Product Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ...of mine or hers to the keeping of a paid domestic," he said. "A domestic, moreover, who deserts the ways of her own people, --who hath dealings with the dwellers in darkness, --who even bringeth herself to forget much of her own native tongue, and who devoteth herself to" What he would have said was uncertain, as at that moment he was nearly thrown down by a something that slipped agilely between his legs, pinching each fat calf as it passed--a something that looked like a ball, but proved to be a human creature--no other than the crazy Sigurd, who, after accomplishing his uncouth gambol successfully, stood up, shaking back his streaming fair locks and laughing wildly. "Ha, ha!" he exclaimed. "That was good; that was clever! If I had upset you now, you would have said your prayers backward! What are you here for? This is no place for you! They are all gone out of it. She has gone--all the world is empty! There is nothing anywhere but air, air, air!--no birds, no flowers, no trees, no sunshine! All gone with her on the sparkling, singing water!" and he swung his arms round violently, and snapped his fingers in the minister's face. "What an ugly man you are!" he exclaimed with refreshing candour. "I think you are uglier than I am! You are straight, --but you are like a load of peat--heavy and barren and fit to burn. Now, I--I am the crooked bough of a tree, but I have bright leaves where a bird hides and sings all day! You--you have no song, no foliage; only ugly and barren and fit to burn I" He laughed heartily, and, catching sight of Britta where she stood in the doorway entirely unconcerned at his eccentric behaviour, he went up to her and took hold of the corner of her apron. "Take me in, Britta dear--pretty Britta!" he said coaxingly. '-Sigurd is...