Franka shrugged her shoulders with annoyance:—“You must not be proud of that.”
Frau Eleonore went on with the letter:—
You ought to hear Cousin Coriolan’s opinion of Helmer—for he has a correct judgment and is a gentleman through and through. He was not at all enthusiastic over our stay at Lucerne; he declares he will never again be induced to take such an exotic journey. Really, I had a pretty good time; it was such a complete change; but I shall doubly enjoy the quiet here. What pleased me most in Lucerne was the conquest you made. Be very wise....
“Is there any more of that?” interrupted Franka.
“Four pages more.”
“Then we will leave it until by and by: Now I am going to write to the prince.... Eleonore, on the whole, I prefer to tell you now: I am betrothed.”
“Oh, you are?” exclaimed Frau Eleonore, her face radiant with joy. “And why did you delay telling me till now? What good fortune! Only it is a shame that he had to go away.”
“My dear friend! You are under a wrong impression. Victor Adolph is not my betrothed....”
“Not the prince!” Her eyes grew gloomy, “Who then?”
“It is not very hard to guess.”