Chapter 29 - Page 2

morning the first thing. You may go now and sleep
in our bed."

Gjert obeyed; and his father paced to and fro on the floor afterwards
for a long while in great agitation.

"That is her game, then, is it?" he exclaimed. "She knew what she was
about, and she knew who it was she was threatening."

He sat down again on the bench-bed with clasped hands, and eyes fixed on
the ground. Passion was working strongly within him.

"But she does not put compulsion upon me."

The candle was expiring in the socket, and he lit another and put it in
its place. It was past midnight. He remained for a little with the
candlestick in his hand, and then took the light in to Gjert. The boy
was lying in his mother's place, and had evidently cried himself to
sleep.

His father stood for a long while over him. His lips quivered, and his
face became ashy pale. He controlled himself with an effort and went
back to the other room, where he sat down in the same attitude as
before.

When Gjert came in in the morning, he found his father lying down on the
bench with all his clothes on. He was asleep. It was evident that he had
sat up the whole night. It went to the boy's heart; and he felt sorry
for his father now.

The latter woke shortly after and looked at him rather confusedly at
first. Then he said, gently--

"I promised you yesterday, my boy, that you should go to your mother in
Arendal. I daresay she is wanting to see you."

"If mother is not ill I had rather stay here with you, father, until you
go in to see her yourself. She has Henrik with her."

"You would?" said his father, in a rather toneless voice, and looking at
him as if some new idea had been suggested to him by the boy's reply.

"But I wish you to go, Gjert," he said then, suddenly, in a changed
tone, that admitted of no further question. "Mother took no things with
her. You must take her Sunday gown, and what else you know she will
want, in with you in the trunk there. It may be a long while
before--before aunt is well," he said, and left the house.

While Gjert packed up the things, his father went down to the strand and
got the row-boat ready himself for him.

When the boy started he stroked the child's cheek, but said a little
bitterly, "Remember me to your mother now, and say that father is
coming, as he promised, on Wednesday. Be careful, now, how you go. I
have only given you the oars; I don't like to trust you with a sail in
the boat."

He stood for some time looking after his son as he rowed sturdily away,
and then went up to the look-out, where he began to walk up and down
with his hands