l again. He derived the
greatest satisfaction from feeling the rough surface of the silk cling
to the hard skin on the inside of his hands.

At the building-yard he met Martin, who was coming hastily along in the
opposite direction.

"Is your sister at home?" asked Torpander.

"Yes, you will find her at home," answered Martin, with an ominous
smile.

In the yard close to the house at Sandsgaard, Martin met Pastor Martens,
who was on his way from the town, dressed in cassock and ruff.

Martin touched his cap. "Will you come and see my sister, sir? She is at
the point of death."

"Who is your sister?" asked the pastor.

"Marianne, sir; Anders Begmand's granddaughter."

"Oh yes, I remember now," answered the pastor, who knew her history
perfectly well. "But I cannot come just now; I have to go in here first.
Consul Garman is also on his death-bed. But I will come afterwards."

"Oh yes, this is just what I might have expected," muttered Martin,
turning to go away.

"Wait a moment, young man," cried the pastor. "If you think that time
presses, I will go and see your sister. It's the last house, is it not?"
Upon which he went on past Sandsgaard, and on towards West End.

Martin was astonished, if not almost disappointed. The pastor meanwhile
continued his way, which he did not find very pleasant when he had to
pass among the cottages. Ragged urchins waylaid him, the girls and the
old women put their heads out of the doors and gaped after him, while a
group of children who were grovelling on the shore cheered him lustily.
Wherever he turned, all reeked of filth and poverty.

As Torpander could get nothing out of Anders Begmand, whom he found
huddled up in a corner of the room, he went upstairs and knocked at
Marianne's door. No one said "Come in," and he therefore ventured to
open the door slightly and look into the room.

Poor man! he was so appalled that he could scarcely keep his feet. There
she lay, his own beloved Marianne; her mouth half open, and moaning
incessantly. Her cheeks, which were sunken, were of an ashy white, and
in the dark hollows round her eyes were standing small drops of
perspiration. He had no idea that her state was so hopeless; and this
was the time he had chosen for making his proposal! Marianne lifted her
eyes. She knew him--of that he felt assured, for she smiled faintly with
her own heavenly smile; but he could not help remarking how conspicuous
her teeth appeared. She could no lon