The Growth of a Soul

The Growth of a Soul by August Strindberg. I...IN THE FORECOURT – II…BELOW AND ABOVE – III…THE DOCTOR – IV…IN FRONT OF THE CURTAIN – V…JOHN BECOMES AN ARISTOCRAT – VI…BEHIND THE CURTAIN – VII…JOHN BECOMES AN AUTHOR – VIII…THE "RUNA" CLUB – IX…BOOKS AND THE STAGE – X…TORN TO PIECES – XI…IDEALISM AND REALISM – XII…A KING'S PROTÉGÉ – XIII…THE WINDING UP – XIV…AMONG THE MALCONTENTS – XV…THE RED ROOM. The steamer had passed Flottsund and Domstyrken and the university buildings of Upsala began to appear. "Now begins the real stone-throwing!" exclaimed one of his companions,—an expression borrowed from the street-riots of 1864. The hilarity induced by punch and breakfast abated; one felt that things were now serious and that the battle of life was beginning. No vows of perpetual friendship were made, no promises of helping each other. The young men had awakened from their romantic dreams; they knew that they would part at the gang-way, new interests would scatter the company which the school-room had united; competition would break the bonds which had united them and all else would be forgotten. The "real stone-throwing" was about to begin.. John and his friend Fritz hired a room in the Klostergränden. It contained two beds, two tables, two chairs and a cupboard. The rent was 30 kronas[1] a term,—15 kronas each. Their midday meal was brought by the servant for 12 kronas a month,—6 kronas each. For breakfast and supper they had a glass of milk and some bread and butter. That was all. They bought wood in the market,—a small bundle for 4 kronas. John had also received a bottle of petroleum from home as a present, and he could send his washing to Stockholm. He had 80 kronas in his table-drawer with which to meet all the expenses of the term.