"Then I wouldn't need to go about waving certificates," said Falkenberg,
and refused to listen any more. No, the whole thing looked like coming to
nothing after all.

Downcast and discouraged both, we tramped on till we came to the post.

"You're not going up, are you?" I asked.

"You can go yourself," said Falkenberg sourly. "Here, take your rags of
things."

But a little way farther on he slackened his pace, and muttered:

"It's a wicked shame to throw away a chance like that. Why, it's just cut
out for us as it is."

"Well, then, why don't you go up and pay them a call? Who knows, you might
be some relation after all."

"I wish I'd thought to ask if he'd a nephew in America."

"What then? Could you talk English to them if he had?"

"You mind your own business, and don't talk so much," said Falkenberg. "I
don't see what you've got to brag about, anyway."

He was nervous and out of temper, and began stepping out. Then suddenly he
stopped and said: