"Forgive me," he said. "My roughness is only the grumble of the preceptor; it is over. Now we shall be young again and chat. Shall I fetch the draught-board? Shall we play for love or for nothing?"
This tone warmed Eveline's heart. She laughed, and slapped Arpad's hand, which he did not like.
"What are you going to do now you have got rid of Kaulmann?" he said. "Will you marry again? Is another man ready for the yoke? Men are as plentiful as blackberries. Or are you going to preserve the autonomy of the actress?"
Eveline cast down her eyes and grew suddenly grave.
"I have no one," she said, sorrowfully.
"Ah, that does not mean that there are not plenty you can have if you like."
"It means the same thing. I shall belong to no one. I shall never take a husband who is above me in station. Do you see, the girl who went barefoot in the coal-mine must stay in her own class. If I could give any one a place in my heart, it would be to one who was as free and independent as I am. He should owe nothing to great people; he should depend absolutely on his own genius; live absolutely by his own work. He should be esteemed not for his money nor his rank, but for his talent; he should glory in being an artist."
This was a frank confession for any one who understood. Arpad understood; he became more discontented.
"H'm! Then I am afraid you are walking in a path that leads you away from such a man as you describe."
"What do you mean?"