Had Malvine been something more than good-natured and
commonplace, had she possessed a little more tact and insight into
the human heart, she would have seen that in Wilhelm were now
combined all the conditions necessary for predisposing him for
marriage--the sense of a spiritual void, the longing for love and
companionship, a consciousness of being alone in the midst of a
cheerful, peaceful family circle, and the desire to see his own life
renewed in that of a child. What he needed was that some one should
frankly make the first advances, and overcome his natural shyness
and diffidence by a bold and saucy attack. With a little tact and
diplomacy, a clever woman would have had no difficulty in putting up
a bright girl to attempt so easy a fight and victory. But Malvine
never thought of such a thing. Social etiquette withheld the various
young ladies on whom the Habers' quiet guest had made no small
impression from taking those first steps, which are considered
unwomanly and humiliating, although in most cases they invariably
bring about the desired results, and so Wilhelm continued to sit in
his corner, and the group of pretty heiresses in theirs; the winter
passed, and Malvine's darling wish was still unfulfilled.
Easter came round, and with it the migration of the family to
Friesenmoor House.
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