“Don’t you ever want to watch the scenery?” said Von Marlo in his slow Dutch fashion.
“Yes, when it is worth looking at,” she responded. She glanced at him. “You are a foreigner?”
“Yes, a Dutchman.”
“I don’t approve of Dutchmen.”
She lapsed back into her German. Von Marlo thought it well to change his seat. He came nearer to me.
Oh, I forgot to say that Hannah was also of the party. Now, she had not wished to come; she had objected very strongly; but my step-mother, there was no doubt, was beginning to win Hannah over. Hannah came to my room that very morning when I was dressing to go, and said, “Miss Dumps, I do hope you won’t take it amiss, but—”
“Why, what is it, Hannah?” I asked.
“Well, I’m going too.”
“I’m very glad,” I said.
“’Tain’t that I like her a bit better than I did,” said Hannah—“not a bit. She’s a step-mother, and what’s a step-mother but a sort of person who is in league against the children of the first wife? I’ve sworn to be a friend to the first wife’s children. Didn’t the poor lady come to visit me in a dream the very night I heard of your pa’s marriage, and didn’t I promise that I’d never leave you? And didn’t she come again last night in another dream and tell me to go down to Hedgerow House—not for my own enjoyment, but to be close to you, Miss Dumps, and the two dear boys? So I’m going. Those new servants can look after this place. ’Tain’t what it was.”