One of Life's Slaves

e struck with amazement at her own blindness-she had become far more stric

scientiously and see that Silla worked. She must really set about something that there was some use and help in, all t

But notwithstanding that he saw no more of her than a short glimpse now and then, a great step in advance had actuall

to be found up there among those giddy girls in the evening. A cold shiver ran down his back when he one day met young Veyergang coming out of his mother's. He only looked indifferently at Niko

een doing he

thi

wing money of him?"

a penny, though I

he talki

that can't do you any harm! And it wouldn't be much good forbidding him to do it eit

her. But remember, if you borrow of hi

ldn't think of borrowing!" As she spoke she turned round and pushe

he had been ta

how could y

ther," he persi

w hard you were working now to get together those few shi

t Silla, too?" he

who knows about it in this gossiping place, and, upon my ho

then; it would be a good thing for that f

at I said? Only he

stood at the window reflecti

tion whether he should not be made a foreman. Old Mrs. Ellingsen had sent for

was no great need of hurry in coming to a determination

the smithy; but it did not strike him that it might be Mrs. Ellingsen's intention to draw back, until one day when one of the men remarked scornfully that he did not

as always hard at work, saved up his pence, and firmly

the whole of his past life was stirred and dug up again till it was as thick as the grounds in a coffee

n, and they were always coming up again, and now it was insupportable suffering. He endeavo

end the better; and Nikolai was soon standing with his cap

t it came out with some hesitation. She meant no offence; she knew he was a good smith enough; but there were so many who knew Olaves to be such an hones

spects, that he had counted upon and shown to Mrs. H

ew he had been to Mrs. Ellingsen and had got his answer. But if they thought th

matter, and even civilly offered a

turned his

himself into my affairs," he said, "unless he wants a dressing that will mak

a genera

ut this affair. Every one had heard how Nikolai had threatened Ol

mer to something besides forging bolts, that

ared; he did his work, and never heard that H?gberg had anyt

straight to H?gberg and speak out, and then the master could give

ingsen was delayed week after

The whole smithy wondered-she m

g it appeared in th

ed windows stood open, drinking in the slight coolness there was in the air, while the dwellers within went about their occupations more or less

g girl with turned-up sleeves, busy at the water tap under which she had a wash-tub full of clothes. Her

e stopped i

is flat cap pushed tri

s to see that everything is properly in order from the very beginn

Did you know m

days at Antonisens. But you see, Silla, it's beginning to get late, and-if you'd like to know-I've

she said, hastily pulling the clothes out of the tub. "You are so awfully black! Foreman, did you say? No, is it really true? O

she d

ue or made Mrs. Ellingsen afra

t her know that he hadn't

gs and chafes and torments every one of them, ever since that time when you had to do those

the contract signed this morning. And it's pretty badly needed, for the money that mother borrowed last, it-it-whu!"-he whistled-"has gone the same

shine. That way with your hair or else

into you. I went in to mother first, and then I promised her to go down a

he town, and the arrival of the mackerel brought with it a number of pleasant recoll

a little

e exclaimed. "Wait for me down below, Nikolai, so

to resist, she was so eager about it. A

er blue-striped dress and a shaw

n up with looking at and listening to her. They walked in the middle of the road, anything but carefully; cl

thing that occasioned more life and movement than usual. The bridge was full of people hanging over the railings and look

head formed for cleaving the water, and an elastic arrow-feather as the termination to an almost d

er, but later in the afternoon another smack came in,-there had been a large haul out by

be had now for two-pence or two-pence halfpenny apiece, both on the fish-market and up the river here.

o the cooking-stoves on the timber sloops and the little decked barges, where people were resting, and broiling it in the summer evening, into all the back blocks and small streets from the cellars to the garrets. Workmen and small t

d, it was so c

answered deaf Mother Andersen, "that

favour of being allowed to escape being eaten. It has the reputation of being the cannibal of the No

t lived near the wharves in her childhood for nothing, and to pick out the best fish from under the very nos

that sunburnt mackerel skin! Take some of those that are ly

er hand to see if the

ocket; but Silla threw the mackerel

d as the hills! Eye

beaut

sfied with these for supper, mother, you

y went for two

e said to tease him, on the way home. "Bu

er eyes with her hand, and looking to see if

road was Silla, and she chatted with her from the steps

; there was no question of Barbara's honour and supe

broiled that light evening. The peculiar, rather pungent sme

e turned with fresh fat

hrough the open window,

e thing, now another into her hands, and hurried away, and was over the fish

owed the whole of the frying proce

he right sort of f

the pieces straight fro

warm house walls. The three who sat there enjoying

orema