onversion."

"No necessity! no necessity, I assure you, Mrs. Garman," said Delphin,
gaily. "My conversion is already about as perfect as it can be. Mr.
Johnsen and I have been conversing on the subject in a most serious
manner for the last half-hour."

"We were also talking on religious subjects," said Fanny.

"Have you just left Mr. Johnsen?" asked the chaplain, who had got his
hat, and was on the point of taking his leave.

"I walked with him a little way on the road to Sandsgaard. It appears
that he had an invitation to go there," answered Delphin.

"To-day, again!" said Fanny.

"Good morning, ladies, good morning! No, you really must allow me. I
have already been here longer than I ought. Good morning, Miss Garman."

Madeleine was just coming into the room, and the chaplain took a step
towards her in order to shake her hand; but, as she was carrying the
tray with the cups upon it, he was obliged to content himself with
giving her a warm and respectful look. As he went downstairs, he thought
how unfortunate it was that Delphin should always be coming in his way.

Severin Martens was naturally very good-natured, but Delphin was a man
he could not bear. If the two got into conversation, everything seemed
to go wrong for the chaplain. The other had a particular way of taking
up his words, turning them into ridicule, and exciting laughter among
the hearers, which was most unpleasant. The chaplain did not care very
much, either, for Mr. Johnsen. That apparently helpless young man had
shown that he knew how to look after himself only too well. "Invited
nearly every day to Sandsgaard! Hum!" muttered Martens, as he went down
the street.

No sooner had Delphin taken the clergyman's place, than the conversation
changed its tone.

"Our worthy chaplain did not much like Johnsen's going to Sandsgaard,"
said Fanny.

"That was just the reason I mentioned it," said Delphin.

"Yes, I could see that very well. You are always so dreadfully
mischievous. But can you make out what is the matter with my learned
sister-in-law? Rachel, who is generally as cold and unsympathetic as an
iceberg, becomes all at once quite taken up with what appears to me the
most unlikely person."

"Your sister-in-law always appears attracted towards any one who shows
originality."

"Well," objected the lady, "I don't see much in him; at first I thought
he was rather interesting. He reminded me somewhat of Brand in Ibsen's
play, or something of