The Winter Night. 325 



newspapers, nothing disturbing ; just that monastic, 

 out-of-the-world existence that was my dream when I 

 was younger and yearned for quietness in which to 

 give myself up to my studies. Longing, even when it 

 is strong and sad, is not unhappiness. A man has 

 truly no right to be anything but happy when fate 

 permits him to follow up his ideals, exempting him from 

 the wearing strain of every-day cares, that he may with 

 clearer vision strive towards a lofty goal. 



" ' Where there is work, success will follow,' said a 

 poet of the land of work. I am working as hard as 

 I can, so I suppose success will pay me a visit by-and- 

 bye. I am lying on the sofa, reading about Kane's 

 misfortunes, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes truth 

 obliges me to confess that 1 have become addicted to 

 the vice I condemn so strongly but flesh is grass ; so 

 I blow the smoke clouds into the air and dream sweet 

 dreams. It is hard work, but I must do the best I can." 



"Thursday, January 4th. It seems as if the twilight 

 were increasing quite perceptibly now, but this is 

 very possibly only imagination. I am in good spirits in 

 spite of the fact that we are drifting south again. After 

 all, what does it matter ? Perhaps the gain to science 

 will be as great, and after all. I suppose this desire to 

 reach the North Pole is only a piece of vanity. I have 

 now a very good idea of what it must be like up there. 

 (' I like that! ' say you.) Our deep water here is con- 

 nected with, is a part of, the deep water of the Atlantic 



