"_My tears have been my meat day and night...._"
Egholm was touched. He, too, knew what it was to weep for meat.
Karlsen the Elder closed with the Lord's Prayer; and another hymn was sung.
"Now, it's me again," whispered the young Evangelist. "You see me let her have it this time."
His speech seemed actually to have gained force and balance; there was an evident purpose in it. The opening was weak, perhaps, for here he still clung to his "Dear friends" from force of habit, though every word was addressed to Fru Westergaard only.
"And now, in conclusion, I thank you, my dear friends, for coming here among us the first time. I hope, dear friends, it may not be the last. In the midst of all your wealth and luxury and manifold delights out at the villa, you have yet felt the lack of a word--the word of the Spirit. Yes, dear friends, it is even so. You go to church and you go back home again, and your need is not fulfilled.
"But then one day there comes to your door--out at the villa--a poor Evangelist, an unlearned man. And lo--a strange thing, dear friends--_he_ has the word--the word of the Spirit!"
Having thus laid down a flattering position for himself, young Karlsen went on to praise his new convert as one docile and of a good heart. She had come this evening of all evenings--a first Wednesday--on purpose that she might pay her tithe. No, there was no drawing back. And in truth it would be a fool's game to try it on. The Lord, He could see straight through a drawer in a table or the cover of a bank-book, never fear of that. And what was His, that He was going to have. Yes, that was His way. And woe unto him that falleth into the hands of the living God!
Far down by the door, old Karlsen was modestly seated on the extreme end of a bench. In his lap was a japanned tin box. There was a slight rattle during the next hymn, as he took out his keys and opened the casket.
The bench was so placed that the disciples could only pass by in single file. The old women from the almshouses, who had been sitting farthest back, were now the first to pass. As a matter of fact, they were exempt from the tithe contribution, having no income beyond their food and lodging. But most of them, nevertheless, managed to deposit a copper two or five _øre_ piece with the Angel as they went out, though he never so much as looked up.