Part 8 (1/2)
The young lawyer was a sportsman, yet he was learned in the social sciences, too, had been in Switzerland and studied the principle of the referendum. At first he had worked a few years in an architect's office, he told us, but then he had changed to the law instead, which in its turn had led him into social problems. No doubt he was a rich and unselfish man to be able to change his vocation and to travel in this way. ”Ah, Switzerland!” he said, and his eyes watered. None of us could understand his fervor.
”Yes, it must be a wonderful country,” Mrs. Molie said.
The a.s.sociate Master looked ready to burst, and was quite incapable of restraining himself.
Speaking of Solem, he said suddenly, ”I've changed my mind about him lately. He's ten times better than many another.”
”There, you see!”
”Yes, he is. And he doesn't pretend to be anything more than he is. And what he is, is of some use. I saw him slaughter the lame goat.”
”Did you stop to watch that?”
”I happened to be pa.s.sing. It was the work of a moment for him. And later I saw him in the woodshed. He knows his job, that fellow. I can well understand that the ladies see something in him.”
How the a.s.sociate Master clowned! He finished by imploring the wife of the captain who was sailing the China seas to be sure and remain faithful to her Chinaman.
”Do be quiet and let the lawyer tell us about Switzerland,” said Mrs.
Molie.
Witch! Did she want to drive her fellow-being the a.s.sociate Master into jumping off the highest peak of the Tore tonight?
But then Mrs. Brede took a hand. She understood Mr. Hoy's torment and wanted to help him. Had not this same Mr. Hoy just expressed himself kindly about Solem, and was not Solem the lad who one fine evening had caused her to tear down her window blind? There is cause and effect in all things.
”Switzerland,” said Mrs. Brede in her gentle fas.h.i.+on, and then she reddened and laughed a little. ”I don't know anything about Switzerland; but once I bought some dress material that was Swiss, and I've never in my life been so cheated.”
The lawyer only smiled at this.
Schoolmistress Johnsen talked about what she had learned, watchmakers and the Alps and Calvin---
”Yes, those are the only three things in a thousand years,” said the a.s.sociate Master, his face quite altered and pale with suppressed rage.
”Really, really, a.s.sociate Hoy!” exclaimed Schoolmistress Palm with a smile.
But the lawyer focused everyone's admiration on himself by telling them all about Switzerland, that wonderful country, that model for all small countries of the world. What social conditions, what a referendum, what planning in the exploitation of the country's natural wonders! There they had sanatoriums; there they knew how to deal with tourists! Tremendous!
”Yes, and what Swiss cheese,” said the a.s.sociate Master. ”It smells like tourists' feet.”
Dead silence. So a.s.sociate Master Hoy was prepared to go to such lengths!
”Well, what about Norwegian old-milk cheese?” said a Danish voice mildly.
”Yes, that's filthy stuff, too,” Mr. Hoy replied. ”Just the thing for Schoolmaster Staur pontificating in his armchair.”
Laughter.
Since matters were now smoothed over again, the lawyer could safely continue:
”If we could only make such Swiss cheese here,” he said, ”we should not be so poor. Generally speaking, I found after my modest investigations in that country that they are ahead of us in every respect. We have everything to learn from them: their frugality, their diligence, their long working hours, the small home industries--”