"But so suddenly?"
"Didn't I tell you yesterday?"
"Yes, of course, but--would you like Nikolai to drive you?"
"No, thank you."
The boy was interested now, for I had a knapsack on my back and a coat with entirely unfamiliar buttons; he wanted me to carry him. Very well, then--just for a moment. But it was for more than a moment, more than a few moments, too. The knapsack had to be opened and investigated, of course. Then Nikolai entered the room.
Fru Ingeborg said to me:
"I'm afraid you think that just because my sister's here now--but we've got another room. And besides, now that it's summer, she could easily sleep in the loft."
"But, my dear child, I must leave some time--I have work to do, too, you know."
"Well, of course," said Fru Ingeborg, giving it up.
Nikolai offered to drive me, but did not press me when I thanked him and refused.