United States or French Polynesia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It is also possible that Berbel her name was Barbara encouraged the idea, thinking it better that her beloved mistresses should be thought avaricious than poor.
At first, I thought I ought to put it away and wait a year or two, until he had quite forgotten the first shock but then 'Thank heaven you did not! exclaimed Hilda. 'Well, I am glad I have pleased you, observed Berbel in her sharp, good-natured way. 'Pleased? Oh, anything would have pleased me better than this thing! It is dreadful, after all this time has passed
'There is a spot on the collar here. Wastei moved closer to her and presented himself sideways to Berbel pointing out the place with his finger. 'The Jew said it was from a rusty nail, or that it might be an ink-spot but he is only a Jew. That is not rust, nor ink, Frau Berbel. That is the old wolf's last blood on the right side, just under the ear.
'It is true that the baron always expected to find a letter from his father, said Berbel. 'It looks probable, this story of yours. 'Do you want the paper? 'Yes. I will keep it in a safe place. In ten years, when there is no more sorrow about the old people, the baron may like to know that his father thought of him.
'They might have searched for ever, but for the merest accident, answered Berbel, beginning to undo her bundle. 'This, she added, unfolding the velvet garment 'this is the coat Herr von Greifenstein wore when he shot himself. Hilda gazed silently at the thing during several seconds, and shuddered at the thoughts it recalled, though she was by no means persuaded that Berbel was not mistaken.
'Except that there was a hole in the pocket, he added carelessly. 'You see it was not quite new, or I could not have got it for twenty marks. 'So there was a hole in the pocket, said Berbel. 'Do you want me to mend it for you? 'No. I think I will leave it, for luck. Besides it is convenient, if I should want to let anything slip through, between the velvet and the lining.
The baroness had grown to think that, after all, women, when thrown entirely upon their own resources, can manage better than men. She was sure that no three men could have lived so decently and fairly well upon as little as sufficed for herself, Hilda and Berbel.
Then, too, though he was so exceedingly clever, she could not grow accustomed to his eyes, and their expressionless stare haunted her when she was alone. Berbel did not believe that a man who looked almost blind and nevertheless saw so much better than other people could be really good and honest, since his appearance itself was a deception.
Berbel went upstairs with her bundle under her arm. Though Hilda had not risen quite so early as her old servant, she was by this time dressed and ready for the morning walk Greif liked so much in the summer time. Berbel met them both in one of the passages, walking quickly, arm in arm, talking and laughing happily as they went.
There would be no reason for prolonging her stay, even had she wished to do so, and indeed her wishes would lead her homewards as soon as her duties were all fulfilled. She had never before been separated even for a day from her child, and though she was strong and sensible in mind and knew that Hilda was safe with old Berbel, she was conscious that it was painful to be away from her.
Word Of The Day