lasting disputes,
and the two lawyers, each still intent on snatching any scraps of
business that offered; there were tradesmen and artisans; and nearly
everyone was wearing a long overcoat and a grey felt hat. But the tanner
had put on a high silk hat, so as to look a little taller.

Where the road left the wood most of them stopped for a moment to look
up at Loreng. The great white house seemed to have set itself high on
its hill to look out far and wide over the lake and the country round.
And men talked of the great doings, the feasting and magnificence, the
great house had seen in days gone by, from the time when the place had
been a Governor's residence until a few years back, when Engineer Holm
was in his glory.

But to-day the place was up to auction, with stock and furniture,
and people had walked or driven over from far around. For the bank
management felt they would not be justified in giving any longer grace,
now that Peer Holm was lying sick in hospital, and no doctor would
undertake to say whether he would ever be fit to work again.

The courtyard was soon crowded. Inside, in the great hall, the
auctioneer was beginning to put up the lots already, but most people
hung back a little, as if they felt a reluctance to go in. For the
air in there seemed charged with lingering memories of splendour and
hospitality, from the days when cavaliers with ruffles and golden spurs
had done homage there to ladies in sweeping silk robes--down to the last
gay banquets to which the famous engineer from Egypt had loved to gather
all the gentry round in the days of his prosperity.

Most of the people stood on the steps and in the entrance-hall. And now
and again they would catch a glimpse of a pale woman, dressed in black,
with thick dark eyebrows, crossing the courtyard to a servant's house or
a storehouse to give some order for moving the things. It was Merle, now
mistress here no longer.

Old Lorentz D. Uthoug met his sister, the mighty lady of Bruseth, on
the steps. She looked at him, and there was a gleam of derision in
her narrowed eyes. But he drew himself up, and said as he passed her,
"You've nothing to be afraid of. I've settled things so that I'm not
bankrupt yet. And you shall have your share--in full."

And he strode in, a broad-shouldered, upright figure, looking calmly
at all men, that all might see he was not the man to be crushed by a
reverse.

Late in the day the chestnut, Bijou, was put up for sale.