Shallow Soil

ique, presented her to his friends, and spent all day in her company. He had not as yet

on of extreme youthfulness. She had a dimple in her left cheek and none in her right, and this solitary dimple made her pe

d in a state of joyful excitement all day. The clique had capitulated to her charm and shown

down there that was filled with tart and peculiar odours from all kinds of tropical products. From the window she could see the docks, the harbour, the tugs that brought cargoes in and out and puffed stertorously, shaking the very air with their efforts. Just outside floate

any columns, swell into larger and larger amounts; the spring season has commenced, the active peri

nderstand how Ole managed to keep all these accounts straight without getting the amounts mixed; she had tried it herself, but in vain.

t her and s

ou have, Aagot! He, he!

d how you can get

n and runs over to him. And they are hap

says smilingly, and lo

e Mist

ne, the accounts finished, and Ole

o and send some wires.

e!" she answers. And she tr

You ought to meet this fellow Irgens," he says; "he is a great man, one of the deep t

people sat drinking and smoking, and found Irgens f

ou are!" c

nd did not get up. He glanced t

d him, somewhat proud of his intimate acquainta

she was evidently surprised to find the poet different from what she had thought. It was over two years since she h

said Irgens finally,

e, in Tivoli, read this book or that, visited the Exhibition of paintings? "But, Miss Lynum, you must really see the Exhibition! I should be delighted to show it to you if you cannot find a better guide-" They conversed for about ten minutes a

leave; he was going to the tele

iss Lynum," said Milde. "You can come back f

going," s

call for you in a few moment

and answered alm

let me come

y, if you

id his

e this check, too. None of us is very flush

d-bye, and walked out

ntlemen look

gens in sincere admirati

did that groceryman get

s simply incomprehensible. What in

y have stopped over by t

little talk could not be avoided. They did not remove their hats and

oached the entrance.... He was a man in the forties, with greyish bear

over to the Attorne

u; you must know him, then. As for me, I am acquainted with Miss Lynum, w

orney's curiosity; he made room for him at once and eve

s I have hardly been anywhere with the exception of a trip to Copenhagen during the Exhibition. So I

k around down by the doc

simply and quietly, although his eyes a

ic car line was being built; several more streets were going to be asphalted; the last census showed an enormous

summer, of course, was more beautiful. It would be high summer when he returned; his intention was to stay a couple of months, p

r faith in Parliament. Several of the leaders have given their ultimatum;

he signs d

our doubts?" asked th

eir promises. I come from the country; we have our suspicions; it is hard to ge

rank from

tofore," said the Attorney. "Do you refer to any pa

uld not rely too much on the leaders; the country's youth should be our hope. No; a leader is apt to prove a broken reed. It is an old law that whenever a leader reach

Attorney, who returned his greeting. The Attorney pointed t

de. He has not done a str

d whispered: "This is one of the most prominent of our young men-their leader,

ld me; he spoke a good deal about a new school, a new intention within the realm of literature. His clothes were silk lined, but he did not put himself forward much. Of course, people were curious and wanted to see him, but he appeared very modest. I met him one evening; his entire shirt-front was covered with writing, with verses-long and short lines, a poem in prose. He said th

ony or not, for Coldevin smiled one of hi

said. "He is beginning to create a school in Germa

he suddenly exclaimed: 'Do you know, gentlemen, why I use a capital R in God?' 'A capital R in God!' we wondered and looked at each ot

ldevin

se you with far better inventions; that was nothing for him. But

his name. He hadn't

ul things unpublished. Good God, what a master! It is impossible to place one's finger on a single thing he has done and say that it is bel

t is Paulsberg!" he repeated. "One could tell it when he passed by; people were whispering about him. Nobod

teresting to be a tutor? Isn't it a s

rents and children. It is all right if one happens to get among good people. It is,

a colle

unately, a rather anti

smiled

a university professor, and drifted back to the situation. Finally they discusse

ently was well informed and spoke quietly and thoug

happen to know where

ice. He told me he ha

scending upon you so informally. It is kind o

ay awhile I trust we sh

ly. Coldevin t

the street, and made for the harbour. He sauntered back and forth outside the Henriksen warehouse and glanced furtively toward the little office window. He did not