Garman and Worse

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Garman and Worse

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Garman and Worse, by Alexander
Lange Kielland, Translated by W. W. Kettlewell
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Title: Garman and Worse A Norwegian Novel
Author: Alexander Lange Kielland
Release Date: May 19, 2005 [eBook #15864]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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AND WORSE***
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GARMAN AND WORSE

A Norwegian Novel
by
ALEXANDER L. KIELLAND
Authorized Translation by W. W. Kettlewell
London, Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1, Paternoster Square Printed by
William Clows and Sons, Limited, London and Beccles.
1885
CHAPTER I.
Nothing is so boundless as the sea, nothing so patient. On its broad
back it bears, like a good-natured elephant, the tiny mannikins which
tread the earth; and in its vast cool depths it has place for all mortal
woes. It is not true that the sea is faithless, for it has never promised
anything; without claim, without obligation, free, pure, and genuine
beats the mighty heart, the last sound one in an ailing world. And while
the mannikins strain their eyes over it, the sea sings its old song. Many
understand it scarce at all, but never two understand it in the same
manner, for the sea has a distinct word for each one that sets himself
face to face with it.
It smiles with green shining ripples to the barelegged urchin who
catches crabs; it breaks in blue billows against the ship, and sends the
fresh salt spray far in over the deck. Heavy leaden seas come rolling in
on the beach, and while the weary eye follows the long hoary breakers,
the stripes of foam wash up in sparkling curves over the even sand; and
in the hollow sound, when the billows roll over for the last time, there
is something of a hidden understanding--each thinks on his own life,
and bows his head towards the ocean as if it were a friend who knows it
all and keeps it fast.
But what the sea is for those who live along its strand none can ever
know, for they say nothing. They live all their life with face turned to

the ocean; the sea is their companion, their adviser, their friend and
their enemy, their inheritance and their churchyard. The relation
therefore remains a silent one, and the look which gazes over the sea
changes with its varying aspect, now comforting, now half fearful and
defiant. But take one of these shore-dwellers, and move him far
landward among the mountains, into the loveliest valley you can find;
give him the best food, and the softest bed. He will not touch your food,
or sleep in your bed, but without turning his head he will clamber from
hill to hill, until far off his eye catches something blue he knows, and
with swelling heart he gazes towards the little azure streak that shines
far away, until it grows into a blue glittering horizon; but he says
nothing.
People in the town often said to Richard Garman, "How can you endure
that lonely life out there in your lighthouse?" The old gentleman always
answered, "Well, you see, one never feels lonely by the sea when once
one has made its acquaintance; and besides, I have my little
Madeleine."
And that was the feeling of his heart. The ten years he had passed out
there on the lonely coast were among the best of his life, and that life
had been wild and adventurous enough; so, whether he was now weary
of the world, or whether it was his little daughter, or whether it was the
sea that attracted him, or whether it was something of all three, he had
quieted down, and never once thought of leaving the lighthouse of
Bratvold. This was what no one could have credited; and when it was
rumoured that Richard Garman, the _attaché_, a son of the first
commercial family of the town, was seeking the simple post of
lighthouse-keeper, most people were inclined to laugh heartily at this
new fancy of "the mad student." "The mad student" was a nickname in
the town for Richard Garman, which was doubtless well earned; for
although he had been but little at home since he had grown to manhood,
enough was known of his wild and pleasure-seeking career to make
folks regard him with silent wonder.
To add to this, too, the