“Act your own pleasure, my dear Magde, you are aware that I confide in you as in my own heart.  Although I shall act gently towards Carl, who with his own desire, would not injure me, still I will not be so submissive with an individual like Mr. H——­, who has conducted himself most wrongfully.”

From these words Magde became aware that she would be obliged to relate all that had occurred between Mr. Fabian and herself, and this she did accordingly.

She feared more from Ragnar’s silence than she would if he had given vent to his rage in words.  Ragnar possessed a faculty of controlling his anger by a silence which was much more impressive than furious speech.

“Ah, then he entered your window, after he had first removed the old man.  Well, well, worse things have been done before.”

This was all he said; and as not only the following, but also the second day passed, without Mr. Fabian’s name being mentioned, Magde thought that Ragnar had looked at the affair with sensible eyes.  She even felt somewhat annoyed at the thought that Mr. Fabian’s punishment should be so light.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AN HOUR IN MISTRESS ULRICA’S CHAMBER.

Throughout the entire fall, Mr. Fabian had been his “sweet Ulgenie’s” humblest slave, and therefore had been trod deeper into the dust.  Since he had learned of the return of Ragnar Lonner, he had suffered a feverish anxiety.  Even his easy chair no longer afforded him rest, for sleeping or waking, one object alone was constantly before his eyes:  Ragnar Lonner’s wrathful countenance peering through the door.

He was suddenly seized with as strong a desire for active life, as he formerly possessed for easy rest, and he felt himself in no safety except when at a distance from the mansion, for he knew that Ragnar possessed too much honor to entrap him in an ambuscade.

One morning, when he, as had been his custom for the previous week, went to his wife with the information that he was compelled to take a short journey, she sharply accosted him: 

“Man, what does all this restlessness mean?  Are you insane?  Am I always to be left at home alone?”

“Ah, my dear,” replied Mr. Fabian, “you are aware that I must attend to my business.”

“I know that not long since you found it difficult to take care of yourself.  This sudden change in your disposition will never do.”

“Dear Ulgenie, I acknowledge your superior judgment; but to-day I really must attend the auction at Rorby, there is to be a sale of some genuine Spanish sheep.”

“Ah! as that is really some business, you may go; but come home early.”

“I hope to return before eleven o’clock.”

Mrs. Ulrica presented him her hand to kiss, and after he had pressed it to his lips with all the gallantry which was still left him, he quickly turned away from her.