Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/278

 move a muscle, but looked as if he could not see the slightest occasion to join in his mirth. Just then, Emanuel appeared on the verandah, and came up with a bow.

The bishop received him, as a bishop needs must receive a young cleric, whose conduct has occasioned the sending in of a definite complaint. Still, his measured greeting seemed somewhat studied, and by no means served to soften the Provst. On the contrary, when the bishop, while Emanuel was taking his place at the table, continued his conversation and enlarged with a certain parliamentary complacency on the political situation, and took the opportunity of expressing his adherence to several of the movements of the "People's" party for re-arranging public life and its administration, Tönnesen could no longer maintain his passive bearing; he did not wish the curate to put his silence down to fear of the bishop.

"But it appears to me," he said, in a manner which was intended to overpower the bishop—"it really appears to me, that for the moment it is not so much that we feel the need of new movements and efforts, such as your grace seems to mean, as that we want quiet and decision, so that the different institutions of the country may regain their stability, which endured so many shocks at the founding of the new constitution."

"Oh, I am not afraid of a little airing!" cried the bishop with youthful gaiety. "Every house