The Maid of Maiden Lane | Page 6

up, with deliberate neatness, the strings of her
bonnet, as she talked, and she rose with these words and went out of the
parlour; but she went slowly, with a kind of hesitation, as if something
had been left unsaid.
About six o'clock Arenta Van Ariens made a personal response to her
friend's message. She was all excitement and expectation. "What a
delightful surprise!" she cried. "To-day has been a day to be praised. It
has ticked itself away to wonders and astonishments. Who do you think
called on me this afternoon?"
"Tell me plainly, Arenta. I never could guess for an answer."
"No less a person than Madame Kippon. Gertrude Kippon is going to
be married! She is going to marry a French count! And madame is
beside herself with the great alliance."
"I heard my father say that Madame Kippon had 'the French disease' in
a dangerous form."
"Indeed, that is certain. She has put the Sabbath day out of her calendar;
and her daughter's marriage is to be a legal one only. I wonder what
good Dr. Kunz will say to that! As for me, I lost all patience with
madame's rigmarole of philosophies--for I am not inclined to
philosophy--and indeed I had some difficulty to keep my temper; you
know that it is occasionally quite unmanageable."
Cornelia smiled understandingly, and answered with a smile, "I hope,
however, that you did not put her to death, Arenta."
"I have, at least, buried her, as far as I am concerned. And my father
says I am not to go to the marriage; that I am not even to drink a cup of
tea with her again. If my father had been at home--or even Rem--she
would not have left our house with all her colours flying; but I am

good-natured, I have no tongue worth speaking of."
"Come, come, Arenta! I shall be indeed astonished if you did not say
one or two provoking words."
"I said only three, Cornelia. When madame finally declared--'she really
must go home,' I did answer, as sweetly as possible, 'Thank you,
madame!' That was something I could say with becoming politeness."
Cornelia was tying the scarlet ribbon which held back her flowing hair,
but she turned and looked at Arenta, and asked, "Did madame boast
any afterwards?"
"No; she went away very modestly, and I was not sorry to see the angry
surprise on her face. Gertrude Kippon a countess! Only imagine it!
Well, then, I have no doubt the Frenchman will make of
Gertrude--whatever can be made of her."
"Our drawing-rooms, and even our streets, are full of titles," said
Cornelia; "I think it is a distinction to be plain master and mistress."
"That is the truth; even this handsome dandy, Joris Hyde, is a
lieutenant."
"He was in the field two years. He told me so this afternoon. I dare say,
he has earned his title, even if he is a lieutenant."
"Don't be so highty-tighty, Cornelia. I have no objections to military
titles. They mean something; for they at least imply, that a man is
willing to fight if his country will find him a quarrel to fight in. In fact,
I rather lean to official titles of every kind."
"I have not thought of them at all."
"But I have. They affect me like the feathers in a cock's tail; of course
the bird would be as good without them, but fancy him!" and Arenta
laughed mirthfully at her supposition. "As for women," she continued,
"lady, or countess, or Marquise, what an air it gives! It finishes a

woman like a lace ruff round her neck. Every woman ought to have a
title--I mean every woman of respectability. I have a fancy to be a
marquise, and Aunt Jacobus says I look Frenchy enough. I have heard
that there is a title in the Hyde family. I must ask Aunt Jacobus. She
knows everything about everybody. Lieutenant Hyde! I do wonder
what he is coming for!"
The words dropped slowly, one by one, from her lips; and with a kind
of fateful import; but neither of the girls divined the significance of the
inquiry. Both were too intent on those last little touches to the toilet,
which make its effectiveness, to take into consideration reflections
without form; and probably, at that time, without personal intention.
Then Arenta, having arranged her ringlets, tied her sash, and her
sandals, began to talk of her own affairs; for she was a young lady who
found it impossible to be sufficient for herself. There had been trouble
with the slaves in the Van Ariens' household, and she told Cornelia
every particular. Also, she had VERY NEAR had an offer of marriage
from George Van Berckel; and she went into explanations about her
diplomacies in