A Woman's Will Part 39

"You've got so much money that naturally we couldn't hear that any one was following you continually, without wanting to know what he was after. I should think you could see how that would strike Uncle John."

"Monsieur von Ibn doesn't mean to marry any more than I do," she declared positively.

"Doesn't he? How do you know?"

"He told me so himself."

"When?"

"Ever so many times."

He laughed and stopped to examine one of the posters of the "Elfscharfrichters,"--the one of the cadaverous lady all in black, with her hands outspread.

"What interests you in him, anyhow?" he asked after a little.

"Can't a woman enjoy being with a man without wanting to marry him? I like him because he's so original."

"He's original all right," Jack reflected; "that's very, very true. He's the first man who ever thought of knocking me down for kissing you."

"It was because I screamed. Why didn't you write that you were coming?"

"I wanted to arrive unexpectedly and see for myself."

"Well, did you see?"

He chuckled.

"Yes, and felt too. He doesn't intend that any one else shall kiss you."

Rosina whirled, her eyes sparkling with anger.

"I'll never forgive you if you say another thing like that," she cried hotly.

The cousin judged it advisable to suggest diverging from the Ludwigsstra.s.se, and extending their promenade in the direction of the Wittelsbach Palace. Dark streets have a naturally subduing effect, and he knew what an upheaval his arrival had produced even better than she did.

They went towards the Caserne, and were in the Ameliesstra.s.se before either began another subject. And even then it was really not a new one, because Jack, having a definite end in view, could not lose sight of it for a minute.

"Why do you think that you don't want to get married again?" he said, courageously returning to the fight.

"I don't think anything about it. I know that I don't want to get married again!"

"Von Ibn seems to be a mighty nice sort of a fellow. I've met ever so many people who told me lots about him. He's got quite a property for these men over here, and he'll have two jolly places and a t.i.tle, too.

And the family won't kick over his marrying any one; they've been at him to get married for years and years. He's the only son, you know."

"All right," she said dryly.

"Have you anything personal against him?"

"No; but I know that I can see all that I want of him without marrying him; and as long as we do not get married we have the delightful privilege of being able to separate the instant that we grow tired of one another. And the ability to stop when you've had enough is a great thing."

"Has he bored you any yet?"

"Not yet. Oh, Jack, you ought to hear him talk. He said yesterday that we must go somewhere early before the cool grew too hot."

Jack regarded her sympathetically.

"I'd certainly marry him," he said, with decision. "If he can say things like that offhand, only think what he'd be to live with day after day."

Rosina was silent for a moment, and then she gave a violent s.h.i.+ver.

"Oh," she exclaimed, in a voice that echoed like a low cry, "I don't believe that I ever _can_ marry again--it's so _terrible_!"

Jack took her hand and drew it closely within his arm.

"Don't say that," he said earnestly. "Every one knows that you didn't have a fair show first time. Your husband was--Well, you know what he was."

"I should say that I did know what he was."

"I always wondered if you just wanted to get your hands on a big establishment."

"Oh, what makes you say such things? You know that I was desperately in love with him--as much so as a girl can be."

"Do you feel anything like it again now?"

She shook her head.

"No, indeed; I feel that I may get tired of monsieur any day."

They turned down towards the Ludwigsstra.s.se and Rosina appeared to be thinking deeply. At last she spoke, and her accents were firm as granite.

"I do not believe that I ever _could_ marry again."

Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"There's no string on you," he declared lightly.

The next morning, as the lady was stirring her whipped cream into her chocolate, Ottillie entered with a note:

"DEAR ROSINA,--Von Ibn and I are leaving for the Tagernsee by the early train. Think we'll be gone four or five days.

"Always yours, "JACK."

Chapter Eleven