"So," at last she said, half scoldingly, half pleasantly;
"your mother has been asking for you for a long time, but there was no
trace of you, although it struck eight nobody knows how long ago." Old
Trine had been maid-servant in the family when the children's mother
came into the world, so she was an authority in the household, and felt
that she was one of its members,--to tell the truth, the very head of
the establishment; for surely she was the oldest in age and experience.
The dear old woman was fairly foolish in her fondness for her master's
children, and very proud of all their qualities and acquisitions. She
would not let this be seen, however, but employed an indignant tone when
speaking to them; for she thought it best for their education not to
appear perfectly satisfied with their conduct.
"Off with your shoes, on with your slippers!" she called out at once,
according to rule; but her order was immediately executed by the
commander, for she knelt before Otto while she spoke, to take off his
wet shoes. He had sunk down upon the nearest seat. His little sister
stood perfectly still in the middle of the room without stirring, which
was such an unusual circumstance, that Trine looked over her shoulder
two or three times to see what it could mean. Now that Otto was
equipped, it was Pussy's turn to sit down and be attended to; but she
stood stock still, and did not stir.
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