St. Arnaud then turned his attention to the sulky Bettina. “What a great stroke it would be if you capture those two fellows escaped from Glatz! You would get two hundred florins.” No reply from Bettina, except a furious clattering of dishes. “You could get married with that portion,” continued St. Arnaud.
“Not unless I meet some men who are a vast improvement on those who come here,” retaliated Bettina, flouncing out angrily.
Presently the woman of the house entered and, after refusing to take any money for their entertainment, said: “You will find outside a cart and horse. They belong to me, so you may do as you like with them.” She showed them a way out without passing through the front part of the house, and there, in the moonlight, was a rough country cart, and Bettina sitting in it to drive them. But what a change was in her! Eager, smiling, and obliging, she could do nothing at first but apologize for her rudeness. “I did not know you were Madame Ziska’s friends,” she protested a dozen times.
They mounted into the cart, and with thanks that came from the bottom of their hearts parted with their friend. They travelled on through the night, Bettina driving rapidly and skilfully. The moon sank, and then came the ghastly hour between night and day, and presently a sunrise more glorious than they had ever seen, for they were at liberty and in safety.
Bettina was to leave them at a small village across the frontier, where they hoped to get horses, but were far from certain. Hearing them discuss this, Bettina said: “If you like, you can buy this horse and cart. My aunt has been trying to sell them both for forty florins this month past; she wants to buy better ones.”
“Here are fifty florins,” joyfully cried St. Arnaud. “But how will you get back home?”
“I can walk,” nonchalantly replied Bettina, “and if I get tired on the way, I will wait for the carrier’s cart, which goes to my village to-day.”
She got down in the road, St. Arnaud handed her the money, and she made him promise to feed the horse well; and then St. Arnaud, proceeding, by way of reward, to give her a kiss, Bettina raised her strong arm and fetched him a thundering box on the ear; and Gavin, who was standing by quite innocent, inadvertently happening to laugh, Bettina gave him two corresponding slaps that nearly knocked him down, crying:
“Is that the way you behave? I’ll teach you better manners, both of you!” and she strode down the road indignantly, scorning to look back.
“I thought,” said Gavin, rubbing his tingling cheeks, “that women were always kind to the unfortunate.”