Shallow Soil

enty of time; in fact, it was much too early; he would have to kill an hour or so first.

Paulsberg had now two days running had a paragraph concerning his excursion to Honefos: the first day about his going, the second about his return; Gregersen had in his usual accommodating manner concocted two very excellent little items abou

ey were waiting for Paulsberg. They had been discussing the situation again; it commenced to look a little dubious now when several of the

present. Mrs. Libe

mething in it. It could not be concealed much longer in spite of the fact that the c

ooks as if he were coming back soon; he does

g, but glanced from one to another with his sombre eyes. When he had been presented to Irgens he had murmured a few words, sat do

leaving u

me and dress. I am going

ns l

mous Irgens," said th

Exhibition to-day-It seems to me that our poets are beginning to pay considerable attention to their personal appearance; I have see

The fashions have

ppose

was aga

," said the Journalist patronisingly, yawning across

the Journalist sat close by him and wanted to hear his opinion concerni

ry to live even if a couple of parliamentarians were to fail the cause. All the same, he was going to publish an article s

certainly would put matters right. "Not too gentle,

ows exactly how gentle

"You can safely l

, "that goes without saying. I had n

, but Paulsberg smoothed

rtunate for us that you keep an eye on us; otherwise

y ordered a

for my wife,"

riksen. I see there is talk about famine in Russ

Coldevin and rem

ou to know out in the country: so sha

nced from on

: "Well, one cannot say things are much better out in t

difference between poets an

ly. "For instance, people who cannot support a wife do not marry. If they do, and if they later on

hed his glasses that were hanging on a cord across his br

-what kind of a ph

a phenomenon this was, a phenomenon-he, he! It was not often Paulsberg sai

f the window, shivered

trick of paralysing my imagination. I am in the middle of a descriptive passage about a rainy season,

s incautious en

write about the

the effect that Attorney Grande had showed symptoms of a certain arrogance lately. He was right, the

your lights!" said th

lence; but shortly afterward Gra

ked in order not to show any ill feeling. And as nob

mpany of Ole and his fiancée. Coldevin moved as far back a

e good-naturedly; "we couldn't let her go alo

become of him? Hadn't she kept a continuous lookout for him on the streets and asked Ole about him every day? She was at a loss to understand why

useums, Tivoli and Parliament; there were newspapers to read, lectures to attend; he also had to l

s lips trembled a little a

s. Coldevin was going to call on them to-morrow, though, they could rely on it; he ha

What was he

and gripped the glass in her masculine fashion. The Journalist monop

re? Interesting people, these! There

have met. No doubt it is my fault; but, to tell the truth

se you do not know

do not exactly soar to the solitary heights. It is pro

iarity. One must pardon

respect," Coldevin continued. "They talk about everything

t is wonderful to list

getting on-in the

atisfactory. I remember, you are interested in business matters. When you come down tomorrow I will ta

I did; don't try to fool me, Ole. It seems to me it is my turn to speak

Ole's chair

tions about you. Mamma asked me to see

again, and he said, wit

about me; I am very comfortable. I hope you are enjo

mes when I am longing for home,

l be a little hard never to see you aga

," she said. "You almost make m

ear Mis

sn't the same as

instantly changed;

here and depressing you with my talk. It was mostly your mother I was thinking

wered Aago

u have hardly had time for that as yet. I have been th

night later, so I will do it now." She gave him her hand. "And remember, you

d his hand

can Miss Aagot and Coldevin be so deeply absorbed in?" He heard t

s Aagot on a promise to

" he heard Ole say. "Well, Aagot, I

the waiter; the Journalist did the s

Henriksen. Kindly p

plea

aulsberg caught up

ortunity of shaking hands with you. I he

d "phenomenon" several times. He hurried into the first gateway he passed and took out from his pocketbook a little silken bow, in the Norwegian co