Page:Pontoppidan - Emanuel, or Children of the Soil (1896).djvu/311

 more narrowly she examined her new position—especially after there was a prospect of becoming mistress of the palatial Veilby Parsonage—so much the more she feared not doing justice to the position in which her marriage would place her. But when she saw how happy and sanguine Emanuel always was, and how anxious he was to hurry on the marriage, she could not find it in her heart to oppose his wishes, or even to disturb him with her troubles; and when her parents were consulted, it was decided at a family council that the wedding should take place on the 6th of October, Frederick the VIIth's birthday.

But now a little difficulty arose, the outcome of which was anxiously looked for in the village. While Hansine wanted to be married as quietly as possible, her mother thought they owed it to Emanuel to celebrate the day with as much splendour as they could. Otherwise, he might still think they were not thoroughly pleased with the connection, and she wanted for once to shew her gratitude by her deeds.

Emanuel took no part in the arrangements, and, indeed, did not seem to notice them; personally, he did not object to a gathering of "Friends" on his wedding-day, but he did not wish to influence the decision of the others. So, for the first time in their three-and-twenty years of married life, it came about that Else and Anders did not agree. He saw that, if Else had her way, it would fall very heavily on his care-