Had there been trouble again? Was he anxious to be out of the way
before Fruen got up?
* * * * *
Trouble there was, often enough.
It had gone so far by this time that the Captain and Fruen hardly spoke to
one another, and whenever they did exchange a word it was in a careless
tone, and looking all the other way. Now and again the Captain would look
his wife properly in the face, and say she ought to be out more in the
lovely air; and once when she was outside he asked if she wouldn't come in
and play a little. But this, perhaps, was only to keep up appearances, no
more.
It was pitiful to see.
Fruen was quiet and nice. Now and again she would stand outside on the
steps looking out towards the hills; so soft her features were, and her
reddish yellow hair. But it was dull for her now--no visitors, no music
and entertaining, nothing but sorrow and shame.
The Captain had promised to bear with things as they were, and surely he
was bearing all he could.
Pages:
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430