Tom laughed.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t be, if I had such a load to carry.”
“And if you had a Katrine and kinder at home.”
“Just so. But I haven’t. How is it with you?”
“Oh, I’m an independent bachelor, roaming the world for a living. I’m like a cat. However I’m tossed up, I’m sure to land on my feet.”
“Then I hope I shall be like a cat, too.”
“You don’t seem very much disturbed.”
“No. It’s my first adventure, and I haven’t much to lose.”
“So with me. Well, Morton, how goes it? You look as if you were attending a funeral.”
“Will there be a funeral?” interrupted the terrified Dutchman. “Oh, Gott in Himmel! they will not kill us?”