The Heart of Alsace

ht. Embarrassed by this speechless reception, he systematically refused to help himself a second time, in spite of the mute insistence of an old servant, who pressed the dishes upon him, breathing hard into his ear. He thought to himself: " We might be in the crypt of a cathedral. ... I wonder if they dislike me. ... I cannot begin to tell stories. . . . One is evidently expected to hold one's tongue." " What a splendid sunset there was this evening," said Madame Bohler, unexpectedly. " The Drumont was ablaze." The young tutor did not know the Drumont yet. Rene promised to show it to him the following morning from the schoolroom window. They went into the drawing-room. Reymond held back to let Monsieur Bohler pass. " Please go first. You are my guest." " I'm afraid we shall never get on together," thought Reymond. He felt very lonely, very far from all he loved. They sat down. A drawing-room not in everyday use is as dismal as a family vault. Statuettes stood dully on brackets. The Discobolus seemed to have lost heart,and to have given up the idea of hurling his missile. There were corners where the candelabra shed but a feeble glimmer. On the walls hung some uninteresting pictures. But a violoncello near the open piano spoke of life here. Madame Bohler questioned Reymond. Had he any brothers and sisters? . . . Seven! There was a moment of stupefaction. Did he live on the shores of Lake Geneva ? At nine o'clock exactly, Monsieur Bohler frowned... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.