Part 17 (1/2)
The road followed the coast line, rounding all the rocky headlands; they looked forward to the constant changes--from sh.o.r.e to height, from height to sh.o.r.e. On the sea, dark blue to-day, sailing s.h.i.+ps and columns of smoke were to be seen, far as the eye could reach. It being Sunday, there were also pleasure-boats out, some gliding about among the islands, others venturing out to the open sea.
At their quick pace, the two young people were soon in the outskirts of the town. They pa.s.sed a pretty little house in a garden.
”Who lives there?” asked Mary, admiring it.
”Miss Roy, the doctor,” answered Jorgen, immediately adding: ”Our annoyance and disappointment made me forget to tell you that I met Frans Roy in town.”
Unconsciously Mary stood still; involuntarily she blushed. ”Frans Roy?”
she repeated, looking hard at him--then walked on without waiting for an answer.
”He is here to inspect the operations at the harbour. You know that Irgens is dead.”
”The engineer? is he dead?”
”They say now that Captain Roy will probably take his place.”
”Is it work for a man like him?”
”Many are no doubt asking the same question--asking what brings him here,” laughed Jorgen.
Mary looked at him and he at Mary. Then he went nearer to her. ”But now he comes too late.”
He had expected an understanding glance in answer--possibly with a little happiness in it. She walked on without looking at him, and without speaking.
They were silent for a long time, walking fast in the refres.h.i.+ng autumn breeze. At last she turned towards him, with the intention of giving him a pleasant surprise.
”Do you know, Jorgen, that Father has two hundred thousand kroner invested in Uncle Klaus's business?”
”He has two hundred and fifty thousand,” Jorgen answered.
She was much surprised--in the first place by Jorgen's knowing, in the second, by the fifty thousand.
”Uncle Klaus himself said two hundred thousand.”
”Yes, your father has that sum invested in Uncle's s.h.i.+ps and commercial enterprises. But lately, before he was taken ill, he sent Uncle fifty thousand more, which he had lying idle.”
”How do you know?”
”Uncle told me.”
”There is no note of this last sum in father's books.”
”No; your father probably did not take the trouble to enter it; he was not in the habit of doing so. Besides”--here Jorgen paused--”are you in possession of all your father's business papers?”
Into this subject Mary would not enter; she knew that the question was a natural one; but how in the world did Jorgen----? Perhaps through Mrs.
Dawes. What he had told her, however, rejoiced her. She stood still; there was something she wanted to say. But the wind caught up her skirts, unloosed some of her hair, and blew about her scarf.
”How perfectly lovely you look!” Jorgen exclaimed.