We went back to the kitchen and sat down. But I was restless all
the time; after a little I took down the lamp from the wall and told
Ragnhild to follow me. We went upstairs again.
“No; go in and ask Fruen to come out here to me,” I said.
“Why, whatever for?”
“I've a message for her.”
And Ragnhild knocked at the door and went in.
It was only at the last moment I hit on any message to give. I could
simply look her straight in the face and say: “The Captain sent his
kind regards.” [Footnote: _Kapteinen bad mig hilse Dem_: literally,
“The Captain bade me greet you.” Such a message would not seem quite so
uncalled for in Norway, such greetings (_Hilsen_) being given and sent
more frequently, and on slighter occasions, than with us.] Would that
be enough? I might say more: “The Captain was obliged to drive himself,
because Nils couldn't spare any one to go.”
But a moment can be long at times, and thought a lightning flash. I
found time to reject both these plans and hatch out another before Fruen
came. Though I doubt if my last plan was any better.
Fruen asked in surprise:
“Well, what do you want?”
Ragnhild came up, too, and looked at me wonderingly.