ain raised the weighty mass, but not far enough for it to
hold itself in position unsupported, they stood helpless, for they had
no idea how to manoeuvre it farther. Nanna burst out laughing and ran
out of the room. Joergen shot a furious glance after her. This was too
much even for Mary. Three minutes ago she had been engaged in a
desperate struggle--now she was seized with such an inclination to laugh
that she, too, had to run away. She was standing outside with her
handkerchief to her mouth, doubled up with laughter, when the nurse came
out of her father's room; he wished to know what was going on. Mary went
to him. She could hardly tell him for laughing--tell him, that is, about
Mrs. Dawes's position, and Joergen's and the servants' struggles. Her
father tried to ask why Mrs. Dawes had been in the passage. This stopped
Mary's laughter. One of the maids came from the other room and said that
Mrs. Dawes was now in bed, and that she wished to speak to Miss Krog.

Joergen was standing at the foot of the bed. Mrs. Dawes lay groaning and
weeping and calling for Mary. No sooner did Mary appear at the door than
she began:

"What was happening to you, child? Sudden terror seized me. What was
going on?"

Mary went up to the bed without looking at Joergen. She knelt down and
put her arm round her old friend's neck.

"Oh, Aunt Eva!" she said, and laid her head on the old lady's breast.
Presently she began to cry.

"What is it? What is it? What is making you so unhappy?" moaned Mrs.
Dawes, stroking the beautiful hair.

At last Mary looked up. Joergen Thiis had gone; but she still kept
silence.

"I have never felt like that," began Mrs. Dawes again, "except when
something dreadful was happening."

Mary kept silence.

"Had Joergen Thiis anything to do with it?"

Mary gave her a look.

"Ah! that is what I feared. But remember, my child, that he has loved
you since the first time he saw you--you, and no one else. That means a
great deal. And never once so much as hinted it to you--has he?"

Mary shook her head.

"It's no small thing, that either. It shows strength of character. He
has served you and he has honoured you--don't be too hard on him. Not
till now, when you are poor, does he dare--but what was it?"

Mary waited a little; then she said:

"First I thought he was ill. Then he suddenly lost his senses."

"Oh, I could tell you something. I too.... Yes, yes, yes!" She seemed
lost in thought. Then she murmur