Pelle nodded.
“What about my house then?” she asked slowly.
“Well, we bought that together with all the rest,” said Brun. “But as far as that goes it can easily be separated from the rest, only it’s rather soon to break up the cooperation before it’s started.” He waited a little, expecting that Ellen would say something, and when she continued silent he went on, rather shortly: “Well, then there’s nothing more to be said about that? Fair play’s a jewel, and to-morrow I’ll make arrangements for the conveyance of the house to you for the fifteen thousand (£850). And then we must give up the whole concern, Pelle. It won’t do for the man at the head of it to live on his private property; so that plan’s come to nothing!”
“Unless Ellen and I live in separate houses,” said Pelle slyly. “I might build just the other side of the boundary, and then we could nod to one another at any rate.”
Ellen looked at him gravely. “I only think it’s rather strange that you settle my affairs without asking me first,” she said at length.
“Yes, it was inconsiderate of us,” answered Brun, “and we hope you’ll forget all about it. You’ll give up the house then?”
“I’m pretty well obliged to when Pelle threatens to move out,” Ellen answered with a smile. “But I’m sorry about it. I’m certain that in a short time there’d have been money to make over it.”
“It’ll be nice, won’t it, if the women are going to move into our forsaken snail-shells?” said Brun half seriously.
“Ellen’s always been an incorrigible capitalist,” Pelle put in.
“It’s only that I’ve never had so much money that I shouldn’t know what it was worth,” answered Ellen, with ready wit.