It is Sunday.
I walked up to have a look at the trench and the reservoir; a few more good days now, and we should have the pipes laid down. I was quite excited about it myself, and could hardly wait for tomorrow's working-day to begin again. The Captain had not interfered in the arrangements, not with a single word, but left all to me, so that it was no light matter to me if the frost came now and upset it all.
When I got back, there was the landau outside the house—the horses had been taken out. Grindhusen would about have had time to get back, I thought; but why had he pulled up in front of the steps to the house?
I went into the kitchen. The maids came towards me; Fruen was in the carriage, they said; 'she had come back once again. She had just been to the station, but now she was going there again. Could I make out what was the matter with her, now?
“Nervous, I expect,” said I. “Where's Nils?”
“Up in the woods. Said he'd be away some time. There's only us here now, and we can't say more to her than we have.”
“And where's Grindhusen?”
“Changing the horses again. And Fruen's sitting there in the carriage and won't get out. You go and speak to her.”
“Oh, well, there's no great harm in her driving about a bit. Don't worry about that.”
I went out to the carriage, my heart beating fast. How miserable and desperate she must be! I opened the carriage door, and asked respectfully if Fruen would let me drive this time.