Well, I thought to
myself, if it's like that... But then why should she stand looking
sorrowfully after me from the window when I go? Well, 'tis her affair!
A lady asked me to dance. Edwarda was sitting near, and I answered
loudly:
"No; I am going home directly."
Edwarda threw a questioning glance at me, and said: "Going? Oh, no, you
mustn't go."
I started, and felt that I was biting my lip. I got up.
"What you said then seemed very significant to me, Edwarda," I said
darkly, and made a few steps towards the door.
The Doctor put himself in my way, and Edwarda herself came hurrying up.
"Don't misunderstand me," she said warmly. "I meant to say I hoped you
would be the last to go, the very last. And besides, it's only one
o'clock... Listen," she went on with sparkling eyes, "you gave our
boatmen five _daler_ for saving my shoe. It was too much." And she
laughed heartily and turned round to the rest.
I stood with open mouth, disarmed and confused.
"You are pleased to be witty," I said. "I never gave your boatman five
_daler_ at all."
"Oh, didn't you?" She opened the door to the kitchen, and called the
boatmen in. "Jakob, you remember the day you rowed us out to
Korholmerne, and you picked up my shoe when it fell into the water?"
"Yes," answered Jakob.
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