At times the workers at
the foundry would be startled by their master suddenly rushing out from
his inner room and crying fiercely: "No one is to come in here. I WILL
be left in peace!"
And when he had gone in again, they would look at each other and shake
their heads.
One morning Merle came down and walked through the outer shops, and
knocked at the door of her husband's room. There was no answer; and she
opened the door and went in.
A moment after, the workmen heard a woman's shriek, and when they ran in
she was bending over her husband, who was seated on the floor, staring
up at her with blank, uncomprehending eyes.
"Peer," she cried, shaking his shoulder--"Peer, do you hear? Oh, for
God's sake--what is it, my darling--"
*****
One April day there was a stir in the little town of Ringeby, and
a stream of people, all in their best clothes (though it was only
Wednesday), was moving out along the fjord road to Loreng. There were
the two editors, who had just settled one of their everlasting disputes,
and the two lawyers, each still intent on snatching any scraps of
business that offered; there were tradesmen and artisans; and nearly
everyone was wearing a long overcoat and a grey felt hat. But the tanner
had put on a high silk hat, so as to look a little taller.
Where the road left the wood most of them stopped for a moment to look
up at Loreng. The great white house seemed to have set itself high on
its hill to look out far and wide over the lake and the country round.
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