As Fru Rendalen was undressing she heard, to her astonishment, Tomas going out; she half opened the door.
"My dear boy, where are you going?"
"It is such splendid starlight."
Fru Rendalen could not be called romantic; she went to the window and peered out from behind the curtain; yes, it was starlight, quite so. There are so many things that a schoolmistress has to think of, that there is no time left for the stars. Yet the tone in which he spoke of them! Tomas had not for some time seemed so happy as this evening. He had never before stayed with them the whole time, till past midnight! He really was beginning to take root, or was it through combativeness? He was terribly like the Kurts.
"Fru Rendalen?"
"Good gracious!"
"It is only I."
"Why, my dear Nora, are you not in bed? I am coming to the door. What! you are still dressed?"
"It is such lovely starlight."
"Tomas has gone out."