Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/75

 climbed a good way up, turned round in astonishment, wondering why we were not following him.

"But you must go first," Minna said, turning red.

"No, Miss Jagemann, it won't do. If you slip in such a place there is nothing for you to catch hold of. I can manage to steady myself and support you if you stumble; you need not be afraid of pulling me down, and anyhow"

"If only you would go on now," she interrupted.

"Dear me, do let us give up being so ridiculously particular. Would you, for the sake of such trifles, risk breaking your neck? Bother it all, there must be another way up. These stupid people! But in any case there is no danger if only you will do as I tell you. Please do not be so squeamish! "

In saying these words I pretended to be much more impatient and irritable than I really was, and I did it designedly. It gave me a delicious satisfaction to play the part of mentor, and to tyrannise over her for the sake of her welfare.

"I know you mean well, and so I won't be offended at your peremptory tone," she said, and looked at me earnestly. "In a way you are right. Indeed you would be quite so, if it were pretence or affectation on my part. But, unfortunately, I have this feeling, and to such an extent, that my movements would be like those of the dolls which used to be fashionable and whose boots were attached to one another by chains; and we should both, in the end, turn somersaults down the slope, which seems admirably adapted for such a performance. If, however, you go in front and allow me to help myself, and climb as ungracefully as I like, then, I promise you, the worst misfortune which can happen will be that I may scrape my