Skipper Worse

Excerpt: ...Martha was. Jacob Worse was in an irritable condition; he was talking with the head man at the warehouse, who managed for him during his absence. His own private business in the town was not affected by his admission into the firm. Sandsgaard, with all its various branches of business, remained as before, entirely under the control of the Consul. The partnership, in fact, confined itself to certain departments in which Jacob Worse's capital was actually employed, especially to those pertaining to their business as shipowners. When Jacob Worse saw Madame Torvestad, he dismissed the warehouseman, and saluted her in an excited manner. I come to wish you a prosperous and happy voyage, Captain Worse. Thanks-h'm-many thanks, madame. I would otherwise- Will it be a long voyage? It is impossible to say. He wishes me to- Who did you say? The Consul-Consul Garman; he is sending me to Bremen to purchase a ship. Sending! said Madame Torvestad, with an incredulous smile. I did not know that one partner could 'send' another. Partner! oh yes! You see, he is Consul Garman, and I am Skipper Worse; and it will never be otherwise. Moreover, when it comes to purchasing a ship, it is just the job for me. You surprise me, and it distresses me that you do not tell me the real reason of your departure. I think we might have expected it of you. He stared at her with his mouth open. You must know this, Captain Worse, she continued, that I am satisfied you would not undertake this voyage unless you wished to get out of your engagement with us altogether. She was about to proceed in this somewhat menacing manner, but the captain sprang up, excited, and red in the face. No, Madame Torvestad! I tell you what it is-you do me a confounded injustice. Pardon me, I should not have sworn, but I cannot help it. From the very first I have worried and schemed until I was black in the face, in order to escape this voyage; and...