"What's the Dutchman done?"
Slowly, and not without reluctance in the beginning, she told him the
details, he interrupting her once or twice with encouragement. "Shades
of Norway!" he exclaimed in admiration. "You could easily play the
Rat-wife in 'Little Eyolf'."
She looked at him in a puzzled way, but he laughed and advised her:
"Don't mind me; I'm cracked. Go on!"
Erna related the rest of the incident. He was quietly attentive to every
detail, and at the conclusion of her recital, broke out cheerfully: "The
trouble with the German is that he's too slow to catch even a cockroach.
Therefore, he resents speed. So Landsmann calls you down. And the
girls--well, they're children, like most females. You're entirely too
dramatic for their comfort."
Erna never quite understood Nielsen, but she mellowed down to some of
her old good nature. Nielsen continued his reassuring nonsense, and
gradually, the rest of her good nature was restored. The young writer
was not slow to notice the change, and he was glad to have been of
service to her. He had no desire to make any personal use of Erna's
present mental condition, but nevertheless, he proceeded: "Erna, you
must be tired."
"Yes?"
"Certainly. You need a little rest--a little diversion. Let me help you
out; there's a sensible girl. Will you come over and spend part of the
evening with me?"
His request had not been a bold one; he had made it seriously, and with
no thought of himself. But Erna gave him a sharp look. He met her glance
with an honest one and pursued: "I don't want you to pose for the story,
as I asked you yesterday--honestly, I don't. I just want to amuse you a
little, if I can. You need a bit of a change, even by having me supply
it."
This was approaching dangerously close to a soft advance, but Erna did
not heed it. She was still busy trying to read Nielsen, but reading
Nielsen was not so easy as appearances would have led one to believe.
However, she was able to read humanity behind his lurking smile, and
likewise his seriousness of purpose. "I don't know," she said in doubt.
"You're not afraid?"
"No," she admitted.
"Come ahead then. We'll have a quiet little evening together, or you can
tell me some more about your enemies, German and others. As for posing,
I'll do the posing, such as standing on my head, for example."
Erna had always felt that Nielsen was human. It now come as a
realization. She gave him a final penetrating glance. He smiled frankly,
and she had to smile as well. "All right," she resigned.
"You're a good sport, Erna," he complimented her. "But you're too
trusting, I'm afraid."
"Think so?"
"Yes."
She looked somewhat doubtful, and then her face cleared. Nielsen
understood.
"Your order's ready, Erna," came Landsmann's voice.
And the girl hurried out.