The Wildfire Club - The Emma Hardinge Britten Archive

THE STRANGER OUEST. 297
from his lips, and, pointing with an ineffable look of superiority
to the river, first directed his companions' attention
to the masses of floating ice, and then to the. distant
view of a laboring boat being gradually towed towards
them - nearer and nearer it comes, until it actually approaches
within range of the open jaws of Faust, who was
harking a vociferous welcome to the long and anxiouslyexpected
Eugene.
" A merry Chrismas to you - a jolly wedding, dearest
Estelle. The darling old folks, and the precious little
ones, how are they all ? Poor old Faust too! Good doggie!
the first to see me; and now, the baggage - hold,
bold! don't touch that case, officer, for the unh'erse ! The
first peep there must be for my pretty Estelle herself."
Here follows a general laugh and - " Ah, sly dog, a wedding
present, eh! and now into the house with ye, trunks
and all; we must wait for that crawling old caterpillar of
a diligence, and what, 0 ferryman! here's good cheer indeed!
Schnapps and beer hot, and sparkling wine, where
a moment before had been only an old empty deal table."
" All right, sir," quoth the grim ferryman, wonderfully relaxed
in mirth and jollity; "we'll drink to the bride and
bridegroom, and then, hey for the wedding! Here's to ye,
mein herr, and to you too, mein charming Fraulein."
"Why, who on earth is that absurd old ferryman bowing
and scraping to ? - a strange lady? Who is it, Hermann?
Did she not come with you, Eugene?" asked the elder
brother. " Not at all, my brother; but perhaps the lady
is waiting for some one from on board. Alas! I was the
only passenger, and she will be disappointed." Then,
doffing his fur cap, the young man respectfully inquired if
the silent stranger was waiting for anyone - should he
inquire, or could he assist her, &c.