Miss Röy did not speak again for some time; she sat observing. Mary thought to herself: It is tactful of her not to begin a conversation about her brother.
The two ladies kept together during the sail. And they also sat beside each other when dessert was served out of doors at Marielyst and speeches were made. The success of the entertainment went to Jörgen Thiis's head. One after another came round to him and drank his health; he became sentimental, and made a speech. His toast was "the ideal, the eternal ideal." Fortunate the man to whom it was revealed in his youth! He bore it in his breast as his inextinguishable guiding lamp on the path of life! Pale and excited, Jörgen emptied his glass and flung it away.
This sudden earnestness came so unexpectedly upon the merry company that they laughed—one and all.
Miss Röy said to Mary: "You met Lieutenant Thiis abroad?"
"Both this winter and last," answered Mary carelessly; she was eating ice.
A young girl was standing beside them. "He is a curious man, Jörgen Thiis," said she. "He is so amiable with us; but he is said to be a perfect tyrant with the soldiers."
Mary turned towards her in surprise. "A tyrant—in what way?"
"They say that he irritates them dreadfully—is exacting and ill-tempered, and punishes for nothing."
Mary turned her largest eyes upon Margrete Röy.
"Yes, it is true," said the latter indifferently; she, too, was eating ice.