, over the bridge, and up the hill to the villa quarter, where he
had to ask the way. At last he arrived outside a white-painted wooden
house standing back in a garden. Here was the place--the place where his
fate was to be decided. After the country fashion he walked in at the
kitchen door.

A stout servant maid in a big white apron was rattling the rings of the
kitchen range into place; there was a pleasing smell of coffee and good
things to eat. Suddenly a door opened, and a figure in a dressing-gown
appeared--a tall red-haired man with gold spectacles astride on a long
red nose, his thick hair and scrubby little moustaches touched
with grey. He gasped once or twice and then started
sneezing--hoc-hoc-put-putsch!--wiped his nose with a large
pocket-handkerchief, and grumbled out: "Ugh!--this wretched cold--can't
get rid of it. How about my socks, Bertha, my good girl; do you think
they are quite dry now?"

"I've had them hung up ever since I lit the fire this morning," said the
girl, tossing her head.

"But who is this young gentleman, may I ask?" The gold spectacles were
turned full on Peer, who rose and bowed.

"Said he wanted to speak to you, sir," put in the maid.

"Ah. From the country, I see. Have you anything to sell, my lad?"

"No," said Peer. He had had a letter. . . .

The red head seemed positively frightened at this--and the dressing-gown
faltered backwards, as if to find support. He cast a hurried glance at
the girl, and then beckoned with a long fore-finger to Peer. "Yes, yes,
perfectly so. Be so good as to come this way, my lad."

Peer found himself in a room with rows of books all round the walls, and
a big writing-table in the centre. "Sit down, my boy." The schoolmaster
went and picked out a long pipe, and filled it, clearing his throat
nervously, with an occasional glance at the boy. "H'm--so this is you.
This is Peer--h'm." He lit his pipe and puffed a little, found himself
again obliged to sneeze--but at last settled down in a chair at the
writing-table, stretched out his long legs, and puffed away again.

"So that's what you look like?" With a quick movement he reached for a
photograph in a frame. Peer caught a glimpse of his father in uniform.
The schoolmaster lifted his spectacles, stared at the picture, then let
down his spectacles again and fell to scrutinising Peer's face. There
was a silence for a while, and then he said: "Ah, indeed--I see--h'm."
Then turning to Peer:

"Well, m