"I have been looking forward to the day when I should see my son"s wife," said the elder Cruger, somewhat pompously to Helene, as he greeted her with outstretched hand. He could never get over the idea that formalism was the soul of function.
"I have always felt that I would demand a great deal of her," went on Mr. Cruger, in his best after-dinner manner. "I thank you for giving me everything I could desire! You are the daughter of a man whose charity and beneficence we all respect and admire, and--" Here he paused to take breath.
"Thank you," said Helene simply. She was surprised that he did not kiss her instead of making a formal speech.
"I know that father means what he says," remarked Beverly to his mother; "but I do wish he would say it in a less stereotyped manner."
"Hush!" replied his mother, "your father is speaking again."
"I want your married life to begin auspiciously," continued the elder Cruger, as if he had not been interrupted. "So I have made what I consider to be a sacrifice for you. I had hoped to retire from public life, but I have altered my decision. I shall again represent my country in a foreign land."
Helene gratefully acknowledged the sacrifice, although she did not quite see where it came in. She had heard that most American representatives at foreign courts managed rather to enjoy life than otherwise.
"When I go abroad as hostess in the Emba.s.sy that Mr. Cruger represents," Mrs. Cruger said, taking up the thread of the conversation, "I want my son"s wife to share my honours. A sweet young woman, far younger than I, is almost a--a--"
"A charming necessity," added Mr. Cruger, who made it a habit to finish his wife"s sentences.
"Yes, a charming necessity," echoed his wife, and, then she continued:
"The fact that Octavie is engaged suggests a double wedding. They will marry in June, if the weather is good."
"What has the weather to do with Octavie"s wedding?" inquired Mr.
Cruger.
"Simply that it"s an automobile wedding, Andrew," replied his wife.
Mr. Cruger looked almost pained. "Permit me to remark, Mary, that no Cruger was ever married in an automobile and I trust that no Cruger will so far forget himself or herself as to establish so ridiculous a precedent."
"The motor business comes in after the wedding, father; at least so Octavie said," whispered Beverly.
"Your niece is very frivolous," remarked Mr. Cruger to his wife. "I shall take pains to remind her that we Crugers marry quietly in Trinity!"
Helene laughed aloud. The idea of Octavie doing anything quietly appealed to her sense of humour.
"She does not take us very seriously," thought Mr. Cruger. Mrs. Cruger glanced at her husband and noticed a rather injured expression appear upon his face. Evidently he was not highly pleased at Helene"s levity.
"You have written to your father?" Mr. Cruger asked her presently.
"No, Mr. Cruger," replied Helene after a pause.
"No, my dear?" echoed Mr. Cruger in surprise.
"I will tell him when he returns," said Helene.
Mr. Cruger was almost dismayed. "You have not written to your father?"
he repeated. "My dear Helene, these formalities must be complied with!
Your father"s consent is of the utmost importance. Not that I antic.i.p.ate any--er--opposition from that quarter, but it"s merely the idea of the thing! Of course, I am somewhat old-fashioned, I admit."
"In France, for instance, it is against the law," interrupted Beverly in a satirical tone.
Helene smiled. Her prospective father-in-law appeared to her somewhat punctilious, but she determined to humour him.
"Your father is quite right, Beverly," she said. "I should have cabled at once."
At this moment Joles entered, apparently somewhat nervous. "Mr. Von Barwig is here, miss," he explained. "I told him you were engaged, but----"
"Ask him to come up, Joles." Joles was surprised, but being a well-trained servant, his face gave no outward indication of his feelings.
"It is my music master, Mrs. Cruger. I think this is a splendid opportunity for you to see him about your niece"s music lessons." Mr.
Cruger looked almost shocked. A music master invited to take part in a family function! Such conduct savoured of socialism, and socialism did not appeal to him.
"Herr Von Barwig is a most exceptionable person," said Helene, quite unconscious of the thought her words had aroused in her prospective father-in-law.
"Von Barwig? Von Barwig?" repeated Mr. Cruger, apparently interested in the name. "Don"t I know that name? It seems quite familiar. A music master, you say? Yes, it seems to me that I do know it!"
"He"s one of the dearest old chaps I ever met," broke in Beverly, "such a gentle creature, a most excellent musician, but rather unfortunate."
"I know the name quite well, but if it"s the man I mean it"s impossible that it can be the same. He was a fine musician, from Dresden I think.
Was it Dresden?" he asked himself, as if annoyed that his memory had played him false. "It must have been Dresden or Leipsic."
"Herr Von Barwig," announced Joles, in his most formal and freezing manner.
Poor old Von Barwig came into the room expecting to see no one but Helene, and was painfully astounded to see so many strangers. He wore his old broadcloth suit; it was well brushed, but more shiny than ever.
Poons had carefully brushed it for him that morning and it was more than scrupulously clean. His gloves were old, but Jenny had mended up the holes the night before, so he looked even neater and more genteel than usual this afternoon. He carried the cheap little bunch of violets, wrapped in paper, in one hand and his hat in the other, for Joles had never been able to persuade him to leave it in the hall. He stood by the door, as close as he could get to it, as if afraid to come in, and then bowed low to Helene and the others. There he waited with timid dignity, uncertain as to what he should do next. There was a dead silence for a few moments.
"I"m so glad to see you," said Helene in an affectionate tone, coming to the rescue; and taking him warmly by the hand she led him away from the door into the middle of the room.
"Glad to meet you again, Herr Von Barwig," said Beverly, coming forward, and shaking hands with him far more cordially than the occasion called for. He then introduced Von Barwig to his mother and father. The elder Cruger looked at him very closely.
"It seems to me that we have met before, sir. Your face is very familiar. Yes, yes; Prince Holberg Meckstein introduced me to you at one of your concerts."
"Holberg Meckstein," repeated Von Barwig in a frightened voice. "Yes, I--I knew him; but--but--I--forgive me, I--I do not remember!"
"It was in Leipsic; oh, it must be fifteen years ago!" said Mr. Cruger.
"At that time I had the United States Emba.s.sy at Berlin. Surely, you must remember! You became nervous that night while conducting your own symphony, and you fainted away right before the audience. Don"t you remember?"
"I remember," said Von Barwig, in a low hoa.r.s.e voice, which he controlled with great difficulty.
"And then a few months later you made some inquiries at the Emba.s.sy for me," went on Mr. Cruger, "but I was unfortunately not there at the time, and so was unable to be of service to you. You had some mission, some object in going to America, the Secretary of Legation said. You wanted a list of all the large towns in the United States. I hope you were successful in finding what you were searching for?"
"No, sir, I did not accomplish--my mission," replied Von Barwig, who had gained command of himself to some extent, and could speak without giving evidence of his emotion. "It is extremely kind of you to remember me!" His retiring, bashful manner was somewhat disconcerting, but beneath it there was the unmistakable evidence of birth, breeding and dignity.
"I am glad to find you in the house of such a distinguished citizen of the United States as Mr. Stanton," said Mr. Cruger at parting with Von Barwig.
"Ah, you know him, her father! He is a distinguished citizen?" said Von Barwig, and the last ray of hope died within him. "He is a distinguished citizen," he said to himself, "and he is her father." He sighed deeply, and reproached himself for ever having hoped.
"That old man has a history," thought the elder Cruger, as he went up to Helene, intent on saying good-bye to her. Joles had announced his wife"s nieces, and he did not care to stay longer. He had done his duty by Beverly and that was all that was necessary. As he shook hands warmly with Helene, he said to her: