About noon
The horses steamed in the chill morning air ; the sparrows twittered on the huge linden in the court , and the smoke rose slowly from the chimneys . Thora looked smiling and contented at all this after Mogens had helped her out of the carriage ; but there was no other way about , she was sleepy and too tired to conceal it . Mogens took her to her room and then went into the garden , sat down on a bench , and imagined that he was watching the sunrise , but he nodded too violently to keep up the deception . About noon he and Thora met again , happy and refreshed . They had to look at things and express their surprise ; they consulted and made decisions ; they made the absurdest suggestions ; and how Thora struggled to look wise and interested when the cows were introduced to her ; and how difficult it was not to be all too unpractically enthusiastic over a small shaggy young dog ; and how Mogens talked of drainage and the price of grain , while he stood there and in his heart wondered how Thora would look with red poppies in her hair ! And in the evening , when they sat in their conservatory and the moon so clearly drew the outline of the windows on the floor , what a comedy they played , he on his part seriously representing to her that she should go to sleep , really go to sleep , since she must be tired , the while he continued to hold her hand in his ; and she on her part , when she declared he was disagreeable and wanted to be rid of her , that he regretted having taken a wife . Then a reconciliation , of course , followed , and they laughed , and the hour grew late .