A political outlaw is very doubtful
company for a man in your position, and I cannot think how I came to
overlook the fact myself."
In vain did Paul endeavor to turn the matter into a joke; in vain
that he showed himself inconsolable at his stupidity in having told
the story. Wilhelm declared firmly that he must leave his friend,
and bringing his whole force of will to bear upon it, carried his
intention through.
The next day Paul's carriage took him to Harburg. The parting was
trying to all of them. Paul's leave-taking was prolonged, and he
made his friend promise he would return next year for some weeks at
least to Friesenmoor House. Malvine had tears in her eyes as she
said, "No one will care for you so much as we do." Even little Willy
was downcast, and gazed with a reproachful look at the friend who
could find it in his heart to desert him. As the train moved off he
called out to Wilhelm, in his ringing, childish voice, "Come back
soon, Onkelchen, and bring me something nice."
CHAPTER X.
A SEASIDE ROMANCE.
Wilhelm's immediate destination was Ostend. He hardly knew himself
how he came to fix on that particular place. Since those days, long
past, when his thoughts had hovered for weeks round the Belgian
watering-place, the name had remained in his mind, and now, with his
desire to spend some months in company with the sea, Ostend was the
first place that occurred to him.
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