Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/243

 diverse faces, both children's and those of grown-up people, had been peeping over the garden wall and through the gate to pick up any scraps of information which could throw a light on the matter. While Else and Emanuel were in the best parlour, a pair of village wives ventured right into the brew-house, where they began a whispered conversation with the labourer's wife.



When by these means the rumour was confirmed, there was universal delight in the village. Nobody could now keep back, but all must needs press to the fence, so as if possible to catch a glimpse of the newly-affianced pair; and when Else and Emanuel returned to the living-room, they found a couple of intimate friends already seated there, waiting to offer their good wishes.

They were shortly followed by others, and it soon became apparent that Else's fears about gossip and jealousy were groundless. They all looked upon the event as a kind of honour shown to the whole congregation, nay, even to the whole peasant class; a living seal to the alliance formed the day before at the Meeting House.

Hansine, who came in from her room immediately after the first visitors arrived, did not by her manner give any cause for offence. Whilst her friend did not quit her side, but kept her arm shelteringly round Hansine's waist, with a triumphant expression, she herself shyly and shrinkingly received the congratulations of her friends in silence.