The things we do!

I was pleased enough
with the work.
The Captain came out while we were at supper that evening, to thank me for
the pipe. At the same time, I noticed that Falkenberg was right; no sooner
had the Captain come out than Fruen went in.
The Captain praised my pipe, and asked how I had managed to fix the nail;
he said I was an artist and a master. All the others were standing by and
heard his words--and it counted for something to be called an artist by
the Captain himself. I believe I could have won Emma at that moment.
That night I learned to shiver and shake.
The corpse of a woman came up to me where I lay in the loft, and stretched
out its left hand to show me: the thumbnail was missing. I shook my head,
to say I had had a thumbnail once, but I had thrown it away, and used a
shell instead. But the corpse stood there all the same, and there I lay,
shivering, cold with fear. Then I managed to say I couldn't help it now;
in God's name, go away! And, Our Father which art in heaven.


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