He stumbled out of the room, and nailed up the picture of his wife on the door at the foot of the stairs that led to Snebiorg’s room.
“Ragna,” he said, “keep guard over that door for me, will you? You know what I am when I’ve had too much. Do all sorts of mad things. But mustn’t go up there. Not up there—no. You guard the door, Ragna. Yes.”
Then he stumbled back to his arm-chair and his glass.
“There you are, my boy; now you can carry on for a bit. Couldn’t get to sleep now anyhow. Not eleven yet. And there’s lots of things to think of yet.”
He took a long drink and laughed.
“Fount of youth—serves up the same old thoughts as if they were new. Night after night—chewing the cud of old thoughts. Nonni, my boy, you’re a ruminating animal. Sad, isn’t it? Well, what does it matter? Heaps of people do the same. Chew the cud of their sorrows and joys, and their trifles, and their love—yes, ha ha, love, of course. Nice word for something else.... There, now you’re being a beast. And if you are, you needn’t make out all the world’s the same. You knew something about love yourself, once ... blubbering, Nonni—whisky going to your eyes, what? Dry up, do; it won’t make things any better. Can’t stand one bottle—you’re getting out of form. Well, well, here’s the last glass for tonight. Not too much soda this time—stiff one to make you sleep. Only think, if one could drop off to sleep and out of it all. Well, well, that’ll come too before long, never fear. Nuisance that you can’t take a light with you when you go. Nasty to wake up in the dark when you’re dead. What nonsense—you don’t wake up when you’re dead.... Anyhow, it’s nothing to be afraid of, Nonni, my boy. Well, off we go—walk steady, now. Those stairs ... but we weren’t going up those stairs.... And why not, I should like to know? Fine girl there waiting ... and the other young fool, he’ll break his neck ... finest girl I’ve set eyes on for many a long day.”
He staggered from the room, and out to the staircase door, where his wife’s picture hung.
“What the—good Lord, it’s Ragna! I’m sorry, Ragna—first time you’ve.... Oh, I remember now. Well, well, there’s no going that way. No, I shouldn’t have ... no.... Good-night, Ragna.”
He turned towards his own room next to the surgery. “That’s right, Nonni, boy—that’s the way. Leave the girl alone. Heart? Never mind your heart—nothing to do with the heart really, you know. Not that sort of thing.... This way, boy. That’s right.”
He went into his own room, and stumbled into bed. For a long time he lay awake, muttering to himself. At last, when the candle had burnt down and the room was in darkness, he gradually lapsed into sleep.