“I can never be sure what whim he will take into his head next. But you are sure that he is gone?”
“Certainly, before I was awake; but he left his pocket-book on the table. I will take it to him to-morrow.”
“Don’t do anything of the sort, I am sure he will come back; this thought has pursued me like my shadow all this day. But tell me what you thought of my dinner.”
“You were a charming hostess, Francis. How I should like to see you mistress of a well-furnished house of your own!”
“And one in which it would not be necessary to take the silver out of pawn when I expected visitors,” she replied bitterly.
“My dear cousin, I know this must have been a bitter trouble to you,” I answered compassionately.
“This I feel the most humiliating of all; but I did it to please my old grandfather, upon whom I can be severe enough at times about his weaknesses. Rolf, who in spite of his faults is the best-natured fellow in the world, went to the town of——, and we polished it up ourselves. We would not let Fritz into the secret.”
“And to me, Francis, to whom you owe nothing, you have given much pleasure, by surprising me with this little Russian leather case——”
“Don’t mention such a trifle. I only wished to mark the day on which you became my friend.”
“Yes, indeed, your friend for life,” I answered, gently drawing her arm within mine. This word had given me courage, it rendered me bold. “I thank you for that word, Francis; but it is not yet enough. Let me be to you more than a friend; permit me——”