She broke off. Her husband grew serious and took her hand. "It was stormy, my dear; the sails were flapping, and it was a question of life and death. But I shouldn't have told you. Well--we'd better say good night now, Gerda." The manufacturer and his wife got up. Then the first man from Bergen made another speech. * * * * * The manufacturer stayed with us for the promised three days, and then made ready to travel again. His mood never changed; he was contented and entertaining the whole time. Every evening one whisky and soda was brought him--no more. Before their bedtime, his little girls had a wildly hilarious half-hour with him. At night a tremendous snoring could be heard from his cottage. Before his arrival, the little girls had spent a good deal of time with me, but now they no longer knew I existed, so taken up with their father were they. He hung a swing for them between the two rowan trees in the field, taking care to pack plenty of rag under the rope so as not to injure the tree. He also had a talk with Paul; there were rumors that he was intending to take his money out of the Tore Peak resort. Paul's head was bent now, but he seemed even more hurt that the manufacturer should have paid a visit to the cotters to see how they were getting on. "So that's where he's gone?" he said. "Well, let him stay there, for all I care!" The manufacturer cracked jokes to the very end. Of course he was a little depressed by the farewells, too, but he had to keep his family's courage up. His wife stood holding one of his arms with both hands, and the children clung to his other arm. "I can't salute you," the manufacturer said to us, smiling. "I'm not allowed to say good-bye." The children rejoiced at this and cried, "No, he can't have his arm back; Mummy, you hold him tight, too!" "Come, come!" the father said. "I've got to go to Scotland, just a short trip. And when you come home from the mountains, I'll be there, too." "Scotland? What are you going to Scotland for?" the children asked. He twisted round and nodded to us. "These women! All curiosity!" he said. But none of his family laughed. He continued to us: "I was telling my wife a story about a rich man who was curious, too. He shot himself just to find out what comes after death. Ha, ha, ha! That's the height of curiosity, isn't it? Shooting yourself to find out what comes after death!" But he could not make his family laugh at this tale, either. His wife stood still; her face was beautiful. "So you're leaving now," was all she said. Mr. Brede's porter came out with his luggage; he had stayed at the farm for these three days in order to be at hand. Then the manufacturer walked down through the field, accompanied by his wife and children. I don't know--this man with his good humor and kindliness and money and everything, fond of his children, all in all to his wife-- Was he really everything to his wife?