“And you would rather accept it at my hands,” I said, laughing.
“No; but I should like to borrow ten guilders of you for a couple of days.”
I handed over my purse, and told her to take out of it as much as she required. What a strange creature! What a comic conclusion to our battle!
I also felt as if a little fresh air would do me good, and so I walked off to the village post-office with my letter to Overberg.
Chapter XXI.
Downstairs I met the General ready for a walk, and he offered to accompany me. He had also a letter for the post, which was a secret to be kept from Francis; and he expected to find a packet awaiting him, which could not be entrusted to a servant. The packet was there amongst the letters marked poste restante; but when he had opened it with precipitation, a cloud of disappointment covered his face, and he heaved a heavy sigh.
“Don’t say anything to Francis about the packet,” he said to me, as we walked back from the post. “Such business I must manage unknown to her; she does not understand these things, and she would not agree with me; and with her temper—at my age I have great need of quiet—that you comprehend. The Captain is entirely indebted to me for his rank, and it is but natural he should pay me some little attention. Yet you heard how my granddaughter took the matter up this morning. Instead of being content with me for retiring to this wilderness of a place, which I did to please her, she does nothing to render my life supportable.”
“And yet the Werve is beautifully situated, uncle.”
“I agree with you there; but when one must give up all field sports, this becomes a very isolated place. The village offers not the slightest resource, and the town is too far away.”