They were standing together in front of his writing-table. A majolica vase stood on it filled with spring flowers.
"What an exquisite scent of violets!" she whispered, drawing in a long breath, and freeing herself from his arms.
A card lay among the flowers. Both hands were extended for it at once.
Heartiest congratulations on your marriage, from
C. Wolff, Agent.
"How did you happen to know him? Why should he send that?" asked her eyes.
But he threw the card carelessly on the table and kissed her on the forehead.
CHAPTER X.
Spring is delicious when one is happy. The trees in the Niendorf garden put out their leaves one by one, a green veil hung over the budding forests, and violets were blooming everywhere; Gertrude's whole domain was filled with the scent of the blue children of spring. The voice of the young wife sounded through the old house like the note of a lark, and when Frank returned all sunburned from the fields, a white handkerchief waved from the shining windows upstairs, and when he reached the court it was fluttering in her hand on the topmost step.
"You have come at last, dearest," she would cry then.