"Yes, they both belong to a small circle, some of the members of which are artists. You must have heard about young Sellén, whose picture was bought by his Majesty?"
"Of course, I have! We went to the Exhibition on purpose to have a look at it. Is he one of them?"
"Yes; they're often very hard up, these young fellows, but that's nothing new in the case of young men who have to fight their way in the world."
"They say your brother-in-law's a poet," went on Mrs. Homan.
"Oh, rather! He writes excellent verse! The academy gave him a prize; the world will hear of him in time," replied Mrs. Falk with conviction.
"Haven't I always said so?" agreed Mrs. Homan.
And Arvid Falk's talents were enlarged upon, so that he had arrived in the Temple of Fame when the footman announced the Rev. Nathanael Skore. The latter entered hastily and hurriedly shook hands with the ladies.
"I must ask your indulgence for being so late," he said, "but I'm a very busy man. I have to be at a meeting at Countess Fabelkrantz's at half-past nine, and I have come straight from my work."
"Are you in a hurry then, dear pastor?"
"Yes, my wide activities give me no leisure. Hadn't we better begin business at once?"