She now acted as interpreter for the
whole party and her sweet voice drove away all feeling of fatigue. As
the current was driving the party rapidly down, the mother suggested
that it was time that they should say good-bye. Before going, one of
the gentlemen asked through the young lady, "if M. le Capitaine would
take a glass of wine?"
Paul responded, "that it was pretty early in the morning for a toast,
but if he was permitted to drink to the health of Hungary's fairest
daughter, he would sacrifice himself."
With a musical laugh she handed him a glass filled with sparkling Tokay.
A general hand shake all around followed and as Paul's rubber-covered,
wet hand grasped that of the young lady, he begged her to present him
with the bunch of violets she had pinned to her breast, as a memento of
the pleasant moments he spent in her company. She complied with his
request, he gallantly kissed them and pushed them through the
rubber opening of the face piece, down into his breast.
As he resumed paddling, the thought occurred to him, that the frank
cordiality of the male occupants of the boat had undergone a
decided change, and their farewell was a little more formal than their
introduction; but he paid little attention to that and struck away
for Buda Pesth with a strong steady pull, while he hummed:
"Her bright smile haunts me still.
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