Page:Tales of two countries.djvu/205

Rh accepted the invitation in the modest manner peculiar to him, and they were soon on their way to No. 34.

How curiously fortune favoured him to-day! Not many hours had passed since he saw her for the first time; and now, in the character of a special favourite of her father, he was hastening to pass the evening in her company.

The nearer they approached to No. 34, in the more life-like colours did the enchanting vision of Miss Schrappe stand before his eyes; the blonde hair curling over the forehead, the lithe figure, and then these roguish light-blue eyes!

His heart beat so that he could scarcely speak, and as they mounted the stair he had to take firm hold of the railing; his happiness made him almost dizzy.

In the parlour, a large corner-room, they found no one. The captain went out to summon his daughter, and Hans heard him calling, "Betty!"

Betty! What a lovely name, and how well it suited that lovely being!

The happy lover was already thinking how delightful it would be when he came home from his work at dinner-time, and could call out into the kitchen: "Betty! is dinner ready?"

At this moment the captain entered the room again with his daughter. She came straight up to Cousin Hans, took his hand, and bade him welcome.

But she added, "You must really excuse me