“And what did you study? I mean especially?”
“Law,” answered Baron Z—, and while he spoke the carriage rolled into the paved court of Hohenfels.
CHAPTER XLII.
A DISCOURSE.
There had been a thunder-storm during the night, and the rain descended the next morning in torrents. “I fear, Hamilton, our party must be put off for a short time!” observed Baron Z—, as he walked from one window to the other, in a disconsolate manner, after breakfast. “How I detest a hopeless day of this kind!”
“I remember,” said A. Z., “that when I was an accomplished young lady, I rather liked a day of rain when I had a drawing to finish, or a new song to study—I do not dislike it to-day either, but for a very different reason. Had it been fine, I must have gone to the alp, to do the honours of my dairy to Mr. Hamilton, and now, without any incivility on my part, I can stay at home and quietly inspect the making of a hundred-weight of soap, which cannot be any longer delayed, and I expect,” she added, turning to Hamilton, “or rather I hope, on your way from the brewery, where of course you will go to smoke with Herrmann, you will visit me—in the wash-house.”
“And can you really make soap?” asked Hamilton, rather surprised.
“I really can, and really do, as you shall see—but, perhaps, you don’t care about soap-boiling?”
“I—rather hoped—that, perhaps, to-day you would have had time to talk to me about——”
“Oh! I always find time to talk,” said A. Z., “my soap will be ready before dinner; it was begun yesterday evening, and has been boiling all the morning, so you see after our coffee we shall have the whole afternoon, and no chance of visitors!”