Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/327

 you never there? But at that time of course you slept like a log—like you men."

"But you had never told me that you were there at that hour."

"Are you then to have everything given to you with a spoon?"

"I, for my part, prefer to eat solid food, and with a fork," Stephensen said.

Minna looked astonished, not exactly at him, but in his direction, as if she was surprised that any remarks should come from that quarter. When we began to ascend, the conversation soon ceased. To walk uphill was trying to Minna; palpitation of the heart and shortness of breath compelled her frequently to stop. Stephensen walked a few paces in front; she took my arm and leant on it.

At table the conversation was rather halting and indefinite. But when we were in the carriage, Minna seated herself cosily in the corner and said—

"Well, Harald! Now, you must tell me how life has treated you in these years. Everything, good and bad."

I obeyed her command as well as I could. Minna looked at me constantly, so that at times her eyes stared me out of countenance; she also smiled continuously, but often as if she was thinking of quite different scenes. Sometimes she laughed—yes, she even teased me a little about the English beauties.

"Oh, pooh," I exclaimed, a little annoyed. "Beauties! I have not seen any who came up to you."

Minna threw herself back, and laughed with her handkerchief to her mouth.

"Well, there is a feather in your cap," Stephensen remarked.

He sat on the front seat, and looked most of the time out