When he was down at Kristen Larssen's at the usual time in the evening he was certain he saw faces outside at the window. The sick man was just asking the doctor how long he had to live and if the pain would go on increasing, so Kallem took no further notice of what was outside except just asking to have something hung before the window. He was deliberating whether he should tell Kristen Larssen the whole truth, and he came to the conclusion that he might do so. He told him that it might last two or three months longer, and that the pain would become more frequent, although not every day equally often or equally violent. Larssen's wife stood by listening. No one was standing by the window when Kallem came out, but a little farther up the street a lady was walking about slowly, as if she were waiting for somebody. When she saw him, she came straight up to him; it was his sister. "Was it you looking in at the window down at Kristen Larssen's?" "I!" said she, and he saw her face turn red under her hood; "it is not my habit to peep in at other people's windows." "Excuse me; but I really saw somebody do it." "Well, yes, I did do it," "Do you know them?" "Yes. But I have come to speak to you, Edward. I knew you generally came about this time." "What do you want with me?" It was only now he noticed how agitated she was. "Is it true you have said you will take the responsibility on yourself of Larssen's going to hell?" "I don't believe in hell one atom." "No, but did you say that?" "I don't know. No, I don't think I did." "Well, you see, others have a different opinion to you. And they feel indignant when they hear such words. You will lose all you have gained here by your work if you talk like that, I can tell you that." Kallem felt this to be so thoroughly like her old self. "Yes, I daresay it is wrong to say such things. But by heaven, it is wrong to torment a man like Kristen Larssen, too. As long as he has his powers of reasoning, no one will get him to believe in hell; so they may as well leave him alone." "That is not what they want with him either." "Indeed, what is it then?" "You know just as well as I do, Edward, and it is for your own sake I beg you not to scoff at earnest and loving people." "I have no wish to scoff; I only say that they can spare themselves the trouble, and spare him too." "He is too cold." "Cold or warm, such things depend on one's disposition and manner of living." "But people can live themselves into a state of coldness of the soul, and that is what he has done." "May-be; but I know somebody who is warm enough, and who thinks exactly in the same way as Kristen Larssen. So it is not that." "Well, what is it, then?"