Holk started up; but Ebba, less afraid of being discovered than of appearing ridiculous by anxiously trying to avoid discovery, went quickly to the door and opened it. It was Karin. “What’s the matter, Karin?” “Something serious. My room is full of smoke and luckily a piece of soot fell down the chimney and woke me. I’ve opened the door and windows and made a draught, but it doesn’t seem to help, it seems to be coming out of the walls and floor-boards.” “What can it be?” said Ebba, who at first had thought that it was merely curiosity that had brought Karin up to her room. “The wind must be blowing down the chimney. I’ll come and see but I must put some more clothes on and fetch a light, you must have groped your way up in the dark.” She went back to her room, letting the door shut behind her, but in less than thirty seconds she was back with a light in her hand and went downstairs, followed by Karin.
