“Ah!” she responded mysteriously. For the rest of that day she sat contracted and fearful.
3
“You shall write and enquire of your good parents what they would have you do. You shall tell them that the German pupils return all to their homes; that the English pupils go for a happy holiday to the sea.”
“Oh yes,” said Miriam conversationally, with trembling breath.
“It is of course evident that since you will have no duties to perform, I cannot support the expense of your travelling and your maintenance.”
“Oh no, of course not,” said Miriam, her hands pressed against her knee.
She sat shivering in the warm dim saal shaded by the close sun-blinds. It looked as she had seen it with her father for the first time and Fräulein sitting near seemed to be once more in the heavy panniered blue velvet dress.
She waited stiff and ugly till Fräulein, secure and summer-clad, spoke softly again.
“You think, my child, you shall like the profession of a teacher?”
“Oh yes,” said Miriam, from the midst of a tingling flush.