An unspeakable warmth began to flow through his heavy heart. But he
did not rush to embrace her and whirl her off in a storm of passionate
delight. He stood still, staring before him, and, drawing himself up,
swore to himself with fast-closed lips that he would, he WOULD trample a
way through, and save things for them both, even yet.
The lights were put out, and soon they lay in their separate beds,
breathing heavily in the dark. Peer stretched himself out, with his face
up, thinking, with closed eyes. He was hunting in the dark for some way
to save his dear ones. And Merle lay so long waiting for one caress from
him that at last she had to draw out her handkerchief and press it over
her eyes, while her body shook with a noiseless sobbing.
Chapter XII
Old Lorentz D. Uthoug rarely visited his rich sister at Bruseth, but
to-day he had taken his weary way up there, and the two masterful old
folks sat now facing each other.
"So you've managed to find your way up here?" said Aunt Marit, throwing
out her ample bosom and rubbing her knees like a man.
"Why, yes--I thought I'd like to see how you were getting on," said
Uthoug, squaring his broad shoulders.
"Quite well, thanks. Having no son-in-law, I'm not likely to go
bankrupt, I daresay."
"I'm not bankrupt, either," said old Uthoug, fixing his red eyes on her
face.
"Perhaps not. But what about him?"
"Neither is he. He'll be a rich man before very long."
"He!--rich! Did you say rich?"
"Before a year's out," answered the old man calmly.
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