Ottilie herself, partly from this remarkable affinity, perhaps still more under the influence of that sweet woman’s feeling which makes them regard with the most tender affection the offspring, even by another, of the man they love, was as good as a mother to the little creature as it grew, or rather, she was a second mother of another kind.  If Charlotte was absent, Ottilie remained alone with the child and the nurse.  Nanny had for some time past been jealous of the boy for monopolizing the entire affections of her mistress; she had left her in a fit of crossness, and gone back to her mother.  Ottilie would carry the child about in the open air, and by degrees took longer and longer walks with it, carrying a bottle of milk to give the child its food when it wanted any.  Generally, too, she took a book with her; and so with the child in her arms, reading and wandering, she made a very pretty Penserosa.

CHAPTER XII

The object of the campaign was attained, and Edward, with crosses and decorations, was honorably dismissed.  He betook himself at once to the same little estate, where he found exact accounts of his family waiting for him, on whom all this time, without their having observed it or known of it, a sharp watch had been kept under his orders.  His quiet residence looked most sweet and pleasant when he reached it.  In accordance with his orders, various improvements had been made in his absence, and what was wanting to the establishment in extent, was compensated by its internal comforts and conveniences.  Edward, accustomed by his more active habits of life to take decided steps, determined to execute a project which he had had sufficient time to think over.  First of all, he invited the Major to come to him.  This pleasure in meeting again was very great to both of them.  The friendships of boyhood, like relationship of blood, possess this important advantage, that mistakes and misunderstandings never produce irreparable injury; and the old regard after a time will always reestablish itself.

Edward began with inquiring about the situation of his friend, and learnt that fortune had favored him exactly as he most could have wished.  He then half-seriously asked whether there was not something going forward about a marriage; to which he received a most decided and positive denial.

“I cannot and will not have any reserve with you,” he proceeded.  “I will tell you at once what my own feelings are, and what I intend to do.  You know my passion for Ottilie; you must long have comprehended that it was this which drove me into the campaign.  I do not deny that I desire to be rid of a life which, without her, would be of no further value to me.  At the same time, however, I acknowledge that I could never bring myself utterly to despair.  The prospect of happiness with her was so beautiful, so infinitely charming, that it was not possible for me entirely to renounce it.