He stood still a moment. He heard her steps from inside, then they died down. And he turned and drifted down the street. He saw and heard nothing of what happened around him. Instinctively he walked toward the basement restaurant where he usually took his meals. He went down and ordered something. Hurriedly he ate everything that was placed before him; apparently he had not eaten for a long while. And when he was through he took out the ten-crown bill and paid his check from that. At the same time he felt in his waistcoat pocket for a little package, a few crowns in silver--the small amount he had put aside for his railway ticket, and which he had not dared to touch. * * * * * The following day, around five, Aagot was walking down toward the docks, toward the same place where she had walked the day before. Irgens was already waiting for her. She hurried toward him and said: "I came after all, but only to tell you--I won't meet you any more. I haven't time to talk to you now, but I did not want you to come here and wait for me." "Listen, Miss Aagot," he said boldly, "you can't back out now, you know." "I am not going home with you any more, never. I have learned something. Why don't you get Mrs. Tidemand to go with you? Why don't you?" Aagot was pale and excited. "Mrs. Tidemand?" he asked, startled. "Yes, I know everything. I have asked questions--Yes, I have thought of it all night long. Go to Mrs. Tidemand, why don't you?" He stepped close to her. "Mrs. Tidemand has not existed for me since I saw you. I haven't seen her for weeks. I don't even know where she lives." "Well, it doesn't matter," she said. "I suppose you can look her up. I won't go home with you, but I can walk with you a few moments." They walked on. Aagot was quiet now. "I said I have thought of it all night," she continued. "Of course, not all night. All day, I meant. Not all the time, I mean--You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Married ladies! You don't defend yourself very warmly, Irgens." "What is the use?" "No, I suppose you love her." And when he was silent she grew violently jealous. "You might at least tell me if you love her!" "I love you," he answered, "I do not lie; it is you and nobody else I love, Aagot. You can do with me what you like, but it is you." He did not look at her. He gazed down on the pavement and he wrung his hands repeatedly. She felt that his emotion was genuine and she said gently: "All right, Irgens, I'll believe you. But I won't go home with you." Pause. "What has made you so hostile toward me all of a sudden?" he asked. "Is it this--? He has been your tutor, but I must frankly say that he disgusts me, dirty and unkempt as he is." "You will be good enough to speak civilly of Coldevin," she said coldly. "Well, he is going away to-night, so we shall be rid of him," he said. She stopped. "Is he going this evening?" "So I heard. On the night train."