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still rings pleasantly in my memory。 I confess I don't find it quite easy to
identify this grave young lady with my merry friend of three years ago。〃
〃In other words； you are disappointed at not finding me the same as I
used to be。〃
〃No； not exactly that； but〃
Ralph paused and looked puzzled。 There was something in the
earnestness of her manner which made a facetious compliment seem
grossly inappropriate； and in the moment no other escape suggested itself。
〃But what？〃 demanded Bertha； mercilessly。
〃Have you ever lost an old friend？〃 asked he； abruptly。
〃Yes； how so？〃
〃Then；〃 answered he； while his features lighted up with a happy
inspiration〃then you will appreciate my situation。 I fondly cherished
my old picture of you in my memory。 Now I have lost it； and I cannot
help regretting the loss。 I do not mean； however； to imply that this new
acquaintancethis second edition of yourself； so to speakwill prove less
interesting。〃
She again sent him a grave； questioning look； and began to gaze
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intently upon the stone in her bracelet。
〃I suppose you will laugh at me；〃 began she； while a sudden blush
flitted over her countenance。 〃But this is my first ball； and I feel as if I
had rushed into a whirlpool； from which I have； since the first rash plunge
was made； been vainly trying to escape。 I feel so dreadfully forlorn。 I
hardly know anybody here except my cousin； who invited me； and I hardly
think I know him either。〃
〃Well； since you are irredeemably committed；〃 replied Ralph； as the
music； after some prefatory flourishes； broke into the delicious rhythm of
a Strauss waltz； 〃then it is no use struggling against fate。 Come； let us
make the plunge together。 Misery loves company。〃
He offered her his arm； and she arose； somewhat hesitatingly； and
followed。
〃I am afraid；〃 she whispered； as they fell into line with the procession
that was moving down the long hall； 〃that you have asked me to dance
merely because I said I felt forlorn。 If that is the case； I should prefer to
be led back to my seat。〃
〃What a base imputation！〃 cried Ralph。
There was something so charmingly naive in this self…
depreciationsomething so altogether novel in his experience； and； he
could not help adding； just a little bit countrified。 His spirits rose； he
began to relish keenly his position as an experienced man of the world；
and； in the agreeable glow of patronage and conscious superiority； chatted
with hearty ABANDON with his little rustic beauty。
〃If your dancing is as perfect as your German exercises were；〃 said she；
laughing； as they swung out upon the floor； 〃then I promise myself a good
deal of pleasure from our meeting。〃
〃Never fear；〃 answered he； quickly reversing his step； and whirling
with many a capricious turn away among the thronging couples。
When Ralph drove home in his carriage toward morning he briefly
summed up his impressions of Bertha in the following adjectives：
intelligent； delightfully unsophisticated； a little bit verdant； but devilish
pretty。
Some weeks later Colonel Grim received an appointment at the
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fortress of Aggershuus； and immediately took up his residence in the
capital。 He saw that his son cut a fine figure in the highest circles of
society； and expressed his gratification in the most emphatic terms。 If he
had known； however； that Ralph was in the habit of visiting； with alarming
regularity； at the house of a plebeian merchant in a somewhat obscure
street； he would； no doubt； have been more chary of his praise。 But the
Colonel suspected nothing； and it was well for the peace of the family that
he did not。 It may have been cowardice in Ralph that he never
mentioned Bertha's name to his family or to his aristocratic acquaintances；
for； to be candid； he himself felt ashamed of the power she exerted over
him； and by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing so inglorious a
conquest。 Nevertheless it wounded his egotism that she never showed
any surprise at seeing him； that she received him with a certain frank
unceremoniousness； which； however； was very becoming to her； that she
invariably went on with her work heedless of his presence； and in
everything treated him as if she had been his equal。 She persisted in
talking with him in a half sisterly fashion about his studies and his future
career； warned him with great solicitude against some of his reprobate
friends； of whose merry adventures he had told her； and if he ventured to
compliment her on her beauty or her accomplishments； she would look up
gravely from her sewing； or answer him in a way which seemed to banish
the idea of love…making into the land of the impossible。 He was
constantly tormented by the suspicion that she secretly disapproved of him；
and that from a mere moral interest in his welfare she was conscientiously
laboring to make him a better man。 Day after day he parted from her
feeling humiliated； faint…hearted； and secretly indignant both at himself
and her； and day after day he returned only to renew the same experience。
At last it became too intolerable； he could endure it no longer。 Let it
make or break； certainty； at all risks； was at least preferable to this
sickening suspense。 That he loved her； he could no longer doubt； let his
parents foam and fret as much as they pleased； for once he was going to
stand on his own legs。 And in the end； he thought； they would have to
yield； for they had no son but him。
Bertha was going to return to her home on the sea…coast in a week。
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Ralph