but he was between her and
the door.

"Well," said Merle, "but you must do something to make yourself useful
first. Suppose you ran up that step-ladder for me."

"Delighted. Why, this is great fun!" The slight wooden ladder creaked
under the weight of his solid form as he climbed. "How high am I to go?"

"To reach the top shelf--that's it. Now, you see that big brown jar?
Careful--it's cranberries."

"Splendid--I do believe we're to have cranberry preserve at dinner." By
standing on tiptoe he managed to reach and lift the heavy jar, and stood
holding it, his face flushed with his exertions.

"And now, little lady?"

"Just stay there a moment and hold it carefully; I have to fetch
something." And she hurried out.

Klaus stood at the top of the ladder, holding the heavy jar. He looked
round. What was he to do with it? He waited for Merle to return--but she
did not appear. Someone was playing the piano in the next room. Should
he call for help? He waited on, getting redder and redder in the face.
And still no Merle came.

With another mighty effort he set the jar back in its place, and then
climbed down the ladder and walked into the drawing-room, very red and
out of breath. In the doorway he stopped short and stared.

"What--well, I'll--And she's sitting here playing the piano!"

"Yes. Aren't you fond of music, Herr Brock?"

"I'll pay you out for this," he said, shaking a finger at her. "Just you
wait and see, little lady, if I don't pay you out, with interest!" And
he turned and went upstairs, chuckling as he went.

Peer was sitting at the writing-table in his study when Klaus came in.
"I'm just sealing up the letter with the money for Martin Bruvold,"
he said, setting the taper to a stick of sealing wax. "I've signed it:
'From the shark fishers.'"

"Yes, it was a capital idea of Ferdinand's. What d'you think the poor
old fellow'll say when he opens it and the big notes tumble out?"

"I'd like to see his face," said Peer, as he wrote the address on the
envelope.

Klaus dropped into a leather armchair and leaned back comfortably. "I've
been downstairs flirting a little with your wife," he said. "Your wife's
a wonder, Peer."

Peer looked at him, and thought of the old days when the heavy-built,
clumsy doctor's son had run about after the servant-girls in the town.
He had still something of his old lurching walk, but intercourse with
the ladies of many lands had polished him and given lightness and ease