Martin drank in silence, and looked even more gloomy than usual.  The whole winter he had been out of work.  Tom Robson had lent him money, and that made him even more morose, for he was proud after his own fashion, and gratitude was not in his nature.

At last Marianne came.  Torpander greeted her in his usual respectful manner, to which she answered with a faint smile.  She looked almost ready to fall from weariness, as she passed hurriedly through the room.  “Hulloa!” cried Tom, who only saw her when she had reached the kitchen door, “here comes my sweetheart!  Marianne, my darling! the ship is ready now, and Tom Robson has got some money.  Let’s have the wedding; to-night, if you like!  Come along!” cried he, struggling to get over the bench.

Martin thrust him back.  “Will you let my sister alone?”

“I suppose she is not good enough for an honest seaman, because of that infernal young Gar——­”

He did not get any farther, for Martin aimed a blow at him and struck him behind the ear.  Marianne hastily left the room.  Torpander now threw himself courageously on his ancient enemy from the other side, and a frightful scuffle ensued.

Tom Robson put himself in position like an English boxer, drunk as he was, and squared his arms and elbows for the fray.

At first he made a few feints at Martin, which were not meant to be serious.  But when he had received a few blows which were really painful, he sprang away from the table so as to get more room.  Torpander had not the least idea of using his fists, but hammered away like a blacksmith with his long skinny arms, either at Tom or else in the air, just as it might happen.  Mr. Robson gave him a tap every now and then which made his bones rattle again, but on the whole he allowed the Swede to hammer away at his back as much as he liked.

Woodlouse looked on for some time with the greatest satisfaction, until the idea struck him that he would clear the room.  He accomplished his object with the greatest perseverance, and what with butting with his head and pushing his heavy body between the combatants, he at length managed to get the whole lot turned out of doors.  Begmand threw their hats after them, and shut the door.

The fresh wind had a cooling effect on them all, and on Woodlouse’s suggestion a truce was concluded.  In order to ratify this, it was arranged that they should go to Tom Robson’s house, and have another dram and a bit of English cheese.

They then clambered up the steep path at the back of Begmand’s house, Tom Robson leading, and as he was helping himself with his hands up the steepest places, he chanced to get hold of a loose stone, which, in pure drunken wantonness, he threw at Marianne’s window, where he happened to see a light.  The stone struck with such force, just where the bars of the window-frame crossed, that all the four panes were smashed, and the glass came clattering down.