"No, that won't do!" cried Miss Mary.
"Why not?" argued the commissioner. "What is the obstacle? There is only that room; in case Mr. Blom should have mine, then I must live in the same house as the ladies, and that would not do at all."
As there was no other choice, the matter was settled, and the assistant's baggage was carried up.
"Now to duty!" continued the commissioner, after it had become calm again. "The stromling have come, and in eight days the fishing will commence. Therefore the assistant must at once, preferably to-night, while this wind continues, go out and try the drifting nets, as he already knows how."
"May I go too?" begged Miss Mary, imitating a child's squeaking voice.
"Certainly you may do that, my angel," answered the commissioner, "if Mr. Blom has nothing against it. But you must excuse me that I leave you alone now, for I must write reports the whole night. At one o'clock you must be out. You can take the coffeepot with you."
"Oh, won't that be fun, such fun!" exulted the girl, who seemed to have become ten years younger.
"And now I go to order a boat equipped and get the nets ready. Look out and go to bed early to-night, so that you will not oversleep."
Therewith he went away, surprised over the incredulous surety, with which he forced his own will, since he had left an impossible defense and gone over to the offensive.
For the first time he entered the cottage of the hostile fisherman Oman.