"'But if you took the next train, you would still arrive two or three
hours before him; that is--may I ask where you were going?'
"'Oh, I think Schandau is the name of the place.'
"'Schandau? Oh, then it's all right. There is a train starts
immediately.'
"'Yes--but--no; I'm afraid I can't do that.'
"I was puzzled. 'Perhaps you would like to telegraph him to come back
here for you?'
"'I don't know where to telegraph, so that he would get it; besides----
But, excuse me, sir. You are very kind; but I won't trouble you with my
affairs. I dare say I shall get on very well.'
"She turned away with a slight bow; but she was so evidently nonplussed,
that I determined to make another effort to gain her confidence. There
was not much time to lose; the first bell was already ringing.
"'I am going on to Schandau,' I said. 'If you like, I will send you back
to your hotel in a droschkey; and when I get to Schandau, I will hunt up
your father and tell him the mistake he has made. Here is my card.'
"She looked at it, and her manner at once changed. A half-repressed
smile glimmered on her face. I felt that we were on a right footing at
last, though I could not at the time understand how it had happened.
"'I will confess to you, Mr. Gainsborough,' she said, glancing up at me
with a charming trustfulness in her manner. 'My papa is so forgetful. We
were not coming back to Dresden. After Schandau we were going on to
Prague; and he has gone off with all our luggage, and--and he has left
me without even any money to buy my ticket! At least, I did have enough,
but I spent it all in my shopping.'