Part 61 (2/2)
Irma laughed heartily, while the blood mounted to her temples. She felt quite faint.
The servant announced Baroness Steigeneck.
”I'm not at home,” was Irma's hurried reply. ”Pray remain a moment longer,” said she, addressing the intendant.
He remained for some time longer, and referred to the ma.n.u.script, mentioning that the pa.s.sages to be omitted were marked with a red pencil. Irma promised to read the play, thanked him for the compliment paid her judgment, and conversed in a light and careless tone, until he had left the room. As soon as he had gone, she threw herself on a sofa, where she lay for a long while, weeping bitterly. At last, she looked up, as if bewildered, for she thought she had heard a voice saying: ”You meant to--Is there no other course left? Must one who has swerved from the straight path, necessarily sink into the mire of self-abas.e.m.e.nt?”
Suddenly, she arose, shook her head defiantly and brushed the hair from her face. She ordered her carriage, intending to drive to the sculptor's atelier and resume her work. The servant announced Colonel von Bronnen. ”Let him enter,” said Irma. A moment later, Irma was apologizing for receiving him in her hat. She was just about to drive out.
”I can call again, dear Countess, and will only leave the messages I have for you.”
”Messages?”
”Yes, from your father.”
”From my father? Where did you meet him?”
”At Wildenort.”
”Were you there?”
”Yes, I had some matters to attend to in the neighborhood, and, without further introduction, called on your father. I felt that I had a right to call myself an intimate friend of yours.”
”And how fares it with my father?”
”As it should with the father of such a daughter.”
”Of such a daughter--”
”Pardon me, dearest Countess. You are in a hurry, and I am still so impressed by your father's great and n.o.ble nature, that I would rather we were both calm--”
”I am quite calm now; pray tell me, have you a message for me?”
”I have not. But it seems to me, dear Countess, as if I were just beginning to understand you.--Oh, what a man your father is!”
Irma looked up in surprise. She thought of Appiani speaking to Odoardo.
The colonel continued, calmly:
”Dear Countess, I am not an enthusiastic youth; but, during the short time I was permitted to spend with your father, I felt as if the exalted existence which had once been my ideal had become a real, living fact. Such perfect communings are impossible unless one feels sure that he is looked upon with favor, and I feel that I have had the good fortune to gain your father's good opinion.”
”You fully deserve it. Excuse me, while I lay off my hat. Pray take a seat and tell me more about father.” She removed her hat; her excitement had only added to her beauty.
She rang for a servant and ordered him to send the carriage away.
The colonel seated himself.
<script>