Garman and Worse

for hitherto he had never had the courage to offer her any presents personally. The circuitous course he was thus driven to follow in his courtship, was not altogether agreeabl

ite nervous if any of them approached her. When, however, she saw that Torpander did not presume on his acquaintance, and preserved his polite and even respectful manner, she became at last used to his society, and had even a kind of sympathetic feeling for him. For Tom Robson she had always an unconquerable aversion. It is true that she saw Tom only from his worst side, when he was drinking. In the morning, when Robson was sober, there was something of the gentleman about him. He was always neatly dressed in a blue serge suit, coloured

next spring," said the Consul o

onths, if the winter is n

the 15th of May," said the Consul, in a low tone; "but you mus

, sir," an

ent: but he still showed great curiosity as to what the name of the ship was to be. Tom swore that he knew nothing about it, and Morten answered that

and each month when he had to take it in to his father, he made up his mind to make a little speech, of which the burden was to be, that he did not wish to continue his studies, but to be employed in the office, or be allowed to go to sea, or

ut. I don't think he wi

ut now she had got too clever for him, and refused to be frightened by his threats of running away to sea,

of Christiania; he was neither so young nor so green as most of her father's assistants, and she therefore found his society agreeable. But when she found that, as usual, he began at once to show his admiration for her, she thought to herself he was no different to the rest. But now she began to take a lit

ssons took place. Madeleine met him very frequently, and they generally managed to go a little out of the way on her return, eit

t you are so sarcastic and critical when you are in so

h you, I show more of my natural character; when I am in convers

our opinions?" sa

or every passer-by to pry into my mi

remarked the preference shown her, but she could not help thin

a crowd of fishermen, who had been out all night, and were carry

ar that smell of fish. But I forgot, Miss Garman; you

ed Madeleine, wi

but I must confess that when the dear creatures come too near my nose my affection for them somewhat cools.

the people among whom she had lived, and of him to whom she had so

Delphin pointed to some one goi

to-day. Do you know, Miss Garman, he has gone a little wr

first theory, that he is in love, we have the fact that he rushes over to Sandsgaard nearly every day, and is seen talking tête-à-tête with Miss Rachel. In favour of the

ut if the others go, I

o to church that Sunday," said

to the door, and Madeleine had caught a glimpse

he was there every day was an exaggeration. Since that Sunday, when the conversation had waxed so warm, he had not been at San

astonished by the well-ordered and unpretentious comfort of the house, but he was also shaken in his preconceived notions about the rich, when he came to make the acquaintance of the Garmans. Johnsen had expected to find something more ostentatious, especially at table; but the solid tone of the household, and the easy and polished manners of the family, perhaps most of all the presence of Rachel, finally caused h

, a deep, earnest interest, after all the stirring impressions he had received through her. She had a wonderful power over him. Her words seemed to shed a ray of light over much which he had hitherto overlooked. He had, like the rest of us, the germs of doubt in his heart, and he was still so young and fresh that his aspirations were but loosely covered, and had not yet had time to wither entirely in his heart. When, therefore, he was suddenly thrown into the society of a

erent to others. As soon, therefore, as Johnsen had exchanged a few words with old Mrs. Garman, she said, without further ado, "Come, Mr. Johnsen, let us take a turn in the garden," without her mother being in the

ion in the direction he wished. His tone was therefore somewhat doubtful, as he said, "I have thought a great deal about our last conversation

pearance rather more imposing than attractive. The young men generally were absolutely afraid of her, and she had the reputation of being terribly learned and sarcastic, which was considered to be a great pity, as in other respects she was a most desirable parti. Mr. Johnsen did not notice any of these peculiarities: all he thought of was leading the

e answered, "who as a woman am debarred from a life of action, if

where around me. I am ready to cut myself adrift from the calling I have adopted, if it must be. I will not

to be carried away by this sudden outburst, whi

eaking of is a mere matter of scattered detail; there is scarcely any irreconci

lief or else none at all, and I do not care to

ese forms and dogmas of but very slight importance. Our conversation has only turned

"the real gist of the matter is, that you have been trying to rouse in me

re quite right; that is exa

stion. What is really important is to be a man--man enou

ich I can myself scarcely hope to carry out to its full extent. What weight does the conviction of a woman carry with it, in a society like ours? But my whole sympathy is excited whenever I see sincerity struggling to t

er with rapture, and with a sudden change of manner that

th emphasis, "I will ask the provost's permission to preach in the church next Sunday; I

ly worth while," said Rachel,

t I have my doubts, and that God is to be found in truthfulness, and not in mere forms; and I wish especially to

ture; and in any case yo

I may make

r hand, "if you find any support in that. You can count

e left the garden hastily, but without going through the house

last she had met a man who dared to state his convictions. Th