Ole Henriksen then gave an unexpected reply which surprised even Mrs. Hanka: He would not only go with Ojen to the station, he would go with him all the way to Torahus. Yes, he had suddenly made up his mind, he would make this little trip; he had, in fact, a sort of reason for going--And he was so much in earnest that he buttonholed Ojen at once and arranged the day for the departure. The Journalist drank with Mrs. Paulsberg, who held her glass in a peculiar masculine fashion. They moved over to the sofa on account of the draught, and told each other amusing anecdotes. Mrs. Paulsberg knew a story concerning Grande and one of Pastor B.'s daughters. She had reached the climax when she paused. "Well--go on!" the Journalist exclaimed eagerly. "Wait a moment!" answered Mrs. Paulsberg smilingly, "you must at least give me time to blush a little!" And she recounted merrily the climax. Norem had retired to a corner and was fast asleep. "Does anybody know the time?" asked Mrs. Paulsberg. "Don't ask me," said Gregersen, and fumbled at his vest pocket. "It is many a day since I carried a watch!" It turned out that it was one o'clock. About half-past one Mrs. Hanka and Irgens had disappeared. Irgens had asked Milde for roasted coffee, and since then had not been seen. Nobody seemed to think it strange that the two had sneaked away, and no questions were asked; Tidemand was talking to Ole Henriksen about his trip to Torahus. "But have you time to run off like this?" he asked. "I'll take time," answered Ole. "By the way, I want to tell you something by and by." Around Paulsberg's table the political situation was being discussed. Milde once more threatened to banish himself to Australia. But, thank Heaven, it now looked as if Parliament would do something before it was dissolved, would refuse to yield. "It is a matter of indifference to me what it does," said Gregersen of the _Gazette_. "As things have been going, Norway has assumed the character of a beaten country. We are decidedly poverty-stricken, in every respect; we lack power, both in politics and in our civic life. How sad to contemplate the general decline! What miserable remnants are left of the intellectual life that once flamed up so brightly, that called loudly to Heaven in the seventies! The aged go the way of the flesh; who is there to take their places? I am sick of this decadence; I cannot thrive in low intellectual altitudes!"