"I shall be unable to sit for you at present; I am working." That settled it. Mrs. Hanka had placed Aagot next to her. She had called to her: "Come here, you with the dimple, here by me!" And she had turned to Irgens and whispered: "Isn't she sweet?" Mrs. Hanka was again in her grey woollen dress with low lace collar; her neck was bare. Spring seemed to affect her; she looked a little played out. Her lips were cracked, and when she laughed her features were distorted into wry grimaces because of these cracked lips. She told Aagot that they were going to the country shortly and hoped to see her there. They were going to eat currants and rake hay and loll in the grass. Suddenly she turned to her husband across the table and said: "While I remember it, can you let me have a hundred?" "I wish you hadn't remembered it," said Tidemand good-naturedly. He winked, jested happily, and was delighted. "Don't marry, my friends; it is an expensive luxury! Another hundred!" And he handed the bill to his wife, who thanked him. "But what is it for?" he asked her banteringly. "I refuse to tell you," she said, and turned to Aagot in order to avoid further references to the matter. Attorney Grande and Coldevin entered just then. "Of course you are coming," said the Attorney. "I never heard anything like it! I want you to join me in a little drink. Come and help me, you fellows; I can't get the man inside!" But when Coldevin saw who were present he wrenched himself free quickly and disappeared. He had visited Ole Henriksen one morning according to his promise, but he had vanished since then and nobody had seen him until now. The Attorney said: "I discovered him outside; I had pity on the poor man, he seemed so altogether alone, and I--" Aagot had jumped up quickly and hurried outside; she caught up with Coldevin on the stairs. They talked together a few moments; finally they both returned. "I beg your pardon," he said. "Attorney Grande was kind enough to ask me to come with him, but I did not know that there were others here--that there was a party here," he corrected himself. The Attorney laughed. "Sit down, drink, and be merry," he said. And Coldevin made himself at home. This tutor from the country, bald and grey, generally taciturn and restrained, talked now with and like the rest. He seemed somewhat changed since his arrival; he answered boldly when he was addressed, and was not backward in expressing his opinions. Journalist Gregersen spoke again about the political situation. He had not heard Paulsberg say anything about it. What was going to happen? What were they going to do? "What can one do about an accomplished fact?" asked Paulsberg. "Simply take it like men; that is all I can say." The Attorney now asked Coldevin: "I suppose you have been in Parliament to-day, also?" "Yes." "You know, then, what took place. What do you think of it?" "That is not easy to say on the spur of the moment."