"It is like this," he said, "I wonder if you have got a couple of crowns?" Yes; Tidemand was not entirely stripped. How much? A ten-spot? "Thanks, old man, I'll give it back to you shortly," said Milde in all seriousness. "Very soon, now. You are a brick! It is not more than a couple of days since I said that you hucksters were great fellows. That is exactly what I said. Here is my hand!" Mrs. Hanka got up at last; she wanted to leave. It was beginning to grow light outside. Her husband kept close by her. "Yes, Hanka, that is right--let us be going," he said. He was on the point of offering her his arm. "Thank you, my friend, but I have an escort," she said with an indifferent glance. It took him a moment to recover himself. "Oh, I see," he said with a forced smile. "It is all right; I only thought--" He walked over to the window and remained standing there. Mrs. Hanka said good night to everybody. When she came to Irgens she whispered eagerly, breathlessly: "To-morrow, then, at three." She kept Ojen's hand in hers and asked him when he was going. Had he remembered to make reservations at Torahus? No; she might have known it; these poets were always forgetting the most essential. He would have to telegraph at once. Good-bye! And get well soon.... She was maternal to the last. The Journalist accompanied her. VI "You said there was something you wanted to tell me," said Tidemand. "Yes; so there is--You were surprised that I wanted to go along to Torahus. Of course, I said that I had business there. That is not so; I just said that. I know nobody there except Lynums; that is all there is to it. I did really visit their house once. You never heard anything so ridiculous; we came there, two thirsty tourists, and they gave us milk; since then I have met the family when they came to town last fall and this winter. It is quite a family--seven altogether, including the tutor. The oldest daughter's name is Aagot. I'll tell you more about them later. Aagot was eighteen the 7th of December; ha, ha! she is in her nineteenth year; I happen to remember that she told me. In short, we are not exactly engaged; I don't mean to say that; we have only written to each other once in a while. But there is no telling what may happen--What do you say to that?" Tidemand was more than surprised; he stopped. "But I had not the slightest idea; you haven't said a word to me about it!" "No; I was hardly in a position to say anything yet. There is nothing definite; she is very young, you know. Suppose she had changed her mind? She may tell me she has other intentions when I get there. In that case nothing can be said against her; the execution will take place without witnesses; her reputation will have suffered nothing--I want you to see her, Andreas; I have a picture of her. I won't say that she gave it to me; I almost took it forcibly; but--" They stopped a moment and looked at the photograph. "Charming!" said Tidemand.