Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/308

 At last, in the middle of July, the Tönnesens were able to pack up their things and leave. The Veilby parishioners and the three landowners had some idea of honouring the Provst with a farewell dinner and a silver coffee pot; but, at the instance of Miss Ragnhild, he found means to hinder the project.

The Provst parted from his congregation with only the most necessary formalities, but without any particular bitterness. He only disclosed the true state of his feelings to Emanuel, when on leaving, he coldly shook hands with him, and said that it was unnecessary to wish people good luck when they were fortunate enough to have the "Wind of the Times" in their sails.

As soon as they left, Emanuel moved down from his attic, with his few articles of furniture, and established himself in the Provst's study and one of the bedrooms. All the rest of the house was empty, except the room occupied by the old lame servant, who for the time remained as his housekeeper. No one had asked her to stay, but she seemed to take it for granted that she went with the house as one of the fixtures, and Emanuel good-naturedly agreed. "Maren" went with the Tönnesens, as well as the horses and carriages, and there was no need to get a new man; for, to Emanuel's great annoyance, the Parsonage glebe land was let to one of the peasants, whose lease would not expire for a year.

He passed all the time he could spare from his