Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/172

 all, therefore we have religion. What should we be without religion, Mr. Fenger?"

"Well, I am sorry to say I am not very churchy, but I think that Minna and I also in that respect"

"Oh, dear me, yes, young people, you see! When I was young … it was just the same … then one only thought of amusing oneself. And, upon my word, why not, as long as one doesn't do anything bad!"

"Anyhow, I think also about earning something, and hope soon to be in a position to marry. I have an uncle who is a factory-owner in England, and he wants me to go over there."

"To England, oh, I say! I had a sister who was several years in England. Oh dear, what tales she could tell! It must be an awful town, London! All the fog and smoke! There also they live on several storeys, and the whole family take their dinner in the kitchen."

When at last it was clear to me that it was hopeless to try to lead the conversation into a sensible track, I let her babble on to her heart's content, and made no attempt to stop her. She had at first spoken fairly correctly, but as she got excited her provincial accent became apparent; she said "m'r" for "wir" and "sein" for "sind," and interlarded her talk with many slang expressions and terms; and it then amused me to remark that Minna, when she sometimes jokingly chattered her Dresden dialect, resembled her mother very strikingly, even in countenance and features. Consequently, I was as patient and attentive a listener as the old woman could have desired.

When I at last took my leave, she did not make any attempt to detain me, but accompanied me to the door with many curtsies and salutations.