It was the familiar dining-room, where the women-folk were used to betake themselves to their spinning-wheels.
They sat there now, the Fräulein and the two maids. The spinning-wheel was to our grandmothers what the cycle is to the women of to-day; nay, it took also the place of the pianoforte itself.
Mariska had certainly grown very pretty since Ráby had last seen her, although, as Mr. Leányfalvy had remarked, she was quite simply dressed, and did not curl her hair. He was also quite right about her blushing when she was spoken to. In this instance, words indeed were not needed to bring the colour into her cheeks, she no sooner saw the visitor, than she crimsoned to the roots of her hair. The young girl rose respectfully from the spinning-wheel, glanced shyly at the intruder, and ere he could forbid it, had made him a childish curtsey and kissed his hand.
"How should I help recognising you, Matyi?"
"Ah, you have become a great man since those days."
"Were I ever so great a man, I would not allow my hand to be kissed by a lady."
"Nor am I a great man. And now please give me your hands that I may kiss them."
But the girl put both hands behind her back.
"No, for then should I be a lady indeed. Please be seated."
She motioned Ráby to the leather-covered sofa, and sat down again by the spinning-wheel, as she deftly began afresh to twist the flax into fine silky threads, so that they could talk if they wanted to.
The two maid-servants did not leave the room, but just listened to all that their mistress and her visitor said; it was but proper, they thought.
Ráby was meanwhile thinking how to baffle the maids. To this end he asked in German what she was doing?
The young girl gazed at him with her great blue eyes full of sorrowful amazement. Fancy expecting that in the household of the pronotary of Pesth, that stronghold of Magyar freedom, that anyone, much more the daughter of the house, should speak German! She lowered her eyes, and whispered timidly, "I do not understand German."
"You do not understand German? Why, whatever would you do if you went to a ball here in Pesth, and could not speak to your partners?"
"I never go to any balls; I can't even dance," murmured the girl.
"You mean to say, you don't dance? Well then, however do you amuse yourself?"