"Oh!" cried Frederik impatiently, "he has a way of staring at people as though he had a perpetual question on his lips----"
He was interrupted by a vivid flash of lightning and a long roll of thunder.
"Oh, a little child!" said Kathrien reproachfully. "He has only kindness from everybody. Why shouldn't he look at one?"
"And then his mother!" went on Frederik, gazing into the fire, while the rain, steadily increasing with the nearer approach of thunder and lightning, blotted away the pleasant landscape outside the windows.
"Uncle and I loved Anne Marie, and we had forgiven her. Why should _you_ blame her so bitterly? Surely she has suffered enough to expiate----"
"I don't want to be hard upon any woman. I've never seen her since she left the house, but--Hear that rain! It's pouring again! The third day. You're wise to have a fire in here. This old house would be damp otherwise in a long storm like this. By the way, Hartmann is back for a few hours to straighten things out--I'm going to see what he's doing."
Frederik went up to Kathrien, and putting his arms about her, led her up to the piano, saying:
"Kitty, have you seen all the wedding presents? Wait for me a while here and look at them till I come back. I'll be with you again in a few minutes."
Smiling, and giving her cheek a tender pat, he left her alone.
As she stood there, surrounded by all her gay presents, she looked anything but the picture of a happy bride. Giving no thoughts to the gifts, she stood, motionless, her eyes slowly filling with tears.
Suddenly the outer door slammed, and a moment afterward Dr. McPherson entered. His tweed shawl and cap proclaimed the recent violence of the storm as he hurriedly took them off and hung them up, and placed his soaked umbrella in the rack. With a book under his arm, he came quickly toward the girl, saying:
Kathrien tried to hide her tears; but it was impossible to elude the keen eyes of Dr. McPherson. In one quick glance he caught the situation.
"Nothing," said Kathrien in a voice whose tremble she could not control; yet bravely wiping away her tears as she spoke. "I was only thinking--I was hoping that those we love--and lose--can't see us here. I'm beginning to believe there's not much happiness in _this_ world."