But the
inspector received daily and hourly so many instructions from the
ladies, that he ended by being nothing but their mouth-piece.
At the age of fifteen Frithiof was confirmed, received a present of a
gold watch and was allowed to go out on horseback; he was not
permitted, however, to realise his greatest ambition, namely to go
shooting. True, there was no longer any fear of a whipping from his
arch-enemy, but he dreaded his mother's tears. He always remained a
child, and never managed to throw off the habit of giving way to the
judgment of other people.
The years passed; he had attained his twentieth year. One day he was
standing in the kitchen watching the cook, who was busy scaling a
perch. She was a pretty young woman with a delicate complexion. He was
teasing her and finally put his hand down her back.
"Do behave yourself, now, Mr. Frithiof," said the girl.
"But I am behaving myself," he replied, becoming more and more
familiar.
"If mistress should see you!"
"Well supposing she did?"
At this moment his mother passed the open kitchen door; she instantly
turned away and walked across the yard.
Frithiof found the situation awkward and slunk away to his bed-room.
A new gardener entered their service.
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