He brightened up at that. “Yes, yes, of course. Well, I'm very glad you came. We must have the flagstaff white, I suppose?” I did not dare tell him at once all I wanted done in white, but simply said: “Yes. I've got hold of some white paint.” “Have you, though? That's good. You've brought another man up with you, I hear?” “Yes. I don't know what Captain thinks....” “He can stay. Nils has got him to work out in the fields already. And anyhow, you all seem to do as you like with me,” he added jestingly. “And you've been working with the lumbermen, have you?” “Yes.” “Hardly the sort of thing for you, was it?” Then, as if anxious not to seem curious about my work with Engineer Lassen, he broke off abruptly and said: “When are you going to start painting the house?” “I thought of beginning this afternoon. It'll need scraping a bit here and there.” “Good. And if you find the woodwork loose anywhere, you can put in a nail or so at the same time. Have you had a look at the fields?” “Yes.” “Everything's looking very nice. You men did good work last spring. Do no harm now if we had a little rain for the upper lands.” “Grindhusen and I passed lots of places on the way up that needed rain more than here. It's clay bottom here, and far up in the hills.” “That's true. How did you know that, by the way?” “I looked about when I was here in the spring,” I answered, “and I did a little digging here and there. I'd an idea you'd be wanting to have water laid on to the house some time or other, so I went prospecting a bit.” “Water laid on? Well, yes, I did think of it at one time, but.... Yes, I was going to have it done some years back; but I couldn't get everything done at once, and then it was held up. And just now I shall want the money for other things.” A wrinkle showed between his eyes for a moment; he stood looking down--in thought. “Well, well, that thousand dozen battens ought to do it, and leave something over,” he said suddenly. “Water? It would have to be laid on to the outbuildings as well. A whole system of pipes.” “There'd be no rock-work though, no blasting.” “Eh? Oh, well, we'll see. What was I going to say? Did you have a good time down there in the town? Not a big place, but you do see more people there. And the railway brings visitors now and again, no doubt.” “Aha,” I thought to myself, “he knows well enough what visitor came to stay with Engineer Lassen this summer!” I answered that I did not care much for the place--which was perfectly true. “No, really?” He seemed to find something to ponder over in that; he stared straight in front of him, whistling softly to himself. Then he walked away.