“Here, Finn ... help me....”
Hans scrambled down into one of the boats and was fumbling with the oars. But Finn ran on and jumped into the water, where the child was, without a moment’s reflection.
He could not swim and Hans had first to save him. Then, with the greatest difficulty, he rescued the child. They went home to Cordt’s house and, when the first fright was over and it became clear that Finn had suffered no harm, they all sat in the living-room and talked about it.
Fru Adelheid held Finn’s hand between her own and patted it and pressed it. Cordt walked up and down in great emotion.
“How could you take it into your head?” said Hans. “You know you can’t swim.”
“I never gave it a thought,” said Finn, quietly.
Cordt stopped in front of his son and nodded to him. Fru Adelheid kissed him on the forehead and her eyes beamed.
Hans looked at them, crimson with anger.
He thought of how Finn might have been drowned, or the child, or both of them. Then he remembered the scene in the woods, with the dying dog. He could not understand these people’s train of thought and he despised it. He looked at none of them and, with an effort, forced his voice to be calm, as he said:
“One has no right to behave like that. It is stupid.”