The house was shut up for the night.
Miriam looked up at the clock dizzily as she drank the last of her coffee. It marked half-past eleven. Fräulein had told her to be ready at a quarter to twelve. Her hands felt large andshaky and her feet were cold. The room was stifling—bare and brown in the gaslight. She left it and crept through the hall where her trunk stood and up the creaking stairs. She turned up the gas. Emma lay asleep with red eyelids and cheeks. Miriam did not look at Ulrica. Hurriedly and desolately she packed her bag. She was going home empty-handed. She had achieved nothing. Fräulein had made not the slightest effort to keep her. She was just nothing again—with her Saratoga trunk and her hand-bag. Harriett had achieved. Harriett. She was just going home with nothing to say for herself.
“The carriage is here, my child. Make haste.”
Miriam pushed things hurriedly into her bag. Fräulein had gone downstairs.
She was ready. She looked numbly round the room. Emma looked very far away. She turned out the gas. The dim light from the landing shone into the room. She stood for a moment in the doorway looking back. The room seemed to be empty. There seemed to be nothing in it but the black screen standing round the bed that was no longer hers.
“Good-bye,” she murmured and hurried downstairs.
In the hall Fräulein began to talk at once, talking until they were seated side by side in the dark cab.
Then Miriam gazed freely at the pale profile shining at her side. Poor Fräulein Pfaff, getting old.
Fräulein began to ask about Miriam’s plans for the future. Miriam answered as to an equal, elaborating a little account of circumstances at home, and the doings of her sisters. As she spoke she felt that Fräulein envied her her youth and her family at home in England—and she raised her voice a little and laughed easily and moved, crossing her knees in the cab.
She used sentimental German words about Harriett—a description of her that might have applied to Emma—little emphatic tender epithets came to her from the conversations of the girls. Fräulein praised her German warmly and asked question after question about the house and garden at Barnes and presently of her mother.
“I can’t talk about her,” said Miriam shortly.
“That is English,” murmured Fräulein.
“She’s such a little thing,” said Miriam, “smaller than any of us.” Presently Fräulein laid her gloved hand on Miriam’s gloved one. “You and I have, I think, much in common.”
Miriam froze—and looked at the gas-lamps slowly swinging by along the boulevard. “Much will have happened in England whilst you have been here with us,” said Fräulein eagerly.
They reached a street—shuttered darkness where the shops were, and here and there the yellow flare of a café. She strained her eyes to see the faces and forms of men and women—breathing more quickly as she watched the characteristic German gait.
There was the station.
Her trunk was weighed and registered. There was something to pay. She handed her purse to Fräulein and stood gazing at the uniformed man—ruddy and clear-eyed—clear hard blue eyes and hard clean clear yellow moustaches—decisive untroubled movements. Passengers were walking briskly about and laughing and shouting remarks to each other. The train stood waiting for her. The ringing of an enormous bell brought her hands to her ears. Fräulein gentlypropelled her up the three steps into a compartment marked Damen-Coupé. It smelt of biscuits and wine.
A man with a booming voice came to examine her ticket. He stood bending under the central light, uttering sturdy German words. Miriam drank them in without understanding. He left the carriage very empty. The great bell was ringing again. Fräulein standing on the top step pressed both her hands and murmured words of farewell.
“Leb’ wohl, mein Kind, Gott segne dich.”
“Good-bye, Fräulein,” she said stiffly, shaking hands.
The door was shut with a slam—the light seemed to go down. Miriam glanced at it—half the dull green muslin shade had slipped over the gas-globe. The carriage seemed dark. The platform outside was very bright. Fräulein had disappeared. The train was high above the platform. Politely smiling Miriam scrambled to the window. The platform was moving, the large bright station moving away. Fräulein’s wide smile was creasing and caverning under her hat from which the veil was thrown back.
Standing at the window Miriam smiledsharply. Fräulein’s form flowed slowly away with the platform.
Groups passed by smiling and waving.
Miriam sat down.
She leaped up to lean from the window.
The platform had disappeared.
The Mayflower Press, Plymouth, England.William Brendon & Son, Ltd.
Transcriber’s NotesOnpage 113,“Marie”was changed into “Clara” in later editions but preserved here.The original spelling and punctuation were mostly preserved. A few obvious typographical errors were silently corrected. Further careful corrections, some after consulting other editions, are listed here (before/after):... “Wie gefällt’sInnen?” with an upturned smile ...... “Wie gefällt’sIhnen?” with an upturned smile ...... thank, all, God!” ... Emma and Mariewas...... thank, all, God!” ... Emma and Mariewere...... flashing hatred at her, caught Fräulein’sfascinating...... flashing hatred at her, caught Fräulein’sfascinated......Kom!” ......Komm!” ...... wincey skirtbellowingout all round her. Their ...... wincey skirtbillowingout all round her. Their ...... up there. Now she sawthendangling in corners, ...... up there. Now she sawthemdangling in corners, ...... counted the rich green copper cupolas andsighted...... counted the rich green copper cupolas andsighed...... and his comforting blackmannerishnessso near ...... and his comforting blackmannishnessso near ...... to read her threeyellow booksin the German ...... to read her threeyellow-backsin the German ......roomof figures and sat down next to Solomon ......rowof figures and sat down next to Solomon ...... fait lesavanses.” ...... fait lesavances.” ...... Rossetti ...Kingslake’sCrimea ... Palgrave’s ...... Rossetti ...Kinglake’sCrimea ... Palgrave’s ......Wörmsdid not agree with him) ... and then ......Wormsdid not agree with him) ... and then ...... O ... Strengthen Stay—up— ... Holding—all ...... O ... StrengthenandStay—up— ... Holding—all ......ona pocket-book. Judy was at her side. The ......ina pocket-book. Judy was at her side. The ...... eyes—les yeux brunesfoncées. Why ...... eyes—les yeux brunesfoncés. Why ...
Transcriber’s Notes
Onpage 113,“Marie”was changed into “Clara” in later editions but preserved here.
The original spelling and punctuation were mostly preserved. A few obvious typographical errors were silently corrected. Further careful corrections, some after consulting other editions, are listed here (before/after):