he said. "Why, that's more suitable for a girl of seventeen."
"It may be a pleasure perhaps for one who is not so young to look at pretty things," retorted Mamselle Lovisa, who, though past her first youth, was still comely and rather elegant in her attire.
When they were well away from the swansdown hat they came to a goldsmith's shop. Now it was the Lieutenant who stopped first. As he stood feasting his eyes on the trays of sparkling rings and bracelets, shining silver spoons and goblets, and much else displayed in the window, he ejaculated innocent oaths of delight.
"Here we'll go in!" he said abruptly.
"But, Gustaf!" Fru Lagerlöf protested, "we can't be buying such things now."
She laid a restraining hand on his arm, for he had already opened the big plate-glass door of the shop and was stepping in. There was nothing for the others to do but follow. By the time they were all inside he was over at the counter talking to a young clerk.
"No, thank you, I don't wish to buy anything," he said. "But, seeing so many choice things in the window, I thought I'd just step in and ask if I might also have a peep at the fine wares you have in the shop."
The clerk looked a bit uneasy, and seemed at a loss what to reply. Fru Lagerlöf and Mamselle Lovisa now stood with their hands on the Lieutenant's shoulders, trying to drag him away.
