_A Growing Friendship_
A FEW weeks passed and it was March in Coblenz. The days continued cold
and oftentimes dreary, but the American Army of Occupation was growing
more accustomed and more reconciled to their new way of life.
Then there were occasional spring days when the winds blew from the
south bringing with them scents and fragrances of gentler lands.
At the American Red Cross hospital high up on the hill overlooking the
Rhine the conditions were reflected from the army. The Red Cross staff
also became more contented and more amenable to discipline than in the
early weeks succeeding the close of the war.
There were a good many patients constantly being cared for at the
hospital, but they were simply suffering from ordinary illnesses. Only
now and then a wounded American prisoner, only partially recovered,
would come wandering in from some German hospital in the interior,
preferring to be looked after by his own people until he was well enough
to be sent back home.
Therefore, although there was sufficient work for the entire corps of
physicians, nurses and helpers, there was no undue strain.
However, one member of Dr. Clark's former staff was freed from all Red
Cross responsibility. Even before her arrival in Coblenz, Bianca Zoli
had showed the effects of the nervous strain of the last months of her
war work. Moreover, Sonya had always considered that Bianca was too
young and too frail for what she had undertaken and had wished to leave
the young girl at school in New York until her own and her husband's
return from Europe. But as Bianca had been so determined and as Sonya
had dreaded leaving her alone in the United States, she had finally
reluctantly consented.
And Bianca had done her full duty. Never once in the terrible months
before the close of the war had she flinched or asked to be spared in
any possible way. Nor was it by Bianca's own request that she was idle
at the present time. It was Sonya who first had noticed the young girl's
listlessness, her occasional hours of exhaustion and sometimes of
depression. And it was Sonya who had called her husband's attention to
Bianca's condition, although afterwards it was Dr. Clark who had ordered
that Bianca have a complete rest.
During the first weeks in Coblenz, Bianca had been bored and sometimes a
little rebellious over this new state of her existence. She had no
friends of her own age in Coblenz, the Red Cross nurses at the hospital
were too much engaged with their work and in their leisure with other
interests in which Bianca had no share, to give her a great deal either
of their time or thought. Sonya naturally wished to be with her husband
whenever it was possible, although she never for a moment neglected, or
failed to look after Bianca's health and happiness in every fashion she
could arrange. But what Bianca really needed was entertainment and
friendships near her own age and these under the present circumstances
of their life, Sonya was not able to provide.
So far as Bianca was concerned, Carlo Navara had really ceased to count
in any measure of importance. He so seldom made the effort to see Bianca
and appeared wholly absorbed by his soldier life and such entertainment
as he found outside. From his superior officer he had secured permission
to take singing lessons from an old music master in Coblenz, and was
finding an immense satisfaction and help in this.
But with the coming of the young Countess Charlotta to Coblenz, life
assumed a new and far more agreeable aspect for Bianca.
Charlotta had spoken with the wisdom of a knowledge of human nature in
announcing that neither her father nor aunt would desire her return to
Luxemburg once they learned of her act of rebellion.
Immediately after her unexpected arrival, Sonya Clark had written to the
Count Scherin advising him of Charlotta's action, saying that she was
entirely well and carefully chaperoned by Miss Pringle. But Sonya also
inquired what the Count Scherin's wishes might be concerning his
daughter.
In reply she had received a tart letter from the Count stating that in
future Charlotta might do what she liked, as it was apparent that she
had no idea of doing anything else. In a comparatively short time she
would reach the age of twenty-one and would then inherit an estate from
her mother, but until then Count Scherin would arrange that Charlotta
should receive a modest sum of money each month sufficient for her own
expenses and that of her governess. It was true that the elderly man
also added that he would be grateful to Mrs. Clark if she consent to
become his daughter's friend, although from his own experience he could
promise but little appreciation from Charlotta in return.
Upon receipt of this letter Sonya had showed it to the young girl and
Charlotta had made no comment. A day or so later, she suggested that
she and Miss Pringle remain for a time in Coblenz boarding as near as
possible to the American Red Cross if this were in accord with Mrs.
Clark's judgment. And since Sonya had no better suggestion to offer at
the time, after a few days' stay at the Red Cross hospital, the young
Luxemburg Countess and her former governess found a home with a quiet
German family, who, impoverished by the war, were glad to receive them.
The house was not half a mile from the hospital, and so far as Bianca
was concerned, Sonya was glad the young countess had chosen to stay for
a time in their neighborhood under a kind of imposed chaperonage on her
part. She had not desired to have Charlotta added to her
responsibilities.
But the young girl apparently was anxious to be as little trouble
and to incite as little censure as possible after her one act of
self-assertion. Sonya could not blame her altogether, although
disapproving of Charlotta's method of retaining her freedom.
Moreover, the young countess seemed to possess many of the
characteristics which might be a good influence for Bianca, perhaps
because of their very contrast. If Charlotta was too frank in her
attitude to strangers and her habit of taking them immediately into her
confidence, Bianca was altogether too reserved. If the one girl was a
little too curious and too much interested in the histories of every
human being with whom she came in contact, Bianca was too little
interested in them. Moreover, Charlotta, in spite of her occasional
moments of depression was naturally gay and sweet tempered, while Bianca
had a little streak of melancholy, sometimes of hidden obstinacy due to
her strange childhood. But best of all in its present effect upon
Bianca, in Sonya Clark's opinion, was Charlotta's love of the outdoors.
Fresh air, exercise and cheerfulness were the only medicines Dr. Clark
had considered Bianca required.
Never in her life had Bianca been out of doors as much as was good for
her, her childhood in Italy having been spent largely among older
people. Moreover, her peasant mother had considered that Bianca must be
sheltered and nurtured like a hot-house flower in order to preserve the
little girl's shell-like beauty and to make her as little like other
children as possible.
Now with Charlotta's companionship she and Bianca spent the greater part
of each day outdoors, sometimes accompanied by Miss Pringle, who as an
Englishwoman was an indefatigable walker. But now and then the two girls
were alone.
This was scarcely a satisfactory arrangement since Coblenz was filled
with soldiers and Sonya was by no means content. She could only insist
that the two girls be extremely careful and never go any distance by
themselves, and also that Charlotta remember that as Bianca was not
well, they must never undertake any excursion which would demand too
much of Bianca's strength.
At first Sonya was surprised by Charlotta's consideration of the younger
girl, it having been reasonable to presume from their brief acquaintance
that Charlotta was selfish and self-willed. Yet she seemed really
devoted to Bianca and more than willing to sacrifice her own wishes for
her friend.
It was one afternoon in the latter part of March soon after luncheon
that Miss Pringle, Charlotta and Bianca started out together for an
afternoon walk. The day was the warmest day of the early spring and they
decided to walk away from the city toward a woods which was probably
only about a mile and a half from the neighborhood of the Red Cross
hospital.
Nevertheless, it was cold enough for Bianca to be wearing the simple
grey squirrel coat which Sonya had presented to her some time before,
while Charlotta wore the sable coat which was too handsome for her
present position and needs. But Miss Pringle was attired in her usual
shabby black dress and the everlasting black feather boa.
The two girls talked continuously so that Miss Pringle rarely paid any
especial attention to what they were saying. She was extremely fond of
the Countess Charlotta, but the young girl's enthusiasms sometimes
tired her. Moreover, Miss Pringle was honestly fond of the country as
only a few persons are and able to amuse herself indefinitely by
studying the surrounding scenery.
This afternoon Bianca and Charlotta walked arm in arm along a road
leading toward the woods beyond, Miss Pringle walking sedately about a
foot behind her two charges.
The road was hard and dry as there was a high March wind, although not
at present a cold one.
"Are you sure you will not become tired, Bianca, and the distance is not
too much for you?" Charlotta inquired, when they had gone about
two-thirds of the way toward the woods.
Smiling, Bianca shook her head.
"Don't be tiresome, Charlotta. I am feeling better since you came to
Coblenz than I ever remember before, and not only physically better but
so much happier."
Bianca flushed a little since it was difficult for her to make even this
revelation of her emotions. It was true, however, that since
Charlotta's arrival she had found the girl friend she so greatly needed.
Indeed, Charlotta had made her almost forget the little soreness which
Carlo Navara's failure to return her friendship had left in her.
A few moments later Charlotta stopped and turned around.
"We are not walking faster than you like, Miss Pringle?" she inquired.
Then she added unexpectedly. "Dear Susan Pringle, you are nearly frozen.
Why look, Bianca, her lips and cheeks are blue! What on earth made you
come for a walk without any warmer clothes? It is that old English
prejudice which makes you think heavy garments are never necessary. You
must go back home at once. You are positively shivering."
And it was true that as the two girls and the older woman stood together
in a little group for a moment, Miss Pringle could scarcely keep her
teeth from chattering.
"I am just a little cold," she confessed, "however, girls, I do not wish
to rob you of your walk."
Charlotta smiled back at her serenely.
"Oh, you need not worry, Susan dear! Your returning home for something
warmer to wear need not interfere with our plans. We will just walk on
slowly toward the woods and when we reach there start back. If you do
not overtake us, we will meet you on our way home."
This suggestion was not wholly approved of by Miss Pringle and yet at
the moment, being a little frozen mentally as well as physically, she
made no serious objection to it.
She believed she could walk home rapidly and be with the two girls again
in a short time. Moreover, it was one of her serious weaknesses of
character that she seldom objected to any positive wish of the young
countess's.
In the brilliant March sunshine the path through the woods appeared like
a path of gold. There were no leaves on the tall trees so that the light
shone through the bare branches.
"Let us go on just a little further, Charlotta, and then we must go back
to meet Miss Pringle," Bianca proposed.
But here the path grew narrow so that Charlotta led the way, Bianca
following at first close behind her.
The air was like magic, the old magic of youth, "of love and life and
light and laughter."
Charlotta sang along the way.
"Wheresoe'er the Sun
Doth journey in his chariot, I have sought
For that which shall outweigh the love of woman.
On earth, in air, in water, many things
Fair have I found, the seed of song in man,
The seed of flowers in the earth, but over all,
And fairer far and greater, is the seed
Of love. When love hath flown, who shall endure?"
"Queer song for me to sing, isn't it, Bianca?" Charlotta called back
over her shoulder. "Yet perhaps after all it is because I intend to try
to live always as true as I can to my ideals that I have done what my
father and aunt and perhaps Mrs. Clark do not approve. I ought to
remember that I am a good deal older than you are in years and far, far
older in experience. Yet I do so love the old German lieder, even if
they are sentimental."
As Bianca made no reply to this speech continuing on her way, Charlotta
began walking faster than she realized.
Until this afternoon she had never felt so thoroughly happy over her
freedom from the future which for nearly a year had stretched before her
like a dark cloud. Since leaving Luxemburg, although she had not
actually regretted her own action, at least she had been harassed with
the sense of her father's anger and disappointment.
But today she was happy in forgetting everything save her love of the
fresh air, of the blue sky, of the dark rim of hills on the further side
of the Rhine, of walking deeper and deeper into the spring woods.
"Don't you think we had better go back, Charlotta?" Bianca called, not
once, but several times, and if Charlotta had only been less
self-absorbed she must have understood that Bianca's voice each time
sounded a little further away and fainter.
But finally, hearing an unexpected sound, Charlotta swung swiftly
around.
About half a dozen yards from her, Bianca had fallen and was making no
effort to rise.
"Bianca dear, I am so sorry," she cried out at once with the impulsive
sweetness characteristic of her. "I am afraid you are tired out and I am
a wretch not to have remembered! Mrs. Clark will be angry with me. Come,
let me help you up. I wish I could carry you, but at least you can take
my arm. Oh dear, what an impossibly selfish person I am! Poor Miss
Pringle is probably dreadfully worried to discover what has become of
us. I fear my aunt is right when she says I never think of other people
until it is too late to be of value to them."
But although Bianca did get up, Charlotta was frightened to discover
that every bit of color had disappeared from her face and that she
looked utterly worn out.
"I was stupid not to have gone back without you, Charlotta, or not to
have made you understand I was too tired to walk so far," Bianca
protested, not willing to allow the other girl to bear all of the
responsibility. "Besides, it is stupid of me to be so good-for-nothing
these days. I wish I had half your energy."
"An energy which does nothing for other people isn't worth much as a
possession, Bianca," the older girl returned. "But don't try to talk,
and let us walk slowly as you wish. The blame is all mine and I will
bear the full burden of it on our return. I am only afraid Mrs. Clark
will not encourage our being together again."
At the edge of the woods near the place where they had entered Bianca
had to sit down for a little time to rest.
"Wait here and I will run ahead for a short distance. Perhaps I may find
Miss Pringle still searching for us, little as I deserve her kindness,
or perhaps I can find some kind of vehicle, Bianca. If not I will ask
some one who will go back to Coblenz and get a car for us. I really do
not think you can manage to walk the rest of the way. Don't be
frightened, I won't be long."
Charlotta was not long. A quarter of a mile away, Major James Hersey,
who was having his usual afternoon exercise on one of the army horses,
heard his name called unexpectedly by a voice which he recognized at
once.
The next moment the Countess Charlotta had explained the situation. In a
short time Bianca was seated on horseback with her arms about Charlotta
while Major Hersey walked beside them into Coblenz. As Bianca did not
know how to ride, she preferred that Charlotta should ride in front.