Major Frank Part 30

"You have simply to return to the Werve," I answered, "where you will find a friend actively preparing for your reception."

"A friend!" she repeated, in astonishment.

"Yes, Rolf; who is to stay there until further orders. Don't be afraid--I shall not importune you with my presence, for I am going to travel."

This latter declaration seemed to make a great impression on her. She regarded me with a strange kind of look, and replied in a tone of voice which betrayed something more than pride and anger--

"In very sooth, Leopold, you are going to travel? Well, then, I will stay at the Werve. Farewell."

And she escaped from the room quickly, shutting the door after her. We soon heard the pawing of her horse outside, and we trusted she would ride back to the Castle.

"Ought I not to follow her?" Rudolf inquired of me.

"No; any mistrust on our part would offend her."

"She is in an unusual state of excitement, and such a reckless rider. Only lately she had an accident."

"That's true; for Heaven's sake follow her! But if you should be recognized yourself?"

"Never fear, I am too well disguised for that. In my present dress I made more than one visit to the Werve during my father's last illness. I have pressed his hand on his death-bed; and he has given me his signet ring. Out of prudence I do not wear it on my finger, but like this, in my bosom, attached by a cord round my neck. And Francis," he cried in triumph, "has accepted a.s.sistance from me during these last days of trial. When the Kermis at Laren is over, we shall leave this country; and I shall never more set foot on my native soil," he added, sadly, as he mounted his horse; and pressing my hand for the last time, took an eternal farewell of me.

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

Our surprises were not yet at an end.

On my return to Zutphen I found Overberg waiting for me at my hotel. He had just received from England a packet addressed to Francis, which Fritz had refused to take charge of, as he did not know where to find her. I a.s.sured him that Miss Mordaunt had now returned to the Castle; and I offered my driver double fare if he would go at once to the Castle, and bring me back a recu from Francis. I should then have proof positive of her return to the Werve. I was very anxious to find out what this packet could contain; and I was in despair as to any suitable means of satisfying my curiosity, when early next morning old Fritz arrived at the hotel with a note from his mistress. He had his orders not to deliver it into anybody's hands but mine. I broke the seal with trembling fingers, and read as follows--

"Cousin Leopold--I must speak to you once more before you start on your travels; it is absolutely necessary. You once a.s.sured me you were always ready to oblige a woman who exercised the privileges of her s.e.x. May I hope you will come to the Werve to have a last interview with me? Instead of writing I should have preferred to come to your hotel to see you; but I was afraid of scandalizing you by such a liberty. Please send word by Fritz the day and hour I may expect you.

F. M."

I had but one answer to this note; it was to order out the hotel carriage, and drive back with Fritz. My hopes and fears as we drove along I will not attempt to describe; they are better left to your imagination; but everything seemed to turn round before my eyes as we pa.s.sed over the old drawbridge, and drove up to the hall-door. Rolf was awaiting me at the entrance; and he led me into the drawingroom without a word, only expressing his delight by the manner in which he swung about his cap.

Francis was seated on the sofa which I remembered so well, her head cast down, paler than on the preceding day; but charmingly beautiful in her mourning-dress. She rose hastily, and advanced to greet me.

"Thank you, Leopold, for coming so soon. I knew you would come; I had confidence in your generosity."

"And--am I then no longer contemptible in your eyes, Francis? You have received my packet, and read Aunt Sophia's letter?"

"I have received all the doc.u.ments, read all--more than was necessary to convince me I had done you an injustice, and ought to apologize to you. Now I am ready to confess it before all the world that I did you wrong; will you pardon me without reserve?"

"Need you ask me that, Francis? But you must never doubt me more, never more, Francis."

After a moment's silence she answered in a low voice--"Never more, Leopold!"

So saying, she pressed my hand with ardour, as a sign of reconciliation. Still, there was a constraint about her manner which prevented my pressing her to my heart as I desired to do.

"Sit down, Leopold," she said; "now we are reconciled I have to ask your advice as my nearest relation and my most trusted friend."

At the same time she unfolded the packet which she had received from England.

"Lord William is dead," she went on; "will you read this letter addressed to me, together with a copy of his will?"

I could scarcely control myself sufficiently to read the letter; but I obeyed mechanically. This letter contained a few words of serious advice, breathing nothing but words of paternal love; though I read between the lines that it had cost him a struggle after her confession to regain this kind of calm affection for her. He had left with Cupid's arrow in his heart. The letter concluded with the most ardent wishes for her happiness; and he expressed a hope she would one day find a husband worthy of her, begging her to accept as a marriage portion the legacy he had left her by his will. Finally, he said, she must allow no considerations whatever, especially money considerations, to induce her to marry a man whom she did not love with all her heart.

The family name with which this letter was signed is one of the most ill.u.s.trious in the scientific as well as in the political world.

There was also a second letter from the nephew and heir to Lord William's t.i.tle and immense fortune. He a.s.sured Francis of his intentions scrupulously to fulfil the last will of the deceased. Francis was to receive from the estates an annuity of three thousand pounds for the term of her natural life.

"Ought I to accept it, Leopold?" she demanded.

"My opinion is you cannot refuse it, Francis. Your greatest desire has always been to have an independence; and here it is offered you by the hand of a friend."

"You are right, Leopold; I shall follow your advice and accept it. Now I shall not be forced to marry any one; and if I should choose a husband, he cannot suspect me of having done so for the sake of his money. Shall I be rich enough to buy back the Werve?"

"No, Francis; the Werve is in the possession of one who will not sell it for money. If you still desire to become Baroness de Werve, you must take another resolution."

"Leopold," she said, rising, "you say that independence has always been my chief desire. It is possible; but now I understand that my greatest happiness is to be dependent on the man I love. Leo, Aunt Roselaer has left me an annuity which I decline to accept, as a matter of course; but her intentions towards me were kindly, and I will follow her advice. She has forbidden me to marry without your consent."

Then with an indefinable mixture of grace, confusion, and malice, she sank down on her knees before me, and said--

"Leo, I wish to marry my Cousin van Zonshoven; have you any objections?"

"Heaven forbid! I have no objections!"

And with what rapture did I raise her, and clasp her to my breast, where she shed many tears, whilst my own eyes were not dry. We had loved so much, and suffered so much for each other.

What can I tell you more, dear William? We walked out in the grounds, and again visited all the places which had become endeared to us by our former walks. We made all sorts of plans for the future. We wrote letters to Van Beek and the other men of the law, informing them in a grave tone that all the bills would be paid at maturity, or on presentation.

The fact that Francis was in mourning for the General served us as a pretext for being married privately, and in as quiet a manner as possible, an arrangement in accordance with both our wishes. An old college friend of mine, vicar in a small town near the Werve, married us.

Little Harry Blount is already confided to the care of the farmers Pauwelsens. His mother has perfectly recovered, and will one of these days, we trust, marry young Pauwelsen, a son of the farmer, who had already fixed his eyes on her before her engagement to Blount. This good news has removed an immense weight from Francis's mind. We are going to make a long journey, and try to enjoy ourselves thoroughly; the trials we have both pa.s.sed through have taught us to appreciate our present happiness.

During our absence the Werve will be restored, and Rolf will be left in charge.

To conclude, dear William, I have got Francis to enclose you a note in her own handwriting.