Chapter VI.
Engagement and Marriage.—Home-Life.—Planning the Polar Expedition.
Two months after Nansen had returned home from his Greenland expedition he became engaged to Eva Sars, daughter of the late Professor Sars, and was married to her the same autumn. Her mother was the sister of the poet Welhaven.
The following story of his engagement is related:—
“On the night of Aug. 12 a shower of gravel and small pebbles rattled against the panes of a window in the house where Fridtjof Nansen’s half-sister lived. He was very fond of her, and of her husband also, who had indeed initiated him in the use of gun and rod, and who had taken him with him, when a mere lad, on many a sporting excursion to Nordmarken.
“On hearing this unusual noise at the dead of night, his brother-in-law jumped out of bed in no very amiable frame of mind, and opening the window, called out, ‘What is it?’
“‘I want to come in!’ said a tall figure dressed in gray, from the street below.
“A volley of expletives greeted the nocturnal visitor, who kept on saying, ‘I want to come in.’
“Before long Fridtjof Nansen was standing in his sister’s bedroom at two o’clock in the morning.
“Raising herself up in the bed, she said, ‘But, Fridtjof, whatever is it?’