Ernestine seemed surprised at the question.--"I did not ask him."
The ladies looked significantly at each other.
"Have you not seen him to-day?"
"Yes," she answered briefly.
"Do you not love your father very dearly?" the Landräthin asked further.
Ernestine paused, and then said quietly and firmly, "No!"
Her interrogator dropped the child's hand as if stung by an insect. "An affectionate daughter!" she sneered, while the rest shook their heads. "Whom do you love, then?--your uncle?"
"I love no one at home; but I like my uncle better than my father--he never strikes me!" Ernestine answered.
"Like likes like, as it seems," one of the ladies observed; the rest nodded assent, and all turned away from Ernestine.
"She is an unfortunate child," said the Staatsräthin; and arose to lead her to the children. "Angelika, here is Ernestine von Hartwich," she cried to her own little daughter, who was about nine years old; "take good care of her,--remember you are hostess!"