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After a while Stolpe returned with some old newspapers, which he wanted to show Pelle. Ellen stood behind his chair, looking down at them; she rested her arm on his shoulders and idly ruffled his hair. The mother pulled at her skirt. The papers were illustrated, and went back to the stirring times. The clock struck the half-hour; it was half-past eleven.
"Yes, I must acknowledge that," Ellen interposed, and then they all laughed, for puss had just eaten her kail. Then the child suddenly left the subject, and wanted to know whether there had always, always been a Copenhagen. Pelle came to a standstill for a moment, but by a happy inspiration dug Bishop Absalom out of his memory.
"So he goes about asking questions about everything, things such as every child knows about," said Jeppe, in a superior tone. "Bjerregrav has never rubbed off his childish innocence." Yet as he was going home, and Pelle was helping him over the gutter, he was still in his mood of everlasting wonder. "What star is that?" he said; "it has quite a different light to the others.
In the half-darkness of the doorways stood young men and girls, in familiar, whispered conversation. Warmth radiated from the girls, and their bibbed aprons shone in the darkness. Pelle crept along in the cold, and knew less than ever what to do with himself; he ranged about to find a sweetheart for himself. In the market he met Alfred, arm-in-arm with Lau's daughter.
She was heavy herself, and the fresh cold nipped her nose which was growing sharper and reddened her cheeks. One day she brought a large bunch to Pelle, and asked him: "How much money am I going to get to keep Christmas with?" It was true! The year was almost ended! After the new year winter began in earnest.
But Pelle needed some one beside him who was able to look at things from a new point of view, and quite understood what was essential; egoists were of no good, and this must be the very thing for a man who had grown restive at the old state of things. Pelle had come home from his book-keeping course to have his dinner. Ellen was out with Boy Comfort, but she had left the meal ready for him.
At last he discovered that there were strangers present, and drew on his clothes, which had been doing duty as his pillow. Pelle and he became good friends at once, and began to play; and then Kalle hit upon the idea of letting the other children share in the merry-making, and he and the two boys went round and tickled them awake, all the six.
Then there was one natural centre in the world Pelle himself. Everything grouped itself about him, everything existed for him for him to play with, to shudder at, or to put on one side for a great future.
Morten sat upon a chair looking crestfallen. "Thank goodness, I'm not married!" he said. "I really begin to be sorry for you, Pelle." It was evident that he was enjoying being looked after. "Yes, now you can see what a domestic affliction I have to bear," Pelle answered gravely. Ellen let them talk.
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