if there were no
other reason to the contrary.

Having done this, he was to navigate it to Sandsgaard, or, if an
opportunity offered, he should take a good cargo on board and
sail--no matter where.

Full of zeal and energy, Worse departed, in order to make his
preparations for the voyage. When he found himself again in the boat
it occurred to him, all of a sudden, that he would be separated from
Sarah. The good ship lost its interest, and the affair assumed a
doubtful aspect. His zeal cooled, and he conjured up a thousand
difficulties as they rowed across the bay.

Consul Garman, however, rubbed his hands; he had taken matters in
time. He sat down and proceeded to make calculations about this
Bremen ship, wondering whether the venture would prove successful.

In the afternoon, Madame Torvestad observed that Worse's
servant-girls were very busy in the yard, brushing his clothes and
preparing his kit.

"Is the captain going away, Martha?" she inquired, in a friendly
tone, speaking from the verandah, which ran round the portion of the
building which she occupied.

"Yes," answered Martha, rather sulkily. Madame Torvestad was no
favourite with the servants.

"Ah, indeed! and do you know whither?"

"No; but it is going to be a long voyage, longer even than the last,
I believe."

Martha had a suspicion that this would annoy Madame Torvestad, and
she was right. Madame was in a state of the utmost consternation,
still she maintained her composure, returning to her apartments, and
standing for some time, in order to consider what she should do.

"Sarah, put the kettle on. Captain Worse is going away. Martha says
so, but I think she must be mistaken. What is your opinion?"

"Mine, Mother!"

Madame Torvestad would have said more, but the expression of Sarah's
face was so peculiar that she desisted. "Sarah is prudent," she
thought to herself. "It is not necessary."

Upon this she smoothed her hair, took her cloak, and left the room.
She went out the back way, and so round to the front door; she did
not care to pass through the yard, where Martha was.

Jacob Worse was in an irritable condition; he was talking with the
head man at the warehouse, who managed for him during his absence.
His own private business in the town was not affected by his
admission into the firm.

Sandsgaard, with all its various branches of business, remained as
before, entirely under the control of the Consul. The partnership, in
fact, co