His name was Hans and they had known each other since they were children. He was a year older than Finn, not quite so tall, but more powerfully developed, with bright hair and eyes and disposition².

 

His father was a little man who sat among the people in the counting-house, where his father had sat before him. He and his little wife had no luck in life save their son. But at times they trembled for his future, because his ideas were so pronounced and took so wide a range.

 

[217]For, even as he was taller than his father, so he would not be content with his measure in anything.

 

Above all, he did not want to sit in the office, but to go out in the world, big as it was. And, from the time when he was a little boy, he believed that it was bigger than they told him.

 

Now that he had grown up and become conscious of his need and his powers and could not get anywhere, he went fearlessly to the master of the house and told him how the matter stood.

 

Cordt liked him and wanted to keep him for his house, but soon saw that he had nothing that could tempt³ him. He asked him what he would like to be; and it appeared that Hans wanted to be an engineer.

 

Cordt looked at him and thought that his glance could blast rocks.

 

Then he promised his assistance and[218] remained sitting in deep thought, while Hans went down the stairs singing.

 

Time passed. He advanced along his road and both he and the others could see that he was fully¹ keeping pace with his dreams. Cordt did not lose sight of him and was pleased when he called. But Fru Adelheid did not like him, because he talked so loud and had such a heavy tread.

 

One evening, Cordt stood in Hans’ room and talked to him as he had never talked to any one:

 

“I am your father’s employer,” he said, “and my father was your grandfather’s. My son will never be yours. For you mean to make your own way and be your own master. You would have done that even if no one had lent you a helping

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