"She's been there often with me when I've been there to wind up Gull's clock, which she is sure to get out of order if Gull touches it herself. Elsa is not afraid of any of them, even of the cellar-master. He really likes her."
The pastor was called away suddenly, and he was glad, for that was one of the occasions when he did not quite understand his wife.
CHAPTER V.
LED TO THE LIGHT.
Little Elsa's errand to Johanson was to take to him a small pocket "psalm-book" (as the Swedish book for the services and hymns is called). It was well known in the poorhouse and parish that the stranger pauper had a Bible, and read it too, at least for five minutes every day. Gull, who had a strong taste for gossip, had not left that particular unmentioned.
Elsa came in with two little packages in her hand. "Here's your book mamma sent you," she said. "She has put your name in it. I want to show you my book too."
Johanson put his gift in his pocket hastily, with a short expression of thanks, and then looked expectantly at the child.
"May I sit close to you, so we can both look over it together?" she said, as she pushed a chair to his side and worked herself up on to it.