Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/285

 in difficulties, could not avoid making political capital out of the Saviour of the world, nay, actually turning Him into a socialist.

Just then the warning sound of church bells was borne on the wind. It was time for the afternoon service.

The Provst rose and said in a slightly sarcastic tone:

"Your lordship must excuse me; my clerical duties call me away. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing your lordship again when I return,"—whereupon, without waiting for an answer, he pushed his chair aside and went away with majestic strides.

A moment after, the others rose too. The bishop shook hands both with Miss Ragnhild and Emanuel with a serious face, and said to the latter in a voice which was not affected by any recollection of the complaint:

"I should like to look about a little in the neighbourhood. Do you mind being my conductor, Mr Hansted, till the Provst returns? I daresay we shall find something or other to talk about."

Emanuel coloured and bowed.

Miss Ragnhild had remained standing by the table, her eyes blazing with contempt. She was dressed in a light summer dress with silk stripes and a straw hat with ostrich feathers, and looked extremely well.

When the bishop turned towards her to take