See him loading up oats from the drying-frames: his
second load now.
Just then Fruen comes along down the road, and crosses over to where we
are at work. Her eyes are bright. She seems pleased to watch her husband
loading up corn.
"_Signe Arbejdet!_" [Footnote: "A blessing on the work."] she says.
"Thanks," says the Captain.
"That's what we used to say in Nordland."
"What?"
"That's what we used to say in Nordland."
"Oh yes."
The Captain is busy with his work, and in the rustle of the straw he does
not always hear what she says, but has to look up and ask again, and this
annoys them both.
"Are the oats ripe?" she asks.
"Yes, thank goodness!"
"But not dry, I suppose?"
"Eh? I can't hear what you say."
"Oh, I didn't say anything."
A long, uncomfortable silence after that. The Captain tries once or twice
with a good-humoured word, but gets no answer.
"So you're out on a round of inspection," he says jestingly. "Have you
seen how the potatoes are getting on?"
"No," she answers.
Pages:
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395