He found himself in a dirty little room, at the top of the house--as far as he could judge from the roofs all round him. How in the name of goodness had he got here?
He seated himself on the edge of the bed, and began dressing. Slowly one thing after another began to dawn on him. His head throbbed like a piston rod--headache! He heard peculiar sounds: chattering women, hoarse rough laughter, oaths--and from outside came the peal of church bells. Through all the noise and tobacco smoke came visions of a fair fringe, and soft red lips--the _princess_! But how did he come to be here, in an iron bed with a lumpy mattress, and ragged quilt?
He felt for his watch to see the time--the old silver watch had vanished! Anxiously he searched his inner pocket--thank Heaven! the pocketbook was there alright. But what had happened to his watch? Perhaps it had fallen on the floor. He hurried into his clothes, to look for it--the big leather purse felt light in his pocket. It was empty! He opened his pocketbook--that too was empty!
Lars Peter scrambled downstairs, dreading lest any one should see him, slipped out into one of the side streets, and stumbled to the inn, harnessed the nag and set off. He began to long for the children at home--yes, and for the cows and pigs too.
Not until he was well outside the town, with a cold wind blowing on his forehead, did he remember Sörine. And, suddenly realizing the full extent of his disaster, he broke down and sobbed helplessly.
He halted at the edge of the wood--just long enough for Klavs to have a feed. He himself had no desire for food then. He was on the highroad again, and sat huddled up in the cart, while the previous evening's debauch sang through his head.
At one place a woman came running towards him. "Lars Peter!" she shouted, "Lars Peter!" The nag stopped. Lars Peter came to himself with a jerk; without a word he felt in his waistcoat pocket, gave her back her coin, and whipped up the horse.
On the highroad, some distance from home, a group of children stood waiting. Ditte had not been able to manage them any longer. They were cold and in tears. Lars Peter took them up into the cart, and they gathered round him, each anxious to tell him all the news. He took no notice of their chatter. Ditte sat quietly, looking at him out of the corners of her eyes.