Part 50 (2/2)

She had talked quickly and eagerly at last; she was trembling with excitement, she had her eyes fixed on his face to catch the first symptom of acquiescence.

But, on the contrary, Mr. Lind remained quite impa.s.sive, and he said, coldly,

”This is a different matter altogether, Madame Potecki. I do not blame you for interfering; but I must tell you at once that your interference is not likely to be of much use. You see, there are reasons which I cannot explain to you, but which are very serious, why any proposal of marriage between Mr. Brand and Natalie is not to be entertained for a moment. The thing is quite impossible. Very well. She knows this; she knows that I wish all communication between them to cease; nevertheless, she says she will see him every day until he goes. How can you wonder that she is unhappy? Is it not her own doing?”

”If she was in reality my child, that is not the way I would speak,”

said the little woman, boldly.

”Unfortunately, my dear Madame Potecki,” said Mr. Lind, blandly, ”I cannot, as I say, explain to you the reasons which make such a marriage impossible, or you yourself would say it was impossible. Very well, then. If you wish to do a service to your friend Natalie--if you wish to see her less unhappy, you know what advice to give her. A girl who perseveres in wilful disobedience is not likely to be very contented in her mind.”

Madame Potecki sat silent and perplexed. This man seemed so firm, so reasonable, so a.s.sured, it was apparently hopeless to expect any concession from him. And yet what was the use of her going away merely to repeat the advice she had already given?

”And in any case,” he continued, lightly, ”it is not an affair for you to be deeply troubled about, my dear Madame Potecki; on the contrary, it is a circ.u.mstance of little moment. If Natalie chooses to indulge this sentiment--well, the fate of empires does not hang on it, and in a little while it will be all right. Youth soon recovers from small disappointments; the girl is not morbid or melancholy. Moreover, she has plenty to occupy her mind with: do not fear that she will be permanently unhappy.”

All this gave Natalie's friend but scant consolation. She knew something of the girl, she knew it was not a light matter that had made her resolve to share banishment with her lover rather than that he should depart alone.

”Yes, she is acting contrary to my wishes,” continued Mr. Lind, who saw that his visitor was anxious and chagrined. ”But why should you vex yourself with that, my dear madame?--why, indeed? It is only for a few days. When Mr. Brand leaves for America, then she will settle down to her old ways. This episode of sentiment will soon be forgotten. Do not fear for your friend Natalie; she has a healthy const.i.tution; she is not likely to sigh away her life.”

”But you do not understand, Mr. Lind!” Madame Potecki exclaimed suddenly. ”You do not understand. When he leaves for America, there is to be an end? No! You are not aware, then, that if he goes to America, Natalie will go also?”

She had spoken quickly, breathlessly, not taking much notice of her words, but she was appalled by the effect they produced. Lind started, as if he had been struck; and for a second, as he regarded her, the eyes set under the heavy brows burnt like coals, and she noticed a curious paleness in his face, especially in the lips. But this lasted only for an instant. When he spoke, he was quite calm, and was apparently considering each word.

”Are you authorized to bring me this message?” he said, slowly.

”Oh no; oh no!” the little woman exclaimed. ”I a.s.sure you, my dear friend, I came to you because I thought something was about to happen--something that might be prevented. Ah, you don't know how I love that darling child; and to see her unhappy, and resolved, perhaps, to make some great mistake in her life, how could I help interfering?”

”So,” continued Lind, apparently weighing every word, ”this is what she is bent on! If Brand goes to America, she will go with him?”

”I--I--am afraid so,” stammered Madame Potecki. ”That is what I gathered from her--though it was only an imaginary case she spoke of. But she was pale, and trembling, and how could I stand by and not do something?”

He did not answer; his lips were firm set. Unconsciously he was pressing the point of the paper-knife into the leather; it snapped in two. He threw the pieces aside, and said, with a sudden lightness of manner,

”Ah, well, my dear madame, you know young people are sometimes very headstrong, and difficult to manage. We must see what can be done in this case. You have not told Natalie you were coming to me?”

”No. She asked me at first; then she said she would tell you herself.”

He regarded her for a second.

”There is no reason why you should say you have been here?”

”Perhaps not, perhaps not,” Madame Potecki said, doubtfully. ”No; there is no necessity. But if one were sure that the dear child were to be made any happier--”

She did not complete the sentence.

”I think you may leave the whole affair in my hands, my dear Madame Potecki,” said Lind, in his usual courteous fas.h.i.+on. He spoke, indeed, as if it were a matter of the most trifling importance. ”I think I can promise you that Natalie shall not be allowed to imperil the happiness of her life by taking any rash steps. In the mean time, I am your debtor that you have come and told me. It was considerate of you, Madame Potecki; I am obliged to you.”

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