"Where? Oh, yes, it looks like him," answered Tidemand indifferently.
"And the lady who is with him, isn't that Miss Lynum?"
"Perhaps it is. Yes, I fancy that is she."
"But wasn't she going away to-day? It seems to me I heard—Perhaps she has changed her mind?"
"I suppose she has."
Coldevin glanced swiftly at him. Tidemand looked as if he did not want to be disturbed. He excused himself politely and walked off, lost in thought.
VI
No, Aagot did not go away as had been arranged. It occurred to her that she ought to buy a few things for her smaller sisters and brothers. It was quite amusing to go around and look at the store windows all alone; she did that all the afternoon, and it was six when at last she was through and happened to meet Irgens on the street. He relieved her of her parcels and went with her. Finally they hailed a carriage and took a ride out in the country. It was a mild and quiet evening.
No, she must not go away to-morrow. What good would that do? One day more or less didn't matter. And Irgens confessed frankly that he was not very flush at present, or he would have accompanied her…. If not in the same compartment, at least on the same train. He wanted to be near her to the very last. But he was too poor, alas!
Wasn't it a crying shame that a man like him should be so hard up? Not that she would have allowed him to come, but…. How it impressed her that he so frankly told her of his poverty!