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Page 19
Now it is certainly true, that whenever Counsellor Bagger was seen
for quite a time, he was mostly dreaming and suffering; and people
who have not themselves experienced something similar, or have not
a fancy for putting themselves in his place, will say, perhaps,
that they could have managed themselves better. But, at all
events, it cannot be said, that from this time forward he was
unpractical; for within eight days from Mrs. Canuteson's birthday
he had not only learned where Miss Hjelm lived, but had
established himself in a tavern close by the farm, and obtained
admittance to the house, which last was not so difficult, since
Mrs. Hjelm was a friendly, hospitable lady, and since neither her
daughter nor niece thought they ought to prejudice her against
him.
In this manner four or five days passed away, which, to judge from
Bagger's appearance, were to him very pleasant. He wrote to his
colleagues in the Superior Court, that one could only value an
autumn in Nature's lap after so laborious and health-destroying
work as his life for many years had been. Then one day he received
a letter from the unknown, reading thus:
"Be more successful than last time, at Mrs. Emmy Lund's on
Tuesday, two o'clock. Please notice, two o'clock precisely."
"Does she mean so? Is she really coquettish? Yet I think I have
been successful so far," said Bagger to himself, and waited for
the Tuesday with comparative ease; in truth he did not at all
understand why he should be troubled to go to town.
As early on Tuesday forenoon as proper, he went over to the farm,
and was somewhat surprised that there was to be seen no
preparation for a town journey. Ingeborg, in her usual morning
dress, was seated at the sewing-table. He waited until towards
twelve o'clock, calculating that two hours was the least she
needed in which to dress and drive to town. The long hand
threatened to touch the short hand at the number twelve, without
any appearance of Ingeborg's noticing it. She only now and then
cast a stealthy look at him, for it had not escaped her, nor the
others, that he was in expectancy and excitement. When the clock
struck twelve,--he was just alone with her,--he asked suddenly, in
a quick, trembling voice:
"Miss Hjelm, you know I am Superior Court Counsellor?"
"No: that I did not know," she said almost with dread, and arose.
"No: that I have never known!"
"But allow me, dear lady, so you know it now," he said, surprised
that the title or profession produced so strong an effect.
"Yes, now I know it," she said, and held her hand upon her heart.
"Why do you tell me that? What does that signify?"
"Nothing else, Miss Hjelm, than that you may understand that I
don't believe in witchcraft."
A speaker's physiognomy is often more intelligible than his words;
and as Miss Hjelm saw the both hearty and spirited or jovial
expression in the counsellor's face, she had not that inclination,
which she under other circumstances would have had, quickly to
break off the conversation and go away. It is possible, also, that
his situation as Superior Court Counsellor--as that counsellor
mentioned by Miss Brandt--did not, after a moment's consideration,
appear to her so dreadful as at the first moment of surprise. So
she answered:
"But, Mr. Counsellor, is there then anybody who has accused you of
believing in witchcraft?"
"No, dear madam; but for all that I can assure you, that at the
moment the clock struck twelve I thought that you, by two o'clock,
most fly away in the form of a bird."
"As the clock struck twelve now, at noon?--not at midnight?"
"No, just a little since."
"That is remarkable. Can you satisfy my curiosity, and tell me
why?"
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