d Mr.
Garman had never got on well together. It was thus no light matter for
the widow to betake herself to Consul Garman; but Mr. Samuelsen had
assured her that it was quite out of the question to think of keeping
the business going without a guarantee from Garman and Worse.

When the Consul saw Mrs. Worse come into the room, he imagined that she
was bringing a subscription-list to raise the means for educating her
son, or something of that sort; and, as he offered her a chair on the
opposite side of the table, he turned over in his mind how much he
should subscribe. But when Mrs. Worse began to give an explanation of
her affairs, according to the calculations of Pitter Nilken, the
Consul's manner changed, and he got up, walked round the table, and
seated himself near her. He calmly and patiently examined each paper,
went through the calculations and figures, and at last read the draught
of a guarantee which Samuelsen had made, with the greatest attention.

"Who has assisted you with all this, Mrs. Worse?" he asked.

"Mr. Samuelsen," she answered, somewhat anxiously.

"Samuelsen? Samuelsen?" repeated the Consul.

"Yes, that is to say, Pitter Nilken. Perhaps you know him better by that
name."

"Ah yes! the little man in the shop. H'm! Does Mr. Samuelsen wish to go
into partnership with you?"

"No. I have asked him, but he prefers to remain in his present position,
and give me his assistance in the business."

The Consul got up with the guarantee in his hand. It was one of his
peculiarities that he could not write the signature of the firm except
when he was sitting in his usual place. But as soon as he had seated
himself in the old wooden armchair, he wrote in a large and bold hand,
"Garman and Worse," taking care to adorn the signature with several
flourishes, which he had inherited from his predecessors.

Armed with this document, Mrs. Worse and Mr. Samuelsen set to work at
the ruins. The first thing they did was to sell everything there was to
sell; but, with the assistance of Mr. Garman, they managed to save the
whole of the valuable premises. The front of the house was let, and the
old lady moved over to the back, where she took turns in the shop with
Mr. Samuelsen. She was at her post from early in the morning till late
in the evening, gossiping with her customers, and selling tobacco,
tallow candles, salt, coffee, tar-twine, herrings, train oil, paraffin,
tarpaulins, paint, and many other commodities.