Franka, whose courage was gradually coming back, continued:—
“The administration of my property I am putting into the hands of Dr. Fixstern, who has always enjoyed my grandfather’s perfect confidence, and who made only one condition, that I should select a second assistant to share with him the labor and responsibility of this function.”
“What does all this mean? Have you lost your wits? I do not understand you ... you propose to go to Vienna ... well, as far as I am concerned, I can go there perfectly well. The winter here is very gloomy. But, of course, this year I cannot take you out into society, for we are both in mourning. We should naturally take the servants with us—the cook and the coachman; then only the castellan and a couple of housemaids would stay here ... but leave all that to me.”
“Excuse me, aunt. You did not understand me. I have invited you to consider the Sielenburg as your home.”
“You—... me? ... invited?”
“Yes, for I intend to keep house in Vienna myself and be my own mistress.”
“You are going to live alone ... you? A young thing like you ... it is scandalous!”
“I am of age and perfectly independent, and I know how to manage my own life in such a way that no one will ever dare to apply the word ‘scandalous’ to me.”
“What audacious language!”
“I will speak with perfect frankness. I propose to take charge of my own destiny. You lately explained to me that I was to accept from your hands a husband, a couple of lady friends, and also a little pocket-money ... but I intend to choose my own husband or not marry at all; and as to my friends I shall be able to find them among those who have been brought up as I was and who think as I think. If we two should remain together, dear aunt, there would be an endless unprofitable battle. You would always be striving to remodel me, to educate me, to lay down all kinds of restrictions, and to enforce all sorts of commands; and I, on my side, should try to resist this whole guardianship, to escape from it,—and you would be vexed with me all the time,—in short, it would be for both of us a life of bitterness. The separation cannot be painful to either of us, for I was not brought up here—I belong to another world of ideas, I have quite another view of life. We have lived together for only six months, and in that time neither of us has taken to the other; very often you have been annoyed with me, and likewise my whole nature has revolted against the attempted domineering. In spite of our relationship, we are still strangers. As for the respect due to the sister of my generous beloved grandfather, I shall certainly never fail in that....”