There was still
the exquisite purity and tender modesty of expression, but with
greater sweetness in the pensive brown eyes.
"Ah, little one!" said her uncle, after duly contemplating her; "the
change is all for the better! Thou art grown a wondrously fair dame.
There will scarce be a lovelier in the Kaiserly train."
Ebbo almost pardoned his great-uncle for being his great-uncle.
"When she is arrayed as becomes the Frau Freiherrinn," said the
housewife aunt, looking with concern at the coarse texture of her
black sleeve. "I long to see our own lady ruffle it in her new gear.
I am glad that the lofty pointed cap has passed out; the coif becomes
my child far better, and I see our tastes still accord as to
fashion."
"Fashion scarce came above the Debateable Ford," said Christina,
smiling. "I fear my boys look as if they came out of the
Weltgeschichte, for I could only shape their garments after my
remembrance of the gallants of eighteen years ago."
"Their garments are your own shaping!" exclaimed the aunt, now in an
accent of real, not conventional respect.
Pages:
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272