Although the principal was occupied for the time being with some pupils in dialect, his wife went and fetched him when she heard that Fru Thora had come on an important errand; and soon they were all three sitting round a table in the large, comfortable drawing-room, with port wine in front of them.
Principal Heggen was a man of about fifty years of age, with a bald head, a long brown beard, and spectacles. He had a fine, high forehead, and nice eyes. He was well known for his kind disposition, and as he was most unsuspecting, he loved many things. As regarded religion, he was a warm advocate of a national Christianity.
“Yes, I’ve come on an important errand to-day,” said Fru Thora, sipping her glass.
Both the schoolmaster and his wife looked attentively at her. She continued with a smile as she looked from the one to the other:
“It’s in connection with recent events. It has been a sad time, and a disgrace to the district.”
“Yes,” said Fru Heggen, shaking her head as she knitted.
“But we who sit here have got off fairly well. I only got sneered at a little in the papers because I was rude enough to wish to take one of their children for a time; and you, Heggen, have been found fault with because you remained neutral.” Fru Thora could not help laughing.
“Poor man!” said the schoolmaster, playing with his beard.
“Ye-es! It’s hard on him, and we won’t judge Wangen,” said she, “but as long as we live in an orderly community, I suppose we have the right to some protection; and it doesn’t do to go on as Wangen has done.”
Fru Heggen shook her head once more, said “No,” and looked at her husband.