“It can’t be very pleasant to stay with aunt,” replied the youth.
“She is old and sick, and her life has been a joyless one.”
“Yet she was beautiful. Few traces of it are visible, but her eyes are still like those in the portrait, and besides she is so rich.”
“That doesn’t give happiness.”
“But why has she remained unmarried?” The baron shrugged his shoulders, and replied: “It certainly didn’t suit the men.”
“Then why didn’t she go into a convent?”
“Who knows? Women’s hearts are harder to understand than your Greek books. You’ll learn that later. What were you saying to your aunt as I came up?”
“Why, just see,” replied the boy, putting the bridle in his mouth, and drawing the glove from his left hand, “she slipped this ring on my finger.”
“A splendid emerald! She doesn’t usually like to part with such things.”
“She first offered me another, saying she would give it to me to make amends for the thumps I received yesterday as a faithful follower of the king. Isn’t it comical?”