Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/174



AT this moment the "Viking" came up to him, and introduced himself as Nielsen, the carpenter. With a complacent, but bright and pleasant smile, which showed his white teeth, he said, after Emanuel had thanked him for his remarks:

"Perhaps it would amuse Mr Hansted to go to the shore with us? We generally go there after the meetings, and sing songs and talk to each other, when it's fine enough. To-night it's real summer weather, as we say, so we'd be glad if you'd honour us with your company, sir."

Emanuel accepted the invitation with pleasure. He had no desire to leave his new friends and return to the parsonage. "That will be delightful! What a lot of people there are here to-day," said he, letting his eyes rove over the tightly packed groups. Again he looked about for Hansine. He could not believe that she was not there.

It was soon whispered from group to group that the curate was going with them.

The announcement hastened the movements of those who had children to attend to, or cattle to fodder at home, before they could go. Even "old Erik" might be seen hobbling away with his Sunday crutch, to look after his cat at the other side of the village pond, in which a flaming sunset sky was reflected.