Ansgarius.

"But I assure you, Mrs. Hartvig," answered the Pastor, smiling,
"that so pleasant an interruption of our solitude would be most
welcome both to my daughter and myself."

Mr. Lintzow opened the carriage-door with a formal bow, Consul
Hartvig looked at his wife and she at him, the Pastor advanced and
renewed his invitation, and the end was that, with half-laughing
reluctance, they alighted and suffered the Pastor to usher them
into the spacious garden-room.

Then came renewed excuses and introductions. The party consisted of
Consul Hartvig's children and some young friends of theirs, the
picnic having been arranged in honor of Max Lintzow, a friend of
the eldest son of the house, who was spending some days as the
Consul's guest.

"My daughter Rebecca," said the Pastor, presenting her, "who will
do the best our humble house-keeping permits."

"No, no, I protest, my dear Pastor," the lively Mrs. Hartvig
interrupted him eagerly, "this is going too far! Even if this
incorrigible Mr. Lintzow and my crazy sons have succeeded in
storming your house and home, I won't resign the last remnants of
my authority. The entertainment shall most certainly be my affair.
Off you go, young men," she said, turning to her sons, "and unpack
the carriages. And you, my dear child, must by all means go and
amuse yourself with the young people; just leave the catering to
me; I know all about that."