One by one they stole away by different roads; Svend and Elsie went together.
When they went past Miss Falbe’s door, she pressed in between him and the wall. She had no pangs of conscience, only a burning dread of being checked. The air she had breathed among these people, the strong drink she had had a taste of, had with one blow awakened her wild defiance and transformed her into a greedy and voracious beast which amid foes and perils has to go out to steal. As noiselessly and quickly as a cat she drew Svend with her through the darkest shadows.
Old Schirrmeister sat alone once more in his imbecility and chewed away on an almond shell.
VII.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
“Thanks; the same to you!”
All the folks shouted to each other, smiled and bowed; no one could salute with his hat, loaded with bundles as they were.
Within the delicacy shops and toy-booths two or three rows of people were standing and leaned over each other, and the salesmen jumped about behind the counter almost like madmen.
Out on the streets it was just as crowded with children staring into the windows, although at the finest shops just where there was the most to see the window panes were so dewy from the heat inside that one had to peep in at the stripes after the drops which ran down, if he wanted to see anything.