I tried
to get her to come in again, but she said we didn't care about her; it
didn't matter where she went. 'The Captain sent me after you,' said I.
'Did he, though?' she asked. 'Now? Was it just now?' 'Yes,' said I.
'Wait, then,' she said, and stood quite a while. 'Take those hateful books
that are lying in my room and burn them,' she said; and then: 'Oh no, I'll
do it myself, but I'll ring for you after supper, and then you must come
up at once.' 'I will,' said I, and then I got her to come in."
"And you know," said Ragnhild suddenly, "she's going to have a child."
We looked at one another. Nils' face grew, as it were, veiled beneath a
film of something indistinct. All expression faded, the eyes asleep. But
why should it affect him so? For the sake of saying something, I turned to
Ragnhild and asked:
"Fruen was going to ring for you, you said?"
"Yes, and so she did. There was something she wanted to tell the Captain,
but she was afraid, and wanted to have me there. 'Light a candle and pick
up all this host of buttons I've upset,' she said.
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