The Canon stood and looked at the woman, then at the children, and the woman and children stood and looked at him.
"Is this the house of the priest, Peter Nielsen?" he asked.
"Certainly, do you want him?" inquired the housekeeper.
"I have come from Ribe to see him on diocesan business."
"Step inside," said the housekeeper curtly. "His reverence is not in the house at this moment, he is in the church saying his offices."
"That's lies!" shouted the dirty boy from behind. "Dada is in the pigstye setting a trap for the rats."
"Hold your tongue, Jens!" exclaimed the woman, giving the boy a cuff which knocked him over. Then to the Canon she said, "Take a seat and I will go to the church after him."
She went out with the two smaller children staggering at her skirts, tumbling, picking themselves up, going head over heels, crowing and squealing.
When she was outside the house, the dirty boy sat upright on the floor, winked at the Canon, crooked his fingers, and said, "Follow me, and I will show you Dada."