craving to go; but in spite of this his mind and his speech roamed
over the whole wide world, so that Pelle at times felt like falling
sick from sheer longing. He demanded nothing more than health of
the future, and adventures hovered all about him; one received the
impression that happiness itself had fluttered to earth and settled
upon him. Pelle idolized him, but did not understand him. The
master, who at one moment would make sport of his lame leg and the
next moment forget that he had one, or jest about his poverty as
though he were flinging good gold pieces about him--this was a man
Pelle could not fathom. He was no wiser when he secretly looked into
the books which Master Andres read so breathlessly; he would have
been content with a much more modest adventure than a journey to the
North Pole or the center of the earth, if only he himself could have
been of the party.

He had no opportunity to sit still and indulge in fancies. Every
moment it was, "Pelle, run and do something or other!" Everything
was purchased in small quantities, although it was obtained on
credit. "Then it doesn't run up so," Jeppe used to say; it was all
the same to Master Andres. The foreman's young woman came running
in; she absolutely must have her young lady's shoes; they were
promised for Monday. The master had quite forgotten them. "They are
in hand now," he said, undaunted. "To the devil with you, Jens!" And
Jens had hastily thrust a pair of lasts into the shoes, while Master
Andres went outside with the girl, and joked with her on the landing,
in order to smooth her down. "Just a few nails, so that they'll
hang together," said the master to Jens. And then, "Pelle, out you
go, as quick as your legs will carry you! Say we'll send for them
early to-morrow morning and finish them properly! But run as though
the devil were at your heels!"