’At the table—­yes!  In his speech—­yes!  But, don’t you see, that is quite another matter.  People allow themselves to say such things, especially in speeches; but it is by no means intended that these theories should be translated into practice.  No, believe me, my dear boy, I am old, and I know humanity.  The world must wag like this; we are not made otherwise.  In youth one has his own peculiar view of life, but, young man, it is not the right one.  Only when one has arrived at the calm restfulness of an advanced age does one see circumstances in the true light.  And now I will tell you something, upon the truth of which you may confidently rely.  When you come to your father’s years and position, your opinions will be quite the same as his now are, and, like him, you will strive to maintain them and impress them upon your children.’

‘No, never!  I swear it,’ cried the young man, springing to his feet.  And now he spoke in glowing terms, to the effect that for him right would always be right, that he would respect the truth, no matter whence it came, that he would respect the young, and so on.  In short, he talked as hopeful youths are wont to talk after a good dinner and violent mental disturbance.

He was beautiful, as he stood there with the evening sun shining upon his blonde hair, and his enthusiastic countenance turned upward.

There was in his whole personality and in his words something transporting and convincing, something that could not fail to work an impression—­that is to say, if anybody but the teacher had seen and heard him.

For upon the teacher it made no impression whatever; he was old, of course.

The drama of which he had that day been a witness he had seen many times.  He himself had successively played both the principal roles; he had seen many debutants like the student and many old players like the merchant.

Therefore he shook his venerable head, and said to himself: 

’Yes, yes; it is all well enough.  But just see if I am not right; he will become precisely the same as the rest of us.’

And the teacher was right.

TROFAST. [Footnote:  Faithful.]

     I.

Miss Thyra went and called into the speaking-tube: 

‘Will Trofast’s cutlets be ready soon?’

The maid’s voice came up from the kitchen:  ’They are on the window-sill cooling; as soon as they are all right, Stine shall bring them up.’

Trofast, who had heard this, went and laid himself quietly down upon the hearthrug.

He understood much better than a human being, the merchant used to say.

Besides the people of the house, there sat at the breakfast-table an old enemy of Trofast’s—­the only one he had.  But be it said that Cand. jur. [Footnote:  Graduate in law.] Viggo Hansen was the enemy of a great deal in this world, and his snappish tongue was well known all over Copenhagen.  Having been a friend of the family for many years, he affected an especial frankness in this house, and when he was in a querulous mood (which was always the case) he wreaked his bitterness unsparingly upon anything or anybody.