Part 16 (1/2)
”Pardon me, Francis, I should consider myself the greatest of cowards to strike a woman; but it was no question of a woman just now. We were speaking of Major Frank--Major Frank who is angry when reminded of the privileges of the fair s.e.x, because he will not be cla.s.sed amongst 'the ladies,' and who, in my opinion, ought not to be surprised when, after his own fas.h.i.+on, one tells him the truth roundly, and without mincing matters.”
Francis listened this time without interrupting me. She was staring at the panes of the window, as if to put herself in countenance again; her paleness disappeared, and, turning round, she said, without anger, but with firmness--
”I confess, Leopold, it is not easy to contradict you; and now I think we are quits. Are we again good friends?”
”There's nothing I desire more ardently; but, once for all, with whom? with Major Frank or----”
”Well, then, Francis Mordaunt asks for your friends.h.i.+p.”
She offered me both her hands, and her eyes filled with tears she could no longer keep back. How gladly I would have kissed them away, and pressed her to my heart and told her all! But I could not compromise my commencing victory.
”Should I have spoken to you in this way, Francis, if I had not been your sincere friend?”
”I see it now, and I have need of a sincere friend. Well then, the Captain is ruining himself for our sakes; and grandfather, in a most cowardly fas.h.i.+on, lends himself to such doings. Is it not horrible?”
”It is very wrong, I admit.”
”Now, suppose the General were to die--I should be left shut up in this place for life with the Captain. When he has rendered himself poor for our sakes, I cannot send him away. Now do you understand I had reasons for being angry this morning?”
”That you had reasons, I don't dispute; but the form----”
”Come, come, always the form!”
”I don't say the form is the main thing, but a woman who gives way to such fits of violence puts herself in the wrong, even though she have right on her side. Just think for a moment what a scene if the Captain had retaliated in the same coa.r.s.e language of the barracks, which he has probably not forgotten.”
”I should like to see him try it on with me!”
”However, he had a perfect right to do so. I agree you are right in principle; but let me beseech you to change your manner of proceeding. The gentleness of a woman is always more persuasive than the transports of pa.s.sion. You have told me your early education was neglected; but you have read Schiller?”
”Die Rauber,” she replied, tauntingly.
”But not his 'Macht des Weibes,' nor this line--
'Was die Stille nicht wirkt, wirket die Rauschende nie!'”
She shook her head in the negative.
”This part of your education has been much neglected.”
”I will not deny it.”
”But it is not yet too late. Will you listen to my advice?”
”Not now; I have already stayed too long here, and--and--you stay at the Castle----”
”As long as you will keep me, Francis.”