Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/245

 But just as they were going in, he laid his hand on Hansine's arm and said:

"There is something I want to talk to you about, Hansine."

He saw that she trembled. This time she understood his hint. After a moment's hesitation she drew her hand out of her friend's arm and said:

"Will you go in and help mother with the coffee, I am coming directly."

Ane first looked at them in amazement, and then her face took an expression which was meant to show that she felt herself deeply wronged. Without a word, she turned away and left them. Hansine and Emanuel went slowly back the way they had come. Neither of them spoke. But when they reached the summer-house at the furthest end of the garden, where no one could see them except a little goldfinch piping among the foliage, he took both her hands and stood for a long time silently looking at her. She was pale, and once or twice looked up shyly and hurriedly at him. She waited for him to speak. But as he only continued to gaze at her with his tender, searching glance, she at last involuntarily crept into his arms and shut her eyes, while he pressed his first kiss on her forehead.