Frau Goldmark was a slight, pretty, little woman, with round, important, excited-looking eyes, and a general aspect which did not altogether charm Miss Ford, who formed indeed, in appearance, and manner, and everything else, a startling contrast to her visitor. Sara had heard vague rumours which gave Frau Goldmark the name of a gossip, and she had never felt any violent desire to make her acquaintance; but her recent heavy loss, her widowhood, and the inevitable hard struggle which lay before her, all combined to make Sara lay aside all considerations save those of kindness. She offered Frau Goldmark a seat, and waited to hear on what errand she had come.
‘I have come to ask a favour, mein Fräulein, an immense one; ein unerhörtes,’ she began.
‘Indeed! I wonder how I can serve you?’ asked Sara, in her most gracious manner.
Frau Goldmark looked at her keenly, despite her excitement, and found time for the reflection, ‘She certainly is as beautiful as all these men say, and if I can only get her to do it—I will ask for both the scenes while I am about it.’
‘You are aware, dear Miss Ford, of the most lamented death of my dear good husband,’ said Frau Goldmark, with brimming eyes and a trembling lip.
‘Yes, indeed! I was most truly grieved to hear of it. We must all lament it—you that you have lost a good husband, and we artists that a brother of such promise is lost to us.’
‘You speak most beautifully, Fräulein. It has been a sore blow to us. I and my babes are left almost penniless. I shall have to work now to find bread for them, and thanks to the goodness of my friends, I believe it will be made easy for me.’
‘What can she want?’ Sara was beginning to think, when Frau Goldmark again took up her parable with great animation, saying:
‘The artists, my husband’s friends, have not forsaken me in my distress. Herr Professor Wilhelmi has behaved to me like a father.’
‘He is goodness and generosity itself, I know,’ replied Sara, her full contralto tones in strong contrast with the high-pitched notes of Frau Goldmark’s voice. She had that great defect, common to so very many of her countrywomen, a high, harsh, shrill voice.