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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/37802-8.txt b/37802-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fafb2c --- /dev/null +++ b/37802-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6858 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume II (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 II (of 2) + +Author: Björstjerne Björnson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37802] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL II *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=b-UsAAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE NOVELS OF + + BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + VOLUME XII + + + + + + + _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 II + + + + + NEW YORK + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1908 + + + + + + + _Printed in England_ + + + + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + + CONTENTS + + + IV.--_THE STAFF_--(_continued_) + +CHAP. + II. THE STAFF + + III. THE SOCIETY + + IV. ON THE STEPS + + + V.--_THE HUNT_ + + I. THE HUNT + + II. IN THE DOVECOTE + + III. SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS + + IV. THE HUNT + + + VI.--_WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY_ + + I. HAPPINESS + + II. A MISFORTUNE + + III. PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF PEACE WITHOUT + + IV. WAR + + + VII.--_THE FIGHT ITSELF_ + + I. IN BOTH CAMPS + + II. A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE STAFF + + Fair Milla and brown Tora, + Broad Tinka and slender Nora. + + +It was disputed where this remarkable verse with its rhythm and rhyme +was heard for the first time, whether in the senior Latin or senior +Commercial. The dispute can never be settled now, but when these girls +showed themselves it was often shouted, sung, and bawled after them--at +first in turns with another by Dösen, which ran, "_Nora, Tora, ora pro +nobis_;" but as it was incomplete, the names of Tinka and Milla not +being mentioned, it was dropped in favour of the former. This one was +also given up; it was perfectly well known who was father to the latest +name for them; Rendalen called them on a certain occasion "The Staff," +and after him the whole school, after it the boys' school, and at last +all who were inclined to pay them a compliment. We know three of the +Staff already--that is to say, we know them from the others, not more +than that. "Fair Milla" is no other than Emilie Engel; she looked like +a picture in enamel in her mourning. Broad Tinka is Katinka Hansen, +Augusta's sister, the contralto; and slender Nora is the Sheriff's +daughter, the one who hid under the sail, the one with big eyes and +wavy hair. + +Brown Tora, on the other hand, we do not know, and she shall remain a +little longer shrouded in mystery. + +A year ago a new sheriff was appointed to that part of the country, a +secretary in a government office, called Jens Tue, otherwise known as +the ladies' man.[1] Instead of becoming resident he went abroad with +his wife, whose chest was rather delicate. + +This lady had, by jealousy and insincerity, missed her true foothold in +life, and both in her thoughts and actions she flitted like a bird from +one interest to another; she wished to appear so immensely delighted, +so taken up with intellectual questions and music--until one day her +strength proved insufficient; she collapsed. + +Her husband carried her off with him, and as during their tour he was +all that was pleasant and amiable, her bird-like nature required +nothing more. She came home again, well and happy. + +It would have seemed more natural for Nora to remain at Christiania +with her friends and relations. It was said certainly that Fru +Rendalen's school was so very superior, but that could hardly be the +whole explanation; all were curious about the Sheriff's daughter when +she appeared. She was a fashionable young lady, tall and slender, +and if not exactly elegant, still stylish in dress and manner; a little +supercilious; still she did not give offence--she was too pliable for +that, too quick as well, entirely taken up with the fancy of the +moment. She gave an impetus to all she did, and people forgive a great +deal for that. + +But no one would forgive her letter-writing, or the incredible number +of letters which she received weekly! Not the teachers, for she +neglected the school work; not her companions, for she neglected them; +nay, she had hardly looked at them! She went to sleep every night with +inky fingers and a heap of letters beside her bed; either she was +writing letters or reading letters, or crying over them. During every +recreation time she ran upstairs to add a few lines, or to read a +letter over again which she had just received. As she was worried by +the pursuit of the others, she disappeared after every meal. Where was +she? There was a hunt for her, and she was found up in the top attic, +writing of course, this time upon a large barrel; she was blue with +cold. She had left at least twenty particular friends behind her at +Christiania; all the twenty wrote to her, and all received answers, +long answers--one must never be shorter than the others. Happily, she +had another passion, and it often chances that one thing counteracts +another. She was crazy about music. She sang snatches of songs with +great feeling, but, partly because at her age she could not sing much +at a time, partly because she had not training enough to carry out a +delicate interpretation, she could never properly render anything as a +whole. But even so, she was much admired by her companions, and by none +more than Tinka Hansen. For Tinka was herself musical, but in another +and more unpretending fashion. Like her sister Augusta, she had +developed early, especially in her powers of conversation. Katinka was +even-tempered, bright, dependable; everything she played, and that was +a great deal, she knew by heart. It was therefore she who obediently +accompanied Nora's songs. But her execution was not worth much; Nora +very soon took her in hand, and was not satisfied until she had brought +her to the point she wished; Tinka was extremely grateful for all this. + +One day Nora discovered Tinka's powerful contralto, and from that time +there were duets and duets. Their age suggested prudence, and if Nora +would not use moderation, Tinka both would and could. Nora was used to +command, so there were quarrels; but Tinka was so accustomed to conquer +when her conscience told her that she was right, that Nora was +completely vanquished. This was the foundation of their friendship. To +have a friend who at once admired and restrained her was especially +safe and good for Nora. But Nora acted upon Tinka like a succession of +impressions of art upon one who has seen nothing up to that time. As +Nora was absolutely confidential, it seemed to the conscientious Tinka +that this ought to be returned. + +Every one knew it, but not to a living being would she have admitted +it: Tinka was engaged. He, the man, had just gone to college; she had a +letter from him once a week; for many reasons she did not wish to have +them oftener. He was called Frederik--Frederik Tygesen; his father was +the stipendiary judge Tygesen, here in the town. Nora was "the first +person in the world" whom she had told this to. + +How delighted Nora was! Really, properly engaged, with letters every +week and the tacit consent of her parents. How had it come about? Well, +that was the odd thing about it; they neither of them knew. They had +once when she was eight years old, through an open door, heard Fru +Rendalen and her mother talking about Augusta and Tomas Rendalen, about +what _he_ had said to _his_ mother about Augusta, and what _she_ had +said to _her_ mother about Tomas. Ever since then these children had +been fond of each other, just as those other two had been; but they had +never spoken about it--never. A sincere friendship was founded between +Nora and Tinka upon this confidence, and Tinka's friendship brought +others with it. Nora was obliged to recall some of her interests from +Christiania, and by degrees to form a new circle of admirers. + +She began to write less frequently to the friends in Christiania, and +the letters would begin, "It is a terribly long time since," or "I +really am a wretch who----," or "Procrastination is to blame." + +But there was a limit to those whom she could conquer in the new senior +class, and this did not please her; in fact, she principally coveted +the friendship of those who withheld it, but all the same she could not +pass this boundary. The fact was that a queen had reigned there before +her--nay, was there still. Her ways of gaining power were different +from Nora's; whether they were less or not, depended on who it was who +measured them. First of all, she was the richest heiress in the town; +secondly, if there were the slightest sign of rain, snow, or cold wind, +a servant drove up to fetch her home, and then it was a question who +should drive home with her. + +She had almost always something good with her; her pocket-money was of +that description that the more she spent, the more she had; the +resources of her dainty little purse were incredible in this respect. +She got money from her mother, from her father, from two unmarried +uncles. As well as this she was pretty, discreet, attentive; no one had +ever known her to use a hasty word, or be rough, even at the gymnasium; +she was always very polite and a little subdued. In her eyes, to forget +yourself was the worst of crimes. She had lived, so to say, wrapped up +in cotton wool, and one felt this whenever one approached her. We know +her already; she is Emilie Engel. + +She was not specially gifted, but was industrious; she really worked +hard when there was anything on foot. Every one liked her, several paid +court to her, one or two absolutely raved about her. + +Tinka Hansen belonged to none of these groups; if ever she devoted +herself to any one it would be to her opposite; quiet, dutiful Milla +was too like herself. + +As Nora first attached herself to Tinka, and through Tinka to others, +Milla was offended. When Nora turned to her it was too late; there was +plenty of politeness and willingness to oblige, but not a word for her +singing, not a smile for her Christiania witticisms; never so much as a +glance when the whole class, during one of her lively descriptions, +hung admiringly on her words. + +Nora could not endure this indifference; she condescended to pay court +to her in all those ways which are only known to a young girl. In vain. +At last they divided into parties. Nora considered Milla insignificant, +egotistic, cold, prim, missish; Milla considered Nora--no, Milla did +not consider Nora anything, she let her friends talk and she listened. +Nora's jaunty Christiania style of manner and speech were unbecoming, +her caprices could not be endured by any one who respected herself; her +accomplishments were all superficial, she was characterless; besides, +it was considered that some of her remarks showed a want of religion, +and Milla's party was religious. + +Milla had been confirmed at Easter. The increasing weakness of Fru +Engel had given a tone of enthusiasm to her religious thoughts and to +the aspect of her mind; she found comfort through it, and need for it, +and she endeavoured to lead her daughter in the same direction. + +At the time of her confirmation Milla found a confidant in the niece of +the Frökener Jensens, little Anna Rogne, who was extremely religious; +she was two years her elder, but she was small and delicate; indeed, on +more than one occasion her life had been despaired of. Anna had more +religious knowledge than most grown people, and she enraptured Karl +Vangen at the confirmation classes. Milla, whom she had imbued with +some of her enthusiasm, had no objection to share in it to a slight +degree. As soon as little Anna observed this reflection of her own +thoughts, she rejoiced from the bottom of her heart, and declared Milla +to be "spiritually minded." She was astonished that they had not +discovered each other before. + +Then came the time when Milla's mother was given up by the doctors. +Little Anna's energy was more than natural; she watched beside the +sick-bed with her friend, she read, she sang, she prayed; for Fru +Engel's life must and should be saved; the doctor could not save her, +but prayer could--how confident she was, how enraptured! And then when +Fru Engel died notwithstanding, she would literally have rejoiced to +have given her life for Milla; it was so beautiful to her to see the +rich heiress, surrounded with all the comforts of life, pleading on her +knees to Jesus; and now, when the prayers had not availed, she still +trusted--nay, in the midst of her sorrow she thanked God with her, +entirely submissive to His will. Little Anna felt from the bottom of +her heart that a bond had been twined between them which death alone +could sever. + +Milla returned to school three weeks later than the others; she took a +place next to Anna Rogne. They drove up together nearly every day, and +they returned together in the carriage, for Milla was still living in +the country, and Anna was almost always with her. + +Milla's return made a stir. Her mourning suited her to perfection; her +pale face and subdued manner accorded with it like dull silver work on +velvet. The quiet gentleness with which she accepted everything, even +Nora's eager worship, gained her much considerate kindness. + +The first day or two seemed devoted to expressing sympathy with Milla. + +But there was a new face among them, a new figure there on the form in +front of her, a new voice, fresh ways--and what was not less important +to Milla--a new dress. Especially when the new hat and mantle were +added to it, a more daring choice of colours was presented, a more +delicate cut, richer details, than she had ever seen before. She knew +who the new-comer was--the daughter of the chief custom-house officer +Holm, from Bergen, the one with the brown face, large dark eyes, and +curly white hair: a curiously shy man, who drank, drank so that it was +only through forbearance that he retained his post; he had ten +children! + +Tora was the eldest, and had been brought up, from her twelfth year, +partly in England, partly in France, by an uncle who had been a +shipbroker, first in the one country, then in the other; he had just +died, leaving his adopted daughter a small annuity. Milla knew all +this. Anna had also incidentally observed that Tora Holm was pretty. + +But this was not the right word. Where were Anna's eyes? Tora was a +beauty, and her beauty was singular and "foreign." Anna had used her +ears as little as her eyes, for there was but one opinion about it. + +Milla did nothing the whole of the first day but look at Tora, who, +although her back was turned towards her, could not keep quiet, but +twisted and turned as though she could feel the other's eyes on her +neck. The more restless Tora became, the more calmly Milla studied her. +At home, in the sitting-room, stood a head of the young Augustus in +marble; it had been Milla's admiration from childhood. And now, there +it was, on a girl's body, on the bench before her, moving in brightness +and colour. + +The brow was exactly the same, the whole shape of the head, broad +above; the curve of the cheeks and chin, the arch of the eyebrows the +same, all the same! The eyes were different and more full of life, for +those of the Augustus gave the impression of dulness, or at least +heaviness. These sparkled incessantly in changing shades of blue-grey, +under long dark eyelashes. The mouth was full and curved, the hair +black-brown, or brown-black, as the light fell upon it. The complexion +was a sort of pale olive. Milla had no words to express it; it was a +combination she had never seen before. There was a large, very large +birth-mark on her cheek, perhaps it was that which disturbed her, for +she never turned that cheek when she looked round at Milla. Her figure +was developed, very strong and statuesque. Apparently she was a little +over sixteen. She did not look well at the moment, she was flushed and +had dark lines under her eyes; the perspiration stood on her face. + +Her whole appearance was striking; Milla looked at her without a trace +of envy. What taste this new girl had, beyond anything she had ever +seen; how much she must know! + +Every now and then Milla looked at her next neighbour. Anna sat there, +spare and angular; her thin, blue, and inordinately long fingers +especially occupied Milla to-day. What a contrast! + +Should she speak to the new-comer, be friendly to her? Perhaps it would +be a little forward. From the moment that she saw her during the next +"recreation," walking arm in arm with Nora, this idea was dropped as a +matter of course. + +During the three weeks which preceded Milla's return, a good deal had +happened; a revolution had silently begun which was not yet at an end. + +Tora Holm made her appearance in the school rather untowardly. She +arrived late, met no one in the hall, and did not know where to go; +every one was assembled in the "laboratory" for morning prayers. At +that moment Karl Vangen, who had been detained at the bedside of a sick +person, rushed in and almost overturned her; then became as confused as +only a young clergyman can, mistook her for the new teacher, and +bewildered himself and her by his embarrassment. It was therefore some +little time before she, in her Bergen sing-song, could explain who she +was, and when he heard it, and it flashed into his mind that she was in +trouble for her uncle's death and had returned to an unhappy home, he +broke out, "We will all be so kind to you here; so"--he seized her +hand--"welcome, welcome!" Before he could say more she began to cry. +She was nervous and timid, everything was new and strange. He could +think of nothing else to do than to open the door and call out +"Mother." + +And out came Fru Rendalen with her spectacles awry, and asked rather +shortly (for Fru Rendalen was particular, and this should not have +happened), "What is it, Karl?" + +"Here is Fröken Holm, custom-house officer Holm's daughter, mother." + +"Very well, let her come in," answered Fru Rendalen, opening the door +wide. "How do you do?" she said, as she stood in the doorway and held +out her hand to Tora in the half-lighted hall. There was far too much +of a command in her tone for Tora not to advance. Fru Rendalen then saw +that she had come crying to school like a little thing of five years +old. She was surprised; she showed her a place, which Tora shyly took, +and asked one of the teachers to help her off with her hat and cloak, +which the little donkey had kept on--thought Fru Rendalen to herself. + +They sang a hymn and Karl spoke about meeting--whenever one discovers +anything good in a person, one meets God--that was his subject. + +At the moment Tora was only conscious of the sound of a powerful voice, +she was tormented by the remembrance of her unlucky entrance and the +impression it had made; first and foremost upon Fru Rendalen, but also +on the others; she had seen that plainly. She could not keep quiet; she +turned away when any one looked at her, turned this way and that as +though she wished both to be looked at and not to be looked at. If any +one spoke to her, which happened after a while, she coloured, and +answered something which she at once contradicted. This went on during +the first three days. She knew neither Norwegian geography nor +Norwegian history--indeed, she did not know a single thing except +English and French, and coloured up when this was discovered; but when +it was also discovered that she spoke both these languages fluently, +she coloured up just as much. She would not do gymnastics on any +consideration--at last she said she had no dress. She made herself one +which was a masterpiece of coquetry; but this she denied, and declared +it to be purely and simply ugly. She could not go on long with the +gymnastics, strongly built as she was, but gave in completely and began +to cry. Miss Hall, who superintended the gymnastics and introduced +special exercises for some of the girls, led her towards the window and +looked at her. Miss Hall had partly forgotten her Norse, and did not +remember at the moment that Tora spoke English; she tried to find a +word while she examined her. Tora misunderstood this and ran away from +her, put on her things and went straight home, refusing to return to +school. It required no little trouble before she could be brought back, +not only to school but as a boarder; she needed better food than she +got at home, for she was beginning in _chlorosis_; this was the word +that Miss Hall could not remember. Tora now shared Miss Hall's room; +she was the first, though afterwards one of the pupils always did so. + +Little by little the new-comer forgot herself so far as to be able to +sit still, but never if any one looked at her steadily, or talked about +her. She must feel it in her back, her companions said. They tried +experiments, and laughed when she really did by degrees become uneasy, +and at last turned round and looked at them. + +Nora had been a boarder during the past year, and was often up at the +school. She did not speak to Tora except just in passing, but one +Sunday Tora asked her if she might do her hair for her. This made as +much stir among the boarders as though she had offered Nora some new +hair. Word was sent from room to room; they all collected, big ones and +little ones, to see Nora with new hair. They stood there, they leaned +over one another, while the great work went on. + +For what was done was nothing less; laughter soon changed to +astonishment, to admiration, to applause. + +One day, when Nora's hair was untidy, Tora had suddenly noticed that +this was becoming to her. It suited the large, wide-open eyes, by far +the most striking part of her little face. She had next to no forehead, +very small cheeks, a little mouth with cherry lips, and a rather large +nose, a real family nose; but it only seemed to set off the eyes, so +that it was the eyes all the same--nothing but eyes. Now what was +wanted was some way of raising the hair, so that it should help the +eyes as well. Tora had seen a great deal, and often had "inspirations," +but never as yet in hair-dressing. She had one now. Naturally she began +by letting it all down and combing it out, then took the front hair and +made it into two large rolls, one on each side, lightly twisted; it was +very little in itself, and not at all striking, but the effect in this +case was amazing. When her eyes grew large, the hair looked as though +it would spread its wings and fly away, sometimes almost as though it +flickered--the hair was naturally a little wavy. + +Up to this time Nora had never been thought pretty, there were other +qualities in her which one noticed; but now Rendalen himself, who very +rarely looked closely at any one, stopped short as he was reading +aloud, when, chancing to raise his eyes, he caught sight of Nora; the +whole class knew what he thought. The one who was least concerned was +perhaps Nora herself; now she had settled about her hair, and she need +not think anything more about it; but when Tora Holm, as their +friendship increased, began to rave about her talents, and, with her +tendency towards exaggeration, declared that Nora was "all soul," that +her music "absolutely carried one away," and that her chance remarks +always "hit the right nail on the head," that really was something! She +longed for more with insatiable voracity, and cultivated the +friendship. Tora Holm constantly made discoveries; the most important +one was that Nora was always right, even if she had been capricious +towards others, hasty--nay, even when she had had a slight fit of +untruthfulness, Nora was right, quite right--_at the bottom_. + +It now struck Nora that Tora Holm was the first person who had ever +thoroughly understood her: to think that a stranger who looked at her +with fresh impartial eyes should have discovered this at once! The more +they saw of each other, the more gifted they thought each other. Tora's +talent for telling stories was the "greatest" Nora had "ever known;" +she gathered all her set round her to listen, and the story-telling +began. Fairy tales and romances by turns--what had not Tora read, what +did she not remember? The girls would listen over and over again to the +"Thousand and One Nights" (not the condensed edition, but the full one) +as though they were little children. As well as this, they liked +pictures of real life which did not go beyond their comprehension, +though they preferred that the lovers (and by inference also +themselves) should be noble and unhappy. These girls of fifteen, +sixteen, and seventeen (Tora herself was nearly seventeen), for various +reasons had, outside their school subjects, read only by stealth, with +the results which naturally follow. The books which Rendalen had read +to them had greatly widened their horizon and increased their desire to +know more, so that Tora was doubly welcome. + +But between the story-telling times Nora wished to have her to herself, +really to possess her; Nora-Tora, Tora-Nora, wove themselves together, +no one else could approach them. Nora announced this openly; they two +preferred being by themselves. + +Every one knew Nora, and understood that in a few days it would be +over; they only laughed, but there was one who did not laugh. + +Tinka Hansen could not endure faithlessness; she had taken Nora to task +on one or two occasions and warned her. This time she was silent, and +allowed the penalty to consist in punctiliously respecting their wish +to remain apart. Nora could never get her to come with her. + +Very soon Nora began to feel lonely among all these delightful Oriental +palaces; she did not realise this till she discovered that without +Tinka she did not feel free to do as she liked; without her she dared +not always listen. Tora's romances were often very "French." For more +than a year Nora had been used to the limits which Tinka imposed. She +was not sure if she were now inside or outside them, and an uneasy +conscience was the result. Tora had to suffer for this; Nora did not +know what they ought to do; she peremptorily cut short a story which +had been begun, ordered another, but stopped that as well; made +promises and did not keep them, and felt bored. And it was just at the +beginning of this period that Milla returned to school. + +One Thursday evening, in Fru Rendalen's room, Tom as was going to read +a new play to them. Tora Holm, who chanced to be near Milla, looked at +her new black dress, which was a different one from that she wore in +the schoolroom. Without touching the dress she said, showing with her +fingers what she meant, the "trimming ought to have gone so, not so, +and had better have been narrower." She did not wait for an answer, but +walked farther on and sat down. + +The day after, before morning prayers began, Milla came up to her and +thanked her; she had tried it, and found that Tora was right. There was +no time for more, but during the first "recreation" they involuntarily +sought each other out. "How could you see that at once?" asked Milla. + +"I tried it the other day on a doll," answered Tora. + +"On a doll?" asked Milla with a slight blush. Tora felt that she ought +not to have let this out; she was always doubtful about what she ought +to do. What a delicate instinct Milla Engel must have, to blush on her +account! + +"So you dress dolls, do you?" said Milla, smiling, as she passed her +the next day. Tora protested; it really was not clear what she +protested, whether it were that she had one or two dolls, or that it +was her sisters who had them, or that even married women often have +dolls, so that there could be nothing odd in that, or else that she +quite saw how unbecoming it was, since every age ought to suit with +its.... She said all this, and a great deal more, in her Bergen +sing-song, and Milla smiled. "Won't you come in and see me this +afternoon? We are back from the country now." + +Tora had not refused before Milla had said good-bye, but afterwards she +felt dreadfully embarrassed about it. Nevertheless at six o'clock she +was there. + +Tora had a great wish to get up in the world--she would not be chained +to a home such as hers was, to such a fate as threatened her. + +Consul Engel's house was almost the only one in the town where the door +was kept closed all day. When one rang, either a man-servant or a maid +opened the door, and one entered a house where there was Brussels +carpet in the passages and on the stairs, as well as in the rooms, and +where, to begin with, one found oneself between two mirrors where one +could see oneself from head to foot. + +Tora was shown upstairs. "Fröken Engel's" room was there. She was +heartily welcomed. The rooms were those which Fru Engel had occupied +during the last years of her life; she had very rarely left them. + +She had died here, and it was for that reason that the family had gone +so late into the country this year, and had only just returned to the +house. + +Every comfort which a room can possess was there; the chairs and +couches were all as soft as the cushions of an invalid, you seemed to +sink into them; they were upholstered in moss-green silk, and the +curtains and portières were of the same material and colour, the walls +were a dark indefinite colour. There was an old-fashioned rosewood +cabinet in inlaid work, with a number of small pigeon-holes and +receptacles in it. Tora never wearied of looking at it. An Erard piano +with carved heads and emblems, a bookcase in the same style. Pictures, +especially landscapes, which made one long for the evening sun, with +its hazy light and almost sultry heat. + +Tora went from one to another; she looked at every single thing as +though it were a person with whom she wished to make friends. From +there she went to the bedroom, and admired the soft carpet into which +her feet sank, the little _chaise-longue_ in one corner, the bed with +its rich hangings, the variety and elegance of the toilette apparatus. +Milla's pleasure at seeing her was expressed in the one remark that she +had never before taken any one up into her mother's rooms. + +There was only one piece of furniture which did not please Tora; at +last she could no longer contain herself, it assorted so ill with its +surroundings. "What is there in that press, dear? Why is it here?" +Milla replied, smiling, that it was very incongruous, she knew; it had +not been there before--in fact, it was her own; she had had it ever +since she was a child. + +"But can't it stand in another place?" + +"No, not very well." + +There was something of reserve in this answer, she could not inquire +further. As Tora was leaving Milla asked her to come again soon, +but she had better let her know beforehand, so that they might be +alone--that would be the pleasantest. Tora understood that this was +meant for Anna Rogne, but that was no affair of hers. + +It so chanced that the next time she sat telling stories in the +twilight to Nora and her friends, who for convenience had settled +themselves on the floor on some carpets and eider-downs, she let fall +the remark, that "Of all the people I know, the one who is most like +Gulnare is Milla Engel." This, to her audience, was much like saying +before the king that he was not the wisest man in the kingdom. Nora was +amazed, her friends almost broke out into open anger. Tora felt that +she had done a foolish thing; she tried to explain herself by ascribing +that "passive" beauty to Milla which was here implied. The expressions +active and passive were at that time war cries in the senior class; +there were "active" people and "passive" people, "active" eyes and +"passive" eyes, "active" and "passive" colours. + +"But, good gracious," said one of the girls, "Milla has not dark hair; +she is fair." + +"So is Nora," answered the thoughtless Tora. + +"I certainly have no wish to be a passive beauty, or an Eastern +princess," answered Nora angrily. "No, I did not mean that at all, I +only meant ----" she stopped short, for she really did not know why she +had said it. + +"That was sheer nonsense," the others declared, and pressed Tora so +hard that she declared, with tears in her eyes, that Milla was the most +refined and the prettiest girl in the school. She (Tora) was only too +happy to know any one who was so considerate, so full of tact; it was +more than could be said of every one. + +This was too much. Gina Krog herself, who was always forbearing, did +not now scruple to announce that she had known for two days, but had +not wished to tell, that Tora went to see Milla, and that they were +bosom friends. There was a dead silence. Soon afterwards Nora left, and +the others dispersed. Tora tried to explain, but they would not listen +to her. + +None of the boarders belonged to Milla's party; not a girl there had +set her foot inside Milla Engel's door--for the reason that they had +never been asked. + +However much Tora tossed about and turned herself and her pillow that +night, she could not sleep; it vexed and hurt her that she could not be +friends with one without losing the friendship of the other. Now the +whole school would look on her as a faithless wretch. Heaven knew that +she was not, yet she might be sent to Coventry for it, it might always +be remembered against her. It was a question of the future for her. She +had been so tossed about, she felt so insecure; she was always +stretching out her arms for something solid to cling to, which as +constantly eluded her grasp. She cried bitterly; she liked them both so +much, each in her own way, though they were so different. Why should +she not if she liked? What could she do? She did not wish to sacrifice +either of them. + +The next day was Sunday; she had to go to church, but she would not +wait for the others, who were going as well--so she went straight off +to Milla. Milla was dressed for church; they met in the hall, but she +was surprised when Tora asked if she might speak to her. She took her +into her room and locked the door. Tora began to cry and told her +everything exactly as it had happened; she did not conceal that she was +fond of them both and why she was so, nor how lonely she felt, and what +an effect this might have on her future. Nora had so much influence +both among the boarders and the day girls. + +In the midst of the story, just as Tora had paused for a moment to cry, +Milla heard someone at the door; there was a knock, she opened it just +wide enough to step through; in a little time she returned and said +that she and Anna Rogne had made an engagement to go to church +together, but that she had excused herself on the score of a headache; +it was certainly the second Sunday that she had done so, but it could +not be helped. Milla was sorry for Tora; she really was fond of her, it +showed itself now. She promised not to take anything in bad part which +Tora might devise, so as to keep on good terms with Nora and her +numerous friends. Milla really was very sweet. + +Tora had only time to put her arms round her and kiss her for this, for +she must show herself in church. But might she come again in the +afternoon? She was very much consoled, but she longed for more; she was +so frightened, she must manage to talk everything over with her. Milla +asked her to come again as early as ever she could. + +Tora came again after coffee; as soon as she had locked the door, Milla +whispered, as she put her arm round Tora's neck, that now she was going +to give her a treat, she felt certain that it would please her. To no +one, absolutely to no one, had she shown what Tora was going to see. +The press there---- + +"The press, well----?" + +"Once it held my dolls." + +"Your dolls!" + +"Every one knows that it does not now," said Milla; as she spoke she +flung it open. The large double doors, both the upper and lower ones, +flew back together, and the girls could see four storeys of a house; +the bottom one a complete and marvellously dainty kitchen, scullery, +and dining-room, above a drawing-room, a large elegant apartment with +the most lovely furniture upholstered in silk, a black rosewood table, +fireplace, looking-glass, clock. On the third storey a bedroom, with +the sweetest little beds--real actual beds--and a wash-hand stand, +where everything was to be found, down to the most minute details. On +the fourth storey was the wardrobe, a magnificent doll's wardrobe. +There were changes in silk, velvet, _moiré antique_, in different +colours; a whole collection of materials which had not yet been made +up; scraps of every description evidently collected with diligence and +care during many years. All linen, even stockings, and other +underclothing, all in duplicate, as well as hats, mantles, ornaments, +belts. + +Tora shrieked; she was down on her knees and up on tiptoe; she did not +at first lay a finger on them, but devoured them with her eyes, unable +to take in the whole--it could not be grasped all at once; there was +too much, too great a variety, it was too wonderfully minute. She had +not even counted the dolls yet. "One, two, three, four--five--six! +seven!! eight!!!" + +She had begun softly, but her voice rose at every number, so that Milla +hastened to say, "Twelve, twelve, there are twelve." + +"Twelve! actually twelve! Oh dear! oh dear! Have you kept all the dolls +you have ever had in your life, never spoilt a single one?" + +Well, yes she had, but never one since she was seven. + +"Wait a minute." And solemnly, as though she were afraid they might +disappear, Tora carefully put in her hand and took up the very, very +sweetest doll in light red silk, with shoes and hat of the same colour, +a dark red parasol, and a little fan stuck into her belt; her +underclothes were made like a real person's, with lace and embroidery, +a pocket in her dress with a pocket-handkerchief in it, and elegant +French gloves which fitted her hands; as well a little brooch shaped +like a forget-me-not, and bracelets and watch in the same style. Tora +stood dumb with admiration, while she turned the doll round, inspected +the cut and make of the dress, the underclothes; held it away from her, +then close to her. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Some +one had come right upstairs without the preoccupied girls having heard +the least sound. They were startled. Milla held up her finger. She +turned red and white. Of course it was Anna. But Anna had never seen +the dolls, she would not understand. + +There were, she explained later, two more dolls in mourning, but Anna +had been with her so much lately that she had not been able to dress +many of them, otherwise her plan had been to have them all in mourning, +that would have been charming. Another knock, low and hesitating. They +held their breaths; Milla was quite unnerved. They heard her go; they +listened so intently that they could hear her step on the stairs. It +was a most unlucky chance. Milla had given orders that if any one +besides Tora came they were to say that she had gone out for a walk on +account of her headache. But the maid who had received the order, +Milla's own maid, could not have answered the door, although it was her +time for doing so. What should Milla do? But from this consideration +she was swept away by a whirlwind. + + +Nora lay on the bed in Tinka Hansen's room; a little wainscoted, +blue-painted attic in shoemaker Hansen's new house in the market-place. +As well as the bed there was an open bookshelf painted brown, one or +two chairs, a large washstand intended for two, but for which no other +place could be found; a high short sofa on which Tinka now sat, looking +across at the bed, her right arm resting on her little desk which stood +on the table before her. + +Nora lay sobbing loudly, and Tinka sat calmly by and looked at her; +Nora knew now what faithlessness was, how it tasted to be deserted for +the sake of another. + +But it was more than being forsaken--she was abandoned, deposed, made +nothing of. Tora had lifted her up to the skies; she was "all mind," +"could not make a mistake." And now this very Tora had dropped her--for +Milla Engel! The world was nothing but lies and delusions. "Oh dear! +Tinka, why cannot you be kind to me? You do not know how unhappy I am." +But Tinka was silent. "I cannot do without you, Tinka--no, I cannot. I +have discovered since this morning that I made nothing but mistakes. I +have no stability--no, not a bit." + +"No, that is it," said Tinka soothingly. + +"Not a bit; oh dear, what shall I do? Won't you talk to me?" She cried +dreadfully now. + +"You only care for adoration, Nora." + +"Not 'only,' Tinka; don't say 'only.'" + +"No, no; but you are never happy unless you are adored, and one tires +of that." + +"What shall I do, Tinka? Goodness knows I am tired of it myself. Ah, +you do not believe it, but it's true, especially now since Milla is +adored as well. Ugh! it is disgusting to think of." + +"That is merely because it is Milla, and not you." + +"No indeed, Tinka," and she raised herself on her elbow. "Tora has +given me so much of it that I am tired of it; yes, I am; and to think +that she is with Milla now." She flung herself down again and cried, +with anger and vexation. She raised herself again suddenly: "But I must +get rid of all this; it is disgusting; I despise myself; you do not +know what I have been thinking since this morning. Help me, Tinka; you +are the only one of them all who speaks the truth to me." + +Tinka was unmoved: Nora flung herself down again, turned away and +cried. + +"I cannot understand," said Tinka at length, "that you who rave so +for----" + +"Do not use that word"--Nora interrupted her while she made a gesture +with her hand behind her--"it has become loathsome now that Milla does +it too. Milla 'raves.' Can you imagine anything so----?" + +"Well, well, I will not say 'rave.'" + +"No, don't." + +"Very well, I will say 'interest yourself--you who interest yourself so +much in all that is just and great, and who are also so brave, for you +would cheerfully die for what you think right----" + +"Yes, I could, Tinka; I believe I could do that; ah, how nice it is to +hear something good again, and especially from you; I feel quite +astray." + +"Yes, but now I am coming to what I want to say--do you understand? Is +it not a shame that any one so excellent should all the same be such a +peacock?" + +"A peacock, Tinka?" + +"Yes, a peacock; you are just like a peacock!" + +"Am I? I think you are----" + +"It was not I who said so." + +"I thought as much." + +"It was Tora who said so." + +"Tora! the ungrateful----" + +"Yes, but Tora is right; you are dreadfully like a peacock, Nora; that +thin little face of yours, and then you are so slender." + +"Come, I say, Tinka." + +"Yes, it's true. All we friends agree as to that. We are all to be the +eyes in your tail. Yes, that is it." + +Nora threw herself down and howled, with her head and hands in the +eider-down quilt. + +"Yes, of course you have offended Tora--you offend every one. You are +so capricious, you are so spoilt." + +"Yes, that is what I am!" came from the eider-down. + +"That is what you are. Frederik says so as well." + +"What does Frederik say?" + +Nora raised her red face quickly up from the eider-down. Frederik was +an authority. + +"I will read it to you," answered the other, opening the desk, and +taking out a letter of at least five sheets. + +"He writes," she said, as she turned to the fourth side of the fourth +sheet, with the same calm deliberation with which she had opened the +desk, looked for the letter, closed the desk again, and now read: "You +must not be too severe with her either, for if that were her real +nature, she would behave differently, and understand how to retain her +worshippers. As it is, she is only a spoilt child, who has never done +anything without being praised for it, and has besides become so +capricious that she is tired to-day of those who praised her +yesterday." + +"Oh dear! how true that is, Tinka." + +"But perhaps she will weary of caprice as well, for she certainly +desires something more than that. I was impressed by that in the +summer. But you must help her, Tinka." + +"Yes, you must." + +Nora had raised herself, and now sat on the edge of the bed. She had +folded her hands, and looked at Tinka. "You must always be with me. I +am not content with myself, when you are not with me. Oh, Tinka! I will +never, never, never be like that again. If you see the slightest sign +of it, you must take me to task for it. You know I do want to be +something more than this. I want to be remarkable. Ah! don't laugh; in +reality I have no wish to sing and make fun for the others, and be +flattered and flattered; but it came so, I can't understand why. I +don't want it; I wish to be able to do something, to take up something +with an object. _Yes, that is what I want_. Sometimes I believe I must +go off to the wars, or die with the Nihilists in Russia. Yes, I do +believe it. Or else travel about and lecture; be hissed down and +wounded. Yes, I could. I don't know why it should be, but I long for +it. I don't say it to boast, Tinka, I only say it because I feel it so. +Believe me, I do feel it in that way. If I fail, it will be because it +is nothing but wishing; perhaps I am incapable of it. Well, all the +same I have the wish. I have no wish for the sort of thing I do now, +and for which I am praised. I have such an unconquerably strong, +strong, strong longing." + +She raised herself, her eyes sparkled through her tears; her hair stood +on end, she had dishevelled it with her long arms whilst she was +crying. She threw herself down again. Tinka could not resist all the +pleasant remembrances which Nora had awakened. She walked across and +bent her broad full figure over her. And there they sat for some time +together, talking that endearing nonsense which is proper to the +happiness of reconciliation. Tinka did not forget all that she had +treasured in her memory for Nora's benefit, but the sting of it was +gone. Nora's lively answers made it all appear stupid, and at last she +was ready to laugh at what a little time before had seemed something +very serious, immensely important. + +In the midst of this, some one rushed up the stairs, step by step, up +the first flight, like the beat of a drum. Then up the second, then the +third, across to the attic, in the same wild unflagging whirl. There +was only one who ever came in that fashion, but it could not very well +be she. The door was not locked; there was no knock; it was pushed +open. Yes, it was Tora! Good heavens! + +The amazement, vexation, dignity of the two girls! It could not have +been done better at Court, Tinka's perfect unconsciousness that there +could be such a person as Tora Holm in the world, or Nora's noble and +spiritual, "Don't disturb me," without a word spoken. It was splendid! +Never did so fine a representation more utterly break down. Tora was +beaming with delight, victory, and rejoicing. She talked about _twelve_ +dolls, some of which were as big as an ordinary child; of--she really +believed---_fifty_ dolls' dresses of different sorts, _moiré antique_, +silk, and velvet, besides morning dresses, embroidered skirts and +drawers, silk stockings, gloves and parasols; of beds and curtains; of +a wash-hand stand, with all belonging to it, down to the most minute +details; of everything from the kitchen to the drawing-room, and the +drawing-room furniture; of a splendid plan about the dolls, who were +all to go to a Court Ball on the King's birthday; about Milla, who was +a hundred thousand times better than they dreamed of, who did not +object, nay wished, that they should both come up with her and see it +all now, at once, and help about the Court Ball--of course as the +deepest of secrets. Yes, it was true; on her word of honour it was +true. She told them how it had all happened; about Milla's room, what +it was like, and that she had been there a number of times without +hearing a word about the dolls. But to-day Milla had shown them to her, +merely out of the goodness of her heart to comfort her. Now she wanted +to show them to the others, if it could be managed, and all four be +friends from this time forward. + +Tora had proposed it; Milla had been startled, but she had come round, +and at last thought it a capital plan. Milla was so good, and they must +be so too; no hesitation--they must. Why should there be two parties? +Milla had her ways, Nora hers. + +They had never really done each other any harm, not the least bit; if +they would only try to grasp the fact: "we can talk more about it as we +go." + +The two looked at each other, but Tora gave them no breathing time. "We +must tell them at home that we are going to stay to tea, for that was +what was meant. It would never do to refuse an invitation, a formal +invitation, to the Engels." + +Tora was a perfect whirlwind, carrying all before her, and the storm of +excitement had brought fire to her eyes, her movements--she seemed to +sparkle. She took possession of them. + +Not long afterwards they all four stood before the press; the +introduction, the embarrassment from the change of circumstances, +apologies, counter-apologies, occupied the first few minutes; Tora took +hold of Milla and pushed her gently forward to the front of the press. + +"Open! open!--we can talk afterwards--open!" Milla herself felt that +here action was better than words, and opened the door. + +The cry of delight which was given by the newcomers fully rewarded her. + +There was an amount of industry, order, loyalty, and sense of beauty in +this little collection which she was aware of herself, and which made +it dear to her heart. It was her treasure, never seen by many people, +and for the last two or three years only by herself; there was +therefore a special charm of secrecy in it; it would be enjoyed when +some day it was opened before the astonished eyes of others. And now, +how it was enjoyed! + +Each one found a special pleasure in it. Tinka looked upon the dolls as +so many little children, she talked baby talk to them: "Doodnes +dacious" for "Goodness gracious," and "tweet" for "sweet." She began to +undress one for the pleasure of dressing it again. + +Tora delighted in the stuffs, felt each one, held them up against the +light, laid them one against the other. There was a special piece of +brocade which she now saw for the first time (Milla looked it out for +her), which absolutely enraptured her; it suggested plan upon plan, she +talked without a pause. Nora regarded the press as a collection of +works of art. Milla became a new person in her eyes. It was evident +what she thought of her now, one saw it in Milla's slightly heightened +colour. + +They treated each other the whole evening with a distinction which the +others considered as only natural. + +They were soon all sitting round the table with the dolls shared among +them; the materials and everything which could be of use for this great +object, a Court Ball, lay scattered before them, and eight eyes and +forty fingers rummaged among them. They could not agree; Tora wished to +have a costume ball, her endless chatter filled the air with fancies +and varying colours, a perfect whirl of figures of damsels and _rococo_ +dames with ribbons, feathers, and hats. Milla preferred the present +day, the fashion plates, especially some quite new ones. + +Nora was sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, according as +some special thing took her fancy. Tinka opposed the idea; they could +each one dress her doll according to her own fancy. Nora and Tora +rebelled against this; there ought to be some style in it. Milla dealt +with the proposal with more deliberation, but was against it. Nora +quickly grew impatient at this, and then, by a sleight of hand +which only girls understand, this discussion turned into a dispute +about--Tomas Rendalen and Karl Vangen! Not between Tinka and the +others, but Tora against Nora and Tinka. Tora being herself nervous, +could not endure Rendalen's nervousness. It was either this, or that +she was inclined to be in opposition; otherwise it cannot be explained +how it was that from the first day she had been unable to get on with +Rendalen. A speaking resemblance between a red-spotted stuff and +Rendalen's hands had started the dispute. Nora had hastily answered +that his hands were clever, really speaking hands; Vangen's, on the +contrary, were "big and stupid, as broad at one end as the other." + +When there are only two masculine teachers in a girls' school, the +pupils very rarely praise both--one must be censured when the other is +applauded; and at school it was generally honest Karl Vangen who was +used as a foil whenever any one felt inclined to become enthusiastic +over the intellectual Rendalen. + +But on this point Tora was in opposition from the moment when Karl +Vangen had grasped her hand in warm welcome, and had beamed down at her +with his kind eyes, and besides had made their meeting the text of his +address that day--since then she had been fond of him. And the more +awkward and simple he was, the more she liked him--she fought for him +until the others were forced to respect her. + +This time it began very mildly; they merely taunted her with Karl +Vangen's "thick head," his wide mouth, his long fingers, long legs and +big feet; and she replied with allusions to Rendalen's red hair, +screwed-up eyes, his feminine preciseness, his scented handkerchief; +but it soon became more serious. Tora's quick wit cited instances of +Rendalen's uncontrolled impetuosity, and what mistakes he made in +consequence. Instances of his uneven temper--how sometimes he rushed up +and down the class without speaking, without hearing, without seeing; +at other times he was nothing but life, absolutely given up to fun--far +too much so. The others considered that this was unjust, because if +this were mentioned by itself, no one would have the least idea of +Rendalen, who was, for all that, the best and cleverest teacher in the +world. Tinka had a capricious talent for mimicry and not the slightest +leaning towards piety, so that Karl Vangen very easily appeared to her +in a ludicrous light; she now began to preach, or rather to bleat, like +him, with eyes gazing fixedly heavenwards. Nora laughed violently, Tora +cried, Milla could not prevent herself from laughing, but all the same, +she now took Karl Vangen's part; she quietly remarked that she thought +him "delightful"; she did not mention Rendalen. As Milla was the +hostess and Nora and Tinka at her house for the first time, they said +no more; but Tora would not give in; she now seriously began to sing +Karl Vangen's praises. In order not to answer and admit that there +might be some truth in it, Nora walked away humming and looked out of +the window. "Good gracious! why, there goes Anna Rogne," she said. + +"Has she been here?" asked Milla, turning pale; she got up and came +towards the window. Yes, certainly she saw Anna hurrying away, she must +be much disturbed; she herself, with as much speed as was becoming, +hastened out of the door and down the stairs. Some time elapsed before +she returned. She was silent and really upset; Anna had been right +upstairs and therefore outside their door. There was general +astonishment. Milla told them what had happened that morning, and how +innocent she really was in the matter. Tora at once took it upon +herself, and was terribly unhappy. + +"No, the blame is mine alone," said Milla. + +What should she do? She had ordered the carriage. + +No one answered, but they looked involuntarily at Tinka. + +"Yes," said Tinka, "we will all go together to fetch Anna and explain +to her how it happened." Nora and Tora agreed at once that that was the +only right thing to do. Milla, too, admitted that this would be best, +but she had never said anything to Anna about the dolls; Anna did not +care for such things, and now it could not very well be explained to +her without offence. Nora and Tora were sensible of this; it would not +do. + +Tinka held to her opinion; she would gladly undertake it by herself. + +No; if any one were to do so it should be Milla. + +This put the idea into Milla's head to write. Simply say to Anna that +the others were here, would she not come too? She sent the carriage. +Yes, the others thought that would do. + +"Go yourself!" said Tinka. + +"No, I am not so discourteous as that to my guests," laughed Milla. She +sat down to write. + +The others were quiet for a time; at last Nora broke in with, "Tinka is +certainly right; go yourself, we can easily go out just for that time." + +"No," answered Milla, looking up from her letter; "Anna need not know +that we saw her. Then it would be the most natural thing in the world +for me to send a message to her when you are here." The others could +not contradict this. She finished off the note and hurried down with +it; as she came up again they heard the carriage drive out of the gate, +at the side of the house. Milla smiled; "I said I would explain another +time why you had come. I told Hans to be quick and to drive a little +way round so as not to pass Anna; perhaps the carriage will be there +before she is." It was evident that she was pleased at having proved +equal to a difficult occasion. + +They resumed their discussion on the dolls' festival; but before the +carriage returned with Anna, the dolls and their things must be back in +the press. + +Suddenly Nora broke out: "If we are not to mention the dolls to Anna, +why in the world could we not have all gone to her together?" + +They looked puzzled at each other for a moment. It was true! They burst +out laughing. What had given them the mad idea that for them all to go +together would be to let out the secret of the dolls. They tried to +recall the course of their conversation, but could not determine it; at +all events, it showed that they had uneasy consciences. Tinka proposed +in good time to put away the dolls, their wardrobe and stuffs, under +Milla's superintendence; but Milla undertook to put the whole thing +tidy later on, they could sit quiet while she did so. They all objected +to this; it would be awfully amusing to put them away. And so it was +settled. + +The carriage returned without Anna--she had a headache. Tora looked at +Milla, and Milla at Tora; this was a final good-bye. It put them all +out of tune for a little while, but when they remembered that at all +events they could take the dolls out again, the three guests soon +consoled themselves. + +As soon as they had got to work, the conversation naturally turned upon +Anna; none of the three liked her; they thought her artificial, +_prétentieuse_, as Tora expressed it in rather affected French; Anna +was always trying to take up some special line; everything she said, or +did, must be so dreadfully thorough. But they all agreed that she wrote +well; it was true, for the two things went naturally together. + +They then began to make fun of her extreme piety. Milla had said +nothing about the first; as regarded the second, she contented herself +by remarking that she had perhaps a little too much of it. + +Nora was the first to forsake the table. She could not go on any +longer; she must have a little music, she said. The grand piano was +tried. Milla was afraid that it was not quite in tune; nor was it, but +what a tone! Nora sang, while the others dressed dolls; then she +worried Tinka to join her, but at first Tinka would not leave her blue +doll; at last Milla asked her to do so. They had sung one or two songs +when there was a knock at the door. Milla's maid announced that the +Consul had arrived; there was great surprise, he was not expected. +Milla hurried down. The others all agreed at once that they must go, it +would be dull work having tea with the Consul. Tora especially shrank +from it; her cuffs were not quite clean; would it do to ask Milla to +lend her a pair? During this discussion the door was opened, in came +Milla, quicker than any one believed it possible for her to move. +"Father's coming," she whispered, and hurried to the table with the +others after her. From there to the press, from the press to the table, +from the table to the press; heads and shoulders were knocked together, +toes trodden on, amid smothered cries, laughter, and scolding; +everything was off the table and locked up as the Consul knocked at the +door. Nora had pushed Tinka on to the sofa, she herself sat gravely on +a chair, Milla and Tora stood by the press. The Consul came in, elegant +and smiling as usual. He saw the four girls red with suppressed +laughter, or whatever it might be, embarrassed, constrained. "What the +deuce is it?" he thought, and came forward to Nora, the Sheriff's +daughter, bowed politely, bade her welcome, and asked after her +parents; then to the others as Milla introduced them, and then back +again to Nora; he asked merrily if he might have the pleasure of taking +her downstairs. He had just come from the steamer, and was as hungry as +one only can be after a sea voyage. + +She took his arm, but he wished the others to go first, which they +hesitated to do; it seemed as though one were waiting for the other. +Tinka could not understand why Tora did not move, and when the Consul +turned towards her again she came forward, although it was rather +embarrassing. Why did not Milla help her? She stood there too, as +though she had taken root. The Consul gave his daughter a little push: +"_Avancez, mesdemoiselles_." She was obliged to come a little forward, +and the lower part of a doll become visible! It lay there, "naked and +face downwards," as the song says. Tora tried to cover it up, but the +Consul had caught sight of it, and with a "Pardon me, Fröken," he +stooped and picked it up. Tora ran, Tinka ran, Milla ran, Nora let go +his arm and ran, and the Consul after them with the doll. "What is +this--what in the world is this?" + +They all rushed into the dining-room and stood there in a group, +convulsed with laughter, as the Consul followed them with the doll in +the air like a flag. It was the blue doll which Tinka had undressed for +the third time, and was going to put to bed just as the Consul came and +everything was hurry-scurry. It must have slipped down and bashfully +hidden itself under a skirt at the time the press was closed. Milla and +Tora had discovered it at the same moment, and both placed themselves +over it. + +The Consul sat down with the doll in his arms; then he laid it down in +his table napkin, and after looking at it once or twice he put it on +the table with a teacup under its head. Milla snatched it from him. + +"Do you really play with dolls?" + +No, indeed; they had come to consult together about Christmas presents. +Milla gave this answer. + +"Why should you hide such a harmless thing?" asked the Consul. + +"Because the doll was undressed, of course," answered his daughter. +Nora soon joined in; she was used to this sort of thing. She also had a +father who loved to tease girls. + +The other two took but little part, but as against that the Consul kept +his eyes on them almost continually. Tinka could quite understand that +Tora might attract his attention, but why should she? She grew uneasy +by degrees. Her dress might have come unsewn somewhere near the arm, it +happened so to her sometimes; she looked as well as she could, but +failed to discover anything; she felt as though she had no dress on at +all. + +The Consul was very merry; suddenly he turned all his attention to +Tora, they had only been a short time at table and she had finished +already! The fact was that the unlucky cuffs worried Tora to such an +extent that they ran between her and her wits. The Consul looked at her +suddenly; it was not the birth-mark that he was looking at, for she had +been careful to have that side next to Milla; it was certainly not her +face, his looks were directed lower than that. She put down her knife +and fork and hid her hands under the table. + +"You are not eating, my dear Fröken Holm; are you not well, missie? +What's amiss with you? Or is there anything particular you want? Just +say what it is. Milla, give Fröken Holm another cup of tea. No tea +either? A glass of wine? Come now, just a glass of wine. Your good +health, Fröken! But you won't drink any? Do you prefer Madeira? Good +gracious, are you blushing about it? Headache? Dear, dear! Perhaps you +would like----? Shall Milla help you? Not that either? Just say what +you want, my dear. Have you often a headache, Fröken Holm? What, you +have not got one? I once knew a girl who would have a headache merely +if something were amiss with her cuffs. But, my dear Milla, I do not +want to tease Fröken Holm. Is that what it is, Fröken Holm?" + +Tora was overcome by a feeling of helplessness which would seize her +for even a smaller cause than this, and which always made her cry. She +had to leave the table and hasten upstairs. + +Milla rose with a dignity which her friends admired, and followed her. +When the others joined her, Tora was gone. Milla looked pale, but was +completely silent as to what had passed. Nora and Tinka began to put on +their things, Milla making no objection. She kissed them and begged +them to come again, repeating her invitation down in the hall. It was +only when she was upstairs alone, and had locked the door, that she +burst into tears. Such a thing would never have happened if her mother +had been at table, she could not fill her place; her father had vexed +her terribly. Her mother had left her so much too soon. "Oh, mother, +mother, mother!" There was a knock at the door. She asked who it was. +Her father; of course she had to open, but she went back to the sofa +and flung herself crying into the furthermost corner. He sat down +quietly, and after a few moments he said very gently, almost in a +whisper, "Listen, Milla; I am sorry for what has happened; I wish I +knew better how it had come about. But it is annoying, of course, +chiefly for your sake. I never thought she could take it so to heart. I +was so pleased that your friends should come to see you. Especially +these girls. All the same, and perhaps it was that feeling which +influenced me, have you been careful enough in the choice of one of +them, Milla?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing particular; don't be so vehement, my dear! You do not quite +understand me. A girl who is so uncertain of herself and--well--whom +one can so easily confuse--there might come a time when you would +repent that you had been intimate with her." + +Milla got up, literally as white as a sheet. She felt exactly as though +he had spoken of her; there are very few girls of her age who would not +have felt so. But she did not say a word. She cried bitterly as she +went into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. + +The next day, the moment the time for recreation was sounded, Milla +took Tora by the arm, and during every recreation it was the same +thing. They were both beaming with good-humour; Nora and Tinka greatly +admired Milla for this. They had not thought that she had so much heart +and spirit. + +This little occurrence, more than anything else laid the foundation of +their friendship. + +The Staff was formed. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + THE SOCIETY + + +It was soon noticed that the whole of the senior class and that next to +it had come under a single influence. + +Rendalen was so much struck by the alteration, without understanding +the ground for it, that at last he made inquiries, and it was explained +to him. He was much amused, gave the four girls their celebrated name, +and at the same time suggested that they should form a "Society." It +was true that they already had social evenings at his mother's, and +they would continue these, but it would be better if they took the +whole affair into their own hands; select the subjects for readings and +lectures, or for discussion, among themselves. The last especially. +Girls had so many "fancies" in their heads that they ought to learn in +early life to be able to carry out a thought, to pursue a special +interest. A Society! The senior class is to institute a Society. They +may invite their friends from the town or the elder girls from the +second class. They will be allowed to speak at the meetings on what +subjects they choose, invite whom they like to take part in the +readings and music, they and no one else. They were to be empowered to +make rules, elect a president and secretary, impose fines! What fancies +this awakened, not in the senior class alone, but in all of them, down +to the little ones who learned to spell and sing songs about the cat. +What a stir at meal-times, what a whispering during lessons, what +commotions at play-time! When a school is excited by a question which +must not be openly discussed in lesson hours, it causes despair among +the teachers. No one studies, no one listens, no one keeps order or +remembers anything. If one wishes really to be amused by the suppressed +excitement of the class, one must not stand in front of them; there +they restrain themselves. + +No, take up your position behind them and observe their plaits; you +might imagine that they had gained an independent life--they jump, they +dance, they curl and uncurl themselves. The changes of colour during +this extreme restlessness are comical. All the fiery red, sandy and +brown-red, up to black, look as though they were wet or shining with +oil, or take a dead colour like coffee grounds. There are locks which +are black above and brown underneath, and those of absolute raven +black; there are light ones in every shade of ashen, of yellow, or an +ugly mixture of both, with green for a foundation. All these assume the +wonderful changes of colour which belong to their years. The braids are +as excited as though they were chattering to each other, playing tricks +on one another, springing towards each other. The life behind is a +perfect reflex of that in front. + +At the first--that is to say, the preliminary--meeting of the Society, +Nora was elected president; Tinka was so accustomed to have all the +work put upon her that she knew beforehand that she would be chosen +secretary; she was right, she was chosen unanimously. + +It had this advantage, Nora considered, that she would thus be able to +copy the minutes of the proceedings for Frederik. It was true that +their earliest determination was that the proceedings should not be +made public, but then Tinka was engaged. + +Otherwise they began without written rules, but Frederik wrote from +Christiania requiring the most clearly defined ones. He sent a draft. +There were fines for non-attendance, fines for disregarding the rules +therein set down, fines for every other kind of disorder, fines for +omitting to vote. But the girls took it more practically than he--the +donkey--as Tinka called him on this occasion. Nora and she worked out, +quite quietly, a new set of rules; they were discussed at the next +meeting amid some disorder; rules did not appear to be to their taste. + +A great deal of fun was made in the town over the "Society;" there were +some, however, who considered it unbecoming, some thought it dangerous, +but when a theatrical company visited the town and its most select +representation fell on the same day as a meeting of the Society, and +the members, with a few exceptions, were with difficulty persuaded to +sacrifice this meeting, it was allowed that a proof had been given of +their zeal. No one thought it worth while to raise the question again +as regarded the chief representation; they were left in peace. + +Very soon a serious error showed itself in the rules of the Society. +Any one might anonymously propose a subject for discussion to the +president, and it was decided by vote whether it should be placed on +the agenda. + +Thus it was anonymously proposed to discuss "Immortality," but this did +not obtain a single vote. The proposer was evidently not a member. +Another proposal ran, "Ought men to be allowed to wear moustaches?" and +this was written in the same hand. It was now suggested that no notice +should be taken of any communication which was not laid on the +secretary's table during the course of the meeting. It was objected +that the proposal in this case would no longer remain anonymous, but +they were sufficiently confident in their own adroitness, for it was +adopted. + +Although the discussions were absolutely private, it was maintained in +the town that one young lady in the course of her lecture had declared +that it was most pitiful of men that they could not keep their vows of +chastity so well as women. It was then that Dösen composed his famous +"_Nora, Tora, ora pro nobis_." + +With this exception it was not certain what the girls discussed, they +had agreed to pretend that everything that was said about them was +true, a roguish Freemasonry kept this joke going. + +One of those who teased them the most was Consul Engel. He had soon +made his peace with the Staff, having sent his apologies through his +daughter. Besides this, he had presented Tora with a nest of Japanese +boxes, in the smallest of which was a charming pin. In order to make +everything smooth again, he gave a "Reconciliation Dinner," to which +Milla invited several of her friends. An enormous doll had been sent by +_grande vitesse_, which he set up on the table and ceremoniously +introduced to the four girls. It was magnificent; Tinka had put on her +stoutest dress; Tora, who was in a wild mood, sat next to Milla. She +chattered without stopping for a moment, so that Milla had to pinch her +under the table to make her be silent, at which Tora laughed as though +she were mad. Nora ran to the piano in the middle of dessert, to sing a +song which the Consul had never heard. He declared afterwards that he +had never amused himself more innocently. His only notion of talking to +them was to tease them, his favourite theme was the Society. They +laughed at his jokes and kept them up, but they would not give in; for +women are used to having the things they are fond of held up to +contempt. The Society was a new thing in their lives, soon it became +something more. But to show this we must return to one who is waiting +for us. Anna Rogne did not come to school that Monday; Milla came up to +muster with her heart full of self-reproach. Directly after school she +drove round to see her, but Anna was ill; her aunts came out smiling +and told her that she could not be disturbed. The next day Milla came +again. She asked if she might not at least be allowed to see the +invalid. Anna and she had begun to read Fabiola together; might she not +read aloud to her? "Little Anna hoped she would excuse her," they said +smiling, and Milla went away. Anna was away three weeks, and Milla +called two or three times more, but did not see her. After that she +gave up the attempt. + +Anna was not ill, she told her aunts openly what was the matter; she +had been deceived and slighted--nay, more than that, she had been +robbed. What she meant by this last she would not explain for a long +time; she could not. She must be quite alone. They could hear her the +whole day walking about in the attic, and sometimes in the night as +well; they were terribly frightened, but did as she wished. They always +told her when they were going to have prayers, but she would never join +them; when she noticed their increasing astonishment and anxiety, she +at last told them that _that_ had been her greatest loss; for all that +she valued most she had shared with Milla. Not to speak of their mutual +profession, there was not a prayer, not a hymn, not a favourite passage +of Scripture which had not been exchanged between her and her friend, +as lovers exchange their betrothal rings, make presents to each other, +and kiss each other's portraits. + +She could no longer bear to see, to be present, to hear or think any +more about the subject. + +She did not cry, at all events not when any one saw her; little Anna +had a strong will. She looked on what had happened as one foe looks at +another. Her feelings did not take the form of _pain_, but of _anger_. +She hated the others, she pitied herself. The misapprehension she had +laboured under, up to the last hour of that last day when she stood +before Milla's door and heard the others laughing inside--could +anything more absurd be imagined! What had she not, in utmost +seriousness, shared with a girl like that, and the inward strength with +which she had credited her; there were no bounds to her sense of shame +when she thought of it, and yet she was obliged to think of it. She +forced herself to confess it to her aunts, she forced herself to probe +down into the most remote causes; it became an employment which brought +others in its train. She roused herself, began to stir about, to take +long lonely walks, and at last to read. At the end of three weeks she +returned to school, rather paler than usual and a little thinner, but +in all other respects, apparently, just as before. She did not take her +old place, but was still friendly with every one, even with Milla. +Milla made no further attempts at explanation, though it was not +perhaps without her knowledge that Tora did so. Anna listened to her, +and asked for a little yellow cotton; she would return it the next day. +She attended all the meetings of the Society most regularly; it was +evident that it interested her, but she took no active part. + +Just before Christmas Rendalen was invited, on a suggestion of Nora, to +tell them something about Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts." He refused this, but +asked leave to speak to them a little on hereditary responsibility; he +considered that in this, when it had been thoroughly worked out and +realised, were contained several new moral laws--indeed, that a +revolution would be caused by it in many things. + +There was great eagerness over this; they looked forward to a quiet and +interesting account, but were given a wild though stirring lecture. The +girls were not less frightened by Rendalen's personal agitation than by +his words. At the end he shouted out that those who passed on an +hereditary disease to their children--those, for example, who had +frequent insanity in their families, and nevertheless, married; those +who, though weakened by debauchery, brought children into the world; +those who, for the sake of money, married cripples or unhealthy people +and endowed their children with these afflictions--were worse than the +greatest scoundrels, worse than thieves, forgers, robbers, murderers; +that he would maintain. + +Something must have happened: for several days Fru Rendalen had gone +about with red eyes, and he himself had been away, probably to +Christiania. Anna came forward and thanked him for his lecture in her +own _prétentieuse_ manner; after he had gone, she said it was the best +she had heard. Only one person agreed with her, and that was Miss Hall; +the others said nothing, there was a painful silence. At last some one +said that the lecture appeared to her to be terribly violent. Little +Anna replied that people must be roused, everything was made into an +_amusement_. There was too much of that in the Society itself. This +caused still greater discord; Nora was annoyed, and asked if Anna would +not in that case do something to help it. Anna coloured, but to every +one's astonishment she replied: "Yes, she would try." + +She disappeared from school for several days; but she announced that +she would give a lecture at the next meeting. She wished that Rendalen, +Fru Rendalen, and Karl Vangen should hear it; this was certainly not +hiding her light under a bushel, her companions thought. Of course the +invited guests came. + +When little Anna arrived she looked overstrung, her hands trembled as +her thin fingers turned the pages of her manuscript and arranged the +lights on the tribune. Her voice and delivery were measured, sometimes +almost sharp; she did not often raise her large eyes, but when she did +so it was with a significance which was most irritating. She read her +lecture--the opening was especially pointed: + +"Woman does not labour to improve herself in the same degree that she +expects man to do. She does not lay aside the failings which she +acquired when in another and worse position. I will this evening +mention one fault--lying. In her position as the weaker, woman has +accustomed herself to lying, but she is no longer so defenceless as to +need this. Thus I consider that in making herself appear so gentle, so +pious, so modest, so lovable before strangers, even if only one is +present, she lies. It is the same thing when, a straight course being +disagreeable to her, she at once takes a crooked one; she gives a false +reason, she makes excuses. If there is anything to be done which has +grown distasteful she pleads a headache; if any one calls whom she does +not wish to see, she is 'out,' though she is sitting in the parlour. It +does not disturb her in the least to make her servant, her daughter, or +her friend lie for her when she cannot do so herself. + +"Some ladies, possibly a large proportion, have so accustomed +themselves to giving untrue reasons, or to concealing the real ones, to +making up excuses, that they do it without any necessity; they delight +in it as in a kind of coquetry. + +"Would this were only in their relations with mankind, but it is the +same towards God. I will quote a writer on the subject; he says, 'It is +difficult to judge woman's religious faith so long as religion remains +her single intellectual interest; but when one sees a hundred, two +hundred, three hundred ladies round one fashionable preacher, one +suspects mischief. The easiest thing to think of is to allow oneself to +be guided by another's words; it is only a step further to be +enthusiastic about the preacher himself, easiest of all to feign an +enthusiasm which others feel. + +"'The faith which has lost its ideals on earth, and therefore transfers +them to heaven, is certainly not so secure of a good reception there as +the clergy promise. As a rule, there does not remain much more than a +vague need. + +"'There are besides many women who are very cautious; it is best to +make things safe for them and theirs. I often wonder what our Lord says +when they begin.'" + +She quoted further, and many of the quotations aroused laughter. Karl +Vangen was especially amused. From this she passed on to woman's share +in societies for charitable objects; how the needs of the poor +furnished an excuse for gay dances ("the proceeds for the poor," as +they say); how amusing balls and even theatrical performances are +organised in aid of the sufferers from shipwreck or fire. + +She described how a society such as this trifled with great questions +and raved about particular lecturers. Anna was severe, as young people +generally are when they take upon themselves to criticise. + +When she left the tribune she did not grasp what was said to her; she +answered at cross purposes, or asked them what they had said, but +little by little she recovered herself; when she looked for Rendalen he +was gone. + +She was utterly astonished; she slipped across to Fru Rendalen to hear +the reason. Of course, she had to begin by asking her what _she_ had +thought of it. + +"Yes, my child, there is a great deal of right in what you say, but I +fear that you will all inflate it into something to be taken seriously. +Poor things, you will learn then to lie to some purpose. Few women can +take this seriously, my child, but they can affect to do so and +overstrain themselves as well--ah yes, they often become horribly +unnatural----" + +At last, slowly and cautiously, came Anna's question, "Why did Herr +Rendalen go?" + +"Heaven knows!" She sighed, looked towards the door where he had +disappeared, got up, and left the room. + +Karl Vangen was talking to Tora; he now saw that Anna was disengaged, +and came up to her to say that he had been "very much delighted" with +some of the quotations; he knew the book. Karl Vangen had been on the +high road to become a fashionable preacher; happily he had escaped, but +the terror still remained with him. Anna knew this from her aunts, so +she had the secret key to his remarks. He believed entirely in woman's +religious convictions, he said, and did not quite agree with her. + +She asked him his opinion in other respects. "I know so little about +women in other ways," he said, colouring slightly, "I dare not enter +into it." + +As soon as ever the elders were gone, the enthusiasm of the girls broke +out. "Little Anna" was the eldest of them, a thing people very easily +forgot--she was so undeveloped in appearance. They had never thought +her capable of such an effort. "What a remarkable point of view! how +well expressed! and that by one of ourselves." + +Nora and Tora were especially charmed. "That is just what we are, just +as untruthful, principally in little things of course. And how we play +with serious questions. We must have deeds as well, or if not deeds, +then----" + +"Snuff," said somebody, and the whole party burst into roars of +laughter, but they began again: "It is true, Heaven knows it is true. +It must be altered; it is shameful to be as we are." + +As a beginning they would all escort Anna home. Yes, they would! And so +they did, and the two crooked old aunts were startled out of their +sleep when, between eleven and twelve at night, they heard the swarm +buzzing before the house, and the call of "Good-night, good-night, +good-night," from twenty ringing girls' voices. And little Anna +herself! She had to go in and tell them what it was all about, but she +merely said they had come home with her. She could not say more just +then. She felt so uncertain. She had written this lecture with her +heart's blood; she had turned her bitterest feelings into an assault; +she had felt certain that she would be assailed for it, hated for it, +and lo and behold, she had been thanked for it over and over again; +nothing had been heard but exultation and praise. + +She lay in bed, but could not sleep. Was it from pleasure? Was it from +fear? Or had she been for the first time moved by them? It was not +disagreeable. + +At the same time more than one little head lay pondering what course +should be pursued. The impulse to take this seriously, to be terribly +truthful, must have nourishment, otherwise it would certainly die. And +they found something real to do! + +Milla was in mourning; Milla could not go to balls this Christmas. They +would none of them go to balls this Christmas either. Yes, laugh if you +like, but it was unanimously determined upon. One does not desert a +friend in sorrow: not one of the Staff would go to a dance the whole +winter through. Milla felt flattered by so much sympathy, but---- "No +buts!" Immovable, unanimous determination. + +And that should not be all, they would think of something more. + +The young fellows of the town mourned over the loss of so many merry +young partners that Christmas, but all unavailingly. Indeed, it pleased +the girls that their absence was regretted. + +As has been said, it was not to end here. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + ON THE STEPS + + +This union of the leaders among the girls, this real desire for +knowledge and independent thought, even if it had to endure criticism +and even a little derision, was still an incontrovertible proof that +the school was now on the high road to success. Even if there were +derision expressed in the town, there could be no doubt that every one +was struck by the decided, and above all intelligent, comprehension +which the superiority of the apparatus, experiments, and method aroused +in the scholars on subjects which every one understood, and which +belonged to the most special needs of life. + +At home the girls overflowed with narrations and desire for +information, and constantly asked permission to buy materials for +experiments in chemistry and physics, microscopes, and historical +pictures which illustrated beliefs and habits of life through all ages. + +There was no longer any comparison between girls and boys when energy +and information were in question. + +This made the lesson hours happy; the great gatherings for "breakfast" +at twelve o'clock were feasts, and the pupils ran down the slope in the +afternoon without books, unburdened by lessons--free, free, free! + +But the happiest of them all remained behind, Fru Rendalen and Karl +Vangen. + +How Fru Rendalen hurried about with her spectacles awry, a habit she +had acquired in later years; it was like meeting a load of hay at +hay-harvest, it smells so sweet from such a distance, and one so gladly +stands aside to let the mighty, useful, close-packed object pass. Karl +Vangen was one constant smile; he had no time to leave off. He beamed +with delight if any one so much as looked towards the school, and would +tell, over and over again, all the little incidents which occurred +there: they were every one either remarkable or amusing. + +It was only Tomas who was not quite in accord with them, but there +never was much "comfort" about him, if by that one understands +confidential intercourse, and even good temper. He either wanted tall +Vangen to "give him a back" out in the garden walks, or even sometimes +in the sitting-room, while he jumped over him as one boy jumps over +another; or he walked up and down, up and down, generally whistling, +with his hands in his pockets, till it made one giddy to look at him; +or else he would play the piano by the hour together. Sometimes he +worked for, and in, the school without intermission; or read a new book +regardless of any interruption; or he took endless walks or read aloud, +and amused himself with the girls as though they were all comrades; or +else he could not bear them, or the school, or anything which belonged +to it. + +At such times his mother had to take the literature lesson for him, +Miss Hall the chemistry and physics, Nora the singing; he would not, he +could not. + +Then he would come back again, brighter and happier than ever, and do +the work of two. His mother put this down as the result of all the +years he had lived without regular employment. If they had company he +did not appear at all, or else came and carried everything before him, +or came and sat silent. If he spoke to any one, it was "Yes, just so," +"Quite right." And then he would leave the room and not return. Looked +at in a certain way, this showed genius: there was something of a +genius about Tomas Rendalen. + +Before he went to America he had "discovered" a history teacher: he was +very great at "discoveries." She was called Karen Lote, and taught +needlework, writing, and drawing. Rendalen had noticed her acquirements +in the different kinds of drawing, and found out that the girl +possessed a by no means insignificant knowledge of history. "Extend +that into the history of civilisation," he said. He was never tired of +giving this advice. "Here at home the history of civilisation is worse +than meagre, and it is the only one which is worth anything in a +school." + +He had then begun to make the large collection of historical pictures +which the school now possessed, and through these he captivated her +interest; he kept it, while he was abroad, by sending a number of these +pictures to her, as well as books and advice; and he was hardly home +again before he undertook the history lessons of the whole school to +explain to her what his ideas were; he sought to show development and +connection by a clear historical summary accompanied by maps and +pictures; he made it slight for the younger, and more elaborate +for the elder ones; only using details as characteristics. He made it +one-sided, but there was power and colour in its historical +representations. Karen Lote was captivated; the novelty of his +appearance, his opinions, his wonderful talent for teaching, his +inimitable way of making one believe there was nothing in the world for +him beyond what was before him at the moment; his exquisite taste in +dress, his well-ordered person, even the slight odour of delicate scent +which always followed him, all gave the girl a deep interest in him. +Nothing in the six-and-twenty years of her life had ever in the +slightest degree approached it. To think of being helped in her work by +him every day! The misunderstandings and persecutions which he went +through, and his sufferings under them, brought her feelings to a pitch +of enthusiasm. But she did not trouble any one with it. Then came the +time when he became the principal of the school. He would come and +listen to her teaching whenever he had a spare moment, share eagerly in +it, or go away without saying a word; remain away for a long time, then +come again every day, and take the whole lesson out of her hands; or +else walk up and down, up and down, and then remain away again. + +Just before Christmas Karen Lote went to Fru Rendalen, and told her +that she could not stay a day longer in the school. If she merely heard +Rendalen's step in the passage she trembled; when he was near she could +not relate the simplest occurrence or give an explanation. "But why?" +He treated her with the greatest contempt; she burst into tears. +"Contempt?" Yes! either he continually interrupted her, took the whole +lesson away from her, or else he did not consider her worth correcting, +turned his back on her, did not bow, did not come at all. There was no +end to her complaints. + +Fru Rendalen assembled the teachers and laid Fröken Lote's complaint +before them, convinced that it must be the most extraordinary +misunderstanding. But the teacher who had succeeded Fröken Lote as +drawing mistress assured her that if she had not had a mother to +support, she would have left long ago; she would not have borne his +continual corrections in the children's hearing; he was an unbearable +tyrant. + +Everything must be done in one particular way, without the least +variation. He had made her so nervous that she trembled if she even +heard him in the passage. And she cried too. + +The startled Fru Rendalen turned quickly to the others. "What could +this mean? The teachers of languages, her pupils from their childhood, +her friends, who through her help had improved themselves abroad, they +must speak." They felt sure that Rendalen had not the least idea that +he "set people right," and as little that he offended people by +interfering, so that the children noticed his immense air of +superiority, but all the same it was often very annoying. He was so +uncertain both with teachers and children, he never took things twice +in the same way, it was always according to his temper. The conclusion +which they all came to was that he was most unfit to direct a school. +Miss Hall herself, who otherwise had no complaint to make, agreed with +this. + +Fru Rendalen implored them, for God's sake, to reconsider it; surely +they did not wish to ruin the school; she was much agitated, and said +that provisionally she would resume the direction. But they must not +let this be known. She broke down with all the violence which was +natural to her. The others were frightened, there was a touching scene; +they praised her son, one against the other; nay, any one who had not +heard what had gone before, would have believed that they were all +glowing with enthusiasm for him. After all, to form a wonderful plan +for a school, according to all the best examples of modern times, and +himself to be an exceptional teacher, was something quite different, +and a great deal more than to be an able principal. They and his mother +soon agreed over this, and consoled themselves with it as well as they +could. + +But this school had been the object of Rendalen's life; if he were to +lose this there would be nothing left for him. From the time that +Augusta died, and he learned that it would be better that he should not +found a family, the idea of taking his mother's school, and making it +all that she had dreamed of, but had not accomplished, had been +betrothal, marriage, and the foundation of a family to him. He was +proud of it. This gave the intense energy to his early youth, to his +work, to his sense of right. It was the object of Karl Vangen's +unfailing admiration, the secret text for Fru Rendalen's conversations +and letters. + +Notwithstanding this, temptations came, and his unruly nature did not +always emerge victorious from them, but each time he was seized with a +feeling of shame for his ideal, which amounted to dread--that awful +dread which his mother had felt while she bore him under her bosom. She +had often described this in vivid colours, but it was nothing compared +to what he had gone through; it had been terrible. This drove him back +to his mother's confidence, and made him hold that confidence fast. +There was sober earnest between these two, they had a common aim in +life. It might have been that he would have cast her, his aim of life, +and this dread to the winds, if his passions had concentrated +themselves on, or been seized by, any one person, for there was a wild +energy in him which would have made him cling closely to another; but +the hereditary restlessness in his nature mingled one impression with +another, his dread had time to come between them with ever stronger +force, and it became at last the most powerful of all. The aim of life +was saved. From the time that he had conquered, a dissatisfied feeling +developed itself; it had always been there; it reminded one of his +father's power of imagination, his love of perfection. + +His studies were forced. Never one thing at a time, but one clashing +with the other. If the examination subjects had not in such a special +degree been necessary for him, he would never have passed one at all; +he was ready long before the time with some things, and was as much +behind with others. He was always in advance with the subject he was +full of at the moment, it was a link in a visible or ideal entirety. To +Karl Vangen, who knew his method of study, it was amazing what he +accomplished. It was the same thing with his intercourse with his +fellow-creatures; he often seemed to be inattentive, and yet he +received original impressions, but they were all on the same lines. He +saw images and demonstrations in any thing he was engaged in; not +people, but phenomena; not facts, but ideas. As long as Karen Lote was +learning his historical method she interested him deeply, but +afterwards not in the least; it was much the same with the other +teachers, excepting Miss Hall; her teaching was new, and he was eager +to see the result of it--first intellectually, then morally. + +But _his own work?_ When the long restless rush about the world after +appliances and methods was over, after the plans for the school, +conceived years ago, and since then endlessly arranged and drafted, +were at last set going; especially after the rude resistance from +without was overcome, what was it that gradually came over him? Could +he not? Would he not? Was it no longer enough for him? + +Everyone round him rejoiced in the school, his mother's delight in +especial was touching. "This is the school that I have dreamed of, my +son, my dear Tomas!" He heard it nearly every day, he thanked her and +kissed her for it, he needed it; but all the same.... As for teaching, +his principal talent, he could interest himself in making a thing +absolutely clear, and in having the main points properly remembered, +the most difficult ones understood; it could delight him to give a new +view of something to the elder pupils, or to direct their attention to +a question of the day. Whenever a problem presented itself, he would +take it up with patient ingenuity; beyond that there was nothing--no, +nothing! He realised his failings thoroughly, self-occupied though he +was; they harassed him more and more. There were times when he could +not endure the school. Then he felt himself without spirit, without +aspiration, without--he could almost have said without affection--if +his mother had not been there, and Karl as well; he was deeply attached +to Karl. + +This was no longing for a wife and family, at all events in no special +degree; indeed, he felt no particular attraction to anything. + +Was this the cause of his unhappiness--that he could not attach himself +firmly to any conditions? He had been able to do so as a child. + +A man who has deliberated in this way from one day to another, and at +last, one evening, receives his mother's tears and lamentations because +the teachers can no longer endure him as principal, does not start up +as at something unexpected. Tomas remained at the piano, where he had +been seated when she came in; he touched it with one finger now and +then during her long and interrupted narration; he saw her despair and +concealed his own. He felt as though now he had nothing more to do +here. + +He observed quietly that perhaps she had better resume the direction of +the school for a time; he went on strumming as he said this, as though +it had no further significance. She answered that she had already +promised them to-do so. He grew as white as a sheet. She hastened to +add, that of course only he could superintend his own plan; she begged +him to speak to the teachers at once; he never would speak to any one, +they entirely misunderstood him; he offended them by showing no +confidence in them, and he was not always considerate. Did he not like +them? + +This was too much for Tomas; he flung himself down on the piano and +cried, got up hastily, put on his hat and coat and went out, heedless +of his mother's prayers to him to stay and talk it over with her, as +they used to do in old days. He could not do it; for there was +something in his mother's behaviour towards him which wounded him. When +he had come home she had received him with the greatest admiration, +everything he said and did was right; but after the lecture she began +to doubt. This had gradually increased, until now she put a note of +interrogation to everything he said. At the first complaint from the +teachers she had taken the school from him; and she could reconcile +this with her pride in his way of ordering it, and a crooning quiet +delight over its success. + +Not that her doubt was greater than a practical understanding like hers +had perhaps a right to; he did not blame her for it, but he could not +bear it. + +This affair with the teachers was dreadful. He really considered them +most excellent, none more so than Karen Lote, otherwise he would never +have troubled himself about her. + +There must be something at the very root of his behaviour towards +people, which was terribly astray when he could be thus utterly +misunderstood. Perhaps his own feeling of emptiness and distaste arose +from the same cause. + +These ladies had raved about him. They and the senior class, and.... +Was that, too, nothing but a delusion, or was it past and gone? + +"Raved about him." What is that? He drove it from him with contempt, +yet once it pleased and deluded him. He had believed it would always +continue. + +No, he who would have the affection of others must show affection to +them. And he could not do it--in the way that others could. + +After all that was not strange. His race had perhaps exhausted its +power of winning human affection. + +Was not that the natural result when generation after generation broke +down mankind's precepts of fidelity, and flung aside man's good +opinion? The race itself had been ruined, as each one weakened himself +and his offspring--ay, and others and their offspring as well. + +He walked into the country to the left--the same walk that he had taken +that spring evening after he had given his lecture. He recalled to his +mind how happy had been his return from America, how he had dreamed of +giving his countrymen an example which, if they would follow it, would +shine throughout the world. What was nobler for a small country than to +centre its greatest powers on the teaching of its children, to expend +its surplus there; let the great nations waste theirs on armies! + +He remembered how it then delighted him to think that in this way the +sins of his forefathers might be expiated. + +Everything on earth had been thus developed. + +Awakening had come to the strongest races. Instinctively they had felt +their failings, and had sought to combat them by an admixture of fresh +blood. Everything, therefore, that is strong and good has some family +for its progenitor, whose sufferings have been the foundation of +its needs, its needs the foundation of its work; its work, its +self-command, the foundation of its discoveries--all gathering round +the original discovery. When the school should be alive with a hundred +young creatures; when sparkling eyes gazed upon the aim which he had +set up; when the elder ones among them, influenced by him, and in their +turn influenced others--hoisted their colours--it would be remembered +that they had lived in the house of one particular family, from that +family they would have received their instruction. It was _he_ who had +made the school. + +But there lay an inherent weakness in its inmost recesses. The germs of +destruction lay in him who had built it up. He could not advance it +further. He did not possess the necessary long-suffering gentleness. +Plenty of foresight, energy, ambition, but--talents for war, perhaps, +but not for peace. + +As he had walked along that evening after the lecture, sick at heart, +anxious--ah! how anxious! because the certainty of years had been +baffled, Karl Vangen had trudged silently by his side like a great +long-legged dog with honest eyes. He went the same way now, only it was +winter, and he was alone; he was ashamed to have any one with him. The +suspicion of insecurity which had shaken him the first time was now a +certainty. He could not go on--O God! he could not: he was a blight in +the school. + +The snow in the fields had melted, but farther away it lay in patches, +looking ghostly in the moonlight. It still lay thick under the +fir-woods; and here and there on the road, which had frozen hard with +deep ruts in it, and small sharp stones and solid horse-dung. Where it +was bare, or partly bare, it was difficult to walk. He came back so +weary in body and mind that he never remembered to have felt more +tired. By the new churchyard, where his father and grandfather lay, and +where the sea washed up to the other side of the roadway, rolling and +black, he felt that a little might bring him into the one or beyond the +other--or perhaps to both--they were not incompatible. + +It was past twelve, as on the night of the lecture; he would not go +home before he felt certain that his mother had given up waiting for +him. Under ordinary circumstances she went to bed between nine and ten. +But as he struggled up the avenue, he saw that there was a light in the +sitting-room; and as he got a little further, that there was one in +Karl's room as well. If he had not been so utterly weary he would have +turned back, but now things must go as they could. + +His mother met him in the hall with a light in her hand. "Oh, Tomas, +how you have frightened me!" she whispered. + +What did she mean by that? He looked at her; poor thing, she appeared +at least ten years older, with such red eyes--so upset, so miserably +overdone. + +She began, "Tomas, just let us----" + +"No, mother," he waved her away with his hand; "I am so fearfully, oh, +so fearfully tired." He went slowly across her room to the inner +passage without a good-night, without looking round. + +She heard his step in the passage, heard him open the door of his room, +shut it, and turn the key on the inside! It always awakened memories, +that dreadful sound! + +Why did he do it? It seemed as though he were shutting her away from +him. + +As he was lighting his candle he heard Karl at the door between their +rooms. Tomas set down the candle, came out from behind the curtain, and +saw Karl's pale, anxious face looking in from the doorway. + +Why had he and his mother sat up, each in their own room? Evidently so +that the mother should be able to talk to her son alone when he came +in. + +Tomas flung himself on Karl's neck and sobbed violently. All that he +had held back, when he saw his mother, now found vent. Karl's firm +confidence in him was his chief support. That confidence was there now, +he could see it through all his distress precisely as he saw the light +streaming behind Karl's head and body in the doorway. It was dark +between them. "No, dear Karl, not to-night, I am so tired." Slowly, +noiselessly, Karl drew his long legs back again and shut the door +behind him. The door-handle was turned, oh, so gently. + +Tomas went straight to bed, and slept at once and without interruption +through the night. When he woke, raised himself and looked at the +clock, it was past eight. The sorrows of yesterday, which had at once +rushed upon him, yielded before this proof of a long sound sleep. +"There cannot possibly be so much the matter as I believed, if I am not +worse than this." He jumped up. "There must be some other work in life +reserved for me, if this is not to be the one." He dressed himself +quickly, and while doing so determined to go away for several days. He +wished to consider, and to be calm while he did so. + +This was all the information which his mother received when she came in +as he sat at breakfast. He sent a message to Karl, and left at ten +o'clock. This was not altogether disagreeable to Fru Rendalen. "He has +such sudden changes," she thought. "He will very likely return home a +different man." His great failing, of talking and acting according to +the temper of the moment, made her take this view, made her question +all he said. He was conscious of this now. He hated it. + +This time, however, she was mistaken; he returned exactly the same as +he had gone away, only she noticed the first time that she talked to +him that he was a little bitter against the teachers: "ungrateful +asses," he called them. He had taught them more than it was in the +power of any human being to do who had not travelled as he had done, +and had his experience and reading; he would have nothing to do with +them. He annoyed them by his elegant courtliness. This amused him; he +was really dreadful with them. He resumed his teaching, with the +exception of the singing, which was given over to Nora, who was now +both pupil and teacher. He declared that she possessed the gift of +teaching in the highest degree. + +"Perhaps he could interest himself in the school again," thought Karl, +"if there were a new staff of teachers." He spoke of this to Fru +Rendalen. She would try to find out, and began by talking to Tomas +about the observatory which they had arranged in a small way in the +tower. They had been obliged to stop for want of money. By next summer +she hoped to have the means to set it going. + +"God knows where I shall be then," he answered, and hurried away. "If I +were to speak plainly to the teachers," thought his indefatigable +mother, "if I could induce them to beg his pardon." She assembled them +one day just before Christmas, and told them, betraying emotion as she +did so, that her son had repeatedly let fall remarks which showed that +he intended to go away. There was a movement of dismay. + +Fröken Lote, on whom all eyes were fixed, at last broke the silence. +She had not meant it in that way, she had only meant--she had really +not meant anything--but she was so dreadfully nervous. She thought he +was not pleased with her. The drawing and needle-work mistress, a +clear-headed, tall, fair woman, coloured furiously. The Spenser method +of drawing which Rendalen had introduced was not clear to begin with, +she said, but he was always beyond her; but for all that she ought not +to have said anything, indeed she ought not. She began to cry. + +The teachers all protested that they felt the greatest gratitude; he +had, of course, seen and heard so much on every subject, but it was +most embarrassing that he treated them like dirt beneath his feet. + +Fru Rendalen took off her spectacles, wiped them, and put them on +again; pulled them off again, rubbed them, and put them on. + +Well then, Miss Hall would say what was the matter. It was that he +treated everything and everybody so unevenly. This made the teachers +uncertain, and destroyed the children's sense of justice, and that was +almost the greatest loss that a child could sustain. She would so +gladly have spoken to Rendalen, said the little American, but he made +himself so unapproachable. To-day, too, she felt nervous. + +This destroyed Fru Rendalen's plan; she did not know what to answer. +All further negotiations were meanwhile broken off. + +A loud chorus of joyous girls' voices sounded from the steps, and they +all hurried to the window. It was Nora and her pupils. These last few +days before Christmas, the pupils had but few lessons to do, and +therefore had employed themselves in practising some part songs, the +practice always concluding out on the steps--one of Nora's many +fancies. + +This gave such immense pleasure, that not only all the little ones, who +did not join in the singing, waited up there till the great moment, but +people would collect in the avenue. As soon as the girls came racing +round the corner in walking dress and mounted the steps, the crowd in +the avenue increased and drew nearer; Fru Rendalen and the teachers had +put on their things, and were now standing at the open windows. The +girls had arranged themselves from top to bottom of the steps; the +little ones, who did not sing, occupied the sides. Right at the bottom +stood Nora, with her fair hair turned back under the hood which was +always on the back of her neck. + +She had adopted Rendalen's method of conducting--the only thing that +restless being did quietly; he merely moved his right wrist, and gave +the sign with his left hand. Nora carefully held her right hand in the +same place as he did, before her breast. She heard about it often +enough. + +The song sounded grandly from the steps, the notes were powerfully +given. It might be, too, that the view before them heightened the +effect by its beauty; perhaps, too, "An Old Manuscript,"[2] which had +just been printed in a Christmas number, and which every third person +in the town, from twelve years old knew, at first, second, or third +hand, may also have enhanced it, for perhaps those dark voices from the +past were heard at the same time, and by the power of contrast made the +girls' song brighter, and the moment fairer. + +Below them lay the town, with the harbour between the two points of +land; now that winter was here, full of ships from side to side. At the +head of the bay, along the clay banks, were all the workshops and the +great timber-yards. To the left, the mountain, with the crowd of houses +at the top, the boat harbour below, and out beyond the mountain and the +town, the islands and the open sea. Weather on the coast is uncertain; +generally, as they looked out, taking in the view as they sang, there +were either driving clouds or gleams of sunlight over the landscape, or +if it were peaceful and bright inland, it was threatening out to sea. +Perhaps this may explain why the girls generally chose melancholy +songs. + +For the teachers as well as for the pupils, the singing on the steps, +from its first beginning, had been the glory of the school. If the work +from every class during every week in the year could have woven itself +into a thousand delicate threads, and fallen on them as crowns; if all +the fruitful incentives, small determinations, uncertain beginnings, +could have joined in harmony in those voices, the singing could not +have made them happier. As far as the teachers were concerned, perhaps +for the very reason that, at the same time, something had occurred to +pain them. + +The elder girls, especially the members of the Society, looked upon +this time as one for exchange of thought. All those higher ideas which +one has in common with others, come to the front when there is singing; +all strivings after the ideal, have a natural relationship to +harmonised notes. + +But he who felt it the most was one who had hidden himself behind a +closed window, because he would on no account be seen. + +He saw Nora beating time, standing there in her light cloak, her hood +flung back on her neck. + +The song, which sounded out over the town, the one which had first been +heard by Fru Engel's grave, contained, as it sounded from these girlish +voices, all that he wished for on earth. + +How miserable it made him now! He tried, as a counterpoise, to remember +all that he had conquered before in many a hard struggle. It was +something to remember. + +It was not an ordinary victory which he had achieved: was it to end in +sorrow? Would the singing soon cease, or sound again after he was gone? +He thought of his mother. It was he in reality who was "on the steps." +Was it to be in or out? + +The whole troop tore away in merry groups down the avenue. The Staff +last of all, for Tora had something either to tell or propose; they +walked slowly, often pausing. Yes, that was what it all depended upon; +to be able to share one's joys and sorrows with others. + + + + + + V + + THE HUNT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + Child or woman, which is she? + Hard to answer that will be. + Wouldst thou then a woman snare? + See a child in captive there! + And when thou bidd'st the child to stay, + A woman from thee flies away. + + +Spring had come betimes, and great rejoicing thereat rose, from all the +pupils, to the soft skies. + +The spring was in their blood, bringing a restless feeling, a power of +invention, glorious plans, subdued noise, effervescing spirits in its +train; these were days when the whole school routine threatened to be +destroyed, and when orders seemed a mere joke. Much commotion, with +scoldings, smacks, increased attention, and many arts were required +before this small sphere could be guided through the dangerous region +of spring without too severe collisions and shocks. + +Even the Society itself was shaken. It was not possible, when the trees +in the garden were bursting into leaf, to go off to the back premises +and pretend that there was something in a friend's composition on +ladies' modern dress. If the meeting had been held in the wood, they +might have allowed modern dress to roll about in the heather till it +was torn to pieces, or they could have hung it up in a tree. They could +have let the birds sing songs over it. Now they gave modern dress to +the deuce, it could all be learned from a fashion book; they simply +held no meetings. + +Nora employed all her powers of persuasion, all her inventive genius, +in vain. A great event, however, occurred, also perhaps born of the +spring and spring impulses, and the Society recovered itself. + +Miss Hall had energetically sought to lay some foundation, in the +senior class, for the lectures which she delivered to them on her +special subject. Both she and the eldest girls in the class had really +all been obliged to exert themselves. But a further result was, that +during this hard work they had gained confidence in the little lady; +everything belonging to women's constitution and health, and to the +tending of children, was spoken of with perfect openness. The mothers +kept up as long as possible an appearance of shamefacedness on behalf +of their children, who would not be shamefaced themselves. The fathers +helped their better halves in this; they were bashful to a degree. But +as the shameless maidens continued to acquire knowledge, this answered +no purpose. + +As concerned the Society, this information, and especially this +confidence with Miss Hall, had the result that, by degrees, the woman +question began to be looked at in its physical aspect, and its real +foundations were sought there. + +A book in our literature was again brought forward, which asserts that +the freedom which man allows himself before marriage, and sometimes +afterwards, destroys his character and woman's position, carrying +faithlessness and tyranny from generation to generation. + +Karen Lote had, in her studies in the history of civilisation, +especially noted the history of the development of races. She knew now +that the compromise which was often proposed, of giving woman the same +freedom that man took for himself, would be a step in the wrong +direction, an unheard-of breach of development. She advocated strongly +that inviolable monogamy should be as sacred for men as for women. Miss +Hall took up the subject at the next meeting, from its physical side. +Can it be physically proved that man has stronger temptation than +woman, and therefore has a greater excuse? She declared, on the +contrary, that woman's temptation might be very much greater. +Notwithstanding which, the rule was that woman respected marriage in a +chaste life, while for man's part the rule might still be said to be +the contrary. + +This aroused violent feeling. + +Man had therefore here as well, used the right of the strongest for his +own advantage, but in reality with the result of rendering himself and +the community depraved. Woman, on the contrary, has in civilised +society, through hundreds of generations, only belonged to one man, +therefore she has an inherited power of remaining faithful. It follows, +of course, that man could gain this power as well. + +During the conversation which followed the lecture, the excitement +increased; and in the course of the week so many thoughts had gathered +around this subject, that they had to fix an earlier date for the next +meeting. + +For the first time since the institution of the Society, Tinka Hansen +spoke. The woman who married a man who had led an immoral life joined +herself in his guilt; she condoned the ill-treatment of her sex, and +was herself punished for it. + +Did any woman persuade herself that a man who had accustomed himself to +such a life would give it up? At all events, they could not so deceive +themselves, who had during the last few years heard a series of +lectures which made it plain that habit is a nerve-question; not more +than one in a hundred can conquer a habit of his own free will; there +must, as a rule, be some hard necessity as well. + +Tinka had, as usual, discussed the subject with Frederik; it was +therefore not surprising that, as she stood there, she had the +authority of two. + +Rarely had such noise and commotion been heard since the institution of +the Society. From all sides came exclamations which clearly showed what +they felt, such as, "Fancy being kissed by a man who----! Fancy being +married to a man who----!" + +Nora gave voice to these whispered expressions of disgust as she went +up to the tribune, and said that they must not separate that evening +without promising each other that _they_, at least, would do what they +could here to give woman responsibility and self-respect. + +She had not finished speaking before they all stood up to express their +acquiescence. + +Some days later they had another meeting: something had occurred to +divide their opinions. + +It will be remembered that Tora was fond of telling fantastic fairy +tales, and romances scarcely less so; her favourite was "A Strange +Story," by Bulwer. Her little Augustus head--which was crammed with +ideas of rich stuffs, of sweeping garments, of foreign speech, and home +gossip, and every earthly vanity--delighted in the mysterious. + +From a certain day none of her friends were allowed to hear a word more +on these subjects; only one, one single one, should henceforth see this +obscure side of her varied nature. + +Was it because she wished to share this with but one alone, as girls so +often do; or was there a little sense of mystery here as well, that he +was the only one for whom this was suited? + +Whenever, after this, she met Karl Vangen, whether they were alone, or +if twenty were present, she always contrived that they should converse +in whispers. Her friends were greatly astonished. What on earth had she +to whisper about with the parson? He had recently lent her a book about +John Wesley, which she devoured, as she did all books, and they had +many conversations about his sudden conversions. People who came under +the spell of his looks, his words, his presence, yielded to them at +once, and were his from that moment. John Wesley came of a long race of +clergymen, both on his father's and mother's side; naturally this had +in a high degree strengthened his faith and power of preaching. It was +like an electric shock, certain natures could not stand against it. + +How this was made to lead up to the Kurts, who interested Tora +immensely at that time, is her secret; but honest Karl began at once to +speak with animation of Tomas's struggle to free himself from the Kurt +inheritance. There had been an infusion of new blood into the family +before, and a struggle against its sins; but Tomas Rendalen's bringing +up and the struggle he had gone through, were worthy of his energetic +character. + +Vangen asked her confidentially if she had not noticed Tomas's +neatness, his careful toilette? If she had perceived the slight, hardly +perceptible, odour of a delicate and very expensive scent? It always +followed him. He was always washing and bathing, added the young +clergyman, blushing; most people believed that this arose from vanity, +and vain he certainly was; but could she not guess what it meant? Tomas +Rendalen had gained in the course of his struggle the same need for, +the same sacred feeling about, cleanliness with which girls are born. +For him all cares for the body; dress, scent, were a species of service +for the temple; just as it is to young women, when they have the means +and time to perform it. + +Some remarks of Tomas had made him understand this; he was certain that +such was the fact. But it was curious that it should take that +particular form, was it not? Perhaps it was because he had been brought +up among girls. What did she think about it? Karl Vangen hazarded this +conjecture with great bashfulness. For some reason or other, it was of +great importance that she should understand at once that a man might be +an excellent member of society, without being exactly a dandy, and +using scent. + +From that moment Tora Holm had one more person to rave about, added to +her rich collection! + +Now she persuaded herself that she understood Rendalen's theory of life +and work among them. She did not understand, or rather did not think +about, the reasons for his restless moods, his want of steadfastness; +her image of this "energetic" nature was not disturbed by them. She +loved him. There was no other word for it. There was nothing that she +would not do for him if she could, and it was thus that she expressed +herself, first to her dearest friends, then to her next dearest, then +to those next to them. With unflagging energy the same story, to the +same tune, was repeated for the twentieth time to the last of her chain +of friends before the next day was past. Such enthusiasm was +infectious; those who had not raved about Tomas Rendalen before, raved +about him now. Notwithstanding the red hair, the freckled skin, the +broad nose, and pale screwed-up eyes, the absence of eyebrows, the +restless expression--he was an ideal man! He damped their ardour a +little when he came into the classrooms and strode past the forms, +without looking at a single one of them; or when he hastily pitched +upon something which interfered with the lesson, with such violence as +to make them jump! for he was not to be trifled with! He nevertheless +became their ideal again as soon as he was gone, or, better still, if +he were in the humour for teaching, and stayed and took part in it, in +his clear energetic style. He had not his equal then. + +But just because there was one Tomas Rendalen, it naturally happened +that some of the weaker natures began to reflect: "Good heavens, he is +only one, and there are so many of us." Yes, there was the question. We +will not say who they were, or how many there were, who began to feel +this doubt. The question is the smallest part of the affair; it is the +answer which is the serious matter. The answer! For we may as well +confess, soon as late, that some of the girls had gone a little beyond +themselves that evening, when they all said "yes" to Tinka Hansen's +high-minded views and Nora's proposition. These ones acknowledged +afterwards that when one came to think quietly about the one whom one +almost loves, or at least would willingly be loved by, and even if one +knows that he has already ... Yes, the old Kurt town was a terrible +place for scandals. + +One at last begins to doubt the sincerity of these expressions. Might +not the young man in question, no matter what he had done, be depended +upon, when he had promised _her_ anything? And when she had made him a +promise in return, of course he might! He would be a good boy, that he +would, if only she got hold of him. One cannot live upon grand +theories. + +There were some, however, who considered that this was treachery; they +were very angry and a new meeting was called. Those who had dared to +change their opinions since the last meeting were called upon to +explain themselves. For a long time no one would do so, but at last a +courageous dark-haired girl declared openly that it seemed to her that +they had gone too far the last time. "If all men were--as one could +wish them to be--well, then. But they are not so by any means. So what +is to be done? That is just how we stand." + +"And so we will stand," was the answer. This heroic response elicited +another in its turn, so that two parties were formed, with a third set +of moderates; no one felt certain about these last, as is often the +case with a third party. Tinka Hansen (and Frederik) and all who agreed +with her and him ("The Frederikers," as they were called), were for +absolute equality between the sexes. Infidelity ought from henceforth +to be condemned equally severely--no matter whether man or woman were +guilty of it. Miss Hall was the only one among the teachers who took +part in this debate, and she was a very enthusiastic Frederiker. +According as our knowledge becomes more acute, she declared, the +punishment of unchasteness should be the same for the two sexes. +Neither ought this sin to be any longer held up as a special accusation +against women. Those who made the distinction that woman's offence +injured the home, while man's injured another home, another's wife or +daughter, must for very shame hold their tongues. + +Miss Hall brought this forward at least twice, for there was no answer +made to it. The opposite party entirely put that on one side. They +repeated over and over again that a man might be excessively worthy +even if, things standing as they did at present, he had offended in +this particular. Only notorious immorality made a marriage impossible. +The Frederikers were scandalised at this "light-minded" talk. That was +to open the door to the extension of immorality. They made use of such +strong expressions, that the others became angry. There was a perfect +hubbub; every one talked, no one would listen. + +This was on a Thursday. The following evening, "The Staff" was +assembled in Milla's room. They had begun on the same subject, but by +degrees had wandered back to Rendalen, who was still of more unfailing +interest than the other. Tinka was imitating Rendalen's handwriting on +a large sheet of paper. The others watched her efforts with attention, +his large handwriting was just the opposite to his careful toilette; it +was all run together without any division, each letter and each word +absolutely joined on to the others. Tinka's caricatured attempts were +like so many embroidery patterns. She wrote: "I can bear it no longer; +meet me in the market-place at nine o'clock." She wrote it as a +commentary on what they had been talking about--namely, how delightful +it would be to receive such a letter. She wrote this closely across a +whole sheet of letter-paper. She decorated one sheet after another in +this fashion. + +Who was it who first proposed what now followed? They never could agree +upon this afterwards. _One_ thing is certain, that Milla alone raised +any objection, but it was so feebly and laughingly made, that it might +well be taken for the opposite of what it purported to be. Each one of +them took charge of a note on Saturday morning; one was put into Karen +Lote's cloak, one into the pocket of the drawing mistress's long faded +blue wrap, the third and fourth were slipped down, one into Miss Hall's +mantle, and the other into that of one of the teachers of languages. + +The letters were not signed, the envelopes open and bearing no address; +the request was written in so extravagant a style that the whole might +pass for a joke, but that was just where the temptation lay. For, on +the other side, it could not be denied that the hasty writing could +very easily be mistaken for Rendalen's style when he was worried and in +a hurry to finish. + +At nine o'clock on Saturday evening the last of the worthy townsfolk +came home from their romantic evening walks on both sides of the town, +looking so peaceful and inoffensive that not even a cat could have +suspected treachery. Most of them went soberly across the market-place +into the town. At this time, too, the boarders who had been out in +search of amusement in the town were returning disappointed up the +avenue. It had been calculated that if the Staff could join one of +these parties, they would be free from suspicion while they watched +their snares. Of course they were all four there; they met several +ill-humoured friends from among the boarders a little way down, and +joined company with them. + +They arranged it so that they should not cross the market-place till +just at the time named. And truly, gracious powers! At the top of the +marketplace, just a little to the right of the avenue, at that moment +appeared _Karen Lote_; no one could mistake her erect figure, her grey +cloak, and the feather in her hat. The four had so little expected to +meet _her_, that if the boarders had not been so sulky and tired, they +would have noticed their embarrassment. Could it really be Karen Lote! + +She turned back to the left; it was patent to all the world that she +had come here to wait for some one. + +They looked from her to each other; they did not laugh, they did not +make a sign--they were frightened. + +But there was a revulsion of feeling when they saw the tall drawing +mistress come swinging across, and turn into the avenue. She came +quickly towards them; she had been given an appointment there at the +same time. + +Milla crept behind Tora; Tora would gladly have got behind some one; +they had to find some excuse to account for their laughter. As the +drawing mistress passed them, hurried and excited, they had just +contrived to push Tinka into a ditch, which fortunately was dry. + +And now they were eager to spy on the two other traps. They went up +into the boarders' rooms, whence they could see out over the courtyard; +they had given Miss Hall a rendezvous behind the gymnasium, but, unless +she were standing absolutely still behind it, she had not come. It did +not fare much better with their flight across the garden towards the +right, where they had given the language teacher rendezvous; they met +her, certainly, coming down the path, but it was with several others; +running quickly up from the wood, she never so much as looked round. If +she had read the letter, she had taken it as a joke. The four girls +slipped through the garden-gate and along the same way; they did not +want to meet Karen Lote again. + +Something, however, had happened a few hours before, which if it had +not been stopped would have brought the whole affair to light, in which +case not one of the four would ever have set foot in the school again. + +On her return from her walk at about six, Miss Hall, very nervous but +very determined, had asked to be allowed to speak to Herr Rendalen. She +gave him the letter directly he came in. He took it, read it, held it a +little way from him, and began to laugh; and when she took it +seriously, he laughed still more, quite uncontrollably at last. Ten +minutes later he received a note from Miss Hall, in which she informed +him that she should leave by the next steamer. On this he rushed off +for his mother, whom he found at last in the cow-house. He explained +the whole matter contemptuously to her, declaring that Miss Hall must +be mad. Fru Rendalen at once went to her. Miss Hall was greatly +exasperated; she cried, and gave confused, hasty explanations, while +Fru Rendalen pulled off her spectacles, and rubbed and rubbed them; she +could not comprehend it in the least. Perhaps, if we were to talk +English, she thought; but it all remained as obscure as ever. Plainly +and shortly, what was she angry about? Why did she wish to go? What had +happened? What redress did she demand? + +She demanded that the culprits should be _punished_. + +Nothing more than that! They both set off to the boarders' room, which +was now empty; they began to search through the exercise books, +portfolios, bookshelves; they wished to find out who it was who was so +abominable as to copy Rendalen's handwriting. From thence they went +into the class-rooms. That of the senior class stood just as it had +been left; for the cleaning day for this room was Thursday, and the +evening sweeping had not yet been done. There they carefully collected +all the bits of paper which had been thrown away, straightened them +out, and examined them; they peeped into exercise books, lesson books, +and desks. They must find out who the unhappy person was who imitated +Rendalen's handwriting. + +_They all did it!_ + +As soon as the fact became clear that every senior girl in the school +had been occupied with _Rendalen_ and _Rendalen_, and again _Rendalen_, +Miss Hall gave in; at last they both left the schoolroom--neither of +them said a word to the other. + +Miss Hall never said anything more about it. But Fru Rendalen talked it +over with Karl Vangen. His discourse on Monday had for its subject how +wrong it was to do to others, what they would not like others to do to +them. This was often the case with young people, "who found great +pleasure in discovering the weakness and tender points of others, and +playing upon them." + +The four dare not look up, but they gave side-glances at the drawing +mistress, who chanced that day to be sitting near the laboratory table, +facing the others. She rested her long arms on it. Her hands toyed with +something standing there, which she looked at intently; but tear after +tear rolled down her cheeks, without her making an attempt to dry them. +She was quite absent. + +All four girls noticed it, and when at the third recreation she was +still inconsolable and cried as much as ever. Nora could bear it no +longer, but drew her into one of the rooms, and with her arms round her +neck whispered, "Pardon, pardon, pardon:" she did not say for what. + +They gave each other a confidential hug--regret, sympathy, +shamefacedness all mingled together. The poor girl, whom they had +befooled out of her most precious secret, was comforted at last by such +boundless repentance, such thorough comprehension, such heartfelt +devotion. + +The same day Tora and Tinka heard what Nora had done; they wanted to do +the same, but she forbade them; the poor girl must not on any account +know that there was more than one who knew her secret. + +Karen Lote was ill; Rendalen had to take her place, and give some of +his work to Miss Hall. All three felt that Karen Lote must not be +approached by any one. + +How could they have thought of anything so disgusting as what they had +done! And that, too, in the midst of serious discussions on woman's +position, on woman's honour and responsibility. + +Milla would not talk to the others; at school she held aloof, and when +any one went to see her at home, her door was fastened. They all felt +as though a storm were brewing. + +That Milla should hold back from them as though _they_ were the guilty +ones and not she, Nora would not endure; one day, therefore, they all +surrounded her, and asked for an explanation. Milla was offended and +tried to get away, but it did no good. She then told them that they had +led her into doing what was not right, and she would have nothing more +to do with it. The only answer she got was from Nora's great eyes, but +she reddened under them. Of course she had taken part in what had been +done, she did not deny it; but she did not wish to feel as ashamed of +herself again as she had done during the last few days. The others +asked if she thought they had been less ashamed than she? + +Milla now told them, with a slight air of superiority, that in her +first fright at Karl Vangen's discourse, she had asked her father if +she might accompany him when he went to the South German Baths. He had +consented with great pleasure. She could not draw back now, they were +to start in a few days. + +At first, all the friends felt Milla's coldness in having proposed to +go away without telling them. But Milla now felt this herself, for she +altered her demeanour from that moment, and tried to do away with the +impression. It was _she_ now who was most amiable about everything. +When the drawing mistress appeared in a very pretty cloak and hat, +without any one being able to find out who "the kind friend" was from +whom she had received them, it was at once clear to the three friends +that they came from Milla. She denied it certainly, but that was all +the nicer of her. So the short resentment changed on both sides to a +closer friendship during the few days that she still had with them. Her +father gave a "farewell dinner," the great event at which was the +unveiling of a cake, on the top of which four sugar girls held each +other with fingerless hands as they danced round a red flag with +"Emancipation" on it; round the plinth was written "The Society." But +derision was useless. This same Society gave a farewell entertainment +to Milla the next day. All good spirits hovered over this, their last +meeting, with its many short speeches, its music and songs--over its +whole tone. + +A girl of a serious turn of mind recalled that all the pleasure that +they had had together during their school year had been begun beside +Fru Engel's grave; it was closing with Milla's farewell entertainment. +Milla was touched, quite overwhelmed; she declared that she was +altogether unworthy, she did not deserve the kindness which they showed +her; she was not all they thought her. + +Tora came up and embraced her, and they all felt that this was genuine. +Tora was grateful for the happiest days of her life; she whispered this +to Milla, which had a good effect. They ended by seeing Milla home; she +took Tora's arm. "Bad times are beginning for me," sobbed Tora. + +"But I shall come back again, Tora." + +Tinka scolded her for her extravagant way of speaking, it was making +the whole thing into a caricature and an absurdity; but this was not +the first time that Tora had done so. + +When they said good-bye before Milla's door, Tora ran after her up the +steps and into the hall; she was never satisfied. When inside she took +out a box which Milla knew at once--it contained her one ornament; she +had inherited it from her uncle, who had brought it in his youth from +California. It was some pieces of rough gold made into a heavy chain, a +beautiful piece of work; she pressed it into Milla's hand; she had +never worn it herself. But Milla would not think of taking it from her, +she did not know how she could justify herself to her father if she +were to do so; she refused it decidedly, coldly at last, so that Tora +was vexed and ran off. But Milla fetched her in again, held her tightly +in her arms, and kissed her. Did she not believe that Milla realised +what a great thing it was which she wished to do? But it was a matter +of conscience for Milla to say no. They must not part in this way; Tora +should stay with her, she should stay the night there. And it was so +settled. When girls are really fond of each other, they love to sleep +together. + +The others, who had remained outside, waited a while. As Tora did not +rejoin them, they walked on a little way; they were annoyed with her. +They all returned, however, and came quietly through the garden-gate +and past the office. A little while afterwards the two friends up in +the bedroom heard a subdued chorus of girls' voices under the window, +led by Tinka's contralto: they sang "Sleep in peace." + +The curtain was half raised; they saw two figures in white; two +heads--one dark, one fair-looked, nodding and laughing, out. + +The whole school was down at the customhouse the next day; Fru +Rendalen, all the teachers, male and female, every one--with the +exception of Anna Rogne, who had not been at the meeting the previous +day. + +There was universal crying, and kissing, and admiration over Milla's +travelling dress. The little ones thought they must join in; they could +not cry, but they could kiss. First one little mouth was offered, then +two, then five. At last they all insisted on being kissed by Milla, and +then sprang back tittering. + +The stewardess had all the vases in the cabin, and some dishes as well, +filled with flowers. She really toiled over them. Tora, her eyes red +with crying, had come with Milla and Consul Engel, and had been the +object of all the latter's attentions, but she now kept quite in the +background. Milla had to look for her to press her hand for the last +time, to give her a last kiss. As the steamer swung round and left the +quay, the slender black figure waved her handkerchief to her friends, +her veil, which had become loosened, waving with it. In a moment the +whole quay was white; the little ones in front, the elder ones behind +them, all waved their handkerchiefs. From the steamer, it looked like +the foam from a waterfall dashing down into the sea. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + IN THE DOVECOTE + + +One morning in the gymnasium, when the senior class was practising +rather reluctantly because the weather was splendid, and two panes were +open in the big window that looked towards the mountain, letting the +air pour in, laden with the scent of trees and flowers;--one morning in +the gymnasium, just as Miss Hall had joined them, and had, as usual, +interrupted the ordinary practice by taking away a few of the pupils +for special exercises;--one morning in the gymnasium, when, as the +result of all this, some of the girls had gone over to the window for a +moment to give a glance at the hundreds of fruit-trees in full blossom, +whose dense masses like an amphitheatre covered the opposite hillside +with a single thick crown;--one morning in the gymnasium, when these +same girls could not utilise the moment as fully as they wished, +because a number of impertinent young trees had that year shot up in +such a marvellous manner, that it was impossible to see the glory of +the hillside, except where these young trees allowed it; nay, worse +still, the trees attracted the bees from the hives on the right, and +they were more impertinent still, for they buzzed in at the open +window, and frightened the girls when they were trying to see out +between the trees;--one morning in the gymnasium, just as all those +small labourers in the garden, who in lieu of steel spades, hoes, or +forks, use their own small legs, who begin their work at sunrise so as +to end betimes, working by no forced contract, but also with no +supervision or inspection, through the whole summer and autumn, they +and their wives and children feeding at Fru Rendalen's expense, friends +with all, except the cat;--yes, one morning in the gymnasium, just when +all these tiny workers--oh, hundreds of them--gathered from all parts, +rising high in the air to settle down again and hide themselves in the +bushes in every direction, the girls stood looking on in wonderment. + +All at once the trees in the wood bowed their heads, and deeply bowed +those to the left, in front of the garden, while sand and seeds whirled +up in a menacing cloud; a sudden squall from inland had come over the +hill, and without warning drove across from right to left. Almost +before it had reached the garden it was no longer the trees, but the +wind which possessed the blossom; every single petal of every opening +flower was lifted up, strewn far and wide, and carried away lighter, +more lively than the snowflakes, for these are attracted by the earth. +Millions and millions of flower wings--a flashing, whirling atmosphere, +as of white butterflies, through which patches of green appeared like +islands in a sea of cloud, like islets in a mirage. + +The girls screamed with delight, shouted, and clapped their hands, all +exclaiming as this marvel was driven gleaming across the garden. + +From the wood came a darker shower in pursuit of it, following the same +course; it soon reached the place where the glittering petals had +passed; its track was narrower, but its rush heavier and more rapid. + +The girls rushed towards the great door, which was half open; they +wanted to follow the bright moving mass, the fugitives from the +fruit-trees. They forgot that they were in gymnasium dress--besides, at +the back of the house it did not matter; they screamed, they jumped. +Just then the door was pushed right open from outside; on the steps +stood a young man in white trousers and a naval uniform coat and cap. +He laughed and bowed, he bowed and laughed. It was Niels Fürst. + +Behind him, down in the courtyard stood Kaja Gröndal, who wore a light +hat and carried a violet parasol. She looked remarkably smart. She +laughed too. + +"Is not Elisa here?" asked Fürst. No one in either of the senior +classes was called Elisa, no one knew any Elisa in the whole school. +"No, not Elisa," he said; "Olava!" There was no Olava in either of the +classes. "Olava?" No one knew any Olava in the whole school. He was +sure that they all took it for a joke. He looked at them in their +gymnasium dress, turning from one to another. He had both hands full of +flowers, he had to put the ones he held in his right hand against his +breast and press them with his left arm when he wanted to raise his +cap. Fru Gröndal was carrying flowers as well; they had evidently just +bought them, and having heard that the senior classes were at the +gymnasium at that moment, he had wished to see them. "Pardon," he said; +"perhaps she was called Petrea, or it may be that she was not here at +all." He raised his cap, his light curls seemed to laugh with him, and +the girls all laughed till the walls of the gymnasium re-echoed. He +sprang down. Fru Gröndal turned and went with him; as they passed round +the corner he nodded back at them. + +The laughter of the girls sounded round and round the lofty building. +They were most of them in a state of excitement, they kept running to +each other, asking questions without waiting for an answer; if three of +them were standing in a group, others joined them; if some were +laughing more than the others, they all rushed in that direction. Two +began to dispute, and the dispute increased; one or two more joined in, +then several others, all of them at last: the dispute was about the +disturber of the dovecote who had been at the door. + +Tinka was one of those who was disputing. She was simply shocked at his +shamelessness; she looked round for supporters. She thus caught sight +of Tora, who was sitting on a bench by the door, as white as a sheet. +Miss Hall was attending to her. Tinka sprang across, calling as she did +so, "What is the matter?" "What has happened?" Tora had continued her +gymnastics by herself, for she had become an enthusiastic gymnast, and +pursued a special system. As she was at the height of her practising, +she caught sight, through the half-open door, of a pair of little birds +which were flitting backwards and forwards about a bush. Was any one +under the bush? Had they a nest there? Was it only their usual antics? +Then she saw Kaja Gröndal's light dress come between her and the bush, +a large bouquet and a parasol instead of the birds; a young man in +naval uniform, with his hands full of flowers. She did not know him. +Kaja just then caught sight of her, and either Tora imagined it or she +really did say, "There she is!" The officer looked at Tora and kept his +eyes intently fixed on hers, his eyes both laughed and stabbed. Kaja +Gröndal tried to hold him back and then fell behind, but he kept +advancing, did not even stop at the steps, but came up them and still +on, without removing his eyes a single moment from hers. She could not +move. The noise by the window, the squall, which lifted Fru Gröndal's +veil and threatened to turn her parasol inside out, the waving of the +bushes, the whistling in the trees; she saw, she heard, but as if at a +great distance. She could not properly understand it, she could not +put it together; a strange weakness came over her, especially in her +knees--they would not support her. + +Just then the girls screamed out, and the whole group flew by to the +door, while he pushed it quite open with his foot. She felt as though +she were breathing fresh air, as though some one were supporting her +trembling limbs; but so long as he stood there she could not go away, +although she longed to do so; she _must_ stay. + +It was not until after he had gone that she tried to find the bench, +and only when she sat down did she begin to feel ill. She tried to +struggle against the feeling; Miss Hall came to her, and now Tinka as +well; and when Tinka asked what it was, firmly and decidedly, it helped +her--she was able to cry. The others came running up, but they became +quiet at the sight of the deadly white face. They did not ask a single +question. + +"She has been doing her gymnastics too violently," whispered Miss Hall. + +"She does everything so energetically," added Nora kindly, sitting down +beside Tora, and drawing her head towards her. + +The others went away; Miss Hall asked them to do so. One could hear in +the little room, where they changed their dress, the sound of their +returning merriment--one heard them go away, group after group. +Although the dinner-bell was ringing, Tora sat there, with Tinka on one +side and Nora on the other, and Miss Hall in front of them. Tora had +spoken to them several times, and assured them that she was well again +now. They all three believed that she had worked too hard at her +gymnastics--she believed so herself; but she said, "Oh, what an ugly, +horrid man!" + +The others looked at each other: "Do you mean Niels Fürst?" + +She did not answer at first: "So that was Niels Fürst?" + +A little time afterwards she shivered as if from cold, but she did not +give any further explanation. She understood what had happened so far +as that the gymnastics had been the cause of it. That, being weakened, +he had had a singular influence upon her. She would not say a word +about it. + +Miss Hall now went away. The two others sat there still: Tora asked +them to do so. It was so nice to hold their hands. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS + + +By the next day Tora had heard that Niels Fürst said she was "out and +away the handsomest girl he had seen in Norway." She would not believe +it at first, but she heard it on all sides during the next few days. +The next time she met Kaja Gröndal she told her the same thing. Tora +knew her through Milla, and always spoke to her. She had so far +recovered her usual flippancy that she answered that, "If Lieutenant +Fürst had not such bad taste, it would have been embarrassing for the +rest of the Norwegian girls." + +The summer came in with great heat; every one who could, went into the +country, to different places on the coast, or up to the houses on the +mountains. As soon as ever the school closed they were off; only a few +of the poorer ones remained behind, and Tora among them. Nora went to +the Baths with her mother; Tinka's relations were well to do, and had a +country house. Anna Rogne was in the town; with Rendalen's help she was +preparing herself for the post of history teacher in place of Karen +Lote, who was leaving the school. But Anna was not easy of access, more +especially for Tora, on account of her friendship with Milla. Even +when, for all that, Tora did go to see her, she found her so occupied +and anxious (she was to take the junior classes after the holidays) +that Tora became tired of her. Tora was now again living down at the +Point with her mother (her father was never mentioned), where she +shared an attic with two of her sisters. She lived in a hurry-scurry +and disorder, and had a feeling of self-reproach and disgust for +herself, which she shook off whenever she could cross the ferry and run +up into the wood above "The Estate," or along the road to the right +from the market-place, to the "Groves." This was a pleasure-ground in +the wood near the road, a large open space with a number of small +"groves"--that is to say, levelled patches, sometimes with benches and +tables; an elaborate network of paths went in and out among them. + +One Saturday afternoon she wished to go there to listen to the band, +but on the way to the Fröckener Jensens, where she was going to try to +get a companion, she met Kaja Gröndal; she had come into the town to +meet her husband, but he had not arrived. "Would not Tora come back +with her instead? The steamer left in an hour's time." + +Tora had a great weakness for invitations. Within the hour she was back +again with a large hat-box, in which she had put her night-things and a +white dress. + +The next morning, Sunday, she was standing on the terrace before the +Gröndals' little country house. On her right were all the flowers from +the house, which had just been brought out to have the benefit of the +rain--as yet it was only wet fog; behind the garden, on the right, it +was drifting among the fir-woods; she could see the nearest trees and a +little of the bare hillside lower down towards the sea, a faintly +gleaming strip of which, was also to be seen. The fog lay very low, +there was not a breath of wind. She could hear the steamer, which had +just whistled, away to the left where the pier was; now she could see +her passing quickly--a vague outline, a thicker, darker, moving +cloud--through the white fog. She did not concern herself further about +her, but looked towards the path which led up from the landing-place +between this garden and the next. Just opposite was a low yellow +railing, a very handsome one, of cast-iron; behind it, some old trees +in a garden blotted out by the fog; there, she knew, stood several +houses which she could not see from here. One of them was the +Wingaards', where there was to be a party to-day. + +Who would she meet there? She stood and thought about it. Fru Wingaard +had been a Fürst; would Niels Fürst be there? She stood thinking. He +was in the reserve fleet, which was lying in the Channel. + +Why should he not come? It was Sunday; why should he not bring several +of the officers with him? + +If Tora had known this before she went on board the steamer yesterday, +would she have come? She asked herself the question to-day. Directly +she had heard it she had felt a trembling sensation, she felt it at +times again to-day; but the disagreeable feeling was gone, oddly +enough, she thought. Did she really wish to meet him? She did not want +to be disturbed by him--no, nor yet to be looked at as she had been +before. But to see him, to be seen by him, if it should so chance? Yes, +she did wish that--she wished it very much. + +When she went along the terrace, to the steps which led up from the +left, she could see quite into the sitting-room, and also, in a +looking-glass, whether the door of the inner room, where Fru Gröndal +slept, was open. No, it was still shut; so she went back to where she +had been before. + +She could still follow the steamer--that is to say, a dark moving cloud +among the fog which hung on every side. The balustrade of the terrace +was wet; she dried her hands, forgot, and put them on it again. + +She need not have brought the white dress; it was fine rain now. The +birds enjoyed the damp, they were singing all round her. Trees, +flowers, and grass enjoyed it too. + +She noticed their different scents; one of these carried her thoughts +far, far away to a country house near Havre, close by the sea; clear +blue air, ships, steamers, a long strip of sand, the lazy wash of the +waves upon it; close to the sea a country house, low and grey; there +they lived. The narrow gate into the garden was open; she stood there +on a stone bench, in a short frock and with bare arms; she could see +herself in the long striped stockings which she had admired so much the +first time she had put them on; she peered over the hedge, and the +scent of the flowers was wafted to her again and again, just as it was +now. It was nearly evening, her uncle would be coming from the town. +The path through the gloomy orchard was gravelled--she heard his step. + +Here to the left, in the fine rain, she saw an immense umbrella and +white trousers below it. It was not raised enough for her to see who +was coming; even now, when the garden-gate had to be opened, it was not +lifted, it was only held more forward; but she knew now that the step +on the gravel was coming, not towards the country house at Havre, but +here; it was not her uncle, but----? + +The umbrella was raised, its owner stood inside the garden. A dark +coat, a straw hat, and a very puzzled face were seen; she felt +something of the uneasiness from which she had thought herself free, +but as he looked at her it passed off; just the reverse of what had +occurred the last time. + +He had evidently not expected to see a dark lady on the terrace, +perhaps no one at all, so early in the day. But it was by no means +disagreeable to him; he smiled and raised his hat, there was nothing in +his eyes to-day which hurt her. He paused at the steps, the umbrella +lay on his right shoulder while he laid his left arm on the balustrade +and leaned against it. That was a well-formed hand with the signet-ring +on it. He was slight and active; his head was noticeable for three +things; a nervous sensuous mouth, which was constantly moving, the lips +twitching backwards and forwards, in and out, as though moved by a +string--the lips themselves being short and full; a pair of large eyes, +roguish and gentle, though they stabbed when he put his head a little +backward and half shut them: excessively curly hair of a golden colour, +and long reddish whiskers. As he leaned over the balustrade, there was +a repose about him full of careless enjoyment. But this mood was not to +be depended upon, nor would one readily do so, for there was something +in the head, body, and hands which, behind the gentle, lazy, pliable +manner, reminded one of a cat. + +Tora both felt and saw this, but to-day it was with more curiosity than +fear. + +"What an unexpected pleasure to meet you here; have you been here +long?" + +"I came here yesterday evening with Fru Gröndal; she was in the town." + +"Was she, indeed?" + +And the two slipped into a conversation about the journey here, the +weather, the place, without having been introduced to each other--a +conversation without any other object than to have an excuse for +looking at one another. The conversation was in short, disjointed +sentences, without colour or calculation, except in so far that the +last remark never remained the last. + +He stood below and studied her with growing pleasure; the shape of her +head, her features, her manners and expression. The eyes really shone +under the long thick lashes--what colour were they? They looked black, +but---- And her figure! her neck, arms, complexion, her dark hair, her +dress; he put himself quite on one side, he was entirely occupied with +her. How long this continued, they neither of them knew--it was a +considerable time; he did not wish to disturb himself, she did not wish +to disturb him. She saw herself in a living mirror, but the pleasure +was not an innocent one, for by degrees it made her feel giddy. She +collected herself and broke off the conversation; walked across the +terrace to some flowers, and occupied herself with their petals, among +which she made havoc. He came slowly up, with his umbrella over his +shoulder, drawing his left hand along the balustrade. + +"Of course you are going to my sister's this afternoon?" + +"Fru Gröndal will get an invitation for me," she said. + +"Of course; we shall have some dancing--will you give me the first +waltz?" + +She did not look up. "Will you not dance the first waltz with me?" + +She felt through her whole being that she ought not to answer him. "I +beg your pardon, I forgot that we had not been introduced; but as you +know who my sister is, you must have some idea who I am." + +He smiled and came nearer, always with the big umbrella, and with his +left hand gliding along the balustrade. She raised herself, but did not +answer. "So there is some agreement about the first waltz?" He said it +a little carelessly, in rather a patronising way, almost as though he +were offended. + +He put down the umbrella and turned towards the entrance. "Of course +Fru Gröndal is at home." He went in. Tora was about to add, "But she is +not up." But that would look rather like asking him to stay here. +Besides, Fru Gröndal must be so nearly dressed that she could warn him +off herself, when she heard him in the sitting-room. + +He went in there, but did not come out again. Had Fru Gröndal gone +there? No, there was no talking. She went towards the steps and looked +into the mirror; the bedroom door was wide open. + +Down the steps she flew, and through the garden, away into the wood, +out of it again, for it was too wet; and out on to the mountain towards +the sea, under the lee of the wood; there she sat down on a large +stone. She was trembling: her breast heaved as though it would burst. + +"Fröken Holm!" called Fru Gröndal; "Fröken Holm!" She really was +dressed, then. That call must be either from the terrace or the garden. +Perhaps Fru Gröndal had been out when he went into the sitting-room, +that was why there had been no talking. Tora could not collect herself +sufficiently to answer Fru Gröndal, and as she had not answered the +first time, it seemed to her that she must disregard the other calls as +well. Very soon she heard no more. + +What time was it? Could he have come to make a call on a lady at that +early hour? And to come straight from the landing-place, not to his +sister's, but to Fru Gröndal's. What was the time? But she had not her +watch with her, she had forgotten it. + +There were the white trousers coming up the hill towards her, and the +umbrella as well! She was pursued and discovered. "Dear me, did you +not hear Fru Gröndal call you?" Tora did not answer. "And you are so +wet--without an umbrella too; pray come under mine. Why did you run +away?" No answer. "Fru Gröndal has been making egg-flip for us the +whole morning." + +"Has she really?" + +"Yes, really; her husband was to have been here this morning, and he +owes me some egg-flip. But he has not come." + +"What time is it?" + +"What on earth do you want to know for? It is just eleven." + +"Just eleven?" + +"Yes, see for yourself." He held out a massive American gold watch +towards her, opening the case as he did so. She was silent and walked +on. As they approached the garden, she asked him how he had found her +so quickly. Why, he had seen her footprint in the sand here, and he had +drawn his own conclusion. No one would go into the wood when it was so +wet, so she must be on the hill. + +They eat egg-flip together very merrily; but an hour later Tora was +sitting alone in her room, in the attics--she had fastened the door; +and at six o'clock the same evening, as the guests were assembling at +the Wingaards', she was on board the steamer, which was returning to +the town. + +What had happened? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! But like the fog over +the landscape, which still hung there, although not so low as in the +morning, there lay something over all this, which was vague and +puzzling to her. She could not bear to be with Fürst and Fru Gröndal. +She could not be natural with them; everything she said or did seemed +preposterous. + +She did not therefore venture to go to the party; the mere thought of +waltzing with Fürst made her tremble. + +It would not do. There was nothing for it but to fly. She made herself +appear terribly foolish, in trying to find reasons for her flight; such +a one as that she had crumpled her white dress in her hat-box, could be +answered by a hot iron; that her mother expected her, presupposed a +letter by carrier pigeon. + +All the same here she was on board the steamer. It was really an +achievement. She was delighted. The rest of the passengers were up on +the bridge, or in the deck cabin; the windows were open. She went +forward where there were two or three work-people. She sat down a long +way from them. It thoroughly delighted her when the steamer swept past +the islets at the entrance; it seemed as though she were leaving +something oppressive. + +The evening was fine, notwithstanding the fog; it was mild, and the +rain had ceased. The islands among which they steamed stood out clear, +their many tinted hills, the green patches of grass, the gardens and +houses--for almost all were inhabited--were seen with unusual +distinctness, as well as the people who sat or stood about, and watched +the steamer as she passed. Tora thought she would like to live in such +a place; she made a day-dream that she did so; she sat there and +arranged her house according to her taste--this time with great +simplicity, that soothed her after what she had left. + +All at once the discomfort began again, a feeling of depression, the +old sense of insecurity--only a recollection, of course, she thought, +and drew a long breath, but she felt impelled to turn round and look +behind her. + +There he stood on the deck, four or five steps away from her. He bowed +and smiled. Deadly white, then crimson, she turned angrily away. + +"Come, you must not be angry with me; I would rather go back to the +town with you, than dance till five o'clock in the morning. Is that so +strange? I am not so contemptible for that, am I?" + +He sat down behind her; she knew it, and moved a little way from him. + +"Why do you do that now? Of course it is only to talk to you that I +have come with you; you can see that." + +A feeling of both shame and fear came over her; she was alone now, +separate from all the others. She felt as though she could have called +to them by name. Whenever Tora felt how solitary she was, she began to +cry. + +He noticed it, and in quite another tone of voice he said, "Dear Fröken +Holm, you must not misunderstand me; I do not want to annoy you, +anything rather than that. It would give me great pleasure to talk to +you, I confess; may I not be allowed to do so? Why may I not?" She did +not answer, but she ceased crying. + +He slipped into conversation on indifferent topics, and calmed her, +lamenting that they had not become acquainted earlier. "The first time +I saw you I said to myself--well, no matter what I said, but I had just +a little wish to see you again; it was fulfilled quite unexpectedly +to-day; but we did not have any conversation, you were so strange; why +was that? Well perhaps you were not strange, but why did you go away? I +might imagine that I was to blame for that. You certainly did not want +to go before I came--eh? You have made me quite curious, I assure you. +If I really did drive you away, I should like to hear what I frightened +you with; was it with the big umbrella--by chance? Ah, now you are +laughing! But why will you insist in travelling about _par tout_, +Fröken? Just tell me that." He moved a little nearer, and she remained +sitting; he chatted and joked without any pause. She once turned half +round to look at his roguish face, and then she laughed with him. He +was very amusing. + +Close by one of the numerous stopping-places was a red house, where a +number of young people were gathered round some gymnastic apparatus. A +young man and a young woman each held a rope in a "giant's strides." He +set off after her with all his strength; a few steps on the ground, and +then a long swing in the air; then again a few steps, and another long +swing. Would he reach her? Never! She was the lighter, the more active, +and she had undoubtedly stronger legs--she ran trip, trip, trip, trip; +her legs hardly seemed to be apart, and how she flew swinging through +the air! Her hair, her dress streaming after her, a very Iris! Both +Fürst and Tora followed this chase, silent but eager. Tora felt his +presence at her back, like fire; he had come nearer; and, turning +abruptly, she went into the cabin and sat down among the others. He was +standing on the landing-place when she went on shore at the Point; he +offered her his hand, but she turned away; he wanted to carry her box, +but she ran off. He went on board again to go up into the harbour. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE HUNT + + +Tora reached home about the same time as her father, who had been out +sailing with some friends. He was helped on shore, and his reception at +home was warm. The children fled, Tora locked herself into the attic, +and dare not even go down to supper, although she was hungry. She had +to open the door at last for her sisters; she soon began to quarrel +with them, they had been wearing her best shoes and had almost spoiled +them. It ended in one of them flinging the shoes at her, and they came +to blows over it. Complaints followed, which brought the angry mother +upstairs. Tora cried herself to sleep like a child. + +The next day she tried to help her mother in the house, not without +some hard words and sarcasms about such fine elegant ladies only being +in the way. Still she set her will to the task of being a help to her +mother, especially in mending the clothes. She gave what she could from +her little annuity, so that they were on fairly friendly terms; but it +seemed to Tora that she had a right to have some time to herself. A +little while before supper, she would take the ferry across to the +other side and go up either into the wood above "The Estate" or into +the "Groves." There was no peace at home. Whether she went to the wood +or "The Estate," she always landed at Bommen, and went up that way, +though it was not exactly the most direct one; but she did not know a +prettier place in the town than the house in the large garden there, so +she gave herself the pleasure of looking at it every day. + +Both house and garden had belonged to the Wingaard family, but they had +exchanged them for the Fürsts' house in the market-place, where the +Wingaards carried on the Fürst business. The brother-in-law, Niels +Fürst, therefore now owned the house in the large garden at Bommen. + +Tora passed it with a little apprehension, although the man she dreaded +was certainly not there, but on board his ship. This became a change +and occupation, and formed, as it were, an incident in her walk. + +Every time it was over, she went more carelessly up to the wood, or out +to the "Groves." In a little Norwegian town like this, all the girls go +about as they like. She met others and joined them, or went on by +herself; generally she wished to be alone for an hour or two; she went, +as a rule, to some particular spot, and when there took out her book, +if she had one, or else she wove day-dreams without the aid of books. +Or else, and this was now almost always the case, she wrote long +letters, one every day, about any curious experience. She had her +portfolio with her and an ink-bottle in her pocket; she lay on the +grass with the portfolio on a stone, or she sat on a stone with the +portfolio spread out on her lap and the ink-bottle by her side. That +did splendidly: true open-air letters, where the words seemed to fly +before the wind, and every varying thought found ready utterance. And +how delightful it was in the thicket, just dappled by the sunbeams, +enlivened by the twittering of the birds, a little startled by the +rustle of a squirrel in the boughs! The distant sounds from the +harbour, from the works by the river-bank, the voices in the "Groves" +and on the road, with every now and then a strain of music, only made +the silence of the place where she was sitting the deeper. This was her +one bit of summer poetry. As soon as she opened her eyes in the +morning, she began to long for it; the noise and quarrelling in the +house passed by her as though they did not concern her--it was here +that she lived. Her great expedition to Fru Gröndal, and her remarkable +return home in the steamer, were of course recorded up here in letters +to Milla, Nora, and Tinka; on the fourth day, she read over the work of +the three previous ones; she was very pleased, she knew she had +successfully varied the theme. She became, however, somewhat thoughtful +as she read the first letter, for she remembered the others, and the +difference had become by degrees too great. If the girls were by chance +to compare them, one of those tiresome scenes might easily result when +she would have to pay the reckoning. No, she would have no more of +that. In the first letter she had treated the matter seriously, +described her confusion, her blunders, her fright; no one who read it +could doubt that she had been with a person of whom she had been +frightened. In the second letter she made fun of herself, of him, and +the whole affair. In the third, she described how a maiden with dark +hair was wandering on a foreign strand, when a merman rose from the sea +who had fair whiskers and curly hair. In her terror, the dark maiden +fled on board a ship, to return to her own country. But the merman swam +after the ship the whole way, with his hand on his heart; when she got +to land he gave a wail of sorrow, she heard it still in her dreams at +night. + +She tore up all the letters, and did not write any others. + +Still she continued her walks. She had not the slightest idea that +Niels Fürst had returned to the town, that a friend had taken his duty +for him, and that he was quietly studying languages to prepare himself +for a new career, more brilliant than his earlier one, and that he was +living in his own house. Still less did she know that on the first day +of his return to the town he had seen her, in the looking-glass fixed +outside his window, look shyly across at the house as she passed, and +that he saw the same thing happen the next day. He knew that this was +not the shortest way up to the wood, which was where she went the first +day, or out to the "Groves," where she had gone on the second; on both +occasions he had put on his hat and gone out, the third day he sat +ready to follow her; now he thought he understood. He knew something +about girls who will and will not; they acted exactly in this way. + +To-day she came as usual, glanced apprehensively across, and strolled +on with her portfolio under her arm. Some one stopped her, and she thus +chanced to look round and so detected him. He was already advancing +quickly; he was in pursuit, he had struck the trail. + +She said good-bye, and as soon as she could do so unobserved, she +quickened her ordinary pace to the quickest of which she was capable. +She was frightened, unaccountably frightened. Perhaps it would have +been wiser to have turned back, but to-day she could not endure his +gaze, and there was no one else about. So she walked on, and on, and +on, but suspected that he was gaining on her--she almost knew it. She +dare not run on the high-road, but she trusted to the fact that she was +more at home in the "Groves" than he was, and that she could slip away. +She therefore left the road and made her way through the wood; she saw +to her terror that he plunged into it as well, so she ventured to run +up the hill, but in the direction from which he came; then she stooped +down behind a large stone. She was quite successful, for almost +directly afterwards she saw him pass by a little below the place +where she crouched, her heart beating as though it would burst her +dress. Here, where no one could see him, he ran, he climbed, he +jumped--nothing checked his straight upward course. She waited till he +was out of sight, and then ran off through the wood in the opposite +direction from that in which he had gone; she did not stop till she +found herself far above "The Estate" on a rock under a fir-tree, with +leafy trees all round, and, while hot and panting she looked round her, +thinking how wonderful the view was which she took in in a rapid +glance, he rose before her mind's eye as he had looked when he hurried +past the stone. He was horrible! That man could do anything! + +After that, she could never get rid of him. It was always he, nothing +but he; or rather every moment of the day she fled from him, but he +always reappeared. + +Her sisters reported to her that he hung about the house and looked in; +walked past and looked in, talked to them, asked them to remember him +to her. This immensely excited them, they were proud of it; his remark +that Tora was "the handsomest girl" had reached them too. But Tora's +terror increased; she was pursued. She knew that he would not give up. + +Where could she go to? None of the Rendalens were at home. She could go +to them after the holidays, but nearly three weeks still remained. She +could not speak to any one else, she was too much ashamed. She did not +think once of shoemaker Hansen, but Fru Hansen was severe, she would +not exactly understand. Her mother she never once thought of. But after +all it was a thing which entirely concerned herself; she need be in no +man's power if she did not choose. + +No, but when she could not by any means get him out of her thoughts? + +On Saturday evening she had flung herself upon her bed, as weary as +though she had passed the day in the hardest manual labour. She lay +there and looked at the yards of a ship which was being towed past. She +watched the folds in the loosely hanging sails which were swaying in +the wind. The vessel was so near that she could almost have touched +her. Outside there was a heavy sea, the storm driving the swell up into +the harbour: she, too, longed to find a haven! It was Saturday evening, +to-morrow she would have to go to church. Karl Vangen's face smiled to +her as she remembered this, and she felt happy before she fell asleep. +If he had been a girl she would have gone to him--just to _him_--with +the trouble which oppressed her. + +The next day she occupied a seat at the furthest end of the church. +Karl Vangen had met her, and said how nice it was that she was coming +up to them again to help Fru Rendalen. On account of this remark she +had chosen the most remote seat; she did not feel sure that she might +not begin to cry. + +She did not, however; there was something soothing in the church and +the stillness and the people, which was unlike the summer day outside. +But when Karl Vangen went into the pulpit, and his prayer was the one +which he had used on her first school-day--that on meeting, almost word +for word the same--it disturbed her: that even Karl Vangen's prayer +should be a lesson from earlier days. This little coincidence occupied +her, and she did not follow him. She gathered that the sermon dealt +with conversion, and that Karl Vangen, as was his custom, illustrated +what he was saying by examples from real life. But she had heard these +examples at school, every one of them. + +She was roused by the name of John Wesley. His conversion, Vangen +considered, was the most thorough, the fullest in every particular, +that he knew of. He related it, and then passed on to give examples of +sudden conversions, especially some by Wesley himself; other natures +with different pasts, with different kinds of knowledge, influenced by +other fears. He wished to speak of these sudden conversions separately +to-day. He had known a young girl who had a burning desire for grace +for her sins, which she could by no means obtain, until one day she saw +Rubens' picture of the Crucifixion, and Mary Magdalene standing with +long flowing hair at the foot of the cross. She would be Mary +Magdalene. And all at once it was a joy to her to imagine herself at +the foot of the cross in the place of Mary Magdalene; her thoughts +dwelt on this so powerfully that it seemed as though she, and no one +else, stood there. At once she received the knowledge that it was for +_her_ that Jesus was crucified, _her_ sins were forgiven. She was +seized with a great, great joy. The preacher knew several such examples +especially among women. They had clung so persistently to some single +incident in the life of Jesus, some single word of His, something +special in the mystery of grace, and had gazed upon it until it had the +effect of a strong light, a special knowledge. From that time all +became clear to them, their sins were taken from them; their will +became stronger from that day and hour. + +Tora did not hear more, least of all that it was _against_ this that +Vangen wished to speak. Then and there her mind was occupied with an +attempt to follow these examples. His too familiar voice murmured on; +everything round her seemed to fade away. She saw Jesus on the cross in +a strange country, with driving black clouds above Him, each height, +each valley, each tree veiled and mourning. She saw His eyes close, His +chest rise and fall, and it all became night. She felt her own small +sorrows hidden in that awful moment. How long she remained in this +condition she did not know. The sermon was not over, she could not +therefore go; but she could not listen, she did not desire to do so. + +When at length she left the church she had only one wish--to be able to +renew that vision as soon as she could. + +Through all these days she had not been outside the door, she must go +this afternoon. From fear of Fürst she went over towards the mountain, +and from there up into the wood along by the churchyard, and then on to +the big fir-tree on the right, and sat down on the stone under it--it +was smooth and flat. She had not come to dream or to enjoy herself, but +for real help to consecrate her life. These weary days had enlightened +her; she knew now that her character combined a little of everything; +that she wished for a little of everything, even of what was wrong, so +that she would be an easy prey for a rogue. She had not been +sufficiently guarded from the first; she had been completely +unprepared--nay, the danger had had something attractive in it. + +This must now be changed; she would do any kind of work, if only it +would be a restraint on her. She had no more ambition now, nothing but +dread. + +She fell upon her knees, and with her blood coursing the faster from +her hurried ascent, she offered her prayer in her abasement. It was the +most humble, piteous pleading. Her distress was extreme. Power to +resist the will which conquered hers! She did not doubt for a moment +that her petition would be instantly and literally granted. + +Mentally she saw herself endowed with strength, she saw herself without +fear--even with a mission; no matter what it was, so that it continued. +And that should regulate her life. Willingly! Always! She could not +picture to herself greater joy, honour, or riches than to give herself +to some hard task; it was her nature to wish for extremes. + +And now she began to contemplate herself--no, she came to a stand, her +mind was disturbed when she thought of her friends. Milla's greatest +anxiety in her last letter had been lest the weather should not +continue fine, and Nora had feared that they might forget to send her +some new music. Why should she alone, who was hiding here, have such +dreadful trouble? Her desolate position ought to have made people pity +her, but it only encouraged them. + +She sat, turned away from the view, leaning against the big fir-tree. +Before her she saw alder woods, nothing but young luxuriant alder +woods, and fronds of bracken in a thick mass. Ah! how impotent all that +was, that they had discussed together at the Society's meetings, and at +other places. Only a few weeks ago, and now she must hide herself here. +If this became known, she would no doubt lose the small status she had +gained for herself. She would hardly go again to the Engels, she would +not be allowed to be Milla's friend, perhaps not be able even to go up +to Fru Rendalen's again; she began to cry, but she tried to collect +herself. The image of the sly, excited, accursed face that she had seen +from behind the stone down below, seemed to stab her--to thrill through +her; she understood that the dread with which she terrified herself was +greater danger to her than the actual man. + +She ought to have gone home again, but it was a shame not to test her +strength, and so she stayed there. + + +As Tora, a short time before, was climbing the hill, Niels Fürst was +sauntering up and down the deck of a vessel, the captain of which he +knew, and just as she reached the flat stone under the fir-tree he had +taken up the new ship's telescope to try it; he focussed it and turned +it towards the river-bank, and from there gradually upwards across the +wooden slopes. Tora had just seated herself on the stone as the +telescope was turned to that point, and he recognised her. + +He took a short cut across the market-place, and turned up to the right +of "The Estate" gardens. + +Latterly he had thought of nothing but her, he could not occupy +himself, and he slept badly. He had never been in pursuit of so +beautiful a girl before. + +Although day after day she passed his house, she constantly eluded his +pursuit, and all his efforts were still fruitless. All that was needed +was to find her in her hiding-place; one could not do her a greater +service. Nay, the oftener she hid herself, the greater would be the +refinement of her pleasure in being discovered. Now he understood why +she had left Fru Gröndal's that day--now he saw why she had cried on +board the steamer. Ah, these little girls! But the pursuit would become +wearisome if it continued much longer. His own credit was at stake as +well; no one must suppose that they could befool _him_. His character, +too, would be safer when this was all settled; she would be silent +then. If only she did not see him too soon, if he could only get near +enough to hold her with his eyes! + +Notwithstanding his intense excitement, he advanced skilfully, not by +the path, but straight up through the wood under cover of the leaves. +He scrambled where he could not walk, he climbed where he could not +scramble. She sat there, searching for some definite idea which might +be extended until it entirely occupied and engrossed her mind; but she +was not successful--there was something which always distracted her. +Just then a branch snapped down below. She had constantly felt tempted +to turn round. Was there really anything behind her? She looked down +below her. At first she saw nothing; yes, the branches moved and she +heard the leaves rustle. That might be a horse or cow from "The +Estate"; they came up here for pasture. All the same, she felt very +hot; she wanted to get up and go away; but her eyes continued fixed on +the branches below, there was something dark beneath them. A head +pushed its way through, a man--_he!_ How in the world----? Did he know +that she----? How did he come to----? She bewildered herself with +useless, frightened questions. He looked up. With all her power she +raised herself, though her feet felt as heavy as lead; but she did not +turn from him, or attempt to go away, and by degrees she lost the +desire to do so. Now there was only the stone between them, a wave of +terror swept over her and roused her; she turned her head now, +staggered a few steps--and met him. She leaned forward, he took her +hand, his arm slipped under hers--she felt as though a burning band +were round her. She fell so unexpectedly and so heavily that he nearly +fell with her. + + + + + + VI + + WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY + + + + + CHAPTER I + + HAPPINESS + + +"Dear Nora, + +"I know beforehand that this will not be a regular letter, I have no +time for one. I almost think that you had better not show it to the +others, they will hardly understand my feelings. Last, but not least, +there is something which divides the others from us two; I feel that +instinctively. If only I could do away with some of what I--feel, I had +almost written again. You must know that I have passed the greatest, +the most beautiful, the most enchanting day in my life. + +"Ah! now you are curious. I will not bother you, but all the same I +must begin with how and why I came to do so. + +"When we arrived at Copenhagen, who should meet us at the station but +Niels Fürst! Of course it had been arranged between him and papa. I saw +that at once, but papa is so clever at keeping a secret. Do you know +where Niels Fürst came from? From Sofiero. Yes, now it is written, and +you understand the whole thing. I told you that, long ago, papa had had +the honour of being invited by his Majesty to come and see Sofiero the +next time he went abroad. There are not many Norwegians to whom that +has happened, so it was very flattering to papa. + +"He had said nothing to me; he did not wish to make me nervous before +the time, he said. Fürst came straight from Sofiero--fancy, he is +perhaps to be made orderly officer to the prince who is a sailor--his +Royal Highness Prince Oscar, that is to say. Fürst told us at what time +the train would leave the next day. Good heavens! actually the next +day. We were expected, then! I was not allowed to make any toilette, I +was to appear just in my travelling dress, as papa was to do as well. +That naughty Lieutenant Fürst--you know he is related to us--he calls +me cousin, though I am not one. He said I was pretty enough as I was. +Do you know him? + +"It was now a question of getting some sleep after the journey--one +does not look well when one has not slept. I have never struggled so +hard to go to sleep before. I was terribly startled, you see. I thought +about the stupidest things in the world. Do you remember chief +custom-house officer Jacobsen's nose? I lay and stared at his nose, +till I really fell asleep thinking of it and of the town bailiff; and I +can tell you I was so tired, that when I was once asleep, I slept like +a top. I was, thank goodness, none the worse when I got up. But it was +awful, really awful later on. You have never been in such +circumstances, so perhaps it may seem odd to you that the more I +thought of the important moment, and that I had no lady to refer to +(men can never tell one anything, and so they laugh), the more +terrified I became. It was rather a cold morning, and one thing with +the other, the cold and the fright--Fürst called it cannon fever--I was +most miserably uncomfortable. It was dreadfully silly; at last I could +not altogether conceal it. You understand. But I consoled myself with +the thought that I was not the first girl to whom this had happened, +when she was to be presented at Court. I was really quite ill at last, +and therefore have hardly any impression of the journey, or what we +talked about. For all that, I got into a dispute. Fürst said that all +the monarchies were trying to gather the wealthy classes about +themselves against the lower classes. That seems to me to be too bad. +Is the monarchy meant to protect itself? I thought it was to protect +the lower classes, and I said so too. Papa began to tease me about the +Society and school, and Karen Lote's history lessons; you can hear him, +can't you? Fürst asked who was to protect the wealthy classes in that +case? They must protect themselves, I should suppose. At all events, it +is wicked of them to betray the lower classes, is it not? + +"Oh, how enchanting Oresund is! When we crossed (I forgot to say that +we came there, that is, to Helsingör, by railway) you see what I am +to-day.... No, I will pass that altogether, or I shall never be ready. +Father wants me to go out with him this morning, you will soon see why. +I will begin with the Palace, which can be seen from the Sound; it is +magnificently situated, but is not so large as we had expected. So at +last we arrived at Helsingborg. There, now you _will_ be astonished--a +royal carriage was waiting for us. Both papa and Fürst took it as a +matter of course, but I am certain that they were at least as +astonished as I was. + +"The carriage was just like any other; it is the livery which is the +important point. But I was in the most deadly terror how it would all +go off. The weather had, however, become delightful. I was obliged to +leave them for a moment before we got into the carriage. + +"You can imagine how upset I was by it all, when I tell you that I +perspired through my gloves. Of course I had another pair to put on +when I got there. Papa drove me to despair by saying, 'My dear child, +how wretched you look.' I really believe I had tears in my eyes, for +Fürst, who was opposite to me, began to try to amuse me, but I hardly +heard what he said. But still through it all I noticed that the +formation was a mixture of sandstone and coal strata, and that there +was a lot of iron in the rocks. I thought of Rendalen and his maps and +collections. You cannot imagine how all this passed through my mind in +the midst of my fright. If any one would have taken me home again, at +the price of every pretty thing I possess, I would have accepted the +offer, I can assure you. We drove through a little wood, and came out +into a great open quadrangle--the Palace. + +"When I saw the quadrangle and the grass there--how do things come into +one's head?--I remembered so distinctly the lesson at school when I +learned that _bowling-green_ meant in English just such a place as +this; and that Fru Rendalen came into the class at the moment and asked +why it was called a bowling-green? and that Tora whispered it to me. +How cleverly Tora could do such things! I have no further recollection +of where we drew up. I got out of the carriage, when a very grand +gentleman met us, and gave me his arm. We were shown to some rooms. A +lady came with me, thank goodness. I was not myself till that moment. I +looked at myself in the glass. What a fright I was! I saw that at once +in papa's face when we met in a sitting-room. Fancy, I never noticed in +what direction we went or where the room was. Guess where we were going +to. Into the garden, where we were to lunch with their Majesties. There +could not have been greater condescension to the townsfolk of a little +Norwegian town, could there? Do you remember how we dressed our dolls +for a Court ball? The same gentleman--Fürst does not remember his name, +but I believe he was a gentleman-in-waiting--escorted me and said +something to me in Swedish. I could not understand him, my wits were +wool-gathering. + +"No one could have been in a greater state of mind. When I saw the +garden and came into it--it all whirled round me, trees, people, table, +servants, chairs--the awful fright I was in almost made me drop. I used +all my strength, I can assure you. The gentleman whose arm I had, must +have felt my hand tremble, or have read my trouble in my face; he told +me not to be frightened, their Majesties were so charming. I understood +that. + +"Oh dear, and how wonderfully good they were; especially the King. Oh, +that smile, the shape of the hand, those eyes! It was a perfect ocean +of goodness--but more than goodness. There is something, especially in +the eyes, which fascinates one. I will use the word heaven rather than +ocean to describe those eyes, for then you can better understand what +the Swedes call _tjusande_.[3] There is no word in Norse for it. Yes, +_tjusande!_ Only southern people have such eyes. How cold and +egotistical we are, I must say it, when we look at them. At all events, +I feel it so. + +"Now you shall hear something wonderful: from the time--I may say from +the very second--in which his Majesty's eyes rested on me, I felt well +again. Well, did I say? I felt this look fill and warm my whole being. +I felt it--it is strange, is it not? but on my honour it is true--I +felt it in my knees; yes, in my knees. There is only one word in our +language which can fully express my state of mind; I am almost in the +same state now, merely with telling you about it, the others would not +understand me. I was in a state of _beatitude_. Perhaps it is profane, +or at least wrong, to use this word in such a sense, but it is _true_. + +"What do you think the King said? 'Welcome to my house, Fröken,' in the +prettiest, sweetest Norse I ever heard. + +"The Queen smiled. She asked me what town I came from. The King +answered for me. + +"'What is the clergyman called?' asked the Queen. + +"'Karl Vangen,' I said; but that was stupid; I ought to have mentioned +the Dean's name or that of one of the elder clergy. At the same time +the King welcomed my father, who stood there with Fürst, and said to +him, 'I think the lieutenant has excellent taste.' That is exactly what +he said, word for word; I have often thought of it since, for it +evidently showed that Niels Fürst had spoken about me in these high +places. I did not know that they would trouble themselves about +anything so insignificant. + +"We then went to table, the same elegant gentleman took me. 'Well?' +said he in Swedish, and I hastened to answer that I was enchanted. +'Every one is,' he assured me. We did not sit down, but walked about as +we liked, and first one and then another came up and was presented to +me. Only think! one of them was a Count, another a Baron, then a +Countess, a Baroness, and a Master of the Horse: he in particular came +and walked about, and talked continually. + +"It was not exactly what they said, but their whole style and manner +had something incredibly intellectual and winning. But there was +something as well in the place and surroundings which helped, for I +felt as though I were not on earth. + +"The servants themselves made me feel uneasy and small, they gave me +the impression of being so careful, so attentive, of knowing so well +how everything should be. + +"I did not always do things right. We Norwegians do not learn anything. +No, there was a nobility, a beauty and kindness, and it was all so +bright and yet so stately; none of the Princes were there, though. What +we had to eat (I hardly touched anything) I can say by heart, for I +wrote it down in my diary, and I will copy it for Tora; that and the +furniture of the castle, and a thousand other things which you do not +care about. You do not understand anything about nice dishes, but I +arrange it so as to tell you all the more intellectual things, and you +must not show it to any one. My word, if you do! Nora, you don't know, +but I must have one confidante, or happiness would be a burden. I have +never felt as I have done yesterday and to-day. I am quite upset. I +will write to Tora about my dress. Of course I have a new one, which I +think would have surprised you all, although there is not much to be +done in black. Still I think it suits me. I got a glimpse of myself in +several mirrors at the castle, for you must understand that we were +shown over it. On the side where we came in first, to the left, is the +great apartment where the royal entertainments are held in all their +grandeur. Ah! if one could only be present. This room is decorated in +white, with an arabesque on a blue ground, and great big pictures, one +by Markus Larsson, full of sunlight, but I don't know what it is, it is +so extraordinary; and divans and chairs in blue silk--an enormous +chandelier of different coloured glass, magnificent! Near the wall two +black figures, dressed in red and gold, holding lamps, real works of +art. A huge marble fireplace, the shape we call '_Pies_,'[4] but the +word is so ugly; and a richly gilded clock and porcelain vases; a +particularly noticeable flower-stand in Japanese porcelain, very +curious. Also a Chinese or Japanese writing-table made of black wood, +with gold ornaments. But that was in the cabinet. + +"But no; I will scratch out about the cabinet. You shall read all about +it in Tora's letter. I will just tell you that you look out from the +great balcony over the Sound, and see all the ships and steamers, and +Helsingborg and Krongborg. There is not a view like it in the North. +How should there be? Do you think we did not go into the bedrooms? I +don't know if that were right, but we did. I really have to restrain +myself from telling you about them at once, and about their Majesties' +sitting-rooms. Imagine white silk hangings over both walls and ceiling, +with a light red border, in the Queen's room. And such a writing-table! +The King's rooms were so nobly simple. On the pillow in the King's +bedroom I saw two hairs--you know what sharp eyes I have. I lagged a +little behind, and took them without any one noticing it. I put them +into the case of my watch. But this reminds me of the great event. When +we went into the garden again, the light fell very strongly right on +the gate, and I saw something written on the railing. I went up to it; +it was in French, and undoubtedly by a lady.... Yes, you see I have +scratched that out again. For when one has made up one's mind not to +repeat a thing, it shall not be repeated. It was horrid. I rubbed it +out with my finger; but I had to be quick, and I got a splinter into my +finger, through my glove, and made it bleed. So I rubbed it out with my +blood. I have not said a word to any living being about it until now, +nor must you tell it to any one. To papa I said I had pricked my finger +while I was trying to gather a rose. + +"If any one should have seen me--but they were looking at something in +the garden; or if any one had seen what was written before I did? Is it +not extraordinary? + +"The royal party and their attendants were no longer in the garden, but +the gentleman who had met us now joined us. As he did not show any +intention of taking us to the others, papa asked him to convey our +respectful thanks to their Majesties, and we then left the garden. The +carriage came up again, and my elegant cavalier handed me a beautiful +bouquet from the royal garden. What do you think of that? It is before +me as I write. The flowers are of the Swedish and Norwegian colours. To +be sure, Fürst says they are the commonest flowers, but I thought there +was more meaning in it than that. I especially admire a lily and a +rose. I put a few forget-me-nots into my letter, for I must tell you, +my dear Nora, that I am not coming home again. I hope this will be +nearly as great an astonishment to you as it was to me, when papa told +me this morning. I am to go to Paris to learn French thoroughly. + +"'Is that a determination he has only lately come to, or why did he not +tell me before?' you will naturally inquire. + +"You must know that we start to-morrow. What do you think of that? Papa +cannot spare the time to remain away longer. + +"'But why did we not go direct?' you ask again. I asked the same thing, +although, Heaven knows, I would not have missed yesterday for the +world. + +"Papa answered that he came to the determination yesterday. Lieutenant +Fürst drew his attention to the fact that all well-bred Swedish ladies +speak French as well as they do Swedish, and that all Germans and +Russians know it; besides which, every well-educated woman ought to +speak French like her mother tongue. + +"It is not disagreeable to me to travel. To be sure, it will be for at +least a year that I shall be separated from you all, but we shall have +all the more to tell each other when we meet again. + +"There is one thing I must ask you about. Lieutenant Fürst says +that---- I had got so far when father came in this morning, and I had +to hide my letter. He took me out all in a hurry. We are only just home +again this evening, and do you know what for? To pack up and start at +once. A fresh determination! Lieutenant Fürst will give father the +pleasure of coming with him. I shall put my letter just as it is into +the letter-box at the station. I suspect that if I were to read it +through again you would not get it.--Your loving + + "Milla." + + +Nora and her mother had left the Baths when the letter got there. It +was forwarded to Christiania, where they were staying. When Nora +returned she found a telegram, dated from Hamburg, which ran: "Do not +read the letter which is coming; send it me,' Hôtel Continental, +Paris.'" But the letter had been already read. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A MISFORTUNE + + +Soon after the beginning of the term Miss Hall began a series of +lectures for the ladies of the town; it had become the fashion to hear +a little of all the objectionable things which their daughters and +sisters had learned about in the past year. The lectures were held +twice a week in the great laboratory, which as a rule was full. Most of +those who had been in the senior class the previous year, and had now +left, attended these lectures. One day late in October, when they were +assembling in the lecture-hall, Tora came in, accompanied by her +friends. There was general astonishment and greeting. Where had she +been? Why was she so pale? And, good gracious, how thin! It was true, +then, that she had been ill. Was it in the west country that she had +been staying? When had she returned to the town? Would she live up here +now? + +The conversation ceased as Fru Rendalen and Miss Hall came in, and +those who were not seated turned to find places. But it was soon seen +that there were not sufficient seats; the crowd had never been so +great, for Miss Hall was lecturing upon certain phenomena of the nerves +which had till now been overlooked or denied, and the lectures became +more interesting every time. + +To gain space, the large double door leading to the entrance-hall was +opened, the outer door being closed. A number of chairs were placed in +the hall, and two rows as well in front of the laboratory table. Fru +Rendalen's commanding voice was heard giving directions, till quiet was +obtained. Tora and her friends found places at the furthest end of one +of these rows of chairs. + +Miss Hall took up her subject where she had broken off at the last +lecture. + +"The health and morality of mankind demanded that woman's nerves should +be strengthened. It was not enough that she should feel physically +comfortable, her will must be ripened by knowledge; she must have an +aim in life which will not readily allow her to remain the mere slave +of another human being." In a professional manner she ran shortly +through what she had said before, for the benefit of those who had not +been present. + +"People with weak nerves, and especially those of an hysterical +temperament, can by certain mechanical operations be brought into a +'hypnotic,' 'somnambulistic,' or 'magnetic' condition. This condition +was impotence combined with consciousness; we did, while in this state, +what he wished who had brought us into it. We were his prey, and that +not only while we slept, but afterwards when we were awakened--we +absolutely obeyed the commands we had received while we were in this +condition." Miss Hall reminded her hearers of one or two examples she +had given. + +"In this state certain mediums could visit other places, read the +thoughts of others, both near and far. Some few could even see into +futurity. + +"This fact could no longer be denied, nor could it be explained. At one +time it was believed that this result was dependent on belief; now it +is known that belief has nothing to do with it. _Certain people could +bring themselves_ into this abnormal condition, some by great exertion, +others merely by wishing it. They all accomplish this--with whatever +object--by fixing their minds upon some single thing, either in their +thoughts or in the exterior world. + +"Most of us know a little of the effect of doing this, but only those +with weak nerves and in certain conditions can bring themselves by it +into a state of excitement and abstraction. Many conversions have taken +place by this means, especially among women. In this way we come to-day +to what is the most dangerous for women. Some people have the power of +bringing others, and especially women, into this condition without the +ordinary mechanical means, without approaching them, without any +movement, merely by a look. They can force people to look at them, and, +with their eyes on theirs, command their will." + +Miss Hall related a story which she had heard of a very celebrated +singer. One day she was in a railway carriage; the train had just +stopped, and she was looking out of the window furthest from the +platform, when she felt an uncomfortable sensation, felt constrained to +turn round; she met the gaze of a pair of eyes which seemed to stab +her, and which looked straight into hers. She hurried out at once and +changed compartments, but the man followed her; he was probably aware +of his power and wished to use it. The lady found her _Impresario_, and +begged him to free her "from those green eyes." It was done, but she +felt certain that otherwise she would have been lost. "Now the Prima +Donna happened to be conscious of her own weakness, but how many are +so? More especially if touch is added to the power of the eyes, they +are lost. A man who does not know what it is, takes it naturally for a +desire for more, and acts accordingly. But this need not be so. I dare +assert that many a woman who has fallen is as guiltless as an +unconscious child." + +A chair is overturned--something heavy and soft falls to the ground; +other chairs are pushed aside, and exclamations are heard from several +of the audience as they hastily rise. + +Every one now got up, those behind standing on the forms. Through all +the bustle they heard the words, "Stand back!" It was Fru Rendalen's +voice. Those who were standing on the benches could not contrive to see +anything, and questioned those before them in whispers. Only those +quite near saw what it was, and they made no answer, nor did they move +till Fru Rendalen and one or two others had lifted up an inanimate form +which Fru Rendalen carried out in her arms--it was Tora. "Stand back!" +was heard again. + +Miss Hall followed her, then Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne, and then +several others. Miss Hall hurried forward as soon as they were in the +hall, and opened the door of Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; she went +quickly in, and arranged a cushion on the sofa, while Fru Rendalen laid +down her burden with Nora's assistance. Miss Hall turned to all those +who were standing round and asked them to leave the room; as soon as +Fru Rendalen could raise herself she sharply repeated the request. They +all went away. Outside in the hall they encountered a stream of people +coming from the laboratory--every one was curious; others came from the +class-rooms, which were opening one after the other. But Nora, who had +grown deadly white, took upon herself to stay. When her unhappy friend +began to show signs of life she was seized with a fearful suspicion. +She ran forward and fastened the doors leading to the two passages. It +was hardly done when she heard Tora call out, "Yes, yes, that happened +to me! Oh yes." And a fit of despairing crying followed. It sounded +through the passages. Supposing any one outside should hear it? Nora +flew into the inner passage, meeting the stream of people; she did not +clearly know how she could hinder them from coming near the doors. She +never knew how she got through the crowd of grown people and children; +how she gathered voice and courage to call out that they must not go +on, they must all come back again. She mounted the tribune and rapped +loudly with a ruler. They came streaming in from all quarters. She +rapped again, and every one was quiet. She said: "Tora Holm has had +nervous fever. The air in here was too close, and what was said +frightened her, and--and--and--oh yes, Miss Hall is coming directly." + +She made this last assertion because she did not know what else to say. +She rushed away so as not to burst into tears while she was in the +room. + +Miss Hall, however, could not come, and at last Fru Rendalen had to go +in and mount the tribune. + +"I must beg your indulgence. Miss Hall is obliged to remain with the +invalid. I must partly take the blame on myself for what has happened. +Fröken Holm, being so unwell, ought never to have sat in this crowd. I +ought also to have noticed her sooner, but I was entirely engrossed in +the lecture. It often happens that we who are occupied in teaching +allow ourselves to be too much taken up with it." Her voice +trembled--she was as white as her own cap; she left without heeding +those who wished to speak to her. + +In Fru Rendalen's bedroom Nora stood clinging to Tinka, trembling and +crying. Tinka was very dejected. Some one peeped in from the passage. +As no one forbade it, she entered softly; she looked at them with wide +open questioning eyes--it was Anna Rogne. + +"What is it?" she whispered. Nora raised her face; they both looked at +her. Anna remembered some remarks which Tora had made in the course of +the summer; on these she now formed her opinion--"I suspect the worst." +She folded her hands; her tears began to flow. Nora laid her head down +again on Tinka's shoulder and cried bitterly. All the time they could +hear Tora in the sitting-room; they could not distinguish her words, +they were broken, wrung from her by bewilderment, danger, despair. +Presently there was silence; the silence was almost worse, there also +they were as still as death. At last they could bear it no longer, what +did it mean? They exchanged looks, and were on the point of breaking in +on them, when they heard heavy, rapid steps across the floor; the door +was opened violently, and Fru Rendalen rushed past them with her hands +above her head. What is it! in Heaven's name, what is it? + +They went in. Tora was lying on the floor, Miss Hall stood over her; on +the table was a cup of water. Miss Hall looked up quickly. "Help me to +get her up again." They did so; they saw that Tora had not fainted, but +she either would not or could not help herself. When she again lay on +the sofa, looking like death--ghastly, thin, dishevelled--Miss Hall +turned with a meaning look towards the others. They gazed at her +terrified; Miss Hall answered their looks with two confirmatory nods. + +They all three drew back a few steps. After a little while they slipped +out one after the other to Fru Rendalen. She was sitting motionless in +a large arm-chair. Nora came and laid her hand on her lap. There was +not a word spoken. + +Again they heard Tora from within. They heard her explain, cry, bemoan +herself. Miss Hall came in to them. "What is it now?" asked Fru +Rendalen almost grudgingly, she was quite overdone. + +"Did you know," said Miss Hall, "that he came after her again?" They +stared at her. "She had taken refuge out on an island with the family +of a pilot. He traced her and laid wait for her there as well, the +wretch! It was then that she went into the west country, where she was +taken ill." + +"The poor child!" cried Fru Rendalen. Her sympathy was aroused again; +she got up quickly, and went back to Tora; she ought never to have left +her. + +"My dear, dear child," she said. But the moment Tora saw her she turned +and repulsed her with her hands, crying "No, no, no! Don't come; don't +say anything--no, no, no! It is not my fault, it is not my fault. Yes, +great God, it is my fault!" And she broke into the wildest crying. + +All the same, Fru Rendalen came up to her; so soon as she could she +said, "Don't take it in this way, my child; we shall never desert you +for it." This seemed to calm her, but when Fru Rendalen added that some +steps must be taken, she must speak to her son about it, Tora broke out +again, "No, no, no! Oh God, no!" She became almost frantic. + +"But, dear Tora, you know yourself how things are. It cannot be helped, +this will become known everywhere." + +"I know, I know; but say nothing to him. No, I must get out of the way +first. Do not say anything. There is no need." She raved on, and her +voice was so heart-breaking that they all hastened to her. They wanted +to quiet her by holding her, but she did not look at them. Each time +she freed her hands or her head, and cried and implored, "They must, +must, must be silent." In the midst of it all arrived Rendalen. He had +chanced to open the bath-room door, and so heard the cries and moans. +He thought that they came from the bedroom and crossed the passage to +it. There he stood; Tora sprang up with a shriek, and then suddenly +flung herself down, with her face in her hands. Fru Rendalen went +towards her son, took him by the hand, and went with him to his room. +Tora tried to rise, to go away. She would live no longer--no, not for +the whole world. She struggled with the others, but for Tinka she would +have fled. She was beside herself. She implored and struggled. Tinka +held her till her strength began to fail; she called for help. Anna +fetched Fru Rendalen, and as soon as she came Tora gave in. She allowed +herself to be led by her to the sofa, and, when she was calmer, into +the bedroom. There she was undressed and laid in a bed, which had been +placed by the side of Fru Rendalen's. Fru Rendalen was obliged to sit +by her side and hold her hand--even in her sleep she sobbed like a +child and bemoaned herself. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF + PEACE WITHOUT + + +When Fru Rendalen took her son by the hand, when she proposed to speak +to him, it was by no means with pleasure that she did so, but, on the +contrary, with great anxiety. + +The relations between mother and son had, as we know, for some time +lost their confidential character; for some time they had not been +good, and at the present moment they were actually bad. On his side it +almost amounted to a breach. No one could interfere, not even Karl +Vangen. Tomas declined to speak on the subject, it pained him if Karl +brought it up. This last phase had been produced quite by chance, by an +external cause. + +According to arrangement, Tora Holm was to have assisted Fru Rendalen; +but when she remained ill in the west country, Nora offered to take her +place. Nora's gifts lay in a different direction from Tora's--her help +was therefore given in a different way; among other things, she was +deputed to keep the books. One day when, for want of something to do, +Nora chanced to be comparing past and present expenses, turning over +the earlier pages of the books, Tomas, elegant as usual, hurried +through the room on his way out. "Who is this Tomasine," Nora inquired, +"who has had so much money? It is not your mother, for she always puts +'self' in the entries, and nothing more." + +"Tomasine? I never heard of any Tomasine." He came up to her, put down +his hat, and in his short-sighted way bent over the register, knitting +his light eyebrows, staring with his sharp grey eyes. She turned over +the pages and showed him the entries, month after month, which extended +back for several years. She could not make much of it, but _he_ began +to do so; for her the subject had no great interest, for him it +appeared all-important. While he studied the books, she observed him +and the effect which his near neighbourhood had on her; it was +agreeable. She looked at the freckles on his clean-shaven face. In +repose the sharp lines of the mouth, the quickness of the eyes, and the +power of the brow showed more distinctly; the strong jaw, the bristling +red hair, pleased her. She followed the short, slightly recurved, +nervous fingers as they turned over the leaves and toyed with the cover +of the book. A strong, freckled hand, covered thickly with light +bristles, a thick wrist--one felt the strength of the arm, she traced +it involuntarily to the shoulder; how strong he must be. She heard the +scraping of his necktie on his shirt-front when he drew his breath. She +noticed the slight whiff of scent which, now that his head was so near +her, mingled with the smell of his skin. Something of half terror, an +intoxication, a feeling of increased intelligence came over her--her +thoughts moved more quickly, were more highly strung. She wished it +might continue--it was absolutely pleasant. + +"Where is mother?" + +"I don't know." + +"This is very curious." He took up his hat and went out. Hardly five +minutes later, Fru Rendalen came quickly in from the inner passage. +"You excite yourself so, Tomas." + +"Excite myself?" As soon as she saw that Nora was there she turned +quickly towards him. "Hush," she said, and went towards her bedroom, he +following her. Nora heard him talking quickly and without a pause; she +could hear Fru Rendalen as well, parrying his words, and at last +tearfully justifying herself. At length he went away; long afterwards +Fru Rendalen came back, sad and sorrowful. "I have done a dreadfully +foolish thing," said Nora shamefacedly. + +Fru Rendalen made no reply; she continued to walk slowly up and down. +It was more than she could bear alone, and Nora's evident sympathy +tempted her. + +"God knows, I believed it was one of the best acts of my life, and now +I am told it is the worst." Tears bedewed her spectacles, and as usual +she turned her attention to them as she sat down. Nora rose and came +forward sympathetically. "But, dear Fru Rendalen." She knelt down +beside her. The old lady wanted this friendliness, wanted some one to +confide in, and so Nora learned that "Tomasine" was Tomas's sister. The +girl had begun well, but from the time that she had gone to America she +fell into bad ways, and was sent home again, out of her mind. Fru +Rendalen had paid for her till her death. She had been entirely silent +about it to her son--why need he know of it? But now he fell upon her +with the most frightful accusations. The dead girl had had the same +right in her father's fortune as he; the law on this subject was vile, +no honourable person could abide by it. In the most violent words he +had cast his sister's misfortune in Fru Rendalen's face. _She_ was +responsible for it. + +Nora was dismayed. She had heard one or two things said since she had +been up here, but this----! + +Rendalen's manner during the time which followed frightened her, if +possible, still more; she suffered almost as much as Fru Rendalen. He +treated his mother distantly and coldly when he was obliged to be with +her; as a rule he avoided her. + +From the time he was a boy Tomas had at times felt her to be +coarse-grained and wanting in refinement, as though he had no +relationship with her. The feeling had always yielded to gratitude, and +to the similarity in their views and purposes of life; and, whatever +his feelings might be, he nourished a constant admiration for her +strength and power of government. His ill-temper had always come +suddenly, and passed away directly. + +It was quite the contrary at a later time. + +His mother did not understand all this, neither did Karl, but they +realised that he was unhappy. He seemed to them to be in a growing +state of self-torment, and in this they were not mistaken. He would +discover, with all the ingenuity of a _Kierkegaard_, that if _he_ had +never existed, his sister would have lived happily. She would have had +the property then, and the hereditary tendency would not have grown +into insanity; or he would picture his sister brought up there with +him, with Augusta, and with the other girls, in the garden, in the +school; all those strangers had admittance here, she only had not--his +sister, his father's daughter. That his mother could with an easy +conscience buy herself free from this imperative duty, and that with a +few paltry daler a month; that she had never felt that more was +demanded of her!--what a crime had been committed against the +unfortunate girl, and she had never once comprehended this! + +In the midst of it all came the incident of Tora. His mother _insisted_ +on speaking to him. The first time, as we know, she was interrupted; +but when Tora was asleep she went in and confided it all to him. He +perceived at once its bearing on the school, on her friends, and on +himself, and fell into such a fury against Niels Fürst, whom he had not +loved before, as can be best described by his own exclamation: "If I +had him here I would beat him to a jelly with my own two hands." + +Although Tomas had no outward resemblance to his father, he could look +so like him that it made Fru Rendalen shudder. + +This very fear gave her courage. For a whole year she had seen how his +impatience, irritability, and quickness of temper increased. When she +herself aroused it she did no more than justify herself, or perhaps go +away; he had really cowed her by degrees. + +But now another was in question. Tora's despair forced her on; it had, +too, an alarming resemblance to what she saw before her. When, after +another overpowering outburst, he was about to rush away, she placed +herself before him. + +"Tomas, you frighten the life out of me with your violence. You give +way to it more and more; it will grow beyond you at last, my son." + +He shuddered, and grew deadly white. + +"Yes, excess is excess in whatever way it shows itself, and I think you +ought to be on your guard." + +Her voice trembled; their eyes met and measured each other; an +unhappiness and bitterness had risen into his, which wounded her. + +"What, Tomas, may I not so much as warn you--I, your own mother? No, do +not look at me like that. It is not _my_ fault. I have combated it as +well as I could--yes, before you were born, Tomas, and I intend to +combat it still. For the last year you have not struggled against your +temper, and it is especially on me that you vent it." + +He stood near the window, looking out. He turned now with a melancholy +expression. + +"What is it, Tomas? Tell me, in God's name, what it is." + +But he turned away again, and laid his head on his arm. + +"I do not understand you, Tomas, you are so supercilious to me. You say +there is something naturally blind about me, and I know it. Yes, you +often humiliate me--often when I am alone, and that I can bear; but +often before others as well, and that you should not do. At all events, +you ought to be able to bear having your faults pointed out to you by +me." + +She said the last words almost humbly; they worked strongly upon him. +He did not speak, but he turned and began to walk quickly up and down +in visible agitation. + +"If I could only understand what it is you are vexed with me for. It is +not only what you rebuked me for---- Yes, Tomas, you cannot bear to +hear that word; but I have had to endure more than words. It is not +that alone; there is something more under all this. What is it? Why do +you never talk, now, Tomas, either to me or Karl? You are unhappy; do +you think we have not noticed it? I would so joyfully do anything for +you. Even if I am inferior to you----" + +"I cannot endure to hear that word," he cried. + +"No, no, but you never will condescend to speak to me, so I am +compelled to think--no, I will not say that, but you see yourself what +you are; one must not so much as make use of a word before you, and +you---- But I will be silent, I see that you are suffering, my son; if +only you would remember that I suffer as well. Great heavens! must I +ask permission before I remind you that this has been going on for a +year? I have not the slightest idea what is the matter--not the +slightest, Tomas, beyond what results from my want of ability. If there +is anything that I can set right, only tell me--tell me, whatever it +is. Can you not trust me?" + +"Cannot you trust me?" he burst out, and threw himself down on the +sofa, with his face in his hands. + +And then it transpired that he thirsted for sympathy. + +His was a warm, impulsive nature, which must have trust and affection +if he were not to waste his whole life. The independence to which he +had accustomed himself, and which had increased during his violent +studies, his continual journeys, and by his different plans, had +changed into a sense of deprivation--had been succeeded by the most +terrible hunger when he was here in the midst of a daily recurring +life, full of heartiness and devotion--devotion to one another, while +he was always outside it. All his being yearned for what he saw. "Not +the cursed littlenesses," as he expressed himself; "no, only to have +trust as the groundwork of everything--trust, and nothing but trust." + +They must just bear with him and take him as he was, _because they +believed in him_. Otherwise, he should go to destruction. + +Fru Rendalen sat there, she had taken his head on her lap; she listened +and listened, her heart swelled, and she laid her spectacles aside, for +they were no longer any use to her. + +"He is right," she thought; "oh, how right he is!" One image rose up in +her mind after another; above all, the incident with the teachers. She +had believed them at once, and to humour them had taken the school away +from him, and from that time forward had in a manner controlled it. +Till this moment she had lived in the blessed delusion that he was +indifferent to this--nay, that it was a relief to him. And thus things +began to dawn upon her which she might otherwise never have discovered. +She did not understand this delicate, sensitive nature. If his +repressed powers did not recover their strength, the fault would be +hers. + +"You mean about the teachers, Tomas?" she asked, and she could hardly +control her voice. He took her hands and held them while he enumerated +his grievances. + +There were, oh, such a string of them, both great and small--some so +small that she had never been conscious of them. An answer, a word of +advice in passing, a remark to some one else, even a silent look in +response to something he had said. In her distress, the worthy Fru +Rendalen asked his pardon with voice and gesture and tender embraces, +declaring that hereafter if he said he wished to go to the moon, she +would believe him. She had never worked herself up before to such +decided exaggeration, so that Tomas was forced to smile. Her memory was +awakened. She remembered clearly how it had all happened, and how she +had first lost confidence in him. It had been after his famous lecture; +he had taken her much farther with him on to "slippery ice" than she +had really the courage to go, and she had only discovered this +afterwards. That was the foundation of it all. His power of persuasion, +his gift for talking people over, and something indescribable added to +this, carried one away; that was undoubtedly what the teachers had +felt. Now unfortunately it is the way with mankind, that as soon as we +discover that any one has carried us farther than it suits us to go, we +not only try to fight against it--that would be right enough--but we +look ever afterwards with mistrust at what that person says. Fru +Rendalen knew that at times she had done this, and had tried to correct +it; but she had had no idea how often she had done so, and still less +how often he had noticed it. She knew that she hurt herself when she +did so, but till now it had never occurred to her that she had hurt +him--he seemed so superior and so distant. + +There was a real reconciliation. It was broken off, and taken up again +during the next few days, whenever it was possible. + +The immediate fate of the unfortunate Tora was decided at the same +time, but this was but a small settlement compared to the great one +which had been accomplished. A confidence was now opened between them +which on his side poured out with overwhelming wealth. The long +privation of a year satisfied itself in two days; he was so +spontaneous, so tender, and so loyal in the smallest things, that she +more than admired him, she adored him. If when she was wrapt in her own +thoughts, he came unexpectedly upon her, she coloured; you could see by +her face when she heard his step--she guessed everything he wanted, and +_everything_ he wished for was remarkable. If she saw that he was in a +good humour, she sang--the worst thing she could have done, for no one +ever yet discovered what it was she believed herself to be singing. + +Nora would have felt unhappy if she had not as well been drawn into +this great feast of reconciliation, which lasted from morning till +evening, and from morning till evening again. + +In the midst of all their joy, Tora's affairs, as has been said, were +arranged. Tomas had soon come to a clear understanding of what should +be done. The newspapers announced that Fürst had been ordered to +Stockholm, and he offered to take Tora there at once. Fürst should be +forced to marry her--not, of course, that she should live with such a +scoundrel, but in order to give his name to her child and support to +herself, so that she might learn to do something, and be able to care +for her child. If Rendalen had to go to Fürst's superior officers--nay, +to the King himself--he would answer for it that the wretch should do +her justice. None of those in the secret, least of all Fru Rendalen, +doubted for a moment. They were surrounded by an atmosphere of +confidence and hope. + +The unfortunate Tora had from the first felt the deepest aversion to +Rendalen's plan; the ground on which she consented to yield was +consideration for the school and her friends, that as little shame as +possible might fall on them. They had forborne to mention this, but it +forced itself upon them. + +Only in one particular was Rendalen's plan altered--Fru Rendalen would +go instead of her son; his presence might have produced the very +opposite of what they wished. + +Two days after this plan had been conceived--three days after the +violent interruption to the lecture--Fru Rendalen and Tora set off. + +On the afternoon of the last day Fru Rendalen had become suddenly very +despondent. It was known that there had been some worry about money, +but that was always happening; and, indeed, it had been set right, but, +notwithstanding, the gloom did not disappear. Rendalen went to her and +tried to find out what it was. She put him off with excuses once or +twice, but when he held her fast she was obliged to blurt out that she +could not tell him; it was another person's secret--"not Tora's," she +hastened to add. "Use your own eyes, and then you will not need to +tempt me." He did use them, both on man and beast, but found it quite +impossible to discover the cause of his mother's low spirits. She +carried the secret away with her. He went round and asked everybody, +but they were all equally obtuse. + +It made some stir in the town that Fru Rendalen, at this time of the +year, and in the midst of the school work, should go to Stockholm; and +that if she needed a companion she should have chosen Tora Holm, who +was ill. + +Tora Holm's mother announced with some pride that probably her daughter +would not return, for if Stockholm seemed to be the best place, she +would continue her studies there. Every one had heard that Tora's +talents were more than ordinary, so this seemed quite reasonable. + +Fru Rendalen had been up to speak to Sheriff Tue and his wife about +Nora. According to her ideas, Nora was cut out for teaching and +directing. She became less self-assertive, too, the more responsibility +she had, and she had ceased to be capricious. + +Fru Rendalen asked if Nora might not move over to "The Estate," and +during her absence overlook the house and school, and take charge of +the money and books. Afterwards she might help with them, and perhaps +perfect herself in school subjects. Both parents gave their unqualified +consent to this at once, they had precisely the same opinion of their +daughter as Fru Rendalen. Her father added, smiling, that she seemed to +have no notion of falling in love. "No," her mother observed gladly; +"she has no inclination for marriage." + +At the house and in the school, all thought it strange that the +youngest teacher, a pupil a year ago, should be put over them; but it +was certainly true that Nora displayed her best qualities--she was +clear-headed, ready, and marvellously helpful. + +She got on well with Rendalen, he seemed to find pleasure in conversing +with her. "Conversing with" is not the right expression--_he_ talked +and she listened, but then he never did otherwise; he always went away +when others joined in. + +Although he was not quite thirty, he had by degrees acquired a number +of curious ways, but each one was the result of something in the +development of his character. Had not his fashion of running away from +any discussion had its origin in a series of sorrowful experiences? + +He was making a noble struggle with the bursts of passion which certain +things, certain names, always aroused. The result was that whenever he +restrained himself, he choked as though he had swallowed something the +wrong way; and if it was very violent, he spat quickly two or three +times through his closed lips--not actual spitting, at the most a sort +of fine spray. + +Tinka mimicked him incomparably. She made a face over little things as +though she had taken too much mustard, for greater ones as though she +had swallowed soft soap; she would turn her head and give a cough like +a cat, or if she pretended to spit, it was with an air of disdainful +superiority. Very soon all the pupils followed her example--there was +nothing they did better. + +At the school, Tomas Rendalen was just what he had been when he first +came home--all brightness and life, wonderfully careful in making all +his explanations clear, and often quite fascinating in his manner. + +It must be confessed that he proved a rod in pickle for the teachers, +but there was no longer any misunderstanding him, though they were +often on pins and needles when he began to interfere; but it was only +necessary to speak to him about it, and he became at once irresistibly +charming; this, however, did not prevent a recurrence. + +His uneven treatment of the children, his way of treating any subject +according to the temper of the moment, remained unfortunately the same, +but it was done unconsciously; and this fact, the absolute justice of +his mind, and more than all the frankness with which he begged pardon +when he had once been convinced that he was to blame, set things for +the most part right again. + +Miss Hall was obliged to confess that she had looked too hardly on this +his incorrigible failing, as well as on several others; for even his +admirers had to allow that he was not perfect. For instance, in the +face of several classes assembled for a lecture on physics, he would +begin to carve a face on the laboratory table, which some chance had +begun there, and shortly afterwards would rave like a Turk because a +little girl had cut a tiny little name on her desk! "Did she think that +was what she came to school for? did she suppose her desk was made to +be cut to pieces?" + +Fru Rendalen sent word from Stockholm that Fürst was away, but was to +return in a few days, they must therefore wait. She would employ the +time in establishing Tora in some respectable family, and in collecting +some requisites for the school. They had made the journey slowly, and +notwithstanding the time of year it had done them both good, as did +their stay in Stockholm. The letter was very hopeful, Tora improved +every day. Rendalen was enchanted; any one who did not know him would +have thought that he looked upon Tora's misfortunes as the greatest +good luck. "Now you see," he called out cheerfully whenever he met any +of those in the secret. What he meant by it was not very easy to +understand. + +But his certainty of victory and that of the others received a serious +blow when the report spread about that Niels Fürst was engaged! and to +whom? To "Your affectionate friend, your ever grateful Milla Engel." + +The report came from Anton Dösen, Niels Fürst's greatest friend; he did +not give it as more than a rumour, but he believed that it was certain. +The families on both sides were diplomatic; they knew nothing about it. + +The members of the Society were a sight to see when they met during +this time! Above all, Tinka Hansen, when she solemnly opened the +register and pointed to Milla's name! She could take her oath that +every one looked upon Niels Fürst as thoroughly immoral. No one had +been more severe than Milla; her mother's legacy made this only +natural. No, this engagement was impossible! One could not think so +badly of her. Such a thing would be disloyal, both to the living and to +the dead. Milla's different letters to Nora from Paris were now read +aloud again. + +She and an American lady were living in a French family, who had had +great losses, but who had aristocratic relations and acquaintances; she +lived in a legitimist atmosphere, but it was not too severe. She had +both the opportunity and the inclination to admire everything "fine," +independent of religion and politics--everything fashionable, +everything where talent and beauty were to be found. And she used her +opportunity; "with my enthusiastic temperament, you know," wrote Milla. + +She had begun as a loyal member of the Society, the obedient pupil of +the school, and therefore gibed at the French spirit. But almost +without warning she turned round: paintings, novels, and theatrical +representations enchanted her; life, even when viewed from a distance, +stimulated her. + +It was evident that this was no real change of opinion; one heard the +American's voice, though the writing was Milla's; but for this very +reason it had not received the attention which it deserved. + +Milla wrote that what they believed when they were together at school +would not really do: her father had been right. In every letter she +related something or another which was to prove this--not in the +slightest degree in doubtful taste; on the contrary, with a delicacy +which was not without its talent. "One must have no illusions," she +wrote; "one will thus be least unhappy." Nora had replied, giving her +her opinion of it. + +This all now received fresh importance. Was Milla's way of writing +something more than the reflection of the life around her? Was it +really a well-considered introduction to her engagement to Niels Fürst? +Impossible! Nora was above thinking so ill of friends. She had given +Tora her solemn promise not to tell anything to Milla; she now +considered herself released from it, and wrote out of the fulness of +her heart. Tinka wrote as well; she was full of the offence against +Tora, and the report that it was to such a person that Tora's greatest +friend had engaged herself--she whose name stood in the register! + +Five days passed before they again received a letter from Fru Rendalen, +and it was short and dry. Fürst had not yet returned. A short time +afterwards they received a long and touching letter from Tora, and then +several days passed without anything further from either of them. Ten +days had gone by since Nora and Tinka had written to Milla--they would +have sworn that she would have answered at once. She ought to have done +so after such a piece of information and such a charge. + +They became very nervous, especially when some one, who had taken no +part in the affair, now remarked that, as soon as she had heard that +Milla and Fürst were travelling together, she had thought "that would +be a suitable match." + +Of course, this was Anna Rogne: why had she not said anything? "Because +the others would have mistrusted it; and," she added, smiling, "it +would have been wrong." At last one afternoon, when Nora came in from +the singing lesson, she found a sealed envelope on the table in the +sitting-room. "Here it is," was written at the bottom in Rendalen's +large handwriting. Nora suspected bad news, as he had not brought it to +her at once. She had promised the others not to read it before they +came, but one cannot keep those sort of promises. + +Fru Rendalen had had her great conversation with Fürst. He had listened +to all she told him with a cool politeness, as if he had been prepared +for it, and when at last he had to answer, he began by saying that this +was difficult, as their views differed so much as to the person in +question. In his eyes Tora Holm was, in no small degree, a sensual +woman, who could hardly restrain herself in the neighbourhood of a man. +To the question if he were aware of the power which he possessed, he +answered "Yes." It only, however, affected a certain description of +woman, and Tora was precisely one of these. He was under no more +obligation to marry her than any other with whom he had had an +intrigue. He would provide for the child, and for her as well, with +pleasure--that is to say, he would make a reasonable annual allowance. + +Fru Rendalen threatened to bring the whole thing before his superiors, +or even, if necessary, before the King. + +"Pray do; I can reach as far as you can, Frue." + +She said to him that this would be a hard fight; to which he answered +that he knew how it should be conducted--he was not going to have his +career spoilt by a lot of schemers. The lady in question was stamped in +good society as a _femme entretenue_--it was shocking to wish to force +her upon him as his wife. + +He understood what it all meant: he was to offer himself up for the +school, but he was not inclined to be so amiable. He knew what kind of +lectures were given both in the girls' "Society" and elsewhere--what +sort of conversations and readings they had had; it was natural enough +that sensual natures should be aroused by such things. He therefore +considered that the school should bear the blame; it would have a good +deal of that sort of thing. + +Fru Rendalen had a decided impression that something had happened to +annoy him, and that, before he came to her, he knew for what he would +be called in question. The conversation had so agitated her that she +became ill, which was the reason for her not writing sooner. She had +not wished to mention her illness until she could say, at the same +time, that she was starting the next day. This she could now do. She +had not the courage to undertake anything more in this strange place, +nor did she think it would be wise. As far as she could understand, +publicity and open war were just what he wished for. + +He was a dreadful man; they must all be on their guard. She had no +doubt that this would bring their school into danger, and remain a +great grief to Tora and her innocent friends. Tora was quite overcome. +They both looked forward with dread to the parting to-morrow. + +The letter closed with a lament that this warfare, which had arisen out +of the school work, should never have an end. "Our enemies have gained +a dangerous ally; we shall soon see if we have gained any as well." + +Late that evening--Miss Hall, Tinka, and Anna Rogne had all read the +letter, and were in the sitting-room with Nora--there arrived a +telegram. They supposed that it was from Fru Rendalen to Tomas, and +Nora had got up to ask one of the servants to take it to him, when +Tinka called out that it was not for Rendalen, but for Nora herself. +"For me?" asked Nora, and came forward. It was true, it was for her, +from Milla. It ran: "_Frightful: report untrue_." + +A fortnight had passed since Nora and Tinka had written. Milla had +therefore had the letters for ten days, and then sent--a telegram! What +did it mean? While the others soon forgot it in Fru Rendalen's news, +compared to which this last event was comparatively indifferent, Anna +Rogne remained sitting with the telegram in her hand. She pondered over +it. + +The others began to ask themselves whether they also would now be mixed +up in the Tora scandal. "War" might already be declared. If Niels Fürst +had written to any one in the town and given _his_ version, what would +happen? A time might come when they would hardly dare, any one of them, +to show themselves in the streets. + +Anna Rogne interrupted them. "This telegram; ought it not to be taken +in to Rendalen?" Yes, of course, and it was done at once. They all +expected that Rendalen would come to them directly, but they waited in +vain; on the contrary, they heard him a little time afterwards at the +piano. + +"Well, as Rendalen does not seem to pay any attention to this telegram +either, perhaps I may be allowed to suggest what may have happened?" +asked Anna, rather ceremoniously. The state of things she thought must +be that Fürst and Milla really had been engaged, but that on the +receipt of Nora's letter she had at once broken it off, with such an +intimation as to make him understand the reason; that was why he had +been prepared to meet Fru Rendalen, that was why he wished for +publicity and war. He can never win the day without it, and he must +win; a marriage with the richest girl in any of the coast towns is the +condition for the success of his career. Just because Milla had been +engaged to him she had been ashamed to write. She had reflected--tried +as well, perhaps--until she had found a way out of the difficulty by +telegraphing. + +Anna ended by saying, "I suspect that Lieutenant Fürst is at this +moment in Paris." + +It may as well be said at once that Anna's position in regard to Milla +was fateful for the latter. It influenced firstly those whom she was +constantly among, later Fru Rendalen. Neils Fürst really was on the way +to Paris, but if Milla's friends had sent on Fru Rendalen's letter to +her she would hardly have received him; and if they had asked Tora to +write to Milla--as she at a later time, when it was necessary, wrote to +them--he would never have been able to approach her either personally +or by letter. Indeed, even as it was he did not do so. He had first to +obtain help from home; but he had taken that into consideration, he had +not wasted his time. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + WAR + + +The day before Fru Rendalen's letter and Nora's telegram reached "The +Estate," Anton Dösen had received a letter from Fürst. It had been well +considered before it was written, and evidently was intended to be read +aloud or sent the round of the town. In his narration about Tora he +laid great stress upon their meeting at Fru Gröndal's. He had only seen +her once before, and only in passing; he had not the slightest idea +that he should meet her there. She had been entertaining and pleasant, +Fru Gröndal had said, until he came, when she became unnatural at once; +she could not bear him to speak to Fru Gröndal, she hid herself, and +let herself be sought for, and then took it into her head to go away. +Of course he followed her, just to see what it was all about. As soon +as he came near her on board the boat, she began to cry. She would not +let him help her on shore; but all the same, she walked past his house +every day, and peeped in to see if he were at home, and then went on to +the wood or up to the "Groves"--alone. He recalled certain readings and +lectures up at the school; it seemed to him that a girl who had come +from an atmosphere so exciting to the senses, would be sure to conduct +herself somewhat in that way. He thought that this was "magnetic +influence" enough, no more was needed. + +He would not deny that at last he had allowed himself to be tempted +to follow her into the wood, where she amused herself by playing +hide-and-seek with him. Little girls always begin in that way. But he +asked if any man, with a regard for himself would marry a girl who went +past his windows every day to tempt him out into the woods. Fru +Rendalen thought otherwise. She had come after him to Stockholm to +arrange the marriage on the spot. It might have proved like her own. + +For his part, he had far too high a conception of marriage to attempt +to profane it in such a way. He had offered to support the girl, at +all events as long as the child remained a burden, and he would +acknowledge it as his. Honour and duty compelled him to go thus far, +but further---- That would be to patch a bad business with a still +worse one. + +To this every one to whom Dösen read the letter agreed. He read it in +the shop, in the streets, at the club. Some people borrowed the letter +from him, and although the paper had been carefully chosen, it was +passed about so much that it became an illegible rag. Two copies had +been made of it, one for Rendalen, at his request, and one--yes, Dösen +hesitated a moment about this one, but after repeated requests he could +not refuse--for Tora Holm's mother. He obtained some enjoyment from +this copy. Tora's mother was a violent, powerful woman, embittered in +the struggle of life. She looked with doubt and scorn upon most +circumstances. When angry she was regardless of consequences. One +morning, in the middle of school time, she came up to "The Estate" in a +heavy, shabby duffel cloak, a bonnet with bright-coloured feathers, and +her bare hands in an old muff, with which she gesticulated while she +cried and screamed. In the broadest Bergen accent she demanded her +daughter--they must give her back her daughter; they had ruined her and +stolen her. She was a good girl when she went there, but "up here, in +the cursed old Kurt house, she had been ruined. Now, God forgive them +for it, she was brought to shame, and made the talk of the town. She, +her mother, had been stuffed with lies." But they should pay for it; +they should be locked up. She would send the police after them. Her +passion was uncontrollable, but her grief was real. + +All fled far and wide, so she burst into one of the classes, which at +once broke up, the teacher deserting her post. She contrived to break +up three classes in this fashion: she made a tremendous turmoil. Some +of the girls were so frightened that they rushed right up to the top +attic, and stood there shivering, straining their ears and wondering if +they dare go down. Some of the elder pupils, who remembered from +stories that on such occasions you must show determination, remained +behind, and tried to talk her into reason. But at this she became +beside herself. This was evidently an example of the way in which they +learned to be indecorous up here. It shocked her that "the children of +worthy men" should justify such a thing. They had to run away as well, +with their fingers in their ears. + +But the little ones got the greatest amusement out of her. They +surrounded her, and followed her about in triumph. The whole procession +swept into the kitchen, where she began the same story. The occupants +felt sorry for her, but they did not venture to say a word. So the +whole train went off again along the hall, to Rendalen's door, which +was fastened, then to Karl Vangen's, which was also fastened, back to +Fru Rendalen's, which was open. In they went, she wanted to see if she +could not find Rendalen. + +Rendalen was in the town, and would not return for an hour. But Karl +Vangen came in. He very gravely commanded silence, sent away the +children, and took the poor mother into his own room. There she sat for +at least an hour, and poured out her heart to him. It was a bewildered +tirade, about Tora, about her husband who drank, about their poverty. +At last she went away down the avenue, with a hundred kroner in her +pocket, weeping quietly. + +The school had all the appearance of a hen-house when some one has +broken in upon its denizens. Has not every one seen such a sight? At +first the hens fly with terrified cries against windows, walls, steps, +and roosting-places, till they become tired and confused, and can fly +no more. Then they run about the floor with wilder cries than ever, +knocking against dishes, troughs, one another. And when the danger is +past, the commotion is not--they chatter, lament, scream all at once, +in continual commotion. This goes on and increases, for whenever one of +them is inclined to stop, some others are more persevering and will +not. They recall all the remembrance of their affright, and the whole +bevy starts off again worse than before. + +Finally, they begin to plume themselves, to flap their wings, and set +themselves straight, till at last things return to their original +condition. But at the school things did not settle down during the +whole day--some effects remained even longer, and threatened to become +dangerous. + +What spiteful pleasure was shown in the town, what victorious laughter +was heard! Nothing else was talked of in the offices, on the quays, in +the streets! + +When a day or two later Fru Rendalen returned, the landing-place was +crowded with people, mostly young men, who had come to meet her. It +became known at the school on Saturday that she would arrive by the +steamer on Sunday afternoon. No one could find a better use for his +leisure time than to see how a great person returns from a defeat. + +The scandal, which she had sought to cover by the journey, had now +become as great as the journey had been long. When Rendalen came down +with the carriage, he could not push his way through, but had to get +some one to take charge of it while he tried to get past himself. Nora, +Tinka, Anna, and several other friends, who had talked of going down +together, stopped when they saw the crowd; thus following the example +of St. Peter of old, naturally with the difference demanded by modern +days. Little Miss Hall alone defied these dangerous warlike +preparations. She slipped along till she reached Rendalen's side, just +as he was preparing to go on board. He was very nervous. + +Fru Rendalen looked much worn, the glances which she hastily exchanged +with Tomas and Miss Hall proved that she understood why the crowd was +here, and that she did not feel safe among them. She held her son's arm +very fast. + +But respect for her--perhaps, now that they were face to face with her, +a feeling of compassion also--prevented them from attempting anything. +Way was made for them. Of course they could see by words and manner +that this was no guard of honour, even some of their older +acquaintances were there, such as the Town Bailiff and his wife. They +hardly bowed; with the sternness of high morality they watched these +evil-doers go by. + +Those who had been standing nearest to the quay now made their way +towards the carriage, followed by degrees by those whom the three had +already passed. The carriage was quite surrounded when they got into +it. In consequence of this they had to go slowly, step by step, once +more through the crowd, which became more tiresome. They were hardly +through before Rendalen whipped up. He was much incensed. At this +moment he saw Anton Dösen, with a number of others, hurrying across +towards them; they were flushed and had evidently just come from +dinner. They all bowed with immense deference; either Dösen's bow was +impolite, or it appeared so to Rendalen in his irritation. In an +instant he pulled up the horses, threw back the reins to Miss Hall, was +out of the carriage and up with Dösen, giving him a box on the ear +which made him reel. He was back at the carriage, up and off again so +quickly, that no one grasped what had happened before the carriage was +rumbling over the cobble stones. + +In the hall up at the house stood the three deserters, Tinka, Anna, and +Nora. Miss Hall was the first up the steps, and with beaming eyes told +them all that had happened; but Fru Rendalen found no pleasure in it. +Rendalen, too, disappeared as soon as he had brought his mother up; it +was long before he returned, and he was then in low spirits. + +The conversation turned exclusively on the dark point in Tora's story, +upon which she herself had laid but little stress, hardly ever +mentioning it--the meeting at Fru Gröndal's. It had frustrated any +attempt made in the town to lay the blame on Niels Fürst. Fru Gröndal +had supported Fürst's assertions in the most minute particulars. + +Tora Holm had been furiously in love with him, she returned to the town +merely to get Fürst to accompany her. + +Fru Rendalen could assure them that the only thing which Tora had been +"furious" about was the confidential terms which Fru Gröndal and Fürst +were upon. This had put her out all the more perhaps, because she was +beginning to feel an interest in him. She understood this later. They +all agreed to let Tora herself relate the circumstances. Tinka wrote to +her the same evening. + +Rendalen had joined them during this discussion, and now the events of +the journey were related and all about Tora. Fru Rendalen was giving +them her reading of Tora as she now knew her, and the others were +deeply engrossed in it, when Karl Vangen interrupted them; he came in +from church. The meeting between him and his adoptive mother was more +than usually warm, she went into his room with him. She did not return. + +The one whom Tora's misfortune had struck the hardest was Karl Vangen, +but no one knew this except Fru Rendalen. + +He had gone quietly on from day to day, the happiest man in the world. +Whenever he met Tora she was evidently pleased, though he never never +ventured to construe this into a sign that she loved him--far from it; +but _he_ loved her, and thought that if Fru Rendalen would ever help +him, the pliable Tora might be brought to share in some of his +interests. If she came to do that, perhaps she might perceive his great +affection for her; perhaps she might then feel that he would be able to +do something to make her happy too. Fru Rendalen had often enough heard +him talk to Tora and about Tora, but had suspected nothing till the +morning when she told him what had happened. She saw him change colour +and remain silent instead of expressing sorrow or offering help; but +even then she was not certain, beside which she was much absorbed in +her new relations with Tomas. Still she had a dim suspicion of the +truth. But when the money which she had reckoned on for the journey +could not be obtained, and Karl took her into his own room and offered +her his savings and a small sum which he had inherited--then, as he +looked into her eyes, she understood it all. He could not keep silence +any longer, he held out his arms---- "Yes, that is how it is, mother." + + +"My Dear Nora, + +"I do not know what you can think of me for not writing, but your last +letter so upset me on account of our dear Tora that I really did not +know what to write. How at a loss, how helpless, one feels at such a +time, dear Nora! And, let me add at once, how ashamed. To think that +such a thing could happen to any one with whom we have associated! I +shall never forget what my father said the first time he saw her. I was +very angry at it then, we thought so highly of one another. Are you +quite certain, dear Nora, that everything was exactly as Tora has said? +You know she was never very exact, and, especially in such a case, it +seems to me that a person is almost obliged afterwards to put a +different colour on it. Do you not think the same? I will not repeat +what I have heard, it may be a mistake too; but you know yourself, dear +Nora, that she never was particular. Do you remember that once or twice +you had to check her when she was telling us stories. You see, she had +been in France; she knew a great deal more than we others. When I +recall what she has told me at different times, I feel that it amounted +to a great deal. May not some of this have affected her disposition? Of +course, I do not say this as a reproach, least of all could I do so now +when she is unhappy, but perhaps this may explain a few things. I am +terribly sorry for her, and you would do me a service if you could tell +me any way in which I could be of use to her without offending or +embarrassing her. I will not answer dear Tinka this time, give her my +best love, and say that the expression in her last letter, 'Tora's +greatest friend,' is not a true one, at least from my side. It might +have appeared so at one time, I do not deny it; but that was quite and +entirely Tora's fault. Not that she forced herself upon me, it would be +wrong to say so, but it was impossible, when in her society, not to go +too far. I was obliged to make more of it than I wished, and this to +the last hour of the last day. + +"Do you know, I had not been three days alone before I began to have a +feeling of dislike for her. Perhaps that was bad of me. + +"Her influence over me lasted beyond the time when we parted. I did not +understand that at once, but I have a proof lying before me--the letter +you kindly returned to me; that one in which hurriedly scribbled down +something about my impressions of Sofiero. I shall keep it, that shall +be my punishment. I have just read it through again. You unfortunately +have read it also (a thing I shall never forgive myself for): could you +conceive any letter of mine more unlike me? + +"I don't know why, but I see Tora through the whole thing. I can't +explain it. I have never been able to write to her since. Here, where +everything is more formal, and where there is no room for sentimental +confidence, it offends the taste even to be reminded of such a thing. +It would almost be like going out before one was _coiffée_ and without +one's dress. Perhaps I am too severe, the blame for being so must fall +on the tone of conversation at home. I am so often reminded of that +unfortunate girl by some Germans here; they are very like her, though +she was the worst I have ever met. + +"Yet how clever she was! I never have a new dress, or study a pattern, +or indeed see any new fashion which interests me, without remembering +her. Could she not become a milliner? If I could do anything to help +her in that direction, it would be a pleasure to me, otherwise what is +she to do? I really am dreadfully sorry for her. + +"I have lots to tell you, I see something fresh nearly every day; but +this affair of Tora has put me in such a _triste_ state of mind that I +do not feel inclined to begin anything more cheerful. Poor Tora! You +must give her my love, but don't say anything about what I have written +to you in confidence, it would wound her without doing good to any of +us. Fate has raised a dividing wall between us, so there is no need. +Give my love to Tinka, Fru Rendalen, and all who ask after your +affectionate, and, in other respects, very happy, + + "Milla Engel." + + + + + + VII + + THE FIGHT ITSELF + + + + + CHAPTER I + + IN BOTH CAMPS + + +After Milla's letter, Nora disappeared from the sitting-rooms--nay, for +several days she was unable to go on with her work; she was quite +overcome. First Tora in her way, now Milla in hers. It was too much for +her. She had held the principal place in their mutual life, she had +believed all they said, and made herself one with them. + +Latterly she had endured mockery, not least from her father, ever since +her presidentship had laid her open to ridicule; she had tried to bear +this, but after Milla's letter she gave in. As we know, she had every +now and then before this time felt her life shallow and superficial. +But after this! Over and over again she reviewed the thoughts and +actions of her companions since she had been here. She was confronted +everywhere by lofty aims, but lamentable weakness when it came to +deeds; not least in herself. They had all been easily raised to +enthusiasm, yet were unutterably volatile, their heads full of +nonsense, vanity and jealousy. In many, was an evil desire which +befooled them under a thousand disguises. They were disfigured by the +instinct, inherited through a thousand years, to submit themselves to +the wishes of the stronger. + +She would no longer be the leader of the Society. She could hardly +resolve to remain a member of it. It did no good, and she had more than +enough to do for herself, for she saw in herself natural gifts, but no +stability. + +"Genius with disorder," as her father called her mother. Just then the +relations between her parents were not good. Nora clung to the school, +absolutely hid herself there. + +Christmas came; she was free and could have gone home, but she begged +to be allowed to stay. She was very lonely; Tinka was engrossed with +Frederik Tygesen, who was at home for Christmas; the engagement was now +almost openly acknowledged. Anna Rogne was studying philosophy with +Rendalen, and was so learned and so happy that she did not at all suit +her. Very often, when any one came in, Nora was sitting crying. She had +a quick way of brushing away her tears; her hand moved across her eyes +as though she were driving away a fly. Then she would smile cheerfully +at whoever came--no matter who it was; the reason for her distress was +evidently not in the house. + +Nora down-hearted! Nora overcome! They all knew that that happened +occasionally, but now it had continued so long. Of course she was asked +about it, but she at once became so high and mighty that no one asked +her a second time. + +At last, just after Christmas, came the long-expected letter from Tora. +Rendalen invited all her friends in the school to hear it. The +beginning of the letter at once explained what they wished to know; it +reminded them of something that they recalled at once, but had not up +to this time understood; how Tora had been affected the first time that +she and Fürst met, that morning up at the gymnasium, when she was +excited and overdone; how he had walked slowly up, fixing his eyes upon +hers and nailed her to the spot, till he stood by her side. The +agitated style of the letter, the constant interpolations, re-writings, +protestations, gave a striking image of Tora. If she had not always +been careful, she was touchingly so now, perhaps just because she knew +that, not without grounds, they might be doubtful about her in this +particular. Anna Rogne read the letter aloud to them all; she knew +it by heart, and delivered it in a rather precise, but even tone of +voice; thus read, the letter touched them. Its many turns and additions +came out oddly. The protestations shone out like sunlight through +clouds--one laughed, and was moved at the same time. + +During the reading, Rendalen sat looking at Nora. He had just heard +that she would not continue to be the head of the "Society," and he +felt that he must break through the restraint which he had put upon +himself. + +While the others were discussing the letter among themselves, he sat +down near Nora, and talked long and eagerly with her--until some of the +others noticed that she often passed her hand across her eyes. The +conversation ceased; looks were turned towards them. Fru Rendalen +proposed that they should have some music; she asked her son to play +something. "With pleasure," he said, but remained sitting thoughtfully. + +"What should you say to my first endeavouring to combat the depression +which often overcomes a woman when her eyes are opened to her +inheritance of frailty?" + +Yes, they would all like to hear him. + +He said he had been reminded that evening of how, more than a year ago, +he had spoken at a meeting of the Society in a very desponding manner +on heredity. This had really only arisen from a feeling of depression. +His opinion of heredity was simply this, that one inherited quality +combats another. One need not be so desponding. In the course of time +all families are so mixed together that any legacy of evil (which one +must strive to reduce to impotence) has almost always beside it a +legacy of good which may be strengthened by use. That is to say, never +be guided by chance, but let the teacher first, and ourselves +afterwards, be watchful betimes. + +He was so imbued with the subject that he was able, on the spot, to +give a number of historical examples. He added others to them, gathered +from his own and others' experience. The question had occupied him from +his boyhood. In his own family there was a predisposition to insanity. +Every case which he could trace showed plainly that only when the +weakness which led to insanity had been allowed to increase, did this +infirmity break out. When this weakness was opposed by the intermixture +of fresh blood, by education and self-education, that person was saved +for his work in life. Heredity was not a destiny, but a condition. + +It was sometimes said that knowledge and surroundings were no help. But +what did the letter tell us which had just been read? First, most +distinctly, that Tora had an inherited weakness; next, that if Miss +Hall had given her lecture four months sooner, Tora at any rate would +have been saved, "So we may well say, 'Help one another,' by knowledge +and fearless counsel. Woman has been condemned to isolation. Man has +sought fellowship and knowledge. Only by fellowship will women teach +each other to fight for their own cause. + +"'The inward development,' is subject to crises, and then intercourse +is burdensome; with this each one must deal as she can. But there is no +doubt that we advance our inward development only by doing our duty." + +That was all; but from it, and the conversation which succeeded it, was +formed, from that evening, the strongest bond of union among all the +women who, in the time that followed, supported the cause of the school +in the town. From this evening also dated the influence of the +"Society" over the school; all discords were subdued before they came +to the teachers' ears. Even before this the members of the "Society" +were accustomed to go into the different classes to help the more +backward pupils before lessons began. This had given them an influence +of which they made use. Again, from this evening dated--and in the long +run this was the best of all--Rendalen's lectures in the chapel up on +the mountain. Every Saturday evening he explained the laws of natural +history, illustrating them with pictures and experiments; and every +Sunday evening gave sketches of the history of civilisation, when +pictures were also exhibited. Niels Hansen defrayed the preliminary +expenses, and was always present. Rendalen had begun this partly to +gain partisans. He would not "Hang in the wind." But when once he had +begun, he became interested in the task which lay before him, and +persuaded Miss Hall to lecture every Sunday, between three and four, to +the women there. Miss Hall elected to speak alternately on the diseases +of children and those of women. She had an immense audience, and this +was greatly owing to the fact that the quick-witted young lady at once +declared that these diseases, both in women and children, had in no +small degree the same origin--men's immoral lives. + +But to return to this evening. There are times when human wills, with +the projects they have formed, readily unite themselves as though there +had never been doubt or separation--a harvest full of promise for a +future seed-time. Such a time at "The Estate" was that evening of the +twenty-ninth of December. The day was remembered, and often mentioned +at a later time. They did not separate till past midnight, and the +departing guests sang as they went down the avenue. + +As Fru Rendalen was undressing she heard, to her astonishment, Tomas +going out; she half opened the door. + +"My dear boy, where are you going?" + +"It is such splendid starlight." + +Fru Rendalen could not be called romantic; she went to the window and +peered out from behind the curtain; yes, it was starlight, quite so. +There are so many things that a schoolmistress has to think of, that +there is no time left for the stars. Yet the tone in which he spoke of +them! Tomas had not for some time seemed so happy as this evening. He +had never before stayed with them the whole time, till past midnight! +He really was beginning to take root, or was it through combativeness? +He was terribly like the Kurts. + +"Fru Rendalen?" + +"Good gracious!" + +"It is only I." + +"Why, my dear Nora, are you not in bed? I am coming to the door. What! +you are still dressed?" + +"It is such lovely starlight." + +"Tomas has gone out." + +"Yes, I heard him. Oh, Fru Rendalen!" + +"What is it, my dear? Excuse me, I am going to get into bed. That's +it!" + +"I am so happy." + +"Are you? That's right; you were so unhappy a little while ago." + +"All that Rendalen said----" + +"Yes, he was capital this evening." + +"Fru Rendalen, do you think I might thank him for it? Might I venture?" + +"Why, of course! What do you mean, my dear?" + +"I could not rest till I had written----" + +"Written? When you live in the same house----" + +"I thought I would get it sent to him this evening." + +"To-night, you mean; you can wait just as well till to-morrow, my dear, +and then you can say it to him. You know Tomas is peculiar." + +"But this evening he is in a good humour, eh?" + +"You want to take a letter into his room?" + +"Oh, no; not I myself. Fancy if Pastor Vangen were to come, or Rendalen +himself!" + +"Would you like me to?" + +"Dear Fru Rendalen!" + +"Get me my spectacles, and let me see." + +"Here they are." + +Fru Rendalen read: + + +"Herr Rendalen, + +"I cannot go to bed without thanking you. I did not want you to think I +did not wish to do so. I did not find an opportunity for it. Thank you. + + "Most humbly, + + "Nora Tue." + + +Fru Rendalen's bed creaked; she got up. "I will put it on his table by +the candle. Have you the envelope? There, that's all right. Have you +directed it?" + +"Yes." + +"Just give me my skirt and slippers--that's it. It was pretty of you, +Nora. Yes, he was very good this evening: that's it;" and she trotted +off. + +As she again got into bed she said: "But, Nora, why did you not thank +him at once?" + +Instead of answering, Nora put her head down to Fru Rendalen, kissed +her a good-night, and went lightly off. She turned back. "Shall I put +out your candle?" + +"No; good-night, my dear." + +The winter passed by, and they began to hope that the war might pass +off as well as it had done before. + +But when minds are excited they require but little to aid them. The +political strife was now at its height; the so-called people's party +had started a newspaper; the _Spectator_ seemed to them to have +attained the measure of iniquity. Between this paper and the new one, +the _Independence_, a fierce antagonism quickly arose, which became +most trying to the nerves. + +In the spring, on Rendalen's birthday, the "Society" hit upon the +unlucky idea of having a large flag-staff set up on the tower, from +which waved, on the great day, an enormous Norwegian flag without the +"Union." The girls had never thought about the old quarrel over the +flag, but Rendalen had showed the whole school pictures of the flags of +all nations, and explained to them that, from old times, the Union was +only used by States which were incorporated one in the other, such as +Scotland and Ireland with England, or the United States of America, and +this was what the world understood by a Union, notwithstanding the +differing colours of the two flags. "Thus a Union gave us, the smaller +country, the appearance of having been incorporated into Sweden." + +This flag was looked upon as a demonstration; it was "bringing politics +into the school." Rendalen forbade its being again hoisted; he wished +to avoid new quarrels. But this was of no avail; angry spirits were +roused; all the old accusations were gone over again in the columns of +the _Spectator_ and at the club. The Town Bailiff suddenly came forward +with a gift of five thousand kroner to found a new school without +politics, with unbiassed instruction, without a method which was +antagonistic to morality. The donor, he said, wished the gift to be +anonymous. He had been most decided on that point. + +The Town Bailiff and his wife each added one thousand kroner. It was he +who had before proposed that a new school should be started; now he +came prominently forward; he had been scandalised. The anonymous gift +was precisely the same sum as that given by Fru Engel. Was Consul Engel +the donor? Several amounts were subscribed on the spot, but they were +not large! + +Tomas Rendalen at once put himself up for the club, as did several of +his friends, Karl Vangen and Niels Hansen among them. All these were +elected at a very full meeting, Niels Hansen, however, with only a +small majority; the club was partly built on his ground, and it was +thanks to this that he was elected at all. Rendalen's election, on the +contrary, was left open. It is true that the rules declared that every +admission should be decided at the first meeting, but happily there +were a number of lawyers present, and this rule was so construed that +it was decided that _first_ really meant _next_. + +The next meeting was largely attended. The Town Bailiff opened it with +the astounding declaration that Rendalen must be kept out, for "peace" +sake. + +A number of men had been sent to this meeting by their respective wives +to vote for Rendalen, and one of these obedient husbands made the mild +remark that "peace" had already been disturbed by the Town Bailiff's +proposal. The last-named gentleman became so exasperated at this +that he would not continue, and Consul Engel's solicitor, the best +speaker in the town, found it necessary to come to his assistance. His +name was Bugge, and he was extremely eloquent. Several solicitors +followed him, and all talked more or less about peace, morals, and +Christianity--subjects which they, at all events, knew by _hearsay_. + +Karl Vangen asked what on earth these great questions had to do with +the matter in hand, whether Rendalen should, or should not, be a member +of a social club? But Karl Vangen had hardly stood up before the Town +Bailiff pulled a long list out of his pocket. He asked if he might put +some questions to Pastor Vangen? + +"With pleasure." + +"First question--Is it true that Herr Rendalen has said that history +cannot well be taught to people who believe that the world began as +Paradise and its inhabitants as perfect beings?" + +Breathless silence. Karl Vangen began a little hesitatingly: "Yes, that +is true, but----" + +"I beg your pardon, but I have the word," interrupted the Town Bailiff. + +"No," observed one of the "husbands"; "Pastor Vangen undoubtedly has +the word. It was he who was interrogated." + +Hereon there was a great uproar; the real men were, Heaven be praised, +in the majority; the "husbands" had by no means such strong throats. + +"Second question--Is it true that Rendalen has said----" + +"But dear me!" called out Niels Hansen; "is Rendalen to join the club +to be confirmed?" + +A roar of laughter followed. The whole room, without distinction of +parties, gave way to immense merriment. The Town Bailiff paused. As +soon as peace was restored he began again. "Second question--Is it +true----" The laughter began again, worse than before. The Town Bailiff +stopped abruptly, and left the room; Karl Vangen now began. His friend +Rendalen was of the opinion that history lessons ought conscientiously +to describe all movements just as they were, and therefore the +development of Christianity as well; but to describe the life of +mankind as a work of God's dispensation belongs to Church history. + +"Is he not a Christian, then?" asked Bugge. + +"We have nothing to do with that here," called out Niels Hansen. + +"Is he not a Christian?" repeated Bugge. + +"No, he is not a Christian," answered Vangen, colouring like a little +boy. + +"The blockhead," muttered Niels Hansen, and he left too. + +"Then he has deceived us," shouted Bugge. + +"He should have said that from the first," observed another. + +Several shouted at once. There was disturbance, noise, delight. All the +"husbands" were frightened, and held their tongues. + +A quiet, well-to-do man stood up: "Yes, I could almost have guessed +that Rendalen was not a Christian. Women to take the same position as +men, that is against Christianity." + +Pastor Vangen then again came forward, and he now spoke warmly. +Rendalen's actions had been perfectly honourable. So long as +Christianity supports mankind's moral consciousness, every school +director should see that it was given to the children, as truly and +heartily as possible. And it was thus that Rendalen had acted. It was +only to be lamented that his instrument was so feeble, for that +instrument was himself. But he could assure the meeting that he had +full opportunity of doing all of which he was capable. + +This made a good impression, and for a moment it seemed as though the +discussion would end there. But the man who had spoken before, again +rose; it was evident that it was a serious matter with him. "If Tomas +Rendalen had said this when he gave a lecture up at the gymnasium two +years ago--if he had said, 'I am not a Christian'--there would have +been no school." + +At the moment Karl Vangen could not think of any reply to this; it +almost seemed to him to be true. The voting began immediately, and +Rendalen was refused admittance by an overwhelming majority. + +"Not," as Bugge observed, "because Rendalen did not believe, for they +were tolerant there, but because he had not behaved honourably." + +As soon as he could do so, Rendalen gathered his friends, and any +others who liked to join them, at a meeting at the gymnasium. It was a +very full one. This was a fight which every one understood, and in +which most of them took an interest. As well as this, the special +woman-question was far more opened up than it had been two years ago; +Rendalen was able to speak quite freely. He began by declaring that +religion had been made use of as a "last resort." He had been expecting +it for a long time. The audience was given an amusing description of +the moral and Christian responsibility of the club, enveloped in clouds +of tobacco smoke round the card-tables and punch-bowls, and of the +virtue of the men, which consisted in a strong demand for virtue--in +women, which was an advantage to themselves. + +A work to obtain equality between men and women could not be called +"Enmity to Christianity." Therefore notorious interpolations of Judaism +into Christianity ought not to be sanctioned. If this were done, and +the views of woman's position two thousand years ago in Judea were +sanctioned--well, in that case, he could tell the Christians that they +did not thus destroy the claims of the present day, but themselves. +There was no help which he desired so much as that of serious +Christians. He considered, too, that the Christian who had no +reactionary aims must range himself here with the great French pastor, +Pressensé. + +As a teacher of history, he had himself endeavoured to point out +trustworthily the works of Christianity. As a teacher of natural +science, on the contrary, he could not disguise the fact that divers +new discoveries were in opposition to the Jewish traditions; an honest +teacher of natural science in most Christian schools must find himself +in the same case. But the principal dogmas--the belief in God and +salvation through Christ--remain unmoved. + +The Christian beliefs of the school were unfettered, and directed by a +clergyman, whom they all highly respected. He was clearly in his rights +when he demanded that his private beliefs should be left out of the +question. Indeed, it was his duty to demand this where the question was +notoriously merely introduced for the sake of making confusion. + +This time the current of opinion against the school was divided by a +brisk counter-current. It was a good sign that Miss Hall's public +lectures at the school were still well attended. + +But what would Rendalen, or his eager opponents, have said, if they had +known that the whole movement, from the moment the flag was hoisted, +had been directed from outside? That the best contributions to the +_Spectator_ had never once been written in the town? That the Town +Bailiff was a tool in a light but skilful hand? That the five thousand +kroner which had so animated his faculties and morality, and those of +his wife, had not come from Consul Engel at all? What would the Town +Bailiff, what would lawyer Bugge and his colleagues have said, if they +had known that the famous anonymous donor, who had called forth their +eloquence, was a rascal who had carefully reckoned on the certainty of +these men behaving as they had done, if they believed Consul Engel to +be the donor? What would all these worthy men and women, who were +fighting for morality and Christianity--what would they have said if +they had known that at Stockholm there was a man who reckoned on their +zeal and strong prejudices, as well as on the cringing and shrewdness +of others, with the same sense of superiority with which we use the +wide powers of Nature for the accomplishment of our own ends. But the +force of opposition could not be accurately measured from a distance; +where women are concerned, it is never easy to calculate; +notwithstanding these great exertions, the amount subscribed was small, +very, very small. + +A mine must therefore be laid, and some of this opposition blown up. +And this was done. The report of Niels Fürst's engagement to Milla +Engel had died out; it was now renewed, and, with it, the exasperation +of the whole woman's party. Angry, scornful remarks were flung over the +whole town from Rendalen's circle; they stabbed and wounded both the +families, Fürst's and Engel's. Consul Engel was especially offended by +Rendalen having said, "All the Consul's mistresses ought to attend on +the wedding-day as bridesmaids." Engel gave Rendalen to understand that +till then he had held himself aloof from the business. Now, if the +wedding took place, the new school should be remembered both as +regarded a house and funds. + +The person who brought this information to Rendalen received out of +hand for answer: "Yes, it is wise of the Consul to put _if_ before it, +for there is not a church in the town in which Milla Engel will dare to +be married to Niels Fürst." This was really going too far; other people +saw this beside the Consul. He now felt himself compelled to act. + +The fact was that Milla had not engaged herself again to Niels +Fürst--the report was untrue, a mere trick. Up to this time the Consul +had not mixed himself in the matter; in such affairs one must be +circumspect. He had contented himself by sending her cuttings from the +_Spectator_, small reports, stories, and so on. He had also asked +others to write; she no longer corresponded with any one at "The +Estate." Now, however, the Consul wrote to her himself. He was so +fortunate as to be able to send her a cutting from a Lutheran weekly +paper, in which a highly esteemed clergyman analysed the proposition +that women have the same right to demand chastity from men, as men have +from women: the decided logical result of his analysis being that the +proposition was unchristian. + +"And now," wrote her father, "what further objection can there be? You +love Niels Fürst? If there is any condition which you wish to make in +regard to your marriage, name it, my child. The consideration which you +and I possess demands that you should be married in accordance with our +position in your native town." + +Milla complied. If her dear mother's favourite clergyman, old Dean +Green, who had carried her mother's gift to the school, would perform +the ceremony, he _himself_, her father, might fix the wedding-day at +once. So old Green, the most respected man in the town, was to give his +countenance to their side? The Consul felt that this was highly +improbable. He wrote to Niels Fürst, that now he had but little hope. + +Fürst was not of the same opinion. Most old people incline towards +compromise. He gave some instructions to his brother-in-law, and, after +the latter had paid a visit to the Dean, Fürst wrote to the Consul +that, after all, things might be more hopeful than he had imagined. The +Consul was off at once. It may well be that he was astonished when the +old man said decidedly that the attacks on the school ought now to end. +A peculiar smile passed over the Consul's face as he lamented that he +did not possess sufficient influence. The old man met smile with smile; +there was no need for influence, he believed. And thus the matter +rested. + +It was on a Friday morning that printed invitations were sent out to +Consul Engel's friends, in this and the neighbouring towns, asking them +to honour him by their presence at his daughter's marriage with +Lieutenant Niels Fürst. + +The wedding was fixed for the following Monday week, at four o'clock in +the afternoon, at the Cross Church. It was being hurried on. + +To a few of his oldest friends the Consul added in writing that the +spiritual guide of his family, his beloved wife's friend, Dean Green, +would do the young people the honour of uniting them. + +On the same day, about dinner-time, the Consul walked along the quays +just as all the business men were coming to, or from, them. Every one +greeted him with beaming faces and with great cordiality, and those who +were sufficiently intimate pressed his hand laughingly. + +Every one had been annoyed that Rendalen should wish to prescribe who +was or was not to marry--precisely like Max Kurt in the old days--he, a +miserable fellow, crippled with debts, with a great school which might +tumble about his ears any day. The news of the wedding, and that Dean +Green was to perform the ceremony, was carried by Saturday's steamers +up and down the coast; it sprang ashore on the islands, was heard at +the watering-places, and slipped away through the woods far inland. It +brought excitement everywhere. One party rejoiced; the other was +immensely scandalised. But there was not a woman in either party who +did not declare that she should go to the town for the day to see it +all. The children begged to go too. Mimic weddings took place in the +"Groves" and about on the rocks, where an old Dean Green, in a short +frock and with bare arms, intoned the service over the bridal pair in a +trembling voice. + +Somewhat more laggardly the news came that the donor of the five +thousand kroner to the new school had withdrawn his gift; that Consul +Engel had condemned all the uproar about the school; if it were carried +further, he would be obliged to support the recipients of his wife's +legacy: her memory demanded no less of him. + +Had a compromise been effected? Was Milla to return home as the Angel +of Peace? + +Some people were incensed; some laughed; some few, including the Town +Bailiff, would not give in; but how could a new school be started +without Consul Engel? And when in cold blood the advantages were +considered, who did not at last wish for peace? The daughter of the +school's benefactress married to Niels Fürst--that was in itself +victory, and that sufficed. One or two marriages of this sort, +especially amongst the most advanced pupils at the school, and the good +old constitution, the good old distribution of virtue and authority +between the sexes, would remain unshaken. Rendalen, the Society, and +Miss Hall might stick to their views if they liked. Tora was never +mentioned now. + +Milla was to be married on a Monday, and to leave the same night; she +was to arrive the evening of the previous Friday; she would not be +three days in the town! That did not imply a vast amount of courage, +her quondam friends considered. Not one of them went down to the +landing-place to meet her. But there was no need for them, for, +notwithstanding a drenching rain, it was densely crowded. The wedding +for which she was returning, even if nothing special had happened +previously, would have been the most important that any one could +remember. The bridegroom, aided by the unusually large fortune which he +would command, would be able to enter upon a career at Court which +would lead to the highest positions in the country. Every one who knew +him described him as a "born politician;" not very flattering to +politicians, but that I cannot help. + +The bride was a beauty capable of becoming a thorough woman of the +world. Besides, she was to remain so short a time at home, that every +one must secure a glimpse of her. + +Flags were hoisted everywhere, but they drooped along the masts in +quite a shamefaced manner, mere patches of colour--the beautiful +green-clad mountains at the head of the bay were shrouded in fog. +Houses, gardens, sea, seemed to lie in a casket whose cover was the +grey woolly mist. + +The house-roofs were no longer red-brown but black; the houses not +white, but ashen grey; not yellow, but a sooty colour; all the tints +were subdued by several shades, the houses themselves seemed to crowd +closer together, and appeared wonderfully small and crooked to the girl +fresh from Paris, who stood, in the rain, on the deck of the steamer +which was gliding in among the islands. Only the great building up at +"The Estate" and the formal stone walls by the side of the avenue +loomed out from their encircling trees; but the red bricks looked dark +and ominous, the window-frames a pitchy black, the dumpy frowning +tower seemed to stand on the watch; as they drew nearer a huge white +flag-staff could be seen on it without a flag. "The Estate" lay hemmed +in, wide and menacing. Milla's glances wandered down from it towards +the Cross Church with its slender spire, from which the joyful soul of +Max Kurt had ascended to heaven; not that Milla thought of this, but +under that spire she would, notwithstanding ... But, good Heavens, what +is that? all that moving mass of black on the landing-place up to the +very walls of the houses? Umbrellas? Absolutely nothing but umbrellas! +What could that mean? From all the information which had been sent to +her, and perhaps even more from what had not, she was quite convinced +that if things were not all that she could wish, yet still there was +peace here now, and no danger. Dean Green's authority protected her, +and she herself did not wish to do any one an injury. But at the sight +of all these people, a remembrance rushed to her mind of the way in +which poor Fru Rendalen had been received, when she had returned from +her journey with Tora. Milla turned deadly white; a fearful dread +seized her. Although she struggled against it with all her might, she +could not help trembling; her knees trembled so that her whole body +shook; she had to support herself, to sit down. In the short space of +five minutes she went through more--ah! more than when her mother died, +for then a comforter hovered over her; the gloom was lightened by the +hope of a future meeting. Now she felt separated, cut off, plunged into +an abyss! + +A sound of pitiless laughter surrounded her; people were trying to +grasp her hands--where could she creep to? + +Her father was on board, but at the moment was down below collecting +the luggage and paying the steward. He heard the vessel swing noisily +in towards the quay, and then cheers from hundreds of voices, repeated +again and again. He came on deck, and his daughter rushed towards him, +seized him, pressed herself against him, her lips quivering, and +trembling in every limb. She who was ordinarily so self-contained, was +in a state of nervous excitement. + +"Why, Milla? They are calling out 'Hurrah for the bride!'" + +"Hold me," she whispered. "Let me collect myself, I did not know, I +thought----" And she cried--ah, how she cried! + +Happily there was some obstruction at the quay, and a little time +elapsed before they were alongside. The captain stormed; as Milla +listened, the strain relaxed; so that when she stepped on shore, +leaning on her father's arm, though still pale and trembling slightly, +she could smile from under her coquettish hat as she passed in her +charming travelling dress. Tears were becoming to her. + +What ringing cheers for the bride, for Consul Engel! The crowd was +almost all composed of men, and there was no one whom she knew well; +but, yes, there are Fürst's sister and Fru Gröndal and Wingaard, and +several others. There are flowers and welcomes, friends pressing +forward, and cheer upon cheer, and more welcomes--nothing but homage +and delighted greetings. More flowers still. The carriage was almost +full! She took her seat in it--the same carriage in which thirteen or +fourteen months ago she had driven here with Tora. She had no time to +recall it. This was splendid, perfect! + + +At a little past two the next morning a _skyss kærre_[5] drove slowly +up the avenue to the school. A closely veiled lady sat in it with a +child in her arms. She was expected, for Rendalen came down at once to +meet her, and take her up the steps, at the top of which stood Fru +Rendalen. It was a touching meeting. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR + + +Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, two unlucky printer's +devils trudged off, each on his own beat, with the _Spectator_. They +threw it into the passages, left it on the steps, pushed it under the +gates. They must hurry on! The church was full long ago; by this time +the marketplace was packed from one end to the other. + +When the worthy burghers returned home and found the _Spectator_, they +read the following:--"As we go to press our town presents a most festal +appearance. Naval Lieutenant Niels Fürst and Fröken Emilie Engel, +members of two of the oldest and most respected families in the town, +are to-day to be united at four o'clock, in the Cross Church, by our +venerable Dean. From the country, where all the families who have the +means are now enjoying their summer holiday, there has been an immense +influx of people to witness the ceremony. As well as this, our streets +are filled by a considerable number of strangers. It is understood that +Consul Engel has received the good wishes of his Majesty, through the +High Chamberlain of the Norwegian Court. Consul Engel, on the occasion +of this happy event in his family, has presented to the Maternity +Hospital the interest of a bequest of ten thousand kroner. The poor of +the town will to-day be entertained by the Consul at the poorhouse. +Further, we have just received the announcement that, in response to a +special appeal, Consul Engel has given two thousand kroner for the +thorough restoration of the magnificent organ in the Cross Church. A +gala day in town and harbour!" + +At midday a refreshing breeze had fanned the glowing streets; now only +a capricious puff stirred the flags, and each time they blew out they +formed a mass of colour over the town, and the whole length of the +harbour; several ships were covered with flags from deck to masthead. A +barque, the most gaily decorated of all, is hauled out to fire a +salute, to begin the moment that the pair are united, and to continue +until the bride's carriage draws up before Engel's house. Another +salute is to be fired during the dinner. + +The most perfect weather, over mountain and hill and sea and town! How +cheerful the town looked in the sunshine! The small blocks of houses +with their provincial decorations, surrounded by the pavement of +cobble-stones, cleanly swept and warmed by the sunshine. + +The shadows were very heavy; when any quiet pedestrian emerged from +them into the white glare of the street, he had the same feeling as in +old times the wick of a tallow candle must have had when it escaped +from the snuffers again. The cats dozed in the sunshine, but with one +eye open, for there were a hundred idlers about to-day. The gutters, +generally the route for many a toy-boat, were now dry; the newspaper +boys jumped backwards and forwards across them, as they went from one +empty house to another. Everything was clean and charming and quiet. +Only in the streets by the quays the smell of decayed wood, salt +herrings, train oil, and "such like," prevailed. There was work going +on there too; festival at the masthead, toil on deck and down below. In +the rest of the town most work was over by three o'clock. + +A train of young people could be seen trudging down from "the mountain" +towards the marketplace, succeeded by groups of women, both old and +young. They knew a little about the two families which were to be +united, those good people on the mountain! + +What a glorious day! The land breeze now and again sent "cat's-paws" +across the harbour, which lost themselves in the blue grey water out by +the islands. The open sea beyond lay wide and peaceful. + +And how lovely were the wood-clothed mountains and hillsides, in the +full colours of both pines and leafy trees, with the grass below ready +for its second mowing. The greens were deeper than those of spring and +with less variety. On the road below the churchyard was a long train of +pedestrians; those country folk who lived nearest the town, toiled in +just at the last to get a glimpse of the show--the men in front, the +women following. A fussy little steamer shoots out from among the +islands, snorting and puffing--she is behind time; she is bringing +people from the nearest town, and has a horn quartet on board. + +In the sunshine, the mountain seemed to those approaching it from the +sea, to rear itself from the water like an anthill, but the resemblance +was spoiled as one came nearer, although its small houses still looked +like linen and stockings put out to dry. Close by, it became a curious +breeding place for human sea-birds. All the children of the upper +classes in the town looked at it with the greatest envy, especially on +a day like this, for the flags excited their imagination. + +Every now and then, heads were turned towards "The Estate." Every pane +of glass in the great red-brick building shone in the sunlight, but no +flag was hoisted. As late as half-past three, Consul Engel, smoking a +cigar, went up to the top attic to see if the flag were hoisted; Emilie +was just coming down the attic stairs; she was fully dressed, except +that she still wore her _peignoir_. She coloured when she met her +father. + +"What are you doing up here, my child?" + +"I was looking----" She slipped past him without saying for what. No +flag on the tower! The Consul remained there smoking. If there had been +a flag without the "Union" to-day it would have been most suitable. + +From the time it was reported that Tora Holm was at "The Estate" with +her child, which report was heard early as Monday morning, an avalanche +hung on the mountain ready to overwhelm them. This was the cause of all +the Consul's generosity; if any one but asked for more, he gave it. + +He had had two sleepless nights! Was it true that Rendalen had sent a +letter to the old Dean couched in most respectful terms, but in which +he said that if this were "peace," it was once more shown that peace +belonged to Satan, but that the fight was God's? + +"What did they contemplate--a scandal?" the whole town was asking. + +Tora's appearance with her child just now was in itself a sentence--she +must have an undaunted conscience; something would certainly happen. + +There was no answer to this fact: Tora Holm had dared to come here; +Rendalen and Fru Rendalen believed in her--_all_ her friends believed +in her. + +All the incidents of Niel's bachelor life were recalled--that is to +say, those which related to _that_ part of the country; as a general +thing, people would say what a devil of a fellow Niels Fürst was, and +stroll away laughing. The laughter ceased now. In Tora's neighbourhood +such stories took a different complexion. Some of them seemed +absolutely repulsive. + +And the father-in-law! His past also was brought up again. None of the +stories dealt with daring seductions, unexpected, astounding conquests; +no open scandal--Heaven forbid! but certain quiet intrigues were known +of, often one or two at a time. + +Expensive presents and small annuities had been heard of as well. They +knew of children who passed for his, and who were his living image. It +all came up again now; even "indiscretions" of twenty years ago and +more, were recalled. Such little provincial towns have pitiless +memories. + +It had been but a short time previously that every one rejoiced that +Fru Engel's gift had been opposed by a similar one, so that the +"indecency" up at the school might come to an end. Now, as the women +flocked into the town (which they began to do as early as Sunday), and +the juniors at once hurried up to "The Estate," or collected in groups +in the streets, a remembrance of Fru Engel's beautiful funeral filled +the minds of all. What the daughter was about to accomplish was, in +reality, disrespectful to her mother's memory. + +Emilie herself was the only one who did not know that Tora was there. +Fürst had arrived on Saturday morning, and had heard it at once, but he +and her father believed that Tora had come to force herself upon Milla; +they kept most careful watch that neither Tora herself, nor a letter or +message, or indeed any sign from her, could come without being +intercepted. The friends of the house had received their instructions, +and beside they consisted entirely of members of the two families. The +bridesmaids arrived in the town on Sunday--they were relatives, and, +with hardly an exception, from a distance. + +Milla knew nothing except that the other party had been defeated and +ruined, there would be nothing now but peace. Her father had the firm +intention of helping the school; it would work well enough if some of +the ideas were abandoned. Milla felt especially grateful for this +promise of her father. Why should not they all be friends together? +"That is what we shall be," Fürst had assured her. The school party had +made peace: old Dean Green was a proof of it. "Yes, old Dean Green was +a proof of it," repeated Milla to herself, whenever she felt any doubt. + +On Sunday she went to church and heard him, it did her so much good; +and in the afternoon she went with her father to call on him. How kind +he was! He exhorted her to be patient; we cannot alter the world, but +we can set a good example; that was what her mother had done. Milla was +deeply touched. "Ah! if only every one were good!" + +Her father had never been so loving to her as now. His increasing +kindness reminded her of the time when her mother was ill, and then the +great amount of his charity; he could not have done her honour in a +more delicate or beautiful way. Fürst was always amusing, and his way +of being so was so very superior. He told stories of the Court, and +terribly malicious ones they were; Fürst was so pleasant and clever, +Milla felt that she was really fortunate--that is to say, except for a +slight sense of want, a tiny sensation of mistrust--just so much as to +oblige her, at the last moment, to go up to the top attic, to see if +there were a flag on the tower. But there was nothing. Perhaps no one +was at home! That would be the best thing for both parties. They could +find each other another time. + +Now to put on her wedding dress! If Tora could have seen it! Poor Tora! +But such things will happen when one is not careful. Emilie asked her +maid to take care that the folds hung properly over her tournure. At +the same moment Fru Wingaard came in with the bridal wreath. + + +Every one who came from the adjoining streets into the market-place, +observed something red against the open door of the church, the outer +one to the left. It was a red shirt, worn by a tall sailor. The church +attendants tried to get him away, but in vain; all round were ladies +who would willingly have occupied his place, but he answered that he +had as good a right to stand there as any one else, which he +undoubtedly had. He did not belong to the town, no one knew him, a +tattoo mark on his hand showed that he had been at sea--indeed, he said +so himself. He was in a timber ship now--she was a large vessel. + +With this exception there were nothing but ladies, old and young, on +the steps, down below, and in every direction, all who had not found +room in the church. Every time the inner door opened, affording a +glimpse of the interior, one saw, on both sides, right down to the +door, nothing but ladies--nothing but bonnets, with flowers, feathers, +and veils. A solitary uncovered masculine head in one of the rows of +chairs showed up like a single late gooseberry or black currant on the +branch in autumn. If the departed Herr Max could have looked up from +the chancel where he lay, it would have been "a goodly sight" for his +woman-loving eyes, especially as the younger ones were all in the front +places--they had been most eager in securing them. + +Almost all the parasols which were to be seen on the market-place were +either on the steps, or round about them, a many-coloured moving +shield-like roof under which endless stories and laughter went on. +Every one thought the donation to the Maternity Charity _too_ +felicitous. That Engel, who had so much tact, could---- But to be sure +that was because Fru Wingaard was the patroness--she had wheedled it +out of him, the minx! + +On either side of the steps, each one the centre of a group, stood +those two sisters of doubtful character who had kept the club and the +hotel until they had been obliged to relinquish them in favour of +Engel's housekeeper. They least of all had reason to spare Engel or his +guests for the day, the magnates of the coast towns. + +Nearest to these stood another knot of women who had not had so much +time to find places. There were few parasols here, but bonnets and +aprons, and some of the younger ones even bareheaded. There was +whispering, tittering, and giggling! + +No solemnity, no gravity, no authority, not the least what is usual in +a provincial town. Even where the darker groups of men were collected, +there was no seriousness or "decorum," as the Town Bailiff would have +said, and indeed as he did say when, at a quarter before four, he +joined the guests, in full uniform, and with his wife on his arm. The +guests indulged in witticisms and laughter, the result of which was not +impressive; all the people looked at them with amused glances as though +they were comrades. The town was unrecognisable. When two boys +contrived to clamber on to the chimney of one of the houses opposite +the church, all clapped their hands and snouted. This had just occurred +as the Town Bailiff arrived. Amid the guests immediately following him +came the organist, very drunk. He was a young Swabian, who three or +four years ago came to the town in the course of a musical tour, and +there remained. The then organist had recently died--the organ was a +marvellous one; beside which there was excellent sea-bathing. He was a +soft, fantastic, thoroughly musical man, who as a rule was every one's +favourite, and who had more to do than he could manage, but who on a +holiday "_Wenn Konstantinople erobet warden ischt_," as he expressed +himself, got drunk. This occurred but seldom, but when it was the case +he did anything which took his fancy. + +This culminated when one day a home missionary was speaking from the +chancel steps on the subject of sin, and the organist, noticing that +every one was yawning, began to play the organ till it roared! It was +pretended that the missionary made such very long pauses that the +organist had been misled by the longest of them. + +To-day he had conceived the happy idea of going gaily to Consul Engel, +and asking him for some money for the organ, and he received a cheque +on the spot. So "_Konstantinople_" had "_erobet warden_" again, and +champagne corks flew! Who liked might drink with him. He came up, +beaming with happiness and swinging his arms about. Every one laughed, +and he laughed with them. He arrived just after the Town Bailiff and +his wife. They looked as stiff as though the organist had yoked them +and was driving them into the church. Great commotion was now caused by +an attempt to drive a carriage through the crowd. Up to this time every +one had come on foot. There was no room for carriages here, they cried, +and turned sullen; the police had to interfere. In the carriage sat a +pretty lively lady of uncertain age, by the side of a somewhat stout +gentleman with a remarkably shaped head and a supercilious expression. +Facing the lady sat an older man with a red face, heavy moustache and +imperial, and wearing a number of orders; he talked incessantly, as +though they were all three in a closed room where no one could see +them. They did not belong to the town; no one knew them until the +carriage-door was opened, and the man with the orders led the lady +forward. Then the hotelkeeper's wife said that he was a Consul-General +from Christiania; the lady was not his wife, but that of the gentleman +who was walking beside them--Consul Garman, of the firm of Garman and +Worse. Soon after these arrived two other strangers, Consuls Bernick +and Riis. The first-named invariably attended funerals with a stick in +his hand; the other always wore his order of St. Olaf when he went to a +ball. Several important magnates followed; some with their wives, some +without--millionaires in the herring, timber, or ice trade. The +monotony of the black coats was broken by the full uniform of the +Sheriff--he was without his wife, and in company with a gouty old +General, a relation of Fürst. Besides these, there were Government +officials and merchants mingled together, most of them with their +wives, who hung on their husbands' arms like well-filled costly +baskets; the husbands were quite eclipsed. Absolute silence gradually +spread upwards from the lower end of the market-place, like oil over +troubled waters. The bridegroom was alighting from his carriage, +accompanied by his brother-in-law, Consul Wingaard. From another +carriage descended two naval officers and two civilians, one of whom +was Anton Dösen; these four joined the others. + +All the special man[oe]uvres which had brought about that Fürst should +to-day approach the Cross Church through the crowd, admired or envied, +accompanied or shunned, had been carried out by himself, and up to the +present time he had earned the honoured reception of a victor. Still he +did not advance with a victor's step--a child could see that at the +first glance. He walked forward in the deadliest fear. Tora had never +shown herself, had sent neither message nor letter. Neither she nor any +of her friends had once been near Consul Engel's house. It was evident +that she had not come to talk Emilie over, or to frighten her. What had +she come for? What did Rendalen's threat mean? There was danger until +he was inside the church; then the sanctity of the building, and the +respect due to the old clergyman, must protect him. But here----! His +eyes wandered up to the wooded slope above "The Estate." It was an +involuntary action. It was not there, but here, that she might appear. +She or others. She was not the only one. + +His half-closed eyes searched about, his bronzed face was without +movement--those strings which moved his lips must have broken! There +was no smile now. His fair whiskers hung down and seemed to lengthen +his face. + +The gait of this dandy had an air of painful caution--each step +might lead to disaster. If it did not fall on him, it might await +her who would soon follow him. There were sparkling eyes all round and +many sharp ones, but no one whom he feared. He was taller than the +women; he could see for a good distance, and he looked from side to +side--nothing! + +He had just put his foot on the first step when the tall sailor stepped +forward: + +"Ane Marja sends you her compliments." + +Those who stood nearer heard it; some who were further away saw the +movement. + +"Did he say something? What's he say?" + +Sibilations whistled across; to those who were furthest away it sounded +like es-s-s-s-s-s-s-s all round the church. + +Fürst stood still: his eyes contracted as though fine dust had been +thrown into his face; his gloved hand sought for his handkerchief, from +which scent was wafted; he blew his nose and walked on, his friends +following him. Within it seemed dark after the bright sunshine outside, +but in the darkness were eyes, women's eyes! + +Here sat Tora's friends. He knew every one in the town by sight, and +picked them out one by one. They sat quite in front, excited, restless, +threatening. There must be something after all. The great church bell +began to ring at that moment, and the bride's carriage was seen at the +end of the market-place. What would happen now? + +Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne were on Fürst's left as he walked up to the +chancel. He glanced involuntarily to the opposite side; the first seat +was vacant. Every one in the chancel rose as the bridegroom appeared. + +There was a stir outside, not merely because the bride's carriage had +arrived followed by those of the bridesmaids and Fru Wingaard, but +because the coachman in grey livery wanted to drive up to the church +door, which seemed impossible. Those in front pressed back to make +room, but those behind declined to be pushed against, and exerted their +strength, till several people were forced up against the carriage +windows. Shrieks, angry words, and orders ensued, and alarm inside the +carriages. Engel put his head out of the window, but no one listened to +him, and he got out of the carriage. The police were at hand, and +eagerly cleared a way for the wealthy magnate, while the bride +alighted, as did the bridesmaids; they arranged themselves and walked +forward, not where the others had passed; the crowd made way for them +in all directions. + +Her red-gold hair crowned with myrtle, the bride resembled the most +exquisite work of an English Academician. The lines of her face were +regular and of an English type, the colouring soft, the skin very +white; the shoulders rather sloping, beautiful--the figure that of a +soft delicate young girl. + +She walked forward with her head bent, not looking at any one, her hand +resting lightly on her father's arm; just below the level of his order +of St. Olaf could be seen her diamond ornament, though only by those +just before or above them. An old-fashioned brooch, a valuable one, +which was recognised as having been a favourite of her mother, secured +the flowers in front of her dress. A puff of wind raised her veil just +as they came up the steps; it streamed out into the face of the sailor, +but did not touch it; a delicate perfume was spread in all directions. +How relieved Engel felt as he stood inside the door! That had been the +worst journey he had ever made in his life. Still he had not hurried; +unobtrusive, quiet, benign, he had walked forward; he kept his eye +fixed on one point--was that the needle's eye which must be passed +through? + +His handsome regular features looked as though they had never been +disturbed by any idea inconsistent with honourable habits, or the good +counsel of elders and superiors--nay, as though he had never had +knowledge of such things. His had always been a God-fearing house; +three generations had endowed charities. The very perfume which now +hung round them might well have come from Palestine. + +And after all there had been no danger. "We are in church now." The +organ pealed under the powerful touch of the drunken Swabian; its full +accords blended with Engel's thoughts, and seemed to restore him to +himself. + +No delight can compare with that of an evenly balanced nature, which, +having believed itself in danger, discovers that that danger has been a +delusion. This feeling of delight does not spring violently into being, +it does not throb, but spreads through the whole man with a soft +perfect sense of enjoyment. It resembles the delight of recovery of a +good digestion, the smiling view, the delightful odour of some coveted +object to which he may now draw near. He raised his face, bearing its +best expression, towards the pulpit, calmly receiving all the glances +which were directed towards him. He suspected that he was envied, and +that tickled him. + +What a future lay before them! Just then the bride's hand trembled; he +withdrew his eyes quickly from the pulpit. Milla was deadly white, and +could not, or would not advance. What was it? + +Nora, Tinka, Anna Rogne, and several others were sitting quite in +front, just where they must pass. Could there be anything terrifying in +that? Every face bore an expression of mingled excitement and +mischievous delight, all, all of them, in whatever direction he looked; +it infected him as well. What was it? Involuntarily his eyes sought the +chancel--if they were but there! There they would be in peace. But all +in the chancel were on their feet; they stood amazed, staring down into +the body of the church, not to his side, but to the opposite one. At +the same moment his daughter gave a sharp cry and staggered backwards, +dragging him with her. + +Into the pew furthest from them on the right, through the vestry, and +therefore from across the chancel, came Pastor Vangen; after him, Tora +Holm, with something in her arms; then Miss Hall, then Rendalen. In +this order they were just seating themselves as the bridal procession +entered the door. + +Tora had a double black veil over her face and over what she held in +her arms, and this had been securely fastened so that it was only when +Miss Hall had helped her that she was able to turn with her face +uncovered, and with her child in her arms, towards her who was now +advancing. + +A storm of anger, reprobation, threats seemed to rise to the very roof, +the excitement mingling with the roll of the organ. Milla was almost +dragged forward. She came into the chancel little more than a white +silk dress among all the other dresses. + +A rustle, a stir! Heads, hands, eyes, bouquets seemed to whirl before +her, so that she could not extricate herself, nor find her own seat, +her own bouquet, her own handkerchief. Every one crowded round with +offers of help, with eau de Cologne, and general disturbance. The last +to come was the big red-faced man with the large moustache and the +decorations; he tried to force her own bouquet on her, of which she +could not endure the scent. When at last she was free and could draw a +breath, she burst into tears. She drew her veil forward. Milla pitied +herself so: what a dreadful thing it was that they had done; she felt +furious, perfectly furious. + +Consul Engel received her first glance. It came on him, following all +that he had already gone through, like the last dram which deprives a +man of consciousness. He began to wonder with a strange delirious +feeling why his trousers felt so thin. Was it really so? + +The elegant Fürst sat beside him, holding his hat first in one hand, +then in the other, and crossing and uncrossing his legs. It was on +account of _him_ that all this had happened, and the budding politician +was not yet sufficiently accomplished to be able to sit still while he +was flayed, cut up, and put in the pot. + +Dösen, who was close behind him, pulled the ends of his fair moustache +with his white-gloved hands--now left, now right--harder, and harder, +and harder. He was marvellously industrious over it. The people in the +body of the church saw this white hand moving about under his nose, and +thought that he was playing some trick, or making signs to some one, +but, they could not find out to whom. The grand folk felt the +embarrassment of the situation to be most distressing, but, all the +same, they wanted to get a look at the woman with the child--she was so +devilish handsome, so foreign-looking. They strained their necks, they +craned forward; Consul Bernick himself made his neck as long and +distorted as that of a cockerel when it is learning to crow. + +To the rest of these mishaps was added the Dean's non-appearance. The +vergers went in and out, in and out, with all the solemnity of intense +stupidity. + +The organist's playing showed signs of impatience. + +It seemed to him that it was rather long before Dean Green came and he +would be able to begin the hymn. He had exhausted the pompous style +long ago; he now turned to the sentimental, its direct opposite--from +the clear notes of the shepherd's pipe to the most impossible chirping +of a chicken. His fancy indubitably wandered among all the little ones +who were to spring from this marriage; he chased them with his fingers +saying hush, hush, to them in the treble. + +At last Engel had recovered himself so far that he began to realise the +difference between the delicate and the coarse, between well-bred and +ill-bred individuals; to the latter he knew that nothing was so +delightful as scandal, but this was something altogether unheard of. It +needed a Kurt to have thought of this, to have created such a maddening +scene. His handkerchief was wet already, his white gloves were almost +grey. As he fanned himself and wiped away the perspiration, he glanced +anxiously at Milla. She hated him! He prayed to God. Yes, Consul Emil +Engel prayed fervently to God that their sins might not be visited upon +this poor innocent girl! They had deceived her, truly, but with the +best intentions in the world. God knew how true this was. But who could +have anticipated that so mad a thing should have been attempted as to +dishonour the sacred edifice. + +Engel did not swear as a rule, he was too refined a man for that, but +almost simultaneously with his heartfelt communion with God, he desired +with his whole heart that the devil might take the lot of them. + +He had recourse to his wet handkerchief again. At the same time the +thought was in Milla's mind, "Shall I go?" + +Engel saw it in her eyes, in the way she moved on her chair. Fürst saw +it also. Both felt it like a million electric shocks: but they could +not give up their last hope that Milla was too well-bred to increase +the scandal. Engel felt that, even if she remained, he should be, from +this time forward, a broken, discredited man; Fürst felt that if only +Milla would go with him before the altar, a career would still be open +to him. + +But still the Dean did not come! All thoughts centred on this; it +became intensely painful. All eyes were fixed on the vestry door. Was +he ill, or feigning to be so, so as not to come? Where was the deacon, +then? Make him come! Why did not Karl Vangen move? The women in the +chancel who had not got over the first fright (there were some who had +been obliged to grasp the seats of their chairs to prevent themselves +from trembling) were now made really ill by this fresh strain; several +began to cry. "Yes," thought Milla; "I am to be pitied, dreadfully to +be pitied! Oh, if mother had lived!" And she cried bitterly. Every one +had conspired against her, who had done nothing. Would old Green now +let her sit there so miserably on the stool of repentance before all +these horrid, horrid people! + +She thus lost sight of the first and important question, and was so +tossed about by the feeling of desolation that, when the Dean did at +length appear, she felt it consolation, a reward from Heaven. + +But if she had not, even for a moment, got sufficiently away from +herself to feel why this had been done, those had, who sat below the +chancel. Not only those who were in the secret, who were few in number, +not only their sympathisers who were numerous; no, every woman felt +that it would be shocking, if, after what had occurred, Milla could or +would go on. Even it she had been dragged up there--why did she not +rise, why did she not leave them? They expected her to do so from one +moment to another, but Milla remained seated. Could such a thing be +possible, after such a strong appeal to her conscience? Every good +woman, who is unfettered, involuntarily takes the part of the weak, of +the one who has been wronged. The minds of those in the church were +agitated like the waves of the sea. The stir became greater and +greater. Was it credible that she would go to the altar with the +wretch? Shame on those around her who could countenance such a thing. +Every one stared at the altar. Was not old Green coming? He must have +had scruples at the last moment about giving them the blessing of the +Church. Karl Vangen would never have done so. He was with her who was +betrayed and deceived. He was so simple-minded that he believed that +the Church's place was there. The grateful glances which his broad face +attracted during these few moments would have gilded the vaulted roofs +of several churches, or thousands of hymn-books and Bibles. At length +they saw by the stir in the chancel that old Green had come at last. +Really and truly! + +Very slowly and feebly he came, very feeble indeed he looked. "A +thorough ecclesiastical compromise," it was whispered about. Just as he +reached the altar, the hymn began. All those in the chancel joined in +it. In their zeal, their relief, their gratitude to Providence, they +all sang; the bridegroom, Engel, the General and the Consul-General, +Bernick, Dösen, Riis, the celebrities, the Sheriff, all sang of the +first bride who was brought by God himself to the first bridegroom. Not +one of them believed it, but they sang so that it was a sin that the +organ overpowered them, for such singing of hymns ought to be heard. + +Their wives' trebles chimed in; they were so startled that they could +not find the hymn, but they all knew it by heart. The one who was the +quickest to join in, and who sang the loudest in praise of marriage, +was Fru Garman. + +Except these and the clerk, no one in the whole church joined in the +singing. The stir became so great and so general that a number could +not remain sitting, they stood up; those behind them wanted to see, and +stood up also. But Tora rose before anyone of them. What those around +her had felt, and were feeling with all its violence, was as nothing to +what she experienced, for when deeply moved she showed herself her +mother's daughter. The journey here had worked her up to a state of +excitement, which her constitution could hardly bear. + +If for no other reason, still for her own sake, Milla must be prevented +from marrying the wretch. For this it was necessary that Tora should +show herself, she and her child; everything else might fail, but this +would force Milla to pause--she knew her! + +This could only be done if Tora had the will and the courage for it. +And she had, for her friends had the will and courage to be with her. +It did not merely concern herself, it concerned the school, Milla, a +great cause; it concerned thousands! + +No one, least of all herself, had had the slightest doubt but that to +stand up with her child in her arms before the bride, would be +sufficient. From the moment that Milla had burst into tears in the +chancel, but still remained in her place, until now, when old Green had +come, Tora's excitement had increased to such an extent that those +nearest to her were alarmed; it could be observed as well from the seat +opposite. They knew now that something must be done, upon which neither +they nor she had reckoned, before their object could be attained. Tora +was Tora, and would be true to herself. + +Fürst was already at the altar, accompanied by Consul Wingaard; +Engel had walked carefully across the carpet to lead his daughter +forward. She rose and allowed the bridesmaids to arrange her train and +veil--when Tora sprang forward from her seat. + +Every one in the chancel was looking at the bride, who gave her hand to +her father and turned with him towards the altar. They did not see Tora +come up the steps. There was a sound behind them like the breaking of a +wave, and at the same moment something black passed quickly by. The +ladies shrieked, the gentlemen grew rigid with dismay. Those at the +altar turned round; Engel staggered backwards; Tora stood between him +and his daughter. + +"Do you wish me to lay the child down before you, Milla? Will you have +it to kneel on?" + +"No! No!" cried Milla in horror. She turned, and with her hands before +her she flew from the chancel, her veil streaming behind her. + +Every one had risen. Tora had hastened at once to the vestry--she felt +that now her strength was exhausted--Miss Hall followed her there. + +But when Milla had left the chancel, she did not know where to fly to; +some one ought to come to her, to be with her--her womanly instinct +told her that. She turned and looked round bewildered. The vestry door +was opened, a harsh cry was heard from it for just so long as was +needed for the opening and shutting of a door; but it was enough. Milla +began to cry too. An arm was put round her waist, she was led from the +church; it was Nora. From the moment that Milla had yielded, all +resentment was over, all anger vanished. Indeed, it was so with most of +them. Rendalen was quickly at her side, and then went on before them to +make way. + +The organist, who had not seen what had gone before, but who, after the +first hymn, had expected to hear the words of the service, rose when +the movement became general. What was it? He saw the bride out in the +aisle, the others still in the chancel, the whole congregation standing +up. "_Aber das war kurios! Wird's nichts daraus? Ho--ho! Ich hab' meine +zwei tausend_." + +And he began to play the organ. They tried to stop him, but he +answered, "What haf they don with the brite? The music shall do her +goot." + +Hardly had the bellringers heard the organ before they thought, "Now +they are married," and began to ring the bells. Hardly had those on +board the saluting vessel heard the bells before the guns began to +thunder. They were to continue firing until the bride's carriage drew +up at the door of the house, and as they could not see this from the +ship, a signal was to be made to them. In the general confusion this +was forgotten, so on they went--bang, bang, bang! It seemed to them at +last that they had fired a great many rounds, but that was other +people's affair, so they thundered away as long as they had any powder; +for they also had been drinking considerably. + +All this caused great amusement. The affair changed from the sublime to +the ridiculous. First among the crowd who left the church amid the +pealing of the organ, the clash of the bells, the thunder of the +cannon; their laughter was taken up in increasing measure by those in +the market-place, and from there it spread over the whole town. In the +memory of man there had not been so much laughter at one time as now +resounded from the river banks to the most remote houses on the +mountain, or out on the Point. The country people went laughing home +amid the roar of the cannon, and wherever they came there was laughter. + +A gala day in town and harbour. Thunder of cannon and flutter of flags, +flags and cannon--and laughter! + +At first the bridal party looked at each other with horror; by ones and +twos they made their way out of the church, but the laughter outside +was infectious; when they got home and read the _Spectator_, they +laughed too. + +The Town Bailiff himself laughed! + +Up the avenue walked Nora and Rendalen. The cannon thundered, and they +turned round and looked at the flags flying in the town and in the +harbour--and laughed. Karl Vangen hurried past them on his long legs; +Tora was at Niels Hansen's. She was terribly exhausted, but calm; he +was going to fetch the carriage--and off he went. No less than fifteen +girls passed them at once, going up to Fru Rendalen; another large +group was following them. They did not walk, they raced, and were +quickly past. + +A little later Fru Rendalen came out on to the steps to meet her son +and Nora: they were just the opposite of every one else; they stopped +every moment. Now, just when she wanted them so much. How could they +forget her? + +All at once she pulled off her spectacles and wiped them. Then put them +on slowly. + +Rendalen said, as he walked along the avenue, that there had been a +great deal which was one-sided and obscure, too much of a fixed idea in +his first lecture, and that there was a great deal in his development +as well, which was but half accomplished. Still, "life is a school, and +first and foremost concerns schoolmasters." He did not say this in so +many words, he had not the least need for anything so stiff and cold. +To speak the plain truth, while they involuntarily flew the flags down +below for the success of his life's aim, he walked along here and paid +his court--to her with the "flickering" hair. It seemed to her that she +was quite unworthy, and she brushed a swarm of flies from her eyes. But +it was so absolutely impossible not to wish, and so---- + +They agreed about many, many, many things. The first was that if one +has confidence in a work, that confidence helps in its development; the +second was, that when there are two it goes on twice as quickly, or it +may be that the last was the first, and the first the last. They really +were not accountable. + +But fifteen girls were up on the tower at once; they wanted to hoist +one flag to-day which would tell no lie, and also for a reason which +was without deception. They called down to ask leave; Rendalen was at +the foot of the steps, he laughed up to them. Nora had sprung away from +him--up the steps to Fru Rendalen. She pressed closely, oh, so closely, +to her--apparently to put her spectacles on better. + +"No, no," called Rendalen up to the girls on the tower; "not +to-day--for Milla's sake, but we will do so very soon." + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Pigerne Jens.] + +[Footnote 2: Some parts of it have been used in the Introduction.] + +[Footnote 3: Enchanting.] + +[Footnote 4: Open hearth.] + +[Footnote 5: Hired posting carriage.] + + + + + + END OF VOL. II. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume II +(of 2), by Björstjerne Björnson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL II *** + +***** This file should be named 37802-8.txt or 37802-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/0/37802/ + +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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Vol. II</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 II (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 II (of 2) + +Author: Björstjerne Björnson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37802] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL II *** + + + + +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=b-UsAAAAMAAJ</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 XII</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 II</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> +<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>IV.--<i>THE STAFF</i>--(<i>continued</i>)</h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>CHAP.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04.2" href="#div1_04.2">THE STAFF</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04.3" href="#div1_04.3">THE SOCIETY</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04.4" href="#div1_04.4">ON THE STEPS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>V.--<a name="div1Ref_05.0" href="#div1_05.0"><i>THE HUNT</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05.1" href="#div1_05.1">THE HUNT</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05.2" href="#div1_05.2">IN THE DOVECOTE</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05.3" href="#div1_05.3">SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05.4" href="#div1_05.4">THE HUNT</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>VI.--<a name="div1Ref_06.0" href="#div1_06.0"><i>WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06.1" href="#div1_06.1">HAPPINESS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06.2" href="#div1_06.2">A MISFORTUNE</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06.3" href="#div1_06.3">PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF PEACE WITHOUT</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06.4" href="#div1_06.4">WAR</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2"><h3>VII.--<a name="div1Ref_07.0" href="#div1_07.0"><i>THE FIGHT ITSELF</i></a></h3></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07.1" href="#div1_07.1">IN BOTH CAMPS</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07.2" href="#div1_07.2">A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR</a></td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_04.2" href="#div1Ref_04.2">THE STAFF</a></h3> + +<div style="margin-left:25%; font-size:90%"> +<p class="continue">Fair Milla and brown Tora,<br> +Broad Tinka and slender Nora.</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">It was disputed where this remarkable verse with its rhythm and rhyme +was heard for the first time, whether in the senior Latin or senior +Commercial. The dispute can never be settled now, but when these girls +showed themselves it was often shouted, sung, and bawled after them--at +first in turns with another by Dösen, which ran, "<i>Nora, Tora, ora pro +nobis</i>;" but as it was incomplete, the names of Tinka and Milla not +being mentioned, it was dropped in favour of the former. This one was +also given up; it was perfectly well known who was father to the latest +name for them; Rendalen called them on a certain occasion "The Staff," +and after him the whole school, after it the boys' school, and at last +all who were inclined to pay them a compliment. We know three of the +Staff already--that is to say, we know them from the others, not more +than that. "Fair Milla" is no other than Emilie Engel; she looked like +a picture in enamel in her mourning. Broad Tinka is Katinka Hansen, +Augusta's sister, the contralto; and slender Nora is the Sheriff's +daughter, the one who hid under the sail, the one with big eyes and +wavy hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">Brown Tora, on the other hand, we do not know, and she shall remain a +little longer shrouded in mystery.</p> + +<p class="normal">A year ago a new sheriff was appointed to that part of the country, a +secretary in a government office, called Jens Tue, otherwise known as +the ladies' man.<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> Instead of becoming resident he went abroad with +his wife, whose chest was rather delicate.</p> + +<p class="normal">This lady had, by jealousy and insincerity, missed her true foothold in +life, and both in her thoughts and actions she flitted like a bird from +one interest to another; she wished to appear so immensely delighted, +so taken up with intellectual questions and music--until one day her +strength proved insufficient; she collapsed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her husband carried her off with him, and as during their tour he was +all that was pleasant and amiable, her bird-like nature required +nothing more. She came home again, well and happy.</p> + +<p class="normal">It would have seemed more natural for Nora to remain at Christiania +with her friends and relations. It was said certainly that Fru +Rendalen's school was so very superior, but that could hardly be the +whole explanation; all were curious about the Sheriff's daughter when +she appeared. She was a fashionable young lady, tall and slender, +and if not exactly elegant, still stylish in dress and manner; a little +supercilious; still she did not give offence--she was too pliable for +that, too quick as well, entirely taken up with the fancy of the +moment. She gave an impetus to all she did, and people forgive a great +deal for that.</p> + +<p class="normal">But no one would forgive her letter-writing, or the incredible number +of letters which she received weekly! Not the teachers, for she +neglected the school work; not her companions, for she neglected them; +nay, she had hardly looked at them! She went to sleep every night with +inky fingers and a heap of letters beside her bed; either she was +writing letters or reading letters, or crying over them. During every +recreation time she ran upstairs to add a few lines, or to read a +letter over again which she had just received. As she was worried by +the pursuit of the others, she disappeared after every meal. Where was +she? There was a hunt for her, and she was found up in the top attic, +writing of course, this time upon a large barrel; she was blue with +cold. She had left at least twenty particular friends behind her at +Christiania; all the twenty wrote to her, and all received answers, +long answers--one must never be shorter than the others. Happily, she +had another passion, and it often chances that one thing counteracts +another. She was crazy about music. She sang snatches of songs with +great feeling, but, partly because at her age she could not sing much +at a time, partly because she had not training enough to carry out a +delicate interpretation, she could never properly render anything as a +whole. But even so, she was much admired by her companions, and by none +more than Tinka Hansen. For Tinka was herself musical, but in another +and more unpretending fashion. Like her sister Augusta, she had +developed early, especially in her powers of conversation. Katinka was +even-tempered, bright, dependable; everything she played, and that was +a great deal, she knew by heart. It was therefore she who obediently +accompanied Nora's songs. But her execution was not worth much; Nora +very soon took her in hand, and was not satisfied until she had brought +her to the point she wished; Tinka was extremely grateful for all this.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day Nora discovered Tinka's powerful contralto, and from that time +there were duets and duets. Their age suggested prudence, and if Nora +would not use moderation, Tinka both would and could. Nora was used to +command, so there were quarrels; but Tinka was so accustomed to conquer +when her conscience told her that she was right, that Nora was +completely vanquished. This was the foundation of their friendship. To +have a friend who at once admired and restrained her was especially +safe and good for Nora. But Nora acted upon Tinka like a succession of +impressions of art upon one who has seen nothing up to that time. As +Nora was absolutely confidential, it seemed to the conscientious Tinka +that this ought to be returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one knew it, but not to a living being would she have admitted +it: Tinka was engaged. He, the man, had just gone to college; she had a +letter from him once a week; for many reasons she did not wish to have +them oftener. He was called Frederik--Frederik Tygesen; his father was +the stipendiary judge Tygesen, here in the town. Nora was "the first +person in the world" whom she had told this to.</p> + +<p class="normal">How delighted Nora was! Really, properly engaged, with letters every +week and the tacit consent of her parents. How had it come about? Well, +that was the odd thing about it; they neither of them knew. They had +once when she was eight years old, through an open door, heard Fru +Rendalen and her mother talking about Augusta and Tomas Rendalen, about +what <i>he</i> had said to <i>his</i> mother about Augusta, and what <i>she</i> +had +said to <i>her</i> mother about Tomas. Ever since then these children had +been fond of each other, just as those other two had been; but they had +never spoken about it--never. A sincere friendship was founded between +Nora and Tinka upon this confidence, and Tinka's friendship brought +others with it. Nora was obliged to recall some of her interests from +Christiania, and by degrees to form a new circle of admirers.</p> + +<p class="normal">She began to write less frequently to the friends in Christiania, and +the letters would begin, "It is a terribly long time since," or "I +really am a wretch who----," or "Procrastination is to blame."</p> + +<p class="normal">But there was a limit to those whom she could conquer in the new senior +class, and this did not please her; in fact, she principally coveted +the friendship of those who withheld it, but all the same she could not +pass this boundary. The fact was that a queen had reigned there before +her--nay, was there still. Her ways of gaining power were different +from Nora's; whether they were less or not, depended on who it was who +measured them. First of all, she was the richest heiress in the town; +secondly, if there were the slightest sign of rain, snow, or cold wind, +a servant drove up to fetch her home, and then it was a question who +should drive home with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had almost always something good with her; her pocket-money was of +that description that the more she spent, the more she had; the +resources of her dainty little purse were incredible in this respect. +She got money from her mother, from her father, from two unmarried +uncles. As well as this she was pretty, discreet, attentive; no one had +ever known her to use a hasty word, or be rough, even at the gymnasium; +she was always very polite and a little subdued. In her eyes, to forget +yourself was the worst of crimes. She had lived, so to say, wrapped up +in cotton wool, and one felt this whenever one approached her. We know +her already; she is Emilie Engel.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was not specially gifted, but was industrious; she really worked +hard when there was anything on foot. Every one liked her, several paid +court to her, one or two absolutely raved about her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka Hansen belonged to none of these groups; if ever she devoted +herself to any one it would be to her opposite; quiet, dutiful Milla +was too like herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Nora first attached herself to Tinka, and through Tinka to others, +Milla was offended. When Nora turned to her it was too late; there was +plenty of politeness and willingness to oblige, but not a word for her +singing, not a smile for her Christiania witticisms; never so much as a +glance when the whole class, during one of her lively descriptions, +hung admiringly on her words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora could not endure this indifference; she condescended to pay court +to her in all those ways which are only known to a young girl. In vain. +At last they divided into parties. Nora considered Milla insignificant, +egotistic, cold, prim, missish; Milla considered Nora--no, Milla did +not consider Nora anything, she let her friends talk and she listened. +Nora's jaunty Christiania style of manner and speech were unbecoming, +her caprices could not be endured by any one who respected herself; her +accomplishments were all superficial, she was characterless; besides, +it was considered that some of her remarks showed a want of religion, +and Milla's party was religious.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla had been confirmed at Easter. The increasing weakness of Fru +Engel had given a tone of enthusiasm to her religious thoughts and to +the aspect of her mind; she found comfort through it, and need for it, +and she endeavoured to lead her daughter in the same direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the time of her confirmation Milla found a confidant in the niece of +the Frökener Jensens, little Anna Rogne, who was extremely religious; +she was two years her elder, but she was small and delicate; indeed, on +more than one occasion her life had been despaired of. Anna had more +religious knowledge than most grown people, and she enraptured Karl +Vangen at the confirmation classes. Milla, whom she had imbued with +some of her enthusiasm, had no objection to share in it to a slight +degree. As soon as little Anna observed this reflection of her own +thoughts, she rejoiced from the bottom of her heart, and declared Milla +to be "spiritually minded." She was astonished that they had not +discovered each other before.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then came the time when Milla's mother was given up by the doctors. +Little Anna's energy was more than natural; she watched beside the +sick-bed with her friend, she read, she sang, she prayed; for Fru +Engel's life must and should be saved; the doctor could not save her, +but prayer could--how confident she was, how enraptured! And then when +Fru Engel died notwithstanding, she would literally have rejoiced to +have given her life for Milla; it was so beautiful to her to see the +rich heiress, surrounded with all the comforts of life, pleading on her +knees to Jesus; and now, when the prayers had not availed, she still +trusted--nay, in the midst of her sorrow she thanked God with her, +entirely submissive to His will. Little Anna felt from the bottom of +her heart that a bond had been twined between them which death alone +could sever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla returned to school three weeks later than the others; she took a +place next to Anna Rogne. They drove up together nearly every day, and +they returned together in the carriage, for Milla was still living in +the country, and Anna was almost always with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla's return made a stir. Her mourning suited her to perfection; her +pale face and subdued manner accorded with it like dull silver work on +velvet. The quiet gentleness with which she accepted everything, even +Nora's eager worship, gained her much considerate kindness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first day or two seemed devoted to expressing sympathy with Milla.</p> + +<p class="normal">But there was a new face among them, a new figure there on the form in +front of her, a new voice, fresh ways--and what was not less important +to Milla--a new dress. Especially when the new hat and mantle were +added to it, a more daring choice of colours was presented, a more +delicate cut, richer details, than she had ever seen before. She knew +who the new-comer was--the daughter of the chief custom-house officer +Holm, from Bergen, the one with the brown face, large dark eyes, and +curly white hair: a curiously shy man, who drank, drank so that it was +only through forbearance that he retained his post; he had ten +children!</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora was the eldest, and had been brought up, from her twelfth year, +partly in England, partly in France, by an uncle who had been a +shipbroker, first in the one country, then in the other; he had just +died, leaving his adopted daughter a small annuity. Milla knew all +this. Anna had also incidentally observed that Tora Holm was pretty.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this was not the right word. Where were Anna's eyes? Tora was a +beauty, and her beauty was singular and "foreign." Anna had used her +ears as little as her eyes, for there was but one opinion about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla did nothing the whole of the first day but look at Tora, who, +although her back was turned towards her, could not keep quiet, but +twisted and turned as though she could feel the other's eyes on her +neck. The more restless Tora became, the more calmly Milla studied her. +At home, in the sitting-room, stood a head of the young Augustus in +marble; it had been Milla's admiration from childhood. And now, there +it was, on a girl's body, on the bench before her, moving in brightness +and colour.</p> + +<p class="normal">The brow was exactly the same, the whole shape of the head, broad +above; the curve of the cheeks and chin, the arch of the eyebrows the +same, all the same! The eyes were different and more full of life, for +those of the Augustus gave the impression of dulness, or at least +heaviness. These sparkled incessantly in changing shades of blue-grey, +under long dark eyelashes. The mouth was full and curved, the hair +black-brown, or brown-black, as the light fell upon it. The complexion +was a sort of pale olive. Milla had no words to express it; it was a +combination she had never seen before. There was a large, very large +birth-mark on her cheek, perhaps it was that which disturbed her, for +she never turned that cheek when she looked round at Milla. Her figure +was developed, very strong and statuesque. Apparently she was a little +over sixteen. She did not look well at the moment, she was flushed and +had dark lines under her eyes; the perspiration stood on her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her whole appearance was striking; Milla looked at her without a trace +of envy. What taste this new girl had, beyond anything she had ever +seen; how much she must know!</p> + +<p class="normal">Every now and then Milla looked at her next neighbour. Anna sat there, +spare and angular; her thin, blue, and inordinately long fingers +especially occupied Milla to-day. What a contrast!</p> + +<p class="normal">Should she speak to the new-comer, be friendly to her? Perhaps it would +be a little forward. From the moment that she saw her during the next +"recreation," walking arm in arm with Nora, this idea was dropped as a +matter of course.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the three weeks which preceded Milla's return, a good deal had +happened; a revolution had silently begun which was not yet at an end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora Holm made her appearance in the school rather untowardly. She +arrived late, met no one in the hall, and did not know where to go; +every one was assembled in the "laboratory" for morning prayers. At +that moment Karl Vangen, who had been detained at the bedside of a sick +person, rushed in and almost overturned her; then became as confused as +only a young clergyman can, mistook her for the new teacher, and +bewildered himself and her by his embarrassment. It was therefore some +little time before she, in her Bergen sing-song, could explain who she +was, and when he heard it, and it flashed into his mind that she was in +trouble for her uncle's death and had returned to an unhappy home, he +broke out, "We will all be so kind to you here; so"--he seized her +hand--"welcome, welcome!" Before he could say more she began to cry. +She was nervous and timid, everything was new and strange. He could +think of nothing else to do than to open the door and call out +"Mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">And out came Fru Rendalen with her spectacles awry, and asked rather +shortly (for Fru Rendalen was particular, and this should not have +happened), "What is it, Karl?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is Fröken Holm, custom-house officer Holm's daughter, mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, let her come in," answered Fru Rendalen, opening the door +wide. "How do you do?" she said, as she stood in the doorway and held +out her hand to Tora in the half-lighted hall. There was far too much +of a command in her tone for Tora not to advance. Fru Rendalen then saw +that she had come crying to school like a little thing of five years +old. She was surprised; she showed her a place, which Tora shyly took, +and asked one of the teachers to help her off with her hat and cloak, +which the little donkey had kept on--thought Fru Rendalen to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">They sang a hymn and Karl spoke about meeting--whenever one discovers +anything good in a person, one meets God--that was his subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the moment Tora was only conscious of the sound of a powerful voice, +she was tormented by the remembrance of her unlucky entrance and the +impression it had made; first and foremost upon Fru Rendalen, but also +on the others; she had seen that plainly. She could not keep quiet; she +turned away when any one looked at her, turned this way and that as +though she wished both to be looked at and not to be looked at. If any +one spoke to her, which happened after a while, she coloured, and +answered something which she at once contradicted. This went on during +the first three days. She knew neither Norwegian geography nor +Norwegian history--indeed, she did not know a single thing except +English and French, and coloured up when this was discovered; but when +it was also discovered that she spoke both these languages fluently, +she coloured up just as much. She would not do gymnastics on any +consideration--at last she said she had no dress. She made herself one +which was a masterpiece of coquetry; but this she denied, and declared +it to be purely and simply ugly. She could not go on long with the +gymnastics, strongly built as she was, but gave in completely and began +to cry. Miss Hall, who superintended the gymnastics and introduced +special exercises for some of the girls, led her towards the window and +looked at her. Miss Hall had partly forgotten her Norse, and did not +remember at the moment that Tora spoke English; she tried to find a +word while she examined her. Tora misunderstood this and ran away from +her, put on her things and went straight home, refusing to return to +school. It required no little trouble before she could be brought back, +not only to school but as a boarder; she needed better food than she +got at home, for she was beginning in <i>chlorosis</i>; this was the word +that Miss Hall could not remember. Tora now shared Miss Hall's room; +she was the first, though afterwards one of the pupils always did so.</p> + +<p class="normal">Little by little the new-comer forgot herself so far as to be able to +sit still, but never if any one looked at her steadily, or talked about +her. She must feel it in her back, her companions said. They tried +experiments, and laughed when she really did by degrees become uneasy, +and at last turned round and looked at them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora had been a boarder during the past year, and was often up at the +school. She did not speak to Tora except just in passing, but one +Sunday Tora asked her if she might do her hair for her. This made as +much stir among the boarders as though she had offered Nora some new +hair. Word was sent from room to room; they all collected, big ones and +little ones, to see Nora with new hair. They stood there, they leaned +over one another, while the great work went on.</p> + +<p class="normal">For what was done was nothing less; laughter soon changed to +astonishment, to admiration, to applause.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, when Nora's hair was untidy, Tora had suddenly noticed that +this was becoming to her. It suited the large, wide-open eyes, by far +the most striking part of her little face. She had next to no forehead, +very small cheeks, a little mouth with cherry lips, and a rather large +nose, a real family nose; but it only seemed to set off the eyes, so +that it was the eyes all the same--nothing but eyes. Now what was +wanted was some way of raising the hair, so that it should help the +eyes as well. Tora had seen a great deal, and often had "inspirations," +but never as yet in hair-dressing. She had one now. Naturally she began +by letting it all down and combing it out, then took the front hair and +made it into two large rolls, one on each side, lightly twisted; it was +very little in itself, and not at all striking, but the effect in this +case was amazing. When her eyes grew large, the hair looked as though +it would spread its wings and fly away, sometimes almost as though it +flickered--the hair was naturally a little wavy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Up to this time Nora had never been thought pretty, there were other +qualities in her which one noticed; but now Rendalen himself, who very +rarely looked closely at any one, stopped short as he was reading +aloud, when, chancing to raise his eyes, he caught sight of Nora; the +whole class knew what he thought. The one who was least concerned was +perhaps Nora herself; now she had settled about her hair, and she need +not think anything more about it; but when Tora Holm, as their +friendship increased, began to rave about her talents, and, with her +tendency towards exaggeration, declared that Nora was "all soul," that +her music "absolutely carried one away," and that her chance remarks +always "hit the right nail on the head," that really was something! She +longed for more with insatiable voracity, and cultivated the +friendship. Tora Holm constantly made discoveries; the most important +one was that Nora was always right, even if she had been capricious +towards others, hasty--nay, even when she had had a slight fit of +untruthfulness, Nora was right, quite right--<i>at the bottom</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It now struck Nora that Tora Holm was the first person who had ever +thoroughly understood her: to think that a stranger who looked at her +with fresh impartial eyes should have discovered this at once! The more +they saw of each other, the more gifted they thought each other. Tora's +talent for telling stories was the "greatest" Nora had "ever known;" +she gathered all her set round her to listen, and the story-telling +began. Fairy tales and romances by turns--what had not Tora read, what +did she not remember? The girls would listen over and over again to the +"Thousand and One Nights" (not the condensed edition, but the full one) +as though they were little children. As well as this, they liked +pictures of real life which did not go beyond their comprehension, +though they preferred that the lovers (and by inference also +themselves) should be noble and unhappy. These girls of fifteen, +sixteen, and seventeen (Tora herself was nearly seventeen), for various +reasons had, outside their school subjects, read only by stealth, with +the results which naturally follow. The books which Rendalen had read +to them had greatly widened their horizon and increased their desire to +know more, so that Tora was doubly welcome.</p> + +<p class="normal">But between the story-telling times Nora wished to have her to herself, +really to possess her; Nora-Tora, Tora-Nora, wove themselves together, +no one else could approach them. Nora announced this openly; they two +preferred being by themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one knew Nora, and understood that in a few days it would be +over; they only laughed, but there was one who did not laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka Hansen could not endure faithlessness; she had taken Nora to task +on one or two occasions and warned her. This time she was silent, and +allowed the penalty to consist in punctiliously respecting their wish +to remain apart. Nora could never get her to come with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Very soon Nora began to feel lonely among all these delightful Oriental +palaces; she did not realise this till she discovered that without +Tinka she did not feel free to do as she liked; without her she dared +not always listen. Tora's romances were often very "French." For more +than a year Nora had been used to the limits which Tinka imposed. She +was not sure if she were now inside or outside them, and an uneasy +conscience was the result. Tora had to suffer for this; Nora did not +know what they ought to do; she peremptorily cut short a story which +had been begun, ordered another, but stopped that as well; made +promises and did not keep them, and felt bored. And it was just at the +beginning of this period that Milla returned to school.</p> + +<p class="normal">One Thursday evening, in Fru Rendalen's room, Tom as was going to read +a new play to them. Tora Holm, who chanced to be near Milla, looked at +her new black dress, which was a different one from that she wore in +the schoolroom. Without touching the dress she said, showing with her +fingers what she meant, the "trimming ought to have gone so, not so, +and had better have been narrower." She did not wait for an answer, but +walked farther on and sat down.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day after, before morning prayers began, Milla came up to her and +thanked her; she had tried it, and found that Tora was right. There was +no time for more, but during the first "recreation" they involuntarily +sought each other out. "How could you see that at once?" asked Milla.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tried it the other day on a doll," answered Tora.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On a doll?" asked Milla with a slight blush. Tora felt that she ought +not to have let this out; she was always doubtful about what she ought +to do. What a delicate instinct Milla Engel must have, to blush on her +account!</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you dress dolls, do you?" said Milla, smiling, as she passed her +the next day. Tora protested; it really was not clear what she +protested, whether it were that she had one or two dolls, or that it +was her sisters who had them, or that even married women often have +dolls, so that there could be nothing odd in that, or else that she +quite saw how unbecoming it was, since every age ought to suit with +its.... She said all this, and a great deal more, in her Bergen +sing-song, and Milla smiled. "Won't you come in and see me this +afternoon? We are back from the country now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had not refused before Milla had said good-bye, but afterwards she +felt dreadfully embarrassed about it. Nevertheless at six o'clock she +was there.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had a great wish to get up in the world--she would not be chained +to a home such as hers was, to such a fate as threatened her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Consul Engel's house was almost the only one in the town where the door +was kept closed all day. When one rang, either a man-servant or a maid +opened the door, and one entered a house where there was Brussels +carpet in the passages and on the stairs, as well as in the rooms, and +where, to begin with, one found oneself between two mirrors where one +could see oneself from head to foot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora was shown upstairs. "Fröken Engel's" room was there. She was +heartily welcomed. The rooms were those which Fru Engel had occupied +during the last years of her life; she had very rarely left them.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had died here, and it was for that reason that the family had gone +so late into the country this year, and had only just returned to the +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every comfort which a room can possess was there; the chairs and +couches were all as soft as the cushions of an invalid, you seemed to +sink into them; they were upholstered in moss-green silk, and the +curtains and portières were of the same material and colour, the walls +were a dark indefinite colour. There was an old-fashioned rosewood +cabinet in inlaid work, with a number of small pigeon-holes and +receptacles in it. Tora never wearied of looking at it. An Erard piano +with carved heads and emblems, a bookcase in the same style. Pictures, +especially landscapes, which made one long for the evening sun, with +its hazy light and almost sultry heat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora went from one to another; she looked at every single thing as +though it were a person with whom she wished to make friends. From +there she went to the bedroom, and admired the soft carpet into which +her feet sank, the little <i>chaise-longue</i> in one corner, the bed with +its rich hangings, the variety and elegance of the toilette apparatus. +Milla's pleasure at seeing her was expressed in the one remark that she +had never before taken any one up into her mother's rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was only one piece of furniture which did not please Tora; at +last she could no longer contain herself, it assorted so ill with its +surroundings. "What is there in that press, dear? Why is it here?" +Milla replied, smiling, that it was very incongruous, she knew; it had +not been there before--in fact, it was her own; she had had it ever +since she was a child.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But can't it stand in another place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something of reserve in this answer, she could not inquire +further. As Tora was leaving Milla asked her to come again soon, +but she had better let her know beforehand, so that they might be +alone--that would be the pleasantest. Tora understood that this was +meant for Anna Rogne, but that was no affair of hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">It so chanced that the next time she sat telling stories in the +twilight to Nora and her friends, who for convenience had settled +themselves on the floor on some carpets and eider-downs, she let fall +the remark, that "Of all the people I know, the one who is most like +Gulnare is Milla Engel." This, to her audience, was much like saying +before the king that he was not the wisest man in the kingdom. Nora was +amazed, her friends almost broke out into open anger. Tora felt that +she had done a foolish thing; she tried to explain herself by ascribing +that "passive" beauty to Milla which was here implied. The expressions +active and passive were at that time war cries in the senior class; +there were "active" people and "passive" people, "active" eyes and +"passive" eyes, "active" and "passive" colours.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, good gracious," said one of the girls, "Milla has not dark hair; +she is fair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So is Nora," answered the thoughtless Tora.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly have no wish to be a passive beauty, or an Eastern +princess," answered Nora angrily. "No, I did not mean that at all, I +only meant ----" she stopped short, for she really did not know why she +had said it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was sheer nonsense," the others declared, and pressed Tora so +hard that she declared, with tears in her eyes, that Milla was the most +refined and the prettiest girl in the school. She (Tora) was only too +happy to know any one who was so considerate, so full of tact; it was +more than could be said of every one.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was too much. Gina Krog herself, who was always forbearing, did +not now scruple to announce that she had known for two days, but had +not wished to tell, that Tora went to see Milla, and that they were +bosom friends. There was a dead silence. Soon afterwards Nora left, and +the others dispersed. Tora tried to explain, but they would not listen +to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">None of the boarders belonged to Milla's party; not a girl there had +set her foot inside Milla Engel's door--for the reason that they had +never been asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">However much Tora tossed about and turned herself and her pillow that +night, she could not sleep; it vexed and hurt her that she could not be +friends with one without losing the friendship of the other. Now the +whole school would look on her as a faithless wretch. Heaven knew that +she was not, yet she might be sent to Coventry for it, it might always +be remembered against her. It was a question of the future for her. She +had been so tossed about, she felt so insecure; she was always +stretching out her arms for something solid to cling to, which as +constantly eluded her grasp. She cried bitterly; she liked them both so +much, each in her own way, though they were so different. Why should +she not if she liked? What could she do? She did not wish to sacrifice +either of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day was Sunday; she had to go to church, but she would not +wait for the others, who were going as well--so she went straight off +to Milla. Milla was dressed for church; they met in the hall, but she +was surprised when Tora asked if she might speak to her. She took her +into her room and locked the door. Tora began to cry and told her +everything exactly as it had happened; she did not conceal that she was +fond of them both and why she was so, nor how lonely she felt, and what +an effect this might have on her future. Nora had so much influence +both among the boarders and the day girls.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of the story, just as Tora had paused for a moment to cry, +Milla heard someone at the door; there was a knock, she opened it just +wide enough to step through; in a little time she returned and said +that she and Anna Rogne had made an engagement to go to church +together, but that she had excused herself on the score of a headache; +it was certainly the second Sunday that she had done so, but it could +not be helped. Milla was sorry for Tora; she really was fond of her, it +showed itself now. She promised not to take anything in bad part which +Tora might devise, so as to keep on good terms with Nora and her +numerous friends. Milla really was very sweet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had only time to put her arms round her and kiss her for this, for +she must show herself in church. But might she come again in the +afternoon? She was very much consoled, but she longed for more; she was +so frightened, she must manage to talk everything over with her. Milla +asked her to come again as early as ever she could.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora came again after coffee; as soon as she had locked the door, Milla +whispered, as she put her arm round Tora's neck, that now she was going +to give her a treat, she felt certain that it would please her. To no +one, absolutely to no one, had she shown what Tora was going to see. +The press there----</p> + +<p class="normal">"The press, well----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Once it held my dolls."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your dolls!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every one knows that it does not now," said Milla; as she spoke she +flung it open. The large double doors, both the upper and lower ones, +flew back together, and the girls could see four storeys of a house; +the bottom one a complete and marvellously dainty kitchen, scullery, +and dining-room, above a drawing-room, a large elegant apartment with +the most lovely furniture upholstered in silk, a black rosewood table, +fireplace, looking-glass, clock. On the third storey a bedroom, with +the sweetest little beds--real actual beds--and a wash-hand stand, +where everything was to be found, down to the most minute details. On +the fourth storey was the wardrobe, a magnificent doll's wardrobe. +There were changes in silk, velvet, <i>moiré antique</i>, in different +colours; a whole collection of materials which had not yet been made +up; scraps of every description evidently collected with diligence and +care during many years. All linen, even stockings, and other +underclothing, all in duplicate, as well as hats, mantles, ornaments, +belts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora shrieked; she was down on her knees and up on tiptoe; she did not +at first lay a finger on them, but devoured them with her eyes, unable +to take in the whole--it could not be grasped all at once; there was +too much, too great a variety, it was too wonderfully minute. She had +not even counted the dolls yet. "One, two, three, four--five--six! +seven!! eight!!!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She had begun softly, but her voice rose at every number, so that Milla +hastened to say, "Twelve, twelve, there are twelve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Twelve! actually twelve! Oh dear! oh dear! Have you kept all the dolls +you have ever had in your life, never spoilt a single one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Well, yes she had, but never one since she was seven.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait a minute." And solemnly, as though she were afraid they might +disappear, Tora carefully put in her hand and took up the very, very +sweetest doll in light red silk, with shoes and hat of the same colour, +a dark red parasol, and a little fan stuck into her belt; her +underclothes were made like a real person's, with lace and embroidery, +a pocket in her dress with a pocket-handkerchief in it, and elegant +French gloves which fitted her hands; as well a little brooch shaped +like a forget-me-not, and bracelets and watch in the same style. Tora +stood dumb with admiration, while she turned the doll round, inspected +the cut and make of the dress, the underclothes; held it away from her, +then close to her. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Some +one had come right upstairs without the preoccupied girls having heard +the least sound. They were startled. Milla held up her finger. She +turned red and white. Of course it was Anna. But Anna had never seen +the dolls, she would not understand.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were, she explained later, two more dolls in mourning, but Anna +had been with her so much lately that she had not been able to dress +many of them, otherwise her plan had been to have them all in mourning, +that would have been charming. Another knock, low and hesitating. They +held their breaths; Milla was quite unnerved. They heard her go; they +listened so intently that they could hear her step on the stairs. It +was a most unlucky chance. Milla had given orders that if any one +besides Tora came they were to say that she had gone out for a walk on +account of her headache. But the maid who had received the order, +Milla's own maid, could not have answered the door, although it was her +time for doing so. What should Milla do? But from this consideration +she was swept away by a whirlwind.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Nora lay on the bed in Tinka Hansen's room; a little wainscoted, +blue-painted attic in shoemaker Hansen's new house in the market-place. +As well as the bed there was an open bookshelf painted brown, one or +two chairs, a large washstand intended for two, but for which no other +place could be found; a high short sofa on which Tinka now sat, looking +across at the bed, her right arm resting on her little desk which stood +on the table before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora lay sobbing loudly, and Tinka sat calmly by and looked at her; +Nora knew now what faithlessness was, how it tasted to be deserted for +the sake of another.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was more than being forsaken--she was abandoned, deposed, made +nothing of. Tora had lifted her up to the skies; she was "all mind," +"could not make a mistake." And now this very Tora had dropped her--for +Milla Engel! The world was nothing but lies and delusions. "Oh dear! +Tinka, why cannot you be kind to me? You do not know how unhappy I am." +But Tinka was silent. "I cannot do without you, Tinka--no, I cannot. I +have discovered since this morning that I made nothing but mistakes. I +have no stability--no, not a bit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, that is it," said Tinka soothingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a bit; oh dear, what shall I do? Won't you talk to me?" She cried +dreadfully now.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You only care for adoration, Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not 'only,' Tinka; don't say 'only.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no; but you are never happy unless you are adored, and one tires +of that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall I do, Tinka? Goodness knows I am tired of it myself. Ah, +you do not believe it, but it's true, especially now since Milla is +adored as well. Ugh! it is disgusting to think of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is merely because it is Milla, and not you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No indeed, Tinka," and she raised herself on her elbow. "Tora has +given me so much of it that I am tired of it; yes, I am; and to think +that she is with Milla now." She flung herself down again and cried, +with anger and vexation. She raised herself again suddenly: "But I must +get rid of all this; it is disgusting; I despise myself; you do not +know what I have been thinking since this morning. Help me, Tinka; you +are the only one of them all who speaks the truth to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka was unmoved: Nora flung herself down again, turned away and +cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand," said Tinka at length, "that you who rave so +for----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not use that word"--Nora interrupted her while she made a gesture +with her hand behind her--"it has become loathsome now that Milla does +it too. Milla 'raves.' Can you imagine anything so----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well, I will not say 'rave.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, I will say 'interest yourself--you who interest yourself so +much in all that is just and great, and who are also so brave, for you +would cheerfully die for what you think right----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I could, Tinka; I believe I could do that; ah, how nice it is to +hear something good again, and especially from you; I feel quite +astray."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but now I am coming to what I want to say--do you understand? Is +it not a shame that any one so excellent should all the same be such a +peacock?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A peacock, Tinka?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, a peacock; you are just like a peacock!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I? I think you are----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not I who said so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought as much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was Tora who said so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tora! the ungrateful----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but Tora is right; you are dreadfully like a peacock, Nora; that +thin little face of yours, and then you are so slender."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, I say, Tinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it's true. All we friends agree as to that. We are all to be the +eyes in your tail. Yes, that is it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora threw herself down and howled, with her head and hands in the +eider-down quilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, of course you have offended Tora--you offend every one. You are +so capricious, you are so spoilt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is what I am!" came from the eider-down.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is what you are. Frederik says so as well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does Frederik say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora raised her red face quickly up from the eider-down. Frederik was +an authority.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will read it to you," answered the other, opening the desk, and +taking out a letter of at least five sheets.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He writes," she said, as she turned to the fourth side of the fourth +sheet, with the same calm deliberation with which she had opened the +desk, looked for the letter, closed the desk again, and now read: "You +must not be too severe with her either, for if that were her real +nature, she would behave differently, and understand how to retain her +worshippers. As it is, she is only a spoilt child, who has never done +anything without being praised for it, and has besides become so +capricious that she is tired to-day of those who praised her +yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear! how true that is, Tinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But perhaps she will weary of caprice as well, for she certainly +desires something more than that. I was impressed by that in the +summer. But you must help her, Tinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you must."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora had raised herself, and now sat on the edge of the bed. She had +folded her hands, and looked at Tinka. "You must always be with me. I +am not content with myself, when you are not with me. Oh, Tinka! I will +never, never, never be like that again. If you see the slightest sign +of it, you must take me to task for it. You know I do want to be +something more than this. I want to be remarkable. Ah! don't laugh; in +reality I have no wish to sing and make fun for the others, and be +flattered and flattered; but it came so, I can't understand why. I +don't want it; I wish to be able to do something, to take up something +with an object. <i>Yes, that is what I want</i>. Sometimes I believe I must +go off to the wars, or die with the Nihilists in Russia. Yes, I do +believe it. Or else travel about and lecture; be hissed down and +wounded. Yes, I could. I don't know why it should be, but I long for +it. I don't say it to boast, Tinka, I only say it because I feel it so. +Believe me, I do feel it in that way. If I fail, it will be because it +is nothing but wishing; perhaps I am incapable of it. Well, all the +same I have the wish. I have no wish for the sort of thing I do now, +and for which I am praised. I have such an unconquerably strong, +strong, strong longing."</p> + +<p class="normal">She raised herself, her eyes sparkled through her tears; her hair stood +on end, she had dishevelled it with her long arms whilst she was +crying. She threw herself down again. Tinka could not resist all the +pleasant remembrances which Nora had awakened. She walked across and +bent her broad full figure over her. And there they sat for some time +together, talking that endearing nonsense which is proper to the +happiness of reconciliation. Tinka did not forget all that she had +treasured in her memory for Nora's benefit, but the sting of it was +gone. Nora's lively answers made it all appear stupid, and at last she +was ready to laugh at what a little time before had seemed something +very serious, immensely important.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of this, some one rushed up the stairs, step by step, up +the first flight, like the beat of a drum. Then up the second, then the +third, across to the attic, in the same wild unflagging whirl. There +was only one who ever came in that fashion, but it could not very well +be she. The door was not locked; there was no knock; it was pushed +open. Yes, it was Tora! Good heavens!</p> + +<p class="normal">The amazement, vexation, dignity of the two girls! It could not have +been done better at Court, Tinka's perfect unconsciousness that there +could be such a person as Tora Holm in the world, or Nora's noble and +spiritual, "Don't disturb me," without a word spoken. It was splendid! +Never did so fine a representation more utterly break down. Tora was +beaming with delight, victory, and rejoicing. She talked about <i>twelve</i> +dolls, some of which were as big as an ordinary child; of--she really +believed---<i>fifty</i> dolls' dresses of different sorts, <i>moiré antique</i>, +silk, and velvet, besides morning dresses, embroidered skirts and +drawers, silk stockings, gloves and parasols; of beds and curtains; of +a wash-hand stand, with all belonging to it, down to the most minute +details; of everything from the kitchen to the drawing-room, and the +drawing-room furniture; of a splendid plan about the dolls, who were +all to go to a Court Ball on the King's birthday; about Milla, who was +a hundred thousand times better than they dreamed of, who did not +object, nay wished, that they should both come up with her and see it +all now, at once, and help about the Court Ball--of course as the +deepest of secrets. Yes, it was true; on her word of honour it was +true. She told them how it had all happened; about Milla's room, what +it was like, and that she had been there a number of times without +hearing a word about the dolls. But to-day Milla had shown them to her, +merely out of the goodness of her heart to comfort her. Now she wanted +to show them to the others, if it could be managed, and all four be +friends from this time forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had proposed it; Milla had been startled, but she had come round, +and at last thought it a capital plan. Milla was so good, and they must +be so too; no hesitation--they must. Why should there be two parties? +Milla had her ways, Nora hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">They had never really done each other any harm, not the least bit; if +they would only try to grasp the fact: "we can talk more about it as we +go."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two looked at each other, but Tora gave them no breathing time. "We +must tell them at home that we are going to stay to tea, for that was +what was meant. It would never do to refuse an invitation, a formal +invitation, to the Engels."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora was a perfect whirlwind, carrying all before her, and the storm of +excitement had brought fire to her eyes, her movements--she seemed to +sparkle. She took possession of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not long afterwards they all four stood before the press; the +introduction, the embarrassment from the change of circumstances, +apologies, counter-apologies, occupied the first few minutes; Tora took +hold of Milla and pushed her gently forward to the front of the press.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Open! open!--we can talk afterwards--open!" Milla herself felt that +here action was better than words, and opened the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cry of delight which was given by the newcomers fully rewarded her.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an amount of industry, order, loyalty, and sense of beauty in +this little collection which she was aware of herself, and which made +it dear to her heart. It was her treasure, never seen by many people, +and for the last two or three years only by herself; there was +therefore a special charm of secrecy in it; it would be enjoyed when +some day it was opened before the astonished eyes of others. And now, +how it was enjoyed!</p> + +<p class="normal">Each one found a special pleasure in it. Tinka looked upon the dolls as +so many little children, she talked baby talk to them: "Doodnes +dacious" for "Goodness gracious," and "tweet" for "sweet." She began to +undress one for the pleasure of dressing it again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora delighted in the stuffs, felt each one, held them up against the +light, laid them one against the other. There was a special piece of +brocade which she now saw for the first time (Milla looked it out for +her), which absolutely enraptured her; it suggested plan upon plan, she +talked without a pause. Nora regarded the press as a collection of +works of art. Milla became a new person in her eyes. It was evident +what she thought of her now, one saw it in Milla's slightly heightened +colour.</p> + +<p class="normal">They treated each other the whole evening with a distinction which the +others considered as only natural.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were soon all sitting round the table with the dolls shared among +them; the materials and everything which could be of use for this great +object, a Court Ball, lay scattered before them, and eight eyes and +forty fingers rummaged among them. They could not agree; Tora wished to +have a costume ball, her endless chatter filled the air with fancies +and varying colours, a perfect whirl of figures of damsels and <i>rococo</i> +dames with ribbons, feathers, and hats. Milla preferred the present +day, the fashion plates, especially some quite new ones.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora was sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, according as +some special thing took her fancy. Tinka opposed the idea; they could +each one dress her doll according to her own fancy. Nora and Tora +rebelled against this; there ought to be some style in it. Milla dealt +with the proposal with more deliberation, but was against it. Nora +quickly grew impatient at this, and then, by a sleight of hand +which only girls understand, this discussion turned into a dispute +about--Tomas Rendalen and Karl Vangen! Not between Tinka and the +others, but Tora against Nora and Tinka. Tora being herself nervous, +could not endure Rendalen's nervousness. It was either this, or that +she was inclined to be in opposition; otherwise it cannot be explained +how it was that from the first day she had been unable to get on with +Rendalen. A speaking resemblance between a red-spotted stuff and +Rendalen's hands had started the dispute. Nora had hastily answered +that his hands were clever, really speaking hands; Vangen's, on the +contrary, were "big and stupid, as broad at one end as the other."</p> + +<p class="normal">When there are only two masculine teachers in a girls' school, the +pupils very rarely praise both--one must be censured when the other is +applauded; and at school it was generally honest Karl Vangen who was +used as a foil whenever any one felt inclined to become enthusiastic +over the intellectual Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">But on this point Tora was in opposition from the moment when Karl +Vangen had grasped her hand in warm welcome, and had beamed down at her +with his kind eyes, and besides had made their meeting the text of his +address that day--since then she had been fond of him. And the more +awkward and simple he was, the more she liked him--she fought for him +until the others were forced to respect her.</p> + +<p class="normal">This time it began very mildly; they merely taunted her with Karl +Vangen's "thick head," his wide mouth, his long fingers, long legs and +big feet; and she replied with allusions to Rendalen's red hair, +screwed-up eyes, his feminine preciseness, his scented handkerchief; +but it soon became more serious. Tora's quick wit cited instances of +Rendalen's uncontrolled impetuosity, and what mistakes he made in +consequence. Instances of his uneven temper--how sometimes he rushed up +and down the class without speaking, without hearing, without seeing; +at other times he was nothing but life, absolutely given up to fun--far +too much so. The others considered that this was unjust, because if +this were mentioned by itself, no one would have the least idea of +Rendalen, who was, for all that, the best and cleverest teacher in the +world. Tinka had a capricious talent for mimicry and not the slightest +leaning towards piety, so that Karl Vangen very easily appeared to her +in a ludicrous light; she now began to preach, or rather to bleat, like +him, with eyes gazing fixedly heavenwards. Nora laughed violently, Tora +cried, Milla could not prevent herself from laughing, but all the same, +she now took Karl Vangen's part; she quietly remarked that she thought +him "delightful"; she did not mention Rendalen. As Milla was the +hostess and Nora and Tinka at her house for the first time, they said +no more; but Tora would not give in; she now seriously began to sing +Karl Vangen's praises. In order not to answer and admit that there +might be some truth in it, Nora walked away humming and looked out of +the window. "Good gracious! why, there goes Anna Rogne," she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has she been here?" asked Milla, turning pale; she got up and came +towards the window. Yes, certainly she saw Anna hurrying away, she must +be much disturbed; she herself, with as much speed as was becoming, +hastened out of the door and down the stairs. Some time elapsed before +she returned. She was silent and really upset; Anna had been right +upstairs and therefore outside their door. There was general +astonishment. Milla told them what had happened that morning, and how +innocent she really was in the matter. Tora at once took it upon +herself, and was terribly unhappy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, the blame is mine alone," said Milla.</p> + +<p class="normal">What should she do? She had ordered the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">No one answered, but they looked involuntarily at Tinka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Tinka, "we will all go together to fetch Anna and explain +to her how it happened." Nora and Tora agreed at once that that was the +only right thing to do. Milla, too, admitted that this would be best, +but she had never said anything to Anna about the dolls; Anna did not +care for such things, and now it could not very well be explained to +her without offence. Nora and Tora were sensible of this; it would not +do.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka held to her opinion; she would gladly undertake it by herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">No; if any one were to do so it should be Milla.</p> + +<p class="normal">This put the idea into Milla's head to write. Simply say to Anna that +the others were here, would she not come too? She sent the carriage. +Yes, the others thought that would do.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go yourself!" said Tinka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I am not so discourteous as that to my guests," laughed Milla. She +sat down to write.</p> + +<p class="normal">The others were quiet for a time; at last Nora broke in with, "Tinka is +certainly right; go yourself, we can easily go out just for that time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," answered Milla, looking up from her letter; "Anna need not know +that we saw her. Then it would be the most natural thing in the world +for me to send a message to her when you are here." The others could +not contradict this. She finished off the note and hurried down with +it; as she came up again they heard the carriage drive out of the gate, +at the side of the house. Milla smiled; "I said I would explain another +time why you had come. I told Hans to be quick and to drive a little +way round so as not to pass Anna; perhaps the carriage will be there +before she is." It was evident that she was pleased at having proved +equal to a difficult occasion.</p> + +<p class="normal">They resumed their discussion on the dolls' festival; but before the +carriage returned with Anna, the dolls and their things must be back in +the press.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly Nora broke out: "If we are not to mention the dolls to Anna, +why in the world could we not have all gone to her together?"</p> + +<p class="normal">They looked puzzled at each other for a moment. It was true! They burst +out laughing. What had given them the mad idea that for them all to go +together would be to let out the secret of the dolls. They tried to +recall the course of their conversation, but could not determine it; at +all events, it showed that they had uneasy consciences. Tinka proposed +in good time to put away the dolls, their wardrobe and stuffs, under +Milla's superintendence; but Milla undertook to put the whole thing +tidy later on, they could sit quiet while she did so. They all objected +to this; it would be awfully amusing to put them away. And so it was +settled.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage returned without Anna--she had a headache. Tora looked at +Milla, and Milla at Tora; this was a final good-bye. It put them all +out of tune for a little while, but when they remembered that at all +events they could take the dolls out again, the three guests soon +consoled themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as they had got to work, the conversation naturally turned upon +Anna; none of the three liked her; they thought her artificial, +<i>prétentieuse</i>, as Tora expressed it in rather affected French; Anna +was always trying to take up some special line; everything she said, or +did, must be so dreadfully thorough. But they all agreed that she wrote +well; it was true, for the two things went naturally together.</p> + +<p class="normal">They then began to make fun of her extreme piety. Milla had said +nothing about the first; as regarded the second, she contented herself +by remarking that she had perhaps a little too much of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora was the first to forsake the table. She could not go on any +longer; she must have a little music, she said. The grand piano was +tried. Milla was afraid that it was not quite in tune; nor was it, but +what a tone! Nora sang, while the others dressed dolls; then she +worried Tinka to join her, but at first Tinka would not leave her blue +doll; at last Milla asked her to do so. They had sung one or two songs +when there was a knock at the door. Milla's maid announced that the +Consul had arrived; there was great surprise, he was not expected. +Milla hurried down. The others all agreed at once that they must go, it +would be dull work having tea with the Consul. Tora especially shrank +from it; her cuffs were not quite clean; would it do to ask Milla to +lend her a pair? During this discussion the door was opened, in came +Milla, quicker than any one believed it possible for her to move. +"Father's coming," she whispered, and hurried to the table with the +others after her. From there to the press, from the press to the table, +from the table to the press; heads and shoulders were knocked together, +toes trodden on, amid smothered cries, laughter, and scolding; +everything was off the table and locked up as the Consul knocked at the +door. Nora had pushed Tinka on to the sofa, she herself sat gravely on +a chair, Milla and Tora stood by the press. The Consul came in, elegant +and smiling as usual. He saw the four girls red with suppressed +laughter, or whatever it might be, embarrassed, constrained. "What the +deuce is it?" he thought, and came forward to Nora, the Sheriff's +daughter, bowed politely, bade her welcome, and asked after her +parents; then to the others as Milla introduced them, and then back +again to Nora; he asked merrily if he might have the pleasure of taking +her downstairs. He had just come from the steamer, and was as hungry as +one only can be after a sea voyage.</p> + +<p class="normal">She took his arm, but he wished the others to go first, which they +hesitated to do; it seemed as though one were waiting for the other. +Tinka could not understand why Tora did not move, and when the Consul +turned towards her again she came forward, although it was rather +embarrassing. Why did not Milla help her? She stood there too, as +though she had taken root. The Consul gave his daughter a little push: +"<i>Avancez, mesdemoiselles</i>." She was obliged to come a little forward, +and the lower part of a doll become visible! It lay there, "naked and +face downwards," as the song says. Tora tried to cover it up, but the +Consul had caught sight of it, and with a "Pardon me, Fröken," he +stooped and picked it up. Tora ran, Tinka ran, Milla ran, Nora let go +his arm and ran, and the Consul after them with the doll. "What is +this--what in the world is this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">They all rushed into the dining-room and stood there in a group, +convulsed with laughter, as the Consul followed them with the doll in +the air like a flag. It was the blue doll which Tinka had undressed for +the third time, and was going to put to bed just as the Consul came and +everything was hurry-scurry. It must have slipped down and bashfully +hidden itself under a skirt at the time the press was closed. Milla and +Tora had discovered it at the same moment, and both placed themselves +over it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Consul sat down with the doll in his arms; then he laid it down in +his table napkin, and after looking at it once or twice he put it on +the table with a teacup under its head. Milla snatched it from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you really play with dolls?"</p> + +<p class="normal">No, indeed; they had come to consult together about Christmas presents. +Milla gave this answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should you hide such a harmless thing?" asked the Consul.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because the doll was undressed, of course," answered his daughter. +Nora soon joined in; she was used to this sort of thing. She also had a +father who loved to tease girls.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other two took but little part, but as against that the Consul kept +his eyes on them almost continually. Tinka could quite understand that +Tora might attract his attention, but why should she? She grew uneasy +by degrees. Her dress might have come unsewn somewhere near the arm, it +happened so to her sometimes; she looked as well as she could, but +failed to discover anything; she felt as though she had no dress on at +all.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Consul was very merry; suddenly he turned all his attention to +Tora, they had only been a short time at table and she had finished +already! The fact was that the unlucky cuffs worried Tora to such an +extent that they ran between her and her wits. The Consul looked at her +suddenly; it was not the birth-mark that he was looking at, for she had +been careful to have that side next to Milla; it was certainly not her +face, his looks were directed lower than that. She put down her knife +and fork and hid her hands under the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not eating, my dear Fröken Holm; are you not well, missie? +What's amiss with you? Or is there anything particular you want? Just +say what it is. Milla, give Fröken Holm another cup of tea. No tea +either? A glass of wine? Come now, just a glass of wine. Your good +health, Fröken! But you won't drink any? Do you prefer Madeira? Good +gracious, are you blushing about it? Headache? Dear, dear! Perhaps you +would like----? Shall Milla help you? Not that either? Just say what +you want, my dear. Have you often a headache, Fröken Holm? What, you +have not got one? I once knew a girl who would have a headache merely +if something were amiss with her cuffs. But, my dear Milla, I do not +want to tease Fröken Holm. Is that what it is, Fröken Holm?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora was overcome by a feeling of helplessness which would seize her +for even a smaller cause than this, and which always made her cry. She +had to leave the table and hasten upstairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla rose with a dignity which her friends admired, and followed her. +When the others joined her, Tora was gone. Milla looked pale, but was +completely silent as to what had passed. Nora and Tinka began to put on +their things, Milla making no objection. She kissed them and begged +them to come again, repeating her invitation down in the hall. It was +only when she was upstairs alone, and had locked the door, that she +burst into tears. Such a thing would never have happened if her mother +had been at table, she could not fill her place; her father had vexed +her terribly. Her mother had left her so much too soon. "Oh, mother, +mother, mother!" There was a knock at the door. She asked who it was. +Her father; of course she had to open, but she went back to the sofa +and flung herself crying into the furthermost corner. He sat down +quietly, and after a few moments he said very gently, almost in a +whisper, "Listen, Milla; I am sorry for what has happened; I wish I +knew better how it had come about. But it is annoying, of course, +chiefly for your sake. I never thought she could take it so to heart. I +was so pleased that your friends should come to see you. Especially +these girls. All the same, and perhaps it was that feeling which +influenced me, have you been careful enough in the choice of one of +them, Milla?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing particular; don't be so vehement, my dear! You do not quite +understand me. A girl who is so uncertain of herself and--well--whom +one can so easily confuse--there might come a time when you would +repent that you had been intimate with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla got up, literally as white as a sheet. She felt exactly as though +he had spoken of her; there are very few girls of her age who would not +have felt so. But she did not say a word. She cried bitterly as she +went into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day, the moment the time for recreation was sounded, Milla +took Tora by the arm, and during every recreation it was the same +thing. They were both beaming with good-humour; Nora and Tinka greatly +admired Milla for this. They had not thought that she had so much heart +and spirit.</p> + +<p class="normal">This little occurrence, more than anything else laid the foundation of +their friendship.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Staff was formed.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_04.3" href="#div1Ref_04.3">THE SOCIETY</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">It was soon noticed that the whole of the senior class and that next to +it had come under a single influence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen was so much struck by the alteration, without understanding +the ground for it, that at last he made inquiries, and it was explained +to him. He was much amused, gave the four girls their celebrated name, +and at the same time suggested that they should form a "Society." It +was true that they already had social evenings at his mother's, and +they would continue these, but it would be better if they took the +whole affair into their own hands; select the subjects for readings and +lectures, or for discussion, among themselves. The last especially. +Girls had so many "fancies" in their heads that they ought to learn in +early life to be able to carry out a thought, to pursue a special +interest. A Society! The senior class is to institute a Society. They +may invite their friends from the town or the elder girls from the +second class. They will be allowed to speak at the meetings on what +subjects they choose, invite whom they like to take part in the +readings and music, they and no one else. They were to be empowered to +make rules, elect a president and secretary, impose fines! What fancies +this awakened, not in the senior class alone, but in all of them, down +to the little ones who learned to spell and sing songs about the cat. +What a stir at meal-times, what a whispering during lessons, what +commotions at play-time! When a school is excited by a question which +must not be openly discussed in lesson hours, it causes despair among +the teachers. No one studies, no one listens, no one keeps order or +remembers anything. If one wishes really to be amused by the suppressed +excitement of the class, one must not stand in front of them; there +they restrain themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">No, take up your position behind them and observe their plaits; you +might imagine that they had gained an independent life--they jump, they +dance, they curl and uncurl themselves. The changes of colour during +this extreme restlessness are comical. All the fiery red, sandy and +brown-red, up to black, look as though they were wet or shining with +oil, or take a dead colour like coffee grounds. There are locks which +are black above and brown underneath, and those of absolute raven +black; there are light ones in every shade of ashen, of yellow, or an +ugly mixture of both, with green for a foundation. All these assume the +wonderful changes of colour which belong to their years. The braids are +as excited as though they were chattering to each other, playing tricks +on one another, springing towards each other. The life behind is a +perfect reflex of that in front.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the first--that is to say, the preliminary--meeting of the Society, +Nora was elected president; Tinka was so accustomed to have all the +work put upon her that she knew beforehand that she would be chosen +secretary; she was right, she was chosen unanimously.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had this advantage, Nora considered, that she would thus be able to +copy the minutes of the proceedings for Frederik. It was true that +their earliest determination was that the proceedings should not be +made public, but then Tinka was engaged.</p> + +<p class="normal">Otherwise they began without written rules, but Frederik wrote from +Christiania requiring the most clearly defined ones. He sent a draft. +There were fines for non-attendance, fines for disregarding the rules +therein set down, fines for every other kind of disorder, fines for +omitting to vote. But the girls took it more practically than he--the +donkey--as Tinka called him on this occasion. Nora and she worked out, +quite quietly, a new set of rules; they were discussed at the next +meeting amid some disorder; rules did not appear to be to their taste.</p> + +<p class="normal">A great deal of fun was made in the town over the "Society;" there were +some, however, who considered it unbecoming, some thought it dangerous, +but when a theatrical company visited the town and its most select +representation fell on the same day as a meeting of the Society, and +the members, with a few exceptions, were with difficulty persuaded to +sacrifice this meeting, it was allowed that a proof had been given of +their zeal. No one thought it worth while to raise the question again +as regarded the chief representation; they were left in peace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Very soon a serious error showed itself in the rules of the Society. +Any one might anonymously propose a subject for discussion to the +president, and it was decided by vote whether it should be placed on +the agenda.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus it was anonymously proposed to discuss "Immortality," but this did +not obtain a single vote. The proposer was evidently not a member. +Another proposal ran, "Ought men to be allowed to wear moustaches?" and +this was written in the same hand. It was now suggested that no notice +should be taken of any communication which was not laid on the +secretary's table during the course of the meeting. It was objected +that the proposal in this case would no longer remain anonymous, but +they were sufficiently confident in their own adroitness, for it was +adopted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although the discussions were absolutely private, it was maintained in +the town that one young lady in the course of her lecture had declared +that it was most pitiful of men that they could not keep their vows of +chastity so well as women. It was then that Dösen composed his famous +"<i>Nora, Tora, ora pro nobis</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">With this exception it was not certain what the girls discussed, they +had agreed to pretend that everything that was said about them was +true, a roguish Freemasonry kept this joke going.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of those who teased them the most was Consul Engel. He had soon +made his peace with the Staff, having sent his apologies through his +daughter. Besides this, he had presented Tora with a nest of Japanese +boxes, in the smallest of which was a charming pin. In order to make +everything smooth again, he gave a "Reconciliation Dinner," to which +Milla invited several of her friends. An enormous doll had been sent by +<i>grande vitesse</i>, which he set up on the table and ceremoniously +introduced to the four girls. It was magnificent; Tinka had put on her +stoutest dress; Tora, who was in a wild mood, sat next to Milla. She +chattered without stopping for a moment, so that Milla had to pinch her +under the table to make her be silent, at which Tora laughed as though +she were mad. Nora ran to the piano in the middle of dessert, to sing a +song which the Consul had never heard. He declared afterwards that he +had never amused himself more innocently. His only notion of talking to +them was to tease them, his favourite theme was the Society. They +laughed at his jokes and kept them up, but they would not give in; for +women are used to having the things they are fond of held up to +contempt. The Society was a new thing in their lives, soon it became +something more. But to show this we must return to one who is waiting +for us. Anna Rogne did not come to school that Monday; Milla came up to +muster with her heart full of self-reproach. Directly after school she +drove round to see her, but Anna was ill; her aunts came out smiling +and told her that she could not be disturbed. The next day Milla came +again. She asked if she might not at least be allowed to see the +invalid. Anna and she had begun to read Fabiola together; might she not +read aloud to her? "Little Anna hoped she would excuse her," they said +smiling, and Milla went away. Anna was away three weeks, and Milla +called two or three times more, but did not see her. After that she +gave up the attempt.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna was not ill, she told her aunts openly what was the matter; she +had been deceived and slighted--nay, more than that, she had been +robbed. What she meant by this last she would not explain for a long +time; she could not. She must be quite alone. They could hear her the +whole day walking about in the attic, and sometimes in the night as +well; they were terribly frightened, but did as she wished. They always +told her when they were going to have prayers, but she would never join +them; when she noticed their increasing astonishment and anxiety, she +at last told them that <i>that</i> had been her greatest loss; for all that +she valued most she had shared with Milla. Not to speak of their mutual +profession, there was not a prayer, not a hymn, not a favourite passage +of Scripture which had not been exchanged between her and her friend, +as lovers exchange their betrothal rings, make presents to each other, +and kiss each other's portraits.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could no longer bear to see, to be present, to hear or think any +more about the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not cry, at all events not when any one saw her; little Anna +had a strong will. She looked on what had happened as one foe looks at +another. Her feelings did not take the form of <i>pain</i>, but of <i>anger</i>. +She hated the others, she pitied herself. The misapprehension she had +laboured under, up to the last hour of that last day when she stood +before Milla's door and heard the others laughing inside--could +anything more absurd be imagined! What had she not, in utmost +seriousness, shared with a girl like that, and the inward strength with +which she had credited her; there were no bounds to her sense of shame +when she thought of it, and yet she was obliged to think of it. She +forced herself to confess it to her aunts, she forced herself to probe +down into the most remote causes; it became an employment which brought +others in its train. She roused herself, began to stir about, to take +long lonely walks, and at last to read. At the end of three weeks she +returned to school, rather paler than usual and a little thinner, but +in all other respects, apparently, just as before. She did not take her +old place, but was still friendly with every one, even with Milla. +Milla made no further attempts at explanation, though it was not +perhaps without her knowledge that Tora did so. Anna listened to her, +and asked for a little yellow cotton; she would return it the next day. +She attended all the meetings of the Society most regularly; it was +evident that it interested her, but she took no active part.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just before Christmas Rendalen was invited, on a suggestion of Nora, to +tell them something about Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts." He refused this, but +asked leave to speak to them a little on hereditary responsibility; he +considered that in this, when it had been thoroughly worked out and +realised, were contained several new moral laws--indeed, that a +revolution would be caused by it in many things.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was great eagerness over this; they looked forward to a quiet and +interesting account, but were given a wild though stirring lecture. The +girls were not less frightened by Rendalen's personal agitation than by +his words. At the end he shouted out that those who passed on an +hereditary disease to their children--those, for example, who had +frequent insanity in their families, and nevertheless, married; those +who, though weakened by debauchery, brought children into the world; +those who, for the sake of money, married cripples or unhealthy people +and endowed their children with these afflictions--were worse than the +greatest scoundrels, worse than thieves, forgers, robbers, murderers; +that he would maintain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Something must have happened: for several days Fru Rendalen had gone +about with red eyes, and he himself had been away, probably to +Christiania. Anna came forward and thanked him for his lecture in her +own <i>prétentieuse</i> manner; after he had gone, she said it was the best +she had heard. Only one person agreed with her, and that was Miss Hall; +the others said nothing, there was a painful silence. At last some one +said that the lecture appeared to her to be terribly violent. Little +Anna replied that people must be roused, everything was made into an +<i>amusement</i>. There was too much of that in the Society itself. This +caused still greater discord; Nora was annoyed, and asked if Anna would +not in that case do something to help it. Anna coloured, but to every +one's astonishment she replied: "Yes, she would try."</p> + +<p class="normal">She disappeared from school for several days; but she announced that +she would give a lecture at the next meeting. She wished that Rendalen, +Fru Rendalen, and Karl Vangen should hear it; this was certainly not +hiding her light under a bushel, her companions thought. Of course the +invited guests came.</p> + +<p class="normal">When little Anna arrived she looked overstrung, her hands trembled as +her thin fingers turned the pages of her manuscript and arranged the +lights on the tribune. Her voice and delivery were measured, sometimes +almost sharp; she did not often raise her large eyes, but when she did +so it was with a significance which was most irritating. She read her +lecture--the opening was especially pointed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Woman does not labour to improve herself in the same degree that she +expects man to do. She does not lay aside the failings which she +acquired when in another and worse position. I will this evening +mention one fault--lying. In her position as the weaker, woman has +accustomed herself to lying, but she is no longer so defenceless as to +need this. Thus I consider that in making herself appear so gentle, so +pious, so modest, so lovable before strangers, even if only one is +present, she lies. It is the same thing when, a straight course being +disagreeable to her, she at once takes a crooked one; she gives a false +reason, she makes excuses. If there is anything to be done which has +grown distasteful she pleads a headache; if any one calls whom she does +not wish to see, she is 'out,' though she is sitting in the parlour. It +does not disturb her in the least to make her servant, her daughter, or +her friend lie for her when she cannot do so herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some ladies, possibly a large proportion, have so accustomed +themselves to giving untrue reasons, or to concealing the real ones, to +making up excuses, that they do it without any necessity; they delight +in it as in a kind of coquetry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would this were only in their relations with mankind, but it is the +same towards God. I will quote a writer on the subject; he says, 'It is +difficult to judge woman's religious faith so long as religion remains +her single intellectual interest; but when one sees a hundred, two +hundred, three hundred ladies round one fashionable preacher, one +suspects mischief. The easiest thing to think of is to allow oneself to +be guided by another's words; it is only a step further to be +enthusiastic about the preacher himself, easiest of all to feign an +enthusiasm which others feel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The faith which has lost its ideals on earth, and therefore transfers +them to heaven, is certainly not so secure of a good reception there as +the clergy promise. As a rule, there does not remain much more than a +vague need.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'There are besides many women who are very cautious; it is best to +make things safe for them and theirs. I often wonder what our Lord says +when they begin.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">She quoted further, and many of the quotations aroused laughter. Karl +Vangen was especially amused. From this she passed on to woman's share +in societies for charitable objects; how the needs of the poor +furnished an excuse for gay dances ("the proceeds for the poor," as +they say); how amusing balls and even theatrical performances are +organised in aid of the sufferers from shipwreck or fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">She described how a society such as this trifled with great questions +and raved about particular lecturers. Anna was severe, as young people +generally are when they take upon themselves to criticise.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she left the tribune she did not grasp what was said to her; she +answered at cross purposes, or asked them what they had said, but +little by little she recovered herself; when she looked for Rendalen he +was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was utterly astonished; she slipped across to Fru Rendalen to hear +the reason. Of course, she had to begin by asking her what <i>she</i> had +thought of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my child, there is a great deal of right in what you say, but I +fear that you will all inflate it into something to be taken seriously. +Poor things, you will learn then to lie to some purpose. Few women can +take this seriously, my child, but they can affect to do so and +overstrain themselves as well--ah yes, they often become horribly +unnatural----"</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, slowly and cautiously, came Anna's question, "Why did Herr +Rendalen go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven knows!" She sighed, looked towards the door where he had +disappeared, got up, and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl Vangen was talking to Tora; he now saw that Anna was disengaged, +and came up to her to say that he had been "very much delighted" with +some of the quotations; he knew the book. Karl Vangen had been on the +high road to become a fashionable preacher; happily he had escaped, but +the terror still remained with him. Anna knew this from her aunts, so +she had the secret key to his remarks. He believed entirely in woman's +religious convictions, he said, and did not quite agree with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She asked him his opinion in other respects. "I know so little about +women in other ways," he said, colouring slightly, "I dare not enter +into it."</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as ever the elders were gone, the enthusiasm of the girls broke +out. "Little Anna" was the eldest of them, a thing people very easily +forgot--she was so undeveloped in appearance. They had never thought +her capable of such an effort. "What a remarkable point of view! how +well expressed! and that by one of ourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora and Tora were especially charmed. "That is just what we are, just +as untruthful, principally in little things of course. And how we play +with serious questions. We must have deeds as well, or if not deeds, +then----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Snuff," said somebody, and the whole party burst into roars of +laughter, but they began again: "It is true, Heaven knows it is true. +It must be altered; it is shameful to be as we are."</p> + +<p class="normal">As a beginning they would all escort Anna home. Yes, they would! And so +they did, and the two crooked old aunts were startled out of their +sleep when, between eleven and twelve at night, they heard the swarm +buzzing before the house, and the call of "Good-night, good-night, +good-night," from twenty ringing girls' voices. And little Anna +herself! She had to go in and tell them what it was all about, but she +merely said they had come home with her. She could not say more just +then. She felt so uncertain. She had written this lecture with her +heart's blood; she had turned her bitterest feelings into an assault; +she had felt certain that she would be assailed for it, hated for it, +and lo and behold, she had been thanked for it over and over again; +nothing had been heard but exultation and praise.</p> + +<p class="normal">She lay in bed, but could not sleep. Was it from pleasure? Was it from +fear? Or had she been for the first time moved by them? It was not +disagreeable.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time more than one little head lay pondering what course +should be pursued. The impulse to take this seriously, to be terribly +truthful, must have nourishment, otherwise it would certainly die. And +they found something real to do!</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla was in mourning; Milla could not go to balls this Christmas. They +would none of them go to balls this Christmas either. Yes, laugh if you +like, but it was unanimously determined upon. One does not desert a +friend in sorrow: not one of the Staff would go to a dance the whole +winter through. Milla felt flattered by so much sympathy, but---- "No +buts!" Immovable, unanimous determination.</p> + +<p class="normal">And that should not be all, they would think of something more.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young fellows of the town mourned over the loss of so many merry +young partners that Christmas, but all unavailingly. Indeed, it pleased +the girls that their absence was regretted.</p> + +<p class="normal">As has been said, it was not to end here.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_04.4" href="#div1Ref_04.4">ON THE STEPS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">This union of the leaders among the girls, this real desire for +knowledge and independent thought, even if it had to endure criticism +and even a little derision, was still an incontrovertible proof that +the school was now on the high road to success. Even if there were +derision expressed in the town, there could be no doubt that every one +was struck by the decided, and above all intelligent, comprehension +which the superiority of the apparatus, experiments, and method aroused +in the scholars on subjects which every one understood, and which +belonged to the most special needs of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">At home the girls overflowed with narrations and desire for +information, and constantly asked permission to buy materials for +experiments in chemistry and physics, microscopes, and historical +pictures which illustrated beliefs and habits of life through all ages.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no longer any comparison between girls and boys when energy +and information were in question.</p> + +<p class="normal">This made the lesson hours happy; the great gatherings for "breakfast" +at twelve o'clock were feasts, and the pupils ran down the slope in the +afternoon without books, unburdened by lessons--free, free, free!</p> + +<p class="normal">But the happiest of them all remained behind, Fru Rendalen and Karl +Vangen.</p> + +<p class="normal">How Fru Rendalen hurried about with her spectacles awry, a habit she +had acquired in later years; it was like meeting a load of hay at +hay-harvest, it smells so sweet from such a distance, and one so gladly +stands aside to let the mighty, useful, close-packed object pass. Karl +Vangen was one constant smile; he had no time to leave off. He beamed +with delight if any one so much as looked towards the school, and would +tell, over and over again, all the little incidents which occurred +there: they were every one either remarkable or amusing.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was only Tomas who was not quite in accord with them, but there +never was much "comfort" about him, if by that one understands +confidential intercourse, and even good temper. He either wanted tall +Vangen to "give him a back" out in the garden walks, or even sometimes +in the sitting-room, while he jumped over him as one boy jumps over +another; or he walked up and down, up and down, generally whistling, +with his hands in his pockets, till it made one giddy to look at him; +or else he would play the piano by the hour together. Sometimes he +worked for, and in, the school without intermission; or read a new book +regardless of any interruption; or he took endless walks or read aloud, +and amused himself with the girls as though they were all comrades; or +else he could not bear them, or the school, or anything which belonged +to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">At such times his mother had to take the literature lesson for him, +Miss Hall the chemistry and physics, Nora the singing; he would not, he +could not.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he would come back again, brighter and happier than ever, and do +the work of two. His mother put this down as the result of all the +years he had lived without regular employment. If they had company he +did not appear at all, or else came and carried everything before him, +or came and sat silent. If he spoke to any one, it was "Yes, just so," +"Quite right." And then he would leave the room and not return. Looked +at in a certain way, this showed genius: there was something of a +genius about Tomas Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before he went to America he had "discovered" a history teacher: he was +very great at "discoveries." She was called Karen Lote, and taught +needlework, writing, and drawing. Rendalen had noticed her acquirements +in the different kinds of drawing, and found out that the girl +possessed a by no means insignificant knowledge of history. "Extend +that into the history of civilisation," he said. He was never tired of +giving this advice. "Here at home the history of civilisation is worse +than meagre, and it is the only one which is worth anything in a +school."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had then begun to make the large collection of historical pictures +which the school now possessed, and through these he captivated her +interest; he kept it, while he was abroad, by sending a number of these +pictures to her, as well as books and advice; and he was hardly home +again before he undertook the history lessons of the whole school to +explain to her what his ideas were; he sought to show development and +connection by a clear historical summary accompanied by maps and +pictures; he made it slight for the younger, and more elaborate +for the elder ones; only using details as characteristics. He made it +one-sided, but there was power and colour in its historical +representations. Karen Lote was captivated; the novelty of his +appearance, his opinions, his wonderful talent for teaching, his +inimitable way of making one believe there was nothing in the world for +him beyond what was before him at the moment; his exquisite taste in +dress, his well-ordered person, even the slight odour of delicate scent +which always followed him, all gave the girl a deep interest in him. +Nothing in the six-and-twenty years of her life had ever in the +slightest degree approached it. To think of being helped in her work by +him every day! The misunderstandings and persecutions which he went +through, and his sufferings under them, brought her feelings to a pitch +of enthusiasm. But she did not trouble any one with it. Then came the +time when he became the principal of the school. He would come and +listen to her teaching whenever he had a spare moment, share eagerly in +it, or go away without saying a word; remain away for a long time, then +come again every day, and take the whole lesson out of her hands; or +else walk up and down, up and down, and then remain away again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just before Christmas Karen Lote went to Fru Rendalen, and told her +that she could not stay a day longer in the school. If she merely heard +Rendalen's step in the passage she trembled; when he was near she could +not relate the simplest occurrence or give an explanation. "But why?" +He treated her with the greatest contempt; she burst into tears. +"Contempt?" Yes! either he continually interrupted her, took the whole +lesson away from her, or else he did not consider her worth correcting, +turned his back on her, did not bow, did not come at all. There was no +end to her complaints.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen assembled the teachers and laid Fröken Lote's complaint +before them, convinced that it must be the most extraordinary +misunderstanding. But the teacher who had succeeded Fröken Lote as +drawing mistress assured her that if she had not had a mother to +support, she would have left long ago; she would not have borne his +continual corrections in the children's hearing; he was an unbearable +tyrant.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything must be done in one particular way, without the least +variation. He had made her so nervous that she trembled if she even +heard him in the passage. And she cried too.</p> + +<p class="normal">The startled Fru Rendalen turned quickly to the others. "What could +this mean? The teachers of languages, her pupils from their childhood, +her friends, who through her help had improved themselves abroad, they +must speak." They felt sure that Rendalen had not the least idea that +he "set people right," and as little that he offended people by +interfering, so that the children noticed his immense air of +superiority, but all the same it was often very annoying. He was so +uncertain both with teachers and children, he never took things twice +in the same way, it was always according to his temper. The conclusion +which they all came to was that he was most unfit to direct a school. +Miss Hall herself, who otherwise had no complaint to make, agreed with +this.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen implored them, for God's sake, to reconsider it; surely +they did not wish to ruin the school; she was much agitated, and said +that provisionally she would resume the direction. But they must not +let this be known. She broke down with all the violence which was +natural to her. The others were frightened, there was a touching scene; +they praised her son, one against the other; nay, any one who had not +heard what had gone before, would have believed that they were all +glowing with enthusiasm for him. After all, to form a wonderful plan +for a school, according to all the best examples of modern times, and +himself to be an exceptional teacher, was something quite different, +and a great deal more than to be an able principal. They and his mother +soon agreed over this, and consoled themselves with it as well as they +could.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this school had been the object of Rendalen's life; if he were to +lose this there would be nothing left for him. From the time that +Augusta died, and he learned that it would be better that he should not +found a family, the idea of taking his mother's school, and making it +all that she had dreamed of, but had not accomplished, had been +betrothal, marriage, and the foundation of a family to him. He was +proud of it. This gave the intense energy to his early youth, to his +work, to his sense of right. It was the object of Karl Vangen's +unfailing admiration, the secret text for Fru Rendalen's conversations +and letters.</p> + +<p class="normal">Notwithstanding this, temptations came, and his unruly nature did not +always emerge victorious from them, but each time he was seized with a +feeling of shame for his ideal, which amounted to dread--that awful +dread which his mother had felt while she bore him under her bosom. She +had often described this in vivid colours, but it was nothing compared +to what he had gone through; it had been terrible. This drove him back +to his mother's confidence, and made him hold that confidence fast. +There was sober earnest between these two, they had a common aim in +life. It might have been that he would have cast her, his aim of life, +and this dread to the winds, if his passions had concentrated +themselves on, or been seized by, any one person, for there was a wild +energy in him which would have made him cling closely to another; but +the hereditary restlessness in his nature mingled one impression with +another, his dread had time to come between them with ever stronger +force, and it became at last the most powerful of all. The aim of life +was saved. From the time that he had conquered, a dissatisfied feeling +developed itself; it had always been there; it reminded one of his +father's power of imagination, his love of perfection.</p> + +<p class="normal">His studies were forced. Never one thing at a time, but one clashing +with the other. If the examination subjects had not in such a special +degree been necessary for him, he would never have passed one at all; +he was ready long before the time with some things, and was as much +behind with others. He was always in advance with the subject he was +full of at the moment, it was a link in a visible or ideal entirety. To +Karl Vangen, who knew his method of study, it was amazing what he +accomplished. It was the same thing with his intercourse with his +fellow-creatures; he often seemed to be inattentive, and yet he +received original impressions, but they were all on the same lines. He +saw images and demonstrations in any thing he was engaged in; not +people, but phenomena; not facts, but ideas. As long as Karen Lote was +learning his historical method she interested him deeply, but +afterwards not in the least; it was much the same with the other +teachers, excepting Miss Hall; her teaching was new, and he was eager +to see the result of it--first intellectually, then morally.</p> + +<p class="normal">But <i>his own work?</i> When the long restless rush about the world after +appliances and methods was over, after the plans for the school, +conceived years ago, and since then endlessly arranged and drafted, +were at last set going; especially after the rude resistance from +without was overcome, what was it that gradually came over him? Could +he not? Would he not? Was it no longer enough for him?</p> + +<p class="normal">Everyone round him rejoiced in the school, his mother's delight in +especial was touching. "This is the school that I have dreamed of, my +son, my dear Tomas!" He heard it nearly every day, he thanked her and +kissed her for it, he needed it; but all the same.... As for teaching, +his principal talent, he could interest himself in making a thing +absolutely clear, and in having the main points properly remembered, +the most difficult ones understood; it could delight him to give a new +view of something to the elder pupils, or to direct their attention to +a question of the day. Whenever a problem presented itself, he would +take it up with patient ingenuity; beyond that there was nothing--no, +nothing! He realised his failings thoroughly, self-occupied though he +was; they harassed him more and more. There were times when he could +not endure the school. Then he felt himself without spirit, without +aspiration, without--he could almost have said without affection--if +his mother had not been there, and Karl as well; he was deeply attached +to Karl.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was no longing for a wife and family, at all events in no special +degree; indeed, he felt no particular attraction to anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was this the cause of his unhappiness--that he could not attach himself +firmly to any conditions? He had been able to do so as a child.</p> + +<p class="normal">A man who has deliberated in this way from one day to another, and at +last, one evening, receives his mother's tears and lamentations because +the teachers can no longer endure him as principal, does not start up +as at something unexpected. Tomas remained at the piano, where he had +been seated when she came in; he touched it with one finger now and +then during her long and interrupted narration; he saw her despair and +concealed his own. He felt as though now he had nothing more to do +here.</p> + +<p class="normal">He observed quietly that perhaps she had better resume the direction of +the school for a time; he went on strumming as he said this, as though +it had no further significance. She answered that she had already +promised them to-do so. He grew as white as a sheet. She hastened to +add, that of course only he could superintend his own plan; she begged +him to speak to the teachers at once; he never would speak to any one, +they entirely misunderstood him; he offended them by showing no +confidence in them, and he was not always considerate. Did he not like +them?</p> + +<p class="normal">This was too much for Tomas; he flung himself down on the piano and +cried, got up hastily, put on his hat and coat and went out, heedless +of his mother's prayers to him to stay and talk it over with her, as +they used to do in old days. He could not do it; for there was +something in his mother's behaviour towards him which wounded him. When +he had come home she had received him with the greatest admiration, +everything he said and did was right; but after the lecture she began +to doubt. This had gradually increased, until now she put a note of +interrogation to everything he said. At the first complaint from the +teachers she had taken the school from him; and she could reconcile +this with her pride in his way of ordering it, and a crooning quiet +delight over its success.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not that her doubt was greater than a practical understanding like hers +had perhaps a right to; he did not blame her for it, but he could not +bear it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This affair with the teachers was dreadful. He really considered them +most excellent, none more so than Karen Lote, otherwise he would never +have troubled himself about her.</p> + +<p class="normal">There must be something at the very root of his behaviour towards +people, which was terribly astray when he could be thus utterly +misunderstood. Perhaps his own feeling of emptiness and distaste arose +from the same cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">These ladies had raved about him. They and the senior class, and.... +Was that, too, nothing but a delusion, or was it past and gone?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Raved about him." What is that? He drove it from him with contempt, +yet once it pleased and deluded him. He had believed it would always +continue.</p> + +<p class="normal">No, he who would have the affection of others must show affection to +them. And he could not do it--in the way that others could.</p> + +<p class="normal">After all that was not strange. His race had perhaps exhausted its +power of winning human affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was not that the natural result when generation after generation broke +down mankind's precepts of fidelity, and flung aside man's good +opinion? The race itself had been ruined, as each one weakened himself +and his offspring--ay, and others and their offspring as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked into the country to the left--the same walk that he had taken +that spring evening after he had given his lecture. He recalled to his +mind how happy had been his return from America, how he had dreamed of +giving his countrymen an example which, if they would follow it, would +shine throughout the world. What was nobler for a small country than to +centre its greatest powers on the teaching of its children, to expend +its surplus there; let the great nations waste theirs on armies!</p> + +<p class="normal">He remembered how it then delighted him to think that in this way the +sins of his forefathers might be expiated.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything on earth had been thus developed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Awakening had come to the strongest races. Instinctively they had felt +their failings, and had sought to combat them by an admixture of fresh +blood. Everything, therefore, that is strong and good has some family +for its progenitor, whose sufferings have been the foundation of +its needs, its needs the foundation of its work; its work, its +self-command, the foundation of its discoveries--all gathering round +the original discovery. When the school should be alive with a hundred +young creatures; when sparkling eyes gazed upon the aim which he had +set up; when the elder ones among them, influenced by him, and in their +turn influenced others--hoisted their colours--it would be remembered +that they had lived in the house of one particular family, from that +family they would have received their instruction. It was <i>he</i> who had +made the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">But there lay an inherent weakness in its inmost recesses. The germs of +destruction lay in him who had built it up. He could not advance it +further. He did not possess the necessary long-suffering gentleness. +Plenty of foresight, energy, ambition, but--talents for war, perhaps, +but not for peace.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he had walked along that evening after the lecture, sick at heart, +anxious--ah! how anxious! because the certainty of years had been +baffled, Karl Vangen had trudged silently by his side like a great +long-legged dog with honest eyes. He went the same way now, only it was +winter, and he was alone; he was ashamed to have any one with him. The +suspicion of insecurity which had shaken him the first time was now a +certainty. He could not go on--O God! he could not: he was a blight in +the school.</p> + +<p class="normal">The snow in the fields had melted, but farther away it lay in patches, +looking ghostly in the moonlight. It still lay thick under the +fir-woods; and here and there on the road, which had frozen hard with +deep ruts in it, and small sharp stones and solid horse-dung. Where it +was bare, or partly bare, it was difficult to walk. He came back so +weary in body and mind that he never remembered to have felt more +tired. By the new churchyard, where his father and grandfather lay, and +where the sea washed up to the other side of the roadway, rolling and +black, he felt that a little might bring him into the one or beyond the +other--or perhaps to both--they were not incompatible.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was past twelve, as on the night of the lecture; he would not go +home before he felt certain that his mother had given up waiting for +him. Under ordinary circumstances she went to bed between nine and ten. +But as he struggled up the avenue, he saw that there was a light in the +sitting-room; and as he got a little further, that there was one in +Karl's room as well. If he had not been so utterly weary he would have +turned back, but now things must go as they could.</p> + +<p class="normal">His mother met him in the hall with a light in her hand. "Oh, Tomas, +how you have frightened me!" she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">What did she mean by that? He looked at her; poor thing, she appeared +at least ten years older, with such red eyes--so upset, so miserably +overdone.</p> + +<p class="normal">She began, "Tomas, just let us----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, mother," he waved her away with his hand; "I am so fearfully, oh, +so fearfully tired." He went slowly across her room to the inner +passage without a good-night, without looking round.</p> + +<p class="normal">She heard his step in the passage, heard him open the door of his room, +shut it, and turn the key on the inside! It always awakened memories, +that dreadful sound!</p> + +<p class="normal">Why did he do it? It seemed as though he were shutting her away from +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he was lighting his candle he heard Karl at the door between their +rooms. Tomas set down the candle, came out from behind the curtain, and +saw Karl's pale, anxious face looking in from the doorway.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why had he and his mother sat up, each in their own room? Evidently so +that the mother should be able to talk to her son alone when he came +in.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas flung himself on Karl's neck and sobbed violently. All that he +had held back, when he saw his mother, now found vent. Karl's firm +confidence in him was his chief support. That confidence was there now, +he could see it through all his distress precisely as he saw the light +streaming behind Karl's head and body in the doorway. It was dark +between them. "No, dear Karl, not to-night, I am so tired." Slowly, +noiselessly, Karl drew his long legs back again and shut the door +behind him. The door-handle was turned, oh, so gently.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas went straight to bed, and slept at once and without interruption +through the night. When he woke, raised himself and looked at the +clock, it was past eight. The sorrows of yesterday, which had at once +rushed upon him, yielded before this proof of a long sound sleep. +"There cannot possibly be so much the matter as I believed, if I am not +worse than this." He jumped up. "There must be some other work in life +reserved for me, if this is not to be the one." He dressed himself +quickly, and while doing so determined to go away for several days. He +wished to consider, and to be calm while he did so.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was all the information which his mother received when she came in +as he sat at breakfast. He sent a message to Karl, and left at ten +o'clock. This was not altogether disagreeable to Fru Rendalen. "He has +such sudden changes," she thought. "He will very likely return home a +different man." His great failing, of talking and acting according to +the temper of the moment, made her take this view, made her question +all he said. He was conscious of this now. He hated it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This time, however, she was mistaken; he returned exactly the same as +he had gone away, only she noticed the first time that she talked to +him that he was a little bitter against the teachers: "ungrateful +asses," he called them. He had taught them more than it was in the +power of any human being to do who had not travelled as he had done, +and had his experience and reading; he would have nothing to do with +them. He annoyed them by his elegant courtliness. This amused him; he +was really dreadful with them. He resumed his teaching, with the +exception of the singing, which was given over to Nora, who was now +both pupil and teacher. He declared that she possessed the gift of +teaching in the highest degree.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps he could interest himself in the school again," thought Karl, +"if there were a new staff of teachers." He spoke of this to Fru +Rendalen. She would try to find out, and began by talking to Tomas +about the observatory which they had arranged in a small way in the +tower. They had been obliged to stop for want of money. By next summer +she hoped to have the means to set it going.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God knows where I shall be then," he answered, and hurried away. "If I +were to speak plainly to the teachers," thought his indefatigable +mother, "if I could induce them to beg his pardon." She assembled them +one day just before Christmas, and told them, betraying emotion as she +did so, that her son had repeatedly let fall remarks which showed that +he intended to go away. There was a movement of dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fröken Lote, on whom all eyes were fixed, at last broke the silence. +She had not meant it in that way, she had only meant--she had really +not meant anything--but she was so dreadfully nervous. She thought he +was not pleased with her. The drawing and needle-work mistress, a +clear-headed, tall, fair woman, coloured furiously. The Spenser method +of drawing which Rendalen had introduced was not clear to begin with, +she said, but he was always beyond her; but for all that she ought not +to have said anything, indeed she ought not. She began to cry.</p> + +<p class="normal">The teachers all protested that they felt the greatest gratitude; he +had, of course, seen and heard so much on every subject, but it was +most embarrassing that he treated them like dirt beneath his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen took off her spectacles, wiped them, and put them on +again; pulled them off again, rubbed them, and put them on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Well then, Miss Hall would say what was the matter. It was that he +treated everything and everybody so unevenly. This made the teachers +uncertain, and destroyed the children's sense of justice, and that was +almost the greatest loss that a child could sustain. She would so +gladly have spoken to Rendalen, said the little American, but he made +himself so unapproachable. To-day, too, she felt nervous.</p> + +<p class="normal">This destroyed Fru Rendalen's plan; she did not know what to answer. +All further negotiations were meanwhile broken off.</p> + +<p class="normal">A loud chorus of joyous girls' voices sounded from the steps, and they +all hurried to the window. It was Nora and her pupils. These last few +days before Christmas, the pupils had but few lessons to do, and +therefore had employed themselves in practising some part songs, the +practice always concluding out on the steps--one of Nora's many +fancies.</p> + +<p class="normal">This gave such immense pleasure, that not only all the little ones, who +did not join in the singing, waited up there till the great moment, but +people would collect in the avenue. As soon as the girls came racing +round the corner in walking dress and mounted the steps, the crowd in +the avenue increased and drew nearer; Fru Rendalen and the teachers had +put on their things, and were now standing at the open windows. The +girls had arranged themselves from top to bottom of the steps; the +little ones, who did not sing, occupied the sides. Right at the bottom +stood Nora, with her fair hair turned back under the hood which was +always on the back of her neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had adopted Rendalen's method of conducting--the only thing that +restless being did quietly; he merely moved his right wrist, and gave +the sign with his left hand. Nora carefully held her right hand in the +same place as he did, before her breast. She heard about it often +enough.</p> + +<p class="normal">The song sounded grandly from the steps, the notes were powerfully +given. It might be, too, that the view before them heightened the +effect by its beauty; perhaps, too, "An Old Manuscript,"<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> which had +just been printed in a Christmas number, and which every third person +in the town, from twelve years old knew, at first, second, or third +hand, may also have enhanced it, for perhaps those dark voices from the +past were heard at the same time, and by the power of contrast made the +girls' song brighter, and the moment fairer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Below them lay the town, with the harbour between the two points of +land; now that winter was here, full of ships from side to side. At the +head of the bay, along the clay banks, were all the workshops and the +great timber-yards. To the left, the mountain, with the crowd of houses +at the top, the boat harbour below, and out beyond the mountain and the +town, the islands and the open sea. Weather on the coast is uncertain; +generally, as they looked out, taking in the view as they sang, there +were either driving clouds or gleams of sunlight over the landscape, or +if it were peaceful and bright inland, it was threatening out to sea. +Perhaps this may explain why the girls generally chose melancholy +songs.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the teachers as well as for the pupils, the singing on the steps, +from its first beginning, had been the glory of the school. If the work +from every class during every week in the year could have woven itself +into a thousand delicate threads, and fallen on them as crowns; if all +the fruitful incentives, small determinations, uncertain beginnings, +could have joined in harmony in those voices, the singing could not +have made them happier. As far as the teachers were concerned, perhaps +for the very reason that, at the same time, something had occurred to +pain them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The elder girls, especially the members of the Society, looked upon +this time as one for exchange of thought. All those higher ideas which +one has in common with others, come to the front when there is singing; +all strivings after the ideal, have a natural relationship to +harmonised notes.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he who felt it the most was one who had hidden himself behind a +closed window, because he would on no account be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">He saw Nora beating time, standing there in her light cloak, her hood +flung back on her neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">The song, which sounded out over the town, the one which had first been +heard by Fru Engel's grave, contained, as it sounded from these girlish +voices, all that he wished for on earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">How miserable it made him now! He tried, as a counterpoise, to remember +all that he had conquered before in many a hard struggle. It was +something to remember.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not an ordinary victory which he had achieved: was it to end in +sorrow? Would the singing soon cease, or sound again after he was gone? +He thought of his mother. It was he in reality who was "on the steps." +Was it to be in or out?</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole troop tore away in merry groups down the avenue. The Staff +last of all, for Tora had something either to tell or propose; they +walked slowly, often pausing. Yes, that was what it all depended upon; +to be able to share one's joys and sorrows with others.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>V</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_05.0" href="#div1Ref_05.0">THE HUNT</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3><a name="div1_05.1" href="#div1Ref_05.1">CHAPTER I</a></h3> + +<div style="margin-left:25%; font-size:90%"> +<p class="continue">Child or woman, which is she?<br> +Hard to answer that will be.<br> +Wouldst thou then a woman snare?<br> +See a child in captive there!<br> +And when thou bidd'st the child to stay,<br> +A woman from thee flies away.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="normal">Spring had come betimes, and great rejoicing thereat rose, from all the +pupils, to the soft skies.</p> + +<p class="normal">The spring was in their blood, bringing a restless feeling, a power of +invention, glorious plans, subdued noise, effervescing spirits in its +train; these were days when the whole school routine threatened to be +destroyed, and when orders seemed a mere joke. Much commotion, with +scoldings, smacks, increased attention, and many arts were required +before this small sphere could be guided through the dangerous region +of spring without too severe collisions and shocks.</p> + +<p class="normal">Even the Society itself was shaken. It was not possible, when the trees +in the garden were bursting into leaf, to go off to the back premises +and pretend that there was something in a friend's composition on +ladies' modern dress. If the meeting had been held in the wood, they +might have allowed modern dress to roll about in the heather till it +was torn to pieces, or they could have hung it up in a tree. They could +have let the birds sing songs over it. Now they gave modern dress to +the deuce, it could all be learned from a fashion book; they simply +held no meetings.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora employed all her powers of persuasion, all her inventive genius, +in vain. A great event, however, occurred, also perhaps born of the +spring and spring impulses, and the Society recovered itself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall had energetically sought to lay some foundation, in the +senior class, for the lectures which she delivered to them on her +special subject. Both she and the eldest girls in the class had really +all been obliged to exert themselves. But a further result was, that +during this hard work they had gained confidence in the little lady; +everything belonging to women's constitution and health, and to the +tending of children, was spoken of with perfect openness. The mothers +kept up as long as possible an appearance of shamefacedness on behalf +of their children, who would not be shamefaced themselves. The fathers +helped their better halves in this; they were bashful to a degree. But +as the shameless maidens continued to acquire knowledge, this answered +no purpose.</p> + +<p class="normal">As concerned the Society, this information, and especially this +confidence with Miss Hall, had the result that, by degrees, the woman +question began to be looked at in its physical aspect, and its real +foundations were sought there.</p> + +<p class="normal">A book in our literature was again brought forward, which asserts that +the freedom which man allows himself before marriage, and sometimes +afterwards, destroys his character and woman's position, carrying +faithlessness and tyranny from generation to generation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karen Lote had, in her studies in the history of civilisation, +especially noted the history of the development of races. She knew now +that the compromise which was often proposed, of giving woman the same +freedom that man took for himself, would be a step in the wrong +direction, an unheard-of breach of development. She advocated strongly +that inviolable monogamy should be as sacred for men as for women. Miss +Hall took up the subject at the next meeting, from its physical side. +Can it be physically proved that man has stronger temptation than +woman, and therefore has a greater excuse? She declared, on the +contrary, that woman's temptation might be very much greater. +Notwithstanding which, the rule was that woman respected marriage in a +chaste life, while for man's part the rule might still be said to be +the contrary.</p> + +<p class="normal">This aroused violent feeling.</p> + +<p class="normal">Man had therefore here as well, used the right of the strongest for his +own advantage, but in reality with the result of rendering himself and +the community depraved. Woman, on the contrary, has in civilised +society, through hundreds of generations, only belonged to one man, +therefore she has an inherited power of remaining faithful. It follows, +of course, that man could gain this power as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the conversation which followed the lecture, the excitement +increased; and in the course of the week so many thoughts had gathered +around this subject, that they had to fix an earlier date for the next +meeting.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first time since the institution of the Society, Tinka Hansen +spoke. The woman who married a man who had led an immoral life joined +herself in his guilt; she condoned the ill-treatment of her sex, and +was herself punished for it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did any woman persuade herself that a man who had accustomed himself to +such a life would give it up? At all events, they could not so deceive +themselves, who had during the last few years heard a series of +lectures which made it plain that habit is a nerve-question; not more +than one in a hundred can conquer a habit of his own free will; there +must, as a rule, be some hard necessity as well.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka had, as usual, discussed the subject with Frederik; it was +therefore not surprising that, as she stood there, she had the +authority of two.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rarely had such noise and commotion been heard since the institution of +the Society. From all sides came exclamations which clearly showed what +they felt, such as, "Fancy being kissed by a man who----! Fancy being +married to a man who----!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora gave voice to these whispered expressions of disgust as she went +up to the tribune, and said that they must not separate that evening +without promising each other that <i>they</i>, at least, would do what they +could here to give woman responsibility and self-respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had not finished speaking before they all stood up to express their +acquiescence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some days later they had another meeting: something had occurred to +divide their opinions.</p> + +<p class="normal">It will be remembered that Tora was fond of telling fantastic fairy +tales, and romances scarcely less so; her favourite was "A Strange +Story," by Bulwer. Her little Augustus head--which was crammed with +ideas of rich stuffs, of sweeping garments, of foreign speech, and home +gossip, and every earthly vanity--delighted in the mysterious.</p> + +<p class="normal">From a certain day none of her friends were allowed to hear a word more +on these subjects; only one, one single one, should henceforth see this +obscure side of her varied nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was it because she wished to share this with but one alone, as girls so +often do; or was there a little sense of mystery here as well, that he +was the only one for whom this was suited?</p> + +<p class="normal">Whenever, after this, she met Karl Vangen, whether they were alone, or +if twenty were present, she always contrived that they should converse +in whispers. Her friends were greatly astonished. What on earth had she +to whisper about with the parson? He had recently lent her a book about +John Wesley, which she devoured, as she did all books, and they had +many conversations about his sudden conversions. People who came under +the spell of his looks, his words, his presence, yielded to them at +once, and were his from that moment. John Wesley came of a long race of +clergymen, both on his father's and mother's side; naturally this had +in a high degree strengthened his faith and power of preaching. It was +like an electric shock, certain natures could not stand against it.</p> + +<p class="normal">How this was made to lead up to the Kurts, who interested Tora +immensely at that time, is her secret; but honest Karl began at once to +speak with animation of Tomas's struggle to free himself from the Kurt +inheritance. There had been an infusion of new blood into the family +before, and a struggle against its sins; but Tomas Rendalen's bringing +up and the struggle he had gone through, were worthy of his energetic +character.</p> + +<p class="normal">Vangen asked her confidentially if she had not noticed Tomas's +neatness, his careful toilette? If she had perceived the slight, hardly +perceptible, odour of a delicate and very expensive scent? It always +followed him. He was always washing and bathing, added the young +clergyman, blushing; most people believed that this arose from vanity, +and vain he certainly was; but could she not guess what it meant? Tomas +Rendalen had gained in the course of his struggle the same need for, +the same sacred feeling about, cleanliness with which girls are born. +For him all cares for the body; dress, scent, were a species of service +for the temple; just as it is to young women, when they have the means +and time to perform it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some remarks of Tomas had made him understand this; he was certain that +such was the fact. But it was curious that it should take that +particular form, was it not? Perhaps it was because he had been brought +up among girls. What did she think about it? Karl Vangen hazarded this +conjecture with great bashfulness. For some reason or other, it was of +great importance that she should understand at once that a man might be +an excellent member of society, without being exactly a dandy, and +using scent.</p> + +<p class="normal">From that moment Tora Holm had one more person to rave about, added to +her rich collection!</p> + +<p class="normal">Now she persuaded herself that she understood Rendalen's theory of life +and work among them. She did not understand, or rather did not think +about, the reasons for his restless moods, his want of steadfastness; +her image of this "energetic" nature was not disturbed by them. She +loved him. There was no other word for it. There was nothing that she +would not do for him if she could, and it was thus that she expressed +herself, first to her dearest friends, then to her next dearest, then +to those next to them. With unflagging energy the same story, to the +same tune, was repeated for the twentieth time to the last of her chain +of friends before the next day was past. Such enthusiasm was +infectious; those who had not raved about Tomas Rendalen before, raved +about him now. Notwithstanding the red hair, the freckled skin, the +broad nose, and pale screwed-up eyes, the absence of eyebrows, the +restless expression--he was an ideal man! He damped their ardour a +little when he came into the classrooms and strode past the forms, +without looking at a single one of them; or when he hastily pitched +upon something which interfered with the lesson, with such violence as +to make them jump! for he was not to be trifled with! He nevertheless +became their ideal again as soon as he was gone, or, better still, if +he were in the humour for teaching, and stayed and took part in it, in +his clear energetic style. He had not his equal then.</p> + +<p class="normal">But just because there was one Tomas Rendalen, it naturally happened +that some of the weaker natures began to reflect: "Good heavens, he is +only one, and there are so many of us." Yes, there was the question. We +will not say who they were, or how many there were, who began to feel +this doubt. The question is the smallest part of the affair; it is the +answer which is the serious matter. The answer! For we may as well +confess, soon as late, that some of the girls had gone a little beyond +themselves that evening, when they all said "yes" to Tinka Hansen's +high-minded views and Nora's proposition. These ones acknowledged +afterwards that when one came to think quietly about the one whom one +almost loves, or at least would willingly be loved by, and even if one +knows that he has already ... Yes, the old Kurt town was a terrible +place for scandals.</p> + +<p class="normal">One at last begins to doubt the sincerity of these expressions. Might +not the young man in question, no matter what he had done, be depended +upon, when he had promised <i>her</i> anything? And when she had made him a +promise in return, of course he might! He would be a good boy, that he +would, if only she got hold of him. One cannot live upon grand +theories.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were some, however, who considered that this was treachery; they +were very angry and a new meeting was called. Those who had dared to +change their opinions since the last meeting were called upon to +explain themselves. For a long time no one would do so, but at last a +courageous dark-haired girl declared openly that it seemed to her that +they had gone too far the last time. "If all men were--as one could +wish them to be--well, then. But they are not so by any means. So what +is to be done? That is just how we stand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And so we will stand," was the answer. This heroic response elicited +another in its turn, so that two parties were formed, with a third set +of moderates; no one felt certain about these last, as is often the +case with a third party. Tinka Hansen (and Frederik) and all who agreed +with her and him ("The Frederikers," as they were called), were for +absolute equality between the sexes. Infidelity ought from henceforth +to be condemned equally severely--no matter whether man or woman were +guilty of it. Miss Hall was the only one among the teachers who took +part in this debate, and she was a very enthusiastic Frederiker. +According as our knowledge becomes more acute, she declared, the +punishment of unchasteness should be the same for the two sexes. +Neither ought this sin to be any longer held up as a special accusation +against women. Those who made the distinction that woman's offence +injured the home, while man's injured another home, another's wife or +daughter, must for very shame hold their tongues.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall brought this forward at least twice, for there was no answer +made to it. The opposite party entirely put that on one side. They +repeated over and over again that a man might be excessively worthy +even if, things standing as they did at present, he had offended in +this particular. Only notorious immorality made a marriage impossible. +The Frederikers were scandalised at this "light-minded" talk. That was +to open the door to the extension of immorality. They made use of such +strong expressions, that the others became angry. There was a perfect +hubbub; every one talked, no one would listen.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was on a Thursday. The following evening, "The Staff" was +assembled in Milla's room. They had begun on the same subject, but by +degrees had wandered back to Rendalen, who was still of more unfailing +interest than the other. Tinka was imitating Rendalen's handwriting on +a large sheet of paper. The others watched her efforts with attention, +his large handwriting was just the opposite to his careful toilette; it +was all run together without any division, each letter and each word +absolutely joined on to the others. Tinka's caricatured attempts were +like so many embroidery patterns. She wrote: "I can bear it no longer; +meet me in the market-place at nine o'clock." She wrote it as a +commentary on what they had been talking about--namely, how delightful +it would be to receive such a letter. She wrote this closely across a +whole sheet of letter-paper. She decorated one sheet after another in +this fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Who was it who first proposed what now followed? They never could agree +upon this afterwards. <i>One</i> thing is certain, that Milla alone raised +any objection, but it was so feebly and laughingly made, that it might +well be taken for the opposite of what it purported to be. Each one of +them took charge of a note on Saturday morning; one was put into Karen +Lote's cloak, one into the pocket of the drawing mistress's long faded +blue wrap, the third and fourth were slipped down, one into Miss Hall's +mantle, and the other into that of one of the teachers of languages.</p> + +<p class="normal">The letters were not signed, the envelopes open and bearing no address; +the request was written in so extravagant a style that the whole might +pass for a joke, but that was just where the temptation lay. For, on +the other side, it could not be denied that the hasty writing could +very easily be mistaken for Rendalen's style when he was worried and in +a hurry to finish.</p> + +<p class="normal">At nine o'clock on Saturday evening the last of the worthy townsfolk +came home from their romantic evening walks on both sides of the town, +looking so peaceful and inoffensive that not even a cat could have +suspected treachery. Most of them went soberly across the market-place +into the town. At this time, too, the boarders who had been out in +search of amusement in the town were returning disappointed up the +avenue. It had been calculated that if the Staff could join one of +these parties, they would be free from suspicion while they watched +their snares. Of course they were all four there; they met several +ill-humoured friends from among the boarders a little way down, and +joined company with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">They arranged it so that they should not cross the market-place till +just at the time named. And truly, gracious powers! At the top of the +marketplace, just a little to the right of the avenue, at that moment +appeared <i>Karen Lote</i>; no one could mistake her erect figure, her grey +cloak, and the feather in her hat. The four had so little expected to +meet <i>her</i>, that if the boarders had not been so sulky and tired, they +would have noticed their embarrassment. Could it really be Karen Lote!</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned back to the left; it was patent to all the world that she +had come here to wait for some one.</p> + +<p class="normal">They looked from her to each other; they did not laugh, they did not +make a sign--they were frightened.</p> + +<p class="normal">But there was a revulsion of feeling when they saw the tall drawing +mistress come swinging across, and turn into the avenue. She came +quickly towards them; she had been given an appointment there at the +same time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla crept behind Tora; Tora would gladly have got behind some one; +they had to find some excuse to account for their laughter. As the +drawing mistress passed them, hurried and excited, they had just +contrived to push Tinka into a ditch, which fortunately was dry.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now they were eager to spy on the two other traps. They went up +into the boarders' rooms, whence they could see out over the courtyard; +they had given Miss Hall a rendezvous behind the gymnasium, but, unless +she were standing absolutely still behind it, she had not come. It did +not fare much better with their flight across the garden towards the +right, where they had given the language teacher rendezvous; they met +her, certainly, coming down the path, but it was with several others; +running quickly up from the wood, she never so much as looked round. If +she had read the letter, she had taken it as a joke. The four girls +slipped through the garden-gate and along the same way; they did not +want to meet Karen Lote again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Something, however, had happened a few hours before, which if it had +not been stopped would have brought the whole affair to light, in which +case not one of the four would ever have set foot in the school again.</p> + +<p class="normal">On her return from her walk at about six, Miss Hall, very nervous but +very determined, had asked to be allowed to speak to Herr Rendalen. She +gave him the letter directly he came in. He took it, read it, held it a +little way from him, and began to laugh; and when she took it +seriously, he laughed still more, quite uncontrollably at last. Ten +minutes later he received a note from Miss Hall, in which she informed +him that she should leave by the next steamer. On this he rushed off +for his mother, whom he found at last in the cow-house. He explained +the whole matter contemptuously to her, declaring that Miss Hall must +be mad. Fru Rendalen at once went to her. Miss Hall was greatly +exasperated; she cried, and gave confused, hasty explanations, while +Fru Rendalen pulled off her spectacles, and rubbed and rubbed them; she +could not comprehend it in the least. Perhaps, if we were to talk +English, she thought; but it all remained as obscure as ever. Plainly +and shortly, what was she angry about? Why did she wish to go? What had +happened? What redress did she demand?</p> + +<p class="normal">She demanded that the culprits should be <i>punished</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing more than that! They both set off to the boarders' room, which +was now empty; they began to search through the exercise books, +portfolios, bookshelves; they wished to find out who it was who was so +abominable as to copy Rendalen's handwriting. From thence they went +into the class-rooms. That of the senior class stood just as it had +been left; for the cleaning day for this room was Thursday, and the +evening sweeping had not yet been done. There they carefully collected +all the bits of paper which had been thrown away, straightened them +out, and examined them; they peeped into exercise books, lesson books, +and desks. They must find out who the unhappy person was who imitated +Rendalen's handwriting.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>They all did it!</i></p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the fact became clear that every senior girl in the school +had been occupied with <i>Rendalen</i> and <i>Rendalen</i>, and again <i> +Rendalen</i>, +Miss Hall gave in; at last they both left the schoolroom--neither of +them said a word to the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall never said anything more about it. But Fru Rendalen talked it +over with Karl Vangen. His discourse on Monday had for its subject how +wrong it was to do to others, what they would not like others to do to +them. This was often the case with young people, "who found great +pleasure in discovering the weakness and tender points of others, and +playing upon them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The four dare not look up, but they gave side-glances at the drawing +mistress, who chanced that day to be sitting near the laboratory table, +facing the others. She rested her long arms on it. Her hands toyed with +something standing there, which she looked at intently; but tear after +tear rolled down her cheeks, without her making an attempt to dry them. +She was quite absent.</p> + +<p class="normal">All four girls noticed it, and when at the third recreation she was +still inconsolable and cried as much as ever. Nora could bear it no +longer, but drew her into one of the rooms, and with her arms round her +neck whispered, "Pardon, pardon, pardon:" she did not say for what.</p> + +<p class="normal">They gave each other a confidential hug--regret, sympathy, +shamefacedness all mingled together. The poor girl, whom they had +befooled out of her most precious secret, was comforted at last by such +boundless repentance, such thorough comprehension, such heartfelt +devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The same day Tora and Tinka heard what Nora had done; they wanted to do +the same, but she forbade them; the poor girl must not on any account +know that there was more than one who knew her secret.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karen Lote was ill; Rendalen had to take her place, and give some of +his work to Miss Hall. All three felt that Karen Lote must not be +approached by any one.</p> + +<p class="normal">How could they have thought of anything so disgusting as what they had +done! And that, too, in the midst of serious discussions on woman's +position, on woman's honour and responsibility.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla would not talk to the others; at school she held aloof, and when +any one went to see her at home, her door was fastened. They all felt +as though a storm were brewing.</p> + +<p class="normal">That Milla should hold back from them as though <i>they</i> were the guilty +ones and not she, Nora would not endure; one day, therefore, they all +surrounded her, and asked for an explanation. Milla was offended and +tried to get away, but it did no good. She then told them that they had +led her into doing what was not right, and she would have nothing more +to do with it. The only answer she got was from Nora's great eyes, but +she reddened under them. Of course she had taken part in what had been +done, she did not deny it; but she did not wish to feel as ashamed of +herself again as she had done during the last few days. The others +asked if she thought they had been less ashamed than she?</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla now told them, with a slight air of superiority, that in her +first fright at Karl Vangen's discourse, she had asked her father if +she might accompany him when he went to the South German Baths. He had +consented with great pleasure. She could not draw back now, they were +to start in a few days.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first, all the friends felt Milla's coldness in having proposed to +go away without telling them. But Milla now felt this herself, for she +altered her demeanour from that moment, and tried to do away with the +impression. It was <i>she</i> now who was most amiable about everything. +When the drawing mistress appeared in a very pretty cloak and hat, +without any one being able to find out who "the kind friend" was from +whom she had received them, it was at once clear to the three friends +that they came from Milla. She denied it certainly, but that was all +the nicer of her. So the short resentment changed on both sides to a +closer friendship during the few days that she still had with them. Her +father gave a "farewell dinner," the great event at which was the +unveiling of a cake, on the top of which four sugar girls held each +other with fingerless hands as they danced round a red flag with +"Emancipation" on it; round the plinth was written "The Society." But +derision was useless. This same Society gave a farewell entertainment +to Milla the next day. All good spirits hovered over this, their last +meeting, with its many short speeches, its music and songs--over its +whole tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">A girl of a serious turn of mind recalled that all the pleasure that +they had had together during their school year had been begun beside +Fru Engel's grave; it was closing with Milla's farewell entertainment. +Milla was touched, quite overwhelmed; she declared that she was +altogether unworthy, she did not deserve the kindness which they showed +her; she was not all they thought her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora came up and embraced her, and they all felt that this was genuine. +Tora was grateful for the happiest days of her life; she whispered this +to Milla, which had a good effect. They ended by seeing Milla home; she +took Tora's arm. "Bad times are beginning for me," sobbed Tora.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I shall come back again, Tora."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka scolded her for her extravagant way of speaking, it was making +the whole thing into a caricature and an absurdity; but this was not +the first time that Tora had done so.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they said good-bye before Milla's door, Tora ran after her up the +steps and into the hall; she was never satisfied. When inside she took +out a box which Milla knew at once--it contained her one ornament; she +had inherited it from her uncle, who had brought it in his youth from +California. It was some pieces of rough gold made into a heavy chain, a +beautiful piece of work; she pressed it into Milla's hand; she had +never worn it herself. But Milla would not think of taking it from her, +she did not know how she could justify herself to her father if she +were to do so; she refused it decidedly, coldly at last, so that Tora +was vexed and ran off. But Milla fetched her in again, held her tightly +in her arms, and kissed her. Did she not believe that Milla realised +what a great thing it was which she wished to do? But it was a matter +of conscience for Milla to say no. They must not part in this way; Tora +should stay with her, she should stay the night there. And it was so +settled. When girls are really fond of each other, they love to sleep +together.</p> + +<p class="normal">The others, who had remained outside, waited a while. As Tora did not +rejoin them, they walked on a little way; they were annoyed with her. +They all returned, however, and came quietly through the garden-gate +and past the office. A little while afterwards the two friends up in +the bedroom heard a subdued chorus of girls' voices under the window, +led by Tinka's contralto: they sang "Sleep in peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">The curtain was half raised; they saw two figures in white; two +heads--one dark, one fair-looked, nodding and laughing, out.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole school was down at the customhouse the next day; Fru +Rendalen, all the teachers, male and female, every one--with the +exception of Anna Rogne, who had not been at the meeting the previous +day.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was universal crying, and kissing, and admiration over Milla's +travelling dress. The little ones thought they must join in; they could +not cry, but they could kiss. First one little mouth was offered, then +two, then five. At last they all insisted on being kissed by Milla, and +then sprang back tittering.</p> + +<p class="normal">The stewardess had all the vases in the cabin, and some dishes as well, +filled with flowers. She really toiled over them. Tora, her eyes red +with crying, had come with Milla and Consul Engel, and had been the +object of all the latter's attentions, but she now kept quite in the +background. Milla had to look for her to press her hand for the last +time, to give her a last kiss. As the steamer swung round and left the +quay, the slender black figure waved her handkerchief to her friends, +her veil, which had become loosened, waving with it. In a moment the +whole quay was white; the little ones in front, the elder ones behind +them, all waved their handkerchiefs. From the steamer, it looked like +the foam from a waterfall dashing down into the sea.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_05.2" href="#div1Ref_05.2">IN THE DOVECOTE</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">One morning in the gymnasium, when the senior class was practising +rather reluctantly because the weather was splendid, and two panes were +open in the big window that looked towards the mountain, letting the +air pour in, laden with the scent of trees and flowers;--one morning in +the gymnasium, just as Miss Hall had joined them, and had, as usual, +interrupted the ordinary practice by taking away a few of the pupils +for special exercises;--one morning in the gymnasium, when, as the +result of all this, some of the girls had gone over to the window for a +moment to give a glance at the hundreds of fruit-trees in full blossom, +whose dense masses like an amphitheatre covered the opposite hillside +with a single thick crown;--one morning in the gymnasium, when these +same girls could not utilise the moment as fully as they wished, +because a number of impertinent young trees had that year shot up in +such a marvellous manner, that it was impossible to see the glory of +the hillside, except where these young trees allowed it; nay, worse +still, the trees attracted the bees from the hives on the right, and +they were more impertinent still, for they buzzed in at the open +window, and frightened the girls when they were trying to see out +between the trees;--one morning in the gymnasium, just as all those +small labourers in the garden, who in lieu of steel spades, hoes, or +forks, use their own small legs, who begin their work at sunrise so as +to end betimes, working by no forced contract, but also with no +supervision or inspection, through the whole summer and autumn, they +and their wives and children feeding at Fru Rendalen's expense, friends +with all, except the cat;--yes, one morning in the gymnasium, just when +all these tiny workers--oh, hundreds of them--gathered from all parts, +rising high in the air to settle down again and hide themselves in the +bushes in every direction, the girls stood looking on in wonderment.</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once the trees in the wood bowed their heads, and deeply bowed +those to the left, in front of the garden, while sand and seeds whirled +up in a menacing cloud; a sudden squall from inland had come over the +hill, and without warning drove across from right to left. Almost +before it had reached the garden it was no longer the trees, but the +wind which possessed the blossom; every single petal of every opening +flower was lifted up, strewn far and wide, and carried away lighter, +more lively than the snowflakes, for these are attracted by the earth. +Millions and millions of flower wings--a flashing, whirling atmosphere, +as of white butterflies, through which patches of green appeared like +islands in a sea of cloud, like islets in a mirage.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girls screamed with delight, shouted, and clapped their hands, all +exclaiming as this marvel was driven gleaming across the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the wood came a darker shower in pursuit of it, following the same +course; it soon reached the place where the glittering petals had +passed; its track was narrower, but its rush heavier and more rapid.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girls rushed towards the great door, which was half open; they +wanted to follow the bright moving mass, the fugitives from the +fruit-trees. They forgot that they were in gymnasium dress--besides, at +the back of the house it did not matter; they screamed, they jumped. +Just then the door was pushed right open from outside; on the steps +stood a young man in white trousers and a naval uniform coat and cap. +He laughed and bowed, he bowed and laughed. It was Niels Fürst.</p> + +<p class="normal">Behind him, down in the courtyard stood Kaja Gröndal, who wore a light +hat and carried a violet parasol. She looked remarkably smart. She +laughed too.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is not Elisa here?" asked Fürst. No one in either of the senior +classes was called Elisa, no one knew any Elisa in the whole school. +"No, not Elisa," he said; "Olava!" There was no Olava in either of the +classes. "Olava?" No one knew any Olava in the whole school. He was +sure that they all took it for a joke. He looked at them in their +gymnasium dress, turning from one to another. He had both hands full of +flowers, he had to put the ones he held in his right hand against his +breast and press them with his left arm when he wanted to raise his +cap. Fru Gröndal was carrying flowers as well; they had evidently just +bought them, and having heard that the senior classes were at the +gymnasium at that moment, he had wished to see them. "Pardon," he said; +"perhaps she was called Petrea, or it may be that she was not here at +all." He raised his cap, his light curls seemed to laugh with him, and +the girls all laughed till the walls of the gymnasium re-echoed. He +sprang down. Fru Gröndal turned and went with him; as they passed round +the corner he nodded back at them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The laughter of the girls sounded round and round the lofty building. +They were most of them in a state of excitement, they kept running to +each other, asking questions without waiting for an answer; if three of +them were standing in a group, others joined them; if some were +laughing more than the others, they all rushed in that direction. Two +began to dispute, and the dispute increased; one or two more joined in, +then several others, all of them at last: the dispute was about the +disturber of the dovecote who had been at the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka was one of those who was disputing. She was simply shocked at his +shamelessness; she looked round for supporters. She thus caught sight +of Tora, who was sitting on a bench by the door, as white as a sheet. +Miss Hall was attending to her. Tinka sprang across, calling as she did +so, "What is the matter?" "What has happened?" Tora had continued her +gymnastics by herself, for she had become an enthusiastic gymnast, and +pursued a special system. As she was at the height of her practising, +she caught sight, through the half-open door, of a pair of little birds +which were flitting backwards and forwards about a bush. Was any one +under the bush? Had they a nest there? Was it only their usual antics? +Then she saw Kaja Gröndal's light dress come between her and the bush, +a large bouquet and a parasol instead of the birds; a young man in +naval uniform, with his hands full of flowers. She did not know him. +Kaja just then caught sight of her, and either Tora imagined it or she +really did say, "There she is!" The officer looked at Tora and kept his +eyes intently fixed on hers, his eyes both laughed and stabbed. Kaja +Gröndal tried to hold him back and then fell behind, but he kept +advancing, did not even stop at the steps, but came up them and still +on, without removing his eyes a single moment from hers. She could not +move. The noise by the window, the squall, which lifted Fru Gröndal's +veil and threatened to turn her parasol inside out, the waving of the +bushes, the whistling in the trees; she saw, she heard, but as if at a +great distance. She could not properly understand it, she could not +put it together; a strange weakness came over her, especially in her +knees--they would not support her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then the girls screamed out, and the whole group flew by to the +door, while he pushed it quite open with his foot. She felt as though +she were breathing fresh air, as though some one were supporting her +trembling limbs; but so long as he stood there she could not go away, +although she longed to do so; she <i>must</i> stay.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not until after he had gone that she tried to find the bench, +and only when she sat down did she begin to feel ill. She tried to +struggle against the feeling; Miss Hall came to her, and now Tinka as +well; and when Tinka asked what it was, firmly and decidedly, it helped +her--she was able to cry. The others came running up, but they became +quiet at the sight of the deadly white face. They did not ask a single +question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has been doing her gymnastics too violently," whispered Miss Hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She does everything so energetically," added Nora kindly, sitting down +beside Tora, and drawing her head towards her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The others went away; Miss Hall asked them to do so. One could hear in +the little room, where they changed their dress, the sound of their +returning merriment--one heard them go away, group after group. +Although the dinner-bell was ringing, Tora sat there, with Tinka on one +side and Nora on the other, and Miss Hall in front of them. Tora had +spoken to them several times, and assured them that she was well again +now. They all three believed that she had worked too hard at her +gymnastics--she believed so herself; but she said, "Oh, what an ugly, +horrid man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The others looked at each other: "Do you mean Niels Fürst?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not answer at first: "So that was Niels Fürst?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A little time afterwards she shivered as if from cold, but she did not +give any further explanation. She understood what had happened so far +as that the gymnastics had been the cause of it. That, being weakened, +he had had a singular influence upon her. She would not say a word +about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall now went away. The two others sat there still: Tora asked +them to do so. It was so nice to hold their hands.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_05.3" href="#div1Ref_05.3">SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">By the next day Tora had heard that Niels Fürst said she was "out and +away the handsomest girl he had seen in Norway." She would not believe +it at first, but she heard it on all sides during the next few days. +The next time she met Kaja Gröndal she told her the same thing. Tora +knew her through Milla, and always spoke to her. She had so far +recovered her usual flippancy that she answered that, "If Lieutenant +Fürst had not such bad taste, it would have been embarrassing for the +rest of the Norwegian girls."</p> + +<p class="normal">The summer came in with great heat; every one who could, went into the +country, to different places on the coast, or up to the houses on the +mountains. As soon as ever the school closed they were off; only a few +of the poorer ones remained behind, and Tora among them. Nora went to +the Baths with her mother; Tinka's relations were well to do, and had a +country house. Anna Rogne was in the town; with Rendalen's help she was +preparing herself for the post of history teacher in place of Karen +Lote, who was leaving the school. But Anna was not easy of access, more +especially for Tora, on account of her friendship with Milla. Even +when, for all that, Tora did go to see her, she found her so occupied +and anxious (she was to take the junior classes after the holidays) +that Tora became tired of her. Tora was now again living down at the +Point with her mother (her father was never mentioned), where she +shared an attic with two of her sisters. She lived in a hurry-scurry +and disorder, and had a feeling of self-reproach and disgust for +herself, which she shook off whenever she could cross the ferry and run +up into the wood above "The Estate," or along the road to the right +from the market-place, to the "Groves." This was a pleasure-ground in +the wood near the road, a large open space with a number of small +"groves"--that is to say, levelled patches, sometimes with benches and +tables; an elaborate network of paths went in and out among them.</p> + +<p class="normal">One Saturday afternoon she wished to go there to listen to the band, +but on the way to the Fröckener Jensens, where she was going to try to +get a companion, she met Kaja Gröndal; she had come into the town to +meet her husband, but he had not arrived. "Would not Tora come back +with her instead? The steamer left in an hour's time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had a great weakness for invitations. Within the hour she was back +again with a large hat-box, in which she had put her night-things and a +white dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning, Sunday, she was standing on the terrace before the +Gröndals' little country house. On her right were all the flowers from +the house, which had just been brought out to have the benefit of the +rain--as yet it was only wet fog; behind the garden, on the right, it +was drifting among the fir-woods; she could see the nearest trees and a +little of the bare hillside lower down towards the sea, a faintly +gleaming strip of which, was also to be seen. The fog lay very low, +there was not a breath of wind. She could hear the steamer, which had +just whistled, away to the left where the pier was; now she could see +her passing quickly--a vague outline, a thicker, darker, moving +cloud--through the white fog. She did not concern herself further about +her, but looked towards the path which led up from the landing-place +between this garden and the next. Just opposite was a low yellow +railing, a very handsome one, of cast-iron; behind it, some old trees +in a garden blotted out by the fog; there, she knew, stood several +houses which she could not see from here. One of them was the +Wingaards', where there was to be a party to-day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Who would she meet there? She stood and thought about it. Fru Wingaard +had been a Fürst; would Niels Fürst be there? She stood thinking. He +was in the reserve fleet, which was lying in the Channel.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why should he not come? It was Sunday; why should he not bring several +of the officers with him?</p> + +<p class="normal">If Tora had known this before she went on board the steamer yesterday, +would she have come? She asked herself the question to-day. Directly +she had heard it she had felt a trembling sensation, she felt it at +times again to-day; but the disagreeable feeling was gone, oddly +enough, she thought. Did she really wish to meet him? She did not want +to be disturbed by him--no, nor yet to be looked at as she had been +before. But to see him, to be seen by him, if it should so chance? Yes, +she did wish that--she wished it very much.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she went along the terrace, to the steps which led up from the +left, she could see quite into the sitting-room, and also, in a +looking-glass, whether the door of the inner room, where Fru Gröndal +slept, was open. No, it was still shut; so she went back to where she +had been before.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could still follow the steamer--that is to say, a dark moving cloud +among the fog which hung on every side. The balustrade of the terrace +was wet; she dried her hands, forgot, and put them on it again.</p> + +<p class="normal">She need not have brought the white dress; it was fine rain now. The +birds enjoyed the damp, they were singing all round her. Trees, +flowers, and grass enjoyed it too.</p> + +<p class="normal">She noticed their different scents; one of these carried her thoughts +far, far away to a country house near Havre, close by the sea; clear +blue air, ships, steamers, a long strip of sand, the lazy wash of the +waves upon it; close to the sea a country house, low and grey; there +they lived. The narrow gate into the garden was open; she stood there +on a stone bench, in a short frock and with bare arms; she could see +herself in the long striped stockings which she had admired so much the +first time she had put them on; she peered over the hedge, and the +scent of the flowers was wafted to her again and again, just as it was +now. It was nearly evening, her uncle would be coming from the town. +The path through the gloomy orchard was gravelled--she heard his step.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here to the left, in the fine rain, she saw an immense umbrella and +white trousers below it. It was not raised enough for her to see who +was coming; even now, when the garden-gate had to be opened, it was not +lifted, it was only held more forward; but she knew now that the step +on the gravel was coming, not towards the country house at Havre, but +here; it was not her uncle, but----?</p> + +<p class="normal">The umbrella was raised, its owner stood inside the garden. A dark +coat, a straw hat, and a very puzzled face were seen; she felt +something of the uneasiness from which she had thought herself free, +but as he looked at her it passed off; just the reverse of what had +occurred the last time.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had evidently not expected to see a dark lady on the terrace, +perhaps no one at all, so early in the day. But it was by no means +disagreeable to him; he smiled and raised his hat, there was nothing in +his eyes to-day which hurt her. He paused at the steps, the umbrella +lay on his right shoulder while he laid his left arm on the balustrade +and leaned against it. That was a well-formed hand with the signet-ring +on it. He was slight and active; his head was noticeable for three +things; a nervous sensuous mouth, which was constantly moving, the lips +twitching backwards and forwards, in and out, as though moved by a +string--the lips themselves being short and full; a pair of large eyes, +roguish and gentle, though they stabbed when he put his head a little +backward and half shut them: excessively curly hair of a golden colour, +and long reddish whiskers. As he leaned over the balustrade, there was +a repose about him full of careless enjoyment. But this mood was not to +be depended upon, nor would one readily do so, for there was something +in the head, body, and hands which, behind the gentle, lazy, pliable +manner, reminded one of a cat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora both felt and saw this, but to-day it was with more curiosity than +fear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What an unexpected pleasure to meet you here; have you been here +long?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I came here yesterday evening with Fru Gröndal; she was in the town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was she, indeed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the two slipped into a conversation about the journey here, the +weather, the place, without having been introduced to each other--a +conversation without any other object than to have an excuse for +looking at one another. The conversation was in short, disjointed +sentences, without colour or calculation, except in so far that the +last remark never remained the last.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood below and studied her with growing pleasure; the shape of her +head, her features, her manners and expression. The eyes really shone +under the long thick lashes--what colour were they? They looked black, +but---- And her figure! her neck, arms, complexion, her dark hair, her +dress; he put himself quite on one side, he was entirely occupied with +her. How long this continued, they neither of them knew--it was a +considerable time; he did not wish to disturb himself, she did not wish +to disturb him. She saw herself in a living mirror, but the pleasure +was not an innocent one, for by degrees it made her feel giddy. She +collected herself and broke off the conversation; walked across the +terrace to some flowers, and occupied herself with their petals, among +which she made havoc. He came slowly up, with his umbrella over his +shoulder, drawing his left hand along the balustrade.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course you are going to my sister's this afternoon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fru Gröndal will get an invitation for me," she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; we shall have some dancing--will you give me the first +waltz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not look up. "Will you not dance the first waltz with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She felt through her whole being that she ought not to answer him. "I +beg your pardon, I forgot that we had not been introduced; but as you +know who my sister is, you must have some idea who I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">He smiled and came nearer, always with the big umbrella, and with his +left hand gliding along the balustrade. She raised herself, but did not +answer. "So there is some agreement about the first waltz?" He said it +a little carelessly, in rather a patronising way, almost as though he +were offended.</p> + +<p class="normal">He put down the umbrella and turned towards the entrance. "Of course +Fru Gröndal is at home." He went in. Tora was about to add, "But she is +not up." But that would look rather like asking him to stay here. +Besides, Fru Gröndal must be so nearly dressed that she could warn him +off herself, when she heard him in the sitting-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went in there, but did not come out again. Had Fru Gröndal gone +there? No, there was no talking. She went towards the steps and looked +into the mirror; the bedroom door was wide open.</p> + +<p class="normal">Down the steps she flew, and through the garden, away into the wood, +out of it again, for it was too wet; and out on to the mountain towards +the sea, under the lee of the wood; there she sat down on a large +stone. She was trembling: her breast heaved as though it would burst.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fröken Holm!" called Fru Gröndal; "Fröken Holm!" She really was +dressed, then. That call must be either from the terrace or the garden. +Perhaps Fru Gröndal had been out when he went into the sitting-room, +that was why there had been no talking. Tora could not collect herself +sufficiently to answer Fru Gröndal, and as she had not answered the +first time, it seemed to her that she must disregard the other calls as +well. Very soon she heard no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">What time was it? Could he have come to make a call on a lady at that +early hour? And to come straight from the landing-place, not to his +sister's, but to Fru Gröndal's. What was the time? But she had not her +watch with her, she had forgotten it.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were the white trousers coming up the hill towards her, and the +umbrella as well! She was pursued and discovered. "Dear me, did you +not hear Fru Gröndal call you?" Tora did not answer. "And you are so +wet--without an umbrella too; pray come under mine. Why did you run +away?" No answer. "Fru Gröndal has been making egg-flip for us the +whole morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has she really?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, really; her husband was to have been here this morning, and he +owes me some egg-flip. But he has not come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What time is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What on earth do you want to know for? It is just eleven."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just eleven?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, see for yourself." He held out a massive American gold watch +towards her, opening the case as he did so. She was silent and walked +on. As they approached the garden, she asked him how he had found her +so quickly. Why, he had seen her footprint in the sand here, and he had +drawn his own conclusion. No one would go into the wood when it was so +wet, so she must be on the hill.</p> + +<p class="normal">They eat egg-flip together very merrily; but an hour later Tora was +sitting alone in her room, in the attics--she had fastened the door; +and at six o'clock the same evening, as the guests were assembling at +the Wingaards', she was on board the steamer, which was returning to +the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had happened? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! But like the fog over +the landscape, which still hung there, although not so low as in the +morning, there lay something over all this, which was vague and +puzzling to her. She could not bear to be with Fürst and Fru Gröndal. +She could not be natural with them; everything she said or did seemed +preposterous.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not therefore venture to go to the party; the mere thought of +waltzing with Fürst made her tremble.</p> + +<p class="normal">It would not do. There was nothing for it but to fly. She made herself +appear terribly foolish, in trying to find reasons for her flight; such +a one as that she had crumpled her white dress in her hat-box, could be +answered by a hot iron; that her mother expected her, presupposed a +letter by carrier pigeon.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the same here she was on board the steamer. It was really an +achievement. She was delighted. The rest of the passengers were up on +the bridge, or in the deck cabin; the windows were open. She went +forward where there were two or three work-people. She sat down a long +way from them. It thoroughly delighted her when the steamer swept past +the islets at the entrance; it seemed as though she were leaving +something oppressive.</p> + +<p class="normal">The evening was fine, notwithstanding the fog; it was mild, and the +rain had ceased. The islands among which they steamed stood out clear, +their many tinted hills, the green patches of grass, the gardens and +houses--for almost all were inhabited--were seen with unusual +distinctness, as well as the people who sat or stood about, and watched +the steamer as she passed. Tora thought she would like to live in such +a place; she made a day-dream that she did so; she sat there and +arranged her house according to her taste--this time with great +simplicity, that soothed her after what she had left.</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once the discomfort began again, a feeling of depression, the +old sense of insecurity--only a recollection, of course, she thought, +and drew a long breath, but she felt impelled to turn round and look +behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">There he stood on the deck, four or five steps away from her. He bowed +and smiled. Deadly white, then crimson, she turned angrily away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, you must not be angry with me; I would rather go back to the +town with you, than dance till five o'clock in the morning. Is that so +strange? I am not so contemptible for that, am I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He sat down behind her; she knew it, and moved a little way from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you do that now? Of course it is only to talk to you that I +have come with you; you can see that."</p> + +<p class="normal">A feeling of both shame and fear came over her; she was alone now, +separate from all the others. She felt as though she could have called +to them by name. Whenever Tora felt how solitary she was, she began to +cry.</p> + +<p class="normal">He noticed it, and in quite another tone of voice he said, "Dear Fröken +Holm, you must not misunderstand me; I do not want to annoy you, +anything rather than that. It would give me great pleasure to talk to +you, I confess; may I not be allowed to do so? Why may I not?" She did +not answer, but she ceased crying.</p> + +<p class="normal">He slipped into conversation on indifferent topics, and calmed her, +lamenting that they had not become acquainted earlier. "The first time +I saw you I said to myself--well, no matter what I said, but I had just +a little wish to see you again; it was fulfilled quite unexpectedly +to-day; but we did not have any conversation, you were so strange; why +was that? Well perhaps you were not strange, but why did you go away? I +might imagine that I was to blame for that. You certainly did not want +to go before I came--eh? You have made me quite curious, I assure you. +If I really did drive you away, I should like to hear what I frightened +you with; was it with the big umbrella--by chance? Ah, now you are +laughing! But why will you insist in travelling about <i>par tout</i>, +Fröken? Just tell me that." He moved a little nearer, and she remained +sitting; he chatted and joked without any pause. She once turned half +round to look at his roguish face, and then she laughed with him. He +was very amusing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Close by one of the numerous stopping-places was a red house, where a +number of young people were gathered round some gymnastic apparatus. A +young man and a young woman each held a rope in a "giant's strides." He +set off after her with all his strength; a few steps on the ground, and +then a long swing in the air; then again a few steps, and another long +swing. Would he reach her? Never! She was the lighter, the more active, +and she had undoubtedly stronger legs--she ran trip, trip, trip, trip; +her legs hardly seemed to be apart, and how she flew swinging through +the air! Her hair, her dress streaming after her, a very Iris! Both +Fürst and Tora followed this chase, silent but eager. Tora felt his +presence at her back, like fire; he had come nearer; and, turning +abruptly, she went into the cabin and sat down among the others. He was +standing on the landing-place when she went on shore at the Point; he +offered her his hand, but she turned away; he wanted to carry her box, +but she ran off. He went on board again to go up into the harbour.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_05.4" href="#div1Ref_05.4">THE HUNT</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Tora reached home about the same time as her father, who had been out +sailing with some friends. He was helped on shore, and his reception at +home was warm. The children fled, Tora locked herself into the attic, +and dare not even go down to supper, although she was hungry. She had +to open the door at last for her sisters; she soon began to quarrel +with them, they had been wearing her best shoes and had almost spoiled +them. It ended in one of them flinging the shoes at her, and they came +to blows over it. Complaints followed, which brought the angry mother +upstairs. Tora cried herself to sleep like a child.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day she tried to help her mother in the house, not without +some hard words and sarcasms about such fine elegant ladies only being +in the way. Still she set her will to the task of being a help to her +mother, especially in mending the clothes. She gave what she could from +her little annuity, so that they were on fairly friendly terms; but it +seemed to Tora that she had a right to have some time to herself. A +little while before supper, she would take the ferry across to the +other side and go up either into the wood above "The Estate" or into +the "Groves." There was no peace at home. Whether she went to the wood +or "The Estate," she always landed at Bommen, and went up that way, +though it was not exactly the most direct one; but she did not know a +prettier place in the town than the house in the large garden there, so +she gave herself the pleasure of looking at it every day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Both house and garden had belonged to the Wingaard family, but they had +exchanged them for the Fürsts' house in the market-place, where the +Wingaards carried on the Fürst business. The brother-in-law, Niels +Fürst, therefore now owned the house in the large garden at Bommen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora passed it with a little apprehension, although the man she dreaded +was certainly not there, but on board his ship. This became a change +and occupation, and formed, as it were, an incident in her walk.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every time it was over, she went more carelessly up to the wood, or out +to the "Groves." In a little Norwegian town like this, all the girls go +about as they like. She met others and joined them, or went on by +herself; generally she wished to be alone for an hour or two; she went, +as a rule, to some particular spot, and when there took out her book, +if she had one, or else she wove day-dreams without the aid of books. +Or else, and this was now almost always the case, she wrote long +letters, one every day, about any curious experience. She had her +portfolio with her and an ink-bottle in her pocket; she lay on the +grass with the portfolio on a stone, or she sat on a stone with the +portfolio spread out on her lap and the ink-bottle by her side. That +did splendidly: true open-air letters, where the words seemed to fly +before the wind, and every varying thought found ready utterance. And +how delightful it was in the thicket, just dappled by the sunbeams, +enlivened by the twittering of the birds, a little startled by the +rustle of a squirrel in the boughs! The distant sounds from the +harbour, from the works by the river-bank, the voices in the "Groves" +and on the road, with every now and then a strain of music, only made +the silence of the place where she was sitting the deeper. This was her +one bit of summer poetry. As soon as she opened her eyes in the +morning, she began to long for it; the noise and quarrelling in the +house passed by her as though they did not concern her--it was here +that she lived. Her great expedition to Fru Gröndal, and her remarkable +return home in the steamer, were of course recorded up here in letters +to Milla, Nora, and Tinka; on the fourth day, she read over the work of +the three previous ones; she was very pleased, she knew she had +successfully varied the theme. She became, however, somewhat thoughtful +as she read the first letter, for she remembered the others, and the +difference had become by degrees too great. If the girls were by chance +to compare them, one of those tiresome scenes might easily result when +she would have to pay the reckoning. No, she would have no more of +that. In the first letter she had treated the matter seriously, +described her confusion, her blunders, her fright; no one who read it +could doubt that she had been with a person of whom she had been +frightened. In the second letter she made fun of herself, of him, and +the whole affair. In the third, she described how a maiden with dark +hair was wandering on a foreign strand, when a merman rose from the sea +who had fair whiskers and curly hair. In her terror, the dark maiden +fled on board a ship, to return to her own country. But the merman swam +after the ship the whole way, with his hand on his heart; when she got +to land he gave a wail of sorrow, she heard it still in her dreams at +night.</p> + +<p class="normal">She tore up all the letters, and did not write any others.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still she continued her walks. She had not the slightest idea that +Niels Fürst had returned to the town, that a friend had taken his duty +for him, and that he was quietly studying languages to prepare himself +for a new career, more brilliant than his earlier one, and that he was +living in his own house. Still less did she know that on the first day +of his return to the town he had seen her, in the looking-glass fixed +outside his window, look shyly across at the house as she passed, and +that he saw the same thing happen the next day. He knew that this was +not the shortest way up to the wood, which was where she went the first +day, or out to the "Groves," where she had gone on the second; on both +occasions he had put on his hat and gone out, the third day he sat +ready to follow her; now he thought he understood. He knew something +about girls who will and will not; they acted exactly in this way.</p> + +<p class="normal">To-day she came as usual, glanced apprehensively across, and strolled +on with her portfolio under her arm. Some one stopped her, and she thus +chanced to look round and so detected him. He was already advancing +quickly; he was in pursuit, he had struck the trail.</p> + +<p class="normal">She said good-bye, and as soon as she could do so unobserved, she +quickened her ordinary pace to the quickest of which she was capable. +She was frightened, unaccountably frightened. Perhaps it would have +been wiser to have turned back, but to-day she could not endure his +gaze, and there was no one else about. So she walked on, and on, and +on, but suspected that he was gaining on her--she almost knew it. She +dare not run on the high-road, but she trusted to the fact that she was +more at home in the "Groves" than he was, and that she could slip away. +She therefore left the road and made her way through the wood; she saw +to her terror that he plunged into it as well, so she ventured to run +up the hill, but in the direction from which he came; then she stooped +down behind a large stone. She was quite successful, for almost +directly afterwards she saw him pass by a little below the place +where she crouched, her heart beating as though it would burst her +dress. Here, where no one could see him, he ran, he climbed, he +jumped--nothing checked his straight upward course. She waited till he +was out of sight, and then ran off through the wood in the opposite +direction from that in which he had gone; she did not stop till she +found herself far above "The Estate" on a rock under a fir-tree, with +leafy trees all round, and, while hot and panting she looked round her, +thinking how wonderful the view was which she took in in a rapid +glance, he rose before her mind's eye as he had looked when he hurried +past the stone. He was horrible! That man could do anything!</p> + +<p class="normal">After that, she could never get rid of him. It was always he, nothing +but he; or rather every moment of the day she fled from him, but he +always reappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her sisters reported to her that he hung about the house and looked in; +walked past and looked in, talked to them, asked them to remember him +to her. This immensely excited them, they were proud of it; his remark +that Tora was "the handsomest girl" had reached them too. But Tora's +terror increased; she was pursued. She knew that he would not give up.</p> + +<p class="normal">Where could she go to? None of the Rendalens were at home. She could go +to them after the holidays, but nearly three weeks still remained. She +could not speak to any one else, she was too much ashamed. She did not +think once of shoemaker Hansen, but Fru Hansen was severe, she would +not exactly understand. Her mother she never once thought of. But after +all it was a thing which entirely concerned herself; she need be in no +man's power if she did not choose.</p> + +<p class="normal">No, but when she could not by any means get him out of her thoughts?</p> + +<p class="normal">On Saturday evening she had flung herself upon her bed, as weary as +though she had passed the day in the hardest manual labour. She lay +there and looked at the yards of a ship which was being towed past. She +watched the folds in the loosely hanging sails which were swaying in +the wind. The vessel was so near that she could almost have touched +her. Outside there was a heavy sea, the storm driving the swell up into +the harbour: she, too, longed to find a haven! It was Saturday evening, +to-morrow she would have to go to church. Karl Vangen's face smiled to +her as she remembered this, and she felt happy before she fell asleep. +If he had been a girl she would have gone to him--just to <i>him</i>--with +the trouble which oppressed her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day she occupied a seat at the furthest end of the church. +Karl Vangen had met her, and said how nice it was that she was coming +up to them again to help Fru Rendalen. On account of this remark she +had chosen the most remote seat; she did not feel sure that she might +not begin to cry.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not, however; there was something soothing in the church and +the stillness and the people, which was unlike the summer day outside. +But when Karl Vangen went into the pulpit, and his prayer was the one +which he had used on her first school-day--that on meeting, almost word +for word the same--it disturbed her: that even Karl Vangen's prayer +should be a lesson from earlier days. This little coincidence occupied +her, and she did not follow him. She gathered that the sermon dealt +with conversion, and that Karl Vangen, as was his custom, illustrated +what he was saying by examples from real life. But she had heard these +examples at school, every one of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was roused by the name of John Wesley. His conversion, Vangen +considered, was the most thorough, the fullest in every particular, +that he knew of. He related it, and then passed on to give examples of +sudden conversions, especially some by Wesley himself; other natures +with different pasts, with different kinds of knowledge, influenced by +other fears. He wished to speak of these sudden conversions separately +to-day. He had known a young girl who had a burning desire for grace +for her sins, which she could by no means obtain, until one day she saw +Rubens' picture of the Crucifixion, and Mary Magdalene standing with +long flowing hair at the foot of the cross. She would be Mary +Magdalene. And all at once it was a joy to her to imagine herself at +the foot of the cross in the place of Mary Magdalene; her thoughts +dwelt on this so powerfully that it seemed as though she, and no one +else, stood there. At once she received the knowledge that it was for +<i>her</i> that Jesus was crucified, <i>her</i> sins were forgiven. She was +seized with a great, great joy. The preacher knew several such examples +especially among women. They had clung so persistently to some single +incident in the life of Jesus, some single word of His, something +special in the mystery of grace, and had gazed upon it until it had the +effect of a strong light, a special knowledge. From that time all +became clear to them, their sins were taken from them; their will +became stronger from that day and hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora did not hear more, least of all that it was <i>against</i> this that +Vangen wished to speak. Then and there her mind was occupied with an +attempt to follow these examples. His too familiar voice murmured on; +everything round her seemed to fade away. She saw Jesus on the cross in +a strange country, with driving black clouds above Him, each height, +each valley, each tree veiled and mourning. She saw His eyes close, His +chest rise and fall, and it all became night. She felt her own small +sorrows hidden in that awful moment. How long she remained in this +condition she did not know. The sermon was not over, she could not +therefore go; but she could not listen, she did not desire to do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">When at length she left the church she had only one wish--to be able to +renew that vision as soon as she could.</p> + +<p class="normal">Through all these days she had not been outside the door, she must go +this afternoon. From fear of Fürst she went over towards the mountain, +and from there up into the wood along by the churchyard, and then on to +the big fir-tree on the right, and sat down on the stone under it--it +was smooth and flat. She had not come to dream or to enjoy herself, but +for real help to consecrate her life. These weary days had enlightened +her; she knew now that her character combined a little of everything; +that she wished for a little of everything, even of what was wrong, so +that she would be an easy prey for a rogue. She had not been +sufficiently guarded from the first; she had been completely +unprepared--nay, the danger had had something attractive in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This must now be changed; she would do any kind of work, if only it +would be a restraint on her. She had no more ambition now, nothing but +dread.</p> + +<p class="normal">She fell upon her knees, and with her blood coursing the faster from +her hurried ascent, she offered her prayer in her abasement. It was the +most humble, piteous pleading. Her distress was extreme. Power to +resist the will which conquered hers! She did not doubt for a moment +that her petition would be instantly and literally granted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mentally she saw herself endowed with strength, she saw herself without +fear--even with a mission; no matter what it was, so that it continued. +And that should regulate her life. Willingly! Always! She could not +picture to herself greater joy, honour, or riches than to give herself +to some hard task; it was her nature to wish for extremes.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now she began to contemplate herself--no, she came to a stand, her +mind was disturbed when she thought of her friends. Milla's greatest +anxiety in her last letter had been lest the weather should not +continue fine, and Nora had feared that they might forget to send her +some new music. Why should she alone, who was hiding here, have such +dreadful trouble? Her desolate position ought to have made people pity +her, but it only encouraged them.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat, turned away from the view, leaning against the big fir-tree. +Before her she saw alder woods, nothing but young luxuriant alder +woods, and fronds of bracken in a thick mass. Ah! how impotent all that +was, that they had discussed together at the Society's meetings, and at +other places. Only a few weeks ago, and now she must hide herself here. +If this became known, she would no doubt lose the small status she had +gained for herself. She would hardly go again to the Engels, she would +not be allowed to be Milla's friend, perhaps not be able even to go up +to Fru Rendalen's again; she began to cry, but she tried to collect +herself. The image of the sly, excited, accursed face that she had seen +from behind the stone down below, seemed to stab her--to thrill through +her; she understood that the dread with which she terrified herself was +greater danger to her than the actual man.</p> + +<p class="normal">She ought to have gone home again, but it was a shame not to test her +strength, and so she stayed there.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">As Tora, a short time before, was climbing the hill, Niels Fürst was +sauntering up and down the deck of a vessel, the captain of which he +knew, and just as she reached the flat stone under the fir-tree he had +taken up the new ship's telescope to try it; he focussed it and turned +it towards the river-bank, and from there gradually upwards across the +wooden slopes. Tora had just seated herself on the stone as the +telescope was turned to that point, and he recognised her.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took a short cut across the market-place, and turned up to the right +of "The Estate" gardens.</p> + +<p class="normal">Latterly he had thought of nothing but her, he could not occupy +himself, and he slept badly. He had never been in pursuit of so +beautiful a girl before.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although day after day she passed his house, she constantly eluded his +pursuit, and all his efforts were still fruitless. All that was needed +was to find her in her hiding-place; one could not do her a greater +service. Nay, the oftener she hid herself, the greater would be the +refinement of her pleasure in being discovered. Now he understood why +she had left Fru Gröndal's that day--now he saw why she had cried on +board the steamer. Ah, these little girls! But the pursuit would become +wearisome if it continued much longer. His own credit was at stake as +well; no one must suppose that they could befool <i>him</i>. His character, +too, would be safer when this was all settled; she would be silent +then. If only she did not see him too soon, if he could only get near +enough to hold her with his eyes!</p> + +<p class="normal">Notwithstanding his intense excitement, he advanced skilfully, not by +the path, but straight up through the wood under cover of the leaves. +He scrambled where he could not walk, he climbed where he could not +scramble. She sat there, searching for some definite idea which might +be extended until it entirely occupied and engrossed her mind; but she +was not successful--there was something which always distracted her. +Just then a branch snapped down below. She had constantly felt tempted +to turn round. Was there really anything behind her? She looked down +below her. At first she saw nothing; yes, the branches moved and she +heard the leaves rustle. That might be a horse or cow from "The +Estate"; they came up here for pasture. All the same, she felt very +hot; she wanted to get up and go away; but her eyes continued fixed on +the branches below, there was something dark beneath them. A head +pushed its way through, a man--<i>he!</i> How in the world----? Did he know +that she----? How did he come to----? She bewildered herself with +useless, frightened questions. He looked up. With all her power she +raised herself, though her feet felt as heavy as lead; but she did not +turn from him, or attempt to go away, and by degrees she lost the +desire to do so. Now there was only the stone between them, a wave of +terror swept over her and roused her; she turned her head now, +staggered a few steps--and met him. She leaned forward, he took her +hand, his arm slipped under hers--she felt as though a burning band +were round her. She fell so unexpectedly and so heavily that he nearly +fell with her.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>VI</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_06.0" href="#div1Ref_06.0">WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_06.1" href="#div1Ref_06.1">HAPPINESS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">"Dear Nora,</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know beforehand that this will not be a regular letter, I have no +time for one. I almost think that you had better not show it to the +others, they will hardly understand my feelings. Last, but not least, +there is something which divides the others from us two; I feel that +instinctively. If only I could do away with some of what I--feel, I had +almost written again. You must know that I have passed the greatest, +the most beautiful, the most enchanting day in my life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! now you are curious. I will not bother you, but all the same I +must begin with how and why I came to do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When we arrived at Copenhagen, who should meet us at the station but +Niels Fürst! Of course it had been arranged between him and papa. I saw +that at once, but papa is so clever at keeping a secret. Do you know +where Niels Fürst came from? From Sofiero. Yes, now it is written, and +you understand the whole thing. I told you that, long ago, papa had had +the honour of being invited by his Majesty to come and see Sofiero the +next time he went abroad. There are not many Norwegians to whom that +has happened, so it was very flattering to papa.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He had said nothing to me; he did not wish to make me nervous before +the time, he said. Fürst came straight from Sofiero--fancy, he is +perhaps to be made orderly officer to the prince who is a sailor--his +Royal Highness Prince Oscar, that is to say. Fürst told us at what time +the train would leave the next day. Good heavens! actually the next +day. We were expected, then! I was not allowed to make any toilette, I +was to appear just in my travelling dress, as papa was to do as well. +That naughty Lieutenant Fürst--you know he is related to us--he calls +me cousin, though I am not one. He said I was pretty enough as I was. +Do you know him?</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was now a question of getting some sleep after the journey--one +does not look well when one has not slept. I have never struggled so +hard to go to sleep before. I was terribly startled, you see. I thought +about the stupidest things in the world. Do you remember chief +custom-house officer Jacobsen's nose? I lay and stared at his nose, +till I really fell asleep thinking of it and of the town bailiff; and I +can tell you I was so tired, that when I was once asleep, I slept like +a top. I was, thank goodness, none the worse when I got up. But it was +awful, really awful later on. You have never been in such +circumstances, so perhaps it may seem odd to you that the more I +thought of the important moment, and that I had no lady to refer to +(men can never tell one anything, and so they laugh), the more +terrified I became. It was rather a cold morning, and one thing with +the other, the cold and the fright--Fürst called it cannon fever--I was +most miserably uncomfortable. It was dreadfully silly; at last I could +not altogether conceal it. You understand. But I consoled myself with +the thought that I was not the first girl to whom this had happened, +when she was to be presented at Court. I was really quite ill at last, +and therefore have hardly any impression of the journey, or what we +talked about. For all that, I got into a dispute. Fürst said that all +the monarchies were trying to gather the wealthy classes about +themselves against the lower classes. That seems to me to be too bad. +Is the monarchy meant to protect itself? I thought it was to protect +the lower classes, and I said so too. Papa began to tease me about the +Society and school, and Karen Lote's history lessons; you can hear him, +can't you? Fürst asked who was to protect the wealthy classes in that +case? They must protect themselves, I should suppose. At all events, it +is wicked of them to betray the lower classes, is it not?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how enchanting Oresund is! When we crossed (I forgot to say that +we came there, that is, to Helsingör, by railway) you see what I am +to-day.... No, I will pass that altogether, or I shall never be ready. +Father wants me to go out with him this morning, you will soon see why. +I will begin with the Palace, which can be seen from the Sound; it is +magnificently situated, but is not so large as we had expected. So at +last we arrived at Helsingborg. There, now you <i>will</i> be astonished--a +royal carriage was waiting for us. Both papa and Fürst took it as a +matter of course, but I am certain that they were at least as +astonished as I was.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The carriage was just like any other; it is the livery which is the +important point. But I was in the most deadly terror how it would all +go off. The weather had, however, become delightful. I was obliged to +leave them for a moment before we got into the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can imagine how upset I was by it all, when I tell you that I +perspired through my gloves. Of course I had another pair to put on +when I got there. Papa drove me to despair by saying, 'My dear child, +how wretched you look.' I really believe I had tears in my eyes, for +Fürst, who was opposite to me, began to try to amuse me, but I hardly +heard what he said. But still through it all I noticed that the +formation was a mixture of sandstone and coal strata, and that there +was a lot of iron in the rocks. I thought of Rendalen and his maps and +collections. You cannot imagine how all this passed through my mind in +the midst of my fright. If any one would have taken me home again, at +the price of every pretty thing I possess, I would have accepted the +offer, I can assure you. We drove through a little wood, and came out +into a great open quadrangle--the Palace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I saw the quadrangle and the grass there--how do things come into +one's head?--I remembered so distinctly the lesson at school when I +learned that <i>bowling-green</i> meant in English just such a place as +this; and that Fru Rendalen came into the class at the moment and asked +why it was called a bowling-green? and that Tora whispered it to me. +How cleverly Tora could do such things! I have no further recollection +of where we drew up. I got out of the carriage, when a very grand +gentleman met us, and gave me his arm. We were shown to some rooms. A +lady came with me, thank goodness. I was not myself till that moment. I +looked at myself in the glass. What a fright I was! I saw that at once +in papa's face when we met in a sitting-room. Fancy, I never noticed in +what direction we went or where the room was. Guess where we were going +to. Into the garden, where we were to lunch with their Majesties. There +could not have been greater condescension to the townsfolk of a little +Norwegian town, could there? Do you remember how we dressed our dolls +for a Court ball? The same gentleman--Fürst does not remember his name, +but I believe he was a gentleman-in-waiting--escorted me and said +something to me in Swedish. I could not understand him, my wits were +wool-gathering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one could have been in a greater state of mind. When I saw the +garden and came into it--it all whirled round me, trees, people, table, +servants, chairs--the awful fright I was in almost made me drop. I used +all my strength, I can assure you. The gentleman whose arm I had, must +have felt my hand tremble, or have read my trouble in my face; he told +me not to be frightened, their Majesties were so charming. I understood +that.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, and how wonderfully good they were; especially the King. Oh, +that smile, the shape of the hand, those eyes! It was a perfect ocean +of goodness--but more than goodness. There is something, especially in +the eyes, which fascinates one. I will use the word heaven rather than +ocean to describe those eyes, for then you can better understand what +the Swedes call <i>tjusande</i>.<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> There is no word in Norse for it. Yes, +<i>tjusande!</i> Only southern people have such eyes. How cold and +egotistical we are, I must say it, when we look at them. At all events, +I feel it so.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now you shall hear something wonderful: from the time--I may say from +the very second--in which his Majesty's eyes rested on me, I felt well +again. Well, did I say? I felt this look fill and warm my whole being. +I felt it--it is strange, is it not? but on my honour it is true--I +felt it in my knees; yes, in my knees. There is only one word in our +language which can fully express my state of mind; I am almost in the +same state now, merely with telling you about it, the others would not +understand me. I was in a state of <i>beatitude</i>. Perhaps it is profane, +or at least wrong, to use this word in such a sense, but it is <i>true</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think the King said? 'Welcome to my house, Fröken,' in the +prettiest, sweetest Norse I ever heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Queen smiled. She asked me what town I came from. The King +answered for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'What is the clergyman called?' asked the Queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Karl Vangen,' I said; but that was stupid; I ought to have mentioned +the Dean's name or that of one of the elder clergy. At the same time +the King welcomed my father, who stood there with Fürst, and said to +him, 'I think the lieutenant has excellent taste.' That is exactly what +he said, word for word; I have often thought of it since, for it +evidently showed that Niels Fürst had spoken about me in these high +places. I did not know that they would trouble themselves about +anything so insignificant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We then went to table, the same elegant gentleman took me. 'Well?' +said he in Swedish, and I hastened to answer that I was enchanted. +'Every one is,' he assured me. We did not sit down, but walked about as +we liked, and first one and then another came up and was presented to +me. Only think! one of them was a Count, another a Baron, then a +Countess, a Baroness, and a Master of the Horse: he in particular came +and walked about, and talked continually.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not exactly what they said, but their whole style and manner +had something incredibly intellectual and winning. But there was +something as well in the place and surroundings which helped, for I +felt as though I were not on earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The servants themselves made me feel uneasy and small, they gave me +the impression of being so careful, so attentive, of knowing so well +how everything should be.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not always do things right. We Norwegians do not learn anything. +No, there was a nobility, a beauty and kindness, and it was all so +bright and yet so stately; none of the Princes were there, though. What +we had to eat (I hardly touched anything) I can say by heart, for I +wrote it down in my diary, and I will copy it for Tora; that and the +furniture of the castle, and a thousand other things which you do not +care about. You do not understand anything about nice dishes, but I +arrange it so as to tell you all the more intellectual things, and you +must not show it to any one. My word, if you do! Nora, you don't know, +but I must have one confidante, or happiness would be a burden. I have +never felt as I have done yesterday and to-day. I am quite upset. I +will write to Tora about my dress. Of course I have a new one, which I +think would have surprised you all, although there is not much to be +done in black. Still I think it suits me. I got a glimpse of myself in +several mirrors at the castle, for you must understand that we were +shown over it. On the side where we came in first, to the left, is the +great apartment where the royal entertainments are held in all their +grandeur. Ah! if one could only be present. This room is decorated in +white, with an arabesque on a blue ground, and great big pictures, one +by Markus Larsson, full of sunlight, but I don't know what it is, it is +so extraordinary; and divans and chairs in blue silk--an enormous +chandelier of different coloured glass, magnificent! Near the wall two +black figures, dressed in red and gold, holding lamps, real works of +art. A huge marble fireplace, the shape we call '<i>Pies</i>,'<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> but the +word is so ugly; and a richly gilded clock and porcelain vases; a +particularly noticeable flower-stand in Japanese porcelain, very +curious. Also a Chinese or Japanese writing-table made of black wood, +with gold ornaments. But that was in the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But no; I will scratch out about the cabinet. You shall read all about +it in Tora's letter. I will just tell you that you look out from the +great balcony over the Sound, and see all the ships and steamers, and +Helsingborg and Krongborg. There is not a view like it in the North. +How should there be? Do you think we did not go into the bedrooms? I +don't know if that were right, but we did. I really have to restrain +myself from telling you about them at once, and about their Majesties' +sitting-rooms. Imagine white silk hangings over both walls and ceiling, +with a light red border, in the Queen's room. And such a writing-table! +The King's rooms were so nobly simple. On the pillow in the King's +bedroom I saw two hairs--you know what sharp eyes I have. I lagged a +little behind, and took them without any one noticing it. I put them +into the case of my watch. But this reminds me of the great event. When +we went into the garden again, the light fell very strongly right on +the gate, and I saw something written on the railing. I went up to it; +it was in French, and undoubtedly by a lady.... Yes, you see I have +scratched that out again. For when one has made up one's mind not to +repeat a thing, it shall not be repeated. It was horrid. I rubbed it +out with my finger; but I had to be quick, and I got a splinter into my +finger, through my glove, and made it bleed. So I rubbed it out with my +blood. I have not said a word to any living being about it until now, +nor must you tell it to any one. To papa I said I had pricked my finger +while I was trying to gather a rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If any one should have seen me--but they were looking at something in +the garden; or if any one had seen what was written before I did? Is it +not extraordinary?</p> + +<p class="normal">"The royal party and their attendants were no longer in the garden, but +the gentleman who had met us now joined us. As he did not show any +intention of taking us to the others, papa asked him to convey our +respectful thanks to their Majesties, and we then left the garden. The +carriage came up again, and my elegant cavalier handed me a beautiful +bouquet from the royal garden. What do you think of that? It is before +me as I write. The flowers are of the Swedish and Norwegian colours. To +be sure, Fürst says they are the commonest flowers, but I thought there +was more meaning in it than that. I especially admire a lily and a +rose. I put a few forget-me-nots into my letter, for I must tell you, +my dear Nora, that I am not coming home again. I hope this will be +nearly as great an astonishment to you as it was to me, when papa told +me this morning. I am to go to Paris to learn French thoroughly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Is that a determination he has only lately come to, or why did he not +tell me before?' you will naturally inquire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must know that we start to-morrow. What do you think of that? Papa +cannot spare the time to remain away longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'But why did we not go direct?' you ask again. I asked the same thing, +although, Heaven knows, I would not have missed yesterday for the +world.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papa answered that he came to the determination yesterday. Lieutenant +Fürst drew his attention to the fact that all well-bred Swedish ladies +speak French as well as they do Swedish, and that all Germans and +Russians know it; besides which, every well-educated woman ought to +speak French like her mother tongue.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not disagreeable to me to travel. To be sure, it will be for at +least a year that I shall be separated from you all, but we shall have +all the more to tell each other when we meet again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is one thing I must ask you about. Lieutenant Fürst says +that---- I had got so far when father came in this morning, and I had +to hide my letter. He took me out all in a hurry. We are only just home +again this evening, and do you know what for? To pack up and start at +once. A fresh determination! Lieutenant Fürst will give father the +pleasure of coming with him. I shall put my letter just as it is into +the letter-box at the station. I suspect that if I were to read it +through again you would not get it.--Your loving</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Milla</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Nora and her mother had left the Baths when the letter got there. It +was forwarded to Christiania, where they were staying. When Nora +returned she found a telegram, dated from Hamburg, which ran: "Do not +read the letter which is coming; send it me,' Hôtel Continental, +Paris.'" But the letter had been already read.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_06.2" href="#div1Ref_06.2">A MISFORTUNE</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Soon after the beginning of the term Miss Hall began a series of +lectures for the ladies of the town; it had become the fashion to hear +a little of all the objectionable things which their daughters and +sisters had learned about in the past year. The lectures were held +twice a week in the great laboratory, which as a rule was full. Most of +those who had been in the senior class the previous year, and had now +left, attended these lectures. One day late in October, when they were +assembling in the lecture-hall, Tora came in, accompanied by her +friends. There was general astonishment and greeting. Where had she +been? Why was she so pale? And, good gracious, how thin! It was true, +then, that she had been ill. Was it in the west country that she had +been staying? When had she returned to the town? Would she live up here +now?</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation ceased as Fru Rendalen and Miss Hall came in, and +those who were not seated turned to find places. But it was soon seen +that there were not sufficient seats; the crowd had never been so +great, for Miss Hall was lecturing upon certain phenomena of the nerves +which had till now been overlooked or denied, and the lectures became +more interesting every time.</p> + +<p class="normal">To gain space, the large double door leading to the entrance-hall was +opened, the outer door being closed. A number of chairs were placed in +the hall, and two rows as well in front of the laboratory table. Fru +Rendalen's commanding voice was heard giving directions, till quiet was +obtained. Tora and her friends found places at the furthest end of one +of these rows of chairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall took up her subject where she had broken off at the last +lecture.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The health and morality of mankind demanded that woman's nerves should +be strengthened. It was not enough that she should feel physically +comfortable, her will must be ripened by knowledge; she must have an +aim in life which will not readily allow her to remain the mere slave +of another human being." In a professional manner she ran shortly +through what she had said before, for the benefit of those who had not +been present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"People with weak nerves, and especially those of an hysterical +temperament, can by certain mechanical operations be brought into a +'hypnotic,' 'somnambulistic,' or 'magnetic' condition. This condition +was impotence combined with consciousness; we did, while in this state, +what he wished who had brought us into it. We were his prey, and that +not only while we slept, but afterwards when we were awakened--we +absolutely obeyed the commands we had received while we were in this +condition." Miss Hall reminded her hearers of one or two examples she +had given.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this state certain mediums could visit other places, read the +thoughts of others, both near and far. Some few could even see into +futurity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This fact could no longer be denied, nor could it be explained. At one +time it was believed that this result was dependent on belief; now it +is known that belief has nothing to do with it. <i>Certain people could +bring themselves</i> into this abnormal condition, some by great exertion, +others merely by wishing it. They all accomplish this--with whatever +object--by fixing their minds upon some single thing, either in their +thoughts or in the exterior world.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most of us know a little of the effect of doing this, but only those +with weak nerves and in certain conditions can bring themselves by it +into a state of excitement and abstraction. Many conversions have taken +place by this means, especially among women. In this way we come to-day +to what is the most dangerous for women. Some people have the power of +bringing others, and especially women, into this condition without the +ordinary mechanical means, without approaching them, without any +movement, merely by a look. They can force people to look at them, and, +with their eyes on theirs, command their will."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall related a story which she had heard of a very celebrated +singer. One day she was in a railway carriage; the train had just +stopped, and she was looking out of the window furthest from the +platform, when she felt an uncomfortable sensation, felt constrained to +turn round; she met the gaze of a pair of eyes which seemed to stab +her, and which looked straight into hers. She hurried out at once and +changed compartments, but the man followed her; he was probably aware +of his power and wished to use it. The lady found her <i>Impresario</i>, and +begged him to free her "from those green eyes." It was done, but she +felt certain that otherwise she would have been lost. "Now the Prima +Donna happened to be conscious of her own weakness, but how many are +so? More especially if touch is added to the power of the eyes, they +are lost. A man who does not know what it is, takes it naturally for a +desire for more, and acts accordingly. But this need not be so. I dare +assert that many a woman who has fallen is as guiltless as an +unconscious child."</p> + +<p class="normal">A chair is overturned--something heavy and soft falls to the ground; +other chairs are pushed aside, and exclamations are heard from several +of the audience as they hastily rise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one now got up, those behind standing on the forms. Through all +the bustle they heard the words, "Stand back!" It was Fru Rendalen's +voice. Those who were standing on the benches could not contrive to see +anything, and questioned those before them in whispers. Only those +quite near saw what it was, and they made no answer, nor did they move +till Fru Rendalen and one or two others had lifted up an inanimate form +which Fru Rendalen carried out in her arms--it was Tora. "Stand back!" +was heard again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall followed her, then Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne, and then +several others. Miss Hall hurried forward as soon as they were in the +hall, and opened the door of Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; she went +quickly in, and arranged a cushion on the sofa, while Fru Rendalen laid +down her burden with Nora's assistance. Miss Hall turned to all those +who were standing round and asked them to leave the room; as soon as +Fru Rendalen could raise herself she sharply repeated the request. They +all went away. Outside in the hall they encountered a stream of people +coming from the laboratory--every one was curious; others came from the +class-rooms, which were opening one after the other. But Nora, who had +grown deadly white, took upon herself to stay. When her unhappy friend +began to show signs of life she was seized with a fearful suspicion. +She ran forward and fastened the doors leading to the two passages. It +was hardly done when she heard Tora call out, "Yes, yes, that happened +to me! Oh yes." And a fit of despairing crying followed. It sounded +through the passages. Supposing any one outside should hear it? Nora +flew into the inner passage, meeting the stream of people; she did not +clearly know how she could hinder them from coming near the doors. She +never knew how she got through the crowd of grown people and children; +how she gathered voice and courage to call out that they must not go +on, they must all come back again. She mounted the tribune and rapped +loudly with a ruler. They came streaming in from all quarters. She +rapped again, and every one was quiet. She said: "Tora Holm has had +nervous fever. The air in here was too close, and what was said +frightened her, and--and--and--oh yes, Miss Hall is coming directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">She made this last assertion because she did not know what else to say. +She rushed away so as not to burst into tears while she was in the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall, however, could not come, and at last Fru Rendalen had to go +in and mount the tribune.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must beg your indulgence. Miss Hall is obliged to remain with the +invalid. I must partly take the blame on myself for what has happened. +Fröken Holm, being so unwell, ought never to have sat in this crowd. I +ought also to have noticed her sooner, but I was entirely engrossed in +the lecture. It often happens that we who are occupied in teaching +allow ourselves to be too much taken up with it." Her voice +trembled--she was as white as her own cap; she left without heeding +those who wished to speak to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Fru Rendalen's bedroom Nora stood clinging to Tinka, trembling and +crying. Tinka was very dejected. Some one peeped in from the passage. +As no one forbade it, she entered softly; she looked at them with wide +open questioning eyes--it was Anna Rogne.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" she whispered. Nora raised her face; they both looked at +her. Anna remembered some remarks which Tora had made in the course of +the summer; on these she now formed her opinion--"I suspect the worst." +She folded her hands; her tears began to flow. Nora laid her head down +again on Tinka's shoulder and cried bitterly. All the time they could +hear Tora in the sitting-room; they could not distinguish her words, +they were broken, wrung from her by bewilderment, danger, despair. +Presently there was silence; the silence was almost worse, there also +they were as still as death. At last they could bear it no longer, what +did it mean? They exchanged looks, and were on the point of breaking in +on them, when they heard heavy, rapid steps across the floor; the door +was opened violently, and Fru Rendalen rushed past them with her hands +above her head. What is it! in Heaven's name, what is it?</p> + +<p class="normal">They went in. Tora was lying on the floor, Miss Hall stood over her; on +the table was a cup of water. Miss Hall looked up quickly. "Help me to +get her up again." They did so; they saw that Tora had not fainted, but +she either would not or could not help herself. When she again lay on +the sofa, looking like death--ghastly, thin, dishevelled--Miss Hall +turned with a meaning look towards the others. They gazed at her +terrified; Miss Hall answered their looks with two confirmatory nods.</p> + +<p class="normal">They all three drew back a few steps. After a little while they slipped +out one after the other to Fru Rendalen. She was sitting motionless in +a large arm-chair. Nora came and laid her hand on her lap. There was +not a word spoken.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again they heard Tora from within. They heard her explain, cry, bemoan +herself. Miss Hall came in to them. "What is it now?" asked Fru +Rendalen almost grudgingly, she was quite overdone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you know," said Miss Hall, "that he came after her again?" They +stared at her. "She had taken refuge out on an island with the family +of a pilot. He traced her and laid wait for her there as well, the +wretch! It was then that she went into the west country, where she was +taken ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor child!" cried Fru Rendalen. Her sympathy was aroused again; +she got up quickly, and went back to Tora; she ought never to have left +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear, dear child," she said. But the moment Tora saw her she turned +and repulsed her with her hands, crying "No, no, no! Don't come; don't +say anything--no, no, no! It is not my fault, it is not my fault. Yes, +great God, it is my fault!" And she broke into the wildest crying.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the same, Fru Rendalen came up to her; so soon as she could she +said, "Don't take it in this way, my child; we shall never desert you +for it." This seemed to calm her, but when Fru Rendalen added that some +steps must be taken, she must speak to her son about it, Tora broke out +again, "No, no, no! Oh God, no!" She became almost frantic.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, dear Tora, you know yourself how things are. It cannot be helped, +this will become known everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, I know; but say nothing to him. No, I must get out of the way +first. Do not say anything. There is no need." She raved on, and her +voice was so heart-breaking that they all hastened to her. They wanted +to quiet her by holding her, but she did not look at them. Each time +she freed her hands or her head, and cried and implored, "They must, +must, must be silent." In the midst of it all arrived Rendalen. He had +chanced to open the bath-room door, and so heard the cries and moans. +He thought that they came from the bedroom and crossed the passage to +it. There he stood; Tora sprang up with a shriek, and then suddenly +flung herself down, with her face in her hands. Fru Rendalen went +towards her son, took him by the hand, and went with him to his room. +Tora tried to rise, to go away. She would live no longer--no, not for +the whole world. She struggled with the others, but for Tinka she would +have fled. She was beside herself. She implored and struggled. Tinka +held her till her strength began to fail; she called for help. Anna +fetched Fru Rendalen, and as soon as she came Tora gave in. She allowed +herself to be led by her to the sofa, and, when she was calmer, into +the bedroom. There she was undressed and laid in a bed, which had been +placed by the side of Fru Rendalen's. Fru Rendalen was obliged to sit +by her side and hold her hand--even in her sleep she sobbed like a +child and bemoaned herself.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_06.3" href="#div1Ref_06.3">PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF<br> +PEACE WITHOUT</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">When Fru Rendalen took her son by the hand, when she proposed to speak +to him, it was by no means with pleasure that she did so, but, on the +contrary, with great anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The relations between mother and son had, as we know, for some time +lost their confidential character; for some time they had not been +good, and at the present moment they were actually bad. On his side it +almost amounted to a breach. No one could interfere, not even Karl +Vangen. Tomas declined to speak on the subject, it pained him if Karl +brought it up. This last phase had been produced quite by chance, by an +external cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">According to arrangement, Tora Holm was to have assisted Fru Rendalen; +but when she remained ill in the west country, Nora offered to take her +place. Nora's gifts lay in a different direction from Tora's--her help +was therefore given in a different way; among other things, she was +deputed to keep the books. One day when, for want of something to do, +Nora chanced to be comparing past and present expenses, turning over +the earlier pages of the books, Tomas, elegant as usual, hurried +through the room on his way out. "Who is this Tomasine," Nora inquired, +"who has had so much money? It is not your mother, for she always puts +'self' in the entries, and nothing more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tomasine? I never heard of any Tomasine." He came up to her, put down +his hat, and in his short-sighted way bent over the register, knitting +his light eyebrows, staring with his sharp grey eyes. She turned over +the pages and showed him the entries, month after month, which extended +back for several years. She could not make much of it, but <i>he</i> began +to do so; for her the subject had no great interest, for him it +appeared all-important. While he studied the books, she observed him +and the effect which his near neighbourhood had on her; it was +agreeable. She looked at the freckles on his clean-shaven face. In +repose the sharp lines of the mouth, the quickness of the eyes, and the +power of the brow showed more distinctly; the strong jaw, the bristling +red hair, pleased her. She followed the short, slightly recurved, +nervous fingers as they turned over the leaves and toyed with the cover +of the book. A strong, freckled hand, covered thickly with light +bristles, a thick wrist--one felt the strength of the arm, she traced +it involuntarily to the shoulder; how strong he must be. She heard the +scraping of his necktie on his shirt-front when he drew his breath. She +noticed the slight whiff of scent which, now that his head was so near +her, mingled with the smell of his skin. Something of half terror, an +intoxication, a feeling of increased intelligence came over her--her +thoughts moved more quickly, were more highly strung. She wished it +might continue--it was absolutely pleasant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is mother?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is very curious." He took up his hat and went out. Hardly five +minutes later, Fru Rendalen came quickly in from the inner passage. +"You excite yourself so, Tomas."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excite myself?" As soon as she saw that Nora was there she turned +quickly towards him. "Hush," she said, and went towards her bedroom, he +following her. Nora heard him talking quickly and without a pause; she +could hear Fru Rendalen as well, parrying his words, and at last +tearfully justifying herself. At length he went away; long afterwards +Fru Rendalen came back, sad and sorrowful. "I have done a dreadfully +foolish thing," said Nora shamefacedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen made no reply; she continued to walk slowly up and down. +It was more than she could bear alone, and Nora's evident sympathy +tempted her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God knows, I believed it was one of the best acts of my life, and now +I am told it is the worst." Tears bedewed her spectacles, and as usual +she turned her attention to them as she sat down. Nora rose and came +forward sympathetically. "But, dear Fru Rendalen." She knelt down +beside her. The old lady wanted this friendliness, wanted some one to +confide in, and so Nora learned that "Tomasine" was Tomas's sister. The +girl had begun well, but from the time that she had gone to America she +fell into bad ways, and was sent home again, out of her mind. Fru +Rendalen had paid for her till her death. She had been entirely silent +about it to her son--why need he know of it? But now he fell upon her +with the most frightful accusations. The dead girl had had the same +right in her father's fortune as he; the law on this subject was vile, +no honourable person could abide by it. In the most violent words he +had cast his sister's misfortune in Fru Rendalen's face. <i>She</i> was +responsible for it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora was dismayed. She had heard one or two things said since she had +been up here, but this----!</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen's manner during the time which followed frightened her, if +possible, still more; she suffered almost as much as Fru Rendalen. He +treated his mother distantly and coldly when he was obliged to be with +her; as a rule he avoided her.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the time he was a boy Tomas had at times felt her to be +coarse-grained and wanting in refinement, as though he had no +relationship with her. The feeling had always yielded to gratitude, and +to the similarity in their views and purposes of life; and, whatever +his feelings might be, he nourished a constant admiration for her +strength and power of government. His ill-temper had always come +suddenly, and passed away directly.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quite the contrary at a later time.</p> + +<p class="normal">His mother did not understand all this, neither did Karl, but they +realised that he was unhappy. He seemed to them to be in a growing +state of self-torment, and in this they were not mistaken. He would +discover, with all the ingenuity of a <i>Kierkegaard</i>, that if <i>he</i> had +never existed, his sister would have lived happily. She would have had +the property then, and the hereditary tendency would not have grown +into insanity; or he would picture his sister brought up there with +him, with Augusta, and with the other girls, in the garden, in the +school; all those strangers had admittance here, she only had not--his +sister, his father's daughter. That his mother could with an easy +conscience buy herself free from this imperative duty, and that with a +few paltry daler a month; that she had never felt that more was +demanded of her!--what a crime had been committed against the +unfortunate girl, and she had never once comprehended this!</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of it all came the incident of Tora. His mother <i>insisted</i> +on speaking to him. The first time, as we know, she was interrupted; +but when Tora was asleep she went in and confided it all to him. He +perceived at once its bearing on the school, on her friends, and on +himself, and fell into such a fury against Niels Fürst, whom he had not +loved before, as can be best described by his own exclamation: "If I +had him here I would beat him to a jelly with my own two hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">Although Tomas had no outward resemblance to his father, he could look +so like him that it made Fru Rendalen shudder.</p> + +<p class="normal">This very fear gave her courage. For a whole year she had seen how his +impatience, irritability, and quickness of temper increased. When she +herself aroused it she did no more than justify herself, or perhaps go +away; he had really cowed her by degrees.</p> + +<p class="normal">But now another was in question. Tora's despair forced her on; it had, +too, an alarming resemblance to what she saw before her. When, after +another overpowering outburst, he was about to rush away, she placed +herself before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tomas, you frighten the life out of me with your violence. You give +way to it more and more; it will grow beyond you at last, my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">He shuddered, and grew deadly white.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, excess is excess in whatever way it shows itself, and I think you +ought to be on your guard."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice trembled; their eyes met and measured each other; an +unhappiness and bitterness had risen into his, which wounded her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, Tomas, may I not so much as warn you--I, your own mother? No, do +not look at me like that. It is not <i>my</i> fault. I have combated it as +well as I could--yes, before you were born, Tomas, and I intend to +combat it still. For the last year you have not struggled against your +temper, and it is especially on me that you vent it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood near the window, looking out. He turned now with a melancholy +expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, Tomas? Tell me, in God's name, what it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">But he turned away again, and laid his head on his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you, Tomas, you are so supercilious to me. You say +there is something naturally blind about me, and I know it. Yes, you +often humiliate me--often when I am alone, and that I can bear; but +often before others as well, and that you should not do. At all events, +you ought to be able to bear having your faults pointed out to you by +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She said the last words almost humbly; they worked strongly upon him. +He did not speak, but he turned and began to walk quickly up and down +in visible agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could only understand what it is you are vexed with me for. It is +not only what you rebuked me for---- Yes, Tomas, you cannot bear to +hear that word; but I have had to endure more than words. It is not +that alone; there is something more under all this. What is it? Why do +you never talk, now, Tomas, either to me or Karl? You are unhappy; do +you think we have not noticed it? I would so joyfully do anything for +you. Even if I am inferior to you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot endure to hear that word," he cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, but you never will condescend to speak to me, so I am +compelled to think--no, I will not say that, but you see yourself what +you are; one must not so much as make use of a word before you, and +you---- But I will be silent, I see that you are suffering, my son; if +only you would remember that I suffer as well. Great heavens! must I +ask permission before I remind you that this has been going on for a +year? I have not the slightest idea what is the matter--not the +slightest, Tomas, beyond what results from my want of ability. If there +is anything that I can set right, only tell me--tell me, whatever it +is. Can you not trust me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cannot you trust me?" he burst out, and threw himself down on the +sofa, with his face in his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then it transpired that he thirsted for sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">His was a warm, impulsive nature, which must have trust and affection +if he were not to waste his whole life. The independence to which he +had accustomed himself, and which had increased during his violent +studies, his continual journeys, and by his different plans, had +changed into a sense of deprivation--had been succeeded by the most +terrible hunger when he was here in the midst of a daily recurring +life, full of heartiness and devotion--devotion to one another, while +he was always outside it. All his being yearned for what he saw. "Not +the cursed littlenesses," as he expressed himself; "no, only to have +trust as the groundwork of everything--trust, and nothing but trust."</p> + +<p class="normal">They must just bear with him and take him as he was, <i>because they +believed in him</i>. Otherwise, he should go to destruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen sat there, she had taken his head on her lap; she listened +and listened, her heart swelled, and she laid her spectacles aside, for +they were no longer any use to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is right," she thought; "oh, how right he is!" One image rose up in +her mind after another; above all, the incident with the teachers. She +had believed them at once, and to humour them had taken the school away +from him, and from that time forward had in a manner controlled it. +Till this moment she had lived in the blessed delusion that he was +indifferent to this--nay, that it was a relief to him. And thus things +began to dawn upon her which she might otherwise never have discovered. +She did not understand this delicate, sensitive nature. If his +repressed powers did not recover their strength, the fault would be +hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean about the teachers, Tomas?" she asked, and she could hardly +control her voice. He took her hands and held them while he enumerated +his grievances.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were, oh, such a string of them, both great and small--some so +small that she had never been conscious of them. An answer, a word of +advice in passing, a remark to some one else, even a silent look in +response to something he had said. In her distress, the worthy Fru +Rendalen asked his pardon with voice and gesture and tender embraces, +declaring that hereafter if he said he wished to go to the moon, she +would believe him. She had never worked herself up before to such +decided exaggeration, so that Tomas was forced to smile. Her memory was +awakened. She remembered clearly how it had all happened, and how she +had first lost confidence in him. It had been after his famous lecture; +he had taken her much farther with him on to "slippery ice" than she +had really the courage to go, and she had only discovered this +afterwards. That was the foundation of it all. His power of persuasion, +his gift for talking people over, and something indescribable added to +this, carried one away; that was undoubtedly what the teachers had +felt. Now unfortunately it is the way with mankind, that as soon as we +discover that any one has carried us farther than it suits us to go, we +not only try to fight against it--that would be right enough--but we +look ever afterwards with mistrust at what that person says. Fru +Rendalen knew that at times she had done this, and had tried to correct +it; but she had had no idea how often she had done so, and still less +how often he had noticed it. She knew that she hurt herself when she +did so, but till now it had never occurred to her that she had hurt +him--he seemed so superior and so distant.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a real reconciliation. It was broken off, and taken up again +during the next few days, whenever it was possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">The immediate fate of the unfortunate Tora was decided at the same +time, but this was but a small settlement compared to the great one +which had been accomplished. A confidence was now opened between them +which on his side poured out with overwhelming wealth. The long +privation of a year satisfied itself in two days; he was so +spontaneous, so tender, and so loyal in the smallest things, that she +more than admired him, she adored him. If when she was wrapt in her own +thoughts, he came unexpectedly upon her, she coloured; you could see by +her face when she heard his step--she guessed everything he wanted, and +<i>everything</i> he wished for was remarkable. If she saw that he was in a +good humour, she sang--the worst thing she could have done, for no one +ever yet discovered what it was she believed herself to be singing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora would have felt unhappy if she had not as well been drawn into +this great feast of reconciliation, which lasted from morning till +evening, and from morning till evening again.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of all their joy, Tora's affairs, as has been said, were +arranged. Tomas had soon come to a clear understanding of what should +be done. The newspapers announced that Fürst had been ordered to +Stockholm, and he offered to take Tora there at once. Fürst should be +forced to marry her--not, of course, that she should live with such a +scoundrel, but in order to give his name to her child and support to +herself, so that she might learn to do something, and be able to care +for her child. If Rendalen had to go to Fürst's superior officers--nay, +to the King himself--he would answer for it that the wretch should do +her justice. None of those in the secret, least of all Fru Rendalen, +doubted for a moment. They were surrounded by an atmosphere of +confidence and hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">The unfortunate Tora had from the first felt the deepest aversion to +Rendalen's plan; the ground on which she consented to yield was +consideration for the school and her friends, that as little shame as +possible might fall on them. They had forborne to mention this, but it +forced itself upon them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only in one particular was Rendalen's plan altered--Fru Rendalen would +go instead of her son; his presence might have produced the very +opposite of what they wished.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two days after this plan had been conceived--three days after the +violent interruption to the lecture--Fru Rendalen and Tora set off.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the afternoon of the last day Fru Rendalen had become suddenly very +despondent. It was known that there had been some worry about money, +but that was always happening; and, indeed, it had been set right, but, +notwithstanding, the gloom did not disappear. Rendalen went to her and +tried to find out what it was. She put him off with excuses once or +twice, but when he held her fast she was obliged to blurt out that she +could not tell him; it was another person's secret--"not Tora's," she +hastened to add. "Use your own eyes, and then you will not need to +tempt me." He did use them, both on man and beast, but found it quite +impossible to discover the cause of his mother's low spirits. She +carried the secret away with her. He went round and asked everybody, +but they were all equally obtuse.</p> + +<p class="normal">It made some stir in the town that Fru Rendalen, at this time of the +year, and in the midst of the school work, should go to Stockholm; and +that if she needed a companion she should have chosen Tora Holm, who +was ill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora Holm's mother announced with some pride that probably her daughter +would not return, for if Stockholm seemed to be the best place, she +would continue her studies there. Every one had heard that Tora's +talents were more than ordinary, so this seemed quite reasonable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen had been up to speak to Sheriff Tue and his wife about +Nora. According to her ideas, Nora was cut out for teaching and +directing. She became less self-assertive, too, the more responsibility +she had, and she had ceased to be capricious.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen asked if Nora might not move over to "The Estate," and +during her absence overlook the house and school, and take charge of +the money and books. Afterwards she might help with them, and perhaps +perfect herself in school subjects. Both parents gave their unqualified +consent to this at once, they had precisely the same opinion of their +daughter as Fru Rendalen. Her father added, smiling, that she seemed to +have no notion of falling in love. "No," her mother observed gladly; +"she has no inclination for marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the house and in the school, all thought it strange that the +youngest teacher, a pupil a year ago, should be put over them; but it +was certainly true that Nora displayed her best qualities--she was +clear-headed, ready, and marvellously helpful.</p> + +<p class="normal">She got on well with Rendalen, he seemed to find pleasure in conversing +with her. "Conversing with" is not the right expression--<i>he</i> talked +and she listened, but then he never did otherwise; he always went away +when others joined in.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although he was not quite thirty, he had by degrees acquired a number +of curious ways, but each one was the result of something in the +development of his character. Had not his fashion of running away from +any discussion had its origin in a series of sorrowful experiences?</p> + +<p class="normal">He was making a noble struggle with the bursts of passion which certain +things, certain names, always aroused. The result was that whenever he +restrained himself, he choked as though he had swallowed something the +wrong way; and if it was very violent, he spat quickly two or three +times through his closed lips--not actual spitting, at the most a sort +of fine spray.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tinka mimicked him incomparably. She made a face over little things as +though she had taken too much mustard, for greater ones as though she +had swallowed soft soap; she would turn her head and give a cough like +a cat, or if she pretended to spit, it was with an air of disdainful +superiority. Very soon all the pupils followed her example--there was +nothing they did better.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the school, Tomas Rendalen was just what he had been when he first +came home--all brightness and life, wonderfully careful in making all +his explanations clear, and often quite fascinating in his manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">It must be confessed that he proved a rod in pickle for the teachers, +but there was no longer any misunderstanding him, though they were +often on pins and needles when he began to interfere; but it was only +necessary to speak to him about it, and he became at once irresistibly +charming; this, however, did not prevent a recurrence.</p> + +<p class="normal">His uneven treatment of the children, his way of treating any subject +according to the temper of the moment, remained unfortunately the same, +but it was done unconsciously; and this fact, the absolute justice of +his mind, and more than all the frankness with which he begged pardon +when he had once been convinced that he was to blame, set things for +the most part right again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Hall was obliged to confess that she had looked too hardly on this +his incorrigible failing, as well as on several others; for even his +admirers had to allow that he was not perfect. For instance, in the +face of several classes assembled for a lecture on physics, he would +begin to carve a face on the laboratory table, which some chance had +begun there, and shortly afterwards would rave like a Turk because a +little girl had cut a tiny little name on her desk! "Did she think that +was what she came to school for? did she suppose her desk was made to +be cut to pieces?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen sent word from Stockholm that Fürst was away, but was to +return in a few days, they must therefore wait. She would employ the +time in establishing Tora in some respectable family, and in collecting +some requisites for the school. They had made the journey slowly, and +notwithstanding the time of year it had done them both good, as did +their stay in Stockholm. The letter was very hopeful, Tora improved +every day. Rendalen was enchanted; any one who did not know him would +have thought that he looked upon Tora's misfortunes as the greatest +good luck. "Now you see," he called out cheerfully whenever he met any +of those in the secret. What he meant by it was not very easy to +understand.</p> + +<p class="normal">But his certainty of victory and that of the others received a serious +blow when the report spread about that Niels Fürst was engaged! and to +whom? To "Your affectionate friend, your ever grateful Milla Engel."</p> + +<p class="normal">The report came from Anton Dösen, Niels Fürst's greatest friend; he did +not give it as more than a rumour, but he believed that it was certain. +The families on both sides were diplomatic; they knew nothing about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The members of the Society were a sight to see when they met during +this time! Above all, Tinka Hansen, when she solemnly opened the +register and pointed to Milla's name! She could take her oath that +every one looked upon Niels Fürst as thoroughly immoral. No one had +been more severe than Milla; her mother's legacy made this only +natural. No, this engagement was impossible! One could not think so +badly of her. Such a thing would be disloyal, both to the living and to +the dead. Milla's different letters to Nora from Paris were now read +aloud again.</p> + +<p class="normal">She and an American lady were living in a French family, who had had +great losses, but who had aristocratic relations and acquaintances; she +lived in a legitimist atmosphere, but it was not too severe. She had +both the opportunity and the inclination to admire everything "fine," +independent of religion and politics--everything fashionable, +everything where talent and beauty were to be found. And she used her +opportunity; "with my enthusiastic temperament, you know," wrote Milla.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had begun as a loyal member of the Society, the obedient pupil of +the school, and therefore gibed at the French spirit. But almost +without warning she turned round: paintings, novels, and theatrical +representations enchanted her; life, even when viewed from a distance, +stimulated her.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident that this was no real change of opinion; one heard the +American's voice, though the writing was Milla's; but for this very +reason it had not received the attention which it deserved.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla wrote that what they believed when they were together at school +would not really do: her father had been right. In every letter she +related something or another which was to prove this--not in the +slightest degree in doubtful taste; on the contrary, with a delicacy +which was not without its talent. "One must have no illusions," she +wrote; "one will thus be least unhappy." Nora had replied, giving her +her opinion of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This all now received fresh importance. Was Milla's way of writing +something more than the reflection of the life around her? Was it +really a well-considered introduction to her engagement to Niels Fürst? +Impossible! Nora was above thinking so ill of friends. She had given +Tora her solemn promise not to tell anything to Milla; she now +considered herself released from it, and wrote out of the fulness of +her heart. Tinka wrote as well; she was full of the offence against +Tora, and the report that it was to such a person that Tora's greatest +friend had engaged herself--she whose name stood in the register!</p> + +<p class="normal">Five days passed before they again received a letter from Fru Rendalen, +and it was short and dry. Fürst had not yet returned. A short time +afterwards they received a long and touching letter from Tora, and then +several days passed without anything further from either of them. Ten +days had gone by since Nora and Tinka had written to Milla--they would +have sworn that she would have answered at once. She ought to have done +so after such a piece of information and such a charge.</p> + +<p class="normal">They became very nervous, especially when some one, who had taken no +part in the affair, now remarked that, as soon as she had heard that +Milla and Fürst were travelling together, she had thought "that would +be a suitable match."</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course, this was Anna Rogne: why had she not said anything? "Because +the others would have mistrusted it; and," she added, smiling, "it +would have been wrong." At last one afternoon, when Nora came in from +the singing lesson, she found a sealed envelope on the table in the +sitting-room. "Here it is," was written at the bottom in Rendalen's +large handwriting. Nora suspected bad news, as he had not brought it to +her at once. She had promised the others not to read it before they +came, but one cannot keep those sort of promises.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen had had her great conversation with Fürst. He had listened +to all she told him with a cool politeness, as if he had been prepared +for it, and when at last he had to answer, he began by saying that this +was difficult, as their views differed so much as to the person in +question. In his eyes Tora Holm was, in no small degree, a sensual +woman, who could hardly restrain herself in the neighbourhood of a man. +To the question if he were aware of the power which he possessed, he +answered "Yes." It only, however, affected a certain description of +woman, and Tora was precisely one of these. He was under no more +obligation to marry her than any other with whom he had had an +intrigue. He would provide for the child, and for her as well, with +pleasure--that is to say, he would make a reasonable annual allowance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen threatened to bring the whole thing before his superiors, +or even, if necessary, before the King.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray do; I can reach as far as you can, Frue."</p> + +<p class="normal">She said to him that this would be a hard fight; to which he answered +that he knew how it should be conducted--he was not going to have his +career spoilt by a lot of schemers. The lady in question was stamped in +good society as a <i>femme entretenue</i>--it was shocking to wish to force +her upon him as his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">He understood what it all meant: he was to offer himself up for the +school, but he was not inclined to be so amiable. He knew what kind of +lectures were given both in the girls' "Society" and elsewhere--what +sort of conversations and readings they had had; it was natural enough +that sensual natures should be aroused by such things. He therefore +considered that the school should bear the blame; it would have a good +deal of that sort of thing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen had a decided impression that something had happened to +annoy him, and that, before he came to her, he knew for what he would +be called in question. The conversation had so agitated her that she +became ill, which was the reason for her not writing sooner. She had +not wished to mention her illness until she could say, at the same +time, that she was starting the next day. This she could now do. She +had not the courage to undertake anything more in this strange place, +nor did she think it would be wise. As far as she could understand, +publicity and open war were just what he wished for.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was a dreadful man; they must all be on their guard. She had no +doubt that this would bring their school into danger, and remain a +great grief to Tora and her innocent friends. Tora was quite overcome. +They both looked forward with dread to the parting to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">The letter closed with a lament that this warfare, which had arisen out +of the school work, should never have an end. "Our enemies have gained +a dangerous ally; we shall soon see if we have gained any as well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Late that evening--Miss Hall, Tinka, and Anna Rogne had all read the +letter, and were in the sitting-room with Nora--there arrived a +telegram. They supposed that it was from Fru Rendalen to Tomas, and +Nora had got up to ask one of the servants to take it to him, when +Tinka called out that it was not for Rendalen, but for Nora herself. +"For me?" asked Nora, and came forward. It was true, it was for her, +from Milla. It ran: "<i>Frightful: report untrue</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">A fortnight had passed since Nora and Tinka had written. Milla had +therefore had the letters for ten days, and then sent--a telegram! What +did it mean? While the others soon forgot it in Fru Rendalen's news, +compared to which this last event was comparatively indifferent, Anna +Rogne remained sitting with the telegram in her hand. She pondered over +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The others began to ask themselves whether they also would now be mixed +up in the Tora scandal. "War" might already be declared. If Niels Fürst +had written to any one in the town and given <i>his</i> version, what would +happen? A time might come when they would hardly dare, any one of them, +to show themselves in the streets.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna Rogne interrupted them. "This telegram; ought it not to be taken +in to Rendalen?" Yes, of course, and it was done at once. They all +expected that Rendalen would come to them directly, but they waited in +vain; on the contrary, they heard him a little time afterwards at the +piano.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, as Rendalen does not seem to pay any attention to this telegram +either, perhaps I may be allowed to suggest what may have happened?" +asked Anna, rather ceremoniously. The state of things she thought must +be that Fürst and Milla really had been engaged, but that on the +receipt of Nora's letter she had at once broken it off, with such an +intimation as to make him understand the reason; that was why he had +been prepared to meet Fru Rendalen, that was why he wished for +publicity and war. He can never win the day without it, and he must +win; a marriage with the richest girl in any of the coast towns is the +condition for the success of his career. Just because Milla had been +engaged to him she had been ashamed to write. She had reflected--tried +as well, perhaps--until she had found a way out of the difficulty by +telegraphing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna ended by saying, "I suspect that Lieutenant Fürst is at this +moment in Paris."</p> + +<p class="normal">It may as well be said at once that Anna's position in regard to Milla +was fateful for the latter. It influenced firstly those whom she was +constantly among, later Fru Rendalen. Neils Fürst really was on the way +to Paris, but if Milla's friends had sent on Fru Rendalen's letter to +her she would hardly have received him; and if they had asked Tora to +write to Milla--as she at a later time, when it was necessary, wrote to +them--he would never have been able to approach her either personally +or by letter. Indeed, even as it was he did not do so. He had first to +obtain help from home; but he had taken that into consideration, he had +not wasted his time.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_06.4" href="#div1Ref_06.4">WAR</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">The day before Fru Rendalen's letter and Nora's telegram reached "The +Estate," Anton Dösen had received a letter from Fürst. It had been well +considered before it was written, and evidently was intended to be read +aloud or sent the round of the town. In his narration about Tora he +laid great stress upon their meeting at Fru Gröndal's. He had only seen +her once before, and only in passing; he had not the slightest idea +that he should meet her there. She had been entertaining and pleasant, +Fru Gröndal had said, until he came, when she became unnatural at once; +she could not bear him to speak to Fru Gröndal, she hid herself, and +let herself be sought for, and then took it into her head to go away. +Of course he followed her, just to see what it was all about. As soon +as he came near her on board the boat, she began to cry. She would not +let him help her on shore; but all the same, she walked past his house +every day, and peeped in to see if he were at home, and then went on to +the wood or up to the "Groves"--alone. He recalled certain readings and +lectures up at the school; it seemed to him that a girl who had come +from an atmosphere so exciting to the senses, would be sure to conduct +herself somewhat in that way. He thought that this was "magnetic +influence" enough, no more was needed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He would not deny that at last he had allowed himself to be tempted +to follow her into the wood, where she amused herself by playing +hide-and-seek with him. Little girls always begin in that way. But he +asked if any man, with a regard for himself would marry a girl who went +past his windows every day to tempt him out into the woods. Fru +Rendalen thought otherwise. She had come after him to Stockholm to +arrange the marriage on the spot. It might have proved like her own.</p> + +<p class="normal">For his part, he had far too high a conception of marriage to attempt +to profane it in such a way. He had offered to support the girl, at +all events as long as the child remained a burden, and he would +acknowledge it as his. Honour and duty compelled him to go thus far, +but further---- That would be to patch a bad business with a still +worse one.</p> + +<p class="normal">To this every one to whom Dösen read the letter agreed. He read it in +the shop, in the streets, at the club. Some people borrowed the letter +from him, and although the paper had been carefully chosen, it was +passed about so much that it became an illegible rag. Two copies had +been made of it, one for Rendalen, at his request, and one--yes, Dösen +hesitated a moment about this one, but after repeated requests he could +not refuse--for Tora Holm's mother. He obtained some enjoyment from +this copy. Tora's mother was a violent, powerful woman, embittered in +the struggle of life. She looked with doubt and scorn upon most +circumstances. When angry she was regardless of consequences. One +morning, in the middle of school time, she came up to "The Estate" in a +heavy, shabby duffel cloak, a bonnet with bright-coloured feathers, and +her bare hands in an old muff, with which she gesticulated while she +cried and screamed. In the broadest Bergen accent she demanded her +daughter--they must give her back her daughter; they had ruined her and +stolen her. She was a good girl when she went there, but "up here, in +the cursed old Kurt house, she had been ruined. Now, God forgive them +for it, she was brought to shame, and made the talk of the town. She, +her mother, had been stuffed with lies." But they should pay for it; +they should be locked up. She would send the police after them. Her +passion was uncontrollable, but her grief was real.</p> + +<p class="normal">All fled far and wide, so she burst into one of the classes, which at +once broke up, the teacher deserting her post. She contrived to break +up three classes in this fashion: she made a tremendous turmoil. Some +of the girls were so frightened that they rushed right up to the top +attic, and stood there shivering, straining their ears and wondering if +they dare go down. Some of the elder pupils, who remembered from +stories that on such occasions you must show determination, remained +behind, and tried to talk her into reason. But at this she became +beside herself. This was evidently an example of the way in which they +learned to be indecorous up here. It shocked her that "the children of +worthy men" should justify such a thing. They had to run away as well, +with their fingers in their ears.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the little ones got the greatest amusement out of her. They +surrounded her, and followed her about in triumph. The whole procession +swept into the kitchen, where she began the same story. The occupants +felt sorry for her, but they did not venture to say a word. So the +whole train went off again along the hall, to Rendalen's door, which +was fastened, then to Karl Vangen's, which was also fastened, back to +Fru Rendalen's, which was open. In they went, she wanted to see if she +could not find Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen was in the town, and would not return for an hour. But Karl +Vangen came in. He very gravely commanded silence, sent away the +children, and took the poor mother into his own room. There she sat for +at least an hour, and poured out her heart to him. It was a bewildered +tirade, about Tora, about her husband who drank, about their poverty. +At last she went away down the avenue, with a hundred kroner in her +pocket, weeping quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The school had all the appearance of a hen-house when some one has +broken in upon its denizens. Has not every one seen such a sight? At +first the hens fly with terrified cries against windows, walls, steps, +and roosting-places, till they become tired and confused, and can fly +no more. Then they run about the floor with wilder cries than ever, +knocking against dishes, troughs, one another. And when the danger is +past, the commotion is not--they chatter, lament, scream all at once, +in continual commotion. This goes on and increases, for whenever one of +them is inclined to stop, some others are more persevering and will +not. They recall all the remembrance of their affright, and the whole +bevy starts off again worse than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally, they begin to plume themselves, to flap their wings, and set +themselves straight, till at last things return to their original +condition. But at the school things did not settle down during the +whole day--some effects remained even longer, and threatened to become +dangerous.</p> + +<p class="normal">What spiteful pleasure was shown in the town, what victorious laughter +was heard! Nothing else was talked of in the offices, on the quays, in +the streets!</p> + +<p class="normal">When a day or two later Fru Rendalen returned, the landing-place was +crowded with people, mostly young men, who had come to meet her. It +became known at the school on Saturday that she would arrive by the +steamer on Sunday afternoon. No one could find a better use for his +leisure time than to see how a great person returns from a defeat.</p> + +<p class="normal">The scandal, which she had sought to cover by the journey, had now +become as great as the journey had been long. When Rendalen came down +with the carriage, he could not push his way through, but had to get +some one to take charge of it while he tried to get past himself. Nora, +Tinka, Anna, and several other friends, who had talked of going down +together, stopped when they saw the crowd; thus following the example +of St. Peter of old, naturally with the difference demanded by modern +days. Little Miss Hall alone defied these dangerous warlike +preparations. She slipped along till she reached Rendalen's side, just +as he was preparing to go on board. He was very nervous.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen looked much worn, the glances which she hastily exchanged +with Tomas and Miss Hall proved that she understood why the crowd was +here, and that she did not feel safe among them. She held her son's arm +very fast.</p> + +<p class="normal">But respect for her--perhaps, now that they were face to face with her, +a feeling of compassion also--prevented them from attempting anything. +Way was made for them. Of course they could see by words and manner +that this was no guard of honour, even some of their older +acquaintances were there, such as the Town Bailiff and his wife. They +hardly bowed; with the sternness of high morality they watched these +evil-doers go by.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those who had been standing nearest to the quay now made their way +towards the carriage, followed by degrees by those whom the three had +already passed. The carriage was quite surrounded when they got into +it. In consequence of this they had to go slowly, step by step, once +more through the crowd, which became more tiresome. They were hardly +through before Rendalen whipped up. He was much incensed. At this +moment he saw Anton Dösen, with a number of others, hurrying across +towards them; they were flushed and had evidently just come from +dinner. They all bowed with immense deference; either Dösen's bow was +impolite, or it appeared so to Rendalen in his irritation. In an +instant he pulled up the horses, threw back the reins to Miss Hall, was +out of the carriage and up with Dösen, giving him a box on the ear +which made him reel. He was back at the carriage, up and off again so +quickly, that no one grasped what had happened before the carriage was +rumbling over the cobble stones.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the hall up at the house stood the three deserters, Tinka, Anna, and +Nora. Miss Hall was the first up the steps, and with beaming eyes told +them all that had happened; but Fru Rendalen found no pleasure in it. +Rendalen, too, disappeared as soon as he had brought his mother up; it +was long before he returned, and he was then in low spirits.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation turned exclusively on the dark point in Tora's story, +upon which she herself had laid but little stress, hardly ever +mentioning it--the meeting at Fru Gröndal's. It had frustrated any +attempt made in the town to lay the blame on Niels Fürst. Fru Gröndal +had supported Fürst's assertions in the most minute particulars.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora Holm had been furiously in love with him, she returned to the town +merely to get Fürst to accompany her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen could assure them that the only thing which Tora had been +"furious" about was the confidential terms which Fru Gröndal and Fürst +were upon. This had put her out all the more perhaps, because she was +beginning to feel an interest in him. She understood this later. They +all agreed to let Tora herself relate the circumstances. Tinka wrote to +her the same evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen had joined them during this discussion, and now the events of +the journey were related and all about Tora. Fru Rendalen was giving +them her reading of Tora as she now knew her, and the others were +deeply engrossed in it, when Karl Vangen interrupted them; he came in +from church. The meeting between him and his adoptive mother was more +than usually warm, she went into his room with him. She did not return.</p> + +<p class="normal">The one whom Tora's misfortune had struck the hardest was Karl Vangen, +but no one knew this except Fru Rendalen.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had gone quietly on from day to day, the happiest man in the world. +Whenever he met Tora she was evidently pleased, though he never never +ventured to construe this into a sign that she loved him--far from it; +but <i>he</i> loved her, and thought that if Fru Rendalen would ever help +him, the pliable Tora might be brought to share in some of his +interests. If she came to do that, perhaps she might perceive his great +affection for her; perhaps she might then feel that he would be able to +do something to make her happy too. Fru Rendalen had often enough heard +him talk to Tora and about Tora, but had suspected nothing till the +morning when she told him what had happened. She saw him change colour +and remain silent instead of expressing sorrow or offering help; but +even then she was not certain, beside which she was much absorbed in +her new relations with Tomas. Still she had a dim suspicion of the +truth. But when the money which she had reckoned on for the journey +could not be obtained, and Karl took her into his own room and offered +her his savings and a small sum which he had inherited--then, as he +looked into her eyes, she understood it all. He could not keep silence +any longer, he held out his arms---- "Yes, that is how it is, mother."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">My Dear Nora</span>,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:10%">"I do not know what you can think of me for not writing, but your last +letter so upset me on account of our dear Tora that I really did not +know what to write. How at a loss, how helpless, one feels at such a +time, dear Nora! And, let me add at once, how ashamed. To think that +such a thing could happen to any one with whom we have associated! I +shall never forget what my father said the first time he saw her. I was +very angry at it then, we thought so highly of one another. Are you +quite certain, dear Nora, that everything was exactly as Tora has said? +You know she was never very exact, and, especially in such a case, it +seems to me that a person is almost obliged afterwards to put a +different colour on it. Do you not think the same? I will not repeat +what I have heard, it may be a mistake too; but you know yourself, dear +Nora, that she never was particular. Do you remember that once or twice +you had to check her when she was telling us stories. You see, she had +been in France; she knew a great deal more than we others. When I +recall what she has told me at different times, I feel that it amounted +to a great deal. May not some of this have affected her disposition? Of +course, I do not say this as a reproach, least of all could I do so now +when she is unhappy, but perhaps this may explain a few things. I am +terribly sorry for her, and you would do me a service if you could tell +me any way in which I could be of use to her without offending or +embarrassing her. I will not answer dear Tinka this time, give her my +best love, and say that the expression in her last letter, 'Tora's +greatest friend,' is not a true one, at least from my side. It might +have appeared so at one time, I do not deny it; but that was quite and +entirely Tora's fault. Not that she forced herself upon me, it would be +wrong to say so, but it was impossible, when in her society, not to go +too far. I was obliged to make more of it than I wished, and this to +the last hour of the last day.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, I had not been three days alone before I began to have a +feeling of dislike for her. Perhaps that was bad of me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her influence over me lasted beyond the time when we parted. I did not +understand that at once, but I have a proof lying before me--the letter +you kindly returned to me; that one in which hurriedly scribbled down +something about my impressions of Sofiero. I shall keep it, that shall +be my punishment. I have just read it through again. You unfortunately +have read it also (a thing I shall never forgive myself for): could you +conceive any letter of mine more unlike me?</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know why, but I see Tora through the whole thing. I can't +explain it. I have never been able to write to her since. Here, where +everything is more formal, and where there is no room for sentimental +confidence, it offends the taste even to be reminded of such a thing. +It would almost be like going out before one was <i>coiffée</i> and without +one's dress. Perhaps I am too severe, the blame for being so must fall +on the tone of conversation at home. I am so often reminded of that +unfortunate girl by some Germans here; they are very like her, though +she was the worst I have ever met.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yet how clever she was! I never have a new dress, or study a pattern, +or indeed see any new fashion which interests me, without remembering +her. Could she not become a milliner? If I could do anything to help +her in that direction, it would be a pleasure to me, otherwise what is +she to do? I really am dreadfully sorry for her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have lots to tell you, I see something fresh nearly every day; but +this affair of Tora has put me in such a <i>triste</i> state of mind that I +do not feel inclined to begin anything more cheerful. Poor Tora! You +must give her my love, but don't say anything about what I have written +to you in confidence, it would wound her without doing good to any of +us. Fate has raised a dividing wall between us, so there is no need. +Give my love to Tinka, Fru Rendalen, and all who ask after your +affectionate, and, in other respects, very happy,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Milla Engel."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>VII</h2> + +<h2><a name="div1_07.0" href="#div1Ref_07.0">THE FIGHT ITSELF</a></h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_07.1" href="#div1Ref_07.1">IN BOTH CAMPS</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">After Milla's letter, Nora disappeared from the sitting-rooms--nay, for +several days she was unable to go on with her work; she was quite +overcome. First Tora in her way, now Milla in hers. It was too much for +her. She had held the principal place in their mutual life, she had +believed all they said, and made herself one with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Latterly she had endured mockery, not least from her father, ever since +her presidentship had laid her open to ridicule; she had tried to bear +this, but after Milla's letter she gave in. As we know, she had every +now and then before this time felt her life shallow and superficial. +But after this! Over and over again she reviewed the thoughts and +actions of her companions since she had been here. She was confronted +everywhere by lofty aims, but lamentable weakness when it came to +deeds; not least in herself. They had all been easily raised to +enthusiasm, yet were unutterably volatile, their heads full of +nonsense, vanity and jealousy. In many, was an evil desire which +befooled them under a thousand disguises. They were disfigured by the +instinct, inherited through a thousand years, to submit themselves to +the wishes of the stronger.</p> + +<p class="normal">She would no longer be the leader of the Society. She could hardly +resolve to remain a member of it. It did no good, and she had more than +enough to do for herself, for she saw in herself natural gifts, but no +stability.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Genius with disorder," as her father called her mother. Just then the +relations between her parents were not good. Nora clung to the school, +absolutely hid herself there.</p> + +<p class="normal">Christmas came; she was free and could have gone home, but she begged +to be allowed to stay. She was very lonely; Tinka was engrossed with +Frederik Tygesen, who was at home for Christmas; the engagement was now +almost openly acknowledged. Anna Rogne was studying philosophy with +Rendalen, and was so learned and so happy that she did not at all suit +her. Very often, when any one came in, Nora was sitting crying. She had +a quick way of brushing away her tears; her hand moved across her eyes +as though she were driving away a fly. Then she would smile cheerfully +at whoever came--no matter who it was; the reason for her distress was +evidently not in the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora down-hearted! Nora overcome! They all knew that that happened +occasionally, but now it had continued so long. Of course she was asked +about it, but she at once became so high and mighty that no one asked +her a second time.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, just after Christmas, came the long-expected letter from Tora. +Rendalen invited all her friends in the school to hear it. The +beginning of the letter at once explained what they wished to know; it +reminded them of something that they recalled at once, but had not up +to this time understood; how Tora had been affected the first time that +she and Fürst met, that morning up at the gymnasium, when she was +excited and overdone; how he had walked slowly up, fixing his eyes upon +hers and nailed her to the spot, till he stood by her side. The +agitated style of the letter, the constant interpolations, re-writings, +protestations, gave a striking image of Tora. If she had not always +been careful, she was touchingly so now, perhaps just because she knew +that, not without grounds, they might be doubtful about her in this +particular. Anna Rogne read the letter aloud to them all; she knew +it by heart, and delivered it in a rather precise, but even tone of +voice; thus read, the letter touched them. Its many turns and additions +came out oddly. The protestations shone out like sunlight through +clouds--one laughed, and was moved at the same time.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the reading, Rendalen sat looking at Nora. He had just heard +that she would not continue to be the head of the "Society," and he +felt that he must break through the restraint which he had put upon +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">While the others were discussing the letter among themselves, he sat +down near Nora, and talked long and eagerly with her--until some of the +others noticed that she often passed her hand across her eyes. The +conversation ceased; looks were turned towards them. Fru Rendalen +proposed that they should have some music; she asked her son to play +something. "With pleasure," he said, but remained sitting thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What should you say to my first endeavouring to combat the depression +which often overcomes a woman when her eyes are opened to her +inheritance of frailty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, they would all like to hear him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He said he had been reminded that evening of how, more than a year ago, +he had spoken at a meeting of the Society in a very desponding manner +on heredity. This had really only arisen from a feeling of depression. +His opinion of heredity was simply this, that one inherited quality +combats another. One need not be so desponding. In the course of time +all families are so mixed together that any legacy of evil (which one +must strive to reduce to impotence) has almost always beside it a +legacy of good which may be strengthened by use. That is to say, never +be guided by chance, but let the teacher first, and ourselves +afterwards, be watchful betimes.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was so imbued with the subject that he was able, on the spot, to +give a number of historical examples. He added others to them, gathered +from his own and others' experience. The question had occupied him from +his boyhood. In his own family there was a predisposition to insanity. +Every case which he could trace showed plainly that only when the +weakness which led to insanity had been allowed to increase, did this +infirmity break out. When this weakness was opposed by the intermixture +of fresh blood, by education and self-education, that person was saved +for his work in life. Heredity was not a destiny, but a condition.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was sometimes said that knowledge and surroundings were no help. But +what did the letter tell us which had just been read? First, most +distinctly, that Tora had an inherited weakness; next, that if Miss +Hall had given her lecture four months sooner, Tora at any rate would +have been saved, "So we may well say, 'Help one another,' by knowledge +and fearless counsel. Woman has been condemned to isolation. Man has +sought fellowship and knowledge. Only by fellowship will women teach +each other to fight for their own cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The inward development,' is subject to crises, and then intercourse +is burdensome; with this each one must deal as she can. But there is no +doubt that we advance our inward development only by doing our duty."</p> + +<p class="normal">That was all; but from it, and the conversation which succeeded it, was +formed, from that evening, the strongest bond of union among all the +women who, in the time that followed, supported the cause of the school +in the town. From this evening also dated the influence of the +"Society" over the school; all discords were subdued before they came +to the teachers' ears. Even before this the members of the "Society" +were accustomed to go into the different classes to help the more +backward pupils before lessons began. This had given them an influence +of which they made use. Again, from this evening dated--and in the long +run this was the best of all--Rendalen's lectures in the chapel up on +the mountain. Every Saturday evening he explained the laws of natural +history, illustrating them with pictures and experiments; and every +Sunday evening gave sketches of the history of civilisation, when +pictures were also exhibited. Niels Hansen defrayed the preliminary +expenses, and was always present. Rendalen had begun this partly to +gain partisans. He would not "Hang in the wind." But when once he had +begun, he became interested in the task which lay before him, and +persuaded Miss Hall to lecture every Sunday, between three and four, to +the women there. Miss Hall elected to speak alternately on the diseases +of children and those of women. She had an immense audience, and this +was greatly owing to the fact that the quick-witted young lady at once +declared that these diseases, both in women and children, had in no +small degree the same origin--men's immoral lives.</p> + +<p class="normal">But to return to this evening. There are times when human wills, with +the projects they have formed, readily unite themselves as though there +had never been doubt or separation--a harvest full of promise for a +future seed-time. Such a time at "The Estate" was that evening of the +twenty-ninth of December. The day was remembered, and often mentioned +at a later time. They did not separate till past midnight, and the +departing guests sang as they went down the avenue.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Fru Rendalen was undressing she heard, to her astonishment, Tomas +going out; she half opened the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear boy, where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is such splendid starlight."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen could not be called romantic; she went to the window and +peered out from behind the curtain; yes, it was starlight, quite so. +There are so many things that a schoolmistress has to think of, that +there is no time left for the stars. Yet the tone in which he spoke of +them! Tomas had not for some time seemed so happy as this evening. He +had never before stayed with them the whole time, till past midnight! +He really was beginning to take root, or was it through combativeness? +He was terribly like the Kurts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fru Rendalen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good gracious!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is only I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my dear Nora, are you not in bed? I am coming to the door. What! +you are still dressed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is such lovely starlight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tomas has gone out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I heard him. Oh, Fru Rendalen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, my dear? Excuse me, I am going to get into bed. That's +it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am so happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you? That's right; you were so unhappy a little while ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All that Rendalen said----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, he was capital this evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fru Rendalen, do you think I might thank him for it? Might I venture?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, of course! What do you mean, my dear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not rest till I had written----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Written? When you live in the same house----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought I would get it sent to him this evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-night, you mean; you can wait just as well till to-morrow, my dear, +and then you can say it to him. You know Tomas is peculiar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But this evening he is in a good humour, eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You want to take a letter into his room?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no; not I myself. Fancy if Pastor Vangen were to come, or Rendalen +himself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you like me to?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Fru Rendalen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Get me my spectacles, and let me see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here they are."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen read:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Herr Rendalen</span>,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:10%">"I cannot go to bed without thanking you. I did not want you to think I +did not wish to do so. I did not find an opportunity for it. Thank you.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:60%">"Most humbly,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:68%">"<span class="sc">Nora Tue</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Fru Rendalen's bed creaked; she got up. "I will put it on his table by +the candle. Have you the envelope? There, that's all right. Have you +directed it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just give me my skirt and slippers--that's it. It was pretty of you, +Nora. Yes, he was very good this evening: that's it;" and she trotted +off.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she again got into bed she said: "But, Nora, why did you not thank +him at once?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead of answering, Nora put her head down to Fru Rendalen, kissed +her a good-night, and went lightly off. She turned back. "Shall I put +out your candle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; good-night, my dear."</p> + +<p class="normal">The winter passed by, and they began to hope that the war might pass +off as well as it had done before.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when minds are excited they require but little to aid them. The +political strife was now at its height; the so-called people's party +had started a newspaper; the <i>Spectator</i> seemed to them to have +attained the measure of iniquity. Between this paper and the new one, +the <i>Independence</i>, a fierce antagonism quickly arose, which became +most trying to the nerves.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the spring, on Rendalen's birthday, the "Society" hit upon the +unlucky idea of having a large flag-staff set up on the tower, from +which waved, on the great day, an enormous Norwegian flag without the +"Union." The girls had never thought about the old quarrel over the +flag, but Rendalen had showed the whole school pictures of the flags of +all nations, and explained to them that, from old times, the Union was +only used by States which were incorporated one in the other, such as +Scotland and Ireland with England, or the United States of America, and +this was what the world understood by a Union, notwithstanding the +differing colours of the two flags. "Thus a Union gave us, the smaller +country, the appearance of having been incorporated into Sweden."</p> + +<p class="normal">This flag was looked upon as a demonstration; it was "bringing politics +into the school." Rendalen forbade its being again hoisted; he wished +to avoid new quarrels. But this was of no avail; angry spirits were +roused; all the old accusations were gone over again in the columns of +the <i>Spectator</i> and at the club. The Town Bailiff suddenly came forward +with a gift of five thousand kroner to found a new school without +politics, with unbiassed instruction, without a method which was +antagonistic to morality. The donor, he said, wished the gift to be +anonymous. He had been most decided on that point.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Town Bailiff and his wife each added one thousand kroner. It was he +who had before proposed that a new school should be started; now he +came prominently forward; he had been scandalised. The anonymous gift +was precisely the same sum as that given by Fru Engel. Was Consul Engel +the donor? Several amounts were subscribed on the spot, but they were +not large!</p> + +<p class="normal">Tomas Rendalen at once put himself up for the club, as did several of +his friends, Karl Vangen and Niels Hansen among them. All these were +elected at a very full meeting, Niels Hansen, however, with only a +small majority; the club was partly built on his ground, and it was +thanks to this that he was elected at all. Rendalen's election, on the +contrary, was left open. It is true that the rules declared that every +admission should be decided at the first meeting, but happily there +were a number of lawyers present, and this rule was so construed that +it was decided that <i>first</i> really meant <i>next</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next meeting was largely attended. The Town Bailiff opened it with +the astounding declaration that Rendalen must be kept out, for "peace" +sake.</p> + +<p class="normal">A number of men had been sent to this meeting by their respective wives +to vote for Rendalen, and one of these obedient husbands made the mild +remark that "peace" had already been disturbed by the Town Bailiff's +proposal. The last-named gentleman became so exasperated at this +that he would not continue, and Consul Engel's solicitor, the best +speaker in the town, found it necessary to come to his assistance. His +name was Bugge, and he was extremely eloquent. Several solicitors +followed him, and all talked more or less about peace, morals, and +Christianity--subjects which they, at all events, knew by <i>hearsay</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl Vangen asked what on earth these great questions had to do with +the matter in hand, whether Rendalen should, or should not, be a member +of a social club? But Karl Vangen had hardly stood up before the Town +Bailiff pulled a long list out of his pocket. He asked if he might put +some questions to Pastor Vangen?</p> + +<p class="normal">"With pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"First question--Is it true that Herr Rendalen has said that history +cannot well be taught to people who believe that the world began as +Paradise and its inhabitants as perfect beings?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Breathless silence. Karl Vangen began a little hesitatingly: "Yes, that +is true, but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, but I have the word," interrupted the Town Bailiff.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," observed one of the "husbands"; "Pastor Vangen undoubtedly has +the word. It was he who was interrogated."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereon there was a great uproar; the real men were, Heaven be praised, +in the majority; the "husbands" had by no means such strong throats.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Second question--Is it true that Rendalen has said----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But dear me!" called out Niels Hansen; "is Rendalen to join the club +to be confirmed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A roar of laughter followed. The whole room, without distinction of +parties, gave way to immense merriment. The Town Bailiff paused. As +soon as peace was restored he began again. "Second question--Is it +true----" The laughter began again, worse than before. The Town Bailiff +stopped abruptly, and left the room; Karl Vangen now began. His friend +Rendalen was of the opinion that history lessons ought conscientiously +to describe all movements just as they were, and therefore the +development of Christianity as well; but to describe the life of +mankind as a work of God's dispensation belongs to Church history.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he not a Christian, then?" asked Bugge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have nothing to do with that here," called out Niels Hansen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he not a Christian?" repeated Bugge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, he is not a Christian," answered Vangen, colouring like a little +boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The blockhead," muttered Niels Hansen, and he left too.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he has deceived us," shouted Bugge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He should have said that from the first," observed another.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several shouted at once. There was disturbance, noise, delight. All the +"husbands" were frightened, and held their tongues.</p> + +<p class="normal">A quiet, well-to-do man stood up: "Yes, I could almost have guessed +that Rendalen was not a Christian. Women to take the same position as +men, that is against Christianity."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pastor Vangen then again came forward, and he now spoke warmly. +Rendalen's actions had been perfectly honourable. So long as +Christianity supports mankind's moral consciousness, every school +director should see that it was given to the children, as truly and +heartily as possible. And it was thus that Rendalen had acted. It was +only to be lamented that his instrument was so feeble, for that +instrument was himself. But he could assure the meeting that he had +full opportunity of doing all of which he was capable.</p> + +<p class="normal">This made a good impression, and for a moment it seemed as though the +discussion would end there. But the man who had spoken before, again +rose; it was evident that it was a serious matter with him. "If Tomas +Rendalen had said this when he gave a lecture up at the gymnasium two +years ago--if he had said, 'I am not a Christian'--there would have +been no school."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the moment Karl Vangen could not think of any reply to this; it +almost seemed to him to be true. The voting began immediately, and +Rendalen was refused admittance by an overwhelming majority.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not," as Bugge observed, "because Rendalen did not believe, for they +were tolerant there, but because he had not behaved honourably."</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he could do so, Rendalen gathered his friends, and any +others who liked to join them, at a meeting at the gymnasium. It was a +very full one. This was a fight which every one understood, and in +which most of them took an interest. As well as this, the special +woman-question was far more opened up than it had been two years ago; +Rendalen was able to speak quite freely. He began by declaring that +religion had been made use of as a "last resort." He had been expecting +it for a long time. The audience was given an amusing description of +the moral and Christian responsibility of the club, enveloped in clouds +of tobacco smoke round the card-tables and punch-bowls, and of the +virtue of the men, which consisted in a strong demand for virtue--in +women, which was an advantage to themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">A work to obtain equality between men and women could not be called +"Enmity to Christianity." Therefore notorious interpolations of Judaism +into Christianity ought not to be sanctioned. If this were done, and +the views of woman's position two thousand years ago in Judea were +sanctioned--well, in that case, he could tell the Christians that they +did not thus destroy the claims of the present day, but themselves. +There was no help which he desired so much as that of serious +Christians. He considered, too, that the Christian who had no +reactionary aims must range himself here with the great French pastor, +Pressensé.</p> + +<p class="normal">As a teacher of history, he had himself endeavoured to point out +trustworthily the works of Christianity. As a teacher of natural +science, on the contrary, he could not disguise the fact that divers +new discoveries were in opposition to the Jewish traditions; an honest +teacher of natural science in most Christian schools must find himself +in the same case. But the principal dogmas--the belief in God and +salvation through Christ--remain unmoved.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Christian beliefs of the school were unfettered, and directed by a +clergyman, whom they all highly respected. He was clearly in his rights +when he demanded that his private beliefs should be left out of the +question. Indeed, it was his duty to demand this where the question was +notoriously merely introduced for the sake of making confusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">This time the current of opinion against the school was divided by a +brisk counter-current. It was a good sign that Miss Hall's public +lectures at the school were still well attended.</p> + +<p class="normal">But what would Rendalen, or his eager opponents, have said, if they had +known that the whole movement, from the moment the flag was hoisted, +had been directed from outside? That the best contributions to the +<i>Spectator</i> had never once been written in the town? That the Town +Bailiff was a tool in a light but skilful hand? That the five thousand +kroner which had so animated his faculties and morality, and those of +his wife, had not come from Consul Engel at all? What would the Town +Bailiff, what would lawyer Bugge and his colleagues have said, if they +had known that the famous anonymous donor, who had called forth their +eloquence, was a rascal who had carefully reckoned on the certainty of +these men behaving as they had done, if they believed Consul Engel to +be the donor? What would all these worthy men and women, who were +fighting for morality and Christianity--what would they have said if +they had known that at Stockholm there was a man who reckoned on their +zeal and strong prejudices, as well as on the cringing and shrewdness +of others, with the same sense of superiority with which we use the +wide powers of Nature for the accomplishment of our own ends. But the +force of opposition could not be accurately measured from a distance; +where women are concerned, it is never easy to calculate; +notwithstanding these great exertions, the amount subscribed was small, +very, very small.</p> + +<p class="normal">A mine must therefore be laid, and some of this opposition blown up. +And this was done. The report of Niels Fürst's engagement to Milla +Engel had died out; it was now renewed, and, with it, the exasperation +of the whole woman's party. Angry, scornful remarks were flung over the +whole town from Rendalen's circle; they stabbed and wounded both the +families, Fürst's and Engel's. Consul Engel was especially offended by +Rendalen having said, "All the Consul's mistresses ought to attend on +the wedding-day as bridesmaids." Engel gave Rendalen to understand that +till then he had held himself aloof from the business. Now, if the +wedding took place, the new school should be remembered both as +regarded a house and funds.</p> + +<p class="normal">The person who brought this information to Rendalen received out of +hand for answer: "Yes, it is wise of the Consul to put <i>if</i> before it, +for there is not a church in the town in which Milla Engel will dare to +be married to Niels Fürst." This was really going too far; other people +saw this beside the Consul. He now felt himself compelled to act.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fact was that Milla had not engaged herself again to Niels +Fürst--the report was untrue, a mere trick. Up to this time the Consul +had not mixed himself in the matter; in such affairs one must be +circumspect. He had contented himself by sending her cuttings from the +<i>Spectator</i>, small reports, stories, and so on. He had also asked +others to write; she no longer corresponded with any one at "The +Estate." Now, however, the Consul wrote to her himself. He was so +fortunate as to be able to send her a cutting from a Lutheran weekly +paper, in which a highly esteemed clergyman analysed the proposition +that women have the same right to demand chastity from men, as men have +from women: the decided logical result of his analysis being that the +proposition was unchristian.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now," wrote her father, "what further objection can there be? You +love Niels Fürst? If there is any condition which you wish to make in +regard to your marriage, name it, my child. The consideration which you +and I possess demands that you should be married in accordance with our +position in your native town."</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla complied. If her dear mother's favourite clergyman, old Dean +Green, who had carried her mother's gift to the school, would perform +the ceremony, he <i>himself</i>, her father, might fix the wedding-day at +once. So old Green, the most respected man in the town, was to give his +countenance to their side? The Consul felt that this was highly +improbable. He wrote to Niels Fürst, that now he had but little hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fürst was not of the same opinion. Most old people incline towards +compromise. He gave some instructions to his brother-in-law, and, after +the latter had paid a visit to the Dean, Fürst wrote to the Consul +that, after all, things might be more hopeful than he had imagined. The +Consul was off at once. It may well be that he was astonished when the +old man said decidedly that the attacks on the school ought now to end. +A peculiar smile passed over the Consul's face as he lamented that he +did not possess sufficient influence. The old man met smile with smile; +there was no need for influence, he believed. And thus the matter +rested.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was on a Friday morning that printed invitations were sent out to +Consul Engel's friends, in this and the neighbouring towns, asking them +to honour him by their presence at his daughter's marriage with +Lieutenant Niels Fürst.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wedding was fixed for the following Monday week, at four o'clock in +the afternoon, at the Cross Church. It was being hurried on.</p> + +<p class="normal">To a few of his oldest friends the Consul added in writing that the +spiritual guide of his family, his beloved wife's friend, Dean Green, +would do the young people the honour of uniting them.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the same day, about dinner-time, the Consul walked along the quays +just as all the business men were coming to, or from, them. Every one +greeted him with beaming faces and with great cordiality, and those who +were sufficiently intimate pressed his hand laughingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one had been annoyed that Rendalen should wish to prescribe who +was or was not to marry--precisely like Max Kurt in the old days--he, a +miserable fellow, crippled with debts, with a great school which might +tumble about his ears any day. The news of the wedding, and that Dean +Green was to perform the ceremony, was carried by Saturday's steamers +up and down the coast; it sprang ashore on the islands, was heard at +the watering-places, and slipped away through the woods far inland. It +brought excitement everywhere. One party rejoiced; the other was +immensely scandalised. But there was not a woman in either party who +did not declare that she should go to the town for the day to see it +all. The children begged to go too. Mimic weddings took place in the +"Groves" and about on the rocks, where an old Dean Green, in a short +frock and with bare arms, intoned the service over the bridal pair in a +trembling voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Somewhat more laggardly the news came that the donor of the five +thousand kroner to the new school had withdrawn his gift; that Consul +Engel had condemned all the uproar about the school; if it were carried +further, he would be obliged to support the recipients of his wife's +legacy: her memory demanded no less of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had a compromise been effected? Was Milla to return home as the Angel +of Peace?</p> + +<p class="normal">Some people were incensed; some laughed; some few, including the Town +Bailiff, would not give in; but how could a new school be started +without Consul Engel? And when in cold blood the advantages were +considered, who did not at last wish for peace? The daughter of the +school's benefactress married to Niels Fürst--that was in itself +victory, and that sufficed. One or two marriages of this sort, +especially amongst the most advanced pupils at the school, and the good +old constitution, the good old distribution of virtue and authority +between the sexes, would remain unshaken. Rendalen, the Society, and +Miss Hall might stick to their views if they liked. Tora was never +mentioned now.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla was to be married on a Monday, and to leave the same night; she +was to arrive the evening of the previous Friday; she would not be +three days in the town! That did not imply a vast amount of courage, +her quondam friends considered. Not one of them went down to the +landing-place to meet her. But there was no need for them, for, +notwithstanding a drenching rain, it was densely crowded. The wedding +for which she was returning, even if nothing special had happened +previously, would have been the most important that any one could +remember. The bridegroom, aided by the unusually large fortune which he +would command, would be able to enter upon a career at Court which +would lead to the highest positions in the country. Every one who knew +him described him as a "born politician;" not very flattering to +politicians, but that I cannot help.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bride was a beauty capable of becoming a thorough woman of the +world. Besides, she was to remain so short a time at home, that every +one must secure a glimpse of her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Flags were hoisted everywhere, but they drooped along the masts in +quite a shamefaced manner, mere patches of colour--the beautiful +green-clad mountains at the head of the bay were shrouded in fog. +Houses, gardens, sea, seemed to lie in a casket whose cover was the +grey woolly mist.</p> + +<p class="normal">The house-roofs were no longer red-brown but black; the houses not +white, but ashen grey; not yellow, but a sooty colour; all the tints +were subdued by several shades, the houses themselves seemed to crowd +closer together, and appeared wonderfully small and crooked to the girl +fresh from Paris, who stood, in the rain, on the deck of the steamer +which was gliding in among the islands. Only the great building up at +"The Estate" and the formal stone walls by the side of the avenue +loomed out from their encircling trees; but the red bricks looked dark +and ominous, the window-frames a pitchy black, the dumpy frowning +tower seemed to stand on the watch; as they drew nearer a huge white +flag-staff could be seen on it without a flag. "The Estate" lay hemmed +in, wide and menacing. Milla's glances wandered down from it towards +the Cross Church with its slender spire, from which the joyful soul of +Max Kurt had ascended to heaven; not that Milla thought of this, but +under that spire she would, notwithstanding ... But, good Heavens, what +is that? all that moving mass of black on the landing-place up to the +very walls of the houses? Umbrellas? Absolutely nothing but umbrellas! +What could that mean? From all the information which had been sent to +her, and perhaps even more from what had not, she was quite convinced +that if things were not all that she could wish, yet still there was +peace here now, and no danger. Dean Green's authority protected her, +and she herself did not wish to do any one an injury. But at the sight +of all these people, a remembrance rushed to her mind of the way in +which poor Fru Rendalen had been received, when she had returned from +her journey with Tora. Milla turned deadly white; a fearful dread +seized her. Although she struggled against it with all her might, she +could not help trembling; her knees trembled so that her whole body +shook; she had to support herself, to sit down. In the short space of +five minutes she went through more--ah! more than when her mother died, +for then a comforter hovered over her; the gloom was lightened by the +hope of a future meeting. Now she felt separated, cut off, plunged into +an abyss!</p> + +<p class="normal">A sound of pitiless laughter surrounded her; people were trying to +grasp her hands--where could she creep to?</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father was on board, but at the moment was down below collecting +the luggage and paying the steward. He heard the vessel swing noisily +in towards the quay, and then cheers from hundreds of voices, repeated +again and again. He came on deck, and his daughter rushed towards him, +seized him, pressed herself against him, her lips quivering, and +trembling in every limb. She who was ordinarily so self-contained, was +in a state of nervous excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Milla? They are calling out 'Hurrah for the bride!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold me," she whispered. "Let me collect myself, I did not know, I +thought----" And she cried--ah, how she cried!</p> + +<p class="normal">Happily there was some obstruction at the quay, and a little time +elapsed before they were alongside. The captain stormed; as Milla +listened, the strain relaxed; so that when she stepped on shore, +leaning on her father's arm, though still pale and trembling slightly, +she could smile from under her coquettish hat as she passed in her +charming travelling dress. Tears were becoming to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">What ringing cheers for the bride, for Consul Engel! The crowd was +almost all composed of men, and there was no one whom she knew well; +but, yes, there are Fürst's sister and Fru Gröndal and Wingaard, and +several others. There are flowers and welcomes, friends pressing +forward, and cheer upon cheer, and more welcomes--nothing but homage +and delighted greetings. More flowers still. The carriage was almost +full! She took her seat in it--the same carriage in which thirteen or +fourteen months ago she had driven here with Tora. She had no time to +recall it. This was splendid, perfect!</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">At a little past two the next morning a <i>skyss kærre</i><a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a> drove slowly +up the avenue to the school. A closely veiled lady sat in it with a +child in her arms. She was expected, for Rendalen came down at once to +meet her, and take her up the steps, at the top of which stood Fru +Rendalen. It was a touching meeting.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h3><a name="div1_07.2" href="#div1Ref_07.2">A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR</a></h3> + + +<p class="normal">Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, two unlucky printer's +devils trudged off, each on his own beat, with the <i>Spectator</i>. They +threw it into the passages, left it on the steps, pushed it under the +gates. They must hurry on! The church was full long ago; by this time +the marketplace was packed from one end to the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the worthy burghers returned home and found the <i>Spectator</i>, they +read the following:--"As we go to press our town presents a most festal +appearance. Naval Lieutenant Niels Fürst and Fröken Emilie Engel, +members of two of the oldest and most respected families in the town, +are to-day to be united at four o'clock, in the Cross Church, by our +venerable Dean. From the country, where all the families who have the +means are now enjoying their summer holiday, there has been an immense +influx of people to witness the ceremony. As well as this, our streets +are filled by a considerable number of strangers. It is understood that +Consul Engel has received the good wishes of his Majesty, through the +High Chamberlain of the Norwegian Court. Consul Engel, on the occasion +of this happy event in his family, has presented to the Maternity +Hospital the interest of a bequest of ten thousand kroner. The poor of +the town will to-day be entertained by the Consul at the poorhouse. +Further, we have just received the announcement that, in response to a +special appeal, Consul Engel has given two thousand kroner for the +thorough restoration of the magnificent organ in the Cross Church. A +gala day in town and harbour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At midday a refreshing breeze had fanned the glowing streets; now only +a capricious puff stirred the flags, and each time they blew out they +formed a mass of colour over the town, and the whole length of the +harbour; several ships were covered with flags from deck to masthead. A +barque, the most gaily decorated of all, is hauled out to fire a +salute, to begin the moment that the pair are united, and to continue +until the bride's carriage draws up before Engel's house. Another +salute is to be fired during the dinner.</p> + +<p class="normal">The most perfect weather, over mountain and hill and sea and town! How +cheerful the town looked in the sunshine! The small blocks of houses +with their provincial decorations, surrounded by the pavement of +cobble-stones, cleanly swept and warmed by the sunshine.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shadows were very heavy; when any quiet pedestrian emerged from +them into the white glare of the street, he had the same feeling as in +old times the wick of a tallow candle must have had when it escaped +from the snuffers again. The cats dozed in the sunshine, but with one +eye open, for there were a hundred idlers about to-day. The gutters, +generally the route for many a toy-boat, were now dry; the newspaper +boys jumped backwards and forwards across them, as they went from one +empty house to another. Everything was clean and charming and quiet. +Only in the streets by the quays the smell of decayed wood, salt +herrings, train oil, and "such like," prevailed. There was work going +on there too; festival at the masthead, toil on deck and down below. In +the rest of the town most work was over by three o'clock.</p> + +<p class="normal">A train of young people could be seen trudging down from "the mountain" +towards the marketplace, succeeded by groups of women, both old and +young. They knew a little about the two families which were to be +united, those good people on the mountain!</p> + +<p class="normal">What a glorious day! The land breeze now and again sent "cat's-paws" +across the harbour, which lost themselves in the blue grey water out by +the islands. The open sea beyond lay wide and peaceful.</p> + +<p class="normal">And how lovely were the wood-clothed mountains and hillsides, in the +full colours of both pines and leafy trees, with the grass below ready +for its second mowing. The greens were deeper than those of spring and +with less variety. On the road below the churchyard was a long train of +pedestrians; those country folk who lived nearest the town, toiled in +just at the last to get a glimpse of the show--the men in front, the +women following. A fussy little steamer shoots out from among the +islands, snorting and puffing--she is behind time; she is bringing +people from the nearest town, and has a horn quartet on board.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the sunshine, the mountain seemed to those approaching it from the +sea, to rear itself from the water like an anthill, but the resemblance +was spoiled as one came nearer, although its small houses still looked +like linen and stockings put out to dry. Close by, it became a curious +breeding place for human sea-birds. All the children of the upper +classes in the town looked at it with the greatest envy, especially on +a day like this, for the flags excited their imagination.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every now and then, heads were turned towards "The Estate." Every pane +of glass in the great red-brick building shone in the sunlight, but no +flag was hoisted. As late as half-past three, Consul Engel, smoking a +cigar, went up to the top attic to see if the flag were hoisted; Emilie +was just coming down the attic stairs; she was fully dressed, except +that she still wore her <i>peignoir</i>. She coloured when she met her +father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you doing up here, my child?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was looking----" She slipped past him without saying for what. No +flag on the tower! The Consul remained there smoking. If there had been +a flag without the "Union" to-day it would have been most suitable.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the time it was reported that Tora Holm was at "The Estate" with +her child, which report was heard early as Monday morning, an avalanche +hung on the mountain ready to overwhelm them. This was the cause of all +the Consul's generosity; if any one but asked for more, he gave it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had had two sleepless nights! Was it true that Rendalen had sent a +letter to the old Dean couched in most respectful terms, but in which +he said that if this were "peace," it was once more shown that peace +belonged to Satan, but that the fight was God's?</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did they contemplate--a scandal?" the whole town was asking.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora's appearance with her child just now was in itself a sentence--she +must have an undaunted conscience; something would certainly happen.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no answer to this fact: Tora Holm had dared to come here; +Rendalen and Fru Rendalen believed in her--<i>all</i> her friends believed +in her.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the incidents of Niel's bachelor life were recalled--that is to +say, those which related to <i>that</i> part of the country; as a general +thing, people would say what a devil of a fellow Niels Fürst was, and +stroll away laughing. The laughter ceased now. In Tora's neighbourhood +such stories took a different complexion. Some of them seemed +absolutely repulsive.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the father-in-law! His past also was brought up again. None of the +stories dealt with daring seductions, unexpected, astounding conquests; +no open scandal--Heaven forbid! but certain quiet intrigues were known +of, often one or two at a time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Expensive presents and small annuities had been heard of as well. They +knew of children who passed for his, and who were his living image. It +all came up again now; even "indiscretions" of twenty years ago and +more, were recalled. Such little provincial towns have pitiless +memories.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had been but a short time previously that every one rejoiced that +Fru Engel's gift had been opposed by a similar one, so that the +"indecency" up at the school might come to an end. Now, as the women +flocked into the town (which they began to do as early as Sunday), and +the juniors at once hurried up to "The Estate," or collected in groups +in the streets, a remembrance of Fru Engel's beautiful funeral filled +the minds of all. What the daughter was about to accomplish was, in +reality, disrespectful to her mother's memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">Emilie herself was the only one who did not know that Tora was there. +Fürst had arrived on Saturday morning, and had heard it at once, but he +and her father believed that Tora had come to force herself upon Milla; +they kept most careful watch that neither Tora herself, nor a letter or +message, or indeed any sign from her, could come without being +intercepted. The friends of the house had received their instructions, +and beside they consisted entirely of members of the two families. The +bridesmaids arrived in the town on Sunday--they were relatives, and, +with hardly an exception, from a distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Milla knew nothing except that the other party had been defeated and +ruined, there would be nothing now but peace. Her father had the firm +intention of helping the school; it would work well enough if some of +the ideas were abandoned. Milla felt especially grateful for this +promise of her father. Why should not they all be friends together? +"That is what we shall be," Fürst had assured her. The school party had +made peace: old Dean Green was a proof of it. "Yes, old Dean Green was +a proof of it," repeated Milla to herself, whenever she felt any doubt.</p> + +<p class="normal">On Sunday she went to church and heard him, it did her so much good; +and in the afternoon she went with her father to call on him. How kind +he was! He exhorted her to be patient; we cannot alter the world, but +we can set a good example; that was what her mother had done. Milla was +deeply touched. "Ah! if only every one were good!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father had never been so loving to her as now. His increasing +kindness reminded her of the time when her mother was ill, and then the +great amount of his charity; he could not have done her honour in a +more delicate or beautiful way. Fürst was always amusing, and his way +of being so was so very superior. He told stories of the Court, and +terribly malicious ones they were; Fürst was so pleasant and clever, +Milla felt that she was really fortunate--that is to say, except for a +slight sense of want, a tiny sensation of mistrust--just so much as to +oblige her, at the last moment, to go up to the top attic, to see if +there were a flag on the tower. But there was nothing. Perhaps no one +was at home! That would be the best thing for both parties. They could +find each other another time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now to put on her wedding dress! If Tora could have seen it! Poor Tora! +But such things will happen when one is not careful. Emilie asked her +maid to take care that the folds hung properly over her tournure. At +the same moment Fru Wingaard came in with the bridal wreath.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Every one who came from the adjoining streets into the market-place, +observed something red against the open door of the church, the outer +one to the left. It was a red shirt, worn by a tall sailor. The church +attendants tried to get him away, but in vain; all round were ladies +who would willingly have occupied his place, but he answered that he +had as good a right to stand there as any one else, which he +undoubtedly had. He did not belong to the town, no one knew him, a +tattoo mark on his hand showed that he had been at sea--indeed, he said +so himself. He was in a timber ship now--she was a large vessel.</p> + +<p class="normal">With this exception there were nothing but ladies, old and young, on +the steps, down below, and in every direction, all who had not found +room in the church. Every time the inner door opened, affording a +glimpse of the interior, one saw, on both sides, right down to the +door, nothing but ladies--nothing but bonnets, with flowers, feathers, +and veils. A solitary uncovered masculine head in one of the rows of +chairs showed up like a single late gooseberry or black currant on the +branch in autumn. If the departed Herr Max could have looked up from +the chancel where he lay, it would have been "a goodly sight" for his +woman-loving eyes, especially as the younger ones were all in the front +places--they had been most eager in securing them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost all the parasols which were to be seen on the market-place were +either on the steps, or round about them, a many-coloured moving +shield-like roof under which endless stories and laughter went on. +Every one thought the donation to the Maternity Charity <i>too</i> +felicitous. That Engel, who had so much tact, could---- But to be sure +that was because Fru Wingaard was the patroness--she had wheedled it +out of him, the minx!</p> + +<p class="normal">On either side of the steps, each one the centre of a group, stood +those two sisters of doubtful character who had kept the club and the +hotel until they had been obliged to relinquish them in favour of +Engel's housekeeper. They least of all had reason to spare Engel or his +guests for the day, the magnates of the coast towns.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nearest to these stood another knot of women who had not had so much +time to find places. There were few parasols here, but bonnets and +aprons, and some of the younger ones even bareheaded. There was +whispering, tittering, and giggling!</p> + +<p class="normal">No solemnity, no gravity, no authority, not the least what is usual in +a provincial town. Even where the darker groups of men were collected, +there was no seriousness or "decorum," as the Town Bailiff would have +said, and indeed as he did say when, at a quarter before four, he +joined the guests, in full uniform, and with his wife on his arm. The +guests indulged in witticisms and laughter, the result of which was not +impressive; all the people looked at them with amused glances as though +they were comrades. The town was unrecognisable. When two boys +contrived to clamber on to the chimney of one of the houses opposite +the church, all clapped their hands and snouted. This had just occurred +as the Town Bailiff arrived. Amid the guests immediately following him +came the organist, very drunk. He was a young Swabian, who three or +four years ago came to the town in the course of a musical tour, and +there remained. The then organist had recently died--the organ was a +marvellous one; beside which there was excellent sea-bathing. He was a +soft, fantastic, thoroughly musical man, who as a rule was every one's +favourite, and who had more to do than he could manage, but who on a +holiday "<i>Wenn Konstantinople erobet warden ischt</i>," as he expressed +himself, got drunk. This occurred but seldom, but when it was the case +he did anything which took his fancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">This culminated when one day a home missionary was speaking from the +chancel steps on the subject of sin, and the organist, noticing that +every one was yawning, began to play the organ till it roared! It was +pretended that the missionary made such very long pauses that the +organist had been misled by the longest of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">To-day he had conceived the happy idea of going gaily to Consul Engel, +and asking him for some money for the organ, and he received a cheque +on the spot. So "<i>Konstantinople</i>" had "<i>erobet warden</i>" again, and +champagne corks flew! Who liked might drink with him. He came up, +beaming with happiness and swinging his arms about. Every one laughed, +and he laughed with them. He arrived just after the Town Bailiff and +his wife. They looked as stiff as though the organist had yoked them +and was driving them into the church. Great commotion was now caused by +an attempt to drive a carriage through the crowd. Up to this time every +one had come on foot. There was no room for carriages here, they cried, +and turned sullen; the police had to interfere. In the carriage sat a +pretty lively lady of uncertain age, by the side of a somewhat stout +gentleman with a remarkably shaped head and a supercilious expression. +Facing the lady sat an older man with a red face, heavy moustache and +imperial, and wearing a number of orders; he talked incessantly, as +though they were all three in a closed room where no one could see +them. They did not belong to the town; no one knew them until the +carriage-door was opened, and the man with the orders led the lady +forward. Then the hotelkeeper's wife said that he was a Consul-General +from Christiania; the lady was not his wife, but that of the gentleman +who was walking beside them--Consul Garman, of the firm of Garman and +Worse. Soon after these arrived two other strangers, Consuls Bernick +and Riis. The first-named invariably attended funerals with a stick in +his hand; the other always wore his order of St. Olaf when he went to a +ball. Several important magnates followed; some with their wives, some +without--millionaires in the herring, timber, or ice trade. The +monotony of the black coats was broken by the full uniform of the +Sheriff--he was without his wife, and in company with a gouty old +General, a relation of Fürst. Besides these, there were Government +officials and merchants mingled together, most of them with their +wives, who hung on their husbands' arms like well-filled costly +baskets; the husbands were quite eclipsed. Absolute silence gradually +spread upwards from the lower end of the market-place, like oil over +troubled waters. The bridegroom was alighting from his carriage, +accompanied by his brother-in-law, Consul Wingaard. From another +carriage descended two naval officers and two civilians, one of whom +was Anton Dösen; these four joined the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the special manœuvres which had brought about that Fürst should +to-day approach the Cross Church through the crowd, admired or envied, +accompanied or shunned, had been carried out by himself, and up to the +present time he had earned the honoured reception of a victor. Still he +did not advance with a victor's step--a child could see that at the +first glance. He walked forward in the deadliest fear. Tora had never +shown herself, had sent neither message nor letter. Neither she nor any +of her friends had once been near Consul Engel's house. It was evident +that she had not come to talk Emilie over, or to frighten her. What had +she come for? What did Rendalen's threat mean? There was danger until +he was inside the church; then the sanctity of the building, and the +respect due to the old clergyman, must protect him. But here----! His +eyes wandered up to the wooded slope above "The Estate." It was an +involuntary action. It was not there, but here, that she might appear. +She or others. She was not the only one.</p> + +<p class="normal">His half-closed eyes searched about, his bronzed face was without +movement--those strings which moved his lips must have broken! There +was no smile now. His fair whiskers hung down and seemed to lengthen +his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gait of this dandy had an air of painful caution--each step +might lead to disaster. If it did not fall on him, it might await +her who would soon follow him. There were sparkling eyes all round and +many sharp ones, but no one whom he feared. He was taller than the +women; he could see for a good distance, and he looked from side to +side--nothing!</p> + +<p class="normal">He had just put his foot on the first step when the tall sailor stepped +forward:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ane Marja sends you her compliments."</p> + +<p class="normal">Those who stood nearer heard it; some who were further away saw the +movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did he say something? What's he say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sibilations whistled across; to those who were furthest away it sounded +like es-s-s-s-s-s-s-s all round the church.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fürst stood still: his eyes contracted as though fine dust had been +thrown into his face; his gloved hand sought for his handkerchief, from +which scent was wafted; he blew his nose and walked on, his friends +following him. Within it seemed dark after the bright sunshine outside, +but in the darkness were eyes, women's eyes!</p> + +<p class="normal">Here sat Tora's friends. He knew every one in the town by sight, and +picked them out one by one. They sat quite in front, excited, restless, +threatening. There must be something after all. The great church bell +began to ring at that moment, and the bride's carriage was seen at the +end of the market-place. What would happen now?</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne were on Fürst's left as he walked up to the +chancel. He glanced involuntarily to the opposite side; the first seat +was vacant. Every one in the chancel rose as the bridegroom appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a stir outside, not merely because the bride's carriage had +arrived followed by those of the bridesmaids and Fru Wingaard, but +because the coachman in grey livery wanted to drive up to the church +door, which seemed impossible. Those in front pressed back to make +room, but those behind declined to be pushed against, and exerted their +strength, till several people were forced up against the carriage +windows. Shrieks, angry words, and orders ensued, and alarm inside the +carriages. Engel put his head out of the window, but no one listened to +him, and he got out of the carriage. The police were at hand, and +eagerly cleared a way for the wealthy magnate, while the bride +alighted, as did the bridesmaids; they arranged themselves and walked +forward, not where the others had passed; the crowd made way for them +in all directions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her red-gold hair crowned with myrtle, the bride resembled the most +exquisite work of an English Academician. The lines of her face were +regular and of an English type, the colouring soft, the skin very +white; the shoulders rather sloping, beautiful--the figure that of a +soft delicate young girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">She walked forward with her head bent, not looking at any one, her hand +resting lightly on her father's arm; just below the level of his order +of St. Olaf could be seen her diamond ornament, though only by those +just before or above them. An old-fashioned brooch, a valuable one, +which was recognised as having been a favourite of her mother, secured +the flowers in front of her dress. A puff of wind raised her veil just +as they came up the steps; it streamed out into the face of the sailor, +but did not touch it; a delicate perfume was spread in all directions. +How relieved Engel felt as he stood inside the door! That had been the +worst journey he had ever made in his life. Still he had not hurried; +unobtrusive, quiet, benign, he had walked forward; he kept his eye +fixed on one point--was that the needle's eye which must be passed +through?</p> + +<p class="normal">His handsome regular features looked as though they had never been +disturbed by any idea inconsistent with honourable habits, or the good +counsel of elders and superiors--nay, as though he had never had +knowledge of such things. His had always been a God-fearing house; +three generations had endowed charities. The very perfume which now +hung round them might well have come from Palestine.</p> + +<p class="normal">And after all there had been no danger. "We are in church now." The +organ pealed under the powerful touch of the drunken Swabian; its full +accords blended with Engel's thoughts, and seemed to restore him to +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">No delight can compare with that of an evenly balanced nature, which, +having believed itself in danger, discovers that that danger has been a +delusion. This feeling of delight does not spring violently into being, +it does not throb, but spreads through the whole man with a soft +perfect sense of enjoyment. It resembles the delight of recovery of a +good digestion, the smiling view, the delightful odour of some coveted +object to which he may now draw near. He raised his face, bearing its +best expression, towards the pulpit, calmly receiving all the glances +which were directed towards him. He suspected that he was envied, and +that tickled him.</p> + +<p class="normal">What a future lay before them! Just then the bride's hand trembled; he +withdrew his eyes quickly from the pulpit. Milla was deadly white, and +could not, or would not advance. What was it?</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora, Tinka, Anna Rogne, and several others were sitting quite in +front, just where they must pass. Could there be anything terrifying in +that? Every face bore an expression of mingled excitement and +mischievous delight, all, all of them, in whatever direction he looked; +it infected him as well. What was it? Involuntarily his eyes sought the +chancel--if they were but there! There they would be in peace. But all +in the chancel were on their feet; they stood amazed, staring down into +the body of the church, not to his side, but to the opposite one. At +the same moment his daughter gave a sharp cry and staggered backwards, +dragging him with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Into the pew furthest from them on the right, through the vestry, and +therefore from across the chancel, came Pastor Vangen; after him, Tora +Holm, with something in her arms; then Miss Hall, then Rendalen. In +this order they were just seating themselves as the bridal procession +entered the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tora had a double black veil over her face and over what she held in +her arms, and this had been securely fastened so that it was only when +Miss Hall had helped her that she was able to turn with her face +uncovered, and with her child in her arms, towards her who was now +advancing.</p> + +<p class="normal">A storm of anger, reprobation, threats seemed to rise to the very roof, +the excitement mingling with the roll of the organ. Milla was almost +dragged forward. She came into the chancel little more than a white +silk dress among all the other dresses.</p> + +<p class="normal">A rustle, a stir! Heads, hands, eyes, bouquets seemed to whirl before +her, so that she could not extricate herself, nor find her own seat, +her own bouquet, her own handkerchief. Every one crowded round with +offers of help, with eau de Cologne, and general disturbance. The last +to come was the big red-faced man with the large moustache and the +decorations; he tried to force her own bouquet on her, of which she +could not endure the scent. When at last she was free and could draw a +breath, she burst into tears. She drew her veil forward. Milla pitied +herself so: what a dreadful thing it was that they had done; she felt +furious, perfectly furious.</p> + +<p class="normal">Consul Engel received her first glance. It came on him, following all +that he had already gone through, like the last dram which deprives a +man of consciousness. He began to wonder with a strange delirious +feeling why his trousers felt so thin. Was it really so?</p> + +<p class="normal">The elegant Fürst sat beside him, holding his hat first in one hand, +then in the other, and crossing and uncrossing his legs. It was on +account of <i>him</i> that all this had happened, and the budding politician +was not yet sufficiently accomplished to be able to sit still while he +was flayed, cut up, and put in the pot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dösen, who was close behind him, pulled the ends of his fair moustache +with his white-gloved hands--now left, now right--harder, and harder, +and harder. He was marvellously industrious over it. The people in the +body of the church saw this white hand moving about under his nose, and +thought that he was playing some trick, or making signs to some one, +but, they could not find out to whom. The grand folk felt the +embarrassment of the situation to be most distressing, but, all the +same, they wanted to get a look at the woman with the child--she was so +devilish handsome, so foreign-looking. They strained their necks, they +craned forward; Consul Bernick himself made his neck as long and +distorted as that of a cockerel when it is learning to crow.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the rest of these mishaps was added the Dean's non-appearance. The +vergers went in and out, in and out, with all the solemnity of intense +stupidity.</p> + +<p class="normal">The organist's playing showed signs of impatience.</p> + +<p class="normal">It seemed to him that it was rather long before Dean Green came and he +would be able to begin the hymn. He had exhausted the pompous style +long ago; he now turned to the sentimental, its direct opposite--from +the clear notes of the shepherd's pipe to the most impossible chirping +of a chicken. His fancy indubitably wandered among all the little ones +who were to spring from this marriage; he chased them with his fingers +saying hush, hush, to them in the treble.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last Engel had recovered himself so far that he began to realise the +difference between the delicate and the coarse, between well-bred and +ill-bred individuals; to the latter he knew that nothing was so +delightful as scandal, but this was something altogether unheard of. It +needed a Kurt to have thought of this, to have created such a maddening +scene. His handkerchief was wet already, his white gloves were almost +grey. As he fanned himself and wiped away the perspiration, he glanced +anxiously at Milla. She hated him! He prayed to God. Yes, Consul Emil +Engel prayed fervently to God that their sins might not be visited upon +this poor innocent girl! They had deceived her, truly, but with the +best intentions in the world. God knew how true this was. But who could +have anticipated that so mad a thing should have been attempted as to +dishonour the sacred edifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Engel did not swear as a rule, he was too refined a man for that, but +almost simultaneously with his heartfelt communion with God, he desired +with his whole heart that the devil might take the lot of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had recourse to his wet handkerchief again. At the same time the +thought was in Milla's mind, "Shall I go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Engel saw it in her eyes, in the way she moved on her chair. Fürst saw +it also. Both felt it like a million electric shocks: but they could +not give up their last hope that Milla was too well-bred to increase +the scandal. Engel felt that, even if she remained, he should be, from +this time forward, a broken, discredited man; Fürst felt that if only +Milla would go with him before the altar, a career would still be open +to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But still the Dean did not come! All thoughts centred on this; it +became intensely painful. All eyes were fixed on the vestry door. Was +he ill, or feigning to be so, so as not to come? Where was the deacon, +then? Make him come! Why did not Karl Vangen move? The women in the +chancel who had not got over the first fright (there were some who had +been obliged to grasp the seats of their chairs to prevent themselves +from trembling) were now made really ill by this fresh strain; several +began to cry. "Yes," thought Milla; "I am to be pitied, dreadfully to +be pitied! Oh, if mother had lived!" And she cried bitterly. Every one +had conspired against her, who had done nothing. Would old Green now +let her sit there so miserably on the stool of repentance before all +these horrid, horrid people!</p> + +<p class="normal">She thus lost sight of the first and important question, and was so +tossed about by the feeling of desolation that, when the Dean did at +length appear, she felt it consolation, a reward from Heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">But if she had not, even for a moment, got sufficiently away from +herself to feel why this had been done, those had, who sat below the +chancel. Not only those who were in the secret, who were few in number, +not only their sympathisers who were numerous; no, every woman felt +that it would be shocking, if, after what had occurred, Milla could or +would go on. Even it she had been dragged up there--why did she not +rise, why did she not leave them? They expected her to do so from one +moment to another, but Milla remained seated. Could such a thing be +possible, after such a strong appeal to her conscience? Every good +woman, who is unfettered, involuntarily takes the part of the weak, of +the one who has been wronged. The minds of those in the church were +agitated like the waves of the sea. The stir became greater and +greater. Was it credible that she would go to the altar with the +wretch? Shame on those around her who could countenance such a thing. +Every one stared at the altar. Was not old Green coming? He must have +had scruples at the last moment about giving them the blessing of the +Church. Karl Vangen would never have done so. He was with her who was +betrayed and deceived. He was so simple-minded that he believed that +the Church's place was there. The grateful glances which his broad face +attracted during these few moments would have gilded the vaulted roofs +of several churches, or thousands of hymn-books and Bibles. At length +they saw by the stir in the chancel that old Green had come at last. +Really and truly!</p> + +<p class="normal">Very slowly and feebly he came, very feeble indeed he looked. "A +thorough ecclesiastical compromise," it was whispered about. Just as he +reached the altar, the hymn began. All those in the chancel joined in +it. In their zeal, their relief, their gratitude to Providence, they +all sang; the bridegroom, Engel, the General and the Consul-General, +Bernick, Dösen, Riis, the celebrities, the Sheriff, all sang of the +first bride who was brought by God himself to the first bridegroom. Not +one of them believed it, but they sang so that it was a sin that the +organ overpowered them, for such singing of hymns ought to be heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their wives' trebles chimed in; they were so startled that they could +not find the hymn, but they all knew it by heart. The one who was the +quickest to join in, and who sang the loudest in praise of marriage, +was Fru Garman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Except these and the clerk, no one in the whole church joined in the +singing. The stir became so great and so general that a number could +not remain sitting, they stood up; those behind them wanted to see, and +stood up also. But Tora rose before anyone of them. What those around +her had felt, and were feeling with all its violence, was as nothing to +what she experienced, for when deeply moved she showed herself her +mother's daughter. The journey here had worked her up to a state of +excitement, which her constitution could hardly bear.</p> + +<p class="normal">If for no other reason, still for her own sake, Milla must be prevented +from marrying the wretch. For this it was necessary that Tora should +show herself, she and her child; everything else might fail, but this +would force Milla to pause--she knew her!</p> + +<p class="normal">This could only be done if Tora had the will and the courage for it. +And she had, for her friends had the will and courage to be with her. +It did not merely concern herself, it concerned the school, Milla, a +great cause; it concerned thousands!</p> + +<p class="normal">No one, least of all herself, had had the slightest doubt but that to +stand up with her child in her arms before the bride, would be +sufficient. From the moment that Milla had burst into tears in the +chancel, but still remained in her place, until now, when old Green had +come, Tora's excitement had increased to such an extent that those +nearest to her were alarmed; it could be observed as well from the seat +opposite. They knew now that something must be done, upon which neither +they nor she had reckoned, before their object could be attained. Tora +was Tora, and would be true to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fürst was already at the altar, accompanied by Consul Wingaard; +Engel had walked carefully across the carpet to lead his daughter +forward. She rose and allowed the bridesmaids to arrange her train and +veil--when Tora sprang forward from her seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one in the chancel was looking at the bride, who gave her hand to +her father and turned with him towards the altar. They did not see Tora +come up the steps. There was a sound behind them like the breaking of a +wave, and at the same moment something black passed quickly by. The +ladies shrieked, the gentlemen grew rigid with dismay. Those at the +altar turned round; Engel staggered backwards; Tora stood between him +and his daughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish me to lay the child down before you, Milla? Will you have +it to kneel on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! No!" cried Milla in horror. She turned, and with her hands before +her she flew from the chancel, her veil streaming behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one had risen. Tora had hastened at once to the vestry--she felt +that now her strength was exhausted--Miss Hall followed her there.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when Milla had left the chancel, she did not know where to fly to; +some one ought to come to her, to be with her--her womanly instinct +told her that. She turned and looked round bewildered. The vestry door +was opened, a harsh cry was heard from it for just so long as was +needed for the opening and shutting of a door; but it was enough. Milla +began to cry too. An arm was put round her waist, she was led from the +church; it was Nora. From the moment that Milla had yielded, all +resentment was over, all anger vanished. Indeed, it was so with most of +them. Rendalen was quickly at her side, and then went on before them to +make way.</p> + +<p class="normal">The organist, who had not seen what had gone before, but who, after the +first hymn, had expected to hear the words of the service, rose when +the movement became general. What was it? He saw the bride out in the +aisle, the others still in the chancel, the whole congregation standing +up. "<i>Aber das war kurios! Wird's nichts daraus? Ho--ho! Ich hab' meine +zwei tausend</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to play the organ. They tried to stop him, but he +answered, "What haf they don with the brite? The music shall do her +goot."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hardly had the bellringers heard the organ before they thought, "Now +they are married," and began to ring the bells. Hardly had those on +board the saluting vessel heard the bells before the guns began to +thunder. They were to continue firing until the bride's carriage drew +up at the door of the house, and as they could not see this from the +ship, a signal was to be made to them. In the general confusion this +was forgotten, so on they went--bang, bang, bang! It seemed to them at +last that they had fired a great many rounds, but that was other +people's affair, so they thundered away as long as they had any powder; +for they also had been drinking considerably.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this caused great amusement. The affair changed from the sublime to +the ridiculous. First among the crowd who left the church amid the +pealing of the organ, the clash of the bells, the thunder of the +cannon; their laughter was taken up in increasing measure by those in +the market-place, and from there it spread over the whole town. In the +memory of man there had not been so much laughter at one time as now +resounded from the river banks to the most remote houses on the +mountain, or out on the Point. The country people went laughing home +amid the roar of the cannon, and wherever they came there was laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">A gala day in town and harbour. Thunder of cannon and flutter of flags, +flags and cannon--and laughter!</p> + +<p class="normal">At first the bridal party looked at each other with horror; by ones and +twos they made their way out of the church, but the laughter outside +was infectious; when they got home and read the <i>Spectator</i>, they +laughed too.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Town Bailiff himself laughed!</p> + +<p class="normal">Up the avenue walked Nora and Rendalen. The cannon thundered, and they +turned round and looked at the flags flying in the town and in the +harbour--and laughed. Karl Vangen hurried past them on his long legs; +Tora was at Niels Hansen's. She was terribly exhausted, but calm; he +was going to fetch the carriage--and off he went. No less than fifteen +girls passed them at once, going up to Fru Rendalen; another large +group was following them. They did not walk, they raced, and were +quickly past.</p> + +<p class="normal">A little later Fru Rendalen came out on to the steps to meet her son +and Nora: they were just the opposite of every one else; they stopped +every moment. Now, just when she wanted them so much. How could they +forget her?</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once she pulled off her spectacles and wiped them. Then put them +on slowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rendalen said, as he walked along the avenue, that there had been a +great deal which was one-sided and obscure, too much of a fixed idea in +his first lecture, and that there was a great deal in his development +as well, which was but half accomplished. Still, "life is a school, and +first and foremost concerns schoolmasters." He did not say this in so +many words, he had not the least need for anything so stiff and cold. +To speak the plain truth, while they involuntarily flew the flags down +below for the success of his life's aim, he walked along here and paid +his court--to her with the "flickering" hair. It seemed to her that she +was quite unworthy, and she brushed a swarm of flies from her eyes. But +it was so absolutely impossible not to wish, and so----</p> + +<p class="normal">They agreed about many, many, many things. The first was that if one +has confidence in a work, that confidence helps in its development; the +second was, that when there are two it goes on twice as quickly, or it +may be that the last was the first, and the first the last. They really +were not accountable.</p> + +<p class="normal">But fifteen girls were up on the tower at once; they wanted to hoist +one flag to-day which would tell no lie, and also for a reason which +was without deception. They called down to ask leave; Rendalen was at +the foot of the steps, he laughed up to them. Nora had sprung away from +him--up the steps to Fru Rendalen. She pressed closely, oh, so closely, +to her--apparently to put her spectacles on better.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," called Rendalen up to the girls on the tower; "not +to-day--for Milla's sake, but we will do so very soon."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Pigerne +Jens.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Some parts +of it have been used in the Introduction.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: +Enchanting.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: Open +hearth.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Hired +posting carriage.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. II.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heritage of the Kurts, Volume II +(of 2), by Björstjerne Björnson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL II *** + +***** This file should be named 37802-h.htm or 37802-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/0/37802/ + +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 II (of 2) + +Author: Bjoerstjerne Bjoernson + +Translator: Cecil Fairfax + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37802] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERITAGE OF THE KURTS, VOL II *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=b-UsAAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE NOVELS OF + + BJOeRNSTJERNE BJOeRNSON + + _Edited by EDMUND GOSSE_ + + VOLUME XII + + + + + + + _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 II + + + + + NEW YORK + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1908 + + + + + + + _Printed in England_ + + + + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + + CONTENTS + + + IV.--_THE STAFF_--(_continued_) + +CHAP. + II. THE STAFF + + III. THE SOCIETY + + IV. ON THE STEPS + + + V.--_THE HUNT_ + + I. THE HUNT + + II. IN THE DOVECOTE + + III. SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS + + IV. THE HUNT + + + VI.--_WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY_ + + I. HAPPINESS + + II. A MISFORTUNE + + III. PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF PEACE WITHOUT + + IV. WAR + + + VII.--_THE FIGHT ITSELF_ + + I. IN BOTH CAMPS + + II. A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE STAFF + + Fair Milla and brown Tora, + Broad Tinka and slender Nora. + + +It was disputed where this remarkable verse with its rhythm and rhyme +was heard for the first time, whether in the senior Latin or senior +Commercial. The dispute can never be settled now, but when these girls +showed themselves it was often shouted, sung, and bawled after them--at +first in turns with another by Doesen, which ran, "_Nora, Tora, ora pro +nobis_;" but as it was incomplete, the names of Tinka and Milla not +being mentioned, it was dropped in favour of the former. This one was +also given up; it was perfectly well known who was father to the latest +name for them; Rendalen called them on a certain occasion "The Staff," +and after him the whole school, after it the boys' school, and at last +all who were inclined to pay them a compliment. We know three of the +Staff already--that is to say, we know them from the others, not more +than that. "Fair Milla" is no other than Emilie Engel; she looked like +a picture in enamel in her mourning. Broad Tinka is Katinka Hansen, +Augusta's sister, the contralto; and slender Nora is the Sheriff's +daughter, the one who hid under the sail, the one with big eyes and +wavy hair. + +Brown Tora, on the other hand, we do not know, and she shall remain a +little longer shrouded in mystery. + +A year ago a new sheriff was appointed to that part of the country, a +secretary in a government office, called Jens Tue, otherwise known as +the ladies' man.[1] Instead of becoming resident he went abroad with +his wife, whose chest was rather delicate. + +This lady had, by jealousy and insincerity, missed her true foothold in +life, and both in her thoughts and actions she flitted like a bird from +one interest to another; she wished to appear so immensely delighted, +so taken up with intellectual questions and music--until one day her +strength proved insufficient; she collapsed. + +Her husband carried her off with him, and as during their tour he was +all that was pleasant and amiable, her bird-like nature required +nothing more. She came home again, well and happy. + +It would have seemed more natural for Nora to remain at Christiania +with her friends and relations. It was said certainly that Fru +Rendalen's school was so very superior, but that could hardly be the +whole explanation; all were curious about the Sheriff's daughter when +she appeared. She was a fashionable young lady, tall and slender, +and if not exactly elegant, still stylish in dress and manner; a little +supercilious; still she did not give offence--she was too pliable for +that, too quick as well, entirely taken up with the fancy of the +moment. She gave an impetus to all she did, and people forgive a great +deal for that. + +But no one would forgive her letter-writing, or the incredible number +of letters which she received weekly! Not the teachers, for she +neglected the school work; not her companions, for she neglected them; +nay, she had hardly looked at them! She went to sleep every night with +inky fingers and a heap of letters beside her bed; either she was +writing letters or reading letters, or crying over them. During every +recreation time she ran upstairs to add a few lines, or to read a +letter over again which she had just received. As she was worried by +the pursuit of the others, she disappeared after every meal. Where was +she? There was a hunt for her, and she was found up in the top attic, +writing of course, this time upon a large barrel; she was blue with +cold. She had left at least twenty particular friends behind her at +Christiania; all the twenty wrote to her, and all received answers, +long answers--one must never be shorter than the others. Happily, she +had another passion, and it often chances that one thing counteracts +another. She was crazy about music. She sang snatches of songs with +great feeling, but, partly because at her age she could not sing much +at a time, partly because she had not training enough to carry out a +delicate interpretation, she could never properly render anything as a +whole. But even so, she was much admired by her companions, and by none +more than Tinka Hansen. For Tinka was herself musical, but in another +and more unpretending fashion. Like her sister Augusta, she had +developed early, especially in her powers of conversation. Katinka was +even-tempered, bright, dependable; everything she played, and that was +a great deal, she knew by heart. It was therefore she who obediently +accompanied Nora's songs. But her execution was not worth much; Nora +very soon took her in hand, and was not satisfied until she had brought +her to the point she wished; Tinka was extremely grateful for all this. + +One day Nora discovered Tinka's powerful contralto, and from that time +there were duets and duets. Their age suggested prudence, and if Nora +would not use moderation, Tinka both would and could. Nora was used to +command, so there were quarrels; but Tinka was so accustomed to conquer +when her conscience told her that she was right, that Nora was +completely vanquished. This was the foundation of their friendship. To +have a friend who at once admired and restrained her was especially +safe and good for Nora. But Nora acted upon Tinka like a succession of +impressions of art upon one who has seen nothing up to that time. As +Nora was absolutely confidential, it seemed to the conscientious Tinka +that this ought to be returned. + +Every one knew it, but not to a living being would she have admitted +it: Tinka was engaged. He, the man, had just gone to college; she had a +letter from him once a week; for many reasons she did not wish to have +them oftener. He was called Frederik--Frederik Tygesen; his father was +the stipendiary judge Tygesen, here in the town. Nora was "the first +person in the world" whom she had told this to. + +How delighted Nora was! Really, properly engaged, with letters every +week and the tacit consent of her parents. How had it come about? Well, +that was the odd thing about it; they neither of them knew. They had +once when she was eight years old, through an open door, heard Fru +Rendalen and her mother talking about Augusta and Tomas Rendalen, about +what _he_ had said to _his_ mother about Augusta, and what _she_ had +said to _her_ mother about Tomas. Ever since then these children had +been fond of each other, just as those other two had been; but they had +never spoken about it--never. A sincere friendship was founded between +Nora and Tinka upon this confidence, and Tinka's friendship brought +others with it. Nora was obliged to recall some of her interests from +Christiania, and by degrees to form a new circle of admirers. + +She began to write less frequently to the friends in Christiania, and +the letters would begin, "It is a terribly long time since," or "I +really am a wretch who----," or "Procrastination is to blame." + +But there was a limit to those whom she could conquer in the new senior +class, and this did not please her; in fact, she principally coveted +the friendship of those who withheld it, but all the same she could not +pass this boundary. The fact was that a queen had reigned there before +her--nay, was there still. Her ways of gaining power were different +from Nora's; whether they were less or not, depended on who it was who +measured them. First of all, she was the richest heiress in the town; +secondly, if there were the slightest sign of rain, snow, or cold wind, +a servant drove up to fetch her home, and then it was a question who +should drive home with her. + +She had almost always something good with her; her pocket-money was of +that description that the more she spent, the more she had; the +resources of her dainty little purse were incredible in this respect. +She got money from her mother, from her father, from two unmarried +uncles. As well as this she was pretty, discreet, attentive; no one had +ever known her to use a hasty word, or be rough, even at the gymnasium; +she was always very polite and a little subdued. In her eyes, to forget +yourself was the worst of crimes. She had lived, so to say, wrapped up +in cotton wool, and one felt this whenever one approached her. We know +her already; she is Emilie Engel. + +She was not specially gifted, but was industrious; she really worked +hard when there was anything on foot. Every one liked her, several paid +court to her, one or two absolutely raved about her. + +Tinka Hansen belonged to none of these groups; if ever she devoted +herself to any one it would be to her opposite; quiet, dutiful Milla +was too like herself. + +As Nora first attached herself to Tinka, and through Tinka to others, +Milla was offended. When Nora turned to her it was too late; there was +plenty of politeness and willingness to oblige, but not a word for her +singing, not a smile for her Christiania witticisms; never so much as a +glance when the whole class, during one of her lively descriptions, +hung admiringly on her words. + +Nora could not endure this indifference; she condescended to pay court +to her in all those ways which are only known to a young girl. In vain. +At last they divided into parties. Nora considered Milla insignificant, +egotistic, cold, prim, missish; Milla considered Nora--no, Milla did +not consider Nora anything, she let her friends talk and she listened. +Nora's jaunty Christiania style of manner and speech were unbecoming, +her caprices could not be endured by any one who respected herself; her +accomplishments were all superficial, she was characterless; besides, +it was considered that some of her remarks showed a want of religion, +and Milla's party was religious. + +Milla had been confirmed at Easter. The increasing weakness of Fru +Engel had given a tone of enthusiasm to her religious thoughts and to +the aspect of her mind; she found comfort through it, and need for it, +and she endeavoured to lead her daughter in the same direction. + +At the time of her confirmation Milla found a confidant in the niece of +the Froekener Jensens, little Anna Rogne, who was extremely religious; +she was two years her elder, but she was small and delicate; indeed, on +more than one occasion her life had been despaired of. Anna had more +religious knowledge than most grown people, and she enraptured Karl +Vangen at the confirmation classes. Milla, whom she had imbued with +some of her enthusiasm, had no objection to share in it to a slight +degree. As soon as little Anna observed this reflection of her own +thoughts, she rejoiced from the bottom of her heart, and declared Milla +to be "spiritually minded." She was astonished that they had not +discovered each other before. + +Then came the time when Milla's mother was given up by the doctors. +Little Anna's energy was more than natural; she watched beside the +sick-bed with her friend, she read, she sang, she prayed; for Fru +Engel's life must and should be saved; the doctor could not save her, +but prayer could--how confident she was, how enraptured! And then when +Fru Engel died notwithstanding, she would literally have rejoiced to +have given her life for Milla; it was so beautiful to her to see the +rich heiress, surrounded with all the comforts of life, pleading on her +knees to Jesus; and now, when the prayers had not availed, she still +trusted--nay, in the midst of her sorrow she thanked God with her, +entirely submissive to His will. Little Anna felt from the bottom of +her heart that a bond had been twined between them which death alone +could sever. + +Milla returned to school three weeks later than the others; she took a +place next to Anna Rogne. They drove up together nearly every day, and +they returned together in the carriage, for Milla was still living in +the country, and Anna was almost always with her. + +Milla's return made a stir. Her mourning suited her to perfection; her +pale face and subdued manner accorded with it like dull silver work on +velvet. The quiet gentleness with which she accepted everything, even +Nora's eager worship, gained her much considerate kindness. + +The first day or two seemed devoted to expressing sympathy with Milla. + +But there was a new face among them, a new figure there on the form in +front of her, a new voice, fresh ways--and what was not less important +to Milla--a new dress. Especially when the new hat and mantle were +added to it, a more daring choice of colours was presented, a more +delicate cut, richer details, than she had ever seen before. She knew +who the new-comer was--the daughter of the chief custom-house officer +Holm, from Bergen, the one with the brown face, large dark eyes, and +curly white hair: a curiously shy man, who drank, drank so that it was +only through forbearance that he retained his post; he had ten +children! + +Tora was the eldest, and had been brought up, from her twelfth year, +partly in England, partly in France, by an uncle who had been a +shipbroker, first in the one country, then in the other; he had just +died, leaving his adopted daughter a small annuity. Milla knew all +this. Anna had also incidentally observed that Tora Holm was pretty. + +But this was not the right word. Where were Anna's eyes? Tora was a +beauty, and her beauty was singular and "foreign." Anna had used her +ears as little as her eyes, for there was but one opinion about it. + +Milla did nothing the whole of the first day but look at Tora, who, +although her back was turned towards her, could not keep quiet, but +twisted and turned as though she could feel the other's eyes on her +neck. The more restless Tora became, the more calmly Milla studied her. +At home, in the sitting-room, stood a head of the young Augustus in +marble; it had been Milla's admiration from childhood. And now, there +it was, on a girl's body, on the bench before her, moving in brightness +and colour. + +The brow was exactly the same, the whole shape of the head, broad +above; the curve of the cheeks and chin, the arch of the eyebrows the +same, all the same! The eyes were different and more full of life, for +those of the Augustus gave the impression of dulness, or at least +heaviness. These sparkled incessantly in changing shades of blue-grey, +under long dark eyelashes. The mouth was full and curved, the hair +black-brown, or brown-black, as the light fell upon it. The complexion +was a sort of pale olive. Milla had no words to express it; it was a +combination she had never seen before. There was a large, very large +birth-mark on her cheek, perhaps it was that which disturbed her, for +she never turned that cheek when she looked round at Milla. Her figure +was developed, very strong and statuesque. Apparently she was a little +over sixteen. She did not look well at the moment, she was flushed and +had dark lines under her eyes; the perspiration stood on her face. + +Her whole appearance was striking; Milla looked at her without a trace +of envy. What taste this new girl had, beyond anything she had ever +seen; how much she must know! + +Every now and then Milla looked at her next neighbour. Anna sat there, +spare and angular; her thin, blue, and inordinately long fingers +especially occupied Milla to-day. What a contrast! + +Should she speak to the new-comer, be friendly to her? Perhaps it would +be a little forward. From the moment that she saw her during the next +"recreation," walking arm in arm with Nora, this idea was dropped as a +matter of course. + +During the three weeks which preceded Milla's return, a good deal had +happened; a revolution had silently begun which was not yet at an end. + +Tora Holm made her appearance in the school rather untowardly. She +arrived late, met no one in the hall, and did not know where to go; +every one was assembled in the "laboratory" for morning prayers. At +that moment Karl Vangen, who had been detained at the bedside of a sick +person, rushed in and almost overturned her; then became as confused as +only a young clergyman can, mistook her for the new teacher, and +bewildered himself and her by his embarrassment. It was therefore some +little time before she, in her Bergen sing-song, could explain who she +was, and when he heard it, and it flashed into his mind that she was in +trouble for her uncle's death and had returned to an unhappy home, he +broke out, "We will all be so kind to you here; so"--he seized her +hand--"welcome, welcome!" Before he could say more she began to cry. +She was nervous and timid, everything was new and strange. He could +think of nothing else to do than to open the door and call out +"Mother." + +And out came Fru Rendalen with her spectacles awry, and asked rather +shortly (for Fru Rendalen was particular, and this should not have +happened), "What is it, Karl?" + +"Here is Froeken Holm, custom-house officer Holm's daughter, mother." + +"Very well, let her come in," answered Fru Rendalen, opening the door +wide. "How do you do?" she said, as she stood in the doorway and held +out her hand to Tora in the half-lighted hall. There was far too much +of a command in her tone for Tora not to advance. Fru Rendalen then saw +that she had come crying to school like a little thing of five years +old. She was surprised; she showed her a place, which Tora shyly took, +and asked one of the teachers to help her off with her hat and cloak, +which the little donkey had kept on--thought Fru Rendalen to herself. + +They sang a hymn and Karl spoke about meeting--whenever one discovers +anything good in a person, one meets God--that was his subject. + +At the moment Tora was only conscious of the sound of a powerful voice, +she was tormented by the remembrance of her unlucky entrance and the +impression it had made; first and foremost upon Fru Rendalen, but also +on the others; she had seen that plainly. She could not keep quiet; she +turned away when any one looked at her, turned this way and that as +though she wished both to be looked at and not to be looked at. If any +one spoke to her, which happened after a while, she coloured, and +answered something which she at once contradicted. This went on during +the first three days. She knew neither Norwegian geography nor +Norwegian history--indeed, she did not know a single thing except +English and French, and coloured up when this was discovered; but when +it was also discovered that she spoke both these languages fluently, +she coloured up just as much. She would not do gymnastics on any +consideration--at last she said she had no dress. She made herself one +which was a masterpiece of coquetry; but this she denied, and declared +it to be purely and simply ugly. She could not go on long with the +gymnastics, strongly built as she was, but gave in completely and began +to cry. Miss Hall, who superintended the gymnastics and introduced +special exercises for some of the girls, led her towards the window and +looked at her. Miss Hall had partly forgotten her Norse, and did not +remember at the moment that Tora spoke English; she tried to find a +word while she examined her. Tora misunderstood this and ran away from +her, put on her things and went straight home, refusing to return to +school. It required no little trouble before she could be brought back, +not only to school but as a boarder; she needed better food than she +got at home, for she was beginning in _chlorosis_; this was the word +that Miss Hall could not remember. Tora now shared Miss Hall's room; +she was the first, though afterwards one of the pupils always did so. + +Little by little the new-comer forgot herself so far as to be able to +sit still, but never if any one looked at her steadily, or talked about +her. She must feel it in her back, her companions said. They tried +experiments, and laughed when she really did by degrees become uneasy, +and at last turned round and looked at them. + +Nora had been a boarder during the past year, and was often up at the +school. She did not speak to Tora except just in passing, but one +Sunday Tora asked her if she might do her hair for her. This made as +much stir among the boarders as though she had offered Nora some new +hair. Word was sent from room to room; they all collected, big ones and +little ones, to see Nora with new hair. They stood there, they leaned +over one another, while the great work went on. + +For what was done was nothing less; laughter soon changed to +astonishment, to admiration, to applause. + +One day, when Nora's hair was untidy, Tora had suddenly noticed that +this was becoming to her. It suited the large, wide-open eyes, by far +the most striking part of her little face. She had next to no forehead, +very small cheeks, a little mouth with cherry lips, and a rather large +nose, a real family nose; but it only seemed to set off the eyes, so +that it was the eyes all the same--nothing but eyes. Now what was +wanted was some way of raising the hair, so that it should help the +eyes as well. Tora had seen a great deal, and often had "inspirations," +but never as yet in hair-dressing. She had one now. Naturally she began +by letting it all down and combing it out, then took the front hair and +made it into two large rolls, one on each side, lightly twisted; it was +very little in itself, and not at all striking, but the effect in this +case was amazing. When her eyes grew large, the hair looked as though +it would spread its wings and fly away, sometimes almost as though it +flickered--the hair was naturally a little wavy. + +Up to this time Nora had never been thought pretty, there were other +qualities in her which one noticed; but now Rendalen himself, who very +rarely looked closely at any one, stopped short as he was reading +aloud, when, chancing to raise his eyes, he caught sight of Nora; the +whole class knew what he thought. The one who was least concerned was +perhaps Nora herself; now she had settled about her hair, and she need +not think anything more about it; but when Tora Holm, as their +friendship increased, began to rave about her talents, and, with her +tendency towards exaggeration, declared that Nora was "all soul," that +her music "absolutely carried one away," and that her chance remarks +always "hit the right nail on the head," that really was something! She +longed for more with insatiable voracity, and cultivated the +friendship. Tora Holm constantly made discoveries; the most important +one was that Nora was always right, even if she had been capricious +towards others, hasty--nay, even when she had had a slight fit of +untruthfulness, Nora was right, quite right--_at the bottom_. + +It now struck Nora that Tora Holm was the first person who had ever +thoroughly understood her: to think that a stranger who looked at her +with fresh impartial eyes should have discovered this at once! The more +they saw of each other, the more gifted they thought each other. Tora's +talent for telling stories was the "greatest" Nora had "ever known;" +she gathered all her set round her to listen, and the story-telling +began. Fairy tales and romances by turns--what had not Tora read, what +did she not remember? The girls would listen over and over again to the +"Thousand and One Nights" (not the condensed edition, but the full one) +as though they were little children. As well as this, they liked +pictures of real life which did not go beyond their comprehension, +though they preferred that the lovers (and by inference also +themselves) should be noble and unhappy. These girls of fifteen, +sixteen, and seventeen (Tora herself was nearly seventeen), for various +reasons had, outside their school subjects, read only by stealth, with +the results which naturally follow. The books which Rendalen had read +to them had greatly widened their horizon and increased their desire to +know more, so that Tora was doubly welcome. + +But between the story-telling times Nora wished to have her to herself, +really to possess her; Nora-Tora, Tora-Nora, wove themselves together, +no one else could approach them. Nora announced this openly; they two +preferred being by themselves. + +Every one knew Nora, and understood that in a few days it would be +over; they only laughed, but there was one who did not laugh. + +Tinka Hansen could not endure faithlessness; she had taken Nora to task +on one or two occasions and warned her. This time she was silent, and +allowed the penalty to consist in punctiliously respecting their wish +to remain apart. Nora could never get her to come with her. + +Very soon Nora began to feel lonely among all these delightful Oriental +palaces; she did not realise this till she discovered that without +Tinka she did not feel free to do as she liked; without her she dared +not always listen. Tora's romances were often very "French." For more +than a year Nora had been used to the limits which Tinka imposed. She +was not sure if she were now inside or outside them, and an uneasy +conscience was the result. Tora had to suffer for this; Nora did not +know what they ought to do; she peremptorily cut short a story which +had been begun, ordered another, but stopped that as well; made +promises and did not keep them, and felt bored. And it was just at the +beginning of this period that Milla returned to school. + +One Thursday evening, in Fru Rendalen's room, Tom as was going to read +a new play to them. Tora Holm, who chanced to be near Milla, looked at +her new black dress, which was a different one from that she wore in +the schoolroom. Without touching the dress she said, showing with her +fingers what she meant, the "trimming ought to have gone so, not so, +and had better have been narrower." She did not wait for an answer, but +walked farther on and sat down. + +The day after, before morning prayers began, Milla came up to her and +thanked her; she had tried it, and found that Tora was right. There was +no time for more, but during the first "recreation" they involuntarily +sought each other out. "How could you see that at once?" asked Milla. + +"I tried it the other day on a doll," answered Tora. + +"On a doll?" asked Milla with a slight blush. Tora felt that she ought +not to have let this out; she was always doubtful about what she ought +to do. What a delicate instinct Milla Engel must have, to blush on her +account! + +"So you dress dolls, do you?" said Milla, smiling, as she passed her +the next day. Tora protested; it really was not clear what she +protested, whether it were that she had one or two dolls, or that it +was her sisters who had them, or that even married women often have +dolls, so that there could be nothing odd in that, or else that she +quite saw how unbecoming it was, since every age ought to suit with +its.... She said all this, and a great deal more, in her Bergen +sing-song, and Milla smiled. "Won't you come in and see me this +afternoon? We are back from the country now." + +Tora had not refused before Milla had said good-bye, but afterwards she +felt dreadfully embarrassed about it. Nevertheless at six o'clock she +was there. + +Tora had a great wish to get up in the world--she would not be chained +to a home such as hers was, to such a fate as threatened her. + +Consul Engel's house was almost the only one in the town where the door +was kept closed all day. When one rang, either a man-servant or a maid +opened the door, and one entered a house where there was Brussels +carpet in the passages and on the stairs, as well as in the rooms, and +where, to begin with, one found oneself between two mirrors where one +could see oneself from head to foot. + +Tora was shown upstairs. "Froeken Engel's" room was there. She was +heartily welcomed. The rooms were those which Fru Engel had occupied +during the last years of her life; she had very rarely left them. + +She had died here, and it was for that reason that the family had gone +so late into the country this year, and had only just returned to the +house. + +Every comfort which a room can possess was there; the chairs and +couches were all as soft as the cushions of an invalid, you seemed to +sink into them; they were upholstered in moss-green silk, and the +curtains and portieres were of the same material and colour, the walls +were a dark indefinite colour. There was an old-fashioned rosewood +cabinet in inlaid work, with a number of small pigeon-holes and +receptacles in it. Tora never wearied of looking at it. An Erard piano +with carved heads and emblems, a bookcase in the same style. Pictures, +especially landscapes, which made one long for the evening sun, with +its hazy light and almost sultry heat. + +Tora went from one to another; she looked at every single thing as +though it were a person with whom she wished to make friends. From +there she went to the bedroom, and admired the soft carpet into which +her feet sank, the little _chaise-longue_ in one corner, the bed with +its rich hangings, the variety and elegance of the toilette apparatus. +Milla's pleasure at seeing her was expressed in the one remark that she +had never before taken any one up into her mother's rooms. + +There was only one piece of furniture which did not please Tora; at +last she could no longer contain herself, it assorted so ill with its +surroundings. "What is there in that press, dear? Why is it here?" +Milla replied, smiling, that it was very incongruous, she knew; it had +not been there before--in fact, it was her own; she had had it ever +since she was a child. + +"But can't it stand in another place?" + +"No, not very well." + +There was something of reserve in this answer, she could not inquire +further. As Tora was leaving Milla asked her to come again soon, +but she had better let her know beforehand, so that they might be +alone--that would be the pleasantest. Tora understood that this was +meant for Anna Rogne, but that was no affair of hers. + +It so chanced that the next time she sat telling stories in the +twilight to Nora and her friends, who for convenience had settled +themselves on the floor on some carpets and eider-downs, she let fall +the remark, that "Of all the people I know, the one who is most like +Gulnare is Milla Engel." This, to her audience, was much like saying +before the king that he was not the wisest man in the kingdom. Nora was +amazed, her friends almost broke out into open anger. Tora felt that +she had done a foolish thing; she tried to explain herself by ascribing +that "passive" beauty to Milla which was here implied. The expressions +active and passive were at that time war cries in the senior class; +there were "active" people and "passive" people, "active" eyes and +"passive" eyes, "active" and "passive" colours. + +"But, good gracious," said one of the girls, "Milla has not dark hair; +she is fair." + +"So is Nora," answered the thoughtless Tora. + +"I certainly have no wish to be a passive beauty, or an Eastern +princess," answered Nora angrily. "No, I did not mean that at all, I +only meant ----" she stopped short, for she really did not know why she +had said it. + +"That was sheer nonsense," the others declared, and pressed Tora so +hard that she declared, with tears in her eyes, that Milla was the most +refined and the prettiest girl in the school. She (Tora) was only too +happy to know any one who was so considerate, so full of tact; it was +more than could be said of every one. + +This was too much. Gina Krog herself, who was always forbearing, did +not now scruple to announce that she had known for two days, but had +not wished to tell, that Tora went to see Milla, and that they were +bosom friends. There was a dead silence. Soon afterwards Nora left, and +the others dispersed. Tora tried to explain, but they would not listen +to her. + +None of the boarders belonged to Milla's party; not a girl there had +set her foot inside Milla Engel's door--for the reason that they had +never been asked. + +However much Tora tossed about and turned herself and her pillow that +night, she could not sleep; it vexed and hurt her that she could not be +friends with one without losing the friendship of the other. Now the +whole school would look on her as a faithless wretch. Heaven knew that +she was not, yet she might be sent to Coventry for it, it might always +be remembered against her. It was a question of the future for her. She +had been so tossed about, she felt so insecure; she was always +stretching out her arms for something solid to cling to, which as +constantly eluded her grasp. She cried bitterly; she liked them both so +much, each in her own way, though they were so different. Why should +she not if she liked? What could she do? She did not wish to sacrifice +either of them. + +The next day was Sunday; she had to go to church, but she would not +wait for the others, who were going as well--so she went straight off +to Milla. Milla was dressed for church; they met in the hall, but she +was surprised when Tora asked if she might speak to her. She took her +into her room and locked the door. Tora began to cry and told her +everything exactly as it had happened; she did not conceal that she was +fond of them both and why she was so, nor how lonely she felt, and what +an effect this might have on her future. Nora had so much influence +both among the boarders and the day girls. + +In the midst of the story, just as Tora had paused for a moment to cry, +Milla heard someone at the door; there was a knock, she opened it just +wide enough to step through; in a little time she returned and said +that she and Anna Rogne had made an engagement to go to church +together, but that she had excused herself on the score of a headache; +it was certainly the second Sunday that she had done so, but it could +not be helped. Milla was sorry for Tora; she really was fond of her, it +showed itself now. She promised not to take anything in bad part which +Tora might devise, so as to keep on good terms with Nora and her +numerous friends. Milla really was very sweet. + +Tora had only time to put her arms round her and kiss her for this, for +she must show herself in church. But might she come again in the +afternoon? She was very much consoled, but she longed for more; she was +so frightened, she must manage to talk everything over with her. Milla +asked her to come again as early as ever she could. + +Tora came again after coffee; as soon as she had locked the door, Milla +whispered, as she put her arm round Tora's neck, that now she was going +to give her a treat, she felt certain that it would please her. To no +one, absolutely to no one, had she shown what Tora was going to see. +The press there---- + +"The press, well----?" + +"Once it held my dolls." + +"Your dolls!" + +"Every one knows that it does not now," said Milla; as she spoke she +flung it open. The large double doors, both the upper and lower ones, +flew back together, and the girls could see four storeys of a house; +the bottom one a complete and marvellously dainty kitchen, scullery, +and dining-room, above a drawing-room, a large elegant apartment with +the most lovely furniture upholstered in silk, a black rosewood table, +fireplace, looking-glass, clock. On the third storey a bedroom, with +the sweetest little beds--real actual beds--and a wash-hand stand, +where everything was to be found, down to the most minute details. On +the fourth storey was the wardrobe, a magnificent doll's wardrobe. +There were changes in silk, velvet, _moire antique_, in different +colours; a whole collection of materials which had not yet been made +up; scraps of every description evidently collected with diligence and +care during many years. All linen, even stockings, and other +underclothing, all in duplicate, as well as hats, mantles, ornaments, +belts. + +Tora shrieked; she was down on her knees and up on tiptoe; she did not +at first lay a finger on them, but devoured them with her eyes, unable +to take in the whole--it could not be grasped all at once; there was +too much, too great a variety, it was too wonderfully minute. She had +not even counted the dolls yet. "One, two, three, four--five--six! +seven!! eight!!!" + +She had begun softly, but her voice rose at every number, so that Milla +hastened to say, "Twelve, twelve, there are twelve." + +"Twelve! actually twelve! Oh dear! oh dear! Have you kept all the dolls +you have ever had in your life, never spoilt a single one?" + +Well, yes she had, but never one since she was seven. + +"Wait a minute." And solemnly, as though she were afraid they might +disappear, Tora carefully put in her hand and took up the very, very +sweetest doll in light red silk, with shoes and hat of the same colour, +a dark red parasol, and a little fan stuck into her belt; her +underclothes were made like a real person's, with lace and embroidery, +a pocket in her dress with a pocket-handkerchief in it, and elegant +French gloves which fitted her hands; as well a little brooch shaped +like a forget-me-not, and bracelets and watch in the same style. Tora +stood dumb with admiration, while she turned the doll round, inspected +the cut and make of the dress, the underclothes; held it away from her, +then close to her. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Some +one had come right upstairs without the preoccupied girls having heard +the least sound. They were startled. Milla held up her finger. She +turned red and white. Of course it was Anna. But Anna had never seen +the dolls, she would not understand. + +There were, she explained later, two more dolls in mourning, but Anna +had been with her so much lately that she had not been able to dress +many of them, otherwise her plan had been to have them all in mourning, +that would have been charming. Another knock, low and hesitating. They +held their breaths; Milla was quite unnerved. They heard her go; they +listened so intently that they could hear her step on the stairs. It +was a most unlucky chance. Milla had given orders that if any one +besides Tora came they were to say that she had gone out for a walk on +account of her headache. But the maid who had received the order, +Milla's own maid, could not have answered the door, although it was her +time for doing so. What should Milla do? But from this consideration +she was swept away by a whirlwind. + + +Nora lay on the bed in Tinka Hansen's room; a little wainscoted, +blue-painted attic in shoemaker Hansen's new house in the market-place. +As well as the bed there was an open bookshelf painted brown, one or +two chairs, a large washstand intended for two, but for which no other +place could be found; a high short sofa on which Tinka now sat, looking +across at the bed, her right arm resting on her little desk which stood +on the table before her. + +Nora lay sobbing loudly, and Tinka sat calmly by and looked at her; +Nora knew now what faithlessness was, how it tasted to be deserted for +the sake of another. + +But it was more than being forsaken--she was abandoned, deposed, made +nothing of. Tora had lifted her up to the skies; she was "all mind," +"could not make a mistake." And now this very Tora had dropped her--for +Milla Engel! The world was nothing but lies and delusions. "Oh dear! +Tinka, why cannot you be kind to me? You do not know how unhappy I am." +But Tinka was silent. "I cannot do without you, Tinka--no, I cannot. I +have discovered since this morning that I made nothing but mistakes. I +have no stability--no, not a bit." + +"No, that is it," said Tinka soothingly. + +"Not a bit; oh dear, what shall I do? Won't you talk to me?" She cried +dreadfully now. + +"You only care for adoration, Nora." + +"Not 'only,' Tinka; don't say 'only.'" + +"No, no; but you are never happy unless you are adored, and one tires +of that." + +"What shall I do, Tinka? Goodness knows I am tired of it myself. Ah, +you do not believe it, but it's true, especially now since Milla is +adored as well. Ugh! it is disgusting to think of." + +"That is merely because it is Milla, and not you." + +"No indeed, Tinka," and she raised herself on her elbow. "Tora has +given me so much of it that I am tired of it; yes, I am; and to think +that she is with Milla now." She flung herself down again and cried, +with anger and vexation. She raised herself again suddenly: "But I must +get rid of all this; it is disgusting; I despise myself; you do not +know what I have been thinking since this morning. Help me, Tinka; you +are the only one of them all who speaks the truth to me." + +Tinka was unmoved: Nora flung herself down again, turned away and +cried. + +"I cannot understand," said Tinka at length, "that you who rave so +for----" + +"Do not use that word"--Nora interrupted her while she made a gesture +with her hand behind her--"it has become loathsome now that Milla does +it too. Milla 'raves.' Can you imagine anything so----?" + +"Well, well, I will not say 'rave.'" + +"No, don't." + +"Very well, I will say 'interest yourself--you who interest yourself so +much in all that is just and great, and who are also so brave, for you +would cheerfully die for what you think right----" + +"Yes, I could, Tinka; I believe I could do that; ah, how nice it is to +hear something good again, and especially from you; I feel quite +astray." + +"Yes, but now I am coming to what I want to say--do you understand? Is +it not a shame that any one so excellent should all the same be such a +peacock?" + +"A peacock, Tinka?" + +"Yes, a peacock; you are just like a peacock!" + +"Am I? I think you are----" + +"It was not I who said so." + +"I thought as much." + +"It was Tora who said so." + +"Tora! the ungrateful----" + +"Yes, but Tora is right; you are dreadfully like a peacock, Nora; that +thin little face of yours, and then you are so slender." + +"Come, I say, Tinka." + +"Yes, it's true. All we friends agree as to that. We are all to be the +eyes in your tail. Yes, that is it." + +Nora threw herself down and howled, with her head and hands in the +eider-down quilt. + +"Yes, of course you have offended Tora--you offend every one. You are +so capricious, you are so spoilt." + +"Yes, that is what I am!" came from the eider-down. + +"That is what you are. Frederik says so as well." + +"What does Frederik say?" + +Nora raised her red face quickly up from the eider-down. Frederik was +an authority. + +"I will read it to you," answered the other, opening the desk, and +taking out a letter of at least five sheets. + +"He writes," she said, as she turned to the fourth side of the fourth +sheet, with the same calm deliberation with which she had opened the +desk, looked for the letter, closed the desk again, and now read: "You +must not be too severe with her either, for if that were her real +nature, she would behave differently, and understand how to retain her +worshippers. As it is, she is only a spoilt child, who has never done +anything without being praised for it, and has besides become so +capricious that she is tired to-day of those who praised her +yesterday." + +"Oh dear! how true that is, Tinka." + +"But perhaps she will weary of caprice as well, for she certainly +desires something more than that. I was impressed by that in the +summer. But you must help her, Tinka." + +"Yes, you must." + +Nora had raised herself, and now sat on the edge of the bed. She had +folded her hands, and looked at Tinka. "You must always be with me. I +am not content with myself, when you are not with me. Oh, Tinka! I will +never, never, never be like that again. If you see the slightest sign +of it, you must take me to task for it. You know I do want to be +something more than this. I want to be remarkable. Ah! don't laugh; in +reality I have no wish to sing and make fun for the others, and be +flattered and flattered; but it came so, I can't understand why. I +don't want it; I wish to be able to do something, to take up something +with an object. _Yes, that is what I want_. Sometimes I believe I must +go off to the wars, or die with the Nihilists in Russia. Yes, I do +believe it. Or else travel about and lecture; be hissed down and +wounded. Yes, I could. I don't know why it should be, but I long for +it. I don't say it to boast, Tinka, I only say it because I feel it so. +Believe me, I do feel it in that way. If I fail, it will be because it +is nothing but wishing; perhaps I am incapable of it. Well, all the +same I have the wish. I have no wish for the sort of thing I do now, +and for which I am praised. I have such an unconquerably strong, +strong, strong longing." + +She raised herself, her eyes sparkled through her tears; her hair stood +on end, she had dishevelled it with her long arms whilst she was +crying. She threw herself down again. Tinka could not resist all the +pleasant remembrances which Nora had awakened. She walked across and +bent her broad full figure over her. And there they sat for some time +together, talking that endearing nonsense which is proper to the +happiness of reconciliation. Tinka did not forget all that she had +treasured in her memory for Nora's benefit, but the sting of it was +gone. Nora's lively answers made it all appear stupid, and at last she +was ready to laugh at what a little time before had seemed something +very serious, immensely important. + +In the midst of this, some one rushed up the stairs, step by step, up +the first flight, like the beat of a drum. Then up the second, then the +third, across to the attic, in the same wild unflagging whirl. There +was only one who ever came in that fashion, but it could not very well +be she. The door was not locked; there was no knock; it was pushed +open. Yes, it was Tora! Good heavens! + +The amazement, vexation, dignity of the two girls! It could not have +been done better at Court, Tinka's perfect unconsciousness that there +could be such a person as Tora Holm in the world, or Nora's noble and +spiritual, "Don't disturb me," without a word spoken. It was splendid! +Never did so fine a representation more utterly break down. Tora was +beaming with delight, victory, and rejoicing. She talked about _twelve_ +dolls, some of which were as big as an ordinary child; of--she really +believed---_fifty_ dolls' dresses of different sorts, _moire antique_, +silk, and velvet, besides morning dresses, embroidered skirts and +drawers, silk stockings, gloves and parasols; of beds and curtains; of +a wash-hand stand, with all belonging to it, down to the most minute +details; of everything from the kitchen to the drawing-room, and the +drawing-room furniture; of a splendid plan about the dolls, who were +all to go to a Court Ball on the King's birthday; about Milla, who was +a hundred thousand times better than they dreamed of, who did not +object, nay wished, that they should both come up with her and see it +all now, at once, and help about the Court Ball--of course as the +deepest of secrets. Yes, it was true; on her word of honour it was +true. She told them how it had all happened; about Milla's room, what +it was like, and that she had been there a number of times without +hearing a word about the dolls. But to-day Milla had shown them to her, +merely out of the goodness of her heart to comfort her. Now she wanted +to show them to the others, if it could be managed, and all four be +friends from this time forward. + +Tora had proposed it; Milla had been startled, but she had come round, +and at last thought it a capital plan. Milla was so good, and they must +be so too; no hesitation--they must. Why should there be two parties? +Milla had her ways, Nora hers. + +They had never really done each other any harm, not the least bit; if +they would only try to grasp the fact: "we can talk more about it as we +go." + +The two looked at each other, but Tora gave them no breathing time. "We +must tell them at home that we are going to stay to tea, for that was +what was meant. It would never do to refuse an invitation, a formal +invitation, to the Engels." + +Tora was a perfect whirlwind, carrying all before her, and the storm of +excitement had brought fire to her eyes, her movements--she seemed to +sparkle. She took possession of them. + +Not long afterwards they all four stood before the press; the +introduction, the embarrassment from the change of circumstances, +apologies, counter-apologies, occupied the first few minutes; Tora took +hold of Milla and pushed her gently forward to the front of the press. + +"Open! open!--we can talk afterwards--open!" Milla herself felt that +here action was better than words, and opened the door. + +The cry of delight which was given by the newcomers fully rewarded her. + +There was an amount of industry, order, loyalty, and sense of beauty in +this little collection which she was aware of herself, and which made +it dear to her heart. It was her treasure, never seen by many people, +and for the last two or three years only by herself; there was +therefore a special charm of secrecy in it; it would be enjoyed when +some day it was opened before the astonished eyes of others. And now, +how it was enjoyed! + +Each one found a special pleasure in it. Tinka looked upon the dolls as +so many little children, she talked baby talk to them: "Doodnes +dacious" for "Goodness gracious," and "tweet" for "sweet." She began to +undress one for the pleasure of dressing it again. + +Tora delighted in the stuffs, felt each one, held them up against the +light, laid them one against the other. There was a special piece of +brocade which she now saw for the first time (Milla looked it out for +her), which absolutely enraptured her; it suggested plan upon plan, she +talked without a pause. Nora regarded the press as a collection of +works of art. Milla became a new person in her eyes. It was evident +what she thought of her now, one saw it in Milla's slightly heightened +colour. + +They treated each other the whole evening with a distinction which the +others considered as only natural. + +They were soon all sitting round the table with the dolls shared among +them; the materials and everything which could be of use for this great +object, a Court Ball, lay scattered before them, and eight eyes and +forty fingers rummaged among them. They could not agree; Tora wished to +have a costume ball, her endless chatter filled the air with fancies +and varying colours, a perfect whirl of figures of damsels and _rococo_ +dames with ribbons, feathers, and hats. Milla preferred the present +day, the fashion plates, especially some quite new ones. + +Nora was sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, according as +some special thing took her fancy. Tinka opposed the idea; they could +each one dress her doll according to her own fancy. Nora and Tora +rebelled against this; there ought to be some style in it. Milla dealt +with the proposal with more deliberation, but was against it. Nora +quickly grew impatient at this, and then, by a sleight of hand +which only girls understand, this discussion turned into a dispute +about--Tomas Rendalen and Karl Vangen! Not between Tinka and the +others, but Tora against Nora and Tinka. Tora being herself nervous, +could not endure Rendalen's nervousness. It was either this, or that +she was inclined to be in opposition; otherwise it cannot be explained +how it was that from the first day she had been unable to get on with +Rendalen. A speaking resemblance between a red-spotted stuff and +Rendalen's hands had started the dispute. Nora had hastily answered +that his hands were clever, really speaking hands; Vangen's, on the +contrary, were "big and stupid, as broad at one end as the other." + +When there are only two masculine teachers in a girls' school, the +pupils very rarely praise both--one must be censured when the other is +applauded; and at school it was generally honest Karl Vangen who was +used as a foil whenever any one felt inclined to become enthusiastic +over the intellectual Rendalen. + +But on this point Tora was in opposition from the moment when Karl +Vangen had grasped her hand in warm welcome, and had beamed down at her +with his kind eyes, and besides had made their meeting the text of his +address that day--since then she had been fond of him. And the more +awkward and simple he was, the more she liked him--she fought for him +until the others were forced to respect her. + +This time it began very mildly; they merely taunted her with Karl +Vangen's "thick head," his wide mouth, his long fingers, long legs and +big feet; and she replied with allusions to Rendalen's red hair, +screwed-up eyes, his feminine preciseness, his scented handkerchief; +but it soon became more serious. Tora's quick wit cited instances of +Rendalen's uncontrolled impetuosity, and what mistakes he made in +consequence. Instances of his uneven temper--how sometimes he rushed up +and down the class without speaking, without hearing, without seeing; +at other times he was nothing but life, absolutely given up to fun--far +too much so. The others considered that this was unjust, because if +this were mentioned by itself, no one would have the least idea of +Rendalen, who was, for all that, the best and cleverest teacher in the +world. Tinka had a capricious talent for mimicry and not the slightest +leaning towards piety, so that Karl Vangen very easily appeared to her +in a ludicrous light; she now began to preach, or rather to bleat, like +him, with eyes gazing fixedly heavenwards. Nora laughed violently, Tora +cried, Milla could not prevent herself from laughing, but all the same, +she now took Karl Vangen's part; she quietly remarked that she thought +him "delightful"; she did not mention Rendalen. As Milla was the +hostess and Nora and Tinka at her house for the first time, they said +no more; but Tora would not give in; she now seriously began to sing +Karl Vangen's praises. In order not to answer and admit that there +might be some truth in it, Nora walked away humming and looked out of +the window. "Good gracious! why, there goes Anna Rogne," she said. + +"Has she been here?" asked Milla, turning pale; she got up and came +towards the window. Yes, certainly she saw Anna hurrying away, she must +be much disturbed; she herself, with as much speed as was becoming, +hastened out of the door and down the stairs. Some time elapsed before +she returned. She was silent and really upset; Anna had been right +upstairs and therefore outside their door. There was general +astonishment. Milla told them what had happened that morning, and how +innocent she really was in the matter. Tora at once took it upon +herself, and was terribly unhappy. + +"No, the blame is mine alone," said Milla. + +What should she do? She had ordered the carriage. + +No one answered, but they looked involuntarily at Tinka. + +"Yes," said Tinka, "we will all go together to fetch Anna and explain +to her how it happened." Nora and Tora agreed at once that that was the +only right thing to do. Milla, too, admitted that this would be best, +but she had never said anything to Anna about the dolls; Anna did not +care for such things, and now it could not very well be explained to +her without offence. Nora and Tora were sensible of this; it would not +do. + +Tinka held to her opinion; she would gladly undertake it by herself. + +No; if any one were to do so it should be Milla. + +This put the idea into Milla's head to write. Simply say to Anna that +the others were here, would she not come too? She sent the carriage. +Yes, the others thought that would do. + +"Go yourself!" said Tinka. + +"No, I am not so discourteous as that to my guests," laughed Milla. She +sat down to write. + +The others were quiet for a time; at last Nora broke in with, "Tinka is +certainly right; go yourself, we can easily go out just for that time." + +"No," answered Milla, looking up from her letter; "Anna need not know +that we saw her. Then it would be the most natural thing in the world +for me to send a message to her when you are here." The others could +not contradict this. She finished off the note and hurried down with +it; as she came up again they heard the carriage drive out of the gate, +at the side of the house. Milla smiled; "I said I would explain another +time why you had come. I told Hans to be quick and to drive a little +way round so as not to pass Anna; perhaps the carriage will be there +before she is." It was evident that she was pleased at having proved +equal to a difficult occasion. + +They resumed their discussion on the dolls' festival; but before the +carriage returned with Anna, the dolls and their things must be back in +the press. + +Suddenly Nora broke out: "If we are not to mention the dolls to Anna, +why in the world could we not have all gone to her together?" + +They looked puzzled at each other for a moment. It was true! They burst +out laughing. What had given them the mad idea that for them all to go +together would be to let out the secret of the dolls. They tried to +recall the course of their conversation, but could not determine it; at +all events, it showed that they had uneasy consciences. Tinka proposed +in good time to put away the dolls, their wardrobe and stuffs, under +Milla's superintendence; but Milla undertook to put the whole thing +tidy later on, they could sit quiet while she did so. They all objected +to this; it would be awfully amusing to put them away. And so it was +settled. + +The carriage returned without Anna--she had a headache. Tora looked at +Milla, and Milla at Tora; this was a final good-bye. It put them all +out of tune for a little while, but when they remembered that at all +events they could take the dolls out again, the three guests soon +consoled themselves. + +As soon as they had got to work, the conversation naturally turned upon +Anna; none of the three liked her; they thought her artificial, +_pretentieuse_, as Tora expressed it in rather affected French; Anna +was always trying to take up some special line; everything she said, or +did, must be so dreadfully thorough. But they all agreed that she wrote +well; it was true, for the two things went naturally together. + +They then began to make fun of her extreme piety. Milla had said +nothing about the first; as regarded the second, she contented herself +by remarking that she had perhaps a little too much of it. + +Nora was the first to forsake the table. She could not go on any +longer; she must have a little music, she said. The grand piano was +tried. Milla was afraid that it was not quite in tune; nor was it, but +what a tone! Nora sang, while the others dressed dolls; then she +worried Tinka to join her, but at first Tinka would not leave her blue +doll; at last Milla asked her to do so. They had sung one or two songs +when there was a knock at the door. Milla's maid announced that the +Consul had arrived; there was great surprise, he was not expected. +Milla hurried down. The others all agreed at once that they must go, it +would be dull work having tea with the Consul. Tora especially shrank +from it; her cuffs were not quite clean; would it do to ask Milla to +lend her a pair? During this discussion the door was opened, in came +Milla, quicker than any one believed it possible for her to move. +"Father's coming," she whispered, and hurried to the table with the +others after her. From there to the press, from the press to the table, +from the table to the press; heads and shoulders were knocked together, +toes trodden on, amid smothered cries, laughter, and scolding; +everything was off the table and locked up as the Consul knocked at the +door. Nora had pushed Tinka on to the sofa, she herself sat gravely on +a chair, Milla and Tora stood by the press. The Consul came in, elegant +and smiling as usual. He saw the four girls red with suppressed +laughter, or whatever it might be, embarrassed, constrained. "What the +deuce is it?" he thought, and came forward to Nora, the Sheriff's +daughter, bowed politely, bade her welcome, and asked after her +parents; then to the others as Milla introduced them, and then back +again to Nora; he asked merrily if he might have the pleasure of taking +her downstairs. He had just come from the steamer, and was as hungry as +one only can be after a sea voyage. + +She took his arm, but he wished the others to go first, which they +hesitated to do; it seemed as though one were waiting for the other. +Tinka could not understand why Tora did not move, and when the Consul +turned towards her again she came forward, although it was rather +embarrassing. Why did not Milla help her? She stood there too, as +though she had taken root. The Consul gave his daughter a little push: +"_Avancez, mesdemoiselles_." She was obliged to come a little forward, +and the lower part of a doll become visible! It lay there, "naked and +face downwards," as the song says. Tora tried to cover it up, but the +Consul had caught sight of it, and with a "Pardon me, Froeken," he +stooped and picked it up. Tora ran, Tinka ran, Milla ran, Nora let go +his arm and ran, and the Consul after them with the doll. "What is +this--what in the world is this?" + +They all rushed into the dining-room and stood there in a group, +convulsed with laughter, as the Consul followed them with the doll in +the air like a flag. It was the blue doll which Tinka had undressed for +the third time, and was going to put to bed just as the Consul came and +everything was hurry-scurry. It must have slipped down and bashfully +hidden itself under a skirt at the time the press was closed. Milla and +Tora had discovered it at the same moment, and both placed themselves +over it. + +The Consul sat down with the doll in his arms; then he laid it down in +his table napkin, and after looking at it once or twice he put it on +the table with a teacup under its head. Milla snatched it from him. + +"Do you really play with dolls?" + +No, indeed; they had come to consult together about Christmas presents. +Milla gave this answer. + +"Why should you hide such a harmless thing?" asked the Consul. + +"Because the doll was undressed, of course," answered his daughter. +Nora soon joined in; she was used to this sort of thing. She also had a +father who loved to tease girls. + +The other two took but little part, but as against that the Consul kept +his eyes on them almost continually. Tinka could quite understand that +Tora might attract his attention, but why should she? She grew uneasy +by degrees. Her dress might have come unsewn somewhere near the arm, it +happened so to her sometimes; she looked as well as she could, but +failed to discover anything; she felt as though she had no dress on at +all. + +The Consul was very merry; suddenly he turned all his attention to +Tora, they had only been a short time at table and she had finished +already! The fact was that the unlucky cuffs worried Tora to such an +extent that they ran between her and her wits. The Consul looked at her +suddenly; it was not the birth-mark that he was looking at, for she had +been careful to have that side next to Milla; it was certainly not her +face, his looks were directed lower than that. She put down her knife +and fork and hid her hands under the table. + +"You are not eating, my dear Froeken Holm; are you not well, missie? +What's amiss with you? Or is there anything particular you want? Just +say what it is. Milla, give Froeken Holm another cup of tea. No tea +either? A glass of wine? Come now, just a glass of wine. Your good +health, Froeken! But you won't drink any? Do you prefer Madeira? Good +gracious, are you blushing about it? Headache? Dear, dear! Perhaps you +would like----? Shall Milla help you? Not that either? Just say what +you want, my dear. Have you often a headache, Froeken Holm? What, you +have not got one? I once knew a girl who would have a headache merely +if something were amiss with her cuffs. But, my dear Milla, I do not +want to tease Froeken Holm. Is that what it is, Froeken Holm?" + +Tora was overcome by a feeling of helplessness which would seize her +for even a smaller cause than this, and which always made her cry. She +had to leave the table and hasten upstairs. + +Milla rose with a dignity which her friends admired, and followed her. +When the others joined her, Tora was gone. Milla looked pale, but was +completely silent as to what had passed. Nora and Tinka began to put on +their things, Milla making no objection. She kissed them and begged +them to come again, repeating her invitation down in the hall. It was +only when she was upstairs alone, and had locked the door, that she +burst into tears. Such a thing would never have happened if her mother +had been at table, she could not fill her place; her father had vexed +her terribly. Her mother had left her so much too soon. "Oh, mother, +mother, mother!" There was a knock at the door. She asked who it was. +Her father; of course she had to open, but she went back to the sofa +and flung herself crying into the furthermost corner. He sat down +quietly, and after a few moments he said very gently, almost in a +whisper, "Listen, Milla; I am sorry for what has happened; I wish I +knew better how it had come about. But it is annoying, of course, +chiefly for your sake. I never thought she could take it so to heart. I +was so pleased that your friends should come to see you. Especially +these girls. All the same, and perhaps it was that feeling which +influenced me, have you been careful enough in the choice of one of +them, Milla?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing particular; don't be so vehement, my dear! You do not quite +understand me. A girl who is so uncertain of herself and--well--whom +one can so easily confuse--there might come a time when you would +repent that you had been intimate with her." + +Milla got up, literally as white as a sheet. She felt exactly as though +he had spoken of her; there are very few girls of her age who would not +have felt so. But she did not say a word. She cried bitterly as she +went into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. + +The next day, the moment the time for recreation was sounded, Milla +took Tora by the arm, and during every recreation it was the same +thing. They were both beaming with good-humour; Nora and Tinka greatly +admired Milla for this. They had not thought that she had so much heart +and spirit. + +This little occurrence, more than anything else laid the foundation of +their friendship. + +The Staff was formed. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + THE SOCIETY + + +It was soon noticed that the whole of the senior class and that next to +it had come under a single influence. + +Rendalen was so much struck by the alteration, without understanding +the ground for it, that at last he made inquiries, and it was explained +to him. He was much amused, gave the four girls their celebrated name, +and at the same time suggested that they should form a "Society." It +was true that they already had social evenings at his mother's, and +they would continue these, but it would be better if they took the +whole affair into their own hands; select the subjects for readings and +lectures, or for discussion, among themselves. The last especially. +Girls had so many "fancies" in their heads that they ought to learn in +early life to be able to carry out a thought, to pursue a special +interest. A Society! The senior class is to institute a Society. They +may invite their friends from the town or the elder girls from the +second class. They will be allowed to speak at the meetings on what +subjects they choose, invite whom they like to take part in the +readings and music, they and no one else. They were to be empowered to +make rules, elect a president and secretary, impose fines! What fancies +this awakened, not in the senior class alone, but in all of them, down +to the little ones who learned to spell and sing songs about the cat. +What a stir at meal-times, what a whispering during lessons, what +commotions at play-time! When a school is excited by a question which +must not be openly discussed in lesson hours, it causes despair among +the teachers. No one studies, no one listens, no one keeps order or +remembers anything. If one wishes really to be amused by the suppressed +excitement of the class, one must not stand in front of them; there +they restrain themselves. + +No, take up your position behind them and observe their plaits; you +might imagine that they had gained an independent life--they jump, they +dance, they curl and uncurl themselves. The changes of colour during +this extreme restlessness are comical. All the fiery red, sandy and +brown-red, up to black, look as though they were wet or shining with +oil, or take a dead colour like coffee grounds. There are locks which +are black above and brown underneath, and those of absolute raven +black; there are light ones in every shade of ashen, of yellow, or an +ugly mixture of both, with green for a foundation. All these assume the +wonderful changes of colour which belong to their years. The braids are +as excited as though they were chattering to each other, playing tricks +on one another, springing towards each other. The life behind is a +perfect reflex of that in front. + +At the first--that is to say, the preliminary--meeting of the Society, +Nora was elected president; Tinka was so accustomed to have all the +work put upon her that she knew beforehand that she would be chosen +secretary; she was right, she was chosen unanimously. + +It had this advantage, Nora considered, that she would thus be able to +copy the minutes of the proceedings for Frederik. It was true that +their earliest determination was that the proceedings should not be +made public, but then Tinka was engaged. + +Otherwise they began without written rules, but Frederik wrote from +Christiania requiring the most clearly defined ones. He sent a draft. +There were fines for non-attendance, fines for disregarding the rules +therein set down, fines for every other kind of disorder, fines for +omitting to vote. But the girls took it more practically than he--the +donkey--as Tinka called him on this occasion. Nora and she worked out, +quite quietly, a new set of rules; they were discussed at the next +meeting amid some disorder; rules did not appear to be to their taste. + +A great deal of fun was made in the town over the "Society;" there were +some, however, who considered it unbecoming, some thought it dangerous, +but when a theatrical company visited the town and its most select +representation fell on the same day as a meeting of the Society, and +the members, with a few exceptions, were with difficulty persuaded to +sacrifice this meeting, it was allowed that a proof had been given of +their zeal. No one thought it worth while to raise the question again +as regarded the chief representation; they were left in peace. + +Very soon a serious error showed itself in the rules of the Society. +Any one might anonymously propose a subject for discussion to the +president, and it was decided by vote whether it should be placed on +the agenda. + +Thus it was anonymously proposed to discuss "Immortality," but this did +not obtain a single vote. The proposer was evidently not a member. +Another proposal ran, "Ought men to be allowed to wear moustaches?" and +this was written in the same hand. It was now suggested that no notice +should be taken of any communication which was not laid on the +secretary's table during the course of the meeting. It was objected +that the proposal in this case would no longer remain anonymous, but +they were sufficiently confident in their own adroitness, for it was +adopted. + +Although the discussions were absolutely private, it was maintained in +the town that one young lady in the course of her lecture had declared +that it was most pitiful of men that they could not keep their vows of +chastity so well as women. It was then that Doesen composed his famous +"_Nora, Tora, ora pro nobis_." + +With this exception it was not certain what the girls discussed, they +had agreed to pretend that everything that was said about them was +true, a roguish Freemasonry kept this joke going. + +One of those who teased them the most was Consul Engel. He had soon +made his peace with the Staff, having sent his apologies through his +daughter. Besides this, he had presented Tora with a nest of Japanese +boxes, in the smallest of which was a charming pin. In order to make +everything smooth again, he gave a "Reconciliation Dinner," to which +Milla invited several of her friends. An enormous doll had been sent by +_grande vitesse_, which he set up on the table and ceremoniously +introduced to the four girls. It was magnificent; Tinka had put on her +stoutest dress; Tora, who was in a wild mood, sat next to Milla. She +chattered without stopping for a moment, so that Milla had to pinch her +under the table to make her be silent, at which Tora laughed as though +she were mad. Nora ran to the piano in the middle of dessert, to sing a +song which the Consul had never heard. He declared afterwards that he +had never amused himself more innocently. His only notion of talking to +them was to tease them, his favourite theme was the Society. They +laughed at his jokes and kept them up, but they would not give in; for +women are used to having the things they are fond of held up to +contempt. The Society was a new thing in their lives, soon it became +something more. But to show this we must return to one who is waiting +for us. Anna Rogne did not come to school that Monday; Milla came up to +muster with her heart full of self-reproach. Directly after school she +drove round to see her, but Anna was ill; her aunts came out smiling +and told her that she could not be disturbed. The next day Milla came +again. She asked if she might not at least be allowed to see the +invalid. Anna and she had begun to read Fabiola together; might she not +read aloud to her? "Little Anna hoped she would excuse her," they said +smiling, and Milla went away. Anna was away three weeks, and Milla +called two or three times more, but did not see her. After that she +gave up the attempt. + +Anna was not ill, she told her aunts openly what was the matter; she +had been deceived and slighted--nay, more than that, she had been +robbed. What she meant by this last she would not explain for a long +time; she could not. She must be quite alone. They could hear her the +whole day walking about in the attic, and sometimes in the night as +well; they were terribly frightened, but did as she wished. They always +told her when they were going to have prayers, but she would never join +them; when she noticed their increasing astonishment and anxiety, she +at last told them that _that_ had been her greatest loss; for all that +she valued most she had shared with Milla. Not to speak of their mutual +profession, there was not a prayer, not a hymn, not a favourite passage +of Scripture which had not been exchanged between her and her friend, +as lovers exchange their betrothal rings, make presents to each other, +and kiss each other's portraits. + +She could no longer bear to see, to be present, to hear or think any +more about the subject. + +She did not cry, at all events not when any one saw her; little Anna +had a strong will. She looked on what had happened as one foe looks at +another. Her feelings did not take the form of _pain_, but of _anger_. +She hated the others, she pitied herself. The misapprehension she had +laboured under, up to the last hour of that last day when she stood +before Milla's door and heard the others laughing inside--could +anything more absurd be imagined! What had she not, in utmost +seriousness, shared with a girl like that, and the inward strength with +which she had credited her; there were no bounds to her sense of shame +when she thought of it, and yet she was obliged to think of it. She +forced herself to confess it to her aunts, she forced herself to probe +down into the most remote causes; it became an employment which brought +others in its train. She roused herself, began to stir about, to take +long lonely walks, and at last to read. At the end of three weeks she +returned to school, rather paler than usual and a little thinner, but +in all other respects, apparently, just as before. She did not take her +old place, but was still friendly with every one, even with Milla. +Milla made no further attempts at explanation, though it was not +perhaps without her knowledge that Tora did so. Anna listened to her, +and asked for a little yellow cotton; she would return it the next day. +She attended all the meetings of the Society most regularly; it was +evident that it interested her, but she took no active part. + +Just before Christmas Rendalen was invited, on a suggestion of Nora, to +tell them something about Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts." He refused this, but +asked leave to speak to them a little on hereditary responsibility; he +considered that in this, when it had been thoroughly worked out and +realised, were contained several new moral laws--indeed, that a +revolution would be caused by it in many things. + +There was great eagerness over this; they looked forward to a quiet and +interesting account, but were given a wild though stirring lecture. The +girls were not less frightened by Rendalen's personal agitation than by +his words. At the end he shouted out that those who passed on an +hereditary disease to their children--those, for example, who had +frequent insanity in their families, and nevertheless, married; those +who, though weakened by debauchery, brought children into the world; +those who, for the sake of money, married cripples or unhealthy people +and endowed their children with these afflictions--were worse than the +greatest scoundrels, worse than thieves, forgers, robbers, murderers; +that he would maintain. + +Something must have happened: for several days Fru Rendalen had gone +about with red eyes, and he himself had been away, probably to +Christiania. Anna came forward and thanked him for his lecture in her +own _pretentieuse_ manner; after he had gone, she said it was the best +she had heard. Only one person agreed with her, and that was Miss Hall; +the others said nothing, there was a painful silence. At last some one +said that the lecture appeared to her to be terribly violent. Little +Anna replied that people must be roused, everything was made into an +_amusement_. There was too much of that in the Society itself. This +caused still greater discord; Nora was annoyed, and asked if Anna would +not in that case do something to help it. Anna coloured, but to every +one's astonishment she replied: "Yes, she would try." + +She disappeared from school for several days; but she announced that +she would give a lecture at the next meeting. She wished that Rendalen, +Fru Rendalen, and Karl Vangen should hear it; this was certainly not +hiding her light under a bushel, her companions thought. Of course the +invited guests came. + +When little Anna arrived she looked overstrung, her hands trembled as +her thin fingers turned the pages of her manuscript and arranged the +lights on the tribune. Her voice and delivery were measured, sometimes +almost sharp; she did not often raise her large eyes, but when she did +so it was with a significance which was most irritating. She read her +lecture--the opening was especially pointed: + +"Woman does not labour to improve herself in the same degree that she +expects man to do. She does not lay aside the failings which she +acquired when in another and worse position. I will this evening +mention one fault--lying. In her position as the weaker, woman has +accustomed herself to lying, but she is no longer so defenceless as to +need this. Thus I consider that in making herself appear so gentle, so +pious, so modest, so lovable before strangers, even if only one is +present, she lies. It is the same thing when, a straight course being +disagreeable to her, she at once takes a crooked one; she gives a false +reason, she makes excuses. If there is anything to be done which has +grown distasteful she pleads a headache; if any one calls whom she does +not wish to see, she is 'out,' though she is sitting in the parlour. It +does not disturb her in the least to make her servant, her daughter, or +her friend lie for her when she cannot do so herself. + +"Some ladies, possibly a large proportion, have so accustomed +themselves to giving untrue reasons, or to concealing the real ones, to +making up excuses, that they do it without any necessity; they delight +in it as in a kind of coquetry. + +"Would this were only in their relations with mankind, but it is the +same towards God. I will quote a writer on the subject; he says, 'It is +difficult to judge woman's religious faith so long as religion remains +her single intellectual interest; but when one sees a hundred, two +hundred, three hundred ladies round one fashionable preacher, one +suspects mischief. The easiest thing to think of is to allow oneself to +be guided by another's words; it is only a step further to be +enthusiastic about the preacher himself, easiest of all to feign an +enthusiasm which others feel. + +"'The faith which has lost its ideals on earth, and therefore transfers +them to heaven, is certainly not so secure of a good reception there as +the clergy promise. As a rule, there does not remain much more than a +vague need. + +"'There are besides many women who are very cautious; it is best to +make things safe for them and theirs. I often wonder what our Lord says +when they begin.'" + +She quoted further, and many of the quotations aroused laughter. Karl +Vangen was especially amused. From this she passed on to woman's share +in societies for charitable objects; how the needs of the poor +furnished an excuse for gay dances ("the proceeds for the poor," as +they say); how amusing balls and even theatrical performances are +organised in aid of the sufferers from shipwreck or fire. + +She described how a society such as this trifled with great questions +and raved about particular lecturers. Anna was severe, as young people +generally are when they take upon themselves to criticise. + +When she left the tribune she did not grasp what was said to her; she +answered at cross purposes, or asked them what they had said, but +little by little she recovered herself; when she looked for Rendalen he +was gone. + +She was utterly astonished; she slipped across to Fru Rendalen to hear +the reason. Of course, she had to begin by asking her what _she_ had +thought of it. + +"Yes, my child, there is a great deal of right in what you say, but I +fear that you will all inflate it into something to be taken seriously. +Poor things, you will learn then to lie to some purpose. Few women can +take this seriously, my child, but they can affect to do so and +overstrain themselves as well--ah yes, they often become horribly +unnatural----" + +At last, slowly and cautiously, came Anna's question, "Why did Herr +Rendalen go?" + +"Heaven knows!" She sighed, looked towards the door where he had +disappeared, got up, and left the room. + +Karl Vangen was talking to Tora; he now saw that Anna was disengaged, +and came up to her to say that he had been "very much delighted" with +some of the quotations; he knew the book. Karl Vangen had been on the +high road to become a fashionable preacher; happily he had escaped, but +the terror still remained with him. Anna knew this from her aunts, so +she had the secret key to his remarks. He believed entirely in woman's +religious convictions, he said, and did not quite agree with her. + +She asked him his opinion in other respects. "I know so little about +women in other ways," he said, colouring slightly, "I dare not enter +into it." + +As soon as ever the elders were gone, the enthusiasm of the girls broke +out. "Little Anna" was the eldest of them, a thing people very easily +forgot--she was so undeveloped in appearance. They had never thought +her capable of such an effort. "What a remarkable point of view! how +well expressed! and that by one of ourselves." + +Nora and Tora were especially charmed. "That is just what we are, just +as untruthful, principally in little things of course. And how we play +with serious questions. We must have deeds as well, or if not deeds, +then----" + +"Snuff," said somebody, and the whole party burst into roars of +laughter, but they began again: "It is true, Heaven knows it is true. +It must be altered; it is shameful to be as we are." + +As a beginning they would all escort Anna home. Yes, they would! And so +they did, and the two crooked old aunts were startled out of their +sleep when, between eleven and twelve at night, they heard the swarm +buzzing before the house, and the call of "Good-night, good-night, +good-night," from twenty ringing girls' voices. And little Anna +herself! She had to go in and tell them what it was all about, but she +merely said they had come home with her. She could not say more just +then. She felt so uncertain. She had written this lecture with her +heart's blood; she had turned her bitterest feelings into an assault; +she had felt certain that she would be assailed for it, hated for it, +and lo and behold, she had been thanked for it over and over again; +nothing had been heard but exultation and praise. + +She lay in bed, but could not sleep. Was it from pleasure? Was it from +fear? Or had she been for the first time moved by them? It was not +disagreeable. + +At the same time more than one little head lay pondering what course +should be pursued. The impulse to take this seriously, to be terribly +truthful, must have nourishment, otherwise it would certainly die. And +they found something real to do! + +Milla was in mourning; Milla could not go to balls this Christmas. They +would none of them go to balls this Christmas either. Yes, laugh if you +like, but it was unanimously determined upon. One does not desert a +friend in sorrow: not one of the Staff would go to a dance the whole +winter through. Milla felt flattered by so much sympathy, but---- "No +buts!" Immovable, unanimous determination. + +And that should not be all, they would think of something more. + +The young fellows of the town mourned over the loss of so many merry +young partners that Christmas, but all unavailingly. Indeed, it pleased +the girls that their absence was regretted. + +As has been said, it was not to end here. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + ON THE STEPS + + +This union of the leaders among the girls, this real desire for +knowledge and independent thought, even if it had to endure criticism +and even a little derision, was still an incontrovertible proof that +the school was now on the high road to success. Even if there were +derision expressed in the town, there could be no doubt that every one +was struck by the decided, and above all intelligent, comprehension +which the superiority of the apparatus, experiments, and method aroused +in the scholars on subjects which every one understood, and which +belonged to the most special needs of life. + +At home the girls overflowed with narrations and desire for +information, and constantly asked permission to buy materials for +experiments in chemistry and physics, microscopes, and historical +pictures which illustrated beliefs and habits of life through all ages. + +There was no longer any comparison between girls and boys when energy +and information were in question. + +This made the lesson hours happy; the great gatherings for "breakfast" +at twelve o'clock were feasts, and the pupils ran down the slope in the +afternoon without books, unburdened by lessons--free, free, free! + +But the happiest of them all remained behind, Fru Rendalen and Karl +Vangen. + +How Fru Rendalen hurried about with her spectacles awry, a habit she +had acquired in later years; it was like meeting a load of hay at +hay-harvest, it smells so sweet from such a distance, and one so gladly +stands aside to let the mighty, useful, close-packed object pass. Karl +Vangen was one constant smile; he had no time to leave off. He beamed +with delight if any one so much as looked towards the school, and would +tell, over and over again, all the little incidents which occurred +there: they were every one either remarkable or amusing. + +It was only Tomas who was not quite in accord with them, but there +never was much "comfort" about him, if by that one understands +confidential intercourse, and even good temper. He either wanted tall +Vangen to "give him a back" out in the garden walks, or even sometimes +in the sitting-room, while he jumped over him as one boy jumps over +another; or he walked up and down, up and down, generally whistling, +with his hands in his pockets, till it made one giddy to look at him; +or else he would play the piano by the hour together. Sometimes he +worked for, and in, the school without intermission; or read a new book +regardless of any interruption; or he took endless walks or read aloud, +and amused himself with the girls as though they were all comrades; or +else he could not bear them, or the school, or anything which belonged +to it. + +At such times his mother had to take the literature lesson for him, +Miss Hall the chemistry and physics, Nora the singing; he would not, he +could not. + +Then he would come back again, brighter and happier than ever, and do +the work of two. His mother put this down as the result of all the +years he had lived without regular employment. If they had company he +did not appear at all, or else came and carried everything before him, +or came and sat silent. If he spoke to any one, it was "Yes, just so," +"Quite right." And then he would leave the room and not return. Looked +at in a certain way, this showed genius: there was something of a +genius about Tomas Rendalen. + +Before he went to America he had "discovered" a history teacher: he was +very great at "discoveries." She was called Karen Lote, and taught +needlework, writing, and drawing. Rendalen had noticed her acquirements +in the different kinds of drawing, and found out that the girl +possessed a by no means insignificant knowledge of history. "Extend +that into the history of civilisation," he said. He was never tired of +giving this advice. "Here at home the history of civilisation is worse +than meagre, and it is the only one which is worth anything in a +school." + +He had then begun to make the large collection of historical pictures +which the school now possessed, and through these he captivated her +interest; he kept it, while he was abroad, by sending a number of these +pictures to her, as well as books and advice; and he was hardly home +again before he undertook the history lessons of the whole school to +explain to her what his ideas were; he sought to show development and +connection by a clear historical summary accompanied by maps and +pictures; he made it slight for the younger, and more elaborate +for the elder ones; only using details as characteristics. He made it +one-sided, but there was power and colour in its historical +representations. Karen Lote was captivated; the novelty of his +appearance, his opinions, his wonderful talent for teaching, his +inimitable way of making one believe there was nothing in the world for +him beyond what was before him at the moment; his exquisite taste in +dress, his well-ordered person, even the slight odour of delicate scent +which always followed him, all gave the girl a deep interest in him. +Nothing in the six-and-twenty years of her life had ever in the +slightest degree approached it. To think of being helped in her work by +him every day! The misunderstandings and persecutions which he went +through, and his sufferings under them, brought her feelings to a pitch +of enthusiasm. But she did not trouble any one with it. Then came the +time when he became the principal of the school. He would come and +listen to her teaching whenever he had a spare moment, share eagerly in +it, or go away without saying a word; remain away for a long time, then +come again every day, and take the whole lesson out of her hands; or +else walk up and down, up and down, and then remain away again. + +Just before Christmas Karen Lote went to Fru Rendalen, and told her +that she could not stay a day longer in the school. If she merely heard +Rendalen's step in the passage she trembled; when he was near she could +not relate the simplest occurrence or give an explanation. "But why?" +He treated her with the greatest contempt; she burst into tears. +"Contempt?" Yes! either he continually interrupted her, took the whole +lesson away from her, or else he did not consider her worth correcting, +turned his back on her, did not bow, did not come at all. There was no +end to her complaints. + +Fru Rendalen assembled the teachers and laid Froeken Lote's complaint +before them, convinced that it must be the most extraordinary +misunderstanding. But the teacher who had succeeded Froeken Lote as +drawing mistress assured her that if she had not had a mother to +support, she would have left long ago; she would not have borne his +continual corrections in the children's hearing; he was an unbearable +tyrant. + +Everything must be done in one particular way, without the least +variation. He had made her so nervous that she trembled if she even +heard him in the passage. And she cried too. + +The startled Fru Rendalen turned quickly to the others. "What could +this mean? The teachers of languages, her pupils from their childhood, +her friends, who through her help had improved themselves abroad, they +must speak." They felt sure that Rendalen had not the least idea that +he "set people right," and as little that he offended people by +interfering, so that the children noticed his immense air of +superiority, but all the same it was often very annoying. He was so +uncertain both with teachers and children, he never took things twice +in the same way, it was always according to his temper. The conclusion +which they all came to was that he was most unfit to direct a school. +Miss Hall herself, who otherwise had no complaint to make, agreed with +this. + +Fru Rendalen implored them, for God's sake, to reconsider it; surely +they did not wish to ruin the school; she was much agitated, and said +that provisionally she would resume the direction. But they must not +let this be known. She broke down with all the violence which was +natural to her. The others were frightened, there was a touching scene; +they praised her son, one against the other; nay, any one who had not +heard what had gone before, would have believed that they were all +glowing with enthusiasm for him. After all, to form a wonderful plan +for a school, according to all the best examples of modern times, and +himself to be an exceptional teacher, was something quite different, +and a great deal more than to be an able principal. They and his mother +soon agreed over this, and consoled themselves with it as well as they +could. + +But this school had been the object of Rendalen's life; if he were to +lose this there would be nothing left for him. From the time that +Augusta died, and he learned that it would be better that he should not +found a family, the idea of taking his mother's school, and making it +all that she had dreamed of, but had not accomplished, had been +betrothal, marriage, and the foundation of a family to him. He was +proud of it. This gave the intense energy to his early youth, to his +work, to his sense of right. It was the object of Karl Vangen's +unfailing admiration, the secret text for Fru Rendalen's conversations +and letters. + +Notwithstanding this, temptations came, and his unruly nature did not +always emerge victorious from them, but each time he was seized with a +feeling of shame for his ideal, which amounted to dread--that awful +dread which his mother had felt while she bore him under her bosom. She +had often described this in vivid colours, but it was nothing compared +to what he had gone through; it had been terrible. This drove him back +to his mother's confidence, and made him hold that confidence fast. +There was sober earnest between these two, they had a common aim in +life. It might have been that he would have cast her, his aim of life, +and this dread to the winds, if his passions had concentrated +themselves on, or been seized by, any one person, for there was a wild +energy in him which would have made him cling closely to another; but +the hereditary restlessness in his nature mingled one impression with +another, his dread had time to come between them with ever stronger +force, and it became at last the most powerful of all. The aim of life +was saved. From the time that he had conquered, a dissatisfied feeling +developed itself; it had always been there; it reminded one of his +father's power of imagination, his love of perfection. + +His studies were forced. Never one thing at a time, but one clashing +with the other. If the examination subjects had not in such a special +degree been necessary for him, he would never have passed one at all; +he was ready long before the time with some things, and was as much +behind with others. He was always in advance with the subject he was +full of at the moment, it was a link in a visible or ideal entirety. To +Karl Vangen, who knew his method of study, it was amazing what he +accomplished. It was the same thing with his intercourse with his +fellow-creatures; he often seemed to be inattentive, and yet he +received original impressions, but they were all on the same lines. He +saw images and demonstrations in any thing he was engaged in; not +people, but phenomena; not facts, but ideas. As long as Karen Lote was +learning his historical method she interested him deeply, but +afterwards not in the least; it was much the same with the other +teachers, excepting Miss Hall; her teaching was new, and he was eager +to see the result of it--first intellectually, then morally. + +But _his own work?_ When the long restless rush about the world after +appliances and methods was over, after the plans for the school, +conceived years ago, and since then endlessly arranged and drafted, +were at last set going; especially after the rude resistance from +without was overcome, what was it that gradually came over him? Could +he not? Would he not? Was it no longer enough for him? + +Everyone round him rejoiced in the school, his mother's delight in +especial was touching. "This is the school that I have dreamed of, my +son, my dear Tomas!" He heard it nearly every day, he thanked her and +kissed her for it, he needed it; but all the same.... As for teaching, +his principal talent, he could interest himself in making a thing +absolutely clear, and in having the main points properly remembered, +the most difficult ones understood; it could delight him to give a new +view of something to the elder pupils, or to direct their attention to +a question of the day. Whenever a problem presented itself, he would +take it up with patient ingenuity; beyond that there was nothing--no, +nothing! He realised his failings thoroughly, self-occupied though he +was; they harassed him more and more. There were times when he could +not endure the school. Then he felt himself without spirit, without +aspiration, without--he could almost have said without affection--if +his mother had not been there, and Karl as well; he was deeply attached +to Karl. + +This was no longing for a wife and family, at all events in no special +degree; indeed, he felt no particular attraction to anything. + +Was this the cause of his unhappiness--that he could not attach himself +firmly to any conditions? He had been able to do so as a child. + +A man who has deliberated in this way from one day to another, and at +last, one evening, receives his mother's tears and lamentations because +the teachers can no longer endure him as principal, does not start up +as at something unexpected. Tomas remained at the piano, where he had +been seated when she came in; he touched it with one finger now and +then during her long and interrupted narration; he saw her despair and +concealed his own. He felt as though now he had nothing more to do +here. + +He observed quietly that perhaps she had better resume the direction of +the school for a time; he went on strumming as he said this, as though +it had no further significance. She answered that she had already +promised them to-do so. He grew as white as a sheet. She hastened to +add, that of course only he could superintend his own plan; she begged +him to speak to the teachers at once; he never would speak to any one, +they entirely misunderstood him; he offended them by showing no +confidence in them, and he was not always considerate. Did he not like +them? + +This was too much for Tomas; he flung himself down on the piano and +cried, got up hastily, put on his hat and coat and went out, heedless +of his mother's prayers to him to stay and talk it over with her, as +they used to do in old days. He could not do it; for there was +something in his mother's behaviour towards him which wounded him. When +he had come home she had received him with the greatest admiration, +everything he said and did was right; but after the lecture she began +to doubt. This had gradually increased, until now she put a note of +interrogation to everything he said. At the first complaint from the +teachers she had taken the school from him; and she could reconcile +this with her pride in his way of ordering it, and a crooning quiet +delight over its success. + +Not that her doubt was greater than a practical understanding like hers +had perhaps a right to; he did not blame her for it, but he could not +bear it. + +This affair with the teachers was dreadful. He really considered them +most excellent, none more so than Karen Lote, otherwise he would never +have troubled himself about her. + +There must be something at the very root of his behaviour towards +people, which was terribly astray when he could be thus utterly +misunderstood. Perhaps his own feeling of emptiness and distaste arose +from the same cause. + +These ladies had raved about him. They and the senior class, and.... +Was that, too, nothing but a delusion, or was it past and gone? + +"Raved about him." What is that? He drove it from him with contempt, +yet once it pleased and deluded him. He had believed it would always +continue. + +No, he who would have the affection of others must show affection to +them. And he could not do it--in the way that others could. + +After all that was not strange. His race had perhaps exhausted its +power of winning human affection. + +Was not that the natural result when generation after generation broke +down mankind's precepts of fidelity, and flung aside man's good +opinion? The race itself had been ruined, as each one weakened himself +and his offspring--ay, and others and their offspring as well. + +He walked into the country to the left--the same walk that he had taken +that spring evening after he had given his lecture. He recalled to his +mind how happy had been his return from America, how he had dreamed of +giving his countrymen an example which, if they would follow it, would +shine throughout the world. What was nobler for a small country than to +centre its greatest powers on the teaching of its children, to expend +its surplus there; let the great nations waste theirs on armies! + +He remembered how it then delighted him to think that in this way the +sins of his forefathers might be expiated. + +Everything on earth had been thus developed. + +Awakening had come to the strongest races. Instinctively they had felt +their failings, and had sought to combat them by an admixture of fresh +blood. Everything, therefore, that is strong and good has some family +for its progenitor, whose sufferings have been the foundation of +its needs, its needs the foundation of its work; its work, its +self-command, the foundation of its discoveries--all gathering round +the original discovery. When the school should be alive with a hundred +young creatures; when sparkling eyes gazed upon the aim which he had +set up; when the elder ones among them, influenced by him, and in their +turn influenced others--hoisted their colours--it would be remembered +that they had lived in the house of one particular family, from that +family they would have received their instruction. It was _he_ who had +made the school. + +But there lay an inherent weakness in its inmost recesses. The germs of +destruction lay in him who had built it up. He could not advance it +further. He did not possess the necessary long-suffering gentleness. +Plenty of foresight, energy, ambition, but--talents for war, perhaps, +but not for peace. + +As he had walked along that evening after the lecture, sick at heart, +anxious--ah! how anxious! because the certainty of years had been +baffled, Karl Vangen had trudged silently by his side like a great +long-legged dog with honest eyes. He went the same way now, only it was +winter, and he was alone; he was ashamed to have any one with him. The +suspicion of insecurity which had shaken him the first time was now a +certainty. He could not go on--O God! he could not: he was a blight in +the school. + +The snow in the fields had melted, but farther away it lay in patches, +looking ghostly in the moonlight. It still lay thick under the +fir-woods; and here and there on the road, which had frozen hard with +deep ruts in it, and small sharp stones and solid horse-dung. Where it +was bare, or partly bare, it was difficult to walk. He came back so +weary in body and mind that he never remembered to have felt more +tired. By the new churchyard, where his father and grandfather lay, and +where the sea washed up to the other side of the roadway, rolling and +black, he felt that a little might bring him into the one or beyond the +other--or perhaps to both--they were not incompatible. + +It was past twelve, as on the night of the lecture; he would not go +home before he felt certain that his mother had given up waiting for +him. Under ordinary circumstances she went to bed between nine and ten. +But as he struggled up the avenue, he saw that there was a light in the +sitting-room; and as he got a little further, that there was one in +Karl's room as well. If he had not been so utterly weary he would have +turned back, but now things must go as they could. + +His mother met him in the hall with a light in her hand. "Oh, Tomas, +how you have frightened me!" she whispered. + +What did she mean by that? He looked at her; poor thing, she appeared +at least ten years older, with such red eyes--so upset, so miserably +overdone. + +She began, "Tomas, just let us----" + +"No, mother," he waved her away with his hand; "I am so fearfully, oh, +so fearfully tired." He went slowly across her room to the inner +passage without a good-night, without looking round. + +She heard his step in the passage, heard him open the door of his room, +shut it, and turn the key on the inside! It always awakened memories, +that dreadful sound! + +Why did he do it? It seemed as though he were shutting her away from +him. + +As he was lighting his candle he heard Karl at the door between their +rooms. Tomas set down the candle, came out from behind the curtain, and +saw Karl's pale, anxious face looking in from the doorway. + +Why had he and his mother sat up, each in their own room? Evidently so +that the mother should be able to talk to her son alone when he came +in. + +Tomas flung himself on Karl's neck and sobbed violently. All that he +had held back, when he saw his mother, now found vent. Karl's firm +confidence in him was his chief support. That confidence was there now, +he could see it through all his distress precisely as he saw the light +streaming behind Karl's head and body in the doorway. It was dark +between them. "No, dear Karl, not to-night, I am so tired." Slowly, +noiselessly, Karl drew his long legs back again and shut the door +behind him. The door-handle was turned, oh, so gently. + +Tomas went straight to bed, and slept at once and without interruption +through the night. When he woke, raised himself and looked at the +clock, it was past eight. The sorrows of yesterday, which had at once +rushed upon him, yielded before this proof of a long sound sleep. +"There cannot possibly be so much the matter as I believed, if I am not +worse than this." He jumped up. "There must be some other work in life +reserved for me, if this is not to be the one." He dressed himself +quickly, and while doing so determined to go away for several days. He +wished to consider, and to be calm while he did so. + +This was all the information which his mother received when she came in +as he sat at breakfast. He sent a message to Karl, and left at ten +o'clock. This was not altogether disagreeable to Fru Rendalen. "He has +such sudden changes," she thought. "He will very likely return home a +different man." His great failing, of talking and acting according to +the temper of the moment, made her take this view, made her question +all he said. He was conscious of this now. He hated it. + +This time, however, she was mistaken; he returned exactly the same as +he had gone away, only she noticed the first time that she talked to +him that he was a little bitter against the teachers: "ungrateful +asses," he called them. He had taught them more than it was in the +power of any human being to do who had not travelled as he had done, +and had his experience and reading; he would have nothing to do with +them. He annoyed them by his elegant courtliness. This amused him; he +was really dreadful with them. He resumed his teaching, with the +exception of the singing, which was given over to Nora, who was now +both pupil and teacher. He declared that she possessed the gift of +teaching in the highest degree. + +"Perhaps he could interest himself in the school again," thought Karl, +"if there were a new staff of teachers." He spoke of this to Fru +Rendalen. She would try to find out, and began by talking to Tomas +about the observatory which they had arranged in a small way in the +tower. They had been obliged to stop for want of money. By next summer +she hoped to have the means to set it going. + +"God knows where I shall be then," he answered, and hurried away. "If I +were to speak plainly to the teachers," thought his indefatigable +mother, "if I could induce them to beg his pardon." She assembled them +one day just before Christmas, and told them, betraying emotion as she +did so, that her son had repeatedly let fall remarks which showed that +he intended to go away. There was a movement of dismay. + +Froeken Lote, on whom all eyes were fixed, at last broke the silence. +She had not meant it in that way, she had only meant--she had really +not meant anything--but she was so dreadfully nervous. She thought he +was not pleased with her. The drawing and needle-work mistress, a +clear-headed, tall, fair woman, coloured furiously. The Spenser method +of drawing which Rendalen had introduced was not clear to begin with, +she said, but he was always beyond her; but for all that she ought not +to have said anything, indeed she ought not. She began to cry. + +The teachers all protested that they felt the greatest gratitude; he +had, of course, seen and heard so much on every subject, but it was +most embarrassing that he treated them like dirt beneath his feet. + +Fru Rendalen took off her spectacles, wiped them, and put them on +again; pulled them off again, rubbed them, and put them on. + +Well then, Miss Hall would say what was the matter. It was that he +treated everything and everybody so unevenly. This made the teachers +uncertain, and destroyed the children's sense of justice, and that was +almost the greatest loss that a child could sustain. She would so +gladly have spoken to Rendalen, said the little American, but he made +himself so unapproachable. To-day, too, she felt nervous. + +This destroyed Fru Rendalen's plan; she did not know what to answer. +All further negotiations were meanwhile broken off. + +A loud chorus of joyous girls' voices sounded from the steps, and they +all hurried to the window. It was Nora and her pupils. These last few +days before Christmas, the pupils had but few lessons to do, and +therefore had employed themselves in practising some part songs, the +practice always concluding out on the steps--one of Nora's many +fancies. + +This gave such immense pleasure, that not only all the little ones, who +did not join in the singing, waited up there till the great moment, but +people would collect in the avenue. As soon as the girls came racing +round the corner in walking dress and mounted the steps, the crowd in +the avenue increased and drew nearer; Fru Rendalen and the teachers had +put on their things, and were now standing at the open windows. The +girls had arranged themselves from top to bottom of the steps; the +little ones, who did not sing, occupied the sides. Right at the bottom +stood Nora, with her fair hair turned back under the hood which was +always on the back of her neck. + +She had adopted Rendalen's method of conducting--the only thing that +restless being did quietly; he merely moved his right wrist, and gave +the sign with his left hand. Nora carefully held her right hand in the +same place as he did, before her breast. She heard about it often +enough. + +The song sounded grandly from the steps, the notes were powerfully +given. It might be, too, that the view before them heightened the +effect by its beauty; perhaps, too, "An Old Manuscript,"[2] which had +just been printed in a Christmas number, and which every third person +in the town, from twelve years old knew, at first, second, or third +hand, may also have enhanced it, for perhaps those dark voices from the +past were heard at the same time, and by the power of contrast made the +girls' song brighter, and the moment fairer. + +Below them lay the town, with the harbour between the two points of +land; now that winter was here, full of ships from side to side. At the +head of the bay, along the clay banks, were all the workshops and the +great timber-yards. To the left, the mountain, with the crowd of houses +at the top, the boat harbour below, and out beyond the mountain and the +town, the islands and the open sea. Weather on the coast is uncertain; +generally, as they looked out, taking in the view as they sang, there +were either driving clouds or gleams of sunlight over the landscape, or +if it were peaceful and bright inland, it was threatening out to sea. +Perhaps this may explain why the girls generally chose melancholy +songs. + +For the teachers as well as for the pupils, the singing on the steps, +from its first beginning, had been the glory of the school. If the work +from every class during every week in the year could have woven itself +into a thousand delicate threads, and fallen on them as crowns; if all +the fruitful incentives, small determinations, uncertain beginnings, +could have joined in harmony in those voices, the singing could not +have made them happier. As far as the teachers were concerned, perhaps +for the very reason that, at the same time, something had occurred to +pain them. + +The elder girls, especially the members of the Society, looked upon +this time as one for exchange of thought. All those higher ideas which +one has in common with others, come to the front when there is singing; +all strivings after the ideal, have a natural relationship to +harmonised notes. + +But he who felt it the most was one who had hidden himself behind a +closed window, because he would on no account be seen. + +He saw Nora beating time, standing there in her light cloak, her hood +flung back on her neck. + +The song, which sounded out over the town, the one which had first been +heard by Fru Engel's grave, contained, as it sounded from these girlish +voices, all that he wished for on earth. + +How miserable it made him now! He tried, as a counterpoise, to remember +all that he had conquered before in many a hard struggle. It was +something to remember. + +It was not an ordinary victory which he had achieved: was it to end in +sorrow? Would the singing soon cease, or sound again after he was gone? +He thought of his mother. It was he in reality who was "on the steps." +Was it to be in or out? + +The whole troop tore away in merry groups down the avenue. The Staff +last of all, for Tora had something either to tell or propose; they +walked slowly, often pausing. Yes, that was what it all depended upon; +to be able to share one's joys and sorrows with others. + + + + + + V + + THE HUNT + + + + + CHAPTER I + + Child or woman, which is she? + Hard to answer that will be. + Wouldst thou then a woman snare? + See a child in captive there! + And when thou bidd'st the child to stay, + A woman from thee flies away. + + +Spring had come betimes, and great rejoicing thereat rose, from all the +pupils, to the soft skies. + +The spring was in their blood, bringing a restless feeling, a power of +invention, glorious plans, subdued noise, effervescing spirits in its +train; these were days when the whole school routine threatened to be +destroyed, and when orders seemed a mere joke. Much commotion, with +scoldings, smacks, increased attention, and many arts were required +before this small sphere could be guided through the dangerous region +of spring without too severe collisions and shocks. + +Even the Society itself was shaken. It was not possible, when the trees +in the garden were bursting into leaf, to go off to the back premises +and pretend that there was something in a friend's composition on +ladies' modern dress. If the meeting had been held in the wood, they +might have allowed modern dress to roll about in the heather till it +was torn to pieces, or they could have hung it up in a tree. They could +have let the birds sing songs over it. Now they gave modern dress to +the deuce, it could all be learned from a fashion book; they simply +held no meetings. + +Nora employed all her powers of persuasion, all her inventive genius, +in vain. A great event, however, occurred, also perhaps born of the +spring and spring impulses, and the Society recovered itself. + +Miss Hall had energetically sought to lay some foundation, in the +senior class, for the lectures which she delivered to them on her +special subject. Both she and the eldest girls in the class had really +all been obliged to exert themselves. But a further result was, that +during this hard work they had gained confidence in the little lady; +everything belonging to women's constitution and health, and to the +tending of children, was spoken of with perfect openness. The mothers +kept up as long as possible an appearance of shamefacedness on behalf +of their children, who would not be shamefaced themselves. The fathers +helped their better halves in this; they were bashful to a degree. But +as the shameless maidens continued to acquire knowledge, this answered +no purpose. + +As concerned the Society, this information, and especially this +confidence with Miss Hall, had the result that, by degrees, the woman +question began to be looked at in its physical aspect, and its real +foundations were sought there. + +A book in our literature was again brought forward, which asserts that +the freedom which man allows himself before marriage, and sometimes +afterwards, destroys his character and woman's position, carrying +faithlessness and tyranny from generation to generation. + +Karen Lote had, in her studies in the history of civilisation, +especially noted the history of the development of races. She knew now +that the compromise which was often proposed, of giving woman the same +freedom that man took for himself, would be a step in the wrong +direction, an unheard-of breach of development. She advocated strongly +that inviolable monogamy should be as sacred for men as for women. Miss +Hall took up the subject at the next meeting, from its physical side. +Can it be physically proved that man has stronger temptation than +woman, and therefore has a greater excuse? She declared, on the +contrary, that woman's temptation might be very much greater. +Notwithstanding which, the rule was that woman respected marriage in a +chaste life, while for man's part the rule might still be said to be +the contrary. + +This aroused violent feeling. + +Man had therefore here as well, used the right of the strongest for his +own advantage, but in reality with the result of rendering himself and +the community depraved. Woman, on the contrary, has in civilised +society, through hundreds of generations, only belonged to one man, +therefore she has an inherited power of remaining faithful. It follows, +of course, that man could gain this power as well. + +During the conversation which followed the lecture, the excitement +increased; and in the course of the week so many thoughts had gathered +around this subject, that they had to fix an earlier date for the next +meeting. + +For the first time since the institution of the Society, Tinka Hansen +spoke. The woman who married a man who had led an immoral life joined +herself in his guilt; she condoned the ill-treatment of her sex, and +was herself punished for it. + +Did any woman persuade herself that a man who had accustomed himself to +such a life would give it up? At all events, they could not so deceive +themselves, who had during the last few years heard a series of +lectures which made it plain that habit is a nerve-question; not more +than one in a hundred can conquer a habit of his own free will; there +must, as a rule, be some hard necessity as well. + +Tinka had, as usual, discussed the subject with Frederik; it was +therefore not surprising that, as she stood there, she had the +authority of two. + +Rarely had such noise and commotion been heard since the institution of +the Society. From all sides came exclamations which clearly showed what +they felt, such as, "Fancy being kissed by a man who----! Fancy being +married to a man who----!" + +Nora gave voice to these whispered expressions of disgust as she went +up to the tribune, and said that they must not separate that evening +without promising each other that _they_, at least, would do what they +could here to give woman responsibility and self-respect. + +She had not finished speaking before they all stood up to express their +acquiescence. + +Some days later they had another meeting: something had occurred to +divide their opinions. + +It will be remembered that Tora was fond of telling fantastic fairy +tales, and romances scarcely less so; her favourite was "A Strange +Story," by Bulwer. Her little Augustus head--which was crammed with +ideas of rich stuffs, of sweeping garments, of foreign speech, and home +gossip, and every earthly vanity--delighted in the mysterious. + +From a certain day none of her friends were allowed to hear a word more +on these subjects; only one, one single one, should henceforth see this +obscure side of her varied nature. + +Was it because she wished to share this with but one alone, as girls so +often do; or was there a little sense of mystery here as well, that he +was the only one for whom this was suited? + +Whenever, after this, she met Karl Vangen, whether they were alone, or +if twenty were present, she always contrived that they should converse +in whispers. Her friends were greatly astonished. What on earth had she +to whisper about with the parson? He had recently lent her a book about +John Wesley, which she devoured, as she did all books, and they had +many conversations about his sudden conversions. People who came under +the spell of his looks, his words, his presence, yielded to them at +once, and were his from that moment. John Wesley came of a long race of +clergymen, both on his father's and mother's side; naturally this had +in a high degree strengthened his faith and power of preaching. It was +like an electric shock, certain natures could not stand against it. + +How this was made to lead up to the Kurts, who interested Tora +immensely at that time, is her secret; but honest Karl began at once to +speak with animation of Tomas's struggle to free himself from the Kurt +inheritance. There had been an infusion of new blood into the family +before, and a struggle against its sins; but Tomas Rendalen's bringing +up and the struggle he had gone through, were worthy of his energetic +character. + +Vangen asked her confidentially if she had not noticed Tomas's +neatness, his careful toilette? If she had perceived the slight, hardly +perceptible, odour of a delicate and very expensive scent? It always +followed him. He was always washing and bathing, added the young +clergyman, blushing; most people believed that this arose from vanity, +and vain he certainly was; but could she not guess what it meant? Tomas +Rendalen had gained in the course of his struggle the same need for, +the same sacred feeling about, cleanliness with which girls are born. +For him all cares for the body; dress, scent, were a species of service +for the temple; just as it is to young women, when they have the means +and time to perform it. + +Some remarks of Tomas had made him understand this; he was certain that +such was the fact. But it was curious that it should take that +particular form, was it not? Perhaps it was because he had been brought +up among girls. What did she think about it? Karl Vangen hazarded this +conjecture with great bashfulness. For some reason or other, it was of +great importance that she should understand at once that a man might be +an excellent member of society, without being exactly a dandy, and +using scent. + +From that moment Tora Holm had one more person to rave about, added to +her rich collection! + +Now she persuaded herself that she understood Rendalen's theory of life +and work among them. She did not understand, or rather did not think +about, the reasons for his restless moods, his want of steadfastness; +her image of this "energetic" nature was not disturbed by them. She +loved him. There was no other word for it. There was nothing that she +would not do for him if she could, and it was thus that she expressed +herself, first to her dearest friends, then to her next dearest, then +to those next to them. With unflagging energy the same story, to the +same tune, was repeated for the twentieth time to the last of her chain +of friends before the next day was past. Such enthusiasm was +infectious; those who had not raved about Tomas Rendalen before, raved +about him now. Notwithstanding the red hair, the freckled skin, the +broad nose, and pale screwed-up eyes, the absence of eyebrows, the +restless expression--he was an ideal man! He damped their ardour a +little when he came into the classrooms and strode past the forms, +without looking at a single one of them; or when he hastily pitched +upon something which interfered with the lesson, with such violence as +to make them jump! for he was not to be trifled with! He nevertheless +became their ideal again as soon as he was gone, or, better still, if +he were in the humour for teaching, and stayed and took part in it, in +his clear energetic style. He had not his equal then. + +But just because there was one Tomas Rendalen, it naturally happened +that some of the weaker natures began to reflect: "Good heavens, he is +only one, and there are so many of us." Yes, there was the question. We +will not say who they were, or how many there were, who began to feel +this doubt. The question is the smallest part of the affair; it is the +answer which is the serious matter. The answer! For we may as well +confess, soon as late, that some of the girls had gone a little beyond +themselves that evening, when they all said "yes" to Tinka Hansen's +high-minded views and Nora's proposition. These ones acknowledged +afterwards that when one came to think quietly about the one whom one +almost loves, or at least would willingly be loved by, and even if one +knows that he has already ... Yes, the old Kurt town was a terrible +place for scandals. + +One at last begins to doubt the sincerity of these expressions. Might +not the young man in question, no matter what he had done, be depended +upon, when he had promised _her_ anything? And when she had made him a +promise in return, of course he might! He would be a good boy, that he +would, if only she got hold of him. One cannot live upon grand +theories. + +There were some, however, who considered that this was treachery; they +were very angry and a new meeting was called. Those who had dared to +change their opinions since the last meeting were called upon to +explain themselves. For a long time no one would do so, but at last a +courageous dark-haired girl declared openly that it seemed to her that +they had gone too far the last time. "If all men were--as one could +wish them to be--well, then. But they are not so by any means. So what +is to be done? That is just how we stand." + +"And so we will stand," was the answer. This heroic response elicited +another in its turn, so that two parties were formed, with a third set +of moderates; no one felt certain about these last, as is often the +case with a third party. Tinka Hansen (and Frederik) and all who agreed +with her and him ("The Frederikers," as they were called), were for +absolute equality between the sexes. Infidelity ought from henceforth +to be condemned equally severely--no matter whether man or woman were +guilty of it. Miss Hall was the only one among the teachers who took +part in this debate, and she was a very enthusiastic Frederiker. +According as our knowledge becomes more acute, she declared, the +punishment of unchasteness should be the same for the two sexes. +Neither ought this sin to be any longer held up as a special accusation +against women. Those who made the distinction that woman's offence +injured the home, while man's injured another home, another's wife or +daughter, must for very shame hold their tongues. + +Miss Hall brought this forward at least twice, for there was no answer +made to it. The opposite party entirely put that on one side. They +repeated over and over again that a man might be excessively worthy +even if, things standing as they did at present, he had offended in +this particular. Only notorious immorality made a marriage impossible. +The Frederikers were scandalised at this "light-minded" talk. That was +to open the door to the extension of immorality. They made use of such +strong expressions, that the others became angry. There was a perfect +hubbub; every one talked, no one would listen. + +This was on a Thursday. The following evening, "The Staff" was +assembled in Milla's room. They had begun on the same subject, but by +degrees had wandered back to Rendalen, who was still of more unfailing +interest than the other. Tinka was imitating Rendalen's handwriting on +a large sheet of paper. The others watched her efforts with attention, +his large handwriting was just the opposite to his careful toilette; it +was all run together without any division, each letter and each word +absolutely joined on to the others. Tinka's caricatured attempts were +like so many embroidery patterns. She wrote: "I can bear it no longer; +meet me in the market-place at nine o'clock." She wrote it as a +commentary on what they had been talking about--namely, how delightful +it would be to receive such a letter. She wrote this closely across a +whole sheet of letter-paper. She decorated one sheet after another in +this fashion. + +Who was it who first proposed what now followed? They never could agree +upon this afterwards. _One_ thing is certain, that Milla alone raised +any objection, but it was so feebly and laughingly made, that it might +well be taken for the opposite of what it purported to be. Each one of +them took charge of a note on Saturday morning; one was put into Karen +Lote's cloak, one into the pocket of the drawing mistress's long faded +blue wrap, the third and fourth were slipped down, one into Miss Hall's +mantle, and the other into that of one of the teachers of languages. + +The letters were not signed, the envelopes open and bearing no address; +the request was written in so extravagant a style that the whole might +pass for a joke, but that was just where the temptation lay. For, on +the other side, it could not be denied that the hasty writing could +very easily be mistaken for Rendalen's style when he was worried and in +a hurry to finish. + +At nine o'clock on Saturday evening the last of the worthy townsfolk +came home from their romantic evening walks on both sides of the town, +looking so peaceful and inoffensive that not even a cat could have +suspected treachery. Most of them went soberly across the market-place +into the town. At this time, too, the boarders who had been out in +search of amusement in the town were returning disappointed up the +avenue. It had been calculated that if the Staff could join one of +these parties, they would be free from suspicion while they watched +their snares. Of course they were all four there; they met several +ill-humoured friends from among the boarders a little way down, and +joined company with them. + +They arranged it so that they should not cross the market-place till +just at the time named. And truly, gracious powers! At the top of the +marketplace, just a little to the right of the avenue, at that moment +appeared _Karen Lote_; no one could mistake her erect figure, her grey +cloak, and the feather in her hat. The four had so little expected to +meet _her_, that if the boarders had not been so sulky and tired, they +would have noticed their embarrassment. Could it really be Karen Lote! + +She turned back to the left; it was patent to all the world that she +had come here to wait for some one. + +They looked from her to each other; they did not laugh, they did not +make a sign--they were frightened. + +But there was a revulsion of feeling when they saw the tall drawing +mistress come swinging across, and turn into the avenue. She came +quickly towards them; she had been given an appointment there at the +same time. + +Milla crept behind Tora; Tora would gladly have got behind some one; +they had to find some excuse to account for their laughter. As the +drawing mistress passed them, hurried and excited, they had just +contrived to push Tinka into a ditch, which fortunately was dry. + +And now they were eager to spy on the two other traps. They went up +into the boarders' rooms, whence they could see out over the courtyard; +they had given Miss Hall a rendezvous behind the gymnasium, but, unless +she were standing absolutely still behind it, she had not come. It did +not fare much better with their flight across the garden towards the +right, where they had given the language teacher rendezvous; they met +her, certainly, coming down the path, but it was with several others; +running quickly up from the wood, she never so much as looked round. If +she had read the letter, she had taken it as a joke. The four girls +slipped through the garden-gate and along the same way; they did not +want to meet Karen Lote again. + +Something, however, had happened a few hours before, which if it had +not been stopped would have brought the whole affair to light, in which +case not one of the four would ever have set foot in the school again. + +On her return from her walk at about six, Miss Hall, very nervous but +very determined, had asked to be allowed to speak to Herr Rendalen. She +gave him the letter directly he came in. He took it, read it, held it a +little way from him, and began to laugh; and when she took it +seriously, he laughed still more, quite uncontrollably at last. Ten +minutes later he received a note from Miss Hall, in which she informed +him that she should leave by the next steamer. On this he rushed off +for his mother, whom he found at last in the cow-house. He explained +the whole matter contemptuously to her, declaring that Miss Hall must +be mad. Fru Rendalen at once went to her. Miss Hall was greatly +exasperated; she cried, and gave confused, hasty explanations, while +Fru Rendalen pulled off her spectacles, and rubbed and rubbed them; she +could not comprehend it in the least. Perhaps, if we were to talk +English, she thought; but it all remained as obscure as ever. Plainly +and shortly, what was she angry about? Why did she wish to go? What had +happened? What redress did she demand? + +She demanded that the culprits should be _punished_. + +Nothing more than that! They both set off to the boarders' room, which +was now empty; they began to search through the exercise books, +portfolios, bookshelves; they wished to find out who it was who was so +abominable as to copy Rendalen's handwriting. From thence they went +into the class-rooms. That of the senior class stood just as it had +been left; for the cleaning day for this room was Thursday, and the +evening sweeping had not yet been done. There they carefully collected +all the bits of paper which had been thrown away, straightened them +out, and examined them; they peeped into exercise books, lesson books, +and desks. They must find out who the unhappy person was who imitated +Rendalen's handwriting. + +_They all did it!_ + +As soon as the fact became clear that every senior girl in the school +had been occupied with _Rendalen_ and _Rendalen_, and again _Rendalen_, +Miss Hall gave in; at last they both left the schoolroom--neither of +them said a word to the other. + +Miss Hall never said anything more about it. But Fru Rendalen talked it +over with Karl Vangen. His discourse on Monday had for its subject how +wrong it was to do to others, what they would not like others to do to +them. This was often the case with young people, "who found great +pleasure in discovering the weakness and tender points of others, and +playing upon them." + +The four dare not look up, but they gave side-glances at the drawing +mistress, who chanced that day to be sitting near the laboratory table, +facing the others. She rested her long arms on it. Her hands toyed with +something standing there, which she looked at intently; but tear after +tear rolled down her cheeks, without her making an attempt to dry them. +She was quite absent. + +All four girls noticed it, and when at the third recreation she was +still inconsolable and cried as much as ever. Nora could bear it no +longer, but drew her into one of the rooms, and with her arms round her +neck whispered, "Pardon, pardon, pardon:" she did not say for what. + +They gave each other a confidential hug--regret, sympathy, +shamefacedness all mingled together. The poor girl, whom they had +befooled out of her most precious secret, was comforted at last by such +boundless repentance, such thorough comprehension, such heartfelt +devotion. + +The same day Tora and Tinka heard what Nora had done; they wanted to do +the same, but she forbade them; the poor girl must not on any account +know that there was more than one who knew her secret. + +Karen Lote was ill; Rendalen had to take her place, and give some of +his work to Miss Hall. All three felt that Karen Lote must not be +approached by any one. + +How could they have thought of anything so disgusting as what they had +done! And that, too, in the midst of serious discussions on woman's +position, on woman's honour and responsibility. + +Milla would not talk to the others; at school she held aloof, and when +any one went to see her at home, her door was fastened. They all felt +as though a storm were brewing. + +That Milla should hold back from them as though _they_ were the guilty +ones and not she, Nora would not endure; one day, therefore, they all +surrounded her, and asked for an explanation. Milla was offended and +tried to get away, but it did no good. She then told them that they had +led her into doing what was not right, and she would have nothing more +to do with it. The only answer she got was from Nora's great eyes, but +she reddened under them. Of course she had taken part in what had been +done, she did not deny it; but she did not wish to feel as ashamed of +herself again as she had done during the last few days. The others +asked if she thought they had been less ashamed than she? + +Milla now told them, with a slight air of superiority, that in her +first fright at Karl Vangen's discourse, she had asked her father if +she might accompany him when he went to the South German Baths. He had +consented with great pleasure. She could not draw back now, they were +to start in a few days. + +At first, all the friends felt Milla's coldness in having proposed to +go away without telling them. But Milla now felt this herself, for she +altered her demeanour from that moment, and tried to do away with the +impression. It was _she_ now who was most amiable about everything. +When the drawing mistress appeared in a very pretty cloak and hat, +without any one being able to find out who "the kind friend" was from +whom she had received them, it was at once clear to the three friends +that they came from Milla. She denied it certainly, but that was all +the nicer of her. So the short resentment changed on both sides to a +closer friendship during the few days that she still had with them. Her +father gave a "farewell dinner," the great event at which was the +unveiling of a cake, on the top of which four sugar girls held each +other with fingerless hands as they danced round a red flag with +"Emancipation" on it; round the plinth was written "The Society." But +derision was useless. This same Society gave a farewell entertainment +to Milla the next day. All good spirits hovered over this, their last +meeting, with its many short speeches, its music and songs--over its +whole tone. + +A girl of a serious turn of mind recalled that all the pleasure that +they had had together during their school year had been begun beside +Fru Engel's grave; it was closing with Milla's farewell entertainment. +Milla was touched, quite overwhelmed; she declared that she was +altogether unworthy, she did not deserve the kindness which they showed +her; she was not all they thought her. + +Tora came up and embraced her, and they all felt that this was genuine. +Tora was grateful for the happiest days of her life; she whispered this +to Milla, which had a good effect. They ended by seeing Milla home; she +took Tora's arm. "Bad times are beginning for me," sobbed Tora. + +"But I shall come back again, Tora." + +Tinka scolded her for her extravagant way of speaking, it was making +the whole thing into a caricature and an absurdity; but this was not +the first time that Tora had done so. + +When they said good-bye before Milla's door, Tora ran after her up the +steps and into the hall; she was never satisfied. When inside she took +out a box which Milla knew at once--it contained her one ornament; she +had inherited it from her uncle, who had brought it in his youth from +California. It was some pieces of rough gold made into a heavy chain, a +beautiful piece of work; she pressed it into Milla's hand; she had +never worn it herself. But Milla would not think of taking it from her, +she did not know how she could justify herself to her father if she +were to do so; she refused it decidedly, coldly at last, so that Tora +was vexed and ran off. But Milla fetched her in again, held her tightly +in her arms, and kissed her. Did she not believe that Milla realised +what a great thing it was which she wished to do? But it was a matter +of conscience for Milla to say no. They must not part in this way; Tora +should stay with her, she should stay the night there. And it was so +settled. When girls are really fond of each other, they love to sleep +together. + +The others, who had remained outside, waited a while. As Tora did not +rejoin them, they walked on a little way; they were annoyed with her. +They all returned, however, and came quietly through the garden-gate +and past the office. A little while afterwards the two friends up in +the bedroom heard a subdued chorus of girls' voices under the window, +led by Tinka's contralto: they sang "Sleep in peace." + +The curtain was half raised; they saw two figures in white; two +heads--one dark, one fair-looked, nodding and laughing, out. + +The whole school was down at the customhouse the next day; Fru +Rendalen, all the teachers, male and female, every one--with the +exception of Anna Rogne, who had not been at the meeting the previous +day. + +There was universal crying, and kissing, and admiration over Milla's +travelling dress. The little ones thought they must join in; they could +not cry, but they could kiss. First one little mouth was offered, then +two, then five. At last they all insisted on being kissed by Milla, and +then sprang back tittering. + +The stewardess had all the vases in the cabin, and some dishes as well, +filled with flowers. She really toiled over them. Tora, her eyes red +with crying, had come with Milla and Consul Engel, and had been the +object of all the latter's attentions, but she now kept quite in the +background. Milla had to look for her to press her hand for the last +time, to give her a last kiss. As the steamer swung round and left the +quay, the slender black figure waved her handkerchief to her friends, +her veil, which had become loosened, waving with it. In a moment the +whole quay was white; the little ones in front, the elder ones behind +them, all waved their handkerchiefs. From the steamer, it looked like +the foam from a waterfall dashing down into the sea. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + IN THE DOVECOTE + + +One morning in the gymnasium, when the senior class was practising +rather reluctantly because the weather was splendid, and two panes were +open in the big window that looked towards the mountain, letting the +air pour in, laden with the scent of trees and flowers;--one morning in +the gymnasium, just as Miss Hall had joined them, and had, as usual, +interrupted the ordinary practice by taking away a few of the pupils +for special exercises;--one morning in the gymnasium, when, as the +result of all this, some of the girls had gone over to the window for a +moment to give a glance at the hundreds of fruit-trees in full blossom, +whose dense masses like an amphitheatre covered the opposite hillside +with a single thick crown;--one morning in the gymnasium, when these +same girls could not utilise the moment as fully as they wished, +because a number of impertinent young trees had that year shot up in +such a marvellous manner, that it was impossible to see the glory of +the hillside, except where these young trees allowed it; nay, worse +still, the trees attracted the bees from the hives on the right, and +they were more impertinent still, for they buzzed in at the open +window, and frightened the girls when they were trying to see out +between the trees;--one morning in the gymnasium, just as all those +small labourers in the garden, who in lieu of steel spades, hoes, or +forks, use their own small legs, who begin their work at sunrise so as +to end betimes, working by no forced contract, but also with no +supervision or inspection, through the whole summer and autumn, they +and their wives and children feeding at Fru Rendalen's expense, friends +with all, except the cat;--yes, one morning in the gymnasium, just when +all these tiny workers--oh, hundreds of them--gathered from all parts, +rising high in the air to settle down again and hide themselves in the +bushes in every direction, the girls stood looking on in wonderment. + +All at once the trees in the wood bowed their heads, and deeply bowed +those to the left, in front of the garden, while sand and seeds whirled +up in a menacing cloud; a sudden squall from inland had come over the +hill, and without warning drove across from right to left. Almost +before it had reached the garden it was no longer the trees, but the +wind which possessed the blossom; every single petal of every opening +flower was lifted up, strewn far and wide, and carried away lighter, +more lively than the snowflakes, for these are attracted by the earth. +Millions and millions of flower wings--a flashing, whirling atmosphere, +as of white butterflies, through which patches of green appeared like +islands in a sea of cloud, like islets in a mirage. + +The girls screamed with delight, shouted, and clapped their hands, all +exclaiming as this marvel was driven gleaming across the garden. + +From the wood came a darker shower in pursuit of it, following the same +course; it soon reached the place where the glittering petals had +passed; its track was narrower, but its rush heavier and more rapid. + +The girls rushed towards the great door, which was half open; they +wanted to follow the bright moving mass, the fugitives from the +fruit-trees. They forgot that they were in gymnasium dress--besides, at +the back of the house it did not matter; they screamed, they jumped. +Just then the door was pushed right open from outside; on the steps +stood a young man in white trousers and a naval uniform coat and cap. +He laughed and bowed, he bowed and laughed. It was Niels Fuerst. + +Behind him, down in the courtyard stood Kaja Groendal, who wore a light +hat and carried a violet parasol. She looked remarkably smart. She +laughed too. + +"Is not Elisa here?" asked Fuerst. No one in either of the senior +classes was called Elisa, no one knew any Elisa in the whole school. +"No, not Elisa," he said; "Olava!" There was no Olava in either of the +classes. "Olava?" No one knew any Olava in the whole school. He was +sure that they all took it for a joke. He looked at them in their +gymnasium dress, turning from one to another. He had both hands full of +flowers, he had to put the ones he held in his right hand against his +breast and press them with his left arm when he wanted to raise his +cap. Fru Groendal was carrying flowers as well; they had evidently just +bought them, and having heard that the senior classes were at the +gymnasium at that moment, he had wished to see them. "Pardon," he said; +"perhaps she was called Petrea, or it may be that she was not here at +all." He raised his cap, his light curls seemed to laugh with him, and +the girls all laughed till the walls of the gymnasium re-echoed. He +sprang down. Fru Groendal turned and went with him; as they passed round +the corner he nodded back at them. + +The laughter of the girls sounded round and round the lofty building. +They were most of them in a state of excitement, they kept running to +each other, asking questions without waiting for an answer; if three of +them were standing in a group, others joined them; if some were +laughing more than the others, they all rushed in that direction. Two +began to dispute, and the dispute increased; one or two more joined in, +then several others, all of them at last: the dispute was about the +disturber of the dovecote who had been at the door. + +Tinka was one of those who was disputing. She was simply shocked at his +shamelessness; she looked round for supporters. She thus caught sight +of Tora, who was sitting on a bench by the door, as white as a sheet. +Miss Hall was attending to her. Tinka sprang across, calling as she did +so, "What is the matter?" "What has happened?" Tora had continued her +gymnastics by herself, for she had become an enthusiastic gymnast, and +pursued a special system. As she was at the height of her practising, +she caught sight, through the half-open door, of a pair of little birds +which were flitting backwards and forwards about a bush. Was any one +under the bush? Had they a nest there? Was it only their usual antics? +Then she saw Kaja Groendal's light dress come between her and the bush, +a large bouquet and a parasol instead of the birds; a young man in +naval uniform, with his hands full of flowers. She did not know him. +Kaja just then caught sight of her, and either Tora imagined it or she +really did say, "There she is!" The officer looked at Tora and kept his +eyes intently fixed on hers, his eyes both laughed and stabbed. Kaja +Groendal tried to hold him back and then fell behind, but he kept +advancing, did not even stop at the steps, but came up them and still +on, without removing his eyes a single moment from hers. She could not +move. The noise by the window, the squall, which lifted Fru Groendal's +veil and threatened to turn her parasol inside out, the waving of the +bushes, the whistling in the trees; she saw, she heard, but as if at a +great distance. She could not properly understand it, she could not +put it together; a strange weakness came over her, especially in her +knees--they would not support her. + +Just then the girls screamed out, and the whole group flew by to the +door, while he pushed it quite open with his foot. She felt as though +she were breathing fresh air, as though some one were supporting her +trembling limbs; but so long as he stood there she could not go away, +although she longed to do so; she _must_ stay. + +It was not until after he had gone that she tried to find the bench, +and only when she sat down did she begin to feel ill. She tried to +struggle against the feeling; Miss Hall came to her, and now Tinka as +well; and when Tinka asked what it was, firmly and decidedly, it helped +her--she was able to cry. The others came running up, but they became +quiet at the sight of the deadly white face. They did not ask a single +question. + +"She has been doing her gymnastics too violently," whispered Miss Hall. + +"She does everything so energetically," added Nora kindly, sitting down +beside Tora, and drawing her head towards her. + +The others went away; Miss Hall asked them to do so. One could hear in +the little room, where they changed their dress, the sound of their +returning merriment--one heard them go away, group after group. +Although the dinner-bell was ringing, Tora sat there, with Tinka on one +side and Nora on the other, and Miss Hall in front of them. Tora had +spoken to them several times, and assured them that she was well again +now. They all three believed that she had worked too hard at her +gymnastics--she believed so herself; but she said, "Oh, what an ugly, +horrid man!" + +The others looked at each other: "Do you mean Niels Fuerst?" + +She did not answer at first: "So that was Niels Fuerst?" + +A little time afterwards she shivered as if from cold, but she did not +give any further explanation. She understood what had happened so far +as that the gymnastics had been the cause of it. That, being weakened, +he had had a singular influence upon her. She would not say a word +about it. + +Miss Hall now went away. The two others sat there still: Tora asked +them to do so. It was so nice to hold their hands. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS + + +By the next day Tora had heard that Niels Fuerst said she was "out and +away the handsomest girl he had seen in Norway." She would not believe +it at first, but she heard it on all sides during the next few days. +The next time she met Kaja Groendal she told her the same thing. Tora +knew her through Milla, and always spoke to her. She had so far +recovered her usual flippancy that she answered that, "If Lieutenant +Fuerst had not such bad taste, it would have been embarrassing for the +rest of the Norwegian girls." + +The summer came in with great heat; every one who could, went into the +country, to different places on the coast, or up to the houses on the +mountains. As soon as ever the school closed they were off; only a few +of the poorer ones remained behind, and Tora among them. Nora went to +the Baths with her mother; Tinka's relations were well to do, and had a +country house. Anna Rogne was in the town; with Rendalen's help she was +preparing herself for the post of history teacher in place of Karen +Lote, who was leaving the school. But Anna was not easy of access, more +especially for Tora, on account of her friendship with Milla. Even +when, for all that, Tora did go to see her, she found her so occupied +and anxious (she was to take the junior classes after the holidays) +that Tora became tired of her. Tora was now again living down at the +Point with her mother (her father was never mentioned), where she +shared an attic with two of her sisters. She lived in a hurry-scurry +and disorder, and had a feeling of self-reproach and disgust for +herself, which she shook off whenever she could cross the ferry and run +up into the wood above "The Estate," or along the road to the right +from the market-place, to the "Groves." This was a pleasure-ground in +the wood near the road, a large open space with a number of small +"groves"--that is to say, levelled patches, sometimes with benches and +tables; an elaborate network of paths went in and out among them. + +One Saturday afternoon she wished to go there to listen to the band, +but on the way to the Froeckener Jensens, where she was going to try to +get a companion, she met Kaja Groendal; she had come into the town to +meet her husband, but he had not arrived. "Would not Tora come back +with her instead? The steamer left in an hour's time." + +Tora had a great weakness for invitations. Within the hour she was back +again with a large hat-box, in which she had put her night-things and a +white dress. + +The next morning, Sunday, she was standing on the terrace before the +Groendals' little country house. On her right were all the flowers from +the house, which had just been brought out to have the benefit of the +rain--as yet it was only wet fog; behind the garden, on the right, it +was drifting among the fir-woods; she could see the nearest trees and a +little of the bare hillside lower down towards the sea, a faintly +gleaming strip of which, was also to be seen. The fog lay very low, +there was not a breath of wind. She could hear the steamer, which had +just whistled, away to the left where the pier was; now she could see +her passing quickly--a vague outline, a thicker, darker, moving +cloud--through the white fog. She did not concern herself further about +her, but looked towards the path which led up from the landing-place +between this garden and the next. Just opposite was a low yellow +railing, a very handsome one, of cast-iron; behind it, some old trees +in a garden blotted out by the fog; there, she knew, stood several +houses which she could not see from here. One of them was the +Wingaards', where there was to be a party to-day. + +Who would she meet there? She stood and thought about it. Fru Wingaard +had been a Fuerst; would Niels Fuerst be there? She stood thinking. He +was in the reserve fleet, which was lying in the Channel. + +Why should he not come? It was Sunday; why should he not bring several +of the officers with him? + +If Tora had known this before she went on board the steamer yesterday, +would she have come? She asked herself the question to-day. Directly +she had heard it she had felt a trembling sensation, she felt it at +times again to-day; but the disagreeable feeling was gone, oddly +enough, she thought. Did she really wish to meet him? She did not want +to be disturbed by him--no, nor yet to be looked at as she had been +before. But to see him, to be seen by him, if it should so chance? Yes, +she did wish that--she wished it very much. + +When she went along the terrace, to the steps which led up from the +left, she could see quite into the sitting-room, and also, in a +looking-glass, whether the door of the inner room, where Fru Groendal +slept, was open. No, it was still shut; so she went back to where she +had been before. + +She could still follow the steamer--that is to say, a dark moving cloud +among the fog which hung on every side. The balustrade of the terrace +was wet; she dried her hands, forgot, and put them on it again. + +She need not have brought the white dress; it was fine rain now. The +birds enjoyed the damp, they were singing all round her. Trees, +flowers, and grass enjoyed it too. + +She noticed their different scents; one of these carried her thoughts +far, far away to a country house near Havre, close by the sea; clear +blue air, ships, steamers, a long strip of sand, the lazy wash of the +waves upon it; close to the sea a country house, low and grey; there +they lived. The narrow gate into the garden was open; she stood there +on a stone bench, in a short frock and with bare arms; she could see +herself in the long striped stockings which she had admired so much the +first time she had put them on; she peered over the hedge, and the +scent of the flowers was wafted to her again and again, just as it was +now. It was nearly evening, her uncle would be coming from the town. +The path through the gloomy orchard was gravelled--she heard his step. + +Here to the left, in the fine rain, she saw an immense umbrella and +white trousers below it. It was not raised enough for her to see who +was coming; even now, when the garden-gate had to be opened, it was not +lifted, it was only held more forward; but she knew now that the step +on the gravel was coming, not towards the country house at Havre, but +here; it was not her uncle, but----? + +The umbrella was raised, its owner stood inside the garden. A dark +coat, a straw hat, and a very puzzled face were seen; she felt +something of the uneasiness from which she had thought herself free, +but as he looked at her it passed off; just the reverse of what had +occurred the last time. + +He had evidently not expected to see a dark lady on the terrace, +perhaps no one at all, so early in the day. But it was by no means +disagreeable to him; he smiled and raised his hat, there was nothing in +his eyes to-day which hurt her. He paused at the steps, the umbrella +lay on his right shoulder while he laid his left arm on the balustrade +and leaned against it. That was a well-formed hand with the signet-ring +on it. He was slight and active; his head was noticeable for three +things; a nervous sensuous mouth, which was constantly moving, the lips +twitching backwards and forwards, in and out, as though moved by a +string--the lips themselves being short and full; a pair of large eyes, +roguish and gentle, though they stabbed when he put his head a little +backward and half shut them: excessively curly hair of a golden colour, +and long reddish whiskers. As he leaned over the balustrade, there was +a repose about him full of careless enjoyment. But this mood was not to +be depended upon, nor would one readily do so, for there was something +in the head, body, and hands which, behind the gentle, lazy, pliable +manner, reminded one of a cat. + +Tora both felt and saw this, but to-day it was with more curiosity than +fear. + +"What an unexpected pleasure to meet you here; have you been here +long?" + +"I came here yesterday evening with Fru Groendal; she was in the town." + +"Was she, indeed?" + +And the two slipped into a conversation about the journey here, the +weather, the place, without having been introduced to each other--a +conversation without any other object than to have an excuse for +looking at one another. The conversation was in short, disjointed +sentences, without colour or calculation, except in so far that the +last remark never remained the last. + +He stood below and studied her with growing pleasure; the shape of her +head, her features, her manners and expression. The eyes really shone +under the long thick lashes--what colour were they? They looked black, +but---- And her figure! her neck, arms, complexion, her dark hair, her +dress; he put himself quite on one side, he was entirely occupied with +her. How long this continued, they neither of them knew--it was a +considerable time; he did not wish to disturb himself, she did not wish +to disturb him. She saw herself in a living mirror, but the pleasure +was not an innocent one, for by degrees it made her feel giddy. She +collected herself and broke off the conversation; walked across the +terrace to some flowers, and occupied herself with their petals, among +which she made havoc. He came slowly up, with his umbrella over his +shoulder, drawing his left hand along the balustrade. + +"Of course you are going to my sister's this afternoon?" + +"Fru Groendal will get an invitation for me," she said. + +"Of course; we shall have some dancing--will you give me the first +waltz?" + +She did not look up. "Will you not dance the first waltz with me?" + +She felt through her whole being that she ought not to answer him. "I +beg your pardon, I forgot that we had not been introduced; but as you +know who my sister is, you must have some idea who I am." + +He smiled and came nearer, always with the big umbrella, and with his +left hand gliding along the balustrade. She raised herself, but did not +answer. "So there is some agreement about the first waltz?" He said it +a little carelessly, in rather a patronising way, almost as though he +were offended. + +He put down the umbrella and turned towards the entrance. "Of course +Fru Groendal is at home." He went in. Tora was about to add, "But she is +not up." But that would look rather like asking him to stay here. +Besides, Fru Groendal must be so nearly dressed that she could warn him +off herself, when she heard him in the sitting-room. + +He went in there, but did not come out again. Had Fru Groendal gone +there? No, there was no talking. She went towards the steps and looked +into the mirror; the bedroom door was wide open. + +Down the steps she flew, and through the garden, away into the wood, +out of it again, for it was too wet; and out on to the mountain towards +the sea, under the lee of the wood; there she sat down on a large +stone. She was trembling: her breast heaved as though it would burst. + +"Froeken Holm!" called Fru Groendal; "Froeken Holm!" She really was +dressed, then. That call must be either from the terrace or the garden. +Perhaps Fru Groendal had been out when he went into the sitting-room, +that was why there had been no talking. Tora could not collect herself +sufficiently to answer Fru Groendal, and as she had not answered the +first time, it seemed to her that she must disregard the other calls as +well. Very soon she heard no more. + +What time was it? Could he have come to make a call on a lady at that +early hour? And to come straight from the landing-place, not to his +sister's, but to Fru Groendal's. What was the time? But she had not her +watch with her, she had forgotten it. + +There were the white trousers coming up the hill towards her, and the +umbrella as well! She was pursued and discovered. "Dear me, did you +not hear Fru Groendal call you?" Tora did not answer. "And you are so +wet--without an umbrella too; pray come under mine. Why did you run +away?" No answer. "Fru Groendal has been making egg-flip for us the +whole morning." + +"Has she really?" + +"Yes, really; her husband was to have been here this morning, and he +owes me some egg-flip. But he has not come." + +"What time is it?" + +"What on earth do you want to know for? It is just eleven." + +"Just eleven?" + +"Yes, see for yourself." He held out a massive American gold watch +towards her, opening the case as he did so. She was silent and walked +on. As they approached the garden, she asked him how he had found her +so quickly. Why, he had seen her footprint in the sand here, and he had +drawn his own conclusion. No one would go into the wood when it was so +wet, so she must be on the hill. + +They eat egg-flip together very merrily; but an hour later Tora was +sitting alone in her room, in the attics--she had fastened the door; +and at six o'clock the same evening, as the guests were assembling at +the Wingaards', she was on board the steamer, which was returning to +the town. + +What had happened? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! But like the fog over +the landscape, which still hung there, although not so low as in the +morning, there lay something over all this, which was vague and +puzzling to her. She could not bear to be with Fuerst and Fru Groendal. +She could not be natural with them; everything she said or did seemed +preposterous. + +She did not therefore venture to go to the party; the mere thought of +waltzing with Fuerst made her tremble. + +It would not do. There was nothing for it but to fly. She made herself +appear terribly foolish, in trying to find reasons for her flight; such +a one as that she had crumpled her white dress in her hat-box, could be +answered by a hot iron; that her mother expected her, presupposed a +letter by carrier pigeon. + +All the same here she was on board the steamer. It was really an +achievement. She was delighted. The rest of the passengers were up on +the bridge, or in the deck cabin; the windows were open. She went +forward where there were two or three work-people. She sat down a long +way from them. It thoroughly delighted her when the steamer swept past +the islets at the entrance; it seemed as though she were leaving +something oppressive. + +The evening was fine, notwithstanding the fog; it was mild, and the +rain had ceased. The islands among which they steamed stood out clear, +their many tinted hills, the green patches of grass, the gardens and +houses--for almost all were inhabited--were seen with unusual +distinctness, as well as the people who sat or stood about, and watched +the steamer as she passed. Tora thought she would like to live in such +a place; she made a day-dream that she did so; she sat there and +arranged her house according to her taste--this time with great +simplicity, that soothed her after what she had left. + +All at once the discomfort began again, a feeling of depression, the +old sense of insecurity--only a recollection, of course, she thought, +and drew a long breath, but she felt impelled to turn round and look +behind her. + +There he stood on the deck, four or five steps away from her. He bowed +and smiled. Deadly white, then crimson, she turned angrily away. + +"Come, you must not be angry with me; I would rather go back to the +town with you, than dance till five o'clock in the morning. Is that so +strange? I am not so contemptible for that, am I?" + +He sat down behind her; she knew it, and moved a little way from him. + +"Why do you do that now? Of course it is only to talk to you that I +have come with you; you can see that." + +A feeling of both shame and fear came over her; she was alone now, +separate from all the others. She felt as though she could have called +to them by name. Whenever Tora felt how solitary she was, she began to +cry. + +He noticed it, and in quite another tone of voice he said, "Dear Froeken +Holm, you must not misunderstand me; I do not want to annoy you, +anything rather than that. It would give me great pleasure to talk to +you, I confess; may I not be allowed to do so? Why may I not?" She did +not answer, but she ceased crying. + +He slipped into conversation on indifferent topics, and calmed her, +lamenting that they had not become acquainted earlier. "The first time +I saw you I said to myself--well, no matter what I said, but I had just +a little wish to see you again; it was fulfilled quite unexpectedly +to-day; but we did not have any conversation, you were so strange; why +was that? Well perhaps you were not strange, but why did you go away? I +might imagine that I was to blame for that. You certainly did not want +to go before I came--eh? You have made me quite curious, I assure you. +If I really did drive you away, I should like to hear what I frightened +you with; was it with the big umbrella--by chance? Ah, now you are +laughing! But why will you insist in travelling about _par tout_, +Froeken? Just tell me that." He moved a little nearer, and she remained +sitting; he chatted and joked without any pause. She once turned half +round to look at his roguish face, and then she laughed with him. He +was very amusing. + +Close by one of the numerous stopping-places was a red house, where a +number of young people were gathered round some gymnastic apparatus. A +young man and a young woman each held a rope in a "giant's strides." He +set off after her with all his strength; a few steps on the ground, and +then a long swing in the air; then again a few steps, and another long +swing. Would he reach her? Never! She was the lighter, the more active, +and she had undoubtedly stronger legs--she ran trip, trip, trip, trip; +her legs hardly seemed to be apart, and how she flew swinging through +the air! Her hair, her dress streaming after her, a very Iris! Both +Fuerst and Tora followed this chase, silent but eager. Tora felt his +presence at her back, like fire; he had come nearer; and, turning +abruptly, she went into the cabin and sat down among the others. He was +standing on the landing-place when she went on shore at the Point; he +offered her his hand, but she turned away; he wanted to carry her box, +but she ran off. He went on board again to go up into the harbour. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE HUNT + + +Tora reached home about the same time as her father, who had been out +sailing with some friends. He was helped on shore, and his reception at +home was warm. The children fled, Tora locked herself into the attic, +and dare not even go down to supper, although she was hungry. She had +to open the door at last for her sisters; she soon began to quarrel +with them, they had been wearing her best shoes and had almost spoiled +them. It ended in one of them flinging the shoes at her, and they came +to blows over it. Complaints followed, which brought the angry mother +upstairs. Tora cried herself to sleep like a child. + +The next day she tried to help her mother in the house, not without +some hard words and sarcasms about such fine elegant ladies only being +in the way. Still she set her will to the task of being a help to her +mother, especially in mending the clothes. She gave what she could from +her little annuity, so that they were on fairly friendly terms; but it +seemed to Tora that she had a right to have some time to herself. A +little while before supper, she would take the ferry across to the +other side and go up either into the wood above "The Estate" or into +the "Groves." There was no peace at home. Whether she went to the wood +or "The Estate," she always landed at Bommen, and went up that way, +though it was not exactly the most direct one; but she did not know a +prettier place in the town than the house in the large garden there, so +she gave herself the pleasure of looking at it every day. + +Both house and garden had belonged to the Wingaard family, but they had +exchanged them for the Fuersts' house in the market-place, where the +Wingaards carried on the Fuerst business. The brother-in-law, Niels +Fuerst, therefore now owned the house in the large garden at Bommen. + +Tora passed it with a little apprehension, although the man she dreaded +was certainly not there, but on board his ship. This became a change +and occupation, and formed, as it were, an incident in her walk. + +Every time it was over, she went more carelessly up to the wood, or out +to the "Groves." In a little Norwegian town like this, all the girls go +about as they like. She met others and joined them, or went on by +herself; generally she wished to be alone for an hour or two; she went, +as a rule, to some particular spot, and when there took out her book, +if she had one, or else she wove day-dreams without the aid of books. +Or else, and this was now almost always the case, she wrote long +letters, one every day, about any curious experience. She had her +portfolio with her and an ink-bottle in her pocket; she lay on the +grass with the portfolio on a stone, or she sat on a stone with the +portfolio spread out on her lap and the ink-bottle by her side. That +did splendidly: true open-air letters, where the words seemed to fly +before the wind, and every varying thought found ready utterance. And +how delightful it was in the thicket, just dappled by the sunbeams, +enlivened by the twittering of the birds, a little startled by the +rustle of a squirrel in the boughs! The distant sounds from the +harbour, from the works by the river-bank, the voices in the "Groves" +and on the road, with every now and then a strain of music, only made +the silence of the place where she was sitting the deeper. This was her +one bit of summer poetry. As soon as she opened her eyes in the +morning, she began to long for it; the noise and quarrelling in the +house passed by her as though they did not concern her--it was here +that she lived. Her great expedition to Fru Groendal, and her remarkable +return home in the steamer, were of course recorded up here in letters +to Milla, Nora, and Tinka; on the fourth day, she read over the work of +the three previous ones; she was very pleased, she knew she had +successfully varied the theme. She became, however, somewhat thoughtful +as she read the first letter, for she remembered the others, and the +difference had become by degrees too great. If the girls were by chance +to compare them, one of those tiresome scenes might easily result when +she would have to pay the reckoning. No, she would have no more of +that. In the first letter she had treated the matter seriously, +described her confusion, her blunders, her fright; no one who read it +could doubt that she had been with a person of whom she had been +frightened. In the second letter she made fun of herself, of him, and +the whole affair. In the third, she described how a maiden with dark +hair was wandering on a foreign strand, when a merman rose from the sea +who had fair whiskers and curly hair. In her terror, the dark maiden +fled on board a ship, to return to her own country. But the merman swam +after the ship the whole way, with his hand on his heart; when she got +to land he gave a wail of sorrow, she heard it still in her dreams at +night. + +She tore up all the letters, and did not write any others. + +Still she continued her walks. She had not the slightest idea that +Niels Fuerst had returned to the town, that a friend had taken his duty +for him, and that he was quietly studying languages to prepare himself +for a new career, more brilliant than his earlier one, and that he was +living in his own house. Still less did she know that on the first day +of his return to the town he had seen her, in the looking-glass fixed +outside his window, look shyly across at the house as she passed, and +that he saw the same thing happen the next day. He knew that this was +not the shortest way up to the wood, which was where she went the first +day, or out to the "Groves," where she had gone on the second; on both +occasions he had put on his hat and gone out, the third day he sat +ready to follow her; now he thought he understood. He knew something +about girls who will and will not; they acted exactly in this way. + +To-day she came as usual, glanced apprehensively across, and strolled +on with her portfolio under her arm. Some one stopped her, and she thus +chanced to look round and so detected him. He was already advancing +quickly; he was in pursuit, he had struck the trail. + +She said good-bye, and as soon as she could do so unobserved, she +quickened her ordinary pace to the quickest of which she was capable. +She was frightened, unaccountably frightened. Perhaps it would have +been wiser to have turned back, but to-day she could not endure his +gaze, and there was no one else about. So she walked on, and on, and +on, but suspected that he was gaining on her--she almost knew it. She +dare not run on the high-road, but she trusted to the fact that she was +more at home in the "Groves" than he was, and that she could slip away. +She therefore left the road and made her way through the wood; she saw +to her terror that he plunged into it as well, so she ventured to run +up the hill, but in the direction from which he came; then she stooped +down behind a large stone. She was quite successful, for almost +directly afterwards she saw him pass by a little below the place +where she crouched, her heart beating as though it would burst her +dress. Here, where no one could see him, he ran, he climbed, he +jumped--nothing checked his straight upward course. She waited till he +was out of sight, and then ran off through the wood in the opposite +direction from that in which he had gone; she did not stop till she +found herself far above "The Estate" on a rock under a fir-tree, with +leafy trees all round, and, while hot and panting she looked round her, +thinking how wonderful the view was which she took in in a rapid +glance, he rose before her mind's eye as he had looked when he hurried +past the stone. He was horrible! That man could do anything! + +After that, she could never get rid of him. It was always he, nothing +but he; or rather every moment of the day she fled from him, but he +always reappeared. + +Her sisters reported to her that he hung about the house and looked in; +walked past and looked in, talked to them, asked them to remember him +to her. This immensely excited them, they were proud of it; his remark +that Tora was "the handsomest girl" had reached them too. But Tora's +terror increased; she was pursued. She knew that he would not give up. + +Where could she go to? None of the Rendalens were at home. She could go +to them after the holidays, but nearly three weeks still remained. She +could not speak to any one else, she was too much ashamed. She did not +think once of shoemaker Hansen, but Fru Hansen was severe, she would +not exactly understand. Her mother she never once thought of. But after +all it was a thing which entirely concerned herself; she need be in no +man's power if she did not choose. + +No, but when she could not by any means get him out of her thoughts? + +On Saturday evening she had flung herself upon her bed, as weary as +though she had passed the day in the hardest manual labour. She lay +there and looked at the yards of a ship which was being towed past. She +watched the folds in the loosely hanging sails which were swaying in +the wind. The vessel was so near that she could almost have touched +her. Outside there was a heavy sea, the storm driving the swell up into +the harbour: she, too, longed to find a haven! It was Saturday evening, +to-morrow she would have to go to church. Karl Vangen's face smiled to +her as she remembered this, and she felt happy before she fell asleep. +If he had been a girl she would have gone to him--just to _him_--with +the trouble which oppressed her. + +The next day she occupied a seat at the furthest end of the church. +Karl Vangen had met her, and said how nice it was that she was coming +up to them again to help Fru Rendalen. On account of this remark she +had chosen the most remote seat; she did not feel sure that she might +not begin to cry. + +She did not, however; there was something soothing in the church and +the stillness and the people, which was unlike the summer day outside. +But when Karl Vangen went into the pulpit, and his prayer was the one +which he had used on her first school-day--that on meeting, almost word +for word the same--it disturbed her: that even Karl Vangen's prayer +should be a lesson from earlier days. This little coincidence occupied +her, and she did not follow him. She gathered that the sermon dealt +with conversion, and that Karl Vangen, as was his custom, illustrated +what he was saying by examples from real life. But she had heard these +examples at school, every one of them. + +She was roused by the name of John Wesley. His conversion, Vangen +considered, was the most thorough, the fullest in every particular, +that he knew of. He related it, and then passed on to give examples of +sudden conversions, especially some by Wesley himself; other natures +with different pasts, with different kinds of knowledge, influenced by +other fears. He wished to speak of these sudden conversions separately +to-day. He had known a young girl who had a burning desire for grace +for her sins, which she could by no means obtain, until one day she saw +Rubens' picture of the Crucifixion, and Mary Magdalene standing with +long flowing hair at the foot of the cross. She would be Mary +Magdalene. And all at once it was a joy to her to imagine herself at +the foot of the cross in the place of Mary Magdalene; her thoughts +dwelt on this so powerfully that it seemed as though she, and no one +else, stood there. At once she received the knowledge that it was for +_her_ that Jesus was crucified, _her_ sins were forgiven. She was +seized with a great, great joy. The preacher knew several such examples +especially among women. They had clung so persistently to some single +incident in the life of Jesus, some single word of His, something +special in the mystery of grace, and had gazed upon it until it had the +effect of a strong light, a special knowledge. From that time all +became clear to them, their sins were taken from them; their will +became stronger from that day and hour. + +Tora did not hear more, least of all that it was _against_ this that +Vangen wished to speak. Then and there her mind was occupied with an +attempt to follow these examples. His too familiar voice murmured on; +everything round her seemed to fade away. She saw Jesus on the cross in +a strange country, with driving black clouds above Him, each height, +each valley, each tree veiled and mourning. She saw His eyes close, His +chest rise and fall, and it all became night. She felt her own small +sorrows hidden in that awful moment. How long she remained in this +condition she did not know. The sermon was not over, she could not +therefore go; but she could not listen, she did not desire to do so. + +When at length she left the church she had only one wish--to be able to +renew that vision as soon as she could. + +Through all these days she had not been outside the door, she must go +this afternoon. From fear of Fuerst she went over towards the mountain, +and from there up into the wood along by the churchyard, and then on to +the big fir-tree on the right, and sat down on the stone under it--it +was smooth and flat. She had not come to dream or to enjoy herself, but +for real help to consecrate her life. These weary days had enlightened +her; she knew now that her character combined a little of everything; +that she wished for a little of everything, even of what was wrong, so +that she would be an easy prey for a rogue. She had not been +sufficiently guarded from the first; she had been completely +unprepared--nay, the danger had had something attractive in it. + +This must now be changed; she would do any kind of work, if only it +would be a restraint on her. She had no more ambition now, nothing but +dread. + +She fell upon her knees, and with her blood coursing the faster from +her hurried ascent, she offered her prayer in her abasement. It was the +most humble, piteous pleading. Her distress was extreme. Power to +resist the will which conquered hers! She did not doubt for a moment +that her petition would be instantly and literally granted. + +Mentally she saw herself endowed with strength, she saw herself without +fear--even with a mission; no matter what it was, so that it continued. +And that should regulate her life. Willingly! Always! She could not +picture to herself greater joy, honour, or riches than to give herself +to some hard task; it was her nature to wish for extremes. + +And now she began to contemplate herself--no, she came to a stand, her +mind was disturbed when she thought of her friends. Milla's greatest +anxiety in her last letter had been lest the weather should not +continue fine, and Nora had feared that they might forget to send her +some new music. Why should she alone, who was hiding here, have such +dreadful trouble? Her desolate position ought to have made people pity +her, but it only encouraged them. + +She sat, turned away from the view, leaning against the big fir-tree. +Before her she saw alder woods, nothing but young luxuriant alder +woods, and fronds of bracken in a thick mass. Ah! how impotent all that +was, that they had discussed together at the Society's meetings, and at +other places. Only a few weeks ago, and now she must hide herself here. +If this became known, she would no doubt lose the small status she had +gained for herself. She would hardly go again to the Engels, she would +not be allowed to be Milla's friend, perhaps not be able even to go up +to Fru Rendalen's again; she began to cry, but she tried to collect +herself. The image of the sly, excited, accursed face that she had seen +from behind the stone down below, seemed to stab her--to thrill through +her; she understood that the dread with which she terrified herself was +greater danger to her than the actual man. + +She ought to have gone home again, but it was a shame not to test her +strength, and so she stayed there. + + +As Tora, a short time before, was climbing the hill, Niels Fuerst was +sauntering up and down the deck of a vessel, the captain of which he +knew, and just as she reached the flat stone under the fir-tree he had +taken up the new ship's telescope to try it; he focussed it and turned +it towards the river-bank, and from there gradually upwards across the +wooden slopes. Tora had just seated herself on the stone as the +telescope was turned to that point, and he recognised her. + +He took a short cut across the market-place, and turned up to the right +of "The Estate" gardens. + +Latterly he had thought of nothing but her, he could not occupy +himself, and he slept badly. He had never been in pursuit of so +beautiful a girl before. + +Although day after day she passed his house, she constantly eluded his +pursuit, and all his efforts were still fruitless. All that was needed +was to find her in her hiding-place; one could not do her a greater +service. Nay, the oftener she hid herself, the greater would be the +refinement of her pleasure in being discovered. Now he understood why +she had left Fru Groendal's that day--now he saw why she had cried on +board the steamer. Ah, these little girls! But the pursuit would become +wearisome if it continued much longer. His own credit was at stake as +well; no one must suppose that they could befool _him_. His character, +too, would be safer when this was all settled; she would be silent +then. If only she did not see him too soon, if he could only get near +enough to hold her with his eyes! + +Notwithstanding his intense excitement, he advanced skilfully, not by +the path, but straight up through the wood under cover of the leaves. +He scrambled where he could not walk, he climbed where he could not +scramble. She sat there, searching for some definite idea which might +be extended until it entirely occupied and engrossed her mind; but she +was not successful--there was something which always distracted her. +Just then a branch snapped down below. She had constantly felt tempted +to turn round. Was there really anything behind her? She looked down +below her. At first she saw nothing; yes, the branches moved and she +heard the leaves rustle. That might be a horse or cow from "The +Estate"; they came up here for pasture. All the same, she felt very +hot; she wanted to get up and go away; but her eyes continued fixed on +the branches below, there was something dark beneath them. A head +pushed its way through, a man--_he!_ How in the world----? Did he know +that she----? How did he come to----? She bewildered herself with +useless, frightened questions. He looked up. With all her power she +raised herself, though her feet felt as heavy as lead; but she did not +turn from him, or attempt to go away, and by degrees she lost the +desire to do so. Now there was only the stone between them, a wave of +terror swept over her and roused her; she turned her head now, +staggered a few steps--and met him. She leaned forward, he took her +hand, his arm slipped under hers--she felt as though a burning band +were round her. She fell so unexpectedly and so heavily that he nearly +fell with her. + + + + + + VI + + WHAT FIDELITY WILL SAY + + + + + CHAPTER I + + HAPPINESS + + +"Dear Nora, + +"I know beforehand that this will not be a regular letter, I have no +time for one. I almost think that you had better not show it to the +others, they will hardly understand my feelings. Last, but not least, +there is something which divides the others from us two; I feel that +instinctively. If only I could do away with some of what I--feel, I had +almost written again. You must know that I have passed the greatest, +the most beautiful, the most enchanting day in my life. + +"Ah! now you are curious. I will not bother you, but all the same I +must begin with how and why I came to do so. + +"When we arrived at Copenhagen, who should meet us at the station but +Niels Fuerst! Of course it had been arranged between him and papa. I saw +that at once, but papa is so clever at keeping a secret. Do you know +where Niels Fuerst came from? From Sofiero. Yes, now it is written, and +you understand the whole thing. I told you that, long ago, papa had had +the honour of being invited by his Majesty to come and see Sofiero the +next time he went abroad. There are not many Norwegians to whom that +has happened, so it was very flattering to papa. + +"He had said nothing to me; he did not wish to make me nervous before +the time, he said. Fuerst came straight from Sofiero--fancy, he is +perhaps to be made orderly officer to the prince who is a sailor--his +Royal Highness Prince Oscar, that is to say. Fuerst told us at what time +the train would leave the next day. Good heavens! actually the next +day. We were expected, then! I was not allowed to make any toilette, I +was to appear just in my travelling dress, as papa was to do as well. +That naughty Lieutenant Fuerst--you know he is related to us--he calls +me cousin, though I am not one. He said I was pretty enough as I was. +Do you know him? + +"It was now a question of getting some sleep after the journey--one +does not look well when one has not slept. I have never struggled so +hard to go to sleep before. I was terribly startled, you see. I thought +about the stupidest things in the world. Do you remember chief +custom-house officer Jacobsen's nose? I lay and stared at his nose, +till I really fell asleep thinking of it and of the town bailiff; and I +can tell you I was so tired, that when I was once asleep, I slept like +a top. I was, thank goodness, none the worse when I got up. But it was +awful, really awful later on. You have never been in such +circumstances, so perhaps it may seem odd to you that the more I +thought of the important moment, and that I had no lady to refer to +(men can never tell one anything, and so they laugh), the more +terrified I became. It was rather a cold morning, and one thing with +the other, the cold and the fright--Fuerst called it cannon fever--I was +most miserably uncomfortable. It was dreadfully silly; at last I could +not altogether conceal it. You understand. But I consoled myself with +the thought that I was not the first girl to whom this had happened, +when she was to be presented at Court. I was really quite ill at last, +and therefore have hardly any impression of the journey, or what we +talked about. For all that, I got into a dispute. Fuerst said that all +the monarchies were trying to gather the wealthy classes about +themselves against the lower classes. That seems to me to be too bad. +Is the monarchy meant to protect itself? I thought it was to protect +the lower classes, and I said so too. Papa began to tease me about the +Society and school, and Karen Lote's history lessons; you can hear him, +can't you? Fuerst asked who was to protect the wealthy classes in that +case? They must protect themselves, I should suppose. At all events, it +is wicked of them to betray the lower classes, is it not? + +"Oh, how enchanting Oresund is! When we crossed (I forgot to say that +we came there, that is, to Helsingoer, by railway) you see what I am +to-day.... No, I will pass that altogether, or I shall never be ready. +Father wants me to go out with him this morning, you will soon see why. +I will begin with the Palace, which can be seen from the Sound; it is +magnificently situated, but is not so large as we had expected. So at +last we arrived at Helsingborg. There, now you _will_ be astonished--a +royal carriage was waiting for us. Both papa and Fuerst took it as a +matter of course, but I am certain that they were at least as +astonished as I was. + +"The carriage was just like any other; it is the livery which is the +important point. But I was in the most deadly terror how it would all +go off. The weather had, however, become delightful. I was obliged to +leave them for a moment before we got into the carriage. + +"You can imagine how upset I was by it all, when I tell you that I +perspired through my gloves. Of course I had another pair to put on +when I got there. Papa drove me to despair by saying, 'My dear child, +how wretched you look.' I really believe I had tears in my eyes, for +Fuerst, who was opposite to me, began to try to amuse me, but I hardly +heard what he said. But still through it all I noticed that the +formation was a mixture of sandstone and coal strata, and that there +was a lot of iron in the rocks. I thought of Rendalen and his maps and +collections. You cannot imagine how all this passed through my mind in +the midst of my fright. If any one would have taken me home again, at +the price of every pretty thing I possess, I would have accepted the +offer, I can assure you. We drove through a little wood, and came out +into a great open quadrangle--the Palace. + +"When I saw the quadrangle and the grass there--how do things come into +one's head?--I remembered so distinctly the lesson at school when I +learned that _bowling-green_ meant in English just such a place as +this; and that Fru Rendalen came into the class at the moment and asked +why it was called a bowling-green? and that Tora whispered it to me. +How cleverly Tora could do such things! I have no further recollection +of where we drew up. I got out of the carriage, when a very grand +gentleman met us, and gave me his arm. We were shown to some rooms. A +lady came with me, thank goodness. I was not myself till that moment. I +looked at myself in the glass. What a fright I was! I saw that at once +in papa's face when we met in a sitting-room. Fancy, I never noticed in +what direction we went or where the room was. Guess where we were going +to. Into the garden, where we were to lunch with their Majesties. There +could not have been greater condescension to the townsfolk of a little +Norwegian town, could there? Do you remember how we dressed our dolls +for a Court ball? The same gentleman--Fuerst does not remember his name, +but I believe he was a gentleman-in-waiting--escorted me and said +something to me in Swedish. I could not understand him, my wits were +wool-gathering. + +"No one could have been in a greater state of mind. When I saw the +garden and came into it--it all whirled round me, trees, people, table, +servants, chairs--the awful fright I was in almost made me drop. I used +all my strength, I can assure you. The gentleman whose arm I had, must +have felt my hand tremble, or have read my trouble in my face; he told +me not to be frightened, their Majesties were so charming. I understood +that. + +"Oh dear, and how wonderfully good they were; especially the King. Oh, +that smile, the shape of the hand, those eyes! It was a perfect ocean +of goodness--but more than goodness. There is something, especially in +the eyes, which fascinates one. I will use the word heaven rather than +ocean to describe those eyes, for then you can better understand what +the Swedes call _tjusande_.[3] There is no word in Norse for it. Yes, +_tjusande!_ Only southern people have such eyes. How cold and +egotistical we are, I must say it, when we look at them. At all events, +I feel it so. + +"Now you shall hear something wonderful: from the time--I may say from +the very second--in which his Majesty's eyes rested on me, I felt well +again. Well, did I say? I felt this look fill and warm my whole being. +I felt it--it is strange, is it not? but on my honour it is true--I +felt it in my knees; yes, in my knees. There is only one word in our +language which can fully express my state of mind; I am almost in the +same state now, merely with telling you about it, the others would not +understand me. I was in a state of _beatitude_. Perhaps it is profane, +or at least wrong, to use this word in such a sense, but it is _true_. + +"What do you think the King said? 'Welcome to my house, Froeken,' in the +prettiest, sweetest Norse I ever heard. + +"The Queen smiled. She asked me what town I came from. The King +answered for me. + +"'What is the clergyman called?' asked the Queen. + +"'Karl Vangen,' I said; but that was stupid; I ought to have mentioned +the Dean's name or that of one of the elder clergy. At the same time +the King welcomed my father, who stood there with Fuerst, and said to +him, 'I think the lieutenant has excellent taste.' That is exactly what +he said, word for word; I have often thought of it since, for it +evidently showed that Niels Fuerst had spoken about me in these high +places. I did not know that they would trouble themselves about +anything so insignificant. + +"We then went to table, the same elegant gentleman took me. 'Well?' +said he in Swedish, and I hastened to answer that I was enchanted. +'Every one is,' he assured me. We did not sit down, but walked about as +we liked, and first one and then another came up and was presented to +me. Only think! one of them was a Count, another a Baron, then a +Countess, a Baroness, and a Master of the Horse: he in particular came +and walked about, and talked continually. + +"It was not exactly what they said, but their whole style and manner +had something incredibly intellectual and winning. But there was +something as well in the place and surroundings which helped, for I +felt as though I were not on earth. + +"The servants themselves made me feel uneasy and small, they gave me +the impression of being so careful, so attentive, of knowing so well +how everything should be. + +"I did not always do things right. We Norwegians do not learn anything. +No, there was a nobility, a beauty and kindness, and it was all so +bright and yet so stately; none of the Princes were there, though. What +we had to eat (I hardly touched anything) I can say by heart, for I +wrote it down in my diary, and I will copy it for Tora; that and the +furniture of the castle, and a thousand other things which you do not +care about. You do not understand anything about nice dishes, but I +arrange it so as to tell you all the more intellectual things, and you +must not show it to any one. My word, if you do! Nora, you don't know, +but I must have one confidante, or happiness would be a burden. I have +never felt as I have done yesterday and to-day. I am quite upset. I +will write to Tora about my dress. Of course I have a new one, which I +think would have surprised you all, although there is not much to be +done in black. Still I think it suits me. I got a glimpse of myself in +several mirrors at the castle, for you must understand that we were +shown over it. On the side where we came in first, to the left, is the +great apartment where the royal entertainments are held in all their +grandeur. Ah! if one could only be present. This room is decorated in +white, with an arabesque on a blue ground, and great big pictures, one +by Markus Larsson, full of sunlight, but I don't know what it is, it is +so extraordinary; and divans and chairs in blue silk--an enormous +chandelier of different coloured glass, magnificent! Near the wall two +black figures, dressed in red and gold, holding lamps, real works of +art. A huge marble fireplace, the shape we call '_Pies_,'[4] but the +word is so ugly; and a richly gilded clock and porcelain vases; a +particularly noticeable flower-stand in Japanese porcelain, very +curious. Also a Chinese or Japanese writing-table made of black wood, +with gold ornaments. But that was in the cabinet. + +"But no; I will scratch out about the cabinet. You shall read all about +it in Tora's letter. I will just tell you that you look out from the +great balcony over the Sound, and see all the ships and steamers, and +Helsingborg and Krongborg. There is not a view like it in the North. +How should there be? Do you think we did not go into the bedrooms? I +don't know if that were right, but we did. I really have to restrain +myself from telling you about them at once, and about their Majesties' +sitting-rooms. Imagine white silk hangings over both walls and ceiling, +with a light red border, in the Queen's room. And such a writing-table! +The King's rooms were so nobly simple. On the pillow in the King's +bedroom I saw two hairs--you know what sharp eyes I have. I lagged a +little behind, and took them without any one noticing it. I put them +into the case of my watch. But this reminds me of the great event. When +we went into the garden again, the light fell very strongly right on +the gate, and I saw something written on the railing. I went up to it; +it was in French, and undoubtedly by a lady.... Yes, you see I have +scratched that out again. For when one has made up one's mind not to +repeat a thing, it shall not be repeated. It was horrid. I rubbed it +out with my finger; but I had to be quick, and I got a splinter into my +finger, through my glove, and made it bleed. So I rubbed it out with my +blood. I have not said a word to any living being about it until now, +nor must you tell it to any one. To papa I said I had pricked my finger +while I was trying to gather a rose. + +"If any one should have seen me--but they were looking at something in +the garden; or if any one had seen what was written before I did? Is it +not extraordinary? + +"The royal party and their attendants were no longer in the garden, but +the gentleman who had met us now joined us. As he did not show any +intention of taking us to the others, papa asked him to convey our +respectful thanks to their Majesties, and we then left the garden. The +carriage came up again, and my elegant cavalier handed me a beautiful +bouquet from the royal garden. What do you think of that? It is before +me as I write. The flowers are of the Swedish and Norwegian colours. To +be sure, Fuerst says they are the commonest flowers, but I thought there +was more meaning in it than that. I especially admire a lily and a +rose. I put a few forget-me-nots into my letter, for I must tell you, +my dear Nora, that I am not coming home again. I hope this will be +nearly as great an astonishment to you as it was to me, when papa told +me this morning. I am to go to Paris to learn French thoroughly. + +"'Is that a determination he has only lately come to, or why did he not +tell me before?' you will naturally inquire. + +"You must know that we start to-morrow. What do you think of that? Papa +cannot spare the time to remain away longer. + +"'But why did we not go direct?' you ask again. I asked the same thing, +although, Heaven knows, I would not have missed yesterday for the +world. + +"Papa answered that he came to the determination yesterday. Lieutenant +Fuerst drew his attention to the fact that all well-bred Swedish ladies +speak French as well as they do Swedish, and that all Germans and +Russians know it; besides which, every well-educated woman ought to +speak French like her mother tongue. + +"It is not disagreeable to me to travel. To be sure, it will be for at +least a year that I shall be separated from you all, but we shall have +all the more to tell each other when we meet again. + +"There is one thing I must ask you about. Lieutenant Fuerst says +that---- I had got so far when father came in this morning, and I had +to hide my letter. He took me out all in a hurry. We are only just home +again this evening, and do you know what for? To pack up and start at +once. A fresh determination! Lieutenant Fuerst will give father the +pleasure of coming with him. I shall put my letter just as it is into +the letter-box at the station. I suspect that if I were to read it +through again you would not get it.--Your loving + + "Milla." + + +Nora and her mother had left the Baths when the letter got there. It +was forwarded to Christiania, where they were staying. When Nora +returned she found a telegram, dated from Hamburg, which ran: "Do not +read the letter which is coming; send it me,' Hotel Continental, +Paris.'" But the letter had been already read. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A MISFORTUNE + + +Soon after the beginning of the term Miss Hall began a series of +lectures for the ladies of the town; it had become the fashion to hear +a little of all the objectionable things which their daughters and +sisters had learned about in the past year. The lectures were held +twice a week in the great laboratory, which as a rule was full. Most of +those who had been in the senior class the previous year, and had now +left, attended these lectures. One day late in October, when they were +assembling in the lecture-hall, Tora came in, accompanied by her +friends. There was general astonishment and greeting. Where had she +been? Why was she so pale? And, good gracious, how thin! It was true, +then, that she had been ill. Was it in the west country that she had +been staying? When had she returned to the town? Would she live up here +now? + +The conversation ceased as Fru Rendalen and Miss Hall came in, and +those who were not seated turned to find places. But it was soon seen +that there were not sufficient seats; the crowd had never been so +great, for Miss Hall was lecturing upon certain phenomena of the nerves +which had till now been overlooked or denied, and the lectures became +more interesting every time. + +To gain space, the large double door leading to the entrance-hall was +opened, the outer door being closed. A number of chairs were placed in +the hall, and two rows as well in front of the laboratory table. Fru +Rendalen's commanding voice was heard giving directions, till quiet was +obtained. Tora and her friends found places at the furthest end of one +of these rows of chairs. + +Miss Hall took up her subject where she had broken off at the last +lecture. + +"The health and morality of mankind demanded that woman's nerves should +be strengthened. It was not enough that she should feel physically +comfortable, her will must be ripened by knowledge; she must have an +aim in life which will not readily allow her to remain the mere slave +of another human being." In a professional manner she ran shortly +through what she had said before, for the benefit of those who had not +been present. + +"People with weak nerves, and especially those of an hysterical +temperament, can by certain mechanical operations be brought into a +'hypnotic,' 'somnambulistic,' or 'magnetic' condition. This condition +was impotence combined with consciousness; we did, while in this state, +what he wished who had brought us into it. We were his prey, and that +not only while we slept, but afterwards when we were awakened--we +absolutely obeyed the commands we had received while we were in this +condition." Miss Hall reminded her hearers of one or two examples she +had given. + +"In this state certain mediums could visit other places, read the +thoughts of others, both near and far. Some few could even see into +futurity. + +"This fact could no longer be denied, nor could it be explained. At one +time it was believed that this result was dependent on belief; now it +is known that belief has nothing to do with it. _Certain people could +bring themselves_ into this abnormal condition, some by great exertion, +others merely by wishing it. They all accomplish this--with whatever +object--by fixing their minds upon some single thing, either in their +thoughts or in the exterior world. + +"Most of us know a little of the effect of doing this, but only those +with weak nerves and in certain conditions can bring themselves by it +into a state of excitement and abstraction. Many conversions have taken +place by this means, especially among women. In this way we come to-day +to what is the most dangerous for women. Some people have the power of +bringing others, and especially women, into this condition without the +ordinary mechanical means, without approaching them, without any +movement, merely by a look. They can force people to look at them, and, +with their eyes on theirs, command their will." + +Miss Hall related a story which she had heard of a very celebrated +singer. One day she was in a railway carriage; the train had just +stopped, and she was looking out of the window furthest from the +platform, when she felt an uncomfortable sensation, felt constrained to +turn round; she met the gaze of a pair of eyes which seemed to stab +her, and which looked straight into hers. She hurried out at once and +changed compartments, but the man followed her; he was probably aware +of his power and wished to use it. The lady found her _Impresario_, and +begged him to free her "from those green eyes." It was done, but she +felt certain that otherwise she would have been lost. "Now the Prima +Donna happened to be conscious of her own weakness, but how many are +so? More especially if touch is added to the power of the eyes, they +are lost. A man who does not know what it is, takes it naturally for a +desire for more, and acts accordingly. But this need not be so. I dare +assert that many a woman who has fallen is as guiltless as an +unconscious child." + +A chair is overturned--something heavy and soft falls to the ground; +other chairs are pushed aside, and exclamations are heard from several +of the audience as they hastily rise. + +Every one now got up, those behind standing on the forms. Through all +the bustle they heard the words, "Stand back!" It was Fru Rendalen's +voice. Those who were standing on the benches could not contrive to see +anything, and questioned those before them in whispers. Only those +quite near saw what it was, and they made no answer, nor did they move +till Fru Rendalen and one or two others had lifted up an inanimate form +which Fru Rendalen carried out in her arms--it was Tora. "Stand back!" +was heard again. + +Miss Hall followed her, then Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne, and then +several others. Miss Hall hurried forward as soon as they were in the +hall, and opened the door of Fru Rendalen's sitting-room; she went +quickly in, and arranged a cushion on the sofa, while Fru Rendalen laid +down her burden with Nora's assistance. Miss Hall turned to all those +who were standing round and asked them to leave the room; as soon as +Fru Rendalen could raise herself she sharply repeated the request. They +all went away. Outside in the hall they encountered a stream of people +coming from the laboratory--every one was curious; others came from the +class-rooms, which were opening one after the other. But Nora, who had +grown deadly white, took upon herself to stay. When her unhappy friend +began to show signs of life she was seized with a fearful suspicion. +She ran forward and fastened the doors leading to the two passages. It +was hardly done when she heard Tora call out, "Yes, yes, that happened +to me! Oh yes." And a fit of despairing crying followed. It sounded +through the passages. Supposing any one outside should hear it? Nora +flew into the inner passage, meeting the stream of people; she did not +clearly know how she could hinder them from coming near the doors. She +never knew how she got through the crowd of grown people and children; +how she gathered voice and courage to call out that they must not go +on, they must all come back again. She mounted the tribune and rapped +loudly with a ruler. They came streaming in from all quarters. She +rapped again, and every one was quiet. She said: "Tora Holm has had +nervous fever. The air in here was too close, and what was said +frightened her, and--and--and--oh yes, Miss Hall is coming directly." + +She made this last assertion because she did not know what else to say. +She rushed away so as not to burst into tears while she was in the +room. + +Miss Hall, however, could not come, and at last Fru Rendalen had to go +in and mount the tribune. + +"I must beg your indulgence. Miss Hall is obliged to remain with the +invalid. I must partly take the blame on myself for what has happened. +Froeken Holm, being so unwell, ought never to have sat in this crowd. I +ought also to have noticed her sooner, but I was entirely engrossed in +the lecture. It often happens that we who are occupied in teaching +allow ourselves to be too much taken up with it." Her voice +trembled--she was as white as her own cap; she left without heeding +those who wished to speak to her. + +In Fru Rendalen's bedroom Nora stood clinging to Tinka, trembling and +crying. Tinka was very dejected. Some one peeped in from the passage. +As no one forbade it, she entered softly; she looked at them with wide +open questioning eyes--it was Anna Rogne. + +"What is it?" she whispered. Nora raised her face; they both looked at +her. Anna remembered some remarks which Tora had made in the course of +the summer; on these she now formed her opinion--"I suspect the worst." +She folded her hands; her tears began to flow. Nora laid her head down +again on Tinka's shoulder and cried bitterly. All the time they could +hear Tora in the sitting-room; they could not distinguish her words, +they were broken, wrung from her by bewilderment, danger, despair. +Presently there was silence; the silence was almost worse, there also +they were as still as death. At last they could bear it no longer, what +did it mean? They exchanged looks, and were on the point of breaking in +on them, when they heard heavy, rapid steps across the floor; the door +was opened violently, and Fru Rendalen rushed past them with her hands +above her head. What is it! in Heaven's name, what is it? + +They went in. Tora was lying on the floor, Miss Hall stood over her; on +the table was a cup of water. Miss Hall looked up quickly. "Help me to +get her up again." They did so; they saw that Tora had not fainted, but +she either would not or could not help herself. When she again lay on +the sofa, looking like death--ghastly, thin, dishevelled--Miss Hall +turned with a meaning look towards the others. They gazed at her +terrified; Miss Hall answered their looks with two confirmatory nods. + +They all three drew back a few steps. After a little while they slipped +out one after the other to Fru Rendalen. She was sitting motionless in +a large arm-chair. Nora came and laid her hand on her lap. There was +not a word spoken. + +Again they heard Tora from within. They heard her explain, cry, bemoan +herself. Miss Hall came in to them. "What is it now?" asked Fru +Rendalen almost grudgingly, she was quite overdone. + +"Did you know," said Miss Hall, "that he came after her again?" They +stared at her. "She had taken refuge out on an island with the family +of a pilot. He traced her and laid wait for her there as well, the +wretch! It was then that she went into the west country, where she was +taken ill." + +"The poor child!" cried Fru Rendalen. Her sympathy was aroused again; +she got up quickly, and went back to Tora; she ought never to have left +her. + +"My dear, dear child," she said. But the moment Tora saw her she turned +and repulsed her with her hands, crying "No, no, no! Don't come; don't +say anything--no, no, no! It is not my fault, it is not my fault. Yes, +great God, it is my fault!" And she broke into the wildest crying. + +All the same, Fru Rendalen came up to her; so soon as she could she +said, "Don't take it in this way, my child; we shall never desert you +for it." This seemed to calm her, but when Fru Rendalen added that some +steps must be taken, she must speak to her son about it, Tora broke out +again, "No, no, no! Oh God, no!" She became almost frantic. + +"But, dear Tora, you know yourself how things are. It cannot be helped, +this will become known everywhere." + +"I know, I know; but say nothing to him. No, I must get out of the way +first. Do not say anything. There is no need." She raved on, and her +voice was so heart-breaking that they all hastened to her. They wanted +to quiet her by holding her, but she did not look at them. Each time +she freed her hands or her head, and cried and implored, "They must, +must, must be silent." In the midst of it all arrived Rendalen. He had +chanced to open the bath-room door, and so heard the cries and moans. +He thought that they came from the bedroom and crossed the passage to +it. There he stood; Tora sprang up with a shriek, and then suddenly +flung herself down, with her face in her hands. Fru Rendalen went +towards her son, took him by the hand, and went with him to his room. +Tora tried to rise, to go away. She would live no longer--no, not for +the whole world. She struggled with the others, but for Tinka she would +have fled. She was beside herself. She implored and struggled. Tinka +held her till her strength began to fail; she called for help. Anna +fetched Fru Rendalen, and as soon as she came Tora gave in. She allowed +herself to be led by her to the sofa, and, when she was calmer, into +the bedroom. There she was undressed and laid in a bed, which had been +placed by the side of Fru Rendalen's. Fru Rendalen was obliged to sit +by her side and hold her hand--even in her sleep she sobbed like a +child and bemoaned herself. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + PEACE-MAKING WITHIN, PROPOSALS OF + PEACE WITHOUT + + +When Fru Rendalen took her son by the hand, when she proposed to speak +to him, it was by no means with pleasure that she did so, but, on the +contrary, with great anxiety. + +The relations between mother and son had, as we know, for some time +lost their confidential character; for some time they had not been +good, and at the present moment they were actually bad. On his side it +almost amounted to a breach. No one could interfere, not even Karl +Vangen. Tomas declined to speak on the subject, it pained him if Karl +brought it up. This last phase had been produced quite by chance, by an +external cause. + +According to arrangement, Tora Holm was to have assisted Fru Rendalen; +but when she remained ill in the west country, Nora offered to take her +place. Nora's gifts lay in a different direction from Tora's--her help +was therefore given in a different way; among other things, she was +deputed to keep the books. One day when, for want of something to do, +Nora chanced to be comparing past and present expenses, turning over +the earlier pages of the books, Tomas, elegant as usual, hurried +through the room on his way out. "Who is this Tomasine," Nora inquired, +"who has had so much money? It is not your mother, for she always puts +'self' in the entries, and nothing more." + +"Tomasine? I never heard of any Tomasine." He came up to her, put down +his hat, and in his short-sighted way bent over the register, knitting +his light eyebrows, staring with his sharp grey eyes. She turned over +the pages and showed him the entries, month after month, which extended +back for several years. She could not make much of it, but _he_ began +to do so; for her the subject had no great interest, for him it +appeared all-important. While he studied the books, she observed him +and the effect which his near neighbourhood had on her; it was +agreeable. She looked at the freckles on his clean-shaven face. In +repose the sharp lines of the mouth, the quickness of the eyes, and the +power of the brow showed more distinctly; the strong jaw, the bristling +red hair, pleased her. She followed the short, slightly recurved, +nervous fingers as they turned over the leaves and toyed with the cover +of the book. A strong, freckled hand, covered thickly with light +bristles, a thick wrist--one felt the strength of the arm, she traced +it involuntarily to the shoulder; how strong he must be. She heard the +scraping of his necktie on his shirt-front when he drew his breath. She +noticed the slight whiff of scent which, now that his head was so near +her, mingled with the smell of his skin. Something of half terror, an +intoxication, a feeling of increased intelligence came over her--her +thoughts moved more quickly, were more highly strung. She wished it +might continue--it was absolutely pleasant. + +"Where is mother?" + +"I don't know." + +"This is very curious." He took up his hat and went out. Hardly five +minutes later, Fru Rendalen came quickly in from the inner passage. +"You excite yourself so, Tomas." + +"Excite myself?" As soon as she saw that Nora was there she turned +quickly towards him. "Hush," she said, and went towards her bedroom, he +following her. Nora heard him talking quickly and without a pause; she +could hear Fru Rendalen as well, parrying his words, and at last +tearfully justifying herself. At length he went away; long afterwards +Fru Rendalen came back, sad and sorrowful. "I have done a dreadfully +foolish thing," said Nora shamefacedly. + +Fru Rendalen made no reply; she continued to walk slowly up and down. +It was more than she could bear alone, and Nora's evident sympathy +tempted her. + +"God knows, I believed it was one of the best acts of my life, and now +I am told it is the worst." Tears bedewed her spectacles, and as usual +she turned her attention to them as she sat down. Nora rose and came +forward sympathetically. "But, dear Fru Rendalen." She knelt down +beside her. The old lady wanted this friendliness, wanted some one to +confide in, and so Nora learned that "Tomasine" was Tomas's sister. The +girl had begun well, but from the time that she had gone to America she +fell into bad ways, and was sent home again, out of her mind. Fru +Rendalen had paid for her till her death. She had been entirely silent +about it to her son--why need he know of it? But now he fell upon her +with the most frightful accusations. The dead girl had had the same +right in her father's fortune as he; the law on this subject was vile, +no honourable person could abide by it. In the most violent words he +had cast his sister's misfortune in Fru Rendalen's face. _She_ was +responsible for it. + +Nora was dismayed. She had heard one or two things said since she had +been up here, but this----! + +Rendalen's manner during the time which followed frightened her, if +possible, still more; she suffered almost as much as Fru Rendalen. He +treated his mother distantly and coldly when he was obliged to be with +her; as a rule he avoided her. + +From the time he was a boy Tomas had at times felt her to be +coarse-grained and wanting in refinement, as though he had no +relationship with her. The feeling had always yielded to gratitude, and +to the similarity in their views and purposes of life; and, whatever +his feelings might be, he nourished a constant admiration for her +strength and power of government. His ill-temper had always come +suddenly, and passed away directly. + +It was quite the contrary at a later time. + +His mother did not understand all this, neither did Karl, but they +realised that he was unhappy. He seemed to them to be in a growing +state of self-torment, and in this they were not mistaken. He would +discover, with all the ingenuity of a _Kierkegaard_, that if _he_ had +never existed, his sister would have lived happily. She would have had +the property then, and the hereditary tendency would not have grown +into insanity; or he would picture his sister brought up there with +him, with Augusta, and with the other girls, in the garden, in the +school; all those strangers had admittance here, she only had not--his +sister, his father's daughter. That his mother could with an easy +conscience buy herself free from this imperative duty, and that with a +few paltry daler a month; that she had never felt that more was +demanded of her!--what a crime had been committed against the +unfortunate girl, and she had never once comprehended this! + +In the midst of it all came the incident of Tora. His mother _insisted_ +on speaking to him. The first time, as we know, she was interrupted; +but when Tora was asleep she went in and confided it all to him. He +perceived at once its bearing on the school, on her friends, and on +himself, and fell into such a fury against Niels Fuerst, whom he had not +loved before, as can be best described by his own exclamation: "If I +had him here I would beat him to a jelly with my own two hands." + +Although Tomas had no outward resemblance to his father, he could look +so like him that it made Fru Rendalen shudder. + +This very fear gave her courage. For a whole year she had seen how his +impatience, irritability, and quickness of temper increased. When she +herself aroused it she did no more than justify herself, or perhaps go +away; he had really cowed her by degrees. + +But now another was in question. Tora's despair forced her on; it had, +too, an alarming resemblance to what she saw before her. When, after +another overpowering outburst, he was about to rush away, she placed +herself before him. + +"Tomas, you frighten the life out of me with your violence. You give +way to it more and more; it will grow beyond you at last, my son." + +He shuddered, and grew deadly white. + +"Yes, excess is excess in whatever way it shows itself, and I think you +ought to be on your guard." + +Her voice trembled; their eyes met and measured each other; an +unhappiness and bitterness had risen into his, which wounded her. + +"What, Tomas, may I not so much as warn you--I, your own mother? No, do +not look at me like that. It is not _my_ fault. I have combated it as +well as I could--yes, before you were born, Tomas, and I intend to +combat it still. For the last year you have not struggled against your +temper, and it is especially on me that you vent it." + +He stood near the window, looking out. He turned now with a melancholy +expression. + +"What is it, Tomas? Tell me, in God's name, what it is." + +But he turned away again, and laid his head on his arm. + +"I do not understand you, Tomas, you are so supercilious to me. You say +there is something naturally blind about me, and I know it. Yes, you +often humiliate me--often when I am alone, and that I can bear; but +often before others as well, and that you should not do. At all events, +you ought to be able to bear having your faults pointed out to you by +me." + +She said the last words almost humbly; they worked strongly upon him. +He did not speak, but he turned and began to walk quickly up and down +in visible agitation. + +"If I could only understand what it is you are vexed with me for. It is +not only what you rebuked me for---- Yes, Tomas, you cannot bear to +hear that word; but I have had to endure more than words. It is not +that alone; there is something more under all this. What is it? Why do +you never talk, now, Tomas, either to me or Karl? You are unhappy; do +you think we have not noticed it? I would so joyfully do anything for +you. Even if I am inferior to you----" + +"I cannot endure to hear that word," he cried. + +"No, no, but you never will condescend to speak to me, so I am +compelled to think--no, I will not say that, but you see yourself what +you are; one must not so much as make use of a word before you, and +you---- But I will be silent, I see that you are suffering, my son; if +only you would remember that I suffer as well. Great heavens! must I +ask permission before I remind you that this has been going on for a +year? I have not the slightest idea what is the matter--not the +slightest, Tomas, beyond what results from my want of ability. If there +is anything that I can set right, only tell me--tell me, whatever it +is. Can you not trust me?" + +"Cannot you trust me?" he burst out, and threw himself down on the +sofa, with his face in his hands. + +And then it transpired that he thirsted for sympathy. + +His was a warm, impulsive nature, which must have trust and affection +if he were not to waste his whole life. The independence to which he +had accustomed himself, and which had increased during his violent +studies, his continual journeys, and by his different plans, had +changed into a sense of deprivation--had been succeeded by the most +terrible hunger when he was here in the midst of a daily recurring +life, full of heartiness and devotion--devotion to one another, while +he was always outside it. All his being yearned for what he saw. "Not +the cursed littlenesses," as he expressed himself; "no, only to have +trust as the groundwork of everything--trust, and nothing but trust." + +They must just bear with him and take him as he was, _because they +believed in him_. Otherwise, he should go to destruction. + +Fru Rendalen sat there, she had taken his head on her lap; she listened +and listened, her heart swelled, and she laid her spectacles aside, for +they were no longer any use to her. + +"He is right," she thought; "oh, how right he is!" One image rose up in +her mind after another; above all, the incident with the teachers. She +had believed them at once, and to humour them had taken the school away +from him, and from that time forward had in a manner controlled it. +Till this moment she had lived in the blessed delusion that he was +indifferent to this--nay, that it was a relief to him. And thus things +began to dawn upon her which she might otherwise never have discovered. +She did not understand this delicate, sensitive nature. If his +repressed powers did not recover their strength, the fault would be +hers. + +"You mean about the teachers, Tomas?" she asked, and she could hardly +control her voice. He took her hands and held them while he enumerated +his grievances. + +There were, oh, such a string of them, both great and small--some so +small that she had never been conscious of them. An answer, a word of +advice in passing, a remark to some one else, even a silent look in +response to something he had said. In her distress, the worthy Fru +Rendalen asked his pardon with voice and gesture and tender embraces, +declaring that hereafter if he said he wished to go to the moon, she +would believe him. She had never worked herself up before to such +decided exaggeration, so that Tomas was forced to smile. Her memory was +awakened. She remembered clearly how it had all happened, and how she +had first lost confidence in him. It had been after his famous lecture; +he had taken her much farther with him on to "slippery ice" than she +had really the courage to go, and she had only discovered this +afterwards. That was the foundation of it all. His power of persuasion, +his gift for talking people over, and something indescribable added to +this, carried one away; that was undoubtedly what the teachers had +felt. Now unfortunately it is the way with mankind, that as soon as we +discover that any one has carried us farther than it suits us to go, we +not only try to fight against it--that would be right enough--but we +look ever afterwards with mistrust at what that person says. Fru +Rendalen knew that at times she had done this, and had tried to correct +it; but she had had no idea how often she had done so, and still less +how often he had noticed it. She knew that she hurt herself when she +did so, but till now it had never occurred to her that she had hurt +him--he seemed so superior and so distant. + +There was a real reconciliation. It was broken off, and taken up again +during the next few days, whenever it was possible. + +The immediate fate of the unfortunate Tora was decided at the same +time, but this was but a small settlement compared to the great one +which had been accomplished. A confidence was now opened between them +which on his side poured out with overwhelming wealth. The long +privation of a year satisfied itself in two days; he was so +spontaneous, so tender, and so loyal in the smallest things, that she +more than admired him, she adored him. If when she was wrapt in her own +thoughts, he came unexpectedly upon her, she coloured; you could see by +her face when she heard his step--she guessed everything he wanted, and +_everything_ he wished for was remarkable. If she saw that he was in a +good humour, she sang--the worst thing she could have done, for no one +ever yet discovered what it was she believed herself to be singing. + +Nora would have felt unhappy if she had not as well been drawn into +this great feast of reconciliation, which lasted from morning till +evening, and from morning till evening again. + +In the midst of all their joy, Tora's affairs, as has been said, were +arranged. Tomas had soon come to a clear understanding of what should +be done. The newspapers announced that Fuerst had been ordered to +Stockholm, and he offered to take Tora there at once. Fuerst should be +forced to marry her--not, of course, that she should live with such a +scoundrel, but in order to give his name to her child and support to +herself, so that she might learn to do something, and be able to care +for her child. If Rendalen had to go to Fuerst's superior officers--nay, +to the King himself--he would answer for it that the wretch should do +her justice. None of those in the secret, least of all Fru Rendalen, +doubted for a moment. They were surrounded by an atmosphere of +confidence and hope. + +The unfortunate Tora had from the first felt the deepest aversion to +Rendalen's plan; the ground on which she consented to yield was +consideration for the school and her friends, that as little shame as +possible might fall on them. They had forborne to mention this, but it +forced itself upon them. + +Only in one particular was Rendalen's plan altered--Fru Rendalen would +go instead of her son; his presence might have produced the very +opposite of what they wished. + +Two days after this plan had been conceived--three days after the +violent interruption to the lecture--Fru Rendalen and Tora set off. + +On the afternoon of the last day Fru Rendalen had become suddenly very +despondent. It was known that there had been some worry about money, +but that was always happening; and, indeed, it had been set right, but, +notwithstanding, the gloom did not disappear. Rendalen went to her and +tried to find out what it was. She put him off with excuses once or +twice, but when he held her fast she was obliged to blurt out that she +could not tell him; it was another person's secret--"not Tora's," she +hastened to add. "Use your own eyes, and then you will not need to +tempt me." He did use them, both on man and beast, but found it quite +impossible to discover the cause of his mother's low spirits. She +carried the secret away with her. He went round and asked everybody, +but they were all equally obtuse. + +It made some stir in the town that Fru Rendalen, at this time of the +year, and in the midst of the school work, should go to Stockholm; and +that if she needed a companion she should have chosen Tora Holm, who +was ill. + +Tora Holm's mother announced with some pride that probably her daughter +would not return, for if Stockholm seemed to be the best place, she +would continue her studies there. Every one had heard that Tora's +talents were more than ordinary, so this seemed quite reasonable. + +Fru Rendalen had been up to speak to Sheriff Tue and his wife about +Nora. According to her ideas, Nora was cut out for teaching and +directing. She became less self-assertive, too, the more responsibility +she had, and she had ceased to be capricious. + +Fru Rendalen asked if Nora might not move over to "The Estate," and +during her absence overlook the house and school, and take charge of +the money and books. Afterwards she might help with them, and perhaps +perfect herself in school subjects. Both parents gave their unqualified +consent to this at once, they had precisely the same opinion of their +daughter as Fru Rendalen. Her father added, smiling, that she seemed to +have no notion of falling in love. "No," her mother observed gladly; +"she has no inclination for marriage." + +At the house and in the school, all thought it strange that the +youngest teacher, a pupil a year ago, should be put over them; but it +was certainly true that Nora displayed her best qualities--she was +clear-headed, ready, and marvellously helpful. + +She got on well with Rendalen, he seemed to find pleasure in conversing +with her. "Conversing with" is not the right expression--_he_ talked +and she listened, but then he never did otherwise; he always went away +when others joined in. + +Although he was not quite thirty, he had by degrees acquired a number +of curious ways, but each one was the result of something in the +development of his character. Had not his fashion of running away from +any discussion had its origin in a series of sorrowful experiences? + +He was making a noble struggle with the bursts of passion which certain +things, certain names, always aroused. The result was that whenever he +restrained himself, he choked as though he had swallowed something the +wrong way; and if it was very violent, he spat quickly two or three +times through his closed lips--not actual spitting, at the most a sort +of fine spray. + +Tinka mimicked him incomparably. She made a face over little things as +though she had taken too much mustard, for greater ones as though she +had swallowed soft soap; she would turn her head and give a cough like +a cat, or if she pretended to spit, it was with an air of disdainful +superiority. Very soon all the pupils followed her example--there was +nothing they did better. + +At the school, Tomas Rendalen was just what he had been when he first +came home--all brightness and life, wonderfully careful in making all +his explanations clear, and often quite fascinating in his manner. + +It must be confessed that he proved a rod in pickle for the teachers, +but there was no longer any misunderstanding him, though they were +often on pins and needles when he began to interfere; but it was only +necessary to speak to him about it, and he became at once irresistibly +charming; this, however, did not prevent a recurrence. + +His uneven treatment of the children, his way of treating any subject +according to the temper of the moment, remained unfortunately the same, +but it was done unconsciously; and this fact, the absolute justice of +his mind, and more than all the frankness with which he begged pardon +when he had once been convinced that he was to blame, set things for +the most part right again. + +Miss Hall was obliged to confess that she had looked too hardly on this +his incorrigible failing, as well as on several others; for even his +admirers had to allow that he was not perfect. For instance, in the +face of several classes assembled for a lecture on physics, he would +begin to carve a face on the laboratory table, which some chance had +begun there, and shortly afterwards would rave like a Turk because a +little girl had cut a tiny little name on her desk! "Did she think that +was what she came to school for? did she suppose her desk was made to +be cut to pieces?" + +Fru Rendalen sent word from Stockholm that Fuerst was away, but was to +return in a few days, they must therefore wait. She would employ the +time in establishing Tora in some respectable family, and in collecting +some requisites for the school. They had made the journey slowly, and +notwithstanding the time of year it had done them both good, as did +their stay in Stockholm. The letter was very hopeful, Tora improved +every day. Rendalen was enchanted; any one who did not know him would +have thought that he looked upon Tora's misfortunes as the greatest +good luck. "Now you see," he called out cheerfully whenever he met any +of those in the secret. What he meant by it was not very easy to +understand. + +But his certainty of victory and that of the others received a serious +blow when the report spread about that Niels Fuerst was engaged! and to +whom? To "Your affectionate friend, your ever grateful Milla Engel." + +The report came from Anton Doesen, Niels Fuerst's greatest friend; he did +not give it as more than a rumour, but he believed that it was certain. +The families on both sides were diplomatic; they knew nothing about it. + +The members of the Society were a sight to see when they met during +this time! Above all, Tinka Hansen, when she solemnly opened the +register and pointed to Milla's name! She could take her oath that +every one looked upon Niels Fuerst as thoroughly immoral. No one had +been more severe than Milla; her mother's legacy made this only +natural. No, this engagement was impossible! One could not think so +badly of her. Such a thing would be disloyal, both to the living and to +the dead. Milla's different letters to Nora from Paris were now read +aloud again. + +She and an American lady were living in a French family, who had had +great losses, but who had aristocratic relations and acquaintances; she +lived in a legitimist atmosphere, but it was not too severe. She had +both the opportunity and the inclination to admire everything "fine," +independent of religion and politics--everything fashionable, +everything where talent and beauty were to be found. And she used her +opportunity; "with my enthusiastic temperament, you know," wrote Milla. + +She had begun as a loyal member of the Society, the obedient pupil of +the school, and therefore gibed at the French spirit. But almost +without warning she turned round: paintings, novels, and theatrical +representations enchanted her; life, even when viewed from a distance, +stimulated her. + +It was evident that this was no real change of opinion; one heard the +American's voice, though the writing was Milla's; but for this very +reason it had not received the attention which it deserved. + +Milla wrote that what they believed when they were together at school +would not really do: her father had been right. In every letter she +related something or another which was to prove this--not in the +slightest degree in doubtful taste; on the contrary, with a delicacy +which was not without its talent. "One must have no illusions," she +wrote; "one will thus be least unhappy." Nora had replied, giving her +her opinion of it. + +This all now received fresh importance. Was Milla's way of writing +something more than the reflection of the life around her? Was it +really a well-considered introduction to her engagement to Niels Fuerst? +Impossible! Nora was above thinking so ill of friends. She had given +Tora her solemn promise not to tell anything to Milla; she now +considered herself released from it, and wrote out of the fulness of +her heart. Tinka wrote as well; she was full of the offence against +Tora, and the report that it was to such a person that Tora's greatest +friend had engaged herself--she whose name stood in the register! + +Five days passed before they again received a letter from Fru Rendalen, +and it was short and dry. Fuerst had not yet returned. A short time +afterwards they received a long and touching letter from Tora, and then +several days passed without anything further from either of them. Ten +days had gone by since Nora and Tinka had written to Milla--they would +have sworn that she would have answered at once. She ought to have done +so after such a piece of information and such a charge. + +They became very nervous, especially when some one, who had taken no +part in the affair, now remarked that, as soon as she had heard that +Milla and Fuerst were travelling together, she had thought "that would +be a suitable match." + +Of course, this was Anna Rogne: why had she not said anything? "Because +the others would have mistrusted it; and," she added, smiling, "it +would have been wrong." At last one afternoon, when Nora came in from +the singing lesson, she found a sealed envelope on the table in the +sitting-room. "Here it is," was written at the bottom in Rendalen's +large handwriting. Nora suspected bad news, as he had not brought it to +her at once. She had promised the others not to read it before they +came, but one cannot keep those sort of promises. + +Fru Rendalen had had her great conversation with Fuerst. He had listened +to all she told him with a cool politeness, as if he had been prepared +for it, and when at last he had to answer, he began by saying that this +was difficult, as their views differed so much as to the person in +question. In his eyes Tora Holm was, in no small degree, a sensual +woman, who could hardly restrain herself in the neighbourhood of a man. +To the question if he were aware of the power which he possessed, he +answered "Yes." It only, however, affected a certain description of +woman, and Tora was precisely one of these. He was under no more +obligation to marry her than any other with whom he had had an +intrigue. He would provide for the child, and for her as well, with +pleasure--that is to say, he would make a reasonable annual allowance. + +Fru Rendalen threatened to bring the whole thing before his superiors, +or even, if necessary, before the King. + +"Pray do; I can reach as far as you can, Frue." + +She said to him that this would be a hard fight; to which he answered +that he knew how it should be conducted--he was not going to have his +career spoilt by a lot of schemers. The lady in question was stamped in +good society as a _femme entretenue_--it was shocking to wish to force +her upon him as his wife. + +He understood what it all meant: he was to offer himself up for the +school, but he was not inclined to be so amiable. He knew what kind of +lectures were given both in the girls' "Society" and elsewhere--what +sort of conversations and readings they had had; it was natural enough +that sensual natures should be aroused by such things. He therefore +considered that the school should bear the blame; it would have a good +deal of that sort of thing. + +Fru Rendalen had a decided impression that something had happened to +annoy him, and that, before he came to her, he knew for what he would +be called in question. The conversation had so agitated her that she +became ill, which was the reason for her not writing sooner. She had +not wished to mention her illness until she could say, at the same +time, that she was starting the next day. This she could now do. She +had not the courage to undertake anything more in this strange place, +nor did she think it would be wise. As far as she could understand, +publicity and open war were just what he wished for. + +He was a dreadful man; they must all be on their guard. She had no +doubt that this would bring their school into danger, and remain a +great grief to Tora and her innocent friends. Tora was quite overcome. +They both looked forward with dread to the parting to-morrow. + +The letter closed with a lament that this warfare, which had arisen out +of the school work, should never have an end. "Our enemies have gained +a dangerous ally; we shall soon see if we have gained any as well." + +Late that evening--Miss Hall, Tinka, and Anna Rogne had all read the +letter, and were in the sitting-room with Nora--there arrived a +telegram. They supposed that it was from Fru Rendalen to Tomas, and +Nora had got up to ask one of the servants to take it to him, when +Tinka called out that it was not for Rendalen, but for Nora herself. +"For me?" asked Nora, and came forward. It was true, it was for her, +from Milla. It ran: "_Frightful: report untrue_." + +A fortnight had passed since Nora and Tinka had written. Milla had +therefore had the letters for ten days, and then sent--a telegram! What +did it mean? While the others soon forgot it in Fru Rendalen's news, +compared to which this last event was comparatively indifferent, Anna +Rogne remained sitting with the telegram in her hand. She pondered over +it. + +The others began to ask themselves whether they also would now be mixed +up in the Tora scandal. "War" might already be declared. If Niels Fuerst +had written to any one in the town and given _his_ version, what would +happen? A time might come when they would hardly dare, any one of them, +to show themselves in the streets. + +Anna Rogne interrupted them. "This telegram; ought it not to be taken +in to Rendalen?" Yes, of course, and it was done at once. They all +expected that Rendalen would come to them directly, but they waited in +vain; on the contrary, they heard him a little time afterwards at the +piano. + +"Well, as Rendalen does not seem to pay any attention to this telegram +either, perhaps I may be allowed to suggest what may have happened?" +asked Anna, rather ceremoniously. The state of things she thought must +be that Fuerst and Milla really had been engaged, but that on the +receipt of Nora's letter she had at once broken it off, with such an +intimation as to make him understand the reason; that was why he had +been prepared to meet Fru Rendalen, that was why he wished for +publicity and war. He can never win the day without it, and he must +win; a marriage with the richest girl in any of the coast towns is the +condition for the success of his career. Just because Milla had been +engaged to him she had been ashamed to write. She had reflected--tried +as well, perhaps--until she had found a way out of the difficulty by +telegraphing. + +Anna ended by saying, "I suspect that Lieutenant Fuerst is at this +moment in Paris." + +It may as well be said at once that Anna's position in regard to Milla +was fateful for the latter. It influenced firstly those whom she was +constantly among, later Fru Rendalen. Neils Fuerst really was on the way +to Paris, but if Milla's friends had sent on Fru Rendalen's letter to +her she would hardly have received him; and if they had asked Tora to +write to Milla--as she at a later time, when it was necessary, wrote to +them--he would never have been able to approach her either personally +or by letter. Indeed, even as it was he did not do so. He had first to +obtain help from home; but he had taken that into consideration, he had +not wasted his time. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + WAR + + +The day before Fru Rendalen's letter and Nora's telegram reached "The +Estate," Anton Doesen had received a letter from Fuerst. It had been well +considered before it was written, and evidently was intended to be read +aloud or sent the round of the town. In his narration about Tora he +laid great stress upon their meeting at Fru Groendal's. He had only seen +her once before, and only in passing; he had not the slightest idea +that he should meet her there. She had been entertaining and pleasant, +Fru Groendal had said, until he came, when she became unnatural at once; +she could not bear him to speak to Fru Groendal, she hid herself, and +let herself be sought for, and then took it into her head to go away. +Of course he followed her, just to see what it was all about. As soon +as he came near her on board the boat, she began to cry. She would not +let him help her on shore; but all the same, she walked past his house +every day, and peeped in to see if he were at home, and then went on to +the wood or up to the "Groves"--alone. He recalled certain readings and +lectures up at the school; it seemed to him that a girl who had come +from an atmosphere so exciting to the senses, would be sure to conduct +herself somewhat in that way. He thought that this was "magnetic +influence" enough, no more was needed. + +He would not deny that at last he had allowed himself to be tempted +to follow her into the wood, where she amused herself by playing +hide-and-seek with him. Little girls always begin in that way. But he +asked if any man, with a regard for himself would marry a girl who went +past his windows every day to tempt him out into the woods. Fru +Rendalen thought otherwise. She had come after him to Stockholm to +arrange the marriage on the spot. It might have proved like her own. + +For his part, he had far too high a conception of marriage to attempt +to profane it in such a way. He had offered to support the girl, at +all events as long as the child remained a burden, and he would +acknowledge it as his. Honour and duty compelled him to go thus far, +but further---- That would be to patch a bad business with a still +worse one. + +To this every one to whom Doesen read the letter agreed. He read it in +the shop, in the streets, at the club. Some people borrowed the letter +from him, and although the paper had been carefully chosen, it was +passed about so much that it became an illegible rag. Two copies had +been made of it, one for Rendalen, at his request, and one--yes, Doesen +hesitated a moment about this one, but after repeated requests he could +not refuse--for Tora Holm's mother. He obtained some enjoyment from +this copy. Tora's mother was a violent, powerful woman, embittered in +the struggle of life. She looked with doubt and scorn upon most +circumstances. When angry she was regardless of consequences. One +morning, in the middle of school time, she came up to "The Estate" in a +heavy, shabby duffel cloak, a bonnet with bright-coloured feathers, and +her bare hands in an old muff, with which she gesticulated while she +cried and screamed. In the broadest Bergen accent she demanded her +daughter--they must give her back her daughter; they had ruined her and +stolen her. She was a good girl when she went there, but "up here, in +the cursed old Kurt house, she had been ruined. Now, God forgive them +for it, she was brought to shame, and made the talk of the town. She, +her mother, had been stuffed with lies." But they should pay for it; +they should be locked up. She would send the police after them. Her +passion was uncontrollable, but her grief was real. + +All fled far and wide, so she burst into one of the classes, which at +once broke up, the teacher deserting her post. She contrived to break +up three classes in this fashion: she made a tremendous turmoil. Some +of the girls were so frightened that they rushed right up to the top +attic, and stood there shivering, straining their ears and wondering if +they dare go down. Some of the elder pupils, who remembered from +stories that on such occasions you must show determination, remained +behind, and tried to talk her into reason. But at this she became +beside herself. This was evidently an example of the way in which they +learned to be indecorous up here. It shocked her that "the children of +worthy men" should justify such a thing. They had to run away as well, +with their fingers in their ears. + +But the little ones got the greatest amusement out of her. They +surrounded her, and followed her about in triumph. The whole procession +swept into the kitchen, where she began the same story. The occupants +felt sorry for her, but they did not venture to say a word. So the +whole train went off again along the hall, to Rendalen's door, which +was fastened, then to Karl Vangen's, which was also fastened, back to +Fru Rendalen's, which was open. In they went, she wanted to see if she +could not find Rendalen. + +Rendalen was in the town, and would not return for an hour. But Karl +Vangen came in. He very gravely commanded silence, sent away the +children, and took the poor mother into his own room. There she sat for +at least an hour, and poured out her heart to him. It was a bewildered +tirade, about Tora, about her husband who drank, about their poverty. +At last she went away down the avenue, with a hundred kroner in her +pocket, weeping quietly. + +The school had all the appearance of a hen-house when some one has +broken in upon its denizens. Has not every one seen such a sight? At +first the hens fly with terrified cries against windows, walls, steps, +and roosting-places, till they become tired and confused, and can fly +no more. Then they run about the floor with wilder cries than ever, +knocking against dishes, troughs, one another. And when the danger is +past, the commotion is not--they chatter, lament, scream all at once, +in continual commotion. This goes on and increases, for whenever one of +them is inclined to stop, some others are more persevering and will +not. They recall all the remembrance of their affright, and the whole +bevy starts off again worse than before. + +Finally, they begin to plume themselves, to flap their wings, and set +themselves straight, till at last things return to their original +condition. But at the school things did not settle down during the +whole day--some effects remained even longer, and threatened to become +dangerous. + +What spiteful pleasure was shown in the town, what victorious laughter +was heard! Nothing else was talked of in the offices, on the quays, in +the streets! + +When a day or two later Fru Rendalen returned, the landing-place was +crowded with people, mostly young men, who had come to meet her. It +became known at the school on Saturday that she would arrive by the +steamer on Sunday afternoon. No one could find a better use for his +leisure time than to see how a great person returns from a defeat. + +The scandal, which she had sought to cover by the journey, had now +become as great as the journey had been long. When Rendalen came down +with the carriage, he could not push his way through, but had to get +some one to take charge of it while he tried to get past himself. Nora, +Tinka, Anna, and several other friends, who had talked of going down +together, stopped when they saw the crowd; thus following the example +of St. Peter of old, naturally with the difference demanded by modern +days. Little Miss Hall alone defied these dangerous warlike +preparations. She slipped along till she reached Rendalen's side, just +as he was preparing to go on board. He was very nervous. + +Fru Rendalen looked much worn, the glances which she hastily exchanged +with Tomas and Miss Hall proved that she understood why the crowd was +here, and that she did not feel safe among them. She held her son's arm +very fast. + +But respect for her--perhaps, now that they were face to face with her, +a feeling of compassion also--prevented them from attempting anything. +Way was made for them. Of course they could see by words and manner +that this was no guard of honour, even some of their older +acquaintances were there, such as the Town Bailiff and his wife. They +hardly bowed; with the sternness of high morality they watched these +evil-doers go by. + +Those who had been standing nearest to the quay now made their way +towards the carriage, followed by degrees by those whom the three had +already passed. The carriage was quite surrounded when they got into +it. In consequence of this they had to go slowly, step by step, once +more through the crowd, which became more tiresome. They were hardly +through before Rendalen whipped up. He was much incensed. At this +moment he saw Anton Doesen, with a number of others, hurrying across +towards them; they were flushed and had evidently just come from +dinner. They all bowed with immense deference; either Doesen's bow was +impolite, or it appeared so to Rendalen in his irritation. In an +instant he pulled up the horses, threw back the reins to Miss Hall, was +out of the carriage and up with Doesen, giving him a box on the ear +which made him reel. He was back at the carriage, up and off again so +quickly, that no one grasped what had happened before the carriage was +rumbling over the cobble stones. + +In the hall up at the house stood the three deserters, Tinka, Anna, and +Nora. Miss Hall was the first up the steps, and with beaming eyes told +them all that had happened; but Fru Rendalen found no pleasure in it. +Rendalen, too, disappeared as soon as he had brought his mother up; it +was long before he returned, and he was then in low spirits. + +The conversation turned exclusively on the dark point in Tora's story, +upon which she herself had laid but little stress, hardly ever +mentioning it--the meeting at Fru Groendal's. It had frustrated any +attempt made in the town to lay the blame on Niels Fuerst. Fru Groendal +had supported Fuerst's assertions in the most minute particulars. + +Tora Holm had been furiously in love with him, she returned to the town +merely to get Fuerst to accompany her. + +Fru Rendalen could assure them that the only thing which Tora had been +"furious" about was the confidential terms which Fru Groendal and Fuerst +were upon. This had put her out all the more perhaps, because she was +beginning to feel an interest in him. She understood this later. They +all agreed to let Tora herself relate the circumstances. Tinka wrote to +her the same evening. + +Rendalen had joined them during this discussion, and now the events of +the journey were related and all about Tora. Fru Rendalen was giving +them her reading of Tora as she now knew her, and the others were +deeply engrossed in it, when Karl Vangen interrupted them; he came in +from church. The meeting between him and his adoptive mother was more +than usually warm, she went into his room with him. She did not return. + +The one whom Tora's misfortune had struck the hardest was Karl Vangen, +but no one knew this except Fru Rendalen. + +He had gone quietly on from day to day, the happiest man in the world. +Whenever he met Tora she was evidently pleased, though he never never +ventured to construe this into a sign that she loved him--far from it; +but _he_ loved her, and thought that if Fru Rendalen would ever help +him, the pliable Tora might be brought to share in some of his +interests. If she came to do that, perhaps she might perceive his great +affection for her; perhaps she might then feel that he would be able to +do something to make her happy too. Fru Rendalen had often enough heard +him talk to Tora and about Tora, but had suspected nothing till the +morning when she told him what had happened. She saw him change colour +and remain silent instead of expressing sorrow or offering help; but +even then she was not certain, beside which she was much absorbed in +her new relations with Tomas. Still she had a dim suspicion of the +truth. But when the money which she had reckoned on for the journey +could not be obtained, and Karl took her into his own room and offered +her his savings and a small sum which he had inherited--then, as he +looked into her eyes, she understood it all. He could not keep silence +any longer, he held out his arms---- "Yes, that is how it is, mother." + + +"My Dear Nora, + +"I do not know what you can think of me for not writing, but your last +letter so upset me on account of our dear Tora that I really did not +know what to write. How at a loss, how helpless, one feels at such a +time, dear Nora! And, let me add at once, how ashamed. To think that +such a thing could happen to any one with whom we have associated! I +shall never forget what my father said the first time he saw her. I was +very angry at it then, we thought so highly of one another. Are you +quite certain, dear Nora, that everything was exactly as Tora has said? +You know she was never very exact, and, especially in such a case, it +seems to me that a person is almost obliged afterwards to put a +different colour on it. Do you not think the same? I will not repeat +what I have heard, it may be a mistake too; but you know yourself, dear +Nora, that she never was particular. Do you remember that once or twice +you had to check her when she was telling us stories. You see, she had +been in France; she knew a great deal more than we others. When I +recall what she has told me at different times, I feel that it amounted +to a great deal. May not some of this have affected her disposition? Of +course, I do not say this as a reproach, least of all could I do so now +when she is unhappy, but perhaps this may explain a few things. I am +terribly sorry for her, and you would do me a service if you could tell +me any way in which I could be of use to her without offending or +embarrassing her. I will not answer dear Tinka this time, give her my +best love, and say that the expression in her last letter, 'Tora's +greatest friend,' is not a true one, at least from my side. It might +have appeared so at one time, I do not deny it; but that was quite and +entirely Tora's fault. Not that she forced herself upon me, it would be +wrong to say so, but it was impossible, when in her society, not to go +too far. I was obliged to make more of it than I wished, and this to +the last hour of the last day. + +"Do you know, I had not been three days alone before I began to have a +feeling of dislike for her. Perhaps that was bad of me. + +"Her influence over me lasted beyond the time when we parted. I did not +understand that at once, but I have a proof lying before me--the letter +you kindly returned to me; that one in which hurriedly scribbled down +something about my impressions of Sofiero. I shall keep it, that shall +be my punishment. I have just read it through again. You unfortunately +have read it also (a thing I shall never forgive myself for): could you +conceive any letter of mine more unlike me? + +"I don't know why, but I see Tora through the whole thing. I can't +explain it. I have never been able to write to her since. Here, where +everything is more formal, and where there is no room for sentimental +confidence, it offends the taste even to be reminded of such a thing. +It would almost be like going out before one was _coiffee_ and without +one's dress. Perhaps I am too severe, the blame for being so must fall +on the tone of conversation at home. I am so often reminded of that +unfortunate girl by some Germans here; they are very like her, though +she was the worst I have ever met. + +"Yet how clever she was! I never have a new dress, or study a pattern, +or indeed see any new fashion which interests me, without remembering +her. Could she not become a milliner? If I could do anything to help +her in that direction, it would be a pleasure to me, otherwise what is +she to do? I really am dreadfully sorry for her. + +"I have lots to tell you, I see something fresh nearly every day; but +this affair of Tora has put me in such a _triste_ state of mind that I +do not feel inclined to begin anything more cheerful. Poor Tora! You +must give her my love, but don't say anything about what I have written +to you in confidence, it would wound her without doing good to any of +us. Fate has raised a dividing wall between us, so there is no need. +Give my love to Tinka, Fru Rendalen, and all who ask after your +affectionate, and, in other respects, very happy, + + "Milla Engel." + + + + + + VII + + THE FIGHT ITSELF + + + + + CHAPTER I + + IN BOTH CAMPS + + +After Milla's letter, Nora disappeared from the sitting-rooms--nay, for +several days she was unable to go on with her work; she was quite +overcome. First Tora in her way, now Milla in hers. It was too much for +her. She had held the principal place in their mutual life, she had +believed all they said, and made herself one with them. + +Latterly she had endured mockery, not least from her father, ever since +her presidentship had laid her open to ridicule; she had tried to bear +this, but after Milla's letter she gave in. As we know, she had every +now and then before this time felt her life shallow and superficial. +But after this! Over and over again she reviewed the thoughts and +actions of her companions since she had been here. She was confronted +everywhere by lofty aims, but lamentable weakness when it came to +deeds; not least in herself. They had all been easily raised to +enthusiasm, yet were unutterably volatile, their heads full of +nonsense, vanity and jealousy. In many, was an evil desire which +befooled them under a thousand disguises. They were disfigured by the +instinct, inherited through a thousand years, to submit themselves to +the wishes of the stronger. + +She would no longer be the leader of the Society. She could hardly +resolve to remain a member of it. It did no good, and she had more than +enough to do for herself, for she saw in herself natural gifts, but no +stability. + +"Genius with disorder," as her father called her mother. Just then the +relations between her parents were not good. Nora clung to the school, +absolutely hid herself there. + +Christmas came; she was free and could have gone home, but she begged +to be allowed to stay. She was very lonely; Tinka was engrossed with +Frederik Tygesen, who was at home for Christmas; the engagement was now +almost openly acknowledged. Anna Rogne was studying philosophy with +Rendalen, and was so learned and so happy that she did not at all suit +her. Very often, when any one came in, Nora was sitting crying. She had +a quick way of brushing away her tears; her hand moved across her eyes +as though she were driving away a fly. Then she would smile cheerfully +at whoever came--no matter who it was; the reason for her distress was +evidently not in the house. + +Nora down-hearted! Nora overcome! They all knew that that happened +occasionally, but now it had continued so long. Of course she was asked +about it, but she at once became so high and mighty that no one asked +her a second time. + +At last, just after Christmas, came the long-expected letter from Tora. +Rendalen invited all her friends in the school to hear it. The +beginning of the letter at once explained what they wished to know; it +reminded them of something that they recalled at once, but had not up +to this time understood; how Tora had been affected the first time that +she and Fuerst met, that morning up at the gymnasium, when she was +excited and overdone; how he had walked slowly up, fixing his eyes upon +hers and nailed her to the spot, till he stood by her side. The +agitated style of the letter, the constant interpolations, re-writings, +protestations, gave a striking image of Tora. If she had not always +been careful, she was touchingly so now, perhaps just because she knew +that, not without grounds, they might be doubtful about her in this +particular. Anna Rogne read the letter aloud to them all; she knew +it by heart, and delivered it in a rather precise, but even tone of +voice; thus read, the letter touched them. Its many turns and additions +came out oddly. The protestations shone out like sunlight through +clouds--one laughed, and was moved at the same time. + +During the reading, Rendalen sat looking at Nora. He had just heard +that she would not continue to be the head of the "Society," and he +felt that he must break through the restraint which he had put upon +himself. + +While the others were discussing the letter among themselves, he sat +down near Nora, and talked long and eagerly with her--until some of the +others noticed that she often passed her hand across her eyes. The +conversation ceased; looks were turned towards them. Fru Rendalen +proposed that they should have some music; she asked her son to play +something. "With pleasure," he said, but remained sitting thoughtfully. + +"What should you say to my first endeavouring to combat the depression +which often overcomes a woman when her eyes are opened to her +inheritance of frailty?" + +Yes, they would all like to hear him. + +He said he had been reminded that evening of how, more than a year ago, +he had spoken at a meeting of the Society in a very desponding manner +on heredity. This had really only arisen from a feeling of depression. +His opinion of heredity was simply this, that one inherited quality +combats another. One need not be so desponding. In the course of time +all families are so mixed together that any legacy of evil (which one +must strive to reduce to impotence) has almost always beside it a +legacy of good which may be strengthened by use. That is to say, never +be guided by chance, but let the teacher first, and ourselves +afterwards, be watchful betimes. + +He was so imbued with the subject that he was able, on the spot, to +give a number of historical examples. He added others to them, gathered +from his own and others' experience. The question had occupied him from +his boyhood. In his own family there was a predisposition to insanity. +Every case which he could trace showed plainly that only when the +weakness which led to insanity had been allowed to increase, did this +infirmity break out. When this weakness was opposed by the intermixture +of fresh blood, by education and self-education, that person was saved +for his work in life. Heredity was not a destiny, but a condition. + +It was sometimes said that knowledge and surroundings were no help. But +what did the letter tell us which had just been read? First, most +distinctly, that Tora had an inherited weakness; next, that if Miss +Hall had given her lecture four months sooner, Tora at any rate would +have been saved, "So we may well say, 'Help one another,' by knowledge +and fearless counsel. Woman has been condemned to isolation. Man has +sought fellowship and knowledge. Only by fellowship will women teach +each other to fight for their own cause. + +"'The inward development,' is subject to crises, and then intercourse +is burdensome; with this each one must deal as she can. But there is no +doubt that we advance our inward development only by doing our duty." + +That was all; but from it, and the conversation which succeeded it, was +formed, from that evening, the strongest bond of union among all the +women who, in the time that followed, supported the cause of the school +in the town. From this evening also dated the influence of the +"Society" over the school; all discords were subdued before they came +to the teachers' ears. Even before this the members of the "Society" +were accustomed to go into the different classes to help the more +backward pupils before lessons began. This had given them an influence +of which they made use. Again, from this evening dated--and in the long +run this was the best of all--Rendalen's lectures in the chapel up on +the mountain. Every Saturday evening he explained the laws of natural +history, illustrating them with pictures and experiments; and every +Sunday evening gave sketches of the history of civilisation, when +pictures were also exhibited. Niels Hansen defrayed the preliminary +expenses, and was always present. Rendalen had begun this partly to +gain partisans. He would not "Hang in the wind." But when once he had +begun, he became interested in the task which lay before him, and +persuaded Miss Hall to lecture every Sunday, between three and four, to +the women there. Miss Hall elected to speak alternately on the diseases +of children and those of women. She had an immense audience, and this +was greatly owing to the fact that the quick-witted young lady at once +declared that these diseases, both in women and children, had in no +small degree the same origin--men's immoral lives. + +But to return to this evening. There are times when human wills, with +the projects they have formed, readily unite themselves as though there +had never been doubt or separation--a harvest full of promise for a +future seed-time. Such a time at "The Estate" was that evening of the +twenty-ninth of December. The day was remembered, and often mentioned +at a later time. They did not separate till past midnight, and the +departing guests sang as they went down the avenue. + +As Fru Rendalen was undressing she heard, to her astonishment, Tomas +going out; she half opened the door. + +"My dear boy, where are you going?" + +"It is such splendid starlight." + +Fru Rendalen could not be called romantic; she went to the window and +peered out from behind the curtain; yes, it was starlight, quite so. +There are so many things that a schoolmistress has to think of, that +there is no time left for the stars. Yet the tone in which he spoke of +them! Tomas had not for some time seemed so happy as this evening. He +had never before stayed with them the whole time, till past midnight! +He really was beginning to take root, or was it through combativeness? +He was terribly like the Kurts. + +"Fru Rendalen?" + +"Good gracious!" + +"It is only I." + +"Why, my dear Nora, are you not in bed? I am coming to the door. What! +you are still dressed?" + +"It is such lovely starlight." + +"Tomas has gone out." + +"Yes, I heard him. Oh, Fru Rendalen!" + +"What is it, my dear? Excuse me, I am going to get into bed. That's +it!" + +"I am so happy." + +"Are you? That's right; you were so unhappy a little while ago." + +"All that Rendalen said----" + +"Yes, he was capital this evening." + +"Fru Rendalen, do you think I might thank him for it? Might I venture?" + +"Why, of course! What do you mean, my dear?" + +"I could not rest till I had written----" + +"Written? When you live in the same house----" + +"I thought I would get it sent to him this evening." + +"To-night, you mean; you can wait just as well till to-morrow, my dear, +and then you can say it to him. You know Tomas is peculiar." + +"But this evening he is in a good humour, eh?" + +"You want to take a letter into his room?" + +"Oh, no; not I myself. Fancy if Pastor Vangen were to come, or Rendalen +himself!" + +"Would you like me to?" + +"Dear Fru Rendalen!" + +"Get me my spectacles, and let me see." + +"Here they are." + +Fru Rendalen read: + + +"Herr Rendalen, + +"I cannot go to bed without thanking you. I did not want you to think I +did not wish to do so. I did not find an opportunity for it. Thank you. + + "Most humbly, + + "Nora Tue." + + +Fru Rendalen's bed creaked; she got up. "I will put it on his table by +the candle. Have you the envelope? There, that's all right. Have you +directed it?" + +"Yes." + +"Just give me my skirt and slippers--that's it. It was pretty of you, +Nora. Yes, he was very good this evening: that's it;" and she trotted +off. + +As she again got into bed she said: "But, Nora, why did you not thank +him at once?" + +Instead of answering, Nora put her head down to Fru Rendalen, kissed +her a good-night, and went lightly off. She turned back. "Shall I put +out your candle?" + +"No; good-night, my dear." + +The winter passed by, and they began to hope that the war might pass +off as well as it had done before. + +But when minds are excited they require but little to aid them. The +political strife was now at its height; the so-called people's party +had started a newspaper; the _Spectator_ seemed to them to have +attained the measure of iniquity. Between this paper and the new one, +the _Independence_, a fierce antagonism quickly arose, which became +most trying to the nerves. + +In the spring, on Rendalen's birthday, the "Society" hit upon the +unlucky idea of having a large flag-staff set up on the tower, from +which waved, on the great day, an enormous Norwegian flag without the +"Union." The girls had never thought about the old quarrel over the +flag, but Rendalen had showed the whole school pictures of the flags of +all nations, and explained to them that, from old times, the Union was +only used by States which were incorporated one in the other, such as +Scotland and Ireland with England, or the United States of America, and +this was what the world understood by a Union, notwithstanding the +differing colours of the two flags. "Thus a Union gave us, the smaller +country, the appearance of having been incorporated into Sweden." + +This flag was looked upon as a demonstration; it was "bringing politics +into the school." Rendalen forbade its being again hoisted; he wished +to avoid new quarrels. But this was of no avail; angry spirits were +roused; all the old accusations were gone over again in the columns of +the _Spectator_ and at the club. The Town Bailiff suddenly came forward +with a gift of five thousand kroner to found a new school without +politics, with unbiassed instruction, without a method which was +antagonistic to morality. The donor, he said, wished the gift to be +anonymous. He had been most decided on that point. + +The Town Bailiff and his wife each added one thousand kroner. It was he +who had before proposed that a new school should be started; now he +came prominently forward; he had been scandalised. The anonymous gift +was precisely the same sum as that given by Fru Engel. Was Consul Engel +the donor? Several amounts were subscribed on the spot, but they were +not large! + +Tomas Rendalen at once put himself up for the club, as did several of +his friends, Karl Vangen and Niels Hansen among them. All these were +elected at a very full meeting, Niels Hansen, however, with only a +small majority; the club was partly built on his ground, and it was +thanks to this that he was elected at all. Rendalen's election, on the +contrary, was left open. It is true that the rules declared that every +admission should be decided at the first meeting, but happily there +were a number of lawyers present, and this rule was so construed that +it was decided that _first_ really meant _next_. + +The next meeting was largely attended. The Town Bailiff opened it with +the astounding declaration that Rendalen must be kept out, for "peace" +sake. + +A number of men had been sent to this meeting by their respective wives +to vote for Rendalen, and one of these obedient husbands made the mild +remark that "peace" had already been disturbed by the Town Bailiff's +proposal. The last-named gentleman became so exasperated at this +that he would not continue, and Consul Engel's solicitor, the best +speaker in the town, found it necessary to come to his assistance. His +name was Bugge, and he was extremely eloquent. Several solicitors +followed him, and all talked more or less about peace, morals, and +Christianity--subjects which they, at all events, knew by _hearsay_. + +Karl Vangen asked what on earth these great questions had to do with +the matter in hand, whether Rendalen should, or should not, be a member +of a social club? But Karl Vangen had hardly stood up before the Town +Bailiff pulled a long list out of his pocket. He asked if he might put +some questions to Pastor Vangen? + +"With pleasure." + +"First question--Is it true that Herr Rendalen has said that history +cannot well be taught to people who believe that the world began as +Paradise and its inhabitants as perfect beings?" + +Breathless silence. Karl Vangen began a little hesitatingly: "Yes, that +is true, but----" + +"I beg your pardon, but I have the word," interrupted the Town Bailiff. + +"No," observed one of the "husbands"; "Pastor Vangen undoubtedly has +the word. It was he who was interrogated." + +Hereon there was a great uproar; the real men were, Heaven be praised, +in the majority; the "husbands" had by no means such strong throats. + +"Second question--Is it true that Rendalen has said----" + +"But dear me!" called out Niels Hansen; "is Rendalen to join the club +to be confirmed?" + +A roar of laughter followed. The whole room, without distinction of +parties, gave way to immense merriment. The Town Bailiff paused. As +soon as peace was restored he began again. "Second question--Is it +true----" The laughter began again, worse than before. The Town Bailiff +stopped abruptly, and left the room; Karl Vangen now began. His friend +Rendalen was of the opinion that history lessons ought conscientiously +to describe all movements just as they were, and therefore the +development of Christianity as well; but to describe the life of +mankind as a work of God's dispensation belongs to Church history. + +"Is he not a Christian, then?" asked Bugge. + +"We have nothing to do with that here," called out Niels Hansen. + +"Is he not a Christian?" repeated Bugge. + +"No, he is not a Christian," answered Vangen, colouring like a little +boy. + +"The blockhead," muttered Niels Hansen, and he left too. + +"Then he has deceived us," shouted Bugge. + +"He should have said that from the first," observed another. + +Several shouted at once. There was disturbance, noise, delight. All the +"husbands" were frightened, and held their tongues. + +A quiet, well-to-do man stood up: "Yes, I could almost have guessed +that Rendalen was not a Christian. Women to take the same position as +men, that is against Christianity." + +Pastor Vangen then again came forward, and he now spoke warmly. +Rendalen's actions had been perfectly honourable. So long as +Christianity supports mankind's moral consciousness, every school +director should see that it was given to the children, as truly and +heartily as possible. And it was thus that Rendalen had acted. It was +only to be lamented that his instrument was so feeble, for that +instrument was himself. But he could assure the meeting that he had +full opportunity of doing all of which he was capable. + +This made a good impression, and for a moment it seemed as though the +discussion would end there. But the man who had spoken before, again +rose; it was evident that it was a serious matter with him. "If Tomas +Rendalen had said this when he gave a lecture up at the gymnasium two +years ago--if he had said, 'I am not a Christian'--there would have +been no school." + +At the moment Karl Vangen could not think of any reply to this; it +almost seemed to him to be true. The voting began immediately, and +Rendalen was refused admittance by an overwhelming majority. + +"Not," as Bugge observed, "because Rendalen did not believe, for they +were tolerant there, but because he had not behaved honourably." + +As soon as he could do so, Rendalen gathered his friends, and any +others who liked to join them, at a meeting at the gymnasium. It was a +very full one. This was a fight which every one understood, and in +which most of them took an interest. As well as this, the special +woman-question was far more opened up than it had been two years ago; +Rendalen was able to speak quite freely. He began by declaring that +religion had been made use of as a "last resort." He had been expecting +it for a long time. The audience was given an amusing description of +the moral and Christian responsibility of the club, enveloped in clouds +of tobacco smoke round the card-tables and punch-bowls, and of the +virtue of the men, which consisted in a strong demand for virtue--in +women, which was an advantage to themselves. + +A work to obtain equality between men and women could not be called +"Enmity to Christianity." Therefore notorious interpolations of Judaism +into Christianity ought not to be sanctioned. If this were done, and +the views of woman's position two thousand years ago in Judea were +sanctioned--well, in that case, he could tell the Christians that they +did not thus destroy the claims of the present day, but themselves. +There was no help which he desired so much as that of serious +Christians. He considered, too, that the Christian who had no +reactionary aims must range himself here with the great French pastor, +Pressense. + +As a teacher of history, he had himself endeavoured to point out +trustworthily the works of Christianity. As a teacher of natural +science, on the contrary, he could not disguise the fact that divers +new discoveries were in opposition to the Jewish traditions; an honest +teacher of natural science in most Christian schools must find himself +in the same case. But the principal dogmas--the belief in God and +salvation through Christ--remain unmoved. + +The Christian beliefs of the school were unfettered, and directed by a +clergyman, whom they all highly respected. He was clearly in his rights +when he demanded that his private beliefs should be left out of the +question. Indeed, it was his duty to demand this where the question was +notoriously merely introduced for the sake of making confusion. + +This time the current of opinion against the school was divided by a +brisk counter-current. It was a good sign that Miss Hall's public +lectures at the school were still well attended. + +But what would Rendalen, or his eager opponents, have said, if they had +known that the whole movement, from the moment the flag was hoisted, +had been directed from outside? That the best contributions to the +_Spectator_ had never once been written in the town? That the Town +Bailiff was a tool in a light but skilful hand? That the five thousand +kroner which had so animated his faculties and morality, and those of +his wife, had not come from Consul Engel at all? What would the Town +Bailiff, what would lawyer Bugge and his colleagues have said, if they +had known that the famous anonymous donor, who had called forth their +eloquence, was a rascal who had carefully reckoned on the certainty of +these men behaving as they had done, if they believed Consul Engel to +be the donor? What would all these worthy men and women, who were +fighting for morality and Christianity--what would they have said if +they had known that at Stockholm there was a man who reckoned on their +zeal and strong prejudices, as well as on the cringing and shrewdness +of others, with the same sense of superiority with which we use the +wide powers of Nature for the accomplishment of our own ends. But the +force of opposition could not be accurately measured from a distance; +where women are concerned, it is never easy to calculate; +notwithstanding these great exertions, the amount subscribed was small, +very, very small. + +A mine must therefore be laid, and some of this opposition blown up. +And this was done. The report of Niels Fuerst's engagement to Milla +Engel had died out; it was now renewed, and, with it, the exasperation +of the whole woman's party. Angry, scornful remarks were flung over the +whole town from Rendalen's circle; they stabbed and wounded both the +families, Fuerst's and Engel's. Consul Engel was especially offended by +Rendalen having said, "All the Consul's mistresses ought to attend on +the wedding-day as bridesmaids." Engel gave Rendalen to understand that +till then he had held himself aloof from the business. Now, if the +wedding took place, the new school should be remembered both as +regarded a house and funds. + +The person who brought this information to Rendalen received out of +hand for answer: "Yes, it is wise of the Consul to put _if_ before it, +for there is not a church in the town in which Milla Engel will dare to +be married to Niels Fuerst." This was really going too far; other people +saw this beside the Consul. He now felt himself compelled to act. + +The fact was that Milla had not engaged herself again to Niels +Fuerst--the report was untrue, a mere trick. Up to this time the Consul +had not mixed himself in the matter; in such affairs one must be +circumspect. He had contented himself by sending her cuttings from the +_Spectator_, small reports, stories, and so on. He had also asked +others to write; she no longer corresponded with any one at "The +Estate." Now, however, the Consul wrote to her himself. He was so +fortunate as to be able to send her a cutting from a Lutheran weekly +paper, in which a highly esteemed clergyman analysed the proposition +that women have the same right to demand chastity from men, as men have +from women: the decided logical result of his analysis being that the +proposition was unchristian. + +"And now," wrote her father, "what further objection can there be? You +love Niels Fuerst? If there is any condition which you wish to make in +regard to your marriage, name it, my child. The consideration which you +and I possess demands that you should be married in accordance with our +position in your native town." + +Milla complied. If her dear mother's favourite clergyman, old Dean +Green, who had carried her mother's gift to the school, would perform +the ceremony, he _himself_, her father, might fix the wedding-day at +once. So old Green, the most respected man in the town, was to give his +countenance to their side? The Consul felt that this was highly +improbable. He wrote to Niels Fuerst, that now he had but little hope. + +Fuerst was not of the same opinion. Most old people incline towards +compromise. He gave some instructions to his brother-in-law, and, after +the latter had paid a visit to the Dean, Fuerst wrote to the Consul +that, after all, things might be more hopeful than he had imagined. The +Consul was off at once. It may well be that he was astonished when the +old man said decidedly that the attacks on the school ought now to end. +A peculiar smile passed over the Consul's face as he lamented that he +did not possess sufficient influence. The old man met smile with smile; +there was no need for influence, he believed. And thus the matter +rested. + +It was on a Friday morning that printed invitations were sent out to +Consul Engel's friends, in this and the neighbouring towns, asking them +to honour him by their presence at his daughter's marriage with +Lieutenant Niels Fuerst. + +The wedding was fixed for the following Monday week, at four o'clock in +the afternoon, at the Cross Church. It was being hurried on. + +To a few of his oldest friends the Consul added in writing that the +spiritual guide of his family, his beloved wife's friend, Dean Green, +would do the young people the honour of uniting them. + +On the same day, about dinner-time, the Consul walked along the quays +just as all the business men were coming to, or from, them. Every one +greeted him with beaming faces and with great cordiality, and those who +were sufficiently intimate pressed his hand laughingly. + +Every one had been annoyed that Rendalen should wish to prescribe who +was or was not to marry--precisely like Max Kurt in the old days--he, a +miserable fellow, crippled with debts, with a great school which might +tumble about his ears any day. The news of the wedding, and that Dean +Green was to perform the ceremony, was carried by Saturday's steamers +up and down the coast; it sprang ashore on the islands, was heard at +the watering-places, and slipped away through the woods far inland. It +brought excitement everywhere. One party rejoiced; the other was +immensely scandalised. But there was not a woman in either party who +did not declare that she should go to the town for the day to see it +all. The children begged to go too. Mimic weddings took place in the +"Groves" and about on the rocks, where an old Dean Green, in a short +frock and with bare arms, intoned the service over the bridal pair in a +trembling voice. + +Somewhat more laggardly the news came that the donor of the five +thousand kroner to the new school had withdrawn his gift; that Consul +Engel had condemned all the uproar about the school; if it were carried +further, he would be obliged to support the recipients of his wife's +legacy: her memory demanded no less of him. + +Had a compromise been effected? Was Milla to return home as the Angel +of Peace? + +Some people were incensed; some laughed; some few, including the Town +Bailiff, would not give in; but how could a new school be started +without Consul Engel? And when in cold blood the advantages were +considered, who did not at last wish for peace? The daughter of the +school's benefactress married to Niels Fuerst--that was in itself +victory, and that sufficed. One or two marriages of this sort, +especially amongst the most advanced pupils at the school, and the good +old constitution, the good old distribution of virtue and authority +between the sexes, would remain unshaken. Rendalen, the Society, and +Miss Hall might stick to their views if they liked. Tora was never +mentioned now. + +Milla was to be married on a Monday, and to leave the same night; she +was to arrive the evening of the previous Friday; she would not be +three days in the town! That did not imply a vast amount of courage, +her quondam friends considered. Not one of them went down to the +landing-place to meet her. But there was no need for them, for, +notwithstanding a drenching rain, it was densely crowded. The wedding +for which she was returning, even if nothing special had happened +previously, would have been the most important that any one could +remember. The bridegroom, aided by the unusually large fortune which he +would command, would be able to enter upon a career at Court which +would lead to the highest positions in the country. Every one who knew +him described him as a "born politician;" not very flattering to +politicians, but that I cannot help. + +The bride was a beauty capable of becoming a thorough woman of the +world. Besides, she was to remain so short a time at home, that every +one must secure a glimpse of her. + +Flags were hoisted everywhere, but they drooped along the masts in +quite a shamefaced manner, mere patches of colour--the beautiful +green-clad mountains at the head of the bay were shrouded in fog. +Houses, gardens, sea, seemed to lie in a casket whose cover was the +grey woolly mist. + +The house-roofs were no longer red-brown but black; the houses not +white, but ashen grey; not yellow, but a sooty colour; all the tints +were subdued by several shades, the houses themselves seemed to crowd +closer together, and appeared wonderfully small and crooked to the girl +fresh from Paris, who stood, in the rain, on the deck of the steamer +which was gliding in among the islands. Only the great building up at +"The Estate" and the formal stone walls by the side of the avenue +loomed out from their encircling trees; but the red bricks looked dark +and ominous, the window-frames a pitchy black, the dumpy frowning +tower seemed to stand on the watch; as they drew nearer a huge white +flag-staff could be seen on it without a flag. "The Estate" lay hemmed +in, wide and menacing. Milla's glances wandered down from it towards +the Cross Church with its slender spire, from which the joyful soul of +Max Kurt had ascended to heaven; not that Milla thought of this, but +under that spire she would, notwithstanding ... But, good Heavens, what +is that? all that moving mass of black on the landing-place up to the +very walls of the houses? Umbrellas? Absolutely nothing but umbrellas! +What could that mean? From all the information which had been sent to +her, and perhaps even more from what had not, she was quite convinced +that if things were not all that she could wish, yet still there was +peace here now, and no danger. Dean Green's authority protected her, +and she herself did not wish to do any one an injury. But at the sight +of all these people, a remembrance rushed to her mind of the way in +which poor Fru Rendalen had been received, when she had returned from +her journey with Tora. Milla turned deadly white; a fearful dread +seized her. Although she struggled against it with all her might, she +could not help trembling; her knees trembled so that her whole body +shook; she had to support herself, to sit down. In the short space of +five minutes she went through more--ah! more than when her mother died, +for then a comforter hovered over her; the gloom was lightened by the +hope of a future meeting. Now she felt separated, cut off, plunged into +an abyss! + +A sound of pitiless laughter surrounded her; people were trying to +grasp her hands--where could she creep to? + +Her father was on board, but at the moment was down below collecting +the luggage and paying the steward. He heard the vessel swing noisily +in towards the quay, and then cheers from hundreds of voices, repeated +again and again. He came on deck, and his daughter rushed towards him, +seized him, pressed herself against him, her lips quivering, and +trembling in every limb. She who was ordinarily so self-contained, was +in a state of nervous excitement. + +"Why, Milla? They are calling out 'Hurrah for the bride!'" + +"Hold me," she whispered. "Let me collect myself, I did not know, I +thought----" And she cried--ah, how she cried! + +Happily there was some obstruction at the quay, and a little time +elapsed before they were alongside. The captain stormed; as Milla +listened, the strain relaxed; so that when she stepped on shore, +leaning on her father's arm, though still pale and trembling slightly, +she could smile from under her coquettish hat as she passed in her +charming travelling dress. Tears were becoming to her. + +What ringing cheers for the bride, for Consul Engel! The crowd was +almost all composed of men, and there was no one whom she knew well; +but, yes, there are Fuerst's sister and Fru Groendal and Wingaard, and +several others. There are flowers and welcomes, friends pressing +forward, and cheer upon cheer, and more welcomes--nothing but homage +and delighted greetings. More flowers still. The carriage was almost +full! She took her seat in it--the same carriage in which thirteen or +fourteen months ago she had driven here with Tora. She had no time to +recall it. This was splendid, perfect! + + +At a little past two the next morning a _skyss kaerre_[5] drove slowly +up the avenue to the school. A closely veiled lady sat in it with a +child in her arms. She was expected, for Rendalen came down at once to +meet her, and take her up the steps, at the top of which stood Fru +Rendalen. It was a touching meeting. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A GALA DAY IN TOWN AND HARBOUR + + +Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, two unlucky printer's +devils trudged off, each on his own beat, with the _Spectator_. They +threw it into the passages, left it on the steps, pushed it under the +gates. They must hurry on! The church was full long ago; by this time +the marketplace was packed from one end to the other. + +When the worthy burghers returned home and found the _Spectator_, they +read the following:--"As we go to press our town presents a most festal +appearance. Naval Lieutenant Niels Fuerst and Froeken Emilie Engel, +members of two of the oldest and most respected families in the town, +are to-day to be united at four o'clock, in the Cross Church, by our +venerable Dean. From the country, where all the families who have the +means are now enjoying their summer holiday, there has been an immense +influx of people to witness the ceremony. As well as this, our streets +are filled by a considerable number of strangers. It is understood that +Consul Engel has received the good wishes of his Majesty, through the +High Chamberlain of the Norwegian Court. Consul Engel, on the occasion +of this happy event in his family, has presented to the Maternity +Hospital the interest of a bequest of ten thousand kroner. The poor of +the town will to-day be entertained by the Consul at the poorhouse. +Further, we have just received the announcement that, in response to a +special appeal, Consul Engel has given two thousand kroner for the +thorough restoration of the magnificent organ in the Cross Church. A +gala day in town and harbour!" + +At midday a refreshing breeze had fanned the glowing streets; now only +a capricious puff stirred the flags, and each time they blew out they +formed a mass of colour over the town, and the whole length of the +harbour; several ships were covered with flags from deck to masthead. A +barque, the most gaily decorated of all, is hauled out to fire a +salute, to begin the moment that the pair are united, and to continue +until the bride's carriage draws up before Engel's house. Another +salute is to be fired during the dinner. + +The most perfect weather, over mountain and hill and sea and town! How +cheerful the town looked in the sunshine! The small blocks of houses +with their provincial decorations, surrounded by the pavement of +cobble-stones, cleanly swept and warmed by the sunshine. + +The shadows were very heavy; when any quiet pedestrian emerged from +them into the white glare of the street, he had the same feeling as in +old times the wick of a tallow candle must have had when it escaped +from the snuffers again. The cats dozed in the sunshine, but with one +eye open, for there were a hundred idlers about to-day. The gutters, +generally the route for many a toy-boat, were now dry; the newspaper +boys jumped backwards and forwards across them, as they went from one +empty house to another. Everything was clean and charming and quiet. +Only in the streets by the quays the smell of decayed wood, salt +herrings, train oil, and "such like," prevailed. There was work going +on there too; festival at the masthead, toil on deck and down below. In +the rest of the town most work was over by three o'clock. + +A train of young people could be seen trudging down from "the mountain" +towards the marketplace, succeeded by groups of women, both old and +young. They knew a little about the two families which were to be +united, those good people on the mountain! + +What a glorious day! The land breeze now and again sent "cat's-paws" +across the harbour, which lost themselves in the blue grey water out by +the islands. The open sea beyond lay wide and peaceful. + +And how lovely were the wood-clothed mountains and hillsides, in the +full colours of both pines and leafy trees, with the grass below ready +for its second mowing. The greens were deeper than those of spring and +with less variety. On the road below the churchyard was a long train of +pedestrians; those country folk who lived nearest the town, toiled in +just at the last to get a glimpse of the show--the men in front, the +women following. A fussy little steamer shoots out from among the +islands, snorting and puffing--she is behind time; she is bringing +people from the nearest town, and has a horn quartet on board. + +In the sunshine, the mountain seemed to those approaching it from the +sea, to rear itself from the water like an anthill, but the resemblance +was spoiled as one came nearer, although its small houses still looked +like linen and stockings put out to dry. Close by, it became a curious +breeding place for human sea-birds. All the children of the upper +classes in the town looked at it with the greatest envy, especially on +a day like this, for the flags excited their imagination. + +Every now and then, heads were turned towards "The Estate." Every pane +of glass in the great red-brick building shone in the sunlight, but no +flag was hoisted. As late as half-past three, Consul Engel, smoking a +cigar, went up to the top attic to see if the flag were hoisted; Emilie +was just coming down the attic stairs; she was fully dressed, except +that she still wore her _peignoir_. She coloured when she met her +father. + +"What are you doing up here, my child?" + +"I was looking----" She slipped past him without saying for what. No +flag on the tower! The Consul remained there smoking. If there had been +a flag without the "Union" to-day it would have been most suitable. + +From the time it was reported that Tora Holm was at "The Estate" with +her child, which report was heard early as Monday morning, an avalanche +hung on the mountain ready to overwhelm them. This was the cause of all +the Consul's generosity; if any one but asked for more, he gave it. + +He had had two sleepless nights! Was it true that Rendalen had sent a +letter to the old Dean couched in most respectful terms, but in which +he said that if this were "peace," it was once more shown that peace +belonged to Satan, but that the fight was God's? + +"What did they contemplate--a scandal?" the whole town was asking. + +Tora's appearance with her child just now was in itself a sentence--she +must have an undaunted conscience; something would certainly happen. + +There was no answer to this fact: Tora Holm had dared to come here; +Rendalen and Fru Rendalen believed in her--_all_ her friends believed +in her. + +All the incidents of Niel's bachelor life were recalled--that is to +say, those which related to _that_ part of the country; as a general +thing, people would say what a devil of a fellow Niels Fuerst was, and +stroll away laughing. The laughter ceased now. In Tora's neighbourhood +such stories took a different complexion. Some of them seemed +absolutely repulsive. + +And the father-in-law! His past also was brought up again. None of the +stories dealt with daring seductions, unexpected, astounding conquests; +no open scandal--Heaven forbid! but certain quiet intrigues were known +of, often one or two at a time. + +Expensive presents and small annuities had been heard of as well. They +knew of children who passed for his, and who were his living image. It +all came up again now; even "indiscretions" of twenty years ago and +more, were recalled. Such little provincial towns have pitiless +memories. + +It had been but a short time previously that every one rejoiced that +Fru Engel's gift had been opposed by a similar one, so that the +"indecency" up at the school might come to an end. Now, as the women +flocked into the town (which they began to do as early as Sunday), and +the juniors at once hurried up to "The Estate," or collected in groups +in the streets, a remembrance of Fru Engel's beautiful funeral filled +the minds of all. What the daughter was about to accomplish was, in +reality, disrespectful to her mother's memory. + +Emilie herself was the only one who did not know that Tora was there. +Fuerst had arrived on Saturday morning, and had heard it at once, but he +and her father believed that Tora had come to force herself upon Milla; +they kept most careful watch that neither Tora herself, nor a letter or +message, or indeed any sign from her, could come without being +intercepted. The friends of the house had received their instructions, +and beside they consisted entirely of members of the two families. The +bridesmaids arrived in the town on Sunday--they were relatives, and, +with hardly an exception, from a distance. + +Milla knew nothing except that the other party had been defeated and +ruined, there would be nothing now but peace. Her father had the firm +intention of helping the school; it would work well enough if some of +the ideas were abandoned. Milla felt especially grateful for this +promise of her father. Why should not they all be friends together? +"That is what we shall be," Fuerst had assured her. The school party had +made peace: old Dean Green was a proof of it. "Yes, old Dean Green was +a proof of it," repeated Milla to herself, whenever she felt any doubt. + +On Sunday she went to church and heard him, it did her so much good; +and in the afternoon she went with her father to call on him. How kind +he was! He exhorted her to be patient; we cannot alter the world, but +we can set a good example; that was what her mother had done. Milla was +deeply touched. "Ah! if only every one were good!" + +Her father had never been so loving to her as now. His increasing +kindness reminded her of the time when her mother was ill, and then the +great amount of his charity; he could not have done her honour in a +more delicate or beautiful way. Fuerst was always amusing, and his way +of being so was so very superior. He told stories of the Court, and +terribly malicious ones they were; Fuerst was so pleasant and clever, +Milla felt that she was really fortunate--that is to say, except for a +slight sense of want, a tiny sensation of mistrust--just so much as to +oblige her, at the last moment, to go up to the top attic, to see if +there were a flag on the tower. But there was nothing. Perhaps no one +was at home! That would be the best thing for both parties. They could +find each other another time. + +Now to put on her wedding dress! If Tora could have seen it! Poor Tora! +But such things will happen when one is not careful. Emilie asked her +maid to take care that the folds hung properly over her tournure. At +the same moment Fru Wingaard came in with the bridal wreath. + + +Every one who came from the adjoining streets into the market-place, +observed something red against the open door of the church, the outer +one to the left. It was a red shirt, worn by a tall sailor. The church +attendants tried to get him away, but in vain; all round were ladies +who would willingly have occupied his place, but he answered that he +had as good a right to stand there as any one else, which he +undoubtedly had. He did not belong to the town, no one knew him, a +tattoo mark on his hand showed that he had been at sea--indeed, he said +so himself. He was in a timber ship now--she was a large vessel. + +With this exception there were nothing but ladies, old and young, on +the steps, down below, and in every direction, all who had not found +room in the church. Every time the inner door opened, affording a +glimpse of the interior, one saw, on both sides, right down to the +door, nothing but ladies--nothing but bonnets, with flowers, feathers, +and veils. A solitary uncovered masculine head in one of the rows of +chairs showed up like a single late gooseberry or black currant on the +branch in autumn. If the departed Herr Max could have looked up from +the chancel where he lay, it would have been "a goodly sight" for his +woman-loving eyes, especially as the younger ones were all in the front +places--they had been most eager in securing them. + +Almost all the parasols which were to be seen on the market-place were +either on the steps, or round about them, a many-coloured moving +shield-like roof under which endless stories and laughter went on. +Every one thought the donation to the Maternity Charity _too_ +felicitous. That Engel, who had so much tact, could---- But to be sure +that was because Fru Wingaard was the patroness--she had wheedled it +out of him, the minx! + +On either side of the steps, each one the centre of a group, stood +those two sisters of doubtful character who had kept the club and the +hotel until they had been obliged to relinquish them in favour of +Engel's housekeeper. They least of all had reason to spare Engel or his +guests for the day, the magnates of the coast towns. + +Nearest to these stood another knot of women who had not had so much +time to find places. There were few parasols here, but bonnets and +aprons, and some of the younger ones even bareheaded. There was +whispering, tittering, and giggling! + +No solemnity, no gravity, no authority, not the least what is usual in +a provincial town. Even where the darker groups of men were collected, +there was no seriousness or "decorum," as the Town Bailiff would have +said, and indeed as he did say when, at a quarter before four, he +joined the guests, in full uniform, and with his wife on his arm. The +guests indulged in witticisms and laughter, the result of which was not +impressive; all the people looked at them with amused glances as though +they were comrades. The town was unrecognisable. When two boys +contrived to clamber on to the chimney of one of the houses opposite +the church, all clapped their hands and snouted. This had just occurred +as the Town Bailiff arrived. Amid the guests immediately following him +came the organist, very drunk. He was a young Swabian, who three or +four years ago came to the town in the course of a musical tour, and +there remained. The then organist had recently died--the organ was a +marvellous one; beside which there was excellent sea-bathing. He was a +soft, fantastic, thoroughly musical man, who as a rule was every one's +favourite, and who had more to do than he could manage, but who on a +holiday "_Wenn Konstantinople erobet warden ischt_," as he expressed +himself, got drunk. This occurred but seldom, but when it was the case +he did anything which took his fancy. + +This culminated when one day a home missionary was speaking from the +chancel steps on the subject of sin, and the organist, noticing that +every one was yawning, began to play the organ till it roared! It was +pretended that the missionary made such very long pauses that the +organist had been misled by the longest of them. + +To-day he had conceived the happy idea of going gaily to Consul Engel, +and asking him for some money for the organ, and he received a cheque +on the spot. So "_Konstantinople_" had "_erobet warden_" again, and +champagne corks flew! Who liked might drink with him. He came up, +beaming with happiness and swinging his arms about. Every one laughed, +and he laughed with them. He arrived just after the Town Bailiff and +his wife. They looked as stiff as though the organist had yoked them +and was driving them into the church. Great commotion was now caused by +an attempt to drive a carriage through the crowd. Up to this time every +one had come on foot. There was no room for carriages here, they cried, +and turned sullen; the police had to interfere. In the carriage sat a +pretty lively lady of uncertain age, by the side of a somewhat stout +gentleman with a remarkably shaped head and a supercilious expression. +Facing the lady sat an older man with a red face, heavy moustache and +imperial, and wearing a number of orders; he talked incessantly, as +though they were all three in a closed room where no one could see +them. They did not belong to the town; no one knew them until the +carriage-door was opened, and the man with the orders led the lady +forward. Then the hotelkeeper's wife said that he was a Consul-General +from Christiania; the lady was not his wife, but that of the gentleman +who was walking beside them--Consul Garman, of the firm of Garman and +Worse. Soon after these arrived two other strangers, Consuls Bernick +and Riis. The first-named invariably attended funerals with a stick in +his hand; the other always wore his order of St. Olaf when he went to a +ball. Several important magnates followed; some with their wives, some +without--millionaires in the herring, timber, or ice trade. The +monotony of the black coats was broken by the full uniform of the +Sheriff--he was without his wife, and in company with a gouty old +General, a relation of Fuerst. Besides these, there were Government +officials and merchants mingled together, most of them with their +wives, who hung on their husbands' arms like well-filled costly +baskets; the husbands were quite eclipsed. Absolute silence gradually +spread upwards from the lower end of the market-place, like oil over +troubled waters. The bridegroom was alighting from his carriage, +accompanied by his brother-in-law, Consul Wingaard. From another +carriage descended two naval officers and two civilians, one of whom +was Anton Doesen; these four joined the others. + +All the special man[oe]uvres which had brought about that Fuerst should +to-day approach the Cross Church through the crowd, admired or envied, +accompanied or shunned, had been carried out by himself, and up to the +present time he had earned the honoured reception of a victor. Still he +did not advance with a victor's step--a child could see that at the +first glance. He walked forward in the deadliest fear. Tora had never +shown herself, had sent neither message nor letter. Neither she nor any +of her friends had once been near Consul Engel's house. It was evident +that she had not come to talk Emilie over, or to frighten her. What had +she come for? What did Rendalen's threat mean? There was danger until +he was inside the church; then the sanctity of the building, and the +respect due to the old clergyman, must protect him. But here----! His +eyes wandered up to the wooded slope above "The Estate." It was an +involuntary action. It was not there, but here, that she might appear. +She or others. She was not the only one. + +His half-closed eyes searched about, his bronzed face was without +movement--those strings which moved his lips must have broken! There +was no smile now. His fair whiskers hung down and seemed to lengthen +his face. + +The gait of this dandy had an air of painful caution--each step +might lead to disaster. If it did not fall on him, it might await +her who would soon follow him. There were sparkling eyes all round and +many sharp ones, but no one whom he feared. He was taller than the +women; he could see for a good distance, and he looked from side to +side--nothing! + +He had just put his foot on the first step when the tall sailor stepped +forward: + +"Ane Marja sends you her compliments." + +Those who stood nearer heard it; some who were further away saw the +movement. + +"Did he say something? What's he say?" + +Sibilations whistled across; to those who were furthest away it sounded +like es-s-s-s-s-s-s-s all round the church. + +Fuerst stood still: his eyes contracted as though fine dust had been +thrown into his face; his gloved hand sought for his handkerchief, from +which scent was wafted; he blew his nose and walked on, his friends +following him. Within it seemed dark after the bright sunshine outside, +but in the darkness were eyes, women's eyes! + +Here sat Tora's friends. He knew every one in the town by sight, and +picked them out one by one. They sat quite in front, excited, restless, +threatening. There must be something after all. The great church bell +began to ring at that moment, and the bride's carriage was seen at the +end of the market-place. What would happen now? + +Nora, Tinka, and Anna Rogne were on Fuerst's left as he walked up to the +chancel. He glanced involuntarily to the opposite side; the first seat +was vacant. Every one in the chancel rose as the bridegroom appeared. + +There was a stir outside, not merely because the bride's carriage had +arrived followed by those of the bridesmaids and Fru Wingaard, but +because the coachman in grey livery wanted to drive up to the church +door, which seemed impossible. Those in front pressed back to make +room, but those behind declined to be pushed against, and exerted their +strength, till several people were forced up against the carriage +windows. Shrieks, angry words, and orders ensued, and alarm inside the +carriages. Engel put his head out of the window, but no one listened to +him, and he got out of the carriage. The police were at hand, and +eagerly cleared a way for the wealthy magnate, while the bride +alighted, as did the bridesmaids; they arranged themselves and walked +forward, not where the others had passed; the crowd made way for them +in all directions. + +Her red-gold hair crowned with myrtle, the bride resembled the most +exquisite work of an English Academician. The lines of her face were +regular and of an English type, the colouring soft, the skin very +white; the shoulders rather sloping, beautiful--the figure that of a +soft delicate young girl. + +She walked forward with her head bent, not looking at any one, her hand +resting lightly on her father's arm; just below the level of his order +of St. Olaf could be seen her diamond ornament, though only by those +just before or above them. An old-fashioned brooch, a valuable one, +which was recognised as having been a favourite of her mother, secured +the flowers in front of her dress. A puff of wind raised her veil just +as they came up the steps; it streamed out into the face of the sailor, +but did not touch it; a delicate perfume was spread in all directions. +How relieved Engel felt as he stood inside the door! That had been the +worst journey he had ever made in his life. Still he had not hurried; +unobtrusive, quiet, benign, he had walked forward; he kept his eye +fixed on one point--was that the needle's eye which must be passed +through? + +His handsome regular features looked as though they had never been +disturbed by any idea inconsistent with honourable habits, or the good +counsel of elders and superiors--nay, as though he had never had +knowledge of such things. His had always been a God-fearing house; +three generations had endowed charities. The very perfume which now +hung round them might well have come from Palestine. + +And after all there had been no danger. "We are in church now." The +organ pealed under the powerful touch of the drunken Swabian; its full +accords blended with Engel's thoughts, and seemed to restore him to +himself. + +No delight can compare with that of an evenly balanced nature, which, +having believed itself in danger, discovers that that danger has been a +delusion. This feeling of delight does not spring violently into being, +it does not throb, but spreads through the whole man with a soft +perfect sense of enjoyment. It resembles the delight of recovery of a +good digestion, the smiling view, the delightful odour of some coveted +object to which he may now draw near. He raised his face, bearing its +best expression, towards the pulpit, calmly receiving all the glances +which were directed towards him. He suspected that he was envied, and +that tickled him. + +What a future lay before them! Just then the bride's hand trembled; he +withdrew his eyes quickly from the pulpit. Milla was deadly white, and +could not, or would not advance. What was it? + +Nora, Tinka, Anna Rogne, and several others were sitting quite in +front, just where they must pass. Could there be anything terrifying in +that? Every face bore an expression of mingled excitement and +mischievous delight, all, all of them, in whatever direction he looked; +it infected him as well. What was it? Involuntarily his eyes sought the +chancel--if they were but there! There they would be in peace. But all +in the chancel were on their feet; they stood amazed, staring down into +the body of the church, not to his side, but to the opposite one. At +the same moment his daughter gave a sharp cry and staggered backwards, +dragging him with her. + +Into the pew furthest from them on the right, through the vestry, and +therefore from across the chancel, came Pastor Vangen; after him, Tora +Holm, with something in her arms; then Miss Hall, then Rendalen. In +this order they were just seating themselves as the bridal procession +entered the door. + +Tora had a double black veil over her face and over what she held in +her arms, and this had been securely fastened so that it was only when +Miss Hall had helped her that she was able to turn with her face +uncovered, and with her child in her arms, towards her who was now +advancing. + +A storm of anger, reprobation, threats seemed to rise to the very roof, +the excitement mingling with the roll of the organ. Milla was almost +dragged forward. She came into the chancel little more than a white +silk dress among all the other dresses. + +A rustle, a stir! Heads, hands, eyes, bouquets seemed to whirl before +her, so that she could not extricate herself, nor find her own seat, +her own bouquet, her own handkerchief. Every one crowded round with +offers of help, with eau de Cologne, and general disturbance. The last +to come was the big red-faced man with the large moustache and the +decorations; he tried to force her own bouquet on her, of which she +could not endure the scent. When at last she was free and could draw a +breath, she burst into tears. She drew her veil forward. Milla pitied +herself so: what a dreadful thing it was that they had done; she felt +furious, perfectly furious. + +Consul Engel received her first glance. It came on him, following all +that he had already gone through, like the last dram which deprives a +man of consciousness. He began to wonder with a strange delirious +feeling why his trousers felt so thin. Was it really so? + +The elegant Fuerst sat beside him, holding his hat first in one hand, +then in the other, and crossing and uncrossing his legs. It was on +account of _him_ that all this had happened, and the budding politician +was not yet sufficiently accomplished to be able to sit still while he +was flayed, cut up, and put in the pot. + +Doesen, who was close behind him, pulled the ends of his fair moustache +with his white-gloved hands--now left, now right--harder, and harder, +and harder. He was marvellously industrious over it. The people in the +body of the church saw this white hand moving about under his nose, and +thought that he was playing some trick, or making signs to some one, +but, they could not find out to whom. The grand folk felt the +embarrassment of the situation to be most distressing, but, all the +same, they wanted to get a look at the woman with the child--she was so +devilish handsome, so foreign-looking. They strained their necks, they +craned forward; Consul Bernick himself made his neck as long and +distorted as that of a cockerel when it is learning to crow. + +To the rest of these mishaps was added the Dean's non-appearance. The +vergers went in and out, in and out, with all the solemnity of intense +stupidity. + +The organist's playing showed signs of impatience. + +It seemed to him that it was rather long before Dean Green came and he +would be able to begin the hymn. He had exhausted the pompous style +long ago; he now turned to the sentimental, its direct opposite--from +the clear notes of the shepherd's pipe to the most impossible chirping +of a chicken. His fancy indubitably wandered among all the little ones +who were to spring from this marriage; he chased them with his fingers +saying hush, hush, to them in the treble. + +At last Engel had recovered himself so far that he began to realise the +difference between the delicate and the coarse, between well-bred and +ill-bred individuals; to the latter he knew that nothing was so +delightful as scandal, but this was something altogether unheard of. It +needed a Kurt to have thought of this, to have created such a maddening +scene. His handkerchief was wet already, his white gloves were almost +grey. As he fanned himself and wiped away the perspiration, he glanced +anxiously at Milla. She hated him! He prayed to God. Yes, Consul Emil +Engel prayed fervently to God that their sins might not be visited upon +this poor innocent girl! They had deceived her, truly, but with the +best intentions in the world. God knew how true this was. But who could +have anticipated that so mad a thing should have been attempted as to +dishonour the sacred edifice. + +Engel did not swear as a rule, he was too refined a man for that, but +almost simultaneously with his heartfelt communion with God, he desired +with his whole heart that the devil might take the lot of them. + +He had recourse to his wet handkerchief again. At the same time the +thought was in Milla's mind, "Shall I go?" + +Engel saw it in her eyes, in the way she moved on her chair. Fuerst saw +it also. Both felt it like a million electric shocks: but they could +not give up their last hope that Milla was too well-bred to increase +the scandal. Engel felt that, even if she remained, he should be, from +this time forward, a broken, discredited man; Fuerst felt that if only +Milla would go with him before the altar, a career would still be open +to him. + +But still the Dean did not come! All thoughts centred on this; it +became intensely painful. All eyes were fixed on the vestry door. Was +he ill, or feigning to be so, so as not to come? Where was the deacon, +then? Make him come! Why did not Karl Vangen move? The women in the +chancel who had not got over the first fright (there were some who had +been obliged to grasp the seats of their chairs to prevent themselves +from trembling) were now made really ill by this fresh strain; several +began to cry. "Yes," thought Milla; "I am to be pitied, dreadfully to +be pitied! Oh, if mother had lived!" And she cried bitterly. Every one +had conspired against her, who had done nothing. Would old Green now +let her sit there so miserably on the stool of repentance before all +these horrid, horrid people! + +She thus lost sight of the first and important question, and was so +tossed about by the feeling of desolation that, when the Dean did at +length appear, she felt it consolation, a reward from Heaven. + +But if she had not, even for a moment, got sufficiently away from +herself to feel why this had been done, those had, who sat below the +chancel. Not only those who were in the secret, who were few in number, +not only their sympathisers who were numerous; no, every woman felt +that it would be shocking, if, after what had occurred, Milla could or +would go on. Even it she had been dragged up there--why did she not +rise, why did she not leave them? They expected her to do so from one +moment to another, but Milla remained seated. Could such a thing be +possible, after such a strong appeal to her conscience? Every good +woman, who is unfettered, involuntarily takes the part of the weak, of +the one who has been wronged. The minds of those in the church were +agitated like the waves of the sea. The stir became greater and +greater. Was it credible that she would go to the altar with the +wretch? Shame on those around her who could countenance such a thing. +Every one stared at the altar. Was not old Green coming? He must have +had scruples at the last moment about giving them the blessing of the +Church. Karl Vangen would never have done so. He was with her who was +betrayed and deceived. He was so simple-minded that he believed that +the Church's place was there. The grateful glances which his broad face +attracted during these few moments would have gilded the vaulted roofs +of several churches, or thousands of hymn-books and Bibles. At length +they saw by the stir in the chancel that old Green had come at last. +Really and truly! + +Very slowly and feebly he came, very feeble indeed he looked. "A +thorough ecclesiastical compromise," it was whispered about. Just as he +reached the altar, the hymn began. All those in the chancel joined in +it. In their zeal, their relief, their gratitude to Providence, they +all sang; the bridegroom, Engel, the General and the Consul-General, +Bernick, Doesen, Riis, the celebrities, the Sheriff, all sang of the +first bride who was brought by God himself to the first bridegroom. Not +one of them believed it, but they sang so that it was a sin that the +organ overpowered them, for such singing of hymns ought to be heard. + +Their wives' trebles chimed in; they were so startled that they could +not find the hymn, but they all knew it by heart. The one who was the +quickest to join in, and who sang the loudest in praise of marriage, +was Fru Garman. + +Except these and the clerk, no one in the whole church joined in the +singing. The stir became so great and so general that a number could +not remain sitting, they stood up; those behind them wanted to see, and +stood up also. But Tora rose before anyone of them. What those around +her had felt, and were feeling with all its violence, was as nothing to +what she experienced, for when deeply moved she showed herself her +mother's daughter. The journey here had worked her up to a state of +excitement, which her constitution could hardly bear. + +If for no other reason, still for her own sake, Milla must be prevented +from marrying the wretch. For this it was necessary that Tora should +show herself, she and her child; everything else might fail, but this +would force Milla to pause--she knew her! + +This could only be done if Tora had the will and the courage for it. +And she had, for her friends had the will and courage to be with her. +It did not merely concern herself, it concerned the school, Milla, a +great cause; it concerned thousands! + +No one, least of all herself, had had the slightest doubt but that to +stand up with her child in her arms before the bride, would be +sufficient. From the moment that Milla had burst into tears in the +chancel, but still remained in her place, until now, when old Green had +come, Tora's excitement had increased to such an extent that those +nearest to her were alarmed; it could be observed as well from the seat +opposite. They knew now that something must be done, upon which neither +they nor she had reckoned, before their object could be attained. Tora +was Tora, and would be true to herself. + +Fuerst was already at the altar, accompanied by Consul Wingaard; +Engel had walked carefully across the carpet to lead his daughter +forward. She rose and allowed the bridesmaids to arrange her train and +veil--when Tora sprang forward from her seat. + +Every one in the chancel was looking at the bride, who gave her hand to +her father and turned with him towards the altar. They did not see Tora +come up the steps. There was a sound behind them like the breaking of a +wave, and at the same moment something black passed quickly by. The +ladies shrieked, the gentlemen grew rigid with dismay. Those at the +altar turned round; Engel staggered backwards; Tora stood between him +and his daughter. + +"Do you wish me to lay the child down before you, Milla? Will you have +it to kneel on?" + +"No! No!" cried Milla in horror. She turned, and with her hands before +her she flew from the chancel, her veil streaming behind her. + +Every one had risen. Tora had hastened at once to the vestry--she felt +that now her strength was exhausted--Miss Hall followed her there. + +But when Milla had left the chancel, she did not know where to fly to; +some one ought to come to her, to be with her--her womanly instinct +told her that. She turned and looked round bewildered. The vestry door +was opened, a harsh cry was heard from it for just so long as was +needed for the opening and shutting of a door; but it was enough. Milla +began to cry too. An arm was put round her waist, she was led from the +church; it was Nora. From the moment that Milla had yielded, all +resentment was over, all anger vanished. Indeed, it was so with most of +them. Rendalen was quickly at her side, and then went on before them to +make way. + +The organist, who had not seen what had gone before, but who, after the +first hymn, had expected to hear the words of the service, rose when +the movement became general. What was it? He saw the bride out in the +aisle, the others still in the chancel, the whole congregation standing +up. "_Aber das war kurios! Wird's nichts daraus? Ho--ho! Ich hab' meine +zwei tausend_." + +And he began to play the organ. They tried to stop him, but he +answered, "What haf they don with the brite? The music shall do her +goot." + +Hardly had the bellringers heard the organ before they thought, "Now +they are married," and began to ring the bells. Hardly had those on +board the saluting vessel heard the bells before the guns began to +thunder. They were to continue firing until the bride's carriage drew +up at the door of the house, and as they could not see this from the +ship, a signal was to be made to them. In the general confusion this +was forgotten, so on they went--bang, bang, bang! It seemed to them at +last that they had fired a great many rounds, but that was other +people's affair, so they thundered away as long as they had any powder; +for they also had been drinking considerably. + +All this caused great amusement. The affair changed from the sublime to +the ridiculous. First among the crowd who left the church amid the +pealing of the organ, the clash of the bells, the thunder of the +cannon; their laughter was taken up in increasing measure by those in +the market-place, and from there it spread over the whole town. In the +memory of man there had not been so much laughter at one time as now +resounded from the river banks to the most remote houses on the +mountain, or out on the Point. The country people went laughing home +amid the roar of the cannon, and wherever they came there was laughter. + +A gala day in town and harbour. Thunder of cannon and flutter of flags, +flags and cannon--and laughter! + +At first the bridal party looked at each other with horror; by ones and +twos they made their way out of the church, but the laughter outside +was infectious; when they got home and read the _Spectator_, they +laughed too. + +The Town Bailiff himself laughed! + +Up the avenue walked Nora and Rendalen. The cannon thundered, and they +turned round and looked at the flags flying in the town and in the +harbour--and laughed. Karl Vangen hurried past them on his long legs; +Tora was at Niels Hansen's. She was terribly exhausted, but calm; he +was going to fetch the carriage--and off he went. No less than fifteen +girls passed them at once, going up to Fru Rendalen; another large +group was following them. They did not walk, they raced, and were +quickly past. + +A little later Fru Rendalen came out on to the steps to meet her son +and Nora: they were just the opposite of every one else; they stopped +every moment. Now, just when she wanted them so much. How could they +forget her? + +All at once she pulled off her spectacles and wiped them. Then put them +on slowly. + +Rendalen said, as he walked along the avenue, that there had been a +great deal which was one-sided and obscure, too much of a fixed idea in +his first lecture, and that there was a great deal in his development +as well, which was but half accomplished. Still, "life is a school, and +first and foremost concerns schoolmasters." He did not say this in so +many words, he had not the least need for anything so stiff and cold. +To speak the plain truth, while they involuntarily flew the flags down +below for the success of his life's aim, he walked along here and paid +his court--to her with the "flickering" hair. It seemed to her that she +was quite unworthy, and she brushed a swarm of flies from her eyes. But +it was so absolutely impossible not to wish, and so---- + +They agreed about many, many, many things. The first was that if one +has confidence in a work, that confidence helps in its development; the +second was, that when there are two it goes on twice as quickly, or it +may be that the last was the first, and the first the last. They really +were not accountable. + +But fifteen girls were up on the tower at once; they wanted to hoist +one flag to-day which would tell no lie, and also for a reason which +was without deception. They called down to ask leave; Rendalen was at +the foot of the steps, he laughed up to them. Nora had sprung away from +him--up the steps to Fru Rendalen. She pressed closely, oh, so closely, +to her--apparently to put her spectacles on better. + +"No, no," called Rendalen up to the girls on the tower; "not +to-day--for Milla's sake, but we will do so very soon." + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Pigerne Jens.] + +[Footnote 2: Some parts of it have been used in the Introduction.] + +[Footnote 3: Enchanting.] + +[Footnote 4: Open hearth.] + +[Footnote 5: Hired posting carriage.] + + + + + + END OF VOL. 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