“Yes, father!” said Einar, as he dug his stick into a snow-drift, “and it isn’t very pleasant to be myself just now.”
At this the old man laughed scornfully, and shrugged his shoulders. “No, of course not,” he said. “Is a hundred and fifty krones a month too little? You have a family in Christiania, perhaps?”
Einar pressed his lips together, and his voice shook as he said, looking calmly at his father: “I wanted to follow the dictates of my conscience, and do what was right.”
“Yes, of course!” said the old man, coming a step nearer, and laughing again. “Does any one forbid you to do so?”
“I shall have to go in and save the innocent man,” said Einar, “no matter what it costs me.” But he involuntarily retreated a step, and gazed at his father in fear. The old man still tried to smile, because people could see them from the windows; but he suddenly turned pale.
“Yes, I thought so,” he said, breathing heavily; “but who has put you up to this?”
At this Einar flushed, and drew a step nearer. “Father!” he said, and his voice was indignant; “you must tell me what you mean by that.”
The old man, however, resented the authoritative tone, and began to gesticulate, while he shouted: “Go in and give evidence then, confound you! Don’t stand there and torture your father! Go at once, do you hear?”
He caught his breath and gesticulated with his arms, but no more words came; and he turned abruptly and tramped away, while Einar began mechanically to walk towards the court-house. Suddenly he heard his name called: “Einar!” He turned. “Yes, father?” His father was standing looking after him, but made a sudden movement with his hand. “Nothing!” he said, and went on. Pride had conquered.
Einar stood upon the steps of the court-house. There were a few steps to be made. “The fact is that father himself is the best proof that Wangen is innocent,” he thought. “But can I? Am I cowardly or courageous? All I have to do is to tell the truth and save an innocent man. Is that so dreadful? Perhaps it’s the only time in my life that a brave action will be required of me. I must be a man!” And he went on with slower steps into the passage, and knocked at the door.