Part 45 (1/2)

I pay a morning call here, a morning call there, when I have no appointments, just to see that everything is going on well.”

Presently she said,

”Ah, well, my dear, we are poor weak creatures. Here and there, in my wanderings I have met things that I almost coveted; but see what an impossible, monstrous collection they would make! Let me think, now. The Raphael at Dresden; two t.i.tian portraits in the Louvre; the Venus of Milo--not the Medici one at all; I would not take it; I swear I would not accept it, that trivial little creature with the yellow skin!”

”My dear friend, the heavens will fall on you!” her companion exclaimed.

”Wait a moment,” said the little music-mistress, reflectively. ”I have not completed my collection. There is a Holy Family of Botticelli's--I forget where I saw it. And the bust of the Empress Messalina in the Uffizi: did you ever notice it, Natalie?”

”No.”

”Do not forget it when you are in Florence again. You won't believe any of the stories about her when you see the beautiful refined face; only don't forget to remark how flat the top of her head is. Well, where are we, my dear? The bronze head of the G.o.ddess in the Castellani collection: I would have that; and the fighting Temeraire. Will these do? But then, my dear, even if one had all these things, see what a monstrous collection they would make. What should I do with them in my lodgings, even if I had room? No; I must be content with what I have.”

By this time they had got down into South Kensington and were drawing near one of Madame Potecki's great treasure houses.

”Then, you see, my dear Natalie,” she continued, ”my owners.h.i.+p of these beautiful things we are going to see is not selfish. It can be multiplied indefinitely. You may have it too; any one may have it, and all without the least anxiety!”

”That is very pleasant also,” said the girl, who was paying less heed now. The forced cheerfulness that had marked her manner at starting had in great measure left her. Her look was absent; she blindly followed her guide through the little wicket, and into the hushed large hall.

The silence was grateful to her; there was scarcely any one in the place. While Madame Potecki busied herself with some catalogue or other, the girl turned aside into a recess, to look at a cast of the effigy on the tomb of Queen Eleanor of Castile. A tombstone stills the air around it. Even this gilt plaster figure was impressive; it had the repose of the dead.

But she had not been standing there for a couple of seconds when she heard a well-known voice behind her.

”Natalie!”

She knew. There was neither surprise nor shamefacedness in her look when she turned and saw George Brand before her. Her eyes were as fearless as ever when they met his; and they were glad, too, with a sudden joy; and she said, quickly,

”Ah, I thought you would come. I told Anneli.”

”It was kind of you--and brave--to let me come to see you.”

”Kind?” she said. ”How could I do otherwise?”

”But you are looking tired, Natalie.”

”I did not sleep much last night. I was thinking.”

The tears started to her eyes; she impatiently brushed them aside.

”I know what you were thinking. That is why I came so early to see you.

You were blaming yourself for what has happened. That is not right. You are not to blame at all. Do you think I gave you that promise for nothing?”

”You were always like that,” she said in a low voice. ”Very generous and unselfish. Yes, I--I--was miserable; I thought if you had never known me--”

”If I had never known you! You think that would be a desirable thing for me!--”

But at this moment the hurried, anxious, half-whispered conversation had to cease, for Madame Potecki came up. Nor was she surprised to find Mr.

Brand there. On the contrary, she said that her time was limited, and that she could not expect other people to care for old porcelain as much as she did; and if Mr. Brand would take her dear daughter Natalie to see some pictures in the rooms up-stairs, she would come and find her out by-and-by.

”Not at all, dear madame,” said Natalie, with some slight flush. ”No. We will go with you to see the three wonderful vases.”