Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 16, 2025
I did not care about her; I wanted to see him and hear again from his own lips what he thought of the universe, of my part and his in it, and of the ways of the Power that ruled it. In a month I should be on my honeymoon with Cousin Elsa. I fought desperately against the finality implied in that. On the second evening I gave Vohrenlorf the slip, and went out on the Boulevards alone.
I was quite alone at Artenberg, save for my faithful Vohrenlorf, and Vohrenlorf was bored to death. That will not appear strange; to me it seemed enviable. A prisoner under sentence probably discerns much that is attractive even in the restricted life of his jailer. In a day or two there came upon me a persistent restlessness, and with it constant thoughts of Wetter.
It seemed to me a strange one. The Duke was guarded in his hints, and profuse of declarations that it was too soon to think of anything. Good Cousin Elizabeth strove to conceal her eagerness and repress the haste born of it by similar but more clumsy speeches. I spoke openly on the subject to Vohrenlorf.
As may be anticipated from what I have said, he regarded no man as utterly lost unless he were completely under the influence of a woman. Yet it was by Hammerfeldt's will that Geoffrey Owen became my daily companion and familiar friend. Vohrenlorf visited me once or twice a week, and exercised a perfunctory superintendence. I had, of course, many masters who came and went at appointed hours.
He seemed to talk now for duty, not for pleasure, as a man who covers an awkward moment rather than employs to the full a happy opportunity. Then his glance rested for an instant on my face. I do not know what or how much my face told him, but I did not look at him unkindly. "I must go, if I may," he said addressing me. "I promised to ride with Vohrenlorf, and the time is past."
Had I been called upon to condense those vague meditations and emotions into a sentence, I would have borrowed what Vohrenlorf had said to me when we were with the Bartensteins. He did not often hit the nail exactly on the head, but just now I could give no better summary of all I felt than his soberly optimistic reminder: "Ah, well, even if it should be so, you have six years!"
"I forget, sire, neither your presence nor your due," said Wetter. With that he took a pocket-book from his pocket and flung it on the table before me. "There is my debt," he said. I sat back in my chair and did not move. "You choose a strange time for business," I observed. "Vohrenlorf, see what is in this pocket-book." It was the amount Wetter owed me with accrued interest. I was amazed.
Involuntarily I drew myself up to my full height and assumed the best air of dignity that was at my command. So posed, I crossed the station to my carriage between Hammerfeldt and Vohrenlorf. "Your time has not been wasted," old Hammerfeldt whispered to me. "You are ready now to take up what I am more than ready to lay down."
The seconds looked round. Wetter sprang to his feet. "Open it, Vohrenlorf. We're doing nothing secret," I said, with a smile. Varvilliers nodded approvingly. "But our visitor mustn't stay long," he observed. "It's one of my privileges to send people away," said I reassuringly. The door opened, and in walked William Adolphus! He was in riding boots and carried a whip.
Owen did not accompany me; he was, I understood, to confer with Hammerfeldt. My jovial governor Vohrenlorf had charge of me. A merry day we had, and good sport; it was late when we came home, and my anxious mother awaited me in the hall with dry slippers. She had a meal spread for me, and herself came to share it. Never had I seen her so tender or so gentle.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking