen junior to meet him at twelve o'clock by the big
+pond in the park. Still, a promise was a promise; she would have to
+go.
+
+And lo, he came up with a huge bouquet of pale yellow roses, her
+favourite flower, as he knew, tied round with a piece of thin red
+ribbon.
+
+"When the roses are faded, you can take the ribbon and bind me with
+it," he said.
+
+"When the roses have faded? Oh, but that won't be for a long time
+yet--thank goodness." And she laughed.
+
+"Well, so much the better; you can tie me up at once."
+
+"But suppose I don't want to?"
+
+"Then I'll die, Baby. Go off and shoot myself, or drown myself."
+
+"Drown yourself? Oh, do it now. I'll bet anything you wouldn't dare."
+
+"I assure you I mean it," he said, placing one hand on his heart.
+
+"Well, now, let me see what sort of a man you are, Endresen. Walk
+round the edge of the pond here five times----"
+
+"And what then?"
+
+"Then--oh, then you shall have----"
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"--My sincere admiration, let us say. That'll do to go on with." And
+she smiled mischievously.
+
+He jumped up on to the narrow stone edging of the pond and began
+balancing his way carefully along, the Princess walking by his side,
+counting the rounds. One--two--three--four times round. "One more,
+and you've done it," she said encouragingly.
+
+"And then I've won your hand, haven't I?" he cried.
+
+"Once more round, and--we'll think about it. Now, last lap!"
+
+He stepped cautiously along, and was nearing the end of the fifth
+round, when all of a sudden she jumped up and gave him a push that
+sent him into the water up to his waist.
+
+"No, that's not fair, Baby. I won."
+
+She danced up and down, clapping her hands and laughing delightedly.
+
+"Adieu, Endresen! my sincere admiration. It was splendid! But I don't
+think I'll walk home with you now, or people might think you'd been
+drowning yourself for my sake." And she ran off. Coming through the
+town she encountered old Consul Endresen, who stopped, as usual, to
+talk to her.
+
+"You're looking younger than ever, Consul," said the Princess.
+
+"Am I, though? Oh, you know how to get at an old man's heart, little
+sunbeam that you are! Looking younger than ever, eh--and I'm
+sixty-seven to-day," which, by the way, was three years less than the
+truth.
+
+"To-day? Oh, then I must wish you many happy returns--and here, let
+me give you these flowers."
+
+He stopped in surprise.
+
+"But, my dearest child, you don't mean it, surely? These flowers,
+these charming roses, they were for somebody else now, I'm sure."
+
+"Not a bit of it--they're for you."
+
+"Why, then, since you are pleased to command, I bow--and many
+thanks." And, bowing deeply, he took her hand and kissed it.
+
+The Princess hurried homeward, laughing at the face of young Endresen
+when his father appeared with the flowers.
+
+While all this was going on, Karsten junior was sitting deep in
+thought as to whether he ought not to propose to the Princess
+himself. He had sounded his father on the subject, and the latter had
+made no positive objection to the match. True, it was not altogether
+_comme il faut_, but still, it might be passed over--though he
+certainly considered the old man intolerable.
+
+Karsten junior was not much of a speaker, and determined, therefore,
+to write instead. But he found this, too, a ticklish business. He had
+never "operated in that market" before, and was altogether
+unacquainted with the article known as love. The opening phrase of
+the contemplated letter was a stumbling-block to begin with. Should
+he write "Miss," or "Miss Baby," or "Dear Miss Baby"--or even
+straight out, "Dear Baby"--but no, he must do the thing correctly in
+due form. The house of Karsten was an old-established firm, and he
+must make this evident.
+
+He decided at last for "Miss" simply.
+
+"Referring to our conversation of 7th inst., I hereby beg to inform
+you..." etc.
+
+He wrote on his sister's ivory paper, put the letter neatly in an
+envelope, and sent it off.
+
+The Princess laughed when she got the letter. She read it aloud to
+herself, and exclaimed with conviction: "What a fool!"
+
+Altogether it had been a day of amusing experiences for the Princess,
+but there was more to come. Yet another letter arrived, that filled
+her with unbounded astonishment. It ran as follows:
+
+  "MY DEAR LITTLE FRIEND,--Do not be startled at receiving these
+  lines from an old man. George Sand was once asked when a woman
+  ceased to love, and she answered, Never. But if I were asked now,
+  when a man ceases to love, I should answer, for my own part, I no
+  longer love, I only admire and worship. You will, I am sure, have
+  realised, little friend, that it is you I worship, your talents,
+  your beauty, your goodness of heart and brilliant spirit. What
+  can I offer you? A faithful protector, a good home, in peace and
+  harmony.
+
+  "Think this over now, think well and wisely, and keep what I have
+  said a secret between ourselves. Whatever you may do, whichever
+  way your life may turn, your happiness will be my greatest
+  wish.--Affectionately yours,
+
+                                          "C. ENDRESEN, SEN."
+
+This time she did not laugh, but took a match and burned the letter
+in the stove.
+
+"This must be the end," she murmured to herself. "I won't stay here
+any longer with all these ridiculous men." She thought and pondered
+for several days until the Admiral came in one day and said he was
+going away for a week or so on business. In a moment her plan was
+made. She said nothing to him of what was in her mind; he would never
+have understood, and it would have made no end of trouble all round.
+
+But she would take Missa into her confidence. Missa had been a mother
+to her from the moment she realised she was living in this world; she
+would tell her all.
+
+"Missa," she said, throwing her arms round her neck, "I can't stand
+this any longer."
+
+"There, there now; what is it, child?"
+
+"I can't bear to live in this dreadful place. I must get away
+somehow."
+
+"Oh dear, dear! it's just what I think. A dreadful place."
+
+"Yes, there you are. And we'll go away, Missa, you and I, out into
+the beautiful wide world."
+
+"But for Heaven's sake, what about your father?"
+
+"Father mustn't know about it. We'll just go off by ourselves--run
+away, Missa dear."
+
+"Run away! God bless me no, child! The Admiral...."
+
+The Princess begged and prayed, using all her powers of persuasion
+and caresses, until Missa was gradually stripped of all arguments to
+the contrary, and finally rose to her feet.
+
+"But, Baby dear, how shall we make our living?"
+
+But at that the Princess jumped up and began dancing wildly around.
+
+"Missa, I'll dance--dance for all the world; make them wild with
+delight, till they throw themselves at my feet. Missa, don't you
+understand, can't you imagine ... oh, Missa, if you only knew.... But
+you shall see, you shall see for yourself...."
+
+She sank down on the sofa, sobbing violently.
+
+Next day the Princess went down to the office.
+
+Doffen was now completely himself again after the Admiral's very
+effective "refusal."
+
+He beamed like the sun when the Princess came in, made her a deep bow
+and said: "At your service, Miss--at your service, he, he!"
+
+"Ah, so you're still alive, Eriksen?"
+
+"Alive! The sight of you would have wakened me from the dead!"
+
+"Eriksen, will you do me a favour?"
+
+"Will I? Anything, Miss, anything a man can do."
+
+"I want a thousand pounds."
+
+Eriksen slid down from his stool.
+
+"_A thousand--pounds!_ Heaven preserve us! A thousand! I haven't more
+than seven-and-six on me.
+
+"But father has."
+
+"The Admiral! Yes, of course, he has; and more. But that's not mine.
+Da--" he checked himself, recollecting it was not the Admiral to whom
+he was speaking--"dear me, you wouldn't have me steal his money?"
+
+"Oh, all you need do is to let me have the key."
+
+"No, no, my dear young lady, no. It would never do.
+
+"But it's only drawing a little in advance--on my inheritance,
+Eriksen, you know. That's all it is."
+
+He stood reflecting quite a while.
+
+"But--what on earth do you want all that money for?"
+
+She took his hand, and he trembled with emotion.
+
+"Eriksen, you're my friend, aren't you?"
+
+"Heaven knows I am, Miss."
+
+"Well, I'm going out into the wide world--to dance."
+
+"But, heavens alive--that makes it worse than ever! The Admiral, he
+surely isn't going off dancing as well?"
+
+"No; Missa's coming with me. We leave to-morrow, for Paris,
+Eriksen--London--New York--oh, ever so far!"
+
+"But--but then, I shall never see you again."
+
+"Indeed you shall, Eriksen; I'll send you tickets, a whole box all to
+yourself, for my performance in Paris. Just fancy, a box at the
+theatre all to yourself. And you must pay me a thousand pounds for it
+now."
+
+"But the Admiral--the Admiral! I might just as well give myself up
+and go to jail."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense, Eriksen! Are you my friend or are you not?"
+
+The Princess got her thousand. And Eriksen duly entered in his cash
+book:
+
+  "By cash advanced to Miss Baby on account, as per receipt number
+  325, L1000."
+
+And the Princess on her part solemnly signed for the money:
+
+  "Received cash in advance on account of expected inheritance,
+  L1000--one thousand pounds."
+
+Doffen spent the evening helping Missa and the Princess with their
+packing.
+
+She promised to write and let him know how she got on, and gave him a
+photo of herself at parting, with the inscription: "To my true friend
+Doffen, from Baby."
+
+Doffen kept it near his heart.
+
+Missa gave him her photo too, but that he quietly put away in a back
+pocket.
+
+Next morning he went down to the quay to see them off. The Princess
+stood at the stern of the ship, and waved to him. He was proud to
+think that he was the only one she waved to, he was the one to
+receive her farewell smile. And so the Princess set out into the wide
+world.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the Admiral returned he found the following letter awaiting him:
+
+  "DEAR FATHER,--Missa and I have decided to go for a little trip
+  to Paris, possibly also London, New York, San Francisco, etc. We
+  couldn't stand it any longer, living in that old town of yours.
+
+  "I have drawn L1000 from Eriksen; I hope you won't mind. I don't
+  think we could really manage with less.
+
+  "And, please, don't be nastier than usual to Eriksen about it. I
+  made him do it.
+
+  "So long, then, for the present, and take care of yourself. You
+  shall hear from us when we get there.--Your own
+
+                                          "BABY."
+
+The Admiral grunted, got up and walked twice up and down the room;
+then, muttering to himself, "All right," he put the letter in the
+stove.
+
+When the Admiral came down to the office, Doffen was inclined to be
+somewhat shaky about the knees. He pulled himself together, however,
+and, bearing in mind the example of Napoleon, took the offensive at
+once.
+
+"Your daughter's gone away, Admiral!"
+
+"Oh, go to----"
+
+"Thanks. I don't think I will. I'm very comfortable where I am."
+
+"You're a fool."
+
+"There's bigger fools about."
+
+"Why didn't you give her two thousand?"
+
+"She'd have had five thousand."
+
+"You've no idea what it costs to go travelling about. A miserable
+stay-at-home like you."
+
+At this Doffen grew angry in earnest, and slammed down the lid of his
+desk, making the ink-stands fairly dance.
+
+"Well, of all the.... First of all I do my very utmost to save you
+from being ruined by your illegitimate offspring, then I manage to
+get her away in a decent, respectable manner--you ought to be
+thoroughly ashamed of yourself, if you ask me."
+
+The Admiral looked round as if in search of something.
+
+"What the devil have you done with that Directory?" he said at last.
+
+"Oho! Perhaps you'd like to be had up for another attempted
+manslaughter, what?"
+
+"Not a bit of it. But there's a reward for extermination of rats and
+other mischievous beasts."
+
+Here the discussion was interrupted by the entrance of Ferryman Arne,
+who just looked in to ask if the Admiral hadn't an old pair of
+breeches to give away, as the seat was all out of the ones he was
+wearing. The Admiral never refused. He went to a wardrobe, routed out
+an old pair and gave them to Arne. The latter examined them
+carefully, front and back, but instead of saying thank you, he rudely
+declared that if the Admiral wanted to give a poor man something to
+wear, he might at least give him something that wasn't falling to
+bits already.
+
+This led to a most satisfactory battle-royal between Arne and the
+Admiral, each trying to outdo the other in lurid pigeon-English--a
+tongue which both of them spoke fluently, Arne having been twelve
+years in the China Seas.
+
+And in the end the Admiral presented Arne with two brand-new pairs of
+trousers and a pound in cash.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The years passed by. Doffen stayed on in the office, and became
+indispensable as time went on. He and the Admiral made a pair. And
+whenever the conversation languished towards the milk-and-watery,
+Ferryman Arne would come and lend a hand.
+
+The Princess roamed far and wide about the world. She sent home
+newspapers, wherein they read that she was performing at this or that
+great city, with thousands of admirers at her tiny feet.
+
+The Admiral read it all without the slightest token of surprise, his
+only comment being: "All right, that's her business." But when one
+day he received a card bearing the inscription, "Countess Montfalca,"
+surmounted by a coronet, he spat, and remarked to Doffen:
+
+"Well, after all, there's nothing surprising in that, seeing her
+mother was a queen."
+
+
+
+
+XXI
+
+DIRRIK
+
+
+The first time I met him was in 1867, on board the schooner _Jenny_
+of Svelvik. The skipper was an uncle of mine, and had taken me along
+as odd boy for a summer cruise. And Ole Didriksen, or Dirrik, as we
+called him, was first hand on board.
+
+We had taken in a cargo of pit props at Drammen, and came down the
+fjord with a light northerly breeze. A little way out the wind
+dropped altogether and the _Jenny_ lay drifting idly under a blazing
+sun.
+
+Dirrik sounded the well, and declared that "the old swine was leaking
+like a sieve."--"Nonsense!" said the skipper. "Why, it's not more
+than three years since her last overhaul."--"Maybe," said Dirrik,
+"but she's powerful old."--"Old she may be--built in '32--and I won't
+say but she's a trifle groggy about the ribs; still, she's good for
+this bit of a run. And summer weather and all."
+
+Dirrik tried again. "Twenty-two inches," he said, and looked
+inquiringly at the skipper. "Well, then, you two men get the boat and
+go ashore for a few sacks of caulking. There's plenty of ant-heaps up
+in the wood there."
+
+I was ready to burst with pride at finding myself thus bracketed with
+Dirrik as a "man." I felt myself a sailor already, and would not
+have bartered the title for that of a Consul-General or Secretary of
+State.
+
+But the ant-heaps puzzled me. I could see no connection between
+ant-heaps in a wood on shore and the caulking of a leaky schooner.
+However, the first duty of man at sea is to obey the orders of the
+supreme power on board, _i.e._ the skipper; I curbed my curiosity,
+then, for the time, and waited till we were a few lengths away from
+the ship.
+
+"Ant-heaps?" said Dirrik. "Why, 'tis the only way to do with a leaky
+old tub like that. We dig 'em up, d'ye see, pine needles and all, and
+drag a caseful round her sides and down towards her keel, and she
+sucks it all up in her seams, ants and needles and bits of twigs, and
+the whole boiling, and that's the finest caulking you can get!"
+
+"Queer sort of caulking," I said.
+
+"There's queerer things than that, lad, when a vessel gets that old.
+It's the same like with human beings. Some of them keeps sound and
+fit, and others go rotten and mouldy and drink like hogs--but they
+often live the longest for all that!"
+
+"Do you think we'll ever get her across to England, Dirrik?"
+
+"Get her across? Why, what are you thinking of? She's never had so
+much as a copper nail put in these last thirty years, but she'll sail
+for all that. Run all heeled over on one side, she will, and
+squirming and screeching like a sea-serpent."
+
+"She looks a bit cranky, anyway," I ventured.
+
+"Warped and gaping. But still she'll do the trip for all that."
+
+We reached the shore, and Dirrik ordered me up into the wood to fill
+the sacks, while he just ran up to old Iversen, the pilot, for a
+moment.
+
+I managed, not without some difficulty, to get the boat loaded up,
+but it was a full half-hour before Dirrik appeared.
+
+At last he came strolling down, in company with a pretty, buxom girl.
+"This is my young lady, an' her name's Margine," said Dirrik, and
+pointing to me: "Our new hand on board."--"Well, see you make a nice
+trip," said Margine, "and come back again soon."
+
+We caulked the _Jenny_ as per instructions, and got her taut as a
+bottle. "Ants, they trundles off sharp, all they know, into the holes
+for safety," Dirrik explained, "and take along the pine needles with
+'em."
+
+A fresh northerly wind took us well out into the North Sea; then, a
+few days later, we lay becalmed on the Dogger. An English fishing
+vessel sent a boat aboard of us, trading fresh cod for a couple of
+bottles of gin. Looking through the skylight I saw the old man
+quietly making up the two bottles from one, by the simple process of
+adding water to fill up. Rank swindling it seemed to me, but he
+explained afterwards that it was "our way of keeping down
+drunkenness, my boy."
+
+Eight days out from Drammen we put in to Seaham Harbour. Half our
+cargo under deck was sodden through, for we'd three feet of water in
+the hold all the voyage, despite the patent caulking.
+
+"Get it worse going home," said Dirrik. "We're taking small coal to
+Drobak."
+
+A few hours later we were getting in our cargo, and soon the _Jenny_
+was loaded almost to the waterline with smalls. We were just about to
+batten down the hatches, when the skipper came along and told us to
+wait, there was some Government stuff still to come.
+
+Down the quay trundled a heavy railway waggon with two pieces of
+cannon, and before we had properly time to wonder at the sight, the
+crane had taken hold, the guns swung high in the air above the quay,
+and--one, two, three--down they came into the main hatchway all among
+the coals.
+
+The schooner gave a sort of gasp as the crane let go, and I thought
+for a moment we had broken her back. She went several inches lower in
+the water, till the chain bolts were awash, and the scuppers clear by
+no more than a hair's breadth.
+
+"This looks dangerous," I said to the skipper cautiously, as he stood
+by the side.
+
+"Why, what are you afraid of?"
+
+"My life," was all I found to answer.
+
+"And a lot to be afraid of in that!" said he, spitting several yards
+out into the dock. "The guns are for the fort at Oskarsborg, and it
+isn't every voyage I can make fifteen pounds over a couple of fellows
+like that."
+
+We set off on our homeward voyage. Fortunately, our protecting ants
+still kept to their places in the leaks, or there would have been an
+end of us, and the guns as well. The skipper was ill, and stuck to
+his berth the whole way home. The night before we left Seaham Harbour
+he had been to a crab-supper ashore at the ship-chandler's, and what
+with stewed crabs and ginger beer, the feast had "upset all his
+innards," as he put it.
+
+We got into trouble rounding the Ness. Dirrik was at the helm, and
+hailed the skipper to ask if we hadn't better shorten sail.
+
+"Nonsense!" said the old man. "It's summer weather--keep all standing
+till she's clear." The rigging sang, and the water was flung in
+showers over the deck.
+
+Dirrik ran her up into the wind as well as he could, but was afraid
+of going about. Then: Crack! from aloft, and crack! went the jibboom,
+and the flying jib was off and away to leeward like a bat. The
+skipper thrust up his head to take in the situation.
+
+"Got her clear?" he asked. "Ay," says Dirrik calmly, "clear enough,
+and all we've got to do now is pull in the rags that's left, and
+paddle home as best we can."
+
+We were not a pretty sight when we made Drobak, but the guns were
+landed safely, and that was the main thing.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+After that, I saw no more of Dirrik till I met him at the Seaman's
+School in Piperviken in 1872.
+
+There were three of us chums there: Rudolf, a great big giant of
+eighteen, with fair curly hair and smiling blue eyes. A good fellow
+was Rudolf, but uncommonly powerful and always ready to get to hand
+grips with anyone if they contradicted him.
+
+Dirrik was fifteen years our senior at least. He had been twenty
+years at sea already, and reckoned the pair of us as "boys."
+
+Dirrik had never got beyond the rank of "first-hand" on board; it was
+always this miserable exam that stood in his way. It was his highest
+ambition to pass for mate, and then perhaps some day, with luck, get
+a skipper's berth on some antiquated hulk along the coast. But Dirrik
+was unfortunate. It counted for nothing here that he had been several
+times round the Horn, and received a silver knife from the Dutch
+Government for going overboard in a gale, with a line round his
+waist, to rescue three Dutchmen whose boat was capsizing on the
+Dogger.
+
+It was as much as he could do to write. I can still see his rugged
+fingers, misshapen after years of rough work at sea, gripping the
+penholder convulsively, as if it had been a marlin-spike, and
+screwing his mouth up, now to one side, now to the other, as he
+painfully scrawled some entry in the "log."
+
+"No need to look as if you were going to have a tooth out," said
+Rudolf.
+
+"I'd rather be lying out on Jan Mayen, shooting seal in forty degrees
+of frost," said Dirrik, wiping his brow.
+
+"Devil take me, but I've half a mind to ship for the Arctic myself
+next spring," said Rudolf.
+
+"Got to get through with this first," I said.
+
+"Ay, that's true," said Dirrik. "I've been up four times now, and if
+I don't pass this time, my girl won't wait any longer."
+
+"Girl?" said Rudolf, with sudden interest.
+
+"Margine Iversen's her name. We've been promised now eleven years,
+and we _must_ get married this spring."
+
+"Must, eh?" said I.
+
+"He's been drawing in advance, what!" said Rudolf, nudging me in the
+ribs.
+
+"No more of that, lads," said Dirrik. "Womenfolk, they've their own
+art of navigation, and I know more about it than you've any call to
+do at your age."
+
+Just then Captain Wille, the principal of the school, came up.
+
+"Well, boys, how goes it?"
+
+"Nicely, thank ye, Captain," answered Dirrik. "But this 'ere blamed
+azimuth's a hard nut to crack." Dirrik wiped the sweat from his brow
+with a blue-checked handkerchief, and blew his nose with startling
+violence. "You won't need a foghorn next time you get on board," said
+Wille slyly.
+
+"I say, though, Captain," said Rudolf, "we must get old Dirrik
+through somehow. If he doesn't pass this time, he'll be all adrift."
+
+"Oho!" said the Captain, smiling all over his kindly face. "And how's
+that?"
+
+"Why, he's got to get married this spring, whether he wants to or
+no."
+
+"But he doesn't need that certificate to get married."
+
+"Ay, but I do, though, Captain," said Dirrik earnestly. "For look
+you, navigation's badly needed in these waters, and I'll sure come to
+grief without."
+
+"Why, then, we must do what we can to get you through," said Wille.
+And, seating himself beside Dirrik, he began to explain the mysteries
+of sine, cosine and tangent.
+
+Dirrik sat with all his mental nerves strained taut as the topmast
+shrouds in a storm. But the more he listened to Wille's explanations
+the more incomprehensible he seemed to find the noble art and science
+of navigation.
+
+Presently Lt. Knap, the second master, came up, and relieved Captain
+Wille at his task. Knap was quite young in those days, an excitable
+fellow with a sharp nose that gave him an air of self-importance. But
+a splendid teacher, that he was. I can still hear his voice, after
+vain attempts to ram something into Dirrik's thick head: "But,
+damnation take it, man, I don't believe you understand a word!"
+
+No, Dirrik didn't understand a word, or, at any rate, very little.
+One thing he did know, however, and that was, if a man can take his
+meridian and mark out his course on the chart, he can find his way
+anywhere on the high seas.
+
+"All this rigmarole about azimuths and amplitudes and zeniths and
+moons and influence and tides, it's just invented to plague the life
+out of honest, seafaring folk." This heartfelt plaint of Dirrik's was
+received with loud applause by the rest of the school. Knap himself
+was as delighted as the rest, and sang out over our heads: "Well, you
+can be sure I'd be only too glad to leave out half of it, for it is
+all a man can do to knock the rest of it into your heads."
+
+Skipper Sartz, the third master, was a very old and very slow, but a
+thorough-going old salt, who would rather spin us a yarn at any time
+than bother about navigation. We learned very little of that from
+him, and he was generally regarded more as a comrade than as a
+master. Rudolf supplied him with tobacco, free of charge, to smoke in
+lesson-time, so there was no very strict discipline during those
+hours. It was a trick of Rudolf's, I remember, when Sartz was going
+through lessons with him, to get hold of a ruler in his left hand and
+draw it gently up and down the tutor's back. Sartz would think it was
+me, and swing round suddenly to let off a volley, ending up as a rule
+with a recommendation to us generally to "give over these etcetera
+etcetera tricks, and try and behave as young gentlemen should."
+
+At last the great day came when Dirrik was to go up for his exam. K.
+G. Smith--he's an admiral now--was the examiner. All of us, teachers
+included, were fond of Dirrik, and would have been sorry to see him
+fail again.
+
+"Well, if I do get through this time," said Dirrik, smiling all over
+his cheery face, "I'll stand treat all round so the mess won't forget
+it for a week."
+
+And really I think he would rather have faced a four week's gale of
+the winter-north-Atlantic type, or undertaken to assassinate the
+Emperor of China, than march up to that examination table.
+
+When the time came for the viva voce, Rudolf and I could stand it no
+longer, we had to go in and listen.
+
+Never before or since have I seen such depths of despair on any human
+face. Poor Dirrik mopped his brow, and blew his nose, and we sat
+there, with serious faces, feeling as if we were watching some dear
+departed about to be lowered into the grave. I can safely say I have
+never experienced a more solemn or trying ceremony, not even when I,
+myself, was launched into the state of holy matrimony before the
+altar.
+
+The examiner sat bending over his work, entering something or
+other--of particular importance, to judge by the gravity of his
+looks.
+
+We heard only the scratching of his pen on the paper.
+
+Suddenly the silence was broken by a curious hissing sound:
+
+"Fssst--fssst!" and then, a moment later, from the direction of the
+stove: "Sssss!"
+
+It was Rudolf, who had squirted out a jet of tobacco juice between
+his teeth over on to the stove in the corner. Both the censors looked
+up, and the examiner laid down his pen, flashing a fiery glance at
+Rudolf from under his bushy brows.
+
+"Pig!" said I, loud enough for the examiner to hear, and was rewarded
+with a nod of approval.
+
+This saved the situation, for if the old man had lost his temper, it
+would have been all up with Dirrik's exam.
+
+Rudolf sat staring before him, entirely unconcerned.
+
+At last they began. I can still see the examiner's close-cropped hair
+and bushy eyebrows.
+
+"Well, sir, can you tell me why a compass needle invariably points
+towards the north?"
+
+Dirrik had not understood a syllable, but felt he ought in common
+decency to make pretence of thinking it out for a bit, then he said:
+
+"Beg pardon, Captain, but would you mind reading out the question
+once again?"
+
+A faint, almost imperceptible smile passed over the Captain's face.
+The two old skippers, Olsen and Wleugel, sat solemn as owls. Dirrik
+looked at the examiner, then at the censor, and finally his glance
+rested on us, with an expression of helpless resignation. Rudolf
+nodded, and whispered "Cheer up," but Dirrik neither saw nor heard.
+
+"Compass," he murmured--"Compass needle--points--points...."
+
+"Well," said the examiner, "_why_ does it always point to the north?"
+
+And suddenly Dirrik's face lit up with a flash of blessed
+inspiration:
+
+"Why," he said cheerfully, "I suppose it's _just a habit it's got_."
+
+This time the examiner could not help laughing, and the censors
+themselves seemed to thaw a little.
+
+"H'm," said the examiner. "Yes ... well, and suppose your compass
+needle happened to forget that little habit it's got, as may happen,
+for instance, when a vessel's loaded with iron--what would you do?"
+Evidently he was in a good humour now.
+
+"Sail by the sun and the watch," answered Dirrik promptly. He was
+wide awake now, and drew out as he spoke a big silver watch with a
+double case.
+
+"I've sailed by this fellow here from the Newfoundland Bank to Barrow
+in twelve days--it was with the barque _Himalaya_, of Holmestrand."
+
+"When was that?" asked the examiner.
+
+"Seven years ago come Christmas it was."
+
+Dirrik felt himself now master of the situation, and ran on gaily, as
+one thoroughly at ease.
+
+"It was blinding snow on the Banks that time. The skipper was down
+with inflammation of the lungs, and lay in his bunk delirious; we'd
+shipped some heavy seas, and got four stanchions broken, and the mate
+with four of his ribs bashed in, so he couldn't move. And as for the
+crew, the less said about them the better. We'd three niggers aboard
+and an Irishman, and a couple of drunken gentlemen that'd never been
+to sea before.
+
+"Well, I had to sail and navigate and all. It was a gale that went on
+day after day, till you'd think the devil himself was hard at it with
+a bellows. But, luckily, I'd this old watch of mine, and she's better
+than any of your chronometers, for it's a sixteen-ruby watch----"
+
+"Sixteen ruby--what's that?" asked the examiner with interest.
+
+Dirrik was proud as a peacock at the question; fancy the examiner
+having to ask _him_!
+
+"Why, it's this way. If you look inside an ordinary watch, you'll
+find it's either five rubies or ten, but it's very rarely you come
+across one with sixteen, and the more rubies you've got in a watch,
+the better she goes. Well, anyway, when the watch came round to noon
+midday, I'd take the run and check off our course, and that way I got
+to windward of her deviations and magnetic variations and all the
+tricks there are to a compass mostly. Then, of course, I'd to look to
+the log, and mark off each day's run on the chart."
+
+"Not so bad, not so bad," said the examiner, nodding to the skippers.
+
+"No, we did none so badly, and that's the truth. For we got into
+Barrow at high water twelve days' sail from the Banks. The Insurance
+Company wanted to give me a gold watch, but I said, 'No, thank you,
+if t'was all the same, I'd rather have it in cash,' so they sent me
+what they call a testimonial, and L15. And that was doing the
+handsome thing, for it was no more than my duty after all. As for the
+crowd of rapscallions we'd aboard, I gave them a pound a-piece for
+themselves--the poor devils had done what they could, though it was
+little enough."
+
+"Have you ever taken the sun's altitude with a sextant?"
+
+"Surely," said Dirrik. "Meridian and latitude and all the rest of
+it."
+
+"Well..." the examiner turned to the censors. "I think that ought to
+be enough...?" And the pair of them nodded approval.
+
+"Right! That will do." Dirrik was dismissed with a gesture, and,
+making his bow to each in turn, he hurried out as fast as he could.
+
+Next day one of the censors, Skipper Wleugel, came down to the school
+and informed us that Dirrik had passed, albeit with lowest possible
+marks.
+
+Followed cheers for Dirrik, and cheers for the examiner, and cheers
+for Knap--the last-named happening to come out just at that moment,
+to see what all the noise was about. That evening Dirrik invited
+Rudolf and myself to the feast he had promised--great slabs of steak
+and heaps of onions, with beer and snaps _ad lib._, and toddy and
+black cigars to top off with.
+
+And going home that night we knocked the stuffing out of five young
+students from the Academy, on the grounds that they lacked the higher
+education Dirrik now possessed. Altogether, it was a most successful
+evening.
+
+Dirrik went back home after that and married his Margine. Three
+months later he was the father of a bouncing boy, who was christened
+Sinus Knap Didriksen, in pious memory of his father's studies in the
+art of navigation and his teacher in the same.
+
+
+
+
+        PRINTED BY
+    MORRISON AND GIBB LTD.
+        EDINBURGH
+
+
+
+
+MODERN TROUBADOURS
+
+The Record of
+
+THE CONCERTS AT THE FRONT
+
+_Crown 8vo_  *  _Cloth_  *  5s. net
+
+
+The sub-title, "Concerts at the Front," is known to almost every
+soldier who fought in the Great War.
+
+The book is a record of the experiences of the actors and musicians
+who during the years from 1915 to the end of 1919 went to the War
+Zones. The record is written by Lena Ashwell, known as an actress,
+who was the Honorary Organiser of this effort through which plays and
+music were taken to the armies by over six hundred artists.
+
+It is the first time since the very early days of civilisation that
+Drama and Music have received official recognition, with the result
+that the teaching and use of plays and music was placed in Army
+Orders. In the Final Report of the Adult Education Committee the
+importance of the Drama is for the first time insisted upon as a
+means of education.
+
+The book is of interest, therefore, not only in giving a somewhat new
+impression of the Great War, but as a record of a new departure which
+in time may lead to the position of the great arts in relation to the
+National life being greatly changed.
+
+The human interest of the book is great and the evidence of the power
+of well-directed emotion is remarkable.
+
+
+
+
+THE GARLAND
+
+By SIGRID UNDSET
+
+_Crown 8vo_  *  _Cloth_  *  7s. 6d. net
+
+
+A masterly historical novel of fourteenth-century Norway.
+
+Kristin, the heroine, is the daughter of a lord of the manor in
+Gudbrandsdal, she is singled out as a child for a dangerous and
+romantic destiny. The story of her early betrothal and of the wild
+love romance that breaks it is told in "The Garland" in scenes of
+intense dramatic effect, and the characters of the heroine, her
+lovers, and her parents are developed with extraordinary power. The
+mediaeval setting is marked by a picturesque realism, and the
+atmosphere of the time, with its strong passions and superstitious
+terrors, is reproduced in a most convincing way.
+
+
+
+
+THE LONG JOURNEY
+
+FIRE AND ICE
+
+By JOHANNES V. JENSEN
+
+Translated by A. G. CHATER
+
+_Crown 8vo_  *  _Cloth_  *  7s. 6d. net
+
+
+Johannes V. Jensen, whose work is new to English readers, was born in
+1873 in Himmerland, the district of North Jutland which is richest in
+memories of the past. He has been recognised for the last thirty
+years as an independent force in Danish literature, where his
+production marks a revolt against the French influences prevalent at
+the close of the nineteenth century and a return to old Scandinavian
+motives, with a strong leaning towards the English school of
+imaginative writing. His work is full of a primitive force, which is
+combined with a power of lyrical description probably unsurpassed at
+the present day.
+
+In "The Long Journey" Johannes V. Jensen tells the story of the white
+man, in a series of romances or "myths," of which the first are now
+presented in English.
+
+"Fire and Ice" is a story of adventure--the greatest adventure in the
+history of mankind--telling with vivid realism and much underlying
+humour how the white man became white and acquired the powers of
+self-reliance which made him master of the world.
+
+The story opens in the lost Paradise, where man steals fire from
+Heaven. Armed with it he challenges Nature and goes through the Ice
+Age, which sets the boundary between the white man and the savage.
+When the thaw comes there are two races on earth, and their first
+encounter brings the clash of drama.
+
+
+
+
+DOWNSTREAM
+
+By SIGFRID SIWERTZ
+
+Translated by E. CLASSEN
+
+_Crown 8vo_  *  _Cloth_  *  7s. 6d. net
+
+
+This is the story of a family of brothers and sisters, the Selambs,
+neglected in childhood and left to grow up under chance influences.
+"Selambshof," the decayed family home, is in the neighbourhood of
+Stockholm, and the growth of the capital gives it an enhanced value
+which is not without its influence on the destinies of the family.
+The author has traced the adventures and development of these highly
+individualised Selambs in a way that makes this one of the most
+absorbing novels produced in recent years.
+
+Sigfrid Siwertz has rapidly come to the front among Swedish
+novelists, and this, his most important work to date, has firmly
+established him in the first rank.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dry Fish and Wet, by
+Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRY FISH AND WET ***
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