"Well, I am not so aimless as you suppose," he returned, walking by her side. "I have been looking at that place."
"What place?"
"Where Dellwig wants to build the brick-kiln."
"Oh! What do you think of it?"
"What I knew I would think of it. It is a fool's plan. The clay is the most wretched stuff. It has puzzled me, seeing how very poor it is, that he should be so eager to have the thing. I should have credited him with more sense."
"He is quite absurdly keen on it. Last night I thought he would never stop persuading."
"But you did not give in?"
"Not an inch. I said I would ask you to look at it, and then he was simply rude. I do believe he will have to go. I don't really think we shall ever get on together. Certainly, as you say the clay is bad, I shall refuse to build a brick-kiln."
Axel smiled at her energy. In the morning she was always determined about Dellwig. "You are very brave to-day," he said. "Last night you seemed afraid of him."
"He comes when I am tired. I am not going to see him in the evening any more. It is too dreadful as a finish to a happy day."