Just then the door of Engineer Lassen's office opened, and he and Fru Falkenberg came out. They looked as if they had just got up; they had no hats on; just going down to breakfast, no doubt. Now, whether they did not notice me, or took me for the porter standing there, they went on with what they had been saying. “Quite so,” says the engineer. “And it won't be any different. I can't see what you've got to feel lonely about.” “Oh, you know well enough!” she answered. “No, I don't, and I do think you might be a little more cheerful.” “You wouldn't like it if I were. You'd rather have me stay as I am, miserable and wretched, because you don't care for me any more.” He stopped on the stairs abruptly. “Really, I think you must be mad,” he said. “I dare say I am,” she answered. How poorly she held her own in a quarrel! It was always so with her. Why could she not be careful of her words, and answer so as to wound him, crush him altogether? He stood with one hand on the stair-rail and said: “So you think it pleases me to have things going on like this? I tell you it hurts me desperately--has done for a long time past.” “And me,” she answered. “But now I'll have no more of it.” “Oh, indeed! You've said that before. You said it only a week ago.” “Well, I am going now.” He looked up at her. “Going away?” “Yes. Very soon.” But he saw that he had betrayed himself in grasping so eagerly, delightedly, at the suggestion, and tried now to smooth it over. “There, there!” he said. “Be a nice sensible cousin now, and don't talk about going away.” “I am going,” she said, and, slipping past him, went down the stairs by herself. He followed after. Then the porter came out and we went down together. The last box was smaller than the others. I asked him to carry it up himself, pretending I had hurt my hand. I helped him to get it on his back, and went off home. Now I could go away the following day. That afternoon Grindhusen, too, was dismissed. The engineer had sent for him, given him a severe talking to for doing no work and staying in town and getting drunk; in a word, his services were no longer needed. I thought to myself: It was strangely sudden, this new burst of courage on the part of the engineer. He was so young, he had needed some one to back him up and agree to everything he said; now, however, seeing that a certain troublesome cousin was going away, he had no further need of comfort there. Or was my withered soul doing him an injustice?