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The hymn-book was the business of Fris's life, and his forty years as parish-clerk had led to his knowing the whole of it by heart. In addition to this he had a natural gift. As a child Fris had been intended for the ministry, and his studies as a young man were in accordance with that intention.
"Twice two's five!" he said quietly, at which there was a laugh at Peter's expense, and work went on again. For some time they worked diligently, and then Nilen rose. Fris saw it, but went on reading. "Which is the lightest, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead? I can't find it in the answers." Fris's hands trembled as he held the paper up close to his face to see something or other better.
"Look out for yourself!" whispered the boys, preparing to put difficulties in the way of Fris's approach. But Pelle did one of those things that were directly opposed to all recognized rules, and yet gained him respect. Instead of shielding himself from the thrashing, he stepped forward and held out both hands with the palms turned upward. His face was crimson.
The instruction was given as before, by the cleverer scholars teaching what they knew to the others; there was rather more arithmetic and reading than in Fris's time, but on the other hand the hymns suffered. It still sometimes happened that Fris woke up and interfered in the instruction.
"Look out for yourself!" whispered the boys, preparing to put difficulties in the way of Fris's approach. But Pelle did one of those things that were directly opposed to all recognized rules, and yet gained him respect. Instead of shielding himself from the thrashing, he stepped forward and held out both hands with the palms turned upward. His face was crimson.
The hymn-book was the business of Fris's life, and his forty years as parish-clerk had led to his knowing the whole of it by heart. In addition to this he had a natural gift. As a child Fris had been intended for the ministry, and his studies as a young man were in accordance with that intention.
"Twice two's five!" he said quietly, at which there was a laugh at Peter's expense, and work went on again. For some time they worked diligently, and then Nilen rose. Fris saw it, but went on reading. "Which is the lightest, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead? I can't find it in the answers." Fris's hands trembled as he held the paper up close to his face to see something or other better.
They stood in a semicircle round the desk, and tried to see into Fris's half-closed eyes; and then Pelle went up the two steps and laid his hand upon his master's shoulder. "We're going home," he said, in an unnatural voice. Fris's arm dropped stiffly down from the desk, and Pelle had to support his body. "He's dead!" the words passed like a shiver over the children's lips.
The instruction was given as before, by the cleverer scholars teaching what they knew to the others; there was rather more arithmetic and reading than in Fris's time, but on the other hand the hymns suffered. It still sometimes happened that Fris woke up and interfered in the instruction.
They stood in a semicircle round the desk, and tried to see into Fris's half-closed eyes; and then Pelle went up the two steps and laid his hand upon his master's shoulder. "We're going home," he said, in an unnatural voice. Fris's arm dropped stiffly down from the desk, and Pelle had to support his body. "He's dead!" the words passed like a shiver over the children's lips.
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