not a word was uttered.
And now he heard more sounds, sounds of canvas being furled, or clothes
passed through a mangle, or something of that sort.

The conductor felt compelled to get up and look, and he went, commending
his soul into the hands of the Almighty.

Well, first of all he saw Louisa's print-dress disappearing through the
kitchen door; then he saw blinds, but blinds which had been pulled up;
he saw the dining-table covered with flowers, arranged in glasses; as
many flowers as there had been on his wedding-day when he had brought
his bride home.

And behold! The sun, the sun shone right into his face, shone on blue
fjords and distant woods; it was the sun which had illuminated the
sitting-room and played all the little tricks. He blessed the sun which
had been up so early in the morning and made a game of the sluggard. And
he blessed the memory of her whom he called the sun of his life. It was
not a new name, but he could not think of a better one, and as it was,
it was good enough.

And on his altar stood a rose, quite fresh, as fresh as _she_ had been
before the never-ending work had tired her. Tired her! Yes, she had not
been one of the strong ones; and life with its blows and knocks had been
too brutal for her! He had not forgotten how, after a day's cleaning or
ironing, she would throw herself on the sofa and say in a complaining
little voice, "I am so tired!" Poor little thing, this earth had not
been her home, she had only played once, on tour, as it were, and then
had gone far away.

"She lacked sunshine," the doctor had said, for at that time they
couldn't afford sun, because rooms on the sunny side are so expensive.

But now he had sun without having known it; he stood right in the
sunlight, but it was too late. Midsummer was past, and soon the sun
would disappear again, stay away for a year and then come back. Things
are very strange in this world!

THE PILOT'S TROUBLES

The pilot cutter lay outside, beyond the last beacon fire on the
headland; the winter sun had set long ago and the sea ran high; it was
the real sea with real huge breakers. Suddenly the first mate signalled:
"Sailing ship to windward."

Far out at sea, a long way off the harbour, a brig was visible; she
had backed her sails and hoisted the pilot's flag; she was asking to be
taken into port.

"Look out!" shouted the master-pilot, who was standing at the helm.
"We'll have a job in this sea, but we must try and ge