Part 2 (2/2)

”Who are coming?” asked Rebecca.

”Snorting black chargers and three war chariots full of men-at-arms.”

”Rubbish, my boy!” said his father, sternly.

”Three phaetons are coming with townspeople in them,” said Ansgarius, and dismounted with an abashed air.

”Let us go in, Rebecca,” said the Pastor, turning.

But at the same moment the foremost horses came at a quick pace over the brow of the hill. They were not exactly snorting chargers; yet it was a pretty sight as carriage after carriage came into view in the suns.h.i.+ne, full of merry faces and lively colors. Rebecca could not help stopping.

On the back seat of the foremost carriage sat an elderly gentleman and a buxom lady. On the front seat she saw a young lady; and just as they entered the yard, a gentleman who sat at her side stood up, and, with a word of apology to the lady on the back seat, turned and looked forward past the driver. Rebecca gazed at him without knowing what she was doing.

”How lovely it is here!” cried the young man.

For the Parsonage lay on the outermost slope towards the sea, so that the vast blue horizon suddenly burst upon you as you entered the yard.

The gentleman on the back seat leaned a little forward. ”Yes, it's very pretty here,” he said; ”I'm glad that you appreciate our peculiar scenery, Mr. Lintzow.”

At the same moment the young man's glance met Rebecca's, and she instantly lowered her eyes. But he stopped the driver, and cried, ”Let us remain here!”

”Hus.h.!.+” said the older lady, with a low laugh. ”This won't do, Mr.

Lintzow; this is the Parsonage.”

”It doesn't matter,” cried the young man, merrily, as he jumped out of the carriage. ”I say,” he shouted backward towards the other carriages, ”sha'n't we rest here?”

”Yes, yes,” came the answer in chorus; and the merry party began at once to alight.

But now the gentleman on the back seat rose, and said, seriously: ”No, no, my friends! this really won't do! It's out of the question for us to descend upon the clergyman, whom we don't know at all. It's only ten minutes' drive to the district judge's, and there they are in the habit of receiving strangers.”

He was on the point of giving orders to drive on, when the Pastor appeared in the door-way, with a friendly bow. He knew Consul Hartvig by sight--the leading man of the town.

”If your party will make the best of things here, it will be a great pleasure to me; and I think I may say that, so far as the view goes--”

”Oh no, my dear Pastor, you're altogether too kind; it's out of the question for us to accept your kind invitation, and I must really beg you to excuse these young madcaps,” said Mrs. Hartvig, half in despair when she saw her youngest son, who had been seated in the last carriage, already deep in a confidential chat with Ansgarius.

”But I a.s.sure you, Mrs. Hartvig,” answered the Pastor, smiling, ”that so pleasant an interruption of our solitude would be most welcome both to my daughter and myself.”

Mr. Lintzow opened the carriage-door with a formal bow, Consul Hartvig looked at his wife and she at him, the Pastor advanced and renewed his invitation, and the end was that, with half-laughing reluctance, they alighted and suffered the Pastor to usher them into the s.p.a.cious garden-room.

Then came renewed excuses and introductions. The party consisted of Consul Hartvig's children and some young friends of theirs, the picnic having been arranged in honor of Max Lintzow, a friend of the eldest son of the house, who was spending some days as the Consul's guest.

”My daughter Rebecca,” said the Pastor, presenting her, ”who will do the best our humble house-keeping permits.”

”No, no, I protest, my dear Pastor,” the lively Mrs. Hartvig interrupted him eagerly, ”this is going too far! Even if this incorrigible Mr.

Lintzow and my crazy sons have succeeded in storming your house and home, I won't resign the last remnants of my authority. The entertainment shall most certainly be my affair. Off you go, young men,”

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