“Yes.”
“He comes to you for aid against me....”
“He is in great need of it, Joh....”
Silence. Then Joh Fredersen raised his head. His eyes looked as though sprinkled with purple.
“I have lost, Hel, mother,” he said. “I can’t lose Freder too....”
“Have you reason to fear that you will lose him?”
“Yes.”
“Then I am surprised,” said the old lady, “that Freder has not yet come to me....”
“He is very ill, mother....”
The old lady made a movement as though wishing to rise, and into her archangel eyes there came an angry glitter.