The Best of Knut Hamsun. Knut Hamsun

      "Are you going there?" she asked in surprise.

      "I have been asked to come; I am going with some friends."

      Aagot did not know that Irgens had received a pressing invitation from Mrs. Hanka; she said all right, nodded, and went in.

      Ole was waiting for her; she threw herself on his neck and cried eagerly:

      "It was glorious—the Laocoön Group—everything! We did not have time to see everything, that is, to see everything carefully; but you will take me there some time, won't you? Promise! For I want you to take me."

      * * * * *

      When later on Ole and Aagot were going to Tidemand's house on their way to Tivoli, Aagot remarked casually:

      "It is a pity that you are not a poet, Ole."

      He looked at her in surprise. "Do you think so?" he asked.

      Then suddenly it dawned on her what a tactless thing she had said. As a matter of fact, she had not meant it at all; it was just a thoughtless word, a thoughtless, thoughtless word. She repented it bitterly and would have given anything to have it unsaid. She stopped, threw her arms around Ole's neck right in the middle of the street, and said in agitation:

      "And you believe it? It is easy to fool you, Ole! Listen—you don't for a moment think—I swear I didn't mean it, Ole. It was so stupid of me to say it, but I didn't for a moment think you would take it seriously. I want to know if you think I meant it; tell me if you do?"

      "Of course I don't," he said and patted her cheek; "not at all, dearest. That you can make so much of a little thing like that, you foolish child! He, he!"

      They continued their interrupted walk. She was so grateful to him because he had taken it so nicely. Oh, he was so good and considerate, she loved him; Heavens! how she adored him….

      But this little scene had its influence over her conduct all during the evening.

      V

      When the performance was over they all gathered in the restaurant. The entire clique was there, even Mr. and Mrs. Paulsberg; later on Attorney Grande appeared, dragging with him Coldevin, who followed unwillingly and protestingly; he wanted to be excused. The Attorney had met him outside and had thought it would be fun to bring him along.

      Everything under the sun had been discussed: literature and art, man and God; they had settled the suffrage question, taken a fall out of Malthus, strayed onto the political preserves. It had unfortunately turned out that Paulsberg's article in the Gazette failed to have the desired effect on Parliament. With sixty-five votes to forty-four it had decided to postpone matters indefinitely; five representatives had suddenly been taken ill and could not participate in the voting. Milde declared that he was going to Australia.

      "But you are painting Paulsberg?" objected Norem, the Actor.

      "Well, what of it? I can finish that picture in a couple of days."

      It was, however, a secret arrangement that the picture was not to be finished until after the close of the Exhibition. Paulsberg had expressly demanded it. He did not want to be exhibited in mixed company; he desired solitude, veneration, a large window all to himself on the promenade. This was just like Paulsberg.

      When, therefore, Milde said that he could finish the picture in a couple of days, Paulsberg answered curtly:

      "I shall be unable to sit for you at present; I am working."

      That settled it.

      Mrs. Hanka had placed Aagot next to her. She had called to her: "Come here, you with the dimple, here by me!" And she had turned to Irgens and whispered: "Isn't she sweet?"

      Mrs. Hanka was again in her grey woollen dress with low lace collar; her neck was bare. Spring seemed to affect her; she looked a little played out. Her lips were cracked, and when she laughed her features were distorted into wry grimaces because of these cracked lips.

      She told Aagot that they were going to the country shortly and hoped to see her there. They were going to eat currants and rake hay and loll in the grass. Suddenly she turned to her husband across the table and said:

      "While I remember it, can you let me have a hundred?"

      "I wish you hadn't remembered it," said Tidemand good-naturedly. He winked, jested happily, and was delighted. "Don't marry, my friends; it is an expensive luxury! Another hundred!"

      And he handed the bill to his wife, who thanked him.

      "But what is it for?" he asked her banteringly.

      "I refuse to tell you," she said, and turned to Aagot in order to avoid further references to the matter.

      Attorney Grande and Coldevin entered just then.

      "Of course you are coming," said the Attorney. "I never heard anything like it! I want you to join me in a little drink. Come and help me, you fellows; I can't get the man inside!"

      But when Coldevin saw who were present he wrenched himself free quickly and disappeared.

      He had visited Ole Henriksen one morning according to his promise, but he had vanished since then and nobody had seen him until now.

      The Attorney said:

      "I discovered him outside; I had pity on the poor man, he seemed so altogether alone, and I—"

      Aagot had jumped up quickly and hurried outside; she caught up with Coldevin on the stairs. They talked together a few moments; finally they both returned.

      "I beg your pardon," he said. "Attorney Grande was kind enough to ask me to come with him, but I did not know that there were others here—that there was a party here," he corrected himself.

      The Attorney laughed.

      "Sit down, drink, and be merry," he said.

      And Coldevin made himself at home. This tutor from the country, bald and grey, generally taciturn and restrained, talked now with and like the rest. He seemed somewhat changed since his arrival; he answered boldly when he was addressed, and was not backward in expressing his opinions. Journalist Gregersen spoke again about the political situation. He had not heard Paulsberg say anything about it. What was going to happen? What were they going to do?

      "What can one do about an accomplished fact?" asked Paulsberg. "Simply take it like men; that is all I can say."

      The Attorney now asked Coldevin:

      "I suppose you have been in Parliament to-day, also?"

      "Yes."

      "You know, then, what took place. What do you think of it?"

      "That is not easy to say on the spur of the moment."

      "Perhaps you haven't followed matters very closely; you have just arrived, I understand," said Mrs. Paulsberg amiably.

      "Followed matters closely! I should say he has; don't you worry about that!" cried the Attorney. "I have talked with him before."

      The discussion grew violent. Milde and the Journalist simultaneously demanded the dismissal of the cabinet; others expressed their opinion about the Swedish opera they had just attended; it appeared that not one among them understood music in the least, and they strayed back to politics.

      "So you were not seriously shaken by what occurred to-day, Mr. Coldevin?" asked Paulsberg in order to be friendly, too. "I am ashamed to confess that I have sat at home and cursed all afternoon!"

      "Indeed!" answered Coldevin.

      "Don't you hear that Paulsberg asked if you were shaken?" said the Journalist sharply across the table.

      Coldevin murmured:

      "Shaken? One can, of course, not avoid feeling disappointed when such things happen. But the climax to-day was hardly unexpected by me. As I see it, it