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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37801-8.txt b/37801-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a2c866 --- /dev/null +++ b/37801-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6004 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I (of 2), by +Björstjerne Björnson + +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: The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I (of 2) + +Author: Björstjerne Björnson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=fuUsAAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE NOVELS OF + + BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + VOLUME XI + + + + + + + _THE NOVELS OF_ + + _BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON_ + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + _Fcap. 8vo, cloth_ + + _Synnöve Solbakken_ + _Arne_ + _A Happy Boy_ + _A Fisher Lass_ + _The Bridal March, & One Day_ + _Magnhild, & Dust_ + _Captain Mansana, & Mother's Hands_ + _Absalom's Hair, & A Painful Memory_ + _In God's Way_ (2 _vols._) + _Heritage of the Kurts_ (2 _vols._) + + _NEW YORK_ + _THE MACMILLAN COMPANY_ + + + + + + + THE HERITAGE OF + THE KURTS + + + BY + + BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON + + + + _Translated from the Norwegian by_ + + _Cecil Fairfax_ + + + + VOLUME I + + + + + NEW YORK + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1908 + + + + + + + _Printed in England_ + + + + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + + + + BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +Upon his taking up his residence in Paris, in 1882, Björnson resumed an +interest in prose fiction, which he had for so many years abandoned in +favour of the drama. There can be no question that he was influenced in +this by the successes of Alexander Kielland and Kristian Elster, who +had begun to deal with the problems of Norwegian life in the form of +short novels, which attracted immense public curiosity. After writing +_Dust_ (1882), a very brief episode, Björnson started the composition +of his earliest long novel, which he finished and published in 1884, as +_Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen_ ("Flags are Flying in Town and +Harbour"), a title for which we have ventured to substitute, as more +directly descriptive, _The Heritage of the Kurts_. It is to be observed +that, with the exception of Jonas Lie's _Livsslaven_ (which was not yet +published when Björnson's book was begun), _The Heritage of the Kurts_ +was the earliest novel, treating Scandinavian society on a large scale, +which any Norwegian writer had essayed to produce. This may explain a +certain cumbrousness in the unwinding of the plot, which has been noted +as a fault in this very fine and elaborate romance. + +The didactic character of much of the novel, especially of the later +parts, was a surprise to contemporary readers, who were accustomed to +much lighter fare from the novelists of the day. No less a personage +than the great Danish writer, J. P. Jacobsen, joined in the outcry +against "all this pedagogy and all these problems." Physiological +instruction in girls' schools,--this seemed a strange and almost +unseemly subject for a romance addressed to idle readers in Copenhagen +and Christiania. But Björnson's serious purpose was soon perceived and +justified, and the popularity of The Heritage of the Kurts was assured +among the best appreciators of his genius. It will always, however, +possess the disadvantages inherent on a tentative effort in a class of +literature as yet unfamiliar to the veteran artist. + +Translator, editor, and publisher of the English version alike desire +to express their debt to Mr. C. F. Keary, whose knowledge of Norwegian +matters is so widely recognised, for the help he has given in revising +the translation throughout, and in particular for his advice in regard +to the diction of the first section of the novel, which, in the +original, is an extremely clever _pastiche_ of early eighteenth-century +Danish. + + E. G. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + I.--_FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT_ + +CHAP + I. "THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO LIVED THERE + + II. WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS + + + II.--_JOHN KURT_ + + I. LONELINESS + + II. A GENIUS + + III. MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN + + IV. SAILS IN SIGHT + + V. HOME LIFE + + VI. FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED + + + III.--_A LECTURE_ + + I. DETHRONED + + II. ON THE MOUNTAIN + + III. THE CHILD + + IV. THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN + + V. THE LECTURE + + + IV.--_THE STAFF_ + + I. A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN + + + + + + I + FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + "THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO + LIVED THERE + + +"The Estate" had probably been acquired by the strong hand, as indeed +most domains have been in all countries and at all times; but what +proportion forced marriages and fair bargains bore to actual guile, +fraud, and such base means, we can no longer determine. + +Two hundred years ago it was an immense possession, the home farm stood +then as now on the woody mountain slopes overlooking the town, the +whole of which can be seen from there; both the old town on this side +of the harbour, and the new one out by the point. This point shelters +the harbour from the sea, but is not itself absolutely exposed to it, +for islands and skerries lie beyond it, and between them the two +entrances, the North and West Sounds. All this is to be seen from "The +Estate," and far out to sea as well. + +Farther away to the right is the river between whose clayey banks the +foaming mass pours down into the harbour. At one time this river and +all the works at its mouth belonged to "The Estate," as well as the +site of the town, the islands, and the coast on either side; and +farther on, the lower lands and woods down to the channel of the river. +Such was "The Estate" two hundred years ago. + +Its principal building is a large brick house from which rises a squat +clumsy tower; it has a long wing on the right hand, but curiously +enough none on the left; behind are a number of old stone buildings +serving as stables, cow-houses, and the like, besides servants' +quarters. + +The great stairway up to the house, a perfect mountain of stone slabs, +for it is of immense size, is of semicircular form, having steps round +the whole circuit. From it a noble avenue leads down to the town +market-place, and on each side of it runs a stone park-wall which +almost reaches as far as the market; on the other sides of both the +walls lies the garden, which is cut in two by the avenue. Open fields +lie on both sides and likewise between the gardens and the town. + +Above the houses, out towards the mountain, is a wood of deciduous +trees; although the fir-trees have again begun their silent advance +against them, for at one time they had the hill to themselves. + +Who laid out these pleasure-grounds, who built this enormous mansion? +you say to yourself on first seeing the house and gardens of "The +Estate." + +It was more than two hundred years ago, about 1660, that a German +skipper, who called himself Kurt (spelt at that time Curt), first +brought his vessel into the harbour in order to have her re-rigged and +painted, most probably to prevent her from being recognised. We now +know that he had then long been exiled from his native country on +account of some deed of violence which he had committed. He was of a +princely German family which still bears an honoured name which does +not require to be mentioned here--he was known only by his Christian +name of Curt. + +He had not been there long before he began to pay his court to the +daughter and heir of Claus Mathiassön, the owner of "The Estate," +paying no heed to what the neighbours thought of it. + +"It was the noble maid Ingeborg Clausdotter." ... From this point I +follow verbatim a manuscript description pertaining to the town, and +more especially to "The Estate," which was written at the beginning of +the last century by an old parish clerk and choir-master of Saint Mary +in that place.... + +She would hide herself away up in the Cock Loft, down in the Cellar, in +Byre or stable; she would fly you to wood or field whenever the +swaggering foreigner, skipper Curt, came a Wooing, for then he was +commonly in liquor. + +Worshipful Master Claus Mathiassön might bring him Ale from his cellar, +and set before him such things as he desired; the next moment had Curt +half slain him because Master Claus could not bring his fair daughter +to speak with him; and moreover he drove away every living person from +the homestead. He swore also to cut down any man who should dare to +wish to take her to wife: he would wring his neck, said he, and all his +belongings, and hers as well if she should ever belong to another. + +And there was Hans Fürst in the Market Place hard by the Church of St +Mary. When it was said that he too was a Wooer, went Curt to him on +Good Friday morning as Hans still lay abed, and beat him so sore with a +stout cudgel that for long after he was but broken bones. Hans Faüst +was afraid to bide in the town whenever skipper Curt came in with his +Ships, which from that time happened often enough; and it fell in +likewise with the Bailiff, Master Beinhard von Klüwer, who would fain +have brought him to reason. Curt defied him and hauled his ships before +the Bailiff's house; two ships he had then, and Cannon and his Company, +and the Bailiff dared no more go out alone, and did not dare to +discharge his office, but departed, nor did he return. So that full a +year passed ere his office was again filled; when it was, 'twas a +German who got it who was of a Mind with Curt in all things; and the +old Bailiff, he obtained office in another place. + +'Twas commonly spoken of Curt that he had stole his first ship in the +North sea; later he had two ships, and folk held it for certain that +the second was stolen also, but his people were silent concerning it, +and naught was done in the Matter. Now it was in the following way that +he got the maid. There came a Clerk from his Excellence the Stadtholder +Ulrich, Frederick Güldenlöve, with Commands from the High and Mighty +Prince, King Frederick 3rd, now of blessed memory, to the worshipful +Claus Mathiassön of "The Estate," and to the good men and true of the +town, Counsellors, and Burgesses, that they must so deal for skipper +Curt who was of a noble German Family, that he should have the +high-born Maid Ingeborg Clausdotter to wife, promising them his royal +favour and especial grace, which skipper Curt without hesitation agreed +to; so the King's Will was done. The Clerk was come in Sören +Rasmussen's sloop from Oslo; he also was a German, and spoke Danish but +ill; he demanded much service, and that he got, for he was lodged at +the Council House, and was bidden, when the wedding should be over, to +condescend to put up with the same at the houses of sundry of the +burgesses. + +The wedding was celebrated with grandeur, but many a tear shed Mistress +Ingeborg as did Claus Mathiassön, who knew that now his days of +happiness were past. + +But it so chanced that at the wedding, Master Curt, being in liquor, +fell upon the clerk with thrust and blow and Drove him from the board, +for he swore he was not fit to sit at meat with the quality and their +women folk, for he was no clerk of the Stadtholder, but a cursed +vagabond Barber who had been a wood cutter to his brother-in-law in +Pommerania. So the barber fled over to the point and thence to the +North Holm, from there he hailed a passing ship and was taken on board +of her. + +Therewith ended the wedding feast, but this mattered little to Curt, +for he had won his bride. + +Now this is how it fell out; skipper Curt had been to Oslo and there +had met a Holsteiner, Georg von Bregentvedt; the same was a captain and +gave the Stadtholder aid in warlike enterprise, but Georg von +Bregentvedt and Curt had been known to each other in Germany, and this +Georg was a rare knave, full of merry conceits, and he helped Curt with +this trick, but they got the barber to bring it to pass. + +Old Claus Mathiassön went straightway to Copenhagen to make complaint +before the king, and three times had he _audience_, and each time was +the king Mightily enraged, but may well have forgotten it again by +reason of other matters, for Curt had countrymen at Court. In the +meantime was the money spent with which Claus Mathiassön had provided +himself, and Curt had seized "The Estate," and refused to send him +more, likewise he threatened all those who would have been true to him; +and as Claus Mathiassön at the same time got a letter from his +daughter, sent secretly by the skipper of a sloop, saying that she was +now with child, but that Curt went after other women on "The Estate," +and in the town; so thought Claus Mathiassön that no good could come +from his going home. And no man asked for him from that time. Claus +Mathiassön was of Danish blood, and a good man was he. + +Now "The Estate" at this time was a vast place of much grandeur, and +with great belongings; to wit, the ownership of leagues of land up +both sides of the River, for the forests and all the farms then +belonged to "The Estate." And large tile works had Curt established on +the river Bank, and brought many Hollanders there; also later he had +ship-building, which thing brought great gain to the Town; he made also +a marvellous clever saw pit, the like of which had never been seen +before, also he voyaged to see the king, the most mighty Prince, and +very good Lord, King Christian 5th, now of blessed memory, for by the +help of his powerful and noble countrymen, he had hope to come by royal +Grace and Favour, and he had at divers times _audience_, and pleased +the King with his great strength and by his Comely person. Then, said +he to the King, in all humility, that it was a bygone Custom that when +the King of His grace came to those parts he should take lodging on +"The Estate." Two kings had lain there, and King Christian 4th of +Blessed memory, even twice; and now in all humility he prayed for the +same Favour. And the kind did not deny it him. But Curt's purpose +therein was to again receive all those privileges which he had +forfeited in his Fatherland. + +And he returned home, and found with his courtly fashions that the old +House on "The Estate," albeit that it was a fine house in every way, +large and costly, must be pulled down, and a Castle built to honour the +king when he should come withal; so forthwith he fell to work. But then +he took a liking to Hans Fürst's house for a dwelling Place, the one, +namely, hard by St Mary's in the Market Place, while the new castle was +building; so he drove the aforesaid Hans from it till such time as the +Castle should be Roofed. + +It was brought about in this manner: Curt forbade the sailors, +craftsmen, and fishers to buy so much as a measure of Ale, a dram of +Spirits, or an Ell of cloth. For the lewd mariners and their kinsfolk +are not like landsfolk, they worship those who rule over them, for they +and their forebears have let themselves be treated like dogs on sea and +land; they are ill at ease if they are not ordered hither and thither, +sworn at and beaten, and they join in their skipper's dissolute life. +But as well Curt allowed them free land on the mountain on all sides, +as many as there was room for, and besides gave them wood at small cost +for their buildings, so that now there is almost a town on the mountain +which can be seen from afar, as is known to every ship which comes in. +Atop of all, the Pilots have built themselves a Look Out. + +It can be safely said that without the support of these men Curt and +his descendants could never have ruled and roystered as they have done +to this day; nay, the more masterful their ways, the more they rose in +the eyes of these Men, for that is the manner of them. + +For his lawless ways then Curt in all his life never made any +reparation. People still repeat the words he was wont to use when any +man asked such of him. "Thou shall get thy pay from----, thou cursed +Peasant," he would say in his German fashion, for he never spoke our +tongue right, and "Peasant" he would call any man he was wroth with; +for in his Country the peasant is held in contempt, nay, almost as a +brute beast; he may own neither house nor land, but must work for his +lord, both he and his. Death alone can release him. Nay, 'tis even so +likewise in Denmark. + +But as respecting the aforesaid Hans Fürst, as he had naught else but +his trade he must needs go over to the other side of the Market Place +to Siegfried Brandenburg's old House on the left; for he had two, and +there he abode till Curt returned to his Castle. + +Curt did not build it all as it now stands; neither the long wing on +the right, nor the great outbuildings; neither did he build the garden +wall which is on both sides, for that was done by his son. But the +great House with the steps and the Tower, that was built by him; and +the road between the two walls, that was done by Master Curt, for +before there was only a path and that did not go the same way, but +outside the garden to the right, as may be seen to this day; also the +trees on both sides of the road were planted by Curt himself, every one +of them, for he had a lucky hand in that way which he well knew, for +the larger part of the garden which is now on both sides was planted by +him; and he brought hither many new and costly Trees, Plants, and +flowers from Holland which greatly joyed his half crazy wife whenever +she was allowed a little liberty, for she loved flowers well. + +The inside of the Castle for the most part is not as Curt left it, for +what he did was undone of his Son Master Adler, for thus he was called +after the great Sea Hero, Cort Adler. For that was a jest of Curt to +call his son Adler, since he had called himself Curt, for thus the +Admiral's name was turned end for end. + +The Royal Bed and other furniture in the king's Chamber which are now +to be seen are not Curt's either. Those which he had bought now stand +in another Chamber out of the passage to the left. In that bed slept +Master Adler himself. That remains, and the furniture. But for the +king's Chamber Master Adler brought all new from Holland what time he +himself went there from Copenhagen with his ships. It was at that time +also that he bought the hangings which are now in the King's Chamber by +the side of his sleeping-room, and also he bought the great _Carosse_, +whereof more anon. But, on the other hand, the pictures in gilded +frames all belong to Curt's time. Those in the Knights' Hall are copied +from pictures in his father's Castle, and represent his ancestors. + +I had almost forgot to relate about the tower which never was finished +and the reason thereof. The Man who first directed the Building was a +master builder from Lübeck. But he wearied there, not getting his pay, +and so went home. Master Curt went after him in a swift sailing ship +belonging to a Dane, which just then lay in harbour, but he did not +come nigh him. The second builder was from Holstein, or the parts +adjacent thereto. Curt had at that time with him a wench of rare +beauty. She was the wife of a Flemish skipper whom Curt had enticed to +come to him, and as he would not give her up, the skipper was fain to +depart. Now the master builder fell in love with her, and she with him, +and Master Curt sorely maltreated them, and had them stript and driven +down the Market Place. They got away at last in a boat; the builder was +brought to a sorry pass; I know not what further became of them. + +After that Curt gave up the Tower, which indeed was very hard to build; +and as it was bruited about that the king was like to come that summer, +he had a wide roof set over it and covered it with tiles as is commonly +done, and so it stands, for no one has touched it since then. Now Curt +had put himself to great cost for the honour of seeing the king under +his Roof. At this time "The Estate" was still all one, and the high +banks on each side of the river and all round the valley as far as +might be seen were covered with fir-woods, and the same on the Islands. +That is all different since the merchants took the fir-woods in pledge, +but this giving in pledge had begun in Curt's time. + +And now I must relate to you the Rest of Curt's life, firstly that his +wife had been for a long time half silly. She was a fair woman to look +on, but she could never abide him, so she remained shut up. The marks +are still to be seen in the chamber along to the left, which her feet +have left by the door, where she vainly sought to get out, and likewise +can be seen the marks of the iron bars before the window, which Curt +put there after the time when she sprang out into the garden, sorely +wounding herself thereby. At the time when the Castle stood open, after +Curt was dead, and his sons were abroad, we could see what she had +written all round the walls. This writing had never been known of by +Curt, or by those who minded the estate while his sons were still +young, or during their absence, but the sons had it washed off. 'Twas +thus I saw it when first I came as a student to the Town. For the most +part it was verses from the Psalter, but plaints as well, and other +quaint conceits which touched me by their simplicity. Thus of a +cloudberry which had been frozen. That is the tenderest sight in +Nature, she wrote, and verily since then how often I have thought of +it, for especially by the Road side in frost and thaw how true it is. + +But now I must tell of what once happened while she was well and sat at +meat with Sieur van Geelmuyden, the especial friend of Master Curt, and +a merry man. Suddenly her madness came upon her again as she sat at +board, and flinging her knife at Curt, she cried that that very day had +she been told that Curt had a hundred Children about in the town. Then +remarked Van Geelmuyden pithily, "Noble Ingeborg Curt, no one should +believe more than half of what malicious folk say." Now Curt and all +his guests laughed beyond measure at this, and, for the sake of the +saying, Master Curt gave Van Geelmuyden, to whom, moreover, he ever +after set great _fiduce_, the house at Bommen; the same may still be +seen there, it is that one where the second Story stands well-nigh two +ells out beyond the first, and which is hard by that which was gotten +by the Bailiff. + +The House still bears witness to the _piquante_ saying called a +_bon-mot_, which word the people have turned into Bommen, which name +the whole street bears at this day. + +Never was there dung moved up at "The Estate" in the Spring time, nor +the Midden emptied, but that the bodies of children were found therein, +for Master Curt led a lusty life, both with his maid-servants and +others whom he caused to come up there. When the now departed Bishop of +Christiansand, the worshipful Magister Jersin, was to make a visitation +in the Town, some short space before Curt's death, and Curt heard +thereof, he begged that he might have the honour of housing and +feasting him while he abode here, which thing the Bishop in no wise +refused. So Curt went forth to meet him with one of his ships which +chanced to be in port, and took with him the Parson, the town Council, +and the king's trusty servants, and a goodly company of burgesses, and +prepared a noble feast on board of the ship for the Bishop, whom they +fetched from the house of a Parson of those parts, and he also, and the +others remained of the company. And they all came on shore in such +condition as was a sight to behold; Curt took the Bishop for his share, +and when they were come to the steps up to the house and were about to +mount them, the Bishop turned round and said, so that all might hear, +that those were the finest steps he had ever seen in the whole Country +Side. Then answered Curt, "These Steps, your Grace, are singular in +another manner, for more maids have gone up them than have ever gone +down." He said this in his German tongue, but that was the meaning of +it. I had it from one who was a lad at the time and was standing there +on the steps with the Welcome Cup for Master Curt, of which the Bishop +drank and handed it to him, but he who stood on the steps was in after +days Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsön, who at that time was clerk to +Curt. It was he who related this. + +And now I must to Curt's death, for it was in this manner that it fell +out. There came a peasant with wife and daughter to the town, and +although there was great gathering of peasants at that time, no man had +seen any of such fine presence as these, and this thing was spoken of +at a banquet which was held at the Castle, and specially was praise +given to the daughter, and so it fell next day that the peasant with +wife and daughter were commanded by Curt to come up to the Castle. +There they were treated like the grandest folk and were shown all the +rooms in the House, but the end of all this was that several of Curt's +people came in to them and the maid was separated from her father and +carried away by force; full of wrath was she and implored her father to +ask for a large recompense. He did so, but Curt would have nothing to +do with it. So then came the father with his complaint to the King's +Bailiff, who counselled him to take things as he found them, for no man +had ever yet got recompense of Curt, for all those in authority were on +his side, both of church, and army, and worthies, and Patrons at Court, +unto all which might be added that Curt could safely depend on the +people of the lower sort here in the Town. But the peasant went up by +himself to Curt, and in the court-yard behind the stable between it and +the Byre he found him and there again he asked for compensation. "Get +thy compensation from----, thou cursed Peasant," answered Curt, for +that was ever what he answered. Then the peasant seized Master Curt and +held him where desired. But he took his compensation with a thrust of +his knife. There was no one there in the Court Yard but a few women, +and an old groom who stood by and saw it. Curt was flung down upon the +dung heap and there his life passed from him, where the bodies of his +children had lain before him. + +Hardly could folk credit the news of it, but came up to see. Never +before had Curt given back before any man, and now he had been slain +like a helpless child. At last it was noised about that the Evil One +had been there, and had taken Curt's punishment on himself, and, what +indeed somewhat confirmed this was, that from that day the peasant +could never be found, and not even his name was known, and he himself +seemed unknown to the other peasants who were in the town, but these +clowns know how to be silent, so that there is nothing certain in the +matter. + +But whoever it was, this thing is certain, that it was from the hand of +Almighty God, for without his Will there falls not a sparrow to the +ground. His ways have been brought to pass by other hands, in order +that this great sinner should end his days upon a dung heap. May God's +name be praised eternally. Amen. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS + + +Curt's sons were at this time at Copenhagen, under the charge of +Magister Owe Gude, with him they also travelled at a later time and +made an especial long sojourn with Curt's noble kinsmen. Adler came +home at length to take possession of his lands, but Max remained abroad +and studied for the priesthood, for he had a marvellous gift of speech. + +Master Adler was but rarely seen in the Town, and he never went there +in any other fashion than borne in a _porte chaise_ by servants in fine +liveries. And it was the same at the Castle, there one serving man +stood in the way of the other, and all were dressed as though for a +feast in some prince's Hall. Master Adler lived alone and held no +intercourse with the worthy burgesses in the Town, as had never been +the way before his time. Now by degrees Master Adler waxed mighty fat +and had many peevish ways and tricks; thus he spoke with no man, but +listened to everything. + +When he had been here a few years and all his affairs were well ordered +by the hand of Torbiörn Christoffersen, Master Adler journeyed to +Copenhagen, for now was Christian V. of blessed memory no more; but our +good Lord and Prince, the most mighty and gracious King Frederick IV. +(whom may God sustain and adorn with all virtues) had now become our +King. And Master Adler went on his knees before him, with great +difficulty, and prayed the King to fulful the gracious pledge given by +his Father, of blessed Memory, to the Elder Curt now departed, and that +he would condescend to come to the Town, and be under his humble roof, +such time as he first came to Norway, where all men hoped for his +coming. Now the King wot well the design hid under this request, +namely, that Master Adler should obtain those titles of nobility which +his father had lost in his youth. This the King was graciously pleased +to listen to. + +Thereupon Master Adler went to Holland, for he deemed not one of the +preparations good enough for him, which his father had made. From there +he came back with the great _Carosse_, which was then seen here for the +first time. The War Commissary, Master Synnestwedt, thought it not +fitting for Master Adler to drive in a _Carosse_, for he was no Person +of high rank, and complaint was made of the matter. Now in this fashion +did it first become known from Copenhagen that Curt had been of noble +birth; from that time forward he was never seen without Out-riders and +Attendants, besides the coachman, and two Servants behind. Wherefore he +must have also five horses on account of the Hills. But the townsfolk +held it an honour to them that their lord had such great privileges. + +But while he was at Copenhagen it had come to Master Adler's knowledge +that in the Palace where the King then abode, neither the king's +servants nor attendants lay under the same roof with Him, as might have +been expected, but only the king and his Family. On the contrary, the +King's attendants, and the serving men and women lived in a wing by +themselves, and it was for this reason that Master Adler had the long +right wing added to the New house, as may still be seen, and this +should be used by the King's attendants and servants as well as by +Master Adler himself, and by his servants, when the King should come. +But Torbiörn Christoffersen, his trusty steward, refused downright to +add a wing on the left hand, and threatened to go, and for this reason +it is that the right wing stands alone; neither did Master Adler +attempt to finish the Tower, for already many mortgages had been given +on "The Estate," by reason of all his display, and Torbiörn +Christoffersen could in no wise bring both ends to meet; so some of the +heaviest mortgages had to go at a great loss, and, in the same way, the +portion of ground, let to certain men in the town, were sold to any who +could free themselves. It was in this manner that the parcelling of +"The Estate" began. + +Master Adler's younger brother, Parson Max, was a knowing man in all +matters of business, and he supported Torbiörn Christoffersen. And now +that I take on me to draw a picture of Parson Max, God forbid that I +should bear malice against a dead man who has done me harm in many +ways, for it was in this self-same year that I became the unworthy +Parish Clerk and Choir Master of the Church of St. Mary in this Town. I +will not fill this costly paper by telling of the strife which was +between us, concerning the vessel which was bought at the Public sale, +after Master Curt's death, and which came to me by inheritance; or +again with the dispute which arose when I was to read the sermon from +Dr. Martin's Book, in Parson Max's stead, he being that day unfit +through liquor. Up comes Master Max into the Pulpit and flings me down. +All this I will keep concealed now that he is under ground; so it is +not for that that I have noted down the Truth about him; but in order +that those who come after may see how wonderful have been the ways of +the Lord in dealing with this Family, and also that it shall remain +plain to be seen how this Town, more than others, must be under God's +Protection, who has so singularly cared for it, even to the +overthrowing of its Tormentors. + +From the moment that Parson Max came, he played the Master and bully, +first towards his brother and "The Estate," and then over the whole +place. He was worse than his father Curt, inasmuch as he was learned, +and could with great prudence, and skill, twist and turn both people, +and things. He was also a mighty lunged man in the Pulpit. The time +when the terrible mishap befell, namely, that St. Mary's church was +burnt down, being struck by lightning from Heaven, an admonition to us +all, as is related in another place in my _Manu Scriptum_--that time I +say, Parson Max preached every Sunday through the summer, from a +hillock, and from thence was heard all over the Town; many people lying +off in their boats in the harbour heard him, likewise from the windows +away on the Point, but not the words; nay, a skipper told me himself +how, as his ship was being towed up the North Channel, they could all +hear a screaming like that of a Woman in Labour, nor could they tell +what it might be. For at a great distance a man's voice sounds like +that of a woman. So truly this may be said in praise of Parson Max, +that he wrought a very moving Fear on all who went to Church in his +day, and he would in no wise allow that any should stay away, for he +asked for them from the Pulpit, or sought them at their homes. +Wherefore the Church has never been so well frequented as then. The +lower people held wonderfully to him as before to his father; for he +often condescended to come to their weddings and Buryings, and tasted +their ale, and further gave them useful counsel in regard to all these, +for he was of great understanding, and beside knew them all by name, +men and women. By degrees he got the whole Town under his hand, so that +nothing was done in those days, in house or out, but the Parson must +have an account of it, neither might any bake or brew unless the Parson +gained by it. If the poor had nothing else to give there was always +Fish. No one, high or low, dare give his daughter in Marriage, or in +any other manner alter his Position, without Master Max's counsel in +the matter being heard. And if rich gifts, and other private +contributions, were there to help, men could get from Parson Max, what +were otherwise impossible. I know this well, for I relate what I know, +and in no wise that which I do not know. If any went against his will, +him he would persecute and harm by day and night, both he and his. This +he did by means of those in authority, both dignitaries and those of +the army, by his friends and his friends' friends, and his hand could +even reach to Copenhagen.[1] But at times good befell the Town by all +this, for no one at that time went to law, but each man must bring his +case to the Parson, who settled it for him. In the same way when the +new Church of St. Mary was to be built, that one which men commonly +called the Cross Church, everything abode in his hands, so that in +truth he was the Master Builder thereof; whereby that noble work is an +honour to the town, and an everlasting Memorial to him. It was terrible +what money it cost, and it all went to his brother, for "The Estate" +furnished both stone and wood, and all the rest by way of trade. But +Parson Max collected the money, and this he did in such a way as had +the place been _occuperit_ by an Enemy and been burnt to the ground. +For myself alone, when I begin to reckon what I had to pay, I cannot +understand how I got quit of it. He was a terrible man. He lay in wait +for every ship; thus his first walk each morning was to Fetaljen, on +the look out, and he was there again many times in the day, and each +one must do his duty. Every traveller, man or woman, whom he asked must +give to the Church. Once on Fetaljen at Widow Sarah Andersen's, she who +gives lodging to the seafaring folk, he nearly came to great mishap, +for she warned her guests when she saw him coming, so they would creep +up into the cock-loft, or down into the cellar, in order to hide +themselves, for none could withstand his persuasions or threats. Thus +it fell about with rich Heinrich Arendt from Lübeck. He was here on +account of the ship which the Pirates had taken from him, and had sold +here, though with loss. Very well he knew Master Max of old, and he +crept up into the cock-loft. Master Max was well used to this +_trafique_ and crept after him. However, as he was exceeding heavy, +down breaks the stair with him, and he slipped and stuck fast. A heavy +reckoning came to Sarah for this, she had to pay a vast _summa_ for the +new Church, in place of Heinrich Arendt, and he would never make good +the money to her, but put her off with talk, so she never got a stiver, +a thing she has often told me even with tears. + +The aforesaid Sarah Andersen, widow, died on the same day, nay, even +the same hour, as Master Max. I have much considered the matter, in +order to find what deep meaning God may have had in it, and many have +done the same. But in truth it would not be well if everything were +known of us poor weak mortals. + +It was in this manner that Parson Max's death came to pass. When first +he came hither he could carry all that he drank, but not so at last, +and when he was well in liquor he was a sore terror to the Women, who +were fain to take heed for themselves with him; and so it chanced one +day at the Castle that he had forced his brother into giving of a great +feast, as he mostly did force him to do twice yearly, at New Year and +St. John's day. Now this befell on St. John's day; but before I relate +what chanced there, I must say that the passage which leads from the +steps is parlous dark when the double doors are shut to, and that day +they were shut, by reason of a heavy rain such as is frequent here on +the coast. Master Max mistook Ane Trulsdotter, Trul Carsten's daughter +of Bommen, for Nille, Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter, because they both +wore the same sort of red cotton skirt. This befell in the passage in +the dusk, and of those who know both, it can be easily understood. But +Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter would not be jested with, nay, she even +had courage to make a great outcry against him, and there arose much +noise and commotion. The counsellor fetched the Master of the house, +who spoke with great wrath to his brother, and said there was too much +of this in the Castle, and that Max would never rest till he had +brought them all to disgrace. Never had Master Adler been heard to say +so much before, but his words were well considered and seemly; but +Master Max would not allow himself to be taxed with it, for he was in +his Cassock, it being just after dinner, and so he rushed at his +brother, and, as Master Adler was mighty heavy, he could not keep +_Ballansen_, but he first fell against the wall, and at last on to the +floor, and both times he struck his head with much violence. From that +time Master Adler lost his Wits and no long time after, he died. + +So Master Max took "The Estate" in possession for himself, and his +heirs, but from the same hour that he went there, he fell into furious +madness, for he believed himself to be possessed of Spirits; they were +the Spirits, he said, of his Brother, and Father, and Mother, and +others to boot. No sleep could he have because of them, but went from +Room to Room, round all the House, and cried out, and preached against +them, with mighty power; nor would he allow the windows to be shut, for +by them he hoped the Spirits might depart. But watch had to be kept +lest he should fling himself out therefrom. Down in the Town, folk +heard him preaching in such manner as though he were verily in strife +with them. So it went about that the Devil would carry off Master Max, +and that all the Spirits had been sent by him, nay, it was even said +that Master Max had had the Devil to serve him in all his lucky +undertakings, and now the Devil would have him back, for that his Time +was come, but that Master Max hoped to cheat him by his power in the +use of the Word, and by his Ghostly Knowledge. And so they fought +together for dear life, both by day and night, for Master Max could +hold on if he were not outwitted. The whole Town crowded into the +Market Place, and up into the avenue, to listen. There was a terror +upon all, but none spoke of it, and further no Parson could be found, +albeit day after day messengers were sent all about; but every one was +abroad. So there was no one to help Master Max, by the Power of the +Word, against the Devil. + +Now one evening there shone a marvellous great light upon all the +windows up at the Castle, and over the whole House, as though it were +in flames. Now Anders from the Council House, also known as Anders +Red-nose, was walking from the Town, whence he had come to deliver a +summons. In the Avenue, hard by the House, he heard the poor man +screaming with his hoarse voice, for so it now ever was, and Anders saw +the flaming light over the whole building, and in the midst of it the +Evil One, lying athwart the house, hard by Master Max's window, and +saying, "Now must thou come, Max." Anders went no further, but turned +back to the Town. As he came to the Market Place, screaming, he told us +all that he had seen and heard. And he became as frantic as Master Max +himself, and he also must be shut up and bound. And now it was seen of +all men, who had won in the struggle, and all awaited the end, and +accordingly Master Max died the day after, but quietly, and in a +peaceful frame of mind, which thing was much wondered at. Nay, he made +it understood by signs, that he would be taken to his Mother's Chamber, +there to die, and hardly was he there, when all unexpected comes Parson +Thomasius, and he prayed for Master Max, and gave to Him the Dear +_Sacramente_ of the Altar, there in that very room, and he sang to him, +and prayed heartily, and Master Max could now pray, though not with his +voice, and there he died in the same Bed as his mother before him. + +Those that were there remarked, that at that very moment the Bells +chimed from the church which he himself had built. So it is after all +doubtful who won, he or the Devil. + +I would I had the gift of a great writer, so that I might be able to +describe in every way what this Man was; for what he was during his +life, no one can know who has not been under him, as it was with me for +many years. Even now I often dream of him at night, so that my wife is +awakened by my great Fear and out-cries, and she wakes me assuring me +that he is dead. But I am commonly bathed in sweat from head to foot. +He was three times married and would have taken a wife a fourth time, +an he had not died. I have spoken with them all three. For I had often +need to go to the house on account of my business. Then they told all +their troubles to me, the one after the other. For he would have +everything done, and that all at once. I do not use my own words, but +those of Aadel Knutsdotter his second wife. She died at Candlemas, but +a little before as she sat in the green Parlour, she called me in, for +she had heard me in the kitchen. She was very weak, and her Hands +trembled. I asked what ailed her? "This is what ails me," she answered, +"that my husband has worn me out with bearing of children, and with +toil, like the garment he wears next him, so now it is over with me. +God knows who will be the next, though mayhap he knows himself." That +was what she said, and, but a short while after, she died. But the next +one was Birgitte Mogensdotter, the Apothecary's daughter, and the +wedding was just three months to the day, after Aadel was buried. +Albeit Birgitte was a big strong woman, she became so fearful when she +heard that he was to have her to wife, that she filled herself with +strong drink whenever she could come by any of that which her father +the Apothecary dealt in. She has often told me herself wherefor she had +taken to drink, and this was the reason of it. But she fought with him +when she was in liquor, and in the end she poisoned herself. The +Doctor, Mogens Mauritius, has since said this; she did not die of +drink, as was commonly said. She was married three years, and had two +sons by him. He had in all thirteen children, albeit he was not an old +man when he died. By a blow he had made the eldest son, Adler, deaf of +both ears, so that he became an idiot. + +Even if, with my slender gifts, I could describe him as he was wont to +behave when he was wroth with wives, servants, children and others, yet +would I not do it. For we saw at his departing that God himself, in his +unsearchable favour (for verily that is great), had forgiven him. Why +then should not we, poor creatures towards whom he has sinned far less, +do the like. Which thing indeed The Bishop said in the rare oration he +made over him. For his burying was Mighty grand and magnificent. Never +have I seen the like; I might fill several pages if I were to count the +noble Persons who were there, and say what in three days was eaten, and +drunk, and said. In his lifetime Parson Max was more powerful than any +who had ever been in this place, Except the King, no one had any word +to say, as long as he was in his Prime. He was skilled also in the +Arts, namely thus, that he helped the people in all difficulties, more +especially with accounts, and in Building. I have told about the +Church, but I have forgotten to say that he was also a great +ship-builder. As a little lad he had gained skill down by the dock, and +later at "Holmen" in Copenhagen, where he was wont to go, and also +abroad, he carefully studied this. I have heard that from himself. The +ships built here in his brother's dock, under the river banks, were all +built by him, and several thereof were sold abroad, bringing great fame +and gain to us. But now we will leave speaking of him. + +From this history we can clearly see how all has been directed of God, +namely, that the Father Curt brought their Mother and himself to ruin, +and Master Max, both his Brother and _himself_, and to a great degree +his Eldest son, so that but little of Blessing had come with what they +had stolen from Claus Mathiassön, and from many others. Likewise their +strength alone was a cause of stumbling to them. In the next place we +must be mindful that the King's High and Sacred name was taken in vain, +in order to deceive, but for punishment it was, that in the same mighty +name "The Estate" was squandered. + +There are more than I unworthy, who have noted this. For, as the +before-named Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsen was at Copenhagen, in order +to try to gain the office of Collector of Tolls, he said the same to +the King's Confessor, who was known to him. And as Niels sought +_Audience_ of the King, the Confessor followed him, and, in the King's +Presence, he prayed Master Niels frankly to relate all which he had +told to him. And when the King rightly understood how it had befallen, +that "The Estate" had come into Curt's possession, and what had been +the cause of its ruin, namely, that the King's most noble name had, in +all innocence, stood father to both these things, the King graciously +vouchsafed to lend his ear, and after much thought to say, "The Lord is +more cunning than all the rogues put together." And these words of the +King, do I in all humility make mine own, as I leave behind me this +history, and repair to other Lands. + + +About the year 1830 the following was all that remained of "The +Estate." The Mountain with the woods, in which the fir-trees were again +beginning to predominate, the great ruinous house, the curious gardens, +with their stone walls, on each side of the avenue, several bare fields +between the gardens and the town, and a few more on either hand. Beside +this some clearings round about, still belonged to "The Estate." + +The then owner, a tall, dark, dirty fellow, in a green apron which +reached to his feet, worked in his own garden; this, with the addition +of a few cows, was his only means of subsistence. + +He was the only survivor of the whole family in that part of the +country, and he was unmarried. + + + + + + II + + JOHN KURT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + LONELINESS + + +At fifteen Konrad Kurt had left his home; he could no longer bear to +witness the cruelty with which his mother was treated; for domestic +tyranny was an heirloom in the Kurt family. He crossed over to Hull, +and made his home for some time with an uncle, but was eventually sent, +at his expense, to live in the country. The boy's nervous system had +been pronounced by a doctor to be far from strong, and if he were to be +made any thing of, he must live as much as possible in the open air; it +was therefore suggested that he might be brought up as a gardener. Now +gardening chanced to be a perfect _gourmandise_ in the Kurt family, so +that the lad eventually adopted it as his profession. + +When, on his father's death, he returned home to see after his own +interests, and to take care of his poor mother, he found but little +else to take care of, his worthy father having sold all the clearing +rights of his last woods, his remaining shares in some ships, and +finally the tile works, sinking the whole of the proceeds in an +annuity. In a word, he had the houses, the gardens, and a field or two; +all the rest Kurt had, as they say, "eaten bare" all round him. His +son, he considered, must follow his example. He might easily begin by +selling the field nearest to the town; with the lower garden, it +presented a splendid site for building. Konrad Kurt, on the other hand, +was quite of opinion that enough of "The Estate" had been sold already. +He therefore instead raised a loan, drained the gardens and fields, put +the houses so far into repair, that they would not actually fall to +ruin, and enlarged the forcing-house, adding another to it at a later +time. In short, he showed that it was possible to live on his +inheritance, and manage a garden, in such a way as to make it pay, an +idea which was then new in that part of the world. + +At first he expended almost all he earned, but by-and-by things +improved. A single room served him for sleeping, eating, and writing; +the first room on the left side of the hall, which had been occupied by +the first Kurt, and by all the different possessors of "The Estate." +The room within it, which had been formerly used as a bedroom, was +given by Kurt to his mother, who, poor woman, was now happier than she +had ever been her in life before. All household work was done in the +kitchen, on the other side of the wide hall, which, running through the +whole house, divided it in two. The rest of the main building remained +empty. In the autumn Kurt covered the floors of the different rooms +with such portions of his produce as needed drying. + +He was an impetuous man, taciturn at times, and stormy at others, but a +good man at the bottom. His servants and workmen stood by him, and he +stood by them. The sailors and fisher men living up on the mountain +also received a great deal of kindness from him; he gave them seeds, +and taught them how to cultivate their gardens, and utilise the +produce. In the course of many years, the refuse from their houses had +caused so great an accumulation round them, that enough soil had been +formed to enable any one to have a strip of garden who chose to give +the labour to it, besides which, they could carry away as much mould as +they wished for from "The Estate" to mix with it. Never had the folk on +the hill imagined that they would come to carrying earth from down +below, that they would ever get time for, or find any fun in, such an +occupation. Every Sunday throughout the spring and summer, Kurt went up +to the mountain and helped them, a custom which he kept up through his +whole life, but these were almost the only occasions on which he was +ever seen beyond his gardens, house, and cellars. + +He was up and out every morning in spring and summer by four o'clock, +and as soon as it was light during the autumn and winter months. His +summer costume consisted of a pair of fustian trousers, a whitey-grey +linen coat, a green apron reaching down to his feet, and a cap with a +wide peak. The same trousers and long apron were worn during the +winter, with the addition of a tightly buttoned seaman's pea-jacket, +and a fur cap with a wide brim always turned down in such a way that +the loose flaps were constantly brushing against his face. He had never +been seen dressed in any other way, excepting on Sundays, when he +shaved, wore a starched shirt, and laid aside his apron. He had not +inherited the broad defiant forehead of the Kurts. His was a fairly +high one, and noticeable for its excessive whiteness; all the more so, +perhaps, from the rest of his face being very weather-beaten. He had +the eager, wild eyes of his ancestors; his face was somewhat longer, +thin, and with rather a wide nose. + +Housewives and children soon learned that it was better to go up to +"The Estate" and deal with Kurt himself, stern and even passionate +though he was, than to go to the shop on the market-place, for he was +in reality very easy to manage, and excessively fond of children; they +had to be careful, however, not to be too long in making a choice, and +never to attempt to bargain. + +He often seemed, when he was standing there, to be pondering some +serious matter in an absent-minded way, and would then collect himself +with a hasty "Ta, ta, ta, ta," ending with a long, deep "Ta-a-a!" + +Everything prospered with him, his cows and garden paying him better +and better. But after a few years a rumour began to spread that, since +his mother's death, he spent every evening by himself getting drunk on +whisky toddy. As he went regularly to bed at half-past nine, any one +who wished to ascertain if this were the case, must go up there before +that time. One or two people did so, and found that it was but too +true; by half-past eight he was thoroughly drunk, crying, and unable to +speak distinctly. + +At last this came to the ears of "old" Pastor Green. He was always, as +a young man, called "old," a frightful accident having completely +bleached his hair. + +Pastor Green was one of the first men in Norway who came forward to +combat intemperance, and who gave up their lives to the work. It was +his axiom that it is useless to preach against drunkenness otherwise +than by facts and actions, and that it is quite hopeless to expect to +convert the individual drunkard, without knowing what cause has driven +him to drink. There always is one, and if drinking is not hereditary, +or become a long-established habit, it is to the removal of the cause +that you must look for its cure. + +Green paid a visit to Konrad Kurt, and chatted with him, until he drew +from him, that while he was living in England, he had had an intrigue +with the wife of the gardener, to whom he had been apprenticed, and +that she had had a child by him. She had died just at the same time as +his mother. + +He had been madly in love with her, he said; yes, it had been a +terrible thing to deceive her husband. "But--there really was no help +for it"--and he began to cry. Then their boy, "Ah! there never was such +a merry child born before." And, in his yearning for him, the tipsy man +cried, and upbraided himself with wild oaths. + +Green endeavoured to induce him to ask pardon from the gardener, and +bring the boy home, but Kurt had not the courage for the effort, so +that there was nothing for it but for Green to use what other means he +could. + +Accordingly, one summer evening, he walked up to "The Estate," +accompanied by a tall, dark haired boy of twelve, and asked for Kurt, +who was still at work in the garden. It was a sight to see how Kurt, as +he got up out of the hot-bed where he had been digging, rubbing the +earth from his hands, suddenly stopped short, and stared at Green from +under the wide peak of his cap; then turned his gaze to the dark-haired +boy, and back again to Green. + +At last he recognised the eager, wild eyes, larger than his by-the-way, +the long, rather wide nose, and the thin face, so like his own. +Unconsciously he exclaimed in English: "I beg pardon--but this lad----" +He could go no further, and Green was obliged to finish for him: "Yes, +this was indeed his son." + +That evening Kurt forgot to get out the whisky bottle, and when he did +next produce it, the boy seized hold of it and flung it out of the +window against a stone--a really capital shot. Glass, sugar-basin, and +spoon went the same way; capitally thrown they certainly were. Pastor +Green had begged the boy to watch when his father took out the bottle, +and try to get it away from him, and it was in this fashion that the +youngster carried out his instructions. His father stood for a few +minutes staring at him, till at last he broke out into an irresistible +peal of laughter. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A GENIUS + + +Never had any one felt surer that he had a genius for a son than did +Konrad Kurt. Not only that the lad was a thorough botanist, and knew +every secret of gardening, but there was not a piece of work on all the +farmstead, from the cow-house to the kitchen, which he had not soon +learned to know all about. It was easy to see that he had been brought +up in some back premises, among gardeners, cooks, and dairy people, and +had been well taught into the bargain. + +Nothing would serve him but to go on board the ships, and boats, and +learn how to manage them, for he had never lived in a seaport town +before. + +And then how he learned Norse, in only a week or two! First and +foremost the art of swearing. His father convulsed himself with +laughter over all the oaths which the lad began to make use of with the +funniest accent. Then, what stories he would tell! Even before he had +properly learned the language, he could interest the work-people in a +way which was really extraordinary, and he was therefore allowed to +play any tricks he liked; it was all looked upon as fun. + +When he spoke Norse easily, how he would gammon them! It was his +father's delight to steal behind one of the high hedges and listen to +him. The boy would tell them what the English Court was like, where he +had been as page; it was he who, with some of his companions, used to +walk before the lovely young Queen, while behind came all the bigwigs. +Probably he had seen something of the sort at the theatre, or in some +picture. Then the tremendous warlike achievements he had seen in India, +when he was over there or a little tour with the Queen of England. The +father stood hidden, and admired the vivid colours in which the boy +painted it all, although he still knew so little Norse. The father +enticed his son to go on telling him adventures. He drank no more +whisky toddy; the boy himself inebriated him. What a genius! ah! what a +genius! + +There was a continual chasing away of cats from the garden; they came +up from the town after the birds; and John, as this last Master Kurt +was called, having one day captured one of the most determined of the +depredators, ordained that the murderer should be crucified. As not +one, even of the youngest of the labourers, would help him in this, he +temporarily fastened up the cat, giving her plenty to eat, while he +himself went to fetch some rough boys from the harbour. + +Such extraordinary sounds of glee soon afterwards reached his father's +ear, that he hastened to see what it might portend, especially as some +more dubious notes were mingled with the cries of delight. He found the +executioners performing an Indian dance before the victim, a poor +bleeding cat, fastened to the storehouse door. The boy's inordinate +delight hindered him from seeing his father, whose first thought on +this occasion was not that his son John was a genius; although, when he +came to think it over, he must confess that it was a very remarkable +invention, and decidedly well done into the bargain. It is no easy +thing to crucify a cat. + +However, another occasion came when he thought differently. + +As the weather was excessively bad, his father had forbidden John to go +down to the garden, and the boy took his revenge by attacking his +father's finest apple-tree, a young one, which was in fruit for the +first time. He set to work to saw it right through at the roots, and +covered it up again with earth. His father was by no means so struck +this time, nor did he say much about the invention. He entirely forgot +to think of his son as a genius, to such an extent indeed that he +talked to him in his room, with a new well-twisted birch rod in his +hand. The boy never guessed, could not grasp, that his father was going +to flog him, and when this utterly incredible, this impossible thing +did happen, he rushed towards the door, with a look of mad terror in +his face. His father was as supple and active as he, and sprang on him +like a tiger, flung the boy on to the floor, and began beating him with +an absolutely wild pleasure. John screamed, prayed, promised, begged +for mercy. He got up on his knees, sprang up, and threw himself down +again, his eyes seemed to start out of his head, and his cries became +nothing more than a continuous, meaningless sound, his face turning +almost black. The maids, servants, and workmen came rushing in from the +passage, and tore open the doors. Kurt became frantic at this +interruption. He rushed first to one door, then to another, shutting +them in the faces of those who stood there. He had become almost as +crazed as his son, who, in the meantime, had contrived to make his +escape. + +Only an hour later the boy was out among the gardeners, and there could +not have been anywhere, a more good-natured, more submissive, brighter, +livelier lad than John Kurt. + +He lent a hand first to one, then to another, with flattering +coaxing words. Then he began to tell them stories about the apes at +Gibraltar--why, it swarms with apes! they stand there looking across to +Africa. + +And then he mimicked them, snarling and making himself as inquisitive, +frolicsome, timid, wild, and nasty as they. Likely enough he had seen +monkeys somewhere, though not precisely at Gibraltar. As his father was +passing by, he heard the fun, and concealed himself as usual, stooping +down, and peeping. + +That evening, he and his son had a talk together, in the very same +room, the old "Kurt room." There the two last of the Kurts wept in each +other's arms; the son promised to be always, always, always good, and +the father never to beat him again--never! + +It was but a short time after this, that a lad who used to run errands +for Konrad Kurt, had got a new Sunday jacket. His brother, who was a +mate, had bought it at an English seaport, for next to nothing, from a +woman in the street, and every one concurred in the boy's belief that +there had never been such a fine one seen in the town before. Alas! as +he prepared to put it on the next Sunday, he found that it had been cut +to pieces. The cuts were small, but so carefully executed, that though +as long as it hung up it appeared to be whole, it was in reality +nothing but a useless rag. Of course all thoughts turned at once to +John, who happened at that moment to be out rowing. Owing to the cruel +way in which his father had punished his last fault, and the affection +which they had for him, every one hesitated to speak. But the +gardener's boy, Andreas Berg, as he was named, had only this one +jacket, and it was the delight of his heart: he could not restrain his +tears; and old Kurt, at last observing that something was amiss, the +whole truth had to come out. + +It really seemed impossible that John should not have known what was +sure to happen, and have realised that after his performances with the +cat, and with the fruit-tree, suspicion must inevitably fall upon him. +It may be that he imagined that it would never go further than between +the little fellow and himself, or that he might rely on his father's +promise never to beat him again. Be that as it may, he came calmly up +from the water, bragging before he was well inside the garden gate, of +all the exploits that he had performed during the day. His father +called him from the open window of his room. The boy answered him with +a ringing "Yes," and was up the steps in a moment. + +The instant he saw the jacket lying on the table, and a well-twisted +whip by the side of it, he became as white as a sheet, and seemed +entirely to lose the control of his senses. He turned round and round +in a circle as he stood there, and hurriedly exclaimed, in a voice +hoarse from holding back his breath, "It was not I. It was not I. It +was not I. It was not I." Then, seeing his father lift the whip, he +instantly changed to his own voice, crying, "Yes, it was I, it was I, +it was I, it was I." "Will you ask pardon?" "Yes, yes." He was on his +knees in a moment, and with his hands crossed above his head, he cried, +"Pardon, pardon, pardon, pardon!" "And will you beg the boy's pardon?" +"Oh! yes, where is the boy? Let us go to him." He was up and by the +door in a moment, casting terrified glances at his father, who +followed, with the whip in his hand, though he did not go so far as to +strike him. + +John fell down once more on his knees before the little boy, tearing +off his own jacket and waistcoat to give to him, although no one had +suggested to him to do so. An English gold coin, and two Norwegian +silver ones, which were in the waistcoat pocket, fell out, and these he +gave to the lad at once, an act which so touched the father that he was +obliged to turn away. But a very short time afterwards, while the +workmen were at dinner, John made his appearance, and went through the +performance of the Gibraltar monkeys for their benefit. Then, returning +to his father, he asked him confidentially, if part of what had been +taken up in the garden that day, might be given to the men to take +home, and, on permission being granted, he went off with them to help +to carry the things away. His father stood and watched him from the +window. + +John's next exploit was on the sea. He had probably found that such +performances were dangerous on land, and it remained to be seen if +there were more freedom on the water. One day he set off in a boat, +with a little boy as his companion, having formed the plan of throwing +the child overboard, in order that he might rescue him. The idea may +have arisen from something he had read, or he may only have wished to +see the boy's terror; at all events he obtained this gratification. The +little fellow could not swim a stroke, and thought that if he could +make his companion understand this, he would give up his plan; but in +vain. The boy's terror increased every moment, he screamed with all his +small strength, and John might have recognised a fear so like his own. +But no. The child clung to John's clothes with all his little fingers. +He was shaken off again. He seized hold of the boat, and then, utterly +bewildered, tried to grasp the empty air; but overboard he went. John +sprang after him, caught the boy just as he was sinking, and held him +up, but it was only with the greatest difficulty that he got him back +into the boat, the child having been seized with cramp. A number of +people rowed out from all quarters, believing that a murder had been +committed. + +John did not return home that evening, and during three days search was +made for him. First by every one on "The Estate," later by the police, +and by a number of the townspeople who felt for his father's distress. +He was at length discovered up a _s[oe]ter_. He flung himself down at +once, and screamed at the top of his voice, absolutely refusing to +return home until he had received a promise that no one would beat him. + +This last adventure made him known all over the town. Whether it were +good for him or not, that every one came to the conclusion that he was +not like the other children, not quite right, the fact remains that +even at school the masters were rather too forbearing, of course not +his schoolfellows--they excuse nothing. + +He did the most horrible things; for instance as he was approaching +manhood he committed an act of such frightful indecency that it is +impossible to write it, but on this occasion, his father came to the +school to beg that he might be pardoned, and, as all the teachers +pitied the father, who worked so honestly, it was looked over that +time. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN + + +John passed an excellent matriculation, whereupon he took a fancy to +become a cadet, to which his father at once gave his consent, +considering that at the Military Academy he would learn order and +discipline, though, as a matter of fact, if what is meant by +discipline, is obedience to orders, he had no need to learn it, and he +had never been disorderly in his habits. Other faults, however, he did +possess, and he was twice nearly expelled from the Academy. The only +thing which saved him was his behaviour to his teachers, which was +always ingratiating. From the Academy he again passed a creditable +examination, and became absolutely enthusiastic for his profession. He +showed himself particularly good in drill. All was life, movement, and +story-telling where he was, and swearing into the bargain, for by +degrees he had brought swearing to a fine art. All the officers in the +brigade put together, did not swear as much in the course of a year, as +he did in a week. He could begin a string of oaths at one flank of the +company, as they stood on parade, and keep it up till he arrived at the +other. If he had used all the powers of imagination which he squandered +on swearing, in painting, he could have stocked a museum; or if he had +been a poet or composer, his shelves would have been full. But +unfortunately his oaths will not bear repeating, for they were +generally used when only men were present. + +For common every-day use he was content with ordinary oaths, though, +even then, his way of using them was that of a master. As an indication +of the first-named description--those, namely, of his own invention--I +will give one example a little toned down. On one occasion, when the +company was assembled for prayers, the chaplain had wearied them by +preaching an excessively long discourse, which John Kurt declared he +had once read in an old book of sermons. He therefore asked for a +blessing on the chaplain in the following terms: "May Satan inwardly +illuminate all through his inside with burning sermon books." + +He had an unending supply of stories, which were served up in a +seething sauce of imagery and cursing. His stories had this advantage +in them, that everybody did not believe them. + +John Kurt was tall, thin, bony, and as supple as a willow. He wore +beard and moustache, but they did not grow well. The hair was ragged, +and there were patches where none grew. This gave his face a look of +being torn in two. When his wild eyes flashed out he was actually ugly. +But his brow was clear, with the fair skin which was hereditary in his +family; and sometimes, when he was at his best, a gleam would pass over +it which quite redeemed his plainness. His feelings were extremely +strong, and he could make others feel with him. + +The finest thing in the world for a grown man, he considered, was +without doubt to be a soldier and officer. He thundered out his +assurances to the whole world, that no one could be a man who had not +gone through his drill. "Drill and discipline," he would exclaim, using +by preference the commonest expressions, for book language was not +strong enough; "drill and discipline. That was women-folks' greatest +loss that they never had discipline or tact in their commonplace +lives--the swine!" The whole country ought to be arranged as one vast +"Drill-hall." There would be no more cranky bodies then: "No, there +would be--devil take me--order and sense; the whole _Storting_--devil +plague them--ought to go to the parade ground and be drilled." Till +that day came there would be ne'er a bit of sense in the whole crew. +"The king--devil stare at me--ought to be drilled, if not the whole +place would be like a pigstye, where the strongest snout shoves t'other +one's out of the trough. Some one must stand over them with a whip." + +How then can one possibly paint the astonishment of his comrades, his +friends, and, above all, of his father, when one fine day it was +announced that First Lieutenant John Kurt had applied for a discharge, +which had been granted him. He came storming home again, and whenever +he was asked why he had left, he replied that the whole military system +was--"devil pickle him--the most miserable buffoonery. No honourable +man ought to lend himself to it. The officers were nothing but +dressed-up, well-trained monkeys, who trained strong lusty lads to be +monkeys as well. The generals were big monkeys with feathers in their +caps, and the king was the chief monkey of all." + +What was he going to do? "Why, dig the ground like his father. The +earth--that was the only solid thing there was in creation, and so it +was the only thing worth a rush, or that produced anything worth +having. To get out of it all that tasted best, and smelt best, that +was--may the devil quarter him--the finest thing an independent lad +could turn his hand to." He dressed himself in the most slovenly way, +and worked among the other labourers for his living. + +That was all very well during the summer, but the harvest was +hardly over before he discovered that--may the devil fly off with +him--gardening was simply muck. It consisted in using this sort of +muck, and then so much muck, and muck in that fashion. It seemed to him +at last that "all the world was naught but a great muck-heap. They were +the luckiest who owned the biggest. What--devil butcher him--was war +other than that each one killed t'other for his own muck-heap? Poets +and poetry were the flies in spring when the muck began to work." + +He went off in a ship, bound for the South Sea, and was absent for +several years, nor, when one beautiful spring day he returned home, +could any one gain a clue as to where he had been. If he were to be +believed, he had traversed the whole globe, for from that time no +country or nation could be mentioned, nor anything remarkable in +natural history, no ocean, no well-known building, which he had not +seen, nor a single famous person with whom he was not on terms of the +greatest intimacy, or, at the very least, well known to. It was evident +that they were not all inventions. He had a great deal of information +which could only have been acquired on the spot. He had undoubtedly +some notable acquaintance, for his correspondence proved it. Later on +in the summer an English nobleman and his friends sought him out to +accompany them on a mountain hunting expedition. + +Why had he come home? "To see his father before he died," he said; +though, to confess the truth, his father was in the best of health, and +not more pleased to welcome his son home, than he had been to see him +depart. + +John, however, declared all the same, that for his part, Heaven help +him, he could not bear any longer to think that his father might be +dying, and he not by his side. + +From the time he returned he was all solicitude and affection for his +father. He was now an old man, and allowed his son to do anything with +him that he chose, and strange fancies he took at times. Such as, when +he suddenly determined that his father should not eat anything. Or when +he, all at once, hit on the plan of putting him into a warm bath, while +he turned the cold douche on to him. Another idea was to lay him under +a number of large eider-down coverlids, in order to make him sweat, +although his father had not the slightest need for such treatment. +He would give a side glance at his son, and a very speaking one it +was; there was neither confidence, nor fear in it, still less any +good-humour, but a certain cold inquisitiveness, as though he just +wished to know what next; and sometimes he seemed to ask, "Is this +John, or is it not John?" + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + SAILS IN SIGHT + + +In the autumn of the same year, a girl came home, who became the +subject of conversation in the whole town, and for two reasons. + +Her name was Tomasine Rendalen, and she was the daughter of the +head-master, Rendalen. His name was derived from the mountain district +of Rendalen, from which his father had originally come. + +Rendalen was a big, strong man, who quietly, if rather ponderously, +performed his scholastic duties in the town, and who, since his wife's +death, had taken interest in nothing but his school, and the town +reading society. + +The management of his house he entirely left in the hands of old +Mariane and his children. Tomasine, who was his eldest child, possessed +a more than ordinary talent for languages, together with all her +mother's determination. When she was only sixteen she borrowed a little +money, entered a school in England, and, while there, thoroughly +mastered the English language. From thence she went to a school in +France, where she taught the pupils English and acquired French; and +finally to one in Germany, where she gave instruction in both English +and French, and learned German. She had been away nearly five years, +and had become a practised, and unusually clever teacher. She had no +sooner returned home than she began to give lessons both to men and +women, and thereby to pay off her debts. This aroused great admiration +in the town, and procured her a very large circle of friends. Her +figure excited an equally unanimous admiration, and it must be admitted +that it requires something special in a girl's figure before this can +happen. A beautiful face is always admired, for there can be no +delusion about it. A fine figure, on the contrary, is hardly sufficient +in itself to command attention. She was young, and well-made, and +always dressed in the latest fashion. Like other vigorous and healthy +girls, she had from her childhood longed to exercise her strength, and +had taken every opportunity of doing so. In England she had set to work +to practise gymnastics, and had continued them ever since. It had +become a passion with her; the result was, that there was not a single +girl in the town who held herself like Tomasine. + +It did not in the least lessen the admiration for her figure that she +had a somewhat flat nose, and that her very light hair gave her the +appearance, at a distance, of being bald; as for her eyebrows, they +were really not worth mentioning. Her eyes were grey, and, when without +her spectacles, she screwed them up. Her mouth was much too large, but +the teeth within it were as sound and regular as though her family had +remained in Rendalen and lived upon hard bread. When any one saw her +from behind for the first time, and she then suddenly turned round, it +caused a certain disappointment. People even thought of calling her +"The Disappointment," but the name did not take. Her figure carried her +over all criticism. Being near-sighted she wore spectacles, the only +girl in the town who did so. In those days the fashion of using +_pince-nez_ had not come in, so this gave something rather unusual to +her appearance. She literally shone with strength and intelligence. + +Through that winter she was the most popular partner at all the balls. +Her delight in being at home again, free from all restraint, and among +a number of merry young people of both sexes, her happiness in feeling +that every one was kind to her and liked her, were plainly visible. She +often expressed her feelings in simple and natural terms; she aroused +no jealousy, though it may be that this was a little strengthened by +the fact that she was well aware that she was not pretty. That winter +was a great dance winter, and at every dance she was present, for +dancing was the most delightful thing she knew. During that winter John +Kurt became for the first time a dancing man, and it was entirely for +her sake that he did so. She soon heard him say this, but she knew that +he could not be gauged by the rules of ordinary life, for he was always +allowed to say what he liked. She looked upon him as something quite +fresh, and very peculiar, but she acted as every one else did, and +neither ran away from him, nor fainted, because he said that he would +be d----d, pickled, boiled, and roasted if, when she danced, she were +not like a young, lively, whinnying Arabian mare, or like a flock of +birds in the woods in spring-time; her arms and her neck were just like +a dainty, warm, little Turkish pigling, one o' them with a pink skin. +She moved through the dance, Heaven help him, like a great man-of-war +through the water. When he danced with her--by his honour, life, and +salvation--it was like being up on the mountains of a clear autumn day, +with a gun in his hand, and the tykes ranging the hillside in full cry. +This, shouted in trumpet tones into her ear during every dance, only +added to her amusement. The others laughed and she laughed with them. +She did not possess the slightest knowledge of human nature. That +cannot be learnt by going from one school to another, even though they +be in foreign countries. + +Kurt very soon began to visit her home; he knew the hours when she +would be free, and speedily learnt her times for walking, following her +about everywhere. She tried as much as possible not to be alone with +him; otherwise she was pleased enough that he should come. He told her +and her friends amusing stories, and touching ones sometimes. Such, for +instance, was the history of a deserted brood of ptarmigan, which he +had once picked up, one by one, out of the heather, where they were +running about, all downy and unfledged; he had brought them all home, +he said, in his cap. This story seemed to bring with it such a fresh +breath of mountain air, full of the scent of the heather, and he +related it with such genuine feeling, that it brought the tears into +their eyes. Such things as these seemed to inspire him; even in the +midst of the wildest stories, he would often throw in some delicate, +telling touch. The way in which he invariably spoke of his father +attracted the girl to him. There was a mixture of drollness and +tenderness in it, midway between laughter and tears. They got used to +his rough descriptions, his coarse language; it could not well have +been dispensed with; it gave a special colouring which charmed, while +it startled them. Tomasine and her friends did not try to have it +otherwise, so that at last there was no one who appeared to them to be +able to relate stories except himself. Tomasine more than any one else. +She felt that it was all done for her amusement. + +One day, when by chance they were alone, he began to tell her about the +widow of a pilot, for whom he was just then most assiduously making a +collection. He saw that she liked him for doing so, and, without +further preface, he declared that Fröken Tomasine Holm Rendalen was to +him what a town was to a desert caravan; nay, if she laughed, it was +because she did not know what it was to trudge along through endless +sand, under a burning sun, exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. "It is +something to see a town then, I can tell you." Well, _she_ was the +minaret tower, the plane-trees, and the springs of water, the wine +which awaited them, and white tents, and dancing, the sound of the +guitars, and the smell of roasting meat. Suppose they two were to make +a match of it! If that could be, he would sell the whole garden, and +they would wander away to all the most delightful places on the face of +the earth. They would lie on their backs under the awnings, while their +servants came and put food and drink into their mouths. Or why not stay +here and carry "The Estate" gardens right up on to the mountains? What +would not grow with such shelter, on such sunny hillsides, fanned by +such warm sea breezes. There they would dig away into the hillside, +like a couple of badgers, and become rich people. But he saw what a +fright he had put her into; so, without any pause, he turned the +conversation into a wild panegyric on his father. The fact was that the +whole thing was his father's invention. He was determined to have his +son married. His father was a man who would get up of a winter's night, +when it suddenly turned cold, and go out to wrap bast mats and woollen +rags round the frozen fruit-trees, as if they were naked children. If +he wanted to cut down a bush he took the birds'-nests down first, and +carried them away to some place near, or to some other bush, and stuck +'em fast there. What wonder then if his father gave a thought for him +too; but, as for him, he could wait, he was quite happy as he was. And +he started off with a story about some cows who would not eat the grass +because it looked black, but he put them on large green spectacles, so +that the grass looked quite nice and fresh--"then they munched it up, I +can promise you." + +She could gather in the meantime that John Kurt was disappointed. She +herself had felt startled, she hardly knew why, and yet, on second +thoughts, she did, for she had heard, that very day, some stories of +the terribly licentious life he led. + +It so happened, strangely enough, that a friend of her late mother came +in to see her, and after a short preamble, began warmly to advocate +Kurt's cause. Only an hour afterwards another one arrived, another +after that, all bent on the same errand. He was certainly not like +other people, that must be confessed, but that he would make a famous +husband, each one was as certain as the other. As to his immoral +conduct, that was bad, it must be admitted; but it was most likely not +worse than other people's. Why, there were married men living in the +town who were by no means all that they should be. The great difference +was that he did everything openly. Each one of the three ladies spoke +as strongly on the subject as the others, and Tomasine began to be +somewhat of the same opinion. + +John Kurt himself held aloof for a time, excepting so far as that +whatever walk he took to or from the town, and they were not few, he +always contrived to pass the Rendalens' house, notwithstanding that +they lived quite on one side, to the left of the market-place, up +towards the field. Every time he passed up and down, he took off his +hat, if there were only a cat to be seen at the window. Beside this, he +sent a bouquet there every morning. The dawn was not more certain to +come than it was. Old Mariane, who received it, had always some little +thing to say about Tomasine, and he, on his part, generally let fall +some special remark, such as, for instance, "God bless your throats." + +A very short time after her mother's especial friends had called upon +Tomasine to advocate John's cause, her own followed their example. Some +of them had in past days taken quite an opposite view of him. They had +spoken of him almost with horror. They could not bear his mendacious +stories, or put up with his coarse language; or indeed with him, +himself. He was "disgusting." Now, however, they began to admit that +there was something interesting in him all the same: a kind of +demoniacal overwhelming power. + +The fact was that he had called upon them all, choosing first the one +whom he knew was most set against him. He told her that he was well +aware of this fact, and that he respected her for it. It was quite true +that he was a wretched, contemptible fellow. But it was just for that +very reason that he had come to her, for she really was the most honest +and clear-sighted conscience in the town; there was but one opinion on +that point. She really _must_ help him. She did not know the whole +history of his life, that was the fact. She did not know how it was +from his boyhood upward he had been misunderstood, and indeed continued +to be so still. And for that very reason would always remain an oddity. +But really it was hardly necessary for him to say anything. She saw +right through every one. + +He told another that her hands were so plump, so dainty, and round and +soft, that one longed to nibble them with one's coffee. + +He swayed and turned them with his stream of talk, he douched them +cold, he blew them warm, he startled them, and touched them. They did +not completely lose their heads. They knew perfectly well that it was +not all honest truth, spontaneous nature, but even that very fact +worked as an apology for him; he did not think about sheltering +himself, and most people are flattering when they wish to obtain +anything. + +A little time afterwards the whole town from one end to the other was +convulsed with laughter, for when, in the course of the spring, a +little sempstress declared Kurt to be the father of her child, he +acknowledged it before every one, and had it brought with great state +to church to be baptised, giving it the name of Tomasine. + +The amusement was renewed when he declared, on being asked how he could +possibly have done such an extraordinary thing, that if he had any +voice in the matter, Lord help him, every child in the town should be +called either Tomas, or Tomasine. It was quite touching. + +Just about that time his father died under somewhat strange +circumstances. The old man had sent a message to Tomasine, asking her +the next time she went for an evening walk, to be so kind as to come in +to see him, as he was far from well. Those two had been friends of old. +Many times, when she was a little girl, he had filled her pocket with +cherries. She always looked so fresh and healthy, and an old gardener +has an eye for such things. + +When she went up there, she found him sitting in his room on the left. +It was the first time she had ever been in it. The walls were hung with +some stiff, and rather dark material, apparently leather, which had at +one time been painted and gilded. In the corner by the window stood a +large press, a splendid piece of furniture, at least two hundred years +old, and most artistically carved. Quite in front of the window was a +clumsy unpainted table, littered over with papers, samples of seeds, +newspapers, and scraps of food. The old man sat there, in an ancient +arm-chair, with a short, broad leather back. He got up, and insisted +that she should take it. He was dressed in his grey linen coat, his +long apron, and wore slippers down at heel. On his head he had his +wide-peaked cap, and a thick neckcloth wound round his neck. He was +rather hoarse, and he seemed ill as well. "The spring was so sharp this +year," he said. The tall, gaunt man began to pace up and down between +the table near the window, and the bed beside the wall next the wide +hall, which divides the house in two. Up and down he walked along the +wall, past the great stove, with the two "Oldenborgs" on it, both in +enormous wigs, his steps keeping time to the ticking of an old +eight-day clock which hung on the wall near the stove. Just then it +struck seven, with a noisy chime. + +The old man's bed was of freshly polished birch, contrasting with the +old decrepid chairs set along the wall, with a new leg or two, or half +the back put in fresh. The wall itself was hung with pictures, in which +a reddish yellow arm, or a brownish red dress, showed themselves, but +which otherwise were absolutely black. + +Konrad Kurt's blustering talk, as he walked up and down, somewhat +resembled the room, for it was a mixture of old and new, most of the +former; and not without a touch of boasting about his family. About +modern days he had less to say, and it was more in the humbler style of +his present circumstances. He talked without his son's oaths and +imagery, but with no little skill. He romanced at one moment, and +sneered the next, as his son often did. _Summa summarum_ was, then, +that the race was worn out, the stock could no longer spread. If it +were to be saved, it, and the last of the inheritance, it must needs +receive a graft; a strong, new tree must be found. + +Tomasine sat there for nearly two hours, and listened to him. She let +her supper hour, and the time for her evening classes, go by. He would +not let her leave. A maid-servant opened a door from the inner passage +to ask if she should lay the table, but was sent away. + +As Tomasine returned along the avenue, where the road was guttered by +the rain, and the storm whistled through the old trees, she felt as +though she had just come from a mausoleum. In it she had met one single +living man, wandering round and gazing on his dead. She had not the +slightest desire to join him there. She turned and looked back at the +great, dirty, plastered building, with its small windows. "No," she +said aloud. + +Next morning, when she came into the parlour, John Kurt's bouquet had +not arrived. It gave her a pang, she hardly knew why, for that was +after all exactly what she wished. But was it? She was trying to make +this clear to herself, when her father came in from his morning walk. +He was very pale--he told her that old Kurt had died in the night. They +had found him in the morning, lifeless, in his chair before the table. + +John Kurt came in a few minutes later; he did not speak, but flung +himself down, crying. He cried so violently that both she and her +father were frightened. Then--the self-accusation that followed! + +He came again every day and poured out his heart with affecting +vehemence. He went nowhere else, spoke to no one but to them. Just to +them and his own people. With these he worked day and night to build a +temple of flowers on the great flight of steps before the house, down +which the old man would be carried. This erection of flowers was +wonderfully lovely; it was talked of far and near, and the evening +before the funeral, numbers came up to see it, Tomasine and her father +among them. The dead man's friend, Dean Green, was one of the first to +come up the avenue, and after him, half the inhabitants of the +mountain, both grown people and children, to look, to show their +gratitude, and to say "Good-bye." They had been to see the clergyman +first. Old Green stood on the steps, and spoke of him who had loved +flowers so dearly, who had gone from our spring to the eternal one. +Every one was moved, and the son was obliged to go away. + +The next day John went straight from the funeral to the Rendalens'. But +he did not find Tomasine at home. He was so disappointed at this, so +honestly distressed, that he stood silent for a long time, and at last +let fall that he had no one now--no, not one single being. He only +wished with all his heart that he could be laid in his grave too. He +was nothing but a trouble even to those he cared for most. He saw that +now. And he turned away. This quite touched old Mariane, to whom it had +all been said, and when Tomasine came in at last, she related it so +feelingly that her mistress was touched as well. The fact was that +Tomasine had not wished to be at home. She feared him. She had not the +courage to face his emotion, which might perhaps lead him in a special +direction. + +She repented it now. She hastily took off her spectacles and wiped +them, put them on again, and looked at herself in the glass. Was not +she big and strong enough to hazard it? She stood there and weighed the +question. + +The fashion of that day was to wear a bodice drawn in at the waist with +a belt, and crinoline. + +She pushed her belt down with both her strong hands; she had taken off +her loose, white sleeves, as soon as she came in. Those belonging to +her dress were wide and open, so that her wrist and the lower part of +her arm, contrasted very prettily with her black dress. She delighted +in their strength, as those do who are much given to gymnastic +exercises. But her eyes turned involuntarily to her face, her weak +point. It was incredibly ugly. That flat nose, those thick lips, and +that hair which was the colour of her forehead--you could hardly see +it--and those eyebrows, light, short bristles, so thin that they were +quite invisible. Ah! no, it would never do to make herself of +importance. John Kurt loved her so heartily, and was unhappy!.... +absolutely alone, and so unhappy!.... And his father had made her sit +down in his own chair! + +Shortly afterwards old Mariane walked up the avenue as fast as she +could. She halted once though, and took out of a newspaper a dainty, +ah! such a dainty letter. She must look at it. + +When it was put into John Kurt's hand, he tore it hastily open, and +took out a sheet of thick English note-paper--with a dove on it--the +paper was very good, and the dove well designed. He read the following +words, hastily written in a practised hand: + + + "_I will do it_. + + "Tomasine." + + +John turned to Mariane. "Now, what a man father was," he said; "if he +had not died just now, small chance if I had ever got her." + +He would have married the next day. To his immense astonishment, +Tomasine would not hear of it. Nor even that the marriage should be the +next week. She now gave up her pupils to begin to prepare herself for +her new position. She was completely ignorant of domestic matters, +except so far as to be able to keep her own things in order. From a +child she had only cared for her book. John Kurt was delighted when he +heard of her deficiencies; _he_ could do everything. Did any one doubt +it? He could wash up and clean, were it parlour or kitchen, better than +any housemaid or cook in Norway. He pushed old Mariane suddenly on one +side, and showed them, bit by bit. He did everything as quickly, +nicely, and carefully as the handiest girl--that was a fact. Besides +this, he could cook all sorts of food; dishes which they did not know +by name. He could roast and boil, knit, sew, and darn: he could wash +clothes; starch and iron. He, and no one else, would teach Tomasine. +Why should they not begin at once? And so it was settled. He himself +made purchases, and invited friends to the Rendalens'. The days which +followed were the most amusing the family had ever spent. The whole +town was filled with rumours. Friends and friends' friends came to look +on. And to listen! What noise and fun! What tales of where he learnt it +all! Sometimes among the gold-diggers in Australia, in constant peril +of his life. Then on a Nile boat, with a party of English, where the +cook directed the whole expedition. Sometimes in Brazil, at an hotel +among the niggers; or in the mines in South America. Then suddenly he +was at Hayti on board a large steamer! Then deserting from her. He did +not spare local colouring, or indeed any colouring; coarseness and +vituperation rained down like fire from heaven on the different places +and people. + +But the work went on. Tomasine was assistant cook, scullery maid, +ironer, and darner. Even in the last he was her superior. He worked +just as quickly as he talked, and just as eagerly. He interrupted +himself with the most perfect good temper whenever she made a mistake, +for she was really very clumsy. He captivated them all now, without +exception. But surely this teaching and fun could go on as well or +better up at "The Estate." By degrees every one agreed to this, and +Tomasine gave in. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + HOME LIFE + + +They were married one afternoon at home. Only the family was present, +and after leaving the table they walked up to "The Estate," arm-in-arm. +It could not be concealed that there was much feverish excitement. +Indeed, it was the more apparent because they wished all to go on as if +nothing were on foot. + +Hardly anything had been done up at the house. Things were to +be arranged by degrees. The first room on the left was still a +sitting-room and dining-room. The next one a bedroom. The best +furniture of every description which the house contained, some of it +old and valuable, was collected there. The leather hangings on the +walls had been washed, but were not much the better for it. The heavy +carved ceiling, on the contrary, was much improved by being cleaned. An +attempt had also been made to clean the pictures, but not altogether +with success; as the frames had at the same time been regilt they +presented altogether a ghastly appearance. This was almost all that had +been done. A bath-room had been fitted up next to the bedroom, shortly +after John Kurt returned home. This was now divided, so as also to form +a dressing-room. The kitchen, on the other side of the hall which +divided the house lengthwise, was like a huge dancing-room; a new +English kitchener had been fixed there, and the newly married pair +proposed to spend a great part of their time before it. + +For a few days they were quite alone, nor did they go out later on. But +one or two ladies at a time were invited. And soon they were all as +merry up there as they had been before down at the Rendalens'. Just +previous to her wedding, and for a short time afterwards, Tomasine was +thoroughly in love with John Kurt; entirely wrapped up in him, +absolutely happy, and in boisterous spirits. + +But this exuberance was contrary to her nature, and did not suit her. +She looked excited and almost vulgar. She felt this when her friends +looked at her. Indeed, her glass had already told her the same thing. +It made an impression on her, but she put it aside. It returned now and +then, like a secret dread. She tried naturally to shout it down, and +only made things worse. Her friends whispered that she had become +disagreeable; she, who had pleased by her unconscious manner, was now +either strangely abstracted, or boisterous. + +One small thing excited observation. None of her friends were admitted +further than the sitting-room and kitchen; all was carefully locked up. +She positively kept watch to see if they watched her. Very soon, +however, some one spied on them all. It became impossible for any one +to be alone with Tomasine without John Kurt opening the door, and +putting in his head, but no sound was heard before he made his +appearance. All the locks had been examined and oiled, and the doors +opened noiselessly. If they walked along the broad paths in the garden, +he came out unexpectedly from behind a hedge. If they whispered when he +was present, he became restless and perverse, not exactly with them, +but in such a way as to leave no doubt of his meaning. He generally +poured out his wrath over Tomasine's untidy habits. Her friends thought +either that they were in the way, or that something was going on which +they would rather be away from. They came more and more rarely. + +Tomasine was the last to understand her husband's uneasiness. She +fancied at first that it was only to scare them, that he came upon them +in that way. His complaints of her untidiness were merited. One has to +_learn_ to keep everything tidy about one. Later, when there could be +no mistake, she asked herself if he were jealous of her friends. In +that case he ought to have been so before; they came oftener then than +now. Was he afraid, then? Afraid of what? That they should talk about +him? What could they say? She knew as she asked it. He was out at the +moment, so that she had time to cool down a little. It was not her +nature to come to hasty determinations, nor was it clear to her how she +ought to take it, or what rights she had, or had not, in her married +life. She had never spoken to any one on the subject, never read about +it. The pain lessened little by little as she pondered. She took up her +work again, and tried to appear as if nothing had happened. Kurt, +however, observed at once that her manner was different. From that time +forward he sometimes saw that she had been crying. Every time he came +in he asked if any one had been there. "No." Once she heard him, a +little while afterwards, ask the gardener if any one had been with "the +Missis" whilst he was out. + +He was shy with her and guarded, actually uneasy. But he could not +continue this long, and without warning became impatient and rough; +then repented his violence and begged her pardon twenty times, and this +again and again. + +Tomasine was not nervous, so that she was neither frightened by the +former, nor did the latter make her alter her behaviour. She was +friendly, but always reserved. So things drifted on towards a storm. +They both knew it. The changes from cold to hot became more sudden, the +squalls which preceded them heavier, the stillness and sultriness which +followed them more dangerous. Yet in the midst of it all he could be so +wonderfully kind, so naturally bright and considerate, that sometimes +she forgot all presentiments, and gave herself up to the hope that, +under her quiet guardianship, which he quite understood, their life +might at last become what she realised by an ordinary, honourable +married life. + +One afternoon he came in from the garden, where he had worked all day. +He wished to change his clothes, for he was invited to a men's dinner +in the town. He went into his bedroom, took off his coat and waistcoat, +came back again and talked of taking a bath, walked up and down as +though considering something. Tomasine felt that things were not safe. +She was herself dressed to visit a friend in the town, and he looked +closely at her. She thought it would be wiser to slip away, but when he +saw that she was preparing to start, he suggested that she should wait +for him, and that they might go down together. She excused herself on +the plea that she was expected. "There would be time enough for gossip, +she could help him a little first." She inquired how. This he would not +submit to. She had no business to ask questions. Beside that, she was +not obedient. She had not learnt that yet. She ought to understand that +now she had a master, and that she must obey him "in all things." It +was the Bible itself that said so. By way of answer, she put on her +bonnet which lay ready on the table, and took up her mantle and +parasol. On this he became furious, and asked her if she thought he had +not observed her. She thought herself so much better than he was, and +was therefore constantly spying on him. It was certainly true that she +had not had the opportunities of leading the life he had, but that was +in reality the only difference between them. At the bottom she was +exactly the same as he was, precisely, so she really need not keep up +this farce any longer. This came so unexpectedly to Tomasine, that she +cried out "Boor," took up her things, and turned to leave the room. The +door leading into the hall was behind her, he sprang to it, turned the +key and, took it out. Then going to the other doors, he fastened them, +keeping the keys, and as well as this, he closed all the windows. + +"What are you thinking of?" she asked, turning deadly white, and taking +off her spectacles. She forgot her bonnet. + +"You shall learn for once what you really are," he answered, and to her +consternation he called her by the worst name which can be given to a +woman. And, as he spoke, he came so close to her that she could feel +his breath on her face. He said things which stung her like scalding +water. It was to such a wretch she had given herself. Her close +proximity and the scent of her best clothes gave him an inspiration. +Like lightning it flashed upon him, that the time had come to humble +her. She thought too much of herself, as she stood there with her +strong figure. She dared to wish to be independent. She was his--his +thing. He could do whatever he liked with her. But she put herself on +the defensive. He warned her first. He asked what she was thinking +of--of coercing _him?_ She! Suddenly he screamed out, "I am not afraid +of your cat's eyes." + +Now a fight began in the old Kurt house--between a Kurt and his wife, +with all the strength possessed by two human beings--and on his side +with the recklessness which disappointed love of rule and thwarted will +can give: entirely alone, with closed windows and doors, and without a +word uttered. The table was overthrown, and everything on it spilt or +broken, chairs were knocked over, the new sofa pushed far out along the +floor. Down they went themselves, but were up again directly. They got +across to the other side of the room, knocking against the heavy clock; +it swayed and fell, striking him on the shoulder and head, so that he +was obliged to pause and recover himself. She had time to try a door, +or at least to alter her position, but she did neither; she looked at +herself, for she had hardly a whole garment upon her. Her hair hung +dishevelled about her, and she felt pain in her head. The only thing +she did, however, was to free herself from the remains of her +crinoline, which she threw from her, and which caught in the legs of +the table. She felt that she was bleeding. He had struck her on the +mouth and nose, and the scratches smarted. They set to again. This time +he knocked her down at once, but he gained little by it. For he was not +so much stronger than she, that he could afford to expend his strength +without soon losing all that he had gained. Hardly was one of her hands +free before she was near him again. She was as agile as a cat; he moved +slowly. He was breathless, and deadly white, as if he were going to +faint. She saw this as she stood before him, in her rags. She was +breathing hard as well, but could still go on. He now heard her speak +for the first time. It was all she could do to say between her gasps +for breath: "Won't you--try--once--more?" He went backwards towards a +chair, the only one left standing, and sank down on it. He did not look +at her, but sat there, panting and overcome. It was some time before +one or two long breaths showed that he was beginning to recover +himself. She placed herself by the stove, holding her rags about her, +and asked him to open the bedroom door; she wanted to get some clothes. +He did not answer. She scoffed at his utter weakness and misery. He +listened without a word; he pointed at her, and his face expressed how +hideous she was. His spite at last gave him words. She looked, he said, +as she stood there in her rags and with her hair torn, like the +roughest and most disgusting of drunken women. But he put no colour +into what he said, nor a single oath. "Can't you swear now?" she asked. +He took this quietly; merely got up and walked slowly to the bedroom; +took the key out of his pockets, and opened the door. As he went in he +looked at her, then fastened it behind him, leaving her standing there. +She heard him go into the bathroom and take a shower bath, and then +dress himself. She sat down and waited. After a long time he came out +again, ready for the dinner, locked the door behind him and withdrew +the key, put his hands in his pockets, and began to whistle. He went +past her, across the overthrown furniture and other litter on the +floor, without attempting to pick up anything, finally striding over +the clock-case to reach the outer door. "You will find plenty to amuse +you here," he said. He unlocked the door and locked it again outside. +She heard him take away the key. + +All the people about the place thought that they had both gone out, for +everything was fastened--even the sitting-room doors, which was not, as +a rule, done. By nine o'clock perfect silence reigned over the +homestead, both within and without. It was late in August, and there +was no moon. + +At ten o'clock a man walked hurriedly up the avenue. He saw no light in +any part of the great building. He mounted the steps and entered the +hall, where the darkness obliged him to grope his way to the room-door. +He was evidently unfamiliar with the place. He knocked, but received no +answer. He tried the door, it was fast. He knocked again, thundered, +waited, but no one came. Again he knocked, louder than before, and +called "Tomasine." + +"Yes," was answered at once from within. + +A moment later, close by the door, "Is that you, father?" + +"Can you not open the door?" + +He knew by her voice that she was crying. + +"Where is the key, then?" + +"John took it with him when he went out." + +A moment's silence, and then the question, "Has he locked you in, +then?" + +"Yes," was the answer amid her sobs. + +She heard him turn away again and descend the steps, and, to her +astonishment, go away without a single word. + +She needed some one so much. It was unbearable. She began to feel +frightened, for it must have some meaning. Why did he go? Where was he +going? To meet Kurt! What would happen? The blood began to circulate +again in her half-clad body, for as Kurt had left her she still +remained. She hurried to the window, but could see nothing, and at the +same moment she heard some one on the steps again. She ran to the door, +but could not tell by the footsteps who was coming, they advanced so +cautiously. + +"Is it you, father?" she asked. + +"Yes, it is I, with the keys," he answered. + +He came in, and she fell sobbing on his breast. She began to speak, but +he interrupted her. + +"Yes, yes, you have nothing more to be frightened about." Then he told +her plainly and shortly that John Kurt was dead. "They are now at the +steps, with the body." + +Partly from her father, partly at a later time from other people, she +learned that John Kurt had eaten and drunk heavily at dinner, becoming +more and more excited. On leaving the table he swore by life and death +that he would go to a disreputable house. That would be such devilish +good fun for Tomasine. They tried to control him, but he became +perfectly beside himself, staggered forward, and fell dead. + +No floral temple was built on the steps for John Kurt to be laid in. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT + FOLLOWED + + +In the days that followed, several friends, both of Tomasine and of her +mother, came to express their sympathy and offer help, but she refused +to see any one. + +During all that afternoon when she had sat locked in her room, robbed +of her clothes, her youth, her self-respect, trembling for her life, +she had called to mind that at that moment John Kurt was sitting at +table in the best society of the town. If society had not approved John +Kurt, she would never, inexperienced girl that she was, have been +sitting there. Society had surrendered her to him. Yes, surrender, that +was the word; and yet, if she were not mistaken, every one was fond of +her and respected her. She would never see them again. If she had been +free, she would have left the country. Her own fault? She saw it, saw +it. She would never show her face again. + +_Now_ she was free! But something fresh bound her. A terrible +uncertainty. Was she _enceinte_, or was she not? Would she perhaps +bring another insane being into the world? For now that John was gone, +she wished to think that he had been mad, like several of his family. +Would she give birth to a child whose nature might combine any +possibilities, and afterwards be bound to it for the rest of her life, +because those people down in the town had surrendered her, and she had +not understood herself? + +In the course of a few weeks she became the shadow of her former self. + +It was wonderful, almost as soon as uncertainty changed to the +certainty that she was to become a mother, a feeling of solemnity came +with the decision she formed; she did not understand how it was that +she had not discovered so clear, so natural a thing before. The being +under her bosom should determine the question; if it were a miserable +little wretch everything would be at an end, she would not live to +nourish such a brat; but if the child combined the qualities of her own +honourable race with what was best in his, it would be a great, great +boon that she was left alone with it. At all events, she must wait to +see. + +Tomasine was awakened, and from this time a natural grandeur began to +develop itself in her. She had borne both the actual and mental +struggles alone, alone she regulated her own character. It required +time, for her thoughts did not move quickly. She ate, rested, and +regained all her vigour. So finally everything was prepared. She first +called in the head gardener, a handsome, fair man, with a determined +manner and great powers of self-reliance. He was no other than Andreas +Berg, whose Sunday jacket John Kurt had cut to pieces. He had remained +on "The Estate" ever since. Andreas Berg, had borne everything with the +hasty-tempered old Kurt, who would undoubtedly have made him his heir, +if his son had not returned. In later times he had put up with all +John's freaks and bursts of passion. + +Tomasine asked him to sit down. She inquired if he had any other +intention, than to stay with her. + +"No, he wished to stay, if Fru Kurt would allow him." + +She could depend on him, then? + +"Yes, that she could." + +The first thing she had to ask him was not to call her Fru Kurt any +longer, but Fru Rendalen, and to get the others to do the same. Their +eyes met. Hers shone uncertainly behind her spectacles; his in wide +open astonishment. But when he saw that her glasses were gradually +dimmed by the tears, which could not find a free course, and that her +flat nose worked until the spectacles slipped down on to her cheek, he +hastened to say, "Very good. That shall be done." + +She took off her glasses, wiped her eyes first, and them afterwards, +and began, after a pause, with the next question. + +"Dear Berg," she said, and put on her glasses, "could you not, quite +quietly, so that no one would notice, have all these portraits +destroyed--indeed, all the pictures, for I cannot always distinguish +them? Have them all burnt, or disposed of in some way, so that they do +not remain here and as soon as you can manage it. Do you understand +me?" + +"Yes, Frue, but ..." + +"What do you mean?" + +"It would be rather difficult if no one is to see." + +She considered for a while. + +"Even if it is noticed, it may be done all the same, Berg." + +"Very good. Then of course it shall be done." + +And done it was, with an infernal smell of burnt canvas and burnt +leather, and a general smell of burning. A soft breeze drove it one +afternoon all over the town, the smoke drifting almost to the works, +out by the river-banks. She then invited her father, with all his +family, to come up to her. That was done at once. She handed over all +the housekeeping to old Mariane, and let her have what help she wanted. +The rest of the family lived in the rooms behind her own. + +Soon afterwards an advertisement appeared in the local paper: + + + FRU TOMASINE RENDALEN + + _Will resume her Instructions in English, French, and German_. + _Information to be obtained at_ "_The Estate_." + + +She changed her name with all legal formalities. Besides her classes, +of which she had as many as she wished, she studied book-keeping, and +soon herself began to keep the accounts of the house, garden, and +dairy. At the same time she began to learn a little about the working +of the business, the accounts of which she kept. She wished to qualify +herself to undertake it. Perhaps she would never have to do so, but it +gave her present occupation. It left no time for brooding; that was the +main thing. She was so tired every evening, that she slept the moment +her head was on the pillow, and, like all thoroughly healthy people, +she was wide awake directly she opened her eyes, and was into her bath +the next instant. + +Notwithstanding this, as time went on the more oppressive became the +secret thoughts which were ever present to her mind. She had cleared +away every trace of the Kurt family, she had surrounded herself with +her own. Every time that a thought of the former presented itself to +her mind, she met it with some thought of the latter. She knew nothing +of her mother's family, but as a child she had been in Rendalen, and +there seen her father's relations, and listened to their sagas. There +was nothing remarkable about them. The family disposition, even and +rather heavy, had every now and then, after a too long period of +general respect, or when pressed to the uttermost, come out into +something uncommon, but otherwise they were an orderly race, toiling on +with quiet perseverance. But everything she knew about them, appearance +as well as disposition, she placed in opposition to all which could +come from the side of the Kurts. The Kurts were dark, the Rendalens +essentially fair; fair in hair and complexion, fair and open in +disposition. She had such practice in moving pictures in and out of her +mind, that the very moment a Kurt memory intruded, it was driven away +by a commanding fair Rendalen without eyebrows. The result was, that +dark or light became a sort of finality with her. The outward +appearance was a sign of the inward disposition; the first sight of her +child, therefore, might well determine her life. Her whole anxiety +centred itself upon that first moment. + +The nearer the great moment came, the more her dread increased. Her +ordinary occupations no longer sufficed to deaden it. She dismissed her +pupils and took part in the work, both in the house and out of doors. +The spring was late that year, and in her ardour she let herself take +cold; she struggled against it as long as she could, but at last she +was obliged to keep indoors, and take to her bed. And now her anxiety +so entirely got the better of her that she fancied, before the time, +that the birth-pains were upon her, and became absolutely light-headed. + +She again began the struggle with John Kurt, and even when, completely +exhausted, her mind became clear, her anxiety by no means subsided. The +first sight of the child would be enough, and in her distress and +desperation she came to believe that dark or light hair would be +decisive. "If it is dark," she thought, "I am doomed--I shall be unable +to bend the child. And it _will_ be dark, the Kurt race is so strong. +Its fierce strength has already impressed itself too deeply upon me, +its fancies overshadow me. I cannot even think as I will." + +She tried to gain comfort from the answering thought that old Konrad +Kurt had been worthy. "There are good qualities in the Kurt family; +seeds of good which perhaps will grow again in the child which will be +born. Even if the good be not unmixed--I do not ask so much--but if it +may be the stronger." She prayed for it--ah! how she prayed!--until she +remembered that it was too late!--it had been decided long ago. She +constantly saw the back of a neck brooding over her--the neck in the +picture of the first Kurt. She used her old power, to call up images of +her own people against it, but the fair race would not shine. The neck +remained. It had no right to be there, it was no longer in the Kurt +family; neither Konrad Kurt had it, nor John. + +"Take away that neck," she cried to those near her. And with the sound +of "Away, take it away," new fancies shaped themselves around her. John +Kurt appeared, to tell her that he would never go away. She would +never, by all the devils, get rid of him. His white forehead gleamed, +and he swore till nothing but r-r-r-r thrilled and drummed close up +beside her cheek. + +To such a degree was she exhausted by this inward struggle, that it was +a relief when the birth-pains began in reality, imperiously commanding +all else to stand aside. + +All fever had left her, and she bravely gathered her strength together, +but it was less than any one supposed. Therefore it was a long time +before she heard a feeble cry, and "A son, Frue, you have a son," and +afterwards, gently and kindly, "Tomasine, you have a son." + +A gentle peace had filled her. It was soon broken. She collected her +thoughts at the word "son"--she had a son. The wave of peace broke +against a wave of dread. "His hair?" she contrived to whisper. She +could not say more. "Red, Frue." She had a dim idea that that might be +either dark or light, perhaps more likely dark. It was not clear--it +was---- And everything passed away from her. + +For some time those near did not notice her. No one imagined that this +powerful woman could be fainting, and therefore some time elapsed +before she was brought round, and there was some alarm. It was only by +degrees that she realised what had happened--what the whimpering was +she heard somewhere--why she had a remembrance of pain. The child was +now clothed, and they lifted it up to her, but still not near enough. +She could not see it properly. She wished to sign to them to bring it +nearer, but it was difficult; she could neither do it with her voice, +nor by moving her head, and she did not think of her hand, or perhaps +she could not move it. But some one was there who understood, and held +the baby up to her, so that it touched her cheek, just where she had +felt its father's breath. She felt something soft, something warm, +something delicate, the softest thing she had ever touched. She heard a +cluck, a whimper, and now she saw--the eyebrows, they were her own, her +family's light sparse bristles. + +It was too much joy, too much happiness. Her blood circulated more +quickly, and soon the warmth came to her cheeks, the tears to her eyes. +She lay there weeping quietly, while her little one was held fast to +her motherly breast. + +With God's help, she would try to accomplish the rest. + + + + + + III + + A LECTURE + + + + + CHAPTER I + + DETHRONED + + +Fru Tomasine Rendalen herself carried the child to the font, and gave +him her own name. + +Little Tomas's cradle stood by the side of the bed in which she slept. +The room was both her reading and working room. The other remained +vacant as though only for show. Through her friends in England, +France, and Germany she obtained books in three languages on the +bringing up of children. But she soon laid them aside; they were all +either too vague, or too dogmatic. She began to widen her acquirements +in other respects. She wished to be his teacher in everything. But, +from the time that he was six months old her work was much interrupted, +for he was a most restless child. The doctor assured her that, so far +as he could see, the boy ailed nothing. He did not scream from pain. +If, at the moment he opened his eyes, for example, the person he wanted +was not there--that is to say, the one who could give him food--he not +only screamed till she came, which was to be expected, but after she +had come and had forced him to drink, he screamed while the milk ran +out of his mouth, and continued to give blows, slaps, and spiteful +cries. He could not forget. If there were anything he did not like, he +screamed himself black in the face, and made himself rigid. Sometimes +it seemed to Tomasine as though she had a log on her lap, and not a +human being. When he was nine months old, she was obliged to give up +nursing him, for he kept her in such a state of irritation and terror, +that his health became affected through her. The struggle which ensued +on this, was terrible. It lasted altogether for three days and nights, +during which time he could only be induced to touch a drop of the +strange food by artifice. + +As Tomasine hung about in the outer room or in the passage, listening +to the hoarse screams, for he had no voice left--not allowed to see +him, or go to his help--she remembered more than once, with shame, what +she had thought and determined before he was born. The boy cried +inside, the mother outside, and no one could get her away. And this, +his first great fight in the world, to keep possession of his mother's +breast, had no happy influence upon him, for from that time he tried, +more than ever, to get everything by screaming. + +Tomasine was a strong, long-suffering woman, but she became thin and +nervous. She hoped that things would improve as he grew bigger, and +waited till he should be a year old; but still had to wait, for the +stronger he grew the more persistently he screamed. Some new method +must be adopted. The specialists did not touch on this, or else she had +not understood them. She consulted experienced people, and was advised +to keep him continually amused. That answered for a while. He was quiet +when he saw anything new, but he would not look at the same thing more +than twice at the outside. If she forgot this, he became so furious +that the very newest thing in the world would not pacify him. Some one +else advised her to let the child scream as much as he liked. Eternal +Powers, how he yelled! If he had been chosen as the representative of +all the sorrow and trouble in the town he could not have done better. +"No," thought Tomasine, "that will torture the life out of both him and +me." So she turned to the exactly opposite course, and tried to guess +his thoughts before he had formed them, and indulged him in everything. +This helped, but if she guessed wrong, there was no use in guessing +right afterwards. + +At last his maternal retainer and slave, like many before her, was +brought to such a state of distress and despair, that she determined to +revolt. The little despot must be dethroned. The revolution broke out +with six slaps on his little person. All the horrors of a civil war +at once showed themselves. But six, seven, eight to twelve slaps +followed. To give up one's power before one's life, is hard even for a +not-two-years-old tyrant, so the battle lasted several hours until--he +gave in? No, that he would not do, but he fell asleep. + +Tomasine was so worn out by months of worry, anxiety, and sleepless +nights, and finally by the fight itself, that she was trembling and +bathed in perspiration. She stood over him as he slept, as David is +said to have stood over Saul. She grieved for his fallen greatness. She +heard him sob as he lay there in his helplessness. She saw the last +tear dry on his cheek, the convulsive movements of his chubby hands, +and the twitching of the thin skin of his head. Who should be good to +him if not she? How she longed for his waking, that she might let him +see her face with its gentlest expression, and caress him, and practise +all those small arts which are the delight of every mother! More than +all, she longed to make him screw up his mouth for a kiss. When he did +that, he was irresistible. + +At last he began to move and to rub his hand over his nose. In her +impatience she put her hands under him, and laid her face down to his +head, to breathe the warm fragrance from it. + +He screwed up his mouth for a grimace; despair rose darker and darker +in his eyes, and at last he gave a shriek, a frightful and frightening +shriek, while he thrust himself away from her, with hands, head, and +body. + +She was obliged hastily to let go of him, and call her sister. To her, +the little arms were raised at once, and he pressed himself closely to +her, so as to be thoroughly safe. + +The forsaken mother stood and looked on. She felt as though she had +been driven round the whole compass, and was now at the same point from +which she had started some months before. Her first feeling was one of +miserable helplessness, then came a strong sense of shame, and suddenly +she snatched the boy away from her sister, and dressed him herself, +whether he would or no. + +He screamed the whole time, and when he was dressed, and would not take +food from her, a perfect hail of slaps and rain of scolding ensued, nor +did she leave off till he really struggled to be quiet; checking the +sound so suddenly that he gasped for breath as though he were choking. +By degrees the rebellion was reduced to subdued sounds strongly +restrained; whenever they broke out again they were forced back. At +last he showed that he was entirely subdued by screwing up his mouth +for a kiss, to prove to her that it really was against his will if a +cry every now and then escaped him. It was comically touching. He was +finally forced to eat, and, now completely mastered, he sobbed himself +to sleep. + +Tomasine went out for a walk, and on her return sat once more, +anxiously waiting for his awakening. He had hardly opened his eyes, and +seen her, before there were threatenings of a prolonged howl, but he +restrained it from fear; nay, he even held out his hands to her as she +stood smiling over him. There have been many more fortunate conquerors, +both before and since the time, when Fru Tomasine Rendalen deposed her +son, and seated herself on his throne. Besides which, the pleasure was +diminished by the knowledge that she should have done this at first, +long, long ago; but all the same she was just as delighted with her +tardy victory, as any general could have been with a more timely one, +and as she lay down that night, she was as weary and as confident +as the conqueror of a city. At that time Tomas was a year and nine +months old. She thoroughly understood that this struggle would not be +the last, but with that knowledge came the conviction that in the +uncertain voyaging through which his whims had led him, he had +discovered his mother. From that time forward she would be his +mainland. She soon obtained a proof of this. Whether it were in the +intoxication of victory that she began to wear a cap, or whether it +were a long-nourished plan for concealing the hair which had always +annoyed her, and putting something visible in its place, the fact +remains that the cap first appeared at this time. The boy must and +would have it off. For his sake she had temporarily offered up her +spectacles, against which he had also waged war. But she would not +sacrifice her cap. Now many people are content to lose the realities of +power, but cannot bear to be deprived of its symbols; and to be able to +lord it over his mother's hair and head was a great, a strong proof of +power, which he would not give up. + +And so a fight ensued, but he yielded before things had reached a +climax. His little hands were pushed back time after time, and always +with more force, notwithstanding his screams, till suddenly he flung +himself on her neck, and the little war ended charmingly. + +She was a happy mother as she looked forward to his second birthday. An +English friend, with whom she exchanged letters from time to time, +since she no longer visited in the town, had sent her, for this great +day, Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," at that time the most +popular novel in England. The book came a day too soon. She read a +great deal of it at once, and all the life-like forms gathered +themselves round little Tomas for his own day, when he was to be +dressed in new clothes from top to toe. She dreamt of little Em'ly and +little Tomas. She woke on his birthday morning a little earlier than +he. He was lying quite still. He had not disturbed her the whole night, +a thing which did not happen once in two months. Proud and happy, she +gave him his birthday greeting. The first hours passed in unbroken +delight. At nine o'clock he was sitting on the floor of the parlour, +dressed in his new clothes and surrounded by all the toys which she and +her family had given him. She herself sat by the window, dressed in her +best, reading "David Copperfield." She had tried having the window +open, to enjoy the fresh air, but the spring day was rather cold. + +After a time she was called into the kitchen. He never liked her to +leave him, but he was so occupied at that moment, that she thought she +might venture, though she took the precaution of going through the +bedroom and across the hall into the kitchen. She left the kitchen-door +open, for fear he should think her too long gone, and begin to call for +her. + +In the parlour all remained quiet, suspiciously quiet. He had in fact +closely observed the book that his mother was reading, for, according +to the English fashion, it had a bright-coloured binding, with a +picture on it. + +He noticed that she put it down on the table, and felt that he too +should like to read a little of it, if he could do so without +interruption. He dropped his toys as soon as ever he was alone, got up, +and toddled off, pushed a stool forward, when he found he could not +reach up, pulled the book on to the floor, and sat himself down beside +it. + +Some time elapsed before he again learnt, as he had done previously, +but had forgotten, that it is not easy to read a number of pages at +once, but, on the contrary, one should take them one or two at a time; +that did very well. Then he tore them out of the book, they were so +much easier to read in that way. + +After the first one or two, he took them out several at a time, twenty +in all, before his mother returned. They soon had a difference of +opinion over this style of reading. She lost her temper, and took the +book hastily from him, telling him sharply, that he knew quite well +that he ought not to touch her books. He was frightened at first, but +after a while he stretched out both his hands and said, "Me book, mama, +me book." + +She naturally took no notice of him, so he came up to her and repeated +very coaxingly, "Me book, mama, me book." "No," she answered sharply, +for unluckily the book had been shamefully treated, just at the place +where she was reading. He waited a little, but began again, "Me book, +mama, me book." She remembered that it was his birthday, and answered +him more gently, showing him what harm he had done. He listened and +answered, "Me book, mama, me book." + +Some sweets were lying there; she gave him some, which he ate up, +saying, as he did so, "Me book, mama, me book." She laid the book +aside, took him up, and danced round with him, then set him down among +his toys, and went back to smooth out the crumpled leaves. He was soon +by her side again, reaching up to the table with one hand, while he +steadied himself with the other: "Me book, mama, me book." Once more +she left her occupation, and fetched his outdoor things in order to go +out with him. + +This he would not have on any terms. He made himself as stiff as a +poker, but she was determined that out he should go. They remained in +the garden for an hour, and he amused himself while he was there. + +While she was taking off his things again in the parlour, he stretched +his disengaged hand towards the table: "Me book, mama, me book," saying +it with the most coaxing tone and look of which he was capable. She +thought it the best way to appear deaf to it, and gave herself up to +cutting bits of paper, in order to gum them over the torn leaves. It +was slow work, and all the time he stood, and begged, and prayed, +giving little stamps, and stretching himself up: "Me book, mama, me +book." + +"He will stop some time," she thought, but he was still persevering +when she had accomplished her task. + +She was very anxious to leave his society for that of the characters in +the book, who were certainly much more amusing, but she did not wish to +be cross, and so began to play the flute--that is to say, she moved her +fingers as though she were playing a piccolo, whistling at the same +time; a performance in which she had a good deal of practice. + +He pulled and dragged at her dress, and she replied with her flute. She +became quite merry over it, and her merriment increased when he became +angry, and called out "No, no," to her playing, and cried, and hit her. +The flute playing became much quicker; he would not leave off, nor +would she; the spirits of the Kurts were in every chink and corner. +Then the child threw himself down on his back on the floor, drumming +with his heels and screaming in good earnest. She played on, but more +softly, for she felt that it was actually he who had won, while she was +teasing him. + +She could not take up the old fight again at once. In one moment the +flute-playing changed to crying--helpless, inconsolable crying. The +boy, who in the midst of his anger, had kept a sharp watch on her, was +so astonished that he forgot to scream. She had been suddenly seized by +her old dread, and neither saw nor heard anything, till she felt +something warm against one of her hands. She had let it hang as she +flung herself backward in her misery, raising the other to her face. +She lifted her head, and looked into a wondering face, the tear-stained +face of her own red-haired boy. + +As soon as he saw her look at him, he put up his lips for a kiss, +stretching out his hands to her. So the little flat nose was lifted up +to the big one, and she murmured, and prattled, and fondled him, all +over his face and head, as he held his arms round her neck. She did not +take the book again. She kept him instead, and he never once looked +towards the table where it lay. That was their last great struggle. +There were a thousand lesser ones, of course, but never one which +lasted more than a few minutes. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + ON THE MOUNTAIN + + +Tomasine always had her boy under her own care; the lively, clever +child needed a watchful eye; but all the same she looked forward to his +fourth birthday with good courage, and on that day something chanced, +which made her form a determination. + +Tomas had had several playfellows; as he was accustomed to be alone he +always wanted things his own way, so he had not been very good-natured. + +On his fourth birthday he received, among other presents, a book about +brothers and sisters, which told how good brothers were to their +sisters, so indulgent and helpful; this was illustrated by sketches in +which the little brother always led his little sister by the hand. +Tomas derived another idea in the meantime from the book; he asked "Why +he had not a sister too? Could he not get one?" + +Tomasine Rendalen had certainly often remembered that he had a sister, +but not as a matter which concerned herself; it did not seem to her of +any further consequence, but he begged so continuously, that she began +to think a little more seriously about it. Suppose his sister should be +in want? The property had been John Kurt's, and it had prospered +greatly, thanks to his own plan, that of extending the gardens further +up the hill, thus making them nearly twice as large. John Kurt's child +must be properly provided for, there ought to be no doubt about it. + +She made inquiries about the child, and learned that her little +namesake lived with her grandmother, Marit Stöen, "Mother Stöa," as +they called her, the widow of the pilot who had gained a great +reputation on that coast. Marit Stöen lived up on the mountain, +therefore to the left of "The Estate": Tomasine decided to see the +child. + +As there was no hurry about it, she determined to do so the first fine +Sunday. As it chanced, the weather for a number of Sundays was bad, so +it was full summer before one came which tempted her to go. Andreas +Berg accompanied her. + +The road to the mountain led to the left from the market-place, past +the new churchyard, and further out into the country. But after that, +when they turned towards the mountain, the way was more of a quagmire +than a road. + +Till that time the poorer people of the town had been allowed to build +as they liked, and live as they could, and a regular road was only just +being constructed. Down by the sea, the boats lay side by side, as +close together as possible, for the left side of the mountain sheltered +them. All round the boats, and in them, were a number of children, +mostly little ones, and there was as much noise as if there were a +thousand of them. + +Tomasine wondered if the one she sought were there as well. She looked +into each wild little face to see if she could find anything familiar. +It was not a pleasant occupation. The rough children gathered round her +in a swarm, when she inquired for Mark Stöen, and at least twenty +pointed up the hill. But she could not distinguish what they said to +her all together. Nor did she wish to stay, but, with Andreas Berg, +began to climb all the corkscrew turnings of the road. + +The shouts from below followed her, but none of the children, so that +she concluded that none of them had anything to do with Marit Stöen. + +It was a rough road, over the solid rock for the most part, though here +and there a step had been made, and now and then it had been slightly +hollowed. + +It turned from left to right and from right to left; there were not +four houses standing on the same level. And how extraordinary many of +them were! Some nothing more than a ship's caboose, with a broad +penthouse over it. There were several with the stairs leading to the +upper story built outside, and, in one or two, they went right across +the roof, to an attic room which had been added later. Many were so +built that the lower story had its exit to the west, with the road on a +level with the door, but the upper story had an exit to the east, for +there the road and door were still on the same level. + +Almost all the houses had odd outbuildings, mostly boats standing up, +with one end cut off, though in some cases boats were used as roofs, by +being turned upside down and supported by walls of boards or stone. +Little strips of garden wound in and out everywhere, often in the most +unlikely places, where they were so narrow that two turnips could +hardly grow side by side. Rank odours of all sorts, sometimes +pleasantly modified by the smell of tar, hung over the whole mountain, +rising and spreading as a rich offering up into the Sabbath sky--all +according to the ordinary customs in that part of the world. + +The noise of the children down by the sea came ringing up the hillside +like a constant chime, now and then broken by a cry. A cock crowed; a +dog on board one of the ships in the harbour barked at a passing boat, +and was answered by some shaggy comrade on the mountain. Otherwise all +was still; they only heard their own steps crunching on the gravel, +and, as they got higher up, something like the frantic screaming of a +child. + +Tomasine looked out over the islands, and the Sound, away to the open +sea--shining and still and clear under the sky. In the streets of the +town a few people were walking about, and, in some places, little +groups of children. But it was too far off for any sound to mingle with +the shouts of those below. + +To the right lay "The Estate," the first column of smoke, just curling +from the kitchen chimney; all round here the chimneys had been smoking +for a long time, and a little smoke hung here and there over the town. + +The day was warm. They toiled, perspiring, up the mountain-side, and +she thought of those who, after a day's hard work, had every evening to +climb these twenty, thirty, or even fifty stages for supper, wood +chopping, and bed. + +She did not meet a single person, though she saw several, mostly old +men, sitting before the doors with their pipes. The working men +generally slept till dinner time on Sundays, and the women were all by +the kitchen fires. Here and there an idle lass might be seen, sitting +on a step, chatting to a girl-friend who had most likely come up to +join in the evening's amusements. Or perhaps a young sailor, who, with +his pipe in his mouth, and his hands in his pockets, leant over a wall +talking to a girl who stood shyly before him. + +Little more than half-way up they came upon a party of lads and girls +who lay or sat round a large flat stone. There was no noise or talking; +Tomasine did not know they were there, until she was close upon them. +They were in the very worst of the smells, but that did not seem to +affect them. What could they be engaged in? There was nothing to show +it. She inquired the way, and one or two half rose, while one, who was +older, answered her, pointing to a red house with white painted +window-frames. + +Tomasine had just wiped her spectacles and she could see the house, but +she also saw distinctly by their manner that they all knew her, and +every one guessed just what she wanted at Mother Stöa's. No one said +anything, but she heard a little tittering and whispering when she had +gone by. + +She asked Berg what they could be doing, since they were all so quiet; +and he replied that he believed that the boys were playing cards, and +the girls looking on, but that, as it was at the time of the Sunday +sermon, they hid the cards away if a stranger went by. She began to +reflect on the difference between the working people in a little +Norwegian town and those of a large foreign city, raising thereby many +old memories. But something occupied her along with her thinking, a +disagreeable something which would not leave off. What was that? Yes, +it was the same frantic screaming from up the hill. Now that she came +nearer, she recognised it, and it brought a painful feeling with it. It +was her son's old, spiteful scream. There was no doubt of it--the same +to such a degree in tone of voice, in description, and vigour, that it +tortured and stabbed her. Could it be his sister who was up there +scoffing at her? She had been hot before, and now she was in a glow; +some of the old dread seized upon her, bewildering thoughts from the +old days, of struggles with her son. But, "Frue, you are going too +fast," called Andreas Berg from lower down the hill; she could hardly +see him, her glasses were dim; she took them off and wiped them, and +her eyes as well, drew a long breath and began to laugh. Berg came up +slowly. The child's crying continued, but now that she had recovered +her senses, she noticed that it came from the right, while she could +see Marit Stöen's house, the red one with white window-frames, almost +exactly before her on the slope to the left; it was the largest house +up there, and undoubtedly the one she had seen, she could not be +mistaken; she felt quite lighthearted as she walked towards it. + +They could not go straight to it, but were obliged to make a circuit +and come back along Marit Stöen's garden fence, which had also been +painted, though evidently not so recently. + +The two windows of the house looked out towards the garden, and there +was an extensive view from them, but the door was in the end wall to +the left, to which a porch had been added, with a few steps leading up +to it. All was quiet here, inside and out, but the jubilant voices of +the little ones below, and the screams of the angry child from the +other side, further away, met in the air. + +The garden, along which they passed, was the largest they had seen on +the mountains, though certainly neither it, nor the house, were what +one would call well kept. But there was comfort, or whatever one might +call it: Tomasine hesitated for the right word. She now saw a child +with dark hair and bright, wondering eyes, who got up from the steps, +letting something fall from her lap, as she ran quickly into the +house-place. Immediately afterwards there appeared a tall elderly +woman, with dark untidy hair, and a handsome and intelligent, though +rather dirty face. The woman at once recognised Tomasine, who now came +up the steps and entered the porch. + +"Have you come to see us, Frue?" she asked, smiling. + +Tomasine was again busy with her eternal spectacles, and when she put +them on again, the woman had tidied up the place as well as she could, +with the little girl clinging with both hands to her skirt, so that, +however the woman turned, the child was hidden from the strange lady. +Andreas Berg remained outside. Marit Stöen apologised for her untidy +room, with a pleasant voice and simple skill. It was getting on to +dinner-time, she said, and everything certainly ought to be very +different. But there had been a dance there the evening before. They +like to keep it up a long time, you see. She would still less like to +ask the lady to come into the parlour, for it was even worse, she said, +laughing. It was by no means a small sum that she made by letting the +room, and by the coffee she sold. Her room was the largest on that +side; for the mountain was divided in two as it were. "The people here +will have nothing to do with those on the other side." And she laughed +again. + +Tomasine Rendalen had taken a seat, but when she began to look round +the room, she found that the spectacles must come off again. She was +warmer than she had supposed. As she took them off, she asked after the +child's mother. The woman replied that Petrea was married. + +"Married!" + +"Yes, to a mate of the name of Aslaksen. He was a smart, clever fellow, +and he would have her. They did not live here any longer," she said, +and proceeded to explain their circumstances in detail. "Aslaksen would +soon get a ship." + +The child peeped now and again from behind her grandmother's skirts, +and each time Tomasine glanced towards her. She had a shock of dark +hair like her grandmother's, and in other respects was a blending of +John Kurt and the woman standing before her--a blending which, she +could not deny it, gave her a feeling of aversion. And yet the little +thing was pretty. She had undoubtedly Kurt's wild eyes, but there was +laughter in them as well as wildness. + +"So the child remains with you?" said Tomasine, pointing with her +parasol to where she was hiding. + +"The child, yes, she's all right," answered the grandmother, while she +patted her grandchild's head. "John Kurt, he paid for Petrea, as soon +as ever she had her misfortune. And had a christening, so grand as you +would hardly believe, and along a' that, he gives her a savings-bank +book with a hundred specie-daler in it, and his father gave her another +on top of it with just as much in it again." And Marit Stöen began to +cry from sheer gratitude, because John Kurt had given two hundred daler +to his own child. + +Up to that time Tomasine had had no idea of this "Have you any of the +money left?" she asked. + +"I should think we have some of it left," laughed Marit; "why that is a +likely idea that the little 'un could want it all." She laughed, and +again took hold of the child's curly head, and drew it towards her. But +the little one slipped back again directly. + +"Is she not very much in the way, now you are alone and have to work?" + +"Oh! as for that, no. We are not so particular as all that comes to. +She sits herself away somewhere;" and she turned half round, laughing, +towards the child behind her. + +"Is she easy to manage--not passionate?" + +"Oh! not so bad," laughed Marit; "and she's so comical as well, poor +little thing." And she now forcibly pulled her forward, the child still +struggling against her. "Now, now, don't be such a silly." + +Tomasine, however, did not wish to come into close contact with the +child. So she got up, and looked round the house-place. The hearth was +in the corner of the inner room; close by the window stood the table, +with the remains of breakfast on it; a coffee-cup and a milk-bowl, with +the dregs still in them. + +On the wall opposite, and also on that between the fire-place and the +door, hung some daguerreotypes, and two or three pictures were nailed +up as well. The daguerreotypes, of course, represented Aslaksen and +Petrea. Fru Rendalen passed these without looking at them. The pictures +were, one a large ship in full sail, the others, the new Emperor and +Empress of the French. As Tomasine had never seen any likeness of the +latter she went up to them. The Emperor, who had a large nose, looked +about twenty-four; the Empress was but lightly clad, though she looked +all the same a very innocent little girl of hardly sixteen. + +"They are only the sort o' things they carry about to sell," explained +Marit. "I thought it would be amusing like to have her. She was not +born to it, nor, for the matter of that, was he." + +Tomasine was now opposite the open door. "Good gracious!" she +exclaimed, "what child can that be who is always screaming?" + +Marit laughed. "Oh! that's Lars Tobiassen's boy, that is." + +"He never does anything else but scream," was suddenly heard from the +little girl behind her grandmother's gown. She came forward in her +excitement. Then, frightened at the sound of her own voice, she hid her +head again. + +"Perhaps the lady knows Lars Tobiassen?" inquired Marit. + +Tomasine noticed something in her voice. "No, what is he?" + +"It is rather a difficult job to say, that," answered Marit. "He's such +a lot of things. He's a hard drinker, he is. He's turned butcher +lately, for they say as drinking won't do no harm in that business. +Have you never seen him?" + +"No, why do you ask me?" + +"Ah, I don't hardly like to say anything about it," and she laughed +rather slyly. + +"But why not?" + +"Well, I only says what others says to me. It was not as found it out," +and she laughed again. + +"What is said, then?" + +"Well, folk do say that he's a Kurt too. Not any of them last ones, but +a bit further back." + +She saw this made some impression on Tomasine, and hastily added, "Like +enough, it's nought but talk. He's like no Kurt that ever I saw. He's a +rare fighter, he is." + +"Some of the Kurts have been that too," answered Tomasine, by way of +saying something; and she turned to the window and looked out. + +"Yes, I've heard that," answered Marit; "there are two sorts of 'em. +Some fat and dark, and others just as thin; but they have always been +good-natured, the most of 'em. Folk can say what they will, but to the +poor people...." Her hand sought the child. + +Tomasine turned at the moment and beckoned to Marit. Through the window +they could see a number of people beyond the garden-fence. Andreas Berg +was there as well, talking to some of them, perhaps to keep them there, +and prevent them from coming to the door. They were mostly young. Now +she saw that they were the same whom she had passed down below, sitting +round the flat stone; a few others might perhaps have joined them. They +all stood staring up at the window. + +"My, what a lot there are!" cried Marit. + +"Do you see that ragged boy, with the fair curly hair?" asked Tomasine. + +"Yes, he is easy enough to see," and Marit's voice showed that she +understood what Tomasine wished to know. "He is the son of young Consul +Fürst, and like enough to his father." It was true. That curly hair, +those blue eyes, re-recalled the partner of many a dance. Tomasine +blushed crimson. "Why, my gracious, and you did not know before, Frue? +Well, it's my turn to ask you something now," she continued. "Do you +know that lass over there, as is holding her petticoat on with her +hand? She has pulled off the string, poor thing. Her, without much more +on than her shift. Her with hair as is neither yellow nor red, and a +ridiculous white skin. Dear me, _that_ one over there. Can't you really +see who she is?" Yes, Tomasine had done so long ago; she had had plenty +of practice in the foreign schools in recognising parents by their +children, and children by their parents. "Yes, she's Fröken Engel right +enough, if any one chose to call her so," laughed Marit, "though she's +not dressed in silks." Tomasine drew back from the window. + +Again Marit laughed, though this time not altogether without malice. +"One sees the wrong side of the world up here on the mountain." +Tomasine hastened to say that she had thought of giving the child sixty +daler a year. Here was the first thirty for the past six months. If +Marit needed any more help, she must come and tell her. When the child +was bigger, they would talk of what was further to be done with her. +Marit stood with the money in her hand: "That really was something, far +more than any one could expect; if everybody behaved like that when any +one had a misfortune...." And she began to cry again. + +In the meantime the child had let go the dress, rousing up when she +heard that there were people outside in the garden. She had sidled +right into the porch. She now came rushing in again, while loud +laughter from outside rang through the house. The little girl only said +"Lars Tobiassen," seized her grandmother's dress with both her hands, +and huddled it round her. Tomasine, frightened lest he should be coming +in, went hurriedly to the door without even saying goodbye, tying her +bonnet strings, which she had loosened, as she went. In so doing she +nearly fell, and had a narrow escape of descending the steps quicker +than she had intended. But Lars Tobiassen had just passed. The laughter +seemed to have burst out as he clambered up the steps to the right. He +was roaring drunk. + +Tomasine came out just as, with his back towards her, he had surmounted +the first obstacle. She noticed his close-cropped neck. Where had she +seen that bronze bull-neck before, and the point of hair in the middle? +Oh! Heavens, that fearful neck which had hung over her, the night +her child was born. The eldest Kurt's neck: that was it. And the +bull-necked man now called out, "Now just you wait--devil take you! +I'll give you something to scream for, I will." Tomasine was down +the steps, out of the garden, through the crowd; she would not hear +that swearing again, nor the sound of blows, and not, oh! not that +half-insane screaming. She rather flew than walked through the people, +who made way for her. But barely sufficient, so that she jostled +against several of them, and when the descent began, she sprang from +step to step, fancying she heard laughter behind her, but only running +on the faster. She was fit to drop, but would not give in. +Notwithstanding all her efforts, she could hear behind her the +incessant terrified cries of the child, the drunken voice, and a +woman's passionate scream. Dogs woke up and barked, but not near enough +to drown the shriek, that fearful shriek, until, thank God, the bells +from the two churches in the town began to ring at the same moment, +filling the whole air with their clangour. She had come to the flat +stone where the young people had been. It was deserted now; she sank +down on it, and burst into tears. At last Andreas Berg came after her. +His dignified pace made her feel that she had behaved somewhat +strangely. She dare not wait till he got up with her, but without +looking round she walked on. Her knees trembled, but she would no +longer allow herself to be hunted by phantoms. The blessed church bells +saved her from hearing anything else, and they continued till she was +right down at the bottom. The children were no longer there. It was +dinner-time. + +A quarter of an hour later she was sitting with her little boy in her +lap. He was very much puzzled by her excitement and tears, assuring her +eagerly that he had been "dood" the whole time. She thanked him for it +over and over again, with caresses, hugs, and kisses, but cried all the +more. Now she began to feel how bad it had been of her never to lay her +hand on his little sister's head, although she had been "dood" too. + +The boy's playthings lay strewn around him. She remembered the bit of +firewood, with an apron round it, which his little sister had let fall +when she ran frightened away from the door-step. Tomasine had noticed +it, for she almost fell over it as she hurried away. But nothing had +melted her. Yet the child could not help having the same father! No, it +was Tomasine who had not been "dood" that morning. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + THE CHILD + + +The first result of this visit was that Tomasine felt she must have +some one to talk to, for there were other bad inheritances in the world +beside the Kurts'. She must gain further knowledge. Without hesitation +she chose the man for whom she had the greatest respect, "Old Green." + +Now as surely as the afternoon came old Green passed by. The way he +took was along the garden, on the right, where the road used to run, +and where a path still led up to the woods. This walk among the hills +and woods was Dean Green's favourite one. Tomasine began to watch for +him, but lately he had hardly ever been alone. Nils Hansen, the +shoemaker, was generally with him, the greatest character in the town, +and married to a lady whom Tomasine had known abroad, and who had been +one of her friends. + +One day, as Tomasine had stationed herself at the gate, to watch if the +Dean were alone, she heard him and Hansen far down the slope. Mormonism +was beginning at this time to be made known in the North by its first +emissaries. The newspapers constantly contained something about this +new teaching. Nils Hansen was talking loudly. "Mormonism," he said, "we +are as good Mormons here as in America. How many wives has a man before +he is married in church, and afterwards as well? The merchants are the +worst, but there are others beside." + +They had drawn nearer before the Dean answered. "Look you, Hansen. I +take it for granted that the races which have attained to monogamy, +actual monogamy...." + +"And what sort of thing may that be?" + +The Dean stood still. "It means having one wife. Polygamy is having +several wives." + +"Oh! that's it, is it." + +"The races which have really and truly come to be monogamists," +continued the Dean, "are but few. The most part are still polygamists." +They walked on again. + +Nils Hansen agreed. "Yes, that is--devil take it--my opinion as well." + +The Dean: "Progress consists in this, that the disgrace...." She heard +no further. + +"There are bad inheritances in the world beside the Kurts," thought +Tomasine again. "How otherwise could he have been endured: nay, even +liked? No doubt he appealed to some secret feeling in most of them." + +As she had not the courage to go straight down to Dean Green, she went +first to Nils Hansen's. It was generally said of Nils Hansen, that he +flourished, and that in the greatest prosperity, on the hatred of the +whole town. His crime consisted in his having several years before +mustered the lesser townsfolk in a struggle against those of more +importance, or rather in the fact that he had been victorious. He had +taken the town councillorship from them, seized the pews in church, so +that now every one had equal rank and place there. He had had +everything supervised and the financial estimates inspected, in a way +that the leading people looked upon as extremely wrong. His worse +villainy admittedly was, that, aided by some pecuniary help from +non-residents, he had established a bank for poor people, called the +penny bank, which had helped a number of the lower orders, even in some +cases bringing them quite to independence; for all the vested +interests, his sharp and amusing answers were like a wireworm at the +root of a tree. + +It had aroused incredible merriment when a school-mistress in the town, +a pretty, fair woman, with more than usual endowments, and even with +the expectation of a fortune, refused several eligible offers, to +engage herself to rough, rude, shoemaker Hansen. She was desperately in +love with him into the bargain. She smiled and blushed if he were so +much as named, and it can be imagined what it was when he himself hove +in sight--one shoulder a little higher than the other, by the way--with +his odd face, blinking eyes, broad shoulders, and huge hands. Endless +jokes were made behind their backs, because, both while they were +engaged, and afterwards when they were married, she taught Hansen, and +he boasted of it. But they afterwards felt the result of this +schooling, and paid for it as well. She was older than Tomasine, and +had once been some months with her in England. When Tomasine returned, +Fru Hansen had been married a year, and was therefore somewhat outside +the circle in which the former moved, though she often went to see her, +for she was very fond of the healthy, clear-headed little housewife. + +It was therefore with her that Tomasine was especially angry when it +transpired what kind of man John Kurt was. Why had she not by a single +word dissuaded her from taking him? After his death Laura Hansen had +tried to have some talk with Tomasine, but in vain. But now the latter +thought, "Perhaps most wives have something to complain of, and yet +this does not prevent girls from marrying; so why should I have +expected them to advise me to act differently from what they would have +done themselves?" So she went down to Laura Hansen. + +They lived in a small, old house on the marketplace, next door to +Fürst's. The queer building, with a narrow alley on one side and a +large door leading to the rambling courtway on the other, was the +inheritance which Laura had expected, and now possessed. She was a +slender but well-grown woman, with an open countenance. Some people +considered her sullen, some thought her shy: that depended very much on +what was passing. By some she was called talkative, by others sparing +of her words. She took both people and circumstances into +consideration. The friends had not met for five years. Laura sat sewing +in the room behind the shop, the one with the window towards the alley. +She rose, astonished, flushed, and somewhat agitated. Tomasine was +really once more in her house. They were both a little stiff at first. +A little dark-haired, thickset girl sat on a stool learning to sew. She +looked solemnly up at them, but was soon sent out of the room. Her +mother understood at once that they two, friends of old days, must be +alone, and make it up together. And they did so. + +After several introductory remarks, Tomasine laid her complaint against +Laura and her other friends, considerately, but still clearly. + +Laura answered: "When a girl does not allow herself to be hindered by +the kind of life that John Kurt led, there is no use in any one else +talking to her about it." Laura, for her part, had refused several men +just because their conduct in that particular had been doubtful, or +more than doubtful. But Hansen, she knew, was honourable in that +respect as in others. + +The tall Tomasine felt very small under little Laura's steady gaze and +quiet words. She fell from the position of accuser to that of accused, +and her fall was no trifling one. She had felt very superior up there +for several years, and a few words spoken in the course of a minute or +two had laid her low. She did not feel much respect for her own powers; +nay, for a moment, it made her unhappy to think how short-sighted she +had been. She actually felt anxious to discover if she were equally +stupid in other things, but she soon so far regained her balance as to +understand that to look only at one side of things may be partly the +fault of circumstances. + +She sat there without speaking, without listening; she had fallen into +a reverie. Laura took the opportunity of leaving the room to prepare +some chocolate, and to ask her husband to take her place while she was +away. This, however, he had not time for at the moment, but still was +so pleased that Tomasine had come again, that he felt he must just put +his head in at the door to say so. He had on his leather apron, and +held a shoemaker's stirrup in his left hand. Tomasine rose to grasp the +other, but he waved her back, laughing. It was not fit to touch. "I +only wanted to say many, many 'good days' to an old friend," he said +after his fashion, as he drew back. But at that moment little Augusta +came in again from the shop. She heard her father. He popped his head +in again. "Just look at her. I always say that a dark person ought to +marry a fair one. That is just what our two young ones are." And he +shut the door. + +Augusta was unusually tall and strong for her age. She was a full year +older than Tomas. When Tomasine called her and spoke to her, the child +surprised her. + +There was a serenity in her eyes and brow, and a quietness in her way +of talking, more like a grown person than a child. She was a contrast +to Tomasine's own nervous little "Red-head," who never asked three +questions about the same thing--a most pleasant contrast both outwardly +and inwardly. Little Augusta went on questioning until the subject was +clear to her own mind, and then would pass on to the next topic which +came up. + +Her hands were plump, but firm; his, thin, freckled, restless in their +very shape. Her hair was dark and unusually plentiful, notwithstanding +which it made the smoothest plaits; his stood up and stuck out in red +bristles, which seemed to grow in layers; it was never tidy unless it +were close cropped. He was bony and thin; she so plump, though +thoroughly healthy. Tomasine recalled what she herself had been as a +child. Why was not her child the same? She felt something almost like +envy; to think that the little velvet jacket that Augusta wore was +without a spot, though it was evidently far from new. Tomasine searched +for one until it seemed to her that the whole little figure was solid +soft velvet. + +Her mother came in with the chocolate, and the ice being now broken, +they found plenty of subjects of conversation, especially after Augusta +had again been sent away. + +Tomasine asked how the child had become so lovable, gentle, and +sensible; and was told that she had never been headstrong. "Not even at +first?" "Never, but clear-headed and staid from a tiny child." + +The last thing that Tomasine wished was to say anything against her +little Tomas, but the contrast was so great that somehow all that she +had gone through was told, and what incessant care she had still to +practice. + +Laura received, during Tomasine's relation, a firm conviction that this +state of things would in the long run prove too much for her, and +therefore be dangerous for her health. + +Accordingly they both went to Dean Green, and from that day forward the +stately old gentleman, in his long-skirted coat and broad-brimmed hat, +often took his way up the avenue, instead of round the garden, when he +set out for his afternoon's walk. Beside this, Tomasine began, little +by little, to gather her old friends about her again. Once more they +strolled in the broad paths of "The Estate" garden, many of them with +their children in their hands. So by degrees happiness and confidence +entered into her life again, and peace as well. + +For now, when Tomas's education was to begin, it was done in quite a +different way from what she had imagined. He went to school--a school +which she herself kept for him, and for a number of little girls, the +children of her friends. + +At first he thought this incredibly splendid. He was thoroughly happy, +willing, even devoted; but after a while, when he heard from the other +boys that it was a disgrace even to go about with little girls, he +wanted to know why he should be condemned to do so. Could not his +mother send them all home again and have boys there instead? He pleaded +for this--he fumed, he cried; but the girls remained. If only he could +make out what was the use of it all! What had he not to endure from the +lads who attended the boy's public school, who had men for teachers. If +he as much as put his head over the garden wall, he heard, "Petticoat +boy!" "Mamma's darling!" "The women's prince!" "Miss Freckles!" +Especially the last, for he was terribly freckled, regularly speckled +with red all over his face and hands, added to which he had the most +hopelessly red hair. Just think of a boy being called "A Freckle," +"Miss Freckle," though he were nothing but a freckle amongst the band +of girls. Goodness knows how he disdained them! If, however, he were so +bold as to say so to them, and a boy with his heart in the right place +is often impelled to do so, he cannot always keep his contempt +concealed; well, if he did so he got a beating--a veritable, serious +beating. From his mother? That would have been nothing; no, from those +same wretched little girls. Some held him and half strangled him, and +several more beat him. And this not as a joke. It hurt frightfully. And +his mother stood there and laughed. She laughed till the tears came. +She had to take off her spectacles and dry them. They would have no +domineering little tyrant among them--those girls, no arrogant young +master; though they were always ready, they said to him, to welcome a +well-behaved little gentleman and pleasant companion. If he grimaced at +them they were at him again, down with him again; it was one perpetual +beating. When they had done, they curtseyed to him, one after the +other. There were such a number of them that it was mere fun to them. +The worst, however, has not yet been told. He was desperately in love +with one of the little girls. She knew it, the ungrateful little +monkey, and his mother knew it as well. He was sure of that. It was +principally on account of it that she had laughed so dreadfully. It was +the worst of them, Augusta Hansen, Laura's daughter--Augusta, with whom +he had eaten cherries. That is to say, they had taken them out of each +other's mouths; first she out of his, as he held the stalk in his mouth +close up to the fruit, and then he, in the same way from hers. Augusta, +who had given him her sash to wear as a badge at the tournaments which +he held ... quite alone, by the way. Augusta, to whom in return he had +given his whole collection of blown eggs; he had found every one of +them himself. He had been obliged to ask his mother's leave to give +them away, for it could not very well have been managed without. He had +come behind her to whisper in her ear, he did not wish her to look at +him while he did so. His mother had asked him if he were fond of +Augusta, and he had confided to her that it was especially her hair, +but that she was the most good-natured of the girls, and the cleverest +as well. What Augusta said was always right. His mother had agreed with +him in that. She had not laughed then, but now she stood and looked on +while Augusta thrashed him, for it was Augusta's hand that thumped the +hardest. + +After such treachery--and this did not happen only once unfortunately; +it happened very often--he would not speak to Augusta for several days; +once he held out for three. He tried the same with his mother, but he +could never contrive to keep grave when she looked at him. She always +befooled him into laughing. + +He now essayed, by a more serious and regular manner of proceeding, to +obtain a different adjustment of things for the future. This struggle +really meant nothing more nor less than the right relationship between +the sexes. Its depths he was truly far from having sounded, but his +masculine instincts told him that it was all upside down, up there in +the garden. Things must be altered. But there was never any "Hands +off," as they say. It was Dean Green whom he suspected of being the +cause of the worst of all this. Of one thing, at all events, he was +certain. It was Dean Green's idea that he, like the girls, should learn +to play the piano. No other boy had to strum like that. Tomas hated the +long-coated parson, with his aquiline nose and bushy eyebrows; who was +always about, and who smiled when he saw him. He hated him to that +extent that, when he shot at a mark, he always tried to draw a picture +of the Dean to shoot at, and then to hit his coat, his nose, or his +eye. But, hit him as much as he would, no change took place; the +piano-playing went on, the girls remained, and even if any day he +brought some boys into the garden, they could never be alone--oh no! +The detestable little girls were always hanging about, and then all the +stories afterwards; any little thing that a boy might have said or done +was used against him; he was done for, he never came again. + +And they would say, too, that Tomas had tried to show himself off +before his companions, and play the grown man. He always got a beating +afterwards. Sometimes they divided his offences into several portions, +and he was first beaten for one and then for another. Augusta was +constantly drubbing him with the greatest heartiness, without the +slightest remembrance of the cherries, or the eggs, or any of his +little attentions. There is no telling the number of times that he +renounced his allegiance and loyalty to her, but as Augusta did not +care a rush, and went about just the same, with those thick plaits and +sturdy legs of hers.... Well, then he began to abase himself. He had to +let her understand that he did not exactly disdain her, that perhaps it +might be possible to obtain grace. She never seemed to notice him, and +so it ended that he thought it was not worth remembering any longer. + +One thing about Augusta was peculiar, she always really influenced the +others without trying to do so; she let others lead as long as they +liked, she acted exactly in the same way whoever led and whatever plan +they hit upon; but whenever they got into difficulties it was _she_ who +found the way out. + +Ah! how Tomas admired her, how often he told her so! and was annoyed +that he could not let it alone. It was with her that he now began to +take his music lessons, and from that time forth playing became his +favourite occupation. + +These first stormy years were followed by others, and he attained at +last to such superiority, that he dared to acknowledge his comradeship +with the girls. He settled down at last into accepting their help +against other boys, when they challenged him from outside. Nay--who +would have thought it?--the time came when he fought for his valiant +girl-friends, eager for the battle; especially if one of the boys had +called Augusta "Shoemaker's lass," or even "Sausage." He would gladly +have gone to the death for her; nor was this all boasting, for at nine +years old he was severely mauled because, on this account, he would +fight against ten or twelve at once, of whom three at least were older +than he. That was the proudest moment of his life, as he lay with a +fresh vinegar plaster on his head, and Augusta must come in and change +it instead of his mother. + +Now that there really was something worth talking about--not a word. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN + + +At this time a great change took place in Tomas's external life. For +the first time he had a companion. + +Some years back, there had died in the town a curate named Vangen, who +had married a very enthusiastic Danish lady. They had led quite an +Arcadian life together--literally without thought for the morrow. + +People are always very kind at times of bereavement; she managed to +support her children and herself for the first few years, for those +that followed there was no necessity to do so--she died. + +Through Dean Green, her son Karl came to Fru Rendalen "on probation." +He was at that time eleven. Karl Vangen was tall, slight, and dark, +with a large head, his forehead being the most noticeable feature. He +had gentle blue-grey eyes, in large sockets, a wide, straight mouth, +which slowly expanded into a smile. He was quiet, and very modest, and +rather uneasy in his new surroundings. When, at night, he went with +Tomas into the room he now occupied, on the other side of the +bath-room, he knelt down by the side of the new bed, which had been put +up for him there, and prayed silently for a long time, his face buried +in his hands. When he rose from his knees, he smiled across at his +companion, with tears in his eyes, but he did not speak. + +Tomas heard him afterwards sobbing under the bed-clothes. This lasted a +long time. Tomas felt at last that he must cry too, but took care that +the other should not hear him. + +Every one was kindness itself to the newcomer, but no one so much so as +Tomas. If he could have clasped himself round him like a belt, he would +have done so. + +Karl went to the Latin school, where he was received free, so the boys +were separated almost all day, nor did they even study together when he +came home. + +Karl allowed himself but little leisure. He was slow at learning, but +still was at the head of his class, and he wished to continue there; so +that Tomas naturally could not see as much of him as he wished, or be +so good to him as he wanted to be. + +When Karl did at last come out he was tired, and did not go with Tomas +very willingly. + +He did not perhaps estimate all that Tomas had done for him, nor +understand how the boy had waited for him, how glad he was to see him. +He was the first companion that Tomas had ever had, but he himself had +plenty. + +The fact was, that Karl was too slow and gentle, always anxious about +his clothes, perfectly obedient to anything that was said to him, and +in this, and other things, a great contrast to Tomas. + +At last Tomas discovered that Karl was just a girl, one more girl up +there, and not, by a long way, so amusing as the others. + +He soon began to call him Karoline. He mocked at him when he shivered, +or was frightened about his clothes. And when he smiled good-naturedly, +instead of being angry, Tomas would make his mouth wide by stretching +it with his two forefingers. + +That was so very funny that the girls began to take part in it. They +praised Tomas for his chivalrous behaviour to them, and he was proud of +it himself. But both he, and they, could be very unchivalrous towards +Karl, without its striking them that they were so. As, for instance, +when Tomas conceived the idea that every time Karl showed himself, they +should rush at him, one after the other, and dust his clothes with +their hands, because he was so frightened about them--he had had so +few. So he was brushed and brushed till he began to cry, and was then +immediately called "Say-your-prayers boy" and "Cry-baby." And this grew +worse when they saw that Karl, though both older and bigger than Tomas, +was nevertheless the weaker. So Tomas could show himself off, and at +last they really ill-treated him. + +Now, at the bottom it was not altogether disagreeable to Karl to be a +martyr. It seemed something great to him. But the others soon +discovered this, and would not for the life of them stand it. He was +treated worse than ever from that moment. + +But where was Augusta while all this developed itself? + +Augusta was kind to Karl; indeed, the more the others teased him, the +more good-natured she became. But she did not mix herself with what +they took up. And besides, lately she had shrunk more and more from +anything rough. Whenever Karl sought refuge with her, he was safe for +the time being, so that it happened that he did so oftener and oftener, +and at last constantly. He dare not enter the garden without her. + +Tomas was too proud to appear to notice anything, but he made Karl pay +for it. + +One especial time, Tomas grumbled about this during a music lesson, and +she answered that so it would continue until he became as good a boy as +Karl, which he was far from being at present. Then he swore vengeance. + +On Saturday afternoons, Karl always went to the churchyard, to put +fresh flowers on his parents' graves. On the next Saturday, as he was +going down with his basket, Tomas met him in the avenue, and asked him +if he would promise not to talk any more to Augusta. But Karl, so +accommodating in other things, would not promise this, not even when +Tomas struck him. He struck him again and again, with all the strength +he could muster, but Karl would not promise to give her up. Quite +beside himself, Tomas kicked him in a dangerous manner; he gave a loud +cry and dropped down. Tomas had him carried home, and rushed away for +the doctor. When, his forehead bathed in sweat from anxiety and the +speed with which he had run, he passed the place where Karl had fallen +down, with his eyes fixed upon him, another image of his companion rose +before him--that of the helpless, silent lad who had knelt down and +prayed by his bedside the first evening in his new home. + +Tomas kept this resurrection of the former Karl in his soul. + +He hurried back home again before the doctor, in order that he might, +as he passed the spot where Karl had fallen, kneel down, unseen by any +one, and cry and pray. + +That evening his mother, Andreas Berg, and he sat by themselves in the +parlour. Andreas Berg had come in at Fru Rendalen's request to tell +Tomas the history of his father's (John Kurt's) childhood--to tell it +in her presence without any reserve. Berg was a grave man, not free +from severity. He had been made angry, more than once, by Tomas's +performances with Karl. And he now related the various circumstances of +John Kurt's life when a boy, related them without a single word of +blame; but this only made it fall the heavier. This was part of Berg's +nature. + +The mother did not feel it needful to add a single word. + +She heard Tomas, late that evening, sobbing and crying beside Karl's +bed, and the next day saw him talking to Augusta in the passage. + +In the course of the day he had flung his arms round his mother's neck +and cried. But he had said nothing, though it worked in his mind for a +long while. + +In the meantime it was determined that Karl's time of probation should +end, and that he should be considered as a son of the house from that +time. The doctor had declared that he would all his life feel the +effects of the kick which jealousy and domineering had bestowed on him. +And this had decided the question. + +Another great revolution took place shortly afterwards. The girls who, +together with Tomas, had enjoyed Fru Rendalen's teaching from the +beginning, were so much more advanced in languages, not only than those +of the same age at the girls' school, but also than the boys at the +Latin school, that many people wished she would extend her classes and +establish the girls school for the town up at "The Estate." + +This desire, which became unanimous, was strongly pressed upon her. +Dean Green was the most eager of all. How could she use her knowledge +and powers of administration better? All the development of her +character, all the experience of her life, led her to this goal. Think +of the Kurts' house echoing with confiding, childish laughter; think +that there, the rising generation of women would learn to raise +themselves to independence, either in married life, or outside it. The +subject symbolised itself in this way. + +Very few of us have perhaps noticed that certain expectations and +signs, fixed forebodings, chance remembrances, weigh far more in +deciding our plans than the simple circumstances of the present time. + +Tomasine Rendalen was no exception to this rule. She was, however, +prudent enough to ask herself sometimes if she were fit for all that +the Dean proposed in the school work. She suspected that he, like all +reformers, was oversanguine, demanding the work of three generations +from one, and expecting a single man to give the result of a thousand. +She also had good sense enough to doubt if a little more knowledge of +languages, a little better teaching of history and similar +acquirements, would seriously help forward morality and independence. +But the symbol outweighed these objections of good sense. And it really +did seem as if a distinct commission had been given to a special +person. Here she was in the Kurt inheritance, well qualified for school +work: that was undoubted. Fancy obliterating the evil example with a +good one. She had had great practice in that. At all events, it gave +her strength. Once determined, she exerted herself to make it go +forward, and made others do the same. + +She raised a new loan on her property and renovated the house from top +to bottom. All the windows were removed and enlarged. The rooms on the +ground-floor, on the right as one comes in from the great steps, +remained as they were. But those on the left, in the wing and upstairs, +were for the most part altered, in so far as that the doors between +them were walled up, so that they only led into the long inner passage. + +The great Knights' Hall on the left hand, just as one comes in from the +steps, was made into a gymnasium. The pupils were to assemble there, +and morning prayers were to be read in it as well. The double staircase +in the passage, which led up to the first floor, was cut off from the +entrance hall by a wall in which were two doors, one on each side. By +this means Fru Rendalen kept the hall for herself. The famous steps +only led to it, and to the Knights' Hall on great occasions. + +The teachers had their separate entrance from the court yard, while the +lower part of the great, empty, useless tower was converted into an +anteroom. Outside, the plaster was removed from the walls, and the red +colour of the bricks freshened up. It all looked like new. There was a +great pilgrimage up there when it was all finished, and many good +wishes were expressed for the new school. + +Tomasine incurred considerable debt--she had to pay a large sum for the +school which she took over. But from the first, the influx was +unprecedented. Little girls from the country, nay, even from the +nearest towns, were entered. They were boarded with different people, +whom she recommended. She did not wish at first to have any in the +house. She must regulate the school. + +Sometimes it seemed to her that this simple state of things, a +well-regulated school, was what she would never attain to. She got into +difficulties, first and foremost, with the staff of teachers. They did +not come up to the standard which she proposed. She took on trial, and +discharged again, and endured all the discomfort and irregularity, all +the over-exertion, which are the natural results of such a position, +hoping for better days. + +The constant wear and tear, the endless unrest, the anxious cares for +money, goaded her on from day to day. The aim that she had originally +set herself, the great aim, now seemed almost ludicrous. One thing +appeared certain: it was losing her her son; not his affection, still +less his obedience, taken as a whole, nor was it his education; but her +influence on his character, their mutual confidence, her happiness in +him. Something impetuous, fantastic, extravagant crept into his games, +his plans, his expression, which she saw increase in a manner she +deeply deplored. When she corrected him she saw a gloomy impatience in +the nervous glance of his eyes. She felt herself condemned by his air +of superiority. + +Karl's company only increased this failing, for he was himself an +enthusiast. She therefore begged Augusta to check the boy's hot mood, +and to try to keep him steady by turning his mind to stern realities. +But Augusta never entered into any controversy with him on the subject. +So Fru Rendalen saw this tendency increase. This spoilt her pleasure in +the school when at last, outwardly at any rate, it began to work well. +She asked herself what, as a whole, she had gained by this hunted life +beyond increased debt, and greatly increased anxiety. But now she was +launched into it; she struggled on from day to day; a moment's pause +would bring all in ruins about her. + +Of all his mother's anxiety Tomas had not the slightest idea. He led a +happy life, developing quickly. Karl's large amount of information +helped him. Together they wove their daydreams; together they loved. +They devised the strange idea that they would devote themselves to the +service and happiness of "the ladies," they and their comrades, for by +degrees several others had been drawn into the circle. And there was +more beauty, more variety, in all they hit on since boys and girls were +constantly together. + +Tomas's strength increased, but unlike his parents, he did not promise +to be tall. He was remarkably well made, with a very erect gait. His +well turned-out feet were so small that he could wear girls' shoes. He +was also nearly as slim in the waist as a girl, but broad-shouldered. +At twelve years old he took the first boy's prize at a gymnastic +display, which had been inaugurated in that part of the country. He had +a powerfully shaped head, his cheekbones strongly marked. His nose had +become much bigger than his mother's, which gave him occasion for much +fun, she always answering that his was at least as broad as hers at the +end. He had small, finely cut lips, his eyes were not large, and seemed +smaller still because he frowned and blinked. They were grey in colour, +with a restless but sharp expression. His forehead was fair like his +father's, but his face, neck, and hands were so covered with freckles, +that they were as red as his hair, which stood on end, and was +generally untidy. + +By the side of the tall dark Karl, with his heavy forehead, hollow +eyes, wide, straight mouth, his gentle expression, and slow nature, he +seemed to sparkle. He filled his mother with perhaps greater anxiety +than there was need for. He had become a true friend to Karl. He loved +him heartily. He generally did either love or detest; there was no +moderation in him. Tomas was in his fourteenth year when, in the +autumn, it was arranged that he should take a voyage with his uncle, +who was the master of a vessel, to Hamburg, and from thence to England +and back. + +The trip had been talked of since the early summer, but had been +postponed. Tomas, who was studying privately, could start at any time, +and it would be more manly to go at the time of the autumn gales. His +preparations were complete; they were only waiting for a fair wind. + +One Saturday afternoon, Augusta and he were sitting up in an +apple-tree--he on a branch to the right, and Augusta on one to the +left. They had come to gather the fruit, but the linen bags, which they +had spread round them, still hung limp. She had taken hold of a branch, +on a level with her head, and rested her head on her arm. She sat and +listened to Tomas. They had seen the new doctor, Knut Holmsen, go in to +Fru Rendalen, and this wonderful new doctor was one of those whom Tomas +loved. He had lately been reading with him about the Gracchi in +Mommsen's Roman History, and it was about them that he was talking. +There was nothing equal to the Gracchi in their own history; they were +his ideals. But in the midst of an ardent disquisition it occurred to +him that if he were to be the Gracchi, Augusta must be their mother. +There was nothing grander for a woman than to be the daughter of +Scipio, and the mother of the Gracchi. + +But Augusta had no desire for this. She could not wish that the mother +of the Gracchi should live after her sons were killed. Augusta was +always so frightened of death, there was something ugly about it. She +sat there with her head on her arm, and said this quietly, as though to +herself. She looked very sweet. + +Or was she tired? he asked. No, she was not tired, but she wished so +much to be quiet. Well, they could easily sit a little longer. She +altered her position, and they went on talking. + +Supposing the mother of the Gracchi met her sons in heaven? But would +the Gracchi and she go to heaven? They did not believe in Jesus. After +some discussion the children agreed that now they could be taught about +Jesus, and therefore naturally they had gone to heaven. + +But after that, what would they do there? Augusta shuddered, Eternity +was so frightful. She hid her face, and when she lifted it again, she +had been crying. He sat a long time and looked at her. + +"Listen, Augusta," he said, "neither of us will die till we have grown +dreadfully old, so old that we cannot even walk. It can't be the same +then, can it?" + +Augusta smiled. "That time you gave me the everlastings, you said I was +to think of you when you were dead, you know." + +"Yes, I was so frightfully miserable that day, and then I had got that +picture of King Edward's sons. Augusta!" + +"Well?" + +"At sea, in the autumn gales--they are often very dangerous, the autumn +gales, you know--I shall have myself lashed fast, and I will write to +you exactly what I think. And then you must write down what you think +when you read it." + +"That might prove dangerous," laughed Augusta. She was older. + +He felt embarrassed, so there was silence. But all the time he looked +at her plump figure, good-natured face, her heavy braids, and long +eyelashes. She sat looking down--yes, she had grown now, she had quite +a figure. And those wrists, those characteristic firm hands. He sat and +gazed at her for a long time, and then said, "Augusta." + +"Well?" + +"Karl will write to me every day. Mother has promised him the money. +Could not you put a few lines in too--eh!" + +"Every day, Tomas! That would be very often." + +"But all the same...." + +"Interesting things won't happen to me every day, you see, Tomas; it +would be only stupid." + +She looked at him simply. "But," he answered, "people who care for each +other always do write." + +He was crimson and turned away. She would be sure to laugh. But she did +not laugh. In a few minutes he heard her say (he did not turn round), +"Yes, yes, then I will," and she devoted herself to gathering the +apples. + +At the same time Fru Rendalen and the doctor were standing by the +parlour window. + +She looked by turns at him, and out towards the children in the +apple-tree. The doctor had just told her that Lars Tobiassen had become +raving mad, and that his son had been frightened, and gone mad also. He +had been near it for a long time. "'Kurt inheritance,' the people on +the mountain say there have been so many mad Kurts there, men and +women." Fru Rendalen had answered that she was aware of that, and that +both before Tomas's birth, and for some time afterwards, she had felt +frightened. She was safe now though--"although," and she laughed, +"Tomas has something unreasonably exaggerated and fantastic about him." + +She looked inquiringly at the doctor, who answered, "Yes, his nerves +are good for nothing." + +Dr. Knut Holmsen was one of those men who are foreordained to be +bachelors, though some chance may drift them into matrimony; who never +trouble themselves to think or feel with any one else, but always look +at things from their own point of view. So now he blurted out this +answer as a matter of course. It frightened her, however, terribly. + +"Could Tomas become mad?" she asked. + +He had not intended to say that; he therefore answered, "Not he, but +his children." + +She came and stared at him, her face as white as a sheet, and from him +out into the garden. + +"Do you know what you are saying?" she asked. + +Holmsen coloured, for this rough man was particularly faint-hearted. +And, to relieve his embarrassment, he began to talk about a book which +he had just read, one that every one ought to read-- + +"Prosper Lucas on Heredity" (_L'hérédité naturelle_). + +The two young people in the apple-tree soon afterwards saw Dr. Knut +Holmsen go down to the town, accompanied by Fru Rendalen, and a little +later she returned, with two large volumes under her arm. + +The following evening Tomas sailed, and remained away for two months. +At both the ports which he visited he found letters, written every day +since he sailed by the faithful Karl, as well as a few lines enclosed +by his mother, but not a line from Augusta. She was ill, had a heart +complaint--an enlarged heart, it was said. And Tomas remembered that +latterly she had always wanted to be in the open air. She had pains in +her heart, but a courageous girl like Augusta would naturally never +succumb. She would get quite well again. + +The ship returned to port late one evening. No one at "The Estate" had +any idea of it before Tomas flung himself on to his mother's neck, in +the parlour, as she sat there over her accounts. + +"Tomas?" she exclaimed, almost as though she were seriously frightened, +and that made him all the more crazy with delight. He clung to her +portly person with all his strength ... then ... he noticed that she +was crying. Astonished, he relinquished his hold, looked at her, and +flung himself down with his head on the table sobbing loudly. + +Augusta had died two days before. The next morning he went with his +mother down to the shoemaker's house to take some flowers; awestruck, +and with his eyes red with crying. Fru Rendalen chose to enter by the +door at the side of the house: she wished to go in by the back way. And +thus Nils Hansen saw her from the workshop, and came out at once. + +Tomas was a little behind. It affected him so much to go in by the old +well-known way, that he could not come forward directly. When Nils +Hansen observed him, Augusta's playfellow and greatest friend, he burst +into violent weeping and left them. It was just the same with Fru +Hansen. She was in the large room, occupied with the dead. Her second +girl, two years younger than Augusta, was sitting on the floor beside +her mother, when Fru Rendalen opened the door and went in. + +Laura came towards her and thanked her for coming down again. She +appeared composed, but when the heart-broken Tomas came forward with +his flowers, she sank down on a chair and began to cry violently, the +child crying with her. Tomas could not bear it. He laid the flowers +down, he did not know where, and ran home again. He had seen the heavy +braids under the white band, a sleeping face, and the everlastings +between the folded hands. He knew them again by the ribbon. + +What a tie Fru Rendalen felt the school at this time, for the sore +little heart constantly yearned towards her. She was so anxious about +Tomas, lest his tendency to extravagance of feeling should receive +fresh nourishment from his sorrow, nor could she discover how she might +be able to prevent this without depriving him of his one consolation. +She was astonished when she saw that Augusta's death had had just the +contrary effect. + +Augusta had feared death, perhaps immortality still more; he was +convinced of this, and so would not try to think of her there. It +seemed like tormenting her. Most children shudder at the thought of +being immortal. + +It was Karl in especial who wished to dwell on this theme, but he had +to be silent, Tomas would not allow it. It was against her wishes to +try to think of her as dwelling in Eternity, he was sure of that. Karl +gave in; it was not immortality itself which his friend doubted about, +so he humoured him. + +Did not Tomas ever try to bring Augusta up before his mind? Yes, +whenever he ran his fingers over the piano, he was in her company--they +had sat side by side there. + +It was of the past that he thought. His mother was astonished when one +day, having given her a rather quick answer, he returned at once and +threw himself upon her neck; she was so used to his hasty ways that, +when he was not actually rude, she often took no notice; she looked at +him, "What is it?" He coloured and laid his head down on her shoulder, +as he always did when he did not wish her to look at him while he was +speaking. "Yes; once when I answered you sharply, Augusta came out +after me on to the steps, and said, 'Tomas, you should never answer +your mother like that.' I did not think anything of it then, but +now--now--I remembered it when I got out on the steps." + +During this time they read bits at random out of Lucas's work. The +wonderful proofs of heredity in talents and character, coming out even +after very long intervals, impressed Tomas strongly. He had a perfect +mass of questions which he took to the doctor. + +Little by little he occupied himself as before, but he became quieter. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + THE LECTURE + + +One spring afternoon in the beginning of May, fourteen years later, a +great number of people took their way up the avenue to "The Estate." +_Real-Kandidat_ Tomas Rendalen was to give a lecture at the opening of +the new gymnasium which had been built in the courtyard there; using +the opportunity to explain the plan on which he intended to conduct the +school; he proposed to take it over the following August. It was known +that this had been his intention, even before he became a student at +Christiania; that he had no other object in life, either then or later; +that after he had passed his examinations, he had taught in different +boys' and girls' schools, and during several years had made himself +familiar with both, in Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and last +of all in America; he said that it was in the last-named country that +he had especially found what he wanted. + +He had declared that the development of his whole life might be found +in the lecture which he would deliver that day, and this seemed strange +to every one; all became curious. + +During the four or five months that he had been at home he had had the +gymnasium built, having turned the Knight's Hall into a place where +chemistry and physics could be studied; people did not clearly +understand what these were, but they hoped to find out some day. The +tower was turned into a little observatory. + +There had been, for some time past, a continual delivery and unpacking +of what Rendalen called school apparatus; the most wonderful specimens +were shown to the children. These purchases and his endless journeys +had cost no small sum. How had the money been provided? Quite by chance +Fru Rendalen had discovered that the woods had been sold from "The +Estate" on different terms; some before, and some after, the farms to +which they belonged had been disposed of. Some of these woods had been +merely sold for clearing, and the land itself thus still belonged to +"The Estate." But as it had lain long unused, the fact had been +forgotten, and the woods had been by degrees absorbed into the +surrounding properties. Fru Rendalen lost several lawsuits over this, +but she gained others, and it was therefore good Norse timber which had +paid for Karl's and Tomas's studies. + +Tomas had taken up science, Karl theology; both of them going abroad. +Karl had come home again after two years' absence. Tomas had travelled. +During the few months that he had been at home he had given lectures to +the girls in the senior classes, especially on Natural Science. For +example, he explained to them the very newest discoveries in regard to +the activity of the brain, showing them large diagrams. When the +children repeated to their parents how these discoveries were made, +they began to wish to hear about them as well. And it was not rare to +see elder sisters, mothers, or sometimes even fathers, sitting squeezed +in among the children in the class-room, listening to him. It can thus +be easily understood why the gathering on the present occasion was so +large. + +Tomas was an ugly, red-haired, freckled fellow, with a somewhat broad +nose, and grey screwed-up eyes, with no eyebrows, or at all events no +visible ones, and with a thin-lipped mouth like his father's. Yet it +was said that the whole school was crazy about him! People wanted to +see and hear what on earth it was all about; three ladies to one +gentleman assembled up at "The Estate." + +A path had been made to the right from the great steps, past the front +of the house, and further round the wing, to the courtyard at the back, +which was the usual school road. The new gymnasium was in the courtyard +as well. There was a man stationed at its entrance to-day, and a crowd +of people stood before it who had been refused admittance, and who +protested loudly against this treatment. + +It was Andreas Berg who was on the watch that only "parents" came in. + +This had been clearly stated in the invitation, but it had been +overlooked or misunderstood, or else people thought they might as well +try all the same, and they were now making a disturbance over it. + +They were, of course, mostly young. + +There was great merriment when some elder person, who was not +recognised as a parent, was refused admission. Anton Dösen, called also +"French Dösen" because he had lived several years in France, and who +now had a shop for French fancy goods, almost exactly opposite the +Frökener Jensens at Bommem, presented himself as a "father," and wished +to enter--he had never been married, this same French Dösen. Immense +amusement! + +The solemn, unmoved Andreas Berg turned him back, and French Dösen +asked what the deuce was wanted before he could get in! Must he go to +the town, and get the clergyman's attestation that he was a father? + +French Dösen had always had the privilege of trumpeting forth his +peccadilloes. It amused people to hear of them. His shop was much +frequented, notwithstanding his light morals and talk. His competition +with the two crooked Frökener Jensens, as regarded millinery, was not +hazardous. But see, there actually are the Frökener Jensens, and they +have got in! Enormous delight in the assembled company. For there could +be no doubt that neither Fröken Jensen had had a child. Heavens +forfend! + +Andreas Berg explained that that was because they had a niece at +school. The reason they had no children? No! that they were admitted. +They stood in the place of parents. + +"But," observed Dösen, "it must be more to be a father, than to stand +in a father's place." Great applause! Beside, did he not stand in the +place of a father to all those to whom he gave food and wages? Did he +not now? Andreas Berg would admit nothing. + +At this moment arrived the town bailiff and his wife. Berg would not +allow them to pass, any more than the others, for they were not +parents, nor had they any adopted children at school. Dösen cried +"Bravo," and clapped his hands, and a number of others with him. + +There was a storm of laughter, for the town bailiff was well known and +little liked. So they looked forward to some fun. + +He was so furious for the moment that he could not speak, but stuttered +and gesticulated. He was a tall thin fellow, with spectacles, and a +smile--not of good-humour or anything of that kind--no, there was a +sourness about it which was impressed on his whole countenance. + +At last he found his tongue, and asked Andreas Berg if he were mad. And +his wife, who dearly loved on such occasions to push herself forward, +remarked that no meeting in the town could be closed to the town +bailiff. + +This did not make the very smallest impression on Andreas Berg. He +busied himself in opening to some others who came up, and who really +were parents, and shut the door again. + +Dösen now took up the town bailiff's cause. Andreas Berg ought to +understand that if the town bailiff had no children, that was not his +fault, nor his wife's either. Terrific applause! "The paradise of +parents could not be closed against the bailiff on that account, as +long as ...;" he could go no further. For the bailiff asked if he were +mad. "Yes, in your cause, sir," answered Dösen. What peals of laughter! + +At the same moment shoemaker Nils Hansen came up with his little wife. +Hundreds of times in his life the bailiff had asked him if he were mad, +so Nils Hansen laughed as soon as he heard the words. + +"Who is mad now?" he asked. + +"Andreas Berg," answered the town bailiff. + +"No, I," shouted Dösen. + +"It's the town bailiff himself," cried out several in the crowd. + +"Imagine," said the bailiff to Nils Hansen, "Andreas Berg has had the +impudence to--to--to--prevent my wife and me from--from--going in----" + +One saw that Nils Hansen found this amusing, but Laura, on the other +hand, was astonished, and questioned Berg, "Dear me, how is this?" + +But if she thought she would induce Berg to answer, she was very much +mistaken. He opened the door for them. "_Værs'go_," he said, and they +felt obliged to go in, but they heard Dösen call after them: "The +bailiff and his wife may not go in, because they have no children." + +This was also heard inside the hall; a sound of laughter from a hundred +voices came rippling out; and another wave of boisterous mirth rolled +towards the door as it was closed after Nils Hansen. While conversation +went on in the hall, a new excitement arose outside. The sheriff had +come. His wife had brought a lady, a stranger, with her, whom Berg +would not admit; only "parents" were invited, he repeated firmly. He +knew this lady was called "_Fröken_[2] Krieger"; she had bought some +flowers from him. + +The sheriff, often nicknamed "the ladies' man," a fair-haired man with +a sharp waggish face, looked up at the two dismayed ladies; they were +both standing at the top of the steps, very red in the face. His wife +had always supposed that any lady _she_ brought would of course not be +refused admittance, and yet this had occurred; they were fairly "caught +out," both she and her friend--a butt for the laughter of Dösen and his +companions, and stared at pityingly by a number of people whom she did +not know, for she was but newly come to the town. She was a handsome +woman, with an intellectual face, tall and slender, but she looked +quite terrified now; her eyes wandered helplessly from one to another, +and at last they fixed themselves imploringly upon her husband, who +stood down below with the others and laughed at them. "Is it so +_dangerous_ for Fröken Krieger to come in?" she asked. Roars of +laughter. Apparently this annoyed Berg, he came up without warning and +pushed the lady gently to one side in order to open the door for some +more people. A number of ladies, all married and with children at +school, now came up and passed in; the unlucky wife of the sheriff +tripped down the steps, her friend following her, looking rather +embarrassed; there was a short exchange of words which ended in the +departure of the friend; she would go alone, and ran off when the +gallant sheriff offered to accompany her; the sheriff himself being +nearly run over by a carriage with two large Danish horses, driven by a +coachman in grey livery. + +It was Consul Engel and his wife who were arriving. They drove right up +into the courtyard because Fru Engel was delicate. Nothing could have +been more careful, more tender, more charming than the manner in which +the consul helped his wife from the phaeton; he almost carried her in. +He was a handsome man, with a noble face; his well-known smile was more +friendly than ever as he passed through the crowd with his gentle +burden. She was handsome too, the expression of her eyes wise and +painful, or rather perhaps painfully wise; the same expression lay in +the lines of the mouth and in the thin cheeks. Through the whole of her +slow progress from the carriage to the steps, and her toilsome ascent +to the door, she was followed by the startled, bird-like eyes of the +sheriff's wife. They hovered over the invalid till they seemed to fill +the air with interrogation. From her they passed on to the consul, from +his eyes back again to those of his wife. + +What in the world did they want? They filled with tears, she wiped them +hurriedly with a shy glance round. At the same moment the sheriff came +up to take her in. She was startled, coloured, smiled--nay, laughed. +Lord knows what at. + +Fru Emmy Wingaard, young and blooming, passed at the moment. The +sheriff whispered something to her which made her laugh. He asked if +they should not all sit together. Fru Emmy Wingaard's maiden name had +been Fürst; she had curly fair hair and lively eyes; she gave several +glances across to Dösen, the special friend of her brother, the naval +lieutenant. Dösen made a despairing face and hung his head. She +understood that he could not come in, and crossed her well-gloved +fingers mockingly at him; she passed on. How pretty and merry she was; +she was so like her brother Niels Fürst, the lion of this and all the +neighbouring coast towns. If any one doubted that Niels Fürst was the +lion of the neighbourhood, let them ask the lady who followed Fru Emmy; +let them ask Kaja Gröndal, the wife of the engineer who is never at +home. Ask her whether Niels Fürst, who is very often at home, is not +the favourite cavalier in all the towns round, and the vigorous lady +will look at you without a blush and ask again if any one doubted it? +The gallant sheriff let all the ladies pass in first, saying a few +friendly words to Andreas Berg, who made no reply. At the same moment +Berg saw Fru Rendalen, escorted by her son, but behind them were the +town bailiff and his wife; they all four came out from the pupils' +entrance in the principal building--the one through the tower. So the +town bailiff must have forced himself in to Fru Rendalen to complain! +Would Berg perhaps be put in the wrong before all these ill-behaved +young people because he had strictly obeyed orders? + +They came straight towards the principal entrance, instead of going to +the other door, which led into the ante-room where the pupils' +gymnastic dresses hung. It could be for no other reason than to obtain +admittance for the town bailiff that they came this way. + +Fru Rendalen and her son were saluted by those who were nearest; Berg +opened the door, she mounted the steps, but then stood back and +actually did let the town bailiff and his wife pass in, her son +following them. She remained standing. She was a large woman now, the +hair under her cap iron-grey, her face brown and stern, the eyes behind +her spectacles brightening its expression. She had done some good work, +and was convinced that she ought to be shown respect. + +"All of you who do not belong here will be so kind as to go; we must +have perfect quiet here now." + +She had hardly spoken before one or two began to move; when the +farthest away had disappeared round the corner, the others followed +their example; there was a little tittering, a few whispered +witticisms, but they went. Andreas Berg was the only one who was +inclined to grumble; it had been hard about the town bailiff. "No more +will come now, you can go in too, Berg; many thanks!" and it was all +settled. + +She went in herself, those nearest rose and bowed, for they were for +the most part her former pupils, and this was the old custom. But when +they did so the whole assemblage rose, too, by degrees. She bowed right +and left, and then took her seat by the side of the tribune which stood +on the platform. She looked across at the audience. Every place was +occupied; some few men were standing in the gangway; these now had +chairs given to them; they were brought in by an old woman. + +Tomas Rendalen was standing by the window talking to Dr. Holmsen. This +gentleman was somewhat fat and florid. His large prominent eyes had a +mixed expression of sarcasm and slyness; he stood there, half smiling, +half embarrassed, with one hand playing with his brown, slightly +grizzled beard as he listened to Rendalen. + +Tomas Rendalen was his complete opposite--decided, fiery, eloquent. +The school children had been eager to tell that he used scent, and +truly--it wafted from him as from some fine lady. There was something +precise, too, about his linen, and about the way in which his grey +coat, of the most enviably new cut, fitted him. He was well-built and +very elastic in all his movements. While he whispered to the doctor he +had a nervous, impressive manner, as though every moment were of the +greatest importance. + +Suddenly he broke off and hurried across the room, for the door had +opened once more, and those entered for whom apparently he had been +waiting--old Green, led by Karl Vangen. + +Yes, now he was _old_ Green; a bowed old man who walked cautiously +forward, led by tall Pastor Vangen. Karl's face was one of those which +do not easily alter; the large forehead, the honest eyes, the deep +eye-sockets, and the wide mouth with its slight smile, which Tomas had +in his time made such fun of, were all just the same as before, only on +a taller body. Tomas came forward to salute the old man, and walked +respectfully beside him to where an armchair had been placed for him, +beside Fru Rendalen, upon the platform. Karl Vangen sat down beside +him, and Tomas Rendalen mounted the tribune. + +He pushed his nervous, freckled hands through his red hair, making it +stand still higher up; felt for his pocket-handkerchief, took hold of +the water bottle, then moved some things off the desk; he was a +dreadfully restless fellow. + +He peered through his half-closed grey eyes, now here, now there, +finally at his mother and old Green, smiled at Karl and began. His +voice was a tenor, full, mellow, and practised, so that it sounded +pleasantly. + +To the utter astonishment of the assembled company, he said that it was +principally on the subject of morality that he wished to speak; it was +principally for a moral object that this hall had been built. + +The whole course of education in the school would, still more than +before, have morality for its aim. + +In order that he might speak freely on the subject, it had been +necessary to restrict the audience entirely to parents, or those who +stood in their stead, and who might be expected, for that reason, to +treat a serious matter in a serious spirit. + +There was a seriousness about himself which was combined with but +little acuteness: he almost threatened them. He did not in the least +perceive how horrified this meeting of provincial townspeople at once +became; he took their embarrassment for a kind of awe, for something of +the solemn feeling of a meeting in church. He continued: + +"Not alone for woman's sake must this subject be seriously approached, +but for man's sake as well. All take care of themselves, men as well as +women, but women had the incentive to watch over her own interests, so +she stood higher as a companion and in society. + +"It was in this that the school ought, better than before, to aid her. + +"The venerable man who sat on his right once said to him, that only +those families succumbed to drunkenness whose nerves had first been +thoroughly weakened by a dissolute life. In such families the habit of +drunkenness very easily becomes hereditary; I think that more than this +can be traced to the same cause. Addiction to pleasure--that +undoubtedly often grows in vigorous soil; but a man may appear vigorous +enough and still be excessively enervated. That characterlessness which +is incapable of overcoming opposition is, as a rule, the result of the +forefathers' sensuality with the addition of his own; every kind of +moral and intellectual looseness and dulness, when it spreads in a +family which has at one time taken a foremost place, can, for the most +part, be traced back to this cause. At all events, it is the strongest +among several. Our passion, our hastiness, our impatience, our +exaggeration, our irritability--unless, indeed, they can be traced to +some accident in our bringing up, some purely accidental state of +health--find their strongest cause here. + +"All such are weaknesses contracted in the course of several +generations; perhaps increased in the later ones. + +"The investigations on this subject are so recent that we cannot yet +bring forward such strong proofs as we believe to exist; it is only +lately that the work of seriously minded men and women has been +concentrated on this object, as the most important possible. But those +who realise that this is the case are still few. Therefore schools are +not by any means able to cope with the subject; especially girls' +schools, which are absolutely bad. + +"The girls' school which we are now in is, as a place of education, as +good as any in the country. I have satisfied myself on that point, but +it has been the greatest regret of the principal, during the whole +course of her labours, that the aim which she originally set before +herself, that of giving a _larger_ share to moral than to general +education, has not been attained to. It is on this point that my mother +has conferred with me more than on any other, so that at last it became +my daily thought. + +"My parentage, my education, my career have, in more ways than one +prepared this work for me." + +[His voice trembled a little, and he was obliged to pause, his mother +was affected: general wonderment.] + +"'Woman's moral training'? most of you will object, 'is there anything +amiss with it? Among the lower orders perhaps, but in the refined +classes of the town is it not excellent? Protected by religion, in the +pure atmosphere of home, in the regular work of school, in a guarded +life passed among those of the same age and sex.' Yes, and what results +from all this? + +"Let me merely in passing take the pure atmosphere of home. In a +seaport town--all will admit it--the strongest current is by no means a +moral one. Traders and sailors, as is unavoidable from their mode of +life, are among the worst in respect to morality. No one dare deny it. +An early wandering life takes the morals on to very slippery ground, +and a merchant's business, where the percentage of profit fluctuates as +it is honestly, or dishonestly gained, does not strengthen the moral +life. His cultivation is, as a rule, very slight, his reading confined +to a few newspapers, or perhaps novels; his intercourse, outside his +own occupation and family, next to nothing, so that here there is +little counterpoise. A sailor's life is, as a rule, one without ties, +passed in every sort of country, in all parts of the world; in nine +cases out of ten the master is an uncultivated man, perhaps a rough +one, often tyrannised over by his 'owners,' and almost always +tyrannical himself when opportunity offers. As things stand with us at +present, when the skipper has learned to filch a percentage from the +freight, as well as from everything he buys for the use of the ship, +even to the very water--I know such cases!--systematic robbery, one may +say--we can understand that high principles will not be cultivated in +such a life. And but a rough example is given, as a rule, to the +subordinates. + +"The return of men such as these by no means strengthens the desire for +morality in the town, or increases its stock of character. As regards +the homes, those of the skippers especially, we can conceive that the +children's bringing-up must have received a strong bias; or, if every +one cannot imagine it, I will lay it out before you." + +[I wish that my readers could have seen the horror, the confusion, the +shamefacedness of the assembly, the rage of some, of three sunburnt +skippers, for example! Others gazed uneasily into their hats, or at the +backs of those before them. Some there were, however, who delighted in +the scandal! They alone ventured to look up, their eyes turned eagerly +towards the smiling Engel, the skippers, the tradesmen, the sheriff, +and their wives--towards all, indeed, who on one account or another +must sit on the stool of repentance. There were women ready to cry with +shame, anger, and vexation at being there; they were prepared to fly at +any moment, but dared not actually do so. There were men who thought, +"If this goes half an inch further--by all the devils I shall be off." +But they did not move. When the doctor blew his nose, they were all as +startled as though it had lightened.] + +"Many people firmly believe that if a child sees nothing indecent at +home, and hears no doubtful stories, everything has been done which can +be done, especially if they are heedful that the child himself does +nothing improper. I contend that if no more than this is done, a child +is exposed to every possible evil. Here people rave about the innocence +of ignorance; there is something concerning that subject which I cannot +now speak about--I shall take an opportunity of doing so later; I +confine myself at present to saying that that innocence which knows +what the danger is, and has fought against it from youth up, that +innocence _alone is strong_. All education which tends to further this +object must have, as an absolute condition, _full confidence between +the child and its parents_--at any rate, between the child and its +mother; or, to carry out the whole of my idea, between the child and +that parent who is most fitted to gain its confidence; for this is, in +itself, a special gift, and if neither of the parents has it, which may +easily happen, then find some one who has. Use all means to accomplish +this. + +"If the child's father be a man who has not honourably fought the fight +(it must come to him sooner or later), he is then, not only the fifth +wheel in the coach, which would go all the same, but, as a rule, an +actual hindrance. For there is often something in his manner, his +speech, his ways which wounds or tempts; those subjects which should be +seriously and firmly dealt with become with him almost amusing; they +are treated as things to be lightly touched upon. + +"In this town, such as I know it, and indeed as you know it who have +grown up in the place and become sharp-sighted in regard to it--in this +town, I think, most houses are weak in this respect. The fathers give +no help, the attempts of the mothers to keep up a thorough confidence +as between comrades, are certainly great, but they rarely succeed, they +do not understand how to do it. Till this is altered, the work at +school for the cause of morality will prove deceptive, for it can +easily place a child between noble teaching and evil practice; a +knowledge of evil unsupported by watchful confidence may easily itself +become a temptation. St. Paul has pointed this out. + +"I forewarn you for this reason: our work at first will often rise up +in witness against us, but for all that there is no other course open +to us--no, no other. Do we not know that there is one particular epoch +of life for which, more than for any other time, it is necessary to +provide and to secure means of helping? How to do this is the question. +Ask any doctor, ask any experienced teacher, if this is not the case. + +"My mother, whom I am justified in calling an experienced teacher, can +bear witness that at this period of change most girls deteriorate in +that they lose their openness, and much of, or all their industry and +sense of order; something strange and of a mixed nature seems to enter +into their composition--very different, however, with different +individuals. Remember, she says, 'that this is the case with the +majority; there are exceptions, but this is the rule.'" + +[Looking at the audience, you would have thought that these remarks +applied only to women, and not to men. For the men looked openly and +unblushingly at the women, which only made the moment more painful for +the latter, especially for those who were known to all the world as +having been pupils of Fru Rendalen.] + +"Therefore it is precisely on this point that our work must be brought +to bear, it must be completely prepared to meet this physical change, +and everything must be directed to this end. + +"For it is no use denying that this exists, or shutting one's eyes to +it. It is the most important thing that a teacher can be concerned +with. What, compared to this, which really means the preservation of +body and soul, are, say, a knowledge of languages, instruction in the +piano or in feminine neatness, but mere luxuries. History, geography, +arithmetic, writing, are of rather more value, but even they are of +secondary or even third-rate importance. + +"Well, but religion, you will say, does not that often help? Ah! what +do you understand by that word? Knowledge of God and of the moral laws +is, of course, a most needful knowledge, but it is only when such +knowledge influences the conduct that it becomes effective. _It is very +rarely_ that it does this. Do not build too much on a faith that may be +lost. It is only a minority on whom religious belief has a lasting +effect. We do not realise this, because with us religion is almost the +only thing which holds its own--outside, that is, of our large towns. +Religion appears to us to be powerful, because we have not yet acquired +the habit of looking about us, and because most of us are a good deal +given to deceiving ourselves. + +"Children, in matters of this sort, do not really stand on a different +level from adults; do not imagine that they do so. They can, it is +true, be very easily led, but they can be brought with even more ease +and more completely to forget one thing and take up another. It takes +very little to make them believe, but it takes still less to make them +doubt, so that the ratio between belief and unbelief remains the same. +Those whose religious belief forms a lasting restraint on their moral +character are, among children as among adults, but few. + +"There are four clergymen present. I ask them if they can rise and +contradict me? I do not believe that they feel any inclination to do +so." + +[A short pause. All eyes were fixed upon such of the clergymen as they +could see. The four reverend gentlemen sat as unmovable as graven +images.] + +"Do I hold then, you ask, that religion is of no importance in a +school? Much the contrary? But there should be no class of religious +instruction which does not partake of the thorough earnestness of a +religious lecture. Let it as often as possible be given by the person +who will have the preparation of the child for confirmation--that is to +say, generally by the clergyman. I would say entirely by him, if that +could be arranged. Thus the relation of the clergyman to the teacher +would be that of a support to the latter. + +"I cannot go further into this question: I will only add that this is +the arrangement adopted for our school. The friend of my youth, my +brother, Pastor Karl Vangen, will take the children between six and +sixteen every morning for religions instruction and edification, and +the intention is that he shall conduct their whole religious training +until their confirmation. But it follows from what I have said that he +can only hope to make the relationship of deep and lasting value _for a +very few_. It is only right that this fact should be realised in +schools." + +"Lately," continued the speaker after another very short pause, "an +attempt has been made to set up the study of history and of general +literature as branches of knowledge which have an influence in the +formation of character. When these studies have been more fully adapted +as subjects of instruction than they have yet been, they will have more +importance in this respect. + +"Undoubted assistance was, of course," he went on, "always to be gained +from these studies. The child learned to know of good, great, and noble +thoughts, and obtained a grasp, if only a slight one, of the course of +human history, as well as the history of single peoples or great men. +But it can never be a matter of the _first_ importance to hear about +others." + +[The audience now became curious. Where would he get to at last? They +felt that something important was coming.] + +He leaned forward over the tribune and said slowly: + +"'The most important form of knowledge which a man can acquire, is the +knowledge how to regulate his own life; the next, how to regulate the +lives of those who come after him.' + +"These words of Herbert Spencer may be taken as a rule of life for the +whole world. Until this also is made the thing of most importance in +schools, other subjects will not fall into their right places in the +whole scheme of instruction or the arrangements subsidiary thereto. But +the task of learning self-restraint, of learning to guide our +offspring, this is the moral aim and the only stable ground of all +instruction. + +"If at an early age you obtain adequate knowledge of how your body is +constructed and how it works, and if you also learn to know how you can +benefit or injure it, and through yourself those who will be born to +you, or who may be dependent on you, this knowledge not only becomes +your greatest safeguard if you _will_ use it, but as a rule it gives +you a desire to do so. + +"A feeling of self-respect is aroused more strongly by knowledge than +in any other way, but that this may be the result, the knowledge must +not be imparted too late. I need not say that ordinary schools give far +too little instruction of this kind, and that little not as it should +be given. The pupils must understand why it is given; the teacher must +be open, thorough, with no concealments, for the very things which are +usually kept out of sight _are the most important_. + +"I speak of that period of life to which I have before alluded. Is the +child ever told what that is which is beginning? I mean, has it full, +absolute knowledge? does it know what temptations will come, or why +they will come? Has it learned how they are to be met? or how at that +time it can create conditions for health, and through its health its +character, good-humour, happiness?--that on that time hangs its future +life, nay, that of its offspring? Is that taught in such a way as to be +branded, so to say, into the child's will? Have the subjects of which I +spoke been raised to a level of one which here, and now, might guide +the scholar's fancy by noble incentive, strong purpose, enthusiasm? for +children, especially young girls, can be made enthusiastic. + +"Or, to come down to what every one is capable of forming a judgment +about, do the parents at home know that at that age certain sorts of +food, certain seasonings, are baneful to some natures? That for some a +special diet is necessary? What sort of diet that should be? Is it +known in schools that a special course of gymnastics may be of great +assistance? Children are not all alike in respect to the amount of +watchfulness and management which they require; some few require no +special attention. But that most do need it, is a fact upon which I +confidently appeal to the experience of this meeting, whose members +have all been young once and have had young companions." + +[He made a pause and looked round the room; a little bird could be +heard twittering in the distance.] + +"A further question: Is it not at that period of life that those, who +had not learned to do so before, now learn to deceive? To act secretly, +with a bashfulness which wounds the sense of honour and thus injures +the character? If one thing can be admitted, another cannot--to the +destruction of the character. Quietly, and as a rule quite unsuspected, +at that age the powers of self-destruction begin to work in body and +character; no one will dare to contradict me." + +[The terrible pauses which he made were almost worse than anything he +said; here he made one again. But he now passed on to something else.] + +"But is there no place in the world," he asked, "where the schools are +arranged as these experiences demand?" + +[He answered this question by fully describing several schools in +America and England: some for girls alone, some for girls and boys +together. He also described several colleges for young women alone, and +some for young men and women; he did not consider that any one of them, +singly, offered all that he wished, but each one had something, many a +great deal. He spoke at some length on a medical college at Boston, +where an unmarried woman was professor of anatomy, and that, for +students of both sexes; he mentioned that she further endeavoured to +get her female pupils appointed as teachers in the girls' schools in +the city. This lady professor was of opinion that every school should +have a doctor as a teacher, and that he, or some other person, well +instructed in Natural Science, should overlook the whole of the +children's studies on this subject; the lessons must always be given so +as to make a deep impression.] + +"Already children can learn by the aid of microscopes how plants, for +example, are formed of cells, how the different parts are developed +from one common origin; they can observe how they breathe, see their +division into cells, the growth of the upper parts, the fructification; +can have their imagination seized, nay, even regulated, by Nature's +work and harmony. The child should early obtain a holy admiration for +all that is healthy, fresh, natural, as well as compassion for all that +is injured or sickly, a horror of anything unnatural, though this must +be blended with compassion as well. + +"Microscopes, analysis, and such a variety of diagrams and apparatus +must be used, that there can be no possibility of a false impression +being conveyed on any of the principal subjects, nor must the +instruction become merely a wearisome lesson or a lecture over which +they would go to sleep; it must be real personal work, developing the +powers under the teachers' guidance. + +"Schools would naturally become much more expensive than at present; +the providing of appliances, if that were properly done, would +constitute an especially serious outlay." He told them what the price +of a single microscope would be, and each school ought to have a large +number; beside which, the teachers must have larger salaries. "But the +war estimates are paid," he said cheerfully, "a race, strong both +morally and physically, would be ample compensation." + +"To obtain more time, not only must the complete apparatus be used, +which itself immensely facilitates the course of instruction, but other +subjects must be taught on quite a different method from that at +present in use, and all lessons must be done at school under the +guidance of the teacher. School must therefore, of course, be held both +morning and afternoon, and a dinner of sufficient and nourishing food +be provided on the spot. When the child left the school it should be +completely free, should have nothing on its mind for the next day. + +"About all this and about arrangements as to instruction on the new +plan, he would speak at the same time and place next Saturday; he +invited all the parents to attend. + +"He would not conceal his belief that in no short time teaching all +over the world would be arranged in the way he had indicated; all at +the cost of the State, of the Community. This was society's most +important cause. + +"But, uninfluenced by what might come, or what now existed, his school +for the development of the powers and characters of women would follow +the lines which _he_ thought to be right. There is no precept so strong +as example. + +"He asked earnestly for the parents' help; He hoped to make it an +honour for this town to have taken the lead in this cause, but it would +be an expensive enterprise. What expense would not be incurred merely +for the lady doctor, who was coming over from America, to undertake the +teaching which he considered as the most important for the school?" + +[Movement, murmurings, excitement among the audience for the first time +during the lecture.] + +"Yes, in Boston I met a Norwegian lady who went over there when still +very young, and who had passed her examination at the medical college +several years ago. She is called Miss Cornelia Hall; this lady is +already an experienced teacher in girls' schools, and has also a +practice; in coming here she makes a sacrifice for her native land, but +we cannot entirely accept this, we cannot allow her to relinquish a +salary of three thousand dollars a year to receive the ordinary pay of +a Norwegian teacher. She would not be able to practise here except +under the conditions of the law with respect to Quacks, a law as +unworthy of a doctor, as of the people who had made it. + +"Beside this, although the collection of school apparatus is no doubt +very considerable, it can hardly be too much so. The labour in teaching +is lessened in exact proportion as these apparatus are augmented. + +"I am not ashamed to declare that my mother, who has spent a fortune on +this, is unable to go any further. I have, perhaps, already overtaxed +her resources. I therefore confidently turn to all at this meeting, +especially to the women, and say to them: If you know by experience the +value of a highly cultivated woman who has learned to control herself, +and rely on herself, then come to my help! Do so for your children's +sake, do it for the sake of a good example! For myself, I will live and +die for the cause in our native town." + + +He spoke these last words with a suddenly rising emotion, it came over +him with such overwhelming force that he forgot about the opening of +the gymnasium. He had to leave the tribune without even a bow; he +disappeared through the door of the little ante-room, and from thence +ran across the courtyard into the house. The audience remained seated +as though he had not finished, the end came so suddenly upon them, was +so startling, and his agitation had such an electrical force about it, +that it touched them. They must have time to reflect. Some of ruder +nature down by the door rose meanwhile, the rest following their +example. And now a moment came for Fru Rendalen full of the greatest +surprise. + +She did not see well, not far even with her spectacles, and besides +during the whole time she had looked at no one but her son. The muscles +of the right side of her neck ached from sitting with her head turned +in his direction; when the lecture was half over, therefore, she moved +her chair and sat completely turned towards him. + +The subject itself was known to her clause by clause, but his energetic +delivery, his personal power, his boldness, were entirely new to her; +they did not cause her any apprehension, but rather the contrary; she +was naturally courageous, and she knew that if openness were necessary +on any subject, this was the one. She knew the actual state of things +and the indifference displayed. She wanted them to be made to listen +_for once in their lives_. And he did it so nobly, it seemed to her. +She followed and felt all his inward agitation; she knew that if he did +not keep a watch on himself he would be overcome. + +When, therefore, the three or four words to the meeting suddenly fired +it, she was as much upset as he. Those closing words dimmed her +spectacles, she was obliged to dry them, and while doing so saw nothing +and thought of nothing outside herself. But she roused herself and +hastily prepared to rise when the others did so; she wished to be ready +to receive any who might desire to congratulate her, and perhaps send a +message to her son. + +And after all no one came. Ah yes, the two Frökener Jensens came, the +two crooked little milliners--quiet, cordial, and smiling as they +always were; they expressed their thanks and sent so many messages to +the "School Director;" if they had been allowed they would have liked +to have gone in to thank him themselves. But the Frökener Jensens were +the only ones. Nils Hansen did not come, nor Laura; not one of her old +pupils, not even Emilie Engel, poor dear Emilie of whom she had been +thinking the whole time; no one came. If any one had come up to Fru +Rendalen, and in the name of the meeting given her a box on the ear, +the worthy lady could not have been more astonished. Gracious Powers! +What did it mean? For her his lecture expressed their mutual life, +thought for thought, what they had learned and experienced, and had +confirmed from each other's lives. But it was more, it was her whole +work with him first and last, from his birth till now, when he stood +there bright, cultivated, eager, full of one great aim; the lecture was +the expression of this work, this development in full flower, which was +now about to bear fruit. + +How she loved him, how she admired him; _she_ knew what he had fought +through and effected, in these eight-and-twenty years. She knew what +was woven into every thought to which he now gave utterance. + +She had had visions of all this, but with no clearness; it was he who +had brought _that_; she could never have expressed it clearly, but _he_ +did. Was it not like a fairy tale, in spite of all their work? + +The dim idea she had had at first of ousting the Kurt inheritance by +her own, and that she had afterwards daringly begun when she renovated +the gloomy ancestral house, and made it clean and bright, devoting +herself to bringing "confiding childish laughter" into it, was now +complete. She had begun it confused, stupid, but stouthearted; and now +it was accomplished by him, the child: was it not a fairy tale? + +How more than happy she was! She could have knelt down before the whole +assemblage to thank God--yes, joyfully with a song, though she did not +possess a single true note. + +She felt that if all these people came up to thank her she would not be +able to control herself, but what would that matter, for he had done it +all so well. And not one single person came! Yes, by-the-by, the +Frökener Jensens came, but no one else; they were all going. But the +old Dean? Yes, he sat there still pondering; a decided desire to speak +to her might have made him rise--yes, to say something on the part of +the others. It was only now, when almost every one was gone, that he +began to move; he raised his eyes, looked inquiringly at her for a few +moments, got up heavily, and came towards her at last. + +"Yes, dear Frue, it was cleverly done." + +"Yes, was it not?" + +"Very cleverly done indeed, but I would give a great deal that it had +not been done." + +"But, Dean?" + +"No, I cannot talk about it; there is too much noise here and I am +tired--another time; remember me to him; good-bye, Frue." He took +Karl's arm and turned to descend. + +There was only one who was as moved, nay, overcome, as Fru Rendalen, +and that was Karl Vangen. Like her, at the beginning, he had only been +intent on the lecture and the lecturer. In his innocence he had never +grasped the possibility of any one's feeling otherwise than that this +was the right thing, spoken by the right man; but later, chancing to +notice the audience at a moment when some question was addressed to +them, he began to doubt; this doubt increased until at last he sat +there with a beating heart. But that no one should come to Fru +Rendalen, no, not one, even, of her former pupils! He knew her face, he +saw how she was pained. And now the Dean as well! He let go his arm and +seized her hand in both his, he would have liked to hug her; but there +were still too many people in the room. He looked at her till the tears +sprang to his eyes, and so, notwithstanding, he hugged and kissed +her--any one might look who liked. Then he gave his arm a little +awkwardly to the Dean, and helped him down. + +This made the worthy Fru Rendalen herself again; she hurried, with a +lighter step than one could have thought possible, out of the door to +the little ante-room, and from there across the courtyard to the house. +She looked for her son there, he had just taken off his coat and +waistcoat and was going to have a bath; but she could not wait until he +had finished, she threw herself on to him, pressing him to her breast, +and crying as she exclaimed: "Tomas, dear Tomas, my own Tomas!" + +He also had at last realised that something was amiss, and now her +look, her manner, confirmed it; besides, she said nothing, gave him no +message, although she had remained behind. + +He felt, now that the strain was over, a gloomy anxiety, a stab at his +heart; but he did not wish to talk about it, neither did she, so she +left him to take his bath. + +Andreas Berg remained behind in the gymnasium, and after the last +person had gone he locked the door and walked in a dignified manner to +a corner near the principal entrance. The different gymnastic apparatus +were piled up there and covered with a large sail. He seized hold of +the sail, dragging it noisily down on to the floor. Upon this two heads +came into view, four arms, which hastily twined themselves together, +two skirts, and four laced boots; two fiery red faces, bathed in +perspiration, were pressed close together; a tangled mass of fair hair +was mixed with a dark one in the same condition. Berg stood there, +looking severe. + +"I see several times as the sail moved," he said; "I could not think +whatever it could be; at last, thinks I, as it was two of the little +girls, and it's two grown young women; aren't you ashamed o' +yourselves?" One of the girls began to cry, the other laughed. "And the +children of worthy men; the sheriff's daughter," he continued to the +one who was laughing, "a grown girl, confirmed and in the senior class, +and you there as well; do you think I don't know you? Nils Hansen's +daughter; your mother was here, she should ha' seen you under the sail, +and your father as well; there's a power o' difference between you and +your sister Augusta; she was always pretty behaved. Take yourselves +off. I'm going now to tell the mistress." + +He was not out of the door before they jumped up. Good heavens! what +did they look like? their clothes, their hair, their faces--especially +their faces--exactly like a little child who has been crying and has +rubbed the tears all over its face with grimy hands; their hands had +been dirtied by all the implements among which they lay, and they had +used them to brush away the perspiration which ran into their eyes; and +how stiff and wretched they were; though they had had plenty of +opportunity to prepare a comfortable place for themselves, they had +remained so very long in the same position. At least an hour before the +lecture began they had been under the sail, never feeling secure the +whole time. One cried and scolded the other, who laughed; but when they +both got a good view of each other and told one another how they +looked, they burst into peals of laughter, and rushed into the little +room at the other end of the building, where they knew that there was +toilette apparatus. After that they were to go across to tell the +boarders all about it. + +For it was not for themselves alone that they had hidden under the sail +for two hours; no, they had been chosen for it by the senior class; +they had all come and pulled the sail over them. The girls had had some +food with them, and some beer to drink as well, but they had disposed +of that long before the lecture began. Over the way, in the boarders' +sitting-room, the senior class was assembled. Something which only the +parents were to hear about must be so very extraordinary; and those two +knew all about it now. + +The two girls only allowed themselves time to wipe away the worst of +the dirt, and to smooth their hair so far that they need not be ashamed +to run across the courtyard. But hurry as they would, the impatience of +the others stole a march upon them. The whole class tore across the +courtyard to the gymnasium. They had waited to see Andreas Berg shut up +and disappear; he had taken his time over it, but at last he had gone +into the kitchen. The two had been chosen on account of their good +memories, and, incredible as it may seem, they remembered almost all +the lecture, at all events all the portions which were most telling, +the best delivered and the newest. + +And if Tomas Rendalen had lectured to an ungrateful audience, here was +one which was responsive enough; young girls love courage; when they +have not to be in the front themselves they glow with admiration. + +The tall, fair, slender one with the large eyes, is the sheriff's +daughter--look at her; she has her mother's birdlike face, but instead +of its expression, hers was held high as if for a bold flight. It was +framed by a mass of disordered fair hair which now, when her eyes, her +whole face glowed, seemed to glow with them. She did not remember the +different heads of the lecture in their exact order, the most +important, the most interesting, came first; from their school-life and +association with Tomas, Fru Rendalen and the teachers, they were all +better qualified to seize his meaning than the audience in general had +been. But as Nora was in full flow she stopped, grew crimson, then +white: Fru Rendalen stood there on the steps! + +Andreas Berg had kept his word, and they had forgotten him. + +When Andreas had come to her, Fru Rendalen had been so upset, that it +was an absolute delight to her to find anything upon which to vent her +displeasure; she marched out down the great steps; she wished to catch +the girls in the very act, and therefore went the whole way round the +wing and along the gymnasium, so as to come in behind them. + +But just at the ante-room door, which the others had of course +forgotten to shut, she heard Nora, helped out by her friend, delivering +the lecture--Tomas's lecture--with Tomas's tone of voice, his delivery, +his fire, with really noble eloquence. Yes, there was one who had +listened! The stately Fru Rendalen would in pure self-forgetfulness +have held back just for the sake of hearing and being with them, but it +was not construed in that way; Nora's terror, the cry of the others, as +they turned and saw this all-powerful lady, was worth remembering. Fru +Rendalen was schoolmistress enough to look for this token of respect; +she raised her voice and said, "I ought to be excessively angry, and +that to some purpose! I see you _understand_ this! But anything so +marvellous as Nora's memory I have never heard." + +"Never heard anything so marvellous"--it was well that it was not +school time. But when Nora heard that it was not to cost her her life, +and saw that Fru Rendalen was really pleased, she flung herself upon +her neck with all the impetuosity of sixteen and burst into tears. + +It pleased Fru Rendalen. "You are a wild, sweet girl," she said. +"Listen, child; when you have finished here, come over to me and we +will have some regular fun." + + + + + + IV + + THE STAFF + + This, thinks the intelligent reader, will be + an account of a school, and I quite agree + that so it ought to be. But life's logic is + not always ours, and we are going to keep + to that of life. + + + + + CHAPTER I + + A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN + + +That same evening Tomas knew what Dean Green thought of the lecture. +Karl was the bearer of this information. Tomas went out to him when he +saw him in the avenue, and they went for a long walk into the country +to the left of "The Estate." + +Dean Green had assumed that when Tomas proposed to explain his design +for the school, it really was that design he meant, and not something +quite different; he had not for a moment imagined the possibility of +its being a scheme on a large scale in which the plan for the school +was merely hinted at. Such a lecture, on such a subject, might be given +in this country, but it must be in one of the large towns; in a small +one it might be possible to do so with impunity ten years hence, and at +all events it should be given by a man in an independent position; but +a man who wished to found a school on it ... a more ill-judged lecture +the old gentleman could not imagine. It was incumbent on Karl to tell +this to Tomas, word for word, for he must have no illusions as to what +would follow. If the school went on after this it would be exclusively +owing to the respect which his mother had inspired. After such a +challenge, it was sure to be condemned. Not by what it taught--no, but +if any girl who left school during even the present year made a false +step, the school would bear the blame. The Dean had gathered from the +lecture that Tomas himself had feared this. Why in the world, then, had +he not held his tongue? Now a single chance might destroy the school. +It is impossible to describe how this took hold upon Tomas; he felt +that in repeating this Karl agreed with the Dean; he felt that his +mother would go over to them as well, that every one would. He had been +guilty of egregious folly. They did not return before midnight. They +could not talk to his mother that evening, everything was quiet when +they entered their rooms. + +Tomas had his old one, next to the bath-room, but it had all been done +up for his home-coming. Karl had the one next it, the corner room; like +all those in the house, it was so long that the curtains which divided +the bed from the rest of the room were hardly noticeable. Their supper +was set for them, but they were cast down to such a degree that they +did not touch it. After Karl had gone to bed, Tomas sat beside him, nor +was it only on this night that he did so. + +Early the next morning--it was Sunday--Fru Rendalen was down at Nils +Hansen's; she wished to act according to her usual ways. She came up +again just at the time people were going to church. Karl saw her from +his window, which faced the avenue, and told Tomas; he himself was +going to church. Tomas went out with him to his mother; she looked +worried. + +"So not even Nils Hansen?" + +"No, Nils Hansen himself had said he did not like to be called names in +church." + +"What had he meant by that?" + +"That he went to a public lecture to learn something, or to hear +something pleasant, not to be abused himself, or to hear others +abused." + +Fru Rendalen had answered that a lecture must point out people's +faults. + +"No, you must not _invite_ people to hear about their faults." + +"But Fru Hansen?" + +Laura did not think his lecture wise. "Children must not know +everything." + +On the contrary, the shoemaker had objected that his peasant experience +taught him quite the opposite; in the country, children knew everything +from the time they were quite little, and although there was much +immorality in the country, it was not for that reason, but because the +whole subject was neglected there. He himself had been brought up in a +thickly populated district, where both sexes went to the same school +and played the same games until they were grown up; they knew +everything, but he looked back to that time with confidence. + +Nils Hansen had said this so often before that Tomas was puzzled why +his mother should repeat it now. She did it merely to gain time. + +The fact was that Fru Emilie Engel was ill; she had been carried +straight to bed from the carriage, the doctor had been there yesterday, +again during the night, and had just now come away: Fru Rendalen had +met him; she began to cry. + +If Emilie succumbed to this it would be her fault, she might have +understood that Emilie could not bear that men's infidelity should be +spoken about while her husband was beside her; so, weak and delicate as +Emilie was, Fru Rendalen ought, at any cost, to have prevented Tomas +from doing such a thing. + +Instead, she had rejoiced over what he had done. That was because both +she and others always agreed with Tomas when they were in his company, +whether they would or no. For of course he had gone too far. The doctor +had said so too. What had he said? "He said that it was those cursed +nerves--Kurt excess--in another form." She began to cry again. + +And as though Tomas wished on the spot to show her that the doctor and +she were right, he flew into a violent passion. "It was really dreadful +to have come home to such a miserable position, to be obliged to work +among indifferent and poor-spirited people, who fled right and left as +soon as ever a reform was brought forward." + +"It was not the reform itself but the way--" + +The way? A reform cannot be effected by stealth, it must show itself +for what it is. Yesterday evening, when he was tired, he had felt this +icy coldness as well, it made him shiver; but now it really was all too +mad; if every one deserted, he would hold his ground; he certainly had +thought that his mother would have been better than that; for in +reality it was mostly her experiences which he had brought forward +yesterday. + +This passed, out in the garden, on Sunday morning. On Thursday at +midday the local newspaper--the _Spectator_--was delivered to its +subscribers. Under a large note of interrogation by way of heading a +correspondent wished to know if it really were true that in a large +school in the town the greater number of the pupils had fallen into +immorality? Although it was the principal himself who had said this to +several hundred people, one must still permit oneself to doubt it. That +he had not been misunderstood would be proved by the following +quotation: "This (namely, immorality) _was the rule_, he said; _the +contrary was the exception_." + +This contribution was not signed. It fanned the smouldering feeling to +an open flame. No one spoke of anything else. There was an abject +terror among all the school-girls the next day; they came up to morning +prayers, pupils and teachers as well, as though they were about to be +punished, and Karl Vangen was so much agitated, that he could scarcely +pray. The day's work was dull and spiritless. Rendalen did not show +himself. + +He responded in his own name in the next number (Thursday's). He said +that if this misunderstanding were intentional, it was paltry; if +unintentional, explanation ought at least to have been sought +privately. Nothing had been said that in the least resembled this; all +that was said was that the transition from childhood to maturity was so +difficult a time for most that it became dangerous, and it therefore +needed watchfulness. + +What the principal of the school had noticed was that the characters of +children of that age altered, that they lost their industry, their +sense of order; "that this was the rule, the contrary the exception." +Could any one discover in this any such frightful suggestions as had +been made? + +The answer was good, but it did not avail, the excitement was so great +that no words could set things straight. "Why was this transition +dangerous?" they wished to know, if not for the reason he now tried to +evade? + +Just below Rendalen's answer appeared in the same number another +question, signed "A Mother:" "Why was it of such great importance +that little children should learn how the race is propagated?" This +inquiry gave expression to a _second_ side of the scandal, which +filled the town. Under this question was still another address to Herr +_Real-Kandidat_, School Director Rendalen; it begged "most +respectfully" to ask, if he would not allow the lecture, which he had +delivered last Saturday at the new gymnasium of the girls' school to be +printed. Those who had heard it might thus enjoy it again, and those +who had not been so fortunate ought not to lose the opportunity of +obtaining some information on so remarkable a subject: signed "A friend +of sound and safe enlightenment." + +In the next number (Saturday's) an answer from Rendalen: "Children +already learned natural history, and therefore of course the terms for +propagation of the species. Why they must learn this, any head-master +or principal of a school could answer as well as he; this formed no +part of the new side of his proposal, and only so far affected small +schools as regarded the scope and method of teaching the subject." To +the other question he replied, that a lecture to which only parents had +had admission was evidently not fitted for general circulation. + +Few found this answer satisfactory; he simply evaded the question; at +least three hundred people had heard the lecture, so that it might +quite properly be discussed in the press. + +Three more contributions in the same number. The first expressed +pleasure in the promptness of the reply; would Herr Rendalen now +further explain how the sinful inclinations of young people could be +checked by microscopes? This witticism was at once recognised as +Dösen's. The second was signed "_Arithmeticus_" and reckoned up what it +would cost the country if, in the future, every school were to have a +doctor as a teacher; he calculated that a sum of one million kroner a +year would be necessary for this item alone; if every school were to +have a chaplain as well, this would require an equal sum; a rough +estimate of the cost of the apparatus, necessitated by Rendalen's plan, +would, reckoned as income, be hardly less than one hundred thousand +kroner a year. Therefore the school budget of the country would be +burdened with an addition of about two million one hundred thousand +kroner a year. He asked if this were reasonable? + +After this came a communication addressed to Herr Tomas Kurt, otherwise +Rendalen. A child of the town, it said, had fouled its own nest. If +this town were worse than others, which the writer begged leave to +doubt, then the ancestors of the lecturer were certainly most to blame +for it, and that both in ancient and modern times, he was certainly +therefore the last who ought to talk? This contributor signed himself +"_Suum cuique_." + +On the same day that these appeared Rendalen gave his second lecture, +and at this, which was announced as being exclusively a technical one, +twenty people, including the teachers, were present; beside these, ten +came in during the course of the lecture. + +One could see that those eight days had pressed hardly upon Thomas, Fru +Rendalen, and Karl. Tomas's opening to-day was another man's--tame, +flat, hesitating; his nervousness had increased twenty per cent., his +handkerchief was out of his pocket and in again, the water-bottle was +emptied, his hair pushed up; he fidgeted with his hands, and his feet +moved about as though he were blowing the bellows of an organ. But when +he began to speak of the school plan, exhibiting and explaining +appliances and apparatus, he caught fire and was soon his old self +again, his superior power of making things plain and of awakening +interest in them was recovered. A microscope with a leaf under it was +passed round while he spoke; he showed them a succession of new things, +either entire collections, or large coloured pictures, or highly +finished models which could be taken to pieces and studied in the most +minute details; for example, a man's chest, stomach, neck, head, some +of the finer parts being on an enlarged scale. Such a collection of +apparatus, he said, could never have been made in their own country. +"We are indebted to the interest of the world at large that we, remote +and small as we are, are able to see such a one; and, moreover, that I +should have been able to procure it." Some of it, however, he said, had +been given to him. + +The few who were present at the lecture were extremely pleased; they +thought the school might still do well even if he had given an +unfortunate lecture. + +But these favourable views were carried away by too few to create a +counter-current. In Thursday's number a contributor asked the man who +had signed himself "_Suum cuique_," if it meant "For every pig." If +this question were on behalf of Rendalen it was absolutely the worst +which had yet been advanced against him. The contributor began by +saying how audacious it was that a young man, and one, moreover, who +had scarcely been at home since he was grown up, should descant upon +the morals of this town with a boastful superiority. Not only that, but +he had spoken as though he knew every skipper in the country, as though +he had followed them round the world and instituted inquiries about +them; and in order to fill up the measure of shamelessness, he had +talked as though he knew the whole trading community of the world. A +man with such great effrontery, and so inconsiderate a mode of +expression, ought not to be a teacher in an educational institution, +least of all its principal. Under these circumstances, proposals ought +at once to be made for the formation of another school. It was already +known that a well-meant application to the former principal to continue +her work as before, without Herr Rendalen's help, had been fruitless. +Well then, the writer would call upon men of position to come to the +front with a view to the formation of a new school. Such a call would +receive universal response. Every one in the town wondered who this +contributor could be; that very evening the suggestion was canvassed in +the club, but neither then did he make himself known. All agreed to +wait for Consul Engel's sake; they did not in the least doubt that he +would be on their side; every one knew only too well what had been the +result of Rendalen's lecture in Engel's home, but it would not do to +talk about plans to him now. Fru Engel was dangerously ill. + +Although the deliberations lasted only a few minutes, every one agreed +to this at once. When it was over it was not more than nine o'clock, so +Dr. Holmsen, who had been a passive listener, went straight from the +club, which was on the market-place, up the avenue to "The Estate," and +repeated all to Tomas Rendalen; "the sooner he learns it the better," +Holmsen considered. + +"Leave this wretched hole to the devil," was his advice. Tomas took the +doctor in with him to his mother and repeated to her what he had been +told, adding at once that he should certainly go away. + +Karl came home at that moment; it was all told to him and he agreed +that it was useless to go on after what he had heard that day in the +town. But Fru Rendalen would not on any account consent that they +should give way; better embody the whole school plan and its grounds in +a book, and appeal from the town to the country at large. There must +surely be enough sensible parents in the whole of Norway to enable them +to have a full school. It had not, she said, been her plan but Tomas's, +and he must therefore carry it through. + +She understood Tomas; it was only necessary to overcome the first +painful impression and he would be himself again. They did not separate +that night until twelve o'clock, and then they were all agreed in the +determination to continue the plan. + +It was the school work which gave Tomas strength for this; he was an +unequalled schoolmaster and found his greatest happiness in it, and now +he brought all his powers to the task. He showed the pupils the most +amusing experiments that he knew, and described, explained, and +lectured. He still assembled the senior class, as he had done ever +since his return, one evening a week in Fru Rendalen's room, for a +special meeting. He Had given them some idea of the great question of +the position of women, as it affected the minds of the whole civilised +world; he read to them, he played to them; at this time, of course, +these meetings had a special importance for him. + +He never, by a single word, touched on the present strife, but in his +choice of subjects for reading and conversation, nay, even of music, he +involuntarily gave them an impression of his faith in a great cause, of +his sufferings when his susceptible mind had received a blow. + +The senior class believed unswervingly in him, and this had a great +influence on the others: very soon he took over the instruction in +singing for the whole school; they practised elaborate choruses and +amusing plays; and this was conducive to good-fellowship as well. + +But notwithstanding all this, signs of rebellion showed themselves, and +that they every time disappeared again, was mostly due to Karl Vangen's +morning religious instruction to the pupils and teachers. Karl was not +a highly gifted genius, but he had one quality which outweighed genius, +he had never said what was untrue; he always said a thing exactly as he +felt it, nothing could alter him in this respect; and as his life had +been, at one time, deeply imbued with sorrow, which had at a later +time, been turned to happiness, the impression made by both remained +with him, even in the tones of his voice; this was taking. He prayed so +earnestly to God for peace in the school; the strife outside must never +be allowed to pass the steps. "We here, all of us, wish nothing but +good to each other, do we?" This was sufficient to bring some of them +to tears. On one occasion he added, that he was empowered to say that +any who had the least doubt about the school could leave at any time, +the usual notice of withdrawal would not be enforced. They must tell +this to their parents--tell them this, whether they were happy or not, +_exactly as it was_. + +Had the foes of the school discovered what power Karl Vangen possessed +up there? For the assault was now directed against him. The _Spectator_ +contained a paragraph, headed "To private chaplain Karl Vangen." Every +one had a regard for his character as well as for his good intentions, +therefore they were surprised in the highest degree that he could +countenance views such as had been expressed. "Only one with too little +intelligence or too much credulity (_sic_), could fail to see that this +really meant the putting of religion on one side and the substituting +of natural science for it." + +This elicited a perfect avalanche of letters; we will give one of them: +"The writer cannot forbear to express his sorrow for what he has lived +to see--namely, that when an audacious voice asked from the tribune of +the gymnasium at the girls' school if it were not true that only +excessively few are permanently affected by a religious life, _four of +the clergy had kept their seats_. Did they in their hearts assent to +such a scoffing speech? + +"Was not the message of Jesus given to all men? (see Mathew xxviii. 19, +Mark xvi. 15, Luke xxiv. 47, Acts x. 42, 43, Colossians i. 23). To that +degree it was given to all that first and foremost it was understood of +the simple (see Matthew xi. 25, Luke x. 21, 1 Corinthians i. 19-27; +Romans i. 21, 22). + +"If, then, absolutely every one cannot be permanently affected by the +Divine truth, what fearful deductions might not be drawn from this! +Nay, could the Bible itself be a Divine truth? + +"The man who asked this so presumptuously lives among teachers of the +Church, nay, is one of their friends. Therefore I may venture to say +that the Voice of Unbelief is gone forth into our midst (see 1 John ii. +19, Acts xv. 24 and xx. 30, Galatians ii. 4). Where were the four +watchmen of Zion? I was on the point of rising, but I waited for them. +I ask again and with sorrow, where were they? _Surely they did not +sleep?_ (see Matthew xxiv. 42, 43 and xxv. 5, Mark xiii. 33, Luke xxi. +36, 1 Corinthians xv. 33, 34, Thessalonians v. 6, Ephesians v. 14). + +"If I were to put my name to this it would give no food for reflection; +therefore I put the following holy words and numbers, 80th Psalm of +David, 7th verse." + +The whole town looked up the 80th Psalm and read: "Thou makest us a +strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh among themselves." + +This quotation gave expression to the anger which all felt, that +through their quarrels, the town had become the laughing-stock of their +neighbours. + +For the rival papers of the neighbouring towns were holding festival +over this scandal. Sarcastic reports and revelations hailed down; the +town had never been famous for its godliness, and as little of its +morality and general virtue, but rather for wealth, extravagance, and +enterprise. The most unblushing expressions of admiration for the +sudden change, the astonishing moral gravity, absolutely and altogether +miraculous, which had come to "The little Babylon," were constantly to +be read in the newspapers of the "paltry towns." + +A few days later one of these yelpers began a _feuilleton_, obviously +written in the town itself. It was entitled "Kurt's Cove," and the +_cronique scandaleuse_ of the town was most wittily set forth in it, +naturally with feigned names, but every one recognised the stories; the +_feuilleton_ closed with the remark that one quite understood that it +remained a sacred duty for Kurt's Cove to hinder a reform of morals in +the town. As this was the first thing which had appeared on the side of +Rendalen's new school, every one believed (a proof of how prejudiced +they had become) that if Rendalen had not himself written the story, he +had at least helped to do so. + +A notice was now issued, printed in large letters, convening a meeting +of the Sailors' Association, "in consequence of the insults against our +noble seafaring community, which have been flung at us from a certain +quarter." + +The meeting had this remarkable feature, that hardly three sailors were +present. It was presided over by the owner of a wharf, who had never +been to sea at all; the principal speaker was the harbour master, who +had of course at one time commanded a vessel, but a very long time ago. +He thundered forth tremendously. It was he who had composed the written +protest which expressed "the scorn" of the sailors for all such talk. + +A copy of the protest had been sent on the spot to Tomas Rendalen. + +Thus far everything had been all that could be wished, but when the +punch was brought out and they had taken off the first edge, they +became a little too warm. It then pleased the only captain present, +Kasper Johannesen, to declare that "Tomas Rendalen was--devil take +me--right enough." What a wild tumult ensued! The harbour master at +last moved that this new slanderer should be turned out. Kasper +Johannesen would never let himself be turned out by a fellow who "_had +taken percentage himself_." He knew plenty of people who had dealt with +him! The wharfinger would have put the matter aside in a dignified +manner, but Kasper Johannesen merely told him to "go to H--l." Did they +not all know that he had become rich over unseaworthy vessels, had not +Lloyd's agent himself said so? Yes, that was a pretty sort of way of +showing kindness to sailors, &c. &c. It ended in a fight out in the +street. Ended? It did not end all that summer and autumn! + +There was no more talk of the school in the town for weeks, no one +spoke about anything but their business, and which of the captains were +honest and which "percentage thieves;" still about business, and which +of the captains were out-and-out thieves, and which only thieves in a +small way. And again, who among the captains were absolutely honest. +Business again, and about captain N. N., who, every one knew, could +retire and set up a business for himself. When the ships came in at the +end of autumn, the captains themselves took part in it. Some were +dismissed, and then informed against others who were not. The mates and +seamen did not wish to come forward as witnesses, but were forced to do +so. The most violent hatreds were founded or were fought out on the +spot; the "skippers' war" saved the school. + +The town was not large enough to have two burning questions going at +once, and naturally that which concerned gain was far the most +important. + +But if the "skippers' war" temporarily saved the school, it did not +save Rendalen himself; he might expect that the first opportunity would +be taken for a reckoning. He never willingly went into the town--at all +events, not in the evening. + +He received a reminder of the state of things when, shortly after "the +war" had broken out, he had to go down quite early one Sunday morning, +with a carriage, to the custom-house to meet Miss Hall, who was to +arrive by the English boat. That day the choral society and the +athletic club were starting on an expedition, a couple of hundred young +men therefore had assembled there, notwithstanding the earliness of the +hour. Rendalen did not feel himself safe among them; he was hardly +allowed to pass in peace, angry looks and threatening hints followed +him, and, as he got into the boat, the rope was cast off in such a way +that it knocked off his hat and splashed him--of course entirely by +accident. + +They understood what he was come for, it must be to meet the new +guardian of the town's virtue, the American lady-doctor. The heavy bows +of the English steamer could be seen standing in--they postponed their +own departure until they had seen the young lady. Rendalen had got her +and her luggage into the boat; she was the only passenger. They must +have a look at something so extraordinary. + +After all, she looked quite a child! a little, slight, active creature, +who declined all help as she came up the steps; she was down again in a +moment, because the people in the boat turned one of her boxes upside +down and she could not explain herself in Norse. She was quickly up +again with it, then off to the carriage, into it in a trice--one, two, +three--active and smiling; but only when she was seated did she look +round with surprise at the gloomy suspicious crowd; a long inquiring +look from two large eyes was cast upon them. In the meantime Rendalen +gave orders about the luggage, and put something to rights with the +reins, before he got up. Her woman's eyes made use of the time. They +possessed a clear, cool power of observation; they did not wander over +the whole crowd, but picked out several faces here and there from among +the young people, quickly, certainly. + +Those who received a look felt it at the bottom of their hearts, and +there was not one of these two hundred young men on the quay who had +any doubt but that those eyes could discover several things. + + +A little later in the course of the "skippers' war"--that is to say, +just at the end of the holidays--the news spread round the town that +lovable Emilie Engel, the friend of the poor, the friend of every one, +had been given up by the doctors. + +Fru Rendalen, in addition to everything else, had had increasing +prickings of conscience as regarded Fru Engel, and now the news came to +her as a stunning blow. + +Of all her pupils since Augusta Hansen, no one had been like Emilie +Engel, so pretty, so clever, and so good; she had attached herself to +Fru Rendalen as to a mother, and had given her, and her alone, her +confidence when she became unhappy because she loved the man who +deceived her. + +All the world had known for a long time, what she had only learned in +the last year or two. It was Emilie's sufferings which, more than +anything else, had made Fru Rendalen glad that Tomas "took it all up," +as she expressed it. And now? Neither she nor her son doubted for a +moment that every one would be convinced that Tomas Rendalen had killed +her by his roughness. + +The bitterness would all be aroused again with increased strength. + +Fru Rendalen had not obtained leave from the doctor to see Emilie; Dr. +Holmsen had said in his rough way that she was too nearly related to +the lecture; this remark had got about. + +Emilie Engel died early one morning, and in the afternoon her spiritual +counsellor, old Green, drove up to "The Estate." He brought a last +greeting from her, and gave Fru Rendalen her savings-bank book; in it +she had written, in large trembling characters, "For the school--yours, +E." + +The Dean informed Fru Rendalen that this had been done with the consent +of her husband. The amount was five thousand kroner. + +Fru Rendalen's agitation and happiness, her grief and thankfulness were +so great, that she was obliged to leave the room and did not show +herself again. Tomas came home just at the moment, and met the Dean as +he was being helped by a servant down the great steps. The old man +asked him to go to his mother, he knew she wanted to speak to him. +Tomas was startled, but he controlled himself and helped the Dean into +the carriage. + +Fru Rendalen was in her bedroom, walking up and down, crying bitterly; +when she saw Tomas she threw herself upon his neck, while he implored +her for God's sake to tell him what was the matter. + +She could only look towards the book; he saw it and took it up. He felt +at once that this was salvation. What he had suffered now became +evident; he, too, burst into tears. + +The next morning a message was sent round to the parents of the pupils +by Fru Rendalen, asking if they might be allowed, in the name of the +school, to pay a tribute to Fru Engel's memory; if so, they must all +assemble, dressed in white, at the churchyard gate on the day of the +funeral and walk before the coffin, the younger ones strewing flowers, +the others singing a hymn, to be followed by a chorus at the side of +the grave. + +All who obtained leave were to assemble at the school that day at +twelve o'clock. + +As only a few days intervened before the opening of the school, nearly +all the pupils were in the town; the rest returned by twos and threes, +not one was absent. + +It really was incredible what Tomas Rendalen accomplished in seven or +eight days; he felt that a battle was to be delivered. + +The next number of the _Spectator_ announced the decease, with a few +words on Fru Engel's many good works, and the addition: "We understand +that she has left a sum of money to an institution in the town." What +this announcement lacked in plainness, was remedied in the paper. That +day there was not a single attack on the school. + +Under these circumstances Fru Engel's funeral became an exceptional +event. This was shown both by the preparations which were made and the +reports which circulated. + +The schools asked for, and obtained a holiday; it was decided to close +all the shops, to strew the streets along which the procession was to +pass with fir branches, and to have minute guns fired from a flag-ship. +It was reported that the band from the nearest garrison town had been +engaged and had obtained leave to be present. The principal merchants +of this, and the neighbouring towns, were to take the coffin from the +hearse at the churchyard gate and carry it to the grave. + +Several steamers brought people, from both up and down the coast, who +wished to see and hear. + +When the church-bells began to toll on the day of the funeral, the +streets were quite full, and there was soon no space to be had either +inside or outside the churchyard; if the crush had not been foreseen, +and a number of men stationed to strengthen the police force, ladies +would not have dared to venture there. As it was, the school had plenty +of room, as well as the mothers and sisters of the scholars. + +Nevertheless, when the minute guns began and the music was heard, still +more when the procession came in sight, the crush became excessive; +some screams were heard, and a number of people became alarmed; but +things soon became quiet again, excepting that the excitement +increased. + +The band came up to the gate, stood there and continued playing before +it, while the hearse drew up and the merchants came forward and raised +the coffin. The numberless flowers for which no room could be found +were gathered up and carried after it. + +In the meantime Rendalen had worked his way out from the procession, +and marshalled his white-robed flock within the gate. The coffin was +carried in, but they remained quiet until the hearse had driven away +and the procession was formed. The music ceased, the school children +began to sing strongly and charmingly, and this change from brass +instruments to girls' voices was striking. + +From this solemn moment, as the funeral train moved forward, the little +white-robed flower-strewers before, followed by the singers with the +coffin next to them--from that moment the character of the funeral +changed. Here was a festal procession, sorrow was converted into +beauty, the loss into a full-handed demonstration of honour. The +pageant of riches had paused before the gate of the dead. All presented +themselves as an offering. Fru Emilie Engel was buried like a princess. + +As the hymn ascended from the girls in front, and all the little hands +began to feel in their baskets for the flowers, all eyes turned towards +them; all thoughts followed this white line as it wound up the slope +among the crowd of black-robed women, for these streamed along with +them. The war which had lately raged was remembered at once, the +thought seemed to hover in the threatening atmosphere, above them and +over the black train which followed. Fru Engel's pale face rose to +their memories as they heard the hymn. It was poor, poor Emilie, who +was being buried, the hundredfold deceived Emilie, whom all of those +present, who were her elders, had known from childhood, and had seen +every Sunday in church, pale and melancholy. + +Was it not as though these little white-clad girls had come forward to +take her from those who had come with her? By her legacy she had given +herself to these little ones. And afterwards, when the long white train +streamed on to the planked floor which had been prepared, with a +railing on the side next the grave, it again seemed as though they, and +they alone, had a right in her. + +Rendalen stepped up among them, with his hat in his hand. The little +flower-strewers had had their baskets replenished, and arranged +themselves before him. The coffin was lowered, there was silence; +Rendalen gave the sign, subdued music began and the chorus joined in. +He conducted with a slight movement of his hand, otherwise he was +perfectly still, filled with emotion and overcome by the moment. All +these voices gave answer for him, they sang thanks for the new school +over the grave. The women were much affected. Karl Vangen's anxious eye +sought Fru Rendalen, he saw how much she was shaken, and worked his way +towards her. But as soon as she had taken his arm she wished to cross +to the side where they were singing; she must see the grave. He led her +forward. But after she had come, there was a sense that something was +there which belonged to that other phase; it was only dimly perceived +perhaps, but it became quite clear when, the singing being ended, old +Green was helped up beside the girls and began to speak. He repeated +words which Emilie had spoken on different occasions; collectively they +formed a picture. Everything was expressed in these words, and yet +nothing was actually told, every one understood without offence being +given. + +The one who was the most moved was Engel, for her deep devotion to him +was expressed in one or two of these utterances, and against his will +these words made him burst into violent sobbing which he could not +restrain. + +Green now ceased speaking, he concluded with some words of hers, which +had followed her gift to the school. "There are two parties in this +question ... She had chosen hers," he added. + +The music began again, and with it the chorus; the old man was helped +down while the little ones leant over the railing to strew their last +flowers. At the same moment it thundered out in the west; far out the +sea looked black; a rain-storm was coming, a heavy one. + +Towards the town one saw how the flags drooped against the dark sky, +all foretold violent rain; again a crash of thunder, much louder and +nearer; the mourners began to move about, some pressed forward to look +into the grave or to speak to the family. A short time afterwards, +groups of white-clad girls passed down the road in strong relief +against the heavy sky and the dark green trees; some of them began to +run about, and others followed their example; some, to Fru Rendalen's +horror, began to laugh and shout. + + +They were at dinner at "The Estate," when Fru Rendalen received two +small anonymous contributions, with the motto, "There are two parties" +During the afternoon they received several more, all anonymous, but +none of them considerable. Still, it showed that the school had friends +as well as enemies. + +They had not time to dwell long on this, for that evening they were to +have a little memorial feast at the school, to which Fru Engel's +friends were invited, and both the senior classes. Fru Rendalen was to +tell them about her companionship with the departed; old Green had +promised to come as well, and perhaps narrate something. There would be +music, the chorus would be repeated, and so forth. + +The whole day had been spent in preparing the place where the feast was +to be held, but even so, they were hardly ready. Once more they were +interrupted by a letter, this time from Dr. Holmsen; his servant +brought it up. The doctor's name was not put to it, but his handwriting +was as well known as his servant. And who besides would have signed it, + + "An Old Pig." + +The letter ran: + + +"Dear Rendalen, + +"'There are two parties.' That is certainly most true, although I +consider that one of them has acted devilish stupidly, and I do not in +the least feel able to join myself to it. Enclosed is a cheque for +three microscopes, as you have taken it into your preposterous Kurt +skull that it can be done by microscopes. I don't believe a doit in it. +The power of knowledge will do no more here than the power of religion; +it will all remain just where it was. But something white, something of +a song, passed through the air today; that might do something perhaps. +Here is the money, any way." + + +The senior class was already gathering in the boarders' sitting-room. +The young ladies were to be in mourning as far as taste and opportunity +would allow, and this was something so new and interesting that they +were sure to come before their time. + +The feast was to be held in the laboratory--that is to say, the +Knights' Hall; it had of course cost some trouble to prepare it for a +funeral feast, but as the first ladies arrived it was finished--only +Emilie's portrait was still to come. + +The carriage with the two Danish horses and the man in grey livery on +the box, came slowly up the avenue. Fru Rendalen and Tomas met it at +the foot of the steps. Tomas opened the door for a young lady in deep +mourning, who flung herself on to Fru Rendalen's neck; she was Fru +Engel's only daughter, she was called Emilie also. She was to remain at +school a year longer. + +She was an unusually pretty girl, set off as her slender figure and +delicate complexion now were by her mourning. Over her hair, the +hereditary Engel hair, neither red nor yellow, she had a black veil, +and nothing else. She mounted the steps on Fru Rendalen's arm, crying; +Tomas followed with the portrait, which was covered with a cloth, for +it was raining. + +All rose as they came in, the girl herself wept still more piteously +and sought a corner, where she hid her face behind her veil and +pocket-handkerchief. The portrait was put up on to the chimney-piece of +the laboratory, which was covered with black; Norwegian flags were +arranged on each side of it, and garlands were now hung round it. + +The ceremony began with a duet, a funeral march, played by Tomas +Rendalen, and the girl who had sung a short contralto solo up at the +churchyard that day; Augusta Hansen's sister, who had hidden under the +sail on the day of the lecture. + +After this followed some speeches, then the chorus; all went off +excellently; there was much feeling, at times agitation. At the close +there was a hymn as an introduction to a few words from Karl Vangen. He +had lately read that life is not a closed road, but an open one; he +spoke on this. + +In the meantime, simple refreshments, such as were usually served at +the school parties, with the addition of dessert and wine, had been +spread in Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; for Tomas wished, in conclusion, +to take the opportunity of proposing the healths of the senior classes +and to thank them, and with them all those who had helped that day to +celebrate a beautiful memory. All who had sung to-day at the +churchyard, with the town below them, and a large number of its +inhabitants before them, must have felt something which resembled a +covenant with the school. + +The pure memory of the dead had smiled upon it. "That covenant shall be +kept," he concluded. "Shall it not?" + +"Yes, yes," came from the whole group; they all pressed towards him +with their glasses, the young eyes sparkled; but the first was Emilie's +daughter, the others made way for her; she coloured with agitation and +gratitude as she touched his glass with hers. + +By ten o'clock they were alone. Tomas said to his mother as he was +going to his room, "It was not so mad after all to give that lecture in +the gymnasium--what do you say?" + +"Ah, do you know, Tomas, I really begin to think too that--No, no. It +_was_ mad. Pray do not let me be befooled again." + +A maid-servant came in with a note which had been forgotten; it had +arrived during the evening. + +"Do you see? do you see?" he laughed, and opened it. It ran: + + +"Yes, you think you have conquered, you slanderer. I saw your conceit +to-day, as you stood there among all the little girls whom you had +befooled into doing you a good turn. Selfishness stood out from your +freckled, grey-eyed face, as well as from your Judas hair. Fie for +shame! But you will be struck when you least expect it, you beast." +_Veritas_. + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: As with Carl Brandenburg, on the Market Place. He had a +daughter Christina, who was of a proud mind, but very fair. When Master +Max's first wife died he straightway asked to have Christina in +marriage, but she would not, and her father humoured her, albeit he was +afraid. And at once Carl was charged of dealing in contraband wares, +then for giving false weights and measures, and at last for having +scoffed at God. From this last Death freed him. Then came his son home +from France, and he was sent to serve as a soldier, and no man ever +heard more of him. At the time those in Authority first made indictment +against Carl Brandenburg, he was the richest man in the Town, but when +he died his daughter had only what might allow her to dwell at the +house of a peasant, and there she still abides. Many such things +happened, so that none dare go against his will.] + +[Footnote 2: Miss.] + + + + END OF VOL. I + + + + + + Printed by Ballantyne & Co. 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Vol. I</title> +<meta name="Author" content="Björnstjerne Björnson"> +<meta name="Translator" content="Cecil Fairfax"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="The Macmillan Company"> +<meta name="Date" content="1908"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 5em; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I (of 2), by +Björstjerne Björnson + +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: The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I (of 2) + +Author: Björstjerne Björnson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://books.google.com/books?id=fuUsAAAAMAAJ</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>THE NOVELS OF</h4> + +<h3>BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON</h3> + +<h4><i>Edited by EDMUND GOSSE</i></h4> + +<h4>VOLUME XI</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<<h4><i>THE NOVELS OF</i></h4> + +<h3><i>BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON</i></h3> + +<h4><i>Edited by EDMUND GOSSE</i></h4> + +<h5><i>Fcap. 8vo, cloth</i></h5> +<br> +<div style="margin-left:35%; margin-right:20%; font-size:90%; font-weight:bold"> +<p class="continue"> +<i>Arne</i><br> +<i>A Happy Boy</i><br> +<i>A Fisher Lass</i><br> +<i>The Bridal March, & One Day</i><br> +<i>Magnhild, & Dust</i><br> +<i>Captain Mansana, & Mother's Hands</i><br> +<i>Absalom's Hair, & A Painful Memory</i><br> +<i>In God's Way</i> (2 <i>vols.</i>)<br> +<i>Heritage of the Kurts</i> (2 <i>vols.</i>)</p> +</div> +<h4><i>NEW YORK</i><br> +<i>THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</i></h4> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE HERITAGE OF<br> +THE KURTS</h1> +<br> +<br> +<h5>BY</h5> +<br> +<h3>BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5><i>Translated from the Norwegian by</i></h5> + +<h4><i>Cecil Fairfax</i></h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>VOLUME I</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><span class="sc">NEW YORK</span><br> +THE MACMILLAN COMPANY<br> +<span class="sc2">1908</span></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5><i>Printed in England</i></h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="margin-right:80%"> +<h5><i>All rights reserved</i></h5> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</h2> + + +<p class="normal">Upon his taking up his residence in Paris, in 1882, Björnson resumed an +interest in prose fiction, which he had for so many years abandoned in +favour of the drama. There can be no question that he was influenced in +this by the successes of Alexander Kielland and Kristian Elster, who +had begun to deal with the problems of Norwegian life in the form of +short novels, which attracted immense public curiosity. After writing +<i>Dust</i> (1882), a very brief episode, Björnson started the composition +of his earliest long novel, which he finished and published in 1884, as +<i>Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen</i> ("Flags are Flying in Town and +Harbour"), a title for which we have ventured to substitute, as more +directly descriptive, <i>The Heritage of the Kurts</i>. It is to be observed +that, with the exception of Jonas Lie's <i>Livsslaven</i> (which was not yet +published when Björnson's book was begun), <i>The Heritage of the Kurts</i> +was the earliest novel, treating Scandinavian society on a large scale, +which any Norwegian writer had essayed to produce. This may explain a +certain cumbrousness in the unwinding of the plot, which has been noted +as a fault in this very fine and elaborate romance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The didactic character of much of the novel, especially of the later +parts, was a surprise to contemporary readers, who were accustomed to +much lighter fare from the novelists of the day. No less a personage +than the great Danish writer, J. P. Jacobsen, joined in the outcry +against "all this pedagogy and all these problems." Physiological +instruction in girls' schools,--this seemed a strange and almost +unseemly subject for a romance addressed to idle readers in Copenhagen +and Christiania. But Björnson's serious purpose was soon perceived and +justified, and the popularity of The Heritage of the Kurts was assured +among the best appreciators of his genius. It will always, however, +possess the disadvantages inherent on a tentative effort in a class of +literature as yet unfamiliar to the veteran artist.</p> + +<p class="normal">Translator, editor, and publisher of the English version alike desire +to express their debt to Mr. C. F. Keary, whose knowledge of Norwegian +matters is so widely recognised, for the help he has given in revising +the translation throughout, and in particular for his advice in regard +to the diction of the first section of the novel, which, in the +original, is an extremely clever <i>pastiche</i> of early eighteenth-century +Danish.</p> + +<p class="right">E. G.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; font-weight:bold"> +<colgroup><col style="width:10%; text-align:right"><col style="width:90%"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>I.--<a name="div1Ref_01.0" href="#div1_01.0"><i>FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>CHAP</td> +<td> </td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01.1" href="#div1_01.1">"THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO LIVED THERE</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01.2" href="#div1_01.2">WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>II.--<a name="div1Ref_02.0" href="#div1_02.0"><i>JOHN KURT</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.1" href="#div1_02.1">LONELINESS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.2" href="#div1_02.2">A GENIUS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.3" href="#div1_02.3">MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.4" href="#div1_02.4">SAILS IN SIGHT</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>V.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.5" href="#div1_02.5">HOME LIFE</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02.6" href="#div1_02.6">FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>III.--<a name="div1Ref_03.0" href="#div1_03.0"><i>A LECTURE</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03.1" href="#div1_03.1">DETHRONED</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03.2" href="#div1_03.2">ON THE MOUNTAIN</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03.3" href="#div1_03.3">THE CHILD</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03.4" href="#div1_03.4">THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>V.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03.5" href="#div1_03.5">THE LECTURE</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>IV.--<a name="div1Ref_04.0" href="#div1_04.0"><i>THE STAFF</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04.1" href="#div1_04.1">A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN</a></td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>I</h2> +<h2><a name="div1_01.0" href="#div1Ref_01.0">FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_01.1" href="#div1Ref_01.1">"THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO<br> +LIVED THERE</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">"The Estate" had probably been acquired by the strong hand, as indeed +most domains have been in all countries and at all times; but what +proportion forced marriages and fair bargains bore to actual guile, +fraud, and such base means, we can no longer determine.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two hundred years ago it was an immense possession, the home farm stood +then as now on the woody mountain slopes overlooking the town, the +whole of which can be seen from there; both the old town on this side +of the harbour, and the new one out by the point. This point shelters +the harbour from the sea, but is not itself absolutely exposed to it, +for islands and skerries lie beyond it, and between them the two +entrances, the North and West Sounds. All this is to be seen from "The +Estate," and far out to sea as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">Farther away to the right is the river between whose clayey banks the +foaming mass pours down into the harbour. At one time this river and +all the works at its mouth belonged to "The Estate," as well as the +site of the town, the islands, and the coast on either side; and +farther on, the lower lands and woods down to the channel of the river. +Such was "The Estate" two hundred years ago.</p> + +<p class="normal">Its principal building is a large brick house from which rises a squat +clumsy tower; it has a long wing on the right hand, but curiously +enough none on the left; behind are a number of old stone buildings +serving as stables, cow-houses, and the like, besides servants' +quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">The great stairway up to the house, a perfect mountain of stone slabs, +for it is of immense size, is of semicircular form, having steps round +the whole circuit. From it a noble avenue leads down to the town +market-place, and on each side of it runs a stone park-wall which +almost reaches as far as the market; on the other sides of both the +walls lies the garden, which is cut in two by the avenue. Open fields +lie on both sides and likewise between the gardens and the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">Above the houses, out towards the mountain, is a wood of deciduous +trees; although the fir-trees have again begun their silent advance +against them, for at one time they had the hill to themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">Who laid out these pleasure-grounds, who built this enormous mansion? +you say to yourself on first seeing the house and gardens of "The +Estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was more than two hundred years ago, about 1660, that a German +skipper, who called himself Kurt (spelt at that time Curt), first +brought his vessel into the harbour in order to have her re-rigged and +painted, most probably to prevent her from being recognised. We now +know that he had then long been exiled from his native country on +account of some deed of violence which he had committed. He was of a +princely German family which still bears an honoured name which does +not require to be mentioned here--he was known only by his Christian +name of Curt.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not been there long before he began to pay his court to the +daughter and heir of Claus Mathiassön, the owner of "The Estate," +paying no heed to what the neighbours thought of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was the noble maid Ingeborg Clausdotter." ... From this point I +follow verbatim a manuscript description pertaining to the town, and +more especially to "The Estate," which was written at the beginning of +the last century by an old parish clerk and choir-master of Saint Mary +in that place....</p> + +<p class="normal">She would hide herself away up in the Cock Loft, down in the Cellar, in +Byre or stable; she would fly you to wood or field whenever the +swaggering foreigner, skipper Curt, came a Wooing, for then he was +commonly in liquor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Worshipful Master Claus Mathiassön might bring him Ale from his cellar, +and set before him such things as he desired; the next moment had Curt +half slain him because Master Claus could not bring his fair daughter +to speak with him; and moreover he drove away every living person from +the homestead. He swore also to cut down any man who should dare to +wish to take her to wife: he would wring his neck, said he, and all his +belongings, and hers as well if she should ever belong to another.</p> + +<p class="normal">And there was Hans Fürst in the Market Place hard by the Church of St +Mary. When it was said that he too was a Wooer, went Curt to him on +Good Friday morning as Hans still lay abed, and beat him so sore with a +stout cudgel that for long after he was but broken bones. Hans Faüst +was afraid to bide in the town whenever skipper Curt came in with his +Ships, which from that time happened often enough; and it fell in +likewise with the Bailiff, Master Beinhard von Klüwer, who would fain +have brought him to reason. Curt defied him and hauled his ships before +the Bailiff's house; two ships he had then, and Cannon and his Company, +and the Bailiff dared no more go out alone, and did not dare to +discharge his office, but departed, nor did he return. So that full a +year passed ere his office was again filled; when it was, 'twas a +German who got it who was of a Mind with Curt in all things; and the +old Bailiff, he obtained office in another place.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Twas commonly spoken of Curt that he had stole his first ship in the +North sea; later he had two ships, and folk held it for certain that +the second was stolen also, but his people were silent concerning it, +and naught was done in the Matter. Now it was in the following way that +he got the maid. There came a Clerk from his Excellence the Stadtholder +Ulrich, Frederick Güldenlöve, with Commands from the High and Mighty +Prince, King Frederick 3rd, now of blessed memory, to the worshipful +Claus Mathiassön of "The Estate," and to the good men and true of the +town, Counsellors, and Burgesses, that they must so deal for skipper +Curt who was of a noble German Family, that he should have the +high-born Maid Ingeborg Clausdotter to wife, promising them his royal +favour and especial grace, which skipper Curt without hesitation agreed +to; so the King's Will was done. The Clerk was come in Sören +Rasmussen's sloop from Oslo; he also was a German, and spoke Danish but +ill; he demanded much service, and that he got, for he was lodged at +the Council House, and was bidden, when the wedding should be over, to +condescend to put up with the same at the houses of sundry of the +burgesses.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wedding was celebrated with grandeur, but many a tear shed Mistress +Ingeborg as did Claus Mathiassön, who knew that now his days of +happiness were past.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it so chanced that at the wedding, Master Curt, being in liquor, +fell upon the clerk with thrust and blow and Drove him from the board, +for he swore he was not fit to sit at meat with the quality and their +women folk, for he was no clerk of the Stadtholder, but a cursed +vagabond Barber who had been a wood cutter to his brother-in-law in +Pommerania. So the barber fled over to the point and thence to the +North Holm, from there he hailed a passing ship and was taken on board +of her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therewith ended the wedding feast, but this mattered little to Curt, +for he had won his bride.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now this is how it fell out; skipper Curt had been to Oslo and there +had met a Holsteiner, Georg von Bregentvedt; the same was a captain and +gave the Stadtholder aid in warlike enterprise, but Georg von +Bregentvedt and Curt had been known to each other in Germany, and this +Georg was a rare knave, full of merry conceits, and he helped Curt with +this trick, but they got the barber to bring it to pass.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Claus Mathiassön went straightway to Copenhagen to make complaint +before the king, and three times had he <i>audience</i>, and each time was +the king Mightily enraged, but may well have forgotten it again by +reason of other matters, for Curt had countrymen at Court. In the +meantime was the money spent with which Claus Mathiassön had provided +himself, and Curt had seized "The Estate," and refused to send him +more, likewise he threatened all those who would have been true to him; +and as Claus Mathiassön at the same time got a letter from his +daughter, sent secretly by the skipper of a sloop, saying that she was +now with child, but that Curt went after other women on "The Estate," +and in the town; so thought Claus Mathiassön that no good could come +from his going home. And no man asked for him from that time. Claus +Mathiassön was of Danish blood, and a good man was he.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now "The Estate" at this time was a vast place of much grandeur, and +with great belongings; to wit, the ownership of leagues of land up +both sides of the River, for the forests and all the farms then +belonged to "The Estate." And large tile works had Curt established on +the river Bank, and brought many Hollanders there; also later he had +ship-building, which thing brought great gain to the Town; he made also +a marvellous clever saw pit, the like of which had never been seen +before, also he voyaged to see the king, the most mighty Prince, and +very good Lord, King Christian 5th, now of blessed memory, for by the +help of his powerful and noble countrymen, he had hope to come by royal +Grace and Favour, and he had at divers times <i>audience</i>, and pleased +the King with his great strength and by his Comely person. Then, said +he to the King, in all humility, that it was a bygone Custom that when +the King of His grace came to those parts he should take lodging on +"The Estate." Two kings had lain there, and King Christian 4th of +Blessed memory, even twice; and now in all humility he prayed for the +same Favour. And the kind did not deny it him. But Curt's purpose +therein was to again receive all those privileges which he had +forfeited in his Fatherland.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he returned home, and found with his courtly fashions that the old +House on "The Estate," albeit that it was a fine house in every way, +large and costly, must be pulled down, and a Castle built to honour the +king when he should come withal; so forthwith he fell to work. But then +he took a liking to Hans Fürst's house for a dwelling Place, the one, +namely, hard by St Mary's in the Market Place, while the new castle was +building; so he drove the aforesaid Hans from it till such time as the +Castle should be Roofed.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was brought about in this manner: Curt forbade the sailors, +craftsmen, and fishers to buy so much as a measure of Ale, a dram of +Spirits, or an Ell of cloth. For the lewd mariners and their kinsfolk +are not like landsfolk, they worship those who rule over them, for they +and their forebears have let themselves be treated like dogs on sea and +land; they are ill at ease if they are not ordered hither and thither, +sworn at and beaten, and they join in their skipper's dissolute life. +But as well Curt allowed them free land on the mountain on all sides, +as many as there was room for, and besides gave them wood at small cost +for their buildings, so that now there is almost a town on the mountain +which can be seen from afar, as is known to every ship which comes in. +Atop of all, the Pilots have built themselves a Look Out.</p> + +<p class="normal">It can be safely said that without the support of these men Curt and +his descendants could never have ruled and roystered as they have done +to this day; nay, the more masterful their ways, the more they rose in +the eyes of these Men, for that is the manner of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">For his lawless ways then Curt in all his life never made any +reparation. People still repeat the words he was wont to use when any +man asked such of him. "Thou shall get thy pay from----, thou cursed +Peasant," he would say in his German fashion, for he never spoke our +tongue right, and "Peasant" he would call any man he was wroth with; +for in his Country the peasant is held in contempt, nay, almost as a +brute beast; he may own neither house nor land, but must work for his +lord, both he and his. Death alone can release him. Nay, 'tis even so +likewise in Denmark.</p> + +<p class="normal">But as respecting the aforesaid Hans Fürst, as he had naught else but +his trade he must needs go over to the other side of the Market Place +to Siegfried Brandenburg's old House on the left; for he had two, and +there he abode till Curt returned to his Castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Curt did not build it all as it now stands; neither the long wing on +the right, nor the great outbuildings; neither did he build the garden +wall which is on both sides, for that was done by his son. But the +great House with the steps and the Tower, that was built by him; and +the road between the two walls, that was done by Master Curt, for +before there was only a path and that did not go the same way, but +outside the garden to the right, as may be seen to this day; also the +trees on both sides of the road were planted by Curt himself, every one +of them, for he had a lucky hand in that way which he well knew, for +the larger part of the garden which is now on both sides was planted by +him; and he brought hither many new and costly Trees, Plants, and +flowers from Holland which greatly joyed his half crazy wife whenever +she was allowed a little liberty, for she loved flowers well.</p> + +<p class="normal">The inside of the Castle for the most part is not as Curt left it, for +what he did was undone of his Son Master Adler, for thus he was called +after the great Sea Hero, Cort Adler. For that was a jest of Curt to +call his son Adler, since he had called himself Curt, for thus the +Admiral's name was turned end for end.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Royal Bed and other furniture in the king's Chamber which are now +to be seen are not Curt's either. Those which he had bought now stand +in another Chamber out of the passage to the left. In that bed slept +Master Adler himself. That remains, and the furniture. But for the +king's Chamber Master Adler brought all new from Holland what time he +himself went there from Copenhagen with his ships. It was at that time +also that he bought the hangings which are now in the King's Chamber by +the side of his sleeping-room, and also he bought the great <i>Carosse</i>, +whereof more anon. But, on the other hand, the pictures in gilded +frames all belong to Curt's time. Those in the Knights' Hall are copied +from pictures in his father's Castle, and represent his ancestors.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had almost forgot to relate about the tower which never was finished +and the reason thereof. The Man who first directed the Building was a +master builder from Lübeck. But he wearied there, not getting his pay, +and so went home. Master Curt went after him in a swift sailing ship +belonging to a Dane, which just then lay in harbour, but he did not +come nigh him. The second builder was from Holstein, or the parts +adjacent thereto. Curt had at that time with him a wench of rare +beauty. She was the wife of a Flemish skipper whom Curt had enticed to +come to him, and as he would not give her up, the skipper was fain to +depart. Now the master builder fell in love with her, and she with him, +and Master Curt sorely maltreated them, and had them stript and driven +down the Market Place. They got away at last in a boat; the builder was +brought to a sorry pass; I know not what further became of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">After that Curt gave up the Tower, which indeed was very hard to build; +and as it was bruited about that the king was like to come that summer, +he had a wide roof set over it and covered it with tiles as is commonly +done, and so it stands, for no one has touched it since then. Now Curt +had put himself to great cost for the honour of seeing the king under +his Roof. At this time "The Estate" was still all one, and the high +banks on each side of the river and all round the valley as far as +might be seen were covered with fir-woods, and the same on the Islands. +That is all different since the merchants took the fir-woods in pledge, +but this giving in pledge had begun in Curt's time.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now I must relate to you the Rest of Curt's life, firstly that his +wife had been for a long time half silly. She was a fair woman to look +on, but she could never abide him, so she remained shut up. The marks +are still to be seen in the chamber along to the left, which her feet +have left by the door, where she vainly sought to get out, and likewise +can be seen the marks of the iron bars before the window, which Curt +put there after the time when she sprang out into the garden, sorely +wounding herself thereby. At the time when the Castle stood open, after +Curt was dead, and his sons were abroad, we could see what she had +written all round the walls. This writing had never been known of by +Curt, or by those who minded the estate while his sons were still +young, or during their absence, but the sons had it washed off. 'Twas +thus I saw it when first I came as a student to the Town. For the most +part it was verses from the Psalter, but plaints as well, and other +quaint conceits which touched me by their simplicity. Thus of a +cloudberry which had been frozen. That is the tenderest sight in +Nature, she wrote, and verily since then how often I have thought of +it, for especially by the Road side in frost and thaw how true it is.</p> + +<p class="normal">But now I must tell of what once happened while she was well and sat at +meat with Sieur van Geelmuyden, the especial friend of Master Curt, and +a merry man. Suddenly her madness came upon her again as she sat at +board, and flinging her knife at Curt, she cried that that very day had +she been told that Curt had a hundred Children about in the town. Then +remarked Van Geelmuyden pithily, "Noble Ingeborg Curt, no one should +believe more than half of what malicious folk say." Now Curt and all +his guests laughed beyond measure at this, and, for the sake of the +saying, Master Curt gave Van Geelmuyden, to whom, moreover, he ever +after set great <i>fiduce</i>, the house at Bommen; the same may still be +seen there, it is that one where the second Story stands well-nigh two +ells out beyond the first, and which is hard by that which was gotten +by the Bailiff.</p> + +<p class="normal">The House still bears witness to the <i>piquante</i> saying called a +<i>bon-mot</i>, which word the people have turned into Bommen, which name +the whole street bears at this day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Never was there dung moved up at "The Estate" in the Spring time, nor +the Midden emptied, but that the bodies of children were found therein, +for Master Curt led a lusty life, both with his maid-servants and +others whom he caused to come up there. When the now departed Bishop of +Christiansand, the worshipful Magister Jersin, was to make a visitation +in the Town, some short space before Curt's death, and Curt heard +thereof, he begged that he might have the honour of housing and +feasting him while he abode here, which thing the Bishop in no wise +refused. So Curt went forth to meet him with one of his ships which +chanced to be in port, and took with him the Parson, the town Council, +and the king's trusty servants, and a goodly company of burgesses, and +prepared a noble feast on board of the ship for the Bishop, whom they +fetched from the house of a Parson of those parts, and he also, and the +others remained of the company. And they all came on shore in such +condition as was a sight to behold; Curt took the Bishop for his share, +and when they were come to the steps up to the house and were about to +mount them, the Bishop turned round and said, so that all might hear, +that those were the finest steps he had ever seen in the whole Country +Side. Then answered Curt, "These Steps, your Grace, are singular in +another manner, for more maids have gone up them than have ever gone +down." He said this in his German tongue, but that was the meaning of +it. I had it from one who was a lad at the time and was standing there +on the steps with the Welcome Cup for Master Curt, of which the Bishop +drank and handed it to him, but he who stood on the steps was in after +days Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsön, who at that time was clerk to +Curt. It was he who related this.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now I must to Curt's death, for it was in this manner that it fell +out. There came a peasant with wife and daughter to the town, and +although there was great gathering of peasants at that time, no man had +seen any of such fine presence as these, and this thing was spoken of +at a banquet which was held at the Castle, and specially was praise +given to the daughter, and so it fell next day that the peasant with +wife and daughter were commanded by Curt to come up to the Castle. +There they were treated like the grandest folk and were shown all the +rooms in the House, but the end of all this was that several of Curt's +people came in to them and the maid was separated from her father and +carried away by force; full of wrath was she and implored her father to +ask for a large recompense. He did so, but Curt would have nothing to +do with it. So then came the father with his complaint to the King's +Bailiff, who counselled him to take things as he found them, for no man +had ever yet got recompense of Curt, for all those in authority were on +his side, both of church, and army, and worthies, and Patrons at Court, +unto all which might be added that Curt could safely depend on the +people of the lower sort here in the Town. But the peasant went up by +himself to Curt, and in the court-yard behind the stable between it and +the Byre he found him and there again he asked for compensation. "Get +thy compensation from----, thou cursed Peasant," answered Curt, for +that was ever what he answered. Then the peasant seized Master Curt and +held him where desired. But he took his compensation with a thrust of +his knife. There was no one there in the Court Yard but a few women, +and an old groom who stood by and saw it. Curt was flung down upon the +dung heap and there his life passed from him, where the bodies of his +children had lain before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hardly could folk credit the news of it, but came up to see. Never +before had Curt given back before any man, and now he had been slain +like a helpless child. At last it was noised about that the Evil One +had been there, and had taken Curt's punishment on himself, and, what +indeed somewhat confirmed this was, that from that day the peasant +could never be found, and not even his name was known, and he himself +seemed unknown to the other peasants who were in the town, but these +clowns know how to be silent, so that there is nothing certain in the +matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">But whoever it was, this thing is certain, that it was from the hand of +Almighty God, for without his Will there falls not a sparrow to the +ground. His ways have been brought to pass by other hands, in order +that this great sinner should end his days upon a dung heap. May God's +name be praised eternally. Amen.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_01.2" href="#div1Ref_01.2">WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Curt's sons were at this time at Copenhagen, under the charge of +Magister Owe Gude, with him they also travelled at a later time and +made an especial long sojourn with Curt's noble kinsmen. Adler came +home at length to take possession of his lands, but Max remained abroad +and studied for the priesthood, for he had a marvellous gift of speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">Master Adler was but rarely seen in the Town, and he never went there +in any other fashion than borne in a <i>porte chaise</i> by servants in fine +liveries. And it was the same at the Castle, there one serving man +stood in the way of the other, and all were dressed as though for a +feast in some prince's Hall. Master Adler lived alone and held no +intercourse with the worthy burgesses in the Town, as had never been +the way before his time. Now by degrees Master Adler waxed mighty fat +and had many peevish ways and tricks; thus he spoke with no man, but +listened to everything.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had been here a few years and all his affairs were well ordered +by the hand of Torbiörn Christoffersen, Master Adler journeyed to +Copenhagen, for now was Christian V. of blessed memory no more; but our +good Lord and Prince, the most mighty and gracious King Frederick IV. +(whom may God sustain and adorn with all virtues) had now become our +King. And Master Adler went on his knees before him, with great +difficulty, and prayed the King to fulful the gracious pledge given by +his Father, of blessed Memory, to the Elder Curt now departed, and that +he would condescend to come to the Town, and be under his humble roof, +such time as he first came to Norway, where all men hoped for his +coming. Now the King wot well the design hid under this request, +namely, that Master Adler should obtain those titles of nobility which +his father had lost in his youth. This the King was graciously pleased +to listen to.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon Master Adler went to Holland, for he deemed not one of the +preparations good enough for him, which his father had made. From there +he came back with the great <i>Carosse</i>, which was then seen here for the +first time. The War Commissary, Master Synnestwedt, thought it not +fitting for Master Adler to drive in a <i>Carosse</i>, for he was no Person +of high rank, and complaint was made of the matter. Now in this fashion +did it first become known from Copenhagen that Curt had been of noble +birth; from that time forward he was never seen without Out-riders and +Attendants, besides the coachman, and two Servants behind. Wherefore he +must have also five horses on account of the Hills. But the townsfolk +held it an honour to them that their lord had such great privileges.</p> + +<p class="normal">But while he was at Copenhagen it had come to Master Adler's knowledge +that in the Palace where the King then abode, neither the king's +servants nor attendants lay under the same roof with Him, as might have +been expected, but only the king and his Family. On the contrary, the +King's attendants, and the serving men and women lived in a wing by +themselves, and it was for this reason that Master Adler had the long +right wing added to the New house, as may still be seen, and this +should be used by the King's attendants and servants as well as by +Master Adler himself, and by his servants, when the King should come. +But Torbiörn Christoffersen, his trusty steward, refused downright to +add a wing on the left hand, and threatened to go, and for this reason +it is that the right wing stands alone; neither did Master Adler +attempt to finish the Tower, for already many mortgages had been given +on "The Estate," by reason of all his display, and Torbiörn +Christoffersen could in no wise bring both ends to meet; so some of the +heaviest mortgages had to go at a great loss, and, in the same way, the +portion of ground, let to certain men in the town, were sold to any who +could free themselves. It was in this manner that the parcelling of +"The Estate" began.</p> + +<p class="normal">Master Adler's younger brother, Parson Max, was a knowing man in all +matters of business, and he supported Torbiörn Christoffersen. And now +that I take on me to draw a picture of Parson Max, God forbid that I +should bear malice against a dead man who has done me harm in many +ways, for it was in this self-same year that I became the unworthy +Parish Clerk and Choir Master of the Church of St. Mary in this Town. I +will not fill this costly paper by telling of the strife which was +between us, concerning the vessel which was bought at the Public sale, +after Master Curt's death, and which came to me by inheritance; or +again with the dispute which arose when I was to read the sermon from +Dr. Martin's Book, in Parson Max's stead, he being that day unfit +through liquor. Up comes Master Max into the Pulpit and flings me down. +All this I will keep concealed now that he is under ground; so it is +not for that that I have noted down the Truth about him; but in order +that those who come after may see how wonderful have been the ways of +the Lord in dealing with this Family, and also that it shall remain +plain to be seen how this Town, more than others, must be under God's +Protection, who has so singularly cared for it, even to the +overthrowing of its Tormentors.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the moment that Parson Max came, he played the Master and bully, +first towards his brother and "The Estate," and then over the whole +place. He was worse than his father Curt, inasmuch as he was learned, +and could with great prudence, and skill, twist and turn both people, +and things. He was also a mighty lunged man in the Pulpit. The time +when the terrible mishap befell, namely, that St. Mary's church was +burnt down, being struck by lightning from Heaven, an admonition to us +all, as is related in another place in my <i>Manu Scriptum</i>--that time I +say, Parson Max preached every Sunday through the summer, from a +hillock, and from thence was heard all over the Town; many people lying +off in their boats in the harbour heard him, likewise from the windows +away on the Point, but not the words; nay, a skipper told me himself +how, as his ship was being towed up the North Channel, they could all +hear a screaming like that of a Woman in Labour, nor could they tell +what it might be. For at a great distance a man's voice sounds like +that of a woman. So truly this may be said in praise of Parson Max, +that he wrought a very moving Fear on all who went to Church in his +day, and he would in no wise allow that any should stay away, for he +asked for them from the Pulpit, or sought them at their homes. +Wherefore the Church has never been so well frequented as then. The +lower people held wonderfully to him as before to his father; for he +often condescended to come to their weddings and Buryings, and tasted +their ale, and further gave them useful counsel in regard to all these, +for he was of great understanding, and beside knew them all by name, +men and women. By degrees he got the whole Town under his hand, so that +nothing was done in those days, in house or out, but the Parson must +have an account of it, neither might any bake or brew unless the Parson +gained by it. If the poor had nothing else to give there was always +Fish. No one, high or low, dare give his daughter in Marriage, or in +any other manner alter his Position, without Master Max's counsel in +the matter being heard. And if rich gifts, and other private +contributions, were there to help, men could get from Parson Max, what +were otherwise impossible. I know this well, for I relate what I know, +and in no wise that which I do not know. If any went against his will, +him he would persecute and harm by day and night, both he and his. This +he did by means of those in authority, both dignitaries and those of +the army, by his friends and his friends' friends, and his hand could +even reach to Copenhagen.<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> But at times good befell the Town by all +this, for no one at that time went to law, but each man must bring his +case to the Parson, who settled it for him. In the same way when the +new Church of St. Mary was to be built, that one which men commonly +called the Cross Church, everything abode in his hands, so that in +truth he was the Master Builder thereof; whereby that noble work is an +honour to the town, and an everlasting Memorial to him. It was terrible +what money it cost, and it all went to his brother, for "The Estate" +furnished both stone and wood, and all the rest by way of trade. But +Parson Max collected the money, and this he did in such a way as had +the place been <i>occuperit</i> by an Enemy and been burnt to the ground. +For myself alone, when I begin to reckon what I had to pay, I cannot +understand how I got quit of it. He was a terrible man. He lay in wait +for every ship; thus his first walk each morning was to Fetaljen, on +the look out, and he was there again many times in the day, and each +one must do his duty. Every traveller, man or woman, whom he asked must +give to the Church. Once on Fetaljen at Widow Sarah Andersen's, she who +gives lodging to the seafaring folk, he nearly came to great mishap, +for she warned her guests when she saw him coming, so they would creep +up into the cock-loft, or down into the cellar, in order to hide +themselves, for none could withstand his persuasions or threats. Thus +it fell about with rich Heinrich Arendt from Lübeck. He was here on +account of the ship which the Pirates had taken from him, and had sold +here, though with loss. Very well he knew Master Max of old, and he +crept up into the cock-loft. Master Max was well used to this +<i>trafique</i> and crept after him. However, as he was exceeding heavy, +down breaks the stair with him, and he slipped and stuck fast. A heavy +reckoning came to Sarah for this, she had to pay a vast <i>summa</i> for the +new Church, in place of Heinrich Arendt, and he would never make good +the money to her, but put her off with talk, so she never got a stiver, +a thing she has often told me even with tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aforesaid Sarah Andersen, widow, died on the same day, nay, even +the same hour, as Master Max. I have much considered the matter, in +order to find what deep meaning God may have had in it, and many have +done the same. But in truth it would not be well if everything were +known of us poor weak mortals.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in this manner that Parson Max's death came to pass. When first +he came hither he could carry all that he drank, but not so at last, +and when he was well in liquor he was a sore terror to the Women, who +were fain to take heed for themselves with him; and so it chanced one +day at the Castle that he had forced his brother into giving of a great +feast, as he mostly did force him to do twice yearly, at New Year and +St. John's day. Now this befell on St. John's day; but before I relate +what chanced there, I must say that the passage which leads from the +steps is parlous dark when the double doors are shut to, and that day +they were shut, by reason of a heavy rain such as is frequent here on +the coast. Master Max mistook Ane Trulsdotter, Trul Carsten's daughter +of Bommen, for Nille, Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter, because they both +wore the same sort of red cotton skirt. This befell in the passage in +the dusk, and of those who know both, it can be easily understood. But +Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter would not be jested with, nay, she even +had courage to make a great outcry against him, and there arose much +noise and commotion. The counsellor fetched the Master of the house, +who spoke with great wrath to his brother, and said there was too much +of this in the Castle, and that Max would never rest till he had +brought them all to disgrace. Never had Master Adler been heard to say +so much before, but his words were well considered and seemly; but +Master Max would not allow himself to be taxed with it, for he was in +his Cassock, it being just after dinner, and so he rushed at his +brother, and, as Master Adler was mighty heavy, he could not keep +<i>Ballansen</i>, but he first fell against the wall, and at last on to the +floor, and both times he struck his head with much violence. From that +time Master Adler lost his Wits and no long time after, he died.</p> + +<p class="normal">So Master Max took "The Estate" in possession for himself, and his +heirs, but from the same hour that he went there, he fell into furious +madness, for he believed himself to be possessed of Spirits; they were +the Spirits, he said, of his Brother, and Father, and Mother, and +others to boot. No sleep could he have because of them, but went from +Room to Room, round all the House, and cried out, and preached against +them, with mighty power; nor would he allow the windows to be shut, for +by them he hoped the Spirits might depart. But watch had to be kept +lest he should fling himself out therefrom. Down in the Town, folk +heard him preaching in such manner as though he were verily in strife +with them. So it went about that the Devil would carry off Master Max, +and that all the Spirits had been sent by him, nay, it was even said +that Master Max had had the Devil to serve him in all his lucky +undertakings, and now the Devil would have him back, for that his Time +was come, but that Master Max hoped to cheat him by his power in the +use of the Word, and by his Ghostly Knowledge. And so they fought +together for dear life, both by day and night, for Master Max could +hold on if he were not outwitted. The whole Town crowded into the +Market Place, and up into the avenue, to listen. There was a terror +upon all, but none spoke of it, and further no Parson could be found, +albeit day after day messengers were sent all about; but every one was +abroad. So there was no one to help Master Max, by the Power of the +Word, against the Devil.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now one evening there shone a marvellous great light upon all the +windows up at the Castle, and over the whole House, as though it were +in flames. Now Anders from the Council House, also known as Anders +Red-nose, was walking from the Town, whence he had come to deliver a +summons. In the Avenue, hard by the House, he heard the poor man +screaming with his hoarse voice, for so it now ever was, and Anders saw +the flaming light over the whole building, and in the midst of it the +Evil One, lying athwart the house, hard by Master Max's window, and +saying, "Now must thou come, Max." Anders went no further, but turned +back to the Town. As he came to the Market Place, screaming, he told us +all that he had seen and heard. And he became as frantic as Master Max +himself, and he also must be shut up and bound. And now it was seen of +all men, who had won in the struggle, and all awaited the end, and +accordingly Master Max died the day after, but quietly, and in a +peaceful frame of mind, which thing was much wondered at. Nay, he made +it understood by signs, that he would be taken to his Mother's Chamber, +there to die, and hardly was he there, when all unexpected comes Parson +Thomasius, and he prayed for Master Max, and gave to Him the Dear +<i>Sacramente</i> of the Altar, there in that very room, and he sang to him, +and prayed heartily, and Master Max could now pray, though not with his +voice, and there he died in the same Bed as his mother before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those that were there remarked, that at that very moment the Bells +chimed from the church which he himself had built. So it is after all +doubtful who won, he or the Devil.</p> + +<p class="normal">I would I had the gift of a great writer, so that I might be able to +describe in every way what this Man was; for what he was during his +life, no one can know who has not been under him, as it was with me for +many years. Even now I often dream of him at night, so that my wife is +awakened by my great Fear and out-cries, and she wakes me assuring me +that he is dead. But I am commonly bathed in sweat from head to foot. +He was three times married and would have taken a wife a fourth time, +an he had not died. I have spoken with them all three. For I had often +need to go to the house on account of my business. Then they told all +their troubles to me, the one after the other. For he would have +everything done, and that all at once. I do not use my own words, but +those of Aadel Knutsdotter his second wife. She died at Candlemas, but +a little before as she sat in the green Parlour, she called me in, for +she had heard me in the kitchen. She was very weak, and her Hands +trembled. I asked what ailed her? "This is what ails me," she answered, +"that my husband has worn me out with bearing of children, and with +toil, like the garment he wears next him, so now it is over with me. +God knows who will be the next, though mayhap he knows himself." That +was what she said, and, but a short while after, she died. But the next +one was Birgitte Mogensdotter, the Apothecary's daughter, and the +wedding was just three months to the day, after Aadel was buried. +Albeit Birgitte was a big strong woman, she became so fearful when she +heard that he was to have her to wife, that she filled herself with +strong drink whenever she could come by any of that which her father +the Apothecary dealt in. She has often told me herself wherefor she had +taken to drink, and this was the reason of it. But she fought with him +when she was in liquor, and in the end she poisoned herself. The +Doctor, Mogens Mauritius, has since said this; she did not die of +drink, as was commonly said. She was married three years, and had two +sons by him. He had in all thirteen children, albeit he was not an old +man when he died. By a blow he had made the eldest son, Adler, deaf of +both ears, so that he became an idiot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Even if, with my slender gifts, I could describe him as he was wont to +behave when he was wroth with wives, servants, children and others, yet +would I not do it. For we saw at his departing that God himself, in his +unsearchable favour (for verily that is great), had forgiven him. Why +then should not we, poor creatures towards whom he has sinned far less, +do the like. Which thing indeed The Bishop said in the rare oration he +made over him. For his burying was Mighty grand and magnificent. Never +have I seen the like; I might fill several pages if I were to count the +noble Persons who were there, and say what in three days was eaten, and +drunk, and said. In his lifetime Parson Max was more powerful than any +who had ever been in this place, Except the King, no one had any word +to say, as long as he was in his Prime. He was skilled also in the +Arts, namely thus, that he helped the people in all difficulties, more +especially with accounts, and in Building. I have told about the +Church, but I have forgotten to say that he was also a great +ship-builder. As a little lad he had gained skill down by the dock, and +later at "Holmen" in Copenhagen, where he was wont to go, and also +abroad, he carefully studied this. I have heard that from himself. The +ships built here in his brother's dock, under the river banks, were all +built by him, and several thereof were sold abroad, bringing great fame +and gain to us. But now we will leave speaking of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">From this history we can clearly see how all has been directed of God, +namely, that the Father Curt brought their Mother and himself to ruin, +and Master Max, both his Brother and <i>himself</i>, and to a great degree +his Eldest son, so that but little of Blessing had come with what they +had stolen from Claus Mathiassön, and from many others. Likewise their +strength alone was a cause of stumbling to them. In the next place we +must be mindful that the King's High and Sacred name was taken in vain, +in order to deceive, but for punishment it was, that in the same mighty +name "The Estate" was squandered.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are more than I unworthy, who have noted this. For, as the +before-named Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsen was at Copenhagen, in order +to try to gain the office of Collector of Tolls, he said the same to +the King's Confessor, who was known to him. And as Niels sought +<i>Audience</i> of the King, the Confessor followed him, and, in the King's +Presence, he prayed Master Niels frankly to relate all which he had +told to him. And when the King rightly understood how it had befallen, +that "The Estate" had come into Curt's possession, and what had been +the cause of its ruin, namely, that the King's most noble name had, in +all innocence, stood father to both these things, the King graciously +vouchsafed to lend his ear, and after much thought to say, "The Lord is +more cunning than all the rogues put together." And these words of the +King, do I in all humility make mine own, as I leave behind me this +history, and repair to other Lands.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">About the year 1830 the following was all that remained of "The +Estate." The Mountain with the woods, in which the fir-trees were again +beginning to predominate, the great ruinous house, the curious gardens, +with their stone walls, on each side of the avenue, several bare fields +between the gardens and the town, and a few more on either hand. Beside +this some clearings round about, still belonged to "The Estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">The then owner, a tall, dark, dirty fellow, in a green apron which +reached to his feet, worked in his own garden; this, with the addition +of a few cows, was his only means of subsistence.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was the only survivor of the whole family in that part of the +country, and he was unmarried.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>II</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_02.0" href="#div1Ref_02.0">JOHN KURT</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.1" href="#div1Ref_02.1">LONELINESS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">At fifteen Konrad Kurt had left his home; he could no longer bear to +witness the cruelty with which his mother was treated; for domestic +tyranny was an heirloom in the Kurt family. He crossed over to Hull, +and made his home for some time with an uncle, but was eventually sent, +at his expense, to live in the country. The boy's nervous system had +been pronounced by a doctor to be far from strong, and if he were to be +made any thing of, he must live as much as possible in the open air; it +was therefore suggested that he might be brought up as a gardener. Now +gardening chanced to be a perfect <i>gourmandise</i> in the Kurt family, so +that the lad eventually adopted it as his profession.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, on his father's death, he returned home to see after his own +interests, and to take care of his poor mother, he found but little +else to take care of, his worthy father having sold all the clearing +rights of his last woods, his remaining shares in some ships, and +finally the tile works, sinking the whole of the proceeds in an +annuity. In a word, he had the houses, the gardens, and a field or two; +all the rest Kurt had, as they say, "eaten bare" all round him. His +son, he considered, must follow his example. He might easily begin by +selling the field nearest to the town; with the lower garden, it +presented a splendid site for building. Konrad Kurt, on the other hand, +was quite of opinion that enough of "The Estate" had been sold already. +He therefore instead raised a loan, drained the gardens and fields, put +the houses so far into repair, that they would not actually fall to +ruin, and enlarged the forcing-house, adding another to it at a later +time. In short, he showed that it was possible to live on his +inheritance, and manage a garden, in such a way as to make it pay, an +idea which was then new in that part of the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first he expended almost all he earned, but by-and-by things +improved. A single room served him for sleeping, eating, and writing; +the first room on the left side of the hall, which had been occupied by +the first Kurt, and by all the different possessors of "The Estate." +The room within it, which had been formerly used as a bedroom, was +given by Kurt to his mother, who, poor woman, was now happier than she +had ever been her in life before. All household work was done in the +kitchen, on the other side of the wide hall, which, running through the +whole house, divided it in two. The rest of the main building remained +empty. In the autumn Kurt covered the floors of the different rooms +with such portions of his produce as needed drying.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was an impetuous man, taciturn at times, and stormy at others, but a +good man at the bottom. His servants and workmen stood by him, and he +stood by them. The sailors and fisher men living up on the mountain +also received a great deal of kindness from him; he gave them seeds, +and taught them how to cultivate their gardens, and utilise the +produce. In the course of many years, the refuse from their houses had +caused so great an accumulation round them, that enough soil had been +formed to enable any one to have a strip of garden who chose to give +the labour to it, besides which, they could carry away as much mould as +they wished for from "The Estate" to mix with it. Never had the folk on +the hill imagined that they would come to carrying earth from down +below, that they would ever get time for, or find any fun in, such an +occupation. Every Sunday throughout the spring and summer, Kurt went up +to the mountain and helped them, a custom which he kept up through his +whole life, but these were almost the only occasions on which he was +ever seen beyond his gardens, house, and cellars.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was up and out every morning in spring and summer by four o'clock, +and as soon as it was light during the autumn and winter months. His +summer costume consisted of a pair of fustian trousers, a whitey-grey +linen coat, a green apron reaching down to his feet, and a cap with a +wide peak. The same trousers and long apron were worn during the +winter, with the addition of a tightly buttoned seaman's pea-jacket, +and a fur cap with a wide brim always turned down in such a way that +the loose flaps were constantly brushing against his face. He had never +been seen dressed in any other way, excepting on Sundays, when he +shaved, wore a starched shirt, and laid aside his apron. He had not +inherited the broad defiant forehead of the Kurts. His was a fairly +high one, and noticeable for its excessive whiteness; all the more so, +perhaps, from the rest of his face being very weather-beaten. He had +the eager, wild eyes of his ancestors; his face was somewhat longer, +thin, and with rather a wide nose.</p> + +<p class="normal">Housewives and children soon learned that it was better to go up to +"The Estate" and deal with Kurt himself, stern and even passionate +though he was, than to go to the shop on the market-place, for he was +in reality very easy to manage, and excessively fond of children; they +had to be careful, however, not to be too long in making a choice, and +never to attempt to bargain.</p> + +<p class="normal">He often seemed, when he was standing there, to be pondering some +serious matter in an absent-minded way, and would then collect himself +with a hasty "Ta, ta, ta, ta," ending with a long, deep "Ta-a-a!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything prospered with him, his cows and garden paying him better +and better. But after a few years a rumour began to spread that, since +his mother's death, he spent every evening by himself getting drunk on +whisky toddy. As he went regularly to bed at half-past nine, any one +who wished to ascertain if this were the case, must go up there before +that time. One or two people did so, and found that it was but too +true; by half-past eight he was thoroughly drunk, crying, and unable to +speak distinctly.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last this came to the ears of "old" Pastor Green. He was always, as +a young man, called "old," a frightful accident having completely +bleached his hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pastor Green was one of the first men in Norway who came forward to +combat intemperance, and who gave up their lives to the work. It was +his axiom that it is useless to preach against drunkenness otherwise +than by facts and actions, and that it is quite hopeless to expect to +convert the individual drunkard, without knowing what cause has driven +him to drink. There always is one, and if drinking is not hereditary, +or become a long-established habit, it is to the removal of the cause +that you must look for its cure.</p> + +<p class="normal">Green paid a visit to Konrad Kurt, and chatted with him, until he drew +from him, that while he was living in England, he had had an intrigue +with the wife of the gardener, to whom he had been apprenticed, and +that she had had a child by him. She had died just at the same time as +his mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had been madly in love with her, he said; yes, it had been a +terrible thing to deceive her husband. "But--there really was no help +for it"--and he began to cry. Then their boy, "Ah! there never was such +a merry child born before." And, in his yearning for him, the tipsy man +cried, and upbraided himself with wild oaths.</p> + +<p class="normal">Green endeavoured to induce him to ask pardon from the gardener, and +bring the boy home, but Kurt had not the courage for the effort, so +that there was nothing for it but for Green to use what other means he +could.</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly, one summer evening, he walked up to "The Estate," +accompanied by a tall, dark haired boy of twelve, and asked for Kurt, +who was still at work in the garden. It was a sight to see how Kurt, as +he got up out of the hot-bed where he had been digging, rubbing the +earth from his hands, suddenly stopped short, and stared at Green from +under the wide peak of his cap; then turned his gaze to the dark-haired +boy, and back again to Green.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he recognised the eager, wild eyes, larger than his by-the-way, +the long, rather wide nose, and the thin face, so like his own. +Unconsciously he exclaimed in English: "I beg pardon--but this lad----" +He could go no further, and Green was obliged to finish for him: "Yes, +this was indeed his son."</p> + +<p class="normal">That evening Kurt forgot to get out the whisky bottle, and when he did +next produce it, the boy seized hold of it and flung it out of the +window against a stone--a really capital shot. Glass, sugar-basin, and +spoon went the same way; capitally thrown they certainly were. Pastor +Green had begged the boy to watch when his father took out the bottle, +and try to get it away from him, and it was in this fashion that the +youngster carried out his instructions. His father stood for a few +minutes staring at him, till at last he broke out into an irresistible +peal of laughter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.2" href="#div1Ref_02.2">A GENIUS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Never had any one felt surer that he had a genius for a son than did +Konrad Kurt. Not only that the lad was a thorough botanist, and knew +every secret of gardening, but there was not a piece of work on all the +farmstead, from the cow-house to the kitchen, which he had not soon +learned to know all about. It was easy to see that he had been brought +up in some back premises, among gardeners, cooks, and dairy people, and +had been well taught into the bargain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing would serve him but to go on board the ships, and boats, and +learn how to manage them, for he had never lived in a seaport town +before.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then how he learned Norse, in only a week or two! First and +foremost the art of swearing. His father convulsed himself with +laughter over all the oaths which the lad began to make use of with the +funniest accent. Then, what stories he would tell! Even before he had +properly learned the language, he could interest the work-people in a +way which was really extraordinary, and he was therefore allowed to +play any tricks he liked; it was all looked upon as fun.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he spoke Norse easily, how he would gammon them! It was his +father's delight to steal behind one of the high hedges and listen to +him. The boy would tell them what the English Court was like, where he +had been as page; it was he who, with some of his companions, used to +walk before the lovely young Queen, while behind came all the bigwigs. +Probably he had seen something of the sort at the theatre, or in some +picture. Then the tremendous warlike achievements he had seen in India, +when he was over there or a little tour with the Queen of England. The +father stood hidden, and admired the vivid colours in which the boy +painted it all, although he still knew so little Norse. The father +enticed his son to go on telling him adventures. He drank no more +whisky toddy; the boy himself inebriated him. What a genius! ah! what a +genius!</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a continual chasing away of cats from the garden; they came +up from the town after the birds; and John, as this last Master Kurt +was called, having one day captured one of the most determined of the +depredators, ordained that the murderer should be crucified. As not +one, even of the youngest of the labourers, would help him in this, he +temporarily fastened up the cat, giving her plenty to eat, while he +himself went to fetch some rough boys from the harbour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such extraordinary sounds of glee soon afterwards reached his father's +ear, that he hastened to see what it might portend, especially as some +more dubious notes were mingled with the cries of delight. He found the +executioners performing an Indian dance before the victim, a poor +bleeding cat, fastened to the storehouse door. The boy's inordinate +delight hindered him from seeing his father, whose first thought on +this occasion was not that his son John was a genius; although, when he +came to think it over, he must confess that it was a very remarkable +invention, and decidedly well done into the bargain. It is no easy +thing to crucify a cat.</p> + +<p class="normal">However, another occasion came when he thought differently.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the weather was excessively bad, his father had forbidden John to go +down to the garden, and the boy took his revenge by attacking his +father's finest apple-tree, a young one, which was in fruit for the +first time. He set to work to saw it right through at the roots, and +covered it up again with earth. His father was by no means so struck +this time, nor did he say much about the invention. He entirely forgot +to think of his son as a genius, to such an extent indeed that he +talked to him in his room, with a new well-twisted birch rod in his +hand. The boy never guessed, could not grasp, that his father was going +to flog him, and when this utterly incredible, this impossible thing +did happen, he rushed towards the door, with a look of mad terror in +his face. His father was as supple and active as he, and sprang on him +like a tiger, flung the boy on to the floor, and began beating him with +an absolutely wild pleasure. John screamed, prayed, promised, begged +for mercy. He got up on his knees, sprang up, and threw himself down +again, his eyes seemed to start out of his head, and his cries became +nothing more than a continuous, meaningless sound, his face turning +almost black. The maids, servants, and workmen came rushing in from the +passage, and tore open the doors. Kurt became frantic at this +interruption. He rushed first to one door, then to another, shutting +them in the faces of those who stood there. He had become almost as +crazed as his son, who, in the meantime, had contrived to make his +escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only an hour later the boy was out among the gardeners, and there could +not have been anywhere, a more good-natured, more submissive, brighter, +livelier lad than John Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">He lent a hand first to one, then to another, with flattering +coaxing words. Then he began to tell them stories about the apes at +Gibraltar--why, it swarms with apes! they stand there looking across to +Africa.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then he mimicked them, snarling and making himself as inquisitive, +frolicsome, timid, wild, and nasty as they. Likely enough he had seen +monkeys somewhere, though not precisely at Gibraltar. As his father was +passing by, he heard the fun, and concealed himself as usual, stooping +down, and peeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">That evening, he and his son had a talk together, in the very same +room, the old "Kurt room." There the two last of the Kurts wept in each +other's arms; the son promised to be always, always, always good, and +the father never to beat him again--never!</p> + +<p class="normal">It was but a short time after this, that a lad who used to run errands +for Konrad Kurt, had got a new Sunday jacket. His brother, who was a +mate, had bought it at an English seaport, for next to nothing, from a +woman in the street, and every one concurred in the boy's belief that +there had never been such a fine one seen in the town before. Alas! as +he prepared to put it on the next Sunday, he found that it had been cut +to pieces. The cuts were small, but so carefully executed, that though +as long as it hung up it appeared to be whole, it was in reality +nothing but a useless rag. Of course all thoughts turned at once to +John, who happened at that moment to be out rowing. Owing to the cruel +way in which his father had punished his last fault, and the affection +which they had for him, every one hesitated to speak. But the +gardener's boy, Andreas Berg, as he was named, had only this one +jacket, and it was the delight of his heart: he could not restrain his +tears; and old Kurt, at last observing that something was amiss, the +whole truth had to come out.</p> + +<p class="normal">It really seemed impossible that John should not have known what was +sure to happen, and have realised that after his performances with the +cat, and with the fruit-tree, suspicion must inevitably fall upon him. +It may be that he imagined that it would never go further than between +the little fellow and himself, or that he might rely on his father's +promise never to beat him again. Be that as it may, he came calmly up +from the water, bragging before he was well inside the garden gate, of +all the exploits that he had performed during the day. His father +called him from the open window of his room. The boy answered him with +a ringing "Yes," and was up the steps in a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The instant he saw the jacket lying on the table, and a well-twisted +whip by the side of it, he became as white as a sheet, and seemed +entirely to lose the control of his senses. He turned round and round +in a circle as he stood there, and hurriedly exclaimed, in a voice +hoarse from holding back his breath, "It was not I. It was not I. It +was not I. It was not I." Then, seeing his father lift the whip, he +instantly changed to his own voice, crying, "Yes, it was I, it was I, +it was I, it was I." "Will you ask pardon?" "Yes, yes." He was on his +knees in a moment, and with his hands crossed above his head, he cried, +"Pardon, pardon, pardon, pardon!" "And will you beg the boy's pardon?" +"Oh! yes, where is the boy? Let us go to him." He was up and by the +door in a moment, casting terrified glances at his father, who +followed, with the whip in his hand, though he did not go so far as to +strike him.</p> + +<p class="normal">John fell down once more on his knees before the little boy, tearing +off his own jacket and waistcoat to give to him, although no one had +suggested to him to do so. An English gold coin, and two Norwegian +silver ones, which were in the waistcoat pocket, fell out, and these he +gave to the lad at once, an act which so touched the father that he was +obliged to turn away. But a very short time afterwards, while the +workmen were at dinner, John made his appearance, and went through the +performance of the Gibraltar monkeys for their benefit. Then, returning +to his father, he asked him confidentially, if part of what had been +taken up in the garden that day, might be given to the men to take +home, and, on permission being granted, he went off with them to help +to carry the things away. His father stood and watched him from the +window.</p> + +<p class="normal">John's next exploit was on the sea. He had probably found that such +performances were dangerous on land, and it remained to be seen if +there were more freedom on the water. One day he set off in a boat, +with a little boy as his companion, having formed the plan of throwing +the child overboard, in order that he might rescue him. The idea may +have arisen from something he had read, or he may only have wished to +see the boy's terror; at all events he obtained this gratification. The +little fellow could not swim a stroke, and thought that if he could +make his companion understand this, he would give up his plan; but in +vain. The boy's terror increased every moment, he screamed with all his +small strength, and John might have recognised a fear so like his own. +But no. The child clung to John's clothes with all his little fingers. +He was shaken off again. He seized hold of the boat, and then, utterly +bewildered, tried to grasp the empty air; but overboard he went. John +sprang after him, caught the boy just as he was sinking, and held him +up, but it was only with the greatest difficulty that he got him back +into the boat, the child having been seized with cramp. A number of +people rowed out from all quarters, believing that a murder had been +committed.</p> + +<p class="normal">John did not return home that evening, and during three days search was +made for him. First by every one on "The Estate," later by the police, +and by a number of the townspeople who felt for his father's distress. +He was at length discovered up a <i>sœter</i>. He flung himself down at +once, and screamed at the top of his voice, absolutely refusing to +return home until he had received a promise that no one would beat him.</p> + +<p class="normal">This last adventure made him known all over the town. Whether it were +good for him or not, that every one came to the conclusion that he was +not like the other children, not quite right, the fact remains that +even at school the masters were rather too forbearing, of course not +his schoolfellows--they excuse nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did the most horrible things; for instance as he was approaching +manhood he committed an act of such frightful indecency that it is +impossible to write it, but on this occasion, his father came to the +school to beg that he might be pardoned, and, as all the teachers +pitied the father, who worked so honestly, it was looked over that +time.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.3" href="#div1Ref_02.3">MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">John passed an excellent matriculation, whereupon he took a fancy to +become a cadet, to which his father at once gave his consent, +considering that at the Military Academy he would learn order and +discipline, though, as a matter of fact, if what is meant by +discipline, is obedience to orders, he had no need to learn it, and he +had never been disorderly in his habits. Other faults, however, he did +possess, and he was twice nearly expelled from the Academy. The only +thing which saved him was his behaviour to his teachers, which was +always ingratiating. From the Academy he again passed a creditable +examination, and became absolutely enthusiastic for his profession. He +showed himself particularly good in drill. All was life, movement, and +story-telling where he was, and swearing into the bargain, for by +degrees he had brought swearing to a fine art. All the officers in the +brigade put together, did not swear as much in the course of a year, as +he did in a week. He could begin a string of oaths at one flank of the +company, as they stood on parade, and keep it up till he arrived at the +other. If he had used all the powers of imagination which he squandered +on swearing, in painting, he could have stocked a museum; or if he had +been a poet or composer, his shelves would have been full. But +unfortunately his oaths will not bear repeating, for they were +generally used when only men were present.</p> + +<p class="normal">For common every-day use he was content with ordinary oaths, though, +even then, his way of using them was that of a master. As an indication +of the first-named description--those, namely, of his own invention--I +will give one example a little toned down. On one occasion, when the +company was assembled for prayers, the chaplain had wearied them by +preaching an excessively long discourse, which John Kurt declared he +had once read in an old book of sermons. He therefore asked for a +blessing on the chaplain in the following terms: "May Satan inwardly +illuminate all through his inside with burning sermon books."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had an unending supply of stories, which were served up in a +seething sauce of imagery and cursing. His stories had this advantage +in them, that everybody did not believe them.</p> + +<p class="normal">John Kurt was tall, thin, bony, and as supple as a willow. He wore +beard and moustache, but they did not grow well. The hair was ragged, +and there were patches where none grew. This gave his face a look of +being torn in two. When his wild eyes flashed out he was actually ugly. +But his brow was clear, with the fair skin which was hereditary in his +family; and sometimes, when he was at his best, a gleam would pass over +it which quite redeemed his plainness. His feelings were extremely +strong, and he could make others feel with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The finest thing in the world for a grown man, he considered, was +without doubt to be a soldier and officer. He thundered out his +assurances to the whole world, that no one could be a man who had not +gone through his drill. "Drill and discipline," he would exclaim, using +by preference the commonest expressions, for book language was not +strong enough; "drill and discipline. That was women-folks' greatest +loss that they never had discipline or tact in their commonplace +lives--the swine!" The whole country ought to be arranged as one vast +"Drill-hall." There would be no more cranky bodies then: "No, there +would be--devil take me--order and sense; the whole <i>Storting</i>--devil +plague them--ought to go to the parade ground and be drilled." Till +that day came there would be ne'er a bit of sense in the whole crew. +"The king--devil stare at me--ought to be drilled, if not the whole +place would be like a pigstye, where the strongest snout shoves t'other +one's out of the trough. Some one must stand over them with a whip."</p> + +<p class="normal">How then can one possibly paint the astonishment of his comrades, his +friends, and, above all, of his father, when one fine day it was +announced that First Lieutenant John Kurt had applied for a discharge, +which had been granted him. He came storming home again, and whenever +he was asked why he had left, he replied that the whole military system +was--"devil pickle him--the most miserable buffoonery. No honourable +man ought to lend himself to it. The officers were nothing but +dressed-up, well-trained monkeys, who trained strong lusty lads to be +monkeys as well. The generals were big monkeys with feathers in their +caps, and the king was the chief monkey of all."</p> + +<p class="normal">What was he going to do? "Why, dig the ground like his father. The +earth--that was the only solid thing there was in creation, and so it +was the only thing worth a rush, or that produced anything worth +having. To get out of it all that tasted best, and smelt best, that +was--may the devil quarter him--the finest thing an independent lad +could turn his hand to." He dressed himself in the most slovenly way, +and worked among the other labourers for his living.</p> + +<p class="normal">That was all very well during the summer, but the harvest was +hardly over before he discovered that--may the devil fly off with +him--gardening was simply muck. It consisted in using this sort of +muck, and then so much muck, and muck in that fashion. It seemed to him +at last that "all the world was naught but a great muck-heap. They were +the luckiest who owned the biggest. What--devil butcher him--was war +other than that each one killed t'other for his own muck-heap? Poets +and poetry were the flies in spring when the muck began to work."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went off in a ship, bound for the South Sea, and was absent for +several years, nor, when one beautiful spring day he returned home, +could any one gain a clue as to where he had been. If he were to be +believed, he had traversed the whole globe, for from that time no +country or nation could be mentioned, nor anything remarkable in +natural history, no ocean, no well-known building, which he had not +seen, nor a single famous person with whom he was not on terms of the +greatest intimacy, or, at the very least, well known to. It was evident +that they were not all inventions. He had a great deal of information +which could only have been acquired on the spot. He had undoubtedly +some notable acquaintance, for his correspondence proved it. Later on +in the summer an English nobleman and his friends sought him out to +accompany them on a mountain hunting expedition.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why had he come home? "To see his father before he died," he said; +though, to confess the truth, his father was in the best of health, and +not more pleased to welcome his son home, than he had been to see him +depart.</p> + +<p class="normal">John, however, declared all the same, that for his part, Heaven help +him, he could not bear any longer to think that his father might be +dying, and he not by his side.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the time he returned he was all solicitude and affection for his +father. He was now an old man, and allowed his son to do anything with +him that he chose, and strange fancies he took at times. Such as, when +he suddenly determined that his father should not eat anything. Or when +he, all at once, hit on the plan of putting him into a warm bath, while +he turned the cold douche on to him. Another idea was to lay him under +a number of large eider-down coverlids, in order to make him sweat, +although his father had not the slightest need for such treatment. +He would give a side glance at his son, and a very speaking one it +was; there was neither confidence, nor fear in it, still less any +good-humour, but a certain cold inquisitiveness, as though he just +wished to know what next; and sometimes he seemed to ask, "Is this +John, or is it not John?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.4" href="#div1Ref_02.4">SAILS IN SIGHT</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">In the autumn of the same year, a girl came home, who became the +subject of conversation in the whole town, and for two reasons.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her name was Tomasine Rendalen, and she was the daughter of the +head-master, Rendalen. His name was derived from the mountain district +of Rendalen, from which his father had originally come.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen was a big, strong man, who quietly, if rather ponderously, +performed his scholastic duties in the town, and who, since his wife's +death, had taken interest in nothing but his school, and the town +reading society.</p> + +<p class="normal">The management of his house he entirely left in the hands of old +Mariane and his children. Tomasine, who was his eldest child, possessed +a more than ordinary talent for languages, together with all her +mother's determination. When she was only sixteen she borrowed a little +money, entered a school in England, and, while there, thoroughly +mastered the English language. From thence she went to a school in +France, where she taught the pupils English and acquired French; and +finally to one in Germany, where she gave instruction in both English +and French, and learned German. She had been away nearly five years, +and had become a practised, and unusually clever teacher. She had no +sooner returned home than she began to give lessons both to men and +women, and thereby to pay off her debts. This aroused great admiration +in the town, and procured her a very large circle of friends. Her +figure excited an equally unanimous admiration, and it must be admitted +that it requires something special in a girl's figure before this can +happen. A beautiful face is always admired, for there can be no +delusion about it. A fine figure, on the contrary, is hardly sufficient +in itself to command attention. She was young, and well-made, and +always dressed in the latest fashion. Like other vigorous and healthy +girls, she had from her childhood longed to exercise her strength, and +had taken every opportunity of doing so. In England she had set to work +to practise gymnastics, and had continued them ever since. It had +become a passion with her; the result was, that there was not a single +girl in the town who held herself like Tomasine.</p> + +<p class="normal">It did not in the least lessen the admiration for her figure that she +had a somewhat flat nose, and that her very light hair gave her the +appearance, at a distance, of being bald; as for her eyebrows, they +were really not worth mentioning. Her eyes were grey, and, when without +her spectacles, she screwed them up. Her mouth was much too large, but +the teeth within it were as sound and regular as though her family had +remained in Rendalen and lived upon hard bread. When any one saw her +from behind for the first time, and she then suddenly turned round, it +caused a certain disappointment. People even thought of calling her +"The Disappointment," but the name did not take. Her figure carried her +over all criticism. Being near-sighted she wore spectacles, the only +girl in the town who did so. In those days the fashion of using +<i>pince-nez</i> had not come in, so this gave something rather unusual to +her appearance. She literally shone with strength and intelligence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Through that winter she was the most popular partner at all the balls. +Her delight in being at home again, free from all restraint, and among +a number of merry young people of both sexes, her happiness in feeling +that every one was kind to her and liked her, were plainly visible. She +often expressed her feelings in simple and natural terms; she aroused +no jealousy, though it may be that this was a little strengthened by +the fact that she was well aware that she was not pretty. That winter +was a great dance winter, and at every dance she was present, for +dancing was the most delightful thing she knew. During that winter John +Kurt became for the first time a dancing man, and it was entirely for +her sake that he did so. She soon heard him say this, but she knew that +he could not be gauged by the rules of ordinary life, for he was always +allowed to say what he liked. She looked upon him as something quite +fresh, and very peculiar, but she acted as every one else did, and +neither ran away from him, nor fainted, because he said that he would +be d----d, pickled, boiled, and roasted if, when she danced, she were +not like a young, lively, whinnying Arabian mare, or like a flock of +birds in the woods in spring-time; her arms and her neck were just like +a dainty, warm, little Turkish pigling, one o' them with a pink skin. +She moved through the dance, Heaven help him, like a great man-of-war +through the water. When he danced with her--by his honour, life, and +salvation--it was like being up on the mountains of a clear autumn day, +with a gun in his hand, and the tykes ranging the hillside in full cry. +This, shouted in trumpet tones into her ear during every dance, only +added to her amusement. The others laughed and she laughed with them. +She did not possess the slightest knowledge of human nature. That +cannot be learnt by going from one school to another, even though they +be in foreign countries.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt very soon began to visit her home; he knew the hours when she +would be free, and speedily learnt her times for walking, following her +about everywhere. She tried as much as possible not to be alone with +him; otherwise she was pleased enough that he should come. He told her +and her friends amusing stories, and touching ones sometimes. Such, for +instance, was the history of a deserted brood of ptarmigan, which he +had once picked up, one by one, out of the heather, where they were +running about, all downy and unfledged; he had brought them all home, +he said, in his cap. This story seemed to bring with it such a fresh +breath of mountain air, full of the scent of the heather, and he +related it with such genuine feeling, that it brought the tears into +their eyes. Such things as these seemed to inspire him; even in the +midst of the wildest stories, he would often throw in some delicate, +telling touch. The way in which he invariably spoke of his father +attracted the girl to him. There was a mixture of drollness and +tenderness in it, midway between laughter and tears. They got used to +his rough descriptions, his coarse language; it could not well have +been dispensed with; it gave a special colouring which charmed, while +it startled them. Tomasine and her friends did not try to have it +otherwise, so that at last there was no one who appeared to them to be +able to relate stories except himself. Tomasine more than any one else. +She felt that it was all done for her amusement.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, when by chance they were alone, he began to tell her about the +widow of a pilot, for whom he was just then most assiduously making a +collection. He saw that she liked him for doing so, and, without +further preface, he declared that Fröken Tomasine Holm Rendalen was to +him what a town was to a desert caravan; nay, if she laughed, it was +because she did not know what it was to trudge along through endless +sand, under a burning sun, exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. "It is +something to see a town then, I can tell you." Well, <i>she</i> was the +minaret tower, the plane-trees, and the springs of water, the wine +which awaited them, and white tents, and dancing, the sound of the +guitars, and the smell of roasting meat. Suppose they two were to make +a match of it! If that could be, he would sell the whole garden, and +they would wander away to all the most delightful places on the face of +the earth. They would lie on their backs under the awnings, while their +servants came and put food and drink into their mouths. Or why not stay +here and carry "The Estate" gardens right up on to the mountains? What +would not grow with such shelter, on such sunny hillsides, fanned by +such warm sea breezes. There they would dig away into the hillside, +like a couple of badgers, and become rich people. But he saw what a +fright he had put her into; so, without any pause, he turned the +conversation into a wild panegyric on his father. The fact was that the +whole thing was his father's invention. He was determined to have his +son married. His father was a man who would get up of a winter's night, +when it suddenly turned cold, and go out to wrap bast mats and woollen +rags round the frozen fruit-trees, as if they were naked children. If +he wanted to cut down a bush he took the birds'-nests down first, and +carried them away to some place near, or to some other bush, and stuck +'em fast there. What wonder then if his father gave a thought for him +too; but, as for him, he could wait, he was quite happy as he was. And +he started off with a story about some cows who would not eat the grass +because it looked black, but he put them on large green spectacles, so +that the grass looked quite nice and fresh--"then they munched it up, I +can promise you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She could gather in the meantime that John Kurt was disappointed. She +herself had felt startled, she hardly knew why, and yet, on second +thoughts, she did, for she had heard, that very day, some stories of +the terribly licentious life he led.</p> + +<p class="normal">It so happened, strangely enough, that a friend of her late mother came +in to see her, and after a short preamble, began warmly to advocate +Kurt's cause. Only an hour afterwards another one arrived, another +after that, all bent on the same errand. He was certainly not like +other people, that must be confessed, but that he would make a famous +husband, each one was as certain as the other. As to his immoral +conduct, that was bad, it must be admitted; but it was most likely not +worse than other people's. Why, there were married men living in the +town who were by no means all that they should be. The great difference +was that he did everything openly. Each one of the three ladies spoke +as strongly on the subject as the others, and Tomasine began to be +somewhat of the same opinion.</p> + +<p class="normal">John Kurt himself held aloof for a time, excepting so far as that +whatever walk he took to or from the town, and they were not few, he +always contrived to pass the Rendalens' house, notwithstanding that +they lived quite on one side, to the left of the market-place, up +towards the field. Every time he passed up and down, he took off his +hat, if there were only a cat to be seen at the window. Beside this, he +sent a bouquet there every morning. The dawn was not more certain to +come than it was. Old Mariane, who received it, had always some little +thing to say about Tomasine, and he, on his part, generally let fall +some special remark, such as, for instance, "God bless your throats."</p> + +<p class="normal">A very short time after her mother's especial friends had called upon +Tomasine to advocate John's cause, her own followed their example. Some +of them had in past days taken quite an opposite view of him. They had +spoken of him almost with horror. They could not bear his mendacious +stories, or put up with his coarse language; or indeed with him, +himself. He was "disgusting." Now, however, they began to admit that +there was something interesting in him all the same: a kind of +demoniacal overwhelming power.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fact was that he had called upon them all, choosing first the one +whom he knew was most set against him. He told her that he was well +aware of this fact, and that he respected her for it. It was quite true +that he was a wretched, contemptible fellow. But it was just for that +very reason that he had come to her, for she really was the most honest +and clear-sighted conscience in the town; there was but one opinion on +that point. She really <i>must</i> help him. She did not know the whole +history of his life, that was the fact. She did not know how it was +from his boyhood upward he had been misunderstood, and indeed continued +to be so still. And for that very reason would always remain an oddity. +But really it was hardly necessary for him to say anything. She saw +right through every one.</p> + +<p class="normal">He told another that her hands were so plump, so dainty, and round and +soft, that one longed to nibble them with one's coffee.</p> + +<p class="normal">He swayed and turned them with his stream of talk, he douched them +cold, he blew them warm, he startled them, and touched them. They did +not completely lose their heads. They knew perfectly well that it was +not all honest truth, spontaneous nature, but even that very fact +worked as an apology for him; he did not think about sheltering +himself, and most people are flattering when they wish to obtain +anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">A little time afterwards the whole town from one end to the other was +convulsed with laughter, for when, in the course of the spring, a +little sempstress declared Kurt to be the father of her child, he +acknowledged it before every one, and had it brought with great state +to church to be baptised, giving it the name of Tomasine.</p> + +<p class="normal">The amusement was renewed when he declared, on being asked how he could +possibly have done such an extraordinary thing, that if he had any +voice in the matter, Lord help him, every child in the town should be +called either Tomas, or Tomasine. It was quite touching.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just about that time his father died under somewhat strange +circumstances. The old man had sent a message to Tomasine, asking her +the next time she went for an evening walk, to be so kind as to come in +to see him, as he was far from well. Those two had been friends of old. +Many times, when she was a little girl, he had filled her pocket with +cherries. She always looked so fresh and healthy, and an old gardener +has an eye for such things.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she went up there, she found him sitting in his room on the left. +It was the first time she had ever been in it. The walls were hung with +some stiff, and rather dark material, apparently leather, which had at +one time been painted and gilded. In the corner by the window stood a +large press, a splendid piece of furniture, at least two hundred years +old, and most artistically carved. Quite in front of the window was a +clumsy unpainted table, littered over with papers, samples of seeds, +newspapers, and scraps of food. The old man sat there, in an ancient +arm-chair, with a short, broad leather back. He got up, and insisted +that she should take it. He was dressed in his grey linen coat, his +long apron, and wore slippers down at heel. On his head he had his +wide-peaked cap, and a thick neckcloth wound round his neck. He was +rather hoarse, and he seemed ill as well. "The spring was so sharp this +year," he said. The tall, gaunt man began to pace up and down between +the table near the window, and the bed beside the wall next the wide +hall, which divides the house in two. Up and down he walked along the +wall, past the great stove, with the two "Oldenborgs" on it, both in +enormous wigs, his steps keeping time to the ticking of an old +eight-day clock which hung on the wall near the stove. Just then it +struck seven, with a noisy chime.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man's bed was of freshly polished birch, contrasting with the +old decrepid chairs set along the wall, with a new leg or two, or half +the back put in fresh. The wall itself was hung with pictures, in which +a reddish yellow arm, or a brownish red dress, showed themselves, but +which otherwise were absolutely black.</p> + +<p class="normal">Konrad Kurt's blustering talk, as he walked up and down, somewhat +resembled the room, for it was a mixture of old and new, most of the +former; and not without a touch of boasting about his family. About +modern days he had less to say, and it was more in the humbler style of +his present circumstances. He talked without his son's oaths and +imagery, but with no little skill. He romanced at one moment, and +sneered the next, as his son often did. <i>Summa summarum</i> was, then, +that the race was worn out, the stock could no longer spread. If it +were to be saved, it, and the last of the inheritance, it must needs +receive a graft; a strong, new tree must be found.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine sat there for nearly two hours, and listened to him. She let +her supper hour, and the time for her evening classes, go by. He would +not let her leave. A maid-servant opened a door from the inner passage +to ask if she should lay the table, but was sent away.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Tomasine returned along the avenue, where the road was guttered by +the rain, and the storm whistled through the old trees, she felt as +though she had just come from a mausoleum. In it she had met one single +living man, wandering round and gazing on his dead. She had not the +slightest desire to join him there. She turned and looked back at the +great, dirty, plastered building, with its small windows. "No," she +said aloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">Next morning, when she came into the parlour, John Kurt's bouquet had +not arrived. It gave her a pang, she hardly knew why, for that was +after all exactly what she wished. But was it? She was trying to make +this clear to herself, when her father came in from his morning walk. +He was very pale--he told her that old Kurt had died in the night. They +had found him in the morning, lifeless, in his chair before the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">John Kurt came in a few minutes later; he did not speak, but flung +himself down, crying. He cried so violently that both she and her +father were frightened. Then--the self-accusation that followed!</p> + +<p class="normal">He came again every day and poured out his heart with affecting +vehemence. He went nowhere else, spoke to no one but to them. Just to +them and his own people. With these he worked day and night to build a +temple of flowers on the great flight of steps before the house, down +which the old man would be carried. This erection of flowers was +wonderfully lovely; it was talked of far and near, and the evening +before the funeral, numbers came up to see it, Tomasine and her father +among them. The dead man's friend, Dean Green, was one of the first to +come up the avenue, and after him, half the inhabitants of the +mountain, both grown people and children, to look, to show their +gratitude, and to say "Good-bye." They had been to see the clergyman +first. Old Green stood on the steps, and spoke of him who had loved +flowers so dearly, who had gone from our spring to the eternal one. +Every one was moved, and the son was obliged to go away.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day John went straight from the funeral to the Rendalens'. But +he did not find Tomasine at home. He was so disappointed at this, so +honestly distressed, that he stood silent for a long time, and at last +let fall that he had no one now--no, not one single being. He only +wished with all his heart that he could be laid in his grave too. He +was nothing but a trouble even to those he cared for most. He saw that +now. And he turned away. This quite touched old Mariane, to whom it had +all been said, and when Tomasine came in at last, she related it so +feelingly that her mistress was touched as well. The fact was that +Tomasine had not wished to be at home. She feared him. She had not the +courage to face his emotion, which might perhaps lead him in a special +direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">She repented it now. She hastily took off her spectacles and wiped +them, put them on again, and looked at herself in the glass. Was not +she big and strong enough to hazard it? She stood there and weighed the +question.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fashion of that day was to wear a bodice drawn in at the waist with +a belt, and crinoline.</p> + +<p class="normal">She pushed her belt down with both her strong hands; she had taken off +her loose, white sleeves, as soon as she came in. Those belonging to +her dress were wide and open, so that her wrist and the lower part of +her arm, contrasted very prettily with her black dress. She delighted +in their strength, as those do who are much given to gymnastic +exercises. But her eyes turned involuntarily to her face, her weak +point. It was incredibly ugly. That flat nose, those thick lips, and +that hair which was the colour of her forehead--you could hardly see +it--and those eyebrows, light, short bristles, so thin that they were +quite invisible. Ah! no, it would never do to make herself of +importance. John Kurt loved her so heartily, and was unhappy!.... +absolutely alone, and so unhappy!.... And his father had made her sit +down in his own chair!</p> + +<p class="normal">Shortly afterwards old Mariane walked up the avenue as fast as she +could. She halted once though, and took out of a newspaper a dainty, +ah! such a dainty letter. She must look at it.</p> + +<p class="normal">When it was put into John Kurt's hand, he tore it hastily open, and +took out a sheet of thick English note-paper--with a dove on it--the +paper was very good, and the dove well designed. He read the following +words, hastily written in a practised hand:</p> + + +<p class="center">"<i>I will do it</i>.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:60%">"Tomasine."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">John turned to Mariane. "Now, what a man father was," he said; "if he +had not died just now, small chance if I had ever got her."</p> + +<p class="normal">He would have married the next day. To his immense astonishment, +Tomasine would not hear of it. Nor even that the marriage should be the +next week. She now gave up her pupils to begin to prepare herself for +her new position. She was completely ignorant of domestic matters, +except so far as to be able to keep her own things in order. From a +child she had only cared for her book. John Kurt was delighted when he +heard of her deficiencies; <i>he</i> could do everything. Did any one doubt +it? He could wash up and clean, were it parlour or kitchen, better than +any housemaid or cook in Norway. He pushed old Mariane suddenly on one +side, and showed them, bit by bit. He did everything as quickly, +nicely, and carefully as the handiest girl--that was a fact. Besides +this, he could cook all sorts of food; dishes which they did not know +by name. He could roast and boil, knit, sew, and darn: he could wash +clothes; starch and iron. He, and no one else, would teach Tomasine. +Why should they not begin at once? And so it was settled. He himself +made purchases, and invited friends to the Rendalens'. The days which +followed were the most amusing the family had ever spent. The whole +town was filled with rumours. Friends and friends' friends came to look +on. And to listen! What noise and fun! What tales of where he learnt it +all! Sometimes among the gold-diggers in Australia, in constant peril +of his life. Then on a Nile boat, with a party of English, where the +cook directed the whole expedition. Sometimes in Brazil, at an hotel +among the niggers; or in the mines in South America. Then suddenly he +was at Hayti on board a large steamer! Then deserting from her. He did +not spare local colouring, or indeed any colouring; coarseness and +vituperation rained down like fire from heaven on the different places +and people.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the work went on. Tomasine was assistant cook, scullery maid, +ironer, and darner. Even in the last he was her superior. He worked +just as quickly as he talked, and just as eagerly. He interrupted +himself with the most perfect good temper whenever she made a mistake, +for she was really very clumsy. He captivated them all now, without +exception. But surely this teaching and fun could go on as well or +better up at "The Estate." By degrees every one agreed to this, and +Tomasine gave in.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.5" href="#div1Ref_02.5">HOME LIFE</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">They were married one afternoon at home. Only the family was present, +and after leaving the table they walked up to "The Estate," arm-in-arm. +It could not be concealed that there was much feverish excitement. +Indeed, it was the more apparent because they wished all to go on as if +nothing were on foot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hardly anything had been done up at the house. Things were to +be arranged by degrees. The first room on the left was still a +sitting-room and dining-room. The next one a bedroom. The best +furniture of every description which the house contained, some of it +old and valuable, was collected there. The leather hangings on the +walls had been washed, but were not much the better for it. The heavy +carved ceiling, on the contrary, was much improved by being cleaned. An +attempt had also been made to clean the pictures, but not altogether +with success; as the frames had at the same time been regilt they +presented altogether a ghastly appearance. This was almost all that had +been done. A bath-room had been fitted up next to the bedroom, shortly +after John Kurt returned home. This was now divided, so as also to form +a dressing-room. The kitchen, on the other side of the hall which +divided the house lengthwise, was like a huge dancing-room; a new +English kitchener had been fixed there, and the newly married pair +proposed to spend a great part of their time before it.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a few days they were quite alone, nor did they go out later on. But +one or two ladies at a time were invited. And soon they were all as +merry up there as they had been before down at the Rendalens'. Just +previous to her wedding, and for a short time afterwards, Tomasine was +thoroughly in love with John Kurt; entirely wrapped up in him, +absolutely happy, and in boisterous spirits.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this exuberance was contrary to her nature, and did not suit her. +She looked excited and almost vulgar. She felt this when her friends +looked at her. Indeed, her glass had already told her the same thing. +It made an impression on her, but she put it aside. It returned now and +then, like a secret dread. She tried naturally to shout it down, and +only made things worse. Her friends whispered that she had become +disagreeable; she, who had pleased by her unconscious manner, was now +either strangely abstracted, or boisterous.</p> + +<p class="normal">One small thing excited observation. None of her friends were admitted +further than the sitting-room and kitchen; all was carefully locked up. +She positively kept watch to see if they watched her. Very soon, +however, some one spied on them all. It became impossible for any one +to be alone with Tomasine without John Kurt opening the door, and +putting in his head, but no sound was heard before he made his +appearance. All the locks had been examined and oiled, and the doors +opened noiselessly. If they walked along the broad paths in the garden, +he came out unexpectedly from behind a hedge. If they whispered when he +was present, he became restless and perverse, not exactly with them, +but in such a way as to leave no doubt of his meaning. He generally +poured out his wrath over Tomasine's untidy habits. Her friends thought +either that they were in the way, or that something was going on which +they would rather be away from. They came more and more rarely.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was the last to understand her husband's uneasiness. She +fancied at first that it was only to scare them, that he came upon them +in that way. His complaints of her untidiness were merited. One has to +<i>learn</i> to keep everything tidy about one. Later, when there could be +no mistake, she asked herself if he were jealous of her friends. In +that case he ought to have been so before; they came oftener then than +now. Was he afraid, then? Afraid of what? That they should talk about +him? What could they say? She knew as she asked it. He was out at the +moment, so that she had time to cool down a little. It was not her +nature to come to hasty determinations, nor was it clear to her how she +ought to take it, or what rights she had, or had not, in her married +life. She had never spoken to any one on the subject, never read about +it. The pain lessened little by little as she pondered. She took up her +work again, and tried to appear as if nothing had happened. Kurt, +however, observed at once that her manner was different. From that time +forward he sometimes saw that she had been crying. Every time he came +in he asked if any one had been there. "No." Once she heard him, a +little while afterwards, ask the gardener if any one had been with "the +Missis" whilst he was out.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was shy with her and guarded, actually uneasy. But he could not +continue this long, and without warning became impatient and rough; +then repented his violence and begged her pardon twenty times, and this +again and again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was not nervous, so that she was neither frightened by the +former, nor did the latter make her alter her behaviour. She was +friendly, but always reserved. So things drifted on towards a storm. +They both knew it. The changes from cold to hot became more sudden, the +squalls which preceded them heavier, the stillness and sultriness which +followed them more dangerous. Yet in the midst of it all he could be so +wonderfully kind, so naturally bright and considerate, that sometimes +she forgot all presentiments, and gave herself up to the hope that, +under her quiet guardianship, which he quite understood, their life +might at last become what she realised by an ordinary, honourable +married life.</p> + +<p class="normal">One afternoon he came in from the garden, where he had worked all day. +He wished to change his clothes, for he was invited to a men's dinner +in the town. He went into his bedroom, took off his coat and waistcoat, +came back again and talked of taking a bath, walked up and down as +though considering something. Tomasine felt that things were not safe. +She was herself dressed to visit a friend in the town, and he looked +closely at her. She thought it would be wiser to slip away, but when he +saw that she was preparing to start, he suggested that she should wait +for him, and that they might go down together. She excused herself on +the plea that she was expected. "There would be time enough for gossip, +she could help him a little first." She inquired how. This he would not +submit to. She had no business to ask questions. Beside that, she was +not obedient. She had not learnt that yet. She ought to understand that +now she had a master, and that she must obey him "in all things." It +was the Bible itself that said so. By way of answer, she put on her +bonnet which lay ready on the table, and took up her mantle and +parasol. On this he became furious, and asked her if she thought he had +not observed her. She thought herself so much better than he was, and +was therefore constantly spying on him. It was certainly true that she +had not had the opportunities of leading the life he had, but that was +in reality the only difference between them. At the bottom she was +exactly the same as he was, precisely, so she really need not keep up +this farce any longer. This came so unexpectedly to Tomasine, that she +cried out "Boor," took up her things, and turned to leave the room. The +door leading into the hall was behind her, he sprang to it, turned the +key and, took it out. Then going to the other doors, he fastened them, +keeping the keys, and as well as this, he closed all the windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you thinking of?" she asked, turning deadly white, and taking +off her spectacles. She forgot her bonnet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall learn for once what you really are," he answered, and to her +consternation he called her by the worst name which can be given to a +woman. And, as he spoke, he came so close to her that she could feel +his breath on her face. He said things which stung her like scalding +water. It was to such a wretch she had given herself. Her close +proximity and the scent of her best clothes gave him an inspiration. +Like lightning it flashed upon him, that the time had come to humble +her. She thought too much of herself, as she stood there with her +strong figure. She dared to wish to be independent. She was his--his +thing. He could do whatever he liked with her. But she put herself on +the defensive. He warned her first. He asked what she was thinking +of--of coercing <i>him?</i> She! Suddenly he screamed out, "I am not afraid +of your cat's eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Now a fight began in the old Kurt house--between a Kurt and his wife, +with all the strength possessed by two human beings--and on his side +with the recklessness which disappointed love of rule and thwarted will +can give: entirely alone, with closed windows and doors, and without a +word uttered. The table was overthrown, and everything on it spilt or +broken, chairs were knocked over, the new sofa pushed far out along the +floor. Down they went themselves, but were up again directly. They got +across to the other side of the room, knocking against the heavy clock; +it swayed and fell, striking him on the shoulder and head, so that he +was obliged to pause and recover himself. She had time to try a door, +or at least to alter her position, but she did neither; she looked at +herself, for she had hardly a whole garment upon her. Her hair hung +dishevelled about her, and she felt pain in her head. The only thing +she did, however, was to free herself from the remains of her +crinoline, which she threw from her, and which caught in the legs of +the table. She felt that she was bleeding. He had struck her on the +mouth and nose, and the scratches smarted. They set to again. This time +he knocked her down at once, but he gained little by it. For he was not +so much stronger than she, that he could afford to expend his strength +without soon losing all that he had gained. Hardly was one of her hands +free before she was near him again. She was as agile as a cat; he moved +slowly. He was breathless, and deadly white, as if he were going to +faint. She saw this as she stood before him, in her rags. She was +breathing hard as well, but could still go on. He now heard her speak +for the first time. It was all she could do to say between her gasps +for breath: "Won't you--try--once--more?" He went backwards towards a +chair, the only one left standing, and sank down on it. He did not look +at her, but sat there, panting and overcome. It was some time before +one or two long breaths showed that he was beginning to recover +himself. She placed herself by the stove, holding her rags about her, +and asked him to open the bedroom door; she wanted to get some clothes. +He did not answer. She scoffed at his utter weakness and misery. He +listened without a word; he pointed at her, and his face expressed how +hideous she was. His spite at last gave him words. She looked, he said, +as she stood there in her rags and with her hair torn, like the +roughest and most disgusting of drunken women. But he put no colour +into what he said, nor a single oath. "Can't you swear now?" she asked. +He took this quietly; merely got up and walked slowly to the bedroom; +took the key out of his pockets, and opened the door. As he went in he +looked at her, then fastened it behind him, leaving her standing there. +She heard him go into the bathroom and take a shower bath, and then +dress himself. She sat down and waited. After a long time he came out +again, ready for the dinner, locked the door behind him and withdrew +the key, put his hands in his pockets, and began to whistle. He went +past her, across the overthrown furniture and other litter on the +floor, without attempting to pick up anything, finally striding over +the clock-case to reach the outer door. "You will find plenty to amuse +you here," he said. He unlocked the door and locked it again outside. +She heard him take away the key.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the people about the place thought that they had both gone out, for +everything was fastened--even the sitting-room doors, which was not, as +a rule, done. By nine o'clock perfect silence reigned over the +homestead, both within and without. It was late in August, and there +was no moon.</p> + +<p class="normal">At ten o'clock a man walked hurriedly up the avenue. He saw no light in +any part of the great building. He mounted the steps and entered the +hall, where the darkness obliged him to grope his way to the room-door. +He was evidently unfamiliar with the place. He knocked, but received no +answer. He tried the door, it was fast. He knocked again, thundered, +waited, but no one came. Again he knocked, louder than before, and +called "Tomasine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," was answered at once from within.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment later, close by the door, "Is that you, father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you not open the door?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He knew by her voice that she was crying.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the key, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"John took it with him when he went out."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment's silence, and then the question, "Has he locked you in, +then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," was the answer amid her sobs.</p> + +<p class="normal">She heard him turn away again and descend the steps, and, to her +astonishment, go away without a single word.</p> + +<p class="normal">She needed some one so much. It was unbearable. She began to feel +frightened, for it must have some meaning. Why did he go? Where was he +going? To meet Kurt! What would happen? The blood began to circulate +again in her half-clad body, for as Kurt had left her she still +remained. She hurried to the window, but could see nothing, and at the +same moment she heard some one on the steps again. She ran to the door, +but could not tell by the footsteps who was coming, they advanced so +cautiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it you, father?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is I, with the keys," he answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came in, and she fell sobbing on his breast. She began to speak, but +he interrupted her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, you have nothing more to be frightened about." Then he told +her plainly and shortly that John Kurt was dead. "They are now at the +steps, with the body."</p> + +<p class="normal">Partly from her father, partly at a later time from other people, she +learned that John Kurt had eaten and drunk heavily at dinner, becoming +more and more excited. On leaving the table he swore by life and death +that he would go to a disreputable house. That would be such devilish +good fun for Tomasine. They tried to control him, but he became +perfectly beside himself, staggered forward, and fell dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">No floral temple was built on the steps for John Kurt to be laid in.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_02.6" href="#div1Ref_02.6">FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT<br> +FOLLOWED</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">In the days that followed, several friends, both of Tomasine and of her +mother, came to express their sympathy and offer help, but she refused +to see any one.</p> + +<p class="normal">During all that afternoon when she had sat locked in her room, robbed +of her clothes, her youth, her self-respect, trembling for her life, +she had called to mind that at that moment John Kurt was sitting at +table in the best society of the town. If society had not approved John +Kurt, she would never, inexperienced girl that she was, have been +sitting there. Society had surrendered her to him. Yes, surrender, that +was the word; and yet, if she were not mistaken, every one was fond of +her and respected her. She would never see them again. If she had been +free, she would have left the country. Her own fault? She saw it, saw +it. She would never show her face again.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Now</i> she was free! But something fresh bound her. A terrible +uncertainty. Was she <i>enceinte</i>, or was she not? Would she perhaps +bring another insane being into the world? For now that John was gone, +she wished to think that he had been mad, like several of his family. +Would she give birth to a child whose nature might combine any +possibilities, and afterwards be bound to it for the rest of her life, +because those people down in the town had surrendered her, and she had +not understood herself?</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of a few weeks she became the shadow of her former self.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was wonderful, almost as soon as uncertainty changed to the +certainty that she was to become a mother, a feeling of solemnity came +with the decision she formed; she did not understand how it was that +she had not discovered so clear, so natural a thing before. The being +under her bosom should determine the question; if it were a miserable +little wretch everything would be at an end, she would not live to +nourish such a brat; but if the child combined the qualities of her own +honourable race with what was best in his, it would be a great, great +boon that she was left alone with it. At all events, she must wait to +see.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was awakened, and from this time a natural grandeur began to +develop itself in her. She had borne both the actual and mental +struggles alone, alone she regulated her own character. It required +time, for her thoughts did not move quickly. She ate, rested, and +regained all her vigour. So finally everything was prepared. She first +called in the head gardener, a handsome, fair man, with a determined +manner and great powers of self-reliance. He was no other than Andreas +Berg, whose Sunday jacket John Kurt had cut to pieces. He had remained +on "The Estate" ever since. Andreas Berg, had borne everything with the +hasty-tempered old Kurt, who would undoubtedly have made him his heir, +if his son had not returned. In later times he had put up with all +John's freaks and bursts of passion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine asked him to sit down. She inquired if he had any other +intention, than to stay with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, he wished to stay, if Fru Kurt would allow him."</p> + +<p class="normal">She could depend on him, then?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that she could."</p> + +<p class="normal">The first thing she had to ask him was not to call her Fru Kurt any +longer, but Fru Rendalen, and to get the others to do the same. Their +eyes met. Hers shone uncertainly behind her spectacles; his in wide +open astonishment. But when he saw that her glasses were gradually +dimmed by the tears, which could not find a free course, and that her +flat nose worked until the spectacles slipped down on to her cheek, he +hastened to say, "Very good. That shall be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">She took off her glasses, wiped her eyes first, and them afterwards, +and began, after a pause, with the next question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Berg," she said, and put on her glasses, "could you not, quite +quietly, so that no one would notice, have all these portraits +destroyed--indeed, all the pictures, for I cannot always distinguish +them? Have them all burnt, or disposed of in some way, so that they do +not remain here and as soon as you can manage it. Do you understand +me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Frue, but ..."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be rather difficult if no one is to see."</p> + +<p class="normal">She considered for a while.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even if it is noticed, it may be done all the same, Berg."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very good. Then of course it shall be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">And done it was, with an infernal smell of burnt canvas and burnt +leather, and a general smell of burning. A soft breeze drove it one +afternoon all over the town, the smoke drifting almost to the works, +out by the river-banks. She then invited her father, with all his +family, to come up to her. That was done at once. She handed over all +the housekeeping to old Mariane, and let her have what help she wanted. +The rest of the family lived in the rooms behind her own.</p> + +<p class="normal">Soon afterwards an advertisement appeared in the local paper:</p> + +<div style="text-align:center"> +<p><b>FRU TOMASINE RENDALEN</b></p> + +<p><i>Will resume her Instructions in English, French, and German</i>.<br> +<i>Information to be obtained at</i> "<i>The Estate</i>."</p> +</div> + + +<p class="normal">She changed her name with all legal formalities. Besides her classes, +of which she had as many as she wished, she studied book-keeping, and +soon herself began to keep the accounts of the house, garden, and +dairy. At the same time she began to learn a little about the working +of the business, the accounts of which she kept. She wished to qualify +herself to undertake it. Perhaps she would never have to do so, but it +gave her present occupation. It left no time for brooding; that was the +main thing. She was so tired every evening, that she slept the moment +her head was on the pillow, and, like all thoroughly healthy people, +she was wide awake directly she opened her eyes, and was into her bath +the next instant.</p> + +<p class="normal">Notwithstanding this, as time went on the more oppressive became the +secret thoughts which were ever present to her mind. She had cleared +away every trace of the Kurt family, she had surrounded herself with +her own. Every time that a thought of the former presented itself to +her mind, she met it with some thought of the latter. She knew nothing +of her mother's family, but as a child she had been in Rendalen, and +there seen her father's relations, and listened to their sagas. There +was nothing remarkable about them. The family disposition, even and +rather heavy, had every now and then, after a too long period of +general respect, or when pressed to the uttermost, come out into +something uncommon, but otherwise they were an orderly race, toiling on +with quiet perseverance. But everything she knew about them, appearance +as well as disposition, she placed in opposition to all which could +come from the side of the Kurts. The Kurts were dark, the Rendalens +essentially fair; fair in hair and complexion, fair and open in +disposition. She had such practice in moving pictures in and out of her +mind, that the very moment a Kurt memory intruded, it was driven away +by a commanding fair Rendalen without eyebrows. The result was, that +dark or light became a sort of finality with her. The outward +appearance was a sign of the inward disposition; the first sight of her +child, therefore, might well determine her life. Her whole anxiety +centred itself upon that first moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The nearer the great moment came, the more her dread increased. Her +ordinary occupations no longer sufficed to deaden it. She dismissed her +pupils and took part in the work, both in the house and out of doors. +The spring was late that year, and in her ardour she let herself take +cold; she struggled against it as long as she could, but at last she +was obliged to keep indoors, and take to her bed. And now her anxiety +so entirely got the better of her that she fancied, before the time, +that the birth-pains were upon her, and became absolutely light-headed.</p> + +<p class="normal">She again began the struggle with John Kurt, and even when, completely +exhausted, her mind became clear, her anxiety by no means subsided. The +first sight of the child would be enough, and in her distress and +desperation she came to believe that dark or light hair would be +decisive. "If it is dark," she thought, "I am doomed--I shall be unable +to bend the child. And it <i>will</i> be dark, the Kurt race is so strong. +Its fierce strength has already impressed itself too deeply upon me, +its fancies overshadow me. I cannot even think as I will."</p> + +<p class="normal">She tried to gain comfort from the answering thought that old Konrad +Kurt had been worthy. "There are good qualities in the Kurt family; +seeds of good which perhaps will grow again in the child which will be +born. Even if the good be not unmixed--I do not ask so much--but if it +may be the stronger." She prayed for it--ah! how she prayed!--until she +remembered that it was too late!--it had been decided long ago. She +constantly saw the back of a neck brooding over her--the neck in the +picture of the first Kurt. She used her old power, to call up images of +her own people against it, but the fair race would not shine. The neck +remained. It had no right to be there, it was no longer in the Kurt +family; neither Konrad Kurt had it, nor John.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take away that neck," she cried to those near her. And with the sound +of "Away, take it away," new fancies shaped themselves around her. John +Kurt appeared, to tell her that he would never go away. She would +never, by all the devils, get rid of him. His white forehead gleamed, +and he swore till nothing but r-r-r-r thrilled and drummed close up +beside her cheek.</p> + +<p class="normal">To such a degree was she exhausted by this inward struggle, that it was +a relief when the birth-pains began in reality, imperiously commanding +all else to stand aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">All fever had left her, and she bravely gathered her strength together, +but it was less than any one supposed. Therefore it was a long time +before she heard a feeble cry, and "A son, Frue, you have a son," and +afterwards, gently and kindly, "Tomasine, you have a son."</p> + +<p class="normal">A gentle peace had filled her. It was soon broken. She collected her +thoughts at the word "son"--she had a son. The wave of peace broke +against a wave of dread. "His hair?" she contrived to whisper. She +could not say more. "Red, Frue." She had a dim idea that that might be +either dark or light, perhaps more likely dark. It was not clear--it +was---- And everything passed away from her.</p> + +<p class="normal">For some time those near did not notice her. No one imagined that this +powerful woman could be fainting, and therefore some time elapsed +before she was brought round, and there was some alarm. It was only by +degrees that she realised what had happened--what the whimpering was +she heard somewhere--why she had a remembrance of pain. The child was +now clothed, and they lifted it up to her, but still not near enough. +She could not see it properly. She wished to sign to them to bring it +nearer, but it was difficult; she could neither do it with her voice, +nor by moving her head, and she did not think of her hand, or perhaps +she could not move it. But some one was there who understood, and held +the baby up to her, so that it touched her cheek, just where she had +felt its father's breath. She felt something soft, something warm, +something delicate, the softest thing she had ever touched. She heard a +cluck, a whimper, and now she saw--the eyebrows, they were her own, her +family's light sparse bristles.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was too much joy, too much happiness. Her blood circulated more +quickly, and soon the warmth came to her cheeks, the tears to her eyes. +She lay there weeping quietly, while her little one was held fast to +her motherly breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">With God's help, she would try to accomplish the rest.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>III</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_03.0" href="#div1Ref_03.0">A LECTURE</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_03.1" href="#div1Ref_03.1">DETHRONED</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Fru Tomasine Rendalen herself carried the child to the font, and gave +him her own name.</p> + +<p class="normal">Little Tomas's cradle stood by the side of the bed in which she slept. +The room was both her reading and working room. The other remained +vacant as though only for show. Through her friends in England, +France, and Germany she obtained books in three languages on the +bringing up of children. But she soon laid them aside; they were all +either too vague, or too dogmatic. She began to widen her acquirements +in other respects. She wished to be his teacher in everything. But, +from the time that he was six months old her work was much interrupted, +for he was a most restless child. The doctor assured her that, so far +as he could see, the boy ailed nothing. He did not scream from pain. +If, at the moment he opened his eyes, for example, the person he wanted +was not there--that is to say, the one who could give him food--he not +only screamed till she came, which was to be expected, but after she +had come and had forced him to drink, he screamed while the milk ran +out of his mouth, and continued to give blows, slaps, and spiteful +cries. He could not forget. If there were anything he did not like, he +screamed himself black in the face, and made himself rigid. Sometimes +it seemed to Tomasine as though she had a log on her lap, and not a +human being. When he was nine months old, she was obliged to give up +nursing him, for he kept her in such a state of irritation and terror, +that his health became affected through her. The struggle which ensued +on this, was terrible. It lasted altogether for three days and nights, +during which time he could only be induced to touch a drop of the +strange food by artifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Tomasine hung about in the outer room or in the passage, listening +to the hoarse screams, for he had no voice left--not allowed to see +him, or go to his help--she remembered more than once, with shame, what +she had thought and determined before he was born. The boy cried +inside, the mother outside, and no one could get her away. And this, +his first great fight in the world, to keep possession of his mother's +breast, had no happy influence upon him, for from that time he tried, +more than ever, to get everything by screaming.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was a strong, long-suffering woman, but she became thin and +nervous. She hoped that things would improve as he grew bigger, and +waited till he should be a year old; but still had to wait, for the +stronger he grew the more persistently he screamed. Some new method +must be adopted. The specialists did not touch on this, or else she had +not understood them. She consulted experienced people, and was advised +to keep him continually amused. That answered for a while. He was quiet +when he saw anything new, but he would not look at the same thing more +than twice at the outside. If she forgot this, he became so furious +that the very newest thing in the world would not pacify him. Some one +else advised her to let the child scream as much as he liked. Eternal +Powers, how he yelled! If he had been chosen as the representative of +all the sorrow and trouble in the town he could not have done better. +"No," thought Tomasine, "that will torture the life out of both him and +me." So she turned to the exactly opposite course, and tried to guess +his thoughts before he had formed them, and indulged him in everything. +This helped, but if she guessed wrong, there was no use in guessing +right afterwards.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last his maternal retainer and slave, like many before her, was +brought to such a state of distress and despair, that she determined to +revolt. The little despot must be dethroned. The revolution broke out +with six slaps on his little person. All the horrors of a civil war +at once showed themselves. But six, seven, eight to twelve slaps +followed. To give up one's power before one's life, is hard even for a +not-two-years-old tyrant, so the battle lasted several hours until--he +gave in? No, that he would not do, but he fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was so worn out by months of worry, anxiety, and sleepless +nights, and finally by the fight itself, that she was trembling and +bathed in perspiration. She stood over him as he slept, as David is +said to have stood over Saul. She grieved for his fallen greatness. She +heard him sob as he lay there in his helplessness. She saw the last +tear dry on his cheek, the convulsive movements of his chubby hands, +and the twitching of the thin skin of his head. Who should be good to +him if not she? How she longed for his waking, that she might let him +see her face with its gentlest expression, and caress him, and practise +all those small arts which are the delight of every mother! More than +all, she longed to make him screw up his mouth for a kiss. When he did +that, he was irresistible.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he began to move and to rub his hand over his nose. In her +impatience she put her hands under him, and laid her face down to his +head, to breathe the warm fragrance from it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He screwed up his mouth for a grimace; despair rose darker and darker +in his eyes, and at last he gave a shriek, a frightful and frightening +shriek, while he thrust himself away from her, with hands, head, and +body.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was obliged hastily to let go of him, and call her sister. To her, +the little arms were raised at once, and he pressed himself closely to +her, so as to be thoroughly safe.</p> + +<p class="normal">The forsaken mother stood and looked on. She felt as though she had +been driven round the whole compass, and was now at the same point from +which she had started some months before. Her first feeling was one of +miserable helplessness, then came a strong sense of shame, and suddenly +she snatched the boy away from her sister, and dressed him herself, +whether he would or no.</p> + +<p class="normal">He screamed the whole time, and when he was dressed, and would not take +food from her, a perfect hail of slaps and rain of scolding ensued, nor +did she leave off till he really struggled to be quiet; checking the +sound so suddenly that he gasped for breath as though he were choking. +By degrees the rebellion was reduced to subdued sounds strongly +restrained; whenever they broke out again they were forced back. At +last he showed that he was entirely subdued by screwing up his mouth +for a kiss, to prove to her that it really was against his will if a +cry every now and then escaped him. It was comically touching. He was +finally forced to eat, and, now completely mastered, he sobbed himself +to sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine went out for a walk, and on her return sat once more, +anxiously waiting for his awakening. He had hardly opened his eyes, and +seen her, before there were threatenings of a prolonged howl, but he +restrained it from fear; nay, he even held out his hands to her as she +stood smiling over him. There have been many more fortunate conquerors, +both before and since the time, when Fru Tomasine Rendalen deposed her +son, and seated herself on his throne. Besides which, the pleasure was +diminished by the knowledge that she should have done this at first, +long, long ago; but all the same she was just as delighted with her +tardy victory, as any general could have been with a more timely one, +and as she lay down that night, she was as weary and as confident +as the conqueror of a city. At that time Tomas was a year and nine +months old. She thoroughly understood that this struggle would not be +the last, but with that knowledge came the conviction that in the +uncertain voyaging through which his whims had led him, he had +discovered his mother. From that time forward she would be his +mainland. She soon obtained a proof of this. Whether it were in the +intoxication of victory that she began to wear a cap, or whether it +were a long-nourished plan for concealing the hair which had always +annoyed her, and putting something visible in its place, the fact +remains that the cap first appeared at this time. The boy must and +would have it off. For his sake she had temporarily offered up her +spectacles, against which he had also waged war. But she would not +sacrifice her cap. Now many people are content to lose the realities of +power, but cannot bear to be deprived of its symbols; and to be able to +lord it over his mother's hair and head was a great, a strong proof of +power, which he would not give up.</p> + +<p class="normal">And so a fight ensued, but he yielded before things had reached a +climax. His little hands were pushed back time after time, and always +with more force, notwithstanding his screams, till suddenly he flung +himself on her neck, and the little war ended charmingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was a happy mother as she looked forward to his second birthday. An +English friend, with whom she exchanged letters from time to time, +since she no longer visited in the town, had sent her, for this great +day, Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," at that time the most +popular novel in England. The book came a day too soon. She read a +great deal of it at once, and all the life-like forms gathered +themselves round little Tomas for his own day, when he was to be +dressed in new clothes from top to toe. She dreamt of little Em'ly and +little Tomas. She woke on his birthday morning a little earlier than +he. He was lying quite still. He had not disturbed her the whole night, +a thing which did not happen once in two months. Proud and happy, she +gave him his birthday greeting. The first hours passed in unbroken +delight. At nine o'clock he was sitting on the floor of the parlour, +dressed in his new clothes and surrounded by all the toys which she and +her family had given him. She herself sat by the window, dressed in her +best, reading "David Copperfield." She had tried having the window +open, to enjoy the fresh air, but the spring day was rather cold.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a time she was called into the kitchen. He never liked her to +leave him, but he was so occupied at that moment, that she thought she +might venture, though she took the precaution of going through the +bedroom and across the hall into the kitchen. She left the kitchen-door +open, for fear he should think her too long gone, and begin to call for +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the parlour all remained quiet, suspiciously quiet. He had in fact +closely observed the book that his mother was reading, for, according +to the English fashion, it had a bright-coloured binding, with a +picture on it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He noticed that she put it down on the table, and felt that he too +should like to read a little of it, if he could do so without +interruption. He dropped his toys as soon as ever he was alone, got up, +and toddled off, pushed a stool forward, when he found he could not +reach up, pulled the book on to the floor, and sat himself down beside +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some time elapsed before he again learnt, as he had done previously, +but had forgotten, that it is not easy to read a number of pages at +once, but, on the contrary, one should take them one or two at a time; +that did very well. Then he tore them out of the book, they were so +much easier to read in that way.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the first one or two, he took them out several at a time, twenty +in all, before his mother returned. They soon had a difference of +opinion over this style of reading. She lost her temper, and took the +book hastily from him, telling him sharply, that he knew quite well +that he ought not to touch her books. He was frightened at first, but +after a while he stretched out both his hands and said, "Me book, mama, +me book."</p> + +<p class="normal">She naturally took no notice of him, so he came up to her and repeated +very coaxingly, "Me book, mama, me book." "No," she answered sharply, +for unluckily the book had been shamefully treated, just at the place +where she was reading. He waited a little, but began again, "Me book, +mama, me book." She remembered that it was his birthday, and answered +him more gently, showing him what harm he had done. He listened and +answered, "Me book, mama, me book."</p> + +<p class="normal">Some sweets were lying there; she gave him some, which he ate up, +saying, as he did so, "Me book, mama, me book." She laid the book +aside, took him up, and danced round with him, then set him down among +his toys, and went back to smooth out the crumpled leaves. He was soon +by her side again, reaching up to the table with one hand, while he +steadied himself with the other: "Me book, mama, me book." Once more +she left her occupation, and fetched his outdoor things in order to go +out with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">This he would not have on any terms. He made himself as stiff as a +poker, but she was determined that out he should go. They remained in +the garden for an hour, and he amused himself while he was there.</p> + +<p class="normal">While she was taking off his things again in the parlour, he stretched +his disengaged hand towards the table: "Me book, mama, me book," saying +it with the most coaxing tone and look of which he was capable. She +thought it the best way to appear deaf to it, and gave herself up to +cutting bits of paper, in order to gum them over the torn leaves. It +was slow work, and all the time he stood, and begged, and prayed, +giving little stamps, and stretching himself up: "Me book, mama, me +book."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will stop some time," she thought, but he was still persevering +when she had accomplished her task.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was very anxious to leave his society for that of the characters in +the book, who were certainly much more amusing, but she did not wish to +be cross, and so began to play the flute--that is to say, she moved her +fingers as though she were playing a piccolo, whistling at the same +time; a performance in which she had a good deal of practice.</p> + +<p class="normal">He pulled and dragged at her dress, and she replied with her flute. She +became quite merry over it, and her merriment increased when he became +angry, and called out "No, no," to her playing, and cried, and hit her. +The flute playing became much quicker; he would not leave off, nor +would she; the spirits of the Kurts were in every chink and corner. +Then the child threw himself down on his back on the floor, drumming +with his heels and screaming in good earnest. She played on, but more +softly, for she felt that it was actually he who had won, while she was +teasing him.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could not take up the old fight again at once. In one moment the +flute-playing changed to crying--helpless, inconsolable crying. The +boy, who in the midst of his anger, had kept a sharp watch on her, was +so astonished that he forgot to scream. She had been suddenly seized by +her old dread, and neither saw nor heard anything, till she felt +something warm against one of her hands. She had let it hang as she +flung herself backward in her misery, raising the other to her face. +She lifted her head, and looked into a wondering face, the tear-stained +face of her own red-haired boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he saw her look at him, he put up his lips for a kiss, +stretching out his hands to her. So the little flat nose was lifted up +to the big one, and she murmured, and prattled, and fondled him, all +over his face and head, as he held his arms round her neck. She did not +take the book again. She kept him instead, and he never once looked +towards the table where it lay. That was their last great struggle. +There were a thousand lesser ones, of course, but never one which +lasted more than a few minutes.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_03.2" href="#div1Ref_03.2">ON THE MOUNTAIN</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Tomasine always had her boy under her own care; the lively, clever +child needed a watchful eye; but all the same she looked forward to his +fourth birthday with good courage, and on that day something chanced, +which made her form a determination.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas had had several playfellows; as he was accustomed to be alone he +always wanted things his own way, so he had not been very good-natured.</p> + +<p class="normal">On his fourth birthday he received, among other presents, a book about +brothers and sisters, which told how good brothers were to their +sisters, so indulgent and helpful; this was illustrated by sketches in +which the little brother always led his little sister by the hand. +Tomas derived another idea in the meantime from the book; he asked "Why +he had not a sister too? Could he not get one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine Rendalen had certainly often remembered that he had a sister, +but not as a matter which concerned herself; it did not seem to her of +any further consequence, but he begged so continuously, that she began +to think a little more seriously about it. Suppose his sister should be +in want? The property had been John Kurt's, and it had prospered +greatly, thanks to his own plan, that of extending the gardens further +up the hill, thus making them nearly twice as large. John Kurt's child +must be properly provided for, there ought to be no doubt about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">She made inquiries about the child, and learned that her little +namesake lived with her grandmother, Marit Stöen, "Mother Stöa," as +they called her, the widow of the pilot who had gained a great +reputation on that coast. Marit Stöen lived up on the mountain, +therefore to the left of "The Estate": Tomasine decided to see the +child.</p> + +<p class="normal">As there was no hurry about it, she determined to do so the first fine +Sunday. As it chanced, the weather for a number of Sundays was bad, so +it was full summer before one came which tempted her to go. Andreas +Berg accompanied her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The road to the mountain led to the left from the market-place, past +the new churchyard, and further out into the country. But after that, +when they turned towards the mountain, the way was more of a quagmire +than a road.</p> + +<p class="normal">Till that time the poorer people of the town had been allowed to build +as they liked, and live as they could, and a regular road was only just +being constructed. Down by the sea, the boats lay side by side, as +close together as possible, for the left side of the mountain sheltered +them. All round the boats, and in them, were a number of children, +mostly little ones, and there was as much noise as if there were a +thousand of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine wondered if the one she sought were there as well. She looked +into each wild little face to see if she could find anything familiar. +It was not a pleasant occupation. The rough children gathered round her +in a swarm, when she inquired for Mark Stöen, and at least twenty +pointed up the hill. But she could not distinguish what they said to +her all together. Nor did she wish to stay, but, with Andreas Berg, +began to climb all the corkscrew turnings of the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shouts from below followed her, but none of the children, so that +she concluded that none of them had anything to do with Marit Stöen.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a rough road, over the solid rock for the most part, though here +and there a step had been made, and now and then it had been slightly +hollowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">It turned from left to right and from right to left; there were not +four houses standing on the same level. And how extraordinary many of +them were! Some nothing more than a ship's caboose, with a broad +penthouse over it. There were several with the stairs leading to the +upper story built outside, and, in one or two, they went right across +the roof, to an attic room which had been added later. Many were so +built that the lower story had its exit to the west, with the road on a +level with the door, but the upper story had an exit to the east, for +there the road and door were still on the same level.</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost all the houses had odd outbuildings, mostly boats standing up, +with one end cut off, though in some cases boats were used as roofs, by +being turned upside down and supported by walls of boards or stone. +Little strips of garden wound in and out everywhere, often in the most +unlikely places, where they were so narrow that two turnips could +hardly grow side by side. Rank odours of all sorts, sometimes +pleasantly modified by the smell of tar, hung over the whole mountain, +rising and spreading as a rich offering up into the Sabbath sky--all +according to the ordinary customs in that part of the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">The noise of the children down by the sea came ringing up the hillside +like a constant chime, now and then broken by a cry. A cock crowed; a +dog on board one of the ships in the harbour barked at a passing boat, +and was answered by some shaggy comrade on the mountain. Otherwise all +was still; they only heard their own steps crunching on the gravel, +and, as they got higher up, something like the frantic screaming of a +child.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine looked out over the islands, and the Sound, away to the open +sea--shining and still and clear under the sky. In the streets of the +town a few people were walking about, and, in some places, little +groups of children. But it was too far off for any sound to mingle with +the shouts of those below.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the right lay "The Estate," the first column of smoke, just curling +from the kitchen chimney; all round here the chimneys had been smoking +for a long time, and a little smoke hung here and there over the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day was warm. They toiled, perspiring, up the mountain-side, and +she thought of those who, after a day's hard work, had every evening to +climb these twenty, thirty, or even fifty stages for supper, wood +chopping, and bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not meet a single person, though she saw several, mostly old +men, sitting before the doors with their pipes. The working men +generally slept till dinner time on Sundays, and the women were all by +the kitchen fires. Here and there an idle lass might be seen, sitting +on a step, chatting to a girl-friend who had most likely come up to +join in the evening's amusements. Or perhaps a young sailor, who, with +his pipe in his mouth, and his hands in his pockets, leant over a wall +talking to a girl who stood shyly before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Little more than half-way up they came upon a party of lads and girls +who lay or sat round a large flat stone. There was no noise or talking; +Tomasine did not know they were there, until she was close upon them. +They were in the very worst of the smells, but that did not seem to +affect them. What could they be engaged in? There was nothing to show +it. She inquired the way, and one or two half rose, while one, who was +older, answered her, pointing to a red house with white painted +window-frames.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine had just wiped her spectacles and she could see the house, but +she also saw distinctly by their manner that they all knew her, and +every one guessed just what she wanted at Mother Stöa's. No one said +anything, but she heard a little tittering and whispering when she had +gone by.</p> + +<p class="normal">She asked Berg what they could be doing, since they were all so quiet; +and he replied that he believed that the boys were playing cards, and +the girls looking on, but that, as it was at the time of the Sunday +sermon, they hid the cards away if a stranger went by. She began to +reflect on the difference between the working people in a little +Norwegian town and those of a large foreign city, raising thereby many +old memories. But something occupied her along with her thinking, a +disagreeable something which would not leave off. What was that? Yes, +it was the same frantic screaming from up the hill. Now that she came +nearer, she recognised it, and it brought a painful feeling with it. It +was her son's old, spiteful scream. There was no doubt of it--the same +to such a degree in tone of voice, in description, and vigour, that it +tortured and stabbed her. Could it be his sister who was up there +scoffing at her? She had been hot before, and now she was in a glow; +some of the old dread seized upon her, bewildering thoughts from the +old days, of struggles with her son. But, "Frue, you are going too +fast," called Andreas Berg from lower down the hill; she could hardly +see him, her glasses were dim; she took them off and wiped them, and +her eyes as well, drew a long breath and began to laugh. Berg came up +slowly. The child's crying continued, but now that she had recovered +her senses, she noticed that it came from the right, while she could +see Marit Stöen's house, the red one with white window-frames, almost +exactly before her on the slope to the left; it was the largest house +up there, and undoubtedly the one she had seen, she could not be +mistaken; she felt quite lighthearted as she walked towards it.</p> + +<p class="normal">They could not go straight to it, but were obliged to make a circuit +and come back along Marit Stöen's garden fence, which had also been +painted, though evidently not so recently.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two windows of the house looked out towards the garden, and there +was an extensive view from them, but the door was in the end wall to +the left, to which a porch had been added, with a few steps leading up +to it. All was quiet here, inside and out, but the jubilant voices of +the little ones below, and the screams of the angry child from the +other side, further away, met in the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">The garden, along which they passed, was the largest they had seen on +the mountains, though certainly neither it, nor the house, were what +one would call well kept. But there was comfort, or whatever one might +call it: Tomasine hesitated for the right word. She now saw a child +with dark hair and bright, wondering eyes, who got up from the steps, +letting something fall from her lap, as she ran quickly into the +house-place. Immediately afterwards there appeared a tall elderly +woman, with dark untidy hair, and a handsome and intelligent, though +rather dirty face. The woman at once recognised Tomasine, who now came +up the steps and entered the porch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you come to see us, Frue?" she asked, smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was again busy with her eternal spectacles, and when she put +them on again, the woman had tidied up the place as well as she could, +with the little girl clinging with both hands to her skirt, so that, +however the woman turned, the child was hidden from the strange lady. +Andreas Berg remained outside. Marit Stöen apologised for her untidy +room, with a pleasant voice and simple skill. It was getting on to +dinner-time, she said, and everything certainly ought to be very +different. But there had been a dance there the evening before. They +like to keep it up a long time, you see. She would still less like to +ask the lady to come into the parlour, for it was even worse, she said, +laughing. It was by no means a small sum that she made by letting the +room, and by the coffee she sold. Her room was the largest on that +side; for the mountain was divided in two as it were. "The people here +will have nothing to do with those on the other side." And she laughed +again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine Rendalen had taken a seat, but when she began to look round +the room, she found that the spectacles must come off again. She was +warmer than she had supposed. As she took them off, she asked after the +child's mother. The woman replied that Petrea was married.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Married!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, to a mate of the name of Aslaksen. He was a smart, clever fellow, +and he would have her. They did not live here any longer," she said, +and proceeded to explain their circumstances in detail. "Aslaksen would +soon get a ship."</p> + +<p class="normal">The child peeped now and again from behind her grandmother's skirts, +and each time Tomasine glanced towards her. She had a shock of dark +hair like her grandmother's, and in other respects was a blending of +John Kurt and the woman standing before her--a blending which, she +could not deny it, gave her a feeling of aversion. And yet the little +thing was pretty. She had undoubtedly Kurt's wild eyes, but there was +laughter in them as well as wildness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So the child remains with you?" said Tomasine, pointing with her +parasol to where she was hiding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The child, yes, she's all right," answered the grandmother, while she +patted her grandchild's head. "John Kurt, he paid for Petrea, as soon +as ever she had her misfortune. And had a christening, so grand as you +would hardly believe, and along a' that, he gives her a savings-bank +book with a hundred specie-daler in it, and his father gave her another +on top of it with just as much in it again." And Marit Stöen began to +cry from sheer gratitude, because John Kurt had given two hundred daler +to his own child.</p> + +<p class="normal">Up to that time Tomasine had had no idea of this "Have you any of the +money left?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should think we have some of it left," laughed Marit; "why that is a +likely idea that the little 'un could want it all." She laughed, and +again took hold of the child's curly head, and drew it towards her. But +the little one slipped back again directly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she not very much in the way, now you are alone and have to work?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! as for that, no. We are not so particular as all that comes to. +She sits herself away somewhere;" and she turned half round, laughing, +towards the child behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she easy to manage--not passionate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! not so bad," laughed Marit; "and she's so comical as well, poor +little thing." And she now forcibly pulled her forward, the child still +struggling against her. "Now, now, don't be such a silly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine, however, did not wish to come into close contact with the +child. So she got up, and looked round the house-place. The hearth was +in the corner of the inner room; close by the window stood the table, +with the remains of breakfast on it; a coffee-cup and a milk-bowl, with +the dregs still in them.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the wall opposite, and also on that between the fire-place and the +door, hung some daguerreotypes, and two or three pictures were nailed +up as well. The daguerreotypes, of course, represented Aslaksen and +Petrea. Fru Rendalen passed these without looking at them. The pictures +were, one a large ship in full sail, the others, the new Emperor and +Empress of the French. As Tomasine had never seen any likeness of the +latter she went up to them. The Emperor, who had a large nose, looked +about twenty-four; the Empress was but lightly clad, though she looked +all the same a very innocent little girl of hardly sixteen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are only the sort o' things they carry about to sell," explained +Marit. "I thought it would be amusing like to have her. She was not +born to it, nor, for the matter of that, was he."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine was now opposite the open door. "Good gracious!" she +exclaimed, "what child can that be who is always screaming?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Marit laughed. "Oh! that's Lars Tobiassen's boy, that is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He never does anything else but scream," was suddenly heard from the +little girl behind her grandmother's gown. She came forward in her +excitement. Then, frightened at the sound of her own voice, she hid her +head again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps the lady knows Lars Tobiassen?" inquired Marit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine noticed something in her voice. "No, what is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is rather a difficult job to say, that," answered Marit. "He's such +a lot of things. He's a hard drinker, he is. He's turned butcher +lately, for they say as drinking won't do no harm in that business. +Have you never seen him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, why do you ask me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, I don't hardly like to say anything about it," and she laughed +rather slyly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I only says what others says to me. It was not as found it out," +and she laughed again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is said, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, folk do say that he's a Kurt too. Not any of them last ones, but +a bit further back."</p> + +<p class="normal">She saw this made some impression on Tomasine, and hastily added, "Like +enough, it's nought but talk. He's like no Kurt that ever I saw. He's a +rare fighter, he is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some of the Kurts have been that too," answered Tomasine, by way of +saying something; and she turned to the window and looked out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I've heard that," answered Marit; "there are two sorts of 'em. +Some fat and dark, and others just as thin; but they have always been +good-natured, the most of 'em. Folk can say what they will, but to the +poor people...." Her hand sought the child.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine turned at the moment and beckoned to Marit. Through the window +they could see a number of people beyond the garden-fence. Andreas Berg +was there as well, talking to some of them, perhaps to keep them there, +and prevent them from coming to the door. They were mostly young. Now +she saw that they were the same whom she had passed down below, sitting +round the flat stone; a few others might perhaps have joined them. They +all stood staring up at the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My, what a lot there are!" cried Marit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you see that ragged boy, with the fair curly hair?" asked Tomasine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, he is easy enough to see," and Marit's voice showed that she +understood what Tomasine wished to know. "He is the son of young Consul +Fürst, and like enough to his father." It was true. That curly hair, +those blue eyes, re-recalled the partner of many a dance. Tomasine +blushed crimson. "Why, my gracious, and you did not know before, Frue? +Well, it's my turn to ask you something now," she continued. "Do you +know that lass over there, as is holding her petticoat on with her +hand? She has pulled off the string, poor thing. Her, without much more +on than her shift. Her with hair as is neither yellow nor red, and a +ridiculous white skin. Dear me, <i>that</i> one over there. Can't you really +see who she is?" Yes, Tomasine had done so long ago; she had had plenty +of practice in the foreign schools in recognising parents by their +children, and children by their parents. "Yes, she's Fröken Engel right +enough, if any one chose to call her so," laughed Marit, "though she's +not dressed in silks." Tomasine drew back from the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Marit laughed, though this time not altogether without malice. +"One sees the wrong side of the world up here on the mountain." +Tomasine hastened to say that she had thought of giving the child sixty +daler a year. Here was the first thirty for the past six months. If +Marit needed any more help, she must come and tell her. When the child +was bigger, they would talk of what was further to be done with her. +Marit stood with the money in her hand: "That really was something, far +more than any one could expect; if everybody behaved like that when any +one had a misfortune...." And she began to cry again.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the child had let go the dress, rousing up when she +heard that there were people outside in the garden. She had sidled +right into the porch. She now came rushing in again, while loud +laughter from outside rang through the house. The little girl only said +"Lars Tobiassen," seized her grandmother's dress with both her hands, +and huddled it round her. Tomasine, frightened lest he should be coming +in, went hurriedly to the door without even saying goodbye, tying her +bonnet strings, which she had loosened, as she went. In so doing she +nearly fell, and had a narrow escape of descending the steps quicker +than she had intended. But Lars Tobiassen had just passed. The laughter +seemed to have burst out as he clambered up the steps to the right. He +was roaring drunk.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine came out just as, with his back towards her, he had surmounted +the first obstacle. She noticed his close-cropped neck. Where had she +seen that bronze bull-neck before, and the point of hair in the middle? +Oh! Heavens, that fearful neck which had hung over her, the night +her child was born. The eldest Kurt's neck: that was it. And the +bull-necked man now called out, "Now just you wait--devil take you! +I'll give you something to scream for, I will." Tomasine was down +the steps, out of the garden, through the crowd; she would not hear +that swearing again, nor the sound of blows, and not, oh! not that +half-insane screaming. She rather flew than walked through the people, +who made way for her. But barely sufficient, so that she jostled +against several of them, and when the descent began, she sprang from +step to step, fancying she heard laughter behind her, but only running +on the faster. She was fit to drop, but would not give in. +Notwithstanding all her efforts, she could hear behind her the +incessant terrified cries of the child, the drunken voice, and a +woman's passionate scream. Dogs woke up and barked, but not near enough +to drown the shriek, that fearful shriek, until, thank God, the bells +from the two churches in the town began to ring at the same moment, +filling the whole air with their clangour. She had come to the flat +stone where the young people had been. It was deserted now; she sank +down on it, and burst into tears. At last Andreas Berg came after her. +His dignified pace made her feel that she had behaved somewhat +strangely. She dare not wait till he got up with her, but without +looking round she walked on. Her knees trembled, but she would no +longer allow herself to be hunted by phantoms. The blessed church bells +saved her from hearing anything else, and they continued till she was +right down at the bottom. The children were no longer there. It was +dinner-time.</p> + +<p class="normal">A quarter of an hour later she was sitting with her little boy in her +lap. He was very much puzzled by her excitement and tears, assuring her +eagerly that he had been "dood" the whole time. She thanked him for it +over and over again, with caresses, hugs, and kisses, but cried all the +more. Now she began to feel how bad it had been of her never to lay her +hand on his little sister's head, although she had been "dood" too.</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy's playthings lay strewn around him. She remembered the bit of +firewood, with an apron round it, which his little sister had let fall +when she ran frightened away from the door-step. Tomasine had noticed +it, for she almost fell over it as she hurried away. But nothing had +melted her. Yet the child could not help having the same father! No, it +was Tomasine who had not been "dood" that morning.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_03.3" href="#div1Ref_03.3">THE CHILD</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">The first result of this visit was that Tomasine felt she must have +some one to talk to, for there were other bad inheritances in the world +beside the Kurts'. She must gain further knowledge. Without hesitation +she chose the man for whom she had the greatest respect, "Old Green."</p> + +<p class="normal">Now as surely as the afternoon came old Green passed by. The way he +took was along the garden, on the right, where the road used to run, +and where a path still led up to the woods. This walk among the hills +and woods was Dean Green's favourite one. Tomasine began to watch for +him, but lately he had hardly ever been alone. Nils Hansen, the +shoemaker, was generally with him, the greatest character in the town, +and married to a lady whom Tomasine had known abroad, and who had been +one of her friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, as Tomasine had stationed herself at the gate, to watch if the +Dean were alone, she heard him and Hansen far down the slope. Mormonism +was beginning at this time to be made known in the North by its first +emissaries. The newspapers constantly contained something about this +new teaching. Nils Hansen was talking loudly. "Mormonism," he said, "we +are as good Mormons here as in America. How many wives has a man before +he is married in church, and afterwards as well? The merchants are the +worst, but there are others beside."</p> + +<p class="normal">They had drawn nearer before the Dean answered. "Look you, Hansen. I +take it for granted that the races which have attained to monogamy, +actual monogamy...."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what sort of thing may that be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Dean stood still. "It means having one wife. Polygamy is having +several wives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! that's it, is it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The races which have really and truly come to be monogamists," +continued the Dean, "are but few. The most part are still polygamists." +They walked on again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nils Hansen agreed. "Yes, that is--devil take it--my opinion as well."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Dean: "Progress consists in this, that the disgrace...." She heard +no further.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are bad inheritances in the world beside the Kurts," thought +Tomasine again. "How otherwise could he have been endured: nay, even +liked? No doubt he appealed to some secret feeling in most of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she had not the courage to go straight down to Dean Green, she went +first to Nils Hansen's. It was generally said of Nils Hansen, that he +flourished, and that in the greatest prosperity, on the hatred of the +whole town. His crime consisted in his having several years before +mustered the lesser townsfolk in a struggle against those of more +importance, or rather in the fact that he had been victorious. He had +taken the town councillorship from them, seized the pews in church, so +that now every one had equal rank and place there. He had had +everything supervised and the financial estimates inspected, in a way +that the leading people looked upon as extremely wrong. His worse +villainy admittedly was, that, aided by some pecuniary help from +non-residents, he had established a bank for poor people, called the +penny bank, which had helped a number of the lower orders, even in some +cases bringing them quite to independence; for all the vested +interests, his sharp and amusing answers were like a wireworm at the +root of a tree.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had aroused incredible merriment when a school-mistress in the town, +a pretty, fair woman, with more than usual endowments, and even with +the expectation of a fortune, refused several eligible offers, to +engage herself to rough, rude, shoemaker Hansen. She was desperately in +love with him into the bargain. She smiled and blushed if he were so +much as named, and it can be imagined what it was when he himself hove +in sight--one shoulder a little higher than the other, by the way--with +his odd face, blinking eyes, broad shoulders, and huge hands. Endless +jokes were made behind their backs, because, both while they were +engaged, and afterwards when they were married, she taught Hansen, and +he boasted of it. But they afterwards felt the result of this +schooling, and paid for it as well. She was older than Tomasine, and +had once been some months with her in England. When Tomasine returned, +Fru Hansen had been married a year, and was therefore somewhat outside +the circle in which the former moved, though she often went to see her, +for she was very fond of the healthy, clear-headed little housewife.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was therefore with her that Tomasine was especially angry when it +transpired what kind of man John Kurt was. Why had she not by a single +word dissuaded her from taking him? After his death Laura Hansen had +tried to have some talk with Tomasine, but in vain. But now the latter +thought, "Perhaps most wives have something to complain of, and yet +this does not prevent girls from marrying; so why should I have +expected them to advise me to act differently from what they would have +done themselves?" So she went down to Laura Hansen.</p> + +<p class="normal">They lived in a small, old house on the marketplace, next door to +Fürst's. The queer building, with a narrow alley on one side and a +large door leading to the rambling courtway on the other, was the +inheritance which Laura had expected, and now possessed. She was a +slender but well-grown woman, with an open countenance. Some people +considered her sullen, some thought her shy: that depended very much on +what was passing. By some she was called talkative, by others sparing +of her words. She took both people and circumstances into +consideration. The friends had not met for five years. Laura sat sewing +in the room behind the shop, the one with the window towards the alley. +She rose, astonished, flushed, and somewhat agitated. Tomasine was +really once more in her house. They were both a little stiff at first. +A little dark-haired, thickset girl sat on a stool learning to sew. She +looked solemnly up at them, but was soon sent out of the room. Her +mother understood at once that they two, friends of old days, must be +alone, and make it up together. And they did so.</p> + +<p class="normal">After several introductory remarks, Tomasine laid her complaint against +Laura and her other friends, considerately, but still clearly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laura answered: "When a girl does not allow herself to be hindered by +the kind of life that John Kurt led, there is no use in any one else +talking to her about it." Laura, for her part, had refused several men +just because their conduct in that particular had been doubtful, or +more than doubtful. But Hansen, she knew, was honourable in that +respect as in others.</p> + +<p class="normal">The tall Tomasine felt very small under little Laura's steady gaze and +quiet words. She fell from the position of accuser to that of accused, +and her fall was no trifling one. She had felt very superior up there +for several years, and a few words spoken in the course of a minute or +two had laid her low. She did not feel much respect for her own powers; +nay, for a moment, it made her unhappy to think how short-sighted she +had been. She actually felt anxious to discover if she were equally +stupid in other things, but she soon so far regained her balance as to +understand that to look only at one side of things may be partly the +fault of circumstances.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat there without speaking, without listening; she had fallen into +a reverie. Laura took the opportunity of leaving the room to prepare +some chocolate, and to ask her husband to take her place while she was +away. This, however, he had not time for at the moment, but still was +so pleased that Tomasine had come again, that he felt he must just put +his head in at the door to say so. He had on his leather apron, and +held a shoemaker's stirrup in his left hand. Tomasine rose to grasp the +other, but he waved her back, laughing. It was not fit to touch. "I +only wanted to say many, many 'good days' to an old friend," he said +after his fashion, as he drew back. But at that moment little Augusta +came in again from the shop. She heard her father. He popped his head +in again. "Just look at her. I always say that a dark person ought to +marry a fair one. That is just what our two young ones are." And he +shut the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Augusta was unusually tall and strong for her age. She was a full year +older than Tomas. When Tomasine called her and spoke to her, the child +surprised her.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a serenity in her eyes and brow, and a quietness in her way +of talking, more like a grown person than a child. She was a contrast +to Tomasine's own nervous little "Red-head," who never asked three +questions about the same thing--a most pleasant contrast both outwardly +and inwardly. Little Augusta went on questioning until the subject was +clear to her own mind, and then would pass on to the next topic which +came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her hands were plump, but firm; his, thin, freckled, restless in their +very shape. Her hair was dark and unusually plentiful, notwithstanding +which it made the smoothest plaits; his stood up and stuck out in red +bristles, which seemed to grow in layers; it was never tidy unless it +were close cropped. He was bony and thin; she so plump, though +thoroughly healthy. Tomasine recalled what she herself had been as a +child. Why was not her child the same? She felt something almost like +envy; to think that the little velvet jacket that Augusta wore was +without a spot, though it was evidently far from new. Tomasine searched +for one until it seemed to her that the whole little figure was solid +soft velvet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her mother came in with the chocolate, and the ice being now broken, +they found plenty of subjects of conversation, especially after Augusta +had again been sent away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine asked how the child had become so lovable, gentle, and +sensible; and was told that she had never been headstrong. "Not even at +first?" "Never, but clear-headed and staid from a tiny child."</p> + +<p class="normal">The last thing that Tomasine wished was to say anything against her +little Tomas, but the contrast was so great that somehow all that she +had gone through was told, and what incessant care she had still to +practice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laura received, during Tomasine's relation, a firm conviction that this +state of things would in the long run prove too much for her, and +therefore be dangerous for her health.</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly they both went to Dean Green, and from that day forward the +stately old gentleman, in his long-skirted coat and broad-brimmed hat, +often took his way up the avenue, instead of round the garden, when he +set out for his afternoon's walk. Beside this, Tomasine began, little +by little, to gather her old friends about her again. Once more they +strolled in the broad paths of "The Estate" garden, many of them with +their children in their hands. So by degrees happiness and confidence +entered into her life again, and peace as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">For now, when Tomas's education was to begin, it was done in quite a +different way from what she had imagined. He went to school--a school +which she herself kept for him, and for a number of little girls, the +children of her friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first he thought this incredibly splendid. He was thoroughly happy, +willing, even devoted; but after a while, when he heard from the other +boys that it was a disgrace even to go about with little girls, he +wanted to know why he should be condemned to do so. Could not his +mother send them all home again and have boys there instead? He pleaded +for this--he fumed, he cried; but the girls remained. If only he could +make out what was the use of it all! What had he not to endure from the +lads who attended the boy's public school, who had men for teachers. If +he as much as put his head over the garden wall, he heard, "Petticoat +boy!" "Mamma's darling!" "The women's prince!" "Miss Freckles!" +Especially the last, for he was terribly freckled, regularly speckled +with red all over his face and hands, added to which he had the most +hopelessly red hair. Just think of a boy being called "A Freckle," +"Miss Freckle," though he were nothing but a freckle amongst the band +of girls. Goodness knows how he disdained them! If, however, he were so +bold as to say so to them, and a boy with his heart in the right place +is often impelled to do so, he cannot always keep his contempt +concealed; well, if he did so he got a beating--a veritable, serious +beating. From his mother? That would have been nothing; no, from those +same wretched little girls. Some held him and half strangled him, and +several more beat him. And this not as a joke. It hurt frightfully. And +his mother stood there and laughed. She laughed till the tears came. +She had to take off her spectacles and dry them. They would have no +domineering little tyrant among them--those girls, no arrogant young +master; though they were always ready, they said to him, to welcome a +well-behaved little gentleman and pleasant companion. If he grimaced at +them they were at him again, down with him again; it was one perpetual +beating. When they had done, they curtseyed to him, one after the +other. There were such a number of them that it was mere fun to them. +The worst, however, has not yet been told. He was desperately in love +with one of the little girls. She knew it, the ungrateful little +monkey, and his mother knew it as well. He was sure of that. It was +principally on account of it that she had laughed so dreadfully. It was +the worst of them, Augusta Hansen, Laura's daughter--Augusta, with whom +he had eaten cherries. That is to say, they had taken them out of each +other's mouths; first she out of his, as he held the stalk in his mouth +close up to the fruit, and then he, in the same way from hers. Augusta, +who had given him her sash to wear as a badge at the tournaments which +he held ... quite alone, by the way. Augusta, to whom in return he had +given his whole collection of blown eggs; he had found every one of +them himself. He had been obliged to ask his mother's leave to give +them away, for it could not very well have been managed without. He had +come behind her to whisper in her ear, he did not wish her to look at +him while he did so. His mother had asked him if he were fond of +Augusta, and he had confided to her that it was especially her hair, +but that she was the most good-natured of the girls, and the cleverest +as well. What Augusta said was always right. His mother had agreed with +him in that. She had not laughed then, but now she stood and looked on +while Augusta thrashed him, for it was Augusta's hand that thumped the +hardest.</p> + +<p class="normal">After such treachery--and this did not happen only once unfortunately; +it happened very often--he would not speak to Augusta for several days; +once he held out for three. He tried the same with his mother, but he +could never contrive to keep grave when she looked at him. She always +befooled him into laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">He now essayed, by a more serious and regular manner of proceeding, to +obtain a different adjustment of things for the future. This struggle +really meant nothing more nor less than the right relationship between +the sexes. Its depths he was truly far from having sounded, but his +masculine instincts told him that it was all upside down, up there in +the garden. Things must be altered. But there was never any "Hands +off," as they say. It was Dean Green whom he suspected of being the +cause of the worst of all this. Of one thing, at all events, he was +certain. It was Dean Green's idea that he, like the girls, should learn +to play the piano. No other boy had to strum like that. Tomas hated the +long-coated parson, with his aquiline nose and bushy eyebrows; who was +always about, and who smiled when he saw him. He hated him to that +extent that, when he shot at a mark, he always tried to draw a picture +of the Dean to shoot at, and then to hit his coat, his nose, or his +eye. But, hit him as much as he would, no change took place; the +piano-playing went on, the girls remained, and even if any day he +brought some boys into the garden, they could never be alone--oh no! +The detestable little girls were always hanging about, and then all the +stories afterwards; any little thing that a boy might have said or done +was used against him; he was done for, he never came again.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they would say, too, that Tomas had tried to show himself off +before his companions, and play the grown man. He always got a beating +afterwards. Sometimes they divided his offences into several portions, +and he was first beaten for one and then for another. Augusta was +constantly drubbing him with the greatest heartiness, without the +slightest remembrance of the cherries, or the eggs, or any of his +little attentions. There is no telling the number of times that he +renounced his allegiance and loyalty to her, but as Augusta did not +care a rush, and went about just the same, with those thick plaits and +sturdy legs of hers.... Well, then he began to abase himself. He had to +let her understand that he did not exactly disdain her, that perhaps it +might be possible to obtain grace. She never seemed to notice him, and +so it ended that he thought it was not worth remembering any longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">One thing about Augusta was peculiar, she always really influenced the +others without trying to do so; she let others lead as long as they +liked, she acted exactly in the same way whoever led and whatever plan +they hit upon; but whenever they got into difficulties it was <i>she</i> who +found the way out.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ah! how Tomas admired her, how often he told her so! and was annoyed +that he could not let it alone. It was with her that he now began to +take his music lessons, and from that time forth playing became his +favourite occupation.</p> + +<p class="normal">These first stormy years were followed by others, and he attained at +last to such superiority, that he dared to acknowledge his comradeship +with the girls. He settled down at last into accepting their help +against other boys, when they challenged him from outside. Nay--who +would have thought it?--the time came when he fought for his valiant +girl-friends, eager for the battle; especially if one of the boys had +called Augusta "Shoemaker's lass," or even "Sausage." He would gladly +have gone to the death for her; nor was this all boasting, for at nine +years old he was severely mauled because, on this account, he would +fight against ten or twelve at once, of whom three at least were older +than he. That was the proudest moment of his life, as he lay with a +fresh vinegar plaster on his head, and Augusta must come in and change +it instead of his mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now that there really was something worth talking about--not a word.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_03.4" href="#div1Ref_03.4">THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">At this time a great change took place in Tomas's external life. For +the first time he had a companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some years back, there had died in the town a curate named Vangen, who +had married a very enthusiastic Danish lady. They had led quite an +Arcadian life together--literally without thought for the morrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">People are always very kind at times of bereavement; she managed to +support her children and herself for the first few years, for those +that followed there was no necessity to do so--she died.</p> + +<p class="normal">Through Dean Green, her son Karl came to Fru Rendalen "on probation." +He was at that time eleven. Karl Vangen was tall, slight, and dark, +with a large head, his forehead being the most noticeable feature. He +had gentle blue-grey eyes, in large sockets, a wide, straight mouth, +which slowly expanded into a smile. He was quiet, and very modest, and +rather uneasy in his new surroundings. When, at night, he went with +Tomas into the room he now occupied, on the other side of the +bath-room, he knelt down by the side of the new bed, which had been put +up for him there, and prayed silently for a long time, his face buried +in his hands. When he rose from his knees, he smiled across at his +companion, with tears in his eyes, but he did not speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas heard him afterwards sobbing under the bed-clothes. This lasted a +long time. Tomas felt at last that he must cry too, but took care that +the other should not hear him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one was kindness itself to the newcomer, but no one so much so as +Tomas. If he could have clasped himself round him like a belt, he would +have done so.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl went to the Latin school, where he was received free, so the boys +were separated almost all day, nor did they even study together when he +came home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl allowed himself but little leisure. He was slow at learning, but +still was at the head of his class, and he wished to continue there; so +that Tomas naturally could not see as much of him as he wished, or be +so good to him as he wanted to be.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Karl did at last come out he was tired, and did not go with Tomas +very willingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not perhaps estimate all that Tomas had done for him, nor +understand how the boy had waited for him, how glad he was to see him. +He was the first companion that Tomas had ever had, but he himself had +plenty.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fact was, that Karl was too slow and gentle, always anxious about +his clothes, perfectly obedient to anything that was said to him, and +in this, and other things, a great contrast to Tomas.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last Tomas discovered that Karl was just a girl, one more girl up +there, and not, by a long way, so amusing as the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">He soon began to call him Karoline. He mocked at him when he shivered, +or was frightened about his clothes. And when he smiled good-naturedly, +instead of being angry, Tomas would make his mouth wide by stretching +it with his two forefingers.</p> + +<p class="normal">That was so very funny that the girls began to take part in it. They +praised Tomas for his chivalrous behaviour to them, and he was proud of +it himself. But both he, and they, could be very unchivalrous towards +Karl, without its striking them that they were so. As, for instance, +when Tomas conceived the idea that every time Karl showed himself, they +should rush at him, one after the other, and dust his clothes with +their hands, because he was so frightened about them--he had had so +few. So he was brushed and brushed till he began to cry, and was then +immediately called "Say-your-prayers boy" and "Cry-baby." And this grew +worse when they saw that Karl, though both older and bigger than Tomas, +was nevertheless the weaker. So Tomas could show himself off, and at +last they really ill-treated him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, at the bottom it was not altogether disagreeable to Karl to be a +martyr. It seemed something great to him. But the others soon +discovered this, and would not for the life of them stand it. He was +treated worse than ever from that moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">But where was Augusta while all this developed itself?</p> + +<p class="normal">Augusta was kind to Karl; indeed, the more the others teased him, the +more good-natured she became. But she did not mix herself with what +they took up. And besides, lately she had shrunk more and more from +anything rough. Whenever Karl sought refuge with her, he was safe for +the time being, so that it happened that he did so oftener and oftener, +and at last constantly. He dare not enter the garden without her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas was too proud to appear to notice anything, but he made Karl pay +for it.</p> + +<p class="normal">One especial time, Tomas grumbled about this during a music lesson, and +she answered that so it would continue until he became as good a boy as +Karl, which he was far from being at present. Then he swore vengeance.</p> + +<p class="normal">On Saturday afternoons, Karl always went to the churchyard, to put +fresh flowers on his parents' graves. On the next Saturday, as he was +going down with his basket, Tomas met him in the avenue, and asked him +if he would promise not to talk any more to Augusta. But Karl, so +accommodating in other things, would not promise this, not even when +Tomas struck him. He struck him again and again, with all the strength +he could muster, but Karl would not promise to give her up. Quite +beside himself, Tomas kicked him in a dangerous manner; he gave a loud +cry and dropped down. Tomas had him carried home, and rushed away for +the doctor. When, his forehead bathed in sweat from anxiety and the +speed with which he had run, he passed the place where Karl had fallen +down, with his eyes fixed upon him, another image of his companion rose +before him--that of the helpless, silent lad who had knelt down and +prayed by his bedside the first evening in his new home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas kept this resurrection of the former Karl in his soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">He hurried back home again before the doctor, in order that he might, +as he passed the spot where Karl had fallen, kneel down, unseen by any +one, and cry and pray.</p> + +<p class="normal">That evening his mother, Andreas Berg, and he sat by themselves in the +parlour. Andreas Berg had come in at Fru Rendalen's request to tell +Tomas the history of his father's (John Kurt's) childhood--to tell it +in her presence without any reserve. Berg was a grave man, not free +from severity. He had been made angry, more than once, by Tomas's +performances with Karl. And he now related the various circumstances of +John Kurt's life when a boy, related them without a single word of +blame; but this only made it fall the heavier. This was part of Berg's +nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother did not feel it needful to add a single word.</p> + +<p class="normal">She heard Tomas, late that evening, sobbing and crying beside Karl's +bed, and the next day saw him talking to Augusta in the passage.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of the day he had flung his arms round his mother's neck +and cried. But he had said nothing, though it worked in his mind for a +long while.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime it was determined that Karl's time of probation should +end, and that he should be considered as a son of the house from that +time. The doctor had declared that he would all his life feel the +effects of the kick which jealousy and domineering had bestowed on him. +And this had decided the question.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another great revolution took place shortly afterwards. The girls who, +together with Tomas, had enjoyed Fru Rendalen's teaching from the +beginning, were so much more advanced in languages, not only than those +of the same age at the girls' school, but also than the boys at the +Latin school, that many people wished she would extend her classes and +establish the girls school for the town up at "The Estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">This desire, which became unanimous, was strongly pressed upon her. +Dean Green was the most eager of all. How could she use her knowledge +and powers of administration better? All the development of her +character, all the experience of her life, led her to this goal. Think +of the Kurts' house echoing with confiding, childish laughter; think +that there, the rising generation of women would learn to raise +themselves to independence, either in married life, or outside it. The +subject symbolised itself in this way.</p> + +<p class="normal">Very few of us have perhaps noticed that certain expectations and +signs, fixed forebodings, chance remembrances, weigh far more in +deciding our plans than the simple circumstances of the present time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine Rendalen was no exception to this rule. She was, however, +prudent enough to ask herself sometimes if she were fit for all that +the Dean proposed in the school work. She suspected that he, like all +reformers, was oversanguine, demanding the work of three generations +from one, and expecting a single man to give the result of a thousand. +She also had good sense enough to doubt if a little more knowledge of +languages, a little better teaching of history and similar +acquirements, would seriously help forward morality and independence. +But the symbol outweighed these objections of good sense. And it really +did seem as if a distinct commission had been given to a special +person. Here she was in the Kurt inheritance, well qualified for school +work: that was undoubted. Fancy obliterating the evil example with a +good one. She had had great practice in that. At all events, it gave +her strength. Once determined, she exerted herself to make it go +forward, and made others do the same.</p> + +<p class="normal">She raised a new loan on her property and renovated the house from top +to bottom. All the windows were removed and enlarged. The rooms on the +ground-floor, on the right as one comes in from the great steps, +remained as they were. But those on the left, in the wing and upstairs, +were for the most part altered, in so far as that the doors between +them were walled up, so that they only led into the long inner passage.</p> + +<p class="normal">The great Knights' Hall on the left hand, just as one comes in from the +steps, was made into a gymnasium. The pupils were to assemble there, +and morning prayers were to be read in it as well. The double staircase +in the passage, which led up to the first floor, was cut off from the +entrance hall by a wall in which were two doors, one on each side. By +this means Fru Rendalen kept the hall for herself. The famous steps +only led to it, and to the Knights' Hall on great occasions.</p> + +<p class="normal">The teachers had their separate entrance from the court yard, while the +lower part of the great, empty, useless tower was converted into an +anteroom. Outside, the plaster was removed from the walls, and the red +colour of the bricks freshened up. It all looked like new. There was a +great pilgrimage up there when it was all finished, and many good +wishes were expressed for the new school.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomasine incurred considerable debt--she had to pay a large sum for the +school which she took over. But from the first, the influx was +unprecedented. Little girls from the country, nay, even from the +nearest towns, were entered. They were boarded with different people, +whom she recommended. She did not wish at first to have any in the +house. She must regulate the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sometimes it seemed to her that this simple state of things, a +well-regulated school, was what she would never attain to. She got into +difficulties, first and foremost, with the staff of teachers. They did +not come up to the standard which she proposed. She took on trial, and +discharged again, and endured all the discomfort and irregularity, all +the over-exertion, which are the natural results of such a position, +hoping for better days.</p> + +<p class="normal">The constant wear and tear, the endless unrest, the anxious cares for +money, goaded her on from day to day. The aim that she had originally +set herself, the great aim, now seemed almost ludicrous. One thing +appeared certain: it was losing her her son; not his affection, still +less his obedience, taken as a whole, nor was it his education; but her +influence on his character, their mutual confidence, her happiness in +him. Something impetuous, fantastic, extravagant crept into his games, +his plans, his expression, which she saw increase in a manner she +deeply deplored. When she corrected him she saw a gloomy impatience in +the nervous glance of his eyes. She felt herself condemned by his air +of superiority.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl's company only increased this failing, for he was himself an +enthusiast. She therefore begged Augusta to check the boy's hot mood, +and to try to keep him steady by turning his mind to stern realities. +But Augusta never entered into any controversy with him on the subject. +So Fru Rendalen saw this tendency increase. This spoilt her pleasure in +the school when at last, outwardly at any rate, it began to work well. +She asked herself what, as a whole, she had gained by this hunted life +beyond increased debt, and greatly increased anxiety. But now she was +launched into it; she struggled on from day to day; a moment's pause +would bring all in ruins about her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of all his mother's anxiety Tomas had not the slightest idea. He led a +happy life, developing quickly. Karl's large amount of information +helped him. Together they wove their daydreams; together they loved. +They devised the strange idea that they would devote themselves to the +service and happiness of "the ladies," they and their comrades, for by +degrees several others had been drawn into the circle. And there was +more beauty, more variety, in all they hit on since boys and girls were +constantly together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas's strength increased, but unlike his parents, he did not promise +to be tall. He was remarkably well made, with a very erect gait. His +well turned-out feet were so small that he could wear girls' shoes. He +was also nearly as slim in the waist as a girl, but broad-shouldered. +At twelve years old he took the first boy's prize at a gymnastic +display, which had been inaugurated in that part of the country. He had +a powerfully shaped head, his cheekbones strongly marked. His nose had +become much bigger than his mother's, which gave him occasion for much +fun, she always answering that his was at least as broad as hers at the +end. He had small, finely cut lips, his eyes were not large, and seemed +smaller still because he frowned and blinked. They were grey in colour, +with a restless but sharp expression. His forehead was fair like his +father's, but his face, neck, and hands were so covered with freckles, +that they were as red as his hair, which stood on end, and was +generally untidy.</p> + +<p class="normal">By the side of the tall dark Karl, with his heavy forehead, hollow +eyes, wide, straight mouth, his gentle expression, and slow nature, he +seemed to sparkle. He filled his mother with perhaps greater anxiety +than there was need for. He had become a true friend to Karl. He loved +him heartily. He generally did either love or detest; there was no +moderation in him. Tomas was in his fourteenth year when, in the +autumn, it was arranged that he should take a voyage with his uncle, +who was the master of a vessel, to Hamburg, and from thence to England +and back.</p> + +<p class="normal">The trip had been talked of since the early summer, but had been +postponed. Tomas, who was studying privately, could start at any time, +and it would be more manly to go at the time of the autumn gales. His +preparations were complete; they were only waiting for a fair wind.</p> + +<p class="normal">One Saturday afternoon, Augusta and he were sitting up in an +apple-tree--he on a branch to the right, and Augusta on one to the +left. They had come to gather the fruit, but the linen bags, which they +had spread round them, still hung limp. She had taken hold of a branch, +on a level with her head, and rested her head on her arm. She sat and +listened to Tomas. They had seen the new doctor, Knut Holmsen, go in to +Fru Rendalen, and this wonderful new doctor was one of those whom Tomas +loved. He had lately been reading with him about the Gracchi in +Mommsen's Roman History, and it was about them that he was talking. +There was nothing equal to the Gracchi in their own history; they were +his ideals. But in the midst of an ardent disquisition it occurred to +him that if he were to be the Gracchi, Augusta must be their mother. +There was nothing grander for a woman than to be the daughter of +Scipio, and the mother of the Gracchi.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Augusta had no desire for this. She could not wish that the mother +of the Gracchi should live after her sons were killed. Augusta was +always so frightened of death, there was something ugly about it. She +sat there with her head on her arm, and said this quietly, as though to +herself. She looked very sweet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Or was she tired? he asked. No, she was not tired, but she wished so +much to be quiet. Well, they could easily sit a little longer. She +altered her position, and they went on talking.</p> + +<p class="normal">Supposing the mother of the Gracchi met her sons in heaven? But would +the Gracchi and she go to heaven? They did not believe in Jesus. After +some discussion the children agreed that now they could be taught about +Jesus, and therefore naturally they had gone to heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">But after that, what would they do there? Augusta shuddered, Eternity +was so frightful. She hid her face, and when she lifted it again, she +had been crying. He sat a long time and looked at her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen, Augusta," he said, "neither of us will die till we have grown +dreadfully old, so old that we cannot even walk. It can't be the same +then, can it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Augusta smiled. "That time you gave me the everlastings, you said I was +to think of you when you were dead, you know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I was so frightfully miserable that day, and then I had got that +picture of King Edward's sons. Augusta!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At sea, in the autumn gales--they are often very dangerous, the autumn +gales, you know--I shall have myself lashed fast, and I will write to +you exactly what I think. And then you must write down what you think +when you read it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That might prove dangerous," laughed Augusta. She was older.</p> + +<p class="normal">He felt embarrassed, so there was silence. But all the time he looked +at her plump figure, good-natured face, her heavy braids, and long +eyelashes. She sat looking down--yes, she had grown now, she had quite +a figure. And those wrists, those characteristic firm hands. He sat and +gazed at her for a long time, and then said, "Augusta."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Karl will write to me every day. Mother has promised him the money. +Could not you put a few lines in too--eh!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every day, Tomas! That would be very often."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But all the same...."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Interesting things won't happen to me every day, you see, Tomas; it +would be only stupid."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him simply. "But," he answered, "people who care for each +other always do write."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was crimson and turned away. She would be sure to laugh. But she did +not laugh. In a few minutes he heard her say (he did not turn round), +"Yes, yes, then I will," and she devoted herself to gathering the +apples.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time Fru Rendalen and the doctor were standing by the +parlour window.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked by turns at him, and out towards the children in the +apple-tree. The doctor had just told her that Lars Tobiassen had become +raving mad, and that his son had been frightened, and gone mad also. He +had been near it for a long time. "'Kurt inheritance,' the people on +the mountain say there have been so many mad Kurts there, men and +women." Fru Rendalen had answered that she was aware of that, and that +both before Tomas's birth, and for some time afterwards, she had felt +frightened. She was safe now though--"although," and she laughed, +"Tomas has something unreasonably exaggerated and fantastic about him."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked inquiringly at the doctor, who answered, "Yes, his nerves +are good for nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Knut Holmsen was one of those men who are foreordained to be +bachelors, though some chance may drift them into matrimony; who never +trouble themselves to think or feel with any one else, but always look +at things from their own point of view. So now he blurted out this +answer as a matter of course. It frightened her, however, terribly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could Tomas become mad?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not intended to say that; he therefore answered, "Not he, but +his children."</p> + +<p class="normal">She came and stared at him, her face as white as a sheet, and from him +out into the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know what you are saying?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Holmsen coloured, for this rough man was particularly faint-hearted. +And, to relieve his embarrassment, he began to talk about a book which +he had just read, one that every one ought to read--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prosper Lucas on Heredity" (<i>L'hérédité naturelle</i>).</p> + +<p class="normal">The two young people in the apple-tree soon afterwards saw Dr. Knut +Holmsen go down to the town, accompanied by Fru Rendalen, and a little +later she returned, with two large volumes under her arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following evening Tomas sailed, and remained away for two months. +At both the ports which he visited he found letters, written every day +since he sailed by the faithful Karl, as well as a few lines enclosed +by his mother, but not a line from Augusta. She was ill, had a heart +complaint--an enlarged heart, it was said. And Tomas remembered that +latterly she had always wanted to be in the open air. She had pains in +her heart, but a courageous girl like Augusta would naturally never +succumb. She would get quite well again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ship returned to port late one evening. No one at "The Estate" had +any idea of it before Tomas flung himself on to his mother's neck, in +the parlour, as she sat there over her accounts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tomas?" she exclaimed, almost as though she were seriously frightened, +and that made him all the more crazy with delight. He clung to her +portly person with all his strength ... then ... he noticed that she +was crying. Astonished, he relinquished his hold, looked at her, and +flung himself down with his head on the table sobbing loudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Augusta had died two days before. The next morning he went with his +mother down to the shoemaker's house to take some flowers; awestruck, +and with his eyes red with crying. Fru Rendalen chose to enter by the +door at the side of the house: she wished to go in by the back way. And +thus Nils Hansen saw her from the workshop, and came out at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas was a little behind. It affected him so much to go in by the old +well-known way, that he could not come forward directly. When Nils +Hansen observed him, Augusta's playfellow and greatest friend, he burst +into violent weeping and left them. It was just the same with Fru +Hansen. She was in the large room, occupied with the dead. Her second +girl, two years younger than Augusta, was sitting on the floor beside +her mother, when Fru Rendalen opened the door and went in.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laura came towards her and thanked her for coming down again. She +appeared composed, but when the heart-broken Tomas came forward with +his flowers, she sank down on a chair and began to cry violently, the +child crying with her. Tomas could not bear it. He laid the flowers +down, he did not know where, and ran home again. He had seen the heavy +braids under the white band, a sleeping face, and the everlastings +between the folded hands. He knew them again by the ribbon.</p> + +<p class="normal">What a tie Fru Rendalen felt the school at this time, for the sore +little heart constantly yearned towards her. She was so anxious about +Tomas, lest his tendency to extravagance of feeling should receive +fresh nourishment from his sorrow, nor could she discover how she might +be able to prevent this without depriving him of his one consolation. +She was astonished when she saw that Augusta's death had had just the +contrary effect.</p> + +<p class="normal">Augusta had feared death, perhaps immortality still more; he was +convinced of this, and so would not try to think of her there. It +seemed like tormenting her. Most children shudder at the thought of +being immortal.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Karl in especial who wished to dwell on this theme, but he had +to be silent, Tomas would not allow it. It was against her wishes to +try to think of her as dwelling in Eternity, he was sure of that. Karl +gave in; it was not immortality itself which his friend doubted about, +so he humoured him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did not Tomas ever try to bring Augusta up before his mind? Yes, +whenever he ran his fingers over the piano, he was in her company--they +had sat side by side there.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was of the past that he thought. His mother was astonished when one +day, having given her a rather quick answer, he returned at once and +threw himself upon her neck; she was so used to his hasty ways that, +when he was not actually rude, she often took no notice; she looked at +him, "What is it?" He coloured and laid his head down on her shoulder, +as he always did when he did not wish her to look at him while he was +speaking. "Yes; once when I answered you sharply, Augusta came out +after me on to the steps, and said, 'Tomas, you should never answer +your mother like that.' I did not think anything of it then, but +now--now--I remembered it when I got out on the steps."</p> + +<p class="normal">During this time they read bits at random out of Lucas's work. The +wonderful proofs of heredity in talents and character, coming out even +after very long intervals, impressed Tomas strongly. He had a perfect +mass of questions which he took to the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Little by little he occupied himself as before, but he became quieter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_03.5" href="#div1Ref_03.5">THE LECTURE</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">One spring afternoon in the beginning of May, fourteen years later, a +great number of people took their way up the avenue to "The Estate." +<i>Real-Kandidat</i> Tomas Rendalen was to give a lecture at the opening of +the new gymnasium which had been built in the courtyard there; using +the opportunity to explain the plan on which he intended to conduct the +school; he proposed to take it over the following August. It was known +that this had been his intention, even before he became a student at +Christiania; that he had no other object in life, either then or later; +that after he had passed his examinations, he had taught in different +boys' and girls' schools, and during several years had made himself +familiar with both, in Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and last +of all in America; he said that it was in the last-named country that +he had especially found what he wanted.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had declared that the development of his whole life might be found +in the lecture which he would deliver that day, and this seemed strange +to every one; all became curious.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the four or five months that he had been at home he had had the +gymnasium built, having turned the Knight's Hall into a place where +chemistry and physics could be studied; people did not clearly +understand what these were, but they hoped to find out some day. The +tower was turned into a little observatory.</p> + +<p class="normal">There had been, for some time past, a continual delivery and unpacking +of what Rendalen called school apparatus; the most wonderful specimens +were shown to the children. These purchases and his endless journeys +had cost no small sum. How had the money been provided? Quite by chance +Fru Rendalen had discovered that the woods had been sold from "The +Estate" on different terms; some before, and some after, the farms to +which they belonged had been disposed of. Some of these woods had been +merely sold for clearing, and the land itself thus still belonged to +"The Estate." But as it had lain long unused, the fact had been +forgotten, and the woods had been by degrees absorbed into the +surrounding properties. Fru Rendalen lost several lawsuits over this, +but she gained others, and it was therefore good Norse timber which had +paid for Karl's and Tomas's studies.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas had taken up science, Karl theology; both of them going abroad. +Karl had come home again after two years' absence. Tomas had travelled. +During the few months that he had been at home he had given lectures to +the girls in the senior classes, especially on Natural Science. For +example, he explained to them the very newest discoveries in regard to +the activity of the brain, showing them large diagrams. When the +children repeated to their parents how these discoveries were made, +they began to wish to hear about them as well. And it was not rare to +see elder sisters, mothers, or sometimes even fathers, sitting squeezed +in among the children in the class-room, listening to him. It can thus +be easily understood why the gathering on the present occasion was so +large.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas was an ugly, red-haired, freckled fellow, with a somewhat broad +nose, and grey screwed-up eyes, with no eyebrows, or at all events no +visible ones, and with a thin-lipped mouth like his father's. Yet it +was said that the whole school was crazy about him! People wanted to +see and hear what on earth it was all about; three ladies to one +gentleman assembled up at "The Estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">A path had been made to the right from the great steps, past the front +of the house, and further round the wing, to the courtyard at the back, +which was the usual school road. The new gymnasium was in the courtyard +as well. There was a man stationed at its entrance to-day, and a crowd +of people stood before it who had been refused admittance, and who +protested loudly against this treatment.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Andreas Berg who was on the watch that only "parents" came in.</p> + +<p class="normal">This had been clearly stated in the invitation, but it had been +overlooked or misunderstood, or else people thought they might as well +try all the same, and they were now making a disturbance over it.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were, of course, mostly young.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was great merriment when some elder person, who was not +recognised as a parent, was refused admission. Anton Dösen, called also +"French Dösen" because he had lived several years in France, and who +now had a shop for French fancy goods, almost exactly opposite the +Frökener Jensens at Bommem, presented himself as a "father," and wished +to enter--he had never been married, this same French Dösen. Immense +amusement!</p> + +<p class="normal">The solemn, unmoved Andreas Berg turned him back, and French Dösen +asked what the deuce was wanted before he could get in! Must he go to +the town, and get the clergyman's attestation that he was a father?</p> + +<p class="normal">French Dösen had always had the privilege of trumpeting forth his +peccadilloes. It amused people to hear of them. His shop was much +frequented, notwithstanding his light morals and talk. His competition +with the two crooked Frökener Jensens, as regarded millinery, was not +hazardous. But see, there actually are the Frökener Jensens, and they +have got in! Enormous delight in the assembled company. For there could +be no doubt that neither Fröken Jensen had had a child. Heavens +forfend!</p> + +<p class="normal">Andreas Berg explained that that was because they had a niece at +school. The reason they had no children? No! that they were admitted. +They stood in the place of parents.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," observed Dösen, "it must be more to be a father, than to stand +in a father's place." Great applause! Beside, did he not stand in the +place of a father to all those to whom he gave food and wages? Did he +not now? Andreas Berg would admit nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment arrived the town bailiff and his wife. Berg would not +allow them to pass, any more than the others, for they were not +parents, nor had they any adopted children at school. Dösen cried +"Bravo," and clapped his hands, and a number of others with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a storm of laughter, for the town bailiff was well known and +little liked. So they looked forward to some fun.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was so furious for the moment that he could not speak, but stuttered +and gesticulated. He was a tall thin fellow, with spectacles, and a +smile--not of good-humour or anything of that kind--no, there was a +sourness about it which was impressed on his whole countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he found his tongue, and asked Andreas Berg if he were mad. And +his wife, who dearly loved on such occasions to push herself forward, +remarked that no meeting in the town could be closed to the town +bailiff.</p> + +<p class="normal">This did not make the very smallest impression on Andreas Berg. He +busied himself in opening to some others who came up, and who really +were parents, and shut the door again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dösen now took up the town bailiff's cause. Andreas Berg ought to +understand that if the town bailiff had no children, that was not his +fault, nor his wife's either. Terrific applause! "The paradise of +parents could not be closed against the bailiff on that account, as +long as ...;" he could go no further. For the bailiff asked if he were +mad. "Yes, in your cause, sir," answered Dösen. What peals of laughter!</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same moment shoemaker Nils Hansen came up with his little wife. +Hundreds of times in his life the bailiff had asked him if he were mad, +so Nils Hansen laughed as soon as he heard the words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is mad now?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Andreas Berg," answered the town bailiff.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I," shouted Dösen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's the town bailiff himself," cried out several in the crowd.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Imagine," said the bailiff to Nils Hansen, "Andreas Berg has had the +impudence to--to--to--prevent my wife and me from--from--going in----"</p> + +<p class="normal">One saw that Nils Hansen found this amusing, but Laura, on the other +hand, was astonished, and questioned Berg, "Dear me, how is this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But if she thought she would induce Berg to answer, she was very much +mistaken. He opened the door for them. "<i>Værs'go</i>," he said, and they +felt obliged to go in, but they heard Dösen call after them: "The +bailiff and his wife may not go in, because they have no children."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was also heard inside the hall; a sound of laughter from a hundred +voices came rippling out; and another wave of boisterous mirth rolled +towards the door as it was closed after Nils Hansen. While conversation +went on in the hall, a new excitement arose outside. The sheriff had +come. His wife had brought a lady, a stranger, with her, whom Berg +would not admit; only "parents" were invited, he repeated firmly. He +knew this lady was called "<i>Fröken</i><a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> Krieger"; she had bought some +flowers from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sheriff, often nicknamed "the ladies' man," a fair-haired man with +a sharp waggish face, looked up at the two dismayed ladies; they were +both standing at the top of the steps, very red in the face. His wife +had always supposed that any lady <i>she</i> brought would of course not be +refused admittance, and yet this had occurred; they were fairly "caught +out," both she and her friend--a butt for the laughter of Dösen and his +companions, and stared at pityingly by a number of people whom she did +not know, for she was but newly come to the town. She was a handsome +woman, with an intellectual face, tall and slender, but she looked +quite terrified now; her eyes wandered helplessly from one to another, +and at last they fixed themselves imploringly upon her husband, who +stood down below with the others and laughed at them. "Is it so +<i>dangerous</i> for Fröken Krieger to come in?" she asked. Roars of +laughter. Apparently this annoyed Berg, he came up without warning and +pushed the lady gently to one side in order to open the door for some +more people. A number of ladies, all married and with children at +school, now came up and passed in; the unlucky wife of the sheriff +tripped down the steps, her friend following her, looking rather +embarrassed; there was a short exchange of words which ended in the +departure of the friend; she would go alone, and ran off when the +gallant sheriff offered to accompany her; the sheriff himself being +nearly run over by a carriage with two large Danish horses, driven by a +coachman in grey livery.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Consul Engel and his wife who were arriving. They drove right up +into the courtyard because Fru Engel was delicate. Nothing could have +been more careful, more tender, more charming than the manner in which +the consul helped his wife from the phaeton; he almost carried her in. +He was a handsome man, with a noble face; his well-known smile was more +friendly than ever as he passed through the crowd with his gentle +burden. She was handsome too, the expression of her eyes wise and +painful, or rather perhaps painfully wise; the same expression lay in +the lines of the mouth and in the thin cheeks. Through the whole of her +slow progress from the carriage to the steps, and her toilsome ascent +to the door, she was followed by the startled, bird-like eyes of the +sheriff's wife. They hovered over the invalid till they seemed to fill +the air with interrogation. From her they passed on to the consul, from +his eyes back again to those of his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">What in the world did they want? They filled with tears, she wiped them +hurriedly with a shy glance round. At the same moment the sheriff came +up to take her in. She was startled, coloured, smiled--nay, laughed. +Lord knows what at.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Emmy Wingaard, young and blooming, passed at the moment. The +sheriff whispered something to her which made her laugh. He asked if +they should not all sit together. Fru Emmy Wingaard's maiden name had +been Fürst; she had curly fair hair and lively eyes; she gave several +glances across to Dösen, the special friend of her brother, the naval +lieutenant. Dösen made a despairing face and hung his head. She +understood that he could not come in, and crossed her well-gloved +fingers mockingly at him; she passed on. How pretty and merry she was; +she was so like her brother Niels Fürst, the lion of this and all the +neighbouring coast towns. If any one doubted that Niels Fürst was the +lion of the neighbourhood, let them ask the lady who followed Fru Emmy; +let them ask Kaja Gröndal, the wife of the engineer who is never at +home. Ask her whether Niels Fürst, who is very often at home, is not +the favourite cavalier in all the towns round, and the vigorous lady +will look at you without a blush and ask again if any one doubted it? +The gallant sheriff let all the ladies pass in first, saying a few +friendly words to Andreas Berg, who made no reply. At the same moment +Berg saw Fru Rendalen, escorted by her son, but behind them were the +town bailiff and his wife; they all four came out from the pupils' +entrance in the principal building--the one through the tower. So the +town bailiff must have forced himself in to Fru Rendalen to complain! +Would Berg perhaps be put in the wrong before all these ill-behaved +young people because he had strictly obeyed orders?</p> + +<p class="normal">They came straight towards the principal entrance, instead of going to +the other door, which led into the ante-room where the pupils' +gymnastic dresses hung. It could be for no other reason than to obtain +admittance for the town bailiff that they came this way.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen and her son were saluted by those who were nearest; Berg +opened the door, she mounted the steps, but then stood back and +actually did let the town bailiff and his wife pass in, her son +following them. She remained standing. She was a large woman now, the +hair under her cap iron-grey, her face brown and stern, the eyes behind +her spectacles brightening its expression. She had done some good work, +and was convinced that she ought to be shown respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All of you who do not belong here will be so kind as to go; we must +have perfect quiet here now."</p> + +<p class="normal">She had hardly spoken before one or two began to move; when the +farthest away had disappeared round the corner, the others followed +their example; there was a little tittering, a few whispered +witticisms, but they went. Andreas Berg was the only one who was +inclined to grumble; it had been hard about the town bailiff. "No more +will come now, you can go in too, Berg; many thanks!" and it was all +settled.</p> + +<p class="normal">She went in herself, those nearest rose and bowed, for they were for +the most part her former pupils, and this was the old custom. But when +they did so the whole assemblage rose, too, by degrees. She bowed right +and left, and then took her seat by the side of the tribune which stood +on the platform. She looked across at the audience. Every place was +occupied; some few men were standing in the gangway; these now had +chairs given to them; they were brought in by an old woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas Rendalen was standing by the window talking to Dr. Holmsen. This +gentleman was somewhat fat and florid. His large prominent eyes had a +mixed expression of sarcasm and slyness; he stood there, half smiling, +half embarrassed, with one hand playing with his brown, slightly +grizzled beard as he listened to Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas Rendalen was his complete opposite--decided, fiery, eloquent. +The school children had been eager to tell that he used scent, and +truly--it wafted from him as from some fine lady. There was something +precise, too, about his linen, and about the way in which his grey +coat, of the most enviably new cut, fitted him. He was well-built and +very elastic in all his movements. While he whispered to the doctor he +had a nervous, impressive manner, as though every moment were of the +greatest importance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly he broke off and hurried across the room, for the door had +opened once more, and those entered for whom apparently he had been +waiting--old Green, led by Karl Vangen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, now he was <i>old</i> Green; a bowed old man who walked cautiously +forward, led by tall Pastor Vangen. Karl's face was one of those which +do not easily alter; the large forehead, the honest eyes, the deep +eye-sockets, and the wide mouth with its slight smile, which Tomas had +in his time made such fun of, were all just the same as before, only on +a taller body. Tomas came forward to salute the old man, and walked +respectfully beside him to where an armchair had been placed for him, +beside Fru Rendalen, upon the platform. Karl Vangen sat down beside +him, and Tomas Rendalen mounted the tribune.</p> + +<p class="normal">He pushed his nervous, freckled hands through his red hair, making it +stand still higher up; felt for his pocket-handkerchief, took hold of +the water bottle, then moved some things off the desk; he was a +dreadfully restless fellow.</p> + +<p class="normal">He peered through his half-closed grey eyes, now here, now there, +finally at his mother and old Green, smiled at Karl and began. His +voice was a tenor, full, mellow, and practised, so that it sounded +pleasantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the utter astonishment of the assembled company, he said that it was +principally on the subject of morality that he wished to speak; it was +principally for a moral object that this hall had been built.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole course of education in the school would, still more than +before, have morality for its aim.</p> + +<p class="normal">In order that he might speak freely on the subject, it had been +necessary to restrict the audience entirely to parents, or those who +stood in their stead, and who might be expected, for that reason, to +treat a serious matter in a serious spirit.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a seriousness about himself which was combined with but +little acuteness: he almost threatened them. He did not in the least +perceive how horrified this meeting of provincial townspeople at once +became; he took their embarrassment for a kind of awe, for something of +the solemn feeling of a meeting in church. He continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not alone for woman's sake must this subject be seriously approached, +but for man's sake as well. All take care of themselves, men as well as +women, but women had the incentive to watch over her own interests, so +she stood higher as a companion and in society.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was in this that the school ought, better than before, to aid her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The venerable man who sat on his right once said to him, that only +those families succumbed to drunkenness whose nerves had first been +thoroughly weakened by a dissolute life. In such families the habit of +drunkenness very easily becomes hereditary; I think that more than this +can be traced to the same cause. Addiction to pleasure--that +undoubtedly often grows in vigorous soil; but a man may appear vigorous +enough and still be excessively enervated. That characterlessness which +is incapable of overcoming opposition is, as a rule, the result of the +forefathers' sensuality with the addition of his own; every kind of +moral and intellectual looseness and dulness, when it spreads in a +family which has at one time taken a foremost place, can, for the most +part, be traced back to this cause. At all events, it is the strongest +among several. Our passion, our hastiness, our impatience, our +exaggeration, our irritability--unless, indeed, they can be traced to +some accident in our bringing up, some purely accidental state of +health--find their strongest cause here.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All such are weaknesses contracted in the course of several +generations; perhaps increased in the later ones.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The investigations on this subject are so recent that we cannot yet +bring forward such strong proofs as we believe to exist; it is only +lately that the work of seriously minded men and women has been +concentrated on this object, as the most important possible. But those +who realise that this is the case are still few. Therefore schools are +not by any means able to cope with the subject; especially girls' +schools, which are absolutely bad.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The girls' school which we are now in is, as a place of education, as +good as any in the country. I have satisfied myself on that point, but +it has been the greatest regret of the principal, during the whole +course of her labours, that the aim which she originally set before +herself, that of giving a <i>larger</i> share to moral than to general +education, has not been attained to. It is on this point that my mother +has conferred with me more than on any other, so that at last it became +my daily thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My parentage, my education, my career have, in more ways than one +prepared this work for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">[His voice trembled a little, and he was obliged to pause, his mother +was affected: general wonderment.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Woman's moral training'? most of you will object, 'is there anything +amiss with it? Among the lower orders perhaps, but in the refined +classes of the town is it not excellent? Protected by religion, in the +pure atmosphere of home, in the regular work of school, in a guarded +life passed among those of the same age and sex.' Yes, and what results +from all this?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me merely in passing take the pure atmosphere of home. In a +seaport town--all will admit it--the strongest current is by no means a +moral one. Traders and sailors, as is unavoidable from their mode of +life, are among the worst in respect to morality. No one dare deny it. +An early wandering life takes the morals on to very slippery ground, +and a merchant's business, where the percentage of profit fluctuates as +it is honestly, or dishonestly gained, does not strengthen the moral +life. His cultivation is, as a rule, very slight, his reading confined +to a few newspapers, or perhaps novels; his intercourse, outside his +own occupation and family, next to nothing, so that here there is +little counterpoise. A sailor's life is, as a rule, one without ties, +passed in every sort of country, in all parts of the world; in nine +cases out of ten the master is an uncultivated man, perhaps a rough +one, often tyrannised over by his 'owners,' and almost always +tyrannical himself when opportunity offers. As things stand with us at +present, when the skipper has learned to filch a percentage from the +freight, as well as from everything he buys for the use of the ship, +even to the very water--I know such cases!--systematic robbery, one may +say--we can understand that high principles will not be cultivated in +such a life. And but a rough example is given, as a rule, to the +subordinates.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The return of men such as these by no means strengthens the desire for +morality in the town, or increases its stock of character. As regards +the homes, those of the skippers especially, we can conceive that the +children's bringing-up must have received a strong bias; or, if every +one cannot imagine it, I will lay it out before you."</p> + +<p class="normal">[I wish that my readers could have seen the horror, the confusion, the +shamefacedness of the assembly, the rage of some, of three sunburnt +skippers, for example! Others gazed uneasily into their hats, or at the +backs of those before them. Some there were, however, who delighted in +the scandal! They alone ventured to look up, their eyes turned eagerly +towards the smiling Engel, the skippers, the tradesmen, the sheriff, +and their wives--towards all, indeed, who on one account or another +must sit on the stool of repentance. There were women ready to cry with +shame, anger, and vexation at being there; they were prepared to fly at +any moment, but dared not actually do so. There were men who thought, +"If this goes half an inch further--by all the devils I shall be off." +But they did not move. When the doctor blew his nose, they were all as +startled as though it had lightened.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many people firmly believe that if a child sees nothing indecent at +home, and hears no doubtful stories, everything has been done which can +be done, especially if they are heedful that the child himself does +nothing improper. I contend that if no more than this is done, a child +is exposed to every possible evil. Here people rave about the innocence +of ignorance; there is something concerning that subject which I cannot +now speak about--I shall take an opportunity of doing so later; I +confine myself at present to saying that that innocence which knows +what the danger is, and has fought against it from youth up, that +innocence <i>alone is strong</i>. All education which tends to further this +object must have, as an absolute condition, <i>full confidence between +the child and its parents</i>--at any rate, between the child and its +mother; or, to carry out the whole of my idea, between the child and +that parent who is most fitted to gain its confidence; for this is, in +itself, a special gift, and if neither of the parents has it, which may +easily happen, then find some one who has. Use all means to accomplish +this.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the child's father be a man who has not honourably fought the fight +(it must come to him sooner or later), he is then, not only the fifth +wheel in the coach, which would go all the same, but, as a rule, an +actual hindrance. For there is often something in his manner, his +speech, his ways which wounds or tempts; those subjects which should be +seriously and firmly dealt with become with him almost amusing; they +are treated as things to be lightly touched upon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this town, such as I know it, and indeed as you know it who have +grown up in the place and become sharp-sighted in regard to it--in this +town, I think, most houses are weak in this respect. The fathers give +no help, the attempts of the mothers to keep up a thorough confidence +as between comrades, are certainly great, but they rarely succeed, they +do not understand how to do it. Till this is altered, the work at +school for the cause of morality will prove deceptive, for it can +easily place a child between noble teaching and evil practice; a +knowledge of evil unsupported by watchful confidence may easily itself +become a temptation. St. Paul has pointed this out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I forewarn you for this reason: our work at first will often rise up +in witness against us, but for all that there is no other course open +to us--no, no other. Do we not know that there is one particular epoch +of life for which, more than for any other time, it is necessary to +provide and to secure means of helping? How to do this is the question. +Ask any doctor, ask any experienced teacher, if this is not the case.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mother, whom I am justified in calling an experienced teacher, can +bear witness that at this period of change most girls deteriorate in +that they lose their openness, and much of, or all their industry and +sense of order; something strange and of a mixed nature seems to enter +into their composition--very different, however, with different +individuals. Remember, she says, 'that this is the case with the +majority; there are exceptions, but this is the rule.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">[Looking at the audience, you would have thought that these remarks +applied only to women, and not to men. For the men looked openly and +unblushingly at the women, which only made the moment more painful for +the latter, especially for those who were known to all the world as +having been pupils of Fru Rendalen.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore it is precisely on this point that our work must be brought +to bear, it must be completely prepared to meet this physical change, +and everything must be directed to this end.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For it is no use denying that this exists, or shutting one's eyes to +it. It is the most important thing that a teacher can be concerned +with. What, compared to this, which really means the preservation of +body and soul, are, say, a knowledge of languages, instruction in the +piano or in feminine neatness, but mere luxuries. History, geography, +arithmetic, writing, are of rather more value, but even they are of +secondary or even third-rate importance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, but religion, you will say, does not that often help? Ah! what +do you understand by that word? Knowledge of God and of the moral laws +is, of course, a most needful knowledge, but it is only when such +knowledge influences the conduct that it becomes effective. <i>It is very +rarely</i> that it does this. Do not build too much on a faith that may be +lost. It is only a minority on whom religious belief has a lasting +effect. We do not realise this, because with us religion is almost the +only thing which holds its own--outside, that is, of our large towns. +Religion appears to us to be powerful, because we have not yet acquired +the habit of looking about us, and because most of us are a good deal +given to deceiving ourselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Children, in matters of this sort, do not really stand on a different +level from adults; do not imagine that they do so. They can, it is +true, be very easily led, but they can be brought with even more ease +and more completely to forget one thing and take up another. It takes +very little to make them believe, but it takes still less to make them +doubt, so that the ratio between belief and unbelief remains the same. +Those whose religious belief forms a lasting restraint on their moral +character are, among children as among adults, but few.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are four clergymen present. I ask them if they can rise and +contradict me? I do not believe that they feel any inclination to do +so."</p> + +<p class="normal">[A short pause. All eyes were fixed upon such of the clergymen as they +could see. The four reverend gentlemen sat as unmovable as graven +images.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I hold then, you ask, that religion is of no importance in a +school? Much the contrary? But there should be no class of religious +instruction which does not partake of the thorough earnestness of a +religious lecture. Let it as often as possible be given by the person +who will have the preparation of the child for confirmation--that is to +say, generally by the clergyman. I would say entirely by him, if that +could be arranged. Thus the relation of the clergyman to the teacher +would be that of a support to the latter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot go further into this question: I will only add that this is +the arrangement adopted for our school. The friend of my youth, my +brother, Pastor Karl Vangen, will take the children between six and +sixteen every morning for religions instruction and edification, and +the intention is that he shall conduct their whole religious training +until their confirmation. But it follows from what I have said that he +can only hope to make the relationship of deep and lasting value <i>for a +very few</i>. It is only right that this fact should be realised in +schools."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lately," continued the speaker after another very short pause, "an +attempt has been made to set up the study of history and of general +literature as branches of knowledge which have an influence in the +formation of character. When these studies have been more fully adapted +as subjects of instruction than they have yet been, they will have more +importance in this respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Undoubted assistance was, of course," he went on, "always to be gained +from these studies. The child learned to know of good, great, and noble +thoughts, and obtained a grasp, if only a slight one, of the course of +human history, as well as the history of single peoples or great men. +But it can never be a matter of the <i>first</i> importance to hear about +others."</p> + +<p class="normal">[The audience now became curious. Where would he get to at last? They +felt that something important was coming.]</p> + +<p class="normal">He leaned forward over the tribune and said slowly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The most important form of knowledge which a man can acquire, is the +knowledge how to regulate his own life; the next, how to regulate the +lives of those who come after him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"These words of Herbert Spencer may be taken as a rule of life for the +whole world. Until this also is made the thing of most importance in +schools, other subjects will not fall into their right places in the +whole scheme of instruction or the arrangements subsidiary thereto. But +the task of learning self-restraint, of learning to guide our +offspring, this is the moral aim and the only stable ground of all +instruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If at an early age you obtain adequate knowledge of how your body is +constructed and how it works, and if you also learn to know how you can +benefit or injure it, and through yourself those who will be born to +you, or who may be dependent on you, this knowledge not only becomes +your greatest safeguard if you <i>will</i> use it, but as a rule it gives +you a desire to do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A feeling of self-respect is aroused more strongly by knowledge than +in any other way, but that this may be the result, the knowledge must +not be imparted too late. I need not say that ordinary schools give far +too little instruction of this kind, and that little not as it should +be given. The pupils must understand why it is given; the teacher must +be open, thorough, with no concealments, for the very things which are +usually kept out of sight <i>are the most important</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I speak of that period of life to which I have before alluded. Is the +child ever told what that is which is beginning? I mean, has it full, +absolute knowledge? does it know what temptations will come, or why +they will come? Has it learned how they are to be met? or how at that +time it can create conditions for health, and through its health its +character, good-humour, happiness?--that on that time hangs its future +life, nay, that of its offspring? Is that taught in such a way as to be +branded, so to say, into the child's will? Have the subjects of which I +spoke been raised to a level of one which here, and now, might guide +the scholar's fancy by noble incentive, strong purpose, enthusiasm? for +children, especially young girls, can be made enthusiastic.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or, to come down to what every one is capable of forming a judgment +about, do the parents at home know that at that age certain sorts of +food, certain seasonings, are baneful to some natures? That for some a +special diet is necessary? What sort of diet that should be? Is it +known in schools that a special course of gymnastics may be of great +assistance? Children are not all alike in respect to the amount of +watchfulness and management which they require; some few require no +special attention. But that most do need it, is a fact upon which I +confidently appeal to the experience of this meeting, whose members +have all been young once and have had young companions."</p> + +<p class="normal">[He made a pause and looked round the room; a little bird could be +heard twittering in the distance.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"A further question: Is it not at that period of life that those, who +had not learned to do so before, now learn to deceive? To act secretly, +with a bashfulness which wounds the sense of honour and thus injures +the character? If one thing can be admitted, another cannot--to the +destruction of the character. Quietly, and as a rule quite unsuspected, +at that age the powers of self-destruction begin to work in body and +character; no one will dare to contradict me."</p> + +<p class="normal">[The terrible pauses which he made were almost worse than anything he +said; here he made one again. But he now passed on to something else.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"But is there no place in the world," he asked, "where the schools are +arranged as these experiences demand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">[He answered this question by fully describing several schools in +America and England: some for girls alone, some for girls and boys +together. He also described several colleges for young women alone, and +some for young men and women; he did not consider that any one of them, +singly, offered all that he wished, but each one had something, many a +great deal. He spoke at some length on a medical college at Boston, +where an unmarried woman was professor of anatomy, and that, for +students of both sexes; he mentioned that she further endeavoured to +get her female pupils appointed as teachers in the girls' schools in +the city. This lady professor was of opinion that every school should +have a doctor as a teacher, and that he, or some other person, well +instructed in Natural Science, should overlook the whole of the +children's studies on this subject; the lessons must always be given so +as to make a deep impression.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"Already children can learn by the aid of microscopes how plants, for +example, are formed of cells, how the different parts are developed +from one common origin; they can observe how they breathe, see their +division into cells, the growth of the upper parts, the fructification; +can have their imagination seized, nay, even regulated, by Nature's +work and harmony. The child should early obtain a holy admiration for +all that is healthy, fresh, natural, as well as compassion for all that +is injured or sickly, a horror of anything unnatural, though this must +be blended with compassion as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Microscopes, analysis, and such a variety of diagrams and apparatus +must be used, that there can be no possibility of a false impression +being conveyed on any of the principal subjects, nor must the +instruction become merely a wearisome lesson or a lecture over which +they would go to sleep; it must be real personal work, developing the +powers under the teachers' guidance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Schools would naturally become much more expensive than at present; +the providing of appliances, if that were properly done, would +constitute an especially serious outlay." He told them what the price +of a single microscope would be, and each school ought to have a large +number; beside which, the teachers must have larger salaries. "But the +war estimates are paid," he said cheerfully, "a race, strong both +morally and physically, would be ample compensation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To obtain more time, not only must the complete apparatus be used, +which itself immensely facilitates the course of instruction, but other +subjects must be taught on quite a different method from that at +present in use, and all lessons must be done at school under the +guidance of the teacher. School must therefore, of course, be held both +morning and afternoon, and a dinner of sufficient and nourishing food +be provided on the spot. When the child left the school it should be +completely free, should have nothing on its mind for the next day.</p> + +<p class="normal">"About all this and about arrangements as to instruction on the new +plan, he would speak at the same time and place next Saturday; he +invited all the parents to attend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He would not conceal his belief that in no short time teaching all +over the world would be arranged in the way he had indicated; all at +the cost of the State, of the Community. This was society's most +important cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, uninfluenced by what might come, or what now existed, his school +for the development of the powers and characters of women would follow +the lines which <i>he</i> thought to be right. There is no precept so strong +as example.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He asked earnestly for the parents' help; He hoped to make it an +honour for this town to have taken the lead in this cause, but it would +be an expensive enterprise. What expense would not be incurred merely +for the lady doctor, who was coming over from America, to undertake the +teaching which he considered as the most important for the school?"</p> + +<p class="normal">[Movement, murmurings, excitement among the audience for the first time +during the lecture.]</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, in Boston I met a Norwegian lady who went over there when still +very young, and who had passed her examination at the medical college +several years ago. She is called Miss Cornelia Hall; this lady is +already an experienced teacher in girls' schools, and has also a +practice; in coming here she makes a sacrifice for her native land, but +we cannot entirely accept this, we cannot allow her to relinquish a +salary of three thousand dollars a year to receive the ordinary pay of +a Norwegian teacher. She would not be able to practise here except +under the conditions of the law with respect to Quacks, a law as +unworthy of a doctor, as of the people who had made it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beside this, although the collection of school apparatus is no doubt +very considerable, it can hardly be too much so. The labour in teaching +is lessened in exact proportion as these apparatus are augmented.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not ashamed to declare that my mother, who has spent a fortune on +this, is unable to go any further. I have, perhaps, already overtaxed +her resources. I therefore confidently turn to all at this meeting, +especially to the women, and say to them: If you know by experience the +value of a highly cultivated woman who has learned to control herself, +and rely on herself, then come to my help! Do so for your children's +sake, do it for the sake of a good example! For myself, I will live and +die for the cause in our native town."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">He spoke these last words with a suddenly rising emotion, it came over +him with such overwhelming force that he forgot about the opening of +the gymnasium. He had to leave the tribune without even a bow; he +disappeared through the door of the little ante-room, and from thence +ran across the courtyard into the house. The audience remained seated +as though he had not finished, the end came so suddenly upon them, was +so startling, and his agitation had such an electrical force about it, +that it touched them. They must have time to reflect. Some of ruder +nature down by the door rose meanwhile, the rest following their +example. And now a moment came for Fru Rendalen full of the greatest +surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not see well, not far even with her spectacles, and besides +during the whole time she had looked at no one but her son. The muscles +of the right side of her neck ached from sitting with her head turned +in his direction; when the lecture was half over, therefore, she moved +her chair and sat completely turned towards him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The subject itself was known to her clause by clause, but his energetic +delivery, his personal power, his boldness, were entirely new to her; +they did not cause her any apprehension, but rather the contrary; she +was naturally courageous, and she knew that if openness were necessary +on any subject, this was the one. She knew the actual state of things +and the indifference displayed. She wanted them to be made to listen +<i>for once in their lives</i>. And he did it so nobly, it seemed to her. +She followed and felt all his inward agitation; she knew that if he did +not keep a watch on himself he would be overcome.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, therefore, the three or four words to the meeting suddenly fired +it, she was as much upset as he. Those closing words dimmed her +spectacles, she was obliged to dry them, and while doing so saw nothing +and thought of nothing outside herself. But she roused herself and +hastily prepared to rise when the others did so; she wished to be ready +to receive any who might desire to congratulate her, and perhaps send a +message to her son.</p> + +<p class="normal">And after all no one came. Ah yes, the two Frökener Jensens came, the +two crooked little milliners--quiet, cordial, and smiling as they +always were; they expressed their thanks and sent so many messages to +the "School Director;" if they had been allowed they would have liked +to have gone in to thank him themselves. But the Frökener Jensens were +the only ones. Nils Hansen did not come, nor Laura; not one of her old +pupils, not even Emilie Engel, poor dear Emilie of whom she had been +thinking the whole time; no one came. If any one had come up to Fru +Rendalen, and in the name of the meeting given her a box on the ear, +the worthy lady could not have been more astonished. Gracious Powers! +What did it mean? For her his lecture expressed their mutual life, +thought for thought, what they had learned and experienced, and had +confirmed from each other's lives. But it was more, it was her whole +work with him first and last, from his birth till now, when he stood +there bright, cultivated, eager, full of one great aim; the lecture was +the expression of this work, this development in full flower, which was +now about to bear fruit.</p> + +<p class="normal">How she loved him, how she admired him; <i>she</i> knew what he had fought +through and effected, in these eight-and-twenty years. She knew what +was woven into every thought to which he now gave utterance.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had had visions of all this, but with no clearness; it was he who +had brought <i>that</i>; she could never have expressed it clearly, but <i>he</i> +did. Was it not like a fairy tale, in spite of all their work?</p> + +<p class="normal">The dim idea she had had at first of ousting the Kurt inheritance by +her own, and that she had afterwards daringly begun when she renovated +the gloomy ancestral house, and made it clean and bright, devoting +herself to bringing "confiding childish laughter" into it, was now +complete. She had begun it confused, stupid, but stouthearted; and now +it was accomplished by him, the child: was it not a fairy tale?</p> + +<p class="normal">How more than happy she was! She could have knelt down before the whole +assemblage to thank God--yes, joyfully with a song, though she did not +possess a single true note.</p> + +<p class="normal">She felt that if all these people came up to thank her she would not be +able to control herself, but what would that matter, for he had done it +all so well. And not one single person came! Yes, by-the-by, the +Frökener Jensens came, but no one else; they were all going. But the +old Dean? Yes, he sat there still pondering; a decided desire to speak +to her might have made him rise--yes, to say something on the part of +the others. It was only now, when almost every one was gone, that he +began to move; he raised his eyes, looked inquiringly at her for a few +moments, got up heavily, and came towards her at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, dear Frue, it was cleverly done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, was it not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very cleverly done indeed, but I would give a great deal that it had +not been done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Dean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I cannot talk about it; there is too much noise here and I am +tired--another time; remember me to him; good-bye, Frue." He took +Karl's arm and turned to descend.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was only one who was as moved, nay, overcome, as Fru Rendalen, +and that was Karl Vangen. Like her, at the beginning, he had only been +intent on the lecture and the lecturer. In his innocence he had never +grasped the possibility of any one's feeling otherwise than that this +was the right thing, spoken by the right man; but later, chancing to +notice the audience at a moment when some question was addressed to +them, he began to doubt; this doubt increased until at last he sat +there with a beating heart. But that no one should come to Fru +Rendalen, no, not one, even, of her former pupils! He knew her face, he +saw how she was pained. And now the Dean as well! He let go his arm and +seized her hand in both his, he would have liked to hug her; but there +were still too many people in the room. He looked at her till the tears +sprang to his eyes, and so, notwithstanding, he hugged and kissed +her--any one might look who liked. Then he gave his arm a little +awkwardly to the Dean, and helped him down.</p> + +<p class="normal">This made the worthy Fru Rendalen herself again; she hurried, with a +lighter step than one could have thought possible, out of the door to +the little ante-room, and from there across the courtyard to the house. +She looked for her son there, he had just taken off his coat and +waistcoat and was going to have a bath; but she could not wait until he +had finished, she threw herself on to him, pressing him to her breast, +and crying as she exclaimed: "Tomas, dear Tomas, my own Tomas!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He also had at last realised that something was amiss, and now her +look, her manner, confirmed it; besides, she said nothing, gave him no +message, although she had remained behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">He felt, now that the strain was over, a gloomy anxiety, a stab at his +heart; but he did not wish to talk about it, neither did she, so she +left him to take his bath.</p> + +<p class="normal">Andreas Berg remained behind in the gymnasium, and after the last +person had gone he locked the door and walked in a dignified manner to +a corner near the principal entrance. The different gymnastic apparatus +were piled up there and covered with a large sail. He seized hold of +the sail, dragging it noisily down on to the floor. Upon this two heads +came into view, four arms, which hastily twined themselves together, +two skirts, and four laced boots; two fiery red faces, bathed in +perspiration, were pressed close together; a tangled mass of fair hair +was mixed with a dark one in the same condition. Berg stood there, +looking severe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see several times as the sail moved," he said; "I could not think +whatever it could be; at last, thinks I, as it was two of the little +girls, and it's two grown young women; aren't you ashamed o' +yourselves?" One of the girls began to cry, the other laughed. "And the +children of worthy men; the sheriff's daughter," he continued to the +one who was laughing, "a grown girl, confirmed and in the senior class, +and you there as well; do you think I don't know you? Nils Hansen's +daughter; your mother was here, she should ha' seen you under the sail, +and your father as well; there's a power o' difference between you and +your sister Augusta; she was always pretty behaved. Take yourselves +off. I'm going now to tell the mistress."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was not out of the door before they jumped up. Good heavens! what +did they look like? their clothes, their hair, their faces--especially +their faces--exactly like a little child who has been crying and has +rubbed the tears all over its face with grimy hands; their hands had +been dirtied by all the implements among which they lay, and they had +used them to brush away the perspiration which ran into their eyes; and +how stiff and wretched they were; though they had had plenty of +opportunity to prepare a comfortable place for themselves, they had +remained so very long in the same position. At least an hour before the +lecture began they had been under the sail, never feeling secure the +whole time. One cried and scolded the other, who laughed; but when they +both got a good view of each other and told one another how they +looked, they burst into peals of laughter, and rushed into the little +room at the other end of the building, where they knew that there was +toilette apparatus. After that they were to go across to tell the +boarders all about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">For it was not for themselves alone that they had hidden under the sail +for two hours; no, they had been chosen for it by the senior class; +they had all come and pulled the sail over them. The girls had had some +food with them, and some beer to drink as well, but they had disposed +of that long before the lecture began. Over the way, in the boarders' +sitting-room, the senior class was assembled. Something which only the +parents were to hear about must be so very extraordinary; and those two +knew all about it now.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two girls only allowed themselves time to wipe away the worst of +the dirt, and to smooth their hair so far that they need not be ashamed +to run across the courtyard. But hurry as they would, the impatience of +the others stole a march upon them. The whole class tore across the +courtyard to the gymnasium. They had waited to see Andreas Berg shut up +and disappear; he had taken his time over it, but at last he had gone +into the kitchen. The two had been chosen on account of their good +memories, and, incredible as it may seem, they remembered almost all +the lecture, at all events all the portions which were most telling, +the best delivered and the newest.</p> + +<p class="normal">And if Tomas Rendalen had lectured to an ungrateful audience, here was +one which was responsive enough; young girls love courage; when they +have not to be in the front themselves they glow with admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">The tall, fair, slender one with the large eyes, is the sheriff's +daughter--look at her; she has her mother's birdlike face, but instead +of its expression, hers was held high as if for a bold flight. It was +framed by a mass of disordered fair hair which now, when her eyes, her +whole face glowed, seemed to glow with them. She did not remember the +different heads of the lecture in their exact order, the most +important, the most interesting, came first; from their school-life and +association with Tomas, Fru Rendalen and the teachers, they were all +better qualified to seize his meaning than the audience in general had +been. But as Nora was in full flow she stopped, grew crimson, then +white: Fru Rendalen stood there on the steps!</p> + +<p class="normal">Andreas Berg had kept his word, and they had forgotten him.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Andreas had come to her, Fru Rendalen had been so upset, that it +was an absolute delight to her to find anything upon which to vent her +displeasure; she marched out down the great steps; she wished to catch +the girls in the very act, and therefore went the whole way round the +wing and along the gymnasium, so as to come in behind them.</p> + +<p class="normal">But just at the ante-room door, which the others had of course +forgotten to shut, she heard Nora, helped out by her friend, delivering +the lecture--Tomas's lecture--with Tomas's tone of voice, his delivery, +his fire, with really noble eloquence. Yes, there was one who had +listened! The stately Fru Rendalen would in pure self-forgetfulness +have held back just for the sake of hearing and being with them, but it +was not construed in that way; Nora's terror, the cry of the others, as +they turned and saw this all-powerful lady, was worth remembering. Fru +Rendalen was schoolmistress enough to look for this token of respect; +she raised her voice and said, "I ought to be excessively angry, and +that to some purpose! I see you <i>understand</i> this! But anything so +marvellous as Nora's memory I have never heard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never heard anything so marvellous"--it was well that it was not +school time. But when Nora heard that it was not to cost her her life, +and saw that Fru Rendalen was really pleased, she flung herself upon +her neck with all the impetuosity of sixteen and burst into tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">It pleased Fru Rendalen. "You are a wild, sweet girl," she said. +"Listen, child; when you have finished here, come over to me and we +will have some regular fun."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>IV</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_04.0" href="#div1Ref_04.0">THE STAFF</a></h2> +<div style="margin-left:25%; font-size:90%"> +<p class="continue">This, thinks the intelligent reader, will be<br> +an account of a school, and I quite agree<br> +that so it ought to be. But life's logic is<br> +not always ours, and we are going to keep<br> +to that of life.</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_04.1" href="#div1Ref_04.1">A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">That same evening Tomas knew what Dean Green thought of the lecture. +Karl was the bearer of this information. Tomas went out to him when he +saw him in the avenue, and they went for a long walk into the country +to the left of "The Estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dean Green had assumed that when Tomas proposed to explain his design +for the school, it really was that design he meant, and not something +quite different; he had not for a moment imagined the possibility of +its being a scheme on a large scale in which the plan for the school +was merely hinted at. Such a lecture, on such a subject, might be given +in this country, but it must be in one of the large towns; in a small +one it might be possible to do so with impunity ten years hence, and at +all events it should be given by a man in an independent position; but +a man who wished to found a school on it ... a more ill-judged lecture +the old gentleman could not imagine. It was incumbent on Karl to tell +this to Tomas, word for word, for he must have no illusions as to what +would follow. If the school went on after this it would be exclusively +owing to the respect which his mother had inspired. After such a +challenge, it was sure to be condemned. Not by what it taught--no, but +if any girl who left school during even the present year made a false +step, the school would bear the blame. The Dean had gathered from the +lecture that Tomas himself had feared this. Why in the world, then, had +he not held his tongue? Now a single chance might destroy the school. +It is impossible to describe how this took hold upon Tomas; he felt +that in repeating this Karl agreed with the Dean; he felt that his +mother would go over to them as well, that every one would. He had been +guilty of egregious folly. They did not return before midnight. They +could not talk to his mother that evening, everything was quiet when +they entered their rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas had his old one, next to the bath-room, but it had all been done +up for his home-coming. Karl had the one next it, the corner room; like +all those in the house, it was so long that the curtains which divided +the bed from the rest of the room were hardly noticeable. Their supper +was set for them, but they were cast down to such a degree that they +did not touch it. After Karl had gone to bed, Tomas sat beside him, nor +was it only on this night that he did so.</p> + +<p class="normal">Early the next morning--it was Sunday--Fru Rendalen was down at Nils +Hansen's; she wished to act according to her usual ways. She came up +again just at the time people were going to church. Karl saw her from +his window, which faced the avenue, and told Tomas; he himself was +going to church. Tomas went out with him to his mother; she looked +worried.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So not even Nils Hansen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Nils Hansen himself had said he did not like to be called names in +church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What had he meant by that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That he went to a public lecture to learn something, or to hear +something pleasant, not to be abused himself, or to hear others +abused."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen had answered that a lecture must point out people's +faults.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you must not <i>invite</i> people to hear about their faults."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Fru Hansen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Laura did not think his lecture wise. "Children must not know +everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the contrary, the shoemaker had objected that his peasant experience +taught him quite the opposite; in the country, children knew everything +from the time they were quite little, and although there was much +immorality in the country, it was not for that reason, but because the +whole subject was neglected there. He himself had been brought up in a +thickly populated district, where both sexes went to the same school +and played the same games until they were grown up; they knew +everything, but he looked back to that time with confidence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nils Hansen had said this so often before that Tomas was puzzled why +his mother should repeat it now. She did it merely to gain time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fact was that Fru Emilie Engel was ill; she had been carried +straight to bed from the carriage, the doctor had been there yesterday, +again during the night, and had just now come away: Fru Rendalen had +met him; she began to cry.</p> + +<p class="normal">If Emilie succumbed to this it would be her fault, she might have +understood that Emilie could not bear that men's infidelity should be +spoken about while her husband was beside her; so, weak and delicate as +Emilie was, Fru Rendalen ought, at any cost, to have prevented Tomas +from doing such a thing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead, she had rejoiced over what he had done. That was because both +she and others always agreed with Tomas when they were in his company, +whether they would or no. For of course he had gone too far. The doctor +had said so too. What had he said? "He said that it was those cursed +nerves--Kurt excess--in another form." She began to cry again.</p> + +<p class="normal">And as though Tomas wished on the spot to show her that the doctor and +she were right, he flew into a violent passion. "It was really dreadful +to have come home to such a miserable position, to be obliged to work +among indifferent and poor-spirited people, who fled right and left as +soon as ever a reform was brought forward."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not the reform itself but the way--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The way? A reform cannot be effected by stealth, it must show itself +for what it is. Yesterday evening, when he was tired, he had felt this +icy coldness as well, it made him shiver; but now it really was all too +mad; if every one deserted, he would hold his ground; he certainly had +thought that his mother would have been better than that; for in +reality it was mostly her experiences which he had brought forward +yesterday.</p> + +<p class="normal">This passed, out in the garden, on Sunday morning. On Thursday at +midday the local newspaper--the <i>Spectator</i>--was delivered to its +subscribers. Under a large note of interrogation by way of heading a +correspondent wished to know if it really were true that in a large +school in the town the greater number of the pupils had fallen into +immorality? Although it was the principal himself who had said this to +several hundred people, one must still permit oneself to doubt it. That +he had not been misunderstood would be proved by the following +quotation: "This (namely, immorality) <i>was the rule</i>, he said; <i>the +contrary was the exception</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">This contribution was not signed. It fanned the smouldering feeling to +an open flame. No one spoke of anything else. There was an abject +terror among all the school-girls the next day; they came up to morning +prayers, pupils and teachers as well, as though they were about to be +punished, and Karl Vangen was so much agitated, that he could scarcely +pray. The day's work was dull and spiritless. Rendalen did not show +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">He responded in his own name in the next number (Thursday's). He said +that if this misunderstanding were intentional, it was paltry; if +unintentional, explanation ought at least to have been sought +privately. Nothing had been said that in the least resembled this; all +that was said was that the transition from childhood to maturity was so +difficult a time for most that it became dangerous, and it therefore +needed watchfulness.</p> + +<p class="normal">What the principal of the school had noticed was that the characters of +children of that age altered, that they lost their industry, their +sense of order; "that this was the rule, the contrary the exception." +Could any one discover in this any such frightful suggestions as had +been made?</p> + +<p class="normal">The answer was good, but it did not avail, the excitement was so great +that no words could set things straight. "Why was this transition +dangerous?" they wished to know, if not for the reason he now tried to +evade?</p> + +<p class="normal">Just below Rendalen's answer appeared in the same number another +question, signed "A Mother:" "Why was it of such great importance +that little children should learn how the race is propagated?" This +inquiry gave expression to a <i>second</i> side of the scandal, which +filled the town. Under this question was still another address to Herr +<i>Real-Kandidat</i>, School Director Rendalen; it begged "most +respectfully" to ask, if he would not allow the lecture, which he had +delivered last Saturday at the new gymnasium of the girls' school to be +printed. Those who had heard it might thus enjoy it again, and those +who had not been so fortunate ought not to lose the opportunity of +obtaining some information on so remarkable a subject: signed "A friend +of sound and safe enlightenment."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the next number (Saturday's) an answer from Rendalen: "Children +already learned natural history, and therefore of course the terms for +propagation of the species. Why they must learn this, any head-master +or principal of a school could answer as well as he; this formed no +part of the new side of his proposal, and only so far affected small +schools as regarded the scope and method of teaching the subject." To +the other question he replied, that a lecture to which only parents had +had admission was evidently not fitted for general circulation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Few found this answer satisfactory; he simply evaded the question; at +least three hundred people had heard the lecture, so that it might +quite properly be discussed in the press.</p> + +<p class="normal">Three more contributions in the same number. The first expressed +pleasure in the promptness of the reply; would Herr Rendalen now +further explain how the sinful inclinations of young people could be +checked by microscopes? This witticism was at once recognised as +Dösen's. The second was signed "<i>Arithmeticus</i>" and reckoned up what it +would cost the country if, in the future, every school were to have a +doctor as a teacher; he calculated that a sum of one million kroner a +year would be necessary for this item alone; if every school were to +have a chaplain as well, this would require an equal sum; a rough +estimate of the cost of the apparatus, necessitated by Rendalen's plan, +would, reckoned as income, be hardly less than one hundred thousand +kroner a year. Therefore the school budget of the country would be +burdened with an addition of about two million one hundred thousand +kroner a year. He asked if this were reasonable?</p> + +<p class="normal">After this came a communication addressed to Herr Tomas Kurt, otherwise +Rendalen. A child of the town, it said, had fouled its own nest. If +this town were worse than others, which the writer begged leave to +doubt, then the ancestors of the lecturer were certainly most to blame +for it, and that both in ancient and modern times, he was certainly +therefore the last who ought to talk? This contributor signed himself +"<i>Suum cuique</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the same day that these appeared Rendalen gave his second lecture, +and at this, which was announced as being exclusively a technical one, +twenty people, including the teachers, were present; beside these, ten +came in during the course of the lecture.</p> + +<p class="normal">One could see that those eight days had pressed hardly upon Thomas, Fru +Rendalen, and Karl. Tomas's opening to-day was another man's--tame, +flat, hesitating; his nervousness had increased twenty per cent., his +handkerchief was out of his pocket and in again, the water-bottle was +emptied, his hair pushed up; he fidgeted with his hands, and his feet +moved about as though he were blowing the bellows of an organ. But when +he began to speak of the school plan, exhibiting and explaining +appliances and apparatus, he caught fire and was soon his old self +again, his superior power of making things plain and of awakening +interest in them was recovered. A microscope with a leaf under it was +passed round while he spoke; he showed them a succession of new things, +either entire collections, or large coloured pictures, or highly +finished models which could be taken to pieces and studied in the most +minute details; for example, a man's chest, stomach, neck, head, some +of the finer parts being on an enlarged scale. Such a collection of +apparatus, he said, could never have been made in their own country. +"We are indebted to the interest of the world at large that we, remote +and small as we are, are able to see such a one; and, moreover, that I +should have been able to procure it." Some of it, however, he said, had +been given to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The few who were present at the lecture were extremely pleased; they +thought the school might still do well even if he had given an +unfortunate lecture.</p> + +<p class="normal">But these favourable views were carried away by too few to create a +counter-current. In Thursday's number a contributor asked the man who +had signed himself "<i>Suum cuique</i>," if it meant "For every pig." If +this question were on behalf of Rendalen it was absolutely the worst +which had yet been advanced against him. The contributor began by +saying how audacious it was that a young man, and one, moreover, who +had scarcely been at home since he was grown up, should descant upon +the morals of this town with a boastful superiority. Not only that, but +he had spoken as though he knew every skipper in the country, as though +he had followed them round the world and instituted inquiries about +them; and in order to fill up the measure of shamelessness, he had +talked as though he knew the whole trading community of the world. A +man with such great effrontery, and so inconsiderate a mode of +expression, ought not to be a teacher in an educational institution, +least of all its principal. Under these circumstances, proposals ought +at once to be made for the formation of another school. It was already +known that a well-meant application to the former principal to continue +her work as before, without Herr Rendalen's help, had been fruitless. +Well then, the writer would call upon men of position to come to the +front with a view to the formation of a new school. Such a call would +receive universal response. Every one in the town wondered who this +contributor could be; that very evening the suggestion was canvassed in +the club, but neither then did he make himself known. All agreed to +wait for Consul Engel's sake; they did not in the least doubt that he +would be on their side; every one knew only too well what had been the +result of Rendalen's lecture in Engel's home, but it would not do to +talk about plans to him now. Fru Engel was dangerously ill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although the deliberations lasted only a few minutes, every one agreed +to this at once. When it was over it was not more than nine o'clock, so +Dr. Holmsen, who had been a passive listener, went straight from the +club, which was on the market-place, up the avenue to "The Estate," and +repeated all to Tomas Rendalen; "the sooner he learns it the better," +Holmsen considered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave this wretched hole to the devil," was his advice. Tomas took the +doctor in with him to his mother and repeated to her what he had been +told, adding at once that he should certainly go away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl came home at that moment; it was all told to him and he agreed +that it was useless to go on after what he had heard that day in the +town. But Fru Rendalen would not on any account consent that they +should give way; better embody the whole school plan and its grounds in +a book, and appeal from the town to the country at large. There must +surely be enough sensible parents in the whole of Norway to enable them +to have a full school. It had not, she said, been her plan but Tomas's, +and he must therefore carry it through.</p> + +<p class="normal">She understood Tomas; it was only necessary to overcome the first +painful impression and he would be himself again. They did not separate +that night until twelve o'clock, and then they were all agreed in the +determination to continue the plan.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the school work which gave Tomas strength for this; he was an +unequalled schoolmaster and found his greatest happiness in it, and now +he brought all his powers to the task. He showed the pupils the most +amusing experiments that he knew, and described, explained, and +lectured. He still assembled the senior class, as he had done ever +since his return, one evening a week in Fru Rendalen's room, for a +special meeting. He Had given them some idea of the great question of +the position of women, as it affected the minds of the whole civilised +world; he read to them, he played to them; at this time, of course, +these meetings had a special importance for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He never, by a single word, touched on the present strife, but in his +choice of subjects for reading and conversation, nay, even of music, he +involuntarily gave them an impression of his faith in a great cause, of +his sufferings when his susceptible mind had received a blow.</p> + +<p class="normal">The senior class believed unswervingly in him, and this had a great +influence on the others: very soon he took over the instruction in +singing for the whole school; they practised elaborate choruses and +amusing plays; and this was conducive to good-fellowship as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">But notwithstanding all this, signs of rebellion showed themselves, and +that they every time disappeared again, was mostly due to Karl Vangen's +morning religious instruction to the pupils and teachers. Karl was not +a highly gifted genius, but he had one quality which outweighed genius, +he had never said what was untrue; he always said a thing exactly as he +felt it, nothing could alter him in this respect; and as his life had +been, at one time, deeply imbued with sorrow, which had at a later +time, been turned to happiness, the impression made by both remained +with him, even in the tones of his voice; this was taking. He prayed so +earnestly to God for peace in the school; the strife outside must never +be allowed to pass the steps. "We here, all of us, wish nothing but +good to each other, do we?" This was sufficient to bring some of them +to tears. On one occasion he added, that he was empowered to say that +any who had the least doubt about the school could leave at any time, +the usual notice of withdrawal would not be enforced. They must tell +this to their parents--tell them this, whether they were happy or not, +<i>exactly as it was</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had the foes of the school discovered what power Karl Vangen possessed +up there? For the assault was now directed against him. The <i>Spectator</i> +contained a paragraph, headed "To private chaplain Karl Vangen." Every +one had a regard for his character as well as for his good intentions, +therefore they were surprised in the highest degree that he could +countenance views such as had been expressed. "Only one with too little +intelligence or too much credulity (<i>sic</i>), could fail to see that this +really meant the putting of religion on one side and the substituting +of natural science for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">This elicited a perfect avalanche of letters; we will give one of them: +"The writer cannot forbear to express his sorrow for what he has lived +to see--namely, that when an audacious voice asked from the tribune of +the gymnasium at the girls' school if it were not true that only +excessively few are permanently affected by a religious life, <i>four of +the clergy had kept their seats</i>. Did they in their hearts assent to +such a scoffing speech?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was not the message of Jesus given to all men? (see Mathew xxviii. 19, +Mark xvi. 15, Luke xxiv. 47, Acts x. 42, 43, Colossians i. 23). To that +degree it was given to all that first and foremost it was understood of +the simple (see Matthew xi. 25, Luke x. 21, 1 Corinthians i. 19-27; +Romans i. 21, 22).</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, then, absolutely every one cannot be permanently affected by the +Divine truth, what fearful deductions might not be drawn from this! +Nay, could the Bible itself be a Divine truth?</p> + +<p class="normal">"The man who asked this so presumptuously lives among teachers of the +Church, nay, is one of their friends. Therefore I may venture to say +that the Voice of Unbelief is gone forth into our midst (see 1 John ii. +19, Acts xv. 24 and xx. 30, Galatians ii. 4). Where were the four +watchmen of Zion? I was on the point of rising, but I waited for them. +I ask again and with sorrow, where were they? <i>Surely they did not +sleep?</i> (see Matthew xxiv. 42, 43 and xxv. 5, Mark xiii. 33, Luke xxi. +36, 1 Corinthians xv. 33, 34, Thessalonians v. 6, Ephesians v. 14).</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I were to put my name to this it would give no food for reflection; +therefore I put the following holy words and numbers, 80th Psalm of +David, 7th verse."</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole town looked up the 80th Psalm and read: "Thou makest us a +strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh among themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">This quotation gave expression to the anger which all felt, that +through their quarrels, the town had become the laughing-stock of their +neighbours.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the rival papers of the neighbouring towns were holding festival +over this scandal. Sarcastic reports and revelations hailed down; the +town had never been famous for its godliness, and as little of its +morality and general virtue, but rather for wealth, extravagance, and +enterprise. The most unblushing expressions of admiration for the +sudden change, the astonishing moral gravity, absolutely and altogether +miraculous, which had come to "The little Babylon," were constantly to +be read in the newspapers of the "paltry towns."</p> + +<p class="normal">A few days later one of these yelpers began a <i>feuilleton</i>, obviously +written in the town itself. It was entitled "Kurt's Cove," and the +<i>cronique scandaleuse</i> of the town was most wittily set forth in it, +naturally with feigned names, but every one recognised the stories; the +<i>feuilleton</i> closed with the remark that one quite understood that it +remained a sacred duty for Kurt's Cove to hinder a reform of morals in +the town. As this was the first thing which had appeared on the side of +Rendalen's new school, every one believed (a proof of how prejudiced +they had become) that if Rendalen had not himself written the story, he +had at least helped to do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">A notice was now issued, printed in large letters, convening a meeting +of the Sailors' Association, "in consequence of the insults against our +noble seafaring community, which have been flung at us from a certain +quarter."</p> + +<p class="normal">The meeting had this remarkable feature, that hardly three sailors were +present. It was presided over by the owner of a wharf, who had never +been to sea at all; the principal speaker was the harbour master, who +had of course at one time commanded a vessel, but a very long time ago. +He thundered forth tremendously. It was he who had composed the written +protest which expressed "the scorn" of the sailors for all such talk.</p> + +<p class="normal">A copy of the protest had been sent on the spot to Tomas Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus far everything had been all that could be wished, but when the +punch was brought out and they had taken off the first edge, they +became a little too warm. It then pleased the only captain present, +Kasper Johannesen, to declare that "Tomas Rendalen was--devil take +me--right enough." What a wild tumult ensued! The harbour master at +last moved that this new slanderer should be turned out. Kasper +Johannesen would never let himself be turned out by a fellow who "<i>had +taken percentage himself</i>." He knew plenty of people who had dealt with +him! The wharfinger would have put the matter aside in a dignified +manner, but Kasper Johannesen merely told him to "go to H--l." Did they +not all know that he had become rich over unseaworthy vessels, had not +Lloyd's agent himself said so? Yes, that was a pretty sort of way of +showing kindness to sailors, &c. &c. It ended in a fight out in the +street. Ended? It did not end all that summer and autumn!</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no more talk of the school in the town for weeks, no one +spoke about anything but their business, and which of the captains were +honest and which "percentage thieves;" still about business, and which +of the captains were out-and-out thieves, and which only thieves in a +small way. And again, who among the captains were absolutely honest. +Business again, and about captain N. N., who, every one knew, could +retire and set up a business for himself. When the ships came in at the +end of autumn, the captains themselves took part in it. Some were +dismissed, and then informed against others who were not. The mates and +seamen did not wish to come forward as witnesses, but were forced to do +so. The most violent hatreds were founded or were fought out on the +spot; the "skippers' war" saved the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">The town was not large enough to have two burning questions going at +once, and naturally that which concerned gain was far the most +important.</p> + +<p class="normal">But if the "skippers' war" temporarily saved the school, it did not +save Rendalen himself; he might expect that the first opportunity would +be taken for a reckoning. He never willingly went into the town--at all +events, not in the evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">He received a reminder of the state of things when, shortly after "the +war" had broken out, he had to go down quite early one Sunday morning, +with a carriage, to the custom-house to meet Miss Hall, who was to +arrive by the English boat. That day the choral society and the +athletic club were starting on an expedition, a couple of hundred young +men therefore had assembled there, notwithstanding the earliness of the +hour. Rendalen did not feel himself safe among them; he was hardly +allowed to pass in peace, angry looks and threatening hints followed +him, and, as he got into the boat, the rope was cast off in such a way +that it knocked off his hat and splashed him--of course entirely by +accident.</p> + +<p class="normal">They understood what he was come for, it must be to meet the new +guardian of the town's virtue, the American lady-doctor. The heavy bows +of the English steamer could be seen standing in--they postponed their +own departure until they had seen the young lady. Rendalen had got her +and her luggage into the boat; she was the only passenger. They must +have a look at something so extraordinary.</p> + +<p class="normal">After all, she looked quite a child! a little, slight, active creature, +who declined all help as she came up the steps; she was down again in a +moment, because the people in the boat turned one of her boxes upside +down and she could not explain herself in Norse. She was quickly up +again with it, then off to the carriage, into it in a trice--one, two, +three--active and smiling; but only when she was seated did she look +round with surprise at the gloomy suspicious crowd; a long inquiring +look from two large eyes was cast upon them. In the meantime Rendalen +gave orders about the luggage, and put something to rights with the +reins, before he got up. Her woman's eyes made use of the time. They +possessed a clear, cool power of observation; they did not wander over +the whole crowd, but picked out several faces here and there from among +the young people, quickly, certainly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those who received a look felt it at the bottom of their hearts, and +there was not one of these two hundred young men on the quay who had +any doubt but that those eyes could discover several things.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">A little later in the course of the "skippers' war"--that is to say, +just at the end of the holidays--the news spread round the town that +lovable Emilie Engel, the friend of the poor, the friend of every one, +had been given up by the doctors.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen, in addition to everything else, had had increasing +prickings of conscience as regarded Fru Engel, and now the news came to +her as a stunning blow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of all her pupils since Augusta Hansen, no one had been like Emilie +Engel, so pretty, so clever, and so good; she had attached herself to +Fru Rendalen as to a mother, and had given her, and her alone, her +confidence when she became unhappy because she loved the man who +deceived her.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the world had known for a long time, what she had only learned in +the last year or two. It was Emilie's sufferings which, more than +anything else, had made Fru Rendalen glad that Tomas "took it all up," +as she expressed it. And now? Neither she nor her son doubted for a +moment that every one would be convinced that Tomas Rendalen had killed +her by his roughness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bitterness would all be aroused again with increased strength.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen had not obtained leave from the doctor to see Emilie; Dr. +Holmsen had said in his rough way that she was too nearly related to +the lecture; this remark had got about.</p> + +<p class="normal">Emilie Engel died early one morning, and in the afternoon her spiritual +counsellor, old Green, drove up to "The Estate." He brought a last +greeting from her, and gave Fru Rendalen her savings-bank book; in it +she had written, in large trembling characters, "For the school--yours, +E."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Dean informed Fru Rendalen that this had been done with the consent +of her husband. The amount was five thousand kroner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen's agitation and happiness, her grief and thankfulness were +so great, that she was obliged to leave the room and did not show +herself again. Tomas came home just at the moment, and met the Dean as +he was being helped by a servant down the great steps. The old man +asked him to go to his mother, he knew she wanted to speak to him. +Tomas was startled, but he controlled himself and helped the Dean into +the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen was in her bedroom, walking up and down, crying bitterly; +when she saw Tomas she threw herself upon his neck, while he implored +her for God's sake to tell him what was the matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could only look towards the book; he saw it and took it up. He felt +at once that this was salvation. What he had suffered now became +evident; he, too, burst into tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning a message was sent round to the parents of the pupils +by Fru Rendalen, asking if they might be allowed, in the name of the +school, to pay a tribute to Fru Engel's memory; if so, they must all +assemble, dressed in white, at the churchyard gate on the day of the +funeral and walk before the coffin, the younger ones strewing flowers, +the others singing a hymn, to be followed by a chorus at the side of +the grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">All who obtained leave were to assemble at the school that day at +twelve o'clock.</p> + +<p class="normal">As only a few days intervened before the opening of the school, nearly +all the pupils were in the town; the rest returned by twos and threes, +not one was absent.</p> + +<p class="normal">It really was incredible what Tomas Rendalen accomplished in seven or +eight days; he felt that a battle was to be delivered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next number of the <i>Spectator</i> announced the decease, with a few +words on Fru Engel's many good works, and the addition: "We understand +that she has left a sum of money to an institution in the town." What +this announcement lacked in plainness, was remedied in the paper. That +day there was not a single attack on the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">Under these circumstances Fru Engel's funeral became an exceptional +event. This was shown both by the preparations which were made and the +reports which circulated.</p> + +<p class="normal">The schools asked for, and obtained a holiday; it was decided to close +all the shops, to strew the streets along which the procession was to +pass with fir branches, and to have minute guns fired from a flag-ship. +It was reported that the band from the nearest garrison town had been +engaged and had obtained leave to be present. The principal merchants +of this, and the neighbouring towns, were to take the coffin from the +hearse at the churchyard gate and carry it to the grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several steamers brought people, from both up and down the coast, who +wished to see and hear.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the church-bells began to toll on the day of the funeral, the +streets were quite full, and there was soon no space to be had either +inside or outside the churchyard; if the crush had not been foreseen, +and a number of men stationed to strengthen the police force, ladies +would not have dared to venture there. As it was, the school had plenty +of room, as well as the mothers and sisters of the scholars.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, when the minute guns began and the music was heard, still +more when the procession came in sight, the crush became excessive; +some screams were heard, and a number of people became alarmed; but +things soon became quiet again, excepting that the excitement +increased.</p> + +<p class="normal">The band came up to the gate, stood there and continued playing before +it, while the hearse drew up and the merchants came forward and raised +the coffin. The numberless flowers for which no room could be found +were gathered up and carried after it.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime Rendalen had worked his way out from the procession, +and marshalled his white-robed flock within the gate. The coffin was +carried in, but they remained quiet until the hearse had driven away +and the procession was formed. The music ceased, the school children +began to sing strongly and charmingly, and this change from brass +instruments to girls' voices was striking.</p> + +<p class="normal">From this solemn moment, as the funeral train moved forward, the little +white-robed flower-strewers before, followed by the singers with the +coffin next to them--from that moment the character of the funeral +changed. Here was a festal procession, sorrow was converted into +beauty, the loss into a full-handed demonstration of honour. The +pageant of riches had paused before the gate of the dead. All presented +themselves as an offering. Fru Emilie Engel was buried like a princess.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the hymn ascended from the girls in front, and all the little hands +began to feel in their baskets for the flowers, all eyes turned towards +them; all thoughts followed this white line as it wound up the slope +among the crowd of black-robed women, for these streamed along with +them. The war which had lately raged was remembered at once, the +thought seemed to hover in the threatening atmosphere, above them and +over the black train which followed. Fru Engel's pale face rose to +their memories as they heard the hymn. It was poor, poor Emilie, who +was being buried, the hundredfold deceived Emilie, whom all of those +present, who were her elders, had known from childhood, and had seen +every Sunday in church, pale and melancholy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was it not as though these little white-clad girls had come forward to +take her from those who had come with her? By her legacy she had given +herself to these little ones. And afterwards, when the long white train +streamed on to the planked floor which had been prepared, with a +railing on the side next the grave, it again seemed as though they, and +they alone, had a right in her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen stepped up among them, with his hat in his hand. The little +flower-strewers had had their baskets replenished, and arranged +themselves before him. The coffin was lowered, there was silence; +Rendalen gave the sign, subdued music began and the chorus joined in. +He conducted with a slight movement of his hand, otherwise he was +perfectly still, filled with emotion and overcome by the moment. All +these voices gave answer for him, they sang thanks for the new school +over the grave. The women were much affected. Karl Vangen's anxious eye +sought Fru Rendalen, he saw how much she was shaken, and worked his way +towards her. But as soon as she had taken his arm she wished to cross +to the side where they were singing; she must see the grave. He led her +forward. But after she had come, there was a sense that something was +there which belonged to that other phase; it was only dimly perceived +perhaps, but it became quite clear when, the singing being ended, old +Green was helped up beside the girls and began to speak. He repeated +words which Emilie had spoken on different occasions; collectively they +formed a picture. Everything was expressed in these words, and yet +nothing was actually told, every one understood without offence being +given.</p> + +<p class="normal">The one who was the most moved was Engel, for her deep devotion to him +was expressed in one or two of these utterances, and against his will +these words made him burst into violent sobbing which he could not +restrain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Green now ceased speaking, he concluded with some words of hers, which +had followed her gift to the school. "There are two parties in this +question ... She had chosen hers," he added.</p> + +<p class="normal">The music began again, and with it the chorus; the old man was helped +down while the little ones leant over the railing to strew their last +flowers. At the same moment it thundered out in the west; far out the +sea looked black; a rain-storm was coming, a heavy one.</p> + +<p class="normal">Towards the town one saw how the flags drooped against the dark sky, +all foretold violent rain; again a crash of thunder, much louder and +nearer; the mourners began to move about, some pressed forward to look +into the grave or to speak to the family. A short time afterwards, +groups of white-clad girls passed down the road in strong relief +against the heavy sky and the dark green trees; some of them began to +run about, and others followed their example; some, to Fru Rendalen's +horror, began to laugh and shout.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">They were at dinner at "The Estate," when Fru Rendalen received two +small anonymous contributions, with the motto, "There are two parties" +During the afternoon they received several more, all anonymous, but +none of them considerable. Still, it showed that the school had friends +as well as enemies.</p> + +<p class="normal">They had not time to dwell long on this, for that evening they were to +have a little memorial feast at the school, to which Fru Engel's +friends were invited, and both the senior classes. Fru Rendalen was to +tell them about her companionship with the departed; old Green had +promised to come as well, and perhaps narrate something. There would be +music, the chorus would be repeated, and so forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole day had been spent in preparing the place where the feast was +to be held, but even so, they were hardly ready. Once more they were +interrupted by a letter, this time from Dr. Holmsen; his servant +brought it up. The doctor's name was not put to it, but his handwriting +was as well known as his servant. And who besides would have signed it,</p> + +<p class="center">"<span class="sc">An Old Pig</span>."</p> + +<p class="continue">The letter ran:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Dear Rendalen</span>,</p> + +<p style=" text-indent:10%; font-size:90%">"'There are two parties.' That is certainly most true, although I +consider that one of them has acted devilish stupidly, and I do not in +the least feel able to join myself to it. Enclosed is a cheque for +three microscopes, as you have taken it into your preposterous Kurt +skull that it can be done by microscopes. I don't believe a doit in it. +The power of knowledge will do no more here than the power of religion; +it will all remain just where it was. But something white, something of +a song, passed through the air today; that might do something perhaps. +Here is the money, any way."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The senior class was already gathering in the boarders' sitting-room. +The young ladies were to be in mourning as far as taste and opportunity +would allow, and this was something so new and interesting that they +were sure to come before their time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The feast was to be held in the laboratory--that is to say, the +Knights' Hall; it had of course cost some trouble to prepare it for a +funeral feast, but as the first ladies arrived it was finished--only +Emilie's portrait was still to come.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage with the two Danish horses and the man in grey livery on +the box, came slowly up the avenue. Fru Rendalen and Tomas met it at +the foot of the steps. Tomas opened the door for a young lady in deep +mourning, who flung herself on to Fru Rendalen's neck; she was Fru +Engel's only daughter, she was called Emilie also. She was to remain at +school a year longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was an unusually pretty girl, set off as her slender figure and +delicate complexion now were by her mourning. Over her hair, the +hereditary Engel hair, neither red nor yellow, she had a black veil, +and nothing else. She mounted the steps on Fru Rendalen's arm, crying; +Tomas followed with the portrait, which was covered with a cloth, for +it was raining.</p> + +<p class="normal">All rose as they came in, the girl herself wept still more piteously +and sought a corner, where she hid her face behind her veil and +pocket-handkerchief. The portrait was put up on to the chimney-piece of +the laboratory, which was covered with black; Norwegian flags were +arranged on each side of it, and garlands were now hung round it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ceremony began with a duet, a funeral march, played by Tomas +Rendalen, and the girl who had sung a short contralto solo up at the +churchyard that day; Augusta Hansen's sister, who had hidden under the +sail on the day of the lecture.</p> + +<p class="normal">After this followed some speeches, then the chorus; all went off +excellently; there was much feeling, at times agitation. At the close +there was a hymn as an introduction to a few words from Karl Vangen. He +had lately read that life is not a closed road, but an open one; he +spoke on this.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, simple refreshments, such as were usually served at +the school parties, with the addition of dessert and wine, had been +spread in Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; for Tomas wished, in conclusion, +to take the opportunity of proposing the healths of the senior classes +and to thank them, and with them all those who had helped that day to +celebrate a beautiful memory. All who had sung to-day at the +churchyard, with the town below them, and a large number of its +inhabitants before them, must have felt something which resembled a +covenant with the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pure memory of the dead had smiled upon it. "That covenant shall be +kept," he concluded. "Shall it not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," came from the whole group; they all pressed towards him +with their glasses, the young eyes sparkled; but the first was Emilie's +daughter, the others made way for her; she coloured with agitation and +gratitude as she touched his glass with hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">By ten o'clock they were alone. Tomas said to his mother as he was +going to his room, "It was not so mad after all to give that lecture in +the gymnasium--what do you say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, do you know, Tomas, I really begin to think too that--No, no. It +<i>was</i> mad. Pray do not let me be befooled again."</p> + +<p class="normal">A maid-servant came in with a note which had been forgotten; it had +arrived during the evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you see? do you see?" he laughed, and opened it. It ran:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you think you have conquered, you slanderer. I saw your conceit +to-day, as you stood there among all the little girls whom you had +befooled into doing you a good turn. Selfishness stood out from your +freckled, grey-eyed face, as well as from your Judas hair. Fie for +shame! But you will be struck when you least expect it, you beast." +<i>Veritas</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: As with Carl Brandenburg, on the Market Place. He had a +daughter Christina, who was of a proud mind, but very fair. When Master +Max's first wife died he straightway asked to have Christina in +marriage, but she would not, and her father humoured her, albeit he was +afraid. And at once Carl was charged of dealing in contraband wares, +then for giving false weights and measures, and at last for having +scoffed at God. From this last Death freed him. Then came his son home +from France, and he was sent to serve as a soldier, and no man ever +heard more of him. At the time those in Authority first made indictment +against Carl Brandenburg, he was the richest man in the Town, but when +he died his daughter had only what might allow her to dwell at the +house of a peasant, and there she still abides. Many such things +happened, so that none dare go against his will.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Miss.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. I</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>Printed by Ballantyne & Co. Limited<br> +Tavistock Street, London</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I +(of 2), by Björstjerne Björnson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL I *** + +***** This file should be named 37801-h.htm or 37801-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/0/37801/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume I (of 2) + +Author: Bjoerstjerne Bjoernson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=fuUsAAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE NOVELS OF + + BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + VOLUME XI + + + + + + + _THE NOVELS OF_ + + _BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON_ + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + _Fcap. 8vo, cloth_ + + _Synnoeve Solbakken_ + _Arne_ + _A Happy Boy_ + _A Fisher Lass_ + _The Bridal March, & One Day_ + _Magnhild, & Dust_ + _Captain Mansana, & Mother's Hands_ + _Absalom's Hair, & A Painful Memory_ + _In God's Way_ (2 _vols._) + _Heritage of the Kurts_ (2 _vols._) + + _NEW YORK_ + _THE MACMILLAN COMPANY_ + + + + + + + THE HERITAGE OF + THE KURTS + + + BY + + BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON + + + + _Translated from the Norwegian by_ + + _Cecil Fairfax_ + + + + VOLUME I + + + + + NEW YORK + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1908 + + + + + + + _Printed in England_ + + + + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + + + + BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +Upon his taking up his residence in Paris, in 1882, Bjoernson resumed an +interest in prose fiction, which he had for so many years abandoned in +favour of the drama. There can be no question that he was influenced in +this by the successes of Alexander Kielland and Kristian Elster, who +had begun to deal with the problems of Norwegian life in the form of +short novels, which attracted immense public curiosity. After writing +_Dust_ (1882), a very brief episode, Bjoernson started the composition +of his earliest long novel, which he finished and published in 1884, as +_Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen_ ("Flags are Flying in Town and +Harbour"), a title for which we have ventured to substitute, as more +directly descriptive, _The Heritage of the Kurts_. It is to be observed +that, with the exception of Jonas Lie's _Livsslaven_ (which was not yet +published when Bjoernson's book was begun), _The Heritage of the Kurts_ +was the earliest novel, treating Scandinavian society on a large scale, +which any Norwegian writer had essayed to produce. This may explain a +certain cumbrousness in the unwinding of the plot, which has been noted +as a fault in this very fine and elaborate romance. + +The didactic character of much of the novel, especially of the later +parts, was a surprise to contemporary readers, who were accustomed to +much lighter fare from the novelists of the day. No less a personage +than the great Danish writer, J. P. Jacobsen, joined in the outcry +against "all this pedagogy and all these problems." Physiological +instruction in girls' schools,--this seemed a strange and almost +unseemly subject for a romance addressed to idle readers in Copenhagen +and Christiania. But Bjoernson's serious purpose was soon perceived and +justified, and the popularity of The Heritage of the Kurts was assured +among the best appreciators of his genius. It will always, however, +possess the disadvantages inherent on a tentative effort in a class of +literature as yet unfamiliar to the veteran artist. + +Translator, editor, and publisher of the English version alike desire +to express their debt to Mr. C. F. Keary, whose knowledge of Norwegian +matters is so widely recognised, for the help he has given in revising +the translation throughout, and in particular for his advice in regard +to the diction of the first section of the novel, which, in the +original, is an extremely clever _pastiche_ of early eighteenth-century +Danish. + + E. G. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + I.--_FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT_ + +CHAP + I. "THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO LIVED THERE + + II. WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS + + + II.--_JOHN KURT_ + + I. LONELINESS + + II. A GENIUS + + III. MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN + + IV. SAILS IN SIGHT + + V. HOME LIFE + + VI. FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED + + + III.--_A LECTURE_ + + I. DETHRONED + + II. ON THE MOUNTAIN + + III. THE CHILD + + IV. THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN + + V. THE LECTURE + + + IV.--_THE STAFF_ + + I. A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN + + + + + + I + FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + "THE ESTATE" AND THOSE WHO + LIVED THERE + + +"The Estate" had probably been acquired by the strong hand, as indeed +most domains have been in all countries and at all times; but what +proportion forced marriages and fair bargains bore to actual guile, +fraud, and such base means, we can no longer determine. + +Two hundred years ago it was an immense possession, the home farm stood +then as now on the woody mountain slopes overlooking the town, the +whole of which can be seen from there; both the old town on this side +of the harbour, and the new one out by the point. This point shelters +the harbour from the sea, but is not itself absolutely exposed to it, +for islands and skerries lie beyond it, and between them the two +entrances, the North and West Sounds. All this is to be seen from "The +Estate," and far out to sea as well. + +Farther away to the right is the river between whose clayey banks the +foaming mass pours down into the harbour. At one time this river and +all the works at its mouth belonged to "The Estate," as well as the +site of the town, the islands, and the coast on either side; and +farther on, the lower lands and woods down to the channel of the river. +Such was "The Estate" two hundred years ago. + +Its principal building is a large brick house from which rises a squat +clumsy tower; it has a long wing on the right hand, but curiously +enough none on the left; behind are a number of old stone buildings +serving as stables, cow-houses, and the like, besides servants' +quarters. + +The great stairway up to the house, a perfect mountain of stone slabs, +for it is of immense size, is of semicircular form, having steps round +the whole circuit. From it a noble avenue leads down to the town +market-place, and on each side of it runs a stone park-wall which +almost reaches as far as the market; on the other sides of both the +walls lies the garden, which is cut in two by the avenue. Open fields +lie on both sides and likewise between the gardens and the town. + +Above the houses, out towards the mountain, is a wood of deciduous +trees; although the fir-trees have again begun their silent advance +against them, for at one time they had the hill to themselves. + +Who laid out these pleasure-grounds, who built this enormous mansion? +you say to yourself on first seeing the house and gardens of "The +Estate." + +It was more than two hundred years ago, about 1660, that a German +skipper, who called himself Kurt (spelt at that time Curt), first +brought his vessel into the harbour in order to have her re-rigged and +painted, most probably to prevent her from being recognised. We now +know that he had then long been exiled from his native country on +account of some deed of violence which he had committed. He was of a +princely German family which still bears an honoured name which does +not require to be mentioned here--he was known only by his Christian +name of Curt. + +He had not been there long before he began to pay his court to the +daughter and heir of Claus Mathiassoen, the owner of "The Estate," +paying no heed to what the neighbours thought of it. + +"It was the noble maid Ingeborg Clausdotter." ... From this point I +follow verbatim a manuscript description pertaining to the town, and +more especially to "The Estate," which was written at the beginning of +the last century by an old parish clerk and choir-master of Saint Mary +in that place.... + +She would hide herself away up in the Cock Loft, down in the Cellar, in +Byre or stable; she would fly you to wood or field whenever the +swaggering foreigner, skipper Curt, came a Wooing, for then he was +commonly in liquor. + +Worshipful Master Claus Mathiassoen might bring him Ale from his cellar, +and set before him such things as he desired; the next moment had Curt +half slain him because Master Claus could not bring his fair daughter +to speak with him; and moreover he drove away every living person from +the homestead. He swore also to cut down any man who should dare to +wish to take her to wife: he would wring his neck, said he, and all his +belongings, and hers as well if she should ever belong to another. + +And there was Hans Fuerst in the Market Place hard by the Church of St +Mary. When it was said that he too was a Wooer, went Curt to him on +Good Friday morning as Hans still lay abed, and beat him so sore with a +stout cudgel that for long after he was but broken bones. Hans Fauest +was afraid to bide in the town whenever skipper Curt came in with his +Ships, which from that time happened often enough; and it fell in +likewise with the Bailiff, Master Beinhard von Kluewer, who would fain +have brought him to reason. Curt defied him and hauled his ships before +the Bailiff's house; two ships he had then, and Cannon and his Company, +and the Bailiff dared no more go out alone, and did not dare to +discharge his office, but departed, nor did he return. So that full a +year passed ere his office was again filled; when it was, 'twas a +German who got it who was of a Mind with Curt in all things; and the +old Bailiff, he obtained office in another place. + +'Twas commonly spoken of Curt that he had stole his first ship in the +North sea; later he had two ships, and folk held it for certain that +the second was stolen also, but his people were silent concerning it, +and naught was done in the Matter. Now it was in the following way that +he got the maid. There came a Clerk from his Excellence the Stadtholder +Ulrich, Frederick Gueldenloeve, with Commands from the High and Mighty +Prince, King Frederick 3rd, now of blessed memory, to the worshipful +Claus Mathiassoen of "The Estate," and to the good men and true of the +town, Counsellors, and Burgesses, that they must so deal for skipper +Curt who was of a noble German Family, that he should have the +high-born Maid Ingeborg Clausdotter to wife, promising them his royal +favour and especial grace, which skipper Curt without hesitation agreed +to; so the King's Will was done. The Clerk was come in Soeren +Rasmussen's sloop from Oslo; he also was a German, and spoke Danish but +ill; he demanded much service, and that he got, for he was lodged at +the Council House, and was bidden, when the wedding should be over, to +condescend to put up with the same at the houses of sundry of the +burgesses. + +The wedding was celebrated with grandeur, but many a tear shed Mistress +Ingeborg as did Claus Mathiassoen, who knew that now his days of +happiness were past. + +But it so chanced that at the wedding, Master Curt, being in liquor, +fell upon the clerk with thrust and blow and Drove him from the board, +for he swore he was not fit to sit at meat with the quality and their +women folk, for he was no clerk of the Stadtholder, but a cursed +vagabond Barber who had been a wood cutter to his brother-in-law in +Pommerania. So the barber fled over to the point and thence to the +North Holm, from there he hailed a passing ship and was taken on board +of her. + +Therewith ended the wedding feast, but this mattered little to Curt, +for he had won his bride. + +Now this is how it fell out; skipper Curt had been to Oslo and there +had met a Holsteiner, Georg von Bregentvedt; the same was a captain and +gave the Stadtholder aid in warlike enterprise, but Georg von +Bregentvedt and Curt had been known to each other in Germany, and this +Georg was a rare knave, full of merry conceits, and he helped Curt with +this trick, but they got the barber to bring it to pass. + +Old Claus Mathiassoen went straightway to Copenhagen to make complaint +before the king, and three times had he _audience_, and each time was +the king Mightily enraged, but may well have forgotten it again by +reason of other matters, for Curt had countrymen at Court. In the +meantime was the money spent with which Claus Mathiassoen had provided +himself, and Curt had seized "The Estate," and refused to send him +more, likewise he threatened all those who would have been true to him; +and as Claus Mathiassoen at the same time got a letter from his +daughter, sent secretly by the skipper of a sloop, saying that she was +now with child, but that Curt went after other women on "The Estate," +and in the town; so thought Claus Mathiassoen that no good could come +from his going home. And no man asked for him from that time. Claus +Mathiassoen was of Danish blood, and a good man was he. + +Now "The Estate" at this time was a vast place of much grandeur, and +with great belongings; to wit, the ownership of leagues of land up +both sides of the River, for the forests and all the farms then +belonged to "The Estate." And large tile works had Curt established on +the river Bank, and brought many Hollanders there; also later he had +ship-building, which thing brought great gain to the Town; he made also +a marvellous clever saw pit, the like of which had never been seen +before, also he voyaged to see the king, the most mighty Prince, and +very good Lord, King Christian 5th, now of blessed memory, for by the +help of his powerful and noble countrymen, he had hope to come by royal +Grace and Favour, and he had at divers times _audience_, and pleased +the King with his great strength and by his Comely person. Then, said +he to the King, in all humility, that it was a bygone Custom that when +the King of His grace came to those parts he should take lodging on +"The Estate." Two kings had lain there, and King Christian 4th of +Blessed memory, even twice; and now in all humility he prayed for the +same Favour. And the kind did not deny it him. But Curt's purpose +therein was to again receive all those privileges which he had +forfeited in his Fatherland. + +And he returned home, and found with his courtly fashions that the old +House on "The Estate," albeit that it was a fine house in every way, +large and costly, must be pulled down, and a Castle built to honour the +king when he should come withal; so forthwith he fell to work. But then +he took a liking to Hans Fuerst's house for a dwelling Place, the one, +namely, hard by St Mary's in the Market Place, while the new castle was +building; so he drove the aforesaid Hans from it till such time as the +Castle should be Roofed. + +It was brought about in this manner: Curt forbade the sailors, +craftsmen, and fishers to buy so much as a measure of Ale, a dram of +Spirits, or an Ell of cloth. For the lewd mariners and their kinsfolk +are not like landsfolk, they worship those who rule over them, for they +and their forebears have let themselves be treated like dogs on sea and +land; they are ill at ease if they are not ordered hither and thither, +sworn at and beaten, and they join in their skipper's dissolute life. +But as well Curt allowed them free land on the mountain on all sides, +as many as there was room for, and besides gave them wood at small cost +for their buildings, so that now there is almost a town on the mountain +which can be seen from afar, as is known to every ship which comes in. +Atop of all, the Pilots have built themselves a Look Out. + +It can be safely said that without the support of these men Curt and +his descendants could never have ruled and roystered as they have done +to this day; nay, the more masterful their ways, the more they rose in +the eyes of these Men, for that is the manner of them. + +For his lawless ways then Curt in all his life never made any +reparation. People still repeat the words he was wont to use when any +man asked such of him. "Thou shall get thy pay from----, thou cursed +Peasant," he would say in his German fashion, for he never spoke our +tongue right, and "Peasant" he would call any man he was wroth with; +for in his Country the peasant is held in contempt, nay, almost as a +brute beast; he may own neither house nor land, but must work for his +lord, both he and his. Death alone can release him. Nay, 'tis even so +likewise in Denmark. + +But as respecting the aforesaid Hans Fuerst, as he had naught else but +his trade he must needs go over to the other side of the Market Place +to Siegfried Brandenburg's old House on the left; for he had two, and +there he abode till Curt returned to his Castle. + +Curt did not build it all as it now stands; neither the long wing on +the right, nor the great outbuildings; neither did he build the garden +wall which is on both sides, for that was done by his son. But the +great House with the steps and the Tower, that was built by him; and +the road between the two walls, that was done by Master Curt, for +before there was only a path and that did not go the same way, but +outside the garden to the right, as may be seen to this day; also the +trees on both sides of the road were planted by Curt himself, every one +of them, for he had a lucky hand in that way which he well knew, for +the larger part of the garden which is now on both sides was planted by +him; and he brought hither many new and costly Trees, Plants, and +flowers from Holland which greatly joyed his half crazy wife whenever +she was allowed a little liberty, for she loved flowers well. + +The inside of the Castle for the most part is not as Curt left it, for +what he did was undone of his Son Master Adler, for thus he was called +after the great Sea Hero, Cort Adler. For that was a jest of Curt to +call his son Adler, since he had called himself Curt, for thus the +Admiral's name was turned end for end. + +The Royal Bed and other furniture in the king's Chamber which are now +to be seen are not Curt's either. Those which he had bought now stand +in another Chamber out of the passage to the left. In that bed slept +Master Adler himself. That remains, and the furniture. But for the +king's Chamber Master Adler brought all new from Holland what time he +himself went there from Copenhagen with his ships. It was at that time +also that he bought the hangings which are now in the King's Chamber by +the side of his sleeping-room, and also he bought the great _Carosse_, +whereof more anon. But, on the other hand, the pictures in gilded +frames all belong to Curt's time. Those in the Knights' Hall are copied +from pictures in his father's Castle, and represent his ancestors. + +I had almost forgot to relate about the tower which never was finished +and the reason thereof. The Man who first directed the Building was a +master builder from Luebeck. But he wearied there, not getting his pay, +and so went home. Master Curt went after him in a swift sailing ship +belonging to a Dane, which just then lay in harbour, but he did not +come nigh him. The second builder was from Holstein, or the parts +adjacent thereto. Curt had at that time with him a wench of rare +beauty. She was the wife of a Flemish skipper whom Curt had enticed to +come to him, and as he would not give her up, the skipper was fain to +depart. Now the master builder fell in love with her, and she with him, +and Master Curt sorely maltreated them, and had them stript and driven +down the Market Place. They got away at last in a boat; the builder was +brought to a sorry pass; I know not what further became of them. + +After that Curt gave up the Tower, which indeed was very hard to build; +and as it was bruited about that the king was like to come that summer, +he had a wide roof set over it and covered it with tiles as is commonly +done, and so it stands, for no one has touched it since then. Now Curt +had put himself to great cost for the honour of seeing the king under +his Roof. At this time "The Estate" was still all one, and the high +banks on each side of the river and all round the valley as far as +might be seen were covered with fir-woods, and the same on the Islands. +That is all different since the merchants took the fir-woods in pledge, +but this giving in pledge had begun in Curt's time. + +And now I must relate to you the Rest of Curt's life, firstly that his +wife had been for a long time half silly. She was a fair woman to look +on, but she could never abide him, so she remained shut up. The marks +are still to be seen in the chamber along to the left, which her feet +have left by the door, where she vainly sought to get out, and likewise +can be seen the marks of the iron bars before the window, which Curt +put there after the time when she sprang out into the garden, sorely +wounding herself thereby. At the time when the Castle stood open, after +Curt was dead, and his sons were abroad, we could see what she had +written all round the walls. This writing had never been known of by +Curt, or by those who minded the estate while his sons were still +young, or during their absence, but the sons had it washed off. 'Twas +thus I saw it when first I came as a student to the Town. For the most +part it was verses from the Psalter, but plaints as well, and other +quaint conceits which touched me by their simplicity. Thus of a +cloudberry which had been frozen. That is the tenderest sight in +Nature, she wrote, and verily since then how often I have thought of +it, for especially by the Road side in frost and thaw how true it is. + +But now I must tell of what once happened while she was well and sat at +meat with Sieur van Geelmuyden, the especial friend of Master Curt, and +a merry man. Suddenly her madness came upon her again as she sat at +board, and flinging her knife at Curt, she cried that that very day had +she been told that Curt had a hundred Children about in the town. Then +remarked Van Geelmuyden pithily, "Noble Ingeborg Curt, no one should +believe more than half of what malicious folk say." Now Curt and all +his guests laughed beyond measure at this, and, for the sake of the +saying, Master Curt gave Van Geelmuyden, to whom, moreover, he ever +after set great _fiduce_, the house at Bommen; the same may still be +seen there, it is that one where the second Story stands well-nigh two +ells out beyond the first, and which is hard by that which was gotten +by the Bailiff. + +The House still bears witness to the _piquante_ saying called a +_bon-mot_, which word the people have turned into Bommen, which name +the whole street bears at this day. + +Never was there dung moved up at "The Estate" in the Spring time, nor +the Midden emptied, but that the bodies of children were found therein, +for Master Curt led a lusty life, both with his maid-servants and +others whom he caused to come up there. When the now departed Bishop of +Christiansand, the worshipful Magister Jersin, was to make a visitation +in the Town, some short space before Curt's death, and Curt heard +thereof, he begged that he might have the honour of housing and +feasting him while he abode here, which thing the Bishop in no wise +refused. So Curt went forth to meet him with one of his ships which +chanced to be in port, and took with him the Parson, the town Council, +and the king's trusty servants, and a goodly company of burgesses, and +prepared a noble feast on board of the ship for the Bishop, whom they +fetched from the house of a Parson of those parts, and he also, and the +others remained of the company. And they all came on shore in such +condition as was a sight to behold; Curt took the Bishop for his share, +and when they were come to the steps up to the house and were about to +mount them, the Bishop turned round and said, so that all might hear, +that those were the finest steps he had ever seen in the whole Country +Side. Then answered Curt, "These Steps, your Grace, are singular in +another manner, for more maids have gone up them than have ever gone +down." He said this in his German tongue, but that was the meaning of +it. I had it from one who was a lad at the time and was standing there +on the steps with the Welcome Cup for Master Curt, of which the Bishop +drank and handed it to him, but he who stood on the steps was in after +days Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsoen, who at that time was clerk to +Curt. It was he who related this. + +And now I must to Curt's death, for it was in this manner that it fell +out. There came a peasant with wife and daughter to the town, and +although there was great gathering of peasants at that time, no man had +seen any of such fine presence as these, and this thing was spoken of +at a banquet which was held at the Castle, and specially was praise +given to the daughter, and so it fell next day that the peasant with +wife and daughter were commanded by Curt to come up to the Castle. +There they were treated like the grandest folk and were shown all the +rooms in the House, but the end of all this was that several of Curt's +people came in to them and the maid was separated from her father and +carried away by force; full of wrath was she and implored her father to +ask for a large recompense. He did so, but Curt would have nothing to +do with it. So then came the father with his complaint to the King's +Bailiff, who counselled him to take things as he found them, for no man +had ever yet got recompense of Curt, for all those in authority were on +his side, both of church, and army, and worthies, and Patrons at Court, +unto all which might be added that Curt could safely depend on the +people of the lower sort here in the Town. But the peasant went up by +himself to Curt, and in the court-yard behind the stable between it and +the Byre he found him and there again he asked for compensation. "Get +thy compensation from----, thou cursed Peasant," answered Curt, for +that was ever what he answered. Then the peasant seized Master Curt and +held him where desired. But he took his compensation with a thrust of +his knife. There was no one there in the Court Yard but a few women, +and an old groom who stood by and saw it. Curt was flung down upon the +dung heap and there his life passed from him, where the bodies of his +children had lain before him. + +Hardly could folk credit the news of it, but came up to see. Never +before had Curt given back before any man, and now he had been slain +like a helpless child. At last it was noised about that the Evil One +had been there, and had taken Curt's punishment on himself, and, what +indeed somewhat confirmed this was, that from that day the peasant +could never be found, and not even his name was known, and he himself +seemed unknown to the other peasants who were in the town, but these +clowns know how to be silent, so that there is nothing certain in the +matter. + +But whoever it was, this thing is certain, that it was from the hand of +Almighty God, for without his Will there falls not a sparrow to the +ground. His ways have been brought to pass by other hands, in order +that this great sinner should end his days upon a dung heap. May God's +name be praised eternally. Amen. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + WHAT FURTHER CAME TO PASS + + +Curt's sons were at this time at Copenhagen, under the charge of +Magister Owe Gude, with him they also travelled at a later time and +made an especial long sojourn with Curt's noble kinsmen. Adler came +home at length to take possession of his lands, but Max remained abroad +and studied for the priesthood, for he had a marvellous gift of speech. + +Master Adler was but rarely seen in the Town, and he never went there +in any other fashion than borne in a _porte chaise_ by servants in fine +liveries. And it was the same at the Castle, there one serving man +stood in the way of the other, and all were dressed as though for a +feast in some prince's Hall. Master Adler lived alone and held no +intercourse with the worthy burgesses in the Town, as had never been +the way before his time. Now by degrees Master Adler waxed mighty fat +and had many peevish ways and tricks; thus he spoke with no man, but +listened to everything. + +When he had been here a few years and all his affairs were well ordered +by the hand of Torbioern Christoffersen, Master Adler journeyed to +Copenhagen, for now was Christian V. of blessed memory no more; but our +good Lord and Prince, the most mighty and gracious King Frederick IV. +(whom may God sustain and adorn with all virtues) had now become our +King. And Master Adler went on his knees before him, with great +difficulty, and prayed the King to fulful the gracious pledge given by +his Father, of blessed Memory, to the Elder Curt now departed, and that +he would condescend to come to the Town, and be under his humble roof, +such time as he first came to Norway, where all men hoped for his +coming. Now the King wot well the design hid under this request, +namely, that Master Adler should obtain those titles of nobility which +his father had lost in his youth. This the King was graciously pleased +to listen to. + +Thereupon Master Adler went to Holland, for he deemed not one of the +preparations good enough for him, which his father had made. From there +he came back with the great _Carosse_, which was then seen here for the +first time. The War Commissary, Master Synnestwedt, thought it not +fitting for Master Adler to drive in a _Carosse_, for he was no Person +of high rank, and complaint was made of the matter. Now in this fashion +did it first become known from Copenhagen that Curt had been of noble +birth; from that time forward he was never seen without Out-riders and +Attendants, besides the coachman, and two Servants behind. Wherefore he +must have also five horses on account of the Hills. But the townsfolk +held it an honour to them that their lord had such great privileges. + +But while he was at Copenhagen it had come to Master Adler's knowledge +that in the Palace where the King then abode, neither the king's +servants nor attendants lay under the same roof with Him, as might have +been expected, but only the king and his Family. On the contrary, the +King's attendants, and the serving men and women lived in a wing by +themselves, and it was for this reason that Master Adler had the long +right wing added to the New house, as may still be seen, and this +should be used by the King's attendants and servants as well as by +Master Adler himself, and by his servants, when the King should come. +But Torbioern Christoffersen, his trusty steward, refused downright to +add a wing on the left hand, and threatened to go, and for this reason +it is that the right wing stands alone; neither did Master Adler +attempt to finish the Tower, for already many mortgages had been given +on "The Estate," by reason of all his display, and Torbioern +Christoffersen could in no wise bring both ends to meet; so some of the +heaviest mortgages had to go at a great loss, and, in the same way, the +portion of ground, let to certain men in the town, were sold to any who +could free themselves. It was in this manner that the parcelling of +"The Estate" began. + +Master Adler's younger brother, Parson Max, was a knowing man in all +matters of business, and he supported Torbioern Christoffersen. And now +that I take on me to draw a picture of Parson Max, God forbid that I +should bear malice against a dead man who has done me harm in many +ways, for it was in this self-same year that I became the unworthy +Parish Clerk and Choir Master of the Church of St. Mary in this Town. I +will not fill this costly paper by telling of the strife which was +between us, concerning the vessel which was bought at the Public sale, +after Master Curt's death, and which came to me by inheritance; or +again with the dispute which arose when I was to read the sermon from +Dr. Martin's Book, in Parson Max's stead, he being that day unfit +through liquor. Up comes Master Max into the Pulpit and flings me down. +All this I will keep concealed now that he is under ground; so it is +not for that that I have noted down the Truth about him; but in order +that those who come after may see how wonderful have been the ways of +the Lord in dealing with this Family, and also that it shall remain +plain to be seen how this Town, more than others, must be under God's +Protection, who has so singularly cared for it, even to the +overthrowing of its Tormentors. + +From the moment that Parson Max came, he played the Master and bully, +first towards his brother and "The Estate," and then over the whole +place. He was worse than his father Curt, inasmuch as he was learned, +and could with great prudence, and skill, twist and turn both people, +and things. He was also a mighty lunged man in the Pulpit. The time +when the terrible mishap befell, namely, that St. Mary's church was +burnt down, being struck by lightning from Heaven, an admonition to us +all, as is related in another place in my _Manu Scriptum_--that time I +say, Parson Max preached every Sunday through the summer, from a +hillock, and from thence was heard all over the Town; many people lying +off in their boats in the harbour heard him, likewise from the windows +away on the Point, but not the words; nay, a skipper told me himself +how, as his ship was being towed up the North Channel, they could all +hear a screaming like that of a Woman in Labour, nor could they tell +what it might be. For at a great distance a man's voice sounds like +that of a woman. So truly this may be said in praise of Parson Max, +that he wrought a very moving Fear on all who went to Church in his +day, and he would in no wise allow that any should stay away, for he +asked for them from the Pulpit, or sought them at their homes. +Wherefore the Church has never been so well frequented as then. The +lower people held wonderfully to him as before to his father; for he +often condescended to come to their weddings and Buryings, and tasted +their ale, and further gave them useful counsel in regard to all these, +for he was of great understanding, and beside knew them all by name, +men and women. By degrees he got the whole Town under his hand, so that +nothing was done in those days, in house or out, but the Parson must +have an account of it, neither might any bake or brew unless the Parson +gained by it. If the poor had nothing else to give there was always +Fish. No one, high or low, dare give his daughter in Marriage, or in +any other manner alter his Position, without Master Max's counsel in +the matter being heard. And if rich gifts, and other private +contributions, were there to help, men could get from Parson Max, what +were otherwise impossible. I know this well, for I relate what I know, +and in no wise that which I do not know. If any went against his will, +him he would persecute and harm by day and night, both he and his. This +he did by means of those in authority, both dignitaries and those of +the army, by his friends and his friends' friends, and his hand could +even reach to Copenhagen.[1] But at times good befell the Town by all +this, for no one at that time went to law, but each man must bring his +case to the Parson, who settled it for him. In the same way when the +new Church of St. Mary was to be built, that one which men commonly +called the Cross Church, everything abode in his hands, so that in +truth he was the Master Builder thereof; whereby that noble work is an +honour to the town, and an everlasting Memorial to him. It was terrible +what money it cost, and it all went to his brother, for "The Estate" +furnished both stone and wood, and all the rest by way of trade. But +Parson Max collected the money, and this he did in such a way as had +the place been _occuperit_ by an Enemy and been burnt to the ground. +For myself alone, when I begin to reckon what I had to pay, I cannot +understand how I got quit of it. He was a terrible man. He lay in wait +for every ship; thus his first walk each morning was to Fetaljen, on +the look out, and he was there again many times in the day, and each +one must do his duty. Every traveller, man or woman, whom he asked must +give to the Church. Once on Fetaljen at Widow Sarah Andersen's, she who +gives lodging to the seafaring folk, he nearly came to great mishap, +for she warned her guests when she saw him coming, so they would creep +up into the cock-loft, or down into the cellar, in order to hide +themselves, for none could withstand his persuasions or threats. Thus +it fell about with rich Heinrich Arendt from Luebeck. He was here on +account of the ship which the Pirates had taken from him, and had sold +here, though with loss. Very well he knew Master Max of old, and he +crept up into the cock-loft. Master Max was well used to this +_trafique_ and crept after him. However, as he was exceeding heavy, +down breaks the stair with him, and he slipped and stuck fast. A heavy +reckoning came to Sarah for this, she had to pay a vast _summa_ for the +new Church, in place of Heinrich Arendt, and he would never make good +the money to her, but put her off with talk, so she never got a stiver, +a thing she has often told me even with tears. + +The aforesaid Sarah Andersen, widow, died on the same day, nay, even +the same hour, as Master Max. I have much considered the matter, in +order to find what deep meaning God may have had in it, and many have +done the same. But in truth it would not be well if everything were +known of us poor weak mortals. + +It was in this manner that Parson Max's death came to pass. When first +he came hither he could carry all that he drank, but not so at last, +and when he was well in liquor he was a sore terror to the Women, who +were fain to take heed for themselves with him; and so it chanced one +day at the Castle that he had forced his brother into giving of a great +feast, as he mostly did force him to do twice yearly, at New Year and +St. John's day. Now this befell on St. John's day; but before I relate +what chanced there, I must say that the passage which leads from the +steps is parlous dark when the double doors are shut to, and that day +they were shut, by reason of a heavy rain such as is frequent here on +the coast. Master Max mistook Ane Trulsdotter, Trul Carsten's daughter +of Bommen, for Nille, Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter, because they both +wore the same sort of red cotton skirt. This befell in the passage in +the dusk, and of those who know both, it can be easily understood. But +Raadmand Paavelsen's daughter would not be jested with, nay, she even +had courage to make a great outcry against him, and there arose much +noise and commotion. The counsellor fetched the Master of the house, +who spoke with great wrath to his brother, and said there was too much +of this in the Castle, and that Max would never rest till he had +brought them all to disgrace. Never had Master Adler been heard to say +so much before, but his words were well considered and seemly; but +Master Max would not allow himself to be taxed with it, for he was in +his Cassock, it being just after dinner, and so he rushed at his +brother, and, as Master Adler was mighty heavy, he could not keep +_Ballansen_, but he first fell against the wall, and at last on to the +floor, and both times he struck his head with much violence. From that +time Master Adler lost his Wits and no long time after, he died. + +So Master Max took "The Estate" in possession for himself, and his +heirs, but from the same hour that he went there, he fell into furious +madness, for he believed himself to be possessed of Spirits; they were +the Spirits, he said, of his Brother, and Father, and Mother, and +others to boot. No sleep could he have because of them, but went from +Room to Room, round all the House, and cried out, and preached against +them, with mighty power; nor would he allow the windows to be shut, for +by them he hoped the Spirits might depart. But watch had to be kept +lest he should fling himself out therefrom. Down in the Town, folk +heard him preaching in such manner as though he were verily in strife +with them. So it went about that the Devil would carry off Master Max, +and that all the Spirits had been sent by him, nay, it was even said +that Master Max had had the Devil to serve him in all his lucky +undertakings, and now the Devil would have him back, for that his Time +was come, but that Master Max hoped to cheat him by his power in the +use of the Word, and by his Ghostly Knowledge. And so they fought +together for dear life, both by day and night, for Master Max could +hold on if he were not outwitted. The whole Town crowded into the +Market Place, and up into the avenue, to listen. There was a terror +upon all, but none spoke of it, and further no Parson could be found, +albeit day after day messengers were sent all about; but every one was +abroad. So there was no one to help Master Max, by the Power of the +Word, against the Devil. + +Now one evening there shone a marvellous great light upon all the +windows up at the Castle, and over the whole House, as though it were +in flames. Now Anders from the Council House, also known as Anders +Red-nose, was walking from the Town, whence he had come to deliver a +summons. In the Avenue, hard by the House, he heard the poor man +screaming with his hoarse voice, for so it now ever was, and Anders saw +the flaming light over the whole building, and in the midst of it the +Evil One, lying athwart the house, hard by Master Max's window, and +saying, "Now must thou come, Max." Anders went no further, but turned +back to the Town. As he came to the Market Place, screaming, he told us +all that he had seen and heard. And he became as frantic as Master Max +himself, and he also must be shut up and bound. And now it was seen of +all men, who had won in the struggle, and all awaited the end, and +accordingly Master Max died the day after, but quietly, and in a +peaceful frame of mind, which thing was much wondered at. Nay, he made +it understood by signs, that he would be taken to his Mother's Chamber, +there to die, and hardly was he there, when all unexpected comes Parson +Thomasius, and he prayed for Master Max, and gave to Him the Dear +_Sacramente_ of the Altar, there in that very room, and he sang to him, +and prayed heartily, and Master Max could now pray, though not with his +voice, and there he died in the same Bed as his mother before him. + +Those that were there remarked, that at that very moment the Bells +chimed from the church which he himself had built. So it is after all +doubtful who won, he or the Devil. + +I would I had the gift of a great writer, so that I might be able to +describe in every way what this Man was; for what he was during his +life, no one can know who has not been under him, as it was with me for +many years. Even now I often dream of him at night, so that my wife is +awakened by my great Fear and out-cries, and she wakes me assuring me +that he is dead. But I am commonly bathed in sweat from head to foot. +He was three times married and would have taken a wife a fourth time, +an he had not died. I have spoken with them all three. For I had often +need to go to the house on account of my business. Then they told all +their troubles to me, the one after the other. For he would have +everything done, and that all at once. I do not use my own words, but +those of Aadel Knutsdotter his second wife. She died at Candlemas, but +a little before as she sat in the green Parlour, she called me in, for +she had heard me in the kitchen. She was very weak, and her Hands +trembled. I asked what ailed her? "This is what ails me," she answered, +"that my husband has worn me out with bearing of children, and with +toil, like the garment he wears next him, so now it is over with me. +God knows who will be the next, though mayhap he knows himself." That +was what she said, and, but a short while after, she died. But the next +one was Birgitte Mogensdotter, the Apothecary's daughter, and the +wedding was just three months to the day, after Aadel was buried. +Albeit Birgitte was a big strong woman, she became so fearful when she +heard that he was to have her to wife, that she filled herself with +strong drink whenever she could come by any of that which her father +the Apothecary dealt in. She has often told me herself wherefor she had +taken to drink, and this was the reason of it. But she fought with him +when she was in liquor, and in the end she poisoned herself. The +Doctor, Mogens Mauritius, has since said this; she did not die of +drink, as was commonly said. She was married three years, and had two +sons by him. He had in all thirteen children, albeit he was not an old +man when he died. By a blow he had made the eldest son, Adler, deaf of +both ears, so that he became an idiot. + +Even if, with my slender gifts, I could describe him as he was wont to +behave when he was wroth with wives, servants, children and others, yet +would I not do it. For we saw at his departing that God himself, in his +unsearchable favour (for verily that is great), had forgiven him. Why +then should not we, poor creatures towards whom he has sinned far less, +do the like. Which thing indeed The Bishop said in the rare oration he +made over him. For his burying was Mighty grand and magnificent. Never +have I seen the like; I might fill several pages if I were to count the +noble Persons who were there, and say what in three days was eaten, and +drunk, and said. In his lifetime Parson Max was more powerful than any +who had ever been in this place, Except the King, no one had any word +to say, as long as he was in his Prime. He was skilled also in the +Arts, namely thus, that he helped the people in all difficulties, more +especially with accounts, and in Building. I have told about the +Church, but I have forgotten to say that he was also a great +ship-builder. As a little lad he had gained skill down by the dock, and +later at "Holmen" in Copenhagen, where he was wont to go, and also +abroad, he carefully studied this. I have heard that from himself. The +ships built here in his brother's dock, under the river banks, were all +built by him, and several thereof were sold abroad, bringing great fame +and gain to us. But now we will leave speaking of him. + +From this history we can clearly see how all has been directed of God, +namely, that the Father Curt brought their Mother and himself to ruin, +and Master Max, both his Brother and _himself_, and to a great degree +his Eldest son, so that but little of Blessing had come with what they +had stolen from Claus Mathiassoen, and from many others. Likewise their +strength alone was a cause of stumbling to them. In the next place we +must be mindful that the King's High and Sacred name was taken in vain, +in order to deceive, but for punishment it was, that in the same mighty +name "The Estate" was squandered. + +There are more than I unworthy, who have noted this. For, as the +before-named Counsellor Niels Ingebrechtsen was at Copenhagen, in order +to try to gain the office of Collector of Tolls, he said the same to +the King's Confessor, who was known to him. And as Niels sought +_Audience_ of the King, the Confessor followed him, and, in the King's +Presence, he prayed Master Niels frankly to relate all which he had +told to him. And when the King rightly understood how it had befallen, +that "The Estate" had come into Curt's possession, and what had been +the cause of its ruin, namely, that the King's most noble name had, in +all innocence, stood father to both these things, the King graciously +vouchsafed to lend his ear, and after much thought to say, "The Lord is +more cunning than all the rogues put together." And these words of the +King, do I in all humility make mine own, as I leave behind me this +history, and repair to other Lands. + + +About the year 1830 the following was all that remained of "The +Estate." The Mountain with the woods, in which the fir-trees were again +beginning to predominate, the great ruinous house, the curious gardens, +with their stone walls, on each side of the avenue, several bare fields +between the gardens and the town, and a few more on either hand. Beside +this some clearings round about, still belonged to "The Estate." + +The then owner, a tall, dark, dirty fellow, in a green apron which +reached to his feet, worked in his own garden; this, with the addition +of a few cows, was his only means of subsistence. + +He was the only survivor of the whole family in that part of the +country, and he was unmarried. + + + + + + II + + JOHN KURT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + LONELINESS + + +At fifteen Konrad Kurt had left his home; he could no longer bear to +witness the cruelty with which his mother was treated; for domestic +tyranny was an heirloom in the Kurt family. He crossed over to Hull, +and made his home for some time with an uncle, but was eventually sent, +at his expense, to live in the country. The boy's nervous system had +been pronounced by a doctor to be far from strong, and if he were to be +made any thing of, he must live as much as possible in the open air; it +was therefore suggested that he might be brought up as a gardener. Now +gardening chanced to be a perfect _gourmandise_ in the Kurt family, so +that the lad eventually adopted it as his profession. + +When, on his father's death, he returned home to see after his own +interests, and to take care of his poor mother, he found but little +else to take care of, his worthy father having sold all the clearing +rights of his last woods, his remaining shares in some ships, and +finally the tile works, sinking the whole of the proceeds in an +annuity. In a word, he had the houses, the gardens, and a field or two; +all the rest Kurt had, as they say, "eaten bare" all round him. His +son, he considered, must follow his example. He might easily begin by +selling the field nearest to the town; with the lower garden, it +presented a splendid site for building. Konrad Kurt, on the other hand, +was quite of opinion that enough of "The Estate" had been sold already. +He therefore instead raised a loan, drained the gardens and fields, put +the houses so far into repair, that they would not actually fall to +ruin, and enlarged the forcing-house, adding another to it at a later +time. In short, he showed that it was possible to live on his +inheritance, and manage a garden, in such a way as to make it pay, an +idea which was then new in that part of the world. + +At first he expended almost all he earned, but by-and-by things +improved. A single room served him for sleeping, eating, and writing; +the first room on the left side of the hall, which had been occupied by +the first Kurt, and by all the different possessors of "The Estate." +The room within it, which had been formerly used as a bedroom, was +given by Kurt to his mother, who, poor woman, was now happier than she +had ever been her in life before. All household work was done in the +kitchen, on the other side of the wide hall, which, running through the +whole house, divided it in two. The rest of the main building remained +empty. In the autumn Kurt covered the floors of the different rooms +with such portions of his produce as needed drying. + +He was an impetuous man, taciturn at times, and stormy at others, but a +good man at the bottom. His servants and workmen stood by him, and he +stood by them. The sailors and fisher men living up on the mountain +also received a great deal of kindness from him; he gave them seeds, +and taught them how to cultivate their gardens, and utilise the +produce. In the course of many years, the refuse from their houses had +caused so great an accumulation round them, that enough soil had been +formed to enable any one to have a strip of garden who chose to give +the labour to it, besides which, they could carry away as much mould as +they wished for from "The Estate" to mix with it. Never had the folk on +the hill imagined that they would come to carrying earth from down +below, that they would ever get time for, or find any fun in, such an +occupation. Every Sunday throughout the spring and summer, Kurt went up +to the mountain and helped them, a custom which he kept up through his +whole life, but these were almost the only occasions on which he was +ever seen beyond his gardens, house, and cellars. + +He was up and out every morning in spring and summer by four o'clock, +and as soon as it was light during the autumn and winter months. His +summer costume consisted of a pair of fustian trousers, a whitey-grey +linen coat, a green apron reaching down to his feet, and a cap with a +wide peak. The same trousers and long apron were worn during the +winter, with the addition of a tightly buttoned seaman's pea-jacket, +and a fur cap with a wide brim always turned down in such a way that +the loose flaps were constantly brushing against his face. He had never +been seen dressed in any other way, excepting on Sundays, when he +shaved, wore a starched shirt, and laid aside his apron. He had not +inherited the broad defiant forehead of the Kurts. His was a fairly +high one, and noticeable for its excessive whiteness; all the more so, +perhaps, from the rest of his face being very weather-beaten. He had +the eager, wild eyes of his ancestors; his face was somewhat longer, +thin, and with rather a wide nose. + +Housewives and children soon learned that it was better to go up to +"The Estate" and deal with Kurt himself, stern and even passionate +though he was, than to go to the shop on the market-place, for he was +in reality very easy to manage, and excessively fond of children; they +had to be careful, however, not to be too long in making a choice, and +never to attempt to bargain. + +He often seemed, when he was standing there, to be pondering some +serious matter in an absent-minded way, and would then collect himself +with a hasty "Ta, ta, ta, ta," ending with a long, deep "Ta-a-a!" + +Everything prospered with him, his cows and garden paying him better +and better. But after a few years a rumour began to spread that, since +his mother's death, he spent every evening by himself getting drunk on +whisky toddy. As he went regularly to bed at half-past nine, any one +who wished to ascertain if this were the case, must go up there before +that time. One or two people did so, and found that it was but too +true; by half-past eight he was thoroughly drunk, crying, and unable to +speak distinctly. + +At last this came to the ears of "old" Pastor Green. He was always, as +a young man, called "old," a frightful accident having completely +bleached his hair. + +Pastor Green was one of the first men in Norway who came forward to +combat intemperance, and who gave up their lives to the work. It was +his axiom that it is useless to preach against drunkenness otherwise +than by facts and actions, and that it is quite hopeless to expect to +convert the individual drunkard, without knowing what cause has driven +him to drink. There always is one, and if drinking is not hereditary, +or become a long-established habit, it is to the removal of the cause +that you must look for its cure. + +Green paid a visit to Konrad Kurt, and chatted with him, until he drew +from him, that while he was living in England, he had had an intrigue +with the wife of the gardener, to whom he had been apprenticed, and +that she had had a child by him. She had died just at the same time as +his mother. + +He had been madly in love with her, he said; yes, it had been a +terrible thing to deceive her husband. "But--there really was no help +for it"--and he began to cry. Then their boy, "Ah! there never was such +a merry child born before." And, in his yearning for him, the tipsy man +cried, and upbraided himself with wild oaths. + +Green endeavoured to induce him to ask pardon from the gardener, and +bring the boy home, but Kurt had not the courage for the effort, so +that there was nothing for it but for Green to use what other means he +could. + +Accordingly, one summer evening, he walked up to "The Estate," +accompanied by a tall, dark haired boy of twelve, and asked for Kurt, +who was still at work in the garden. It was a sight to see how Kurt, as +he got up out of the hot-bed where he had been digging, rubbing the +earth from his hands, suddenly stopped short, and stared at Green from +under the wide peak of his cap; then turned his gaze to the dark-haired +boy, and back again to Green. + +At last he recognised the eager, wild eyes, larger than his by-the-way, +the long, rather wide nose, and the thin face, so like his own. +Unconsciously he exclaimed in English: "I beg pardon--but this lad----" +He could go no further, and Green was obliged to finish for him: "Yes, +this was indeed his son." + +That evening Kurt forgot to get out the whisky bottle, and when he did +next produce it, the boy seized hold of it and flung it out of the +window against a stone--a really capital shot. Glass, sugar-basin, and +spoon went the same way; capitally thrown they certainly were. Pastor +Green had begged the boy to watch when his father took out the bottle, +and try to get it away from him, and it was in this fashion that the +youngster carried out his instructions. His father stood for a few +minutes staring at him, till at last he broke out into an irresistible +peal of laughter. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A GENIUS + + +Never had any one felt surer that he had a genius for a son than did +Konrad Kurt. Not only that the lad was a thorough botanist, and knew +every secret of gardening, but there was not a piece of work on all the +farmstead, from the cow-house to the kitchen, which he had not soon +learned to know all about. It was easy to see that he had been brought +up in some back premises, among gardeners, cooks, and dairy people, and +had been well taught into the bargain. + +Nothing would serve him but to go on board the ships, and boats, and +learn how to manage them, for he had never lived in a seaport town +before. + +And then how he learned Norse, in only a week or two! First and +foremost the art of swearing. His father convulsed himself with +laughter over all the oaths which the lad began to make use of with the +funniest accent. Then, what stories he would tell! Even before he had +properly learned the language, he could interest the work-people in a +way which was really extraordinary, and he was therefore allowed to +play any tricks he liked; it was all looked upon as fun. + +When he spoke Norse easily, how he would gammon them! It was his +father's delight to steal behind one of the high hedges and listen to +him. The boy would tell them what the English Court was like, where he +had been as page; it was he who, with some of his companions, used to +walk before the lovely young Queen, while behind came all the bigwigs. +Probably he had seen something of the sort at the theatre, or in some +picture. Then the tremendous warlike achievements he had seen in India, +when he was over there or a little tour with the Queen of England. The +father stood hidden, and admired the vivid colours in which the boy +painted it all, although he still knew so little Norse. The father +enticed his son to go on telling him adventures. He drank no more +whisky toddy; the boy himself inebriated him. What a genius! ah! what a +genius! + +There was a continual chasing away of cats from the garden; they came +up from the town after the birds; and John, as this last Master Kurt +was called, having one day captured one of the most determined of the +depredators, ordained that the murderer should be crucified. As not +one, even of the youngest of the labourers, would help him in this, he +temporarily fastened up the cat, giving her plenty to eat, while he +himself went to fetch some rough boys from the harbour. + +Such extraordinary sounds of glee soon afterwards reached his father's +ear, that he hastened to see what it might portend, especially as some +more dubious notes were mingled with the cries of delight. He found the +executioners performing an Indian dance before the victim, a poor +bleeding cat, fastened to the storehouse door. The boy's inordinate +delight hindered him from seeing his father, whose first thought on +this occasion was not that his son John was a genius; although, when he +came to think it over, he must confess that it was a very remarkable +invention, and decidedly well done into the bargain. It is no easy +thing to crucify a cat. + +However, another occasion came when he thought differently. + +As the weather was excessively bad, his father had forbidden John to go +down to the garden, and the boy took his revenge by attacking his +father's finest apple-tree, a young one, which was in fruit for the +first time. He set to work to saw it right through at the roots, and +covered it up again with earth. His father was by no means so struck +this time, nor did he say much about the invention. He entirely forgot +to think of his son as a genius, to such an extent indeed that he +talked to him in his room, with a new well-twisted birch rod in his +hand. The boy never guessed, could not grasp, that his father was going +to flog him, and when this utterly incredible, this impossible thing +did happen, he rushed towards the door, with a look of mad terror in +his face. His father was as supple and active as he, and sprang on him +like a tiger, flung the boy on to the floor, and began beating him with +an absolutely wild pleasure. John screamed, prayed, promised, begged +for mercy. He got up on his knees, sprang up, and threw himself down +again, his eyes seemed to start out of his head, and his cries became +nothing more than a continuous, meaningless sound, his face turning +almost black. The maids, servants, and workmen came rushing in from the +passage, and tore open the doors. Kurt became frantic at this +interruption. He rushed first to one door, then to another, shutting +them in the faces of those who stood there. He had become almost as +crazed as his son, who, in the meantime, had contrived to make his +escape. + +Only an hour later the boy was out among the gardeners, and there could +not have been anywhere, a more good-natured, more submissive, brighter, +livelier lad than John Kurt. + +He lent a hand first to one, then to another, with flattering +coaxing words. Then he began to tell them stories about the apes at +Gibraltar--why, it swarms with apes! they stand there looking across to +Africa. + +And then he mimicked them, snarling and making himself as inquisitive, +frolicsome, timid, wild, and nasty as they. Likely enough he had seen +monkeys somewhere, though not precisely at Gibraltar. As his father was +passing by, he heard the fun, and concealed himself as usual, stooping +down, and peeping. + +That evening, he and his son had a talk together, in the very same +room, the old "Kurt room." There the two last of the Kurts wept in each +other's arms; the son promised to be always, always, always good, and +the father never to beat him again--never! + +It was but a short time after this, that a lad who used to run errands +for Konrad Kurt, had got a new Sunday jacket. His brother, who was a +mate, had bought it at an English seaport, for next to nothing, from a +woman in the street, and every one concurred in the boy's belief that +there had never been such a fine one seen in the town before. Alas! as +he prepared to put it on the next Sunday, he found that it had been cut +to pieces. The cuts were small, but so carefully executed, that though +as long as it hung up it appeared to be whole, it was in reality +nothing but a useless rag. Of course all thoughts turned at once to +John, who happened at that moment to be out rowing. Owing to the cruel +way in which his father had punished his last fault, and the affection +which they had for him, every one hesitated to speak. But the +gardener's boy, Andreas Berg, as he was named, had only this one +jacket, and it was the delight of his heart: he could not restrain his +tears; and old Kurt, at last observing that something was amiss, the +whole truth had to come out. + +It really seemed impossible that John should not have known what was +sure to happen, and have realised that after his performances with the +cat, and with the fruit-tree, suspicion must inevitably fall upon him. +It may be that he imagined that it would never go further than between +the little fellow and himself, or that he might rely on his father's +promise never to beat him again. Be that as it may, he came calmly up +from the water, bragging before he was well inside the garden gate, of +all the exploits that he had performed during the day. His father +called him from the open window of his room. The boy answered him with +a ringing "Yes," and was up the steps in a moment. + +The instant he saw the jacket lying on the table, and a well-twisted +whip by the side of it, he became as white as a sheet, and seemed +entirely to lose the control of his senses. He turned round and round +in a circle as he stood there, and hurriedly exclaimed, in a voice +hoarse from holding back his breath, "It was not I. It was not I. It +was not I. It was not I." Then, seeing his father lift the whip, he +instantly changed to his own voice, crying, "Yes, it was I, it was I, +it was I, it was I." "Will you ask pardon?" "Yes, yes." He was on his +knees in a moment, and with his hands crossed above his head, he cried, +"Pardon, pardon, pardon, pardon!" "And will you beg the boy's pardon?" +"Oh! yes, where is the boy? Let us go to him." He was up and by the +door in a moment, casting terrified glances at his father, who +followed, with the whip in his hand, though he did not go so far as to +strike him. + +John fell down once more on his knees before the little boy, tearing +off his own jacket and waistcoat to give to him, although no one had +suggested to him to do so. An English gold coin, and two Norwegian +silver ones, which were in the waistcoat pocket, fell out, and these he +gave to the lad at once, an act which so touched the father that he was +obliged to turn away. But a very short time afterwards, while the +workmen were at dinner, John made his appearance, and went through the +performance of the Gibraltar monkeys for their benefit. Then, returning +to his father, he asked him confidentially, if part of what had been +taken up in the garden that day, might be given to the men to take +home, and, on permission being granted, he went off with them to help +to carry the things away. His father stood and watched him from the +window. + +John's next exploit was on the sea. He had probably found that such +performances were dangerous on land, and it remained to be seen if +there were more freedom on the water. One day he set off in a boat, +with a little boy as his companion, having formed the plan of throwing +the child overboard, in order that he might rescue him. The idea may +have arisen from something he had read, or he may only have wished to +see the boy's terror; at all events he obtained this gratification. The +little fellow could not swim a stroke, and thought that if he could +make his companion understand this, he would give up his plan; but in +vain. The boy's terror increased every moment, he screamed with all his +small strength, and John might have recognised a fear so like his own. +But no. The child clung to John's clothes with all his little fingers. +He was shaken off again. He seized hold of the boat, and then, utterly +bewildered, tried to grasp the empty air; but overboard he went. John +sprang after him, caught the boy just as he was sinking, and held him +up, but it was only with the greatest difficulty that he got him back +into the boat, the child having been seized with cramp. A number of +people rowed out from all quarters, believing that a murder had been +committed. + +John did not return home that evening, and during three days search was +made for him. First by every one on "The Estate," later by the police, +and by a number of the townspeople who felt for his father's distress. +He was at length discovered up a _s[oe]ter_. He flung himself down at +once, and screamed at the top of his voice, absolutely refusing to +return home until he had received a promise that no one would beat him. + +This last adventure made him known all over the town. Whether it were +good for him or not, that every one came to the conclusion that he was +not like the other children, not quite right, the fact remains that +even at school the masters were rather too forbearing, of course not +his schoolfellows--they excuse nothing. + +He did the most horrible things; for instance as he was approaching +manhood he committed an act of such frightful indecency that it is +impossible to write it, but on this occasion, his father came to the +school to beg that he might be pardoned, and, as all the teachers +pitied the father, who worked so honestly, it was looked over that +time. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + MAN'S BREAST IS LIKE THE OCEAN + + +John passed an excellent matriculation, whereupon he took a fancy to +become a cadet, to which his father at once gave his consent, +considering that at the Military Academy he would learn order and +discipline, though, as a matter of fact, if what is meant by +discipline, is obedience to orders, he had no need to learn it, and he +had never been disorderly in his habits. Other faults, however, he did +possess, and he was twice nearly expelled from the Academy. The only +thing which saved him was his behaviour to his teachers, which was +always ingratiating. From the Academy he again passed a creditable +examination, and became absolutely enthusiastic for his profession. He +showed himself particularly good in drill. All was life, movement, and +story-telling where he was, and swearing into the bargain, for by +degrees he had brought swearing to a fine art. All the officers in the +brigade put together, did not swear as much in the course of a year, as +he did in a week. He could begin a string of oaths at one flank of the +company, as they stood on parade, and keep it up till he arrived at the +other. If he had used all the powers of imagination which he squandered +on swearing, in painting, he could have stocked a museum; or if he had +been a poet or composer, his shelves would have been full. But +unfortunately his oaths will not bear repeating, for they were +generally used when only men were present. + +For common every-day use he was content with ordinary oaths, though, +even then, his way of using them was that of a master. As an indication +of the first-named description--those, namely, of his own invention--I +will give one example a little toned down. On one occasion, when the +company was assembled for prayers, the chaplain had wearied them by +preaching an excessively long discourse, which John Kurt declared he +had once read in an old book of sermons. He therefore asked for a +blessing on the chaplain in the following terms: "May Satan inwardly +illuminate all through his inside with burning sermon books." + +He had an unending supply of stories, which were served up in a +seething sauce of imagery and cursing. His stories had this advantage +in them, that everybody did not believe them. + +John Kurt was tall, thin, bony, and as supple as a willow. He wore +beard and moustache, but they did not grow well. The hair was ragged, +and there were patches where none grew. This gave his face a look of +being torn in two. When his wild eyes flashed out he was actually ugly. +But his brow was clear, with the fair skin which was hereditary in his +family; and sometimes, when he was at his best, a gleam would pass over +it which quite redeemed his plainness. His feelings were extremely +strong, and he could make others feel with him. + +The finest thing in the world for a grown man, he considered, was +without doubt to be a soldier and officer. He thundered out his +assurances to the whole world, that no one could be a man who had not +gone through his drill. "Drill and discipline," he would exclaim, using +by preference the commonest expressions, for book language was not +strong enough; "drill and discipline. That was women-folks' greatest +loss that they never had discipline or tact in their commonplace +lives--the swine!" The whole country ought to be arranged as one vast +"Drill-hall." There would be no more cranky bodies then: "No, there +would be--devil take me--order and sense; the whole _Storting_--devil +plague them--ought to go to the parade ground and be drilled." Till +that day came there would be ne'er a bit of sense in the whole crew. +"The king--devil stare at me--ought to be drilled, if not the whole +place would be like a pigstye, where the strongest snout shoves t'other +one's out of the trough. Some one must stand over them with a whip." + +How then can one possibly paint the astonishment of his comrades, his +friends, and, above all, of his father, when one fine day it was +announced that First Lieutenant John Kurt had applied for a discharge, +which had been granted him. He came storming home again, and whenever +he was asked why he had left, he replied that the whole military system +was--"devil pickle him--the most miserable buffoonery. No honourable +man ought to lend himself to it. The officers were nothing but +dressed-up, well-trained monkeys, who trained strong lusty lads to be +monkeys as well. The generals were big monkeys with feathers in their +caps, and the king was the chief monkey of all." + +What was he going to do? "Why, dig the ground like his father. The +earth--that was the only solid thing there was in creation, and so it +was the only thing worth a rush, or that produced anything worth +having. To get out of it all that tasted best, and smelt best, that +was--may the devil quarter him--the finest thing an independent lad +could turn his hand to." He dressed himself in the most slovenly way, +and worked among the other labourers for his living. + +That was all very well during the summer, but the harvest was +hardly over before he discovered that--may the devil fly off with +him--gardening was simply muck. It consisted in using this sort of +muck, and then so much muck, and muck in that fashion. It seemed to him +at last that "all the world was naught but a great muck-heap. They were +the luckiest who owned the biggest. What--devil butcher him--was war +other than that each one killed t'other for his own muck-heap? Poets +and poetry were the flies in spring when the muck began to work." + +He went off in a ship, bound for the South Sea, and was absent for +several years, nor, when one beautiful spring day he returned home, +could any one gain a clue as to where he had been. If he were to be +believed, he had traversed the whole globe, for from that time no +country or nation could be mentioned, nor anything remarkable in +natural history, no ocean, no well-known building, which he had not +seen, nor a single famous person with whom he was not on terms of the +greatest intimacy, or, at the very least, well known to. It was evident +that they were not all inventions. He had a great deal of information +which could only have been acquired on the spot. He had undoubtedly +some notable acquaintance, for his correspondence proved it. Later on +in the summer an English nobleman and his friends sought him out to +accompany them on a mountain hunting expedition. + +Why had he come home? "To see his father before he died," he said; +though, to confess the truth, his father was in the best of health, and +not more pleased to welcome his son home, than he had been to see him +depart. + +John, however, declared all the same, that for his part, Heaven help +him, he could not bear any longer to think that his father might be +dying, and he not by his side. + +From the time he returned he was all solicitude and affection for his +father. He was now an old man, and allowed his son to do anything with +him that he chose, and strange fancies he took at times. Such as, when +he suddenly determined that his father should not eat anything. Or when +he, all at once, hit on the plan of putting him into a warm bath, while +he turned the cold douche on to him. Another idea was to lay him under +a number of large eider-down coverlids, in order to make him sweat, +although his father had not the slightest need for such treatment. +He would give a side glance at his son, and a very speaking one it +was; there was neither confidence, nor fear in it, still less any +good-humour, but a certain cold inquisitiveness, as though he just +wished to know what next; and sometimes he seemed to ask, "Is this +John, or is it not John?" + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + SAILS IN SIGHT + + +In the autumn of the same year, a girl came home, who became the +subject of conversation in the whole town, and for two reasons. + +Her name was Tomasine Rendalen, and she was the daughter of the +head-master, Rendalen. His name was derived from the mountain district +of Rendalen, from which his father had originally come. + +Rendalen was a big, strong man, who quietly, if rather ponderously, +performed his scholastic duties in the town, and who, since his wife's +death, had taken interest in nothing but his school, and the town +reading society. + +The management of his house he entirely left in the hands of old +Mariane and his children. Tomasine, who was his eldest child, possessed +a more than ordinary talent for languages, together with all her +mother's determination. When she was only sixteen she borrowed a little +money, entered a school in England, and, while there, thoroughly +mastered the English language. From thence she went to a school in +France, where she taught the pupils English and acquired French; and +finally to one in Germany, where she gave instruction in both English +and French, and learned German. She had been away nearly five years, +and had become a practised, and unusually clever teacher. She had no +sooner returned home than she began to give lessons both to men and +women, and thereby to pay off her debts. This aroused great admiration +in the town, and procured her a very large circle of friends. Her +figure excited an equally unanimous admiration, and it must be admitted +that it requires something special in a girl's figure before this can +happen. A beautiful face is always admired, for there can be no +delusion about it. A fine figure, on the contrary, is hardly sufficient +in itself to command attention. She was young, and well-made, and +always dressed in the latest fashion. Like other vigorous and healthy +girls, she had from her childhood longed to exercise her strength, and +had taken every opportunity of doing so. In England she had set to work +to practise gymnastics, and had continued them ever since. It had +become a passion with her; the result was, that there was not a single +girl in the town who held herself like Tomasine. + +It did not in the least lessen the admiration for her figure that she +had a somewhat flat nose, and that her very light hair gave her the +appearance, at a distance, of being bald; as for her eyebrows, they +were really not worth mentioning. Her eyes were grey, and, when without +her spectacles, she screwed them up. Her mouth was much too large, but +the teeth within it were as sound and regular as though her family had +remained in Rendalen and lived upon hard bread. When any one saw her +from behind for the first time, and she then suddenly turned round, it +caused a certain disappointment. People even thought of calling her +"The Disappointment," but the name did not take. Her figure carried her +over all criticism. Being near-sighted she wore spectacles, the only +girl in the town who did so. In those days the fashion of using +_pince-nez_ had not come in, so this gave something rather unusual to +her appearance. She literally shone with strength and intelligence. + +Through that winter she was the most popular partner at all the balls. +Her delight in being at home again, free from all restraint, and among +a number of merry young people of both sexes, her happiness in feeling +that every one was kind to her and liked her, were plainly visible. She +often expressed her feelings in simple and natural terms; she aroused +no jealousy, though it may be that this was a little strengthened by +the fact that she was well aware that she was not pretty. That winter +was a great dance winter, and at every dance she was present, for +dancing was the most delightful thing she knew. During that winter John +Kurt became for the first time a dancing man, and it was entirely for +her sake that he did so. She soon heard him say this, but she knew that +he could not be gauged by the rules of ordinary life, for he was always +allowed to say what he liked. She looked upon him as something quite +fresh, and very peculiar, but she acted as every one else did, and +neither ran away from him, nor fainted, because he said that he would +be d----d, pickled, boiled, and roasted if, when she danced, she were +not like a young, lively, whinnying Arabian mare, or like a flock of +birds in the woods in spring-time; her arms and her neck were just like +a dainty, warm, little Turkish pigling, one o' them with a pink skin. +She moved through the dance, Heaven help him, like a great man-of-war +through the water. When he danced with her--by his honour, life, and +salvation--it was like being up on the mountains of a clear autumn day, +with a gun in his hand, and the tykes ranging the hillside in full cry. +This, shouted in trumpet tones into her ear during every dance, only +added to her amusement. The others laughed and she laughed with them. +She did not possess the slightest knowledge of human nature. That +cannot be learnt by going from one school to another, even though they +be in foreign countries. + +Kurt very soon began to visit her home; he knew the hours when she +would be free, and speedily learnt her times for walking, following her +about everywhere. She tried as much as possible not to be alone with +him; otherwise she was pleased enough that he should come. He told her +and her friends amusing stories, and touching ones sometimes. Such, for +instance, was the history of a deserted brood of ptarmigan, which he +had once picked up, one by one, out of the heather, where they were +running about, all downy and unfledged; he had brought them all home, +he said, in his cap. This story seemed to bring with it such a fresh +breath of mountain air, full of the scent of the heather, and he +related it with such genuine feeling, that it brought the tears into +their eyes. Such things as these seemed to inspire him; even in the +midst of the wildest stories, he would often throw in some delicate, +telling touch. The way in which he invariably spoke of his father +attracted the girl to him. There was a mixture of drollness and +tenderness in it, midway between laughter and tears. They got used to +his rough descriptions, his coarse language; it could not well have +been dispensed with; it gave a special colouring which charmed, while +it startled them. Tomasine and her friends did not try to have it +otherwise, so that at last there was no one who appeared to them to be +able to relate stories except himself. Tomasine more than any one else. +She felt that it was all done for her amusement. + +One day, when by chance they were alone, he began to tell her about the +widow of a pilot, for whom he was just then most assiduously making a +collection. He saw that she liked him for doing so, and, without +further preface, he declared that Froeken Tomasine Holm Rendalen was to +him what a town was to a desert caravan; nay, if she laughed, it was +because she did not know what it was to trudge along through endless +sand, under a burning sun, exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. "It is +something to see a town then, I can tell you." Well, _she_ was the +minaret tower, the plane-trees, and the springs of water, the wine +which awaited them, and white tents, and dancing, the sound of the +guitars, and the smell of roasting meat. Suppose they two were to make +a match of it! If that could be, he would sell the whole garden, and +they would wander away to all the most delightful places on the face of +the earth. They would lie on their backs under the awnings, while their +servants came and put food and drink into their mouths. Or why not stay +here and carry "The Estate" gardens right up on to the mountains? What +would not grow with such shelter, on such sunny hillsides, fanned by +such warm sea breezes. There they would dig away into the hillside, +like a couple of badgers, and become rich people. But he saw what a +fright he had put her into; so, without any pause, he turned the +conversation into a wild panegyric on his father. The fact was that the +whole thing was his father's invention. He was determined to have his +son married. His father was a man who would get up of a winter's night, +when it suddenly turned cold, and go out to wrap bast mats and woollen +rags round the frozen fruit-trees, as if they were naked children. If +he wanted to cut down a bush he took the birds'-nests down first, and +carried them away to some place near, or to some other bush, and stuck +'em fast there. What wonder then if his father gave a thought for him +too; but, as for him, he could wait, he was quite happy as he was. And +he started off with a story about some cows who would not eat the grass +because it looked black, but he put them on large green spectacles, so +that the grass looked quite nice and fresh--"then they munched it up, I +can promise you." + +She could gather in the meantime that John Kurt was disappointed. She +herself had felt startled, she hardly knew why, and yet, on second +thoughts, she did, for she had heard, that very day, some stories of +the terribly licentious life he led. + +It so happened, strangely enough, that a friend of her late mother came +in to see her, and after a short preamble, began warmly to advocate +Kurt's cause. Only an hour afterwards another one arrived, another +after that, all bent on the same errand. He was certainly not like +other people, that must be confessed, but that he would make a famous +husband, each one was as certain as the other. As to his immoral +conduct, that was bad, it must be admitted; but it was most likely not +worse than other people's. Why, there were married men living in the +town who were by no means all that they should be. The great difference +was that he did everything openly. Each one of the three ladies spoke +as strongly on the subject as the others, and Tomasine began to be +somewhat of the same opinion. + +John Kurt himself held aloof for a time, excepting so far as that +whatever walk he took to or from the town, and they were not few, he +always contrived to pass the Rendalens' house, notwithstanding that +they lived quite on one side, to the left of the market-place, up +towards the field. Every time he passed up and down, he took off his +hat, if there were only a cat to be seen at the window. Beside this, he +sent a bouquet there every morning. The dawn was not more certain to +come than it was. Old Mariane, who received it, had always some little +thing to say about Tomasine, and he, on his part, generally let fall +some special remark, such as, for instance, "God bless your throats." + +A very short time after her mother's especial friends had called upon +Tomasine to advocate John's cause, her own followed their example. Some +of them had in past days taken quite an opposite view of him. They had +spoken of him almost with horror. They could not bear his mendacious +stories, or put up with his coarse language; or indeed with him, +himself. He was "disgusting." Now, however, they began to admit that +there was something interesting in him all the same: a kind of +demoniacal overwhelming power. + +The fact was that he had called upon them all, choosing first the one +whom he knew was most set against him. He told her that he was well +aware of this fact, and that he respected her for it. It was quite true +that he was a wretched, contemptible fellow. But it was just for that +very reason that he had come to her, for she really was the most honest +and clear-sighted conscience in the town; there was but one opinion on +that point. She really _must_ help him. She did not know the whole +history of his life, that was the fact. She did not know how it was +from his boyhood upward he had been misunderstood, and indeed continued +to be so still. And for that very reason would always remain an oddity. +But really it was hardly necessary for him to say anything. She saw +right through every one. + +He told another that her hands were so plump, so dainty, and round and +soft, that one longed to nibble them with one's coffee. + +He swayed and turned them with his stream of talk, he douched them +cold, he blew them warm, he startled them, and touched them. They did +not completely lose their heads. They knew perfectly well that it was +not all honest truth, spontaneous nature, but even that very fact +worked as an apology for him; he did not think about sheltering +himself, and most people are flattering when they wish to obtain +anything. + +A little time afterwards the whole town from one end to the other was +convulsed with laughter, for when, in the course of the spring, a +little sempstress declared Kurt to be the father of her child, he +acknowledged it before every one, and had it brought with great state +to church to be baptised, giving it the name of Tomasine. + +The amusement was renewed when he declared, on being asked how he could +possibly have done such an extraordinary thing, that if he had any +voice in the matter, Lord help him, every child in the town should be +called either Tomas, or Tomasine. It was quite touching. + +Just about that time his father died under somewhat strange +circumstances. The old man had sent a message to Tomasine, asking her +the next time she went for an evening walk, to be so kind as to come in +to see him, as he was far from well. Those two had been friends of old. +Many times, when she was a little girl, he had filled her pocket with +cherries. She always looked so fresh and healthy, and an old gardener +has an eye for such things. + +When she went up there, she found him sitting in his room on the left. +It was the first time she had ever been in it. The walls were hung with +some stiff, and rather dark material, apparently leather, which had at +one time been painted and gilded. In the corner by the window stood a +large press, a splendid piece of furniture, at least two hundred years +old, and most artistically carved. Quite in front of the window was a +clumsy unpainted table, littered over with papers, samples of seeds, +newspapers, and scraps of food. The old man sat there, in an ancient +arm-chair, with a short, broad leather back. He got up, and insisted +that she should take it. He was dressed in his grey linen coat, his +long apron, and wore slippers down at heel. On his head he had his +wide-peaked cap, and a thick neckcloth wound round his neck. He was +rather hoarse, and he seemed ill as well. "The spring was so sharp this +year," he said. The tall, gaunt man began to pace up and down between +the table near the window, and the bed beside the wall next the wide +hall, which divides the house in two. Up and down he walked along the +wall, past the great stove, with the two "Oldenborgs" on it, both in +enormous wigs, his steps keeping time to the ticking of an old +eight-day clock which hung on the wall near the stove. Just then it +struck seven, with a noisy chime. + +The old man's bed was of freshly polished birch, contrasting with the +old decrepid chairs set along the wall, with a new leg or two, or half +the back put in fresh. The wall itself was hung with pictures, in which +a reddish yellow arm, or a brownish red dress, showed themselves, but +which otherwise were absolutely black. + +Konrad Kurt's blustering talk, as he walked up and down, somewhat +resembled the room, for it was a mixture of old and new, most of the +former; and not without a touch of boasting about his family. About +modern days he had less to say, and it was more in the humbler style of +his present circumstances. He talked without his son's oaths and +imagery, but with no little skill. He romanced at one moment, and +sneered the next, as his son often did. _Summa summarum_ was, then, +that the race was worn out, the stock could no longer spread. If it +were to be saved, it, and the last of the inheritance, it must needs +receive a graft; a strong, new tree must be found. + +Tomasine sat there for nearly two hours, and listened to him. She let +her supper hour, and the time for her evening classes, go by. He would +not let her leave. A maid-servant opened a door from the inner passage +to ask if she should lay the table, but was sent away. + +As Tomasine returned along the avenue, where the road was guttered by +the rain, and the storm whistled through the old trees, she felt as +though she had just come from a mausoleum. In it she had met one single +living man, wandering round and gazing on his dead. She had not the +slightest desire to join him there. She turned and looked back at the +great, dirty, plastered building, with its small windows. "No," she +said aloud. + +Next morning, when she came into the parlour, John Kurt's bouquet had +not arrived. It gave her a pang, she hardly knew why, for that was +after all exactly what she wished. But was it? She was trying to make +this clear to herself, when her father came in from his morning walk. +He was very pale--he told her that old Kurt had died in the night. They +had found him in the morning, lifeless, in his chair before the table. + +John Kurt came in a few minutes later; he did not speak, but flung +himself down, crying. He cried so violently that both she and her +father were frightened. Then--the self-accusation that followed! + +He came again every day and poured out his heart with affecting +vehemence. He went nowhere else, spoke to no one but to them. Just to +them and his own people. With these he worked day and night to build a +temple of flowers on the great flight of steps before the house, down +which the old man would be carried. This erection of flowers was +wonderfully lovely; it was talked of far and near, and the evening +before the funeral, numbers came up to see it, Tomasine and her father +among them. The dead man's friend, Dean Green, was one of the first to +come up the avenue, and after him, half the inhabitants of the +mountain, both grown people and children, to look, to show their +gratitude, and to say "Good-bye." They had been to see the clergyman +first. Old Green stood on the steps, and spoke of him who had loved +flowers so dearly, who had gone from our spring to the eternal one. +Every one was moved, and the son was obliged to go away. + +The next day John went straight from the funeral to the Rendalens'. But +he did not find Tomasine at home. He was so disappointed at this, so +honestly distressed, that he stood silent for a long time, and at last +let fall that he had no one now--no, not one single being. He only +wished with all his heart that he could be laid in his grave too. He +was nothing but a trouble even to those he cared for most. He saw that +now. And he turned away. This quite touched old Mariane, to whom it had +all been said, and when Tomasine came in at last, she related it so +feelingly that her mistress was touched as well. The fact was that +Tomasine had not wished to be at home. She feared him. She had not the +courage to face his emotion, which might perhaps lead him in a special +direction. + +She repented it now. She hastily took off her spectacles and wiped +them, put them on again, and looked at herself in the glass. Was not +she big and strong enough to hazard it? She stood there and weighed the +question. + +The fashion of that day was to wear a bodice drawn in at the waist with +a belt, and crinoline. + +She pushed her belt down with both her strong hands; she had taken off +her loose, white sleeves, as soon as she came in. Those belonging to +her dress were wide and open, so that her wrist and the lower part of +her arm, contrasted very prettily with her black dress. She delighted +in their strength, as those do who are much given to gymnastic +exercises. But her eyes turned involuntarily to her face, her weak +point. It was incredibly ugly. That flat nose, those thick lips, and +that hair which was the colour of her forehead--you could hardly see +it--and those eyebrows, light, short bristles, so thin that they were +quite invisible. Ah! no, it would never do to make herself of +importance. John Kurt loved her so heartily, and was unhappy!.... +absolutely alone, and so unhappy!.... And his father had made her sit +down in his own chair! + +Shortly afterwards old Mariane walked up the avenue as fast as she +could. She halted once though, and took out of a newspaper a dainty, +ah! such a dainty letter. She must look at it. + +When it was put into John Kurt's hand, he tore it hastily open, and +took out a sheet of thick English note-paper--with a dove on it--the +paper was very good, and the dove well designed. He read the following +words, hastily written in a practised hand: + + + "_I will do it_. + + "Tomasine." + + +John turned to Mariane. "Now, what a man father was," he said; "if he +had not died just now, small chance if I had ever got her." + +He would have married the next day. To his immense astonishment, +Tomasine would not hear of it. Nor even that the marriage should be the +next week. She now gave up her pupils to begin to prepare herself for +her new position. She was completely ignorant of domestic matters, +except so far as to be able to keep her own things in order. From a +child she had only cared for her book. John Kurt was delighted when he +heard of her deficiencies; _he_ could do everything. Did any one doubt +it? He could wash up and clean, were it parlour or kitchen, better than +any housemaid or cook in Norway. He pushed old Mariane suddenly on one +side, and showed them, bit by bit. He did everything as quickly, +nicely, and carefully as the handiest girl--that was a fact. Besides +this, he could cook all sorts of food; dishes which they did not know +by name. He could roast and boil, knit, sew, and darn: he could wash +clothes; starch and iron. He, and no one else, would teach Tomasine. +Why should they not begin at once? And so it was settled. He himself +made purchases, and invited friends to the Rendalens'. The days which +followed were the most amusing the family had ever spent. The whole +town was filled with rumours. Friends and friends' friends came to look +on. And to listen! What noise and fun! What tales of where he learnt it +all! Sometimes among the gold-diggers in Australia, in constant peril +of his life. Then on a Nile boat, with a party of English, where the +cook directed the whole expedition. Sometimes in Brazil, at an hotel +among the niggers; or in the mines in South America. Then suddenly he +was at Hayti on board a large steamer! Then deserting from her. He did +not spare local colouring, or indeed any colouring; coarseness and +vituperation rained down like fire from heaven on the different places +and people. + +But the work went on. Tomasine was assistant cook, scullery maid, +ironer, and darner. Even in the last he was her superior. He worked +just as quickly as he talked, and just as eagerly. He interrupted +himself with the most perfect good temper whenever she made a mistake, +for she was really very clumsy. He captivated them all now, without +exception. But surely this teaching and fun could go on as well or +better up at "The Estate." By degrees every one agreed to this, and +Tomasine gave in. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + HOME LIFE + + +They were married one afternoon at home. Only the family was present, +and after leaving the table they walked up to "The Estate," arm-in-arm. +It could not be concealed that there was much feverish excitement. +Indeed, it was the more apparent because they wished all to go on as if +nothing were on foot. + +Hardly anything had been done up at the house. Things were to +be arranged by degrees. The first room on the left was still a +sitting-room and dining-room. The next one a bedroom. The best +furniture of every description which the house contained, some of it +old and valuable, was collected there. The leather hangings on the +walls had been washed, but were not much the better for it. The heavy +carved ceiling, on the contrary, was much improved by being cleaned. An +attempt had also been made to clean the pictures, but not altogether +with success; as the frames had at the same time been regilt they +presented altogether a ghastly appearance. This was almost all that had +been done. A bath-room had been fitted up next to the bedroom, shortly +after John Kurt returned home. This was now divided, so as also to form +a dressing-room. The kitchen, on the other side of the hall which +divided the house lengthwise, was like a huge dancing-room; a new +English kitchener had been fixed there, and the newly married pair +proposed to spend a great part of their time before it. + +For a few days they were quite alone, nor did they go out later on. But +one or two ladies at a time were invited. And soon they were all as +merry up there as they had been before down at the Rendalens'. Just +previous to her wedding, and for a short time afterwards, Tomasine was +thoroughly in love with John Kurt; entirely wrapped up in him, +absolutely happy, and in boisterous spirits. + +But this exuberance was contrary to her nature, and did not suit her. +She looked excited and almost vulgar. She felt this when her friends +looked at her. Indeed, her glass had already told her the same thing. +It made an impression on her, but she put it aside. It returned now and +then, like a secret dread. She tried naturally to shout it down, and +only made things worse. Her friends whispered that she had become +disagreeable; she, who had pleased by her unconscious manner, was now +either strangely abstracted, or boisterous. + +One small thing excited observation. None of her friends were admitted +further than the sitting-room and kitchen; all was carefully locked up. +She positively kept watch to see if they watched her. Very soon, +however, some one spied on them all. It became impossible for any one +to be alone with Tomasine without John Kurt opening the door, and +putting in his head, but no sound was heard before he made his +appearance. All the locks had been examined and oiled, and the doors +opened noiselessly. If they walked along the broad paths in the garden, +he came out unexpectedly from behind a hedge. If they whispered when he +was present, he became restless and perverse, not exactly with them, +but in such a way as to leave no doubt of his meaning. He generally +poured out his wrath over Tomasine's untidy habits. Her friends thought +either that they were in the way, or that something was going on which +they would rather be away from. They came more and more rarely. + +Tomasine was the last to understand her husband's uneasiness. She +fancied at first that it was only to scare them, that he came upon them +in that way. His complaints of her untidiness were merited. One has to +_learn_ to keep everything tidy about one. Later, when there could be +no mistake, she asked herself if he were jealous of her friends. In +that case he ought to have been so before; they came oftener then than +now. Was he afraid, then? Afraid of what? That they should talk about +him? What could they say? She knew as she asked it. He was out at the +moment, so that she had time to cool down a little. It was not her +nature to come to hasty determinations, nor was it clear to her how she +ought to take it, or what rights she had, or had not, in her married +life. She had never spoken to any one on the subject, never read about +it. The pain lessened little by little as she pondered. She took up her +work again, and tried to appear as if nothing had happened. Kurt, +however, observed at once that her manner was different. From that time +forward he sometimes saw that she had been crying. Every time he came +in he asked if any one had been there. "No." Once she heard him, a +little while afterwards, ask the gardener if any one had been with "the +Missis" whilst he was out. + +He was shy with her and guarded, actually uneasy. But he could not +continue this long, and without warning became impatient and rough; +then repented his violence and begged her pardon twenty times, and this +again and again. + +Tomasine was not nervous, so that she was neither frightened by the +former, nor did the latter make her alter her behaviour. She was +friendly, but always reserved. So things drifted on towards a storm. +They both knew it. The changes from cold to hot became more sudden, the +squalls which preceded them heavier, the stillness and sultriness which +followed them more dangerous. Yet in the midst of it all he could be so +wonderfully kind, so naturally bright and considerate, that sometimes +she forgot all presentiments, and gave herself up to the hope that, +under her quiet guardianship, which he quite understood, their life +might at last become what she realised by an ordinary, honourable +married life. + +One afternoon he came in from the garden, where he had worked all day. +He wished to change his clothes, for he was invited to a men's dinner +in the town. He went into his bedroom, took off his coat and waistcoat, +came back again and talked of taking a bath, walked up and down as +though considering something. Tomasine felt that things were not safe. +She was herself dressed to visit a friend in the town, and he looked +closely at her. She thought it would be wiser to slip away, but when he +saw that she was preparing to start, he suggested that she should wait +for him, and that they might go down together. She excused herself on +the plea that she was expected. "There would be time enough for gossip, +she could help him a little first." She inquired how. This he would not +submit to. She had no business to ask questions. Beside that, she was +not obedient. She had not learnt that yet. She ought to understand that +now she had a master, and that she must obey him "in all things." It +was the Bible itself that said so. By way of answer, she put on her +bonnet which lay ready on the table, and took up her mantle and +parasol. On this he became furious, and asked her if she thought he had +not observed her. She thought herself so much better than he was, and +was therefore constantly spying on him. It was certainly true that she +had not had the opportunities of leading the life he had, but that was +in reality the only difference between them. At the bottom she was +exactly the same as he was, precisely, so she really need not keep up +this farce any longer. This came so unexpectedly to Tomasine, that she +cried out "Boor," took up her things, and turned to leave the room. The +door leading into the hall was behind her, he sprang to it, turned the +key and, took it out. Then going to the other doors, he fastened them, +keeping the keys, and as well as this, he closed all the windows. + +"What are you thinking of?" she asked, turning deadly white, and taking +off her spectacles. She forgot her bonnet. + +"You shall learn for once what you really are," he answered, and to her +consternation he called her by the worst name which can be given to a +woman. And, as he spoke, he came so close to her that she could feel +his breath on her face. He said things which stung her like scalding +water. It was to such a wretch she had given herself. Her close +proximity and the scent of her best clothes gave him an inspiration. +Like lightning it flashed upon him, that the time had come to humble +her. She thought too much of herself, as she stood there with her +strong figure. She dared to wish to be independent. She was his--his +thing. He could do whatever he liked with her. But she put herself on +the defensive. He warned her first. He asked what she was thinking +of--of coercing _him?_ She! Suddenly he screamed out, "I am not afraid +of your cat's eyes." + +Now a fight began in the old Kurt house--between a Kurt and his wife, +with all the strength possessed by two human beings--and on his side +with the recklessness which disappointed love of rule and thwarted will +can give: entirely alone, with closed windows and doors, and without a +word uttered. The table was overthrown, and everything on it spilt or +broken, chairs were knocked over, the new sofa pushed far out along the +floor. Down they went themselves, but were up again directly. They got +across to the other side of the room, knocking against the heavy clock; +it swayed and fell, striking him on the shoulder and head, so that he +was obliged to pause and recover himself. She had time to try a door, +or at least to alter her position, but she did neither; she looked at +herself, for she had hardly a whole garment upon her. Her hair hung +dishevelled about her, and she felt pain in her head. The only thing +she did, however, was to free herself from the remains of her +crinoline, which she threw from her, and which caught in the legs of +the table. She felt that she was bleeding. He had struck her on the +mouth and nose, and the scratches smarted. They set to again. This time +he knocked her down at once, but he gained little by it. For he was not +so much stronger than she, that he could afford to expend his strength +without soon losing all that he had gained. Hardly was one of her hands +free before she was near him again. She was as agile as a cat; he moved +slowly. He was breathless, and deadly white, as if he were going to +faint. She saw this as she stood before him, in her rags. She was +breathing hard as well, but could still go on. He now heard her speak +for the first time. It was all she could do to say between her gasps +for breath: "Won't you--try--once--more?" He went backwards towards a +chair, the only one left standing, and sank down on it. He did not look +at her, but sat there, panting and overcome. It was some time before +one or two long breaths showed that he was beginning to recover +himself. She placed herself by the stove, holding her rags about her, +and asked him to open the bedroom door; she wanted to get some clothes. +He did not answer. She scoffed at his utter weakness and misery. He +listened without a word; he pointed at her, and his face expressed how +hideous she was. His spite at last gave him words. She looked, he said, +as she stood there in her rags and with her hair torn, like the +roughest and most disgusting of drunken women. But he put no colour +into what he said, nor a single oath. "Can't you swear now?" she asked. +He took this quietly; merely got up and walked slowly to the bedroom; +took the key out of his pockets, and opened the door. As he went in he +looked at her, then fastened it behind him, leaving her standing there. +She heard him go into the bathroom and take a shower bath, and then +dress himself. She sat down and waited. After a long time he came out +again, ready for the dinner, locked the door behind him and withdrew +the key, put his hands in his pockets, and began to whistle. He went +past her, across the overthrown furniture and other litter on the +floor, without attempting to pick up anything, finally striding over +the clock-case to reach the outer door. "You will find plenty to amuse +you here," he said. He unlocked the door and locked it again outside. +She heard him take away the key. + +All the people about the place thought that they had both gone out, for +everything was fastened--even the sitting-room doors, which was not, as +a rule, done. By nine o'clock perfect silence reigned over the +homestead, both within and without. It was late in August, and there +was no moon. + +At ten o'clock a man walked hurriedly up the avenue. He saw no light in +any part of the great building. He mounted the steps and entered the +hall, where the darkness obliged him to grope his way to the room-door. +He was evidently unfamiliar with the place. He knocked, but received no +answer. He tried the door, it was fast. He knocked again, thundered, +waited, but no one came. Again he knocked, louder than before, and +called "Tomasine." + +"Yes," was answered at once from within. + +A moment later, close by the door, "Is that you, father?" + +"Can you not open the door?" + +He knew by her voice that she was crying. + +"Where is the key, then?" + +"John took it with him when he went out." + +A moment's silence, and then the question, "Has he locked you in, +then?" + +"Yes," was the answer amid her sobs. + +She heard him turn away again and descend the steps, and, to her +astonishment, go away without a single word. + +She needed some one so much. It was unbearable. She began to feel +frightened, for it must have some meaning. Why did he go? Where was he +going? To meet Kurt! What would happen? The blood began to circulate +again in her half-clad body, for as Kurt had left her she still +remained. She hurried to the window, but could see nothing, and at the +same moment she heard some one on the steps again. She ran to the door, +but could not tell by the footsteps who was coming, they advanced so +cautiously. + +"Is it you, father?" she asked. + +"Yes, it is I, with the keys," he answered. + +He came in, and she fell sobbing on his breast. She began to speak, but +he interrupted her. + +"Yes, yes, you have nothing more to be frightened about." Then he told +her plainly and shortly that John Kurt was dead. "They are now at the +steps, with the body." + +Partly from her father, partly at a later time from other people, she +learned that John Kurt had eaten and drunk heavily at dinner, becoming +more and more excited. On leaving the table he swore by life and death +that he would go to a disreputable house. That would be such devilish +good fun for Tomasine. They tried to control him, but he became +perfectly beside himself, staggered forward, and fell dead. + +No floral temple was built on the steps for John Kurt to be laid in. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + FIRST RESULTS, AND THOSE THAT + FOLLOWED + + +In the days that followed, several friends, both of Tomasine and of her +mother, came to express their sympathy and offer help, but she refused +to see any one. + +During all that afternoon when she had sat locked in her room, robbed +of her clothes, her youth, her self-respect, trembling for her life, +she had called to mind that at that moment John Kurt was sitting at +table in the best society of the town. If society had not approved John +Kurt, she would never, inexperienced girl that she was, have been +sitting there. Society had surrendered her to him. Yes, surrender, that +was the word; and yet, if she were not mistaken, every one was fond of +her and respected her. She would never see them again. If she had been +free, she would have left the country. Her own fault? She saw it, saw +it. She would never show her face again. + +_Now_ she was free! But something fresh bound her. A terrible +uncertainty. Was she _enceinte_, or was she not? Would she perhaps +bring another insane being into the world? For now that John was gone, +she wished to think that he had been mad, like several of his family. +Would she give birth to a child whose nature might combine any +possibilities, and afterwards be bound to it for the rest of her life, +because those people down in the town had surrendered her, and she had +not understood herself? + +In the course of a few weeks she became the shadow of her former self. + +It was wonderful, almost as soon as uncertainty changed to the +certainty that she was to become a mother, a feeling of solemnity came +with the decision she formed; she did not understand how it was that +she had not discovered so clear, so natural a thing before. The being +under her bosom should determine the question; if it were a miserable +little wretch everything would be at an end, she would not live to +nourish such a brat; but if the child combined the qualities of her own +honourable race with what was best in his, it would be a great, great +boon that she was left alone with it. At all events, she must wait to +see. + +Tomasine was awakened, and from this time a natural grandeur began to +develop itself in her. She had borne both the actual and mental +struggles alone, alone she regulated her own character. It required +time, for her thoughts did not move quickly. She ate, rested, and +regained all her vigour. So finally everything was prepared. She first +called in the head gardener, a handsome, fair man, with a determined +manner and great powers of self-reliance. He was no other than Andreas +Berg, whose Sunday jacket John Kurt had cut to pieces. He had remained +on "The Estate" ever since. Andreas Berg, had borne everything with the +hasty-tempered old Kurt, who would undoubtedly have made him his heir, +if his son had not returned. In later times he had put up with all +John's freaks and bursts of passion. + +Tomasine asked him to sit down. She inquired if he had any other +intention, than to stay with her. + +"No, he wished to stay, if Fru Kurt would allow him." + +She could depend on him, then? + +"Yes, that she could." + +The first thing she had to ask him was not to call her Fru Kurt any +longer, but Fru Rendalen, and to get the others to do the same. Their +eyes met. Hers shone uncertainly behind her spectacles; his in wide +open astonishment. But when he saw that her glasses were gradually +dimmed by the tears, which could not find a free course, and that her +flat nose worked until the spectacles slipped down on to her cheek, he +hastened to say, "Very good. That shall be done." + +She took off her glasses, wiped her eyes first, and them afterwards, +and began, after a pause, with the next question. + +"Dear Berg," she said, and put on her glasses, "could you not, quite +quietly, so that no one would notice, have all these portraits +destroyed--indeed, all the pictures, for I cannot always distinguish +them? Have them all burnt, or disposed of in some way, so that they do +not remain here and as soon as you can manage it. Do you understand +me?" + +"Yes, Frue, but ..." + +"What do you mean?" + +"It would be rather difficult if no one is to see." + +She considered for a while. + +"Even if it is noticed, it may be done all the same, Berg." + +"Very good. Then of course it shall be done." + +And done it was, with an infernal smell of burnt canvas and burnt +leather, and a general smell of burning. A soft breeze drove it one +afternoon all over the town, the smoke drifting almost to the works, +out by the river-banks. She then invited her father, with all his +family, to come up to her. That was done at once. She handed over all +the housekeeping to old Mariane, and let her have what help she wanted. +The rest of the family lived in the rooms behind her own. + +Soon afterwards an advertisement appeared in the local paper: + + + FRU TOMASINE RENDALEN + + _Will resume her Instructions in English, French, and German_. + _Information to be obtained at_ "_The Estate_." + + +She changed her name with all legal formalities. Besides her classes, +of which she had as many as she wished, she studied book-keeping, and +soon herself began to keep the accounts of the house, garden, and +dairy. At the same time she began to learn a little about the working +of the business, the accounts of which she kept. She wished to qualify +herself to undertake it. Perhaps she would never have to do so, but it +gave her present occupation. It left no time for brooding; that was the +main thing. She was so tired every evening, that she slept the moment +her head was on the pillow, and, like all thoroughly healthy people, +she was wide awake directly she opened her eyes, and was into her bath +the next instant. + +Notwithstanding this, as time went on the more oppressive became the +secret thoughts which were ever present to her mind. She had cleared +away every trace of the Kurt family, she had surrounded herself with +her own. Every time that a thought of the former presented itself to +her mind, she met it with some thought of the latter. She knew nothing +of her mother's family, but as a child she had been in Rendalen, and +there seen her father's relations, and listened to their sagas. There +was nothing remarkable about them. The family disposition, even and +rather heavy, had every now and then, after a too long period of +general respect, or when pressed to the uttermost, come out into +something uncommon, but otherwise they were an orderly race, toiling on +with quiet perseverance. But everything she knew about them, appearance +as well as disposition, she placed in opposition to all which could +come from the side of the Kurts. The Kurts were dark, the Rendalens +essentially fair; fair in hair and complexion, fair and open in +disposition. She had such practice in moving pictures in and out of her +mind, that the very moment a Kurt memory intruded, it was driven away +by a commanding fair Rendalen without eyebrows. The result was, that +dark or light became a sort of finality with her. The outward +appearance was a sign of the inward disposition; the first sight of her +child, therefore, might well determine her life. Her whole anxiety +centred itself upon that first moment. + +The nearer the great moment came, the more her dread increased. Her +ordinary occupations no longer sufficed to deaden it. She dismissed her +pupils and took part in the work, both in the house and out of doors. +The spring was late that year, and in her ardour she let herself take +cold; she struggled against it as long as she could, but at last she +was obliged to keep indoors, and take to her bed. And now her anxiety +so entirely got the better of her that she fancied, before the time, +that the birth-pains were upon her, and became absolutely light-headed. + +She again began the struggle with John Kurt, and even when, completely +exhausted, her mind became clear, her anxiety by no means subsided. The +first sight of the child would be enough, and in her distress and +desperation she came to believe that dark or light hair would be +decisive. "If it is dark," she thought, "I am doomed--I shall be unable +to bend the child. And it _will_ be dark, the Kurt race is so strong. +Its fierce strength has already impressed itself too deeply upon me, +its fancies overshadow me. I cannot even think as I will." + +She tried to gain comfort from the answering thought that old Konrad +Kurt had been worthy. "There are good qualities in the Kurt family; +seeds of good which perhaps will grow again in the child which will be +born. Even if the good be not unmixed--I do not ask so much--but if it +may be the stronger." She prayed for it--ah! how she prayed!--until she +remembered that it was too late!--it had been decided long ago. She +constantly saw the back of a neck brooding over her--the neck in the +picture of the first Kurt. She used her old power, to call up images of +her own people against it, but the fair race would not shine. The neck +remained. It had no right to be there, it was no longer in the Kurt +family; neither Konrad Kurt had it, nor John. + +"Take away that neck," she cried to those near her. And with the sound +of "Away, take it away," new fancies shaped themselves around her. John +Kurt appeared, to tell her that he would never go away. She would +never, by all the devils, get rid of him. His white forehead gleamed, +and he swore till nothing but r-r-r-r thrilled and drummed close up +beside her cheek. + +To such a degree was she exhausted by this inward struggle, that it was +a relief when the birth-pains began in reality, imperiously commanding +all else to stand aside. + +All fever had left her, and she bravely gathered her strength together, +but it was less than any one supposed. Therefore it was a long time +before she heard a feeble cry, and "A son, Frue, you have a son," and +afterwards, gently and kindly, "Tomasine, you have a son." + +A gentle peace had filled her. It was soon broken. She collected her +thoughts at the word "son"--she had a son. The wave of peace broke +against a wave of dread. "His hair?" she contrived to whisper. She +could not say more. "Red, Frue." She had a dim idea that that might be +either dark or light, perhaps more likely dark. It was not clear--it +was---- And everything passed away from her. + +For some time those near did not notice her. No one imagined that this +powerful woman could be fainting, and therefore some time elapsed +before she was brought round, and there was some alarm. It was only by +degrees that she realised what had happened--what the whimpering was +she heard somewhere--why she had a remembrance of pain. The child was +now clothed, and they lifted it up to her, but still not near enough. +She could not see it properly. She wished to sign to them to bring it +nearer, but it was difficult; she could neither do it with her voice, +nor by moving her head, and she did not think of her hand, or perhaps +she could not move it. But some one was there who understood, and held +the baby up to her, so that it touched her cheek, just where she had +felt its father's breath. She felt something soft, something warm, +something delicate, the softest thing she had ever touched. She heard a +cluck, a whimper, and now she saw--the eyebrows, they were her own, her +family's light sparse bristles. + +It was too much joy, too much happiness. Her blood circulated more +quickly, and soon the warmth came to her cheeks, the tears to her eyes. +She lay there weeping quietly, while her little one was held fast to +her motherly breast. + +With God's help, she would try to accomplish the rest. + + + + + + III + + A LECTURE + + + + + CHAPTER I + + DETHRONED + + +Fru Tomasine Rendalen herself carried the child to the font, and gave +him her own name. + +Little Tomas's cradle stood by the side of the bed in which she slept. +The room was both her reading and working room. The other remained +vacant as though only for show. Through her friends in England, +France, and Germany she obtained books in three languages on the +bringing up of children. But she soon laid them aside; they were all +either too vague, or too dogmatic. She began to widen her acquirements +in other respects. She wished to be his teacher in everything. But, +from the time that he was six months old her work was much interrupted, +for he was a most restless child. The doctor assured her that, so far +as he could see, the boy ailed nothing. He did not scream from pain. +If, at the moment he opened his eyes, for example, the person he wanted +was not there--that is to say, the one who could give him food--he not +only screamed till she came, which was to be expected, but after she +had come and had forced him to drink, he screamed while the milk ran +out of his mouth, and continued to give blows, slaps, and spiteful +cries. He could not forget. If there were anything he did not like, he +screamed himself black in the face, and made himself rigid. Sometimes +it seemed to Tomasine as though she had a log on her lap, and not a +human being. When he was nine months old, she was obliged to give up +nursing him, for he kept her in such a state of irritation and terror, +that his health became affected through her. The struggle which ensued +on this, was terrible. It lasted altogether for three days and nights, +during which time he could only be induced to touch a drop of the +strange food by artifice. + +As Tomasine hung about in the outer room or in the passage, listening +to the hoarse screams, for he had no voice left--not allowed to see +him, or go to his help--she remembered more than once, with shame, what +she had thought and determined before he was born. The boy cried +inside, the mother outside, and no one could get her away. And this, +his first great fight in the world, to keep possession of his mother's +breast, had no happy influence upon him, for from that time he tried, +more than ever, to get everything by screaming. + +Tomasine was a strong, long-suffering woman, but she became thin and +nervous. She hoped that things would improve as he grew bigger, and +waited till he should be a year old; but still had to wait, for the +stronger he grew the more persistently he screamed. Some new method +must be adopted. The specialists did not touch on this, or else she had +not understood them. She consulted experienced people, and was advised +to keep him continually amused. That answered for a while. He was quiet +when he saw anything new, but he would not look at the same thing more +than twice at the outside. If she forgot this, he became so furious +that the very newest thing in the world would not pacify him. Some one +else advised her to let the child scream as much as he liked. Eternal +Powers, how he yelled! If he had been chosen as the representative of +all the sorrow and trouble in the town he could not have done better. +"No," thought Tomasine, "that will torture the life out of both him and +me." So she turned to the exactly opposite course, and tried to guess +his thoughts before he had formed them, and indulged him in everything. +This helped, but if she guessed wrong, there was no use in guessing +right afterwards. + +At last his maternal retainer and slave, like many before her, was +brought to such a state of distress and despair, that she determined to +revolt. The little despot must be dethroned. The revolution broke out +with six slaps on his little person. All the horrors of a civil war +at once showed themselves. But six, seven, eight to twelve slaps +followed. To give up one's power before one's life, is hard even for a +not-two-years-old tyrant, so the battle lasted several hours until--he +gave in? No, that he would not do, but he fell asleep. + +Tomasine was so worn out by months of worry, anxiety, and sleepless +nights, and finally by the fight itself, that she was trembling and +bathed in perspiration. She stood over him as he slept, as David is +said to have stood over Saul. She grieved for his fallen greatness. She +heard him sob as he lay there in his helplessness. She saw the last +tear dry on his cheek, the convulsive movements of his chubby hands, +and the twitching of the thin skin of his head. Who should be good to +him if not she? How she longed for his waking, that she might let him +see her face with its gentlest expression, and caress him, and practise +all those small arts which are the delight of every mother! More than +all, she longed to make him screw up his mouth for a kiss. When he did +that, he was irresistible. + +At last he began to move and to rub his hand over his nose. In her +impatience she put her hands under him, and laid her face down to his +head, to breathe the warm fragrance from it. + +He screwed up his mouth for a grimace; despair rose darker and darker +in his eyes, and at last he gave a shriek, a frightful and frightening +shriek, while he thrust himself away from her, with hands, head, and +body. + +She was obliged hastily to let go of him, and call her sister. To her, +the little arms were raised at once, and he pressed himself closely to +her, so as to be thoroughly safe. + +The forsaken mother stood and looked on. She felt as though she had +been driven round the whole compass, and was now at the same point from +which she had started some months before. Her first feeling was one of +miserable helplessness, then came a strong sense of shame, and suddenly +she snatched the boy away from her sister, and dressed him herself, +whether he would or no. + +He screamed the whole time, and when he was dressed, and would not take +food from her, a perfect hail of slaps and rain of scolding ensued, nor +did she leave off till he really struggled to be quiet; checking the +sound so suddenly that he gasped for breath as though he were choking. +By degrees the rebellion was reduced to subdued sounds strongly +restrained; whenever they broke out again they were forced back. At +last he showed that he was entirely subdued by screwing up his mouth +for a kiss, to prove to her that it really was against his will if a +cry every now and then escaped him. It was comically touching. He was +finally forced to eat, and, now completely mastered, he sobbed himself +to sleep. + +Tomasine went out for a walk, and on her return sat once more, +anxiously waiting for his awakening. He had hardly opened his eyes, and +seen her, before there were threatenings of a prolonged howl, but he +restrained it from fear; nay, he even held out his hands to her as she +stood smiling over him. There have been many more fortunate conquerors, +both before and since the time, when Fru Tomasine Rendalen deposed her +son, and seated herself on his throne. Besides which, the pleasure was +diminished by the knowledge that she should have done this at first, +long, long ago; but all the same she was just as delighted with her +tardy victory, as any general could have been with a more timely one, +and as she lay down that night, she was as weary and as confident +as the conqueror of a city. At that time Tomas was a year and nine +months old. She thoroughly understood that this struggle would not be +the last, but with that knowledge came the conviction that in the +uncertain voyaging through which his whims had led him, he had +discovered his mother. From that time forward she would be his +mainland. She soon obtained a proof of this. Whether it were in the +intoxication of victory that she began to wear a cap, or whether it +were a long-nourished plan for concealing the hair which had always +annoyed her, and putting something visible in its place, the fact +remains that the cap first appeared at this time. The boy must and +would have it off. For his sake she had temporarily offered up her +spectacles, against which he had also waged war. But she would not +sacrifice her cap. Now many people are content to lose the realities of +power, but cannot bear to be deprived of its symbols; and to be able to +lord it over his mother's hair and head was a great, a strong proof of +power, which he would not give up. + +And so a fight ensued, but he yielded before things had reached a +climax. His little hands were pushed back time after time, and always +with more force, notwithstanding his screams, till suddenly he flung +himself on her neck, and the little war ended charmingly. + +She was a happy mother as she looked forward to his second birthday. An +English friend, with whom she exchanged letters from time to time, +since she no longer visited in the town, had sent her, for this great +day, Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," at that time the most +popular novel in England. The book came a day too soon. She read a +great deal of it at once, and all the life-like forms gathered +themselves round little Tomas for his own day, when he was to be +dressed in new clothes from top to toe. She dreamt of little Em'ly and +little Tomas. She woke on his birthday morning a little earlier than +he. He was lying quite still. He had not disturbed her the whole night, +a thing which did not happen once in two months. Proud and happy, she +gave him his birthday greeting. The first hours passed in unbroken +delight. At nine o'clock he was sitting on the floor of the parlour, +dressed in his new clothes and surrounded by all the toys which she and +her family had given him. She herself sat by the window, dressed in her +best, reading "David Copperfield." She had tried having the window +open, to enjoy the fresh air, but the spring day was rather cold. + +After a time she was called into the kitchen. He never liked her to +leave him, but he was so occupied at that moment, that she thought she +might venture, though she took the precaution of going through the +bedroom and across the hall into the kitchen. She left the kitchen-door +open, for fear he should think her too long gone, and begin to call for +her. + +In the parlour all remained quiet, suspiciously quiet. He had in fact +closely observed the book that his mother was reading, for, according +to the English fashion, it had a bright-coloured binding, with a +picture on it. + +He noticed that she put it down on the table, and felt that he too +should like to read a little of it, if he could do so without +interruption. He dropped his toys as soon as ever he was alone, got up, +and toddled off, pushed a stool forward, when he found he could not +reach up, pulled the book on to the floor, and sat himself down beside +it. + +Some time elapsed before he again learnt, as he had done previously, +but had forgotten, that it is not easy to read a number of pages at +once, but, on the contrary, one should take them one or two at a time; +that did very well. Then he tore them out of the book, they were so +much easier to read in that way. + +After the first one or two, he took them out several at a time, twenty +in all, before his mother returned. They soon had a difference of +opinion over this style of reading. She lost her temper, and took the +book hastily from him, telling him sharply, that he knew quite well +that he ought not to touch her books. He was frightened at first, but +after a while he stretched out both his hands and said, "Me book, mama, +me book." + +She naturally took no notice of him, so he came up to her and repeated +very coaxingly, "Me book, mama, me book." "No," she answered sharply, +for unluckily the book had been shamefully treated, just at the place +where she was reading. He waited a little, but began again, "Me book, +mama, me book." She remembered that it was his birthday, and answered +him more gently, showing him what harm he had done. He listened and +answered, "Me book, mama, me book." + +Some sweets were lying there; she gave him some, which he ate up, +saying, as he did so, "Me book, mama, me book." She laid the book +aside, took him up, and danced round with him, then set him down among +his toys, and went back to smooth out the crumpled leaves. He was soon +by her side again, reaching up to the table with one hand, while he +steadied himself with the other: "Me book, mama, me book." Once more +she left her occupation, and fetched his outdoor things in order to go +out with him. + +This he would not have on any terms. He made himself as stiff as a +poker, but she was determined that out he should go. They remained in +the garden for an hour, and he amused himself while he was there. + +While she was taking off his things again in the parlour, he stretched +his disengaged hand towards the table: "Me book, mama, me book," saying +it with the most coaxing tone and look of which he was capable. She +thought it the best way to appear deaf to it, and gave herself up to +cutting bits of paper, in order to gum them over the torn leaves. It +was slow work, and all the time he stood, and begged, and prayed, +giving little stamps, and stretching himself up: "Me book, mama, me +book." + +"He will stop some time," she thought, but he was still persevering +when she had accomplished her task. + +She was very anxious to leave his society for that of the characters in +the book, who were certainly much more amusing, but she did not wish to +be cross, and so began to play the flute--that is to say, she moved her +fingers as though she were playing a piccolo, whistling at the same +time; a performance in which she had a good deal of practice. + +He pulled and dragged at her dress, and she replied with her flute. She +became quite merry over it, and her merriment increased when he became +angry, and called out "No, no," to her playing, and cried, and hit her. +The flute playing became much quicker; he would not leave off, nor +would she; the spirits of the Kurts were in every chink and corner. +Then the child threw himself down on his back on the floor, drumming +with his heels and screaming in good earnest. She played on, but more +softly, for she felt that it was actually he who had won, while she was +teasing him. + +She could not take up the old fight again at once. In one moment the +flute-playing changed to crying--helpless, inconsolable crying. The +boy, who in the midst of his anger, had kept a sharp watch on her, was +so astonished that he forgot to scream. She had been suddenly seized by +her old dread, and neither saw nor heard anything, till she felt +something warm against one of her hands. She had let it hang as she +flung herself backward in her misery, raising the other to her face. +She lifted her head, and looked into a wondering face, the tear-stained +face of her own red-haired boy. + +As soon as he saw her look at him, he put up his lips for a kiss, +stretching out his hands to her. So the little flat nose was lifted up +to the big one, and she murmured, and prattled, and fondled him, all +over his face and head, as he held his arms round her neck. She did not +take the book again. She kept him instead, and he never once looked +towards the table where it lay. That was their last great struggle. +There were a thousand lesser ones, of course, but never one which +lasted more than a few minutes. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + ON THE MOUNTAIN + + +Tomasine always had her boy under her own care; the lively, clever +child needed a watchful eye; but all the same she looked forward to his +fourth birthday with good courage, and on that day something chanced, +which made her form a determination. + +Tomas had had several playfellows; as he was accustomed to be alone he +always wanted things his own way, so he had not been very good-natured. + +On his fourth birthday he received, among other presents, a book about +brothers and sisters, which told how good brothers were to their +sisters, so indulgent and helpful; this was illustrated by sketches in +which the little brother always led his little sister by the hand. +Tomas derived another idea in the meantime from the book; he asked "Why +he had not a sister too? Could he not get one?" + +Tomasine Rendalen had certainly often remembered that he had a sister, +but not as a matter which concerned herself; it did not seem to her of +any further consequence, but he begged so continuously, that she began +to think a little more seriously about it. Suppose his sister should be +in want? The property had been John Kurt's, and it had prospered +greatly, thanks to his own plan, that of extending the gardens further +up the hill, thus making them nearly twice as large. John Kurt's child +must be properly provided for, there ought to be no doubt about it. + +She made inquiries about the child, and learned that her little +namesake lived with her grandmother, Marit Stoeen, "Mother Stoea," as +they called her, the widow of the pilot who had gained a great +reputation on that coast. Marit Stoeen lived up on the mountain, +therefore to the left of "The Estate": Tomasine decided to see the +child. + +As there was no hurry about it, she determined to do so the first fine +Sunday. As it chanced, the weather for a number of Sundays was bad, so +it was full summer before one came which tempted her to go. Andreas +Berg accompanied her. + +The road to the mountain led to the left from the market-place, past +the new churchyard, and further out into the country. But after that, +when they turned towards the mountain, the way was more of a quagmire +than a road. + +Till that time the poorer people of the town had been allowed to build +as they liked, and live as they could, and a regular road was only just +being constructed. Down by the sea, the boats lay side by side, as +close together as possible, for the left side of the mountain sheltered +them. All round the boats, and in them, were a number of children, +mostly little ones, and there was as much noise as if there were a +thousand of them. + +Tomasine wondered if the one she sought were there as well. She looked +into each wild little face to see if she could find anything familiar. +It was not a pleasant occupation. The rough children gathered round her +in a swarm, when she inquired for Mark Stoeen, and at least twenty +pointed up the hill. But she could not distinguish what they said to +her all together. Nor did she wish to stay, but, with Andreas Berg, +began to climb all the corkscrew turnings of the road. + +The shouts from below followed her, but none of the children, so that +she concluded that none of them had anything to do with Marit Stoeen. + +It was a rough road, over the solid rock for the most part, though here +and there a step had been made, and now and then it had been slightly +hollowed. + +It turned from left to right and from right to left; there were not +four houses standing on the same level. And how extraordinary many of +them were! Some nothing more than a ship's caboose, with a broad +penthouse over it. There were several with the stairs leading to the +upper story built outside, and, in one or two, they went right across +the roof, to an attic room which had been added later. Many were so +built that the lower story had its exit to the west, with the road on a +level with the door, but the upper story had an exit to the east, for +there the road and door were still on the same level. + +Almost all the houses had odd outbuildings, mostly boats standing up, +with one end cut off, though in some cases boats were used as roofs, by +being turned upside down and supported by walls of boards or stone. +Little strips of garden wound in and out everywhere, often in the most +unlikely places, where they were so narrow that two turnips could +hardly grow side by side. Rank odours of all sorts, sometimes +pleasantly modified by the smell of tar, hung over the whole mountain, +rising and spreading as a rich offering up into the Sabbath sky--all +according to the ordinary customs in that part of the world. + +The noise of the children down by the sea came ringing up the hillside +like a constant chime, now and then broken by a cry. A cock crowed; a +dog on board one of the ships in the harbour barked at a passing boat, +and was answered by some shaggy comrade on the mountain. Otherwise all +was still; they only heard their own steps crunching on the gravel, +and, as they got higher up, something like the frantic screaming of a +child. + +Tomasine looked out over the islands, and the Sound, away to the open +sea--shining and still and clear under the sky. In the streets of the +town a few people were walking about, and, in some places, little +groups of children. But it was too far off for any sound to mingle with +the shouts of those below. + +To the right lay "The Estate," the first column of smoke, just curling +from the kitchen chimney; all round here the chimneys had been smoking +for a long time, and a little smoke hung here and there over the town. + +The day was warm. They toiled, perspiring, up the mountain-side, and +she thought of those who, after a day's hard work, had every evening to +climb these twenty, thirty, or even fifty stages for supper, wood +chopping, and bed. + +She did not meet a single person, though she saw several, mostly old +men, sitting before the doors with their pipes. The working men +generally slept till dinner time on Sundays, and the women were all by +the kitchen fires. Here and there an idle lass might be seen, sitting +on a step, chatting to a girl-friend who had most likely come up to +join in the evening's amusements. Or perhaps a young sailor, who, with +his pipe in his mouth, and his hands in his pockets, leant over a wall +talking to a girl who stood shyly before him. + +Little more than half-way up they came upon a party of lads and girls +who lay or sat round a large flat stone. There was no noise or talking; +Tomasine did not know they were there, until she was close upon them. +They were in the very worst of the smells, but that did not seem to +affect them. What could they be engaged in? There was nothing to show +it. She inquired the way, and one or two half rose, while one, who was +older, answered her, pointing to a red house with white painted +window-frames. + +Tomasine had just wiped her spectacles and she could see the house, but +she also saw distinctly by their manner that they all knew her, and +every one guessed just what she wanted at Mother Stoea's. No one said +anything, but she heard a little tittering and whispering when she had +gone by. + +She asked Berg what they could be doing, since they were all so quiet; +and he replied that he believed that the boys were playing cards, and +the girls looking on, but that, as it was at the time of the Sunday +sermon, they hid the cards away if a stranger went by. She began to +reflect on the difference between the working people in a little +Norwegian town and those of a large foreign city, raising thereby many +old memories. But something occupied her along with her thinking, a +disagreeable something which would not leave off. What was that? Yes, +it was the same frantic screaming from up the hill. Now that she came +nearer, she recognised it, and it brought a painful feeling with it. It +was her son's old, spiteful scream. There was no doubt of it--the same +to such a degree in tone of voice, in description, and vigour, that it +tortured and stabbed her. Could it be his sister who was up there +scoffing at her? She had been hot before, and now she was in a glow; +some of the old dread seized upon her, bewildering thoughts from the +old days, of struggles with her son. But, "Frue, you are going too +fast," called Andreas Berg from lower down the hill; she could hardly +see him, her glasses were dim; she took them off and wiped them, and +her eyes as well, drew a long breath and began to laugh. Berg came up +slowly. The child's crying continued, but now that she had recovered +her senses, she noticed that it came from the right, while she could +see Marit Stoeen's house, the red one with white window-frames, almost +exactly before her on the slope to the left; it was the largest house +up there, and undoubtedly the one she had seen, she could not be +mistaken; she felt quite lighthearted as she walked towards it. + +They could not go straight to it, but were obliged to make a circuit +and come back along Marit Stoeen's garden fence, which had also been +painted, though evidently not so recently. + +The two windows of the house looked out towards the garden, and there +was an extensive view from them, but the door was in the end wall to +the left, to which a porch had been added, with a few steps leading up +to it. All was quiet here, inside and out, but the jubilant voices of +the little ones below, and the screams of the angry child from the +other side, further away, met in the air. + +The garden, along which they passed, was the largest they had seen on +the mountains, though certainly neither it, nor the house, were what +one would call well kept. But there was comfort, or whatever one might +call it: Tomasine hesitated for the right word. She now saw a child +with dark hair and bright, wondering eyes, who got up from the steps, +letting something fall from her lap, as she ran quickly into the +house-place. Immediately afterwards there appeared a tall elderly +woman, with dark untidy hair, and a handsome and intelligent, though +rather dirty face. The woman at once recognised Tomasine, who now came +up the steps and entered the porch. + +"Have you come to see us, Frue?" she asked, smiling. + +Tomasine was again busy with her eternal spectacles, and when she put +them on again, the woman had tidied up the place as well as she could, +with the little girl clinging with both hands to her skirt, so that, +however the woman turned, the child was hidden from the strange lady. +Andreas Berg remained outside. Marit Stoeen apologised for her untidy +room, with a pleasant voice and simple skill. It was getting on to +dinner-time, she said, and everything certainly ought to be very +different. But there had been a dance there the evening before. They +like to keep it up a long time, you see. She would still less like to +ask the lady to come into the parlour, for it was even worse, she said, +laughing. It was by no means a small sum that she made by letting the +room, and by the coffee she sold. Her room was the largest on that +side; for the mountain was divided in two as it were. "The people here +will have nothing to do with those on the other side." And she laughed +again. + +Tomasine Rendalen had taken a seat, but when she began to look round +the room, she found that the spectacles must come off again. She was +warmer than she had supposed. As she took them off, she asked after the +child's mother. The woman replied that Petrea was married. + +"Married!" + +"Yes, to a mate of the name of Aslaksen. He was a smart, clever fellow, +and he would have her. They did not live here any longer," she said, +and proceeded to explain their circumstances in detail. "Aslaksen would +soon get a ship." + +The child peeped now and again from behind her grandmother's skirts, +and each time Tomasine glanced towards her. She had a shock of dark +hair like her grandmother's, and in other respects was a blending of +John Kurt and the woman standing before her--a blending which, she +could not deny it, gave her a feeling of aversion. And yet the little +thing was pretty. She had undoubtedly Kurt's wild eyes, but there was +laughter in them as well as wildness. + +"So the child remains with you?" said Tomasine, pointing with her +parasol to where she was hiding. + +"The child, yes, she's all right," answered the grandmother, while she +patted her grandchild's head. "John Kurt, he paid for Petrea, as soon +as ever she had her misfortune. And had a christening, so grand as you +would hardly believe, and along a' that, he gives her a savings-bank +book with a hundred specie-daler in it, and his father gave her another +on top of it with just as much in it again." And Marit Stoeen began to +cry from sheer gratitude, because John Kurt had given two hundred daler +to his own child. + +Up to that time Tomasine had had no idea of this "Have you any of the +money left?" she asked. + +"I should think we have some of it left," laughed Marit; "why that is a +likely idea that the little 'un could want it all." She laughed, and +again took hold of the child's curly head, and drew it towards her. But +the little one slipped back again directly. + +"Is she not very much in the way, now you are alone and have to work?" + +"Oh! as for that, no. We are not so particular as all that comes to. +She sits herself away somewhere;" and she turned half round, laughing, +towards the child behind her. + +"Is she easy to manage--not passionate?" + +"Oh! not so bad," laughed Marit; "and she's so comical as well, poor +little thing." And she now forcibly pulled her forward, the child still +struggling against her. "Now, now, don't be such a silly." + +Tomasine, however, did not wish to come into close contact with the +child. So she got up, and looked round the house-place. The hearth was +in the corner of the inner room; close by the window stood the table, +with the remains of breakfast on it; a coffee-cup and a milk-bowl, with +the dregs still in them. + +On the wall opposite, and also on that between the fire-place and the +door, hung some daguerreotypes, and two or three pictures were nailed +up as well. The daguerreotypes, of course, represented Aslaksen and +Petrea. Fru Rendalen passed these without looking at them. The pictures +were, one a large ship in full sail, the others, the new Emperor and +Empress of the French. As Tomasine had never seen any likeness of the +latter she went up to them. The Emperor, who had a large nose, looked +about twenty-four; the Empress was but lightly clad, though she looked +all the same a very innocent little girl of hardly sixteen. + +"They are only the sort o' things they carry about to sell," explained +Marit. "I thought it would be amusing like to have her. She was not +born to it, nor, for the matter of that, was he." + +Tomasine was now opposite the open door. "Good gracious!" she +exclaimed, "what child can that be who is always screaming?" + +Marit laughed. "Oh! that's Lars Tobiassen's boy, that is." + +"He never does anything else but scream," was suddenly heard from the +little girl behind her grandmother's gown. She came forward in her +excitement. Then, frightened at the sound of her own voice, she hid her +head again. + +"Perhaps the lady knows Lars Tobiassen?" inquired Marit. + +Tomasine noticed something in her voice. "No, what is he?" + +"It is rather a difficult job to say, that," answered Marit. "He's such +a lot of things. He's a hard drinker, he is. He's turned butcher +lately, for they say as drinking won't do no harm in that business. +Have you never seen him?" + +"No, why do you ask me?" + +"Ah, I don't hardly like to say anything about it," and she laughed +rather slyly. + +"But why not?" + +"Well, I only says what others says to me. It was not as found it out," +and she laughed again. + +"What is said, then?" + +"Well, folk do say that he's a Kurt too. Not any of them last ones, but +a bit further back." + +She saw this made some impression on Tomasine, and hastily added, "Like +enough, it's nought but talk. He's like no Kurt that ever I saw. He's a +rare fighter, he is." + +"Some of the Kurts have been that too," answered Tomasine, by way of +saying something; and she turned to the window and looked out. + +"Yes, I've heard that," answered Marit; "there are two sorts of 'em. +Some fat and dark, and others just as thin; but they have always been +good-natured, the most of 'em. Folk can say what they will, but to the +poor people...." Her hand sought the child. + +Tomasine turned at the moment and beckoned to Marit. Through the window +they could see a number of people beyond the garden-fence. Andreas Berg +was there as well, talking to some of them, perhaps to keep them there, +and prevent them from coming to the door. They were mostly young. Now +she saw that they were the same whom she had passed down below, sitting +round the flat stone; a few others might perhaps have joined them. They +all stood staring up at the window. + +"My, what a lot there are!" cried Marit. + +"Do you see that ragged boy, with the fair curly hair?" asked Tomasine. + +"Yes, he is easy enough to see," and Marit's voice showed that she +understood what Tomasine wished to know. "He is the son of young Consul +Fuerst, and like enough to his father." It was true. That curly hair, +those blue eyes, re-recalled the partner of many a dance. Tomasine +blushed crimson. "Why, my gracious, and you did not know before, Frue? +Well, it's my turn to ask you something now," she continued. "Do you +know that lass over there, as is holding her petticoat on with her +hand? She has pulled off the string, poor thing. Her, without much more +on than her shift. Her with hair as is neither yellow nor red, and a +ridiculous white skin. Dear me, _that_ one over there. Can't you really +see who she is?" Yes, Tomasine had done so long ago; she had had plenty +of practice in the foreign schools in recognising parents by their +children, and children by their parents. "Yes, she's Froeken Engel right +enough, if any one chose to call her so," laughed Marit, "though she's +not dressed in silks." Tomasine drew back from the window. + +Again Marit laughed, though this time not altogether without malice. +"One sees the wrong side of the world up here on the mountain." +Tomasine hastened to say that she had thought of giving the child sixty +daler a year. Here was the first thirty for the past six months. If +Marit needed any more help, she must come and tell her. When the child +was bigger, they would talk of what was further to be done with her. +Marit stood with the money in her hand: "That really was something, far +more than any one could expect; if everybody behaved like that when any +one had a misfortune...." And she began to cry again. + +In the meantime the child had let go the dress, rousing up when she +heard that there were people outside in the garden. She had sidled +right into the porch. She now came rushing in again, while loud +laughter from outside rang through the house. The little girl only said +"Lars Tobiassen," seized her grandmother's dress with both her hands, +and huddled it round her. Tomasine, frightened lest he should be coming +in, went hurriedly to the door without even saying goodbye, tying her +bonnet strings, which she had loosened, as she went. In so doing she +nearly fell, and had a narrow escape of descending the steps quicker +than she had intended. But Lars Tobiassen had just passed. The laughter +seemed to have burst out as he clambered up the steps to the right. He +was roaring drunk. + +Tomasine came out just as, with his back towards her, he had surmounted +the first obstacle. She noticed his close-cropped neck. Where had she +seen that bronze bull-neck before, and the point of hair in the middle? +Oh! Heavens, that fearful neck which had hung over her, the night +her child was born. The eldest Kurt's neck: that was it. And the +bull-necked man now called out, "Now just you wait--devil take you! +I'll give you something to scream for, I will." Tomasine was down +the steps, out of the garden, through the crowd; she would not hear +that swearing again, nor the sound of blows, and not, oh! not that +half-insane screaming. She rather flew than walked through the people, +who made way for her. But barely sufficient, so that she jostled +against several of them, and when the descent began, she sprang from +step to step, fancying she heard laughter behind her, but only running +on the faster. She was fit to drop, but would not give in. +Notwithstanding all her efforts, she could hear behind her the +incessant terrified cries of the child, the drunken voice, and a +woman's passionate scream. Dogs woke up and barked, but not near enough +to drown the shriek, that fearful shriek, until, thank God, the bells +from the two churches in the town began to ring at the same moment, +filling the whole air with their clangour. She had come to the flat +stone where the young people had been. It was deserted now; she sank +down on it, and burst into tears. At last Andreas Berg came after her. +His dignified pace made her feel that she had behaved somewhat +strangely. She dare not wait till he got up with her, but without +looking round she walked on. Her knees trembled, but she would no +longer allow herself to be hunted by phantoms. The blessed church bells +saved her from hearing anything else, and they continued till she was +right down at the bottom. The children were no longer there. It was +dinner-time. + +A quarter of an hour later she was sitting with her little boy in her +lap. He was very much puzzled by her excitement and tears, assuring her +eagerly that he had been "dood" the whole time. She thanked him for it +over and over again, with caresses, hugs, and kisses, but cried all the +more. Now she began to feel how bad it had been of her never to lay her +hand on his little sister's head, although she had been "dood" too. + +The boy's playthings lay strewn around him. She remembered the bit of +firewood, with an apron round it, which his little sister had let fall +when she ran frightened away from the door-step. Tomasine had noticed +it, for she almost fell over it as she hurried away. But nothing had +melted her. Yet the child could not help having the same father! No, it +was Tomasine who had not been "dood" that morning. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + THE CHILD + + +The first result of this visit was that Tomasine felt she must have +some one to talk to, for there were other bad inheritances in the world +beside the Kurts'. She must gain further knowledge. Without hesitation +she chose the man for whom she had the greatest respect, "Old Green." + +Now as surely as the afternoon came old Green passed by. The way he +took was along the garden, on the right, where the road used to run, +and where a path still led up to the woods. This walk among the hills +and woods was Dean Green's favourite one. Tomasine began to watch for +him, but lately he had hardly ever been alone. Nils Hansen, the +shoemaker, was generally with him, the greatest character in the town, +and married to a lady whom Tomasine had known abroad, and who had been +one of her friends. + +One day, as Tomasine had stationed herself at the gate, to watch if the +Dean were alone, she heard him and Hansen far down the slope. Mormonism +was beginning at this time to be made known in the North by its first +emissaries. The newspapers constantly contained something about this +new teaching. Nils Hansen was talking loudly. "Mormonism," he said, "we +are as good Mormons here as in America. How many wives has a man before +he is married in church, and afterwards as well? The merchants are the +worst, but there are others beside." + +They had drawn nearer before the Dean answered. "Look you, Hansen. I +take it for granted that the races which have attained to monogamy, +actual monogamy...." + +"And what sort of thing may that be?" + +The Dean stood still. "It means having one wife. Polygamy is having +several wives." + +"Oh! that's it, is it." + +"The races which have really and truly come to be monogamists," +continued the Dean, "are but few. The most part are still polygamists." +They walked on again. + +Nils Hansen agreed. "Yes, that is--devil take it--my opinion as well." + +The Dean: "Progress consists in this, that the disgrace...." She heard +no further. + +"There are bad inheritances in the world beside the Kurts," thought +Tomasine again. "How otherwise could he have been endured: nay, even +liked? No doubt he appealed to some secret feeling in most of them." + +As she had not the courage to go straight down to Dean Green, she went +first to Nils Hansen's. It was generally said of Nils Hansen, that he +flourished, and that in the greatest prosperity, on the hatred of the +whole town. His crime consisted in his having several years before +mustered the lesser townsfolk in a struggle against those of more +importance, or rather in the fact that he had been victorious. He had +taken the town councillorship from them, seized the pews in church, so +that now every one had equal rank and place there. He had had +everything supervised and the financial estimates inspected, in a way +that the leading people looked upon as extremely wrong. His worse +villainy admittedly was, that, aided by some pecuniary help from +non-residents, he had established a bank for poor people, called the +penny bank, which had helped a number of the lower orders, even in some +cases bringing them quite to independence; for all the vested +interests, his sharp and amusing answers were like a wireworm at the +root of a tree. + +It had aroused incredible merriment when a school-mistress in the town, +a pretty, fair woman, with more than usual endowments, and even with +the expectation of a fortune, refused several eligible offers, to +engage herself to rough, rude, shoemaker Hansen. She was desperately in +love with him into the bargain. She smiled and blushed if he were so +much as named, and it can be imagined what it was when he himself hove +in sight--one shoulder a little higher than the other, by the way--with +his odd face, blinking eyes, broad shoulders, and huge hands. Endless +jokes were made behind their backs, because, both while they were +engaged, and afterwards when they were married, she taught Hansen, and +he boasted of it. But they afterwards felt the result of this +schooling, and paid for it as well. She was older than Tomasine, and +had once been some months with her in England. When Tomasine returned, +Fru Hansen had been married a year, and was therefore somewhat outside +the circle in which the former moved, though she often went to see her, +for she was very fond of the healthy, clear-headed little housewife. + +It was therefore with her that Tomasine was especially angry when it +transpired what kind of man John Kurt was. Why had she not by a single +word dissuaded her from taking him? After his death Laura Hansen had +tried to have some talk with Tomasine, but in vain. But now the latter +thought, "Perhaps most wives have something to complain of, and yet +this does not prevent girls from marrying; so why should I have +expected them to advise me to act differently from what they would have +done themselves?" So she went down to Laura Hansen. + +They lived in a small, old house on the marketplace, next door to +Fuerst's. The queer building, with a narrow alley on one side and a +large door leading to the rambling courtway on the other, was the +inheritance which Laura had expected, and now possessed. She was a +slender but well-grown woman, with an open countenance. Some people +considered her sullen, some thought her shy: that depended very much on +what was passing. By some she was called talkative, by others sparing +of her words. She took both people and circumstances into +consideration. The friends had not met for five years. Laura sat sewing +in the room behind the shop, the one with the window towards the alley. +She rose, astonished, flushed, and somewhat agitated. Tomasine was +really once more in her house. They were both a little stiff at first. +A little dark-haired, thickset girl sat on a stool learning to sew. She +looked solemnly up at them, but was soon sent out of the room. Her +mother understood at once that they two, friends of old days, must be +alone, and make it up together. And they did so. + +After several introductory remarks, Tomasine laid her complaint against +Laura and her other friends, considerately, but still clearly. + +Laura answered: "When a girl does not allow herself to be hindered by +the kind of life that John Kurt led, there is no use in any one else +talking to her about it." Laura, for her part, had refused several men +just because their conduct in that particular had been doubtful, or +more than doubtful. But Hansen, she knew, was honourable in that +respect as in others. + +The tall Tomasine felt very small under little Laura's steady gaze and +quiet words. She fell from the position of accuser to that of accused, +and her fall was no trifling one. She had felt very superior up there +for several years, and a few words spoken in the course of a minute or +two had laid her low. She did not feel much respect for her own powers; +nay, for a moment, it made her unhappy to think how short-sighted she +had been. She actually felt anxious to discover if she were equally +stupid in other things, but she soon so far regained her balance as to +understand that to look only at one side of things may be partly the +fault of circumstances. + +She sat there without speaking, without listening; she had fallen into +a reverie. Laura took the opportunity of leaving the room to prepare +some chocolate, and to ask her husband to take her place while she was +away. This, however, he had not time for at the moment, but still was +so pleased that Tomasine had come again, that he felt he must just put +his head in at the door to say so. He had on his leather apron, and +held a shoemaker's stirrup in his left hand. Tomasine rose to grasp the +other, but he waved her back, laughing. It was not fit to touch. "I +only wanted to say many, many 'good days' to an old friend," he said +after his fashion, as he drew back. But at that moment little Augusta +came in again from the shop. She heard her father. He popped his head +in again. "Just look at her. I always say that a dark person ought to +marry a fair one. That is just what our two young ones are." And he +shut the door. + +Augusta was unusually tall and strong for her age. She was a full year +older than Tomas. When Tomasine called her and spoke to her, the child +surprised her. + +There was a serenity in her eyes and brow, and a quietness in her way +of talking, more like a grown person than a child. She was a contrast +to Tomasine's own nervous little "Red-head," who never asked three +questions about the same thing--a most pleasant contrast both outwardly +and inwardly. Little Augusta went on questioning until the subject was +clear to her own mind, and then would pass on to the next topic which +came up. + +Her hands were plump, but firm; his, thin, freckled, restless in their +very shape. Her hair was dark and unusually plentiful, notwithstanding +which it made the smoothest plaits; his stood up and stuck out in red +bristles, which seemed to grow in layers; it was never tidy unless it +were close cropped. He was bony and thin; she so plump, though +thoroughly healthy. Tomasine recalled what she herself had been as a +child. Why was not her child the same? She felt something almost like +envy; to think that the little velvet jacket that Augusta wore was +without a spot, though it was evidently far from new. Tomasine searched +for one until it seemed to her that the whole little figure was solid +soft velvet. + +Her mother came in with the chocolate, and the ice being now broken, +they found plenty of subjects of conversation, especially after Augusta +had again been sent away. + +Tomasine asked how the child had become so lovable, gentle, and +sensible; and was told that she had never been headstrong. "Not even at +first?" "Never, but clear-headed and staid from a tiny child." + +The last thing that Tomasine wished was to say anything against her +little Tomas, but the contrast was so great that somehow all that she +had gone through was told, and what incessant care she had still to +practice. + +Laura received, during Tomasine's relation, a firm conviction that this +state of things would in the long run prove too much for her, and +therefore be dangerous for her health. + +Accordingly they both went to Dean Green, and from that day forward the +stately old gentleman, in his long-skirted coat and broad-brimmed hat, +often took his way up the avenue, instead of round the garden, when he +set out for his afternoon's walk. Beside this, Tomasine began, little +by little, to gather her old friends about her again. Once more they +strolled in the broad paths of "The Estate" garden, many of them with +their children in their hands. So by degrees happiness and confidence +entered into her life again, and peace as well. + +For now, when Tomas's education was to begin, it was done in quite a +different way from what she had imagined. He went to school--a school +which she herself kept for him, and for a number of little girls, the +children of her friends. + +At first he thought this incredibly splendid. He was thoroughly happy, +willing, even devoted; but after a while, when he heard from the other +boys that it was a disgrace even to go about with little girls, he +wanted to know why he should be condemned to do so. Could not his +mother send them all home again and have boys there instead? He pleaded +for this--he fumed, he cried; but the girls remained. If only he could +make out what was the use of it all! What had he not to endure from the +lads who attended the boy's public school, who had men for teachers. If +he as much as put his head over the garden wall, he heard, "Petticoat +boy!" "Mamma's darling!" "The women's prince!" "Miss Freckles!" +Especially the last, for he was terribly freckled, regularly speckled +with red all over his face and hands, added to which he had the most +hopelessly red hair. Just think of a boy being called "A Freckle," +"Miss Freckle," though he were nothing but a freckle amongst the band +of girls. Goodness knows how he disdained them! If, however, he were so +bold as to say so to them, and a boy with his heart in the right place +is often impelled to do so, he cannot always keep his contempt +concealed; well, if he did so he got a beating--a veritable, serious +beating. From his mother? That would have been nothing; no, from those +same wretched little girls. Some held him and half strangled him, and +several more beat him. And this not as a joke. It hurt frightfully. And +his mother stood there and laughed. She laughed till the tears came. +She had to take off her spectacles and dry them. They would have no +domineering little tyrant among them--those girls, no arrogant young +master; though they were always ready, they said to him, to welcome a +well-behaved little gentleman and pleasant companion. If he grimaced at +them they were at him again, down with him again; it was one perpetual +beating. When they had done, they curtseyed to him, one after the +other. There were such a number of them that it was mere fun to them. +The worst, however, has not yet been told. He was desperately in love +with one of the little girls. She knew it, the ungrateful little +monkey, and his mother knew it as well. He was sure of that. It was +principally on account of it that she had laughed so dreadfully. It was +the worst of them, Augusta Hansen, Laura's daughter--Augusta, with whom +he had eaten cherries. That is to say, they had taken them out of each +other's mouths; first she out of his, as he held the stalk in his mouth +close up to the fruit, and then he, in the same way from hers. Augusta, +who had given him her sash to wear as a badge at the tournaments which +he held ... quite alone, by the way. Augusta, to whom in return he had +given his whole collection of blown eggs; he had found every one of +them himself. He had been obliged to ask his mother's leave to give +them away, for it could not very well have been managed without. He had +come behind her to whisper in her ear, he did not wish her to look at +him while he did so. His mother had asked him if he were fond of +Augusta, and he had confided to her that it was especially her hair, +but that she was the most good-natured of the girls, and the cleverest +as well. What Augusta said was always right. His mother had agreed with +him in that. She had not laughed then, but now she stood and looked on +while Augusta thrashed him, for it was Augusta's hand that thumped the +hardest. + +After such treachery--and this did not happen only once unfortunately; +it happened very often--he would not speak to Augusta for several days; +once he held out for three. He tried the same with his mother, but he +could never contrive to keep grave when she looked at him. She always +befooled him into laughing. + +He now essayed, by a more serious and regular manner of proceeding, to +obtain a different adjustment of things for the future. This struggle +really meant nothing more nor less than the right relationship between +the sexes. Its depths he was truly far from having sounded, but his +masculine instincts told him that it was all upside down, up there in +the garden. Things must be altered. But there was never any "Hands +off," as they say. It was Dean Green whom he suspected of being the +cause of the worst of all this. Of one thing, at all events, he was +certain. It was Dean Green's idea that he, like the girls, should learn +to play the piano. No other boy had to strum like that. Tomas hated the +long-coated parson, with his aquiline nose and bushy eyebrows; who was +always about, and who smiled when he saw him. He hated him to that +extent that, when he shot at a mark, he always tried to draw a picture +of the Dean to shoot at, and then to hit his coat, his nose, or his +eye. But, hit him as much as he would, no change took place; the +piano-playing went on, the girls remained, and even if any day he +brought some boys into the garden, they could never be alone--oh no! +The detestable little girls were always hanging about, and then all the +stories afterwards; any little thing that a boy might have said or done +was used against him; he was done for, he never came again. + +And they would say, too, that Tomas had tried to show himself off +before his companions, and play the grown man. He always got a beating +afterwards. Sometimes they divided his offences into several portions, +and he was first beaten for one and then for another. Augusta was +constantly drubbing him with the greatest heartiness, without the +slightest remembrance of the cherries, or the eggs, or any of his +little attentions. There is no telling the number of times that he +renounced his allegiance and loyalty to her, but as Augusta did not +care a rush, and went about just the same, with those thick plaits and +sturdy legs of hers.... Well, then he began to abase himself. He had to +let her understand that he did not exactly disdain her, that perhaps it +might be possible to obtain grace. She never seemed to notice him, and +so it ended that he thought it was not worth remembering any longer. + +One thing about Augusta was peculiar, she always really influenced the +others without trying to do so; she let others lead as long as they +liked, she acted exactly in the same way whoever led and whatever plan +they hit upon; but whenever they got into difficulties it was _she_ who +found the way out. + +Ah! how Tomas admired her, how often he told her so! and was annoyed +that he could not let it alone. It was with her that he now began to +take his music lessons, and from that time forth playing became his +favourite occupation. + +These first stormy years were followed by others, and he attained at +last to such superiority, that he dared to acknowledge his comradeship +with the girls. He settled down at last into accepting their help +against other boys, when they challenged him from outside. Nay--who +would have thought it?--the time came when he fought for his valiant +girl-friends, eager for the battle; especially if one of the boys had +called Augusta "Shoemaker's lass," or even "Sausage." He would gladly +have gone to the death for her; nor was this all boasting, for at nine +years old he was severely mauled because, on this account, he would +fight against ten or twelve at once, of whom three at least were older +than he. That was the proudest moment of his life, as he lay with a +fresh vinegar plaster on his head, and Augusta must come in and change +it instead of his mother. + +Now that there really was something worth talking about--not a word. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN + + +At this time a great change took place in Tomas's external life. For +the first time he had a companion. + +Some years back, there had died in the town a curate named Vangen, who +had married a very enthusiastic Danish lady. They had led quite an +Arcadian life together--literally without thought for the morrow. + +People are always very kind at times of bereavement; she managed to +support her children and herself for the first few years, for those +that followed there was no necessity to do so--she died. + +Through Dean Green, her son Karl came to Fru Rendalen "on probation." +He was at that time eleven. Karl Vangen was tall, slight, and dark, +with a large head, his forehead being the most noticeable feature. He +had gentle blue-grey eyes, in large sockets, a wide, straight mouth, +which slowly expanded into a smile. He was quiet, and very modest, and +rather uneasy in his new surroundings. When, at night, he went with +Tomas into the room he now occupied, on the other side of the +bath-room, he knelt down by the side of the new bed, which had been put +up for him there, and prayed silently for a long time, his face buried +in his hands. When he rose from his knees, he smiled across at his +companion, with tears in his eyes, but he did not speak. + +Tomas heard him afterwards sobbing under the bed-clothes. This lasted a +long time. Tomas felt at last that he must cry too, but took care that +the other should not hear him. + +Every one was kindness itself to the newcomer, but no one so much so as +Tomas. If he could have clasped himself round him like a belt, he would +have done so. + +Karl went to the Latin school, where he was received free, so the boys +were separated almost all day, nor did they even study together when he +came home. + +Karl allowed himself but little leisure. He was slow at learning, but +still was at the head of his class, and he wished to continue there; so +that Tomas naturally could not see as much of him as he wished, or be +so good to him as he wanted to be. + +When Karl did at last come out he was tired, and did not go with Tomas +very willingly. + +He did not perhaps estimate all that Tomas had done for him, nor +understand how the boy had waited for him, how glad he was to see him. +He was the first companion that Tomas had ever had, but he himself had +plenty. + +The fact was, that Karl was too slow and gentle, always anxious about +his clothes, perfectly obedient to anything that was said to him, and +in this, and other things, a great contrast to Tomas. + +At last Tomas discovered that Karl was just a girl, one more girl up +there, and not, by a long way, so amusing as the others. + +He soon began to call him Karoline. He mocked at him when he shivered, +or was frightened about his clothes. And when he smiled good-naturedly, +instead of being angry, Tomas would make his mouth wide by stretching +it with his two forefingers. + +That was so very funny that the girls began to take part in it. They +praised Tomas for his chivalrous behaviour to them, and he was proud of +it himself. But both he, and they, could be very unchivalrous towards +Karl, without its striking them that they were so. As, for instance, +when Tomas conceived the idea that every time Karl showed himself, they +should rush at him, one after the other, and dust his clothes with +their hands, because he was so frightened about them--he had had so +few. So he was brushed and brushed till he began to cry, and was then +immediately called "Say-your-prayers boy" and "Cry-baby." And this grew +worse when they saw that Karl, though both older and bigger than Tomas, +was nevertheless the weaker. So Tomas could show himself off, and at +last they really ill-treated him. + +Now, at the bottom it was not altogether disagreeable to Karl to be a +martyr. It seemed something great to him. But the others soon +discovered this, and would not for the life of them stand it. He was +treated worse than ever from that moment. + +But where was Augusta while all this developed itself? + +Augusta was kind to Karl; indeed, the more the others teased him, the +more good-natured she became. But she did not mix herself with what +they took up. And besides, lately she had shrunk more and more from +anything rough. Whenever Karl sought refuge with her, he was safe for +the time being, so that it happened that he did so oftener and oftener, +and at last constantly. He dare not enter the garden without her. + +Tomas was too proud to appear to notice anything, but he made Karl pay +for it. + +One especial time, Tomas grumbled about this during a music lesson, and +she answered that so it would continue until he became as good a boy as +Karl, which he was far from being at present. Then he swore vengeance. + +On Saturday afternoons, Karl always went to the churchyard, to put +fresh flowers on his parents' graves. On the next Saturday, as he was +going down with his basket, Tomas met him in the avenue, and asked him +if he would promise not to talk any more to Augusta. But Karl, so +accommodating in other things, would not promise this, not even when +Tomas struck him. He struck him again and again, with all the strength +he could muster, but Karl would not promise to give her up. Quite +beside himself, Tomas kicked him in a dangerous manner; he gave a loud +cry and dropped down. Tomas had him carried home, and rushed away for +the doctor. When, his forehead bathed in sweat from anxiety and the +speed with which he had run, he passed the place where Karl had fallen +down, with his eyes fixed upon him, another image of his companion rose +before him--that of the helpless, silent lad who had knelt down and +prayed by his bedside the first evening in his new home. + +Tomas kept this resurrection of the former Karl in his soul. + +He hurried back home again before the doctor, in order that he might, +as he passed the spot where Karl had fallen, kneel down, unseen by any +one, and cry and pray. + +That evening his mother, Andreas Berg, and he sat by themselves in the +parlour. Andreas Berg had come in at Fru Rendalen's request to tell +Tomas the history of his father's (John Kurt's) childhood--to tell it +in her presence without any reserve. Berg was a grave man, not free +from severity. He had been made angry, more than once, by Tomas's +performances with Karl. And he now related the various circumstances of +John Kurt's life when a boy, related them without a single word of +blame; but this only made it fall the heavier. This was part of Berg's +nature. + +The mother did not feel it needful to add a single word. + +She heard Tomas, late that evening, sobbing and crying beside Karl's +bed, and the next day saw him talking to Augusta in the passage. + +In the course of the day he had flung his arms round his mother's neck +and cried. But he had said nothing, though it worked in his mind for a +long while. + +In the meantime it was determined that Karl's time of probation should +end, and that he should be considered as a son of the house from that +time. The doctor had declared that he would all his life feel the +effects of the kick which jealousy and domineering had bestowed on him. +And this had decided the question. + +Another great revolution took place shortly afterwards. The girls who, +together with Tomas, had enjoyed Fru Rendalen's teaching from the +beginning, were so much more advanced in languages, not only than those +of the same age at the girls' school, but also than the boys at the +Latin school, that many people wished she would extend her classes and +establish the girls school for the town up at "The Estate." + +This desire, which became unanimous, was strongly pressed upon her. +Dean Green was the most eager of all. How could she use her knowledge +and powers of administration better? All the development of her +character, all the experience of her life, led her to this goal. Think +of the Kurts' house echoing with confiding, childish laughter; think +that there, the rising generation of women would learn to raise +themselves to independence, either in married life, or outside it. The +subject symbolised itself in this way. + +Very few of us have perhaps noticed that certain expectations and +signs, fixed forebodings, chance remembrances, weigh far more in +deciding our plans than the simple circumstances of the present time. + +Tomasine Rendalen was no exception to this rule. She was, however, +prudent enough to ask herself sometimes if she were fit for all that +the Dean proposed in the school work. She suspected that he, like all +reformers, was oversanguine, demanding the work of three generations +from one, and expecting a single man to give the result of a thousand. +She also had good sense enough to doubt if a little more knowledge of +languages, a little better teaching of history and similar +acquirements, would seriously help forward morality and independence. +But the symbol outweighed these objections of good sense. And it really +did seem as if a distinct commission had been given to a special +person. Here she was in the Kurt inheritance, well qualified for school +work: that was undoubted. Fancy obliterating the evil example with a +good one. She had had great practice in that. At all events, it gave +her strength. Once determined, she exerted herself to make it go +forward, and made others do the same. + +She raised a new loan on her property and renovated the house from top +to bottom. All the windows were removed and enlarged. The rooms on the +ground-floor, on the right as one comes in from the great steps, +remained as they were. But those on the left, in the wing and upstairs, +were for the most part altered, in so far as that the doors between +them were walled up, so that they only led into the long inner passage. + +The great Knights' Hall on the left hand, just as one comes in from the +steps, was made into a gymnasium. The pupils were to assemble there, +and morning prayers were to be read in it as well. The double staircase +in the passage, which led up to the first floor, was cut off from the +entrance hall by a wall in which were two doors, one on each side. By +this means Fru Rendalen kept the hall for herself. The famous steps +only led to it, and to the Knights' Hall on great occasions. + +The teachers had their separate entrance from the court yard, while the +lower part of the great, empty, useless tower was converted into an +anteroom. Outside, the plaster was removed from the walls, and the red +colour of the bricks freshened up. It all looked like new. There was a +great pilgrimage up there when it was all finished, and many good +wishes were expressed for the new school. + +Tomasine incurred considerable debt--she had to pay a large sum for the +school which she took over. But from the first, the influx was +unprecedented. Little girls from the country, nay, even from the +nearest towns, were entered. They were boarded with different people, +whom she recommended. She did not wish at first to have any in the +house. She must regulate the school. + +Sometimes it seemed to her that this simple state of things, a +well-regulated school, was what she would never attain to. She got into +difficulties, first and foremost, with the staff of teachers. They did +not come up to the standard which she proposed. She took on trial, and +discharged again, and endured all the discomfort and irregularity, all +the over-exertion, which are the natural results of such a position, +hoping for better days. + +The constant wear and tear, the endless unrest, the anxious cares for +money, goaded her on from day to day. The aim that she had originally +set herself, the great aim, now seemed almost ludicrous. One thing +appeared certain: it was losing her her son; not his affection, still +less his obedience, taken as a whole, nor was it his education; but her +influence on his character, their mutual confidence, her happiness in +him. Something impetuous, fantastic, extravagant crept into his games, +his plans, his expression, which she saw increase in a manner she +deeply deplored. When she corrected him she saw a gloomy impatience in +the nervous glance of his eyes. She felt herself condemned by his air +of superiority. + +Karl's company only increased this failing, for he was himself an +enthusiast. She therefore begged Augusta to check the boy's hot mood, +and to try to keep him steady by turning his mind to stern realities. +But Augusta never entered into any controversy with him on the subject. +So Fru Rendalen saw this tendency increase. This spoilt her pleasure in +the school when at last, outwardly at any rate, it began to work well. +She asked herself what, as a whole, she had gained by this hunted life +beyond increased debt, and greatly increased anxiety. But now she was +launched into it; she struggled on from day to day; a moment's pause +would bring all in ruins about her. + +Of all his mother's anxiety Tomas had not the slightest idea. He led a +happy life, developing quickly. Karl's large amount of information +helped him. Together they wove their daydreams; together they loved. +They devised the strange idea that they would devote themselves to the +service and happiness of "the ladies," they and their comrades, for by +degrees several others had been drawn into the circle. And there was +more beauty, more variety, in all they hit on since boys and girls were +constantly together. + +Tomas's strength increased, but unlike his parents, he did not promise +to be tall. He was remarkably well made, with a very erect gait. His +well turned-out feet were so small that he could wear girls' shoes. He +was also nearly as slim in the waist as a girl, but broad-shouldered. +At twelve years old he took the first boy's prize at a gymnastic +display, which had been inaugurated in that part of the country. He had +a powerfully shaped head, his cheekbones strongly marked. His nose had +become much bigger than his mother's, which gave him occasion for much +fun, she always answering that his was at least as broad as hers at the +end. He had small, finely cut lips, his eyes were not large, and seemed +smaller still because he frowned and blinked. They were grey in colour, +with a restless but sharp expression. His forehead was fair like his +father's, but his face, neck, and hands were so covered with freckles, +that they were as red as his hair, which stood on end, and was +generally untidy. + +By the side of the tall dark Karl, with his heavy forehead, hollow +eyes, wide, straight mouth, his gentle expression, and slow nature, he +seemed to sparkle. He filled his mother with perhaps greater anxiety +than there was need for. He had become a true friend to Karl. He loved +him heartily. He generally did either love or detest; there was no +moderation in him. Tomas was in his fourteenth year when, in the +autumn, it was arranged that he should take a voyage with his uncle, +who was the master of a vessel, to Hamburg, and from thence to England +and back. + +The trip had been talked of since the early summer, but had been +postponed. Tomas, who was studying privately, could start at any time, +and it would be more manly to go at the time of the autumn gales. His +preparations were complete; they were only waiting for a fair wind. + +One Saturday afternoon, Augusta and he were sitting up in an +apple-tree--he on a branch to the right, and Augusta on one to the +left. They had come to gather the fruit, but the linen bags, which they +had spread round them, still hung limp. She had taken hold of a branch, +on a level with her head, and rested her head on her arm. She sat and +listened to Tomas. They had seen the new doctor, Knut Holmsen, go in to +Fru Rendalen, and this wonderful new doctor was one of those whom Tomas +loved. He had lately been reading with him about the Gracchi in +Mommsen's Roman History, and it was about them that he was talking. +There was nothing equal to the Gracchi in their own history; they were +his ideals. But in the midst of an ardent disquisition it occurred to +him that if he were to be the Gracchi, Augusta must be their mother. +There was nothing grander for a woman than to be the daughter of +Scipio, and the mother of the Gracchi. + +But Augusta had no desire for this. She could not wish that the mother +of the Gracchi should live after her sons were killed. Augusta was +always so frightened of death, there was something ugly about it. She +sat there with her head on her arm, and said this quietly, as though to +herself. She looked very sweet. + +Or was she tired? he asked. No, she was not tired, but she wished so +much to be quiet. Well, they could easily sit a little longer. She +altered her position, and they went on talking. + +Supposing the mother of the Gracchi met her sons in heaven? But would +the Gracchi and she go to heaven? They did not believe in Jesus. After +some discussion the children agreed that now they could be taught about +Jesus, and therefore naturally they had gone to heaven. + +But after that, what would they do there? Augusta shuddered, Eternity +was so frightful. She hid her face, and when she lifted it again, she +had been crying. He sat a long time and looked at her. + +"Listen, Augusta," he said, "neither of us will die till we have grown +dreadfully old, so old that we cannot even walk. It can't be the same +then, can it?" + +Augusta smiled. "That time you gave me the everlastings, you said I was +to think of you when you were dead, you know." + +"Yes, I was so frightfully miserable that day, and then I had got that +picture of King Edward's sons. Augusta!" + +"Well?" + +"At sea, in the autumn gales--they are often very dangerous, the autumn +gales, you know--I shall have myself lashed fast, and I will write to +you exactly what I think. And then you must write down what you think +when you read it." + +"That might prove dangerous," laughed Augusta. She was older. + +He felt embarrassed, so there was silence. But all the time he looked +at her plump figure, good-natured face, her heavy braids, and long +eyelashes. She sat looking down--yes, she had grown now, she had quite +a figure. And those wrists, those characteristic firm hands. He sat and +gazed at her for a long time, and then said, "Augusta." + +"Well?" + +"Karl will write to me every day. Mother has promised him the money. +Could not you put a few lines in too--eh!" + +"Every day, Tomas! That would be very often." + +"But all the same...." + +"Interesting things won't happen to me every day, you see, Tomas; it +would be only stupid." + +She looked at him simply. "But," he answered, "people who care for each +other always do write." + +He was crimson and turned away. She would be sure to laugh. But she did +not laugh. In a few minutes he heard her say (he did not turn round), +"Yes, yes, then I will," and she devoted herself to gathering the +apples. + +At the same time Fru Rendalen and the doctor were standing by the +parlour window. + +She looked by turns at him, and out towards the children in the +apple-tree. The doctor had just told her that Lars Tobiassen had become +raving mad, and that his son had been frightened, and gone mad also. He +had been near it for a long time. "'Kurt inheritance,' the people on +the mountain say there have been so many mad Kurts there, men and +women." Fru Rendalen had answered that she was aware of that, and that +both before Tomas's birth, and for some time afterwards, she had felt +frightened. She was safe now though--"although," and she laughed, +"Tomas has something unreasonably exaggerated and fantastic about him." + +She looked inquiringly at the doctor, who answered, "Yes, his nerves +are good for nothing." + +Dr. Knut Holmsen was one of those men who are foreordained to be +bachelors, though some chance may drift them into matrimony; who never +trouble themselves to think or feel with any one else, but always look +at things from their own point of view. So now he blurted out this +answer as a matter of course. It frightened her, however, terribly. + +"Could Tomas become mad?" she asked. + +He had not intended to say that; he therefore answered, "Not he, but +his children." + +She came and stared at him, her face as white as a sheet, and from him +out into the garden. + +"Do you know what you are saying?" she asked. + +Holmsen coloured, for this rough man was particularly faint-hearted. +And, to relieve his embarrassment, he began to talk about a book which +he had just read, one that every one ought to read-- + +"Prosper Lucas on Heredity" (_L'heredite naturelle_). + +The two young people in the apple-tree soon afterwards saw Dr. Knut +Holmsen go down to the town, accompanied by Fru Rendalen, and a little +later she returned, with two large volumes under her arm. + +The following evening Tomas sailed, and remained away for two months. +At both the ports which he visited he found letters, written every day +since he sailed by the faithful Karl, as well as a few lines enclosed +by his mother, but not a line from Augusta. She was ill, had a heart +complaint--an enlarged heart, it was said. And Tomas remembered that +latterly she had always wanted to be in the open air. She had pains in +her heart, but a courageous girl like Augusta would naturally never +succumb. She would get quite well again. + +The ship returned to port late one evening. No one at "The Estate" had +any idea of it before Tomas flung himself on to his mother's neck, in +the parlour, as she sat there over her accounts. + +"Tomas?" she exclaimed, almost as though she were seriously frightened, +and that made him all the more crazy with delight. He clung to her +portly person with all his strength ... then ... he noticed that she +was crying. Astonished, he relinquished his hold, looked at her, and +flung himself down with his head on the table sobbing loudly. + +Augusta had died two days before. The next morning he went with his +mother down to the shoemaker's house to take some flowers; awestruck, +and with his eyes red with crying. Fru Rendalen chose to enter by the +door at the side of the house: she wished to go in by the back way. And +thus Nils Hansen saw her from the workshop, and came out at once. + +Tomas was a little behind. It affected him so much to go in by the old +well-known way, that he could not come forward directly. When Nils +Hansen observed him, Augusta's playfellow and greatest friend, he burst +into violent weeping and left them. It was just the same with Fru +Hansen. She was in the large room, occupied with the dead. Her second +girl, two years younger than Augusta, was sitting on the floor beside +her mother, when Fru Rendalen opened the door and went in. + +Laura came towards her and thanked her for coming down again. She +appeared composed, but when the heart-broken Tomas came forward with +his flowers, she sank down on a chair and began to cry violently, the +child crying with her. Tomas could not bear it. He laid the flowers +down, he did not know where, and ran home again. He had seen the heavy +braids under the white band, a sleeping face, and the everlastings +between the folded hands. He knew them again by the ribbon. + +What a tie Fru Rendalen felt the school at this time, for the sore +little heart constantly yearned towards her. She was so anxious about +Tomas, lest his tendency to extravagance of feeling should receive +fresh nourishment from his sorrow, nor could she discover how she might +be able to prevent this without depriving him of his one consolation. +She was astonished when she saw that Augusta's death had had just the +contrary effect. + +Augusta had feared death, perhaps immortality still more; he was +convinced of this, and so would not try to think of her there. It +seemed like tormenting her. Most children shudder at the thought of +being immortal. + +It was Karl in especial who wished to dwell on this theme, but he had +to be silent, Tomas would not allow it. It was against her wishes to +try to think of her as dwelling in Eternity, he was sure of that. Karl +gave in; it was not immortality itself which his friend doubted about, +so he humoured him. + +Did not Tomas ever try to bring Augusta up before his mind? Yes, +whenever he ran his fingers over the piano, he was in her company--they +had sat side by side there. + +It was of the past that he thought. His mother was astonished when one +day, having given her a rather quick answer, he returned at once and +threw himself upon her neck; she was so used to his hasty ways that, +when he was not actually rude, she often took no notice; she looked at +him, "What is it?" He coloured and laid his head down on her shoulder, +as he always did when he did not wish her to look at him while he was +speaking. "Yes; once when I answered you sharply, Augusta came out +after me on to the steps, and said, 'Tomas, you should never answer +your mother like that.' I did not think anything of it then, but +now--now--I remembered it when I got out on the steps." + +During this time they read bits at random out of Lucas's work. The +wonderful proofs of heredity in talents and character, coming out even +after very long intervals, impressed Tomas strongly. He had a perfect +mass of questions which he took to the doctor. + +Little by little he occupied himself as before, but he became quieter. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + THE LECTURE + + +One spring afternoon in the beginning of May, fourteen years later, a +great number of people took their way up the avenue to "The Estate." +_Real-Kandidat_ Tomas Rendalen was to give a lecture at the opening of +the new gymnasium which had been built in the courtyard there; using +the opportunity to explain the plan on which he intended to conduct the +school; he proposed to take it over the following August. It was known +that this had been his intention, even before he became a student at +Christiania; that he had no other object in life, either then or later; +that after he had passed his examinations, he had taught in different +boys' and girls' schools, and during several years had made himself +familiar with both, in Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and last +of all in America; he said that it was in the last-named country that +he had especially found what he wanted. + +He had declared that the development of his whole life might be found +in the lecture which he would deliver that day, and this seemed strange +to every one; all became curious. + +During the four or five months that he had been at home he had had the +gymnasium built, having turned the Knight's Hall into a place where +chemistry and physics could be studied; people did not clearly +understand what these were, but they hoped to find out some day. The +tower was turned into a little observatory. + +There had been, for some time past, a continual delivery and unpacking +of what Rendalen called school apparatus; the most wonderful specimens +were shown to the children. These purchases and his endless journeys +had cost no small sum. How had the money been provided? Quite by chance +Fru Rendalen had discovered that the woods had been sold from "The +Estate" on different terms; some before, and some after, the farms to +which they belonged had been disposed of. Some of these woods had been +merely sold for clearing, and the land itself thus still belonged to +"The Estate." But as it had lain long unused, the fact had been +forgotten, and the woods had been by degrees absorbed into the +surrounding properties. Fru Rendalen lost several lawsuits over this, +but she gained others, and it was therefore good Norse timber which had +paid for Karl's and Tomas's studies. + +Tomas had taken up science, Karl theology; both of them going abroad. +Karl had come home again after two years' absence. Tomas had travelled. +During the few months that he had been at home he had given lectures to +the girls in the senior classes, especially on Natural Science. For +example, he explained to them the very newest discoveries in regard to +the activity of the brain, showing them large diagrams. When the +children repeated to their parents how these discoveries were made, +they began to wish to hear about them as well. And it was not rare to +see elder sisters, mothers, or sometimes even fathers, sitting squeezed +in among the children in the class-room, listening to him. It can thus +be easily understood why the gathering on the present occasion was so +large. + +Tomas was an ugly, red-haired, freckled fellow, with a somewhat broad +nose, and grey screwed-up eyes, with no eyebrows, or at all events no +visible ones, and with a thin-lipped mouth like his father's. Yet it +was said that the whole school was crazy about him! People wanted to +see and hear what on earth it was all about; three ladies to one +gentleman assembled up at "The Estate." + +A path had been made to the right from the great steps, past the front +of the house, and further round the wing, to the courtyard at the back, +which was the usual school road. The new gymnasium was in the courtyard +as well. There was a man stationed at its entrance to-day, and a crowd +of people stood before it who had been refused admittance, and who +protested loudly against this treatment. + +It was Andreas Berg who was on the watch that only "parents" came in. + +This had been clearly stated in the invitation, but it had been +overlooked or misunderstood, or else people thought they might as well +try all the same, and they were now making a disturbance over it. + +They were, of course, mostly young. + +There was great merriment when some elder person, who was not +recognised as a parent, was refused admission. Anton Doesen, called also +"French Doesen" because he had lived several years in France, and who +now had a shop for French fancy goods, almost exactly opposite the +Froekener Jensens at Bommem, presented himself as a "father," and wished +to enter--he had never been married, this same French Doesen. Immense +amusement! + +The solemn, unmoved Andreas Berg turned him back, and French Doesen +asked what the deuce was wanted before he could get in! Must he go to +the town, and get the clergyman's attestation that he was a father? + +French Doesen had always had the privilege of trumpeting forth his +peccadilloes. It amused people to hear of them. His shop was much +frequented, notwithstanding his light morals and talk. His competition +with the two crooked Froekener Jensens, as regarded millinery, was not +hazardous. But see, there actually are the Froekener Jensens, and they +have got in! Enormous delight in the assembled company. For there could +be no doubt that neither Froeken Jensen had had a child. Heavens +forfend! + +Andreas Berg explained that that was because they had a niece at +school. The reason they had no children? No! that they were admitted. +They stood in the place of parents. + +"But," observed Doesen, "it must be more to be a father, than to stand +in a father's place." Great applause! Beside, did he not stand in the +place of a father to all those to whom he gave food and wages? Did he +not now? Andreas Berg would admit nothing. + +At this moment arrived the town bailiff and his wife. Berg would not +allow them to pass, any more than the others, for they were not +parents, nor had they any adopted children at school. Doesen cried +"Bravo," and clapped his hands, and a number of others with him. + +There was a storm of laughter, for the town bailiff was well known and +little liked. So they looked forward to some fun. + +He was so furious for the moment that he could not speak, but stuttered +and gesticulated. He was a tall thin fellow, with spectacles, and a +smile--not of good-humour or anything of that kind--no, there was a +sourness about it which was impressed on his whole countenance. + +At last he found his tongue, and asked Andreas Berg if he were mad. And +his wife, who dearly loved on such occasions to push herself forward, +remarked that no meeting in the town could be closed to the town +bailiff. + +This did not make the very smallest impression on Andreas Berg. He +busied himself in opening to some others who came up, and who really +were parents, and shut the door again. + +Doesen now took up the town bailiff's cause. Andreas Berg ought to +understand that if the town bailiff had no children, that was not his +fault, nor his wife's either. Terrific applause! "The paradise of +parents could not be closed against the bailiff on that account, as +long as ...;" he could go no further. For the bailiff asked if he were +mad. "Yes, in your cause, sir," answered Doesen. What peals of laughter! + +At the same moment shoemaker Nils Hansen came up with his little wife. +Hundreds of times in his life the bailiff had asked him if he were mad, +so Nils Hansen laughed as soon as he heard the words. + +"Who is mad now?" he asked. + +"Andreas Berg," answered the town bailiff. + +"No, I," shouted Doesen. + +"It's the town bailiff himself," cried out several in the crowd. + +"Imagine," said the bailiff to Nils Hansen, "Andreas Berg has had the +impudence to--to--to--prevent my wife and me from--from--going in----" + +One saw that Nils Hansen found this amusing, but Laura, on the other +hand, was astonished, and questioned Berg, "Dear me, how is this?" + +But if she thought she would induce Berg to answer, she was very much +mistaken. He opened the door for them. "_Vaers'go_," he said, and they +felt obliged to go in, but they heard Doesen call after them: "The +bailiff and his wife may not go in, because they have no children." + +This was also heard inside the hall; a sound of laughter from a hundred +voices came rippling out; and another wave of boisterous mirth rolled +towards the door as it was closed after Nils Hansen. While conversation +went on in the hall, a new excitement arose outside. The sheriff had +come. His wife had brought a lady, a stranger, with her, whom Berg +would not admit; only "parents" were invited, he repeated firmly. He +knew this lady was called "_Froeken_[2] Krieger"; she had bought some +flowers from him. + +The sheriff, often nicknamed "the ladies' man," a fair-haired man with +a sharp waggish face, looked up at the two dismayed ladies; they were +both standing at the top of the steps, very red in the face. His wife +had always supposed that any lady _she_ brought would of course not be +refused admittance, and yet this had occurred; they were fairly "caught +out," both she and her friend--a butt for the laughter of Doesen and his +companions, and stared at pityingly by a number of people whom she did +not know, for she was but newly come to the town. She was a handsome +woman, with an intellectual face, tall and slender, but she looked +quite terrified now; her eyes wandered helplessly from one to another, +and at last they fixed themselves imploringly upon her husband, who +stood down below with the others and laughed at them. "Is it so +_dangerous_ for Froeken Krieger to come in?" she asked. Roars of +laughter. Apparently this annoyed Berg, he came up without warning and +pushed the lady gently to one side in order to open the door for some +more people. A number of ladies, all married and with children at +school, now came up and passed in; the unlucky wife of the sheriff +tripped down the steps, her friend following her, looking rather +embarrassed; there was a short exchange of words which ended in the +departure of the friend; she would go alone, and ran off when the +gallant sheriff offered to accompany her; the sheriff himself being +nearly run over by a carriage with two large Danish horses, driven by a +coachman in grey livery. + +It was Consul Engel and his wife who were arriving. They drove right up +into the courtyard because Fru Engel was delicate. Nothing could have +been more careful, more tender, more charming than the manner in which +the consul helped his wife from the phaeton; he almost carried her in. +He was a handsome man, with a noble face; his well-known smile was more +friendly than ever as he passed through the crowd with his gentle +burden. She was handsome too, the expression of her eyes wise and +painful, or rather perhaps painfully wise; the same expression lay in +the lines of the mouth and in the thin cheeks. Through the whole of her +slow progress from the carriage to the steps, and her toilsome ascent +to the door, she was followed by the startled, bird-like eyes of the +sheriff's wife. They hovered over the invalid till they seemed to fill +the air with interrogation. From her they passed on to the consul, from +his eyes back again to those of his wife. + +What in the world did they want? They filled with tears, she wiped them +hurriedly with a shy glance round. At the same moment the sheriff came +up to take her in. She was startled, coloured, smiled--nay, laughed. +Lord knows what at. + +Fru Emmy Wingaard, young and blooming, passed at the moment. The +sheriff whispered something to her which made her laugh. He asked if +they should not all sit together. Fru Emmy Wingaard's maiden name had +been Fuerst; she had curly fair hair and lively eyes; she gave several +glances across to Doesen, the special friend of her brother, the naval +lieutenant. Doesen made a despairing face and hung his head. She +understood that he could not come in, and crossed her well-gloved +fingers mockingly at him; she passed on. How pretty and merry she was; +she was so like her brother Niels Fuerst, the lion of this and all the +neighbouring coast towns. If any one doubted that Niels Fuerst was the +lion of the neighbourhood, let them ask the lady who followed Fru Emmy; +let them ask Kaja Groendal, the wife of the engineer who is never at +home. Ask her whether Niels Fuerst, who is very often at home, is not +the favourite cavalier in all the towns round, and the vigorous lady +will look at you without a blush and ask again if any one doubted it? +The gallant sheriff let all the ladies pass in first, saying a few +friendly words to Andreas Berg, who made no reply. At the same moment +Berg saw Fru Rendalen, escorted by her son, but behind them were the +town bailiff and his wife; they all four came out from the pupils' +entrance in the principal building--the one through the tower. So the +town bailiff must have forced himself in to Fru Rendalen to complain! +Would Berg perhaps be put in the wrong before all these ill-behaved +young people because he had strictly obeyed orders? + +They came straight towards the principal entrance, instead of going to +the other door, which led into the ante-room where the pupils' +gymnastic dresses hung. It could be for no other reason than to obtain +admittance for the town bailiff that they came this way. + +Fru Rendalen and her son were saluted by those who were nearest; Berg +opened the door, she mounted the steps, but then stood back and +actually did let the town bailiff and his wife pass in, her son +following them. She remained standing. She was a large woman now, the +hair under her cap iron-grey, her face brown and stern, the eyes behind +her spectacles brightening its expression. She had done some good work, +and was convinced that she ought to be shown respect. + +"All of you who do not belong here will be so kind as to go; we must +have perfect quiet here now." + +She had hardly spoken before one or two began to move; when the +farthest away had disappeared round the corner, the others followed +their example; there was a little tittering, a few whispered +witticisms, but they went. Andreas Berg was the only one who was +inclined to grumble; it had been hard about the town bailiff. "No more +will come now, you can go in too, Berg; many thanks!" and it was all +settled. + +She went in herself, those nearest rose and bowed, for they were for +the most part her former pupils, and this was the old custom. But when +they did so the whole assemblage rose, too, by degrees. She bowed right +and left, and then took her seat by the side of the tribune which stood +on the platform. She looked across at the audience. Every place was +occupied; some few men were standing in the gangway; these now had +chairs given to them; they were brought in by an old woman. + +Tomas Rendalen was standing by the window talking to Dr. Holmsen. This +gentleman was somewhat fat and florid. His large prominent eyes had a +mixed expression of sarcasm and slyness; he stood there, half smiling, +half embarrassed, with one hand playing with his brown, slightly +grizzled beard as he listened to Rendalen. + +Tomas Rendalen was his complete opposite--decided, fiery, eloquent. +The school children had been eager to tell that he used scent, and +truly--it wafted from him as from some fine lady. There was something +precise, too, about his linen, and about the way in which his grey +coat, of the most enviably new cut, fitted him. He was well-built and +very elastic in all his movements. While he whispered to the doctor he +had a nervous, impressive manner, as though every moment were of the +greatest importance. + +Suddenly he broke off and hurried across the room, for the door had +opened once more, and those entered for whom apparently he had been +waiting--old Green, led by Karl Vangen. + +Yes, now he was _old_ Green; a bowed old man who walked cautiously +forward, led by tall Pastor Vangen. Karl's face was one of those which +do not easily alter; the large forehead, the honest eyes, the deep +eye-sockets, and the wide mouth with its slight smile, which Tomas had +in his time made such fun of, were all just the same as before, only on +a taller body. Tomas came forward to salute the old man, and walked +respectfully beside him to where an armchair had been placed for him, +beside Fru Rendalen, upon the platform. Karl Vangen sat down beside +him, and Tomas Rendalen mounted the tribune. + +He pushed his nervous, freckled hands through his red hair, making it +stand still higher up; felt for his pocket-handkerchief, took hold of +the water bottle, then moved some things off the desk; he was a +dreadfully restless fellow. + +He peered through his half-closed grey eyes, now here, now there, +finally at his mother and old Green, smiled at Karl and began. His +voice was a tenor, full, mellow, and practised, so that it sounded +pleasantly. + +To the utter astonishment of the assembled company, he said that it was +principally on the subject of morality that he wished to speak; it was +principally for a moral object that this hall had been built. + +The whole course of education in the school would, still more than +before, have morality for its aim. + +In order that he might speak freely on the subject, it had been +necessary to restrict the audience entirely to parents, or those who +stood in their stead, and who might be expected, for that reason, to +treat a serious matter in a serious spirit. + +There was a seriousness about himself which was combined with but +little acuteness: he almost threatened them. He did not in the least +perceive how horrified this meeting of provincial townspeople at once +became; he took their embarrassment for a kind of awe, for something of +the solemn feeling of a meeting in church. He continued: + +"Not alone for woman's sake must this subject be seriously approached, +but for man's sake as well. All take care of themselves, men as well as +women, but women had the incentive to watch over her own interests, so +she stood higher as a companion and in society. + +"It was in this that the school ought, better than before, to aid her. + +"The venerable man who sat on his right once said to him, that only +those families succumbed to drunkenness whose nerves had first been +thoroughly weakened by a dissolute life. In such families the habit of +drunkenness very easily becomes hereditary; I think that more than this +can be traced to the same cause. Addiction to pleasure--that +undoubtedly often grows in vigorous soil; but a man may appear vigorous +enough and still be excessively enervated. That characterlessness which +is incapable of overcoming opposition is, as a rule, the result of the +forefathers' sensuality with the addition of his own; every kind of +moral and intellectual looseness and dulness, when it spreads in a +family which has at one time taken a foremost place, can, for the most +part, be traced back to this cause. At all events, it is the strongest +among several. Our passion, our hastiness, our impatience, our +exaggeration, our irritability--unless, indeed, they can be traced to +some accident in our bringing up, some purely accidental state of +health--find their strongest cause here. + +"All such are weaknesses contracted in the course of several +generations; perhaps increased in the later ones. + +"The investigations on this subject are so recent that we cannot yet +bring forward such strong proofs as we believe to exist; it is only +lately that the work of seriously minded men and women has been +concentrated on this object, as the most important possible. But those +who realise that this is the case are still few. Therefore schools are +not by any means able to cope with the subject; especially girls' +schools, which are absolutely bad. + +"The girls' school which we are now in is, as a place of education, as +good as any in the country. I have satisfied myself on that point, but +it has been the greatest regret of the principal, during the whole +course of her labours, that the aim which she originally set before +herself, that of giving a _larger_ share to moral than to general +education, has not been attained to. It is on this point that my mother +has conferred with me more than on any other, so that at last it became +my daily thought. + +"My parentage, my education, my career have, in more ways than one +prepared this work for me." + +[His voice trembled a little, and he was obliged to pause, his mother +was affected: general wonderment.] + +"'Woman's moral training'? most of you will object, 'is there anything +amiss with it? Among the lower orders perhaps, but in the refined +classes of the town is it not excellent? Protected by religion, in the +pure atmosphere of home, in the regular work of school, in a guarded +life passed among those of the same age and sex.' Yes, and what results +from all this? + +"Let me merely in passing take the pure atmosphere of home. In a +seaport town--all will admit it--the strongest current is by no means a +moral one. Traders and sailors, as is unavoidable from their mode of +life, are among the worst in respect to morality. No one dare deny it. +An early wandering life takes the morals on to very slippery ground, +and a merchant's business, where the percentage of profit fluctuates as +it is honestly, or dishonestly gained, does not strengthen the moral +life. His cultivation is, as a rule, very slight, his reading confined +to a few newspapers, or perhaps novels; his intercourse, outside his +own occupation and family, next to nothing, so that here there is +little counterpoise. A sailor's life is, as a rule, one without ties, +passed in every sort of country, in all parts of the world; in nine +cases out of ten the master is an uncultivated man, perhaps a rough +one, often tyrannised over by his 'owners,' and almost always +tyrannical himself when opportunity offers. As things stand with us at +present, when the skipper has learned to filch a percentage from the +freight, as well as from everything he buys for the use of the ship, +even to the very water--I know such cases!--systematic robbery, one may +say--we can understand that high principles will not be cultivated in +such a life. And but a rough example is given, as a rule, to the +subordinates. + +"The return of men such as these by no means strengthens the desire for +morality in the town, or increases its stock of character. As regards +the homes, those of the skippers especially, we can conceive that the +children's bringing-up must have received a strong bias; or, if every +one cannot imagine it, I will lay it out before you." + +[I wish that my readers could have seen the horror, the confusion, the +shamefacedness of the assembly, the rage of some, of three sunburnt +skippers, for example! Others gazed uneasily into their hats, or at the +backs of those before them. Some there were, however, who delighted in +the scandal! They alone ventured to look up, their eyes turned eagerly +towards the smiling Engel, the skippers, the tradesmen, the sheriff, +and their wives--towards all, indeed, who on one account or another +must sit on the stool of repentance. There were women ready to cry with +shame, anger, and vexation at being there; they were prepared to fly at +any moment, but dared not actually do so. There were men who thought, +"If this goes half an inch further--by all the devils I shall be off." +But they did not move. When the doctor blew his nose, they were all as +startled as though it had lightened.] + +"Many people firmly believe that if a child sees nothing indecent at +home, and hears no doubtful stories, everything has been done which can +be done, especially if they are heedful that the child himself does +nothing improper. I contend that if no more than this is done, a child +is exposed to every possible evil. Here people rave about the innocence +of ignorance; there is something concerning that subject which I cannot +now speak about--I shall take an opportunity of doing so later; I +confine myself at present to saying that that innocence which knows +what the danger is, and has fought against it from youth up, that +innocence _alone is strong_. All education which tends to further this +object must have, as an absolute condition, _full confidence between +the child and its parents_--at any rate, between the child and its +mother; or, to carry out the whole of my idea, between the child and +that parent who is most fitted to gain its confidence; for this is, in +itself, a special gift, and if neither of the parents has it, which may +easily happen, then find some one who has. Use all means to accomplish +this. + +"If the child's father be a man who has not honourably fought the fight +(it must come to him sooner or later), he is then, not only the fifth +wheel in the coach, which would go all the same, but, as a rule, an +actual hindrance. For there is often something in his manner, his +speech, his ways which wounds or tempts; those subjects which should be +seriously and firmly dealt with become with him almost amusing; they +are treated as things to be lightly touched upon. + +"In this town, such as I know it, and indeed as you know it who have +grown up in the place and become sharp-sighted in regard to it--in this +town, I think, most houses are weak in this respect. The fathers give +no help, the attempts of the mothers to keep up a thorough confidence +as between comrades, are certainly great, but they rarely succeed, they +do not understand how to do it. Till this is altered, the work at +school for the cause of morality will prove deceptive, for it can +easily place a child between noble teaching and evil practice; a +knowledge of evil unsupported by watchful confidence may easily itself +become a temptation. St. Paul has pointed this out. + +"I forewarn you for this reason: our work at first will often rise up +in witness against us, but for all that there is no other course open +to us--no, no other. Do we not know that there is one particular epoch +of life for which, more than for any other time, it is necessary to +provide and to secure means of helping? How to do this is the question. +Ask any doctor, ask any experienced teacher, if this is not the case. + +"My mother, whom I am justified in calling an experienced teacher, can +bear witness that at this period of change most girls deteriorate in +that they lose their openness, and much of, or all their industry and +sense of order; something strange and of a mixed nature seems to enter +into their composition--very different, however, with different +individuals. Remember, she says, 'that this is the case with the +majority; there are exceptions, but this is the rule.'" + +[Looking at the audience, you would have thought that these remarks +applied only to women, and not to men. For the men looked openly and +unblushingly at the women, which only made the moment more painful for +the latter, especially for those who were known to all the world as +having been pupils of Fru Rendalen.] + +"Therefore it is precisely on this point that our work must be brought +to bear, it must be completely prepared to meet this physical change, +and everything must be directed to this end. + +"For it is no use denying that this exists, or shutting one's eyes to +it. It is the most important thing that a teacher can be concerned +with. What, compared to this, which really means the preservation of +body and soul, are, say, a knowledge of languages, instruction in the +piano or in feminine neatness, but mere luxuries. History, geography, +arithmetic, writing, are of rather more value, but even they are of +secondary or even third-rate importance. + +"Well, but religion, you will say, does not that often help? Ah! what +do you understand by that word? Knowledge of God and of the moral laws +is, of course, a most needful knowledge, but it is only when such +knowledge influences the conduct that it becomes effective. _It is very +rarely_ that it does this. Do not build too much on a faith that may be +lost. It is only a minority on whom religious belief has a lasting +effect. We do not realise this, because with us religion is almost the +only thing which holds its own--outside, that is, of our large towns. +Religion appears to us to be powerful, because we have not yet acquired +the habit of looking about us, and because most of us are a good deal +given to deceiving ourselves. + +"Children, in matters of this sort, do not really stand on a different +level from adults; do not imagine that they do so. They can, it is +true, be very easily led, but they can be brought with even more ease +and more completely to forget one thing and take up another. It takes +very little to make them believe, but it takes still less to make them +doubt, so that the ratio between belief and unbelief remains the same. +Those whose religious belief forms a lasting restraint on their moral +character are, among children as among adults, but few. + +"There are four clergymen present. I ask them if they can rise and +contradict me? I do not believe that they feel any inclination to do +so." + +[A short pause. All eyes were fixed upon such of the clergymen as they +could see. The four reverend gentlemen sat as unmovable as graven +images.] + +"Do I hold then, you ask, that religion is of no importance in a +school? Much the contrary? But there should be no class of religious +instruction which does not partake of the thorough earnestness of a +religious lecture. Let it as often as possible be given by the person +who will have the preparation of the child for confirmation--that is to +say, generally by the clergyman. I would say entirely by him, if that +could be arranged. Thus the relation of the clergyman to the teacher +would be that of a support to the latter. + +"I cannot go further into this question: I will only add that this is +the arrangement adopted for our school. The friend of my youth, my +brother, Pastor Karl Vangen, will take the children between six and +sixteen every morning for religions instruction and edification, and +the intention is that he shall conduct their whole religious training +until their confirmation. But it follows from what I have said that he +can only hope to make the relationship of deep and lasting value _for a +very few_. It is only right that this fact should be realised in +schools." + +"Lately," continued the speaker after another very short pause, "an +attempt has been made to set up the study of history and of general +literature as branches of knowledge which have an influence in the +formation of character. When these studies have been more fully adapted +as subjects of instruction than they have yet been, they will have more +importance in this respect. + +"Undoubted assistance was, of course," he went on, "always to be gained +from these studies. The child learned to know of good, great, and noble +thoughts, and obtained a grasp, if only a slight one, of the course of +human history, as well as the history of single peoples or great men. +But it can never be a matter of the _first_ importance to hear about +others." + +[The audience now became curious. Where would he get to at last? They +felt that something important was coming.] + +He leaned forward over the tribune and said slowly: + +"'The most important form of knowledge which a man can acquire, is the +knowledge how to regulate his own life; the next, how to regulate the +lives of those who come after him.' + +"These words of Herbert Spencer may be taken as a rule of life for the +whole world. Until this also is made the thing of most importance in +schools, other subjects will not fall into their right places in the +whole scheme of instruction or the arrangements subsidiary thereto. But +the task of learning self-restraint, of learning to guide our +offspring, this is the moral aim and the only stable ground of all +instruction. + +"If at an early age you obtain adequate knowledge of how your body is +constructed and how it works, and if you also learn to know how you can +benefit or injure it, and through yourself those who will be born to +you, or who may be dependent on you, this knowledge not only becomes +your greatest safeguard if you _will_ use it, but as a rule it gives +you a desire to do so. + +"A feeling of self-respect is aroused more strongly by knowledge than +in any other way, but that this may be the result, the knowledge must +not be imparted too late. I need not say that ordinary schools give far +too little instruction of this kind, and that little not as it should +be given. The pupils must understand why it is given; the teacher must +be open, thorough, with no concealments, for the very things which are +usually kept out of sight _are the most important_. + +"I speak of that period of life to which I have before alluded. Is the +child ever told what that is which is beginning? I mean, has it full, +absolute knowledge? does it know what temptations will come, or why +they will come? Has it learned how they are to be met? or how at that +time it can create conditions for health, and through its health its +character, good-humour, happiness?--that on that time hangs its future +life, nay, that of its offspring? Is that taught in such a way as to be +branded, so to say, into the child's will? Have the subjects of which I +spoke been raised to a level of one which here, and now, might guide +the scholar's fancy by noble incentive, strong purpose, enthusiasm? for +children, especially young girls, can be made enthusiastic. + +"Or, to come down to what every one is capable of forming a judgment +about, do the parents at home know that at that age certain sorts of +food, certain seasonings, are baneful to some natures? That for some a +special diet is necessary? What sort of diet that should be? Is it +known in schools that a special course of gymnastics may be of great +assistance? Children are not all alike in respect to the amount of +watchfulness and management which they require; some few require no +special attention. But that most do need it, is a fact upon which I +confidently appeal to the experience of this meeting, whose members +have all been young once and have had young companions." + +[He made a pause and looked round the room; a little bird could be +heard twittering in the distance.] + +"A further question: Is it not at that period of life that those, who +had not learned to do so before, now learn to deceive? To act secretly, +with a bashfulness which wounds the sense of honour and thus injures +the character? If one thing can be admitted, another cannot--to the +destruction of the character. Quietly, and as a rule quite unsuspected, +at that age the powers of self-destruction begin to work in body and +character; no one will dare to contradict me." + +[The terrible pauses which he made were almost worse than anything he +said; here he made one again. But he now passed on to something else.] + +"But is there no place in the world," he asked, "where the schools are +arranged as these experiences demand?" + +[He answered this question by fully describing several schools in +America and England: some for girls alone, some for girls and boys +together. He also described several colleges for young women alone, and +some for young men and women; he did not consider that any one of them, +singly, offered all that he wished, but each one had something, many a +great deal. He spoke at some length on a medical college at Boston, +where an unmarried woman was professor of anatomy, and that, for +students of both sexes; he mentioned that she further endeavoured to +get her female pupils appointed as teachers in the girls' schools in +the city. This lady professor was of opinion that every school should +have a doctor as a teacher, and that he, or some other person, well +instructed in Natural Science, should overlook the whole of the +children's studies on this subject; the lessons must always be given so +as to make a deep impression.] + +"Already children can learn by the aid of microscopes how plants, for +example, are formed of cells, how the different parts are developed +from one common origin; they can observe how they breathe, see their +division into cells, the growth of the upper parts, the fructification; +can have their imagination seized, nay, even regulated, by Nature's +work and harmony. The child should early obtain a holy admiration for +all that is healthy, fresh, natural, as well as compassion for all that +is injured or sickly, a horror of anything unnatural, though this must +be blended with compassion as well. + +"Microscopes, analysis, and such a variety of diagrams and apparatus +must be used, that there can be no possibility of a false impression +being conveyed on any of the principal subjects, nor must the +instruction become merely a wearisome lesson or a lecture over which +they would go to sleep; it must be real personal work, developing the +powers under the teachers' guidance. + +"Schools would naturally become much more expensive than at present; +the providing of appliances, if that were properly done, would +constitute an especially serious outlay." He told them what the price +of a single microscope would be, and each school ought to have a large +number; beside which, the teachers must have larger salaries. "But the +war estimates are paid," he said cheerfully, "a race, strong both +morally and physically, would be ample compensation." + +"To obtain more time, not only must the complete apparatus be used, +which itself immensely facilitates the course of instruction, but other +subjects must be taught on quite a different method from that at +present in use, and all lessons must be done at school under the +guidance of the teacher. School must therefore, of course, be held both +morning and afternoon, and a dinner of sufficient and nourishing food +be provided on the spot. When the child left the school it should be +completely free, should have nothing on its mind for the next day. + +"About all this and about arrangements as to instruction on the new +plan, he would speak at the same time and place next Saturday; he +invited all the parents to attend. + +"He would not conceal his belief that in no short time teaching all +over the world would be arranged in the way he had indicated; all at +the cost of the State, of the Community. This was society's most +important cause. + +"But, uninfluenced by what might come, or what now existed, his school +for the development of the powers and characters of women would follow +the lines which _he_ thought to be right. There is no precept so strong +as example. + +"He asked earnestly for the parents' help; He hoped to make it an +honour for this town to have taken the lead in this cause, but it would +be an expensive enterprise. What expense would not be incurred merely +for the lady doctor, who was coming over from America, to undertake the +teaching which he considered as the most important for the school?" + +[Movement, murmurings, excitement among the audience for the first time +during the lecture.] + +"Yes, in Boston I met a Norwegian lady who went over there when still +very young, and who had passed her examination at the medical college +several years ago. She is called Miss Cornelia Hall; this lady is +already an experienced teacher in girls' schools, and has also a +practice; in coming here she makes a sacrifice for her native land, but +we cannot entirely accept this, we cannot allow her to relinquish a +salary of three thousand dollars a year to receive the ordinary pay of +a Norwegian teacher. She would not be able to practise here except +under the conditions of the law with respect to Quacks, a law as +unworthy of a doctor, as of the people who had made it. + +"Beside this, although the collection of school apparatus is no doubt +very considerable, it can hardly be too much so. The labour in teaching +is lessened in exact proportion as these apparatus are augmented. + +"I am not ashamed to declare that my mother, who has spent a fortune on +this, is unable to go any further. I have, perhaps, already overtaxed +her resources. I therefore confidently turn to all at this meeting, +especially to the women, and say to them: If you know by experience the +value of a highly cultivated woman who has learned to control herself, +and rely on herself, then come to my help! Do so for your children's +sake, do it for the sake of a good example! For myself, I will live and +die for the cause in our native town." + + +He spoke these last words with a suddenly rising emotion, it came over +him with such overwhelming force that he forgot about the opening of +the gymnasium. He had to leave the tribune without even a bow; he +disappeared through the door of the little ante-room, and from thence +ran across the courtyard into the house. The audience remained seated +as though he had not finished, the end came so suddenly upon them, was +so startling, and his agitation had such an electrical force about it, +that it touched them. They must have time to reflect. Some of ruder +nature down by the door rose meanwhile, the rest following their +example. And now a moment came for Fru Rendalen full of the greatest +surprise. + +She did not see well, not far even with her spectacles, and besides +during the whole time she had looked at no one but her son. The muscles +of the right side of her neck ached from sitting with her head turned +in his direction; when the lecture was half over, therefore, she moved +her chair and sat completely turned towards him. + +The subject itself was known to her clause by clause, but his energetic +delivery, his personal power, his boldness, were entirely new to her; +they did not cause her any apprehension, but rather the contrary; she +was naturally courageous, and she knew that if openness were necessary +on any subject, this was the one. She knew the actual state of things +and the indifference displayed. She wanted them to be made to listen +_for once in their lives_. And he did it so nobly, it seemed to her. +She followed and felt all his inward agitation; she knew that if he did +not keep a watch on himself he would be overcome. + +When, therefore, the three or four words to the meeting suddenly fired +it, she was as much upset as he. Those closing words dimmed her +spectacles, she was obliged to dry them, and while doing so saw nothing +and thought of nothing outside herself. But she roused herself and +hastily prepared to rise when the others did so; she wished to be ready +to receive any who might desire to congratulate her, and perhaps send a +message to her son. + +And after all no one came. Ah yes, the two Froekener Jensens came, the +two crooked little milliners--quiet, cordial, and smiling as they +always were; they expressed their thanks and sent so many messages to +the "School Director;" if they had been allowed they would have liked +to have gone in to thank him themselves. But the Froekener Jensens were +the only ones. Nils Hansen did not come, nor Laura; not one of her old +pupils, not even Emilie Engel, poor dear Emilie of whom she had been +thinking the whole time; no one came. If any one had come up to Fru +Rendalen, and in the name of the meeting given her a box on the ear, +the worthy lady could not have been more astonished. Gracious Powers! +What did it mean? For her his lecture expressed their mutual life, +thought for thought, what they had learned and experienced, and had +confirmed from each other's lives. But it was more, it was her whole +work with him first and last, from his birth till now, when he stood +there bright, cultivated, eager, full of one great aim; the lecture was +the expression of this work, this development in full flower, which was +now about to bear fruit. + +How she loved him, how she admired him; _she_ knew what he had fought +through and effected, in these eight-and-twenty years. She knew what +was woven into every thought to which he now gave utterance. + +She had had visions of all this, but with no clearness; it was he who +had brought _that_; she could never have expressed it clearly, but _he_ +did. Was it not like a fairy tale, in spite of all their work? + +The dim idea she had had at first of ousting the Kurt inheritance by +her own, and that she had afterwards daringly begun when she renovated +the gloomy ancestral house, and made it clean and bright, devoting +herself to bringing "confiding childish laughter" into it, was now +complete. She had begun it confused, stupid, but stouthearted; and now +it was accomplished by him, the child: was it not a fairy tale? + +How more than happy she was! She could have knelt down before the whole +assemblage to thank God--yes, joyfully with a song, though she did not +possess a single true note. + +She felt that if all these people came up to thank her she would not be +able to control herself, but what would that matter, for he had done it +all so well. And not one single person came! Yes, by-the-by, the +Froekener Jensens came, but no one else; they were all going. But the +old Dean? Yes, he sat there still pondering; a decided desire to speak +to her might have made him rise--yes, to say something on the part of +the others. It was only now, when almost every one was gone, that he +began to move; he raised his eyes, looked inquiringly at her for a few +moments, got up heavily, and came towards her at last. + +"Yes, dear Frue, it was cleverly done." + +"Yes, was it not?" + +"Very cleverly done indeed, but I would give a great deal that it had +not been done." + +"But, Dean?" + +"No, I cannot talk about it; there is too much noise here and I am +tired--another time; remember me to him; good-bye, Frue." He took +Karl's arm and turned to descend. + +There was only one who was as moved, nay, overcome, as Fru Rendalen, +and that was Karl Vangen. Like her, at the beginning, he had only been +intent on the lecture and the lecturer. In his innocence he had never +grasped the possibility of any one's feeling otherwise than that this +was the right thing, spoken by the right man; but later, chancing to +notice the audience at a moment when some question was addressed to +them, he began to doubt; this doubt increased until at last he sat +there with a beating heart. But that no one should come to Fru +Rendalen, no, not one, even, of her former pupils! He knew her face, he +saw how she was pained. And now the Dean as well! He let go his arm and +seized her hand in both his, he would have liked to hug her; but there +were still too many people in the room. He looked at her till the tears +sprang to his eyes, and so, notwithstanding, he hugged and kissed +her--any one might look who liked. Then he gave his arm a little +awkwardly to the Dean, and helped him down. + +This made the worthy Fru Rendalen herself again; she hurried, with a +lighter step than one could have thought possible, out of the door to +the little ante-room, and from there across the courtyard to the house. +She looked for her son there, he had just taken off his coat and +waistcoat and was going to have a bath; but she could not wait until he +had finished, she threw herself on to him, pressing him to her breast, +and crying as she exclaimed: "Tomas, dear Tomas, my own Tomas!" + +He also had at last realised that something was amiss, and now her +look, her manner, confirmed it; besides, she said nothing, gave him no +message, although she had remained behind. + +He felt, now that the strain was over, a gloomy anxiety, a stab at his +heart; but he did not wish to talk about it, neither did she, so she +left him to take his bath. + +Andreas Berg remained behind in the gymnasium, and after the last +person had gone he locked the door and walked in a dignified manner to +a corner near the principal entrance. The different gymnastic apparatus +were piled up there and covered with a large sail. He seized hold of +the sail, dragging it noisily down on to the floor. Upon this two heads +came into view, four arms, which hastily twined themselves together, +two skirts, and four laced boots; two fiery red faces, bathed in +perspiration, were pressed close together; a tangled mass of fair hair +was mixed with a dark one in the same condition. Berg stood there, +looking severe. + +"I see several times as the sail moved," he said; "I could not think +whatever it could be; at last, thinks I, as it was two of the little +girls, and it's two grown young women; aren't you ashamed o' +yourselves?" One of the girls began to cry, the other laughed. "And the +children of worthy men; the sheriff's daughter," he continued to the +one who was laughing, "a grown girl, confirmed and in the senior class, +and you there as well; do you think I don't know you? Nils Hansen's +daughter; your mother was here, she should ha' seen you under the sail, +and your father as well; there's a power o' difference between you and +your sister Augusta; she was always pretty behaved. Take yourselves +off. I'm going now to tell the mistress." + +He was not out of the door before they jumped up. Good heavens! what +did they look like? their clothes, their hair, their faces--especially +their faces--exactly like a little child who has been crying and has +rubbed the tears all over its face with grimy hands; their hands had +been dirtied by all the implements among which they lay, and they had +used them to brush away the perspiration which ran into their eyes; and +how stiff and wretched they were; though they had had plenty of +opportunity to prepare a comfortable place for themselves, they had +remained so very long in the same position. At least an hour before the +lecture began they had been under the sail, never feeling secure the +whole time. One cried and scolded the other, who laughed; but when they +both got a good view of each other and told one another how they +looked, they burst into peals of laughter, and rushed into the little +room at the other end of the building, where they knew that there was +toilette apparatus. After that they were to go across to tell the +boarders all about it. + +For it was not for themselves alone that they had hidden under the sail +for two hours; no, they had been chosen for it by the senior class; +they had all come and pulled the sail over them. The girls had had some +food with them, and some beer to drink as well, but they had disposed +of that long before the lecture began. Over the way, in the boarders' +sitting-room, the senior class was assembled. Something which only the +parents were to hear about must be so very extraordinary; and those two +knew all about it now. + +The two girls only allowed themselves time to wipe away the worst of +the dirt, and to smooth their hair so far that they need not be ashamed +to run across the courtyard. But hurry as they would, the impatience of +the others stole a march upon them. The whole class tore across the +courtyard to the gymnasium. They had waited to see Andreas Berg shut up +and disappear; he had taken his time over it, but at last he had gone +into the kitchen. The two had been chosen on account of their good +memories, and, incredible as it may seem, they remembered almost all +the lecture, at all events all the portions which were most telling, +the best delivered and the newest. + +And if Tomas Rendalen had lectured to an ungrateful audience, here was +one which was responsive enough; young girls love courage; when they +have not to be in the front themselves they glow with admiration. + +The tall, fair, slender one with the large eyes, is the sheriff's +daughter--look at her; she has her mother's birdlike face, but instead +of its expression, hers was held high as if for a bold flight. It was +framed by a mass of disordered fair hair which now, when her eyes, her +whole face glowed, seemed to glow with them. She did not remember the +different heads of the lecture in their exact order, the most +important, the most interesting, came first; from their school-life and +association with Tomas, Fru Rendalen and the teachers, they were all +better qualified to seize his meaning than the audience in general had +been. But as Nora was in full flow she stopped, grew crimson, then +white: Fru Rendalen stood there on the steps! + +Andreas Berg had kept his word, and they had forgotten him. + +When Andreas had come to her, Fru Rendalen had been so upset, that it +was an absolute delight to her to find anything upon which to vent her +displeasure; she marched out down the great steps; she wished to catch +the girls in the very act, and therefore went the whole way round the +wing and along the gymnasium, so as to come in behind them. + +But just at the ante-room door, which the others had of course +forgotten to shut, she heard Nora, helped out by her friend, delivering +the lecture--Tomas's lecture--with Tomas's tone of voice, his delivery, +his fire, with really noble eloquence. Yes, there was one who had +listened! The stately Fru Rendalen would in pure self-forgetfulness +have held back just for the sake of hearing and being with them, but it +was not construed in that way; Nora's terror, the cry of the others, as +they turned and saw this all-powerful lady, was worth remembering. Fru +Rendalen was schoolmistress enough to look for this token of respect; +she raised her voice and said, "I ought to be excessively angry, and +that to some purpose! I see you _understand_ this! But anything so +marvellous as Nora's memory I have never heard." + +"Never heard anything so marvellous"--it was well that it was not +school time. But when Nora heard that it was not to cost her her life, +and saw that Fru Rendalen was really pleased, she flung herself upon +her neck with all the impetuosity of sixteen and burst into tears. + +It pleased Fru Rendalen. "You are a wild, sweet girl," she said. +"Listen, child; when you have finished here, come over to me and we +will have some regular fun." + + + + + + IV + + THE STAFF + + This, thinks the intelligent reader, will be + an account of a school, and I quite agree + that so it ought to be. But life's logic is + not always ours, and we are going to keep + to that of life. + + + + + CHAPTER I + + A GREAT LECTURE AND A LITTLE TOWN + + +That same evening Tomas knew what Dean Green thought of the lecture. +Karl was the bearer of this information. Tomas went out to him when he +saw him in the avenue, and they went for a long walk into the country +to the left of "The Estate." + +Dean Green had assumed that when Tomas proposed to explain his design +for the school, it really was that design he meant, and not something +quite different; he had not for a moment imagined the possibility of +its being a scheme on a large scale in which the plan for the school +was merely hinted at. Such a lecture, on such a subject, might be given +in this country, but it must be in one of the large towns; in a small +one it might be possible to do so with impunity ten years hence, and at +all events it should be given by a man in an independent position; but +a man who wished to found a school on it ... a more ill-judged lecture +the old gentleman could not imagine. It was incumbent on Karl to tell +this to Tomas, word for word, for he must have no illusions as to what +would follow. If the school went on after this it would be exclusively +owing to the respect which his mother had inspired. After such a +challenge, it was sure to be condemned. Not by what it taught--no, but +if any girl who left school during even the present year made a false +step, the school would bear the blame. The Dean had gathered from the +lecture that Tomas himself had feared this. Why in the world, then, had +he not held his tongue? Now a single chance might destroy the school. +It is impossible to describe how this took hold upon Tomas; he felt +that in repeating this Karl agreed with the Dean; he felt that his +mother would go over to them as well, that every one would. He had been +guilty of egregious folly. They did not return before midnight. They +could not talk to his mother that evening, everything was quiet when +they entered their rooms. + +Tomas had his old one, next to the bath-room, but it had all been done +up for his home-coming. Karl had the one next it, the corner room; like +all those in the house, it was so long that the curtains which divided +the bed from the rest of the room were hardly noticeable. Their supper +was set for them, but they were cast down to such a degree that they +did not touch it. After Karl had gone to bed, Tomas sat beside him, nor +was it only on this night that he did so. + +Early the next morning--it was Sunday--Fru Rendalen was down at Nils +Hansen's; she wished to act according to her usual ways. She came up +again just at the time people were going to church. Karl saw her from +his window, which faced the avenue, and told Tomas; he himself was +going to church. Tomas went out with him to his mother; she looked +worried. + +"So not even Nils Hansen?" + +"No, Nils Hansen himself had said he did not like to be called names in +church." + +"What had he meant by that?" + +"That he went to a public lecture to learn something, or to hear +something pleasant, not to be abused himself, or to hear others +abused." + +Fru Rendalen had answered that a lecture must point out people's +faults. + +"No, you must not _invite_ people to hear about their faults." + +"But Fru Hansen?" + +Laura did not think his lecture wise. "Children must not know +everything." + +On the contrary, the shoemaker had objected that his peasant experience +taught him quite the opposite; in the country, children knew everything +from the time they were quite little, and although there was much +immorality in the country, it was not for that reason, but because the +whole subject was neglected there. He himself had been brought up in a +thickly populated district, where both sexes went to the same school +and played the same games until they were grown up; they knew +everything, but he looked back to that time with confidence. + +Nils Hansen had said this so often before that Tomas was puzzled why +his mother should repeat it now. She did it merely to gain time. + +The fact was that Fru Emilie Engel was ill; she had been carried +straight to bed from the carriage, the doctor had been there yesterday, +again during the night, and had just now come away: Fru Rendalen had +met him; she began to cry. + +If Emilie succumbed to this it would be her fault, she might have +understood that Emilie could not bear that men's infidelity should be +spoken about while her husband was beside her; so, weak and delicate as +Emilie was, Fru Rendalen ought, at any cost, to have prevented Tomas +from doing such a thing. + +Instead, she had rejoiced over what he had done. That was because both +she and others always agreed with Tomas when they were in his company, +whether they would or no. For of course he had gone too far. The doctor +had said so too. What had he said? "He said that it was those cursed +nerves--Kurt excess--in another form." She began to cry again. + +And as though Tomas wished on the spot to show her that the doctor and +she were right, he flew into a violent passion. "It was really dreadful +to have come home to such a miserable position, to be obliged to work +among indifferent and poor-spirited people, who fled right and left as +soon as ever a reform was brought forward." + +"It was not the reform itself but the way--" + +The way? A reform cannot be effected by stealth, it must show itself +for what it is. Yesterday evening, when he was tired, he had felt this +icy coldness as well, it made him shiver; but now it really was all too +mad; if every one deserted, he would hold his ground; he certainly had +thought that his mother would have been better than that; for in +reality it was mostly her experiences which he had brought forward +yesterday. + +This passed, out in the garden, on Sunday morning. On Thursday at +midday the local newspaper--the _Spectator_--was delivered to its +subscribers. Under a large note of interrogation by way of heading a +correspondent wished to know if it really were true that in a large +school in the town the greater number of the pupils had fallen into +immorality? Although it was the principal himself who had said this to +several hundred people, one must still permit oneself to doubt it. That +he had not been misunderstood would be proved by the following +quotation: "This (namely, immorality) _was the rule_, he said; _the +contrary was the exception_." + +This contribution was not signed. It fanned the smouldering feeling to +an open flame. No one spoke of anything else. There was an abject +terror among all the school-girls the next day; they came up to morning +prayers, pupils and teachers as well, as though they were about to be +punished, and Karl Vangen was so much agitated, that he could scarcely +pray. The day's work was dull and spiritless. Rendalen did not show +himself. + +He responded in his own name in the next number (Thursday's). He said +that if this misunderstanding were intentional, it was paltry; if +unintentional, explanation ought at least to have been sought +privately. Nothing had been said that in the least resembled this; all +that was said was that the transition from childhood to maturity was so +difficult a time for most that it became dangerous, and it therefore +needed watchfulness. + +What the principal of the school had noticed was that the characters of +children of that age altered, that they lost their industry, their +sense of order; "that this was the rule, the contrary the exception." +Could any one discover in this any such frightful suggestions as had +been made? + +The answer was good, but it did not avail, the excitement was so great +that no words could set things straight. "Why was this transition +dangerous?" they wished to know, if not for the reason he now tried to +evade? + +Just below Rendalen's answer appeared in the same number another +question, signed "A Mother:" "Why was it of such great importance +that little children should learn how the race is propagated?" This +inquiry gave expression to a _second_ side of the scandal, which +filled the town. Under this question was still another address to Herr +_Real-Kandidat_, School Director Rendalen; it begged "most +respectfully" to ask, if he would not allow the lecture, which he had +delivered last Saturday at the new gymnasium of the girls' school to be +printed. Those who had heard it might thus enjoy it again, and those +who had not been so fortunate ought not to lose the opportunity of +obtaining some information on so remarkable a subject: signed "A friend +of sound and safe enlightenment." + +In the next number (Saturday's) an answer from Rendalen: "Children +already learned natural history, and therefore of course the terms for +propagation of the species. Why they must learn this, any head-master +or principal of a school could answer as well as he; this formed no +part of the new side of his proposal, and only so far affected small +schools as regarded the scope and method of teaching the subject." To +the other question he replied, that a lecture to which only parents had +had admission was evidently not fitted for general circulation. + +Few found this answer satisfactory; he simply evaded the question; at +least three hundred people had heard the lecture, so that it might +quite properly be discussed in the press. + +Three more contributions in the same number. The first expressed +pleasure in the promptness of the reply; would Herr Rendalen now +further explain how the sinful inclinations of young people could be +checked by microscopes? This witticism was at once recognised as +Doesen's. The second was signed "_Arithmeticus_" and reckoned up what it +would cost the country if, in the future, every school were to have a +doctor as a teacher; he calculated that a sum of one million kroner a +year would be necessary for this item alone; if every school were to +have a chaplain as well, this would require an equal sum; a rough +estimate of the cost of the apparatus, necessitated by Rendalen's plan, +would, reckoned as income, be hardly less than one hundred thousand +kroner a year. Therefore the school budget of the country would be +burdened with an addition of about two million one hundred thousand +kroner a year. He asked if this were reasonable? + +After this came a communication addressed to Herr Tomas Kurt, otherwise +Rendalen. A child of the town, it said, had fouled its own nest. If +this town were worse than others, which the writer begged leave to +doubt, then the ancestors of the lecturer were certainly most to blame +for it, and that both in ancient and modern times, he was certainly +therefore the last who ought to talk? This contributor signed himself +"_Suum cuique_." + +On the same day that these appeared Rendalen gave his second lecture, +and at this, which was announced as being exclusively a technical one, +twenty people, including the teachers, were present; beside these, ten +came in during the course of the lecture. + +One could see that those eight days had pressed hardly upon Thomas, Fru +Rendalen, and Karl. Tomas's opening to-day was another man's--tame, +flat, hesitating; his nervousness had increased twenty per cent., his +handkerchief was out of his pocket and in again, the water-bottle was +emptied, his hair pushed up; he fidgeted with his hands, and his feet +moved about as though he were blowing the bellows of an organ. But when +he began to speak of the school plan, exhibiting and explaining +appliances and apparatus, he caught fire and was soon his old self +again, his superior power of making things plain and of awakening +interest in them was recovered. A microscope with a leaf under it was +passed round while he spoke; he showed them a succession of new things, +either entire collections, or large coloured pictures, or highly +finished models which could be taken to pieces and studied in the most +minute details; for example, a man's chest, stomach, neck, head, some +of the finer parts being on an enlarged scale. Such a collection of +apparatus, he said, could never have been made in their own country. +"We are indebted to the interest of the world at large that we, remote +and small as we are, are able to see such a one; and, moreover, that I +should have been able to procure it." Some of it, however, he said, had +been given to him. + +The few who were present at the lecture were extremely pleased; they +thought the school might still do well even if he had given an +unfortunate lecture. + +But these favourable views were carried away by too few to create a +counter-current. In Thursday's number a contributor asked the man who +had signed himself "_Suum cuique_," if it meant "For every pig." If +this question were on behalf of Rendalen it was absolutely the worst +which had yet been advanced against him. The contributor began by +saying how audacious it was that a young man, and one, moreover, who +had scarcely been at home since he was grown up, should descant upon +the morals of this town with a boastful superiority. Not only that, but +he had spoken as though he knew every skipper in the country, as though +he had followed them round the world and instituted inquiries about +them; and in order to fill up the measure of shamelessness, he had +talked as though he knew the whole trading community of the world. A +man with such great effrontery, and so inconsiderate a mode of +expression, ought not to be a teacher in an educational institution, +least of all its principal. Under these circumstances, proposals ought +at once to be made for the formation of another school. It was already +known that a well-meant application to the former principal to continue +her work as before, without Herr Rendalen's help, had been fruitless. +Well then, the writer would call upon men of position to come to the +front with a view to the formation of a new school. Such a call would +receive universal response. Every one in the town wondered who this +contributor could be; that very evening the suggestion was canvassed in +the club, but neither then did he make himself known. All agreed to +wait for Consul Engel's sake; they did not in the least doubt that he +would be on their side; every one knew only too well what had been the +result of Rendalen's lecture in Engel's home, but it would not do to +talk about plans to him now. Fru Engel was dangerously ill. + +Although the deliberations lasted only a few minutes, every one agreed +to this at once. When it was over it was not more than nine o'clock, so +Dr. Holmsen, who had been a passive listener, went straight from the +club, which was on the market-place, up the avenue to "The Estate," and +repeated all to Tomas Rendalen; "the sooner he learns it the better," +Holmsen considered. + +"Leave this wretched hole to the devil," was his advice. Tomas took the +doctor in with him to his mother and repeated to her what he had been +told, adding at once that he should certainly go away. + +Karl came home at that moment; it was all told to him and he agreed +that it was useless to go on after what he had heard that day in the +town. But Fru Rendalen would not on any account consent that they +should give way; better embody the whole school plan and its grounds in +a book, and appeal from the town to the country at large. There must +surely be enough sensible parents in the whole of Norway to enable them +to have a full school. It had not, she said, been her plan but Tomas's, +and he must therefore carry it through. + +She understood Tomas; it was only necessary to overcome the first +painful impression and he would be himself again. They did not separate +that night until twelve o'clock, and then they were all agreed in the +determination to continue the plan. + +It was the school work which gave Tomas strength for this; he was an +unequalled schoolmaster and found his greatest happiness in it, and now +he brought all his powers to the task. He showed the pupils the most +amusing experiments that he knew, and described, explained, and +lectured. He still assembled the senior class, as he had done ever +since his return, one evening a week in Fru Rendalen's room, for a +special meeting. He Had given them some idea of the great question of +the position of women, as it affected the minds of the whole civilised +world; he read to them, he played to them; at this time, of course, +these meetings had a special importance for him. + +He never, by a single word, touched on the present strife, but in his +choice of subjects for reading and conversation, nay, even of music, he +involuntarily gave them an impression of his faith in a great cause, of +his sufferings when his susceptible mind had received a blow. + +The senior class believed unswervingly in him, and this had a great +influence on the others: very soon he took over the instruction in +singing for the whole school; they practised elaborate choruses and +amusing plays; and this was conducive to good-fellowship as well. + +But notwithstanding all this, signs of rebellion showed themselves, and +that they every time disappeared again, was mostly due to Karl Vangen's +morning religious instruction to the pupils and teachers. Karl was not +a highly gifted genius, but he had one quality which outweighed genius, +he had never said what was untrue; he always said a thing exactly as he +felt it, nothing could alter him in this respect; and as his life had +been, at one time, deeply imbued with sorrow, which had at a later +time, been turned to happiness, the impression made by both remained +with him, even in the tones of his voice; this was taking. He prayed so +earnestly to God for peace in the school; the strife outside must never +be allowed to pass the steps. "We here, all of us, wish nothing but +good to each other, do we?" This was sufficient to bring some of them +to tears. On one occasion he added, that he was empowered to say that +any who had the least doubt about the school could leave at any time, +the usual notice of withdrawal would not be enforced. They must tell +this to their parents--tell them this, whether they were happy or not, +_exactly as it was_. + +Had the foes of the school discovered what power Karl Vangen possessed +up there? For the assault was now directed against him. The _Spectator_ +contained a paragraph, headed "To private chaplain Karl Vangen." Every +one had a regard for his character as well as for his good intentions, +therefore they were surprised in the highest degree that he could +countenance views such as had been expressed. "Only one with too little +intelligence or too much credulity (_sic_), could fail to see that this +really meant the putting of religion on one side and the substituting +of natural science for it." + +This elicited a perfect avalanche of letters; we will give one of them: +"The writer cannot forbear to express his sorrow for what he has lived +to see--namely, that when an audacious voice asked from the tribune of +the gymnasium at the girls' school if it were not true that only +excessively few are permanently affected by a religious life, _four of +the clergy had kept their seats_. Did they in their hearts assent to +such a scoffing speech? + +"Was not the message of Jesus given to all men? (see Mathew xxviii. 19, +Mark xvi. 15, Luke xxiv. 47, Acts x. 42, 43, Colossians i. 23). To that +degree it was given to all that first and foremost it was understood of +the simple (see Matthew xi. 25, Luke x. 21, 1 Corinthians i. 19-27; +Romans i. 21, 22). + +"If, then, absolutely every one cannot be permanently affected by the +Divine truth, what fearful deductions might not be drawn from this! +Nay, could the Bible itself be a Divine truth? + +"The man who asked this so presumptuously lives among teachers of the +Church, nay, is one of their friends. Therefore I may venture to say +that the Voice of Unbelief is gone forth into our midst (see 1 John ii. +19, Acts xv. 24 and xx. 30, Galatians ii. 4). Where were the four +watchmen of Zion? I was on the point of rising, but I waited for them. +I ask again and with sorrow, where were they? _Surely they did not +sleep?_ (see Matthew xxiv. 42, 43 and xxv. 5, Mark xiii. 33, Luke xxi. +36, 1 Corinthians xv. 33, 34, Thessalonians v. 6, Ephesians v. 14). + +"If I were to put my name to this it would give no food for reflection; +therefore I put the following holy words and numbers, 80th Psalm of +David, 7th verse." + +The whole town looked up the 80th Psalm and read: "Thou makest us a +strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh among themselves." + +This quotation gave expression to the anger which all felt, that +through their quarrels, the town had become the laughing-stock of their +neighbours. + +For the rival papers of the neighbouring towns were holding festival +over this scandal. Sarcastic reports and revelations hailed down; the +town had never been famous for its godliness, and as little of its +morality and general virtue, but rather for wealth, extravagance, and +enterprise. The most unblushing expressions of admiration for the +sudden change, the astonishing moral gravity, absolutely and altogether +miraculous, which had come to "The little Babylon," were constantly to +be read in the newspapers of the "paltry towns." + +A few days later one of these yelpers began a _feuilleton_, obviously +written in the town itself. It was entitled "Kurt's Cove," and the +_cronique scandaleuse_ of the town was most wittily set forth in it, +naturally with feigned names, but every one recognised the stories; the +_feuilleton_ closed with the remark that one quite understood that it +remained a sacred duty for Kurt's Cove to hinder a reform of morals in +the town. As this was the first thing which had appeared on the side of +Rendalen's new school, every one believed (a proof of how prejudiced +they had become) that if Rendalen had not himself written the story, he +had at least helped to do so. + +A notice was now issued, printed in large letters, convening a meeting +of the Sailors' Association, "in consequence of the insults against our +noble seafaring community, which have been flung at us from a certain +quarter." + +The meeting had this remarkable feature, that hardly three sailors were +present. It was presided over by the owner of a wharf, who had never +been to sea at all; the principal speaker was the harbour master, who +had of course at one time commanded a vessel, but a very long time ago. +He thundered forth tremendously. It was he who had composed the written +protest which expressed "the scorn" of the sailors for all such talk. + +A copy of the protest had been sent on the spot to Tomas Rendalen. + +Thus far everything had been all that could be wished, but when the +punch was brought out and they had taken off the first edge, they +became a little too warm. It then pleased the only captain present, +Kasper Johannesen, to declare that "Tomas Rendalen was--devil take +me--right enough." What a wild tumult ensued! The harbour master at +last moved that this new slanderer should be turned out. Kasper +Johannesen would never let himself be turned out by a fellow who "_had +taken percentage himself_." He knew plenty of people who had dealt with +him! The wharfinger would have put the matter aside in a dignified +manner, but Kasper Johannesen merely told him to "go to H--l." Did they +not all know that he had become rich over unseaworthy vessels, had not +Lloyd's agent himself said so? Yes, that was a pretty sort of way of +showing kindness to sailors, &c. &c. It ended in a fight out in the +street. Ended? It did not end all that summer and autumn! + +There was no more talk of the school in the town for weeks, no one +spoke about anything but their business, and which of the captains were +honest and which "percentage thieves;" still about business, and which +of the captains were out-and-out thieves, and which only thieves in a +small way. And again, who among the captains were absolutely honest. +Business again, and about captain N. N., who, every one knew, could +retire and set up a business for himself. When the ships came in at the +end of autumn, the captains themselves took part in it. Some were +dismissed, and then informed against others who were not. The mates and +seamen did not wish to come forward as witnesses, but were forced to do +so. The most violent hatreds were founded or were fought out on the +spot; the "skippers' war" saved the school. + +The town was not large enough to have two burning questions going at +once, and naturally that which concerned gain was far the most +important. + +But if the "skippers' war" temporarily saved the school, it did not +save Rendalen himself; he might expect that the first opportunity would +be taken for a reckoning. He never willingly went into the town--at all +events, not in the evening. + +He received a reminder of the state of things when, shortly after "the +war" had broken out, he had to go down quite early one Sunday morning, +with a carriage, to the custom-house to meet Miss Hall, who was to +arrive by the English boat. That day the choral society and the +athletic club were starting on an expedition, a couple of hundred young +men therefore had assembled there, notwithstanding the earliness of the +hour. Rendalen did not feel himself safe among them; he was hardly +allowed to pass in peace, angry looks and threatening hints followed +him, and, as he got into the boat, the rope was cast off in such a way +that it knocked off his hat and splashed him--of course entirely by +accident. + +They understood what he was come for, it must be to meet the new +guardian of the town's virtue, the American lady-doctor. The heavy bows +of the English steamer could be seen standing in--they postponed their +own departure until they had seen the young lady. Rendalen had got her +and her luggage into the boat; she was the only passenger. They must +have a look at something so extraordinary. + +After all, she looked quite a child! a little, slight, active creature, +who declined all help as she came up the steps; she was down again in a +moment, because the people in the boat turned one of her boxes upside +down and she could not explain herself in Norse. She was quickly up +again with it, then off to the carriage, into it in a trice--one, two, +three--active and smiling; but only when she was seated did she look +round with surprise at the gloomy suspicious crowd; a long inquiring +look from two large eyes was cast upon them. In the meantime Rendalen +gave orders about the luggage, and put something to rights with the +reins, before he got up. Her woman's eyes made use of the time. They +possessed a clear, cool power of observation; they did not wander over +the whole crowd, but picked out several faces here and there from among +the young people, quickly, certainly. + +Those who received a look felt it at the bottom of their hearts, and +there was not one of these two hundred young men on the quay who had +any doubt but that those eyes could discover several things. + + +A little later in the course of the "skippers' war"--that is to say, +just at the end of the holidays--the news spread round the town that +lovable Emilie Engel, the friend of the poor, the friend of every one, +had been given up by the doctors. + +Fru Rendalen, in addition to everything else, had had increasing +prickings of conscience as regarded Fru Engel, and now the news came to +her as a stunning blow. + +Of all her pupils since Augusta Hansen, no one had been like Emilie +Engel, so pretty, so clever, and so good; she had attached herself to +Fru Rendalen as to a mother, and had given her, and her alone, her +confidence when she became unhappy because she loved the man who +deceived her. + +All the world had known for a long time, what she had only learned in +the last year or two. It was Emilie's sufferings which, more than +anything else, had made Fru Rendalen glad that Tomas "took it all up," +as she expressed it. And now? Neither she nor her son doubted for a +moment that every one would be convinced that Tomas Rendalen had killed +her by his roughness. + +The bitterness would all be aroused again with increased strength. + +Fru Rendalen had not obtained leave from the doctor to see Emilie; Dr. +Holmsen had said in his rough way that she was too nearly related to +the lecture; this remark had got about. + +Emilie Engel died early one morning, and in the afternoon her spiritual +counsellor, old Green, drove up to "The Estate." He brought a last +greeting from her, and gave Fru Rendalen her savings-bank book; in it +she had written, in large trembling characters, "For the school--yours, +E." + +The Dean informed Fru Rendalen that this had been done with the consent +of her husband. The amount was five thousand kroner. + +Fru Rendalen's agitation and happiness, her grief and thankfulness were +so great, that she was obliged to leave the room and did not show +herself again. Tomas came home just at the moment, and met the Dean as +he was being helped by a servant down the great steps. The old man +asked him to go to his mother, he knew she wanted to speak to him. +Tomas was startled, but he controlled himself and helped the Dean into +the carriage. + +Fru Rendalen was in her bedroom, walking up and down, crying bitterly; +when she saw Tomas she threw herself upon his neck, while he implored +her for God's sake to tell him what was the matter. + +She could only look towards the book; he saw it and took it up. He felt +at once that this was salvation. What he had suffered now became +evident; he, too, burst into tears. + +The next morning a message was sent round to the parents of the pupils +by Fru Rendalen, asking if they might be allowed, in the name of the +school, to pay a tribute to Fru Engel's memory; if so, they must all +assemble, dressed in white, at the churchyard gate on the day of the +funeral and walk before the coffin, the younger ones strewing flowers, +the others singing a hymn, to be followed by a chorus at the side of +the grave. + +All who obtained leave were to assemble at the school that day at +twelve o'clock. + +As only a few days intervened before the opening of the school, nearly +all the pupils were in the town; the rest returned by twos and threes, +not one was absent. + +It really was incredible what Tomas Rendalen accomplished in seven or +eight days; he felt that a battle was to be delivered. + +The next number of the _Spectator_ announced the decease, with a few +words on Fru Engel's many good works, and the addition: "We understand +that she has left a sum of money to an institution in the town." What +this announcement lacked in plainness, was remedied in the paper. That +day there was not a single attack on the school. + +Under these circumstances Fru Engel's funeral became an exceptional +event. This was shown both by the preparations which were made and the +reports which circulated. + +The schools asked for, and obtained a holiday; it was decided to close +all the shops, to strew the streets along which the procession was to +pass with fir branches, and to have minute guns fired from a flag-ship. +It was reported that the band from the nearest garrison town had been +engaged and had obtained leave to be present. The principal merchants +of this, and the neighbouring towns, were to take the coffin from the +hearse at the churchyard gate and carry it to the grave. + +Several steamers brought people, from both up and down the coast, who +wished to see and hear. + +When the church-bells began to toll on the day of the funeral, the +streets were quite full, and there was soon no space to be had either +inside or outside the churchyard; if the crush had not been foreseen, +and a number of men stationed to strengthen the police force, ladies +would not have dared to venture there. As it was, the school had plenty +of room, as well as the mothers and sisters of the scholars. + +Nevertheless, when the minute guns began and the music was heard, still +more when the procession came in sight, the crush became excessive; +some screams were heard, and a number of people became alarmed; but +things soon became quiet again, excepting that the excitement +increased. + +The band came up to the gate, stood there and continued playing before +it, while the hearse drew up and the merchants came forward and raised +the coffin. The numberless flowers for which no room could be found +were gathered up and carried after it. + +In the meantime Rendalen had worked his way out from the procession, +and marshalled his white-robed flock within the gate. The coffin was +carried in, but they remained quiet until the hearse had driven away +and the procession was formed. The music ceased, the school children +began to sing strongly and charmingly, and this change from brass +instruments to girls' voices was striking. + +From this solemn moment, as the funeral train moved forward, the little +white-robed flower-strewers before, followed by the singers with the +coffin next to them--from that moment the character of the funeral +changed. Here was a festal procession, sorrow was converted into +beauty, the loss into a full-handed demonstration of honour. The +pageant of riches had paused before the gate of the dead. All presented +themselves as an offering. Fru Emilie Engel was buried like a princess. + +As the hymn ascended from the girls in front, and all the little hands +began to feel in their baskets for the flowers, all eyes turned towards +them; all thoughts followed this white line as it wound up the slope +among the crowd of black-robed women, for these streamed along with +them. The war which had lately raged was remembered at once, the +thought seemed to hover in the threatening atmosphere, above them and +over the black train which followed. Fru Engel's pale face rose to +their memories as they heard the hymn. It was poor, poor Emilie, who +was being buried, the hundredfold deceived Emilie, whom all of those +present, who were her elders, had known from childhood, and had seen +every Sunday in church, pale and melancholy. + +Was it not as though these little white-clad girls had come forward to +take her from those who had come with her? By her legacy she had given +herself to these little ones. And afterwards, when the long white train +streamed on to the planked floor which had been prepared, with a +railing on the side next the grave, it again seemed as though they, and +they alone, had a right in her. + +Rendalen stepped up among them, with his hat in his hand. The little +flower-strewers had had their baskets replenished, and arranged +themselves before him. The coffin was lowered, there was silence; +Rendalen gave the sign, subdued music began and the chorus joined in. +He conducted with a slight movement of his hand, otherwise he was +perfectly still, filled with emotion and overcome by the moment. All +these voices gave answer for him, they sang thanks for the new school +over the grave. The women were much affected. Karl Vangen's anxious eye +sought Fru Rendalen, he saw how much she was shaken, and worked his way +towards her. But as soon as she had taken his arm she wished to cross +to the side where they were singing; she must see the grave. He led her +forward. But after she had come, there was a sense that something was +there which belonged to that other phase; it was only dimly perceived +perhaps, but it became quite clear when, the singing being ended, old +Green was helped up beside the girls and began to speak. He repeated +words which Emilie had spoken on different occasions; collectively they +formed a picture. Everything was expressed in these words, and yet +nothing was actually told, every one understood without offence being +given. + +The one who was the most moved was Engel, for her deep devotion to him +was expressed in one or two of these utterances, and against his will +these words made him burst into violent sobbing which he could not +restrain. + +Green now ceased speaking, he concluded with some words of hers, which +had followed her gift to the school. "There are two parties in this +question ... She had chosen hers," he added. + +The music began again, and with it the chorus; the old man was helped +down while the little ones leant over the railing to strew their last +flowers. At the same moment it thundered out in the west; far out the +sea looked black; a rain-storm was coming, a heavy one. + +Towards the town one saw how the flags drooped against the dark sky, +all foretold violent rain; again a crash of thunder, much louder and +nearer; the mourners began to move about, some pressed forward to look +into the grave or to speak to the family. A short time afterwards, +groups of white-clad girls passed down the road in strong relief +against the heavy sky and the dark green trees; some of them began to +run about, and others followed their example; some, to Fru Rendalen's +horror, began to laugh and shout. + + +They were at dinner at "The Estate," when Fru Rendalen received two +small anonymous contributions, with the motto, "There are two parties" +During the afternoon they received several more, all anonymous, but +none of them considerable. Still, it showed that the school had friends +as well as enemies. + +They had not time to dwell long on this, for that evening they were to +have a little memorial feast at the school, to which Fru Engel's +friends were invited, and both the senior classes. Fru Rendalen was to +tell them about her companionship with the departed; old Green had +promised to come as well, and perhaps narrate something. There would be +music, the chorus would be repeated, and so forth. + +The whole day had been spent in preparing the place where the feast was +to be held, but even so, they were hardly ready. Once more they were +interrupted by a letter, this time from Dr. Holmsen; his servant +brought it up. The doctor's name was not put to it, but his handwriting +was as well known as his servant. And who besides would have signed it, + + "An Old Pig." + +The letter ran: + + +"Dear Rendalen, + +"'There are two parties.' That is certainly most true, although I +consider that one of them has acted devilish stupidly, and I do not in +the least feel able to join myself to it. Enclosed is a cheque for +three microscopes, as you have taken it into your preposterous Kurt +skull that it can be done by microscopes. I don't believe a doit in it. +The power of knowledge will do no more here than the power of religion; +it will all remain just where it was. But something white, something of +a song, passed through the air today; that might do something perhaps. +Here is the money, any way." + + +The senior class was already gathering in the boarders' sitting-room. +The young ladies were to be in mourning as far as taste and opportunity +would allow, and this was something so new and interesting that they +were sure to come before their time. + +The feast was to be held in the laboratory--that is to say, the +Knights' Hall; it had of course cost some trouble to prepare it for a +funeral feast, but as the first ladies arrived it was finished--only +Emilie's portrait was still to come. + +The carriage with the two Danish horses and the man in grey livery on +the box, came slowly up the avenue. Fru Rendalen and Tomas met it at +the foot of the steps. Tomas opened the door for a young lady in deep +mourning, who flung herself on to Fru Rendalen's neck; she was Fru +Engel's only daughter, she was called Emilie also. She was to remain at +school a year longer. + +She was an unusually pretty girl, set off as her slender figure and +delicate complexion now were by her mourning. Over her hair, the +hereditary Engel hair, neither red nor yellow, she had a black veil, +and nothing else. She mounted the steps on Fru Rendalen's arm, crying; +Tomas followed with the portrait, which was covered with a cloth, for +it was raining. + +All rose as they came in, the girl herself wept still more piteously +and sought a corner, where she hid her face behind her veil and +pocket-handkerchief. The portrait was put up on to the chimney-piece of +the laboratory, which was covered with black; Norwegian flags were +arranged on each side of it, and garlands were now hung round it. + +The ceremony began with a duet, a funeral march, played by Tomas +Rendalen, and the girl who had sung a short contralto solo up at the +churchyard that day; Augusta Hansen's sister, who had hidden under the +sail on the day of the lecture. + +After this followed some speeches, then the chorus; all went off +excellently; there was much feeling, at times agitation. At the close +there was a hymn as an introduction to a few words from Karl Vangen. He +had lately read that life is not a closed road, but an open one; he +spoke on this. + +In the meantime, simple refreshments, such as were usually served at +the school parties, with the addition of dessert and wine, had been +spread in Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; for Tomas wished, in conclusion, +to take the opportunity of proposing the healths of the senior classes +and to thank them, and with them all those who had helped that day to +celebrate a beautiful memory. All who had sung to-day at the +churchyard, with the town below them, and a large number of its +inhabitants before them, must have felt something which resembled a +covenant with the school. + +The pure memory of the dead had smiled upon it. "That covenant shall be +kept," he concluded. "Shall it not?" + +"Yes, yes," came from the whole group; they all pressed towards him +with their glasses, the young eyes sparkled; but the first was Emilie's +daughter, the others made way for her; she coloured with agitation and +gratitude as she touched his glass with hers. + +By ten o'clock they were alone. Tomas said to his mother as he was +going to his room, "It was not so mad after all to give that lecture in +the gymnasium--what do you say?" + +"Ah, do you know, Tomas, I really begin to think too that--No, no. It +_was_ mad. Pray do not let me be befooled again." + +A maid-servant came in with a note which had been forgotten; it had +arrived during the evening. + +"Do you see? do you see?" he laughed, and opened it. It ran: + + +"Yes, you think you have conquered, you slanderer. I saw your conceit +to-day, as you stood there among all the little girls whom you had +befooled into doing you a good turn. Selfishness stood out from your +freckled, grey-eyed face, as well as from your Judas hair. Fie for +shame! But you will be struck when you least expect it, you beast." +_Veritas_. + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: As with Carl Brandenburg, on the Market Place. He had a +daughter Christina, who was of a proud mind, but very fair. When Master +Max's first wife died he straightway asked to have Christina in +marriage, but she would not, and her father humoured her, albeit he was +afraid. And at once Carl was charged of dealing in contraband wares, +then for giving false weights and measures, and at last for having +scoffed at God. From this last Death freed him. Then came his son home +from France, and he was sent to serve as a soldier, and no man ever +heard more of him. At the time those in Authority first made indictment +against Carl Brandenburg, he was the richest man in the Town, but when +he died his daughter had only what might allow her to dwell at the +house of a peasant, and there she still abides. Many such things +happened, so that none dare go against his will.] + +[Footnote 2: Miss.] + + + + END OF VOL. I + + + + + + Printed by Ballantyne & Co. 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