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Page 34
"You must come with me now," said Canute, Without reply Lars rose:
they walked side by side to the wagon. Lars was helped in: Canute
seated himself by his side. What they talked about as they rode,
or afterward in the little chamber at Aakre, in which they
remained until morning, has never been known; but from that day
they were again inseparable.
As soon as disaster befalls a man, all seem to understand his
worth. So the parish took upon themselves to rebuild Lars
Hogstad's houses, larger and handsomer than any others in the
valley. Again he became chairman, but with Canute Aakre at his
side, and from that day all went well.
TWO FRIENDS
BY
ALEXANDER KIELLAND
From "Tales of Two Countries." Translated by H. H. Boyesen.
TWO FRIENDS
BY
ALEXANDER KIELLAND
No one could understand where he got his money from. But the
person who marvelled most at the dashing and luxurious life led by
Alphonse was his quondam friend and partner.
After they dissolved partnership, most of the custom and the best
connection passed by degrees into Charles's hands. This was not
because he in any way sought to run counter to his former partner;
on the contrary, it arose simply from the fact that Charles was
the more capable man of the two. And as Alphonse had now to work
on his own account, it was soon clear to any one who observed him
closely, that in spite of his promptitude, his amiability, and his
prepossessing appearance, he was not fitted to be at the head of
an independent business.
And there was one person who DID observe him closely. Charles
followed him step by step with his sharp eyes; every blunder,
every extravagance, every loss--he knew all to a nicety, and he
wondered that Alphonse could keep going so long.
They had as good as grown up together. Their mothers were cousins;
the families had lived near each other in the same street; and in
a city like Paris proximity is as important as relationship in
promoting close intercourse. Moreover, the boys went to the same
school.
Thenceforth, as they grew up to manhood, they were inseparable.
Mutual adaptation overcame the great differences which originally
marked their characters, until at last their idiosyncrasies fitted
into each other like the artfully-carved pieces of wood which
compose the picture-puzzles of our childhood.
The relation between them was really a beautiful one, such as does
not often arise between two young men; for they did not understand
friendship as binding the one to bear everything at the hands of
the other, but seemed rather to vie with each other in mutual
considerateness.
If, however, Alphonse in his relation to Charles showed any high
degree of considerateness, he himself was ignorant of it; and if
any one had told him of it he would doubtless have laughed loudly
at such a mistaken compliment.
For as life on the whole appeared to him very simple and
straightforward, the idea that his friendship should in any way
fetter him was the last thing that could enter his head. That
Charles was his best friend seemed to him as entirely natural as
that he himself danced best, rode best, was the best shot, and
that the whole world was ordered entirely to his mind.
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