CHAPTER XI.

As she stepped forward, the long train of her riding-habit added to the beauty of her slender figure. Now, indeed, I could see that she was not ugly, though she had done her best to render herself unattractive. It is true her features were sharp and irregular, but neither rude nor coarse. In her face there was an expression of haughtiness and firmness, that spoke loudly of conscientious strength and independent character. It was clear that she had struggled and suffered a good deal, without allowing it to rob her of her natural cheerfulness and good spirits. Her large blue eyes expressed an open-heartedness which inspired confidence. That they could gleam with indignation, or glow with enthusiasm, I had already experienced.

She walked along with considerable difficulty, for her dress caused her to trip at almost every step. I offered her my arm, but she refused it. Suddenly she stood quite still and said—

"Forgive me, Leo, for the unmerciful way in which I laughed at you, when I saw the 'mess' your driver had brought you into. I was not laughing at you personally; but I am always so tickled when I see the so-called 'lords of creation' making themselves ridiculous, that I could not restrain my laughter."

"Oh, I bear you no malice, Francis, on that account; but how is it you are so embittered against my sex?"

"Major Frank," she answered, "has but too often had occasion to study the character of men."

"That is to say, that after over-confidence in the brilliant uniforms which have proved deceptive, Major Frank has decided to revenge herself on civilians as well as military men."

"You are quite mistaken. Major Frank is acquainted with all the ranks from corporal to general; and in civil life she has had an opportunity of studying men wearing court dress, decorations, and orders. And this is the conclusion she has come to: that discipline is the best means of bringing out whatever good there is in a man, whilst at the same time it keeps the evil within bounds."

"What you say is not very encouraging for your future husband, Francis."

"My future husband!" she cried, with a bitter laugh. "Now I see you are a perfect stranger in these parts, Leopold. But you need not trouble yourself about me; I shall never marry."

"Who knows? Circumstances may induce——"

"Me to take a husband," she interrupted, growing indignant. "Listen, Leo: you know nothing about me, and what you think you know will have been told you by slanderous tongues. Therefore I will not take offence at what you have said; but I request you not to think so meanly of me as to believe I would sacrifice my name and my person on the altar of Mammon, and make a mariage de raison—the most unreasonable and immoral union that can exist."

"Many a proud lady who once thought as you do, Francis," I answered, "has been induced by the counsel of her friends to change her state of 'single blessedness,' which is such a mark for calumny and lies——"

"And you would have me take a husband to serve as a shield against these?" she cried, vehemently. "No, Leopold van Zonshoven, when you once know Francis Mordaunt, you will find she does not fear calumniators, and that she disdains to seek protection from them in the way you recommend!"

"Forewarned is forearmed," and I now understood that it behoved me to proceed cautiously. Still I determined to try a ruse of war. Looking her steadfastly in the face, I said—

"And suppose my visit to the Werve were expressly for the purpose of seeking your hand in marriage?"

"My hand! It is not true you come with such a purpose!" she exclaimed in a bitter tone.

"But let us suppose it to be true; what would your answer be?"

"If I thought you came with any such intentions, I should simply leave you where you are, in the middle of the heath, to find your way to the Werve as best you could. There's my answer."

And she started off as fast as she could go.

"Listen, Francis," I said, rejoining her. "If such had been my object in visiting the Castle, your answer would not stop me. I am obstinate enough myself; but, as I would not willingly wound the feelings of any lady (pardon me the use of this word), I should take good care not to make her an offer in such a brusque manner, and, above all, not until I had some hopes of receiving a favourable answer."

"Be it so; but I must tell you I see neither wit nor humour in your kind of pleasantry."

In another instant a gust of wind carried away her felt hat, and then her net, causing her golden hair to fall over her shoulders in rich profusion. At this moment I thought her worthy to sit for a Madonna. I could not believe my eyes, or rather I could not remove my eyes from her, so much was I struck with wonder and admiration. She doubtless read her triumph in my looks, and seemed for an instant to enjoy it. Decidedly, then, she had not lost all the feminine instincts, though the time of their duration was short on any single occasion.

"Well," she said, "you are very polite. You stand as if you were nailed to the ground, instead of running after my hat."

I did not suffer her to say this twice, but, running after the ugly old hat, caught it just before it could disappear in one of the sand pits. She followed me, but unfortunately caught the train of her riding-habit in a bush, which tripped her, and caused her to fall with her beautiful locks of hair amongst the briers. At first she refused all assistance, but in the end she was obliged to let me disentangle her hair—a circumstance which annoyed her much more than the accident itself. I knelt beside her, and heaven knows with what care I loosened one lock after the other. This, however, was a work of time, as she was very impatient, and her struggles were every now and then undoing the little I had accomplished.

"Now you see into what a predicament your precious advice has brought me; how much more practical my own arrangement was! The handkerchief looked inelegant, if you like, but it would have prevented me this trouble. Why did I swerve from my principles? Why was I led astray by other people's ideas?"

At last I could say, "You are free!" at the same time holding out my hand to assist her in rising. But no, she would have no further aid from me; and bounding up like a hart, requested me to walk on in front whilst she arranged her dress. She was not long about it, and when she overtook me the hateful handkerchief was tied round her hat again, and I had lost my right to protest against it.

She now took my arm of her own accord, and said gaily, "This I do, Leo, to recompense you for being so generous as not to revenge yourself by laughing at me in my distress."

"Laugh at you, Francis! I was frightened."

"There was not much to be frightened about; but I was really afraid you would mock me and pay me back in my own coin."

As we walked on we continued to discuss the subject of female propriety, she claiming the right to live according to her own ideas, without any regard for public opinion; I maintaining that reserve and gentleness are more becoming in a woman, from every point of view, than trying to set public opinion at defiance. She, however, interrupted the conversation by pointing out the Werve to me as soon as we came in sight of it.

"Now," she said, "I request you to tell me plainly the object of your visit to the General, before I introduce you to the house."

"I have already told you: I wish to make the acquaintance of my mother's relations."

"I shall feel better satisfied," she rejoined, "if you will promise me not to trouble the poor old gentleman about business matters."

I had no difficulty in conscientiously giving such a promise. Then Francis continued—

"I must also warn you the General is not alone. We have a certain Captain Rolf, an old pensioned officer, quartered at the Werve; he is of rude manners and ill-educated, for he has risen from the ranks; but he has a good heart, and my grandfather could not do without his company. Our way of treating each other may surprise you, perhaps annoy you. Even when I was a child he called me his colonel, and flew anywhere at a wink from me; and he does so still, though his movements have been rendered more tardy by his stiff legs and rheumatism. Fishing is his favourite amusement since he has been obliged to give up shooting. I employ him as my gamekeeper; and when the cook is ill, he prefers frying a beefsteak and making the soup himself, to going on short commons. In fact, he is a gastronome, and since he obtained his pension his whole time seems to be occupied with the grand question: 'What shall we eat to day?' And, alas! grandfather is no less interested in the same subject, so that most of their morning conversation is about the dishes to be prepared for the dinner."

As we drew near the manor-house Francis gently withdrew her arm from mine, and stepped on sharply as we heard the clock in the village church-steeple strike one, saying—

"I know I am being waited for impatiently, and half the garrison will have turned out in search of me."



CHAPTER XII.

The Castle de Werve presented all the appearances of ancient opulence; but also of dilapidation dating from a long time back. There was the feudal drawbridge, immovable through long disuse, leading straight to the large gate, full of those iron rivets used in olden times as a defence against the attacks of the hatchet and pike. But the wood itself was rotting, and the rusty hinges could scarcely sustain their accustomed weight. In the tumbledown walls I could see loopholes large enough for a giant to creep through.

The house had been rebuilt in the time of the Stadtholder William III.—King William III. of England—and the rich, solemn style then in vogue had been adopted. There was a sort of rotunda in the centre, kept, relatively speaking, in better repair than the rest of the building, flanked by two wings, which seemed uninhabited, and in fact so neglected as to be uninhabitable. Most of the panes were cracked or broken, and only in some cases had the broken glass been replaced by gray paper. The aloe-trees, set out to ornament the front of the house, were planted for the greater part in cracked or broken vases.

As Francis had remarked, before I could follow her into the house "half the garrison turned out" to salute us in the person of the Captain, whom I immediately recognized from the description I had had of him. He wore a blue jacket and trousers, a waistcoat buttoned close up to his chin, and the military black-leather collar, which he had not yet been able to dispense with. The William's Order [3] adorned his breast; and he stood erect in spite of his stiff leg, which obliged him to support himself with a stick. He had placed his cap jauntily and soldier-like on one side of his head, and his entire bearing called up the idea of a military man only half at his ease in civilian dress. Though deep in the fifties, his hair is still jet black, and the length and stiffness of his mustachios, a la Napoleon, indicate a constant use of cosmetics. His face is very red, his eyes brown and bold, his features rude, and his thick red lips and short round chin give him a sensual appearance. He had in his mouth a long German pipe, from which he puffed clouds of smoke, and after a military salute he accosted us in these words—

"Well, Major, what's this? Have you made a prisoner? or is this some one to be quartered on us?"

"A visitor for the General, Captain," replied Francis, stepping past him, and giving me a hint to follow her.

"Had a deuced bad luncheon! Waited half an hour for the Freule; the eggs too hard, the beefsteak like leather, his Excellency out of humour—and all this because the Freule takes it into her head to ride out at inconvenient hours, and return on foot to the fortress leading the hero of this pretty adventure in triumph behind her," growled the Captain, in a half-angry, half-jesting tone, as he followed us.

Francis turning round said—

"All this, Captain, is because your Major—you understand me, your Major—has had the pleasure of meeting with her cousin, Jonker Leopold van Zonshoven; let that suffice you, and if you have any more complaints, put them in your report-book."

After this I followed Francis through the vestibule, where a servant received us with a military salute, and showed us into an immense drawing-room hung with embossed gilt leather. Here the General was taking a nap in a high-backed easy-chair. Francis entered the room softly enough, but the loud heavy step of the Captain, who thought fit to follow us, awoke the sleeper with a start.

Instead of the pourfendeur I had conjured up in my fancy from old Aunt Roselaer's accounts, I perceived a little, thin, grey-headed old man, the traits of whose face showed him to be a person of superior breeding, wrapped in a very threadbare damask dressing-gown. His nose was long and straight, his lips thin and pale, his eyes of a soft blue, with an expression of lethargy or fatigue. His white, dry hands had very prominent veins; and he wore a large signet-ring, with which he kept playing in a nervous, agitated manner all the time he was speaking.

Francis introduced me in her own peculiar way—

"Grandfather, I bring you Jonker Leopold van Zonshoven, to whom you must give a hearty welcome, for he is a curiosity in our family."

"In our family! Jonker van Zonshoven—ah! yes, I remember, I understand," he said, in a surprised and embarrassed tone, which proved his recollection to be of the vaguest; but he bowed politely, and offered me his hand, which I shook cordially.

"Sit down, Jonker," he said, pointing to a chair behind which the Captain stood as if he intended to dispute the place with me.

Francis rang the bell, and asked Fritz if the luncheon were still on the table.

The servant, with a surprised look, answered—

"It is half-past one."

"Right, Fritz. It is the rule of the house: he who is not here at roll-call is not expected. Bring a plate of cold meat and bread into this room."

"And a glass of port-wine for the gentleman," put in the Captain.

When Fritz had left the room, the Captain came and stood straight before me, saying—

"Pardon me, Jonker, I must have a good look at you. There must be something peculiar in a young man who has so quickly found favour in the eyes of our Major."

I hesitated about giving him the answer he deserved in the presence of the General; and, besides, Francis had warned me he was a man of no education.

However, the General, speaking in a soft yet authoritative voice, said—

"Rolf, there are jests which may pass amongst ourselves, but you seem to forget we are not now alone, and you are wanting in respect to Miss Mordaunt."

"Because I call her Major in the presence of a relation of the family! Excuse me, your Excellency, but you ought to have given me the watchword beforehand. I shall not forget again."

"It is no good, grandfather," said Francis; "at his age we cannot break him of his bad habits, though we might expect him to be respectful to the granddaughter of General von Zwenken, in spite of his having taught her her drill when a child. And now, as you have asked for the watchword of the day, Captain, attend: it is this, 'Politeness to my visitor.'"

It became clear to me that the Captain had long been indulged in his vulgar familiarities, and that I ought not to attach too much importance to them. As soon as Fritz brought in the port-wine he filled three glasses brimful; presented the first glass to me, then one to the General, and taking up his own, said in his rough, good-natured way—

"The health of our commandant, and a welcome to you, Jonker!" apparently thinking this the best amends he could make.

As soon as Francis had taken a slight repast she left the room, and, at a hint from the General, Rolf did the same.

Now that we were left to our two selves, the General, drawing himself up with dignity in his chair, said—

"A word with you, Jonker, if you please."

I bowed assent.

"But be so good as to move your chair nearer to me; I am a little deaf."

I complied with his request.

"Pardon me for asking you a question which may seem somewhat out of place. Is this the first time you have met my granddaughter?"

"The first time, General;" and I rapidly sketched an account of our meeting and walk to the Castle.

"Well, I am glad of it," said the old man with a sigh of relief. "My granddaughter is possessed of many excellent qualities, that I can truly say; but she has her peculiarities. At times she can be very brusque, and she has a foible for braving the laws of good society, and setting all the world at defiance, which has made her many enemies. It occurred to me she was now trying to make amends for some misunderstanding which had arisen between herself and you."

I assured him this was not the case, and that I felt my kindly reception to be the more flattering since Miss Mordaunt was not accustomed to flatter.

"Then explain to me," he continued, "your relationship to the family, for, though I remember having heard of a Van Zonshoven who was related to my deceased wife, it is so long ago——"

"My grandmother, General, was a Freule van Roselaer."

"She married a French nobleman, if I recollect aright?"

"A Belgian, General: Baron d'Hermaele."

"Well, yes, it was during the French occupation of the country under Napoleon I.; and in those days one did not pay so much attention to nationality. Our disagreement with Freule Sophia prevented our making his acquaintance. He settled in Belgium, and I heard afterwards that Baron d'Hermaele stood in high favour at court in the reign of King William I."

"This court favour cost him his life," I added, "for he remained faithful to his king during the Belgian Revolution; his castle near Larken was pillaged and burnt by the populace, and he himself cruelly murdered whilst defending his wife and children."

"Another fact out of those sad and confused times which I so well remember. My men were burning with rage to punish such rebels and brigands, but, alas! they were kept inactive. What became of the widow and children?"

"She returned to Holland with one son and seven daughters, of whom the eldest married my father, Jonker van Zonshoven. I am their only son."

"Then I am your great-uncle, Jonker."

"I have made the same calculation, General, and it is for this reason——"

"You don't come to talk to me about family affairs, I hope?" he interrupted, growing uncomfortable.

"But, my dear uncle, we can speak of family affairs without their necessarily causing unpleasantness."

"Hum! Well, you are a Van Zonshoven, a stranger to all the pitiful feuds which have separated me from the Roselaers. Whole treasures have been thrown away on the lawsuits they have brought against me. Francis and I are both still suffering from such losses. Look here, if you bring any painful news for Francis, or any humiliating tidings for me—I know that even the validity of my Swiss marriage is contested—I beseech you, be generous, spare her as long as possible, for she is ignorant of this fact. Perhaps, old and broken though I be by trials, I can ward off the evil day a little longer; but be sincere and tell me plainly——"

"I assure you, General, my chief desire—as I have already told Miss Mordaunt—is to save you every kind of trouble I can. I wish simply to draw family ties closer, and my most ardent desire is that a Van Zonshoven may have the good fortune to heal the wounds caused by the Roselaers."

"Many things are necessary! Much money! As we soldiers say, gold is the sinews of war—and, pardon me if I make a mistake, the Van Zonshovens are not rich."

"You are not mistaken, General. My grandmother and her children had to live on the pension allowed the widow of Baron d'Hermaele, and this pension ceased with her life."

"And did the king do nothing for the daughters?"

"What would you expect from him, uncle? The only son was promoted and rewarded, but he died in the flower of his age. It was impossible for the young ladies to keep William II. in constant recollection of their father's loyalty. Besides, we decided not to petition or supplicate for favours, preferring to rely on our own energies and self-help. This principle was instilled into me whilst I was young."

"You surprise me. But is there not a Van Zonshoven Minister for Foreign Affairs in the present Government?" asked the General. "He must be a rich man, I fancy. What is your relationship to him?"

"He is my uncle; but I esteem him little. He is married to the coffee-coloured daughter of a rich Java merchant—for her money, of course. She is neither intelligent, amiable, nor educated; and indeed, has got little from him in return for her money except the right to bear his name and title."

"A pitiful mesalliance, certainly! But for you the consequences are a rich and childless uncle?" he observed by way of a query.

"Yes, and he is already old. But, unfortunately, I am estranged from him, for I consider it beneath my dignity to beg favours from him."

The General shook his head. "There spoke the blood of the Roselaers."

"No, General, the Van Zonshovens are not vindictive, but proud. Though poor, I have always prized my independence above all things. I have lived soberly, and never indulged in pleasures above my means; consequently I have not been forced to sacrifice my liberty, which, to tell you the truth, is dearer to me than my patent of nobility."

"Bravo! bravissimo!" resounded in my ears from the bottom of the room; and it came from the deep, clear voice of Francis, who had been entering the room as I spoke these words.

"You see, Jonker," said the General, somewhat fretfully, and knitting his brows, "your style of speaking has touched my granddaughter's weak side. Her dreams are of independence, and her illusion is to be indebted to nobody."

"Not my illusion, grandfather. My principle is rather to be poor and independent, and appear so; and rather to suffer privations and make sacrifices, than be guilty of meanness for the sake of supplying imaginary wants and desires which we ought manfully to resist."

The General bit his lips, shut his eyes, and sank back in his chair, as if he had received a blow from a club; but unwilling to acknowledge a defeat, after a few seconds he raised himself up and said to Francis—

"I allow that you far surpass me in bearing privations; but it would be well for you to learn a little self-restraint. At my time of life it is hard to bear reproaches. I cannot change my way of living, though I confess you deny yourself much for my sake."

"Come, come, grandfather, you know my words sound harsher than I mean them; but you cannot expect me to approve what angers me—such self-restraint I shall never learn."

"That's unfortunate," replied the General in a bitter tone; "for what will Leopold think of us if he must listen to such reproaches at every turn."

"He will think, uncle, that he is on a visit to a family which is above dissembling to deceive him, and he will esteem such frankness as an honour and a privilege——"

"Well! that's an advantage you'll enjoy to your heart's content, Jonker, if you stay here long," interrupted the Captain, who had again entered the room. "Our Major has the praiseworthy custom of speaking her mind without respect of persons; and when she's displeased, it is 'parade and proceed to execution,' as we say in the courts-martial."

"Had pardons not been heard of, Captain," retorted Francis, half in jest, half in earnest, "you would have been dismissed the service long ere this."

"That only proves my long-suffering and patience, Miss Major; you know I permit you to treat me like a corporal would a raw recruit. I would not bear from the Prince Field-Marshal what I have borne from you."

"Captain," said the General, who had been listening nervously, "Captain, I thought I had given you to understand that I desired to be en famille."

"And I, General, not guessing the conversation could be so entertaining for you, came to propose our usual remedy against low spirits: a game at piquet."

"Thank you, Captain, no cards this afternoon; I am anxious to talk to my nephew."



CHAPTER XIII.

Francis ordered Rolf off in search of her riding-whip which she had lost on the heath in the morning, making sure this would keep him out of the way for a time.

"It's no easy matter to find such a thing in the sand," he growled, as he limped off.

"But, you know, I want it very much, and if you can find it you will do me a great pleasure," Francis called after him.

"Well, since I need not be on duty with the General, I will do my best," he answered.

"You are a cruel despot," I could not help saying to Francis. She smiled and coloured slightly.

"Oh, Jonker, this is nothing!" sighed the submissive vassal; "when Miss Major was a child, you should have seen what I had to do and suffer."

"Just so," replied Francis; "then you spoilt me, and hence your penance is so hard. Give me your hand, my good Rolf; I won't promise you absolution, but a truce for to-day."

The old soldier took the hand held out to him, and I saw a tear sparkle in his eye, which reconciled me to him in spite of his vulgar familiarities. He, ashamed of his weakness, tried to hide it from us by a prompt retreat.

Almost immediately afterwards he entered the room again, and approaching Francis he said—

"I know I disturb you, Freule, but it is better that I come instead of Fritz. I met the driver who brought the Jonker, at the gate, and he wishes to know at what hour our visitor intends leaving."

Whilst hesitating about my answer, I overheard him whisper to Francis—

"I have passed the turkeys in review, and there is one just ready for the cook, but not to-day: I am sorry for le cher cousin."

I hastened to say—

"There is nothing I should like better than to spend the day here; and as for the dinner, I prefer to take pot-luck with my friends."

"Well, of course you will stay to dinner, Leopold," said the General, eyeing Francis, who had not yet given her consent.

After some hesitation she said, in a decisive tone—

"We will dine early to-day; order the carriage for seven o'clock."

"You shame me with such meagre hospitality," interposed the General. "Why not invite your cousin Van Zonshoven to stay the night; he can leave early to-morrow morning?"

"Sleep here, grandfather! But you don't understand; really we are unprepared to lodge visitors."

"What!" exclaimed Rolf, with a loud laugh, "we could lodge half a company."

"Half your company!" Francis cried bitterly; "but you forget that Jonker van Zonshoven is accustomed to the luxuries of the Hague."

"To a modest chamber on the second floor, Francis; and he can sleep comfortably on a mattress of straw, if well wrapped up."

The old man was again visibly affected, and murmured gently—

"This is another caprice of yours, Francis."

"If you are determined to stay," responded Francis, with a cold and sorrowful look at me, "I will try to find you a room where there are no broken panes. Come, Captain, never mind about the whip to-day; you must now act as my quartermaster. Forward, march;" and taking him by the arm, she led off her willing slave.

When we were once more alone, the General began—

"Believe me, she means well and kindly towards you; but as we don't reckon on visitors, you have taken us by surprise, and that's what vexes Francis. It is so difficult to procure anything in this out-of-the-way place."

"Every lady has her faults and her little caprices," I interposed.

"Yes, but others can hide them better under a little polish. Francis cannot understand our social laws; unfortunately she has not had an education suitable to her rank and station. Her own mother she never knew; and my son-in-law, Sir John Mordaunt, did not understand the kind of training necessary for a Dutch lady of position."

"Don't despair, General; who knows what effect a good husband will have on her!"

"That's just my difficulty, Jonker; Francis would refuse to marry any man she suspected of such intentions."

"You are right, grandfather," exclaimed Francis, who had again entered the room. "Major Frank will never give up her command to an inferior; she can only endure slaves and vassals around her, and the sooner Jonker Leopold understands this, the better for him, if he has intentions of conspiring against her freedom."

This was said half jestingly; but I replied, quite seriously, that I thought Major Frank would do wrong to refuse a good husband.

Francis reddened to the roots of her hair, and then grew pale, as she answered with a forced smile—

"Well, you are not a dangerous suitor. As the General will have told you, Miss Mordaunt can only accept a very rich husband; and I think you have already acknowledged that the Van Zonshovens are not among the people who pay the highest amount of income-tax."

"But Francis!" exclaimed the General, deprecatingly.

"Well now, dear papa, that's the standard by which people are judged nowadays, and you would wish Major Frank to be sold to the highest bidder, if sold she must be. But come, Leopold, let me show you the grounds before dinner. Grandfather can go with us, for the wind has gone down and the sun come out, so that it is quite a mild spring afternoon."



CHAPTER XIV.

We directed our steps towards the back of the Castle, passing by the aviary, which had fallen into decay like its surroundings. The Captain had, however, turned it into a poultry-walk, and held undisputed sway over the turkeys with which he had stocked it. The General, who had come out against his will, leaned on the arm of Francis, and I walked by her side. Ascending a small rise in the grounds we came to a summer-house, whence we could obtain a splendid view of the surrounding country—a sweep of undulating heath as far as the eye could reach. Francis said this was her favourite place in the grounds, and that she never grew tired of the charming prospect; but I could see that her grandfather's thoughts were occupied about something quite different from the picturesque view. All the farms in the neighbourhood, and all the woods around, formerly appertained to the lordship of the Werve; and all these ought to have descended intact to his granddaughter, to whom he would not leave a foot of earth.

"By the way, nephew, what has become of the six other Miss d'Hermaeles, your mother's sisters?" asked the General, breaking the silence briskly.

Francis burst out laughing.

"Grandfather beginning to take an interest in the fate of six young ladies all at once! That's too much! But he wishes to know, Leo, whether you have a chance of inheriting anything from a rich aunt," she said, displaying a quickness of perception peculiar to her. "Isn't it so, grandfather?"

I hastened to answer—

"Three of them died long ago; two others made good marriages, but they have children of their own; and one, Aunt Sophia, is maintained by the rest of the family, I contributing in proportion to my means."

"Aunt Sophia," repeated the General; "had the d'Hermaeles the foresight to make Sophia Roselaer godmother to one of their children?"

"It is possible," I answered, "but I don't know for certain; my mother seldom talked to me about her relations."

"At any rate it appears to me she has been made heir to the property of that mischief-loving woman, Miss Roselaer," continued the General; "and probably you, Leopold, were not informed of the death, nor invited to the funeral any more than ourselves? As far as I am concerned I expected such treatment; yet I cannot understand that she should allow her hatred to deprive the only granddaughter of her eldest sister of the property."

I now felt myself on dangerous ground; but Francis came to my rescue by saying, in a tone of pleasantry—

"Neither did I ever expect anything from her; and yet, who knows, if I had liked—I have only seen her once in my life; and though as a rule people are not prepossessed in my favour at a first interview" (hereupon she gave me a malicious look), "she seems to have had no reason to complain of me;—in fact, if I had only cultivated the acquaintance, probably at this moment my name would be in her will for a good round sum."

"What! you have seen the old gossip?" interrupted General von Zwenken, "and you have never told me of it. When and where have you met her?"

"At the beginning of this year, when I went to Utrecht on certain business about which it is not necessary to trouble cousin Leopold."

"She never likes to hear her good deeds spoken of," the General murmured to me.

"Oh, it was only a simple duty I had to fulfil; I had to consult the celebrated Dr. D. about an unfortunate woman who had lost her reason. At his door I had an altercation with his man-servant, who wished to put me off till next day under the pretext that the hour for consultation was passed, and that his master was taking his luncheon with visitors. However, I insisted upon his taking in my card, and finally I obtained admission to the dining-room. Dr. D. politely invited me to take luncheon with them, and introduced me to two elderly ladies, one his sister, and the other his sister's friend. As I was very hungry, I accepted without ceremony. I was soon sensible that his sister's friend was observing my every motion with sharp, penetrating eyes. Her conversation was amusing. She was lively, and criticised persons and events cleverly, though with unsparing severity. This was just to my taste, and excited me to the contest, till, from repartee to repartee, we got almost to a dispute. It was my great-aunt Sophia in person, as I afterwards learnt; and just fancy her mixing up her own name in a malicious manner in the conversation, and then asking me if I knew her, and what my opinion of her was! I simply answered: 'I had heard her spoken of; that there had been quarrels between her and my relations, but that I did not think it fair, on my part, to attack her behind her back in the presence of strangers.' She answered that she approved of my conduct. The doctor, who had for some time been appearing ill at ease, now invited me to go to his surgery. After the consultation I met the old lady in the passage; she invited me to accompany her as far as the house of a friend, where her carriage would await her. I consented, but now I was on my guard, as I knew who she was; and when she invited me to spend a day with her I declined——"

"It was imprudent and impolite," interrupted the General.

"It was acting in conformity with the spirit of all your dealings with her, grandfather. I said I could not spend a single hour longer in Utrecht than business demanded. Before she could say more, a band of students, of that class better known outside the lecture-room than inside, began to form a circle round us, and treat us to a piece of by no means flattering criticism as to the style of our dress. It is true I was negligently dressed, far behind the fashions; and aunt's bonnet and shawl gave her much of the appearance of a caricature. I felt my blood boil, and yet I retained sufficient calmness to tell these seedling lawyers, authors, and clergymen they ought to be ashamed of themselves, as their conduct was worse even than that of street Arabs. My words took effect; one or two dropped off in silence, others stepped aside, and one of them even attempted to stammer out an apology. We were near the house of lawyer Van Beek, where Miss Roselaer was going; and as we took leave of each other she warmly pressed my hand, thanking me for my protection and presence of mind, but added that 'such conduct was scarcely ladylike in the public streets.'

"It might have been more becoming to swoon, but such farces are not in keeping with the character of Major Frank.

"If I had known the story would amuse you so much, grandfather, I would have told it you three months ago; but I was afraid it would be disagreeable to you to hear I had seen Aunt Sophia."

"And you have never since heard a word of Miss Roselaer?" demanded Von Zwenken, fretfully.

"No; but I have reason to suppose she wished to oblige me. I had to make arrangements at Utrecht for the proper nursing of my poor patient. The most important point was the money, and at the time I had very little; but the same evening I received a letter from Dr. D., informing me a rich friend, who desired to remain unknown, had promised to pay all the expenses. So here you have my reasons for surprise that Aunt Sophia should have included me in hatred of the family; for the rich unknown friend could be no other than herself."

The General muttered between his teeth—

"Oh, from that woman you might expect anything!"

To me this account was as a ray of light. Aunt had changed her will, after this incident, in favour of Francis, and not, it was clear, for purposes of revenge. Now I felt more bound than ever to win the love of Francis, and to marry her; and I confess my inclinations were tending in that direction. Her straightforward, upright character, her original and piquant style of beauty, were already beginning to act like a charm upon me; still it would be well not to precipitate matters, and I controlled a desire which came over me to demand her hand on the spot. There were also mysterious events in her past life which required clearing up. Besides, I had to consider how it would be possible to change her aversion from marriage, the male sex, and social life in general. And I was convinced if she once pronounced the fatal word "No," my suit was hopeless.



CHAPTER XV.

Fritz, who came up at a trot, after the usual military salute to Francis, interrupted our further conversation. He addressed her in the following words—

"Freule, the Captain sends to inquire if you have thought of the sauce for the pudding, and if you will let him have the key to the pantry?"

Turning to me she said—

"Excuse me, Leo—duty first and pleasure afterwards; my worthy adjutant reminds me I have duties in the kitchen."

In a moment she had tripped away out of sight, and the General, rising, said—

"I must also go and dress, for I never dine in my dressing-gown." Then calling to Fritz, he said, "Show the Jonker to his room, if it is ready."

"Certainly, General; I have taken up his bag."

"So you have brought a travelling-bag?" asked the General, with a smile, and giving me an inquiring look.

"What shall I say, uncle; did I take too great a liberty in reckoning on an invitation for a few days?"

"Certainly not, my boy!" he replied frankly; "a change is very welcome to me—only try to make it all right with Francis."

Fritz led the way up a broad oaken staircase to the first floor of the left wing, the very one which had struck me as the least habitable. I was shown into a large room that had once been well furnished, but which now appeared rather sombre, as all the shutters were closed except one, and this was only left ajar. I asked Fritz to open them, telling him I was fond of plenty of light.

"Sir, Freule gave me orders to keep the shutters closed, otherwise there would be too much light, for there are no blinds."

"Never mind, man; open them for me."

"Yes, but there will be a draught; we never have guests, and therefore the broken window-panes have been neglected, and there is no glazier in the village."

I dismissed the good fellow, whose fidelity to his mistress was evinced by his reticence.

When I had opened one shutter entirely so as to obtain sufficient light, I found the room contained a large old-fashioned bedstead, with red silk hangings; a splendid couch, the covering of which was torn in several places and the horse-hair peeping out—then, even worse, I found it had lost a leg; moreover, there was not a chair in the room I dared seat myself on without the fear of coming to grief.

In the middle of the room was a marble-topped table, standing on its three gilt bear-paws; but it was cracked in several places, and the mosaic star in the centre had almost disappeared piece by piece. A simple modern washstand, of grey painted wood with light green borders, had been placed just under an oval rococo mirror, and formed a striking contrast to these neglected antiquities.

From my window I was enjoying a view of the beautiful country of Guelderland, and forming plans for the renovation and embellishment of the fallen greatness around—always provided Francis consented—when I heard the second dinner-bell, and hastened downstairs, having been warned that the General still kept up his military habits of punctuality.

I was very curious to see whether Francis had dressed for dinner, how she looked, &c. But, alas! my hopes were disappointed. Her beautiful hair was loosely confined in a silk net, which seemed scarcely capable of sustaining its weight. She had not changed her dress, and had only thrown over her shoulders a small faded shawl, which served to hide the white and slender form of her neck. She perceived my disappointment; in fact, her beautiful eyes regarded me with an air that seemed to say—

"Make up your mind that I am totally indifferent as to the impression I may produce on you."

Otherwise she performed her part as hostess with exemplary zeal and great ability. She served the soup, carved the meat, and even changed the plates herself—as Fritz seemed to consider his duty done when he had placed the things on the sideboard. To my great surprise, the dinner was abundant and even recherche.

After the soup, which was excellent, roast beef with choice preserved vegetables was served up—"surrogate of the primeurs," as the General expressed himself; then partridges in aspic and a poulet au riz, followed by young cabbages with baked eels, which, the Captain said playfully, had only gone into his net for my sake. As plat doux, we had a pudding with the wonderful sauce Francis had been called into the kitchen to make; and to wind up, a complete dessert. It was difficult for me to reconcile all this with the idea of people living in straitened circumstances.

The different kinds of wine, furnished in over-great abundance and variety by the Captain, who acted as butler, completed the luxuries of the table. The wines were of the best brands, and my host and his aide-de-camp took care to call my attention to them. My habits of abstinence obliged me to exercise great moderation, and I could plainly see that they were disappointed at my want of enthusiasm.

Neither the crockery nor the table-linen was in keeping with the luxury of the courses. The former was French china, dating from the same period as the furniture and the golden leather tapestries, and had evidently suffered a good deal from rough usage and servants. It was cracked, riveted, incomplete; and modern blue ware had been purchased to supply deficiencies, thus enhancing its splendour and emphasizing the contrast. The large damask tablecloth, that represented the marriage of a Spanish Infanta, had certainly done duty when Aunt Sophia ruled as mistress of the establishment. It was exceedingly fine but worn, and the rents had not always been neatly darned. As for the silver, the speed with which Francis sent the forks and spoons to the kitchen and ordered them back, proved to me that the dozens were not complete. On the other hand, there was an abundance of cut glass, to which the Captain directed my attention lest I should overlook it, adding, however—

"I do not attach much value to such things. Many a time during the campaign I have drunk beer out of a milk-pail, and champagne out of teacups; and I did not enjoy it the less for that."

"Provided the cups were not too small," interrupted Francis.

"But the General," continued Rolf, without noticing the remark, "the General would rather go without Yquem than drink it out of a common glass; and as our Major (I mean Freule, the commander-in-chief) always manifests the greatest indifference in this respect, I have charged myself with the care of the General's wine-cellar."

I neither liked nor approved the tone of the Captain's observations; but Von Zwenken said nothing. Francis did not, however, fail to retaliate in her vehement way.

"Fie, Captain!" she interrupted. "Are you afraid Jonker van Zonshoven will not observe how great your merits as quartermaster are? If every one in this house would follow my regime, and drink clear spring-water, your zeal and care for the wine-cellar would be superfluous."

I had already noticed that she drank nothing but water. The General now came to the Captain's aid with a French expression: "Le luxe, c'est le necessaire."

He had drunk a good deal, and his pale cheeks were growing rosy. Francis rang for Fritz to hand round cigars to the gentlemen, and then retired to the drawing-room in spite of the furious looks of her grandfather. As the door was open, I could follow her movements in the large mirror which faced me. I saw her throw herself on the sofa, wring her hands, and bite her lips as if to suppress her sobs. The General soon dozed off, and the Captain applied himself to the cognac bottle, as he said it was necessary to warm up his stomach after eating cold fruit; so I walked over towards the drawing-room, trying to hide my cigar. Francis was disconcerted at being surprised in her disconsolate mood; but she composed herself, and said, with an attempt at a smile—

"You may smoke here, cousin, if you wish to have a talk with me."



CHAPTER XVI.

"I am not in the habit of smoking in the presence of——" (I had almost said ladies).

"Nonsense! I am not so fastidious; and you know that quite well. Shall I make you some coffee? The gentlemen yonder do not take any; they smoke and drink till——"

I interrupted her with—

"I want nothing but to talk confidentially with you for a quarter of an hour. Will you grant me that favour?"

"Certainly; take the easy-chair and sit down opposite; that is the best position for a talk."

I obeyed, and she began—

"Tell me, first of all, do you now understand why I do not like receiving company?"

"Perhaps. I venture to suppose that you wish to simplify the way of living, and that the gentlemen do not approve of it. And visitors cause expense."

"Now, indeed, it is clever of you to guess after what you have just seen!" and she laughed a merry laugh. "I see I must explain matters. But let us talk about yourself, Leopold; that will change the current of my thoughts—and they want changing in my present state of mind. You see there my constant and daily society," she continued, looking towards the dining-room. "They have now reached the topmost point of their enjoyment—the General asleep with a cigar in his mouth, and the Captain absorbing his quantum of cognac. Afterwards he will fill his German pipe, totter off to the billiard-room, and smoke and sleep till tea-time. Come, now, as we have a full hour before us, confess yourself. Why have you not studied for a barrister?" And she fixed her large eyes on me as if she suspected that I had been rusticated.

"Simply because my good father died too soon."

"A good father always dies too soon. Even a bad one who neglects his child is a great loss. Yours left nothing?"

"Except a widow with a very small pension—too small to maintain me at Leyden, and therefore I left after one year's residence, as I wished to earn my own living and obtain comforts for my mother, who was in very weak health."

"I admire you for that, Leo; a man who is not selfish, and can make sacrifices for his mother or his wife's sake, is a rarity. It does me good to hear such men still exist."

"Now, Francis, give me your confidence. Perhaps I can assist you in your troubles."

"Don't attempt the impossible, Leopold," she replied in a tone of profound sadness. "However, as I believe you to be loyal and generous, I will be explicit with you; and if I am deceived in you, as I have often been in others, one deception more or less cannot make much difference in the grand total. When my grandfather had obtained his pension we came to the Werve, as it was urgently necessary for us to economize. His rank as commandant in a small fortified town had necessitated our living in grand style. He had to invite the mayor and other dignitaries to his table, as well as his own lieutenants; and let me acknowledge we had both got into the habit of living in abundance and of being very hospitable; consequently we had nearly always an open table. Owing to many events and painful family circumstances, our fortune with the last few years has shrunk so visibly that it was impossible to continue our old style of living. And grandpapa at last saw things as I did. We retired to the Werve; we did not want company, and we severed ourselves from all parasites at one stroke.

"I counted on the kitchen garden, the orchard, and the home farm (which in those days still belonged to the Werve) providing for all our wants; and I cherished a secret hope of saving money, so as one day to make some repairs and raise this castle from its state of decay.

"At first everything went on tolerably well. We came in the summer-time. We both needed rest; the splendid and varied scenery enticed us out on long rides and drives; in fact, everything combined to make us enjoy our solitude. But, alas! the autumn came with its long evenings and chilly days; the General suffered from rheumatism and could not mount his horse. Then weariness overmastered him like a plague, and I tried music and reading in vain. He is not fond of music, and he does not care for reading. He cannot bear to see me with a book in my hand, unless it be an illustrated book to ornament the drawing-room table. When I had read the paper there was nothing more to say. I played dominoes with him and piquet-a-deux. I could hardly do it any longer; but he never had enough of it. He grew fidgetty and melancholy, began to languish, and was less and less satisfied with our simple way of living. I could not bear to see him so cast down, without the means of helping him. Just about this time one of his former comrades, who had also obtained his pension, invited grandfather to visit him in Arnheim. I thought it would be a nice change, and encouraged him to go. He was quite happy and quite at his ease there, and stayed the three winter months."

"And you?"

"I stayed at home. They had forgotten to invite me; and when they thought of it, it seemed to me such a formal invitation that I made up my mind to decline it, as I had before reflected it would save a great deal of expense in ball dresses and other ways of squandering money which such visits necessarily bring with them."

"Yet, even here, a little attention to dress would not be out of place," I interposed, seizing the opportunity to tell her my opinion on the subject.

"Oh, it does not matter for me. I can speak as a certain French woman du temps que j'etais femme. That time's past; what does it matter how Major Frank dresses?"

"Major Frank," I replied, "should wear a uniform suitable to her rank and the position in which she finds herself. That is no coquetry, it is only decency—seemliness."

"But, Leopold," she cried, feverishly beating the devil's tattoo with her little foot, "since I have been here I have bought nothing new, and part of my wardrobe I have given away to the daughter of a poor officer, who had obtained a place as governess in a rich family, and had scarcely the wherewithal to clothe herself decently. Now, cousin, that you are initiated into the mysteries of my wardrobe, you understand why I could not come to table in a ball costume. But don't trouble me with any more of your silly remarks about dress; let me continue.

"My grandfather returned from Arnheim, cured of his melancholy and more deeply in debt than ever. His stay, even with a friend, had cost him much money in dress. He had had to order a new general's uniform, as he could not go into society in that of a colonel; then there were fees to servants; and, worst of all, that abominable high play which is the curse of our nation. In short, on his return he was obliged to sell the home-farm, and even this did not bring in sufficient money to satisfy his creditors. This time my grandfather solemnly vowed he would never enter society again, and he has kept his word; but he soon fell into a black melancholy, from which he is only just recovering.

"Rolf, a brave soldier, but one who, in spite of his merits, would never have obtained the rank of officer without grandpapa's protection, called upon us. He was a sort of servant in the house before I was born, making himself generally useful as only soldiers can. His sister was my nurse, my mother having died soon after I came into the world. Unfortunately, she had neither education nor character to fit her for the task. With the best intentions, she thoroughly spoilt me, a work in which she was assisted by her brother, Sergeant Rolf, who would sooner have thought of disobeying his colonel than of opposing any caprice of his 'little Major,' as he already called me. Well, when he got his pension as captain he stayed here a few days, and his company seemed to be a welcome change to grandfather; and perceiving that a third person would be an agreeable addition to our society, I proposed to him to take up his quarters here, as he could live on his pension in one place as well as another. My proposition was eagerly accepted, and I took the command, as he expresses it, whilst he did his best to cheer up the General, and the winter has passed less monotonously than I anticipated.

"Meantime Rolf has inherited some property in North Brabant, and now he insists upon paying his quota towards the housekeeping expenses, to which I have consented for the General's sake, because he is so fond of delicacies. But you don't know how I suffer when I see them rivalling each other in the pleasures of the table, and think of the humiliation and abasement of my grandfather——"

Fritz entered with the lamp, and asked if Freule had not rung for the tea. The General and the Captain followed. The conversation languished over the tea-table, and Francis became silent; when suddenly the Captain exclaimed, pointing to her hair—

"Ah, the lioness shakes her mane to frighten us!"

"It's true," she answered coolly; "excuse me, gentlemen."

And away she went to her own room.

"It is curious how Francis has these attacks of nonchalance," muttered the General.

"And just now, when we have a visitor whom she herself brought," assented the Captain.

But to change the subject the General proposed a game at cards.



CHAPTER XVII.

The Captain arranged the card-table, whilst Fritz removed the tea-things. We took our seats, and the General, as I thought, fixed the counters tolerably high.

The old man seemed to undergo a thorough change the moment he held the cards in his hand. His dull, sleepy eyes brightened with intelligence and sparkled with enthusiasm. Every limb moved; the tips of his fingers trembled, and yet they still held the cards firmly whilst he examined them to calculate, with mathematical precision, what was wanting in ours. His pale cheeks flushed a deep red, his nostrils expanded or contracted according to the chances of the game; and the melancholy man, who usually sat with his head bowed down as though overburdened, was of a sudden seized by a spirit of audacity, of rashness, of foolhardiness, that not seldom gained him splendid success, and reminded me of the saying, "Good luck is with the rash man." It certainly is with the audacious player.

As for myself I made many blunders, which greatly amused my companions. I had already lost a considerable sum, when the door opened and Francis appeared in evening costume.

I threw down my cards on the table to offer her a chair. The General, who sat with his back to the door, looked at me angrily, whilst the Captain cried—

"Our Major in full dress."

"What strange whim is this?" growled the General, with difficulty suppressing his anger, for he had an excellent hand of cards this time. "The whole day you have gone about like a Cinderella, and now——"

"The fairy has come, and I appear as a princess," replied Francis.

"And the famous glass slipper is not wanting," I said, admiring the beautiful little slippers peeping out from under her dress.

"Perhaps; but I will take care not to lose it."

"Why not?" I asked, looking fixedly at her.

"Because I will not make the romance of an hour a question for life."

"All you are saying to Francis may be very gallant and witty, nephew," cried the General, "but it is not polite to leave the card-table in the midst of a game."

"If the Freule would join us we could play quadrille," said Rolf.

"Thanks, Captain, I prefer playing the piano, if it does not disturb you."

Her playing was like herself, fantastic and bizarre; gradually, however, it became sweet and melancholy, and moved me almost to tears. My thoughts were with the music, and I lost every game afterwards. The General was furious, and let me perceive it. I was about to pay my debt, when Francis entered precipitately, and said in a decided tone—so decided, indeed, as to displease me—that I should not pay. I answered in the same tone, and to cut short all arguments I placed the money on the table. She then tried to snatch out of Rolf's hand the note I had given him. I told her I thought her interference very unbecoming.

"Oh, very well; it's all the same to me if you wish to be plundered."

And with this she returned to the piano; whilst the General, who seemed to gloat over his gains, remained silent during this little scene. It gave me a painful insight into his character. I pitied the old man, who played not for amusement but for the sake of money, and would take it in large or small sums from a poor relation or a richer man.

But at the same time, as I went to join Francis at the piano, I thought my money well spent in discovering the General's weakness, which had so influenced his granddaughter's past life.

"Will you play?" she asked, brusquely.

"I don't feel disposed."

"As you like," she said, turning to the instrument and striking the keys as if she would break them.

I took up an old newspaper and pretended to be reading it.

In the end she played a prelude, and then began the air of Bettly in the chalet—

Liberte cherie, Seul bien de la vie, Regne toujours la! Tra la, la, la, tra la, la, la! Tant pis pour qui s'en fachera!

I threw aside the paper, and, approaching the piano, I whispered—

"Do you remember how this charming little opera ends?"

"Certainly, like all other pieces suitable for the theatre; but in real life it is just the contrary, and I like reality."

Fritz came to announce supper. The gentlemen were cheerful, the Captain noisy and jovial; Francis only gave short and dry answers, and showed me her ill-humour by only giving me the tips of her fingers when she wished us all good-night.



CHAPTER XVIII.

Unromantic though it may sound, I must confess to having slept well on the first night I spent under the roof of my mother's ancestors. Sleep surprised me whilst I was reflecting on the strange and incomprehensible character of Francis. Proud, generous, noble-hearted, quick-witted, beautiful—and yet with all her charms (which I could feel had already begun to work upon me) spoilt by a detestable education, by the manners of a sutler and a rudeness of the worst kind. And then, in addition to all this, there was the question of her past life which I had heard painted in such black colours. It seemed doubtful whether Major Frank could ever become Lady Francis van Zonshoven.

When I awoke the sun was streaming through the one window whose shutters I had purposely left open, with the intention of taking an early morning walk. I crept silently down the stairs so as not to awake anybody, but I met Fritz in the vestibule, and he made his military salute in silence. The hall door was wide open. I took the direction of the home-farm, where I hoped to obtain a glass of new milk, and draw the tenants out a little about the inhabitants of the Castle—one in particular.

I had not gone very far before whom should I see coming from the farm but Francis herself, with a basket of fresh eggs.

After a moment's hesitation I asked—

"Are we again good friends?" For I had an idea she would have taken another path if she had seen me a little sooner.

"I never knew we had ceased to be so," she answered, colouring a little.

"Hem! Towards the close of the evening, in spite of what you may say to the contrary."

"Say, rather, in spite of myself. Believe me, Leo, I was not morose out of caprice; I was troubled and anxious. I saw my manner displeased you, but I was afraid that to flatter grandfather's weakness you were suffering yourself to become his dupe."

"And even in that case I could not permit you to interfere."

"You had told me you were poor, that you must economize, and then to squander your money in such a way in our house—it seemed to me like card-sharping."

"No, no; nothing of the sort. But supposing it had been, you have tact enough to understand that it was beneath my dignity to take the money back."

"That's true, I am of your opinion; but I warned you beforehand that my manners were bad."

"I think it less a question of bad manners than a certain arrogance, a certain despotism——"

"Well, then, pardon the arrogance, the despotism," she said jestingly; "still, if I confess you were in the right and that I deserve correction, will you on your part acknowledge that you are making somewhat too much ado about a little mistake?"

"But you, who are so proud, how can you suppose that a man will consent to be protected by a woman?"

"Again you are right, Leopold; such a man would be like so many others I know."

"Pardon me, Francis; our friendship is like a tender plant, and we must cultivate it so as to prevent its taking a crooked turn."

"If you regard our friendship in such a serious light," she resumed, whilst a slight blush suffused her cheeks, "I will capitulate on condition that our little quarrel of last night be forgotten and forgiven."

I felt myself under the charm again, and seizing her hand in a transport of joy, I covered it with kisses.

"Leo, what are you doing?" she cried, pale and with tears in her eyes.

"Sealing the bond of our friendship."

"Leo, Leo! you know not what you do," she said softly; "you forget to whom you are speaking—I am Major Frank."

"I will have no more of Major Frank; my cousin Francis Mordaunt must suffer me to offer her my arm." And taking her hand again, I gently drew her arm within mine. She submitted in silence, with a singular expression of dejection on her face.

"I feel it will do me good to talk to you for once in this way, though it may be the first and only time. Where are you going, Leo?"

"To the farm yonder; I see you have been there already for eggs; let me carry the basket for you."

"No, thank you. I had not reckoned on the eggs, but the good people insisted upon my taking them; I went to see a patient."

"A patient! Do you play the doctor?"

"I do a little of everything; but the patient in question is a dog, a dear, faithful creature, my poor 'Veldher,' who has broken his leg, and will suffer no one to touch him but myself. Another trouble I have brought on myself; and yet, if the others could be remedied as easily!" she said, with a profound sigh.

She became pale as death, her lips quivered, and, withdrawing her arm from mine, she stood still, covering her face with her hands as if she would force back the tears already rolling down her cheeks. I remained by her side, and after a pause I said, with gentle earnestness—

"Tell me what has happened, Francis; it will be a relief to you and ease your mind."

"Yes," she resumed, calmly, "I must confide my sufferings to some one, but not now. I will not spoil our morning walk by calling up such a frightful scene. I can myself scarcely understand how it is possible that I, who cannot bear to see dumb creatures suffer, have to reproach myself with the death of one of my fellow-men."

"I beseech you to tell me all, trusting in me for my sincerest sympathy."

"Not now," she cried; "what good would it do? It would only embitter the few minutes we have to spend together."

"May I help you with a word it seems to cost you trouble to pronounce? Is it not a certain unfortunate incident with regard to your coachman?"

"Just so, that's it," she replied, assuming her defiant and bitter tone. "If you wish to know more about it, ask the people at the farm—they know all the particulars."

"I shall take good care not to go making inquiries into your secrets behind your back, Francis."

"My secrets!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering with indignation. "There is no secret in the matter. It is a question of a dreadful accident, which happened on the public high-road in the presence of a crowd of spectators attracted by the noise; but the occasion was not lost to set public opinion against me. Was it not Major Frank, who never acted like anybody else—Major Frank the outlaw! It would have been a pity to let such an opportunity of blackening her character pass. I ought to have reflected that you would have heard the story; and very likely you are come here 'to interview' the heroine of such a romantic adventure. It would be a pity you should lose your pains. There's the farm—go straight on and ask the people to tell you all about the affair between Major Frank and her coachman Harry Blount; both the man and his wife were witnesses. And, Jonker van Zonshoven, when they have satisfied you, you may return to the Werve to take your leave, and return as you came."

And off she ran, without giving me time to answer, leaving me in a state of terrible confusion.

One thing at last seemed clear to me; I had lost her for ever. Should I follow and overtake her? She appeared resolute to tell me no more. Yet I must know more! I could neither stay at the Werve nor go away until my doubts were cleared up.

I went on to the farm, and was soon served with a glass of milk. The farmer's wife seemed to know all about my visit, and thought it quite natural for the Freule to send me there for a glass of new milk. She was loud in her praises of the Freule, said her equal was not to be found in the whole aristocracy, "so familiar and kind-hearted, but at times flighty, and then she goes off like a locomotive"—she pronounced it "leukemetief." But it would be impossible for me to reproduce her Guelders dialect; and, to confess a truth, I had myself sometimes great difficulty in understanding her.

She showed me the farm and the dog, a splendid brown pointer who allowed me to stroke him, probably for his mistress' sake. Once the good farmer's wife had loosened her tongue, she rattled away with great volubility—

"Yes, she was sorry the General was no longer their landlord; but Overberg was not a bad fellow—he had made many repairs, and even promised to build a new barn which the General would never consent to. It was a pity for the man! A good gentleman, but he took no interest in farming; the whole place must have gone to wrack and ruin if the General had not agreed to sell it before it was too late. The Freule was sorry, for she liked farming; she had learned to milk, and talked to the cows just as if they were human beings. And horses—yes, Jonker, even the plough horses, before they go out into the field in the morning, she talks to them. My husband was groom to her grandfather, in his youth; I think I can see the greys she used to drive with so much pride, and Blount the coachman at her side, as proud as a king, with his arms folded, and looking as if the team belonged to him. Oh dear, yes! And now all that grandeur has disappeared. The beautiful carriage-horses are sold, and the Freule has only her English horse which my husband stables and grooms for her. What a sin and shame it is when the gentry fall into such decay! And the family used to be the greatest in these parts, and good to their tenants. My parents and grandparents always lived on the estate; but oh, oh! since the marriage of the eldest Freule Roselaer, they have never prospered. What can I say? 'A house divided against itself cannot stand,' as the Scriptures tell us. The Jonker has certainly heard of all these things?"

"Enough, Mrs. Pauwelsen, more than enough," I responded, for the good woman's chatter was becoming insupportable. I hastily took my leave of her and arrived just in time for breakfast; in fact, I was in the breakfast-parlour before either the Captain or the General. Francis was alone, but when she saw me she left the room under the pretext of seeing if the tea-water boiled.

"Stay, Francis—I think I have a right to a kinder reception."

"On what do you ground your right? Have you now satisfied your curiosity?"

"I know nothing, Francis; I asked no questions."

"Asked nothing! on your word of honour?"

"I have not asked two words, Francis. I did not ask, because I did not want to hear anything."

"Forsooth! You have shown more self-control than I thought a man capable of."

"Are the women so much our superiors in this respect?"

"If it be necessary, we can keep quiet."



CHAPTER XIX.

The Captain made his appearance, and put an end to our conversation, without for a moment being aware how unwelcome his presence was to me. I could scarcely give a civil answer to his question—

"Slept well, Jonker?"

He went on, however, in his jovial tone—

"The General will be here directly."

And, indeed, the General's entrance followed like an echo to the words, and the breakfast began.

Francis was silent and preoccupied—yet she gave me a look as if she regretted her want of confidence in me—making all sorts of mistakes. The General's tea was sweetened twice over, and the Captain found he had no sugar in his, a defect which he remedied as furtively as possible, whispering to me—

"Our Major's got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning. We must take care, or the orders of the day will be severe. She——"

"But Francis! What's the matter with you today; the eggs are too hard," growled the General.

"What a pity, just when we have a visitor," sighed the Captain; "otherwise they are boiled to perfection."

"By the way, Leopold, what hour is your carriage ordered for?" interposed the General.

"Well, uncle, I left it to the Captain," was my reply.

As we spoke a carriage drove up, and Francis rose from the table to look out of the window.

"It is indeed too early," said the General, reproachfully, to Rolf.

"Wait a moment, Excellency," replied Rolf, with a roguish twinkle of the eye; and he walked over to the window where Francis stood. Then with a loud laugh he said, "The Jonker left the matter in my hands, and perceiving he would like to stay a little longer with us, I simply sent off to Zutphen for his luggage."

It was now my turn to speak, and I asked Francis if she would keep me there a few days longer. Her answer, however, was in the negative.

"Leave at once; it is better for both of us."

In the meantime the Captain, like a worthy major-domo, had not only assisted in bringing in my box, but also a number of packages, bottles, tins, &c., which he spread over the table, and clapping the General on the shoulder, as he said—

"Now, what says your Excellency; have I not made a splendid foraging party?"

"No more of your 'Excellency' and insolent nonsense," burst out Francis, her eyes striking fire and her cheeks burning with rage. "You clearly forget, you d——d rascal, that you are an inferior; otherwise you would not dare to act like this. Bless my soul, what a foolish throwing away of money is this—perdrix rouges, pate-de-foie-gras, all kinds of fish in jelly, all kinds of preserved fruit. Why, it looks as if you were going to start a business here. Why have you brought all these useless dainties again?" And she struck the table with her clenched fist till the pots and bottles danced again. "The General ought to turn you out of doors; and he would if his tongue and sense of honour had not grown dull."

"Francis, Francis!" murmured Von Zwenken in a pitiful tone.

"No, grandfather," she continued, more loudly and rudely, "it is a shame, and if you had the least fortitude left you would put a stop to such extravagance."

"Major, Major!" interposed Rolf, deprecatingly.

"Silence, you miserable epicure—I am no longer your major; I have had enough of your quasi-pleasantry. If I had my will all this should be changed. But I have lost my authority; you let me talk——"

"Scream, you mean," corrected Von Zwenken, with a quivering voice.

"And you go on just the same," resumed Francis, pitching her voice still higher. "But I will not suffer you to take such liberties any longer; and if grandfather does not call you to order, I will myself put you out of doors, and all your delicacies with you."

"For heaven's sake, Francis, calm yourself," said Von Zwenken; "remember that Jonker van Zonshoven is a witness of your unseemly conduct."

"All the better. The Jonker chooses to become our guest, and he shall see and know into what a mean and miserable a household he has entered. I will put no blind before his eyes."

"There is, however, a difference between trying to blind people, and tearing off the bandages from the sores in this way, Miss Mordaunt," I replied, with emphasis.

"Possibly, Jonker; but I cannot hide my meaning in fine words. I must speak plainly. I would rather live on bread and water than be beholden to another for these luxuries."

With this she left the room, giving me a defiant look, which I returned by a shake of the head, to signify how much I disapproved of her conduct and the intemperance of her language.

Whilst we stood staring at each other, we three gentlemen, in a state of stupefaction, she just put her head in at the door and said—

"Captain, you will attend to the housekeeping duties to-day; I am going for a ride."

"At your service, Commandant," answered Rolf, bringing his hand to his cap in military fashion.

I could not help expressing my amazement at the coolness with which he treated the whole affair.

"What could I say, Jonker; such outbursts are not new to me. I saw this morning that the weather-glass stood at storm. The quicker and more violent the storm, the sooner it is over; and you know an old soldier is proof against weather."

"I am glad I warned you beforehand, nephew, of my granddaughter's temper," said the General, with a deep sigh, without raising his head to look at me. "Once she's got an idea into her head, there is no opposing her; she'll drive through anything, like a man on his hobby-horse; she never reasons."

I thought to myself, she reasons only too logically for you; and he evidently felt it, for throughout the whole scene he had sat with his head down, nervously playing with his ring.

"Come, General, don't be cast down," said Rolf, cheerily: "we'll maintain our alliance against the common foe, and the wind will change again."

As he spoke he unfolded a long, small parcel; it contained a riding-whip. "I am afraid the moment is inopportune," he said; "and yet she will need it. Who knows but she'll accept my present?"

"I hope not," I said to myself; "that would lower her in my esteem."

"She deserves to be chastised with it," interposed the General, now giving vent to his pent-up rage.

"Yes, Excellency, that we ought to have done twenty years ago. It was a mistake to promote her to the command before we had taught her the discipline."

"A great mistake," sighed the General.

Rolf now set to work to attend to his housekeeping duties, and I excused myself under the pretext of having letters to write; for I had a great wish to be alone and reflect on all I had seen and heard this morning.



CHAPTER XX.

Once in my room, I threw off my coat, loosened my collar, and made myself quite comfortable before commencing a letter to Overberg.

Suddenly there came a polite rap at my door, and, when I opened it, who should stand before me but Major Frank in person. She was dressed in her riding-habit, and brought me an inkstand, which she placed on the table, then took a chair quite at her ease, though she could see I was not pleased at being surprised in my shirt-sleeves. However, I put on my coat and demanded the object of her visit, as I scarcely believed her sole object was to supply me with an inkstand; and I pointed out to her I had got my own writing-case with me. My freezing manner seemed to disappoint her, so she said—

"I wished to ask a favour of you, but I see I disturb you."

I was still silent.

"Have you a strap amongst your luggage which I can use as a riding-whip? You know I have lost mine."

"I can lend you my ruler. Will that do?"

She grew very red, and after a pause she said—

"I see you are in no humour to render me a service."

"I am always ready to serve a lady who exercises the privileges of her sex. Why did you not send for me, if you wished to ask me anything?"

"Ah!" she exclaimed, in an injured tone, "my want of etiquette causes your ill-humour. I have come into your room. Well, pass it over—you know I am so little of 'a lady.'"

"That's only too true, Major."

"Major!" she repeated angrily, opening her large eyes in astonishment. "I thought you disliked my nickname."

"Not since I have seen the soldier in action. But I should like to know to which class of majors you belong, tambour-major or sergeant-major? For I believe the command of a regiment is usually given to a man of refinement—to a person, in fact, who can make himself respected by his gentleman-like behaviour and dignity; but after the scene I witnessed this morning——"

"Leopold!" she cried, deadly pale, her lips quivering, "this is a personal insult. Do you mean it as such?"

I was surprised at the change, for I had expected her to wreak her anger on me now. But she sat quite still, as if nailed to her chair; so I continued—

"My remarks only apply to the disagreeable character it pleases you to assume."

Still no answer. And I began to be embarrassed in my turn, which embarrassment was only increased by her breaking out in a plaintive tone—

"Leopold, you strike deeper than you suppose."

"Francis," I cried, changing my tone, "believe me, it is not my intention to wound you; I wish to cure you."

I was going to take her hand, when she sprang up as if she had received an electric shock, and said in her bitterest tone—

"I will not be cured by you; I am what I am, and don't you waste your precious time on such a disagreeable creature as you think me to be."

"Oh, Francis! I am not deceived in you, and I will try to cure you in spite of yourself. When you made such a terrible scene in my presence this morning, I understood you. It meant this: He is staying here to study the character of Major Frank; well now, he shall see it in all its rudeness and insufferableness, and we shall see how long he will stay in spite of me. Miss Mordaunt, I have seen through your intentions, and I am not to be frightened away by the rude mask you have put on."

"A mask! I am no masker!" she cried, stamping her foot with rage. "You, Jonker van Zonshoven, come from the Hague, a town full of maskers, to tell me this, me whose chief defect or merit—which you like—is to have broken with all social hypocrisies, me whose chief pride is to speak my mind plainly without regard of persons. I did not think it necessary to measure my words in your presence; it appeared to me you had made yourself one of the family, and I thought it best you should know the relationship in which we stand to each other."

"Just so," I replied, smiling. "You acknowledge that in raising your voice several notes too high when you gave those two humiliated men a piece of your mind, your real object was to drive a third person out of the house. Be sincere, Francis, confess the truth."

I tried in vain to look her in the face whilst I spoke. She had turned her head away, and was kicking the leg of the table.

"I observe, and not for the first time, that you can be disagreeable when you like," she remarked, after a long pause.

"I confess it; but an evasion is not an answer, Francis."

"Well then, yes, it is true; I wished you to leave for your own sake. But never believe, Leopold, whatever stories you hear about me, that I am deceitful, that I would play a part. I was myself when I made the scene—violent, angry, and burning with indignation. I have my whims and fancies, that I know; but I never feign—that would ill become me; for, I may say, I have too much good in me to act falsely. Yet there are so many contradictory feelings in me that I sometimes stand surprised at myself. And let me tell you, Leo, I came here to seek consolation from you, but your tone and your words have bitterly disappointed me, so much so that for a moment I have asked myself whether you were one of those snobs in patent-leather boots, who, while expressing horror at an ungloved hand, are yet not afraid of soiling its whiteness by boxing your wife's ears. Because I did not observe the form of sending a servant to ask you to come to my room, you receive me as you did, and repulse me with mocking words!"

It was now my turn to feel piqued, and I should have answered sharply had I not succeeded in controlling myself.

"Pardon me, Francis, I should consider myself the greatest of cowards to strike a woman; but it was no question of a woman just now. We were speaking of Major Frank—Major Frank who is angry when reminded of the privileges of the fair sex, because he will not be classed amongst 'the ladies,' and who, in my opinion, ought not to be surprised when, after his own fashion, one tells him the truth roundly, and without mincing matters."

Francis listened this time without interrupting me. She was staring at the panes of the window, as if to put herself in countenance again; her paleness disappeared, and, turning round, she said, without anger, but with firmness—

"I confess, Leopold, it is not easy to contradict you; and now I think we are quits. Are we again good friends?"

"There's nothing I desire more ardently; but, once for all, with whom? with Major Frank or——"

"Well, then, Francis Mordaunt asks for your friendship."

She offered me both her hands, and her eyes filled with tears she could no longer keep back. How gladly I would have kissed them away, and pressed her to my heart and told her all! But I could not compromise my commencing victory.

"Should I have spoken to you in this way, Francis, if I had not been your sincere friend?"

"I see it now, and I have need of a sincere friend. Well then, the Captain is ruining himself for our sakes; and grandfather, in a most cowardly fashion, lends himself to such doings. Is it not horrible?"

"It is very wrong, I admit."

"Now, suppose the General were to die—I should be left shut up in this place for life with the Captain. When he has rendered himself poor for our sakes, I cannot send him away. Now do you understand I had reasons for being angry this morning?"

"That you had reasons, I don't dispute; but the form——"

"Come, come, always the form!"

"I don't say the form is the main thing, but a woman who gives way to such fits of violence puts herself in the wrong, even though she have right on her side. Just think for a moment what a scene if the Captain had retaliated in the same coarse language of the barracks, which he has probably not forgotten."

"I should like to see him try it on with me!"

"However, he had a perfect right to do so. I agree you are right in principle; but let me beseech you to change your manner of proceeding. The gentleness of a woman is always more persuasive than the transports of passion. You have told me your early education was neglected; but you have read Schiller?"

"Die Raeuber," she replied, tauntingly.

"But not his 'Macht des Weibes,' nor this line—

'Was die Stille nicht wirkt, wirket die Rauschende nie!'"

She shook her head in the negative.

"This part of your education has been much neglected."

"I will not deny it."

"But it is not yet too late. Will you listen to my advice?"

"Not now; I have already stayed too long here, and—and—you stay at the Castle——"

"As long as you will keep me, Francis."

"Well, stay as long as you can—that is, if you can fall in with our ways. I am going out for a ride; I need fresh air and movement."

"Apropos the service you came to ask of me—the strap?"

"Oh, I shall pluck a switch. The Captain came to offer me a whip, and——"

"And you would rather accept it at my hands," I said, laughing.

"No; but I should like to borrow ten guilders of you for a couple of days."

I handed over my purse, and told her to take out of it as much as she required. What a strange creature! What a comic conclusion to our battle!

I also felt as if a little fresh air would do me good, and so I walked off to the village post-office with my letter to Overberg.



CHAPTER XXI.

Downstairs I met the General ready for a walk, and he offered to accompany me. He had also a letter for the post, which was a secret to be kept from Francis; and he expected to find a packet awaiting him, which could not be entrusted to a servant. The packet was there amongst the letters marked poste restante; but when he had opened it with precipitation, a cloud of disappointment covered his face, and he heaved a heavy sigh.

"Don't say anything to Francis about the packet," he said to me, as we walked back from the post. "Such business I must manage unknown to her; she does not understand these things, and she would not agree with me; and with her temper—at my age I have great need of quiet—that you comprehend. The Captain is entirely indebted to me for his rank, and it is but natural he should pay me some little attention. Yet you heard how my granddaughter took the matter up this morning. Instead of being content with me for retiring to this wilderness of a place, which I did to please her, she does nothing to render my life supportable."

"And yet the Werve is beautifully situated, uncle."

"I agree with you there; but when one must give up all field sports, this becomes a very isolated place. The village offers not the slightest resource, and the town is too far away."

"Why don't you sell the Castle, uncle?"

"Ah, my dear boy, for that I must have money, much money; and that I have been in want of all my life. There are so many mortgages on the Castle that nobody would give the sum necessary to pay them. Besides, the person who bought it would like to possess the neighbouring estates. My sister-in-law, who possessed the Runenberg estates bordering on my property, wished to buy it, but I refused her; family hatred would not suffer me to make room for her. Thank heaven, she's gone. She instituted proceedings against me about a strip of land of no real value to either of us; and the lawsuit cost me thousands of guilders. She won, as a matter of course, and then laid claim to a small bridge which connected the land in question with my grounds. Again I lost my money and my case; and now I must make a long round to reach places quite near, because the use of the bridge is forbidden me. Oh, that woman has been the curse of my life!"