bright carpets, and gilded
mirrors.

Sandsgaard, with its large and lofty rooms, where the furniture was all
arranged round the walls, was so cold and stiff that Madeleine could not
help feeling she must move about noiselessly, or sit demurely in a
corner. At Fanny's her feelings were very different; everything seemed
so inviting; and the difficulty was to choose a seat among the many
comfortable armchairs and sofas.

Morten never seemed to be perfectly at home in his own house, where his
heavy form was quite out of place. Fanny took but little notice of him,
and his opinion was never consulted. However, he was easy-going, and
preferred to keep pretty much to himself.

Morten Garman had the reputation of being a good-natured fellow, but at
the same time of not being very easy to get on with. To do business with
him required the greatest circumspection; a single word might spoil
everything, and if once anything upset him, it was almost impossible to
get him right again. Old-fashioned people, therefore, preferred going
out to Sandsgaard, and dealing with the young Consul personally; it was
a slower process, but the result might be reckoned on with the greatest
certainty. The young man had a habit of suddenly looking at his watch,
breaking off the negotiations, getting into his carriage, and driving
off to Sandsgaard or elsewhere, leaving behind him nothing but loose
statements and half-concluded business.

Fanny had never troubled her husband with any demonstrative affection,
and certainly never with jealousy. She understood him well enough to
know that if at any time she should have occasion for his forbearance,
there were quite faults enough on his side to weigh down the balance in
her favour.

"There goes your admirer, Pastor Martens. Look, Madeleine, how he is
eyeing us, the worthy man! He is taking off his hat.--Good morning,"
said Fanny, bowing, and at the same time beckoning to him to come in.

The pastor was at the other side of the narrow street, and seemed to
consider a moment before he made up his mind to cross. In the mean time
Fanny rang the bell and ordered chocolate. She dearly loved these
morning visits, with a cup of chocolate or a glass of wine, and
accordingly always kept her eye upon the street. Martens, who was the
resident chaplain, was among her most frequent guests, especially since
she had taken it into her head that he admired Madeleine. There was
nothing remarkable that Fanny should have