A few years back he could have finished the whole business in a couple
of days. But now, half an hour's work was enough to tire him out. It is
exhausting work to concentrate your thoughts upon a single point, when
your brain has long been used to play idly with stray fancies as they
came. He found, too, that there were defects to be put right in the
parts he thought were complete before, and he had no assistants now, no
foundry to get castings from, he must forge out each piece with his own
hands, and with sorry tools.

What did it matter?

He began to discipline his brain, denying himself every superfluous
thought. He drew dark curtains across every window in his consciousness,
save one--the machine. After half an hour's work he would go back to bed
and rest--just close his eyes, and rest. This too was discipline. Again
he flooded all his mind with darkness, darkness, to save his strength
for the half-hour of work next day.

Was Merle fearful and anxious? At all events she said no word about the
work that so absorbed him. He was excited enough as it was. And now when
he was irritable and angry with the children, she did not even look
at him reproachfully. They must bear it, both she and the children--it
would soon be all over now.

In the clear moonlight nights, when the children were in bed, the two
would sometimes be seen wandering about together. They went with their
arms about each other's waists, talking loudly, laughing a great deal,
and sometimes singing. People going by on the road would hear the
laughter and singing, and think to themselves: It's either someone
that's been drinking, or else that couple from the Court-house.

The spring drew on and the days grew lighter.

But at the Hamar Agricultural Exhibition, where the machine was tried,
an American competitor was found to be just a little better. Everyone
thought it a queer business; for even if the idea hadn't been directly
stolen from Peer, there could be no doubt that his machine had suggested
it. The principles adopted were the same in both cases, but in the
American machine there was just enough improvement in carrying them out
to make it doubtful whether it would be any use going to law over the
patent rights. And besides--it's no light matter for a man with no money
at his back to go to law with a rich American firm.

In the mighty race, with competitors the wide world over, to produce the
best machine, Peer had been on the very point o