The two were in no hurry to answer, but finished what they had to say. Then said Frederik, “Father’s up at the watergate.”
“Might have said that when I came up first,” thought Rolandsen. Oh, they were all indifferent to him now; they had let him go up to the office without a word.
“Couldn’t you send word to him?” asked Rolandsen.
Said Frederik slowly, “When father’s up at the watergate, he’s there because he’s business there.”
Rolandsen looked at the two with eyes of wonder.
“Better come again later on,” said Frederik.
“If I come a second time, it’ll be to say I shan’t come a third.”
Frederik shrugged his shoulders.
“There’s father,” said Elise.
Old Mack came walking towards them. He frowned, spoke sharply, and walked on ahead of Rolandsen to the office. All ungraciousness. Then he said: