Page:Undset - Jenny (1921).djvu/135

 prepared for your coming. I am sorry, but I hope you will come another time."

Jenny understood that Mrs. Gram wished to get rid of her—it was quite natural, as she was without a servant and had to get the lunch—so she took her leave. On the stairs she met Mr. Gram—she thought so at least. As she passed him she had the impression that he looked very young and that his eyes were very blue.

WO days later, in the afternoon, when Jenny was painting in her studio, Helge's father called. As he stood with his hat in his hand, she saw that his hair was grey—so grey that she could not make out what the original colour had been, but he still looked young. He was thin, and had a slight stoop—not the stoop of an old man, but rather of one too slender for his height. His eyes too were young, though sad and tired and so big and blue that they gave one a curious impression of being wide open, surprised, and at the same time suspicious.

"I was very anxious to meet you, Jenny Winge," he said, "as you can understand for yourself. No; don't take off your overall, and tell me if I disturb you."

"Not in the least," said Jenny warmly. She liked his smile and his voice. She threw her overall on a chair: "The light is almost gone already. It was very good of you to come and see me."

"It is a very long time since I was in a studio," said Gram, sitting down on the sofa.

"Don't you ever see any of the other painters—your contemporaries?" asked Jenny.

"No, never," he answered curtly.