Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 22, 2025
Kirstin, the elder of Pastor Karl Lindar's women servants, was about forty-five a large-framed woman with a hard face. She possessed, in common with the Jutland lower class, a shrewd sense, yet highly suspicious, but at the bottom strong good nature. She had been with Pastor Lindal more than twenty years, and her devotion to him and his was complete.
Frøken Helga and Kirstin the next day were much occupied in preparing Karl's outfit; old stockings had to have new feet, cloth had to be bought and the tailor sent for, as well as a Syjomfru, or seamstress, to assist about his shirts. An inquiry, however, directed to Hardy on the subject, put a stop to all the bustle. "How many stockings of a thick kind had Karl better take?" asked Helga.
There was a stern dignity in John Hardy's manner, always present in a man of his type when accustomed to obedience. Kirstin hesitated. "You can go out, Kirstin," repeated Hardy; and she obeyed. Frøken Helga's implicit faith in the rigid character of Kirstin was shaken. Rasmussen's funeral took place shortly after, and on the Sunday the Pastor referred to Hardy's conduct.
I am quite sure that he would never have referred to Kirstin in the way he did had he known everything. His only thought was that Kirstin was generally suspicious and that was all. He had no idea that when you criticized his treatment of Rosendal that he was comparing your conduct with what was bad."
"That may be; but you have the greater opportunity for attaining the actuality of what is simple and true," said Mrs. Hardy. "Possibly we have," replied Pastor Lindal; "but I fear we are all liable to neglect opportunities which suggest only." John Hardy had been obliged to assist at this conversation as interpreter, when Kirstin announced dinner was served.
The tobacco parliament, as Hardy always called it, had scarcely began, when Kirstin announced that there was an Englishman at the door. "It is the Scotchman, Macdonald, the gardener, my mother has sent over to see Rosendal," said Hardy. "May he come in and show you his plans?" "We should like to see them beyond everything," said Frøken Helga, eagerly.
This fish was full of food, and corroborated the Pastor's statement. The trout resembles the Hampshire trout, but the colours were more brightly painted. Hardy fished steadily for two hours, with the result of landing eight trout averaging a pound each, to the boys' intense delight. Kirstin and their father had both doubted Hardy, but there were the fish and could be cooked for breakfast.
On reaching the parsonage, he went to his room, and, wearied out, at last fell asleep. The Pastor, after the usual morning prayers with his household, said, "Stay, Kirstin! You have wickedly cast shame on an honest man; you have attributed sin to another without cause.
Kirstin read the note, and put several questions to Garth, which, from his ignorance of Danish, it was impossible for him to answer; "When suddenly," said Garth, "she appeared to get into a rage. She rushed at me, beat me about the head, and shouted at me." The district doctor now came in, and Hardy's attention was occupied.
"You are like Kirstin, always imputing evil to me," said Hardy. "Such a walk would destroy the natural effect of the valley, and would be a sin to do." Helga started. She did not know that Hardy was ignorant of Kirstin's conduct towards him. The Pastor, with his delicate instinct, at once saw that Hardy was ignorant of Kirstin's tale of shame, or he would not have referred to it.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking