Pelle the Conqueror, Vol. 4

working-man who took hold of books as if they were brick

man with gold spectacles and thin white hair and beard that gave a smiling expression to his pale face. He had spent his time among the stacks of

ising of the masses; and he followed with wonder and curiosity the development of the new working-man. Now and then he brought one of his essays to Pelle and asked him to read it. It often treated of the nature of personality, took as its starting-point the ego of some philosopher or other, or of such and such a religion, and attempted to get at the questions of the day. They conversed in whispers on the subject. The old, easily-approached philosopher, who was read by very few, cherished an unrequited

ving known want, he had few pretensions, and often denied himself to help others. It was said that he lived in a very Spartan fashion, and used a large proportion of his income for the relief of the poor. On many points he agreed with the lower cl

he seemed to know something about them. "Isn't there anything you want to

e done about the future. "At present," he s

? Money is necessary to make one capable and free," he continued, when Pelle refused it. "It's a pity, but so it

do without,

he common people have too great respect for the property of others. And upon my word it's true! The good old poor man could scarcely find it in his heart to put anything into his ow

ou dependent,"

d than you are, indeed that's where the dividing line goes between the upper classes and the common people. This fear of becoming indebted to any one, and carefulness to do two services in return for one, is all very nice and profitable in your own

r people have nothing but their sense of

us-for your use. Yes, you're surprised to hear me say that, but then I'm a degenerate upper-class man, one of those who fall outside the established order of things. I saw your amazement at my not having patte

not. Something had been shattered withi

te plebeian," said

ere the reins and harness, which made them draw the carriage well. The only thing was that it was always denied from the other side; he was toiling at history and statistics in order to furnish incontrovertible proof of this. B

she could. "It's all the same to me what the law is!" was her reply to Pelle's warnings. "There surely can be no sense in our having to make the furniture-dea

nder of the debt hung like a threat over them; if he discovered that the furniture wa

t I do what you told me!" For a time she collapsed, but then suddenly rose energetically, saying: "Then we must get it paid at once

ng to do?" asked

on't be afraid!" she said, bending down and kissing him. She soon retur

the instalments ate themselves up in some wonderful way. Two or three times they had had to ask for a postponement,

te looking for a job. He fetched and took back furniture in the town

it isn't too late. You must go out there at once." She took out Pelle's Sunday clothes quickly, and helped him to make himself tidy. It was for a boot-factory in Borger Street. Pelle took the tram in order to get there quickly, but he had no great hopes o

can take something off my shoulders in a general way, and superintend the whole thing when I'm travelling. I think you'll do capitally for that, for you've got influence with the men; and I'd like things to go nicely an

le, hardly able to

raid of when once you've peeped in behind the scenes; and it has its advantage

l unlikely," said

narchists properly, don't you think so? In my opinion all should unite in fighting against them, and that'll be the end of it, I suppose. I've reflected a good deal upon politics and have come to the conclusion that we employers behaved like asses from the beginning. We oughtn't to have struggled against the Movement; it only drove it to extremes. Just see how well-behaved it's become since we began to take off our hats to it! You become what you're treated as, let me tell you. You wouldn't have acted so ha

tand the machin

of course-so as to be a kind of vice-landlord for the back building here; there are three stairs with one-roomed flats. I can't be bothered having anything to do with that; there's so much nonsense about the mob. They do damage and don't pay if they can help it, and when you're a little firm with them they fly to the papers and write spiteful letters. Of course I don't ru

ve till the next d

. As I said before, an expert knowledge is not the main thing; it's your authority that I chiefly want.

u wanted to make a home, you must take the consequences of it and not sneak away the first time a prospect offere

hey seemed to sweep down the darkness of night, and great shadows flickered through the street and disappeared. In the narrow side streets darkness lay, and insistent sounds forced their way out of it-a girl's laugh, the crying of

ttle pointing obliquely upward as though it were going to shoot down heaven itself to them. How secure they appeared to feel! Had they no suspicion that they were sitting upon a thin crust, with the hell of poverty right beneath them? Or

afford it, if not you can have it for nothing!" He was pale, with dark shadows under his eyes, and he had a dark beard. He looked as if he were suffering

papers?" he exclaimed in asto

eavy, introspective look that he had had when Pelle met him i

after working hours. It's a little paper that I write a

s it a

you a

e, looking at the title of the paper. "Y

tis!" he cried, holding out a copy to the passers-by. A policeman wa

ion!" said Pelle, drawing hi

r twice they've seized my

n altogether inoffensiv

people to think

dangerous enough too

ork with any master, a policeman appears and advises him to discharge me. It's their usu

rd for you to get on," s

't say much for machinery that's exclusively kept going to look after us. I've a feeling that they'd like to put me out of the way, if it could be done; but the country's not large enough to let any one disappear in. But I'm

unequal," said Pelle, l

omething wanting in us here at home-our own extreme consequence, s

a child upon her arm, offering for sale some miserable stalks which were supposed to represent f

there are some who are happy. I hate the system, but not the people, you see, unless it were tho

ong the tables and listen! The poor are bestial, unreliable, ungrateful in spite of everything that is done for them; they are themselves to blame for their misery. It gives a spice to the feast to some of them, others dull their uneasy conscience with it. And yet all they eat and drink has been made by the poor man; even the choicest dainties have passed through his dirty hands and have a piquant flavor of sweat and hunger. They look upon it as a matter of cours

ed them and stopped on the other side of the street when

no brain! What vexes me most is that we ourselves produce the dogs that are to hunt us; but we shall soo

treet. "How did you get on?" she as

she said, looking up at him with a happy face. "If you only knew how proud I am of you! W

d the children will be a l

eem to be very delighted, and yet

for me, but I must make t

turer, but that's always the way with that kind of position;

at him in wonder; there was something about him to-day that she did not understand. He had on the whole become a little

oon," she said. "It's fortunate for us that he

ly. "At present he's thinking of getting into the To

"You understand these matters and can help him. If we save, we may perh

rificed everything for him, and he could do nothing without considering her. He must see her perfectly happy once more, let it cost what it might, for he owed her everything. How beautiful she was in her

l part to herself, like an unapproachable virgin. But now her cheeks glowed with happy expectation, and her eyes rested upon him eagerly; he no longer represented for her the everyday dullness, he was the fairy-story that might take her by surprise when t

his collar, and brushed his coat, talking, as she did so, with the lightheartedness of a bird, of the future. "What are we going to

apartments, and we're to be the vice- landlord of them. He can't manage the tenants himself." Pelle

ied astonishment. "Does that

e no

"Do you hear, Pelle? You mustn't do it!" She was greatly disturb

lderment and murmured so

offered you, but we won't earn our bread by turning poor people into the street. I've seen my own bits

y so sensible," she said when she had once more calmed down, looking reproachf

!" she exclaimed,