Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/29

 steps which echoed through the room. In a few minutes he came back to his place, and stopping in front of the curate, looked at him with a searching glance which blazed under the dark eyebrows like lightning in a storm cloud, said, in a voice which still trembled, "I hope, Pastor Hansted, that you understand my anxiety in the case I have just mentioned; and I hope you share the doubts which every conscientious priest must entertain in the face of these movements … I won't conceal from you that even in this parish I see traces of agitation. A certain weaver named Hansen, as ignorant as he is audacious, one of the sad products of this High school movement, has been trying, for the last year or two, to form a revolutionary party among the congregation; this party of braggarts and ignoramuses dares openly to defy me. But I won't stand it! I feel it is my duty to crush this spirit of revolt with inexorable severity, and I hope I may depend on your support in the future, Mr Hansted. I hope in all matters of importance we shall work together for the glory of God and the good of the congregation."

"I have no higher wish," answered the young man quietly, looking at the floor.

"I am quite sure of that," continued the Provst, evidently pleased by the curate's answer. "At the same time, I am glad to have it confirmed by your own lips. I do not doubt that we shall get on very well together."