There was
no light in the room save that of the pine logs, blazing in the great
chimney. Her reflexions of ten minutes earlier seemed very far away,
for the sight of him and the sound of his voice had suddenly recalled
those hopes for Hilda from which she had got so much happiness.
'You have slept,' she said. 'I am glad, for you needed rest.'
She did not know what to say, and there was a pause before she spoke
again, during which Greif did not move. Unconsciously he had taken the
manner of one ill, and lay back in his seat, his eyes half closed, his
hands resting upon the arms of the chair, making no effort and only
hoping that none would be required of him.
'Dear Greif,' said the baroness at last, 'you will go away, will you
not?'
He started a little and his expression changed, as though the question
pained him.
'Yes,' he answered. 'I will go away--when it is over.'
'Shall it be to-morrow, then?' asked Frau von Sigmundskron very softly.
'Yes. To-morrow morning. I would it were to-night. And then--' he
stopped and passed his hand wearily across his forehead, letting it
drop nerveless by his side almost immediately.
'And then?'
'Then I must see Hilda before I go.' His eyelids quivered, and his lips
shut themselves closely.
'Yes,' answered the baroness in a tone of hesitation.
'Yes, I must see Hilda,' Greif repeated. 'And when I am gone--then--
then--'
This time Frau von Sigmundskron said nothing, for she saw that he was
suffering, though she dared not guess what was passing in his mind.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285