In Midsummer Days, and Other Tales by August Strindberg
page 50 of 130 (38%)
page 50 of 130 (38%)
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their house. "Forwarding agents"--they were moving into it. The
"Box-office of the Opera-house, No. 50,50"--they were newly married, and went to the opera on Sunday evenings; the most enjoyable hours of their lives were spent there, for they had to sit quite still, while their souls met in the beauty and harmony of the fairyland on the other side of the curtain. Then followed the name of a man, crossed out. He had been a friend of his youth, a man who had risen high in the social scale, but who fell, spoilt by success, fell irremediably, and had to leave the country. So unstable was fortune! Now, something new entered the lives of husband and wife. The next entry was in a lady's hand: "Nurse." What nurse? Well, of course, the kindly woman with the big cloak and the sympathetic face, who walked with a soft footfall, and never went into the drawing-room, but walked straight down the passage to the bedroom. Underneath her name was written "Dr. L." And now, for the first time, a relative appeared on the list: "Mama." That was his mother-in-law, who had kept away discreetly, so as not to disturb their newly found happiness, but was glad to come now, when she was needed. A great number of entries in red and blue pencil followed: "Servants' Registry Office"--the maid had left and a new one had to be engaged. "The chemist's"--hm! life was growing dark. "The dairy"--milk had |
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