One of Life's Slaves

of work, that

n at barge-builder Hansen's, where he got a lodging up in the tool-loft, and his food on the days when he got a chanc

suddenly

mers, a fellow with his hands could s

gh with a stomach not overladen with food dur

encounter with the police, and had been sufficiently dexterous to get off without their being able to fix anything

re both agreeable and talkative. But when-and that not once only-he suddenly turned to, and darted over the landing-stage from the steamer with a large trunk on his back and a traveller at his heels, p

for an empty stomach, and make his way by threats and with his fists, and-when it was a case of being entrusted with a bu

l jobs he might now and then chance to be alone in-when the lock of a door had slipped, or the door came off its hinges, or some kind o

. He often took spirits for his supper to get them to pass. And then he had to think over what he would try

pulled high up about his ears. It was not difficult to see in him the smith's apprentice. Whenever he met any of H?gberg's men, he burst into a scornful laugh. Did they think, perhaps

so other places in the town that he made a round to avoid-namely, that part of the

might be, he had n

le time, and wanted him to stand first in one place and then in another. It could not be fear of any one at home, and then it suddenly da

that she did not care what people thought. What did she care about him, when he had n

is the sun. He distributes overcoats in the shape of warm, sunny walls, brings life and

ng, and was now standing, in the midday rest, ba

dress, that was running with her body bent forwards, and a handkerchief o

hing haste in her like that of a frightened corn-crake, that turns its head now to one

ai! Ni

ining, both the notes, and the silver too. I ran down to tell you directly I had taken father's dinner to the workshop. And now I'm going to the smithy, and they shall hear what

said he bitterly and unmelted. But she did not notice

t up for himself in Svelvig, there was no one there

nken sugar-loaf, which a crowd of small boys, amid noise and clamour, were labouring to

the word thief on to him, he had got soaked through with salt water, just like t

to get the sugar-loaf up, but you

or-handle was just as precise, his walk up to the brown counter after having laid down his tools, exactly the same, though his face had a little more colour in it. He had a certain reputation there, which had a

, Silla was walking about outside

ite handkerchief tied round her neck; but clothes did not seem to set h

reet. She had fancied the same thing last Saturday evening. She had not really spoken to him si

he street-she was quite

not to be seen. So she turned back again, disappointed, keeping constant watch on

ast the time. They were beginning to shut the shops here and there, and if she w

itting there still-whether he had not perhaps gone when

kly to again, as a bare-headed, half-dressed servant-girl ran out. Immediately after, a man came out in similar haste, and th

g was th

ather hammered open, so that the p

nd any longer-it was Saturday evening, you know-and w

e accustomed to them. She was not anxious about her

come out? Every one

erally sat at the table just inside; he always kept the same place. And she went up and peered in between

ty counter, with his necktie and shirt unfaste

d a lancet!-he moved

e, except that some wanted to deny her entrance, a

find herself sitting by the counter supporting her father's head. She thought she remembered c

funnels and beer-bottles pushed right up to the wall to make room. His wide-open eyes stared up at the once white-washed beams of the c

blic-house bear, as he was called; he who turned people

f the brandy-cask down into the dish beneath, and saw, through the half-open do

ts on the counter at the feet of the prostrate figure. He listened at its chest with the stethoscope a

down!" he said with a glance up at Silla;

face of the girl looked into his, as if she would b

omething like a

n air of superiority, and a mouth drawn up like his professor's, that the young

e man's stone d

a cry from Silla, who thr

ght, and put his instruments together preparatory to going, but gazed at the same time

ad, are you, f

oung doctor felt that he was witnessing an unpleasant scene from life

hind Silla, trying to recall her to herself. He took her by the shoulder,

on't you hear? I

o or three times to lif

rs. Selvig and the girls. He made notes, a

d the impression that he wanted another dram-and when he slowly sank down from his chair, supposed that he was drunk. Used ne

r as they were described in the police report-"Several of the regular visitors to

used from their dull, Saturday evening drowsiness, had already disappeared

bly be some other dire

y that Mrs. Selvig could th

ous, that she, a widow with two daughters, could no longer feel justified in letting it run on. During all the years he had frequented her house, she had faithfully kept her word never to send a bill home to his house. But a bill cannot lie for ever on the threshold, as the police know.

le more men to help carry. And they must have a proper contrivance with a cloth over, so that the whole thing would look lik

t and putting together, out of some green bed-hangings. One's good name is dear to ev

had been moved on to the stretcher, which stood on the floor

in the evening when it was darker, and an undes

crying. There was no one in

back to the window; there was no sound but the hummi

e broke t

u and to me, as often as

id not

u know. He'll be spared that now, and setting

from Silla, followed by

of you, and knows what it is-I have never had any father either, nor ever seen any. And I will be a smith, as there won't be any more block-making

d I'll stand there until everything is in, and I shall be

side, Nikolai!

the stretcher out through the door, and, with a little diffic

th the two bearers and the public-house be

sed the basket, which she had forgotten, into