One of Life's Slaves

the days when the afternoon hours for the latter began just when the grammar school's long morning was over, it might happen that the free, ex

n nicknamed the Ostrich, because of his little head with the bird-like nose, his long bare neck, and the way he walked

, and fate willed that Nikolai, at the head of a string of comrades, should come full speed down it, hallooing and shouting, just as Ludvig Veyergang and a fe

was he who had knocked up against him. "I shall tell abo

w loose lumps of

, this very day, that you are the leader of the street cads in the town; and if no on

have your ostr

's. But I'll take care that you get thrashed until you beg my pardon: a fellow who do

like a pair of sledge-hammers, and for a few blissful seconds hammered out every trace

g Veyergang's nose in the snow; and even the next day at dinner-time, two or three school class

lai knew that at home he would meet with an utterly different interpretation of the event, ne

t grow heavier and heavier, and when he had separated from his last companion, he suddenly stop

e; and it was not much wonder if he expected the reward he deserved, and felt his back smart. L

not possibly be in the timber-

other evil-doers, Nikolai was driven by an irresistible desire-like moths that flutter round a candle-to hide himself a

ng wrong with Nikolai. He heard it dripping and dripping in the thaw outside

in his heal

under the old carriage hood that stood in the loft over the coach-ho

ht of this idea t

hand; he still slept on happily, as

ituation, and threw himself down again, kicking and screaming. He

t both to sight and feeling that he m

and the strap should dance! Holman had wo

and at the same time heard the words: "You won't get me in! If I was born in the street, I can live in the street!" Sh

there was crying and weeping. She had had shame enough with the boy, and this she could not survive! Her mistress must prevent it. She was conscious of having done her duty and more than her duty all these year

in the nursery, until the chil

s disturbing the comfort of the house. Then Mrs. Veyergang got one of her headaches, and was going to hav

g and quieting right out into the kitchen, and keeping watch at t

ing her. On the other hand, she rather enjoyed the sentence she was carrying out. Her

ay until the Consul came driving home towards evening

that Mrs. Veyergang received her husband that evening; she was i

ss than that he shoul

ithout complaining-her husband knew that she had never complained-it was for the children's sake. But it was really unne

although firmly decisive manner. The whole circle of Mrs. Veyergang's acquaintance agreed that

ra herself; and for a long time she could not understand that she, the Veyergangs' Barbara, had act

t a change of decision would some day take place. Then she

same kindness, which ever clen

antial acknowledgement of her services with whic

best bonnet beneath her chin, and with offend

day. It was nothing less than that it was her fixed, resolute purpose to off

ould only need to present herself, and they would jump at the opportunity. How often the magistrate's wife had praised her management, and talked condescendingly to her, when they had dine

Scheele was extremely sorry-they

lution at the Veyergangs', and that high and mighty Nurse Barbara has got her dismissal. She

's long and excellent testimonial to exhibit; moreover she was fully conscious of the extent to which she was known. But though s

dful, as she did not wish to show herself,

ng all these years, all her fidelity, all her prestige as nurs

lances from her fellow-servants, whose standing with their mistress had depended for so many years upon her. And whenever she tried to broach the subject with Mrs. Ve

al as apprentice in a smithy down by the crane, and from Mrs. Veyergang she received one thing after another, as remembrances. But when, one day, the Consul-very thoughtfully-made her a present of one of his old travelling trunks, she

f, but the answer was not exactly as Barbara

ara, that you feel that

e Consul said, with which she ought to be thoroughly satisfied, when she considered the great expense she had been put to with Nikolai-she declared her intention of resting

Consul and his wife were invited to the Willocks' country-house in the afternoon with th

eling of Lizzie's soft fur, which