the lead now.
“Many thanks for the kind consideration you showed my old mother,” he
said. “I know that you went down to her on the night when my father died,
and you stayed with her till his eyes were closed. My heartiest thanks!”
He took Emily’s hand and kissed it-he might do so on such an occasion.
She blushed deeply, but pressed his hand, and looked at him with her dear
blue eyes.
“Your mother was a dear soul!” she said. “How fond she was of her son!
And she let me read all your letters, so that I almost believe I know you.
How kind you were to me when I was little girl! You used to give me
pictures.”
“Which you tore in two,” said George.
“No, I have still your drawing of the castle.”
“I must build the castle in reality now,” said George; and he became quite
warm at his own words.
The General and the General’s lady talked to each other in their room
about the porter’s son-how he knew how to behave, and to express himself
with the greatest propriety.
“He might be a tutor,” said the General.
“Intellect!” said the General’s lady; but she did not say anything more.
During the beautiful summer-time Mr. George several times visited the
Count at his castle; and he was missed when he did not come.
“How much the good God has given you that he has not given to us poor
mortals,” said Emily to him. “Are you sure you are very grateful for it?”
It flattered George that the lovely young girl should look up to him, and
he thought then that Emily had unusually good abilities. And the General
felt more and more convinced that George was no cellar-child.
“His mother was a very good woman,” he observed. “It is only right I
should do her that justice now she is in her grave.”
