Absalom's Hair

tall ship gay with flags. Hi

th all his writings, which they had taken care should be well known. Some of the largest mechanica

show with. Rafael went from entertainment to entertainment, from presentatio

e than their lords; and they had not been in the town man

spirits. He had looks as well; he was six feet high; and all those six feet were clothed in perfect taste. He had large flashing eyes and a broad forehead. He was practised in making clear to others all in which he was interested, and at such times how handsome he looked

e was a nine days' wonder! One must know the critical, unimaginative natives of Christiania, who daily pick each other to pieces to fill the void in

is more dangerous than desert sand, n

HE was always in the vein, and ready to take the rough with the smooth. In all respects the young madcap was up to the standard, so that day and night passed in a ceaseless whirl, which left every one but himself breathless. The glorious month at Hellebergene had done good. He was drawn into endless jovial adventures, so strange, so aud

. It only remained for him to be deified, and this too came to pass. One day he visited several factories, gi

visit his factory, and it was only after they were convinced that they had a god among them that it became serious, for enthusiasm in a manufacturer strikes every one. The ladies only waited for this important moment to go at a bound from the lowest degree of sense to the fifth degree of madness. Their eyes danced on him like sunlight on polished metal. He himself paid little heed to degree or temperature; he was too happy in his genial contentment, and too indifferent as well. One th

When he disagreed with prevailing tastes, prejudices, and morals, they disagreed too. When his precocious intelligence burst upon them, they were always ready to applaud. They even met him half-way-they

it! They respected her persevering efforts to attain the goal, and she became aware of this. In the most elegant toilettes, with her discr

on went on without her, like a string of carriages which bore him along with it while she was shake

rrived he wrote a letter to her. It was not long, he had not time for that, but it was thoroughly characteristic. He received an answer at once; the hostess of the pension brought it

ve; she evidently knew him to

, and then there were always friends waiting for him; so that he was not seen in the pension again until he returned

would soon all be done

le

that she opposed the formation of a company, but she raised many difficulties: she should certainly prefer to have

at that was not everybody. This absence of reserve was especially characteristic of her, and was another reason why all relied on her. She had long ago taken up Fru Kaas-entertained her first and foremost. Angelika Nagel used in conversation modern Christiania slang which is the latest development of the language. In the choice of expressions, words such as hideous were applied to what was the very opposite of hideous, such as "hideously amusing," "hideously handsome." "Snapping" to anything that was liquid, as "snapping good punch." One did not say "

ect on Fru Kaas. Soon things had progressed so far that it became necessary to consult Rafael about it, and as he was difficult to catch, she sat up for him at night. The first time that she opened the door for him he was absolutely shy, and when he he

ected it she again met him at the door; there was something which she really MUST say to him. There was a struggle, but at

ndressing she slip

hat it was a commission that had been entrusted to him. No! it was from the French manufacturer whose working expenses he had reduced so greatly. He permitted himself, he wrote, to send this a

e they were uncontrollable. SHE stood upon the hilltop, pure and noble. It became agonising. He must go at once, or it would drive him mad. This anxiety was made less acute by the sight of his mother's sincere pleasure. She came up to him when she heard that he had shut himself into his room. They had a really comfortable talk together-finally about the state of their finan

s mother induced her cousin, the Government Secretary, to form the company, and they prepared to leave. They paid farewell visits to some of their friends, a

had in consequence obtained further information, the result being that he was, that day, sending his daughter a

been?"-was equalled by his despair. She was the only one he cared for; all the others might go to the deuce. He felt angry, too, that the Dean, or any on

laughing. It was not their habit to settle their differences by words; but this time it flashed into his mind that she had no

th me as it was with my father, and it will be yo

ortly afterwards, and he lef

y could be married at once. Whatever the Dean had heard about his life in Christiania had nothing to do with the f

did not a

would show that he deserved to be trusted; nay, he HAD shown it ever since he left Christiania. He begged the Dean to be magnanimous. This was practically exile for him, for he could not return to Hellebergene without Helene. Everything

eceived an ans

ened probation could convince the

value. He knew his mother too well to doubt that now the cement business was

that it was only the heat of the moment. She must know how fond he was of her, and how unhappy he

what had happened or about Helene. She gave him a great deal of new

s before. Perhaps his latest reasons for deferring the affair was pre

oughts turned towards his friends at Christiania. He wrote to tell them that he inte

is student friends. She was in the highest spirits, glowing with health and

from his mind, and he came there without the least intention of ren

ew jealous if he so much as saw her in company with either of the young m

and passionate devotion. This led, after her departure, to an inte

e steward and stewardess. "She sat up for him of nights til

im, but it was equally possible that the woman might hav

convinced that they are invisible. He believed that, up to this time, no human being had known

ngelika angled for him and landed him like a stupid fat fish? He had been absolutely unsuspicious. The whole aff

y than to find that, believing himse

next day to Hellebergene, come what would. This and everything of the kind must end for ever: it simply led str

o say that some luggage which was there was to be sent

ika stood before him. She was at once so pretty and so s

way from her house?

prepared for anything rather than to see h

ance meeting. This they both understood; therefore she must real

w she had come here to tell him that she was enceinte. She was in as great despair about it as any one could be. It was ruin for herself and h

he close-fitting sleeves, her little foot thrust from beneath her dress; he saw how her whole frame was shaken by sobs. Nevertheless, what first made hi

he raised her head. "Will you really go away from me?" What de

eside his open trunk. He, to

o for me to stay her

coming clearer every moment. Her mouth grew sc

me if you are an

ame into her eyes; she thrust her head forward; the whole woman collected hersel

devil take me!

to the window. What

t, and turned towards him, threatening, triumphant. He was as white as a sheet, not because he was frightene

s eye, in his whole demeanour, which SHE would never be able to overcome: a look of determination which one

im, in more complete contrition, penitence, and wretchedness than he had ever seen in life or art. Her face stiffened with terror, her eyes fixed, her whole frame rigid, only her tears flowed

it, took a few steps about the room, as if he were alone, with such an

ergene-I know the place. The Dean is a relation of mine. I have been there; that would be something that I could take charge of; do you not think so? And the cement quarries," she added; "I have a turn for business

he ought to

go, don't go!" She felt that he was yielding. "Never," she whispered, "since I have been a widow have I given

me so suddenly," h

nd took a hasty kiss. "Oh, Rafael!" She twined he

other. It was the man who had come for the luggage. Rafael

im. Oh, how she beamed with delight and exultation! She was like a girl of twenty, or r

n the sofa, as though in a grave. He felt as though he could never get up from it again. What was his life no

the wild beast which dwelt in him. It would on longer play and amuse him, but st

e would be ruined, she and her child. Then no one would

work which was constantly dawning before him, he had thought to himself-Yo

owards her, himself, and others-and bore it like a man; then perhaps he would be abl

his dream. It was flying from him like a bird of passage from the

ence: a young man and his wife. He went to see them the same evening and laid the facts honestly before them, for now, at

ir advice was remarkable. He ought

truthful. But she might be mistaken; she ought to make quite sure. This suggestion, too, sh

f children. He was far from rich, he had told her so himself; his life would be that of a beast of burden, and that too, before he had learned to bear the yoke. If he had to work, to feed so many people, he might strain himself to the uttermost, he would still remain mediocre. They would both suffer under this, be disappointed an

quite sure that she was enceinte

nswered, half scornful, half l

you are to be married on account of your condition, and it should afterwards turn out that y

an say what they please." After a pause she added:

write to Rafael without further delay, to set him free and let him return home to his mother; there they would be a

d. "She shall know all about it, so that sh

ly, steadily, sheet after sheet. Just then came a ring-a messenger with a letter. The maid brought it in. Her mistres

derations was, that neither she nor her children should be injured by him. He was an ho

iend, then tore up the one which she

good that is in us must go bail for the

de had often been made before,