“Yes,” put in his wife, and was thoughtful once more. “Not at all,” said Mack. “Most natural thing in the world. Anything you want--it’s at your service.” “It must be wonderful to have such power,” says Fruen. “I’ve not as much power as I could wish,” says Mack. “There’s that burglary, for instance. I can’t find out who did it.” “It was really too bad, that business,” broke in the priest. “I see you have offered a heavy reward, even to the thief himself, and still he won’t confess.” Mack shook his head. “Oh, but it’s the blackest ingratitude to steal from you,” says Fruen. Mack took up the cue. “Since you mention it, _Frue_, I will say I had not expected it. No, indeed, I had not. I have not treated my people so badly as to deserve it.” Here the priest put in, “A thief will steal where there is most to steal. And in this case he knew where to go.” The priest, in all innocence, had found the very word. Mack felt easier at once. Putting it like that made the whole thing less of a disgrace to himself. “But people are talking,” he said. “Saying all sorts of things. It hurts my feelings, and might even do serious harm. There are a number of strangers here just now, and they are none too careful of their words. And my daughter Elise feels it very deeply. Well,” he said, rising to his feet, “it will pass off in time, no doubt. And, as I was saying, if you come across any deserving case in the village, remember I shall be most pleased to help.” Mack took his leave. He had formed an excellent impression of the priest and his wife, and would put in a good word for them wherever he could. It would do them no harm. Though perhaps.... Who could say to what lengths the gossip about himself had reached already? Only yesterday his son Frederik had come home and told how a drunken seaman had called to him from a boat, “Hey, when are you going to give yourself up and get the reward?” [Illustration] VI The days were getting warmer now; the catches of herring had to be left in the nets for fear of spoiling, and could only be turned out in the cool of the night, or when it rained. And there was no fishing now to speak of anyway, being already too late in the season; one or two of the stranger boats had left. And there was field-work to be done, and need of all hands at home.