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through the white muslin curtains of Arnfinn's room； and long streaks of
sun…illumined dust stole through the air toward the sleeper's pillow； there
was a sharp rap at the door； and Strand entered。 His knapsack was
strapped over his shoulders； his long staff was in his hand； and there was
an expression of conscious martyrdom in his features。 Arnfinn raised
himself on his elbows； and rubbed his eyes with a desperate determination
to get awake； but only succeeded in gaining a very dim impression of a
beard； a blue woolen shirt； and a disproportionately large shoe buckle。
The figure advanced to the bed； extended a broad； sun…burned hand； and a
deep bass voice was heard to say：
〃Good…bye； brother。〃
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Arnfinn； who was a hard sleeper； gave another rub； and； in a
querulously sleepy tone； managed to mutter：
〃Why；is it as late as thatalready？〃
The words of parting were more remotely repeated； the hand closed
about Arnfinn's half… unfeeling fingers； the lock on the door gave a little
sharp click； and all was still。 But the sunshine drove the dust in a dumb；
confused dance through the room。
Some four hours later； Arnfinn woke up with a vague feeling as if
some great calamity had happened； he was not sure but that he had slept a
fortnight or more。 He dressed with a sleepy； reckless haste； being but
dimly conscious of the logic of the various processes of ablution which he
underwent。 He hurried up to Strand's room； but； as he had expected；
found it empty。
During all the afternoon； the reading of 〃David Copperfield〃 was
interrupted by frequent mutual condolences； and at times Inga's hand
would steal up to her eye to brush away a treacherous tear。 But then she
only read the faster； and David and Agnes were already safe in the haven
of matrimony before either she or Arnfinn was aware that they had
struggled successfully through the perilous reefs and quick… sands of
courtship。
Augusta excused herself from supper； Inga's forced devices at
merriment were too transparent； Arnfinn's table…talk was of a rambling；
incoherent sort； and he answered dreadfully malapropos； if a chance word
was addressed to him； and even the good…natured pastor began； at last； to
grumble； for the inmates of the Gran Parsonage seemed to have but one
life and one soul in common； and any individual disturbance immediately
disturbed the peace and happiness of the whole household。 Now gloom
had； in some unaccountable fashion； obscured the common atmosphere。
Inga shook her small wise head； and tried to extract some little consolation
from the consciousness that she knew at least some things which Arnfinn
did not know； and which it would be very unsafe to confide to him。
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VI。
Four weeks after Strand's departure； as the summer had already
assumed that tinge of sadness which impresses one as a foreboding of
coming death； Augusta was walking along the beach； watching the flight
of the sea…birds。 Her latest 〃aberration；〃 as Arnfinn called it； was an
extraordinary interest in the habits of the eider… ducks； auks； and sea…gulls；
the noisy monotony of whose existence had； but a few months ago；
appeared to her the symbol of all that was vulgar and coarse in human and
animal life。 Now she had even provided herself with a note…book； and
（to use once more the language of her unbelieving cousin） affected a half…
scientific interest in their clamorous pursuits。 She had made many vain
attempts to imitate their voices and to beguile them into closer intimacy；
and had found it hard at times to suppress her indignation when they
persisted in viewing her in the light of an intruder； and in returning her
amiable approaches with shy suspicion； as if they doubted the sincerity of
her intentions。
She was a little paler now； perhaps； than before； but her eyes had still
the same lustrous depth； and the same sweet serenity was still diffused
over her features； and softened； like a pervading tinge of warm color； the
grand simplicity of her presence。 She sat down on a large rock； picked
up a curiously twisted shell； and seeing a plover wading in the surf； gave a
soft； low whistle； which made the bird turn round and gaze at her with
startled distrust。 She repeated the call； but perhaps a little too eagerly；
and the bird spread its wings with a frightened cry； and skimmed； half
flying； half running； out over the glittering surface of the fjord。 But from
the rocks close by came a long melancholy whistle like that of a bird in
distress； and the girl rose and hastened with eager steps toward the spot。
She climbed up on a stone； fringed all around with green slimy sea… weeds；
in order to gain a wider view of the beach。 Then suddenly some huge
figure started up between the rocks at her feet； she gave a little scream； her
foot slipped； and in the next moment she layin Strand's arms。 He
offered no apology； but silently carried her over the slippery stones； and
deposited her tenderly upon the smooth white sand。 There it occurred to
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her that his attention was quite needless； but at the moment she was too
startled to make any remonstrance。
〃But how in the world； Mr。 Strand； did you come here？〃 she managed
at last to stammer。 〃We all thought that you had gone away。〃
〃I hardly know myself；〃 said Strand； in a beseeching undertone； quite
different from his usual confident bass。 〃I only know thatthat I was
very wretched； and that I had to come back。〃
Then there was a pause； which to both seemed quite interminable； and；
in order to fill it out in some way； Strand began to move his head and arms
uneasily； and at length seated himself at Augusta's side。 The blood was
beating with feverish vehemence in her temples； and for the first time in
her life she felt something akin to pity for this large； strong man； whose
strength and cheerful self…reliance had hitherto seemed to raise him above
the need of a woman's aid and sympathy。 Now the very shabbiness of his
appearance； and the look of appealing misery in his features； opened in her
bosom the gate through which compassion could enter； and； with that
generous self…forgetfulness which was the chief factor of her character； she
leaned over toward him； and said：
〃You must have been very sick； Mr。 Strand。 Why did you not come
to us and allow us to take care of you； instead of roaming about here in
this stony wilderness？〃
〃Yes； I have been sick；〃 cried Strand； with sudden vehemence； seizing
her hand； 〃but it is a sickness of which I shall never； never be healed。〃
And with that world…old eloquence which is yet ever new； he poured
forth his passionate confession in her ear； and she listened； hungrily at first；
then with serene； wide…eyed happiness。 He told her how； driven by his
inward restlessness； he had wandered about in the mountains； until one
evening at a saeter； he had heard a peasant lad singing a song； in which
this stanza occurred：
〃A woman's frown； a woman's smile； Nor hate nor
fondness prove； For maidens smile on him they hate；
And fly from him they love。〃
Then it had occurred to him for the first time in his life that a
woman's behavior need not be the logical indicator of her deepest feelings；
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and； enriched with this joyful discovery； inspired with new hope； he had
returned； but had not dared at once to seek the Parson