human
I hope, the baroness began again,
gpt
What now?
human
That I cannot consent to associate with that person any longer.
gpt
I cannot force you to anything, Amalie, any more than I can forbid my secretary to marry.
human
But you can dismiss him if he chooses a wife who makes his residence beneath your roof disagreeable to your nearest relatives.
gpt
That I cannot do either; he has been engaged by me for life, and I have just secured to his future wife a pension in case of his death. Besides, you make a slight mistake, my good cousin, if you suppose that anything in the world could induce me to allow a man to leave me whom I have always found faithful. I am much pleased with Reinhard’s choice, and have allotted him the use of the apartments upon the ground-floor of the north wing during his life. His mother-in-law will reside with him.
human
Well, I congratulate him upon that valuable acquisition, replied the baroness, and her sharp voice trembled with anger.
gpt
I will, however, make one remark: as I cannot bring myself to endure the presence of that person in my apartments for a day longer, she must provide herself with some place where she can stay until her marriage. Probably even you will see, my dear Rudolph, that there is a manifest impropriety in the interesting pair’s still living, under present circumstances, beneath the same roof.
human
Permit me, said Elizabeth, here turning to Helene,
gpt
I am very sure that my parents would extend a warm welcome to Miss Mertens,—we have quite room enough.
human
Ah, thank you!—matters could not be better arranged,
gpt
The affair will thus be settled very satisfactorily, she said, preserving her composure with difficulty.
human
I will contain myself, and hope in all humility that the future Frau Reinhard will vouchsafe me a spot where I shall be relieved from the sight of her disagreeable countenance. Apropos, Fräulein Ferber, she continued after awhile, in a careless tone,
gpt
I have just remembered that the money for your lessons has been for several days in the hands of my maid; just knock at her door as you go by, and she will give it to you with a receipt, which you will please sign.
human
But, Amalie!
gpt
I will do as you desire, madame,