His two sons were waiting for him when the pilot came up to the jetty next morning.

Little Henrik had begun to shout to him gleefully while he was still some way off; but Gjert was quiet.

He had seen enough to feel that there must be something serious the matter between his parents, and he was depressed.
"Good morning, boys!" said their father, kindly; "how is your--aunt ?" "Better," replied Gjert.
"She sleeps in the daytime, too," added the "bagman," triumphantly--he had discovered that this was what was required to make her well again.
He then threw his cap down on the stones with a great sailor air, and with an eager "hale-hoi--o--ohoi!" began to haul in the shore-rope which his father had thrown, while Gjert, paying no attention whatever to his brother's efforts, made it fast to the mooring-ring.
"That's good lads! Stay here now, both of you, by the boat, and look after her till I come back," said their father.

"See, Gjert, that Henrik doesn't leave the quay." He left them then, and went rapidly up the street.
Elizabeth was standing by the hearth expecting him; and something of a Sunday calm seemed to have come over her as she stood there.

She heard him out in the passage; and when he entered, a rapid flush passed over her fine features, but it disappeared again immediately, and she stared at him with half-open lips, forgetting to greet him.