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It was wonderful to see the moonlight fading into dawn, over the canal, and the gentle, indistinct landscape, and I wished that Mr. van Buren could have been with us, as I am sure it was the kind of thing which would have appealed to his heart especially if Freule Menela were not with him, to hold him down to earth.
Before my eyes stretched a horrible vista of years, lived through with Freule Menela mean little, vain, disloyal Freule Menela by my side, contentedly spending my money and bearing my name, while I faded like a lovely lily on the altar of self-sacrifice.
It was ten o'clock, and, as usual, we were timed to start at ten; but I did not consider it my place to ask the reason why, or any other question about starting. Mine, but to do or die and keep out of reach of Freule Menela. It was through Nell that the mystery was solved, as we stood chatting on deck. "Where's Phil?" she inquired of the twins.
"That is often so," I hurried to assure her, with the idea of establishing the commonplaceness of such an experience. "You feel it, too?" Her eyes were fixed on me, and I answered "Yes," before I had time to decide whether, at this point, it would not be safer not to feel it. "I've often been told that American men are very impulsive. But are there many like you?" asked Freule Menela.
Now I know, by the mysterious way you're looking at me, that you have done something. I believe you made him I mean Mr. van Buren come to see us again sooner than he intended to." "Perhaps. And perhaps I made him bring Freule Menela with him." "Did you? I wish but no. I mustn't think of that." "Wait a few hours and then think what you like," said I. Yet I spoke gloomily.
"I have often thought," went on Freule Menela, "of telling Robert van Buren that he and I are not suited to each other. My ideal man is very different. And besides, as I said, nothing could induce me to settle down in Rotterdam." "You might make that the determining point," I suggested, "if you were looking for an excuse to save his feelings." "Do you really think so?" she asked. "I certainly do.
Naturally, I remembered instantly about the bet, which somehow concerned his being introduced to Nell within a certain length of time so Freule Menela said and I couldn't help thinking it was impertinent, winning it in such a way on Nell's own boat.
There was Brederode, studying a map of the waterways; there was the L.C.P. teaching Tibe a trick which for days he had been mildly declining to learn; there were Phyllis and the Viking wrapt in each other in the seclusion of a corner. But where was Freule Menela? I asked the question aloud, and self-consciously. "She's gone," announced the lady who is not my aunt. "Gone?" I echoed.
"You and he had better take advantage of the lull to be married," I said aloud. "The lull?" "In Freule Menela. She'll be hailing and thundering and lightning soon." "Oh, do you think she'll try to get Robert back again?" gasped Phyllis. "Unless another and riper fruit drops into her mouth." "As if it would! You frighten me.
There was a sense of protection in sitting next to him, he is so big and dependable. I felt he would not let anything hurt me; and once in a while he looked at me with a very nice look. I suppose he has even nicer ones for Freule Menela, though, when they are alone together. It is a pity her manner is so much against her.
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