As the party drew nearer, Hamilton observed that Mr. Rosenberg was indeed extremely youthful looking, and must have been eminently handsome. That he was a kind father was evident at a glance, for the children clung to his knees so that he could scarcely walk, and Crescenz had taken complete possession of one of his arms. Just as he reached the place where Hamilton stood, and after being introduced to him as “our English friend,” his eyes turned towards the spot where Hildegarde was so uneasily perambulating. Releasing himself at once from his companions, he advanced hastily a few steps, calling out, “Why, how’s this, Hildegarde? Why don’t you come to meet me?” With a cry of joy she rushed into his arms, and whispered in a voice almost suffocated with emotion, “I dared not—I dared not.”
“You feel that you deserve to be scolded? Is it not so? Naughty girl!”
“But you have forgiven me—I know you have.”
Another embrace, and a look of evident forgiveness, not unmixed with pride and admiration, was the answer.
Madame Rosenberg bit her lip, and observed, angrily—
“You really encourage Hildegarde to give way to her violence of temper, instead of pointing out to her the impropriety of her conduct, as I expected.”
“What is past, is past,” he answered; “and Major Stultz is satisfied.”
“Satisfied! I am the happiest man in the world!” exclaimed Major Stultz.
Crescenz smiled and blushed.
“Well, then, we are all happy. You take Crescenz, who is, if anything, too good and gentle, and I must for the present retain this passionate, good-for-nothing girl!”