put on an air of severity, and to show
himself superior to its attractions. But now he was not only astonished
by the well-ordered and unpretentious comfort of the house, but he was
also shaken in his preconceived notions about the rich, when he came to
make the acquaintance of the Garmans. Johnsen had expected to find
something more ostentatious, especially at table; but the solid tone of
the household, and the easy and polished manners of the family, perhaps
most of all the presence of Rachel, finally caused him to change his
original ideas. He regarded with suspicion the satisfaction he felt,
after having been at Sandsgaard a few times. He was on his guard against
everything that tended to draw him away from his calling. There was one
point which he felt of the highest importance, which was, since he had
his origin from the poor and indigent, it was among them his work ought
to lie, among paupers and in pauper schools.

One day Johnsen actually found himself hesitating before the door of his
school, shrinking from going into its tainted atmosphere, when it was
not actually necessary for him to do so. The discovery caused him at
first the greatest uneasiness. Now, however, Rachel's society was
beginning to have more influence over him. It was no longer the comfort
of Sandsgaard which attracted him--of that he was quite certain; neither
had he any feeling for the young lady except interest, a deep, earnest
interest, after all the stirring impressions he had received through
her. She had a wonderful power over him. Her words seemed to shed a ray
of light over much which he had hitherto overlooked. He had, like the
rest of us, the germs of doubt in his heart, and he was still so young
and fresh that his aspirations were but loosely covered, and had not yet
had time to wither entirely in his heart. When, therefore, he was
suddenly thrown into the society of a woman of such intellectual power,
his mind seemed as it were to awake, and her influence and his own
reviving energies kindled within him a desire for action which increased
with each day that passed. The tiresome and uninteresting work of his
daily life seemed aimless to him. He must find some other means of
publishing his convictions--this was now clear to him. He went,
therefore, to his adviser, ready to engage in any combat into which she
might think fit to send him.

Rachel generally did at home pretty much as she liked. She disdained all
the hundred restraints