On reaching her journey's end, however, a very cruel surprise awaited her, for in reply to her inquiries about Fanny, the servants informed her that the young lady had driven into Pressburg early that very morning.
She was amazed, and not without reason.
"I suppose the old people took her to town ?" said she.
"No; they went away at daybreak.

The young lady had departed only a couple of hours ago in a hired carriage." Alas, alas! What was the girl thinking about?
Perhaps she only wanted to steal a march upon her mother, and look after the lucrative business herself unaided?
Perhaps some one had explained to her that it was best altogether to dispense with the services of go-betweens in such affairs?
Well, it would be a pretty thing indeed if she had wiped her mother out of the reckoning altogether! Away! Back to the coach! Back to Pressburg in hot haste, if the horses died for it.

But where could the girl be?
What if she had gone quietly off with Abellino in the meantime; or, still worse, with some one else, and did not turn up at all?
Oh, what bitter grief and anguish a mother's heart has to contend with! Meanwhile, all the guests were assembled in Mr.Kecskerey's saloons.

One after another bevies of charming women alighted at the entrance with delicate coquetry, permitting the eye-glassed cavaliers to catch glimpses of their tiny beribboned feet as they dismounted from their equipages.

In the hall, liveried footmen distributed tickets for shawls and slippers.