But he could do no more. Disaster had come to
the home, and the best will in the world could not shoulder it off. If
Fruen happened to be hasty, as she might now and then, and forgot to be
grateful, the Captain would look down at the floor, and it would not be
long before he put on his hat and went out. All the maids knew about it,
and I had seen it myself once or twice. He never forgot what she had
done--how could he?--though he could keep from speaking of it. But could
he keep from speaking of it when she forgot herself and said:
"You know I'm not well just now; you know I can't walk far like I used
to!"
"S--sh, Lovise!" he would say, with a frown. And then the mischief was
there as bad as ever.
"Oh, of course you must bring that up again!"
"No, indeed! It's you that brought it up yourself. You've lost all sense
of modesty, I think; you seem to have no shame left."
"Oh, I wish I'd never come back at all! I was better off at home!"
"Yes, or living with that puppy, I dare say.
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