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Her own exertions prevented her dear Albina Hunter from returning; for Mrs. Beaumont never sent the promised carriage only a note of apology a nail had run into one of the coach-horse's feet. To accident she owed that the Walsinghams were not at home when her son galloped over to see them the next morning, and to inquire what news from Captain Walsingham.
He caught her head in his hands almost savagely and pressed a wild, passionate kiss on her lips. Albina's defiant resolution broke down; she returned his kiss with equal passion. Heimert, standing in the dark kitchen, screened by the door, saw it all. He had been to fetch a bottle of beer, now he suddenly re-entered the room. "There's no beer, Albina," he said; "you must have been mistaken."
Then, approaching the window, near which Thais stood peaceful and happy, he fell on his knees and praised the Lord three times. "How beautiful are the feet of her who walketh in the paths of righteousness! How beautiful are her feet, and how resplendent her face!" He rose, lowered his hood over his eyes, and walked away slowly. Albina called one of her virgins.
Then he lay down quietly in bed, taking pains not to make the bedstead creak. His precautions were superfluous; Albina slept soundly. An earthquake would hardly have awakened her. The deputy sergeant-major lay and listened. He could only hear the beating of his own heart, and through the wall the muffled sound of the child's crying. "Widow and orphan," he thought.
If you can persuade my father to allow me to make myself as happy with Lady Albina Stanhope as you will render Sobieski, I shall forever bless you!" Lady Albina colored and looked down. Sir Robert took her hand with pleased surprise, "Do you, my lovely guest do yon sanction what this bold boy has just said?"
On the third night after his arrival, while strolling along the beach, his attention was attracted by an English frigate, and in answer to his inquiries he was told that her name was the "Albina," and that she was commanded by Commodore O'Haleran.
As for Lord Harwold, she says his behavior since he arrived at manhood has been of a nature so cruel and unnatural, that she would not draw on herself the misery, nor on him the added guilt, of a refusal; but with regard to Lady Albina, who has been no sharer in those barbarities, she trusts a daughter's heart might be prevailed on to seek a last embrace from a dying parent.
One moonlight evening, as he was walking on the sands, he was surprised by seeing an English man-of-war at anchor. In answer to his enquiries, she proved to be the Albina, Commodore O'Haloran.
Uninvited, he constantly dropped in now on the Heimerts "to smoke a cigar with the deputy sergeant-major," as he said. Almost shamelessly he pursued his object, grossly flattering Albina, and making risky jokes with her. Heimert sat by nearly choking with rage. He hardly knew why he did not seize the seducer by the throat. But the culprits would have a complete defence ready.
Once, when Albina chanced to meet him in the corridor, she said: "When I first met you, Herr Heppner you remember that day at Grundmann's you were perfectly different ever so much smarter and livelier! Really, I almost think you must be ageing, Herr Heppner!" And she burst into a shrill, affected laugh, which rang rather unpleasantly in his ears.
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