She began to divide out the various sorts and put them in vases and bowls, and with the remainder to decorate the hearth. Dernburg helped her, but he was not a very efficient helper, for he could not take his eyes off the slender form, flitting to and fro, in dainty garb, with that lovely rose in her dark hair.
At the first glance, he had perceived that those were his roses that she wore, and a happy smile played about his lips. He wondered if her brother had already given her a hint? She was so free from embarrassment, laughed so heartily at his absence of mind, and treated him with the same pretty insolence as usual--she could not possibly know that he meant to address her!
In Cecilia's manner, there was most assuredly nothing of the sweet shyness and embarrassment of a young girl who, for the first time, listens to the addresses of a lover. In fact, it hardly seemed that she comprehended the seriousness of the situation. She would soon be twenty years old, at which age girls in her circle often married or, rather, were given in marriage, for their families usually decided the matter for them. Individually, moreover, she had no objection to marrying. It would be very pleasant to enjoy the freedom allowed a married woman, to be wholly untrammeled as to expenditure in dress, jewels, etc., and to be no longer obliged to submit to the will of a brother, who was at times very despotic, only--how much handsomer and more agreeable was Viscount de Marville than this Dernburg, who had not even rank to recommend him. It was really outrageous, that a Baroness Wildenrod would, in future, have to bear the name of a simple citizen!
She had just taken up the last bouquet, preparatory to decorating the hearth with it, when she heard her name breathed softly but fervently.
"Cecilia!"
She turned around and met the gaze of Eric, who stood beside her, and continued in the same tone:
"You have only eyes and thoughts for the flowers--have you not a single glance for me?"
"Why, do you stand so much in need of that glance?" asked Cecilia archly.
"Oh! how very much I need it! It is to give me courage for a confession--will you hear it?"
She smiled and laid down the bunch of flowers that she held in her hand.