At this moment a softly-chiming clock in the drawing-room struck eight. At the sound the Provst's daughter appeared in the doorway, and invited the gentlemen to come in to tea.
"Well then we must obey," said the Provst in a lively voice, and rose. Laying his hand on the curate's shoulder he added jocularly, "as you have perhaps perceived, Pastor Hansted, my daughter rules the house and I may tell you that she is a strict commander. We can continue the conversation another time. Come in, you must put up with a countrified supper table."
The dining-room—like most of the Parsonage rooms—was a lofty and well proportioned apartment, with a richly decorated ceiling and frescoes over the doors. Although Veilby and Skibberup were far from being rich livings, the Parsonage and all its out buildings were in a style more in keeping with the seat of a rich landed proprietor, than a dwelling for a servant of the church. The Provst's predecessor in the living had been an exceedingly rich man, and his first work had been to level the old Parsonage buildings with the ground. At his own cost he erected the present palatial building, the costli-
