Part 25 (1/2)
By reflections of this kind I wrestled with my weakness and at length overcame it; and in the end fell asleep, no longer a coward, but fully resolved to carry my purpose through and fight all I knew to win.
In the morning I began at once to carry out my plan. I sent a servant to ask Madame d'Artelle if she could spare Ernestine to come and help me.
Instead of Ernestine, Madame herself came--as I had antic.i.p.ated, indeed. She found me in all the middle of packing; my frocks and things spread all over the room, and my trunks open.
”What does this mean, Christabel?” she asked.
”You can see for yourself. I have had enough of plots and schemes to last my life time. I jumped up in the night and half-dressed to run away. I was so scared.”
”You are going away?” Relief and pleasure were in her tone.
I laughed unpleasantly. ”You need not be glad.”
”I am not glad,” she replied, untruthfully.
”I am putting the work into stronger hands. That's all.”
”You said you could protect me.”
”I have done that. Count Gustav promised as much to me yesterday. You are free to leave Pesth at once if you like. You need not marry his brother unless you wish. And after to-day, not even if you wish. Is Ernestine coming to help me?”
”I wish you would speak plainly. You always frighten me with your vague speeches. You seem to mean so much.”
”I do mean very much--far more than I shall tell you. You have been no friend to me--why should I explain? Take your own course; and see what comes of it. Is Ernestine coming, I say?”
”Yes, of course she can come; but I am so frightened.”
”That will do you no harm,” I rapped out, bluntly. ”I wash my hands of everything.”
”What am I to do?” she cried, waving her hands helplessly.
”I arranged yesterday with Count Gustav that the scheme for this romantic elopement should be carried out. You can play your part for all I care. The chief thing you can do for me is to send Ernestine here.”
”But I----”
”Will you send her here?” and I stamped my foot angrily, and so drove her out of the room in the condition of nervous doubt and anxiety I desired.
With the maid's help my trunks were soon packed, and the work was nearly finished when Madame d'Artelle came back.
”Count Gustav is here,” she said.
”Very well. You can close that box, Ernestine, and try to pack this toque in the top of the black one. You got everything I said for the voyage in the cabin trunk.”
”He insists on seeing you, Christabel.”
”I'll come down when I've finished.” I spoke irritably. Irritation is the natural result of a couple of hours' packing.
Everything was ready when I went downstairs.
”I hear you are going away, Miss----”