That she knew not. This thought was only a germ: but she felt that something would come to fruition. A voice seemed to say to her: “Franka, something great, something marvelous has happened to you”; and in the depths of her soul came her answer: “I will be worthy of this marvelous thing.”
“Be worthy?” Where had she seen or heard that word lately? Oh, yes, now she remembered: she took from her writing-table Helmer’s letter—there it was. “Show yourself—let us all show ourselves—worthy of having been born under the glory of the twentieth century....”
Some one knocked at the door. Franka put the letter back into the drawer and went to open the door.
The Countess Adele entered. “So you wanted to rest after your being so startled? Yes, it is startling, to be sure.... Who could ever have imagined!—I must have a little talk with you about it.... We must have a clear understanding as to what is to be done now.”
She sat down, and Franka, resigning herself, took a seat. What would Aunt Adele have to say now? Probably a whole series of suggestions and counsels.... But in her heart the purpose stirred: “I will do what I please.”
“Well, aunt,” she said aloud, “let us talk. It is truly an unexpected, overpowering stroke of Fate. I am still perfectly dazed by it.”
“I can believe you. Now everything is changed. Nothing more needs to be said about the plan of your going to Teschen which we discussed this morning. Albertine, of course, would be only too glad to have you come to her—she told us so before—but there would be no sense in it;—you will remain with me at the Sielenburg—until you are married.”
“And whom am I going to marry?”
“That will take care of itself. You will not lack suitors, now that you are a brilliant match. You would bring your husband several landed estates, a palace, and a considerable sum of money. Your choice must fall on a solid, sensible man who understands the careful management of property. I could suggest one to you, but it is premature to talk about it as yet. But in the mean time we shall keep up the establishment, have some great hunting-parties, and the right person will come at the right moment. Of course, for the present we shall live secluded—you see we shall be in mourning for a year, and it would not do at all to go into society during these twelve months. But you can utilize the time by trying to cultivate good manners. You are so lacking in what is required for the rank which you will take in our circle.... I will invite two young nieces to come here as companions for you, and you can improve your ways by observing how they behave, and then you can obtain from them good sound ideas—the dear girls have been educated in the Sacré Cœur Convent and are very religious and ‘comme il faut’ in their opinions. Yet at the same time they are merry as becomes their age and yours.... And if you wish to keep these rooms as yours, it will be all right. Or, if you like, I can have prepared for you the apartments that belonged to your mother and which have been unoccupied since her flight. You need have no care concerning the housekeeping—in the first place, you do not understand anything about it, and, besides, I have been in charge of it for years. And naturally you know nothing about managing the estate.... But we have an excellent intendant and Cousin Coriolan will gladly have an eye to the direction of affairs and take charge of the accounts. I will talk with Dr. Fixstern about the management of your property—of course, you know nothing about that either, and so you need not have any bother about all that. For your own little expenditures—toilet, charities, and so forth—I will allow you suitable pocket-money. Are you listening to me? You look so distraite.”
“I? Oh, yes, I have heard you.”