now these complaints of
hers were too frequently repeated, Elise said to her seriously: "Dear
Brigitta, let him eat and drink as much as he likes, without any
observation: I would willingly allow him a pound of sugar and coffee a
day, if he only became, as I hope he may, a good friend and preceptor
for the children."

Brigitta walked away quite provoked, and grumbling to herself: "Well,
well!" said she, "old Brita can be silent, yes, that she can;--well,
well! we shall see what will be the end of it. Sugar and rusks he eats,
and salt-fish he can't eat!--well, well!"

All this time Jacobi was passing his days in peace, little dreaming of
the clouds which were gathering over his head, or of his appellations of
coffee-bibber, calf, rusk-devourer, and sugar-rat; and with each
succeeding day it became more evident that Elise's hopes of him were
well grounded. He developed more and more a good and amiable
disposition, and the most remarkable talents as teacher. The children
became attached to him with the most intense affection; nor did their
obedience and reverence for him as preceptor prevent them, in their
freer hours, from playing him all kind of little pranks. Petrea was
especially rich in such inventions; and he was too kind, too much
delighted with their pleasure, not willingly to assist, or even at times
allow himself to be the butt of their jokes.

Breakfast, which for the elder members of the family was commonly served
at eleven o'clock, furnished the children with an excellent opportunity
for their amusement. The Candidate was particularly fond of eggs, and
therefore, when under a bulky-looking napkin he expected to find some,
and laid hasty hands on it, he not unfrequently discovered, instead of
eggs, balls of worsted, playing-balls, and other such indigestible
articles; on which discovery of his, a stifled laughter would commonly
be heard at the door, and a cluster of children's heads be visible,
which he in pretended anger assailed with the false eggs, and which
quickly withdrew amid peals of laughter. Often too, when, according to
old Swedish usage, he would take a glass of spirits, he found pure water
instead of Cognac in his mouth; and the little advocates of temperance
were always near enough to enjoy his astonishment, although sufficiently
distant, also, that not one drop of the shower which was then sent at
them should reach them, though it made them leap high enough for
delight. And really it was wonde