Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/122

 this, her trim, little, neatly built figure disclosed peculiar earnestness of purpose coupled with such youthful bloom, that he had difficulty in taking his eyes off her.

As the boy continued his game, he thought it time to make his presence known. He went back to the door by which he had entered, and stepped out on to the stone flags in front of the entrance.

Brother and sister both uttered a little startled cry when they caught sight of him. With a burning blush the young girl hurriedly pulled her skirt down and tore off the handkerchief she had worn for milking, while her brother hastily let go the kittens, and disappeared through the nearest barn door.

Emanuel went down the steps and along to greet her.

"Pray, don't let me disturb you," he said, lifting his brown plush hat a couple of inches from his head. "I happened to be passing, and looked in to ask after you. I see you have quite recovered since last I saw you."

"Thank you," she muttered, looking behind her with a dark, uneasy glance, as if for succour.

At this moment a stable door opened, and old Anders Jörgen came tramping out in heavy metal-tipped wooden shoes, with a halter in his hand. He was in a black and white flannel shirt, and a fur cap with a tassel covered his wiry grey hair. He was humming a merry tune, but no sooner did his half-blind eyes make out Emanuel than he also