We directed our steps towards the back of the Castle, passing by the
aviary, which had fallen into decay like its surroundings. The Captain
had, however, turned it into a poultry-walk, and held undisputed
sway over the turkeys with which he had stocked it. The General,
who had come out against his will, leaned on the arm of Francis,
and I walked by her side. Ascending a small rise in the grounds we
came to a summer-house, whence we could obtain a splendid view of
the surrounding country--a sweep of undulating heath as far as the
eye could reach. Francis said this was her favourite place in the
grounds, and that she never grew tired of the charming prospect;
but I could see that her grandfather's thoughts were occupied about
something quite different from the picturesque view. All the farms in
the neighbourhood, and all the woods around, formerly appertained to
the lordship of the Werve; and all these ought to have descended intact
to his granddaughter, to whom he would not leave a foot of earth.
"By the way, nephew, what has become of the six other Miss d'Hermaeles,
your mother's sisters?" asked the General, breaking the silence
briskly.
Francis burst out laughing.
"Grandfather beginning to take an interest in the fate of six young
ladies all at once! That's too much! But he wishes to know, Leo,
whether you have a chance of inheriting anything from a rich aunt,"
she said, displaying a quickness of perception peculiar to her. "Isn't
it so, grandfather?"
I hastened to answer--
"Three of them died long ago; two others made good marriages, but
they have children of their own; and one, Aunt Sophia, is maintained
by the rest of the family, I contributing in proportion to my means."
"Aunt Sophia," repeated the General; "had the d'Hermaeles the foresight
to make Sophia Roselaer godmother to one of their children?"
"It is possible," I answered, "but I don't know for certain; my mother
seldom talked to me about her relations."
"At any rate it appears to me she has been made heir to the property
of that mischief-loving woman, Miss Roselaer," continued the General;
"and probably you, Leopold, were not informed of the death, nor invited
to the funeral any more than ourselves? As far as I am concerned I
expected such treatment; yet I cannot understand that she should allow
her hatred to deprive the only granddaughter of her eldest sister of
the property."
I now felt myself on dangerous ground; but Francis came to my rescue
by saying, in a tone of pleasantry--
"Neither did I ever expect anything from her; and yet, who knows,
if I had liked--I have only seen her once in my life; and though as a
rule people are not prepossessed in my favour at a first interview"
(hereupon she gave me a malicious look), "she seems to have had no
reason to complain of me;--in fact, if I had only cultivated the
acquaintance, probably at this moment my name would be in her will
for a good round sum."
"What! you have seen the old gossip?" interrupted General von Zwenken,
"and you have never told me of it. When and where have you met her?"
"At the beginning of this year, when I went to Utrecht on certain
business about which it is not necessary to trouble cousin Leopold."
"She never likes to hear her good deeds spoken of," the General
murmured to me.
"Oh, it was only a simple duty I had to fulfil; I had to consult
the celebrated Dr. D. about an unfortunate woman who had lost her
reason. At his door I had an altercation with his man-servant, who
wished to put me off till next day under the pretext that the hour for
consultation was passed, and that his master was taking his luncheon
with visitors. However, I insisted upon his taking in my card, and
finally I obtained admission to the dining-room. Dr. D. politely
invited me to take luncheon with them, and introduced me to two
elderly ladies, one his sister, and the other his sister's friend. As
I was very hungry, I accepted without ceremony. I was soon sensible
that his sister's friend was observing my every motion with sharp,
penetrating eyes. Her conversation was amusing. She was lively,
and criticised persons and events cleverly, though with unsparing
severity. This was just to my taste, and excited me to the contest,
till, from repartee to repartee, we got almost to a dispute. It was
my great-aunt Sophia in person, as I afterwards learnt; and just fancy
her mixing up her own name in a malicious manner in the conversation,
and then asking me if I knew her, and what my opinion of her was! I
simply answered: 'I had heard her spoken of; that there had been
quarrels between her and my relations, but that I did not think it
fair, on my part, to attack her behind her back in the presence of
strangers.' She answered that she approved of my conduct. The doctor,
who had for some time been appearing ill at ease, now invited me to
go to his surgery. After the consultation I met the old lady in the
passage; she invited me to accompany her as far as the house of a
friend, where her carriage would await her. I consented, but now I
was on my guard, as I knew who she was; and when she invited me to
spend a day with her I declined----"
"It was imprudent and impolite," interrupted the General.
"It was acting in conformity with the spirit of all your dealings
with her, grandfather. I said I could not spend a single hour longer
in Utrecht than business demanded. Before she could say more, a band
of students, of that class better known outside the lecture-room than
inside, began to form a circle round us, and treat us to a piece of
by no means flattering criticism as to the style of our dress. It is
true I was negligently dressed, far behind the fashions; and aunt's
bonnet and shawl gave her much of the appearance of a caricature. I
felt my blood boil, and yet I retained sufficient calmness to tell
these seedling lawyers, authors, and clergymen they ought to be
ashamed of themselves, as their conduct was worse even than that of
street Arabs. My words took effect; one or two dropped off in silence,
others stepped aside, and one of them even attempted to stammer out an
apology. We were near the house of lawyer Van Beek, where Miss Roselaer
was going; and as we took leave of each other she warmly pressed my
hand, thanking me for my protection and presence of mind, but added
that 'such conduct was scarcely ladylike in the public streets.'
"It might have been more becoming to swoon, but such farces are not
in keeping with the character of Major Frank.
"If I had known the story would amuse you so much, grandfather, I
would have told it you three months ago; but I was afraid it would
be disagreeable to you to hear I had seen Aunt Sophia."
"And you have never since heard a word of Miss Roselaer?" demanded
Von Zwenken, fretfully.
"No; but I have reason to suppose she wished to oblige me. I had
to make arrangements at Utrecht for the proper nursing of my poor
patient. The most important point was the money, and at the time
I had very little; but the same evening I received a letter from
Dr. D., informing me a rich friend, who desired to remain unknown,
had promised to pay all the expenses. So here you have my reasons for
surprise that Aunt Sophia should have included me in hatred of the
family; for the rich unknown friend could be no other than herself."
The General muttered between his teeth--
"Oh, from that woman you might expect anything!"
To me this account was as a ray of light. Aunt had changed her will,
after this incident, in favour of Francis, and not, it was clear,
for purposes of revenge. Now I felt more bound than ever to win the
love of Francis, and to marry her; and I confess my inclinations were
tending in that direction. Her straightforward, upright character,
her original and piquant style of beauty, were already beginning to
act like a charm upon me; still it would be well not to precipitate
matters, and I controlled a desire which came over me to demand her
hand on the spot. There were also mysterious events in her past life
which required clearing up. Besides, I had to consider how it would
be possible to change her aversion from marriage, the male sex, and
social life in general. And I was convinced if she once pronounced
the fatal word "No," my suit was hopeless.