"Have you heard lately from your husband?"
"No."
A long pause. Was Peter Klausson fit company for Aksel Aarö? Her husband's boon companion! Aarö, who will have nothing but what is genuine. But as she thought this, she had to admit that Peter Klausson's impulsive nature was perfectly truthful, which indeed it was. The waiter came in with a basket of wine, but did not shut the door after him until he had lifted in some more from outside: champagne in ice.
"Shall we want so much wine?" asked Ella.
"Oh, it's all right," answered Peter Klausson, evidently delighted.
"But Aarö does not drink wine!"
"Aarö? When he asked me to come here to-day—I chanced to look in on him—we had some first-rate cognac together."
Ella turned to the window, for she felt that she had grown pale.
Very soon Aarö came in, so courteous and stately that Peter Klausson felt compelled to take his hands out of his pockets. He hardly dared to speak. Aarö said that he had invited the Holmbos, but they had just sent an excuse. They three must make the best of each other's society. He led Ella to the table.