Wanderers Part 27

"It doesn't matter. What did he say?"

"'Yes, look after the machine, do,' he said, and made a face. 'In case any one comes to steal it,' he said."

"Then the Captain's angry with me now?"

"Nay, I shouldn't think so. I've heard no more about it since that day."

It mattered little after all about the Captain. When Falkenberg had taken a deal of wine, I asked him if he knew where Fruen was staying in town. No, but Emma might, perhaps. We get hold of Emma, treat her to wine, talk a lot of nonsense, and work gradually round to the point; at last asking in a delicate way. No, Emma didn't know the address.

But Fruen had gone to buy things for Christmas, and she was going with Frken Elisabeth from the vicarage, so they'd know the address there.

What did I want it for, by the way?

Well, it was only about a filigree brooch I had got hold of, and wanted to ask if she'd care to buy it.

"Let's look."

Luckily I was able to show her the brooch; it was a beautiful piece of old work; I had bought it of one of the maids at Hersaet.

"Fruen wouldn't have it," said Emma. "I wouldn't have it myself."

"Not if you got me into the bargain, Emma, what?" And I forced myself to jest again.

Emma goes off. I try drawing out Falkenberg again. Falkenberg was sharp enough at times to understand people.

Did he still sing for Fruen?

Lord, no; that was all over. Falkenberg wished he hadn't taken service here at all; 'twas nothing but trouble and misery about the place.

Trouble and misery? Weren't they friends, then, the Captain and his Lady?

Oh yes, they were friends. In the same old way. Last Sat.u.r.day she had been crying all day.

"Funny thing it should be like that," say I, "when they're so upright and considerate towards each other." And I watch to see what Falkenberg says to that.

"Eh, but they're ever weary," says Falkenberg in his Valdres dialect.

"And she's losing her looks too. Only in the time you've been gone, she's got all pale and thin."

I sat up in the loft for a couple of hours, keeping an eye on the main building from my window, but the Captain did not appear. Why didn't he go out? It was hopeless to wait any longer; I should have to go without making my excuses to the Captain. I could have found good grounds enough; I might have put the blame on to the first article in the paper, and said it had rather turned my head for the moment--and there was some truth in that. Well, all I had to do now was to tie up the machine in a bundle, cover it up as far as possible with my sack, and start off on my wanderings again.

Emma stole some food for me before I went.

It was another long journey this time; first to the vicarage--though that was but a little out of the way--and then on to the railway station. A little snow was falling, which made it rather heavy walking; and what was more, I could not take it easy now, but must get on as fast as I could. The ladies were only staying in town for their Christmas shopping, and they had a good start already.

On the following afternoon I came to the vicarage. I had reckoned out it would be best to speak with Fruen.

"I'm on my way into town," I told her. "And I've this machine thing with me; if I might leave the heaviest of the woodwork here meanwhile?"

"Are you going into town?" says Fruen. "But you'll stay here till tomorrow, surely?"

"No, thanks all the same. I've got to be in town tomorrow."

Fruen thinks for a bit and then says:

"Elisabeth's in town. You might take a parcel in for her--something she's forgotten."

That gives me the address! I thought to myself.

"But I've got to get it ready first."

"Then Frken Elisabeth might be gone again before I got there?"

"Oh no, she's with Fru Falkenberg, and they're staying in town for the week."

This was grand news, joyous news. Now I had both the address and the time.

Fruen stands watching me sideways, and says:

"Well, then, you'll stay the night, won't you? You see, it's something I've got to get ready first...."

I was given a room in the main building, because it was too cold to sleep in the barn. And when all the household had gone to rest that night, and everything was quiet, came Fruen to my room with the parcel, and said:

"Excuse my coming so late. But I thought you might be going early to-morrow morning before I was up."

x.x.xIII

So here I am once more in the crush and noise of a city, with its newspapers and people. I have been away from all this for many months now, and find it not unpleasant. I spend a morning taking it all in; get hold of some other clothes, and set off to find Frken Elisabeth at her address. She was staying with some relatives.

And now--should I be lucky enough to meet the other one? I am restless as a boy. My hands are vulgarly unused to gloves, and I pull them off; then going up the step I notice that my hands do not go at all well with the clothes I am wearing, and I put on my gloves again. Then I ring the bell.

"Frken Elisabeth? Yes, would you wait a moment?"

Frken Elisabeth comes out. "_G.o.ddag_. You wished to speak to.... Oh, is it you?"

I had brought a parcel from her mother. _VaersaaG.o.d_.

She tears open the parcel and looks inside. "Oh, fancy Mama thinking of that. The opera-gla.s.ses! We've been to the theatre already.... I didn't recognize you at first."

"Really! It's not so very long since...."

"No, but.... Tell me, isn't there any one else you'd like to inquire about? Haha!"

"Yes," said I.

"Well, she's not here. I'm only staying here with my relations. No, she's at the Victoria."