ning room, and with that exception, everything will be for you just as
it is for me. Is that settled?" "Yes, master." "Very well; that is all
right, and now go to your work."

And she went out to attend to her duties and at midday she served up her
master's dinner in the little drawing-room with the flowered paper on
the walls, and then, when the soup was on the table, she went to tell
him. "Dinner is ready, master."

He went in, and sat down, looked round, unfolded his table napkin,
hesitated for a moment and then in a voice of thunder he shouted:
"Adelaide!" She rushed in terribly frightened, for he had shouted as if
he meant to murder her. "Well, in heaven's name, where is your place?"
"But, ... master ..." "I do not like to eat alone," he roared; "you will
sit there, or go to the devil, if you don't choose to do so. Go and get
your plate and glass."

She brought them in, feeling very frightened, and stammered: "Here I
am, master," and then sat down opposite to him, and he grew jovial;
clinked glasses with her, rapped the table, and told her stories to
which she listened with downcast eyes, without daring to say a word, and
from time to time she got up to fetch some bread, cider or plates. When
she brought in the coffee she only put one cup before him, and then he
grew angry again, and growled: "Well, what about yourself?" "I never
take any, master." "Why not?" "Because I do not like it."

Then he burst out afresh: "I am not fond of having my coffee by myself,
confound it! If you will not take it here, you can go to the devil. Go
and get a cup, and make haste about it."

So she went and fetched a cup, sat down again, tasted the black liquor
and made faces over it, but swallowed it to the last drop, under her
master's furious looks. Then he made her also drink her first glass of
brandy as an extra drop, the second as a livener and the third as a kick
behind, and then he told her to go and wash up her plates and dishes,
adding, that she was "a good sort of a girl."

It was the same at dinner, and then she had to play dominoes with him,
after which he sent her to bed, saying that he should come upstairs
soon. And she went to her room, a garret under the roof, and after
saying her prayers, she undressed and got into bed, but very soon she
sprung up in a fright, for a furious shout had shaken the house.
"Adelaide!" She opened her door, and replied from her attic: "Here I am,
master." "Where are you?" "In bed, of cou