Part 160 (1/2)

The next day they were up late. Ellen did not wake until about ten, and was quite horrified; but when she got up she found the fire on and everything in order, for La.s.se Frederik had seen to it all. She could start on breakfast at once.

Sister was quite bright again, and Ellen moved her into the sitting-room and made up a bed on the sofa, where she sat packed in with pillows, and had her breakfast with the others.

”Are you sorry Sister's getting well, old man?” asked Boy Comfort.

”My name isn't 'old man.' It's 'grandfather' or else 'Mr. Brun,'” said the librarian, laughing and looking at Ellen, who blushed.

”Are you sorry Sister's getting well, grandfather?” repeated the boy with a funny, pedantic literalness.

”And why should I be sorry for that, you little stupid?”

”Because you've got to give money!”

”The doll, yes! That's true! You'll have to wait till tomorrow, Sister, because to-day's Sunday.”

Anna had eaten her egg and turned the sh.e.l.l upside down in the egg-cup so that it looked like an egg that had not been touched. She pushed it slowly toward Brun.

”What's the matter now?” he exclaimed, pus.h.i.+ng his spectacles up onto his forehead. ”You haven't eaten your egg!”

”I can't,” she said, hanging her head.

”Why, there must be something wrong with her!” said the old man, in amazement. ”Such a big, fat egg too! Very well, then _I_ must eat it.” And he began to crack the egg, Anna and Boy Comfort following his movements with dancing eyes and their hands over their mouths, until his spoon went through the sh.e.l.l and he sprang up to throw it at their heads, when their merriment burst forth. It was a joke that never suffered by repet.i.tion.

While breakfast was in progress, the farmer from the hill farm came in to tell them that they must be prepared to move out, as he meant to sell the house. He was one of those farmers of common-land, whom the city had thrown off their balance. He had lived up there and had seen one farm after another grow larger and make their owners into millionaires, and was always expecting that his turn would come. He neglected the land, and even the most abundant harvest was ridiculously small in comparison with his golden dreams; so the fields were allowed to lie and produce weeds.

Ellen was just as dismayed as Pelle at the thought of having to leave ”Daybreak.” It was their home, their nest too; all their happiness and welfare were really connected with this spot.

”You can buy the house of course,” said the farmer. ”I've had an offer of fifteen thousand (L850) for it, and I'll let it go for that.”

After he had gone they sat and discussed the matter. ”It's very cheap,”

said Brun. ”In a year or two you'll have the town spreading in this direction, and then it'll be worth at least twice as much.”

”Yes, that may be,” said Pelle; ”but you've both to get the amount and make it yield interest.”

”There's eight thousand (L450) in the first mortgage, and the loan inst.i.tution will lend half that. That'll make twelve thousand (L675).

That leaves three thousand (L175), and I'm not afraid of putting that in as a third mortgage,” said Brun.

Pelle did not like that. ”There'll be need for your money in the business,” he said.

”Yes, yes! But when you put the house into repair and have it re-valued, I'm certain you can get the whole fifteen thousand in the Loan Societies,” said Brun. ”I think it'll be to your advantage to do it.”

Ellen had taken pencil and paper, and was making calculations. ”What percentage do you reckon for interest and paying off by instalments?”

she asked.

”Five,” said the old man. ”You do all the work of keeping it up yourselves.”

”Then I would venture,” she said, looking dauntlessly at them. ”It would be nice to own the house ourselves, don't you think so, Pelle?”

”No, I think it's quite mad,” Pelle answered. ”We shall be saddled with a house-rent of seven hundred and fifty kroner (over 40).”