Good-bye till then." He left the room rather brusquely, and his face was black as thunder.
Elizabeth read his thoughts, and when they came out into the kitchen she forestalled him.
"Listen, Salve," she said; "I must, of course, stay here as long as aunt is ill." "Of course," he replied; "and you have acquaintances here." "You mean Fru Beck?
Yes, she has been so kind to me, and I am attached to her--she is unhappily married, poor thing!" Salve was astounded.

Elizabeth seemed all in a moment to have forgotten a great deal--to have forgotten that there existed certain stumbling-blocks between them--was it perhaps because she was in her aunt's house?
He looked coldly at her as if he could not quite comprehend what had come over her.
"You will remain, of course, as long as you please," he said, and prepared to go; but could not help adding with bitterness-- "I daresay you find it lonely and dull at home." "You are not so far wrong there, Salve," she replied.

"I have indeed found it lonely enough out there for many years now.

You are so often away from home, and then I am left quite alone.

It is two years now since I have been in here to see my aunt." "Elizabeth," he burst out, trying hard to restrain himself, "have you taken leave of your senses ?" "That is just what I want to avoid, Salve," she said, with freezing deliberation.
He stared at her.