Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/91

 workmen looked at us wonderingly, astonished at this gibberish. The smith did not seem to pay any attention to it; just at that moment he laid the smouldering pick, which was beginning to turn grey, on to the anvil, and worked it with his hammer, so that the sparks flew about, and we stepped back a few yards out of the way. Minna looked at him with an admiration which did not please me.

"Don't you think him handsome?" she asked. "As he stands there at his work, one cannot imagine anything more picturesque. If only Gudehus looked like that!"

"Of course he is good-looking, but you will spoil him by admiring him so openly. He will be so conceited, that the poor little village maidens will never be able to please him again."

"He is occupied with his work, surely he does not notice it."

"Then the others will tell him."

"But, really it is so delightful to see something absolutely perfect!"

However justifiable this might have been, I did not like it.

"I wonder if he is a Saxon?" she said, a little while after.

"No, miss, I am from Schleswig," the workman answered quite calmly in Danish, throwing the pick aside, and occupying himself by blowing the bellows.

One would have thought that he blew the flush on to her cheek, so red did she turn. The workmen about chuckled a little, and seemed to have understood the situation. At first I enjoyed her confusion, as a fitting punishment, but soon I began to pity her, for she did not seem to have the courage to lift her eyes from the ground.