Part 7 (1/2)

”No, not exactly,” said the old lady; ”but I cannot deny that I am sometimes anxious. 'Tis all the better for you if you are only flirting, but I pity the poor lad.”

”The poor lad!” Magelone repeated. ”Does that mean Otto? Aunt, you are perfectly heavenly; I must give you a kiss!” And she sprang up and threw her arms around Aunt Thekla's neck. ”Let me a.s.sure you that it is a question which of us is flirting the most. When men attempt anything in that line their achievements are wonderful----Hark! there comes a carriage. It is Johanna!” she interrupted herself, and, beginning to sing, 'For her I sigh,' in a rather weak but melodious voice, she ran out of the room.

In the corridor she walked more deliberately. ”Remember your dignity, Magelone,” she said to herself,--”no farther than the head of the staircase.” But when she reached the head of the staircase, and Johanna's pale face--shrouded in black c.r.a.pe, her large eyes dimmed with weeping--looked up at her, dignity was entirely forgotten. Holding out both hands, she hurried to meet the guest, exclaiming, ”Johanna! Cousin Johanna! I am Magelone!” And she clasped her in her arms.

Johanna was mute with amazement. Otto's expressions had led her to imagine Magelone's beauty to be of a dazzling superb kind, instead of which here was a fairy-like creature, with child-like eyes and a winning grace of manner.

”Poor Johanna, how tired you look!” Magelone continued. ”And how you s.h.i.+ver! you are chilled through and through----”

”Yes; I have been travelling all night,” said Johanna. And her teeth chattered as she spoke.

”Poor child, I suppose I ought to take you directly to Aunt Thekla, but you must first rest and get warm. Here,”--and Magelone opened the door of a s.p.a.cious, well-warmed apartment,--”here is a quiet room; and now tell me what you would like. Shall I send you a maid, or will you have breakfast?”

”Thank you; I should like to sleep,” was Johanna's reply.

Magelone helped her take off her hat and wraps. ”Then lie down here,”--and she led her to a huge lounge,--”and I will see that you are not disturbed until it is time to dress for dinner.”

She turned to go. Johanna took both her hands. ”Thanks!” she said, with emotion; ”your reception of me has done me so much good----”

”But you have not yet called me Magelone!” was the laughing interruption. ”But don't force yourself to it,--it will come of itself.”

With these words she kissed the young girl's forehead and left her alone.

”She is charming,” thought Johanna, as her weary head sank back among the cus.h.i.+ons. ”If every one here is as kind, I have been very silly to have any dread of Donninghausen.” And she fell asleep with a lightened heart, the rumble and rush of the railroad train still buzzing in her ears.

Suddenly she started. ”Ten minutes for refreshments!” had just rung through her dream. She awoke to find herself, to her surprise, in the s.p.a.cious dim room. The door opened, and an old gentleman entered, with a large dog beside him.

”Grandfather!” she cried, and would have risen.

He approached her quickly. ”Sit still! sit still!” he said, with a commanding gesture, as he took a seat beside her couch. ”My old Christian tells me that you are exhausted with your journey, and therefore I came here to see you, and to release you, if you like, from coming to dinner to-day.”

Whilst the Freiherr spoke, his cold blue eyes rested searchingly upon the girl. She bore the look bravely.

”Thank you, that is not necessary; my sleep has greatly refreshed me,”

she replied.

”So much the better,” said the old man. ”You still look pale and tired, but that will pa.s.s away. You do not look like your mother,” he went on, after a pause, in a gentler tone, ”but you have her low gentle voice, and there is something in your smile----”

He broke off and turned away his head. At this moment the dog, who had been sniffing about Johanna, reared himself and put his large forepaws upon her shoulders. ”Down, Leo, down!” the Freiherr called. The animal obeyed, but Johanna stroked its huge head caressingly, and it fawned at her feet.

”Why, look! Leo, usually so slow to make acquaintance, has accepted you upon the spot,” the old man said, with a gratified air. ”That, too, you get from your mother,--all animals liked her. Now I will leave you alone. After dinner you shall be presented to your grand-aunt, my sister Thekla. Until then, my child, adieu.”

He arose and held out his hand; suddenly he drew her to him and kissed her. ”G.o.d bless your home-coming!” he murmured; then he walked towards the door, turning round, however, before he reached it, and saying, in his usual imperious way, ”From this time, Johanna, you belong entirely to us. We shall all call you by your first name, and you will be one of the family, to the rules of which you must conform. Come to me if any occasion should arise for your wanting advice.”

With these words he departed.

”I hope we shall be fond of each other,” Johanna thought. ”He is kinder than his letter led me to imagine him. And how handsome he is, with his white hair, his proud stern air, his bright eyes beneath their bushy eyebrows, and his erect martial figure! In his coa.r.s.e shooting-jacket, leather breeches, and riding-boots, he is the most distinguished-looking man I have ever seen.”

Grand-aunt Thekla, too, to whom Johanna was presented before dinner by Magelone, received her kindly, although after a prim fas.h.i.+on of her own, and Cousin Johann Leopold, upon his introduction to her in the dining-room, offered the tips of his cold fingers, and expressed a hope that she would be pleased with Donninghausen.