AFRAID
“Ursula, you look ghastly,” said Tante Louisa at breakfast next morning, “and the whole house is full of your gaddings about.”
“Ursula,” said the Dowager, spilling her egg, “have I told you that Gerard is coming back?”
“Yes, she knows,” interposed the Freule, hastily. “I can assure you, Ursula, that the servants disapprove.”
“The servants!” echoed Ursula, with such immeasurable scorn of the speaker that the latter could not but feel somewhat ashamed.
“No one can afford to brave his servants’ opinion,” the Freule rejoined, with asperity. “No, not the bravest. Even Cæsar said he was glad to feel sure that all the servants thought well of Copernica. You will find out your mistake too late, if once the servants are against you.”
“Everybody is against me,” replied Ursula, bitterly.
“Now, Ursula, how unjust that is! I am sure, not to speak of myself, your dear mother here has always shown you the greatest consideration.”
“Oh, certainly, and my father, too!” exclaimed Ursula. “I was not thinking of them. And the villagers. And the people at the Hemel. They all love me, too.”
“It is for the Helmonts’ sake, then,” mumbled the Dowager. “They all love the Helmonts.”