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Updated: July 7, 2025
She dreamed of a young lady who had murdered her rival, and was led to the place of execution. Already she knelt on the scaffold, the headsman with his naked sword stood behind her, the judge read the sentence and said, "With God there is pardon." The drum beat, then Athalie awoke. It was the auctioneer's drum.
Knowing well enough that no one would search her, she had put on a dozen dresses one over the other, and hidden a few napkins and silver spoons in her pockets. She could hardly move. Timéa was in her simple black every-day dress, and was preparing warm milk and coffee. At the sight of Athalie, Frau Sophie broke into loud sobs, and hung on her neck. "Oh, my dear, darling, pretty daughter!
At that time the streets of Komorn were decidedly dark at night. One lamp at the Trinity pillar, one at the town-hall, and a third at the main guard no others anywhere. Athalie takes the road to the Promenade, the so-called Anglia. It is a region of evil reputation.
"The baron accepted Athalie would not have allowed him to decline had he wished to so we all three went there and have been residing there ever since. On the night after our arrival an alarming, a horrifying thing occurred.
Timar whispered to Timéa in Greek, on which she hastened to Frau Sophie and kissed her hand, while the girl herself received a kiss on her cheek. Again Timar whispered to her. The girl went with shy obedience to Athalie, and looked steadily in her face. Shall she kiss her, or fall on the neck of her new sister? Athalie seemed to raise her head higher still.
And every bell and every tongue proclaimed that a man was gone whose like would never be seen again: a benefactor of the people, a pillar of the nation, a faithful husband, and the founder of many a generous endowment. The "Man of Gold" was carried to his grave. Women, men, and children followed him through the whole town to the distant cemetery. Athalie too was in the procession.
Before they left Monte Carlo for Paris everybody could see that he had only to ask her hand, to have it bestowed upon him. For although the baron never has cared for the man, Athalie rules him, and her every caprice is humoured. "But for all he was so ardent a lover, Monsieur Merode was slow in coming to the important point. Perhaps his plans were not matured.
There, they thought she was of course with the bridal pair, and enjoying the bliss of being a silent witness of their happiness or perhaps no one thought of her at all. And yet it might have been well if some one had interrupted themselves to ask, "Where is Athalie?" She sat alone in the room where she had seen Timéa for the first time.
The color which makes rich and poor alike. Athalie and Timéa were dressed alike in black. And if the mourning had consisted only in the wearing of its outward garb! But with the sudden death of Herr Athanas, all the birds of ill omen had collected, as the ravens come and sit in long lines on the roof before a great storm. The first croak was, that the bridegroom sent back his engagement-ring.
"I like a Muse who understands housekeeping, and who can make game pies as well as blots. And, oh! what beautiful flowers!" she went on, opening the second hamper. "Why, you could get none finer in Paris! And here, and here! A hare, partridges, half a roebuck! We will ask your friends and have a famous dinner, for Athalie has a special talent for dressing venison."
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