_An Unexpected Situation_
"BUT I don't wish to leave the hospital, I am comfortable here and Mrs.
Clark says they are pleased to have me. Besides I could not possibly be
moved just now, I am sure I could not endure it."
The young girl who was talking lay surrounded by pillows in a wide,
old-fashioned bed in the American Red Cross hospital in Luxemburg.
Partly from excitement and also because it was characteristic, a
brilliant color flamed the girl's cheeks. At present there was a little
frown between her dark, finely lined brows.
"You must be glad not to have me at home for a time, knowing how we
disagree on every important question. And, as for my absence from the
palace, I am sure it can only be a relief. You know just how popular I
am there at present in the midst of--"
The woman who was standing beside the bed, leaning over at this instant
placed her fingers on the girl's lips.
"Don't talk nonsense and under no circumstances speak of so serious a
matter where we may be overheard by strangers, my dear child. Please
realize that the Americans are unknown people to us and if there are
reasons why it is best we should be cordial, there is an even more
important reason why, at present, we should keep our own council. A
girl's opinions on matters of state are really not vital, unless the
girl chances to be the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide. As her cousin you
perhaps take yourself too seriously. But I am not offering you advice,
merely telling you that your father desires that you be moved to your
own home as soon as your physicians think it advisable. The court
physician will call on you at the hospital this afternoon. Both your
father and I are at a loss to understand how you managed to fall from
your horse when ordinarily you are so skilful a rider."
The speaker was a severe, elderly person, rather massive, and dressed in
a heavy black silk gown, with her white hair piled high under an
imposing bonnet and her thin lips drawn into an annoyed line.
Nevertheless, she managed to keep the tones of her voice fairly even.
"Naturally enough I realize, Charlotta, that you would refuse to be
influenced by me, although for that matter you have never been
influenced by any one from the time you were a child."
The girl bit her lips.
"I am afraid I am not well enough to argue at present and my unfortunate
disposition, Tante, is rather a time-worn subject between us. I shall do
no harm here, only rest and have a little peace from our everlasting
discussions. Besides, you do not seem to consider the fact that I happen
to be rather seriously hurt. No one knows how seriously at present, a
broken arm and a cut on one's head are not comfortable afflictions, even
if they are not dangerous. But the physicians at the American Red Cross
hospital who were good enough to rescue and bring me here seem to
believe there may be other complications and that I had best stay where
I am for the present. Please be as gracious as possible, I have asked
Mrs. Clark to come in this afternoon and be introduced to you. Her
husband is a prominent American surgeon who has gone on with General
Pershing toward Germany. She is here with a few other Red Cross nurses
caring for a number of American soldiers until they are well enough to
be moved. I think we owe her special courtesy as a guest in our
country."
"I am apt to forget the fact Charlotta, or what is required of me, even
though I do regard it as unfortunate that the American army should have
left us a special reminder of their visit, once having passed through
our country."
There was an iciness in the manner of the Countess Scherin which gave
one the right to believe that she had no enthusiasm for the American
army, whatever personal reasons of state might compel her to courtesy.
Before replying the young Countess Charlotta Scherin dropped back on her
pillows.
"If you don't mind, Tante, would you mind ringing the bell? I am sure
you would prefer seeing Mrs. Clark in the drawing-room and I am
suffering a good deal just at this moment and would like to be quiet.
After all you know this house is mine and this bed on which I am at
present lying was once my own mother's. If for reasons of state I was
allowed to offer my house to the American Red Cross during their stay in
Luxemburg, it seems to me like fate that I should be brought here after
my accident. But please don't mention to Mrs. Clark that this is my
house. It was offered to the American Red Cross in the name of the
city."
A moment later Bianca Zoli appeared to escort their distinguished
visitor downstairs.
About to leave the room she beheld an imploring glance in the dark eyes
of the girl on the bed and going closer heard her whisper:
"Do please come back as soon as you can, I don't really need anything
except that I am lonely."
Returning fifteen minutes later, it was then after five o'clock and dusk
was gathering in the fine, old-fashioned chamber, so Bianca Zoli quietly
sat down without speaking in the chair which had just been vacated by
the elderly countess.
The girl upon the bed appeared to be asleep at the moment, but as Bianca
had no other duty to occupy her it struck her that it might be
entertaining to sit in the big, strange room watching her companion and
thinking of her story, or at least of its brief outline which was all
she knew at present.
Having witnessed the girl's accident and finding her unconscious and
therefore unable to explain her name or identity, it had appeared to
both the young American physicians and nurses that the best solution
would be to bring her as swiftly as possible to their own hospital.
After she had received the necessary attention there would be time and
opportunity to discover her family and friends.
A few hours afterwards, when the girl herself returned to consciousness,
she explained that she was the young Countess Charlotta Scherin and
lived with her father and aunt on their estate at a short distance from
the city. The greater part of her time, however, she spent at the Grand
Palace with her cousins, the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide and her five
younger sisters.
She seemed to be in a great deal of pain and yet not particularly
unhappy over her accident, only asking that her father be informed that
she was in safe hands. And if it were possible and not too much trouble
could she remain at the American Red Cross hospital until her recovery?
Yet Bianca had only considered her companion for a few moments when she
became aware that the other girl had opened her eyes and was looking
with the deepest interest at her.
"I am so glad to have the chance to know American girls," she began. "It
may strike you as odd but I have wanted to know them all my life and now
through my accident I am to have the opportunity. But you look very
young and fragile to have undertaken Red Cross work during the war. I
believe it is the courage, the way in which you go ahead and do what you
wish and face the consequences afterwards, that I so much admire."
Bianca shook her head.
"It is odd your saying this to me of all persons, because I used to feel
a good deal as you do. You see I am not altogether an American girl; my
mother was an Italian and my father an American, but I have been living
in the United States and I confess I have tried to make myself as like
one as possible. But do you think you ought to talk? I'll talk to you if
you like, although I am not very interesting; I'm afraid you must be
suffering a great deal."
Bianca made this final remark because her companion was evidently
struggling to keep back the tears which had suddenly filled her eyes.
"Yes, do please talk to me, I am suffering, but I think it is more
because I am worried and unhappy than because I am in such pain that I
lose my self-control. I have always prided myself on being able to
endure physical pain. What are you thinking about?"
Bianca's large dark eyes which were her only southern inheritance had
unexpectedly assumed a questioning expression, although her lips had
framed no question.
"Why, I was merely thinking of how odd life is and how few persons, even
young girls are particularly happy. A moment ago I was sitting here
envying you because your life seemed so wonderful to me. You have been
brought up amid wealth and have a title of your own and live a part of
the time in a palace with real duchesses. I suppose my speech does not
sound very democratic, yet I think you might find a good many American
girls who would envy you for these same reasons."
"Then they would be extremely stupid," the other girl answered, "because
freedom is sometimes the most important thing in the world to an
individual as it may be to a state.
"Suppose, oh, leaving me out of the question altogether, but just
suppose that any girl's mother had died when the girl was a baby only
one year old. Then suppose the child had been brought up by her father
and aunt both of whom were twice the age of the girl's own mother. Then
remember her mother was French and the girl always loved only the things
which concerned her mother, had learned to speak her language and had
written letters to all her family, but had never been allowed to visit
them because the girl's father and aunt believed only in German ideals
and in German customs and wished to separate her wholly from her
mother's country and people. Moreover, they had neither of them ever
been able to forgive her because she had not been a boy and so been
trained for the army, the German army if possible. Then suppose the girl
had loved only the outdoors and horses and dogs as if she had been a
boy, but because she was a girl had to be trained in all the German
ways. As for living in a palace, it is hard sometimes to do and say the
proper thing all the time, when you feel they don't believe in the
things you believe. Oh, I am not saying the fault is not mine--"
The girl stopped an instant.
"But I was not supposed to be talking about myself, still you must have
guessed."
"I should not have guessed unless you wished me to guess," Bianca
replied in the prim little fashion of her childhood which she had never
lost from her manner and which amused and pleased her friends.
"No, you would not have guessed, you are a dear," the Countess Charlotta
answered with an impulsiveness which was an entire contrast to Bianca's
nature.
"But what I wanted to explain to you is that you were envying what you
thought were my circumstances. You were not really thinking of me at
all. You see one might be a princess and be very unhappy and one might
be a very humble person and just the opposite. Then I think we ought to
realize that a princess may be very horrid and a beggar maid most
wonderful."
The young countess hesitated.
"I thought that what I have just said is what Americans believed. Don't
they think that human beings are equal and that it all depends on what
they do with their own lives, what they are able to make of
themselves?"
Bianca shook her head.
"I don't know, you had better talk to some one else on this question
instead of to me. I am not at all clever, even my best friends, Sonya
Clark and Carlo Navara, do not think I am clever. But there is one thing
I understand at present. You have told me a great many interesting facts
about yourself, but there is something else on your mind which you have
not confided to me. It is something which makes you wish you were an
American girl because you believe in that case you could do what you
like. I think you wish to confide in some one, but can't quite decide.
If I were in your place I would try not to worry until you are better,
then if you want some one to talk to, don't choose me. I should never be
able to give you any worthwhile advice. But talk to Mrs. Clark, Sonya
Clark. She has had a very unusual life and is one of the most wonderful
friends in the world!"
The older girl was by this time lying back on her pillows and gazing at
Bianca with an odd smile.
"You know," she said finally, "I would not be surprised if your friends
are mistaken in thinking you are not clever. Perhaps I shall take your
advice. I suppose I had best try now to go to sleep, I am afraid I have
already talked too much."