The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-07
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since eight o'clock, and we in the kitchen have half the baking done, Shame on you" She bent, and in one quick movement, whisked the heavy quilt away.
 "No, Fru Eriksen," they cried, and cMtched at each other to keep warm. But the woman went of laughing; they leaped out of bed and ran barefooted over to the closet to get their clothes.
 A few minutes later when they started down into the kitchen, they heard Fru Eriksen's voice from as far away as the upstairs land- ing. Large and hearty, it was cry ing, Look sharp in the oven, l smell Fru Roledag's biscuits. You'll never get fat on your arms If you stand still" And then she must have heard them, for she called, "Ha, Ina, here they come, the lazy sleepers. Gossiping all night long, and can't get up in the morning"
 And down the stairs came Karen and Margit with their faces wash ed, but looking very sheepish, both m brown dresses and heavy stock ings coming to their knees, and each one with three woolen petticoatS bil- lowing beneath her skirt.
 Get back up and put on your shoes" Fru Eriksen cried at them.
 "Oh, please don't make us" said Karen, trying very hard to keep her eyes open.
 And Margit, peering over her friends shoulder, said, "Is there any breakfast left?"
 Fru Eriksen leaned back and laughed. hands on her broad hips "Oh, what silly geese" she cried. "Of course there's breakfast
 Where is everybody" Margit asked.
 whoever isn't here is in the barn." called Fru Eriksen, and who isn't in the barn, and that's your father, has gone down to see the doctor"
 of course"
 And the girls looked at each other in some surprise for since Johann had come home, no one went to the doctors house if he could avoid it.
 Far in the background they kept on hearing the chatter of plates in the sink and Fru Eriksen's boom- ing voice, and the little maids answers. They swung their brown stocking legs under the table. and ate and drank. and felt the drowsiness steal back over them.
 A sharp rap at the door made them sit bolt upright. And then the door blew open, and breath less l0-year-old boy tumbled in.
 The Herr Doktor," he panted, the Herr Doktor '"
 Fru Eriksen slammed the door and took him by an ear.
 "Ow." he walled, and pointed at the girls. The Herr Doktor says he wants to see them
 "Us?" said Karen, and felt a cold chill run over her. US? What for?"
 Fran1 twisted free. How should I know?"
 The girls looked at each other. Karen with startled hand at her mouth, and the same thought was in both their minds. All the while they had been sitting so calmly and eating breakfast They turned and ran upstairs in a swift pattering of stockinged feet to get their boots. My father is down in the village too," Margit whis- pered. Karen. do you think !"
 The two pale and silent girls walked quickly down toward the village. At the doctors white gate, half covered by snow. they stop ped and whispered few words to each other before they turned In. Three men followed them almost to the door. Once Karen (dark yellow hair and a scared face under her hood turned to look at them: then both of them ran into the house.
 Tn the empty hallway they took of their coats. hoods and boots. Karen kept wetting her lips with her tongue. Then. side by side, on thickly stockinged feet and in identical brown dresses with far ing skirts, they opened the door and walked into the doctors office.
 The first man they saw was Nor | ten Mortensen on the window seat, crouched like a monkey with his thin arms wrapped about his knees. Margit's father was sitting with his back to the door. rough red hands on the arms Of his chair. pr. Stensgard, looking puffier about the face than usual, was seated. half in shadow, at his desk. The blinds to the street window were down, and the room was very still.
 Suddenly the doctor said in a strained voice, Karen"
 The tightness grew. Both girls breathed a little faster. "Yeg?"
 Where are your skis?"
 Karen was standing as straight as she was able. hardly breathing. She thought at an moment she would faint. Of course they knew something, but how much? Ard what was Mortensen doing there. looking SO satisfied and solemn? She tried to look at Margit out of the corner of her eye, and felt