"To the health of the lady of your heart!"
"Has he--have you such a lady?" asked Assja suddenly.
Assja became thoughtful. Her face assumed yet another expression. The challenging, almost bold smile returned.
On the way home she laughed more, and her behavior was more whimsical than ever. She broke for herself a long branch, carried it over her shoulder like a gun, and bound her scarf about her head. A party of fair-haired young English dandies met us. As if at a word of command, they all stood aside to let Assja pass, with a cold glare of astonishment in their eyes, while she began to sing loudly in mockery. As soon as we had reached the house she went to her chamber, and appeared at dinner in a most elaborate dress, with carefully arranged hair, and wearing gloves. She behaved with great propriety, not to say stillness, at table, hardly touched her food, and drank water out of a wineglass. Evidently she wished to appear before me in a new rôle, that of a conventional and well brought up young lady. Gagin let her alone. It was easy to see that it had become a habit with him to let her have her will in all things. At times he looked at her good-naturedly and shrugged his shoulders slightly, as much as to say, "Be indulgent; she is only a child." When the meal was ended Assja rose, made us a courtesy, and taking up her hat, asked Gagin if she might go to see Frau Luise.
"Since when have you begun to ask permission?" answered Gagin with his ready smile, but with a little astonishment. "Is the time long to you with us?"
"No; but yesterday I promised Frau Luise that I would visit her. And then I think you two would rather be alone. Mr. N." (she pointed to me) "may have something to tell you."
"Frau Luise," Gagin began, taking pains to avoid my glance, "is the widow of a former burgomaster of this place; a good old soul, but rather narrow-minded. She has taken a great fancy to Assja. It is Assja's passion to make the acquaintance of people of the lower classes. I have found that pride is at the bottom of the matter every time. I have spoiled her thoroughly, you see," he went on after a pause; "but what was there for me to do? I never could carry a point by firmness with any one; most of all not with her. It is my duty to be indulgent with her."