"And we were just talking about the herring off Bohus, when you came and disturbed us!" the girl ended the presentation with.
The commissioner let the lie, and the dangerous word "disturbed" and the challenge "all hearts" pass, while he reached his hand to a giant youth of about twenty and some years, who had less ability to dissimulate, and with a guilty look grasped the outstretched hand, and stuttered a few incomprehensible words.
At the same time the mother came out, greeted her future son-in-law and began to arrange the table.
A conversation was soon started, and Miss Mary, very likely in the feeling of having a support, began to joke at her betrothed's toilet.
"That veil there, is precious you know," joked she; "you should also have a parasol when you are sitting at the helm."
"That will come, that will come," answered the commissioner, hiding the disagreeable impression which this exposure before a subordinate and a stranger had made on him.
The assistant, who already felt himself above the considerate foreman, but still could not help feeling uncomfortable at the cruel treatment he received, was seized with a tactless compassion, and drumming with his long fingers on the veil, which the commissioner wore on his hat, he said:
"Yes, but this here is very practical!" And hastily falling again into the flirting manner he had begun at the first moment, he added: "And if Miss Mary were just as careful of her beautiful complexion...."
"As you about your beautiful hands—" slipped from the girl, while she touched the hand that rested on the table and which was rolling balls from bread; and she seemed at once to be back in the humor, which her betrothed could guess had prevailed the whole forenoon.
Feeling himself ridiculous like one who is eating alone in the presence of those who are satisfied, he needed all his nerve power to disguise the depression which the overheard conversation had produced. "They already compliment each other's members in my presence," thought he with loathing. But perceived at once, that he would be lost if he showed a single sign of discontent over the improper behavior, which discontent would immediately be stamped as that dirty vice, he had lately heard spoken of.