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Kilian, sitting next me, began to talk to me at that moment, the moment that Mr. Langenau entered the room. And I think I answered quite coherently: though two sets of words were going through my brain, the answer to his commonplace question, and the words that Mr. Langenau had said that night, "Pauline, I shall never look into your eyes again, I shall never touch your hand."
I asked no more, and could have died with that sound in my ears. "Why, Pauline! child! what is it?" cried Mrs. Hollenbeck, as the music ceased and Mr. Langenau. again came back to the circle round the table. Every one looked: I was choking with sobs. "Oh, don't, I don't want you to speak to me," I cried, putting away her hand and darting from the room.
"Yes, it is suffocating," said Richard, getting up. As he went out of the dining-room, some one, I think Henrietta, said, "Well, I hope Mr. Langenau will get in safely; he was out on the river when we were on the hill." The storm was so sudden and so furious that everybody was concerned at hearing this; even Kilian made some exclamation of alarm.
Richard is annoyed at at your intimacy with Mr. Langenau. You know just as well as I do how he feels, for no doubt he's spoken to you himself." "He never has," I said, quite shortly. "No?" and she looked rather chagrined. "Well but at all events you know how he feels. Girls ar'nt slow generally to find out about those things. And he is really very unhappy about it, very.
"You are a reproach to the household, and we will not suffer it," said Charlotte Benson. "I never could understand this thing of getting up before you are obliged to," added Henrietta plaintively. But Sophie seemed well satisfied, particularly when Mr. Langenau came in and I looked down into my cup of tea, instead of saying good-morning to him.
He was closeted with Sophie until after midnight, but I do not think he told her anything that she desired to know. If Mr. Langenau had been well, I have no doubt that it was his design to have dismissed him on the following day, no matter at what hazard. How much he knew I cannot tell, but enough to have warranted him in doing that, perhaps. He probably would have put it in Mr.
She was sent up to tell him so, and in a few moments he came down. When he reached the hall, Sophie looked up with her most lovely smile. "You must be famished, Mr. Langenau; pray go immediately to the dining-room. I am sorry not to make your tea myself, but I hear Benny waking and must go to him. Will you mind taking my place, Pauline, and pouring out tea for Mr. Langenau?"
She was unspeakably bored, and never even learned the alphabet. She was very much unused to mental application, undoubtedly, and was annoyed at appearing dull. There was but one door open to her; to vote German a bore, and give up the class. She made her exit by that door on the occasion of the second lesson, and Mr. Langenau and I were left to pursue our studies undisturbed.
Langenau was at home for dinner, but he did not see me at that meal, for my head ached so, and I felt so weary that when I came up-stairs after church, it seemed impossible to go down again. I should have been very glad to make the same excuse serve for the remainder of the day, but really the rest and a cup of tea had so restored me, that no excuse remained at six o'clock.
"If it is not troubling you too much," he said in a voice that a moment's time had hardened into sharpness. Oh, the misery of that cup of tea, with Richard looking at me on one side flushed and angry, and Mr. Langenau on the other, pale and cynical. My hands shook so that I could not lift the teakettle, and Richard angrily leaned down and moved it for me.
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