"I had thought of sleeping here to-night, and not starting till to-morrow morning."
"Sleep here, mother?" She turned towards her mother with a look of surprise.
"I want very much to talk to you this evening."
The daughter recognised in her mother's eyes the same expression she had seen there at the station at Christiania: and she flushed. Then she turned back again into the room.
"Yes, suppose we take a walk." The mother came and put her arm round her neck.
Shortly after they were down by the river. It was between lights, and the softened hues of plain and ridge gave one a feeling of uncertainty.
A perfumed air was wafted from wood and meadow, and the rush of the river rose fiercely to their ears.
"It was of your father I wished to speak."
"My father?"
The daughter tried to stop her, but the mother went on.