Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/255

 to listen to him with perfect calm and attention. But if he went too far, they were all, at a given signal, to rise in a body and leave the church; and later to send a complaint, signed by all present, to the Diocesan Council.

On the stroke of nine, "Death's" bony figure was seen hurrying with long strides over the graves, from his look-out post in the corner of the churchyard. The Provst was in sight.

A moment later the bells clanged out again, and the women began to straggle into church in Indian file. The men, on the other hand, ranged themselves according to plan on each side of the entrance to receive the Provst without saluting him.

This was also done at the weaver's instigation. "For," said he, "it is nowhere written that people must take off their hats to the priest."

However, this little opening skirmish fell flat. The Provst walked from his carriage into the church without looking either to the right or to the left, and apparently did not notice the demonstration. Certainly one or two old peasants, when it came to the point, lost their courage; and there were a few others whose right hands involuntarily went half way to their caps.

A few minutes later, before the men had all got inside the church, the hymns began, led by Johansen the assistant teacher. The singing did not sound badly, although the whole congregation sang at the tops of their voices. Whatever might be