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diff --git a/34953.txt b/34953.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..68dbd26 --- /dev/null +++ b/34953.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11423 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Quicksands, by Adolph Streckfuss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Quicksands + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 14, 2011 [EBook #34953] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUICKSANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=3S0ZAAAAYAAJ&dq + + + + + + + POPULAR WORKS AFTER THE GERMAN, + BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + +Banned and Blessed. After the German of E. Werner. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +A Noble Name; or, Doenninghausen. By Claire Von Gluemer. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +From Hand to Hand. From the German of Golo Raimund. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.50. + +Severa. From the German of E. Hartner. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +The Eichhofs. After the German of Moritz von Reichenbach. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +A New Race. After the German of Golo Raimund. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.25. + +Castle Hohenwald. After the German of Adolph Streckfuss. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +Margarethe. After the German of E. Juncker. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +Too Rich. After the German of Adolph Streckfuss. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.25. + +A Family Feud. After the German of Ludwig Harder. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.25. + +The Green Gate. After the German of Ernst Wichert. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.50. + +Only a Girl. After the German of Wilhelmine von Hillern. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +Why Did He Not Die? After the German of Ad. Von Volckhausen. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +Hulda; or, The Deliverer. After the German of F. Lewald. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + + + E. MARLITT'S NOVELS. + +The Bailiff's Maid. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.25. + +In the Schillingscourt. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +At the Councillor's; or, A Nameless History. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +The Second Wife. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +The Old Mam'selle's Secret. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +Gold Elsie. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +Countess Gisela. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +The Little Moorland Princess. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + + * * * * * + +Complete sets of the above, in eleven double volumes, bound in uniform +and attractive style, can be had for $16.50. Sold in sets only. + + * * * * * +*** For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, pottage paid, +upon receipt of price by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, +Philadelphia. + + + + + + + QUICKSANDS + + + FROM THE GERMAN OF + ADOLPH STRECKFUSS + + + + + BY + MRS. A. L. WISTER + TRANSLATOR OF "THE OLD MAMSELLE'S SECRET," "GOLD ELSIE," "ONLY + A GIRL," "A NOBLE NAME," "THE SECOND WIFE," + "BANNED AND BLESSED," ETC. + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1884 + + + + + + + * * * * * + Copyright, 1884, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. + * * * * * + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER + + I.--An Exchange + + II.--Osternau + + III.--The Castle's Lord and Lady + + IV.--A Cato In Golden Curls + + V.--Dinner And Dessert + + VI.--Soliman's Tricks + + VII.--The Harvest-field + + VIII.--News From Berlin + + IX.--A Letter And Its Reply + + X.--Content And Peace + + XI.--Good Advice + + XII.--Bertha von Massenburg + + XIII.--A Wise Young Judge + + XIV.--Pastor Widman as a Correspondent + + XV.--Renewed Confidence + + XVI.--Robbed + + XVII.--Two Letters Again + + XVIII.--A Forced Resolve + + XIX.--The Prodigal's Return + + XX.--Linau + + XXI.--An Accident + + XXII.--An Old Acquaintance + + XXIII.--Mischief For Idle Hands + + XXIV.--Past And Present + + XXV.--At Home + + XXVI.--A Conspiracy + + XXVII.--A Mischievous Coquette + + XXVIII.--Clara To The Rescue + + XXIX.--Clara Dea Ex Machina + + XXX.--Conclusion + + + + + + + QUICKSANDS. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + AN EXCHANGE. + + +Upon the short, thick grass of a small, secluded opening in a +magnificent forest of firs and beeches a young man lay, his hands +clasped under his head, buried in waking dreams. He had chosen himself +a charming retreat, where he was safe from all intrusion from wayfarers +passing through the forest by any of the roads or paths that +intersected it at a sufficient distance from this spot. The soft, +grassy sod was a delightful couch, and the interlacing boughs of a huge +beech-tree formed above the head of the dreamer a canopy that entirely +protected him from the burning rays of the mid-day sun. + +Profound quiet reigned in the forest, intensified, rather than +disturbed, by the humming of insects; the very birds which had +twittered and sung in the early morning seemed silenced by the heat; +all creatures sought repose and refreshment at high noon on this +glowing July day. + +If the young fellow who lay thus luxuriously bedded were seeking mental +as well as bodily repose, it was evident that he had not found it. He +was not asleep; his dark eyes were wide open, gazing restlessly and +discontentedly into the spaces of sky among the beech boughs until +pained by their brilliancy. "How tiresome! how unutterably stupid!" he +muttered, altering his comfortable position so as to rest his head upon +his hand as he leaned upon his elbow. "That deadly-tiresome, monotonous +stretch of brilliant blue sky is the very image of my own weary +existence. Nothing but light and splendour; it is intolerable. If the +sky were only covered with clouds,--if there could be a flash here and +there of lightning, with thunder crashing and winds howling, one might +have some satisfaction in sending a bullet through one's brains with +the thunder for a dirge. But no, even that is not to be. I am to die as +I have lived, surrounded by weary, soul-destroying sunshine. Ah, well, +it is a fitting end to an insignificant and utterly useless life. Come, +little friend, it is high time we were done with it." + +He took from his breast-pocket a small, richly-inlaid revolver, and +looked at it with a degree of affection. "You have helped me through +many a long, weary hour. This moment would have come for me long ago +but for you and my piano. It certainly was interesting to learn to +shoot one spot after another out of the six of hearts. It was +irritating not to succeed in hitting each with the same precision. A +useless and silly enough aim in life, to be sure; still it was an aim, +and now that it is attained it is just as tiresome as everything else. +To-day you are to find my heart as surely as the hearts on the card. Or +suppose we try the head; it would be easier; an involuntary quiver of a +muscle, and the ball might miss the heart, but if this barrel lightly +touch the temple the effect must be sure. Three or four balls in the +brain must produce death instantaneously. It is the better plan." + +He examined the revolver and made sure that it was loaded; his hand did +not tremble, his look was clear and steadfast; there was even a smile +of satisfaction on his lips as he contemplated the little weapon. "You +will do your duty as you have always done it. You never were to blame +if every spot on the card was not exactly hit, although the clumsy +marksman would gladly have declared the fault yours. As soon as hand +and aim were true, each heart was pierced precisely in the centre." + +He raised the pistol, and once more took in at a glance the scene +around him, while his thoughts ran on: "Really, a lovely spot for my +last act! Beneath these spreading boughs the body will lie comfortably +on the soft grass,--for how long before it is found? For days, perhaps +for weeks, the place is so secluded. I should like to know what they +will say in Berlin when the newspapers announce, 'At last the body has +been discovered of Egon von Ernau, who disappeared so many days or +weeks ago,' etc., and there will, of course, follow a long description +of the place where it was found, and of the condition and clothes of +the corpse. The more there is to tell, the better for some poor devil +of a reporter. I do not grudge it him. I can at least serve one man in +the world by my death. And the news will fly like wildfire. It would be +almost worth living for,--the hearing of all that heartless gossip. How +busy all those empty heads will be with wondering what could have +driven a fellow so favoured by fortune to suicide! 'An unfortunate +love-affair,' the sentimentally disposed will declare. 'His father +wished to force him into a marriage with a person of high rank, and in +his despair he took his own life.' Of course they must invent some +reason for a man's escaping from this wretched, wearisome existence. +Fools! If life were worth living, why should I not comply with my +respected parent's wishes? All women are alike. It is all the same +tiresome sham." + +He still held the revolver in his raised hand, when suddenly the hand +sank by his side, and he sat up and listened. + +A clear note broke upon the woodland quiet,--the sound of a man's tenor +voice singing the hymn 'Rock of Ages' at no great distance from where +Egon von Ernau lay. + +He frowned angrily. "Confoundedly annoying!" he muttered. "If I shoot +now, that stupid psalm-singer will hear it,--and then? Then all the +delightful Berlin gossip will be spoiled, the body will be found +immediately, and everything will be known to-morrow. No, no, those good +people must puzzle their brains for a while to discover what has become +of me. My Herr Papa must have some chance to show the world what a +tender, anxious parent he is. We must choose a still more retired spot. +But first let us see where the psalm-singer really is. He seems to have +established himself in the forest here, for the sound continues to come +from the same direction and from somewhere not very far off." + +He uncocked his revolver, put the little weapon again into the +breast-pocket of a very well made summer coat, and, rising to his feet, +walked slowly through the wood in the direction whence came the sound +of singing. + +It was no easy task to make his way through the thick underbrush, +particularly as he took great pains to make no noise. He wished to see +the singer without being seen himself, and therefore he walked very +slowly, and it was some minutes before he attained his purpose. + +Still following the sound, he had reached the edge of the forest, and +only a thick fringe of hazel-bushes obstructed his view beyond. +Cautiously parting these he saw before him a landscape of extraordinary +beauty. Beyond the velvet sward of a small meadow the land sloped down +some eight or ten feet to a charming little lake, on the opposite +shore of which green, smiling fields, stretched far away to the +mountain-slopes of the distant highlands. + +The young man gave but a fleeting glance to this lovely picture; he was +far more interested in the singer, whom he now saw at no great +distance. + +On the brink of the lake the psalm-singer was kneeling, his head held +stiffly erect, his bony hands clasped and extended to the skies, while, +quite unaware of his listener, he continued his hymn in loud, resonant +tones. He was a young man hardly older than twenty-six, although the +sallow, flabby features of his beardless face, showing no trace of +youthful freshness, might well have caused him to be thought older than +he really was. His face was turned to the heavens, and he was staring +into the deep, cloudless blue with prominent, lacklustre eyes. The +large, thick-lipped mouth was wide open as he shouted out the last +verse of his hymn. + +He certainly was not handsome, and he was made far more repulsive in +appearance than he might have been by the ill-fitting, unsuitable black +clothes that he wore. An old-fashioned dress-coat, the long pointed +swallowtail of which lay like a train behind him on the grass, hung in +disorderly fashion about his bony frame; black, wrinkled trousers, a +black waistcoat sufficiently open to display linen of doubtful +cleanliness, a high, rusty, black silk cravat, from which projected the +huge points of his shirt-collar on each side of his beardless chin, +formed this extraordinary being's attire, which was, moreover, +completed by a very tall and very shabby stove-pipe hat. + +The hymn came to an end, but the singer did not change his attitude; he +still held up his clasped hands to the skies. For a few moments he was +silent; then, in a loud voice, he uttered an extemporaneous prayer. + +"God of heaven," he cried, "a repentant wretch casts himself upon Thy +mercy! Pardon my betrayal of my trust, my having again yielded to +temptation. Pardon what I have done and what I am about to do. Receive +me into Thy kingdom. Amen!" + +With these words he suddenly sprang up; his clumsy black hat fell off +upon the grass as he did so, but he paid it no attention. Clasping his +hands above his head, he leaned forward, gazed for an instant into the +deep green water of the lake, exclaimed, "God forgive me!" and plunged +in head-foremost. + +Thus far the listener had watched without stirring a limb or giving the +slightest sign of his presence; but at this sudden termination of the +prayer he broke through the thick underbrush, and in a moment had +reached the spot whence the singer had taken the fatal plunge. Here he +threw off his coat and hat, keenly scanning the while the lake where +the man had disappeared, and where the water was still troubled and +sending forth huge rippling circles, while a dark body was visible +beneath the surface. + +The young man looked about him for some piece of shelving shore where a +swimmer could easily clamber upon land; scarcely ten steps to the left +he saw what he desired, and in another moment the ripples of the lake +broke over his head also. + +He was an expert swimmer; when but a mere lad he had saved the life of +a drowning comrade at the risk of his own, so tightly had the sinking +boy clasped him in his despairing grasp. He remembered this as he now +rose to the surface, and seeing a dark form directly before him he +merely gave it a powerful push in the direction of the shelving shore, +taking good care to avoid the grasp of the wildly struggling man. +Keeping clear of this, he contrived to push him before him as he swam +to the landing-place. As soon as he felt the ground beneath him, +however, he seized the half-suffocated singer by the arm and dragged +him ashore. The rescue had been easy, and had occupied but a very few +moments of time. + +For a while the rescued man lay gasping on the bank; then he started up +and gazed wildly at his preserver, who stood quietly looking at him. +The unfortunate man presented a still odder and uglier appearance than +before; his long black hair hung in dripping locks over his pale face, +and his wrinkled coat clinging to his spare figure was more ridiculous +than ever. + +"Why did you not let me die?" he cried, wringing his hands. + +The young man half smiled. "You are right," he replied; "it was very +stupid of me. It always is so when I act upon the impulse of the +moment. Had I taken time to consider I should have said to myself, +'This gentleman is tired of life and voluntarily puts an end to it; you +have no right to interfere with so reasonable a proceeding.' I should +then have seated myself up there on the bank, and have looked on as you +came two or three times, to the surface gasping for breath, sinking to +rise again, and hastening your death, perhaps, by the frantic efforts +you made to retain a detested existence. Finally, you would have sunk +to rise no more, and at this moment you would be lying quiet and +comfortable, with only a slight quiver of the limbs, at the bottom of +the lake. My impetuosity has deprived me of an interesting spectacle +and prevented your fulfilment of a sensible and laudable intention. I +pray your pardon, and would suggest that you can repair the wrong I +have done. We are but a few steps away from the high bank whence you +took your plunge into the lake. The spot was admirably selected, for +the water here is too shallow for your purpose. I promise you that you +shall not be disturbed again; I will look on with the greatest +interest." + +The young man's quiet words filled his hearer with horror; his arms +dropped by his sides, and his prominent eyes opened wider and protruded +still farther from his head. He shuddered at the description of his +death-agony; he looked in fear at his preserver, who could talk so +calmly of such horrors, and when the latter proposed that he should try +another plunge into the lake he was seized with a nameless dread. +Involuntarily he recoiled a step, and with a gesture of abhorrence +cried, "No, no, I cannot! It was too horrible! When the dark water +closed over me, and I sank deeper and deeper, the suffocation, the +dreadful noises in my ears, the throbbing in my temples--no, I cannot +do it again!" + +"Indeed? True, death by drowning cannot be agreeable; I have heard so +before from one of my acquaintances who very nearly lost his life in +the water. The death-struggle is too long; it must be most unpleasant. +Now, a bullet through the head is instantaneous. I will make you +another suggestion; I owe it to you since I have interfered with your +plans in so uncalled-for a manner. My coat lies on the bank yonder; in +its breast-pocket there is a six-barrelled revolver. I was just putting +it to my temple when I was arrested by your song. I only need two or +three balls for my purpose. Come up on the bank with me, wait until my +work is done, and my revolver is at your service. How people will +wonder when the two bodies are found after a while lying peacefully +side by side! What odd stories will be told of a duel without +witnesses, or some such stupid nonsense! It is a pity one cannot be by +to hear them. Come, we will soon make an end of the tiresome affair." + +"I cannot! I cannot do it a second time! Good God! I can neither live +nor die! Help me, I implore you! Shoot me down with your revolver; I +cannot do it myself! Kill me! I will bless you with my dying breath!" + +He flung himself upon his knees, wringing his hands, as he implored his +preserver to kill him, but the young man shook his head decidedly, as +he replied, "Very sorry, but the part of an executioner does not suit +me; one must conclude such matters one's self, or let them alone. If +you will not comply with my suggestion, there is nothing for you but to +go on living. I wish you joy of it." + +"Good God! what shall I do? I implore you to help me, to advise me!" + +"How can I possibly advise you, when I have no knowledge of you or of +the circumstances that have driven you to despair?" + +"I will tell you about it. I am the most miserable man in the world! +You have saved my life, and I will confide my wretchedness, my +disgrace, to you." + +The young man looked down thoughtfully for a moment before he said, +"Very well, tell me. An hour more or less makes no difference. Let us +sit down in the shade on the grass; you shall pour out your woes to me, +and if I can give you help or counsel, I will do so." + +"Will not the shade be rather too cool for us in our wet clothes? We +might catch cold." + +The young fellow laughed aloud at this strange mixture of despair and +dread of taking cold. + +"Well, then, sit in the sun," he said, still laughing. "I prefer the +shade, since a cold is of no consequence to me. And now, since we find +ourselves comrades after this odd fashion, here at our ease, you can +initiate me in the dark mysteries of your life. I promise you an +attentive listener." + +He had thrown himself down beneath a huge beech-tree, while his +companion was looking for a seat on some stone in the blazing sunshine. + +"My wet clothes will soon dry here," said the singer. "When they are +dried on the body they do not lose their shape." And as he spoke he +looked down sadly at the long wet tails of his coat as they draggled +dripping behind him. There was no trace to be seen in him of the +contrition and despair which had possessed him a few moments since, his +whole mind was given to the choosing of a spot in the sunshine. At last +he found a fragment of rock which suited him, he sat down upon it, and +leaning forward propped his elbows upon his knees and his chin upon his +hands. In this attitude he looked, as his companion could not but +inwardly observe, like a strange caricature of incredible ugliness. He +paused a while to reflect, and then began, in a whining, lachrymose +tone,-- + +"I have always been a child of misfortune. The Lord has punished me +with the greatest severity for my sins, although I have tried to lead a +pious, resigned life, however heavily His hand might be laid upon +me. Wherefore, O Lord, shouldst Thou thus visit Thy most devoted +servant----" + +He could not go on, for his listener had stopped his ears, and +exclaimed angrily, "Stop, stop! nothing in the world is quite so +detestable and tiresome as circumlocution. If I am to listen, you +must be brief, simple, and unaffected. Let us have no whining +sentimentality. I hate it! Give me a clear, simple statement of facts." + +"Out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh," was the reply to +this blunt interruption of the man's flow of eloquence. "I will command +my emotion, if I can, out of regard for you, my preserver. I have +always been unlucky; my very name was a misfortune,--not my first name, +Gottlieb, which I received in holy baptism, but my surname, +Pigglewitch. I always see a smile of derision upon the lips of those +who hear it for the first time, when a boy I was always laughed at for +my name, and this trial has never left me. But I will not murmur; it is +the Lord's will that I inherit such a title, and His ways are always +right. How can we, weak mortals that we are----" + +"Hold, friend Pigglewitch! You are forgetting again. No preaching!" + +"I have done," Gottlieb Pigglewitch replied, instantly subsiding into +an ordinary narrative style. "My father was pastor of Wilhelmshagen. I +scarcely remember him, he died when I was not quite six years old; my +mother had died at my birth, and her brother now took me home, or +rather kept me in my home, for he succeeded to my father's position. He +said he befriended the orphan for the love of God, but he never showed +me any affection, even as a little child I had to work hard for my +daily food, he employed me to tend first his geese and afterwards his +sheep. I was sent with the other village children to the village +school, but as soon as I came home I had to work for my uncle, and the +dread of a beating often made me perform tasks that were far beyond my +strength. I was given many a blow, with very little to eat, and never a +kind word; my uncle declared that I was a good-for-nothing, lazy young +hypocrite and liar, who could not be treated too severely, I was fit +for nothing but a stupid tiller of the ground. As such he meant to +bring me up, but Herr Brandes, the Schulze of Wilhelmshagen, befriended +me. He had been a friend of my father's, and would have taken me into +his house and brought me up with his daughter Annemarie, who is two +years younger than I, only he did not wish to interfere with my uncle. + +"Nevertheless he stood my friend, and often when I was very hungry I +got a good meal at his house; little Annemarie, too, would sometimes +bring a piece of bread out to me in the fields and stay a while and +play with me. Those were the only happy hours I can remember as a +child. It was a time of sore trial, and I, unworthy sinful man----" + +"Friend Pigglewitch!" + +"Ah, to be sure! Well, the Schulze befriended me. 'After all, he is a +pastor's son,' he said to my uncle, 'and every one is saying that he is +being brought up like the son of a day-labourer.' My father had left me +a small patrimony amounting to about a thousand thalers, and Herr +Brandes told my uncle that he ought to demand a portion of this from +the Guardians' Court, to be spent in sending me to town to school, +where I might be suitably educated. At first my uncle refused to do +this, he found me too useful on the farm, but he yielded at last to the +Schulze's representations, seeing clearly that he should lose credit by +refusing any longer to do so. So I was sent to town to board with one +of the teachers of the public school. I nearly starved there, and I +often wished myself back in Wilhelmshagen, where I could always get +something to eat at the Schulze's, for Annemarie was sure to put by a +morsel for me. From the public school I went to college, and I have +passed my examination as a Candidate for the ministry. The Lord was +gracious to me. My mind moves slowly, and when I went up for +examination I was conscious of ignorance with regard to various +branches of secular knowledge. I was afraid of being plucked, but the +Herr Director encouraged me. He told me to trust in the Lord, who would +not forsake the most faithful of His servants. So I went up for +examination, and passed, although all my fellow-students predicted my +failure. Immediately afterwards, through the influence of the Herr +Director, I obtained a position as private teacher in Wilhelmshagen. I +was delighted to receive my first employment in my old home. My uncle +had left the place for a better parish in Wennersdorf, in Silesia, and +I was quite free. Never have I felt so happy as then. I never dreamed +that the Lord was about to try me beyond my strength,--poor, sinful man +that I am. I had hitherto lived with the greatest economy. I had never +had a penny in my pocket. My comrades at the public school and in +college cared nothing for me,--they called me a hypocrite, laughed at +me when I failed in my lessons, and would have nothing to do with me. +Now I suddenly found myself freed from all restraint. I had a position, +and moreover, as I was of age, the rest of my patrimony amounting to +five hundred thalers was paid over to me. I had money and friends. The +sons of the wealthiest peasants made much of me; formerly they took no +notice of me, now they felt it an honour to have me join them at the +village inn and drink a glass or play a game of cards with them, which +last I was only too glad to do. I never could resist the sight of a +card. Often, when I returned home at night after having lost my money +at play, I repented with tears and vowed never again to touch a card. I +prayed to the Lord for strength to keep my vow, and resolved never to +go near the inn again; but the next Saturday evening the temptation was +sure to be too strong for me. I could not resist it. + +"The Schulze had received me with great cordiality upon my return to +Wilhelmshagen, and Annemarie had fallen upon my neck and given me an +honest kiss. I was always welcome at the Schulzenhof. I loved my dear +Annemarie, and she returned my love." + +The young man, who lying stretched upon the grass had hitherto listened +quietly, only interrupting the narrative now and then with a word of +warning when Gottlieb Pigglewitch's discourse grew too unctional, +started and sat upright when the speaker uttered the word love. He +stared in amazement at the forlorn, bedraggled figure perched on the +stone before him. Could it be? That caricature of humanity was talking +of love, and there was a girl in the world who returned the affection +of a Gottlieb Pigglewitch! + +The young man's surprise was so evident that Gottlieb became +embarrassed. "What is the matter?" he asked timidly. + +"My worthy Pigglewitch, you have converted me to a belief in miracles. +Seriously I begin to have faith in them. In fact is it not a miracle +that I am actually interested in you and your history? I thought that +nothing in this tedious world could entertain me; you have shown me +that I was mistaken. Go on with your story. You had just come to where +you loved and were loved in return." + +"Yes, so it was. It was a brief period of bliss," Gottlieb Pigglewitch +went on, with a deep-drawn sigh. "I trifled away my happiness by my own +folly. The Schulze, who had received me so kindly, altered his +treatment of me after a while. He remonstrated with me once or twice, +telling me that it was not the thing for a teacher to sit until +midnight of a Saturday drinking and playing cards with the young +fellows of the village, such conduct was, at all events, quite beneath +the son of a pastor, who, as such, ought to stand upon his dignity. I +promised him then to shun the inn, but when Saturday came I could not +withstand the burning desire for play. I dreamed of the cards and of +the gains they might bring me, I had to go whether I would or not. +Then, when I went the next evening to the Schulzenhof, Annemarie would +receive me with tearful eyes, and her father with hard words. I was no +longer welcome there, and I knew why. A hundred times I vowed +improvement, but in vain. In short, I went on playing,--I could not +help it,--and because I almost always lost, I drank too much in my +despair. Several times my companions had to take me home drunk. I was +most unfortunate. After living three years in Wilhelmshagen, I had to +leave it. I had lost my entire patrimony at play, and with only twenty +thalers in my pocket I had to look for another situation. When I bade +farewell to Annemarie, I thought I should have died, only the hope of +seeing her again sustained me. I knew that the Herr Director in town +would befriend me and procure me another situation. I told the Schulze +this, and since I was on the subject of my hopes, I confessed my love +for Annemarie, and declared my intention of returning to ask for her +hand so soon as I had found another situation. I should not have had +the courage to say this to him had I not just bidden good-by to my +comrades in the inn parlor, where I had taken a glass more than was +good for me. The Schulze did not let me finish my sentence, he called +me a vagabond, a gambler, and a drunkard, who had squandered his +patrimony, and who never should marry his child. If I ever became a +respectable man once more, and could save up from my earnings the five +hundred thalers I had lost, I might come to see them again, but not +until then. And he thrust me from his door without even letting me give +my Annemarie a farewell kiss. With despair in my heart I left +Wilhelmshagen. My patron, the Herr Director, to whom I first applied, +received me with a severe reproof; but when I had described with many +tears my struggles, my agony, and my firm resolve to do better, he took +pity upon me, and got me a situation in Berlin with a salary of twenty +thalers a month." + +"You could not possibly live in Berlin upon twenty thalers a month!" +his hearer exclaimed. + +"But I did do so. Of course I had to practise strict economy, and I +could not lay by anything; but, as I had no acquaintances there to +tempt me to drink or play, I got along. I had been more than a year in +Berlin, when just three weeks ago to-day I received a letter from my +patron, the Herr Director. He wrote me that he had heard with pleasure +from my principal that I had become a respectable, industrious man. As +there is more joy in heaven over one sinner----" + +"Pigglewitch!" + +"Well, the Herr Director wrote me that he had recommended me for a very +advantageous situation to a Frau von Osternau, of Osternau, in Silesia, +who had applied to him for a tutor for her son, a boy six years of age. +I was to reside with the family and receive three hundred thalers +yearly. I could enter upon my duties immediately. He enclosed a letter +of introduction to Frau von Osternau, and another to my Principal +requesting him to put no obstacle in the way of my good fortune, but to +release me immediately from my engagement to him. I was supremely +happy. Three hundred thalers and my board! I could save up two hundred +thalers a year, and in two years and a half at the latest I should have +my five hundred thalers again. I went instantly to my Principal, who, +however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of +July. This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from +him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she +would expect me on the 6th of July." + +"The 6th of July? Why, that is the day after tomorrow." + +"Precisely. The day after to-morrow. I left my situation yesterday,--a +day of misery which has ruined my life forever. So soon as I received +from the Herr Director the letter which confirmed my hopes of the +situation at Osternau I wrote to my Annemarie and told her of my good +luck, in three years at the furthest, I wrote her, we should be +married. I had written several letters to her during the year, and had +received no reply from her; now I had an answer by return of mail. Her +father had forbidden her, she told me, to reply before, but now that he +had hopes of my becoming a respectable man once more, he had permitted +her to write. She would be true to me, and surely wait the three years +for me, but she was nevertheless afraid that we never should be man and +wife, for she was forced to go with her father across the sea to +America. They had been very unfortunate,--their farm-house had been +burned down just after harvest, before the crops had been insured, and +her father had therefore resolved to dispose of his farm and to try his +fortune in America. Everything was prepared for their departure. Her +father was to bring her to Berlin on the 1st of July, that he might +receive the last payment of the purchase-money of his estate, and on +the 3d they were to leave for Bremen, whence their passage to America +was taken. I might expect them at the railway-station on the evening of +the 1st, and we could at least spend a few hours together. It was a +dear, good letter, as good and kind as my Annemarie herself. I wept as +I read it, so transported was I with delight. She would be true to me. +In three years I should have enough to follow her to America. Perhaps I +could buy a small farm there with my five hundred thalers, and become a +farmer. The world lies open to the man who has money, he can purchase +every conceivable delight." + +"Do you think so?" the listener drawled, contemptuously. "But go on; I +beg pardon for interrupting you." + +"On the evening of the 1st I received the Schulze and Annemarie at the +railway-station, and went with them to the little inn where they were +to lodge. Annemarie was unchanged, and the Schulze was as cordial to me +as he had been formerly. He read my patron's letter carefully, as also +the testimonial which my Principal had given me. He expressed his +satisfaction with my plans for the future, and promised that he would +give me Annemarie so soon as I could show him five hundred thalers of +my own. His confidence in me was entirely restored, as was shown me the +next day, when, after he had received all the purchase-money for his +estate, he intrusted to me twelve hundred and seventy-two marks to hand +over to my uncle in Wennersdorf. Many years ago my uncle had loaned +this money upon interest to the Schulze, and had always objected to its +repayment, but now, upon the eve of his departure for America, the +Schulze as an honest man insisted upon returning it. On my way to +Osternau in Silesia, it would be very easy for me to turn a little +aside and visit my uncle Widman, at Wennersdorf. The Schulze impressed +it upon me to get a receipt for the money and transmit it to him. I had +a delightful day with my Annemarie and her father, and yesterday +morning I accompanied them to the railway-station, where I took leave +of them. At noon I was to leave for Wennersdorf, whence, after leaving +the money with my uncle Widman, I could continue my journey to +Osternau. Everything was ready for my departure. + +"When Annemarie and her father had left me, and I turned away from the +railway-station, my heart was so heavy that I could hardly bear it. I +felt so weak, so forlorn, that I needed something to strengthen me, and +I turned into a small restaurant to get a glass of beer. I seated +myself at a table, and I had hardly done so before three men, who had +entered the house just after me, took their places at my elbow. In the +early morning we four were the only people in the room. The men talked +for a while, and then began to play cards,--lansquenet,--taking no +notice of me. I looked on, not thinking of playing; but when I saw the +thalers passing from hand to hand, as the game grew more absorbing, my +interest grew keen, and the wretched passion for play was again aroused +within me. I was seized with an uncontrollable desire to join the game. +The Evil One had me in his clutches once more----" + +"Go on, Pigglewitch, go on!" + +"Forgive me; I could not help it. I was, indeed, possessed by a demon. +I asked the gentlemen if I might take part in the game, they assented, +and in an instant I had joined them. I had not played for more than a +year, but the passion for gambling had got hold of me. I lost, doubled +the stakes, lost again, and went on increasing the stakes in hopes of +winning back my money. Still I went on losing, in my desperation I +drank glass after glass, everything reeled before my eyes, and when at +the end of an hour I had staked my last piece of money, I suddenly +became conscious that I had gambled away my life. I was a thief +condemned to jail, for I had lost not only my own money, but the sum +intrusted to me for my uncle. I sat alone at the table, the gentlemen +had left me, finding I had nothing more to lose, and I had not noticed +their departure. The last hour seemed to me like an evil dream. I laid +my head upon the table and wept. After a while a waiter roused me and +requested me to leave, my score had been paid by my friends. I +staggered out of the place. How I reached my lodgings I do not know. I +lay in a feverish stupor all day long, in the evening I came to myself. +How terrible was my awaking! I now saw clearly what I had done. I knew +that I was lost. My uncle would demand his money of me. I should be +handed over to the authorities as a thief. I should be sent to jail. I +was lost,--lost past rescue. But I would die sooner than be sent to +jail. + +"Suddenly there arose in my memory the picture of the lake of +Wandelitz. How often in my boyhood had I wandered away from +Wilhelmshagen to this quiet lake in the forest, and, seated upon the +bank yonder, passed hours in dreaming and gazing down into the green +depths of water! The thought of it came to me like an inspiration. +I gathered myself together. On the chair beside my bed lay my +travelling-bag, I packed it early in the morning for my noon-day +departure, and it contained, as I now remembered, ten silver thalers, +every penny I possessed in the world. It was enough to purchase a +ticket for Wilhelmshagen, whither I might go by the night train. I +scarcely know what followed,--how I set out, how I arrived here. I only +remember that I sang a hymn, and then--well, you know the rest. I am an +unfortunate, miserable wretch!" + +"You're a very queer fellow, friend Pigglewitch," the other declared, +in answer to Gottlieb's last desperate exclamation. "You are a compound +of contradictions. I do not understand you, and least of all can I +comprehend how a fellow can be so overwhelmed by despair at losing a +paltry twelve hundred marks at cards. Such a trifle!" + +"I was horrified at the prison which awaited me," Pigglewitch declared. +"Oh, I am lost,--lost beyond all hope!" + +For a while his companion made no reply, but sat looking dreamily +across the lake, while he mechanically plucked to pieces a tiny +wild-flower. His face, rather handsome than otherwise, suddenly lost +its habitual expression of weary indifference, a smile played about the +lips, the dreamy eyes sparkled. + +"Friend Pigglewitch," he said, scrutinizing keenly the odd figure +before him, "an idea has suddenly occurred to me,--an original, some +sensible people might call it an insane, idea! You, friend Pigglewitch, +play an important part in the development of this idea. You please me, +you interest me, and that is saying a great deal, for I assure you that +it is years since I have taken any interest in anything, or any +pleasure in a living creature with the exception of my Bello, an +abominable mongrel pug, whose intense ugliness pleased me. But, as I +said, you too please me. It would be no end of a pity if so magnificent +a sample of humanity should be early snatched from this world by +despicable suicide. I now rejoice that I pulled you out of the water. +You must live!" + +"Why do you jeer at me?" Pigglewitch asked, in a doleful tone of +reproach. "I have done you no harm, and have told you all my story." + +"In return for which you shall have mine, with but some trifling +reservations. It is but reasonable that you, in return for this recital +of your life and its woes, should listen to mine. It will be much +shorter than yours, for I really have had no experiences. My name +is--but why need you know my name? you cannot care for it, and I am +quite sure you will find it easier not to mention it if you do not know +it. Since from my earliest infancy Fortune has showered upon me her +choicest gifts, I will call myself Fritz Fortune. Yes, Fritz Fortune +had from his birth everything that mankind considers a means of +happiness. His health was perfect, they say he was a very handsome boy, +he had quick powers of mind, a lively intelligence which enabled him to +learn without trouble; he was the only son of an immensely wealthy +father, his every desire was fulfilled before it was expressed. He had +everything, everything, except one mere trifle of no real consequence +in life,--affection. The stupid fellow, however, thought he wanted it. +He loved his kind, and longed for love in return, but he did not find +it. His mother had no time to bestow upon him. She was wonderfully +lovely, and always surrounded by a crowd of adorers. There was not a +moment of her day not given to society or to dressing for some grand +entertainment, how could she possibly find a moment to devote to the +boy, who was, besides, admirably cared for by a most expensive tutor +and an excellent housekeeper? When Fritz Fortune was ten years old his +mother died suddenly of disease of the heart. He did not miss her, for +he scarcely knew her. His father was a model parent, he was willing to +make any sacrifice for the child, upon whom he lavished enormous sums +of money, save one,--the sacrifice of his time, which was devoted +partly to business, but mostly to pleasure. Weeks passed continually +without the boy's even seeing his father, but then no toy was too +expensive to be purchased for him so soon as he expressed a wish for it +to the housekeeper, there was no delicacy upon which he might not feed +until it disgusted him. Everything, everything save affection was +lavished upon him. Was he not the silliest of lads in that so far from +being contented he sometimes shed bitter tears over his lot? He had +soon done with tears, however. His tutor did just as the boy told him +to, and the housekeeper and all the servants followed his example. +Fritz Fortune's will was never gainsaid, if he had not chosen of his +own accord to go to school, he never would have been sent there, but he +was tired of his home, and hoped to be better entertained at school, +consequently to school he went. There too luck pursued him. As he +was clever enough and studied diligently, not from love of books +but to beguile the time, he learned readily. He outstripped his +school-fellows, and they consequently hated him, but as his pockets +were always filled with money and school-boy dainties which he +scattered with a lavish hand, the young rogues took care to conceal +their dislike of him. They flattered the son of the wealthy banker, and +for a short time the boy was really happy, for he thought himself +beloved by his school-mates, for whom he had a sincere affection. +Chance opened his eyes. He accidentally overheard a conversation +between two boys whom he thought his best friends. Every word then +spoken revealed their hatred, their mean envy of their comrade. It was +enough. Fritz Fortune no longer lavished either gifts or affection upon +his school-fellows, and they no longer concealed the true nature of +their feelings towards him. They pursued him with falsehoods and +calumny. There was a fresh battle to be fought at every recess, he was +agile and strong, and declined none of them. Since he returned every +blow with interest, and in addition had the teachers on his side, so +that after a fight his opponents were the ones selected for punishment, +he came out of all these contests victorious. He continued to be +Fortune's favourite, but he was not happy, he was solitary and alone +among his fellows. + +"When only sixteen years old he passed a brilliant examination and +entered the university, where he studied,--that is to say, he fluttered +about from one science to another. There was no need of his pursuing +any laborious course of study: he was wealthy in his own right by +inheritance from his mother, and was, besides, the only son of an +immensely wealthy father, who gave him everything save affection. His +career at the university was as successful as at school. Whatever he +attempted was a success. He was a capital boxer, an untiring swimmer, a +bold rider,--he was an object of admiration and envy. + +"He had learned somewhat at school, his bitter experiences there had +not been lost upon him. Again he scattered his money with a lavish +hand, he was surrounded by flatterers and friends, but he now knew what +they were worth. He despised the rabble of young men as he had despised +their childish prototypes, but he was too wise to let this be seen. +Solitude was too tedious. He wanted to enjoy life. To do this he needed +jolly companions, his money bought him these. He drank deep of all +these delights of student life, he was always surrounded by a merry +throng of so-called good friends, but he was often wretchedly forlorn +and unhappy. + +"The wild, gay life that he led filled him with disgust, he forced +himself to seem carelessly merry when he was constantly a prey to +mortal ennui. Of course Fritz Fortune was a favourite with women. He +had not in appearance fulfilled, it is true, the promise of his +boyhood, but he was by no means an ugly fellow, and, what was far more +to the point, he was rich, very rich. He was everywhere received with +distinction,--the mothers flattered his vanity, the daughters met his +advances far more than half-way. Once or twice, when a pair of blue +eyes looked innocently into his own, when a rosy cheek blushed rosier +still at his words, he thought the glance and the blush due to his real +self, his heart beat high, hope dawned within him, but he was sure to +be cruelly undeceived. Some skilled coquette behind a mask of maidenly +innocence had been speculating upon his wealth, but Fortune still +befriended him in that he discovered in time the net in which he was to +have been caught. He escaped, it is true, but every vestige of his +faith in mankind was left behind him in the toils that had been spread +for him. + +"When he left the university he had not decided upon a career. Should +he take part in his father's business? He had no inclination to do so. +Why should he devote himself to the accumulation of wealth? The +business was in trustworthy, competent hands; his father, it is true, +was at the head of it, but he paid little attention to its details; +more as a pastime than as a necessity he spent a couple of hours in his +counting-room every day, all the rest of his time was devoted to +pleasure. He had no desire that his son should apply himself to +business. He was so tender a father that he gladly fulfilled his son's +every wish, only asking in return that his son should not interfere +with him or with his little amusements. Could a son ask more of a +parent? Certainly Fritz Fortune's was a most enviable lot. He was +surrounded by young men of rank who called themselves his devoted +friends, and he was an idol among women. Wherever he went he was +treated with distinction, he drained every delight of the German +capital to the dregs, there was no necessity for his denying himself a +single pleasure. Whatever money could procure might be his, for his +father's cashier stood ready to honour his drafts to any amount. What +could he desire more? And yet the foolish fellow was absolutely +wretched; he had but one wish, and to fulfil it money was of no +avail,--he wished to be relieved from the mortal tedium of an +insufferable existence. The amusements of the capital disgusted him, +society bored him, he had no interest in any pursuit, he could not +decide to pursue any particular branch of study; even music, which had +formerly helped him to pass many a lonely hour, no longer attracted +him. In glowing physical health, his weary mind was 'sickening of a +vague disease,' his only wish being to close his eyes never to open +them again. + +"It was some time before it occurred to him that it was within his +power to gratify this wish by a firm resolve. He had become too +indolent even to think, but yesterday this brilliant idea occurred to +him. It was suggested by his reading in the morning's paper that a +young banker of his acquaintance had shot himself. What in this case +had been done in despair might also be done to put an end to the tedium +of existence. His spirits improved on the instant, the mere thought +that he could rid himself of his burden dissipated his weariness for a +while. + +"He pondered upon what his numerous dear friends would say if he should +suddenly vanish from Berlin, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. His +fancy was excited. He made all sorts of plans for best putting an end +to his wretched existence without causing an immediate report of his +death to be spread abroad in Berlin. + +"For the first time for years he was really entertained for a couple of +hours, so great was his interest in the different schemes thus +contemplated. Forthwith he proceeded to the carrying out of his +resolve. He drew from his father's bank a considerable sum of money, +that his friends might be led quite astray as to his disappearance, +called upon several acquaintances, showed himself at the theatre, and +left Berlin by the night-train. + +"Some years previously, in a summer excursion, he had noticed a +charming forest in the neighbourhood of Wilhelmshagen. He remembered +that one might wander there for hours and find no thoroughfare. + +"In this forest he determined to search out a secluded spot, where his +body might lie undiscovered for weeks. This plan he pursued. Was he not +Fortune's favourite? He saw no one whom he knew at the railway-station. +He made his journey entirely alone, in a first-class carriage, and, +reaching Wilhelmshagen in the early morning, entered the forest without +meeting a human being. Every trace of him was lost, no one could +surmise what had become of him. For some hours he wandered about until +he found a spot suitable for his purpose. Here he lay down upon the +grass, and once more passed in mental review his entire wearisome, +frustrated existence, it seemed to him so forlorn and pitiable that he +was but confirmed in his resolution. He was about to carry it into +effect, he had in fact raised his revolver for the purpose, when he +heard a hymn sung near at hand. He dropped his hand, and--the rest you +know. This is the history of Fritz Fortune. How do you like it, my +worthy Pigglewitch?" + +Gottlieb stared at the narrator with unutterable astonishment in his +prominent eyes. "And is that all?" he asked, thinking it impossible +that he had heard the end of the tale. + +"Do you wish for more? As I told you, my story is brief, but edifying." + +"Were you then going to shoot yourself out of mere _ennui_, Herr +Fortune? It is inconceivable, impossible! I am almost always bored, +especially when I am alone, but it never occurred to me to shoot myself +upon that account. How can such an idea enter the head of any one who +has money?" + +A bitter smile hovered about Fortune's lips. "That precisely the view +of the mass of mankind," he said. "Whoever has money must be happy, and +the silly fools rush after wealth, never perceiving that there is no +greater misery than what they call happiness. If I were poor, if I had +to strive and contrive for a pittance for my daily bread, if I had a +single aim in life worth attaining, I too might perhaps endure +existence. This thought occurred to me while you were telling your +story, and I suddenly fancied that I should like to try whether +existence under your circumstances could make the burden of life +supportable. Should it prove as devoid of interest, as tiresome and +insufferable as my former existence, I can always have recourse to my +faithful revolver. I will make you an offer, friend Pigglewitch. If you +accept it, it will help us both, you perhaps forever, myself at least +for a while, but that is not your affair. The dearest wish of your +heart at present is to be able to pay your uncle his money, and to gain +as quickly as possible the five hundred thalers to enable you to follow +your Annemarie to America. Are you willing to make a sacrifice to +accomplish this end?" + +"Any, every sacrifice!" Pigglewitch cried, eagerly. "Ask what you will +of me, it shall be done." + +"I will not ask much. You shall have the round sum of three thousand +five hundred marks--just enough to pay your uncle, replace your +patrimony, and take you to America--if you will give me, to dispose of +as I may see fit, your beautiful name of Gottlieb Pigglewitch, with the +necessary articles and documents thereto belonging,--to wit, your +testimonials, credentials, letter of introduction to Osternau, etc., +and, above all, your beautiful black suit, which fits you so +admirably,--promising also to go direct from here to Wilhelmshagen, +whence you can send your uncle his money, and whence you promise to +take the next train, by way of Berlin, to Bremen, where you will embark +in the first vessel bound for America, and all this without revealing +to a living soul the occurrences of the last two days." + +"You are making game of me, Herr Fortune," Pigglewitch said, in his +most lachrymose tones; "but I must endure it, for you have saved my +life." + +"Don't mention it. That is a debit and credit affair. Had you not sung +your hymn I should be lying in the forest with a bullet in my brains, +and you would be reposing peacefully beneath the green, crystal waters +of the lake. You certainly owe me nothing, and need think of nothing +save your own advantage in deciding whether or not to accept the +bargain I offer you, for I am not jesting. I make you the serious offer +of three thousand five hundred marks cash, payable upon the receipt of +your name, your credentials, your clothes, which you can exchange for +mine,--and not a bad exchange either, it seems to me,--and lastly, of +your express promise to emigrate immediately to America." + +"Are you really not joking? Three thousand five hundred marks----" + +"Cash. I pay _en amateur_. I like the beautiful name of Pigglewitch, +and your black coat, with its long, pointed swallow-tail, enchants me. +I am sure it will become me admirably." + +Pigglewitch looked doubtfully at the young man, who spoke so calmly, +but whom he was inclined to pronounce insane. "What do you want to do +with my name and my credentials?" he said. + +"I have lived a long time as Fortune, and for the sake of variety I +should like to live and labour for a while as Pigglewitch. For how +long? I do not know; and besides that is not the question between you +and me. I shall go on living from day to day until the Pigglewitch +existence also becomes intolerable to me. Come, decide, friend +Pigglewitch; will you accept my proposal or not?" + +Gottlieb reflected. Herr Fritz Fortune was evidently quite insane. Only +a madman would kill himself from _ennui_ when his pockets were full of +money. His offer was a crazy one, but what business was that of +Gottlieb Pigglewitch? The proposal was most tempting,--three thousand +five hundred marks. He might well sell his credentials, which would be +valueless in America, for such a sum. Why should he not in his need +accept an offer which would lay the foundations of his fortune? It +would be unpardonable folly not to seize with both hands so unexpected +a piece of luck. + +"If you are really in earnest," he said, with a suspicious look at Herr +Fortune,--"I can hardly believe it,--but if your offer is made +seriously, I will accept it." + +"Bravo, friend Pigglewitch! you are a delightful fellow!" cried +Fortune. "There's my hand, the bargain is concluded." + +With some hesitation Pigglewitch took the offered hand. He was still in +some doubt, but this vanished when Fortune sprang up and led him up the +bank whence a short time previously each had thrown himself into the +lake. Here upon the short grass lay Fortune's coat and hat, with +Pigglewitch's tall beaver and travelling-bag. In the breast-pocket of +his coat Fortune found a pocket-book, which he opened, taking from it a +thick bundle of bank-notes of a thousand or five hundred marks each, +with here and there one for a hundred only. At this sight everything +glimmered before the astonished eyes of Pigglewitch, who had never +before seen so much money together. And the happy possessor of this +wealth, which seemed quite 'beyond the dreams of avarice,' had very +nearly killed himself voluntarily a short hour previously. Oh, the poor +fellow was evidently mad, quite mad! + +Meanwhile, Fortune selected three bank-notes of a thousand marks each, +and ten hundred-mark notes. "Here, friend Pigglewitch," he said, "are +four thousand marks; our bargain was for three thousand five hundred, +but I add the rest and make the four thousand complete on condition +that you make over to me your travelling-bag and its contents. I should +like to begin my new life fully equipped as Pigglewitch. Do you agree?" + +"Oh, certainly. You are most generous. I thank you from my soul, +but----" + +"But? Go on; why do you hesitate?" + +"If you really wish to assume the life of a poor man like myself you +must not carry about you so well filled, a pocket-book." + +Fortune looked up in surprise. "You are cleverer than I thought," he +said; "you are right. It were best to throw the entire rubbish into the +lake, where it can do no mischief." + +"For God's sake, take care what you do, Herr Fortune!" Pigglewitch +exclaimed, in dismay, seizing the young man by the arm as he was about +to toss the pocket-book into the water. "It is a sin to destroy all +that beautiful money. If you do not want it, give it to me." + +Fortune's hand fell by his side, he reflected for a moment, and then +said as he looked at Pigglewitch with a smile, "The appetite grows with +eating. A moment ago four thousand marks seemed wealth to you, now you +would like to have more. No, friend Pigglewitch, four thousand marks is +enough. If you cannot begin life afresh with that sum, a larger one +would assuredly plunge you into misery. But you were right, +nevertheless, to prevent me from destroying this money, it would have +been folly. I always act foolishly when I follow the impulse of the +moment, and I thank you for hindering me. I will keep the pocketbook. +There is no danger for me in the money, I know its worthlessness. Give +me your travelling-bag. Is there a key to it? Yes? Thank you. I will +deposit the pocket-book here in this bag, where it shall remain +untouched. And now we will exchange clothes. I am longing to don your +charming black suit as a bride longs to deck herself in her veil. We +are about the same height, we shall have no difficulty in the matter." + +He took off his cravat and waistcoat, and with a shake of the head +Pigglewitch followed his example. In a few minutes the transformation +was complete. Fritz Fortune in the wet black suit confronted its amazed +former possessor; the clothes, 'a world too wide' for his slender, +muscular figure, dangled and hung loosely about him, he clapped the +tall black hat upon his head and exclaimed with a laugh as he looked at +himself in a small pocket-mirror which he had taken from his own coat, +"Horrible! ugly beyond belief! Indeed I am worthy of you, friend +Pigglewitch. But my poor fellow, how you look! You have the worst of +the bargain. My new summer coat suits you about as well as does a +dress-coat a poodle. Look at yourself!" + +He handed Pigglewitch the little mirror. Gottlieb contemplated his +image with much complacency. He thought he presented an aristocratic +appearance in his elegant attire, and said so. + +"Are you pleased? So much the better," said Fortune. "Then we are both +satisfied. And now, friend Pigglewitch, let us take leave of each +other, but first swear to me by all that you hold sacred, by the very +salvation of your soul, that you never will reveal to a human being +what has taken place between us, and that you will sail for America as +soon as possible." + +"I swear it, so help me God! Amen!" Pigglewitch rejoined, raising his +hand towards the skies. + +"Farewell, my worthy other self, then. Farewell until we meet in +another world more pleasantly than we did in this. You are going +towards Wilhelmshagen. My way lies in an opposite direction. Farewell." + +He shook Pigglewitch cordially by the hand, took up the travelling-bag +and hung it by the handle on the end of a stick, which he rested upon +his shoulder. Then, with an elastic step, he started for the forest. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + OSTERNAU. + + +Castle Osternau is situated in the midst of a country distinguished not +for any conspicuous or unique beauty of natural scenery, but for +luxuriance of cultivation. The undulating landscape forbids an extended +view, it is only from the summit of some of the larger hills that the +long range of the Riesengebirge can be discerned in the distance. All +sight of this range is shut off from Castle Osternau itself by low +hills. + +Nevertheless, the country about the castle is by no means wanting in +charm. The richly-cultured fields waving with golden grain, the +luxuriant, flowery meadows, which lie like broad green ribbons among +them, the dark forests which bound the horizon do not it is true +combine to form a scene of majestic magnificence, but the landscape is +full of a tender, benignant beauty, and in the eyes of Herr von +Osternau, who was agriculturist to his very heart's core, there was in +all Silesia no more beautiful spot than his dear Osternau. A field of +wheat was far more lovely in his eyes than the most picturesque bare +rocks. The steep mountains, available only for the cultivation of +timber and inaccessible for the plough, where the peasant toiled +laboriously to earn a scanty subsistence, were odious to him. An +extensive, level, cultured plain was his ideal of beauty. It was hardly +attained in the gently-undulating fields of Osternau, but, so far as +luxuriance of cultivation was concerned, they left nothing to be +desired. + +All the lords of Osternau had been capable, practical agriculturists. +The love of agriculture had descended for centuries from father to son +with the entailed estate. Its proprietors had successively, from time +immemorial, resided at Castle Osternau and personally superintended the +management of its extensive lands, the younger sons only had devoted +themselves to a diplomatic career, and, for the most part, not for +long. So soon as they could lay claim to a pension from the government +they had followed their natural bent, resigned their positions, and +retired to Castle Osternau, where they had loyally assisted the elder +brother in the management of his estates. But few of these younger +brothers had ever married, most of them had died bachelors. Thus the +male descendants of the Osternau line had never been numerous. At +present there were but three of them. The head of the house, Friedrich +von Osternau, had but one son, a boy six years of age, and only one +male relative, a cousin, Albrecht von Osternau by name, who had for a +long time considered himself the heir-at-law, since the marriage of +Friedrich von Osternau had been blessed for some years with a daughter +only. When this daughter, however, had reached the age of eleven, the +birth of a son had blasted the young man's hopes of succeeding to the +estates. + +Albrecht von Osternau was a young, pleasure-loving officer. As the +future possessor of Osternau, he had cared very little for the fact +that he had gambled away and squandered his patrimony in a few years. +His credit was good, for it was supposed by the Berlin money-lenders +that the present owner of Osternau was consumptive and could live but a +few months longer at the furthest. But the victim of consumption lived +not only months, but years, and just when his death was predicted with +great certainty, he astonished the world with the news that a son and +heir was born to him. + +It was a fearful blow for Lieutenant Albrecht von Osternau when he +suddenly learned, in a very kind letter from his cousin, that his +expectations in life had crumbled to ruins. With his prospects of +inheritance his credit also vanished. His creditors, hitherto most +patient, besieged him, and in one case, where he had imprudently given +his note of hand, he was threatened with a complaint to be lodged with +his commanding officer. Until now the lieutenant had never found any +difficulty in covering one debt with another; this was no longer +possible. The money-lenders, who had formerly considered it an honour +to accommodate the Herr Lieutenant, rudely refused compliance with his +wishes. + +In his great need, Albrecht von Osternau decided to apply to his only +relative, the head of the house, although until now he had had but +little intercourse with him. He paid a visit to Castle Osternau, where +he was received with open arms. The good-natured Friedrich considered +it a duty to indemnify his only relative, in some measure at least, for +his shattered hopes. He recognized the severity of the law of entail +which cuts off all the younger branches of a family from a share in the +wealth which is lavished upon the heir, and he thought it quite natural +that Albrecht should have heretofore ordered his life upon a scale +commensurate with his expectations. + +Since the state of his own health had prevented him from leading any +but the simple life of a country gentleman, he was in the habit of +yearly laying aside considerable sums, which were usually, however, +expended in the improvement of the estates, wherefore his private +property was not very large. Nevertheless, he gladly sacrificed a +considerable amount of money in paying his cousin's debts. + +Amply provided with means, Albrecht returned from Osternau to Berlin. +He arrived there a day too late. His merciless creditor had already +sent to the colonel of the regiment a notice of the note that was due. +Upon the payment of his claim he would gladly have recalled it, but, +since the colonel had received it, the latter was obliged to advise the +young officer to send in his resignation from the service. + +Albrecht's military career was ended. It must shortly have terminated +at all events, for with his expensive tastes and habits he could not +possibly have maintained his position as cavalry officer of the guards +without loading himself with debt. What was he to do? At the age of +twenty-four, in the very flower of his youth, he found himself without +a future. + +Once more he found a kind and ready friend in his cousin, to whom he +confided his misfortune. Baron Friedrich invited him to come to +Osternau, there to follow the traditions of the family in devoting +himself to agriculture. + +The luxurious young officer, accustomed to the delights of the +capital, unused to work of any description, after living a careless +life of pleasure among his wealthy comrades, was to bury himself in a +lonely castle, where, in the society of an invalid cousin and his +simple-hearted wife, he must spend his weary days in a pursuit that was +odious to him. He who had been free as a bird of the air after the easy +duties of his daily service were over, must now be his cousin's slave, +condemned to constant occupation, obedient to command, assuming the +part of an upper superintendent upon the very estates which he had been +wont to consider as his own in the future. Could the munificent +compensation offered him by his cousin atone to him for what he +relinquished, for the delights he must resign? He felt no gratitude +towards his generous relative; he hated him as he had always envied +him. For years he had set all his hopes upon the death of the man whom +he had believed a prey to consumption. These hopes were now +annihilated, and he felt almost inclined to reproach his cousin for +still living, and for being blessed with a direct heir. How could he be +grateful to the hated relative whose subordinate, whose slave he was +doomed to be? The thought was intolerable; and yet, hard as this lot +was, no choice was left for the ruined officer. Again and again he +destroyed the letter in which he had tried to accept his cousin's offer +with thanks. He ground his teeth as he wrote out the hollow expressions +of his gratitude, but there was no help for it, he had to write them, +and when the letter was finally finished he paced the floor of his room +in a frenzy of envy and disgust. + +In a few days he followed his letter to Castle Osternau, and from that +time all the male members of the ancient family were united beneath its +roof. Albrecht occupied some elegantly-furnished rooms in the third +story of the castle; the windows of his sleeping-room looked out upon +the court-yard, those of his other rooms upon the garden. + +The head of the family himself occupied the second floor of the castle. +He was so enthusiastic a farmer that he quite despised the lovely view +of the castle gardens. His delight was in overlooking from the windows +of his sitting-room the spacious court-yard, with its busy throng of +servants and labourers. If the state of his health confined him to the +house, he thus contrived still to maintain a supervision of his people. +He would sit at these windows from early morning when the weather was +bad, only leaving his post to repair to the dining-hall at dinner-time. +From half-past two until half-past four was his only time for +recreation or repose. If the weather were propitious he spent the +entire remainder of the day out of doors, in the fields, on foot or on +horseback, in the court-yard and stables. He took an interest in the +smallest details of his extensive agricultural operations without +relaxing in his strict general superintendence. The Osternau estates +were regarded all through the country as a model of good management. + +The castle court-yard was a huge quadrangle, one side of which was +formed by the extensive structure of the castle itself. Its spacious +barns were on the opposite side; to the right were long rows of stables +for horses and cows, and to the left were those devoted to various +breeds of sheep. In the midst of the large space thus enclosed was a +pond for watering the cattle, and beside it stood a shed, beneath which +was a fire-engine. + +Perfect neatness and order reigned in the court-yard; the keen eye of +the master of Osternau saw to it that these were always strictly +maintained. He certainly was the gentlest and kindest of masters, but +he could not endure the slightest disorder. Even the huge muck-heap +before the cow-stables, the pride of its possessor and the ornament of +the court-yard of an agricultural estate, was well kept, and gave no +impression of uncleanliness; indeed, the neighboring landed proprietors +regarded it with admiration when they drove past the court-yard on +their way to pay a friendly visit to Herr von Osternau. They preferred +to go round the narrower country road, past the court-yard, to gain the +front entrance to the castle, rather than to approach it by the broader +road leading directly from the highway. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + THE CASTLE'S LORD AND LADY. + + +Herr Fritz Von Osternau, the lord of the castle, was seated in his room +at the open window looking discontentedly out upon the court-yard. In +consequence of over-exertion he had suffered for some days from a +violent attack of the spasmodic cough which many years previously +ignorant physicians had pronounced consumption. These attacks of a +chronic malady were not dangerous. The famous Mitterwurz, of Berlin, +when consulted by Herr von Osternau, had assured him that with care he +might regard his cough as a warrant for length of life, but care he +must take. In stormy or very warm weather he must stay in the house, he +must avoid violent exercise, and never ride far afield even in fair +weather after an attack of coughing, as physical exertion might provoke +a return of it. Since this verdict of the famous physician's, Frau von +Osternau never had allowed her husband to indulge in his agricultural +mania when he had coughed during the night. She would permit him to +take a short walk, upon which she always accompanied him that he might +not be induced to prolong it, and he was obliged to return to the +castle after an hour at most of sauntering. He obeyed her at such times +reluctantly, but still he obeyed, and thus he was sitting to-day at the +open window instead of being where he longed to be, out in the fields +superintending the harvesting. It was so tiresome to gaze out into the +sunlit court-yard, where not a person was to be seen, every man and +maid, as well as a host of day-labourers, being busy with the harvest. + +Profound quiet reigned in the spacious quadrangle: even the poultry had +retired to the barns out of the glowing sunshine and were silent. The +court-yard was so lonely and deserted that its master grew tired of +looking out of the window, and taking up a book he tried to read. But +it would not do, his thoughts were with the harvesters, and the book +did not interest him. He laid it down with a sigh of impatience. + +"This sitting idly here is intolerable," he said to his wife, who was +seated near him knitting diligently. "I detest laziness. Everybody is +busy in the fields, and I sit here doing nothing. I cannot bear it any +longer, Emma, I must go out, and besides there is no use in taking care +of myself any longer, I have not coughed once for two hours." + +Frau von Osternau dropped her knitting in her lap and looked at her +husband with a smile. She was not beautiful, but her smile was +wonderfully lovely and lent a charm to her face, revealing such simple +kindness of heart that one forgot, in looking at it, its irregularity +of feature, and in spite of her forty years she was still youthfully +attractive. Her smile was really irresistible: it was sure to overcome +any rebellion against her wishes upon her husband's part; when he would +have obstinately resisted any severity of manner, he was powerless +against his wife's smile. + +"Dear Fritz, you forget your wretched night," she said, gently. "You +coughed so terribly that neither of us slept an hour, and now you want +to go out into the hot sun with the harvesters. For my sake, dear, stay +quietly in your arm-chair. It will soon be noon, and the men will be +back in the court-yard." + +Herr von Osternau muttered some unintelligible words, but resigned +himself to his fate with a sigh, and made another fruitless attempt to +read. + +"Emma," he said, after a pause, "do you know that to-day is the 6th of +July?" + +"I believe it is; but what makes you think of it?" + +"You know we expected the tutor on the 6th." + +"Then he will surely be here in the course of the day." + +"I wish he would fail to keep his appointment. It would be a good +reason for getting rid of him. I confess I cannot reconcile myself to +your idea of having a tutor. We should have been wiser to engage a +governess for Fritzchen. A cultivated, well-born young woman is a +pleasant addition to one's household; she could easily have taught +Fritzchen all he need learn for a couple of years, and it would have +been well for our romp Lieschen to acknowledge a more strict control +than yours." + +"Do you imagine that Lieschen would have submitted to it? You know I +thought at first of engaging a governess for Fritzchen, but our +experiences with Lieschen's governesses were too terrible. I could not +try that experiment again. If Liese drove her governess to desperation +when she was a child of seven, it is hardly likely that she would be +very docile as a girl of seventeen. She is too unaccustomed to control. +No, no, it is better as it is. And I may as well tell you, Fritz, +although I know how you will laugh at me, that when I wrote to Director +Kramser I made it a stipulation that the young man whom he should send +to us must be positively ugly. This I did in view of the position I +wished him to occupy with regard to Liese, who is to take music-lessons +of him." + +"Oh, Emma, Emma! what an extraordinary idea!" Herr von Osternau +exclaimed, with a laugh. + +"It is impossible to be too prudent," Frau von Osternau said, gravely. +"Lieschen has an antipathy to everything ugly, there could be no danger +for her in an ugly, awkward man. Director Kramser is, as you know, an +old friend of mine, he used to be tutor to my brother Karl----" + +"I remember him," her husband interrupted her. "I used to see him at +your father's before we were married. A very unattractive, awkward +young man, but in spite of that he has had a very successful career, I +believe." + +"He certainly is rather awkward, but very good-humoured, and as honest +and good a man as ever lived. I have great confidence in him. I told +him so in my letter, and frankly confessed to him the reason why I +wanted an ugly tutor. I did not wish that there should be any danger +for Liese in taking music-lessons of him, and I am quite sure that +Kramser will have had a regard for my wishes in this respect." + +"No doubt of it, so far as ugliness is concerned," her husband +rejoined, with a laugh. "Speak of an angel, and you hear the rustle of +his wings; there comes the tutor. Come to the window, Emma; there, I am +certain, comes your _protege_ across the court-yard. Heavens! what a +scarecrow!" + +Frau von Osternau hastened to her husband's side and looked out of the +open window. His exclamation had made her curious; she too had a slight +shock, and could not but admit that 'scarecrow' was not too strong an +expression, when she saw the young man who had entered the court-yard +by the gate between the barns, and was now leisurely coming towards the +castle across the deserted quadrangle. He was still too far off to +allow of her distinguishing his features, but his figure was certainly +suggestive of a scarecrow. With his clothes hanging loosely upon +his long limbs and the tails of his black coat dangling against his +legs, the man looked like a caricature. His tall, rusty hat, as +well as his coat, seemed the relic of a bygone age. With a shabby old +travelling-bag hung over his shoulder on the end of a stick, he +sauntered slowly along, casting curious glances about him. Herr von +Osternau continued to stare at the strange figure as it gradually +approached the castle. "Most certainly your friend has obeyed your +directions with regard to the ugliness, Emma. And we are to have this +scarecrow living beneath our roof and eating at our table? Why my food +will choke me with that thing before my eyes!" + +"He really does look almost too ugly," his wife replied, rather meekly; +she began to feel that she had laid too much stress Upon ugliness in +her letter to the Herr Director. + +As the man came nearer, and her keen eye could distinguish his +features, she thought they did not quite correspond to the impression +made upon her by his figure. He could hardly be called very handsome. +The nose was too large, the mouth, shaded by a large moustache, not +sufficiently well formed, and the face was too pale to be pronounced +very handsome; but surely the large, dark eyes might be so considered, +as they looked observantly about the court-yard; and when, upon +advancing sufficiently near the castle to perceive Herr and Frau von +Osternau at the window, the man lifted his hat courteously, his manner +of doing so was such a contradiction of his appearance that Frau von +Osternau hardly knew what to think. The head from which the hat was +lifted seemed by no means repulsive, the dark, expressive eyes lent it +a certain interest. + +Herr von Osternau's impressions with regard to the stranger were +identical with his wife's. "A very odd person," he observed, as the +man disappeared beneath the window. "I am really curious to see him." +His wife said nothing, but looked eagerly towards the door of the +sitting-room. She had not long to wait. In a moment Hildebrandt, Herr +von Osternau's old personal attendant, appeared, to announce that a +very odd-looking stranger had arrived with a travelling-bag; his name +he said was Gottlieb Pigglewitch, and he asserted that he was the Herr +Tutor whom madame expected. + +Old Hildebrandt looked grave when his mistress desired him to show in +the Herr Tutor immediately, and he ventured to observe that the man did +not look like a respectable tutor, but like some tramp who had stolen +his ill-fitting clothes; nevertheless he obeyed his mistress's +reiterated order, and ushered Herr Gottlieb Pigglewitch into the +sitting-room. + +When the tutor appeared on the threshold of the door, which Hildebrandt +held open for him, Frau von Osternau could not but be struck again by +the contrast between the young man's exterior and his air and bearing. +He held his shabby old hat in his hand with the careless grace of a +gentleman paying a morning call, and the bow with which he greeted the +mistress and master of the house was respectful but easy. As he bowed, +the large, dark eyes rested keenly for an instant upon Frau von +Osternau, and were then turned with the same observant glance upon her +husband. + +The shyness and the awkwardness which are wont to attack young men +unused to society upon first meeting persons of rank were evidently +unknown to Herr Gottlieb Pigglewitch. He approached Frau von Osternau, +and bowing again slightly, said, "Madame, allow me to introduce myself +as the Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch, whom Herr Director Kramser has +recommended to you for a tutor. I beg to thank you for your kindness in +consenting to postpone my entering upon the duties of the important +post assigned me until to-day, and to assure you that I am now ready to +fulfil them to the best of my ability. Yes, I confess that I greatly +desire to enter upon the honest performance of them. I am eager to +teach your little son what you would have him learn." + +It was an odd speech, and there was certainly no trace to be found in +it of the formal tone always adopted upon every special occasion by the +Herr Director Kramser in his youth. Everything about the young man was +different from what Frau von Osternau had expected to find it. She was +not easily embarrassed, in her gentle, kindly way she was used to be +equal to any emergency, but, oddly enough, she hardly knew how to treat +this tutor whom she had engaged, this young man who was henceforth to +occupy a superior position among the dependants of her household. She +had thought it but natural and right that she should not be at all +disturbed by his entrance, and should calmly proceed with her knitting, +but it was laid aside, and she felt obliged to receive him as she would +have done a morning visitor of her own rank, as in a few courteous +words she expressed her pleasure in seeing him and motioned him towards +a seat. + +Herr von Osternau's sensations were of a similar kind. He too rose from +his chair and left the window as the tutor entered, and when the latter +took a chair near the sofa, in compliance with Frau von Osternau's +invitation, her husband seated himself likewise, and felt himself +impelled to continue the conversation his wife had begun. + +"I am glad to find you so punctual, Herr Pigglewitch," he said, with a +kindly nod. "I am quite sure, from the representations of Herr Director +Kramser, who is an old friend of my wife's, that you will inculcate +fidelity to duty and punctuality in your teaching of my Fritz, but I +must warn you upon one point. I prefer to undertake my son's training +myself in all matters bearing upon religion. It is of importance to me +that his views upon such subjects should agree with those of his +parents." + +At this explanation a smile hovered about the young man's lips. He +inclined his head courteously towards the master of the house as he +replied, "I thank you for relieving me of your son's religious +instruction, since it is the department in which I feel myself least +fitted to impart knowledge." + +"That surprises me. I should have supposed the contrary from Herr +Director Kramser's letter." + +"Herr Director Kramser is probably disposed to judge too favourably of +my capacity and acquirements. I frankly confess that I have had doubts +whether I am capable of instructing and educating a boy, whether I am +not wanting in conscientiousness in undertaking an office for which I +may have no vocation. I decided to do so in a moment of excitement. +Perhaps I should not have done so. Still, I may be able to overcome all +difficulties, and accomplish my desire to do well and honestly what is +required of me. I do not know whether I possess the patience, force, +and talent required for the task, but I will hope so. I owe it to you +to be frank with you, Herr von Osternau, and I pray you to permit a +trial of my capacity,--a trial to which I concede your right to put an +immediate stop provided I do not fulfil entirely to your satisfaction +the duties required of me." + +Herr and Frau von Osternau listened in increasing surprise to these +words, which they could scarcely comprehend. They exchanged significant +glances, and for a moment Herr von Osternau was doubtful whether it +would not be best to dismiss Herr Gottlieb Pigglewitch at once. +However, the young man's last sentence allayed his doubts. There could +be no harm in making the trial of which he spoke. Therefore he replied, +"I accept your proposal, although I confess myself surprised by your +manner of making it. I really cannot understand how a Candidate, who +has gone through the schools and passed his examination, should doubt +his ability to instruct a boy of six." + +"I have never been a private tutor." + +"Indeed? You doubt then your success in imparting private instruction? +That shows a laudable modesty. You certainly will have some +difficulties to overcome. Fritzchen is an undisciplined little fellow. +It will be hard to induce him to study, and as for Lieschen----" + +"Lieschen? I beg your pardon. I thought my duties were confined to the +instruction of a boy." + +"True. But, since Herr Director Kramser wrote to my wife that you were +very musical, we thought you might give some lessons weekly upon the +piano to our daughter Lieschen. I am of course ready to make them an +object of special remuneration." + +"Not at all. You have relieved me from instruction in religion; instead +I will gladly give lessons in music." + +"You play the piano very well, as Herr Kramser informs me, and you have +a fine voice," Frau von Osternau observed. + +"So it is said, I believe." + +"So Herr Director Kramser wrote me," the lady rejoined, in a tone +sharper than it was her wont to use. She was aggrieved by the small +degree of estimation shown in the young teacher's words for the Herr +Director. "I shall be very sorry if your talent and capacity in this +respect have been overrated by the Herr Director, for I laid special +stress in my letter to him upon my desire that the tutor whom I engaged +should be a good musician, not only because I wished that Lieschen +should take lessons, but principally upon Fritzchen's account. I +consider it of the first importance that a child should receive his +primary instruction in music from a competent teacher." + +"I cannot tell whether I shall be able to satisfy your desires in this +respect, madame. I am but a _dilettante_, and have never given lessons +in music. Here also I must pray you to make trial of me, as I will also +try to adjust myself to my new duties. The future must show whether I +can succeed in pleasing you and in satisfying myself. Will you allow me +to give you some idea now of the amount of artistic skill I possess? +the fine instrument yonder invites the test. You can at least judge +whether my execution and touch are satisfactory, whether my voice +pleases you. One does not like to purchase an article without first +examining it; why should you engage a music-teacher without first +hearing him? He can, unfortunately, give you no instant proof of his +ability to impart instruction, but this is the case with every kind of +teacher. I know from sad experience how large is the number of +musicians, whom Heaven in its wrath has allowed to teach, who bring to +their calling only the merest superficial facility, without the +smallest vocation for teaching." + +He arose as he spoke, and, without waiting for Frau von Osternau's +permission, went towards the grand piano. It was open; Frau von +Osternau, no mean performer herself, had been playing an hour or two +before for her husband's entertainment, and had not closed it. Herr +Pigglewitch looked at the notes upon the music-desk. "Beethoven," he +said. "Is your daughter then so far advanced? It is refreshing nowadays +to find such music open upon a piano. Young ladies whose execution is +sufficiently brilliant to play the 'Moonlight Sonata' usually prefer to +exhibit in what is called drawing-room music. Cultivated taste is but +little thought of nowadays. The popular performers are those who can +make most noise, and rattle off the greatest number of notes in a given +time. I abhor such mere execution as I do the sentimental stuff so +popular with the ladies of the present day." + +Very admirable sentiments these, but in their ease and freedom of +expression so very different from anything that Frau von Osternau had +expected to hear from the tutor recommended by Director Kramser, that +she looked in wide-eyed wonder at the singular person who, turning over +the music and talking thus, appeared to have forgotten for the moment +the purpose for which he had gone to the piano. + +She believed herself exalted far above any aristocratic prejudice of +rank; she prided herself upon the humanity and kindness of her +treatment of inferiors, even of servants. The Inspectors of the estate +and the various governesses she had employed had been treated almost +like members of the family, she never had required of them the servile +respect customary among people employed in such capacities by many +families of rank, but the negligent ease of Gottlieb Pigglewitch's +manner and address seemed to her scarcely permissible. She was tempted +to recall him to a sense of his position, but while she was pondering +upon how this could best be done, the young man had seated himself at +the piano, his fingers were wandering over the keys, and in another +moment Frau von Osternau had completely forgotten that she had wished +to reprove, so intense was her enjoyment of the man's wonderful +playing. + +He had taken his place at the instrument to give some proof of his +musical ability, but no sooner did his fingers touch the keys than this +was quite forgotten, He had not played for weeks, he had even felt a +kind of dislike of music, to the charm of which he had so often yielded +involuntarily. In the melancholy in which he had been plunged life +appeared to him so shallow and wearisome that he could not spur himself +to the exertion of extricating himself from its cheerless misery. But +now, when the first tones of the piano responded to his touch, they +awakened within him memories of hours in which he had lost himself and +revelled in the world of melody and harmony, music cast its spell +around him once more, life dawned upon him afresh, and he gave +expression in his playing to this feeling. He improvised so wondrously +that Frau von Osternau was profoundly touched, and her husband forgot +to look out into the court-yard, where the men were returning from the +fields, he forgot all else save the music, to which he listened with +head bent and clasped hands. + +The last chord died away, the player dropped his hands from the keys +upon which his gaze had rested dreamily, and turned to Frau von +Osternau with a smile. + +"Pardon me, madame," he said, "I forgot myself, and have given you my +own wild fancies. I could not resist the impulse of the moment, it is +my misfortune that I lack self-control. But I will try to improve, and +will make an instant beginning by praying you to suggest something you +would like to hear, only begging you not to ask to-day for what is mere +technique. We will postpone that to another hour." + +Frau von Osternau's eyes were moist as she replied,-- + +"You must play no more at present. I would not have the pleasure you +have just given me disturbed by a single other note. You are an artist, +a divinely-inspired artist, Herr----" She hesitated; she could not bear +at the moment to pronounce the ridiculous name Pigglewitch, but it had +to be done, nevertheless, and as she uttered it the spell that had held +her was broken. The man's name recalled her to prosaic reality; again +she was aware of the ugly, old-fashioned coat with its long pointed +tails that hung down behind the music-stool and reached to the ground. +There sat before her no longer the artist who had transported her to 'a +purer ether,' but the Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch, awaiting her +further commands. + +"There is no need, Herr Pigglewitch," she continued, "that I should +hear anything more to be sure that you are capable of giving my +children instruction in music, the future must show whether to teach is +your vocation in life. Let us make the trial, and discover whether you +are fitted for the situation, and whether you can be comfortable in +fulfilling its duties. I frankly confess to you that I have my +misgivings. You do not at all answer to the idea I had formed of the +tutor recommended to me by the Herr Director Kramser, but then reality +seldom corresponds to the representations of our imagination. With your +consent, Fritz," she added, turning to her husband, "I beg Herr +Pigglewitch to consider himself from this time our children's teacher." + +"I give it with all my heart," Herr von Osternau replied, with a nod, +offering his hand to the young man, who had left his seat and +approached him. "There's my hand, Herr Pigglewitch, we will all put +this matter honestly to the test. If we are unsuccessful, we can part +friends, but I hope we shall succeed. From this moment the castle is +your home, and I pray you to consider it such. My old Hildebrandt will +show you to the rooms that have been prepared for you, and I will send +Fritz to you that you may make acquaintance with your pupil. We dine at +three, you can use the time until then in establishing yourself in your +new quarters. At table and while coffee is being served we can perhaps +discuss some plan of instruction. We will detain you no longer at +present." + +Pigglewitch, upon whom Herr von Osternau's kindly manner made a most +agreeable impression, thanked his employers courteously, and when old +Hildebrandt appeared in answer to a touch upon a silver bell on the +table beside his master, the young man followed him after a graceful +bow to the lord and lady of the castle. + +Silence reigned for many minutes in the room he had left. Frau von +Osternau had taken up her knitting, the needles clicked incessantly as +they always did when the lady was lost in thought. Her husband was the +first to speak. "Tell me frankly, Emma, how you like your _protege_." + +"I really do not know. I cannot make up my mind." + +"Nor can I. A very strange fellow! He attracts and repels me. I called +him a scarecrow when I saw him coming across the court-yard, but as he +sat playing at the piano, and his dark eyes fairly shone, I thought him +really handsome." + +"So did I. What are we to think? But indeed since my good old friend +Kramser has recommended him, we need be under no anxiety." + +"It is odd though. I never should have imagined that so prosaic, +commonplace a man as Kramser would have recommended so singular a +person. How can the young fellow have been led to adopt teaching as a +vocation? Will he, do you think, ever tame down the spirit that +sparkles in those eyes to the dull routine of every-day life? If he +does, we shall have cause for gratitude to your friend Kramser for +many an hour of enjoyment. You were right when you called him a +divinely-gifted artist." + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + A CATO IN GOLDEN CURLS. + + +"Beg pardon, Herr Candidate, I must request you to follow me." + +Old Hildebrandt bowed as he spoke these words, and proceeded to conduct +Herr Gottlieb Pigglewitch to his apartments. In a corner of the hall +lay the ancient travelling-bag. Pigglewitch would have picked it up to +carry it to his room himself, but this Hildebrandt would by no means +allow. "I will call a servant," he said, taking the bag from the young +man's hand, and in answer to his twice-repeated call of "Johann!" a +footman appeared, who was taken to task for his dilatoriness and +ordered instantly to carry the Herr Candidate's portmanteau to his +room. + +Johann scanned the figure of the stranger contemptuously, mentally +comparing the threadbare coat of the latter with his own well-kept +livery. It was really quite derogatory to his dignity to carry such a +fellow's luggage up the stairs. "It's not my place to fetch and carry +for _him_!" he was mentally ejaculating, when he suddenly encountered +the glance of the stranger's eye, and what he saw there was in such +contrast to his shabby exterior that he meekly took the bag and obeyed +Hildebrandt's directions. + +The old servant led the way up the broad staircase and along a wide +corridor, at the end of which he threw open a door with "This is your +sitting-room, Herr Candidate." + +Pigglewitch was most agreeably surprised by the appearance of the +apartment into which he was ushered,--a large, comfortably-furnished +room, lighted by two broad windows. The low, chintz-covered sofa, with +its large pillows, the big arm-chairs, the piano in one corner, the +well-filled book-shelves, the study-table, all gave the place a refined +air of comfort which gratified the young man's taste. He was especially +pleased to find a piano here,--his dormant love of music had suddenly +revived. Formerly his piano had been his best friend, he greeted it +once more with joy. + +He went to the window, which looked out upon a charming old-fashioned +garden filled with bloom, and an extent of close-shaven lawn. + +The old servant allowed the young man time to observe the prospect, and +then remarked, "This door leads into your bedroom, Herr Candidate, +where you will find your wardrobe and conveniences for washing, and +where Johann has left your bag. The family dines at three o'clock +punctually, and Herr von Osternau likes to have every one in the +dining-hall as the clock begins to strike. It would be well if you +would set your watch by the castle clock so as to be dressed by five +minutes of three, when I shall with your permission show you the way to +the dining-room. Madame likes to have every one dress for dinner; the +Herr Lieutenant always does so, and when the Herr Inspectors are too +busy to do so they dine in the Inspector's room and do not appear at +table." + +"You wish me to dress, then?" Pigglewitch asked, with a smile. + +"If you please, Herr Candidate; I do not mean to presume, but you will +like to know the custom of the household. Should you require anything +further, you will be good enough to pull your bell three times in +succession; the Herr Lieutenant rings twice and Herr von Osternau and +madame once only. Johann will obey your summons immediately." + +He bowed and left the room, leaving its occupant gazing thoughtfully +out of the window. He looked across the blooming flower-beds, the +velvet lawn, the luxuriant shrubbery, his eyes sought the distant +horizon while his thoughts took shape in a half-muttered soliloquy: +"The first step in the new life is taken, and everything differs +utterly from my anticipations. Where is the haughty aristocrat, the +scornful lady, whom I hoped to inspire with horror by my appearance? +What has become of the struggle with arrogant self-assertion to which I +looked forward? Positively my ill luck, the tiresome good fortune which +has been lavished upon me ever since I was a child, pursues me here +also, my irresponsible folly has introduced me to a household where any +man save myself would be perfectly happy. Was it worth while to don +Pigglewitch's ridiculous attire to be pursued here too by my fate? And, +besides, how can I answer it to my conscience to deceive these worthy, +unsuspicious people? If they were what I imagined them, arrogant, +brutal, looking down with contempt upon the man whose services they had +hired, there would have been some amusement in bringing their pride low +in a contention with them. Such a struggle would have been worth a +couple more weeks of existence. But now? Well, why not? I have +something very different here from the eternal monotony of a +fashionable society life. This one may be as tiresome, but variety will +make it endurable for a time. I am already refreshed and enlivened by +the idea of attempting to conform myself to new conditions of +existence. But have I a right to play with these kindly people, to +deceive them, for the gratification of a whim of the moment? Pshaw! It +can do no harm to assume the _role_ of a Candidate Pigglewitch for a +few days. I have acknowledged frankly that this is but a trial, that I +mistrusted my own qualifications for the position; what more could be +desired? And, besides, if my _alter ego_, the real Pigglewitch, had +come to them, would they have been any better off? They ought to thank +me for ridding them of him. The farce is begun; it must be carried out +until--until it grows too tiresome, and then the sham Pigglewitch can +go the same way that the real Pigglewitch was so near going but +lately." + +He paused. His thoughts were diverted from their course by the clear, +joyous voice of a child in the garden below his windows. + +A handsome little fellow, with fair close curls, broke forth from the +shrubbery on the farther side of the lawn, and a few steps behind him +came running, still faster, a girl hardly more than a child. She tried +to catch the boy, he slipped from her but only for a moment. She caught +him, lifted him in her arms, kissed him, and then putting him down with +"Now catch me, Fritzchen!" she vanished again among the bushes. It was +a charming picture. The graceful, girlish figure had glided like a +fairy over the lawn, seeming to the spectator rather to fly than to +run. With all her tender grace how strong and healthy she looked! +Pigglewitch had but one fleeting glimpse of her face, when she lifted +the boy and kissed him. It seemed to him wonderfully lovely, but the +next instant she had disappeared in the shrubbery, and the boy followed +her with a shout. + +"Herr Fritzchen! Fraeulein! Fraeulein Lieschen!" + +Old Hildebrandt was standing in the gravel-path that ran through the +garden, calling in stentorian tones. + +"Yes, yes!" came from the shrubbery, and immediately afterwards the +brother and sister appeared, hand in hand, running swiftly. As they +crossed the lawn, however, they slackened their pace, so that +Pigglewitch could observe them at his ease. They were extremely alike, +both handsome, but the maidenly charm of the young girl was +indescribably attractive. + +"What is it? Why are you calling us, Hildebrandt?" she asked, from a +distance. The tone of her voice delighted the ear of the listener at +the window. It was rich, clear, and melodious. + +"Madame your mother sent me. The Herr Tutor has come. Fritzchen is to +go to him in his room immediately." + +"The new tutor? Oh, I must see him too!" was Lieschen's reply, and hand +in hand with her little brother she ran so swiftly towards the castle +that her golden curls were blown backward by the wind. + +Pigglewitch turned from the window and looked towards the door in +expectation of the visit. That beautiful boy was to be his charge, that +charming fairy his pupil in music. Here was another surprise. Would +fortune never tire of showering her favours upon him? This time, +however, her gifts did not strike him as tiresome. If he had ever +hesitated as to whether he should carry out his mad scheme of remaining +as tutor in Castle Osternau, all such hesitation was now at an end. + +He waited but a few moments before light, tripping steps were heard in +the corridor, then came a low, melodious laugh, and then a knock at his +door. + +"Come in!" + +The door opened, and on the threshold there appeared, still hand in +hand, the beautiful boy and the golden-haired fairy. The girl looked +around the room with an air of arch curiosity, but no sooner did her +eyes encounter Pigglewitch's figure than she burst into a laugh, which +she vainly tried to suppress. She blushed, her efforts at self-control +were evident, but they were of no use. One glance towards the new tutor +was enough to provoke her merriment afresh. Thus, still laughing, she +advanced into the room with Fritzchen, who looked in shy amazement at +the stranger. + +The young lady's unbridled mirth aroused in Pigglewitch, who guessed +its cause, a very disagreeable sensation. On the day previous, and on +this very morning, he had contemplated his image in his hand-glass with +much complacency, congratulating himself upon the impression his +slouching, bedraggled figure would make upon the aristocratic inmates +of Castle Osternau. His expectations had been fulfilled, and were being +fulfilled at this moment, but he was not enjoying himself. The +prolonged laughter of the young girl vexed him, and as she sank into an +arm-chair, and seemed entirely unable to regain her composure, he bit +his lip and gave utterance to his annoyance by observing, sharply, "May +I inquire the cause of your amiable merriment, Fraeulein?" + +The question only provoked a fresh burst of laughter, after which the +girl controlled herself for a moment sufficiently to reply, "I am so +sorry, but indeed I cannot help it when I look at you, you do look so +utterly ridiculous!" + +"Your pertinent reply bears testimony to taste in dress and to love of +truth rather than to good breeding on your part, Fraeulein." + +Lieschen suddenly grew graver; she looked him fairly in the face for +the first time. Hitherto her attention had been given to the queer +black coat, with its long, pointed tails. She saw now that its wearer +was offended, and she said, kindly and ruefully, "I am sorry to have +vexed you, but indeed I could not help it. I mean no harm, but I must +laugh when I look at you." Then, suddenly altering her tone, she went +on, "But why should I excuse my conduct? Have you not just called my +reply pertinent and a proof of good taste? consequently you must know +yourself how utterly ridiculous that old-fashioned coat is, how ugly +you look in it. If you come to Castle Osternau dressed like a +scarecrow, you must not complain if you are laughed at. Hildebrandt +told me how odd you looked. He prepared me, and yet I could not help +laughing when I saw you. How can you wear such clothes? They do not +suit your face at all, and Hildebrandt says you played the piano most +delightfully." + +She looked him full in the face as she thus lectured him, and shook her +curls with a charming air of severity. + +"A poor Candidate has no means wherewith to dress himself elegantly," +Pigglewitch replied, colouring in spite of himself at the girl's +reproof, the truth of which he could not deny, and taking refuge in +prevarication. + +"I do not believe you," Lieschen replied, adding after a short pause, +during which she looked at him with grave reproof in her eyes, "It +shows a want of respect for papa and mamma and for all of us. If you +knew no better we could not help laughing at you although we should +pity you, but your words betray your consciousness of the ridiculous +appearance you present, and yet you come dressed thus to Castle +Osternau. Papa always dresses for dinner, although he is an old man and +the head of the house. And would you teach Fritzchen and me in that +coat? Then do not ask us to be serious. Oh, I cannot help laughing when +I look at you!" + +She leaned back among the cushions of the arm-chair as her laughter +burst forth again, while little Fritz, whom awe of the new tutor had +hitherto kept quiet, was emboldened by his sister's example, and also +laughed aloud. + +The situation was by no means an agreeable one for Pigglewitch. If the +girl's reproof had only not been so just! He cursed himself for his +folly in exchanging clothes with the real Pigglewitch, but the deed was +past recall, and he must bear the consequences. + +"You ought not to ridicule poverty, Fraeulein," he observed, merely for +something to say. + +Lieschen grew grave again; she was charming when she laughed, but still +more attractive when she spoke with her little air of serious +disapproval: + +"I should be ashamed of laughing at a poor man because he could not +dress in the fashion. I never should laugh at you for wearing a +threadbare coat, although I cannot understand how a young man who has +only himself to provide for should not be able to dress decently. You +must have another suit of clothes. What is there in that old +travelling-bag?" + +She pointed to the bag which Johann had put just inside the open door +of the next room. Her question embarrassed Pigglewitch. Had he told the +truth he must have replied, "I don't know." He could not possibly say +this, and again he had recourse to prevarication. + +"Certainly nothing in the fashion," he replied. "Since, however, you +lay such stress, Fraeulein, upon my dress at table and during study +hours, I will take care to provide myself as soon as possible with the +best clothes that can be found here in the country. Until I have done +so, I will beg madame your mother to dispense with my society at meals +and to relieve me of my duties as instructor, for I cannot allow my +pupils to laugh at me, even although one of them be a young lady." + +Lieschen looked approval, she bethought herself a moment and then said, +"I have a plan to propose, Herr Candidate. It would be a great pity +that you should stay away from table for several days, for it will take +the tailor fully that length of time to provide you with a new suit. +Herr Storting will help you. He is just your size, and his clothes will +at all events fit you better than that ugly, ridiculous coat." + +"Who is Herr Storting?" + +"Our second inspector. He is so obliging he will surely help you if I +ask him to. He never refuses me anything, and I know he has a whole +wardrobe full of suits. Do you consent? Indeed you must, you cannot +reject my proposal, and in return I promise you that I will not even +smile, either when you come to dinner or when you give me my first +lesson on the piano. Herr Storting has just come in from the fields, I +saw him ride into the court-yard a moment ago. I will go and ask him, +and he will be here in five minutes and will offer to do anything for +you. You need not say a word. Run quickly to the inspector's office, +Fritzchen, and tell Herr Storting that I wish to speak to him +immediately, and that I am waiting for him in the garden in the +jessamine arbour. Adieu, Herr Candidate! We have had a little quarrel, +but that is no matter, it can all be made up. We shall see each other +again at dinner." + +She did not wait for an answer: before Pigglewitch could either accept +or reject her proposal she had tripped away, with Fritzchen running +before her, eager to obey her orders. + +"Egon, you have made an infernal fool of yourself," Pigglewitch +muttered, when the young girl had left him. He felt really humiliated +by the reproof uttered by those charming lips with so much girlish +dignity. A mere child had ventured first to laugh at him, then to +lecture him, and finally to act as it were as a kind of guardian over +him. It was rather hard, especially as he could not but be conscious +that Lieschen was right. Egon von Ernau, having taken upon himself +Pigglewitch's name and social standing, must submit to be treated +accordingly. He could withdraw from such treatment, for he was not as +yet bound even by any promise. The idea occurred to him that he had +best leave Castle Osternau as quickly as possible, but it was banished +almost before it had taken shape. It would be unpardonable weakness, +actual cowardice, he said to himself, to end the struggle for existence +which he had hardly begun, by a flight from the scene of action. Was it +the struggle only that interested him? Was there not an attraction in +the image of a charming child, a fairy with golden curls, her dark-blue +eyes now dancing with laughter, now frankly reproachful? No, he could +not leave Castle Osternau at once, this child must learn to respect +him, and if he stayed it must not be to afford the fairy occasion for +mirth: he must lay aside the ugly mask which he had purchased of the +real Pigglewitch. Perhaps the travelling-bag, as yet unopened, would +furnish more respectable apparel than that which its owner had worn +when travelling. + +Egon had felt no antipathy to exchanging clothes with Pigglewitch, but +he was suddenly seized with disgust for everything belonging to the +man. He had laughed when he had first looked at himself in the glass, +but as he now caught sight of his reflection he was positively ashamed. +"She called me a scarecrow," he muttered, "and, by Jove! she was right. +No scarecrow could be a more ridiculous object than I am at this +minute." + +He picked up the travelling-bag: it was locked and there was no key, +there was nothing for it but to force the wretched lock with his +pocket-knife. When it was opened, the contents proved worse than he had +imagined. He found, to be sure, another suit of clothes rather better +than Pigglewitch's travelling attire, but it was made after precisely +the same fashion, and when Egon put on the coat he thought he looked +more like a scarecrow than before. The real Pigglewitch must have +purchased his wardrobe in some old-clothes shop, with a special view to +a certain bygone fashion. The newer coat being less shabby than the +other could be less easily forgiven for its antique cut. + +The linen which Egon discovered formed no contrast to the suit, it +entirely disgusted him. What should he do until other clothes could be +procured? and when could he procure these? Should he use the money in +his pocket-book? He had determined not to touch it. It had been a chief +part of his wild scheme to live for a while like a poor Candidate, with +no other means than his salary as tutor. He had thought it interesting +to try for once how life looked to a poor man, who must economize and +contrive. Was he at the outset to be false to this scheme? No. +Disagreeable as he might find it, he had resolved to taste, as Gottlieb +Pigglewitch, the joys and sorrows of a poor Candidate, and he would +carry out his intention. What would Gottlieb Pigglewitch do in his +place? This was a question difficult to answer. He would hardly have +been very sensitive beneath the laugh of the charming fairy. His usual +dress had not been odious to him, and he would not probably have wished +to exchange it for any other. In vain did Egon attempt to devise some +way of procuring decent habiliments without having recourse to his +pocketbook. He was pacing his room to and fro, in a very unenviable +state of mind, when there was a knock at his door, and a fine-looking +young man made his appearance. An involuntary smile played about his +mouth at sight of Egon's peculiar attire, as, with a courteous +inclination, he said, "Allow me to introduce myself to you, Herr +Candidate. My name is Storting. Fraeulein Lieschen sends me to you. You +know the purpose of my coming, and I need not tell you how happy I +shall be to serve you. My wardrobe is well supplied, and I can easily +provide for you until you can make other arrangements." + +The frank kindliness of the young man's offer embarrassed Egon afresh. +He felt an eager desire to accept it, but was reluctant to place +himself under such obligations to a stranger. Herr Storting's tall, +well-made figure was like his own. Fraeulein Lieschen had truly guessed +that the young inspector's coat would fit him, but---- "I really do not +see how I can accept your exceedingly kind offer, for which I thank you +most cordially," he said, with hesitation. + +"But indeed you must accept it," Storting replied, with a laugh. "It is +Fraeulein Lieschen's wish, and, as you will acknowledge before you have +passed many days in Castle Osternau, this is a sufficient reason with +every one of its inmates, from Herr von Osternau to the gardener's boy, +with the exception perhaps of the Herr Lieutenant, for turning the +world upside down. It is Fraeulein Lieschen's wish, and to this wish you +must bend. Pray come with me to my room. We shall soon be able to equip +you suitably. To be honest with you, the young lady's wish is perfectly +justifiable. You must not take my frankness amiss, I cannot help +telling you that it would never do to appear at dinner in that coat. +You would expose yourself to the derision of the servants, and +compromise your position in the castle." + +"I understand, but----" + +"Do not hesitate to accept my offer. What harm can it do to wear a coat +which I do not need myself, for a couple of days, until you have fitted +yourself out?" + +"Until I have fitted myself out? But when shall I be able to do this?" + +"Ah! yes, I understand you. You are for the moment in some pecuniary +embarrassment." + +"And supposing this to be the case?" + +"That can easily be arranged. We will both ask for leave of absence for +to-morrow forenoon. Mirbach Station is only a quarter of a mile from +the castle. We can take the first train thence to-morrow, and be in +Breslau by eight o'clock. I will take you to my tailor there, who will +give you credit upon my recommendation, if you will promise to make +quarterly payments on account when you receive your salary. He has a +large establishment of ready-made clothing, and is not too dear. For +fifty thalers you can easily procure a summer outfit, and I shall be +happy to be of service to you in your selection, since you are probably +not familiar with the prevailing fashions. We will take with us to +Breslau the suit which you have on and that other lying on the chair, +and dispose of them to the best advantage, for really they are not +suitable to be worn at Castle Osternau. Do you agree?" + +"Assuredly, and with a thousand thanks for your courtesy," Egon +replied. He might, he thought, accept this proposal, and he quite +enjoyed the idea of needing a sponsor to procure him a credit of fifty +thalers, and of selling the wardrobe of the worthy Pigglewitch to an +old-clothes dealer. Certainly there was variety here for Egon von +Ernau. + +He immediately followed Herr Storting to his room, where the wardrobes +were found almost too well stocked, as the young inspector remarked, +for their owner's means. "But better too many clothes than too few," he +added. "It is specially needful to be always well dressed in the +country, where there is so much temptation to be negligent, and where +one's authority among the peasants and labourers depends more than +would be believed upon a certain distinction of dress. Wherefore I am +grateful to Herr von Osternau for strictly requiring that we should +dress for dinner. It confirms us in good habits, as you, Herr +Candidate, will admit when you have been a few weeks here." + +Egon made no reply to this exordium. He merely expressed his thanks +again, as Herr Storting selected from a wardrobe and placed at his +disposal a plain but well-made summer suit, and it was with a positive +sense of relief that he stripped off Pigglewitch's habiliments. As he +did so Storting observed with surprise in his tone, "You are a riddle +to me, Herr Candidate. Your linen is of the finest, and of the latest +and most expensive fashion, while the remainder of your attire is so +inconceivably forlorn. I cannot understand it. But my coat, you see, +fits you as if it were made for you. You look a different man without +that swallow-tailed abomination." + +The pleasure with which Egon now contemplated himself in the +looking-glass was an entirely new sensation. Involuntarily he wondered +whether Fraeulein Lieschen would again liken him to a scarecrow. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + DINNER AND DESSERT. + + +Herr Von Osternau had no fancy for aristocratic conventionalities. He +lived the life of a plain country gentleman, was on the best of terms +with his servants and peasants, and treated his inspectors quite as if +they belonged to his family, gave them a place at his table, and +frequently invited them to join the family circle in the evenings. +Nevertheless he observed certain forms. When his inspectors appeared at +dinner or at tea in the drawing-room they were expected to do so in +simple evening dress. No orders were given to this effect, but they +knew what Herr and Frau von Osternau desired, and conformed to their +wishes. + +As the clock struck three, dinner was announced: the most exact +punctuality was observed. The lord of the castle always betook himself +half an hour before the time to the large dining-hall, at one end of +which the table was set. Here he paced the long room to and fro, and it +pleased him to have the members of his family bear him company here. +During this half-hour before dinner he liked to talk with his children. +He would often pace to and fro with Lieschen hanging on his right arm +and Fritz holding his left hand. Frau von Osternau would sit by with +her constant knitting, and at times Cousin Albrecht, the Lieutenant, +would join the small party. + +After dinner coffee was served in the adjoining billiard-room, whither +the inspectors followed the family only on holidays or when there was +comparatively little to be done out of doors. They usually took their +leave, to return to their duties of superintendence, so soon as Herr +von Osternau rose from table. The only exception to this rule was the +superintendent, Lieutenant von Osternau, who belonged to the family, +and who was, besides, not very strict in the discharge of his duties, +although he drew with great punctuality when quarter-day came round the +very considerable sum which he received as salary. As he himself was +wont to say, his office as superintendent of the entire estate did not +require him to oversee the smaller details of its management, and he +could therefore always find time for a game of billiards with his +cousin and Lieschen, as well as for visits to the neighbouring estates, +with frequent hunting expeditions. He could do this the more readily +since Herr von Osternau himself always exercised a general supervision +of all agricultural operations and kindly allowed his young cousin +every possible liberty. + +On the day upon which the Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch arrived at the +castle, Lieutenant Albrecht von Osternau appeared in the dining-hall +somewhat before half-past two. The third inspector, Herr von Wangen, +was overseeing the harvesters in the Oster meadow and had excused +himself from appearing at table, and Herr Storting was busy with the +reception of the first instalments of hay. Therefore the superintendent +had seen no necessity for exerting himself in the hot sun, but had +taken a siesta from twelve to two, and was now awaiting his cousin in +the cool, airy dining-hall. + +He had not long to wait. Punctual as ever, Herr and Frau von Osternau +entered. A minute later, Fritz rushed in, and Lieschen came to take her +father's arm and accompany him in his daily promenade. Cousin Albrecht +accosted her, but she slipped past him with an arch glance and the +half-contemptuous inquiry, "Are you up again, cousin? I hope you +enjoyed your nap." + +"What makes you think I have been sleeping?" Albrecht asked, crossly, +annoyed that Lieschen should betray him. Kind and courteous as was the +castle's lord, he could hardly be pleased to learn that his +superintendent had spent the precious time in a nap before dinner. + +"Can you deny it, cousin?" Lieschen rejoined, with a laugh. "You had +better not try that. So loud and sonorous a sound came from your room +as I passed your door a while ago, that I stopped for a moment to +wonder what it was. It was wonderful music. You say you are not very +musical, but no one who has heard you snore will believe you." + +"What were you doing at my room door? What did you want of me?" + +Lieschen looked round scornfully at her cousin, who was following a few +steps behind her father and herself. "You do not suppose, do you, that +I was going to pay you a visit? No, Cousin Albrecht, I was on my way to +one more worthy of such an honour, our new Candidate. Why do you look +surprised? Oh, I understand, you do not know yet that we have a new +inmate. You have been sleeping sweetly and snoring most musically while +the Candidate was being installed in his rooms, which are just beyond +yours. You cannot deny now that you have been asleep." + +Albrecht was at a loss for a reply, and was relieved by Herr von +Osternau's turning to Lieschen with the inquiry, "Did you pay the +Candidate a visit in his room?" + +"Of course, papa. I was frightfully curious to see him." + +"And how did you like him?" asked her father. + +"Do you know, papa, I have been thinking that over for an hour, and I +cannot make up my mind?" + +"Why, you laughed at him terribly, Lieschen, and told him he looked +like a scarecrow," little Fritz interposed. + +Her father and mother exchanged a glance of intelligence, and Herr von +Osternau said, "The same comparison occurred to me as I saw him +crossing the courtyard, so the resemblance must have been striking. +But, Lieschen, you ought not to have used such a word to him: you are +too old, my child, to let your tongue so run away with you. We ought +not to say everything that we think, and, besides, it is impossible to +judge a man by his exterior. The Candidate himself is a proof of this. +At first sight he seems only an awkward, uncouth man, but no one can +look into his eyes and not see intelligence sparkling there." + +"I saw no sparks," interposed Fritz again. + +"But I did," Lieschen said, thoughtfully, "and that was precisely why I +told you just now, papa, that I could not make up my mind." + +Again Herr von Osternau exchanged a glance of intelligence with his +wife. They had each used almost the same words which Lieschen had just +uttered to express their own inability to pronounce judgment upon the +stranger. + +"This sparkling-eyed Candidate must be an extraordinary man," Albrecht +remarked. "What is his name? You have not mentioned his name, cousin." + +"Pigglewitch." + +The name produced an instant effect. Albrecht burst into a laugh, in +which Lieschen and Fritz joined, while even Frau von Osternau could not +suppress a smile. + +"Pigglewitch! A charming name! I am really curious to make his +acquaintance." + +"You will stop laughing, and never bestow a thought upon either his +ridiculous name or his odd appearance, when you see him at the piano +and hear the wondrous charm of his music," Herr von Osternau replied to +Albrecht's remark. "There's magic in his playing. It positively +bewitched me. I scarcely ventured to breathe while the melody lasted, +and when the tones had died away on the air the echo still rang on in +my heart." + +"He'll not bewitch me," Albrecht declared, still laughing. "The name of +Pigglewitch will act as a counter-charm to provoke laughter in spite of +all the melody imaginable." + +Lieschen agreed with her cousin, and Fritz seemed quite of the same +opinion, inasmuch as he repeated the name several times, and always +with fresh merriment. Frau von Osternau had some difficulty in subduing +the young people's mirthfulness, in which she was half tempted to join, +strictly forbidding Fritz to offend the Herr Candidate by any show of +amusement at his odd name. It would be best that, until he became used +to its sound, he should address his tutor as Herr Candidate, "and +Lieschen and Cousin Albrecht," she added, with a glance towards the +pair, "would do well to observe the same rule." Whereupon Cousin +Albrecht declared that he could not promise to do so, that ridiculous +people existed in order that others might have the pleasure of chaffing +them, and that if the Candidate's name was Pigglewitch he must expect +to have it laughed at. Besides, there was no fear of offending the man, +that sort of people ought to feel it an honour to be noticed at all, he +would doubtless be flattered by their laughter. + +Herr von Osternau objected to this remark of his cousin's, but Albrecht +maintained that he was right, and there ensued a sharp war of words, in +which Albrecht showed himself a thorough conservative aristocrat, +despising all, even the most cultivated, of the _bourgeoisie_, and +quite unable to conceive how a Candidate could prefer any claim to be +received in what he called society, while the elder cousin with much +greater persistence expressed his liberal views and declared that he +required that the Herr Lieutenant should treat their new inmate with +the courtesy due to every man of culture, whatever might be his social +standing. + +Herr von Osternau was always extremely forbearing in his treatment of +Cousin Albrecht, for whose disappointment with regard to his +inheritance he felt great compassion, but to-day he showed some +irritation in the warmth of his defence of the Candidate's rights. He +declared that he would not suffer any slight or want of courtesy to be +shown in his house to a young man to whom he had confided the +instruction of his children. + +Albrecht rejoined that he would have no rules laid down for his conduct +towards a man who was too much his inferior to be worthy of notice; he +could not possibly treat the Candidate as a social equal; such people +could not but be conscious that they were merely tolerated. + +The dispute between the cousins threatened to become warmer still, and +the gentle words of Frau von Osternau failed of their usual soothing +effect, when fortunately the bell of the castle clock tolled three, and +before it had finished the folding doors of the dining-hall were +opened, and Herr Storting and the Candidate Pigglewitch appeared, +followed by Johann bearing the soup-tureen. + +But was this really the Candidate Pigglewitch? Herr and Frau von +Osternau could scarcely believe their eyes, so complete was the +transformation. There was no longer a trace to be seen of the +awkwardness of gait or carriage that had seemed a part of his antique, +dangling habiliments. So easy and unconstrained were his movements in +the simple summer coat with which Herr Storting had provided him that +there was hardly anything about him by which to recognize Pigglewitch. +His first glance as he entered the room was for Lieschen, his first bow +of course for her mother, whom he approached with respectful courtesy, +while he was quite conscious of the roguish sparkle in the fairy's +eyes, by which she showed her satisfaction in the metamorphosis her +power had effected. + +In consequence of the interrupted dispute the lord of the castle +received the Candidate with extreme kindliness, offering him his hand +as he said, "Welcome to our small circle, Herr Pigglewitch. Most of its +members you are already acquainted with, my children have introduced +themselves to you, and Herr Storting has become known to you as I see +by your coming into the room together; my cousin, then, is the only +stranger to you here. Herr Candidate Pigglewitch, Herr Lieutenant +Albrecht von Osternau." + +At this formal introduction Egon was about to bow courteously, but, +observing that the lieutenant held himself haughtily erect with the +faintest acknowledgment of his cousin's introduction, he only slightly +inclined his head, with a half-smile at the scowl with which Albrecht +noted his behaviour. Not a word was exchanged between the young men, +but each felt instinctively that they were foes. + +"The soup is upon the table," said Herr von Osternau, who had observed +this little scene with some displeasure and was in a hurry to cut it +short. "Let us be seated. Your place is here between Lieschen and +Fritz, Herr Pigglewitch." + +Herr von Osternau was wont during dinner to discuss with his inspectors +the various agricultural interests of the estate. Of course it would +have been natural that he should apply first in such matters to his +superintendent, Cousin Albrecht, but he knew that he should receive +unsatisfactory replies from that quarter, and accordingly he conversed +upon these subjects directly with Herr Storting and the third +inspector, Herr von Wangen. As, however, the latter had excused himself +from dining with the family to-day, being too much occupied with the +harvesting, Herr von Osternau directed his inquiries and remarks to +Herr Storting only. + +These farming disquisitions, questions as to the yield of hay to be +expected from this or that meadow, as to the excellence of the crop, +etc., matters of vivid interest to the landed proprietor, were utterly +devoid of such for Egon. He knew perfectly well that hay was dried +grass and was used for fodder for horses and cattle, but he had no idea +of the importance of the labour which was necessary to gather in and +duly store this precious product of the fields. He really could not +follow the conversation which was carried on almost entirely between +Herr von Osternau and Storting, with here and there a remark thrown in +by Cousin Albrecht by way of asserting his dignity as superintendent, +and he would have been very much bored had his attention not been +entirely absorbed by his neighbour on his right. + +As he took his place beside her Lieschen had given him a charming +little nod, and when her father began his agricultural talk with Herr +Storting, she turned to Egon and said, in a low tone,-- + +"I thank you, Herr Piggle----" She paused; "Herr Candidate," she added. + +"Why do you interrupt yourself, Fraeulein Lieschen?" + +"I promised not to laugh at you at table, and I do not wish to break my +word. You must not take it amiss, but indeed your name is too comical, +I should laugh if I said it, and that would mortify you." + +"Not in the least. I resign my ridiculous name with pleasure to your +tender mercies. Laugh if you like, and I will join your laughter at +'Pigglewitch.' The owner of such a name must make up his mind to have +it laughed at, so it is his best policy to laugh too." + +Lieschen looked at him in surprise. + +"That I cannot understand," she said. "How can any one laugh at his own +name, however ridiculous it may be? For him who bears it a name must be +something sacred, to be revered as a memento of parents and +grandparents who have borne it." + +"If you think thus, Fraeulein Lieschen, you ought not to laugh at a +ridiculous name." + +"You are right, Herr Pigglewitch. I will call you by your name, and I +promise you that not a muscle of my face shall stir as I do so." + +"No, no, Fraeulein Lieschen, I was not in such grave earnest. You will +not mortify me, on the contrary it will please me if the name of +Pigglewitch excite your merriment, and I am convinced that all the +Pigglewitches now with God would take no offence at a smile upon such +charming lips." + +"Now you are laughing at your ancestors. I do not like to have you do +that. Some things are too sacred to be trifled with. I do not know what +to think of you. You really pleased me just now when you reproved me, +but your sneer at what every man should hold sacred spoils it all. I am +afraid you are not a good man, Herr Pigglewitch." + +"I do not think I am, and yet I am not as bad as I might be," Egon +replied. "I pray you, Fraeulein Lieschen, take me for what I am; +besides, I am capable of improvement, as I have proved to you. Have I +not sacrificed to you my beautiful coat with its charming long tails, +and consented to appear no longer in the part of scarecrow, but as an +ordinary human being in Herr Storting's clothes?" + +"I have already thanked you for that." + +"Quite unnecessarily. I deserve no thanks. You read me a charming +homily, and I deserved it. I knew you were right, and the result you +have before you. I have even arranged with Herr Storting, who has been +extremely kind to me, to go early to-morrow to Breslau, where my +beautiful black coat is to find its grave in the shop of some humane +old-clothes dealer until some needy wretch effects its resurrection. I +shall return from Breslau stripped of the borrowed plumes which at +present adorn me, but in attire, I trust, which will allow me to appear +before you without being considered a ridiculously ugly scarecrow." + +"You have not forgotten my thoughtless word," Leischen said, with a +blush. + +"No, I do not mean to forget it, it was just, and made a deep +impression upon me. You see I am capable of being instructed. Perhaps +you may be induced to be kind enough to occupy yourself somewhat with +my neglected education." + +Lieschen opened her eyes in wonder. "It would seem to be really +necessary," she said, gravely. "I know you are laughing at me when you +ask an inexperienced girl of seventeen and your future pupil to +attend to your education, but indeed you might learn one thing from +me,--frankness. Papa blamed me a little while ago for always speaking +out my thoughts, but indeed I cannot help it, and I tell you plainly +that I think your way odious of ridiculing everything, even yourself, +your name, your parents and ancestors, and--me for venturing to declare +your old clothes ugly. Your ridicule wounds and offends me. We shall +never be good friends if you talk so to me." + +The girl's sharp reproof surprised Egon so much that he was at a loss +for a reply. He was used in society to meet with the greatest +complaisance from any young lady upon whom he bestowed attention. It is +true he understood the reason for this, he knew why the belles of the +capital lent so ready an ear to him, manifesting the greatest interest +in everything that he said, and from this knowledge he had acquired the +habit--now become to him second nature--of treating them with an easy +air of superiority. He was consequently greatly surprised to find a +girl scarcely more than a child administering to him for the second +time to-day a rebuke which he could not but be conscious was well +merited. He was really in some embarrassment as to how he should reply +to her, when he was fortunately relieved of the necessity for doing so. + +The discussion of the important agricultural matters which had claimed +Herr von Osternau's entire attention, and had been listened to with +such interest by his wife that she had paid no heed to the conversation +between the Candidate and her daughter, came to an end after Herr von +Osternau had arranged operations for the next day, and he now turned to +Egon, saying, kindly, "You must have been somewhat bored, Herr +Pigglewitch: you can hardly take any great interest in agricultural +pursuits, but if you are to live at Castle Osternau I trust you will +find some in what concerns us here so nearly. It will come, I think, +on a closer acquaintance with the subject. The management of an +extensive landed estate, the pursuit of agriculture, always seems to +one town-bred as an inferior, unintellectual occupation. To him the +ordinary peasant is stupidity personified,--a man who follows his +plough like some soulless machine,--and the landed proprietor is but +slightly the superior of his peasants. Among our titled official +circles, if a son is too dull for diplomacy they make a soldier of him, +and if there are fears as to his passing his examination as an officer +he is thought at all events clever enough for agriculture. They buy him +an estate, and should he find a clever, well-taught superintendent, the +machinery of his farms works well, and the opinion that the dullest +fellow is not too dull for an agricultural career receives +confirmation. The poor development of our agricultural resources in +many parts of our country is owing to this wretched prejudice. The +larger number of landed proprietors have no idea of the significance of +their vocation, they farm after the fashions which have been handed +down to them through long generations, without a thought of the study +which should be devoted to the agriculture of to-day. For the +enlightened management of a large farming interest a constant and keen +observation of nature's methods is required, and an understanding that +must be well directed by a cultivated intellect. It is so easy to tread +the well-worn paths that our forefathers have trod, and in doing so one +wins approval as a practical farmer from those who are always ready to +point out the mistakes of others whom they regard as given over to +theories, never suspecting how study might enable them to treble the +produce of their fields and meadows. The intelligent farmer makes +science his servant, by whom he wrings nature's secrets from her and +turns them to the best advantage. The smallest agricultural details are +of importance to him, for through exactitude in these the whole vast +machinery of a large estate is kept in order, and small results will be +reached by those who despise them. But I hardly meant, Herr +Pigglewitch, to deliver you a lecture upon agriculture. I only wish to +prove to you that an interest in the details of a large farming +establishment is not so tiresome and belittling as you may have +hitherto believed. When you have been here some time you will begin to +perceive the complicated wheel-work of the vast machine, and will +perhaps take some pleasure in our daily discussion of agricultural +matters." + +Egon listened attentively to this long explanation, and as he did so a +new sphere of ideas lay revealed before him. He himself possessed an +extensive estate in Western Prussia, Plagnitz, which he had inherited +from his mother, but he had never concerned himself in the slightest +degree with its management; indeed, he had never visited it but once, +when, after a stay of somewhat less than a week, he had left it with +the determination never to see it again, so flat, stale, and +unprofitable did life seem to him in a country where the scenery was +not particularly fine, in an old manor-house that might have been a +mediaeval castle. His administrator, who bore the reputation of a good, +practical agriculturist, was interested in nothing save rye and wheat, +cows and sheep. Upon no other subject could a word be exchanged either +with him or with his wife, who was an admirable housekeeper. He had +conducted his young master through stalls and stables, and would, if +allowed, have told him the history and pedigree of every horse and ox. +He knew just how much milk every cow gave daily, and the number of +calves born on the estate in a year, all which details he was desirous +of giving to his master. The sheep were passed in review before their +lord, and the administrator grew enthusiastic over the merits of +Negrettis and Merinos. Egon hardly understood a word of his +explanation, and was simply bored. Then horses were brought, and the +two men rode over the entire estate. Egon was called upon to admire the +crops, when he really did not know the difference between wheat, oats, +and rye. Everything that the administrator admired tired his master. +Egon was delighted to leave Plagnitz at the end of four days; he made +up his mind that nothing was more stupid or conducive to intellectual +torpor than the pursuit of agriculture. Since this visit he had not +even read his administrator's letters; he gave them to some one of his +father's clerks to answer, and drew from his father's bank the income +from the estate, heedless whether it was as large as it ought to be or +not. Such details were too insignificant to occupy his attention. He +had more money than he knew how to spend. He really had not thought of +his West Prussian estate for a long time, when it suddenly occurred to +him during Herr von Osternau's discourse. With the remembrance of it +came, however, the memory of the intolerable tedium of his visit there. +Could it have been his own ignorance that made the management of his +estate so utterly devoid of interest for him? Was his administrator one +of the practical farmers spoken of by Herr von Osternau? Was it +possible to introduce more enlightened methods at Plagnitz,--methods +with a scientific basis, which might make of it a model for the +cultivation of the surrounding estates? He would consider this when he +returned to Berlin. But should he ever return to Berlin? Had he then +quite relinquished the purpose for which he had left the capital? His +present existence was to have been only a short episode before the +close of a useless career, and here he was thinking of the future and +of something to be done after a while. It was folly. He must live in +the present, there was no future for him. + +For a moment he lost himself in memory and reflection. He was recalled +to the present by a sneering remark of the Lieutenant's: "You are +preaching to deaf ears, my dear cousin. Herr Pigglewitch does not find +your admonitions worth listening to." + +"You are mistaken, Herr Lieutenant," Egon rejoined, hastily, "I have +not only been listening attentively, but have been drawing conclusions +from what Herr von Osternau has been saying which may prove of +advantage to me, and for which I thank him. I frankly confess that I +have hitherto had no idea that the cultivation of the soil required any +amount of intellectual capacity, and I cannot tell whether I shall ever +feel any real interest in agriculture. At present I am so absolutely +ignorant upon the subject that the meaning of various words and +phrases that fell upon my ear during your discussion, as, for instance, +four-course rotation, naked fallow, extirpator, is unknown to me." + +Herr von Osternau laughed at the young man's frank confession of +ignorance, at which Frau von Osternau was much surprised. + +"You amaze me, Herr Pigglewitch," she said. "Director Kramser wrote me +that you were the son of a country clergyman and had been brought up in +the country." + +"Again I have made a blunder," thought Egon. "Impudence, befriend me!" +and, without seeming at all confused, he turned to the lady of the +house. "I confess, to my shame, madame," he replied, "that as a boy I +had a great dislike for every sort of occupation not connected with my +books. And then the small farm attached to a country parsonage is a +very insignificant affair. I took no kind of interest in it then, nor +did my tastes change with years. A teacher who is not content with +inferiority in his training has very little time for any occupation +save what is connected with his future vocation." + +"Ah! with such incessant study you must have become wonderfully +learned," the Lieutenant observed. + +Egon took no notice of the remark: he was only too glad that he had +been able to satisfy the mistress of the house without telling a direct +falsehood. He saw that he had come off conqueror when Frau von Osternau +gave him a kindly nod and said, "You have turned your time to good +account, Herr Pigglewitch, your wonderful music to-day was proof of +that. I can understand how long and how diligent has been the practice +which has given you so brilliant an execution. The expression, the +feeling in your playing cannot be taught or learned, it is a God-given +inspiration possessed by comparatively few of us. I shall be too happy +if you are able to call forth only a hint of it in my children." + +"Herr Pigglewitch is then an artist as well as a scholar," the +Lieutenant observed. "Really, I begin to stand in awe of him, and to +consider Fritz most fortunate in having such a light to illumine the +path of wisdom for him. 'Tis a pity that for the present Fritz must +confine himself to the A B C of learning, or Herr Pigglewitch could +regale him with chemistry, physics, mathematics, Latin, Greek, French, +English,--in short, with everything worth knowing." + +"Add Italian, and your list of the subjects upon which I ought to be +competent to teach will be complete," Egon rejoined, quietly, as if +unconscious of any irony in the Lieutenant's words. + +"What! you understand five languages besides your own?" Herr von +Osternau asked in amazement that a Candidate should be thus +accomplished. "I thought that modern languages were rather neglected in +our first-class schools." + +"I did not learn them at school," Egon said, smiling. "I was always +ambitious to learn something more than was prescribed by the school +curriculum, and I have a natural gift for languages. I like to read +great poets in the original, translations are apt to be but weak +transcriptions, therefore I studied English to read Shakespeare, and +Italian for the sake of Dante. Every educated man understands French of +course, and Greek and Latin form part of the usual classical +education." + +Frau von Osternau was indeed surprised. Were these quietly-uttered +words true, or was Herr Pigglewitch boasting of accomplishments which +he did not possess, in the belief that no one at Castle Osternau could +put his knowledge to the test? If this last were the case he was +mistaken. True, she herself had no knowledge of Greek, Latin, or +Italian, but she spoke both French and English quite well. She +addressed him in English, expressing her pleasure at his proficiency in +languages; he answered her in the same tongue with an accent and with +fluency superior to her own. French he spoke with equal purity and +facility. She could not, after a short conversation in both tongues, +forbear an expression of her admiration of his ability, and was a +little embarrassed when he rejoined, in German, "I have then been +undergoing a slight examination. Perhaps Lieutenant von Osternau will +have the kindness to continue it, and to test my qualifications in +Latin and Greek, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. I gladly place +myself at his disposal." + +"I have never had anything to do with school examinations, and feel no +desire to begin to-day," the Lieutenant replied, giving the +insufferable Pigglewitch a look that was meant to be crushing, but +which was only furious. + +"You are right there, Cousin Albrecht," Lieschen interposed; "you would +come to grief if you attempted the part of an examiner." + +The Lieutenant had no chance to reply to his young cousin, for Herr von +Osternau rose from table and every one followed his example. + +On week-days the inspectors always took their leave, returning to their +duties, but to-day Herr Storting lingered and asked for leave of +absence for the next morning. Herr von Osternau seemed surprised. "Is +your business in Breslau so very pressing?" he asked. "You know every +hour is precious during the harvesting." + +"Yes, papa, Herr Storting has very urgent business in Breslau," +Lieschen replied in the young man's stead. "He and Herr Pigglewitch +must both pay a visit there to-morrow morning. Please, papa, do not ask +why now, I will tell you by and by." + +"And why not now?" + +"Because Cousin Albrecht stands there pricking his ears most curiously, +and the matter is no affair of his. I am sure, papa dear, you will +allow Herr Storting and the Herr Candidate to go to-morrow without +asking any questions. They will both be back by noon." + +"Of course we must all do as you please, you witch," her father +replied, stroking back the golden curls from his darling's forehead. "I +will ask no questions. Certainly they should both have gone without +your interference. I am sure Herr Storting has good reasons for wishing +to spend any time away from Osternau during the hay-harvest." + +Storting looked a little confused. "Indeed you are most kind, Herr +von Osternau. I was perhaps in a trifle too much haste, I might +postpone----" + +"Do not believe him, papa, he cannot possibly postpone, and I'll tell +you in your ear why,--you will allow me, Herr Pigglewitch?" + +"No, Fraeulein Lieschen, I beg you, on the contrary, to withdraw your +request," Egon replied. "I cannot suffer Herr Storting to leave his +duty here to do me a favour. The matter in question is a favour to me, +Herr von Osternau, and I really cannot see why it should be kept +secret. I could not appear at dinner in the only clothes which I +possessed. Herr Storting therefore very kindly lent me one of his own +suits, and offered to go with me to-morrow to Breslau and help me in +the choice of attire suitable for a residence in Castle Osternau. This +is the entire mystery." + +"A ridiculous trifle!" exclaimed the Lieutenant. "And Herr Storting was +to go to Breslau during harvest for this? An extraordinary idea!" + +"Which never occurred to me," replied Egon. "Herr Storting offered to +accompany me, and I accepted his proposal, not imagining that his short +absence could be any disadvantage in the farming operations, which are +carried on under the distinguished auspices of Herr Lieutenant von +Osternau. Since, however, I am now better informed, I beg to decline +his kind offer, and will, with Herr von Osternau's permission, go to +Breslau alone." + +"For Heaven's sake, do not let him, papa!" Lieschen whispered to her +father. "Think of that black coat! No, you must not go alone, Herr +Storting must go with you and advise you." + +Herr von Osternau laughed at his daughter's zeal, nevertheless the +remembrance of the black coat outweighed any objection he might have +had to dispensing with Storting's services. The Herr Candidate might be +a very accomplished and cultivated man, but he certainly had no idea of +how to dress himself. Storting must look after him in this respect. He +did not indeed give this as a reason for his ready acquiescence in his +daughter's wishes, but cut short a remonstrance on the part of the +Lieutenant by declaring that the matter was settled, Herr Storting and +Herr Pigglewitch would start on the morrow for Breslau, and if they +found their business required more time than was anticipated, they need +be in no hurry to return, but could spend the entire day there. When +the Lieutenant here ventured to remark that Herr von Wangen would find +it difficult to superintend the harvesters alone, his cousin replied, +with some asperity, "Then perhaps you, Cousin Albrecht, will have the +kindness to take Herr Storting's place, since he is certainly going to +Breslau. And now no more of this. We will take our coffee in the +billiard-room. Do you play billiards, Herr Pigglewitch? Yes? So much +the better, you can take part in our game. There are usually but three +of us, Cousin Albrecht, Lieschen, and myself. Four players make the +game much more entertaining. We usually spend an hour every day in +billiards. When I am kept within-doors, as to-day, it is my only +exercise. You must prepare yourself for a hard contest, Herr +Pigglewitch, for Albrecht is a master of the game. Fortunately, we play +for glory only, and Lieschen and I are always forced to yield this to +the Lieutenant." + +"Herr Pigglewitch will probably dispute this glory with me: he is, no +doubt, also a master of the game," rejoined the Lieutenant. + +Albrecht certainly was an extremely good billiard-player, he had had an +admirable opportunity to become so during the hours spent at his +military club, and he was inclined to resent the idea that he should +find an actual antagonist in a man who could not possibly be a +proficient in a game requiring for its mastery both time and money. +Chance gave him precedence of Egon in the present game, and he made +sure of soon establishing the Candidate's insignificance and his own +supremacy as a player. But he was much mistaken; he could not but see +very shortly that he had found his master. At Egon's first successful +stroke Albrecht muttered something about "luck" and "beginners," but +when the course of the game did but further reveal the Candidate's +skill and brilliant play, the Lieutenant grew furious. He tried to +preserve an appearance of equanimity, but when the game was at an end +he refused to take part in another, declaring that he must ride out to +the harvest-field. It did not improve his temper, when his cousin +repeated his request to him to stay for one more round, for Lieschen to +say, with a laugh, "Do not tease him, papa dear. How can you ask him to +play on after his discomfiture? He must calm himself down with a +ride,-- + + + "'He scarcely breathes within these walls, + Forth to the meadows nature calls!'" + + +"Your school-girl quotation fails of its mark," the Lieutenant said, +crossly; "I am not at all discomfited, and it would not in the least +affect me if this gentleman, who appears to have used his time for +study to such good purpose, really played a better game of billiards +than I. My calling is not that of a billiard-player, and I have never +attempted to acquire the artistic skill which I grant is possessed by +Herr Pigglewitch. I leave that to professional gamblers." + +He uttered the last words with an expression of great contempt, looking +full at Egon, who had hitherto listened in silence, but who now turned +with flashing eyes and addressed the Lieutenant in a voice which he +forced to sound calm: "You have made use of a word, Herr Lieutenant, +which I require you instantly to retract. Out of regard for the ladies +and Herr von Osternau, I have hitherto taken no notice of your +offensive expressions; your last remark touches my honour, and you will +either retract it or give me satisfaction." + +"The fellow is insane. He presumes to take me to task and to demand +satisfaction of me!" + +"Which you will give the gentleman, Cousin Albrecht," Herr von Osternau +said, sharply, before Egon could reply to this fresh insult. "You will +give it immediately by apologizing to him. Take care, cousin! I would +advise you to reflect before uttering words that may be irrevocable. I +told you an hour ago that I would not suffer the man to whom I have +intrusted my children's instruction to be treated beneath my roof +otherwise than as a gentleman. You have insulted Herr Pigglewitch +without provocation; this I will not permit. I give you your choice: +either you retract your offensive expressions, or you leave Castle +Osternau this very day. I am not jesting, Cousin Albrecht, my word is +immovable. You have insulted me in insulting Herr Pigglewitch. I +require an apology not only for his sake, but for my own." + +Was this the easy, good-natured man who had not spoken a harsh word for +years to the cousin whom he had received into his household? His +figure, usually slightly bent, stood erect, his keen glance scanned +Albrecht's features, in which surprise was evident, as he spoke in a +manner that admitted of no contradiction. + +"You are very kind in thus espousing my cause, Herr von Osternau," Egon +interposed. "I cannot think of causing any dispute between yourself and +your relative by my presence beneath your roof. I thank you sincerely +for your generous words, which make all the more clear to me the +necessity for ending this contest by my departure from Castle Osternau. +I see clearly that I am not fit for the position of tutor. I never +should have undertaken to accept it. I shall know how to obtain +satisfaction hereafter from Lieutenant von Osternau, and it only +remains for me, my dear sir, to bid you a grateful farewell." + +"Not at all! Not a word of that!" the old man replied. "You have made a +contract which cannot he cancelled save by the consent of both parties. +You will, as you have promised to do, attempt the duties of my +children's tutor. Until that attempt has been made I shall not release +you from your promise. And as you have just heard, I demand an apology, +not only for you but for myself. This Cousin Albrecht will make, and +immediately, or leave Castle Osternau forever. Forever, Albrecht! +Reflect what you are doing!" + +The Lieutenant could not meet his cousin's flashing eyes, before which +he cast down his own. The fire of his anger had quickly died out, but +from his very soul he hated this insolent plebeian Candidate who had +thus humiliated him. And he must apologize to him,--he must, he could +not refuse to do so. He knew how stern was his cousin's resolve when +once made known, how implacable his resentment when once it had found a +lodgement in his kindly nature. There was no choice left him. What was +he to do if his generous relative refused to shelter him? He thought of +the future with horror. He had lost at play during his occasional +visits to Berlin the entire large sum of this year's salary received +for his unimportant services at Osternau, and had contracted debts for +which he was continually dunned, although his creditors knew that they +would be paid, as had so frequently been the case before, by his +magnanimous cousin. How should he satisfy them if he were banished from +Castle Osternau? + +"Well, Cousin Albrecht, I await your decision." + +The Lieutenant bit his lip; he could no longer hesitate; he must submit +to the humiliation, but he registered a mental vow that he would avenge +it upon the man who had been the cause of it. His task now was to make +this humiliation as little apparent as possible: so, although the blood +tingled in his veins, he forced himself to appear calm, as he replied +to his cousin, "There really was no need of harsh words from you, +Cousin Fritz, to induce me to recall a thoughtless expression, which I +regretted as soon as I perceived that it had been misunderstood. I had +no idea of styling Herr Pigglewitch a professional gambler, and I +should have told him this, and asked to be excused for my misunderstood +expression, had he not demanded with such an air of menace the +satisfaction which the difference in our rank makes it impossible that +I should give him. This declaration, to which I add that I had no +intention to offend, and that I gladly retract any expression that +could be considered insulting, will, I hope, entirely accord with your +wishes." + +"Entirely, and I think Herr Pigglewitch too will be quite satisfied," +said Herr von Osternau, kindly, offering Albrecht his hand. + +Egon bowed. He was not satisfied, but the Candidate Pigglewitch was +forced to be so since Herr von Osternau was. Egon von Ernau would have +rejected the apology and demanded again the satisfaction that had been +denied him, finding in the reference to a difference of rank a fresh +insult, but in the Candidate Pigglewitch such conduct would be +unjustifiable, he must submit to seem content. He was even forced to +admit that his adversary had gone farther to conciliate him than was +absolutely necessary when, upon leaving the room to ride out to the +harvest-fields, the haughty Lieutenant von Osternau offered him his +hand in token of amity. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + SOLIMAN'S TRICKS. + + +It is no easy matter to be a tutor! This was the sum of Egon von +Ernau's reflections as he sat at the study-table in his sitting-room an +hour after the late scene with the Lieutenant, awaiting his little +pupil. When Albrecht left the billiard-room, Herr and Frau von Osternau +had a conversation with their new tutor concerning the course they +wished him to pursue with their son. Frau von Osternau was desirous +that the child should not be kept too long at his books. She thought +that with two hours of daily instruction he could soon learn to read, +write, and cipher, which was all that need be thought of at present. +If, in addition, Herr Pigglewitch would give him a music-lesson +every day, Fritz would be sufficiently occupied, at least for the +first few months. Any excess of application was sure to be a physical +disadvantage to the child, and his physical health and strength were +the first considerations. + +These views certainly differed widely from any that Egon had found in +the teachers who had conducted his own education; nevertheless they +seemed reasonable, and he undertook, by Frau von Osternau's desire, to +give Fritz his first hour of instruction on the same afternoon. + +For the first hour, which was to begin at five o'clock, he was now +preparing himself. It had suddenly occurred to him upon his return to +his room that he really had no conception of how to teach a boy to read +and write. He had but the faintest remembrance of how he had been +taught himself, and there was besides a dim idea in his mind of having +heard somewhere that the old methods were no longer in use, that +children were not taught first to read and then to write, but that +there was a way by which both arts could be acquired at the same time, +and with surprising rapidity. What could it be? + +He opened one of the various books for the instruction of the young +with which his table had been provided by the careful mother of his +pupil, and tried to imagine himself a perfectly ignorant child,--a very +difficult task. + +It is no easy matter, after all, to be a tutor! How had Egon looked +down hitherto upon this calling, and here he sat racking his brains +over the problem of how to teach a child his A B C! Half an hour passed +like a moment, when a timid knock was heard at the door, and Fritz +entered shyly. Positively Egon felt his heart beat quicker. Never, even +when about to pass the most difficult examination, had he felt such +trepidation, such a sense of the utter inadequacy of his knowledge as +at this moment. He could not but smile at his cowardice, he could not +understand himself. How had he come to take thus seriously the wild +jest that had been prompted by the whim of the moment? + +'Some things are too sacred to be trifled with!' A charming child had +said these words to him a few hours before, and they had sunk into his +heart. He had intended to play a madcap prank, but the jest had come to +be earnest. He was really undertaking the duty of a teacher, and this +duty took grand and sacred proportions in his eyes as he looked at the +handsome boy gazing with a smile, but with some shyness, into his face. + +In fact, the teacher was more embarrassed than the pupil, but he +collected himself, and drew the little fellow towards him, stroked his +curls, and said, kindly,-- + +"Well, Fritz, are you going to please mamma, and study like a good +lad?" + +"Yes, I have promised mamma, and I promised Lieschen that I will not +laugh when I call you Herr Pigglewitch." + +"That's right, my boy. Well, here is a primer, and I see you have +brought a slate and pencil. We'll begin at once." + +And the first hour of Egon's tutorship began. It went better and easier +than he had imagined. He contrived to interest his little pupil upon +the spot, and the boy's cleverness and capacity interested him in turn. +Egon could hardly believe that an hour had really passed when, upon the +last stroke of six, Lieschen made her appearance as her mother's +ambassador to carry off Fritz. + +"We are to go to the meadows by the Oster," Lieschen said, to appease +her brother's discontent at being forced to leave his new and +delightful occupation. "It will be so pleasant there; even all the +maids are busy raking the hay. Can anything be more charming than +harvest in such glorious weather? If you will come with us, Herr +Pigglewitch, I can perhaps fulfil the wish you expressed to-day in +derision, and do something in aid of your neglected education. You may +be very learned, and speak Greek and Latin, as well as English and +French, but every peasant-lad here in the country will laugh at you if +you know nothing of the simplest farming work; there an ignorant +country-girl like myself can instruct you." + +"You will find me an attentive and grateful pupil, Fraeulein Lieschen." + +"Then come with us in our walk, that I may enter immediately upon my +new office." + +"Are we going to walk?" Fritz asked. "No, Lieschen, let us ride. We +have had no ride to-day. You would rather ride, Herr Pigglewitch, would +you not?" + +"I like to ride, but since I have no horse----" + +"Do you know how to ride?" Lieschen interrupted him. "Is riding taught +at the schools? Oh, if you like to ride you can easily have a horse; +but no, now I think of it, I must not offer you papa's riding-horse, he +does not like to have Cousin Albrecht or the inspectors ride it, and +Herr Storting and Herr von Wangen are both using their horses to-day. +There is Cousin Albrecht's second horse, but I don't know whether he +would allow----" + +"And even if he would I should not take advantage of his permission." + +"But Soliman is in his stall," Fritz interposed. + +"We must not offer Herr Pigglewitch Soliman, he is too wild and +uncontrollable. No one can ride him except Cousin Albrecht, and he has, +as you know, Fritz, been thrown twice." + +"I do not think Soliman would throw me," Egon said. + +"Oh, you do not know how tricky he is," was Lieschen's grave reply. +"Even Cousin Albrecht, who is a very skilful horseman, has as much as +he can do to control Soliman; he advised papa to sell the beautiful +creature at any price, for he never can be cured of his tricks." + +"You make me really anxious to try my fortune with Soliman. There is no +pleasure in riding a quiet horse. The pleasure in riding comes from the +necessity of straining every muscle and exercising all one's will to +keep one's horse well in hand." + +"But indeed Soliman is too dangerous, I cannot have him saddled for +you," said Lieschen. + +"If there were any real danger it would but make the temptation to ride +him greater. Surely one ought eagerly to seek occasion for investing +our commonplace existence with interest by means of physical and mental +exertion. One might perhaps find life attractive if one had to struggle +for it, it would then cease to be such an intolerable bore." + +"I do not understand you, Herr Pigglewitch," Lieschen replied, staring +at Egon in wide-eyed wonder. "What wicked nonsense are you talking? I +cannot comprehend your meaning perfectly, but I can see that you are +wrong in speaking thus before Fritz." + +Here was another deserved reproof! But it did not offend Egon. The +youthful moralist, with her dark, reproachful eyes raised to his, was +so very charming. She was a lovely fairy when she laughed, but an angel +when she spoke so gravely. + +"I will try to improve, and to set a watch upon my tongue," Egon +rejoined, humbly. "If you had not spoken of danger, Fraeulein Lieschen, +I should not have exposed myself to your censure. There is really no +danger for me in riding an unruly horse. I assure you that I can +control him." + +Lieschen was hard to convince, but the certainty of power shown in +Egon's continued persuasions to be permitted to ride Soliman had its +effect at last. Fritz was sent to order Soliman, with his sister's mare +and his own Shetland pony, to be brought round, and Lieschen ran off to +put on her habit, assuring Herr Pigglewitch that she would meet him at +the side-entrance from the court-yard in five minutes. + +Fritz fulfilled his commission with delight, but old Wenzel, the groom, +shook his head dubiously when he heard that Soliman was to be saddled +for the Herr Candidate. No good would come of it, he said; but since +Fraeulein Lieschen had ordered it, it must be done. He was just leading +the restless, dancing animal from his stall when the Lieutenant, on his +return from the meadow, rode into the court-yard. + +"Halloo, Wenzel! what are you about?" he called out. "Are you saddling +Soliman? Who is going to ride the brute? I hope my cousin has no idea +of such a thing?" + +"No, Herr Lieutenant, the master is not well enough to ride at all +to-day. The Herr Candidate is to ride Soliman." + +"What! he? Nonsense! Who ordered him saddled?" + +"Fraeulein Lieschen sent Master Fritz to tell me to saddle him." + +"Another of her crazy notions. She probably supposes that the Herr +Candidate has six necks and will not mind breaking one. Soliman will +throw him before he is fairly in the saddle." + +"So I think, Herr Lieutenant. It will never do. But I have Fraeulein +Lieschen's orders." + +"You're right, old fellow, there's no gainsaying them. Go on, saddle +Soliman for the Candidate; it will be a very interesting sight. What is +it to me," Albrecht muttered to himself, "if the insolent scoundrel +breaks a leg or an arm? it will teach him to know his place." + +He rode across the court-yard to the side-entrance, where Egon and +Lieschen were already waiting, Lieschen looking wonderfully lovely in +her close-fitting habit and little round hat set jauntily upon her +golden curls. + +"I am glad you have come, Cousin Albrecht," she called out to the +Lieutenant. "Herr Pigglewitch has taken it into his head to ride +Soliman, because there is no other riding-horse in the stables except +yours. I have allowed myself to be persuaded to have him saddled, but I +knew I was wrong. Now you can relieve my mind, cousin, by offering Herr +Pigglewitch your other horse." + +"I would do Be with pleasure," the Lieutenant replied, "were I not +convinced that Herr Pigglewitch rides as admirably as he plays +billiards. It would be an insult to him to dissuade him from riding +Soliman, who is fiery, to be sure, but much better than his reputation. +If, however, Herr Pigglewitch is afraid----" + +"No need to discuss my state of mind, Herr Lieutenant," Egon said, +sharply. + +"Beg pardon, I meant no offence, but only to offer you my lamb-like +riding-horse, should Soliman be too fiery for you." + +"Thanks, I prefer to ride Soliman." + +"Good luck to your preference! It will afford you pleasure. You have no +spurs, I see; take my riding-whip. A good cut at the right moment will +inspire Soliman with respect." + +"Your manner to Herr Pigglewitch is odious, cousin," Lieschen +interposed. Her anxiety lest the Candidate should meet with an accident +increased every minute. She reproached herself for the consent she had +given, which could not now be withdrawn, and her fears were confirmed +by the malice in the smile with which her cousin listened to the +Candidate's declaration that he should ride Soliman. + +There was nothing to be done, however. Old Wenzel was leading up +Soliman, keeping a sharp watch upon the spirited creature lest he +should break loose from him. + +"The brute is perfectly wild to-day, he would not bear even the Herr +Lieutenant," the old man muttered, intentionally loud enough for +Lieschen to hear, while his glance towards her seemed to say, "If any +accident should happen it will be all your fault." + +"I do most earnestly entreat you, Herr Pigglewitch," Lieschen +exclaimed, her anxiety reaching its height, "to give up riding Soliman! +Let us walk, I pray you. Do, for my sake!" + +"Against such words I am defenceless," said Egon, who had approached +the beautiful animal and was gently stroking its back, but who now +retired. + +"You're right; very wise and prudent," said the Lieutenant. "Lead +Soliman up and down a little, Wenzel, you need not take off his saddle, +I will ride him after a while to show Herr Pigglewitch that the horse +is not so wicked after all. But you are quite right, Herr Pigglewitch, +to accede to Lieschen's request. Soliman might be dangerous for a tyro +in horsemanship. You shall take my Iduna here for your ride with +Lieschen, she is as quiet as a lamb and will not throw you, I'll +engage." + +Egon bit his lip; his eyes sparkled with irritation and the colour rose +to his check. + +"Do you still persist in your request, Fraeulein Lieschen?" he said to +the girl, in a low voice. "Do you wish me to be thus derided and +accused of cowardice? I will keep my word if you insist upon it, but +put yourself in my place, and I think you will not desire it." + +"No, I do not," Lieschen rejoined, with an angry glance at her cousin. +"It will be your fault, Cousin Albrecht, if there is any accident, and +I never will forgive you for it as long as I live." + +A smile of victorious malice was the Lieutenant's only reply, but it +faded from his face the next moment to give place to an expression of +sheer amazement. Without the aid of the stirrups the despised Candidate +had swung himself into the saddle, and caught up in a firm hand the +bridle which old Wenzel dropped. Soliman reared, but his rider kept his +seat as quietly as if he were upon the meekest of horses, smiling down +at Lieschen, who was pale with terror. + +"Have no fear, Fraeulein Lieschen," he called down to her. "Soliman will +know in a few minutes that he has found his master." + +"Wait until he tries some of his tricks," the Lieutenant muttered +between his teeth. + +And Soliman proceeded to do so; he was not yet conquered. He tried the +same tricks that had twice unseated the Lieutenant and thrown him in +the dirt,--the same tricks that had forced his former possessor to sell +the magnificent creature for a mere song. He reared again and again, +then, standing on his hind legs, turned round and round quickly, and +finished by leaping and plunging wildly. + +Twice when this last point was reached the Lieutenant had been thrown +over Soliman's head; the two following times he had mounted the horse, +however, he had succeeded in keeping his seat, although gasping and +exhausted, since when Soliman had not attempted his tricks when ridden +by the Lieutenant. He now tried them again with his new rider, but +without any result. Egon sat as quietly firm in the saddle as if he +were part of the animal, holding the bridle in a hand of iron, and so +compressing the horse's flanks with his knees that, after a few more +unsuccessful plunges, the creature stood still, with dilated nostrils +and foaming at the bit. His rider, however, showed no signs of physical +exertion; he nodded with a smile to the Lieutenant, whose last muttered +words he had heard and understood. "You are right, Herr Lieutenant," he +said, "Soliman is rather too fiery for a tyro in horsemanship, but only +a tyro would ever be unseated by his tricks. He will not try them +again; he knows his master now, and will soon know him better. He +certainly is a magnificent animal." + +He stroked the panting creature's neck caressingly, and then, after +giving him a moment's rest, shortened his bridle, and with a degree of +ease and skill which seemed to the Lieutenant little short of +miraculous in a Candidate, put the horse through all his paces, guiding +him in a wide circle around the court-yard. Soliman attempted no +further rebellion, and when Egon halted at the side-entrance again he +could confidently assure Lieschen that their ride would have no +disturbance from Soliman's tricks. + +Lieschen had followed the rider's movements with genuine admiration. +When the horse first tried his 'tricks' she grew ashy pale, but the +next instant her anxiety vanished, there was no danger. Her cousin +Albrecht was a bold and skilful horseman, the best she had known +hitherto, but his glory faded when she compared him with this rider. +How could she ever have thought that proud, graceful man ugly? How easy +was his bearing! The control of his spirited steed seemed to cost him +no exertion. He could smile whilst all who were watching him were +trembling with dread. + +Upon his return Lieschen received him with a beaming face, Fritz +clapped his hands and shouted, and old Wenzel grinned as he said, "He +knows how to ride, Herr Lieutenant. He'll teach Soliman to have done +with his capers." + +The Lieutenant made no reply. He looked darkly at the daring horseman, +whom he could not but admire, but whom he hated all the more bitterly. +He had been outdone, outdone in the very art upon which he most prided +himself. He had exulted in being the best rider in the country, and +here was this wretched Candidate disputing his honours with him. + +Lieschen invited him to join them in their ride to the Oster meadows, +but he crossly declined to accept her invitation, and when the detested +stranger sprang from the saddle, throwing the bridle to old Wenzel, in +order to put Lieschen on her mare, he muttered a curse, turned his +horse, and rode out of the court-yard in a direction opposite to that +in which lay the Oster meadows. Lieschen, however, rode out into the +fields between Egon and Fritz, laughing and talking, and throwing +kisses to her father, who was standing at his window. She was gayer and +happier than words could tell. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + THE HARVEST-FIELD. + + +As Egon rode by Lieschen's side along the road leading through the +fields to the Oster meadows he was more light of heart than he could +remember ever being before. She pointed out to him the various villages +and farms in the neighbourhood of the castle, and his eyes, it is true, +followed the direction of her extended riding-whip, but his attention +was not given to the rather commonplace landscape; his interest was all +for his charming companion. How pure and clear was the look in the +dark-blue eyes raised so confidingly to his own! Her smile was frank +and free, as she made no attempt to conceal her admiration of his +courage and strength in subduing Soliman. She told him how delighted +she was with his success, and how her heart had seemed fairly to stand +still with terror when she saw him in such peril and by her fault. + +Her _naive_ frankness, her open avowal of whatever filled her mind, +enchanted Egon. He seemed to have entered a new world. The compliments +and admiration which he had received from other girls as to his music, +his singing, or some other of his accomplishments had always aroused +the suspicion in his mind that such words were for the wealthy Egon von +Ernau, uttered to flatter his vanity, to entrap him. But as he listened +to Lieschen's artless talk he paid homage to the sincerity of this +girlish nature, and was refreshed and cheered even by her words of +reproof. His sensations were a surprise to himself: he thought he was +indifferent alike to praise and blame, but here he was positively +exulting in the admiration of a mere child. + +"There are the Oster meadows!" Fritz called out from the summit of a +low hill, which he had gained in advance of his companions. + +Egon sighed; they had nearly reached the goal of their ride, and he +would gladly have ridden thus through the lovely fields for hours. + +"Is not the prospect from here charming?" Lieschen asked, when she with +Egon had reached the eminence. + +He had to answer her, and that he might do so he looked around him, +although he would far rather have continued to gaze into his +companion's lovely face. As if awaking from a dream, he saw before him +a picturesque landscape,--a green extensive valley, through which wound +the Oster, a small river, which, making its way among low, distant +hills, was lost in the mighty chain of the Riesengebirge. + +The rich meadows that bordered the Oster on either side presented an +animated scene. On one hand the mowers were wielding their scythes, on +another women, girls, and children were turning the hay with long +rakes, while from some of the fields the piled hay-wagons, each drawn +by four stout horses, were beginning their slow journey to the barns of +Castle Osternau. All who were able to work were busy gathering in the +plentiful hay-crop of the year, for there had been warning clouds in +the west at sunset for two or three days, although hitherto they had +fled before the dawn. They were massing now about the descending sun. +The harvesters would occasionally cast an anxious glance towards the +west, and then proceed with their labour with renewed zeal. + +"Is not the prospect from here charming?" Lieschen had asked, and Egon +replied, "Most charming!" giving utterance to his sincere conviction. +At the moment the broad, smiling valley, with the silver river winding +through it, seemed to him inexpressibly attractive; but the words had +scarcely left his lips before he was aware that they were at variance +with all his previous ideas and sentiments. He had never found anything +to admire in peaceful, smiling valleys, they had always impressed him +as the ideal of tedious, commonplace rusticity; he had turned for +enjoyment to the wild grandeur of rocky mountain fastnesses, to the +splendour of glacier and torrent. The more savage the aspect of nature +the more beautiful it had seemed to him. When he had been caught in a +mountain storm, the crashing of the thunder among the giant peaks and +the vivid play of the lightning had quickened his pulses. What could +make this simple landscape at which he was gazing with Lieschen seem so +charming in his eyes? Had he undergone a transformation in the last few +hours? Could it be that a warm, sunny ray from heaven had pierced his +soul and made it sensitive to the charm of a simple scene from which he +would but yesterday have turned in weary disgust? He had a sense of +disgrace in the consciousness that he was so hopelessly given over to +the influence of the moment. Yes, he was ashamed of thus belying all +his former tastes just because----yes, because a pair of sparkling, +girlish eyes were beholding with rapture the petty, commonplace scene +before them,--yes, it suddenly grew to be commonplace and petty, the +charm that had transfigured it was broken, the ray that had penetrated +his soul was extinguished. + +A horseman came galloping up the hill from the meadow. It was Herr +Storting; he waved a greeting to Lieschen as he drew near, but as he +drew up his horse beside Egon he exclaimed, in surprise, "Can it be +possible, Herr Pigglewitch, that you are riding Soliman?" + +"As you see," Egon replied, curtly, his good humour all gone. + +"I see, but I do not understand. Why, even the Lieutenant does not +venture to take that horse any distance from the castle, he only rides +it in the fields just beyond the garden. Pardon my saying so, Fraeulein +Lieschen, but you have been wrong in exposing Herr Pigglewitch to a +danger the extent of which he cannot understand, since he does not know +Soliman's tricks and temper." + +Before Lieschen could reply, Egon interposed, "Your reproof is +administered to the wrong person, Herr Storting. I insisted on riding +Soliman precisely because of his tricks and his temper. And now we know +each other, Soliman and I, and he is afraid of me, not I of him. You +need have no anxiety on my account." + +Egon's words by no means satisfied Storting. "You must be a capital +rider to have kept your seat upon Soliman until now, but the danger +will not be over until the horse is back in his stall. I beg you to +return at once, and at all events do not attempt to ride him down into +the meadows. The brute shies terribly, when people are about he grows +restless, and the least sudden movement, the lifting of a rake, the +flutter of one of the women's white kerchiefs, or the merest trifle, +will suffice to make him mad with terror. At such times no rider can +control him or keep his seat." + +But Egon only smiled. "Are you really so unruly, my poor Soliman?" he +said, leaning forward and patting the beautiful creature's slender +neck. "I could wish you would try your worst, that I might have the +opportunity to convince you of a will stronger than your own." + +"Foolhardy words," Storting said, sternly. "Again let me beg you to +turn back. If you ride down to the meadows you run the risk of having +Soliman plunge with you into the Oster. Such a ride would be suicidal." + +"Your ugly word does not terrify me," Egon said. "I surely have a right +over my own body, my own life. I need take counsel with none, if I +choose to end the drama with a bullet in my heart or a wild ride. Come, +Soliman, let us measure our strength together, and if you come off +conqueror I shall not care; let the waters of the Oster do their +worst." + +A smart stroke of his riding-whip accompanied his last words. It had a +fearful effect upon the fiery animal, who had scarcely yet been brought +under his rider's perfect control. Soliman put back his ears and tore +down the hill to the Oster meadows. + +"My God! what madness!" Storting exclaimed, horror-struck. The colour +faded from his sunburned cheek as he gazed after the rider, who was +being carried directly towards the spot where the river was deepest and +the current strongest. To the inspector the man's fate was sealed. How +could the Candidate have dreamed of riding Soliman? It was a miracle +that the fellow still kept his seat. + +He not only kept his seat, but on the very brink of the river, when +Storting was convinced that his doom was certain, the horse was pulled +up on his haunches, his rider had mastered him. Storting could hardly +believe his eyes. Was that wonderful rider sitting easily and as if +unconscious of danger upon the fiery brute, now stamping the soft +meadow soil with impatient hoofs, but held in rein by a hand of iron, +the same ridiculous, awkward tutor whom he, Storting, had transformed +to the likeness of humanity with a suit of his own clothes? + +Lieschen too had been terrified for a moment, when Egon had driven +Soliman wild by the stroke of his whip, but she did not share in +Storting's forebodings; she had seen Soliman obey Egon's strength and +skill, and she had entire confidence in them. Still there was a cloud +upon her brow, and the gaze with which she followed the daring rider +was scarcely one of approval. When she saw that the horse was stayed at +the river's brink, she simply said, "Let us follow," and without +another word rode quietly down into the meadows after Fritz, who had +started off to overtake his admired tutor. + +Egon awaited their approach. The swift gallop, the struggle with the +furious horse, which again called into play all his force and skill, +had quickly dispelled his sudden ill humour. He called out to Storting, +"You see, Herr Storting, there really is no danger in my riding +Soliman. The horse is far better than his reputation. He needs only to +be kept firmly in rein, and then he obeys every pressure of the knee. +The magnificent creature knows me now, and I will answer for it will +not shy or run so long as he feels my hand upon his bridle. You see +that your reproof was quite undeserved by Fraeulein Lieschen. If the +horse is really timid I will engage to cure him of it. Shall we not +ride towards those people who are working so busily over there? +Fraeulein von Osternau has promised to be my teacher, and to instruct me +in some of the elementary principles of agriculture, and I am eager to +prove myself a docile, intelligent pupil. Make friends with me again, +Herr Storting, you will not remain provoked with me for answering your +kindly warning by a furious run of a moment or two?" + +He held out his hand as he spoke to the inspector, who could not any +longer maintain a show of irritation, although he was not quite +satisfied, nor was Lieschen. Storting, however, took pains to conceal +the remnant of his displeasure, and succeeded in doing so, but Lieschen +made no attempt to hide the fact that she was seriously displeased with +Herr Pigglewitch. She took her place again, it is true, beside him, but +she answered his questions in monosyllables, and left it to Storting to +give him any information with regard to the harvesting. His desire to +receive the promised instruction from her was evident as they rode +around the meadows, but when he turned to her with an inquiry she only +replied, "Herr Storting will explain it to you." She could not be easy +and friendly with him, for the last words he had spoken on the hill +still resounded in her ears, and they had shocked her profoundly. + +Lieschen's taciturnity had its effect upon Egon's recovered gayety; he +ceased to ask questions, and scarcely bestowed a glance upon the +harvesters. He forced himself to listen with an appearance of interest +to Herr Storting's explanations, out of regard for the inspector, but +the merry songs of the girls raking the hay struck harshly on his ears, +he was tired of it all, and he was relieved when at the end of half an +hour Lieschen announced that it was time to return home. + +Herr Storting could not yet leave the harvest-field, Fritz galloped +ahead to the castle, and thus Egon being left alone with Lieschen had +an opportunity to ask her the cause of her sudden reserve; was she +displeased, and why? he had not, he thought, given her cause to be so. + +She looked gravely up at him, and said in surprise,-- + +"Do you not know why I am displeased? Have you no suspicion of how your +wicked words shocked me? Yes, I am displeased. I cannot forgive you for +sneering at what is most sacred. I told you so before today. You are +not a good man, Herr Pigglewitch. You almost frighten me." + +"What have I done or said to provoke such a reproof from you?" Egon +asked, in dismay. + +"You do not know? So much the worse. You do not even admit that what +you said was wicked. Do you not remember what you said here upon the +hill, yes, upon this very spot, just before you gave Soliman that +stroke with your whip? You said you should not care if Soliman drowned +you! yes, you declared that you had a right to take your own life!" + +"And was that what displeased you? Have I not the right to end my +miserable existence if it becomes too heavy a burden to be borne?" + +"No, you have no right to do so, and it is a sin even to think of it!" +Lieschen replied, her beautiful eyes lifted to Egon's in stern +reproach. "Your words shocked me deeply. Is there any courage in +putting an end by the act of an instant to an intolerable existence? It +is cowardice, miserable cowardice, to turn and flee from the battle of +life. I have heard pity bestowed upon those wretched men who in despair +have taken their own lives; for my part I cannot help despising them, +and I cannot understand how a man can find a word to say in defence of +such cowardice." + +What Lieschen said was neither novel nor clever, and yet her simple +words made a deep impression upon Egon. He had lately read a learned +essay upon the right of self-destruction, in which every conceivable +argument was brought forward to prove that nothing save insanity could +excuse the act, but the sapient disquisition had only provoked a smile +as he read, while these few simple words of the young girl's staggered +him in the views he had hitherto held. Involuntarily the image of the +real Pigglewitch arose in his mind, he saw the ridiculous figure +kneeling singing upon the green bank, then suddenly start up and leap +into the water. He saw the wretched creature standing dripping before +him, wringing his hands and entreating to have his miserable life ended +for him, he was afraid to do it himself. Did it really require more +courage to endure a sad existence than to end it with a pistol-bullet? +Was it cowardice to flee from a blank, weary world? Lieschen felt +contempt, not compassion, for a suicide. She did not know how her words +fitted Egon's case. He could not look into her clear eyes, he was +forced to cast down his own. + +It was Egon's nature to be easily swayed by the impulse of the moment; +thus it was with him now, as he said, after a short pause,-- + +"You judge harshly, very harshly, but perhaps justly. You can have no +idea of how nearly your words touch me. I promise to reflect upon what +you have said, and now I beg you not to be angry with me any longer. I +cannot bear to have you look so gravely and disapprovingly at me. I +will try never to shock you again by thoughtless words which may seem +to you like a sneer at sacred things, but I beg you to have patience +with me. You promised to be my teacher, and a teacher ought not to be +impatient." + +"Now you are making game of me again." + +"No, I declare to you I am not jesting. What I said half in jest to you +at dinner I now repeat in earnest. I am conscious to-day for the first +time that the experience of my life has made me morbid. Regard me as a +sick man, and when some word of mine shocks you, do not be angry, but +tell me of it frankly, without reserve. Blame me, take me to task, and +I shall be your debtor." + +Lieschen looked at him rather dubiously. "I do not know what to think +of you, Herr Pigglewitch," she replied, shaking her pretty head +thoughtfully. "You change with every moment. When a little while ago +you talked so wickedly and urged Soliman towards the river, I was +afraid of you, and now you suddenly speak so sadly and gently that I +almost have faith in you. But since you only ask that I should tell you +what I think, without reserve, I can easily grant your request, I +should do so whether or not, because I cannot help it." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + NEWS FROM BERLIN. + + +Whilst Egon, with Lieschen and Fritz, was taking his ride to the Oster +meadows, Herr von Osternau was pacing his room slowly to and fro. + +From his window he had observed old Wenzel saddling Soliman, but he had +naturally supposed that Albrecht had ordered the horse, and it never +entered his mind that the fiery animal had been saddled for the +Candidate, or he would have instantly put a stop to it. He was not +aware of the true state of the case until the moment when Egon swung +himself lightly into the saddle, and then remonstrance was useless. +Involuntarily he had uttered an exclamation of dismay, which called +Frau von Osternau to his side, and together they had looked on while +Egon reduced Soliman to submission. Their horror was speedily +transformed to admiration as they saw how firm was the rider's seat, +how powerless were Soliman's leaps and plunges to do him any injury. + +Not a word was exchanged between them until the riding-party had left +the court-yard, when Herr von Osternau first gave utterance to his +amazement: + +"This surpasses belief. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I never +could have believed that a mere Candidate, who one would have supposed +had never been on horseback before, could ride Soliman, and ride him in +such a fashion! The man is a riddle. If we were not sure from your old +friend Kramser's letter that he is a Candidate, I should think it +impossible. He is compounded of contradictions, he is never the same +for a moment. When I saw him coming across the courtyard this morning I +was fairly frightened by his ugliness, I called him a scarecrow, and so +did Lieschen when she first saw him, he looked so inconceivably +ridiculous and uncouth, but ten minutes had not passed before I changed +my mind. As he sat there at the piano, playing in that inspired way, he +seemed to me a divinely-gifted artist. He cannot be a mere ordinary +Candidate. His carriage and air are those of one used to refined +society, and the conventional habits of such society are acquired only +by association. Remember his manner to Albrecht in the billiard-room. +He demanded satisfaction just as any well-bred gentleman would have +done, and received Albrecht's apology in the same way. He speaks +English and French with an accent so admirable that he must have had +the best instruction in those languages. It requires capital teachers +and years of practice to attain such proficiency as he possesses in +music, he plays billiards so well as almost to justify Albrecht's sneer +about the professional gambler, and, finally, he has just shown himself +a first-class horseman. No riding-master could have put Soliman more +finely through his paces. The man is a perfect puzzle." + +Herr von Osternau had begun to pace the room to and fro as he spoke. He +paused and looked inquiringly at his wife. She nodded assent to what he +said, and he went on: "The more I think of it the more incomprehensible +it is to me that Kramser should have recommended to us just this sort +of man, one who in no single particular corresponds to the description +contained in Kramser's letter." + +"I am quite as much puzzled as yourself," Frau von Osternau said, +meekly. + +"Go and get Kramser's letter; let us read it once more, and see if it +can give us any explanation." + +Frau von Osternau brought the letter from her desk and read it aloud to +her husband: + + +"Most Respected Lady,--It has been to me an exceeding great joy that, +after the lapse of so many years since the happy season of childhood, +you still remember me, and honour me with the great confidence shown in +your esteemed epistle. My heart swells with gratitude at the thought of +having it in my power to be of service in any way to so highly honoured +a lady. + +"I have bestowed the gravest reflection upon the choice among my +numerous scholars of one possessing the qualifications which you desire +for the tutor of your amiable son. + +"You ask for a young man possessing the education requisite to give +primary instruction to a boy of six, and sufficiently proficient in +music to be able to give lessons to your daughter of seventeen. You +require, finally, that the young man shall be in no wise distinguished +by beauty of person. Nay, you would on the contrary have him ungainly +in outward appearance, that the Fraeulein your daughter may find no +attraction in the person of her preceptor. + +"I sympathize fully with your maternal anxieties, and I have therefore, +in this connection, carefully stricken from my list of pupils all those +possessing goodly exteriors; of those who remain, all are indeed +qualified as scholars to teach the rudiments of learning to a boy of +six, but few, alas! are sufficiently proficient in music to give +lessons on the piano to a lady. At last I have found one, formerly my +favourite pupil, whom I can recommend to you, respected madam, in full +confidence that he will prove a faithful servant to you, and a capable +tutor for your son. + +"The Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch possesses in the highest degree all +the desired qualifications. He is of an ungainly exterior, but in his +uncouth form there dwells a soul of great piety, strong in faith in the +Lord. There are, indeed, deficiencies in his worldly attainments, but +he knows quite enough for the instruction of a boy of six, and his +musical capacity far excels that of any of my other pupils. He plays +very well upon the piano, and the Lord has bestowed upon him the gift +of song, his voice is clear and pleasing. + +"Pigglewitch has been an usher in schools for three years, the last of +which he has passed in a boys' school in Berlin, where, as I am assured +by the principal, he has discharged his duties with diligence and zeal. +Of all my pupils he, respected madam, is the one whom I can most +earnestly recommend. + +"I have written to Gottlieb Pigglewitch; he is only too glad to accept +the honourable position offered him, upon the terms you propose, but he +cannot enter upon its duties before the 6th of July, since he is not +released from his present situation until July 3d. Should this +arrangement meet your approval, respected madam, I beg you to write me +to that effect, and the Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch will appear at +Castle Osternau punctually upon the 6th of July. + +"With grateful and respectful regard, yours to command, + + "Kramser." + + +"Is there an imaginable contrast greater than that between your +friend's recommendation and the reality?" asked Herr von Osternau when +his wife had finished reading the letter. "His worldly knowledge ought +to be deficient, but sufficient for the instruction of a child of six, +yet he speaks French and English fluently. He ought to be awkward and +ungainly, and nothing can be more easy and graceful than his air and +carriage. And then his ugliness! Uncouth enough he was in that queer +coat, but since he threw that aside he has become another being. I +cannot understand your friend Kramser." + +Frau von Osternau agreed with her husband. "You are right," she said, +thoughtfully. "Neither can I understand him. When that young fellow's +eyes flashed to-day as he confronted Albrecht, I thought him actually +handsome, and I could not but admire him again just now as he rode out +of the court-yard, keeping Soliman so perfectly in rein. It makes me +very anxious. It would be terrible to have Lieschen admire him too. He +offered to leave Castle Osternau rather than be a cause of dissension +in our family. Suppose you----" + +"Not a word more, Emma," her husband interrupted her. "After his +dispute with Albrecht, in which he conducted himself with such absolute +propriety, it would be a crying injustice to dismiss him. Did I not +declare that he must remain until we had made trial of his capacity as +Fritzchen's tutor?" + +"But Lieschen? I have heard you say you should be glad to have Lieschen +marry Albrecht. What if she should take a fancy to the Candidate?" + +"No fear of that. The little witch has no idea of taking a fancy to any +one, and as for the wish I may have expressed to you some time ago, I +confess that I no longer cherish it. It arose from my desire to +indemnify our cousin for the loss of the estate, but Lieschen's +happiness is my first consideration, and I do not think Albrecht is the +man to make a woman happy. He is wanting in force of character, he +cannot forget his gay life in the capital, indeed I am afraid that he +has continued it in his frequent visits to Berlin, and that he is in +debt again. But why should we puzzle our brains with what the future +has in store for us? I cannot deny that it is a disagreeable sensation, +the not knowing what to think of this strange man, I wish we had some +one else, even although much more awkward and uninstructed, for Fritz's +tutor, but since we have him and have undertaken certain obligations +with regard to him, they must be fulfilled. We must show him all the +respect we would have Fritz feel for him, we must receive him into our +domestic circle that he may feel at home here, but in the mean time we +must observe him closely, and should he neglect his duty, or prove to +be unfitted for his situation, we can, as we agreed to, part with him." + +"But Lieschen?" + +"Will take piano-lessons from him. Do not worry yourself unnecessarily; +you can always superintend the girl's music-lessons if it will make you +less anxious to do so, and can soon convince yourself that there is no +danger for the child in Herr Pigglewitch." + +Frau von Osternau was not so easy in her mind, but she did not +contradict her husband, she only resolved to watch her daughter and the +Candidate closely, not only during the music-lessons, but at all times +when they were together. The idea of her child's entertaining any +warmer feeling for Herr Pigglewitch than that which a pupil should have +for a teacher was extremely distasteful to her. She was not reassured +when, soon after the above conversation, she saw the riders return from +their visit to the harvesters, and observed the gentle, happy smile +with which Lieschen thanked the Candidate for the ready, easy aid which +he lent her in dismounting. The mother imagined that she perceived a +change in her unconscious child. + +Fritz, who had preceded his sister and her cavalier, and had been +seeing that his favourite pony was properly attended to, rushed into +the room. He had a long story to tell his father and mother, first +about the charms of his new tutor during the study-hour, and then of +his wonderful riding. "Even Herr Storting grew pale when he saw Soliman +tearing down to the Oster, but Herr Pigglewitch didn't care, he only +laughed; ah, he knows how to ride! why, he rides better than even +Cousin Albrecht!" + +Fritz poured out his raptures over his new tutor, much to his father's +delight, while Frau von Osternau's maternal anxiety was sensibly +increased. She was hardly pleased when her husband sent old Hildebrandt +to invite the Candidate to take tea with the family at eight o'clock, +in the sitting-room; it seemed to her that it was too speedy a welcome +to the domestic circle. + +But her fears were appeased when Lieschen, having taken off her habit, +made her appearance, and talked without reserve or embarrassment of her +ride. The very fact of her expressing with perfect frankness her +admiration for the fearless rider and his courage reassured her mother, +and when the girl went on to give a faithful account of her +conversation with the Candidate, and the rebuke she had administered to +him for entertaining such wicked ideas with regard to suicide, her +parents exchanged glances of entire satisfaction. + +"Was I not right?" Herr von Osternau asked his wife, with a smile, and +she nodded a pleased assent. Lieschen's freedom from all reserve had +quite reassured her, although, as she repeated to herself, her fears +had not been altogether groundless, since the girl's interest in the +stranger was evident from her manner of speaking of him. Even when she +blamed him there was an unwonted seriousness in her voice and manner, +she really seemed to have suddenly grown older. + +Egon appeared punctually at eight o'clock in accordance with his +invitation, and immediately afterwards Albrecht arrived, not by any +means pleased to find the Candidate installed as a member of the +circle. His humour was not improved by hearing Herr von Osternau +request the tutor to consider himself henceforth as one of the family, +joining them at tea whenever he felt so inclined, without further +invitation, a privilege hitherto enjoyed by the Lieutenant alone. The +two other inspectors never appeared at the tea-table without being +specially invited to do so. + +In fact, Lieutenant von Osternau did not at all enjoy himself on this +particular evening. Until now he had been the enlivening element of the +little circle, he had, as it were, formed the centre of conversational +interest, but he suddenly found himself superseded by the Candidate, +who conducted himself with an easy assurance inconceivable in a man of +his station, receiving Herr von Osternau's gracious advances as if they +were a matter of course, and taking part in the conversation as though +perfectly accustomed to intercourse with people of rank. + +And yet, as the Lieutenant could not but admit to himself, the +Candidate never thrust himself forward, never attempted to lead in the +conversation. When it naturally turned upon his mastery of Soliman, he +made no claim to any special bravery or skill, but smilingly put by all +the compliments addressed to him, and skilfully changed the subject by +remarking upon the interest he had felt in the harvesting, which had +been to him so novel a spectacle. He thus gave Herr von Osternau an +opportunity to expatiate upon his favourite theme. + +When the lord of the castle was once fairly launched upon this subject +he usually held forth at great length, but to-day, when Herr +Pigglewitch mentioned the singing of the girls and men as they raked +the hay, Herr von Osternau called to mind the praise given by Herr +Kramser to Herr Pigglewitch's pleasing voice, and he suddenly closed +his discourse by a request that the Candidate would gratify him with a +song. + +With ready amiability Egon went instantly to the piano, where he sang +to his own accompaniment, and in a full, rich baritone, a simple +Folksong: + + + "In Oden forest stands a tree + With branches fresh and green, + Beneath its shade a thousand times + I with my love have been." + + +The Lieutenant observed, with positive rage in his heart, the effect +which this song produced upon every member of the family. Frau von +Osternau, who was busy at her tea-table, dropped her hands in her lap +at the first notes, and listened intently, with eyes fixed upon the +singer. Her husband sat leaning back in his arm-chair, scarcely daring +to move, for fear of losing one delicious tone, while Lieschen bent +forward in rapt delight with sparkling eyes and parted lips, and when +the last sounds had died away, and Egon arose to take his place again +beside her at the tea-table, she looked up at him with a dreamy, +far-away expression in her dark eyes, which told how great had been her +enjoyment, although she said not a word. + +"Charming! Delicious!" Herr von Osternau exclaimed. "Thank you! thank +you! I never heard that song so exquisitely sung. Every note came from +the heart, and, of course, went straight to the heart. You understand, +Herr Candidate, how to render our 'folksongs' with the simplicity that +belongs to them, without any of our modern frippery hung about them." + +Egon bowed slightly. Herr von Osternau's cordial enthusiasm was +gratifying, but Lieschen's eyes, as she looked up at him, filled him +with a delicious intoxication, which, however, quickly evaporated when +the Lieutenant, feeling forced to repress his irritation, uttered a few +commendatory phrases in order to display his appreciation of music. His +praise sobered Egon at once. He would willingly have disclaimed it in a +few sharp words, but he suppressed them out of regard for the master +and mistress of the house. He was glad to have further discussion of +his song interrupted by old Hildebrandt's entrance with the post-bag, +which had just arrived from Station Mirbach. + +"A letter for you already, Herr Pigglewitch," Herr von Osternau said, +handing Egon an envelope. + +Egon hesitated for a moment to take the letter which could not possibly +be for him, but there was no help for it, and he laid it on the table +before him. + +"Read your letter, Herr Pigglewitch, you need not stand upon ceremony," +Herr von Osternau continued, kindly. "Here in the country the advent of +letters is quite another matter than the receiving them in town. We +live here so secluded from the world that letters are all we have to +connect us with it, and of course we wish to open our envelopes as soon +as they are brought to us. The post-bag comes in at this time every +evening, and each of us instantly opens and reads whatever it brings +him or her,--the contents often give us matter for discussion and +conversation. So pray read your letter, I will set you an example by +opening mine, whilst my wife, Lieschen, and Cousin Albrecht look +through the papers and journals." + +He broke the seal of his letter as he spoke, and became instantly so +absorbed in its contents that he did not observe that Egon thrust the +one addressed to Herr Pigglewitch into his breast-pocket without +opening it. + +Herr von Osternau's letter was very long, and it took him some time to +read it through. Meanwhile there was a pause in the conversation around +the tea-table. Frau von Osternau and the Lieutenant were busy with the +newspapers, and Lieschen turned over the leaves of a journal, without, +however, reading a word; she could not fix her attention, the melody of +the song she had just heard so rang in her ears. + +"A very odd, disagreeable letter from your uncle Sastrow," Herr von +Osternau said, after a long pause, turning to his wife. "He wishes us +to invite Bertha von Massenburg to pay a long visit at Castle Osternau, +and I cannot very well see how we can help complying with his wish." + +Egon, who had been reflecting for the last few minutes upon what was to +be done with Gottlieb Pigglewitch's letter, started from his revery as +the name of Bertha von Massenburg struck upon his ear. He turned, with +an interest he could hardly conceal, to Herr von Osternau, who went on: + +"Very unpleasant things have been happening in Berlin, things that +concern us, although not very nearly: still we are distantly related to +the Massenburgs, and Sastrow reckons upon the relationship. Bertha +should be withdrawn from public attention and the gossip of the capital +for a considerable time, your uncle says, and he thinks her best asylum +would be with us; wherefore he begs me to send her an invitation at his +house as soon as possible." + +"What has happened?" asked his wife. + +"Oh, 'tis a very ugly kind of story. I had better read you Sastrow's +letter: 'My dear Fritz----'" + +Egon rose as Herr von Osternau began reading the letter aloud. However +great his curiosity might be, he could not but remind Herr von Osternau +that there was a stranger present who had no right to a knowledge of +private family affairs. He was about to withdraw, but Herr von Osternau +kindly signed to him to sit down again. + +"I appreciate your delicacy, Herr Pigglewitch, but I pray you to +remain. This letter does, to be sure, contain a very unpleasant bit of +family scandal, but it is unfortunately no secret. At the present time, +when distance is annihilated, Berlin gossip spreads far and wide in an +incredibly short space of time. If Bertha von Massenburg comes to us, +the scandal of which she is the innocent subject will follow her very +shortly; all our neighbours will know everything about Bertha and her +unfortunate betrothal, and it will be hard to separate truth from +falsehood. So it is better that you should know the truth from a +trustworthy source, especially as she stands in a certain relationship +to our family. You can then aid to the best of your ability in putting +a stop to idle gossip; therefore I would rather you should hear the +letter. + + +"My Dear Fritz,--There must, of course, be some important reason for my +sitting here in the middle of the night writing you a lengthy epistle +which must be sent to the post at dawn, that you may receive it +tomorrow evening. This reason consists in my great desire to avert as +far as is possible the consequences of a most unpleasant family affair. +I will be as brief as possible; of course our cousin Werner von +Massenburg is at the bottom of it; who other of the family could +provoke a scandal? + +"You have lost money enough by the man to know him well, although +perhaps not so thoroughly as I know him. Of course he is always in +pecuniary difficulties, but even I, poor as is my opinion of him, +should not have suspected him of attempting to relieve himself of his +debts by selling his daughter,--the expression is not too strong,--and +this is just what he has done. + +"About two weeks ago Werner came to me and informed me that he was +about to betroth Bertha to a distinguished young fellow, Egon von +Ernau, the son of the Privy Councillor von Ernau. The affair had been +concluded with the young man's father, who declared that his son was +nothing loath. All that remained to be done was to bring the young +people together that the betrothal might take place in the usual way, +since it could not very well be announced before they had even seen +each other. He therefore begged me to invite Bertha to pay us a visit; +he would introduce young Ernau to us, and everything could be speedily +arranged. + +"When I expressed my great disapproval of a marriage thus contracted, +he went on to explain that it was a matter of life and death to him. +His old friend the Privy Councillor Ernau had promised to liquidate all +his debts in case the recent patent of nobility of the Ernaus should +receive the aristocratic veneer which would be given it by a union with +the old knightly line of the Massenburgs. He was so persistent in his +entreaties that at last I consented, although sorely against my better +judgment, and wrote to Koenigsberg, inviting Bertha to exchange for a +while her aunt Massenburg's home in Koenigsberg for our house in Berlin. +By return of post I received a charming letter from Bertha accepting my +invitation, and she arrived here yesterday. + +"After writing to Bertha, I thought it my duty to inform myself with +regard to our future connections the Ernaus. What I learned of them was +by no means reassuring. Privy Councillor von Ernau is, it is true, +immensely wealthy, the head of an extensive banking business, his +reputation for honesty and business capacity has never been even +breathed upon, but he is the most insufferably self-important, +conceited fellow, who never loses an opportunity of seeing his name in +the papers, so great is his love of notoriety. He keeps open house, and +poses as a patron of art and science without having a conception of +either. He keeps a racing stud, although he is no horseman; and he +contributes vast sums for political purposes, without the faintest real +interest in politics. Only let his name appear in the papers and he is +content, no sacrifice is too great to make to his vanity. + +"What I could gather concerning the son is scarcely any better. It is +generally conceded that Herr Egon von Ernau is a very talented young +fellow, but that he abuses most frivolously the brilliant gifts +bestowed upon him by nature. He studied and passed brilliant +examinations, without turning his knowledge to any account. He has +inherited from his father--with whom, moreover, he is on terms of no +intimacy, father and son sometimes not meeting for weeks--an enormous +stock of vanity, which, however, he shows after an entirely different +fashion. It is his pleasure to pay no heed whatever to the opinion of +the world, to appear alike indifferent to praise and to blame, to +attach no importance to worldly honours. He has drained to the dregs +every pleasure, every delight that wealth can give, and he is to the +last degree _blase_. In the assurance of his own superiority he +despises all other men and treats them accordingly. He is a man +of talent but of no character, and he utterly lacks balance and +self-control. + +"It is easy to see that such a man is not calculated to make a wife +happy; therefore I thought it my duty, before the affair was finally +decided, to talk seriously to Massenburg, but it was too late; he could +not withdraw, even had he desired to do so. He had made binding +promises to Councillor Ernau; the betrothal, if not actually announced, +was known everywhere. The Councillor had informed his friends on +'Change that the betrothal of his son Egon to the noble Fraeulein Bertha +von Massenburg was shortly to be celebrated by a grand entertainment, +and Werner himself had been so imprudent as to admit this when +questioned upon the subject. The betrothal was already an open secret, +much discussed among the aristocracy of money as well as of blood. +There was pity expressed for the poor girl who was to be sacrificed to +a vain, heartless _roue_. There were various remarks made at the club +in Werner's hearing with regard to the burnishing of an aristocratic +scutcheon with money gained in trade, but he was firm in his resolve. +The effect of all this gossip was to induce him to hurry as much as +possible the public announcement of the betrothal. It was arranged by +the two fathers that Herr Egon von Ernau should pay his first visit +here yesterday and should be invited by me to an evening party. So +soon as the young people had fairly met, there was to be a large +garden-party at the Councillor's villa, and the betrothal was to be +formally announced. + +"It was very distasteful to me, of course, to lend myself to what was +to bring about a connection which I considered so undesirable, but I +was forced to consent to what was asked of me. I did so, however, only +upon condition that I should be allowed immediately after Bertha's +arrival to lay before her the true state of affairs. Should she decline +then to accede to her father's schemes, I declared that no force should +be put upon her beneath my roof. I would then refuse to receive young +Ernau. + +"Early yesterday morning (the express train from Koenigsberg arrives in +Berlin at six o'clock) I went to the railway-station to meet Bertha. I +did not recognize her when she first stepped out on the platform. I had +not seen her for several years, and she had grown from a pretty little +school-girl into an elegant young lady. She, however, instantly +recognized me, rushed into my arms, calling me 'dearest cousin,' and +was so charming and amiable that she won my heart at once. All the more +did I hold it to be my duty to warn her against the wretched scheme. + +"I did so as we drove home from the station. We were alone, and I had +plenty of time to explain matters thoroughly. + +"To my exceeding surprise, I found that she showed no distaste whatever +for the union forced upon her, she had without hesitation written to +her father that she was quite ready to bestow her hand upon Herr von +Ernau. Even my unflattering portrait of the young man did not make her +waver in her resolve. With a degree of cool equanimity which seemed +unnatural in so young a girl, she explained that the faults which I +attributed to Herr von Ernau were common to all wealthy young men who +had lived fast, and that she was not at all shocked by them. Certainly, +from all she could hear, she judged young Ernau to be a man of honour, +very clever, and withal extremely rich, wherefore she was quite willing +to forgive him some small faults of which he would probably be cured in +the course of time. She had lived a life of weary dependence with her +aunt Massenburg and longed for freedom. She should not have refused to +marry even a less distinguished suitor than Herr von Ernau, to be +relieved from the cheerless existence she had been leading. + +"After the cordiality and affection with which Bertha had greeted me, I +was entirely unprepared to find her so coolly calculating. I told her +so, and she replied with a smile that she was too old--she is just +nineteen--to be deceived by any illusions as to 'love's young dream,' +that the place to seek such was in popular romances; in real life a +poor girl of rank must learn to be practical and to take reason for her +guide. No better match could be found than the one her father had +provided for her, and since she had no fancy for being an old maid, she +certainly should not commit the folly of rejecting such good fortune. + +"Much disappointed, I dropped the subject; the girl no longer appeared +so charming to me. Her wonderful self-possession, her cool calculation, +made a very disagreeable impression upon me, but this vanished when I +spoke to her of her father. She was so frankly rejoiced to relieve him +from his embarrassments, to restore to him the possession of his +ancestral estate, and she expressed her joy so warmly and with so much +love for her father, that I was quite reconciled to her again. And it +was just so with my wife. Bertha took her heart by storm. During +breakfast, when the Ernaus were discussed, she was as displeased as I +had been by Bertha's cynicism, but her displeasure was only transitory. +The girl soon conquered her again by her amiability. + +"I really dreaded Egon von Ernau's visit. Werner had informed me that +the young man would make his appearance about twelve, but he did not +come. Hours passed, and at four o'clock Werner appeared in his stead. +Bertha rushed into his arms, she was bewitching in her delight at +seeing her father again; indeed, she was like some artless, lovely +child in her tender, caressing ways with her father. + +"You know Werner, he neither deserves nor appreciates such affection. I +really think he cares more for a fine race-horse than for his charming +daughter, whose caresses evidently annoyed him. He endured without +returning them, only bestowing a cold kiss upon Bertha's cheek, and +immediately desiring to see me in private. + +"As soon as we were alone in my library the tempest, the signs of which +I had already seen in his face, burst forth, he raged and swore, talked +of putting a bullet through his brains; and some time elapsed before he +was sufficiently calm to explain to me the cause of his anger. + +"His affairs certainly looked black enough. The son-in-law of his +desires had disappeared, thus destroying the scheme upon which all +Werner's hopes had been based. + +"The Privy Councillor von Ernau had risen, according to his wont, at +eight in the morning, and, not at all according to his wont, had been +desirous of breakfasting with his son, that he might consult him with +regard to the arrangements for the celebration of his betrothal. He +therefore sent to desire his son to come to him. The servant sent +returned in a few minutes with Egon's man, who explained that his +master had not returned home at all on the previous night, his bed was +untouched, and upon his writing-table a letter had been found, +addressed to his father, in his handwriting. This letter was handed to +the Privy Councillor. He broke the seal, as he himself stated, with a +trembling hand, but this last is doubtful. The letter contained only +the words 'Farewell! E. von E.' + +"'He has destroyed himself!' was the father's exclamation, as he +hastened to Egon's rooms in company with the servant, and searched them +through in hopes of finding some scrap of writing that might allay his +apprehensions, but in vain. His first words seemed the only true +explanation of his son's disappearance. + +"Egon could not have left town for a journey, his servant had received +no directions to prepare for a trip, and the young man's clothes were +undisturbed, none were missing save those which he wore when last seen. +A costly revolver, a favourite weapon of Egon's, was not to be found. +Everything strengthened the Privy Councillor in the belief that his son +had committed suicide. He had hitherto taken but a languid interest in +his son, he had often indeed passed weeks without seeing him, although +the same roof sheltered both; now the Privy Councillor suddenly assumed +the part of a tender, agonized parent. He burst into loud lamentations +over the terrible fate of his beloved son, he reproached himself for +having driven him to put an end to himself. Nothing but despair at +being forced to marry a girl whom he did not love could have driven +Egon to such a horrible deed. + +"These lamentations were publicly made, and by them Herr von Ernau +attained a vast notoriety. He was quite given over to the _role_ of +tender, agonized parent. He played it before his servants at home and +the clerks in his counting-room. In vain they all tried to soothe him, +to represent that there was as yet no proof that his terrible suspicion +was correct; in vain did his cashier declare that if Herr Egon had +contemplated suicide he would not have drawn, as he had done the day +before, twenty thousand marks from the bank. The Privy Councillor +insisted that his son had shot himself, the drawing of the twenty +thousand marks was an additional proof of the deed. Egon had wished to +pay everything that he owed before his death, and had drawn the money +for this purpose. + +"Werner von Massenburg believed that the Councillor's loud lamentations +were all dictated by his vanity, which was always urging him to seek +notoriety at any price. At nine o'clock he had ordered his carriage and +was driving about among all his intimate friends and acquaintances +enacting the same scene over and over again, and declaring that the +wretched proposed betrothal had driven Egon to despair. By noon the +universal topic on 'Change was young Ernau's suicide and its cause, and +the story flew like wildfire all through the town. An hour previously +it had reached Werner, and he had hurried to the Councillor, with whom +he had gone through a terrible scene. The Councillor, in his false, +theatrical fashion, had cursed the unfortunate projected betrothal, and +had heaped reproaches upon Werner, who, of course, was not slow in +retaliating, until at last Ernau vowed angrily that if the faint hope +that still existed should prove a certainty, and Egon be found to be +alive, the hated betrothal should never take place. + +"This was the sum of Werner's incoherent narrative. He cursed the +Ernaus, father and son, and in his utter selfishness even found fault +with Bertha for bringing him into this frightful difficulty by a too +ready acquiescence in his plans. She must be completely compromised by +the scandal, which was now known all over the town, and in a few days +society would cast scorn upon the names of Massenburg and Ernau, and +the wildest exaggerations of the story of Egon's suicide would be told +everywhere. + +"I tried to soothe Werner, but with small success. He left me at last +with the task upon my hands of informing Bertha of what had occurred. + +"This was unpleasant enough, but the girl made it as easy for me as +possible. She listened to my account with great composure, only +expressing her sorrow that her poor father should be disappointed in +his dearest hopes. When my wife spoke indignantly of young Ernau, she +shrugged her shoulders. 'I am sorry for him,' she said, in a tone +expressive of quite as much scorn as pity; 'he is evidently one of +those unfortunate men who, bred in the lap of luxury, have lost all +force of character, all capacity to shape their destiny. He is +certainly more to be pitied than blamed for shuffling off his life like +a coward instead of opposing his father's schemes like a man.' + +"I was glad that she so easily acquiesced in the inevitable, and I +hoped that Werner's fear lest her reputation should suffer from what +had occurred would prove groundless. To-day has, unfortunately, +convinced me of the contrary. + +"The scandal is full-blown. The whole story is talked of everywhere, +and one of the morning papers tells it in detail, with all sorts of +additions. It is hinted that Herr Egon von Ernau is the victim of a low +money speculation on the part of a family of rank. Fraeulein Bertha von +Massenburg knew that he was in love with a girl of the middle class, +but would not withdraw her pretensions because she did not choose to +lose a wealthy _parti_. The young man had been led, by his love for his +father, into giving his consent to the betrothal, in hopes that +Fraeulein von Massenburg would reject his hand when she learned that he +loved another. Disappointed in this hope, he had recourse to his +revolver. + +"Although everybody knows how perfectly untrustworthy are these +romantic tales conceived in the brain of some newspaper reporter, +everybody believes them, as I have, alas! seen only too clearly during +the past day. In the course of it my wife has had more visits than she +has received for weeks from friends and acquaintances of every degree +of intimacy, and she is in despair over the expressions of +commiseration and the curious inquiries concerning private family +affairs to which she has been compelled to listen. These visits have so +unnerved her that I have been forced to forbid the admission of +visitors to the house for some days to come. + +"This is only the beginning of the annoyance. The newspapers will all +shortly have their various versions of the affair. Instead of pitying +the poor girl, as people would have done a few days ago for being +sacrificed to a _roue_, all now condemn her, and lavish their +compassion on the poor fellow who was tormented into putting an end to +a life so full of promise. + +"Under these circumstances Bertha cannot remain in Berlin. Her stay +here would be intolerable, both for her and for my poor wife. Neither +can her aunt Massenburg recall her to Koenigsberg, where gossip would +inevitably pursue her and be more rife in the provincial town than in +the capital. Moreover, Aunt Massenburg is, as you know, a person of +such very strict ideas that it is doubtful whether she will ever again +receive beneath her roof a girl so talked about. + +"In our need we have thought of you, dear Fritz. You are, through your +wife, related to poor Bertha, and you must give her an asylum in your +house until the storm has blown over. After a few weeks, at most after +a few months, no one will remember that there ever was an Egon von +Ernau. We live quickly, and forget as quickly, at the present day. + +"So I entreat you to invite Bertha to pay a long visit to Castle +Osternau. I know that I ask you to make a sacrifice in granting my +request. Malicious gossip may follow Bertha even to the depths of the +country and cause you annoyance, but I know you well enough to be sure +that you will not on that account hesitate to do such a kindness. +Nothing can so surely tend to re-establish Bertha's reputation in +public opinion as the knowledge that she is the guest of a family so +highly esteemed as your own. + +"And now farewell. My warm regards to your excellent wife. Do not let +her be vexed with her old uncle for asking so great a service at your +hands. Write soon to yours faithfully, + + "Sastrow." + + +A long silence followed upon the reading of this lengthy epistle. Herr +von Osternau waited in vain for some expression of opinion from his +wife. "Well, Emma," he asked, at last, "what do you think of this +unfortunate story?" + +"I pity the poor girl," Frau von Osternau replied. "The punishment of +her folly is almost too hard." + +"I cannot even see in what her folly has consisted," observed the +Lieutenant. "What has she done to deserve such a reproach? She obeyed +her father, consented to make a brilliant match, and did it gladly. She +could not possibly foresee what would be the consequences of an +engagement which seemed so advantageous both for herself and for her +father." + +"That is just it. She thought of nothing save what she thought +advantageous," Lieschen eagerly interposed. "I cannot even pity her. +She knew from Uncle Sastrow all about that odious Egon von Ernau,--that +he was a man without heart or principle,--and yet she was quite ready +to marry him because he was rich. It makes me indignant!" + +"Ought she then to have refused to obey her father?" asked the +Lieutenant. + +"Yes, she ought! No father has a right to ask his child to disgrace +herself by such a marriage. I am indignant with Bertha Massenburg. I +never could have believed it of her. She was so charming, so +good-natured, so kind, I liked her so much when she spent nearly the +whole summer with us here at Osternau, about five years ago. I cannot +bear to think that she could allow herself to be so dazzled by mere +wealth. She deserves her punishment." + +"My child, your judgment of her is very severe," her father said, +gravely. "Since her mother's death, Bertha's lot has been a sad one. +She was homeless, for her father, who spent his time in all kinds of +dissipation, was deep in debt, his estates were mortgaged, and he took +no interest in his child. She was obliged thankfully to accept shelter +with her aunt Massenburg, at Koenigsberg. There her life must have been +absolutely wretched. I know what a hard and loveless woman Gunda +Massenburg is. We must not condemn Bertha for gladly consenting at last +to anything that her father proposed that could deliver her from such a +home. We should rather pity her. It is your duty, Lieschen, to receive +her here with all the affection which you gave her in happier times." + +"You have decided to invite her here, then?" Frau von Osternau asked, +anxiously. + +"Yes, Emma. The poor girl ought to find a refuge with us from the +gossip and slander which have attacked her good name." + +"But, Fritz----" + +"Indeed it is our duty, disagreeable as it may seem, so let us say no +more about it except in the way of arranging how your uncle's wishes +may be most speedily fulfilled. I will write to-night both to him and +to Bertha. Herr Pigglewitch is going to Breslau with Herr Storting +to-morrow morning early. If he will kindly post my letters there we can +have a reply by day after to-morrow night, and shall know when to +expect Bertha. You will take charge of the letters, will you not, Herr +Candidate?" + +At this direct question Egon started as if from a dream. He had +listened with intense attention to the letter, but had really heard +nothing of what had since been said. It was his fault, all this +wretched scandal which so painfully involved all these people, and from +the annoyance of which Herr von Osternau and his family were not +exempt. + +When he left his father's house, as he thought forever, and succeeded +in leaving Berlin without being seen or recognized by any one, he had +taken genuine satisfaction in his success in vanishing without leaving +a trace behind. He had derived a unique enjoyment from imagining the +impression which his disappearance would produce among his +acquaintances; he had never once fancied that his voluntary departure +from the world could cause any real regret to a living being. He knew +that his father was incapable of feeling genuine grief; there was no +one to be pained by his sudden death. Egon had loved and been loved by +no one. And his imagination had not played him false. Herr von +Sastrow's letter described the theatric woo of the Councillor: if he +had actually felt a degree of sorrow for his son's death he was more +than indemnified by the opportunity for playing the part of a bereaved +parent. His vanity was flattered by the sensation caused by Egon's +disappearance. + +The young man could see it all in his mind's eye,--his father's +well-acted agony for the death of a son upon whom he had bestowed no +affection, and the equally well acted sympathy of his acquaintances. +All were aware of the farce at which they were assisting, but it was +played because required by the customs of society, and because the +actors were well pleased with their parts. + +Yes, everything had happened as Egon had thought it would. What he had +not thought of was that his death could cast a shade upon another human +existence,--upon the reputation of his proposed bride. + +He had been most disagreeably affected during the reading of the letter +by the enumeration of his various characteristics, for he could not but +admit the degree of truth in the written picture. A fleeting blush had +passed over his cheek when he heard the terms in which Bertha von +Massenburg had summed up his character, 'An unfortunate man who, bred +in the lap of luxury, had lost all force of character, all capacity to +shape his destiny.' She had bestowed upon him her contemptuous pity! + +Lieschen had spoken of cowardice when, during their ride, she had +expressed her detestation of suicide. And Bertha von Massenburg had +pitied him as a coward! + +He was so absorbed in these thoughts that he heard nothing of what was +going on about him, and when startled by Herr von Osternau's appeal to +him he was obliged to confess that he had not heard his question. + +"Extraordinary absence of mind," the Lieutenant observed, but Herr von +Osternau said, in his gentle, kindly way, "Herr Pigglewitch has had a +most fatiguing day, and it is very natural that he should feel but a +slight degree of interest in the family affairs of strangers." + +Then, after repeating his request with regard to the letters, and +receiving on the instant an assurance from Egon that he would gladly +undertake the charge of them, Herr von Osternau added,-- + +"As you must be tired, Herr Pigglewitch, and need rest, I will not +detain you from seeking it. I would ask but one favour of you. We have +all been moved by Sastrow's letter, which will give me at least a +troubled night. Perhaps you may succeed in diverting our thoughts if +you will kindly go once more to the piano and give us some of your +delicious music." + +An eloquent look from Lieschen seconded her father's request, and Egon +willingly complied. He himself had often resorted to music for +consolation, but of late this source of comfort had failed him; he had +played with enjoyment to-day for the first time for months, and now so +soon as his fingers touched the keys the old spell threw its charm over +him. He forgot that Herr von Osternau had asked him to play, he forgot +that he was among strangers, of whom one, the Lieutenant, was eying him +with dislike and suspicion; he played for himself alone. Involuntarily +he glided after a brief prelude into one of Schumann's wonderful +reveries. He had played the studies of the immortal master so often, he +had made them so thoroughly his own, that the notes came now as if from +his very soul, and thus affected his hearers, who listened breathless, +fairly carried away by the magic of sound. + +It was over--with the last tone the spell too was broken. He knew that +he was among the Von Osternaus; there upon the lounge sat the +Lieutenant sullenly staring at the floor, and beside him was Frau von +Osternau, her hands clasped in her lap, lost in dreamy enjoyment. And +Lieschen?--there were tears in the girl's eyes! Egon saw no more, he +felt his pulses quicken, any word of praise or thanks would have been +intolerable to him. Rising from the piano, he would have left the room +in silence, but that he suddenly remembered what was due from Gottlieb +Pigglewitch to his employer. Little as he had learned of self-control, +it must be exercised now. So with a courteous bow he turned to the +master of the house and begged to be excused from playing anything +more, he was really much fatigued and would ask permission to retire to +his room. He then kissed Frau von Osternau's offered hand, bowed low to +Lieschen, even bestowed a formal inclination upon the Lieutenant, and +retired. + +When the door closed behind him he passed his hand over his eyes as if +to push away some cloud from his mind. Was he the same Egon von Ernau +who had never paid the slightest regard to what others might think of +him,--to anything indeed save his own whim of the moment? A strange and +sudden change had come over him,--he could not comprehend it. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + A LETTER AND ITS REPLY. + + +The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had +slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only +broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning. + +Egon stood at his open window. He felt easier and freer now that he was +once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a +relief to him. The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the +rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the +wind were as music in his ears. If only some ray of light could +illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the +world without! + +He had suddenly become aware of the serious importance of existence. +Hitherto he had never reflected upon the future, and but seldom upon +the past. He had lived in the present, obeying the impulse of the +moment, with no thought of the consequences of his actions. He had +known no feeling of responsibility, he had lived for himself alone; who +in all the world had any claim upon his consideration? + +When the insane idea occurred to him of playing the part of Gottlieb +Pigglewitch for a little while, it had indeed entered his mind that it +might result in some annoyance, but he had thoughtlessly followed the +impulse of the moment; he could put a stop to it all whenever he +pleased, he still possessed his revolver. He had not been bored, it is +true, for a moment since he had changed clothes with Gottlieb +Pigglewitch and borrowed his name, but what had he gained? Was he +happy? Was life any more attractive to him? No, not in the least. +Formerly, when he had thought it worth while to recur to the past, he +had done so without regret, without the slightest remorse, he had +recalled his past with a kind of weary indifference; today this +retrospect begot within him a sensation of shame. His whole past life +seemed to him frivolous and insignificant. Bertha von Massenburg had +characterized him correctly. It was only by chance that he had not fled +from life like a coward. Involuntarily, as the feeling of shame grew +stronger, he felt for his revolver in his breast-pocket to toss it from +him, and as he drew it forth, a letter likewise was pulled from his +pocket and fell upon the floor. + +It was the note addressed to the Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch, which +he had received a few hours before. Egon had forgotten it; he picked it +up now and carried it to the table, where a light was burning. + +His thoughts had taken another turn; the momentary disgust at the +thought of his revolver vanished, he contemplated it with a half-smile, +and his thoughts ran thus: "I had very nearly thrown you away forever, +old friend. It was only an accident, the appearance of this wretched +letter, which prevented me from yielding to the impulse of the moment. +Shall I never, then, be master of myself? 'He is a man of no force of +character, he has no self-control.' Those were old Sastrow's words, +and, by Jove! he is right. Always the sport of the moment! Why should I +toss away my revolver? There is no danger in it for me, except by my +own will, by my being too great a coward to fight the battle of life. +No, old friend, you shall stay by me, not as an aid in my extreme need, +but as a warning to me to control myself." + +He thrust the weapon again into his breast-pocket, and then turned to +the letter in his left hand. It was addressed in a very fine, round +hand to the "Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch, at Castle Osternau, near +Mirbach;" but just after the name Pigglewitch two words, enclosed in +brackets, were written, in a handwriting so excessively small as to +escape notice at the first glance. Egon held the note near the lamp, +and by its light deciphered the words "Fritz Fortune." + +Fritz Fortune! It was the name that Egon had invented and given instead +of his own to the real Pigglewitch. No one else knew this name, and +hence it was clear that the note was for Egon, and from the redoubtable +Candidate himself. The young fellow broke the seal, and read: + + +"Respected Herr Fortune,--Forgive me for once more turning to you in my +extreme need; indeed I cannot help it. Wonderful indeed are the ways of +the Lord! He sent me aid when with a wanton hand I attempted my own +life; you, dear sir, rescued not only my body, but my immortal soul, +saving it from mortal sin. And in your inexhaustible generosity you +provided me with means not only to repay my uncle, but to emigrate to +America and live happy there. Four thousand marks you bestowed upon me. +Permit me, however, to remark that you counted out to me one hundred +marks too little. I went carefully over the notes as soon as you had +left, and they amounted to only three thousand nine hundred marks. I +called after you, but you did not hear me; therefore you still owe me +one hundred marks. + +"But not for this do I now address you. A hundred marks is, to be sure, +a large sum for me, but I would not mind it, I should now be in Hamburg +or Bremen, ready to start for America by the next steamer, if fate had +not subjected me to fresh trials. + +"The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. I have been +assailed by temptation and have been unable to resist. Wretched man +that I am, I have again lost everything,--everything! There is nothing +left for me, Herr Fortune, but to appeal once more to your benevolence; +and my heart is filled with hope that you will not let me plead in +vain. + +"You can probably surmise how I have been stripped of everything that +you bestowed upon me. My miserable passion for play has again wrought +my ruin. I could not withstand temptation. Upon arriving in Berlin, +full of the brightest hopes, I encountered near the station the same +men who had shortly before won all that I possessed. But why dwell upon +these wretched details? In little more than an hour I was again a +beggar, with hardly money enough for food for a couple of days. I +sought out my former lodgings, where my landlady received me,--I had +paid her up to the 15th,--and here, sitting despairing in my lonely +room, it has occurred to me to write to you, honoured Herr Fortune. + +"You are rich. You have with you now thousands of marks. You cannot +refuse to help a miserable man who knows no help save in you. I +entreat, I implore you to send me four thousand marks more, and I will +say nothing about the hundred marks that you still owe me. + +"What shall I do if you refuse to aid me? It is true that I promised +you to reveal to no one the fact that you had under my name installed +yourself in my situation at Castle Osternau, and that I had handed over +to you all my credentials, but with the best will in the world it is +impossible for me to keep my promise. I cannot now emigrate to America, +I must stay here, and in order to live I must find a situation here; to +do this I need my papers. Yes, I must lay claim to the situation +promised me at Castle Osternau; only by procuring it can I ever lay by +money enough to pay my uncle. This is my only hope, for if I do not pay +it he will send me to jail, whereas if I make him remittances he will +perhaps wait in order not to lose his money. + +"You will see yourself, Herr Fortune, that I shall be forced to break +my promise to you, much as it will pain me to cause you any annoyance. +I am so grateful to you that the thought of your being arrested and +brought to punishment for assuming a false name and presenting false +credentials drives me to despair. + +"This must not happen. You will give heed to my entreaty, and once more +send me the four thousand marks which I, miserable sinner that I am, +have lost at play. I swear to you, by all that is sacred, that by the +next mail after the receipt of the money I will transmit my uncle's +money to him, and will go straight to Hamburg without spending a day +more in Berlin. I swear to you that I will not touch a card, that I +will not yield to temptation. + +"Help me this once, only this once, honoured Herr Fortune, I implore +you on my knees, lying in the dust before you! + +"Your wretched, desperate, bat eternally grateful and devoted + + "Gottlieb Pigglewitch. + +"P.S.--My address is 'Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch, Berlin, 52 Ensel +Street, care of Frau Wiebe.'" + + +With a face darkening as he read, Egon perused this precious epistle, +tossing it disdainfully aside when he had finished reading it. +"Miserable scoundrel!" he muttered. "What a worthless mass of +hypocritical gratitude, servility, stupidity, and dishonesty the +creature must be, thus to threaten me indirectly in hopes of getting +more money from me! He talks to me of arrest, and thinks that for fear +of it I shall send him another four thousand marks that he may be +plucked for the third time by sharpers. No, my worthy Pigglewitch, you +have reckoned without your host this time; not a mark will you get!" + +He paced his room to and fro, deciding that any further thought of the +miserable letter and the rogue who had penned it was foolish, and yet +he could not banish it from his mind. + +Was the threat so very ridiculous? If the true Pigglewitch had the +courage to attempt it he might bring the false one into a deal of +trouble, as Egon's sober second thought could not but admit. + +The bearing of a feigned name was legally a crime, but that was of no +consequence in Egon's mind. If he chose early the next morning to go to +Berlin instead of to Breslau, who could succeed in finding the +Pigglewitch who had vanished from Osternau? Nobody would suppose that +Egon von Ernau, suddenly appearing in the capital again after a short +pleasure-trip, had for a day or two taken it into his head to play the +part of a Candidate Gottlieb Pigglewitch. The real Pigglewitch could +not betray him, for he knew him only as Fritz Fortune. The false +Pigglewitch simply vanished, leaving not a trace behind. + +What would the world say if the Egon von Ernau whom it believed dead +should suddenly appear safe and sound in Berlin? Egon laughed as he +pictured to himself his reception in the paternal mansion, the faces of +the servants, and the amazement of his father thus interrupted in his +successful performance of the part of a broken-hearted parent. His poor +father! But there would be some consolation for him in the sensation +caused by his son's return. He could drive about town in his carriage, +and, with a beaming countenance, inform all his friends, 'My son lives, +I am the happiest of fathers!' Whether in joy or in woe, he could still +be the model parent. + +Would it not be best perhaps to cut the Gordian knot of his foolish +adventure after this fashion? Yes, it would be his wisest course to +leave Castle Osternau on the morrow, never to return. And what of the +future? He had never formerly thought of the future, he did so now for +the first time. + +He would doubtless be received with enthusiasm, would be the topic of +the gossip of the capital for weeks, all the silly rumours which had +been flying about with regard to him would die away of themselves, +Bertha von Massenburg need not leave Berlin, for--here Egon +shuddered--the betrothal could take place as agreed upon, the betrothal +to which Egon had thoughtlessly consented because it was of no +consequence to him what woman was the sharer of his tedious existence. +All women seemed alike calculating, frivolous, insignificant. He had +given his consent, it could not be withdrawn. + +Why did his pulses suddenly quicken? Why did he feel a positive +aversion to the girl who was described as so beautiful and amiable? +"Never, never," he muttered. He could not act wisely, he could not +return to fulfil his father's promise, no, he could not. + +He would remain in Castle Osternau and carry out to the end the +adventure in which he was embarked, if only to test his force of +character, his ability to carve out a new life for himself. Was it for +this alone? Did not a lovely vision hover before his mental vision, +casting its spells upon him, robbing him of freedom of will and forcing +him to remain, when to go would be so prudent, so sensible? + +He determined to remain. But he must not expose himself to the danger +of being driven forth from Castle Osternau by the real Pigglewitch. For +should the latter make good his claim, as he could, to the name now +borne by Egon, he would doubtless be expelled from the castle pursued +by the Lieutenant's scornful laughter. + +And he could not possibly explain the matter to Herr von Osternau. No, +the real Pigglewitch must be disarmed. But how? There was but one +course,--to grant his request. Egon bit his lip; it irritated him to be +influenced by the rogue's threats, but he had no choice. He could +secure himself from discovery only by sending the fellow four thousand +marks. Should he then be secure? Could he trust the man in the +slightest degree? No, never. But it was of little consequence, he could +at all events be made harmless for a short time. It was, after all, +only a matter of a petty four thousand marks. + +He sat down at the writing-table and wrote: "I will help you this time, +but it is the last. If you allow yourself to be led astray again by +your insane love of play you have nothing further to expect from me. I +ought now to leave you to your fate, for your folly in allowing +yourself to be made a second time the prey of ordinary sharpers +deserves punishment, the more as by your threat of breaking your +promise you have forfeited all right to my clemency. You owe the money +which I herewith send you to my pity for your inconceivable stupidity, +not in the least to your threat as to arrest, etc., which, I would +remark by the way, is absolutely futile, since your papers were given +me voluntarily by yourself, and the only inconvenience to which you +could subject me would be the payment of a fine which would be of no +importance to me, and the abridgment of a foolish jest which I was +silly ever to attempt. Your broken promise would avail you nothing +here, since your letter to me would prevent Herr von Osternau from ever +receiving into his house, as tutor, a low, dishonest gambler, who, +according to his own confession, should be at present within the walls +of a jail. + +"You know now what you have to expect, and I would advise you in your +own interest to keep your word and to sail by the first vessel for +America. If in your new home you should ever need money to purchase a +farm you may again apply to me. I may perhaps be induced to remember +that I saved your life against your will. How far this remembrance will +serve you in the fulfilment of a reasonable request from you your own +conduct must decide. + +"I wish no thanks from you for the enclosed four thousand marks. Any +communication made from you to me before your arrival in America will +destroy all hope of future assistance from + + "Fritz Fortune." + + + + + CHAPTER X. + CONTENT AND PEACE. + + +The morning after the first night spent by Egon at Castle Osternau +dawned so brilliantly that the light of the rising sun shining in at +his window awoke him. The storm had raged itself out, and the blue sky +was cloudless. + +He was quickly dressed and down in the garden, where the delicious air +and the dewy flowers filled him with a new delight. Although he had +slept but a few hours, he felt more rested and refreshed than when +rising in Berlin at noon. + +He walked through the garden out into the fields, involuntarily +striking into the path leading to the Oster meadows. He had time for a +walk, for he was not to be ready for the trip with Herr Storting until +seven o'clock, and it was now but a little after five. + +He soon reached the eminence whence he had yesterday looked down with +Lieschen upon the harvest-fields. The charming view seemed more lovely +and peaceful than before, for the busy crowd of harvesters was absent. +Labour in the fields had not yet begun. A single horseman was riding +through the valley towards the castle. When he saw Egon he waved his +hand, and spurred his horse on to where the young man was standing. +Egon recognized Herr Storting. "Good-morning, Herr Pigglewitch," +Storting called from afar. "I did not expect to meet you in the Oster +meadows at five in the morning. Did you wish to be sure that the storm +has done us no harm? Aha! you begin to take an interest in our harvest. +You may be easy, we have come off very well. The rain was only an +honest summer thunder-storm. In some places it has indeed beaten down +the grain, but the injury is slight, and I can with a clear conscience +fulfil my promise and go to Breslau with you this morning." + +Storting was so rejoiced at the safety of his harvest that he entirely +forgot his yesterday's displeasure at his companion's conduct, and he +walked his horse slowly back to the castle at Egon's side, pointing +with pride to the luxuriant fields on each side of them, and speaking +with enthusiasm of Herr von Osternau and his agricultural foresight and +skill. + +His talk was most interesting to Egon, who felt an increased respect +and esteem for the man of whom an intelligent inspector in his employ +could speak in terms of such admiration. + +Arrived in the court-yard the pair separated, Storting to superintend +the arrangement of the day's labour, since, as he said, with a +half-smile, "The chief superintendent will hardly appear before eight +o'clock, his usual time of rising," while Egon repaired to his room. +Here he found his breakfast awaiting, and beside his plate a letter +addressed to Colonel D. von Sastrow, Berlin. It was the one he had been +requested by Herr von Osternau to take charge of on the previous +evening, and the sight of it reminded him of his own letter to +Pigglewitch, which he had laid away unsealed after he had written it. +He took it out and read it over once more. It did not please him, but +he could not resist the longing desire that possessed him to remain for +a while at Osternau. He shuddered at the thought of resuming the +tedious old Berlin life. Any means were justifiable that should enable +him to escape that. + +With a sigh he enclosed the notes for the promised money, sealed the +letter, and addressed it. Then he took from his pocket-book an +additional two hundred marks. Thus much, he reflected, Gottlieb must +have possessed before falling into the hands of the sharpers, and so +much therefore his substitute might surely sacrifice to the exigencies +of the occasion. He needed some school-books, and also some linen. That +contained in the travelling-bag filled him with disgust. + +Punctually at seven he started with Storting for Breslau. The +travelling-bag containing Pigglewitch's old suits was carried to the +station by a servant, and the travellers arrived duly at their +destination, where Egon's first care was to post Herr von Osternau's +letter and his own. After this he began his expedition in the town with +Storting, the first visit naturally being paid to the tailor. Here it +would have gone ill with him but for Storting's assistance. The tailor +at first seemed disinclined to grant credit to a stranger, and +Candidate Pigglewitch could not possibly pay the two hundred and fifty +marks requisite for the furnishing him with two respectable suits of +clothes, except by quarterly instalments. Storting, however, came to +the rescue. His credit with the tradesman was excellent, and he +arranged the matter, while Egon stood by, now and then biting his lip +to keep himself from laughing, so ludicrous did the whole situation +seem to him. In less than an hour his outfit was complete. The clothes +borrowed from Storting and one of his own new suits were packed up to +be sent to the railway-station. Egon paid the ready money agreed upon, +and the tailor requested him to sign a paper agreeing to pay the rest +in quarterly instalments as arranged. The pen was in his hand when he +suddenly reflected that he had no right to sign Pigglewitch's name to a +due-bill, that to do so was actually a transgression of the law. He +hesitated, but when Storting said, "Sign, Herr Pigglewitch, I will +write my name as surety below yours," there was nothing for it but to +comply. Here was one of the consequences of coming to Castle Osternau +under a false name. + +His enjoyment of the occasion was disturbed, but only for a moment; +when they had left the shop he felt it his duty to make a special +acknowledgment to the inspector for his great kindness in so readily +becoming surety for an entire stranger. Storting interrupted him with a +laugh. + +"You must thank Fraeulein Lieschen, if you wish to thank anybody--our +gracious little lady. 'Pray make Herr Pigglewitch look like a human +being,' she said to me yesterday. Not very flattering to you, but for +me a command to be obeyed under all circumstances. I tell you frankly +that but for this I should have had some hesitation in going surety for +you, for your conduct yesterday provoked me. To-day, however, you are a +different person, and I am quite sure that I run no risk in signing +your promise to pay." + +"Fraeulein Lieschen's word is your law, then?" + +"Yes, so I told you yesterday, and so I tell you again to-day." +Storting laughed as he spoke, but the seriousness in his eyes +contradicted the laughter of his lips. "Fraeulein Lieschen rules at +Castle Osternau. Just as you controlled Soliman yesterday, Fraeulein +Lieschen will control you before two days are gone by. Yesterday you +tried to withstand the magic of her glance, to-morrow you will obey her +implicitly, as I do, as every one in the castle does." + +He turned as he finished the sentence into the old-clothes shop, where +Pigglewitch's cast-off habiliments were to be disposed of. If Egon had +enjoyed the novelty of the transaction with the tailor, here he was +infinitely more entertained. Storting defended his interests bravely. +The Jew dealer declared that he should be ruined by the purchase at any +price of such antiquated garments, but finally with many lamentations +agreed to give twenty-four marks for the two suits. Storting was +content; the porter who had carried the bag was paid and dismissed; +Egon pocketed his gains with a smile, and took the empty bag under his +arm. + +The chief business in Breslau was completed, and Egon found that he had +still half an hour before the departure of the train for Osternau. This +time he employed in the purchase of linen and school-books, and arrived +with Storting at the station just in time to pack away his various +bundles in the railway-carriage and to take his seat beside his +companion before the train started. + +The events of this little expedition to Breslau were very unimportant, +and yet they exercised an important influence upon Egon's mode of +thought, his views of life. For the first time some idea occurred to +him of the value of money. The tailor's hesitation to trust him for the +insignificant sum of two hundred and fifty marks, the petty haggling +for an infinitely less sum in the old-clothes shop, were a lesson to +him. And in his purchase of linen and books the impossibility of his +buying, as he had been wont to do, everything that he desired, or even +everything that he thought necessary, set him thinking in earnest. + +He had smiled at the gravity with which Storting, at the tailor's, +reckoned up the cost of the clothes, at the eagerness with which he had +contested a few marks with the Jew dealer, while his zeal was all in +behalf of another, and the same man who was so anxious to save expense +for the poor Candidate Pigglewitch did not hesitate to pledge himself +to pay a hundred and fifty marks in case the tutor should be unable to +do so. And this when the sum in question was of great importance to +him, for, as he had frankly told Egon, he was without means except his +salary as inspector, out of which he contributed to the support of a +sister who was preparing for the governess examinations in Berlin. + +Under these circumstances the kindness shown to Egon by Storting was +genuine indeed, and placed the recipient under an obligation which +instead of annoying him gave him pleasure. Hitherto Egon had been +disposed to regard any favour shown him as due to his wealth and +position. Storting's disinterestedness therefore made the greatest +impression upon him, and weakened the morbid suspicion with which he +had come to look upon all friendly advances made to him. + +The elation that he felt upon returning from Breslau to Castle Osternau +was not damped by the fulfilment of his duties there. His little +pupil's boyish eagerness to learn, his affectionate enthusiasm for his +dear Herr Pigglewitch, warmed Egon's heart, while the hours spent in +giving Lieschen her music-lessons were the most delightful he had ever +passed in his life. + +After the daily game of billiards, in which, much to the Lieutenant's +chagrin, Egon maintained his supremacy, Frau von Osternau accompanied +her daughter and the tutor to the sitting-room, where the lesson on the +piano was given. Egon began his instruction with an interest which the +discovery of his pupil's talent for music heightened to enthusiasm, and +the girl's progress was such that Frau von Osternau was charmed, and in +the delight which these lessons gave her forgot that she had at first +been present at them from a sense of duty. Indeed, her anxiety lest +Lieschen's interest in her teacher might transcend the limits of that +which a pupil should feel for a master seemed entirely groundless. The +girl admired the musician, as did Frau von Osternau. She listened to +every word of his, and did her best to obtain his approval. When he +praised her her lovely face beamed with smiles, but it was to the +teacher as such that she paid her tribute of respectful attention. The +lesson once concluded, Lieschen was again the merry, artless, audacious +child. She teased Herr Pigglewitch as she was wont to tease Cousin +Albrecht, Herr Storting, and Herr von Wangen, the third inspector. She +expressed without reserve her admiration for his skill at billiards and +as a horseman, and then, when displeased by some reckless speech of +his, she scolded him as unreservedly. She was as frankly familiar with +him as with the others, and her conduct in this respect was at times a +proof to her mother that her fears for her daughter had been unfounded. +She willingly allowed the daily rides, during which the pair, of +course, were never alone, Fritz always forming one of the party. + +It was a delight indeed to Egon to make these expeditions through field +and forest with the sister and brother. Lieschen assumed all the +gravity of age as she held forth to the Herr Candidate upon the +mysteries of agriculture, now and then praising the progress made by +her pupil, and she was no less charming when she laughed at him for his +ignorance. Herr Storting was right when he prophesied that Egon would, +like all the other inmates of the castle, shortly yield Fraeulein +Lieschen a willing obedience. Egon smiled at his own folly, but none +the less did he succumb to her charm, even putting a bridle upon his +tongue when habit would have led him to utter some sneering remark. One +word of admonition from Lieschen was enough to put him upon his guard. + +The life he led at Castle Osternau, in utter contradiction as it was to +everything that he had known hitherto, threw a strange spell around +him, made him calm and content, filled him with a satisfaction which +forbade for the time all idea of change. + +At the noonday meal he no longer listened mutely to the agricultural +discourse of the lord of the castle. His awakened interest found +utterance in inquiry and discussion which afforded Herr von Osternau +genuine pleasure. Frau von Osternau also would give the young man a +kindly nod as she marked his growing interest in such topics. The +Lieutenant alone was discontent; he never let slip an opportunity for a +covert sneer at the Candidate. Egon paid no attention to his insulting +words, but they called forth at times a sharp reproof from Herr von +Osternau, which but served to embitter Albrecht still further against +its cause. + +And the evenings around the tea-table, from which Egon would rise to +take his seat at the piano, were perhaps the most enjoyed of all this +pleasant existence. What matter was it to the young fellow if the +Lieutenant hated him? He felt that every other member of the family +regarded him with kindness, that Fritz positively worshipped him, that +Frau von Osternau had confidence in him, that her husband treated him +as his equal in rank, as a friend of the family. And Lieschen? She was +as frank and merry as upon their first meeting. She even teased him now +and then about his old coat, in which she still insisted he looked like +a scarecrow, but at intervals, in the midst of her girlish merriment, +her eyes would meet his own with a look which, he could hardly have +told why, filled him with intense, unreasoning joy. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + GOOD ADVICE. + + +"Bertha will arrive to-morrow," said Herr von Osternau, looking up from +the letter which he had just received by the evening mail. + +Egon alone of all the little circle had had no letter, and he had +therefore been looking over the paper, which he now dropped in dismay. +Two weeks previously he had taken Herr von Osternau's letter to +Breslau, and for a few days afterwards he had thought with a kind of +dread of the threatened visit from Fraeulein von Massenburg, but as the +invitation remained unanswered, and as there was no mention made by any +of the family of Bertha, he had forgotten that the peaceful life at +Castle Osternau might be disturbed by the intrusion of a foreign +element. His dismay was shared by Frau von Osternau and Lieschen, as +was evident from their faces as they looked up from their letters. + +"Indeed!" said Frau von Osternau. "I hoped that Bertha would refuse our +invitation, since she has left it so long unanswered. Has she written +herself?" + +"No; Sastrow tells me that she is to leave Berlin early to-morrow +morning, and so she will be here towards evening. You can read his +letter, or I will read it to you. Albrecht and Herr Pigglewitch heard +his first, and this is simply a conclusion of it." And the old Herr +began: + + +"My Dear Fritz,--Forgive me for delaying my thanks for your prompt +response to my request. You must have daily expected my reply, but I +could not before inform you exactly when Bertha would go to you. Almost +immediately after the arrival of your letter Werner von Massenburg came +to me in a state of great perturbation, to tell me that Egon von Ernau +had probably not killed himself, but was knocking about in the +mountains somewhere. One of his intimate acquaintances had seen him in +Breslau two or three days after his disappearance. Werner had himself +seen this acquaintance, a certain Baron von Freistetten, and had heard +the tidings from his own lips. The Baron assured him that as he was +driving to the railway-station in Breslau he had seen Ernau on the +sidewalk, walking very quickly. The Baron was in a hurry to catch his +train, and so had not accosted his friend, but he knew him well enough +to be sure that it was he. He nodded to him from the carriage, but +Ernau was looking at some books in a bookseller's window, and did not +perceive him. If he had known that Ernau was reported dead, the Baron +would certainly, even at the risk of losing his train, have stopped and +identified the missing man; but he had been absent from the capital for +some time, and knew nothing of the gossip current there. However, he is +ready to take his oath that the man whom he saw was no other than Egon +von Ernau. + +"Werner fairly shook with agitation as he recounted this wonderful +story to my wife, to Bertha, and to me; he had just come from the +Councillor Ernau, whom he reported as quite as much agitated as himself +by Freistetten's statement. They discussed what was best to do under +the circumstances, and decided that a notice should be sent to the +newspapers contradicting the report of the suicide of young Ernau, who +had merely left Berlin upon a pleasure-trip. The Councillor was also to +engage the police to make search for his son in Breslau. They agreed +that if, as they both believed, Egon von Ernau still lived, nothing +should be changed in their former arrangements. The Councillor was +convinced that his son would not think of relinquishing his claim upon +Bertha's hand, especially after the public scandal to which his +disappearance had given rise. + +"You know Werner Massenburg, and how sanguine he is; nothing that I +could say as to the possibility of a mistake on Baron Freistetten's +part had any effect upon him. His hopes were again high, and he thought +it quite natural that young Ernau, who had always followed the impulse +of the moment, should have chosen this time for a short absence from +Berlin. According to the unanimous verdict of his companions, the young +man was ready to commit any folly, and to carry out, regardless of the +feelings of others, any project that might occur to him. + +"Neither I nor my wife was convinced by what he said, but Bertha +listened to him with sparkling eyes, and declared that nothing should +induce her to leave Berlin until the matter of Egon's absence was fully +explained; she would write to you instantly and decline your invitation +with thanks. I dissuaded her with difficulty from doing so. + +"Again, after her father had left us, I entreated her to pause and +consider. If young Ernau still lived, his want of regard for the +feelings of others had proved him entirely incapable of making a wife +happy. I painted her future linked for life with so eccentric, selfish, +and _blase_ a husband; but my words had no effect whatever upon her, +she only smiled. Her smile is wonderfully lovely, but it did not then +seem lovely to me, it made me shudder. + +"She had, she declared with calm decision, no anxiety for the future if +she could but attain her desire of becoming young Ernau's wife. If the +young man did really, as was by no means certain, feel a certain +antipathy for her, which had been the cause of his temporary flight, it +should be her task to cure him of his dislike. Without vanity, she was +conscious of possessing enough beauty to inflame the heart of any man +susceptible to a woman's charms, if she so desired to do. Therefore she +must stay in Berlin. So brilliant a match must not be resigned without +a struggle. Herr von Ernau's reputed eccentricities mattered nothing to +her; he was immensely rich, a gentleman, and born and bred in the best +society; these advantages outweighed all else. She laid no claim to +idyllic bliss in marriage, she was perfectly indifferent as to whether +she could love or even esteem her future husband, if he could but +satisfy her requirements in the life she wished to lead, and if, above +all, he could deliver her father from his pecuniary embarrassments. + +"My good wife listened with positive horror to these declarations, and +I was indignant. I cannot tell you how unlovely, with all her beauty, +Bertha seemed to us; and we have not recovered from the effects of this +impression. The girl has taken the greatest pains to please us since +then, and has been charming and bewitching, but in vain. I cannot but +think, whenever I look at her, of her sordid views of life, and I do +not trust her cordiality; it comes from calculation. She wants to stay +with us in Berlin, and therefore she flatters and caresses my wife and +myself and anticipates all our wishes. + +"Werner supposed that the notice sent to the papers would put a stop to +all scandalous gossip, but such has not been the case. You can have no +idea of the annoyance to which we have been subjected; my wife actually +talks of retiring from society. + +"Under these circumstances Bertha must not remain with us any longer at +present. I explained this to her to-day and told her that she really +must leave for Castle Osternau to-morrow morning. Her eyes flashed as I +spoke, and she was evidently tempted to make an angry retort, but she +possesses immense self-control: she thanked me most amiably for +allowing her to stay with us until now in spite of the annoyance she +had caused us. She declared herself quite ready to start for Castle +Osternau to-morrow, but at the same time begged that she might return +to us if Egon von Ernau ever made his reappearance in the capital. This +request was preferred so bewitchingly that I could not but accede to +it. + +"So Bertha will arrive at Castle Osternau towards evening to-morrow. I +know, my dear Fritz, how much I ask of your wife and yourself when I +beg you to keep her with you for some time, but I cannot help hoping +that this visit may turn out well. Bertha can be extremely delightful +if she chooses to be so, and I am sure she will so choose in this case. +Farewell. I send a thousand affectionate messages to your wife from her +grateful old uncle, + + "Sastrow." + + +"A charming prospect!" said Frau von Osternau when her husband had +finished. "If our good-natured uncle Sastrow is so indignant with +Bertha von Massenburg, she must have behaved badly. Can you ask me--can +you ask Lieschen, Fritz, to make her welcome here for months?" + +"You look only on the dark side, Emma. Sastrow says expressly that she +can be enchantingly amiable if she chooses." + +"Any one who is amiable only when she chooses is not amiable at all," +his wife replied. "Indeed, Bertha von Massenburg does not seem to me a +fit companion for Lieschen. I am afraid we have been somewhat hasty +about this invitation." + +"It has been given and accepted, Emma. Bertha is coming to-morrow, and +hospitality demands that she be kindly received. Neither you nor +Lieschen, I hope, Emma, will forget that." + +"Must I play the hypocrite, papa? How can I receive Bertha kindly when +I am indignant at her conduct? I think it detestable in her to insist +upon marrying that miserable Egon von Ernau when she knows that he does +not like her and that he is a worthless man. I cannot tell you, papa, +how odious Bertha's greed for wealth seems to me, and you tell me to +receive her kindly. I cannot pretend to what I do not feel." + +"I do not ask you, dear, to lavish affection upon her or to adopt her +as your confidential friend, but to treat her as a relative of the +family who has come to live with us for a while. You are no longer a +child, Lieschen, and you must learn to fulfil the conventional +requirements of society. I never desire you to play the hypocrite, and +a courteous silence as to what we are thinking at the moment is not +hypocrisy. You must accustom yourself, my dear, not to wear your heart +upon your sleeve, and to bridle your tongue." + +Lieschen was unaccustomed to so serious an admonition from her father, +and she replied, meekly, "I will try, papa," while her mother did not +look up from her work, but knitted faster than ever. + +All were a little put out of tune by the news of Bertha's arrival, with +the exception of the Lieutenant; he expressed the hope that the +beautiful Fraeulein von Massenburg would put fresh life into the old +castle. He took Bertha's part; he could not see how she was to be +blamed for wishing to be wealthy for her father's sake. Certainly +Lieschen least of all ought to find fault with her frank expression of +her sentiments as to wealth. As in royal families, so also in the +higher aristocratic circles, marriages were contracted without the +sentimental affection talked of in novels; Bertha was only conforming +to the laws of good society if she overlooked Egon von Ernau's trifling +defects and showed herself ready for a union which would relieve her +father from pecuniary embarrassment. Even judging from Herr von +Sastrow's prejudiced description, young Ernau was a talented man of +unstained honour, and it would be inexcusable folly in Bertha not to +overlook any little faults in one so richly endowed. + +Although the Lieutenant delivered himself thus with a degree of +enthusiasm, no voice was raised in sympathy with him; Frau von Osternau +maintained an obstinate silence, seeming to be absorbed in her +knitting, Lieschen frankly declared that she could not understand a +nature so coldly calculating, and thought it detestable, and all that +Herr von Osternau said was that he could not judge Bertha until he had +seen her, and that, whatever she might be, no member of his family was +justified in showing her anything save kindness; it would be best for +the present to drop all discussion of her, and he therefore begged Herr +Pigglewitch to go to the piano and soothe their troubled minds. + +Egon complied, but he himself was so filled with all kinds of +conflicting thoughts and emotions that his heart was not in his music, +and he soon arose from the instrument. It was impossible to resume the +customary happy evening talk, all were absent and uncomfortable in +mind, and the circle broke up at an unusually early hour. + +On the following day both Lieschen and her mother were depressed in +spirits. They scarcely spoke during dinner, and but for the talk +between the master of the house and his inspectors there would have +been absolute silence. + +When the time came for the afternoon ride Fritzchen was about to rush +off to order the horses, but Lieschen detained him. + +"Let us take a little walk to-day, Herr Pigglewitch," she said. "My +father wishes me to arrange some flowers in Bertha von Massenburg's +room, so I cannot be away from home long, and yet I have a great deal +to say to you. I do not want to ride to-day, we can talk so much more +easily on foot." + +"Oh, Lieschen, it is delightful to gallop across the fields, and you +always talk all the time to Herr Pigglewitch," Fritz cried out, with a +discontented air, but Egon pacified him by promising to ride with him +after their walk, and the little fellow ran on before the pair who +sauntered slowly out into the fields. + +In the narrow path along which they strolled Lieschen walked close by +Egon's side. She had said that she had much to say to him, but she +seemed unable to begin, and even when Egon asked the name of a distant +hamlet she gave a brief, hasty reply, and then walked on with downcast +eyes, until her companion, eager to put an end to the uncomfortable +silence, asked, directly, "What have you to say to me, Fraeulein +Lieschen?" + +She looked up at him. + +"You are right to remind me; it is folly to delay asking your advice, +since I have made up my mind to do so. I do not often need advice, my +own feeling tells me what I ought to do, and I follow its promptings, +but to-day it leaves me in the lurch, I am doubtful whether I feel and +judge rightly, wherefore I want to ask your advice, only you must +promise me, Herr Pigglewitch, to tell me your opinion frankly, even at +the risk of offending me." + +"I promise you." + +"It really is strange for me to turn to you for advice. When you came +to us two weeks ago, I had no confidence in you, you talked so oddly, +and ridiculed what I held sacred,--I was almost afraid of you. I +thought you could not be a good man. Do you remember I told you so the +first day you came?" + +"I have forgotten none of your words." + +"I was wrong. You have been very different since. When I see you now +and hear you talk I can hardly believe you are the same man who talked +so frivolously about self-destruction. You looked strangely and your +laugh was so bitter that it hurt me, but now you laugh from your heart, +and you look so kind and sincere that I cannot help having faith in +you. I beg your pardon for what I said. You certainly are a good man, +or Fritzchen would not be so fond of you. None but good men win the +affection of children." + +Egon's heart beat as he listened to her simple words. She was right; +fourteen days had made another man of him. Formerly such praise from +girlish lips would have excited his ridicule, now it delighted him. "I +hope your opinion of to-day may prove as correct as was your former +one," he said. "I am trying, at all events, to improve." + +Lieschen looked up at him gratefully. "Yes, you shall advise me. To +whom should I turn when I am at odds with myself? To my parents? Oh, I +know how ready they are to help me, but upon this point they do not +agree. To Albrecht? Never. He is not good. I never could trust him. But +you wish me well,--I know you do,--and you will be frank with me." + +Egon did not speak, but his eyes were more eloquent than words. + +"You shall hear how I am at odds with myself," Lieschen went on. "It is +about Bertha von Massenburg. My father wishes me to receive her +affectionately, to let no word or look betray how indignant I am with +her, with her sordid views, her odious conduct. My dear father is so +gentle and kind, he cannot bear to think ill of any one. He does not +believe in Bertha's low motives. It is easy for him to receive her +kindly, but in me it would be hypocrisy. Must I be a hypocrite? Should +not truth be our first consideration? Ought I to be false to myself out +of conformity with conventional ideas of courtesy? Nothing makes me so +indignant as falsehood, and now I am asked to act a falsehood myself. +My mother thinks as I do, but she submits. In whatever my father +seriously desires she always obeys him. He yields to her in all small +matters, but when he has formed an opinion upon any important question +my mother always conforms to it. I know that she is as indignant as I +am about Bertha von Massenburg, but she never will allow it to be seen; +my father's wish is her law, and it has always been mine, but now I am +sure he is mistaken. Advise me what to do. What would you do if you +were in my place?" + +Egon's gaze was bent upon the ground. He did not dare to look into the +clear eyes that were questioning his face. 'Nothing makes me so +indignant as falsehood,' the girl had just said, and her words yet +sounded in his ears. Was not his whole life at Castle Osternau a +falsehood? She did not dream of the sentence she had passed upon him. +She hated falsehood, and asked advice of him! He commanded his voice +with difficulty, and, without lifting his eyes, said, "You wish to know +what I should do? I cannot tell you. I do not know. It has always been +my misfortune to yield to the impulse of the moment. How can I tell +what that impulse might be?" + +"Is that all you have to say? You have no advice to give me?" + +"What ought I to say? Can I advise you to disobey your father? Should I +be tempted to do so I might perhaps sin grievously, not only against +Herr von Osternau, good and kind as he is, but against Fraeulein von +Massenburg. It is easy to pronounce a harsh judgment upon those who +have not acted rightly according to our convictions, but what do we +really know of their springs of action? How do you know that it has not +cost Fraeulein von Massenburg a bitter struggle to insist upon her union +with Herr von Ernau, whom you call a miserable fellow, judging him no +less harshly than you judge her? Do you know him at all except from the +description of a man who is not acquainted with him? And if he is, as +Herr von Sastrow says, at odds with life, do you know what has made him +so? I can imagine a wretched man satiated from earliest childhood with +every pleasure that money can procure, with no wish ungratified save +that for affection, never having known the love of either father or +mother, miserably lonely, surrounded by flatterers and parasites who +feign friendship for the sake of his riches, but who care nothing for +him in reality. Is it his fault if he has become disgusted with +his fellow-men, if he is vain, _blase_, dictatorial, destitute of +self-control? How do you know that deep in the soul of the man whom you +have condemned there do not slumber the sparks of nobler and truer +sentiments, beneath the ashes of the ruin wrought by his ill-spent +life? It needs but a breath, perhaps, to make this spark a flame, a +breath of self-inspection or a breath of affection, and yet you condemn +him. If he should judge himself as you judge him, the spark would +surely die beneath the ashes, and he would be lost without hope of +rescue." + +Lieschen stared at the speaker in wonder. "How strangely you speak," +she said, "exactly as if you knew Herr von Ernau! And how agitated you +have become! you have grown quite pale. Oh, you must know Herr von +Ernau, or you would not thus defend him." + +"I did not mean to defend him," Egon replied, in some confusion. "He +may not deserve any defence. I only wished to point out to you the +harshness of your judgment both of him and of Fraeulein von Massenburg, +and to show you that your knowledge of them is insufficient to allow of +your forming such a judgment." + +"That means that you advise me not to receive Bertha Massenburg coldly, +but to suppress my dislike for her and comply with my father's wishes?" + +"I am not worthy to advise you to do anything save to act according to +the dictates of your own heart." + +Lieschen shook her head. "You are a very strange person, Herr +Pigglewitch," she said, with a smile. "You do not wish to advise me, +and yet you have given me advice which I shall follow. You have shown +me clearly that I was wrong in condemning Herr von Ernau and Bertha, +and that my dear father was right in asking me to receive Bertha +kindly. I am glad I came to you for counsel. I shall think of what you +said about Herr von Ernau, and I should like to hear more of him from +you, for I am sure you know him; but I cannot now, for it is time to +return to the castle." + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + BERTHA VON MASSENBURG. + + +After a long ride with Fritzchen, Egon returned to the castle later +than usual. As they rode into the courtyard a dusty carriage was +standing before the carriage-house, and old Wenzel informed them that +the Fraeulein from Berlin had arrived a little while before. + +During the ride the talk of his lively young pupil had left Egon small +time for reflection, and he really felt a desire to be alone for a +time. Much as he usually enjoyed the evenings spent with the family, he +preferred to pass this one in his own room, and he suspected also that +his kind employers would be quite willing to dispense with his society +upon this particular occasion. He therefore commissioned Fritzchen to +tell his father that he would not intrude upon the family this evening, +but would remain in his own apartments. Scarcely had he reached them, +however, before Fritz made his appearance to say that his father had +sent him to tell Herr Pigglewitch that he could not possibly intrude, +and that he should expect him at the tea-table. After giving his +message the boy hurried away, declaring that he must go instantly to +his 'lovely new cousin.' She seemed to have quite supplanted his adored +tutor, for the while, in the child's affections. + +Of course Egon could not but comply with Herr von Osternau's expressed +desire. Reluctant as he was to confront Bertha von Massenburg, he knew +that he must meet her sooner or later, and he resigned himself with the +best grace possible to the inevitable. He dressed quickly and repaired +to the tea-room. + +Before he reached it he heard the notes of a popular _Conzertstueck_ +played with great execution. He paused in the corridor and listened. He +knew the thing well enough, he had played it several times himself, but +always with distaste, for he did not like this style of music, but he +listened attentively, for he knew how much practice it must have +required before it could be rendered thus clearly and brilliantly. + +He did not listen long, for there could be, he thought, no better +moment in which to enter the room unnoticed than just when every one +was occupied in listening to the music; he softly opened the door and +entered. + +His first glance fell upon the performer, whose back was towards him, +his second upon a tall mirror opposite that reflected her face and +figure. Involuntarily he stood still. + +He had heard that Bertha von Massenburg was beautiful, and Herr von +Sastrow's letter had confirmed the report, but the image reflected in +the mirror amazed him by its wondrous, transporting beauty,--beauty +consisting not only in faultless regularity of feature, but much more +in the strange loveliness of expression, in the gentle smile of the +delicately-chiselled mouth, in the dark, fiery eyes that sparkled +beneath long lashes, in the grace which informed every motion of the +full yet slender figure. A piano-player is seldom graceful in the +exercise of her art, but with Bertha von Massenburg even the rapid +movement of hands and fingers as they flew over the keys seemed natural +and beautiful; therein lay one charm of her playing, and yet, masterly +as it was, it lacked something,--it lacked depth of feeling. Was it +really lacking? or was there no opportunity for its revelation in a +brilliant drawing-room piece of music, which was calculated to display +merely the execution and skill of the performer? + +Egon remained standing near the door, after bowing to Herr and Frau von +Osternau, and exchanging glances in the mirror with Lieschen, who stood +with her back to him, turning over the leaves for her cousin. At last +the piece was concluded; the performer arose, and was greeted with +enthusiastic applause from the Lieutenant, who advanced from the recess +of a window. Herr von Osternau also expressed his admiration of the +performance. "Brilliant indeed," he said. "You are an artist, not a +_dilettante_. You will have all the more pleasure in making the +acquaintance of another artist in our Fritz's tutor, Herr Pigglewitch, +whom I beg leave to present to you." + +The smile which Egon's assumed name when first heard was sure to +provoke hovered upon Bertha's lips as she turned to the tutor, looking +at him with evident interest and curiosity. Her glance took in his +entire figure, his movements, his bow upon being presented, in short, +she observed him so closely as almost to embarrass him, as she said, +easily, "My kind uncle pays a very high compliment to my indifferent +performance in ranking me with you, Herr Pigglewitch,"--the smile +deepened on the charming mouth. "I have heard that you are a true +artist, and had I known that you were standing behind me I might have +hesitated to continue my performance and subject myself to your +criticism." + +She had seen Egon in the mirror upon his first entrance, and he knew +that this was so, for their glances had met. "I hate falsehood!" +Lieschen had said. Why was Bertha untrue? Where was her inducement to +be so? Had untruth become to her a second nature, as to so many women +of the world of society? Egon suddenly felt himself transported to the +old life which he knew so well,--Herr von Osternau's pleasant room +changed to a brilliant ball-room, and before him stood one of the +ball-room puppets whom he so hated and despised, particularly when they +tried to make themselves attractive by flattering him. + +Involuntarily he stood more erect. The disdainful smile which Lieschen +had so disliked, and which she had not seen of late, appeared on his +lips as he replied, "Is it possible that you fear criticism, Fraeulein? +A mastery of technique is the ideal of our modern art. You are +certainly aware that the sternest critic would not withhold his +recognition of the brilliancy of your execution, but must pronounce you +a virtuoso indeed." + +"A virtuoso? My kind uncle called me an artist, and I was proud that he +did so." + +"Who makes such subtile distinctions nowadays? The virtuoso is the only +true artist. He alone represents the true modern ideal; he is never led +astray by the genius, now so out of fashion, of wearisome classical +music." + +Her eyes flashed. "You think you can interpret this genius, or you +would not pass such a criticism upon modern art," Bertha replied, +sharply. "Pray take my place at the piano. He who pronounces such +sentences must justify them by his own performance." + +Her cheek flushed slightly as she spoke, her dark eyes glowed, she +seemed to Egon at the moment enchantingly beautiful. Her tone and her +words were not those of a ball-room puppet. Bertha was not of them, +then; she could be vexed and angry and could transgress conventional +forms, as was proved by her request to him and by its manner. + +He obeyed, dominated by her glance. He took her place at the piano, but +for a few moments his hands rested idly upon the keys and his eyes were +downcast. The glow in those large black eyes recalled to him the memory +of old days which he had thought half forgotten, when suddenly the eyes +into which he gazed turned, in his vision, from black to dark, melting +blue, and were filled with sympathy for the mental struggles through +which he was constantly passing. The spell of the moment that had +summoned up the past was dissolved; he belonged again to the peaceful +present. Involuntarily the hands upon the keys began to give expression +to the gladness that arose within him. He played he knew not what, the +various melodies awoke and resolved themselves to harmony beneath his +touch, he played as if in a dream, uttering in tones all that he would +have said to the lovely child to whom he owed a new and delicious +content of soul,--exulting words of joy, gentle words of gratitude, +tender words of love. + +"Bravo! bravo!" The Lieutenant, desirous of showing his impartial love +of art by applauding the detested tutor, clapped his hands loudly. His +'bravo!' roused Egon from his dream as the last notes died away. + +He arose. His first glance sought Lieschen, who had been standing +behind him, and, who involuntarily held out her hand to him, while +tears stood in her frank eyes. + +Bertha seemed no less affected. "Thank you," she said, and her voice +faltered. "I promise you that you never shall hear a drawing-room +performance from me again." + +"Splendid! wonderful!" exclaimed the Lieutenant. "Herr Pigglewitch, you +have surpassed yourself, you never played so delightfully before. It is +your work, Fraeulein von Massenburg. Of course, Herr Pigglewitch did his +best not to disgrace himself before such an artist. You must play us +something else, Herr Pigglewitch." + +But this Egon was not to be induced to do, and to cut short the +Lieutenant's persistence he closed the piano, and just in time, for +Frau von Osternau at that moment called them to the tea-table. + +Herr von Sastrow had declared that Bertha von Massenburg could be +charming if she chose to be, and she certainly chose to be this +evening; she captivated every member of the Osternau family, even, at +last, Lieschen and Frau von Osternau, in spite of their prejudices. She +did not appear to notice that at first Frau von Osternau's manner was +but coolly courteous, and that Lieschen scarcely spoke at all, and +never addressed her. She talked on innocently and gaily, and was so +cordial and amiable that Frau von Osternau could not but abandon her +reserve, and Lieschen became herself once more. As for the head of the +house, Bertha had charmed him from the very first, while the Lieutenant +was quite enraptured by her, although she paid him less attention than +she bestowed upon any other of the little circle. She was more gracious +even to the tutor than to Cousin Albrecht. + +Indeed, the manner in which she included Egon in the conversation was +especially pleasing to Herr von Osternau. In every word which she +addressed to the young man she showed the estimation in which she held +so accomplished a musician. She said not one flattering word to him +with regard to the pleasure he had given her, but there was a +respectful acknowledgment of his superiority in the way in which she +listened to everything that he said when the conversation turned upon +modern music. + +With infinite tact she avoided dwelling upon her late stay in Berlin +when the Lieutenant clumsily alluded to it. She spoke of her uncle von +Sastrow with the greatest affection, but speedily contrived to change +the subject. + +The evening passed delightfully. The head of the house was late in +giving the sign for retiring, and did so at last only in view of his +wife's admonition that it was time to bid good-night, since he +generally paid for so pleasant an evening by some hours of +sleeplessness. + +"Well, Emma," he said when he and his wife were again alone together, +"do you now think that Bertha will be a disturbing element in our +little circle? I fancy you are cured of your prejudice against her." + +Frau von Osternau did not immediately reply, perhaps she would gladly +have been relieved from the necessity of doing so, but when her husband +repeated his question she said, "I have not yet made up my mind about +Bertha. I confess that so long as I was with her, and listened to her +gay, innocent talk, and looked into her dark, sparkling eyes, I was +charmed with her; she captivated me as she did you and Albrecht and +Herr Pigglewitch, and even Lieschen, who finally treated her as +affectionately as she used to do when Bertha visited us years ago. But +now that she is no longer present, and that I am not subject to the +magic of her eye, I am doubtful about her. Was her amiability from the +heart? She seems unaffected, but is she so in reality? I must defer +giving you my opinion of Bertha until we have known her longer." + +The same doubt that troubled the gentle mistress of the castle +tormented Egon, as he paced his room to and fro, pondering upon the +evening he had just passed. Frau von Osternau was right in saying that +Bertha had captivated him; she seemed to him so wondrously beautiful +that even Lieschen's lovely image paled beside her. + +"If you had seen her a while ago you would not have fled from Berlin, +and she would have been your wife," he said to himself, and his +imagination ran riot in picturing what might then have been his future. +To call that exquisite creature his own, to love her and be loved in +return, to spend his life beside her,--the thought quickened his pulses +and his temples throbbed. + +He opened the window. The cool night air refreshed him. As he looked +out into the black night of the garden, two strips of light were marked +distinctly upon the dark lawn. The one was thrown there by the light in +his room. Whence came the other? Involuntarily he wondered, whence? Ah, +from Lieschen's window. Was she too gazing out into the dark night? Her +image suddenly arose in his soul as clear and distinct as Bertha's, it +looked at him reproachfully, the lips parted to say, "I detest nothing +so much as falsehood!" He almost heard the words. + +Clearer and more brilliant grew Lieschen's fair and lovely image, while +Bertha's faded into night and darkness. He turned from the window +calmed and cheered. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + A WISE YOUNG JUDGE. + + +The spell which Bertha von Massenburg had cast around the inmates of +Castle Osternau upon her first appearance within its walls did not +fade, but grew stronger, and embraced in its charm every individual of +the household, with the exception of Lieschen. Both the inspectors, +Herr von Wangen and Herr Storting, and even all the servants succumbed +to it. Her sweetness and gaiety were unvarying; she had a word of +kindness for all, and knew exactly when to utter it. + +She talked with Herr von Osternau of his farming, and displayed a +degree of knowledge and judgment in such matters rare indeed in a young +girl. Her entire childhood before the sequestration of her father's +estates had been spent in the country. She had kept alive all her +interest in country pursuits and occupations, and was never weary of +introducing a discussion of her uncle's favourite topic. It was a +genuine delight to the old man to be able to explain his theories and +practice to her, while her large black eyes gazed intelligently into +his own; and not less did he enjoy her gay talk of Koenigsberg and +Berlin, and her affectionate, caressing way of leaning her head on his +shoulder and stroking the gray hair from his forehead as she called him +her dear, dear uncle Fritz. + +Nor could Frau von Osternau resist the influence which Bertha exercised +upon her also. There was no withstanding the girl's innocent, amiable +readiness to assist in any occupation in which her aunt was engaged. +She was sure to place the footstool just in the right place for Frau +von Osternau's feet, and was always ready to take up dropped stitches +in her knitting, or to ring the bell just when the servant was wanted, +or to make herself useful and indispensable in the household in a +thousand ways. Cultivated and well bred as she was, she disdained no +feminine occupation. Indeed, she was a pattern for Lieschen, who had +been allowed, her mother thought as she watched Bertha's ways, to run +wild altogether too long. And then how perfect was her behaviour +towards the gentlemen of the family! She received their homage with +genuine pleasure, but never exacted it, and armed herself with a +dignified reserve whenever there was the slightest risk of their +attentions becoming importunate. This was especially the case with her +treatment of the Lieutenant, who paid her decided court, and this often +in a way which annoyed Frau von Osternau, although Bertha was never +thrown off her guard, but preserved her maidenly dignity intact. On the +other hand, she encouraged the shy young inspector, Herr von Wangen, by +a charming degree of kindly interest in his labours. + +Herr von Wangen was the only son of a wealthy landed proprietor in West +Prussia. His father had sent him to Castle Osternau to learn +agriculture upon a model estate, and in the hope of conquering his +great natural shyness by a stay among strangers. The bashful young +fellow, who at table scarcely spoke unless he was spoken to, and who +rarely accepted an invitation to join the family at tea, for fear of +transgressing some rule of social life, was suddenly metamorphosed by +Bertha's arrival. He began to converse at dinner with Bertha, who sat +next him, and as she kindly encouraged him he soon took part in the +general conversation, and gladly joined the family in the evenings. + +Frau von Osternau was grateful to the girl for thus drawing out the +young man. She had frequently regretted that the son of one of her +husband's oldest friends should spend almost all his leisure time in +his own apartment. She observed with great satisfaction the signs in +Herr von Wangen of a budding attachment for her charming guest. Bertha +grew in favour with her as the good lady began to indulge in such plans +for the future as are dearest to the feminine mind. Herr von Wangen +was, to be sure, rather young,--only a couple of years older than +Bertha,--but he was an excellent match for her, since she had given up +all thoughts of Herr von Ernau. It seemed doubtful to Frau von +Osternau, however, whether Bertha would smile upon the young fellow's +suit; there were signs that her fancy had been suddenly caught by one +who, of all the men in the house, paid her the least attention,--Herr +Gottlieb Pigglewitch. She must be sure about this, and so she carefully +watched them both. + +She soon made up her mind that Bertha was greatly interested in the +tutor; her tone of voice changed when she addressed him; she never +jested with him as she did with Herr Storting and Herr von Wangen, or +even with the Lieutenant; she was more reserved with him, although she +listened eagerly to everything that he said. When engaged in lively +conversation with others she nevertheless heard every word uttered by +the Candidate, and she watched him when she thought herself unobserved. +She was always present during Lieschen's music-lessons; she had asked +permission to be in the room, saying, with a smile, that she could not +ask Herr Pigglewitch to give her actual lessons, but that he could do +so indirectly if he would allow her to observe his method with +Lieschen. And she also joined the afternoon walks and rides which Herr +Pigglewitch took with Lieschen and Fritz. She was a bold, fearless +horsewoman, and especially enjoyed the rides. She certainly knew how +well she looked in her riding-habit, and how the hat upon her black +curls' became her. + +And it was a significant fact, Frau von Osternau thought, that Bertha +was never to be induced either to play on the piano or to sing when the +Candidate was present, while in his absence she was always amiably +ready to do so. She evidently feared his criticism. When he played she +listened in rapt attention. + +All these observations confirmed Frau von Osternau in her suspicion +that Bertha was in danger of falling in love with the tutor, but she +was led to doubt this again by certain observations and remarks of the +young girl's, which gave her much food for reflection,--remarks similar +to those which had so shocked her uncle Sastrow, and which were +exceedingly singular in the mouth of a lovely young girl, since they +betokened a perfectly materialistic conception of life and its duties. + +Bertha was wont in conversation to play the part of a listener; she was +usually reserved in the expression of her own views, and it was only +when very much interested that she took a lively part in any +discussion, but then she was apt to become eager and to express herself +with reckless frankness. Thus at times she advanced opinions which +shocked Frau von Osternau no less than they had Herr von Sastrow. + +One evening, when the conversation turned upon a distant relative of +Herr von Osternau, a beautiful young girl of an ancient noble family, +who had just become the wife of a poor young bourgeois councillor, with +whom she had long been carrying on a compromising love-affair, a sharp +war of words had arisen between Herr von Osternau and the Lieutenant, +the former expressing his great satisfaction in the marriage as the +only atonement for the past, while Albrecht severely denounced the +_mesalliance_ with a poor man from the people. Bertha agreed eagerly +with the Lieutenant, declaring that a daughter of an ancient and noble +race might be pardoned for yielding, in a moment of weakness, to an +impulse of the heart, in bestowing her love upon a man her inferior in +rank, but that she acted unpardonably in degrading herself and her +family by a marriage with this inferior, especially if he were poor. +There was only one thing which could justify such a _mesalliance_, and +that was immense wealth on the part of the inferior in rank,--wealth +that could reinstate in splendour an impoverished family of noble +descent. The present Frau Councillor had been both unprincipled and +foolish: unprincipled in forgetting what was due to her noble descent, +and foolish in forgetting what was due to herself. The highest aim of +existence was enjoyment, and it was unpardonable folly to resign all +the delights which wealth could procure for the sake of indulging in a +brief dream of love from which one must soon awake to bitter repentance +and misery. + +Frau von Osternau listened in dismay; her favourable opinion of Bertha +was shaken by her avowal of such sentiments, but the unpleasant +impression faded when Bertha immediately afterwards showed herself so +sweet-tempered and charming that it was impossible to resist her. Frau +von Osternau could not but think that in her interest the young girl +had been led to say more than she meant; it was a pity, but excusable; +she was sure that Bertha herself would never conform her actions to the +opinion which she had asserted, and the girl's evident interest in Herr +Pigglewitch seemed to her suspicious. + +The good lady could not decide as to the sentiments entertained by the +tutor for her guest, indeed the young man was more of a puzzle to her +than ever. Immediately after his arrival at the castle he had become +quite a different creature, had been transformed from an awkward, +uncouth Candidate into a courteous, well-bred gentleman, a restlessness +of manner peculiar to him had entirely vanished, and now since Bertha's +arrival he had undergone another metamorphosis. + +His eyes again showed the same restless gleam that animated them when +he was agitated, the scornful smile, so long absent from his lips, +again often hovered there, accompanying some sneering remark, and there +was a want of repose about him which made itself especially apparent +when he improvised upon the piano. Frau von Osternau often seemed to +hear the cry of a wounded heart in the strange, wild melodies that +echoed beneath his fingers, and anon she would be carried away by the +din and strife of a chaos of tones which harassed and troubled her, and +from which there was no escape save by a crashing dissonance. His +playing was always admirable, but it no longer brought refreshment to +the mind, it was bewildering, confusing. Lieschen was profoundly aware +of this; her eyes did not fill with tears as she listened, but her +cheek paled and her downcast glance would avoid that of the player when +he had finished. When he noticed this he would turn away with a shiver, +and pass his hand across his eyes as if to brush away some cloud, then, +seating himself again at the instrument, he would evoke from it such +touching sounds as quickly reconciled Frau von Osternau to the artist. + +His conduct towards Bertha grew to be as contradictory as his music. +When he gazed at her his eyes would glow darkly, but when they were +turned upon Lieschen their fire faded, a happy expression took its +place, too often to be banished again by the mere sound of Bertha's +voice. He seldom appealed directly to her in conversation; he even +avoided all _tete-a-tetes_ with her, but what he said to others was +constantly addressed indirectly to her. And this was frequently the +case, as Lieschen told her mother, during their rides. The Herr +Candidate addressed Fritzchen or herself, but what he said was meant +for Bertha. + +In short, Pigglewitch had become entirely changed since Bertha's +arrival; he was the same only in one respect,--his duties were most +scrupulously fulfilled. Over Fritzchen he exercised the same +affectionate superintendence, beneath which his little pupil made +extraordinary progress, and he acted with the same conscientiousness in +his instruction of Lieschen. During the music-lessons he had neither +eyes nor words for the lovely Fraeulein von Massenburg, he seemed to +live only for his pupil, and Lieschen showed her gratitude by giving +him her undivided attention. + +These lesson-hours had come to be the happiest time of the day for the +young girl, who had so lately been little more than a careless, happy +child. Since Bertha's coming to the castle there had been a change in +the daughter of the house, which filled her mother with anxiety. The +girl no longer ran races with Fritzchen when lessons were over, her +merry laughter no longer came floating up every day from the lawn, the +charming romp, who had deserved and received many a loving reproof from +her father, had vanished, and in her stead there was a serious, gentle, +sensible maiden, almost too serious, her mother thought, remembering +her former playfulness. It did not please Frau von Osternau that +Lieschen had suddenly lost all pleasure in her childish games, that she +would sit for a long while at times over her embroidery, not always +working, sometimes in a profound revery, with hands clasped in her lap. +Of what could she be thinking? Her mother would have given much to +know; such knowledge might have relieved her of a great dread,--a dread +never quite laid to rest in her mind,--lest Lieschen should cherish +a warmer affection for her music-teacher than her parents could +approve,--an affection now shown, perhaps, by an awakening jealousy of +Bertha von Massenburg. + +This really seemed the only explanation of the change wrought in the +young girl. This might be the reason why Lieschen withstood the charm +which Bertha exercised upon all the other members of the household. She +alone treated Bertha with a scrupulously courteous reserve, which was +not to be overcome by any effort on the part of the guest to win her +affection. + +"What is your objection to Bertha Massenburg?" Frau von Osternau asked +her daughter one morning when they were alone together, Bertha having +accompanied her uncle in his walk in the fields. "You treat her with a +coldness and reserve that she really does not deserve at your hands. +She will surely be offended by your manner some day." + +"I think I show her all the courtesy that is her due," Lieschen +replied, gravely, looking up from her work. "She has never heard an +unkind word from me." + +"That is not what I mean. It only seems to me that you might be more +cordial and frank to so amiable a girl." + +"I cannot feign what I do not feel." + +"I do not understand you, Lieschen. Bertha treats you with special +sweetness. She is fond of you, and shows that she is so by not being +hurt by your coldness." + +"I do not believe in the sincerity of her sweetness and cordiality. Now +and then when she forgets herself in the heat of conversation she +betrays her real thoughts and feelings, and a curtain suddenly seems +lifted from before her inner self. Do you not remember how she spoke a +while ago of Valerie Laupe?" + +Frau von Osternau looked at her daughter in surprise, and, more for +something to say than from a desire to defend Bertha, replied, "We +ought not to weigh every hasty word with such nicety. One often says +more in the heat of argument than reason would justify; you do so +sometimes, as every one does. What, for example, should we think of +Herr Pigglewitch, if all his words were so harshly criticised?" + +Lieschen's cheek flushed slightly, but she looked up at her mother and +replied, without embarrassment, "They are both puzzles to me. In a +certain way they are alike,--the true self of each seems hidden behind +a veil; but when this veil is slightly lifted in his case I seem to see +a poor, harassed heart, a spirit longing for the noble and the true. In +Bertha's case the veil covers an abyss of selfishness, avarice, and +love of pleasure." + +"Good heavens, child! what puts such thoughts, such words into your +head?" Frau von Osternau exclaimed in dismay. + +"I cannot tell, mother. I have been thinking a great deal about these +two people, and I have come to this conclusion." + +Her mother did not continue the conversation, but at night, when she +was alone with her husband, she repeated to him word for word what +Lieschen had said. "If that extraordinary man had only never come +inside our doors,"--it was thus she concluded her tale. "He, and not +Bertha, is to blame for the sad transformation which our child has +undergone. For my sake, Fritz, dismiss him. Pay him his salary for an +entire year; only let him leave the house." + +Herr von Osternau shook his head. "Do you think Lieschen conceals +anything from you?" he asked. + +"No, assuredly not." + +"Did she ever complain that he had spoken to her otherwise than as a +teacher should speak to a pupil, or have you ever observed that he has +in his lessons or in social intercourse with us transgressed any law of +good breeding?" + +"I cannot say that he has, but----" + +"Has he ever neglected the duties which he undertook to perform when he +entered our house? Is he not a conscientious and affectionate tutor for +Fritzchen? Has he ever done anything for which he could justly be +reproved?" + +"No. I do not ask you to dismiss him abruptly. If you would pay him his +salary for an entire year----" + +"Do you suppose that a man of honour could be compensated by a year's +salary for being turned from our door? I think there was a great deal +of truth in what Lieschen said of him, and I should never forgive +myself for wounding him by injustice. He certainly is not a happy man. +So long as he does his duty we must do ours. Good-night, Emma." + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + PASTOR WIDMAN AS A CORRESPONDENT. + + +The Lieutenant had returned from Berlin, whither he had gone upon +business for Herr von Osternau. He had driven over from the station +without waiting for the sorting of the mail, because he was in haste to +tell his cousin of the results of his mission, so he said at least to +excuse himself for not bringing with him the post-bag, but the excuse +was a very lame one, since he had but little to tell and his news could +easily have waited for an hour. + +Apparently the Herr Lieutenant had found waiting at the lonely station +too tedious; he was in a mood on this particular evening to find such +waiting very irksome, for he was possessed by a spirit of unrest that +did not leave him even after he had reached the castle. Scarcely had he +taken his place at the tea-table, and communicated to Herr von Osternau +certain insignificant details relating to his visit to Berlin, when he +arose quickly and hurried to the window, declaring that it was so warm +that his head ached. After cooling his forehead against the panes he +returned again to his place, only to arise in a few moments and pace +the room hastily to and fro as he detailed some vapid anecdotes which +he had heard in Berlin. + +His restlessness was so evident that Herr von Osternau looked at him +with some anxiety. "Are you not well, Albrecht?" he asked, kindly. "You +look pale and your eyes are feverishly bright. Would you not rather go +to your room?" + +"No, no; nothing is the matter with me," the Lieutenant replied, +hastily. "I am only a little upset by my Berlin visit; it always is so +when I leave the quiet and repose of the country for the whirlpool of +city life and sit far into the night with my old friends." + +After this he forced himself to suppress all sign of the unrest which +possessed him, but he could scarcely bear his part well in the +conversation around the tea-table. After staring for a while absently +before him, he would suddenly make some remark which showed that he had +paid no attention to what was going on, and even Bertha, to whose +slightest observation he was wont to pay great heed, could not to-night +succeed in fixing his attention. + +He was usually vexed when Pigglewitch was entreated to play, but +to-night he hailed with joy Frau von Osternau's request for some music +from the Candidate. He seemed to be glad to be relieved from the +necessity of taking part in the general conversation. As soon as Egon +had struck the first chord he left his place at the tea-table, and, +exchanging a rapid glance with Bertha, retired to the recess of a +window. Contrary to her habit, Bertha rose immediately afterwards and +joined the Lieutenant in his retreat, where they were soon deeply +engaged in a whispered conversation. They might easily have continued +this unnoticed, for Herr and Frau von Osternau were absorbed in the +music, if Herr von Wangen had not followed with his eyes Bertha's every +movement. It did not escape him that the girl's cheeks were suddenly +suffused by a burning blush at the Lieutenant's first whispered words, +and that she instantly listened with the greatest eagerness to all that +he said. + +Herr von Wangen heard not one note of Egon's music, his entire +attention was bestowed upon the pair whispering together in the recess; +what would he not have given to overhear what they were saying? Several +times during the month which Bertha had already passed at Castle +Osternau Herr von Wangen had been tormented by the suspicion that there +was a greater degree of intimacy existing between the Lieutenant and +the beautiful guest than either cared to have observed; he had +surprised one or two meaning glances exchanged by them, but Bertha had +always succeeded in allaying these suspicions by the easy indifference +with which she received the Lieutenant's homage. He had hovered between +fear and hope, the hope inspired by every gentle word addressed to him +by Bertha, the fear aroused by every look exchanged between Bertha and +the Lieutenant; to-night fear was in the ascendant, his jealousy was +aroused, he felt desperately wretched, but in another moment he was +lifted to heights of supreme delight, for Bertha looked across the room +at him, and there was such enchantment in her glance as he had never +seen there before. She spoke a few hasty words to Albrecht and then +returned to her place at table, excusing herself in a low whisper to +her neighbour for leaving him to learn from the Lieutenant how her +father was. Herr von Wangen was enraptured, his jealousy of a moment +before vanished, he was ashamed to have felt it. Never had Bertha been +to him so gentle, so kind, so engaging as on this evening after her +conversation with the Lieutenant. Herr von Wangen was so intoxicated +with delight that he did not notice the depression of spirits of all +the other members of the circle, Bertha alone excepted. + +This melancholy mood had been induced by the contents of the post-bag, +which had brought a letter for Herr von Osternau and one for +Pigglewitch. The latter had indeed thrust his unread into his +breast-pocket, but the mere fact that it was addressed in a hand +unknown to him worried and annoyed him. Herr von Osternau, on the other +hand, read his letter not only once, but several times; it must have +contained some very depressing intelligence, for Herr von Osternau grew +graver at each perusal, now and then casting a peculiarly searching +glance at the tutor, and then continuing his reading with a shake of +the head. The contents of the letter must have occupied his mind during +the entire evening; he took scarcely any part in the conversation, and +when Egon bade him good-night he did not respond with his usual +cordiality. + +Just as Egon was leaving the room Herr von Osternau recalled him: +"Excuse me for a moment, Herr Pigglewitch, I have a few words to say to +you." + +Egon turned round and awaited his employer's pleasure, divided between +anxiety and curiosity with regard to what had induced Herr von Osternau +to adopt so unusual a tone in addressing him. + +The old man paced the room silently to and fro for a while until the +rest of the family had retired and left him alone with the tutor. Then, +turning to Egon, he said, gravely,-- + +"I have received a very surprising letter that concerns you nearly, +Herr Pigglewitch, and I do not deny that its contents have affected my +good opinion of you. I do not wish to discuss them with you at present, +such a conversation would probably agitate me, and rob me of my night's +rest, which is very important for me, and then, too, I might under the +immediate influence of the letter treat you with injustice. I must +give you time to defend yourself; therefore I beg you to come to me +to-morrow morning at nine o'clock, and we will quietly talk the matter +over. Here is the letter, take it to your room and read it. You can +return it to me to-morrow. No more for the present. Good-night, Herr +Pigglewitch." + +Egon was dismissed. He took the ominous epistle and repaired to his +room, where, his curiosity on the stretch, he lit his lamp and read as +follows: + + +"Most Respected Herr,--Pardon a stranger for venturing to intrude upon +you with a complaint and a request. In the unfortunate situation in +which I am placed no other choice is left me. I must appeal to you, +most honoured Herr, if I would not run the risk of losing forever a sum +of money hardly earned and accumulated only by constant self-denial. +Permit me to lay the case before you. + +"Some years ago I loaned the Schulze Brandes, in Wilhelmshagen, the sum +of four hundred thalers at a reasonable rate of interest, knowing him +to be an honest man. He has justified my estimate of him as such, for +although impoverished and forced to emigrate to America, he sent me +before his departure all that he owed me, both capital and interest, +but in such a manner that I am in danger of losing my hard-won savings +entirely. Before leaving for America he gave it to my nephew, Gottlieb +Pigglewitch, commissioning him to hand it to me. Whilst on the ocean he +conceived a suspicion that Gottlieb had not fulfilled his trust, and +therefore he wrote me immediately upon his arrival in New York to ask +me if I had received the sum in question. Unfortunately his fears were +but too well grounded; my nephew has never paid me the money, it is +probably squandered, or lost at cards. + +"My nephew, the son of my sister and the deceased Pastor Pigglewitch, +of Wilhelmshagen, has repaid by the basest ingratitude the benefits +conferred upon him by me when he was left a friendless orphan. He has +never concerned himself about me since he left my house to enter upon +an independent existence. He has forgotten my teachings, he has +squandered his substance, leading a dissolute life, and given over to a +passion for cards. His conduct lost him a good situation in +Wilhelmshagen, since which I have heard nothing of him until the +arrival of Schulze Brandes's letter, which has filled me with anxiety +concerning my money. + +"More than four weeks had passed since this money was intrusted to +Gottlieb Pigglewitch. I did not know his address, and therefore wrote +to his patron, Herr Director Kramser, from whom I learn that my nephew +is receiving a high salary in your worshipful household as tutor to +your son. I have now written to him to beg him to restore my property +to me, but I fear that my request will be vain if it is not seconded by +yourself, respected Herr. It is not probable that the money is at +present in my nephew's possession, therefore he could not pay it even +if he wished to do so. I might easily bring him to justice, but a +feeling of kinship restrains me; I could bring myself to adopt such +extreme measures only in case my nephew should refuse to pay me the +money with interest. He can do this if he chooses. + +"I learn from Herr Director Kramser that my nephew receives from your +highly-respected self a salary of three hundred thalers cash. A young +man can get along extremely well upon one hundred thalers yearly; I +myself as a Candidate did with much less than that sum; he can then pay +me at least two hundred thalers every year, if he only will. + +"My humble request to you is, respected Herr, that you will compel my +nephew thus to fulfil his duty by giving him only one hundred thalers +yearly of his salary, and transmitting the two hundred to me, until the +debt is liquidated. My nephew will, I am sure, be content with this +means of returning to me my money; he will not force me to appeal for +justice to the law of the land, and you, respected Herr, will establish +a claim upon my everlasting gratitude by yielding to my entreaty. + +"With devoted respect, your obedient servant, + + "Widman, _Pastor of Wennersdorf_." + + +"A most edifying document!" Egon said to himself, when he had read the +letter. "I suppose the communication which I received this evening and +put unread into my pocket also comes from Uncle Widman." He took out +the letter and read it. Yes, it was from Widman, and contained threats +of arrest and exposure if his nephew refused to devote two hundred +thalers of his salary each year to the payment of his debt. + +Egon indignantly crushed the letter together in his hand. "Gottlieb +Pigglewitch has lost his money for the third time," he muttered. "There +is no helping him, he must be left to his fate. He probably knows this, +and therefore has made no further attempt to extort money from me by +threats and promises." + +Once more the young man read the letter to Herr von Osternau; it filled +him with a vague apprehension. What should he say to the kind old man +on the morrow? In his eyes, his tutor was Gottlieb Pigglewitch, the +confirmed gambler, who had actually appropriated money intrusted to him +for his uncle. 'I do not deny that this letter has affected my good +opinion of you,' Herr von Osternau had said, and certainly he was +justified in saying so. + +"It is high time that this farce were ended," Egon murmured. "I must +leave this house, and break the spell that has been cast about me!" + +He had often of late made this resolve; almost nightly, after he had +retired to his solitary apartment, and thought over the events of the +day, he had determined to tear asunder the bonds that were being woven +about him, but the next morning found him powerless to carry his +determination into execution. Yes, a spell had been cast upon him which +paralyzed his will, and whose this spell was, he could not rightly +tell. + +When Bertha's wondrous beauty filled his mind, a wild feeling of +delight thrilled through him, his pulses throbbed, his thoughts made +chaos within him, he longed to clasp in his arms as his own her whom he +had so foolishly insulted and scorned. + +But in the midst of this rapturous intoxication he was recalled to a +sober certainty of waking disgust when he remembered various +expressions of Bertha's which had revealed to him her true self; he +turned away from the thought of her, chilled and repelled, and in her +place there was a very different image,--Lieschen gazed at him with a +look of reproach, and yet of love! In thought of her he was calmed and +cheered, she incited him to continued exertion, she called forth all +his better nature,--she, the good angel who had led him out from the +slough of an existence into which the beautiful fiend with the glowing +eyes would fain drag him back! + +Did he love Bertha? Did he love Lieschen? He did not know. Bertha +exercised a demoniac influence upon him, Lieschen's spell was +fairy-like, but mighty. His soul hovered between the two, in a conflict +which robbed him of repose, subjugated his will, and made any firm +resolve impossible for him. + +Perhaps chance would befriend him. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + RENEWED CONFIDENCE. + + +Herr Von Osternau passed a miserable night. Pastor Widman's letter had +excited him more than he cared to confess to himself. If he could have +told his faithful partner of the wretched epistle, he would soon have +been soothed to rest, but he could not do this for fear lest his Emma +should find in the Pastor's letter fresh reasons for urging her +oft-repeated desire for the tutor's dismissal. Herr von Osternau's +sense of justice revolted against condemning the accused without +allowing him a hearing. + +As he had frankly confessed, his faith in the Candidate was shaken, and +the more he thought, during his sleepless night, of the Pastor's +letter, the more he suspected that he had bestowed his confidence upon +one quite unworthy of it. The Pastor's accusation of his nephew did not +seem like an invention, and if it were well grounded, Pigglewitch could +no longer be retained as Fritzchen's tutor. The man who could lose at +play money not his own was unfit for such an office, whatever might be +his intellectual acquirements. But perhaps he was not so guilty as he +seemed. He should not be judged before he had been allowed to speak in +his own defence. + +The next morning Herr von Osternau awaited the tutor's visit with the +greatest impatience, continually consulting the clock as he walked to +and fro in his sitting-room. It was only half-past eight; there was +still half an hour to wait, since he had appointed the interview at +nine o'clock. + +He was pleased and surprised when thus early, nevertheless, a knock was +heard at the door. Upon his "Come in," however, he was equally +disappointed by the entrance not of Pigglewitch, but of the Lieutenant. + +"Is it you, Albrecht? I thought you had gone to the meadows," he said, +rather testily, but the next instant, perceiving that the Lieutenant +looked downcast and unhappy, he continued, kindly, "What is it, +Albrecht? You look out of sorts. I hope nothing is the matter." + +The Lieutenant did not reply immediately. He had meant to look +desperate, and not merely out of sorts, and it cost him some effort to +make his features convoy the desired impression. Perceiving in an +opposite mirror that his efforts were crowned with a degree of success, +he said at last, in a trembling voice, "I come to you, Cousin Fritz, a +prey to remorse and despair. On the day before yesterday evening I +actually had my revolver in my hand to put an end to my wretched +existence, but I thought of you, and of the contempt which you feel for +a man who lays violent hands upon himself; the pistol dropped from my +grasp, I had a glimmer of hope. I remembered your inexhaustible +kindness. You have helped me so often that I cannot but look to you in +my extremity." + +Herr von Osternau's face had grown dark as the Lieutenant spoke. He had +heard words like these too often not to know that they were the preface +to a demand for money to pay some extravagant or gambling debt. He +replied, indignantly, "Spare your words, cousin; they are useless. I +must remind you of what I told you last year when I paid two thousand +thalers for you. I assured you then that it was for the last time, and +the money was paid upon your solemn promise never again to contract a +debt which you could not pay yourself. It is of no use to continue this +conversation. I shall be true to my word." + +"I implore you, Cousin Fritz----" + +"I will hear nothing further. I should wrong my daughter by sacrificing +fresh sums of money to you. I felt free to do for you what I have done, +but now it is time that I should lay by Lieschen's portion, since I +have been spending my whole income all these years upon the improvement +of the estate." + +"All that is needed is three thousand marks, an insignificant sum for +you. Would you for such a trifle drive me to suicide, Cousin Fritz?" + +"It is sacrilegious to talk thus." + +"Do you not force me to it? Can I live disgraced? I have signed a note +of hand. I must pay the money in fourteen days, or I shall be +dishonoured." + +"You told me a year ago that you owed nothing." + +"It was true, but--I am ashamed to confess my folly--I was insane +enough to be tempted to play. I fell in with some of my comrades the +day before yesterday in Berlin, and cards were proposed. I refused for +a long time to join the game, but I was overpersuaded. At first the +stakes were very low, and I won, but the luck changed, I lost my head, +and I came away with a debt of honour for three thousand marks. If it +is not paid in fourteen days I shall be dishonoured." + +"You are dishonoured already, even though your debt were paid; you +promised me never again to touch a card." + +"I was mad! I was mad!" + +"Your word of honour should have kept you sane. But I shall not depart +from what I told you a year ago. You have no help to expect from me." + +"At least lend me the three thousand marks. You can easily do so; you +have ten thousand there in your desk; the trifling sum can readily be +paid from my salary in two years at the latest." + +"That cannot be done, either; you must learn to help yourself." + +"You drive me to suicide." + +"That threat is useless. It will not move me to break my word to you." + +An evil look was the Lieutenant's only reply; he saw that further +entreaty would be of no avail. There was no need, then, to subject +himself to further humiliation. The expression of despair in his face +gave place to one of sullen defiance. Without another word he left the +room. + +Herr von Osternau had been calm and decided so long as Albrecht was +present; but now that he was alone he grew restless and anxious. Had he +perhaps been too hard? No, he could neither speak nor act otherwise. +For years he had been far too much influenced by the reflection that +Albrecht had been deprived of an inheritance which he had long +considered as his own. The sums which had been sacrificed for this +dissipated, reckless relative were enormous; the sacrifice had been +made in vain, Albrecht was utterly ungrateful. He seized every +opportunity for a visit either to Breslau or to Berlin to resume his +dissolute career, to contract fresh debts. There was no helping him, +least of all by compliance with his demands. Only by being thrown upon +his own resources, with no hope of assistance from his cousin, might he +perhaps be induced to resist the temptation to play. + +Herr von Osternau was sure that he had acted for the best, but +nevertheless he felt very anxious. The thought that his cousin might +fulfil his threat of self-destruction, filled him with dread. His +kindly nature gave him no repose. He sat down at his writing-table and +scratched off a note to Herr von Sastrow begging him to write to +Albrecht and offer to lend him the money he needed upon his promise to +repay him from his salary. The money, Herr von Osternau assured his +uncle, should be repaid him,--for that he would go surety,--but of this +the Lieutenant must be kept in ignorance. He must believe that the +offer of help came unsuggested from Herr von Sastrow alone. + +When the note had been handed to Wenzel, with orders to take it +directly to the post at Station Mirbach, Herr von Osternau felt +relieved, but so occupied had he been with the Lieutenant's case for +the last half-hour that it was only when the Candidate presented +himself punctually at the appointed time that he was reminded of Pastor +Widman's miserable letter, according to which the Candidate, like the +Lieutenant, had squandered his patrimony; like Albrecht, he was an +inveterate gambler, who had lost at play money not his own. +Involuntarily Herr von Osternau compared the two men in his mind. There +was no trace in the Candidate's face of the theatric despair which +Albrecht had laboured to display. Herr Pigglewitch was so calm and +collected that Herr von Osternau was half convinced of his innocence +before he had spoken a word, and not until the young man avoided his +searching glance did he again doubt him. + +Did Egon suspect this? He looked up again frankly, and in a clear, calm +voice, without embarrassment, without waiting to be questioned, he +opened the interview which was to decide his future relations with the +lord of the castle. + +"You made use of harsh language to me last evening, Herr von Osternau. +You told me that you had lost confidence in me----" + +"No, I only said that my confidence in you was shaken. It was best to +be frank, and you could not but see that I was justified by the +Pastor's letter. The importance to be attached to that letter depends +entirely upon the explanation which I expect from you." + +"I am ready to give you an explanation. I assure you that every word +which I am about to utter shall be perfectly true, but I do not deny +that the circumstances in which I find myself forbid my telling the +whole truth. I am forced to be silent with regard to these +circumstances, whilst I could by a single word prove the falsehood of +the ridiculous charges--ridiculous so far as I am concerned--contained +in the letter. This word, however, I shall not speak. If the +explanations which I am able to give you do not satisfy you, then, Herr +von Osternau, I must remind you of our agreement when I first came to +your house. We reserved for each of us perfect liberty to dissolve at +any given moment a connection which cannot continue to exist if you +withdraw your confidence from your son's tutor or believe him capable +of appropriating to himself money confided to him by others." + +"This is a strange preface to your explanation, Herr Pigglewitch; it +can be answered only when I have heard you further." + +"I do not ask a reply until then. I understand perfectly that this +letter, which I beg now to return to you, has shaken your confidence in +me. Your knowledge of me is of too recent a date to convince you that +in spite of grievous defects of character I am incapable of a +dishonourable act, and Pastor Widman's letter, containing as it does a +mixture of truth and falsehood, may well give you cause for reflection. +Let me refer to the letter in detail. It is untrue that Pastor Widman +befriended his sister's orphan boy. He treated him with great severity, +only sending him to school when he was forced to do so, the expenses of +his education being defrayed from the orphan boy's patrimony. On the +other hand, it is true that the weak, thoughtless young man squandered +the rest of his inheritance, and sacrificed his first situation to his +passion for gaming. Later, in another situation, he so won the esteem +of his employer that Doctor Kramser felt himself justified in +recommending him to you for your son's tutor. I candidly confess to +you, Herr von Osternau, that I have led a life far from blameless, that +I have foolishly squandered both time and money, but I swear to you +that I have never been involved in any dishonourable transaction. It is +true that the Schulze Brandes gave the sum in question to the nephew of +Pastor Widman for transmission to his uncle, and that this money has +not yet been paid him, but I have neither appropriated this money nor +have I lost it at play. The reason why this money has not been paid I +cannot now disclose to you, all I can say is that I have a perfect +right to refuse to give this sum to the Herr Pastor. Nevertheless, he +shall have his money without abatement of a penny; here it is, and I +beg of you, Herr von Osternau, to transmit it to him." + +As he spoke, Egon took out his pocket-book and counted out the notes +upon the table. + +Herr von Osternau was amazed. "You have the money? Why then did you not +send it to your uncle long ago?" + +"I regret that I cannot answer this question, for in doing so I should +be obliged to refer to matters which were best passed over in silence, +at least for the present. I can only assure you that I never even +dreamed of depriving Herr Pastor Widman of his property. If this does +not suffice you, Herr von Osternau, I can no longer remain in the +castle; I must resign my situation here, much as I regret to do so. I +can no longer be your son's tutor if you have lost faith in me." + +"No, I have not lost it. I believe you to be incapable of anything +dishonourable, but I tell you candidly that I do not like your wrapping +yourself up in mystery." + +"I regret being forced to do so. At present I cannot tell you the whole +truth, and I will not tell you a falsehood." + +"I have no right to force your confidence or to lay down the law to +you, but, as a man much your elder, I have a right to tell you honestly +what I think. The manner in which you speak of your uncle displeases me +as much as does your foolish mystery. You speak of him as Herr Pastor +Widman, in the most formal way; however harshly he may have treated you +years ago, you are wrong thus to bear malice. When there has been a +coolness or a quarrel between relatives, it is the duty of the younger +to take the first steps towards a reconciliation. If my good opinion is +worth anything to you, you will accept my advice to put back into your +pocket-book the money you have counted out upon the table. I will not +undertake to mediate between uncle and nephew. You ought to return his +property to him; if you comply with my wishes, you will take it to him +yourself. Wennersdorf is only a few hours' journey from Breslau. The +journey thither is neither difficult nor expensive. Take your uncle his +money, pay him a visit of a few days, and be reconciled with him. I +will gladly give you leave of absence for a week. Will you not start +early to-morrow morning?" + +Egon hesitated to reply. He had not expected such a proposal. Could he +accept it, since he could not possibly deliver in person Pastor +Widman's money? He could not positively reject it without wounding Herr +von Osternau, and, besides, it had a certain attraction. If he could be +delivered for a few days from the spell that bound him, if he could +make a short excursion in the Riesengebirge, he might perhaps come to +some clear conclusion in his own mind. After a short pause for +reflection, he said, "I can give you no decided promise, Herr von +Osternau. If you will allow me leave of absence for a few days, I shall +be grateful for it. I shall then go to Breslau to-morrow, but whether I +shall go thence to Wennersdorf, or employ the time granted me in making +a pedestrian excursion among the mountains, I cannot at present tell +you." + +"I do not ask you to tell me. I hope that calm reflection will show you +the right path to pursue. At all events I am glad that our interview +has had the effect of entirely restoring my confidence in you, in proof +of which I beg you to transact a little business for me in Breslau +to-morrow. A manufacturer in Breslau, whom I have known for many years +as an honest, industrious man, became some time ago so involved in his +pecuniary affairs as to solicit of me a loan of some ten thousand +marks, for which he gave me his note. It falls due to-morrow. I do not +wish this note presented at the bank, it might injure the man were it +known that he had borrowed money of a private individual; nor do I wish +the note to be protested if he should not be quite ready to pay the +money. I have entire confidence in his honesty, and I do not wish to +embarrass him. I thought of sending my cousin Albrecht to-morrow to +Breslau to attend to this affair for me, but since you are going I +should be much obliged by your undertaking it. Will you do so?" + +"With pleasure." + +"Use your own discretion. I do not want to have my debtor harassed. If +he pays the money, please send it to me immediately by post, I shall +receive it to-morrow afternoon; if he does not, send me back the note." + +Herr von Osternau went to his secretary and opened it. In one of its +centre partitions stood an iron-bound box with a patent lock. From it +he took first a pile of bank-notes representing a considerable sum; +these he laid on the desk of the secretary until he had found the note, +then returning them to the box, he locked it and the secretary, and +turned to Egon. "I hope," he said, kindly, "that our conversation +to-day, painful as it was at first, has left no unpleasant impression +on either of us. I shall be glad if it is the means of reconciling +relatives at present at odds. And now, Herr Pigglewitch, I will detain +you no longer. Fritzchen is, I am sure, awaiting you." + +He dismissed Egon with a friendly grasp of the hand, and when the young +man had left the room, gave himself over to reflection as to whether he +had not been somewhat hasty in putting so much trust in him. "I am sure +he will justify it," he concluded. "If he had not held sacred the money +intrusted to him for his uncle he would have used it in Breslau to +purchase what he so greatly needed; he would not have paid for his +clothes by instalments. I would far sooner trust him than Albrecht with +ten thousand marks. Still he is a strange, incomprehensible fellow, and +I detest mysteries. He said himself that he could not tell me the whole +truth. I wonder what he suppressed." Upon this he pondered for some +time without coming to any conclusion. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + ROBBED. + + +It was an uncomfortable, wearisome evening. A conversation like that of +the morning between Herr von Osternau and the tutor always leaves +traces, even although it has ended satisfactorily for both parties; for +some short time at least it leaves behind it an uncomfortable sense of +restraint, and this was evident now. Herr von Osternau could not +recover from the effect upon his mood of the interviews with the +Lieutenant and the tutor. He tried to be as cordial and kindly as +usual, but he did not succeed very well, and his efforts were by no +means seconded either by Albrecht or by Pigglewitch. + +The Lieutenant was so absent-minded and self-occupied that he took no +part whatever in the conversation, and the Candidate was noticeably +taciturn. He did not add to the evening's entertainment either by +playing or by singing; he declined, indeed, to sing when asked, +pleading fatigue, even when Lieschen added her voice to the general +petition for a song. + +"He is jealous," Frau von Osternau whispered to her husband, and it +really seemed as if she might be right. Herr von Osternau noticed that +the Candidate was watching Bertha narrowly, and if he really were in +love with her she certainly gave him abundant cause for jealousy. + +Bertha alone of the little assemblage was in the rosiest mood, she was +so gay, so absolutely charming, that Herr von Wangen was to be pardoned +for having eyes and ears for nothing save her radiant self. The young +fellow, who was wont to be so shy, now conversed with readiness and +ease, nay, he and Bertha monopolized the talk. He did not find the +evening wearisome, he could have wished that it might last much longer +when Herr von Osternau declared that it was time to separate for the +night, since Herr Pigglewitch would be obliged to rise early for his +journey the next morning. + +"You are leaving us?" the Lieutenant asked, suddenly becoming +interested. "Where are you going, and for how long?" + +Lieschen looked at Egon in surprise, awaiting his reply. + +"I do not yet know how long I shall be gone," Egon replied. "My leave +of absence is for three or four days." + +"Oh, no, Herr Pigglewitch," Herr von Osternau interposed, "I leave that +entirely to you; if you wish to remain longer with your uncle you need +not return for a couple of weeks. Herr Pigglewitch, Emma, is going to +visit a relative of his, Pastor Widman, in Wennersdorf," he added, in +reply to his wife's look of surprised inquiry. + +An odd smile hovered about the Lieutenant's features for an instant. +His sullen mood was suddenly dissipated, and with a good grace he +wished the tutor a successful journey and a speedy return. In this he +was joined by Bertha and Herr von Wangen, but Lieschen said not a word; +there was only a dreamy, far-away look in her eyes as she bade him +good-night, and her hand rested in his a moment longer than was usual. + +Herr von Osternau had another interview on his hands this evening. He +had his confession to make to his wife. She had a right to know the +meaning of this sudden visit of the Candidate to his uncle. Her husband +could not but acquaint her with Herr Pastor Widman's letter, and with +his conversation of the morning with Herr Pigglewitch. As he did so he +expressed his conviction that Pigglewitch was a thoroughly honest man, +and he added an account of the commission with which he had intrusted +him. + +Frau von Osternau did not share her husband's faith. "I am afraid, +Fritz," she said, shaking her head, "that you have allowed yourself to +be carried away again by your kind, unsuspicious nature. Had you not +better recall the commission? Ten thousand marks is a large sum, quite +sufficient to tempt a poor Candidate who, as we now learn, has a +passion for play. Let Albrecht go to Breslau to-morrow, or Herr +Storting, or Herr von Wangon." + +"To change my messenger now would be a positive insult to Herr +Pigglewitch. I was perhaps imprudent, but it is done now and cannot be +altered." + +The old Herr, however, was not quite easy in his mind. He slept but +poorly, and awoke the next morning so weary that in spite of the +glorious weather he did not go out, but sat at his favourite window in +his arm-chair. Lieschen and her mother kept him company, but they could +not enliven his gloomy mood, which was partly caused by his confinement +to the house and partly by a vague feeling of anxiety. His thoughts +dwelt upon the Candidate. Would the money arrive punctually from +Breslau? + +Towards eleven o'clock the Lieutenant entered the room, and seemed +confused and not quite agreeably surprised to find Lieschen and Frau +von Osternau with his cousin, but quickly collecting himself he said, +"I come to you at a rather unusual time, Cousin Fritz, to ask you for +leave of absence for a few days. I must attend to that money matter of +which I told you. I must spend a short time in Berlin." + +"You know I never wish to put any restraint upon you," his cousin said, +kindly; "still less would I do so in this matter, in which I wish you +all success. When would you like to go?" + +"With your permission, immediately after dinner. I wish to leave +Breslau by the night-train, and so have the entire day in Berlin +to-morrow." + +"I am quite willing. I beg you, however, to go to see Sastrow to-morrow +as early as possible. I know that you are not on very good terms with +him. I ask you as a favour to me to see him yourself, and learn from +him about Bertha's affairs: whether anything has been heard of young +Herr von Ernau, and whether there is any abatement of the disagreeable +gossip of society. Write me to-morrow what you hear." + +"It will hardly be necessary. I can tell you the latest news of the +affair without having seen Sastrow. You must pardon me for not letting +you know before what I heard from a friend in Berlin, who accompanied +me to the railway-station when I was last there. I was so preoccupied +with my own affairs that I quite forgot Fraeulein von Massenburg's. +However, I told Fraeulein Bertha herself soon after my arrival that +there was no longer any doubt of the death of Herr von Ernau, his body +has been recovered from the Spree." + +Herr and Frau von Osternau uttered an exclamation of surprised dismay. +Lieschen was not at all surprised. "Now I understand," she said, +"Bertha's excited manner on the evening of her conversation with Cousin +Albrecht in the window-recess, and her great amiability towards Herr +von Wangen after it. As Herr von Ernau is certainly dead, Herr von +Wangen is to take his place." + +"How can you speak so unkindly, child?" said her father. + +"I only speak the truth. I know that she would have preferred the +millionaire, but since she must give up all hopes of him, Herr von +Wangen will do." + +"Not another word, Lieschen!" Herr von Osternau exclaimed. "Hush! If +you cannot conquer your childish, unfounded dislike for Bertha, at +least do not give it utterance. Go on, Albrecht, tell me what else you +heard." + +"Nothing else, except that the body of the unfortunate man had been +found in the Spree. Whether Herr von Ernau was murdered or had drowned +himself my friend did not know. The chief of police, from whom he had +his information, did not know either, but suspected he had been +murdered, since none of the money which he had drawn from his father's +bank on the morning of his disappearance was found upon the body. +Doubtless all this has tended to increase the talk about Fraeulein von +Massenburg, so it is scarcely necessary for me to go to inquire of Herr +von Sastrow." + +"You will, however, oblige me greatly by doing so, and by letting me +know what he says." + +"Your wish shall be my law, Cousin Fritz. My first visit to-morrow +morning shall be to Herr von Sastrow. I shall leave, then, immediately +after dinner, and I must ask you to advance me five hundred or a +thousand marks. I dislike to ask this favour, but if I am to make any +settlement of the matter I spoke of to you I must have some cash in +hand." + +Herr von Osternau frowned. He would fain have refused the young man's +request. He suspected that the money would be used to attempt to +recover his losses at play, but he did not wish to expose the +Lieutenant before Lieschen and her mother, and he could not explain to +them his reason for wishing to refuse a demand apparently so +reasonable. + +He rose slowly and went to his secretary. It was usually opened with +great ease, but now something seemed the matter with the lock, he was +several moments in unlocking it, and he had the same difficulty with +the money-box. "Strange!" he said, trying to turn the key in the last; +"either I am very awkward today or these keys are growing rusty." As he +spoke the lock yielded and the lid of the box opened. One glance showed +him to his dismay the reason why he had found so much difficulty in +turning his keys. His secretary had been forced in the night by means +of false keys, and the money had been stolen from the iron-bound box. +The bundle of bank-notes which Herr von Osternau had returned to it on +the previous day, after giving the note of hand to the Candidate, was +gone. + +One look sufficed to tell Herr von Osternau that he had been robbed, +and by some inmate of the castle; no one else could have known of the +considerable sum in the money-box, no one else could have used false +keys in the night without a forcible entrance into the castle, of which +there were no traces. + +It was not the loss of his money, but the thought that there was a +thief beneath his roof which so disturbed Herr von Osternau that he +tottered, and might have fallen had not his wife and the Lieutenant +hastened to his assistance and helped him to his arm-chair. + +It was but a momentary weakness, however, to which the old Herr +succumbed; in an instant he was on his feet again, examining the +secretary and the papers left in his box. They were all there, even a +package of certificates of stock in a sugar-refinery, worth some ten +thousand thalers; everything was there save the bundle of bank-notes. +The thief had been too cunning to take anything which might lead to his +detection. + +But who was the thief? + +This question Herr von Osternau put to himself and to his wife, after +informing her of his loss, and of his belief that he must have been +robbed by some one of his household. + +Frau von Osternau was no less shocked than her husband, she did not +reply. The Lieutenant made answer in her stead. "It can be no other +than that fellow, the Candidate, who left the castle this morning with +the booty obtained thus in the night." + +He had scarcely finished speaking when Lieschen, flushed with +indignation, confronted him. Her little hand was clinched and her eyes +flashed as she said, in a voice which she vainly tried to steady, "It +is a vile, cowardly calumny! You would not dare to say it to his face +if he were here! I should sooner believe that you were the thief than +that he could be guilty of a dishonourable act!" + +The Lieutenant started and turned pale at this sudden denunciation; +unable to meet Lieschen's indignant eyes, he cast down his own and +answered not a word. + +"My child, my child, of what are you thinking?" Frau von Osternau +exclaimed. + +But Lieschen was not to be stopped. With flashing eyes still riveted +upon the Lieutenant, she went on, "I will not have an innocent man +slandered when he is not here to defend himself, and by one, too, who +has always shown himself his enemy, and who may have his own ends to +serve by this accusation." + +"Cousin Fritz, can you allow your cousin to be thus treated by your +daughter?" + +Herr von Osternau had entirely recovered from the shock of his +discovery, and he replied calmly and gravely to the Lieutenant's +complaint: "No, neither can I allow an unfounded charge to be brought +against one who, as Lieschen says, is not here to defend himself. My +child is right in espousing the Candidate's cause, but her manner of +doing so I cannot approve. Go to your room, Lieschen, and stay there +until Cousin Albrecht consents to pardon you." + +Lieschen silently obeyed the father whom she loved, but her glance at +Albrecht, as she left the room, spoke of anything save a desire for +pardon at his hands. + +"It is infamous!" the Lieutenant exclaimed, when Lieschen had left the +room; "just to whitewash a vagabond, an adventurer, dropped down among +us from nobody knows where, I am exposed to such vile insinuations! +This Pigglewitch----" + +"Has done nothing to lay himself open to the charge of a midnight +robbery," Herr von Osternau interposed. + +"But, cousin, you yourself said that the thief must have been one of +the household. Whom else can you suspect save this fellow? The servants +are honest and tried, and have been here for years, while the tutor has +been here but for a short time. We know nothing of his past, he never +mentions it. Such reserve betokens an evil conscience. I never trusted +him. I will not repeat my suspicions, but surely they are justified by +his absent-minded manner yesterday, his strange behaviour, and the fact +that the robbery occurred the very night before his departure. I shall +avail myself of my short time in Breslau to-day to notify the police of +what has happened, and beg them to try to arrest the thief. He probably +has the money still in his possession; to-morrow he will have hidden it +in some safe place or will run off the day after from Hamburg or Bremen +for America. Whatever is done must be done quickly." + +"I strictly forbid all notice to the police. I will not have an +innocent man insulted by their interference in his affairs." + +"But, Fritz, will you let the thief escape with his booty? How are you +to discover him if you do not call in the police, whose business it is +to catch thieves?" + +"I do not wish to discover him," Herr von Osternau quietly replied to +his wife. "You will let the money go?" + +"That is the least of my loss, although the sum was a considerable one. +What I find hardest to bear is that among those whom I have trusted +there is a scoundrel, a thief. I do not wish to know him, to bring him +to punishment. I can do without the money. I would rather lose it than +have Castle Osternau made the subject all over the country of the talk +which I hate. Therefore, I beg you to say not one word to any one about +the robbery. You hear, Albrecht? You understand?" + +"As you really desire it, I will promise to be silent." + +"Enough. Now I will detain you no longer. Before you start I will find +means to give you the advance you have asked for, and to do this I must +drive to Mirbach myself. Pray have the horses put to the light, open +wagon, and brought round to the door as soon as possible." + +"Do you mean to drive yourself, cousin? No, you must not; you look pale +and ill. The discovery has agitated you, the drive might do you harm. +Permit me----" + +"You have preparations for your journey to make." + +"But, Fritz, I pray you let Albrecht go with you," Frau von Osternau +said, anxiously, but her husband shook his head impatiently. "Do not +oppose me," he said. "I have reasons for wishing to go alone. The wagon +must be at the door in five minutes; pray see to it, Albrecht." + +There was no gainsaying the old Herr when he was thus decided, and the +Lieutenant left the room to do as he was requested. No sooner had the +door closed behind him than Herr von Osternau said to his wife, "I must +go to Mirbach myself. If Pigglewitch has received the money on the note +and sends it immediately by post, it will arrive with the mid-day +train. I must see for myself whether he has sent it." + +"I am afraid you will have your drive in vain. All excitement is, as +you know, injurious to you; why will you not let Albrecht go?" + +"Let him go? Do you forget what Lieschen said, Emma?" + +"For heaven's sake do not tell me that you share the suspicion at which +Lieschen's words pointed so unjustifiably?" + +"Lieschen's look probed her cousin's soul, he could not endure it, an +evil conscience spoke in his eyes. Do you guess now why I would rather +lose the money than ask the police to interfere? Their investigation +might result in what the Lieutenant would hardly like. I have made many +a sacrifice to preserve the name of Osternau from dishonour, I shall +make this one also. There must be no whisper of even a suspicion that +an Osternau could be guilty of theft." + +"But you cherish such a suspicion, while your confidence in +Pigglewitch, whom there are quite as many reasons for suspecting, is +unshaken." + +"I hope in a short time to bring you proof that the Candidate deserves +my confidence; this is why I am going to Mirbach." + +Frau von Osternau said no more, but accompanied her husband to the hall +door, before which the light wagon was waiting. + +As he drove off she followed him with anxious eyes, and then applied +herself to waiting patiently for his return. Fortunately, she had not +long to do so; hardly three-quarters of an hour had passed when the +vehicle again drove up to the hall door, and her husband sprang from it +with an elasticity and vigour which showed that he felt stronger than +before his drive. + +"I was not deceived," he whispered to his wife, who had come from the +sitting-room to receive him. "I do not deny, Emma," he went on, when +they were alone together, "that I could not help being somewhat +doubtful as I drove to Mirbach. I thought of Lieschen, of her implicit +trust in Pigglewitch, of her fearful disappointment if he should be +discovered to be a scoundrel who might well be suspected of theft. My +heart beat faster when I asked for my letters at the post-office, and +when they handed me the envelope with five seals, I was delighted. Here +it is. Pigglewitch is all right, he has executed his commission +promptly and well. If he had committed the robbery, he would surely +have added to his gains the ten thousand marks which he sends me here, +that he might carry away in his flight everything he could get. This +letter is the best proof of his innocence. Do you suspect him how?" + +"No; but I cannot tell whether to rejoice that I do not, and I cannot +see how you can be so glad. How can you look so happy when, as you +cease to suspect a stranger, your next of kin takes his place in your +suspicions?" + +"I gave _him_ up long ago," Heir von Osternau replied. "I keep him +beneath my roof because my duty and the honour of our name link me to +him, and because I owe him some indemnification for the annihilation of +his hopes. The unhappy event which has just occurred does not relieve +me of this duty, it must remain a secret between us two." + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + TWO LETTERS AGAIN. + + +The day was an eventful one for Herr von Osternau. Scarcely had he +recovered from the effects of the robbery and of the hurried drive to +Station Mirbach, when he was surprised by an unexpected visit. + +Herr von Wangen was formally announced by old Hildebrandt, and when he +made his appearance in full dress, with a white neck-tie, and a silk +hat held in his left hand, when he bowed with ceremonious observance to +the mistress of the mansion and her husband, and, accepting the seat +offered him on the lounge, stared into space for some minutes with an +air of confusion, evidently searching in vain for words in which to +explain the purpose of his coming, Frau von Osternau began to suspect +what those words when found would be. + +At last the young man cleared his throat and raised his eyes to Frau +von Osternau's face as he began: "Pardon me, madame, pardon me, Herr +von Osternau, if I express myself ill, but I come--yes, I come to you +as the relatives and protectors of my betrothed--no, pardon me, I have +begun at the wrong end, I ought first to tell you that I am the +happiest man in the world. An hour ago I had the good fortune to meet +my beloved Bertha, pardon me for not saying Fraeulein von Massenburg, +but she is now my betrothed. She was going for a walk to the +Oster-ford, where I am superintending the work, and she allowed me to +walk with her. Her heavenly kindness emboldened me to confess to her my +love; she, to my intense delight, did not reject it, and we are +betrothed." + +Herr von Osternau was unpleasantly surprised, he could not help +remembering what Lieschen had said, and whilst his wife warmly +congratulated the happy lover he was silent. He could not altogether +approve this hasty betrothal, and after a short pause he said, "I +cannot yet congratulate you, Herr von Wangen, or consider you betrothed +to Fraeulein von Massenburg. Your father is my old friend, I should not +be doing my duty by him if I did not beg you to reflect before taking +so irrevocable a step. Do you know that Bertha von Massenburg came to +Castle Osternau to escape the----" + +Herr von Wangen interrupted him, saying, in a tone of entreaty, "Do +not, I beg of you, allude to that slander, I know everything. Bertha +has told me how magnanimously she sacrificed herself for her father, +bow she consented to be betrothed to a man whom she knew only by +reputation, and how evil tongues attacked her upon the disappearance of +Herr von Ernau. She has acknowledged to me that she struggled against +her love for me so long as there was any possibility of Herr von +Ernau's being alive; she was determined to sacrifice her affection to +her duty. But she is free; she learned yesterday from the Lieutenant +that Herr von Ernau is really dead, and she can obey the dictates of +her heart, can be happy herself and can make me so. She is mine, my own +fondly-loved betrothed." + +"No, Herr von Wangen, I can allow of no such betrothal beneath my roof +until your father and Bertha's have given their consent." + +"My father has already given his," the young man rejoined, eagerly. "I +should not have ventured without it to declare my love. I wrote him +more than a week ago that I should try to win my Bertha, and he +answered me instantly, and told me he was rejoiced that I had chosen a +lovely girl of an old family. He cares nothing for worldly possessions, +but he wishes his only son to marry his equal in rank. I should love my +dear Bertha all the same if she were a peasant's daughter, but I am +glad that she is a Von Massenburg. I am glad of this for my dear +father's sake." + +"But Bertha's father has not yet given his consent." + +"That is why I am come to you with an urgent request. I know it is +asking a great deal, for there is so much to do at harvest-time, but I +come to beg you to give me leave of absence for two days, that I may +ask Herr von Massenburg's consent in person. I can leave after dinner +to-day, and take the night-train for Berlin. I can be back at Castle +Osternau by noon of the day after to-morrow." + +There was no refusing such a request. Herr von Osternau granted it, but +upon the condition that he should be allowed to speak with Bertha +before the young man's departure. The lover was quite agreed to this, +he was too sure of his good fortune to dread any interference. And the +event showed that he was right. Herr von Osternau had a long interview +with Bertha; he asked her if she were sure of her own sentiments, if it +were possible for her to be happy with a husband who was in all +respects the opposite of Herr von Ernau, possessing none of the +latter's brilliant qualities to fit him for playing a conspicuous part +in the world. He reminded her that she was undertaking to pass her life +in the depths of the country, remote from all social excitement, with a +husband who was content to lead the life of a simple country gentleman +upon his own estate. To all which Bertha replied, with her own charming +smile,-- + +"I really did not expect such an admonition from you, Uncle Fritz, who +are always extolling the joys of home and the home circle. I should be +happy with 'the man of my choice' in any solitude, and, besides, I +shall not be so very lonely. One can always assemble one's friends +about one in the country in summer, and the long, tiresome winters we +can spend in town. Country life may be made very delightful with plenty +of money. Let me choose my own lot, Uncle Fritz; it will be a happy +one." + +What could Herr von Osternau reply to such arguments? he did not try to +reply, seeing that Bertha's mind was fully made up. + +That afternoon Herr von Wangen and the Lieutenant both took their +departure, and at noon of the following day a lengthy dispatch was +received at Castle Osternau. It announced the full and free consent of +Herr Werner von Massenburg that the betrothal should be made public, +and also stated that Herr von Wangen would certainly return by noon of +the next day to his fair betrothed. + +He did so punctually, beaming with delight, overjoyed at the reception +he had met with from his future father-in-law. In truth, Werner von +Massenburg had bestowed his paternal blessing upon the union so soon as +he was informed that no dowry was looked for. Of course, Herr von +Wangen's delicacy led him to suppress this last fact, as also the +slight circumstance of Werner's explanation as to his present pecuniary +embarrassments, in view of which Herr von Wangen had signed a checque +for two thousand marks to relieve the worthy gentleman from his +temporary trouble. On the other hand, he told with great delight how +Werner had hastened to present him to several of his friends, among +whom were Herr von Sastrow and his wife, whom he had called upon, and +from whom he had received cordial congratulations. Herr von Sastrow had +declared that this betrothal would put an instant stop to all malicious +gossip. + +Herr von Wangen was in such a state of rapture that there were +positively no shadows in the picture which he painted of his journey. +The Lieutenant had been the most delightful travelling companion, only +unfortunately they had not seen each other after parting at the Berlin +railway-station. Werner von Massenburg was a fine, open-hearted man, +just such a father-in-law as he had always wanted, and Herr von Sastrow +and all the father-in-law's friends were most delightful people. But +what filled the young man with the wildest joy was that Werner had +expressly desired that the marriage should take place as soon as +possible, since he disliked long engagements. + +When Bertha declared with a blush that she should be guided entirely by +the wishes of her betrothed, and when Herr von Osternau expressed +himself willing to dispense with the services of his third inspector so +soon as harvest should be over, that the young man might immediately +betake himself to West Prussia and undertake the charge of the family +estates, Herr von Wangen was transported to the highest heaven of +felicity. + +He adored his charming betrothed, and never noticed that Lieschen's +manner towards her was more coolly reserved than ever, nor dreamed that +he was the object of the sad, compassionate expression that sometimes +appeared in the young girl's eyes. He was fairly intoxicated with +bliss. He was perpetually with his betrothed. She paid him visits in +the fields, she went to meet him when he returned to the castle. And +then the evenings, the delicious evenings! Herr von Wangen did not +observe that the little circle was in general silent and monosyllabic, +that Lieschen bent silently over her embroidery, and that Herr von +Osternau frequently resigned himself to revery. So long as he could +exchange glances with Bertha and hang upon every word she uttered, his +cup of happiness was full to the brim. + +Herr von Osternau was far from easy in his mind. He could not forget +the sad event that had so lately occurred, and he shared his wife's +anxiety upon another point. Since Lieschen had so boldly entered the +lists for Pigglewitch against the Lieutenant, Herr von Osternau had +agreed with his wife in believing that the young girl's feelings for +the tutor were warmer than those of a pupil for a teacher. He took a +lively interest in the young man, indeed he was surprised to find how +much he missed his conversation and his charming music, but he could +not but see that his wife was right in regarding the tutor as a most +undesirable son-in-law. Lieschen's attachment to him caused him all the +greater anxiety since he could not reconcile it with his sense of +justice to dismiss the young man as his wife advised. + +The old Herr really dreaded, therefore, the Candidate's return, and he +had a sense of relief when day after day passed and the tutor did not +come back to the castle. + +Five days had thus gone by without bringing tidings of either the +Lieutenant or the Candidate, when the post-bag brought two letters for +Herr von Osternau, one from Berlin addressed in the Lieutenant's +handwriting, and the other postmarked Hirschberg and addressed by +Pigglewitch. This last Herr von Osternau opened first, read it, and +then turned to his wife. "A strange letter!" he exclaimed, "as strange +and enigmatical as its writer. Only listen." And according to his +custom of reading aloud to his family all his letters which contained +nothing private and confidential, he read aloud: "Farewell! I cannot +tell you how hard it is for me to part from you, from the generous, +high-hearted man whom I so respect, from my dear pupil Fritzchen, who +has grown into my heart, and from the kindly family-circle where I have +passed such happy hours. But it must be done in spite of the pain it +gives me, pain increased by a sense of guilt. You trusted me and I +deceived you. My entire life in your home was a lie. Even now, when I +am going from you, I cannot tell you the truth, I can only pray you to +forgive a most unhappy man, who never can forget the gratitude he owes +you. Farewell!" + +"There is no signature," said Herr von Osternau, handing the letter to +his wife. "The man is in all respects a riddle, only one thing seems +clear, and that is that we shall not see Herr Pigglewitch again." + +"I knew he would not return," Lieschen said, with a strange quiver in +her voice. "He could not." + +"He could not?" her father asked, in surprise. + +"No, he owed it to himself to flee. He was on the brink of an abyss. It +was well for him that he had the strength to save himself." + +"Lieschen, what nonsense are you talking?" her mother exclaimed, in +dismay. "You do not know what you are saying!" + +"I wish I did not," Lieschen replied, glancing for an instant with +scorn in her eyes at Bertha, who, paying no apparent attention to what +was going on, was engaged in a whispered conversation with her +betrothed. + +"There is no use," Herr von Osternau said at last, after reading the +letter again over his wife's shoulder, "in our beating our brains over +this mystery. The Candidate's going, like his coming, will always be a +riddle for us." + +After this he opened the Lieutenant's letter and began to read it, but +he had not read far before he turned to his wife again, with: "This is +absolutely incredible, Emma! Only hear what Albrecht writes: 'My dear +Cousin,--First of all forgive me for not returning, and for delaying to +write until now. After many tedious transactions, of which I will +inform you more minutely by word of mouth if you desire it, I have +concluded the affair you know of, and should have returned to you +to-morrow, but that I think it best to remain here a day or two longer +in the interest of our family. You will allow this, I am sure, when I +tell you of the astounding news which I have learned to-day. Herr Egon +von Ernau, whose body it was affirmed was found in the Spree, has +returned from quite a long journey, and is now here in Berlin!'" + +An exclamation of surprise from Bertha interrupted Herr von Osternau. +He turned towards her. She had grown very pale, and her large eyes were +riveted upon his face. "He is alive!" she almost whispered. + +"He is alive, and you are betrothed to Herr von Wangen," Lieschen said, +quietly. + +A look of positive hatred was Bertha's only reply. The next instant her +colour came again, and she turned with her own lovely smile to her +lover: "Yes, Hugo, and I thank God that I am so, and that I am saved +the struggle between duty and affection which I must have undergone if +Herr von Ernau had reappeared before I was betrothed to you." + +Herr von Osternau looked rather dubiously at her as she spoke, but he +said nothing, only continued the reading of his letter: "I could +scarcely credit this when I heard it this afternoon from an +acquaintance. Yesterday there was no doubt but that his body had been +found in the Spree. It had, to be sure, been too long in the water to +allow of the features being recognized, but Ernau's body-servant +identified the summer suit of the dead man as positively his master's, +and there was in one of the pockets a small silver card-case, which +both the servant and the Councillor recognized as young Ernau's. The +Councillor was so convinced that the body was that of his son that he +arranged an imposing funeral, at which half the aristocratic society of +Berlin was present; and yet here was the dead man alive and well. I +went directly to Sastrow for further information. + +"From him I received confirmation of the incredible report. Herr von +Ernau did really return yesterday from a tour among the mountains. He +employed his time this morning in visiting his acquaintances, +apparently to convince them that he is alive. He has nothing to say of +where he has been or why he left Berlin so abruptly, but he ridicules +his own splendid funeral and thanks the mourners profusely for their +sympathy. He is as reckless and extravagant as ever. Werner Massenburg, +who has just seen Sastrow, gave him all these particulars. I shall go +to him again to-morrow, when I may have more to tell you, but for the +present the subject must give place to certain revelations I have for +you concerning the redoubtable Herr Pigglewitch, who I was quite +certain was what he proves to be,--an adventurer and deceiver." + +"What a shameful calumny!" Lieschen exclaimed, indignantly. + +"Hush, my child!" her father rejoined, gravely. "I neither can nor will +believe that your cousin's harsh expressions are justifiable, but I +hardly know what to think. Listen to what Albrecht says: + +"You forbade me to put the police upon the fellow's traces, and I +obeyed you, but you did not forbid my instituting inquiries as to his +previous life and circumstances. This I have done, and as I have an +acquaintance who is one of the superior officers of the police force, I +easily learned from him the following particulars: The man calling +himself Pigglewitch, who brought you a letter from Herr Director +Kramser, and who lived so long at Castle Osternau, has no right to the +name he bore there, and must be a mere adventurer. + +"I remember perfectly well that the so-called Candidate Pigglewitch +arrived at Castle Osternau on the 6th of July, and on that very day the +real Pigglewitch is proved to have been in Berlin. He had informed his +lodging-house keeper--a woman by the name of Wiebe--that he had +obtained a situation as tutor, and that he was to be at Osternau, in +Silesia, on the 6th, but after leaving Berlin on the 5th he returned on +the evening of the 6th and took possession of his old quarters. Here he +stayed for several days, expecting, as he told his hostess, a letter +containing money, which would enable him to sail for America, and in +fact on the 9th of July a letter did arrive, addressed to Herr Gottlieb +Pigglewitch, and containing a large sum of money, some four thousand +marks, Frau Wiebe says. She further states that Pigglewitch was +overjoyed at the arrival of the letter, and told her that he should +spend a few days longer in Berlin to take some recreation before +sailing; that he left home early in the morning and returned late at +night until the 12th of July, when he went from the house at eleven in +the forenoon, and has not since been heard of. As there were no charges +against him, and as it was more than probable that he had sailed for +America, no search was made for him. Thus much at least is certain, +that the real Pigglewitch was in Berlin from the 6th to the 12th of +July, and that therefore the man who was at Castle Osternau must have +been an adventurer and impostor, wearing an assumed name. + +"The conclusions to be drawn from this fact I leave to you. If the sham +Pigglewitch has returned from his journey, give him this letter to +read. I am curious to know whether he will defend himself against the +charges it contains, and whether you, Cousin Fritz, will still refuse +to call in the aid of the police. I have no I doubt that they would +find in his possession skeleton keys and a considerable sum of money, +unless he has been prudent enough to conceal them during his absence +from the castle. + +"Day after to-morrow I shall return to Osternau, and in the mean time I +may perhaps learn something further of Herr von Ernau and of the sham +Pigglewitch. + +"With great regard, faithfully yours, + + "Albrecht Von Osternau." + + +"These are terrible revelations!" Frau von Osternau said, when her +husband had finished reading the letter. "Who would have thought it? +But yes, I always suspected that something was wrong. I never trusted +Herr Pigglewitch. While he sat at the piano and played or sang I +forgot, it is true, all my doubts, but they returned as I looked into +his restless, dark eyes. You know, Fritz, how often I have warned you +against him and begged you to dismiss him. Now he is proved to be an +adventurer and an impostor. In his own letter he confesses that he has +deceived us, that his life was a lie. He knew that discovery was +imminent, and so he has not returned. Now you will change your opinion +of him, and no longer delay sending an account of the robbery to the +Breslau police inspector." + +"No, Emma, I am as thoroughly convinced of his innocence now as I +always have been," her husband replied. "Whoever the thief may have +been, it was not the Candidate. I wish for no clearing up of that +mystery." + +Lieschen arose, went to her father, and, putting her arm around his +neck, kissed him tenderly, and said, "Thank you, my own kind, darling +papa!" Then she ran out of the room to hide the tears which Bertha must +not see. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + A FORCED RESOLVE. + + +On the morning of his departure from Castle Osternau Egon had packed up +enough clothing to last him for a few days, and carried it himself to +Station Mirbach, whence he took the next train to Breslau. + +He did not know himself what course he should take. He trusted, as he +had formerly been wont to do, to the impulse of the moment. Only one +thing was clear to him, he needed rest and solitude, and a forcible +severing of the ties which bound him to Castle Osternau, before he +could come to any clear decision as to his conduct. + +Arrived in Breslau, he first attended to Herr von Osternau's +commission, and dispatched the money to him. At the same time he +enclosed to Herr Pastor Widman, in Wennersdorf, the sum owing him. "No +need of a letter of explanation," he said to himself, as he sealed the +envelope. "I am a fool to send this money, but I promised Herr von +Osternau, and I wish the Herr Pastor joy of his good luck." + +As he sauntered through the streets of Breslau after posting his +letters, whiling away the time before the departure of the noonday +train, which was to carry him to the mountains, he tried in vain to +collect his thoughts, to arrange his ideas. It was in vain, his mind +was a chaos; he seemed walking in a confused dream; old impressions +recalled by the busy life of the streets, from which he had so long +been absent, struggled with those of the last few weeks, and he +attained some degree of calm only when, after a couple of hours in the +railway-carriage, he arrived at the little mountain village whence he +was to set out upon his pedestrian excursion. He strapped upon his back +the knapsack which he had purchased at Breslau to contain his few +effects, and set out; it was not long before the physical effort +necessary for mountain-climbing had its usual beneficial effect. + +His rebellious thoughts would still revert to Castle Osternau, and +refuse to be held captive by the changing landscape on either hand, but +they were no longer so confused and unsteady as they had been early in +the day, and when, after a long walk, he retired for the night, +tolerably late in the evening, at a little mountain inn, he soon fell +into a dreamless sleep. + +He waked in the early morning refreshed and invigorated mentally and +physically. The weather was glorious, and most propitious for mountain +travel on foot; Egon felt awaken within him an old longing for some +days alone with nature in her grand, careless mood. It was long since +he had felt so fresh and strong, and as he walked upwards among the +odorous pines he calmly reflected upon his life at Castle Osternau. +Could he return thither? He was able now to ponder the question +quietly. His position there was uncertain; Pastor Widman's letter had +raised doubts in Herr von Osternau's mind which an accident might +reawaken, he might naturally make investigations as to his tutor's +past, and then? The inevitable consequence would be the ruin of the +false structure erected, as Egon was forced with shame to confess, upon +falsehood. The unmasked impostor would be thrust in disgrace from the +castle, despised by those whom he held so dear. + +No, he could not expose himself to such a peril; if he returned he must +confess the whole truth to Herr von Osternau. But could he do this? +There rang in his ears all the words of disapproval and condemnation +uttered by almost every member of the Osternau circle with regard to +Herr von Ernau. Lieschen had called him a wretched, detestable man, and +her father and mother had openly expressed their contempt for him. +Should he say to them, "I am that Egon von Ernau whom you so despise!" +Could he defend himself against the accusations brought against him? He +had tried once to do so to Lieschen, and how incredulously she had +shaken her lovely head! with what surprise, nay, dismay, she had looked +at him! Had not his former life justified all that was said of him? Had +he not given additional reason for it by carrying on a deception for +weeks, living under an assumed name among those who had trusted him? + +In imagination he saw Lieschen turning from him indignantly, as she +exclaimed, "There is nothing I detest as I do falsehood!" He heard the +Lieutenant's scornful laughter. And Bertha! Should she too witness his +humiliation? + +No; he could not return and run the risk of being discovered, nor could +he confess his deceit. Both were alike impossible. + +But if he did not return to the castle, what was he to do? Go back to +Berlin! And why not? Formerly the thought of falling in with his +father's plans had filled him with disgust; now his heart beat quicker +at the thought of calling Bertha von Massenburg his wife. + +And yet he hesitated and could come to no decision. Always in the midst +of the intoxication of the senses that accompanied the remembrance of +Bertha, a lovely girlish image would rise before his mental vision to +calm and soothe him, and no sacrifice seemed to him too great to +purchase a gentle word of pardon from Lieschen, one look of love from +her eyes. + +He could not decide. For three days he wandered about the mountains, +pursuing those paths least frequented by tourists, and lodging at night +in some lonely, retired little inn, determined to avoid any chance +encounter with acquaintances. But on the fourth day of his wanderings +he was slowly descending the agate rocks towards Hermsdorf, lost in +thought, his eyes bent upon the ground, when he was roused from his +revery by a clear, merry voice: "All good spirits praise the Lord! +Positively this is a capital joke! Day before yesterday we buried you, +Herr von Ernau, and to-day I meet you, sound in body and limb, upon +this far from delightful ascent!" + +Egon looked up startled. Before him stood an old acquaintance from +Berlin,--Baron von Freistetten, a wealthy young nobleman, whom he had +often met in society, and whom he had liked rather better than most of +his associates, since in the preference shown him by the young fellow +there could be no suspicion of interested motives. + +Freistetten was in the act of making the ascent of the agate rocks, in +company with a guide, and had paused for a moment to take breath, when +he perceived Egon coming down towards him and instantly hailed him. All +fatigue was forgotten; he hurried to meet him, and shook him cordially +by the hand. "Upon my word, Ernau," he said, "this is the greatest +pleasure I have had for years! I never believed you were dead, for did +I not see you a month ago in Breslau? But when everybody insisted that +your body had been found, and when I followed it to the grave, the day +before yesterday, I thought I had been mistaken, and sincerely mourned +you. Thank God! I was right at first. I am indeed delighted." + +The young fellow's joy was so sincere that Egon could not but +reciprocate his cordiality. Disagreeably surprised as he was at first +at the encounter, several of the Baron's expressions had aroused his +curiosity, and he agreed readily to the young man's proposal that they +should find some shady spot for a half-hour's talk. + +Beneath an overhanging rock they threw themselves down upon the soft +green moss. + +"I cannot get used to it," said Freistetten, shaking Egon again by the +hand. "This is what I call a surprise indeed. But now tell me all about +yourself. Where in the world have you been hiding? What reasons could +you have for vanishing so suddenly and giving no sign of life?" + +"I was tired of the stupid society life of the capital, and I have been +spending a few weeks quietly in the country. I really have nothing to +tell. But you must satisfy my curiosity. What was it you said about +finding my body and going to my funeral? What did you mean?" + +"That you were buried, and have risen from the dead. But no, the matter +is too serious for trifling. You shall hear the consequences of your +flight from Berlin." + +And he went over the whole story; how he had not been believed when he +said that he had seen Egon in Breslau, how every one said that young +Ernau had taken his life because of an unhappy love-affair. "You have +deeply grieved your friends, Ernau," he added. + +"Have I any friends?" Egon rejoined. "The few who felt some slight +regret at my death were more than indemnified by the interesting gossip +to which it gave occasion." + +"I don't envy you such sentiments as those," Freistetten said, gravely. +"They can only be entertained by one who is no man's friend, and who +thinks only of himself. I am no moralist, but I cannot understand how +you could make up your mind to play so reckless a game with your +friends, among whom I count myself, and, above all, with your father." + +Egon had no reply to make to this reproach, and Freistetten continued +his narrative, telling how the dress of the corpse found in the Spree +had been identified by the servant and by Councillor von Ernau, and how +magnificent had been the funeral. + +Egon listened eagerly, and when he heard how the body had been +identified, he had a sudden conviction as to who had been so +ceremoniously consigned to earth in his stead. He remembered that he +had forgotten to take his empty silver card-case from the breast-pocket +of the coat which he had exchanged for Pigglewitch's. The Candidate had +not been heard from for weeks. Doubtless he had gambled again, had +again lost all, and his second attempt at suicide had been more +successful than his first. His body was now at rest in the church-yard. + +"You are really dead in every one's estimation," Freistetten concluded. +"It is fortunate that I chanced to meet you, and could tell you of the +result of your flight from Berlin,--else you might not have thought of +returning thither to put a stop to the wild rumours about you. Or were +you going down to Hirschberg, to start thence for Berlin?" + +"No," Egon replied, "I did not think of that. I have not yet decided +what to do, and I must pray you to keep my secret, and inform no one +that you have seen me." + +"I shall do no such thing!" Freistetten exclaimed, indignantly. "That +would be to make myself an accomplice in what offends my sense of +right. Indeed, Ernau, you must return to Berlin; it would be +unpardonable to allow your father to believe any longer that he has +lost his only son. I know that your relations with him were never very +cordial, but he is your father, and you owe him a son's duty. If you +refuse to return to Berlin, I shall cut short my mountain excursion and +go there myself to tell your father that his son is alive." + +Freistetten had arisen, and now signed to his guide that he was ready +to go on. + +"Decide, Ernau," he said, gravely; "your decision will govern mine." + +Egon had hoped for some chance that should force him to a resolution; +his wish was fulfilled; his hesitation between Castle Osternau and +Berlin was at an end. He was not angry with Freistetten for his severe, +almost insulting, words: he was justified in using them. + +"I thank you, Freistetten," he said, likewise rising. "Your admonition +is harsh, but I will lay it to heart. Continue your tour; I promise you +to go directly to Berlin from Hirschberg. Since I am, half unwillingly +I admit, forced to take upon me the old yoke, I will do so without +delay. Farewell!" + +The young men separated with a warm grasp of the hand, and Egon walked +on down into the Hirschberg valley. With a heavy heart he went his way +back to the old life. Now that he was resolved not to return to Castle +Osternau, existence there appeared to him in the rosiest light; he +longed for each one of those of its inmates who had grown dear to him; +he could not bear the thought of parting from them without one word of +farewell, one prayer for pardon for having deceived them. + +Lieschen's image accompanied him on his way; it seemed to beckon him +on. He felt an intense desire to hasten to Castle Osternau, if only for +a day, an hour, that she might decide whether he should remain there, +or return to Berlin. + +He lodged for the night in a little inn seldom visited by strangers. He +could not sleep when he first retired to his room; the effort to abide +by his resolve chased sleep from his eyelids. At last he sat down and +wrote two farewell letters, one to Herr von Osternau, the other to Herr +Storting. In the latter he enclosed the payment of the little debt for +which Storting had so readily gone surety in Breslau. Both letters he +posted the next morning before starting for Berlin, thus destroying all +possibility of a return to Castle Osternau. He then grew calmer; the +struggle was over, he hesitated no longer. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN. + + +Privy Councillor Von Ernau was sitting in his dining-room, at the +little round table, which was to-day set for but one person. He was not +fond of dining alone; guests were always invited to join him at this +meal, which was on table punctually at four o'clock. Certainly gay +conversation is the best seasoning for delicate viands. Neither +well-prepared food nor excellent wine delighted the Councillor's palate +if partaken of in solitude. He therefore reflected sadly, as he sipped +his soup, upon the number of days upon which he should now be obliged +to dine alone,--fourteen, at the very least. He sighed profoundly. +Fourteen days appeared an endless time to him. Since the finding of +Egon's body had established the fact that the unfortunate Councillor +von Ernau had lost his only son, eight days had passed; for eight days +he had worn deep mourning. Until eight days ago there had been some +doubt as to his calamity, and he had not felt it necessary to deny +himself all social pleasures; but now there was no help for it. As a +father overwhelmed with grief, such joys were not for him. He glanced +sadly enough at the broad band of crape that encircled his left arm. + +During the first few days after the finding of the body there had been +some satisfaction in the sensation produced in Berlin by the actual +death of Egon von Ernau. It had been very interesting to read the +accounts in the papers, to receive visits of condolence, to show to +each new-comer how profound was the grief that wrung the paternal +bosom; then came all the arrangements for the funeral, which was +magnificent. Thus occupied the time passed quickly, and the sacrifice +of a solitary dinner was a matter of course, but now? The visits of +condolence had ceased, the funeral was over, the newspapers said +nothing more with regard to the death of Herr Egon von Ernau, the +Councillor felt very lonely, and the thought that he must yet pass at +least fourteen days secluded from all the delights of the capital made +him very sad. It really was a hard fate to lose an only son in the +bloom of youth, and to have to go into mourning for him besides! + +The soup was delicate, but he did not relish it. He looked up with a +sigh----The spoon dropped from his fingers and fell clinking into his +soup-plate, as he gazed with staring eyes at the ghost which suddenly +confronted him in broad daylight,--a ghost the very presentment of his +dead son. There it stood in the open door-way. No, it did not stand; it +moved as if made of flesh and blood; it walked with the elastic step +that had been Egon's, through the room and directly towards its +solitary occupant. + +"Good-day, sir," Egon remarked, as quietly as if he had just returned +from a short walk; and then, turning to the servant, who stood staring +in no less terror than his master, he said, "Bring me a plate, Johann, +and be quick, for I am desperately hungry." + +No ghost speaks thus; no ghost coolly draws a chair up to a table and +sits down. + +"Good God!" exclaimed the Councillor, who could not yet collect +himself, "is it really you, Egon? and alive?" + +"As you see, sir, alive, and very hungry. Will you have the kindness to +order Johann to bring me a plate and not to stand there staring at me? +I think my appetite will soon convince both you and him that I am +alive." + +Johann hastened to obey the order, and the Councillor no longer doubted +that his son was before him. He took up his spoon again, wiped a spot +of soup off the handle with his napkin, and as he did so eyed his +resuscitated son with an air of anything but delight. "You are alive, +then," he said, peevishly; "and that you are so destroys the only +satisfactory excuse that there could be for recklessly plunging me into +the greatest embarrassment by your sudden disappearance, just when your +betrothal was announced." + +"Did I embarrass you, sir?" asked Egon, upon whom the paternal reproof +appeared to produce but a slight impression. "I am sorry, but I should +not have believed it. You are not wont to be easily embarrassed. So far +as I can learn, you have had a very agreeable time. The variety which +the sensation caused by my disappearance, by the discovery of my body, +and at last by my funeral must have introduced into your monotonous +existence has certainly been entertaining. The crape upon your arm +becomes you admirably; it is a pity to have to take it off, but then +you will be indemnified for its loss by the fresh sensation which the +prodigal's return will-excite. We shall both form the topic of Berlin +gossip for at least a week. Dead men do not rise from their graves +every day. The funeral, I hear from Freistetten, was really brilliant, +quite worthy of your distinguished taste. I regret not to have +witnessed it. However, I can go to the church-yard tomorrow to look at +my grave and admire the flowers with which you have adorned it. I must +beg you to accept my thanks for them." + +"Always the same," the Councillor murmured, "a venomous sneer in every +word; you return as you departed." + +"Does that vex you, sir? We have always got along very well together. +You never troubled yourself about me, and I never annoyed you. I think +we can do as well for the future. You never shall be disturbed in your +enjoyment of life by me, not even now. Pray do not let your soup get +cold; here comes mine. We will dine together, and consult comfortably +how we can introduce to the living world in the manner most agreeable +to you the son risen from the dead. But before I say another word I +must take my soup; I am as hungry as a wolf." + +He applied himself to his task with an excellent appetite, and the +Councillor followed his example. + +The Councillor did not speak until the soup was removed and Johann was +busy changing the plates for the next course. Then he availed himself +of the interruption of the dinner to say, "It seems high time that you +should inform me of your reasons for leaving me so suddenly, of where +you have been, of what you have been doing, and why we have heard +nothing from you for all these long weeks? Certainly, as your father, I +have a right to an explanation from you." + +"There we differ, sir," Egon replied, in the same tone of cool contempt +which he had thus far used in addressing his father. "Our relations +have hitherto not corresponded to those usually existing between father +and son. You never desired any confidence from me. You have pursued +your pleasures without troubling yourself to think whether your son +might not perhaps need a father's affection, and you have never +required of me any explanation of my actions or sentiments. You gave +the boy perfect liberty to commit any folly he chose; how can the man +possibly be called to account by you? We had better continue our +relations as you have arranged them. It can be of little moment to you +where I have been and why I went away. It is enough that I am here +again, and that you are relieved of the duty of mourning for my death. +It is true that you are also deprived of the inheritance of my estate, +but this is a matter of indifference to you. You never attached any +great value to money, and you have probably never even remembered that +my maternal inheritance fell to you at my death." + +"You do me but justice. I certainly never thought of that when I saw +you alive before me. I did think of what I could reply to the countless +inquiries that will be made of me as to where you have been and what +you have been doing all these weeks." + +"Tell the truth, sir. Say that you do not know, that your son is an +incorrigible fellow, with no regard for the opinion of the world or for +his father's feelings, and that he is resolved to act as he himself +sees fit. Say this to all eager inquirers, and if they are not +satisfied send them to me, and I will so answer them that they will not +repeat their questions." + +"You will make yourself impossible in society!" + +"Precisely. I shall remain only a few days in Berlin, and may not +return here for years." + +The Councillor stared at his son with a comical expression of dismay. +To him it was inconceivable that a young and wealthy man should propose +voluntarily to leave Berlin. A visit to London, Paris, or Vienna was +all very well in its way; he himself had never cared to see those +cities, but he could understand how they might interest some men for a +while; but to leave Berlin for years without being forced to do so! the +thought was preposterous. "You are going away again?" he asked, +incredulously. + +"Yes; I shall be here but a few days. I returned only to show you and +all my acquaintances that I am alive. I am tired of this insignificant +existence, and am resolved to devote my future life to some serious +pursuit. I shall, I think, pursue the study of agriculture for a year +or longer, and so soon as I am capable of the management of a large +estate I shall retire to Plagnitz, where I hope to play the part of an +able agriculturist." + +"I believe you are insane!" the Councillor exclaimed. The idea that +Egon von Ernau, the spoiled darling of society, could desire to +establish himself upon a West-Prussian estate as a simple agriculturist +was monstrous, incredible! + +Egon smiled involuntarily at his father's dismay. "You see, sir, I have +very sensible and rather commonplace plans for the future. I hope you +will approve them, although they surprise you at present. Of course I +shall also want a wife. Here I shall meet your wishes. During the few +days which I shall spend in Berlin, my betrothal with your choice for +me, with Fraeulein Bertha von Massenburg, can be announced publicly and +celebrated by a brilliant _fete_ after your own heart. As soon as it is +over I shall leave Berlin, and my marriage will take place when my +castle in Plagnitz is put in a condition to be a worthy abode for my +young wife, and when I am fitted to undertake the management of the +estate." + +Were the surprises which Egon had prepared for his father never to come +to an end? The shock of this last announcement was too much for the +Councillor's self-control, He tossed aside his napkin, rose from his +chair, and hastily left the room, to return in a moment with a note, +which he handed to Egon. "Read that!" he said. + + +"I have the honour to announce to you the betrothal of my only daughter +Bertha to Herr Hugo von Wangen. + + "Werner von Massenburg. + + "Bertha Von Massenburg. + + "Hugo von Wangen. + + "Betrothed." + + +The blood rushed to Egon's cheeks and there was a mist before his eyes +as he read these words. Bertha betrothed to that insignificant, +unintellectual, good-natured young fellow! And this was the end of the +struggle through which he had passed in his sleepless night at +Hirschberg, where he had at last resolved upon his future career! His +plans were all annihilated by a paltry bit of paper, on which was +printed "Bertha von Massenburg, Hugo von Wangen, betrothed." + +If the Councillor's amazement at all that he had seen and heard on this +day could have been increased, it would have been so by the alteration +visible in his son's features as he road this note. "What now?" he +exclaimed. "You are absolutely incomprehensible! When you could have +had Bertha von Massenburg for a wife by simply saying 'yes,' you ran +away to be rid of her, and now you look as if the lady's betrothal to +another man were an immense disappointment to you. You have never seen +her; it can make no possible difference to you whether you have her or +somebody else for a wife, since you are resolved to marry and settle +down as a country squire." + +"True, sir, it can make no possible difference to me," Egon said, +slowly, his eyes still fixed upon the note in his hand. + +"Besides," the Councillor continued, "betrothed is not married. If your +heart is so set upon this girl, which I never should have suspected, I +will speak to Werner Massenburg about it. He consented to the present +betrothal only to put a stop to disagreeable gossip. It will be easy to +retract his consent, especially since your appearance gives him a +reason for declaring the engagement to Wangen null and void. He will be +glad, and so shall I, to have matters take the course we decided upon +two months ago. Since you wish it, Egon, I will speak to him." + +Lost in thought, Egon had not understood a word his father had uttered. +The syllables had struck upon his ear without conveying any impression +to his mental sense. When he heard his name spoken he started from his +revery and rose. "I must now leave you, sir," he said. + +"But you cannot possibly have eaten enough. Sit down and let us consult +what is to be done." + +"I really am unfit for discussion at present. I will go to my room. You +can employ the afternoon in acquainting your friends with my return. +To-morrow I will pay the requisite visits, and then try to evoke some +order out of the chaos that now reigns in my mind." + +He left the room, and slowly walked through the familiar rooms and +corridors until he reached his own apartments. Here nothing had been +changed during his absence, and it seemed to him that he had been away +but for a few hours. His lot appeared as empty and forlorn as when he +had decided to put an end to his tedious existence: life was as +comfortless and devoid of interest now as then. He threw himself upon a +lounge, and buried his face among the cushions. He wished neither to +see, to hear, nor to think. He sank into a half-unconscious state +between waking and dreaming. Pictures from the past arose, mistily +indistinct, before his mental vision. He saw himself as a little lonely +child in his luxurious nursery, longing for affection, filled with +childish envy of other children who might kiss and caress their father +or mother; then he saw himself a youth among the throng of his +fellow-students, all ready to flatter and fawn upon him so long as he +lavished money upon them; then in society among women whom he despised +and men who wearied him; then came the scene on the shore of the +lake,--Pigglewitch's confession, and his own sudden impulse that led +him into so wild an adventure. All these pictures were cloudy and +vague, when suddenly there emerged from among them, in startling +distinctness, Lieschen's image. He saw her as she looked upon the +afternoon when she had asked counsel of him as she turned to him +trustfully. How could he ever have forgotten for a moment that pure, +confiding look? + +And as once the reality, so now the remembrance affected him +profoundly. He felt suddenly invigorated, strengthened for the further +conflict of life; the dull despair that had assailed him when he saw +all his plans crumble to ruins vanished; he was ashamed that the +thought of Bertha should so have moved him, and that he should have +again blindly followed the impulse of the moment. "Lieschen's pure +memory shall be my guiding star," he said to himself, "in all the +conflicts to come!" + +He arose from the lounge, and just in time, for steps were heard in the +corridor, his door was flung open, and there appeared on the threshold +a man, tall and still handsome in spite of his years, followed by the +Councillor. Egon recognized his visitor instantly, although he had +never seen him before, so decided was his resemblance to his daughter. + +"My son Egon, Herr von Massenburg," the Councillor said, introducing +the young man to the stranger. But Werner von Massenburg put aside all +formality, and, offering Egon his hand, said, with the greatest +cordiality, "Pardon the informality of my visit, Herr von Ernau; its +excuse is my great pleasure when I heard from my friend, your father, +that our mourning for you is at an end, that you are restored to life. +I could not but come to you immediately to express my joy." + +Why should Egon be repelled by this frank display of cordiality? He +could not tell. As Herr von Massenburg spoke, the resemblance between +his daughter and himself increased; but this did not lessen Egon's +distaste for the man. Every friendly word that he spoke seemed to the +young fellow a conscious falsehood, and he reciprocated but coldly the +other's kindness. + +Nothing deterred by Egon's reserve of manner, Werner continued to pour +forth his joy upon the occasion of this 'resurrection,' as he called +it, and his self-congratulations that it was not too late to prevent +the mischief which might have ensued upon any longer continuance in the +belief of Egon's death. "Your father knows," he said, "how pained I was +to be forced to resign all our delightful schemes for the union of our +families, and that I am all the more rejoiced now that the hope of +their fulfilment blooms afresh." + +"If I am not mistaken, Fraeulein von Massenburg is betrothed to a +certain Herr von Wangen?" Egon said, quietly. + +"True," Massenburg replied, no whit embarrassed. "In the distressing +situation in which my daughter was placed, I was forced to have +recourse to some means to vindicate her imperilled reputation. A very +well-to-do landed proprietor, an honest but rather insignificant young +fellow, proposed for her. I gave my consent, hard as it was for me, and +harder still as it was for my daughter to submit to the lot thus +decided upon for her. She considered herself, so she wrote me, as the +widow of one so suddenly snatched from her and from the world. The +supposition under which both Bertha and myself, as Herr von Wangen well +knows, were induced to give our consent to the betrothal proves to be +erroneous, and the betrothal is consequently void. I gladly consent to +declare it so, since your father informs me of your readiness to accede +to our old plans." + +"But Fraeulein von Massenburg and Herr von Wangen?" Egon asked. + +"Bertha will be happy to be liberated from a tie that is odious to her, +and Herr von Wangen must resign himself to the inevitable. I will write +to him to-day, and shall rejoice to welcome you, my dear Ernau, as my +future son-in-law." + +"I regret, Herr von Massenburg," Egon said, quietly, but firmly, "that +I can make no claim to the title with which you would honour me. I +could never consent to be the cause of the rupture of an engagement +which has been publicly announced." + +"What new whim is this?" the Councillor exclaimed, angrily. "Why did +you send me to Herr von Massenburg?" + +"I did not send you, sir." + +"But you made no reply when I told you that I would arrange that the +betrothal should be declared void." + +"I do not remember hearing you say a word upon the subject." + +"Incredible!" the Councillor exclaimed, indignantly. "I expressly told +you that I would dissolve the engagement which seemed so obnoxious to +you. For your sake, to fulfil your wishes, I went directly from the +dinner-table to Herr von Massenburg, and now you leave me in the lurch, +for the sake of heaven only knows what insane idea. It is too much, too +much!" + +"Indeed, Herr von Ernau," Werner von Massenburg went on to say, "your +father's anger would be justifiable if you were in earnest in what you +say, but that I am sure you are not. I respect the delicacy which makes +you hesitate to be the cause of the rupture of a betrothal which has +been publicly announced. But my daughter's engagement to Herr von +Wangen was only a sad means of putting an end to much scandalous +gossip. It was but an empty form, and owes its existence to the force +put upon my daughter's will by myself." + +That it was an empty form Egon knew only too well. He knew how gladly +Bertha would escape from it did she but know who Herr von Ernau really +was. Gottlieb Pigglewitch, the tutor at Castle Osternau, had learned +thus much from many a glance of the large, dark eyes that had often +robbed him of his rest. One word of his, a simple 'yes,' and she might +yet be his wife. + +'Lieschen's pure memory shall be my guiding star in all the future +conflicts of life.' These words, which he had murmured to himself a few +moments before, echoed in his soul. In imagination he saw her eyes bent +on him in pity,--pity for the weakness of a nature prone to yield so +readily to the impulse of the moment. + +He hesitated no longer. "I deeply regret," he said, gravely, "if I have +been the cause of Fraeulein von Massenburg's contracting an engagement +to which her heart is not a party, but in my opinion, and I trust in +that of the young lady, a betrothal is no empty form. I should consider +it an insult to Fraeulein von Massenburg to suppose her capable of being +false to her betrothal vow. I certainly never can give her occasion for +being so, and I beg you, Herr von Massenburg, to consider this as my +irrevocable resolve." + +Werner von Massenburg had much ado to preserve his self-possession. He +arose, and, with rage in his heart, said, coldly, "After so decided an +expression of opinion there is no reason for another word upon this +subject. I can only regret having been induced to comply with your +request, Herr Councillor." + +He then took a formal leave of Egon, and left the room, followed by the +Councillor, who did not deign to bestow one farewell glance upon his +son. + +When Egon was once more alone he drew a deep breath of relief. For the +first time in his life he had absolutely controlled an impulse to yield +to the whim of the moment. He had resisted temptation in a most +alluring form, and he might hope to date from this moment the dawn of a +truer and nobler existence. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + LINAU. + + +The mansion-house of Linau, the German corruption of the Polish +Linorov, is by no means an imposing residence. Many a wealthy peasant +in Saxony can boast of a home grander in appearance than the seat of +the ancient noble family which Hugo von Wangen inherited from his +father, and in which he was living at present with his young wife and +his orphan sister, four years after his marriage. Before his father's +death the young couple had occupied a small but comfortable farm-house +on the estate, to which Hugo had brought his bride, and where, in +accordance with his father's ideas as to the frugality and economy +proper to be observed by young people just beginning life, they would +still have been residing, had not his father died two years after his +son's marriage and bequeathed to him the large manor-house itself. + +The old Herr left only two children behind him, a son and a daughter, +the latter a child twelve years of age. His will declared his son Hugo +the heir of his landed estate, and arranged that the daughter, whose +inheritance consisted of a mortgage upon the estate, should find a home +in her brother's house. + +Hugo von Wangen gladly fulfilled the duty thus imposed upon him. He +loved his sister dearly, and needed no injunction from his father to +induce him to act the part of an affectionate protector to the girl, +whose mother died shortly after her birth, having received her son's +solemn promise that he would be a faithful brother to little Clara. + +Thus, since the death of his father, Hugo von Wangen, with his wife and +sister, had inhabited the manor-house of Linau. It was a low, rambling +assemblage of buildings, quite large enough for Hugo's wishes, as it +had been for those of his father, who had for many years lived happily +in it with his family and kept open house. The guest-chambers were +seldom empty, the hospitality of the host had always been generous, and +although the style of living had been devoid of pretension to modern +elegance, there had never been any lack of comfort in the old Von +Wangen manor-house. + +For Hugo, every piece of the quaint, old-fashioned furniture, every +nook and corner of the house, suggested some incident of his childhood, +some tender recollection of the mother and father whose memory he +revered; but to his young, pleasure-loving wife the place was odious. +She begged that at least the old furniture might be banished, to give +place to what was more worthy of a Herr von Wangen. To this Hugo would +in no wise consent, and it was with great reluctance that he yielded so +far to his wife's wishes as to have the finest of the rooms--one which +opened by folding doors upon a large balcony built out over the +garden--given over entirely to her and newly furnished and decorated +according to her taste. In all the other rooms the old articles of +furniture in which he delighted remained untouched, contrasting oddly +enough with the gorgeous arrangements of the garden-room, as it was +called. Here Bertha spent most of her time, sitting in the balcony when +the weather was fine, and receiving there the frequent visitors, who +now as formerly were seldom wanting at Linau. + +The tin roof of this addition to the garden-room protected it from sun +and rain, and that it might be thoroughly warmed in winter Bertha had +it enclosed with sashes of glass, which could be opened and closed at +will. + +Here, oh a sultry day in August, we find Bertha, something more than +four years after we last saw her in Osternau. The glass doors and +sashes of the balcony were all wide open to admit every breath of air, +and the fair mistress of the house was leaning back in an arm-chair, +fanning herself lazily with a large lace fan, and evidently wearied and +discontent. + +There was not the faintest breeze stirring, and, low in the west, dark +masses of clouds were slowly gathering; the afternoon sun was already +hidden behind them, and they were mounting high above the tall +shrubbery that bounded the lawn of the garden below the balcony. + +"It is insufferably hot and sultry," Bertha sighed, laying aside the +novel she had been reading. "In this wretched climate one either +freezes with cold or melts with heat. Such a thing as a fair, mild +summer afternoon is positively unknown in this odious Western Prussia." + +Did she speak in soliloquy, or were her words addressed to the young +lady who, seated at some distance at a table in the centre of the +spacious balcony, was busy correcting a sketch by Clara, Hugo's young +sister, who stood by intensely interested in the operation? It was +impossible to say, for, as she spoke, Bertha's glance was directed to +the distant horizon, and she fanned herself uninterruptedly. +Nevertheless she expected an answer, and, receiving none, the movement +of her fan grew more energetic, and there was a degree of ill humour in +the voice with which she said, sharply, "Elise!" + +There was such atone of command in the word that she who was thus +addressed, and who was bending over the drawing on the table, looked up +from it startled. Her charming face flushed slightly as she left her +place and approached Bertha in obedience to her call. + +"I really think you might reply to me when I speak to you," the latter +said, as if aggrieved. + +"I beg pardon! I really did not know that your remark was addressed to +me." + +"To whom else could I be speaking? You cannot think me so silly as to +sit here talking to myself. Do try to pay a little attention to me." + +Every word was uttered with an evident intention to be disagreeable, +but no retort was provoked from the person addressed. In fact, she had +no time to reply before her young pupil eagerly took up her defence. +Clara threw down her pencil and turned sharply to her sister-in-law: +"What is it, Bertha? What has Elise done to provoke you? How should she +know that your criticism of West Prussia was addressed to her? It might +as well have been uttered for my benefit, and you may be sure I should +have taken up the cudgels if I had not been so busy over this miserable +drawing." + +The child was most attractive in her eager defence of her teacher, but +Bertha's ill humour made her blind to any charm in her little sister, +to whom she administered a sharp rebuke for want of respect to her +brother's wife, adding, "I cannot see. Elise, that your teaching is +likely to produce any very fine results here. Clara grows too pert and +insubordinate. I really must ask Hugo to have her sent to some one of +our many admirable boarding-schools, where she may have the advantage +of stricter discipline than any that can be exerted over her at home." + +"No need to try that," Clara retorted; "Hugo never will consent. Papa +has taken care of that, I know." + +"Clara, Clara!" her governess interposed. + +"Let me speak, Elise," Clara went on, putting aside the warning hand +extended to her; "I must for this once. I cannot see why Bertha should +treat you as she has so often done since you came to us, a month ago. I +cannot help speaking of it. I love you dearly, and I will not have any +one unkind to you if I can help it." + +"Surely, Elise," Bertha said, angrily, "you must see that I am not +called upon to endure this patiently. Fortunately, there comes Hugo: he +will know how to put a stop to Clara's impertinence." + +Hugo von Wangen was returning from an expedition to the neighboring +town of G----. He had driven thither in the early morning, and had +hastened his return to Linau that he might escape the storm threatening +in the west. His vehicle was just entering the court-yard, whence he +came immediately through the garden-room out on the balcony. + +Hugo von Wangen had changed greatly in the past four years; the +shy, retiring youth had developed into a strong, capable man. The +good-natured expression of his kindly face was, however, unaltered, it +was even more pronounced than it had formerly been. He could hardly be +called a handsome man, but he certainly was pleasant to look upon. + +As he appeared upon the balcony he was so pleased with his speedy +return and the happy termination of his business in town, that he did +not observe the frown upon his wife's brow. + +"Fortunately back again before the storm," he called out, gaily. "How +are you, darling?" As he spoke he bent above his wife and gave her a +resounding kiss upon her forehead, took Clara's head between his hands +and kissed her likewise, and then bowed to the governess with a +cordial, "Good-day, Fraeulein Lieschen." + +"Indeed, Hugo, I must beg you to dispense with the babyish 'Lieschen' +in addressing a young lady of twenty-one," his wife said, sharply. + +"You're right, my dear," he replied, good-humouredly. "I forget myself, +Fraeulein Lieschen comes so naturally to my lips; but I shall learn not +to use it; so good-day, Fraeulein von Osternau. I am so glad to be at +home again, and I have had such a pleasure to-day. I met an old +acquaintance, or rather an old friend, most unexpectedly in G----. +Guess who it was, my dear,--you know him, and so do you, Fraeulein +Lieschen,--I mean Fraeulein von Osternau." + +Bertha had no desire to guess. She was contemplating preferring a +complaint of Clara's disrespect, but her interest was aroused when +Wangen went on eagerly,-- + +"No, you could not possibly guess. Just as I had got into the carriage +to drive off from G----, whom should I see coming striding down the +street but my dear old friend Storting? I jumped out of the carriage, +and he was as much delighted as I was at our meeting. I should have +liked to talk for an hour with him, but the skies looked so threatening +I had to leave, and he too was in a great hurry to get back to Plagnitz +before the storm came up." + +"Plagnitz?" Bertha asked. "Is not that Herr von Ernau's estate?" + +"Yes, and that is the strangest part of the whole story: Storting is +now Herr von Ernau's head inspector." + +At the sound of the name Ernau, Elise's attention was evidently +attracted. + +"Herr von Ernau?" she said. "Is that the same man----" Her glance fell +upon Bertha, and she hesitated slightly. "I mean the Herr Egon von +Ernau who----" + +"You need not hesitate, Fraeulein von Osternau," Wangen interposed with +a laugh. "You can with an easy mind ask whether it is the same Herr von +Ernau who ran away from the most charming of women, who was declared +dead, and who afterwards came to life again, and has since been +travelling or something of the kind. I am far too grateful to him for +his folly, and I think Bertha is likewise, to find anything +disagreeable in the recollection of him; indeed, I am quite curious to +make his acquaintance." + +"Does he live in this neighborhood?" Elise asked, evidently greatly +interested. + +"His principal estate, Plagnitz, is scarcely two miles from Linau, but +he is not living there at present. No one knows exactly where he is. +All his letters and papers are sent to his father's banking +establishment in Berlin. Herr von Ernau has hitherto seemed to take +very little interest in the management of his estates, except that a +few years ago his requirements as to the accounts and remittances from +Plagnitz became much more strict than they were formerly. His old +superintendent, Sieveking, told me that he had never been there but +twice, the last time about four years ago. On that occasion he made a +very exact inspection of the entire estate, informed himself of every +particular of its management, and took copious notes in his notebook, +since which time he has never revisited the place, nor have any orders +been received from him. He informed the superintendent when he left, at +the end of two weeks, that he was about to undertake an extensive +agricultural tour, and that he intended at some future time to assume +the superintendence of his estates himself, but that in order to do so +he must acquire a thorough knowledge of agriculture. Since then nothing +has been heard of him at Plagnitz. He must be a queer fellow. I really +am curious to know him. I suppose he will be back here some day. What +do you say, Bertha, should not you like to see this eccentricity face +to face?" + +"I really care nothing about it," Bertha said, shrugging her shoulders +indifferently. + +"But I do. I should like to know how Storting will get along with him," +her husband went on; "he has never seen him, he has not even +corresponded with him. Five weeks ago he saw in one of the country +papers that a head inspector was wanted on the baronial estate of +Plagnitz, further particulars to be obtained at the office of the +banking firm of A. C. Ernau & Co., Berlin. He addressed a letter to +that office, inquiring as to the terms upon which the place could be +obtained, declaring himself an applicant for the situation, and +offering to furnish testimonials as to his capacity to fulfil its +duties. Two weeks after sending this letter he received a most amazing +reply; any stipulations which he might make were acceded to beforehand, +including the amount of his salary; it was entirely unnecessary to send +in any testimonials; it was desirable that he should enter upon the +duties of his office as soon as possible, to which end he was directed +to report at his earliest convenience to Herr Sieveking, the +administrator, who was instructed to comply with all his requirements +and to conclude the engagement with him. The letter enclosed three +hundred marks for travelling expenses. Of course Storting instantly +betook himself to Plagnitz; old Sieveking, who has been ailing for some +time, and greatly in need of assistance in his duties, received him +with delight, and thus Storting has been installed at Plagnitz as head +inspector for more than two weeks, without ever handing in a single +testimonial as to his ability." + +"He deserves such confidence," Elise said. "He is an honest, excellent +man, prudent, conscientious, diligent, and an admirable superintendent. +My father trusted him entirely." + +"And he merited it, as I know well," said Wangen. "Had I known that he +was unemployed I should have engaged him at any price; but how in the +world did they know of his admirable qualifications in the Ernau +counting-room? It is unprecedented, the engaging of a head inspector +without any examination of his testimonials." + +Elise made no reply, but the shadowy smile that hovered about her mouth +seemed to indicate that she had her own opinion with regard to what was +so incomprehensible to Wangen, who dwelt at length upon the +unaccountable bestowal of Herr von Ernau's confidence. He was very +sorry that he had been able to have only five minutes of conversation +with Storting, but he was resolved to drive over to Plagnitz shortly +and have a talk with his friend about the dear old times. + +At mention of the dear old times Elise sighed, whereupon Bertha +bestowed upon her a glance of displeasure: she too remembered them, but +they were anything but dear to her. Suddenly recalling in her +displeasure her cause of offence with Clara, she said, ill-humouredly, +"We have had enough of your Herr Storting for the present: the account +of your meeting him drove out of my head for a while the urgent request +I was about to make you that Clara should be sent to boarding-school. +You have no idea how pert and headstrong the child is becoming. Elise +seems quite unable to govern her, and I really must appeal to you, both +for the girl's sake and my own. Elise's incapacity is a great +disadvantage to her pupil." + +"That is not true!" Clara declared. + +"Hush, Clara! I am talking with your brother and guardian." + +"But, Bertha, I cannot hush when you say what is not true. You began +our quarrel, and Elise did all she could to prevent it. It was your +fault that I was pert; you made me angry by threatening to ask Hugo to +send me away from here----" + +"That is precisely what I ask of him," Bertha angrily declared. "You +hear, Hugo, how impertinent the child is. You cannot hesitate as to +what should be done." + +She was angrier than her husband had ever before seen her, but her +anger became her. To Hugo she looked adorably beautiful, with her large +black eyes flashing, her cheeks flushed, and her lovely lip curled. He +did not like angry people, he was too easy and good-natured himself, +but even anger charmed him in his wife. He said, smiling, "My darling, +my darling, you exaggerate. Fraeulein von Osternau, will you have the +goodness to take Clara to her room for a while, that I may quietly +discuss this matter with my wife?" + +Elise inclined her head in assent and withdrew, taking Clara with +her. The girl went willingly, but cast a glance of defiance at her +sister-in-law as she left the room, thus further exasperating Bertha's +angry mood. "Surely, Hugo," she said, when the husband and wife were +alone together, "you cannot wish to expose me to such insult at the +hands of a child? I cannot have Clara in the house any longer." + +"You will listen to reason, darling," Wangen replied, in his easy, +good-humoured way, "when your present irritation has subsided. You know +how gladly I comply with every wish of yours if I can do so, but you +must not require of me the impossible. Clara is my only sister. I +promised my mother on her death-bed to be a father to her, and I +promised my father never to allow her to leave me, except to become the +wife of some worthy man. I cannot break such promises; and really the +child is good at heart and affectionate; she is a little pert and +forward, perhaps, but she responds instantly to kindness. You see how +devotedly attached she has become to Elise." + +"That is just it. Although you will not see it, they are leagued +against me. Elise hates me. Years ago, at Castle Osternau, she showed +only too plainly her invincible dislike of me. I never can forget how I +was forced then to feign affection for her, and how she never neglected +an opportunity to repulse me. Then I was dependent, now it is her +turn,--her turn to feign and dissemble, although I can see how it galls +her pride to do so." + +"My dear Bertha, what do you mean? If I did not know how really kind +and good you are, such words as these would make me doubt you; but I +know you better. It was your proposal to engage Lieschen for Clara's +governess, and to give her a salary so large as to enable her to +support her poor mother. Your unwillingness to suffer the unfortunate +girl to go among strangers bore testimony to your goodness of heart." + +Bertha's expression of face, as her husband spoke thus, was not +pleasant to see. "We'll say nothing more of Elise," she said. +"She can remain here as my companion, but Clara must be sent to +boarding-school." + +"I told you that I could not break my promise. I must tell you now that +by the conditions of my father's will I could not if I would. I did not +wish to annoy you, and so I have hitherto refrained from explaining +these conditions to you, but there is no help for it. You must know +that it is impossible to send Clara away if we would retain possession +of the estates." + +"But how can this be? Explain to me exactly how your father's will is +expressed." + +"I should greatly prefer not doing so, but, since there is no help for +it, you must know that in the last years of his life my father regarded +you with a certain suspicion which I could not allay. He conceived an +idea that when he was no longer here you would use your influence with +me to induce me to remove to Berlin, and that you would find in Clara +an obstacle to your schemes. I did all I could to disabuse him of his +mistrust of you, dear, but in vain, and he gave it expression in his +will, by which I am not the proprietor of the estates; their income is +mine only so long as Clara is brought up beneath my roof. Upon the day +of her marriage, if she lives until then with me, the estates become my +own. My father had a horror of boarding-schools for girls, and +expressly forbade my sending Clara to any such. Should I transgress the +injunctions laid upon me by his will, Clara becomes his residuary +legatee. The value of his property is legally appraised, and my share +will be only that which the law allows me. The same result will ensue +should Clara, through my own or my wife's unkindness, be forced to +leave my house before she is of age; as to the sufficiency of her +provocation the courts would decide. My father provided for all +possible contingencies. The will is drawn up by an admirable lawyer, +Councillor Herder, and I could not possibly evade its provisions, even +should I be so lacking in filial respect as to endeavour to do so." + +"Does Clara know of all this?" + +"I believe Councillor Herder has informed her upon the subject. She is +a great pet of his, as you know, and he is her godfather. You know, +too, that he has always been somewhat prejudiced against you; indeed, +dear, you have not treated him with quite the respect due to an old +friend of the family. And now you see that I could not send Clara away +from home if I would, and I frankly confess to you that even if I could +I would not. Only try to win the child's affection and it will be given +to you without reserve, and you will be glad to have her with us." + +"I am, then, to kiss the hand that smites me?" Bertha rejoined, with +bitterness. "It does not make me love the child any better to have her +thus forced upon me. But you may rest easy, Hugo, I understand it all +now, and you may be sure that I never shall give your sister an +opportunity to use her power against us. She is quite aware of the +extent of it, and would doubtless hail an occasion for exercising it. +Be sure that I will so conduct myself that no court in Prussia would +justify her in leaving your house and defrauding you of your +inheritance." + +Wangen was deeply grieved by his wife's words and her manner of +speaking; for the first time he entertained suspicions as to the +genuineness of her kindness of heart. All such he had hitherto +banished, reproaching himself at her first kind word for even allowing +their shadow to cross his mind. To-day he could not lay them to rest, +he was so hurt by his wife's open expression of her dislike of his pet +Clara. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + AN ACCIDENT. + + +The rain rattled against the glass enclosure of the balcony, flash +after flash of lightning illumined the darkness, and the crashing +thunder shook the walls of the old manor-house of Linau to their +foundations. + +Hugo von Wangen was pacing the spacious room restlessly to and fro. The +storm had been raging for more than two hours. The rain was falling in +torrents, and through it could be heard the rushing noise of the brook +at the end of the garden,--it was plainly overflowing its banks. + +"The storm is increasing," said Wangen, and his words instantly +received confirmation from an intensely vivid flash of lightning, +followed by a reverberating clap of thunder. The panes in the windows +shook almost to breaking, and the howling of the blast all but drowned +the sound of his voice. + +"You make me very nervous," Bertha said, "by pacing backwards and +forwards in that manner, like some wild animal in a cage. Come and sit +down with us, your restlessness can do no good." + +Wangen did not heed her; he quickened his steps, his anxiety evidently +increasing every minute. "I hope there has been no accident," he said. +"The Dombrowker bridge is unsafe at the best of times, and very +dangerous in a storm like this." + +"Don't worry yourself, Hugo," Clara rejoined, leaving the table where +she had been seated at her embroidery and affectionately putting her +arm through her brother's as he pursued his restless walk. "Herr Kaempf +is with the men, and he is so prudent he will see that nothing happens. +Perhaps he has not started from the station, but is waiting there for +the storm to abate." + +"Clara is right," Bertha said, kindly. Since Elise and her charge had +made their appearance again at supper the mistress of the house had +been once more all sweetness and amiability, and had seemed desirous of +effacing any unfavorable impression produced by her previous ill +humour. "Herr Kaempf is certainly waiting at the station. He must have +seen the storm coming up all the afternoon." + +"That is just why he will surely have driven over,--it came up so very +slowly, and then burst forth with such sudden fury. Something must +surely have hap----" + +He interrupted himself to listen. The noise of the rain beating against +the glass panes was fainter for the moment, and Wangen distinctly heard +the rolling of wheels in the court-yard. + +It ceased, and the next moment the door of the garden-room was +hurriedly opened, and Inspector Kaempf appeared on the balcony. The +water was dripping from his wet and muddy overcoat, and his hair hung +in damp, straight strings over his sunburned forehead. + +"Thank God you are back again!" Wangen exclaimed, hastening to meet +him, but pausing as he looked into the troubled face of the man, who +turned in some hesitation from him to the ladies. + +"We are back again," the inspector said, after an instant's pause. "The +first carriage is here, the other is directly behind us, nothing has +happened to us, but--I should be sorry to startle madame and the +ladies, but--there has been an accident. A stranger left the station a +short time before us in a one-horse light wagon, and wagon and horse +fell over the cliffs in the Dombrowker Pass. The driver is dead, and +the stranger is senseless. He fell but a short distance, but there is a +wound upon his forehead,--he must have struck his head against a stone. +We put him into our foremost wagon and brought him here; there was +nothing to be done for the unfortunate driver. The storm was furious, +and we have been obliged to drive very slowly. The stranger may revive, +but I fear----the men are now bringing him into the hall." + +As he spoke, the sound of many footsteps and a murmur of low voices +were heard in the hall, whither Wangen instantly went, followed by the +inspector, Elise, Clara, and last by Bertha. + +The spacious hall was filled with men-servants and maids, who had +hurried hither from all parts of the house and stables upon hearing of +the accident. The unconscious stranger had been carefully brought in +from the wagon and laid upon various wraps on the floor of the hall, +where men and maids were crowding about him, whispering their pity and +dismay, and wondering who the unfortunate man could be lying there as +pale and lifeless as the poor driver, whose body had just arrived in +the second wagon. + +No one knew him, not even Herr Berndal, the second inspector, who had +lived at Linau for years, and who knew every one in all the country +round. One of the men affirmed that he had seen the gentleman +get out of a first-class carriage when the train arrived at the +railway-station. He must be a rich man, he thought, for he had a very +grand air, and the station-master had bowed low to him and had sent one +of the porters to get him a conveyance immediately. + +There was nothing of the grand air to be seen now in the senseless +figure lying there, his clothes muddy and disordered, his face ghastly +pale and stained with the blood that trickled from a wound in the +forehead, now half concealed by the thick dark hair. The features were +scarcely distinguishable in the fitful light of the candles in the +hall and of a stable lantern held by one of the men, but the maid +at the man's elbow whispered that the poor gentleman would be very +fine-looking if he were not so horribly pale, and he could not be over +thirty at most. + +The whispering suddenly ceased when Herr von Wangen appeared, and the +servants respectfully made way for the new arrivals. + +Wangen looked down compassionately upon the unconscious man; Bertha, +after one timid glance at the motionless form, hid her face in her +hands and turned away in horror; while Elise stooped, and, gently +brushing aside the hair from the wound, listened eagerly, in hopes of +catching some faint sound of breathing from the parted lips. + +"There is hope," she said, gently: "he is still living." Then, as the +light of the lantern held by the man beside her fell full upon the +stranger's face, she started, grew very pale, and with difficulty +suppressed a cry of horror. "Good God!" she whispered, "it is he! Oh, +horrible!" + +Her start, her change of colour, and her whispered words attracted +Bertha's attention again, and Wangen, no less amazed, bent over the +prostrate figure and eagerly examined the lifeless features. "You know +him?" he asked, hurriedly. "Yes, yes; I too have seen that face before, +but where? Now I remember--at Castle Osternau. Surely it is the +Candidate who disappeared so suddenly, the tutor with the odd +name,--yes, I remember it now,--Pigglewitch." + +The name, even at this moment, called forth a smile from some of the +servants, but Wangen exclaimed, eagerly, "There! his lips moved, he +will recover! Help me, Hans, instantly to take him up gently and carry +him to the blue room, it is ready for guests. Be careful! he is coming +to himself." + +And, all alert in the hope of the stranger's recovery, Wangen himself +supported the head and shoulders of the wounded man, and, with the help +of the groom, carried him slowly up the steep staircase to the +designated guest-chamber and laid him upon the huge old-fashioned bed. +Elise walked beside the bearers, lending what aid she could, and never +heeding that the blood, which was beginning to flow freely from the +wound in the unfortunate man's forehead, was staining her hands and her +dress. + +"We must have medical aid immediately," Wangen said, when his burden +had been safely deposited in the blue room; "every minute is precious." + +He was interrupted by a vivid flash of lightning and a terrific clap of +thunder, the echo of which was drowned in the dashing of the rain +against the rattling window-panes. + +"No servant will venture to drive to Ostrowko in such a night as this," +Inspector Berndal declared; "we shall have to wait until the storm +abates. It would be impossible to brave its fury." + +Elise had occupied herself in arranging the pillows about the wounded +man's head, after sending a maid for water to wash the wound, but as +the words of the inspector fell upon her ear she turned to him, and +said, quietly, "I know the road to Ostrowko perfectly well. I will +drive over there and bring the doctor if you will have a vehicle made +ready for me." + +"What! you drive to Ostrowko in this storm, Fraeulein Lieschen? +Impossible!" + +"You forget that I am a country girl, and accustomed from my earliest +childhood to drive alone over the roughest possible roads. My sight is +keen, my hand is sure. I know the road, and am not afraid either of the +darkness or of the storm. Delay may imperil a human life; you have just +said that every minute is precious, Herr von Wangen. You must not +prevent my going to Ostrowko." + +The inspector looked admiringly at the girl, who announced her daring +resolve as quietly as if it were the easiest and most natural of +undertakings. + +"I really believe you would do as you say, Fraeulein von Osternau," he +said, "but it is out of the question. I never could look any one in the +face again if I allowed you to go. I will go for the doctor, and bring +him back with me as soon as may be." + +"You have just got home," Elise remonstrated. + +"All the more reason why I should be the one to go out again,--I could +not possibly be wetter than I am. I shall bring the doctor back with +me." + +He was so evidently resolved to go that Elise did not gainsay him, but +quietly declared her intention to stay beside the wounded man until the +doctor arrived. Wangen suggested that, since the poor fellow was +unconscious, the housekeeper or one of the maids might just as well +relieve her of this duty; but Elise was firm, and Bertha supported her +in her decision, although in a mocking way that was very irritating. +"Let her do as she wishes," she said to her husband, quite loud enough +to be heard by the self-constituted nurse. "It will be a comfort to +her. Do you remember her enthusiasm for her music-teacher when she was +but seventeen? She preserved his image faithfully in her heart and +recognized him immediately. We ought not to interfere with her." + +Elise blushed painfully, but she suppressed the bitter retort that rose +to her lips. Clara threw her arms round her and whispered to her, +"Don't let her distress you, darling Elise. She grows worse and worse; +you must not mind her." + +Wangen, too, was grieved by Bertha's tone and manner, reminding him as +it did of his late interview with her, and his voice was not so cordial +as usual as he rejoined, "This is no time for jesting, Bertha. Come, +let us leave Fraeulein Lieschen to her work of mercy. The poor man could +not be in better hands." + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. + + +Egon awakened as from a long, deep slumber. He opened his eyes, and was +conscious of a dull pain in his head, and of a burning, pricking +sensation in his forehead; he raised his hand to it, and his fingers +encountered a wet linen bandage, while he observed that the place in +which he was was entirely strange to him. He had never before seen the +blue and white draperies of this room, nor had he any recollection of +its rather quaint but comfortable furniture. + +How had he come here? and why was his head bandaged? He closed his eyes +again and tried to collect himself, finding that, in spite of the pain +in his head, he was able to think connectedly. He had certainly arrived +shortly before at Station R----. He had asked a porter to get him a +conveyance to take him to Plagnitz. The man had been eager to serve +him; but had not some one warned him against driving along so rough a +road in such a storm? Yes; he remembered this quite well, and that he +had laughed at the speaker's warning, and had driven off in the pouring +rain, and in a pitchy darkness which was illuminated every moment or +two by vivid flashes of lightning. The driver had grumbled and sworn in +a mixture of Polish and German, and the vehicle had dragged on at a +snail's pace, because its one horse scarcely sufficed to pull it +through the mud that came up to the hubs of the wheels. + +Egon had shivered in his wraps, which did not avail to protect him from +the drenching rain, and then--what happened then? He remembered a jolt, +a cry, and nothing more. But yet--yes, there were flitting, vague +visions still haunting his memory. Had not he been faintly conscious of +a light flashing in his eyes? And he had seen a crowd of dark, dim +forms about him, not all quite strange to him. Surely, while he had +been powerless to move a limb, he had felt rather than seen the +compassionate gaze of two dark blue eyes in an angelic countenance. Was +it a dream? Ah! during the last four years that face had often haunted +his dreams,--the face of the fairy of Castle Osternau. It was her face, +and yet not the same,--even more lovely than ever. Yes, this too was a +dream, this touch of her soft, cool hand upon his forehead, and it so +absorbed him that he could not rouse himself to a sense of reality; he +went on dreaming, and a voice which he had surely heard at Castle +Osternau said, at last, "We have been longing for you, doctor." + +And another voice, which Egon did not know, replied, "I am very sorry, +Herr von Wangen, but I could not possibly be here before. I trust I am +not too late." + +"I hope not, indeed." Egon recognized this voice perfectly: it was Herr +von Wangen's. "The poor man's condition is unaltered. His kind nurse +has just informed me that during her watch all night beside him he has +never awaked to consciousness, although his breathing has been quite +regular. The door on your left, doctor; he is in the blue room." + +Egon opened his eyes again as the door of the room was opened and the +speakers entered. One of them was Herr von Wangen. Egon recognized him +immediately, in spite of the increase of manliness which the past four +years had imparted to him. The other was an elderly man, an entire +stranger. + +This was no dream; here was Herr von Wangen in the flesh. Egon roused +himself. He was on a bed, with a wound in his forehead, in a perfectly +strange room; but how he came there, or what had happened, he could not +divine. + +"Aha! our patient is entirely conscious, a very cheering sign," said +the doctor, approaching the bed. "No fever! Why, he'll soon be all +right. You have distressed yourself very unnecessarily, Herr von +Wangen." + +He proceeded to examine the wound in the young man's forehead, which +he pronounced of no consequence. "The shock of the fall had stunned +him,--had produced unconsciousness. You have had a very lucky escape." + +"What happened to me?" + +"Herr von Wangen will tell you all about it. You really do not need my +aid; you're a little weak from loss of blood, and I dare say you still +have some headache. Be careful for a few days to take no amount of +exercise, and you'll be all right. I must bid you good-by immediately +and return to Ostrowko, where they really need me." + +"May Herr Pigglewitch get up?" asked Herr von Wangen. + +"If he feels like it; he can do as he pleases. Good-by, Herr---- +Pigglewitch, I believe?" and a faint smile hovered about the doctor's +lips. + +"No, my name is Von Ernau," Egon rejoined, simply. + +"What the deuce! Herr von Ernau, the long-expected proprietor of +Plagnitz?" the doctor exclaimed, evidently much pleased. "Ah, this will +delight my old friend Sieveking; and Herr Storting, too, has been very +anxious for your arrival. I am doubly glad that you have escaped so +well from the Dombrowker Pass. I'll come to-morrow to see how you are +getting along, but I cannot stay another minute now,--I have two +patients desperately ill at Ostrowko. Good-morning to you, Herr von +Ernau, and to you too, Wangen. Don't trouble yourself, I know my way +perfectly." + +And the vivacious little man had bowed himself out of the room before +Wangen had recovered from his surprise. The name Ernau solved a riddle +that had often puzzled him. Egon von Ernau, the wealthy young fellow +who had been selected for Bertha's husband, had then passed some weeks +at Castle Osternau under the name of Herr Candidate Pigglewitch. At +last he comprehended why young Ernau had, as he had been told by Werner +von Massenburg, laid claim to Bertha's hand immediately upon his return +to Berlin, although, as Werner had further declared, his pretensions +met with a decided rebuff from himself, since Bertha's heart was no +longer her own. Ah, yes! Herr von Ernau had known Bertha at Castle +Osternau, and--how could it be otherwise?--had fallen desperately in +love with her. When he returned to Berlin and heard that Bertha +belonged to another, when his suit was so resolutely rejected by Werner +von Massenburg, as Werner himself had represented, he had left Berlin +again in utter despair, and had wandered to and fro on the earth +seeking a cure for his wretchedness. Wangen's kindly heart was filled +with compassion for the unfortunate man whose hopes in life he himself +had thus dashed; but at the same time he could not do away with a +certain disagreeable sensation. He remembered having been frequently +tormented by jealousy at Castle Osternau, when Bertha bestowed too +large a share of her attention upon the Candidate, or had listened in +rapt admiration to his singing. + +All these thoughts passed like lightning through Wangen's mind while +recovering from his astonishment. "Are you then Herr Egon von Ernau?" +he said, at last. + +"Yes, Herr von Wangen, you find an old acquaintance under this name. I +will explain the metamorphosis to you; but first gratify my burning +curiosity, and be kind enough to tell me how I came here and what has +happened to me. The past night is a blank in my memory." + +Egon's questions restored Wangen's equanimity; he seated himself by the +bed, and told his guest the whole story of his inspector's arrival with +the wounded stranger, and of the accident that had occurred, finally +depicting his wife's and his own anxiety, now happily dispelled by +Egon's return to life. + +He found an eager listener; when he alluded to his wife Egon remembered +the vision of the past night. Now he knew whose was the gentle hand +that had lain so cool and soft upon his forehead. How strange that he +should, in his vague semi-consciousness, have taken Bertha for +Lieschen! But it had sometimes happened during the past years that the +two had been confounded in his dreams, although Bertha's image had +gradually faded from his memory, while Lieschen's lovely face still +frequently haunted him. He felt something akin to disappointment on +learning that Bertha had been his kind attendant, but he banished the +feeling as rank ingratitude; he thanked Wangen warmly for his kindness +and hospitality, adding a short explanation of the manner in which he +had come to play the part of Candidate Pigglewitch at Castle Osternau. + +"I was a spoiled child of luxury," he said. "I had exhausted all the +sources of fashionable amusement, and was weary of the existence which +I was leading in Berlin, wherefore I left the capital suddenly, and +meeting accidentally with the Candidate Pigglewitch, who told me the +pitiful story of his life, I conceived the wild idea of finding out by +personal experience what the existence of such a man really was. I +carried out my insane scheme by buying of the fellow his name, his +papers, and his dress, and going as the Candidate to Castle Osternau. +You know, Herr von Wangen, all the embarrassments into which this +foolish freak led me, and you know that I disappeared, as the +Candidate, about the time that Egon von Ernau reappeared in Berlin. I +had made up my mind to abandon the idle, aimless life which I had +hitherto led, and which had always disgusted me. At Castle Osternau I +learned the true value of life, the need of action in the line of some +duty for all worthy the name of men, and I became much interested in +agriculture. There is no necessity to weary you with an account of the +means which I took to perfect myself in a knowledge of the management +of a landed estate. I travelled much, and availed myself of every +opportunity for improvement in this respect. Finally I have returned to +Plagnitz, where I intend establishing myself for the future. This is, +in brief, my story, Herr von Wangen. I pray you to tell it to madame +your wife, who may, I hope, be induced to pardon the deception +practised by the pretended Candidate. And now, with your permission, I +will rise and dress,--I see my portmanteau has been brought to my +room,--and I shall then have the honour to present myself to Frau von +Wangen to thank her for her kindness and hospitality." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + MISCHIEF FOR IDLE HANDS. + + +Bertha Von Wangen was seated at breakfast on the balcony. She had risen +quite early to enjoy the dewy freshness of the morning which had +followed the storm of the night before, and Elise and Clara were her +companions. The lady of the mansion was not fond of solitude, and, +moreover, she was desirous of knowing how her guest had passed the +night. For this purpose she had sent her maid to question Fraeulein +Lieschen in the blue room an hour previously, but Elise was no longer +there,--she had resigned her post to a maid so soon as her patient's +quiet, regular breathing showed that he was sleeping naturally. Thus, +while Elise now poured out the coffee, she replied to Bertha's +inquiries as to how the night had been passed; Wangen, meanwhile, +pacing the garden-walk below, within hearing, with his cigar. He +disappeared, however, when the physician from Ostrowko was announced, +and Elise eagerly awaited his return, although from fear of Bertha's +spiteful observations she suppressed all show of anxiety in her face or +manner. + +Nor was Bertha herself so easy and careless as she would fain have +appeared while waiting for the verdict of the doctor. As, years before, +she had striven at Castle Osternau to manifest none of the interest +excited in her mind and heart by the tutor, so now she feigned +indifference with regard to his state, and spoke of the obligation of +receiving a man of Pigglewitch's condition beneath her roof as a +burdensome duty, hoped the "poor creature would soon be able to pursue +his journey," and twitted Elise with the eager philanthropy which had +led her to transgress the bounds of strict propriety. But here Clara, +with her ready championship, interfered, and, embracing her dearest +Elise, rather stormily declared that everything that she did was "good, +and kind, and perfect." + +In fact, the mistress of Hugo von Wangen's heart and home had by no +means forgotten the Candidate of former days, or the interest with +which he had inspired her. Her life, so different from any which she +had imagined and hoped for in her girlish dreams, bored her from +morning until night. No children had appeared to bless her loveless +marriage, and, perhaps, to open their mother's heart to nobler +aspirations and a higher ideal of duty. She was entirely unable, from +the intrinsic shallowness of her nature, to appreciate her husband's +nobler qualities or his intense chivalric devotion to herself. She was +idle and weary, and her empty mind and heart were ready to welcome any +unworthy passion that could bring them amusement and occupation. The +image of the enigmatical tutor of Castle Osternau arose before her +invested with a thousand attractions, and she actually felt envious of +Elise who had been able to watch beside him. Yes, the girl was always +in her way. + +The doctor stayed but a few minutes in the blue room. Bertha distinctly +heard his footsteps descending the stairs, and his only, so her husband +must have remained with the Candidate. Why had the physician left so +soon? Had he come too late then? She was possessed by a feverish +anxiety, she longed to run out into the corridor and question him; but +no, Elise must not suspect her of eagerness to hear his verdict. She +was doomed always to be forced to feign before Elise. + +At last, after some minutes, which seemed to her hours, Wangen entered +the room; one look at his face was enough to show that he brought no +bad news, and she sank back negligently in the arm-chair from which she +had half sprung up to meet him. + +Hugo advanced with a beaming smile; his first glance was for his wife, +but she was evidently so uninterested in what he had to say that he +turned to Elise, whose eager eyes showed the depth of her anxiety. He +nodded kindly to her: + +"Good news, Fraeulein Lieschen: your patient is all right. He awoke +perfectly conscious, and the doctor says his wound is nothing to +signify. He has had a wonderful escape, and is now dressing, in hopes +of presenting himself to the ladies in half an hour, with a bandage +about his head, to be sure, but scarcely enough of an invalid to make +himself interesting on that score." + +Elise flushed crimson, and her eyes were suffused for a moment; she +said nothing, but her joy and relief were so evident that Clara loudly +expressed her sympathy: + +"Now all is well once more, darling Elise, and you will not cry, as you +were doing this morning when Bertha sent for you." + +"No, no need for tears," Wangen said, gaily; but he grew grave as he +turned to his wife with, "I bring you a special message, Bertha, from +our guest. He asks permission to present himself to you, to thank you +for the hospitality which he has received beneath our roof. He +requested me to announce his visit to you." + +"I really do not consider a visit from Herr Pigglewitch of such +importance as to need a special announcement," Bertha made reply. "The +man has evidently not lost the good opinion which he formerly +entertained of himself." + +"But in this instance there is some reason why you should be prepared +for a visit which else might have surprised you not quite agreeably. +Herr Pigglewitch wishes to present himself to you without the mask +which he wore at Castle Osternau, as his true self and our future +neighbour, Herr Egon von Ernau." + +"It is he then? Ah, I knew it, I knew it!" Elise exclaimed, +involuntarily. + +The effect produced upon Bertha by the name of Ernau was magical. She +lost entirely her hardly-won self-control, and, starting up, gazed +alternately at her husband and at Elise with eyes aflame. + +"You knew it? You were his confidante, and leagued with him against +me?" she cried, her voice trembling with anger. + +"No, Bertha; how can you even imagine such a thing?" Elise calmly +replied. "He never uttered a word to me in confidence; but once, when +we were alone, and I had distinctly expressed my low estimation of Herr +von Ernau, he reproved me for my harsh judgment, and as he went on to +explain how Herr von Ernau might have suffered from evil influences, he +spoke so from his heart that I suspected he was defending himself, and +not another. Then, when he left us and Herr von Ernau suddenly +reappeared in Berlin, I suspected still more strongly who my teacher +had been. I never revealed this by a word, not even to my father and +mother; I had no right to betray his secret so long as he guarded it +himself, but for me it was a secret no longer." + +"You knew yesterday evening then that we had Herr von Ernau beneath our +roof? Ah, now I understand your eagerness to tend and nurse the wounded +man." + +"Dear Bertha, how unkind, how unjust you are!" her husband said, +reproachfully. + +"Of course you think me unjust, and Elise the model of all sweetness +and compassion. She could have had no interested motives. The poor +Candidate and the wealthy Egon von Ernau were alike to her." + +"I have given you no reason, Bertha, to speak thus insultingly. Let me +go to my room until you are able to compose yourself and think better +and more justly of me." + +"Oh, you will not be allowed to stay there long; you will speedily be +summoned to receive the acknowledgments of your grateful patient. Clara +can be his Mercury." + +"Clara will come with me, and I shall stay in my room so long as Herr +von Ernau remains at Linau. Since I make it a special request, I am +sure that you, Herr von Wangen, will not mention my presence beneath +your roof. I pray you promise me this." + +"But, Fraeulein Lieschen----" + +"I can take no refusal to give me this promise. It is the only way in +which you can atone for Bertha's unworthy suspicions. Come, Clara, you +will surely obey me?" + +"Indeed I will--go with you and stay with you, my dearest Elise!" the +girl exclaimed, impetuously. "I see how Bertha hates you, but I will +love you all the more." She took Elise's hand and drew her gently +towards the door, casting an indignant glance at her sister-in-law as +she passed her. + +Wangen had been moving restlessly about the room while his wife and +Elise had been speaking. Every word of Bertha's cut him to the heart. +He could not but sympathize in Clara's honest indignation, and the +vague consciousness that he was taking part against the wife whom he so +adored made him miserable. "I did not think you could be so unkind," he +said, sadly, when he and Bertha were left alone in the room. + +Bertha heard his words, but she did not heed them; her eyes were bent +thoughtfully upon the floor. Suddenly raising them, she said, "Did you +tell Herr von Ernau that Elise is here?" + +"No, I forgot to. I was so amazed to find him perfectly conscious, and +then to hear him declare himself Egon von Ernau, that I never thought +of Elise during our short conversation." + +"You need not excuse yourself, dearest Hugo, you were perfectly right. +Ernau must not know that Elise is here. If he is to fall a victim to +her snares, it must not be beneath our roof. Oh, I suspected her air of +unconscious innocence long ago! How craftily she has plotted to compass +her ends! I never dreamed that it was for the wealthy Egon von Ernau +that she was casting her nets four years ago. I thought her enamoured +of the poor Candidate. Her exclamation just now opened my eyes. Now I +understand why, knowing that Plagnitz was so near us, she instantly +consented, greatly to my surprise, to come to us as Clara's governess. +Oh, I have been blind! but now that I see it all, her schemes shall be +foiled!" + +Wangen had listened in growing distress to his wife's voluble +accusations of Elise. For the first time since his marriage the glow +upon Bertha's cheek, the angry light in her fine eyes inspired him with +anything save admiration, although he was too good-humoured to be +seriously provoked with her. "I cannot comprehend you, my dearest," he +said, sadly. "How can you give rein to such unkind fancies?" + +"They are not fancies," Bertha insisted, with vehemence. "Your good +nature blinds you, but you must be made to perceive the truth. Elise +shall not attain her ends, however. I owe it to poor Herr von Ernau to +save him from this Circe. You and I wronged him deeply years ago. We +will atone for it now in coming to his rescue." + +"I do not understand you, Bertha. What wrong did you and I ever do to +Herr von Ernau?" + +"Have you then quite forgotten the past? Was I not all but betrothed to +him, and did I not forget him so soon as I learned to know you? +Scarcely had I heard of his death when I lent an ear to your vows, and +when afterwards he would have claimed his rights I repulsed him with +aversion. He loved me. Now, since I know that he knew me at Castle +Osternau, I can understand why he left Berlin in despair after learning +of my betrothal to you. You have heard the sad story from my father. Do +you not see how we have embittered the unfortunate man's life? I could +not help it. I loved you, but I am conscious of the wrong I did him. Do +you not feel this with me, my dearest love?" + +She clasped her hands about his arm and looked up at him, her eyes +swimming with tenderness, and Wangen thought he had never seen her so +surpassingly lovely. What was there that he could refuse her? What +proposal of hers could he gainsay? + +"Do you not see that it is our duty to be doubly kind to him to atone +for the wrong our love has done him?" she asked, still gazing into his +eyes. + +"Why--yes, of course, my darling; but what can we do?" + +"Receive him as a dear friend, be to him the best of neighbours, and, +above all, prevent his falling a prey to the arts of a thorough +coquette. Who knows but that in time he may take a fancy to Clara?" + +Wangen laughed outright. "What an idea!" he said. "Ah, trust a woman +for match-making! That child!" + +"That child is now a wonderfully lovely girl, and will in a couple of +years be well worth the wooing." + +"Nonsense! nonsense, my darling!" + +"Promise me at least not to let Herr von Ernau know that Elise is +here." + +"The fact cannot be concealed." + +"Trust me to see that it is. Only say that you will not tell him of +it." + +He promised, although he could not persuade himself that Fraeulein +Lieschen was what his wife represented her. How could it be that he had +been so mistaken in her? Still, his respect for his wife's superiority +of mind, his entire confidence in her keenness of insight, so far +beyond his own, forbade his seeming to doubt what she asserted so +positively. And then when she looked into his face with those pleading +eyes he was as wax in her hands. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + PAST AND PRESENT. + + +Egon rose to dress after Wangen had left him, but he found that he had +overrated his strength. He grew giddy, a dull headache confused his +thoughts, and he lay down again for a while to collect them before +making another attempt to rise. By degrees the pain subsided, and he +was able to reflect calmly upon what had occurred, and upon the future. + +He was to see Bertha again, and, to his own surprise, the thought of a +fresh meeting with the woman with whom he had once dreamed of passing +his life had no power to agitate him, or to quicken his pulses. It was +simply a necessity, and, since the vicinity of Plagnitz to Linau made +future intercourse unavoidable, the sooner it was over the better. + +His second attempt to complete his toilet was much more successful than +the first, although, as he finally looked at himself in the mirror +before leaving his room, he was startled at the pale face and weary +eyes which he saw there. He was conscious for the first time that he +had grown very much older in the last four years. Was there not a white +hair in the curl that escaped from beneath the narrow strip of linen +bound about his brow? + +"Madame will hardly find her old admirer dangerous," he said to +himself, with a smiling nod at his reflection. "You never were +handsome, old fellow, at the best of times, but to-day you are a +positive fright. Perhaps 'tis best so. The consciousness of the figure +that I cut may be of use in putting an end to any foolish fancies that +might be born from a very gracious reception of me. Let the past be +buried in the grave of poor Pigglewitch, we do not need it for the +better life of the future." Thus reflecting, he left his room to take +his way to the balcony, where, Wangen had told him, he should find the +mistress of the mansion. + +As he closed his door behind him he heard another door open at the end +of the corridor, along which there instantly came tripping a graceful +little girl of scarcely fifteen. + +Involuntarily Egon's slow steps were stayed. There was something about +the child that reminded him of Lieschen as he had first seen her. For +an instant the present vanished, and he was standing, in the form of +'the new tutor,' at his window at Castle Osternau. Merry laughter +floated upward from the lawn, and two children came flying out of the +shrubbery. Lieschen's image as he had then seen it arose vividly before +his mind's eye in all its innocent charm; but another moment brought +him back to reality, and he knew that he was in a strange house, and +that courtesy required that he should show himself aware of the +presence of the new-comer. He bowed as ceremoniously as he would have +done to a woman grown, and surveyed the pretty girl with great +interest. Indeed, there was something of Lieschen in the arch sparkle +of her eyes and in the girlish grace of her movements. + +Clara paused also as she became aware of the stranger's presence, and +returned his bow with a charming little courtesy. Then, suddenly +approaching him, she said, "Are you Herr von Ernau, of whom I have +heard so much? Oh, I thought you would look so different!" + +"Indeed? And in what does the reality differ from the picture you +condescended to frame of my insignificance?" + +"I can't exactly say, but you are very---- Of course that bandage +disfigures you, and you will look better when you have recovered from +losing so much blood. Do you feel better? Are you strong enough to go +alone, or shall I support you? Oh, you think I am too little to be of +any use; but indeed you are mistaken, I am very strong. Lean on me. +Indeed you do need help, you look so terribly pale and tired." + +"I thank you for your kind offer of help, but----" + +"Oh, you refuse it, of course; but I shall walk behind you, and if you +totter I shall hold you up. Now I think of it, you do not know who I +am. I must introduce myself. I am Clara von Wangen, Hugo von Wangen's +sister, and I know you are on your way to pay my sister-in-law a visit. +Is it not so?" + +"You are right, Fraeulein Clara." + +"Do not call me Fraeulein, it sounds as if you were laughing at me. Only +the servants say Fraeulein Clara, every one else calls me Clara only. I +will show you the way to the balcony, where my sister-in-law is +anxiously expecting you. She was very much surprised when she heard +that you were Herr von Ernau, and I don't wonder at it, for a cousin +who used to live with us while poor papa was alive told me such an +interesting tale about how you were once betrothed to Bertha, and how +you were thought dead, when she was betrothed to my brother. I hope it +is not pert and forward to talk so to you, Herr von Ernau?" + +"Not at all, I like it very much." + +"Well, then, I'll go on, and tell you that you'd better be careful with +Bertha. I don't think she has a good heart, and just when she seems +kindest she is sometimes really most unkind. You'd better take care, +Herr von Ernau. But I really must not talk to you any longer, or she +will wonder what has become of you. Good-by!" + +She turned as they reached the door of the balcony-room, and, tripping +up-stairs, vanished from Egon's sight. He stood for an instant, +pondering upon her childish warning, and then entered the room, where +Bertha advanced instantly from the balcony to meet him. + +How exquisitely beautiful she was! much more beautiful even than the +picture of her which he had preserved in his memory. Her figure had not +lost one whit in grace, while it had gained in fulness and finish. Her +dark eyes sparkled and she smiled bewitchingly as she held out both +hands to him, with "Welcome! a thousand times welcome, Herr von Ernau! +Ah, what an anxious night you have given us!" + +'You'd better be careful with Bertha.' The words occurred to Egon as he +kissed the fair hand extended to him and felt its lingering pressure. +The ordeal through which he was passing could hardly have been imagined +by the child who had just left him, and yet her words helped him to +suppress all evidence of emotion, although his heart did undeniably +beat faster and louder. + +"Your kind welcome, madame, gives me courage to hope that you forgive +me for once deceiving you with a name and personality not my own, +and----" + +"I will not hear one more word that bears reference to the past, Herr +von Ernau. It lies far behind us, and I have made a vow to forget it +and to think only of the present and the future. Promise me to follow +my example." + +"It shall be as you please, madame." + +"And I please to forget everything that is not delightful. We are near +neighbours, I hope we shall frequently see each other, and I promise +never to ask you a single question about your masquerading time. You +must dismiss it from your thoughts." + +"That will not be so easy. I should like to explain----" + +"But I always detested explanations. What interests me at present is +that you should take a comfortable chair and rest yourself: you are +weak from loss of blood. You are trembling: take my arm." + +In truth Egon was giddy for a moment, and involuntarily availed himself +of the hand she extended to him. Wangen came forward to assist his +wife, and conducted Egon to a luxurious chair on the balcony, where +Bertha flitted about him, placing the cushions comfortably beneath his +head, silently lavishing upon him a hundred little kindnesses, which +scarcely contributed to dispel a certain embarrassment which began to +possess him. Wangen was unwontedly silent; in truth his thoughts, like +those of his wife and his guest, were busy with the past. Although +hardly of a jealous temperament, his sense of his wife's intellectual +superiority was always present to prompt him to self-depreciation, and +he had remembered more than once during the morning the many brilliant +qualities which he had long since heard attributed to Egon von +Ernau,--the same man who, marvellously enough, had played the part of +the Candidate at Castle Osternau. As he marked his wife's eager +attention to their guest it occurred to him to wonder--it was but a +passing thought--whether Bertha had not once been more interested in +the tutor than she would have cared to admit. He felt ashamed of +himself on the instant that such an idea should have found entrance in +his mind, and yet he could not quite forget it. + +His wife's influence, however, was so great over his moods that she +soon conquered his taciturnity, and Egon was both interested and +charmed by the lively talk that occupied the next hour. Bertha passed +in review for her guest's entertainment and information all the +principal persons in the neighborhood. True, her wit was sometimes far +from kindly, but her tact was great, and she was quick to mark and to +obliterate any adverse impression with regard to herself which she +might produce. He therefore resigned himself to the spell of the +moment, and had quite forgotten the unfortunate cause of his presence +in Linau, when Inspector Kaempf made his appearance to announce to +Wangen that the conveyance was about to start for Station R---- with +the body of the unfortunate driver. + +This recalled Egon to a sense of reality, the spell of the moment was +broken; he begged the inspector to inform himself as to the poor man's +family, for whose future he should care, and then, turning to Wangen, +asked that he would kindly allow him the use of a vehicle in which to +drive immediately to Plagnitz. + +"Impossible! Indeed you cannot, you must not leave us, Herr von Ernau," +Bertha exclaimed, in answer to his request. "You must stay in Linau +until your wound is healed. We cannot let you go until you are +perfectly strong." + +Wangen added his entreaties to his wife's, although not with the same +urgency, but Egon was firm. He declared that it was a matter of +necessity that he should be in Plagnitz before evening, that he was +quite strong enough to undertake the short journey thither, and that, +with many thanks for the kind hospitality extended to him at Linau, he +was resolved not to trespass upon it further. Neither Wangen nor Bertha +could turn him from his purpose, and the former therefore yielded to +his request, and directed Inspector Kaempf to have a light wagon made +ready for Herr von Ernau's use. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + AT HOME. + + +The old administrator, Sieveking, at Plagnitz, had at last actually +taken to his bed, and the whole responsibility of the management of the +estate devolved upon Storting. He was quite equal to it, but just at +present he was rather anxious; a few days previously a magnificent +grand piano, with several large cases of books, had arrived from +Berlin, addressed to Herr Egon von Ernau, Plagnitz, and it was evident +that the proprietor of the estate was shortly to arrive and establish +himself in his home. + +There were many matters not yet ordered as Storting could have wished. +Herr Sieveking belonged to the old school of agriculture; he was an old +man, and had been ailing for some time; abuses had crept into his +management which Storting had not been able to reform in the short time +that had elapsed since his installation as inspector. + +Thus the honest fellow was anticipating the arrival of the unknown +proprietor with a degree of trepidation of which he was quite +conscious, when, upon returning at noon from some distant fields, he +became aware of a light carriage rolling along the road that led to the +manor-house. + +The gentleman leaning back in it must, of course, be Herr von Ernau; +but no, it was not he. Storting's keen gaze recognized an old +acquaintance, in spite of the distance and of the bandage beneath his +hat. The pale face in the rapidly-approaching wagon was that of the +Candidate Pigglewitch! + +The inspector overtook the vehicle as it was turning into the +court-yard. "Welcome, Herr Pigglewitch!" he cried, jumping on the step +of the light conveyance, and extending his hand to its occupant. "How +odd! Yesterday I met Wangen, and to-day you arrive at Plagnitz. This is +an unexpected pleasure; you are cordially welcome." + +Egon grasped the hand extended to him. "Your hearty greeting shows me +that you at least bear me no grudge, Storting," he said, with some +emotion. "I trust you will think none the worse of me when I tell you +that I have no claim to the name by which you knew me. I am called Egon +von Ernau." + +Storting's surprise was so unfeigned, and his stare one of such blank +amazement, that Egon burst into a laugh. "Why, what's the matter, +Storting? Were you so attached to the Candidate with the charming name +that his sudden disappearance fills you with dismay? I assure you that +Egon von Ernau is excessively like him, except that just at present he +is rather shaky from a fall over the Dombrowker Pass, and will thank +you to lend him an arm, that he may enter his home with becoming +dignity." + +The carriage stopped before the principal entrance. Storting opened the +door, silently offered his arm to Egon, and conducted him up the steps +and into a luxuriously-furnished room. + +In truth the lord of Plagnitz had, in his impatience to be really at +home, rather overrated his strength. He begged to be left to himself +for a while, and throwing himself upon a lounge, fell almost +immediately into the profound sleep of exhaustion, from which he did +not awake until after several hours. The housekeeper answered his bell, +and upon his declaring himself positively famished hurried away to see +that dinner was instantly served for the master so anxiously expected. +To this Egon did ample justice, and when Storting again made his +appearance, just as dessert was placed upon the table, he was eagerly +welcomed. Egon told him of the accident of the previous evening, which +made it unwise for him to attempt as yet any inspection of his fields +and meadows. He regretted this all the more as he was anxious to show +Herr Storting that he was now really capable of appreciating his +valuable services. "And we should have grown very confidential, +Storting, tramping around together. You know, I owe you an explanation +of the sudden transformation of your old acquaintance Pigglewitch into +Egon von Ernau, and this you shall have, even if I am tied to the house +for a day or two. Sit down, take a glass of wine, make yourself +comfortable, and we will each unfold the tale of the years that have +passed since we last saw each other." + +Storting readily complied, and eagerly awaited the solution of the +riddle that had frequently occupied him during the past four years. He +had, of course, suspected that there was a story attached to the tutor +who rode so wonderfully, played billiards with such skill, was so +admirable a musician, spoke French, English, and Italian fluently, and +was rich enough, although he had as yet received no salary from Herr +von Osternau, to remit, after his departure from the castle, the amount +of a debt which he had contracted, but it had never entered the +inspector's head that the Herr von Ernau, who had been so often and so +severely criticised at Osternau, and the Candidate tutor were one and +the same. + +Egon leaned back in his arm-chair, and after a few moments' pause began +his story, and, just as he had done long ago to the wretched Candidate +on the shore of the little lake, told of his unhappy childhood and +youth, and of his weariness of life. From this he went on to his sudden +resolve to purchase the name and papers of the unfortunate Candidate. +He condemned in sharp terms his useless, misspent existence before +going to Castle Osternau, and spoke with reverential admiration of Herr +von Osternau and his family, gratefully acknowledging the influence +which the life at the castle had exercised upon his entire manner of +thought. He told of his determination to turn his energies to some +account, and of his pursuit of the study of agriculture during the past +four years. He frankly confessed his faults and failings, and +extenuated none of his follies. Upon one point alone he was silent: to +no human being could he accord a glimpse of the inner sanctuary of his +heart. + +"And here you have me," he said, at the end of his story, "with a +broken head, to be sure, but perfectly sound in limb, having escaped +the death which befell my ill-fated driver, and all ready to begin my +life as a country gentleman, in which I rely, Storting, upon your +advice and assistance. I have been thus frank with you, because it +seemed to me an absolute necessity that you, who once befriended +me so unselfishly, should know me as I am. In fact, I should now +like, if possible, to obliterate your memory of that aimless, idle, +good-for-nothing fellow who came as tutor to Castle Osternau. He had +but one good quality: he was not vain, and when he got among really +capable, intelligent people he recognized his own worthlessness. He did +not deserve such friends, but the ambition to be worthy of them arose +within him, giving a new interest to existence. Yes, I learned from +you, Storting, and especially from that admirable old Herr von +Osternau, how there could be no weariness in a life of constant +occupation directed towards worthy aims. I had to begin at the +beginning; I attempted no royal road to the knowledge which was to +shape my future career. I obtained a subordinate position on an estate +in Saxony, and worked my way up. Now I am ready to reap the benefit of +these years of hard work,--work that has been a positive blessing to +me. And now, enough of myself and my doings, tell me of yourself, and +of those among whom I was so happy for a while that I could scarcely +carry out my plan of not returning to them. Tell me of Herr von +Osternau, Storting, and why you resigned your position with him." + +Storting looked in amazement at Egon as he thus calmly asked for news +of the Osternau family. "Is it possible, Herr von Ernau," said he, +"that you know nothing, positively nothing, of what happened at Castle +Osternau scarcely three months after you left it?" + +"Such is the case," Egon replied. "When I resolved to begin a new life +I rigorously broke with all old associations, and although I could not +drive Castle Osternau from my memory, I strictly refrained from +informing myself with regard to its inmates. But my finding Wangen and +his wife yesterday and seeing you to-day have called up old +associations so vividly that I beg you to tell me minutely of every one +of the Osternau circle,--of Herr and Frau von Osternau, of Fraeulein +Lieschen, of my pupil Fritz, even of Lieutenant Albrecht, if you will. +I am eager for it all." + +Storting gazed sadly at his companion. "Your eagerness to hear, Herr +von Ernau, makes it even harder to tell you of the terrible misfortunes +that have befallen Castle Osternau and its inmates." + +"You amaze and distress me. Is Herr von Osternau not living then?" + +"He has been at rest in the graveyard at Osternau for almost four +years. I have a sad story to tell you, Herr von Ernau. It all happened +in the night of the 18th of November. I had been to Breslau on that day +to draw the money to be paid for the Wernewitz and Rudersdorf farms, +which Herr von Osternau had bought. I was tired out with travelling in +the cold November weather, and of course slept more soundly than usual. +In the middle of the night I was wakened by a bright light shining into +my face, and I sprang out of bed to find the flames leaping up to my +window from the story below. You remember my room was directly above +that of Herr and Frau von Osternau. I threw on my clothes and opened my +door; the passages were filled with stifling smoke. The fire must have +broken out in Herr von Osternau's study adjoining his bedroom, and the +lives of himself and his wife were in danger. The staircase was already +in flames. My only course was to climb from one of my windows down into +the court-yard, which I accomplished successfully, shouting the while +at the top of my voice to arouse the servants and labourers from the +various farm-buildings. Two grooms, who had rooms in one of the barns, +were the first to appear, when suddenly Lieutenant Albrecht stood +beside me; whence he had come I could not tell, but he must have been +aware of the fire for some time, for he was entirely dressed. The +instant I looked at him a terrible suspicion occurred to me. 'Good +heavens! what a misfortune!' he said. His face was ghastly pale, and +his eyes avoided mine. I made no reply, the urgency was too pressing. +Every minute the flames were gaining ground. They had caught the +curtains of the open window of my room, and as yet Herr and Frau +von Osternau gave no sign of being awakened by them. Had the fire +reached their room, or were they already smothered? I rushed to the +side-entrance, forgetting that it was always locked at night from +within. I found it, however, unfastened, and as I flung it wide open a +huge tongue of flame burst from the open door of the study. There was +no reaching Herr von Osternau's bedroom by this way, neither could +either of its occupants have penetrated through the smoke and flames of +the study to gain safety. The only possible way to reach them was from +the garden, upon which their bedroom windows opened. Meanwhile all the +farm-people were thronging the court-yard; the fire-engine had been +dragged from its shed, but there was no one to take the lead there, for +Lieutenant Albrecht seemed paralyzed, and I was intent upon saving my +good old employers. In the garden I found one window of their bedroom +open, and the smoke pouring from it in volumes. I called Herr von +Osternau loudly, but there was no reply. Two stout labourers lifted me +upon their shoulders, and I leaped thence into the room. Near the +window on the floor I found both of those whom I sought, unconscious +from the effect of the stifling smoke. I can hardly tell you how we +contrived with the help of the gardener's ladder, luckily left leaning +against the wall of the house, to lift the unconscious master and +mistress of the house through the window into the open air. We carried +them immediately to the parsonage in the village, and left them in the +care of the pastor and his good wife, while I returned to the burning +castle. Here I found the wildest confusion; the peasantry from the +neighbouring hamlets had flocked to the scene, women were shrieking, +children crying, and through it all the crackling and roaring of the +flames made night terrible indeed. The engine had been found useless, +and when the men turned to the Lieutenant for counsel he had none to +give. He was as one dazed. When I appeared among the terrified people +they rushed to me for orders. What could I do? The fire had made +terrible headway during my brief absence, there could be no hope of +extinguishing it. The wing in which Fraeulein Lieschen and Fritz slept +was the only part which was as yet untouched by the flames, but they +were already stretching hungry tongues towards it. + +"'Where are Fraeulein Lieschen and Herr Fritzchen?' + +"No one answered my question; the men looked at one another in mute +horror. All the servants who lodged in the castle had contrived to +escape from their rooms unhurt. Some had leaped from the windows, and +even old Hildebrandt was in safety, and had gone to the village to do +what he could for his beloved master and mistress. Fraeulein Lieschen +and Fritz were alone missing. 'They are still sleeping, they are lost!' +one of the servants wailed. The Lieutenant did not speak, but watched +with horror the creeping flames that had already reached the roof of +the wing. + +"It was high time indeed to try some means of rescue. To enter the +castle was impossible, but at my command a dozen willing hands brought +two of the long ladders from the engine-house, and just as they were +placed against the wall of the house, beneath Fraeulein Lieschen's +window, the young girl herself, with Fritz by her side, opened it and +stood for an instant looking out upon the dreadful scene. The shout +that went up from the crowd at sight of her I never shall forget. Two +stout men had mounted the ladders in an instant; the young girl opened +wide the window, lifted her little brother in her strong young arms, +and delivered him to one of her rescuers, then easily climbing on the +window-sill she stepped out upon the topmost round of the other ladder, +and descended to the ground as lightly as she had been used to do when +as a child she had climbed about the barns and granaries. + +"All were saved then, but the dear old castle was gone beyond hope of +rescue. In the early morning, when I left it again to go to the +parsonage, it was a heap of smoking ruins, and but for the direction of +the wind, which blew the flames towards the garden, the barns and +storehouses would have shared its fate. + +"At the parsonage sorrowful tidings awaited me. Frau von Osternau had +indeed quickly recovered consciousness; she was now sitting with +Lieschen at the bedside of her husband, who was in a most critical +condition. The physician gave no hopes of his recovery. He was +perfectly conscious, but an inflammation of the lungs had set in, +which, in the precarious state of his usual health, could not but be +fatal. + +"When I entered the darkened room Fraeulein Lieschen arose, and coming +towards me spoke two or three kind words in acknowledgment of what she +called my devotion; she was quite calm and collected, but her eyes were +brimming with tears, and she was evidently controlling herself by an +effort marvellous in one so young. + +"Herr von Osternau was no sooner aware of my presence than he begged to +be left alone with me for a few minutes. His poor wife burst into tears +as she tried to speak to me, and Fraeulein Lieschen gently led her from +the room. + +"I sat down beside the bed where lay the man who had been so true a +friend to me, and pressed the hand which he feebly extended. + +"'It will soon be all over,' he whispered, 'I have but a few hours to +live, but I cannot go without confiding to you, my faithful friend, the +terrible suspicion which makes these few hours miserable for me. To you +alone, Storting, can I tell this: the fire last night was the work of a +robber, who used this means to prevent the discovery of his theft, and +this wretched incendiary is my cousin Albrecht.' + +"I was horrified to have my own vague suspicion of the past night thus +confirmed, and by a dying man. Herr von Osternau signed to me to bend +down over him that he need use no unnecessary exertion, saying,-- + +"'I must have strength enough to deliver over to your special +protection my little Fritz. A man who is a thief and an incendiary +would scarcely hesitate to commit any crime; therefore I do solemnly +commit my boy to your care, asking you to be as faithful a friend to +him as you have always been to me.' + +"I was naturally greatly moved, and willingly gave him the promise he +asked for. Then, after a short pause, he went on in his failing voice +to tell me how he had suspected, some weeks before, that a sum of money +which had been taken from his secretary had been stolen by the +Lieutenant, and that he had the lock replaced by one of most intricate +construction to guard against any further loss. On the previous evening +he had, before going to bed, arranged the notes I had brought him from +Breslau, and had carefully put them into his strong-box and locked it +up in his secretary, placing the keys on a little table beside his bed. +When roused from his first deep sleep by the stifling smoke he had +first called his wife, and then, remembering the money in the next +room, which represented his daughter's portion, he looked for his keys +to possess himself of it. They were gone from the table! In an instant +it was all clear to him: his keys had been stolen! He rushed to the +door which separated his room from the study, it was locked on the +other side. Through the crack of it he could see the flames. He called +to his wife to come and help him, and received no reply. He succeeded +in opening the window, but knew no more until he recovered +consciousness at the pastor's. He went on to say that no one save +myself and Albrecht knew of the sum brought that day from Breslau, no +one else could have taken the keys from his table while he slept. Then, +when the theft was committed, he had locked the door leading into the +next room, and set fire to the scene of his crime, that all chance of +discovery might be destroyed in the flames. His end had been answered, +the secretary was destroyed; how baseless must be any charge of theft +or of incendiarism brought forward now! It would be worse than useless +to stain with such an accusation an ancient and noble name, which he +had taken pride in keeping untainted. The thief must be left to enjoy +the result of his crime, but again he adjured me to watch over his boy. +Then, utterly exhausted, he bade me farewell, and asked for his wife +and daughter. + +"They came again to his bedside, and I left the room and the house, +encountering Lieutenant von Osternau as I did so. 'I hope my cousin is +doing well,' he said, but he did not look me in the face as he spoke. I +longed to strike him to the earth, but I controlled myself. Of course I +shared Herr von Osternau's conviction, but all proof in the matter was +wanting. I managed to tell him with tolerable composure that Herr von +Osternau was so ill that there were fears for his life. I fancied I saw +a gleam of triumph in his eye that belied his hypocritical words of +regret, as he declared that under such sad circumstances he would not +disturb his cousin's wife and daughter. As superintendent, it was his +duty instantly to communicate with the insurance companies,--he must +start immediately for Breslau. + +"Convinced as I was of his guilt, I then committed an act of +unwarrantable rashness. As he talked on so smoothly of going to Breslau +in his cousin's interests, I made up my mind that it was to deposit his +booty in a place of security that he was departing so soon, and the +wild idea seized me that Fraeulein Lieschen's portion might be recovered +by a bold stroke. He most probably--nay, certainly--had it about him. I +lost my head, and seeing two of my farm-hands who I knew were devoted +to me coming down the street, I shouted to them, 'Seize Lieutenant von +Osternau! he is the incendiary!' It was all wrong. I had no right to +resort to such means, but, as I tell you, Herr von Ernau, I lost my +head. The two men hesitated but for an instant, and then, with an 'Ah! +we thought so!' fell upon the Lieutenant. He defended himself against +them, and struck out wildly both at them and at me when I approached +him, but of course he was quickly overpowered and bound. The noise of +the struggle brought various labourers and villagers from their houses. +No one took part with the Lieutenant, who had evidently aroused their +suspicions by his strange conduct during the fire. For fear of +disturbing Herr von Osternau, we did not carry the fellow into the +parsonage, but into a cottage near at hand, where I searched him +thoroughly, but found no trace of the money. If he had taken it, he had +already made it secure elsewhere. I saw how rash I had been, what a +terrible error I had committed, and I stood before him overwhelmed with +shame. I ordered the men, who had stood by curiously while the search +was going on, to release him, declaring myself in the wrong and my +suspicions unfounded. They obeyed me with reluctance, and left me with +the Lieutenant, who up to this moment had not uttered a single word, +either during the search or while he was being unbound. When we were at +last alone he confronted me with folded arms and an evil look. + +"'You are only the servile tool of my cousin, or of his wife, who +always hated me, and in whose brain was conceived the infamous +suspicion of which I have been the victim.' + +"I would have interrupted him to tell him that he was mistaken, but he +exclaimed, 'Hush! I will listen to no excuse from you. If you were my +equal in rank I should require from you the satisfaction of a +gentleman; as it is, you cannot insult me. Tell Frau von Osternau that +every tie of kindred is broken between us forever.' + +"'Frau von Osternau knows nothing----' I began. + +"'Spare me all falsehood,' he interrupted me. 'I do not believe you. I +know that Frau von Osternau and Lieschen are my mortal enemies, and I +shall not forget that they are so.' + +"He turned on his heel and went out of the house, leaving me in a state +of mortification and depression quite indescribable. I gathered myself +together, however, and went again to the parsonage, feeling it my duty +to confess what I had done to Herr von Osternau. This, however, I could +not do: Herr von Osternau had died a few minutes after our interview +had ended. + +"I cannot describe to you, Herr von Ernau, the utter wretchedness of +his poor wife. She had loved her husband with her whole heart; in her +eyes he was the wisest and best of men, and at first she could find no +consolation even in her children. + +"Indeed, she was an object of compassion in every respect, for after +Herr von Osternau's death his affairs were found to be in by no means +so prosperous a condition as had been supposed. In former years he had +devoted all his surplus income to the improvement of his estate, and +when he began to save, in order to leave his wife and daughter +independent, his own generous, kindly nature, which led him to pay +Lieutenant Albrecht's debts repeatedly, and into other similar acts, +was a bar to the fulfilment of his purpose. Only very lately had he +succeeded in accumulating the sixty thousand thalers which was to +purchase Wernewitz and Rudersdorf for Fraeulein Lieschen, and this +money--the only independent fortune which he had to bequeath--was +either destroyed in the fire, or the prey of a scoundrel. There was no +solution of this last question, for nothing came to light to confirm +the suspicion which Herr von Osternau had confided to me. + +"The Lieutenant had gone to Berlin immediately after being treated in +the disgraceful way of which I told you, and did not return to +Osternau, for, as he explained in a letter to Frau von Osternau, not +even his cousin's death could obliterate from his mind the insult +offered him, which must henceforth estrange him from his kindred. He +lived in Berlin, as he had done formerly,--not more expensively, but on +a scale of such luxury as to make a certain income indispensable. I was +quite sure that I knew its source, but my conviction was useless in the +matter. Popular opinion in the country round regarded the Lieutenant as +the incendiary, but no proof of his guilt was forthcoming. Since, +however, it was the common talk of the country, the courts took the +matter up, and there was an investigation of the cause of the fire. It +was without result, however; the only suspicious circumstance with +regard to it being the state in which the fire-engine was found, after +having been thoroughly examined and pronounced in good order a few days +previously by the Lieutenant at Herr von Osternau's request. + +"I thought it my duty to acquaint Herr von Sastrow, Fritzchen's +guardian, with what the boy's father had confided to me, but I could +not gainsay the good old man when he advised me to dismiss from my mind +such apparently groundless suspicions. + +"Frau von Osternau, after her husband's death, could not bring herself +to leave the place which she so dearly loved. Herr von Sastrow tried to +persuade her to remove to Berlin, where it would be much easier to +educate Fritzchen; but she preferred to remain, for a while at least, +in a modest little cottage which she rented in the village of Osternau. +The allowance made her from the estate for the education of its heir +sufficed amply for her wants. Herr von Sastrow confided the management +of Osternau to me, and this rendered it possible for me to fulfil the +promise made to his father to keep watch over Fritzchen. + +"Three sad months passed after Herr von Osternau's death, and then the +widow was called upon to sustain another terrible blow, in the loss of +her prop and stay, her darling Fritz." + +Egon had listened hitherto without a word to Storting's sad tale; he +had been profoundly moved by the account of the burning of the castle, +and of the death of its master, but at Storting's last words he started +forward, exclaiming, "Fritzchen dead! What a terrible trial! Was his +father's dying foreboding----" + +"No, no, Herr von Ernau," Storting interrupted him. "Whatever crimes +Lieutenant von Osternau may have committed, he is guiltless of Fritz's +death: the boy died of scarlet fever. Fraeulein Lieschen tended him +night and day with a devotion which I have never seen equalled. She +would not leave his bedside for an hour, although the physician tried +to induce her to resign the care of him to some one else, since she had +never had the fever herself. She was his only nurse, for her mother was +ill in another room,--too ill even to see her darling, who breathed his +last in his sister's arms. + +"After Fritz's death the Lieutenant was the heir of Osternau; his +cousin's wife and daughter could lay no claim to anything save the late +proprietor's private property, and this had been destroyed on the night +of the fire. + +"A week after the boy's death the new master came to Osternau. He had +told the pastor of his coming, and had asked him to rent a couple of +rooms for him in some farm-house, which he could occupy until the +rebuilding of the castle was complete. + +"Immediately after his arrival he sent for me. I could not but obey his +summons, for he was the lord of Osternau, and I was obliged to hand in +to him my accounts for the management of the estate since Herr von +Osternau's death. + +"I went to him with a heavy heart, fully expecting that he would make +use of the power now in his hands to revenge himself for the insult I +had once offered him, and as fully resolved to requite scorn with +scorn. + +"He was sitting in a bare little room, the best the pastor could +procure for him, at a table covered with papers. As I entered he rose +and came towards me. He was greatly changed. The last few months had +made him many years older. His eyes had an uncertain, flickering +brilliancy; his face was haggard and very pale. The erect military +carriage that had formerly characterized him was gone: he had grown +old. + +"He offered me his hand, and addressed me in a tone of hypocritical +friendliness that disgusted me, as after one fleeting glance of keen +scrutiny his eyes fell before mine. + +"'We were hardly friends when we parted, Storting,' he said. 'You +offended me, and I used harsh words towards you. We were both in a +state of unnatural agitation, induced by the events of the night and my +cousin's danger. You meant to act for the best, as the friend and +servant of my dear departed relative. When I was cooler I perceived +this, and therefore, I assure you, I bear you not the faintest grudge. +Here is my hand. I trust you will take it in the spirit in which it is +offered.' + +"I could not refuse to take his hand, although my whole nature rose in +revolt against any fellowship with the man. I had to sit down and take +a cigar, while he talked to me as one would to some dear old friend, +without a trace of the arrogance which had formerly made him so +disliked by me. He asked, with every appearance of sympathy, after Frau +von Osternau and Fraeulein Lieschen. I had to inform him of the +particulars of Fritz's death, and of Fraeulein Lieschen's devotion; he +showed the keenest interest in the welfare of his relatives, and +postponed all business details, remarking that the management of the +estate could not be in better hands than mine, and that he would +discuss business with me when his relations with Frau von Osternau and +Lieschen should be arranged. That they might become so, he begged me to +assist him. + +"'I assure you, Storting,' he said, 'that I am profoundly distressed by +the terrible trials that have fallen to the lot of my dear relatives. +For Frau von Osternau I entertain a greater regard than words can +express, and Lieschen, whom I have known from her early childhood, has +always been my ideal of feminine loveliness. My cousin Fritz formerly +frequently expressed the wish that a nearer tie might some time exist +between his daughter and myself,--the dear child was in a measure +brought up for me. This thought has often solaced me in hours of +depression. I always regarded her as my future wife, even in the midst +of our trifling disputes. Unfortunately, by my own fault, the relations +between my relatives and myself have not of late years been so +harmonious as they once were, and I fear that Lieschen may not think +favourably of her father's former promises, the fulfilment of which +forms the chief--I may say, the only--hope of my existence. My heart +would lead me to declare this myself to Frau von Osternau and her +daughter, but my head tells me to entreat your mediation, Storting; no +rash word uttered by Lieschen in the excitement of the moment must be +allowed to place a barrier between us. I ask of you a favour, Storting, +which will make me your debtor for life: tell Frau von Osternau what I +have just told you. She is a woman of practical sense and discernment, +she will not be led astray by the mood of the moment, but will perceive +that a union between Lieschen and myself is the most natural and +harmonious solution of the present unhappy state of affairs, for which +the law of entail is to blame. As my wife, Lieschen will be mistress of +the Osternau estate. Surely Frau von Osternau will use her influence +with her daughter to induce her to encourage my hopes.', + +"My blood ran cold at the idea of Fraeulein Lieschen's becoming this +man's wife, but I could not refuse to carry his proposal to Frau von +Osternau. What had the future in store for them save a life of poverty +and care? By the terms of the Osternau entail, the widow of a former +proprietor was entitled to but three hundred thalers yearly from the +revenues of the estate; the daughters were entirely unprovided for. +Under these circumstances was not a marriage with the Lieutenant to all +appearances Fraeulein von Osternau's only resource? Was there not a +degree of generosity in the offer just made? I could not but make it +known to the mother and daughter. + +"It was a hard task. When I presented myself in their lodgings, I found +them already informed of the Lieutenant's arrival. I reported to them +the conversation I had just had with him, and strove, to the best of my +ability, to do so in an entirely impartial manner. I must have +succeeded in this, for my words evidently produced an impression upon +Frau von Osternau. + +"'We have done Cousin Albrecht injustice,' she said, gently. 'He may be +thoughtless and imprudent, but he cannot be bad, or he would not so +soon forget the insult lately offered him in Osternau. His offer is +magnanimous at least. You never treated him well, Lieschen, you often +offended him, and yet he loves you, and would make you mistress of +Osternau.' + +"Fraulein Lieschen gazed at her mother with an expression of positive +horror. 'You cannot think for an instant that I could accept his +terrible proposal?' she asked, and her voice trembled. + +"'Do not judge your cousin so harshly, my child,' said Frau von +Osternau. 'He hopes, as you have heard, that you will not decide +hastily; he knows your impetuous temperament, and dreads your saying to +him in a personal interview words which could neither be forgiven nor +forgotten. What you have just said proves him right. Therefore he has +asked our good Herr Storting to be his messenger, conscious also that +you are my dear, unselfish child, and that you may be brought to +overcome your momentary impulse of aversion to this marriage when you +consider that your 'no' would drive us both away from our dear +Osternau,--from the graves of your father and Fritz,--out into the +world, to struggle with poverty and want, while your 'yes' would make +you mistress of Osternau, and allow me to live here, where I have been +so happy, and where, in the midst of memorials of the past, I never can +be quite unhappy. I feel sure that, after due reflection, you will +decide for the best, and, therefore, I beg you not to decide at once.' + +"Fraeulein Lieschen wept bitterly while her mother was speaking, but +when she paused, and, taking her daughter's hand, drew her towards her, +the young girl embraced her tenderly, and, controlling herself, said, +calmly and firmly, 'It would be wicked to postpone my decision for an +hour. I will sacrifice everything for you, mother dear, except my +soul's salvation, and that would be imperilled by false vows. How can I +promise to revere and love a man whom I despise? I cannot sell myself +to him, mother, even for your sake. To require this of me would be to +doom your only child to death.' + +"'Lieschen!' cried her mother, 'do not blaspheme.' + +"'No,' she rejoined, 'I do not blaspheme. I should not lay hands upon +my own life, mother, but the sense of my degradation would kill me. But +you will not compel me to such a fate? you will not be faithless to the +memory of my father, who never would have permitted it? I will gladly +share poverty with you, gladly work for you, dearest mother, but marry +that thief----" + +"'Hush, Lieschen, hush!' her mother interrupted her. + +"'It was my father's word, whispered in my ear in his last moments," +the girl went on. "'Watch over Fritz,' he said; 'protect him from the +thief and incendiary.' Go back to Herr von Osternau, Herr Storting, and +tell him what you have heard; tell him the mere thought of him inspires +me with aversion, and that I would rather die in misery than sell +myself to him. You have carried his message faithfully, do the same by +mine.' + +"You know, Herr von Ernau, that I was never at any time able to resist +Fraeulein Lieschen's requests, and I did not fail her in this the +darkest hour of her life. I promised to report her decision to the +Lieutenant. She thanked me with a look, and Frau von Osternau said, +with a sigh, 'I must submit. Lieschen has inherited her father's +strength of will in matters of conscience. The foolish child is +destroying her future; it is sad, but I cannot prevent it. I must yield +to her resolve. Since it must be so, it is, perhaps, better not to +postpone acquainting Albrecht with her decision.' + +"I left them with a far lighter heart than I brought to them. The +commission with which I was charged could hardly be considered an +agreeable one, especially as Fraeulein Lieschen begged me to repeat to +the Lieutenant everything that she had said concerning him; but the +sense of relief in knowing that she was in no wise to belong to that +villain outweighed every other consideration in my mind. + +"The Lieutenant had probably foreseen the answer he should receive. He +calmly listened while I repeated, as far as I could recall it, all that +Frau von Osternau and her daughter had said, only omitting to mention +that Fraeulein Lieschen had called him thief and incendiary. An evil +smile played about his lips, but he only glanced at my face from time +to time, seeming unwilling to meet my eye. + +"'I meant well,' he declared, when I had finished, and then he went on +to explain his regret that his relatives should be so limited as to +means, that he would gladly have shared his wealth with them, and that, +in view of Lieschen's youth and inexperience, he should continue to +hope that with time she might be brought to regard his suit favourably. +Meanwhile, he offered Frau von Osternau and her daughter a home in the +castle so soon as it should be rebuilt. If they refused to avail +themselves of this offer, he should, of course, confine himself to the +payment to the widow of the yearly sum allowed her by law. It would +weary you, Herr von Ernau, to recount to you all the details of our +conversation. I thanked God when it was ended. + +"Of course Frau von Osternau refused to live beneath his roof, +dependent upon his bounty. There was no need of Fraeulein Lieschen's +indignant rejection of any such idea to influence her mother's +decision. The two went to Berlin, where it was easier than in any +country town to find some employment wherewith to eke out their scanty +income. They left the village of Osternau two weeks after the +Lieutenant's arrival, without having seen him, and on the day of their +departure I too bade farewell to the place where I had spent such happy +years. + +"Herr von Osternau offered me a large salary if I would continue to +occupy my position as superintendent of the estate, but I could not +bring myself to serve the man who could never be to me anything save a +thief and an incendiary. I procured another situation not nearly so +profitable in a pecuniary point of view. + +"I corresponded at first very frequently with Frau von Osternau, and +although of late our letters have been fewer, I have never lost sight +of her. She has had a weary, anxious time of it. Too proud to ask help +from her wealthy relatives, she had no resources save her paltry yearly +pittance of three hundred thalers and the untiring industry of Fraeulein +Lieschen, who furnished embroidery for one of the large Berlin firms. +Frau von Osternau wrote with positive enthusiasm of her daughter, who, +in spite of her constant labour at her embroidery, found time to study +and to complete her defective education, so that last spring she passed +a brilliant examination as governess. My last letter was received from +Frau von Osternau between three and four months ago, when this +examination was just passed; and while the mother spoke of it with +pardonable pride, she mourned over the probability of a coming +separation from her daughter, who was about to accept a situation as +governess, thereby greatly increasing her mother's means of support. Of +Cousin Albrecht she had heard only through Herr von Sastrow. He lived +for a short time the life of a hermit in his gorgeous new-built castle, +avoided by all families of his own rank in the neighbourhood; for the +report that he had set fire to the castle was rife in the country +around, and he was virtually sent to Coventry. He therefore spent most +of the year in Berlin, where he associated with needy members of the +aristocracy and doubtful characters whose good will he could purchase +with his money. The doors of the first people in society were closed +against him. His large income he wasted in all sorts of extravagant +dissipation, and it was reported in Berlin that he had contracted +enormous debts. + +"For herself Frau von Osternau wrote that, if her daughter accepted a +situation as governess away from Berlin, she too should leave the city +and go to some Silesian village, where her small income would suffice +for her modest wants." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + A CONSPIRACY. + + +What a story was this! To Egon, Storting's narrative seemed like some +wild romance. Herr von Osternau and Fritzchen, the bright, intelligent +little fellow, dead, Frau von Osternau the victim of a scoundrel's +crime, and Lieschen forced to work hard to stave off destitution! He +could hardly trust his ears, and it needed the sight of Storting's sad, +earnest face, as he spoke, to confirm his words. + +Egon's mind was filled with the eager desire to aid those to whom +during the past few years his heart had so often turned,--those who, as +he was now painfully aware, had formed part of every vision of his +future life. He had resisted all impulse to revisit Castle Osternau; +only when his new existence was fairly and honestly begun at Plagnitz +could he hope to find there the pardon for which he thirsted for the +deceit practised upon its inmates. And now this could never be, and the +thought that he was possessed of superfluous wealth, while those dear +to him were working for their daily bread, was positively intolerable. +He sprang up, but the instant and intense pain in his head reminded him +that the physician had forbidden all exertion for some days, and that +he could not hasten as he longed to Lieschen's side, to shield her from +all further distress. He sank back wearily in his arm-chair. + +"Confound that miserable accident!" he said, angrily. "It keeps me a +prisoner here when every moment is precious. Frau von Osternau must not +live a day longer in such unsuitable circumstances. Storting, you must +do me a favour to-morrow,--no, to-day. By the night-train you must go +to Berlin. I cannot go myself, as you see, and perhaps it is better +that you, Frau von Osternau's old friend, should act for me. I will +give you an order on our bank. You must draw any sum necessary to +provide handsomely for Frau von Osternau, and to prevent Fraeulein +Lieschen from taking the place of a hired servant. I will not allow it; +it shall not be. Make haste, Storting! I will write to our cashier and +get the order ready for you while you are preparing to set off. You +must be in Berlin to-morrow." + +Storting smiled, but shook his head. + +"Your kind and generous intention does you honour, Herr von Ernau," he +said, cordially, "but I fear it will be of no avail. My journey to +Berlin, where, according to her last letter, I should no longer find +Frau von Osternau, would be of no use even were the lady still there. +She would thank you for your generosity, but would refuse to accept +your money, as she has already refused the offers of help made her by +Herr von Sastrow and others of her relatives. 'As long as I can work, +we are not objects of charity,' I myself heard Fraeulein Lieschen say, +while her head was held as haughtily and her eyes sparkled as brightly +as in the dear old times. She will work to the last, but she never will +suffer her mother to receive aid from outsiders." + +What had Egon been thinking of to propose to offer money to Frau von +Osternau? Storting's words convinced him that Lieschen would indeed +refuse such a gift. It was well that his wound had prevented his +immediate departure for Berlin. How mortified he should have been to +have his thoughtless gift rejected with fitting pride! And yet he could +not endure the thought of Lieschen--in his heart he almost said his +Lieschen--forced to labour for her daily bread, to resign her freedom +and place herself at the beck and call of strangers. Oh, it was +intolerable! What could he do? A happy idea suddenly suggested itself. + +"Did you not once tell me, Storting," he asked, "that old Herr von +Osternau had lost large sums of money through his careless generosity? +was there not some story of a manufacturer in Breslau whose factory +burned down, and to whom Herr von Osternau loaned a very considerable +amount of money without sufficient security, and lost it all by the +man's absconding?" + +"Yes, that did really happen. The swindler was a paper-manufacturer by +the name of Simon; he ran off to America ten years ago, and Herr von +Osternau lost every penny of the twenty thousand thalers he loaned +him." + +"Now, perhaps the poor fellow was no swindler at all. Probably only +extreme need drove him to America, and so soon as he is aware of the +circumstances in which Frau von Osternau and her daughter are placed he +feels it his duty to restore, both principal and interest, the loan so +generously made him. As he does not know Frau von Osternau's present +place of abode, he naturally makes application to Herr Storting, whom +he knew formerly as the admirable Osternau inspector, and to him he +sends the owing money, commissioning him to hand it over to the heirs +of the late Herr von Osternau. Of course Herr Simon will require from +these heirs a receipt for the sum handed them, and a quittance of all +further claims. You must not be surprised, Storting, to receive a +communication from Herr Simon this very evening, with an order upon the +firm of A. C. Ernau & Co., in Berlin, for the sum in question; and of +course I shall give you leave of absence for some time that you may +arrange the matter satisfactorily. I am sure you will not refuse to +undertake the affair, Storting." + +"What can I say, Herr von Ernau," cried the delighted Storting, "except +that I am honoured in being the instrument of such generosity?" + +"After all, there is really not much honour, my dear fellow, in being +made accomplice in a forgery. But we must contrive to answer all that +to our consciences. Go now and get ready to start. In an hour you shall +receive Herr Simon's letter. You will be obliged to suppress the +envelope, which may not bear the correct stamp." + +"No need even of that, for I received a letter from New Orleans +yesterday, and its envelope will serve your purpose admirably. It +followed me to Plagnitz from my former place of abode, and will explain +my desire to leave here as soon as possible: of course I am in a hurry +to hand over her property to Frau von Osternau." + +"Bravo! and now to business." + +Two hours later Storting was on his way to the nearest railway-station, +with a letter from Carl Johann Simon, New Orleans, Louisiana, U. S. A., +and an order upon the banking-house of A. C. Ernau & Co., Berlin, in +his pocket. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + A MISCHIEVOUS COQUETTE. + + +The morning after Storting's departure, Egon received a visit from the +vivacious little Ostrowko doctor, who declared that he could not be +responsible for the consequences if his patient persisted in neglecting +his instructions. "I distinctly told you, my dear Herr von Ernau, that +rest was all that you required, that rest you must have, and what has +been your course? Instead of remaining where you certainly were very +well off, and with a charming _chatelaine_ to attend to your every +wish, you jolt off over here, along an infernal road, a few hours +after I leave you, and, I make no doubt, purpose to inspect your estate +to-day. Not at all, not at all, my dear Herr von Ernau. You have had a +shock to your system. Great as was your escape, 'tis no joke falling +from the Dombrowker Pass, and you must be quiet. You've a fine library +here, and a magnificent grand piano: sit still, read some trashy +romance, and play Offenbach for the next week, and leave your estate in +the hands of your admirable inspector,--Storting is his name? What! he +has gone to Berlin for a time? Well, the younger fellow--I forget his +name--is quite competent, with old Sieveking to direct. I am going to +see that, now we have got you here at Plagnitz, we keep you from any +ill effects of your accident, or you'll be saying that the climate does +not agree with you, and you'll be running off to Berlin. Aha! I know +you young fellows. I was young myself not a hundred years ago." + +And he rattled on, until he had indeed fully convinced his patient that +rest was an admirable remedy for many ailments. + +Egon was doomed, then, to a time of inaction, and this just when he was +most eager to enter upon the supervision of his affairs. Still, there +might be much to interest him in these first days at home, and he +resigned himself with the best grace that he could to refrain from +riding, driving, or any long walks for a while, according to the +doctor's orders. + +The degree of order and method which prevailed everywhere at Plagnitz +delighted him, and no less was he pleased, when he sauntered through +the fields in the immediate vicinity of the manor-house, with the +kindly courtesy of those of his people whom he met, and who greeted the +master without a trace of that slavish servility so frequently +to be found in the Polish-German provinces, and so odious to Egon. +Day-labourers and grooms took off their hats to him, but did not, half +kneeling, offer to kiss his hand, as is the invariable custom +elsewhere; nor were they at all embarrassed in the intelligent replies +which they made to his inquiries concerning their various occupations. +To the master's great satisfaction, he perceived that there pervaded +Plagnitz an air of freshness and freedom beyond what was enjoyed upon +most other large estates of the province; the people were treated like +human beings, not like slaves, and, in consequence, manifested an +interest and vivacity almost unknown to the ordinary imbruted Polish +labourer. Here old Sieveking's influence had been admirable, and all +that Egon had thought lacking upon his previous visit to Plagnitz had +been largely supplied by Storting's diligence and experience. + +A young man presented himself as the bailiff, Hensel, and modestly +asked permission to show Herr von Ernau through the farm-buildings and +to give him any desired information concerning them. When Egon accepted +his offer, he showed himself so intelligent and well informed in all +matters pertaining to his special province, that the master of Plagnitz +was even more than ever impressed with the faithful care taken of his +estate during his absence by old Sieveking, who, although he could not +entirely fulfil the requirements of a disciple of the modern school of +agriculture, had yet prepared an excellent foundation for the new +methods which Egon hoped to introduce with Storting's assistance. + +Even the slight inspection which he thus made, on the first day of his +residence in his home, was condemned by the little doctor on his next +visit. He declared that for a week at least nothing in the way of +out-of-door exercise must be attempted. "As much fresh air as you +please, my dear Herr von Ernau, but taken by an open window, or seated +on your terrace, whence the prospect should surely content you for a +while." + +This enforced repose was particularly irritating to Egon just at the +present time. The delicious weather lured him into the open air; he was +feverishly desirous of beginning the work for which he had been +preparing for four long years, and to sit quietly gazing abroad over +his fields and meadows, at the groups of labourers, among whom he +longed to be, was almost intolerable. + +If Storting had only been at home he could have conversed with him. But +he was entirely alone; old Sieveking was too ill and feeble to be +disturbed, and young Hensel, although excellent in his way, was +entirely unavailable for purposes of conversation that did not bear +upon his vocation. + +His only consolation during these wearisome days was the fine grand +piano which he had had sent to Plagnitz from Berlin. During his years +of study he had rather neglected his music, and he now found in it all +the delight it had formerly given him. His feverish restlessness was +soothed by giving it musical expression; as of old, he was able to +forget himself in the world of harmony. + +He was seated thus at his instrument, on the fourth afternoon after his +arrival at Plagnitz; the last chords of a wild rhapsody had just died +away, and his fingers were wandering over the keys in a dreamy +fantasia, half memory, half hope. Lost in his fancies, he did not hear +a footman announce an arrival, or the sound of footsteps in the room +behind him. He suddenly seemed aware of a soft sigh near him; he turned +hastily and gazed into a pair of dark eyes. At first he saw Bertha +only; but she was not alone, behind her stood Wangen and Clara. + +"If the mountain will not come to us, we must come to the mountain," +Wangen said, with a laugh, holding out his hand. "You must not think us +too eager to thrust ourselves upon you, Herr von Ernau, in coming thus +soon to see how the patient is faring, since the doctor tells us that +he may receive visits, although he can pay none." + +Involuntarily Egon passed his hand across his eyes, as if to banish the +vision of the moment. Yes, this was reality. Here was no Bertha von +Massenburg, but Frau von Wangen, with her husband, and the charming +child with whom he had exchanged a few words at Linau; and he was the +lord of Plagnitz, whose duty it was to welcome his guests and pray +pardon for having at first been unaware of their entrance. + +Hugo von Wangen laughed in his good-humoured way. "We stood behind you +listening for a minute," he said. "I do not think anything short of an +earthquake would have aroused you when we first came in, you were so +absorbed. We ought to ask pardon for disturbing you. My wife would not +let me come alone, as I thought of doing. She was too anxious, she +said, to see how the patient was getting on." + +What was there for Egon to do but to express his gratitude to madame, +and to kiss the fair hand extended to him, while declaring his pleasure +in welcoming beneath his roof both Frau and Fraeulein von Wangen? + +These formalities concluded, the visitors took seats, and a very lively +talk ensued. Bertha was positively charming; she dwelt just long enough +upon her anxiety lest the drive from Linau should have proved too much +for Herr von Ernau, and was so easy and cordial that she banished all +feeling of restraint from the conversation, which soon turned to Herr +von Wangen's favourite theme, agriculture. All the party regretted +Egon's inability to act as their guide in an inspection of so famous an +estate as Plagnitz, which Wangen had never before visited. In especial +was he desirous to see a certain wonderful breed of sheep. Of course, +Egon proposed that his bailiff, Herr Hensel, should act as his guest's +cicerone in default of his own companionship, and Wangen eagerly +accepted the proposal, after consulting his wife by a glance. + +Herr Hensel was summoned, and was much honoured by the office intrusted +to him. He asked whether the ladies also might not perhaps be +interested in the sheepstalls, which were constructed upon an entirely +new plan. Frau von Wangen declined to accompany her husband, but Clara +gladly arose to go with her brother and Herr Hensel: she took all a +country girl's interest in sheep and cows. + +Wangen seemed a little disconcerted by this arrangement; he was in his +heart reluctant to leave his wife alone to the fascinations of her old +admirer. He could not possibly let this be known, however,--Bertha +would have laughed at his foolish jealousy. Nevertheless, he felt far +from comfortable when Bertha added her approval of Clara's intention, +saying, "Do go, my dear Clara, and take note of all the improvements, +which we may be able to introduce at Linau." He could not, without +making himself ridiculous, insist upon Clara's staying behind; she was +already hanging upon his arm, and he quietly followed Herr Hensel. + +For the first time in his life Egon was alone with Bertha. Even at +Castle Osternau they had never met except in the presence of some +member of the family, and there was a vague sense in his mind of wrong +done to his ideal by this _tete-a-tete_, although he had done nothing +to bring it about; it was purely accidental. In fact, the young man's +mind had been, during the past four days, so continually filled with +thoughts of Lieschen, he had so constantly recalled her every look and +word of former years, the restlessness that possessed him had been so +largely caused by his anxiety to hear from Storting, and had been so +much more keenly felt since he was forbidden to allay it by physical +exertion or hard mental effort, that he was not as open as it was his +wont to be to the impression of the moment; it cost him some pains to +prevent his imagination from driving present realities from his mind. +Therefore, for some time after they were thus left alone, the +conversation was of a quite indifferent character; and yet how +exquisitely lovely she was as she sat opposite him, with a gentle smile +hovering upon her charming mouth! How sweet and tender was her voice +as, at last, after a pause, she leaned towards him, her eyes seeking +and holding his, and asked, softly, "Herr von Ernau, are you still +angry with me?" + +Honestly, Egon did not understand why she should ever have thought him +angry, and honestly he rejoined, "Why should I be angry with you, +madame?" + +She blushed slightly as she said, sadly, "Ah, yes, I see you are still +angry. You persist in dwelling upon the past, although I begged you to +forget it. Yet can we forget? I cannot practise what I would enjoin +upon you. The consciousness of the wrong I did you has robbed me of +rest since I last saw you. I long to hear you say that you forgive me. +I came to-day with Herr von Wangen, hoping for this opportunity, which +accident has given me, to entreat you not to add to all that is hard +and cruel in my lot by withholding your forgiveness for the past. +Believe me, I have suffered in listening to the dictates of prudence, +rather than to the voice of my heart." + +She would have gone on, quite charmed with her own eloquence, +absolutely fancying herself thrown away upon her idolizing husband, +playing a part which had presented itself as most attractive to the +shallow imaginings of her idle hours, but that something in Egon's face +arrested the words upon her lips; she paused and waited for his reply. + +In truth, while she had been speaking, Egon's thoughts had been hardly +such as it would have pleased her to divine. Yes, she was incomparably +lovely; he saw it all,--the dark, pleading glance, the wonderful grace +of every movement; but how, he was asking himself, had he ever thought +it possible to find his other self in this woman? How well he had known +her kind in days gone by! Fate had been only too good to her in +bringing her the devotion of so honest and single-hearted a man as Hugo +von Wangen. He had surrounded her life with luxury and affection, and +she had neither the heart to return his love, nor the mind to +appreciate it. How false, how shallow she was! And his memory conjured +up another face and another voice. 'There is nothing which I so detest +as false words and false seeming.' His mind wandered from the present +for an instant; but Bertha was silent, he must answer her, and, little +fitted as he felt himself to play the part of a moralist, the thought +of Wangen, so cordial in his kindness to his new neighbour, lent an +additional coolness to his words: + +"I assure you, madame, that I never imagined that I had the smallest +right to feel myself in any way aggrieved by your conduct. All who know +Hugo von Wangen can well understand how happy a woman she must be upon +whom he bestows the treasure of his devotion. Let me repeat your kind +advice to me when first I met you at Linau: Forget the past; we have to +do with the present and the future." + +The expression of Bertha's face as he spoke was not pleasant to see; +the pathetic lines about her mouth vanished, her eyes lost their +gentle, pleading look. The change was so sudden that it rather +disconcerted Egon, who was immensely relieved by hearing footsteps in +the corridor and by the rather hurried entrance of Clara, eager to tell +her sister-in-law of all she had lost in not joining Hugo and herself. +The girl was followed immediately by her brother, whose first glance, +always for his wife, took note of her embarrassment, and then sought +Egon's face, where also, he thought, he discerned signs of confusion. +All his jealous suspicions, vague as they were, and therefore all the +more tormenting, sprang to life. He tried his best to follow the lead +of his host and talk with interest of the Plagnitz cattle and the +various improvements in stalls and stables. It was of no use; +conversation would no longer run in easy grooves, and all were rather +glad than otherwise when the time for the departure of the guests +arrived. + +When their carriage was announced, Egon would have escorted them to it, +but this Wangen would in no wise permit. The doctor had expressly told +him, he said, that Herr von Ernau must avoid all exertion for a while +and keep his room. Bertha added her words to his to prevent their +host's accompanying them down into the hall, and even Clara sagely +observed that if Herr von Ernau were not careful he never would be able +to come to Linau shortly as he had promised. + +Egon went to the window to wave a farewell to his guests, when he +observed the young girl, who had taken her place on the back seat of +the barouche, suddenly spring out of it again. "I have forgotten my +parasol!" she called up to Egon. + +The footman, who had been helping the visitors to get into their +carriage, would have gone back for it, but with a "Never mind, I will +get it myself," she ran into the house and up the stairs. The next +instant she stood, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, beside Egon, +and said hurriedly, in a low voice, "I left it on purpose, because I +wanted to say something to you, Herr von Ernau. The doctor, I know, +told Hugo yesterday that you could not drive to Linau before Monday, +but you must come before. You are perfectly well, promise me to come on +Saturday at the farthest,--to-day is Monday. Oh, you can easily come +before, or on, Saturday, if you drive slowly." + +"Why must I promise you to come 'before, or on, Saturday,' little +Clara?" + +"Oh, because I want you to come so much that I can hardly wait for the +time to pass." + +"Oh, I am not vain enough to believe that." + +The girl laughed merrily. + +"Indeed! Well, there is somebody, at all events, who does want to see +you, I know, and I must not tell you who it is, because I promised not +to. But I did not promise not to beg you to come before Sunday. Oh, you +must, or it will be too late. Adieu, Herr von Ernau! Here is my +parasol; they are waiting for me. Remember, before Sunday!" + +She hurried away, and waved her hand, flourishing her parasol, from the +carriage, as it drove out of the court-yard. + +Egon stood a long while at the window, gazing after the carriage as it +disappeared. What had he just heard? Had Bertha made that innocent +child her messenger, her tool, in the idle flirtation with which she +would fain employ her empty hours? Yes, she was indeed false and +shallow; and good, kindly Wangen deserved a better fate. What had +become of the magical charm which Bertha von Massenburg's beauty had +exercised over the Egon of former days? He thought of her almost with +aversion. Nevertheless, he must return the visit that had been paid +him; kindly relations with Linau must be preserved. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + CLARA TO THE RESCUE. + + +The afternoon was delightful, the setting sun glorious in the crimson +splendour of the west, but the elder members of the party driving home +to Linau through the warm summer air were scarcely in the mood to enjoy +it. Wangen was annoyed at what he declared to himself were groundless +suspicions of his beautiful wife; he tried to atone for them by +redoubled tenderness in his manner when he addressed her, and this very +tenderness irritated Bertha, in her consciousness of failure in her +first attempt to vary the monotony of her existence by what she assured +herself should be but an innocent flirtation,--merely a piece of +feminine vengeance upon the man who had so insulted her vanity in years +gone by. Clara, indeed, rattled away about the various delights of +Plagnitz, winding up her eulogium of its lord, however, with a heavy +sigh. + +"If my darling Elise could but have been with us!" she exclaimed. "And +now she may never see it! Oh, Bertha, how could you be so unkind to +her? I know that it is all because of your bitter speeches that she is +going to leave us on Sunday. Why do you not love her? Why can we not +all be happy together?" + +To this question Bertha deigned no reply, and Hugo said, rather +sadly,-- + +"I too, dearest Bertha, should have been glad to have kept Fraeulein +Elise with us. But perhaps she is right. You two are like fire and +water, and since she has so advantageous an offer, and can be so near +her poor mother, I have nothing to say, only I am greatly mistaken if +you do not wish for her many a time after she has left us." + +"You know, Hugo, I cannot agree with you in your estimate of Elise. She +has always disliked me, and of course I see her from my point of view. +Before she came, everything that I did was right in your eyes; her +presence irritates me, and leads you to criticise and object to what I +do and say; in short, I cannot be sorry that she leaves us on Sunday." + +The sun was just disappearing as Linau was reached. Hugo and Bertha +betook themselves to the balcony, and Clara went in search of her dear +Elise, guessing correctly where she should find her. At the farthest +end of the extensive garden at the back of the old manor-house of +Linau, just where it was separated from the road that divided it from +the meadows beyond by an old-fashioned picket-fence, there stood, +concealed among the luxuriant shrubbery, a shady arbour, which was +reached by a narrow pathway among the tall bushes bounding the garden +on one side. This arbour had formerly been a favourite retreat of old +Herr von Wangen; from it he could see far over his meadows and fields; +here he was wont to sit with his pipe and book through the long summer +hours, overlooking his people at work; and hence it had come to be +called 'the master's arbour.' After his death the shrubs and bushes +about it were allowed to grow more rankly, so as almost entirely to +conceal it, for his son did not like to sit here; he preferred to ride +out over his estate, to visit his labourers; and his young wife would +have thought it excessively tiresome to spend any time on a wooden +bench in this lonely spot, when she might be lounging in a luxurious +chair on her favourite balcony. + +But for Elise this arbour was a delightful retreat,--she liked to teach +Clara here, sure of freedom from all interruption,--and here Clara +found her after the wonderful visit to Plagnitz. She was in the midst +of writing a long letter, and the child's presence might have been more +welcome at another time, but she responded affectionately to her +pupil's enthusiastic caress; not for the world would she have grieved, +by any show of a desire to be alone, the girl whom she had grown to +love dearly. + +Clara's talkative gaiety, however, seemed to have exhausted itself upon +the homeward drive. She sat down beside her governess, and gazed +thoughtfully from the leafy opening of the window in the little arbour +abroad over the fields and meadows in the direction where in the unseen +distance lay Castle Plagnitz. She was silent for a long while, and +then, suddenly turning to Elise, she exclaimed,-- + +"You do not know how dearly I love you!" + +"Oh, yes, I do, dear child; I know your warm little heart very well." + +"But indeed you cannot dream how much I care for you. I did not know it +myself. And how can I bear to have you leave us forever on Sunday?" + +"I must go, Clara." + +"I suppose you must, for Bertha does not love you; she does not know +you. But, oh! Elise, why would you not let me tell Herr von Ernau that +you are here, and that you are going away on Sunday?" + +"Clara!" + +"Yes, Elise; it grieves me to the very heart that you have no +confidence in me. I am not such a child that I do not see and +understand a great deal more than you think I do. You might confide in +me." + +"What could I confide in you, Clara?" + +"You might have told me how much you cared for Herr von Ernau." + +Elise blushed crimson and uttered another indignant "Clara!" but the +girl threw her arms around her, and, undeterred, continued, "Oh, your +blush betrays you! You need tell me nothing; I knew it all before. I +love you so much that I saw it in your dear, beautiful face,--in your +eyes. I knew it when you recognized him as he lay, pale and bleeding, +in the hall. I saw it in your happy look when Hugo told us that his +wound was not dangerous. And then I asked Hugo, and begged him to tell +me when he and you had known Herr von Ernau, and he told me all about +how he had been in disguise at Castle Osternau, and had given you +music-lessons. Oh, I know it all, and a great deal more!" + +"Much more than it is right that you should," Elise said, gravely. + +"No, just enough to let me show you that I am not such a child as you +think me, and that, at all events, I am old enough to have plans and +schemes of my own. I was very glad to go to Plagnitz to-day, and I +enjoyed my visit there very much." + +"Clara, you did not forget----" + +"No, you need not be anxious. I promised you that I would not even +mention your name, and I shall keep my promise, although I cannot see +why you made me give it. But I shall find some way to let Herr von +Ernau know that you are here without breaking my word. My mind is made +up, and I tell you so, because I never mean to deceive you." + +"Clara, promise me, if you love me, to do nothing." + +"Oh, it is just because I love you that I will make you no more +promises. I have learned wisdom." + +From the manor-house came the clear tones of the bell ringing for the +evening meal. + +"There goes the bell!" Clara exclaimed. "We must hurry to be in time. I +am glad we can stay here no longer, for I do not wish to say another +word. My mind is made up, and I feel much pleased with myself." + +With a laugh she left the arbour and tripped along the path towards the +house. Elise slowly followed her; she needed a few moments of solitude +to evoke some order in the wild confusion of thought caused by Clara's +words. She trembled as she reflected upon the possibility of seeing +again him upon whom her mind had dwelt for four long years, and who had +occupied her thoughts ceaselessly during these last days and nights. +How she dreaded meeting him! and yet, in thinking of such a meeting, a +strange, sweet hope stirred within her which she herself refused to +recognize. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + CLARA DEA EX MACHINA. + + +Never during the past four years had Egon been so lonely, never had he +felt so deserted, so miserable and dissatisfied, as during the first +ten days of his residence at Plagnitz. Everything combined to make his +mood of the gloomiest. He was not ill, and yet he was not perfectly +well. The doctor now permitted him to take short walks, but had exacted +from him a promise that he would curb his impatience to take more +exercise until the next week. There was nothing for him to do, after +walking through a field or two, but to return to his room and take up a +book or sit down at the piano. + +Could he only have given entire attention to his book, or have become +absorbed in his music,--but this was impossible. After he had +determinedly read a page or two his rebellious thoughts would wander +back to old times at Castle Osternau, or fly after Storting in his +travels, or try to peer into the future. And it was just the same when +he sat down at his piano: before long his hands would drop listlessly +from the keys, and he would resign himself to profitless and cheerless +musings. + +After the visit of the Wangens he was, if possible, more uncomfortable +than before; he was annoyed to feel any restraint in his intercourse +with Linau. Bertha's presence, too, had made old memories more vivid +than ever. Where, where was Lieschen? He had received only one brief +letter from Storting, in Berlin. Frau von Osternau had left the capital +a couple of weeks previously; the mistress of the house where she had +lodged could not tell him whither she had gone, and Herr von Sastrow +and his wife were unfortunately absent, travelling. Storting could do +nothing save go to Osternau, where he hoped that the pastor might tell +him what he wished to know; if this hope were disappointed, he was +resolved to apply directly to Herr Albrecht von Osternau, who would +certainly know the address to which the quarterly payment of the +widow's legal income was to be sent. + +After this letter, which had been dispatched immediately before +Storting's departure for Osternau, no further news had been received +from him. His silence filled Egon with restless anxiety; he sent a +mounted messenger to the post-office three times every day, but on +Friday evening he had not yet heard that Frau von Osternau had been +found. + +At last, on Saturday morning, Egon's eager expectations were +gratified,--the post-bag contained a letter addressed in Storting's +handwriting. Egon tore it open with a hand trembling with anxiety, and +read,-- + + +"My Dear Herr Von Ernau,--Your admirable plan has been successfully +carried out, as I am most glad to inform you. I did well in going to +Osternau, where I learned from the pastor that Frau von Osternau had +established herself at Hirschberg. I instantly travelled thither, and +found the dear lady in excellent health. She was no less pleased than +amazed to see me, and when I told her the story of Herr Carl Johann +Simon and showed her his letter, she was at first quite speechless with +surprise, and then burst into tears of joy and gratitude. Evidently it +never occurred to her to doubt my account. She blessed her husband's +memory, remembered his lending the money perfectly, and that she had +remonstrated with him for his ready confidence in every one's honesty. +And then she broke forth in exclamations of delight at knowing that she +could now bring her daughter home to live with her, and that Fraeulein +Lieschen need no longer sacrifice herself for her mother's sake. I only +wish that you could have witnessed the joy of which you were the +source. + +"Frau von Osternau is to go with me to Berlin to take possession of her +property and have the receipt for the same duly made out and signed. +This we do to-morrow; the result of our expedition I shall tell you by +word of mouth, but I write to-day to let you know of my success, and of +a fact which you ought to know immediately. Fraeulein Lieschen is at +present your neighbour; you have, without knowing it, passed a night in +the same house with her. Herr von Wangen engaged her as governess for +his young sister. In order, however, to be near her mother, she has +accepted another situation in the vicinity of Hirschberg, and is to +leave Linau next Sunday. Fortunately, there is now no need of her +accepting any situation whatever, as her mother joyfully declared. It +seems rather odd--does it not?--that you should neither have seen +Fraeulein Lieschen nor heard of her presence in Linau when you were +there; but then your accident probably chased everything else from the +minds of your hosts. I thought it my duty to let you know immediately +that Fraeulein Lieschen leaves Linau on Sunday, thinking that you may be +able to drive over and see her on Saturday afternoon, if this reaches +you, as it should do, on the morning of that day." + + +Egon dropped the letter; he could not read further; the last lines +danced before his eyes. Lieschen was in Linau! for only one day longer, +it is true, but this day was his own. What did he care for the +physician's prohibition? He must drive to Linau; every moment of delay +was an opportunity lost. + +Lieschen in Linau! She had been his nurse that night; it was her lovely +face of which he had been aware in his semi-consciousness; her cool, +gentle hand had been laid upon his forehead; she had leaned over him in +anxious hope for his return to life. His dream, had been no dream, +after all. + +And he had supposed that Bertha had cared for him so kindly! He +rejoiced that he owed nothing to her nursing. He could not think of her +save with a sensation akin to dislike. Her charm was utterly gone. Why +had she concealed from him that Lieschen was beneath her roof? No one +had even hinted at her presence there. But yes, Clara! Egon suddenly +comprehended the child's parting words to him, words which he had +understood falsely: 'There's somebody, at all events, who does want +to see you.' She had flown back to say this to him unheard by her +sister-in-law. + +Oh, he understood it all,--the _ennui_ of the woman trained to live in +the whirl of society and stranded in her quiet home, knowing 'so ill to +deal with time' as to turn for excitement to an idle flirtation with +the first man available, and dreading lest another should interfere +with her schemes. But it was not too late to baffle them. + +To Linau then! He went himself to the stables to order the horses put +to a light hunting-wagon. The coachman could not obey his orders +quickly enough. Anton shook his head over his master's impatience, +while to Egon every moment that passed seemed an irreparable loss. + +At last he found himself seated behind his spirited horses; but Anton +did not drive fast enough; his master took the reins from him, and +urged the pair to their quickest speed. To him they seemed to travel at +a snail's pace. On they flew; not until Anton ventured to call his +attention to their condition did he bethink himself that there really +was no need for such urgent haste. The servant's words recalled his +resolve to exercise self-control, to curb the impulse of the moment, +and he gave back the reins to his coachman's hands. + +The way seemed to stretch out infinitely, but at last Linau appeared, +half hidden in trees, on the summit of a gentle incline. A quarter of +an hour would bring them to its court-yard, but Egon was forced to curb +his impatience and to order the coachman to rein in his horses. This he +did in obedience to the flutter of a white kerchief waved by a graceful +horsewoman who came galloping across-country towards him. It was Clara, +who had seen him from a distance and thus signalled him to await her +approach. The high-road was separated from the meadows bounding it on +one side by a tolerably wide and deep ditch, but this was no obstacle +for Clara; her pretty little mare took it at a leap, and in a minute +its rider drew up beside the light wagon. With sparkling eyes she +greeted Egon, saying, with a confidential nod, "You have come at last, +Herr von Ernau! I expected you yesterday and the day before, as poor +old Jost knows to his cost," and she pointed with her riding-whip to +the old groom, who had followed her and was riding about on the other +side of the ditch, looking for a narrow place at which to cross it. + +"You expected me, Fraeulein Clara?" + +"Of course. I considered that you promised me to come before Sunday, +and therefore on the day before yesterday and yesterday I rode about +the fields here at the time when I thought you would appear, looking +out for you. If you had not come now, I was going to send my old Jost +to Plagnitz to remind you to keep your promise this afternoon, and, if +the worst came to the worst, I should have gone and brought you over +myself, for I was determined that come you must to-day." + +"If I am right in my conjecture," Egon said, very gravely, "you wished +me to come to Linau to-day because Fraeulein von Osternau leaves it +to-morrow." + +Clara dropped her bridle and clapped her hands. "Oh, this is +delightful!" she exclaimed. "You know that Elise is here! I have never +told you, and now my silly promise not to tell you binds me no longer." + +"To whom did you make this promise?" + +"Why, to Elise, of course. But you need not look so cast down, Herr von +Ernau. I'm sure she felt sorry that she allowed herself to be so +influenced by Bertha's ill-natured words as to make me promise. I was +determined that you should know that my darling Elise is here, for if +you knew her long ago at Castle Osternau, I am sure you must want to +see her again." + +"Does Fraeulein von Osternau know that you expect me?" + +"Of course not. That would have spoiled it all. I took good care not to +tell her. It is all a little plan of my own. Elise never tells me +anything; she thinks me nothing but a child, but I can see in her eyes +how glad she would be to see Herr von Ernau again. But indeed there is +no time to go on talking. Tell me, honestly and frankly, Herr von +Ernau, do you come to Linau to-day to see Elise?" + +"Honestly and frankly then, my dear little Clara, yes." + +"And for that only?" + +"Yes." + +"And would you like to see her now, just when she is alone and +expecting nobody?" + +"That is just what I desire beyond all else." + +"Then you must not drive on to Linau, but follow me on foot. We will +let your carriage wait, lest it should betray us. Get out, Herr von +Ernau, and I will show your coachman a spot where he can wait for you +without exciting any one's attention. Let him drive along that path +that skirts the fields, and he will find a cool, shady place on the +edge of the forest, where the horses will not tire of standing." + +Egon did as he was bidden; and, while his coachman obeyed the young +girl's directions, his master walked beside Clara's horse as she slowly +rode along the highway towards Linau. Old Jost, who had managed to +cross the ditch, followed at a respectful distance. + +Clara was in the gayest mood, enchanted that her charming plan, which +she had contrived entirely by herself, was on the eve of being so +successfully carried out, without any necessity on her part of breaking +the promise made to Elise. She never asked what happy chance had +informed Egon of Elise's presence at Linau; it was enough for her that +he knew of it, and that she had not been forced to reveal it herself. +There was no longer any secret to keep, and she ran on with a long +description of how Elise had taken such care of Herr von Ernau on the +dreadful night of the accident, and how her eyes had filled with tears +of joy when she heard the next morning that his wound was not +dangerous. Nor did she fail to dwell upon her own insight in making +sure from Elise's face, without hearing one word from her lips, that +nothing would please her more than to renew her acquaintance with Herr +von Ernau. It was so sad, too, that Bertha did not seem to care for +Elise, and that made it easier for her, Clara, to part with her. Did +Herr von Ernau know that Elise had found another situation near her +mother? For her part, Clara wished that Frau von Osternau lived near +Linau, and then, perhaps, if Bertha would only be as sweet and kind as +she was sometimes, Elise might be persuaded to stay with them. Did not +Herr von Ernau think it a real misfortune to lose so charming a person +from the neighbourhood? + +In truth, Egon's mind and heart were in such a turmoil of hope and fear +that he heard but vaguely his young guide's talk. He was absolutely +conscious of but one fact, that along this road, led by this charming +child, he was on his way to see once again the fairy of Castle +Osternau, the girl who had held him captive all these years, whose +influence, established in a few short weeks, had transformed him from +an idle, weary, useless creature to a man who felt that he had a part +to play in the world, and who meant to play it to the best of his +ability. And yet, if she should refuse to stand by his side to aid him +in this new life, how dark the future looked! Could she ever pardon the +falsehood he had practised upon her and those dear to her? Clara was +obliged, to her dismay, to repeat her question before Herr von Ernau +heeded it and looked up with, "The greatest misfortune that could +befall us, my little Clara." + +The warmth of the reply when it came soothed Clara's fears lest Herr +von Ernau did not fully appreciate her services in thus procuring him +an interview with her adored Elise. She went on to tell him that at +this hour on Saturday Elise was sure to be in the 'master's arbour,' +which he might now see, half hidden among the trees on their left. "And +there is a gate in the picket-fence," she added, "always kept locked; +no one goes out of the garden by it now that poor papa is dead. He +always went to the meadows that way, but I knew perfectly well where +the key was kept, and I have had it in my pocket since the day before +yesterday, all ready for just this moment. Here we are, Herr von Ernau, +and here is the key," she said, handing it down to him. "Let it stay in +the lock. I will go off with Jost for a ride, and then, after about +half an hour, when you have talked enough with Elise, I will come back +and take you to the house. I want to see how surprised they'll be when +they know that you have found Elise. Good-by, Herr von Ernau! Do not +miss the path,--the one on the left leads directly to the house, and +the one on the right to 'the master's arbour.' Good-by! I shall see you +again in half an hour." + +With a merry laugh and a wave of the hand she was off at a pace at +which old Jost found it hard to follow her. + +Egon unlocked the little gate, and with a beating heart struck into the +winding right-hand path. The moment that was to decide his future was +at hand; he was to see Lieschen again. Had she really, as Clara would +have given him to understand, cherished his memory kindly? Was it not +more likely that the child's insight had been utterly at fault, and +that his image had long since been banished from the mind and heart of +one go pare, so true, to whom all disguise was hateful? + +And now the little arbour, about which the vines hung heavily, making +the closing of its rustic door quite impossible, was just before him. +How quiet it all was! Suppose Clara was wrong, and that upon pushing +wide that door he should find nothing but solitude. He paused for a +moment, half afraid to go on, and as he did so there fell on his ear +the low tones of the voice which he knew so well, singing softly the +words of the old Folksong-- + + "In Olden forest stands a tree." + + +It was the first he had ever sung at Castle Osternau. He saw it all +again,--the good old Herr in his arm-chair, the sweet face of his wife +as she sat beside him knitting, and Lieschen's eyes gazing in rapture +at the singer. For an instant memory wellnigh unmanned him, but that +she should be singing just that song gave him for encouragement than he +was himself aware of; he gently pushed open the door. Yes it was she. +She sat half turned from him, her hands resting in her lap upon the +embroidery with which she had been occupied, her gaze fixed upon the +distant landscape, visible through an opening in the vines and +shrubbery. The door had swung noiselessly, she did not look towards it. +"Lieschen!" It was all. She started and turned towards him a face from +which all colour departed, only to return in an instant and mantle +neck, cheeks, and brow in crimson. "Herr von Ernau!--I--" Then, burying +her face in her hands, she burst into an uncontrollable fit of weeping. +In an instant Egon was beside her, at her feet, pouring forth +protestations, vows, entreaties for pardon. + +"My love, my darling, can you ever forgive me for deceiving you as I +did? I have no right to ask it, still less to hope that you can, and +yet I do hope. Your memory has been the light of my life since I left +Berlin, four years ago; the though of you and of your words spurred me +on to begin a new existence, it gave me strength in all my struggles +with self, and, oh! Lieschen, take pity upon me. The future will be so +cheerless without you. Complete your work, dear. Try to make me of some +use in the world. You have suffered, my darling; I know it all. Let me +shield you in future, at least from suffering alone. Can you forgive me +and heed my pleadings, for the sake of the love I bear you, which will +always be yours, and yours only, whatever may be your answer to me +now?" + +Elise did not speak, but her sobs ceased; she let her lover wipe away +her tears, and read her answer in her eyes. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + CONCLUSION. + + +Meanwhile, on this particular day, Hugo von Wangen had been taking a +long ride to a distant part of his estate. He had asked Clara to +accompany him, quite despairing of inducing Bertha to leave her +luxurious balcony and mount a horse, but, to his surprise, his young +sister had declared that she was far too busy, and that a short ride +across the fields with Jost was all she should allow herself. His +expedition had been a successful one. The improvements which he had set +on foot in the way of drainage of outlying meadows answered his +expectations fully, and it was in a very satisfied and peaceful frame +of mind that he dismounted at a short distance from his home, and, +ordering the groom who had accompanied him to ride to the stables with +his horse, undertook a short ramble on foot through the fields bounding +his garden. The sun was hot overhead, and he gladly sought the cool +shade of the strip of forest on the hither side of these fields, where, +throwing himself on the soft moss, he resigned himself to reflection, +which ended in a pleasant noonday nap. He was wakened by what seemed to +him the stamping of horses. Yes, his ears did not deceive him, that was +an unmistakable neigh; there must be horses near, but how they came +here he was at a loss to divine. There was but a narrow driving road +along the edge of this bit of woodland, and it led abroad into the +fields in one direction and in the other--yes, in the other out on the +road to Plagnitz. + +Why should he think of Plagnitz? The road was a highway, and led to +other estates likewise, but the fact was that the jealousy lately born +of his self-depreciation, and of his immense appreciation of his wife's +personal charms and intellectual capacity, was never quite at rest in +his mind. + +He arose and walked in the direction whence the sound proceeded. Sure +enough, on the edge of the forest, drawn up in the shade beside the +narrow roadway, stood a light, elegant vehicle, and harnessed to it +were two fine horses, which he well remembered to have seen in the +Plagnitz stalls. The coachman, too, who had made himself as comfortable +as possible on his high seat, was the same fellow whom he remembered to +have noticed about the stables at Plagnitz. + +But where was the master of this equipage? and why had Herr von Ernau +transgressed the physician's orders by this early visit? The answer to +the latter question was plain: Herr von Ernau had never forgotten his +former love for Bertha von Massenburg, and he was willing to run all +risks to enjoy the society of Frau von Wangen. Poor Hugo! his jealousy +was no melodramatic passion, but a very uncomfortable, uneasy sensation +that quite poisoned his morning's enjoyment. He had entire confidence +in his wife's honour, but was not so sure of her discretion; at all +events, it 'was confoundedly irritating to think of Von Ernau spending +his idle time at Linau, singing his songs and discussing with my wife +all the books, in which I never could take the smallest interest. We +were very happy before the fellow came.' These were Von Wangen's +thoughts as he tried to find some reason for Egon's leaving his +equipage at this point, if he had really come to pay a visit at Linau. +He walked on to the road, and was about to jump the picket-fence at the +bottom of the garden, when he perceived that the key was in the lock of +the little gate. It puzzled him to know how it came there. Had it +anything to do with Ernau's visit? He opened the gate, and then +remembered the winding path to 'the master's arbour.' Surely the lord +of Plagnitz was not being received there by the fair lady of Linau. The +idea was ridiculous, and yet, instead of taking the left-hand path +leading to the house, he walked slowly along that on the right, at the +end of which stood the rustic structure. As he approached it, the door, +which had partly closed again after Egon's entrance, prevented any view +of the interior, but surely those were the tones of a man's voice that +struck upon his ear; he advanced more quickly, his steps quite +inaudible on the soft moss of the path, when, just as he was about to +enter the half-closed door, the same voice, which he had continued to +hear, said, in a tone of fervent affection, "Lieschen, dearest +Lieschen----" Wangen turned and positively fled, quite dazzled and +confused by the light that suddenly dawned upon him, and yet filled +with a sense of relief for which he could hardly have accounted to +himself. But what would Bertha say? She must have been mistaken in that +idea of hers with regard to Ernau's affection for herself; yes, +entirely mistaken. And affairs at Osternau must have gone further +between the Candidate and his pupil than any one suspected. Now he came +to think of it, all the evidence of Ernau's sudden passion for Bertha +had been given by Werner von Massenburg, whose word, as his son-in-law +had had frequent opportunities of discovering, was not always to be +received with implicit faith. Really this was a delightful ending of +affairs, for, as for Bertha's opinion of Fraeulein Lieschen, it was all +the consequence of those old Osternau misunderstandings. Never could +he, Hugo von Wangen, believe that the daughter of his kind old friend +was any other than she seemed,--a dear, gentle, unselfish girl. Oh, +Bertha would see it all now, and she could not but rejoice, for the +sake of Clara, for whom she certainly was beginning to care as a sister +should, that Fraeulein Lieschen was to be their neighbour at Plagnitz. + +Filled with these thoughts, he reached his home, and sought his wife +where he was sure to find her,--not however, so much bored as usual, +for she was engaged in reading a long letter from her father, which +contained an enclosure for her husband, the contents of which Hugo was +at no loss to divine. + +"What have you to tell me, Hugo? your smile is positively beatific. Has +your last purchase of cattle turned out a wonderful bargain, or is the +wheat crop on the east meadow twice as heavy as you supposed it would +be?" + +Hugo laughed good-humouredly; he cared nothing for the pin-pricks of +his wife's ridicule. "Oh, better than all that, my darling, although +both your suppositions are correct. Circe has gained possession of her +victim." + +"What do you mean? Nothing short of insanity, Hugo, can drive you to +mythology." + +"I'm only quoting you, Bertha; when I wish to be convincing I always do +so. Herr von Ernau has found his way over here in spite of the doctor, +and I played eavesdropper involuntarily just now at the door of 'the +master's arbour,' and can assure you that Fraeulein Lieschen will not go +very far away from Linau. For my part I am delighted, and so will you +be, dear child, when you get over the remembrance of old times and your +fancied dislike of Fraeulein Lieschen. Think what an advantage it is to +have such neighbours at Plagnitz! Clara will, I am afraid, spend half +her time there." + +Bertha had listened in bewildered dismay to her husband's words. How +had this result, against which she had schemed, been brought about? How +could she endure to have the Lieschen whom she had always detested +carry off the prize which she had failed to win? It was scarcely to be +hoped that a daughter of Werner von Massenburg's should submit with a +good grace to be thus foiled. And yet she was not all worthless. We +must leave her, in hopes that Lieschen's unconscious influence may in +time assert itself here, as it had so often done elsewhere. Frau von +Wangen was assuredly shrewd enough and self-controlled enough, as we +have seen, to be outwardly all that could be desired and quite equal to +the occasion. + +What need to tell of the happiness that reigned in future years at +Plagnitz? In Lieschen's joys and in Lieschen's children Frau von +Osternau lived over again her own peaceful existence at Osternau. Egon +had found that for which he had so thirsted; the discontent and folly +of his early time seemed to him like some evil dream, the very memory +of which was dispelled by the clear light of love and truth shining in +his wife's eyes. + + + + THE END. + + + + + + _PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. 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