"And you were absolutely happy, I am sure," Erna at last contrived to interpose.
"No; at first I was angry," Molly declared, with a little grimace, "Albert behaved so prosaically. Instead of talking of our eternal love and our half-broken hearts, he told my father the exact amount of his income, and explained his prospects. Of course I was listening in the next room, and I was outraged; but papa and mamma seemed really quite gentle and amiable. At last they called me in, and there was general embracing and emotion. Of course I cried too, although I would far rather have danced, and I was provoked with Albert for not shedding a single tear! A telegram was despatched to my granduncle,--it will embitter his honeymoon,--and to-morrow the announcements of the betrothal are to be sent out, and in three months we are to be married."
In the excess of her happiness the little Baroness threw her arms around her friend and embraced her afresh. The carriage, however, now reached its destination, and Molly's supreme moment of triumph was at hand. While the master of the house was receiving Fräulein von Thurgau, Gersdorf, secure in his lately-acquired right, hastened towards his betrothed, thus provoking an indignant glance from Frau von Lasberg. "I supposed you had already left town, Baroness," she remarked, in her sharpest tone.
"Oh, no, madame," Molly replied, with the most innocent air. "I did, it is true, propose to pay my granduncle a visit, but as he is just married----"
"What?" asked the old lady, imagining she had not heard correctly.
"The marriage of my granduncle, Baron Ernsthausen of Frankenstein, and my betrothal took place at the same time. Allow me, madame, to present my betrothed to you."
The smile on Waltenberg's face at these words showed that he was in the secret, but Frau von Lasberg sat quite dumfounded, and it was not until all the rest had eagerly pressed around Molly with their wishes for her happiness that she made up her mind to utter a few formal, congratulatory words, which the girl received with a smile that was not without malice. But Molly was too happy to-day to have refused forgiveness to her worst enemy, and her brilliant gaiety was contagious. All present seemed greatly to enjoy the occasion, although, as Gronau expressed it, 'there was nothing fit to eat.' He required some refreshment more solid than fruit, rare as such exquisite fruit was at this season of the year, and something better to drink than the heavy, fragrant cordial, which could be but sparingly sipped. The ladies, however, did not seem to share his opinion, and all left the table in a most cheerful mood to inspect the host's collection, which occupied the entire upper story.