absalom's hair by bjornstjerne bjornson

8/12/2019 Absalom's Hair by Bjornstjerne Bjornson

1/58

//www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/bslms10.txt[23.12.2008 14:46:20]

he Pr oj ect Gut enber g EBook of Absal om' s Hai r , by Bj or nst j er ne Bj or nson

opyri ght l aws ar e changi ng al l over t he wor l d. Be sur e t o check t heopyri ght l aws f or your count r y bef ore downl oadi ng or r edi st r i but i nghi s or any other Proj ect Gut enberg eBook.

hi s header shoul d be t he f i r st t hi ng seen when vi ewi ng t hi s Pr oj ectut enber g f i l e. Pl ease do not r emove i t . Do not change or edi t t heeader wi t hout wr i t t en permi ssi on.

l ease read t he "l egal smal l pr i nt , " and ot her i nf or mat i on about t heBook and Pr oj ect Gut enber g at t he bot t om of t hi s f i l e. I ncl uded i smpor t ant i nf or mat i on about your speci f i c ri ght s and r est r i ct i ons i n

ow t he f i l e may be used. You can al so f i nd out about how t o make aonat i on t o Pr oj ect Gut enberg, and how t o get i nvol ved.

*Wel come To The Wor l d of Free Pl ai n Vani l l a El ect r oni c Texts* *

*eBooks Readabl e By Bot h Humans and By Comput er s, Si nce 1971**

* ***These eBooks Were Pr epared By Thousands of Vol unt eer s! ** ** *

i t l e: Absal om' s Hai r

ut hor : Bj or nst j er ne Bj or nson

el ease Dat e: Febr uar y, 2004 [ EBook #5052]Yes, we ar e more t han one year ahead of schedul e]

Thi s f i l e was f i r st post ed on Apr i l 11, 2002]

di t i on: 10

anguage: Engl i sh

haract er set encodi ng: ASCI I

** START OF THE PROJ ECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, ABSALOM' S HAI R ***

i col e Apostol a, Charl es Franks and the Onl i ne Di st r i but ed Proof r eadi ng Team.

BSALOM' S HAI R

J ORNSTJ ERNE BJ ORNSON

HAPTER 1

aral d Kaas was si xt y.

e had gi ven up hi s f r ee, uncri t i ci sed bachel or l i f e; hi s yachtwas no l onger seen of f t he coast i n summer; hi s t our s t o Engl and

nd t he sout h had ceased; nay, he was r arel y t o be f ound even ati s cl ub i n Chr i st i ani a. Hi s gi gant i c f i gur e was never seen i n theoor ways; he was f ai l i ng.

andy- l egged he had al ways been, but t hi s def ect had i ncr eased;i s her cul ean back was r ounded, and he st ooped a l i t t l e. Hi sor ehead, al ways of t he br oadest - - no one el se' s hat woul d f i t hi m-was now one of t he hi ghest , t hat i s t o say, he had l ost al l hi sai r , except a r agged l ock over each ear and a t hi n f r i nge behi nd.e was begi nni ng al so t o l ose hi s t eet h, whi ch were st r ong t houghmal l , and bl ackened by t obacco; and now, i nst ead of "deuce taket " he sai d "deush t ake i t . "

e had al ways hel d hi s hands hal f cl osed as t hough graspi ngomethi ng; now t hey had st i f f ened so t hat he coul d never open themul l y. The l i t t l e f i nger of hi s l ef t hand had been bi t t en of f " i nrat i t ude" by an adver sary whom he had knocked down: accor di ng t oar al d' s ver si on of t he stor y, he had compel l ed t he f el l ow t owal l ow t he pi ece on t he spot .


2/58


e was f ond of car essi ng t he st ump, and i t of t en ser ved as annt r oduct i on to t he hi st or y of hi s expl oi t s, whi ch became gr eat ernd gr eat er as he gr ew ol der and qui eter.

i s smal l shar p eyes were deep set and l ooked at one wi t h gr eatnt ensi t y. Ther e was power i n hi s i ndi vi dual i t y, and, besi deshrewd sense, he possessed a consi derabl e gi f t f or mechani cs. Hi soundl ess sel f - est eem was not devoi d of gr eat ness, and t hemphasi s wi t h whi ch both body and soul procl ai med t hemsel ves madei m one of t he or i gi nal s of t he count r y.

Why was he not hi ng mor e?

e l i ved on hi s est at e, Hel l eber gene, whose l ar ge woods ski r t edhe coast , whi l e numerous l easehol d f arms l ay al ong t he cour se ofhe ri ver . At one t i me t hi s est at e had bel onged to t he Kur tami l y, and had now come back t o t hem, i n so f ar as t hat Haral d' sat her , as ever y one knew, was not a Kaas at al l , but a Kur t ; i t

was he who had got t he est at e t oget her agai n; a book mi ght bewr i t t en about t he ways and means t hat he had empl oyed.

he house l ooked out over a bay st udded wi t h i sl ands; f ar t her outwere more i sl ands and t he open sea. An i mmensel y l ong bui l di ng,ai sed on an ol d and massi ve f oundat i on, i t s east er n wi ng bar el yal f f ur ni shed, t he west er n i nhabi t ed by Har al d Kaas, who l i vedi s cur i ous l i f e here.

hese wi ngs wer e connect ed by t wo cover ed gal l er i es, one above t het her , wi t h st ai r s at each end.

ur i ousl y enough, t hese gal l er i es di d not f ace t he sea, t hat i s,he sout h, but t he f i el ds and woods t o t he nort h. The por t i on ofhe house bet ween the t wo wi ngs was a neut r al t err i t ory- - namel y, aar ge di ni ng- r oom wi t h a bal l r oom above i t , nei t her of whi ch wassed i n l at er year s.

ar al d Kaas' s sui t e of r ooms was di st i ngui shed f r om wi t hout by ami ght y el k' s head wi t h i t s enormous ant l ers , whi ch was set up overhe gal l er y.

n t he gal l er y i t sel f wer e heads of bear , wol f , f ox and l ynx, wi t ht uf f ed bi r ds f r om l and and sea. Ski ns and guns hung on the wal l sf t he ant er oom, t he i nner r ooms wer e al so f ul l of ski ns andmpr egnated wi t h t he smel l of wi l d ani mal s and t obacco- smoke.aral d hi msel f cal l ed i t "Man- smel l ; " no one who had once put hi sose i nsi de coul d ever f or get i t .

al uabl e and beaut i f ul ski ns hung on the wal l s and cover ed t hel oor s; hi s ver y bed was not hi ng el se; Har al d Kaas l ay, and sat,nd wal ked on ski ns, and each one of t hem was a wel come subj ect ofonver sat i on, f or he had shot and f l ayed every s i ngl e ani mali msel f . To be sur e, t here were t hose who hi nt ed t hat most of t heki ns had been bought f r om Br and and Company, of Bergen, and t hatnl y t he st ori es were shot and f l ayed at home.

f or my par t t hi nk t hat t hi s was an exagger at i on; but be that ast may, t he ef f ect was equal l y t hr i l l i ng when Har al d Kaas, seat edn hi s l og chai r by the f i r esi de, hi s f eet on t he bear ski n, openedi s shi r t t o show us t he scar s on hi s hai r y chest ( and what scar shey were! ) whi ch had been made by t he bear ' s t eet h, when he hadr i ven hi s kni f e, r i ght up t o the haf t , i nt o t he monst er ' s hear t .l l t he queer t ankar ds, and cupboar ds, and carved chai r s l i st ened

wi t h t hei r wont ed i mpassi veness.

ar al d Kaas was si xty, when, i n t he mont h of J ul y, he sai l ed i nt ohe bay accompani ed by f our l adi es whom he had br ought f r om t het eamer - - an el der l y l ady and thr ee young ones, al l r el ated t o hi m.hey wer e t o st ay wi t h hi m unt i l August .

hey occupi ed t he upper st or ey. Fr om i t t hey coul d hear hi mwal ki ng about and gr unt i ng bel ow t hem. They began t o f eel a l i t t l eervous. I ndeed, t hr ee of t hem had had seri ous mi sgi vi ngs aboutccept i ng t he i nvi t at i on; and these mi sgi vi ngs wer e not di mi ni shed

when, next morni ng, t hey saw Kaas composedl y st r ol l i ng up f r om t heea st ark naked!

hey scr eamed, and, gather i ng t ogether , st i l l i n t hei r ni ght gowns,el d a counci l of war as t o the advi sabi l i t y of l eavi ng at once;ut when one of t hem cr i ed "You shoul d not have cal l ed us, Aunt ,nd t hen we shoul d not have seen hi m, " t hey coul d not hel p


3/58


aughi ng, and t her ewi t h t he whol e af f ai r ended. Cert ai nl y t heywer e a l i t t l e sti f f at br eakf ast ; but when Har ol d Kaas began at ory about an ol d bl ack mare of hi s whi ch was i n l ove wi t h aoung brown hor se over at t he Dean' s, and whi ch pl unged madl y i fny other horse came near her, but , on t he other hand, put heread coaxi ngl y on one si de and whi nni ed "l i ke a dai nt y gi r l "

whenever t he parson' s hor se came t hat way- - wel l , at t hat t hey hado gi ve i n, as wel l f i r s t as l as t .

f t hey had str ayed her e out of cur i osi t y t hey must j ust put upwi t h t he "NI GHT si de of nat ur e, " as Har al d Kaas expr essed i t , wi t hhe st r ess on t he f i r st wor d.

or al l t hat t hey wer e near l y f r i ght ened out of t hei r wi t s t heer y next ni ght , when he di scharged hi s gun ri ght under t hei rwi ndows. The aunt even asser t ed t hat he had shot t hrough her openasement . She screamed l oudl y, and the ot her s, st art i ng f r om t hei reep, were out on t he f l oor bef ore t hey knew where t hey were.

hen t hey cr ouched i n t he wi ndows and peeped out , al t hough t hei runt decl ar ed that t hey woul d cer t ai nl y be shot - - t hey r eal l y mustee what i t was.

es! t here t hey saw hi m among t he cher r y and appl e t r ees, gun i nand, and t hey coul d hear hi m swear i ng. I n t he gr eat estr epi dat i on t hey cr ept back i nt o bed agai n. Next morni ng t heyear ned t hat he had shot at some ni ght pr owl ers, one of whom hadot "hal f t he char ge i n hi s l eg, t hat he had, Deush t ake hi m! I ti n' t t he pr owl i ng I mi nd, but t hat he shoul d pr owl her e. Weachel ors wi l l have no one poachi ng on our pr eser ves. "

he f our l adi es sat as st i f f as f our church candl es, t i l l atengt h one of t hem spr ang up wi t h a scream, t he ot her s j oi ni ng i nhor us.

he vi si t or s wer e not bored; Har al d Kaas deal t t oo much i n t henexpect ed f or t hat . There was a charm, t oo, i n t he gr eat woods,

where t here had been no f el l i ng si nce he had come i nt o t her opert y, and there were merr y wal ks by t he r i ver si de and pl ent yf f i sh i n the r i ver .

hey bat hed, t hey t ook del i ght f ul sai l s i n t he cut t er and dr i vesbout t he nei ghbour hood, t hough cer t ai nl y t he t ur n- out was none ofhe smart est .

he youngest of t he gi r l s, Kr i st en Ravn, present l y became l essager t o j oi n i n t hese expedi t i ons. She had f al l en i n l ove wi t hhe di sused east wi ng of t he house, and t here she spent many a

ong hour , al one by t he open wi ndow, gazi ng out at t he gr eat l i me-r ees whi ch st ood st r aggl i ng, gaunt , and myster i ous.

You ought t o bui l d a bal cony her e, out t owar ds t he sea, " sheai d. "Look how t he wat er gl i t t ers bet ween t he l i mes. "

When once she had hi t upon a pl an, Kr i st en Ravn never r el i nqui shedt , and when she bad suggested i t some f our or f i ve t i mes, her omi sed t hat i t shoul d be done. But on t he heel s of t hi s schemeame anot her .

Bel ow t he f i r st bal cony t her e must be anot her wi der one, " sai dhe i n her sof t voi ce, "and i t must have st eps at each end down t ohe l awn- - t he l awn i s so l ovel y j ust her e. "

he unheard- of presumpt i on of her demand i nocul at ed hi m wi t h t hedea, and at l engt h he consent ed t o t hi s as wel l .

The r ooms must be ref urni shed, " she gravel y commanded. "The oneext t o the bal cony whi ch i s t o be bui l t under her e shal l be i nel l ow pi ne, and t he f l oor must be pol i shed. " She poi nt ed wi t h herong del i cat e hand. "ALL t he f l oor s must be pol i shed. I wi l l gi veou the desi gn f or t he room above, I have t hought i t car ef ul l yut . " And i n i magi nat i on she papered t he wal l s, arr anged t heur ni t ur e, and hung up cur t ai ns of wondr ous pat t erns.

I know, t oo, how t he other r ooms are t o be done, " she added. Andhe went f r om one to t he ot her , r emai ni ng a l i t t l e whi l e i n each.e f ol l owed, l i ke an ol d hor se l ed by t he br i dl e.

ef or e thei r vi si t was hal f over he most cool l y negl ect ed t hr eeut of hi s f our guest s.

i s deep- set eyes t wi nkl ed wi t h t he l i vel i est admi r at i on whenever


4/58


he appr oached. He sought i n t he f aces of t he others t hedmi r at i on whi ch he hi msel f f el t : he woul d ambl e r ound her l i ke anl d photogr aphi c camera whi ch had t he power of set t i ng i t sel f up.

ut f r om t he day when she t ook down f r om hi s bookshel f a Fr enchwork on mechani cs, a subj ect wi t h whi ch she was evi dent l y

cquai nt ed and f or whi ch she decl ared t hat she had a nat ur alpt i t ude, i t was al l over wi t h hi m. Fr om t hat day f or war d, i f she

were present , he ef f aced hi msel f both i n word and act i on.

n the morni ngs when he met her i n one of her charact eri st i cost umes he l aughed sof t l y, or gazed and gazed at her , and thenl anced t owards t he others. She di d not t al k much, but every word

hat she ut t ered aroused hi s admi r at i on. But he was most of al lapt i vat ed when she sat qui et l y apar t , heedl ess of ever y one: atuch t i mes he r esembl ed an ol d par r ot expectant of sugar .

i s l i nen had al ways been snowy whi t e, but beyond thi s he hadaken no speci al pai ns wi t h hi s t oi l et ; but now he st r ut t ed aboutn a Tussor e si l k coat , whi ch he had bought i n Al gi er s, but had atnce put asi de because i t was t oo t i ght - - he l ooked l i ke a cl i ptox hedge i n i t .

ow, who was t hi s l i on- t amer of t went y- one, who, wi t hout i n t heeast wi shi ng t o do so, unconsci ousl y even ( she was t he qui etestf t he part y) , had made t he monarch of t he f orest cr ouch at hereet and gaze at her i n abj ect humi l i t y?

ook at her , as she si t s t her e, wi t h her l oose shi ni ng hai r of t her et t i est shade of dar k r ed; l ook at her br oad f or ehead and

r omi nent nose, but more t han al l at t hose l arge wonderi ng eyes;ook at her t hroat and neck, her t al l s l i ght f i gure; not i cespeci al l y t he Renai ssance dr ess whi ch she wear s, i t s st yl e andol our, and your cur i osi t y wi l l st i l l r emai n unsat i sf i ed, f or sheas an i ndi vi dual i t y al l her own.

r i st en Ravn had l ost her mother at her bi r t h and her f ather whenhe was f i ve year s ol d. The l at t er l ef t her a handsome f or t une,

wi t h the expr ess condi t i on t hat t he i nvest ment s shoul d not behanged, and t hat t he i ncome shoul d be f or her own use whet her she

marr i ed or not . He hoped by t hi s means t o f orm her charact er. Shewas br ought up by t hr ee di f f erent members of her wi de- br anchi ngami l y, a f ami l y whi ch mi ght more pr operl y be t ermed a cl an,l t hough t hey had no common character i st i cs beyond a desi r e t o gohei r own way.

When t wo Ravns meet t hey, as a rul e, di f f er on ever y subj ect ; but

s a r ace they hol d rel i gi ousl y toget her - - i ndeed, i n thei r eyesher e i s no ot her f ami l y whi ch i s " amusi ng, " t he f avour i t edj ect i ve of t he Ravns.

r i st en had a recept i ve nature; she r ead ever ythi ng, andemembered what she r ead; t hat i s say, she had a l ogi cal mi nd, f or

retent i ve memory i mpl i es an order l y br ai n. She was consequent l yUMBER ONE i n everyt hi ng whi ch she t ook up. Thi s, coupl ed wi t h t heact t hat she l i ved among t hose who regarded her somewhat as apecul at i on, and consequent l y f l at t er ed her, had ear l y made anmpr essi on on her nat ur e, qui t e as gr eat , i ndeed, as t heossessi on of money.

he was by no means proud, i t was not i n t he Ravn nat ure t o be so;ut at t en year s ol d she had l ef t of f pl ayi ng; she pr ef er r ed to

wander i n t he woods and compose bal l ads. At t wel ve she i nsi st ed onwear i ng si l k dr esses, and, i n t he teet h of an aunt al l cur l s and

ace and wi t h a t er r i bl e f l ow of wor ds, she car r i ed her poi nt . Sheel d hersel f erect and pr i m i n her s i l ks, and st i l l remai nedUMBER ONE. She composed ver ses about Si r Adge and Mai d El se,bout bi r ds and f l owers and sad t hi ngs.

n reachi ng t he age at whi ch ot her gi r l s, who have t he means,egi n to wear si l k dr esses, she l ef t t hem of f . She was t i r ed, sheai d, of t he "smoot h and gl ossy. "

he now gr ew ent husi ast i c f or f i ne wool and expensi ve vel vet ofvery shade. Dr esses i n t he Renai ssance st yl e became heravour i t es, and t he subj ect of her st udi es. She puf f ed out herodi ces l i ke those i n Leonar do' s and Raf ael ' s por t r ai t s of women,nd t r i ed i n ot her ways as wel l t o r esembl e t hem.

he l ef t of f wr i t i ng ver ses, and wr ot e stori es i nst ead; t he st yl ewas good, t hough t hey were anyt hi ng r at her t han spontaneous.


5/58


6/58


oo l ong hesi t at ed to t r y thei r f or t une.

here wer e ot hers, who both knew and admi r ed her , who wer e no l essi smayed. They were more t han di sappoi nt ed- - t he word i s t oo weak;o many of t hem i t seemed si mpl y depl orabl e. How on ear t h coul d i tave happened? Every one, hersel f except ed, knew t hat i t woul dui n her l i f e.

n Kr i st en Ravn' s i ndependent posi t i on, her st r ong char act er , herare cour age, on her knowl edge, gi f t s, and energy, many,speci al l y women, had bui l t up a f ut ur e f or t he cause of Woman.ad she not al r eady wr i t t en f ear l essl y f or i t ? Her t endencyowards eccent r i ci t y and paradox woul d soon have worn of f , t hey

hought , as t he st r uggl e car r i ed her f or war d, and at l ast shemi ght have become one of t he f i r st champi ons of t he cause. Al lhat was nobl est and best i n Kr i st en must pr edomi nate i n t he end.

nd now t he f ew who seek t o expl ai n l i f e' s perpl exi t i es rat herhan to condemn t hem di scovered- - Some of t hem, t hat t he def i antone of her wr i t i ngs and her l ove of opposi t i on bespoke a degr eef vani t y suf f i ci ent t o have l ed her i nt o f al l acy. Ot her s

mai nt ai ned that hers was essent i al l y a r omant i c nat ur e whi ch mi ghtause her t o f orm a f al se est i mate both of her own powers and ofhe ci r cumst ances of l i f e. Ot hers, agai n, had hear d somet hi ng ofow t hi s husband and wi f e l i ved, one i n each wi ng of t he house,

wi t h di f f er ent st af f s of ser vant s, and wi t h separ at e i ncomes; t hathe had f ur ni shed her si de i n her own way, at her own expense, andad appar ent l y concei ved t he i dea of a new ki nd of mar r i ed l i f e.ome peopl e decl ared t hat t he gr eat l i me- t r ees near t he mansi on atel l ebergene were al one r esponsi bl e f or t he marr i age. They soughed

o wondrousl y i n the summer eveni ngs, and t he sea beneat h thei rr anches t ol d such ent hr al l i ng st or i es. Those gr and ol d woods, t hei ke of whi ch were hardl y t o be f ound i n i mpoveri shed Norway, werear dear er t o her t han was her husband. Her i magi nat i on had beenaken capt i ve by t he t r ees, and t hus Haral d Kaas had t aken HER.he est at e, t he cl i mat e, t he excl usi ve possess i on of her par t ofhe house: t hi s was t he bai t whi ch she had chosen. Haral d Kaas wasnl y a ki nd of Puck who had t o be taken al ong wi t h i t . But i t i soubt f ul whether t hi s conj ectur e was any near er t he t r ut h. No onever r eal l y knew. She was not one of t hose whom i t i s easy t oat echi se.

ver y one wear i es at l ast of t r yi ng to sol ve even t he mostnt er est i ng of eni gmas. No one coul d t ol er at e t he sound of herame when, f our mont hs af t er her marr i age, she was seen i n a st al lt t he Chr i st i ani a Theat r e j ust as i n ol d days, t hough l ooki nger haps a l i t t l e pal er . Ever y oper a- gl ass was l evel l ed at her . She

wor e a l i ght , al most whi t e, dr ess, cut squar e as usual . She di dot hi de her f ace behi nd her f an. She l ooked about her wi t h herwonder i ng eyes, as t hough she was qui t e unconsci ous t hat t herewere ot her peopl e i n t he t heat r e or t hat any one coul d be l ooki ng

t her. Even t he most pert i naci ous were f orced t o concede t hat shewas bot h physi cal l y and ment al l y uni que, wi t h a char m al l her own.

ut j ust as she had become once more t he subj ect of gener alonver sat i on, she di sappear ed. I t af t er war ds t r anspi r ed t hat herusband had f et ched her away, t hough hardl y any one had seen hi m.t was concl uded t hat t hey must have had thei r f i r st quar r el overt .

ccur at e i nf or mat i on about t hei r j oi nt l i f e was never obt ai ned.he at t empt s of her r el at i ons t o f or ce t hemsel ves upon t hem wer eui t e wi t hout r esul t , except t hat t hey f ound out t hat she wasncei nt e, not wi t hst andi ng her utmost ef f ort s t o conceal t he f act .

he sent nei t her l et t er nor announcement ; but i n t he summer, whenhe was next seen i n Chr i st i ani a, she was wheel i ng a perambul atorl ong Kar l J ohan St r eet , her eyes as wonder i ng as t hough some onead j ust put i t bet ween her hands. She l ooked handsomer and morel oomi ng t han ever .

n the perambul ator l ay a boy wi t h hi s mother' s br oad f orehead,i s mother' s r ed hai r . The chi l d was charmi ngl y dr essed, and he,s wel l as t he per ambul ator , was so dai nt i l y equi pped, soompl etel y i n harmony wi t h hersel f , t hat every one underst ood t heepl y t hat she gave, when, af t er t he usual congr at ul ati ons, hercquai nt ances i nqui r ed, "Shal l we soon have a new st ory f r omou?"- - she answer ed, "A new st or y? Her e i t i s! "

ut , notwi t hst andi ng t he unal l oyed happi ness whi ch she di spl ayedere, i t coul d no l onger be conceal ed t hat more of t en t han not she


7/58


was absent f r om home, and that she never ment i oned her husband' same. I f any one spoke of hi m t o her, she changed t he subj ect . Byhe t i me t hat t he boy was a year ol d, i t had become evi dent t hathe cont empl ated l eavi ng Hel l ebergene ent i r el y. She had been i nhr i st i ani a f or some t i me and had gone home t o make ar r angement s,ayi ng t hat she shoul d come back i n a f ew days.

ut she never di d so.

he day af t er her r et urn home, whi l e t he numer ous ser vant s atel l eber gene, as wel l as t he l abour er s wi t h thei r wi ves andhi l dr en, wer e al l assembl ed at t he pot at o di ggi ng, Har al d Kaasppear ed, car r yi ng hi s wi f e under hi s l ef t ar m l i ke a sack. He

el d her r ound t he wai st , f eet f i r st , her f ace downwar ds andi dden by her hai r , her hands convul si vel y cl ut chi ng hi s l ef thi gh, her l egs somet i mes hangi ng down, somet i mes st r ai ght out . He

wal ked composedl y out wi t h her, hol di ng i n hi s r i ght hand a bunchf l ong fr esh bi rch twi gs. A l i t t l e way f rom t he gal l ery heaused, and l ayi ng her acr oss hi s l ef t knee, he t or e of f some ofer cl othes, and beat her unt i l t he bl ood f l owed. She nevert t ered a sound. When he put her f r om hi m, she t r embl i ngl yearr anged-- f i rst her hai r , t hus di spl ayi ng her f ace j ust as t hel ood f l owed back f r om i t , l eavi ng i t deadl y whi t e. Tear s of pai nnd shame r ol l ed down her cheeks; but st i l l not a sound. She t r i edo rear r ange her dr ess, but her t at t er ed gar ment s t r ai l ed behi nder as she went back t o t he house. She shut t he door af t er her,ut had to open i t agai n; her t or n cl ot hes had caught f ast i n i t .

he women st ood aghast ; some of t he chi l dren scr eamed wi t h f r i ght :hi s i nf ect ed t he rest , and there was a chorus of sobs. The men,

most of whom had been si t t i ng smoki ng t hei r pi pes, but who hadpr ung t o t hei r f eet agai n, st ood f i l l ed wi t h shame andndi gnat i on.

t had not been wi t hout a pang t hat Haral d Kaas had done t hi s, hi sace and manner had shown i t f or a l ong t i me and st i l l di d so; bute had expect ed t hat a roar of l aught er woul d gr eet hi sxt r aor di nary vagary. Thi s was evi dent f r om t he composur e wi t h

whi ch he had car r i ed hi s wi f e out ; and st i l l mor e f r om t he gl ancef gr at i f i ed r evenge wi t h whi ch he l ooked round hi m af t er war ds.ut t here was onl y dead st i l l ness, succeeded by weepi ng, sobbi ng,nd i ndi gnat i on. He st ood t here f or a moment , qui t e overcome, t hen

went i ndoor s agai n, a def eat ed, ut t erl y br oken man.

n ever y encount er wi t h thi s del i cat e cr eat ur e t he gi ant had beenworst ed.

f t er t hi s, however, she never went beyond t he gr ounds. For t hei r st f ew years she was onl y seen by t he peopl e about t he est ate,nd by t hem but sel dom. Somet i mes she woul d t ake her boy out i ni s l i t t l e car r i age, or , as t i me went on, woul d l ead hi m by theand, somet i mes she was al one. She was general l y wr apped i n a bi ghawl , a di f f erent one f or each dr ess she wore, and whi ch shel ways hel d ti ght l y round her . Thi s was so char act er i st i c of herhat t o thi s day I hear peopl e f r om t he nei ghbour hood tal k aboutt as t hough she were never seen otherwi se.

What t hen di d she do? She st udi ed; she had gi ven up wr i t i ng: f ormore t han one reason i t had become di st ast ef ul t o her . She hadhanged r ol es wi t h her husband, gi vi ng hersel f up t o mathemat i cs,hemi st r y, and physi cs, she made cal cul at i ons and anal yses- -endi ng f or books and mat er i al s f or t hese obj ect s. The peopl e onhe est at e saw not hi ng ext r aor di nar y i n al l t hi s. Fr om t he f i r sthey had admi r ed her del i cacy and beaut y. Ever y one admi r ed her ;

t was onl y t he manner and degr ee t hat var i ed.i t t l e by l i t t l e she came t o be regarded as one whose l i f e andhoughts were beyond t hei r comprehensi on.

he sought no one, but t o t hose who came t o her she never r ef usedel p- - mor e or l ess. She made her sel f wel l acquai nt ed wi t h t heact s of each case; no one coul d ever decei ve her. Whether sheave much or l i t t l e, she i mposed no condi t i ons, she never l ect ur edhem. Her opi ni on was expressed by t he amount t hat she gave.

er husband' s behavi our t owards her was such t hat , had she noteen ver y popul ar , she coul d not have r emai ned at Hel l ebergene;hat i s t o say, he opposed and t hwart ed her i n ever y way he coul d;ut every one t ook her part .

he boy! Coul d not he have been a bond of uni on? On t he cont r ar y,


8/58


her e wer e t hose who decl ar ed that i t was f r om t he t i me of hi si r t h t hat t hi ngs had gone ami ss bet ween t he par ent s. The f i r sti me t hat hi s f ather saw hi m t he nur se r epor t ed that he "came i ni ke a l ord and went out l i ke a beggar! " The mother l ay down agai nnd l aughed; t he nur se had never seen t he l i ke of i t bef or e. Hade expect ed t hat hi s chi l d must of necessi t y r esembl e hi m, onl y t oi nd i t t he i mage of i t s mot her ?

When t he boy was ol d enough he l oved t o wander across t o hi sather' s r ooms where t here were so many cur i ous t hi ngs t o see; hi sat her al ways recei ved hi m ki ndl y, t al ki ng i n a way sui t ed t o hi shi l di sh i nt el l i gence, but he woul d t ake occasi on t o cut away auant i t y of hi s hai r . Hi s mot her l et i t gr ow f r ee and l ong l i ke

er own, and hi s f at her per pet ual l y cut i t . The boy woul d haveeen gl ad enough t o be ri d of i t , but when he gr ew a l i t t l e ol der ,e compr ehended hi s f ather ' s mot i ve, and t hencef ort h he was on hi suard.

When t he peopl e on t he est ate had t ol d hi m somethi ng of hi sat her ' s hi ghl y- col our ed hi st or i es of hi s f eat s of st r engt h andi s achi evement s by l and and water , t he boy began to f eel a shydmi r at i on f or hi m, but at t he same t i me he f el t al l t he mor et r ongl y t he i nt ol erabl e yoke whi ch he l ai d upon t hem- - upon everyi vi ng bei ng on t he est at e. I t became a secret r el i gi on wi t h hi mo oppose hi s f ather and hel p hi s mother, f or i t was she whouf f ered. He woul d r esembl e her even t o hi s hai r , he woul d pr otecter , he woul d make i t al l up t o her . I t was a posi t i ve del i ght t oi m when hi s f at her made hi m suf f er : he absol ut el y f el t pr oud whene cal l ed hi m Raf ael l a, i nst ead of Raf ael , t he name whi ch hi s

mother had chosen f or hi m; i t was t he one t hat she l oved best .

o one was al l owed t o use t he boat s or t he carr i age, no one mi ghtwal k t hr ough t he woods, whi ch had been f enced i n, t he horses wereever t aken out . No repai r s were undert aken; i f Fru Kaas at t empt edo have anyt hi ng done at her own expense, t he workmen wer e orderedf f : t her e coul d no l onger be any doubt about i t , he wi shedver ythi ng t o go t o rack and rui n. The pr oper t y went f r om bad t o

worse, and t he woods - - wel l ! I t was no secr et , every one on t hel ace t al ked about i t - - t he t i mber was bei ng ut t er l y rui ned. Theest and l ar gest t r ees wer e al r eady r ot t en; by degr ees t he r est

woul d become so.

t t wel ve year s of age Raf ael began t o recei ve r el i gi ous t eachi ngr om t he Dean: t he onl y subj ect i n whi ch hi s mother di d notnst r uct hi m. He shar ed t hese l essons wi t h Hel ene, t he Dean' s onl yhi l d, who was f our years younger t han Raf ael and of whom he wasevotedl y f ond.

he Dean t ol d t hem t he st or y of Davi d. The narr at i ve was unf ol dedwi t h addi t i ons and expl anat i ons; t he boy made a pi ct ur e of i t t oi msel f ; hi s mot her had taught hi m ever ythi ng i n thi s way.

ssyri an war r i or s wi t h poi nt ed bear ds, obl i que eyes, and obl onghi el ds, had t o repr esent t he I sr ael i t es; t hey mar ched by i n anndl ess pr ocessi on. He saw t he bl ue- gr een of t he vi neyards on t hei l l si de, t he shadow of t he dust y pal m- t r ees upon t he dust y r oad.hen a wood of ar omat i c t r ees i nt o whi ch al l t he war r i or s f l ed.

hen f ol l owed t he st or y of Absal om.

Absal om r ebel l ed agai nst hi s f at her , what a dr eadf ul t hi ng t ohi nk of , " sai d t he Dean. "A gr own- up man to r ebel agai nst hi sather. " He chanced t o l ook t owards Raf ael , who t ur ned as r ed asr e.

he t hought whi ch was const ant l y i n hi s mi nd was t hat when he wasr own up he shoul d r ebel agai nst hi s f ather.

But Absal om was puni shed i n a marvel l ous manner , " cont i nued t heean. "He l ost t he batt l e, and as he f l ed t hr ough the woods, hi song hai r caught i n a t r ee, t he hor se r an away f r om under hi m, ande was l ef t hangi ng there unt i l he was r un t hr ough by a spear . "

af ael coul d see Absal om hangi ng ther e, not i n t he l ong Assyri anarment s, not wi t h a poi nt ed bear d. No! Sl ender and young, i naf ael ' s t i ght - f i t t i ng br eeches and st ocki ngs, and wi t h hi s owned hai r ! Ah! how di st i nct l y he saw i t ! The hor se gal l opi ng f arway- - t he grey one at home whi ch he used t o r i de by st eal t h wheni s f at her was asl eep af t er di nner . He coul d see t he t al l , sl enderad, dangl i ng and swayi ng, wi t h a spear t hr ough hi s body.i s t i nct l y! Di s t i nct l y!


9/58


hi s vi si on, whi ch he never ment i oned t o a soul , he coul d not geti d of . To be l ef t hangi ng t her e by hi s hai r - - what a st r angeuni shment f or r ebel l i ng agai nst hi s f at her !

er t ai nl y he al r eady knew t he hi st or y, but t i l l now he had pai d nopeci al heed to i t .

t was on a Fr i day that t hi s gr eat i mpr essi on had been made oni m, and on t he f ol l owi ng Thur sday morni ng he awoke t o see hi s

mother s t andi ng over hi m wi t h her most wonder i ng expr essi on. Herai r st i l l as she had pl ai t ed i t f or t he ni ght ; one pl ai t hadouched hi m on t he nose and awoke hi m bef ore she spoke. She st ood

endi ng over hi m, i n her l ong whi t e ni ght gown wi t h i t s dai nt y l acer i mmi ng, and wi t h bare f eet . She woul d never have come i n l i kehat i f somethi ng t err i bl e had not happened. Why di d she notpeak? onl y l ook and l ook- - or was she real l y f r i ght ened?

Mot her ! " he cr i ed, si t t i ng up.

hen she bent cl ose down t o hi m. "THE MAN I S DEAD, " she whi sper ed.t was hi s f ather whom she cal l ed " t he man, " she never spoke ofi m ot her wi se.

af ael di d not compr ehend what she sai d, or perhaps i t paral ysedi m. She r epeat ed i t agai n l ouder and l ouder, "The man i s dead,he man i s dead. "

hen she st ood upr i ght , and put t i ng out her bare f eet f r om underer ni ght gown, she began t o dance- - onl y a f ew st eps; and then she

i pped away t hr ough t he door whi ch st ood hal f open. He j umped upnd ran af t er her ; t her e she l ay on the sof a, sobbi ng. She f el that he was behi nd her , she rai sed her sel f qui ckl y, and, st i l lobbi ng, pr essed hi m t o her heart .

ven when t hey st ood t oget her besi de t he body, t he hand whi ch head i n hi s shook so t hat he t hr ew hi s ar ms r ound her , t hi nki nghat she woul d f al l .

at er i n l i f e, when he recal l ed thi s, he under st ood what she hadi l ent l y endur ed, what an unbendi ng wi l l she had br ought t o t het r uggl e, but al so what i t had cost her .

t t he t i me he di d not i n the l east compr ehend i t . He i magi nedhat she suf f er ed f r om t he hor r or of t he moment as he hi msel f di d.

here l ay t he gi ant , i n wr et chedness and squal or ! He who had once

oast ed of hi s cl eanl i ness, and expect ed t he l i ke i n ot her s, l ayher e, di r t y and unshaven, under di r t y bed cl ot hes, i n l i nen soagged and f i l t hy t hat no workman on t he est ate had worse. Thel othes whi ch he had worn t he day bef ore l ay on a chai r besi de t heed, mi ser abl y t hr eadbar e, f oul wi t h di r t , sweat , and t obacco, andt i nki ng l i ke ever yt hi ng el se. Hi s mout h was di st or t ed, hi s handsi ght l y cl enched; he had di ed of a st r oke.

nd how f or l orn and desol ate was al l around hi m! Why had hi s sonever not i ced thi s bef or e? Why had he never f el t t hat hi s f at her

was l onel y and f orsaken? To how gr eat an ext ent no words coul dxpr ess.

af ael bur st i nt o t ear s; l ouder and l ouder gr ew hi s sobbi ng, unt i lt sounded t hr ough al l t he r ooms. The peopl e f r om t he est ate camen one by one. They wi shed t o sat i sf y thei r cur i osi t y.

he boy' s cr yi ng, unconsci ousl y t o hi msel f , i nf l uenced t hem al l :hey saw everyt hi ng i n a new l i ght . How unf ort unate, how desol ate,ow hel pl ess had he been who now l ay t her e. Lor d, have mercy on usl l !

When t he corpse of Haral d Kaas had been l ai d out , t he f ace shaved,nd the eyes cl osed, t he di st or t i on was l ess appar ent . They coul drace si gns of suf f er i ng, but t he express i on was st i l l vi r i l e. I teemed a handsome f ace t o t hem now

HAPTER 2

Wi t hi n a f ew days of t he f uneral mot her and son were i n Engl and.


10/58


af ael was now t o ent er upon a l ong cour se of st udy, f or whi ch, byi s ear l i er educat i on, hi s mot her had pr epar ed hi m, and f or whi ch,y pai nf ul pr i vat i ons, she had saved up suf f i ci ent money.

he propert y was t o t he l ast degr ee i mpover i shed, and bur denedwi t h mor t gages, and the t i mber onl y f i t f or f uel .

hei r nei ghbour t he Dean, a cl ear - headed and pract i cal man, t ookpon hi msel f t he management of af f ai r s; as money was needed t he

work of devast at i on must begi n at once. The mother and son di d notwi sh t o wi t ness i t .

hey came t o Engl and l i ke t wo f ugi t i ves who, af t er many and greatr i al s, f or af f ect i on' s sake seek a new home and a new count r y.

af ael was t hen twel ve years ol d.

hey wer e i nseparabl e, and i n t he shi f t l ess l i f e t hat t hey l ed i nhei r new sur r oundi ngs t hey became, i f possi bl e, mor e cl osel yt t ached t o each ot her.

et not l ong af t er war ds t hey had t hei r f i r st di sagreement .

e had gone t o school , had begun to l ear n t he l anguage and t o maker i ends, and had devel oped a gr eat desi r e to show of f .

e was ver y t al l and sl ender and was anxi ous t o be at hl et i c. Heook an act i ve par t i n t he pl ay- gr ound, but her e he achi eved nor eat success. On t he other hand, t hanks t o hi s mother, he was

et t er i nf ormed t han hi s comr ades, and he cont r i ved to obt ai nromi nence by t hi s. Thi s pr omi nence must be mai nt ai ned, andothi ng answered so wel l as boast i ng about Norway and hi s f ather' sxpl oi t s. Hi s s t atement s were somewhat exagger ated, but t hat wasot al t oget her hi s f aul t , He knew Engl i sh f ai r l y wel l , but had not

mast er ed i t s ni cet i es. He made use of super l at i ves, whi ch al waysome t he most r eadi l y. I t was t r ue t hat he had i nher i t ed f r om hi sat her t went y guns, a l ar ge sai l i ng- boat , and sever al smal l ernes; but how magni f i cent t hese boat s and guns had become!

e i nt ended to go t o the Nor t h Pol e, he sai d, as hi s f at her hadone, t o shoot whi t e bear s, and i nvi t ed them al l t o come wi t h hi m.

e made a great er i mpr essi on on hi s hear ers t han he hi msel f wasware of ; but somethi ng more was want ed, f or i t was i mpossi bl e t ooret el l f r om day t o day what mi ght be expected of hi m. He had t ot udy hard i n order t o meet t he demand.

s an out come of t hi s, he betook hi msel f one eveni ng t o t heai r dr esser ' s, wi t h some of hi s school f el l ows, and, wi t hout mor edo, r equest ed hi m t o cut hi s hai r qui t e cl ose. That ought t oat i sf y them f or a l ong t i me.

he ot her boys had t eased hi m about hi s hai r , and i t got i n t heway when he was pl ayi ng- - he hated i t . Besi des, ever si nce t het ory of Absal om' s r ebel l i on and puni shment , i t had r emai ned aecret t er r or t o hi m, but i t had never bef or e occur r ed t o hi m t oave i t cut of f .

i s school f el l ows were di smayed, and the hai r dr esser l ooked on i ts a wor k of wi l f ul dest r uct i on.

af ael f el t hi s hear t begi n to si nk, but t he ver y audaci t y of t hehi ng gave hi m cour age They shoul d see what he dare do. The

ai r dr esser hesi t ated t o act wi t hout Fru Kaas' s knowl edge, but atengt h he ceased to make obj ect i ons.

af ael ' s hear t sank l ower and l ower, but he must go t hr ough wi t ht now. "Of f wi t h i t , " he sai d, and remai ned i mmovabl e i n t hehai r .

I have never seen mor e spl endi d hai r , " sai d t he hai r dr esseri f f i dent l y, t aki ng up t he sci ssors but s t i l l hes i t at i ng.

af ael saw t hat hi s compani ons were on t he t i pt oe of expect at i on.Of f wi t h i t , " he sai d agai n wi t h assumed i ndi f f er ence.

he hai r dresser cut t he hai r i nt o hi s hand and l ai d i t car ef ul l yn paper.

he boys f ol l owed every sni p of t he sci ssor s wi t h t hei r eyes,


11/58


af ael wi t h hi s ear s; he coul d not see i n the gl ass.

When t he hai r dr esser had f i ni shed and had br ushed hi s cl othes f ori m, he of f er ed hi m t he hai r . "What do I want wi t h i t ?" sai daf ael . He dust ed hi s el bows and knees a l i t t l e, pai d, and l ef the shop, f ol l owed by hi s compani ons. They, however, exhi bi t ed noar t i cul ar admi r at i on. He caught a gl i mpse of hi msel f i n t he gl asss he went out , and t hought t hat he l ooked f r i ght f ul .

e woul d have gi ven al l t hat he possessed ( whi ch was not much) , hewoul d have endur ed any i magi nabl e suf f eri ng, he t hought , t o havei s hai r back agai n.

i s mother' s wonderi ng eyes r ose up bef ore hi m wi t h every shade ofxpr essi on; hi s mi sery pur sued hi m, hi s vani t y mocked hi m. The endf i t al l was t hat he st ol e up to hi s r oom and went t o bed wi t houti s supper.

ut when hi s mot her had vai nl y wai t ed f or hi m, and some oneuggest ed that he mi ght be i n the house, she went t o hi s r oom.

e hear d her on t he st ai r s; he f el t t hat she was at t he door . Whenhe ent ered he had hi dden hi s head beneat h t he bedcl othes. Sher agged t hem back; and at t he f i r st si ght of her di smay he waseduced to such despai r t hat t he t ear s whi ch were begi nni ng t ol ow ceased at once.

Whi t e and horr or- st r uck she st ood t here; i ndeed she t hought ati r st t hat some one had done i t mal i ci ousl y; but when she coul dot ext r act a word of enl i ght enment , she suspect ed mi schi ef .

e f el t t hat she was wai t i ng f or an expl anat i on, an excuse, ar ayer f or f or gi veness, but he coul d not , f or t he l i f e of hi m, getut a word.

What , i ndeed, coul d he say? He di d not unders t and i t hi msel f . Butow he began t o cry vi ol ent l y. He huddl ed hi msel f t ogether,l aspi ng hi s head bet ween hi s hands. I t f el t l i ke a br i st l yt ubbl e.

When he l ooked up agai n hi s mot her was gone.

chi l d sl eeps i n spi t e of everyt hi ng. He came down t he nextmorni ng i n a cont r i t e mood and t hor oughl y shamef aced. Hi s mot herwas not up; she was unwel l , f or she had not sl ept a wi nk. He hear dhi s bef ore he went t o her. He opened her door t i mi dl y. There sheay, t he pi ct ur e of wr et chedness.

n t he toi l et - t abl e, i n a whi t e si l k handker chi ef , was hi s hai r ,moot hed and combed.

he l ay t her e i n her l ace- t r i mmed ni ght gown, gr eat t ear s r ol l i ngown her cheeks. He had come, i nt endi ng t o t hr ow hi msel f i nt o herrms and beg her par don a t housand t i mes. But he had a st r ongeel i ng that he had bet t er not do so, or was he af r ai d t o? She wasn t he cl ouds, f ar, f ar away. She seemed i n a t r ance: somethi ng,t once pai nf ul and sacr ed, hel d her enchai ned. She was bot hathet i c and subl i me,

he boy st epped qui et l y f r om t he r oom and hur r i ed of f t o school .

he r emai ned i n bed t hat day and t he next , and made hi m si t wi t hhe servant i n or der t hat she mi ght be al one. When she was i nr oubl e she al ways behaved t hus, and t hat he shoul d cr oss her i n

hi s way was t he gr eat est t r i al t hat she had ever known. I t camepon her , t oo, l i ke a del uge of r ai n f r om a cl ear sky. NOW i teemed t o her t hat she coul d f oresee hi s f ut ur e- - and her own.

he l ai d the bl ame of al l t hi s on hi s pat er nal ancest r y. She coul dot see t hat i ncessant ar t i st i c f uss and too much i nt el l ect ualr ai ni ng had, per haps, ar oused i n hi m a desi r e f or i ndependence.

he f i r st t i me t hat she saw hi m agai n wi t h hi s cr opped head, whi chr ew mor e and more l i ke hi s f at her ' s i n shape, her t ear s f l owedui et l y.

When he wi shed t o come t o her si de, she wai ved hi m back wi t h herhapel y hand, nor woul d she tal k t o hi m; when he t al ked she hardl yooked at hi m; t i l l at l ast he burst i nt o tears. For he suf f ereds one can suf f er but once, when t he chi l di sh peni t ence i s f r eshnd t heref ore boundl ess, and when the yearni ng f or l ove has


12/58


ecei ved i t s f i rs t rebuf f .

ut when, on the f i f t h day, she met hi m comi ng up the stai r s, shet ood st i l l i n di smay at hi s appear ance: pal e, t hi n, t i mi d; t hef f ect per haps hei ght ened by t he l oss of hi s hai r . He, t oo, st oodt i l l , l ooki ng f or l or n and abj ect, wi t h di sconsol at e eyes. Thener s f i l l ed; she st r et ched out her ar ms. He was once mor e i n hi sar adi se, but t hey both cr i ed as t hough they must wade t hr ough ancean of t ear s bef or e they coul d t al k t o each ot her agai n.

Tel l me about i t now, " she whi sper ed. Thi s was i n her own room.hey had spoken t he f i r st f ond wor ds and ki ssed each ot her overnd over agai n. "How coul d t hi s have happened, Raf ael ?" she

whi sper ed agai n, wi t h her head pr essed t o hi s; she di d not wi sh t oook at hi m whi l e she spoke.

Mother , " he answered, " i t i s worse t o cut down t he woods at home,t Hel l eber gene, t han that I - - "

he r ai sed her head and l ooked at hi m. She had t aken of f her hatnd gl oves, but now she put t hem qui ckl y on agai n.

Raf ael , dear , " she sai d, "shal l we go f or a wal k t oget her i n t hear k, under t he gr and ol d t r ees?"

he had f el t hi s r et or t t o be i ngeni ous.

f t er t hi s epi sode, however , Engl and, and mor e especi al l y heron' s school f el l ows, became di st ast ef ul t o her , and she const ant l y

made pl ans t o keep hi m away f r om t he l at t er out of school hour s.

he f ound t hi s ver y easy; somet i mes she went over hi s st udi es wi t hi m, at ot her s t hey vi si t ed al l t he Manuf act or i es and "Wor ks" f or

mi l es r ound.

he l i ked t o see f or hersel f and awakened t he same t aste i n hi m.

actori es whi ch, as a rul e, wer e cl osed t o vi si t or s, wer e readi l ypened t o t he pret t y el egant l ady and her handsome boy, "who af t erl l knew not hi ng at al l about i t ; " and they wer e abl e t o seel most al l t hat t hey wi shed. I t was a l ess congeni al t ask t o useer i nf l uence to t ur n hi s t hought s t o hi gher t hi ngs, but i t wasar el y, never t hel ess, t hat she f ai l ed. She str uggl ed har d over

what she di d not unders t and and sought f or hel p. To expl ai n thesehi ngs t o Raf ael i n the most at t r act i ve manner possi bl e became aew occupat i on f or her .

i s nat ur al di sposi t i on i ncl i ned hi m t o such st udi es; but t o a boyf t hi r t een, who was t hus kept f r om hi s comr ades and thei r spor t s,t soon became a nui sance.

o sooner had Fru Kaas not i ced t hi s t han she t ook act i ve st eps.hey l ef t Engl and and cr ossed t o Fr ance.

he st r ange speech t hrew hi m back on her ; no one shar ed hi m wi t her . They set t l ed i n Cal ai s. A f ew days af t er t hei r ar r i val sheut her hai r shor t ; she hoped t hat i t woul d t ouch hi m t o see t hats he woul d not l ook l i ke her , she tr i ed to l ook l i ke hi m- - t o be. boy l i ke hi m. She bought a smar t new hat , she composed a j aunt yostume, new f r om t op t o t oe, f or EVERYTHI NG must be al t ered wi t hhe hai r . But when she stood bef or e hi m, l ooki ng l i ke a gi r l ofwent y- f i ve, merr y, al most boi st erous, he was si mpl y di smayed- -ay, i t was some t i me bef ore he coul d al t oget her comprehend whatad happened. As l ong as he coul d r emember hi s mot her , her eyes

ad al ways l ooked f or t h f r om beneat h a crown; more sol emn, moreeaut i f ul .

Mother, " he sai d, "where are you?"

he grew pal e and gr ave, and st ammered somet hi ng about i t s bei ngmor e comf or t abl e- - about r ed hai r not l ooki ng wel l when i t began t oose i t s col our - - and went i nt o her r oom. Ther e she sat wi t h hi sai r bef ore her and her own besi de i t ; she wept .

Mother , where ar e you?" She mi ght have answered, "Raf ael , wherere you?"

he went about wi t h hi m ever ywher e. I n France t wo handsome,t yl i shl y dr essed peopl e ar e al ways cer t ai n to be not i ced, a thi ng

whi ch she thoroughl y appr eci ated.


13/58


ur i ng t hei r di f f er ent expedi t i ons she al ways spoke Fr ench; heegged her t o t al k Nor se at l east now and then, but al l i n vai n.

er e, t oo, t hey vi si t ed ever y possi bl e and i mpossi bl e f act or y.npr act i cal and reser ved as she was on ordi nary occasi ons, sheoul d be f ul l of ar t i f i ce and coquet r y whenever she wi shed t o gai nccess t o a st eam bakery and part i cul ar as she general l y was abouter t oi l et t e, she woul d come away agai n soot y and gr i my i f t herebyhe coul d pr ocur e f or Raf ael some i nsi ght i nt o mechani cs. Shehr ank f r om f oul ai r as f r om t he chol er a, yet i nhal ed sul phur i cci d gas as t hough i t had been ozone f or hi s sake.

Seei ng f or your sel f , Raf ael , i s t he subst ance, ot her met hods are

t s shadow; " or "Seei ng f or your sel f , Raf ael , i s meat and dr i nk,he ot her i s but l i t erature. "

e was not qui t e of t he same opi ni on: he t hought t hat Not r e Damee Pari s, f r om whi ch he was dai l y dr agged away, was t he r i chestanquet t hat he had yet enj oyed, whi l e f r om t he f actory of Mayelt f i l s t her e i ssued t he most deadl y odour s.

i s r eadi ng- - she had encour aged hi m i n i t f or t he sake of t heanguage and had her sel f hel ped hi m; now she was j eal ous of i t andoul d not be persuaded t o get hi m new books; but he got t hemevert hel ess.

hey had been i n Cal ai s f or sever al months; he had mast er s and wasegi nni ng t o f eel hi msel f at home, when t her e arr i ved at t heensi on a wi dow f r om one of t he col oni es, accompani ed by heraught er, a gi r l of t hi rt een.

he new comer s had not appeared at meal s f or mor e t han t wo daysef ore t he young gent l eman began t o pay hi s cour t t o t he youngady. From t he f i r st moment i t was a pl ai n case. Ver y soon ever yne i n the pensi on was hi ghl y amused t o not i ce how f l uent hi sr ench was becomi ng; hi s choi ce of words at t i mes was evenl egant ! The gi r l t aught hi m i t wi t hout a t r ace of gr ammar , byhar m, spr i ght l i ness, a l i t t l e nonsense; a pai r of conf i di ng eyesnd a yout hf ul voi ce wer e suf f i ci ent . I t was f r om her t hat he got ,y steal t h, one novel af t er anot her . By steal t h i t had t o be; byt eal t h Luci e had pr ocur ed t hem; by st eal t h she gave t hem t o hi m;y st eal t h they were r ead; by st eal t h she t ook t hem back agai n.hi s r eadi ng made hi m a l i t t l e absent - mi nded, but ot herwi seot hi ng bet r ayed hi s f l i ght s i nt o l i t er at ur e: t o be sur e, t hey

were not ver y wonderf ul .

ru Kaas not i ced her son' s f l i r t at i on, and smi l ed wi t h the r est

ver hi s progr ess i n Fr ench. She had l ess obj ect i on t o t hi sr i endshi p, i n whi ch, t o a gr eat ext ent , she shar ed, t han t o t hosen Engl and, f r om whi ch she had been qui t e excl uded. I n theveni ngs she woul d t ake t he mother and daught er out f or shor txcur si ons; and t hese she gr eat l y enj oyed. But t he novel r eadi ng

whi ch t he young peopl e car r i ed on secret l y had r esul t ed i nonver sat i ons of a "grown up" t ype. They t al ked of l ove wi t h t heeep exper i ence whi ch i s pr oper t o t hei r age, t hey t al ked wi t ht i l l gr eat er di scret i on as t o when thei r weddi ng shoul d t akel ace; on thi s poi nt t hey i ndi r ect l y sai d much whi ch caused t hem

many a del i ght f ul t r emor . As t hey were accust omed to t al k abouthemsel ves bef or e ot her s, t o descri be t hei r f eel i ngs i n a vei l edorm, i t of t en happened when t here were many peopl e near t hat t heyar r i ed t hi s amusement f ur t her , and bef ore they were t hemsel veswar e of i t , t hey wer e i n the f ul l t i de of a symbol i c l anguage andl ayed "catch" wi t h each ot her.

r u Kaas not i ced one eveni ng t hat t he word "r ose" was drawn out t ogr eat er l engt h t han i t was possi bl e f or any r ose t o at t ai n t o;t t he same t i me she saw t he l angui shi ng l ook i n thei r eyes, androke i n wi t h t he quest i on, "What do you mean about t he r ose,hi l d?"

f any one had peeped behi nd a rose- bush and caught t hem ki ssi ngne another, a t hi ng t hey had never done, t hey coul d not havel ushed mor e.

he next day Fr u Kaas f ound new r ooms, a l ong way f r om t he quayear whi ch t hey wer e l i vi ng.

af ael had suf f er ed gr eat l y at bei ng t or n away f r om Engl and j usts he had come down f r om hi s hi gh horse and had put hi msel f on aar wi t h hi s compani ons, but not t he l east noti ce was t aken of hi sr oubl e; i t had onl y annoyed hi s mother.


14/58


o be absol ut el y debar r ed f r om t he books he was so f ond of hadeen har d; but up t o thi s t i me, bei ng i n a f orei gn l and, ami dorei gn speech, he had al ways f al l en back upon her . Now he openl yef i ed her. He went st r ai ght of f t o t he hot el and sought out

Madame Mer y and her daught er as t hough not hi ng had occurr ed. Thi se di d ever y day when he had f i ni shed hi s l essons. Luci e had nowecome hi s sol e r omance; he gave al l hi s l ei sur e t i me t o her , andot onl y t hat ( f or i t no l onger suf f i ced to see her at her

mother' s) , t hey met on t he quay! At t i mes a mai d- servant wal kedwi t h them f or appear ance sake, at ot hers she kept i n t he

ackgr ound. Somet i mes t hey woul d go on board a Norwegi an shi p,omet i mes t hey wander ed about or st r ol l ed beneat h some great

r ees. When he saw her i n her shor t f r ock come out of t he door ,aw her qui ck movement s, and her l i vel y si gnal s t o hi m wi t har asol or hat or f l ower s, t he quay, t he shi ps, t he bal es, t hear r el s, t he ai r , t he noi se, t he cr owd, al l seemed t o pl ay andi ng,

"Enf ant ! s i j ' et ai s roi j e donerai s l ' empi re,Et mon char , et mon sept r e, et mon peupl e a genoux, "

nd he ran t o meet her .

e never dar ed t o do more t han t o t ake bot h her chubby brownands, nor t o say more t han "You are very sweet , you ar e ver y ver yood. " And she never went f ur t her t han t o l ook at hi m, wal k wi t hi m, l augh wi t h hi m, and say t o hi m, "You ar e not l i ke thet her s. " What exper i ences t her e had been i n t he l i f e of t hi s gi r lf t hi r t een goodness al one knows. He never asked her , he was t oo

ur e of her .e l ear ned French f r om her as one bi r d f eeds f r om anot her ' s bi l l ,r as one who l ooks at hi s i mage i n a f ount ai n, as be dr i nks f r omt .

ne day, as mother and son were at br eakf ast , she gl anced qui et l ycr oss at hi m. "I hear d of an excel l ent pr epar at or y school of

mechani cs at Rouen, " she sai d, "so I wr ot e t o i nqui r e about i t ,nd her e i s t he answer . I appr ove of i t i n al l r espect s, as you

wi l l do when you read i t . I t hi nk t hat we shal l go t o Rouen; whato you say t o i t ?"

e gr ew f i r st r ed, t hen whi t e; t hen put down hi s bread, hi s t abl eapki n; got up and l ef t t he r oom. Lat er i n t he day she asked hi m

whet her he woul d not r ead t he l et t er ; he l ef t her wi t houtnswer i ng. At l ast , j ust as he was goi ng t o meet Luci e on t he

uay, she sai d, and thi s t i me wi t h det er mi nat i on, t hat t hey wer eo l eave i n t he cour se of an hour . She had al r eady packed up; ashey st ood t her e t he man came t o f et ch t he l uggage. At t hat momente f el t t hat he coul d t hor oughl y under st and why hi s f ather hadeat en her .

s t hey sat i n the car r i age whi ch took t hem t o t he st at i on heuf f er ed keenl y. I t coul d not nave been wor se, he t hought , i f hi s

mot her had st abbed hi m wi t h a kni f e. He di d not si t besi de her i nhe rai l way car r i age.

ur i ng t he f i r st days at Rouen he woul d not answer when she spokeo hi m, nor ask a si ngl e quest i on. He had adopt ed her own t act i cs;e car r i ed t hem t hr ough wi t h a cr uel t y of whi ch he was not aware.

or a l ong t i me he had been di sposed t o cri t i ci se her ; now t hathi s cr i t i c i sm was ext ended t o al l t hat she sai d or di d, t he

pi r i t of accusat i on t i nctur ed her whol e l i f e; t hei r j oi nt pasteemed al t ered and debased.

i s f at her ' s bent f or m, i n t he l og chai r on t he hai r l ess ski n,mal odor ous and di r t y, r ose up bef or e hi m, i n vi vi d cont r ast wi t hi s mother i n her wel l appoi nt ed, ai r y, perf umed r ooms!

When Raf ael st ood by hi s f ather' s body he had f el t t he same t hi ng-t hat t he ol d man had been badl y t r eat ed. He hi msel f had beenncour aged t o negl ect hi s f at her , t o shun hi m, t o evade hi srder s. At t hat t i me he had l ai d t he bl ame on t he peopl e on thestat e; now he put i t al l down to hi s mot her ' s account . Hi s f atherad cer t ai nl y ador ed her once, and t hi s f eel i ng had changed i nt o

wi l d sel f - consumi ng hat r ed. What had happened? He di d not know;ut he coul d not but admi t t hat hi s mother woul d have t r i ed t heat i ence of J ob.


15/58


e pi ct ured t o hi msel f how Luci e woul d come r unni ng wi t h herl ower s, sear ch f or hi m over t he whol e quay, f ar t her and f ar t hervery t i me, standi ng sti l l at l ast. He coul d not t hi nk of i t

wi t hout t ear s, and wi t hout a f eel i ng of bi t t er ness.

ut a chi l d i s a chi l d. I t was not a l i f e- l ong gr i ef . As t he pl acewas new and hi st ori cal l y i nt erest i ng, and as l essons had now begun

nd hi s mot her was al ways wi t h hi m, t hi s f eel i ng wor e of f , but t hemut ual rest rai nt was st i l l t here. The cr i t i cal spi r i t whi ch hadi r st been r oused i n Engl and never af t er war ds l ef t Raf ael .

he hour s of st udy whi ch t hey passed t ogether produced goodesul t s. Begi nni ng as her pupi l , he had ended by becomi ng her

eacher . She was anxi ous t o keep up wi t h hi m, and t hi s was andvant age t o hi m, on account of her al most t oo mi nut e accur acy,ut st i l l more f rom her i nt el l i gent questi ons. Apart f rom studyhey passed many pl easant hour s t oget her , but t hey both knew t hatomethi ng was mi ssi ng i n t hei r conver sat i on whi ch coul d never behere agai n.

t l onger or shor t er i nt er val s a shy si l ence i nt er r upt ed t hi snt ercour se. Somet i mes i t was he, somet i mes she, who, f or someause or ot her , of t en a most t r i vi al one, el ect ed not t o repl y,ot t o ask a quest i on, not t o see. When t hey were good f r i ends heppr eci at ed t he best si de of her char acter, t he sel f - sacri f i ci ngi f e whi ch she l ed f or hi m. When t hey wer e not f r i ends i t wasxact l y the opposi t e. When they wer e f r i ends, he, as a r ul e, di d

whatever she wi shed. He t r i ed t o at one f or t he past . He was i n theand of cour t esy and i nf l uenced by i t s t eachi ng. When he was notr i ends wi t h her he behaved as badl y as possi bl e. He earl y got

mong bad compani ons and i nt o di ssi pated habi t s; he was t he veryhi l d of Rebel l i on. At t i mes he had qual ms of consci ence onccount of i t .

he guessed t hi s, and wi shed hi m t o guess t hat she guessed i t .

I percei ve a st r ange at mosphere her e, f i e! Some one has mi xedhei r at mospher e wi t h your s, f i e! " And she spr i nkl ed hi m wi t hcent .

e t ur ned as r ed as f i r e and, i n hi s shame and mi sery, di d notnow whi ch way t o l ook. But i f he at t empted t o speak she became ast i f f as a poker , and, r ai si ng her smal l hand, "Tai sez- vous desgards , s i l vous pl ai t . "

t must be sai d i n her excuse t hat, not wi t hst andi ng t he dar i ngooks whi ch she had wr i t t en, she had had no exper i ence of r eal

i f e; she knew no f or m of wor ds f or such an occasi on. I t came atast t o thi s pass, t hat she, who had at one t i me wi shed t o cont r oli s whol e l i f e and ever y t hought i n i t , and who woul d not shar ei m wi t h any one, not even wi t h a book, gr adual l y became unwi l l i ngo have any rel at i ons wi t h hi m out si de hi s st udi es.

he Fr ench l anguage especi al l y l ends i t sel f t o f or mal i nt er cour send di pl omacy. They gr asped t hi s f act f r om t he f i r st . I t may,ndeed, have cont r i but ed t o f or m t hei r mut ual l i f e. I t was mor equi t abl e and caused f ewer col l i si ons. At t he sl i ght esti sagr eement i t was at once "Monsi eur mon f i l s" or si mpl yMonsi eur , " or "Madame ma mer e, " or "Madame. "

t one t i me hi s heal t h seemed l i kel y t o suf f er : hi s r api d gr owt hnd t he st udi es, t o whi ch she kept hi m ver y cl osel y, wer e t oo muchor hi s st r engt h.

ut j ust t hen somethi ng remarkabl e occur r ed. At t he t i me whenaf ael was ni net een he was one day i n a Fr ench chemi cal f actory,nd, as i t wer e i n a f l ash, saw how hal f t he power used i n the

machi ner y mi ght be saved. The son of t he owner who had br ought hi mher e was a f el l ow- st udent . To hi m he conf i ded hi s di scover y. They

worked i t out t ogether wi t h f everi sh exci t ement t o t he most mi nut eet ai l s. I t was ver y compl ex, f or i t was t he wor ki ng of t heact ory i t sel f whi ch was i nvol ved. The scheme was car ef ul l y gonent o by the owner , hi s son, and thei r assi st ant s t oget her , and i t

was deci ded t o t r y i t . I t was ent i r el y successf ul ; LESS than hal fhe mot i ve power now suf f i ced.

af ael was away at t he t i me t hat i t was i naugur ated; he had goneown a mi ne. Hi s mot her was not wi t h hi m; he never t ook her down

mi nes wi t h hi m. As soon as ever he r etur ned home he hur r i ed of fwi t h her t o see t he r esul t of hi s wor k. They saw ever ythi ng, andhey both bl ushed at t he respect shown t o t hem by t he workmen.


16/58


hey wer e qui t e t ouched when, t he owner bei ng cal l ed, t hey heardi s expr essi ons of boundl ess del i ght . Champagne f l owed f or t hem,ccompani ed by the warmest t hanks. The mot her r ecei ved a beaut i f ulouquet . Exci t ed by t he wi ne and t he congr at ul at i ons, pr oud of hi secogni t i on as a geni us, Raf ael l ef t t he pl ace wi t h hi s mot her oni s ar m. I t seemed t o hi m as t hough he were on one si de, and al lhe r est of t he wor l d on t he ot her . Hi s mot her wal ked happi l yesi de hi m, wi t h her bouquet i n her hand. Raf ael wore a newver coat - - one af t er hi s own hear t , ver y l ong and f aced wi t h si l k,nd of whi ch he was excessi vel y pr oud. I t was a cl ear wi nt er ' say; t he sun shone on t he si l k, and on somethi ng more as wel l .

There i s not a speck on t he sky, mother, " he sai d.

Nor one on your coat ei t her, " she ret or t ed; f or t her e had been ar eat many on hi s ol d one, and each had had i t s hi st ory.

e was t oo bi g now t o be t ur ned t o r i di cul e, and too happy aswel l . She hear d hi m hummi ng t o hi msel f : i t was t he Norwegi anat i onal ai r . They came back t o t he t own agai n as f r om El ysi um.l l t he passers- by l ooked at t hem: peopl e qui ckl y det ectappi ness. Besi des Raf ael was a head t al l er t han most of t hem andai r er i n compl exi on. He wal ked qui ckl y al ong besi de hi s el egant

mother , and l ooked across t he Boul evard as t hough f r om a sunnyei ght .

Ther e ar e days on whi ch one f eel s onesel f a di f f er ent person, " heai d.

There are days on whi ch one r ecei ves so much, " she answered,

r essi ng hi s arm.hey went home, t hrew asi de t hei r wr aps, and l ooked at onenother. Sket ches of t he machi nery whi ch t hey had j ust seen l aybout , as wel l as some r ough drawi ngs. These she col l ect ed and

made i nt o a r ol l .

Raf ael , " she sai d, and dr ew her sel f up, hal f l aughi ng, hal fr embl i ng, "kneel ; I wi sh t o kni ght you. "

t di d not seem unnat ur al t o hi m; he di d so.

Nobl esse obl i ge, " she sai d, and l et t he rol l of paper appr oachi s head; but t her ewi t h she dr opped i t and bur st i nt o t ear s.

e spent a merr y eveni ng wi t h hi s f r i ends, and wasnt husi ast i cal l y appl auded. But as he l ay i n bed t hat ni ght he

el t ut t er l y despondent . The whol e t hi ng mi ght , af t er al l , haveeen a mer e chance. He had seen so much, had acqui r ed so muchnf ormat i on; i t was no di scovery t hat he had made. What was i t ,hen? He was cert ai nl y not a geni us; t hat must be an exaggerat i on.oul d one i magi ne a geni us wi t hout a vi ct or' s conf i dence, or hadi s pecul i ar l i f e dest r oyed t hat conf i dence? Thi s anxi et y whi chonst ant l y i nt r uded i t sel f ; t hi s bad consci ence; t hi s dr eadf ul ,i l e consci ence; t hi s i ner adi cabl e dr ead; was i t a f or ebodi ng? Di dt poi nt t o t he f ut ure?

t was about hal f a year af t er t hi s t hat hi s desul t or y studi esecame concent r at ed on el ect r i ci t y, and af t er a t i me t hi s t ookhem t o Muni ch. Dur i ng t he cour se of t hese st udi es he began t o

wr i t e, qui t e spont aneousl y. The st udent s had f ormed a soci ety, andaf ael was expect ed to cont r i but e a paper . But hi s cont r i but i on

was so or i gi nal t hat t hey begged hi m t o show i t t o the pr of essor ,nd thi s encour aged hi m gr eat l y. I t was t he pr of essor , t oo, who

ad hi s f i r st ar t i cl e pr i nt ed. A Nor wegi an techni cal per i odi calccept ed a subsequent one, and t hi s was t he external i nf l uencewhi ch t urned hi s t houghts once more t owards Norway. Norway roseef or e hi m as t he pr omi sed l and of el ect r i ci t y. The mot i ve powerf i t s count l ess wat er f al l s was suf f i ci ent f or t he whol e wor l d! Heaw hi s count r y dur i ng the wi nt er dar kness gl eami ng wi t h el ect r i cust r e. He saw her , t oo, t he manuf act or y of t he wor l d, t heossessor of navi es. Now he had somet hi ng to go home f or !

i s mot her di d not shar e hi s l ove f or t hei r count r y, and had noesi r e t o l i ve i n Norway. But t he money whi ch she had saved up f ori s educat i on bad been spent l ong ago. Hel l ebergene had had i t shar e. The est at e di d not yi el d an equi val ent , f or i t wasssent i al l y a t i mber ed est at e, and t he t r ees on i t wer e sti l lmmat ure.

o i t was t o be home! A f ew years al one at Hel l ebergene was j ust


17/58


what he wi shed f or . But - - somet hi ng al ways occur r ed t o pr eventhei r depar t ur e at t he t i me f i xed f or i t . Fi r st he was det ai ned byn i nvent i on whi ch he wi shed t o patent . Up t o t he pr esent t i me head onl y sket ched out i deas whi ch others had adopt ed; now i t waso be di f f erent . The i nvent i on was dul y pat ent ed and handed overo an agent t o sel l ; but st i l l t hey di d not st ar t . What was t hei ndr ance? Anot her i nvent i on wi t h a f r esh pat ent mor e l i kel y t oel l t han the f i rst , whi ch unf ort unat el y di d not go of f . Thi sat ent was al so t aken out , whi ch agai n cost money, and was handedver t o t he agent t o be sol d. Coul d he not st ar t now? Wel l , yes,e t hought he coul d. But Fru Kaas soon real i sed that he was noteri ous, so she sought t he hel p of a young r el at i ve, Hans Ravn, anngi neer , l i ke most of t he Ravns. Raf ael l i ked Hans, f or he was

i msel f a Ravn i n t emperament , a t hi ng t hat he had not r eal i sedef or e; i t was qui t e a revel at i on t o hi m. He had bel i eved t hat t heavns were l i ke hi s mother, but now f ound t hat she gr eat l yi f f er ed f r om t hem. To Hans Ravn Fru Kaas sai d pl ai nl y t hat nowhey must st art . The l ast day of May was t he date f i xed on, andhi s Hans was t o t el l ever y one, f or i t woul d make Raf ael best i ri msel f , hi s mother t hought , i f t hi s were known everywhere. Hansavn spr ead t hi s news f ar and near , part l y because i t was hi sr ovi nce t o do so, part l y because he hoped i t woul d be t heccasi on of a f arewel l ent ert ai nment such as had never been seen.banquet act ual l y di d t ake pl ace ami d general ent husi asm, whi ch

nded i n the whol e company f ormi ng a pr ocessi on to escor t t hei ruest t o hi s house. Here t hey encount ered a cr owd of of f i cers who

were pr oceedi ng home i n t he same manner . They near l y came t ol ows, but f r at er ni sed i nst ead, and t he engi neer s cheer ed thef f i cer s and t he of f i cer s t he engi neer s.

he next day t he hi st or y of t he t wo ent er t ai nments and t heol l i si on between the guest s went t he r ound of t he papers.

hi s produced r esul t s whi ch Fr u Kaas had not f or eseen. The f i r stwas a very pl easant one. The pr of essor who had had Raf ael ' s f i r st

rt i cl e publ i shed dr ove up t o t he door , accompani ed by hi s f ami l y.e mount ed the st ai r s, and asked her i f she woul d not , i n t hei rompany, once mor e vi si t t he pr et t i est par t s of Muni ch and i t si c i ni t y. She f el t f l at t er ed, and accept ed the i nvi t at i on. As t heyr ove al ong they t al ked of not hi ng but Raf ael : par t l y about hi ser son, f or he was t he dar l i ng of ever y l ady, par t l y about t heut ur e whi ch l ay bef ore hi m. The pr of essor sai d t hat he had neverad a more gi f t ed pupi l . Fru Kaas had br ought an excel l enti nocul ar gl ass wi t h her , whi ch she rai sed t o her eyes f r om t i meo t i me t o conceal her emot i on, and t hei r hear t y pr ai se seemed t ol ood t he l andscape and bui l di ngs wi t h sunshi ne.

he l i t t l e part y l unched t ogether , and drove home i n t hef t ernoon.

When Fru Kaas r e- ent ered her r oom, she was greet ed by the scent ofl owers. Many of t hei r f r i ends who had not t i l l now known whenhey were t o l eave had wi shed t o pay t hem some compl i ment . I ndeed,he mai d sai d that t he bel l had been r i ngi ng t he whol e morni ng. Ai t t l e l ater Raf ael and Hans Ravn came i n wi t h one or t wo f r i ends.hey proposed t o di ne t ogether . The sal e of t he l ast patent seemedo be assured, and t hey wi shed t o cel ebr ate t he event . Fru Kaas

was i n excel l ent spi r i t s, so of f t hey went .

hey di ned i n t he open ai r wi t h a number of ot her peopl e r oundhem. There was musi c and mer r i ment , and t he subdued hum ofi st ant voi ces r ose and f el l i n t he twi l i ght . When the l amps wer ei ght ed, t hey had on one si de t he gl ar e of a l ar ge t own, on t hether t he semi - dar kness was onl y r el i eved by poi nt s of l i ght ; and

hi s was made t he subj ect of poet i cal al l usi ons i n speeches t o ther i ends who were so soon to l eave t hem.

ust t hen t wo l adi es sl owl y passed near Raf ael ' s chai r . Fr u Kaas,who was si t t i ng opposi t e, not i ced t hem, but he di d not . When t heyad gone a shor t di st ance they st ood st i l l and wai t ed, but di d nottt r act hi s at t ent i on. Then t hey came sl owl y back agai n, passi ngl ose behi nd hi s chai r , but st i l l i n vai n. Thi s annoyed Fru Kaas.er i ndi vi dual i t y was so st r ong t hat her si l ence cast a shadowver t he whol e par t y; t hey br oke up.

he next mor ni ng Raf ael was out agai n on busi ness connect ed wi t hhe pat ent . The bel l r ang, and the mai d came i n wi t h a bi l l ; i tad been br ought t he pr evi ous day as wel l , she sai d. I t was f r omne of t he chi ef r est aur ateur s of t he t own, and was by no means amal l one. Fru Kaas had no i dea t hat Raf ael owed money- - l east ofl l t o a r est aur at eur . She t ol d t he mai d t o say t hat her son was


18/58


f age, and t hat she was not hi s cashi er . Ther e was anot her r i ng- -he mai d r eappear ed wi t h a second bi l l , whi ch had al so beenr ought t he day bef ore. I t was f r om a wel l - known wi ne merchant ;hi s, t oo, was not a smal l one. Anot her r i ng; t hi s t i me i t was ai l l f or f l ower s and by no means a tr i f l e. Thi s, t oo, had beenr ought t he day bef or e. Fru Kaas r ead i t t wi ce, t hr ee t i mes, f ouri mes: she coul d not r eal i se t hat Raf ael owed money f or f l ower s- -

what di d he want t hem f or ? Anot her r i ng; now i t was a bi l l f r om aewel l er . Fr u Kaas became so nervous at t he r i ngi ng and t he bi l l shat she t ook t o f l i ght . Her e, t hen, was t he expl anat i on of t hei rostponed depart ur e: he was hel d capt i ve; t hi s was t he r eason f orl l hi s anxi et y about sel l i ng the pat ent . He had to buy hi sr eedom. She was hardl y i n t he st r eet when an unpr etendi ng l i t t l e

l d woman stepped up to her, and asked t i mi dl y i f t hi s mi ght berau von Kas? Another bi l l , t hought Fru Kaas, eyei ng her cl osel y.he r emi nded one of a worn- out r ose- bush wi t h a f ew f aded bl ossomsn i t : she seemed poor and i nexperi enced i n al l save humi l i t y.

What do you want wi t h me?" i nqui r ed Fru Kaas sympathet i cal l y,esol ved to pay t he poor t hi ng at once, whatever i t mi ght be.

he l i t t l e woman begged "Tausend Mal um Ver zei hung, " but she wasEi ner Beamt en- Wi t t we" and had r ead i n t he paper t hat t he youngon Kas was l eavi ng, and bot h she and her daughter were i n suchespai r t hat she had r esol ved t o come t o Frau von Kas, who was t henl y one- - and here she began t o cr y.

What does your daught er want f r om me?" asked Fru Kaas r ather l essent l y.

Ach! t ausend Mal um Verzei hung gnadi ge Frau, " her daught er wasmarr i ed t o Hof r ath von Rathen- - " i hr er gr ossen Schonhei t wegen" - -h, she was so unhappy, f or Hof r at h von Rat hen dr ank and was cr uelo her . Her r von Kas had met her at t he ar t i st s' f et e- - "Und so

wi ssen Si e zwei so j unge, r ei zende Leut e. " She l ooked up at Fruaas t hr ough her t ear s - - l ooked up as t hough f r om a rai n- spl ashedel l ar wi ndow; but Fr u Kaas had r ever t ed t o her abr upt manner , ands i f f r om an upper st or ey t he poor l i t t l e woman hear d, "What doesour daughter want wi t h my son?"

Tausend Mal um Verzei hung, " but i t had seemed t o t hem t hat heraught er mi ght go wi t h t hem t o Norway, Norway was such a f r eeount r y. "Und di e zwei J ungen haben si ch so gern. "

Has he pr omi sed her t hi s? " sai d Fru Kaas, wi t h haught y col dness.

Nei n, nei n, nei n, " was t he f r i ght ened r epl y. They t wo, mot her and

aught er, had t hought of i t t hat day. They had r ead i n the paperhat t he young Von Kas was goi ng away. "Herr Got t i n Hi mmel ! " i fer daught er coul d t hus be ri d at once of al l her t r oubl es! Frauon Kas had not an i dea of what a f ai t hf ul soul , what a tender

wi f e her daught er was.

ru Kaas cr ossed hast i l y over t o t he opposi t e pavement . She di dot go qui t e so f ast as a per son i n chase of hi s hat , but i teemed t o t he poor l i t t l e creat ur e, l ef t i n t he l ur ch, wi t h f ol dedands and f r i ght ened eyes, t hat she had vani shed f aster t han heropes. On t he other si de of t he wayst ood a pr et t y young f l ower-i r l who was wai t i ng f or t he el egant l ady hur r yi ng i n heri r ect i on. "Bi t t e, gnadi ge Frau. " Her e i s anot her , t hought t heunt ed cr eat ur e. She l ooked r ound f or hel p, she f l ew up t het r eet , away, away- - when another l ady popped up ri ght i n f r ont ofer , evi dent l y t r yi ng t o cat ch her eye. Fru Kaas dashed i nt o t he

mi ddl e of t he st r eet and took r ef uge i n a car r i age.

Where t o?" asked the dr i ver .

hi s she had not st opped t o consi der , but nevert hel ess answer edol dl y, "The Bavar i a! "

n poi nt of f act she had had an i dea of seei ng t he vi ew of t hei t y and i t s envi r ons f r om "Bavar i a' s" l of t y head bef or e l eavi ng.here wer e a great many peopl e t here, but Fr u Kaas' s t urn t o go upoon came; but j ust as she had r eached t he head of t he gi ant essnd was goi ng t o l ook out , she hear d a l ady whi sper cl ose behi nder , "That i s hi s mot her . " I t was probabl e that t her e wer e sever al

mothers up t here i n "Bavari a' s" head besi de Fr u Kaas, nevert hel esshe gathered her ski r t s t ogether and hur r i ed down agai n.

af ael came home t o di ne wi t h hi s mother ; he was i n t he hi ghestpi r i t s- - he had sol d hi s pat ent . But he f ound her si t t i ng i n t he


19/58


ar t hest cor ner of t he sof a, wi t h her bi g bi nocul ar gl ass i n herand. When he spoke t o her she di d not answer , but t ur ned t hel ass wi t h the smal l end towards hi m; she wi shed hi m t o l ook asar of f as possi bl e.

HAPTER 3

t was a br i ght eveni ng i n t he begi nni ng of J une t hat t heyi sembarked f r om t he st eamer, and at once l ef t t he t own i n t he

oat whi ch was t o t ake t hem t o Hel l ebergene. They di d not know anyf t he boat men, al t hough t hey wer e f r om t he est at e; t he boat al sowas new.

ut t he i sl ands among whi ch t hey were soon rowi ng were t he ol dnes, whi ch had l ong awai t ed them and seemed t o have swum out t o

meet t hem, and now t o move one behi nd t he other so t hat t he boatmi ght pass bet ween t hem. Nei t her mot her nor son spoke t o t he men,or di d t hey t al k t o each et her . I n thus keepi ng si l ence theynt er ed i nt o each ot her ' s f eel i ngs, f or t hey were bot h awest r uck.t came upon them al l at once. The br i ght eveni ng l i ght over seand i sl ands, t he ar omat i c f r agr ance f r om t he l and, - - t he qui ckpl ash of a l i t t l e coasti ng steamer as she passed t hem- - not hi ngoul d cheer t hem.

hei r l i f e l ay t here bef or e t hem, br i ngi ng r esponsi bi l i t i es bot hl d and new. How woul d al l t hat t hey were comi ng to l ook t o t hem,

nd how f ar were t hey themsel ves now f i t t ed f or i t ?ow t hey had passed t he nar r ow ent r ance of t he bay, and r oundedhe l ast poi nt beneat h t he crags of Hel l eber gene. The gr eenxpanse opened out bef ore t hem, t he bui l di ngs i n i t s mi dst . Thei l l si des had once been crowned and darkl y cl ad wi t h l uxur i ant

woods. Now t hey st ood t here denuded, shrunk, f orml ess, spread overwi t h a l i ght gr een gr owt h l eavi ng some part s bare. The l owl ands,

s wel l as t he hi l l s whi ch f r amed t hem, were shr unk andi mi ni shed, not i n ext ent but i n appear ance. They coul d nuter suade t hemsel ves t o l ook at i t . They r ecal l ed i t al l as i t hadeen and f el t t hemsel ves despoi l ed.

he bui l di ngs had been newl y pai nt ed, but t hey l ooked smal l byont r ast wi t h t hose whi ch t hey had i n thei r mi nds. No one awai t edhem at t he l andi ng, but a f ew peopl e st ood about near t heal l er y, l ooki ng embar r assed- - or wer e t hey suspi ci ous? The

r avel l er s went i nt o Fru Kaas' s ol d rooms, bot h up stai r s andown. These were j ust as t hey had l ef t t hem, but how f aded andwr etched t hey l ooked! The t abl e, whi ch was l ai d f or supper, wasoaded wi t h coar se f ood l i ke that at a f armer ' s weddi ng.

he ol d l i me- t r ees wer e gone. Fr u Kaas wept .

uddenl y she was r emi nded of somethi ng. "Let us go across t o t hether wi ng, " she sai d thi s as i f t her e t hey woul d f i nd what was

want i ng. I n t he gal l er y she t ook Raf ael ' s arm; he gr ew cur i ous.i s f at her ' s ol d r ooms had been ent i r el y renovat ed f or hi m. I nver ythi ng, bot h gr eat and smal l , he r ecogni sed hi s mot her ' sesi gns and t ast e. A vast amount of work, unknown t o hi m, anndl ess i nt erchange of l et t ers and a gr eat expendi t ur e of money.ow new and br i ght ever yt hi ng l ooked! The r ooms di f f ered as muchr om what t hey had been, as she had endeavour ed t o make Raf ael ' si f e f r om t he one t hat had been l ed i n them.

hey t wo had a comf or t abl e meal t ogether af t er al l , f ol l owed by aui et wal k al ong t he shor e. The wi de waters of t he bay gl eamedof t l y, and t he gent l e r i ppl e t ook up i t s ol d st or y agai n whi l ehe summer ni ght sank gent l y down upon t hem.

arl y t he next morni ng Raf ael was out r owi ng i n the bay, t he pl ay-r ound of hi s chi l dhood. Notwi t hst andi ng t he shorn and sunkenspect of t he hi l l s, hi s del i ght at bei ng ther e agai n wasndescri babl e. I ndescri babl e because of t he l onel i ness andt i l l ness: no one came t o di st ur b hi m. Af t er havi ng l i ved f or manyear s i n l arge t owns, t o f i nd onesel f al one i n a Nor wegi an bay i si ke l eavi ng a noi sy mar ket - pl ace at mi dday and passi ng i nt o ai gh vaul t ed chur ch where no sound penetr ates f r om wi t hout , and

wher e onl y one' s own f oot st ep br eaks t he si l ence. Hol i ness,ur i f i cat i on, abst r acti on, devot i on, but i n such l i ght and f r eedoms no chur ch possesses. The l apse of t i me, t he past were


20/58


orgot t en; i t was as t hough he had never been away, as t hough not her pl ace had ever known hi m.

ndescr i babl e, f or t he i nt ensi t y of hi s f eel i ngs sur passednythi ng t hat he had hi t hert o known. New sensat i ons, i mpr essi onsf beaut y absol ut el y f orgot t en si nce chi l dhood, or r emembered butmperf ect l y, cr owded upon hi m, speaki ng to hi m l i ke wel comi ngpi r i t s .

he al t er ed cont our of t he hi l l s, t he dear f ami l i ar smel l , t he skywhi ch seemed l ower and yet f ar t her of f , t he ef f ect s of l i ght i nol der t ones, but pal er and more del i cat e. Nowhere a br oad pl ai n,n endl ess expanse. No! al l was di ver si f i ed, f ul l of cont r ast ,

r oken; not l of t y, st i l l uni que, f r esh, he had al most sai dumul t uous.

ach moment he f el t more i n accord wi t h hi s memor i es, hi s natur ewas i n har mony wi t h i t al l .

e paused between each st r oke of t he oar s, soot hed by t he gent l emot i on; t he boat gl i ded on, he had not concer ned hi msel f whi t her,when he hear d f r om behi nd the sound of oar s whi ch was not t he echo

f hi s own. The st r okes succeeded each ot her at r egul ar i nt er val s.e t urned.

t t hat moment Fru Kaas came out on t o t he t err ace wi t h her bi gi nocul ar. She had had her cof f ee, and was r eady t o enj oy t he vi ewver t he bay, t he i sl ands, and the open sea. Raf ael , she was t ol d,ad al r eady gone out i n the boat . Yes! t her e he was, f ar out . Sheut up her gl ass at t he moment t hat a whi t e pai nt ed boat shot out

owards hi s br own one. The whi t e one was r owed by a gi r l i n ai ght - col our ed dr ess. "Gr and Di eu! ar e ther e gi r l s her e too?"

ow Raf ael ceases r owi ng, t he gi r l does t he same, t hey rest onhei r oar s and the boat s gl i de past each ot her. Fru Kaas coul di st i ngui sh t he gi r l ' s shapel y neck under her dar k hai r , but her

wi de- bri mmed st r aw hat hi d her f ace.

af ael l et s hi s oar s t r ai l al ong the wat er and r est i ng on t hemooks at her, and now her oar s al so t ouch t he water as she t ur nsowards hi m. Do t hey know each other ? Qui ckl y t he boats dr awoget her ; Raf ael put s out hi s hand and dr aws t hem cl oser , and nowe gi ves HER hi s hand. Fru Kaas can see Raf ael ' s prof i l e sol ai nl y t hat she can det ect t he movement of hi s l i ps. He i saughi ng! The st r anger' s f ace i s hi dden by her hat , but she canee a f ul l f i gur e and a vi gor ous arm bel ow t he hal f - sl eeve. Theyo not l oose t hei r hands; now he i s l aughi ng ti l l hi s br oad

houl ders shake. What i s i t ? What i s i t ? Can any one have f ol l owedi m f r om Muni ch? Fru Kaas coul d r emai n where she was no l onger .he went i ndoors and put down t he gl ass; she was over come bynxi et y, f i l l ed wi t h hel pl ess anger . I t was some t i me bef or e sheoul d pr evai l on hersel f t o go out and resume her wal k. The gi r lad t ur ned her boat . Now t hey ar e r owi ng i n si de by si de, she ast r ongl y as he. Whenever Fr u Kaas l ooked at her son he wasaughi ng and t he gi r l ' s f ace was t ur ned t owards hi s. Now t hey heador t he l andi ng- pl ace at t he par sonage. Was i t Hel ene? The onl yi r l f or mi l es r ound, and Raf ael had hooked hi msel f on to her t heer y f i r st day that he was at home. These gi r l s who can never seei m wi t hout t aki ng a f ancy t o hi m! Now t he boat s are beached, notn t he shi ngl e, where t he st ones woul d be sl i ppery. No! on t heand, where t hey have r un t hem up as hi gh as possi bl e. Now sheumps l i ght l y and qui ckl y out of her boat , and he a l i t t l e mor eeavi l y out of hi s; t hey gr asp each ot her ' s hands agai n. Yes!here t hey were.

r u Kaas t urned away; she knew t hat f or t he moment she was not hi ngmore t han an ol d chat t el pushed away i nt o a corner.

t was Hel ene. She knew t hat t hey had arr i ved and thought t hat shewoul d r ow past t he house; and t hus i t was t hat she had encount eredaf ael , who had si mpl y gone out t o amuse hi msel f .

s t hey had l ai n on thei r oar s and t he boat s gl i ded si l ent l y pastach ot her , he t hought t o hi msel f , "That gi r l never gr ew up her e,he i s cast i n too f i ne a moul d f or t hat ; she i s not i n har mony

wi t h t he pl ace. " He saw a f ace whose r egul ar l i nes, and l ar ge gr eyyes, har moni sed wel l wi t h each ot her , a qui et wi se f ace, across

whi ch al l at once ther e f l ew a rogui sh l ook. He knew i t agai n. I tad done hi m good bef or e to- day. Our f i r st t hought i n al lecogni t i ons, i n al l r emembr ances- - t hat i s t o say, i f t her e i sccasi on f or i t - - i s, has t hat whi ch we recogni se or r ecal l done us


21/58


ood or evi l ?

hi s l ar ge mouth, t hose honest eyes, whi ch have a r ogui sh l ookust now, had al ways, done hi m good.

Hel ene! " he cr i ed, ar r est i ng t he pr ogr ess of hi s boat .

Raf ael ! " she answered, bl ushi ng cr i mson and checki ng her boatoo.

What a sof t cont r al t o voi ce!

When he came i n t o br eakf ast , beami ng, r eady t o t el l everyt hi ng,

e was conf r ont ed by t wo l arge eyes, whi ch sai d as pl

absalom's hair by bjornstjerne bjornson

Documents