Part 10 (1/2)

Edwarda threw a questioning glance at me, and said: ”Going? Oh, no, you mustn't go.”

I started, and felt that I was biting my lip. I got up.

”What you said then seemed very significant to me, Edwarda,” I said darkly, and made a few steps towards the door.

The Doctor put himself in my way, and Edwarda herself came hurrying up.

”Don't misunderstand me,” she said warmly. ”I meant to say I hoped you would be the last to go, the very last. And besides, it's only one o'clock... Listen,” she went on with sparkling eyes, ”you gave our boatmen five _daler_ for saving my shoe. It was too much.” And she laughed heartily and turned round to the rest.

I stood with open mouth, disarmed and confused.

”You are pleased to be witty,” I said. ”I never gave your boatman five _daler_ at all.”

”Oh, didn't you?” She opened the door to the kitchen, and called the boatmen in. ”Jakob, you remember the day you rowed us out to Korholmerne, and you picked up my shoe when it fell into the water?”

”Yes,” answered Jakob.

”And you were given five _daler_ for saving it?”

”Yes, you gave me...”

”Thanks, that will do, you can go.”

Now what did she mean by that trick? I thought she was trying to shame me. She should not succeed; I was not going to have that to blush for.

And I said loudly and distinctly:

”I must point out to all here that this is either a mistake or a lie. I have never so much as thought of giving the boatman five _daler_ for your shoe. I ought to have done so, perhaps, but up to now it has not been done.”

”Whereupon we shall continue the dance,” she said, frowning. ”Why aren't we dancing?”

”She owes me an explanation of this,” I said to myself, and watched for an opportunity to speak with her. She went into a side room, and I followed her.

”_Skaal_,” I said, and lifted a gla.s.s to drink with her.

”I have nothing in my gla.s.s,” she answered shortly.

But her gla.s.s was standing in front of her, quite full.

”I thought that was your gla.s.s.”

”No, it is not mine,” she answered, and turned away, and was in deep conversation with someone else.

”I beg your pardon then,” said I.

Several of the guests had noticed this little scene.

My heart was hissing within me. I said offendedly: ”But at least you owe me an explanation...”

She rose, took both my hands, and said earnestly:

”But not to-day; not now. I am so miserable. Heavens, how you look at me. We were friends once...”