第15章 PART I(14)

But for this last circumstance,I believe Fritz would have insisted on traveling with me.Ignorant of what direction to begin the search for Minna and her mother,he consented to leave me to look for traces of them in Germany,while he remained behind to inquire at the different foreign hotels,on the chance that they might have taken refuge in London.

The next morning I started for Frankfort.

My spirits were high as I left the shores of England.I had a young man's hearty and natural enjoyment of change.Besides,it flattered my self-esteem to feel that I was my aunt's business-representative;and Iwas almost equally proud to be Fritz's confidential friend.Never could any poor human creature have been a more innocent instrument of mischief in the hands of Destiny than I was,on that fatal journey.The day was dark,when the old weary way of traveling brought me at last to Frankfort.The unseen prospect,at the moment when I stepped out of the mail-post-carriage,was darker still.

CHAPTER IX

I had just given a porter the necessary directions for taking my portmanteau to Mr.Keller's house,when I heard a woman's voice behind me asking the way to the Poste Restante--or,in our roundabout English phrase,the office of letters to be left till called for.

The voice was delightfully fresh and sweet,with an undertone of sadness,which made it additionally interesting.I did what most other young men in my place would have done--I looked round directly.

Yes!the promise of the voice was abundantly kept by the person.She was quite a young girl,modest and ladylike;a little pale and careworn,poor thing,as if her experience of life had its sad side already.Her face was animated by soft sensitive eyes--the figure supple and slight,the dress of the plainest material,but so neatly made and so perfectly worn that I should have doubted her being a German girl,if I had not heard the purely South-German accent in which she put her question.It was answered,briefly and civilly,by the conductor of the post-carriage in which I had traveled.But,at that hour,the old court-yard of the post-office was thronged with people arriving and departing,meeting their friends and posting their letters.The girl was evidently not used to crowds.She was nervous and confused.After advancing a few steps in the direction pointed out to her,she stopped in bewilderment,hustled by busy people,and evidently in doubt already about which way she was to turn next.

If I had followed the strict line of duty,I suppose I should have turned my steps in the direction of Mr.Keller's house.I followed my instincts instead,and offered my services to the young lady.Blame the laws of Nature and the attraction between the sexes.Don't blame me.

"I heard you asking for the post-office,"I said."Will you allow me to show you the way?"She looked at me,and hesitated.I felt that I was paying the double penalty of being a young man,and of being perhaps a little too eager as well.

"Forgive me for venturing to speak to you,"I pleaded."It is not very pleasant for a young lady to find herself alone in such a crowded place as this.I only ask permission to make myself of some trifling use to you."She looked at me again,and altered her first opinion.

"You are very kind,sir;I will thankfully accept your assistance.""May I offer you my arm?"

She declined this proposal--with perfect amiability,however."Thank you,sir,I will follow you,if you please."I pushed my way through the crowd,with the charming stranger close at my heels.Arrived at the post-office,I drew aside to let her make her own inquiries.Would she mention her name?No;she handed in a passport,and asked if there was a letter waiting for the person named in it.The letter was found;but was not immediately delivered.As well as I could understand,the postage had been insufficiently paid,and the customary double-rate was due.The young lady searched in the pocket of her dress--a cry of alarm escaped her."Oh!"she exclaimed,"I have lost my purse,and the letter is so important!"It occurred to me immediately that she had had her pocket picked by some thief in the crowd.The clerk thought so too.He looked at the clock.

"You must be quick about it if you return for the letter,"he said,"the office closes in ten minutes."She clasped her hands in despair."It's more than ten minutes'walk,"she said,"before I can get home."I immediately offered to lend her the money."It is such a very small sum,"I reminded her,"that it would be absurd to consider yourself under any obligation to me.

Between her eagerness to get possession of the letter,and her doubt of the propriety of accepting my offer,she looked sadly embarrassed,poor soul.

"You are very good to me,"she said confusedly;"but I am afraid it might not be quite right in me to borrow money of a stranger,however little it may be.And,even if I did venture,how am I--?"She looked at me shyly,and shrank from finishing the sentence.

"How are you to pay it back?"I suggested.

"Yes,sir."

"Oh,it's not worth the trouble of paying back.Give it to the first poor person you meet with to-morrow."I said this,with the intention of reconciling her to the loan of the money.It had exactly the contrary effect on this singularly delicate and scrupulous girl.She drew back a step directly.

"No,I couldn't do that,"she said."I could only accept your kindness,if--"She stopped again.The clerk looked once more at the clock."Make up your mind,Miss,before it's too late."In her terror of not getting the letter that day,she spoke out plainly at last."Will you kindly tell me,sir,to what address I can return the money when I get home?"I paid for the letter first,and then answered the question.

"If you will be so good as to send it to Mr.Keller's house--"Before I could add the name of the street,her pale face suddenly flushed."Oh!"she exclaimed impulsively,"do you know Mr.Keller?"A presentiment of the truth occurred to my mind for the first time.

"Yes,"I said;"and his son Fritz too."