On the following Monday the carriage came
On the following Monday the carriage came to collect me and my travelling bag. to collect me and my travelling bag. II was leaving some of my things at
was leaving some of my things at Daisy's and was in a fever of excitement Daisy's and was in a fever of excitement when Iwhen I presented myself at the
presented myself at the SchlossSchloss and was taken to the and was taken to the same small room in which I hadsame small room in which I had been interviewed. It was not long
been interviewed. It was not long before I was joined by Frau Strelitz.before I was joined by Frau Strelitz.
"Ah, Fraulein Ayres," she said, "the Countess is very eager to meet you. Her "Ah, Fraulein Ayres," she said, "the Countess is very eager to meet you. Her apartments are on the third floor. There
apartments are on the third floor. There is a schoolroom there and you is a schoolroom there and you will have a roomwill have a room in her apartments. She has a
in her apartments. She has a governess. You will work out with her the governess. You will work out with her the time of her time of her studies, but the Grand Duke h
studies, but the Grand Duke has stressed that her English must be improved. That is as stressed that her English must be improved. That is thethe most important of her studies at this time. The Baron,
ruler in due course
ruler in due course when the Grand Duke dies—but that, God willing, will not be when the Grand Duke dies—but that, God willing, will not be for some timefor some time yet—I was saying that the
yet—I was saying that the Baron speaks good English and she must do the Baron speaks good English and she must do the same. When he visitssame. When he visits her he will expect improvements."
her he will expect improvements."
"You may rest assured that I will do my best to see that that is brought about." "You may rest assured that I will do my best to see that that is brought about."
"I am sure you will. You may have some difficulty with Countess Freya. She is a high- "I am sure you will. You may have some difficulty with Countess Freya. She is a high- spirited girl and naturally her awareness of
spirited girl and naturally her awareness of her position has made her somewhat—well, expectingher position has made her somewhat—well, expecting to have her own
to have her own way. It is a way. It is a great responsibility which is yours, Fraulein Ayres, and you do great responsibility which is yours, Fraulein Ayres, and you do notnot seem a great deal older than the Countess."
seem a great deal older than the Countess." She was looking at me
She was looking at me dubiously. Perhaps my hair was not quite dubiously. Perhaps my hair was not quite so severely controlled. Iso severely controlled. I could feel it beginning to work out
could feel it beginning to work out of its confinement.of its confinement. "I have travelled, Frau Strelitz, and I am sure that a
"I have travelled, Frau Strelitz, and I am sure that a lady of the world such as yourself willlady of the world such as yourself will understand that the acquisition of knowledge is not necessarily a matter
understand that the acquisition of knowledge is not necessarily a matter of age."of age."
"You are right in that, Fraulein. Well, I wish you good fortune. I must tell you that if the "You are right in that, Fraulein. Well, I wish you good fortune. I must tell you that if the Countess does not take to you she
Countess does not take to you she would make it very difficult for would make it very difficult for you to continue here."you to continue here." "I suppose that situation arises with any governess."
"I suppose that situation arises with any governess." "And it is not as
"And it is not as though you are dependent on this post for though you are dependent on this post for your livelihood."your livelihood." "I shall pursue it with all the more zeal," I said. "With me it will be a
"I shall pursue it with all the more zeal," I said. "With me it will be a labour of love rather labour of love rather than necessity."
than necessity."
I think I impressed her a little, for her manner warmed towards me. I think I impressed her a little, for her manner warmed towards me. "Very well," she said. "If
"Very well," she said. "If you will follow me I you will follow me I will show you your room and introduce youwill show you your room and introduce you to your pupil."
to your pupil."
The Grand Schloss was worthy of its
The Grand Schloss was worthy of its name. It was built on name. It was built on a hill overlooking the town, of a hill overlooking the town, of which it commanded a good view
which it commanded a good view from all its windows. There were from all its windows. There were liveried ser liveried ser vantsvants everywhere, it seemed to me, and
everywhere, it seemed to me, and I was taken through galleries past rooms at I was taken through galleries past rooms at which thewhich the guards were stationed and finally to the
guards were stationed and finally to the apartments of the Countess.apartments of the Countess.
"The Countess has occupied these since she came from Kollenitz. That was, of "The Countess has occupied these since she came from Kollenitz. That was, of course, after the death of Baron Rudolph when she became affianced to Baron Sigmund." course, after the death of Baron Rudolph when she became affianced to Baron Sigmund."
I nodded. "It was then, of course, that she became so important," went on Frau I nodded. "It was then, of course, that she became so important," went on Frau Strelitz, "for both the Margrave of Kollenitz and
Strelitz, "for both the Margrave of Kollenitz and the Grand Duke are eager the Grand Duke are eager to unite theto unite the margravate and the Duchy
margravate and the Duchy by this marriage."by this marriage."
Frau Strelitz paused and knocked at a door. A voice called, "Enter!" and we went in. Frau Strelitz paused and knocked at a door. A voice called, "Enter!" and we went in. A middle-aged woman rose and came towards us.
A middle-aged woman rose and came towards us. "Fraulein Kratz," said Frau Strelitz, "this
"Fraulein Kratz," said Frau Strelitz, "this is Fraulein Ayres."is Fraulein Ayres." Fraulein Kratz had a pale lined
Fraulein Kratz had a pale lined face and a rather harassed look. face and a rather harassed look. I felt sorry for her atI felt sorry for her at once and could
once and could see that she was surprised by my youth.see that she was surprised by my youth. A young girl had risen from the table
imperiously. imperiously.
"Your Highness," said Frau Strelitz, "may I present Fraulein Ayres, your English "Your Highness," said Frau Strelitz, "may I present Fraulein Ayres, your English governess?"
governess?"
I bowed and said in English, "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Countess." I bowed and said in English, "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Countess." She replied in German, "So you have
She replied in German, "So you have come to teach me to come to teach me to speak English as thespeak English as the English do."
English do."
"Which is, of course, the best way to
"Which is, of course, the best way to speak it," I continued in English.speak it," I continued in English. She was very fair—so fair in fact that her eyelashes and eyebrows w
She was very fair—so fair in fact that her eyelashes and eyebrows w ere scarcelyere scarcely perceptible. Her eyes were light blue, no
perceptible. Her eyes were light blue, not large enough for beauty, particularly as shet large enough for beauty, particularly as she lacked the darker lashes which would have enhanced them; the very lightness of these lacked the darker lashes which would have enhanced them; the very lightness of these gave her a look of perpetual surprise which I found rather endearing. She had a long, gave her a look of perpetual surprise which I found rather endearing. She had a long, somewhat
somewhataquiline nose and a very firm mouth. Her thick fair hair was worn in braids and sheaquiline nose and a very firm mouth. Her thick fair hair was worn in braids and she looked rather like a petulant schoolgirl. I was
looked rather like a petulant schoolgirl. I was wondering what effect I had on wondering what effect I had on her.her. "I hope you will be a good pupil," I went on.
"I hope you will be a good pupil," I went on.
She laughed, for she understood my English very well. "I expect I shall be a bad one. I am She laughed, for she understood my English very well. "I expect I shall be a bad one. I am often—am I not, Kratzkin?"
often—am I not, Kratzkin?"
"The Countess is really very bright," said
"The Countess is really very bright," said Fraulein Kratz.Fraulein Kratz.
The Countess laughed. "You spoilt it with the 'really,' didn't she
The Countess laughed. "You spoilt it with the 'really,' didn't she Fraulein Ayres? That givesFraulein Ayres? That gives it all away."
it all away."
"Well, Fraulein Ayres," put in Frau
"Well, Fraulein Ayres," put in Frau Strelitz, "you and Fraulein Kratz will make Strelitz, "you and Fraulein Kratz will make your your arrangements about lessons. Shall I take you
arrangements about lessons. Shall I take you to your room, and later to your room, and later you can settle thingsyou can settle things between you."
between you." "I
"I shall take Fraulein Ayres to her shall take Fraulein Ayres to her room," announced the Countess.room," announced the Countess. "Your Highness . . ."
"Your Highness . . ."
"My Highness," mimicked the Countess, "will have it so. Come, Fraulein, we have to get to "My Highness," mimicked the Countess, "will have it so. Come, Fraulein, we have to get to know each other, do we not, if we are to converse in your abominable language."
know each other, do we not, if we are to converse in your abominable language." "You mean my beautiful language, of
"You mean my beautiful language, of course, Countess," I said.course, Countess," I said.
She laughed. "I am going to take her. Class is dismissed. Kratzkin and Frau Strelitz, you may She laughed. "I am going to take her. Class is dismissed. Kratzkin and Frau Strelitz, you may leave us."
leave us."
I was somewhat appalled by the imperious manner of my pupil, but I felt my spirits rising. I I was somewhat appalled by the imperious manner of my pupil, but I felt my spirits rising. I could see that we were
could see that we were going to have some interesting encounters.going to have some interesting encounters.
"Have her bags sent up at once," ordered the Countess. "I want to see what she has brought." "Have her bags sent up at once," ordered the Countess. "I want to see what she has brought." She laughed at me. "I come from
She laughed at me. "I come from Kollenitz where they are rough and ready in their manners. WeKollenitz where they are rough and ready in their manners. We are not as cultivated as
are not as cultivated as they are here in they are here in Bruxenstein. Have you gathered that, Fraulein Ayres?"Bruxenstein. Have you gathered that, Fraulein Ayres?" "I am beginning to."
That made her laugh. That made her laugh.
"Come on," she said. "I have to talk to you, don't I?" "Come on," she said. "I have to talk to you, don't I?" "In English," I said, "and I see
"In English," I said, "and I see no reason why we should not no reason why we should not begin right away."begin right away." "Well, I do. You are merely a
"Well, I do. You are merely a governess. I am the Countess, the Grand governess. I am the Countess, the Grand DuchessDuchess Elect. So you had better take care."
Elect. So you had better take care."
"On the contrary, it is you who have
"On the contrary, it is you who have to take care."to take care." "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I am a lady of independent means. I do not need to stay here. I am doing it because "I am a lady of independent means. I do not need to stay here. I am doing it because the idea appeals to
the idea appeals to me. It is not a case of me. It is not a case of earning my living. I think I should make earning my living. I think I should make thatthat clear from the start."
clear from the start."
She stared at me. Then she began to laugh again. She stared at me. Then she began to laugh again.
The two women were still hovering in the doorway and she cried out, "You heard me The two women were still hovering in the doorway and she cried out, "You heard me tell you to go. Leave
tell you to go. Leave at once. I will look after the at once. I will look after the English governess."English governess."
I smiled apologetically at Frau Strelitz. "It is good that we should talk together," I I smiled apologetically at Frau Strelitz. "It is good that we should talk together," I said. "I shall refuse to speak to the Countess except in English, as I have decided that that said. "I shall refuse to speak to the Countess except in English, as I have decided that that is a rule of paramount importance."
is a rule of paramount importance."
The young girl was too surprised to argue
The young girl was too surprised to argue with me and I felt I had with me and I felt I had won the firstwon the first round. I had also won the admiration of poor harassed Kratzkin and the approval of Frau round. I had also won the admiration of poor harassed Kratzkin and the approval of Frau Strelitz. But it was the Countess with whom I had
Strelitz. But it was the Countess with whom I had to deal.to deal. "This is your room," she said, flinging open a
"This is your room," she said, flinging open a door. "I am at the end door. "I am at the end of this corridor.of this corridor. I have finer apartments, of course, b
I have finer apartments, of course, but this is not bad for a governess."ut this is not bad for a governess." "I daresay I shall find it adequate."
"I daresay I shall find it adequate." "Far better than you are accustomed to,
"Far better than you are accustomed to, no doubt," she said.no doubt," she said.
"In fact no. I was brought up in a large manor house which I think on the whole was "In fact no. I was brought up in a large manor house which I think on the whole was every bit as luxurious as your
every bit as luxurious as your schloss." schloss." "And you really are doing all this .
"And you really are doing all this . . . for fun?". . for fun?" "You could call it that."
"You could call it that."
"You are not very old, are you?" "You are not very old, are you?" "I am experienced in the
"I am experienced in the ways of the world."ways of the world." "Are you? I wish I were. I'm not
"Are you? I wish I were. I'm not nearly as experienced as I should like nearly as experienced as I should like to be."to be." "It comes with the years."
"How old are you?" "How old are you?"
"I shall be eighteen in April." "I shall be eighteen in April." "I am fifteen. There is not much
"I am fifteen. There is not much difference."difference." "Actually there is a great deal. The
"Actually there is a great deal. The next four years will be some of the mostnext four years will be some of the most important of your life."
important of your life." "Why?"
"Why?"
"Because one grows out of girlhood into womanhood." "Because one grows out of girlhood into womanhood." "I shall be married next year."
"I shall be married next year." "So I gathered."
"So I gathered."
"People talk about us a lot,
"People talk about us a lot, don't they?"don't they?" "They know certain facts."
"They know certain facts."
"I wish you wouldn't keep talking in English." "I wish you wouldn't keep talking in English." "It is what I am here for."
"It is what I am here for."
"It restricts the conversation. I want to know so much
"It restricts the conversation. I want to know so much about you and I can't about you and I can't alwaysalways understand as I want to if
understand as I want to if you will speak in English."you will speak in English." "It will be an incentive for you to
"It will be an incentive for you to master the language."master the language." "You talk just like a governess. I h
"You talk just like a governess. I have had quite a ave had quite a number but they never stay verynumber but they never stay very long. I'm a difficult person. I've never had one like you."
long. I'm a difficult person. I've never had one like you." "It will be a change
"It will be a change for you."for you." "I don't suppose you'll stay long." "I don't suppose you'll stay long." "Only while you need me, of co
"Only while you need me, of course."urse." "I daresay you'll leave before that. I am
"I daresay you'll leave before that. I am not easy, you know."not easy, you know." "I have gathered that."
"I have gathered that."
"Poor Kratzkin is terrified of me. Frau Strelitz is a bit, too." "Poor Kratzkin is terrified of me. Frau Strelitz is a bit, too." "I don't think you should look so
"I don't think you should look so smug about that."smug about that." "Why not?"
"Why not?"
"The fact that you make things
"The fact that you make things uncomfortable for themuncomfortable for themshould not make you glow withshould not make you glow with