“Oh, my dear creature, she has heard from Walburg long ago. She is engaged with the children, or counting linen, or something of that sort. Stay here like a love, and play propriety.” “But I don’t choose to play propriety,” said Crescenz, angrily, as she left the room. Madame Berger looked amazed for a moment, and then burst into a fit of laughter. “I do believe the child is jealous!” she exclaimed. “How ridiculous! how amusing! I wish it were Hildegarde—I would give—what would I not give to make _her_ jealous for half an hour! It would be sublime! Theodor could assist me if he chose.” “You think she likes him?” said Hamilton. “He says not, but I can discover no other person. Can you believe that she cares for no one?” “She cares a great deal for her father?” answered Hamilton. “Ah, bah—a person of her violent temperament must have a _grande_ passion before this time.” “I have not lately seen anything like violence,” said Hamilton. “A certain proof that she is desirous of pleasing some one.” “I should have no objection to be the person she is desirous of pleasing,” said Hamilton; “she is perfectly amiable with her father; should she bestow one of the looks intended for him upon me, I confess I should be——” “And has she really never tried to make you say civil things to her?” asked Madame Berger, quickly. “On the contrary, she has provoked me to say very _un_civil things sometimes.” “And so you have been obliged to amuse yourself with poor simple Crescenz?” “Who,” said Hamilton, “is the most innocent being in the world—a pretty child——” “A pretty fool!” cried Madame Berger, “but let us talk of our masquerade—you will go at all events?” “Certainly.” “And dressed in black—and masked?” “Agreed.” “You have no idea how amusing it is! One can say all sorts of impertinent things—even to the royal family when they are present. Masks are allowed perfect impunity.” “But should you be discovered afterwards?” “I shall deny knowing anything about the matter, of course.” Hamilton had not time to reply by word or look, for at this moment supper was announced. --------------------- CHAPTER XXVIII. A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB. “I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room. “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming. If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them. Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove. “You are not ugly, but the curl-papers are,” he answered, looking at her over his book.