“I believe he is right,” said Madame Rosenberg, “you are too young——”
“I wonder it never occurred to you that your step-daughters were still younger!” cried Madame Berger, glancing towards Hildegarde, who was sitting at the window looking into the street.
“The case is quite different,” said Madame Rosenberg; “we are a large family, and where the father and mother are in a house——”
“Pshaw!” cried Madame Berger, impatiently; “Cressy liked him, for all that, better than she will ever like her husband, I suspect!”
“Who told you that?” cried Madame Rosenberg, with a look of amazement.
“My own eyes,” replied Madame Berger, with a slight laugh; “and not Hildegarde,” she added, in answer to a look of suspicion which Madame Rosenberg had cast on her step-daughter. “Believe me, neither the presence of father nor mother can prevent these things.”
“Crescenz is most happily married,” began Madame Rosenberg.
“So am I—but I preferred Theodor Biedermann to the Doctor, as you well know. You need not look so astonished at hearing me speak the truth, Hildegarde. I vow one would almost imagine you heard this for the first time! As if Cressy had not betrayed me long ago, not to mention Mademoiselle Hortense, who of course used me as a scarecrow for the whole school! Excepting, perhaps, the dear, good old Doctor,” she continued, “there is not one of my acquaintances who does not know that I nearly cried my eyes out about Theodor.”
“And is it possible you have not told Dr. Berger?” cried Hildegarde, turning quickly round. “Did you not feel bound in honour——”
“No, mademoiselle,” replied Madame Berger, sharply; “I did not feel myself bound in honour deliberately to destroy my domestic peace—I leave it to you to make such a confession when you are going to be married, if you think it necessary!”