"No—that is true. I have much to thank you for which I have taken without thanks. Please God, I shall one day show my gratitude."
"Cannot we make it right now? What is it you want? To travel? We can travel; we have means enough."
"As I said before, let us drop this subject now."
He sighed, and taking up his cutty, he laid his forefinger over it. It was already filled; he produced a match-box.
"If you can smoke there is hope for you," said Magnhild.
"Oh! I am not smoking; it is nothing but habit,"—he drew a long sigh. "No, Magnhild, it is impossible for things to go well with me if you leave me. For that is about equal to closing up my house and driving me out into the world. The gossip of the people would be more than I could bear."
He looked now positively unhappy. Magnhild plucked several flowers; but if he expected an answer from her it was in vain.
"It is hard for those who have strong natures," said he; "the devil gains the upper-hand over them in many ways. I thought you would have helped me. One thing I must say: if we two could have had a right cozy home together, and a child"—
But here she sprang up quickly, and the flowers fell from her lap.
"Let us have no more of this! He who means to do right does not begin as you did. But in spite of the beginning you might perhaps still have—Yet how did you act? I say: let us have no more of this!"