stopped in the middle of his sentence. Rachel turned round, and without
saying another word left the room.

"I must really, gentlemen," said Mrs. Garman, "beg you to excuse my
daughter. Rachel's conduct is sometimes so very extraordinary; in fact,
I don't understand it at all."

"The behaviour of youth, my dear Mrs. Garman," said the dean, blandly,
"is undoubtedly somewhat strange in these days; but we ought to consider
how times have changed." And the pressure of his soft persuasive hand
was so soothing, that when they were gone, Mrs. Garman felt almost as
much edified as if she had been listening to a sermon.

That the dean, in the course of three or four days, had been able to
bring about this entire change in the inspector, was for Martens a new
source of wonder and admiration; and every one could not but feel
greatly relieved when they saw the two going about and paying their
visits together.

The whole of that memorable Sunday Johnsen had spent in pacing up and
down his room, repeating to himself different parts of his sermon. Some
of his thoughts he had managed to express clearly enough, while others
might have been a little more incisive; but on the whole he was
satisfied. He was not satisfied in the sense that he thought he had
accomplished a great work, but he was so far satisfied that he now felt
that he had room to breathe. Wind in one's sails, even if it is a storm,
is preferable to a dead calm. What emotions he must have stirred in many
a careless soul! How many of his hearers might not now be struggling
with the mighty thoughts which he had thrown amongst them? In the mean
time he looked out upon the street, and he felt almost inclined to
wonder that the town showed its usual Sunday calm. In the afternoon he
expected the dean; he felt certain he would come, and he had a speech
ready with which to receive him. Give way he would not, rather resign
his position; and besides, he knew of one who had promised him her
friendship, if all others should turn their backs on him. And now as the
day went on, and the shadows of evening began to fall, and no dean
appeared, she came more and more into the foreground of his thoughts. He
imagined her by his side, battling with him against the whole world, and
full of hope and courage he laid down to rest.

When he awoke the next morning, he heard the wind whistling, and the
rain pattering on the window-panes. Empty drays were driving at a trot
down the street under