have more room. Do
give me more! See now! that? and that? and that? and----now, in the name
of all weathers, is there no end of your articles? Give them here, my
girls! Let that alone, child! I shall soon lay it straight! What?
rumple them, shall I? Well, they can be unrumpled again, that's all! Are
there no smoothing-irons in the world? What? so, so, my girls! Have you
any more? I can yet put something more in."

They were to set off immediately after dinner, in order to be at
Axelholm, which lay about two miles[10] from the city, ready for the ball
in the evening. By dinner-time all boxes were packed, and all tempers
cleared, more especially that of the Judge, who was so contented with
his morning's work that he almost imparted his delight to those who at
first were not altogether satisfied with it.

Petrea ate nothing but a pancake, with a little snow milk to it, in
order that she might dance all the lighter.

"Above all things, my friends," prayed the Judge, "be precise, and be
ready at half-past three; the carriages come then to the door, do not
let me have to wait for you."

Precisely at half-past three the Judge went to the doors of his wife and
daughters.

"Mamma! girls! it is time to go!" said he. "The clock has struck
half-past three! The carriages are here!"

"Directly, directly!" was answered from all sides. The Judge waited; he
knew from experience what this "directly" meant.

In the fever of his punctuality his blood began to boil, and he walked
up and down the hall with great steps, talking with himself: "It is
shocking, though," argued he, "that they never are ready! but I won't be
angry! Even if they make me angry, I will not spoil their pleasure. But
patience is necessary, more than Job had!"

Whilst he was thus moralising with himself, he heard the voice of his
wife saying, with decision, in the library, "Come now, dear girls! In
heaven's name, don't keep the father waiting! I know, indeed, how it
annoys him----!"

"But he said nothing the day before yesterday," Petrea's voice was heard
to return, "though he had then to wait for us. (I can't think what I
have done with my gloves!)"

"And precisely on that account he shall not wait a moment longer for
us," said the mother; "and never again, if I can help it; so, if you are
not ready girls, I shall run away without you!"

The mother ran, and all the daughters ran merrily after her.

The father remarked with pleasure, that love has a far m