Part 21 (1/2)

”Along with the rest?”

”The 'rest' is hardly yielding anything at present. That you know.”

Mary began to feel ill. He knew it by her voice when she said: ”We have the timber to fall back upon.”

”Which cannot be felled for three years; possibly not for four, or even five? That depends entirely on its growth.”

Mary knew that he was right. Why had she mentioned it? ”But--ten to twelve thousand kroner a year...?”

”Is not enough in our position.”

Another intermezzo. There was no pavement here. They had come to a large, open s.p.a.ce, thick with mud. Both had forgotten the dog. A fat, dirty s.h.i.+p-dog, also of the poodle tribe, had come on sh.o.r.e with some sailors, who were sauntering along in the same direction as Mary and Jorgen. With this welcome playfellow Jorgen's dog had joined company.

Jorgen had the greatest trouble in inducing him to come back--dirty as he already was. As soon as Mary called too, he came boldly and joyfully.

But a stroke with the cane awaited him, and called forth a howl.

”It is strange,” said Mary, ”that you cannot treat a nice dog kindly!”

She was thinking of his cruelty to their neighbour's old Lapland dog.

Jorgen did not answer. But as soon as he felt sure that the dog was following meekly, he said: ”Does Uncle Klaus know anything about this money?”

”I do not believe that any one knows about it except ourselves. Why do you ask?”

”Because it will be our best plan to speak to Uncle Klaus.”

Mary stood still, astonished. ”To Uncle Klaus?”

Jorgen also stood still. They looked at each other now.

”It will be to our interest,” continued Jorgen.

”With Uncle Klaus----?” Mary stared. She did not understand him.

”For the sake of the family's honour he will do a great deal,” said Jorgen, giving her a quick side-glance as he moved on.

She had turned ghastly white, but she followed. ”Must we confide in Uncle Klaus?” she whispered behind him. A lower depth of humiliation there could not be.

”Yes, we'll do so!” he answered encouragingly, almost gaily. ”Now he will not say 'No'!”

Had this, too, entered into his calculations?

He went closer to her. ”If Uncle Klaus knows nothing about the American money, we shall get more--do you see?”

How well he had thought it all out! In spite of her disgust, Mary was impressed. Jorgen was a cleverer man than she had taken him for. Once he had the opportunity to develop all his gifts, he would surprise many besides herself.

She walked along, shrinking into herself like a leaf in too dry heat.

”You will manage this with Uncle Klaus yourself?”

”I shall go back with you now, as you may suppose. You need not have come. You had only to let me know.”