Only the mark of
a bruise, said Nils. A sudden thought came to me, and I stopped: perhaps
it was not his sister, but his sweetheart.
Some association of ideas led me to think of my washing. I decided to send
the lad up for it.
* * * * *
It was evening.
Ragnhild came to me and begged me to keep awake again; there was dreadful
trouble up at the house. Ragnhild herself was greatly upset, and dared not
sit anywhere now in the half-dark but upon my knees. It was always so with
her; emotion made her frightened and tender--frightened and tender, yes.
"But can you be away like this? Is there any one in your place in the
kitchen?" I asked.
"Yes. Cook's going to listen for the bell. You know, I side with the
Captain," she declared. "I've sided with him all along."
"Oh, that's only because he's a man."
"No, it's not."
"You'd much better side with Fruen."
"You only say that because she's a woman," answered Ragnhild in her turn.
"But you don't know all I do.
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