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superficial observer。〃
〃Oh； how charmingly he understands how to deceive himself；〃 cried
Inga。
〃Merely a quid pro quo；〃 said Arnfinn。
〃I know what I shall do！〃
〃And so do I。〃
〃Won't you tell me； please？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then I sha'n't tell you either。〃
And they flew apart like two thoughtless little birds （〃sanguine；〃 as
Strand would have called them）； each to ponder on some formidable plot
for the reconciliation of the estranged lovers。
V。
During the week that ensued； the multifarious sub…currents of
Strand's passion seemed slowly to gather themselves into one clearly
defined stream； and； after much scientific speculation； he came to the
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conclusion that he loved Augusta。 In a moment of extreme
discouragement； he made a clean breast of it to Arnfinn； at the same time
informing him that he had packed his knapsack； and would start on his
wanderings again the next morning。 All his friend's entreaties were in
vain； he would and must go。 Strand was an exasperatingly head… strong
fellow； and persuasions never prevailed with him。 He had confirmed
himself in the belief that he was very unattractive to women； and that
Augusta； of all women； for some reason which was not quite clear to him；
hated and abhorred him。 Inexperienced as he was； he could see no
reason why she should avoid him； if she did not hate him。 They sat
talking until mid… night； each entangling himself in those passionate
paradoxes and contradictions peculiar to passionate and impulsive youth。
Strand paced the floor with large steps； pouring out his long pent…up
emotion in violent tirades of self… accusation and regret； while Arnfinn sat
on the bed； trying to soothe his excitement by assuring him that he was not
such a monster as； for the moment； he had believed himself to be； but only
succeeding； in spite of all his efforts； in pouring oil on the flames。 Strand
was scientifically convinced that Nature； in accordance with some
inscrutable law of equilibrium； had found it necessary to make him
physically unattractive； perhaps to indemnify mankind for that excess of
intellectual gifts which； at the expense of the race at large； she had
bestowed upon him。
Early the next morning； as a kind of etherealized sunshine broke
through the white muslin curtains of Arnfinn's room； and long streaks of
sun…illumined dust stole through the air toward the sleeper's pillow； there
was a sharp rap at the door； and Strand entered。 His knapsack was
strapped over his shoulders； his long staff was in his hand； and there was
an expression of conscious martyrdom in his features。 Arnfinn raised
himself on his elbows； and rubbed his eyes with a desperate determination
to get awake； but only succeeded in gaining a very dim impression of a
beard； a blue woolen shirt； and a disproportionately large shoe buckle。
The figure advanced to the bed； extended a broad； sun…burned hand； and a
deep bass voice was heard to say：
〃Good…bye； brother。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
Arnfinn； who was a hard sleeper； gave another rub； and； in a
querulously sleepy tone； managed to mutter：
〃Why；is it as late as thatalready？〃
The words of parting were more remotely repeated； the hand closed
about Arnfinn's half… unfeeling fingers； the lock on the door gave a little
sharp click； and all was still。 But the sunshine drove the dust in a dumb；
confused dance through the room。
Some four hours later； Arnfinn woke up with a vague feeling as if
some great calamity had happened； he was not sure but that he had slept a
fortnight or more。 He dressed with a sleepy； reckless haste； being but
dimly conscious of the logic of the various processes of ablution which he
underwent。 He hurried up to Strand's room； but； as he had expected；
found it empty。
During all the afternoon； the reading of 〃David Copperfield〃 was
interrupted by frequent mutual condolences； and at times Inga's hand
would steal up to her eye to brush away a treacherous tear。 But then she
only read the faster； and David and Agnes were already safe in the haven
of matrimony before either she or Arnfinn was aware that they had
struggled successfully through the perilous reefs and quick… sands of
courtship。
Augusta excused herself from supper； Inga's forced devices at
merriment were too transparent； Arnfinn's table…talk was of a rambling；
incoherent sort； and he answered dreadfully malapropos； if a chance word
was addressed to him； and even the good…natured pastor began； at last； to
grumble； for the inmates of the Gran Parsonage seemed to have but one
life and one soul in common； and any individual disturbance immediately
disturbed the peace and happiness of the whole household。 Now gloom
had； in some unaccountable fashion； obscured the common atmosphere。
Inga shook her small wise head； and tried to extract some little consolation
from the consciousness that she knew at least some things which Arnfinn
did not know； and which it would be very unsafe to confide to him。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
VI。
Four weeks after Strand's departure； as the summer had already
assumed that tinge of sadness which impresses one as a foreboding of
coming death； Augusta was walking along the beach； watching the flight
of the sea…birds。 Her latest 〃aberration；〃 as Arnfinn called it； was an
extraordinary interest in the habits of the eider… ducks； auks； and sea…gulls；
the noisy monotony of whose existence had； but a few months ago；
appeared to her the symbol of all that was vulgar