The coffee visits continued, if possible, with greater frequency, and Barbara as well as Mrs. Holman discussed and talked over every possible subject, except the one that lay nearest to their hearts—­their own personal plans in connection with Nikolai and Silla.  On that point they watched each other in diplomatic silence, like two chess-players of whom the one dare not move until he has seen through the other one’s intention; Mrs. Holman, in the middle of some strictly reserved opinion, taking in everything with her precise, little face and cold grey eyes, and seeing it all clear and small as if through the bottom of a tumbler; and Barbara, round, hospitable, large and fat, with great, overflowing features, and generally talking about her time at the Consul’s.

But during all this, there was one thing upon which each of them became always more and more decided—­if she could not live with them herself, she would at any rate put a stop to the other coming and filling up the house.

The two future mothers-in-law were each occupied to the best of their ability in making it impossible for the other; but of this quietly calculated conflict which was going on in the ground far below them, Nikolai and Silla had no suspicion.

CHAPTER X

A RISE IN LIFE

Since Mrs. Holman had seen what Silla could busy herself with—­she was quite struck with amazement at her own blindness—­she had become far more strictly attentive, and also much more on the lookout and watch against Nikolai.

The fruits of idleness had unfortunately revealed themselves, and there was no other remedy for them than to watch conscientiously and see that Silla worked.  She must really set about something that there was some use and help in, all through the long light spring evenings, and not just run for the milk, or out when any one came and asked if she might.

Nikolai soon found that the situation was far from being improved after he was acknowledged in the quality of wooer.  But notwithstanding that he saw no more of her than a short glimpse now and then, a great step in advance had actually been made.  He had now only to work hard, and that he did manfully; the hammer worked, in his hands, as if by steam.

In some ways, too, he was re-assured, for if Mrs. Holman watched against him so carefully, this same watchfulness was a security against others, too.  It was well to know that she was no longer to be found up there among those giddy girls in the evening.  A cold shiver ran down his back when he one day met young Veyergang coming out of his mother’s.  He only looked indifferently at Nikolai with half-closed eyes, when they met in the doorway, as if he did not quite remember him, and then asked Barbara over his shoulder, with a nod at Nikolai:  “Is that the fellow?” and went out: 

“What’s he been doing here, mother?”

“Nothing.”