"You have nothing to blubber for," he said; "you can go in and see her if you like t-omorrow morning the first thing. You may go now and sleep in our bed."
Gjert obeyed; and his father paced to and fro on the floor afterwards for a long while in great agitation.
"That is her game, then, is it?" he exclaimed. "She knew what she was about, and she knew who it was she was threatening."
He sat down again on the bench-bed with clasped hands, and eyes fixed on the ground. Passion was working strongly within him.
"But she does not put compulsion upon me."
The candle was expiring in the socket, and he lit another and put it in its place. It was past midnight. He remained for a little with the candlestick in his hand, and then took the light in to Gjert. The boy was lying in his mother's place, and had evidently cried himself to sleep.
His father stood for a long while over him. His lips quivered, and his face became ashy pale. He controlled himself with an effort and went back to the other room, where he sat down in the same attitude as before.
When Gjert came in in the morning, he found his father lying down on the bench with all his clothes on. He was asleep. It was evident that he had sat up the whole night. It went to the boy's heart; and he felt sorry for his father now.
The latter woke shortly after and looked at him rather confusedly at first. Then he said, gently—
"I promised you yesterday, my boy, that you should go to your mother in
Arendal. I daresay she is wanting to see you."