sleep; and I sleep, while they are forever going, going. Where are
they going? Do you know?"

"To America."

"I should like to go with them. When they speak of America my heart
begins to ring. Did you say America on purpose, or is that the truth?"

Several old women are whispering:

"Wild Gart is angry again at his sailor. Have you noticed it?"

"The sailor is displeased. Look, how wan his face is."

"Yes, he looks like the evil one when he is compelled to listen to a
psalm. But I don't like Wild Gart, either. No. Where did he come
from?"

They resume their whispers. Haggart complains softly:

"Why have you the same name, Mariet, for everybody? It should not
be so in a truthful land."

Mariet speaks with restrained force, pressing both hands to her
breast:

"I love you so dearly, Gart; when you go out to sea, I set my teeth
together and do not open them until you come back. When you are
away, I eat nothing and drink nothing; when you are away, I am
silent, and the women laugh: 'Mute Mariet!' But I would be insane