Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/145

, yet the festive appearance of the table and the unusual beauty of the china at once impressed the company favourably, and the meal began in solemn silence. The fat little landowner set to work immediately, with his elbows out, to ladle into his mouth voraciously, with knife and fork, whatever came near him.

Aggerbölle, on the other hand, struggled bravely against his evil tendencies. He sat for a long time with the same glass of claret before him, and never more than half-filled his plate, consequently he was able to glance at his wife with proud self-esteem, for he had solemnly promised her on the way to the Parsonage to behave with propriety and moderation.

At first the Provst was the only one, so to speak, who conversed; and altogether he shewed himself to be an equally amiable and entertaining host. He saw that the dishes were passed round, invited the gentlemen to fill their glasses, told little anecdotes, and, by the gallantry of his behaviour, disclosed the former "society" man, who was involuntarily stimulated and carried away by the sight of bright lights, flowers, and ladies in silk attire.

When the meal had proceeded for a quarter of an hour, he tapped his glass, and began an elaborate speech. Beginning with Solomon's proverb, he spoke in copious and polished terms of the strength felt in times of difficulty from knowing oneself to be surrounded by faithful friends.