Crammon, the thrice hardened, had a dream wherein some one reproved him
for standing by idly, while his flesh and blood was being sold to an
Argentinian ranchman. So he went to the countess, and asked her if she
indeed intended to send the tender child into a land of savages. “Don’t
you feel any dread at the thought of her utter isolation in these
regions of the farthest South?” he asked her, and rolled his hands in
and out, which gave him the appearance of an elderly usurer.
“What are you thinking of, Herr von Crammon?” The countess was
indignant. “What right have you to question me? Or do you happen to
know a better man for her, a wealthier, more distinguished, more
presentable one? Do you imagine one can be happy only in Europe? I’ve
had a look at a good many people. They ran after us by the dozen at
Interlaken, Aix-les-Bains, at Geneva and Zürich and Baden-Baden--old
and young, Frenchmen and Russians, Germans and Englishmen, counts and
millionaires. We didn’t start out with any particular craze for the
exotic. Your friend Christian can bear witness to that! But he, I dare
say, thought himself too good for us. It’s bad enough that I have to
let my darling go across the ocean, without your coming to me and
making my heart heavier than ever!”
But Crammon was not to be talked down. “Consider the matter very
carefully once more,” he said. “The responsibility is tremendous. Do
you realize that venomous snakes exist in those regions whose bite
kills within five seconds? I have read of storms that uproot the most
powerful trees and overturn houses nine stories high. So far as I have
been informed, certain tribes native to Terra del Fuego still practise
cannibalism. Furthermore, there are species of ants that attack human
beings and devour them bodily. The heat of summer is said to be
insufferable, and equally so the cold of winter. It is an inhospitable
region, countess, and a dirty one with dangerous inhabitants. I want
you to consider the whole matter carefully once more.”
The countess was rather overcome. Delighted with the effect of his
words, Crammon left her with head erect.
That evening, when Letitia was already in bed, the countess, with
arms crossed on her bosom, walked up and down in the girl’s room. Her
conscience was heavy, but she hardly knew how to begin a discussion.
All afternoon she had been writing letters and addressing announcements
of the engagement, and now she was tired. The little dog, Puck,
meanwhile sat on a silken pillow in the adjoining room, and barked
shrilly and without cause from time to time.
Letitia stared into the dim space above her with eyes that gleamed
softly with the mystery of dreams. So rapt was she that if one had
pressed a pin into her flesh she would not have noticed it.
At last the countess conquered herself sufficiently. She sat down
near the bed, and took Letitia’s hands into her own. “Is it true,
sweetheart,” she began, “and did Stephen tell you about all these
things that Herr von Crammon speaks of--venomous snakes and cannibals
and tornadoes and wild ants and frightful heat and cold in this
terrible country that you’re going to? If all this is true, I want to
beseech you to reconsider very thoroughly this step that you’re about
to take.”
Letitia laughed a deep and hearty laugh. “Are you beginning to get
frightened now, auntie?” she cried, “just as I’ve been dreaming about
the future! Crammon has played an ill-timed prank. That is all. Stephen
never lies, and according to his description the Argentine is a
veritable earthly paradise. Do listen, auntie!” She said this with an
air of mystery, moved to the edge of her bed, and regarded the countess
full of confidence and delight. “The land is full of peaches as large
as a child’s head and of the most exquisite flavour. They are so
plentiful that those that cannot be eaten or sold are piled up in great
heaps and burned. They have game of all sorts, which they prepare in
wonderful ways quite unknown in Europe, and fishes and fowl and honey,
the rarest vegetables, and everything that the heart can desire.”
The countess’ face brightened. She petted Letitia’s arm, and said:
“Well, of course, in that case, and if it is really so....”
But Letitia went on: “When I’ve become thoroughly acclimated and
familiar with everything, I’ll ask you, dear aunt, to come out to us.
You’ll have a house of your own, a charming villa all overgrown with
flowers. Your pantries shall be filled afresh daily and you shall have
a marble bath next to your bedroom. You’ll be able to get into it as
often as you like, and you will have Negro women to wait on you.”
“That is right, my darling,” the countess answered, and her face was
transfigured with delight. “Whether it’s a paradise or not, I am pretty
sure that it will be dirty. And dirt, as you know, is something I hate
almost as much as poisonous serpents or cannibals.”
“Don’t be afraid, auntie,” said Letitia, “we’ll lead a wonderful life
there.”
The countess was calmed, and embraced Letitia with overwhelming
gratitude.