Part 13 (1/2)
”I don't feel disposed.”
”As you like,” she said, turning to the instrument and striking the keys as if she would break them.
I took up an old newspaper and pretended to be reading it.
In the end she played a prelude, and then began the air of Bettly in the chalet--
Liberte cherie, Seul bien de la vie, Regne toujours la!
Tra la, la, la, tra la, la, la!
Tant pis pour qui s'en fachera!
I threw aside the paper, and, approaching the piano, I whispered--
”Do you remember how this charming little opera ends?”
”Certainly, like all other pieces suitable for the theatre; but in real life it is just the contrary, and I like reality.”
Fritz came to announce supper. The gentlemen were cheerful, the Captain noisy and jovial; Francis only gave short and dry answers, and showed me her ill-humour by only giving me the tips of her fingers when she wished us all good-night.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Unromantic though it may sound, I must confess to having slept well on the first night I spent under the roof of my mother's ancestors. Sleep surprised me whilst I was reflecting on the strange and incomprehensible character of Francis. Proud, generous, n.o.ble-hearted, quick-witted, beautiful--and yet with all her charms (which I could feel had already begun to work upon me) spoilt by a detestable education, by the manners of a sutler and a rudeness of the worst kind. And then, in addition to all this, there was the question of her past life which I had heard painted in such black colours. It seemed doubtful whether Major Frank could ever become Lady Francis van Zonshoven.
When I awoke the sun was streaming through the one window whose shutters I had purposely left open, with the intention of taking an early morning walk. I crept silently down the stairs so as not to awake anybody, but I met Fritz in the vestibule, and he made his military salute in silence. The hall door was wide open. I took the direction of the home-farm, where I hoped to obtain a gla.s.s of new milk, and draw the tenants out a little about the inhabitants of the Castle--one in particular.
I had not gone very far before whom should I see coming from the farm but Francis herself, with a basket of fresh eggs.
After a moment's hesitation I asked--
”Are we again good friends?” For I had an idea she would have taken another path if she had seen me a little sooner.
”I never knew we had ceased to be so,” she answered, colouring a little.
”Hem! Towards the close of the evening, in spite of what you may say to the contrary.”
”Say, rather, in spite of myself. Believe me, Leo, I was not morose out of caprice; I was troubled and anxious. I saw my manner displeased you, but I was afraid that to flatter grandfather's weakness you were suffering yourself to become his dupe.”
”And even in that case I could not permit you to interfere.”
”You had told me you were poor, that you must economize, and then to squander your money in such a way in our house--it seemed to me like card-sharping.”
”No, no; nothing of the sort. But supposing it had been, you have tact enough to understand that it was beneath my dignity to take the money back.”
”That's true, I am of your opinion; but I warned you beforehand that my manners were bad.”