Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/191

 time to recognise him; and when he reached her, he raised his hat.

"Don't be afraid, Hansine,… you see it is only me. I hope I do not disturb you. I shan't do you any harm, you may be sure."

These last words slipped out involuntarily on seeing her alarm. She stood as if turned to stone. Her face was ashy pale, her eyes, under their dark eyebrows, fixed on him with a curious startled gaze.

In his helplessness he gave an elaborate explanation of his presence. He said that he had seen her go with her friend; and as he had not been able to speak to her all day, he had decided to go and meet her and have a little talk with her.

She remained standing like a dumb creature, and did not stir from the spot. Her face was as immoveable as a mask, and she stared at him with her half shy, half threatening glance, like a wounded doe.

"My dear Hansine!" he exclaimed. "You can never be angry with me for stopping you. I can assure you, you need not have the least fear of me. I only wanted to say "How-d'ye-do" to you, and anybody might listen to what I have to say, for that matter. I suppose you don't doubt that?"

Still she did not speak.

The blood rushed to Emanuel's cheeks. Was it possible that she really distrusted him? The