"Pah!" and she struck at him with both hands, but the next moment she threw her arms round his neck and wept on his shoulder. Perhaps her cheek touched the very place which Konrad last night might have wetted with his tears!
He began to reason with her again. He made suggestions for her future. He would help her to begin a new life, and provide tier with the means to cultivate her brilliant histrionic talents; she should come out on the stage or the concert platform. But she shook her head.
"Too late, uncle.... Waste land--didn't you say so yourself?--ground where no confidence can take root. I might aspire to be a music-hall star, but honestly I don't think it would pay."
"Cursed hounds!" he growled.
"Who are cursed hounds?"
"You know well enough, my child."
She reflected a moment as to whom he could mean. Then she said:
"There was only one ... no, two, and then afterwards one more ... and then two more who didn't count."
"Well, that seems to me to be plenty, dear."
He patted her cheeks and smiled kindly, and somehow she did not find his fingers repulsive any more.