Part 21 (2/2)

He gave a sudden start as the captain slapped him on the shoulder, with the words, ”And it was this point that I was to occupy. What do you think of that?”

Uncle Frederick's words flashed across Cousin Hans's mind, and, nodding vehemently, he said: ”Of course, the only thing to be done--the key to the position?”

The captain started back and became quite serious. But when he saw Cousin Hans's disconcerted expression, his good-nature got the upperhand, and he laughed and said:

”No, my dear sir! there you're quite mistaken. However,” he added, with a quiet smile, ”it's a mistake which you share with several of our highest military authorities. No, now let me show you the key to the position.”

And then he began to demonstrate at large that the point which he had been ordered to occupy was quite without strategical importance; while, on the other hand, the movement which he made on his own responsibility placed the enemy in the direst embarra.s.sment, and would have delayed the advance of Corps B by several hours.

Tired and dazed as Cousin Hans was, he could not help admiring the judicious course adopted by the military authorities towards Captain Schrappe, if, indeed, there was anything in Uncle Frederick's story about the Order of the Sword.

For if the captain's original manoeuvre was, strategically speaking, a stroke of genius, it was undoubtedly right that he should receive a decoration. But, on the other hand, it was no less clear that the man who could suppose that in a sham-fight it was in the least desirable to delay or embara.s.s any one was quite out of place in an army like ours.

He ought to have known that the true object of the manoeuvres was to let the opposing armies, with their baggage and commissariat wagons, meet at a given time and in a given place, there to have a general picnic.

While Hans was buried in these thoughts, the captain finished the sham-fight. He was by no means so pleased with his listener as he had been upon the esplanade; he seemed, somehow, to have become absent-minded.

It was now nine o'clock; but, as Cousin Hans had made up his mind that he would hold out till half-past nine, he dragged through one of the longest half-hours that had ever come within his experience. The captain grew sleepy, Miss Betty gave short and dry answers; Hans had himself to provide the conversation--weary, out of temper, unhappy and love-sick as he was.

At last the clock was close upon half-past nine; he rose, explaining that he was accustomed to go early to bed, because he could read best when he got up at six o'clock.

”Well, well,” said the captain, ”do you call this going early to bed? I a.s.sure you I always turn in at nine o'clock.”

Vexation on vexation! Hans said good-night hastily, and rushed down-stairs.

The captain accompanied him to the landing, candle in hand, and called after him cordially, ”Good-night--happy to see you again.”

”Thanks!” shouted Hans from below; but he vowed in his inmost soul that he would never set foot in that house again.----When the old man returned to the parlor, he found his daughter busy opening the windows.

”What are you doing that for?” asked the captain.

”I'm airing the room after him,” answered Miss Betty.

”Come, come, Betty, you are really too hard upon him. But I must admit that the young gentleman did not improve upon closer acquaintance. I don't understand young people nowadays.”

Thereupon the captain retired to his bedroom, after giving his daughter the usual evening exhortation, ”Now don't sit up too long.”

When she was left alone, Miss Betty put out the lamp, moved the flowers away from the corner window, and seated herself on the window-sill with her feet upon a chair.

On clear moonlight evenings she could descry a little strip of the fiord between two high houses. It was not much; but it was a glimpse of the great highway that leads to the south, and to foreign lands.

And her desires and longings flew away, following the same course which has wearied the wings of so many a longing--down the narrow fiord to the south, where the horizon is wide, where the heart expands, and the thoughts grow great and daring.

And Miss Betty sighed as she gazed at the little strip of the fiord which she could see between the two high houses.--She gave no thought, as she sat there, to Cousin Hans; but he thought of Miss Schrappe as he pa.s.sed with hasty steps up the street.

Never had he met a young lady who was less to his taste. The fact that he had been rude to her did not make him like her better. We are not inclined to find those people amiable who have been the occasion of misbehavior on our own part. It was a sort of comfort to him to repeat to himself, ”Who would want to marry her?”

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