Madame Torvestad was really in earnest when she declared how much she
valued Hans Nilsen's presence in her house, and that she grieved at
his departure.
That his removal at this juncture was extremely convenient was a fact
that, on the other hand, she carefully concealed.
She was scheming to the utmost to secure Skipper Worse for her
daughter.
Her motives were very complicated. She would talk of her interest in
the poor erring soul that could only be saved by such means. Those,
however, who knew her best, knew well that her strongest passion was
a constantly increasing desire for power and influence.
From her point of view Jacob Worse was well worth capturing,
especially since he had entered into partnership with Garman. Not
only would such an alliance strengthen the Brethren outwardly,
but--what was more important in her eyes--it would greatly enhance
her own position if this new and wealthy brother should be added to
them by her efforts.
That she would succeed in making a brother of Jacob Worse, Madame
Torvestad never for a moment doubted. She had some experience of the
world, and she had known many elderly men who had married even
younger women. She would work upon him through her daughter, and her
influence would extend itself from her humble apartments over the
whole house.
The Brethren would be grateful to her, and the cause of religion
would be furthered.
Sarah foresaw all that was coming; after those words about the vine,
she was in no doubt as to what was in store for her.
When Hans Nilsen left, he presented her with his greatest treasure,
an autograph letter from Hauge to his mother. The paper was old and
worn, and the ink had faded. Fennefos, who was a skilful bookbinder,
had himself made a handsome case, in which to keep it, and had
printed her name and a text on the cover.
The womenfolk talked about this. It seemed strange that Hans Nilsen
should part with such a treasure.
Those who made any allusion to the affair in Madame Torvestad's
presence, met with such an icy reception that they were not
encouraged to pursue the subject.
Sarah was in a distracted state, pleased with the gift and with the
kind words he had spoken to her when he left, but otherwise she was
wretched, hopelessly wretched. At night when she lay in bed, she
wept, and prayed for strength to control herself.
One night her mother entered her bed-chamber; it was dark, and Sarah,
who was bathed in tears, heard nothing until she spoke. "You can see
now that I was right, my child. Thank the Lord that your eyes were
opened in time to the danger."
She said this in such an imperious and reproachful tone that Sarah
started up in her bed, and continued to sit up for some time without
weeping, whilst harsh and bitter thoughts took possession of her.
It was the old Adam! but she could not struggle against it. She
allowed the evil thoughts to take their course--wherever they would,
over all the faults she had detected among the Brethren or suspected
in her own mother; over Skipper Worse, with his oaths and his flavour
of stale tobacco-smoke, until he seemed quite unbearable--away, far
away into forbidden regions, where there was sunshine and joy, where
she was alone with a tall, strong man.
She threw herself back on the bed, dreaming and drowsy. When she
awoke in the morning, a mountain of misery seemed to weigh upon her.
At first, Jacob Worse was unaware of the happiness in store for him.
Many hints from Madame Torvestad were necessary before it dawned upon
him that the fair Sarah, whom he had seen grow up from childhood,
might be the wife for him.
But when he was awake to it, the sentiment which both blinds and
invigorates old men took possession of him.
There was a successful fishing that year, and Jacob Worse was
indefatigable and in high spirits. Thoughts of the snug room at
Madame Torvestad's, his comfortable place by the side of Sarah, the
soft white hands which brought him his tea--in which, as a great
favour, Madame Torvestad permitted a few drops of rum--all tended to
make him happy; and even when he was most actively engaged among the
herrings, a quiet almost dreamy smile, which few observed and none
understood, would steal over his weather-beaten face.
Never before had he been so enterprising or so successful. This year
he salted on account of the firm and for himself, and bought a
quantity of herrings. Brisk and cheerful, he brought life and gaiety
with him wherever he went, and all agreed that Jacob Worse was a fine
old fellow.
It was not safe, however, to call him old to his face. "Old,
forsooth!" he would say, pushing his glass from him, when any one was
so ill-advised as to propose the health of "Old Worse."
Whenever during the fishing season he could find an opportunity for
going into the town with a cargo of herrings, he would hasten to
finish his work at the warehouse, and to wash himself.
He scrubbed himself with soap, and changed from top to toe. At the
same time, he was not quite certain that a little of the flavour of
the herring might not cling to him, and so--if Randulf should but
hear of it!--he sprinkled himself with scent, which Lauritz in all
secrecy had purchased for him.
Dressed, shaved, washed, and combed, with his grizzled hair sticking
up stiffly from above his ears--in such guise Captain Worse, of the
firm of Garman and Worse, sallied forth across the yard to woo.
On these occasions there was something almost chivalrous about him,
which became him well, and would have become him even better had he
been paying his attentions to the mother instead of to the daughter.
But to marry a serious, elderly widow was something which had never
occurred to the gay captain, and of this Madame Torvestad had long
been conscious.
Now that she had got him on the track, and had observed the youthful
ardour with which he followed it, madame changed her tactics, began
to hold back, would not understand his hints, and, when they became
obvious, raised innumerable objections.
Sarah should be purchased dearly. First, there was the great
difference of age; she must say it was greater than she had any idea
of; she never could have believed that Captain Worse was so much over
fifty.
That, however, was of comparatively little consequence. The most
important point was his religious state, his habit of swearing, his
worldly mindedness, manifested in his devotion to all things
pertaining to this life.
Worse admitted that he was not one of the best of men, but, at the
same time, he protested that he was very far from being the worst;
moreover, he might improve.
He would indeed have to improve, if it came to a question of marrying
Sarah. He would have to change many of his ways.
Worse promised everything; he felt certain that he could submit to
any number, even of the longest meetings, if he could but have Sarah
by his side, and could take her home with him afterwards.
The affair, however, made no progress. Worse hardly knew whether it
moved backwards or forwards. In the meantime he was completely
infatuated, and trotted about after Sarah like an old turkey cock.
What Sarah's own feelings might be was not much discussed by her
mother and her admirer. Madame Torvestad "knew her daughter;" and
Jacob Worse, the elderly gallant, fancied that when Sarah blushed,
was constrained when she was alone with him, and refused his
presents, it was only girlish prudishness, of which he had seen
instances, both in the Baltic and in the Mediterranean.
Although Consul Garman seemed to keep up such slight intercourse with
the town, he had his feelers out, and all that happened there, both
small and great, was pretty well known at Sandsgaard. The two
sisters, Birgitte and Mette, especially interested themselves in
everything without exception.
It came, therefore, to the Consul's ears that Jacob Worse was
courting, and it both displeased and made him anxious.
That his partner should enter upon any new matrimonial alliance was
very distasteful to him, as it would tend to complicate matters; and
his especial fear was that these good people--he knew the family
well--would be the ruin of his excellent captain.
Consul Garman almost hated the sectaries, although he knew but little
about them. It revolted him to think that religion, which was given
to man for enlightenment and instruction in virtue and rational
conduct, should be so misused by ignorant fanatics and enthusiasts as
to pervert and distract the lower classes, who were rather in need of
sound and practical guidance.
He therefore sent a boat for Captain Worse, as soon as he learnt from
his sisters-in-law that he was likely to marry Madame Torvestad's
daughter.
When Worse arrived, the Consul began to talk with much eagerness
about a certain vessel which was for sale at Bremen. They got hold of
the register, looked into dimensions, discussed age and value, and
finally came to the conclusion that it might prove fit for the
business of the firm.
The one became infected with the eagerness of the other. It was not
often that the Consul plunged so deeply into a novel scheme; but
before Worse knew what he was about, it was proposed that he should
leave either to-morrow or the day after, in a Bremen schooner, which
lay in the roads waiting for a fair wind, in order to purchase the
vessel, if it answered the description given, and if there were no
other reason to the contrary.
Having done this, he was to navigate it to Sandsgaard, or, if an
opportunity offered, he should take a good cargo on board and
sail--no matter where.
Full of zeal and energy, Worse departed, in order to make his
preparations for the voyage. When he found himself again in the boat
it occurred to him, all of a sudden, that he would be separated from
Sarah. The good ship lost its interest, and the affair assumed a
doubtful aspect. His zeal cooled, and he conjured up a thousand
difficulties as they rowed across the bay.
Consul Garman, however, rubbed his hands; he had taken matters in
time. He sat down and proceeded to make calculations about this
Bremen ship, wondering whether the venture would prove successful.
In the afternoon, Madame Torvestad observed that Worse's
servant-girls were very busy in the yard, brushing his clothes and
preparing his kit.
"Is the captain going away, Martha?" she inquired, in a friendly
tone, speaking from the verandah, which ran round the portion of the
building which she occupied.
"Yes," answered Martha, rather sulkily. Madame Torvestad was no
favourite with the servants.
"Ah, indeed! and do you know whither?"
"No; but it is going to be a long voyage, longer even than the last,
I believe."
Martha had a suspicion that this would annoy Madame Torvestad, and
she was right. Madame was in a state of the utmost consternation,
still she maintained her composure, returning to her apartments, and
standing for some time, in order to consider what she should do.
"Sarah, put the kettle on. Captain Worse is going away. Martha says
so, but I think she must be mistaken. What is your opinion?"
"Mine, Mother!"
Madame Torvestad would have said more, but the expression of Sarah's
face was so peculiar that she desisted. "Sarah is prudent," she
thought to herself. "It is not necessary."
Upon this she smoothed her hair, took her cloak, and left the room.
She went out the back way, and so round to the front door; she did
not care to pass through the yard, where Martha was.
Jacob Worse was in an irritable condition; he was talking with the
head man at the warehouse, who managed for him during his absence.
His own private business in the town was not affected by his
admission into the firm.
Sandsgaard, with all its various branches of business, remained as
before, entirely under the control of the Consul. The partnership, in
fact, confined itself to certain departments in which Jacob Worse's
capital was actually employed, especially to those pertaining to
their business as shipowners.
When Jacob Worse saw Madame Torvestad, he dismissed the warehouseman,
and saluted her in an excited manner.
"I come to wish you a prosperous and happy voyage, Captain Worse."
"Thanks--h'm--many thanks, madame. I would otherwise--"
"Will it be a long voyage?"
"It is impossible to say. He wishes me to--"
"Who did you say?"
"The Consul--Consul Garman; he is sending me to Bremen to purchase a
ship."
"Sending!" said Madame Torvestad, with an incredulous smile. "I did
not know that one partner could 'send' another."
"Partner! oh yes! You see, he is Consul Garman, and I am Skipper
Worse; and it will never be otherwise. Moreover, when it comes to
purchasing a ship, it is just the job for me."
"You surprise me, and it distresses me that you do not tell me the
real reason of your departure. I think we might have expected it of
you."
He stared at her with his mouth open.
"You must know this, Captain Worse," she continued, "that I am
satisfied you would not undertake this voyage unless you wished to
get out of your engagement with us altogether."
She was about to proceed in this somewhat menacing manner, but the
captain sprang up, excited, and red in the face.
"No, Madame Torvestad! I tell you what it is--you do me a confounded
injustice. Pardon me, I should not have sworn, but I cannot help it.
From the very first I have worried and schemed until I was black in
the face, in order to escape this voyage; and then you come and tell
me that I am behaving with deceit and devilry. I think everybody is
mad to-day."
He stamped round the room, clawing at his hair; but Madame Torvestad
eyed him with satisfaction--a weight had been removed from her heart.
A certain nervousness and uneasiness which had oppressed her when she
entered vanished at once, and she resumed her usual imperious manner,
as a mother should who has to deal with a wavering suitor.
"After all we have talked of lately, I must say I was much surprised
on hearing of this sudden voyage."
"Do you suppose that I have not thought of this? I assure you, Madame
Torvestad, that when I think that I am about to leave without so much
as a definite promise, it almost drives me mad. The devil may take
the Bremen ship, if I can find an excuse or some way out of it."
"Ah, twenty years ago, Jacob Worse would have found some way out in
such a case, I am sure."
This was to attack him on his weakest side. That any one should
consider him too old, touched him to the quick; and he proceeded to
give Madame Torvestad so warm a description of his feelings, that she
was constrained to stop him in all haste.
"Good, good, Captain Worse! Yes, yes; I don't doubt it!" she kept on
exclaiming. "But more than earthly love is necessary, however real it
may be. The man to whom I could with confidence entrust my child, my
Sarah, must also be joined to her in the love of God; and, you know,
I have often told you that your life as a seaman is full of
temptations, and little likely to bring forth good fruits."
"Ah, yes, madame, the flesh is weak in many respects," answered
Captain Worse, who fancied he was quoting Scripture.
"Yes, that it is, Captain Worse--some of us more, some less; but just
for that reason we should avoid a life which especially leads us to
temptation. Fancy, if I had given you my daughter, and you had
suddenly left her like this soon after the marriage!"
"No, madame; there would have been nothing of the sort, you may take
your oath of that."
"If I were now--I merely put the case before you--if I were now to
give my consent, do you believe that the Consul--that your partner
would permit you to put off the voyage?"
"Of course, of course; that is understood." He was becoming excited
at the prospect before him.
"Could I depend upon you?"
"Yes, by--"
"Stop; don't swear! I can believe you better without it. Sit down
again, and listen to what I have to say."
"I have thought much of all this of late; a voice within me seems to
say that an alliance with my daughter would be for the good of your
soul. Yes, after much anxiety and deliberation, I had thought of
fixing the wedding for next Sunday--"
"I beg your par-- What do you say?" cried Worse, jumping up from his
chair. "Ah, madame, you are a devil of a woman!"
"But now, when I find that a sudden order to go to sea can tear you
away from your family, and expose you to danger and to temptations,
which can easily--we know how easily--choke the good seed, I cannot
think of entrusting my child, my beloved Sarah, to you."
"But, Madame Torvestad, I won't go! I will tell the Consul that he
must get some other person. I swear to you I won't go!"
"Not this time, perhaps; but the next time that your partner wants--"
"Never! If I get Sarah, I promise--"
He stopped, and, as he looked out of the window, he caught sight of
the _Hope's_ top-gallant yards away out in Sandsgaard Bay.
Madame Torvestad, smiling somewhat sourly, proceeded. "Do not promise
that which you cannot perform and do not allow any consideration for
our feelings to prevent your drawing back. No doubt Sarah would be
prepared, but as yet she knows nothing with certainty. I have merely
talked of the affair with some friends, and I had thought of
celebrating the wedding very quietly, as is the custom with us; just
the pastor and a couple of the Brethren. Your house is ready, and you
would simply bring her to it."
"I promise you that I will give up the sea from the day that I marry
your daughter," said Jacob Worse, giving her his hand.
He was beginning to think of bringing Sarah to his house, and having
her there always, by his side.
But madame said: "It is a perplexing affair. I have heard of many
sailors who were unable to give up the sea, although advanced in
years, and possessed of worldly goods, as well as of wife and
children. It is difficult to understand it. I should have thought
that, on the contrary, a sailor would be grateful for a haven of rest
after a stormy life."
"You are quite right, madame. It is just so; I see it now. Give me
your daughter, and you will see how I shall improve in every way,
just as you wish."
They shook hands, and Worse proposed that they should at once go
across to Sarah. But when they reached the yard, where Martha
received orders to put the clothes back into the house, he began to
hesitate.
"What do you think she will say to it?" he inquired, in a low voice.
"Sarah will be faithful and affectionate to the man whom her mother,
prayerfully, has chosen for her," said Madame Torvestad, in such a
positive tone that he was much comforted.
Sarah heard them approaching. She had long expected them; and when
they came, there was no trace of the tears she had been shedding.
Pale as usual, and with downcast eyes, she entered the room, whither
her mother called her.
"Sarah, here is a man who seeks you as his wife. I have promised on
your behalf that you will be a good and faithful helpmate to him
before God and man. Am I not right my child? You will comply with
your mother's wish, and so obey the mandate of God."
"Yes, Mother."
"Take each other's hands, then. In God's name, Amen."
Jacob Worse was much affected. He tried to say a few words about
being a father to her, but when he reached the middle of the
sentence, it struck him that it was not appropriate. When he essayed
to utter something more suitable, there was no sense in it.
He therefore squeezed the hand of Madame Torvestad somewhat severely;
and then, taking that of his betrothed more tenderly, was pleased to
find how soft and delicate it was.
He comported himself very awkwardly all the evening; but he was so
thoroughly happy, that he never noticed the expression of Sarah's
pale face.
When he returned to his own house, he paced up and down in ecstasy.
It was Tuesday--only four days to Sunday. He must put his house to
rights; it was not half smart enough.
When he had left, madame sent Henrietta to bed; Sarah would have gone
also, but her mother detained her.
"You should thank God for all His loving-kindness, Sarah."
"Yes, Mother."
"Will you not also thank me?"
Sarah stood silent and unmoved.
Her mother felt as if she had been pierced through. "Sarah!" she
said, sharply.
But when Sarah looked up, there was a something in her steadfast eyes
which made her mother recoil; she said no more, except to bid her
"Good night," and upon this her daughter left.
Madame Torvestad fell into a reverie. The memories of her own youth
rose up before her, and they were not very pleasant. She, too, had
been given to a man whom she did not know; he, too, was older than
she was, but he had known how to deal with her in the right way. She
remembered the tears she had shed at the first, and how in time all
went well with her. She had been saved from worldly vanities, and
from these she would now protect her daughter.
But in that look of Sarah's there was something which made her
shrink, and which stung her deeply. She, who was generally so
confident about herself and all that she did, felt a painful
misgiving.
All these newly revived memories, and a vague feeling that she did
not fully comprehend this impassive daughter, made her slumbers
uneasy, and troubled her with evil dreams.
Henrietta, who heard Sarah sobbing, crept into her bed, and strove to
comfort her.