Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/304

 situation which had become burdensome to both of them. Besides, he was flattered by feeling that his past scholastic career was remembered, and his administrative talents appreciated; so it was with considerable satisfaction that he saw himself spoken of in the papers as the "distinguished Pedagogue."

In Skibberup they were very busy striking while the iron was hot. A deputation was at once sent to the bishop with an address, in which the hope was expressed that, "in filling the vacancy, regard would be paid to the wishes of the majority of the congregation." Emanuel was not mentioned, but the document was couched in such terms that it was impossible to misunderstand the meaning—namely, the appointment of the curate to the living. The bishop received the deputation, and especially its spokesman the weaver, very cordially. He touched upon the proposed re-distribution, which would necessitate a vacancy for some time, and further added that he always with pleasure tried to meet the justifiable wishes of the congregation. He then invited the deputation to lunch, and they spent nearly four hours with his lordship in the garden over their coffee.

A few days later the papers were able to state that the bishop had allowed himself to be nominated democratic candidate, at the forthcoming elections, for that part of the country to which Veilby and Skibberup belonged.