'Oh yes,' Alin said, 'I dare say you know that much, but you don't know that it is all up with the property. Think the matter over, and you will understand that one cannot live from farming alone at Vesterdalarne. I cannot understand why your mother has kept it a secret from you. But, of course, she has the sole control of the estate, so she need not ask your advice about anything. Everybody at home knows that she is hard up. They say she drives about borrowing money. I suppose she did not want to disturb you with her troubles, but thought that she could keep matters going until you had taken your degree. She will not sell the estate before you have finished, and made yourself a new home.' Hede rose, and walked once or twice up and down the floor. Then he stopped opposite Alin. 'But what on earth are you driving at, Alin? Do you want to make me believe that we are not rich?' 'I know quite well that, until lately, you have been considered rich people at home,' Alin said. 'But you can understand that things must come to an end when it is a case of always spending and never earning anything. It was a different thing when you had the mine.' Hede sat down again. 'My mother would surely have told me if there were anything the matter,' he said. 'I am grateful to you, Alin; but you have allowed yourself to be frightened by some silly stories.' 'I thought that you did not know anything,' Alin continued obstinately. 'At Munkhyttan your mother saves and works in order to get the money to keep you at Upsala, and to make it cheerful and pleasant for you when you are at home in the vacations. And in the meantime you are here doing nothing, because you don't know there is trouble coming. I could not stand any longer seeing you deceiving each other. Her ladyship thought you were studying, and you thought she was rich. I could not let you destroy your prospects without saying anything.' Hede sat quietly for a moment, and meditated. Then he rose and gave Alin his hand with rather a sad smile. 'You understand that I feel you are speaking the truth, even if I _will_ not believe you? Thanks.' Alin joyfully shook his hand. 'You must know, Hede, that if you will only work no harm is done. With your brains, you can take your degree in three or four years.' Hede straightened himself. 'Do not be uneasy, Alin,' he said; 'I am going to work hard now.' Alin rose and went towards the door, but hesitated. Before he reached it he turned round. 'There was something else I wanted,' he said. He again became embarrassed. 'I want you to lend me your violin until you have commenced reading in earnest.' 'Lend you my violin?'