Ole noticed that Tidemand's composure began to fail him.
"All right. I'll take it. And whenever you want it back it will be for
sale. I have a premonition that it will not be mine so very long."
"Well, God only knows. Anyway, I am doing what I can and should. I am glad
the place will be yours. It is beautiful; it is not my fault we have not
been there this summer. Well, this will help some; as for the rest, we'll
see. I trust I can manage without closing up; that would be hard indeed.
And worst for the sake of the children!"
Again Ole offered his assistance.
"I appreciate your help, and I will avail myself of it within reasonable
limits. But a loss is a loss, and even if I weather the storm without
going into bankruptcy I shall be a poor man all the same. I don't know
whether I own a penny now or not--I am only glad that you didn't join me
in that unhappy speculation, Ole; that is a blessing, anyway. Well, we'll
see."
Ole asked:
"Does your wife know about this?"
"No; I'll tell her after the trip to-morrow."
"The trip? I'll cancel that, of course."
"No," said Tidemand, "I will ask you not to do that. Hanka is looking
forward to it; she has spoken of it a good deal.
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