The old countess came to Franka’s aid: “Franka only urged that both ought to be better, and that surely could not do any harm to mankind. But there is one thing that I should like to blame you for, Franka. If you really want to improve people, why do you not draw their attention to the injunctions of our holy Faith? And if you call attention to the virtues of women, why do you forget the most womanly and most important—piety? As far as I can remember, you did not say one single word about religion.”
“I spoke of goodness, of mercy, and of mildness—is not that religion?”
“But, my dear friends,” cried Malhof at this juncture, “Miss Garlett is certainly not an officer in the Salvation Army. Moreover, as far as concerns these religious dogmas....”
Countess Adele evidently wanted to turn the conversation from this theme, for Malhof’s skepticism was well known to her: “Franka, tell me where are you going, when this week is ended? Don’t you want to come to the Sielenburg for a while?”
“What am I going to do? I have not the slightest idea; I have an invitation to London, but I am hesitating. If I go back to Austria, then I will make you a visit at the Sielenburg. But now, I will say good-evening. We shall meet again to-morrow.”
She had gone only a few steps when Prince Victor Adolph joined her.
“At last I can tell you, my dear young lady, how fascinating—but, no, I will not pay you compliments; but I should like to have a little serious discussion with you on what I heard you say this evening. You were fascinating, that is a fact, but that is not the point. What I want to talk about is the meaning and the scope of what you put before us. Your idea certainly was not to please, but to attain something definite, wasn’t it? This is what I should like to ask you about—your purpose. It is not altogether clear to me.”
“So you expect me to give you a private lesson on the Woman Question? Very good, you may ask what you desire to know, and I will answer.”
“Here is no place for a serious, undisturbed conversation, among all these people fluttering about. Might I do myself the honor of calling on you some afternoon?”
“Certainly, Your Highness.”