Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Possibly, too, he may have sometimes speculated upon her probable condition before she had married her first husband, for he himself had found her a widow of apparently little more than five and twenty years of age. But if any suggestion at all derogatory to Greifenstein had presented itself to his mind, his pride would assuredly have lost no time in smothering the thought.
'Oh! Is it not too delightful to see my dear, dear cousins! screamed Frau von Greifenstein, throwing herself into the arms of the pale and quiet baroness. 'And dear Hilda, too! Ach, ist es nicht herzig! Is it not too sweet! She was wonderfully arrayed in an exceedingly youthful costume, short enough to display her thin, elderly ankles, and adorned with many flying ribbands and furbelows.
What was this thing? Was it a fact, a shadow, an idea, a breath, a god or a devil? What was it, for which such deeds had been done, for which old Greifenstein and Rieseneck had slain his mother and laid down their lives in such stern haste? A man might well ask what he was to die for, thought Rex.
He kissed her thin hand, and turned away to bid farewell to Hilda. A moment later the light carriage was whirling out through the castle gate. The two ladies watched until it was out of sight. 'God bless you, said the mother solemnly, as though she were speaking to Greif. 'God bless you and bring you back to be a son to me no more Greifenstein, but Sigmundskron, you, and yours for ever, and ever!
'Then this is the danger you foretold, he said. 'Yes. 'What will happen at Greifenstein to-night? 'How can I tell! exclaimed Rex. 'There may be an angry meeting. There may be worse. Or your father's heart may be softened 'You do not know him. Then my uncle has written to you? 'I received the letter to-day, before coming here.
'You never saw my wife? he asked rather suddenly. 'No. 'She died, continued the other. 'It was very long ago more than thirty years. 'Indeed, said Greifenstein, as though he cared very little to hear more. Again there was silence in the room, broken only by the crackling of the fir logs in the fire and by the ticking of the clock in its tall carved case in the corner.
Her eyes were open, but they were glassy with terror, though she was quite conscious. 'Clara are you better? asked Greifenstein anxiously. She gasped for breath and seemed unable to speak. Greifenstein looked at his brother. 'I cannot imagine how she knew your name, he said. 'Did you know her before?
Rieseneck was in South America, but Greifenstein had no reason for supposing that the person whose possible return so greatly disturbed Clara had betaken himself to so distant a country. He might be in Italy, in France, in England, anywhere within eight and forty hours' journey. He might therefore arrive at any moment after the proclamation.
Twice in the year, also, Hilda and her mother were invited to stay a fortnight at Greifenstein, but no one would have supposed from their behaviour that the luxury of the latter place surprised them, or seemed in any way preferable to what they enjoyed at home. Hilda's education had not been neglected.
Perhaps the lawful heir of Greifenstein was a poor officer of foot in a third-rate garrison town, eking out his pay with the remains of a meagre inheritance, desperately poor, and as desperately honourable. Possibly there was a connexion with some great and powerful family, into his full hands everything would go, if the truth were known.
Word Of The Day