Holm

“ The lad rose hurriedly to his feet and made as if to run away.
"No, here, wait a bit, son; there's nothing to be afraid of." Holm took the boy's hand, and looked into a pale childish face with deep dark eyes, and framed in a tangle of fair hair.
"I was only listening," he sobbed.... "The music upstairs there...."
"You're fond of music, then?"
"Yes; I always go out in the evening, when nobody can see, and sit outside where I know there's somebody that plays. And Holm's up there, they've got the loveliest piano."
"Would you like to learn to play yourself?" ”

“ But, as Holm would say, "he's a devilish sharp nose, all the same; he can smell a coming failure years before the man himself has ever thought of it." And it was Holm's great ambition to get the better of him and make the banker burn his fingers in a way he should remember. ”

“ Holm could spare a few minutes.
Holm was somewhat surprised at the message; Malla Trap did not often come round like this of her own accord in the middle of the week.
"Well, my dear Miss Trap, is there anything special the matter since we have the pleasure of seeing you to-day? Or were you feeling lonely, perhaps?"
"Lonely enough I am at times, Knut Holm."
"Why, yes, I suppose—when one is all by oneself—er—one feels that way now and then. I know myself I often feel the want of company, someone to confide in——"
"Ah, but you've memories, Knut Holm, happy memories." ”

“ Vindt stood a moment sniffing at the stump of his cigar, then, thrusting one finger into the buttonhole of Holm's coat, he said solemnly:
"Mrs. Emilie Rantzau and daughter: Knut G. Holm and son and Banker Hermansen, Knight of the Order of Vasa, etcetera. H'm. That's the worst of these cheap smokes; they stick when you've got half-way. So long, old stick-in-the-mud!"
"Queer old stick," said Holm to himself as the other walked away. "Getting quite crabby of late. But he ought to have married himself long ago." ”

“ The banker shifted some books on the table, then suddenly he slipped up to Holm, laid one hand on his shoulder and said:
"We haven't always got on as well as we might together, Holm; circumstances have sometimes been against our friendly co-operation; but don't you think, now, we might forget all that and try to start on a more friendly footing? We're both old enough now to be glad of peace and amity, and our new relations ought to bring us closer together—what do you say?" ”

“ When Holm walked into the big drawing-room upstairs he was greeted with acclamation. "Hurrah for Mæcenas! hurrah for the patron of Art! Hurrah!"
"Here, Frantz, you're a poet; get up and make a speech in honour of my noble sire."
Frantz Pettersen, a podgy little man with a big fair moustache, lifted his glass.
"Friends and brothers in Art, in the eternal realm of beauty! the halls wherein we live and move are bright and lofty, it is true, and our outlook is wide, unbounded. But let us not therefore forget the simple home of our youthful days, though it be never as poor and dry." ”

“ Vindt had not been down to Holm's for a long time now; he hated the sight of women in business, and that Holm should have been one of the first to introduce a petticoat within the private sanctum among good cigars and vintage port—it was unpardonable. In the present state of things, however, he felt desperately in need of someone to talk to. This affair of Hermansen's was so unparalleled a marvel that he simply must open his mind to someone about it. ”

“ The Holm people came before any of the others, they have been longer on the road and are more upset than all the rest.
Their peasant women are quarrelsome, they look about them ill-naturedly, and for every little nothing they raise hysterical cries.
It’s evident that they’re upset in the very depths of their souls.
Their nerves are all unstrung.
See, approaching slowly, in their reddish sheepskin coats with fringes of wool hanging from the cuffs of their sleeves, come the people from the province of Grodno.
You can recognize the Grodno people by their carts. ”

“ Holm was quite taken aback; he had never seen the banker in this mood before; the man was positively getting sentimental. He had unbuttoned his coat, and his voice was quite gentle.
"It shan't be my fault if we don't, Hermansen. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. Time cures all sorrows—patches up a doubtful balance-sheet, as you might say——"
"My dear Holm, pray don't mention it."
"Well, well, it might have been worse—as the auditor said. You're in luck's way, though, Hermansen. I've had the honour of some slight acquaintance with your fiancée in former days." ”

“ On the morning after the party, Holm sent down for Paal Abrahamsen or "Bramsen" as he was generally called. Holm and Bramsen had known each other from childhood; they had gone to the same poor school, and had grown up together. After their confirmation, Bramsen had gone to sea, while Holm had got a place in a shop, and commenced his mercantile career. ”

“ Vindt was an old bachelor, a dried-up, lanky figure of a man, with a broad-brimmed felt hat set on his smooth black wig and a little florid face with a sharp nose.
"Beg pardon, Holm," he began, "would you mind asking if the senior partner's disengaged for a moment?"
"Oh, go to the devil!"
"Well, I was thinking of taking a holiday somewhere—and I dare say he'd put me up. Better than nothing, as the parson said when he found a button in the offertory box. You might say the same, you know; be thankful he's keeping you on at all." ”

“ First there's William turns as contrary as a rusty lock, then they set Miss Trap on to me, and now it's you!"
"Well—I came to tell you that the two young people love each other. Be good to them, Holm, and you will make your son and my daughter happy together."
"And by doing so I become a sort of relation of—of Banker Hermansen?"
"Well, is there anything wrong in that?"
"Hermansen and I as a sort of—well, what should we be? Can't be each other's half-uncles—twins-in-law. Bless my soul, it's really almost comical!"
"It's a serious matter to me, Holm. My child's future...." ”

“ Failure and crisis had raged about him, and many a time public opinion had given him but a short while to keep above water himself, but he always managed to get through somehow, though there were times when he had not credit for five shillings, when the commercial travellers gave his corner premises the stealthy go-by, in the confident belief that he would put his shutters up next day. But he never did. And at last it grew to a proverb, that Knut G. Holm was like a cat; you might throw him out of a top-floor window, but he would always land on his feet in the end! ”

“ Holm brightened up at the prospect of a deal, and forgot all about Betty, blue eyes, dark lashes, fair hair and all.
"Garner, get hold of Bramsen sharp as ever you can, and tell him to go on board that Spaniard at Hoeg's wharf, and have a thorough look round."
A few minutes later Bramsen himself appeared, breathless with haste.
"I've been on board already, Mr. Holm, pretty near every evening. They've a nigger cook that plays all sorts of dance tunes on a bit of a clay warbler he's got; it's really worth hearing...."
"Yes, yes, but the vessel herself. Is she any good, do you know?" ”

“ Holm's first impulse was to bundle off again quickly, but in stepping down, he managed to tread on Bramsen's fingers, eliciting a howl which brought the whole crew hurrying along to see what was the matter. There was nothing for it now but to go on board, which he did, nodding in the friendliest fashion to Hermansen as he came up.
"We're competitors, then, it seems," said the banker politely.
"I think not," said Holm seriously. "She's very badly built, and I don't feel like going in for it myself." ”

“ Holm was annoyed.
"H'm, you're out of practice, that's what it is. Getting old. Shouldn't have sprung it on her suddenly like that. Never flurry a turtle dove; slips out of the ark if you do, and never comes back. But you don't see Knut Holm giving up the game for a little thing like that; no, we must get our old friend Bianca to lend a hand. She's sensible enough to know a good son-in-law when she sees one."
Next morning, when Betty arrived at the office, Holm went along to call on Mrs. Rantzau ”

“ Betty began putting her books away, Holm walking up and down meanwhile with short, rapid steps. Upstairs, someone was singing to the piano.
"Nice sort of evening we're going to have, by the look of things. House full of blessed amateurs with fiddles and tambourines. Serve them right if they were packed off to a reformatory, the whole——"
"Oh, but surely, Mr. Holm, you needn't be so hard on them. Young people must have a little entertainment now and then—especially when they've a father who can afford it," she added a little wistfully.
"Afford it—h'm. ”

“ The pastor’s daughter was so amused that she pinched the curate’s arm repeatedly. After the mazurka, the schoolteacher cried out, “Bravo!” and they all clapped hands. Miss Holm bowed the elegant ballet courtesy, laying two fingers on her heart.
When supper-time came, she arranged a polonaise and made them all join in. The women giggled and nudged each other in their embarrassment, and the men said: “Well—let’s get in line—” One couple began a march song, beating time with their feet.
Miss Holm sat next the schoolteacher, in the place of honor under the bust of his Majesty the King. ”

“ Bramsen was thoroughly offended now, and Holm found it difficult to bring him round.
"It's not that, Bramsen; you know I don't mean it that way. But I do think it's foolish of you to entrust your property to an irresponsible fellow like Johnsen."
"Well, what's a man to do when everything's going by the board all round? ”

“ Hans, in his delight, forgot all about hiding the hole in his trousers; he grasped his friend's hands and looked at him with glistening eyes.
"Is it really true—that I'm to go to Christiania?"
"True as ever could be, little lad, and now off you go—I'll come along soon."
Holm took the organist's letter and read it through once again.
"Noble old fellow—so you'd sacrifice your hard-earned money and give your trouble for nothing? Not if I know it; you shan't be a loser there. And as for Hans, I'll see to his education myself. ”

“ She spoke in the high-pitched tone of the actors in the modern society dramas of Scribe. After a while the company became more jovial, the men began to laugh and drink toasts, touching glasses across the table. Things were very lively at the end of the table where the young people sat, and it was not easy to obtain [Pg 630] quiet for the schoolmaster, who rose to make a speech. He spoke at some length, mentioning Miss Holm and the nine Muses, and ending up with a toast to “The Priestess of Art, Miss Irene Holm!” All joined in the cheers, and everybody came up to touch glasses with Miss Holm. ”

“ Competition's a good thing all round—checks abnormal fluctuations of the market, you know."
"Father, I'm the happiest man on earth."
"Your respected mother-in-law, I've had the pleasure of meeting her before...."
"Have you, though?"
"Yes—abroad. It's many years ago now," put in Mrs. Rantzau hastily.
"And now, William, you'd better go off and fetch Betty, I think," said Holm. "And we'll have a little party this evening. I hope you will come too!"
"Thank you so much, Mr. Holm; I hope I can. But I must just speak to Alfred first."
"Alfred?"
"My fiancé, Banker Hermansen." ”

“ Holmia (the island city, built upon stakes) . But holm also signifies occasionally a hill, as in Smailholm, in Roxburghshire (little hill) ; and Hume, or holm, Castle, in Berwickshire (on a hill) . Sometimes also it signifies a low meadow on the banks of a stream, as in Durham, corrupt. from Dun-holm or Dunelme (the fortress on the meadow) , almost surrounded by the R. Wear; Langholm [107] (the long meadow) ; Denholm (the meadow in the deep valley) ; Twynholm, anc. Twynham (the dwelling on the hillock) , Welsh twyn, a parish in Kirkcudbright; Brachenholm (ferny meadow) ”

“ For the character of Eilert Lovborg, again, Ibsen seem unquestionably to have borrowed several traits from a definite original. A young Danish man of letters, whom Dr. Brandes calls Holm, was an enthusiastic admirer of Ibsen, and came to be on very friendly terms with him. One day Ibsen was astonished to receive, in Munich, a parcel addressed from Berlin by this young man, containing, without a word of explanation, a packet of his (Ibsen's) letters, and a photograph which he had presented to Holm. ”

“ Rantzau. She was all in black and looked very handsome indeed. Holm could not help admiring her magnificent figure, and thought to himself that Hermansen certainly seemed to have made a better bargain here than recently with the Spaniard.
"I dare say you are surprised to see me here now," Mrs. Rantzau began. "But exceptional circumstances...." she flushed, and broke off in some confusion.
"Heard the news, my dear lady. Congratulations! You've found an excellent husband, a thorough——" he checked himself, hesitating between compliment and sincerity. ”

“ But he never forgot his old friend, and when in course of time he had established a business of his own, he made Bramsen his warehouseman and clerk on the quay, where he now held a position of trust as Holm's right-hand man. He was a short, bandy-legged man, with a humorous face set in a frame of shaggy whiskers, and a remarkably mobile play of feature. Agile as a cat, he could walk on his hands as easily as others on their feet, and, despite his fifty-five years, he turned out regularly on Contrition Day to compete with the boys for prizes in the park ”

“ Rantzau almost every day, asking him to come and see her at nine o'clock precisely, on important business!
And, thinking over this, he called to mind that he had on nearly every occasion encountered Hermansen at the same time. It could mean but one thing, she had been using him to bring the banker up to the scratch. Well—much good might it do her! "She'll get a fine husband—oh, a remarkably fine husband," muttered Holm to himself with a sly chuckle. ”