Part 21 (1/2)
For the present the priest's attention was claimed by some ecclesiastical brothers who had also been present at the reception of the regiment in the station.
Gerald had just escaped from the throng, and was walking with Danira toward the door, when both stopped as though rooted to the floor at the sight of the young lady who was waiting there to meet them. The dainty, graceful figure in the elegant travelling dress, the fair hair whose curls escaped from beneath the little hat, the sparkling blue eyes--the whole vision was so familiar and so dear. Gerald dropped the arm of his wife, who stood pale and speechless. He intended to face the painful meeting alone, but the young girl had already rushed to Danira and flung both arms round her neck.
”Danira, you naughty runaway! So I am to find you again in the Tyrol.”
”Edith, how came you here?” cried the young wife, in half-joyous, half-startled tones. ”Is it an accident?”
”Oh! no. I came especially to receive you. I wanted to bring you the first greeting,” replied Edith. She hesitated a few seconds, then hastily turned and held out her hand to her former lover. ”How do you do, Gerald? Welcome home with your wife!”
Gerald bowed silently over the little hand that lay in his. He did not feel its slight quiver when his lips pressed it. He only saw Edith's blooming face, her smile, and a deep sigh of relief escaped him. Thank G.o.d! Here at least he had caused no suffering as he had feared; here at least forgiveness was proffered.
”Did you really come on our account?” cried Danira, with eager joy.
”Oh, you do not suspect what this welcome from your lips is to me--to us both.”
The young lady drew back a step, with a comic a.s.sumption of formality.
”Don't be so impetuous, madame! I have another important mission to discharge, and must maintain my dignity as official amba.s.sador. Castle Steinach sends a greeting to its young master and mistress, and is ready to receive them. They will find open hearts and arms there. Here is a letter from your mother, Gerald; only a few lines, in which she calls her son and daughter to her.”
”Edith--this is impossible--is it your work?” cried Gerald, still doubting as he took the note which bore his mother's handwriting.
”My first essay in diplomacy! I think it hasn't resulted so badly, and it wasn't very easy either; for both aunt and papa were united against me. But now you must let me have Danira to myself for half an hour, Gerald. We must part again immediately, and I want to have her alone at least once more.”
”Part! Why, surely you will go with us?”
”No, I shall take the next express train and join my father in G. But your mother expects you at Steinach this very day, and you ought not to keep her waiting; great preparations have been made for your reception.”
Meanwhile Gerald had hastily torn open and glanced through the letter, which he now handed to his wife. It really contained only a few lines, but they confirmed Edith's words. It was the greeting of a mother calling her children to her.
”How do you do, Fraulein? I'm here again, too!” said George, taking advantage of the momentary pause to introduce himself, and he saw with satisfaction that he was not forgotten.
The old mischievous smile hovered round the young lady's lips as she turned toward him.
”George Moosbach! Have you got safe back from Krivoscia? After all it isn't quite so bad as you represented it, for I see you wear the medal for courage. Listen, George, you make a great impression upon me as a returning conqueror! What of the offer with which you once honored me?
I am now free again, and should not be wholly disinclined to become the mistress of the Moosbach Farm.”
”I thank you very kindly,” stammered George, intensely confused. ”I'm very sorry, but--I'm already engaged.”
With these words he pulled Jovica forward and presented her; but Edith now burst into a merry laugh.
”Another Krivoscian? For Heaven's sake, did all the Imperial Cha.s.seurs get betrothed and married there? There will be a rebellion among the Tyrolese girls. I think you are very inconsistent, George. You protested that day, by everything you held dear, that you would marry n.o.body but a Tyrolese, and made the sign of the cross as if you saw Satan himself when I suggested the daughters of that country, whom you preferred to dub 'savages.'”
”Fraulein,” replied George, solemnly, ”there is nothing, not even in this world, so bad that it has not one good thing. The only good thing Krivoscia had was Jovica--and that I brought away with me.”
”Well, I wish you and your Jovica every possible happiness. But now come, Danira, that we may have at least half an hour's chat. Gerald must give you up for that time. Come, we shall not be interrupted in the waiting-room to-day.”
She drew Danira away, while Gerald, who saw Father Leonhard coming hastily went to him to tell him his unexpected and joyful news.
The little waiting-room was, in truth, perfectly empty; every one was pressing toward the door of the station.
The two young ladies sat close together. Edith had put her arm around her adopted sister in the old familiar way, and was laughing and chatting continuously; but Danira could not be so easily deceived in this respect as Gerald.