"I'd like a word with you," she said. "I won't keep you long."

The Captain answered, without rising:

"Certainly. Will you sit down, or would you rather stand? No, don't run away, you! I've none too much time as it is," he said sharply to me.

This I took to mean that he wanted the lock mended so he could take the key with him when he went.

"I dare say it wasn't--I oughtn't to have said what I did," Fruen began.

The Captain made no answer.

But his silence, after she had come down on purpose to try and make it up, was more than she could bear. She ended by saying: "Oh, well, it's all the same; I don't care."

And she turned to go.

"Did you want to speak to me?" asked the Captain.

"Oh no, it doesn't matter. Thanks, I shan't trouble."

"Very well," said the Captain. He smiled as he spoke. He was drunk, no doubt, and angry about something.

But Fruen turned as she pa.s.sed by me in the doorway, and said:

"You ought not to drive down there today. There's gossip enough already."

"You need not listen to it," he answered.

"It can't go on like this, you know," she said again. "And you don't seem to think of the disgrace...."

"We're both a little thoughtless in that respect," he answered carelessly, looking round at the walls.

I took the lock and stepped outside.

"Here, don't go running away now!" cried the Captain. "I'm in a hurry!"

"Yes, you're in a hurry, of course," repeated Fruen. "Going away again.

But you'd do well to think it over just for once. I've been thinking things over myself lately; only you wouldn't see...."

"What do you mean?" he asked, haughty and stiff as ever. "Was it your fooling about at night with your hair down and lights out you thought I wouldn't see? Oh yes, no doubt!"

"I'll have to finish this on the anvil," said I, and hurried off.

I stayed away longer than was needed, but when I came back Fruen was still there. They were talking louder than before.

"And do you know what I have done?" said Fruen "I've lowered myself so far as to show I was jealous. Yes, I've done that. Oh, only about the maid ... I mean...."

"Well, and what then?" said the Captain.

"Oh, won't you understand? Well, have it your own way, then. You'll have to take the consequences later; make no mistake about that!"

These were her last words, and they sounded like an arrow striking a shield. She stepped out and strode away.

"Manage it all right?" said the Captain as I came up. But I could see his thoughts were busy with other things; he was trying to appear unconcerned. A little after, he managed to yawn, and said lazily: "Ugh, it's a long drive. But if Nils can't spare a hand I must go myself."

I had only to fix the lock in its place, and set a new strip down the inside of the door-frame; it was soon done. The Captain tried the door, put the key in his pocket, thanked me for the work, and went off.

A little later he drove away with Elisabet.

"See you again soon," he called to Captain Bror and Engineer La.s.sen, waving his hand to them both. "Mind that you have a good time while I'm away!"

IV

Evening came. And what would happen now? A great deal, as it turned out.

It started early; we men were at supper while they were having dinner up at the house, and we could hear them carrying on as gaily as could be.

Ragnhild was taking in trays of food and bottles, and waiting at table; once when she came out, she laughed to herself and said to the other girls: "I believe Fruen's drunk herself tonight."

I had not slept the night before, nor had my midday rest; I was troubled and nervous after all that had happened the last two days. So, as soon as I had finished my supper, I went out and up to the woods to be alone.

I stayed there a long while.

I looked down towards the house. The Captain away, the servants gone to rest, the beasts in stable and shed fast asleep. Stout Captain Bror and his lady, too, had doubtless found a quiet corner all to themselves after dinner; he was simply wild about the woman, for all he was old and fat and she herself no longer young. That left only Fru Falkenberg and the young engineer. And where would they be now?

'Twas their affair.

I sauntered home again, yawning and shivering a little in the cool night, and went up to my room. After a while Ragnhild came up, and begged me to keep awake and be ready to help in case of need. It was horrible, she said; they were carrying on like mad things up at the house, walking about from one room to another, half undressed and drunk as well. Was Fruen drunk, too? Yes, she was. And was she walking about half undressed? No, but Captain Bror was, and Fruen clapped her hands and cried "Bravo!" And the engineer as well. It was one as bad as the other. And Ragnhild had just taken in two more bottles of wine, though they were drunk already.

"Come over with me and you can hear them yourself," said Ragnhild.

"They're up in Fruen's room now."

"No," I said. "I'm going to bed. And you'd better go, too."

"But they'll ring in a minute and be wanting something if I do."

"Let them ring!"

And then it was Ragnhild confessed that the Captain himself had asked her to stay up that night in case Fruen should want her.

This altered the whole aspect of affairs in a moment. Evidently the Captain had feared something might happen, and set Ragnhild on guard in case. I put on my blouse again and went across with her to the house.

We went upstairs and stood in the pa.s.sage; we could hear them laughing and making a noise in Fruen's room. But Fruen herself spoke as clearly as ever, and was not drunk at all. "Yes, she is," said Ragnhild, "anyhow, she's not like herself tonight."

I wished I could have seen her for a moment.

We went back to the kitchen and sat down. But I was restless all the time; after a little I took down the lamp from the wall and told Ragnhild to follow me. We went upstairs again.