“Thou art a clever, handsome little baggage. But my promises I will keep, and it is well for me to be about them. Time flies talking to thee,” and he looked at his watch and said, “It is now five minutes past five.”
“Then thou must make some haste. Dinner is set for six o’clock.”
“Dost thou think I will fiddle-faddle about myself like a woman?”
“But thou must wash–––”
“In the North Sea I wash me every morning. Before thou hast opened thy eyes I have had my bath and my swim in the salt water.”
“There is rain water in thy room; try it for a change.” And he answered her with a roar of laughter far beyond Thora’s power to imitate. But with it ringing in her heart and ears she saw him go to a spare room to keep his promises. Then she hastened to her mother.
“Whatever is the matter with thy father, Thora?”
“He has promised to wash and dress. I got all I asked for.”
“Will he change his suit?”