Part 14 (2/2)
A deep, deep sigh burst from Sandow's breast, and the half anxiously seeking, half threatening look, melted into tears, which fell hot and heavy on Frida's brow.
”Just now I gave you great pain,” said he, ”but do you think it was easy to me to drive from me the one thing that could give me joy.
Gustave is right; it has been a terrible delusion, may it be forgotten for ever. My child,” his voice broke in deepest emotion, ”will you love your father?”
A joyful cry burst from the daughter's lips. At this tone, the first which seemed really to come from the heart, vanished the bitterness of the last hour, vanished also the recollection of the long years of separation and estrangement.
Frida threw both arms round her father's neck, and as he pressed her with a burst of tenderness to his breast, they both felt that the gloomy shadow which had so long separated them, had vanished for ever!
CHAPTER X.
Meanwhile Gustave had also returned slowly to the house. As he entered the drawing-room, Jessie came to him full of uneasiness.
”Mr. Sandow, pray, pray tell me what has happened. Ten minutes ago Frida rushed into my room, threw her arms round my neck, and wished me good-bye. She seemed quite beside herself, and declared that she must go, she could not stay another hour, would answer no questions, but referred me to you for all explanations. What has happened?”
Gustave shrugged his shoulders.
”What I feared, if the discovery could not be postponed. An accident betrayed our secret to my brother, and we were obliged to confess the truth. His auger at the deception burst forth with great violence, and was poured unsparingly upon us both. Frida could not support this, she declared she would go at once, and now is, most probably, making the necessary preparations for her journey.”
”And you are not with her!” cried Jessie. ”You have not protected and supported her! Can you leave her alone at such a moment? Go to her!”
”I should only be in the way,” declared Gustave, with a composure which appeared to Miss Clifford as the height of selfishness. ”What remains to be done Frida must fight out alone. I may, at last, be allowed to think of myself.”
His eyes, which rested on Jessie's face, beamed again as when Frida had made a certain revelation to him. Lost in this gaze, he quite forgot that his words must give rise to fresh misunderstanding, and this indeed happened in fullest measure.
”All this while you have only thought too much of yourself!” replied Jessie, her excitement rising, ”but if there is one spark of love in your breast, you must feel that your place is at the side of your betrothed bride.”
Gustave smiled, and stepped close to the indignant girl, while he said impressively--
”Frida is not, and has never been, betrothed to me.”
”Not betrothed to you?”
”No; if you remember, it was expressly as my _protegee_ I introduced her. It was you, Miss Clifford, who took the other connection for granted, and I left you in your error. But now, when I have ceased to play the part of protector, I may acknowledge to you that my inclinations were directed to quite another quarter.”
He bent over her hand, and pressed a pa.s.sionate kiss upon it, which amply explained his words, but the game which he had so boldly carried on was now to be revenged on him. He had too long played the part of the heartless egoist, and must now do penance.
Jessie s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away with the greatest indignation.
”Mr. Sandow, you are going too far! So now, when my guardian repulses Frida, when you see the impossibility of gaining his consent, you dare to approach me! You even venture to deny your bride before me, and to give the whole thing out as a farce. That is really too much!”
”But Miss Clifford--for heaven's sake!” cried Gustave, now seriously disturbed.
She would not allow him to speak, but continued, as if beside herself--
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