s he did not take into reckoning--and
that he was upright and just in his dealings. Much, much more than
this was required of him.

Often when they talked and read of the obstacles to conversion, and
of the perils of the hour of temptation, he thought to himself: "Can
this, can all this be true?"

He had little trust in Sivert Gesvint, and he did not rely much on
the spiritual strivings of Endre Egeland, for he knew the other side
of him too well.

But Sarah, Sarah who in all respects was perfection itself, said,
literally said, that every day he must combat the old Adam and strive
against Satan.

This began to trouble him, and he inquired if she perceived much of
the old Adam in him?

She did, indeed; and he learnt to know more of himself than was
agreeable. First, he learnt that he swore. He could now see that that
was wrong. He endeavoured to overcome the habit, but it was too
thoroughly ingrained in him; still he fancied that he improved even
in this respect. So much, however, of the old Adam, even of Satan's
self, remained in him, that he was ill at ease.

Sarah wished him to join in prayer and singing; but it was out of his
power. He had not yet made such spiritual progress as was necessary,
she said.

No, unfortunately, he had not; he wished he had. It would be the
better for him.

When he observed how Sivert Jespersen handled sacred things at the
meetings, when he listened to his fawning unctuous voice, and at the
same time remembered how infamously he had cheated him in the affair
of the salt, the desire for spiritual things evaporated, and Jacob
Worse betook himself to his club.

The following day he was always treated as an invalid, and, in spite
of all that he could say, whether in jest or earnest, he had to
submit to gruel and the grey wrapper for a day, his wife sitting and
knitting by his side.

At last he came to believe that he was ill whenever she said he was.

The letter which Sarah had written to her stepson had produced a good
effect, and when Romarino, shortly after, came home, in order to set
up in business on his own account, the relations between him and his
young stepmother were perfectly amicable.

Romarino paid a little court to her in his frivolous way; but she did
not observe it, or, at all events, took no notice of it. However, it
brought a little of the spirit of youthfulness into the house.

Though Jacob Worse never took any step without consulting Sarah, it
always see