human
What are you doing out so late, Clara Vavrika? I went to the house, but Johanna told me you had gone to your father's.
gpt
Who can stay in the house on a night like this? Aren't you out yourself?
human
Ah, but that's another matter.
gpt
What are you doing? Where are you taking Norman?
human
Not far, but I want to talk to you to-night; I have something to say to you. I can't talk to you at the house, with Olaf sitting there on the porch, weighing a thousand tons.
gpt
He won't be sitting there now. He's in bed by this time, and asleep--weighing a thousand tons.
human
Are you really going to spend the rest of your life like this, night after night, summer after summer? Haven't you anything better to do on a night like this than to wear yourself and Norman out tearing across the country to your father's and back? Besides, your father won't live forever, you know. His little place will be shut up or sold, and then you'll have nobody but the Ericsons. You'll have to fasten down the hatches for the winter then.
gpt
Don't talk about that. I try never to think of it. If I lost father I'd lose everything, even my hold over the Ericsons.
human
Bah! You'd lose a good deal more than that. You'd lose your race, everything that makes you yourself. You've lost a good deal of it now.
gpt
Of what?
human
Of your love of life, your capacity for delight.
gpt
I haven't, Nils Ericson, I haven't! Say anything to me but that. I won't have it!
human
But why do you fight for that so? What good is the power to enjoy, if you never enjoy? Your hands are cold again; what are you afraid of all the time? Ah, you're afraid of losing it; that's what's the matter with you! And you will, Clara Vavrika, you will! When I used to know you--listen; you've caught a wild bird in your hand, haven't you, and felt its heart beat so hard that you were afraid it would shatter its little body to pieces? Well, you used to be just like that, a slender, eager thing with a wild delight inside you. That is how I remembered you. And I come back and find you--a bitter woman. This is a perfect ferret fight here; you live by biting and being bitten. Can't you remember what life used to be? Can't you remember that old delight? I've never forgotten it, or known its like, on land or sea.
gpt
Look, he said. The shadow of the straw stack fell sharp across his wrist, and in the palm of his hand she saw a silver dollar shining.
human
That's my pile, he muttered;
gpt
Will you go with me to-night?
human
Where?
gpt
To town, to catch the midnight flyer.
human
Are you crazy, Nils? We couldn't go away like that.
gpt
That's the only way we ever will go. You can't sit on the bank and think about it. You have to plunge. That's the way I've always done, and it's the right way for people like you and me. There's nothing so dangerous as sitting still. You've only got one life, one youth, and you can let it slip through your fingers if you want to; nothing easier. Most people do that. You'd be better off tramping the roads with me than you are here. Nils held back her head and looked into her eyes.
human
But I'm not that kind of a tramp, Clara. You won't have to take in sewing. I'm with a Norwegian shipping line; came over on business with the New York offices, but now I'm going straight back to Bergen. I expect I've got as much money as the Ericsons. Father sent me a little to get started. They never knew about that. There, I hadn't meant to tell you; I wanted you to come on your own nerve.
gpt
It isn't that, Nils, but something seems to hold me. I'm afraid to pull against it. It comes out of the ground, I think.
human
I know all about that. One has to tear loose. You're not needed here. Your father will understand; he's made like us. As for Olaf, Johanna will take better care of him than ever you could. It's now or never, Clara Vavrika. My bag's at the station; I smuggled it there yesterday.
gpt
Not to-night, she whispered.
human
Sit here and talk to me to-night. I don't want to go anywhere to-night. I may never love you like this again.
gpt
You can't come that on me. That's not my way, Clara Vavrika. Eric's mare is over there behind the stacks, and I'm off on the midnight. It's good-by, or off across the world with me. My carriage won't wait. I've written a letter to Olaf; I'll mail it in town. When he reads it he won't bother us--not if I know him. He'd rather have the land. Besides, I could demand an investigation of his administration of Cousin Henrik's estate, and that would be bad for a public man. You've no clothes, I know; but you can sit up to-night, and we can get everything on the way. Where's your old dash, Clara Vavrika? What's become of your Bohemian blood? I used to think you had courage enough for anything. Where's your nerve--what are you waiting for?
human
For you to say one thing, Nils Ericson.
gpt
I never say that thing to any woman, Clara Vavrika. He leaned back, lifted her gently from the ground, and whispered through his teeth:
human
But I'll never, never let you go, not to any man on earth but me! Do you understand me? Now, wait here.