Did she speak in soliloquy, or were her words addressed to the young lady who, seated at some distance at a table in the centre of the spacious balcony, was busy correcting a sketch by Clara, Hugo's young sister, who stood by intensely interested in the operation? It was impossible to say, for, as she spoke, Bertha's glance was directed to the distant horizon, and she fanned herself uninterruptedly. Nevertheless she expected an answer, and, receiving none, the movement of her fan grew more energetic, and there was a degree of ill humour in the voice with which she said, sharply, "Elise!"
There was such atone of command in the word that she who was thus addressed, and who was bending over the drawing on the table, looked up from it startled. Her charming face flushed slightly as she left her place and approached Bertha in obedience to her call.
"I really think you might reply to me when I speak to you," the latter said, as if aggrieved.
"I beg pardon! I really did not know that your remark was addressed to me."
"To whom else could I be speaking? You cannot think me so silly as to sit here talking to myself. Do try to pay a little attention to me."
Every word was uttered with an evident intention to be disagreeable, but no retort was provoked from the person addressed. In fact, she had no time to reply before her young pupil eagerly took up her defence. Clara threw down her pencil and turned sharply to her sister-in-law: "What is it, Bertha? What has Elise done to provoke you? How should she know that your criticism of West Prussia was addressed to her? It might as well have been uttered for my benefit, and you may be sure I should have taken up the cudgels if I had not been so busy over this miserable drawing."
The child was most attractive in her eager defence of her teacher, but Bertha's ill humour made her blind to any charm in her little sister, to whom she administered a sharp rebuke for want of respect to her brother's wife, adding, "I cannot see. Elise, that your teaching is likely to produce any very fine results here. Clara grows too pert and insubordinate. I really must ask Hugo to have her sent to some one of our many admirable boarding-schools, where she may have the advantage of stricter discipline than any that can be exerted over her at home."
"No need to try that," Clara retorted; "Hugo never will consent. Papa has taken care of that, I know."
"Clara, Clara!" her governess interposed.
"Let me speak, Elise," Clara went on, putting aside the warning hand extended to her; "I must for this once. I cannot see why Bertha should treat you as she has so often done since you came to us, a month ago. I cannot help speaking of it. I love you dearly, and I will not have any one unkind to you if I can help it."