“What do you think we should do with it?”
“Who’s been out buying things?” he thundered, turning to the children.
“It wasn’t me—not quite,” said Sivert, with one thumb deep in his mouth.
“That means it was you, you little whelp. What did you buy with the money?”
“I didn’t buy two eggs.” Sivert was steadfastly pleading not guilty.
Egholm called to mind that he had had an egg with his dinner. The depth of villainy was clear and plain.
Fru Egholm could hold out no longer. “I—I thought you needed something strengthening, Egholm; you’ve been looking so poorly. And I took out the thirty øre again and bought two eggs. One you had, and one I gave the children. They need it, too, poor dears.”
Egholm felt his brain seething; he gripped his head with both hands, as if fearing it might burst. Every nerve seemed to shudder as at the touch of glowing iron.
“Ye are cursed with a curse,” he said in a hollow voice.