When, late in the evening, after the dance, they were all trooping down to the steamer, Mary and Jörgen arm in arm, she said to him: "Is it true that the soldiers under your command complain of you?"
"It is quite likely that they do, Miss Krog." He laughed.
"Is there anything to laugh about in that?"
"There is certainly nothing to cry about."
He was in a very jovial mood, and would fain have put his arm round her and danced down to the pier, as many of the others were doing. But Mary warded him off.
"I was very sorry to hear it," she said.
Then he understood that she was in earnest.
"The fact is, Miss Krog, that Norwegians, generally speaking, don't know what obedience and discipline are. During the short time we have them under command, we must teach them."
"Teach them in what way?"
"In small things, of course."