"So, it is he?" said Vestman, as he rose to greet him.
With the child on his arm he approached the sofa, because he was host of the cottage, while his brother was unmarried and only boarded with him. Therefore he found it his place to welcome the guest.
"We have it simply out here," added he after a few words of welcome, "but my wife isn't entirely at a loss in preparing food, since she has served in better houses before, and married me three years ago, yet since we got this brat here she has a little more to think of. Yes, anybody can get children if they help each other,—as a matter of course I am not in need of help, as they say."
The commissioner was surprised at the sudden turn the long sentence had taken, and asked himself if the man was cognizant of anything, or if he had only a feeling that there was something out of order. He himself had seen in ten minutes the way things stood.
How then was it possible that he who was interested in the question had seen nothing in a couple of years?
He was overcome with loathing at the whole thing, and turned to the wall to blind his eyes, and with mental pictures of a pleasant nature let the remaining half hour pass.
He could not make himself deaf, and heard against his will the talk, which a short time before had been lively, becoming broken as though the words were measured with a rule before spoken, and when there was a silence the husband filled it out as though from aversion, and fearing to hear something he would not hear, and could not be calm before his own stream of words intoxicated him.
When the hour was finally to an end and no order concerning the room had been given, the commissioner rising asked if it was ready.
O yes, it was ready in a way, but—
Here the commissioner asked in a tone of command to be shown to his room at once, reminding them in fitting words that he had not come to share a room with them, or for hospitality, he was traveling on the Crown's errands and only asked for his rights—and those he would have because of a memorial from the Civil Department through the Internal Revenue Office, which had been sent to the Royal Custom House in Dalaro.