Mrs. Ritter
could not cease bewailing her neglect in not visiting the sick woman
before, for she had been postponing it from day to day; but, of course,
had not in the least realized how near the end might be. She was sadly
cast down, and sorrowful. And Otto: he went raging up and down the room
with great strides, and kept calling out angrily, "It is an injustice!
It is a great injustice! But if he dares to lay a hand on her to harm
her, he may look to his own bones, how many of them will be left whole
in his skin!"
"Who do you mean, Otto? Who are you talking about in that way?" said his
mother, looking curiously at her excited boy.
"About that Cheppi," he replied. "I do not know what dreadful things he
will do to Wiseli when he has her there in his own house. It is not
right, but just let him try"--But now Otto was interrupted by a repeated
and heavy stamping that prevented his being heard. "Why do you make such
a deafening noise, you pussy cat, there behind the stove?" he cried,
turning his indignation towards another quarter. Pussy came out from
behind the stove, but stamped more violently than before; for she was
trying to force her feet into her wet boots, which it had taken the old
Trine ever so long to pull off a while before. It was dreadfully hard
work; and Pussy became as red as fire, while she said,--
"Don't you see that I have to do so? Nobody in the world could get these
boots on without stamping.
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