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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36789-8.txt b/36789-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..85b3639 --- /dev/null +++ b/36789-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13499 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +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: A Twofold Life + +Author: Wilhelmine von Hillern + +Translator: M. S. + +Release Date: July 19, 2011 [EBook #36789] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=OBstAAAAYAAJ&dq + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS VOLUME + + * * * * * + + TWO POWERFUL ROMANCES + BY WILHELMINE VON HILLERN. + + I. + + ONLY A GIRL. + FROM THE GERMAN, BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + _12mo. Fine Cloth. $2_. + +"This is a charming work, charmingly written, and no one who reads it +can lay it down without feeling impressed with the superior talent of +its gifted author." + + + II. + BY HIS OWN MIGHT. + FROM THE GERMAN, BY M.S. + _12mo. Fine Cloth. $2_. + +"A story of intense interest, well wrought."--_Boston Commonwealth_. + + * * * + +For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postpaid, on +receipt of the price by + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, + _715 and 717 Market St., Philadelphia_. + + + + + + +[Illustration: WILHELMINE VON HILLERN.] + + + + + + + A TWOFOLD LIFE. + + + + + BY + WILHELMINE VON HILLERN, + AUTHOR OF "ONLY A GIRL," "BY HIS OWN MIGHT," ETC. + + + + * * * + +It is not what the world is to _us_, but what we are to the world, that +is the measure of our happiness. + + * * * + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN + By M. S., + TRANSLATOR OF "BY HIS OWN MIGHT." + + + + * * * + + + + PHILADELPHIA: + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1873. + + + + + + + * * * * * + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., + In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + * * * * * + + + + + + + TO + + MY HONORED AND BELOVED MOTHER, + + CHARLOTTE BIRCH-PFEIFFER. + + TO YOU, DEAR MOTHER BELONGS THIS FIRST PRODUCT OF AN ASPIRATION YOU + AWOKE, AND, IN LOYAL UNION WITH MY BELOVED FATHER, AIDED BY + YOUR POWERFUL EXAMPLE TO DEVELOP. RECEIVE IT AS A + FAINT TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR A LOVE WHICH + A WHOLE LIFE WOULD NOT BE + SUFFICIENT TO REPAY. + + THE AUTHORESS. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + I.--Mental Strife. + II.--Dual Apparitions. + III.--From Falsehood to Falsehood. + IV.--A Guardian Angel. + V.--Master and Pupil. + VI.--The Prison Fairy. + VII.--An Aristocrat. + VIII.--In the Prison. + IX.--Fraulein Veronica von Albin. + X.--Progress. + XI.--A New Life. + XII.--The Search for a Wife. + XIII.--A Sacrifice. + XIV.--Churchyard Blossoms. + XV.--A Royal Marriage. + XVI.--The Two Betrothed Brides. + XVII.--Insnared. + XVIII.--Cornelia and Ottilie. + XIX.--The Catastrophe. + XX.--Thither. + XXI.--Spring Storm. + XXII.--Light and Shadow. + XXIII.--Between Heaven and Earth. + XXIV.--Regeneration. + + + + + A TWOFOLD LIFE. + + I. + + MENTAL STRIFE. + + +In an elegant apartment which luxury and wealth had adorned with +everything that the fantastic industry of our times affords, two +stately figures were pacing rapidly up and down: a lady no longer young +but still magnificently beautiful, a true Parisienne and _lionne_ of +society, and a young man with an aristocratic, though somewhat stern, +bearing, dark hair, and strongly marked features. At times they eagerly +approached each other with flashing eyes, then turned away to resume +their restless pacing to and fro. + +"It is useless, we must part!" cried the youth, after a pause. "My +passion for you is destroying my whole life: my studies are neglected, +nothing has any charm for me unless connected with you; my fancy is +unceasingly busied with your image. I can no longer work, no longer +think, no longer create anything, and unless I can break loose from +this conflict I shall become a dishonored wretch, or consume my +strength in endless torture and go to destruction! We must part +forever!" + +There was no answer. The lady had thrown herself upon a causeuse which +stood just under a niche overgrown with ivy and lighted with lamps that +gleamed through crimson shades, and was gazing steadily into the soft +gloom, while a tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Our hero turned, +after vainly waiting for a reply, and looked ardently at the beautiful +picture. + +The deepest silence pervaded the elegant apartment, only interrupted by +the low plashing of a tiny fountain which fell into a marble basin +filled with goldfish. Countless hyacinths exhaled their fragrance amid +tall exotic plants, and between the heavy silken curtains and portières +gleamed marble statues, which in the dim purple light seemed instinct +with life. Everything breathed love and secret bliss. Allured by some +magnetic attraction our hero knelt before the silent figure, and +kissing the hand that hung by her side, whispered: "Great Heaven, if +you weep how shall I find strength to conquer this moment? Oh, do not +condemn me to suffer all the torments which only a fiend can devise for +feeble human beings! If you have a heart that can weep, in mercy soften +this farewell. If you really loved me, you would not by every alluring +art seek to place me in a relation where your better self must renounce +and despise me." + +"What do I desire?" was the reply. "I wish to keep you, you who are the +sole happiness of my life. I will not, cannot, see you leave me so +coldly, cannot loose you from these arms, which in your person hold my +very life. What will my husband lose if through you he receives what he +does not know how to win himself: a happy wife? what will he lose if +the smile I _feign_ for him becomes _real_? What has he made me? A doll +to amuse society, a puppet to minister to his empty vanity. What does +he lose if the doll receives life? He has never asked for my heart,--do +I rob him if I give that which he neither knows nor prizes to another +who longs for it, and whom it can make happy?" She paused and pressed a +light kiss on the listening ear of her friend. Bewildered by her +musical whisper and warm breath, he leaned his burning cheek upon her +breast and could find no reply. + +She clasped him in a closer embrace and continued, in a tone of +reproachful tenderness, "Now that our relation must be decided, you are +so stern, so coldly conscientious, and yet--who woke this love in my +frozen heart? Who implored me to prolong my stay in Germany? Who +increased my passion by a thousand sweet nothings? Was it not you, who +now reject me?" + +"Alas! my wretched frivolity, it punishes me heavily," he murmured, +with a deep sigh; "but as it has brought me to this pass, it shall at +least lead me no further." + +He tried to rise, but she still clung to him. "Do you no longer love +me?" she cried, bursting into tears. + +"Yes, my heart is glowing with love for you!" he exclaimed, clasping +her in his arms. "But shall I become unprincipled because I have been +thoughtless? Because I have taken peace from your heart, shall I rob +you of a quiet conscience? Because ennui and ignoble desires have led +me to form an unworthy friendship with D'Anneaud, your mindless, +heartless husband, shall I now become traitor to his honor and my own?" + +"Go, then," murmured the beautiful woman, removing her arms,--"go, if +you have the strength to do so." + +"You give me the power yourself, for you do not understand me. The more +firmly you cling to me, the more surely my nobler being finds the +strength to escape you. I am aware that I have two natures within me: +one longs for you, but the other turns resolutely away, and at this +moment solemnizes its greatest, most agonizing victory, since it +compels me to resign you. Yes, its most _agonizing_ victory," he +repeated, clasping the angry woman to his heart with passionate love. +"You weep, but my very heart is bleeding, beautiful, lovely woman; no +tongue can express what I suffer." + +For a moment they stood with their lips clinging together; at last with +a violent effort he tore himself from her embrace and rushed out of the +room without another word. + +"Henri!" she cried, faintly. + +In vain: Henri ran down the staircase, sprang into his carriage, and +shouted to the coachman, "To Ottmarsfeld!" + +Ottmarsfeld, Heinrich von Ottmar's family estate, where he lived alone +with his servants, was a two hours' drive from the capital. While +within the limits of the city Heinrich looked incessantly back towards +the tempting house, but when the carriage rolled through the gate he +wrapped himself in his cloak and sank into a profound reverie. + +The keen night air blew sharply upon him, and he shrank back into one +corner of the carriage with a shiver. The trees along the highway +towered stiff and bare in the darkness. Now and then one of the horses +shied at the sight of some strange shadow. A muttered oath and the +crack of the whip followed, then all was silent again except the +regular beat of the hoofs as the horses trotted forward. _Heinrich's_ +heated fancy compared this cold, ghostly drive with the hour he had +spent in the elegant perfumed boudoir, by the side of the fair, +frivolous Parisienne. He closed his eyes to shut out the surrounding +gloom, and conjured up the statues, flowers, and the moment when the +graceful, weeping woman reclined before him on the silken causeuse. + +"I am a fool," he said to himself; "to what phantom am I sacrificing +myself? What object, what reward, can I hope for in return for my +superhuman self-denial? None, save curses from the lips which offered +me blissful happiness, and tears of sorrow in my own eyes. Yes, she was +right. Who will lose anything if we are happy? Shall the fairest hours +of my youth pass away in consuming, unsatisfied longing?--shall I allow +my studies to suffer from this secret struggle, and draw upon myself +the disgrace of failing in the examination? Are all these things +outweighed by the imaginary duty imposed upon me by the title of +friend, with which I have honored her fool of a husband, and whose +violation he will notice as little as the most conscientious +fulfillment of it? Will they be outweighed by the preservation of one's +self-respect, and is not this, after all, a matter of opinion?--is it +not a sort of coquetting with one's self? What will all my self-esteem +avail, if the world calls me a simpleton because, under the ban of my +passion, I neglected my studies and social interests? If I am pointed +at as an incapable man, shall I not sink in my own eyes?" His blood +grew more and more fevered as his reason coldly analyzed what a short +time before had seemed to him an inviolable duty. The moral stand which +he had taken in his conversation with Madame d'Anneaud was not +sufficiently powerful to protect, him from the relapse which had now +come. "I shall never rest," he thought, "until the beautiful woman is +_mine_, then only I shall be myself again! My father always said that +we could find no better way of defending ourselves against the power a +woman obtains over our hearts than by degrading her. How the cold, +shrewd man of the world would laugh if he were alive, and could see how +I am toiling to keep this woman in a position from which she herself +wishes to descend!--if he could see how my love hallows one who does +not desire to be held sacred! And her husband! Well, if he discovers it +I would give him satisfaction by a few ounces of blood, and none of my +acquaintances would despise me for the scandal half as much as I might +perhaps despise myself." + +He drew out his watch: he would turn back if there was still time. It +was too late: it was already past the hour when he could see Madame +d'Anneaud alone. He clinched his teeth and hid his face in his cloak, +as if shivering from a feverish chill. The carriage entered a thick +wood, and at last stopped before a large iron gate. + +"You are ill, Herr Baron," said the old valet de chambre as Heinrich +entered the castle, trembling violently. + +"Yes, yes, I feel very ill," he replied, passing an to his +sleeping-room to wait with burning impatience for the following day, +which would afford him an opportunity to atone for his previous reserve +in the arms of the beautiful Madame d'Anneaud. But the next morning +brought a farewell letter from the lovely Parisienne, who informed him +that she should return at once to her home in France. It was written +with all the pride and anger of a woman who has experienced the deepest +possible humiliation; who, having offered more than was desired or +accepted, now wishes to make amends for her too great willingness to +yield by a double measure of coldness and harshness. The youth of +twenty was still too great a novice in a woman's words to perceive that +this cold reserve had as little real foundation as the pride from which +it sprung, and which with such ladies too often supplies the place of +true honor. Heinrich was hopelessly crushed, and as everything that is +denied us doubly excites our desires, the indignant woman who had cast +him off was far more charming in his eyes than when she had pleaded for +his love. Remorse and passion strove in his heart with all the fury of +the hot blood of twenty. It was the first connection of such a nature +that Heinrich had ever formed, the first great feeling of his life. +Such periods, with their secret resolutions, are those in which the +elements of the inner life are analyzed, separated from each other, or +harmoniously blended. They are the standard for the guidance of the +whole life. + +Heinrich von Ottmar had been educated entirely without love. His +mother died before he reached his fifth year; his father, a heartless +aristocrat, was Grand Steward of the Court of the Principality of +H----, where Heinrich was now to commence his career, and all the +efforts of the haughty, ambitious noble were directed solely to the one +object of inoculating his son with the ideas which, as he believed, had +made him great, and might prepare a similar destiny for Heinrich. He +was one of those tyrannical persons who make even those they wish to +benefit unhappy, because they take no account of individuality, and +compel the victim of their anxiety to be happy, not in _his own_, but +_their_ way. He brought only discord into _Heinrich's_ young soul, +which was already sympathetically attracted by the development of the +times, for while he succeeded on one hand in rousing and directing it +entirely towards one object,--that of obtaining power and position on +the loftiest heights of society,--he could not suppress his leaning +towards the struggles for freedom peculiar to the times, which were an +abomination to the man whose inclinations tended towards +ultramontanism. Here also, influenced by the illusion that everything +could be done by force, there were many violent scenes, in which he +threatened the young defenseless boy with expulsion from his home, a +father's curse, and disinheritance. But no opinions are changed, no +convictions uprooted, by menaces and blows; they are at most forced to +conceal themselves where it is impossible to struggle with them. +Heinrich accustomed himself _to be silent_ and to _dissimulate_ at an +age when he was incapable of understanding the moral wrong and evil of +these qualities. Thus, under this father's tyrannical sway, every +budding germ of manly truth was suffocated, and shot forth +unavailingly. There are two results from such a course of training. +When the parental authority asserts itself also in the petty details +and interests of life, a most independent and rugged character is often +developed, firmly determined to exchange a hated, tyrannical present +for a free future, however dark it may be. This was not the case with +Heinrich von Ottmar; on the contrary, his worldly-wise father allowed +him full liberty in all the trifles on which youth sets so high a +value,--greater liberty than a more conscientious man would have done. +He knew how to make his home-life pleasant enough to him, induce him to +fear expulsion from it as the greatest misfortune; thus he always +retained his influence, and the youth, spoiled by the glitter and +pleasures of life, bore the intellectual tyranny of his father because +it allowed the most unlimited personal freedom, and learned to yield +and submit. He was naturally generous and warmhearted, capable of +enthusiasm for everything good and beautiful; but under these +circumstances only his intellectual, not his moral, powers could +develop, and his affections were forced to pine for the lack of food. +But his hot blood asserted its rights, and as it found in his soul no +lofty ideal against which its strong, youthful waves might dash, it +lost itself in the broad, shallow stream of sensuality. His father held +the opinion that there could be nothing more disadvantageous, more +injurious to the thinker, as well as to the man of the world, than a +deep feeling; and as he desired to make his son both, if possible, he +wished to save him from the evil. He also knew that there is no better +protection from it than the habit of frivolous, careless intercourse +with insignificant natures, and therefore cheerfully endured this phase +of _Heinrich's_ character. He had no esteem for women himself, and it +seemed to him a matter of indifference if the impulsive youth turned +where favors were granted most speedily, and where he unconsciously +lost his reverence for the sex. Thus the blinded father, with his +inexorable sternness on the one side, converted a noble, many-sided +nature into an ambiguous, varying character, and, by his unprincipled +indulgence on the other hand, transformed a heart-craving love into a +disposition of unbridled license; and when, in _Heinrich's_ nineteenth +year, he closed his eyes, he left his son entangled in a confusion of +inextricable contradictions, with an incomprehensible impulse towards +goodness and beauty in his breast, and without any compass to enable +him to obtain them, _desiring_ the right with the yet undestroyed power +of a noble nature, but defrauded of the power of _doing_ it; in spite +of his father's influence a philanthropist, and through it an egotist. +Thus he was a mystery to himself, whose solution he expected to find in +life, not suspecting with what sacrifice he should be compelled to +purchase it. Tortured by this secret conflict, he sought refuge and +support in science, and devoted himself to the study of political law. +He was too deeply imbued with the spirit of the times to find +satisfaction for his ambition solely in the prerogatives of the +nobility and a mere court office. True, he desired a position near the +throne, but it must be one which should have some political importance, +and deal not only with the organization of the court, but of the state. +This was the highest aim which appeared before him, and he labored with +honest zeal to reach it. Then he made the acquaintance of Madame +d'Anneaud, who was visiting a married relative in H----. She was the +first highly cultured woman he had ever known, and the impression made +by her beauty, united to the polished manners and dainty coquetry of an +aristocratic Parisienne, exerted an intoxicating influence over the +mind and imagination of the young man. Her sudden departure inflamed +his passion to the highest pitch; but in order to approach the +beautiful woman he had formed a friendship with her husband, and the +very bond which had brought the lovers together now formed a wall of +separation between them. To mislead the wife of a confiding, +unsuspicious friend was an act of dishonor from which his skeptical +reason recoiled. In this conflict month after month elapsed in +idleness. It was the year in which he was preparing for his +examination; he felt that he should fail if he did not conquer his +inertness and return to his studies. He had been too long accustomed to +receive all the favors of love to be able to endure a hopeless wish and +longing for any length of time. He must either possess Madame d'Anneaud +or avoid her. He had chosen the latter ere he knew how difficult it +would be to deny himself anything he ardently desired. He wished to do +right; but when he felt the bitterness of such self-denial his strength +to carry out the impulse failed, for he was already far too great an +egotist to make any sacrifice, and without sacrifice there is no +virtue. + +Thus his first victory over himself was transformed into a defeat when +Madame d'Anneaud's implacable letter robbed him of the ground on which +he expected to enjoy with her the fruits of a shameful peace. Now, as +he fancied, he had lost all, committed a wrong both against his beloved +and himself, for which he must strive to atone with all the energy of +passion. He drove into the city to see Madame d'Anneaud, but she +refused to admit him. He wrote a despairing note and sent it to her by +a confidential waiting-maid, but it was returned with the seal +unbroken. + +He spent three days in the most terrible excitement. The blood coursed +madly through his veins; his brain burned and whirled with plans to +regain the lost one and prevent her return to Paris. On the third +Monsieur d'Anneaud called to bid him farewell, complaining bitterly of +the caprices of his wife, who had suddenly dismissed her whole +household, would see no one, and wished to set off at once for Paris. +Everything around him grew dim as he heard these words; his heart +throbbed as if it would burst, and when his friend had taken leave he +turned deadly pale and sank exhausted upon the sofa. Now for the first +time he felt what, in the suspense of the last few days, he had not +heeded, that he was ill; but he dared not yield to it. Madame d'Anneaud +was to set out that very evening. The thought drove him back to the +city, that he might at least watch her window and witness her +departure. She saw him, and as she entered her carriage cast a long +and, as it appeared to him, sorrowful glance at him. + +He returned to the castle wild with despair. What was he to do now, +follow her, perhaps to be again repulsed? sacrifice his scientific +studies at the decisive time of the examination to rush around Paris +imploring love, perchance in vain? It seemed too useless and degrading +for him to resolve upon it without further reflection. He strove with +superhuman exertion to busy himself in his work; in vain, his thoughts +refused to obey his will. Day and night he sat over his books, gazing +with burning eyes and bewildered brain at the letters, to him so +unmeaning and disconnected, while the maddest longing raged in his +panting breast. In this torturing, mental struggle his bodily health +failed more and more; the illness which he had felt ever since his +first great emotion made itself the more apparent the less he spared +himself. At last he yielded, and became the prey of a most violent +feverish attack. The physician who was summoned shrugged his shoulders +thoughtfully, for the young man's condition afforded every symptom that +nervous fever was to be apprehended. + + + + + II. + + DUAL APPARITIONS. + + +The fever increased day by day. Heinrich became very delirious and +required incessant watching. On one of his worst nights the nurse, +overpowered by fatigue, fell asleep. The patient seemed to become more +quiet for a few minutes, and gazed with half-closed eyes at the dull +glimmer of the night-lamp. For a time in his stupefaction followed a +fixed train of ideas,--it was the conflict between duty and inclination +which had made him so ill. His imagination incessantly painted pictures +which his conscience destroyed. He lamented that he did not possess +that thoughtless frivolity which receives every enjoyment as a gift +from the loving Father, without doubt, struggle, or conflict with what +we term conscience, duty, honor. "Oh, God! Thou who hast given me +life," he murmured, "what didst thou bestow in putting me under the +dominion of a power which feeds upon the blood of my murdered joys, and +absorbs the sweetest marrow of this existence! The only happy natures +are those which can so divide intellect and feeling that they can no +longer bias each other. Oh, would that I might also!" + +Amid such thoughts be fell into that feverish, half slumber in which +dreams and reality are often so strangely blended. We know that we are +in bed, know that we are dreaming, and yet cannot prevent the creations +of our fancy from appearing before us, surrounding us like substantial +forms, and arbitrarily forcing their existence upon us. Such was the +case with Heinrich. His mind was busily weaving the torn threads of his +thoughts into fairy-like figures, at first quaint like arabesques, but +by degrees revealing a strange secret connection. The faces became more +and more distinct as his consciousness of the outside world grew dim. +He still felt vaguely that egotism and ideality were waging a fierce +battle in his heart, and by degrees the ideal he could no longer think +of in the abstract assumed a bodily form. There seemed to be something +in the room which terrified him,--something that crawled and glided +over the floor. "Do not fear," it whispered hypocritically. "I do not +come to destroy but to aid. I am the impulse of self-preservation, and +when in aristocratic society I cultivate my mind and call myself +Egotism." The shape writhed and glided nearer, while over _Heinrich's_ +head sounded a melodious yet powerful rustling of wings, and a voice +from above rang like the low notes of an organ, "Fear not, I am the +Genius of the Ideal, and will save you." + +Heinrich gasped for breath, he feared the whispering, ghostly +apparitions that surrounded him, his breast and neck seemed bound with +heavy cords, he strove to cry out but his voice refused to obey him, he +tried to open his eyes but in vain; he only felt the overmastering +presence of the two original elements of humanity, and his ear thrilled +at their words. "See what cowardly monsters you men are!" laughed the +fiend on the floor. "You carry hideous forms within you and think you +imperiously rule them, but recoil in horror when you have conjured them +from the secret depths of your hearts. I was nearer to you when in your +own breast than I am now, yet you fostered and cherished me; now that I +appear before you, you fear me." + +The voice above murmured: "Compose yourself, we are only the powers you +have felt struggling within your soul, but now we have united in the +common object of gratifying your wishes, for your folly will never be +satisfied until you perceive the vanity of your desires. Your wishes +shall be fulfilled, that you may learn to perceive in what the end of +life and true happiness consist." + +"Oh, mighty beings!" groaned Heinrich, "we are so proud of what we +accomplish by your aid, and yet it is we who serve you while you do +everything. What sustains us, that in our weakness we do not fall +helpless victims to one or the other of you?" + +"The Hand which rules over all things and appoints to each its bounds," +answered the Genius of the Ideal. "It has so wisely apportioned the +powers of evil that we exert an equal influence over the human race. As +the law of attraction holds worlds in their courses, our opposing +strength maintains the right balance in your minds if all the elements +are properly blended; but sometimes that is not the case, then your +lives take their direction from the strongest, for spirit strives +towards spiritual things, outweighs the earthly nature, releases itself +from the world, and follows my guidance above." + +"But the earthly nature tends towards the earth," grinned Egotism, "and +more frequently you sink down." + +"Thus," said both, "you human beings preserve the equilibrium between +mind and matter,--therefore you can neither withdraw from the world," +cried Egotism,--"nor be dragged down by it," said the Genius of the +Ideal. + +"Oh, you are right!" murmured Heinrich; "but I have lost this +equilibrium." + +"You have not lost it," replied the Genius of the Ideal, "the divine +and earthly natures are striving in you with equal power: that you may +not arbitrarily crush either, we wish to _separate_. You shall lead a +twofold life. Passion shall not disturb intellect, and intellect shall +not destroy pleasure." + +"Yes, yes," cried Heinrich, eagerly, "has the dear God sent you to me +to bestow the whole precious substance of life? How has such favor +fallen to my lot?" + +"You will learn some day that God has reserved greater mercies than +these," was the reply. + +"And now, you crawling creature, what do you want here while this +divine being is holding converse with me?" said Heinrich, proudly. + +"You will henceforth have little use for _him_," replied Egotism; "it +is _my_ service you need first, and _I_ must gratify your wishes. I am +a merry companion: you need not shun me. I appear in constantly varying +forms: now a usurer paying like a hardened miser, now an elegant +spendthrift throwing money away with lavish hands; now secretly +murdering a helpless enemy, now wrapping myself in the shining armor of +duty and slaying thousands; now with an honest, enthusiastic manner +gliding through the darkness to the innocent young maiden, ruling over +hearts and nations, kneeling before thrones and altars,--who knows all +the myriad forms I assume? If the spirit above your head did not work +against me, the world would be filled with my masks. Where the heart +and intellect are equal I prosper least, for then man is a harmonious +creature, as his Maker intended. Still, I often succeed in separating +them, and then my power is strengthened. It shall be so with you. Soul, +divide into two portions! Part, mind and feeling, move asunder and form +two wholes! Heinrich, have your wish, possess a double nature with a +mind destitute of sensibility, and a soulless heart." + +Heinrich's breast heaved violently, his heart throbbed with redoubled +speed, every vein swelled to bursting. Pleasure and pain thrilled his +frame; by degrees something within him seemed to be tearing itself +away, inexpressible grief overwhelmed him. A voice in his heart +murmured, "Farewell." "Farewell," answered every nerve; the chasm in +his soul yawned wider, as if a burning wound had passed through his +nature. Tears of inexplicable sorrow gushed from his eyes, and a cry of +agony at last burst from his lips as he felt that he was leaving his +body. He now stood face to face with _himself_, exchanging glances of +astonishment. All anguish was over, and he felt free and careless. "I +have been born again!" he cried, in delight. + +But the Genius of the Ideal answered,--"You have only divided your +nature. Your desire is accomplished, and will last until you no longer +wish it. Woe betide you if you remain in this condition and no longer +call upon me for aid! Egotism has produced this separation, he will +henceforth be your companion; cold reason and coarse sensuality will +make you their prey. But if from beautiful eyes the pure ray of a noble +soul falls upon you, let it enter your heart, it is I who command it to +shine upon you. If an earnest voice strikes upon your ear in tones of +warning, heed it, it is I who speak to you; and if you are at last +convinced that everything done and enjoyed without me is empty, turn to +me and I will guide you back to the source of happiness." Then turning +to the divided natures, the vision cried "Be friends; you are now two +forms, but you possess but one life, therefore remain at peace, and +take my blessing," exclaimed Egotism. "Enjoy," he cried, turning to +sensuality. "Attain," he said to intellect. "But remember," said the +Genius of the Ideal, "that the end of life is neither to enjoy nor +obtain, but to be useful and accomplish good works." With these words +the apparitions disappeared. + +The two shapes were alone. The first at last broke the silence. "I +shall dub myself _Henri_, that is what Madame d'Anneaud used to call +me, and French names give one better luck with women." + +"I will remain _Heinrich_," said the other. + +"Give me your hand!" exclaimed _Henri_. "I will enjoy for you, you +shall labor for me, and when I am about to commit an act of folly you +can warn me." So saying be merrily compared himself with his image. "I +don't doubt that we shall make our fortune. To be useful and accomplish +good works the object of life! Bah the object of life is to be happy, +and only success and pleasure can give happiness. 'For _myself_,' is +henceforth my motto!" + +"And mine," cried Heinrich: "it is the only sound philosophy." + +Just then the nurse awoke, and sprang from his chair in terror, for his +patient was not in bed, but standing before his long dressing-glass, +looking into it and talking to his reflected image in the greatest +excitement. It was with the utmost difficulty that he would allow +himself to be led away from the mirror and put to bed. His delirium had +reached its height, and showed him the true state of his own soul in +the form of an allegory. That which his reason had never been able to +solve was depicted before him in bodily form, by the divining power of +the instincts of feverish hallucinations; and thus this vision was the +true picture of his life, and the separation he had witnessed only the +symbol of his own secret struggles. + + * * * + +After three months of great suffering, Ottmar at last recovered, but so +slowly that the physician forbade him to resume his studies, and +advised him to seek health and diversion for his thoughts in travel. + +As he heard that Madame d'Anneaud was still living in Paris, he +hastened thither to resume his former relations with her. But here, for +the first time, the signs of his twofold nature became apparent. The +glittering, alluring form in which materialism clothes itself on the +one hand, intellectual suggestions on the other hand, and French +frivolity, did not fail to produce their effect. The man of reason and +sensuality developed such rude contrasts of character that he became +what he had beheld in his dream, "_Heinrich_" the cold thinker, and +"_Henri_" the careless _bon vivant_ in one person, changing as often +and as suddenly as if they were two separate individuals forced to +inhabit the same body. He was proud of this transformation, for he +could now enjoy and obtain everything: but happy he was not. The same +thing befell Ottmar that has happened to so many others in whom the +strange wonder of a secret rupture has taken place. Where intellect +reigned it required only cold knowledge and understanding; where +feeling ruled it degenerated into a burning fire, which, when the +moment of extinction arrived, left nothing but emptiness and +indifference. Thus by turns both extremes took possession of the pliant +body, and his beautiful features, gradually moulding themselves +according to the division in the soul, now bore the impress of the +astute thinker, and anon the winning charm of the lover. He possessed +one of those temperaments at which one gazes as a "marvel of genius," +which exert an alluring charm over women, who perceive in them a +"demoniac spell," a tempting enigma which irresistibly occupies their +thoughts, but in whose solution many a woman's heart has slowly bled to +death. + +At the same time he was what the world calls a man of honor. As social +integrity may be a result of cleverness, he never allowed himself to be +in fault in his civil or social position, for there the intellectual +_Heinrich_ ruled. The errors which the sensual, elegant _Henri_ +secretly committed, if detected, were not ascribed to him. There were +and are too many such natures for society not to stretch its very +relative standard of morality for the sake of their good qualities. + +Everywhere he was the centre of interest,--sought, petted, and honored. +His many-sided character attracted the most opposite temperaments; yet +he was unhappy, life was shallow and wearisome. + +There is an invisible something, on which human happiness depends. We +have soul organs, by means of which we receive and impart the inner +world of sensuous feeling,--organs which we call organs of the heart; +and those of _Henri_ were very active when passion was once aroused. We +have also organs to unite us with the spiritual world,--organs of +thought,--and _Heinrich_ possessed them in the highest perfection. But +we have besides these an organ that forms the bond between the other +two, like a connecting vein, through which the streams of thought and +feeling flow into each other, and which carries the mingled tide +through the entire being. This is the emotional nature. Where the heart +and intellect are not peculiarly disunited, the emotional nature must +exert an influence; it is the organ by means of which we make our +simple every-day life pleasant, endurable, if possible poetical. This +tie between the heart and intellect was of course torn asunder by the +division that had taken place in Ottmar, and thus he not only felt +painfully the eternal dissatisfaction of both natures, but quiet +every-day life lost all charm and value, and found him cold and +unsympathizing. He desired great contrasts, great passions, or great +problems. It was only when these occupied his thoughts that the two +extremes of his nature could assert themselves. Then only he felt at +ease. + +_Henri_ sought the material pleasures, which are always the same, and +always result in emptiness. _Heinrich_ unceasingly pursued the course +of ambition, which is ever renewed just as we believe we have reached +the goal. Between the two Ottmar found nothing but satiety. He now had +what he had so eagerly desired,--two lives, two natures, in one person. +True, he could no longer suffer, but neither could he enjoy; he could +neither love nor hate. _Henri's_ feelings were only instincts, and his +thoughts the refinement of sensuality; to which _Heinrich_ sometimes +lent a loftier language when in the presence of noble women, in whom +his shallow frivolity would have excited only repugnance. Ottmar, as on +the night of his delirium, fancied, with vain satisfaction, that he had +been born again; but he had, in truth, only divided himself. It seemed +to him as if he possessed a twofold nature, and must now enjoy life +doubly. But the law of true humanity cannot be denied without rebuke. +He had erred. Instead of two natures there were only two disjointed +halves; instead of enjoying a double share, he enjoyed but half, for +what pleased _Henri_ _Heinrich_ did not feel, and what _Heinrich_ +obtained was useless to _Henri_. + +This was not yet clear to Ottmar. He only knew that the apparitions had +given what he desired, and did not understand why he was not happy. He +had not comprehended their sneers, like all who, in the impetuous whirl +of life, hear the prophetic voices of their own breasts, and first +understand them when their predictions begin to be fulfilled. + +In Paris, Ottmar gave free course to his inclinations, and for some +time lived in intimate relations with Madame d'Anneaud. But the +beautiful woman soon became wearisome to him, and he deserted her for a +fairer face, for faith, as a matter of course, had become an +impossibility to this nature. + +Then he hurried from face to face, exhausting one empty pleasure after +another, until at last, after a year of idle dissipation, ambition +obtained the upper hand, and intellect asserted its claims. He would, +as he said, try philosophy for a time, and returned to Germany. Another +life now began. "Quick! You must do something,--accomplish something," +he said to himself. "But how? of what nature?" In the whirl of empty +pleasures he had become too superficial and frivolous to recommence his +neglected scientific studies with the redoubled industry which, after +so long an interruption, they required; he could no longer adopt any +regular profession. By means of his great ability, favored by his +position, he did and learned what and where he pleased. As he began too +much at the same time, he acquired nothing thoroughly, and obtained +that so-called cosmopolitan education which dabbles in all colors, is +skilled in all branches, whose variety often excites admiration, but +cannot be of any practical value. For five years he visited +universities, heard lectures from the most distinguished professors, +and passed in review the various sciences. None satisfied him, for none +aided him to reach the goal of his ambition with sufficient rapidity. + +At last the years of his early youth passed away, and he had as yet +obtained nothing. Insignificant fellow-students went out into the world +to enter upon the honorable career of government service, while he did +not even know to what branch it would be best to devote himself in +order to become a man of mark. + +He wrote several semi-scientific, semi-poetical works. The critics +acknowledged their merit, but they were not read. The scientific +portion was too commonplace for learned men, the poetry too dry for +ordinary people; for, in spite of his genius, _Heinrich_ was no poet. +His nature lacked that which alone can carry away the masses, and which +no thought can supply,--heart impulse; and he did not succeed in +becoming popular. An earnest, uninterrupted course of study would, in a +very short time, have made him competent to enter upon some settled +career; but too frequently _Heinrich's_ assiduous industry yielded to +_Henri's_ pursuit of pleasure, and the wearied frame threatened to give +way under this constant change from one extreme to the other. + +When he had at last exhausted all the intellectual and material +treasures of his native land without the slightest profit to himself, +some secret power again drove him forth to seek in a foreign country +the happiness he could not find at home. He went to Italy. + + + + + III. + + FROM FALSEHOOD TO FALSEHOOD. + + +On the way to Rome he met a gentleman whose striking appearance +attracted his attention. _Heinrich_ thought he had never seen a +handsomer and at the same time more intellectual countenance, and a +conversation arose between them which greatly interested _Heinrich_, +and very soon led him to make disclosures about himself and his course +of life, to which the stranger listened with an attention extremely +flattering to Ottmar's self-love, and entered, with affable +condescension, into every subject introduced by the latter. He appeared +to be so familiar with every sphere of life, all the relations of +European courts, that _Heinrich_ took him for a diplomat, and eagerly +gathered up all the information he communicated, because it always bore +the stamp of accurate, positive knowledge. But the stranger had so much +noble enthusiasm, his language was often so eloquent, that _Heinrich_ +frequently felt tempted to think him an artist, and his curiosity +increased more and more when he baffled, with consummate skill, every +effort to turn the conversation upon himself. The hours flew by +_Heinrich_ like the scenes through which he was passing, but he noticed +nothing to which the stranger did not call his attention. He had eyes +and ears only for him. He knew not which he most admired,--the +comprehensive knowledge of society, the elegant modes of expression, or +the aristocratic, yet winning, manners of this mysterious man. The +latter himself felt an increasing interest in his young companion, and +when the gigantic dome of Saint Peter's rose before them _Heinrich_ +eagerly expressed his regret that the delightful journey was over. + +"Will you seek me out in Rome?" asked the stranger. + +"Most gladly!" cried _Heinrich_, with delight. + +"Very well; then promise me to come to-morrow after early mass." + +"Certainly; but how shall I find you?" + +"Ask for Father Severinus, the Prefect of the Collegium Germanicum." + +_Heinrich_ gazed at him in unconcealed amazement. + +"You are----" + +"A Jesuit," said the priest, laughing; and left _Heinrich_ to his +speechless astonishment. + +The short disenchantment the latter experienced very soon yielded to +redoubled admiration for the remarkable things this man had +accomplished in spite of the narrow sphere to which he was limited by +his position as a priest. His father's predilection for the Jesuits +recurred to his mind, and many tales of the wondrous labors and +successes of this order no longer seemed so incredible and exaggerated +as before. He felt a desire to know more of the institution which +cultivated such remarkable charms of mind and person, and did not fail +to go to the Casa al Gesu the following day. The reception he met with +far surpassed all his anticipations. + +Father Severinus introduced him to the other chiefs of the order, and +when at last the General himself requested him to pay him a visit there +was not a single point in which _Heinrich's_ vanity was not flattered +and his curiosity excited to the utmost. + +The visit to the General ended with an invitation to dinner, and during +the meal the latter appointed a certain day upon which _Heinrich_ +should be his guest every week. + +Ottmar had never before been so well entertained among men, and soon +found himself nowhere so agreeably situated as when with Father +Severinus and his companions. The holy fathers procured for him every +pleasure that a stranger can enjoy in a new place. They showed him an +admirable selection of the glories of Rome, afforded him an opportunity +to see many curiosities which are usually inaccessible to strangers, +were always at hand when he needed them, and did not appear to be in +the world when he did not require their services. Under their guidance +he obtained a sight of the treasures in the library of the Vatican, and +they also afforded him a glimpse of their own archives; but as soon as +his desire for knowledge was excited, and he wished to penetrate +farther, the interesting matter was withdrawn because it was allowed +only to the actual adherents of Jesuitism. Yet the fathers imparted +much confidential and extremely useful information, by means of which +they gave him to understand that they were in possession of still more +important secrets, into which, however, only actual students of the +institution, whose loyalty to the order had been severely tested, could +be initiated. + +_Heinrich_ at last could not resist inquiring into the conditions upon +which he might be considered a tried servant of the order and be +permitted to share these favors. For their agents in the world, these +consisted of a novitiate of one year for the trial and practice of +obedience, and another year of voluntary residence and study in the +college. As he already knew more than was taught in the Germanicum and +Propaganda, he, of course, did not think of going through a school +course; but the thought entered his mind that at the cost of a +novitiate, which he already perceived would not be too strict, he could +obtain information which might be of the greatest use to him in his +career. He did not doubt that no one knew the world and mankind better +than the all-observant, inquiring Jesuits; and they did not neglect to +represent the principal European states and courts as a department of +their restless and manifold branches of labor. He was assured that he +could graduate from no better school of diplomacy than the quiet Jesuit +convent, and it seemed to him well worth the trouble of shutting +himself up here for a year, to emerge such a brilliant personage as his +admired Severinus. The priests gave him plainly to understand that his +novitiate would be only a name, for they had too much knowledge of +human nature to repel a young man of the world, like Ottmar, by the +prospect of monastic austerities. This promised indulgence was by no +means contrary to the rules of the order, since Ottmar was not to be +trained for priesthood, but the world, and therefore must be considered +as a guest rather than a pupil of the Germanicum. He possessed the +entire confidence of the fathers, for first from courtesy to his +hospitable hosts, and afterwards from prudence, he had been silent in +regard to his differences of opinion, but showed a sincere appreciation +of some of their institutions, which they naturally mistook for +devotion to the order. The principal reason was that his father was +known to have been a devout Catholic, a circumstance which so +completely deceived the holy fathers, that _Heinrich_ had no occasion +to do anything but keep silence and submit patiently to the rules of +the order to enjoy all the advantages of this rare confidence. The +temptation was too great, he had been too long accustomed to yield to +every caprice, every fancy, to be punctilious about the concessions of +his own convictions he would be compelled to make, and decided to enter +the Casa al Gesu. The Jesuits were extremely delighted with their new +conquest; for they hoped to make the unusually gifted young man an +agent for Germany, particularly the Protestant court of H----, which +had hitherto been closed against their influence. They willingly +acceded to _Heinrich's_ desire to enter the college under another name; +for it was of importance to them that his stay should remain unknown, +that he might afterwards act in their cause with fewer impediments. + +Thus the first step was taken on the path of deceit which his blind +egotism considered the speediest road to the goal, and upon which a man +always enters when he lacks the self-denial to make his opinions his +rule of conduct. Many a favorite of fortune is a miserable egotist, and +passes for a man of honor only because his fate has never chanced to +bring him in conflict with his selfishness; had such been the case he +would quickly have lost his cheaply-won fame. Thus it fared with +_Heinrich_ at a time when his acts and conduct were not yet burdened +with any responsibility or visible result. His proceeding had no +objective importance because he had not as yet gained any influence as +a public character, or formed any political relations. In his view he +committed no treason against the party to which in his own mind, though +not formally, he belonged, by depriving it for another year of the man +who was nothing to it. The point in question did not concern an actual +change of opinion,--for when he once entered the world he would be +faithful to his long-chosen colors,--but the attainment of a purely +personal advantage. It did not occur to his inexperienced mind that, as +a member of the party, he would be responsible to his followers not +only for his future but the past. He did not shrink from abusing the +confidence of the holy fathers, because he thought himself morally +justified in using for his own advantage men who merely wished to make +him a source of profit to themselves. It was doubtless repugnant to him +to feign a faith he did not possess, but he was filled with admiration +for various different individuals of the order, always felt happy with +them, and in truth was indifferent to what religion they belonged, for +he had, as previously mentioned, the toleration of carelessness. To him +all confession was a mere phenomenon of historical culture. The pious +exercises were empty pantomimes, on whose performance nothing depended +except the approval of the fathers, and they were all the easier +because he had grown up among Catholic ceremonies. The political and +social influence of the Jesuits he considered too feeble for him to +fear that he should ever be placed in a situation where he would be +compelled to oppose it. But he was to learn too late how terribly he +had erred. + +Thus his novitiate began, and what he had once undertaken he carried +into execution most persistently. He appeared to be a most obedient, +zealous pupil, and succeeded in blinding the good fathers so completely +that, to serve their own ends, they gave him instruction in everything +that could win him esteem at courts,--the most accurate information +about all personal and diplomatic relations, the royal families, +reports made by the emissaries of the Jesuits in every country, a +quantity of secrets whose judicious use must procure him a great +influence, and, in short, impressed their whole sophistical moral +teachings upon his mind. But with these things, so important to him, he +learned something which was to destroy the anticipated result of their +efforts,--to undervalue the order more and more. The more equivocal and +selfish these motives seemed to him, the more he thought himself +justified in deceiving them and casting aside the claims of gratitude. +He perceived with terror what an influence the Jesuits exerted over +everything; how relentlessly, with a thousand weapons, they subdued +everything that he numbered among the greatest intellectual blessings +in the world. The farther he penetrated into their mysteries the +greater his repugnance became, and the more distinctly he saw the wide +gulf which lay between him and Jesuitism. + +When the first year of study was drawing to a close, he formed the +resolution to seize upon the first good pretext to release himself from +the distasteful bonds into which, with youthful carelessness, he had +entered. He did not wish to burden himself with any further +obligations, which he now knew he should never discharge. But he was +too familiar with the power to which he had committed himself, not to +be aware that an open breach with the Jesuits might make his career +impossible, perhaps destroy his whole future. Therefore it seemed to +him unavoidable to keep friends with them for the present, and under +his father's authority he had already learned to submit to such +"necessities." + +Thus he must find a pretext which would apparently compel him to +sacrifice the second year of study and leave the Casa al Gesu before +its commencement. The moment was favorable to him. It happened that the +government of H---- took certain decisive steps against the Jesuits' +intended settlement in that principality, which aroused the greatest +excitement among the whole order. _Heinrich_ took advantage of this +opportunity. With remarkable address he induced the fathers to send him +to H---- in order to ascertain the actual state of affairs, and in +their interests begin as quickly as possible the career for which they +considered him sufficiently mature. The expectations which the priests +placed upon him justified this step; for he had increased and +strengthened them by an act which usually requires the greatest +readiness for self-sacrifice, he had at the expiration of his novitiate +presented to the order a sum of ten thousand thalers. The holy fathers +did not suspect that it was the payment by which he wished to relieve +his conscience from every burden of gratitude, that with it he paid for +his residence and instruction as he would have defrayed the expenses of +his studies at a university, because, as a man of aristocratic +disposition, he wished to be in debt for nothing. So they took for an +act of devotion what was really an effort to obtain moral freedom, and +their confidence in the man who had made such a sacrifice for them +became as great as is possible for the cautious, circumspect Jesuits. +So they allowed him to set out. + +"Become a diplomat and act for us; practice the arts of the world to +serve the cause of Heaven," they said, when they bade him farewell. And +he thought, with a sarcastic smile, "I will become a diplomat not to +serve Heaven, but myself." On returning to his home, his rank and +striking character made it easy for him to begin a diplomatic career. + +The government of H---- was Protestant and liberal. He therefore +carefully concealed the fact of his stay in the Jesuit college, and, +with his large means, succeeded in a few years in raising himself to a +lofty position. He became councillor of the legation, a friend of the +minister, a favorite at court, and now stood upon the height from which +he could begin to discharge his debt to the order, and the admonition +was not delayed. The point in question, of course, related to procuring +admittance into the country for, and also extending the privileges of, +the ubiquitous Jesuits. + +Ottmar was to introduce these claims--and did not. The moment had +arrived when he must break with the order openly and forever. Now, for +the first time, he perceived the danger resulting from the step. Ought +he to become the representative of a faith which he denied, and during +his stay in Rome had found utterly irreconcilable with his opinions? +Was it to become the shibboleth, which would betray the earlier +associations he had so carefully concealed, perhaps forever crush his +aspirations to obtain a portfolio in the government of H----? At this +price the year of study in the college had been too dearly bought. +Should he, on the other hand, forfeit the powerful assistance of the +Jesuits, and make unrelenting enemies where he had formerly possessed +trusting friends? + +The outward advantages of the two courses to be chosen seemed tolerably +equal; his convictions of right must turn the scale, and did so. In +vain were the more and more vehement warnings that followed. He wished +to make the unfettered tendency of his intellect the guide of his life, +and deserted the teachings and struggles of the order; for there still +remained in him a remnant of that feeling of duty which commands men to +oppose what they consider false and pernicious. + +But vengeance was not delayed. + +_Heinrich_ soon felt that his position in the government and at court +was no longer the same. While hitherto, from the prince down to his +humblest subject, the greatest respect, even admiration, had been paid +him, he now suddenly found himself eyed distrustfully, and even +avoided, without being able to discover a reason. Formerly no important +measure had been taken upon which the minister had not privately +requested his counsel, now the latter enveloped himself in a cloak of +cold reserve. Thus days and weeks elapsed, leaving him in a most +distasteful position. + +But one person at the court remained the same towards him: his +patroness, the niece of the widowed prince, Princess Ottilie, an +ethereal vision, who combined the haughty grace of a born aristocrat +with the charms of a feeling soul. In her he possessed a true friend, +whom he honored as a higher being; nay, he was often inclined to +believe he loved her, although not even the faintest wish to possess +her had ever arisen in his mind. All real merit was attracted to the +princess, and she won every one by her poetic mind and clear intellect, +as well as the charms of her maidenly character, although she had +already passed her first youth. She had distinguished Ottmar beyond all +others at the court, but for some time she had been unable to receive +him. It was reported that Ottilie was ill, and in his very +uncomfortable situation he was totally bereft of counsel and +consolation. + + + + + IV. + + A GUARDIAN ANGEL. + + +At last a court ball was given, and _Henri_,--for it was _Henri_ who +went to balls,--who was always the star that dazzled all eyes, found +himself as much neglected as ever. Only the members of the court who +were suspected of ultramontanism approached him with mysterious +cordiality; and whenever a number of observers were present, some +persons whom he knew to belong to the ranks of his worst enemies cast +strange glances at him which could scarcely fail to be noticed. +Infuriated by this irritating and to him incomprehensible conduct, he +turned to the young girls to pass away a few moments in their society; +but the first whom he approached, a distant relative, drew back with +mingled sorrow and alarm. He laughingly seized the little finger of her +outstretched hand and drew her into a window corner. "Why do you avoid +me, little Elsie? What have I done to harm you?" he asked. + +"Oh, go away, you are a Jesuit!" whispered the girl, half timidly, half +sullenly. + +"Ah!" A flush slowly mounted into _Henri's_ face, but without the +slightest change of countenance he pushed a gold bracelet which had +slipped down to the young girl's wrist so far up the rounded limb that +for the first time in her life she shrank from the sight of her bare +arm. + +"Do you know that a Jesuit is something so very bad?" + +"No," was the embarrassed reply. "I only know it is--must be--something +you ought not to be; or else you would not do it so secretly." The +young girl paused. + +"Well, and who told you this?" asked _Henri_, in the greatest suspense, +gazing so steadily and firmly into the large childlike eyes, that she +continued in the greatest bewilderment. + +"Why, Herr von Neuenburg told my mother so, and she was very unhappy +about it, and they both said you could not be trusted any more. Now you +know, let me go. Oh, dear, I ought not to have said anything about it!" + +With these words she ran away, and his smiles fled with her. It was no +longer the careless, jesting _Henri_, but _Heinrich_ who stood +haughtily erect in the alcove surveying the assembly with cold, +contemptuous glances. + +"These people wish to be diplomats, and discuss such important matters +before children! Fortunately, I know you well enough to perceive that +this rumor proceeds from you Jesuits. Oh, to be chained to such a life! +to be forced to sacrifice all one's power for an honor the miserable +breath of a liar's lips can blow away like dust! Is this life worth the +trouble?" + +"Not this life," murmured the fiend who was to help him "obtain." "You +must enter a wider field, and mount higher and higher to a sphere where +these petty intrigues can have no power over you; then only will you +find rest." + +These reflections, which were not by any means the first of the kind, +were disturbed by the rustle of a dress, and when he looked up Princess +Ottilie was standing before him. She gazed at him for a long time in +silence, while he bowed low, murmuring a few words of apology for his +absence of mind. + +"Not so, Herr von Ottmar," she interrupted; "we already know that even +when surrounded by the bustle of a crowd, you sometimes hold +intercourse with your own thoughts; in any case, a much greater source +of entertainment than society could offer you." + +"Ah, your Highness, if society consisted of the elements united in my +gracious princess, it would be the highest enjoyment to devote to it +every power; but when people are compelled, like me, to wander +perpetually, held aloof and misunderstood, through this labyrinth of +pretensions, disappointments, and prejudices, they are sometimes glad +to take refuge in the unsubstantial world of thought." + +"But why do you not release yourself from surroundings so distasteful?" +asked the princess. "Why do you not find strength to withdraw, if not +to the world of spirits, at least to that of the intellect?" + +"Your Highness," replied Ottmar, after a slight pause, "if I could take +with me to that realm what has hitherto chained me to the court, how +gladly would I resign this whirl of society! But so long as the object +of my holiest longing is still clasped in the arms of the world, so +long I will at least maintain a place near her, and fill it as well as +I am able." + +With these words he cast upon the princess one of the glances whose +power he had so often tried. She involuntarily turned her head to see +if any one could hear her. + +"Herr von Ottmar," said she, and her voice became lower, her expression +more sympathetic, "may I speak to you frankly?" + +"Oh, my most gracious, benevolent friend!" murmured _Heinrich_, in a +tone whose submissive devotion produced an irresistible influence upon +the impressionable soul of the princess. + +"Do not imagine that I have not perceived your design of winning me by +flattery; I have read that, as well as your whole character. I am +gracious enough to forgive you for placing the same estimate upon me as +upon every other woman whom you may have misled by similar speeches. I +forgive you, because I believe you to be greater than such arts would +make you appear; you possess no false nature, and if you deceive it is +only in cases which have no connection with your secret life, and no +reality for you. Where you have to answer for yourself, your own +established convictions, you will be true. I have this confidence in +you, and therefore can calmly look on and see you make sport of the men +and circumstances which, from your lofty stand-point, must appear so +small; nay, I can even see you test your superiority over myself; and +while I know all you say is false, am unable, I frankly confess, to +resist the charm which your masterly acting exerts over me, and feel +attracted towards you as the ignorant man is drawn to the artist whose +skill he admires. Do not deny the truth of my assertion. Be noble; or, +better still, show yourself to me as you really are, and confess I am +right." + +"Princess," cried Ottmar, "you are right. I grant that you have +understood me; but I must oppose you in one thing, that I have been +hypocritical to you. Ten minutes ago you might perhaps have termed me a +flatterer, but now everything I said has become simple truth, and I +should have far more to say to you if time and opportunity favored me." +"I fear this is the last opportunity I shall have of speaking to you +undisturbed, and therefore I speak now. I know you will not remain here +under existing circumstances, and was not willing to have you go +without taking with you on your weary way a word of conciliation, +perhaps of warning; for you do not deserve the sentence passed upon +you, and it grieves me deeply to see a noble, great-hearted man so +misunderstood through his own fault." + +"Has it already gone so far?" asked Ottmar, in surprise. + +"Unfortunately, yes, my friend. You are considered a very dangerous +man. Your enemies have decried you as a secret agent of the Jesuits, +and at last placed before the prince proofs that you spent a year as a +student in the Jesuit college at Rome. Your whole secret is betrayed." +"And do they not suppose," replied Ottmar, "that the Jesuits would know +how to guard such a secret better, unless it suited their interests to +reveal it?" + +"You must consider that you are at a _Protestant_ court. You have +hitherto passed for a free-thinker, now you are discovered to be a +pupil of the Jesuits. Thus one or the other must be false; people find +themselves mistaken in you, and are so blindly enraged that they will +believe your enemies rather than you. They consider everything you have +done and are doing against the Jesuits to be merely a mask. The +cordiality which several gentlemen, who are known to be adherents of +the order, showed you this evening confirmed the prince still more in +his opinion. You know his passionate temper; I have just heard a +conversation between him and the minister which I have neither time nor +inclination to repeat; but my conscience urged me to warn you, and--" + +"And your heart, princess; it tells you that, spite of the equivocal +part you see me play, I am a man of honor, who at any moment can cast +aside hypocrisy and deceit as contemptible tools, and whom you can +trust." + +"I know not whether I may venture to do so. You were sincere with none, +and I can only entreat you always to remember that falsehood is as +dangerous as a poisonous dye, by means of which men often color things +of trifling value, but which by constant use so pervades the atmosphere +that they at last can no longer breathe in it themselves." + +"Your Highness," whispered _Heinrich_, "let me at least know why, in +spite of my faults, you can still feel so much sympathy for me." + +"Because I have recognized your great talents, the conflict, the want +of peace, in your soul; because I know that the contradictions which +make you suspected by the world at large are rooted in the contrasts of +your own nature; and because I cannot help feeling the deepest +compassion for you," she said, at last, with an outburst of feeling, +laying her hand carelessly upon his. Her voice rang upon _Heinrich's_ +ear in tones of strange warning, and tears were glittering in her deep +blue eyes as she continued: "Oh, there is something so noble, so +godlike, in a true human soul, that when I see one struggling and +battling in the prison of this earthly body, ensnared and tortured, my +heart bleeds and I would fain extend my hands protectingly over the +wildly fluttering wings, until the hour when it can free itself and +soar away unfettered! We are observed. God be with you! Farewell!" She +glided away and disappeared among the crowd. + +"My Ideal spoke from her lips," said Ottmar, gazing after her. + +A strange conflict now ensued between the opposing elements in his +breast. + +"She loves me; she, this noble creature, so full of intellect and +feeling," said _Heinrich_. "She could not speak more distinctly, and +what she concealed I read in her eyes, which absorbed my image in their +blue depths and reflected it again, as the sun paints a Fata Morgana +upon the clouds." + +"And I," _Henri_ rejoined, "I feel ashamed and miserable when in her +presence, for I can give her nothing in return for the treasures she +brings me. I do not love her." + +"And why not?" asked _Heinrich_. "Can she not make a man happy for his +whole life? Does she not hold a lofty position, is she not as noble as +she is intellectual, and has she not sufficient strength of mind to +accept my hand, if I offer it, in spite of all intrigues?" + +"True," replied _Henri_; "but she is neither young nor blooming, and is +an invalid. How can I bind myself forever to one who has not the +slightest personal charm for me? A beautiful soul and noble mind are +phantoms, but a sickly body is the most comfortless reality, and a +burden which I must drag about with me during my whole life. No: so +long as I am still young I wish to enjoy this miserable life; when I am +old and decrepit I shall have enough to do to bear my own ailments +without the addition of an invalid wife." + +"Ah, I could love her!" said _Heinrich_. "You should not extend your +arms to me vain, beautiful soul; I would foster and cherish you as my +most sacred possession; but it is impossible. Even if I should give her +this man, what would she possess? A cold intellect and a sensuality +which this poor ethereal nature would be unable to attract, and by +which she would sooner or later be betrayed." Absorbed in these +thoughts, he walked through the rooms to take his leave. He wished to +go home, for he had lost all inclination for the entertainment. When he +reached the last apartment a new dance had just commenced and drawn +every one into the large salons. The room was silent and empty, only +the lights in the candelabra burned with a low crackle; fans and +withered bouquets lay scattered over the tables, and cloaks that had +been carelessly cast aside were thrown upon the sofas. Everything bore +witness to the bright and joyous life that had reigned here a few +minutes before, and now the deserted chamber with its marble columns +and gilded arches seemed like a mausoleum, where the soul might take a +last farewell. He paused an instant. "Ottilie!" he murmured, half +unconsciously, and the solemn mood he had felt a short time before +again overmastered him. It seemed as if beneficent spirits were +floating in the waves of light that surrounded him and trying to +whisper something, but he could no longer understand them. Just then he +suddenly heard a low rustle: some living creature was near. He looked +around him and saw the princess standing in the doorway gazing at him +with deep earnestness. + +"Ottilie," cried _Heinrich_, "God has sent you here! The angel of my +life called me, but I could no longer understand his words; for in the +tumult of the world I have grown deaf to his spirit voice. He dwells +in you; become his oracle, let him speak to me through your lips." + +"Herr von Ottmar, my heart is filled with the thought of your welfare, +but bow to help you I know not. I will pray your good angel to show me +some means of fathoming the trouble in your soul. I know of no way +unless"--she hesitated, less from embarrassment than to seek the right +word,--"unless you can find a nature which will understand and have for +you the patience of true love. Only the anxiety of a heart entirely +devoted to you will discover the means of restoring your lost peace. +That you may win such a being is the hope and desire of my soul." + +"Princess," cried _Heinrich_, whom Ottilie's lovely enthusiasm had +deeply charmed, "if I now say that I find such a being in you, that +there is no woman to whom I will intrust my life except you--" + +"No, my friend," said Ottilie calmly, though she turned pale. "You are +deceived in yourself at this moment. You do not love it is the longing +for the right which, thank God, always lives in you, which attracts you +to my--I may be allowed to say it--pure soul. This is not love; I know +it, and would never strengthen you in an error which would defraud you +of the best portion of your life. Yet I thank you for your confession. +It makes you appear still more lovable in my eyes; not because you have +made it to me, but to the ideal to which I would so gladly see you +rise." + +"Ottilie, let me thank you on my knees for the light you have poured +into my darkened soul, and let me swear I will do everything good and +great of which I may be capable in your name, your spirit!" _Heinrich_ +impulsively threw himself at her feet and clasped her hands. "Oh, my +soul loves you, Ottilie, with a love which--" + +"Which is not of this world," interrupted Ottilie, bending over him. +"Another love will enter your heart, and you will bless me for having +had strength to refuse what does not belong to me! And now I entreat +you to rise and leave me to myself." + +_Heinrich_ rose and started back as he looked at Ottilie. She was +standing proudly erect, struggling for breath, as her tears flowed +more and more violently; her eyes were closed, her delicate lips +firmly compressed, she was a most touching picture of agonizing +self-sacrifice. + +"Poor heart! you love me, and yet are noble enough to reject me?" asked +_Heinrich_. + +"Yes, my friend," murmured Ottilie, "so truly as God will sustain me in +my last hour, so truly I desire your happiness more than my own, so +truly I resign you. You must be free, and choose freely. God grant you +may find the right!" + +"After this vow I have nothing more to hope," said _Heinrich_. +"Farewell, my friend! One who has power to exercise such self-restraint +has also strength to conquer her sorrow." He kissed her cold, pale +brow, and hastily left the room. + +"Thank God it has turned out so!" whispered _Henri_; and _Heinrich_ +also uttered a sigh of relief: he felt that he had escaped a great +danger. He had been hurried on by a momentary impulse and Ottilie's +unconcealed love to a step which he would have bitterly repented; for +he was equally convinced that no one would ever understand him like +Ottilie, and also that her appreciation alone would not satisfy him. As +_Henri_ desired more sensual, _Heinrich_ demanded greater intellectual, +charms. He wished to be excited, kept in a state of suspense, +enlivened, amused: Ottilie's uniform, quiet earnestness would not have +afforded him this, and he thanked her for having rightly understood his +hasty enthusiasm and been generous enough to reject him. + +Meantime, the queenly Ottilie stood motionless in the glittering +apartment, her hand pressed to her heart and her eyes raised towards +heaven. "Which of us is most to be pitied, he or I?" + + + + + V. + + MASTER AND PUPIL. + + +On his way home, Ottmar remembered that he had appointed this very hour +for a tender meeting, and gradually the solemn impression made by the +last few moments faded before the charming picture which now obtained +the mastery over his soul. When he returned home his old valet, who had +served him from childhood, met him with a pale, sleepy face, and slowly +lighted the candles. + +"Has not the little girl come yet?" asked _Henri_. + +"Who?" + +"Who should it be? Röschen," he added. + +"Röschen, Marten the beadle's daughter, do you expect her?" + +"Of course I do; I persuaded her to meet me in the garden. Keep watch +at the window, and when she comes take her into the pavilion," he said, +absently, throwing himself into a chair. + +"Permit me to warn you, Herr Baron," said the old man with sorrowful +earnestness. "Röschen is an innocent maiden, the only daughter of an +honest, poor man, whose sole joy is in this child. Have you considered +this?" + +"Don't bore me with your reproaches, man!" cried _Henri_. "Don't grudge +me this little pleasure; life with these frivolous, coquettish women is +already gradually becoming so shallow that it is no longer endurable. I +must have something pure and simple, which can refresh my mind and +interrupt the everlasting sameness; and she is really a charming +creature!" he murmured, admiringly. + +"Herr Baron," said the old man, with deep emotion, "I promised your +dying mother to watch over you as far and as long as it was in my +power. In former days my influence often prevailed; but since your +severe illness and residence in France you have become a different +person; still, I did all that was possible in my limited sphere to keep +you from evil of every kind. Of late I have feared more for the safety +of your soul than your bodily welfare. I have had occasion to perform +services of which I have been ashamed. To carry letters and attend +light-minded ladies home is not the business of a respectable man; yet +I did it out of affection for you, and because no innocent person +suffered. You gave me no thanks for my obedience, but took it as a +proof that I shared your views, and probably secretly despised me for +it. I bore all patiently and did my duty. But today, Herr Baron, it is +time to hold you back from the path on which you have entered. To ruin +an innocent girl is a crime of which I would not have believed you +capable, and to which I will lend no aid." + +"Old fool!" muttered _Henri_, looking at the clock, "if you were not so +useful I would have dismissed you to some quiet place long ago. Don't +pretend to be more silly than you are, Anton. I've already heard so +much morality to-day that I was on the point of doing a very foolish +thing. Do you suppose I shall begin again with my valet? Go, and let me +alone!" + +"Herr Baron," replied Anton, firmly, "I am sorry to be obliged to tell +you that I must leave your service if you insist upon seeing the girl, +and beg you to discharge me to-night." + +"Anton," cried _Henri_, in a furious passion, "I have borne with you +for a long time! You were faithful to me, even resisted the temptations +of the Jesuits, and always attended to my welfare. All this I have +recognized and rewarded; but I can no longer keep a servant who wishes +to set himself up as a judge of my conduct, were he ever so +indispensable to me; so remember your place better, or go!" + +At that moment the door-bell rang gently. "Ah, she is coming!" +exclaimed _Henri_, exultantly; and forgetting everything else, he +turned to Anton, calling, "Lights!" + +The old servant did not move, but stood with clasped hands praying, +under his breath, "Dear God, save this young soul!" + +_Henri_ rushed down the staircase on which the moonlight lay in broad +bars; his hands trembled with joyful impatience. "Wait, my Röschen! my +little pink rose! I will admit you, my darling!" he whispered, as he +turned the key and threw open the heavy door, half bending forward to +embrace his angel; but a tall figure, on which the moon cast a ghostly +light, entered and fixed a pair of dark, searching eyes upon the +astonished _Henri_. + +"Oh, Christ! what is this?" he exclaimed, staggering back as if +overwhelmed with terror and disappointed expectation against the door, +which he closed again. + +"It is not Christ, but one who comes in his name," replied the +stranger's deep voice in the purest Italian. + +"By all good angels, Father Severinus!" murmured _Henri_, recoiling a +step. A low knock sounded from without; the young man's blood mounted +to his brow, and he hesitated a moment in the greatest embarrassment. + +"Here are my companions," said the Italian. "Allow me to open the +door." He threw it back, and two figures, clad in the same dress as his +own, entered, accompanied by one of the Jesuits who had spoken to +_Henri_ that night at the ball. They greeted him respectfully, and he +was man of the world enough to instantly accommodate himself to his +painful situation as well as the torturing disappointment of the +moment. + +"You are welcome, reverend sirs," he said, smiling, and led the way +up-stairs. + +Old Anton stood upon the landing with a light, and one of the priests +saluted him with his "Praised be Jesus Christ." + +"Forever, amen!" replied the old man, with a deep sigh, as he placed +chairs for the strangers and left the room, casting a sorrowful glance +at his master. + +"We have been looking for you at the ball, my son," Father Severinus +began; "because I only arrived from Rome this evening, and must set out +again early tomorrow morning. I am taking a journey through Germany, +and thought it my duty to see you, my favorite pupil, and look after +the welfare of your soul. But, unfortunately, I was compelled to learn +that the soil which so readily received our lessons was a mere +sand-heap, whose best harvest is blown away by the wind." + +_Heinrich_, who had taken _Henri's_ place, quietly listened to the +priest's words with his usual satirical smile. "Reverend sir, I must +first observe that I am no longer in the mood to allow myself to be +treated like a schoolboy. There are times when a peculiar fatality +seems to pursue us; to-day appears to have been set apart for giving me +moral lectures, and I assure you the more of them I hear the less +successful they are; so you perceive you will not be able to accomplish +much in this way, especially with a man who has returned at one o'clock +in the morning, weary and heated, from a ball." + +"Perhaps Princess Ottilie also belongs to the number of those whose +'moral lectures' have been so unsuccessful," sneeringly remarked +Ottmar's ball-room companion, Geheimrath Schwelling. + +"What do you know about that?" exclaimed _Heinrich_. + +"Enough, I should think; the noble lady did not speak so low that any +one in the adjoining window corner could not hear everything, and it is +really a duty to inform her how useless her admonitions are, that she +may not trouble herself vainly in future." + +_Heinrich_ cast a glance of inexpressible contempt at the sleek, fat +face and restless eyes of the speaker. "Princess Ottilie is the noblest +woman I know," he exclaimed, with deep emotion, "and is too lofty to +lend her ear to such vulgar insinuations. If, however, you succeed in +betraying me to her, remember that you will do me no harm, but only +inflict useless pain upon a noble heart." + +"Or heal it," replied the Geheimrath, contemptuously. + +"Cease this aimless conversation, gentlemen," said Severinus. "I am +astonished, Herr Geheimrath, to hear what language you employ towards a +man whose great talents, even as an enemy, should command your respect. +Surely these are not the means worthy of so great an end; and if our +affairs in Germany are managed thus, I can understand why the word +'Jesuit' is here used as a bugbear to frighten children. _In majorem +Dei gloriam_, never forget that. Unfortunately, I see you men of the +world must be reminded of it more frequently than our dead General has +done. It was time a more powerful hand should seize the reins; I +perceive that more and more at every step I take upon this soil." + +He had risen from his seat as he uttered these words, and there was +something so menacing and imperious in his bearing that the Geheimrath +exclaimed, with mingled fear and anger, "By what authority do you use +this language towards me, Father Severinus?" + +"By the authority the General, who sends me, gave me over every worldly +coadjutor who enjoys the advantages of our alliance without showing +himself worthy of them." + +The word General and Severinus's majestic bearing utterly crushed the +Geheimrath, who sank into a chair in silence, passing his hand over a +brow bedewed with cold perspiration. + +"Take me to a room where I can speak to you in private, my son," said +the priest in a very different tone, turning to Ottmar. "We alone have +understood each other, and we shall come to an understanding again." + +"As you please," said _Heinrich_, hesitatingly, and was about to take +one of the candlesticks from the table. + +"Nay," observed Severinus, checking him. "You know my habits; do not +refuse me the favor of being allowed to speak to you in darkness as in +former days. The soul can collect its powers better when external +objects are concealed." + +"As you please," Ottmar repeated, while a faint smile played around his +lips. + +He led the priest into the adjoining library; then left the room a +moment and said to Anton, in low tone, "Examine my study, remove the +papers lying around, and bolt the door leading into the dining-room. If +Röschen comes, I also rely upon your faithfulness to take her into the +garden and shut her up in the pavilion." + +Then he quietly returned to his guest. The library was dimly lighted by +the moonbeams. The books towered aloft in immense cases, and from the +most exhaustive works of the _intellect_, bound in these lifeless cases +to arise again in spirit, the eye wandered to the most perfect works of +_nature_ imperishably imprisoned in stone and colors to refresh the +weary thinker, and gently win him back from his dizzy heights to this +world and its lovely forms. Statues and pictures of every kind stood +and hung around. + +If a moonbeam shone upon the gilt letters of the names of the greatest +poets and learned men, it also revealed the mute embrace of Cupid and +Psyche, and brought out in strong relief the marble shoulder of the +Venus de Medici. In a niche filled with palms and climbing plants, it +cast flickering shadows upon Schwanthaler's nymph, which seemed to be +lamenting that she was stone, and glittered upon a marble basin at her +feet. Then its pale gleam struggled with the vivid hues of the +exquisite copy of a Titian, or glided over a table filled with charts, +sketches, and plans, whose half-rolled sheets fluttered gently. The +room revealed a strange, mysterious life and nature. Ghosts seemed to +be gliding to and fro,--the tall, chastely-veiled ghosts of philosophy +and poetry,--the nude, caressing genii of love and pleasure. Now all +appeared to have gathered curiously around the dark, tall form of the +priest, who stood leaning thoughtfully against the pedestal of a Hebe. + +"This study, or library, is characteristic of you, my son," began +Severinus, when Ottmar returned. "I see everywhere the results of the +two dominant powers of your nature,--intellect and sensuality,--but no +piety; a worship of the mind, a worship of nature: but where, where are +the traces of religion? Have you, then, utterly cast aside what you +adopted when with us?" + +"Father Severinus," said _Heinrich_, advancing until he stood face to +face with him, "we are alone. Be frank; do you ask, _you_, that I shall +become a devotee?" + +Severinus gazed at him bong and earnestly. "That you should become a +devotee? No! What I ask of you is consistency! When with us you +apparently became deeply imbued with religious feeling, and openly +displayed it an all occasions. Now you deny it; therefore you have +either _lost_--in which case you are to be pitied, or never _possessed_ +it, when you deserve great blame for the deception you have practiced +in relation to the most sacred things and towards us." + +_Heinrich_ was silent. He felt the justice of the priest's reproof, and +found no reply; at the same time he was stupefied by the dim, +flickering light and the excitement of the last hour, and could not +suppress a slight yawn. Father Severinus was also silent, and waited +patiently for a reply. At last _Heinrich_ said, impatiently: "Most +reverend father, you might spare a great deal of your pathos. I do not +deny the truth of your reproach; the only doubt is whether it specially +concerns me, for I must confess to you that it is a matter of +comparative indifference whether you have cause to be indignant or not. +I have released myself from your authority, and belong to another +party, so I have nothing more to expect or endure from you. True, you +have succeeded in making me suspected at this court; but I shall find +means to justify myself, and then we will see which of us has most +occasion to fear the other." + +"I am deeply grieved to hear this language, which, by my faith in +Christ, I have not deserved," replied Severinus. "I am guiltless of the +measures the hasty, newly-appointed agent for Germany induced the +Father General to employ against you. Will you believe me?" + +_Heinrich_ bowed. "I am well aware that you are too proud to adopt such +a course." + +"Well then, for what wrong can you upbraid me, which justifies this +inconsiderate, heartless language?" He paused and looked at _Heinrich_, +who bit his lips and drummed on the arm of his chair. "What wrong has +the order done you that you take upon yourself the task of entering +upon a contest with it?" repeated Severinus. Another pause ensued. +"What could induce you to commit such a breach of faith?" + +"I have committed no breach of faith!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, "for I +never belonged to you; I am and was a free-thinker. For a long time I +admitted your great and manifest excellences, but the longer I remained +among you the more I learned to hate you and the principles of your +order, whose sole aim is the subjection of the mind to your dogmas, or +rather your authority, an object to attain which you know how to employ +every conceivable means, good as well as bad. Do you really ask a man +of my nature to submit to become the tool of such plans? If you could +expect it, it was your fault, not mine, if you now find yourselves +deceived." + +"To that, my son, I have two answers," replied Severinus, after a short +pause of reflection. "If the principles of our order, which the hand of +God has hitherto wonderfully protected, seem to you so worthy of blame +that you consider it a duty to oppose them and prepare a better fate +for your nation by your own ideas, I can say nothing against it in my +own person, except that I pity your error, while I can pay a certain +respect to the man who has at heart the welfare of his people, even +though his views may be mistaken. But you, _Heinrich_, do not oppose us +from the necessity of preserving your country from a supposed evil, nor +from the sanctity of a firm though erroneous conviction, but merely out +of vanity, that thereby you may play a prominent part before your +revolutionary party. You know nothing more sublime and imperishable +than the worldly admiration bestowed upon you, because the reward and +recognition of Christ, promised by his vicars throughout eternity, are +incredulously scorned by your narrow soul. Vanity and egotism are +answerable for your actions towards us, and even destroy the paltry +merit of having sacrificed yourself for your convictions." + +"Oh, Ottilie," _Heinrich_ suddenly exclaimed, in bitter wrath, "gentle, +innocent angel! How much better you understood me!" + +"That is not all I have to say in reply," continued Severinus, without +permitting himself to be at all disturbed by the interruption. "If, as +I have just seen, the reproach of acting from selfish impulses wounds +you so deeply, tell me what noble motive induced you to remain a year +with men whom you abhor, receive every possible proof of friendship +from them, and feign enthusiastic interest in a faith which seems to +you pernicious and criminal? Pray answer this, if you can." + +"I can," replied _Heinrich_, quietly. "Chance and ennui threw me into +your hands. You took me to the college. The genius of your system +attracted me; I wished to penetrate the mysterious nimbus which +surrounded you, to investigate you and your nature, as people desire to +examine every curiosity. You interested me, and I very soon perceived +that it would only cost me a little hypocrisy to acquire knowledge +which would be useful all my life. I looked upon it as a necessary +entrance-fee, and paid you with it. Why did you not see that the coin +was false? You trained me for diplomacy, and drilled me in the arts of +dissimulation, to which you gave the noble name of 'self-command.' As I +learned them I tested them on you, and thus you see that my diplomatic +career began by making you the first victims of your own teachings, and +by deceiving you. Truth will pardon my year of faithlessness for the +sake of a lifetime of repentance." + +"That sounds very strange," said Severinus. "Did we teach you +hypocrisy? To _conceal_ the truth without _telling a lie_ is the art we +communicated to aid you in your diplomatic career. But granted that it +was so, granted that we taught you dissimulation to obtain certain +necessary ends, should not common human gratitude have withheld you +from betraying in such a despicable manner the men who trusted you?" + +"Gratitude," laughed _Heinrich_, "for what? Did you receive me +cordially and bestow your instruction upon me for my own sake? +Certainly not. Why did you expel poor Albert Preheim, who was miserably +poor, dependent, and sincerely devoted to you? Because he had not +sufficient ability to serve you, because he was a man of limited +intellect. You did not keep me for my good but your own, because you +expected to find in me a useful tool, because a skillful agent for this +country was necessary. Tell me yourself, would you have done all this +for me if the matter had only concerned my welfare?" + +"No," said Severinus; "our mission is to serve God alone. This claims +us so entirely that the interests of individuals must be excluded. We +cannot trouble ourselves about any one who is not in some manner useful +to this end; he must apply to those orders whose sole vocation is the +practice of Christian charity. If he cannot find among them the +benefits he seeks, he would not be worthy of ours." + +"Well, for what do I owe you gratitude?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Because you were afforded an opportunity to advance the holiest cause, +to become a fellow-laborer in the service of the Highest Being. What +are we men, what is our feeble influence? Only when we belong to a +great band, unite our strength, direct our manifold powers towards +_one_ lofty aim, do we feel strong and have real weight. And the more +we enter into the struggle of the whole, the more petty cares for +ourselves disappear, then only do we obtain true contentment." + +"My noble Severinus," exclaimed _Heinrich_, "do you not suppose that I +too belong to such a band, like all who are imbued with one great aim? +Do you not suppose that there are sacred interests in the world and +among nations, whose representatives are united by an invisible bond of +common activity? Are you not sure that in our world also there are such +associations which, without compulsion or vows, without being bound by +time and space, or ruled by statutes, have an eternal existence?" + +"What you say sounds very noble; I know these are your philosophical +catch-words, but it is untenable," said Severinus. "Your union, +supposing that such an one might exist in fancy, is too diffuse to +produce the consciousness of mutual dependence, which can alone +suppress selfishness in individuals; you gentlemen, who desire to +promote the happiness of the world, always have room enough within the +limits of your imaginary union to cherish your individual cares and +interests, and make war upon yourselves. Even though your object may +perhaps be the same, you are always at variance about the means of +attaining it; nay, you are often, from purely personal motives, most +bitter enemies. You may have an association, but you have no unity, and +your efforts are unsuccessful in consequence of your want of harmony. +You lack positive legal consolidation, which is the secret of our +power; and while you win at tea-tables men of superior minds to join +your confederacy, we deprive you of the masses. You can undoubtedly +belong to such a band without injury to your egotism," he added, +smiling; "but you will always feel discontented and solitary." He +paused and gazed at _Heinrich_, then continued: "How differently you +would labor with us! My son, is there no way of bringing you back? Is +there no feeling of devotion which binds you to me? You say you are +free from every obligation to the order; are you also free from all +obligations to me? I think I have done more for you than even our +purpose would have rendered necessary. As prefect of the college, all +manner of claims were made upon me; yet when my days were occupied I +sacrificed my nights to initiate you into secrets which the order +confides only to a chosen few. I have borne with your thousand +caprices, smothered your passions with inexhaustible indulgence, and +unweariedly labored to develop your great talents. I wished to obtain +you for our cause, not only because we needed remarkable powers, but +also because I knew of no greater happiness for yourself. In you I +learned to love men once more; for your sake, I have become tolerant, +for your sake I have come from Rome. My chilled heart warmed towards +you as towards a son. Does this deserve no love,--not even +forbearance?" + +"Love!" said _Heinrich_, impatiently. "What do you desire? Men do not +love each other. I honor you, for you are the best and noblest of all +in the college, and if we had a common interest I would gladly join +you; but I do not deal in useless feelings, and frankly confess that I +don't understand how people can have them, except towards women." + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed Severinus. "So you believe you love only +what you desire to possess. You love nothing at all, _Heinrich_, and I +resign all hope of moving you by gentleness and kindness." So saying, +he started up and again leaned against the pedestal of the marble Hebe, +who vainly held her goblet of joy above his head. His delicately cut +features were slightly flushed, and his dark eyes flashed an imperious +glance at _Heinrich_. "Here stands a man who has devoted his whole life +to the service of a divine idea. Educated in a Jesuit college, sent +into the would as an ecclesiastical coadjutor, and finally promoted to +the rank of assistant, I learned to share all the joys and sorrows of +our order, and have become a Jesuit from the crown of my head to the +sole of my foot. I have felt every passion struggle within me and +subdued them all: for the honor of God was the object unchangeably +before my eyes; I used my life only as a preparation for eternity, and +therefore proudly approach death without blanching. Will you meet the +annihilation in which you believe as calmly?" + +"I hope so," said _Heinrich_, coldly. + +"And if, instead of your deities of sensuality which beckon to you +here, a bleeding Christ should appear before you in his chaste mother's +lap, pleading, 'Turn back to those who will guide you in my ways--'" + +"I would say to him, 'Lord, guide me in thy ways _thyself_!'" exclaimed +_Heinrich_, with a forced laugh. + +"And if we threatened you with the curse of the church?" + +"I would become a Protestant." + +"Misguided, accursed son of the flesh, with which you defile the vessel +of divinity, your joys shall one day be shivered by the hand of the +Lord like this idol!" cried Severinus in an outburst of fury, seizing +the Hebe and dashing it so violently at the feet of the startled +_Heinrich_ that the room shook and the graceful head rolled a long +distance. The dust rose from the floor in clouds. + +For a moment _Heinrich_ stood petrified with astonishment, gazing +regretfully at the beautiful broken limbs. "So you intend to close our +conversation with this resounding crash, father?" he asked at last, +when he had recovered his former sarcastic mood. + +"Close? Oh, no; we have not done with each other yet," said Severinus, +as he paced up and down the apartment several times, and then suddenly +paused with quiet dignity before _Heinrich_. "This is the most +disgraceful trick my impetuous temper has ever played me. Fortunately, +I can replace your broken property. It would be far more difficult to +repair the moral loss you have sustained in this hour. We will come to +an understanding quietly. My recent violence was the last outbreak of +my sorrow for your loss, but your cold derision has chilled my +affection forever. Ascribe it to your own conduct if my dealings with +you are henceforth destitute of all consideration. The _man_ is dead to +me, you are now simply the enemy of my church, whom at any cost I must +disarm." + +_Heinrich_ looked at him in astonishment. "Indeed, I am curious to +learn in what way you will propose to effect this." + +"You shall know at once. We must first determine the relations in which +you will in future stand towards our order." + +"That would be useless labor, father, since for a long time no +relations have existed between us, and none will ever be formed again!" + +"They will, they must exist! The tie was formerly a voluntary one on +your part, now it will be compulsory: that is the only difference. You +have proved to me that you have secretly deserted us, my care will be +to prevent your making it public; and since persuasion is unavailing, +this must be done by force." + +"Force?" cried _Heinrich_, starting up. "What do you mean?" + +"Simply that I possess means to compel you to that which you will not +do of your own free will." + +"Father Severinus, we intimidate children in this way, but not men!" + +Severinus looked him steadily in the face. "Have you ever seen me +employ empty threats?" + +"No," replied _Heinrich_, with visible anxiety. + +"Very well; then let us come to the point without further +circumlocution. You must first of all be fully informed of your present +situation. That you are pointed out as our agent, and consequently in +disfavor here, you know, and also that you must take leave as soon as +possible, if you prefer an honorable voluntary resignation to a +disgraceful dismissal." + +"And why must I do this? Who can dismiss me on the ground of such vague +accusations?" + +"These accusations will be proved." + +"They cannot be, for I shall find means to justify myself. Although I +cannot deny having been for some time connected with you, it does not +follow that this is still the case." + +"That too is provided for. We possess the most irrefutable proofs that +you still maintain an intercourse with us by letter." He drew out a +small portfolio. "Now I will ask you for a lamp." _Heinrich_ lighted +the candles, and saw two envelopes, which Severinus held out to him, +addressed in his own hand. "You see,--these envelopes contained the +replies to the General's requests concerning the erection of a private +institution in H----. We shall know how to conceal the fact that these +answers were refusals. It is enough that the postmarks on envelopes +addressed by your own hand will afford proofs of the recent existence +of a secret correspondence." + +"And of what use will they be if you are forced to conceal their +contents? Suppose you are asked why you do not produce the letters +themselves?" + +"It will be sufficient reason to say that they contained important +secrets which we cannot reveal on any account." + +_Heinrich_ passionately struck his brow. "Oh, could I suspect that I +had to deal with men to whom no measures are too petty, and who are not +ashamed to collect pitiful envelopes and use them to aid their +designs!" + +"Nothing is so trivial that it is not worth the trouble of keeping, if +it can serve the honest cause. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to +pick up a piece of old iron; why should not we, his servants, make even +the most trifling things useful for his designs?" + +"I hope, father, that you yourself feel the humorousness, not to say +absurdity, of such logic at this moment." + +"Let us not digress. I am aware that our proceedings can in no case +meet with your approval, and bear you no ill will for it; therefore I +have not submitted them to your judgment. Every word which does not +directly concern the matter in hand is a mere waste of time." + +"Well, then, father, we will use very few. Tell me exactly what you +require." + +"That you should bind yourself to contend with us no longer." + +_Heinrich_ burst into a loud laugh. "And by these untenable threats you +wish to induce me to take such a step! No, father, we have not yet gone +so far. Although I have no proofs that our correspondence was a hostile +one, you are equally unable to show that it was confidential and +friendly; far less, that I have failed in my duty towards my own +government. Our risks are equal." + +"If they are, I need only throw in these papers and your scale will +sink!" held aloft a roll of manuscript. "Here are the proofs of the +offenses you committed against your government and court during your +stay in Rome. Whoever sees them will no longer doubt that you are a +traitor now as well as then!" + +"Severinus!" cried _Heinrich_, fairly beside himself with fury. + +"Be calm, my friend; we are only weighing our comparative advantages +and disadvantages. If you compel me to make these papers public, your +honor and all your ambitious plans are destroyed!" + +"If you rob me of my future career as a statesman, woe betide you! Do +you see what an enemy you will find in me? I, too, am in possession of +secrets which you would not desire to have revealed!" + +"As we know this, my friend, we do you the honor of treating with you. +Towards any one else we should have adopted a shorter course. The only +point in question now is which of us has most to lose, and it is you!" + +"What do those papers contain?" asked _Heinrich_, in a hollow tone. + +"In the first place an article in your own hand, which you prepared at +the rector's command, containing the characteristics of this court and +those of the most influential persons who surround the prince." + +"That can only compromise me personally," said _Heinrich_, with forced +composure. + +"It can be displayed by a malevolent person as an act of treachery to +your court in favor of the Jesuits' designs,--and in fact it was +intended to aid us in our first steps here." + +"It failed, however, for the characteristics were not correct. Any one +who is familiar with the relations existing here will instantly +perceive that they are intentionally falsified, to mislead any one who +might wish to use them." + +"This may have proceeded from want of judgment quite as much as +design." + +_Heinrich_ suppressed a smile. "Oh, father, pardon my lack of modesty +if I doubt that any would impute want of judgment to _me_!" + +Severinus bit his lips. "You were a very young man, whose penetration +could not have been so well disciplined as now. Meantime, where many +proofs are brought together the number turns the scale, and I possess +one which will weigh heavier than all the rest." He drew a printed +document from his breast and pointed to the title. "Who is the author +of this pamphlet written in favor of the Jesuits and against your +government?" + +"I," said _Heinrich_, coldly. "But, fortunately, you can create no +proofs of the fact." + +"We can procure them." + +"_No_, father; there was but one, the manuscript written by my own +band; and this no longer exists, for I threw it into the fire myself, +and saw it burn with my own eyes. I knew you crafty gentlemen too well +to allow such a dangerous document to fall into your possession." + +"You burned the manuscript, but not the proof-sheets," said Severinus. +"When you asked for them you were told that they had already been +destroyed. Here are the corrections written in your own hand! You +wondered at the time that we should have such miserable compositors in +our secret printing-establishments, because you found whole words +wrong. You were unsuspicious enough not to perceive that the errors +were only made in order to obtain as many corrections as possible in +your handwriting; no one who knows its peculiar characteristics will +doubt the authenticity of this document." _Heinrich_ turned very pale. +He cast a glance of deadly hatred at Severinus, who was quietly +watching him. "Moreover, here is also the letter you sent to Father K. +with the pamphlets he had ordered; and although you took the precaution +not to name the title, no one will believe that you submitted to the +judgment of the General of the Jesuits any other manuscript than one +written in the interests of the order." expression of bitter irony +played around the priest's delicate lips. "It seems to me that you were +not aware how 'crafty' we are! You can now proceed to make public all +these 'contemptible coercive measures,' as you call them; you may +perhaps thereby injure us a little, but you will not justify yourself. +As soon as this secret is revealed you are lost. Suppose you hold +psychological discussions with your court and government concerning the +transformation which has taken place in you, and the causes that +induced you to deny your convictions for an entire year,--you will be +laughed at, and your name will be handed before all parties." + +_Heinrich_ trembled with rage. The painful dilemma into which he found +himself hurried without the slightest warning, the incomprehensibility +of his situation, the priest's crushing dialectics, and his own +physical exhaustion--all these combined causes so bewildered him that +he lost all control over himself, and following only the blind impulses +of his instinct, he vigorously rushed upon Severinus, who had just +replaced the document in his breast. "Hold!" he cried, seizing his arm. +"Do you really suppose I will voluntarily leave these papers, which +decide the destiny of my whole life, in your hands?" + +Severinus remained perfectly calm, and measured him with a contemptuous +glance. "Ottmar, I could defend myself if I did not have sufficient +confidence in your good sense to know that I am safe from violence." + +After a long pause, Severinus approached him; his expression became +more gentle, his harsh tone softened, and it seemed as if sorrow was +mirrored in his eyes as he laid his hand gently upon the young man's +shoulder and in a low tone murmured his name. The latter looked up +sullenly. + +"Ottmar, I do not act for myself, but for my church." + +"It is a matter of indifference to me for when you act if you destroy +my career. Oh, it is despicable! I have robbed you of the labors of a +year, but you are defrauding me of a whole life! Woe to him who rashly +ventures within your charmed circle! He can never break through it +without being crushed." + +"Ottmar, I do not understand how you could ever have imagined we would +send such an invaluable power into the world without holding in our +hands the leading-strings by which we could draw you back at any +moment. Let us come to some conclusion. I have the most positive orders +not to leave here without the security I have already mentioned. If you +do not promise to-night that you will voluntarily send in your +resignation, to-morrow I must commence proceedings which will make you +a dishonored man." + +"And I am to allow my hands to be tied, I am to mount to this height, +and in the zenith of my success to be hurled back to every-day +obscurity, laughed at and dishonored! No, I will not and cannot be +ruined by you! You recognize only the fanaticism with which you +incessantly pursue your own aims. I too am a fanatic; but it is in the +cause of ambition, and to this everything must yield, good and bad. You +shall perceive that I have not been your pupil in vain. You have +impressed upon me the stamp of your society to brand me in the eyes of +my party; but what will injure me at _Protestant_ courts will aid me in +_Catholic_ ones. If I am reported to be a Jesuit, I will make the rumor +profitable. I will enter the service of a Catholic country under the +guise of being in accord with you. You cannot contradict yourselves so +far as to decry me here as an ultramontanist and there as a liberal. I +will go to N----, where you are sure that I am powerless against you. +If this is not sufficient security, let the battle begin,--I can do no +more!" + +"It is the only expedient that you still have, if you seek your +happiness solely in the brilliancy of a diplomatic career; and it is +not our intention to exclude you from it, for we do not wish to drive +you to extremities unnecessarily. N---- is at least the only place +where you cannot injure us. On this condition we will mutually spare +each other and keep the peace; but if you succeed in obtaining +influence in N----, and should ever attempt to use it against us, we +have the power there to crush you at once: not by stratagem, but by our +firmly-established might. Do not forget this." + +"Ottilie," thought _Heinrich_, "you spoke the truth. I have so poisoned +the air with my falsehoods that I breathe nothing but corruption, and +am rightly served." "Well, then," he said to Severinus, "your holy +object is attained by the noblest means. You thrust a man, who has +hitherto made only a short digression from the path of right, into a +course of wrong and hypocrisy, careless whether a soul is destroyed, so +that appearances are preserved." + +Severinus cast down his eyes. "The cause must be saved; the individual +must be sacrificed to the cause. May God have mercy upon his soul, if +that which should lead him to good turns him to evil! Come, we will +repeat our agreement before witnesses." Severinus opened the door, and +they entered the drawing-room, where the others were waiting with +anxious faces. + +_Heinrich's_ offer was discussed in detail and confirmed by his word of +honor, after which he took a formal leave of the gentlemen. + +Severinus turned in the doorway and clasped his hand. "I do not know +what mysterious impulse of affection binds me to you, that, while +treating you as my worst enemy, tears of sorrow dim my eyes, although I +have only faithfully obeyed my orders. For Christ's sake forgive me, as +I pardon you, and if ever you need me call upon me!" He gazed at +_Heinrich_ with all the strange meaning of his wonderful eyes. It +seemed as if their brilliancy was shadowed by tears as he asked, "Shall +I not see you again when I return to H---- in a few weeks?" + +"No," said _Heinrich_. "I shall send in my resignation to-morrow, and +depart as soon as possible." + +Severinus suddenly clasped him passionately to his breast. "Farewell, +my lost son! From this hour I will love nothing but God!" Then he went +down the staircase with a steady step, without casting another glance +behind. Old Anton lighted the way, and then returned, pale but calm. + +"Where is Röschen?" exclaimed _Henri_, who was longing to forget the +tortures of the past hour in the arms of love. + +"She is not here," said the old man. + +"Not here?" asked _Henri_, in amazement. "Where is she?" + +"Forgive me, Herr Baron! I could do nothing else,--I took her home to +her father." + +"What! what!" cried _Henri_, fairly beside himself with rage. "Did you +dare to oppose your master? Leave this house early to-morrow morning +before I am up! I will never see you again!" + +He threw a heavy purse at his feet. The old man burst into tears, and +his knees trembled under him. + +"Herr Baron," he said, in a choking voice, "may you never regret having +driven such a faithful servant from you! Farewell! may God preserve +you!" + +With these words he tottered out of the room, while Ottmar threw +himself upon his couch in a mood of sullen discontent; for the first +time consciousness of his marred existence came over him with crushing +distinctness. + +The second step was taken; he had fallen one degree lower. The warning +voice had not failed him, but Egotism must complete his work at the +cost of everything else. + +The first act _Heinrich_ had committed against his conscience, under +the influence of this terrible demon, was the game he had played for a +year with the Jesuits, in order to obtain knowledge which would be +useful in his career. When he afterwards came to the decision, where he +had an equal amount to lose or gain, he chose the path of truth; but +now he again encountered the necessity of sacrificing his ambition or +his convictions, and principle was compelled to yield to egotism. He +would henceforth choose the path of falsehood, of worldly advantage, +instead of the only one which could lead him to higher things. + +He had bound himself to appear in N---- as an enemy of progress,--to +aid in oppressing an impoverished nation. He must persuade his +conscience that all his ideas of right and freedom were dead, and not +worth the sacrifice of a whole life of honor and influence,--that the +philanthropy which, in the guise of an earnest sense of duty, had lived +his cold intellect, was an eccentricity of his youth, and must yield to +his own advantage; in truth, it could not be otherwise. Only the +emotional nature makes all ideas so living that we weep, suffer, and +bleed for them as if they were real sentient beings, and gives us, for +men whom we cannot draw within the circle visible to our senses, that +warm feeling of sympathy which we call philanthropy. But he had lost +this power, and with it a true sense of honor, yet to-night he found no +repose. He was formed by nature for noble ends, and although he no +longer felt as he had done in former days, he knew what his emotions +were once. He knew the difference between right and wrong, and that he +was choosing the latter, and looked back with shame upon the preceding +day. + +Both _Heinrich_ and _Henri_ had fallen equally low. If _Heinrich_ had +crushed his sense of right and yielded to ambition, _Henri_ had gone so +far in his pursuit of pleasure that he had sought to destroy a young, +trusting heart, and angrily driven away the old man who had opposed his +design. _Egotism had completed his victory over both natures_. Haunted +by these and similar thoughts, he at last fell asleep just before dawn. + +It was late in the forenoon when he awoke. The rays of the winter sun +were shining upon the bright, blooming landscapes on his window +curtains; a few freezing, starving birds were twittering loudly; +everything bore a delusive semblance of spring, which had as little +existence in the outside world as in his own breast. He opened his +eyes, looked around him, and with a deep sigh murmured those words of +painful disappointment: "Thank God, you have only been dreaming!" He +sank back upon his pillows for a moment; it seemed as if his soul had +not yet opened its eyes and was still slumbering, while he watched the +bright colors upon his curtains. It seemed to him as if the door would +open and old Anton come in to wake him. "Yes!" he called aloud, and +started up. But he found himself alone. He rubbed his eyes and +remembered that for the first time in his life Anton had failed to +rouse him at the right hour. He had sent him away that very night! It +was no dream: he had really done and experienced everything! "What has +been begun must be finished," he said, with gloomy resolution, and rose +to enter upon his sinful new career. + + + + + VI. + + THE PRISON FAIRY. + + +Six years afterwards, on a cold, dreary November day, a grumbling, +discontented crowd was waiting before the building in which the weal +and woe of the country of N---- were decided. An important conference +had just been concluded,--a consultation concerning increasing the +severity of the punishments inflicted upon political criminals. +Carriages drove up, and ministers and councilors entered them. At last +a brilliant equipage, drawn by two snorting, spirited gray horses, +dashed up so quickly that the crowd shrank back in terror, and looked +at the door in eager expectation. Two servants hastily let down the +steps. A slender man appeared who had not yet reached middle life, but +on whose pallid face sharp lines were already visible. He did not +vouchsafe to cast a glance at the throng, but as he entered the +carriage he heard those near him whisper, "That is Ottmar; he is one of +the worst of them." The door was closed, the footmen sprang back to +their places, and the impatient steeds dashed through the crowd like +griffins. + +"Do you hate me at last?" murmured the cold man in the carriage. "It is +well; if I once see I am hated I shall be able to shake off this +remnant of conscientiousness that still tortures me, and henceforth +live only for myself and my own aims." + +The carriage stopped before a castle-like building, the state prison. +Ottmar had for some time been commissioner of one of the revolutionary +provinces of the country, where of late a new uprising was feared, and +had therefore received orders to try to draw from the political +prisoners, who were natives of that region, disclosures which might +place some clue to the conspiracy in the hands of the government. The +prince had selected him for this office because his cold watchfulness, +smoothness, and skill in dealing with different natures seemed to make +him peculiarly fitted for it. During the short time that Ottmar had +been in the employ of the N---- government he had risen to the rank of +privy councilor and member of the council of state, and displayed his +talents in the widest spheres. He was the trusted friend of the young +prince, over whom he exerted an inexplicable power, executor of the +most secret measures, not unfrequently employed to deal with the agents +of foreign courts, and his enemies began to fear him more and more when +they perceived too late that his influence had already pervaded the +whole court. + +What it had cost him to submit and cringe to a system which his inmost +soul abhorred, though with the longing to be or strive for something +better he had violently crushed down every other feeling, as egotism +and ambition had always suppressed the better emotions of unbiased +convictions, was stamped in terrible characters upon the haggard, +pallid, but still handsome face, the frail but haughtily erect figure. + +He walked in gloomy silence behind the guide, who was taking him to the +worst criminals in the lower story. A cold breeze blew over him, +chilling his breast, and he involuntarily said to himself, "Yet men are +compelled to live here!" It seemed as if the sound of despairing sobs +reached his ear through one of the iron doors. He paused and listened. +A low, soft voice appeared to be speaking words of solemn warning. + +"Open this cell," he said to his guide; but the latter did not move. + +"Oh, Herr Baron!" he said, imploringly, "shall we not go to the others +first?--the man in there is very violent." + +"Open the door!" said _Heinrich_, imperiously. + +"Have mercy; we are all ruined men if you do not have mercy upon us!" +stammered the guide, in the greatest confusion. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked _Heinrich_, extremely perplexed. +"I will be merciful if I can, but open the door at once." + +The man hesitatingly unlocked the low door, and _Heinrich_ stood in the +entrance as if spell-bound. A young girl, thoughtful and beautiful as +artists paint the Muse of History, was sitting on a stool holding in +her lap a book, from which she had apparently just been reading aloud. +She was bending over the prisoner, who had thrown himself weeping on +the ground at her feet, and speaking to him consolingly. _Heinrich_ +motioned to the guide to be silent, and hastily retreated behind the +door that he might not be seen. + +"You have come too early, surely. I have not yet spent half an hour +with Sebastian," said the young girl. A pale sunbeam fell upon her as +she raised her head and shook back from her face a mass of luxuriant +curls. Her full lips pouted a little as she asked the jailer, "What is +the matter with you to-day? why do you look at me so?" + +"You must come out now," said he. + +She rose slowly. + +"Stand up, Sebastian; be reasonable." + +She bent over the despairing man and tried to help him rise; but he +pressed his face still more closely to the damp ground. + +"Stand up!" she suddenly commanded. "Behave like a man, not like a +child, if you wish me ever to come here again." + +The prisoner rose. He was an old man, decrepit and thin, with the +staring eyes peculiar to those who for years have vainly endeavored to +pierce with their glances the dungeon walls that surround them. + +"Oh, do not be angry!" he pleaded. "I am calm now." + +"Farewell for to-day, my poor Sebastian!" she said, returning to her +former wonderfully gentle tone, and walked quickly along the passage to +the next door. As she looked round to see if the warden was going to +open it for her she perceived _Heinrich_, who could now no longer +conceal himself. He advanced towards her, and she watched his approach +with surprise, but very calmly. Her gaze had only been fixed upon his +breast, which glittered with orders; but as he stood silently before +her in his manly dignity she raised her dark eyes to his, and their +glances met like electric sparks. A flush slowly suffused the young +girl's clearly cut face, and she involuntarily cast down her eyes as if +she had received a shock. + +"I am very much surprised to find such charming society in these +inhospitable apartments, Fräulein," _Heinrich_ began. + +"I do not think it so very astonishing if the jailer's daughter seeks +to aid her father in his arduous duties." + +"Pardon me, Fräulein, if I take the liberty of doubting the accuracy of +that statement," said _Heinrich_. "A jailer's daughter does not use +such language; besides, the alarm displayed just now when I wished to +enter the cell was far too great for me not to attribute more +importance to your incognito. I am, unfortunately, compelled to look at +your romantic appearance here through the extremely prosaic spectacles +of an official, whose duty it is to obtain information in regard to +every unusual event; therefore, by virtue of my office, I must inquire +your name as well as request an explanation of your object." + +The young girl looked at him with a long, steady gaze, while an +expression played around her lips which _Heinrich_ had never before +seen on a woman's face,--a slight shade of irony. + +"Very well, sir; if these people have already betrayed me I need use no +further deception. I did not employ it for my own sake, but on account +of these poor employees whom I have estranged from their duty. My name +I hope I may be permitted to conceal; but I owe you an explanation +about my object: it is only to do good. As others go to hospitals to +heal diseased bodies, the majority of which can no longer be saved, I +come hither to aid sick souls, where often the best and highest results +may be effected. Do you think that so romantic? I have surely done no +wrong in bribing the officials here, partly by money, partly by kind +words, to allow me to make a daily round through the cells. In +charitable institutions the doors and gates stand open to all who wish +to bring aid and consolation to the sufferers. The thrice wretched +unfortunates in our prisons are refused all means of cheering and +ennobling them. No account is taken of individuality here, where +individuality is the sole standard of measurement. A chaplain is sent +to admonish criminals to repent, who is to convert them all in a lump +according to his own theories; but people trouble themselves very +little about the result of this manufacturing method of conversion, and +when at the expiration of their imprisonment the criminals are sent +back into the world, they begin again just where they stopped years +before." + +"Oh, Fräulein, you go too far! The punishment itself does most, for it +terrifies them," replied _Heinrich_. + +"Some, but certainly by far the smallest number. Many in the course +of years become so hardened to it by custom that it loses its terrors, +and the only moral the majority draw from imprisonment is--to manage +more cautiously in future. There is only one guarantee for the +permanent harmlessness of the criminal who cannot be imprisoned for +life--amendment; but this principal object of punishment is always made +subservient to the principle of avenging the insulted law." + +"Well, and can you tell me also how this amendment is to be effected?" +asked _Heinrich_, with increasing interest. + +"I think by the admitting of judicious, trustworthy persons who can +understand these different characters, and influence by advice and +instruction, where the latter is needed." + +"I admire your sanguine, philanthropic ideas," replied _Heinrich_; "but +tell me yourself, my honored Fräulein, would not the state have too +much to do if it was compelled to take into account the peculiarities +of each individual criminal, and establish and pay a whole corporation +of amendment officials?" + +This jeer wounded the young girl, and a deep flush crimsoned her noble, +intellectual brow for a moment; but after a pause she continued, +undaunted: "Such a task would perhaps be too visionary and +comprehensive for the government; but the citizens would come to its +aid in this as well as in benevolent institutions, and from the hearts +of the populace a corps of volunteer amendment officials would arise, +in which our noblest patriots would undoubtedly be associated. But I +have no intention of discussing a subject upon which folios have been +already written, and which you understand better than I. I only wished +to give the motive for my actions; and your recent sneer," she added, +in a slightly defiant tone, "has fully convinced me that you will at +least consider these 'sanguine philanthropic ideas' in the mind of a +fanciful young girl too harmless to put them on official record, so my +examination is doubtless over." + +"Not yet," said _Heinrich_, firmly. "Your ideas and language do not +seem to me quite so harmless as you suppose. I cannot help desiring to +obtain more exact information concerning the motives of your acts and +the bearing of your influence. I must and shall find means to do so. +You stand too proudly and firmly before me for me to be able to believe +so implicitly in the purposelessness of your enthusiasm. I am a servant +of the government; as such it is both a duty and a right to ask, 'Who +are you? in what relations do you stand towards the prisoners? what is +your object?'" + +"Who I am I shall not tell you; in what relations I stand towards the +prisoners and what influence I exert you can learn from themselves; as +for my object, can you not understand it? I am making myself useful. Do +you think it requires another and more important purpose to act as I +have done?" + +"Making yourself useful?" repeated _Heinrich_, thoughtfully. "Do you +really imagine you are of much use here?" + +"_How much_ is not for me to measure, I make myself as useful as I can. +If every one only did this the world would be happier. It is not the +success, but the will, that determines the value of an act. Vanity asks +only about the result, honest purpose is satisfied with the doing." + +"Indeed!" said _Heinrich_. "Are you so totally free from vanity?" + +"Oh, no!" She suddenly burst into a merry laugh, and a ray of bright +healthful enjoyment sparkled in her eyes. "I will not say that. God +forbid that I should surround myself with a false halo. I am as vain as +every other young girl; it is only where the sphere of my earnest labor +is concerned that I am humble and modest, then my own person retires +completely into the background, and I live solely to accomplish my +purpose. But in the outside world, where I am least useful, I am vain, +assuming, and selfish. I have often thought of this contradiction." + +"I understand that," said _Heinrich_; "you feel small in comparison to +your ideas and wishes, because like all gifted human beings you always +desire more than you can accomplish. But when, outside of this sphere, +you meet with commonplace, petty natures, you feel great, because you +desire and accomplish so much more than they. Am I not right?" + +The girl raised her eyes in astonishment, and looked at him earnestly. +"You are right, and must have studied psychology more than one would +have expected from a 'servant of the government.'" + +"There is a singular blending of jest and earnest in your disposition," +said _Heinrich_. "I have never before witnessed such rapid transitions +from gay to grave and grave to gay in any one. Yes, I might really +believe you followed only your own impulses without motive or purpose." + +"Indeed, indeed you can! Believe me, I am doing nothing and want +nothing, except to prove my love for mankind in every possible way. You +seem to give me credit for political intrigues and dangerous +connections. Oh, go to the prisoners, and convince yourself whether the +spirit I instill is a revolutionary one or one of humility and +repentance! By the manner in which I have taught these people to bear +their misfortunes you will see whether my intentions are good and pure; +and then you will give no information, but permit me to continue my +office here, will you not?" + +_Heinrich_ made no reply; he was gazing earnestly into the sparkling +eyes of the suppliant. Suddenly he pointed to the nearest door. "Go in +to the prisoner there,--unobserved; I will watch how you discharge the +duties of your office and then decide." + +The warder opened the door, and the young girl quietly entered. A +shrill cry of joy greeted her. "Oh, Prison Fairy! dear Prison Fairy! +have you come at last?" exclaimed a young man. + +"Why does he call her that?" _Heinrich_ asked the turnkey, in a low +tone. + +"One of the prisoners gave her the name, and since then we have all +called her by it, because we know no other, and this suits her so +well." + +"Oh, dear Fairy, I have passed another terrible night! So long as you +are here I am as good as a child," continued the prisoner; "but when +you go away, the old sorrow bursts forth again in all its fury. Oh, if +I could go out into the world and satisfy the impulses of my own heart! +Something might be made of me now, but after five years it will perhaps +be too late. I felt that last night. True, the power to do evil may +perhaps be broken in a ten years' imprisonment, but so is the strength +to do well; and when I am sent out of this place, crippled in body and +soul, an outcast from society, robbed of all civil honors and ability, +it will get the dominion over me again. Then I shall be a mere idiot, +who can no longer think of or feel anything except the greatness of his +own misery; and for the assault I committed in a moment of passion, a +twofold murder will have been practiced upon my body and soul during +these ten years!" + +"Albert, why are you in such a horrible mood to-day?" asked the young +girl, in alarm. "You have not been so for a long time." + +"Because I have been obliged to wait for you during so many painful +hours; because I thought you were not coming again, and felt that in +you alone is rooted the power which has upheld me for the last three +years, that I should be lost if you remained away. No, I have not +deserved this punishment." + +"Albert, shall I repeat what I have always told you? Repeat it +yourself." + +"You said I was aware of the punishment, and voluntarily drew it upon +myself by my crime, that I must bear what was the result of my own +guilt; but I assure you again and again that if that terrible moment I +had been sufficiently master of myself to be able to think, I should +never have committed the crime; not from fear of the punishment, but of +the sin." + +"That excuses you in my eyes, but not in those of the law. Will you +never be able to perceive that a man of such blind passions must be +made harmless? Who will guarantee that the next instant, spite of all +good resolutions, he may not be attacked by the same madness and commit +a second murder?" + +"Harmless! Yes, yes, I have been made harmless!" he groaned. "Why do +you conjure up all the stings of conscience when I so greatly need +consolation?" + +"Because I see more clearly than ever that only the memory of your +guilt makes your misery endurable; because you complain of the +injustice of your punishment, and always become calmer when forced to +acknowledge that, if not deserved, it was at least necessary and +unfailing. And has not God sent a comfort to you in your sorrow,--a +soul which understands you, which brings news of your beloved into your +dungeon, and keeps the heart of your betrothed bride faithful to you? +Is not this a divine mercy which can cheer you?" + +"Yes, yes, I acknowledge the blessing, and for the sake of this mercy +will strive and hope that I may procure for you the only reward you can +receive, noble, wonderful creature!--the consciousness of having saved +a soul!" + +"Yes, my friend, give me that reward; it is the noblest gift which can +be bestowed upon me for my efforts; and if I live to see the day when, +purified and ennobled, you return to the world, I shall thank God more +fervently than ever for having given me a heart to suffer with others, +and also make them rejoice." + +"And some day I will tell my children of the 'Prison Fairy!'" cried the +young man, transported with hope. + +Just at that moment _Heinrich_ appeared in the doorway. "Well, sir," +said the young girl, "is any other motive needed for my conduct? Do you +now believe that such a moment would outweigh years of fruitless toil?" + +"I understand and believe you, for you are a perfect enthusiast," said +_Heinrich_, seizing her hand. + +"Do you call this enthusiasm?" she said. "If so, every great act of +love, from Christ's down to our own times, has been enthusiasm, and +nothing is true and real except enthusiasm and its results. I confess, +sir, that if all mankind shared your views, I would rather live with my +prisoners in this dungeon than in the outside world!" + +_Heinrich_ gazed in astonishment at the proud, girlish figure, with the +natural dignity of a pure, unshaken self-appreciation on the undaunted +brow, and the alluring grace of true womanhood in the soft, undulating +outlines of the whole frame; and an admiring reverence overwhelmed him, +such as, for many a long year, no woman had inspired in his breast. + +"Do not misunderstand me, Fräulein. You take the word in a different +sense from the one intended. Where enthusiasm is united to such energy +as you possess, it has always accomplished the noblest deeds the world +has ever known; but we usually give that name----" + +"To what we have no power to feel ourselves," involuntarily interrupted +the excited girl; and it seemed as if her glance rested sorrowfully +upon _Heinrich's_ beautiful, expressive features. + +_Heinrich_ stood speechless. He felt as if a burning brand had suddenly +been cast into the dark recesses of his soul, and his spiritual eyes +were following the light as it penetrated deeper and deeper. + +Just at that moment the prisoner's voice interrupted his reverie. + +"Pardon me, sir," he began, timidly, "have I not the honor of seeing +Herr von Ottmar?" + +"Albert!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, "is it really you? I thought I +recognized you, but doubted it, because I should have expected to find +you in a monastery rather than a dungeon, and besides, you are very +much altered. How did you, of all the world, happen to be placed in +such close confinement?" + +"Oh, Herr von Ottmar, you were so kind to me at college, may I tell you +the story of my misfortune?" said Albert, the person who had been at +the Jesuit college with _Heinrich_, and of whom he had spoken in his +interview with Severinus. + +"Will you allow it, Fräulein?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly," replied the young girl, joyfully. "Perhaps the tragical +history may for once arouse even in you the enthusiasm of compassion." + +With these words she glanced at _Heinrich_ with a pleading, +inexpressibly charming smile. The latter could not turn his eyes away +from the wonderfully changeful face, but murmured, as if in assent, +"Prison Fairy!" + +Meantime Albert had commenced his story. At first _Heinrich_ gave it +very little attention; gradually, however, he became attracted and +listened eagerly, even anxiously. Albert related how, after being +expelled from the order in the second year of his novitiate, he had for +some time earned a scanty support, and at last lived several years as a +tutor in the family of a wealthy German merchant. Six years before, +this family removed from Italy to Germany, and in fact to the very +capital where Ottmar had lived before his departure for N----. "There," +said he, "I became acquainted with a young girl,--a girl who was really +as pure and blooming as a rose. I had never loved a woman before,--the +dark, ardent Italians were repulsive to my quiet nature,--but when I +found the thoughtful, golden-haired German maiden, I clung to her with +fervent affection. She loved me; and I, who had been tossed about the +world from a child, was intoxicated by her tenderness, as if it were +the aroma of some costly wine. I gradually neglected my pupils, my +duty, and several times received censure; but in vain. Passion, so long +repressed, was aroused, and locked me, the novice, completely within +its magic circle. + +"But now I became the sport of other feelings, which were more +dangerous to me,--I grew jealous. My beloved suddenly seemed changed. +She became timid, absent-minded, embarrassed, and day by day colder. I +spoke to her father. The old man asked me whether I doubted the virtue +of his child. The fever of jealousy and suspicion increased. I had no +thoughts for anything else, and no longer knew what I was doing. Then +one day my employers dismissed me. They had grown weary of my indolence +and absence of mind, and I was penniless. With an agonized soul I +hurried through the gathering twilight to seek my betrothed. I wished +to find her heart once more,--the heart for which I had sacrificed and +lost all. She was deeply moved when I told her of my misfortune and the +tortures I had suffered for her sake; and as in decisive moments a +long-concealed truth is often revealed, her innocent breast in this +agitation could no longer hide its secret. She confessed, amid tears of +agony and remorse, that she was on the point of being lost to me +forever; that an aristocratic, handsome, brilliant gentleman had +tempted her, and she was too weak to withstand him; that he had loaded +her and her father with favors of all kinds, and she had thought +gratitude made it her duty to obey him; nay, he had even persuaded her +to come to his garden, but there, heaven be praised! she had been saved +from disgrace by his old valet. The gentleman must have gone away an a +journey, for she had heard nothing more from him. + +"So I had sacrificed everything, and this was my reward. I stood +silent, trembling from head to foot, as I leaned against the window in +the little dark room on the ground-floor. I was not accustomed to say +much, but I felt all the more. A cold perspiration trickled down my +forehead; my clammy hands clinched the sill; the lights out-of-doors +cast strange, unsteady shadows into the room, and dim, restless shadows +settled upon my brain. At last I asked with difficulty, 'Who is the +scoundrel?' The young girl had been standing beside me pale and +trembling, with her eyes fixed intently upon the street. Suddenly she +screamed and retreated from the window alarm. There he comes! so he +hasn't gone yet! It is he! he is coming!' I saw a tall, slight figure, +closely wrapped in a cloak approach the house; heard that it was he! +The blood rushed to my brain! I seized an axe that was lying near the +stove, dashed out, and felled the approaching figure to the ground! The +young girl ran after me terror, saw the wounded man, and screamed, +Jesus Maria! it is not he! You have killed an innocent person!' I felt +bewildered and unable to move. Just then the man opened his eyes, +looked at me, and gasped my name. My heart seemed to stop beating! I +had killed Father Severinus!" + +A long pause ensued. The prisoner was living over these scenes again, +and needed a moment to collect his thoughts. + +_Heinrich_ gazed fixedly at the floor in silence. The Prison Fairy, in +her dark dress, leaned calmly against the wall, her eyes resting on +_Heinrich's_ agitated face. + +"What is the young girl's name?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Röschen, the daughter of Martin the beadle," replied Albert. + +"And you do not know the name of your rival?" + +"I have never learned it," continued Albert "I said no more to Röschen +that terrible evening. She was the first to regain composure, and made +me understand I must go home. Her father returned immediately after, +and procured assistance for the wounded man, who did not again recover +his consciousness while in his house. The old man stated that he had +found him in the street. He could swear to this deposition, for he did +not suspect the true state of affairs. So no one thought of me except +Röschen. She thought he would never open his eyes again to betray me, +and before the police came to Martin's house, to avoid a possible +cross-examination, went to one of Princess Ottilie's maids. The latter +instantly took her to the princess--" + +"What, to Ottilie?" eagerly interrupted _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly," replied Albert; "the princess has known her for a long +time through the maid, who was well disposed towards Röschen, and often +gave her work. The princess, gracious and benevolent as she always is, +had once told her if she had anything to ask to come to her. So on this +terrible day Röschen told the noble lady all her troubles, and the +princess induced her to take an oath never to reveal to me nor any one +else who her tempter was." + +"Did Röschen mention his name to her?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Yes; and the princess must have been very kindly disposed towards the +gentleman,--she insisted so earnestly that it should remain concealed. +Then she gave Röschen money to aid me to escape and enable me to +support myself for a long time, and promised to take her under her +protection. In the firm conviction that Severinus could not survive the +blow, I was mad enough to fly to N----, my native country. But although +the doctors gave him up, he recovered his senses sufficiently to +denounce me as the criminal. He expressed the most positive suspicion +that I had made the murderous assault solely from revenge towards him +because he had been the first in the college to declare me useless. A +warrant was issued, and I was arrested and brought up for trial." + +"But how did you happen to receive so severe a punishment, when +Severinus escaped with his life and you had no premeditated design?" +asked _Heinrich_. + +"But I had no means of proving the fact!" cried Albert, despairingly. +"I could do nothing but protest that I did not wish to punish +Severinus, but the man who had tempted my betrothed bride. I could not +tell who this tempter was, for I did not know; and I wished to conceal +the name of my betrothed, for I would have died rather than bring the +hitherto blameless girl into a disgraceful trial and brand her for +life. Thus I could not prove the circumstances which might have placed +my act in a more favorable light, and consequently my whole defense was +rejected as a mere subterfuge. The statements of the angry Severinus +were far more clear and positive than mine, so I was sentenced to ten +years' imprisonment in irons, and would gladly bear my misery, nay, +even death," he added, gnashing his teeth, "if I had only struck down +that scoundrel of a seducer instead of the innocent Severinus, or at +least could ever discover who he is!" + +"Who he is? Look at me, Albert!" cried _Heinrich_. "I am that +_scoundrel_!" + +"Sir, you only tell me so because I stand before you in chains," cried +Albert, starting like a wounded animal. His veins swelled, his fingers +tore at his fetters, his breast heaved convulsively. + +"Do you think so, unhappy man?" cried _Heinrich_. "Now let us see +whether you will venture to lay hands upon me." + +With these words he led the young girl out of the cell, and ordered the +jailer to remove the irons at once. + +"I command it, and will be responsible," he said, imperiously, as they +hesitated, "and then lock us both in from the outside." The fetters +were taken off, and the turnkeys withdrew, locking the door behind +them. + +"Now summon up your courage; you see that I am unarmed and your chains +are removed," said _Heinrich_, standing directly before him, and gazing +at him with an unwavering glance. + +The unhappy roan stood motionless for a moment, engaged in a most +violent struggle with his emotions. At last his whole frame trembled, +his hands fell as if weighed down by fetters of double weight, and he +sank at _Heinrich's_ feet, unable to utter a word. + +The latter gazed at him a moment in silence, and then knocked on the +door. The turnkeys came in anxiously and raised Albert, but his knees +still trembled so violently that he was obliged to sit down on his bed. +The Prison Fairy, with a sublime expression of sympathy, stroked his +burning brow, and gazed at _Heinrich_ with imploring expectation. + +The latter quietly approached the group. "Albert, I have convinced +myself that you can subdue your passions. You are worthy of the freedom +I shall now help you secure. You shall no longer suffer for my +frivolity, and both you and this lady shall be convinced that I am no +scoundrel. Farewell for to-day." + +Albert suddenly clasped his hands over his brow, and a flood of tears +relieved his oppressed heart. _Heinrich_ looked for a long time at the +young girl, who, with pallid face, was gazing silently at the floor, +then begged her to follow him, and left the cell. + +When they were outside, he asked, "What do you think of me now?" + +"If you go on and give yourself up to the law, as the best proof of +Albert's deposition, I shall think well of you." + +"I have determined to do something of the kind," said _Heinrich_, "and +I hope you will then be convinced that I am not so entirely destitute +of all enthusiasm." + +"I shall be very glad, for the sake of my prisoners." + +"Only for your prisoners? Why not for your own sake too?" + +"Because it will principally concern the welfare of the unfortunate men +who are now apparently dependent upon your compassion. I, thank God, +have nothing to hope from you." + +"Indeed!" said _Heinrich_, in an irritated tone. "But if, after those +words, I refuse you permission to go to your _protégés_ again?" + +"You will not do that," replied the young girl, firmly. "If you really +feel compassion, you will not, merely from an irritable whim, deprive +the prisoners of the only comfort that can be afforded them in their +cheerless situation." + +"Fräulein," said _Heinrich_, with his usual winning courtesy, "you +certainly do very little to bribe the government official; yet this +very course wins me still more, and I do not merely permit, I entreat +you to return and accept me as your assistant." + +"So long as you are with the prisoners, sir, they will not need me. +Permit me to come here at a time when you are absent." + +"You have become suspicious of me; we are farther apart now than at the +first moment of meeting. My candor in your presence was over-hasty. +Forgive me, and mingle a little of your kindness of heart with the +austerity of your youthful ideas of virtue, that you may not utterly +condemn. Will you? You forgive, and try to reform even criminals: +reform me too. Why are you so intolerant to me alone?" + +She gazed at him with gentle earnestness, and slowly shook her head. +"When I enter a prison, I know I shall find a criminal, and am prepared +for arguments about sin which are not too difficult to disprove. But +with you I am disappointed and embarrassed, for your face promised +something better, and I cannot enter into your delicate sophistry. I am +an 'enthusiast'; you a 'servant of the government': the two characters +are not easily harmonized. Farewell. Allow me to choose the time of my +visits here, and forgive the poor jailers whom I have outwitted." With +these words she hastily ran up the stone staircase. + +_Heinrich_ stamped his foot angrily on the floor. "Willful, haughty +witch!" he murmured, as he hurried after her. + +She paused on the upper step and nodded to him with all the winning +charm of heartfelt emotion. "Be kind to my prisoners, Herr von Ottmar, +and I will be kind to you!" Then, turning a corner, she disappeared +before _Heinrich_ could follow her. He gazed into vacancy, as if he +wished to trace in the air the shadow into which she seemed to have +dissolved before his eyes. + +The jailers timidly approached him with their petition for pardon. "You +shall be forgiven for the sake of this lady's eloquence, which is +difficult to resist. But on pain of losing your places let no one hear +of what has taken place to-day, or may occur in future," said +_Heinrich_, sternly, and left the building. + +The two turnkeys looked at each other a long time in silence; at last +one said, as the result of his meditations, "It's the Prison Fairy!" + +_Heinrich's_ astonishment was raised to the highest pitch by the +appearance of this young girl. Even the thought of the strange fatality +which had made Severinus the innocent victim of the sensuality he had +denounced so bitterly, a few weeks before, could not long fix his +attention. He was convinced that Severinus had discovered to what +"rose" he had wished to open his doors, and had gone to Martin's house +with the intention of obtaining his daughter's confidence, and using it +against him. "Poor Severinus!" said he. "You were compelled to pay +dearly for your efforts to save souls. The ghost of the artist whose +Hebe you so mercilessly shattered has revenged itself upon you; but the +innocent tool of this vengeance was the very person whom you had most +deeply injured, the poor, rejected Albert! Oh, the wonderful justice of +fate!" + +Then he returned again to the remarkable apparition of the young girl, +which unceasingly occupied his thoughts. She had such a peculiar, +changeful temperament that she had pleasantly affected every chord of +his being. A deep earnestness gleamed through the naïve coquetry by +which she had sought to bribe him to favor her _protégés_. He perceived +that hers was a kindred spirit, that she too, like himself, was under +the influence of supernatural powers, but in her childlike soul had +unconsciously united these forces in harmonious, changeful action, +instead of, like him, being their sport. + +This perception awed him. He felt that he would be understood by this +nature if he showed himself openly to her, and rejected a thousand +plans to discover who she was. "What strength is it that, in a feeble +woman, rules powers which have crushed and conquered me--a man? Would +not this strength exert a blissful influence over me also? With what +joyous pride she said, 'I am making myself useful.' She is happy in the +thought, and wants nothing more. Is it possible? Yet it must be. In her +character lies concealed that spirit of martyrdom which dies smiling +for its idea. + +"There is something strange in a philanthropy which rejoices in making +others happy. Hitherto I have not desired to give joy to any one except +myself! Perhaps she will teach me her art. + +"She joyously collects the tears of her dirty criminals as if they were +the most precious pearls. I wear on my breast the jewels of various +orders,--and yet all have never given me so much pleasure as a single +tear causes her. + +"Who knows, perhaps I have not yet done as much to earn my orders as +she was compelled to do to win her pearls from the secret depths of +those hardened souls. Oh, she is a glorious creature! She has the +cleverness of a man, and yet is so thoroughly womanly. She proves +conclusively that woman can really rise above her narrow sphere of +ideas without becoming unwomanly, and that the true emancipation of the +mind has nothing in common with that emancipation from principles and +forms which so often repels us in those termed women of genius. Yes, +such a woman would be capable of obtaining an influence over me. + +"But what shall I do to find her again? First of all, I will do what +she desired, I will confess the truth to the prince and obtain Albert's +pardon. Noble as she is in thought and feeling, she will be touched and +conciliated,--will believe in me. So, when occasion offers, I am doing +a good deed once more. The prince is a sensible man. He will see the +affair in its true light and not refuse me the little favor." + + + + + VII. + + AN ARISTOCRAT. + + +_Heinrich_ went to the palace that very day and requested a private +audience. The prince, a young man with stern features and aristocratic +bearing, received him in his study. He had just risen from his +writing-table, which was covered with a pile of papers, and upon his +lofty brow still rested the shadows of thought, which began slowly to +disappear at the sight of Ottmar. The large blue eyes seemed wearied +with toil, and gazed earnestly into vacancy, as if in search of some +ideal country that could be better governed than his own. Long, fair +whiskers framed his delicate face. His youthful, earnest character +confined itself rigidly to the strict forms of unapproachable dignity. +Words flowed from his lips as purely, readily, and smoothly as a cool +breeze, and any one who saw him for the first time would be chilled by +the frigid reserve which pervaded his whole appearance. He was the very +type of the aristocrat by birth and education, who had polished his +manners into an impalpable shield against the common herd. The +foundation of all aristocratic deportment is economy of time. The +aristocrat husbands all personal exertion as far as possible. He +chooses the shortest, most indispensable forms of speech, limits his +voice to the lowest tone that can be heard, and his gestures to those +absolutely unavoidable. He considers this a duty towards himself and +others; he speaks curtly and rapidly, because he is always in a hurry +himself and is not sure that others may not be also; uses a low tone, +because he does not know whether it will be agreeable to others to hear +more of his voice than may be necessary to comprehend his meaning; +makes few or no gestures, because he does not wish to compel the eyes +of others to follow aimless courses and bendings. In intercourse with +his superiors or equals, modesty forbids him to intrude more of his +personal character than is indispensably connected with the affair, and +pride withholds him from revealing to his inferiors anything more than +is unavoidable. Thus alone the aristocrat acquires the self-control and +delicacy that distinguish him. Only by this silent accommodation to +forms, limited to the lowest minimum of personal exertion, does he when +a courtier regain the time of which the necessary ceremonials rob him, +and only this extreme indulgence and careful use of his physical +strength gives him the endurance demanded by the exactions of +court-life. + +The young prince was a perfect type of these precepts. Whether a warm +or cold heart throbbed beneath that smooth exterior, even _Heinrich_, +his confidant, did not venture to decide. + +"You have come at a very opportune moment, my dear Ottmar," said he. "I +was about to send for you." + +_Heinrich_ bowed low, in answer to this greeting. + +"See, here are a pile of papers and letters which I wish to share with +you. So much has come at the same time." + +"You know, my prince, that you have no more devoted servant than I. Let +me bear a part of your burden," said _Heinrich_, in his most persuasive +tones, for his power of imitating the expression of what he did not +possess was most masterly. + +"I know that you have often proved it. If I can find truth anywhere it +is in you. You alone are impartial, and see clearly, while the circle +of vision in most men is limited by personal interests and prejudices." + +"I have the good fortune to have my prosperity secured by perfectly +independent circumstances, and therefore can follow my convictions; but +this falls to the lot of very few. Do not judge them too harshly, your +Highness, for the majority of mankind are fettered by anxieties +concerning their means of livelihood." + +"It may be so, but they lack the essential thing,--genius,--the clean, +far-seeing gaze which no lessons in state-craft can supply; besides, +those who do understand anything rarely possess the art of telling the +truth without wounding others or becoming brutal. One cannot well have +any dealings with such people. + +"There is the new press-law again. Good Minister B---- once took it +into his head to carry it through. You know his blunt manner of urging +a decision. I must confess that this preliminary, which almost entirely +abolishes the right of censorship, is contrary to my feelings and +conscience. Shall I permit every revolutionary wretch to scatter poison +among my thoughtless, credulous people? Ought I to do so, as a prince, +whose duty it is to watch over the nation intrusted to his care as a +father watches his children?" + +"This question presents only two different points of view, your +Highness. Do you prefer to win, by this act of clemency, a transient +gratitude? or, by persistently following your better convictions, +obtain lasting satisfaction? If the former, make the desired +concessions; yet consider that this first favor will draw an +immeasurable number of consequences in its train. From the moment this +new freedom of the press is fairly established, you will regret having +undertaken obligations which you cannot execute without inaugurating a +totally different _régime_. Your Highness knows that the intoxication +of freedom, caused by the victorious revolution, has penetrated here +also, and the fire now and then still glimmers beneath the ashes. Will +you, by means of the press, permit air to reach the scarcely suffocated +flames?" + +"May God have mercy upon my poor country!" murmured the prince, under +his breath. + +"Must not a moment come when your Highness's duty will compel you to +check the progress of this seditious literature? and will you not then +have broken your promise and forfeited the transient gratitude which +would be paid you?" + +"Very true." + +"Well, what withholds your Highness from following your convictions, +which you have already so often tested, that your own feelings were +always the best guides?" + +"The doubt whether I can silence and conciliate the discontented masses +in a way that will be beneficial to them,--the doubt regarding the +means I ought to employ," said the prince, thoughtfully, rubbing his +brow. + +"But surely this is not the right expedient, your Highness. By granting +the freedom of the press you only afford discontented people an +opportunity of making their useless complaints and wishes public, and +thus making them still more persuaded of hardships, while you neither +can, nor desire to, remove their causes. Will not this bring you into a +thousand conflicts between your heart and your most sacred convictions +in regard to popular education?" + +"Certainly." + +"If I might venture to give your Highness my humble counsel, I should +say that the freedom of the press is the last thing that ought to be +granted to a nation. The people must first be contented; then they may +be allowed to speak. Pardon my frankness, your Highness; you know I am +always truthful." + +"That is the very quality I prize in you; but since you are now in the +mood to express your opinions even more sincerely than usual, I should +also like to hear by what means you propose to content the country." + +_Heinrich_ was astonished by this question. He perceived that he had +gone incautiously near the verge of truth, and felt he must return, for +to-day he had more cause than ever to desire to win the prince's favor, +while strangely enough he had never taken less pleasure in deceit. + +"Your Highness," he said, at last, "do not ask me whether your subjects +are contented, for you must yourself answer the question with a 'no,' +without being able to alter the state of affairs. If you ask whether +they are prosperous, I may be permitted to reply 'yes.' To make a +nation prosperous is within the power of princes; to keep them +contented depends upon the power of time. Your country, your Highness, +is prospering admirably under your august sceptre. The causes of +discord do not come from within, but from without. They do not result +from your government, but from the tempest of freedom which roars from +foreign frontiers. When this tempest subsides the nation will once more +perceive its prosperity. To await this time quietly and indulgently +seems to me the only counsel a conscientious man is permitted to lay at +the feet of your Highness." + +"You are right, Ottmar. I have already said the same thing to myself. +If every prince had a friend like you ('Who apparently contradicts him +while telling him the very thing he wants to hear,' _Heinrich_ mentally +interposed), matters would not proceed so far," said the sovereign, +extending three fingers of his slender hand to _Heinrich_. "I shall not +sign the press-law. I hope my throne, which has outlasted the storms of +so many centuries, will also be strong enough to withstand the pressure +of these times. If I perceived that these innovations would produce +happiness, I certainly would not withhold them from my country. But I +cannot. Other nations possibly may be ripe for freedom; my people are +not. The men called 'patriots' may say what they like; their intentions +are doubtless good, but they wish to raise the masses to a position of +which they are not and never will be worthy. No one can see into this +matter more clearly than the priests. We must ask them, if we wish to +learn to know the people, and the ideal we have imagined will soon +vanish. If freedom can be given to these rough natures, it is +emancipation from evil by the perception of good, and this only +religion and her representatives can bestow. Therefore, my dear Ottmar, +I will scorn to purchase a cheap popularity by frivolous concessions, +and content myself with fulfilling the duties God imposed upon me with +the holy oil. I do not desire to hold the highest place, I only wish to +be the protector and guide of the nation intrusted to my care: so, as +you have very justly observed, away with all inconsequent and aimless +innovations!" + +The prince carelessly pushed away the papers and drew out several +letters. "Here is this marriage business again. You must do me a favor +which no one else can bestow. I have the privilege of choosing between +two charming princesses, neither of whom I know, as one has just +entered society and the other resides at a court I have never visited. +You are prudent and skillful,--a connoisseur in female beauty and +character; you must take a private pleasure trip, and make the +acquaintance of one of the ladies, that you may be able to give me +exact information concerning her, and thus perhaps save me the trouble +of a useless journey in search of a wife. But more of this hereafter. I +see you wish to tell me something, and have been indiscreet in delaying +you so long." + +"I have nothing to say which could be more important than listening to +you, my prince. However, as you command, I must obey; besides, the +matter does not concern me, but an unfortunate man, who is suffering +unjustly for my fault, and whom I feel it my duty to aid. Will your +Highness graciously condescend to permit me to appeal from the prince +to the man, to make a confession which not the prince, but the man, +should hear?" + +"Speak frankly." + +"Five years ago a certain Albert Preheim was sentenced to ten years' +imprisonment in irons for having committed a murderous assault upon the +present assistant and former prefect of the Collegium Germanicum, who +was spending a few days in H----." + +"Oh, yes; I remember," interrupted the prince. "The man defended +himself by the incredible statement that he had mistaken him for a +rival, but could prove nothing and was sentenced." + +"Well, your Highness, the man is too severely punished. He is no +murderer, and his statements are true. He acted without premeditation, +when almost unaccountable for his deeds and under the impulse of the +blindest jealousy. The act he committed concerns me, since he had +reason to believe me the seducer of his betrothed bride." + +The prince drew his breath through his shut teeth like a person whose +sensitive feelings have been rudely jarred, and made no reply. +_Heinrich_ noticed it and possessed sufficient tact to represent the +whole affair as if he had himself been the victim of accident. The +nocturnal visit he had induced the young girl to make he prudently +omitted, and ascribed everything else to the simplicity of an +inexperienced maiden, who, in the agony roused by the stings of +conscience, had represented the matter to her deceived lover in a very +vague and exaggerated manner. In this case, as usual, he succeeded in +convincing the prince. + +"Make no further apologies about so natural an indiscretion," said he. +"True, I confess that, for my own part, I cannot understand how the +most tempting opportunity can ever obtain the mastery over the will. As +a prince, everything is at my command, but my wishes have never led me +to the pleasures of mere sensuality; still, I judge no man who thinks +and feels differently in regard to these matters,--you least of all; +therefore do not consider it any token of disfavor if I am compelled to +request you to make amends for your error, for such it is, yourself. +Unfortunately, I am unable to be of any assistance to you." + +"Your Highness!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, in astonishment, "will you not +pardon the unfortunate man?" + +"You ask a pardon for Severinus's would-be murderer. I cannot believe +that you have maturely considered this matter. Severinus still suffers +from the effects of that dangerous wound, and ought I to release the +man who dealt it? Severinus is the soul of the whole reverend order of +Jesuits. He has relations with the leading ecclesiastics in my domains. +The order, nay, even the whole church, was greatly agitated by this +unprecedented crime, whose punishment my confessor thought far too +light, and now, after five years, I am to perform a most unusual act of +clemency. Tell me yourself, how would it be received? how would it be +looked upon by the whole priesthood, which was then deeply offended +because I would not make the criminal a terrible example? If you so +firmly believe the man's deposition, leave the matter to the regular +course of the law; then he will not need my pardon." + +"I thought, your Highness, in consideration of the certainty that the +unhappy man did not wish to kill Severinus----" + +"That is all very fine, my dear fellow," interrupted the prince, with +somewhat more animation than usual; "but who knows it? And if I should +bring it forward as the cause of my clemency, who will believe it? Can +I prove that my private opinion is the correct one, and a sufficient +cause for remitting a punishment universally considered to be well +merited? My individual opinion ought not voluntarily to take sides with +Severinus's assailant, and decide a matter so complicated. Only the +calm, unanimous judgment of a court of justice can determine the true +meaning of the act, and free him by the power of the law. If you are +convinced of the truth of your assertion, you will certainly succeed in +persuading the court to believe it, and you doubtless feel that the +duty of bearing the punishment for your error rests with you rather +than me." + +The prince said all this in a low, rapid tone, with a most friendly +smile, yet every word fell upon _Heinrich's_ soul like a blow. He +clinched his teeth even while he smiled, mentally called the prince a +smooth, cold egotist, and was convinced that he was a martyr of +self-sacrifice in comparison with this man. When two egotists meet, +each, with mournful self-satisfaction, considers himself the victim of +the other. This was the case with the prince, who also reflected upon +the selfishness of _Heinrich's_ expectations, and thought himself very +noble because he forgave him. + +"Your Highness," said _Heinrich_, with the frankness which was his most +dangerous mask, "if I avoided adopting the means you mentioned, it was +because as a member of the court and council of state I dared not +venture to compromise myself by any public transactions in regard to +this delicate matter. I thought I was obliged to honor your Highness's +servant in myself as well as in any one else. I did not suppose that a +powerful prince like my most gracious ruler need fear the anger of the +priesthood for performing such a truly Christian deed, and therefore +most humbly beg pardon for my indiscreet petition." + +"You know you are indispensable to me, Ottmar, and can ask a great +deal; but, even though you may feel angered, I cannot grant this +request. Even if, as you apparently wished to intimate just now, I need +not fear the anger of the priests, I will not rouse it uselessly. If I +am the head, the priesthood is the heart of my body politic; shall I +wound it if it can be avoided? Of course, something must be done for +the poor man; but if one of us is to make a sacrifice for him, it is +surely better and more natural for you to do it than for me. Give the +information therefore, and after his release I will grant him every +favor you may ask." + +"So your Highness really commands the affair to be made public?" + +"Say yourself. Will it not become so under any circumstances? You know +that I could only pardon Albert Preheim by convincing all as well as +myself that he was not guilty of the murderous assault upon Severinus. +To attain this object should I not be compelled to reveal your acts, +first to the priests, and afterwards, for their satisfaction, to the +public? You would then be quite as much exposed as if you appeared +before a court of justice, and much more harshly judged than if you +atoned for your indiscretion by a frank confession in favor of +Preheim." + +"Of course," said _Heinrich_, bitterly. + +"Although the affair will then attract attention, which will be as +disagreeable to me as to you, it will in any event be forgotten in the +course of a few months. You must take the journey which I just +mentioned to you at once,--and when you return no one will give it +another thought." + +"So, your Highness, it is your wish that a man whom you openly honor +with your confidence, who has a voice in the council, and with whom you +deign to share your cares concerning the weal and woe of the state, +should appear before a court of justice and a curious public to make +confession of his youthful errors?" + +"Oh," said the prince, "I leave it entirely to your conscience to +decide whether you do not consider a man whom you thought worthy of my +protection sufficiently deserving for you to perform an act of +magnanimity in his behalf. If you are perfectly satisfied that he is +too severely punished, I know your sense of honor well enough to be +sure that you will act for him. If you are not, you need not expose +yourself for him any more than you will ask me to grant his pardon. +Give this matter careful consideration; I hope you will not force upon +me the alternative of making an innocent man suffer unjustly, or +offending those members of my state whom I esteem most highly." He +looked at his watch. "It is eight o'clock: I must dress. Shall I see +you this evening at the princess mother's?" + +"I am at your service, your Highness." + +"A pity that it is so small a company. I can have no further +conversation with you about that affair of the marriage to-day." + +"I deeply regret that I have not better employed the precious moments +your Highness condescended to bestow." + +"Well, _au revoir_," said the prince, rising, and dismissing _Heinrich_ +with a gracious wave of the hand. + +_Heinrich_ had required all his self-control to avoid making several +subtle rejoinders that hovered on his tongue. He was furiously enraged +by the failure of his plan and the prince's terror of the priesthood, +as he called it. He perceived that the young, strictly religious man +was right from his point of view, but rejected his whole standard of +measurement with indescribably bitter irony. For the first time since +he had lived in N---- this trait in the prince's character had become +personally detrimental, and he felt anew the full severity of the fate +which had forced him to bend to this hated system. + +His longing to win the Prison Fairy and his sense of right struggled +violently with his pride. Should he give up the whole affair now? Could +he rest satisfied with a single, useless effort, without being ashamed +of himself, lowered in the eyes of the prince, and, above all, in the +opinion of the Prison Fairy? Must not her pure, noble soul withdraw +from him forever, after she had obtained this glimpse of his nature? +Was she not the only joy for which he hoped in his cheerless life, and +was he to lose it just as he had found it? + +Then he asked himself whether she was really what she seemed, whether +she deserved the sacrifice he was making for her sake. With deep +loathing he saw himself standing before the court, in the presence of +the malicious public; his pride struggled against the thought with all +its power, and amid these painful considerations _Henri_ even allowed +himself to be influenced by the fear that, after the confession of his +error, the ladies of the court would be implacably lost to him. Would +the Prison Fairy outweigh all this to _Heinrich_ as well as _Henri_? +Would a smile from her have power to compensate _Heinrich_ for the +sneering laugh on the faces which had hitherto shown only fawning +affability? Was her esteem more than the admiration of the court, which +would now have nothing for him save the scornful shrug of the +shoulders? + +While _Henri_ was charming the ladies at the court _soirée_ by his +shallow gallantries, these considerations ceaselessly occupied +_Heinrich's_ thoughts, and he resolved, cost what it might, to see the +Prison Fairy again on the following day. + + + + + VIII. + + IN THE PRISON. + + +_Heinrich_ excused himself from the evening gathering on the plea of +illness, and went to the prison. Here be ordered Albert to be removed +to another, as he asserted, healthier cell, and remained in his stead +in the narrow, gloomy dungeon, which, according to his opinion, the +young girl would doubtless visit first. He also gave the most positive +orders that nothing should be said to her about his presence or the +change that had been made in Albert's cell, and thus hoped that she +could not escape him. At eight o'clock in the morning he was listening +in the greatest suspense to every step that approached his door. All +passed by. His expectation increased to impatience,--his impatience to +longing. He, who was accustomed to command, to whom all hastened, sat +in a lonely cell like a poor criminal, and was forced to wait patiently +until the moment of deliverance approached. He, who had so often been +ardently expected behind silken curtains and flowers, now gazed through +the iron bars of a little grated window at a the patch of sky, as if +imploring that he might be granted what he desired. He had not even +thought of taking a book with him, and the most terrible ennui was +added to the monotony of the one thought that occupied his mind. The +clocks in the various steeples struck the quarter and half hours; to +count the near and distant strokes was the sole interruption of his +dull reverie. And he had submitted to all this for the sake of a coy +young girl, a stranger to him, though he did not even know who and what +she was, or what she could ever be to him! He voluntarily put himself +in the place of the prisoners, especially that of Albert, who had +probably listened with a beating heart for days to hear if she were +coming,--she, the only thing he still possessed in the eternal monotony +of his imprisonment. His excited fancy pictured more and more vividly +how the prisoner must live, year after year, exposed to the most +terrible ennui, with only the sight of his four bare walls and his +gnawing thoughts; how the only signs of human life that could reach him +were a dull roar and the sound of the bells, and the only change in his +slowly dragging days the transition from light to darkness. "I can open +this door when I choose,--can go out when I please; only the necessity +of gratifying an idle whim detains me; and yet the thought of being +compelled to spend twenty-four hours here chills my breast, to say +nothing of three hundred and sixty-five days and nights, and _five_ +times,--_ten_ times as many!" He drew a long breath, and, merely to +employ his thoughts, began to calculate with nervous eagerness how many +hours this would be. How often Albert must already have reckoned it! +What does such a man _think_ during the long years? The soul needs +nourishment as well as the body. Albert would doubtless have become +imbecile had it not been for the Prison Fairy. She is the one thought +that keeps his soul awake. The clock struck eleven. "I have been +waiting three hours already. Suppose she should not come? What must it +be to the prisoner, when she remains away all day, and he has waited +through the twenty-four hours in vain!" + +Worn out by involuntary idleness, he sinks upon his couch at night, +looks up to the little window, and watches for the thousandth time the +motions of the clouds and the gathering darkness; perhaps even greets a +twinkling star as a joyful event, compares it to the eyes of the +Prison Fairy, and wonders why she did not come to-day, and whether she +will come to-morrow, until he falls into his feverish slumber. He +wakes early in the morning longing for her, would gladly hasten the +hours with his panting breath, urge on the strokes of the clocks +by the pulsations of his heart, and yet he has no resource but +patience,--continual patience. His soul rises and falls between fear +and hope, his head burns, his limbs ache under the pressure of his +chains. The sun sends its wandering rays into the cell and shines upon +the door; suddenly it springs open, and, as if allured by the rays, +bathed in the splendor, the beautiful figure stands in the entrance in +all the brightness of her living, loving presence, greeted by a cry of +joy as piercing as I heard yesterday from Albert's lips. "Prison +Fairy!" She approaches him; she touches the fetters with her +flower-white hands, and they become light; her breath cools his +feverish brow; she speaks to him a tone thrilling with the melody of +enthusiastic feeling; she looks at him with her mysterious eyes, and on +her brow is throned that dignity which no bold desire, no injustice, +dare approach. + +Oh, how longingly he must await such consolation! how he must---- + +The door opened: a female figure was about to enter; he turned, and the +painful suspense escaped in a shrill exclamation,--"Prison Fairy!" The +door was closed, and light footsteps rapidly retreated. As in a dream +we often vainly strive to reach something with trembling haste, the +width of the little space he must pass to pursue the fugitive seemed +far too great for Ottmar. His hands trembled so violently in his hurry +that he opened the heavy old lock with difficulty, and when he emerged +she had disappeared. + +"Where is she?" he asked of a jailer who was just coming up the +passage. + +"Does your lordship mean the Prison Fairy? I have not seen her to-day." + +"That is a lie! She was here just now." + +"Yes, your lordship, it may be so; she always bids the Herr Inspector +good-morning before she goes to the prisoners." + +"Call the inspector here," said _Heinrich_, returning to the cell. + +The official, an elderly man, with honest features, obeyed the summons. + +"Herr Inspector," said _Heinrich_, sternly, "you have for several years +allowed a lady secret access to the prisoners." + +"Yes, Herr Geheimrath," said the man, with dignified composure. + +"Have you ever received permission to do so from any higher authority?" + +"No, Herr Geheimrath." + +"And yet you have exceeded the limits of your instructions?" + +"I must bear the punishment patiently." + +"Are you so courageous?" + +"Herr Geheimrath," said the old man, modestly, "I have done what my own +heart dictated, and was aware that in following my convictions of +Christian duty I was violating only the letter, not the spirit, of my +office." + +"A prison official, and possessed of a heart! The two do not harmonize, +Herr Inspector." + +"Pardon me, I did not know it. I cherish the belief that our wise +government desires to have the criminal justly not cruelly treated; and +to serve the arm of justice is an office which a man who has a heart +can hold, although it sometimes falls heavily upon it." + +"These are the subtle reasonings of the Prison Fairy, as she is called +here. Yet I am disposed to pass over the affair if you will instantly +tell me the lady's name, social position, and residence." + +"Herr Geheimrath," said the inspector, smiling, "I think if my offense +deserves pardon you will be sufficiently just to grant it without +conditions, for I cannot possibly fulfill those you have just +mentioned." + +"Herr Inspector!" + +"Herr Geheimrath, I give you my word of honor that I do not know who +the lady is, nor where she lives." + +"I must believe you; but in that case your course is all the more +inexplicable." + +"I see, Herr Geheimrath, that I owe you a detailed account of the +matter, and am ready to confirm each of my statements upon oath." + +"Well?" said _Heinrich_, with ill-repressed curiosity. + +"When, five years ago, the jail was filled with political prisoners, a +young man named Reinhold was brought in who excited my compassion in +the highest degree. He had taken part in the conflicts in the Province +of B----, but seemed so feeble and gentle that I could not understand +how he had been concerned in such deeds. He was sentenced to death, but +the prince commuted the decree to an imprisonment of twenty years. His +winning, lovable character aroused the sympathy of all who saw him. Day +by day the unfortunate man grew paler and more feeble; but he said +nothing. No one heard a word of complaint from his lips, and he always +had the same gentle smile for all who entered his cell. Even the +jailers pitied this quietly endured, silent suffering, and remarked to +each other that the prisoner seemed ill. I went to him, and urgently +pressed him to tell me what was the matter. He thanked me and protested +that he was quite well; his heart was heavy, but no one could help him +there except the one whose coldness had made him rush into his crime +and misfortune, and whom he must love till the day of his death. I did +not wish to press him with any further questions, because the +recollection seemed to exhaust him. One day the young lady of whom we +are speaking came to me and implored me through her tears to procure +her an interview with the prisoner, Reinhold. I refused. The next day +she came again, as she said, to inquire after the prisoner's health, +and begged me to allow her to do so daily. This, of course, I could not +deny her. She appeared in my little room regularly every afternoon at a +certain hour, and I must confess that the young girl soon became as +dear to me as if she had been my own child. She did not tell me who she +was, but her whole conduct showed that she must belong to a good +family, and be perfectly pure in heart; besides, I was too modest to +ask what she did not tell me of her own free will. One day I could give +her no good news about the prisoner's health. His weakness had greatly +increased. She received my communication with so much sorrow that I +could no longer doubt some close tie bound her to Reinhold, and that +she was the very person for whom he was grieving so bitterly. She +clasped my hands in agony and implored me only to let her look at him a +moment through the open door of his cell. I could not refuse the poor +child this. I led her to the spot, went to the prisoner, and left the +door slightly ajar, that she, concealed behind it, might look in. But +who can depend upon the unruly heart of seventeen? Scarcely had I +addressed two words to Reinhold when she rushed in, and, with a cry of +agony, threw herself upon his breast. Neither could speak, and my own +tears flowed freely. The unhappy man was so weak that he could not +endure this tempest of joy, but fell from her arms pale and lifeless. +She sank on the floor beside him and silently took his head in her lap. +There she sat as if the Virgin had appeared in bodily form with the +dead Christ. Herr Geheimrath, no one worthy of the name of man could +have separated them; it would have seemed to me like sacrilege!" + +"Go on," said _Heinrich_, in the greatest suspense. + +"When Reinhold had partially recovered, a touching scene ensued,--a +scene which may be felt but not described. They had never spoken to +each other before; she did not even seem to have returned his +affection, and implored his forgiveness for her want of love which had +driven him out into the world to his ruin. But she would make amends. +She called me to witness that she solemnly betrothed herself to him, +and implored me in the name of the God before whom I should one day +have to stand in the great and final account, to give her once for all +free admittance to her betrothed husband's cell. I perceived how she +had outwitted me by so completely captivating me during her daily +visits, that I could no longer refuse her anything. I was convinced +that the prisoner had in her one who would faithfully care for his +soul, for she is pure and gentle as a child, wise and firm as a man. So +I granted her desire, and up to this moment have never repented it; she +has brought a better spirit into the institution, and exerts a +remarkable power over the prisoners." + +"And the betrothed bridegroom 2" asked _Heinrich_. + +"She thought she could still save him by her affection, and nursed him +with admirable tenderness. He was happy; but even as grief had once +threatened to destroy him, so it was now with love,--he slowly +languished. + +"After a time she perceived it and attributed it to prison life. She +found that the greatest suffering a man can feel is loss of freedom, +bore in her heart the deepest compassion, not only for him but his +companions in misfortune, and several times assured me that if she did +not need all her time for Reinhold she would gladly visit the other +prisoners, but she did not wish to deprive him of a moment." + +"Just then a political criminal who had been sentenced to fifteen +years' imprisonment was brought in, so infuriated by his fate that he +tore at his chains with his teeth, and tried to dash out his brains +against the heavy irons like Caius C[oe]lius, as he said; in short, he +behaved like a madman. No one could obtain any influence over him; he +cursed all who approached him and scoffed at the priests. Then I +thought I would ask the Prison Fairy--her lover had jestingly called +her so because she forbade him to mention her real name--if she would +not try to bring the lunatic to reason. She went to him with the utmost +readiness, and the man was so charmed by her beauty and courage that he +yielded to her and obeyed her with the greatest devotion. If he ever +regain freedom, he will owe it to that girl that he is not lunatic or a +reprobate. + +"Six months had elapsed, when we heard a cry of despair from Reinhold's +cell; and when we hurried to it, found her in the same attitude as on +their first meeting,--kneeling on the floor supporting her lover's head +in her arms. But this time he was not to wake again,--he was dead. The +Prison Fairy wept over the pallid face so bitterly that the jailers +crept noiselessly out of the cell, that they might not see her grief. +The physician attached to the prison was summoned; said that he had had +heart disease, and perhaps would have lived no longer under any +circumstances. We talked to her as well as we could; and when she saw +how deeply her sorrow grieved us, she composed herself and consoled +_us_. But when the prison door opened and the corpse was borne out, she +broke down, and shrieked, Poor Reinhold, now you are _free_!' The tone +still rings in my ears; I shall never forget it as long as I live. + +"When we were alone she thanked me with touching affection, and +entreated me henceforth to grant her admittance to all the prisoners, +to alleviate the mental tortures, which often far exceeded the crime +and the purpose of the punishment. After witnessing her success with +the furious Sebastian, I could not refuse the noble and benevolent wish +in which her soul sought consolation; and you must permit me to +believe, Herr Geheimrath, that a blessing follows her wherever she +goes." + +"But does she seem to be entirely consoled now?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"For two years she mourned deeply; nay, I often watched her with real +anxiety; but at last time and her healthful nature asserted their +rights. She grew stronger, gradually became calmer, even gay, and for +the last year has been the same vivacious child she was five years ago. +Now you know all, honored sir, and can judge for yourself." + +_Heinrich_ gazed into vacancy long and thoughtfully. At last he said, +kindly, "Under such extraordinary circumstances people must of course +make exceptions. You are an honest man, Herr Inspector!" + +"I thank you, Herr Geheimrath!" + +"But now, tell me, has it never occurred to you to send some one after +this strange girl, to see what direction she takes?" + +"She always went to the stand of hackney-coaches and drove away in one +of them. There is a consistency in everything she does, which would +sometimes terrify one if he had not learned to know her kind heart." + +"I thank you for your report. Farewell, Herr Inspector." _Heinrich_ +took his hat and went out. + +"Albert must be free! the Prison Fairy must become mine!" said he, as +he left the prison. + + + + + IX. + + FRAULEIN VERONICA VON ALBIN. + + +Thus his resolution was at last formed. He perceived that Albert's +liberation was the only price with which he could again purchase the +confidence of the obstinate girl. The impressions he had received +during his voluntary confinement in the cell convinced him of the +unwarrantable cruelty he should commit if he allowed poor Albert to +suffer unjustly any longer. The useless hours of waiting for the Prison +Fairy had increased his interest in her to a longing, and the +inspector's story gave him the assurance that she was worthy of a +sacrifice. The simple experience of this afternoon had destroyed the +web of doubt that overpowered him. He intended to treat the whole +affair with the ease of a man of the world, and disarm the malicious +public by a display of amiable qualities which no one could resist, and +which must of course win the heart of the Prison Fairy. He was +conscious of the power of his personal attractions, and, after he +became accustomed to the thought of a public examination, took pleasure +in the idea of making all his advantages sparkle in the light of her +delighted glances. Since there was no other way of gaining possession +of her, he ordered the investigation of Albert Preheim's murderous +assault to be once more taken up by the courts. + +A week passed away before the matter was publicly discussed, and during +this time _Heinrich_ and _Henri_ pursued but one object: to find the +Prison Fairy. But all plans were set at naught by the cunning obstinacy +with which she eluded him. Ottmar went daily to the jail and showed the +prisoners every conceivable kindness, but none of them could tell him +anything more than that she had not come of late. The poor men were +almost in despair,--it was the first time for five years that she had +remained away so long. No one could explain the cause. _Heinrich_ knew +it and wondered at her firmness,--it could not be indifference that +made her avoid him so anxiously; and this thought goaded his impatience +to its height. + +The day of the examination came. Upon this all his hopes were fixed. +The galleries of the hall were crowded. Ottmar, the haughty, dreaded +aristocrat, enters the lists to defend a poor, persecuted plebeian, and +confesses his own error to prove the innocence of his _protégé_. This +was the rumor that ran through the whole city. Every one wanted to see +it for himself before he believed it; and instead of the malicious +public he had expected, appeared a joyful throng, already half +conciliated. A crowd of ladies of all ranks and ages had also assembled +to see the famous Ottmar in the rôle of a penitent sinner. It is +characteristic that women in general will not pardon the smallest error +if it is concealed, while, on the contrary, they will forgive the +greatest sin if an appeal is made to their generosity by a frank +confession. _Heinrich_ hoped to find this experience confirmed by the +Prison Fairy, and was persuaded that his conduct on this occasion would +completely subdue her defiance. The examination began. All eyes were +fixed compassionately upon the pallid Albert, broken down in the flower +of his years, as entered the court-room with tottering steps, supported +between two gendarmes. + +The presiding officer opened the proceedings by a short history of the +case, the statements of the absent Severinus were read aloud, and +passed on for the assent of the accused and the witnesses. At first no +one paid much attention to the course of affairs. They had learned five +years ago that the charge against Albert was a heavy one, so they were +now only curious about the examination of the witnesses, and that +strange, familiar murmur of impatience became distinctly audible after +the presiding officer had finished his speech. But, eagerly as the +public awaited Ottmar's entrance, he still remained behind the door of +the witness-box. At last the presiding officer commanded Baron von +Ottmar to be summoned. + +A satisfied "ah!" ran through the crowd, as a gust of wind rustles +through withered leaves, when _Heinrich_ appeared. With all the power +of his natural and acquired charm of manner he revealed the +psychological causes of the event, and with convincing legal acuteness +represented them in their relations to the law. He forbearingly +concealed the name of Albert's betrothed, and confessed his fault with +the dignity of a man who, on the ground of great and noble qualities, +feels entitled to rise above the errors of his youth, and has no +timidity in acknowledging a wrong if by so doing he can avoid a greater +one. While _Heinrich_ was speaking he scanned the galleries, and +_Henri_ gazed into many a beautiful, joy-beaming face, but the one both +sought was absent. + +All hearts yearned towards Ottmar; only she for whom all had been done +unsympathizingly avoided the sole opportunity which might show him in a +more favorable light. And yet he could not believe it; she _must_ be +there, and had probably only concealed herself from his gaze. + +This doubt aroused the greatest agitation. Almost mechanically he +continued to play his part as a noble man. He had spoken so admirably +that there was very little left for Albert's lawyer to say; but his +thoughts were not fixed upon Albert, but the gallery; and the more +firmly he was convinced that the Prison Fairy was not there, the more +his joy in his good deed disappeared; he no longer dared hope to gain +access to the obstinate fairy by any such means. + +The court had summoned old Anton from his home to give his testimony; +but he had not yet arrived, so another session must be called. If she +did not appear then, he had lost the game. + +Just at that moment a thought entered his mind which might place him on +the right track. She could have obtained her remarkable education only +in scientific circles, and had probably been reared in a very +intellectual family. Ottmar proposed to make a round of visits to all +the prominent literary and scientific people in N----. "She is not a +native of this capital, her German is too correct for that, so I will +begin with the strangers," he thought. He had hitherto confined himself +exclusively to the court circle, and was entirely unknown in the +society he now proposed to seek. + +Sunday intervened between the first and second session of the court, +and Ottmar availed himself of it. He drove around the city in his +elegant carriage all the morning, and was everywhere cordially +received. Many, beautiful and ugly, forward and retiring, simple and +highly educated young ladies were introduced to him. She was nowhere to +be found. + +When he paid the last visit on his list, and there also met only +unfamiliar, commonplace faces, he asked the friendly head of the +household, in an under-tone, whether he could mention any particularly +interesting people whom a stranger in N---- ought to know. + +The old gentleman reflected a short time, and finally inquired whether +he had yet heard nothing of old Fräulein Veronica von Albin. + +"Oh, you must seek her out!" he exclaimed when _Heinrich_ answered his +question in the negative. "She is a perfect original, a petrifaction of +the period of sentimentality, and withal a really intellectual person, +in whose salon you will find every one who has any pretensions to fame, +and is enrolled under the banner of poetry and sensibility." + +Wearied by his minute explanation, _Heinrich_ expressed his thanks, +inquired the way to her dwelling, and drove thither. He had made it a +duty to follow every suggestion of destiny, but knew in advance that he +should not find what he sought in the home of a sentimental old maid. + +The carriage stopped before a massive stone house. Two colossal figures +on the right and left of the door held lanterns adorned with intricate +iron scroll-work in the fashion of the last century. The lower windows +were grated with thick wrought-iron bars, and the heavy oaken door did +not lack the shining brass lion's head, with the ring in its mouth. +Above the door was a somewhat weather-beaten coat-of-arms, carved in +stone, overshadowed by a tiny balcony provided with manifold sculptured +ornaments and iron scrolls. _Heinrich_ pulled the bell. The door was +opened, and when he entered a statue placed in a niche in the staircase +extended its arms as if in welcome. + +A pleasant subdued light fell upon the stone stairs through a tall +pointed window, and _Heinrich_, most agreeably impressed by this +old-fashioned but massive luxury, mounted the broad stone steps. + +A precise, respectable servant was standing on the landing, and +silently ushered him into a little antechamber. Ottmar gave him his +card, and he went forward on tip-toe to announce him. For a few moments +_Heinrich_ had time to admire the few but costly articles of furniture, +rich carpet, and Chinese vases in the anteroom. His hopes began to +sink. The quiet, pedantic spirit which breathed from these carefully +preserved relics of a former century could not have trained the +original, modern, enthusiastic nature of the Prison Fairy. + +At last a pair of richly-carved folding-doors were thrown open. The old +servant, with a low bow, silently motioned to him to approach, and +_Heinrich_ entered a large apartment, furnished in the ancient French +style, with silken curtains, and a polished, inlaid floor. The sofas +and chairs were of richly inlaid walnut, covered with faded but heavy +yellow damask. An old-fashioned screen, ornamented with an embroidered +coat-of-arms, stood before a huge stove adorned with Chinese designs. +On the clumsy carved tables lay magnificent velvet, covered albums, +faded and time-worn, as well as small new books of every description. A +gilt eagle extended its wings over an immense mirror, and a pair of +sphinxes supported a marble pier-table, bearing a clock. Family +portraits, centuries old, stared solemnly from the walls, and fresh +roses breathed their rich fragrance over this peaceful image of bygone +days. + +Almost at the same moment Ottmar entered, the lady of the house, +Fräulein Veronica von Albin, advanced through a pair of folding-doors +directly opposite to him. She had a slight ethereal figure, whose +movements still retained the elasticity of youth, and a pair of +beautiful blue eyes sparkled in a wrinkled face, over which at least +seventy years had passed. Thin white curls were carefully arranged +around the kindly old forehead, and an old-fashioned but dazzlingly +white morning dress rustled softly around her. She advanced, or rather +floated, towards Ottmar, and held out both hands. + +"You are most welcome, Herr von Ottmar," she said, with so cordial an +expression that the latter bowed low in astonishment. "You wonder at my +affectionate address, do you not?" she continued, offering him a chair. +"It is because we always think those whom we know so well must know us. +Since the public legal investigation you have become common property, +and indeed such property as every one would most gladly appropriate to +himself." + +"Have you been present at the examination, Fräulein?" asked Ottmar. + +"Certainly; and I can assure you that I became very mach attached to +you in the few hours I saw and heard you. Nothing could have afforded +me greater pleasure than to receive this visit. Thank God, I am old +enough to be able to tell you so without embarrassment," she continued, +smiling. + +_Heinrich_ found the youthful old Lady possessed very good taste, and +involuntarily thought "women are really attractive only at the +beginning and end of life." + +"My dear Fräulein," he began, "you do not know how happy your kindness +makes me. I am a stranger here, and seek those who will understand me. +The empty life of the court no longer satisfies me. I long for +something else, and come to you because I was told that I should here +find what I sought; and indeed I hope if I meet with it anywhere it +will be here." + +"I think you may be right," said she, looking at him with winning +affection. Old age, by relaxing the lids, had drawn a veil over the +bright blue eyes, but a glance so full of soul, and pure youthful +emotion, beamed from them that _Heinrich_ gazed at her with increasing +admiration. "Not that I imagine you could find amusement in an old +woman like me, but I have the pleasure of drawing young and brilliant +people around me, in whom you will surely find something to please +you." + +"You certainly have some relations?" asked _Heinrich_, expectantly. + +"Not exactly relations," she said, shortly; "but it is a great mercy +that God gave me the faculty of living with young persons, and that +there is at least nothing repulsive in my old age. The young people +cling to me, and daily bring new joys into my quiet house." + +"Permit me to ask you one question, Fräulein," said _Heinrich_,--then +hesitated a moment, and continued in a very different tone: "How is it +possible that time has passed you by without leaving more traces?" + +"Yes, it is singular. I have really remained twenty years behind my +true age. The machinery continued to move, but the hands were stopped +by a great shock, and never overtook the time. It is a strange, +sorrowful story, and some day when we are sitting by my cozy, singing +tea-urn I will tell you about it." + +"A sorrowful story?" asked _Heinrich_. "I should have thought you were +very happy and contented." + +"Yes, I am now. Time effaces everything, and I seem to myself like a +transfigured spirit. I have no longer anxieties or wishes, look upon +life calmly and impartially, and love all men. My body, as you see, is +no very heavy burden, and thus, thank God, I am not so widely separated +from the angels." + +There was such a depth of earnestness concealed under these jesting +words that _Heinrich_, strangely moved, passed his hand over his brow. +It seemed as if a good genius with a gentle smile had raised him to a +height from whence he could view at a single glance all the +perishableness and emptiness of life. "Oh, who could bring heaven so +near as you?" he said, at last. + +"Dear friend," she replied, with a winning glance, "there is also a +heaven upon earth in our own breasts. Do not seek it without, but +within your heart; then you will not _come_ into heaven for the first +time when you die, but _remain_ in it always." + +"My dear Fräulein'," pleaded _Heinrich_, "permit me now and then to +linger a short time in yours until I have created one of my own. Will +you?" + +"Certainly; with the greatest pleasure. It does you honor that, without +any other design, you can take pleasure in spending a few hours with an +old lady like myself; and I assure you that your good intention will be +rewarded,--rely upon it." + +"I do not doubt it," said _Heinrich_; "but I ask no other reward than +your favor and counsel in many things that oppress my heart." + +"I will tell you,"--Veronica cast a hasty glance at the great clock. +"Come and take tea with me to-morrow evening. Some of my chosen friends +will be here, and I am curious to see how they will please you. One +thing I can positively assure you beforehand: you will find only _good_ +men with me. Old and independent as I am, I need not receive any except +those whom I love; and only such as have preserved a childlike, +unassuming character (now, unfortunately, so rarely found) take +pleasure in my simple nature." + +"Who could be so unfeeling as to find no charm in you?" said +_Heinrich_. + +"Who? Alas! unfortunately there are many. Believe me, our young people +are now very old. When I think how it used to be in my time! There are +no longer any illusions,--any enthusiasms. I have often talked to young +people who seemed so old that I have asked myself with shame, 'Oh, God! +am I really so childlike, or already so childish, that the young people +of the present day are so much wiser and more steady?' And that is not +the worst. I have always seen that the childlike or childish old woman +is much happier in her simple existence than all these hopeful young +persons, upon whom life still smiles with rosy hues; and it makes me +feel sad." + +"She might have educated the Prison Fairy;" thought _Heinrich_, and at +last determined to ask her; but Veronica, without allowing herself to +be interrupted, continued, with the loquacity of age: "I know they call +me the Sensitive Plant, because I have preserved my quick feelings and +ready tears; but I do not think they are mocking me, for they know I +play no sentimental comedy, but rejoice with those who rejoice, and +even follow with sincere interest the struggles of the age, although +they do not please me. To me the only true voices are those that speak +from sentiment and in its behalf; therefore I must confess that I +prefer them to the modern spirit of speculation, piquant as it is, and +shall listen to them devoutly until death some day solves for me the +mystery of life." She again glanced at the clock and made _Heinrich_ a +confused apology for having chattered so long. + +_Heinrich_ could do nothing but take leave, and was compelled to defer +receiving the ardently desired assurance until the morrow; he bowed as +low and as frequently as possible, and withdrew from the apartment as +slowly as he could. The lock of the door stuck in his hand as if it +were bewitched, and he was so absentminded that he was obliged to pause +some time in the ante-chamber to remember which was the way out; he did +not know where he was or what he was doing. Meantime bitter reflections +upon his hasty dismissal, his own strange embarrassment, which had made +the harmless question falter on his lips more and more the longer he +delayed it, until at last he could no longer utter it; upon the old +lady's loquacity, which had not allowed him to speak: in short, the +striking of a large cuckoo-clock, which also seemed to jeer at him, +first made him aware that he must at last leave the house. With a +despairing glance at the different doors he went away, and on reaching +the carriage could not help laughing at himself. _Heinrich_ scoffed at +_Henri_, and _Henri_ derided _Heinrich_. An impulse of rejoicing over +something, he knew not what, overpowered him. + + + + + X. + + PROGRESS. + + +Early the following day there was a fresh crowd and bustle in the hall +where the court held its session. The pressure was so violent that it +was already necessary to have police stationed before the building to +preserve order. At last all became quiet, for the judges entered. +Ottmar, with his eyes fixed intently upon the gallery, looked handsomer +than ever. His stern bearing seemed more gentle, his slight figure more +elastic, the harsh, rigid outline youthfully soft, and around the +delicately modeled lips played an irresistible smile. His dark hair was +brushed back, and the peace of a quiet conscience seemed to rest upon +his noble brow. His eyes were fixed constantly on the same spot with a +remarkably friendly glance, until at last all eagerly followed the +direction of the look, but to their great surprise saw no one except +old Fräulein von Albin, with several elderly ladies and gentlemen. + +"What has he to do with her?" they asked each other. + +The examination lasted only a short time. Old Anton arrived and +confirmed his master's deposition. The court withdrew to deliberate +upon the sentence. An expectant stillness greeted its reappearance. All +eyes were fixed upon Albert, who awaited the announcement of the +sentence with feverish suspense. + +It found him guilty of the attempt to murder while in a passion, and +deserving of three years' imprisonment; but, as the accused had already +endured a longer and more severe punishment, ordered his immediate +release. + +Albert seemed confused and did not appear to understand anything. + +"You are free!" cried _Heinrich_. But Albert with a deep sigh sank +senseless into the arms of the bystanders like a somnambulist suddenly +aroused from a heavy slumber. Ere long, however, he opened his eyes and +threw himself at _Heinrich's_ feet, murmuring, "Forgive me!" + +"We have both forgiven each other long ago," replied _Heinrich_, +raising him kindly from the ground. + +The presiding officer approached him, saying, "Herr von Ottmar, allow +me in the name of the whole court to thank you for having given us an +opportunity to rescind an undeserved sentence, and changed the sad duty +of condemnation to the joy of pronouncing a decree of liberation; +permit me to give you the assurance that I have become your sincere +friend." + +_Heinrich_ took a cordial farewell of the worthy man, whose eyes beamed +with heartfelt esteem. But when he came out of the building to enter +his carriage the multitude had assembled before it, and for the first +time in his life a loud cheer of universal approbation greeted him. +_Heinrich_ felt every nerve thrill pleasantly at the unwonted sound, +and as he raised his hat in acknowledgment murmured, with joyful +emotion, "Prison Fairy, I thank you!" + +He had intended to play a part; but the seriousness of the matter had +laid hold upon him and converted acting to reality. He perceived this +fact with a throb of strange elation; and if the joy he felt sprang +more from the result than the act itself, the pleasure was so pure, the +vanity so legitimate, that even he could scarcely distinguish it from +the emotions of an unselfish, satisfied conscience. Enough: he had done +a noble deed, felt the happier for it, and formed the resolution to +take advantage of every opportunity of procuring this delight again. +But of course he thought only of those occasions which would secure him +a similar popular recognition; he did not think of the unfortunates he +might aid, but of the gratitude he should receive from them and the +public. To his heartless egotism no other course of reflection was +possible, yet even this was a great advance towards better things. + +There are natures which, incited by the love of applause, first do good +merely from vanity; but the more frequently this occurs, the more they +become accustomed to it, and at last do it, with or without success, +from habit. But inasmuch as every habit gradually becomes a necessity, +so it is with this, until at last they do right from a secret need. + +Ottmar was such a man. Amid all his great faults and errors, it was not +the opposition between right and wrong that was the point of +controversy in his nature, but that between the heart and intellect. +The cause of all the dissensions about right and wrong into which +_Heinrich_, as well as _Henri_, had fallen, was that his heart and +intellect opposed each other, instead of harmonizing. All _Heinrich's_ +errors were rooted solely in the selfishness of his cold intellect, as +_Henri's_ were founded upon the egotism of his material nature. If any +great influence could succeed in uniting the two extremes he would +become the most noble and estimable of men. Society, therefore, is not +so far wrong when it allows itself to be dazzled by the ideal nimbus +which such persons understand how to diffuse around them; for beneath +it there is always an instinct of good by means of which they may +really become what they seem. + +There are also noble, sensitive souls which understand such men, and +wish to aid them in reaching the right path. The extent of their +success of course depends upon their own capacity. + +Ottilie was one of these souls, but Ottmar knew that the Prison Fairy +would become more, infinitely more, to him if he could succeed in +approaching her. That which in the fading, suffering Ottilie had failed +to make any deeper impression upon him, because it had appeared in a +form too sentimental, too little akin to his own nature, kindled an +ardent enthusiasm in him when he encountered it in the energetic, +vivacious Prison Fairy. Ottilie seemed to him a distant, glorified +ideal; her self-denial, her capacity for self-sacrifice, appeared +superhuman, and only rooted in the indifference of a spirit striving to +cast off its earthly nature; it never entered his mind to try to +imitate, greatly as he admired it. The Prison Fairy, while possessing +Ottilie's ideal character, was also in every respect congenial to him, +and thus he _could_ follow her. He had seen the former suffer from her +ideas, which repelled him; but the latter was happy, and attracted him. +In a word, the princess gave him the _theory_, the Prison Fairy the +_practice_. + +He owed Ottilie nothing save a fruitless knowledge of himself; but to +the impression the unknown girl had made upon him he was already +indebted for this first hour of happiness, and all his hopes were fixed +upon this noble, womanly apparition. + +Albert, whom he had taken home with him, as he had no friends in the +city, gave all the information he could bestow, which was only that she +came to his cell very early in the morning of the day before the court +held its session and took leave of him, as she was sure he would be +liberated. She gave him several louis-d'or to supply his immediate +wants, and told him to write a letter containing news of himself every +week, addressed to the initial B., _poste restante_. He was obliged to +repeat the simple story to _Heinrich_ every half-hour. Thus the +afternoon passed away, and Ottmar went to dress,--the time appointed +for the tea-party had almost arrived. Will she be there?--or will she +not?--was the axis around which all his thoughts revolved. + + +A merry company engaged in eager conversation about Ottmar had +assembled in Fräulein von Albin's salon. Veronica was unusually bright. +She wore a tight dress of light yellow satin, richly trimmed with old +lace, kid mitts, and a cap with a light yellow ribbon. When she sat +down she could scarcely be distinguished from the sofa, which had a +covering of the same hue; and when she walked she looked like one of +the oblique rays of light that fall through old church windows. + +"Come, pray do me the favor to stop talking about Ottmar," she said, +uneasily. "Can't you speak of something else?" + +"Ah! what subject could we have that would be more interesting?" +murmured the young girls. + +Veronica sent them into an adjoining room, and the ladies and gentlemen +discussed a wider range of topics. Just then the folding-doors were +thrown wide open, and with his usual haughty bearing the much-talked-of +Ottmar entered. A murmur of pleasure ran through the astonished +company, but as yet the young girls in the adjoining room noticed +nothing. + +Veronica received her visitor with the pride with which one sees an +agreeable surprise prepared for one's guests safely enter upon the +scene. After the first introductions and remarks, _Heinrich's_ eyes +wandered hastily around the room. She was not there. + +"Will you not present me to your young friends also?" he said, at last, +turning beseechingly to Veronica. + +The latter led him triumphantly into the "second salon," where, +unobserved, he paused a few moments in the doorway and scanned the +company. + +The young girls were playing "Guess by the dancing." One of them was +obliged to stand in the centre of the circle, dance blindfolded with a +gentleman, and guess his name by his dancing. A young girl whose +wonderful figure aroused _Henri's_ astonishment was now within the +ring. She wore a thin white dress embroidered with crimson flowers, her +rich curling hair was arranged in two heavy braids, and a spray of +crimson blossoms fell upon her beautiful neck. + +_Henri_ would gladly have seen the face concealed under the broad +handkerchief. A gentleman was to be led up to her: Veronica took +Ottmar's hand, motioned to the company to say nothing, and drew him +forward to the young girl. _Henri_ threw his arm around her, and they +swept round the room in rapid circles. Delighted with the grace and +ease of her dancing, he drew the soft, pliant figure more closely to +him; her breath fanned his cheek, and his gently stirred the hair upon +her brow. The narrow space visible under the bandage became suffused +with a deep blush; a magnetic bond was being woven between them. She +paused and released herself from his clasp. + +"Well, who is it?" cried Veronica. + +"I don't know," replied the young girl, panting for breath. "It is none +of the gentlemen who were here before." + +_Henri_ stood as if spell-bound; surely he ought to know that soft, +rich voice, and he removed the bandage himself. "Prison Fairy," he +murmured, as a pair of large, dark eyes gazed at him as if in a dream. + +She was so much startled that she turned pale and tottered. _Henri_ +supported her, and the others rushed forward. "Oh, it is nothing," said +she; "dancing with my eyes bandaged makes me dizzy." Then thanking +_Henri_ with a slight bow, she begged to be excused till she had +recovered her breath, and went into an adjoining room, where it was +cool and quiet. + +_Henri_ sought Veronica to request her to introduce him to the charming +young girl. "Certainly," said she; "I have anticipated this moment with +great pleasure." + +They found the Prison Fairy in the tea-room leaning against an open +window. She was gazing thoughtfully into the darkness, and did not feel +the cold night air that blew over her white shoulders. + +"Cornelia," cried Veronica, "you will take cold. How can people be so +careless?" The young girl closed the window and turned towards the +approaching pair. + +"Herr von Ottmar," said Veronica, presenting him. "This is the child of +my dead adopted daughter, and therefore my adopted granddaughter, +Fräulein Cornelia Erwing. The one sole treasure I still possess in this +world!" + +Both bowed in silence. + +"See, my child," said the old lady, joyously; "this is the surprise I +told you about yesterday." + +"It is certainly very unexpected," replied the girl. + +"Allow me to hope, Fräulein, that at least it was not _undesired_?" + +"Oh, no," said Veronica, laughing, as Cornelia made no answer. "You may +be sure that she belongs to the ranks of your greatest adorers; but she +is an obstinate little thing, and never pays any one a compliment +willingly." A glance of earnest entreaty from the Prison Fairy silenced +her enthusiastic kindliness. + +"Fräulein," said _Henri_, firmly, "you have hitherto eluded me in so +remarkable a manner that you will not be angry if I now implore you to +grant me a few words of explanation? You will not refuse this +satisfaction to the man who rejoices in the favor of your honored +foster-mother?" + +"Do you permit it?" asked Cornelia. + +"What would I not permit to you, my dear child?" replied Veronica. +"Speak on; I shall not disturb you, for I must go back to my guests." + +The two were left alone. A violent struggle now arose in Ottmar as to +_which_ of his two individualities should rule this scene. It urged +_Henri_ irresistibly towards the sofa upon which the beautiful figure +had sank, while _Heinrich_ was unwilling to lose any of the precious +moments he had longed for during the last weeks. The two natures had +never struggled with each other so obstinately before. At last _Henri_ +drew back that _Heinrich_ might, so to speak, do him credit with the +talented girl. _Heinrich_ seated himself in an arm-chair near the sofa, +and tried to collect his thoughts after _Henri's_ fierce revolt. + +"So I have found you at last, wonderful, wilful creature!" he began. +"Speak, why have you made it so difficult for me to do so?" + +"I would tell you if I did not fear offending you." + +"You cannot offend me, for I intend to learn from you how to become a +different person; of course the change must begin with my faults." + +"Well, then," she said, firmly, "some years ago there was a great deal +said here about a certain Herr von Ottmar, whose rapid rise in a +foreign country excited general astonishment. People were delighted +with his talents, but hated him for the use he made of them, and feared +him as the most zealous instrument of the despotic system of our +government. They admired his personal qualities, but blamed the want of +principle with which he sought to make them win the hearts of women. I +never wished to see this gentleman; for, after all I had heard, I felt +a deep repugnance towards him. Suddenly a man appears before me in the +prison, whose manner and language stir my inmost soul with sympathetic +emotion. Without the slightest restraint I yield to this impression as +I do to everything good and beautiful,--and learn that this man, with +the lofty, noble brow, the earnest, expressive glance, is the notorious +Ottmar; learn it at the moment when, voluntarily, in mere arrogance, he +confesses one of the crimes so often imputed to him. It wounded me all +the more because I thought I had discovered at the first glance +something rare, ideal, in your character. I had therefore in your case +lost the balance which usually aids my intercourse with men. I became +deceived, bewildered, almost irresolute, and wavered between my +previous conviction and the impression produced by your personal +attributes. The former had its sure foundations; the latter I believed +to be treacherous, and therefore avoided you so anxiously. I would not +allow myself to be bribed by your manners to excuse and forget what my +better judgment must condemn." + +"And the step towards the right path which you afterwards saw me take?" +asked _Heinrich_. + +"Increased my sympathy for you, and at the same time my doubts. A +secret power urged me to defend you when you were attacked, and yet I +did not believe what I said myself. This is why my adopted mother +classed me among your adorers, and thought to give me pleasure by +inviting you here; but I do not at all approve of such a step. You are +the petted hero of the day; every one is crowding around you. It is +bitter to me to be compelled to think that you could charge us with +obtrusiveness." + +"I understand you, Fräulein," said _Heinrich_; "but you seem to be in +error. Fräulein von Albin had an excellent reason for inviting me, for +I called upon her yesterday." + +"What! did you do that?" exclaimed Cornelia, an expression of joy +flashing over her face. + +"Did you not know it?" + +"No! I suppose Veronica said nothing about it on purpose to surprise +me. She certainly desires nothing but to give pleasure, and her simple +nature chooses every conceivable means of doing so. But how did you +happen to come to this quiet home?" + +"Because I was seeking _you_." + +"And why?" + +"Because I am superstitious enough to see in our meeting the hand of +fate, and had an irresistible impulse to follow the hint; because I +expect to receive from you the only salvation I can still obtain; +because--ah, let me speak frankly!--because you please me infinitely." + +"You have probably said that to a great many persons," replied +Cornelia, coldly. + +_Heinrich_ looked her steadily and frankly in the face. "Certainly I +have. Why should I not? I did not say that you _alone_ please me." + +Cornelia blushed. "That is at least sincere." + +"As we always will be towards each other," said _Heinrich_, firmly. "In +your youthfully hasty judgment you have placed me in the position of a +criminal. I will not justify myself, but afford you the possibility of +doing so. To deny my faults would help you very little, but I will +teach you to understand them. First of all, let us be perfectly clear +in regard to the relation in which we wish to stand towards each other, +then you will trust me more. I perceive, by your last remark, that you +consider me a universal gallant. You are mistaken, Fräulein; I do not +love you, and I desire no such feeling from you. Do not fear that you +will be compelled to listen to tender declarations from me; I should +not venture to offer you a heart which you know has already loved so +often! But I offer you a feeling that hitherto has slumbered in my +soul, pure and unprofaned; I offer you the truest, most devoted +friendship. If you will neither accept nor respond even to _this_, I +ask of you a portion of that philanthropy whose missionary you are,--I +ask and demand from you that Christianity which vouchsafes to all the +same blessing, and excludes none who truly desire it." + +Cornelia sat in silence, with her eyes fixed upon the floor. + +"You are silent! you have no answer for me! Prison Fairy, Prison Fairy, +must I remind you of your mission? Oh, girl! do not let me be perplexed +by you; do not let me think that those eyes,--that the mighty +pulsations of a breast animated by a lofty idea,--have deceived me; +that you are less noble than they seem: it would be the last, the most +terrible disappointment of my life." + +Cornelia gazed at the ardent speaker with a searching glance. Her +breath came more quickly, her lips parted several times before she +could utter the words, "We will be friends, Herr von Ottmar." + +_Heinrich_ bent over her with a winning smile. "You are forcing back +something that hovers on your tongue, Fräulein! Do you know that on +that first meeting you promised to be good to me if I would be good to +the prisoners! I have redeemed my promise; but _you_?" + +"That is not sufficient; you must abide by it still longer. Keep your +word, and I will keep mine." + +"Dear Fairy," said _Heinrich_, "cast aside this cold formality, which +is ill-suited to you and not at all in place towards me. Be the warm, +earnest creature, loving both God and mankind, whom I found in the +dungeon, and who, by her rich soul, could transform the prisoner's +punishment to reward. Be gentle; you know not how necessary you are to +this wounded heart, burdened by heavy chains. We are nearly akin to +each other, and you will perceive it some day. I see it in the flashing +of those mysterious eyes; in you also slumbers a secret before whose +revelation you would recoil in terror did not the faithful arm of an +experienced friend guard you from the horrors in your own breast. Come, +give me your hands,--so,--now you look kindly at me; that haughty brow +grows smooth,--does that mild, thoughtful glance rest willingly upon my +features? Say nothing, our souls are talking together, and confiding +things of which neither of us has any knowledge. Oh, dear one our souls +already understand each other better than we." + +"We and our souls are one," murmured Cornelia; "if they understand each +other, so do we. Let me confess that I believe I have done you a great +wrong; if that is the case, forgive me, for the sake of this moment." + +"There is no wrong, Cornelia, for which a single moment of true love +could not make amends." + +Cornelia pressed his hand with the half-grave, half-friendly smile +which had so great a charm for _Heinrich_. + +"So I have found you at last, you dear, beautiful child!" he exclaimed. +"Cling to me faithfully; you shall not be mistaken in me." + +She rose to return to the guests. "Surely you will not deceive me?" she +asked, half doubtfully and half firmly, but with charming sincerity. + +"Prison Fairy, do you need any other assurances? Only try yourself, and +you will refute your doubt better than modesty allows me to do." + +"Are you so sure of that?" she asked, smiling; "now I think your +modesty does not weigh very heavily upon you." An expression of the +most charming petulance gleamed over her face as she glided away. + +"You are caught, wild, changeful soul; yet not to cause you pain, only +to do me good, I impose upon you this chain, whose weight you shall +never feel," said _Heinrich_. "You soar towards the sun; let us see +whether you will have the strength to draw me up with you!" + +"You can be borne towards the sun on the wings of her aspiring spirit!" +cried _Henri_, "if only the lovely form which enthrals me as no other +ever did before remains upon the earth. Guide her _soul_ whither you +please, and leave me alone with its _earthly husk_. Then we can both +possess a happiness we have never yet known." + +"So long as I can be with her I shall maintain my place," said +_Heinrich_; "and this time I do not think you will obtain the victory +over me!" + +"Indeed! Well, let us see who will first conquer the other," said the +aroused spirit of sensuality. "Will you all at once meet me in a +hostile encounter, after letting me have my own way so long? What will +come of it if the gulf between us should be so greatly enlarged?" + +"What will come of it?" asked _Heinrich_. "I do not know; probably +merely what has always happened,--a loss of peace; and, although I have +hitherto indulged you, it has only been because I could share your +pleasures as little as you could find joy in mine. Here, for the first +time, we unite in a common desire; our mutual interest is captivated by +one and the same object, but it is our curse that the very thing which +ought _unite_ us _severs_ us most violently. Her noble mind attracts me +as greatly as her beautiful person charms you, and I will not +voluntarily resign to you a single hour I can spend conversation with +her. Therefore, we must struggle." + +"Yes, we will," said _Henri_. + +"Herr von Ottmar," cried Veronica from the door, "will you join the +young people's games, or do you prefer the salon?" + +"Don't grudge me the privilege of mingling with the young people for a +time," he answered, and entered the room where Cornelia, radiant with +mirth and mischievousness, was bantering the young girls who were +standing around her. + +"Veronica," she cried, "the ladies have been industrious; we sha'n't +play games any longer. There are poems and essays to be read aloud. +Come in, Messrs. Critics; collect your thoughts; we have a severe judge +to-day." + +"Will you take part in our little college, Herr von Ottmar?" + +"I am very anxious to do so," he replied. + +"You must have patience and be indulgent to this kind of +entertainment," laughed Cornelia. "It is the personal friendship that +unites our little circle which makes it interesting to us, and of +course that is a thing you cannot yet share." + +"You must know," said Veronica, in a low tone, "that my darling child +has established among her friends a sort of nursery, in which she +wishes to rear clearness of intellect and feeling, noble principles, +and independent judgment; and the gentlemen eagerly assist her; they +are all more or less in love with her. Every week Cornelia gives the +young girls a subject for prose or poetic treatment, or a work to be +critically examined. Whoever receives the greatest praise from the +majority obtains the prize,--a picture by some one of the artists +present, or the dedication of a song by one of our musicians. The young +poets criticise the essays and read their own productions aloud. +Finally, the older gentlemen pronounce their ultimatum. You will +probably belong to this last and highest court to-day, though less +entitled to do so by age than intellect." + +"That is a charming idea," said _Heinrich_, "and is in harmony with you +both. You thus give society an intellectual seasoning which it usually +lacks. Have you poets in your circle?" + +"Oh, certainly!" replied Veronica. "Don't you know our young +celebrities? See, that one yonder is the tender lyric poet, D----, a +sensitive, foreboding soul; the stout, broad-shouldered man is the +bold, patriotic bard, B----; and the pale aristocrat, with the bent +head, is the poet T----, a very talented person. You have surely heard +of the enthusiastic reception of his first tragedy. I only fear his +intellect is developing too rapidly. Sooner or later this premature +growth will make it sickly, and that would be a pity. There is splendid +material in him, which, by the forcing system of our times, would be +made to shoot upwards too quickly to form a stout, healthy trunk, from +whence the productive power is always freshly supplied. The young man +is only twenty-four years old, and his work is already much more +massive than Schiller's first attempts; but he accomplishes a +remarkable amount in his department, and is a noble, estimable man. +These are the poor victims of our times, where the utmost is extorted +from every one." + +"You are right," replied _Heinrich_. "I am familiar with young T--'s +work, and, like you, think it unnaturally mature for his years. +Schiller and Goethe themselves won their way by degrees to what is +recognized as the highest stand-point. But our young people want to be +born upon this height and begin where they ended. It is perfectly +comprehensible that they don't wish to remain where they begin, but +struggle on and test the powers of their young intellects, as Lessing, +Goethe, and Schiller did when they gradually raised themselves above +the inferior performances and requirements of their times." + +"That is just what I always say," cried Veronica; "and this runs +through all circles of society. Our young people no longer have any +_simplicity_, and I think this is the glass case beneath which the +young plants of the soul should grow, with all their faults and +excrescences, until they are strong enough to bear without injury the +storms of life and the shears of negation. Without simplicity there are +no illusions, and without illusions there is no youth! You will perhaps +find here a circle which answers to my demand in this respect. True, +there are only a few poets of importance among them, but these +compensate me for all the famous, keen, analytical minds which pluck +the fragrant rose to find faults its calyx would have concealed, and +give us only the purified but empty branch of thorns. You see I am not +called the Sensitive Plant without reason." + +"Yes, yes," said _Heinrich_, with a kindly smile, "we must learn from +you how to keep young!" + +Meantime a reading-table had been placed in the centre of the room. +With cheeks glowing with embarrassment, a young girl seated herself at +it, cast a hasty glance at Ottmar, and read aloud from a manuscript an +essay whose subject and title were the justification of sympathy in +opposition to the judgments of reason. It was simple, but written in a +style free from faults; some of the ideas were not devoid of talent; +and it revealed a more thorough culture than is usually to be found in +young girls. _Heinrich_ perceived Cornelia's influence. His eyes rested +steadily upon her; she was standing behind the reader's chair, and +often looked thoughtfully at him. It was evident that she had given +this subject from a recollection of him. + +The following essays, which were read aloud in turn by the young girls, +all treated the same idea with more or less talent, and three poems +reproduced it in rhyme. + +_Heinrich_ perceived with increasing admiration the activity of the +Prison Fairy, whose strong, earnest will effected good results, even +under the garb of jest, and gave purpose to the most useless things. + +The reading ended, and the gentlemen, in mingled jest and earnest, gave +a stern criticism. Each sought the lady whose essay had made the most +impression upon him,--discussed and opposed the separate points. The +authoresses were obliged to defend themselves, and thus the argument +continued till Cornelia, who had previously been inclosed in the +circle, suddenly started up, exclaiming: "Say what you please against +sympathy, it is the only true oracle among us! If our reason enjoined +upon us ever so strictly to keep together as we are now, should we not +rush apart to all quarters of the globe if it were not for sympathy? +And if reason causes a person to appear ever so wicked, and sympathy +attracts us to him, we follow the latter, and often convince ourselves +that reason, which judges only by deceptive facts, misled us. Reason +disjoints and severs, sympathy conciliates. Reason calculates, sympathy +discovers; and, what is after all the principal thing, reason does not +make people happy,--sympathy does." + +"Cornelia," cried the poet T--, "I have never heard you talk so before! +What has become of the logic, the clearness of perception, with which +you gave these young ladies the guiding threads for their essays upon +this subject?" + +"If we were permitted to refer to this enthusiasm, we should be greatly +delighted, my dear T----; but I fear it is one of her whims," said +H----, the novelist. + +The gentle poet D---- whispered, softly, "I know what you mean, +Cornelia, but I no longer understand you." + +"I understand you," a voice which thrilled all the chords in her nature +suddenly murmured in her ear. "I thank you, Prison Fairy!" She turned +towards _Heinrich_ and looked up into his face. She was bewilderingly +beautiful at that moment, with the bold, noble profile half turned +towards him, the slender neck thrown back, the full lips curved in a +smile which made the small, white teeth glitter in the light, and the +hair combed up to form a natural diadem above the thoughtful brow. The +floating folds of her dress, the drooping crimson flowers, which +trembled at every motion, gave her an ideal, fairylike aspect, which +was increased by her dark eyes. Those eyes belonged to the class which, +the ancient myth tells us, had power to turn to stone any one on whom +their gaze rested. The large, sparkling pupils allowed very little of +the white of the eye to be seen. They often gleamed like two suns when +the long lashes were raised; and softly and sweetly as they rested upon +the object of their observation, their expression must be terrible in +anger. Ottmar gazed at her with increasing rapture. "Yes, yes," he +said, under his breath, "that is the Medusa from whose blood Pegasus +sprang." + +"How little she knows herself, that she thinks I could see her without +coveting her!" thought _Henri_, making a fresh effort to dislodge +_Heinrich_; _Heinrich_ resisted his attack with unaccustomed strength. +He gazed into the depths of those mysterious eyes; and the secrets +which, unconsciously to herself, slumbered within them, irresistibly +allured him. + +"Cornelia," said the young girl who had read the first essay,--and a +tear trembled on her lashes,--"they are looking for you." + +Cornelia looked up as if aroused from a dream, threw her arm around her +friend's neck, and embraced her warmly. "I thank you, Hedwig!" Then she +entered the noisy circle and summoned the gentlemen to select the essay +most worthy of the prize. + +The company voted, and the majority decided in favor of the first one +read. + +"Oh, I am glad, dear Hedwig!" said Cornelia, hastily, taking the +garland of fresh flowers she had woven for the victor and placing it +upon her brow. + +It was a beautiful sight as the loveliest maiden in the throng adorned +the diffident young girl and led her triumphantly into the middle of +the room. The gentlemen came forward, bringing the prize upon a +cushion. Poor Hedwig, who, in her embarrassment, had by no means the +air of a conqueror, received the gift from the hands of the young +artist A----, who whispered, gently, "I beg you all not to show it to +the original, if it can be avoided. I did not know he would be here." + +The young girl did not understand him, and hastily raised the cover, +but dropped it again in terror when she saw the sketch, while a burning +blush overspread her face. + +"Why, what is the matter?" asked Cornelia, taking out the picture. "A +study of a head! Herr von Ottmar,--a perfect likeness!" she exclaimed, +undisturbed by the young artist's embarrassment. + +_Heinrich_ stepped forward and gazed in astonishment at the successful +portrait. + +"I must crave your pardon for presuming to steal your features, Herr +Geheimrath," stammered the artist. "I know you are very highly esteemed +in this circle, and could not refrain from robbing my portfolio of the +picture, in order to give pleasure to those who assemble here; +otherwise this bold attempt of my talent would have remained entirely +concealed." + +_Heinrich_ smilingly listened to the long apology, and watched, with +silent amusement, an old gentleman standing at some distance from the +artist, who was accompanying his speech with numerous bows. This +gentleman was a certain Archivrath Linderer, an old friend of +Veronica's. The worthy man possessed such a wonderful impulse of +courtesy that he could not see any one make a bow without mechanically +imitating him, and never heard any sort of speech without mentally +making one also. + +_Heinrich's_ inclination to laugh was so greatly aroused by this sight +that he could scarcely utter a few reassuring words in reply to the +embarrassed artist. He was about to go in search of Veronica, to +question her about this comical man, when he saw Cornelia, who had been +gazing at the picture in silence, go to a table and take up a pencil. +He went up and glanced over her shoulder at the portrait. She cast a +hasty look at him and then fixed her eyes upon the sketch. She felt his +beard touch her hair, and shrank back. + +"Look, my dear A----!" she exclaimed. "Here are only two false strokes! +When these are altered the picture will be masterly! The lines just +over the eyebrows, expressing penetration, are very strongly marked in +Herr von Ottmar, and you have not brought them out sufficiently. The +upper portion of the brow is also remarkably expressive; there must be +a shadow here, and here." + +"You may be right," said A----, looking at Ottmar's forehead; "make the +strokes." + +Cornelia rapidly deepened the shadows, and all the bystanders +exclaimed, in astonishment, "Ah, that's it exactly! One would think you +had studied the head!" + +Cornelia quietly compared the picture with the original. "It is a noble +work! You have really been carried away by your subject! The eyes and +mouth seem as if they were about to speak!" + +"Your praise makes me very proud," said the young man. + +"And me!" whispered _Heinrich_, almost inaudibly. + +"May I ask you to come in to tea?" cried Veronica, from the doorway. +"If any one of the gentlemen has anything to read aloud, he must be +kind enough to defer it until after supper. It is already somewhat +late." + +_Heinrich_ was in the act of offering Cornelia his arm when Veronica +requested him to take her to the table. He patiently submitted to this +duty, and the ill-assorted pair moved on into the tea-room followed by +the others. + +Cornelia and Hedwig stood together a moment alone. Hedwig threw herself +on her friend's breast, and exclaimed, in a low, rapid tone,-- + +"I will give you the picture, Cornelia. I don't want it." + +"You don't want it?" asked the latter, in astonishment. + +"What should I do with it? I think you would value it more, and take +more pleasure in it than I," replied Hedwig. + +"But, Hedwig, you were always so enthusiastic about him." + +"Even if I were, it was all in joke. But you know and value him in +earnest: I saw that to-day; and if _he_ had given the picture, he would +have bestowed it on no one but you; so how could I take a thing to +which I have no right? Keep it, I beg of you. It is of no value to me." + +"But ought I to accept it from you?" asked Cornelia. "Shall I not be +robbing you?" + +"Robbing me? I owe you so much, and am so poor in comparison with you, +that it will make me rich if I can offer anything that will please you. +I would give you more, far more, if I had it to bestow." + +She pressed Cornelia lovingly to her heart, and the young girls were +holding each other in a close embrace when T---- came in search of +them, and Heinrich appeared behind him in the doorway. + +"Good heavens! Here they stand, kissing each other, while we have been +waiting for them so impatiently!" cried T----. + +"We humbly beg pardon for having had no one to escort us to the table," +laughed Cornelia. "We were consoling each other for the misfortune." + +"How malicious you are again! We were so sure that you would be +escorted to the table by your lucky Herr von Ottmar that we did not +even look for you," said T----, apologetically. + +"And you were not mistaken in your belief, sir," said _Heinrich's_ +voice. + +He went up to Cornelia and offered her his arm. T---- stood petrified +with astonishment. There was nothing left for him to do except to turn +to Hedwig. _Heinrich_ led Cornelia to her place, and then went back to +Veronica. Cornelia sat opposite to him, and on his right and left hand +were the fairest and brightest young girls in the whole circle. Many +mothers and fathers looked towards them with almost imperceptible +hopes, but everything fell into the lap of the one who neither hoped +nor desired anything. _Heinrich's_ interest was centred in Cornelia +alone. + +"You see, my dear Herr von Ottmar," Veronica began, "I have tried to +make amends to you for being obliged to take an old lady to the table. +My most charming young ladies are around you." + +"You would give me far greater pleasure if you would permit me to spend +my evenings with you and your adopted daughter, for I must confess that +I prefer you to all other ladies, be they ever so charming," he +whispered. + +"Oh, that you shall certainly do!" exclaimed Veronica, in delight. +"Come as often as you please. You will be a welcome guest." + +"I thank you," replied _Heinrich_. + +Meantime, Cornelia had been conversing with the extremely polite old +gentleman, and _Heinrich_ now asked who this eccentric person was. + +With gay humor she described his peculiarities, and in a low tone +related how, on festival occasions and during public speeches, he often +disturbed the bystanders by repeating the words half under his breath, +and supplying the bows omitted by the orator; how he always most +dutifully repeated the last words said to him; how he invariably +removed his hat when he saw two persons salute each other in the +street, etc. etc. + +"Do you know," she said, at last, "I think this proceeds from an excess +of benevolence and sympathy! It must be the same feeling that prompts +the mother who hears her daughter say a pretty thing to put on +precisely the same expression. The mother enters into her child's +situation so earnestly that she involuntarily imitates all her looks +and gestures; nay, I once saw an actress, starring with her daughter, +so carried away by the latter's playing that she unconsciously imitated +her darling, and almost merged her own part in her child's. What is +this except an excess of sympathy for the beloved being?" + +She then, in a most masterly manner, imitated the different mothers and +the tragic scene of the two ladies upon the stage, so that those around +burst into shouts of laughter. + +Yet the gayer the others became the more serious _Heinrich_ looked: and +she asked, with mingled surprise and anxiety, why they all had so +little success in amusing him. + +"Oh, you do not know how happy I am!" he replied; "but I am reflecting +about something. I see you develop so many different traits and talents +that I am bewildered. When I have at last succeeded in harmonizing one +of your changeful moods with your whole character, before I am aware of +it a new picture appears before me, which I must again incorporate with +the whole. You keep me in a perpetual mental excitement, and it +seems as if I were compelled to sketch the different waves upon the +sea-shore. Scarcely have I fixed my eyes upon one ere it is already +swallowed up in another, and I am constantly raising my eyes again to +sketch the whole as it spreads before me in its infinite majesty." + +He gazed at her with so strange an expression that she looked down as +if dazzled. + +"Oh, what are you making me?" she said, in confusion. "I am a very +simple person, who am merry with the mirthful and serious with the +grave. If I am different from others in any way it is because I am +always natural. Thousands feel as keenly, change their moods as +frequently, as I; but it is not noticed in them, because they have +accustomed themselves to a uniform etiquette, an unvarying manner. I +have often envied such persons, for they know how to give themselves +the stamp of a finished individuality far better than natures like +mine, which are sometimes thought gay, sometimes melancholy, now good +and then bad, or not at all what they seem, which are sometimes too +little, sometimes too much, trusted, and rarely or never understood." + +"Oh, Cornelia!" cried one of the guests, the famous actor N----, across +the table. "Do you mean to say that we don't understand you?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Cornelia. "I had principally in view those +whom I consider different from myself. You understand me because you +resemble me, and are all, more or less, artist natures!" + +"Do you mean that all artist natures are as truthful as yourself?" +asked _Heinrich_, doubtfully. + +"Certainly; when I trust a man it is the artist, especially those who +represent things." + +"I am curious to know upon what you found that idea," murmured +_Heinrich_, in a low tone. "The actor certainly practices dissimulation +as his profession." + +"Oh, do not say that! You will surely admit that in every man there is +an impulse towards truth and falsehood, as well as good and evil," +began Cornelia. "With almost all persons this impulse, like their other +good and bad qualities, exerts an influence upon their lives; they lie +and deceive in personal intercourse. But there are exceptions, among +those in whom this propensity to deceive is decomposed by Heaven knows +what process of intellectual chemistry, and becomes objective; that is, +forms a power of acting entirely apart from the subject. This power +seeks an independent form, and finds it in art, wherein it develops the +highest, most artistic structure, and those in whom such a process has +been completed are artists, especially actors. Then if the commonplace +man can satisfy that strange and undeniable propensity towards +falsehood only in real life, in the actor it is to a certain extent +_guided_ into a higher, loftier region, and he becomes in reality truer +and more natural than many who are only considered honest because they +are too awkward to feign." + +"Your explanation is logical," replied _Heinrich_, "but you cannot +carry it into practical execution. Opportunity makes thieves, a +capability for falsehood tempts to falsehood. Even the actor will not +disdain to obtain an advantage at the expense of truth, and the +temptation is all the greater the more he is convinced that the +deception will be successful. Nay, I can even imagine that there must +be a charm to him in making use of his histrionic skill, not only upon +the stage, but off the boards, and I have seen celebrated actors who +could not help perpetually performing a part." + +Cornelia reflected a moment, and then said, calmly: "There are such +instances, of course, but I do not call such people artists; there are +two distinct classes of men who bear that name. If this talent we have +just mentioned is coupled with more or less mental capacity, the union +produces more or less brilliant _performers_; if, however, there is a +counterpoise of the great qualities of the soul and heart, it produces +_artists_. The performer, it is true, employs the talents at his +command in life as well as in art; he knows no higher object than +effect. He deceives in life as well as in art when it will make an +effect, and in both is true to the same purpose. As he has neither +character nor heart, he is neither good nor bad upon principle; he +simply turns his talents to his own profit where and as he can. It is +this class of people who have in many respects degraded the position of +artists. The artist, on the contrary, perceives and seeks something far +higher than effect! Like all men of noble aims, he, too, has an ideal +towards which he unselfishly struggles--truth. If he seeks this in his +art, often even at the expense of the applause so indispensable to the +actor, if he is so conscientious in the realm of illusion, why should +he not be equally so in the domain of reality? The power of +transforming his whole nature at will he considers as a gift bestowed +to serve the holy purpose of art, and would no more turn it to his own +advantage than the honorable citizen would obtain an illegal profit +from an accidental or fairly won supremacy over others. A keener, more +active, sensitive faculty, and the habit of an elevated manner of +expression, may give him a peculiar, 'exaggerated,' perhaps 'affected' +appearance,--words with which the commonplace man so eagerly points out +what he does not understand; but you will acknowledge that a person may +be affected and yet possess true, genuine feelings; as, on the other +hand, the falsest and most designing men often appear the most +artless." + +"Certainly," said _Heinrich_. + +"You see," continued Cornelia, "that as from the worst and most +different materials the brightest, purest flame can be produced, so art +transfigures deception with the highest manifestations. Thus in real +artists falsehood aspires towards truth! The highest object of his +performance is the union of both, and the triumph of falsehood becomes +in him a triumph of truth!" + +Cornelia glanced gayly upwards towards the jets of gas in the +chandelier. In her enthusiastic defense she had involuntarily raised +her voice, and did not notice that every one was looking at her. When +she paused, all shouted a hearty bravo. _Heinrich_ sat motionless, with +his head resting on his hand, gazing earnestly at her; he could not +smile and applaud with the others,--he was asking himself, "Do I +deserve this woman?" + +The supper was over; he started up and approached her as the company +prepared to take leave. "Cornelia, Prison Fairy, you have opened a new +world to me. My mind is so full of all I have heard from you that I +cannot speak. Only tell me whether I may come again tomorrow?" + +"Certainly, Herr Baron." + +"Oh, do not be so formal, Prison Fairy! Let me hear my name from your +lips as you bid me farewell, that I may hold it dearer; or my baptismal +name. Ah, Cornelia, I should like to hear how it sounded if you would +say Good-night, _Heinrich_.'" + +"No, Herr von Ottmar, I cannot; you are still too great a stranger." + +_Heinrich_ bit his lips as if deeply abashed, and said, with a low bow, +"Pardon me, Fräulein, I was indiscreet." + +Cornelia held out her hand and looked at him with all her winning charm +of manner. "No, no, Herr von Ottmar, I did not wish to cause you pain. +I promise you that ere I sleep I will say in thought, 'Good-night, +_Heinrich_!' Does that satisfy you?" + +_Heinrich_ kissed her hand in a transport of delight. "Thanks, lovely +creature! And now good-night, my fairy; send me a pleasant dream." + +Veronica approached: he took leave of her; the departing guests pressed +him back, and, waving a farewell to Cornelia, he left the house. When +he reached the street he raised his hat from his head to allow the +night wind to cool his burning brow; and now he was _Henri_ again, for +he knew he was expected by a beautiful woman who had followed him home +from his last journey, and hitherto held his senses in her chains. He +mechanically obeyed the force of old habit and turned his steps towards +her residence. But when he stood before the house behind whose lighted +windows the glittering daughter of sin awaited him in dreams heavy with +forebodings, a strange, incomprehensible feeling overpowered him. +Cornelia's pure, wonderful charms appeared so vividly before his soul +that he turned with repugnance from the desecrated image that allured +him. He perceived that no one had any power of attraction except +Cornelia, and that nothing could satisfy his longing for her. He went +home, and that very night wrote a farewell letter to his purchased +love, and freed himself from his unworthy chains. + + +A ray of light fell through the heavy silken curtains of Veronica's +bed, and waked the sleeper. She looked around and saw Cornelia, who, +with a lamp in her hand, was noiselessly gliding through the chamber +towards the door of the salon. "What do you want there, child?" asked +Veronica; "why are you still dressed? I had already fallen asleep." + +Cornelia started. "I forgot something," she replied, and slipped out of +the room. When she returned through Veronica's chamber she carried a +portfolio in her hand. + +"What have you there?" asked Veronica. + +"Don't be angry with me for waking you, dear," said Cornelia, kissing +the white, aged brow, "I only wanted to read Hedwig's essay again; it +was left in the parlor." + +When she had closed the door of her pleasant bedroom behind her, she +took Ottmar's portrait from the portfolio, placed it on a reading-desk, +sat down before it, and, shielding her eyes with both hands, rested her +arms on the table, and became absorbed in studying the mysterious head. +The more she looked at it the more beautiful she found it. "How simple +those lines are, and yet how rich, how infinitely expressive! Oh, who +could decipher the mute language of that ardent mouth, whose kiss still +burns upon my hand? How can people kiss so with such delicate lips? It +is not the lips that kiss, it is his heart, which lies between them; +that is why his caress is so soft, so warm; that is why it penetrates +to the inmost soul. And when he speaks they are again only the +beautiful, slender banks over which the flood of feeling streams! And +those eyes,--oh, they reveal all the wonders of the soul! He might err, +nay, he might even be shattered by life, but the look that shines in +his eyes is divine; it will raise him above his lower nature, and +everything else. And I,--I will aid him; I will join the good genius +that floats above the darkness of his soul like the Spirit of God over +chaos, and teach him to perceive his own greatness, his ideal +strength." + +She sat long, absorbed in thought; but, by degrees, it seemed as if the +pictured head moved to and fro, the eyes turned, the lips parted and +closed again. She gazed and made the light burn brighter; in vain. +Nature asserted her rights, sleep was casting her deceptive veil over +her weary head. She rose, removed the flowers from her hair, and +released her lovely form from its clinging drapery. Again and again her +eyes rested upon the drawing. She paused. "How you look at me, as if +you were alive! as if I ought to be confused! Stop, wait! You shall not +see me undress." So saying, she hastily placed the picture in the +writing-table, went to bed, extinguished the light, and nestled +comfortably among the pillows. "Good-night, _Heinrich_." + + + + + XI. + + A NEW LIFE. + + +After _Henri_ had written his letter, the exhausted body imperiously +demanded rest, and while it slept _Heinrich_ hastened to Cornelia and +hovered round her slumbering soul as if it were the petals of a folded +rosebud. She did not know, but she suspected it; the magic of the soul +revealed his presence, and she felt his spiritual kiss. + +When Ottmar awoke the following morning he thought he had not slept +well, and had been dreaming a great deal of the Prison Fairy. Yet +neither had been dreaming; although their bodies slept, their souls +were together. _Heinrich_ remained in bed some time. He was in the best +of humors, and compared this awakening with the one six years before, +when he had resolved to yield to the power of the Jesuits. At that time +he was in the act of beginning a new but worse life, as to-day he had +awakened to a new and better one. He thought of Cornelia with grateful +reverence. Through her he obtained a peace of which he had long been +deprived; for, while in himself there was naught save opposition and +contrast, in her he found the complement of his nature and the full +satisfaction of homogeneousness. Thus _Heinrich_ already preferred to +dwell upon her harmonious character rather than the struggles in his +own breast, and this was one step, though scarcely perceptible, towards +liberation from the egotism that was constantly throwing him back upon +himself. Even _Henri_, the night before, had rejected the pleasure of +the moment, and yielded to an ardent love for an object he could never +expect to obtain his way. Even in this hopeless submission there was a +slight contest with his usual selfish pursuit of pleasure. It was with +a certain feeling of abhorrence that he compared the base passions of +the past with his longing for Cornelia's intellectual charms, and fell +into this temporary self-sacrifice. Thus egotism sooner or later +defeats itself. The true egotist ends with a feeling of loathing and +disgust, not only towards the world, but himself. Unmistakable tokens +of this state were already visible both in _Heinrich_ and _Henri_; but, +fortunately for him, he was at an age when fresh buds can shoot forth +and supply the places of those that are dead. These germs now began to +stir with life. Intellect and feeling, with equal power, drew +_Heinrich_ and _Henri_ towards a being whose bodily and mental gifts +were equal. In this the two extremes already began to approach; but +they did not yet understand each other, and their meeting must still +produce conflict instead of reconciliation. + +Ottmar lay for a long time absorbed in meditations upon his strange +twofold nature. A servant entered to wake him. He remembered how he had +expected old Anton to come in that morning, and, for the first time, a +strange face appeared instead. "Good old Anton, no doubt he was right," +thought _Heinrich_; "and how shamefully he was treated! Now he would +certainly have no occasion to be angry about such faults. He was the +best servant I ever had. I will take him back again." He rose, ordered +a message to be sent to the inn for old Anton, and sat down to write to +Cornelia. + +"Her name is Erwing," said he; "that is the name of the famous +democrat. Can she be his daughter? If so, she can scarcely have known +her father, for Erwing must have fled from North Germany to America at +least twenty years ago. It must be so. That is why she concealed her +name in the prison; she probably knew it would be no letter of +recommendation. That accounts for her relations with Reinhold, too. It +is decidedly unpleasant! I shall not get much honor at court by the +acquaintance. But it need never be known there. It is winter, night +shuts in at four o'clock; I shall only go to her house in the evening, +so the whole affair can be concealed from the eyes of the jeering +aristocracy. My occasional appearance in literary circles will not be +misconstrued, as I have the reputation of unusual erudition." He began +to write: "Cornelia!" He paused. "Cornelia! It was a lofty spirit that +gave her this proud name; is she a true child of this spirit? I almost +believe it. That she glides into the cells of the lowest criminals does +not spring from humility,--it is the defiance of compassion against the +harshness of force, and the consciousness of the joy-giving power of +her own individuality. Woe to him who ventured to wound her pride! He +would have lost her." + +Just at that moment Anton was announced. He threw aside his pen and +went forward to meet him. It seemed, as he rejoiced over the return of +the old servant, as if some kind of companionship was now a necessity. + +"Welcome, faithful companion of my past!" he cried. "Will you share my +future?" + +"I don't come to force myself upon you as a servant, Herr Baron," said +Anton, whose voice trembled with emotion, "but I must give you one +parting hint before my return,--it seems to be intended that I am to +keep watch for you." + +"Well?" + +"Your beautiful estates at H----, Herr Baron, really need your +oversight again. The steward and inspector are both in league to let +everything go to ruin and fill their own pockets." + +"What, what! How do you know that? Do you know that during the last few +years my income from the estates has lessened so materially that it has +caused me serious anxiety, and were it not for my salary I should find +it difficult to live?" + +"A proof that I speak the truth. On my way here I passed by +Ottmarsfeld, and a secret impulse led me into the old castle and the +gardens where I saw you, Herr Baron, grow to manhood. But it caused me +real sorrow to see how everything had changed for the worse. The +stately castle is out of repair in many places, the gardens have run +wild, and the cattle are miserable beasts. There are only fifteen +day-laborers on the estate, and they are lazy and carelessly watched." + +"That is certainly shameful!" cried _Heinrich_. "The inspector has put +down thirty day-laborers to my account every year, and charged me many +hundreds for repairs on the buildings." + +"You will convince yourself that you have been deceived, and your +splendid property must soon be ruined if matters go on in this way," +said Anton. + +_Heinrich_ paced thoughtfully up and down the room, then turned to +Anton and held out his hand. "You are the most faithful soul that I +have in the world. Anton, you must enter my service again; surely you +cannot yet live without me." + +"You know why I left you, Herr Baron," he answered. + +"I know," cried _Heinrich_, laughing; "but I don't think you will have +any further occasion to fear similar cases. I am not quite so bad as +you think, and have become much more steady of late." + +"Oh, I can never think my own dear master wicked!" said Anton, deeply +touched. "But what suits you--is not quite so proper for me. It may be +perfectly natural for an aristocratic young gentleman to follow the +inclinations of his heart, while it would be wrong for a sedate old man +to lend his assistance to things which went against his conscience. So +I might be placed in a position where I should be compelled to disobey +you, and then you would only send me away again. Let me go home,--I +cannot promise unconditional obedience." + +"And you need not, Anton," said _Heinrich_, gravely. "I do not wish to +make a mere machine of you; I will compel you to do nothing that is +against your principles, and you shall even tell me your opinion as +much as you please, if it should ever prove necessary. It is tiresome +for a man to have no one to quarrel with except himself. I have blessed +you a thousand times during the last few weeks for having had the +boldness to baffle my wishes, and therefore in atonement I will assure +you an inalienable asylum with me as long as you live. Can I do more?" + +"Oh, my dear, kind master!" cried Anton, kissing _Heinrich's_ hands +with a flood of joyful tears. "After such, generosity it is surely my +duty to devote all the rest of my life to you, and serve you in all +honesty as long as I can. Ah, I really believe you are going to be the +dear little master I had thirty years ago!" + +He was interrupted by the entrance of Albert, who looked paler and +graver than Ottmar had expected. + +"Well," asked _Heinrich_, "have you slept off your first intoxication +of joy, and do you now feel somewhat depressed?" + +"Yes, dear Herr Baron," replied Albert. "It is strange; yesterday I +felt nothing, thought of nothing, except that I was free; to-day I +already perceive the necessity for me to act, and as the prison was +formerly too narrow, the world is now too wide for me. I totter and +know not where I can obtain support. Yesterday I only felt that the +dungeon had cast me out; to-day I feel that life has not yet received +me, and seem so helpless that I could weep like a lost child." + +"I understand that, Albert. You cannot yet feel at ease in your new +position. Your strength of will has been asleep during your five +years' imprisonment, and now, when you need it, refuses to obey your +bidding. This, as a matter of course, makes you anxious; but it is +ungrateful to consider yourself deserted. Can a man receive more +abundant assistance than you have had from me?" + +"Oh, my noble, generous patron, my whole life belongs to you! How can +you believe me ungrateful? I bless you with every breath of God's free +air I take. But ought I to eat the bread of charity in your house, even +if you wished it? Must I not go out into the world and earn something, +that I may at last make a home for the unhappy girl who has suffered +and atoned so truly? But what am I to do? I can accomplish so little, +my superficial knowledge makes me so dependent. Who will trust the +murderer?" + +"Any one who knows you, Albert," said _Heinrich_, kindly. + +Albert's frank brown eyes gazed at him doubtfully. "Do you think so? +Ah, when I was in prison, among the criminals whose fate I unjustly +shared, I seemed like a saint; but now I am free and in the society of +irreproachable men, I feel for the first time like a criminal, and +scarcely venture to raise my shame-dyed face." + +"Albert, in spite of your error, you are a man of more delicate and +noble feelings than millions of the irreproachable citizens who pride +themselves upon their phlegmatic honesty. That is why there are so few +who understand you well enough to disregard your past as I do. I will +take you henceforth into my employment. Will you undertake to become my +steward?" + +"The steward of your estates?" asked Albert, in joyful astonishment. + +"Yes; I know you studied agriculture with a landowner in V---- before +you turned to the career of a priest, and came to the college. However, +if you did not learn enough there, I will send you to the agricultural +school at C---- for six months to perfect your education; and then I +think you will become a faithful manager of my property. You can marry +your Röschen; and the steward's house is so large that in the course of +a few years you can tell a number of children the story of the Prison +Fairy." + +A deep blush suffused Albert's face, and he clasped his hands with an +involuntary sigh. "Oh, the Prison Fairy, Herr Baron! You and the Prison +Fairy are the noblest human beings the Lord ever made! What shall I say +to you? I can give you no better thanks than the wish that destiny may +unite you!" With these words he hurried from the room. + +_Heinrich_ gazed after him for a long time in silence. "So that is the +greatest blessing you can desire for me? Poor fellow! You too, without +knowing it, love the Prison Fairy. It is because you must be deprived +of her that freedom itself seems cold and barren; and yet she is so far +above you that you do not venture to raise your eyes towards her. To me +alone you will not grudge her, whom you consider the essence of +everything admirable. And I? Does not the blood mount into my cheeks +when I think how little I deserve what you wish me; and how, like a +thief, I steal the semblance of virtues I do not possess!" + + +Veronica and Cornelia were sitting in their little tea-room, engaged in +needle-work. "Cornelia, you sew very little, and talk still less," said +Veronica to the young girl, who was sitting silent and motionless, +gazing at the green shade that covered the lamp. + +"I can neither sew nor talk: I am thinking of Ottmar," she answered, +frankly. "Is not such a soul, which approaches ours for the first time +and opens a new world to us, worthy of being received with quiet +solemnity? Are we to rest on that day which commemorates a miracle that +happened long ago and has never been fully proved? and when the Deity +reveals one of its greatest wonders to our eyes, ought we to grudge our +souls a time of sabbath repose in which to receive this lofty guest? +You must not reproach me if, under this impression, I spend a few days +longer in idle dreams. It is my nature!" + +"You are just what I wish to see you, my Cornelia. God grant that you +may remain so! Give yourself up to your own thoughts undisturbed. Put +aside your work and remain silent. People do not hold communion with +each other only when they talk." + +Another pause followed, and nothing was to be heard except the clicking +of Veronica's knitting-needles. But the old lady was not silent long. +"You have a deep mind, Cornelia: I could not reflect so long upon any +subject; and in spite of my years I enjoy life more unquestioningly +than you. What approaches me lovingly I believe in, and when I trust I +enter into no subtle inquiries." + +Cornelia smiled but made no reply, for these words showed her that +Veronica only partially understood her mood; and she did not feel +disposed to disclose her feelings any further, though she could not +have given a reason for it even to herself. Her large eyes rested +affectionately upon the old lady, and she merely asked, "Dear Veronica, +are people investigating a subject when they are silently enjoying it?" + +"Make the tea, my little angel," said Veronica; "the organ will suit +your solemn mood." + +Cornelia arranged the tea-table, lighted the wick under an +old-fashioned silver tea-kettle, and then sat down to listen to the +charming music that instantly became audible. At first one could only +distinguish the different tones of boiling water, but by degrees they +became more melodious, and blended together not into a confused +bubbling, but the notes of the choral song, "Blick hin nach Golgotha!" +It was a wonderfully artistic plaything, concealed in the lid, and set +in motion by a glass roller, by the pressure of steam. The tones of +course were louder or fainter as the water boiled more or less +violently, and thus the whole sounded like the singing of a tea kettle, +transformed into melody by some invisible fairy. + +This tender, mysterious music did indeed harmonize with Cornelia's +mood, and she looked up as if roused from a dream when the stiff, +precise old servant entered, and, with a doubtful mien, said that Herr +von Ottmar wished to see the ladies. + +"He is very welcome," said Veronica, joyfully; and the old man, casting +a sullen glance at Cornelia's blushing face, opened the door. + +_Heinrich_ entered. He apologized for the late hour of his visit by +saying that he had received a note from the prince, directing him to +prepare for a journey, and expect further orders the following day. +Thus it might happen that he would be compelled to set out at once +without having any time for farewells. + +Veronica assured him that no apology was necessary, and begged him to +take tea with them. The old servant, to his great disgust, was ordered +to bring another plate, and sternly placed a chair for _Heinrich_ +beside Veronica, pressing it violently on the floor, as if he would +like to make it grow there; but _Heinrich_ involuntarily pushed it +towards Cornelia, and the old man withdrew, shaking his head. + +Cornelia said nothing, and _Heinrich_ looked at her inquiringly. In the +silence that followed he noticed the singing of the tea-kettle. + +"What strange little organ have you there?" he asked, in surprise. + +"It is a relic of my sentimental youth," replied Veronica, "and is +really closely connected with a portion of my life." + +"Why, that is very interesting! What air is it playing?" + +"A choral I often sang in my young clays. Tell Herr von Ottmar the +words, Cornelia, or he will think you have forgotten how to speak." + +Cornelia repeated the well-known strophe: + + + "Schau hin nach Golgotha! + Dort schwebt am Kreuzes-stamm' + Im Todeskampf dein Jesus, + Mit deiner Schuld beladen. + Schau hin nach Golgotha! + Er neigt sein sterbend Haupt, + Es bricht sein Herz, + Selbst Engel weinen: + Der Welterlöser todt!" + + +"It is a beautiful choral, but it does not suit a gay social circle," +said Cornelia, evidently deeply moved. She had felt that her voice grew +tremulous during the recital, and thought herself obliged to apologize. +"The profound melancholy of that sublime death overwhelms me in those +few lines. They conjure up the whole picture of the saddest hour earth +has ever known, and I cannot refrain from tears." + +"While you spoke I saw only the angels who were weeping there," +whispered _Heinrich_, gazing at her with delight, "and yet your +trembling voice touched me strangely. Who gave you this prophetic +inspiration, which, after the lapse of centuries, feels agonies perhaps +never endured? All the sufferings of Christ were mirrored in your +eyes." + +"Oh, who could help feeling them?" replied Cornelia. "Who that truly +entered into them could help being thrilled with the deepest grief? +What a sacrifice, to make himself the bleeding example of his +teachings! What a love, which devotes itself to secure the happiness of +a world! When I read the history of the passion, it seems as if I had a +thousand hearts, so keenly, so painfully, do I feel the death-agony of +the One Heart that bore in itself the sorrows of all, suffered for all, +bled for all, loved all,--even those who betrayed it,--and was +understood and valued by so few. I see him turn pale, and feel how Mary +counts his last sighs and dies ten deaths with him. The breezes pause +in their course and are silent: the clouded sky bends heavily towards +the earth; all creation is frozen with terror, and listens for the +fearful moment when the God-man shall die,--when the monstrous murder +of the Guiltless One shall be completed. And now he bends his head, and +all is over. It is done, and the long-repressed woe breaks forth. The +storm rages over the earth, rends the veil, bursts the false temple. +The world groans; and the Lord himself, touched even in his +unapproachable divinity, extends his arms to his beloved Son to receive +him to his heart. Oh, my friend, who can read or hear this story +without being moved to the very depths of his soul? Even if you deny +this great event and prove that it never existed, and even reveal who +invented it,--who subjected a world to the might of this thought,--he +too was inspired by a higher power,--he too came from God and has +performed a miracle; a miracle that no one can deny, for it uplifts +itself in gigantic structures of stone in every land; it stamps its +impress upon every grave; it receives the new-born infant with a holy +ordinance; it is the last consolation of the dying; nay, at this very +moment it fills your own breast with silent veneration: I can see it in +you." + +_Heinrich_ could scarcely breathe; he did not know what had befallen +him. Was it a supernatural creature who was speaking to him? He was +obliged to start up and go to the window, so strangely did his thoughts +pulse through his brain. Was it the artistic impression of her +powerful, eloquent words, her animated play of expression, the capacity +for suffering in her nature bodingly revealed in this description, or +the effect of the words themselves? He knew not, but he felt as much +agitated as if Christianity had just been revealed to him for the first +time. + +"You could do more good than many preachers," he said, at last, +returning to his seat. "You understand how to obtain a hold upon the +soul, and I am amazed at your religious enthusiasm. I should have +supposed you to have more tendency towards rationalism. Are you a +Protestant?" + +"Oh, do not ask whether I am Catholic or Protestant! I am a +Christian,--that is the principal thing. By faith and education I +am a Protestant; but I belong to no creed, for I have no faith in +miracles,--at least the miracles the church teaches. I recognize too +entirely the divinity of the laws of the universe to believe that God +must remove Nature from her usual course to reveal himself. Every +deviation from natural laws is an abnormal condition, and therefore +unlovely, for all beauty consists in the harmony of each individual +part with the whole; but I can accept and reverence nothing that is not +beautiful,--far less consider God, the soul of the system of the world, +as the author of an anomaly. Herein I am a rationalist. I hate those +who bar the progress of science, because they fear the natural +explanation of things may destroy the dogma of revelation; but I also +hate those who think that by the natural explanation of things they can +deny the existence of a higher power. God reveals himself indirectly in +the laws of nature, and directly in the soul. The noblest man is to me +the greatest wonder of creation; and if I believe Christ to be the son +of Joseph, I adore him none the less as the true Son of God, spirit of +his Spirit, proceeding from and returning to him. Thus I am a Christian +with my whole soul, and, with ardent love, bear my Saviour in my heart +as my highest model. What would all my acts be if I had not this +fundamental principle of Christianity? if I did not perform my +charitable deeds in the spirit of self-sacrifice Christ taught us, what +should I be? A sentimental adventuress, a heroine of romance, who has +one eccentric caprice today and another to-morrow; is always playing a +part, and constantly unhappy because she has no object, no purpose, in +life; for selfishness leaves us always empty and unsatisfied, while +Christianity is its most powerful opponent." + +_Heinrich_ sat for some time in silence, with his eyes fixed upon the +floor; when he looked up Cornelia was gazing into his grave countenance +with an expression of affectionate inquiry,--she felt that her last +words had touched some sensitive point. _Heinrich_ passed his hand +through his hair as if he wished to banish the obtrusive thoughts that +crowded upon him. + +"The poetry of Christianity has excited and enchained your fancy. It +would be useless to convince you by scientific proofs, since you have +formed a religion which is not dependent upon them." + +"Certainly," laughed Cornelia. + +"You _wish_ to believe, and therefore you do. You are fortunate! You +have produced a wonderful harmony between your skeptical reason and +enthusiastic heart. I admire you; for this theory of spiritual +revelation by natural means, which can go hand in hand with science, is +the best that a talented woman can appropriate. Who taught you all +this?" + +"Her own harmonious soul," said Veronica. "She has a keen intellect, +and a soft, feeling heart; therefore she does not believe +unconditionally, as we are obliged to do, and yet is full of religious +devotion. Thus she found that harmony, as you call it, and restored +peace to her mind. When you know her better, you will be astonished at +the wonderful symmetry of her nature." + +"I am already!" exclaimed _Heinrich_; "I never had any intellectual +pleasure which could be compared to my intercourse with you. I could +listen forever in rapturous delight to the thousand turns her thoughts +take. Tell me, Cornelia, from what noble union of wondrous hearts did +you spring, to be mentally and bodily so beautiful,--so beautiful?" + +Cornelia looked at Veronica. The latter passed _Heinrich_ a cup. "Take +some tea, and I will tell you the story of my musical urn, which +interested you so much just now. You will thereby learn our whole +history, if you care to know it." + +"Oh. pray tell me whatever I may be permitted to hear. You do not know +how eagerly I desire it." + +"I have already told you," began Veronica, "that Cornelia is the child +of my adopted daughter. This adopted daughter, the wife of the +political martyr Erwing, was thrown upon my hands by a singular +destiny, and I thank God, that, through her and afterwards through +Cornelia, he gave my life a purpose and meaning. I enjoyed a mother's +pleasures without being compelled to suffer her pains; for when God +took my dear adopted daughter from me, my grief would have been +infinitely greater if the lost one had been mine by birth. But Cornelia +has, as yet, given me nothing but joy. She was difficult to educate, +but even the toil of reducing these chaotic talents to order was a +pleasure. That I have succeeded in doing so is a wonder to myself, for +I never had an opportunity to study these powerful characters. My +mother, to the day of her death, had a childlike heart. She was only +sixteen years older than I, and seemed like a friend and playmate +rather than a mother. The governess my father procured for me really +educated the mamma at the same time with the little daughter! This gay, +innocent youth has been the foundation of my character. My grandfather +was a Danish nobleman, who became a widower at my mother's birth, and +lived a solitary life upon his estates at Soröe, though he opened his +house to all the nobility in the neighborhood. It chanced that an +acquaintance one day introduced a friend named Albin, a native of +Holstein, who was traveling through the country. Herr von Albin, a +handsome, attractive man of fifty, was seated at dinner next to my +mother, who at that time was not quite fifteen, and she particularly +remembered that when some magnificent strawberries were served at +dessert, the gentleman assured her that much larger and finer ones grew +on his estate. This greatly astonished my mother, for she had always +believed the strawberries in her garden the best in the world. + +"A few weeks after a servant summoned her to her father's room, and the +latter informed her that she would soon be married. She said, 'As you +please, dear father,' and went sorrowfully back to her governess. When, +however, on the following day Herr von Albin was presented to her as +her future bridegroom, she was greatly delighted, for she thought of +the wonderful strawberries that grew on the kind gentleman's estate. + +"This Herr von Albin was my father. He loved my mother with touching +tenderness, and did everything in his power to prevent her from feeling +the great difference in their ages. He took journeys with her, and as +German society pleased her far better than the formal Danish etiquette +of those days, lived by turns upon his Holstein estates in summer, and +the North German City of B---- in winter. Thus it happens that my whole +nature is thoroughly North German, and I have also inculcated some of +it into Cornelia's mind. When I was in my fourteenth year I lost my +father, and my mother, then scarcely thirty, was still very girlish in +her appearance, and equally so in character. The death of the kind +husband whom she had loved with childlike reverence was the first +sorrow of her life. + +"With the same obedience with which she had formerly married Herr von +Albin she now, at her father's command, wedded a second husband; but +this time she did not rejoice over beautiful strawberries. + +"My stepfather, an attaché of the Danish Embassy in N----, was very +rich; and as my father's estates were entailed an male heirs, and my +mother had also inherited little or nothing, my grandfather, whose +property likewise reverted to the crown at his death, wished by this +marriage to secure his daughter a future free from care. But whether my +mother was happy with this man I will leave you to decide. He was a +cold aristocrat, chose society which was distasteful to us, and left us +much alone at a retired country seat, where we led a life devoted to +books and belles-lettres. + +"Chance made me acquainted with a young officer, who, despite his +youth, was already a widower, and the father of a little two-year-old +daughter. We loved each other, and he asked for my hand; but my +stepfather refused his consent, because the marriage did not suit his +plans for me, and perhaps, also, because he had no inclination to give +me a dowry. What a nature that young man possessed! Alas! he bore the +doom of an early death. During our stay at our country seat my mother +sometimes permitted him to visit us. She became constantly sadder and +paler, and the only hours that she seemed more animated and joyous were +those we all spent together. I sang and played upon the piano passably +well, and the choral we have just mentioned, which was peculiarly in +harmony with my Edmund's religious feelings, I sang for him again and +again. We spent many such evenings as this together, and were never +happier than when assembled around the steaming tea-urn in North German +fashion. My friend often said it would be charming if its confused +humming could be transformed into a distinct melody, for he found all +the charm of northern sentimentality in its mysterious music. + +"Just at this time my stepfather suddenly died, leaving my mother a +large fortune, and there was now no further impediment to our marriage. +We wished to have my betrothed husband resign from the army at once; +but he would not consent. He wished to take part in the last great +campaign against Napoleon before he resigned himself to the happiness +of private life. We parted as betrothed lovers; I took his little +daughter from her boarding-school to my own home, to be a mother to +her, for I loved the child; but my mother clung to the little one with +peculiar affection. After the departure of my affianced husband, she +was often confined to her bed, but her still youthful and beautiful +features beamed with almost superhuman love when she clasped the +little girl in her arms. She was then thirty-eight years old, and I +two-and-twenty. Alas! it was only later that I first suspected the true +cause of my mother's quiet illness. Her poor heart had never known +love,--let me be silent." The speaker's bright eyes suddenly grew dim, +and tears ran down her pale cheeks. + +"Oh, God!" murmured _Heinrich_, involuntarily. + +"She was constantly thinking of what we could do to surprise Edmund on +his return," continued Veronica. "One day she said she would like to +have him find on our table an urn constructed exactly as he had +desired, and that the toy, whose idea she suggested to me, should play +his favorite choral, 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' As I saw how greatly +she had set her heart upon it, I instantly gave the order to the +celebrated mechanician, Gebhardt, and in the course of a few months the +work was completed. Alas! it afforded her the last pleasure she ever +knew. It played for the first time one dreary autumn evening. She sat +up in bed with her arm around the little girl, and listened with +childlike devotion. 'May you solemnize a beautiful service of love with +this organ!' said she. 'Make his home-life bright and pleasant, that he +may always be glad to stay with you; believe me, a solitary wife is a +most wretched creature. Make him happy, my Veronica; he deserves it.' +'Grandmamma,' lisped the child, throwing her little arms lovingly +around the neck of the fair, youthful 'grandmother.' Her cheeks flushed +feverishly, and she concealed her tears upon the neck of the 'little +angel.' Do you know, Veronica, that I have begun to write poetry in my +old age!' she said, suddenly, with a mournful smile. Yesterday I +composed these verses: + + + "Thank thy God, oh, happy mortal! + Love's thy portion here below, + And, glorified in death by love, + Thy immortal part shall glow. + + "Love suffered for thee on the cross, + Upon Golgotha died for thee; + Is ever near, though far away + He whom thou lov'st may be. + + "Cheer thee, my heart, though here on earth + Thou seekest love in vain; + Feel that there is no lack with God; + Cry blessings on his name. + + +"'Oh, mother!' I exclaimed, deeply touched, 'why is this? Do you lack +love? Do we not all love you most tenderly?' Weeping bitterly, I +pressed her to my heart. Just at that moment a letter was brought in. +From him she exclaimed, broke the seal, and sank back senseless upon +the pillows. I tore the letter from her rigid hands,--it was the notice +of my lover's death. I rushed into the next room to conceal the +outbreak of my anguish from my mother, and, throwing myself upon my +knees, prayed for strength. Suddenly I heard strange sounds, which made +me start up, and, at the same time, the child screamed aloud. In mortal +terror I hurried back to find my mother in her death-agony. 'Mother, +mother,' I shrieked, despairingly, 'do not leave me alone in my +misery!' With a look of inexpressible love, she placed the little one +in my arms; I clasped them both in a wild embrace; felt the last breath +of her pure lips, and then sank back senseless, dimly hearing, as if +from another world, the air 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' Spare me the +description of my sufferings. For a year I struggled with a disease of +the lungs, but my strong, youthful constitution obtained the victory. +Yet one tiny flower of happiness bloomed for me upon my lover's grave: +his little daughter,--his own flesh and blood,--a part of himself. I +had not wholly lost him,--was not entirely alone. Nay, the child +resembled him so much that with silent delight I saw his living image +always before me, but the double blow had so crushed my soul that I +needed and sought seclusion. I purchased a small estate in the province +of R----, where I devoted myself entirely to the sorrowful pleasure of +educating my Antonie and cherishing memories of my lover,--let people +say what they chose,--and shut myself up in my little world of feeling. +I read everything new that appeared in the kingdom of literature, and +in all found myself and my own grief. By degrees I became not only calm +but happy; the lonely life I led caused all the pictures of my memory +to assume so tangible a form that my lover and my dear mother appeared +before me,--I was surrounded by all whom I loved. Thus the dead became +alive to me, and the living, with the exception of my child, dead. The +happier I felt in these dreams the more anxiously I avoided all contact +with reality, that the delicate webs of my fancy might not be torn +asunder by its rude touch. Nor was this difficult, for no one troubled +themselves about the stranger. Beautiful scenes of nature entranced me +with their ever-varying charms; an excellent servant managed my little +household; and thus for fourteen years I lived entirely apart from the +world with my adopted daughter, my books, and my dead. This is the +reason why I seem too young for my age,--I stood still for many years +of my life. But when Antonie grew up, I perceived that I ought not to +make the bright, blooming young girl a hermit. My parents' house in +N---- was empty, and I resolved to move here and introduce my adopted +child to society; but how was I astonished to find it so entirely +different from what I had left it! Since peace had once more smiled +upon the country,--since no universal sorrow impressed its deep seal +upon every soul,--men seemed to me more selfish, more material. They +doubtless still coquetted with a certain sentimentality, but it seemed +to me that with true sorrow true feeling had also vanished. Time had +advanced, while during my long seclusion I had remained standing still; +I felt that I did not understand this world, and was even allowed to +perceive that I no longer suited it. As through my extensive course of +reading Antonie and I had obtained knowledge, and also, probably, +formed some opinions, several literary people became interested +in us, and thus, with Antonie's full consent, I again withdrew from +society, to collect around me a circle of men and women who possessed +similar tastes. The unfortunate republican, Erwing, then a quiet, +much-respected man and a distinguished author, was also introduced to +me. He loved and married Antonie; Cornelia was born the following year. +At that time Erwing was already developing his dangerous political +tendencies. He was a noble man, and sacrificed himself to his +principles, and, alas! his wife also, who died of grief for him. God +took her from the world; her death broke down all the barriers that had +hitherto restrained Erwing, and his sorrow for her increased his +political wrath to its height. Soon after, the unhappy man was obliged +to fly to America, where he died, leaving the orphan, to whom, since +her father's flight, I have filled a mother's place, as I did to her +mother. In so doing I have fulfilled a sweet and sacred duty to my dead +love, who lives and hovers around me in eternal youth, and blesses my +efforts in behalf of his granddaughter!" + +The old maid paused, with cheeks crimsoned with blushes; she had folded +her hands over her knitting, and seemed wholly absorbed in memories of +the past. Cornelia sat lost in thought, with her head resting on her +hand. + +"What a face, so victorious in its calm pride!" said _Heinrich_ to +himself; "what hair, what a neck, what an arm! What movements, and +lines! What grace! Yes, it is the _soul_ that animates this frame, and +warm blood that gleams through it so rosily!" + +He laid his open palm before her on the table; she placed her hand in +it. There was nothing very singular in the action, but her cheeks +glowed; it seemed as if he was drawing her head towards him, as if she +must bend forward yet he held her hand calmly in his. Veronica, +absorbed in her memories, rose to get _Heinrich_ a picture of her +lover. They were alone! A new expression flashed over Ottmar's +face,--_Heinrich_ and _Henri_ had changed places! the moment had +tempted the latter irresistibly. He slowly drew Cornelia's hand towards +him, and bent his handsome head to hers; his eyes beamed with +inexpressible love, and his voice trembled with fervor as he whispered: + +"Poor heart, how mach you must have suffered, must still suffer, in the +memory of your unhappy father! Oh, if you could but look into the +depths of this soul and know how I feel for you!--oh, love!" He pressed +his lips gently upon her hand, and let them rest there, without kissing +it. + +Cornelia scarcely breathed; the touch thrilled through her whole frame +like an electric shock. She felt that a new happiness, never known +before, was entering her heart, and yielded to it without the slightest +movement. Then the organ slowly played the strophe, "Selbst Engel +weinen," and died away. _Henri_ raised his head, and asked, gently, +"What do you think of me now?" + +She could not speak, but looked into his eyes with an expression so +dreamy and ardent that _Henri_ needed no words. His quick ear heard +Veronica's approach, and he leaned back in his chair and attracted the +attention of Cornelia, who was completely absorbed in her own feelings. +The old lady showed _Henri_ her lover's miniature, and found it +perfectly natural that after these reminiscences Cornelia should burst +into tears. Cornelia herself did not know their cause, for she really +had no sorrowful memories; the things we hear in early childhood do not +make so vivid an impression; and her youth, under Veronica's care, had +been a happy one. Far less was it the recollection of her first love, +for this now seemed to her like a dream. What was it, then? What had +happened? He had told her that he pitied her; that was very natural: +she had given him her hand and he had kissed it,--no, not even kissed +it, he had only allowed his lips to rest upon it; but it was perhaps +that very thing,--how strange! + +_Henri's_ accustomed eyes read all these thoughts in Cornelia's face, +and with exultant satisfaction saw the net resting upon the wings of +her soul. "Cornelia," he said, softly, while Veronica was counting her +stitches, "you are reflecting upon the nature of sympathy again, but +you will not fathom it yet!" + +"You are right," she answered. + +She had been playing mechanically with one of her rings, and it now +fell from her-hand. _Henri_ picked it up, and, with a smile, replaced +it on her finger. Again she blushed. "Why?" she asked unconsciously. + +"Our child is sad," he said to Veronica, with the winning expression +which had always prevailed upon women to devote their lives to him. +"What can we do to cheer her?" + +Cornelia, as if spell-bound by the magic of these tones, made no reply. + +"How kind you are!" said Veronica. + +"Are you angry because I call you 'our child'?" asked _Henri_, with +admirably assumed simplicity. "I am becoming intimate too rapidly, am I +not? Be kind, and attribute it to my warm, truthful nature. Sooner or +later we shall meet more familiarly, I am sure; so why delay and so +lose the precious moments for the sake of troublesome forms. I would +gladly take you to my heart as carefully and protectingly as--a father. +Fräulein Veronica will allow me to do so, I am sure. Be our dear child, +and let me take some small share in your education." + +He arose and stood before her in all his gentlemanly dignity, bent down +and kindly took her hands; but the quick pulsations of his heart, which +Cornelia heard close beside her ear, accorded strangely with these +paternal words. This was the well-calculated charm he had for her: the +manly, noble superiority which expressed itself in this fatherly +authority, and involuntarily extorted a childlike reverence; and the +enthusiastic, almost boyish, tenderness which bowed before her to raise +her to giddy heights. + +"Teach me, then but permit me to do the same by you," she said, with an +embarrassed smile, rising from her chair. + +"Certainly," replied _Henri_; "I need it more than you. Oh, I will +follow you blindly; the words of those pure lips shall be my oracle!" +His eyes-rested upon the young girl's fresh, beautiful mouth with +ardent longing. He felt that it would be better to go, and allow the +impression he had made to produce its effect upon her in silence. With +a violent effort he released Cornelia's hands and hastily took his +leave. As he opened the door he heard his name called gently: he +turned; Cornelia had followed him a step and asked, with the most +lovable frankness,-- + +"When will you come again?" + +"Cornelia!" cried _Henri_, and was about to rush back to her; but +_Heinrich_, with a tremendous effort, checked the excited feelings, +made her a low bow, said, in a fatherly tone, "I will come as soon as I +can; I cannot fix any positive time now," and left the room without +looking back. + +"What was that?" asked Cornelia, covering her eyes with her hand. "Did +it not seem as if another person was speaking from his lips? Did he not +call my name so eagerly, and the next moment take leave of me so +distantly, so coldly? Can a man's mood change so suddenly? Whims can +alter in an instant, I know that by myself; but what we feel, +what is deeply and firmly rooted our hearts, we cannot so suddenly +deny,--it cannot yield to a caprice. Which is true, his warmth or his +coldness?--or is it possible that they can both exist? Ah, do not +question, incredulous heart! What he has given you to-day is true: let +that satisfy you; and where you cannot understand him, trust him." With +a heavy sigh she threw herself on her knees before Veronica and laid +her head on her lap. "Ah, Veronica, how could I live without the man +you loved!" + + +"What a submission!" thought _Henri_, as he walked towards home in the +proud conviction of a certain victory. + +"Take care!" said _Heinrich_: "this submission is no amorous weakness, +but the implicit confidence every innocent, loving girl places in the +man she adores. If you ever abuse this faith, you will perceive with +terror her power of resistance." + + + + + XII. + + THE SEARCH FOR A WIFE. + + +"My dear Herr von Ottmar," said the prince, holding out his hand to +_Heinrich_, "you came out of the vexatious affair, which unfortunately +I could not spare you, like a hero. Am I to do anything for your +_protégé_? Tell me how I can assist the young man." + +_Heinrich_ had intended to affect reserve, and to-day was just in the +right humor for it. He bowed low with the air of a deeply offended man. + +"I thank you most humbly, your Highness. I have already provided for +Albert Preheim. I am happy to have proved to your Highness that I have +given my protection to no unworthy person, and am always ready to +answer for my acts like a man. I have made Albert Preheim the steward +of my estates, which have greatly depreciated in value during my long +absence. I will also venture to request your Highness to grant me leave +of absence for an indefinite time, that I may be able to instruct him +in his duties there." + +"You wish to leave me now, when I need you most?" + +"If I could hope that your Highness still needed me, I should feel +happier than is the case at present." + +"Do you believe, Ottmar, that a time will ever come when we shall be +unnecessary to each other? I rely more upon your friendship for my +person, even if, as an independent man, you can do without the prince." + +"Your Highness, let me be frank with you. How faithfully I have served +you, the sleepless nights during which I have shared your Highness's +arduous labors and heavy cares for your country, my deserted home, my +ruined estates, may prove. Compelled to leave my own court because I +was an adherent of the priesthood, I found with you a sphere of +activity in harmony with my political convictions, an only too generous +recognition of my humble services, and the highest possible reward in +your personal friendship. But now, your Highness, I stand here as a +compromised man, a hero of comedy, who played the martyr for his own +sins for the amusement of the rabble. This, your Highness, I cannot +endure. Society has a morbidly sensitive feeling for indecorum far more +than crime; it can ignore a secret sin, but not a public impropriety. +It is not for my guilt but its open acknowledgment that men will turn +their backs upon me, and I must go into retirement, for I cannot bear +to have the finger of scorn pointed at me." + +The prince smiled. "Oh, if that is all that drives you away, Ottmar, +you can be perfectly at ease: I will become your security. Do you +suppose I would have asked my friend to expose himself if I had not +possessed the means to make amends for his humiliation at any moment? I +am astonished at your simplicity, Ottmar. Should you not have known +society better? Why, even if I would allow you to fall, you would still +be esteemed; but if I uphold you, people will treat you with the utmost +consideration. What advantage would it be to be ruler if I could not +even manage the handful of puppets around my throne? You must take a +journey, it is true, but on my business; if you wish to visit your +estates on the way, I have no objection; but I beg you to remain there, +no longer than is absolutely necessary. Do you consent?" + +"My time has only the value it possesses for your Highness. If I can be +of more use in any other place than here, command me." + +"You will be at ease here again when you have forgotten this +disagreeable affair. In the first place we will seal people's mouths by +a striking proof of my continued favor. This very night I shall present +you to my mother as Count von Ottmar." + +"Your Highness! I do not know how to thank you for so much kindness." + +"As one friend always does another: by honest counsel and assistance +when I need them!" + +The prince fixed his large, blue eyes upon Ottmar with so kindly an +expression that the latter was surprised. + +"I am well aware that the title of Count does not make amends for the +mortification I imposed upon you; but perhaps the consciousness that, +by this act of self-sacrifice, you have won a still larger share of my +esteem and confidence, may be some slight recompense. Therefore, my +friend, you shall advise me to-day in the most important event of my +life. I have summoned you to discuss my marriage." + +"Do I know the princesses?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"One of them, certainly; and you shall make the acquaintance of the +other. One is Princess Ottilie of H----." + +"What!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, almost losing his self-command. "Princess +Ottilie!" + +"Hist! _Pas si haut, mon ami_, the walls have ears. Remember that this +is still a profound secret; you are to be the first to mature the +affair. I have the privilege of choosing between Princess Ottilie and +Princess Marie of D----. The latter is still a mere child; but the +former has lost the first bloom of youth. I do not wish to select the +lady who will please me best, but the one who will most satisfactorily +fill the position of mistress of my realm; it is not permitted me to +marry according to the choice of my heart. My love, as you know, is +given to the beautiful Hellbach; but I can neither raise her to the +rank of my wife, nor degrade her to that of my mistress, and have +learned to conquer my wishes. The private happiness my wife can bestow +is merely to make no claims upon my love, which has been effaced from +my breast with this one image, and not press upon me an affection which +is valueless to me. A sincere friendship, and a pure conscience, are +all that I shall give and demand." + +_Heinrich_ had been reflecting in silence. "What your Highness asks in +a wife is little, and yet the most difficult requirement that can be +made upon a woman. She is to offer her wedded husband no feeling, +desire none from him, save what might be accorded to the merest +stranger. She is to give your country the heir to the throne, and yet +be permitted to adopt no other manner towards the father of her child +than that prescribed by the laws of the coldest etiquette. But she must +bestow upon no other the love that her husband disdains; must enjoy +through no other the happiness he denies her; and yet is always to feel +a calm affection for the man who has thus destroyed the joys of married +life. Pardon me, your Highness, I know women well; this is a task which +only a princess can perform,--a princess in the true sense of the word; +not a young immature creature, who only wears the mask of her position, +and in whose mind natural rights far outweigh the claims of her high +station. A princess such as your Highness requires, one who has subdued +the first eager longings of her heart and resigned herself to consider +the duties of her lofty rank as the first necessity, is the Princess +Ottilie. Moreover, she is intellectual, lovable as a young girl, truly +royal in her bearing, and although no longer in the first bloom of +youth, extremely attractive." + +"If you, who are so exacting, think her all this, she must really be +somewhat remarkable in every respect," said the prince. "You are right +in saying I could hardly expect so much self-sacrifice from a young +creature like the Princess Marie. Besides, the priests favor the +alliance with Ottilie because they rest great hopes upon her influence +over her Protestant uncle, the Prince of H----. There is only the +consideration that Ottilie is said to be delicate, and thereby the hope +of an heir to the throne might be endangered." + +"Ob, I do not think so, your Highness. She is nervous, like all lofty, +intellectual natures; but such women are usually benefited by marriage. +Doctors chatter a great deal of exaggerated nonsense; and besides, it +is not for their advantage that the generous princess should be married +and leave the country. I have watched her for a long time, and can +assure your Highness that she has no more serious illness than all +ladies of her rank and age." + +The prince paced up and down the room several times, and then paused +before Ottmar. "Are you giving me conscientious advice, Ottmar? +Remember that the sole object of the heavy sacrifice I am making is to +obtain an heir to the throne." + +"Egotist!" thought _Heinrich_. + +"Your Highness," he replied, "I am no physician. I can only say how I +judge of her as an unprofessional person, and that I have never thought +her ill." + +The prince again walked up and down the room. "Shall I venture?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +The prince turned towards his writing-table and showed _Heinrich_ a +picture. "Is this a good likeness?" + +"Yes, your Highness; but she is more beautiful," said the latter, who +could not gaze at Ottilie's gentle, noble features without emotion. + +"Now look at Marie's portrait." + +_Heinrich_ knit his brow as he looked at the picture. "I should not +have the courage to choose this Lady. Those eyebrows, that pouting, +scornful mouth." + +"Yes, Ottilie's pleases me far better," said the prince. + +"And besides, I see no object in this marriage. What is an alliance +with the little country of D---- to a prince like your Highness? +Princess Ottilie, on the contrary, is immensely rich; more friendly +relations with the court of H---- would be desirable in every respect, +and Ottilie is a Catholic; she might--that is----" + +A clock struck ten. The prince started up. + +"The council must begin. Ottmar, you are my ambassador; set out on your +journey to-morrow morning, and negotiate the matter for me at the court +of H----. Consult the physicians, and if you think it advisable, in +God's name win Ottilie for my wife! From all you say she will be best +suited to me. The sacrifice must be made at once. Farewell till we meet +in the council of state, dear count." + +Thus was the weal or woe of a noble, precious life decided, and again +_Heinrich's_ egotism demanded a victim. Accident had thrown one into +his hands in the person of Ottilie. _Heinrich's_ resolution was firm. +He knew that if Ottilie became his protectress at the court of N---- +his power would be unbounded and immovable; for he did not doubt that +with her intellect she must succeed in ruling the prince as well as the +country. In any case, his influence over her was more assured than it +could be over a princess who was a stranger to him; so a marriage with +the latter must be prevented at any cost: it might baffle all his +hopes. When he passed through the antechamber, his plan was already +formed, and around his lips played the triumphant smile which was +always visible when he guided men like puppets. Every preparation was +immediately made for the journey: + +"Anton," said _Heinrich_, during the packing, "didn't you see anything +of Princess Ottilie on your way through H----?" + +"No, Herr Baron. She seldom drives out, for she is much worse than she +used to be." + +"Anton, for Heaven's sake, do me the favor not to tell any one that! Do +you hear? Finish the packing, and then go this very night to the +Hohmeier'sche Restaurant; there you will find the valet of the prince's +confessor, Ehrhardt,--they will point him out to you if you ask for +him; join him as if by chance. Tell him about H----, and turn the +conversation upon the Princess Ottilie. Then say what you know of her +beauty, her piety, etc. See that you have as many listeners as +possible,--the more the better. Speak of her hair, her eyes, but +especially her generosity; in short, make their mouths water, but do +not allow any design to be perceived." + +"I understand, Herr Baron," said Anton, smiling. "I'll manage as +carefully as possible, and to-morrow the whole city shall be full of +the princess's praises." + +"That is right, my old friend. I don't think you forgot anything in the +village," said _Heinrich_, well pleased. + +He wanted to see Cornelia again, but the evening was spent in making +various preparations for his journey, and his plan of obtaining Ottilie +for the prince required thought and time for consideration. He would +compensate himself for the sacrifice after his return, and meantime +devote himself entirely to his mission. "How am I to appear before +her?--how am I to woo her for another without offending her, when I +know that she has loved me, perhaps does still?" This question +engrossed his mind, and its difficulties had a peculiar charm for him. + +In the course of the evening a court official brought a bill of +exchange for five thousand florins for "Count Ottmar's steward, Albert +Preheim." The prince had given him this sum from his own private purse +as a sort of compensation for his sufferings. He would not allow +himself to be humbled by _Heinrich's_ proud reserve, and thus made +amends for the injustice which had thrown Albert entirely upon +_Heinrich_ for assistance. + +Albert's joy knew no bounds, but his gratitude to _Heinrich_, whom he +considered the indirect cause of this favor, was even greater. Thus +they set out on their journey, Albert and Anton as happy men, while he +to whom both owed their good fortune, whom both loved and honored, knew +no happiness, no peace, destitute of support in himself, and +unsympathizing even towards those to whom he showed kindness. Already +the city lay behind him. He looked back towards Cornelia's house, from +thence the dawn would crimson the horizon, from thence his sun would +rise to pour light and warmth upon him, and with foreboding longing he +gazed over the snow-covered fields towards the golden streaks in the +east. The morning air blew icily over his brow; here and there under +the snow lay dry branches of frozen weeds; not a bird, not an insect, +was stirring far or near: frozen nature was silently awaiting the +spring. It was even so with him. His mission, his petty intrigues, +everything at that moment retreated into the background, and covered +itself with the icy mantle of eternal indifference. From that strip of +light life must come to rescue him and lure fresh germs from the frozen +clods. The rising sun threw its rosy glimmer into his eyes till they +filled with tears; it seemed as if they flowed from his own breast, as +if his own feelings and not the light had called them forth, and he +might shed more. But he was mistaken, for when he turned his eyes from +the dazzling rays the treacherous fountain dried. The unfeeling man +could not weep: the blessing of tears was denied him; and the vanished +spell left the egotist cold and unsatisfied. + + + + + XIII. + + A SACRIFICE. + + +Directly after his arrival, _Heinrich_ went to Ottilie's physician to +make inquiries about the state of her health. It was of importance to +himself to be correctly informed in this respect; for it would have +been very useless to base his ambitious plans upon one doomed to an +early death. With her, these, and perhaps even the favor of the prince, +might sink into the grave; since he had described her as healthy, the +responsibility would fall upon him if she died. The physician, it is +true, said that she was delicate, but, according to the principles of +the old school, declared that her illness was a nervous one; and +_Heinrich_ boldly requested a private audience with Ottilie to obtain +her consent before he presented himself to the Prince of H---- as an +ambassador. + +As he passed through the antechamber, a fair-haired little waiting-maid +issued from Ottilie's room, glided by, starting violently as she caught +sight of him, and disappeared through a side door. _Heinrich_ perceived +with astonishment that it was Röschen. The servant ushered him into the +reception-room. The uniform, unvarying stream of hot air from a Russian +stove vibrated around him with suffocating sultriness, increased by the +fragrance of numberless flowers grouped in hot-house fashion in the +lofty windows of stained glass. The heavy carpets and portières exhaled +warmth; it seemed to _Heinrich_ as if his lungs were bursting with the +longing for a breath of fresh air. He dreaded this first meeting, for +in Ottilie's presence his insolent frivolity deserted him, and he stood +before her as if she were his conscience. The fervent heat and +deathlike stillness that surrounded him increased his embarrassment. +There is something strange in the official silence of royal apartments, +which rouses the greatest excitement and impatience in any one who is +anxiously awaiting an important audience. This was the case with +_Heinrich_. He wished to repeat what he was to say to Ottilie, but +could no longer remember it. "How shall I appear before her?" was his +only thought; and the polished courtier feared this great soul whose +prophetic vision had penetrated his inmost heart, and which he now +approached like a thief, to try to steal it for his own plans. + +A clock struck twelve, and was answered from every side by a multitude +of larger and smaller ones, whose buzzing and humming lasted several +minutes; then all was silent as before. _Heinrich_ uttered a deep sigh. +Why did she linger so long? Was she, too, obliged to collect her +thoughts, and could she not obtain the composure needed to receive him? +"Oh, God! if she should love me still!" he thought, wiping the cold +perspiration from his brow. + +Just then a door opened noiselessly,--he did not notice it,--and +Ottilie floated across the room as lightly as if her feet did not touch +the carpet. + +_Heinrich_ started as if roused from a dream, when, beautiful as a +glorified spirit, she stood before him. Both looked at each other a +moment in silence neither could find words; their souls were too full +for the narrow forms of speech. + +At last Ottilie held out her hand to him, and there was deep sadness in +her expression as she said, "Is it really you?" + +"I understand the reproof in your question, princess," replied +_Heinrich_. "I was prepared for it; and yet accompanied with that voice +and glance, it now pierces deep into my breast. As the ambassador of my +princely master, I had courage to appear before you--as your friend. My +heart trembles, for I well know I shall not bear your sublime, angelic +judgment." + +Ottilie motioned to him to be seated. "Yes," she began, after a pause, +"I had wished to see you a different man, and I do not even know +whether I still have the right to tell you so." + +"Speak! heap upon my head the whole burden of your accusation, +princess." + +"Do not fear reproaches from me. All that there is to be said I +represented to you, if I remember rightly, long ago. You did not obey +my warning voice; what was useless then will also be vain now." + +_Heinrich_ covered his eyes with his hand, as if obliged to conceal his +tears; and yet it was not all hypocrisy, for it really seemed to him as +if a pang of remorse shot through his breast. + +Ottilie remained silent for a long time. + +"Be merciful, princess," pleaded _Heinrich_; "you reproach me with my +change of opinions, but you do not know what may exert an influence +over a life, how even the most independent man may be forced into a +course contrary to his wishes, and where he must be untrue to himself; +therefore be charitable, princess; do not give me up!" + +"Ah, how could I!" exclaimed Ottilie, in an outburst of feeling. "Do +you not see that I grieve for you, pity you, deeply and sincerely? I do +not accuse you; but let me lament that you have defrauded yourself of +all true happiness. Do not tell me the career you have adopted +satisfies you; in it you can neither follow your own convictions nor +develop your talents. I speak now as a woman who has done with self, +who is bound to life by no wish, no hope. What have you made of +yourself, Ottmar? How have you used the gifts God so richly, so +abundantly, bestowed? I have carefully watched your political activity; +alas that I must say it you have fallen lower in my eyes the higher you +rose in the world. Forgive the harshness," she pleaded, extending her +hand to him, "it is the most heartfelt anxiety that speaks from my +lips. Do you not see the double danger to which you are exposed? You +are robbing yourself of your moral freedom as well as the nation of its +political rights; you are servilely bending your noble soul to the +dominion of principles in which you do not believe, making yourself the +slavish supporter of an impotent reaction. Thus you are losing your +intrinsic dignity, and sooner or later your influence as a statesman; +for a new and invincible spirit, purer than that of the revolution, is +pervading the nations,--the spirit of a profound political knowledge. +We cannot subdue this with cannon, nor shut it into prisons; where we +believe it to be shattered, it unites again above our heads. It is the +child of the age, and unceasingly advances, demanding its rights. And +you, instead of throwing yourself into the free current and allowing +your breast to expand with the universal impulse, prop yourself with +narrow-hearted blindness against the crumbling steps of a throne, to +withstand the weight of the approaching shock. You will fall, and as an +enemy of ideas which you cherish with every drop of your blood, fall a +victim to your hypocrisy, not your convictions. Then you will seek to +find compensation in yourself, and perceive with despair that by your +perpetual untruthfulness you have destroyed yourself." + +"It is very possible," murmured _Heinrich_. + +"Oh, believe me; through many a sleepless night I have stretched out my +hand to you to draw you out of the gulf into which I saw you sinking. +Yet I still trust you; what you did could not estrange me. I still +hope, still pray for you; I can say no more than I have already done; +but I know that although you have not yet listened to me, quiet hours +will come, hours of repentance, when my long silent words will unite +with the voice of your conscience,--then, perhaps, you will obey me." + +_Heinrich_ seized Ottilie's hands and gazed into her sparkling eyes. A +deep blush was glowing upon her cheeks. "Ah, the old magic! Ottilie, +Ottilie," he cried, "I fear I am too deeply entangled in hypocrisy! If +you could read my soul you would reject me." + +"This is one of the moments of depression which utterly subdue such +natures. To-morrow, in another mood, you will smile at it. But it is +true that you think yourself worse than you really are, that you have +less faith in yourself than I in you. Every power needs to be used, +even that of the soul. Exert your strength in doing right, then you +will first ascertain your own capabilities." + +"Ah, princess, how am I to help myself? I know not; I have gone astray +into this path, and cannot find strength to retrace my steps. I am well +aware that my political career is not in accordance with the spirit of +the age; when I entered upon it I really had no other thought than to +save myself from a momentary humiliation by the Jesuits, and therefore +considered my position in N---- a mere episode. But by degrees my +success, and the magnificent means at my command for the advancement of +my apparent purposes, charmed me. My influence over the prince tempted +me irresistibly. The power he placed in my hands roused all the +ambition of my nature. Power, Ottilie, has often transformed a hero +into a despot. This being the history of my political development, +everything else follows as a matter of course. As everything was +at the command of the feared and admired favorite, I felt myself +justified in enjoying all. That, in so doing, I formed many a sacred +tie only to break it again, and profaned many a bond that already +existed,--everything was considered allowable, because everything was +granted to me,--you will of course suppose. But I will confess to you, +to you alone of all human beings, that this haughty, envied Ottmar +became a crushed, wearied, joyless man, an egotist,--who does not even +love himself. I can no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood; +for everything has two sides, and, as no voice within my breast pleads +for either, I decide in favor of the one which will bring me the most +immediate advantage. There is no philanthropy in my nature, and thus I +make men happy or miserable according as it will be profitable or +injurious to myself. I perceive that all this is reprehensible; I envy +those who act from principle; I would fain be virtuous, yet cannot +discover what virtue is; for my blasé feelings make me perceive, in all +the dogmas of religion, morality, and philosophy, only arbitrary +beliefs without any eternal foundation, which change at every advance +of the nations in civilization, are now wrested here, now there, nay, +even dependent upon the fashion of the day; and thus I have formed the +despairing conclusion, that there is no virtue, believe the loathing of +my own deeds which sometimes seizes upon me to be a relic of old school +prejudices, and despise myself. Therefore I have no rule of conduct for +my acts except advantage; and when this is obtained, it does not make +me happy. I scorn it, as well as the men by whose weakness I won it!" + +Ottilie had hung upon his words in breathless suspense. This frank +self-accusation had borne her along with it, and she was obliged to +collect her thoughts before she could reply. + +"Then you are even more unhappy, more worthy of commiseration, than I +feared. All lofty, independent natures yield unwillingly to the human +law of right and wrong; for the same power which instilled the theories +of goodness lives also in them and justifies them in giving its law to +themselves. But in you, my friend, this power was only sufficient to +dissolve existing beliefs, not to make them unnecessary to you, for you +are now wandering, unsupported, without any clear standard of +measurement, amid the ruins of your shattered world of ideas. You are +seeking for a higher divine law, and because it does not reveal itself +to you you despair of virtue. It would be useless to refer you to +religion, for you do not believe it; but even without religion a man of +lofty character feels a moral want, which, without regard to reward or +punishment, impels him toward the right. Though such a man is never +quite happy, for only faith can give the highest joy, he will yet +experience that peace which a pure conscience bestows. But you have +destroyed even this. Your heart is desolate, your soul flutters wearily +upon the ground. I no longer see deliverance, blessing, or hope for +you. So I must behold the fairest work God and nature ever made, the +noble image in which I joy with reverent admiration, sink into the +dust, and stand powerless, unable to stretch out a hand to save for God +a soul which he has favored beyond all others. Alas, Ottmar! By the +sorrow in my own heart, I feel how your Creator mourns over you!" She +leaned back upon the sofa and wept aloud. + +_Heinrich_ could not resist the contagion of her emotion. For the first +time the request he was about to make seemed like sacrilege, and yet he +could not give up all his carefully matured plans for the sake of a +"fit of sentimentality," as he mentally called it. He perceived that +she clung to him with unchanging affection, and that no political +considerations whatever would induce her to wed with such a nature as +that of the prince. If he won her, it would only be by means of his +influence over the heart so susceptible to his power. Years before she +had taken an oath that she would never become his wife, so she must +either part with him or marry his ruler. The more she loved him the +greater was his power over her, the more surely he would succeed in +convincing her that she could not live without him. Thus he was +compelled to throw the whole weight of his own personal attractions +into the scale, and there was a strange blending of honesty and +hypocrisy in his plan of persuasion. He really felt what he wished to +say, but his manner of turning it to account was artfully calculated, +and converted truth into falsehood. "Your Highness," he exclaimed, at +last, "I have come to bring you a crown; but at this moment I see a +halo shining around your head, and can scarcely venture to offer the +pitiful diadem of royalty. Princess, it is of great importance to my +interests to bind you to the country in which I play a part; I came +here to obtain your hand for the prince, to cunningly win your consent, +even at the cost of your happiness. But before your noble nature all +the arts of diplomacy dissolve into nothing. Therefore, my friend, I +will leave you free to choose, will not steal the decision of your +destiny, but tell you frankly that it is from selfishness I press my +master's offer, for I wish, I long, to have you near me. Your character +is formed, your opinions are matured, you will advise me when God is +silent in my own breast. You will aid me to give a new direction to our +politics, one more in harmony with the spirit of the age; supported by +you, I will venture it, without you I cannot. Look, Ottilie, the crafty +diplomatist is prostrate in the dust before your victorious +truthfulness, and prattles out his whole programme like a school-boy. I +do not plead for the country whose salvation you would be, nor in the +name of a philanthropy I have never known, but by which I might win +your gentle heart; I do not implore you to aid a nation I helped to +crush: I renounce all this acting, and plead simply and openly for +myself; for in this hour I perceive more clearly than ever what you are +to me. If I have hitherto thought I needed you for the attainment of +certain advantages, I now know that you will do more for me by teaching +me to despise as well as dispense with them." + +Ottilie gazed silently into vacancy; her breath came more quickly, and +her hands were burning as though with fever. + +"I know," continued _Heinrich_, "that it is the sacrifice of your whole +life; but you have yourself given me the courage to ask it, for you +give me the belief that you will make it." + +"Oh, God I what do you ask?" Ottilie began. "You wish me to marry,--to +destroy my life! Is it possible? Have I deserved this from you? You +wish to lure me from my home to a desolate career of grandeur, to chain +me to a man whom I know to be a cold-hearted weakling, and scorn as a +mere tool in the hands of the oppressors of his people. And by the +painful act I am to perform I do not even make one person happy." + +"Ottilie, how can you say so? Thousands will lavish blessings upon you, +the gratitude of thousands will recompense you, if the happiness of one +whom your presence can transform into another man does not reward you," +cried _Heinrich_, reproachfully. + +"Ottmar, if I knew that I should be permitted to exert a good influence +over you, no sacrifice would seem too great. But you are deceiving +yourself now, as usual. You are easily moved, easily excited: the +moment carries you away with it; the present person is in the right +with you, and when you turn your back upon this room the emotions you +have experienced will be effaced with all their impressions. What +influence did I exert over you while you lived in H----? It would be +precisely the same thing again, and then I should not even be allowed +the one consolation of mourning for you unheeded, in quiet solitude." + +"Do you think me so unstable?" + +"Confess, my friend, that you have given me proofs of it. Besides, you +are mistaken if you hope to obtain goodness from any influence +whatever. The true man is everything to himself; what he does not +become by his own strength, no other can make him. A character that +depends upon influences is unmanly; the acts and developments of such a +temperament are decided solely by ever-changing accidents. Prosperity +has spoiled you; you have measured your powers only against those +weaker than yourself; they have thereby become relaxed; and, if destiny +does not compel you to put forth your strength in a contact with more +powerful elements, all is vain, you will remain----" She paused. + +"Pray go on," said _Heinrich_, bitterly; "I shall remain a +characterless weakling, who balances to and fro like a juggler on the +narrow line between right and wrong! Is not that what you meant to +say?" + +Ottilie gazed into his beautiful, restless eyes with an expression of +deep sorrow. "Forgive me if I have caused you pain; I only wished to +convince you that the use which I might be to you is too little for the +sacrifice you demand." + +_Heinrich_ felt the moment for persuading her had now arrived; for he +knew by experience that a woman can never be more easily won than at +the moment she believes she has been too harsh. + +"You feel you have caused me pain, Ottilie. Oh, make amends for it, and +follow me to my country as my protectress, my guardian angel! You +reproach me with being unmanly. Well, if I am so, and depend upon +influences, the one you exert over me will be my salvation, and that of +all with whom I am connected by any ties. What do I ask of you that is +so very terrible? I wish to make you mistress of a beautiful and +wealthy land, to give you a position in which alone your superior +qualities can make themselves valuable, wed you to a prince whom you +greatly undervalue, and who will understand and love you as you +deserve." + +"I want no love," interrupted Ottilie, "I am weary of suffering; do not +grudge my repose; I have, by a violent struggle obtained the peace of +the grave. Oh, do not drag me back to life! for life is conflict. Ah, +Ottmar, have pity upon me! Your glance sinks into my soul, and the +spark that flashes from it kindles anew the vital flame which was +buried beneath the ashes of my dead hopes. You seize my hand, and by +some magnetic attraction I am compelled to follow you. I know not by +what invisible threads you hold me: loose them and I sink peacefully +towards the grave; draw them firmly and I am forced to yield to your +wishes. Oh, the victory you obtain is an easy one! Renounce it, leave +me, Ottmar! You can test your power everywhere; why must you try it an +one who has no longer any defense save the resignation of a dying +woman?" + +"Good heavens, princess, what a strange mood you are in! See, this is +the result of your seclusion. Whence come these thoughts of the grave? +You are healthy, in the very prime of life, beloved by all, regarded by +the nation with the warmest affection. How could you resign yourself to +such melancholy fancies? Nay, I will rouse you now. You must learn to +use your vital powers, as well as I my moral strength. Why should you +wither here, useless and lonely, without having fulfilled the eternal +vocation of a woman? Even if you have no feeling for the man to whom I +wish to unite you, you do not know that he may not become dear to you." + +Ottilie sadly shook her head. + +"But granted that you can never love him as a husband, you will some +day as the father of your children. Fate has granted no desire of your +heart, and with royal dignity you have learned to crush it; but, +because the first joy of love was denied you, must you now also +renounce the maternal happiness this marriage can bestow,--the only one +which is a wellspring of lasting joy to a woman? I cannot believe, +Ottilie, that with your pure, womanly feelings, the thought of being a +mother would have no charm for you." + +"Oh, God! have often dreamed of such bliss; but I am not born for it. I +shall perish without object or joy in life." + +"Do not believe it," said _Heinrich_, with melting tenderness. "Rise +again in the strength of hope; a prosperous future is still before you. +You will find the prince a man full of delicacy of feeling and dignity, +a man formed to understand you. He, too, bears a secret sorrow in his +heart, and needs a wife who will know and pity the wound." + +"Alas, poor prince!" murmured Ottilie. "That would rouse my sympathy +for him." + +_Heinrich_ suppressed a smile. "Do you perceive the true state of the +case? You will become attached to him, for he is noble and wishes to do +good to all. His despotic principles are rooted in his education; to +him despotism is an absolute dogma, like religion. He now depends upon +his confessor and upon me,--errors which are the result of his youth. +When you are his wife, he will, like all of us, rely on you. But even +if you could never produce any change in his maxims of government, you +will, perhaps, have the satisfaction of inculcating into the mind of a +son what you have vainly tried to obtain from the father, and through +the former obtain for your people the fulfillment of their dearest +hopes. Then, Ottilie, your name will be blessed by thousands and +recorded in history; then you may bend to death your royal brow, armed +with the noble words, 'I have not lived in vain!' Oh, I know you will +some day smile at the thought of the time when you were consuming away +in fruitless dreams, and could find strength neither to live nor die! +Then I shall perhaps stand as your most faithful servant at the steps +of the throne to which you gave new splendor, and a friendly glance, +radiant with the pleasure of ruling and giving happiness, will be my +highest reward, my greatest satisfaction. Take courage, Ottilie, and +gain new strength to live, to rule, to make others happy." + +Ottilie's breath came more and more quickly, as, following _Heinrich's_ +movements, she rose from her seat. Her sparkling eyes were fixed upon +his lips, and a ray of melancholy pride flashed over her face. "Ottmar, +you have conquered. Happy I can never be, so let us try whether I can +still accomplish some good." + +"Then I have your promise, princess? You think me right?" + +"You are right; yet it is not that conviction, but a secret necessity, +which impels me to obey you, although I feel it will be my death. In +you, I am well aware, my destiny is fulfilled; you have made me the +prince's wife, you overmaster me by your powerful will, and call from +my lips the 'yes' that you ask, and I am forced to utter it, no matter +for whom. I must utter it because you ask it." + +_Heinrich_ was perplexed by this outburst of long-repressed feeling. +The seriousness of his relations with Cornelia had already taken so +deep a root in his nature that none of that frivolous delight which +overwhelms vain men at the sight of their conquests stirred within him. +On the contrary, a holy awe seized upon him at the sight of the frank +truthfulness of an omnipotent feeling. But he did not understand that +this very feeling no longer needed to disguise itself; because, by +self-renunciation, it had become purified and transfigured. He +therefore thought himself obliged to lead Ottilie's feelings, as far as +possible, back to their former moderation, and yet dared not wound this +sore heart by coldness. "Ottilie," he said, at last, after a long +pause, with an air of sorrowful resignation, "princess, do not make it +too difficult for me to perform my duty as suitor in my princes's +place. I might forget that I now stand before you as your subject, who +no longer dares desire what belongs to his master!" + +Ottilie looked at him earnestly. "Ottmar, that recollection would shame +me if I could suppose you did not remember the oath I took in your +presence years ago, and doubted the firmness of my resolution. But that +you cannot do; you will not inflict upon me the humiliation of seeing +myself misunderstood by you. I belong to your prince,--my heart to the +past." + +"Then let me offer you the first homage as my princess, my saint!" +exclaimed _Heinrich_, and sank an one knee to kiss her hand. + +"The saints are above," whispered Ottilie, waving him back. "May they +take us under their protection!" + +_Heinrich_ did not notice that it was difficult for her to stand erect +while she dismissed him, and armed with Ottilie's consent, pressed +forward as unyielding as fate. With this promise, he held in +imagination the portfolio which was to be the price of his years of +self-deception. That he would rule where Ottilie reigned was to him a +matter of course; to secure her influence over the prince should be his +care, and to rule appeared to him the only really valuable gift in +life. To assert his power everywhere, to use the terrible will which +had divided his own nature according to his pleasure, to let it weigh +upon a whole country bending before him, to promise joy or sorrow by +his smile or frown,--this alone seemed divine, and could make him +resemble God. He confidently expected to be appointed ambassador +extraordinary to conduct the affair of the marriage; the prince had no +one more suitable, no one with whom his relations were so intimate. He +reported Ottilie's consent, and requested further instructions, then +arranged his own and Albert's business in regard to the estate, which +was very badly managed. + +Albert sought Röschen at her father's house, and learned that since the +death of Ottilie's head waiting-maid, which had occurred two years +before, she had filled her place. _Heinrich_ smiled when he heard this; +he readily perceived that love for him had induced Ottilie to keep near +her person the young girl he had tried to win; for true love embraces +not only its object but everything connected with it. He had already +often observed how noble womanly natures did not hate those of whom +they were jealous, but treated them with sorrowful tenderness, how they +kissed them as if seeking on their cheeks and lips traces of their +lover's caresses. As we keep a flower or a handkerchief because the +absent one has touched it, Ottilie had taken Röschen into her service +to inhale from her presence the lingering breath of his love. + +Poor Ottilie! + +The prince kept him waiting a long time for his instructions, and +Ottmar began to grow weary of his incognito. "Albert," said he one day, +"you don't seem to have any great desire to see your Röschen. Try to +arrange a meeting with her, and let me be a secret witness of it; I +should like, for a change, to be present at such a touching scene." + +"I have settled it with her father that I am to have an interview next +Sunday, Herr Count," replied Albert. "Röschen cannot leave the palace +whenever she chooses, so I must wait. But, if you are tired,--excuse +the boldness of my question,--why don't you write to the Prison Fairy?" + +"To the Prison Fairy? Why, my good fellow, you don't understand such +matters. I neglect it because I wish her to love me." + +"No, I don't understand it," cried Albert. "If that is what you want, I +should think you would be obliged to write to her at once." + +_Heinrich_ smilingly shook his head. "Blessed simplicity! Ten letters +would not have the success obtained by the weeks of anxiety in which +she has brooded over my silence." + +Albert looked at _Heinrich_ almost sorrowfully. "But you have caused +her pain. How can any one wish to grieve a creature he loves?" + +"She will be all the happier in my affection afterwards." + +Albert was painfully agitated, but kept silence; and in a few moments +turned to leave the room, murmuring, "poor Prison Fairy!" + +On the same day a letter arrived from the prince, containing +instructions to make an official request for the hand of Ottilie, and +appointing him ambassador extraordinary. _Heinrich's_ duties now began. +It was a great satisfaction to him to play a distinguished part at the +very court from which he had been so ignominiously dismissed; and when, +in a private audience with the Prince of H----, he presented his +credentials, and the request for an alliance with Ottilie, written by +his master's own hand, he was delighted at the sight of his +embarrassment, and felt fully conscious of his own importance. The +prince, pleased with the proposal made to his niece, overwhelmed him +with marks of honor, which he accepted very condescendingly, almost +patronizingly. + +"Herr Count," said the old man, "you have shamed us deeply; for I know +it is to you we owe this great piece of good fortune, and do not +deserve it at your hands." + +"Your Highness," replied _Heinrich_, "I joyfully seized upon this +opportunity of proving that my loyalty to your royal house is greater +than the sense of the mortification I suffered." + +"You are a noble man, count," said the prince, pressing his hand; "our +political opinions are dissimilar, but I have the highest respect for +your character." + +_Heinrich_ bowed low and smiled as he thought: "If I do not soon +believe myself a noble man, modesty will be my greatest fault." + +The solemn betrothal at last took place, and Ottilie remained firm. In +the presence of what was now unalterable, and before the eyes of her +man, she was every inch a princess. Pale, and almost as inanimate as a +marble statue, she went through the usual ceremonies; but not the +slightest change of countenance betrayed the conflict within. A weary +smile sometimes curved her delicate lips; but even this was +conventional; her eyes did not join in it: the same shadow lingered in +their depths; and when she had coldly and firmly signed the deed, it +seemed to _Heinrich_ as if her manner conveyed a gentle reproach. Her +glance rested upon him as if to say, "You have conquered, cruel man, +and I am your victim." The look haunted him incessantly, and long after +the ceremony was over he felt as if there was a weight upon his heart, +as if the deed he was to take to his master was stolen property, from +which the mute reproach in Ottilie's glance constantly warned him. He +had no compassion for the sufferings of this noble nature, deceived by +all; but he perceived that there was a fiendish mockery in adorning +such misery with the colors of joy. We have pity upon a sick animal, +and let it die in peace; but he dragged a writhing, dying heart to a +bridal mummery. It was devil's work, he confessed it to himself; and +yet--the deed could not now be undone. Why did she allow herself to be +so easily persuaded? + +Meantime Albert's interview with Röschen had taken place, but led to no +union. Röschen declared she would gladly become his wife and atone for +the wrong she had done him, if she did not know that the poor princess +needed her more than any one else in the world. She was very unhappy, +and there was no one to whom she could betray her feelings. Only a +short time before, when she found Ottilie half fainting and in tears, +the princess said, "You will stay with me, Röschen, if I go to a +foreign country, will you not? you will stay with me as long as I live, +that I may have one true, faithful soul near me?" Then Röschen had +promised never to leave her, and she would keep her word. + +Albert asked why the princess was unhappy, but Röschen said she did not +know; and even if she did she would never betray what was not her +secret. When Albert repeated this to _Heinrich_, the latter exclaimed, +with a laugh: "A rare instance of discretion; really Röschen might be a +worthy companion of John of Nepomuk. Were you equally prudent, Albert? +Did you confide as little of my affairs?" + +Albert reddened with embarrassment. "Herr Count, I only spoke of things +which I supposed were no secrets: your kindness to me, your friendship +for the Prison Fairy--" + +"But, for Heaven's sake!" interrupted _Heinrich_, vehemently, "how +could you tell her that, of all people?--her!" Albert looked at him in +alarm. "If she should tell the pr---- Oh, Albert, it was very +imprudent!" + +_Heinrich_ now watched Ottilie closely at all the entertainments given +by the court, but observed nothing except her immovable calmness and +apparent coldness; this, however, might be the result of her royal +pride. But when, after the betrothal ceremony, he requested a private +audience and was refused, he bit his lips and muttered, "Albert's +prating has already produced its effect; she is aware of my relations +with Cornelia!" + +Yet he had again misjudged Ottilie. At the official farewell audience, +in the presence of the ladies of the court, although very dignified and +evidently exhausted, she was so gracious, and the prescribed forms of +etiquette were pervaded with such an atmosphere of true feeling, that +_Heinrich_ could not doubt that he still retained her favor. When she +dismissed him she whispered, "Take all my future subjects my kind +wishes and blessing." The words were simple, but they were accompanied +by a significant, tearful glance which told _Heinrich_ all. + +He again assumed the air of struggling to repress emotion, which he +could so skillfully adopt. "Will your Highness deign to accept my +heartfelt gratitude for the message, and the assurance that the +blessing cannot be fully received until your Highness appears in the +home of your subjects in person." + +Thus the audience ended, and Ottmar was obliged to confess that Ottilie +was a mystery to him. This was because the comprehension of true +womanhood was still denied him. The power of virtue, the strength of +self-sacrifice, which woman, spite of her many weaknesses, possesses, +were unknown to him; fate still reserved this great lesson. He was to +buy it dearly enough. + + + + + XIV. + + CHURCHYARD BLOSSOMS. + + +_Heinrich_ departed to take his master the betrothal documents, and +Albert cheerfully remained behind as steward of the estates of +Ottmarsfeld. He did not make himself unhappy about Röschen's refusal. +He had wished to keep his word, and asked her to be his wife, but he +could not help secretly acknowledging that, after all that had passed, +he now loved her only with a brother's affection. Both were in the same +situation, for both had formed ideals of beauty and perfection. They +dared not even raise their eyes longingly towards them, but they could +not bear their mutual comparisons with them, and in their +insignificance no longer satisfied each other. These glittering images +must be obliterated by time before the old calm affection could revive +in their hearts. + +When Ottmar once more saw the steeples of the city where Cornelia +lived, his long-repressed desire to see her seized upon him with such +power that he thought his impatience must hasten the locomotive. After +all these days and weeks of constraint, and of deprivation of all +pleasure, he was at last to taste once more rich, infinite joy. _Henri_ +longed to clasp the beautiful, love-breathing woman in his arms, and in +one burning kiss relieve his oppressed heart of its secret. _Heinrich_ +wished for the fresh, full tide of her intellect, and with astonishment +felt a world of new ideas spring to life at the thought of her. When +the train arrived he hurried home, changed his dress, and went to the +palace to deliver the papers he had brought. While the prince was +reading the documents, the ground seemed fairly to burn under his feet; +but his alarm was indescribable when the latter informed him that he +had a second mission for him. _Heinrich_ must set out immediately as +envoy extraordinary to the court of R----, ostensibly to announce the +betrothal, but at the same time to secretly ascertain how the +government of R---- was disposed towards the commercial treaty which +had long been a favorite project with the prince. + +The journey to R---- would occupy several days, for at that time +railways had not yet penetrated the country; so that _Heinrich_ foresaw +he must spend weeks in settling the business, and be deprived of +Cornelia's society still longer. But he was obliged to submit and thank +the prince for this new proof of his confidence. + +When the audience was over he hurried to Cornelia, but she and Veronica +had gone to spend a few days with a friend at her country seat, and +thus the hopes he had fixed upon this interview were blasted. In the +worst possible humor, he set out upon his journey that very evening. On +arriving in R----, he was loaded with honors. As usual, the most +distinguished ladies coquetted with him, and displayed all the +magnificence and all the charms which the luxury of a great and +brilliant court can bestow upon women. Now and then a dazzling beauty +or a bold, exuberant intellect surprised, but nothing captivated, him; +he had long been familiar with the blending of social qualities in all +their shades and variations, and every comparison only served to +increase his longing for Cornelia. At last his mission was performed. +In return for the announcement of the betrothal he received a diamond +cross, and his secret diplomatic commission was rewarded with the best +possible success. He induced the government of R---- to favor the ideas +of the prince, arranged the preliminaries of the commercial treaty as +far as his office permitted, and set out on his return, followed by +many angry and many tearful glances, for the ladies of R---- would not +believe that a man of so much intellect and personal beauty could +reserve his advantages for a "simple German." + +After a long and toilsome journey he reached N----. Once more his first +visit was to the prince, and he now received instructions to go to +H---- to arrange the marriage ceremonies. But this time he was more +fortunate, when, after the audience, he hurried to Cornelia. The old +servant with the sulky face opened the door, and without waiting to be +announced Ottmar entered the salon. It was very silent and lonely; the +setting sun shone upon the yellow damask furniture, and the roses in +the flower-stands exhaled their fragrance as usual. _Henri's_ heart +beat almost audibly; he gasped for breath, for the opposite door +opened,--and Veronica in her light robes floated into the room. _Henri_ +stood before her completely disenchanted; he had so confidently +expected to have a moment alone with Cornelia that it cost him an +effort to maintain his usual winning courtesy. + +"My dear count!" cried Veronica, holding out her thin hand in its white +net glove. "I am glad you still remember us. You have been traveling +about the world so much without giving us any news of you that we +supposed ourselves entirely forgotten." + +"I do not deserve this reproach, my dear Fräulein," said _Heinrich_, +apologetically, for in Veronica's presence he was again _Heinrich_. "I +could not suspect that I might venture to give you written news of me; +how and upon what pretext could I have done so?" + +"My dear count," said Veronica, with her simple frankness, "that is not +truthfully and sincerely spoken; for our great interest in you could +not have escaped your notice. You would have needed no other pretext +for sending a letter than the consciousness that by doing so you would +give us pleasure. Yet Heaven forbid that this should seem like a +reproach; we have not the smallest right to make one. We must even be +grateful that when here you bestow many an hour upon us. I, at least, +make no claim to occupy a place in your memory." + +"_You_ do not? But, Fräulein, Cornelia?" asked _Heinrich_, watchfully. + +"Nor does Cornelia; yet she took your silence less calmly than I. In +such matters youth is more unreasonable than age." + +_Heinrich_ no longer controlled himself. "Tell me, where is she?" + +"Who? Cornelia? She has gone out." + +"Gone out!" exclaimed _Heinrich_. "Gone out, and I set out again at ten +o'clock to-night to remain absent for weeks! For months I have longed +for her society, and now shall not see her! I hear she is angry with +me, and shall not be able to defend myself! I have caused her pain, and +cannot make amends! Oh, tell me where she is, the sweet, lovely +creature!" + +"Alas, my dear count, I cannot," replied Veronica, while a shadow stole +over her face. + +"Why not? Do you not know?" + +"I know, but----" + +"Then tell me, my dear, kind, motherly friend. You are weeping: what is +the matter with Cornelia? I must know!" + +"You are completely beside yourself," exclaimed Veronica. "Well, I +cannot help it; I must tell you. She is in the churchyard." + +"In the churchyard?" asked _Heinrich_, in amazement. + +"Cornelia goes there every day and mourns over the grave of a friend. +Go, my dear count, go to her; I see you feel more affection for her +than we supposed. Ah, I hope your presence may exert a favorable +influence upon the poor child." + +"What is the matter with her?" asked _Heinrich_. "She was once +betrothed----" + +"I know it," he interrupted. + +"But her lover died under very painful circumstances." + +"That I know also." + +"She seemed to have long since ceased to grieve over the unfortunate +affair; but some time ago the old affection and sorrow broke forth +afresh. She has become silent and sad; goes to his grave every day, and +at night it often seems to me as if she were weeping gently." + +_Heinrich_ heard all this with strange emotion. + +"You have an influence over Cornelia," continued Veronica, amid her +tears; "if you could cheer my child, remove the black shadow from our +once sunny life, under what infinite obligations you would place me!" + +"I will!" cried _Heinrich_, pressing Veronica's hand to his lips. "Is +she in St. Stephen's churchyard, where the revolutionists are buried?" + +"Yes," replied Veronica. + +"Farewell till we meet again." And he hurried out of the house. + +For the first time in many years _Heinrich_ entered a churchyard alone; +he had formerly only visited them as a part of the throng which +attended some aristocratic funeral; and in spite of the haste with +which he moved along the paths, the holiness of the spot, the silence +of the dead, unconsciously allayed the excitement of his soul, and made +his mood grave and gentle. With downcast eyes he wandered through the +long rows of graves adorned with headstones and flowers; he was well +aware that it was useless to seek Cornelia here, and hastened on by the +churchyard wall to where the lonely, simple crosses of the criminals +rose above the mounds. In one corner he at last perceived among the +neglected graves a group of trees and bushes, surrounded by a hedge of +wild roses. The cool breath of the spring evening rustled through the +leaves, and amid the branches the nightingales softly trilled their +songs. _Heinrich_ paused and gazed through the shrubbery. Upon a +hillock, overgrown with lilies of the valley and ivy, sat Cornelia her +head rested on her hand, and her bosom rose and fell slowly, as if +burdened with the weight of sorrowful thought. + +Just at that moment _Heinrich_ emerged from the shrubbery. She sprang +up with a startled cry and gazed at him as if in a dream; then a deep +flush overspread her face, her limbs refused to support her, and, +without a word, she sank fainting upon the mound. + +"Cornelia!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, and there was the promise of +inexpressible happiness in the tone, as he threw himself at her feet +and laid his clasped hands in her lap. They gazed at each other long +and silently. "At last! ah, at last!" he murmured, in delight. + +"At last!" repeated Cornelia, with a heavy sigh; then she gently +clasped his hands in hers, held them more and more firmly, and asked, +with an expression of unspeakable delight, "Ottmar, is it you?" Tears +dimmed her eyes, her voice trembled, and she averted her face to +conceal her emotion. + +"Cornelia, my life, my soul!" exclaimed _Henri_, who, after a violent +struggle, supplanted _Heinrich_. "Grieve no more; love has arisen. You +wished to conjure up the shade of the dead man to be an ally against my +image in your heart, and instead he sends me to you. Your place is not +by this grave, but here, here, on my warm breast! here throbs the heart +in which your life is rooted; here breathes the love you vainly sought +under moss and stones. Rise, come away; do not press your beautiful +face upon the damp grass. He who sleeps below does not feel; but I do, +and long for you so ardently, so inexpressibly! You do not answer; what +is the cause of your struggle? Do you find it so difficult to choose +between this tomb and me? Come, come, be truthful. I know you love me; +say so, say so, Cornelia!" + +She rose and bent towards him; he clasped her in his arms, and the two +noble figures clung to each other in an ardent, silent embrace. At that +moment it seemed to Ottmar as if his two natures also embraced, as if +their opposing qualities were blended by the enthusiasm that pervaded +both his intellectual and sensuous existence, and all the powers of the +harmonious man expanded to exhaust the intellect and physical delight +of the moment. He closed his eyes and clasped Cornelia more and more +closely to his heart; he thought and felt nothing except, "She is +mine!" And blissful peace descended upon him. Just then a funeral-bell +tolled, and roused the lovers to a consciousness of what place they had +selected for the cradle of their happiness. + +"Come away from this ghostly spot, Cornelia." + +"Oh, stay! the scene is a dear and familiar one to me." + +"Strange child, who must be sought in dungeons or graveyards! How does +it happen that you always choose so gloomy a background for the radiant +picture of your life? Does a churchyard suit our mood? have not the +flowers which garland our first embrace sprung from corruption? Why +think of death when we are just crossing the threshold of a new life?" + +"Why not? Death has no terrors for me. Is it not pleasant to see how +life rises anew from corruption? Look the bodily form of a friend is +springing up around me in spring flowers; his nature was as pure, +delicate, and fragrant as a lily of the valley, and perhaps in these +evening breezes his gentle spirit hovers around me in benediction. Why +should I not rejoice here, where I have so long mourned you? How often +the rustling of this shrubbery has deceived me when I thought I had +summoned you hither by my ardent longing! how often these birds have +sung of hope and consolation when I believed myself lonely and +forgotten, and came here to atone to the dead man for having forsaken +him for the sake of one who loved me not! I have never left here +without being aided, and am I now to carelessly turn away from the spot +because I no longer need its modest consolation? Should I avoid the +grave of my young friend,--the grave which, in the perfume of these +flowers, has so often poured forth blissful promises of love?" + +"Cornelia, how happy you are even when grave, and how profoundly +earnest! I have never known a nature upon which all the delicate and +noble instincts of the soul were so clearly impressed. Come, let me +clasp you to my heart again, that I may convince myself you are really +flesh and blood, and no glorified spirit, which may some day soar +upward from whence it came." + +"Even if I were a spirit, I would not fly from you," said Cornelia, +gazing up at him with a face radiant with joy. "I would gladly submit +to all the sorrows of this earthly life, in order to be able to taste +its joys in your heart, you noble man." + +"Girl!" cried _Henri_, his eyes blazing with a sudden light, "what a +world of love your tender breast conceals! Yes, you will know how to +love as I desire,--warmly, nobly, overpoweringly. Come, kiss me once +more; it is so lonely here: no one is watching us. You cannot kiss yet, +Cornelia. When I return I will teach you." + +"When you return? Are you going away again?" + +"This very day; but it is for the last time, then I will stay with +you." + +"Where are you going?" + +"To attend the marriage ceremonies between Princess Ottilie and our +prince. Only a few weeks more, and I shall be wholly yours." + +"But you will write to me now?" + +"Every day. My sweet one, did my long silence grieve you?" + +"Oh, deeply!" sighed Cornelia, and her eyes filled with tears. "How I +have wept for you!" + +"Poor angel! If I had known how you love me, I would never have +tortured you so; but I will make amends for it. Do you believe I can?" + +"A thousandfold!" laughed Cornelia, amid her tears. + +"And now come, Cornelia; I will accompany you home, for I must prepare +for my journey." + +"No, _Heinrich_; I cannot appear before others with you now. Go alone, +and leave me here a half-hour longer, until I have collected my +thoughts; such sweet sounds must echo through the stillness." + +"You are right. Oh, if I could only stay with you! Farewell. Do not +look at me with that earnest gaze, or I cannot turn away. I feel as if +I were a banished man, let me press you to my heart once more. Now send +me away, or I cannot leave you!" + +There was a rustling in the branches. "Hark! What was that? Has any one +been watching us?" + +"It was the evening breeze that warns you to go if you must set out on +your journey to-day. Go, my beloved; think of our meeting, not of our +farewell. I will shut my eyes, that they may not detain you." + +"Then, farewell, until I have discharged my duty to the prince. Do not +fly away to heaven, my angel!" + +When Cornelia again raised her eyes, _Henri_ had departed. She watched +him striding rapidly along, then clasped her hands upon her breast, as +if to conceal the overwhelming burden of her happiness. A deep +stillness surrounded her; the sun had set, the birds were silent. +Suddenly a dark figure appeared as if it had started from the earth, a +tall, handsome man with a broad scar upon his brow, clad in the long +coat of a priest. He fixed his dark eyes upon Cornelia for a moment, +and then walked silently on. + +"Who was that?" she murmured, in terror. "Why did he look at me so +strangely? What had the gloomy apparition to do with this bright hour?" +She now felt the chill of the night air for the first time, shivered, +and overwhelmed by a haunting dread, hurried swiftly between the graves +towards home. + + + + + XV. + + A ROYAL MARRIAGE. + + + "H--, May 15th. + +"You ask me, my Cornelia, whether our love is to remain a secret. Yes, +I entreat you to keep it so. Let no one, no matter who it may be, touch +the tender plant which is budding in our hearts. So young an affection +needs concealment until it is strong enough to withstand all storms; +and believe me, my angel, they will not be spared you. I am far too +well known, have too often had occasion to thrust others aside, not to +have obtained the ill-will of persons who will take pleasure in casting +poison into your heart merely out of malice towards me. That I have +given them sufficient cause, I will frankly confess; for until a +character like mine is complete within itself, it must fall into a +thousand errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies. No man of real +ability escapes this crisis of development. The more variously and +richly he is endowed by nature, the more severe a process of +purification he must endure; and this cannot be accomplished without +expelling, by a violent fermentation, the dross which indelibly sullies +his outward life, if, like me, he has been exposed to the eyes of the +public. The private citizen experiences such epochs in silence; he is +not watched, and therefore his errors are not observed; the false step +taken in a position as lofty as mine is visible to the whole world, it +is imprinted not only upon the personal _chronique scandaleuse_ but +upon the history of the times, and receives an official character. +Therefore beware, Cornelia, of wishing to become acquainted with my +nature through any other person than myself; beware of exposing the +chaste secret of your heart to curiosity, malice, perhaps even envy. Do +not think that foolish vanity makes me use this word, for the present +inordinate thirst for marriage it is only natural that envy should be +excited in all circles, when a young girl is loved by so prominent a +man. Keep aloof from all these profaning influences. Believe me, I know +woman's nature, with its thousand delicate threads of feeling and +consequent excitability and sensitiveness, and I warn you to conceal my +image in your inmost soul. We do not at first perceive the injury such +a tie sustains by a rude touch; but as a fruit beaten by the hail +continues to grow and shows the blemish and bitterness only when eaten, +so the sore spot our hearts disturbs our happiness, and at last +develops a bitterness all our love cannot soften. I make the greatest +sacrifice because I can only see you clandestinely; but the time will +come when our love will dare to show itself openly before the world, +when we can no longer lose each other, and then you will perceive that +I was right and thank me for my present self-sacrifice. + +"Say nothing, even to Veronica; age is garrulous; I sincerely respect +her, but I cannot acquit her of this peculiarity of her years; you have +already made her so accustomed to your independent habits, you dear +little piece of obstinacy, that she will not think it strange if you +keep this letter from her as well as the others. It will be the last I +shall write from here, for Prince Edward, who is to marry Ottilie as a +proxy, arrived day before yesterday; the ceremony will be performed day +after tomorrow, and then we shall set out at once. As the princess's +health is somewhat delicate, and a journey by rail exhausts her more +than to travel by ship, I shall bring her from B---- by water. We shall +arrive on the 21st. Be sure to be at the harbor; the papers will give +you all the particulars. Then, Cornelia, I will lay my weary head upon +your breast, and rest peacefully after the thousand miserable anxieties +of diplomacy and etiquette, which torture a poor ambassador +extraordinary. Yes, you may be right when you say I was born for +something higher than to be the servant of a prince. When I read such +words, something stirs within me like an awakening power, which only +needs the impulse to cast off its chains, to shake itself free by one +mighty effort. Whether and from whence this will come to me, from +without or from within, I know not; but this I do know, that only you +can rouse the ideal powers which a misdirected life has lulled to +sleep. + +"Farewell till we meet, my angel. + + "Your own _Heinrich_." + + +It was late at night when _Heinrich_ finished this letter, and while he +went calmly to rest and fell asleep with Cornelia's name upon his lips, +the princess was wandering up and down her chamber like a restless +ghost. The lamps were burning brightly in their ground-glass shades +beside her bed, whose silken curtains waved slowly to and fro as +Ottilie passed them. + +"It is impossible; I cannot do it," she said, as she leaned for a +moment against the window. "If it were only day! The night makes all +anxieties rise before us like impassable mountains! Or, if sleep would +overpower me! But now it has been wholly put to flight by the thought +that I have but one more day of freedom,--freedom to love and suffer; +and then--then I must tear my heart from all to which it clings so +fondly,--forget, cease to feel: and woe betide me if I do not wholly +succeed in doing so! To see him daily, to be obliged to distinguish him +from among the nobles of my country as my husband's favorite, and yet +force back what my own heart feels; to feign an indifference which +makes the forms of courtesy--the true expression of my opinions--a lie! +And you could undertake such a task, unhappy one? You could allow +yourself to be so confused and persuaded that you did not shrink +from the tortures your consent would impose? If it were only +suffering!--alas! I am accustomed to that. It is the fear of guilt that +terrifies me. It is not only in act that we can sin, but in thought. +Each thought that steals back to that time of quiet, patient longing is +a robbery of what I owe my husband,--a crime against my vow. Woe betide +me if those ardent dark eyes, which beam only with love, even upon +those for whom he does not feel it, should ever rest in all their power +on mine! Shall I be able to prevent absorbing death from them with +ardent longing? And if at such a moment my husband should approach, +secure in my affection----" + +She threw herself on her knees and hid her blushing face in her hands. +"Oh, God! my God! thou who knowest better than I whether I am right in +thy sight, have mercy upon me and deliver me from this night of doubt +and anguish! Thou hast placed me in this lofty station! Give me the +strength, the coldness, the dignity,--not only the outward, but the +inward dignity,--which raises the reigning princess above ordinary +women. Let me not be compelled to expiate it so terribly, because I +willfully cherished an affection for a man whom thou didst not destine +for me. Have mercy, have mercy, oh, Father, thou who hast been the only +one to extend thine arms lovingly in answer to my search!--thou to whom +alone I could fly when, like a lost child, I despaired in this cold +world! I have brought thee my tears, complained to thee of the sorrows +other children weep out on their mothers' breasts, and to-day--to-day +for the first time--thou wilt not permit thyself to be found." + +She rose and saw that a bar of light was bordering the horizon. +Her glance fell upon the mirror and showed her a face so pale, so +tear-stained, that she was almost startled at the sight of her own +image. She gasped for breath, and, utterly exhausted, at last threw +herself upon her bed and fell asleep. When she awoke the sun was +already high in the heavens. The deep slumber had strengthened her, and +she rose with a feeling of new life. With the light of day more +calmness and clearness of judgment had returned. She collected the last +remnant of her strength, and felt ashamed of her weakness. + +"Be a princess, be proud, Ottilie! Worthily fill the place for which +God has appointed you. Pay the debt you owe him for the gifts he has +bestowed, and which you have held at so cheap a rate because they were +valueless to one. Perceive that it is the call of God that rouses you +from this selfish melancholy. Obey it, fulfill your destiny like all +other created beings; and if your strength fails, what can befall you +worse than the death for which you are always longing? Life will never +be so dear to you that you cannot hail it as a last blessing. My Lord +and God, I lay my broken heart, my hopes, my wishes at thy feet, and +make but one prayer,--grant that, in return for all my sacrifices, I +may not be denied the joy of fulfilling my task and making others truly +happy." + +She stood erect, as if surrounded by a halo of self-abnegation, when +Röschen suddenly begged permission to enter. "I most humbly pray your +Highness's pardon for having come without being summoned," said the +young girl, "but the chamberlain has just brought your Highness the +news that Prince Edward was thrown from his horse this morning and so +dangerously injured that he cannot appear at the wedding as proxy." + +"What? Oh, God! is it possible?" exclaimed Ottilie. + +"Will your Highness deign to receive the chamberlain's news in person?" + +"No, no! But ask him whether the marriage will be deferred, or if some +one else will take the place of the prince." + +Röschen withdrew, and came back with the reply that the wedding would, +in all probability, be deferred. Count Ottmar had already sent a +telegram to N----, and they were now awaiting an answer. + +Ottilie seemed to be animated with new life. A delay,--a +respite,--although only a short one, enabled her to breathe more +freely. "Dress me, Röschen, and then send for Countess Carlstein. I +will drive for an hour; I need the sun and air. Ah, Röschen," she +continued, as the young girl was arranging her toilet, "how will you +feel in a foreign country?" + +"Oh, I shall be contented anywhere, if I am with your Highness; +especially as you have graciously given my father a place in your +train. We shall still be able to see each other when I have any spare +time." + +"Good, contented little one," smiled Ottilie. "Tell me frankly, +Röschen, has your heart no need of love? Do you not regret that you +have rejected Albert, and must go through life alone?" + +"No, your Highness," exclaimed Röschen, cheerily; and two charming +little dimples appeared in her plump, rosy cheeks. "Life in your +service is so pleasant, and I love you and my father so dearly, that I +haven't the slightest wish for the constant restlessness and feverish +excitement of a betrothal." + +Ottilie stood thoughtfully before her. "Tell me, my child, how did you +succeed in forgetting Herr von Ottmar so easily, since you love no one +else?" + +"Oh, your Highness, I did not forget him easily," said Röschen, raising +her large, childlike, blue eyes frankly to Ottilie's face. "I cried a +great deal at first, and thought I should die; but by degrees I saw +that it is a sin to covet anything we know the dear God does not intend +for us; besides, my confessor, Herr Lorenz, represented how hard it +would be for my old father if he was compelled to see his daughter +waste away thus. Then I felt ashamed of myself, went busily to work +again, and broke myself of my useless longing and sighing. Ah, work is +good for everything: it leaves one no time to weep, and at night one is +so tired that sleep conquers all grief. So I soon began to take +pleasure in living again, and thanked God that he had punished my sin +so mildly. Anxiety about poor Albert was the only thing that troubled +me, and now I am relieved even from this. He is a happy man." + +The princess felt the reproof contained in the young girl's artlessly +prattled philosophy. Her glance fell upon the mirror, and, as if +reflecting the reproach in Röschen's words, it showed cheeks paled by +her long-nourished sorrow, in the sharpest contrast to the bright, +blooming face of the waiting-maid. + +"Yes, yes, you are right," she murmured, at last, gazing at Röschen's +image in the mirror. After a long pause she began, in an almost +expressionless tone, "Have you learned no particulars from Albert as to +whether an acknowledged love exists between the count and the young +girl called the Prison Fairy?" + +"Albert does not know it positively, your Highness, but he is almost +sure of it; for ever since the count came back from N---- he has +written to her very often, and seems entirely different from what he +used to be,--much more cheerful and happy." + +Ottilie compressed her lips, and involuntarily laid her hand upon her +heart, as if she felt a sudden pang. + +"Does anything hurt you, your Highness? Does the pin I put in there +prick you?" asked Röschen, anxiously. + +"Yes, take it out; it hurts me," said Ottilie, and thought, "Ah, if you +only could!" + +"Your Highness, your heart is beating violently! Your Highness is +certainly suffering from that pain in the breast again! If you would +only tell the doctor about it!" + +"My good girl, he can do me no good." A short cough interrupted her, +and she glanced smilingly at Röschen's troubled face. "Be calm, my +child, people do not die of such things; and if I should, I shall leave +you a legacy which will support you all your life." + +"Your Highness!" exclaimed Röschen, with a deep blush, while the +tears rushed into her eyes. "If your Highness thinks it is only for +that,"--she could say no more. + +"My dear Röschen, have I hurt your feelings? Indeed, I did not intend +to do so. Then there is one heart that loves me for myself. God will +reward you for it far better than I. Do not cry: give me my dress." + +Röschen smiled through her tears, threw the dress over Ottilie's +shoulders, knelt down, and pulled the folds straight. Then she gazed +with childish admiration at her mistress's tall, stately figure. "Ah, +how beautiful your Highness looks now! I cannot imagine that any one +can be handsomer or more noble. Your Highness is so--what shall I call +it?--such a holy apparition." + +Ottilie smiled involuntarily. "Oh, how delighted your Highness's proud +husband will be when he sees he has obtained such a beautiful wife!" + +"Do you think so?" + +"Of course; he must be pleased. He has chosen your Highness without +knowing you. Even if you were ugly, he would still be compelled to keep +you; but if you are beautiful, it is a real piece of good fortune,--a +true gain to him. He will undoubtedly rejoice." + +For the first time in many days, Ottilie felt tempted to laugh. "You +are a perfect child," said she. "May God preserve your innocence! You +are like a fresh spring day to my soul, and that is of great value to +me. But do you know we have spent two hours in curling hair and +dressing?" + +"Yes, your Highness; but I can't help it," replied Röschen, +apologetically. + +"No, no; I know it. Tell me, Röschen, how would you feel if you were +obliged to meet a stranger and greet him as your husband?" asked +Ottilie, with as much apparent unconcern as possible. + +"Oh, dear me! It must be strange, I think. No doubt it is very hard for +a royal lady that she cannot have her own free choice and take the one +she wants; but she must bear something in return for the many +advantages over others which she enjoys, or she would have everything +quite too pleasant; and every human being must have one sorrow, or he +will not deserve heaven." + +"Very true; but what would you do if you were in my place?" + +"Why, your Highness, if matters had gone so far that I couldn't change +anything, then I would in God's name reconcile myself to them, and make +every effort to become as fond of my betrothed as I could, that I might +have some pleasure in him myself, for it must be terrible to belong to +a man whom one doesn't love." + +"But if you cannot love him?" asked Ottilie, with interest. + +"Why should one not love the husband to whom one is wedded in the sight +of God? One can become fond of any worthy man, if one has a kind heart, +like your Highness: and the prince is said to be both handsome and +good. It is better for any one who can choose freely not to betroth +herself to a man whom she doesn't love, or to a stranger; but if one +must take him, and can't get rid of it, one ought to meet him +trustfully and lovingly, that it may be not only outwardly but inwardly +a true Christian marriage." + +"Yes, we must question the oracle of a simple heart, if in our +over-refinement we wish to find the way to truth and nature," murmured +Ottilie. Her toilet was now complete, and she thought that she looked +better than usual. "If the Lord so wills, he can speak from the lips of +a child!" she thought to herself, for she had received unexpected +consolation from the simple girl who was so greatly her inferior. + +Just at that moment the chamberlain announced the ambassador +extraordinary, Count Ottmar, who requested a private audience to +communicate the wishes of his prince. + +Ottilie started at the sound of his name, but moved on with a firm step +to the reception-room where _Heinrich_ awaited her. + +"Pardon me, princess, for having ventured to request permission to +speak to you once more alone." + +"My future husband's messenger must always be welcome to me," said +Ottilie, with stately courtesy. + +_Heinrich_ looked at her in astonishment. It was difficult for him to +find the precise tone that would harmonize with this address. He was +unaccustomed to such coldness from Ottilie, and felt confused. This did +not escape her delicate feelings, and to fill up the little pause of +embarrassment she motioned him to be seated. + +Meantime _Heinrich_ had regained his composure, and began, in a firm, +grave tone: "Your Highness, permit me to speak to you once more in the +language in which I formerly had the happiness of making myself +understood; for the point in question does not merely concern a +commission from the prince, but private relations of a delicate nature +with which it is connected, and which I can only discuss with your +Highness if you will permit me once more, and for the last time, to +approach you as your friend." + +"Count Ottmar," replied Ottilie, in a low but firm voice, "you may be +assured that I am not contemptible enough to seek to deny the existence +of 'relations of a delicate nature' between you and myself, but I must +also expect that you will be considerate enough to say no more about +them than is absolutely necessary." + +"You may be sure of that, princess. I regret that my introduction to +this conversation should have given you cause to fear the reverse." + +"Tell me my bridegroom's message. What can he ask to which I would not +consent in advance?" + +"Then I will discharge my duty. The reason I have used so much +circumlocution you will perceive without any further explanation. You +are aware of the misfortune that has befallen Prince Edward. I +telegraphed at once to N----, as my office required, and have just +received from the prince the dispatch I now have the honor to deliver +to you." + +Ottilie took the paper, went to the window, and read: "Impossible to +defer the marriage. All the preparations are completed. The whole +country in readiness to give a brilliant reception. Unadvisable to +disappoint the expectations of the nation. If agreeable to the +princess, I appoint Count Ottmar proxy on Prince Edward's place. Count +Ottmar will inform the court at once, etc." Ottilie could read no more: +the remainder concerned only matters of etiquette; the words lost their +meaning, the letters swam before her eyes. She stood motionless as if +struck by a thunderbolt. Every tinge of color faded from her cheeks, +she seemed frozen into a marble statue. She must exchange rings with +Ottmar, be wedded to the man for whom she longed, only to belong to +another; she must vow to be faithful to her husband, and she loved his +proxy. The forms which would have sealed her life-long happiness, had +they been true, now only served to sanction the lie at the thought of +which her heart bled. And yet ought she, as the betrothed bride of +another, to make the humiliating confession to _Heinrich_ that she felt +too weak to bear his presence at the altar?--ought she to give way to +such weakness herself? + +_Heinrich_ read these thoughts reflected upon her brow. "I knew this +news must affect you unpleasantly, princess, and therefore preferred to +give you the information privately, that you might be able to tell me +frankly whether it would be agreeable to you to stand before the altar +with me or not. I hope you will understand my 'consideration' now; for +if the inquiry had been made officially, you would not have been able +to offer before the eyes of the world the insult of refusing to accept +me as a substitute. But here, alone, you can tell me if it will be +painful to you to have me beside you; and I will not take the +acknowledgment as a humiliation, but receive it as a sacred confidence, +and find means to delay the progress of affairs without mentioning your +name." + +Ottilie struggled with her feelings for a moment, and then held out her +hand to him. "I thank you, my friend. Your forbearance is kind and +noble, but it is unnecessary. How could I meet the prince, my husband, +if I had not done with--everything?--if I shrank from this last drop in +the bitter cup? What has been begun must be finished. If I have the +courage to accomplish the great falsehood of my life, it ought not to +fail me in this short, painful comedy. Ought I to rob an expectant +country of its festival of joy, leave its garlands to wither, suffer +its good-will to be transformed into anger, on account of the cowardice +of a sore heart? Ought I not, as the mother of the country, to +understand my duties better? No, no, Ottmar; I am stronger than you +thought. I will go with you to the marriage ceremony; I will think only +of my people, pray for them alone,--my kind people, who are hopefully +expecting me: that will give me strength to bear the mockery of fate +which places my hand in yours,--to part me from you forever." Here +emotion suffocated her voice: she motioned to Ottmar to withdraw, and +turned away. + +"Oh, princess," he cried, "if you knew what grief I feel at the sight +of your silent suffering, at the thought that I am its author, and can +now do nothing, nothing to lessen it! I am an unhappy man, who always +acts solely from egotism, and yet is not bad enough to be able to +witness the result of his deeds coldly and without remorse. No, God is +my witness that I am now speaking the truth, and not acting a part!" He +threw himself on his knees before her. "Forgive me, princess; I have +committed a terrible crime against you!" + +She laid her band gently on his head. "I forgive you all, Ottmar. May +God bless and guide you in the right path!" + +"I thank you!" cried _Heinrich_, springing up. "Then I am to give the +court notice that the marriage will take place?" + +"I have already said so." + +When _Heinrich_ had closed the door behind him, Ottilie gave free +course to her tears. "Oh, God! oh, God! how much can a heart bear +without breaking?" + + +She had told the truth: hers was not one of those natures in which +grief, by a violent assault, swells the veins to bursting, strains the +nerves to their utmost tension, and excites a wild conflict in the +heart; she belonged to those deep, silent characters, which do not have +the strength to offer the resistance which increases it to despair, or +conquers it, but patiently suffer it to obtain complete possession of +them, and conceal it in the deepest recesses of their souls, where it +gently and gradually gnaws away the roots of life. This proceeds from +no lack of strength or courage. They use all their moral power in the +conscientiousness and capacity for self-sacrifice peculiar to them, in +order to accomplish the tasks of superhuman difficulty which fate most +frequently imposes upon these very natures. + +Ottilie performed such a task when on the following day she went to the +altar with _Heinrich_, and succeeded in stifling the thought of his +close proximity by fervent prayer. She did not cast a single glance at +his face, but stood as pale and calm as a corpse adorned for the grave. +All were weeping around her, although they could have given no reason +for it, even to themselves. Her manner after the wedding exerted a +sorrowful influence: it seemed to each person who offered her his +congratulations as if he were uttering a lie, and a thrill of +melancholy ran through his whole frame as she bowed her beautiful head +in acknowledgment. With the firmness to which all royal personages are +trained, she went through all the customary ceremonies; but in saying +farewell she could not restrain her tears, and held her uncle's hand +closely clasped in hers as she thanked him for all his kindness. + +The old prince was deeply moved. "Ah, Ottilie," said he, "I fear that +in you my country is losing its good angel. True, I ought not to +complain, since it will obtain great advantages by your marriage; but +they will be no compensation to my heart for you. Farewell! May God +give you happiness!" + +The journey was the greatest martyrdom to Ottilie's weakened nerves; +for she now had not a moment in which she was unwatched. She must guard +every word, every look; she dared not yield to any feelings of +exhaustion or depression. Thus passed a day of torture. Fortunately, +when night came, her bodily fatigue was so great that sleep relieved +her for a few hours from her excitement and anxiety. + +The following day they reached the frontiers of Ottilie's second home. +Here she received a portion of her new court, and dismissed her former +train, with the exception of those who were appointed to a place among +the ranks of her future attendants. The exchange between the old and +new courtiers was a matter of comparative indifference to her, for she +had never expected to find these men anything more than mere +conventional machines. She welcomed one party with the same affability +that she displayed in bidding farewell to the other, without any +special feeling. The cordial reception given her by the country people +in the first little town on the frontier was a joyful surprise, and +when she at last reached the prince's yacht which lay awaiting her and +gave her a royal salute, when she had entered it with her train, and on +a most lovely day floated down the broad stream, past shores adorned +with tokens of welcome, her heart began to swell with the thought, "You +are the mistress of this country. It belongs to you, and its happiness, +its freedom, will perhaps be in your hands." And this ray of hope +cheered her soul for a moment. + +_Heinrich_ watched her with alternate dread and joy, according to the +mood expressed upon her features. It was a great source of anxiety to +him how Ottilie would bear all these exertions. If her strength failed, +if she met the prince as a sickly, feeble woman, all the blame would +fall upon him who had made this match. She still seemed outwardly firm; +but in spite of her faultless bearing it did not escape him that her +breast rose and fell more and more rapidly the nearer she approached +her destination. He would gladly have sustained and animated her spirit +as one seeks to save and protect en expiring light, but the +unapproachable dignity of manner which she had adopted towards him +since her marriage made it impossible, and caused him the greatest +perplexity. The last stage of the journey was reached: he saw her grow +still paler; and she received deputations from the city at which they +had arrived, and some of the highest staff-officers who had come out in +two yachts to meet her, in a voice so faint that the words were +scarcely audible. It was with great anxiety that _Heinrich_ saw the +moment of the meeting between her and the prince approach. And he was +not wrong. + +When the three steamers left the last stopping-place and glided, calmly +and majestically, side by side down the broad stream, countless boats +adorned with gay streamers put off from both shores and accompanied the +large vessels; on the right and left, before and behind, they assembled +hundreds; as far as the eye could reach there was nothing to be seen +but a moving stream of fluttering pennons. The mistress of ceremonies +signified to Ottilie that she ought to go on deck and show herself to +the people. Scarcely had she done so when a loud cheer rang from +thousands of throats: a greeting from the students, the most promising +young men in the country. And now music rose from the foremost boats, +like an eagle extending its wings above the confused, brilliant throng. +The echo repeated the strains majestically from the rocky shores; a +fresh breeze ruffled the water, and as if borne along by the sound the +boats dashed on. + +Ottilie clung dizzily to the railing of the deck. It seemed as if her +soul must escape from its tenement and soar into eternity upon those +tones, and she gazed with a strange, unearthly expression at the +magnificent spectacle and the sunny air thrilling with the notes of the +music. The sweet sounds blended into a threatening roar, a volley of +artillery! Masts, flags, and steeples appeared in the distance. + +"The harbor is close at hand, your Highness," said _Heinrich_. Ottilie +turned pale: the shadow of death rested upon her face. "Take courage; +compose yourself, or all is lost," he whispered. + +She still stood erect, and he watched her in painful suspense. The +distant steeples became still more distinct; there was a second roar of +artillery from the accompanying yachts,--a third,--the harbor opened +before Ottilie's eyes, and now began the thunder of a hundred guns, +while the ringing of bells floated athwart them in majestic waves of +sound. The boats fell back with a repeated cheer, and the steamers +slowly entered the harbor. The rigging of the ships that lay at anchor +was filled with sailors, who waved their hats and shouted a wild +"hurrah!" A countless throng of people on the edge of the harbor, at +the windows, and on the roofs of the houses, which were gayly adorned +with flowers and tapestry, sent forth their shouts of welcome to +Ottilie, amid the thunder of cannon and the ringing of bells. +Everything swam before her eyes. The impression was too powerful; all +this produced too violent an emotion in her oppressed heart. Yonder +stood a group of gentlemen, the foremost must be the prince just ready +to enter the boat which was to bear him to the ship; a mist gathered +before her eyes, her heart stopped beating, the blood flowed coldly +through her veins: she laid her damp, icy hand upon the shoulder of the +mistress of ceremonies, and tottered. _Heinrich_ caught her by the arm, +and both carried her down into the cabin, where she sank back utterly +unconscious. + +"I thought so," muttered _Heinrich_, and went up to receive the prince, +and if possible detain him. + +The mistress of ceremonies knew not what to do, and called the lady's +maid. Röschen appeared and applied the usual restoratives. Ottilie +breathed faintly, but was unable to raise her head. + +"The prince is on board," said a chamberlain. + +"Oh, God!" moaned Ottilie; and again she trembled violently. + +"Will not your Highness try to rise?" pleaded the mistress of +ceremonies, in the greatest anxiety; for the prince might now enter at +any moment. Röschen caught her in her arms, the door was thrown open, +and "his Highness" was announced. One last violent effort, and Ottilie +stood erect. The mistress of ceremonies withdrew with Röschen. The +prince entered. Ottilie bowed with her usual stately grace. The +prince's eyes rested with surprise and pleasure upon the beautiful, +although pallid, face. The aroma of aristocracy which surrounded her +was wonderfully pleasing to the man of forms. + +"Allow me to express to your Highness my most heartfelt gratitude for +the confidence with which you intrust your future to me, a stranger; +and receive the assurance that I shall hold so precious a gift as +sacred, and know how to guard it." + +Twice Ottilie essayed to speak, and twice her voice failed. At last her +tongue obeyed her will, and she began: "Your Highness, the confidence +for which you compliment me so highly is only a fitting tribute that +every noble-minded person must pay to a prince whose political as well +as private life lies open and blameless before the gaze of all. It is +far different with me. My existence has flowed on in silent seclusion. +You know me only from descriptions and from my letters; the latter +might be dictated, the former invented. I myself, my own character, can +alone win for me your esteem, your friendship. Your Highness will +perceive it is only natural that this consciousness should disturb me, +and pardon my embarrassment. Moreover, the kind and magnificent +reception your Highness and the people of the country have bestowed +upon me has moved and confused me deeply. I am not accustomed to such +things. I am well aware that it is not given to my person, but my +position; but I have so identified myself with my new dignity and its +duties that I cannot help taking these festivities to myself, and +allowing their overmastering impression to influence me." + +The prince had listened admiringly to the melody and grace of her +language. "Your Highness is in error if you suppose this reception is +given solely to your position. Certain forms of course are +indispensable on such occasions; but a rumor has preceded you, which +not only secured my esteem, but excited the greatest enthusiasm for you +among the people, and this you must have felt. The reception was a +sincere one, and if you had been known the tokens would have become +still more enthusiastic, for I freely confess that your appearance has +surpassed all our expectations, and must win the heart of every one who +sees you." + +"This praise from your lips, your Highness, makes me very proud; for I +believe you far too noble to expect insincere flattery from you in so +solemn an hour." + +"You are perfectly right, princess; the hour in which two human beings, +who are united for life, see each other for the first time, is a very +solemn one, for it holds the key of our whole future. I am therefore +the more joyfully surprised to find in you a nature which opens to me +the hope of a happy marriage. Permit me to believe that at least you do +not feel the contrary to be the case?" + +Ottilie tried to speak. + +"Do not answer me," interrupted the prince. "How could I be so +ungallant as to seek to call forth complimentary assurances from a +lady? No, you shall not tell me so; you shall only allow me to feel it. +I shall eagerly await the moment when your eyes will tell me that your +heart has confirmed the choice which destiny imposed." + +"Your Highness," replied Ottilie, "receive the assurance that I have no +other wish than that of making you and your people happy. I will be an +obedient, and faithful wife, and never ask anything of you except +indulgence. Be assured that I shall never claim any tokens of love from +you. No feeling of affection has united us who are total strangers to +each other; we both yielded to the commands of political necessity. It +depends upon ourselves to lend value to such a tie, to form a more or +less cordial bond of friendship, but not to conjure up emotions which +the heart receives only as revelations. I tell you this, your Highness, +that in your noble chivalrousness you may not think it necessary to +delude yourself and me by the expression of such feelings. I shall have +attained the highest goal of my hopes if you will some day bear witness +that I have not entered your life as a disturbing element, but to bring +a blessing." + +"I understand your Highness's delicacy of feeling. Your every word +affords me a fresh proof of the treasure I possess in you, and I hope a +bond will be developed between us higher and firmer than one founded on +mere chance sympathy,--a bond of mutual comprehension and unchanging +esteem. Shall it not be so, my Ottilie?" + +"May God grant it, your Highness!" + +"Etiquette commands that I should now leave your Highness. To-morrow at +the cathedral I shall take pride in presenting you to the nation as its +princess,--as a true princess. Yes, I am proud of my noble wife," he +added, emphasizing the words, while a cold smile gleamed over his +smooth features. He pressed his lips lightly to Ottilie's hand and +withdrew. She stood motionless and exhausted; tears no longer dimmed +her eyes: her destiny was fixed. She now knew the man to whom she +belonged, and what she had to expect from him. + +The mistress of ceremonies entered, and again she was forced to add +another link to the chain of self-denial which already rested so +heavily upon her weary shoulders. _Heinrich_ breathed more freely when +the prince's own lips expressed his satisfaction with his choice; +although he regretted his deed, he must still desire it to be crowned +with complete success, since his whole destiny depended upon it. +Moreover, his remorse was not so sincere as he had made Ottilie believe +in their last interview, or even as he had believed himself. It had +unconsciously been heightened by the selfish fear that he had +sacrificed Ottilie uselessly,--uselessly for himself, for he could no +longer doubt that he had been mistaken in her character. She was wholly +changed from what she had been in former days; with the same greatness +of soul which had led her to show her love for him when free, she +concealed it now that she was bound. He perceived that she possessed +one of those deep natures which seize upon all that they believe to be +their appointed destiny with silent, unassuming tenacity of purpose, +and hold it steadfastly to the end. So had she clung to him when she +believed herself marked out for no other fate than to love and suffer; +and now she seemed to cleave with the same self-denial, if not to her +husband, to the duties of her new vocation. Here was the solution of +his false reckoning; and he now quickly came to the conclusion that he +had nothing more to hope from her for the furtherance of his ambition +than any other; that she would even consider it a needful victory +over herself not to favor him. Thus he had now accomplished an act +which he must despise as one of the most horrible results of his +selfishness,--robbed himself of a friend to whom he might have fled in +every vicissitude of life; he had solved so many difficult problems in +politics and love, ruled the most reserved and haughtiest women, +struggled victoriously with the first intellects of his court, but by +the simple greatness of her character his plan was baffled,--because he +knew only the strength of her love, not the power of her virtue. +Ottilie was a complete contrast to himself; with all his intellect he +could not understand a character destitute of all, even the most +necessary selfishness; and thus he was at last compelled to confess +himself vanquished by the power of a goodness in which he had never +believed. He pitied Ottilie as the martyr of exaggerated ideas, and +felt that across the barriers of this loyal "prejudice" no sympathizing +intercourse could ever take place between them. He was now thrown +entirely upon himself and Cornelia; he did not possess even one friend, +for he lacked the only foundations of friendship,--unselfishness and +confidence. Cornelia alone now captivated his sensual as well as his +intellectual nature. She was the last and only thing left him, and the +secretly lonely and dissatisfied man clung to her with all the strength +of his life. The hours during which he was compelled to attend the +marriage festivities dragged slowly and painfully. + + + + + XVI. + + THE TWO BETROTHED BRIDES. + + +Meantime Cornelia awaited him in her quiet salon, where the roses +always bloomed like eternal lamps of love. She was alone. Veronica's +health had become somewhat delicate of late, and she was taking an +afternoon nap in her room. Cornelia hoped to receive _Heinrich's_ first +glance unobserved. She had spent the three days since Ottilie's arrival +in idle dreams, longings, and expectations, and had sought solitude +that Veronica might not perceive her indolence. It was impossible for +her to fix her attention upon anything except the one thought,--"He +will soon arrive." She had never believed that any one could spend +three whole days in such complete inaction. She did not go out, even to +visit the prison, lest she should miss him, and thanked God when any +one rang the bell, because she had the pleasure of fancying for a +moment that it was he. To-day this satisfaction had fallen to her lot +very rarely; the street and house were silent, and she walked +impatiently up and down the smooth inlaid floor, played with the roses, +made an old mandarin nod his head, incessantly looked into the glass to +see whether she would please her lover, threw herself on the yellow +sofa, and fancied he was beside her; thought of a thousand things she +wanted to tell him, took up one of the faded velvet-covered albums, +turned the leaves without reading a word, and at last started up in +joyful surprise, for the bell was now really pulled, and so violently, +so impatiently,--it must be he. She hurried into the antechamber. + +"I'll tell you if any one comes," said the old servant, as sulkily as +if he knew whom Cornelia expected, and walked slowly on to open the +door. + +Cornelia retired in great embarrassment, and waited behind the +folding-doors. Yes, it was the well-known step upon the stairs, along +the corridor; he was approaching. The blissful certainty overwhelmed +her with suffocating violence, and now she could see nothing, for two +eager arms had clasped her and pressed her closely to a throbbing +heart. + +There was a moment of silence, a moment when the world seemed to be +hushed, and divinity itself listened in delight to the sweetest +language given to the human heart,--the mute language of love. Then +_Henri's_ lips sought her own, and softly, softly she whispered a +thousand sweet names; but every word died in a kiss; and thus words and +caresses struggled long in a secret conflict for the mastery. + +"Let me look at you," said Cornelia, at last; and drawing back, took +his head between her hands and raised it. "You have grown handsomer; +you look milder, graver, and yet happier." + +"It is my love for you, Cornelia. If the features take the impress of +the soul, I must become more and more like you. You are so perfect, +Cornelia, that your Creator in his delight over his work wished to make +a copy of you; and see, he chose me! My soul is nothing more than the +background upon which the finger of God has engraved your image." + +"Ob, noble spirit, you always give the fairest expression of every +feeling,--earth and heaven are open to your flight! Will you now linger +with me? Do I hold this dear head clasped in my hands? Dare I call you +mine, and kiss the brow on which you are enthroned?" asked Cornelia, in +dreamy delight. + +"Yes, yes, Cornelia, the spirit is yours, for you have been the first +to awaken it. Lay the head that contains it on your breast, let your +hand rest lovingly upon it, and it will disdain heaven and earth, and +linger here, here on this one sweet spot forever, forever!" + +He stooped and pressed a kiss upon Cornelia's heart. Blushing deeply, +she laid her clasped hands upon his dark hair and raised her eyes in an +ecstasy of love. "Oh, God, one who had denied thee throughout a whole +lifetime must acknowledge thee in such an hour!" + +"You pious priestess, priestess of a religion whose blessings I +gratefully feel at this moment, shall I tell you how I pray to +you,--yes, pray fervently and devoutly? I know that in you I possess +the greatest blessing earth can offer, and that I do not deserve it. If +I had not found it I should have gone to destruction; but you will lead +me back from the exhausted pleasures of the world to pure nature, to +truth and simplicity of heart. A new day breaks upon me through +you,--an Easter-day,--for in you my better self celebrates its +resurrection. Your breath is the fresh air of morning, the dawn glows +upon your cheeks, and in your eyes beams the sunrise of a happiness +never known before. Come, let me inhale your breath. Ah, youth, purity, +and strength emanate from you to revive and cheer!" He again pressed +his lips to hers for a moment. "Now," he continued, "the whole man is +exclusively and entirely yours, yours forever; do with him whatever you +choose, for he has no longer any claim to a life which you alone +preserved to him, and which without you would have been lost." + +"What shall, what can, I say to you in return for such words? Not I, +but you yourself took the new flight which has made you so dear to me. +What could I be to you? What influence could the few moments we have +spent together exert?" + +"And if I should ask you the same question, and inquire how you could +love me in so short a time, what would you reply?" + +"Why, that love and mutual understanding do not depend upon time." + +"The case is precisely the same with me, my child. Years of study and +intercourse are not necessary to understand a superior nature. A few +traits enable it to be characterized, single extremes allow its full +compass to be measured, and as one accord contains the elements of +music, so it can easily reveal to the observer the keynotes of its +soul; and you did this. Wherever I struck, it echoed. I know the whole +scale of your nature, although a thousand sweet harmonies which may be +formed from it are still concealed from me." + +"Tell me, _Heinrich_, how long have you loved me?" + +"Since, since--permit me to answer you with the most common of all +forms of speech,--since the first time I saw you." + +"Since our meeting in the prison?" + +"Yes; I cannot tell you what a powerful impression I received from you. +I was astonished! Your boldness, your disregard of my dignity, your +philanthropic enthusiasm, so entirely devoid of all affectation and +sentimentality, aroused the greatest admiration, and your beauty +excited my love. Had you been merely beautiful, I should only have +desired you; but since you showed an equal intellect, I love you, and +loved you from the beginning as I never did any other." + +"As you never loved any other?" asked Cornelia. She had seated herself +upon the sofa, and he took a chair beside her. She folded her arms upon +the little barrier the broad side of the divan formed between them, and +they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. + +"As I never loved any other," repeated _Henri_. "If you fully realized +your own value, you would not look at me so incredulously. You would +know that you must be loved differently from the commonplace girls with +whom people can only trifle, whose insignificance renders all serious +conversation impossible. There is nothing which continues to keep a +woman interesting to a man except _originality_; and before I knew you +I almost despaired of finding it. The female mind cannot reach the +perception of things by the established, endlessly long path marked out +for it; it has not sufficient perseverance, cannot keep pace with man. +Most women pause half-way, with the goal before their eyes, but unable +to reach it; they then become weary, disgusted with the world, and +consume themselves in idle longings, which they at last permit some +friend to heal. Others turn into by-paths of fruitless scholarship, and +wonder aimlessly to and fro; such persons become utterly disagreeable, +a terror to every man, for they enter into a sort of intellectual +competition with him, which is charmless and a mere waste of time, +because there is no true honorable victory to be obtained in such an +unequal struggle. The true womanly nature knows the extent of her +powers; she does not strive for things too far beyond her, for she +cheerfully makes out her own object and builds her own path to it. This +unthinking exercise of natural instincts, this radiance of free, pure +thought, beaming from a youthful brow, is extremely refreshing, and +while I am with you I regret every moment that I cannot philosophize +with you about everything in earth or heaven. But the mouth which +speaks so wisely is far too sweet, and so my senses are constantly +battling with my intellect. I cannot kiss you without wishing you were +talking, and I cannot hear you speak without wanting to kiss you. Is +not this an unfortunate contradiction?" + +"Ought it not to be harmonized? Cannot people be both sensible and +affectionate?" asked Cornelia. + +"No, my angel! In your presence I have not the necessary calmness," +said _Henri_, involuntarily casting down his eyes. "Clearness of +thought requires cool blood; and when I am so near you, when your sweet +breath floats over me, and your warm hand rests in mine, my heart +throbs violently, and sends the blood so quickly through my veins, that +I can think of nothing but you and my ardent love!" + +"Oh, do not look at me so fiercely! Your kindling eyes pierce my soul +until I cannot help blushing. You do not know how terribly your glances +flash. I do not fear you, but a strange horror overwhelms me when I see +you thus. I feel myself a match for the spirit that darts menacing +looks from those eyes, and a shudder thrills my soul as the wind +rustles gently through the banners before a battle." + +"So you are belligerently disposed towards me, Cornelia?" + +"No, indeed; except when you are in your present mood then, I know, I +shall often be compelled to uphold my standard against you." + +"And what standard might that be?" + +"That of gentleness, truth: in one word, virtue," she said, simply and +firmly. + +"Do you think me destitute of them?" + +"Yes. Understand me correctly. You have a multitude of great and +lovable qualities which distinguish you from the million,--a multitude +of _virtues_, but not the _virtue_ which we designate by one word, and +in an indivisible sense. A person may not possess nearly as many noble +traits, and yet be far more virtuous than you. Virtue is the pure, +conscious will which unites the scattered capacities for good, and +matures them to moral actions; and this quality you lack." + +Ottmar had become very grave. _Henri_ was present no longer: _Heinrich_ +had taken his place. Cornelia laid her head upon his hands, and said, +in a tone of the fondest affection: "Now you are so quiet and cold, +have I vexed you?" + +"No, my child; but you have given me something to think about, which +makes me grave. You women have a wonderful talent for moralizing. Your +conscience wishes to make up for the too great indulgence of your +hearts, and therefore you are the sternest censors of the man you +love." + +"We women? Have you said the same thing to other women?" + +"Only one except yourself; but her theories were repellent. She gave me +no proof in her own person that she possessed a cheering power in her +own nature. She was a sad, pale, melancholy vision, so her influence +over me also faded; yet, I shall always hold her memory sacred." + +"Who was she? Heinrich, a shadow has fallen upon your mood: who was it +you mourn for as a departed spirit?" + +"A poor creature, whose suffering constantly pervades all my joys, +whose misery always appears greater to me the more my own happiness +increases, the more I learn to believe in the might of true feeling. +Yes, yes, Cornelia, you are right; I may have virtues, but they +principally exist in the fact that I can still regret the virtue I +lack. Oh, if I could but cast aside my past with all its errors and +reproaches, like the cocoon of a butterfly, and soar forth in freedom +as a new, winged, purified creature!" + +"I will tell you the name of the unhappy woman about whom remorse +is now torturing you," began Cornelia, after a pause of earnest +thought,--"it is Princess Ottilie." + +_Heinrich_ started up. "Girl! How did such an idea enter your head?" + +Cornelia looked at him intently. "It is so." + +"Who told you?" + +"I thought of it myself. Ottilie imposed inviolable secrecy upon +Röschen; what motive induced her to do so if she did not love you? What +duty led Princess Ottilie to spare Herr von Ottmar except a tender +obligation of the heart? All this, however, might be explained; but I +was at the harbor when you arrived, I saw the princess turn pale, saw +you approach anxiously and whisper a few words, perceived how, with a +glance at you, she composed herself, how earnestly you watched her, and +at last sprang to her assistance as if the whole responsibility of +caring for her devolved upon you alone. I saw this lady was +experiencing some great inward conflict; and your anxiety showed that +you were aware of it. I felt there was some silent, mutual bond between +you,--in what it exists I know not, but it does exist; and if I make it +agree with what you have just said, then, _Heinrich_, I fear you have +great cause for self-reproach." + +"You have watched me with the eyes of love, and formed a tolerably +clear idea of the true state of affairs. It would be useless to deny +your guess, you would still believe it. In such matters one can deceive +the world, but not the instinct of a clever woman. What shall I say to +you?--spare me further particulars concerning things which are not my +secret. I will freely confess that, with the exception of yourself, she +was my only friend,--that I owe her much and shall always pity her." + +"Poor lady!" said Cornelia, softly. "If she loves you, she is greatly +to be pitied, for she can never forget you,--never be happy again!" + +"Does your own heart tell you that, Cornelia?" + +"Yes. Whoever has once felt the magic of your nature can never love +another, and is bound to you for life; the whole world contains nothing +nobler than yourself." + +_Heinrich_ took her hands and pressed them to his breast. "Dearest, you +are my happiness and my salvation! Cornelia, I love you. I would fain +breathe forth my life in those few words: 'I love you!" Cornelia felt +that tears were dimming her eyes, and tried to conceal them. "Oh, do +not be ashamed of these tears! Happy is the human being who can weep. +Teach me the lesson too, and you will have accomplished what not even +God could do!" + +"And if I should succeed, _Heinrich_, it would still be only by the +help of God, who blessed my efforts. He will let me find means to do +so, if he wishes to raise you by my hand. Do not smile. I cannot help +calling the power to which you give a thousand titles by the name of +God; cannot intentionally fail in my duty to him. I cannot live without +this God,--may not deny him. When I was a child he stood beside my bed +and I could talk to him. I associated with him all my thoughts of my +father; my mother appeared to me beautiful and radiant in his heavenly +majesty, I have so often folded my little hands reverently and thought +he heard me; and am I now to believe the soulless air wafted my fervent +prayer away,--that so much love, so much devotion, was lavished an a +phantom? Oh, my childish faith has increased with my growth!--it has +somewhere become part of my nature; for if I try to separate from it, a +pang passes through my soul, and I feel that some spiritual nerve, the +connecting link between God and myself, is wounded." + +"You are a woman, Cornelia, and it would be wicked to cast a word of +doubt into the sanctuary of your pious heart. We have already spoken of +this matter once, and you almost made me an enthusiast." + +"Is it really so?" interrupted Cornelia. "Oh, if you confess that, much +is gained, and I shall henceforth work upon your 'enthusiasm'! You +know, _Heinrich_, that natures like ours are always set apart from the +rest of mankind. Life often becomes unendurable; reverses of fortune +may occur which even philosophy can no longer help us to bear, and we +can nowhere find a home. Then it is fortunate if we can flee from earth +to that wonderland of fancy, our inalienable home. There are sorrows, +too, _Heinrich_, which cannot endure the classical training of an empty +doctrine, and which, destroying everything in their course, dash wildly +over us. Then the soul grasps for some support, and in its agony +shrieks for a God; and if there were none, it would create him for +itself, that its cry for help might not echo back from an empty void. +But such a self-created God gives no comfort, but jeers at you +mockingly, like the spectre of your own agony, and melts away before +your eyes, while the true God cannot approach to comfort you, for you +do not believe in him, and only by faith does he work his miracles." +Cornelia paused; for _Heinrich_ was on his knees before her with his +face buried in her lap. + +"If in such an hour I still have you, I need no God!" he exclaimed, +fairly beside himself. + +"Do not blaspheme!" pleaded Cornelia "And suppose you did not have +me? Suppose it should be God's will to separate us, and you were +alone,--entirely alone?" + +"Cornelia, how can you think of such a thing while you clasp me in your +arms? If we should lose each other, what should I become? An embodied +negation, separated from all connection with mankind, withered in mind +and body,--a living corpse, to which the world is only a grave." + +"_Heinrich_, dear, dear _Heinrich_! you inspire me with both compassion +and horror! Oh, banish these gloomy spirits from your mind, and become +light-hearted and gentle! Fate is not subdued by threats and +blasphemies; the ground on which happiness willingly builds its nest +must be firm and peaceful, not trembling with volcanic shocks and +rumbling with peals of thunder. Come, be gentle; such wicked words suit +your delicate mouth. Smile again; Veronica will soon wake up, and then +we can no longer express our love in fond caresses." + +"Yes, that is true!" cried _Heinrich_; "let us enjoy the moment while +we may." And it was _Henri_ who now threw himself upon the sofa beside +Cornelia and drew her closely to him. + +Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. His eyes were beaming with +ardent feeling; a warmer color tinged his cheeks; his mouth, +half-pouted for a kiss was irresistibly alluring. "It often seems as if +you changed places with some one, and in an instant became an entirely +different man. I never saw such sudden alterations of mood." + +"Ah, do not speak! kiss me!" pleaded _Henri_. "Darling, how I have +longed for those lips! Many a night have I tossed as if in a fever, +thirsting, yearning for you. Did you think of me when you went to +rest?" + +"Yes, a thousand times. I have never fallen asleep without calling +'Good-night, _Heinrich_!' and the words became my nightly prayer. I +shall never forget it." + +"How beautiful! What time do you say it?" + +"At eleven: when I am in bed." + +"In future I shall always say, 'Pleasant dreams, Cornelia!' You will +remember it, won't you, my darling?" + +"Of course I shall," she whispered, pressing her cheek close to his. + +Light, scarcely audible footsteps approached. Cornelia started up. +"Veronica is coming!" + +The door slowly opened, and she entered, kindly as ever, but pale, as +if there was not a drop of blood in her sunken features. Her slender +figure seemed still more shrunken, and there was not a tinge of color +about the ghostly apparition except the light-blue ribbon upon her +white cap. The lovely eyes were more hollow, more lustreless, than in +former days; the silvery curls drooped more negligently about her face. +_Henri_ perceived a change in her, and as it soon became evident that +there was no alteration in her intellectual powers it must be a bodily +one. In such delicate equable natures all secret changes give very +faint external tokens of their existence, and it requires a watchful, +practiced eye to detect them. Cornelia was too mach preoccupied with +her own feelings, the slight, gradual alterations in Veronica's +appearance did not attract her attention; but _Henri_, who had not seen +her for a long time, noticed them at once. + +"My dear count, I did not know you were here, or I should not have +yielded to the heavy slumber which always overpowers me now. I must beg +you to excuse me, but I have no doubt Cornelia has entertained you so +well that you have not missed me. Besides, age no longer harmonizes +with youth. It is too dull for the sympathy and susceptibility required +to enter into the rapidly changing details of a conversation." + +"Oh, do not say that!" pleaded _Henri_. "With your fresh intellect one +can accommodate one's self to every form of change; but it would be +uncourteous to Fräulein Cornelia, if I did not say that I am indebted +to her for a most delightful hour." He smilingly took her hand and +pressed it warmly. + +Veronica looked earnestly at them both, and _Henri_ noticed it. + +"Are you satisfied with my influence over your Cornelia? Is she not +once more as blooming as a rose?" + +"Oh, I am very grateful to you for your friendship, my dear count! But, +Cornelia, you are not only blooming, you are fairly glowing to-day. You +must have been talking very earnestly." + +Cornelia's blushes grew still deeper at this remark. She glanced at +_Henri_; he was apparently gazing irresolutely into vacancy. + +"What is the matter, my child? Does your head ache? You really make me +uneasy." + +Cornelia started up and threw herself at Veronica's feet. "No, I cannot +bear it; I could keep silent, but I cannot lie. Veronica, forgive my +past reserve,--it was painful enough to me but now you question me, I +will tell you the truth. Veronica, must I speak plainly? Yes, yes, it +is as you think." + +_Henri_ was in a state of painful embarrassment, and thought to +himself, "Who can teach a woman to be silent?" + +Veronica sat speechless and clasped her trembling hands. After a pause +_Henri_ approached and touched Cornelia's head. "Here is all the +happiness that earth contains. You will not refuse it to me, my +motherly friend?" + +"I have wished and thought that this might be, but now it has happened +I am so greatly startled that I can scarcely speak!" Overpowered by her +emotion, she clasped Cornelia in her arms. "My child, my only one, my +all, whom I have so faithfully cherished, I confide you to the +protection of this noble man, and am perfectly assured that he will +make you happy. Come, my son, and receive my blessing." She laid her +clasped hands upon his brow. "May God be merciful unto you and bless +you, and show you the light of his countenance and be merciful unto +you!" + +The last words died upon her lips; the emotion was too great. She sank +back, while _Henri_ and Cornelia affectionately supported her. The +latter was deeply agitated. She now perceived, for the first time, in +what a frail shell this beloved life was contained, by what feeble +threads it was still bound to earth, and hot tears rolled down her +cheeks. _Henri_ himself was not wholly destitute of sympathy. He +esteemed Veronica, and understood Cornelia's feeling. At last she +regained her consciousness, and gazed at them with her loving eyes. +"Have I alarmed you? I most sincerely regret it; but my life has long +flowed an so calmly and equably that I am unaccustomed to all emotion. +But, dear Cornelia, you must remember the possibility of my leaving +you. Do not weep; let the consciousness that you have never cost me a +single sorrowful hour console you. You have developed a lofty, free, +and noble nature, and yet always given me the submissive heart of a +child; have spared my weaknesses, and never permitted me to feel how +far you had risen above me. God will reward you for it. And now that my +last wish is fulfilled, and I know you are safe in the arms of your +betrothed, I can cheerfully depart to my sainted lover." + +"Oh, do not talk so, Veronica!" pleaded Cornelia. "You are strewing +wormwood over this blissful hour." + +"Why, my child? You do not grudge me the peace contained in the thought +of death, and I feel that the time which separates me from my betrothed +is drawing to a close. If you only knew how I rejoice over it! We have +been obliged to wait for long years,--he there and I here; but a human +life is but a short span compared to eternity. We shall meet again, and +our temporary separation will only be an interruption, not the +destruction of our intercourse." + +Cornelia gazed silently into vacancy. The grave conversation had +brought _Heinrich_ into _Henri's_ place. "It is a beautiful and +enviable faith," said he. + +"Which you do not share, because you are a man, and still young; but, I +assure you, the older we grow the thinner becomes the partition our +earthly bodies form between our immortal souls and eternity, and single +rays from the other shore often fall through. This gives to us old +people the religious trust at which you young philosophers smile." + +"I do not laugh at it, Veronica," said _Heinrich_; "but I think you +have yet many years to enjoy life and our happiness." + +"Well, it is as God wills. I will gladly live and gladly die,--both are +welcome to me." + +_Heinrich_ looked at her in astonishment. "Fortunate is the person who +can say that, and contemplate with equal serenity the day and night of +existence." + +"Enough of this grave subject; tell me, my son, how soon you wish to +take Cornelia away? I shall miss her so terribly that I dread the +thought of losing her, and really do not know how I am to live without +her." + +_Heinrich_ bit his lips. "Calm yourself; unfortunately, I cannot call +her mine as soon as I would gladly do, and must even request you to +keep our engagement a secret for the present. My position at the court +is just now in a very important crisis. This must first be decided +before I can establish a home here. There are a thousand things to be +considered, a thousand little difficulties to remove, and six months +may elapse before my affairs are settled. So you will have Cornelia +longer than I like, for if it depended only upon myself I would take +her in my arms to-morrow, and show her to the envious world as my +dearest possession." + +"I understand, dear Ottmar," said Veronica; "but I only wonder that +you, who have stood so firmly in your office, should suddenly find +yourself in a crisis." + +"Unfortunately it is so. The ministry is now engaged upon new laws, +which, if unapproved, will lead to a change of ministers, and perhaps I +may also fall a victim. This is an important time in my life, which +claims all my activity and attention." + +"Thank God that I am permitted to keep my angel so long! You are very +sensible, my son, to wish to wait until after this epoch. Besides, a +marriage made outside the limits of the most aristocratic circles will +not be very favorably received at court, and it is, therefore, best to +keep the matter secret until your position has been confirmed anew." + +The conversation was beginning to be painful to _Heinrich_, and the +striking of the great clock afforded him a welcome pretext for rising +and pleading the necessity of attending a court soirée. He bade +Veronica farewell, and begged Cornelia to accompany him to the door. +The young girl was grave and quiet. + +"Do not grieve about Veronica, my child," he said, in the antechamber; +"it is the way of all old people, to talk continually about dying,--she +may live a long time still." + +"I think so too," replied Cornelia; "but I feel oppressed. It is like +the plants whose leaves droop after being exposed to too much sunlight. +I was too happy just now,--there must be a reaction." + +"But what troubles you, my angel?" + +"Oh, it is nothing that can be changed. The thought of being so much +your inferior that such strict secrecy is needful grieves me. To +conceal from the world the beautiful emotion that fills my breast, +perhaps even often be compelled to profane it by a falsehood, is +painful; but do not let it grieve you,--I shall soon conquer this +mood." + +_Heinrich_ drew her to his breast, and stroked her luxuriant hair. "My +own sweet love, I understand you. But consider that this burdensome +constraint is only imposed upon us for a _short_ time, and that it also +has its good side. I can say no more than I wrote in my letter. As +regards making the affair public, you see, by what Veronica says, the +necessity of the precautions I am compelled to take. Come, love, smile +upon me again; do not let me go with the knowledge that you are +sorrowful." He took her hand and placed it on his heart. "Do you feel +that its every throb is yours?" + +Cornelia threw her arm around his neck, and gazed intently into his +face; but he closed her eyes with kisses, and left the house. She went +to the window and watched her lover's tall figure as he strode away. No +one could bear himself more proudly, no one could hold his head more +haughtily erect. Now he met an acquaintance, removed his hat slowly and +condescendingly, and continued his way without glancing up, for he +seemed to have noticed that the gentleman was looking after him. It +wounded Cornelia, and when the latter raised his eyes to the window she +blushed with a strange feeling of shame and retreated. She would not go +to Veronica; something in her mood demanded solitude, so she leaned +back on one of the ancient carved chairs and gazed thoughtfully at the +dark oak wainscoting on the walls. Twilight spread its shadows over +her,--twilight also brooded over her soul, and she knew not whether it +would change into night or day. Why should she feel ashamed because +that stranger looked after Ottmar and then glanced at her? why should +it cause her pain because Ottmar passed on without looking? Secrecy +made this caution necessary. It required that he should deny her in the +presence of the first chance-comer, that she should steal a glance at +her lover like a thief in the night, and blush if surprised in the act, +as if she were doing wrong. How painful! how humiliating! But was this +secrecy really needful? Were the reasons he alleged sufficient and +strong enough not to be vanquished by the strength of a genuine, manly +love? Ought he not to sacrifice everything to spare her such a +humiliation? How far would his marriage with her, with their mutual +fortunes, be dependent upon a crisis in office? What induced the ardent +lover to consent to this patient waiting? Could his private relations +exert a disturbing influence upon his position as a servant of the +government? What made him so timid, if it was not the fear of +forfeiting his place at court by a mesalliance with a plebeian, the +daughter of a republican? But what would the delay of a few months +avail?--would not the marriage be precisely the same at whatever time +it occurred? If he feared that, he would _never_ dare to wed her. She +fell into a deep reverie. Suddenly her eyes flashed, and she held +her breath as if the very air was poisoned. Suppose he should be +false?--suppose the dread of prejudicing himself should be stronger +than his integrity? She could not doubt his love, for his ardor had +already made her tremble. Suppose he wished to plunge her into the same +abyss that had engulfed so many others? suppose the reports concerning +him were true, and he should prove false, terribly, fiendishly false? +Yet scarcely was the suspicion born ere her whole nature rose against +it in all its strength. What a monster you are to have the thought of +such baseness arise in your young brain! Is your imagination so corrupt +that the most sacred thing is not too holy to be thus sullied? Her +horror was now not of him, but of herself. He was not the traitor, but +she,--she who could cherish so disgraceful a doubt, whose love was not +strong enough to crush it in the bud; she had betrayed him in her own +heart. + +She started up, rushed into her room, and lighted a lamp; then in the +anguish of her soul threw herself on the floor before his picture,--the +same one she had received from Fräulein Hedwig. Her eyes wandered over +the sketch and strove to animate the mute features and unravel their +mystery; in vain, the solution was concealed in her own breast, and +everything there was confused and gloomy. Thus, tortured by doubts of +him and of herself, she was at last attracted towards the pure, +faithful heart of her foster-mother. She entered the tea-room and found +Veronica sitting with her clasped hands resting in her lap, absorbed in +sorrowful thought. + +"Are you come at last, my darling? You have left your old Veronica +alone a long time. But I understand it. In this solemn hour you must +first be at peace with yourself. You happy, fortunate child!" + +Cornelia threw herself upon a stool at Veronica's feet, and asked, +cautiously, for she did not wish this unprejudiced mind to catch a +glimpse of her troubled soul, "Do you believe in _Heinrich_ as firmly +as I do?" + +"Certainly," replied Veronica. "I think he has given us sufficient +proof that he is a man of honor." + +The old servant brought a lamp and the musical urn into the room; +Veronica took out her knitting-work, and as they sat so quietly +together with the sweet melodies circling round them with the rising +steam, the memory of the evening of their first unseen meeting rose +gently before Cornelia's mind with all its magic and blessedness. Her +excited nerves grew calm, her mood dissolved in tears. She remembered +so many lofty words, so many glances full of true nobility of feeling. +All those fair moments passed before her. With what joyful affection he +had met her that day! Can one who has any evil design be so frank, so +confident? Oh, if he should suspect how she had doubted him! + +"Do you think it necessary to keep our love a secret?" she asked, at +last. + +"Oh, yes, my child," said Veronica, calmly. + +"To me it is only very painful," murmured Cornelia. + +"That may be; but it is something that happens a thousand times. You +must be reasonable. We cannot know that he is not in the act of +obtaining a higher position, and in that case his engagement with you +would be an obstacle in his way. Therefore he must deny it until the +expected promotion is secured; then only he can venture to defy all the +prejudices of his circle and take you for his wife." + +"I do not see what his private relations should have to do with it." + +"Why, Cornelia, you speak as if you knew nothing of the world! Are you +not yet aware how much personal matters are taken into consideration in +these circles? Besides, we cannot conceal from ourselves that you bear +a name with which the most unfortunate political associations are +connected. Perhaps he also hopes that in the course of time our noble +princess may exert a softening influence upon our strict aristocracy, +and wishes to await this favorable opportunity. There are a thousand +things to be considered, and it is very delicate in him to conceal them +from us. You are a young, enthusiastic hot-head, and always want to +fight your way through to your ideal; he a steady, experienced man who +takes things as they are, and yields to them with prudent self-control. +I would far rather trust you to such a character than a fanatical +reformer, like your unhappy father." + +Cornelia listened with delight to this argument in favor of what she +herself most ardently desired. Veronica was so calm, so confident, and +she was not blinded by love; should not this restore all the peace of +confidence? Oh, if her deeply injured lover were only here, that she +might implore his pardon for the wrong she had done him! How she would +embrace him if he came to-morrow! how happy she would be with him! + +Veronica's voice roused her from these thoughts and dreams. "Let us +take tea, Cornelia; I am very tired and would like to get up early +to-morrow morning to go to church. I long to raise my heart to God." + +Cornelia silently obeyed. When tea was over Veronica went to bed, and +Cornelia, who had helped her undress, knelt before her. "I thank you, +dear Veronica, for having been so kind to me and _Heinrich_; I thank +you also, at this turning-point of my life, for all the love with which +you have treated me as a daughter, and made me a good and happy +creature. I can never repay you for it, but your clear eyes look into +my heart and see what no words can express." Overpowered by her +emotion, she pressed Veronica's hand to her lips. + +"Oh, my child! my dear, dear child! God knows how fully, how richly, +this hour repays me for all I have done! What better things can one +purchase than a hand to close one's eyes, and a warm tear to fall upon +one's grave? This is a happiness which comprehends the joys of a whole +life,--and for this I thank you. Good-night, my child." + +Cornelia embraced her and went to her own room with tearful eyes. As +she reached it she heard Veronica call, and went back. The latter held +out her arms. "Let me press you to my heart once more. God bless you, +joy of my old age! Good-night. Wake me to-morrow." + +Cornelia remained awake for a long time. Veronica's manner had roused a +feeling of subdued melancholy. Besides, the wonderful day must be lived +over anew, its discords harmonized, its joys and sorrows interwoven +with her inner nature, ere dreams could be permitted to lead her into +another kingdom. + +It was broad daylight when, after a short slumber, she rose and went to +wake Veronica. + +The little dusky sleeping-room was cosy and silent. Single shafts of +sunlight stole through the closely-drawn green curtains and flickered +over the hangings of Veronica's bed. No sound of breathing, no motion, +disturbed the stillness of this sanctuary of slumber. Cornelia softly +entered and stood for a long time before the bed; she was loth to +disturb the peaceful silence in which Veronica reposed. But she had +requested it, and it must be done. She drew the curtains slowly aside. +There she lay, apparently lost in pleasant dreams, but--was it the +green light?--pallid as a corpse! Cornelia took her hand. Oh, God, how +chill! "Veronica, dear Veronica, wake!" In vain; in her slumber she had +passed into another life. The pale face seemed in death to wear a +smile, to greet the loved one for whom she had always lived and so +confidently expected to meet again. Her death was as peaceful as her +life. + +"Wake me to-morrow," were her last words. "Oh, if I could only do so!" +sobbed Cornelia, sinking upon her knees as if utterly crushed. + + + + + XVII. + + INSNARED. + + +Anton was fastening a new order upon Ottmar's court dress, when the +latter violently pulled his bell. + +"It's unbearable!" grumbled the old servant as he took the last stitch +and hurried in with the uniform. + +_Heinrich_ was striding impatiently up and down the room. "Are you +ready at last? Give it to me; make haste, and let me get off. I have no +time to lose." + +The dressing was quickly finished. "The new star is magnificent," said +Anton. + +_Heinrich_ looked at his image in the mirror with the satisfaction of a +man who knows he is handsome, and reckons his beauty among his own +merits, as if he had compelled nature to give him the form he desired. + +"I must go to Cornelia after dinner and show myself to her. She +understands and values my beauty better than any one else," he thought, +pushing the order straight. "Besides, it will do no harm to let her see +some of my importance as a courtier; old Veronica takes the matter too +easily. It is not I, but she, who lulls the dear creature into dreams +for which I am not responsible. It is not I who deceive her, but +Veronica, when she assumes as a matter of course assurances I never +gave; and yet I cannot, by a premature contradiction, destroy my whole +happiness. I would far rather resolve to verify them, if there could be +no other arrangement." A ray of sunlight fell upon the diamonds in his +order and made them glitter. "Do you wish to warn me, you star of +honor, that you sparkle so? No, I will not forget you. Let others yearn +for the stars of you unattainable distance; my earthly wishes depend +upon you, that you may not pale before the sun, but with your rays make +your chosen one shine forth from the darkness of obscurity, and +distinguish him from the masses. With you on my heart, and Cornelia's +love within it, what do I need more?" + +A servant announced that the carriage was waiting. + +_Heinrich_ took his gold-embroidered hat, and smiling, threw himself +upon the soft cushions. The beautiful white horses tossed their heads, +and dashed away through sunlit avenues and crowds of gayly-dressed +foot-passengers. + +The dinner, the first which had been given since the marriage, was +magnificent. The court displayed its greatest splendor. Ottilie herself +was one of the most stately personages who ever graced a throne. +Although no smile rested upon her lips, she did the honors in a most +winning manner, and was gracious even to _Heinrich_, although no more +so than to all others. The prince, however, treated him with marked +distinction, and once whispered, casting a well-pleased glance at +Ottilie, "You were right; she is a real princess." The princes, +princesses, and courtiers who were present followed their master's +example and loaded Ottmar with civilities; had never been so attractive +or so much admired. He stood at the zenith of his favor at court; and +when, after the dinner was over, he drove to Cornelia, he scarcely saw +that it was already dusk, so brightly did the lights, the white necks, +the sparkling glances, the diamonds, and the gold-embroidered uniforms +still gleam before his eyes; glittering silken robes rustled around +him; smiling faces looked forth longingly from behind costly bouquets. +The material comfort of the moment was too great not to rouse the other +half of his nature. _Henri_ alighted when the carriage stopped. He +pulled the bell, and the door of the silent house slowly opened. The +staircase was dark. The black form of a servant glided by and ushered +him into the anteroom. The salon stood open; he entered. It, too, was +dark and empty; everything was in disorder: the furniture was pushed +back, and there were no roses blooming on the flower-stand. _Henri_ +felt strangely oppressed. The gloomy silence ill suited his mood. A +glimmer of light and a dull murmur of voices penetrated through a door +which was partly ajar. He opened it, and stood as if rooted to the +spot. Several women were engaged in dressing a corpse. _Henri_ pressed +his hand to his brow; was he awake, or did some dream torture him with +its sudden changes, in order to show him in a single hour the splendor +of the world and the end of all lives? Just at that moment Cornelia, +who had been completely absorbed in her mournful occupation, suddenly +perceived him, came forward in her mourning robes, looking very pale +and languid, and drew him aside. + +"My dear Cornelia," said _Henri_, kissing her tearful eyes, "what has +happened since yesterday? I can scarcely trust my senses. What a +contrast!" + +"Ah, _Heinrich_ thank God, you have come at last! Ever since early this +morning I have borne this terrible sorrow alone, longing in vain for +your warm heart. Alas, how heavily such an unexpected blow falls!" + +"My poor, sweet love, you are trembling as if in an ague-fit! Who would +have thought of this? Kind Veronica dead!" + +She nestled timidly in his arms. "_Heinrich_, my heart aches terribly, +and besides I feel this horror of death. You do not know what it is to +dress a cold body which is no longer the dear one it personates." + +"Then leave the others to finish the task, and stay with me, my angel." + +"We have finished it, and they want to bring her in here. You must go +into the tea-room, or they will see you." + +"Willingly. But now leave everything to these women and come with me. +You are completely worn out." + +"Yes, I will stay with you. I can no longer be a witness," said +Cornelia; then gave the necessary orders to the servants, and went into +the tea-room with _Henri_. They had scarcely entered it when they heard +pieces of furniture pushed aside, and the creaking of the coffin, +which, when once heard, is never forgotten. Cornelia trembled +violently, sank down beside _Henri_, and bursting into tears, hid her +face upon his breast until the noise was over. Then she looked up. "You +think me very weak, do you not? I have kept up all day, but now my +strength is exhausted; terror has overpowered me." + +_Henri_ gently raised her and drew her on his knee. She made no +resistance, but threw her arms around his neck; her head sank wearily +upon his shoulder, and joy and sorrow, deadly horror and sweet content, +began to mingle strangely. + +"Oh, do not give way!" said _Henri_ to himself, while his throbbing +heart seemed ready to burst. He cradled her in his arms as if she had +been a child, and breathed upon her cold hands. + +Gradually her tears ceased, and warmth returned to her cheeks and +hands. Never is a woman more grateful or more susceptible to love than +when a great sorrow has broken her strength, and she gropes helplessly +for some support. At this moment Cornelia could have worshiped her +lover as some superior being; all suspicion was forgotten, she clung to +him as if he were some consoling angel. + +"Cornelia, are you happy now that you are clasped to my heart?" +whispered _Henri_. + +"Oh, infinitely happy!" she murmured. "What should I be without you, my +life? Now I am cast wholly upon you, you will never forsake your +orphaned love?" + +_Henri_ strained her to his breast with almost suffocating violence, +and exclaimed from his inmost heart, with the utmost sincerity, "If I +ever forsake you, accursed be the hour when I was born, the couch on +which I rest, the air I breathe, the lips with which I kiss! I raise my +hand and call upon all the powers of evil to witness against me if I +break my oath." + +Cornelia laid her finger on his lips. "Do not be so violent; that is no +oath, but a curse." + +"Is it not equally binding?" + +"Certainly; but it makes me anxious: as if there would be no blessing +upon it; as if you felt the possibility of becoming faithless, and your +better self was threatening you with punishment." + +"You angel! Look me in the eyes; do you no longer believe in your +_Heinrich_, and yet love him still?" + +"Ah, _Heinrich_, forgive my distrust! I feared to lose you, because +you are the dearest thing in the would to me. I cannot think clearly +to-day, I am so bewildered and worn out by grief. How contemptible I +must seem to you!" + +"If you knew how lovely you are in your weakness! You are not +contemptible, you are only a true, tender woman, and therein lies your +charm. Do you suppose firm muscles, large bones, and nerves of steel +are attractive to men? It is your very helplessness that rouses our +magnanimity; your delicacy demands our indulgence. To support a +beautiful, trembling woman on his strong arm, and defend her from real +or fancied terrors, is a sweet joy to a man,--sweeter than admiration +of an abnormal strength, which woman attains only at the cost of her +charms." + +Cornelia listened to his words with increasing delight. + +"Do you suppose," he continued, "that you were ever dearer to me than +at this hour, when I am permitted to cradle your weary form upon my +knees and fondly caress you? when your strong mind succumbs to the laws +of womanly nature and you fly to me in your horror of death? You have +trusted yourself to me more than ever before, and in your sorrow are +sacred. You have nestled confidingly to this heart, and it shall never +deceive you." + +"_Heinrich_! _Heinrich_ What a magic you exert! You banish all griefs +with a single glance of love, and your words fill my soul with peace. +Ah, it is beautiful to love in happiness! But we only know what we +are to each other when we need each other. No language can express what +you have been to me in this hour. A dark, starry sky arches over me in +your eyes and invites me to repose; it extends over my whole soul and +seems as if it enthroned the God to whom I bewail my sorrows, in +whom I trust, to whom I shall send up my nightly prayer, and then +rest--sleep!" She closed her eyes as if exhausted, and laid her head +upon his breast. + +_Henri_ clasped her closely in his arms. "Oh, bear this happiness! bear +it firmly!" he murmured to himself. + +She sat upright again. "I cannot lean upon you; your hard orders hurt +me." + +"Then rest on the other side," he pleaded. + +She pushed her hair back from her brow, looked sadly at the flashing +decorations, and rose. "It is late, Heinrich; you must leave me now." + +_Henri_ cursed the diamond stars with sincere vexation. What had they +availed him? They had destroyed the happiest moment of his life; and +the magic night of love, with all its sweet dreams and illusions, which +Cornelia's weary soul had spread around herself and him, had melted in +their rays. + +He rose and extended his hands imploringly to Cornelia. "My darling, +you shall never again be parted from the place where you belong. I +promise you. I shall never wear them in your presence." + +"Ah, yes, put them away; they have hurt my cheek, but wounded my heart +still more." + +"Cornelia, are you angry with me?" + +"I angry with you? Ah, Heinrich, I love you only too well! Tell me, +where is this to end? If I am away from your side a moment, I feel as +if the cold breath of the grave floated over me, and a throb of pain +thrills my frame as if I had torn away a part of my own nature. +Heinrich,--beloved, terrible Heinrich,--where is this to end?" + +"In a happy, ardent love," cried _Henri_, radiant with joy. "You shall +not miss me often. I will spend every leisure hour with you. But say, +my angel, shall you still be accessible to me? Does Veronica's death +make no change in your situation?" + +"Oh, I had entirely forgotten that. Old Herr Linderer is my guardian, +and the executor of Veronica's will. He proposed that I should reside +in his family for the future." + +"What! would you do that?" cried _Henri_. + +"It would be very painful to me, and I might remain, for through +Veronica's generosity the house and everything she possessed is mine; +but a young girl ought not to live so entirely alone, without +protection." + +"And have you not a moral protection in yourself, and a personal one in +your servants?" + +"Certainly." + +"That I cannot visit you when you are living with Herr Linderer is a +matter of course. Our intercourse must be broken off, for it cannot +exist under the watchful eyes of that family; so you have but one +choice, my darling,--either to remain here and be the happiest of +betrothed brides, or dispense with my society for the sake of a world +that will not thank you for the sacrifice." + +Cornelia clung closely to him. "Do without you? Oh, _Heinrich_, how +could I?" + +"Well, promise me you will take courage and refuse Linderer's proposal; +then, Cornelia, I shall first believe in the strength of your love." + +"But the world,--how would it judge of such a plan?" + +"Cornelia, I should have thought you philosopher enough to despise the +world and its judgments." + +"Perhaps,--but custom--" + +"You may offend against custom, but not morality. Our love bears the +highest consecration in itself. If you are thoroughly pervaded with its +influence, you may trust yourself to it without fear. But what am I +talking about? Ask your own heart whether you will make me of less +importance than consideration for the opinion of the world,--whether +you can inflict this sorrow upon yourself and your _Heinrich_." + +"And do you not take the same precautions, _Heinrich_? Do you not deny +me before society for the sake of 'its despicable prejudices'?" + +_Henri_ was embarrassed for a moment; then he said, calmly, "If I now +make confessions to the influential circles which have the decision of +my fate, it will be done while I am not compelled to be deprived of +you. If I had only the choice of leaving you or giving up my plans, I +should not hesitate a moment to do the latter. If you go to Herr +Linderer's, you will place me in this alternative. I must either give +you up for a long time, or prematurely acknowledge our relations and +destroy my hopes for the future. Speak, my angel! If you demand the +latter, be proud to prove that I love you better than you do me, and +can make greater sacrifices." + +"No, no, my dearest! You shall not think me so selfish; I should be +ashamed to accept such an one from you. I will stay in this house and +refuse Herr Linderer's offer. People may say what they please; better +they should suspect me than that you should doubt my love." + +"Those words were worthy of you, Cornelia!" cried _Henri_. "What +gratitude can reward you as you deserve?" + +Cornelia gazed into his eyes long and earnestly. "Justify my +confidence, _Heinrich_, and you will give me the highest, the only +reward I ask. And now farewell for to-day." + +"Must I leave you? Ah, one moment more!" + +Cornelia shook her head sadly. "No, it cannot be; it is late, and I +must rest; but you can go through the room with me,--will you?" + +"Yes, my angel, I will go with you to the threshold of your room; and +then turn away from the door of heaven like a condemned spirit." + +"Come," said Cornelia; and slowly entered the room leaning on his arm. + +There lay the corpse in the coffin, a wreath of blossoming myrtle on +the head, and Cornelia's red roses on the heart. Her tears flowed +again, her grief burst forth anew, as she looked down on the silent, +pale, old bride. + +"Oh, faithful guardian of my childhood!" she sobbed, "will you leave +your Cornelia alone? Open your lips once more and tell me, oh! tell +whether I am doing right in what I have just promised my beloved one! +Ah, speak to me once, only once more, true, pure heart, which has been +my refuge in joy and sorrow!" + +"Have you forgotten that I am by your side, Cornelia?" said _Henri_, +reproachfully. + +She turned from the body, pressed a fervent kiss upon his lips, and +allowed him to lead her through the apartment to her own room. Here she +paused. "Thanks, dearest Heinrich! farewell!" + +"Must I leave you alone with your tears?" + +"Oh, the would gush forth again whenever you went, no matter how long +you might remain!" + +"Do you not fear your own thoughts while you are in this excited mood?" + +"Not in this cheerful chamber. It is protected by all the thousand +dreams of love I have had here. There is your picture; where that is +the icy breath of death cannot enter. Farewell!" + +"Ah, if I might only sleep on the threshold before your door, I would +never seek soft pillows!" Again he clasped her in his arms; then, with +an effort, tore himself away. "Good-night!" + +"Good-night, Heinrich!" she cried in a tone which revealed all the +wealth of ardent feeling she had repressed with so much difficulty; +then disappeared in her own room and locked the door. + +_Henri_ averted his face as he passed the corpse. He had once more +received a solemn lesson, and it was only when his agitated feelings +began to grow calm that he was able to justly comprehend the importance +of the last hour. + +He returned home absorbed in thought, and the first thing he did was to +cast aside the star-bedecked uniform. Then he paced up and down his +room, while the most conflicting thoughts whirled through his brain. +Cornelia's sacrifice had shamed him deeply. Was he to misuse it, and +abuse her confidence? Must he not reward her better? + +Again he paced up and down the room. + +But he would requite her with a thousand joys. Free love was spared the +heavy cares of the married state. He could easily teach her to despise +the social "prejudices of morality," and as soon as she disregarded +them, of what would she be deprived if their relations lacked the legal +stamp? He would never desert her,--he had sworn it; so their union +would contain the fundamental principle of marriage. He would never wed +another. What did she want more? He believed her unconventional enough +to regard the claims of custom lightly. She had already done so to a +certain extent by the promise she had given that day. The first--most +difficult--step was taken. But if he misjudged her, if his plan failed, +and she could not endure the disgrace. If he should lose her! He was +obliged to confess that he could no longer live without her. Did she +not outweigh his triumphs and his prospects at the court? But suppose +the new law did not pass? could not fall a victim to it, as he had made +Veronica suppose, for he was one of its opponents. To whom could the +prince turn, in forming a new ministry, except himself? Suppose, by his +marriage with Cornelia, he should lose the prince's favor, and with it +the portfolio? This turned the scale. This period must be awaited. + +The magnanimity of love! How many an innocent, womanly heart has +already been led astray by this will-o'-the-wisp of tender sophistry! +Deeds like Cornelia's sacrifice of a public betrothal, and her promise +to live alone, veil themselves beneath a semblance of such nobility +that an unsuspecting nature does not hesitate to perform them, +believing itself to be yielding to an impulse of generosity, and not +suspecting that it is merely following the guidance of its own passion. +Cornelia was too innocent and inexperienced to penetrate _Henri's_ +unprincipled tactics. If doubts again arose they could not give +sufficient proofs of their justice, and were always crushed as "idle +fancies" by the power of her love. + +Veronica's funeral took place, and it touched Cornelia deeply that +Heinrich was present; she considered it a fresh proof of his +uprightness. + +Old Archivrath Linderer heard with actual tears her refusal to become +one of his family. He ventured a few timid remonstrances, but was far +too courteous to use his right as guardian and compel her to yield to +his views. He could not force himself to be uncivil to any one, and +according to his ideas he would have been so had he attempted to impose +any restraint upon Cornelia. Therefore, when he saw that his timidly +uttered, kindly meant representations were wholly disregarded, he could +only wipe the sweat of anxiety from his brow and take leave of her with +a deeply saddened heart. Even the sulky servant took his leave, to live +upon the legacy Veronica had left him, as soon as he learned that +Cornelia intended to keep up an independent establishment. + +Several weeks now quietly elapsed in a gentle alternation of joy and +sorrow, until the image of the beloved dead receded into the background +more and more, and love took exclusive possession of Cornelia's whole +existence. At first she did not notice that the number of her +acquaintances lessened; and when she at last became aware of it, +_Henri's_ influence had already taught her to disregard it. She +despised the pitiful souls which only judged from appearances, and +clung to the few faithful friends that remained to her. But it was +unavoidable that one or another of them should meet Ottmar during his +frequent visits. It would not do,--people must not always find him with +her; so, if he was present, other visitors were refused. When this +happened too frequently, and Cornelia perceived that it must lead to +misunderstandings with her best friends, she at last consented that +Ottmar should spend the evening hours with her. Thus the meetings with +others were prevented; but as his presence had been noticed, his +absence was now the cause of comment. Had their interviews ceased, or +been deferred until another hour? This must be ascertained. A few +zealous friends watched her, and saw him come and go. They sorrowfully +confided this incredible thing to each other under the seal of silence, +warned her, half openly and half by hints, that her fair fame was +endangered, and mourned for her as one dead. Yet she still stood erect +and stainless, her girlish brow loftily upraised against the +humiliations she endured, and pitied the world for being too corrupt to +believe in the purity of anything; her last consolation was her good +conscience. She trusted to herself and to her lover, and awaited the +day which would solve the mystery before the eyes of men and restore +her their lost esteem. This gave her strength to endure the "trial." + +Ottmar did everything in his power to employ her time and occupy her +thoughts. He was well aware that he could only win this noble woman +gradually, and by noble means. He read with her, gave her the most +beautiful classical works, explained the thoughts of the ancient and +modern philosophers, and perused with her the best of modern +literature. Thus she learned to associate with him the impressions made +by the noblest productions of the intellect, from which he obtained a +certain halo that made him worthy of worship in her eyes. He understood +all these grand works, and made them comprehensible to her,--it seemed +as great a deed as if he had created them himself. She looked up to him +as a superior being, and at last could really neither think, feel, nor +live without him. He, in his turn, was delighted with her +susceptibility and active mind, and became accustomed to impart +everything good and beautiful which came in his way to Cornelia, and +enjoy it doubly with her. Thus he unconsciously entangled himself in +the net he was weaving for the young girl; she became as great a +necessity to him as he to her, and he had never been so happy before. +Yet this life was not wholly without discord. His twofold nature often +wounded Cornelia; he was either passionately excited, or brilliant and +cold. She could not be at ease; one she was forced to repel, the other +repelled her. Both prevented the calm happiness of loving intercourse +which woman's platonic nature so fully understands and needs. She often +took for want of love what was merely lack of sensuous feeling, and the +glowing ardor which alternated with the coldness could not supply the +place of the uniform warmth of deep affection. Ottmar at last +understood what she lacked. He perceived that there was a middle path, +that he must be at once less cold and less warm, to obtain entire +control over her. During the time that his intellect was in the +ascendant, he endeavored to assume a more affectionate tone, and the +oftener this happened the better it pleased _Heinrich_ to press his +lips to the brow which contained the thoughts that delighted him, and +stroke the hair that veiled it, while it afforded him still higher +enjoyment to study in her classic form and features the idea of the +beautiful. She became a living work of art to him, and as art is the +first mediator between mind and matter, he began to rejoice in her +physical charms from an artistic stand-point. _Henri_, on the contrary, +ennobled the expression of his love and appropriated more and more of +the impulses of Cornelia's soul. Thus intellect began to grow warmer, +sensuality to be spiritualized. The separation between them had been +lessened by struggling for a common object; if his moral consciousness +had ripened in the same proportion as the two extremes approached a +normal union, he would have adopted a different course of action. But +the individual conflict was not yet entirely settled, and the moral one +could not be decided. His mistakes and transgressions had proceeded +solely from the gulf in his nature; only when the parts were united in +one harmonious whole could they be expelled, for right and truth can +only thrive in a soul at peace with itself. + +Months elapsed, and the political event which was to decide his own +fate and Cornelia's drew near. Ottmar awaited it with eager suspense. +He longed to have this uncertain condition of affairs ended. He +perceived more and more clearly that to possess Cornelia would outweigh +his present position, and made himself familiar with the thought of +sacrificing it, if driven to extremities. But the appointment of +minister cast a weight into the scale of his ambition which outbalanced +the feeble efforts of his conscience; as minister he could not inflict +upon himself and the court the disgrace of a politically suspicious +mesalliance,--then he would induce Cornelia to make the sacrifice, and +he did not doubt that she would do so. + + + + + XVIII. + + CORNELIA AND OTTILIE. + + +Cornelia did not suspect what a sword was hanging over her head, did +not question the near or distant future, but lived wholly in the +present moment. One thing alone she did not forget,--her visits to the +prisoners. She devoted the usual time to them; the place where she +first saw Ottmar had become sacred to her, and by her mournful labors +for the unfortunate men, her patience with their sufferings and +obstinacy, she believed that she was paying fate a tribute for the +happiness enjoyed in her love. She rarely appeared in public, for she +could not bear the glances that accused her of guilt of which she knew +herself to be innocent. She therefore no longer entered a church or +theatre; her church was her love, her God in Heinrich's breast, and her +studies with him conjured up a world of beauty. She wanted nothing, +needed nothing, but him. She made no subtle inquiries and no longer +doubted him; he was everything to her, and she knew that with him she +should lose all. + +Thus it sounded like a voice from another world when one day a +"stranger lady" was announced. Who could visit her still? The lady +entered, and fixed a half-timid, half-questioning, glance upon +Cornelia. + +"You are Fräulein Erwing?" + +"That is my name. With whom have I the honor of speaking?" + +"I have come on an errand from her Highness the princess." + +Cornelia gazed dreamily into eyes whose blue vied with the ribbons on +the stranger's hat. + +"Her Highness wishes to make your acquaintance, and begs you to pay her +a visit to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock." + +The young girl's voice trembled slightly, and she looked expectantly at +Cornelia. The latter stood motionless with amazement, almost terror. +What did Ottilie want of her? Röschen--for she alone could execute this +confidential commission--was unable to turn her eyes from the noble +figure its sweeping black robes. + +"Can you not at least tell what has procured me the great happiness of +being permitted to wait upon the princess?" asked Cornelia. + +"No, Fräulein; I only know you will be received with the greatest +kindness, and that only sincere interest induced the princess to see +you." + +"Say to her Highness that I am truly grateful to her, and that I will +wait upon her to-morrow at the time appointed." + +"Her Highness will be very glad. Farewell." + +"Excuse me, Fräulein; one question more: is your name Röschen?" + +A deep blush suffused the lovely face. "Yes." + +Cornelia, deeply moved, went up to her, took her hands, and pressed a +kiss upon her fresh lips. "We have known each other a long time, have +we not?" + +Röschen was surprised and greatly agitated. "Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, +pressing Cornelia's hand to her lips. "Let me thank you for all you +have done for Albert. We can never repay you for it; but the dear God +will know how to reward you." + +Cornelia gazed into her eyes for a long time with ever-increasing +interest. "You ought to have become Albert's wife: the poor fellow has +suffered so much for your sake." + +"I cannot leave the princess, and besides,"--Röschen hesitated a +little,--"besides, he did not wish it so very much. Ah, I understand it +now: he who has once seen you can never love another." + +"Oh, my dear girl, what are you saying? You will be reconciled to each +other again, or I shall regret what I did for Albert." She glanced +anxiously at the clock; for it was almost the hour when Ottmar might be +expected. + +This did not escape Röschen's natural delicacy of feeling. "I am +detaining you, dear Fräulein, and the princess is waiting. Farewell! +your kindness has made me very happy." + +"Will you not come again, that we may continue our talk?" + +"With the greatest pleasure. But there is one thing more I had almost +forgotten: the princess begs you to tell no one that you have been +requested to come to her. She will refuse all visitors to-morrow on the +plea of indisposition, and fears people might take it amiss if she----" + +"I understand," interrupted Cornelia, "and will say nothing." + +After Röschen had gone she stood for a long time absorbed in thought. +The solution of this enigma could not be guessed. She rejoiced over the +strange event, for she had loved Ottilie ever since she knew her +relations with Ottmar; yet it grieved her to think that she would +perceive at every breath a happiness denied the princess. Suppose her +eyes should rest upon Cornelia with sorrowful jealousy as her fortunate +rival. + +The following day and the appointed hour came. In great agitation, and +not without a little timidity at the idea of the grandeur that +surrounded Ottilie, Cornelia entered the magnificent apartments of the +princess. The groom of the chambers conducted her through a long +succession of rooms. At last he paused, pointed to a half-open glass +door, and disappeared. The silken portières were drawn aside, and +Ottilie stood before Cornelia! + +A long pause followed. Both looked at each other in breathless +suspense. Ottilie was paler than ever; Cornelia deeply flushed. At last +Ottilie gently took her hand and murmured almost inaudibly, with a sort +of sorrowful satisfaction, "Yes; so my fancy pictured you! So you must +be." + +"Your Highness bestows upon me so great a favor that I seek in vain for +words to express my joyful surprise and gratitude." + +"There can be no question of gratitude here; but no doubt you were +surprised that I should request you to visit me." Ottilie seated +herself, and drew Cornelia down upon the sofa beside her. "I have a +great and important matter to intrust to you, Fräulein, and believe I +can read in your eyes, an your lofty brow, the certainty that I have +applied to the right person." Cornelia looked at Ottilie in eager +expectation. After a short pause, the latter continued: "Accident, +Fräulein, or rather destiny, made me acquainted with your labors among +the prisoners. I perceived with admiration how you had aimed at results +which the wisest provisions of the law could not attain; how you were +the first to strew over the lifeless forms of punishment the living +germs from which sprang new life, remorse, and amendment. You will +believe me when I say that no mere idle curiosity, but heartfelt +sympathy, impelled me to make the acquaintance of so remarkable a +character. I will even confess that I trembled lest I should find your +person did not harmonize with the ideal I had formed." She paused, and +once more gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's eyes; then bent +towards her and pressed a kiss upon her brow. "Thank God that I now +dare love you in reality, as I have already done in fancy!" + +"Your Highness," began Cornelia, deeply moved as she sought for words, +while her bosom rose and fell more rapidly, "I know I do not deserve +what you say; and yet a blissful content, for which I can find no +expression, overflows my whole nature. You see me in the light that +streams from yourself; but its rays fall upon my soul also, and wake +their concealed powers of good, which fill me with pride,--not for what +I have done, but for what I shall accomplish. God knows I performed +these works of mercy without any desire or hope of recognition. I have +long supposed I labored wholly unobserved; but there is so great a +recompense in this moment that it would crown the toil of a whole life; +and I will struggle all my life to deserve it." + +"You are enthusiastic, my child; but this very enthusiasm makes you +what you are; so I will accept the flattery contained in your words as +the tribute every noble soul offers to the ideal towards which we all +strive." + +"Oh, not as that alone, your Highness! Deign to accept the childlike, +humble reverence of a heart which has long looked up to you as the +noblest of women. I know not whether I ought to express in words what +has been hovering upon my lips ever since the first moment of our +meeting. It might, perhaps, be a great offense against etiquette, but I +hope your Highness will regard the essence rather than the form." + +"I hope you will do me the honor to be assured of it," interposed +Ottilie, with a smile. + +"Well, then, permit me to tell your Highness that I have long loved you +with my whole heart." + +"If that is true, my child, I rejoice to hear it. Love is a voluntary +gift, which, whether deserved or not, we are always permitted to +receive. I thank you for it; yes, I thank you from the inmost depths of +a lonely heart." + +"Ah, if you were not a princess!" murmured Cornelia, involuntarily. + +"My dear child, how often I have said that myself! God has placed me in +this position only to test my strength; for that which compensates +others in a similar station for their secret lack of happiness--delight +in splendor and grandeur, sovereignty and renown--is denied me. Nothing +has any charm for me; my joys are rooted solely in the heart; and even +these are sparingly meted out. The gulf which severs the princess from +her subjects does not exist in my soul, and cannot separate my +affection from them. I love men, respect their rights, admire their +works, and thus stand ever alone upon my lofty height, consumed with +vain longings, and stretching out my arms across the abyss which yawns +between me and the warm hearts of humanity." + +"Poor princess!" said Cornelia, earnestly. + +"Yes, poor princess," replied Ottilie, her eyes resting dreamily upon +Cornelia's beautiful features. + +"But your Highness can taste great joys, and satisfy your benevolence +by your power of benefiting so many thousands." + +"Do you think so, my dear child?" asked Ottilie, with a sorrowful +smile. + +"That was the one thing for which I always envied princes," continued +Cornelia, "which always made sovereignty appear so beautiful, so +alluring." + +"And the thought tempted me, too," said Ottilie, lowering her voice to +a scarcely audible whisper, "when I allowed myself to be wedded to the +prince; but I was disappointed, as I have been in so many other things. +Believe me, my child, it is sad to be compelled to look an helplessly, +while the right way of making a nation happy is earnestly sought, but +always missed. The prince's views are so immovable, and so entirely +opposed to my own, that I have given up the effort to exert any +influence whatever for the welfare of my country, although my heart +bleeds for it. I know that no good can come for either party; I see a +time approaching when the dissension will increase to such a degree +that one or the other must fall a victim. I shall not live to see it; +if I am anxious, it is only for my subjects, my husband, and--perhaps +my children," she paused. "God grant that I may not be denied the +opportunity of teaching them a better understanding of their times!" + +"But cannot the joyful blessings of the many to whom your Highness +gives special aid offer you some compensation?" + +"Even this is limited. Every one who makes his narrow circle happy in +his own way receives more pleasure from his efforts than I: the +princess lacks the power of immediate bestowal and reception; but this +directness is the source of all the joys of the soul. If you, my child, +do good according to your circumstances, you will be rewarded a +thousandfold more than I, though I should give a thousand times more. +The poor man, whose sufferings you instantly relieve, can show you his +joy; it is not only the alms, but your manner of bestowing them, that +console him, and the tears sparkling in his eyes certainly reward you +far more than I am recompensed by the official addresses of thanks and +humble bows of delegates from whole parishes I have saved from misery. +I am well aware that we should not perform charitable works for the +sake of gratitude, nor do I; but it is so natural to be cheered by the +success of a good deed, the same sympathy which induces us to alleviate +the sorrows of others makes us long to spare the joys we have prepared. +This is denied me; etiquette always stands between me and the hearts of +my subjects, and with its icy breath transforms every voluntary show of +feeling into the unvarying mien of reverence. You see, my child, the +halo your imagination spread around sovereignty is vanishing more and +more." She paused, and her large, tearful eyes gazed sorrowfully at +Cornelia. "I shall depend upon your well-known greatness of soul to +communicate the purport of this conversation to no one." + +"I thank you for your confidence, your Highness, and will justify it." + +"I believe you," said Ottilie. "And now let me proceed to the principal +matter. I do so with a heavy heart, for fondly as I have become +attached to you, I must now make a proposal whose acceptance will +deprive me of your society, because it depends upon your leaving the +city. But I have learned to sacrifice my own wishes for the welfare of +others, and will not be so selfish as to claim your presence here when +it may prove the salvation of so many unfortunates." + +Cornelia gazed at Ottilie in speechless expectation. She felt afraid, +for she had gathered nothing from the princess's words except an +intention to send her out of the city. + +Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand with evident emotion, and continued: "I +have founded in T----, whose lovely scenery seemed peculiarly adapted +for it, an institution for the reformation of female criminals, who, on +being discharged from the custody of the law, perhaps wholly destitute +of means, and alone in the world, would be led to enter the path of +wrong anew in order to escape hunger and despair. The idea is not new; +it has already been attempted in Germany many times, usually with very +indifferent success. All such undertakings require not only money, +skillful and conscientious management, and carefully watched exercises, +but a genial spirit and loving heart to breathe life into the empty +forms, and rouse in the penitents themselves an impulse of repentance, +for whose development the peace prevailing in the institution, the +pious exercises, and useful occupations will afford a suitable soil. +But how many women are there who unite to the highest qualities of the +heart a sound understanding, and are noble enough to devote them to +such a purpose? You, Cornelia, are such a being; you possess the +requisite grandeur of soul and self-denial, and your heart beats warmly +for the moral sufferings and infirmities of mankind: you have already +proved it. Do you now understand what I wish to ask of you? You shall +secure blessings and prosperity for my subjects, you shall receive the +position of directress of the institution at T----, and I am sure that +this sphere of influence among the poor wanderers of your own sex will +suit you far better than to associate with the rude, degraded men in +the prison." + +Cornelia looked down. "I see with painful confusion," she began, at +last, "how greatly your Highness has over-rated me, and how little I +deserve the favor you have permitted to fall to my lot in consequence +of these expectations. Will your Highness most graciously permit me to +correct the last opinion you expressed, that I must prefer to associate +with female criminals rather than with men. I feel far less sympathy +and interest for a guilty woman; for she has much less excuse than a +man. He is created stronger and more ungovernable by nature, therefore +his passions must be more violent, his desires fiercer, his acts and +thoughts ruder, more energetic, while the moral support given him is +not proportionally greater than that of the woman. On the contrary, the +moral instincts are more vivid in the latter, and her moral horizon +more contracted. How much worse, then, must she be, to sink into crimes +which often have no foundation in her nature! No doubt, woman is also +the cause of many crimes,--or rather womanly weaknesses; yet these are +as repulsive to me as the crimes committed at the expense of all +womanly feeling." + +"That is a very harsh judgment," Ottilie interposed. + +"I am not harsh, your Highness; I condemn such feeble creatures less, +but I have not sufficient sympathy, even for them, to be able to devote +myself to them with the necessary self-sacrifice. Besides, I should be +unable to believe that my efforts in their behalf would be attended +with sufficient success, for the same weakness that permitted them to +fall into sin would, it true, make them easily susceptible to +repentance, but expose them just as readily to any evil influence as +soon as they were left to themselves." + +"That may unfortunately be true in many cases. But are you not +attracted towards the poor creatures who have fallen victims to the +highest earthly power,--who have erred through love?" + +Cornelia started, and a deep blush suffused her face; she knew not why. +Her conscience was pure, and yet she could not bear the clear, +penetrating glance of the princess. Why did she feel so startled by +that word? Why did the look that accompanied it weigh upon her brow +like a secret sentence? Surely she had not erred through love, but she +had not been heedful of appearances. Suppose Ottilie judged by +appearances, and had spoken with a meaning? Oh, that she could banish +this treacherous blush! Must it not seem to Ottilie the token of a bad +conscience? She could not bear that. She raised her head and looked the +princess steadily in the face. + +"Your Highness, the law does not punish the errors of love; but if a +woman falls so low that she commits from love crimes which make her +amenable to the law, she becomes as detestable to me as all others. You +see I lack the first requisite for the vocation your Highness did me +the honor to propose,--the true Christian charity which does not judge +but pardons." + +"But which has already been so touchingly proved by your care for the +prisoners of state," replied Ottilie. "I will not be indiscreet, but I +cannot help remarking that the reason you have just given cannot be the +only one which withholds you from a vocation of Christian charity you +have hitherto voluntarily chosen, under circumstances far more +favorable to you; for your labors in my institution would not only +secure you every pecuniary advantage you could ask,--not only win +gratifying success with those intrusted to your care,--but make you +famous in the eyes of the would. Your ambition, if you possess any, +would also obtain the most brilliant satisfaction abroad the name and +spirit of Cornelia Erwing could soar away from the pleasant work- and +prayer-rooms of the institution far more easily than through the +gloomy, impenetrable dungeon-walls of the prison." + +"Oh, your Highness, pardon the freedom of my words!" said Cornelia, +with noble pride; "but you now undervalue as much as you lately +overrated me. Does your Highness really suppose that these prospects +could induce me to prefer laboring in the institution at T---- to my +present sphere of influence in the prison? Do you imagine a pecuniary +advantage I do not even need, or ambition for the cheaply-bought fame +of being a Good Samaritan, which every hypocrite can obtain, would +induce me to do anything to which my own feelings did not urge me? No, +your Highness, you cannot think so meanly of one to whom, a few moments +ago, you condescended to show the greatest favor. I have no other +motive for my actions than my heart. In this alone is rooted my +strength or my weakness, as you may choose to term it,--perhaps my +selfishness. But all selfishness that arises solely from calculating +reason is foreign to my nature; therefore, when I tell you that my +heart does not draw me to the Christian work in T----, your Highness +may be assured that no worldly advantage would lead me to it; yet, if +the contrary were the case, I would joyfully renounce every material +reward." + +"I believe you," said Ottilie; "but may I ask what has so strongly +attracted you towards the prisoners?" + +"Here, also, I only followed the impulse of my own feelings. Love for +one of them led me accidentally to the scene of his misery. Love for +the individual taught me to understand and pity the sorrows of his +companions. Ordinary crimes would have terrified me and filled me with +horror. I should have been as little inclined to aid in reforming a +debased man as a base woman, but at that time the prisoners were +principally political criminals. The idea for which most of them had +struggled and erred, to which my father and my dead lover were martyrs, +was necessarily sacred to my heart; and although I admit that it may +have been erroneous,--even pernicious in the extremes and manner in +which they strove to establish it,--I could neither condemn nor abhor +those who had suffered for the same conviction to which my father had +sacrificed himself. At first I employed my efforts only in behalf of +the political prisoners. An accident, however, made me acquainted with +a--as people usually say--'common murderer'; and I found in him a +weak-minded, but thoroughly noble man, who had been driven by the force +of circumstances to do what is recognized among all nations, not only +as a right, but a duty; he punished the tempter of his betrothed +bride!" She paused a moment, while again a deep blush suffused her +face. + +Ottilie, too, blushed slightly, and murmured, "I know the particulars +of the occurrence." + +"That convinced me," continued Cornelia, "how many good and evil powers +can exist in the broad breast of a man at the same time,--how mighty +the impulses often are to commit crimes which arise in his life; and +from that moment I went into the cells of all who justified this view." + +"And were there many of them?" asked Ottilie. + +"No, your Highness. With the exception of the political prisoners, at +the utmost only or five among a hundred and twelve; but these few were +sufficient to confirm my assertion." + +"And among a hundred female convicts, would you not perhaps find four +or five deserving of your sympathy?" + +"Very possibly, your Highness; but I could not devote myself only to +these: I should be compelled to care for the many wicked creatures who +could only arouse my loathing and abhorrence. I have always considered +my labors in the prison as an episode, and only employed a few hours of +the day in them; but here I should be compelled to devote my whole +time--nay, my life--to a vocation which could not satisfy me. I am not +one of those persons who do anything systematically, who make the work +of mercy a trade,--a mechanical, daily occupation,--in which, through +habit, they become so dull that they scarcely feel the blessing of +their labors. I wish to perform it freely and earnestly, whenever and +wherever I find an opportunity: and whose destiny does not afford one? +I do not even want you to be obliged to make it for me,--it must come +as a revelation from the inmost heart of life; and when I seize upon +it, it must be a quick, joyful deed, gushing full and warm from the +depths of a loving breast. Thus alone can it make me and others happy; +thus alone can I practice charity." + +Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand, and gazed into her eyes with +increasing delight. + +"This may be selfish," the latter continued, "but it is natural, +and I cannot make myself different from what I am. I want events, +emotions, and--love. I want art pleasures. I feel the pulsations of an +ever-advancing civilization throbbing within me, and am ennobled by my +enthusiasm for everything beautiful which it has created. With this +tide of life swelling in my breast, I cannot bury myself behind the +walls of an institution for penitents,--cannot turn my delighted eyes +from the loftiest model of human greatness to fix them forever upon the +lowest caricatures of depravity. In the monotony of such a life I +should die of longing for the warm human love which has hitherto +streamed forth from the noble hearts that surrounded me. I see no moral +obligation to do so, for I am proud enough, your Highness, to believe +that God has destined me to make a good and noble being happy. Does it +not seem to your Highness far more beautiful to devote a life to this +purpose, rather than allow it to wither away in an institution for the +reformation of degraded creatures?" + +Cornelia had scarcely ended when she found herself clasped in Ottilie's +arms. + +"Forgive me," said the princess, with deep emotion. "I have esteemed +you highly, but not known you; now I understand you. You shall hear no +more from me of an expectation so ill suited to your character. You are +born for higher things; you belong to the great band of those who are +appointed to restore the ideal balance of the world. You are right. +Fate allots to each his sphere of labor, and you are to make the +happiness of an equally gifted nature. To seek to withdraw you from +this object would be committing a wrong against him for whom God +created you; and, in truth, he must love the man to whom he has given +you for a companion." Again a short pause followed. "Let those for whom +life has no longer any hopes, whom it has robbed of all the heart of +woman needs, devote themselves to the vocation I have mentioned. For +you many great joys and duties are still reserved,--but do not deceive +yourself, perhaps many sorrows also." + +"Oh, I have never blinded myself to that!" replied Cornelia. "I do not +fear them. No one is spared, and what all suffer will not be too heavy +for me." + +"It is easy for us to say so. God grant you may be spared the hours +when we doubt our own strength! Shall I be frank?" she asked, with +sudden resolution; and then continued, without waiting for a reply, "I +thought I could guard you from such sorrows when I selected you for the +position at T----. I believed you to be under dangerous influences, and +as I had become deeply interested in you from the descriptions I had +heard, thought it any duty to constitute myself your protectress. But I +now feel ashamed in your presence, for I am convinced that you are too +noble to need my protection; you have the best support in yourself. It +depends upon you to make the power that will be exerted over you +beneficial or otherwise, and I know now it will be the former." + +"Oh, your Highness," cried Cornelia, her eyes dim with tears, "I thank +you for those words! But I beseech you not to overvalue me at the +expense of another whose influence I have thus far felt as one rich in +blessing. I should despise myself if I did not gratefully remember all +the beauty and goodness I have received through the very intercourse +you feared for me. Least of all, your Highness, could I bear to see the +heart which is the dearest thing on earth to me misunderstood by you." +She was silent in alarm. Ottilie coughed and pressed her handkerchief +to her lips, then removed it and looked at Cornelia with a smile. +Cornelia could not speak: she was gasping for breath; she had seen +blood on the transparent folds. + +"Do you suppose," Ottilie began, as quietly as if nothing had +happened,--"do you really suppose I misunderstand this heart? Ah, no! +But I see its faults, and wished to warn you of them. God knows whether +he has a truer friend than I. As long as he lived at my court in H---- +I devoted the most kindly care to him; but my influence was too weak. +Perhaps the blissful task of ennobling him is assigned to her whom he +loves. May God bless and strengthen you for this work! And of whatever +nature the faults you will discover in the course of time may be, +beware of them; but do not let yourself be discouraged, they are only +the goblin shapes of his twofold nature, which will melt into nothing +as soon as your pure, noble spirit is united to his better self. Bear +with him faithfully, for he will love you as he never did any one, and +must be utterly wretched without you!" + +She rose. Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes again beamed with the +unearthly expression of a spirit about to take its flight from the +earth. + +Cornelia kissed her hand with deep emotion. "Your Highness, I stand +before you as if in the presence of the guardian angel of my betrothed, +and take a solemn vow that nothing shall part me from him except +himself! I knew his faults before his good qualities, and they were so +great they made me forget the latter. I began by despising, and ended +by loving him; and if I should lose faith in him again I should die!" + +"Oh, my child, we outlive a great deal! May God protect you and him! +Farewell. Remember me kindly until I can see you again." She dismissed +Cornelia with a warm embrace. "He will not corrupt her; she will save +him," she murmured. "My God, I thank thee!" + +"Are you come at last?" cried a well-known voice, as Cornelia entered +the room. "Where have you been? I have been waiting for you an hour." + +"And you are so much accustomed to have me devote myself entirely to +you," said Cornelia, as she laid her hat and shawl aside, "that you are +angry because I have given even a few hours to some one else." She sat +down beside him, drew back his head, and gazed with winning tenderness +into his clouded face. "Must I ask whether you have come to-day as a +schoolmaster or a lover? The book lying beside you, and your stern +manner, predict the former; but I must confess that I have no mind to +give to anything except the wonderful event of this day." + +"Well, what has happened to you?" asked _Heinrich_, resting his head +upon her shoulder. "Tell me." + +"I have just come from the princess." + +_Heinrich_ started up in astonishment. + +"She offered me the position of directress at T----." + +"Ah, she wanted to get you out of the City! She is jealous," he +murmured. + +"Oh, how meanly you think of that noble soul! She had other reasons +which I cannot discuss more particularly and indeed, Heinrich, she is +an angel!" + +"What answer did you make to her proposal?" + +"I rejected it." + +"There I see my own Cornelia." + +"Oh, is this the first time you understand me? I think you ought to +have done so before." + +"You are right; you have already made greater sacrifices,--if it is a +sacrifice you are making for me." + +"Of course it is. I do not know whether I might not have accepted +Ottilie's proposal if, after Veronica's death, I had been left alone +with my heart full of philanthropic enthusiasm and without your love." + +"In any case, you would have been committing a great piece of folly." + +"According to your ideas, but not mine. You will never believe how much +happiness the good we do to others can bestow; and yet you are not +happy, although all your life you have lived only for yourself." + +_Heinrich_ sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor. + +"Believe me, dearest, the benefits we confer upon others recoil upon +ourselves, as well as the wrongs we inflict upon them; and as often as, +mindful only of our own advantage, we are compelled to injure others, +so often we shall reap a curse instead of a blessing." + +_Heinrich's_ eyes were still more gloomy. + +"He who wishes to grasp and keep happiness solely for himself will find +it quickly fade, as we cannot make a flower our own by plucking it and +placing it in the breast; it will only gladden us a few minutes, and +then wither uselessly. Only when you plant happiness in the soil of +other hearts, and share their joys, will it bear flowers and fruits for +you. The law of multiplication does not merely extend through the +material, but the spiritual world. All the elements of our being are +united in us, and in this unity they collect their strength, but are +intended to be scattered abroad when they develop, so luxuriantly that +we can no longer seek the limits of our being within the narrow bounds +of our own hearts, but in the wide sphere of our beneficent influence. +The egotist never knows the satisfaction found in the execution of +every great or insignificant law of the universe, for he shuts himself +mentally within himself, and draws the juices from the soil which he is +rooted without ever enriching it. He believes it well to receive +without giving, and yet feels withered within. He does not understand +himself, bitterly accuses the world and destiny which have thus +insulated and placed him in a false position, and does not perceive +that the blessing he vainly expected from others ought to have emanated +from himself!" + +_Heinrich_ started up. "Yes, my Cornelia, in many instances you have +hit the mark wonderfully. But, believe me, my child, the sphere in +which I live is not adapted to that beneficent expansion of self. It +is, in reality, a sphere of egotism, in which one must greedily cling +to his own advantage if he would not have it torn from him. There is no +individual connection between us diplomats, we are only united by our +functions as constituent parts of the great mechanism which drives the +machinery of the government; and neither can the heart develop warm +benevolence when one has accustomed himself to look upon nations +merely as the material to be manufactured by this machinery into a +well-regulated whole. Imagine the feelings of a man, a statesman. You +speak of diffusing his own character abroad: I know what you understand +by it; it is all very noble and beautiful for the philanthropic members +of the masses, but it is the duty of statesmen to guide and govern the +populace, and we must not mingle among those we rule. We, too, devote +our strength to them, but we associate a more abstract idea with the +word than you sanguine philanthropists. You understand it to mean only +the people, but we the government, the law, the extension of the +interests of trade, the protection of the highest interests in foreign +countries,--in short, everything upon which the prosperity of a country +depends. To you the nation has a personal, to us only a political, +individuality; you are incessantly caring for its position towards the +throne, but we for its position towards the world!" He looked at +Cornelia, who was hanging upon his words in breathless expectation. +"Well, my Cornelia, do we not both live for the whole,--each in our own +way?" + +"There are your sophisms again, against which my natural intuition +strives with so much difficulty. I confess that none of your words have +made any other impression than the sorrowful one of self-deception. +Heinrich! Heinrich! what will become of you if you accustom yourself to +make sport of truth? You have described how a statesman thinks and +feels, but not how you think and feel. Of course, there are statesmen +who have the welfare of the people at heart; but such men cannot live +in a country like this, or they must be short-sighted enough to see +happiness in despotism. But you are not so blind. Heinrich, you +understand the conditions of a higher national development, and know +you are working against it; you are sinning against the most sacred +rights of humanity, yet say you are laboring for the whole. What do you +understand by this word? To you it is merely an empty sound; for that +which gives it life and meaning to us, anxiety for the common welfare, +is unknown to you. Do not say you live for the state, if not for the +people! Is there a state without a nation? Establish one with ideas +instead of men; govern these, and you will have the same reason to +boast of your labors for 'the whole.'" + +"You are becoming violent and unjust, my Cornelia." + +"It always makes me indignant when I see you palliating such faults as +these. I can forgive the worst offense if frankly confessed and +recognized, but to a palliated error I am unrelenting. Forgive me, if I +was violent," she pleaded, clinging fondly to him. "Come, kiss me; you +are so cold to-day." She drew him nearer her as they sat on the sofa. +"Let us talk quietly; I feel more anxious to discuss this subject fully +to-day than ever before. You love power. The impulse of asserting +itself is associated with every important endowment; it is a stimulus +for it to develop and become of value to the world. Nothing is more +just and natural than that you should feel it also. But in you it has +taken a false direction; you perceive power only in your present +position. But what power? It was voluntarily placed in your hands from +above, and arbitrarily endured by the nation; so it is a purely +external one, without change of action or spiritual echo. You are +conscious of it yourself only by the possibility of having your will +executed by means of a few strokes of the pen on a sheet of paper, and +extending it further than is permitted to the private citizen. Accident +has given you this power, accident may deprive you of it again; +therefore it neither makes you happy nor satisfies you. There is only +one real pleasure of that nature,--mastery over minds; this can neither +be given to us nor taken away, we must win and retain it by our own +strength. And what pride can be more noble than that we take in the +result of our own merits? Cease to be a machine among machines, and +become conscious of the privileges of independent effort; be at least a +man among men. Leave your present residence and return to your former +home; go into the Chambers, there your intellect and personal magnetism +will produce a great effect upon the multitude; there you will first +learn to know the manifold charms to be found in such a direct +subjugation of minds! Descend from your false height, and let yourself +be borne by the hands of the people to the summit of a powerfully +increasing development of civilization. You have hitherto served a +prince, while you gave laws to the nation; you can henceforth give +orders to a prince, while you are a king in the hearts of the people." +She rested her cheek against his, and asked, with loving emotion, "Does +not this prospect charm you?" + +"If all this could be done in reality as easily as in your vivid fancy, +my glorious Cornelia, it might well charm me. But I am a practical man; +I shall not resign a secure and brilliant position to, perhaps, obtain +nothing except the favor of miserable proletarians, or cast aside the +moral and political credit I possess, with the probability of losing, +by another change of opinion, all trust here and elsewhere! You cannot +ask that of me. Let him who has nothing at stake make the desperate +venture, but I have not only the advantage but the honor of an +established career to lose." + +"Honor and advantage,--but happiness? Oh, Heinrich! you have no +happiness to lose, for you have never possessed any; and you will only +save your honor before yourself and God when you begin a new life. So +what do you risk? I do not ask you to proclaim your change of opinion +at once to all the world. Leave the service of the government, withdraw +to your estates, and live there as a private citizen; win the +sympathies of the whole neighborhood, and come forth from your +seclusion as a deputy. How can you be threatened with any loss of +honor? Be assured the world is not so degenerate as to refuse its +esteem for an honest action. You will not fall here, you will +voluntarily resign your brilliant position for the sake of your +convictions: a manly deed which demands and will receive recognition. +Your former party will hail you with joy, and trust you on account of +the sacrifice you made to return to it; and in a short time you will +have obtained all you now think one of my fantastic ideas. Oh, believe +me, I see clearly the path you must choose,--the only one that will +lead to happiness!" + +_Heinrich_ released himself from Cornelia's encircling arms, and, +starting up, went to the window and leaned his brow thoughtfully +against the panes. Cornelia watched him in silence. She left him +entirely to himself, for she knew he was inaccessible to tenderness +when anything occupied his mind. This was the mood to which she had +found it so difficult to accustom herself, and now it appeared +especially harsh. Suddenly he turned, took up his hat, and kissed +Cornelia on the forehead. "Farewell!" + +"Heinrich!" she exclaimed, "are you going already? Have I offended you +so deeply?" + +"Not offended, but you have given me much food for thought; roused a +new conflict within me. Leave me to myself to-day." + +"Why especially to-day? What does that mean?" + +"You will learn when the time comes." + +"Another secret! Oh, Heinrich! You never share anything with me except +your tenderness and the poetic effusions of your vivid imagination. I +am shut out from your intellectual life, and know nothing of it except +what my own penetration enables me to guess." + +"Do not be angry, my child; sooner or later a time will come when there +will no longer be anything between us, when you will obtain possession +of my whole existence." With these words he kissed her again, and left +the room without looking back. + +"Sooner or later a time must come, when--" Cornelia repeated the words. +A roseate flush of joy suffused the grave face. Was not the end of her +humiliation approaching? Was--she scarcely ventured to confess what +sweet, proud hopes these words aroused. Why had her conversation made +so strange an impression upon him? Her heart throbbed expectantly: +would her fate perhaps be decided that day? + +It was decided. _Heinrich's_ inmost soul had been stirred by Cornelia's +ideas. The thought of playing a great part in the Chamber, of joining +the new and undeniably strong movement, charmed him. He could find +more change, more excitement, in this path than in the worn-out +interests of his court life, and possibly even attain the object of his +ambition,--the portfolio. He could marry Cornelia, noble, beautiful +girl, without injury to his plans; nay, she would even be necessary to +him in this career. Perhaps he might yet be a happy man. If the prince +did not take him into the ministry, there was nothing better for him to +do than to exchange the worn-out old life for a new one; and by the +time he reached home he almost wished it. As he entered his room, +absorbed in thought, Anton handed him a paper. He started as he read +it,--it was his nomination as minister of foreign affairs. The die was +cast. + + + + + XIX. + + THE CATASTROPHE. + + +The following day Cornelia awoke with the first glimmer of dawn. The +vague expectation excited by _Heinrich's_ ambiguous words had kept her +long awake, and now drove her from her couch earlier than usual. She +made a hasty toilet and hurried out into the autumn morning. It was +damp and gloomy; a thick fog made earth and sky vanish in a gray cloud; +the withered leaves fell from the wet bushes with a low rustle as her +garments brushed against them. She did not heed it. Spring was in her +heart, and the warm life in her breast seemed to glow through the +chilling scene around her. Mechanically she entered the path she was +most accustomed to follow. It led to the churchyard. She walked through +the long rows of graves, apparently the only living creature in the +broad place of death; but as she approached the well she suddenly saw, +at a few paces' distance, two grave-diggers lowering a little coffin +into the earth. She approached and asked, "Whose child is this you are +burying so entirely alone?" + +"It is illegitimate," said one of the men, dryly. + +Cornelia shuddered. "Oh, how terrible!" + +"Yes, it's a pity for silly girls to allow themselves to be so blinded. +If they thought more of their honor, they wouldn't meet with +misfortune. And the poor children always have to suffer for it. This +one was put out to board with strangers, who neglected it so that it +fell sick and died. The girl to whom it belonged was obliged to go out +to service again because her lover deserted her before the child was +born, so she couldn't trouble herself about it, and was obliged to +leave it to die." + +"Poor, poor child!" thought Cornelia, looking at the grave with tearful +eyes. "Usually when a child is born it is received with joy and love; +but shame stood beside your cradle, shame hovers over your lonely +grave. No happy father took you in his arms, no gladsome mother's eyes +answered your first trusting smile; nobody wanted you, and the only one +who loved you was obliged to deny you until God had compassion upon you +and took you to himself. Now your forsaken mother may perhaps be +stretching out her arms despairingly to grasp the empty air, and must +conceal her anguish as deeply as her darling has just been buried in +the earth. Terrible fate! May God protect every loving woman from it!" +Tears flowed more and more quickly down her cheeks; she turned away and +wept out the emotion that had seized upon her on the graves of Veronica +and Reinhold. As she went home she noticed for the first time that it +was misty and dreary, and entered the house in a graver mood than she +had left it. + +"Marie," she said to her chambermaid, "while I was at the churchyard it +occurred to me that this is Veronica's birthday. Order some wreaths for +her grave; I wish to have it adorned on such anniversaries." + +The hours dragged slowly away. Ottmar did not appear at the usual time; +but instead the evening paper announced his appointment as minister. +That was why he had been so absent-minded yesterday, why his words had +contained a vague promise of a speedy decision of her fate; so this was +the secret. Surely the turning-point in her life must now be reached; +he had obtained what he desired, and might dare to marry. Her heart +beat more and more violently. Quarter of an hour after quarter of an +hour passed away. He could not come today: he probably had too much to +do; and yet she longed so anxiously to see him. + +Her servants asked whether they should carry the wreaths the gardener +had just skillfully arranged to the grave. "Yes, go," said Cornelia, +absently; "no one will come to-day now." But scarcely had the maids +left the house when the bell was impatiently pulled. Cornelia opened +the door with trembling expectation, and sank upon Ottmar's breast. + +_Henri_ had just met the two servants in the street. Had Cornelia +ventured to send them away when she knew he was coming? or was she +preparing to leave the house? He could form no conclusion, but +explained the incident in his own favor; knew himself to be alone with +Cornelia, and gave himself up entirely to his own excited feelings. + +"You are a minister," she began. "You have now obtained that for which +you struggled. It will afford you no greater happiness than your +present position; but I perceive this throws too heavy a weight into +the scale not to outbalance my counsels." + +"Come here, my Cornelia do not let us discuss such matters now," said +_Henri_, drawing her upon his knee. "I can do nothing to-day but look +at and caress you. Do not grudge me the sweet refreshment after long +hours of burdensome ceremonies and fatiguing business. My mind is so +wearied that I can no longer think of anything, only feel that I clasp +you to my heart, that you are mine, wholly mine! Is it not so?" + +Cornelia leant silently upon his breast. "At last, at last he will +utter the word I have so longed to hear!" she thought, clinging to him +in a fond embrace. He pressed his lips to her ear, and whispered so low +that she could not understand him, but felt he must be making promises +of eternal love and tenderness, while his hot breath bewildered her +like the fumes of opium. Then a word fell upon her ear more distinctly, +causing a thrill never felt before. He had called her his "wife." +Overwhelmed with happiness she closed her eyes, her head sank upon his +shoulder, and tears of unspeakable delight stole from beneath her long +lashes. In this name, for which she knew but one meaning, he had +expressed the fulfillment of her fairest hopes. She remained in this +blissful confidence a moment longer. _Henri's_ voice grew still more +persuasive, fell still more distinctly upon Cornelia's ear. Suddenly +the veil which had surrounded her soul was torn away; she was forced to +hear, forced to understand, what she had never been willing to believe. +Springing up, she stood before _Henri_ as if frozen into a statue; +there was neither life nor color in the face blanched to the pallor of +marble, save in the eyes, which rested with increasing firmness and +brilliancy upon his startled countenance. + +_Henri_ had prepared himself for an outburst of indignation or grief; +this speechless amazement, this frozen horror, first revealed to him +how deep her trust had been, and how he had ascribed many things to +levity, or believed them a triumph of love, which had been rooted +wholly in the security of this unshaken confidence. He perceived he had +prepared Cornelia badly for his plans; but it was too late: he could +not unsay what had been said. At last her lips moved, and word after +word began to struggle through them. + +"So this is the meaning you give to the sacred words 'my wife,'--in +this way I shall not be denied the privilege of becoming yours? This +relation does not dishonor--the--minister!" + +"Cornelia," cried _Henri_, with a slight shudder, "not this scorn! I +cannot bear it. Do you not understand that I have inviolable duties +towards my position and the dignity with which my prince trustfully +invested me? that there are barriers far more difficult for a man to +overleap than for a woman to pass the bounds prescribed by what we call +morality? Speak, Cornelia: could you expect me, the representative of +the highest aristocracy in the country, the supporter of the most rigid +despotic principles of government, to suddenly present to the +astonished world as my wife the daughter of a fugitive traitor, who has +herself hitherto moved exclusively in plebeian and democratic circles? +Would not your pure brow flush beneath the contemptuous glances which +would see only your origin, not yourself? I could not present you at +court; and would it not be far more humiliating if, as my lawful wife, +you were excluded from the circles to which I belong, if you were +always compelled to conceal yourself in the darkness of obscurity, like +one proscribed, while feeling that the lofty name you bore was a +burning-glass to draw upon you the fiery rays of public curiosity?" + +Cornelia pressed her hand upon her heart as if she felt the stroke of a +dagger. + +"Could you bear this ignominy?--could you suffer your husband to bear +it with you? You know that to me you are a queen; but the world in +which I live would never weary of preparing humiliations for you that +even I, as your husband, could not always prevent, and which would +perhaps lower my proud, noble love in my own eyes. All this you can +avoid if you will remain outside the sphere into which our marriage +would bring you, if you will live in seclusion as the sweet wife of my +heart, unknown and unnoticed, but surrounded by the glory with which a +great self-sacrificing love invests a woman. That I would be a faithful +husband to you, my Cornelia, I swear by every solemn oath. No other +shall ever stand at my side; no one shall bear the name which, before +God, belongs to you, and which I dare not give you before the world. I +will open a heaven of bliss to you, and at the end of our days you +shall tell me whether, in the true, real sense of the word, you have +not been my wife, whether I have not deserved the sublime confidence +with which, without the customary guarantees, you placed the happiness +of your life in my hands. Come, Cornelia, come to my heart." And, as he +uttered the words, he threw himself on his knees before her, extending +his arms imploringly. + +Cornelia still stood motionless. She saw him at her feet, looking so +noble with that mute entreaty on his lips, gazed at him for a second, +then, like a despairing cry of agony, the words burst forth,-- + +"Oh, Heinrich, why, why must it come to this?" + +"Why? How can it be otherwise?" cried _Henri_, starting up. "Cornelia, +be more merciful than the fate that denies you to me. Could I reject my +prince's call to the aid of the throne, withdraw my powers from the +service of the state at the moment they were most needed? Ought I to +have made such a sacrifice to my love when I was sure you would +joyfully offer the lesser one, which is necessary to our happiness? +What have you to fear? You are living in exceptional circumstances, +have no one's permission to ask, have told me a hundred times that you +despised the judgment of the world, that you felt within your own heart +a higher power, which justified you in taking your own course. If I had +believed any woman capable of a love which had sufficient morality in +self to be able to cast aside all laws without degenerating, it would +have been yourself; and you are such a woman, you alone. In your lofty +breast human nature has developed free and unfettered, as it came from +the hand of the Creator; it does not judge according to the ordinances +of the church-police, or so-called moral tradition, but, pure and +undefiled, unquestioningly follows the guidance of the love which +pervades all creation, and which mankind first disfigured and chained +by arbitrary laws." + +"Indeed!" said Cornelia. "And our ideas of virtue, of the sacredness of +marriage, they would lack all firm foundation had not God placed a +guard upon our passions in our own breasts." + +"Cornelia, can _you_ ask such questions? They are a protection to the +weak, of course. Marriage, as a sacrament, is a great institution, +which the infirmities of human nature rendered necessary; but for those +strong exceptional natures that feel themselves nearer the deity it is +an empty form." + +"So would be morality, honor, family happiness,--all would be mere +illusions, and our most immediate aim nothing more than to become +thinking animals. This would bring us nearest to our divine origin." + +"Do not scorn me thus, Cornelia; I do not deserve it, for I am in +solemn earnest. Is marriage, then, merely a civil union formed under +the eyes of the church-police? Is it not rooted in those who truly love +each other? Cannot they, without marriage-certificate or altar, found a +true, peaceful family life apart from society, and therefore the more +untroubled? If they have become truly one in spirit, do they need the +compulsion of the world and the church to remain faithful to each +other? Is not marriage a mere superfluous ceremony to such beings? and +is not a relation that depends upon the most profound mental and +physical sympathy, and endures through its own power, more moral than a +so-called legal marriage, which exists only in form where two persons +are united that are repulsive to each other,--two souls that do not +understand each other,--where people seek refuge from despair in crime, +and, after committing infidelities, play the old falsehood to +themselves and the world until loathing and constraint stupefy their +souls and the individual sinks into a mere animal? Is this more moral, +Cornelia? Could the church consecrate what was commonplace, disunited, +separated? Is not such an alliance a greater blasphemy than if two +beings, with the loftiest feelings, give themselves to each other for a +life of free love and voluntary faithfulness?" + +"And would it be blasphemy if two such beings sanctioned their alliance +before the world by a marriage, if they made that which is hallowed in +itself saved in the eyes of society?" asked Cornelia. + +_Henri's_ eyes fell before her glance. "It would not be blasphemy; and +any one whom circumstances permitted to do so would be very wrong not +to avail himself of the beautiful form, with its many benefits. But +where it would disturb a whole life, natures like ours have a right to +dispense with it." + +"And wherein does this disturbance of the whole life consist? In the +possible loss of the portfolio! This is the lofty object to which +everything else must yield, even the feeling whose 'divine power,' +according to your views, might dispense with the sanction of the law." + +"Oh, no, my angel! Shall I love you less if you are mine of your own +free choice? On the contrary, I shall but hold you the more tenderly in +my heart. You are too noble, too unselfish, to compel me to sacrifice +either the proud goal of my efforts, or the happiness of my love, when +it is in your power to afford me both." + +"But if I do not possess this unselfishness,--if I asked your hand as a +proof of your integrity,--then I must yield to the interests of your +ambition, and the statesman would conquer the lover." + +"Cornelia, I no longer know you. Is this the self-sacrificing woman who +has always cared only for others, never for herself? and could you now +suddenly transform yourself into a calculating egotist, who bargains +and higgles for a price, and demands the sacrifice of a whole career in +return for her love? Cornelia, an unconditional sacrifice, a complete +forgetfulness of self, might have won me to anything, but this is not +the way to obtain my hand." + +He looked up and recoiled a step in horror, for before him stood the +gorgon he had once imagined in those eyes. The disheveled hair seemed +to move; her gaze rested upon _Henri_ with petrifying power. At last +the tension of the nerves relaxed, the blood surged into her face, and +her noble indignation flushed her cheek with as deep a crimson as it +had before been pale. "Heinrich!" she cried, "I have borne your +fiendish dialectics long enough! I wished to know you thoroughly, and +therefore forced myself to be calm. Now this must cease; the measure is +full! Do you really believe I would so far humiliate myself as to +bargain and beg for your hand? Do you really suppose the sacrifice you +ask would be too great for me, if I could justify it before God and my +own conscience,--if you were worthy of it? That you are not you have +now shown me. I was obliged to hear the answer you gave me with my own +ears, or I should not have believed it; therefore I asked the question. +I was forced to learn your falsehood from your own lips, to be able to +offer you the only thing you deserve, my scorn. Yes, my nature is so +healthful that I have strength to thrust evil from me, though my very +life should cleave to it. Oh, Heinrich, that it must come to this! You +have stripped the bloom from my existence, stolen the most sacred +emotions of a young, trusting heart, wished to take from me honor, +faith, all that affords support and protection to a woman, torn the +wings from my soul to chain me, and then, when you wished to disown me, +to say 'fly away.' Oh, treacherous soul-murderer, beautiful and winning +as no other can ever be, for whose creation an angel must have mated +with a fiend, I love and hate you with equal fervor! I would gladly +ennoble you, yet feel already how you have corrupted me. Yes, I +understand that no one resisted you,--that you conquered wherever you +went; but here, proud man, is the limit of your victory. The shame you +destined for me does not humiliate me, for I am conscious I have not +deserved it. See, it rouses every hostile power within me. I feel, with +a shudder, how they are taking possession of my heart, calling +mockingly in my ears, 'Count Ottmar's mistress,' and painting +scenes,--scenes which might well drive me to madness. And there stands +the man who loves me, and from pure affection dooms me to such +tortures; who will not suffer me to stand by his side before the world; +will not give me his name in return for the life he demands: and all +this is from pure love; and I,--why do I not from pure love thrust a +knife into his false breast to avenge the law he derides?" + +"So that is it? Because I will not make you Countess Ottmar! That is +what causes you such bitter grief? Oh, Cornelia, you are far more +haughty than virtuous!" + +"Oh, my God, how have I deserved this?" cried Cornelia. "Heinrich, +Heinrich, vengeance will come upon you! You will some day be compelled +to answer before God for the heart you have crushed! You wish by your +sophisms to drive me to sacrifice my virtue, merely to prove that I am +noble and unselfish, that I love the man and not the count. Oh, it is a +clever calculation, and may already have led many a gentle heart +astray! But it recoils from my firm reason, for the supposition is +false, Heinrich. If your love and esteem are only to be obtained by +sin, you are so evil that you are not worth the trouble of winning. +Believe that I am more haughty than virtuous; believe that my anger is +only roused because I am not to become Countess Ottmar; I cannot +convince you to the contrary, for God and his commands are higher than +you, and God sees my heart and knows how it bleeds and quivers!" + +"Do not be so violent, Cornelia; you cannot leave me. You are mine; own +that you are. You have inhaled the sweet poison from my lips, and your +soul absorbed in full draughts the fiery language of my passion. You +have foreseen all the joys of love; womanhood has unfolded its perfect +flower. You cannot go back. Come, my dove, you are fluttering timidly, +and yet feel that you are bound. Come, my angel, demand my vows; I will +give them all to you as if before the altar. Does not Christ himself, +to whom you pray, say, 'Where two are gathered together in my name, +there am I in the midst of them'?" + +"Hold, blasphemer, to whom nothing is sacred!" cried Cornelia, +releasing herself from his arms in mortal terror; and with sudden +resolution she rushed to the door, along the passage, down the +staircase,--heard him following her, and hurried through the dark +streets. She did not know herself what she wanted, or where she was +going; "away, away from him" was her only thought. A door stood ajar, +and a faint light streamed through the opening. It was the church of +the Jesuits. She fled into it. The house of God was empty, only +a priest was praying at the altar beneath the red glow of the +ever-burning lamp. _Henri's_ steps echoed behind her. She rushed up to +the dark figure, and sank senseless before him. + +"Heaven has apparently chosen me to be your good spirit, Count Ottmar, +since I always stand in your way when you are in the act of doing +things you might afterwards regret," said the Jesuit, bending over +Cornelia. + +In the haste of the pursuit _Henri_ had recognized Father Severinus too +late. Now he stood before him in amazement, and beheld his precious +treasure lying senseless in the arms of his mortal enemy. _Henri_ was +painfully embarrassed. "Severinus," said he, "I assure you this whole +scene is the result of the folly of an innocent, enthusiastic girl, and +that you may safely trust me to escort her home." + +Severinus gazed with increasing admiration at Cornelia's pure, pale +features, as he aided her to rise. "It depends on the decision of the +lady herself whether she will go with you, or place herself under my +protection." + +"Cornelia!" cried _Henri_, in tones so loud, so full of agony, that she +opened her heavy eyes. "Cornelia, angel of my life, do not abandon me! +Come with me, and forgive me for having alarmed you. Give me your dear +hand, and let me take you home. Cornelia, have you no longer a single +glance for your Heinrich?" + +She stood trembling before him with downcast eyes, and did not move. +"If this reverend gentleman will take me, I will ask him to accompany +me. With you, Heinrich, I shall go no more." + +"Come, my daughter," said Severinus, with inexpressible gentleness. + +Deep grief, such as he had never felt before, overmastered _Henri_. He +tried to kiss her hand, but she withdrew it. "Will you act in +opposition to the dictates of your own heart, Cornelia?" he exclaimed. +"My love, do not cause yourself so much pain. See, you are pitying me +almost more than I pity myself. Be more womanly, Cornelia; you cannot +treat the man in whom your life is rooted thus. This is not the place +for such discussions. I will forgive your want of confidence and your +having exposed me to this gentleman in such a manner. To-morrow, my +Cornelia, I shall hope to find you more reasonable." + +"More reasonable? You will never find me again." + +"Cornelia!" + +"I think you will feel yourself that between us no reconciliation is +possible. We are parted!" + +"Cornelia! and you have loved me!" + +"Because I have loved, still love--I fear you," she breathed almost +inaudibly. "Should I need to fly from you if I hated you as I ought?" + +She fixed her eyes once more on the wondrously beautiful features, now +ennobled by pain; tear after tear rolled slowly down her cheeks; she +shivered violently, and sank sobbing at the feet of a life-size figure +of Christ, resting her burning head against the cold stone. + +"Oh, Cornelia," whispered _Henri_, his voice trembling with emotion; +"unhappy child, why do you lacerate your own heart and mine so cruelly? +Tell me, wherefore do you now suffer all this? wherefore do you +renounce me, do you bear this anguish?" + +"Wherefore?" she said, looking up to the Christ to which she still +clung. "Ask Him. He will teach you." + +Severinus had stood a little apart, watching Cornelia as if in a dream; +he was deeply moved. With a manner more tender than _Henri_ had ever +seen in him, he now approached and offered her his arm. She obeyed him +almost unconsciously, and passed slowly by Ottmar. The latter threw +himself before her, and pressed her dress to his lips. + +"Girl, girl, I will not leave you! It is not possible that you can cast +me off,--it is unnatural! Cornelia, am I to lose you? can it be? will +you take all the joy and happiness from my life?" + +Cornelia stood with her hands pressed upon her bosom, struggling for +breath. + +"Have you no longer a word, a glance, for me? can you see the head you +have so often cradled an your bosom at your feet, and not bend and +raise it forgivingly to your heart? will you not look smilingly into my +eyes, and say, 'Enough of punishment, I am appeased'? Draw your arm +from that stranger's and place it around my neck, and I will bear you +through the world as lovingly, as watchfully, as a god. See, I kiss the +spot where your heart is beating, and it does not burst; its blood does +not gush forth upon my breast with infinite sorrow at the thought of a +separation. You do not stir; you let me plead, let me extend my arms +despairingly to you, and will not throw yourself into them,--say no +word of compassion to the man whom you have called a thousand times by +every fond name love could utter." + +"Heinrich! Heinrich!" cried Cornelia, throwing her arms around him and +pressing her lips to his, "this is more than human nature can bear!" + +"Oh, my Cornelia! Do you then feel you are mine?--that all your +purposes are false?--that nothing is true and eternal except our love?" + +"My daughter," said Severinus, gently, "be steadfast as you were just +now." + +Cornelia looked up and brushed the tears from her face. "I thank you; I +am steadfast," she replied, with firm resolution. "Good-night, +Heinrich, _for the last time_." + +She turned to leave the church with Severinus. + +_Henri_ started up like a wounded tiger; all tenderness was transformed +into fury. "Go, then!" he shouted, trembling with rage; "you are no +woman,--you are a fiend! You have deserted _me_, not I _you_; now we +are quits." + +The young girl tottered out of the church with Severinus without +casting another glance behind. + +Both reached Cornelia's house in silence. Severinus paused. "Command +me, Fräulein. Shall I leave you alone, or can I be of any further +service to you? A young girl doubtless needs protection against such a +man as Ottmar." + +"Do you know him?" asked Cornelia. + +"I do." + +"May I ask you to come in with me?" + +"Most joyfully." + +The servants, on their return, had found the house open, and were in +the greatest anxiety about Cornelia. Her maid came to meet her, crying, +"Oh, heavens, how you look!" + +They entered the drawing-room, the apartment so short a time ago the +scene of peace and joy; whose atmosphere was still pervaded with +_Henri's_ glowing breath. There lay the gloves he had forgotten in his +haste. Her tears burst forth afresh. It seemed as if she had just come +from his funeral, and could not part from these last sad tokens of +his life. She mutely motioned Severinus to be seated; she could not +speak,--could not express her emotions in words. Severinus understood +her thoroughly, and watched her in silence. She sat with bowed bead, +speechless and pale; her hands resting on her lap; her loosened tresses +falling around her, wet with tears. She still saw the impression made +on the soft carpet where he had knelt before her; there lay a velvet +ribbon he had torn from her arm; with a deep blush she looked up at the +priest, as if he could read her thoughts. Now, for the first time, she +noticed his delicate features, the melancholy expression of his large +dark eyes, and gazed at him more earnestly. With an involuntary motion +he pushed the hair from his brow, and a broad scar became visible. + +"You are Severinus!" she exclaimed, starting up and seizing both his +hands. + +"Did you not know it?" he asked, in astonishment. + +"No, I did not hear your name just now; but I think I once saw you in a +brighter hour than this." + +"In the churchyard a few months ago." + +"Yes. Ah, it was a fleeting happiness!" she murmured. "It is strange +that we should meet. Oh, I salute you: the only person of whom Heinrich +always spoke with reverence, whom God has sent to be my preserver!" + +"May the Almighty grant that I shall prove so! But what can I do for +you? Will you raise me to the rank of your friend, that as such I may +console you, since I am not permitted to bestow the blessings of my +ecclesiastical office upon a Protestant?" + +"How do you know I am of the Lutheran faith?" + +"Because I have long known you, long watched your quiet labors in the +prison; and of late, since the report of your relations with Ottmar +went abroad, prayed that the Almighty might save the honor of a being +whom he had created or his glory, if at any time she was in danger." + +"A report? Oh, God! had matters already gone so far with me? Ah, this +despicable world!" + +"Calm yourself, my daughter. Do not accuse the world: you yourself are +not wholly blameless. Had you submitted more to the laws of womanly +custom, everything might now be very different." + +Cornelia covered her face. "Alas, I believed all men as pure as +myself!" + +"You are right. If you had been less innocent, you would have paid more +attention to appearances. Yet you now see yourself where it leads when +a woman breaks down the barriers that protect her. If you had belonged +to our church, and had a confessor whom you trusted, he would have +called your attention betimes to the dangers that threatened you, and +spared you many a bitter pang." + +"Alas, many faithful friends warned me, but I would not listen: I had +no thought for anything except this man. I was bound by a magic spell, +which permitted me only to breathe with his breath, live in his life. I +had forgotten God and the world for him; and therefore I am now +punished." + +"You recognize the hand of God, my child. Ah, yes! I know it rests +heavily upon those he loves. You had suffered yourself to become +absorbed too thoughtlessly in the passions of earth, and therefore he +tore you away to the purer sphere of self-sacrifice and sorrow. Many an +earthly happiness can still bloom for you, but you will be purified and +enjoy it with grateful consciousness. This is the blessing of your +sorrow." + +"Oh, how nobly you speak! Go on," pleaded Cornelia, clasping her hands +and kneeling like a little child beside the arm-chair which Severinus +was seated. + +"You have conquered, my daughter, and your heart bleeds from honorable +wounds; yet do not imagine that the contest is ended with this one +victory: it will not save you. In the languor into which the soul falls +after great moral efforts, it is all the more defenseless against a +fresh assault. You must leave here, must withdraw into solitude, where, +as your days form the links of a continuous chain of self-sacrifice, +you will obtain a quiet, unassuming victory over your passions. In the +stillness of a magnificent, lonely region, you will once more hear the +gentle voices in which God speaks to mankind. Beneath shady trees, and +beside cool brooks, the tumult of the blood will be allayed, the life +and labors of millions of innocent creatures will employ your fancy, +lead you back to simplicity and childlike faith, and with devout +reverence you will receive the duty that takes up its abode in every +purified soul." + +"Yes, reverend sir, you are right: I need repentance and rest; and balm +for all sorrows can be found only in beautiful nature. I must leave +here; but where shall I go? I have traveled very little; know not +whither to turn; and since my engagement to Ottmar have become so much +estranged from all my friends that I could not now ask any one to +accompany me; besides, I know of no one whom I would suffer to look +into my heart. You are the only person whom a strange accident has made +my confidant, you understand, and in these few moments have become so +necessary to me that it would be very difficult for me to part with +you. Help, counsel me." + +"You still have a faithful maid?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, promote her to be a 'companion,' and take me for your +fatherly guide, if you believe I know how to judge and treat you in the +present state of your soul." + +"What! would you devote your precious time to me?" + +"If you need me, yes." + +"If I need you? Oh, reverend sir, how can I thank you, how can I reward +you for a sympathy of which I am so unworthy?" + +"To save your immortal soul, to reconcile you with God, is the only +reward and gratitude I ask. I am only doing my duty if I aid your +erring spirit to find its home again." + +"Oh, my friend, you arouse an emotion never felt before! I never knew +my parents. Let me find in you that of which I have so long been +deprived: a father on whose heart I can weep out my sorrows. Alas, I +have never enjoyed this blessing I know not what it is when a child, +overwhelmed with remorse, falls at its father's feet, and the latter, +kindly absolving it from its guilt, says, 'Come, you are forgiven!' I +have sinned deeply; yet if I had had my parents, everything would have +been different. Father Severinus, can you enter into an orphan's +feelings? Ah, one who, clasped in the arms of his family, has never +lacked love, cannot know what it is to grow up alone, without that warm +affection, that blissful interchange of parental and filial love, and, +with an overflowing heart, which in its ardor could contain a world, +find only sober friendship and partial understanding! My dear Veronica +was an angel! I owe her all the good qualities I possess: she reared me +lovingly, and treated me like a mother; but she had not a mother's +affection, that rich, gushing tenderness which a warm, childish heart +demands. I did not need an angel, but a noble, mature human being, and +strict discipline. My powers soon carried me beyond her narrow +intellectual sphere; she became more and more beneath me mentally, and +indulged me wonderfully. I remained an obedient child, and loved her +devotedly; but she could not give me what I required. An unfortunate +youthful fancy passed over me like a dream. My aspiring mind knew no +bounds; my thirst for love vainly sought satisfaction, in society, in +toiling for the poor and miserable. Then I met Heinrich, with his +ardor, his winning charm; and all the affection a child has for its +father and mother, all the passion a woman can feel, I had for him. Now +came the result of my education. Always habituated to do as I pleased, +I despised the commands of custom, the warnings of friends. After being +so long deprived of love, it burst over me like a flood: I gave myself +up to it blindly. Perhaps I thereby forfeited my lover's respect, and +apparently justified him in inflicting upon me the humiliation from +which I fled to your protection, sir." She sighed heavily. "Ah, thank +God that I could pour out my heart to you! For the first time in my +life I feel the happiness of confessing a fault with remorseful sorrow, +divesting my soul of its pride, and placing myself in the hands of a +merciful judge! Impose the punishment, and I will bear it; tell me the +penance, and I will perform it; but then, then bend down to me and tell +me as my father would have done, 'Come; you are forgiven'!" + +She laid her clasped hands upon the arm of the chair, and looked at +Severinus imploringly. The latter sat absorbed in thought, gazing into +her face. + +"My dear child, you give me the right to punish and pardon; I can only +make use of the latter privilege. Your intellectual development, as you +have described it to me, excuses your relations with Ottmar, and your +pathetic submission to this unprincipled man. I, too, was orphaned; I, +too, have wandered through the world with a loving heart, and never +found what I sought. To me also men have seemed cold and empty; they +did not respond either to my ideas or feelings. But what drew you down +raised me; the overmastering impulse led me to a purer sphere. In our +church, Cornelia, reigns the man-born God. I could seize upon him, +throw myself into his arms, and there find the love, the condescension, +I needed. Our church alone is the bridge which unites the Deity with +the earth. The symbols, Cornelia, are the steps by which the clumsy +human mind, so long as it is fettered by temporal ideas, climbs upward +to the supernatural. Even the most sinful man can reach God, if he +makes the symbols his own. While your church requires a purified +spiritual stand-point in order to give consolation and edification, +ours bends down to the man imprisoned in sensuality and leads him +upward, step by step, gradually removing him from his sinful +condition." He paused and looked at Cornelia, then continued: "These +blessings fell to my lot. My heart also bled when it tore itself away +from all the human ties entwined about it; I, too, Cornelia, have +struggled until I resisted the false allurements, and so spiritualized +myself that the world became dead, and the kingdom of God a living +thing to me." + +"Oh," exclaimed Cornelia, "I shall never bring myself to that! The +world dead! No longer love this beautiful earth, the master-piece of +God! No, I cannot; it would be ungrateful to him who created it." + +"I do not ask that, my child; I am not one of those bigoted priests who +believe that men were made only to pray, that the pious and chaste +alone are the elect, and the others the mere wretched laborers of +creation, destined to propagate the race. Such a thought is far from +me. Whomsoever. God destines to be his servant he calls; and let those +whom he does not rejoice in the world for which they were born, and +serve God by doing good in their own sphere. I will only warn you not +to forget the Giver in the gifts; to remember the Dispenser while you +enjoy his alms, is a duty you children of the world so easily neglect. +This I will teach you to fulfill, and show you that it does not detract +from happiness, but hallows and strengthens it. If you had thought more +of God when he gave you Ottmar's love, you would have been more +discreet, and perhaps matters would never have gone so far." + +"Ah, that is terribly true!" sobbed Cornelia. + +"Calm yourself, my child; I do not wish to burden your poor heart still +more heavily. You were innocent, and Ottmar's influence was injurious +to you. No mortal has a right to decide whether you would have been +able to avoid this; I least of all, for I know Ottmar's personal power. +I, too, trusted him, and was betrayed, for he is no man's friend, not +even his own!" + +"Unhappy man! Created in the image of God, so handsome, so noble, so +capable of giving happiness, and yet a living lie, a deceitful phantom, +which irresistibly allures us, and, as soon as we wish to hold it; +melts into thin air. Do you understand, Severinus, that one may love +him with all the strength of one's life, and when parted from him be +but a broken bough which can do nothing but wither?" + +"I understand it, for no other was ever so dear to me. I hoped to make +him an instrument for the advancement of the good cause, thought God +had given me in him a being to whom the heart might still be permitted +to pay the tribute of human feelings, aided with admiration in the +development of his great talents, and nursed him with tender anxiety. I +listened to his breathing while he slept, watched him like a brother, +and saw with delight that his health gradually improved. When he came +up to me with beaming eyes, and said, 'My dear Severinus, how shall I +thank you?' my heart swelled with proud delight, and I clasped him in +my arms." He paused, covered his eyes with his hand, and continued, in +a trembling voice: "And when I was compelled to lose him, such sorrow +seized upon me that I struggled as if the foul fiend had possession of +him and I must wrest Heinrich's soul from his grasp. It was the +punishment that befell me because my love did not still belong +exclusively to Heaven, as it ought. I endeavored to disarm his malice +against the order as much as possible; I had nurtured the serpent, so +it was my duty to deprive it of its venom, and thus I was forced to +pursue as an enemy one who had been the dearest person on earth to me. +Believe me, my daughter, your tears are not the only ones which have +been shed for him." + +Cornelia seized Severinus's hand with deep emotion; he rose. "I will +now leave you alone: you need rest. Compose yourself, and pray. I hope +to find you ready to travel early to-morrow morning, and will consider +tonight whither I will guide you." + +As Severinus went out into the street he met a brother-priest, who was +just coming from the Jesuit church. + +"Father Severinus!" he said, in astonishment. "How did you come here? +what are you doing in Fräulein Erwing's house?" + +"I am gaining a soul for the church!" he answered, proudly, and passed +on. + + + + + XX. + + THITHER. + + +The minister of foreign affairs sat in his office alone. Stray, feeble +rays from the winter sun fell through the window and gleamed upon a +heap of documents and papers with huge seals; but the minister's eyes +did not rest upon them, they were fixed absently on vacancy. From time +to time he dipped his pen in the ink, only to let it fall again unused, +upon a diplomatic dispatch which had just been commenced. At last he +started up and went to the door. His figure was not so elegant, nor his +bearing so haughty, as in former days: his hair and beard were +neglected, his eyes and cheeks sunken. Was it work or sorrow that had +thus shaken this noble frame? He seemed aged, even ill. Anton brought +in some letters, which he hastily seized, then threw them all but one +upon the table. + +"God grant it may be some good news!" said Anton, casting a troubled +glance at his master's haggard features as he left the room. + +"God grant it!" repeated _Heinrich_; and his breath came quickly and +anxiously as he read: + + +"Your Excellency,--In reply to your highly esteemed favor of the 15th, +I have the honor to say that I must positively reject the denunciation +it contains against our reverend brother in Christ, Father Severinus: +namely, that without my knowledge he had secretly fled with a young and +beautiful lady, and kept her concealed for several months against her +will. Father Severinus is a pattern to the whole order for humble +obedience and the strictest devotion to all. No false appearances can +render his blameless and immovable purity suspicions in our eyes. His +relation to that lady is one well pleasing to God and the order, and +his course has my entire approval. This I must permit myself to say in +correction of your Excellency's erroneous suspicion. + +"I have no right to inform your Excellency of the residence of Father +Severinus and the lady in question until your Excellency has given us +the most satisfactory proofs of your right to the possession of the +young lady's person. + +"With all due respect to your Excellency, etc., + + "Father R---- + +"_General of the Holy Congregation of the Fathers of Jesus_. + +"Rome, -- 20, 18--." + + +_Heinrich_ sank upon the sofa with the paper in his hand. "This failed +too! All, all in vain!" he murmured, crushing the letter convulsively +in his clinched fingers. "What is to be done now? Shall I give notice +to the embassies of every country? Shall I add to this consuming +anguish the disgrace that I am pursuing an adventuress, who is rambling +about with a Jesuit? Cornelia! Cornelia! Have these pious fathers or +have you obtained so much mastery over yourself that you can inflict +this upon me? It is not possible that they have subdued your free +will. You are not one of these natures which allow themselves to +be ruled. You have done the most difficult, the most unprecedented +thing,--conquered me and yourself in a moment when passion was most +aroused. You would not suffer the arts of these men to obtain dominion +over you! Noble, wonderful woman! By what cords do you hold me that I +will go to utter ruin rather than forget you?" + +He rested his head wearily upon his hand. His whole life passed before +him. He thought of all the unhappy creatures who had clung to him with +the same ardor he now felt for Cornelia, and been repulsed as he was +now by her. Again Ottilie's image rose before him. The sorrow gnawing +at his heart made him for the first time understand the tortures she so +silently, so patiently, bore for him, and for the first time he +experienced the true human sympathy he had never felt while grief was +unknown to him. "Poor Ottilie! We are now companions in suffering!" + +A low knocking roused him from his gloomy thoughts. It was his private +secretary, to ask whether Ottmar had prepared the dispatch for the +court of R----. "Oh! good heavens, no!" he exclaimed, in great +impatience, and sat down to finish it. Thrice he began, erased the +words, and then flung the pen aside with a sigh of the bitterest +despondency. "I am not in the mood," he said, at last. "My head aches +too violently. I cannot give myself up to work now." + +"Allow me to remind your Excellency that you will be expected at the +council of ministers at twelve o'clock," said the young man, timidly. + +"You are right: thanks! Remind me of it again at eleven." + +With the most painful effort of self-control he applied himself to the +preparation of the document, and then hurried away to dress. + +"Your Excellency ought to get a long leave of absence," said Anton, as +he assisted him to make his toilet. "You cannot live on so." + +"Very likely, Anton. It is an existence which is becoming more and more +unendurable to me. But I cannot take a leave now. I must either +disappear from the scene entirely or remain at my post." + +He left the room with a slow step and drooping head. Anton looked after +him sadly. "Poor master! It must have been bad news again. No doubt the +young lady has good cause for her acts; but I pity him, for he never +loved so before." + +A few hours afterward the prince entered his wife's apartments. "My +dear Ottilie, I must entreat you to grant me a favor. You did not wish +to see any one on account of your indisposition, but I beseech you to +make one exception." + +"It shall be as you wish, Alfred," said Ottilie, in a faint voice. + +She was reclining upon a couch under an arbor of dense exotic plants, +which made one forget the cold, wintry landscape without. The prince +took a chair and sat down beside her. "The matter concerns Ottmar," he +began, breaking a withered leaf from a gum-tree, and thus not observing +how Ottilie started. "I do not know what I am to do with the man. +Something is wrong with him; I cannot discover what. He seems entirely +changed. The youngest attaché could not make so many diplomatic +blunders as he. He brought to the council to-day the rough sketch of a +dispatch to R----, which was totally useless. He, our most talented +statesman! It is incomprehensible! He is apathetic and reserved; nay, +he even permits himself to fail in the personal respect which, as his +prince, I am entitled to demand, and whose punctilious observance has +hitherto endeared him to me. I do not think this proceeds from any +diminution in his loyalty,--he has so often assured me that I was his +only friend,--but is the result of some secret disturbance, some +physical or mental suffering. All my efforts to obtain his confidence +are fruitless, so I thought of applying to my charming wife and calling +her to my aid in this, to me, very important affair." + +"But how can I be of any assistance?" asked Ottilie, in astonishment. + +"You shall speak to him, my dear. You are mistress of the art of +assuming a condescending manner which induces people to give their +confidence freely without forgetting in whose presence they stand. I +confess that in this respect you far surpass me. You remove my +subjects' awe of the grandeur of your position, and substitute +reverence for your person. Thus you succeed in being affable without +forfeiting any portion of your dignity, and people, open their hearts +to you without overstepping the bounds prescribed by etiquette. It is a +great art, for which not only intellect and heart, but the unusual +queenliness of air that distinguishes you, are requisite." + +"But it is an 'art' which, at all events, I practice very +unconsciously," interposed Ottilie, smiling. "Yet I thank you, Alfred, +for this praise; it makes me very proud. And now I shall try to earn it +by attempting to prove my skill upon Ottmar." + +"There is no praise you have not already fully earned. But I will beg +you to subdue this reserved diplomat with your--if I may so call +it--diplomacy of the heart, and discover what is really the matter with +him." + +"But have we a right to interfere, my prince?" + +"It is not only a right, but a duty. If he merely neglected me, I would +ignore it; but he neglects the obligations of his high position, and +thereby injures the interests he ought to defend. This cannot continue, +so we must discover the cause of Ottmar's trouble and try to remove it. +If this does not succeed, then----" The prince rose with the shrug of +the shoulders he always used to express what was not yet sufficiently +decided to put into words. "At the present critical moment, when +everything is crowding upon us, we need men who are thoroughly in +earnest, and will hold the reins with a firm hand," said he, continuing +his interrupted chain of ideas. "It is no time for personal +considerations and indulgent delays. Every moment brings and demands +important decisions, which should not be permitted to suffer from the +absence of mind of any individual. There must be a change soon. I +cannot lecture him like a school-boy, but you can say many things as a +proof of friendly sympathy, which, from my lips, would sound like an +implied reproach." + +"I will try; although I do not expect much from the interview. I can +scarcely flatter myself that I shall be able to win from him what he +withholds from you, and perhaps the secret may be of such a nature that +he cannot confide it to us. Perhaps--he has some love-sorrow." + +"Oh, my dear! Would a polished man of the world, a thorough diplomat, +give himself up to such sentimentality?" + +The glance that Ottilie cast at the prince had a shade of compassionate +contempt. "You call it sentimentality because you have never felt the +power of a passionate emotion. You must consider that the moderation +inculcated into the minds of royal personages, that they may be able to +rule themselves and others, is an almost exclusive prerogative of their +rank, which no one else shares----" + +"Except the priests," interposed the prince. + +"You are right. But Ottmar does not belong to that class, but to one of +great privileges and few duties, who are accustomed to drop the reins +of self-control; and these men often lack all support against their +passions. I have already told you that I do not consider Ottmar a +genuine diplomat. He has talent, and will therefore for a time +skillfully accomplish whatever he undertakes, but he is far too great +an enthusiast to be a good statesman. For this he lacks calmness, +firmness of conviction, perseverance in labor, and sooner or later the +contradiction between his nature and his profession must appear." + +"Lord C---- made the same remark about him several years ago. Your +knowledge of human nature shows itself more and more, and I daily +perceive with gratitude what wise counsels I am always sure of +receiving from you. Then you will make the sacrifice for me, and speak +to Ottmar?" + +"I should be deserving of great blame if I refused my husband's +request. Under what pretext do you wish the interview to take place?" + +"I think we will give a family dinner to-morrow, and invite him to it. +Do you feel well enough for such an effort? In my opinion, it would be +the most fitting opportunity." + +"I agree with you, and think my strength will enable me to do the +honors." + +"I thank you in advance, my dearest, and hope I have not imposed any +very disagreeable task upon you." + +"On the contrary, I so rarely have the happiness of being permitted to +do you a favor, that I----" + +"Oh, do not say so; your whole life is a succession of kindnesses and +self-sacrificing amiability towards me. How ignoble it would be for me +to require more than you voluntarily bestow! Pray take care of +yourself; the anxiety you feel is felt for me. Au revoir." He pressed a +hasty kiss upon Ottilie's small white hand and left the room. + +Ottilie looked after him quietly. Not a feature in her pale face +altered. She gratefully perceived that the prince tried to give her at +least civility, even deference; instead of love. She had never asked +more; and now it was easier than ever to resign it. She was no longer +solitary, the life that stirred under her heart filled her with +blissful promises of an infinite love never known before. This new and +cheering emotion aided her to bear more resolutely than before even the +thought of being again thrown into Ottmar's society. The outward world +passed by her like a dream: there was but one reality to her,--the +approaching fulfillment of her mission as a woman; all her powers were +exerted for this great end, and peace brooded over her soul. + +Thus, on the following day, she met Ottmar. The strength of her soul +conquered her physical weakness; and when the dinner was over and the +prince was conversing with the other guests, she calmly approached +Ottmar with an air of quiet dignity. + +"The prince has commissioned me to speak to you, count," she whispered, +almost inaudibly. + +"His Highness?" asked _Heinrich_, in astonishment. + +"Yes; but I do not do so in his name, but my own. We are anxious about +you, for we both see that you are suffering. Your manner reveals it to +me, while he notices the change by the decreasing interest you take in +your business." + +"I know it!" exclaimed _Heinrich_. + +"He now wishes to obtain some explanation through me; he hopes you will +be more open than with him; but fear nothing, I shall not degrade +myself to become a spy upon you; nor should I need to do so, for I know +the cause of your anguish, and shall guard it as a sacred secret. Yet I +consented to the conversation the prince desired because I believed the +wish to be a sign from God. Besides, I wanted to speak to you once more +about some of the last events in your life; perhaps I may finally +produce some good result." + +_Heinrich_ gazed at her in the greatest astonishment. + +"Will you permit a friend of many years' standing to meddle with your +secrets? Will you trust me?" she asked, with all her former winning +grace. + +"Oh, my princess!" cried _Heinrich_, in delight. "How long it is since +you have bestowed any such words upon me! how your returning favor +soothes and cheers me!" + +"God is my witness that my favor was never withdrawn from you, count." +She raised her sparkling blue eyes, and her lips parted to say more; +then she recollected herself: her lids drooped again, and she was +silent. After a pause she began, in an altered tone, "The prince wishes +through me to learn the cause of the change in you, that he may help +you; but I can aid you without telling him your secret, and thus save +both, and betray no one. Is that right?" + +"Perfectly! But, my beloved, noble princess, how can you help me?" + +"You have been deserted by the young girl you loved. Is it not so?" + +"Yes, yes; but how do you know?" + +"The unhappy fate that has come between you is a secret to me, and one +I do not wish to fathom. The fault, my friend,--pardon my usual +frankness,--must be with you; for I know her, and will answer for it +that you were loved with a rare, pure, and fervent affection." + +"Oh, your Highness, you cut me to the heart!" + +"I must do so, count, if I am to be of use to you; and this is the only +occasion upon which I can. That you love Cornelia Erwing with the first +real passion of your life I see by the deep sorrow expressed in your +outward appearance, as well as your acts and conduct; and I hail this +mood with joy, count, as the gloomy twilight which precedes the dawn of +a new day." + +"Princess, you do not know what I suffer. If I ever sinned against a +noble heart, I am now making bitter atonement. Pity me; do not triumph +in my anguish." + +"Oh, how greatly you misunderstand me, count I triumph in your anguish! +May God keep me from such a thought! I rejoice because your sorrows are +a proof of a salutary change in your heart! I rejoice that you love +deeply, truly, sadly; because I hope to be able to restore that to +which your heart clings so loyally!" + +"Could you do so, your Highness?" whispered _Heinrich_, his eyes +sparkling with new life. + +"Cornelia Erwing conceals her residence from you. Have you searched for +her?" + +"I have summoned the police of the whole country to my aid, left no +means untried, but all in vain." + +"Why did you do that?" + +"Why?" asked Ottmar, in astonishment. "Because I wished to win her, to +have her again." + +"And will you permit me to ask one more bold question? If you did +succeed in winning her again, what would be her fate?" + +Ottmar drew back a step in astonishment and looked doubtfully at +Ottilie. Should he tell her? was she strong enough to hear it? should +he confess the resolution which, during months of agony and exhausting +struggle, had obtained such a powerful influence over him that it +governed his whole character and conduct? + +"Would you make Cornelia Erwing your wife?" + +"Your Highness!" + +"If this is the case, I am ready, on my own responsibility, to tell you +her present residence." + +"Noble, royal soul!" murmured Ottmar, involuntarily. "Well, then, yes. +Learn what no one else respects, that I, whom you have so often +reproached for my heartlessness, am subdued by a passion stronger than +my selfishness, stronger than everything, for I feel I could give up my +life rather than this girl, who has become so great a necessity to my +mind and heart. For weeks a letter imploring her hand has been lying in +my portfolio, but I can find no means of sending it to her, and am +almost in despair. Have compassion upon me. If you--ever"--he +hesitated--"ever felt for any one what I now feel for this cruel girl, +you will know how heavily I am punished." + +Ottilie would gladly have extended her hand to him; but etiquette must +not be offended in the prince's presence. She turned, so that the rest +of the company could not see her face, and looked at Heinrich with an +inexpressibly loving expression. The old melancholy, yet happy, smile +played around her lips, while tear after tear rolled down her pale +cheeks. + +"You see, my dear, dear friend, I can really do something for you. +Cornelia is now living Rome, and as soon as the company have been +dismissed I will send you her address." + +"Oh, God, how do I deserve the favor of such a woman? Your Highness, +how shall I thank you?" + +"Make Cornelia Erwing happy; this is the best gratitude I can ask, for +it will be the warrant of your own welfare." + +"Ah, if I might fall at your feet and kiss the hem of your garments! +No, you are no creature of earth!" + +Ottilie involuntarily pressed her hand upon her heart, and thought, +"Who knows how soon he may be right!" + +"Do you believe I can succeed in moving the heart of this wonderful, +resolute girl?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly, for I am sure Cornelia still loves you." + +"Did she tell you so in her letter?" + +"No; but I know how you were beloved, and therefore cannot be +forgotten. Besides, she only wrote to me once that I might know what +had become of her, if I should send for her and hear she had gone away. +She lamented that an unfortunate misunderstanding compelled her to part +from you, and begged me to preserve the strictest silence in regard to +her residence that you might not be able to take any steps to shake +this resolution, which was necessary for the sake of both. I gave the +promise and said nothing; but now I should think it wrong if I did not +contribute, as far as I am able, to reunite two such hearts. I had long +doubted whether any such woman as you need existed; but I recognized +Cornelia as the person whom, in imagination, I had destined for you; +therefore she must belong to you. Do you remember the evening I +predicted that you would feel a new, great love? It has now entered +your heart, and, by the goodness of God, I am permitted to show you the +way to the woman in whom the happiness of your life will bloom. My +prophecy is fulfilled, my mission to watch over your salvation +completed." Tears again glittered in her eyes as she uttered the words, +"May blessing and peace be with you both! Farewell." + +As soon as the prince saw Ottilie's farewell bow, he approached +_Heinrich_, and, after doing the honors to the company a short time +longer, the noble pair withdrew. The prince supported his wife with a +strong arm, for she tottered as she left the room. + +Ottmar had scarcely reached home when Ottilie's groom of the chambers +brought him a sealed envelope. It contained Cornelia's address, written +with an unsteady hand. + + +_Heinrich_ immediately sent a proposal of marriage to Cornelia, +overflowing with the ardor of unrestrained passion and the most +sincere, humble repentance. Great as was his sense of what he had lost +in her, it was equaled by his self-accusation, his impetuous pleading +for her pardon, her hand; and the whole letter bore the impress of +spiritual purification and bitter, heart-felt remorse. A few days after +Cornelia's answer arrived. + + + "Rome, February, 18--. + +"You ask for my hand, Heinrich. I have read the words with tears of +grateful surprise. You bear a beautiful and noble testimony, both to +yourself and me; and in spirit I fall upon my knees before you, and +implore your pardon for the reproaches and upbraidings hurled at your +dear head on that terrible evening of our parting. Your letter reveals +all the wealth of your deep heart, and shows me that you undervalued +yourself when you wished to commit a deed so unworthy of you. Forgive +me that I too then believed you worse than you are. I thank God for the +merciful kindness with which he restored my only treasure, esteem for +you; for nothing humiliates a woman more deeply than to feel affection +for a man she must despise. I frankly confess, Heinrich, that I could +not cease to love you, even for a moment, that I was torn by the most +torturing struggle between heart and my consciousness of right. Now, +since I have, received your letter and know you deserve my love, I am +once more at peace with myself. I write this that you may not think me +prompted by anger or bitterness when I refuse your hand. My eyes grow +dim at the sight of these cruel words, the fingers that guide the pen +are paralyzed; I must pause a moment and collect my thoughts. + +"I cannot become your wife after what has passed between us,--I dare +not. You have wounded my womanly honor too deeply, shown with too +little consideration what a great sacrifice you would make if you +raised me to the position of your wife, for me to be able to reconcile +my conscience or my pride to its acceptance. I cannot belong to a man +who found me in a station so far below him that he thought he could +degrade me to the lowest ignominy; although a nobler emotion or an +unconquerable affection afterwards leads him to atone for the wrong. I +should always fear that, according to the opinions you have often +declared, you would consider your marriage with me a mesalliance. +Besides, you have described my position as the plebeian wife of Count +Ottmar too clearly and distinctly for me not to shrink from the picture +with dread and horror; while even if I could myself suffer the +humiliations the pride of your aristocratic circle would prepare, I +could not bear that you, as my husband, should be compelled to share +them with me; for even if your love at first helped you to endure them, +they would only too soon stifle it. There would be a perpetual conflict +between your heart and the prejudices the world in which you live has +stamped upon you. This must banish peace from your breast, and sooner +or later make you as miserable as before. Love would yield, and +prejudice conquer, for society would neglect no opportunity of bringing +new and painful proofs of the justice of its views before your eyes, +and then what would be left me in return for all the humiliations I had +suffered? Your scorn! Oh, I was foolish ever to permit myself to be so +blinded as to believe that happiness for yourself or me could ever be +expected to result from a marriage with Count Ottmar! The extent of my +folly you first taught me to know in that hour of agony. Do not rebuke +the application I have made of your lessons as exaggerated. It might, +perhaps, be so in regard to a man who stood further above the views and +demands of a narrow-minded circle than you. But with you, Heinrich, it +is the direct result of your whole character. You are far too much +fettered by the ideas of those who surround you, cling too closely to +the false lustre of brilliant positions, accidental aristocratic +prerogatives, and personal distinction, to long retain your love for a +woman who would constantly inflict the most painful wounds upon your +aristocratic vanity. Believe me, love has no worse enemy than doubt of +the equality of its chosen object; and even if you thought me worthy of +you in intellect, the inferiority of my birth, and the want of esteem +shown by society, would weigh heavily against me. You must become +another man for me to accept your hand; and--forgive me if I am +harsh--your letter gave me no proof of this, although it revealed a +depth of feeling for which, since our separation, I had not given you +credit. But you are and will remain the minister, Count Ottmar, the +court favorite; I can only make him unhappy, as he would me. If you +were once more yourself, Heinrich von Ottmar, my Heinrich, who has +nothing in common with that unprincipled aristocracy,--if you openly +acknowledged what I taught you, what I believe requisite to true manly +dignity and greatness,--then, then you should learn how I love you. +Count Ottmar, who wished to inflict such disgrace upon me, I do not +love, and have sworn never to marry. Farewell! For your happiness and +my own I must avoid you, and leave it to God whether and how he dispose +your heart towards me. If your love is more than the obstinacy of a +passion irritated by resistance, it will unite with your better self +and make you a new man, will remove from our path the obstacles that +separate us, and upon the open way will find me once more; of that you +may be assured. But if it has not the strength to do all this, it would +in the end only make both you and myself miserable,--thrice as +miserable as we are now. + +"When you receive this letter, I shall have left Rome for another place +of residence. Do not try to seek me: you will not find me. Do not call +me 'cruel'; in these lines you see only the victory I have obtained +over myself, but not my anguish, my tears. Beloved, I extend my arms to +you, and would fain press you to my aching heart, but only the cold +phantom of womanly duty and honor bends toward me, and breathes an icy +kiss on my burning lips. Oh, it is hard to be cast off by one you love, +and compelled to renounce your most ardent desire! But, Heinrich, it is +still harder to reject him yourself, and voluntarily resign that for +which you long. These, Heinrich, are superhuman victories, and they +strip all blossoms of youth from the heart; but it is better to lose +them than reap the envenomed fruit of eternal remorse. May God keep his +gentle, fatherly hand over you! He can still lead you to happiness, and +he alone. + + "Cornelia Erwing." + + +It was morning when _Heinrich_ read and re-read this letter, until a +sorrow never imagined before made the words swim before his eyes, and +lay like a weight upon his chest, until, with a half-stifled cry of +agony, he bent his head upon the sheet lying before him. He started as +if bewildered, when Anton suddenly appeared, and informed him that a +message had come, summoning him to go to the palace as soon as +possible. + +A few hours after, the bells rang, the cannon thundered, and the +populace shouted with joy, for in the palace a new-born child, a +prince, lay in a golden cradle. The hope of the country, whose +fulfillment slumbered in that little heart, stood by its side uttering +a benediction, and the promise of a great future encircled the baby +brow with an invisible crown. + +But beside him a precious life was struggling silently and +uncomplainingly with death. Ottilie had fulfilled her last and highest +task, but it had exhausted the remnant of her strength. She felt that +her pulse had but a few more throbs, her breast would rise and fall +only a few more times, and, gazing gently and submissively around the +circle, Said, "Give me my son,"--took him from the arms of the prince +and pressed him closely to her heart. "Oh, God! what do I need more +than the happiness of this moment?" Yet a tear fell from her glazing +eyes as she kissed the little one and softly whispered, "You are so +sweet, so dear! Oh, it must be an immeasurable delight to cradle such a +child in one's arms, protect, foster, and watch the awakening of its +slumbering powers! It is not allotted to me. I must leave you and give +you up to your father. May his soul open itself to _you_! may you +become the innocent mediator between him and his poor people!" She +pressed the boy more and more feebly to her breast. "Farewell! it +grieves me to leave you,--grieves me deeply. Yours was the only heart +an which I relied. But I will not complain. I have _borne_ you,--this, +too, is a mercy from God, and with a kiss upon your rosy lips it is +sweet to die." The child fell from her arm, and her head sank back. + +"She is asleep," said the prince, dismissing the bystanders, that he +might not be compelled to show any grief. + +That evening the bells rang out another peal, and thousands wept aloud +under the brilliantly-lighted windows of the palace, for behind them, +on a black-draped bed of state, lay the beautiful corpse of the +princess, and her people's love stretched its arms towards her in vain. +With her the last bond that bound the sympathies of the masses to the +throne was sundered, and in the child-like ideas of the nation, +Ottilie's glorified spirit rose from her death-bed as that of a saint, +a martyr, who had vainly struggled and suffered to the end. She hovered +above the mourning country in a halo of glory and grief, and despair +transformed the angel of peace into a goddess of freedom, who with a +mighty power revealed to their oppressed hearts the consciousness of +their crushed rights. + + + + + XXI. + + SPRING STORM. + + +The political atmosphere constantly grew darker and more threatening. +Throngs of people had streamed from all the provinces to attend +Ottilie's funeral, all with the same sorrow, the same rancor; and, +after the obsequies were over, they assembled for consultations of the +most serious nature, and these consultations resulted in resolutions. +Unions were formed and dissolved, deputations sent and dismissed, the +press rose and was suppressed. The evidences of the advancing movement +became more and more decided, the measures of the government yet more +stringent. + +Suddenly a shout rang through the whole country. + +"Count Ottmar has formed an opposition in the ministry! Count Ottmar +has declared for the constitution!" The news ran like wildfire. Ottmar, +who had been so long hated as the enemy of all progress, the powerful +favorite of the prince, suddenly threw influence, position, and +authority into the wavering scale, and acknowledged before the world +the cause against which he had so long battled. No one took time to +question the motive of this sudden change; enough that it was so, it +was help in the hour of the utmost need; and new courage animated the +elastic minds of the people. Ottmar was now the centre of universal +attention; the last hope was bound up in him. This consciousness gave +him a dignity which pervaded his whole character. He was once more the +old Ottmar, who strode on haughtily erect, in triumph; but another and +a nobler triumph was now depicted in his sparkling eyes, his lofty +bearing; it was not the victory of subtle arts over the hearts of +feeble women, credulous princes, and less gifted diplomats; but the +conquest of a manly action upon minds, and the pride of an honest +purpose in lieu of treacherous fascinations. + +He was animated with new life. The conflict between his principles and +his course of action, as well as that between his love and his career, +which Cornelia so greatly feared, had arisen; and although the first +impulse to his new deeds, as in the case of Albert's liberation, had +been merely the selfish desire to enter the path upon which he might +hope to find Cornelia, he again felt with great satisfaction the +blessing of his good action. + +There is scarcely any soil more favorable for the efforts of man than +to represent a nation, be it in whatever form it may, none in which the +noblest and purest philanthropy can be better developed; but there is +also none from which personal vanity reaps a more abundant harvest. +Cornelia knew this, and therefore had sought to lead Ottmar into this +career. Vanity was the tie by which she endeavored to unite the egotist +to a great cause, until its own nature could enter into him and raise +him above himself. The moment had now arrived when her expectation +began to prove itself correct. _Heinrich_ found himself obtaining an +importance in the eyes of the whole country, which he had hitherto +possessed only within the narrow circle of the court; saw himself +beloved where he had formerly been hated; surrounded with shouts of +joy, instead of having men shrink from him in fear, and he would have +been unnatural if it had not both flattered him and stirred the silent +chords of benevolence within him. Thus the way was opened which he must +follow if his opposition in the ministry succumbed, and he sacrificed +the portfolio to his new confession of faith. + +"Cornelia, wonderful woman, what have you made me?" he said to himself +a hundred times, while his breast heaved with a sigh of longing. He +pressed his hand upon his heart, which he felt more and more to be the +centre of gravity of his nature; where the head whose lofty ideas had +given him new life had so often rested and thought. "When shall I hide +you here again? When, after all these tumultuous conflicts, shall I +hold quiet, blissful intercourse with you? When will your sparkling +eyes rest lovingly upon me, and say, I am satisfied with you, +Heinrich'?" + +Weeks elapsed, and the people still hoped, while Ottmar saw the +catastrophe he expected approach nearer and nearer,--for he knew the +situation of affairs too well to believe for a moment that his +opposition would effect anything more than to give him the confidence +he needed for his new career, and make his change of opinion easier. He +was not mistaken. From the moment he acknowledged his real views he was +excluded from all personal intercourse with the prince, and the +majority in the ministry was against him. The prince, calm and +immovable in his convictions, did not suspect that in Ottmar alone lay +the pledge of his security; his eyes, which were constantly gazing into +the obscurity of a long-buried past, did not perceive the feeling of +the nation which had assembled menacingly about the liberal minister. +But Ottmar felt this invisible power hovering around his brow with +whispers of promise, and knew that he was the real ruler of the moment; +for with him fell the last barrier that withheld the rising flood from +the steps of the throne, and with a proud smile he at last hailed his +overthrow in the ministry as the first real triumph of his life. + +"May you never be compelled by force, your Highness, to acknowledge the +spirit you now deny!" were his last words, as he left the council of +ministers. He did not suspect how soon, for the first time, he was to +know and estimate at its full power the spirit that, with scornful +menace, he had held up as a ghost before the eyes of the prince. + +On the evening of the same day the rumor that Ottmar had sent in his +resignation spread through the city, so that undoubtedly the question +of the constitution had been unfavorably decided. The streets were +deserted, but the public-houses were filled to overflowing; +conversations were carried on a low tone, and several arrests were +made. + +The next morning the newspapers confirmed the report that Count +Ottmar's resignation had been sent in and accepted; and further +remarked that the government, spite of its eagerness to accede to all +just and reasonable demands, could not suffer itself to be borne on by +the extreme views of this man, etc. + +This was too hard a blow for the newly-excited hopes of the nation. + +Ottmar himself, by his previous conduct, had unconsciously increased +its expectations to such an extent that they could only be crushed by a +terrible rebuff, but not subside peacefully. + +A nation which has long pleaded and had its most reasonable demands +rejected, its highest expectations disappointed, is a terrible power +when, with its last hope, its last fear is cast aside. Scarcely had the +news of Ottmar's withdrawal from the ministry spread abroad, when all +the machines stood still, all the looms stopped. A strange bustle began +to make itself heard in the streets. Workmen ran busily to and fro, +groups formed and separated. Crowds of men, engaged in earnest +conversation, surged up and down. Towards evening the strange +mysterious rabble, the vermin which always crawl forth when the soil of +popular order is disturbed, began to mingle with the throng. The +questions and interference of the police were answered with contempt or +a slap in the face. At last, with the gathering darkness, the aimless +tumult assumed purpose and direction; Ottmar's house was the point +towards which the pulsing life of the whole City streamed. A cheer was +raised for the discharged minister, the fallen representative of the +people. A few hasty charges from the patrol dispersed the scarcely +organized, defenceless crowd; but the result was that the following day +it assembled again, and the scene was repeated; this time with a cheer +for Ottmar and a hiss for the government. The advancing soldiers found +a part of the crowd armed, and a struggle ensued. When the first +wounded man fell a furious yell burst forth, and the resistance became +desperate, until a second detachment of mounted gendarmes dashed upon +the combatants with drawn sabres and forced them asunder. + +The first blow dealt upon such occasions opens the artery of a whole +nation, and the wild blood streams forth until strength is utterly +exhausted, and the arm yields feebly to the bandage which often only +conceals a new fetter. + +On the third day the City looked as if some public festival were being +celebrated. An inexplicable concourse of strangers thronged the +streets; the trains arrived crowded with the inhabitants of the +provinces; new bands constantly flocked to the City; the soldiers were +consigned to the barracks, the places of business closed. + +Still the demon of insurrection, imprisoned in every throbbing heart, +waited until the scattered masses obtained a definite form, and +then burst forth with all his long-repressed power; one mind in a +many-limbed, gigantic body. Roaring and shouting he rushed forward with +the wings of the storm, ever swelling and increasing, destroying all +peaceful life as he dashed along. The breezes fled before and around +him, the earth shook and whirled its stones upward to the glittering +palaces; while shattering and crashing, groaning and roaring, was the +accompanying harmony to the terrible, howling, and shouting song of +fury of the unchained revolution. + +Pale terror stared hollow-eyed at the passing desolation, while the +Nemesis of the insulted law dashed after on snorting steeds. But the +ghost of fratricide rested with paralyzing power upon the pursuers, and +unreached, unchecked, a part of the mighty crowd rushed on to the +arsenal. The guard stationed for its defense fell at the first +tremendous assault; the huge doors yielded, and with an exultant roar +of "Arms!" the combatants rushed in over the treasured emblems of +battle-traditions centuries old, to prepare for the most important +conflict--the victory of the new over the old time. + +Vengeance hastened after with lightning and thunder; and the infuriated +forces, crashing and shrieking, rushed upon each other and struggled in +the most terrible of all conflicts--the narrow, crowded battle of the +streets. Repeated volleys of artillery and new bands of soldiers at +last forced a way through the throng before the arsenal was plundered. +But, as a wave which the tempest lashes asunder always rushes together +with redoubled violence, the crowd divided and grew denser here and +there before the regular weapons of the troops. Hotter and more deadly +grew the struggle. Darkness was gradually added to the thick smoke of +the powder, which enveloped the noisy city and absorbed every ray of +light. Barricades, those terrible fortifications of the populace, +had risen, and around them the conflict raged, so that the walls +of the houses groaned and trembled, and with the last gleam of day the +last appearance of definite purpose vanished, darkness shrouded the +heated brains, and both within and without all outline of form +and plan vanished. Murder was no longer committed for the sake +of a certain object, but became the object itself. Nature asserted +her rights, not in a peaceful, normal manner, but with horrible +degeneracy,--stupefaction in the place of sleep, the delirium of fury +instead of dreams. The animal developed itself in forms of hideous +distortion, and the most dangerous madness took possession of the soul: +joy in cruelty, pleasure in destruction. Hour after hour elapsed in a +wild tumult of excesses and crimes; anarchy writhed and twisted +horribly beneath the superior force of fresh bodies of troops, clung +giddily to her bulwarks, and defended them with convulsive energy as +her last support. The struggle now became monotonous. Signals, volleys +of artillery, and fierce howls, like those of wild beasts, alternated +at regular intervals, while above them rose the notes of the +alarm-bells, and only the crash of falling barricades, the glare of +burning houses, interrupted the terrible rhythm with which the yielding +revolution was uttering its last sighs. Limb after limb began to die, +street after street became quiet. + +At last, towards morning, the over-taxed strength was exhausted, the +thirst for blood slaked. Death was gleaning in the houses where battle +had cast its mangled victims, and trembling hands were busied in +binding up wounds, while compassion and horror struggled for the +mastery. The last shot died away, the insurrection was quelled. Silence +spread over the scene the lassitude of death. Slowly the ever-patient +heavens flushed with the rosy hues of dawn, and the still reeking city +lay purple in its blood. + +Ottmar stood at the window gazing silently, now at the glowing sky and +now at the blood-stained earth. Horror had stupefied him. In the angles +of the streets soldiers, who had fallen asleep while standing in the +ranks, leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder. Now and then a +body covered with straw was borne past; pallid women stepped +noiselessly over the barricades, urged on by the courage of despair, +and crept along the streets to seek their husbands and sons; invisible +angels of death floated through the air, guided them into the right +path, and hovered around them when, in some lifeless body, they were +forced to recognize a relative. + +_Heinrich_ gazed motionless at these changing scenes of misery; but his +inmost heart was strangely stirred. The spirit of murdered freedom +celebrated in him its resurrection, built a temple in his soul, raised +its arches heavenward, and led him away from this sorrowful scene of +his former unhallowed labors to his own home, where the lists stood +open to the missionaries of national happiness, where he could obey the +call which had appealed to his conscience in the death-cry of an +ill-used country. All the frivolity and brilliancy that had formerly +charmed him was swallowed up in the streams of blood he had seen +flow,--all striving and struggling to assert his own merits vanished in +the newly-awakened consciousness of the duties devolving upon every +talented man for the development and culture of the masses. The +solemnity of the moment had seized upon him and stripped off all that +was false and superficial. He could not answer with sophisms the great +question propounded by the times; he must at last be himself again, +must acknowledge the truth, and from amidst all the horrors of +vengeance, the rushing streams of blood, once more arose in its pure +beauty the thought of the eternal rights of man he had so grievously +profaned. + + + + + XXII. + + LIGHT AND SHADOW. + + +A radiant morning sky arched over a green island which lay in the midst +of a broad, ruffled lake. Blue mountain-peaks, veiled in mist, bounded +the almost-immeasurable surface of water. Who can describe all the +changeful lights upon the tide when the young rays of the morning sun +play upon the dancing wavelets--the rising and falling, the sparkling +and flashing, the confused blending of the reflections? A fresh breeze +swept over the lake to the island and rustled the leaves of the lofty +trees; with that exception, a deep silence, a sabbath-like peace, +brooded over the scene. + +A girlish figure stood upon the shore, gazing, in a trance of delight, +at the starry shimmer of the waves, and inhaling with parted lips the +cool breath of the water; dewy leaves and blossoms kissed her floating +robes, and dragon-flies sported upon the tide at her feet. Her eyes +followed with a longing look a bird of prey which soared in a majestic +flight towards the pure, vaulted firmament. Just then the sound of the +matin-bell rang out upon the silence, and at the same moment a tall +man, in long, dark robe, appeared in the doorway of a peasant's house +near by, and, standing motionless, gazed at the slender figure, whose +marvelous proportions were sharply outlined against the sparkling lake! +"Cornelia!" he called at last. + +She turned and hurried towards him. "My dear Severinus! Oh, how happy I +am! Here the free German air blows once more; here I again hear the +rustling of German oaks and pines. Home surrounds me in this fresh, +simple nature, speaks in the familiar language, looks from the kindly +blue eyes. I live once more,--I am awake,--and what surrounds me is +charming, bright reality." + +"Have you only been dreaming while in our glorious Italy?" asked +Severinus, gravely. + +"Yes, Severinus; a beautiful, wonderful dream, but a dream after all. I +was torn from my native soil; my heart could not take root anywhere; no +dear relations with my past existed; no new ones were formed with the +present. What I saw and experienced only enriched my intellect, not my +heart; it afforded me pleasure without making me happy; occupied my +mind without obtaining any hold upon my nature. I gazed, admired, +learned, and reveled in a wealth of beauty; but I was not myself,--my +individual life had no connection with my surroundings. What is this +except a dream into which we bring nothing, and from which we take only +a memory?" + +"I had hoped you would not return so empty from a country of the +loftiest revelations. I expected your great soul would there find its +only true home, and the sorrow of finding myself mistaken shall be the +last the world can prepare for me." + +"Oh, do not talk so, Severinus, dear, pious father! Do not Look at me +so sadly; do not be so stern and bitter, but enjoy with me the blessing +of this peaceful morning. Let holy nature be the church in which our +souls can unite in adoration of our common God. See, my friend, +clearness of vision is as unavoidable a necessity to me as light and +air; in clearness of vision God shows himself to me, while you only +perceive him in mysteries. In order to see him I open my spiritual +eyes; you close yours. I receive his manifestations with sharpened, you +with artificially deadened, senses. I see him in each of these light +clouds floating over the sunny sky; you darken your churches, and +shroud yourselves in clouds of incense, that in the mysterious, +rich-hued twilight you may paint a vague, fanciful picture. His natural +and moral laws everywhere announce themselves to me in shining +characters, and I serve him by cheerful obedience to them; you collect +from the ambiguous writings of the Bible a book of church regulations, +to which you slavishly submit, and exhaust your hearts and minds the +superhuman effort of satisfying all your self-created duties." + +"I hope this is not the only result of your observation of our sublime +worship. It must be the short residence on this dull German soil which +has loosened the strings that resounded so clearly in Rome." + +"Do not cherish such a fancy, Severinus," said Cornelia, as she walked +up and down the shore with him. "The forms of your worship, as I saw +them in Rome, delighted me; nay, their grandeur and poesy aroused a +wild enthusiasm. But it was the revelation of art, not that of the +Deity, at which I gazed. All your miracles, all your lofty precepts, +proved nothing except the grandeur of the human intellect, and in this +the existence and influence of a God, which I never doubted, and which +had been just as clearly revealed to me in every creation of genius. My +God, to whom I pray in childish adoration, has remained the same; he +has come from Rome with me the same as he went. You neither +strengthened nor shook my belief; I cherish the deepest reverence for +your worship of God; it is more beautiful, more sublime, than ours; my +heart has opened to much that revealed a character of sincere piety, +but I still see in it only a transitory _form_, liable to alter with +the changes of centuries; while I bear within me the imperishable +essence, ever the same through the lapse of ages." + +"Oh, Cornelia, how I pity you!" said Severinus, as he leaned against an +oak, covering his dark eyes with his hand, while his breast rose and +fell as if he were struggling for breath. "Cornelia," he suddenly +exclaimed, encircling her forehead with both hands, "free your mind, +your godlike mind, from the clutches of this prejudice; cast aside the +arrogance of independent judgment; bend your haughty brow in obedience +to our church. Oh, if I could give you the blessing to be found in +unconditional submission,--blind faith,--I would willingly sacrifice my +life to save for the church this soul, which has no peer in human form! +Cornelia, a fiend has taken possession of you; that of pride, doubt, +indifference. He has concealed himself under the false lustre of an +abstract reverence for God, to lull your conscience to sleep, in order +that you may the more surely fall into unbelief and destruction." He +suddenly threw himself at her feet, and gazed despairingly into her +eyes. "Here I lie before you in the dust, and I plead in infinite +anguish for the precious imperiled property of Christ. The next moment +of time may perhaps decide your fate, and part us forever. Cornelia, +join our church; believe me, she alone can save you." + +"Oh, God, how hardly you try me! You wrong me, Severinus. No evil +spirit, no prejudice, guides me. Have you ever seen me arrogant? If I +were, should I not go over to you? for you have opened the most +tempting prospects to my pride; you would halt my conversion with joy, +and receive me with every kind of pomp and distinction. My self-love +would be so greatly flattered that it would far, far outweigh the +self-denial of an outward subordination to the church, while in my own +congregation no one asks about Cornelia Erwing. But I cannot thus belie +myself. Do not sadden my heart with entreaties and lamentations: +convince me, Severinus; for so long as you do not succeed in that I can +do nothing but weep, because I must grieve my best friend so deeply." + +"Convince you!" cried Severinus, starting up. "If the whole gigantic +structure of our religion, whose foundations certainly do not rest upon +air, the marvels of our worship, the words of the fathers of the +church, the historical proofs of our traditions which reach beck to the +time of the establishment of Catholicism by Peter himself, could not +convince you, there is nothing left for me to say." + +"All that, my friend, even granting that they were proofs, could not +make me forget the causes of the Reformation. The Reformation is the +mother of my faith." + +"Ah, do not utter these words in the same breath! What had your +Reformation in common with faith? Were your dry, philosophical +Melanchthon, your rough, sensual Luther, your chiding, physically +and morally starving Hutten, representatives of a religious +transformation?" + +"They were men who had the courage to appear before the hypocrisy of +your degenerate priesthood as they really were; who did not seek the +halo of sanctity in the denial of human nature, but honored God and his +wisdom in his laws. Besides, we too do not lack sainted martyrs, and +the flames that consumed a Huss branded an eternal stigma upon your +church." + +"I cannot argue with you about the means the church was permitted to +use against such apostates. I will only tell you, my child, that the +Reformation of the sixteenth century was nothing more than a secular +insurrection against abuses in the church, which unfortunately cannot +be denied. But a secular revolution can never create a religion, and +therefore Protestantism lacks the positive character the human heart +needs, and where it strives to appropriate it, becomes a monster, for +it is and remains nothing more than a--protest against Catholicism." + +"Our Reformation was not to create a religion; its purpose was merely +to free one already existing from abuse and error. Its task was to +restore Christianity to its original purity, and if it did not wholly +succeed, if in Protestantism it has only produced a transitory, +imperfect form, we still thank it for the highest blessings of +civilization, and most precious of all, that freedom of conscience +which permits the dissatisfied mind to choose its own religion." + +"And this much-praised 'freedom of conscience' leads directly to want +of principle, and becomes the destruction of all virtue, all religion!" +cried Severinus, indignantly. "The human race cannot dispense with a +positive church discipline without falling into anarchy. And in you, +Cornelia, unhappily, I have already had an opportunity to learn the +effects of this emancipation." + +"You have learned, Severinus," interrupted Cornelia, with noble pride, +"that I resisted evil with the same power with which I now repel the +flattering allurements of a church adorned with all the magic of fancy +and attraction of rites, because it is at variance with my own +convictions. Is this a want of moral discipline?" + +Severinus walked on beside Cornelia in silence. The sun had risen +higher in the heavens, and the bell for mass rang from the neighboring +convent. Severinus paused and gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's +eyes. "Girl, does not that innocent voice fall upon your ear in tones +of touching warning, like the pleading of a mother calling to her lost +child?" + +"Do not be such a bigoted Catholic to-day, Severinus," said Cornelia, +gazing at him beseechingly. "All the joy of this earthly life is +stirring in my heart, and must I constantly argue with you about the +best means of reaching heaven? Oh, let me enjoy with a thankful soul +the rich abundance of happiness my Creator has poured out for me! Do +not cast the black shadow of your religious harshness over the sunny +picture of this day. Severinus, my dear, gloomy friend, be mild and +gentle. Look at me as kindly as you used to do. See, see, there is the +glimmer of a smile upon your face! Ah, it has already vanished again! +What a pity! Ever since the news of Ottmar's going over to the liberal +party brought me back to Germany, and filled me with the blissful +certainty of being reunited to him, you have become a different person. +When I lost him, I gained you; and now that I am to gain him once more, +I lose you. When I felt miserable and lonely, you were as loving and +patient as a father; but since I have been animated with new hope, you +have retired coldly into yourself, and you have hidden yourself behind +the walls of your work of conversion." + +"My task, Cornelia, is only to aid the afflicted; the happy do not need +me." Severinus looked silently up towards heaven. His eyes were +bloodshot; his wasted face, bronzed by the Italian sun, glowed with +fervor. + +Cornelia laid her clasped hands compassionately and beseechingly upon +his breast. "Severinus, you are suffering; I see it." + +For a moment he pressed her hands closely to his throbbing heart, then +hurled them away, with an expression of horror, and hurried off. + +Cornelia looked after him in astonishment, but did not try to follow, +for she felt that the emotion which moved him was a secret she ought +not to fathom. She turned towards the rural inn where she lodged, and +now observed for the first time that one of the artists who came to the +island to sketch was seated an a little hillock not far from the spot +where she had been pacing with Severinus, and recognized him as the +very person to whose talent she owed her first picture of Ottmar. She +approached, and he hastily concealed in his portfolio the paper upon +which he had been working. + +"You only arrived yesterday evening, and are already sketching the +scenery, Herr A----. Is it not a little hasty?" + +"I have already made myself familiar with all its details," said A----, +with evident embarrassment. "I am very much hurried, because I would +like to finish the picture in time for the exhibition at H----." + +"Then I will not detain you, but wish you all possible success. Au +revoir, Herr A----." + +"I will do myself the honor of waiting upon you at a later hour, +Fräulein Erwing," said A----, bowing respectfully; and, as Cornelia +turned away, he drew out his sketch, and eagerly continued his work. + +Cornelia entered the public room, to ask if the newspapers had arrived. +It was full of active life. Some twenty young artists were standing +together consulting about a trip they were to take; most of them +handsome young fellows, with large beards, boldly-curved Calabrian +hats, open shirt-collars, and the general adventurous negligence of +apparel with which the young representatives of the laws of beauty seek +to remove the pedantic stiffness of modern costume. + +A general "ah!" echoed through the room at Cornelia's entrance, and a +movement took place which made the dense clouds of tobacco-smoke that +filled the low apartment whirl as if driven by the wind. The hats were +removed; the beer-glasses noiselessly set aside. All crowded around +Cornelia. + +"Fräulein Erwing!" cried one, to whom a waving red mane and +widely-dilated nostrils gave the appearance of a lion, "we have at last +caught you without your black guardian! You must yield to superior +force, and let us steal your face. We are a terrible band of robbers, +and a person for whom we once lay snares does not escape us so easily." + +"Yes, but we must first have a fight, to decide which of us she will +allow to paint her," said another, waving a staff in the air. + +"Fräulein Erwing," cried a little black-bearded Pole, with a shrill +accent, "I will shoot the first man to whom you sit!" + +"That is not necessary," growled he of the lion's mane; "we will all +paint her at once!" + +"Yes, yes!" cried many voices at the same moment. "That's a good idea! +We will all paint her at once!" + +"That is, if I will sit to you," laughed Cornelia, "for I have not yet +resigned all right of ownership in my own face, gentlemen." + +"Fräulein Erwing," began the man of the lion's mane, with great pathos, +"we do not know in what branch of Christian duty your reverend father +instructs you, but he has certainly taught you that our advantages are +only bestowed upon us that we may make them available for the profit +and welfare of others; so you will perceive that it is your duty to pay +the debt you owe Providence for your face, by using it to aid the +development of youthful talent." + +"Yes!" cried another; "you could not justify yourself before God if you +displayed such a wealth of beauty to idle gazers, and grudgingly +refused the struggling artist permission to use and perpetuate its +lines in an inspired creation." + +"You would make me unconscionably vain, gentlemen," said Cornelia, "if +the fame of being the most beautiful on this little island were not so +cheaply purchased." + +A general "Oh, oh!" expressed the indignation of the enthusiastic +artists at this modesty, and a torrent of eager protestations +threatened to follow; but Cornelia cut them short by exclaiming, gayly, +"Well, well, if you can make me of any use for a picture, I will give +you a sitting; but one only, and at the utmost two hours long. So, +whoever wants to paint me must take advantage of the opportunity." + +"That is excellent!" they all cried, joyously. "It's a very short time, +to be sure, but we'll see about the rest. But when may we draw you?" + +"Whenever you choose, gentlemen. Perhaps the best time would be now!" + +"Yes, yes; we will take her at her word," said one of the older ones of +the party. "It shall be done now; and when the two hours are over, +Fräulein Erwing shall see the sketches, and decide which of us she +considers worthy the honor of another sitting for the completion of her +picture." + +"But our excursion," said a tall lad, whose whole vitality seemed to +have run into an immense length of limb. "Shall we defer our +excursion?" + +"Let your chicken legs take you where you like, man," thundered he of +the lion's mane; "but don't say you are an artist, if you talk about +excursions while our eyes are permitted a glimpse into the holy of +holies of beauty." + +"Let him go!" cried another. "He can't help it; all his vital functions +are expended in the use of his feet. It will be one the less to take up +the room; there are twenty-three of us without him. The number is still +too large. I scarcely believe that there were ever so many assembled on +the island at one time before." + +A long debate now followed concerning the place where they should +sketch Cornelia, while the latter had meantime obtained possession of +the newspaper, and was reading it in breathless suspense. Suddenly she +started. She had found what she sought,--Ottmar's name as a candidate +for the H---- Chambers. Her face was suffused with a rosy flush of joy, +and her eyes sparkled as she laid the sheet aside and turned towards +the artists, who were disputing violently because some thought it too +hot out of doors, and others considered the room too small. + +"Gentlemen," she cried gayly, "peace is the first condition I shall +impose if I am to sit for you. We will go out into the open air and +look for some shady spot; if you all want to paint me at the same time, +we shall certainly need more room than there is here." + +The proposal was accepted, and the whole party went out with Cornelia. +On a lofty part of the shore, not far from the inn, was a large open +space surrounded with lofty trees, beneath which stood wooden benches +and tables, and where, in spite of the heat, it was cool and pleasant. +The eye could wander undazzled over the rippling lake and the beautiful +island, which rested on the waters like a large green leaf. The light +surges gently rocked the boats fastened near by; in one of them, under +the spreading branches of an ancient linden, a peasant lad was extended +sleeping comfortably, undisturbed by the loud bustle of the approaching +artists. It seemed as if all nature was slumbering in her sunny +noontide brightness. + +"Well, gentlemen," exclaimed Cornelia, "is it not delightful here? Have +we not shade, fresh breezes, and comfort?" + +"Yes, yes," cried the artists in one breath; "we will stay here. Out +with the portfolios, and let every one take his place and go to work!" + +They buzzed about Cornelia like a swarm of bees which are about to +settle and fly from one spot to another, now alighting, now rising +again, now dispersing, and anon collecting at the same point, scuffling +with each other about places, and filling the inexperienced observer +with anxiety lest they should never get established. Such were the +preparations of the artists at the beginning of their work. Here +several were disputing about the profile, yonder a group wished to sit +opposite to her, not unfrequently a slight skirmish decided the matter, +and those who did not succeed in conquering a place climbed up into the +trees and established themselves and their portfolios among the +branches. + +"We must form the narrowest possible semicircle," advised he of the +lion's mane, who, as the possessor of the strongest lungs in the +company, undertook the duty of organizing the party, in which, by means +of a great expenditure of voice and unwearied energy, he at last +succeeded; and when, with the aid of the trees, a half-circle was +formed in the shape of an amphitheatre whose extremities could not even +obtain a full profile, but merely a portion of the cheek and ear, the +zealous artist first perceived that he had completely excluded himself. +His nostrils dilated to an unprecedented size as his large eyes +wandered around the circle, while his broad freckled hands were thrust +helplessly through his unkempt mane. A shrill peal of laughter echoed +jeeringly from the circle and the trees, "Richard C[oe]ur de Lion has +no place!" + +"Be calm, Richard," cried one; "we will get you into the exhibition +after all. We'll paint Fräulein Erwing as the lion's bride, and you as +the monster!" + +"Jeer away, you mocking-birds!" he thundered. "Because I am an artist, +I thought more of the subject than myself, and I'll show you what an +artist can do. I'll paint a neck and heir such as the world never yet +saw!" and with these words he strode majestically on, seated himself +behind Cornelia, and began to work with the must grotesque movements. + +Silence now reigned while the three-and-twenty artists struggled in the +greatest possible haste to perpetuate her features. + +Cornelia had watched the tumult absently; her thoughts were wandering +far away, and the stillness that ensued was most welcome. She could +give herself up to her dreams undisturbed. "She is marvelously +beautiful!" suddenly cried one of the younger artists from his perch in +the tree. Universal applause answered this naïve expression of delight. +"The birds in the trees are singing your praises, Fräulein Erwing!" +cried another. "Doesn't that flatter you?" + +"Oh, certainly," she answered, smiling as indifferently as if she had +not understood the compliment paid her. + +"The best likeness will flatter her most," growled Richard C[oe]ur de +Lion from behind Cornelia. "Express your admiration by work instead of +words, and she will value it more." + +"Well growled, lion!" said the young enthusiast in the tree. + +"Go on the stage and declaim verses; you are more fit for an actor than +an artist," exclaimed Richard, without having the slightest suspicion +that he was himself in his appearance the most theatrical of all; for +naturalness, when carried too far, becomes as great a caricature as +affectation, and the stage is certainly the home of caricatured forms. + +"Come, gentlemen," cried Cornelia, laughing; "the time you spend in +disputing you will lose in work; for I must tell you that I will not +sit a moment longer than the two hours agreed upon! It is altogether +too uncomfortable to endure the gaze of three-and-twenty pairs of +eyes." + +This threat re-established peace; for the artists once more devoted all +their energy to their work, and henceforth nothing was heard but the +wondering exclamations of several country people who stationed +themselves here and there on the outskirts of the shaded spot to gaze +at a proceeding utterly incomprehensible to them. The time agreed upon +passed away, and Cornelia rose. Neither grumbling nor entreaties +availed; she kept resolutely to her determination. The sketches were +laid before her, and as she looked at them in succession she burst into +a merry laugh. She saw her own face taken from some twenty different +stand-points. "Dear me, can I be like all these?" she exclaimed, +clasping her hands in astonishment. "If I ever knew how I looked, I +should not from this day! Who can decide which of these many faces is +mine? If this is, of course that can't be; and if this profile taken +from the right is a good likeness, how can the one sketched from the +left resemble me? The right side of my face must be entirely different +from the left,--and that would be horribly abnormal. According to these +profile views I should have two kinds of eyes, eyebrows, cheeks; nay, +even my nose would consist of two dissimilar halves. Now, can you +dispute this, gentlemen?" + +The artists themselves could not help laughing as they looked at their +pictures. + +"Now you will get an idea of the variety and abundance of beauty your +features possess, Fräulein Erwing," said one of the oldest of the +group. "When compared with you the majority of the sketches seem +passable likenesses, although so different from each other that one +would almost doubt whether they all represented the same face." + +"A very pretty compliment to me--and an admirable defense of your +colleagues," said Cornelia, courteously. + +"But, Fräulein Erwing," cried another; "you have not yet noticed a +picture which is at all events unique in its way; and our C[oe]ur de +Lion, with unusual modesty, has already been waiting a long time for +your opinion." + +He handed Richard's drawing to Cornelia, and all gazed at it in +astonishment, for it was a master-piece. A woman's upraised head, +adorned with a wealth of hair so boldly drawn that one felt tempted to +pass it through the fingers. A few curls which had escaped from the +braids fell upon a most beautiful neck. Cornelia looked at the sheet in +amazement. "You are indeed an artist," said she, fixing her large eyes +with winning kindness upon Richard's rugged face. He blushed to the +roots of his tawny hair with delight. "Fräulein Erwing," he exclaimed, +"no praise ever made me so proud!" + +"Yes, yes, C[oe]ur de Lion, Fräulein Erwing is right," said several of +the group; "this hair and neck irresistibly tempt the beholder to turn +the head and see the face, which is concealed from us. You have +produced a master-piece." + +"If you go on so much longer, he'll get so vain that he will comb his +hair to-morrow. Just see! he is running his fingers through his mane!" +said others, laughing. + +"Well," exclaimed the rest, "we will hope that at the exhibition +Fräulein Erwing's features will yet win the victory over the beauty of +her hair." + +Thus each was cheered by the conviction that he alone would obtain the +prize. + +"So you will not sit longer to any of us?" asked Richard, as he placed +his sketch in his portfolio. + +"No, gentlemen. I was in the mood to enter into your jest; but if you +ask me in earnest, I must tell you that it would not be at all +agreeable to me to expose my face to the eyes of the whole public. I am +both too proud and too modest." + +"Is this your final decision?" + +"It is irrevocable," said Cornelia, with courteous resolution. + +"Well, we will not be ungrateful. In these two hours we have at least +fixed the outlines of your features," said one of the quieter members +of the party. + +But the others would not yield at once, and began to plead again. + +"If you understood the spirit that animates these features, you would +beg no longer, for you would know it to be vain," cried Richard, with +his usual artless pathos. Then he held out his hand to Cornelia and +continued: "I should probably have the best right to entreat you for +another sitting, since I was so great a loser; but I will not ask it +after what you have just said." + +"I thank you for your delicacy of feeling, Herr Richard," replied +Cornelia, with unconcealed admiration. "You may be assured that if I +sat to any of these gentlemen it would be to you; yet if you understand +the reason of my refusal, you will not be angry if I make no exception, +even in your favor." + +Richard buried Cornelia's hand in his prickly beard to press a kiss +upon it. "Angry with you? Who that had the heart of a true artist could +be? For, although we are not permitted to make portraits of you, we +still owe you thanks for a type of beauty which will be of service to +us all." + +"Yes, yes; he is right," they all assented. "You have not only enriched +our eyes, but our imaginations! Long live Cornelia Erwing! Hurrah!" + +At that moment the sound of the dinner-hell echoed from the inn, and at +the same instant Severinus's black-robed figure appeared, coming from +the neighboring convent. The artists wiped the perspiration from their +brows, for the noonday sun and their zeal had made them very bot. + +"There comes your pious father!" declaimed the young enthusiast, who +always spoke in quotations. "Now, brothers, let us fly!" + +And partly fear of the "black coat," partly hunger, drove the noisy +group to the table. They departed waving their hats, nodding, and +singing; and Cornelia was still looking after them with a smile, when +Severinus approached with a pale, gloomy face. + +"Such ovations certainly do not prepare one for the church," he +murmured, somewhat bitterly. + +"Ah, Severinus! I am so happy!" cried Cornelia, frankly. "What +open-hearted, gay, magnificent men they are! How I laughed! It +is a pity you were not here! Tell me, Father Severinus,--you are +sincere,--am I really as beautiful as they all say?" she asked, with +mischievous naïveté. + +Severinus looked timidly away from her, and with a deep flush fixed his +eyes upon the ground. "I do not know." + +"You don't know?" + +"I think only your soul beautiful, but not your body. Physical beauty +is something so perishable that it is unheeded by one who perceives, +and knows how to value, that of the soul." + +Cornelia became embarrassed. She was ashamed of the want of reserve +which had induced her to ask Severinus so inappropriate a question, and +did not see the strange glance with which he gazed at her blooming +cheeks and lips, and then clinched his teeth. + +"Forgive me for disturbing your grave mood with such jests, my reverend +friend; but I cannot help it. The gayety natural to my youth will +sometimes assert its rights. I was very glad they thought me beautiful. +The sight of a lovely face is always a pleasure to me, and the idea +that my appearance could also rejoice the eyes and hearts of others +pleased me. If this is vanity, is, at least, very innocent." + +"Certainly, my child," said Severinus, and his tone gradually lost its +assumed harshness. "I will not embitter the harmless little pleasures +of your youth. I am sure they will not smother the earnestness of your +nature." + +"Severinus," said Cornelia, smiling, "isn't it a fact that you do not +know what hunger is?" + +"No, certainly not. But you seem to know; so come,--let us go to +dinner." + +Cornelia was glad to have put an end to the uncomfortable conversation, +and hastened lightly on before him. Since her joy in life was once more +awakened, and hope and cheerfulness again stirred within her, she felt +Severinus's gloomy mood as a heavy burden. As long as she was at +variance with her own heart and the world, the character of the ascetic +priest suited her better than aught else; but now it began to form +a disagreeable contrast with her mood, and cast a shadow over the +newly-risen sun of her love. Yet she was too grateful to forget for a +moment what consolation his assistance had afforded her in the time of +her heavy visitation; so she maintained an unaltered, frank cordiality +towards him, although he now began to torture her with a thousand +contradictions and absurdities. + +The scene with the artists, innocent as it was in itself, seemed to +have made Severinus very thoughtful, in consequence of the pleasure +Cornelia derived from it. Such impressions must be kept from her at any +cost, for they were not adapted to aid his work of conversion. Even if +he should remove her from the neighborhood, he could not prevent these +young enthusiasts from traveling after her. He therefore went to the +superior of the convent on the island, and, when he returned, brought +an invitation from her to Cornelia to take up her residence in the +cloister, "as it was not proper for a young girl, with an equally young +companion, to remain in a country inn with a party of gay young men." +Cornelia, who did not care where she lodged, easily allowed herself to +be persuaded to fulfill Severinus's wish, and accept the friendly +superior's offer. Her removal to the cloister took place immediately, +and the astonished hostess told the artists, on their return from an +excursion, that the beautiful Fräulein Erwing had just entered a +convent. They were beside themselves at the news, for who could doubt +that the poor victim of the black coat had been brought here to +commence her novitiate? Thus Severinus's design of spreading a halo of +inaccessibility around Cornelia, and cutting off any intrusive pursuit, +was effectually attained; but that neither she nor her companion should +betray the truth in their unavoidable walks, it was necessary that they +should be taken away with all secrecy. On that very evening Severinus +excited Cornelia's interest in the B---- Oberland to such a degree that +she herself expressed a wish to continue her journey as soon as +possible, and he was merely fulfilling her own desire when he proposed +that they should leave the Island at daybreak, not to return. As no one +saw or heard anything of this departure, Cornelia was, and remained, in +the convent, whose strict seclusion made any inquiries impossible, and +the young artists grieved deeply that the world was robbed of so much +beauty. + +Meantime Severinus took the supposed victim farther and farther away, +and several months passed so quickly in the constant change from one +beautiful scene to another, and in grave but intellectually exciting +conversation with Severinus, that she was not conscious how skillfully +he managed to cut her off from all society. Priests and nuns were the +only persons with whom she held occasional intercourse; and she passed +them by with friendly indifference, which rendered any advances +impossible. Severinus's hopes of a conversion drooped more and more; he +could not conceal from himself that a sorrow was gnawing at his soul +which exhausted his best powers, and felt, with increasing despair, +that he should succumb himself before he could conquer Cornelia's +resolute temper. + + + + + XXIII. + + BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. + + +Severinus entered Cornelia's room one evening when they were to spend +the night in a peasant's house in the B---- forest. She was standing at +the window, gazing out into the sultry night. The sky arched over the +earth like a leaden-hued canopy; not a breath of air was stirring, not +a leaf moved on the trees; here and there a star gleamed forth where +the dense masses of clouds parted for a moment, and now and then a +distant flash of lightning glittered in the horizon, revealing the dim +outlines of the forest-crowned heights. "Severinus," she said, drawing +a long breath, as she turned toward him, "let us go out into the open +air before the storm breaks: the air is so oppressive here; perhaps it +is cooler outside." + +"I have come to speak to you about very serious subjects: it will be +better for us to stay here," said Severinus. And now for the first time +Cornelia noticed his gloomy expression, and looked with anxious +expectation into his face. + +"Cornelia, the time when your fate must be decided has arrived. The day +of election is approaching. I must not allow Ottmar to move forward +unrestrained upon the road in which he can only bring ruin upon our +church. If he is elected to the parliament, a powerful enemy will arise +against us. I have already told you what papers the order has in its +hands: they must be used now, if they are not to become useless. Let +Ottmar be a deputy; let him speak, and--as is to be foreseen--win the +masses, and everything we undertake against him will be in vain. The +last point of time is reached, when I must decide what is to be done." + +"And that is a publication of his relations with Jesuitism, the +destruction of the toilsomely obtained confidence of his party, in +order to prevent his election. Am I not right?" + +"Certainly." + +"And do you not know that you will not convert a man like Ottmar by +such means, but simply render him miserable?" + +"We wish to make him harmless,--nothing more." + +"But you do far worse," cried Cornelia, indignantly. "You bar the path +upon which he might become a better man; hurt him back to the cheerless +void of a life without a purpose: perhaps even entangle him in fresh +snares of falsehood and hypocrisy; and thus destroy a nature which, in +its own way, might accomplish great things for the world. Who gives you +the right thus violently to interfere with an independent existence?" + +"The same right which the government has to punish secular crimes, we, +as the representatives of the kingdom of God, possess against him who +sins against God and his servants." + +"Severinus, when the government chastises, it represents the insulted +law, and uses honest means; but you avenge only your own boundless +pride, and your weapons are hypocrisy and deceit! Are you better than +he whom you punish?" + +"Cornelia!" cried Severinus, with flashing eyes, "do you dare say that +to me?" + +"I have never spoken anything but the truth all my life. You could not +expect me to call wrong right; and if God should descend to the earth +once more he would judge the zeal of those who commit sin for his +honor, and misuse his name for selfish purposes, far more harshly than +the errors of the men who have deserted him in form, but not in +reality." + +"It is only natural that the child of the world should speak in her +lover's favor; and I will be patient now, as I have often been before. +I cannot ask you to perceive the sublimity of a subordination to the +will of a chief, as our order practices it. Our General alone bears the +responsibility; God will call him only to an account; and he can lay it +aside: for God is higher than the law, and whoever represents him on +earth cannot have his acts measured by the standard of earthly +justice!" + +Cornelia gazed at Severinus long and silently. "You told me a short +time ago that you pitied me. Now I must answer you in the same words: +Severinus, I pity you! I am not angry; but you will perceive that from +this hour our paths must lie apart. If you deal a blow which will +destroy Ottmar's honest efforts, it is my duty to be at his side." + +"Cornelia, it is in your power to avert this dangerous blow." + +"How?" + +"The order has determined to give up the papers to you at the price of +your conversion to Catholicism. The order feels itself justified in +resigning the pursuit of this faithless man; if it can thereby win for +the good cause another soul, which will be pleasing to God." + +"Indeed!" cried Cornelia, fixing a piercing glance upon Severinus. "Is +it thus you advance your work of conversion?" + +"We leave you the choice between the only church which can save souls +and your lover's prosperity, or his destruction and our hostility. Can +you hesitate?" + +Cornelia stood before him with noble dignity. "And do you believe you +can win me over to a religion which sanctions such means? Do you think +to bribe me by any advantage--even the welfare of the man I love--to +deny that which is highest and most sacred to me: the knowledge of the +truth? No, Severinus; I feel I possess the power to make the man of my +heart happy without being compelled to save him from your persecution +by abjuring my own faith!" + +"May you not trust to yourself too much? He whom we wish to ruin is not +so easily saved by any one, even the bold spirit of Cornelia Erwing!" + +"Severinus, you frighten me! I never saw you in this mood before. I +feel as if in my sleep I had wandered into a tiger's den, and on +awakening found myself shut up alone with the terrible enemy!" She +paused and looked at Severinus; then growing calmer, shook her head: +"No, no, Severinus; that is a bad comparison; forgive me for it! Those +pure eyes give the lie to your threats; the dignity enthroned upon your +brow cannot suffer you to become the tool of a base revenge." + +"Cornelia, you will never learn to understand the nature of Jesuitism. +I am no blind tool who mechanically performs what is imposed upon him, +but a living part of the whole, who abhors what injures the order, and +labors for its advantage. Our obedience is no mere form which we can +outwardly satisfy without real sympathy: it is an allegiance in spirit +and in truth, which makes the will it serves its own. Thus I hate +Ottmar, since he became faithless to his obligations towards us, as the +order hates him, and will destroy him as the order commands, if you do +not comply with the condition upon which we will spare him." + +He watched Cornelia for a moment, then drew out some papers and spread +them upon the table before her. "Here are the documents which are to +serve us as weapons against Ottmar; read them, and convince yourself +whether they will be destructive enough to him to outweigh the +sacrifice you must make to secure his safety." + +Cornelia looked over the papers, the very ones with which years before +Severinus had succeeded in intimidating Ottmar, and binding upon him +the chains he now wished to strip off. When she had finished, she gazed +sorrowfully into vacancy. + +"This is certainly material enough to devise a snare for him. Oh, +Severinus, throw these papers into the fire, and I will revere you as a +saint!" + +"It will only cost you a few words, Cornelia. Say, 'I will become a +Catholic,' and these papers are _yours_!" + +Cornelia drew herself up proudly. "I have already told you that I would +drive no bargain with my convictions. This is my final resolution!" + +"Noble woman!" thought Severinus, gazing at her in astonishment. + +Cornelia gathered up the documents, restored them to the priest, then +clasped her hands, and gazed into his face with her irresistible charm. +"Severinus, give me these papers." + +A long pause ensued. The priest was absorbed in watching the beautiful +face, and made no reply. + +Cornelia took his hand; he started back. + +"Severinus, for once, be more obedient to the law of love and +forbearance God has written in our hearts, than the stern commands of +your order; destroy these proofs of Heinrich's, and also your, +dishonor,--or give them to me that I may do so. You do not answer! Oh, +let my entreaties move you, dear, honored friend!" + +Severinus covered his eyes with his hand, and exclaimed, almost +imploringly: "Cease, Cornelia; you know not what you are doing." + +"I am well aware of it,--I am torturing you; for I am bringing you into +a conflict with what you believe to be your duty. I see the struggle +between your Jesuit's conscience and your heart. True, genuine manhood +will conquer; it will burst the fetters in which your whole life is +bound." + +She rushed to the table, took up a light, and held it towards +Severinus, that he might set the papers on fire. A gust of air that +blew through the open window made the flame flicker to and fro, +and her light dress float around her like a cloud. As she stood thus +with the arm that held the candle raised high above her head, bathed in +the red gleam of the flickering light, in the earnestness of her +enthusiasm,--half pleading, half commanding,--she seemed like an angel; +and without knowing what he was doing he threw the papers towards her, +bent down, and pressed the hem of her dress to his lips. + +"I thank you!" cried Cornelia. But ere she could gather up the +scattered papers Severinus recollected himself, and caught her hand. + +"Stop! these papers are not yours nor mine; they belong to the order +which intrusted them to my care, and only an evil spirit could have so +bewildered my mind that I wavered in my duty." He made the sign of the +cross, pressed his hands tightly upon his heart, and softly murmured +the "_Anima Christi, sanctifica me_,"[1] then collected the papers and +went to the window. The rain was pouring in torrents; he leaned out and +let the cool water drench his head. "Extinguish, oh, extinguish the +fire!" he prayed, looking up with a deep sigh at the dark watery masses +of clouds. + +Cornelia watched him with mingled surprise and grief. "Severinus, you +are playing a part with yourself, like all who hold ideas founded on +sophisms and principles contrary to nature; you must do so, at a moment +when your illusion forms so striking a contrast with the truth. I can +only pity you; but may God let those who made you a Jesuit,--who robbed +you of the world and the world of you,--reap the fruits of their deed!" + +"Do not blame them," replied Severinus, turning calmly away from the +window. "They were my parents, and both are dead. I, too, have often +cursed them for giving me life; but since I became a Jesuit, I bless +them." + +"Unhappy man, what secret weighs upon the past which you have hitherto +so closely concealed?" + +"Disgrace, girl! To you alone I will confess it, that some day you may +think of me more kindly when we are parted. I have no name save that +the church gave me; no father save God; no home save the Casa al Gesu; +no human dignity save that of my holy office. If I had belonged to the +world, I should have been an outcast. But my parents turned the curse +into a blessing when they dedicated to Heaven the life they denied on +earth; and for the sake of that deed may God pardon the sin which gave +me birth!" He raised his head, while his face kindled with enthusiastic +feeling. "But I, Cornelia, will devote my strength, to my latest +breath, to that Jesuitism which accomplished the miracle of making the +child of sin the supporter of the highest and holiest cause, which +produces everything great and noble that can be done for the honor of +God, and desires nothing except by all means, both mild and gentle, to +lead men to heaven." + +Cornelia gazed thoughtfully into vacancy, then suddenly looked +earnestly at the regular features of the handsome man before her. + +"Severinus," she said, with strange eagerness, "who was your father?" + +"I do not know; I never saw him." + +"Did your mother tell you nothing about him? or did you not know her +either?" + +"She could tell me nothing except how she loved him, and how he had +deceived her. His accent betrayed that he was a German, but he +concealed his name and residence. When I was scarcely a year old he +disappeared, and no longer gave my mother any signs of existence except +the remittance, through some unknown hand, of money for my education +upon the condition that I should become a priest." + +"And your mother; what was her name?" + +"Girl, why do you ask me all these questions?" + +"You shall learn the reason after you have told me who your mother +was." + +"I have no right to expose the name of the unhappy woman, and have +never mentioned it to any one." + +"Not even to Heinrich?" + +"I never disclosed the secret of my past to him." + +Cornelia approached him; her breath came more quickly. "Was your +mother's name Angelina, Severinus?" said she, her voice tremulous with +some secret emotion. + +Severinus gazed at her in astonishment. "Yes, yes; how did you know?" + +"Was she the sister of a Carmelite monk in Compatri?" + +"Where did you learn this?" exclaimed Severinus, greatly agitated. +"What connection have you with my past? Speak; of what are you +thinking? Your eyes sparkle, your cheeks glow; do not torture me." + +"Are you your mother's only child?" + +"So truly as she expiated all her remaining days in a cloister, the one +error of her life." + +"Then God has sent me to you to warn you at the right time not to +commit a most grievous wrong. Do you know who the man is whom you thus +inexorably pursue?" + +A suspicion began to arise in Severinus's mind; he recoiled and +extended his hands repellently, as if he feared the words that hovered +upon Cornelia's lips. + +"He is your brother!" she cried, tears gushing from her eyes. + +Severinus involuntarily pressed his hand upon his brow, his fingers +quivered slightly as they touched the broad scar upon it, and he gazed +absently before him as if in a dream. + +"Oh, do not crush the feeling that stirs in your heart! Give me your +hand, and let me tell you how warmly I greet the brother of my beloved! +Oh, God, to see the two men dearest to me on earth united, the souls +which always struggled with each other, and yet could never resist the +impulse of sympathy, reconciled in brotherly love! And it is I, I who +am permitted to bring you together, to give you to each other! Ah, my +friend, this is inexpressible joy!" + +"And are you so sure you are not deceiving yourself?" asked Severinus, +gloomily. + +"Deceiving? Oh, you incredulous man! Heinrich's father is yours also. +Ten years before his marriage in Germany he traveled in Italy. In wild, +romantic Compatri he was attracted by the beauty of your mother, +Angelina, who was living in the greatest poverty upon the products of +her vines and the scanty gifts of the Carmelite convent in that place, +then falling to decay. He took her to Rome, and remained there two +years,--until his duties compelled him to return to Germany and desert +Angelina, with her eleven-months-old boy. What afterwards became of her +and her child, Heinrich did not know." + +"And how did Heinrich happen to tell you this?" + +"He told me a great many things about his father's life." + +"And where did he learn this sad history?" + +"From Anton, who, as valet, accompanied old Herr von Ottmar on his +travels, and whose statements were confirmed by the dead man's papers. +Heinrich did not then foresee how important this discovery might some +day become. But if all this is not sufficient proof for you, question +your own heart; remember what an inexplicable affection still bound you +to Heinrich, even after you believed him lost to the church. Does not +this impulse of the heart harmonize with all that has been so strangely +revealed to you? Oh, you feel it yourself at this moment! I see it by +the tears that will steal out from beneath your lashes; you feel, you +believe, that he is your brother!" + +Severinus covered his face. "He is! he is! Oh, God, and I must ruin my +brother!" + +"Thank God," cried Cornelia, joyously, "you are moved, touched! The +voice of blood is again stirring within you; you will be reconciled to +him, will spare him! Oh, say you will!" + +Severinus raised his head and leaned against the window-sill; the tears +that Cornelia had seen in his eyes were dried. "Do you believe that a +pupil of Loyola will listen to the voice of blood? Do you know what the +saint, who is our protector and pattern, did? He burned, unread, the +letters from his own family, that he might break off all ties with the +world; and I, should I spare the enemy of my church because he is +related to me? Should I allow my zeal in God's cause to grow cold +because my heart warms with a mere animal instinct? No, Cornelia, my +brothers are in Christ; he who does not belong to him is no brother of +mine." + +"Cruel, hard-hearted man!" cried Cornelia, in horror. "I do not know +whether it is compassion or terror that seizes upon me, but my soul +trembles at the power of an illusion which can thus petrify the noblest +heart." + +"Petrify!" cried Severinus. "Oh, do not speak so, child that you are! +Have you ever cast a glance into this 'petrified heart'? Have you a +suspicion of the strength of the love I must tear away from earth and +consecrate to God? Have you ever heard the outcry of the tortured man +when he is obliged to accomplish his regeneration from earthly to +heavenly things? Do you know how mighty nature writhes and struggles +and groans under the prickly iron ring of the cilicium?[2] You are +spared these agonies, because God requires only the easiest sacrifices +from you; but we, who are appointed to be the imitators of Christ upon +earth, are compelled taste them to the dregs. We must fulfill our great +task, and no human eye is permitted to see that the sacrifice it +admires trickles from the warm heart's blood." + +"My poor Severinus!" + +"Do not pity me; I want no one's compassion. I only want you to +understand me; the more difficult the victory, the greater the fame. I +shall one day be proud of my tortures. But I must labor without rest or +sleep, and watch over myself at every hour, for the enemy is cunning, +and if he chooses can clothe himself in the garb of an angel." His +large eyes rested ardently upon Cornelia. + +"Severinus," she answered, sadly, "do you take me for this false +angel--me, who preach nothing to you except the first and simplest laws +of Christianity? Do you think the 'foul fiend' is in me, because I +oppose a belief which rejects the purest impulse of nature as a mere +animal instinct, if it is not of use to its plans,--denies the tie God +himself has hallowed, if it bars its progress; and acknowledges nothing +which does not----" + +"Redound to the greater honor of God," interrupted Severinus. "Yes, we +do all for the honor of God. That is the word which permits no false +meaning; the path from which we cannot deviate an inch; the object from +which we dare not turn our eyes, even though we trample underfoot the +bodies of our dearest friends. He who opposes us must fall, for we +cannot allow ourselves to be stopped. For the honor of God we live, and +are ready to die." + +"And are you sure that in this you act only for the honor of God? Are +you sure you do not abuse this great word as a pretext for an act of +selfishness?" + +Severinus looked at her inquiringly. + +She struggled with her Feelings, and then began, gently: "Tell me, my +friend, if in the execution of a punishment commanded by the order a +Jesuit should also find the gratification of a personal desire for +revenge, would he not profane the cause of God by making it his own?" + +"Certainly," replied Severinus, in a hollow tone, fixing his eyes upon +the floor. + +"There are many kinds of passions, of which the man who ardently +desires only what is right is scarcely conscious, because he does not +even allow them to take the form of a thought; yet they are there, and +the so-called foul fiend undermines in them the more securely, because +concealed, the toilsomely-erected structure of virtue. Let me quote an +example. Suppose a Jesuit hated an enemy of his order, not only because +the order hates him, but because he is loved by a girl who is dear to +the Jesuit himself?" + +Severinus started; a deep flush suffused his face. + +Cornelia continued: "Suppose he used against him the weapons the order +placed his hands, not for the sake of the church, but to serve the +instincts of his own jealousy, and should suddenly perceive what he had +not confessed, even to himself, what would be his duty then?" + +Severinus was now as pale as he had before been red. He stood like a +marble statue, not a breath stirred his breast; but at last his +delicate lips opened to utter the words, "Then it would be his duty to +resign the work he would profane to another, who could perform it with +pure hands, solely for the sake of God and the order." + +"Well, then, Severinus, do what you believe to be your duty. I have +nothing more to say." + +A deep silence followed. Severinus still stood motionless, and Cornelia +did not venture to look at him; she did not wish to read the pale face. +She was terrified at what, for Heinrich's sake, she had done to this +noble man, and involuntarily feared the results. + +Severinus slowly approached her, laid his hand upon her head, and said, +"Let us bid each other farewell." + +Cornelia looked up. The pure features expressed no bitterness, no +anger, only the repose of an immovable resolution. "Farewell?" she +asked, in surprise. + +"For life!" + +Remorse suddenly seized upon her. She had overstepped the bounds of +womanly delicacy, and pitilessly assailed the heart which, in spite of +its errors, she had always seen rise superior to every weakness. She +now felt for the first time how much she should lose in him, and, with +sincere shame, bent down, and before he could prevent it, pressed her +lips to his hands. "Severinus, can you forgive me?" + +"I have nothing to forgive," he replied, gently drawing back. + +"Where are you going?" + +"To Rome." + +"And what takes you to Rome so suddenly?" + +"I had already resolved to return there some weeks ago; only the hope +of still winning you for the church, and the hostile mission against +Heinrich, detained me. This hour is the destruction of all my plans. +Nothing is left for me to do except to place the papers intrusted to me +in the General's hands, and explain to him that I am unworthy of his +confidence,--that I am not fit for the business of the world." + +"And then,--what will happen then?" + +"Then the General will commit the office I held to another, and, if God +wills, sanction the penance I shall impose upon myself of voluntary +seclusion in the monastery during the remainder of my life." + +"Will you retire from the world,--bury yourself within the walls of a +cloister?" + +"That I may the more surely rise again in God." + +"And is such a resolution compatible with your zeal for the order? +Suppose your office falls into the hands of a man who will not act with +the wisdom and dignity you have shown,--who will perhaps injure the +interests and authority of your association,--would you not reproach +yourself for having been to blame for this injury by resigning the +'holy cause' into unworthy hands?" + +"There are many among our ranks who are perfectly competent to fill my +place; the General's keen eye will discover the right man. I can +perform my duties to the order. Even in the silence of a convent-cell, +I can write the words with which I should cheer souls and strengthen +them in the faith, and, in undisturbed intercourse with the Highest +One, they will gain more sanctity and power than in the profane society +of the world. Nay, my writings may perhaps influence future generations +long after spoken words have died away. Is not such an expectation +edifying to true faith?--such a resolution the highest victory over our +earthly nature?" + +"A victory! Oh, Severinus, do not deceive yourself! A spark of the warm +life you wish to deny still glows in your breast. Suppose, Severinus, +you should perceive too late that you had formed your resolution too +early? Suppose you should long despairingly for a breath of freedom, +and in the suffocating agony of being walled up alive in the wild +struggle of its contending elements, your soul should forget itself and +God, and fall into the apparently liberating hand of Satan?" + +Severinus recoiled a step in horror. "Stop, I implore you!" + +But Cornelia's unfettered stream of eloquence would not allow itself to +be repressed. "You go into the cloister, not because you have +conquered, but because you fear to yield; you go there to fly from the +battle, not to rest after the victory; but that which would have caused +the conflict here will go with you, will disturb the peace of your +devout solitude; and you must conquer it with anguish there as well as +here, can succumb to it in the narrow convent-cell as well as in God's +wide world." + +Severinus's broad breast heaved painfully. "Oh, God! my God! let me +withstand this last trial!" he prayed, fervently. "Cornelia, I do not +retreat to the cloister on account of the danger, but to fly from the +evil I abhor; that I may no longer see the world that stands between me +and heaven, which I hate----" + +"The world to you is mankind; if you detest the former it is for the +sake of the latter. But why? What have men done to you? You are a +servant of Christ. Does this humanity, which Christ so loved that he +suffered and bled for it, deserve your love less than the Master's? Why +do you scorn the race whose form a God did not hesitate to assume,--for +which a God bore the tortures of life and death? Has it injured you +more than him? It has not pressed upon your brow the crown of thorns; +it has not nailed you to the cross; and yet he could forgive, while you +cannot!" + +"A God might do this,--but I am a man!" + +"And do you know why you hate mankind? Because you dare not love like a +human being. You curse your own earthly nature, because it always +opposes your task. You are a man, and would fain be a god; you have +human passions, and desire to practice a divine self-sacrifice. This is +the fatality of your position, this the foul fiend you fear! Oh, I know +my words fall upon you as the surges dash against a rock, but it seems +as if a higher power urged me on to struggle again and again against +the unhappy errors of your church!" + +"Cornelia," cried Severinus, starting up, "my church does not err,--she +is infallible!" + +"But, I tell you, it is an error that Christ has required of his +priests what the church demands from you. If Christ was God, it is +presumption for you mortals to imitate his divine person, and attempt +to give the world an example of what you do not attain yourselves. You +are merely to announce it and show it in all its beauty in yourselves. +But how can you do this,--shut off from life behind convent walls? Only +when, like our ministers, in real life, before the eyes of a whole +parish, oppressed by the same anxieties, pursued by the same enemies, +assailed by the same temptations as all, you can practice the virtues +you preach, will you become a true representative of the Christian +religion, will you have a right to require of others what was not too +difficult for yourself, and be what Christ desires, a true, perfect +man!" + +Severinus hastily approached the door: his whole manner betrayed tokens +of violent emotion. "I dare not listen to you longer, terrible, +dangerous woman! God sees my anguish that I cannot save your soul, make +your noble powers useful to the good cause. In you all the hostile +powers of the world assume a bodily form; in you I have convinced +myself that I am no match for them, and only the repentance of a whole +life can atone for the weakness!" + +"Must I, then, lose you forever?" + +"Forever! But my prayers will be with you,--implore the protection of +the Holy Virgin for you." His voice trembled. "God cannot let such a +soul go to destruction!" He turned and, with averted face, opened the +door. + +Then Cornelia's sincere affection burst forth in all its fervor; she +rushed up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and with childlike +contrition laid her head upon his breast. "Will you go without a +farewell?" she cried, sobbing. "Ah, Severinus, a deep, inexpressible +pity for you overwhelms me! Poor, noble man, I loved you so dearly!" + +Severinus stood as if a thunderbolt had struck him; he did not move a +finger, did not clasp Cornelia to his heart or push her from him. But +suddenly a cry of anguish burst from his compressed lips, so full of +torture that Cornelia's very soul was filled with terror, and she no +longer ventured to detain him when, as if driven by some mortal dread, +he hurried away. + +Late at night, before she went to rest, she saw him wandering about in +the storm and rain, and before dawn he entered the carriage which bore +him away from Cornelia forever. He traveled without pausing until he +reached Rome, where he delivered the papers to the General; confessed, +resigned his office, and entered the Casa al Gesu as a monk, to atone +by the strictest seclusion for the crime of being a man. + + + + + XXIV. + + REGENERATION. + + +While Cornelia was confidently looking forward to a meeting with +Ottmar, proud in the consciousness of having repelled all the attacks +of his enemies, _Heinrich_ was tortured by uncertainty in regard to her +fate. Ever since his return home, he had lived exclusively on his +estates, engaged in making preparations for his new calling. In this +complete seclusion from the would, whose influence had been so hostile +to Cornelia, engrossed by the ideas of which she was the charming +representative, he fed his longing for her more and more. At every step +in his new career he had expected some sign of life from her, but in +vain. His hope began to waver. He knew that she was in the hands of the +Jesuits, and trembled lest her young, susceptible soul, her easily +excited fancy, should not remain closed to their influences, for then +she would be irrecoverably torn from him. He had fulfilled every +condition mentioned in her letter. It was not possible that she still +loved him if, after all this, she still persisted in her obstinate +silence. A deep melancholy began to overpower him once more; his +prospects lay before him like a region destitute of sunlight; his whole +career would lack purpose if Cornelia was not won again. As yet no +success had crowned his efforts. He had no anticipation of the +happiness he would feel if he could some day consider himself as the +true benefactor of a whole nation. The quiet labor for his new vocation +did not yet satisfy him, and he therefore founded all his hopes upon +his entrance into parliament, and longed for the day of election as the +last limit Cornelia had perhaps allowed herself. One day, in his +restlessness, he drove into the city to divert his thoughts. He wished +to visit the Exhibition, and as he went up the broad staircase of the +museum he noticed with secret pleasure that people whispered to each +other, "That is Ottmar!" and looked at him with interest and approval. +He entered the large hall where reigned the solemn silence with which +men receive into their souls the wonders of art. The first and second +rooms were empty of spectators. The dead and yet lifelike forms upon +the walls looked down upon him with their eternal laughing, weeping, or +anger. An exhibition is a mute world of a brilliant-hued medley of +times, customs, and passions, petrified as if by some magic, and +imprisoned in frames, condemned to remain motionless in the attitude +assumed at the moment when the spell began to work. There a Magdalen +repents with inexhaustible tears; yonder a Roman maiden allures, ever +unsuccessfully, with her motionless, half-opened lips; and here an Alva +rages in implacable fury, while close by a Huss burns in never-dying +flames; below a wolf snaps in unappeasable hunger at a child, which, +fortunately, he will never reach; a mother seeks to tear it away, and +cannot draw it to her protecting breast; the poor woman is condemned to +perpetual dread, and the spectator with her. Not far away is--and will +forever remain--a pair of lovers in the act of exchanging a kiss. +Upon the other side ships struggle with waves, nations contend in a +never-decided battle, a vanquished man awaits the death-stroke of the +conqueror, and high up, an a golden background, flooded by the light +that streams through the glass dome, is enthroned the Virgin, in her +calm peace, surrounded by her heavenly glory. + +All the passions, joys, griefs, and hopes of humanity, fixed and +beautified by the power of genius, displayed themselves to _Heinrich's_ +wandering gaze, but his thoughts dwelt only with Cornelia; nay, it even +seemed as if here and there he found some resemblance to her. One +picture had her eyes, another her profile or her mouth,--her brow. He +fancied he saw her everywhere; it was doubtless a trick of his excited +imagination, or the likeness all regular beauties bear to each other. +He passed on into the third hall, which was crowded. Two oil-paintings +attracted the especial attention of the public, and the universal +verdict pronounced them to be the best in the Exhibition. It was +difficult for him to make his way in, but he could scarcely trust his +eyes when he saw one of them,--for it was Cornelia again; the likeness +was so speaking that no doubt was possible, and the figure of Severinus +beside her was equally unmistakable. Both were really only minor +accessories to a beautiful landscape, but painted in a most masterly +manner. They were standing under lofty trees which formed the +foreground, by the shore of a lake, which, surrounded by beautiful +mountain-peaks, stretched out into the background. Severinus had one +arm extended, pointing to a church-tower almost shrouded in mist. +Cornelia, with clasped hands, was looking up into his face. In +the catalogue, the work was merely named "View of the Ch---- See, +by A----." + +_Heinrich_ could not understand it; and when an acquaintance came up +and called his attention to the other famous painting, he turned +carelessly towards it; but his astonishment was inexpressible, as here +also he found Cornelia. The figures were life-size. The picture +represented the moment before a novice assumes the garb of a nun. She +was leaning upon the window-sill of a gloomy convent-room, gazing up +towards heaven, whose brilliant blue gleamed through the bars, while a +green branch, swayed by the wind, tossed against the rusty iron +gratings. The artist, by a singular fancy, had drawn his principal +figure with her back towards the spectators, probably to show in all +its magnificence the beautiful brown hair which was so soon to fall +under the scissors. But the bright panes of the window, which opened +inwards, revealed the face, upraised in fervent prayer. This face was +Cornelia's, as well as the hair he had so often stroked; the youthful +neck, which the thin undergarment she was soon to cover with the nun's +dress, lying close by, clearly revealed, and which he had so often +admired. He rubbed his eyes; he looked again and again; it was still +Cornelia. A gloomy, haggard prioress was in the act of advancing with +the scissors, and a sweet-faced young nun was gazing with evident +compassion at the beautiful, devout novice. + +"Is it not a true work of genius?" said _Heinrich's_ companion. "The +expression of enthusiastic devotion in the face reflected in the +window, and the wonderfully painted hair! One really dreads the moment +when that stern, unfeeling prioress will cut it off!" + +"By whom was the picture painted?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"By a B---- artist of the name of Richard." + +"Does any one know whom he had for a model?" + +"No; he keeps it a profound secret. I could almost believe he +has--Heaven knows how!--witnessed such a scene. People don't create +such things purely from imagination." + +_Heinrich_ made no reply, and his acquaintance, perceiving his strange +emotion, withdrew. + +Ottmar went from one picture to another; but reflect and consider as he +would, one thing only was clear to him, that Cornelia must have sat to +these artists herself, for such a resemblance could not be accidental; +and although the window-panes in one picture reflected her face but +dimly, it was all the more unmistakable in the other,--and Severinus +too. So in this way she had consented to make known to the world her +connection with Jesuitism! She must consider these relations an honor +of which she publicly boasted, and this she could not do unless she had +been converted to Catholicism,--unless they had impressed upon her mind +the dogma of the supremacy and infallibility of the one saving church. +There was a mysterious connection of ideas between the two pictures; +and although he would not give way to it, it oppressed his heart with a +torturing dread. The words "people don't create such things purely from +imagination" still rang in his ears. Suppose the artist had really +taken the idea of his work from the fact that Cornelia, whom he perhaps +painted a short time before, had entered a convent? In conditions of +the soul like that into which he had cast Cornelia, where the whole +existence is pervaded with pain, and every foundation is shaken, the +seeds of the Jesuits thrive best; in such moods they most easily obtain +a mastery over man. Now, for the first time, it occurred to him that +her letter had been redolent of that pride of self-sacrifice, which, +after great conflicts, chills so many a young heart, and drives it into +the nursery of such virtues, the convent. Suppose Cornelia had gone so +far? It was not impossible! Her enthusiasm in everything, especially +her zealous desire to be of use, the inclination to sacrifice herself +for great ideas which she had so often shown, her susceptibility to the +poesy of religion,--all this seemed to him material enough to form an +agent of the church; and as the psychological fathers would not have +ventured to send such a fiery genius into the world, they had perhaps +taken advantage of some moment of weakness to imprison her in one of +the convents which lead young girls "to the heart of Jesus." The more +_Heinrich_ thought of this, the more probable and clear it appeared. +Urged on by his agony, he hastened to ascertain the residences of the +two artists. He wished to buy the pictures spite of their extremely +high price,--wished to learn some particulars about Cornelia. He would +and must have some certainty; he could not bear this terrible doubt. He +wrote to Richard and A----, but at the same time to Cornelia, +addressing the letter to the Ch---- See. Perhaps the people there knew +her present residence and could send it to her. + +The reply of the artist A---- was extremely unsatisfactory. He would +give no account of the manner in which he had succeeded in obtaining +the portrait, for he had stolen her features on that first morning by +the lake, when Cornelia, thinking herself unobserved, had walked upon +the shore with Severinus. Richard wrote: "The lady had been painted +from memory, and he had really taken the subject of his picture from +the fact that she had entered a convent, where she had been kept +rigidly secluded, since no information concerning her had been +obtained." + +So she had really entered a convent, and there was no possibility of +learning any further particulars! _Heinrich's_ condition was pitiable. +To wait--to do nothing but wait--with this burning longing and +uncertainty in his breast, for an event which perhaps might never +occur, to hope for a fortunate dispensation that perhaps was already +baffled,--such was his fate! He lived in a feverish dream, but forced +himself to enter with all his powers into what would promote the +decision of his fate, his election to the parliament. The newspapers +mentioned his name connection with those of the most honored patriots; +and if Cornelia still had free control over herself, she must at least +be touched by the loyalty with which he struggled to reach the +prescribed goal; if she were silent, then there could be no doubt that +she was lost to him. Just at that time the blow Cornelia had vainly +sought to avert suddenly fell upon him. The Jesuits executed their +threats, but this time in a different way from that Severinus had +adopted years before. The organ of ultramontanism in H---- printed an +article headed, "Contributions to the Traits of Character of a New +Candidate." This essay contained a biography of Ottmar, from the time +of his entrance into the Jesuit college to that of his present change +of opinions, which, animosity, distortion of facts, and compromising +indiscretions, surpassed everything for which Ottmar had given them +credit. The style was in the so-called interests of the nation, so +often merely the cloak beneath which partisan writers strive to win the +applause of the masses; but the worst part of all was that the author, +Geheimrath Schwelling, who years before had played so contemptible a +part as Severinus's companion in the interview with _Heinrich_, offered +to exhibit to any one who might desire it written proofs of most of his +accusations. There was no lack of credulous and doubtful persons who +wished to convince themselves with their own eyes. The Geheimrath's +house became the rendezvous of the curious of all parties, and the +papers Severinus had returned to the General for a more worthy use +passed from hand to hand. The matter made all the greater excitement an +account of the great expectations which had been fixed upon Ottmar. The +sheet containing the scandalous article had an immense circulation; and +although the cultivated portion of the community turned with disgust +from its coarse tone, the facts were not to be denied, and people +shrugged their shoulders doubtfully. But the lower classes even gave +credence to the charges, in consequence of the amusement the +commonplace wit of the style afforded them. In vain Ottmar's friends +printed articles in his defense; in vain his banker proved that he had +spent the greater portion of his property in purchasing expensive +agricultural implements, which he allowed all the country people in the +neighborhood to use gratis, and for other national purposes; it was now +an easy matter for his enemies to convince the suspicious masses that a +man who had gone from rationalism to Jesuitism, then back again to the +former, next to despotism, and finally to liberalism once more, was not +to be trusted in any relation. "Hold psychological discussions about +the motives which forced you to deny your convictions, you will be +laughed at, and your name will be branded before all parties," +Severinus had said contemptuously years before, and now the result +proved how completely he had been in the right. The facts spoke against +him, and he could not succeed in giving the people a correct +understanding of them, because he had only words,--no contradictory +proofs at his command. Even the sincerity with which in N---- he had +stood forth in behalf of the constitution was no longer acknowledged, +for the scandalous article rendered even this deed suspected as a mere +prudential measure. He had perceived that he could no longer hold his +ground against the progressive party, and therefore took sides with +them in time. This belief appeared only too probable in the case of a +man whose life had been so full of contradictions. The confidence which +had just been obtained was shaken; the voters began to hesitate. Many +forgot what they owed him since his return; others made all the +acknowledgments of his services as a public benefactor which were his +due; but even they did not wish to elect, as the representative of the +most important interests, one whose politics were doubtful. The day of +decision came and crowned his enemies' labors with success. Ottmar was +defeated by a large majority. He saw himself scorned, insulted; all his +hopes crushed, his honor lost; and she for whom he suffered such +intolerable torments, who alone could repay him for what he had +lost,--Cornelia,--was silent! For love of her he had sacrificed +everything; for love of her entered the path which was to lead him to +find an abundant reward for ignominy in her arms; and day by day +elapsed without bringing any tidings, convincing him more and more that +she was torn from him,--that he had gained nothing save the fruits of +his sins. + +Every morning he went to meet the postman, who brought the letters to +his estate, and always in vain. Fourteen times since the election he +had borne the tortures of renewed and disappointed hope, had rushed +towards the postman in breathless haste only to return with empty +hands. He had lain awake on his couch all through the long nights, and +welcomed the first ray of light as a preserver from his feverish, +agonizing impatience. One morning this restlessness drove him out even +earlier than usual, for it was the anniversary of the day on which +Cornelia had left him. Perhaps she would give herself to him again on +this day; perhaps she had waited for it intentionally. One who has +hoped and expected so long at last clings to every conceivable +possibility. Thus Ottmar's feet were winged with double speed as he +hurried through pleasure-grounds and woodlands, to obtain that for +which he longed a half-hour earlier. Wearied with his haste, he emerged +from the thicket upon the highway. A fresh autumn breeze was rustling +through the tops of the poplars, bending their stiff boughs asunder +like the fingers of menacing giant hands. The broad, level road, with +its dazzling white sand, stretched before him, endless and empty,--the +storm had swept it clean; nothing was to be seen on the wide plain, and +Ottmar hurried restlessly onward. Just at that moment the dark figure +of the postman appeared in the distance, and with a beating heart +_Heinrich_ quickened his pace. At last he reached the man, who was +already holding out his bag; but again he was disappointed,--it +contained nothing but unimportant business letters. The last +possibility of hope had now disappeared; now he could no longer doubt +that Richard had written the truth, that Cornelia was in a convent. + +His measure was full. The Nemesis he had so long seemed to escape had +overtaken him, and he must patiently endure her fury with fettered +hands. Fortune, love, honor, all were lost, irrevocably lost, and every +accusation he wished to heap upon others recoiled upon himself. He was +the cause of his own misery, he alone. Fate had given him everything he +desired; but he had only demanded that which contained the germ of his +ruin. No disaster had befallen him which was not the punishment of a +crime. Absorbed in these reflections, the deeply-humbled man slowly +returned and reached the wood. The bright rays of the autumn sunlight +fell through the branches and made the yellow leaves glitter like gold; +the farther he went the more quiet and pleasant it became. The withered +foliage, alternated with the dark-green hue of a dense grove of firs; +the forest murmured and whispered to him in a soothing tone,--he did +not hear it, did not remember that the enchanted ground be entered was +his own property; his heart remained closed, no source of comfort could +force an entrance. In silent agony the man was collecting his thoughts +to pass a stern, hopeless judgment upon himself. + +A bench stood beside a beautiful forest stream; he involuntarily turned +towards it, and sat down with his face turned towards the rushing +water. He did not think of going home: he had one no longer; the house +in which he lived contained nothing dear to him; the whole world had no +spot where love and joy awaited him, where he would be missed; if he +remained away, society had no place for him to fill, no interests which +it would confide to him. What was he better than an outcast, a homeless +man? Could he endure the disgrace of such a life? Was it not more +honorable to extinguish it in the pure current of this stream? Who +would lose, from whom would he take anything, if he cast off the burden +of a hated, purposeless existence? And yet God had so endowed him that +his death must have made a void in the world, if he had been to it what +he ought. He gazed down into the murmuring water, which incessantly +glided by him pursued by the wind; his soul allowed itself be carried +on by the waves like a loosened vine. The eternally changing movement +before his eyes made him giddy; he looked away, and now, for the first +time, became aware to what thoughts he had involuntarily yielded. Did +no power then live in him except that of despising and destroying +himself? Could he atone for his faults by committing a crime against +himself? Should he steal away like an unfaithful steward who allowed +the property intrusted to his care to go to ruin? Should he add to the +dishonor which had fallen upon his name the eternal disgrace of +suicide, incur Cornelia's contempt, because he could not bear the loss +of her love? No, he had not fallen so low as not to repel such a +thought with a blush. + +But what could, what ought he to do now, since the only profession for +which his education and studies fitted him--that of politics--was +closed to him in every direction? A quiet, inactive, private life, +which but a few hours before, in the hope of a marriage with Cornelia, +had appeared endurable, now seemed to him a moral death. He did not +understand nature, the occupations of an agriculturist had no charms +for him. Should he turn his estates into money, and invest it in some +other way? But in what? All the pleasures that can be purchased he had +already enjoyed to the dregs; life could afford him nothing more. The +egotist had reached the end of his career, and could neither advance +nor recede. Crushed and helpless, he looked back upon his past life, +and now the point at which he had turned from the right path revealed +itself to his searching gaze. The hours stood forth before his soul +when he had struggled in his first conflict between inclination and +duty, and inclination had conquered. All the strange, feverish fancies +once more rose before his memory, and he perceived that they were the +voices of his own heart which had spoken to him in the forms of +delirium. Now he understood--now, after it was fulfilled--what they had +said. With the first false step to which egotism urged him, he was +lost. The frivolity with which he had degraded the first woman he +loved, to be the prey of his passion, robbed him of his best +possession, respect for the sex. Thus every base materialism, which +only sought the enjoyment of the senses and thereby often formed the +sharpest contrast with the demands of his intellectual nature, +developed itself. The more frequently this conflict occurred, the +greater it became, the further the two extremes became separated from +each other, and the more distinctly their characteristics were stamped. +The more the feelings were severed from the intellect, the lower they +sank into sensuality, the stronger the passions became, and the more +peremptorily they demanded their victim; while, on the other hand, the +more exclusively the intellect withdrew into its own sphere, the +further it banished the feelings, the colder and more obstinate it +became, the more dull to everything which did not concern its own +advantage, and therefore the more unprincipled. From this sprang the +crimes which _Henri_ on the one hand, and _Heinrich_ on the other, had +committed, whose consequences now drove him to despair, and had even +terrified and driven from him forever the only woman for whom both +extremes longed with equal ardor. Thus the cause of all the evil in his +whole mistaken life was the separation between the mind and heart; the +pleasure-seeking of the one, the immoderate ambition of the other, was +the curse which had sprung from this division, the form under which +egotism had taken possession of both portions of his nature. And of +what he had enjoyed and obtained--nothing was left! His life had been +fruitless to himself as well as to others. He had deceived and +sacrificed confiding natures, and brought a nation to ruin for the sake +of tasting the delights of ruling; the pleasure was over, and the +curses of the unhappy accompanied him. Everything life could offer was +exhausted, drained, and worn out! All the threads by which the heart +draws its nourishment from the world were cut off and withered. + +He now felt the deep truth of what Cornelia had wished to teach him, +what he had once in a dream bodingly anticipated: "Remember that the +end of life is neither to enjoy nor to obtain, but to be useful and +accomplish good works." But now, when this great knowledge seized upon +him,--when he perceived the fruitlessness of all selfish efforts,--now +when a powerful impulse urged him to do what mankind, and accomplish +what God, could ask of him,--now it was too late; every path was +closed, and the woman who alone could restore harmony to his nature, +lost! The guilt of the past had destroyed the hope of the future. + +He rested his forehead upon his hand and closed his eyes; he could form +no plans for the future, while repentance and anguish stirred his heart +so violently--the first true repentance, the first great sorrow, of his +life. True, his powers rose and expanded in the struggle with the +unknown enemy as they had never done before, and the mighty assault of +the contending elements widened and swelled his breast, as if now for +the first time he became a man, now for the first time there was room +in his heart for lofty feelings, resolutions, and efforts; true, the +consciousness of the strength ennobled and increased by sorrow +conquered for a moment: but as if with this, the longing for the nature +that had always guided him towards the right path strengthened, the +thoughts of Cornelia's loss once more gathered in the depths of his +soul to break over him with renewed violence. What could life still +offer him? There was no longer any love like Cornelia's, any mind like +hers, any woman who could compare with her. He felt that this sorrow +would never die; that he might perhaps obtain honor, but never +happiness again. He threw himself despairingly upon the bench, face +downward. The stream hurried along at his feet, plashing and +glittering; the birds looked down from the branches at the tall, quiet +man, turned their heads inquisitively, and softly twittered a timid +question. Far above his head the summits of the ancient firs rustled +and told the azure sky of the sorrow concealed beneath their shade. + +Softly and slowly the bushes near him parted,--he did not hear it,--and +a slender girlish form glided over the soft moss with a light step; +cautiously approached, and as she stood beside him, bent down, holding +her breath. Her glances beamed through tears, and she trembled like a +wild rose under the morning dew. _Heinrich_ heard a heart beating close +beside his ear, felt his head raised and pressed to a heaving bosom; +looked into a pair of eyes like two shining worlds. It was no dream, +and yet he could not utter a sound; all that he thought and felt +blended together in an unspeakable something, which swelled his heart +with glowing warmth, rose higher and higher till it reached his eyes, +overflowed as if his whole soul was gushing forth with it: he had wept +his first tears upon Cornelia's breast, and holding her in a mute +embrace reveled in this unspeakable bliss! + + +The noonday sun shone brightly and glowed through the ripe clusters of +grapes which hung from a trellis that surrounded the steward's pretty +little house not far from Ottmar's castle. A charming young woman stood +in the doorway, looking with eager expectation towards the forest; the +steward was working busily in the garden, but he, too, often glanced +into the distance. + +"I don't understand where they could stay so long, if they met each +other," said the little woman, at last. "It would be a pity if she +missed him. I grieve over every hour the poor master is obliged to +spend in his sorrow." + +"Yes," gasped the man, wiping his brow, "it was time for her to show +herself; the master's melancholy manner and wretched looks were +becoming the talk of the whole neighborhood and, after all, she +couldn't have been kept concealed much longer: we were always in a +fright." He threw his tools aside, went up to his wife, and put his arm +around her neck. "You would not have borne seeing me suffer so long, +would you, my Röschen?" + +She nestled fondly to his side and nodded. "No, indeed, my dear Albert! +But these great people are very different from us. Cornelia has a +grand, noble soul, which we must not judge by our own." + +"You are right; it would not be proper for us to apply our standard to +them. Let us thank God we are made as is needful for our situation and +welfare." + +"Yes, thank God for it!" cried Röschen, joyously. "Oh, Albert! how +unhappy these aristocratic people often make themselves with their +over-refinement and their lofty requirements! I saw that in my poor +dead princess. Heaven knows what sorrow was gnawing at her heart! +According to my ideas, she might have been very happy; but it often +seemed as if she did not wish to be. At any rate, it was a very +aristocratic sorrow. If she had been in our condition in life, and had +not had so much time to give way to her thoughts, she would undoubtedly +be alive now." + +"Well, those two at least are not making themselves wretched," laughed +Albert, pointing to Cornelia and _Heinrich_, who were rapidly +approaching. + +The married pair modestly withdrew, and Cornelia and _Heinrich_, +absorbed in delightful conversation, reached the house, and entered a +pleasant little room on the ground floor. + +"See, Heinrich, here is the hiding-place where I waited for three +weeks. From behind the curtains of that window I saw you pass, day +after day, and watched your face with a throbbing heart. Will you +forgive me for becoming a spy upon you? I wished, I was obliged, first +to discover whether you were at last a man to whom I might dare to +intrust my fate, whether you still loved me, and whether in my +affection I should offer you a welcome gift. I was obliged to give you +time to collect your thoughts after the blow that had fallen upon you, +and to raise yourself by your own might. If you had shown yourself to +my secretly watchful gaze otherwise than I hoped, otherwise than I +might dare to love you, I should have gone away as I came, unobserved +by you; perhaps with a broken heart, but silently and forever." + +"Yon would have gone as already many a happiness has fled from the +threshold of him who did not deserve it," said _Heinrich_, clasping her +closely in his arms. "Oh, God, my salvation and my ruin were both so +near! Your eyes watched me like those of God, and if I had not stood +the test you would have left me for the second time, and been +irrevocably lost to me." + +"Ah, I did not doubt that you would stand the test! A man has rarely +made greater sacrifices for a woman than you for me in the course of +this last year; for I clearly perceived that you would never have acted +as you have done if it had not been for my sake. But for your love for +me you would in a few years have conquered your longing for a higher +satisfaction, and remained till the end of your days in the cold +splendor of your position at the court of N----. Love for me--I may be +allowed to say so, since it is no merit of mine--was the impulse that +led you to take the first steps in another path. It guided you hither, +and I did not fear that it would desert you now, when it was apparently +leading you into misery. But a noble woman asks more than love from the +man of her choice: she demands character, firmness in misfortune as +well as prosperity, the power which is to be her support and +protection, the greatness to which she can cheerfully submit, +admiringly look up. It is a necessity of our natures to honor what we +love; in this humility lies our pride. If we cannot truly consider the +man to whom we belong far superior to us, we feel humiliated in +acknowledging him as our master. That is why I remained concealed so +long; I wished to investigate your whole life and conduct here, to see +what influence you exerted, whether you did good and made those around +you happy, what pleasures and employments you choose, how you would +bear the misfortune that had fallen upon you. And what I saw and heard +convinced me that you had entered upon your new calling not only in +appearance, but reality; that you had become a man to whom I might +confidently give myself. Yet the tears you have just shed told me more +than all. With these tears a new and better man was born in you; they +have atoned for every wrong, washed away every spot. Ah, if the bigoted +priests who believe you a lost soul had witnessed that one moment, they +would have understood that there is something holy outside their +church!" + +"Cornelia," cried _Heinrich_, "dear, precious girl, say no more to me +about the Jesuits! Although I bear no towards the unhappy Severinus, +whom you have taught me to know as my brother, although I forgive the +intrigues they plotted against me, I will never pardon them for having +torn you from me and attempted to make you a proselyte, for having +intrusted you for so long a time to that handsome, dangerous Severinus, +whose perhaps unintentional conquests over women's hearts are well +known to the order. I can only consider it as a miracle that you +remained faithful to me." + +Cornelia smilingly shook the hair back from her brow. "The miracle is +nothing more than that I have a faithful heart and a firm head." + +"Those are the highest gifts a woman can possess. And this jewel has +fallen to my lot, mine of all others; this loyal, sorely wounded heart +clung to me; this proud firm brow, no power has ever humiliated, bent +to me. Oh, Cornelia, strong, gentle, forgiving woman, no man ever yet +repented more deeply, or was more truly grateful, than I repent my +crimes and thank you for your love! A thousand others in your place +would either have been dragged down by me, or cast me off forever; but +you would not permit yourself to be misled by all my faults and sins, +you believed a noble germ within me. Instead of punishing, you reformed +me, have been faithful to me; and now give yourself to me as trustfully +and freely as in the first moment of our love. Oh, girl, there is no +word for this bliss my thoughts are whelmed in a sea of emotions!" He +paused and laid his head upon hers, as if he wished to rest from his +overmastering emotion. + +"Heinrich," said Cornelia, with deep, loving, earnestness, "let the +past rest; the Heinrich to whom I always belonged, and shall as long as +I live, never wronged me; he suffered with me when that other came +between and tore us from each other. That Count Ottmar, whose wife I +never wished to become, has atoned for his fault; he is dead. Never +conjure up his gloomy shade before me, even to arraign him, I beseech +you." + +"Yes, my angel, you are right. Never was it so clear to me as to-day +that I bore my worst enemy in myself, and in the last few hours I have +buried him forever. One complete in himself, Cornelia, receives you in +his arms; it shall be his one task to live for you and your happiness; +he no longer seeks or hopes for anything but you and a quiet family +happiness, unnoticed, but rich in blessing." + +Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. "Would you renounce politics +and every manly profession?" + +"How can I help it? What can I begin after this failure? My political +credit is ruined here as well as elsewhere. What can it avail to +convince myself more and more that I cannot make amends for my +errors in this province? But here,"--he laid his band an Cornelia's +shoulder,--"here, thank God, I can atone for the wrongs I have +committed; here I can and will prove that I have become a different +man!" + +"No, Heinrich," cried Cornelia, deeply touched. "I thank you for these +words, and for the cheerfulness with which you hope to find in me a +compensation for all; but I think too highly of you to be able to share +this hope. No wife, not even the most beloved, can make that +superfluous for which her husband was born: to work in a lofty +vocation. What you now feel, in the first ebullition of joy, you cannot +always experience. The storm that now fills your heart now will subside +in time, and the calm which will then follow would at last make you +find a void in yourself. You are no 'shepherd,' Heinrich. An idyllic, +private life would not long satisfy you; a quiet withdrawal into your +own family circle, a limiting of yourself to that which is personally +dear to you, would be again an egotistical, and therefore only a +partial, happiness. You possess the power of solving comprehensive +problems. Every power imperiously demands its right to assert itself; +if the opportunity is denied, it turns destructively against the +barriers imposed upon it, and that which is also within them. Thus it +would be with you and our peace. Woe betide the wife who believes that +she can and must be the whole world to her husband! She does not +understand his larger nature, and will only make herself or him +unhappy. I do not belong to that class. I pride myself in taking into +account all the just demands of your character, thus only can I make +you happy. I will not regret you in the hours your profession claims, +for I shall take possession of you doubly in spirit, when I know you to +be toiling for that for which I myself would fain strive with all my +powers, and must not because I am a woman. I will not bewail the +time you take from me to give to mankind, for I love all men far too +much to grudge them what you can do for their welfare. And then, +Heinrich,"--she laid her head on his breast, and gazed into his face +with a bride's ardent love,--"then when you return home to your wife +weary but joyous in the consciousness of duty then you shall rest in my +arms, in my faithful love, and let me have the proud belief that my +heart is the soil from which the roots of your life draw nourishment +for the glorious fruits that you permit the world to reap!" + +"Cornelia, glorious creature! What a picture you conjure up before the +soul! These are divine revelations, and I will follow them +unquestioningly. Yes, I will begin anew; guide me with your inspired, +prophetic glance, lead me to the path upon which my first step +faltered; you alone know what is for my welfare." He gazed long and +earnestly into her eyes. "Oh, do not reproach me as unmanly because I +give myself up entirely to you, since through you I first became what I +am, through you alone I first learned to perceive in laboring for +others a duty, an object, in life! The representatives of these noble +ideas are principally women; for to labor and care for others is +woman's mission, to sacrifice herself for others' interests her +greatest power. The man who allows himself to be guided by a woman need +not become womanish, nor the woman masculine. If, like you, Cornelia, +she rises above her narrow subjective world to ideas which comprehend +all humanity, she confers the qualities inherent in her upon them, and +then doubtless becomes capable of guiding the more egotistical man to +honest efforts for the race, self-sacrifice, and true philanthropy! +Thus the strength of your love and virtue, in one word, your lofty +womanhood, draws me upward." He threw his arms around her and pressed +her ardently to his heart. "Cornelia, my betrothed bride, oh, tell me +again and again that I can never lose you, that you are mine!" + +She clasped her hands. "Forever! forever! and may God's blessing be +with us!" + +"Amen!" said _Heinrich_. + +Thus the power of a genuine love had healed the secret conflict in +Ottmar. Intellect and sensuous feelings, both equally attracted, +equally satisfied, united in the same object, and in the soft +atmosphere of a true happiness his shattered nature healed into a +symmetrical whole. + +The ghostly apparitions of his dual existence disappeared before the +reality of an all-reconciling feeling which seized upon the inmost +kernel of life, and from this brought forth the source of never-failing +joy. + +When the whole man was in harmony with himself, his long-scattered and +dispersed powers concentrated in the depths of his soul, and now for +the first time showed unity of purpose and noble, honest action: for +the first time he became a man. And when he thus once more appeared +before the world with head erect, he conquered; for real ability and +honest convictions always find allies in the natural instincts of the +people, and against these even the hostility of the Jesuits was +powerless. The web they had entwined around him was only that of +his own cowardice and duplicity. His manly conduct at last tore it +asunder. He was now free, and his purified character afforded no +opening for a new snare. After a few years he saw the noblest ambition +gratified,--that of being useful and accomplishing some good result. He +was the main support of the Party in favor of the constitution, averted +a threatening reaction by his ready dialectics, felt the mighty breath +of an applauding nation hovering like a vivifying spring-storm about +his head, and everywhere, far and wide, saw the seeds springing up +which his reawakened philanthropy had sown. + +And with inexpressible joy he clasped his blooming wife in his arms, +compared the lifeless splendor of the former minister with the warm, +evermore richly developing activity of the simple deputy, and his full +heart gratefully overflowed in the proud words, "Yes, my wife, you were +right; it is not what the world is to us, but what we are to the world, +that is the measure of our happiness." + + + + FOOTNOTE: + +[Footnote 1: A Jesuit prayer.] + +[Footnote 2: An instrument used by the Jesuits for penance and +punishment.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 36789-8.txt or 36789-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/8/36789/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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S."> +<meta name="Publisher" content="J. B. Lippincott & Co."> +<meta name="Date" content="1873"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + +i {color:red} + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 5em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +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: A Twofold Life + +Author: Wilhelmine von Hillern + +Translator: M. S. + +Release Date: July 19, 2011 [EBook #36789] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br> +<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://books.google.com/books?id=OBstAAAAYAAJ&dq</p> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS VOLUME</h3> + +<hr class="W20"> + +<h2>TWO POWERFUL ROMANCES</h2> +<h3>BY WILHELMINE VON HILLERN.</h3> +<br> +<h4>I.</h4> + +<h2>ONLY A GIRL.</h2> +<h4>FROM THE GERMAN, BY MRS. A. L. WISTER.</h4> +<h5><i>12mo. Fine Cloth. $2</i>.</h5> + +<p class="normal">"This is a charming work, charmingly written, and no one who reads it +can lay it down without feeling impressed with the superior talent of +its gifted author."</p> +<br> + +<h4>II.</h4> +<h2>BY HIS OWN MIGHT.</h2> +<h4>FROM THE GERMAN, BY M.S.</h4> +<h5><i>12mo. Fine Cloth. $2</i>.</h5> + +<p class="normal">"A story of intense interest, well wrought."--<i>Boston Commonwealth</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="normal">--> For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postpaid, on +receipt of the price by</p> + +<p class="normal" style="font-size:18pt"><b>J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers</b>,</p> +<p style="text-indent:40%"><i>715 and 717 Market St., Philadelphia</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center"><img src="images/hillern.png" alt="Hillern"><br>WILHELMINE VON HILLERN.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>A TWOFOLD LIFE.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>BY</h4> +<h2>WILHELMINE VON HILLERN,</h2> +<h5>AUTHOR OF "ONLY A GIRL," "BY HIS OWN MIGHT," ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="center">It is not what the world is to <i>us</i>, but what we are to the world, that +is the measure of our happiness.</p> + +<hr class="W10"> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN</h3> +<h3><span class="sc">By M. S.</span>,</h3> +<h5>TRANSLATOR OF "BY HIS OWN MIGHT."</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W1-"> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>PHILADELPHIA:</h4> +<h3>J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.</h3> +<h3>1873.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W90"> +<p class="center" style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by<br> +J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,<br> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p> +<hr class="W90"> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>TO</h3> + +<h4>MY HONORED AND BELOVED MOTHER,</h4> + +<h3>CHARLOTTE BIRCH-PFEIFFER.</h3> + +<h4>TO YOU, DEAR MOTHER BELONGS THIS FIRST PRODUCT OF AN ASPIRATION YOU<br> +AWOKE, AND, IN LOYAL UNION WITH MY BELOVED FATHER, AIDED BY<br> +YOUR POWERFUL EXAMPLE TO DEVELOP. RECEIVE IT AS A<br> +FAINT TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR A LOVE WHICH<br> +A WHOLE LIFE WOULD NOT BE<br> +SUFFICIENT TO REPAY.</h4> + +<p style="text-indent:70%; font-size:14pt">THE AUTHORESS.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<br> +<table style="width:90%; margin-left:5%"> +<colgroup><col style="width:10%; text-align:right"> +<col style="width:90%;"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">I.</a>--</td> +<td>Mental Strife.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">II.</a>--</td> +<td>Dual Apparitions.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">III.</a>--</td> +<td>From Falsehood to Falsehood.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">IV.</a>--</td> +<td>A Guardian Angel.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">V.</a>--</td> +<td>Master and Pupil.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">VI.</a>--</td> +<td>The Prison Fairy.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">VII.</a>--</td> +<td>An Aristocrat.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">VIII.</a>--</td> +<td>In the Prison.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">IX.</a>--</td> +<td>Fraulein Veronica von Albin.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">X.</a>--</td> +<td>Progress.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">XI.</a>--</td> +<td>A New Life.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">XII.</a>--</td> +<td>The Search for a Wife.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">XIII.</a>--</td> +<td>A Sacrifice.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">XIV.</a>--</td> +<td>Churchyard Blossoms.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15">XV.</a>--</td> +<td>A Royal Marriage.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16">XVI.</a>--</td> +<td>The Two Betrothed Brides.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17">XVII.</a>--</td> +<td>Insnared.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18">XVIII.</a>--</td> +<td>Cornelia and Ottilie.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19">XIX.</a>--</td> +<td>The Catastrophe.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20">XX.</a>--</td> +<td>Thither.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21">XXI.</a>--</td> +<td>Spring Storm.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22">XXII.</a>--</td> +<td>Light and Shadow.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23">XXIII.</a>--</td> +<td>Between Heaven and Earth.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24">XXIV.</a>--</td> +<td>Regeneration.</td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>A TWOFOLD LIFE.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">I.</a></h2> + +<h3>MENTAL STRIFE.</h3> + +<p class="normal">In an elegant apartment which luxury and wealth had adorned with +everything that the fantastic industry of our times affords, two +stately figures were pacing rapidly up and down: a lady no longer young +but still magnificently beautiful, a true Parisienne and <i>lionne</i> of +society, and a young man with an aristocratic, though somewhat stern, +bearing, dark hair, and strongly marked features. At times they eagerly +approached each other with flashing eyes, then turned away to resume +their restless pacing to and fro.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is useless, we must part!" cried the youth, after a pause. "My +passion for you is destroying my whole life: my studies are neglected, +nothing has any charm for me unless connected with you; my fancy is +unceasingly busied with your image. I can no longer work, no longer +think, no longer create anything, and unless I can break loose from +this conflict I shall become a dishonored wretch, or consume my +strength in endless torture and go to destruction! We must part +forever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no answer. The lady had thrown herself upon a causeuse which +stood just under a niche overgrown with ivy and lighted with lamps that +gleamed through crimson shades, and was gazing steadily into the soft +gloom, while a tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Our hero turned, +after vainly waiting for a reply, and looked ardently at the beautiful +picture.</p> + +<p class="normal">The deepest silence pervaded the elegant apartment, only interrupted by +the low plashing of a tiny fountain which fell into a marble basin +filled with goldfish. Countless hyacinths exhaled their fragrance amid +tall exotic plants, and between the heavy silken curtains and portières +gleamed marble statues, which in the dim purple light seemed instinct +with life. Everything breathed love and secret bliss. Allured by some +magnetic attraction our hero knelt before the silent figure, and +kissing the hand that hung by her side, whispered: "Great Heaven, if +you weep how shall I find strength to conquer this moment? Oh, do not +condemn me to suffer all the torments which only a fiend can devise for +feeble human beings! If you have a heart that can weep, in mercy soften +this farewell. If you really loved me, you would not by every alluring +art seek to place me in a relation where your better self must renounce +and despise me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do I desire?" was the reply. "I wish to keep you, you who are the +sole happiness of my life. I will not, cannot, see you leave me so +coldly, cannot loose you from these arms, which in your person hold my +very life. What will my husband lose if through you he receives what he +does not know how to win himself: a happy wife? what will he lose if +the smile I <i>feign</i> for him becomes <i>real</i>? What has he made me? A doll +to amuse society, a puppet to minister to his empty vanity. What does +he lose if the doll receives life? He has never asked for my heart,--do +I rob him if I give that which he neither knows nor prizes to another +who longs for it, and whom it can make happy?" She paused and pressed a +light kiss on the listening ear of her friend. Bewildered by her +musical whisper and warm breath, he leaned his burning cheek upon her +breast and could find no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">She clasped him in a closer embrace and continued, in a tone of +reproachful tenderness, "Now that our relation must be decided, you are +so stern, so coldly conscientious, and yet--who woke this love in my +frozen heart? Who implored me to prolong my stay in Germany? Who +increased my passion by a thousand sweet nothings? Was it not you, who +now reject me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! my wretched frivolity, it punishes me heavily," he murmured, +with a deep sigh; "but as it has brought me to this pass, it shall at +least lead me no further."</p> + +<p class="normal">He tried to rise, but she still clung to him. "Do you no longer love +me?" she cried, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my heart is glowing with love for you!" he exclaimed, clasping +her in his arms. "But shall I become unprincipled because I have been +thoughtless? Because I have taken peace from your heart, shall I rob +you of a quiet conscience? Because ennui and ignoble desires have led +me to form an unworthy friendship with D'Anneaud, your mindless, +heartless husband, shall I now become traitor to his honor and my own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go, then," murmured the beautiful woman, removing her arms,--"go, if +you have the strength to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You give me the power yourself, for you do not understand me. The more +firmly you cling to me, the more surely my nobler being finds the +strength to escape you. I am aware that I have two natures within me: +one longs for you, but the other turns resolutely away, and at this +moment solemnizes its greatest, most agonizing victory, since it +compels me to resign you. Yes, its most <i>agonizing</i> victory," he +repeated, clasping the angry woman to his heart with passionate love. +"You weep, but my very heart is bleeding, beautiful, lovely woman; no +tongue can express what I suffer."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment they stood with their lips clinging together; at last with +a violent effort he tore himself from her embrace and rushed out of the +room without another word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Henri!" she cried, faintly.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain: Henri ran down the staircase, sprang into his carriage, and +shouted to the coachman, "To Ottmarsfeld!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmarsfeld, Heinrich von Ottmar's family estate, where he lived alone +with his servants, was a two hours' drive from the capital. While +within the limits of the city Heinrich looked incessantly back towards +the tempting house, but when the carriage rolled through the gate he +wrapped himself in his cloak and sank into a profound reverie.</p> + +<p class="normal">The keen night air blew sharply upon him, and he shrank back into one +corner of the carriage with a shiver. The trees along the highway +towered stiff and bare in the darkness. Now and then one of the horses +shied at the sight of some strange shadow. A muttered oath and the +crack of the whip followed, then all was silent again except the +regular beat of the hoofs as the horses trotted forward. <i>Heinrich's</i> +heated fancy compared this cold, ghostly drive with the hour he had +spent in the elegant perfumed boudoir, by the side of the fair, +frivolous Parisienne. He closed his eyes to shut out the surrounding +gloom, and conjured up the statues, flowers, and the moment when the +graceful, weeping woman reclined before him on the silken causeuse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am a fool," he said to himself; "to what phantom am I sacrificing +myself? What object, what reward, can I hope for in return for my +superhuman self-denial? None, save curses from the lips which offered +me blissful happiness, and tears of sorrow in my own eyes. Yes, she was +right. Who will lose anything if we are happy? Shall the fairest hours +of my youth pass away in consuming, unsatisfied longing?--shall I allow +my studies to suffer from this secret struggle, and draw upon myself +the disgrace of failing in the examination? Are all these things +outweighed by the imaginary duty imposed upon me by the title of +friend, with which I have honored her fool of a husband, and whose +violation he will notice as little as the most conscientious +fulfillment of it? Will they be outweighed by the preservation of one's +self-respect, and is not this, after all, a matter of opinion?--is it +not a sort of coquetting with one's self? What will all my self-esteem +avail, if the world calls me a simpleton because, under the ban of my +passion, I neglected my studies and social interests? If I am pointed +at as an incapable man, shall I not sink in my own eyes?" His blood +grew more and more fevered as his reason coldly analyzed what a short +time before had seemed to him an inviolable duty. The moral stand which +he had taken in his conversation with Madame d'Anneaud was not +sufficiently powerful to protect, him from the relapse which had now +come. "I shall never rest," he thought, "until the beautiful woman is +<i>mine</i>, then only I shall be myself again! My father always said that +we could find no better way of defending ourselves against the power a +woman obtains over our hearts than by degrading her. How the cold, +shrewd man of the world would laugh if he were alive, and could see how +I am toiling to keep this woman in a position from which she herself +wishes to descend!--if he could see how my love hallows one who does +not desire to be held sacred! And her husband! Well, if he discovers it +I would give him satisfaction by a few ounces of blood, and none of my +acquaintances would despise me for the scandal half as much as I might +perhaps despise myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew out his watch: he would turn back if there was still time. It +was too late: it was already past the hour when he could see Madame +d'Anneaud alone. He clinched his teeth and hid his face in his cloak, +as if shivering from a feverish chill. The carriage entered a thick +wood, and at last stopped before a large iron gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are ill, Herr Baron," said the old valet de chambre as Heinrich +entered the castle, trembling violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, I feel very ill," he replied, passing an to his +sleeping-room to wait with burning impatience for the following day, +which would afford him an opportunity to atone for his previous reserve +in the arms of the beautiful Madame d'Anneaud. But the next morning +brought a farewell letter from the lovely Parisienne, who informed him +that she should return at once to her home in France. It was written +with all the pride and anger of a woman who has experienced the deepest +possible humiliation; who, having offered more than was desired or +accepted, now wishes to make amends for her too great willingness to +yield by a double measure of coldness and harshness. The youth of +twenty was still too great a novice in a woman's words to perceive that +this cold reserve had as little real foundation as the pride from which +it sprung, and which with such ladies too often supplies the place of +true honor. Heinrich was hopelessly crushed, and as everything that is +denied us doubly excites our desires, the indignant woman who had cast +him off was far more charming in his eyes than when she had pleaded for +his love. Remorse and passion strove in his heart with all the fury of +the hot blood of twenty. It was the first connection of such a nature +that Heinrich had ever formed, the first great feeling of his life. +Such periods, with their secret resolutions, are those in which the +elements of the inner life are analyzed, separated from each other, or +harmoniously blended. They are the standard for the guidance of the +whole life.</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich von Ottmar had been educated entirely without love. His +mother died before he reached his fifth year; his father, a heartless +aristocrat, was Grand Steward of the Court of the Principality of +H----, where Heinrich was now to commence his career, and all the +efforts of the haughty, ambitious noble were directed solely to the one +object of inoculating his son with the ideas which, as he believed, had +made him great, and might prepare a similar destiny for Heinrich. He +was one of those tyrannical persons who make even those they wish to +benefit unhappy, because they take no account of individuality, and +compel the victim of their anxiety to be happy, not in <i>his own</i>, but +<i>their</i> way. He brought only discord into <i>Heinrich's</i> young soul, +which was already sympathetically attracted by the development of the +times, for while he succeeded on one hand in rousing and directing it +entirely towards one object,--that of obtaining power and position on +the loftiest heights of society,--he could not suppress his leaning +towards the struggles for freedom peculiar to the times, which were an +abomination to the man whose inclinations tended towards +ultramontanism. Here also, influenced by the illusion that everything +could be done by force, there were many violent scenes, in which he +threatened the young defenseless boy with expulsion from his home, a +father's curse, and disinheritance. But no opinions are changed, no +convictions uprooted, by menaces and blows; they are at most forced to +conceal themselves where it is impossible to struggle with them. +Heinrich accustomed himself <i>to be silent</i> and to <i>dissimulate</i> at an +age when he was incapable of understanding the moral wrong and evil of +these qualities. Thus, under this father's tyrannical sway, every +budding germ of manly truth was suffocated, and shot forth +unavailingly. There are two results from such a course of training. +When the parental authority asserts itself also in the petty details +and interests of life, a most independent and rugged character is often +developed, firmly determined to exchange a hated, tyrannical present +for a free future, however dark it may be. This was not the case with +Heinrich von Ottmar; on the contrary, his worldly-wise father allowed +him full liberty in all the trifles on which youth sets so high a +value,--greater liberty than a more conscientious man would have done. +He knew how to make his home-life pleasant enough to him, induce him to +fear expulsion from it as the greatest misfortune; thus he always +retained his influence, and the youth, spoiled by the glitter and +pleasures of life, bore the intellectual tyranny of his father because +it allowed the most unlimited personal freedom, and learned to yield +and submit. He was naturally generous and warmhearted, capable of +enthusiasm for everything good and beautiful; but under these +circumstances only his intellectual, not his moral, powers could +develop, and his affections were forced to pine for the lack of food. +But his hot blood asserted its rights, and as it found in his soul no +lofty ideal against which its strong, youthful waves might dash, it +lost itself in the broad, shallow stream of sensuality. His father held +the opinion that there could be nothing more disadvantageous, more +injurious to the thinker, as well as to the man of the world, than a +deep feeling; and as he desired to make his son both, if possible, he +wished to save him from the evil. He also knew that there is no better +protection from it than the habit of frivolous, careless intercourse +with insignificant natures, and therefore cheerfully endured this phase +of <i>Heinrich's</i> character. He had no esteem for women himself, and it +seemed to him a matter of indifference if the impulsive youth turned +where favors were granted most speedily, and where he unconsciously +lost his reverence for the sex. Thus the blinded father, with his +inexorable sternness on the one side, converted a noble, many-sided +nature into an ambiguous, varying character, and, by his unprincipled +indulgence on the other hand, transformed a heart-craving love into a +disposition of unbridled license; and when, in <i>Heinrich's</i> nineteenth +year, he closed his eyes, he left his son entangled in a confusion of +inextricable contradictions, with an incomprehensible impulse towards +goodness and beauty in his breast, and without any compass to enable +him to obtain them, <i>desiring</i> the right with the yet undestroyed power +of a noble nature, but defrauded of the power of <i>doing</i> it; in spite +of his father's influence a philanthropist, and through it an egotist. +Thus he was a mystery to himself, whose solution he expected to find in +life, not suspecting with what sacrifice he should be compelled to +purchase it. Tortured by this secret conflict, he sought refuge and +support in science, and devoted himself to the study of political law. +He was too deeply imbued with the spirit of the times to find +satisfaction for his ambition solely in the prerogatives of the +nobility and a mere court office. True, he desired a position near the +throne, but it must be one which should have some political importance, +and deal not only with the organization of the court, but of the state. +This was the highest aim which appeared before him, and he labored with +honest zeal to reach it. Then he made the acquaintance of Madame +d'Anneaud, who was visiting a married relative in H----. She was the +first highly cultured woman he had ever known, and the impression made +by her beauty, united to the polished manners and dainty coquetry of an +aristocratic Parisienne, exerted an intoxicating influence over the +mind and imagination of the young man. Her sudden departure inflamed +his passion to the highest pitch; but in order to approach the +beautiful woman he had formed a friendship with her husband, and the +very bond which had brought the lovers together now formed a wall of +separation between them. To mislead the wife of a confiding, +unsuspicious friend was an act of dishonor from which his skeptical +reason recoiled. In this conflict month after month elapsed in +idleness. It was the year in which he was preparing for his +examination; he felt that he should fail if he did not conquer his +inertness and return to his studies. He had been too long accustomed to +receive all the favors of love to be able to endure a hopeless wish and +longing for any length of time. He must either possess Madame d'Anneaud +or avoid her. He had chosen the latter ere he knew how difficult it +would be to deny himself anything he ardently desired. He wished to do +right; but when he felt the bitterness of such self-denial his strength +to carry out the impulse failed, for he was already far too great an +egotist to make any sacrifice, and without sacrifice there is no +virtue.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus his first victory over himself was transformed into a defeat when +Madame d'Anneaud's implacable letter robbed him of the ground on which +he expected to enjoy with her the fruits of a shameful peace. Now, as +he fancied, he had lost all, committed a wrong both against his beloved +and himself, for which he must strive to atone with all the energy of +passion. He drove into the city to see Madame d'Anneaud, but she +refused to admit him. He wrote a despairing note and sent it to her by +a confidential waiting-maid, but it was returned with the seal +unbroken.</p> + +<p class="normal">He spent three days in the most terrible excitement. The blood coursed +madly through his veins; his brain burned and whirled with plans to +regain the lost one and prevent her return to Paris. On the third +Monsieur d'Anneaud called to bid him farewell, complaining bitterly of +the caprices of his wife, who had suddenly dismissed her whole +household, would see no one, and wished to set off at once for Paris. +Everything around him grew dim as he heard these words; his heart +throbbed as if it would burst, and when his friend had taken leave he +turned deadly pale and sank exhausted upon the sofa. Now for the first +time he felt what, in the suspense of the last few days, he had not +heeded, that he was ill; but he dared not yield to it. Madame d'Anneaud +was to set out that very evening. The thought drove him back to the +city, that he might at least watch her window and witness her +departure. She saw him, and as she entered her carriage cast a long +and, as it appeared to him, sorrowful glance at him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned to the castle wild with despair. What was he to do now, +follow her, perhaps to be again repulsed? sacrifice his scientific +studies at the decisive time of the examination to rush around Paris +imploring love, perchance in vain? It seemed too useless and degrading +for him to resolve upon it without further reflection. He strove with +superhuman exertion to busy himself in his work; in vain, his thoughts +refused to obey his will. Day and night he sat over his books, gazing +with burning eyes and bewildered brain at the letters, to him so +unmeaning and disconnected, while the maddest longing raged in his +panting breast. In this torturing, mental struggle his bodily health +failed more and more; the illness which he had felt ever since his +first great emotion made itself the more apparent the less he spared +himself. At last he yielded, and became the prey of a most violent +feverish attack. The physician who was summoned shrugged his shoulders +thoughtfully, for the young man's condition afforded every symptom that +nervous fever was to be apprehended.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">II.</a></h2> + +<h3>DUAL APPARITIONS</h3> + +<p class="normal">The fever increased day by day. Heinrich became very delirious and +required incessant watching. On one of his worst nights the nurse, +overpowered by fatigue, fell asleep. The patient seemed to become more +quiet for a few minutes, and gazed with half-closed eyes at the dull +glimmer of the night-lamp. For a time in his stupefaction followed a +fixed train of ideas,--it was the conflict between duty and inclination +which had made him so ill. His imagination incessantly painted pictures +which his conscience destroyed. He lamented that he did not possess +that thoughtless frivolity which receives every enjoyment as a gift +from the loving Father, without doubt, struggle, or conflict with what +we term conscience, duty, honor. "Oh, God! Thou who hast given me +life," he murmured, "what didst thou bestow in putting me under the +dominion of a power which feeds upon the blood of my murdered joys, and +absorbs the sweetest marrow of this existence! The only happy natures +are those which can so divide intellect and feeling that they can no +longer bias each other. Oh, would that I might also!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Amid such thoughts be fell into that feverish, half slumber in which +dreams and reality are often so strangely blended. We know that we are +in bed, know that we are dreaming, and yet cannot prevent the creations +of our fancy from appearing before us, surrounding us like substantial +forms, and arbitrarily forcing their existence upon us. Such was the +case with Heinrich. His mind was busily weaving the torn threads of his +thoughts into fairy-like figures, at first quaint like arabesques, but +by degrees revealing a strange secret connection. The faces became more +and more distinct as his consciousness of the outside world grew dim. +He still felt vaguely that egotism and ideality were waging a fierce +battle in his heart, and by degrees the ideal he could no longer think +of in the abstract assumed a bodily form. There seemed to be something +in the room which terrified him,--something that crawled and glided +over the floor. "Do not fear," it whispered hypocritically. "I do not +come to destroy but to aid. I am the impulse of self-preservation, and +when in aristocratic society I cultivate my mind and call myself +Egotism." The shape writhed and glided nearer, while over <i>Heinrich's</i> +head sounded a melodious yet powerful rustling of wings, and a voice +from above rang like the low notes of an organ, "Fear not, I am the +Genius of the Ideal, and will save you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich gasped for breath, he feared the whispering, ghostly +apparitions that surrounded him, his breast and neck seemed bound with +heavy cords, he strove to cry out but his voice refused to obey him, he +tried to open his eyes but in vain; he only felt the overmastering +presence of the two original elements of humanity, and his ear thrilled +at their words. "See what cowardly monsters you men are!" laughed the +fiend on the floor. "You carry hideous forms within you and think you +imperiously rule them, but recoil in horror when you have conjured them +from the secret depths of your hearts. I was nearer to you when in your +own breast than I am now, yet you fostered and cherished me; now that I +appear before you, you fear me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The voice above murmured: "Compose yourself, we are only the powers you +have felt struggling within your soul, but now we have united in the +common object of gratifying your wishes, for your folly will never be +satisfied until you perceive the vanity of your desires. Your wishes +shall be fulfilled, that you may learn to perceive in what the end of +life and true happiness consist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, mighty beings!" groaned Heinrich, "we are so proud of what we +accomplish by your aid, and yet it is we who serve you while you do +everything. What sustains us, that in our weakness we do not fall +helpless victims to one or the other of you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Hand which rules over all things and appoints to each its bounds," +answered the Genius of the Ideal. "It has so wisely apportioned the +powers of evil that we exert an equal influence over the human race. As +the law of attraction holds worlds in their courses, our opposing +strength maintains the right balance in your minds if all the elements +are properly blended; but sometimes that is not the case, then your +lives take their direction from the strongest, for spirit strives +towards spiritual things, outweighs the earthly nature, releases itself +from the world, and follows my guidance above."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the earthly nature tends towards the earth," grinned Egotism, "and +more frequently you sink down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus," said both, "you human beings preserve the equilibrium between +mind and matter,--therefore you can neither withdraw from the world," +cried Egotism,--"nor be dragged down by it," said the Genius of the +Ideal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you are right!" murmured Heinrich; "but I have lost this +equilibrium."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not lost it," replied the Genius of the Ideal, "the divine +and earthly natures are striving in you with equal power: that you may +not arbitrarily crush either, we wish to <i>separate</i>. You shall lead a +twofold life. Passion shall not disturb intellect, and intellect shall +not destroy pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," cried Heinrich, eagerly, "has the dear God sent you to me +to bestow the whole precious substance of life? How has such favor +fallen to my lot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will learn some day that God has reserved greater mercies than +these," was the reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, you crawling creature, what do you want here while this +divine being is holding converse with me?" said Heinrich, proudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will henceforth have little use for <i>him</i>," replied Egotism; "it +is <i>my</i> service you need first, and <i>I</i> must gratify your wishes. I am +a merry companion: you need not shun me. I appear in constantly varying +forms: now a usurer paying like a hardened miser, now an elegant +spendthrift throwing money away with lavish hands; now secretly +murdering a helpless enemy, now wrapping myself in the shining armor of +duty and slaying thousands; now with an honest, enthusiastic manner +gliding through the darkness to the innocent young maiden, ruling over +hearts and nations, kneeling before thrones and altars,--who knows all +the myriad forms I assume? If the spirit above your head did not work +against me, the world would be filled with my masks. Where the heart +and intellect are equal I prosper least, for then man is a harmonious +creature, as his Maker intended. Still, I often succeed in separating +them, and then my power is strengthened. It shall be so with you. Soul, +divide into two portions! Part, mind and feeling, move asunder and form +two wholes! Heinrich, have your wish, possess a double nature with a +mind destitute of sensibility, and a soulless heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich's breast heaved violently, his heart throbbed with redoubled +speed, every vein swelled to bursting. Pleasure and pain thrilled his +frame; by degrees something within him seemed to be tearing itself +away, inexpressible grief overwhelmed him. A voice in his heart +murmured, "Farewell." "Farewell," answered every nerve; the chasm in +his soul yawned wider, as if a burning wound had passed through his +nature. Tears of inexplicable sorrow gushed from his eyes, and a cry of +agony at last burst from his lips as he felt that he was leaving his +body. He now stood face to face with <i>himself</i>, exchanging glances of +astonishment. All anguish was over, and he felt free and careless. "I +have been born again!" he cried, in delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the Genius of the Ideal answered,--"You have only divided your +nature. Your desire is accomplished, and will last until you no longer +wish it. Woe betide you if you remain in this condition and no longer +call upon me for aid! Egotism has produced this separation, he will +henceforth be your companion; cold reason and coarse sensuality will +make you their prey. But if from beautiful eyes the pure ray of a noble +soul falls upon you, let it enter your heart, it is I who command it to +shine upon you. If an earnest voice strikes upon your ear in tones of +warning, heed it, it is I who speak to you; and if you are at last +convinced that everything done and enjoyed without me is empty, turn to +me and I will guide you back to the source of happiness." Then turning +to the divided natures, the vision cried "Be friends; you are now two +forms, but you possess but one life, therefore remain at peace, and +take my blessing," exclaimed Egotism. "Enjoy," he cried, turning to +sensuality. "Attain," he said to intellect. "But remember," said the +Genius of the Ideal, "that the end of life is neither to enjoy nor +obtain, but to be useful and accomplish good works." With these words +the apparitions disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two shapes were alone. The first at last broke the silence. "I +shall dub myself <i>Henri</i>, that is what Madame d'Anneaud used to call +me, and French names give one better luck with women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will remain <i>Heinrich</i>," said the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me your hand!" exclaimed <i>Henri</i>. "I will enjoy for you, you +shall labor for me, and when I am about to commit an act of folly you +can warn me." So saying be merrily compared himself with his image. "I +don't doubt that we shall make our fortune. To be useful and accomplish +good works the object of life! Bah the object of life is to be happy, +and only success and pleasure can give happiness. 'For <i>myself</i>,' is +henceforth my motto!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And mine," cried Heinrich: "it is the only sound philosophy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then the nurse awoke, and sprang from his chair in terror, for his +patient was not in bed, but standing before his long dressing-glass, +looking into it and talking to his reflected image in the greatest +excitement. It was with the utmost difficulty that he would allow +himself to be led away from the mirror and put to bed. His delirium had +reached its height, and showed him the true state of his own soul in +the form of an allegory. That which his reason had never been able to +solve was depicted before him in bodily form, by the divining power of +the instincts of feverish hallucinations; and thus this vision was the +true picture of his life, and the separation he had witnessed only the +symbol of his own secret struggles.</p> + +<p class="normal">* * *</p> + +<p class="normal">After three months of great suffering, Ottmar at last recovered, but so +slowly that the physician forbade him to resume his studies, and +advised him to seek health and diversion for his thoughts in travel.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he heard that Madame d'Anneaud was still living in Paris, he +hastened thither to resume his former relations with her. But here, for +the first time, the signs of his twofold nature became apparent. The +glittering, alluring form in which materialism clothes itself on the +one hand, intellectual suggestions on the other hand, and French +frivolity, did not fail to produce their effect. The man of reason and +sensuality developed such rude contrasts of character that he became +what he had beheld in his dream, "<i>Heinrich</i>" the cold thinker, and +"<i>Henri</i>" the careless <i>bon vivant</i> in one person, changing as often +and as suddenly as if they were two separate individuals forced to +inhabit the same body. He was proud of this transformation, for he +could now enjoy and obtain everything: but happy he was not. The same +thing befell Ottmar that has happened to so many others in whom the +strange wonder of a secret rupture has taken place. Where intellect +reigned it required only cold knowledge and understanding; where +feeling ruled it degenerated into a burning fire, which, when the +moment of extinction arrived, left nothing but emptiness and +indifference. Thus by turns both extremes took possession of the pliant +body, and his beautiful features, gradually moulding themselves +according to the division in the soul, now bore the impress of the +astute thinker, and anon the winning charm of the lover. He possessed +one of those temperaments at which one gazes as a "marvel of genius," +which exert an alluring charm over women, who perceive in them a +"demoniac spell," a tempting enigma which irresistibly occupies their +thoughts, but in whose solution many a woman's heart has slowly bled to +death.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time he was what the world calls a man of honor. As social +integrity may be a result of cleverness, he never allowed himself to be +in fault in his civil or social position, for there the intellectual +<i>Heinrich</i> ruled. The errors which the sensual, elegant <i>Henri</i> +secretly committed, if detected, were not ascribed to him. There were +and are too many such natures for society not to stretch its very +relative standard of morality for the sake of their good qualities.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everywhere he was the centre of interest,--sought, petted, and honored. +His many-sided character attracted the most opposite temperaments; yet +he was unhappy, life was shallow and wearisome.</p> + +<p class="normal">There is an invisible something, on which human happiness depends. We +have soul organs, by means of which we receive and impart the inner +world of sensuous feeling,--organs which we call organs of the heart; +and those of <i>Henri</i> were very active when passion was once aroused. We +have also organs to unite us with the spiritual world,--organs of +thought,--and <i>Heinrich</i> possessed them in the highest perfection. But +we have besides these an organ that forms the bond between the other +two, like a connecting vein, through which the streams of thought and +feeling flow into each other, and which carries the mingled tide +through the entire being. This is the emotional nature. Where the heart +and intellect are not peculiarly disunited, the emotional nature must +exert an influence; it is the organ by means of which we make our +simple every-day life pleasant, endurable, if possible poetical. This +tie between the heart and intellect was of course torn asunder by the +division that had taken place in Ottmar, and thus he not only felt +painfully the eternal dissatisfaction of both natures, but quiet +every-day life lost all charm and value, and found him cold and +unsympathizing. He desired great contrasts, great passions, or great +problems. It was only when these occupied his thoughts that the two +extremes of his nature could assert themselves. Then only he felt at +ease.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> sought the material pleasures, which are always the same, and +always result in emptiness. <i>Heinrich</i> unceasingly pursued the course +of ambition, which is ever renewed just as we believe we have reached +the goal. Between the two Ottmar found nothing but satiety. He now had +what he had so eagerly desired,--two lives, two natures, in one person. +True, he could no longer suffer, but neither could he enjoy; he could +neither love nor hate. <i>Henri's</i> feelings were only instincts, and his +thoughts the refinement of sensuality; to which <i>Heinrich</i> sometimes +lent a loftier language when in the presence of noble women, in whom +his shallow frivolity would have excited only repugnance. Ottmar, as on +the night of his delirium, fancied, with vain satisfaction, that he had +been born again; but he had, in truth, only divided himself. It seemed +to him as if he possessed a twofold nature, and must now enjoy life +doubly. But the law of true humanity cannot be denied without rebuke. +He had erred. Instead of two natures there were only two disjointed +halves; instead of enjoying a double share, he enjoyed but half, for +what pleased <i>Henri</i> <i>Heinrich</i> did not feel, and what <i>Heinrich</i> +obtained was useless to <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was not yet clear to Ottmar. He only knew that the apparitions had +given what he desired, and did not understand why he was not happy. He +had not comprehended their sneers, like all who, in the impetuous whirl +of life, hear the prophetic voices of their own breasts, and first +understand them when their predictions begin to be fulfilled.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Paris, Ottmar gave free course to his inclinations, and for some +time lived in intimate relations with Madame d'Anneaud. But the +beautiful woman soon became wearisome to him, and he deserted her for a +fairer face, for faith, as a matter of course, had become an +impossibility to this nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he hurried from face to face, exhausting one empty pleasure after +another, until at last, after a year of idle dissipation, ambition +obtained the upper hand, and intellect asserted its claims. He would, +as he said, try philosophy for a time, and returned to Germany. Another +life now began. "Quick! You must do something,--accomplish something," +he said to himself. "But how? of what nature?" In the whirl of empty +pleasures he had become too superficial and frivolous to recommence his +neglected scientific studies with the redoubled industry which, after +so long an interruption, they required; he could no longer adopt any +regular profession. By means of his great ability, favored by his +position, he did and learned what and where he pleased. As he began too +much at the same time, he acquired nothing thoroughly, and obtained +that so-called cosmopolitan education which dabbles in all colors, is +skilled in all branches, whose variety often excites admiration, but +cannot be of any practical value. For five years he visited +universities, heard lectures from the most distinguished professors, +and passed in review the various sciences. None satisfied him, for none +aided him to reach the goal of his ambition with sufficient rapidity.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the years of his early youth passed away, and he had as yet +obtained nothing. Insignificant fellow-students went out into the world +to enter upon the honorable career of government service, while he did +not even know to what branch it would be best to devote himself in +order to become a man of mark.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wrote several semi-scientific, semi-poetical works. The critics +acknowledged their merit, but they were not read. The scientific +portion was too commonplace for learned men, the poetry too dry for +ordinary people; for, in spite of his genius, <i>Heinrich</i> was no poet. +His nature lacked that which alone can carry away the masses, and which +no thought can supply,--heart impulse; and he did not succeed in +becoming popular. An earnest, uninterrupted course of study would, in a +very short time, have made him competent to enter upon some settled +career; but too frequently <i>Heinrich's</i> assiduous industry yielded to +<i>Henri's</i> pursuit of pleasure, and the wearied frame threatened to give +way under this constant change from one extreme to the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had at last exhausted all the intellectual and material +treasures of his native land without the slightest profit to himself, +some secret power again drove him forth to seek in a foreign country +the happiness he could not find at home. He went to Italy.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">III.</a></h2> + +<h3>FROM FALSEHOOD TO FALSEHOOD</h3> + +<p class="normal">On the way to Rome he met a gentleman whose striking appearance +attracted his attention. <i>Heinrich</i> thought he had never seen a +handsomer and at the same time more intellectual countenance, and a +conversation arose between them which greatly interested <i>Heinrich</i>, +and very soon led him to make disclosures about himself and his course +of life, to which the stranger listened with an attention extremely +flattering to Ottmar's self-love, and entered, with affable +condescension, into every subject introduced by the latter. He appeared +to be so familiar with every sphere of life, all the relations of +European courts, that <i>Heinrich</i> took him for a diplomat, and eagerly +gathered up all the information he communicated, because it always bore +the stamp of accurate, positive knowledge. But the stranger had so much +noble enthusiasm, his language was often so eloquent, that <i>Heinrich</i> +frequently felt tempted to think him an artist, and his curiosity +increased more and more when he baffled, with consummate skill, every +effort to turn the conversation upon himself. The hours flew by +<i>Heinrich</i> like the scenes through which he was passing, but he noticed +nothing to which the stranger did not call his attention. He had eyes +and ears only for him. He knew not which he most admired,--the +comprehensive knowledge of society, the elegant modes of expression, or +the aristocratic, yet winning, manners of this mysterious man. The +latter himself felt an increasing interest in his young companion, and +when the gigantic dome of Saint Peter's rose before them <i>Heinrich</i> +eagerly expressed his regret that the delightful journey was over.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you seek me out in Rome?" asked the stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most gladly!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, with delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; then promise me to come to-morrow after early mass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; but how shall I find you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ask for Father Severinus, the Prefect of the Collegium Germanicum."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed at him in unconcealed amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Jesuit," said the priest, laughing; and left <i>Heinrich</i> to his +speechless astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The short disenchantment the latter experienced very soon yielded to +redoubled admiration for the remarkable things this man had +accomplished in spite of the narrow sphere to which he was limited by +his position as a priest. His father's predilection for the Jesuits +recurred to his mind, and many tales of the wondrous labors and +successes of this order no longer seemed so incredible and exaggerated +as before. He felt a desire to know more of the institution which +cultivated such remarkable charms of mind and person, and did not fail +to go to the Casa al Gesu the following day. The reception he met with +far surpassed all his anticipations.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Severinus introduced him to the other chiefs of the order, and +when at last the General himself requested him to pay him a visit there +was not a single point in which <i>Heinrich's</i> vanity was not flattered +and his curiosity excited to the utmost.</p> + +<p class="normal">The visit to the General ended with an invitation to dinner, and during +the meal the latter appointed a certain day upon which <i>Heinrich</i> +should be his guest every week.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar had never before been so well entertained among men, and soon +found himself nowhere so agreeably situated as when with Father +Severinus and his companions. The holy fathers procured for him every +pleasure that a stranger can enjoy in a new place. They showed him an +admirable selection of the glories of Rome, afforded him an opportunity +to see many curiosities which are usually inaccessible to strangers, +were always at hand when he needed them, and did not appear to be in +the world when he did not require their services. Under their guidance +he obtained a sight of the treasures in the library of the Vatican, and +they also afforded him a glimpse of their own archives; but as soon as +his desire for knowledge was excited, and he wished to penetrate +farther, the interesting matter was withdrawn because it was allowed +only to the actual adherents of Jesuitism. Yet the fathers imparted +much confidential and extremely useful information, by means of which +they gave him to understand that they were in possession of still more +important secrets, into which, however, only actual students of the +institution, whose loyalty to the order had been severely tested, could +be initiated.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> at last could not resist inquiring into the conditions upon +which he might be considered a tried servant of the order and be +permitted to share these favors. For their agents in the world, these +consisted of a novitiate of one year for the trial and practice of +obedience, and another year of voluntary residence and study in the +college. As he already knew more than was taught in the Germanicum and +Propaganda, he, of course, did not think of going through a school +course; but the thought entered his mind that at the cost of a +novitiate, which he already perceived would not be too strict, he could +obtain information which might be of the greatest use to him in his +career. He did not doubt that no one knew the world and mankind better +than the all-observant, inquiring Jesuits; and they did not neglect to +represent the principal European states and courts as a department of +their restless and manifold branches of labor. He was assured that he +could graduate from no better school of diplomacy than the quiet Jesuit +convent, and it seemed to him well worth the trouble of shutting +himself up here for a year, to emerge such a brilliant personage as his +admired Severinus. The priests gave him plainly to understand that his +novitiate would be only a name, for they had too much knowledge of +human nature to repel a young man of the world, like Ottmar, by the +prospect of monastic austerities. This promised indulgence was by no +means contrary to the rules of the order, since Ottmar was not to be +trained for priesthood, but the world, and therefore must be considered +as a guest rather than a pupil of the Germanicum. He possessed the +entire confidence of the fathers, for first from courtesy to his +hospitable hosts, and afterwards from prudence, he had been silent in +regard to his differences of opinion, but showed a sincere appreciation +of some of their institutions, which they naturally mistook for +devotion to the order. The principal reason was that his father was +known to have been a devout Catholic, a circumstance which so +completely deceived the holy fathers, that <i>Heinrich</i> had no occasion +to do anything but keep silence and submit patiently to the rules of +the order to enjoy all the advantages of this rare confidence. The +temptation was too great, he had been too long accustomed to yield to +every caprice, every fancy, to be punctilious about the concessions of +his own convictions he would be compelled to make, and decided to enter +the Casa al Gesu. The Jesuits were extremely delighted with their new +conquest; for they hoped to make the unusually gifted young man an +agent for Germany, particularly the Protestant court of H----, which +had hitherto been closed against their influence. They willingly +acceded to <i>Heinrich's</i> desire to enter the college under another name; +for it was of importance to them that his stay should remain unknown, +that he might afterwards act in their cause with fewer impediments.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the first step was taken on the path of deceit which his blind +egotism considered the speediest road to the goal, and upon which a man +always enters when he lacks the self-denial to make his opinions his +rule of conduct. Many a favorite of fortune is a miserable egotist, and +passes for a man of honor only because his fate has never chanced to +bring him in conflict with his selfishness; had such been the case he +would quickly have lost his cheaply-won fame. Thus it fared with +<i>Heinrich</i> at a time when his acts and conduct were not yet burdened +with any responsibility or visible result. His proceeding had no +objective importance because he had not as yet gained any influence as +a public character, or formed any political relations. In his view he +committed no treason against the party to which in his own mind, though +not formally, he belonged, by depriving it for another year of the man +who was nothing to it. The point in question did not concern an actual +change of opinion,--for when he once entered the world he would be +faithful to his long-chosen colors,--but the attainment of a purely +personal advantage. It did not occur to his inexperienced mind that, as +a member of the party, he would be responsible to his followers not +only for his future but the past. He did not shrink from abusing the +confidence of the holy fathers, because he thought himself morally +justified in using for his own advantage men who merely wished to make +him a source of profit to themselves. It was doubtless repugnant to him +to feign a faith he did not possess, but he was filled with admiration +for various different individuals of the order, always felt happy with +them, and in truth was indifferent to what religion they belonged, for +he had, as previously mentioned, the toleration of carelessness. To him +all confession was a mere phenomenon of historical culture. The pious +exercises were empty pantomimes, on whose performance nothing depended +except the approval of the fathers, and they were all the easier +because he had grown up among Catholic ceremonies. The political and +social influence of the Jesuits he considered too feeble for him to +fear that he should ever be placed in a situation where he would be +compelled to oppose it. But he was to learn too late how terribly he +had erred.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus his novitiate began, and what he had once undertaken he carried +into execution most persistently. He appeared to be a most obedient, +zealous pupil, and succeeded in blinding the good fathers so completely +that, to serve their own ends, they gave him instruction in everything +that could win him esteem at courts,--the most accurate information +about all personal and diplomatic relations, the royal families, +reports made by the emissaries of the Jesuits in every country, a +quantity of secrets whose judicious use must procure him a great +influence, and, in short, impressed their whole sophistical moral +teachings upon his mind. But with these things, so important to him, he +learned something which was to destroy the anticipated result of their +efforts,--to undervalue the order more and more. The more equivocal and +selfish these motives seemed to him, the more he thought himself +justified in deceiving them and casting aside the claims of gratitude. +He perceived with terror what an influence the Jesuits exerted over +everything; how relentlessly, with a thousand weapons, they subdued +everything that he numbered among the greatest intellectual blessings +in the world. The farther he penetrated into their mysteries the +greater his repugnance became, and the more distinctly he saw the wide +gulf which lay between him and Jesuitism.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the first year of study was drawing to a close, he formed the +resolution to seize upon the first good pretext to release himself from +the distasteful bonds into which, with youthful carelessness, he had +entered. He did not wish to burden himself with any further +obligations, which he now knew he should never discharge. But he was +too familiar with the power to which he had committed himself, not to +be aware that an open breach with the Jesuits might make his career +impossible, perhaps destroy his whole future. Therefore it seemed to +him unavoidable to keep friends with them for the present, and under +his father's authority he had already learned to submit to such +"necessities."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus he must find a pretext which would apparently compel him to +sacrifice the second year of study and leave the Casa al Gesu before +its commencement. The moment was favorable to him. It happened that the +government of H---- took certain decisive steps against the Jesuits' +intended settlement in that principality, which aroused the greatest +excitement among the whole order. <i>Heinrich</i> took advantage of this +opportunity. With remarkable address he induced the fathers to send him +to H---- in order to ascertain the actual state of affairs, and in +their interests begin as quickly as possible the career for which they +considered him sufficiently mature. The expectations which the priests +placed upon him justified this step; for he had increased and +strengthened them by an act which usually requires the greatest +readiness for self-sacrifice, he had at the expiration of his novitiate +presented to the order a sum of ten thousand thalers. The holy fathers +did not suspect that it was the payment by which he wished to relieve +his conscience from every burden of gratitude, that with it he paid for +his residence and instruction as he would have defrayed the expenses of +his studies at a university, because, as a man of aristocratic +disposition, he wished to be in debt for nothing. So they took for an +act of devotion what was really an effort to obtain moral freedom, and +their confidence in the man who had made such a sacrifice for them +became as great as is possible for the cautious, circumspect Jesuits. +So they allowed him to set out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Become a diplomat and act for us; practice the arts of the world to +serve the cause of Heaven," they said, when they bade him farewell. And +he thought, with a sarcastic smile, "I will become a diplomat not to +serve Heaven, but myself." On returning to his home, his rank and +striking character made it easy for him to begin a diplomatic career.</p> + +<p class="normal">The government of H---- was Protestant and liberal. He therefore +carefully concealed the fact of his stay in the Jesuit college, and, +with his large means, succeeded in a few years in raising himself to a +lofty position. He became councillor of the legation, a friend of the +minister, a favorite at court, and now stood upon the height from which +he could begin to discharge his debt to the order, and the admonition +was not delayed. The point in question, of course, related to procuring +admittance into the country for, and also extending the privileges of, +the ubiquitous Jesuits.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar was to introduce these claims--and did not. The moment had +arrived when he must break with the order openly and forever. Now, for +the first time, he perceived the danger resulting from the step. Ought +he to become the representative of a faith which he denied, and during +his stay in Rome had found utterly irreconcilable with his opinions? +Was it to become the shibboleth, which would betray the earlier +associations he had so carefully concealed, perhaps forever crush his +aspirations to obtain a portfolio in the government of H----? At this +price the year of study in the college had been too dearly bought. +Should he, on the other hand, forfeit the powerful assistance of the +Jesuits, and make unrelenting enemies where he had formerly possessed +trusting friends?</p> + +<p class="normal">The outward advantages of the two courses to be chosen seemed tolerably +equal; his convictions of right must turn the scale, and did so. In +vain were the more and more vehement warnings that followed. He wished +to make the unfettered tendency of his intellect the guide of his life, +and deserted the teachings and struggles of the order; for there still +remained in him a remnant of that feeling of duty which commands men to +oppose what they consider false and pernicious.</p> + +<p class="normal">But vengeance was not delayed.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> soon felt that his position in the government and at court +was no longer the same. While hitherto, from the prince down to his +humblest subject, the greatest respect, even admiration, had been paid +him, he now suddenly found himself eyed distrustfully, and even +avoided, without being able to discover a reason. Formerly no important +measure had been taken upon which the minister had not privately +requested his counsel, now the latter enveloped himself in a cloak of +cold reserve. Thus days and weeks elapsed, leaving him in a most +distasteful position.</p> + +<p class="normal">But one person at the court remained the same towards him: his +patroness, the niece of the widowed prince, Princess Ottilie, an +ethereal vision, who combined the haughty grace of a born aristocrat +with the charms of a feeling soul. In her he possessed a true friend, +whom he honored as a higher being; nay, he was often inclined to +believe he loved her, although not even the faintest wish to possess +her had ever arisen in his mind. All real merit was attracted to the +princess, and she won every one by her poetic mind and clear intellect, +as well as the charms of her maidenly character, although she had +already passed her first youth. She had distinguished Ottmar beyond all +others at the court, but for some time she had been unable to receive +him. It was reported that Ottilie was ill, and in his very +uncomfortable situation he was totally bereft of counsel and +consolation.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">IV.</a></h2> + +<h3>A GUARDIAN ANGEL</h3> + +<p class="normal">At last a court ball was given, and <i>Henri</i>,--for it was <i>Henri</i> who +went to balls,--who was always the star that dazzled all eyes, found +himself as much neglected as ever. Only the members of the court who +were suspected of ultramontanism approached him with mysterious +cordiality; and whenever a number of observers were present, some +persons whom he knew to belong to the ranks of his worst enemies cast +strange glances at him which could scarcely fail to be noticed. +Infuriated by this irritating and to him incomprehensible conduct, he +turned to the young girls to pass away a few moments in their society; +but the first whom he approached, a distant relative, drew back with +mingled sorrow and alarm. He laughingly seized the little finger of her +outstretched hand and drew her into a window corner. "Why do you avoid +me, little Elsie? What have I done to harm you?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, go away, you are a Jesuit!" whispered the girl, half timidly, half +sullenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" A flush slowly mounted into <i>Henri's</i> face, but without the +slightest change of countenance he pushed a gold bracelet which had +slipped down to the young girl's wrist so far up the rounded limb that +for the first time in her life she shrank from the sight of her bare +arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know that a Jesuit is something so very bad?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," was the embarrassed reply. "I only know it is--must be--something +you ought not to be; or else you would not do it so secretly." The +young girl paused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and who told you this?" asked <i>Henri</i>, in the greatest suspense, +gazing so steadily and firmly into the large childlike eyes, that she +continued in the greatest bewilderment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Herr von Neuenburg told my mother so, and she was very unhappy +about it, and they both said you could not be trusted any more. Now you +know, let me go. Oh, dear, I ought not to have said anything about it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words she ran away, and his smiles fled with her. It was no +longer the careless, jesting <i>Henri</i>, but <i>Heinrich</i> who stood +haughtily erect in the alcove surveying the assembly with cold, +contemptuous glances.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These people wish to be diplomats, and discuss such important matters +before children! Fortunately, I know you well enough to perceive that +this rumor proceeds from you Jesuits. Oh, to be chained to such a life! +to be forced to sacrifice all one's power for an honor the miserable +breath of a liar's lips can blow away like dust! Is this life worth the +trouble?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not this life," murmured the fiend who was to help him "obtain." "You +must enter a wider field, and mount higher and higher to a sphere where +these petty intrigues can have no power over you; then only will you +find rest."</p> + +<p class="normal">These reflections, which were not by any means the first of the kind, +were disturbed by the rustle of a dress, and when he looked up Princess +Ottilie was standing before him. She gazed at him for a long time in +silence, while he bowed low, murmuring a few words of apology for his +absence of mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so, Herr von Ottmar," she interrupted; "we already know that even +when surrounded by the bustle of a crowd, you sometimes hold +intercourse with your own thoughts; in any case, a much greater source +of entertainment than society could offer you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, your Highness, if society consisted of the elements united in my +gracious princess, it would be the highest enjoyment to devote to it +every power; but when people are compelled, like me, to wander +perpetually, held aloof and misunderstood, through this labyrinth of +pretensions, disappointments, and prejudices, they are sometimes glad +to take refuge in the unsubstantial world of thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why do you not release yourself from surroundings so distasteful?" +asked the princess. "Why do you not find strength to withdraw, if not +to the world of spirits, at least to that of the intellect?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," replied Ottmar, after a slight pause, "if I could take +with me to that realm what has hitherto chained me to the court, how +gladly would I resign this whirl of society! But so long as the object +of my holiest longing is still clasped in the arms of the world, so +long I will at least maintain a place near her, and fill it as well as +I am able."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words he cast upon the princess one of the glances whose +power he had so often tried. She involuntarily turned her head to see +if any one could hear her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Ottmar," said she, and her voice became lower, her expression +more sympathetic, "may I speak to you frankly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my most gracious, benevolent friend!" murmured <i>Heinrich</i>, in a +tone whose submissive devotion produced an irresistible influence upon +the impressionable soul of the princess.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not imagine that I have not perceived your design of winning me by +flattery; I have read that, as well as your whole character. I am +gracious enough to forgive you for placing the same estimate upon me as +upon every other woman whom you may have misled by similar speeches. I +forgive you, because I believe you to be greater than such arts would +make you appear; you possess no false nature, and if you deceive it is +only in cases which have no connection with your secret life, and no +reality for you. Where you have to answer for yourself, your own +established convictions, you will be true. I have this confidence in +you, and therefore can calmly look on and see you make sport of the men +and circumstances which, from your lofty stand-point, must appear so +small; nay, I can even see you test your superiority over myself; and +while I know all you say is false, am unable, I frankly confess, to +resist the charm which your masterly acting exerts over me, and feel +attracted towards you as the ignorant man is drawn to the artist whose +skill he admires. Do not deny the truth of my assertion. Be noble; or, +better still, show yourself to me as you really are, and confess I am +right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Princess," cried Ottmar, "you are right. I grant that you have +understood me; but I must oppose you in one thing, that I have been +hypocritical to you. Ten minutes ago you might perhaps have termed me a +flatterer, but now everything I said has become simple truth, and I +should have far more to say to you if time and opportunity favored me." +"I fear this is the last opportunity I shall have of speaking to you +undisturbed, and therefore I speak now. I know you will not remain here +under existing circumstances, and was not willing to have you go +without taking with you on your weary way a word of conciliation, +perhaps of warning; for you do not deserve the sentence passed upon +you, and it grieves me deeply to see a noble, great-hearted man so +misunderstood through his own fault."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has it already gone so far?" asked Ottmar, in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, yes, my friend. You are considered a very dangerous +man. Your enemies have decried you as a secret agent of the Jesuits, +and at last placed before the prince proofs that you spent a year as a +student in the Jesuit college at Rome. Your whole secret is betrayed." +"And do they not suppose," replied Ottmar, "that the Jesuits would know +how to guard such a secret better, unless it suited their interests to +reveal it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must consider that you are at a <i>Protestant</i> court. You have +hitherto passed for a free-thinker, now you are discovered to be a +pupil of the Jesuits. Thus one or the other must be false; people find +themselves mistaken in you, and are so blindly enraged that they will +believe your enemies rather than you. They consider everything you have +done and are doing against the Jesuits to be merely a mask. The +cordiality which several gentlemen, who are known to be adherents of +the order, showed you this evening confirmed the prince still more in +his opinion. You know his passionate temper; I have just heard a +conversation between him and the minister which I have neither time nor +inclination to repeat; but my conscience urged me to warn you, and--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And your heart, princess; it tells you that, spite of the equivocal +part you see me play, I am a man of honor, who at any moment can cast +aside hypocrisy and deceit as contemptible tools, and whom you can +trust."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not whether I may venture to do so. You were sincere with none, +and I can only entreat you always to remember that falsehood is as +dangerous as a poisonous dye, by means of which men often color things +of trifling value, but which by constant use so pervades the atmosphere +that they at last can no longer breathe in it themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," whispered <i>Heinrich</i>, "let me at least know why, in +spite of my faults, you can still feel so much sympathy for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I have recognized your great talents, the conflict, the want +of peace, in your soul; because I know that the contradictions which +make you suspected by the world at large are rooted in the contrasts of +your own nature; and because I cannot help feeling the deepest +compassion for you," she said, at last, with an outburst of feeling, +laying her hand carelessly upon his. Her voice rang upon <i>Heinrich's</i> +ear in tones of strange warning, and tears were glittering in her deep +blue eyes as she continued: "Oh, there is something so noble, so +godlike, in a true human soul, that when I see one struggling and +battling in the prison of this earthly body, ensnared and tortured, my +heart bleeds and I would fain extend my hands protectingly over the +wildly fluttering wings, until the hour when it can free itself and +soar away unfettered! We are observed. God be with you! Farewell!" She +glided away and disappeared among the crowd.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Ideal spoke from her lips," said Ottmar, gazing after her.</p> + +<p class="normal">A strange conflict now ensued between the opposing elements in his +breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She loves me; she, this noble creature, so full of intellect and +feeling," said <i>Heinrich</i>. "She could not speak more distinctly, and +what she concealed I read in her eyes, which absorbed my image in their +blue depths and reflected it again, as the sun paints a Fata Morgana +upon the clouds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I," <i>Henri</i> rejoined, "I feel ashamed and miserable when in her +presence, for I can give her nothing in return for the treasures she +brings me. I do not love her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why not?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>. "Can she not make a man happy for his +whole life? Does she not hold a lofty position, is she not as noble as +she is intellectual, and has she not sufficient strength of mind to +accept my hand, if I offer it, in spite of all intrigues?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," replied <i>Henri</i>; "but she is neither young nor blooming, and is +an invalid. How can I bind myself forever to one who has not the +slightest personal charm for me? A beautiful soul and noble mind are +phantoms, but a sickly body is the most comfortless reality, and a +burden which I must drag about with me during my whole life. No: so +long as I am still young I wish to enjoy this miserable life; when I am +old and decrepit I shall have enough to do to bear my own ailments +without the addition of an invalid wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, I could love her!" said <i>Heinrich</i>. "You should not extend your +arms to me vain, beautiful soul; I would foster and cherish you as my +most sacred possession; but it is impossible. Even if I should give her +this man, what would she possess? A cold intellect and a sensuality +which this poor ethereal nature would be unable to attract, and by +which she would sooner or later be betrayed." Absorbed in these +thoughts, he walked through the rooms to take his leave. He wished to +go home, for he had lost all inclination for the entertainment. When he +reached the last apartment a new dance had just commenced and drawn +every one into the large salons. The room was silent and empty, only +the lights in the candelabra burned with a low crackle; fans and +withered bouquets lay scattered over the tables, and cloaks that had +been carelessly cast aside were thrown upon the sofas. Everything bore +witness to the bright and joyous life that had reigned here a few +minutes before, and now the deserted chamber with its marble columns +and gilded arches seemed like a mausoleum, where the soul might take a +last farewell. He paused an instant. "Ottilie!" he murmured, half +unconsciously, and the solemn mood he had felt a short time before +again overmastered him. It seemed as if beneficent spirits were +floating in the waves of light that surrounded him and trying to +whisper something, but he could no longer understand them. Just then he +suddenly heard a low rustle: some living creature was near. He looked +around him and saw the princess standing in the doorway gazing at him +with deep earnestness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottilie," cried <i>Heinrich</i>, "God has sent you here! The angel of my +life called me, but I could no longer understand his words; for in the +tumult of the world I have grown deaf to his spirit voice. He dwells +in you; become his oracle, let him speak to me through your lips."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Ottmar, my heart is filled with the thought of your welfare, +but bow to help you I know not. I will pray your good angel to show me +some means of fathoming the trouble in your soul. I know of no way +unless"--she hesitated, less from embarrassment than to seek the right +word,--"unless you can find a nature which will understand and have for +you the patience of true love. Only the anxiety of a heart entirely +devoted to you will discover the means of restoring your lost peace. +That you may win such a being is the hope and desire of my soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Princess," cried <i>Heinrich</i>, whom Ottilie's lovely enthusiasm had +deeply charmed, "if I now say that I find such a being in you, that +there is no woman to whom I will intrust my life except you--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my friend," said Ottilie calmly, though she turned pale. "You are +deceived in yourself at this moment. You do not love it is the longing +for the right which, thank God, always lives in you, which attracts you +to my--I may be allowed to say it--pure soul. This is not love; I know +it, and would never strengthen you in an error which would defraud you +of the best portion of your life. Yet I thank you for your confession. +It makes you appear still more lovable in my eyes; not because you have +made it to me, but to the ideal to which I would so gladly see you +rise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottilie, let me thank you on my knees for the light you have poured +into my darkened soul, and let me swear I will do everything good and +great of which I may be capable in your name, your spirit!" <i>Heinrich</i> +impulsively threw himself at her feet and clasped her hands. "Oh, my +soul loves you, Ottilie, with a love which--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which is not of this world," interrupted Ottilie, bending over him. +"Another love will enter your heart, and you will bless me for having +had strength to refuse what does not belong to me! And now I entreat +you to rise and leave me to myself."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> rose and started back as he looked at Ottilie. She was +standing proudly erect, struggling for breath, as her tears flowed +more and more violently; her eyes were closed, her delicate lips +firmly compressed, she was a most touching picture of agonizing +self-sacrifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor heart! you love me, and yet are noble enough to reject me?" asked +<i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my friend," murmured Ottilie, "so truly as God will sustain me in +my last hour, so truly I desire your happiness more than my own, so +truly I resign you. You must be free, and choose freely. God grant you +may find the right!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"After this vow I have nothing more to hope," said <i>Heinrich</i>. +"Farewell, my friend! One who has power to exercise such self-restraint +has also strength to conquer her sorrow." He kissed her cold, pale +brow, and hastily left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God it has turned out so!" whispered <i>Henri</i>; and <i>Heinrich</i> +also uttered a sigh of relief: he felt that he had escaped a great +danger. He had been hurried on by a momentary impulse and Ottilie's +unconcealed love to a step which he would have bitterly repented; for +he was equally convinced that no one would ever understand him like +Ottilie, and also that her appreciation alone would not satisfy him. As +<i>Henri</i> desired more sensual, <i>Heinrich</i> demanded greater intellectual, +charms. He wished to be excited, kept in a state of suspense, +enlivened, amused: Ottilie's uniform, quiet earnestness would not have +afforded him this, and he thanked her for having rightly understood his +hasty enthusiasm and been generous enough to reject him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime, the queenly Ottilie stood motionless in the glittering +apartment, her hand pressed to her heart and her eyes raised towards +heaven. "Which of us is most to be pitied, he or I?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">V.</a></h2> + +<h3>MASTER AND PUPIL</h3> + +<p class="normal">On his way home, Ottmar remembered that he had appointed this very hour +for a tender meeting, and gradually the solemn impression made by the +last few moments faded before the charming picture which now obtained +the mastery over his soul. When he returned home his old valet, who had +served him from childhood, met him with a pale, sleepy face, and slowly +lighted the candles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has not the little girl come yet?" asked <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who should it be? Röschen," he added.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Röschen, Marten the beadle's daughter, do you expect her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I do; I persuaded her to meet me in the garden. Keep watch +at the window, and when she comes take her into the pavilion," he said, +absently, throwing himself into a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me to warn you, Herr Baron," said the old man with sorrowful +earnestness. "Röschen is an innocent maiden, the only daughter of an +honest, poor man, whose sole joy is in this child. Have you considered +this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't bore me with your reproaches, man!" cried <i>Henri</i>. "Don't grudge +me this little pleasure; life with these frivolous, coquettish women is +already gradually becoming so shallow that it is no longer endurable. I +must have something pure and simple, which can refresh my mind and +interrupt the everlasting sameness; and she is really a charming +creature!" he murmured, admiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Baron," said the old man, with deep emotion, "I promised your +dying mother to watch over you as far and as long as it was in my +power. In former days my influence often prevailed; but since your +severe illness and residence in France you have become a different +person; still, I did all that was possible in my limited sphere to keep +you from evil of every kind. Of late I have feared more for the safety +of your soul than your bodily welfare. I have had occasion to perform +services of which I have been ashamed. To carry letters and attend +light-minded ladies home is not the business of a respectable man; yet +I did it out of affection for you, and because no innocent person +suffered. You gave me no thanks for my obedience, but took it as a +proof that I shared your views, and probably secretly despised me for +it. I bore all patiently and did my duty. But today, Herr Baron, it is +time to hold you back from the path on which you have entered. To ruin +an innocent girl is a crime of which I would not have believed you +capable, and to which I will lend no aid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Old fool!" muttered <i>Henri</i>, looking at the clock, "if you were not so +useful I would have dismissed you to some quiet place long ago. Don't +pretend to be more silly than you are, Anton. I've already heard so +much morality to-day that I was on the point of doing a very foolish +thing. Do you suppose I shall begin again with my valet? Go, and let me +alone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Baron," replied Anton, firmly, "I am sorry to be obliged to tell +you that I must leave your service if you insist upon seeing the girl, +and beg you to discharge me to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton," cried <i>Henri</i>, in a furious passion, "I have borne with you +for a long time! You were faithful to me, even resisted the temptations +of the Jesuits, and always attended to my welfare. All this I have +recognized and rewarded; but I can no longer keep a servant who wishes +to set himself up as a judge of my conduct, were he ever so +indispensable to me; so remember your place better, or go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the door-bell rang gently. "Ah, she is coming!" +exclaimed <i>Henri</i>, exultantly; and forgetting everything else, he +turned to Anton, calling, "Lights!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old servant did not move, but stood with clasped hands praying, +under his breath, "Dear God, save this young soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> rushed down the staircase on which the moonlight lay in broad +bars; his hands trembled with joyful impatience. "Wait, my Röschen! my +little pink rose! I will admit you, my darling!" he whispered, as he +turned the key and threw open the heavy door, half bending forward to +embrace his angel; but a tall figure, on which the moon cast a ghostly +light, entered and fixed a pair of dark, searching eyes upon the +astonished <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Christ! what is this?" he exclaimed, staggering back as if +overwhelmed with terror and disappointed expectation against the door, +which he closed again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not Christ, but one who comes in his name," replied the +stranger's deep voice in the purest Italian.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By all good angels, Father Severinus!" murmured <i>Henri</i>, recoiling a +step. A low knock sounded from without; the young man's blood mounted +to his brow, and he hesitated a moment in the greatest embarrassment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here are my companions," said the Italian. "Allow me to open the +door." He threw it back, and two figures, clad in the same dress as his +own, entered, accompanied by one of the Jesuits who had spoken to +<i>Henri</i> that night at the ball. They greeted him respectfully, and he +was man of the world enough to instantly accommodate himself to his +painful situation as well as the torturing disappointment of the +moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are welcome, reverend sirs," he said, smiling, and led the way +up-stairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Anton stood upon the landing with a light, and one of the priests +saluted him with his "Praised be Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forever, amen!" replied the old man, with a deep sigh, as he placed +chairs for the strangers and left the room, casting a sorrowful glance +at his master.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have been looking for you at the ball, my son," Father Severinus +began; "because I only arrived from Rome this evening, and must set out +again early tomorrow morning. I am taking a journey through Germany, +and thought it my duty to see you, my favorite pupil, and look after +the welfare of your soul. But, unfortunately, I was compelled to learn +that the soil which so readily received our lessons was a mere +sand-heap, whose best harvest is blown away by the wind."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i>, who had taken <i>Henri's</i> place, quietly listened to the +priest's words with his usual satirical smile. "Reverend sir, I must +first observe that I am no longer in the mood to allow myself to be +treated like a schoolboy. There are times when a peculiar fatality +seems to pursue us; to-day appears to have been set apart for giving me +moral lectures, and I assure you the more of them I hear the less +successful they are; so you perceive you will not be able to accomplish +much in this way, especially with a man who has returned at one o'clock +in the morning, weary and heated, from a ball."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps Princess Ottilie also belongs to the number of those whose +'moral lectures' have been so unsuccessful," sneeringly remarked +Ottmar's ball-room companion, Geheimrath Schwelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you know about that?" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough, I should think; the noble lady did not speak so low that any +one in the adjoining window corner could not hear everything, and it is +really a duty to inform her how useless her admonitions are, that she +may not trouble herself vainly in future."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> cast a glance of inexpressible contempt at the sleek, fat +face and restless eyes of the speaker. "Princess Ottilie is the noblest +woman I know," he exclaimed, with deep emotion, "and is too lofty to +lend her ear to such vulgar insinuations. If, however, you succeed in +betraying me to her, remember that you will do me no harm, but only +inflict useless pain upon a noble heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or heal it," replied the Geheimrath, contemptuously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cease this aimless conversation, gentlemen," said Severinus. "I am +astonished, Herr Geheimrath, to hear what language you employ towards a +man whose great talents, even as an enemy, should command your respect. +Surely these are not the means worthy of so great an end; and if our +affairs in Germany are managed thus, I can understand why the word +'Jesuit' is here used as a bugbear to frighten children. <i>In majorem +Dei gloriam</i>, never forget that. Unfortunately, I see you men of the +world must be reminded of it more frequently than our dead General has +done. It was time a more powerful hand should seize the reins; I +perceive that more and more at every step I take upon this soil."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had risen from his seat as he uttered these words, and there was +something so menacing and imperious in his bearing that the Geheimrath +exclaimed, with mingled fear and anger, "By what authority do you use +this language towards me, Father Severinus?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the authority the General, who sends me, gave me over every worldly +coadjutor who enjoys the advantages of our alliance without showing +himself worthy of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The word General and Severinus's majestic bearing utterly crushed the +Geheimrath, who sank into a chair in silence, passing his hand over a +brow bedewed with cold perspiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take me to a room where I can speak to you in private, my son," said +the priest in a very different tone, turning to Ottmar. "We alone have +understood each other, and we shall come to an understanding again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please," said <i>Heinrich</i>, hesitatingly, and was about to take +one of the candlesticks from the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay," observed Severinus, checking him. "You know my habits; do not +refuse me the favor of being allowed to speak to you in darkness as in +former days. The soul can collect its powers better when external +objects are concealed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please," Ottmar repeated, while a faint smile played around his +lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">He led the priest into the adjoining library; then left the room a +moment and said to Anton, in low tone, "Examine my study, remove the +papers lying around, and bolt the door leading into the dining-room. If +Röschen comes, I also rely upon your faithfulness to take her into the +garden and shut her up in the pavilion."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he quietly returned to his guest. The library was dimly lighted by +the moonbeams. The books towered aloft in immense cases, and from the +most exhaustive works of the <i>intellect</i>, bound in these lifeless cases +to arise again in spirit, the eye wandered to the most perfect works of +<i>nature</i> imperishably imprisoned in stone and colors to refresh the +weary thinker, and gently win him back from his dizzy heights to this +world and its lovely forms. Statues and pictures of every kind stood +and hung around.</p> + +<p class="normal">If a moonbeam shone upon the gilt letters of the names of the greatest +poets and learned men, it also revealed the mute embrace of Cupid and +Psyche, and brought out in strong relief the marble shoulder of the +Venus de Medici. In a niche filled with palms and climbing plants, it +cast flickering shadows upon Schwanthaler's nymph, which seemed to be +lamenting that she was stone, and glittered upon a marble basin at her +feet. Then its pale gleam struggled with the vivid hues of the +exquisite copy of a Titian, or glided over a table filled with charts, +sketches, and plans, whose half-rolled sheets fluttered gently. The +room revealed a strange, mysterious life and nature. Ghosts seemed to +be gliding to and fro,--the tall, chastely-veiled ghosts of philosophy +and poetry,--the nude, caressing genii of love and pleasure. Now all +appeared to have gathered curiously around the dark, tall form of the +priest, who stood leaning thoughtfully against the pedestal of a Hebe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This study, or library, is characteristic of you, my son," began +Severinus, when Ottmar returned. "I see everywhere the results of the +two dominant powers of your nature,--intellect and sensuality,--but no +piety; a worship of the mind, a worship of nature: but where, where are +the traces of religion? Have you, then, utterly cast aside what you +adopted when with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father Severinus," said <i>Heinrich</i>, advancing until he stood face to +face with him, "we are alone. Be frank; do you ask, <i>you</i>, that I shall +become a devotee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus gazed at him bong and earnestly. "That you should become a +devotee? No! What I ask of you is consistency! When with us you +apparently became deeply imbued with religious feeling, and openly +displayed it an all occasions. Now you deny it; therefore you have +either <i>lost</i>--in which case you are to be pitied, or never <i>possessed</i> +it, when you deserve great blame for the deception you have practiced +in relation to the most sacred things and towards us."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> was silent. He felt the justice of the priest's reproof, and +found no reply; at the same time he was stupefied by the dim, +flickering light and the excitement of the last hour, and could not +suppress a slight yawn. Father Severinus was also silent, and waited +patiently for a reply. At last <i>Heinrich</i> said, impatiently: "Most +reverend father, you might spare a great deal of your pathos. I do not +deny the truth of your reproach; the only doubt is whether it specially +concerns me, for I must confess to you that it is a matter of +comparative indifference whether you have cause to be indignant or not. +I have released myself from your authority, and belong to another +party, so I have nothing more to expect or endure from you. True, you +have succeeded in making me suspected at this court; but I shall find +means to justify myself, and then we will see which of us has most +occasion to fear the other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am deeply grieved to hear this language, which, by my faith in +Christ, I have not deserved," replied Severinus. "I am guiltless of the +measures the hasty, newly-appointed agent for Germany induced the +Father General to employ against you. Will you believe me?"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bowed. "I am well aware that you are too proud to adopt such +a course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, for what wrong can you upbraid me, which justifies this +inconsiderate, heartless language?" He paused and looked at <i>Heinrich</i>, +who bit his lips and drummed on the arm of his chair. "What wrong has +the order done you that you take upon yourself the task of entering +upon a contest with it?" repeated Severinus. Another pause ensued. +"What could induce you to commit such a breach of faith?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have committed no breach of faith!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, "for I +never belonged to you; I am and was a free-thinker. For a long time I +admitted your great and manifest excellences, but the longer I remained +among you the more I learned to hate you and the principles of your +order, whose sole aim is the subjection of the mind to your dogmas, or +rather your authority, an object to attain which you know how to employ +every conceivable means, good as well as bad. Do you really ask a man +of my nature to submit to become the tool of such plans? If you could +expect it, it was your fault, not mine, if you now find yourselves +deceived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To that, my son, I have two answers," replied Severinus, after a short +pause of reflection. "If the principles of our order, which the hand of +God has hitherto wonderfully protected, seem to you so worthy of blame +that you consider it a duty to oppose them and prepare a better fate +for your nation by your own ideas, I can say nothing against it in my +own person, except that I pity your error, while I can pay a certain +respect to the man who has at heart the welfare of his people, even +though his views may be mistaken. But you, <i>Heinrich</i>, do not oppose us +from the necessity of preserving your country from a supposed evil, nor +from the sanctity of a firm though erroneous conviction, but merely out +of vanity, that thereby you may play a prominent part before your +revolutionary party. You know nothing more sublime and imperishable +than the worldly admiration bestowed upon you, because the reward and +recognition of Christ, promised by his vicars throughout eternity, are +incredulously scorned by your narrow soul. Vanity and egotism are +answerable for your actions towards us, and even destroy the paltry +merit of having sacrificed yourself for your convictions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Ottilie," <i>Heinrich</i> suddenly exclaimed, in bitter wrath, "gentle, +innocent angel! How much better you understood me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not all I have to say in reply," continued Severinus, without +permitting himself to be at all disturbed by the interruption. "If, as +I have just seen, the reproach of acting from selfish impulses wounds +you so deeply, tell me what noble motive induced you to remain a year +with men whom you abhor, receive every possible proof of friendship +from them, and feign enthusiastic interest in a faith which seems to +you pernicious and criminal? Pray answer this, if you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can," replied <i>Heinrich</i>, quietly. "Chance and ennui threw me into +your hands. You took me to the college. The genius of your system +attracted me; I wished to penetrate the mysterious nimbus which +surrounded you, to investigate you and your nature, as people desire to +examine every curiosity. You interested me, and I very soon perceived +that it would only cost me a little hypocrisy to acquire knowledge +which would be useful all my life. I looked upon it as a necessary +entrance-fee, and paid you with it. Why did you not see that the coin +was false? You trained me for diplomacy, and drilled me in the arts of +dissimulation, to which you gave the noble name of 'self-command.' As I +learned them I tested them on you, and thus you see that my diplomatic +career began by making you the first victims of your own teachings, and +by deceiving you. Truth will pardon my year of faithlessness for the +sake of a lifetime of repentance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That sounds very strange," said Severinus. "Did we teach you +hypocrisy? To <i>conceal</i> the truth without <i>telling a lie</i> is the art we +communicated to aid you in your diplomatic career. But granted that it +was so, granted that we taught you dissimulation to obtain certain +necessary ends, should not common human gratitude have withheld you +from betraying in such a despicable manner the men who trusted you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gratitude," laughed <i>Heinrich</i>, "for what? Did you receive me +cordially and bestow your instruction upon me for my own sake? +Certainly not. Why did you expel poor Albert Preheim, who was miserably +poor, dependent, and sincerely devoted to you? Because he had not +sufficient ability to serve you, because he was a man of limited +intellect. You did not keep me for my good but your own, because you +expected to find in me a useful tool, because a skillful agent for this +country was necessary. Tell me yourself, would you have done all this +for me if the matter had only concerned my welfare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said Severinus; "our mission is to serve God alone. This claims +us so entirely that the interests of individuals must be excluded. We +cannot trouble ourselves about any one who is not in some manner useful +to this end; he must apply to those orders whose sole vocation is the +practice of Christian charity. If he cannot find among them the +benefits he seeks, he would not be worthy of ours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, for what do I owe you gratitude?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because you were afforded an opportunity to advance the holiest cause, +to become a fellow-laborer in the service of the Highest Being. What +are we men, what is our feeble influence? Only when we belong to a +great band, unite our strength, direct our manifold powers towards +<i>one</i> lofty aim, do we feel strong and have real weight. And the more +we enter into the struggle of the whole, the more petty cares for +ourselves disappear, then only do we obtain true contentment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My noble Severinus," exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, "do you not suppose that I +too belong to such a band, like all who are imbued with one great aim? +Do you not suppose that there are sacred interests in the world and +among nations, whose representatives are united by an invisible bond of +common activity? Are you not sure that in our world also there are such +associations which, without compulsion or vows, without being bound by +time and space, or ruled by statutes, have an eternal existence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you say sounds very noble; I know these are your philosophical +catch-words, but it is untenable," said Severinus. "Your union, +supposing that such an one might exist in fancy, is too diffuse to +produce the consciousness of mutual dependence, which can alone +suppress selfishness in individuals; you gentlemen, who desire to +promote the happiness of the world, always have room enough within the +limits of your imaginary union to cherish your individual cares and +interests, and make war upon yourselves. Even though your object may +perhaps be the same, you are always at variance about the means of +attaining it; nay, you are often, from purely personal motives, most +bitter enemies. You may have an association, but you have no unity, and +your efforts are unsuccessful in consequence of your want of harmony. +You lack positive legal consolidation, which is the secret of our +power; and while you win at tea-tables men of superior minds to join +your confederacy, we deprive you of the masses. You can undoubtedly +belong to such a band without injury to your egotism," he added, +smiling; "but you will always feel discontented and solitary." He +paused and gazed at <i>Heinrich</i>, then continued: "How differently you +would labor with us! My son, is there no way of bringing you back? Is +there no feeling of devotion which binds you to me? You say you are +free from every obligation to the order; are you also free from all +obligations to me? I think I have done more for you than even our +purpose would have rendered necessary. As prefect of the college, all +manner of claims were made upon me; yet when my days were occupied I +sacrificed my nights to initiate you into secrets which the order +confides only to a chosen few. I have borne with your thousand +caprices, smothered your passions with inexhaustible indulgence, and +unweariedly labored to develop your great talents. I wished to obtain +you for our cause, not only because we needed remarkable powers, but +also because I knew of no greater happiness for yourself. In you I +learned to love men once more; for your sake, I have become tolerant, +for your sake I have come from Rome. My chilled heart warmed towards +you as towards a son. Does this deserve no love,--not even +forbearance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Love!" said <i>Heinrich</i>, impatiently. "What do you desire? Men do not +love each other. I honor you, for you are the best and noblest of all +in the college, and if we had a common interest I would gladly join +you; but I do not deal in useless feelings, and frankly confess that I +don't understand how people can have them, except towards women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible?" exclaimed Severinus. "So you believe you love only +what you desire to possess. You love nothing at all, <i>Heinrich</i>, and I +resign all hope of moving you by gentleness and kindness." So saying, +he started up and again leaned against the pedestal of the marble Hebe, +who vainly held her goblet of joy above his head. His delicately cut +features were slightly flushed, and his dark eyes flashed an imperious +glance at <i>Heinrich</i>. "Here stands a man who has devoted his whole life +to the service of a divine idea. Educated in a Jesuit college, sent +into the would as an ecclesiastical coadjutor, and finally promoted to +the rank of assistant, I learned to share all the joys and sorrows of +our order, and have become a Jesuit from the crown of my head to the +sole of my foot. I have felt every passion struggle within me and +subdued them all: for the honor of God was the object unchangeably +before my eyes; I used my life only as a preparation for eternity, and +therefore proudly approach death without blanching. Will you meet the +annihilation in which you believe as calmly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope so," said <i>Heinrich</i>, coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if, instead of your deities of sensuality which beckon to you +here, a bleeding Christ should appear before you in his chaste mother's +lap, pleading, 'Turn back to those who will guide you in my ways--'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would say to him, 'Lord, guide me in thy ways <i>thyself</i>!'" exclaimed +<i>Heinrich</i>, with a forced laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if we threatened you with the curse of the church?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would become a Protestant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Misguided, accursed son of the flesh, with which you defile the vessel +of divinity, your joys shall one day be shivered by the hand of the +Lord like this idol!" cried Severinus in an outburst of fury, seizing +the Hebe and dashing it so violently at the feet of the startled +<i>Heinrich</i> that the room shook and the graceful head rolled a long +distance. The dust rose from the floor in clouds.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment <i>Heinrich</i> stood petrified with astonishment, gazing +regretfully at the beautiful broken limbs. "So you intend to close our +conversation with this resounding crash, father?" he asked at last, +when he had recovered his former sarcastic mood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Close? Oh, no; we have not done with each other yet," said Severinus, +as he paced up and down the apartment several times, and then suddenly +paused with quiet dignity before <i>Heinrich</i>. "This is the most +disgraceful trick my impetuous temper has ever played me. Fortunately, +I can replace your broken property. It would be far more difficult to +repair the moral loss you have sustained in this hour. We will come to +an understanding quietly. My recent violence was the last outbreak of +my sorrow for your loss, but your cold derision has chilled my +affection forever. Ascribe it to your own conduct if my dealings with +you are henceforth destitute of all consideration. The <i>man</i> is dead to +me, you are now simply the enemy of my church, whom at any cost I must +disarm."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> looked at him in astonishment. "Indeed, I am curious to +learn in what way you will propose to effect this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall know at once. We must first determine the relations in which +you will in future stand towards our order."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be useless labor, father, since for a long time no +relations have existed between us, and none will ever be formed again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will, they must exist! The tie was formerly a voluntary one on +your part, now it will be compulsory: that is the only difference. You +have proved to me that you have secretly deserted us, my care will be +to prevent your making it public; and since persuasion is unavailing, +this must be done by force."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Force?" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, starting up. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Simply that I possess means to compel you to that which you will not +do of your own free will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father Severinus, we intimidate children in this way, but not men!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus looked him steadily in the face. "Have you ever seen me +employ empty threats?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied <i>Heinrich</i>, with visible anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; then let us come to the point without further +circumlocution. You must first of all be fully informed of your present +situation. That you are pointed out as our agent, and consequently in +disfavor here, you know, and also that you must take leave as soon as +possible, if you prefer an honorable voluntary resignation to a +disgraceful dismissal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why must I do this? Who can dismiss me on the ground of such vague +accusations?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"These accusations will be proved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They cannot be, for I shall find means to justify myself. Although I +cannot deny having been for some time connected with you, it does not +follow that this is still the case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That too is provided for. We possess the most irrefutable proofs that +you still maintain an intercourse with us by letter." He drew out a +small portfolio. "Now I will ask you for a lamp." <i>Heinrich</i> lighted +the candles, and saw two envelopes, which Severinus held out to him, +addressed in his own hand. "You see,--these envelopes contained the +replies to the General's requests concerning the erection of a private +institution in H----. We shall know how to conceal the fact that these +answers were refusals. It is enough that the postmarks on envelopes +addressed by your own hand will afford proofs of the recent existence +of a secret correspondence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And of what use will they be if you are forced to conceal their +contents? Suppose you are asked why you do not produce the letters +themselves?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be sufficient reason to say that they contained important +secrets which we cannot reveal on any account."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> passionately struck his brow. "Oh, could I suspect that I +had to deal with men to whom no measures are too petty, and who are not +ashamed to collect pitiful envelopes and use them to aid their +designs!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing is so trivial that it is not worth the trouble of keeping, if +it can serve the honest cause. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to +pick up a piece of old iron; why should not we, his servants, make even +the most trifling things useful for his designs?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope, father, that you yourself feel the humorousness, not to say +absurdity, of such logic at this moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us not digress. I am aware that our proceedings can in no case +meet with your approval, and bear you no ill will for it; therefore I +have not submitted them to your judgment. Every word which does not +directly concern the matter in hand is a mere waste of time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, father, we will use very few. Tell me exactly what you +require."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you should bind yourself to contend with us no longer."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> burst into a loud laugh. "And by these untenable threats you +wish to induce me to take such a step! No, father, we have not yet gone +so far. Although I have no proofs that our correspondence was a hostile +one, you are equally unable to show that it was confidential and +friendly; far less, that I have failed in my duty towards my own +government. Our risks are equal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they are, I need only throw in these papers and your scale will +sink!" held aloft a roll of manuscript. "Here are the proofs of the +offenses you committed against your government and court during your +stay in Rome. Whoever sees them will no longer doubt that you are a +traitor now as well as then!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, fairly beside himself with fury.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be calm, my friend; we are only weighing our comparative advantages +and disadvantages. If you compel me to make these papers public, your +honor and all your ambitious plans are destroyed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you rob me of my future career as a statesman, woe betide you! Do +you see what an enemy you will find in me? I, too, am in possession of +secrets which you would not desire to have revealed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As we know this, my friend, we do you the honor of treating with you. +Towards any one else we should have adopted a shorter course. The only +point in question now is which of us has most to lose, and it is you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do those papers contain?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, in a hollow tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the first place an article in your own hand, which you prepared at +the rector's command, containing the characteristics of this court and +those of the most influential persons who surround the prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That can only compromise me personally," said <i>Heinrich</i>, with forced +composure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It can be displayed by a malevolent person as an act of treachery to +your court in favor of the Jesuits' designs,--and in fact it was +intended to aid us in our first steps here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It failed, however, for the characteristics were not correct. Any one +who is familiar with the relations existing here will instantly +perceive that they are intentionally falsified, to mislead any one who +might wish to use them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This may have proceeded from want of judgment quite as much as +design."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> suppressed a smile. "Oh, father, pardon my lack of modesty +if I doubt that any would impute want of judgment to <i>me</i>!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus bit his lips. "You were a very young man, whose penetration +could not have been so well disciplined as now. Meantime, where many +proofs are brought together the number turns the scale, and I possess +one which will weigh heavier than all the rest." He drew a printed +document from his breast and pointed to the title. "Who is the author +of this pamphlet written in favor of the Jesuits and against your +government?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I," said <i>Heinrich</i>, coldly. "But, fortunately, you can create no +proofs of the fact."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can procure them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>No</i>, father; there was but one, the manuscript written by my own +band; and this no longer exists, for I threw it into the fire myself, +and saw it burn with my own eyes. I knew you crafty gentlemen too well +to allow such a dangerous document to fall into your possession."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You burned the manuscript, but not the proof-sheets," said Severinus. +"When you asked for them you were told that they had already been +destroyed. Here are the corrections written in your own hand! You +wondered at the time that we should have such miserable compositors in +our secret printing-establishments, because you found whole words +wrong. You were unsuspicious enough not to perceive that the errors +were only made in order to obtain as many corrections as possible in +your handwriting; no one who knows its peculiar characteristics will +doubt the authenticity of this document." <i>Heinrich</i> turned very pale. +He cast a glance of deadly hatred at Severinus, who was quietly +watching him. "Moreover, here is also the letter you sent to Father K. +with the pamphlets he had ordered; and although you took the precaution +not to name the title, no one will believe that you submitted to the +judgment of the General of the Jesuits any other manuscript than one +written in the interests of the order." expression of bitter irony +played around the priest's delicate lips. "It seems to me that you were +not aware how 'crafty' we are! You can now proceed to make public all +these 'contemptible coercive measures,' as you call them; you may +perhaps thereby injure us a little, but you will not justify yourself. +As soon as this secret is revealed you are lost. Suppose you hold +psychological discussions with your court and government concerning the +transformation which has taken place in you, and the causes that +induced you to deny your convictions for an entire year,--you will be +laughed at, and your name will be handed before all parties."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> trembled with rage. The painful dilemma into which he found +himself hurried without the slightest warning, the incomprehensibility +of his situation, the priest's crushing dialectics, and his own +physical exhaustion--all these combined causes so bewildered him that +he lost all control over himself, and following only the blind impulses +of his instinct, he vigorously rushed upon Severinus, who had just +replaced the document in his breast. "Hold!" he cried, seizing his arm. +"Do you really suppose I will voluntarily leave these papers, which +decide the destiny of my whole life, in your hands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus remained perfectly calm, and measured him with a contemptuous +glance. "Ottmar, I could defend myself if I did not have sufficient +confidence in your good sense to know that I am safe from violence."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a long pause, Severinus approached him; his expression became +more gentle, his harsh tone softened, and it seemed as if sorrow was +mirrored in his eyes as he laid his hand gently upon the young man's +shoulder and in a low tone murmured his name. The latter looked up +sullenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottmar, I do not act for myself, but for my church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a matter of indifference to me for when you act if you destroy +my career. Oh, it is despicable! I have robbed you of the labors of a +year, but you are defrauding me of a whole life! Woe to him who rashly +ventures within your charmed circle! He can never break through it +without being crushed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottmar, I do not understand how you could ever have imagined we would +send such an invaluable power into the world without holding in our +hands the leading-strings by which we could draw you back at any +moment. Let us come to some conclusion. I have the most positive orders +not to leave here without the security I have already mentioned. If you +do not promise to-night that you will voluntarily send in your +resignation, to-morrow I must commence proceedings which will make you +a dishonored man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I am to allow my hands to be tied, I am to mount to this height, +and in the zenith of my success to be hurled back to every-day +obscurity, laughed at and dishonored! No, I will not and cannot be +ruined by you! You recognize only the fanaticism with which you +incessantly pursue your own aims. I too am a fanatic; but it is in the +cause of ambition, and to this everything must yield, good and bad. You +shall perceive that I have not been your pupil in vain. You have +impressed upon me the stamp of your society to brand me in the eyes of +my party; but what will injure me at <i>Protestant</i> courts will aid me in +<i>Catholic</i> ones. If I am reported to be a Jesuit, I will make the rumor +profitable. I will enter the service of a Catholic country under the +guise of being in accord with you. You cannot contradict yourselves so +far as to decry me here as an ultramontanist and there as a liberal. I +will go to N----, where you are sure that I am powerless against you. +If this is not sufficient security, let the battle begin,--I can do no +more!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the only expedient that you still have, if you seek your +happiness solely in the brilliancy of a diplomatic career; and it is +not our intention to exclude you from it, for we do not wish to drive +you to extremities unnecessarily. N---- is at least the only place +where you cannot injure us. On this condition we will mutually spare +each other and keep the peace; but if you succeed in obtaining +influence in N----, and should ever attempt to use it against us, we +have the power there to crush you at once: not by stratagem, but by our +firmly-established might. Do not forget this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottilie," thought <i>Heinrich</i>, "you spoke the truth. I have so poisoned +the air with my falsehoods that I breathe nothing but corruption, and +am rightly served." "Well, then," he said to Severinus, "your holy +object is attained by the noblest means. You thrust a man, who has +hitherto made only a short digression from the path of right, into a +course of wrong and hypocrisy, careless whether a soul is destroyed, so +that appearances are preserved."</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus cast down his eyes. "The cause must be saved; the individual +must be sacrificed to the cause. May God have mercy upon his soul, if +that which should lead him to good turns him to evil! Come, we will +repeat our agreement before witnesses." Severinus opened the door, and +they entered the drawing-room, where the others were waiting with +anxious faces.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich's</i> offer was discussed in detail and confirmed by his word of +honor, after which he took a formal leave of the gentlemen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus turned in the doorway and clasped his hand. "I do not know +what mysterious impulse of affection binds me to you, that, while +treating you as my worst enemy, tears of sorrow dim my eyes, although I +have only faithfully obeyed my orders. For Christ's sake forgive me, as +I pardon you, and if ever you need me call upon me!" He gazed at +<i>Heinrich</i> with all the strange meaning of his wonderful eyes. It +seemed as if their brilliancy was shadowed by tears as he asked, "Shall +I not see you again when I return to H---- in a few weeks?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said <i>Heinrich</i>. "I shall send in my resignation to-morrow, and +depart as soon as possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus suddenly clasped him passionately to his breast. "Farewell, +my lost son! From this hour I will love nothing but God!" Then he went +down the staircase with a steady step, without casting another glance +behind. Old Anton lighted the way, and then returned, pale but calm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Röschen?" exclaimed <i>Henri</i>, who was longing to forget the +tortures of the past hour in the arms of love.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is not here," said the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not here?" asked <i>Henri</i>, in amazement. "Where is she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, Herr Baron! I could do nothing else,--I took her home to +her father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! what!" cried <i>Henri</i>, fairly beside himself with rage. "Did you +dare to oppose your master? Leave this house early to-morrow morning +before I am up! I will never see you again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He threw a heavy purse at his feet. The old man burst into tears, and +his knees trembled under him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Baron," he said, in a choking voice, "may you never regret having +driven such a faithful servant from you! Farewell! may God preserve +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words he tottered out of the room, while Ottmar threw +himself upon his couch in a mood of sullen discontent; for the first +time consciousness of his marred existence came over him with crushing +distinctness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The second step was taken; he had fallen one degree lower. The warning +voice had not failed him, but Egotism must complete his work at the +cost of everything else.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first act <i>Heinrich</i> had committed against his conscience, under +the influence of this terrible demon, was the game he had played for a +year with the Jesuits, in order to obtain knowledge which would be +useful in his career. When he afterwards came to the decision, where he +had an equal amount to lose or gain, he chose the path of truth; but +now he again encountered the necessity of sacrificing his ambition or +his convictions, and principle was compelled to yield to egotism. He +would henceforth choose the path of falsehood, of worldly advantage, +instead of the only one which could lead him to higher things.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had bound himself to appear in N---- as an enemy of progress,--to +aid in oppressing an impoverished nation. He must persuade his +conscience that all his ideas of right and freedom were dead, and not +worth the sacrifice of a whole life of honor and influence,--that the +philanthropy which, in the guise of an earnest sense of duty, had lived +his cold intellect, was an eccentricity of his youth, and must yield to +his own advantage; in truth, it could not be otherwise. Only the +emotional nature makes all ideas so living that we weep, suffer, and +bleed for them as if they were real sentient beings, and gives us, for +men whom we cannot draw within the circle visible to our senses, that +warm feeling of sympathy which we call philanthropy. But he had lost +this power, and with it a true sense of honor, yet to-night he found no +repose. He was formed by nature for noble ends, and although he no +longer felt as he had done in former days, he knew what his emotions +were once. He knew the difference between right and wrong, and that he +was choosing the latter, and looked back with shame upon the preceding +day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Both <i>Heinrich</i> and <i>Henri</i> had fallen equally low. If <i>Heinrich</i> had +crushed his sense of right and yielded to ambition, <i>Henri</i> had gone so +far in his pursuit of pleasure that he had sought to destroy a young, +trusting heart, and angrily driven away the old man who had opposed his +design. <i>Egotism had completed his victory over both natures</i>. Haunted +by these and similar thoughts, he at last fell asleep just before dawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was late in the forenoon when he awoke. The rays of the winter sun +were shining upon the bright, blooming landscapes on his window +curtains; a few freezing, starving birds were twittering loudly; +everything bore a delusive semblance of spring, which had as little +existence in the outside world as in his own breast. He opened his +eyes, looked around him, and with a deep sigh murmured those words of +painful disappointment: "Thank God, you have only been dreaming!" He +sank back upon his pillows for a moment; it seemed as if his soul had +not yet opened its eyes and was still slumbering, while he watched the +bright colors upon his curtains. It seemed to him as if the door would +open and old Anton come in to wake him. "Yes!" he called aloud, and +started up. But he found himself alone. He rubbed his eyes and +remembered that for the first time in his life Anton had failed to +rouse him at the right hour. He had sent him away that very night! It +was no dream: he had really done and experienced everything! "What has +been begun must be finished," he said, with gloomy resolution, and rose +to enter upon his sinful new career.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">VI.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE PRISON FAIRY</h3> + +<p class="normal">Six years afterwards, on a cold, dreary November day, a grumbling, +discontented crowd was waiting before the building in which the weal +and woe of the country of N---- were decided. An important conference +had just been concluded,--a consultation concerning increasing the +severity of the punishments inflicted upon political criminals. +Carriages drove up, and ministers and councilors entered them. At last +a brilliant equipage, drawn by two snorting, spirited gray horses, +dashed up so quickly that the crowd shrank back in terror, and looked +at the door in eager expectation. Two servants hastily let down the +steps. A slender man appeared who had not yet reached middle life, but +on whose pallid face sharp lines were already visible. He did not +vouchsafe to cast a glance at the throng, but as he entered the +carriage he heard those near him whisper, "That is Ottmar; he is one of +the worst of them." The door was closed, the footmen sprang back to +their places, and the impatient steeds dashed through the crowd like +griffins.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you hate me at last?" murmured the cold man in the carriage. "It is +well; if I once see I am hated I shall be able to shake off this +remnant of conscientiousness that still tortures me, and henceforth +live only for myself and my own aims."</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage stopped before a castle-like building, the state prison. +Ottmar had for some time been commissioner of one of the revolutionary +provinces of the country, where of late a new uprising was feared, and +had therefore received orders to try to draw from the political +prisoners, who were natives of that region, disclosures which might +place some clue to the conspiracy in the hands of the government. The +prince had selected him for this office because his cold watchfulness, +smoothness, and skill in dealing with different natures seemed to make +him peculiarly fitted for it. During the short time that Ottmar had +been in the employ of the N---- government he had risen to the rank of +privy councilor and member of the council of state, and displayed his +talents in the widest spheres. He was the trusted friend of the young +prince, over whom he exerted an inexplicable power, executor of the +most secret measures, not unfrequently employed to deal with the agents +of foreign courts, and his enemies began to fear him more and more when +they perceived too late that his influence had already pervaded the +whole court.</p> + +<p class="normal">What it had cost him to submit and cringe to a system which his inmost +soul abhorred, though with the longing to be or strive for something +better he had violently crushed down every other feeling, as egotism +and ambition had always suppressed the better emotions of unbiased +convictions, was stamped in terrible characters upon the haggard, +pallid, but still handsome face, the frail but haughtily erect figure.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked in gloomy silence behind the guide, who was taking him to the +worst criminals in the lower story. A cold breeze blew over him, +chilling his breast, and he involuntarily said to himself, "Yet men are +compelled to live here!" It seemed as if the sound of despairing sobs +reached his ear through one of the iron doors. He paused and listened. +A low, soft voice appeared to be speaking words of solemn warning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Open this cell," he said to his guide; but the latter did not move.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Herr Baron!" he said, imploringly, "shall we not go to the others +first?--the man in there is very violent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Open the door!" said <i>Heinrich</i>, imperiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have mercy; we are all ruined men if you do not have mercy upon us!" +stammered the guide, in the greatest confusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter with you?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, extremely perplexed. +"I will be merciful if I can, but open the door at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man hesitatingly unlocked the low door, and <i>Heinrich</i> stood in the +entrance as if spell-bound. A young girl, thoughtful and beautiful as +artists paint the Muse of History, was sitting on a stool holding in +her lap a book, from which she had apparently just been reading aloud. +She was bending over the prisoner, who had thrown himself weeping on +the ground at her feet, and speaking to him consolingly. <i>Heinrich</i> +motioned to the guide to be silent, and hastily retreated behind the +door that he might not be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have come too early, surely. I have not yet spent half an hour +with Sebastian," said the young girl. A pale sunbeam fell upon her as +she raised her head and shook back from her face a mass of luxuriant +curls. Her full lips pouted a little as she asked the jailer, "What is +the matter with you to-day? why do you look at me so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must come out now," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose slowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stand up, Sebastian; be reasonable."</p> + +<p class="normal">She bent over the despairing man and tried to help him rise; but he +pressed his face still more closely to the damp ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stand up!" she suddenly commanded. "Behave like a man, not like a +child, if you wish me ever to come here again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prisoner rose. He was an old man, decrepit and thin, with the +staring eyes peculiar to those who for years have vainly endeavored to +pierce with their glances the dungeon walls that surround them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not be angry!" he pleaded. "I am calm now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell for to-day, my poor Sebastian!" she said, returning to her +former wonderfully gentle tone, and walked quickly along the passage to +the next door. As she looked round to see if the warden was going to +open it for her she perceived <i>Heinrich</i>, who could now no longer +conceal himself. He advanced towards her, and she watched his approach +with surprise, but very calmly. Her gaze had only been fixed upon his +breast, which glittered with orders; but as he stood silently before +her in his manly dignity she raised her dark eyes to his, and their +glances met like electric sparks. A flush slowly suffused the young +girl's clearly cut face, and she involuntarily cast down her eyes as if +she had received a shock.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very much surprised to find such charming society in these +inhospitable apartments, Fräulein," <i>Heinrich</i> began.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not think it so very astonishing if the jailer's daughter seeks +to aid her father in his arduous duties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, Fräulein, if I take the liberty of doubting the accuracy of +that statement," said <i>Heinrich</i>. "A jailer's daughter does not use +such language; besides, the alarm displayed just now when I wished to +enter the cell was far too great for me not to attribute more +importance to your incognito. I am, unfortunately, compelled to look at +your romantic appearance here through the extremely prosaic spectacles +of an official, whose duty it is to obtain information in regard to +every unusual event; therefore, by virtue of my office, I must inquire +your name as well as request an explanation of your object."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl looked at him with a long, steady gaze, while an +expression played around her lips which <i>Heinrich</i> had never before +seen on a woman's face,--a slight shade of irony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, sir; if these people have already betrayed me I need use no +further deception. I did not employ it for my own sake, but on account +of these poor employees whom I have estranged from their duty. My name +I hope I may be permitted to conceal; but I owe you an explanation +about my object: it is only to do good. As others go to hospitals to +heal diseased bodies, the majority of which can no longer be saved, I +come hither to aid sick souls, where often the best and highest results +may be effected. Do you think that so romantic? I have surely done no +wrong in bribing the officials here, partly by money, partly by kind +words, to allow me to make a daily round through the cells. In +charitable institutions the doors and gates stand open to all who wish +to bring aid and consolation to the sufferers. The thrice wretched +unfortunates in our prisons are refused all means of cheering and +ennobling them. No account is taken of individuality here, where +individuality is the sole standard of measurement. A chaplain is sent +to admonish criminals to repent, who is to convert them all in a lump +according to his own theories; but people trouble themselves very +little about the result of this manufacturing method of conversion, and +when at the expiration of their imprisonment the criminals are sent +back into the world, they begin again just where they stopped years +before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Fräulein, you go too far! The punishment itself does most, for it +terrifies them," replied <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some, but certainly by far the smallest number. Many in the course +of years become so hardened to it by custom that it loses its terrors, +and the only moral the majority draw from imprisonment is--to manage +more cautiously in future. There is only one guarantee for the +permanent harmlessness of the criminal who cannot be imprisoned for +life--amendment; but this principal object of punishment is always made +subservient to the principle of avenging the insulted law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and can you tell me also how this amendment is to be effected?" +asked <i>Heinrich</i>, with increasing interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think by the admitting of judicious, trustworthy persons who can +understand these different characters, and influence by advice and +instruction, where the latter is needed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admire your sanguine, philanthropic ideas," replied <i>Heinrich</i>; "but +tell me yourself, my honored Fräulein, would not the state have too +much to do if it was compelled to take into account the peculiarities +of each individual criminal, and establish and pay a whole corporation +of amendment officials?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This jeer wounded the young girl, and a deep flush crimsoned her noble, +intellectual brow for a moment; but after a pause she continued, +undaunted: "Such a task would perhaps be too visionary and +comprehensive for the government; but the citizens would come to its +aid in this as well as in benevolent institutions, and from the hearts +of the populace a corps of volunteer amendment officials would arise, +in which our noblest patriots would undoubtedly be associated. But I +have no intention of discussing a subject upon which folios have been +already written, and which you understand better than I. I only wished +to give the motive for my actions; and your recent sneer," she added, +in a slightly defiant tone, "has fully convinced me that you will at +least consider these 'sanguine philanthropic ideas' in the mind of a +fanciful young girl too harmless to put them on official record, so my +examination is doubtless over."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet," said <i>Heinrich</i>, firmly. "Your ideas and language do not +seem to me quite so harmless as you suppose. I cannot help desiring to +obtain more exact information concerning the motives of your acts and +the bearing of your influence. I must and shall find means to do so. +You stand too proudly and firmly before me for me to be able to believe +so implicitly in the purposelessness of your enthusiasm. I am a servant +of the government; as such it is both a duty and a right to ask, 'Who +are you? in what relations do you stand towards the prisoners? what is +your object?'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who I am I shall not tell you; in what relations I stand towards the +prisoners and what influence I exert you can learn from themselves; as +for my object, can you not understand it? I am making myself useful. Do +you think it requires another and more important purpose to act as I +have done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Making yourself useful?" repeated <i>Heinrich</i>, thoughtfully. "Do you +really imagine you are of much use here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>How much</i> is not for me to measure, I make myself as useful as I can. +If every one only did this the world would be happier. It is not the +success, but the will, that determines the value of an act. Vanity asks +only about the result, honest purpose is satisfied with the doing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said <i>Heinrich</i>. "Are you so totally free from vanity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" She suddenly burst into a merry laugh, and a ray of bright +healthful enjoyment sparkled in her eyes. "I will not say that. God +forbid that I should surround myself with a false halo. I am as vain as +every other young girl; it is only where the sphere of my earnest labor +is concerned that I am humble and modest, then my own person retires +completely into the background, and I live solely to accomplish my +purpose. But in the outside world, where I am least useful, I am vain, +assuming, and selfish. I have often thought of this contradiction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand that," said <i>Heinrich</i>; "you feel small in comparison to +your ideas and wishes, because like all gifted human beings you always +desire more than you can accomplish. But when, outside of this sphere, +you meet with commonplace, petty natures, you feel great, because you +desire and accomplish so much more than they. Am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl raised her eyes in astonishment, and looked at him earnestly. +"You are right, and must have studied psychology more than one would +have expected from a 'servant of the government.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a singular blending of jest and earnest in your disposition," +said <i>Heinrich</i>. "I have never before witnessed such rapid transitions +from gay to grave and grave to gay in any one. Yes, I might really +believe you followed only your own impulses without motive or purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, indeed you can! Believe me, I am doing nothing and want +nothing, except to prove my love for mankind in every possible way. You +seem to give me credit for political intrigues and dangerous +connections. Oh, go to the prisoners, and convince yourself whether the +spirit I instill is a revolutionary one or one of humility and +repentance! By the manner in which I have taught these people to bear +their misfortunes you will see whether my intentions are good and pure; +and then you will give no information, but permit me to continue my +office here, will you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> made no reply; he was gazing earnestly into the sparkling +eyes of the suppliant. Suddenly he pointed to the nearest door. "Go in +to the prisoner there,--unobserved; I will watch how you discharge the +duties of your office and then decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">The warder opened the door, and the young girl quietly entered. A +shrill cry of joy greeted her. "Oh, Prison Fairy! dear Prison Fairy! +have you come at last?" exclaimed a young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why does he call her that?" <i>Heinrich</i> asked the turnkey, in a low +tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One of the prisoners gave her the name, and since then we have all +called her by it, because we know no other, and this suits her so +well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, dear Fairy, I have passed another terrible night! So long as you +are here I am as good as a child," continued the prisoner; "but when +you go away, the old sorrow bursts forth again in all its fury. Oh, if +I could go out into the world and satisfy the impulses of my own heart! +Something might be made of me now, but after five years it will perhaps +be too late. I felt that last night. True, the power to do evil may +perhaps be broken in a ten years' imprisonment, but so is the strength +to do well; and when I am sent out of this place, crippled in body and +soul, an outcast from society, robbed of all civil honors and ability, +it will get the dominion over me again. Then I shall be a mere idiot, +who can no longer think of or feel anything except the greatness of his +own misery; and for the assault I committed in a moment of passion, a +twofold murder will have been practiced upon my body and soul during +these ten years!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert, why are you in such a horrible mood to-day?" asked the young +girl, in alarm. "You have not been so for a long time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I have been obliged to wait for you during so many painful +hours; because I thought you were not coming again, and felt that in +you alone is rooted the power which has upheld me for the last three +years, that I should be lost if you remained away. No, I have not +deserved this punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert, shall I repeat what I have always told you? Repeat it +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said I was aware of the punishment, and voluntarily drew it upon +myself by my crime, that I must bear what was the result of my own +guilt; but I assure you again and again that if that terrible moment I +had been sufficiently master of myself to be able to think, I should +never have committed the crime; not from fear of the punishment, but of +the sin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That excuses you in my eyes, but not in those of the law. Will you +never be able to perceive that a man of such blind passions must be +made harmless? Who will guarantee that the next instant, spite of all +good resolutions, he may not be attacked by the same madness and commit +a second murder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harmless! Yes, yes, I have been made harmless!" he groaned. "Why do +you conjure up all the stings of conscience when I so greatly need +consolation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I see more clearly than ever that only the memory of your +guilt makes your misery endurable; because you complain of the +injustice of your punishment, and always become calmer when forced to +acknowledge that, if not deserved, it was at least necessary and +unfailing. And has not God sent a comfort to you in your sorrow,--a +soul which understands you, which brings news of your beloved into your +dungeon, and keeps the heart of your betrothed bride faithful to you? +Is not this a divine mercy which can cheer you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, I acknowledge the blessing, and for the sake of this mercy +will strive and hope that I may procure for you the only reward you can +receive, noble, wonderful creature!--the consciousness of having saved +a soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my friend, give me that reward; it is the noblest gift which can +be bestowed upon me for my efforts; and if I live to see the day when, +purified and ennobled, you return to the world, I shall thank God more +fervently than ever for having given me a heart to suffer with others, +and also make them rejoice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And some day I will tell my children of the 'Prison Fairy!'" cried the +young man, transported with hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment <i>Heinrich</i> appeared in the doorway. "Well, sir," +said the young girl, "is any other motive needed for my conduct? Do you +now believe that such a moment would outweigh years of fruitless toil?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand and believe you, for you are a perfect enthusiast," said +<i>Heinrich</i>, seizing her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you call this enthusiasm?" she said. "If so, every great act of +love, from Christ's down to our own times, has been enthusiasm, and +nothing is true and real except enthusiasm and its results. I confess, +sir, that if all mankind shared your views, I would rather live with my +prisoners in this dungeon than in the outside world!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed in astonishment at the proud, girlish figure, with the +natural dignity of a pure, unshaken self-appreciation on the undaunted +brow, and the alluring grace of true womanhood in the soft, undulating +outlines of the whole frame; and an admiring reverence overwhelmed him, +such as, for many a long year, no woman had inspired in his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not misunderstand me, Fräulein. You take the word in a different +sense from the one intended. Where enthusiasm is united to such energy +as you possess, it has always accomplished the noblest deeds the world +has ever known; but we usually give that name----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To what we have no power to feel ourselves," involuntarily interrupted +the excited girl; and it seemed as if her glance rested sorrowfully +upon <i>Heinrich's</i> beautiful, expressive features.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> stood speechless. He felt as if a burning brand had suddenly +been cast into the dark recesses of his soul, and his spiritual eyes +were following the light as it penetrated deeper and deeper.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment the prisoner's voice interrupted his reverie.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, sir," he began, timidly, "have I not the honor of seeing +Herr von Ottmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, "is it really you? I thought I +recognized you, but doubted it, because I should have expected to find +you in a monastery rather than a dungeon, and besides, you are very +much altered. How did you, of all the world, happen to be placed in +such close confinement?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Herr von Ottmar, you were so kind to me at college, may I tell you +the story of my misfortune?" said Albert, the person who had been at +the Jesuit college with <i>Heinrich</i>, and of whom he had spoken in his +interview with Severinus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you allow it, Fräulein?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied the young girl, joyfully. "Perhaps the tragical +history may for once arouse even in you the enthusiasm of compassion."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words she glanced at <i>Heinrich</i> with a pleading, +inexpressibly charming smile. The latter could not turn his eyes away +from the wonderfully changeful face, but murmured, as if in assent, +"Prison Fairy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime Albert had commenced his story. At first <i>Heinrich</i> gave it +very little attention; gradually, however, he became attracted and +listened eagerly, even anxiously. Albert related how, after being +expelled from the order in the second year of his novitiate, he had for +some time earned a scanty support, and at last lived several years as a +tutor in the family of a wealthy German merchant. Six years before, +this family removed from Italy to Germany, and in fact to the very +capital where Ottmar had lived before his departure for N----. "There," +said he, "I became acquainted with a young girl,--a girl who was really +as pure and blooming as a rose. I had never loved a woman before,--the +dark, ardent Italians were repulsive to my quiet nature,--but when I +found the thoughtful, golden-haired German maiden, I clung to her with +fervent affection. She loved me; and I, who had been tossed about the +world from a child, was intoxicated by her tenderness, as if it were +the aroma of some costly wine. I gradually neglected my pupils, my +duty, and several times received censure; but in vain. Passion, so long +repressed, was aroused, and locked me, the novice, completely within +its magic circle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But now I became the sport of other feelings, which were more +dangerous to me,--I grew jealous. My beloved suddenly seemed changed. +She became timid, absent-minded, embarrassed, and day by day colder. I +spoke to her father. The old man asked me whether I doubted the virtue +of his child. The fever of jealousy and suspicion increased. I had no +thoughts for anything else, and no longer knew what I was doing. Then +one day my employers dismissed me. They had grown weary of my indolence +and absence of mind, and I was penniless. With an agonized soul I +hurried through the gathering twilight to seek my betrothed. I wished +to find her heart once more,--the heart for which I had sacrificed and +lost all. She was deeply moved when I told her of my misfortune and the +tortures I had suffered for her sake; and as in decisive moments a +long-concealed truth is often revealed, her innocent breast in this +agitation could no longer hide its secret. She confessed, amid tears of +agony and remorse, that she was on the point of being lost to me +forever; that an aristocratic, handsome, brilliant gentleman had +tempted her, and she was too weak to withstand him; that he had loaded +her and her father with favors of all kinds, and she had thought +gratitude made it her duty to obey him; nay, he had even persuaded her +to come to his garden, but there, heaven be praised! she had been saved +from disgrace by his old valet. The gentleman must have gone away an a +journey, for she had heard nothing more from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I had sacrificed everything, and this was my reward. I stood +silent, trembling from head to foot, as I leaned against the window in +the little dark room on the ground-floor. I was not accustomed to say +much, but I felt all the more. A cold perspiration trickled down my +forehead; my clammy hands clinched the sill; the lights out-of-doors +cast strange, unsteady shadows into the room, and dim, restless shadows +settled upon my brain. At last I asked with difficulty, 'Who is the +scoundrel?' The young girl had been standing beside me pale and +trembling, with her eyes fixed intently upon the street. Suddenly she +screamed and retreated from the window alarm. There he comes! so he +hasn't gone yet! It is he! he is coming!' I saw a tall, slight figure, +closely wrapped in a cloak approach the house; heard that it was he! +The blood rushed to my brain! I seized an axe that was lying near the +stove, dashed out, and felled the approaching figure to the ground! The +young girl ran after me terror, saw the wounded man, and screamed, +Jesus Maria! it is not he! You have killed an innocent person!' I felt +bewildered and unable to move. Just then the man opened his eyes, +looked at me, and gasped my name. My heart seemed to stop beating! I +had killed Father Severinus!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A long pause ensued. The prisoner was living over these scenes again, +and needed a moment to collect his thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed fixedly at the floor in silence. The Prison Fairy, in +her dark dress, leaned calmly against the wall, her eyes resting on +<i>Heinrich's</i> agitated face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the young girl's name?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Röschen, the daughter of Martin the beadle," replied Albert.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you do not know the name of your rival?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never learned it," continued Albert "I said no more to Röschen +that terrible evening. She was the first to regain composure, and made +me understand I must go home. Her father returned immediately after, +and procured assistance for the wounded man, who did not again recover +his consciousness while in his house. The old man stated that he had +found him in the street. He could swear to this deposition, for he did +not suspect the true state of affairs. So no one thought of me except +Röschen. She thought he would never open his eyes again to betray me, +and before the police came to Martin's house, to avoid a possible +cross-examination, went to one of Princess Ottilie's maids. The latter +instantly took her to the princess--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, to Ottilie?" eagerly interrupted <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Albert; "the princess has known her for a long +time through the maid, who was well disposed towards Röschen, and often +gave her work. The princess, gracious and benevolent as she always is, +had once told her if she had anything to ask to come to her. So on this +terrible day Röschen told the noble lady all her troubles, and the +princess induced her to take an oath never to reveal to me nor any one +else who her tempter was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Röschen mention his name to her?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; and the princess must have been very kindly disposed towards the +gentleman,--she insisted so earnestly that it should remain concealed. +Then she gave Röschen money to aid me to escape and enable me to +support myself for a long time, and promised to take her under her +protection. In the firm conviction that Severinus could not survive the +blow, I was mad enough to fly to N----, my native country. But although +the doctors gave him up, he recovered his senses sufficiently to +denounce me as the criminal. He expressed the most positive suspicion +that I had made the murderous assault solely from revenge towards him +because he had been the first in the college to declare me useless. A +warrant was issued, and I was arrested and brought up for trial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how did you happen to receive so severe a punishment, when +Severinus escaped with his life and you had no premeditated design?" +asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I had no means of proving the fact!" cried Albert, despairingly. +"I could do nothing but protest that I did not wish to punish +Severinus, but the man who had tempted my betrothed bride. I could not +tell who this tempter was, for I did not know; and I wished to conceal +the name of my betrothed, for I would have died rather than bring the +hitherto blameless girl into a disgraceful trial and brand her for +life. Thus I could not prove the circumstances which might have placed +my act in a more favorable light, and consequently my whole defense was +rejected as a mere subterfuge. The statements of the angry Severinus +were far more clear and positive than mine, so I was sentenced to ten +years' imprisonment in irons, and would gladly bear my misery, nay, +even death," he added, gnashing his teeth, "if I had only struck down +that scoundrel of a seducer instead of the innocent Severinus, or at +least could ever discover who he is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who he is? Look at me, Albert!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>. "I am that +<i>scoundrel</i>!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir, you only tell me so because I stand before you in chains," cried +Albert, starting like a wounded animal. His veins swelled, his fingers +tore at his fetters, his breast heaved convulsively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so, unhappy man?" cried <i>Heinrich</i>. "Now let us see +whether you will venture to lay hands upon me."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words he led the young girl out of the cell, and ordered the +jailer to remove the irons at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I command it, and will be responsible," he said, imperiously, as they +hesitated, "and then lock us both in from the outside." The fetters +were taken off, and the turnkeys withdrew, locking the door behind +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now summon up your courage; you see that I am unarmed and your chains +are removed," said <i>Heinrich</i>, standing directly before him, and gazing +at him with an unwavering glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The unhappy roan stood motionless for a moment, engaged in a most +violent struggle with his emotions. At last his whole frame trembled, +his hands fell as if weighed down by fetters of double weight, and he +sank at <i>Heinrich's</i> feet, unable to utter a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter gazed at him a moment in silence, and then knocked on the +door. The turnkeys came in anxiously and raised Albert, but his knees +still trembled so violently that he was obliged to sit down on his bed. +The Prison Fairy, with a sublime expression of sympathy, stroked his +burning brow, and gazed at <i>Heinrich</i> with imploring expectation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter quietly approached the group. "Albert, I have convinced +myself that you can subdue your passions. You are worthy of the freedom +I shall now help you secure. You shall no longer suffer for my +frivolity, and both you and this lady shall be convinced that I am no +scoundrel. Farewell for to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert suddenly clasped his hands over his brow, and a flood of tears +relieved his oppressed heart. <i>Heinrich</i> looked for a long time at the +young girl, who, with pallid face, was gazing silently at the floor, +then begged her to follow him, and left the cell.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they were outside, he asked, "What do you think of me now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you go on and give yourself up to the law, as the best proof of +Albert's deposition, I shall think well of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have determined to do something of the kind," said <i>Heinrich</i>, "and +I hope you will then be convinced that I am not so entirely destitute +of all enthusiasm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall be very glad, for the sake of my prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only for your prisoners? Why not for your own sake too?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it will principally concern the welfare of the unfortunate men +who are now apparently dependent upon your compassion. I, thank God, +have nothing to hope from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said <i>Heinrich</i>, in an irritated tone. "But if, after those +words, I refuse you permission to go to your <i>protégés</i> again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not do that," replied the young girl, firmly. "If you really +feel compassion, you will not, merely from an irritable whim, deprive +the prisoners of the only comfort that can be afforded them in their +cheerless situation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein," said <i>Heinrich</i>, with his usual winning courtesy, "you +certainly do very little to bribe the government official; yet this +very course wins me still more, and I do not merely permit, I entreat +you to return and accept me as your assistant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So long as you are with the prisoners, sir, they will not need me. +Permit me to come here at a time when you are absent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have become suspicious of me; we are farther apart now than at the +first moment of meeting. My candor in your presence was over-hasty. +Forgive me, and mingle a little of your kindness of heart with the +austerity of your youthful ideas of virtue, that you may not utterly +condemn. Will you? You forgive, and try to reform even criminals: +reform me too. Why are you so intolerant to me alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed at him with gentle earnestness, and slowly shook her head. +"When I enter a prison, I know I shall find a criminal, and am prepared +for arguments about sin which are not too difficult to disprove. But +with you I am disappointed and embarrassed, for your face promised +something better, and I cannot enter into your delicate sophistry. I am +an 'enthusiast'; you a 'servant of the government': the two characters +are not easily harmonized. Farewell. Allow me to choose the time of my +visits here, and forgive the poor jailers whom I have outwitted." With +these words she hastily ran up the stone staircase.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> stamped his foot angrily on the floor. "Willful, haughty +witch!" he murmured, as he hurried after her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused on the upper step and nodded to him with all the winning +charm of heartfelt emotion. "Be kind to my prisoners, Herr von Ottmar, +and I will be kind to you!" Then, turning a corner, she disappeared +before <i>Heinrich</i> could follow her. He gazed into vacancy, as if he +wished to trace in the air the shadow into which she seemed to have +dissolved before his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The jailers timidly approached him with their petition for pardon. "You +shall be forgiven for the sake of this lady's eloquence, which is +difficult to resist. But on pain of losing your places let no one hear +of what has taken place to-day, or may occur in future," said +<i>Heinrich</i>, sternly, and left the building.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two turnkeys looked at each other a long time in silence; at last +one said, as the result of his meditations, "It's the Prison Fairy!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich's</i> astonishment was raised to the highest pitch by the +appearance of this young girl. Even the thought of the strange fatality +which had made Severinus the innocent victim of the sensuality he had +denounced so bitterly, a few weeks before, could not long fix his +attention. He was convinced that Severinus had discovered to what +"rose" he had wished to open his doors, and had gone to Martin's house +with the intention of obtaining his daughter's confidence, and using it +against him. "Poor Severinus!" said he. "You were compelled to pay +dearly for your efforts to save souls. The ghost of the artist whose +Hebe you so mercilessly shattered has revenged itself upon you; but the +innocent tool of this vengeance was the very person whom you had most +deeply injured, the poor, rejected Albert! Oh, the wonderful justice of +fate!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he returned again to the remarkable apparition of the young girl, +which unceasingly occupied his thoughts. She had such a peculiar, +changeful temperament that she had pleasantly affected every chord of +his being. A deep earnestness gleamed through the naïve coquetry by +which she had sought to bribe him to favor her <i>protégés</i>. He perceived +that hers was a kindred spirit, that she too, like himself, was under +the influence of supernatural powers, but in her childlike soul had +unconsciously united these forces in harmonious, changeful action, +instead of, like him, being their sport.</p> + +<p class="normal">This perception awed him. He felt that he would be understood by this +nature if he showed himself openly to her, and rejected a thousand +plans to discover who she was. "What strength is it that, in a feeble +woman, rules powers which have crushed and conquered me--a man? Would +not this strength exert a blissful influence over me also? With what +joyous pride she said, 'I am making myself useful.' She is happy in the +thought, and wants nothing more. Is it possible? Yet it must be. In her +character lies concealed that spirit of martyrdom which dies smiling +for its idea.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is something strange in a philanthropy which rejoices in making +others happy. Hitherto I have not desired to give joy to any one except +myself! Perhaps she will teach me her art.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She joyously collects the tears of her dirty criminals as if they were +the most precious pearls. I wear on my breast the jewels of various +orders,--and yet all have never given me so much pleasure as a single +tear causes her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows, perhaps I have not yet done as much to earn my orders as +she was compelled to do to win her pearls from the secret depths of +those hardened souls. Oh, she is a glorious creature! She has the +cleverness of a man, and yet is so thoroughly womanly. She proves +conclusively that woman can really rise above her narrow sphere of +ideas without becoming unwomanly, and that the true emancipation of the +mind has nothing in common with that emancipation from principles and +forms which so often repels us in those termed women of genius. Yes, +such a woman would be capable of obtaining an influence over me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what shall I do to find her again? First of all, I will do what +she desired, I will confess the truth to the prince and obtain Albert's +pardon. Noble as she is in thought and feeling, she will be touched and +conciliated,--will believe in me. So, when occasion offers, I am doing +a good deed once more. The prince is a sensible man. He will see the +affair in its true light and not refuse me the little favor."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">VII.</a></h2> + +<h3>AN ARISTOCRAT</h3> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> went to the palace that very day and requested a private +audience. The prince, a young man with stern features and aristocratic +bearing, received him in his study. He had just risen from his +writing-table, which was covered with a pile of papers, and upon his +lofty brow still rested the shadows of thought, which began slowly to +disappear at the sight of Ottmar. The large blue eyes seemed wearied +with toil, and gazed earnestly into vacancy, as if in search of some +ideal country that could be better governed than his own. Long, fair +whiskers framed his delicate face. His youthful, earnest character +confined itself rigidly to the strict forms of unapproachable dignity. +Words flowed from his lips as purely, readily, and smoothly as a cool +breeze, and any one who saw him for the first time would be chilled by +the frigid reserve which pervaded his whole appearance. He was the very +type of the aristocrat by birth and education, who had polished his +manners into an impalpable shield against the common herd. The +foundation of all aristocratic deportment is economy of time. The +aristocrat husbands all personal exertion as far as possible. He +chooses the shortest, most indispensable forms of speech, limits his +voice to the lowest tone that can be heard, and his gestures to those +absolutely unavoidable. He considers this a duty towards himself and +others; he speaks curtly and rapidly, because he is always in a hurry +himself and is not sure that others may not be also; uses a low tone, +because he does not know whether it will be agreeable to others to hear +more of his voice than may be necessary to comprehend his meaning; +makes few or no gestures, because he does not wish to compel the eyes +of others to follow aimless courses and bendings. In intercourse with +his superiors or equals, modesty forbids him to intrude more of his +personal character than is indispensably connected with the affair, and +pride withholds him from revealing to his inferiors anything more than +is unavoidable. Thus alone the aristocrat acquires the self-control and +delicacy that distinguish him. Only by this silent accommodation to +forms, limited to the lowest minimum of personal exertion, does he when +a courtier regain the time of which the necessary ceremonials rob him, +and only this extreme indulgence and careful use of his physical +strength gives him the endurance demanded by the exactions of +court-life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young prince was a perfect type of these precepts. Whether a warm +or cold heart throbbed beneath that smooth exterior, even <i>Heinrich</i>, +his confidant, did not venture to decide.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have come at a very opportune moment, my dear Ottmar," said he. "I +was about to send for you."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bowed low, in answer to this greeting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, here are a pile of papers and letters which I wish to share with +you. So much has come at the same time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, my prince, that you have no more devoted servant than I. Let +me bear a part of your burden," said <i>Heinrich</i>, in his most persuasive +tones, for his power of imitating the expression of what he did not +possess was most masterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that you have often proved it. If I can find truth anywhere it +is in you. You alone are impartial, and see clearly, while the circle +of vision in most men is limited by personal interests and prejudices."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have the good fortune to have my prosperity secured by perfectly +independent circumstances, and therefore can follow my convictions; but +this falls to the lot of very few. Do not judge them too harshly, your +Highness, for the majority of mankind are fettered by anxieties +concerning their means of livelihood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may be so, but they lack the essential thing,--genius,--the clean, +far-seeing gaze which no lessons in state-craft can supply; besides, +those who do understand anything rarely possess the art of telling the +truth without wounding others or becoming brutal. One cannot well have +any dealings with such people.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is the new press-law again. Good Minister B---- once took it +into his head to carry it through. You know his blunt manner of urging +a decision. I must confess that this preliminary, which almost entirely +abolishes the right of censorship, is contrary to my feelings and +conscience. Shall I permit every revolutionary wretch to scatter poison +among my thoughtless, credulous people? Ought I to do so, as a prince, +whose duty it is to watch over the nation intrusted to his care as a +father watches his children?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This question presents only two different points of view, your +Highness. Do you prefer to win, by this act of clemency, a transient +gratitude? or, by persistently following your better convictions, +obtain lasting satisfaction? If the former, make the desired +concessions; yet consider that this first favor will draw an +immeasurable number of consequences in its train. From the moment this +new freedom of the press is fairly established, you will regret having +undertaken obligations which you cannot execute without inaugurating a +totally different <i>régime</i>. Your Highness knows that the intoxication +of freedom, caused by the victorious revolution, has penetrated here +also, and the fire now and then still glimmers beneath the ashes. Will +you, by means of the press, permit air to reach the scarcely suffocated +flames?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God have mercy upon my poor country!" murmured the prince, under +his breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must not a moment come when your Highness's duty will compel you to +check the progress of this seditious literature? and will you not then +have broken your promise and forfeited the transient gratitude which +would be paid you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very true."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what withholds your Highness from following your convictions, +which you have already so often tested, that your own feelings were +always the best guides?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The doubt whether I can silence and conciliate the discontented masses +in a way that will be beneficial to them,--the doubt regarding the +means I ought to employ," said the prince, thoughtfully, rubbing his +brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But surely this is not the right expedient, your Highness. By granting +the freedom of the press you only afford discontented people an +opportunity of making their useless complaints and wishes public, and +thus making them still more persuaded of hardships, while you neither +can, nor desire to, remove their causes. Will not this bring you into a +thousand conflicts between your heart and your most sacred convictions +in regard to popular education?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I might venture to give your Highness my humble counsel, I should +say that the freedom of the press is the last thing that ought to be +granted to a nation. The people must first be contented; then they may +be allowed to speak. Pardon my frankness, your Highness; you know I am +always truthful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is the very quality I prize in you; but since you are now in the +mood to express your opinions even more sincerely than usual, I should +also like to hear by what means you propose to content the country."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> was astonished by this question. He perceived that he had +gone incautiously near the verge of truth, and felt he must return, for +to-day he had more cause than ever to desire to win the prince's favor, +while strangely enough he had never taken less pleasure in deceit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," he said, at last, "do not ask me whether your subjects +are contented, for you must yourself answer the question with a 'no,' +without being able to alter the state of affairs. If you ask whether +they are prosperous, I may be permitted to reply 'yes.' To make a +nation prosperous is within the power of princes; to keep them +contented depends upon the power of time. Your country, your Highness, +is prospering admirably under your august sceptre. The causes of +discord do not come from within, but from without. They do not result +from your government, but from the tempest of freedom which roars from +foreign frontiers. When this tempest subsides the nation will once more +perceive its prosperity. To await this time quietly and indulgently +seems to me the only counsel a conscientious man is permitted to lay at +the feet of your Highness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Ottmar. I have already said the same thing to myself. +If every prince had a friend like you ('Who apparently contradicts him +while telling him the very thing he wants to hear,' <i>Heinrich</i> mentally +interposed), matters would not proceed so far," said the sovereign, +extending three fingers of his slender hand to <i>Heinrich</i>. "I shall not +sign the press-law. I hope my throne, which has outlasted the storms of +so many centuries, will also be strong enough to withstand the pressure +of these times. If I perceived that these innovations would produce +happiness, I certainly would not withhold them from my country. But I +cannot. Other nations possibly may be ripe for freedom; my people are +not. The men called 'patriots' may say what they like; their intentions +are doubtless good, but they wish to raise the masses to a position of +which they are not and never will be worthy. No one can see into this +matter more clearly than the priests. We must ask them, if we wish to +learn to know the people, and the ideal we have imagined will soon +vanish. If freedom can be given to these rough natures, it is +emancipation from evil by the perception of good, and this only +religion and her representatives can bestow. Therefore, my dear Ottmar, +I will scorn to purchase a cheap popularity by frivolous concessions, +and content myself with fulfilling the duties God imposed upon me with +the holy oil. I do not desire to hold the highest place, I only wish to +be the protector and guide of the nation intrusted to my care: so, as +you have very justly observed, away with all inconsequent and aimless +innovations!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince carelessly pushed away the papers and drew out several +letters. "Here is this marriage business again. You must do me a favor +which no one else can bestow. I have the privilege of choosing between +two charming princesses, neither of whom I know, as one has just +entered society and the other resides at a court I have never visited. +You are prudent and skillful,--a connoisseur in female beauty and +character; you must take a private pleasure trip, and make the +acquaintance of one of the ladies, that you may be able to give me +exact information concerning her, and thus perhaps save me the trouble +of a useless journey in search of a wife. But more of this hereafter. I +see you wish to tell me something, and have been indiscreet in delaying +you so long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have nothing to say which could be more important than listening to +you, my prince. However, as you command, I must obey; besides, the +matter does not concern me, but an unfortunate man, who is suffering +unjustly for my fault, and whom I feel it my duty to aid. Will your +Highness graciously condescend to permit me to appeal from the prince +to the man, to make a confession which not the prince, but the man, +should hear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak frankly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Five years ago a certain Albert Preheim was sentenced to ten years' +imprisonment in irons for having committed a murderous assault upon the +present assistant and former prefect of the Collegium Germanicum, who +was spending a few days in H----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes; I remember," interrupted the prince. "The man defended +himself by the incredible statement that he had mistaken him for a +rival, but could prove nothing and was sentenced."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, your Highness, the man is too severely punished. He is no +murderer, and his statements are true. He acted without premeditation, +when almost unaccountable for his deeds and under the impulse of the +blindest jealousy. The act he committed concerns me, since he had +reason to believe me the seducer of his betrothed bride."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince drew his breath through his shut teeth like a person whose +sensitive feelings have been rudely jarred, and made no reply. +<i>Heinrich</i> noticed it and possessed sufficient tact to represent the +whole affair as if he had himself been the victim of accident. The +nocturnal visit he had induced the young girl to make he prudently +omitted, and ascribed everything else to the simplicity of an +inexperienced maiden, who, in the agony roused by the stings of +conscience, had represented the matter to her deceived lover in a very +vague and exaggerated manner. In this case, as usual, he succeeded in +convincing the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make no further apologies about so natural an indiscretion," said he. +"True, I confess that, for my own part, I cannot understand how the +most tempting opportunity can ever obtain the mastery over the will. As +a prince, everything is at my command, but my wishes have never led me +to the pleasures of mere sensuality; still, I judge no man who thinks +and feels differently in regard to these matters,--you least of all; +therefore do not consider it any token of disfavor if I am compelled to +request you to make amends for your error, for such it is, yourself. +Unfortunately, I am unable to be of any assistance to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, in astonishment, "will you not +pardon the unfortunate man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ask a pardon for Severinus's would-be murderer. I cannot believe +that you have maturely considered this matter. Severinus still suffers +from the effects of that dangerous wound, and ought I to release the +man who dealt it? Severinus is the soul of the whole reverend order of +Jesuits. He has relations with the leading ecclesiastics in my domains. +The order, nay, even the whole church, was greatly agitated by this +unprecedented crime, whose punishment my confessor thought far too +light, and now, after five years, I am to perform a most unusual act of +clemency. Tell me yourself, how would it be received? how would it be +looked upon by the whole priesthood, which was then deeply offended +because I would not make the criminal a terrible example? If you so +firmly believe the man's deposition, leave the matter to the regular +course of the law; then he will not need my pardon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought, your Highness, in consideration of the certainty that the +unhappy man did not wish to kill Severinus----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is all very fine, my dear fellow," interrupted the prince, with +somewhat more animation than usual; "but who knows it? And if I should +bring it forward as the cause of my clemency, who will believe it? Can +I prove that my private opinion is the correct one, and a sufficient +cause for remitting a punishment universally considered to be well +merited? My individual opinion ought not voluntarily to take sides with +Severinus's assailant, and decide a matter so complicated. Only the +calm, unanimous judgment of a court of justice can determine the true +meaning of the act, and free him by the power of the law. If you are +convinced of the truth of your assertion, you will certainly succeed in +persuading the court to believe it, and you doubtless feel that the +duty of bearing the punishment for your error rests with you rather +than me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince said all this in a low, rapid tone, with a most friendly +smile, yet every word fell upon <i>Heinrich's</i> soul like a blow. He +clinched his teeth even while he smiled, mentally called the prince a +smooth, cold egotist, and was convinced that he was a martyr of +self-sacrifice in comparison with this man. When two egotists meet, +each, with mournful self-satisfaction, considers himself the victim of +the other. This was the case with the prince, who also reflected upon +the selfishness of <i>Heinrich's</i> expectations, and thought himself very +noble because he forgave him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," said <i>Heinrich</i>, with the frankness which was his most +dangerous mask, "if I avoided adopting the means you mentioned, it was +because as a member of the court and council of state I dared not +venture to compromise myself by any public transactions in regard to +this delicate matter. I thought I was obliged to honor your Highness's +servant in myself as well as in any one else. I did not suppose that a +powerful prince like my most gracious ruler need fear the anger of the +priesthood for performing such a truly Christian deed, and therefore +most humbly beg pardon for my indiscreet petition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know you are indispensable to me, Ottmar, and can ask a great +deal; but, even though you may feel angered, I cannot grant this +request. Even if, as you apparently wished to intimate just now, I need +not fear the anger of the priests, I will not rouse it uselessly. If I +am the head, the priesthood is the heart of my body politic; shall I +wound it if it can be avoided? Of course, something must be done for +the poor man; but if one of us is to make a sacrifice for him, it is +surely better and more natural for you to do it than for me. Give the +information therefore, and after his release I will grant him every +favor you may ask."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So your Highness really commands the affair to be made public?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say yourself. Will it not become so under any circumstances? You know +that I could only pardon Albert Preheim by convincing all as well as +myself that he was not guilty of the murderous assault upon Severinus. +To attain this object should I not be compelled to reveal your acts, +first to the priests, and afterwards, for their satisfaction, to the +public? You would then be quite as much exposed as if you appeared +before a court of justice, and much more harshly judged than if you +atoned for your indiscretion by a frank confession in favor of +Preheim."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course," said <i>Heinrich</i>, bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Although the affair will then attract attention, which will be as +disagreeable to me as to you, it will in any event be forgotten in the +course of a few months. You must take the journey which I just +mentioned to you at once,--and when you return no one will give it +another thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, your Highness, it is your wish that a man whom you openly honor +with your confidence, who has a voice in the council, and with whom you +deign to share your cares concerning the weal and woe of the state, +should appear before a court of justice and a curious public to make +confession of his youthful errors?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh," said the prince, "I leave it entirely to your conscience to +decide whether you do not consider a man whom you thought worthy of my +protection sufficiently deserving for you to perform an act of +magnanimity in his behalf. If you are perfectly satisfied that he is +too severely punished, I know your sense of honor well enough to be +sure that you will act for him. If you are not, you need not expose +yourself for him any more than you will ask me to grant his pardon. +Give this matter careful consideration; I hope you will not force upon +me the alternative of making an innocent man suffer unjustly, or +offending those members of my state whom I esteem most highly." He +looked at his watch. "It is eight o'clock: I must dress. Shall I see +you this evening at the princess mother's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am at your service, your Highness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pity that it is so small a company. I can have no further +conversation with you about that affair of the marriage to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I deeply regret that I have not better employed the precious moments +your Highness condescended to bestow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, <i>au revoir</i>," said the prince, rising, and dismissing <i>Heinrich</i> +with a gracious wave of the hand.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> had required all his self-control to avoid making several +subtle rejoinders that hovered on his tongue. He was furiously enraged +by the failure of his plan and the prince's terror of the priesthood, +as he called it. He perceived that the young, strictly religious man +was right from his point of view, but rejected his whole standard of +measurement with indescribably bitter irony. For the first time since +he had lived in N---- this trait in the prince's character had become +personally detrimental, and he felt anew the full severity of the fate +which had forced him to bend to this hated system.</p> + +<p class="normal">His longing to win the Prison Fairy and his sense of right struggled +violently with his pride. Should he give up the whole affair now? Could +he rest satisfied with a single, useless effort, without being ashamed +of himself, lowered in the eyes of the prince, and, above all, in the +opinion of the Prison Fairy? Must not her pure, noble soul withdraw +from him forever, after she had obtained this glimpse of his nature? +Was she not the only joy for which he hoped in his cheerless life, and +was he to lose it just as he had found it?</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he asked himself whether she was really what she seemed, whether +she deserved the sacrifice he was making for her sake. With deep +loathing he saw himself standing before the court, in the presence of +the malicious public; his pride struggled against the thought with all +its power, and amid these painful considerations <i>Henri</i> even allowed +himself to be influenced by the fear that, after the confession of his +error, the ladies of the court would be implacably lost to him. Would +the Prison Fairy outweigh all this to <i>Heinrich</i> as well as <i>Henri</i>? +Would a smile from her have power to compensate <i>Heinrich</i> for the +sneering laugh on the faces which had hitherto shown only fawning +affability? Was her esteem more than the admiration of the court, which +would now have nothing for him save the scornful shrug of the +shoulders?</p> + +<p class="normal">While <i>Henri</i> was charming the ladies at the court <i>soirée</i> by his +shallow gallantries, these considerations ceaselessly occupied +<i>Heinrich's</i> thoughts, and he resolved, cost what it might, to see the +Prison Fairy again on the following day.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">VIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>IN THE PRISON</h3> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> excused himself from the evening gathering on the plea of +illness, and went to the prison. Here be ordered Albert to be removed +to another, as he asserted, healthier cell, and remained in his stead +in the narrow, gloomy dungeon, which, according to his opinion, the +young girl would doubtless visit first. He also gave the most positive +orders that nothing should be said to her about his presence or the +change that had been made in Albert's cell, and thus hoped that she +could not escape him. At eight o'clock in the morning he was listening +in the greatest suspense to every step that approached his door. All +passed by. His expectation increased to impatience,--his impatience to +longing. He, who was accustomed to command, to whom all hastened, sat +in a lonely cell like a poor criminal, and was forced to wait patiently +until the moment of deliverance approached. He, who had so often been +ardently expected behind silken curtains and flowers, now gazed through +the iron bars of a little grated window at a the patch of sky, as if +imploring that he might be granted what he desired. He had not even +thought of taking a book with him, and the most terrible ennui was +added to the monotony of the one thought that occupied his mind. The +clocks in the various steeples struck the quarter and half hours; to +count the near and distant strokes was the sole interruption of his +dull reverie. And he had submitted to all this for the sake of a coy +young girl, a stranger to him, though he did not even know who and what +she was, or what she could ever be to him! He voluntarily put himself +in the place of the prisoners, especially that of Albert, who had +probably listened with a beating heart for days to hear if she were +coming,--she, the only thing he still possessed in the eternal monotony +of his imprisonment. His excited fancy pictured more and more vividly +how the prisoner must live, year after year, exposed to the most +terrible ennui, with only the sight of his four bare walls and his +gnawing thoughts; how the only signs of human life that could reach him +were a dull roar and the sound of the bells, and the only change in his +slowly dragging days the transition from light to darkness. "I can open +this door when I choose,--can go out when I please; only the necessity +of gratifying an idle whim detains me; and yet the thought of being +compelled to spend twenty-four hours here chills my breast, to say +nothing of three hundred and sixty-five days and nights, and <i>five</i> +times,--<i>ten</i> times as many!" He drew a long breath, and, merely to +employ his thoughts, began to calculate with nervous eagerness how many +hours this would be. How often Albert must already have reckoned it! +What does such a man <i>think</i> during the long years? The soul needs +nourishment as well as the body. Albert would doubtless have become +imbecile had it not been for the Prison Fairy. She is the one thought +that keeps his soul awake. The clock struck eleven. "I have been +waiting three hours already. Suppose she should not come? What must it +be to the prisoner, when she remains away all day, and he has waited +through the twenty-four hours in vain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Worn out by involuntary idleness, he sinks upon his couch at night, +looks up to the little window, and watches for the thousandth time the +motions of the clouds and the gathering darkness; perhaps even greets a +twinkling star as a joyful event, compares it to the eyes of the +Prison Fairy, and wonders why she did not come to-day, and whether she +will come to-morrow, until he falls into his feverish slumber. He +wakes early in the morning longing for her, would gladly hasten the +hours with his panting breath, urge on the strokes of the clocks +by the pulsations of his heart, and yet he has no resource but +patience,--continual patience. His soul rises and falls between fear +and hope, his head burns, his limbs ache under the pressure of his +chains. The sun sends its wandering rays into the cell and shines upon +the door; suddenly it springs open, and, as if allured by the rays, +bathed in the splendor, the beautiful figure stands in the entrance in +all the brightness of her living, loving presence, greeted by a cry of +joy as piercing as I heard yesterday from Albert's lips. "Prison +Fairy!" She approaches him; she touches the fetters with her +flower-white hands, and they become light; her breath cools his +feverish brow; she speaks to him a tone thrilling with the melody of +enthusiastic feeling; she looks at him with her mysterious eyes, and on +her brow is throned that dignity which no bold desire, no injustice, +dare approach.</p> + +<p class="normal">Oh, how longingly he must await such consolation! how he must----</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened: a female figure was about to enter; he turned, and the +painful suspense escaped in a shrill exclamation,--"Prison Fairy!" The +door was closed, and light footsteps rapidly retreated. As in a dream +we often vainly strive to reach something with trembling haste, the +width of the little space he must pass to pursue the fugitive seemed +far too great for Ottmar. His hands trembled so violently in his hurry +that he opened the heavy old lock with difficulty, and when he emerged +she had disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is she?" he asked of a jailer who was just coming up the +passage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does your lordship mean the Prison Fairy? I have not seen her to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a lie! She was here just now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your lordship, it may be so; she always bids the Herr Inspector +good-morning before she goes to the prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call the inspector here," said <i>Heinrich</i>, returning to the cell.</p> + +<p class="normal">The official, an elderly man, with honest features, obeyed the summons.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Inspector," said <i>Heinrich</i>, sternly, "you have for several years +allowed a lady secret access to the prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Herr Geheimrath," said the man, with dignified composure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you ever received permission to do so from any higher authority?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr Geheimrath."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet you have exceeded the limits of your instructions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must bear the punishment patiently."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you so courageous?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Geheimrath," said the old man, modestly, "I have done what my own +heart dictated, and was aware that in following my convictions of +Christian duty I was violating only the letter, not the spirit, of my +office."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A prison official, and possessed of a heart! The two do not harmonize, +Herr Inspector."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, I did not know it. I cherish the belief that our wise +government desires to have the criminal justly not cruelly treated; and +to serve the arm of justice is an office which a man who has a heart +can hold, although it sometimes falls heavily upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are the subtle reasonings of the Prison Fairy, as she is called +here. Yet I am disposed to pass over the affair if you will instantly +tell me the lady's name, social position, and residence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Geheimrath," said the inspector, smiling, "I think if my offense +deserves pardon you will be sufficiently just to grant it without +conditions, for I cannot possibly fulfill those you have just +mentioned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Inspector!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Geheimrath, I give you my word of honor that I do not know who +the lady is, nor where she lives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must believe you; but in that case your course is all the more +inexplicable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see, Herr Geheimrath, that I owe you a detailed account of the +matter, and am ready to confirm each of my statements upon oath."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?" said <i>Heinrich</i>, with ill-repressed curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When, five years ago, the jail was filled with political prisoners, a +young man named Reinhold was brought in who excited my compassion in +the highest degree. He had taken part in the conflicts in the Province +of B----, but seemed so feeble and gentle that I could not understand +how he had been concerned in such deeds. He was sentenced to death, but +the prince commuted the decree to an imprisonment of twenty years. His +winning, lovable character aroused the sympathy of all who saw him. Day +by day the unfortunate man grew paler and more feeble; but he said +nothing. No one heard a word of complaint from his lips, and he always +had the same gentle smile for all who entered his cell. Even the +jailers pitied this quietly endured, silent suffering, and remarked to +each other that the prisoner seemed ill. I went to him, and urgently +pressed him to tell me what was the matter. He thanked me and protested +that he was quite well; his heart was heavy, but no one could help him +there except the one whose coldness had made him rush into his crime +and misfortune, and whom he must love till the day of his death. I did +not wish to press him with any further questions, because the +recollection seemed to exhaust him. One day the young lady of whom we +are speaking came to me and implored me through her tears to procure +her an interview with the prisoner, Reinhold. I refused. The next day +she came again, as she said, to inquire after the prisoner's health, +and begged me to allow her to do so daily. This, of course, I could not +deny her. She appeared in my little room regularly every afternoon at a +certain hour, and I must confess that the young girl soon became as +dear to me as if she had been my own child. She did not tell me who she +was, but her whole conduct showed that she must belong to a good +family, and be perfectly pure in heart; besides, I was too modest to +ask what she did not tell me of her own free will. One day I could give +her no good news about the prisoner's health. His weakness had greatly +increased. She received my communication with so much sorrow that I +could no longer doubt some close tie bound her to Reinhold, and that +she was the very person for whom he was grieving so bitterly. She +clasped my hands in agony and implored me only to let her look at him a +moment through the open door of his cell. I could not refuse the poor +child this. I led her to the spot, went to the prisoner, and left the +door slightly ajar, that she, concealed behind it, might look in. But +who can depend upon the unruly heart of seventeen? Scarcely had I +addressed two words to Reinhold when she rushed in, and, with a cry of +agony, threw herself upon his breast. Neither could speak, and my own +tears flowed freely. The unhappy man was so weak that he could not +endure this tempest of joy, but fell from her arms pale and lifeless. +She sank on the floor beside him and silently took his head in her lap. +There she sat as if the Virgin had appeared in bodily form with the +dead Christ. Herr Geheimrath, no one worthy of the name of man could +have separated them; it would have seemed to me like sacrilege!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on," said <i>Heinrich</i>, in the greatest suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When Reinhold had partially recovered, a touching scene ensued,--a +scene which may be felt but not described. They had never spoken to +each other before; she did not even seem to have returned his +affection, and implored his forgiveness for her want of love which had +driven him out into the world to his ruin. But she would make amends. +She called me to witness that she solemnly betrothed herself to him, +and implored me in the name of the God before whom I should one day +have to stand in the great and final account, to give her once for all +free admittance to her betrothed husband's cell. I perceived how she +had outwitted me by so completely captivating me during her daily +visits, that I could no longer refuse her anything. I was convinced +that the prisoner had in her one who would faithfully care for his +soul, for she is pure and gentle as a child, wise and firm as a man. So +I granted her desire, and up to this moment have never repented it; she +has brought a better spirit into the institution, and exerts a +remarkable power over the prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the betrothed bridegroom 2" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She thought she could still save him by her affection, and nursed him +with admirable tenderness. He was happy; but even as grief had once +threatened to destroy him, so it was now with love,--he slowly +languished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After a time she perceived it and attributed it to prison life. She +found that the greatest suffering a man can feel is loss of freedom, +bore in her heart the deepest compassion, not only for him but his +companions in misfortune, and several times assured me that if she did +not need all her time for Reinhold she would gladly visit the other +prisoners, but she did not wish to deprive him of a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just then a political criminal who had been sentenced to fifteen +years' imprisonment was brought in, so infuriated by his fate that he +tore at his chains with his teeth, and tried to dash out his brains +against the heavy irons like Caius Cœlius, as he said; in short, he +behaved like a madman. No one could obtain any influence over him; he +cursed all who approached him and scoffed at the priests. Then I +thought I would ask the Prison Fairy--her lover had jestingly called +her so because she forbade him to mention her real name--if she would +not try to bring the lunatic to reason. She went to him with the utmost +readiness, and the man was so charmed by her beauty and courage that he +yielded to her and obeyed her with the greatest devotion. If he ever +regain freedom, he will owe it to that girl that he is not lunatic or a +reprobate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Six months had elapsed, when we heard a cry of despair from Reinhold's +cell; and when we hurried to it, found her in the same attitude as on +their first meeting,--kneeling on the floor supporting her lover's head +in her arms. But this time he was not to wake again,--he was dead. The +Prison Fairy wept over the pallid face so bitterly that the jailers +crept noiselessly out of the cell, that they might not see her grief. +The physician attached to the prison was summoned; said that he had had +heart disease, and perhaps would have lived no longer under any +circumstances. We talked to her as well as we could; and when she saw +how deeply her sorrow grieved us, she composed herself and consoled +<i>us</i>. But when the prison door opened and the corpse was borne out, she +broke down, and shrieked, Poor Reinhold, now you are <i>free</i>!' The tone +still rings in my ears; I shall never forget it as long as I live.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When we were alone she thanked me with touching affection, and +entreated me henceforth to grant her admittance to all the prisoners, +to alleviate the mental tortures, which often far exceeded the crime +and the purpose of the punishment. After witnessing her success with +the furious Sebastian, I could not refuse the noble and benevolent wish +in which her soul sought consolation; and you must permit me to +believe, Herr Geheimrath, that a blessing follows her wherever she +goes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But does she seem to be entirely consoled now?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For two years she mourned deeply; nay, I often watched her with real +anxiety; but at last time and her healthful nature asserted their +rights. She grew stronger, gradually became calmer, even gay, and for +the last year has been the same vivacious child she was five years ago. +Now you know all, honored sir, and can judge for yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed into vacancy long and thoughtfully. At last he said, +kindly, "Under such extraordinary circumstances people must of course +make exceptions. You are an honest man, Herr Inspector!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Herr Geheimrath!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But now, tell me, has it never occurred to you to send some one after +this strange girl, to see what direction she takes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She always went to the stand of hackney-coaches and drove away in one +of them. There is a consistency in everything she does, which would +sometimes terrify one if he had not learned to know her kind heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your report. Farewell, Herr Inspector." <i>Heinrich</i> +took his hat and went out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert must be free! the Prison Fairy must become mine!" said he, as +he left the prison.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">IX.</a></h2> + +<h3>FRAULEIN VERONICA VON ALBIN</h3> + +<p class="normal">Thus his resolution was at last formed. He perceived that Albert's +liberation was the only price with which he could again purchase the +confidence of the obstinate girl. The impressions he had received +during his voluntary confinement in the cell convinced him of the +unwarrantable cruelty he should commit if he allowed poor Albert to +suffer unjustly any longer. The useless hours of waiting for the Prison +Fairy had increased his interest in her to a longing, and the +inspector's story gave him the assurance that she was worthy of a +sacrifice. The simple experience of this afternoon had destroyed the +web of doubt that overpowered him. He intended to treat the whole +affair with the ease of a man of the world, and disarm the malicious +public by a display of amiable qualities which no one could resist, and +which must of course win the heart of the Prison Fairy. He was +conscious of the power of his personal attractions, and, after he +became accustomed to the thought of a public examination, took pleasure +in the idea of making all his advantages sparkle in the light of her +delighted glances. Since there was no other way of gaining possession +of her, he ordered the investigation of Albert Preheim's murderous +assault to be once more taken up by the courts.</p> + +<p class="normal">A week passed away before the matter was publicly discussed, and during +this time <i>Heinrich</i> and <i>Henri</i> pursued but one object: to find the +Prison Fairy. But all plans were set at naught by the cunning obstinacy +with which she eluded him. Ottmar went daily to the jail and showed the +prisoners every conceivable kindness, but none of them could tell him +anything more than that she had not come of late. The poor men were +almost in despair,--it was the first time for five years that she had +remained away so long. No one could explain the cause. <i>Heinrich</i> knew +it and wondered at her firmness,--it could not be indifference that +made her avoid him so anxiously; and this thought goaded his impatience +to its height.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day of the examination came. Upon this all his hopes were fixed. +The galleries of the hall were crowded. Ottmar, the haughty, dreaded +aristocrat, enters the lists to defend a poor, persecuted plebeian, and +confesses his own error to prove the innocence of his <i>protégé</i>. This +was the rumor that ran through the whole city. Every one wanted to see +it for himself before he believed it; and instead of the malicious +public he had expected, appeared a joyful throng, already half +conciliated. A crowd of ladies of all ranks and ages had also assembled +to see the famous Ottmar in the rôle of a penitent sinner. It is +characteristic that women in general will not pardon the smallest error +if it is concealed, while, on the contrary, they will forgive the +greatest sin if an appeal is made to their generosity by a frank +confession. <i>Heinrich</i> hoped to find this experience confirmed by the +Prison Fairy, and was persuaded that his conduct on this occasion would +completely subdue her defiance. The examination began. All eyes were +fixed compassionately upon the pallid Albert, broken down in the flower +of his years, as entered the court-room with tottering steps, supported +between two gendarmes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The presiding officer opened the proceedings by a short history of the +case, the statements of the absent Severinus were read aloud, and +passed on for the assent of the accused and the witnesses. At first no +one paid much attention to the course of affairs. They had learned five +years ago that the charge against Albert was a heavy one, so they were +now only curious about the examination of the witnesses, and that +strange, familiar murmur of impatience became distinctly audible after +the presiding officer had finished his speech. But, eagerly as the +public awaited Ottmar's entrance, he still remained behind the door of +the witness-box. At last the presiding officer commanded Baron von +Ottmar to be summoned.</p> + +<p class="normal">A satisfied "ah!" ran through the crowd, as a gust of wind rustles +through withered leaves, when <i>Heinrich</i> appeared. With all the power +of his natural and acquired charm of manner he revealed the +psychological causes of the event, and with convincing legal acuteness +represented them in their relations to the law. He forbearingly +concealed the name of Albert's betrothed, and confessed his fault with +the dignity of a man who, on the ground of great and noble qualities, +feels entitled to rise above the errors of his youth, and has no +timidity in acknowledging a wrong if by so doing he can avoid a greater +one. While <i>Heinrich</i> was speaking he scanned the galleries, and +<i>Henri</i> gazed into many a beautiful, joy-beaming face, but the one both +sought was absent.</p> + +<p class="normal">All hearts yearned towards Ottmar; only she for whom all had been done +unsympathizingly avoided the sole opportunity which might show him in a +more favorable light. And yet he could not believe it; she <i>must</i> be +there, and had probably only concealed herself from his gaze.</p> + +<p class="normal">This doubt aroused the greatest agitation. Almost mechanically he +continued to play his part as a noble man. He had spoken so admirably +that there was very little left for Albert's lawyer to say; but his +thoughts were not fixed upon Albert, but the gallery; and the more +firmly he was convinced that the Prison Fairy was not there, the more +his joy in his good deed disappeared; he no longer dared hope to gain +access to the obstinate fairy by any such means.</p> + +<p class="normal">The court had summoned old Anton from his home to give his testimony; +but he had not yet arrived, so another session must be called. If she +did not appear then, he had lost the game.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment a thought entered his mind which might place him on +the right track. She could have obtained her remarkable education only +in scientific circles, and had probably been reared in a very +intellectual family. Ottmar proposed to make a round of visits to all +the prominent literary and scientific people in N----. "She is not a +native of this capital, her German is too correct for that, so I will +begin with the strangers," he thought. He had hitherto confined himself +exclusively to the court circle, and was entirely unknown in the +society he now proposed to seek.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sunday intervened between the first and second session of the court, +and Ottmar availed himself of it. He drove around the city in his +elegant carriage all the morning, and was everywhere cordially +received. Many, beautiful and ugly, forward and retiring, simple and +highly educated young ladies were introduced to him. She was nowhere to +be found.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he paid the last visit on his list, and there also met only +unfamiliar, commonplace faces, he asked the friendly head of the +household, in an under-tone, whether he could mention any particularly +interesting people whom a stranger in N---- ought to know.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman reflected a short time, and finally inquired whether +he had yet heard nothing of old Fräulein Veronica von Albin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you must seek her out!" he exclaimed when <i>Heinrich</i> answered his +question in the negative. "She is a perfect original, a petrifaction of +the period of sentimentality, and withal a really intellectual person, +in whose salon you will find every one who has any pretensions to fame, +and is enrolled under the banner of poetry and sensibility."</p> + +<p class="normal">Wearied by his minute explanation, <i>Heinrich</i> expressed his thanks, +inquired the way to her dwelling, and drove thither. He had made it a +duty to follow every suggestion of destiny, but knew in advance that he +should not find what he sought in the home of a sentimental old maid.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage stopped before a massive stone house. Two colossal figures +on the right and left of the door held lanterns adorned with intricate +iron scroll-work in the fashion of the last century. The lower windows +were grated with thick wrought-iron bars, and the heavy oaken door did +not lack the shining brass lion's head, with the ring in its mouth. +Above the door was a somewhat weather-beaten coat-of-arms, carved in +stone, overshadowed by a tiny balcony provided with manifold sculptured +ornaments and iron scrolls. <i>Heinrich</i> pulled the bell. The door was +opened, and when he entered a statue placed in a niche in the staircase +extended its arms as if in welcome.</p> + +<p class="normal">A pleasant subdued light fell upon the stone stairs through a tall +pointed window, and <i>Heinrich</i>, most agreeably impressed by this +old-fashioned but massive luxury, mounted the broad stone steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">A precise, respectable servant was standing on the landing, and +silently ushered him into a little antechamber. Ottmar gave him his +card, and he went forward on tip-toe to announce him. For a few moments +<i>Heinrich</i> had time to admire the few but costly articles of furniture, +rich carpet, and Chinese vases in the anteroom. His hopes began to +sink. The quiet, pedantic spirit which breathed from these carefully +preserved relics of a former century could not have trained the +original, modern, enthusiastic nature of the Prison Fairy.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last a pair of richly-carved folding-doors were thrown open. The old +servant, with a low bow, silently motioned to him to approach, and +<i>Heinrich</i> entered a large apartment, furnished in the ancient French +style, with silken curtains, and a polished, inlaid floor. The sofas +and chairs were of richly inlaid walnut, covered with faded but heavy +yellow damask. An old-fashioned screen, ornamented with an embroidered +coat-of-arms, stood before a huge stove adorned with Chinese designs. +On the clumsy carved tables lay magnificent velvet, covered albums, +faded and time-worn, as well as small new books of every description. A +gilt eagle extended its wings over an immense mirror, and a pair of +sphinxes supported a marble pier-table, bearing a clock. Family +portraits, centuries old, stared solemnly from the walls, and fresh +roses breathed their rich fragrance over this peaceful image of bygone +days.</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost at the same moment Ottmar entered, the lady of the house, +Fräulein Veronica von Albin, advanced through a pair of folding-doors +directly opposite to him. She had a slight ethereal figure, whose +movements still retained the elasticity of youth, and a pair of +beautiful blue eyes sparkled in a wrinkled face, over which at least +seventy years had passed. Thin white curls were carefully arranged +around the kindly old forehead, and an old-fashioned but dazzlingly +white morning dress rustled softly around her. She advanced, or rather +floated, towards Ottmar, and held out both hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are most welcome, Herr von Ottmar," she said, with so cordial an +expression that the latter bowed low in astonishment. "You wonder at my +affectionate address, do you not?" she continued, offering him a chair. +"It is because we always think those whom we know so well must know us. +Since the public legal investigation you have become common property, +and indeed such property as every one would most gladly appropriate to +himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you been present at the examination, Fräulein?" asked Ottmar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; and I can assure you that I became very mach attached to +you in the few hours I saw and heard you. Nothing could have afforded +me greater pleasure than to receive this visit. Thank God, I am old +enough to be able to tell you so without embarrassment," she continued, +smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> found the youthful old Lady possessed very good taste, and +involuntarily thought "women are really attractive only at the +beginning and end of life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Fräulein," he began, "you do not know how happy your kindness +makes me. I am a stranger here, and seek those who will understand me. +The empty life of the court no longer satisfies me. I long for +something else, and come to you because I was told that I should here +find what I sought; and indeed I hope if I meet with it anywhere it +will be here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you may be right," said she, looking at him with winning +affection. Old age, by relaxing the lids, had drawn a veil over the +bright blue eyes, but a glance so full of soul, and pure youthful +emotion, beamed from them that <i>Heinrich</i> gazed at her with increasing +admiration. "Not that I imagine you could find amusement in an old +woman like me, but I have the pleasure of drawing young and brilliant +people around me, in whom you will surely find something to please +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You certainly have some relations?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, expectantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly relations," she said, shortly; "but it is a great mercy +that God gave me the faculty of living with young persons, and that +there is at least nothing repulsive in my old age. The young people +cling to me, and daily bring new joys into my quiet house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me to ask you one question, Fräulein," said <i>Heinrich</i>,--then +hesitated a moment, and continued in a very different tone: "How is it +possible that time has passed you by without leaving more traces?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is singular. I have really remained twenty years behind my +true age. The machinery continued to move, but the hands were stopped +by a great shock, and never overtook the time. It is a strange, +sorrowful story, and some day when we are sitting by my cozy, singing +tea-urn I will tell you about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A sorrowful story?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>. "I should have thought you were +very happy and contented."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I am now. Time effaces everything, and I seem to myself like a +transfigured spirit. I have no longer anxieties or wishes, look upon +life calmly and impartially, and love all men. My body, as you see, is +no very heavy burden, and thus, thank God, I am not so widely separated +from the angels."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was such a depth of earnestness concealed under these jesting +words that <i>Heinrich</i>, strangely moved, passed his hand over his brow. +It seemed as if a good genius with a gentle smile had raised him to a +height from whence he could view at a single glance all the +perishableness and emptiness of life. "Oh, who could bring heaven so +near as you?" he said, at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear friend," she replied, with a winning glance, "there is also a +heaven upon earth in our own breasts. Do not seek it without, but +within your heart; then you will not <i>come</i> into heaven for the first +time when you die, but <i>remain</i> in it always."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Fräulein'," pleaded <i>Heinrich</i>, "permit me now and then to +linger a short time in yours until I have created one of my own. Will +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; with the greatest pleasure. It does you honor that, without +any other design, you can take pleasure in spending a few hours with an +old lady like myself; and I assure you that your good intention will be +rewarded,--rely upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not doubt it," said <i>Heinrich</i>; "but I ask no other reward than +your favor and counsel in many things that oppress my heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you,"--Veronica cast a hasty glance at the great clock. +"Come and take tea with me to-morrow evening. Some of my chosen friends +will be here, and I am curious to see how they will please you. One +thing I can positively assure you beforehand: you will find only <i>good</i> +men with me. Old and independent as I am, I need not receive any except +those whom I love; and only such as have preserved a childlike, +unassuming character (now, unfortunately, so rarely found) take +pleasure in my simple nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who could be so unfeeling as to find no charm in you?" said +<i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who? Alas! unfortunately there are many. Believe me, our young people +are now very old. When I think how it used to be in my time! There are +no longer any illusions,--any enthusiasms. I have often talked to young +people who seemed so old that I have asked myself with shame, 'Oh, God! +am I really so childlike, or already so childish, that the young people +of the present day are so much wiser and more steady?' And that is not +the worst. I have always seen that the childlike or childish old woman +is much happier in her simple existence than all these hopeful young +persons, upon whom life still smiles with rosy hues; and it makes me +feel sad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She might have educated the Prison Fairy;" thought <i>Heinrich</i>, and at +last determined to ask her; but Veronica, without allowing herself to +be interrupted, continued, with the loquacity of age: "I know they call +me the Sensitive Plant, because I have preserved my quick feelings and +ready tears; but I do not think they are mocking me, for they know I +play no sentimental comedy, but rejoice with those who rejoice, and +even follow with sincere interest the struggles of the age, although +they do not please me. To me the only true voices are those that speak +from sentiment and in its behalf; therefore I must confess that I +prefer them to the modern spirit of speculation, piquant as it is, and +shall listen to them devoutly until death some day solves for me the +mystery of life." She again glanced at the clock and made <i>Heinrich</i> a +confused apology for having chattered so long.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> could do nothing but take leave, and was compelled to defer +receiving the ardently desired assurance until the morrow; he bowed as +low and as frequently as possible, and withdrew from the apartment as +slowly as he could. The lock of the door stuck in his hand as if it +were bewitched, and he was so absentminded that he was obliged to pause +some time in the ante-chamber to remember which was the way out; he did +not know where he was or what he was doing. Meantime bitter reflections +upon his hasty dismissal, his own strange embarrassment, which had made +the harmless question falter on his lips more and more the longer he +delayed it, until at last he could no longer utter it; upon the old +lady's loquacity, which had not allowed him to speak: in short, the +striking of a large cuckoo-clock, which also seemed to jeer at him, +first made him aware that he must at last leave the house. With a +despairing glance at the different doors he went away, and on reaching +the carriage could not help laughing at himself. <i>Heinrich</i> scoffed at +<i>Henri</i>, and <i>Henri</i> derided <i>Heinrich</i>. An impulse of rejoicing over +something, he knew not what, overpowered him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">X.</a></h2> + +<h3>PROGRESS</h3> + +<p class="normal">Early the following day there was a fresh crowd and bustle in the hall +where the court held its session. The pressure was so violent that it +was already necessary to have police stationed before the building to +preserve order. At last all became quiet, for the judges entered. +Ottmar, with his eyes fixed intently upon the gallery, looked handsomer +than ever. His stern bearing seemed more gentle, his slight figure more +elastic, the harsh, rigid outline youthfully soft, and around the +delicately modeled lips played an irresistible smile. His dark hair was +brushed back, and the peace of a quiet conscience seemed to rest upon +his noble brow. His eyes were fixed constantly on the same spot with a +remarkably friendly glance, until at last all eagerly followed the +direction of the look, but to their great surprise saw no one except +old Fräulein von Albin, with several elderly ladies and gentlemen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has he to do with her?" they asked each other.</p> + +<p class="normal">The examination lasted only a short time. Old Anton arrived and +confirmed his master's deposition. The court withdrew to deliberate +upon the sentence. An expectant stillness greeted its reappearance. All +eyes were fixed upon Albert, who awaited the announcement of the +sentence with feverish suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">It found him guilty of the attempt to murder while in a passion, and +deserving of three years' imprisonment; but, as the accused had already +endured a longer and more severe punishment, ordered his immediate +release.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert seemed confused and did not appear to understand anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are free!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>. But Albert with a deep sigh sank +senseless into the arms of the bystanders like a somnambulist suddenly +aroused from a heavy slumber. Ere long, however, he opened his eyes and +threw himself at <i>Heinrich's</i> feet, murmuring, "Forgive me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have both forgiven each other long ago," replied <i>Heinrich</i>, +raising him kindly from the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">The presiding officer approached him, saying, "Herr von Ottmar, allow +me in the name of the whole court to thank you for having given us an +opportunity to rescind an undeserved sentence, and changed the sad duty +of condemnation to the joy of pronouncing a decree of liberation; +permit me to give you the assurance that I have become your sincere +friend."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> took a cordial farewell of the worthy man, whose eyes beamed +with heartfelt esteem. But when he came out of the building to enter +his carriage the multitude had assembled before it, and for the first +time in his life a loud cheer of universal approbation greeted him. +<i>Heinrich</i> felt every nerve thrill pleasantly at the unwonted sound, +and as he raised his hat in acknowledgment murmured, with joyful +emotion, "Prison Fairy, I thank you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had intended to play a part; but the seriousness of the matter had +laid hold upon him and converted acting to reality. He perceived this +fact with a throb of strange elation; and if the joy he felt sprang +more from the result than the act itself, the pleasure was so pure, the +vanity so legitimate, that even he could scarcely distinguish it from +the emotions of an unselfish, satisfied conscience. Enough: he had done +a noble deed, felt the happier for it, and formed the resolution to +take advantage of every opportunity of procuring this delight again. +But of course he thought only of those occasions which would secure him +a similar popular recognition; he did not think of the unfortunates he +might aid, but of the gratitude he should receive from them and the +public. To his heartless egotism no other course of reflection was +possible, yet even this was a great advance towards better things.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are natures which, incited by the love of applause, first do good +merely from vanity; but the more frequently this occurs, the more they +become accustomed to it, and at last do it, with or without success, +from habit. But inasmuch as every habit gradually becomes a necessity, +so it is with this, until at last they do right from a secret need.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar was such a man. Amid all his great faults and errors, it was not +the opposition between right and wrong that was the point of +controversy in his nature, but that between the heart and intellect. +The cause of all the dissensions about right and wrong into which +<i>Heinrich</i>, as well as <i>Henri</i>, had fallen, was that his heart and +intellect opposed each other, instead of harmonizing. All <i>Heinrich's</i> +errors were rooted solely in the selfishness of his cold intellect, as +<i>Henri's</i> were founded upon the egotism of his material nature. If any +great influence could succeed in uniting the two extremes he would +become the most noble and estimable of men. Society, therefore, is not +so far wrong when it allows itself to be dazzled by the ideal nimbus +which such persons understand how to diffuse around them; for beneath +it there is always an instinct of good by means of which they may +really become what they seem.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are also noble, sensitive souls which understand such men, and +wish to aid them in reaching the right path. The extent of their +success of course depends upon their own capacity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie was one of these souls, but Ottmar knew that the Prison Fairy +would become more, infinitely more, to him if he could succeed in +approaching her. That which in the fading, suffering Ottilie had failed +to make any deeper impression upon him, because it had appeared in a +form too sentimental, too little akin to his own nature, kindled an +ardent enthusiasm in him when he encountered it in the energetic, +vivacious Prison Fairy. Ottilie seemed to him a distant, glorified +ideal; her self-denial, her capacity for self-sacrifice, appeared +superhuman, and only rooted in the indifference of a spirit striving to +cast off its earthly nature; it never entered his mind to try to +imitate, greatly as he admired it. The Prison Fairy, while possessing +Ottilie's ideal character, was also in every respect congenial to him, +and thus he <i>could</i> follow her. He had seen the former suffer from her +ideas, which repelled him; but the latter was happy, and attracted him. +In a word, the princess gave him the <i>theory</i>, the Prison Fairy the +<i>practice</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">He owed Ottilie nothing save a fruitless knowledge of himself; but to +the impression the unknown girl had made upon him he was already +indebted for this first hour of happiness, and all his hopes were fixed +upon this noble, womanly apparition.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert, whom he had taken home with him, as he had no friends in the +city, gave all the information he could bestow, which was only that she +came to his cell very early in the morning of the day before the court +held its session and took leave of him, as she was sure he would be +liberated. She gave him several louis-d'or to supply his immediate +wants, and told him to write a letter containing news of himself every +week, addressed to the initial B., <i>poste restante</i>. He was obliged to +repeat the simple story to <i>Heinrich</i> every half-hour. Thus the +afternoon passed away, and Ottmar went to dress,--the time appointed +for the tea-party had almost arrived. Will she be there?--or will she +not?--was the axis around which all his thoughts revolved.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">A merry company engaged in eager conversation about Ottmar had +assembled in Fräulein von Albin's salon. Veronica was unusually bright. +She wore a tight dress of light yellow satin, richly trimmed with old +lace, kid mitts, and a cap with a light yellow ribbon. When she sat +down she could scarcely be distinguished from the sofa, which had a +covering of the same hue; and when she walked she looked like one of +the oblique rays of light that fall through old church windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, pray do me the favor to stop talking about Ottmar," she said, +uneasily. "Can't you speak of something else?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! what subject could we have that would be more interesting?" +murmured the young girls.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica sent them into an adjoining room, and the ladies and gentlemen +discussed a wider range of topics. Just then the folding-doors were +thrown wide open, and with his usual haughty bearing the much-talked-of +Ottmar entered. A murmur of pleasure ran through the astonished +company, but as yet the young girls in the adjoining room noticed +nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica received her visitor with the pride with which one sees an +agreeable surprise prepared for one's guests safely enter upon the +scene. After the first introductions and remarks, <i>Heinrich's</i> eyes +wandered hastily around the room. She was not there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you not present me to your young friends also?" he said, at last, +turning beseechingly to Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter led him triumphantly into the "second salon," where, +unobserved, he paused a few moments in the doorway and scanned the +company.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girls were playing "Guess by the dancing." One of them was +obliged to stand in the centre of the circle, dance blindfolded with a +gentleman, and guess his name by his dancing. A young girl whose +wonderful figure aroused <i>Henri's</i> astonishment was now within the +ring. She wore a thin white dress embroidered with crimson flowers, her +rich curling hair was arranged in two heavy braids, and a spray of +crimson blossoms fell upon her beautiful neck.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> would gladly have seen the face concealed under the broad +handkerchief. A gentleman was to be led up to her: Veronica took +Ottmar's hand, motioned to the company to say nothing, and drew him +forward to the young girl. <i>Henri</i> threw his arm around her, and they +swept round the room in rapid circles. Delighted with the grace and +ease of her dancing, he drew the soft, pliant figure more closely to +him; her breath fanned his cheek, and his gently stirred the hair upon +her brow. The narrow space visible under the bandage became suffused +with a deep blush; a magnetic bond was being woven between them. She +paused and released herself from his clasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, who is it?" cried Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know," replied the young girl, panting for breath. "It is none +of the gentlemen who were here before."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> stood as if spell-bound; surely he ought to know that soft, +rich voice, and he removed the bandage himself. "Prison Fairy," he +murmured, as a pair of large, dark eyes gazed at him as if in a dream.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was so much startled that she turned pale and tottered. <i>Henri</i> +supported her, and the others rushed forward. "Oh, it is nothing," said +she; "dancing with my eyes bandaged makes me dizzy." Then thanking +<i>Henri</i> with a slight bow, she begged to be excused till she had +recovered her breath, and went into an adjoining room, where it was +cool and quiet.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> sought Veronica to request her to introduce him to the charming +young girl. "Certainly," said she; "I have anticipated this moment with +great pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">They found the Prison Fairy in the tea-room leaning against an open +window. She was gazing thoughtfully into the darkness, and did not feel +the cold night air that blew over her white shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," cried Veronica, "you will take cold. How can people be so +careless?" The young girl closed the window and turned towards the +approaching pair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Ottmar," said Veronica, presenting him. "This is the child of +my dead adopted daughter, and therefore my adopted granddaughter, +Fräulein Cornelia Erwing. The one sole treasure I still possess in this +world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Both bowed in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, my child," said the old lady, joyously; "this is the surprise I +told you about yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certainly very unexpected," replied the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me to hope, Fräulein, that at least it was not <i>undesired</i>?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no," said Veronica, laughing, as Cornelia made no answer. "You may +be sure that she belongs to the ranks of your greatest adorers; but she +is an obstinate little thing, and never pays any one a compliment +willingly." A glance of earnest entreaty from the Prison Fairy silenced +her enthusiastic kindliness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein," said <i>Henri</i>, firmly, "you have hitherto eluded me in so +remarkable a manner that you will not be angry if I now implore you to +grant me a few words of explanation? You will not refuse this +satisfaction to the man who rejoices in the favor of your honored +foster-mother?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you permit it?" asked Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would I not permit to you, my dear child?" replied Veronica. +"Speak on; I shall not disturb you, for I must go back to my guests."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two were left alone. A violent struggle now arose in Ottmar as to +<i>which</i> of his two individualities should rule this scene. It urged +<i>Henri</i> irresistibly towards the sofa upon which the beautiful figure +had sank, while <i>Heinrich</i> was unwilling to lose any of the precious +moments he had longed for during the last weeks. The two natures had +never struggled with each other so obstinately before. At last <i>Henri</i> +drew back that <i>Heinrich</i> might, so to speak, do him credit with the +talented girl. <i>Heinrich</i> seated himself in an arm-chair near the sofa, +and tried to collect his thoughts after <i>Henri's</i> fierce revolt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I have found you at last, wonderful, wilful creature!" he began. +"Speak, why have you made it so difficult for me to do so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would tell you if I did not fear offending you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot offend me, for I intend to learn from you how to become a +different person; of course the change must begin with my faults."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," she said, firmly, "some years ago there was a great deal +said here about a certain Herr von Ottmar, whose rapid rise in a +foreign country excited general astonishment. People were delighted +with his talents, but hated him for the use he made of them, and feared +him as the most zealous instrument of the despotic system of our +government. They admired his personal qualities, but blamed the want of +principle with which he sought to make them win the hearts of women. I +never wished to see this gentleman; for, after all I had heard, I felt +a deep repugnance towards him. Suddenly a man appears before me in the +prison, whose manner and language stir my inmost soul with sympathetic +emotion. Without the slightest restraint I yield to this impression as +I do to everything good and beautiful,--and learn that this man, with +the lofty, noble brow, the earnest, expressive glance, is the notorious +Ottmar; learn it at the moment when, voluntarily, in mere arrogance, he +confesses one of the crimes so often imputed to him. It wounded me all +the more because I thought I had discovered at the first glance +something rare, ideal, in your character. I had therefore in your case +lost the balance which usually aids my intercourse with men. I became +deceived, bewildered, almost irresolute, and wavered between my +previous conviction and the impression produced by your personal +attributes. The former had its sure foundations; the latter I believed +to be treacherous, and therefore avoided you so anxiously. I would not +allow myself to be bribed by your manners to excuse and forget what my +better judgment must condemn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the step towards the right path which you afterwards saw me take?" +asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Increased my sympathy for you, and at the same time my doubts. A +secret power urged me to defend you when you were attacked, and yet I +did not believe what I said myself. This is why my adopted mother +classed me among your adorers, and thought to give me pleasure by +inviting you here; but I do not at all approve of such a step. You are +the petted hero of the day; every one is crowding around you. It is +bitter to me to be compelled to think that you could charge us with +obtrusiveness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you, Fräulein," said <i>Heinrich</i>; "but you seem to be in +error. Fräulein von Albin had an excellent reason for inviting me, for +I called upon her yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! did you do that?" exclaimed Cornelia, an expression of joy +flashing over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you not know it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! I suppose Veronica said nothing about it on purpose to surprise +me. She certainly desires nothing but to give pleasure, and her simple +nature chooses every conceivable means of doing so. But how did you +happen to come to this quiet home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I was seeking <i>you</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I am superstitious enough to see in our meeting the hand of +fate, and had an irresistible impulse to follow the hint; because I +expect to receive from you the only salvation I can still obtain; +because--ah, let me speak frankly!--because you please me infinitely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have probably said that to a great many persons," replied +Cornelia, coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> looked her steadily and frankly in the face. "Certainly I +have. Why should I not? I did not say that you <i>alone</i> please me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia blushed. "That is at least sincere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As we always will be towards each other," said <i>Heinrich</i>, firmly. "In +your youthfully hasty judgment you have placed me in the position of a +criminal. I will not justify myself, but afford you the possibility of +doing so. To deny my faults would help you very little, but I will +teach you to understand them. First of all, let us be perfectly clear +in regard to the relation in which we wish to stand towards each other, +then you will trust me more. I perceive, by your last remark, that you +consider me a universal gallant. You are mistaken, Fräulein; I do not +love you, and I desire no such feeling from you. Do not fear that you +will be compelled to listen to tender declarations from me; I should +not venture to offer you a heart which you know has already loved so +often! But I offer you a feeling that hitherto has slumbered in my +soul, pure and unprofaned; I offer you the truest, most devoted +friendship. If you will neither accept nor respond even to <i>this</i>, I +ask of you a portion of that philanthropy whose missionary you are,--I +ask and demand from you that Christianity which vouchsafes to all the +same blessing, and excludes none who truly desire it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia sat in silence, with her eyes fixed upon the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are silent! you have no answer for me! Prison Fairy, Prison Fairy, +must I remind you of your mission? Oh, girl! do not let me be perplexed +by you; do not let me think that those eyes,--that the mighty +pulsations of a breast animated by a lofty idea,--have deceived me; +that you are less noble than they seem: it would be the last, the most +terrible disappointment of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed at the ardent speaker with a searching glance. Her +breath came more quickly, her lips parted several times before she +could utter the words, "We will be friends, Herr von Ottmar."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bent over her with a winning smile. "You are forcing back +something that hovers on your tongue, Fräulein! Do you know that on +that first meeting you promised to be good to me if I would be good to +the prisoners! I have redeemed my promise; but <i>you</i>?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not sufficient; you must abide by it still longer. Keep your +word, and I will keep mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Fairy," said <i>Heinrich</i>, "cast aside this cold formality, which +is ill-suited to you and not at all in place towards me. Be the warm, +earnest creature, loving both God and mankind, whom I found in the +dungeon, and who, by her rich soul, could transform the prisoner's +punishment to reward. Be gentle; you know not how necessary you are to +this wounded heart, burdened by heavy chains. We are nearly akin to +each other, and you will perceive it some day. I see it in the flashing +of those mysterious eyes; in you also slumbers a secret before whose +revelation you would recoil in terror did not the faithful arm of an +experienced friend guard you from the horrors in your own breast. Come, +give me your hands,--so,--now you look kindly at me; that haughty brow +grows smooth,--does that mild, thoughtful glance rest willingly upon my +features? Say nothing, our souls are talking together, and confiding +things of which neither of us has any knowledge. Oh, dear one our souls +already understand each other better than we."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We and our souls are one," murmured Cornelia; "if they understand each +other, so do we. Let me confess that I believe I have done you a great +wrong; if that is the case, forgive me, for the sake of this moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no wrong, Cornelia, for which a single moment of true love +could not make amends."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia pressed his hand with the half-grave, half-friendly smile +which had so great a charm for <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I have found you at last, you dear, beautiful child!" he exclaimed. +"Cling to me faithfully; you shall not be mistaken in me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose to return to the guests. "Surely you will not deceive me?" she +asked, half doubtfully and half firmly, but with charming sincerity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prison Fairy, do you need any other assurances? Only try yourself, and +you will refute your doubt better than modesty allows me to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you so sure of that?" she asked, smiling; "now I think your +modesty does not weigh very heavily upon you." An expression of the +most charming petulance gleamed over her face as she glided away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are caught, wild, changeful soul; yet not to cause you pain, only +to do me good, I impose upon you this chain, whose weight you shall +never feel," said <i>Heinrich</i>. "You soar towards the sun; let us see +whether you will have the strength to draw me up with you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can be borne towards the sun on the wings of her aspiring spirit!" +cried <i>Henri</i>, "if only the lovely form which enthrals me as no other +ever did before remains upon the earth. Guide her <i>soul</i> whither you +please, and leave me alone with its <i>earthly husk</i>. Then we can both +possess a happiness we have never yet known."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So long as I can be with her I shall maintain my place," said +<i>Heinrich</i>; "and this time I do not think you will obtain the victory +over me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! Well, let us see who will first conquer the other," said the +aroused spirit of sensuality. "Will you all at once meet me in a +hostile encounter, after letting me have my own way so long? What will +come of it if the gulf between us should be so greatly enlarged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will come of it?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>. "I do not know; probably +merely what has always happened,--a loss of peace; and, although I have +hitherto indulged you, it has only been because I could share your +pleasures as little as you could find joy in mine. Here, for the first +time, we unite in a common desire; our mutual interest is captivated by +one and the same object, but it is our curse that the very thing which +ought <i>unite</i> us <i>severs</i> us most violently. Her noble mind attracts me +as greatly as her beautiful person charms you, and I will not +voluntarily resign to you a single hour I can spend conversation with +her. Therefore, we must struggle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, we will," said <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Ottmar," cried Veronica from the door, "will you join the +young people's games, or do you prefer the salon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't grudge me the privilege of mingling with the young people for a +time," he answered, and entered the room where Cornelia, radiant with +mirth and mischievousness, was bantering the young girls who were +standing around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Veronica," she cried, "the ladies have been industrious; we sha'n't +play games any longer. There are poems and essays to be read aloud. +Come in, Messrs. Critics; collect your thoughts; we have a severe judge +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you take part in our little college, Herr von Ottmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very anxious to do so," he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must have patience and be indulgent to this kind of +entertainment," laughed Cornelia. "It is the personal friendship that +unites our little circle which makes it interesting to us, and of +course that is a thing you cannot yet share."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must know," said Veronica, in a low tone, "that my darling child +has established among her friends a sort of nursery, in which she +wishes to rear clearness of intellect and feeling, noble principles, +and independent judgment; and the gentlemen eagerly assist her; they +are all more or less in love with her. Every week Cornelia gives the +young girls a subject for prose or poetic treatment, or a work to be +critically examined. Whoever receives the greatest praise from the +majority obtains the prize,--a picture by some one of the artists +present, or the dedication of a song by one of our musicians. The young +poets criticise the essays and read their own productions aloud. +Finally, the older gentlemen pronounce their ultimatum. You will +probably belong to this last and highest court to-day, though less +entitled to do so by age than intellect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a charming idea," said <i>Heinrich</i>, "and is in harmony with you +both. You thus give society an intellectual seasoning which it usually +lacks. Have you poets in your circle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, certainly!" replied Veronica. "Don't you know our young +celebrities? See, that one yonder is the tender lyric poet, D----, a +sensitive, foreboding soul; the stout, broad-shouldered man is the +bold, patriotic bard, B----; and the pale aristocrat, with the bent +head, is the poet T----, a very talented person. You have surely heard +of the enthusiastic reception of his first tragedy. I only fear his +intellect is developing too rapidly. Sooner or later this premature +growth will make it sickly, and that would be a pity. There is splendid +material in him, which, by the forcing system of our times, would be +made to shoot upwards too quickly to form a stout, healthy trunk, from +whence the productive power is always freshly supplied. The young man +is only twenty-four years old, and his work is already much more +massive than Schiller's first attempts; but he accomplishes a +remarkable amount in his department, and is a noble, estimable man. +These are the poor victims of our times, where the utmost is extorted +from every one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," replied <i>Heinrich</i>. "I am familiar with young T--'s +work, and, like you, think it unnaturally mature for his years. +Schiller and Goethe themselves won their way by degrees to what is +recognized as the highest stand-point. But our young people want to be +born upon this height and begin where they ended. It is perfectly +comprehensible that they don't wish to remain where they begin, but +struggle on and test the powers of their young intellects, as Lessing, +Goethe, and Schiller did when they gradually raised themselves above +the inferior performances and requirements of their times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just what I always say," cried Veronica; "and this runs +through all circles of society. Our young people no longer have any +<i>simplicity</i>, and I think this is the glass case beneath which the +young plants of the soul should grow, with all their faults and +excrescences, until they are strong enough to bear without injury the +storms of life and the shears of negation. Without simplicity there are +no illusions, and without illusions there is no youth! You will perhaps +find here a circle which answers to my demand in this respect. True, +there are only a few poets of importance among them, but these +compensate me for all the famous, keen, analytical minds which pluck +the fragrant rose to find faults its calyx would have concealed, and +give us only the purified but empty branch of thorns. You see I am not +called the Sensitive Plant without reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," said <i>Heinrich</i>, with a kindly smile, "we must learn from +you how to keep young!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime a reading-table had been placed in the centre of the room. +With cheeks glowing with embarrassment, a young girl seated herself at +it, cast a hasty glance at Ottmar, and read aloud from a manuscript an +essay whose subject and title were the justification of sympathy in +opposition to the judgments of reason. It was simple, but written in a +style free from faults; some of the ideas were not devoid of talent; +and it revealed a more thorough culture than is usually to be found in +young girls. <i>Heinrich</i> perceived Cornelia's influence. His eyes rested +steadily upon her; she was standing behind the reader's chair, and +often looked thoughtfully at him. It was evident that she had given +this subject from a recollection of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following essays, which were read aloud in turn by the young girls, +all treated the same idea with more or less talent, and three poems +reproduced it in rhyme.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> perceived with increasing admiration the activity of the +Prison Fairy, whose strong, earnest will effected good results, even +under the garb of jest, and gave purpose to the most useless things.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reading ended, and the gentlemen, in mingled jest and earnest, gave +a stern criticism. Each sought the lady whose essay had made the most +impression upon him,--discussed and opposed the separate points. The +authoresses were obliged to defend themselves, and thus the argument +continued till Cornelia, who had previously been inclosed in the +circle, suddenly started up, exclaiming: "Say what you please against +sympathy, it is the only true oracle among us! If our reason enjoined +upon us ever so strictly to keep together as we are now, should we not +rush apart to all quarters of the globe if it were not for sympathy? +And if reason causes a person to appear ever so wicked, and sympathy +attracts us to him, we follow the latter, and often convince ourselves +that reason, which judges only by deceptive facts, misled us. Reason +disjoints and severs, sympathy conciliates. Reason calculates, sympathy +discovers; and, what is after all the principal thing, reason does not +make people happy,--sympathy does."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," cried the poet T--, "I have never heard you talk so before! +What has become of the logic, the clearness of perception, with which +you gave these young ladies the guiding threads for their essays upon +this subject?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we were permitted to refer to this enthusiasm, we should be greatly +delighted, my dear T----; but I fear it is one of her whims," said +H----, the novelist.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentle poet D---- whispered, softly, "I know what you mean, +Cornelia, but I no longer understand you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you," a voice which thrilled all the chords in her nature +suddenly murmured in her ear. "I thank you, Prison Fairy!" She turned +towards <i>Heinrich</i> and looked up into his face. She was bewilderingly +beautiful at that moment, with the bold, noble profile half turned +towards him, the slender neck thrown back, the full lips curved in a +smile which made the small, white teeth glitter in the light, and the +hair combed up to form a natural diadem above the thoughtful brow. The +floating folds of her dress, the drooping crimson flowers, which +trembled at every motion, gave her an ideal, fairylike aspect, which +was increased by her dark eyes. Those eyes belonged to the class which, +the ancient myth tells us, had power to turn to stone any one on whom +their gaze rested. The large, sparkling pupils allowed very little of +the white of the eye to be seen. They often gleamed like two suns when +the long lashes were raised; and softly and sweetly as they rested upon +the object of their observation, their expression must be terrible in +anger. Ottmar gazed at her with increasing rapture. "Yes, yes," he +said, under his breath, "that is the Medusa from whose blood Pegasus +sprang."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How little she knows herself, that she thinks I could see her without +coveting her!" thought <i>Henri</i>, making a fresh effort to dislodge +<i>Heinrich</i>; <i>Heinrich</i> resisted his attack with unaccustomed strength. +He gazed into the depths of those mysterious eyes; and the secrets +which, unconsciously to herself, slumbered within them, irresistibly +allured him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," said the young girl who had read the first essay,--and a +tear trembled on her lashes,--"they are looking for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked up as if aroused from a dream, threw her arm around her +friend's neck, and embraced her warmly. "I thank you, Hedwig!" Then she +entered the noisy circle and summoned the gentlemen to select the essay +most worthy of the prize.</p> + +<p class="normal">The company voted, and the majority decided in favor of the first one +read.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I am glad, dear Hedwig!" said Cornelia, hastily, taking the +garland of fresh flowers she had woven for the victor and placing it +upon her brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a beautiful sight as the loveliest maiden in the throng adorned +the diffident young girl and led her triumphantly into the middle of +the room. The gentlemen came forward, bringing the prize upon a +cushion. Poor Hedwig, who, in her embarrassment, had by no means the +air of a conqueror, received the gift from the hands of the young +artist A----, who whispered, gently, "I beg you all not to show it to +the original, if it can be avoided. I did not know he would be here."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl did not understand him, and hastily raised the cover, +but dropped it again in terror when she saw the sketch, while a burning +blush overspread her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, what is the matter?" asked Cornelia, taking out the picture. "A +study of a head! Herr von Ottmar,--a perfect likeness!" she exclaimed, +undisturbed by the young artist's embarrassment.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> stepped forward and gazed in astonishment at the successful +portrait.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must crave your pardon for presuming to steal your features, Herr +Geheimrath," stammered the artist. "I know you are very highly esteemed +in this circle, and could not refrain from robbing my portfolio of the +picture, in order to give pleasure to those who assemble here; +otherwise this bold attempt of my talent would have remained entirely +concealed."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> smilingly listened to the long apology, and watched, with +silent amusement, an old gentleman standing at some distance from the +artist, who was accompanying his speech with numerous bows. This +gentleman was a certain Archivrath Linderer, an old friend of +Veronica's. The worthy man possessed such a wonderful impulse of +courtesy that he could not see any one make a bow without mechanically +imitating him, and never heard any sort of speech without mentally +making one also.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich's</i> inclination to laugh was so greatly aroused by this sight +that he could scarcely utter a few reassuring words in reply to the +embarrassed artist. He was about to go in search of Veronica, to +question her about this comical man, when he saw Cornelia, who had been +gazing at the picture in silence, go to a table and take up a pencil. +He went up and glanced over her shoulder at the portrait. She cast a +hasty look at him and then fixed her eyes upon the sketch. She felt his +beard touch her hair, and shrank back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look, my dear A----!" she exclaimed. "Here are only two false strokes! +When these are altered the picture will be masterly! The lines just +over the eyebrows, expressing penetration, are very strongly marked in +Herr von Ottmar, and you have not brought them out sufficiently. The +upper portion of the brow is also remarkably expressive; there must be +a shadow here, and here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may be right," said A----, looking at Ottmar's forehead; "make the +strokes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia rapidly deepened the shadows, and all the bystanders +exclaimed, in astonishment, "Ah, that's it exactly! One would think you +had studied the head!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia quietly compared the picture with the original. "It is a noble +work! You have really been carried away by your subject! The eyes and +mouth seem as if they were about to speak!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your praise makes me very proud," said the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And me!" whispered <i>Heinrich</i>, almost inaudibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask you to come in to tea?" cried Veronica, from the doorway. +"If any one of the gentlemen has anything to read aloud, he must be +kind enough to defer it until after supper. It is already somewhat +late."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> was in the act of offering Cornelia his arm when Veronica +requested him to take her to the table. He patiently submitted to this +duty, and the ill-assorted pair moved on into the tea-room followed by +the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia and Hedwig stood together a moment alone. Hedwig threw herself +on her friend's breast, and exclaimed, in a low, rapid tone,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give you the picture, Cornelia. I don't want it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't want it?" asked the latter, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What should I do with it? I think you would value it more, and take +more pleasure in it than I," replied Hedwig.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Hedwig, you were always so enthusiastic about him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even if I were, it was all in joke. But you know and value him in +earnest: I saw that to-day; and if <i>he</i> had given the picture, he would +have bestowed it on no one but you; so how could I take a thing to +which I have no right? Keep it, I beg of you. It is of no value to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But ought I to accept it from you?" asked Cornelia. "Shall I not be +robbing you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robbing me? I owe you so much, and am so poor in comparison with you, +that it will make me rich if I can offer anything that will please you. +I would give you more, far more, if I had it to bestow."</p> + +<p class="normal">She pressed Cornelia lovingly to her heart, and the young girls were +holding each other in a close embrace when T---- came in search of +them, and Heinrich appeared behind him in the doorway.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens! Here they stand, kissing each other, while we have been +waiting for them so impatiently!" cried T----.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We humbly beg pardon for having had no one to escort us to the table," +laughed Cornelia. "We were consoling each other for the misfortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How malicious you are again! We were so sure that you would be +escorted to the table by your lucky Herr von Ottmar that we did not +even look for you," said T----, apologetically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you were not mistaken in your belief, sir," said <i>Heinrich's</i> +voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up to Cornelia and offered her his arm. T---- stood petrified +with astonishment. There was nothing left for him to do except to turn +to Hedwig. <i>Heinrich</i> led Cornelia to her place, and then went back to +Veronica. Cornelia sat opposite to him, and on his right and left hand +were the fairest and brightest young girls in the whole circle. Many +mothers and fathers looked towards them with almost imperceptible +hopes, but everything fell into the lap of the one who neither hoped +nor desired anything. <i>Heinrich's</i> interest was centred in Cornelia +alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, my dear Herr von Ottmar," Veronica began, "I have tried to +make amends to you for being obliged to take an old lady to the table. +My most charming young ladies are around you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would give me far greater pleasure if you would permit me to spend +my evenings with you and your adopted daughter, for I must confess that +I prefer you to all other ladies, be they ever so charming," he +whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that you shall certainly do!" exclaimed Veronica, in delight. +"Come as often as you please. You will be a welcome guest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you," replied <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime, Cornelia had been conversing with the extremely polite old +gentleman, and <i>Heinrich</i> now asked who this eccentric person was.</p> + +<p class="normal">With gay humor she described his peculiarities, and in a low tone +related how, on festival occasions and during public speeches, he often +disturbed the bystanders by repeating the words half under his breath, +and supplying the bows omitted by the orator; how he always most +dutifully repeated the last words said to him; how he invariably +removed his hat when he saw two persons salute each other in the +street, etc. etc.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know," she said, at last, "I think this proceeds from an excess +of benevolence and sympathy! It must be the same feeling that prompts +the mother who hears her daughter say a pretty thing to put on +precisely the same expression. The mother enters into her child's +situation so earnestly that she involuntarily imitates all her looks +and gestures; nay, I once saw an actress, starring with her daughter, +so carried away by the latter's playing that she unconsciously imitated +her darling, and almost merged her own part in her child's. What is +this except an excess of sympathy for the beloved being?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She then, in a most masterly manner, imitated the different mothers and +the tragic scene of the two ladies upon the stage, so that those around +burst into shouts of laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet the gayer the others became the more serious <i>Heinrich</i> looked: and +she asked, with mingled surprise and anxiety, why they all had so +little success in amusing him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you do not know how happy I am!" he replied; "but I am reflecting +about something. I see you develop so many different traits and talents +that I am bewildered. When I have at last succeeded in harmonizing one +of your changeful moods with your whole character, before I am aware of +it a new picture appears before me, which I must again incorporate with +the whole. You keep me in a perpetual mental excitement, and it +seems as if I were compelled to sketch the different waves upon the +sea-shore. Scarcely have I fixed my eyes upon one ere it is already +swallowed up in another, and I am constantly raising my eyes again to +sketch the whole as it spreads before me in its infinite majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gazed at her with so strange an expression that she looked down as +if dazzled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, what are you making me?" she said, in confusion. "I am a very +simple person, who am merry with the mirthful and serious with the +grave. If I am different from others in any way it is because I am +always natural. Thousands feel as keenly, change their moods as +frequently, as I; but it is not noticed in them, because they have +accustomed themselves to a uniform etiquette, an unvarying manner. I +have often envied such persons, for they know how to give themselves +the stamp of a finished individuality far better than natures like +mine, which are sometimes thought gay, sometimes melancholy, now good +and then bad, or not at all what they seem, which are sometimes too +little, sometimes too much, trusted, and rarely or never understood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Cornelia!" cried one of the guests, the famous actor N----, across +the table. "Do you mean to say that we don't understand you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, certainly not," replied Cornelia. "I had principally in view those +whom I consider different from myself. You understand me because you +resemble me, and are all, more or less, artist natures!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you mean that all artist natures are as truthful as yourself?" +asked <i>Heinrich</i>, doubtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; when I trust a man it is the artist, especially those who +represent things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am curious to know upon what you found that idea," murmured +<i>Heinrich</i>, in a low tone. "The actor certainly practices dissimulation +as his profession."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not say that! You will surely admit that in every man there is +an impulse towards truth and falsehood, as well as good and evil," +began Cornelia. "With almost all persons this impulse, like their other +good and bad qualities, exerts an influence upon their lives; they lie +and deceive in personal intercourse. But there are exceptions, among +those in whom this propensity to deceive is decomposed by Heaven knows +what process of intellectual chemistry, and becomes objective; that is, +forms a power of acting entirely apart from the subject. This power +seeks an independent form, and finds it in art, wherein it develops the +highest, most artistic structure, and those in whom such a process has +been completed are artists, especially actors. Then if the commonplace +man can satisfy that strange and undeniable propensity towards +falsehood only in real life, in the actor it is to a certain extent +<i>guided</i> into a higher, loftier region, and he becomes in reality truer +and more natural than many who are only considered honest because they +are too awkward to feign."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your explanation is logical," replied <i>Heinrich</i>, "but you cannot +carry it into practical execution. Opportunity makes thieves, a +capability for falsehood tempts to falsehood. Even the actor will not +disdain to obtain an advantage at the expense of truth, and the +temptation is all the greater the more he is convinced that the +deception will be successful. Nay, I can even imagine that there must +be a charm to him in making use of his histrionic skill, not only upon +the stage, but off the boards, and I have seen celebrated actors who +could not help perpetually performing a part."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia reflected a moment, and then said, calmly: "There are such +instances, of course, but I do not call such people artists; there are +two distinct classes of men who bear that name. If this talent we have +just mentioned is coupled with more or less mental capacity, the union +produces more or less brilliant <i>performers</i>; if, however, there is a +counterpoise of the great qualities of the soul and heart, it produces +<i>artists</i>. The performer, it is true, employs the talents at his +command in life as well as in art; he knows no higher object than +effect. He deceives in life as well as in art when it will make an +effect, and in both is true to the same purpose. As he has neither +character nor heart, he is neither good nor bad upon principle; he +simply turns his talents to his own profit where and as he can. It is +this class of people who have in many respects degraded the position of +artists. The artist, on the contrary, perceives and seeks something far +higher than effect! Like all men of noble aims, he, too, has an ideal +towards which he unselfishly struggles--truth. If he seeks this in his +art, often even at the expense of the applause so indispensable to the +actor, if he is so conscientious in the realm of illusion, why should +he not be equally so in the domain of reality? The power of +transforming his whole nature at will he considers as a gift bestowed +to serve the holy purpose of art, and would no more turn it to his own +advantage than the honorable citizen would obtain an illegal profit +from an accidental or fairly won supremacy over others. A keener, more +active, sensitive faculty, and the habit of an elevated manner of +expression, may give him a peculiar, 'exaggerated,' perhaps 'affected' +appearance,--words with which the commonplace man so eagerly points out +what he does not understand; but you will acknowledge that a person may +be affected and yet possess true, genuine feelings; as, on the other +hand, the falsest and most designing men often appear the most +artless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see," continued Cornelia, "that as from the worst and most +different materials the brightest, purest flame can be produced, so art +transfigures deception with the highest manifestations. Thus in real +artists falsehood aspires towards truth! The highest object of his +performance is the union of both, and the triumph of falsehood becomes +in him a triumph of truth!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia glanced gayly upwards towards the jets of gas in the +chandelier. In her enthusiastic defense she had involuntarily raised +her voice, and did not notice that every one was looking at her. When +she paused, all shouted a hearty bravo. <i>Heinrich</i> sat motionless, with +his head resting on his hand, gazing earnestly at her; he could not +smile and applaud with the others,--he was asking himself, "Do I +deserve this woman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The supper was over; he started up and approached her as the company +prepared to take leave. "Cornelia, Prison Fairy, you have opened a new +world to me. My mind is so full of all I have heard from you that I +cannot speak. Only tell me whether I may come again tomorrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, Herr Baron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not be so formal, Prison Fairy! Let me hear my name from your +lips as you bid me farewell, that I may hold it dearer; or my baptismal +name. Ah, Cornelia, I should like to hear how it sounded if you would +say Good-night, <i>Heinrich</i>.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr von Ottmar, I cannot; you are still too great a stranger."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bit his lips as if deeply abashed, and said, with a low bow, +"Pardon me, Fräulein, I was indiscreet."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia held out her hand and looked at him with all her winning charm +of manner. "No, no, Herr von Ottmar, I did not wish to cause you pain. +I promise you that ere I sleep I will say in thought, 'Good-night, +<i>Heinrich</i>!' Does that satisfy you?"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> kissed her hand in a transport of delight. "Thanks, lovely +creature! And now good-night, my fairy; send me a pleasant dream."</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica approached: he took leave of her; the departing guests pressed +him back, and, waving a farewell to Cornelia, he left the house. When +he reached the street he raised his hat from his head to allow the +night wind to cool his burning brow; and now he was <i>Henri</i> again, for +he knew he was expected by a beautiful woman who had followed him home +from his last journey, and hitherto held his senses in her chains. He +mechanically obeyed the force of old habit and turned his steps towards +her residence. But when he stood before the house behind whose lighted +windows the glittering daughter of sin awaited him in dreams heavy with +forebodings, a strange, incomprehensible feeling overpowered him. +Cornelia's pure, wonderful charms appeared so vividly before his soul +that he turned with repugnance from the desecrated image that allured +him. He perceived that no one had any power of attraction except +Cornelia, and that nothing could satisfy his longing for her. He went +home, and that very night wrote a farewell letter to his purchased +love, and freed himself from his unworthy chains.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">A ray of light fell through the heavy silken curtains of Veronica's +bed, and waked the sleeper. She looked around and saw Cornelia, who, +with a lamp in her hand, was noiselessly gliding through the chamber +towards the door of the salon. "What do you want there, child?" asked +Veronica; "why are you still dressed? I had already fallen asleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia started. "I forgot something," she replied, and slipped out of +the room. When she returned through Veronica's chamber she carried a +portfolio in her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you there?" asked Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't be angry with me for waking you, dear," said Cornelia, kissing +the white, aged brow, "I only wanted to read Hedwig's essay again; it +was left in the parlor."</p> + +<p class="normal">When she had closed the door of her pleasant bedroom behind her, she +took Ottmar's portrait from the portfolio, placed it on a reading-desk, +sat down before it, and, shielding her eyes with both hands, rested her +arms on the table, and became absorbed in studying the mysterious head. +The more she looked at it the more beautiful she found it. "How simple +those lines are, and yet how rich, how infinitely expressive! Oh, who +could decipher the mute language of that ardent mouth, whose kiss still +burns upon my hand? How can people kiss so with such delicate lips? It +is not the lips that kiss, it is his heart, which lies between them; +that is why his caress is so soft, so warm; that is why it penetrates +to the inmost soul. And when he speaks they are again only the +beautiful, slender banks over which the flood of feeling streams! And +those eyes,--oh, they reveal all the wonders of the soul! He might err, +nay, he might even be shattered by life, but the look that shines in +his eyes is divine; it will raise him above his lower nature, and +everything else. And I,--I will aid him; I will join the good genius +that floats above the darkness of his soul like the Spirit of God over +chaos, and teach him to perceive his own greatness, his ideal +strength."</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat long, absorbed in thought; but, by degrees, it seemed as if the +pictured head moved to and fro, the eyes turned, the lips parted and +closed again. She gazed and made the light burn brighter; in vain. +Nature asserted her rights, sleep was casting her deceptive veil over +her weary head. She rose, removed the flowers from her hair, and +released her lovely form from its clinging drapery. Again and again her +eyes rested upon the drawing. She paused. "How you look at me, as if +you were alive! as if I ought to be confused! Stop, wait! You shall not +see me undress." So saying, she hastily placed the picture in the +writing-table, went to bed, extinguished the light, and nestled +comfortably among the pillows. "Good-night, <i>Heinrich</i>."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">XI.</a></h2> + +<h3>A NEW LIFE</h3> + +<p class="normal">After <i>Henri</i> had written his letter, the exhausted body imperiously +demanded rest, and while it slept <i>Heinrich</i> hastened to Cornelia and +hovered round her slumbering soul as if it were the petals of a folded +rosebud. She did not know, but she suspected it; the magic of the soul +revealed his presence, and she felt his spiritual kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Ottmar awoke the following morning he thought he had not slept +well, and had been dreaming a great deal of the Prison Fairy. Yet +neither had been dreaming; although their bodies slept, their souls +were together. <i>Heinrich</i> remained in bed some time. He was in the best +of humors, and compared this awakening with the one six years before, +when he had resolved to yield to the power of the Jesuits. At that time +he was in the act of beginning a new but worse life, as to-day he had +awakened to a new and better one. He thought of Cornelia with grateful +reverence. Through her he obtained a peace of which he had long been +deprived; for, while in himself there was naught save opposition and +contrast, in her he found the complement of his nature and the full +satisfaction of homogeneousness. Thus <i>Heinrich</i> already preferred to +dwell upon her harmonious character rather than the struggles in his +own breast, and this was one step, though scarcely perceptible, towards +liberation from the egotism that was constantly throwing him back upon +himself. Even <i>Henri</i>, the night before, had rejected the pleasure of +the moment, and yielded to an ardent love for an object he could never +expect to obtain his way. Even in this hopeless submission there was a +slight contest with his usual selfish pursuit of pleasure. It was with +a certain feeling of abhorrence that he compared the base passions of +the past with his longing for Cornelia's intellectual charms, and fell +into this temporary self-sacrifice. Thus egotism sooner or later +defeats itself. The true egotist ends with a feeling of loathing and +disgust, not only towards the world, but himself. Unmistakable tokens +of this state were already visible both in <i>Heinrich</i> and <i>Henri</i>; but, +fortunately for him, he was at an age when fresh buds can shoot forth +and supply the places of those that are dead. These germs now began to +stir with life. Intellect and feeling, with equal power, drew +<i>Heinrich</i> and <i>Henri</i> towards a being whose bodily and mental gifts +were equal. In this the two extremes already began to approach; but +they did not yet understand each other, and their meeting must still +produce conflict instead of reconciliation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar lay for a long time absorbed in meditations upon his strange +twofold nature. A servant entered to wake him. He remembered how he had +expected old Anton to come in that morning, and, for the first time, a +strange face appeared instead. "Good old Anton, no doubt he was right," +thought <i>Heinrich</i>; "and how shamefully he was treated! Now he would +certainly have no occasion to be angry about such faults. He was the +best servant I ever had. I will take him back again." He rose, ordered +a message to be sent to the inn for old Anton, and sat down to write to +Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her name is Erwing," said he; "that is the name of the famous +democrat. Can she be his daughter? If so, she can scarcely have known +her father, for Erwing must have fled from North Germany to America at +least twenty years ago. It must be so. That is why she concealed her +name in the prison; she probably knew it would be no letter of +recommendation. That accounts for her relations with Reinhold, too. It +is decidedly unpleasant! I shall not get much honor at court by the +acquaintance. But it need never be known there. It is winter, night +shuts in at four o'clock; I shall only go to her house in the evening, +so the whole affair can be concealed from the eyes of the jeering +aristocracy. My occasional appearance in literary circles will not be +misconstrued, as I have the reputation of unusual erudition." He began +to write: "Cornelia!" He paused. "Cornelia! It was a lofty spirit that +gave her this proud name; is she a true child of this spirit? I almost +believe it. That she glides into the cells of the lowest criminals does +not spring from humility,--it is the defiance of compassion against the +harshness of force, and the consciousness of the joy-giving power of +her own individuality. Woe to him who ventured to wound her pride! He +would have lost her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment Anton was announced. He threw aside his pen and +went forward to meet him. It seemed, as he rejoiced over the return of +the old servant, as if some kind of companionship was now a necessity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Welcome, faithful companion of my past!" he cried. "Will you share my +future?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't come to force myself upon you as a servant, Herr Baron," said +Anton, whose voice trembled with emotion, "but I must give you one +parting hint before my return,--it seems to be intended that I am to +keep watch for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your beautiful estates at H----, Herr Baron, really need your +oversight again. The steward and inspector are both in league to let +everything go to ruin and fill their own pockets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, what! How do you know that? Do you know that during the last few +years my income from the estates has lessened so materially that it has +caused me serious anxiety, and were it not for my salary I should find +it difficult to live?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A proof that I speak the truth. On my way here I passed by +Ottmarsfeld, and a secret impulse led me into the old castle and the +gardens where I saw you, Herr Baron, grow to manhood. But it caused me +real sorrow to see how everything had changed for the worse. The +stately castle is out of repair in many places, the gardens have run +wild, and the cattle are miserable beasts. There are only fifteen +day-laborers on the estate, and they are lazy and carelessly watched."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is certainly shameful!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>. "The inspector has put +down thirty day-laborers to my account every year, and charged me many +hundreds for repairs on the buildings."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will convince yourself that you have been deceived, and your +splendid property must soon be ruined if matters go on in this way," +said Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> paced thoughtfully up and down the room, then turned to +Anton and held out his hand. "You are the most faithful soul that I +have in the world. Anton, you must enter my service again; surely you +cannot yet live without me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know why I left you, Herr Baron," he answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," cried <i>Heinrich</i>, laughing; "but I don't think you will have +any further occasion to fear similar cases. I am not quite so bad as +you think, and have become much more steady of late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I can never think my own dear master wicked!" said Anton, deeply +touched. "But what suits you--is not quite so proper for me. It may be +perfectly natural for an aristocratic young gentleman to follow the +inclinations of his heart, while it would be wrong for a sedate old man +to lend his assistance to things which went against his conscience. So +I might be placed in a position where I should be compelled to disobey +you, and then you would only send me away again. Let me go home,--I +cannot promise unconditional obedience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you need not, Anton," said <i>Heinrich</i>, gravely. "I do not wish to +make a mere machine of you; I will compel you to do nothing that is +against your principles, and you shall even tell me your opinion as +much as you please, if it should ever prove necessary. It is tiresome +for a man to have no one to quarrel with except himself. I have blessed +you a thousand times during the last few weeks for having had the +boldness to baffle my wishes, and therefore in atonement I will assure +you an inalienable asylum with me as long as you live. Can I do more?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my dear, kind master!" cried Anton, kissing <i>Heinrich's</i> hands +with a flood of joyful tears. "After such, generosity it is surely my +duty to devote all the rest of my life to you, and serve you in all +honesty as long as I can. Ah, I really believe you are going to be the +dear little master I had thirty years ago!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was interrupted by the entrance of Albert, who looked paler and +graver than Ottmar had expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," asked <i>Heinrich</i>, "have you slept off your first intoxication +of joy, and do you now feel somewhat depressed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, dear Herr Baron," replied Albert. "It is strange; yesterday I +felt nothing, thought of nothing, except that I was free; to-day I +already perceive the necessity for me to act, and as the prison was +formerly too narrow, the world is now too wide for me. I totter and +know not where I can obtain support. Yesterday I only felt that the +dungeon had cast me out; to-day I feel that life has not yet received +me, and seem so helpless that I could weep like a lost child."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand that, Albert. You cannot yet feel at ease in your new +position. Your strength of will has been asleep during your five +years' imprisonment, and now, when you need it, refuses to obey your +bidding. This, as a matter of course, makes you anxious; but it is +ungrateful to consider yourself deserted. Can a man receive more +abundant assistance than you have had from me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my noble, generous patron, my whole life belongs to you! How can +you believe me ungrateful? I bless you with every breath of God's free +air I take. But ought I to eat the bread of charity in your house, even +if you wished it? Must I not go out into the world and earn something, +that I may at last make a home for the unhappy girl who has suffered +and atoned so truly? But what am I to do? I can accomplish so little, +my superficial knowledge makes me so dependent. Who will trust the +murderer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any one who knows you, Albert," said <i>Heinrich</i>, kindly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert's frank brown eyes gazed at him doubtfully. "Do you think so? +Ah, when I was in prison, among the criminals whose fate I unjustly +shared, I seemed like a saint; but now I am free and in the society of +irreproachable men, I feel for the first time like a criminal, and +scarcely venture to raise my shame-dyed face."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert, in spite of your error, you are a man of more delicate and +noble feelings than millions of the irreproachable citizens who pride +themselves upon their phlegmatic honesty. That is why there are so few +who understand you well enough to disregard your past as I do. I will +take you henceforth into my employment. Will you undertake to become my +steward?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The steward of your estates?" asked Albert, in joyful astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I know you studied agriculture with a landowner in V---- before +you turned to the career of a priest, and came to the college. However, +if you did not learn enough there, I will send you to the agricultural +school at C---- for six months to perfect your education; and then I +think you will become a faithful manager of my property. You can marry +your Röschen; and the steward's house is so large that in the course of +a few years you can tell a number of children the story of the Prison +Fairy."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep blush suffused Albert's face, and he clasped his hands with an +involuntary sigh. "Oh, the Prison Fairy, Herr Baron! You and the Prison +Fairy are the noblest human beings the Lord ever made! What shall I say +to you? I can give you no better thanks than the wish that destiny may +unite you!" With these words he hurried from the room.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed after him for a long time in silence. "So that is the +greatest blessing you can desire for me? Poor fellow! You too, without +knowing it, love the Prison Fairy. It is because you must be deprived +of her that freedom itself seems cold and barren; and yet she is so far +above you that you do not venture to raise your eyes towards her. To me +alone you will not grudge her, whom you consider the essence of +everything admirable. And I? Does not the blood mount into my cheeks +when I think how little I deserve what you wish me; and how, like a +thief, I steal the semblance of virtues I do not possess!"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Veronica and Cornelia were sitting in their little tea-room, engaged in +needle-work. "Cornelia, you sew very little, and talk still less," said +Veronica to the young girl, who was sitting silent and motionless, +gazing at the green shade that covered the lamp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can neither sew nor talk: I am thinking of Ottmar," she answered, +frankly. "Is not such a soul, which approaches ours for the first time +and opens a new world to us, worthy of being received with quiet +solemnity? Are we to rest on that day which commemorates a miracle that +happened long ago and has never been fully proved? and when the Deity +reveals one of its greatest wonders to our eyes, ought we to grudge our +souls a time of sabbath repose in which to receive this lofty guest? +You must not reproach me if, under this impression, I spend a few days +longer in idle dreams. It is my nature!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are just what I wish to see you, my Cornelia. God grant that you +may remain so! Give yourself up to your own thoughts undisturbed. Put +aside your work and remain silent. People do not hold communion with +each other only when they talk."</p> + +<p class="normal">Another pause followed, and nothing was to be heard except the clicking +of Veronica's knitting-needles. But the old lady was not silent long. +"You have a deep mind, Cornelia: I could not reflect so long upon any +subject; and in spite of my years I enjoy life more unquestioningly +than you. What approaches me lovingly I believe in, and when I trust I +enter into no subtle inquiries."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia smiled but made no reply, for these words showed her that +Veronica only partially understood her mood; and she did not feel +disposed to disclose her feelings any further, though she could not +have given a reason for it even to herself. Her large eyes rested +affectionately upon the old lady, and she merely asked, "Dear Veronica, +are people investigating a subject when they are silently enjoying it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make the tea, my little angel," said Veronica; "the organ will suit +your solemn mood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia arranged the tea-table, lighted the wick under an +old-fashioned silver tea-kettle, and then sat down to listen to the +charming music that instantly became audible. At first one could only +distinguish the different tones of boiling water, but by degrees they +became more melodious, and blended together not into a confused +bubbling, but the notes of the choral song, "Blick hin nach Golgotha!" +It was a wonderfully artistic plaything, concealed in the lid, and set +in motion by a glass roller, by the pressure of steam. The tones of +course were louder or fainter as the water boiled more or less +violently, and thus the whole sounded like the singing of a tea kettle, +transformed into melody by some invisible fairy.</p> + +<p class="normal">This tender, mysterious music did indeed harmonize with Cornelia's +mood, and she looked up as if roused from a dream when the stiff, +precise old servant entered, and, with a doubtful mien, said that Herr +von Ottmar wished to see the ladies.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is very welcome," said Veronica, joyfully; and the old man, casting +a sullen glance at Cornelia's blushing face, opened the door.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> entered. He apologized for the late hour of his visit by +saying that he had received a note from the prince, directing him to +prepare for a journey, and expect further orders the following day. +Thus it might happen that he would be compelled to set out at once +without having any time for farewells.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica assured him that no apology was necessary, and begged him to +take tea with them. The old servant, to his great disgust, was ordered +to bring another plate, and sternly placed a chair for <i>Heinrich</i> +beside Veronica, pressing it violently on the floor, as if he would +like to make it grow there; but <i>Heinrich</i> involuntarily pushed it +towards Cornelia, and the old man withdrew, shaking his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia said nothing, and <i>Heinrich</i> looked at her inquiringly. In the +silence that followed he noticed the singing of the tea-kettle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What strange little organ have you there?" he asked, in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a relic of my sentimental youth," replied Veronica, "and is +really closely connected with a portion of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, that is very interesting! What air is it playing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A choral I often sang in my young clays. Tell Herr von Ottmar the +words, Cornelia, or he will think you have forgotten how to speak."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia repeated the well-known strophe:</p> + +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-8px"> +"Schau hin nach Golgotha!<br> +Dort schwebt am Kreuzes-stamm'<br> +Im Todeskampf dein Jesus,<br> +Mit deiner Schuld beladen.<br> +Schau hin nach Golgotha!<br> +Er neigt sein sterbend Haupt,<br> +Es bricht sein Herz,<br> +Selbst Engel weinen:<br> +Der Welterlöser todt!"</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"It is a beautiful choral, but it does not suit a gay social circle," +said Cornelia, evidently deeply moved. She had felt that her voice grew +tremulous during the recital, and thought herself obliged to apologize. +"The profound melancholy of that sublime death overwhelms me in those +few lines. They conjure up the whole picture of the saddest hour earth +has ever known, and I cannot refrain from tears."</p> + +<p class="normal">"While you spoke I saw only the angels who were weeping there," +whispered <i>Heinrich</i>, gazing at her with delight, "and yet your +trembling voice touched me strangely. Who gave you this prophetic +inspiration, which, after the lapse of centuries, feels agonies perhaps +never endured? All the sufferings of Christ were mirrored in your +eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, who could help feeling them?" replied Cornelia. "Who that truly +entered into them could help being thrilled with the deepest grief? +What a sacrifice, to make himself the bleeding example of his +teachings! What a love, which devotes itself to secure the happiness of +a world! When I read the history of the passion, it seems as if I had a +thousand hearts, so keenly, so painfully, do I feel the death-agony of +the One Heart that bore in itself the sorrows of all, suffered for all, +bled for all, loved all,--even those who betrayed it,--and was +understood and valued by so few. I see him turn pale, and feel how Mary +counts his last sighs and dies ten deaths with him. The breezes pause +in their course and are silent: the clouded sky bends heavily towards +the earth; all creation is frozen with terror, and listens for the +fearful moment when the God-man shall die,--when the monstrous murder +of the Guiltless One shall be completed. And now he bends his head, and +all is over. It is done, and the long-repressed woe breaks forth. The +storm rages over the earth, rends the veil, bursts the false temple. +The world groans; and the Lord himself, touched even in his +unapproachable divinity, extends his arms to his beloved Son to receive +him to his heart. Oh, my friend, who can read or hear this story +without being moved to the very depths of his soul? Even if you deny +this great event and prove that it never existed, and even reveal who +invented it,--who subjected a world to the might of this thought,--he +too was inspired by a higher power,--he too came from God and has +performed a miracle; a miracle that no one can deny, for it uplifts +itself in gigantic structures of stone in every land; it stamps its +impress upon every grave; it receives the new-born infant with a holy +ordinance; it is the last consolation of the dying; nay, at this very +moment it fills your own breast with silent veneration: I can see it in +you."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> could scarcely breathe; he did not know what had befallen +him. Was it a supernatural creature who was speaking to him? He was +obliged to start up and go to the window, so strangely did his thoughts +pulse through his brain. Was it the artistic impression of her +powerful, eloquent words, her animated play of expression, the capacity +for suffering in her nature bodingly revealed in this description, or +the effect of the words themselves? He knew not, but he felt as much +agitated as if Christianity had just been revealed to him for the first +time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You could do more good than many preachers," he said, at last, +returning to his seat. "You understand how to obtain a hold upon the +soul, and I am amazed at your religious enthusiasm. I should have +supposed you to have more tendency towards rationalism. Are you a +Protestant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not ask whether I am Catholic or Protestant! I am a +Christian,--that is the principal thing. By faith and education I +am a Protestant; but I belong to no creed, for I have no faith in +miracles,--at least the miracles the church teaches. I recognize too +entirely the divinity of the laws of the universe to believe that God +must remove Nature from her usual course to reveal himself. Every +deviation from natural laws is an abnormal condition, and therefore +unlovely, for all beauty consists in the harmony of each individual +part with the whole; but I can accept and reverence nothing that is not +beautiful,--far less consider God, the soul of the system of the world, +as the author of an anomaly. Herein I am a rationalist. I hate those +who bar the progress of science, because they fear the natural +explanation of things may destroy the dogma of revelation; but I also +hate those who think that by the natural explanation of things they can +deny the existence of a higher power. God reveals himself indirectly in +the laws of nature, and directly in the soul. The noblest man is to me +the greatest wonder of creation; and if I believe Christ to be the son +of Joseph, I adore him none the less as the true Son of God, spirit of +his Spirit, proceeding from and returning to him. Thus I am a Christian +with my whole soul, and, with ardent love, bear my Saviour in my heart +as my highest model. What would all my acts be if I had not this +fundamental principle of Christianity? if I did not perform my +charitable deeds in the spirit of self-sacrifice Christ taught us, what +should I be? A sentimental adventuress, a heroine of romance, who has +one eccentric caprice today and another to-morrow; is always playing a +part, and constantly unhappy because she has no object, no purpose, in +life; for selfishness leaves us always empty and unsatisfied, while +Christianity is its most powerful opponent."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> sat for some time in silence, with his eyes fixed upon the +floor; when he looked up Cornelia was gazing into his grave countenance +with an expression of affectionate inquiry,--she felt that her last +words had touched some sensitive point. <i>Heinrich</i> passed his hand +through his hair as if he wished to banish the obtrusive thoughts that +crowded upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poetry of Christianity has excited and enchained your fancy. It +would be useless to convince you by scientific proofs, since you have +formed a religion which is not dependent upon them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," laughed Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You <i>wish</i> to believe, and therefore you do. You are fortunate! You +have produced a wonderful harmony between your skeptical reason and +enthusiastic heart. I admire you; for this theory of spiritual +revelation by natural means, which can go hand in hand with science, is +the best that a talented woman can appropriate. Who taught you all +this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her own harmonious soul," said Veronica. "She has a keen intellect, +and a soft, feeling heart; therefore she does not believe +unconditionally, as we are obliged to do, and yet is full of religious +devotion. Thus she found that harmony, as you call it, and restored +peace to her mind. When you know her better, you will be astonished at +the wonderful symmetry of her nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am already!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>; "I never had any intellectual +pleasure which could be compared to my intercourse with you. I could +listen forever in rapturous delight to the thousand turns her thoughts +take. Tell me, Cornelia, from what noble union of wondrous hearts did +you spring, to be mentally and bodily so beautiful,--so beautiful?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked at Veronica. The latter passed <i>Heinrich</i> a cup. "Take +some tea, and I will tell you the story of my musical urn, which +interested you so much just now. You will thereby learn our whole +history, if you care to know it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh. pray tell me whatever I may be permitted to hear. You do not know +how eagerly I desire it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already told you," began Veronica, "that Cornelia is the child +of my adopted daughter. This adopted daughter, the wife of the +political martyr Erwing, was thrown upon my hands by a singular +destiny, and I thank God, that, through her and afterwards through +Cornelia, he gave my life a purpose and meaning. I enjoyed a mother's +pleasures without being compelled to suffer her pains; for when God +took my dear adopted daughter from me, my grief would have been +infinitely greater if the lost one had been mine by birth. But Cornelia +has, as yet, given me nothing but joy. She was difficult to educate, +but even the toil of reducing these chaotic talents to order was a +pleasure. That I have succeeded in doing so is a wonder to myself, for +I never had an opportunity to study these powerful characters. My +mother, to the day of her death, had a childlike heart. She was only +sixteen years older than I, and seemed like a friend and playmate +rather than a mother. The governess my father procured for me really +educated the mamma at the same time with the little daughter! This gay, +innocent youth has been the foundation of my character. My grandfather +was a Danish nobleman, who became a widower at my mother's birth, and +lived a solitary life upon his estates at Soröe, though he opened his +house to all the nobility in the neighborhood. It chanced that an +acquaintance one day introduced a friend named Albin, a native of +Holstein, who was traveling through the country. Herr von Albin, a +handsome, attractive man of fifty, was seated at dinner next to my +mother, who at that time was not quite fifteen, and she particularly +remembered that when some magnificent strawberries were served at +dessert, the gentleman assured her that much larger and finer ones grew +on his estate. This greatly astonished my mother, for she had always +believed the strawberries in her garden the best in the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A few weeks after a servant summoned her to her father's room, and the +latter informed her that she would soon be married. She said, 'As you +please, dear father,' and went sorrowfully back to her governess. When, +however, on the following day Herr von Albin was presented to her as +her future bridegroom, she was greatly delighted, for she thought of +the wonderful strawberries that grew on the kind gentleman's estate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This Herr von Albin was my father. He loved my mother with touching +tenderness, and did everything in his power to prevent her from feeling +the great difference in their ages. He took journeys with her, and as +German society pleased her far better than the formal Danish etiquette +of those days, lived by turns upon his Holstein estates in summer, and +the North German City of B---- in winter. Thus it happens that my whole +nature is thoroughly North German, and I have also inculcated some of +it into Cornelia's mind. When I was in my fourteenth year I lost my +father, and my mother, then scarcely thirty, was still very girlish in +her appearance, and equally so in character. The death of the kind +husband whom she had loved with childlike reverence was the first +sorrow of her life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the same obedience with which she had formerly married Herr von +Albin she now, at her father's command, wedded a second husband; but +this time she did not rejoice over beautiful strawberries.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My stepfather, an attaché of the Danish Embassy in N----, was very +rich; and as my father's estates were entailed an male heirs, and my +mother had also inherited little or nothing, my grandfather, whose +property likewise reverted to the crown at his death, wished by this +marriage to secure his daughter a future free from care. But whether my +mother was happy with this man I will leave you to decide. He was a +cold aristocrat, chose society which was distasteful to us, and left us +much alone at a retired country seat, where we led a life devoted to +books and belles-lettres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Chance made me acquainted with a young officer, who, despite his +youth, was already a widower, and the father of a little two-year-old +daughter. We loved each other, and he asked for my hand; but my +stepfather refused his consent, because the marriage did not suit his +plans for me, and perhaps, also, because he had no inclination to give +me a dowry. What a nature that young man possessed! Alas! he bore the +doom of an early death. During our stay at our country seat my mother +sometimes permitted him to visit us. She became constantly sadder and +paler, and the only hours that she seemed more animated and joyous were +those we all spent together. I sang and played upon the piano passably +well, and the choral we have just mentioned, which was peculiarly in +harmony with my Edmund's religious feelings, I sang for him again and +again. We spent many such evenings as this together, and were never +happier than when assembled around the steaming tea-urn in North German +fashion. My friend often said it would be charming if its confused +humming could be transformed into a distinct melody, for he found all +the charm of northern sentimentality in its mysterious music.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just at this time my stepfather suddenly died, leaving my mother a +large fortune, and there was now no further impediment to our marriage. +We wished to have my betrothed husband resign from the army at once; +but he would not consent. He wished to take part in the last great +campaign against Napoleon before he resigned himself to the happiness +of private life. We parted as betrothed lovers; I took his little +daughter from her boarding-school to my own home, to be a mother to +her, for I loved the child; but my mother clung to the little one with +peculiar affection. After the departure of my affianced husband, she +was often confined to her bed, but her still youthful and beautiful +features beamed with almost superhuman love when she clasped the +little girl in her arms. She was then thirty-eight years old, and I +two-and-twenty. Alas! it was only later that I first suspected the true +cause of my mother's quiet illness. Her poor heart had never known +love,--let me be silent." The speaker's bright eyes suddenly grew dim, +and tears ran down her pale cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God!" murmured <i>Heinrich</i>, involuntarily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was constantly thinking of what we could do to surprise Edmund on +his return," continued Veronica. "One day she said she would like to +have him find on our table an urn constructed exactly as he had +desired, and that the toy, whose idea she suggested to me, should play +his favorite choral, 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' As I saw how greatly +she had set her heart upon it, I instantly gave the order to the +celebrated mechanician, Gebhardt, and in the course of a few months the +work was completed. Alas! it afforded her the last pleasure she ever +knew. It played for the first time one dreary autumn evening. She sat +up in bed with her arm around the little girl, and listened with +childlike devotion. 'May you solemnize a beautiful service of love with +this organ!' said she. 'Make his home-life bright and pleasant, that he +may always be glad to stay with you; believe me, a solitary wife is a +most wretched creature. Make him happy, my Veronica; he deserves it.' +'Grandmamma,' lisped the child, throwing her little arms lovingly +around the neck of the fair, youthful 'grandmother.' Her cheeks flushed +feverishly, and she concealed her tears upon the neck of the 'little +angel.' Do you know, Veronica, that I have begun to write poetry in my +old age!' she said, suddenly, with a mournful smile. Yesterday I +composed these verses:</p> + +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-8px"> +"Thank thy God, oh, happy mortal!</p> +<p class="t1">Love's thy portion here below,</p> +<p class="t0">And, glorified in death by love,</p> +<p class="t1">Thy immortal part shall glow.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-8px">"Love suffered for thee on the cross,</p> +<p class="t1">Upon Golgotha died for thee;</p> +<p class="t0">Is ever near, though far away</p> +<p class="t1">He whom thou lov'st may be.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-8px">"Cheer thee, my heart, though here on earth</p> +<p class="t1">Thou seekest love in vain;</p> +<p class="t0">Feel that there is no lack with God;</p> +<p class="t1">Cry blessings on his name.</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"'Oh, mother!' I exclaimed, deeply touched, 'why is this? Do you lack +love? Do we not all love you most tenderly?' Weeping bitterly, I +pressed her to my heart. Just at that moment a letter was brought in. +From him she exclaimed, broke the seal, and sank back senseless upon +the pillows. I tore the letter from her rigid hands,--it was the notice +of my lover's death. I rushed into the next room to conceal the +outbreak of my anguish from my mother, and, throwing myself upon my +knees, prayed for strength. Suddenly I heard strange sounds, which made +me start up, and, at the same time, the child screamed aloud. In mortal +terror I hurried back to find my mother in her death-agony. 'Mother, +mother,' I shrieked, despairingly, 'do not leave me alone in my +misery!' With a look of inexpressible love, she placed the little one +in my arms; I clasped them both in a wild embrace; felt the last breath +of her pure lips, and then sank back senseless, dimly hearing, as if +from another world, the air 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' Spare me the +description of my sufferings. For a year I struggled with a disease of +the lungs, but my strong, youthful constitution obtained the victory. +Yet one tiny flower of happiness bloomed for me upon my lover's grave: +his little daughter,--his own flesh and blood,--a part of himself. I +had not wholly lost him,--was not entirely alone. Nay, the child +resembled him so much that with silent delight I saw his living image +always before me, but the double blow had so crushed my soul that I +needed and sought seclusion. I purchased a small estate in the province +of R----, where I devoted myself entirely to the sorrowful pleasure of +educating my Antonie and cherishing memories of my lover,--let people +say what they chose,--and shut myself up in my little world of feeling. +I read everything new that appeared in the kingdom of literature, and +in all found myself and my own grief. By degrees I became not only calm +but happy; the lonely life I led caused all the pictures of my memory +to assume so tangible a form that my lover and my dear mother appeared +before me,--I was surrounded by all whom I loved. Thus the dead became +alive to me, and the living, with the exception of my child, dead. The +happier I felt in these dreams the more anxiously I avoided all contact +with reality, that the delicate webs of my fancy might not be torn +asunder by its rude touch. Nor was this difficult, for no one troubled +themselves about the stranger. Beautiful scenes of nature entranced me +with their ever-varying charms; an excellent servant managed my little +household; and thus for fourteen years I lived entirely apart from the +world with my adopted daughter, my books, and my dead. This is the +reason why I seem too young for my age,--I stood still for many years +of my life. But when Antonie grew up, I perceived that I ought not to +make the bright, blooming young girl a hermit. My parents' house in +N---- was empty, and I resolved to move here and introduce my adopted +child to society; but how was I astonished to find it so entirely +different from what I had left it! Since peace had once more smiled +upon the country,--since no universal sorrow impressed its deep seal +upon every soul,--men seemed to me more selfish, more material. They +doubtless still coquetted with a certain sentimentality, but it seemed +to me that with true sorrow true feeling had also vanished. Time had +advanced, while during my long seclusion I had remained standing still; +I felt that I did not understand this world, and was even allowed to +perceive that I no longer suited it. As through my extensive course of +reading Antonie and I had obtained knowledge, and also, probably, +formed some opinions, several literary people became interested +in us, and thus, with Antonie's full consent, I again withdrew from +society, to collect around me a circle of men and women who possessed +similar tastes. The unfortunate republican, Erwing, then a quiet, +much-respected man and a distinguished author, was also introduced to +me. He loved and married Antonie; Cornelia was born the following year. +At that time Erwing was already developing his dangerous political +tendencies. He was a noble man, and sacrificed himself to his +principles, and, alas! his wife also, who died of grief for him. God +took her from the world; her death broke down all the barriers that had +hitherto restrained Erwing, and his sorrow for her increased his +political wrath to its height. Soon after, the unhappy man was obliged +to fly to America, where he died, leaving the orphan, to whom, since +her father's flight, I have filled a mother's place, as I did to her +mother. In so doing I have fulfilled a sweet and sacred duty to my dead +love, who lives and hovers around me in eternal youth, and blesses my +efforts in behalf of his granddaughter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old maid paused, with cheeks crimsoned with blushes; she had folded +her hands over her knitting, and seemed wholly absorbed in memories of +the past. Cornelia sat lost in thought, with her head resting on her +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a face, so victorious in its calm pride!" said <i>Heinrich</i> to +himself; "what hair, what a neck, what an arm! What movements, and +lines! What grace! Yes, it is the <i>soul</i> that animates this frame, and +warm blood that gleams through it so rosily!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He laid his open palm before her on the table; she placed her hand in +it. There was nothing very singular in the action, but her cheeks +glowed; it seemed as if he was drawing her head towards him, as if she +must bend forward yet he held her hand calmly in his. Veronica, +absorbed in her memories, rose to get <i>Heinrich</i> a picture of her +lover. They were alone! A new expression flashed over Ottmar's +face,--<i>Heinrich</i> and <i>Henri</i> had changed places! the moment had +tempted the latter irresistibly. He slowly drew Cornelia's hand towards +him, and bent his handsome head to hers; his eyes beamed with +inexpressible love, and his voice trembled with fervor as he whispered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor heart, how mach you must have suffered, must still suffer, in the +memory of your unhappy father! Oh, if you could but look into the +depths of this soul and know how I feel for you!--oh, love!" He pressed +his lips gently upon her hand, and let them rest there, without kissing +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia scarcely breathed; the touch thrilled through her whole frame +like an electric shock. She felt that a new happiness, never known +before, was entering her heart, and yielded to it without the slightest +movement. Then the organ slowly played the strophe, "Selbst Engel +weinen," and died away. <i>Henri</i> raised his head, and asked, gently, +"What do you think of me now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She could not speak, but looked into his eyes with an expression so +dreamy and ardent that <i>Henri</i> needed no words. His quick ear heard +Veronica's approach, and he leaned back in his chair and attracted the +attention of Cornelia, who was completely absorbed in her own feelings. +The old lady showed <i>Henri</i> her lover's miniature, and found it +perfectly natural that after these reminiscences Cornelia should burst +into tears. Cornelia herself did not know their cause, for she really +had no sorrowful memories; the things we hear in early childhood do not +make so vivid an impression; and her youth, under Veronica's care, had +been a happy one. Far less was it the recollection of her first love, +for this now seemed to her like a dream. What was it, then? What had +happened? He had told her that he pitied her; that was very natural: +she had given him her hand and he had kissed it,--no, not even kissed +it, he had only allowed his lips to rest upon it; but it was perhaps +that very thing,--how strange!</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri's</i> accustomed eyes read all these thoughts in Cornelia's face, +and with exultant satisfaction saw the net resting upon the wings of +her soul. "Cornelia," he said, softly, while Veronica was counting her +stitches, "you are reflecting upon the nature of sympathy again, but +you will not fathom it yet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," she answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had been playing mechanically with one of her rings, and it now +fell from her-hand. <i>Henri</i> picked it up, and, with a smile, replaced +it on her finger. Again she blushed. "Why?" she asked unconsciously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our child is sad," he said to Veronica, with the winning expression +which had always prevailed upon women to devote their lives to him. +"What can we do to cheer her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia, as if spell-bound by the magic of these tones, made no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How kind you are!" said Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you angry because I call you 'our child'?" asked <i>Henri</i>, with +admirably assumed simplicity. "I am becoming intimate too rapidly, am I +not? Be kind, and attribute it to my warm, truthful nature. Sooner or +later we shall meet more familiarly, I am sure; so why delay and so +lose the precious moments for the sake of troublesome forms. I would +gladly take you to my heart as carefully and protectingly as--a father. +Fräulein Veronica will allow me to do so, I am sure. Be our dear child, +and let me take some small share in your education."</p> + +<p class="normal">He arose and stood before her in all his gentlemanly dignity, bent down +and kindly took her hands; but the quick pulsations of his heart, which +Cornelia heard close beside her ear, accorded strangely with these +paternal words. This was the well-calculated charm he had for her: the +manly, noble superiority which expressed itself in this fatherly +authority, and involuntarily extorted a childlike reverence; and the +enthusiastic, almost boyish, tenderness which bowed before her to raise +her to giddy heights.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Teach me, then but permit me to do the same by you," she said, with an +embarrassed smile, rising from her chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied <i>Henri</i>; "I need it more than you. Oh, I will +follow you blindly; the words of those pure lips shall be my oracle!" +His eyes-rested upon the young girl's fresh, beautiful mouth with +ardent longing. He felt that it would be better to go, and allow the +impression he had made to produce its effect upon her in silence. With +a violent effort he released Cornelia's hands and hastily took his +leave. As he opened the door he heard his name called gently: he +turned; Cornelia had followed him a step and asked, with the most +lovable frankness,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"When will you come again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia!" cried <i>Henri</i>, and was about to rush back to her; but +<i>Heinrich</i>, with a tremendous effort, checked the excited feelings, +made her a low bow, said, in a fatherly tone, "I will come as soon as I +can; I cannot fix any positive time now," and left the room without +looking back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What was that?" asked Cornelia, covering her eyes with her hand. "Did +it not seem as if another person was speaking from his lips? Did he not +call my name so eagerly, and the next moment take leave of me so +distantly, so coldly? Can a man's mood change so suddenly? Whims can +alter in an instant, I know that by myself; but what we feel, +what is deeply and firmly rooted our hearts, we cannot so suddenly +deny,--it cannot yield to a caprice. Which is true, his warmth or his +coldness?--or is it possible that they can both exist? Ah, do not +question, incredulous heart! What he has given you to-day is true: let +that satisfy you; and where you cannot understand him, trust him." With +a heavy sigh she threw herself on her knees before Veronica and laid +her head on her lap. "Ah, Veronica, how could I live without the man +you loved!"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"What a submission!" thought <i>Henri</i>, as he walked towards home in the +proud conviction of a certain victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care!" said <i>Heinrich</i>: "this submission is no amorous weakness, +but the implicit confidence every innocent, loving girl places in the +man she adores. If you ever abuse this faith, you will perceive with +terror her power of resistance."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">XII.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE SEARCH FOR A WIFE</h3> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Herr von Ottmar," said the prince, holding out his hand to +<i>Heinrich</i>, "you came out of the vexatious affair, which unfortunately +I could not spare you, like a hero. Am I to do anything for your +<i>protégé</i>? Tell me how I can assist the young man."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> had intended to affect reserve, and to-day was just in the +right humor for it. He bowed low with the air of a deeply offended man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you most humbly, your Highness. I have already provided for +Albert Preheim. I am happy to have proved to your Highness that I have +given my protection to no unworthy person, and am always ready to +answer for my acts like a man. I have made Albert Preheim the steward +of my estates, which have greatly depreciated in value during my long +absence. I will also venture to request your Highness to grant me leave +of absence for an indefinite time, that I may be able to instruct him +in his duties there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wish to leave me now, when I need you most?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could hope that your Highness still needed me, I should feel +happier than is the case at present."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe, Ottmar, that a time will ever come when we shall be +unnecessary to each other? I rely more upon your friendship for my +person, even if, as an independent man, you can do without the prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness, let me be frank with you. How faithfully I have served +you, the sleepless nights during which I have shared your Highness's +arduous labors and heavy cares for your country, my deserted home, my +ruined estates, may prove. Compelled to leave my own court because I +was an adherent of the priesthood, I found with you a sphere of +activity in harmony with my political convictions, an only too generous +recognition of my humble services, and the highest possible reward in +your personal friendship. But now, your Highness, I stand here as a +compromised man, a hero of comedy, who played the martyr for his own +sins for the amusement of the rabble. This, your Highness, I cannot +endure. Society has a morbidly sensitive feeling for indecorum far more +than crime; it can ignore a secret sin, but not a public impropriety. +It is not for my guilt but its open acknowledgment that men will turn +their backs upon me, and I must go into retirement, for I cannot bear +to have the finger of scorn pointed at me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince smiled. "Oh, if that is all that drives you away, Ottmar, +you can be perfectly at ease: I will become your security. Do you +suppose I would have asked my friend to expose himself if I had not +possessed the means to make amends for his humiliation at any moment? I +am astonished at your simplicity, Ottmar. Should you not have known +society better? Why, even if I would allow you to fall, you would still +be esteemed; but if I uphold you, people will treat you with the utmost +consideration. What advantage would it be to be ruler if I could not +even manage the handful of puppets around my throne? You must take a +journey, it is true, but on my business; if you wish to visit your +estates on the way, I have no objection; but I beg you to remain there, +no longer than is absolutely necessary. Do you consent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My time has only the value it possesses for your Highness. If I can be +of more use in any other place than here, command me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will be at ease here again when you have forgotten this +disagreeable affair. In the first place we will seal people's mouths by +a striking proof of my continued favor. This very night I shall present +you to my mother as Count von Ottmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness! I do not know how to thank you for so much kindness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As one friend always does another: by honest counsel and assistance +when I need them!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince fixed his large, blue eyes upon Ottmar with so kindly an +expression that the latter was surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am well aware that the title of Count does not make amends for the +mortification I imposed upon you; but perhaps the consciousness that, +by this act of self-sacrifice, you have won a still larger share of my +esteem and confidence, may be some slight recompense. Therefore, my +friend, you shall advise me to-day in the most important event of my +life. I have summoned you to discuss my marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I know the princesses?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One of them, certainly; and you shall make the acquaintance of the +other. One is Princess Ottilie of H----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, almost losing his self-command. "Princess +Ottilie!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hist! <i>Pas si haut, mon ami</i>, the walls have ears. Remember that this +is still a profound secret; you are to be the first to mature the +affair. I have the privilege of choosing between Princess Ottilie and +Princess Marie of D----. The latter is still a mere child; but the +former has lost the first bloom of youth. I do not wish to select the +lady who will please me best, but the one who will most satisfactorily +fill the position of mistress of my realm; it is not permitted me to +marry according to the choice of my heart. My love, as you know, is +given to the beautiful Hellbach; but I can neither raise her to the +rank of my wife, nor degrade her to that of my mistress, and have +learned to conquer my wishes. The private happiness my wife can bestow +is merely to make no claims upon my love, which has been effaced from +my breast with this one image, and not press upon me an affection which +is valueless to me. A sincere friendship, and a pure conscience, are +all that I shall give and demand."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> had been reflecting in silence. "What your Highness asks in +a wife is little, and yet the most difficult requirement that can be +made upon a woman. She is to offer her wedded husband no feeling, +desire none from him, save what might be accorded to the merest +stranger. She is to give your country the heir to the throne, and yet +be permitted to adopt no other manner towards the father of her child +than that prescribed by the laws of the coldest etiquette. But she must +bestow upon no other the love that her husband disdains; must enjoy +through no other the happiness he denies her; and yet is always to feel +a calm affection for the man who has thus destroyed the joys of married +life. Pardon me, your Highness, I know women well; this is a task which +only a princess can perform,--a princess in the true sense of the word; +not a young immature creature, who only wears the mask of her position, +and in whose mind natural rights far outweigh the claims of her high +station. A princess such as your Highness requires, one who has subdued +the first eager longings of her heart and resigned herself to consider +the duties of her lofty rank as the first necessity, is the Princess +Ottilie. Moreover, she is intellectual, lovable as a young girl, truly +royal in her bearing, and although no longer in the first bloom of +youth, extremely attractive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you, who are so exacting, think her all this, she must really be +somewhat remarkable in every respect," said the prince. "You are right +in saying I could hardly expect so much self-sacrifice from a young +creature like the Princess Marie. Besides, the priests favor the +alliance with Ottilie because they rest great hopes upon her influence +over her Protestant uncle, the Prince of H----. There is only the +consideration that Ottilie is said to be delicate, and thereby the hope +of an heir to the throne might be endangered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ob, I do not think so, your Highness. She is nervous, like all lofty, +intellectual natures; but such women are usually benefited by marriage. +Doctors chatter a great deal of exaggerated nonsense; and besides, it +is not for their advantage that the generous princess should be married +and leave the country. I have watched her for a long time, and can +assure your Highness that she has no more serious illness than all +ladies of her rank and age."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince paced up and down the room several times, and then paused +before Ottmar. "Are you giving me conscientious advice, Ottmar? +Remember that the sole object of the heavy sacrifice I am making is to +obtain an heir to the throne."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Egotist!" thought <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," he replied, "I am no physician. I can only say how I +judge of her as an unprofessional person, and that I have never thought +her ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince again walked up and down the room. "Shall I venture?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your Highness."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince turned towards his writing-table and showed <i>Heinrich</i> a +picture. "Is this a good likeness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your Highness; but she is more beautiful," said the latter, who +could not gaze at Ottilie's gentle, noble features without emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now look at Marie's portrait."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> knit his brow as he looked at the picture. "I should not +have the courage to choose this Lady. Those eyebrows, that pouting, +scornful mouth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Ottilie's pleases me far better," said the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And besides, I see no object in this marriage. What is an alliance +with the little country of D---- to a prince like your Highness? +Princess Ottilie, on the contrary, is immensely rich; more friendly +relations with the court of H---- would be desirable in every respect, +and Ottilie is a Catholic; she might--that is----"</p> + +<p class="normal">A clock struck ten. The prince started up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The council must begin. Ottmar, you are my ambassador; set out on your +journey to-morrow morning, and negotiate the matter for me at the court +of H----. Consult the physicians, and if you think it advisable, in +God's name win Ottilie for my wife! From all you say she will be best +suited to me. The sacrifice must be made at once. Farewell till we meet +in the council of state, dear count."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus was the weal or woe of a noble, precious life decided, and again +<i>Heinrich's</i> egotism demanded a victim. Accident had thrown one into +his hands in the person of Ottilie. <i>Heinrich's</i> resolution was firm. +He knew that if Ottilie became his protectress at the court of N---- +his power would be unbounded and immovable; for he did not doubt that +with her intellect she must succeed in ruling the prince as well as the +country. In any case, his influence over her was more assured than it +could be over a princess who was a stranger to him; so a marriage with +the latter must be prevented at any cost: it might baffle all his +hopes. When he passed through the antechamber, his plan was already +formed, and around his lips played the triumphant smile which was +always visible when he guided men like puppets. Every preparation was +immediately made for the journey:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton," said <i>Heinrich</i>, during the packing, "didn't you see anything +of Princess Ottilie on your way through H----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr Baron. She seldom drives out, for she is much worse than she +used to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton, for Heaven's sake, do me the favor not to tell any one that! Do +you hear? Finish the packing, and then go this very night to the +Hohmeier'sche Restaurant; there you will find the valet of the prince's +confessor, Ehrhardt,--they will point him out to you if you ask for +him; join him as if by chance. Tell him about H----, and turn the +conversation upon the Princess Ottilie. Then say what you know of her +beauty, her piety, etc. See that you have as many listeners as +possible,--the more the better. Speak of her hair, her eyes, but +especially her generosity; in short, make their mouths water, but do +not allow any design to be perceived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, Herr Baron," said Anton, smiling. "I'll manage as +carefully as possible, and to-morrow the whole city shall be full of +the princess's praises."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is right, my old friend. I don't think you forgot anything in the +village," said <i>Heinrich</i>, well pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wanted to see Cornelia again, but the evening was spent in making +various preparations for his journey, and his plan of obtaining Ottilie +for the prince required thought and time for consideration. He would +compensate himself for the sacrifice after his return, and meantime +devote himself entirely to his mission. "How am I to appear before +her?--how am I to woo her for another without offending her, when I +know that she has loved me, perhaps does still?" This question +engrossed his mind, and its difficulties had a peculiar charm for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of the evening a court official brought a bill of +exchange for five thousand florins for "Count Ottmar's steward, Albert +Preheim." The prince had given him this sum from his own private purse +as a sort of compensation for his sufferings. He would not allow +himself to be humbled by <i>Heinrich's</i> proud reserve, and thus made +amends for the injustice which had thrown Albert entirely upon +<i>Heinrich</i> for assistance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert's joy knew no bounds, but his gratitude to <i>Heinrich</i>, whom he +considered the indirect cause of this favor, was even greater. Thus +they set out on their journey, Albert and Anton as happy men, while he +to whom both owed their good fortune, whom both loved and honored, knew +no happiness, no peace, destitute of support in himself, and +unsympathizing even towards those to whom he showed kindness. Already +the city lay behind him. He looked back towards Cornelia's house, from +thence the dawn would crimson the horizon, from thence his sun would +rise to pour light and warmth upon him, and with foreboding longing he +gazed over the snow-covered fields towards the golden streaks in the +east. The morning air blew icily over his brow; here and there under +the snow lay dry branches of frozen weeds; not a bird, not an insect, +was stirring far or near: frozen nature was silently awaiting the +spring. It was even so with him. His mission, his petty intrigues, +everything at that moment retreated into the background, and covered +itself with the icy mantle of eternal indifference. From that strip of +light life must come to rescue him and lure fresh germs from the frozen +clods. The rising sun threw its rosy glimmer into his eyes till they +filled with tears; it seemed as if they flowed from his own breast, as +if his own feelings and not the light had called them forth, and he +might shed more. But he was mistaken, for when he turned his eyes from +the dazzling rays the treacherous fountain dried. The unfeeling man +could not weep: the blessing of tears was denied him; and the vanished +spell left the egotist cold and unsatisfied.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">XIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>A SACRIFICE</h3> + +<p class="normal">Directly after his arrival, <i>Heinrich</i> went to Ottilie's physician to +make inquiries about the state of her health. It was of importance to +himself to be correctly informed in this respect; for it would have +been very useless to base his ambitious plans upon one doomed to an +early death. With her, these, and perhaps even the favor of the prince, +might sink into the grave; since he had described her as healthy, the +responsibility would fall upon him if she died. The physician, it is +true, said that she was delicate, but, according to the principles of +the old school, declared that her illness was a nervous one; and +<i>Heinrich</i> boldly requested a private audience with Ottilie to obtain +her consent before he presented himself to the Prince of H---- as an +ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he passed through the antechamber, a fair-haired little waiting-maid +issued from Ottilie's room, glided by, starting violently as she caught +sight of him, and disappeared through a side door. <i>Heinrich</i> perceived +with astonishment that it was Röschen. The servant ushered him into the +reception-room. The uniform, unvarying stream of hot air from a Russian +stove vibrated around him with suffocating sultriness, increased by the +fragrance of numberless flowers grouped in hot-house fashion in the +lofty windows of stained glass. The heavy carpets and portières exhaled +warmth; it seemed to <i>Heinrich</i> as if his lungs were bursting with the +longing for a breath of fresh air. He dreaded this first meeting, for +in Ottilie's presence his insolent frivolity deserted him, and he stood +before her as if she were his conscience. The fervent heat and +deathlike stillness that surrounded him increased his embarrassment. +There is something strange in the official silence of royal apartments, +which rouses the greatest excitement and impatience in any one who is +anxiously awaiting an important audience. This was the case with +<i>Heinrich</i>. He wished to repeat what he was to say to Ottilie, but +could no longer remember it. "How shall I appear before her?" was his +only thought; and the polished courtier feared this great soul whose +prophetic vision had penetrated his inmost heart, and which he now +approached like a thief, to try to steal it for his own plans.</p> + +<p class="normal">A clock struck twelve, and was answered from every side by a multitude +of larger and smaller ones, whose buzzing and humming lasted several +minutes; then all was silent as before. <i>Heinrich</i> uttered a deep sigh. +Why did she linger so long? Was she, too, obliged to collect her +thoughts, and could she not obtain the composure needed to receive him? +"Oh, God! if she should love me still!" he thought, wiping the cold +perspiration from his brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then a door opened noiselessly,--he did not notice it,--and +Ottilie floated across the room as lightly as if her feet did not touch +the carpet.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> started as if roused from a dream, when, beautiful as a +glorified spirit, she stood before him. Both looked at each other a +moment in silence neither could find words; their souls were too full +for the narrow forms of speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last Ottilie held out her hand to him, and there was deep sadness in +her expression as she said, "Is it really you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand the reproof in your question, princess," replied +<i>Heinrich</i>. "I was prepared for it; and yet accompanied with that voice +and glance, it now pierces deep into my breast. As the ambassador of my +princely master, I had courage to appear before you--as your friend. My +heart trembles, for I well know I shall not bear your sublime, angelic +judgment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie motioned to him to be seated. "Yes," she began, after a pause, +"I had wished to see you a different man, and I do not even know +whether I still have the right to tell you so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak! heap upon my head the whole burden of your accusation, +princess."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not fear reproaches from me. All that there is to be said I +represented to you, if I remember rightly, long ago. You did not obey +my warning voice; what was useless then will also be vain now."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> covered his eyes with his hand, as if obliged to conceal his +tears; and yet it was not all hypocrisy, for it really seemed to him as +if a pang of remorse shot through his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie remained silent for a long time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be merciful, princess," pleaded <i>Heinrich</i>; "you reproach me with my +change of opinions, but you do not know what may exert an influence +over a life, how even the most independent man may be forced into a +course contrary to his wishes, and where he must be untrue to himself; +therefore be charitable, princess; do not give me up!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, how could I!" exclaimed Ottilie, in an outburst of feeling. "Do +you not see that I grieve for you, pity you, deeply and sincerely? I do +not accuse you; but let me lament that you have defrauded yourself of +all true happiness. Do not tell me the career you have adopted +satisfies you; in it you can neither follow your own convictions nor +develop your talents. I speak now as a woman who has done with self, +who is bound to life by no wish, no hope. What have you made of +yourself, Ottmar? How have you used the gifts God so richly, so +abundantly, bestowed? I have carefully watched your political activity; +alas that I must say it you have fallen lower in my eyes the higher you +rose in the world. Forgive the harshness," she pleaded, extending her +hand to him, "it is the most heartfelt anxiety that speaks from my +lips. Do you not see the double danger to which you are exposed? You +are robbing yourself of your moral freedom as well as the nation of its +political rights; you are servilely bending your noble soul to the +dominion of principles in which you do not believe, making yourself the +slavish supporter of an impotent reaction. Thus you are losing your +intrinsic dignity, and sooner or later your influence as a statesman; +for a new and invincible spirit, purer than that of the revolution, is +pervading the nations,--the spirit of a profound political knowledge. +We cannot subdue this with cannon, nor shut it into prisons; where we +believe it to be shattered, it unites again above our heads. It is the +child of the age, and unceasingly advances, demanding its rights. And +you, instead of throwing yourself into the free current and allowing +your breast to expand with the universal impulse, prop yourself with +narrow-hearted blindness against the crumbling steps of a throne, to +withstand the weight of the approaching shock. You will fall, and as an +enemy of ideas which you cherish with every drop of your blood, fall a +victim to your hypocrisy, not your convictions. Then you will seek to +find compensation in yourself, and perceive with despair that by your +perpetual untruthfulness you have destroyed yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is very possible," murmured <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, believe me; through many a sleepless night I have stretched out my +hand to you to draw you out of the gulf into which I saw you sinking. +Yet I still trust you; what you did could not estrange me. I still +hope, still pray for you; I can say no more than I have already done; +but I know that although you have not yet listened to me, quiet hours +will come, hours of repentance, when my long silent words will unite +with the voice of your conscience,--then, perhaps, you will obey me."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> seized Ottilie's hands and gazed into her sparkling eyes. A +deep blush was glowing upon her cheeks. "Ah, the old magic! Ottilie, +Ottilie," he cried, "I fear I am too deeply entangled in hypocrisy! If +you could read my soul you would reject me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is one of the moments of depression which utterly subdue such +natures. To-morrow, in another mood, you will smile at it. But it is +true that you think yourself worse than you really are, that you have +less faith in yourself than I in you. Every power needs to be used, +even that of the soul. Exert your strength in doing right, then you +will first ascertain your own capabilities."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, princess, how am I to help myself? I know not; I have gone astray +into this path, and cannot find strength to retrace my steps. I am well +aware that my political career is not in accordance with the spirit of +the age; when I entered upon it I really had no other thought than to +save myself from a momentary humiliation by the Jesuits, and therefore +considered my position in N---- a mere episode. But by degrees my +success, and the magnificent means at my command for the advancement of +my apparent purposes, charmed me. My influence over the prince tempted +me irresistibly. The power he placed in my hands roused all the +ambition of my nature. Power, Ottilie, has often transformed a hero +into a despot. This being the history of my political development, +everything else follows as a matter of course. As everything was +at the command of the feared and admired favorite, I felt myself +justified in enjoying all. That, in so doing, I formed many a sacred +tie only to break it again, and profaned many a bond that already +existed,--everything was considered allowable, because everything was +granted to me,--you will of course suppose. But I will confess to you, +to you alone of all human beings, that this haughty, envied Ottmar +became a crushed, wearied, joyless man, an egotist,--who does not even +love himself. I can no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood; +for everything has two sides, and, as no voice within my breast pleads +for either, I decide in favor of the one which will bring me the most +immediate advantage. There is no philanthropy in my nature, and thus I +make men happy or miserable according as it will be profitable or +injurious to myself. I perceive that all this is reprehensible; I envy +those who act from principle; I would fain be virtuous, yet cannot +discover what virtue is; for my blasé feelings make me perceive, in all +the dogmas of religion, morality, and philosophy, only arbitrary +beliefs without any eternal foundation, which change at every advance +of the nations in civilization, are now wrested here, now there, nay, +even dependent upon the fashion of the day; and thus I have formed the +despairing conclusion, that there is no virtue, believe the loathing of +my own deeds which sometimes seizes upon me to be a relic of old school +prejudices, and despise myself. Therefore I have no rule of conduct for +my acts except advantage; and when this is obtained, it does not make +me happy. I scorn it, as well as the men by whose weakness I won it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie had hung upon his words in breathless suspense. This frank +self-accusation had borne her along with it, and she was obliged to +collect her thoughts before she could reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you are even more unhappy, more worthy of commiseration, than I +feared. All lofty, independent natures yield unwillingly to the human +law of right and wrong; for the same power which instilled the theories +of goodness lives also in them and justifies them in giving its law to +themselves. But in you, my friend, this power was only sufficient to +dissolve existing beliefs, not to make them unnecessary to you, for you +are now wandering, unsupported, without any clear standard of +measurement, amid the ruins of your shattered world of ideas. You are +seeking for a higher divine law, and because it does not reveal itself +to you you despair of virtue. It would be useless to refer you to +religion, for you do not believe it; but even without religion a man of +lofty character feels a moral want, which, without regard to reward or +punishment, impels him toward the right. Though such a man is never +quite happy, for only faith can give the highest joy, he will yet +experience that peace which a pure conscience bestows. But you have +destroyed even this. Your heart is desolate, your soul flutters wearily +upon the ground. I no longer see deliverance, blessing, or hope for +you. So I must behold the fairest work God and nature ever made, the +noble image in which I joy with reverent admiration, sink into the +dust, and stand powerless, unable to stretch out a hand to save for God +a soul which he has favored beyond all others. Alas, Ottmar! By the +sorrow in my own heart, I feel how your Creator mourns over you!" She +leaned back upon the sofa and wept aloud.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> could not resist the contagion of her emotion. For the first +time the request he was about to make seemed like sacrilege, and yet he +could not give up all his carefully matured plans for the sake of a +"fit of sentimentality," as he mentally called it. He perceived that +she clung to him with unchanging affection, and that no political +considerations whatever would induce her to wed with such a nature as +that of the prince. If he won her, it would only be by means of his +influence over the heart so susceptible to his power. Years before she +had taken an oath that she would never become his wife, so she must +either part with him or marry his ruler. The more she loved him the +greater was his power over her, the more surely he would succeed in +convincing her that she could not live without him. Thus he was +compelled to throw the whole weight of his own personal attractions +into the scale, and there was a strange blending of honesty and +hypocrisy in his plan of persuasion. He really felt what he wished to +say, but his manner of turning it to account was artfully calculated, +and converted truth into falsehood. "Your Highness," he exclaimed, at +last, "I have come to bring you a crown; but at this moment I see a +halo shining around your head, and can scarcely venture to offer the +pitiful diadem of royalty. Princess, it is of great importance to my +interests to bind you to the country in which I play a part; I came +here to obtain your hand for the prince, to cunningly win your consent, +even at the cost of your happiness. But before your noble nature all +the arts of diplomacy dissolve into nothing. Therefore, my friend, I +will leave you free to choose, will not steal the decision of your +destiny, but tell you frankly that it is from selfishness I press my +master's offer, for I wish, I long, to have you near me. Your character +is formed, your opinions are matured, you will advise me when God is +silent in my own breast. You will aid me to give a new direction to our +politics, one more in harmony with the spirit of the age; supported by +you, I will venture it, without you I cannot. Look, Ottilie, the crafty +diplomatist is prostrate in the dust before your victorious +truthfulness, and prattles out his whole programme like a school-boy. I +do not plead for the country whose salvation you would be, nor in the +name of a philanthropy I have never known, but by which I might win +your gentle heart; I do not implore you to aid a nation I helped to +crush: I renounce all this acting, and plead simply and openly for +myself; for in this hour I perceive more clearly than ever what you are +to me. If I have hitherto thought I needed you for the attainment of +certain advantages, I now know that you will do more for me by teaching +me to despise as well as dispense with them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie gazed silently into vacancy; her breath came more quickly, and +her hands were burning as though with fever.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," continued <i>Heinrich</i>, "that it is the sacrifice of your whole +life; but you have yourself given me the courage to ask it, for you +give me the belief that you will make it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God I what do you ask?" Ottilie began. "You wish me to marry,--to +destroy my life! Is it possible? Have I deserved this from you? You +wish to lure me from my home to a desolate career of grandeur, to chain +me to a man whom I know to be a cold-hearted weakling, and scorn as a +mere tool in the hands of the oppressors of his people. And by the +painful act I am to perform I do not even make one person happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottilie, how can you say so? Thousands will lavish blessings upon you, +the gratitude of thousands will recompense you, if the happiness of one +whom your presence can transform into another man does not reward you," +cried <i>Heinrich</i>, reproachfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ottmar, if I knew that I should be permitted to exert a good influence +over you, no sacrifice would seem too great. But you are deceiving +yourself now, as usual. You are easily moved, easily excited: the +moment carries you away with it; the present person is in the right +with you, and when you turn your back upon this room the emotions you +have experienced will be effaced with all their impressions. What +influence did I exert over you while you lived in H----? It would be +precisely the same thing again, and then I should not even be allowed +the one consolation of mourning for you unheeded, in quiet solitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think me so unstable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Confess, my friend, that you have given me proofs of it. Besides, you +are mistaken if you hope to obtain goodness from any influence +whatever. The true man is everything to himself; what he does not +become by his own strength, no other can make him. A character that +depends upon influences is unmanly; the acts and developments of such a +temperament are decided solely by ever-changing accidents. Prosperity +has spoiled you; you have measured your powers only against those +weaker than yourself; they have thereby become relaxed; and, if destiny +does not compel you to put forth your strength in a contact with more +powerful elements, all is vain, you will remain----" She paused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray go on," said <i>Heinrich</i>, bitterly; "I shall remain a +characterless weakling, who balances to and fro like a juggler on the +narrow line between right and wrong! Is not that what you meant to +say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie gazed into his beautiful, restless eyes with an expression of +deep sorrow. "Forgive me if I have caused you pain; I only wished to +convince you that the use which I might be to you is too little for the +sacrifice you demand."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> felt the moment for persuading her had now arrived; for he +knew by experience that a woman can never be more easily won than at +the moment she believes she has been too harsh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You feel you have caused me pain, Ottilie. Oh, make amends for it, and +follow me to my country as my protectress, my guardian angel! You +reproach me with being unmanly. Well, if I am so, and depend upon +influences, the one you exert over me will be my salvation, and that of +all with whom I am connected by any ties. What do I ask of you that is +so very terrible? I wish to make you mistress of a beautiful and +wealthy land, to give you a position in which alone your superior +qualities can make themselves valuable, wed you to a prince whom you +greatly undervalue, and who will understand and love you as you +deserve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want no love," interrupted Ottilie, "I am weary of suffering; do not +grudge my repose; I have, by a violent struggle obtained the peace of +the grave. Oh, do not drag me back to life! for life is conflict. Ah, +Ottmar, have pity upon me! Your glance sinks into my soul, and the +spark that flashes from it kindles anew the vital flame which was +buried beneath the ashes of my dead hopes. You seize my hand, and by +some magnetic attraction I am compelled to follow you. I know not by +what invisible threads you hold me: loose them and I sink peacefully +towards the grave; draw them firmly and I am forced to yield to your +wishes. Oh, the victory you obtain is an easy one! Renounce it, leave +me, Ottmar! You can test your power everywhere; why must you try it an +one who has no longer any defense save the resignation of a dying +woman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens, princess, what a strange mood you are in! See, this is +the result of your seclusion. Whence come these thoughts of the grave? +You are healthy, in the very prime of life, beloved by all, regarded by +the nation with the warmest affection. How could you resign yourself to +such melancholy fancies? Nay, I will rouse you now. You must learn to +use your vital powers, as well as I my moral strength. Why should you +wither here, useless and lonely, without having fulfilled the eternal +vocation of a woman? Even if you have no feeling for the man to whom I +wish to unite you, you do not know that he may not become dear to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie sadly shook her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But granted that you can never love him as a husband, you will some +day as the father of your children. Fate has granted no desire of your +heart, and with royal dignity you have learned to crush it; but, +because the first joy of love was denied you, must you now also +renounce the maternal happiness this marriage can bestow,--the only one +which is a wellspring of lasting joy to a woman? I cannot believe, +Ottilie, that with your pure, womanly feelings, the thought of being a +mother would have no charm for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God! have often dreamed of such bliss; but I am not born for it. I +shall perish without object or joy in life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not believe it," said <i>Heinrich</i>, with melting tenderness. "Rise +again in the strength of hope; a prosperous future is still before you. +You will find the prince a man full of delicacy of feeling and dignity, +a man formed to understand you. He, too, bears a secret sorrow in his +heart, and needs a wife who will know and pity the wound."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, poor prince!" murmured Ottilie. "That would rouse my sympathy +for him."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> suppressed a smile. "Do you perceive the true state of the +case? You will become attached to him, for he is noble and wishes to do +good to all. His despotic principles are rooted in his education; to +him despotism is an absolute dogma, like religion. He now depends upon +his confessor and upon me,--errors which are the result of his youth. +When you are his wife, he will, like all of us, rely on you. But even +if you could never produce any change in his maxims of government, you +will, perhaps, have the satisfaction of inculcating into the mind of a +son what you have vainly tried to obtain from the father, and through +the former obtain for your people the fulfillment of their dearest +hopes. Then, Ottilie, your name will be blessed by thousands and +recorded in history; then you may bend to death your royal brow, armed +with the noble words, 'I have not lived in vain!' Oh, I know you will +some day smile at the thought of the time when you were consuming away +in fruitless dreams, and could find strength neither to live nor die! +Then I shall perhaps stand as your most faithful servant at the steps +of the throne to which you gave new splendor, and a friendly glance, +radiant with the pleasure of ruling and giving happiness, will be my +highest reward, my greatest satisfaction. Take courage, Ottilie, and +gain new strength to live, to rule, to make others happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie's breath came more and more quickly, as, following <i>Heinrich's</i> +movements, she rose from her seat. Her sparkling eyes were fixed upon +his lips, and a ray of melancholy pride flashed over her face. "Ottmar, +you have conquered. Happy I can never be, so let us try whether I can +still accomplish some good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I have your promise, princess? You think me right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right; yet it is not that conviction, but a secret necessity, +which impels me to obey you, although I feel it will be my death. In +you, I am well aware, my destiny is fulfilled; you have made me the +prince's wife, you overmaster me by your powerful will, and call from +my lips the 'yes' that you ask, and I am forced to utter it, no matter +for whom. I must utter it because you ask it."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> was perplexed by this outburst of long-repressed feeling. +The seriousness of his relations with Cornelia had already taken so +deep a root in his nature that none of that frivolous delight which +overwhelms vain men at the sight of their conquests stirred within him. +On the contrary, a holy awe seized upon him at the sight of the frank +truthfulness of an omnipotent feeling. But he did not understand that +this very feeling no longer needed to disguise itself; because, by +self-renunciation, it had become purified and transfigured. He +therefore thought himself obliged to lead Ottilie's feelings, as far as +possible, back to their former moderation, and yet dared not wound this +sore heart by coldness. "Ottilie," he said, at last, after a long +pause, with an air of sorrowful resignation, "princess, do not make it +too difficult for me to perform my duty as suitor in my princes's +place. I might forget that I now stand before you as your subject, who +no longer dares desire what belongs to his master!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie looked at him earnestly. "Ottmar, that recollection would shame +me if I could suppose you did not remember the oath I took in your +presence years ago, and doubted the firmness of my resolution. But that +you cannot do; you will not inflict upon me the humiliation of seeing +myself misunderstood by you. I belong to your prince,--my heart to the +past."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let me offer you the first homage as my princess, my saint!" +exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, and sank an one knee to kiss her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The saints are above," whispered Ottilie, waving him back. "May they +take us under their protection!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> did not notice that it was difficult for her to stand erect +while she dismissed him, and armed with Ottilie's consent, pressed +forward as unyielding as fate. With this promise, he held in +imagination the portfolio which was to be the price of his years of +self-deception. That he would rule where Ottilie reigned was to him a +matter of course; to secure her influence over the prince should be his +care, and to rule appeared to him the only really valuable gift in +life. To assert his power everywhere, to use the terrible will which +had divided his own nature according to his pleasure, to let it weigh +upon a whole country bending before him, to promise joy or sorrow by +his smile or frown,--this alone seemed divine, and could make him +resemble God. He confidently expected to be appointed ambassador +extraordinary to conduct the affair of the marriage; the prince had no +one more suitable, no one with whom his relations were so intimate. He +reported Ottilie's consent, and requested further instructions, then +arranged his own and Albert's business in regard to the estate, which +was very badly managed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert sought Röschen at her father's house, and learned that since the +death of Ottilie's head waiting-maid, which had occurred two years +before, she had filled her place. <i>Heinrich</i> smiled when he heard this; +he readily perceived that love for him had induced Ottilie to keep near +her person the young girl he had tried to win; for true love embraces +not only its object but everything connected with it. He had already +often observed how noble womanly natures did not hate those of whom +they were jealous, but treated them with sorrowful tenderness, how they +kissed them as if seeking on their cheeks and lips traces of their +lover's caresses. As we keep a flower or a handkerchief because the +absent one has touched it, Ottilie had taken Röschen into her service +to inhale from her presence the lingering breath of his love.</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Ottilie!</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince kept him waiting a long time for his instructions, and +Ottmar began to grow weary of his incognito. "Albert," said he one day, +"you don't seem to have any great desire to see your Röschen. Try to +arrange a meeting with her, and let me be a secret witness of it; I +should like, for a change, to be present at such a touching scene."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have settled it with her father that I am to have an interview next +Sunday, Herr Count," replied Albert. "Röschen cannot leave the palace +whenever she chooses, so I must wait. But, if you are tired,--excuse +the boldness of my question,--why don't you write to the Prison Fairy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the Prison Fairy? Why, my good fellow, you don't understand such +matters. I neglect it because I wish her to love me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I don't understand it," cried Albert. "If that is what you want, I +should think you would be obliged to write to her at once."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> smilingly shook his head. "Blessed simplicity! Ten letters +would not have the success obtained by the weeks of anxiety in which +she has brooded over my silence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert looked at <i>Heinrich</i> almost sorrowfully. "But you have caused +her pain. How can any one wish to grieve a creature he loves?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She will be all the happier in my affection afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert was painfully agitated, but kept silence; and in a few moments +turned to leave the room, murmuring, "poor Prison Fairy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">On the same day a letter arrived from the prince, containing +instructions to make an official request for the hand of Ottilie, and +appointing him ambassador extraordinary. <i>Heinrich's</i> duties now began. +It was a great satisfaction to him to play a distinguished part at the +very court from which he had been so ignominiously dismissed; and when, +in a private audience with the Prince of H----, he presented his +credentials, and the request for an alliance with Ottilie, written by +his master's own hand, he was delighted at the sight of his +embarrassment, and felt fully conscious of his own importance. The +prince, pleased with the proposal made to his niece, overwhelmed him +with marks of honor, which he accepted very condescendingly, almost +patronizingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Count," said the old man, "you have shamed us deeply; for I know +it is to you we owe this great piece of good fortune, and do not +deserve it at your hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," replied <i>Heinrich</i>, "I joyfully seized upon this +opportunity of proving that my loyalty to your royal house is greater +than the sense of the mortification I suffered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a noble man, count," said the prince, pressing his hand; "our +political opinions are dissimilar, but I have the highest respect for +your character."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bowed low and smiled as he thought: "If I do not soon +believe myself a noble man, modesty will be my greatest fault."</p> + +<p class="normal">The solemn betrothal at last took place, and Ottilie remained firm. In +the presence of what was now unalterable, and before the eyes of her +man, she was every inch a princess. Pale, and almost as inanimate as a +marble statue, she went through the usual ceremonies; but not the +slightest change of countenance betrayed the conflict within. A weary +smile sometimes curved her delicate lips; but even this was +conventional; her eyes did not join in it: the same shadow lingered in +their depths; and when she had coldly and firmly signed the deed, it +seemed to <i>Heinrich</i> as if her manner conveyed a gentle reproach. Her +glance rested upon him as if to say, "You have conquered, cruel man, +and I am your victim." The look haunted him incessantly, and long after +the ceremony was over he felt as if there was a weight upon his heart, +as if the deed he was to take to his master was stolen property, from +which the mute reproach in Ottilie's glance constantly warned him. He +had no compassion for the sufferings of this noble nature, deceived by +all; but he perceived that there was a fiendish mockery in adorning +such misery with the colors of joy. We have pity upon a sick animal, +and let it die in peace; but he dragged a writhing, dying heart to a +bridal mummery. It was devil's work, he confessed it to himself; and +yet--the deed could not now be undone. Why did she allow herself to be +so easily persuaded?</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime Albert's interview with Röschen had taken place, but led to no +union. Röschen declared she would gladly become his wife and atone for +the wrong she had done him, if she did not know that the poor princess +needed her more than any one else in the world. She was very unhappy, +and there was no one to whom she could betray her feelings. Only a +short time before, when she found Ottilie half fainting and in tears, +the princess said, "You will stay with me, Röschen, if I go to a +foreign country, will you not? you will stay with me as long as I live, +that I may have one true, faithful soul near me?" Then Röschen had +promised never to leave her, and she would keep her word.</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert asked why the princess was unhappy, but Röschen said she did not +know; and even if she did she would never betray what was not her +secret. When Albert repeated this to <i>Heinrich</i>, the latter exclaimed, +with a laugh: "A rare instance of discretion; really Röschen might be a +worthy companion of John of Nepomuk. Were you equally prudent, Albert? +Did you confide as little of my affairs?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Albert reddened with embarrassment. "Herr Count, I only spoke of things +which I supposed were no secrets: your kindness to me, your friendship +for the Prison Fairy--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, for Heaven's sake!" interrupted <i>Heinrich</i>, vehemently, "how +could you tell her that, of all people?--her!" Albert looked at him in +alarm. "If she should tell the pr---- Oh, Albert, it was very +imprudent!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> now watched Ottilie closely at all the entertainments given +by the court, but observed nothing except her immovable calmness and +apparent coldness; this, however, might be the result of her royal +pride. But when, after the betrothal ceremony, he requested a private +audience and was refused, he bit his lips and muttered, "Albert's +prating has already produced its effect; she is aware of my relations +with Cornelia!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet he had again misjudged Ottilie. At the official farewell audience, +in the presence of the ladies of the court, although very dignified and +evidently exhausted, she was so gracious, and the prescribed forms of +etiquette were pervaded with such an atmosphere of true feeling, that +<i>Heinrich</i> could not doubt that he still retained her favor. When she +dismissed him she whispered, "Take all my future subjects my kind +wishes and blessing." The words were simple, but they were accompanied +by a significant, tearful glance which told <i>Heinrich</i> all.</p> + +<p class="normal">He again assumed the air of struggling to repress emotion, which he +could so skillfully adopt. "Will your Highness deign to accept my +heartfelt gratitude for the message, and the assurance that the +blessing cannot be fully received until your Highness appears in the +home of your subjects in person."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the audience ended, and Ottmar was obliged to confess that Ottilie +was a mystery to him. This was because the comprehension of true +womanhood was still denied him. The power of virtue, the strength of +self-sacrifice, which woman, spite of her many weaknesses, possesses, +were unknown to him; fate still reserved this great lesson. He was to +buy it dearly enough.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">XIV.</a></h2> + +<h3>CHURCHYARD BLOSSOMS</h3> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> departed to take his master the betrothal documents, and +Albert cheerfully remained behind as steward of the estates of +Ottmarsfeld. He did not make himself unhappy about Röschen's refusal. +He had wished to keep his word, and asked her to be his wife, but he +could not help secretly acknowledging that, after all that had passed, +he now loved her only with a brother's affection. Both were in the same +situation, for both had formed ideals of beauty and perfection. They +dared not even raise their eyes longingly towards them, but they could +not bear their mutual comparisons with them, and in their +insignificance no longer satisfied each other. These glittering images +must be obliterated by time before the old calm affection could revive +in their hearts.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Ottmar once more saw the steeples of the city where Cornelia +lived, his long-repressed desire to see her seized upon him with such +power that he thought his impatience must hasten the locomotive. After +all these days and weeks of constraint, and of deprivation of all +pleasure, he was at last to taste once more rich, infinite joy. <i>Henri</i> +longed to clasp the beautiful, love-breathing woman in his arms, and in +one burning kiss relieve his oppressed heart of its secret. <i>Heinrich</i> +wished for the fresh, full tide of her intellect, and with astonishment +felt a world of new ideas spring to life at the thought of her. When +the train arrived he hurried home, changed his dress, and went to the +palace to deliver the papers he had brought. While the prince was +reading the documents, the ground seemed fairly to burn under his feet; +but his alarm was indescribable when the latter informed him that he +had a second mission for him. <i>Heinrich</i> must set out immediately as +envoy extraordinary to the court of R----, ostensibly to announce the +betrothal, but at the same time to secretly ascertain how the +government of R---- was disposed towards the commercial treaty which +had long been a favorite project with the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">The journey to R---- would occupy several days, for at that time +railways had not yet penetrated the country; so that <i>Heinrich</i> foresaw +he must spend weeks in settling the business, and be deprived of +Cornelia's society still longer. But he was obliged to submit and thank +the prince for this new proof of his confidence.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the audience was over he hurried to Cornelia, but she and Veronica +had gone to spend a few days with a friend at her country seat, and +thus the hopes he had fixed upon this interview were blasted. In the +worst possible humor, he set out upon his journey that very evening. On +arriving in R----, he was loaded with honors. As usual, the most +distinguished ladies coquetted with him, and displayed all the +magnificence and all the charms which the luxury of a great and +brilliant court can bestow upon women. Now and then a dazzling beauty +or a bold, exuberant intellect surprised, but nothing captivated, him; +he had long been familiar with the blending of social qualities in all +their shades and variations, and every comparison only served to +increase his longing for Cornelia. At last his mission was performed. +In return for the announcement of the betrothal he received a diamond +cross, and his secret diplomatic commission was rewarded with the best +possible success. He induced the government of R---- to favor the ideas +of the prince, arranged the preliminaries of the commercial treaty as +far as his office permitted, and set out on his return, followed by +many angry and many tearful glances, for the ladies of R---- would not +believe that a man of so much intellect and personal beauty could +reserve his advantages for a "simple German."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a long and toilsome journey he reached N----. Once more his first +visit was to the prince, and he now received instructions to go to +H---- to arrange the marriage ceremonies. But this time he was more +fortunate, when, after the audience, he hurried to Cornelia. The old +servant with the sulky face opened the door, and without waiting to be +announced Ottmar entered the salon. It was very silent and lonely; the +setting sun shone upon the yellow damask furniture, and the roses in +the flower-stands exhaled their fragrance as usual. <i>Henri's</i> heart +beat almost audibly; he gasped for breath, for the opposite door +opened,--and Veronica in her light robes floated into the room. <i>Henri</i> +stood before her completely disenchanted; he had so confidently +expected to have a moment alone with Cornelia that it cost him an +effort to maintain his usual winning courtesy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear count!" cried Veronica, holding out her thin hand in its white +net glove. "I am glad you still remember us. You have been traveling +about the world so much without giving us any news of you that we +supposed ourselves entirely forgotten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not deserve this reproach, my dear Fräulein," said <i>Heinrich</i>, +apologetically, for in Veronica's presence he was again <i>Heinrich</i>. "I +could not suspect that I might venture to give you written news of me; +how and upon what pretext could I have done so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear count," said Veronica, with her simple frankness, "that is not +truthfully and sincerely spoken; for our great interest in you could +not have escaped your notice. You would have needed no other pretext +for sending a letter than the consciousness that by doing so you would +give us pleasure. Yet Heaven forbid that this should seem like a +reproach; we have not the smallest right to make one. We must even be +grateful that when here you bestow many an hour upon us. I, at least, +make no claim to occupy a place in your memory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>You</i> do not? But, Fräulein, Cornelia?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, watchfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor does Cornelia; yet she took your silence less calmly than I. In +such matters youth is more unreasonable than age."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> no longer controlled himself. "Tell me, where is she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who? Cornelia? She has gone out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gone out!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>. "Gone out, and I set out again at ten +o'clock to-night to remain absent for weeks! For months I have longed +for her society, and now shall not see her! I hear she is angry with +me, and shall not be able to defend myself! I have caused her pain, and +cannot make amends! Oh, tell me where she is, the sweet, lovely +creature!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, my dear count, I cannot," replied Veronica, while a shadow stole +over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not? Do you not know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then tell me, my dear, kind, motherly friend. You are weeping: what is +the matter with Cornelia? I must know!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are completely beside yourself," exclaimed Veronica. "Well, I +cannot help it; I must tell you. She is in the churchyard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the churchyard?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, in amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia goes there every day and mourns over the grave of a friend. +Go, my dear count, go to her; I see you feel more affection for her +than we supposed. Ah, I hope your presence may exert a favorable +influence upon the poor child."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter with her?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>. "She was once +betrothed----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it," he interrupted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But her lover died under very painful circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I know also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She seemed to have long since ceased to grieve over the unfortunate +affair; but some time ago the old affection and sorrow broke forth +afresh. She has become silent and sad; goes to his grave every day, and +at night it often seems to me as if she were weeping gently."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> heard all this with strange emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have an influence over Cornelia," continued Veronica, amid her +tears; "if you could cheer my child, remove the black shadow from our +once sunny life, under what infinite obligations you would place me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, pressing Veronica's hand to his lips. "Is +she in St. Stephen's churchyard, where the revolutionists are buried?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," replied Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell till we meet again." And he hurried out of the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first time in many years <i>Heinrich</i> entered a churchyard alone; +he had formerly only visited them as a part of the throng which +attended some aristocratic funeral; and in spite of the haste with +which he moved along the paths, the holiness of the spot, the silence +of the dead, unconsciously allayed the excitement of his soul, and made +his mood grave and gentle. With downcast eyes he wandered through the +long rows of graves adorned with headstones and flowers; he was well +aware that it was useless to seek Cornelia here, and hastened on by the +churchyard wall to where the lonely, simple crosses of the criminals +rose above the mounds. In one corner he at last perceived among the +neglected graves a group of trees and bushes, surrounded by a hedge of +wild roses. The cool breath of the spring evening rustled through the +leaves, and amid the branches the nightingales softly trilled their +songs. <i>Heinrich</i> paused and gazed through the shrubbery. Upon a +hillock, overgrown with lilies of the valley and ivy, sat Cornelia her +head rested on her hand, and her bosom rose and fell slowly, as if +burdened with the weight of sorrowful thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment <i>Heinrich</i> emerged from the shrubbery. She sprang +up with a startled cry and gazed at him as if in a dream; then a deep +flush overspread her face, her limbs refused to support her, and, +without a word, she sank fainting upon the mound.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>, and there was the promise of +inexpressible happiness in the tone, as he threw himself at her feet +and laid his clasped hands in her lap. They gazed at each other long +and silently. "At last! ah, at last!" he murmured, in delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At last!" repeated Cornelia, with a heavy sigh; then she gently +clasped his hands in hers, held them more and more firmly, and asked, +with an expression of unspeakable delight, "Ottmar, is it you?" Tears +dimmed her eyes, her voice trembled, and she averted her face to +conceal her emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, my life, my soul!" exclaimed <i>Henri</i>, who, after a violent +struggle, supplanted <i>Heinrich</i>. "Grieve no more; love has arisen. You +wished to conjure up the shade of the dead man to be an ally against my +image in your heart, and instead he sends me to you. Your place is not +by this grave, but here, here, on my warm breast! here throbs the heart +in which your life is rooted; here breathes the love you vainly sought +under moss and stones. Rise, come away; do not press your beautiful +face upon the damp grass. He who sleeps below does not feel; but I do, +and long for you so ardently, so inexpressibly! You do not answer; what +is the cause of your struggle? Do you find it so difficult to choose +between this tomb and me? Come, come, be truthful. I know you love me; +say so, say so, Cornelia!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose and bent towards him; he clasped her in his arms, and the two +noble figures clung to each other in an ardent, silent embrace. At that +moment it seemed to Ottmar as if his two natures also embraced, as if +their opposing qualities were blended by the enthusiasm that pervaded +both his intellectual and sensuous existence, and all the powers of the +harmonious man expanded to exhaust the intellect and physical delight +of the moment. He closed his eyes and clasped Cornelia more and more +closely to his heart; he thought and felt nothing except, "She is +mine!" And blissful peace descended upon him. Just then a funeral-bell +tolled, and roused the lovers to a consciousness of what place they had +selected for the cradle of their happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come away from this ghostly spot, Cornelia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, stay! the scene is a dear and familiar one to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange child, who must be sought in dungeons or graveyards! How does +it happen that you always choose so gloomy a background for the radiant +picture of your life? Does a churchyard suit our mood? have not the +flowers which garland our first embrace sprung from corruption? Why +think of death when we are just crossing the threshold of a new life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not? Death has no terrors for me. Is it not pleasant to see how +life rises anew from corruption? Look the bodily form of a friend is +springing up around me in spring flowers; his nature was as pure, +delicate, and fragrant as a lily of the valley, and perhaps in these +evening breezes his gentle spirit hovers around me in benediction. Why +should I not rejoice here, where I have so long mourned you? How often +the rustling of this shrubbery has deceived me when I thought I had +summoned you hither by my ardent longing! how often these birds have +sung of hope and consolation when I believed myself lonely and +forgotten, and came here to atone to the dead man for having forsaken +him for the sake of one who loved me not! I have never left here +without being aided, and am I now to carelessly turn away from the spot +because I no longer need its modest consolation? Should I avoid the +grave of my young friend,--the grave which, in the perfume of these +flowers, has so often poured forth blissful promises of love?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, how happy you are even when grave, and how profoundly +earnest! I have never known a nature upon which all the delicate and +noble instincts of the soul were so clearly impressed. Come, let me +clasp you to my heart again, that I may convince myself you are really +flesh and blood, and no glorified spirit, which may some day soar +upward from whence it came."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even if I were a spirit, I would not fly from you," said Cornelia, +gazing up at him with a face radiant with joy. "I would gladly submit +to all the sorrows of this earthly life, in order to be able to taste +its joys in your heart, you noble man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Girl!" cried <i>Henri</i>, his eyes blazing with a sudden light, "what a +world of love your tender breast conceals! Yes, you will know how to +love as I desire,--warmly, nobly, overpoweringly. Come, kiss me once +more; it is so lonely here: no one is watching us. You cannot kiss yet, +Cornelia. When I return I will teach you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you return? Are you going away again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This very day; but it is for the last time, then I will stay with +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To attend the marriage ceremonies between Princess Ottilie and our +prince. Only a few weeks more, and I shall be wholly yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you will write to me now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every day. My sweet one, did my long silence grieve you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, deeply!" sighed Cornelia, and her eyes filled with tears. "How I +have wept for you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor angel! If I had known how you love me, I would never have +tortured you so; but I will make amends for it. Do you believe I can?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thousandfold!" laughed Cornelia, amid her tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now come, Cornelia; I will accompany you home, for I must prepare +for my journey."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, <i>Heinrich</i>; I cannot appear before others with you now. Go alone, +and leave me here a half-hour longer, until I have collected my +thoughts; such sweet sounds must echo through the stillness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right. Oh, if I could only stay with you! Farewell. Do not +look at me with that earnest gaze, or I cannot turn away. I feel as if +I were a banished man, let me press you to my heart once more. Now send +me away, or I cannot leave you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a rustling in the branches. "Hark! What was that? Has any one +been watching us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was the evening breeze that warns you to go if you must set out on +your journey to-day. Go, my beloved; think of our meeting, not of our +farewell. I will shut my eyes, that they may not detain you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, farewell, until I have discharged my duty to the prince. Do not +fly away to heaven, my angel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">When Cornelia again raised her eyes, <i>Henri</i> had departed. She watched +him striding rapidly along, then clasped her hands upon her breast, as +if to conceal the overwhelming burden of her happiness. A deep +stillness surrounded her; the sun had set, the birds were silent. +Suddenly a dark figure appeared as if it had started from the earth, a +tall, handsome man with a broad scar upon his brow, clad in the long +coat of a priest. He fixed his dark eyes upon Cornelia for a moment, +and then walked silently on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who was that?" she murmured, in terror. "Why did he look at me so +strangely? What had the gloomy apparition to do with this bright hour?" +She now felt the chill of the night air for the first time, shivered, +and overwhelmed by a haunting dread, hurried swiftly between the graves +towards home.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">XV.</a></h2> + +<h3>A ROYAL MARRIAGE</h3> + +<p class="normal">"H--, May 15th.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ask me, my Cornelia, whether our love is to remain a secret. Yes, +I entreat you to keep it so. Let no one, no matter who it may be, touch +the tender plant which is budding in our hearts. So young an affection +needs concealment until it is strong enough to withstand all storms; +and believe me, my angel, they will not be spared you. I am far too +well known, have too often had occasion to thrust others aside, not to +have obtained the ill-will of persons who will take pleasure in casting +poison into your heart merely out of malice towards me. That I have +given them sufficient cause, I will frankly confess; for until a +character like mine is complete within itself, it must fall into a +thousand errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies. No man of real +ability escapes this crisis of development. The more variously and +richly he is endowed by nature, the more severe a process of +purification he must endure; and this cannot be accomplished without +expelling, by a violent fermentation, the dross which indelibly sullies +his outward life, if, like me, he has been exposed to the eyes of the +public. The private citizen experiences such epochs in silence; he is +not watched, and therefore his errors are not observed; the false step +taken in a position as lofty as mine is visible to the whole world, it +is imprinted not only upon the personal <i>chronique scandaleuse</i> but +upon the history of the times, and receives an official character. +Therefore beware, Cornelia, of wishing to become acquainted with my +nature through any other person than myself; beware of exposing the +chaste secret of your heart to curiosity, malice, perhaps even envy. Do +not think that foolish vanity makes me use this word, for the present +inordinate thirst for marriage it is only natural that envy should be +excited in all circles, when a young girl is loved by so prominent a +man. Keep aloof from all these profaning influences. Believe me, I know +woman's nature, with its thousand delicate threads of feeling and +consequent excitability and sensitiveness, and I warn you to conceal my +image in your inmost soul. We do not at first perceive the injury such +a tie sustains by a rude touch; but as a fruit beaten by the hail +continues to grow and shows the blemish and bitterness only when eaten, +so the sore spot our hearts disturbs our happiness, and at last +develops a bitterness all our love cannot soften. I make the greatest +sacrifice because I can only see you clandestinely; but the time will +come when our love will dare to show itself openly before the world, +when we can no longer lose each other, and then you will perceive that +I was right and thank me for my present self-sacrifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say nothing, even to Veronica; age is garrulous; I sincerely respect +her, but I cannot acquit her of this peculiarity of her years; you have +already made her so accustomed to your independent habits, you dear +little piece of obstinacy, that she will not think it strange if you +keep this letter from her as well as the others. It will be the last I +shall write from here, for Prince Edward, who is to marry Ottilie as a +proxy, arrived day before yesterday; the ceremony will be performed day +after tomorrow, and then we shall set out at once. As the princess's +health is somewhat delicate, and a journey by rail exhausts her more +than to travel by ship, I shall bring her from B---- by water. We shall +arrive on the 21st. Be sure to be at the harbor; the papers will give +you all the particulars. Then, Cornelia, I will lay my weary head upon +your breast, and rest peacefully after the thousand miserable anxieties +of diplomacy and etiquette, which torture a poor ambassador +extraordinary. Yes, you may be right when you say I was born for +something higher than to be the servant of a prince. When I read such +words, something stirs within me like an awakening power, which only +needs the impulse to cast off its chains, to shake itself free by one +mighty effort. Whether and from whence this will come to me, from +without or from within, I know not; but this I do know, that only you +can rouse the ideal powers which a misdirected life has lulled to +sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell till we meet, my angel.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:50%">"Your own <i>Heinrich</i>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was late at night when <i>Heinrich</i> finished this letter, and while he +went calmly to rest and fell asleep with Cornelia's name upon his lips, +the princess was wandering up and down her chamber like a restless +ghost. The lamps were burning brightly in their ground-glass shades +beside her bed, whose silken curtains waved slowly to and fro as +Ottilie passed them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is impossible; I cannot do it," she said, as she leaned for a +moment against the window. "If it were only day! The night makes all +anxieties rise before us like impassable mountains! Or, if sleep would +overpower me! But now it has been wholly put to flight by the thought +that I have but one more day of freedom,--freedom to love and suffer; +and then--then I must tear my heart from all to which it clings so +fondly,--forget, cease to feel: and woe betide me if I do not wholly +succeed in doing so! To see him daily, to be obliged to distinguish him +from among the nobles of my country as my husband's favorite, and yet +force back what my own heart feels; to feign an indifference which +makes the forms of courtesy--the true expression of my opinions--a lie! +And you could undertake such a task, unhappy one? You could allow +yourself to be so confused and persuaded that you did not shrink +from the tortures your consent would impose? If it were only +suffering!--alas! I am accustomed to that. It is the fear of guilt that +terrifies me. It is not only in act that we can sin, but in thought. +Each thought that steals back to that time of quiet, patient longing is +a robbery of what I owe my husband,--a crime against my vow. Woe betide +me if those ardent dark eyes, which beam only with love, even upon +those for whom he does not feel it, should ever rest in all their power +on mine! Shall I be able to prevent absorbing death from them with +ardent longing? And if at such a moment my husband should approach, +secure in my affection----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She threw herself on her knees and hid her blushing face in her hands. +"Oh, God! my God! thou who knowest better than I whether I am right in +thy sight, have mercy upon me and deliver me from this night of doubt +and anguish! Thou hast placed me in this lofty station! Give me the +strength, the coldness, the dignity,--not only the outward, but the +inward dignity,--which raises the reigning princess above ordinary +women. Let me not be compelled to expiate it so terribly, because I +willfully cherished an affection for a man whom thou didst not destine +for me. Have mercy, have mercy, oh, Father, thou who hast been the only +one to extend thine arms lovingly in answer to my search!--thou to whom +alone I could fly when, like a lost child, I despaired in this cold +world! I have brought thee my tears, complained to thee of the sorrows +other children weep out on their mothers' breasts, and to-day--to-day +for the first time--thou wilt not permit thyself to be found."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose and saw that a bar of light was bordering the horizon. +Her glance fell upon the mirror and showed her a face so pale, so +tear-stained, that she was almost startled at the sight of her own +image. She gasped for breath, and, utterly exhausted, at last threw +herself upon her bed and fell asleep. When she awoke the sun was +already high in the heavens. The deep slumber had strengthened her, and +she rose with a feeling of new life. With the light of day more +calmness and clearness of judgment had returned. She collected the last +remnant of her strength, and felt ashamed of her weakness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be a princess, be proud, Ottilie! Worthily fill the place for which +God has appointed you. Pay the debt you owe him for the gifts he has +bestowed, and which you have held at so cheap a rate because they were +valueless to one. Perceive that it is the call of God that rouses you +from this selfish melancholy. Obey it, fulfill your destiny like all +other created beings; and if your strength fails, what can befall you +worse than the death for which you are always longing? Life will never +be so dear to you that you cannot hail it as a last blessing. My Lord +and God, I lay my broken heart, my hopes, my wishes at thy feet, and +make but one prayer,--grant that, in return for all my sacrifices, I +may not be denied the joy of fulfilling my task and making others truly +happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood erect, as if surrounded by a halo of self-abnegation, when +Röschen suddenly begged permission to enter. "I most humbly pray your +Highness's pardon for having come without being summoned," said the +young girl, "but the chamberlain has just brought your Highness the +news that Prince Edward was thrown from his horse this morning and so +dangerously injured that he cannot appear at the wedding as proxy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? Oh, God! is it possible?" exclaimed Ottilie.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will your Highness deign to receive the chamberlain's news in person?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no! But ask him whether the marriage will be deferred, or if some +one else will take the place of the prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">Röschen withdrew, and came back with the reply that the wedding would, +in all probability, be deferred. Count Ottmar had already sent a +telegram to N----, and they were now awaiting an answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie seemed to be animated with new life. A delay,--a +respite,--although only a short one, enabled her to breathe more +freely. "Dress me, Röschen, and then send for Countess Carlstein. I +will drive for an hour; I need the sun and air. Ah, Röschen," she +continued, as the young girl was arranging her toilet, "how will you +feel in a foreign country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I shall be contented anywhere, if I am with your Highness; +especially as you have graciously given my father a place in your +train. We shall still be able to see each other when I have any spare +time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good, contented little one," smiled Ottilie. "Tell me frankly, +Röschen, has your heart no need of love? Do you not regret that you +have rejected Albert, and must go through life alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, your Highness," exclaimed Röschen, cheerily; and two charming +little dimples appeared in her plump, rosy cheeks. "Life in your +service is so pleasant, and I love you and my father so dearly, that I +haven't the slightest wish for the constant restlessness and feverish +excitement of a betrothal."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie stood thoughtfully before her. "Tell me, my child, how did you +succeed in forgetting Herr von Ottmar so easily, since you love no one +else?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, your Highness, I did not forget him easily," said Röschen, raising +her large, childlike, blue eyes frankly to Ottilie's face. "I cried a +great deal at first, and thought I should die; but by degrees I saw +that it is a sin to covet anything we know the dear God does not intend +for us; besides, my confessor, Herr Lorenz, represented how hard it +would be for my old father if he was compelled to see his daughter +waste away thus. Then I felt ashamed of myself, went busily to work +again, and broke myself of my useless longing and sighing. Ah, work is +good for everything: it leaves one no time to weep, and at night one is +so tired that sleep conquers all grief. So I soon began to take +pleasure in living again, and thanked God that he had punished my sin +so mildly. Anxiety about poor Albert was the only thing that troubled +me, and now I am relieved even from this. He is a happy man."</p> + +<p class="normal">The princess felt the reproof contained in the young girl's artlessly +prattled philosophy. Her glance fell upon the mirror, and, as if +reflecting the reproach in Röschen's words, it showed cheeks paled by +her long-nourished sorrow, in the sharpest contrast to the bright, +blooming face of the waiting-maid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, you are right," she murmured, at last, gazing at Röschen's +image in the mirror. After a long pause she began, in an almost +expressionless tone, "Have you learned no particulars from Albert as to +whether an acknowledged love exists between the count and the young +girl called the Prison Fairy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Albert does not know it positively, your Highness, but he is almost +sure of it; for ever since the count came back from N---- he has +written to her very often, and seems entirely different from what he +used to be,--much more cheerful and happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie compressed her lips, and involuntarily laid her hand upon her +heart, as if she felt a sudden pang.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does anything hurt you, your Highness? Does the pin I put in there +prick you?" asked Röschen, anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, take it out; it hurts me," said Ottilie, and thought, "Ah, if you +only could!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness, your heart is beating violently! Your Highness is +certainly suffering from that pain in the breast again! If you would +only tell the doctor about it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My good girl, he can do me no good." A short cough interrupted her, +and she glanced smilingly at Röschen's troubled face. "Be calm, my +child, people do not die of such things; and if I should, I shall leave +you a legacy which will support you all your life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness!" exclaimed Röschen, with a deep blush, while the +tears rushed into her eyes. "If your Highness thinks it is only for +that,"--she could say no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Röschen, have I hurt your feelings? Indeed, I did not intend +to do so. Then there is one heart that loves me for myself. God will +reward you for it far better than I. Do not cry: give me my dress."</p> + +<p class="normal">Röschen smiled through her tears, threw the dress over Ottilie's +shoulders, knelt down, and pulled the folds straight. Then she gazed +with childish admiration at her mistress's tall, stately figure. "Ah, +how beautiful your Highness looks now! I cannot imagine that any one +can be handsomer or more noble. Your Highness is so--what shall I call +it?--such a holy apparition."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie smiled involuntarily. "Oh, how delighted your Highness's proud +husband will be when he sees he has obtained such a beautiful wife!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; he must be pleased. He has chosen your Highness without +knowing you. Even if you were ugly, he would still be compelled to keep +you; but if you are beautiful, it is a real piece of good fortune,--a +true gain to him. He will undoubtedly rejoice."</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first time in many days, Ottilie felt tempted to laugh. "You +are a perfect child," said she. "May God preserve your innocence! You +are like a fresh spring day to my soul, and that is of great value to +me. But do you know we have spent two hours in curling hair and +dressing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your Highness; but I can't help it," replied Röschen, +apologetically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no; I know it. Tell me, Röschen, how would you feel if you were +obliged to meet a stranger and greet him as your husband?" asked +Ottilie, with as much apparent unconcern as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, dear me! It must be strange, I think. No doubt it is very hard for +a royal lady that she cannot have her own free choice and take the one +she wants; but she must bear something in return for the many +advantages over others which she enjoys, or she would have everything +quite too pleasant; and every human being must have one sorrow, or he +will not deserve heaven."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very true; but what would you do if you were in my place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, your Highness, if matters had gone so far that I couldn't change +anything, then I would in God's name reconcile myself to them, and make +every effort to become as fond of my betrothed as I could, that I might +have some pleasure in him myself, for it must be terrible to belong to +a man whom one doesn't love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if you cannot love him?" asked Ottilie, with interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should one not love the husband to whom one is wedded in the sight +of God? One can become fond of any worthy man, if one has a kind heart, +like your Highness: and the prince is said to be both handsome and +good. It is better for any one who can choose freely not to betroth +herself to a man whom she doesn't love, or to a stranger; but if one +must take him, and can't get rid of it, one ought to meet him +trustfully and lovingly, that it may be not only outwardly but inwardly +a true Christian marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, we must question the oracle of a simple heart, if in our +over-refinement we wish to find the way to truth and nature," murmured +Ottilie. Her toilet was now complete, and she thought that she looked +better than usual. "If the Lord so wills, he can speak from the lips of +a child!" she thought to herself, for she had received unexpected +consolation from the simple girl who was so greatly her inferior.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment the chamberlain announced the ambassador +extraordinary, Count Ottmar, who requested a private audience to +communicate the wishes of his prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie started at the sound of his name, but moved on with a firm step +to the reception-room where <i>Heinrich</i> awaited her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, princess, for having ventured to request permission to +speak to you once more alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My future husband's messenger must always be welcome to me," said +Ottilie, with stately courtesy.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> looked at her in astonishment. It was difficult for him to +find the precise tone that would harmonize with this address. He was +unaccustomed to such coldness from Ottilie, and felt confused. This did +not escape her delicate feelings, and to fill up the little pause of +embarrassment she motioned him to be seated.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime <i>Heinrich</i> had regained his composure, and began, in a firm, +grave tone: "Your Highness, permit me to speak to you once more in the +language in which I formerly had the happiness of making myself +understood; for the point in question does not merely concern a +commission from the prince, but private relations of a delicate nature +with which it is connected, and which I can only discuss with your +Highness if you will permit me once more, and for the last time, to +approach you as your friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Ottmar," replied Ottilie, in a low but firm voice, "you may be +assured that I am not contemptible enough to seek to deny the existence +of 'relations of a delicate nature' between you and myself, but I must +also expect that you will be considerate enough to say no more about +them than is absolutely necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may be sure of that, princess. I regret that my introduction to +this conversation should have given you cause to fear the reverse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me my bridegroom's message. What can he ask to which I would not +consent in advance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will discharge my duty. The reason I have used so much +circumlocution you will perceive without any further explanation. You +are aware of the misfortune that has befallen Prince Edward. I +telegraphed at once to N----, as my office required, and have just +received from the prince the dispatch I now have the honor to deliver +to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie took the paper, went to the window, and read: "Impossible to +defer the marriage. All the preparations are completed. The whole +country in readiness to give a brilliant reception. Unadvisable to +disappoint the expectations of the nation. If agreeable to the +princess, I appoint Count Ottmar proxy on Prince Edward's place. Count +Ottmar will inform the court at once, etc." Ottilie could read no more: +the remainder concerned only matters of etiquette; the words lost their +meaning, the letters swam before her eyes. She stood motionless as if +struck by a thunderbolt. Every tinge of color faded from her cheeks, +she seemed frozen into a marble statue. She must exchange rings with +Ottmar, be wedded to the man for whom she longed, only to belong to +another; she must vow to be faithful to her husband, and she loved his +proxy. The forms which would have sealed her life-long happiness, had +they been true, now only served to sanction the lie at the thought of +which her heart bled. And yet ought she, as the betrothed bride of +another, to make the humiliating confession to <i>Heinrich</i> that she felt +too weak to bear his presence at the altar?--ought she to give way to +such weakness herself?</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> read these thoughts reflected upon her brow. "I knew this +news must affect you unpleasantly, princess, and therefore preferred to +give you the information privately, that you might be able to tell me +frankly whether it would be agreeable to you to stand before the altar +with me or not. I hope you will understand my 'consideration' now; for +if the inquiry had been made officially, you would not have been able +to offer before the eyes of the world the insult of refusing to accept +me as a substitute. But here, alone, you can tell me if it will be +painful to you to have me beside you; and I will not take the +acknowledgment as a humiliation, but receive it as a sacred confidence, +and find means to delay the progress of affairs without mentioning your +name."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie struggled with her feelings for a moment, and then held out her +hand to him. "I thank you, my friend. Your forbearance is kind and +noble, but it is unnecessary. How could I meet the prince, my husband, +if I had not done with--everything?--if I shrank from this last drop in +the bitter cup? What has been begun must be finished. If I have the +courage to accomplish the great falsehood of my life, it ought not to +fail me in this short, painful comedy. Ought I to rob an expectant +country of its festival of joy, leave its garlands to wither, suffer +its good-will to be transformed into anger, on account of the cowardice +of a sore heart? Ought I not, as the mother of the country, to +understand my duties better? No, no, Ottmar; I am stronger than you +thought. I will go with you to the marriage ceremony; I will think only +of my people, pray for them alone,--my kind people, who are hopefully +expecting me: that will give me strength to bear the mockery of fate +which places my hand in yours,--to part me from you forever." Here +emotion suffocated her voice: she motioned to Ottmar to withdraw, and +turned away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, princess," he cried, "if you knew what grief I feel at the sight +of your silent suffering, at the thought that I am its author, and can +now do nothing, nothing to lessen it! I am an unhappy man, who always +acts solely from egotism, and yet is not bad enough to be able to +witness the result of his deeds coldly and without remorse. No, God is +my witness that I am now speaking the truth, and not acting a part!" He +threw himself on his knees before her. "Forgive me, princess; I have +committed a terrible crime against you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She laid her band gently on his head. "I forgive you all, Ottmar. May +God bless and guide you in the right path!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, springing up. "Then I am to give the +court notice that the marriage will take place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already said so."</p> + +<p class="normal">When <i>Heinrich</i> had closed the door behind him, Ottilie gave free +course to her tears. "Oh, God! oh, God! how much can a heart bear +without breaking?"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">She had told the truth: hers was not one of those natures in which +grief, by a violent assault, swells the veins to bursting, strains the +nerves to their utmost tension, and excites a wild conflict in the +heart; she belonged to those deep, silent characters, which do not have +the strength to offer the resistance which increases it to despair, or +conquers it, but patiently suffer it to obtain complete possession of +them, and conceal it in the deepest recesses of their souls, where it +gently and gradually gnaws away the roots of life. This proceeds from +no lack of strength or courage. They use all their moral power in the +conscientiousness and capacity for self-sacrifice peculiar to them, in +order to accomplish the tasks of superhuman difficulty which fate most +frequently imposes upon these very natures.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie performed such a task when on the following day she went to the +altar with <i>Heinrich</i>, and succeeded in stifling the thought of his +close proximity by fervent prayer. She did not cast a single glance at +his face, but stood as pale and calm as a corpse adorned for the grave. +All were weeping around her, although they could have given no reason +for it, even to themselves. Her manner after the wedding exerted a +sorrowful influence: it seemed to each person who offered her his +congratulations as if he were uttering a lie, and a thrill of +melancholy ran through his whole frame as she bowed her beautiful head +in acknowledgment. With the firmness to which all royal personages are +trained, she went through all the customary ceremonies; but in saying +farewell she could not restrain her tears, and held her uncle's hand +closely clasped in hers as she thanked him for all his kindness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old prince was deeply moved. "Ah, Ottilie," said he, "I fear that +in you my country is losing its good angel. True, I ought not to +complain, since it will obtain great advantages by your marriage; but +they will be no compensation to my heart for you. Farewell! May God +give you happiness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The journey was the greatest martyrdom to Ottilie's weakened nerves; +for she now had not a moment in which she was unwatched. She must guard +every word, every look; she dared not yield to any feelings of +exhaustion or depression. Thus passed a day of torture. Fortunately, +when night came, her bodily fatigue was so great that sleep relieved +her for a few hours from her excitement and anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following day they reached the frontiers of Ottilie's second home. +Here she received a portion of her new court, and dismissed her former +train, with the exception of those who were appointed to a place among +the ranks of her future attendants. The exchange between the old and +new courtiers was a matter of comparative indifference to her, for she +had never expected to find these men anything more than mere +conventional machines. She welcomed one party with the same affability +that she displayed in bidding farewell to the other, without any +special feeling. The cordial reception given her by the country people +in the first little town on the frontier was a joyful surprise, and +when she at last reached the prince's yacht which lay awaiting her and +gave her a royal salute, when she had entered it with her train, and on +a most lovely day floated down the broad stream, past shores adorned +with tokens of welcome, her heart began to swell with the thought, "You +are the mistress of this country. It belongs to you, and its happiness, +its freedom, will perhaps be in your hands." And this ray of hope +cheered her soul for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> watched her with alternate dread and joy, according to the +mood expressed upon her features. It was a great source of anxiety to +him how Ottilie would bear all these exertions. If her strength failed, +if she met the prince as a sickly, feeble woman, all the blame would +fall upon him who had made this match. She still seemed outwardly firm; +but in spite of her faultless bearing it did not escape him that her +breast rose and fell more and more rapidly the nearer she approached +her destination. He would gladly have sustained and animated her spirit +as one seeks to save and protect en expiring light, but the +unapproachable dignity of manner which she had adopted towards him +since her marriage made it impossible, and caused him the greatest +perplexity. The last stage of the journey was reached: he saw her grow +still paler; and she received deputations from the city at which they +had arrived, and some of the highest staff-officers who had come out in +two yachts to meet her, in a voice so faint that the words were +scarcely audible. It was with great anxiety that <i>Heinrich</i> saw the +moment of the meeting between her and the prince approach. And he was +not wrong.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the three steamers left the last stopping-place and glided, calmly +and majestically, side by side down the broad stream, countless boats +adorned with gay streamers put off from both shores and accompanied the +large vessels; on the right and left, before and behind, they assembled +hundreds; as far as the eye could reach there was nothing to be seen +but a moving stream of fluttering pennons. The mistress of ceremonies +signified to Ottilie that she ought to go on deck and show herself to +the people. Scarcely had she done so when a loud cheer rang from +thousands of throats: a greeting from the students, the most promising +young men in the country. And now music rose from the foremost boats, +like an eagle extending its wings above the confused, brilliant throng. +The echo repeated the strains majestically from the rocky shores; a +fresh breeze ruffled the water, and as if borne along by the sound the +boats dashed on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie clung dizzily to the railing of the deck. It seemed as if her +soul must escape from its tenement and soar into eternity upon those +tones, and she gazed with a strange, unearthly expression at the +magnificent spectacle and the sunny air thrilling with the notes of the +music. The sweet sounds blended into a threatening roar, a volley of +artillery! Masts, flags, and steeples appeared in the distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The harbor is close at hand, your Highness," said <i>Heinrich</i>. Ottilie +turned pale: the shadow of death rested upon her face. "Take courage; +compose yourself, or all is lost," he whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">She still stood erect, and he watched her in painful suspense. The +distant steeples became still more distinct; there was a second roar of +artillery from the accompanying yachts,--a third,--the harbor opened +before Ottilie's eyes, and now began the thunder of a hundred guns, +while the ringing of bells floated athwart them in majestic waves of +sound. The boats fell back with a repeated cheer, and the steamers +slowly entered the harbor. The rigging of the ships that lay at anchor +was filled with sailors, who waved their hats and shouted a wild +"hurrah!" A countless throng of people on the edge of the harbor, at +the windows, and on the roofs of the houses, which were gayly adorned +with flowers and tapestry, sent forth their shouts of welcome to +Ottilie, amid the thunder of cannon and the ringing of bells. +Everything swam before her eyes. The impression was too powerful; all +this produced too violent an emotion in her oppressed heart. Yonder +stood a group of gentlemen, the foremost must be the prince just ready +to enter the boat which was to bear him to the ship; a mist gathered +before her eyes, her heart stopped beating, the blood flowed coldly +through her veins: she laid her damp, icy hand upon the shoulder of the +mistress of ceremonies, and tottered. <i>Heinrich</i> caught her by the arm, +and both carried her down into the cabin, where she sank back utterly +unconscious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought so," muttered <i>Heinrich</i>, and went up to receive the prince, +and if possible detain him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mistress of ceremonies knew not what to do, and called the lady's +maid. Röschen appeared and applied the usual restoratives. Ottilie +breathed faintly, but was unable to raise her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The prince is on board," said a chamberlain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God!" moaned Ottilie; and again she trembled violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will not your Highness try to rise?" pleaded the mistress of +ceremonies, in the greatest anxiety; for the prince might now enter at +any moment. Röschen caught her in her arms, the door was thrown open, +and "his Highness" was announced. One last violent effort, and Ottilie +stood erect. The mistress of ceremonies withdrew with Röschen. The +prince entered. Ottilie bowed with her usual stately grace. The +prince's eyes rested with surprise and pleasure upon the beautiful, +although pallid, face. The aroma of aristocracy which surrounded her +was wonderfully pleasing to the man of forms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me to express to your Highness my most heartfelt gratitude for +the confidence with which you intrust your future to me, a stranger; +and receive the assurance that I shall hold so precious a gift as +sacred, and know how to guard it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Twice Ottilie essayed to speak, and twice her voice failed. At last her +tongue obeyed her will, and she began: "Your Highness, the confidence +for which you compliment me so highly is only a fitting tribute that +every noble-minded person must pay to a prince whose political as well +as private life lies open and blameless before the gaze of all. It is +far different with me. My existence has flowed on in silent seclusion. +You know me only from descriptions and from my letters; the latter +might be dictated, the former invented. I myself, my own character, can +alone win for me your esteem, your friendship. Your Highness will +perceive it is only natural that this consciousness should disturb me, +and pardon my embarrassment. Moreover, the kind and magnificent +reception your Highness and the people of the country have bestowed +upon me has moved and confused me deeply. I am not accustomed to such +things. I am well aware that it is not given to my person, but my +position; but I have so identified myself with my new dignity and its +duties that I cannot help taking these festivities to myself, and +allowing their overmastering impression to influence me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince had listened admiringly to the melody and grace of her +language. "Your Highness is in error if you suppose this reception is +given solely to your position. Certain forms of course are +indispensable on such occasions; but a rumor has preceded you, which +not only secured my esteem, but excited the greatest enthusiasm for you +among the people, and this you must have felt. The reception was a +sincere one, and if you had been known the tokens would have become +still more enthusiastic, for I freely confess that your appearance has +surpassed all our expectations, and must win the heart of every one who +sees you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This praise from your lips, your Highness, makes me very proud; for I +believe you far too noble to expect insincere flattery from you in so +solemn an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are perfectly right, princess; the hour in which two human beings, +who are united for life, see each other for the first time, is a very +solemn one, for it holds the key of our whole future. I am therefore +the more joyfully surprised to find in you a nature which opens to me +the hope of a happy marriage. Permit me to believe that at least you do +not feel the contrary to be the case?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie tried to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not answer me," interrupted the prince. "How could I be so +ungallant as to seek to call forth complimentary assurances from a +lady? No, you shall not tell me so; you shall only allow me to feel it. +I shall eagerly await the moment when your eyes will tell me that your +heart has confirmed the choice which destiny imposed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," replied Ottilie, "receive the assurance that I have no +other wish than that of making you and your people happy. I will be an +obedient, and faithful wife, and never ask anything of you except +indulgence. Be assured that I shall never claim any tokens of love from +you. No feeling of affection has united us who are total strangers to +each other; we both yielded to the commands of political necessity. It +depends upon ourselves to lend value to such a tie, to form a more or +less cordial bond of friendship, but not to conjure up emotions which +the heart receives only as revelations. I tell you this, your Highness, +that in your noble chivalrousness you may not think it necessary to +delude yourself and me by the expression of such feelings. I shall have +attained the highest goal of my hopes if you will some day bear witness +that I have not entered your life as a disturbing element, but to bring +a blessing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand your Highness's delicacy of feeling. Your every word +affords me a fresh proof of the treasure I possess in you, and I hope a +bond will be developed between us higher and firmer than one founded on +mere chance sympathy,--a bond of mutual comprehension and unchanging +esteem. Shall it not be so, my Ottilie?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God grant it, your Highness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Etiquette commands that I should now leave your Highness. To-morrow at +the cathedral I shall take pride in presenting you to the nation as its +princess,--as a true princess. Yes, I am proud of my noble wife," he +added, emphasizing the words, while a cold smile gleamed over his +smooth features. He pressed his lips lightly to Ottilie's hand and +withdrew. She stood motionless and exhausted; tears no longer dimmed +her eyes: her destiny was fixed. She now knew the man to whom she +belonged, and what she had to expect from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mistress of ceremonies entered, and again she was forced to add +another link to the chain of self-denial which already rested so +heavily upon her weary shoulders. <i>Heinrich</i> breathed more freely when +the prince's own lips expressed his satisfaction with his choice; +although he regretted his deed, he must still desire it to be crowned +with complete success, since his whole destiny depended upon it. +Moreover, his remorse was not so sincere as he had made Ottilie believe +in their last interview, or even as he had believed himself. It had +unconsciously been heightened by the selfish fear that he had +sacrificed Ottilie uselessly,--uselessly for himself, for he could no +longer doubt that he had been mistaken in her character. She was wholly +changed from what she had been in former days; with the same greatness +of soul which had led her to show her love for him when free, she +concealed it now that she was bound. He perceived that she possessed +one of those deep natures which seize upon all that they believe to be +their appointed destiny with silent, unassuming tenacity of purpose, +and hold it steadfastly to the end. So had she clung to him when she +believed herself marked out for no other fate than to love and suffer; +and now she seemed to cleave with the same self-denial, if not to her +husband, to the duties of her new vocation. Here was the solution of +his false reckoning; and he now quickly came to the conclusion that he +had nothing more to hope from her for the furtherance of his ambition +than any other; that she would even consider it a needful victory +over herself not to favor him. Thus he had now accomplished an act +which he must despise as one of the most horrible results of his +selfishness,--robbed himself of a friend to whom he might have fled in +every vicissitude of life; he had solved so many difficult problems in +politics and love, ruled the most reserved and haughtiest women, +struggled victoriously with the first intellects of his court, but by +the simple greatness of her character his plan was baffled,--because he +knew only the strength of her love, not the power of her virtue. +Ottilie was a complete contrast to himself; with all his intellect he +could not understand a character destitute of all, even the most +necessary selfishness; and thus he was at last compelled to confess +himself vanquished by the power of a goodness in which he had never +believed. He pitied Ottilie as the martyr of exaggerated ideas, and +felt that across the barriers of this loyal "prejudice" no sympathizing +intercourse could ever take place between them. He was now thrown +entirely upon himself and Cornelia; he did not possess even one friend, +for he lacked the only foundations of friendship,--unselfishness and +confidence. Cornelia alone now captivated his sensual as well as his +intellectual nature. She was the last and only thing left him, and the +secretly lonely and dissatisfied man clung to her with all the strength +of his life. The hours during which he was compelled to attend the +marriage festivities dragged slowly and painfully.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">XVI.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE TWO BETROTHED BRIDES</h3> + +<p class="normal">Meantime Cornelia awaited him in her quiet salon, where the roses +always bloomed like eternal lamps of love. She was alone. Veronica's +health had become somewhat delicate of late, and she was taking an +afternoon nap in her room. Cornelia hoped to receive <i>Heinrich's</i> first +glance unobserved. She had spent the three days since Ottilie's arrival +in idle dreams, longings, and expectations, and had sought solitude +that Veronica might not perceive her indolence. It was impossible for +her to fix her attention upon anything except the one thought,--"He +will soon arrive." She had never believed that any one could spend +three whole days in such complete inaction. She did not go out, even to +visit the prison, lest she should miss him, and thanked God when any +one rang the bell, because she had the pleasure of fancying for a +moment that it was he. To-day this satisfaction had fallen to her lot +very rarely; the street and house were silent, and she walked +impatiently up and down the smooth inlaid floor, played with the roses, +made an old mandarin nod his head, incessantly looked into the glass to +see whether she would please her lover, threw herself on the yellow +sofa, and fancied he was beside her; thought of a thousand things she +wanted to tell him, took up one of the faded velvet-covered albums, +turned the leaves without reading a word, and at last started up in +joyful surprise, for the bell was now really pulled, and so violently, +so impatiently,--it must be he. She hurried into the antechamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you if any one comes," said the old servant, as sulkily as +if he knew whom Cornelia expected, and walked slowly on to open the +door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia retired in great embarrassment, and waited behind the +folding-doors. Yes, it was the well-known step upon the stairs, along +the corridor; he was approaching. The blissful certainty overwhelmed +her with suffocating violence, and now she could see nothing, for two +eager arms had clasped her and pressed her closely to a throbbing +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a moment of silence, a moment when the world seemed to be +hushed, and divinity itself listened in delight to the sweetest +language given to the human heart,--the mute language of love. Then +<i>Henri's</i> lips sought her own, and softly, softly she whispered a +thousand sweet names; but every word died in a kiss; and thus words and +caresses struggled long in a secret conflict for the mastery.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me look at you," said Cornelia, at last; and drawing back, took +his head between her hands and raised it. "You have grown handsomer; +you look milder, graver, and yet happier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is my love for you, Cornelia. If the features take the impress of +the soul, I must become more and more like you. You are so perfect, +Cornelia, that your Creator in his delight over his work wished to make +a copy of you; and see, he chose me! My soul is nothing more than the +background upon which the finger of God has engraved your image."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ob, noble spirit, you always give the fairest expression of every +feeling,--earth and heaven are open to your flight! Will you now linger +with me? Do I hold this dear head clasped in my hands? Dare I call you +mine, and kiss the brow on which you are enthroned?" asked Cornelia, in +dreamy delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, Cornelia, the spirit is yours, for you have been the first +to awaken it. Lay the head that contains it on your breast, let your +hand rest lovingly upon it, and it will disdain heaven and earth, and +linger here, here on this one sweet spot forever, forever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stooped and pressed a kiss upon Cornelia's heart. Blushing deeply, +she laid her clasped hands upon his dark hair and raised her eyes in an +ecstasy of love. "Oh, God, one who had denied thee throughout a whole +lifetime must acknowledge thee in such an hour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You pious priestess, priestess of a religion whose blessings I +gratefully feel at this moment, shall I tell you how I pray to +you,--yes, pray fervently and devoutly? I know that in you I possess +the greatest blessing earth can offer, and that I do not deserve it. If +I had not found it I should have gone to destruction; but you will lead +me back from the exhausted pleasures of the world to pure nature, to +truth and simplicity of heart. A new day breaks upon me through +you,--an Easter-day,--for in you my better self celebrates its +resurrection. Your breath is the fresh air of morning, the dawn glows +upon your cheeks, and in your eyes beams the sunrise of a happiness +never known before. Come, let me inhale your breath. Ah, youth, purity, +and strength emanate from you to revive and cheer!" He again pressed +his lips to hers for a moment. "Now," he continued, "the whole man is +exclusively and entirely yours, yours forever; do with him whatever you +choose, for he has no longer any claim to a life which you alone +preserved to him, and which without you would have been lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall, what can, I say to you in return for such words? Not I, +but you yourself took the new flight which has made you so dear to me. +What could I be to you? What influence could the few moments we have +spent together exert?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if I should ask you the same question, and inquire how you could +love me in so short a time, what would you reply?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, that love and mutual understanding do not depend upon time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The case is precisely the same with me, my child. Years of study and +intercourse are not necessary to understand a superior nature. A few +traits enable it to be characterized, single extremes allow its full +compass to be measured, and as one accord contains the elements of +music, so it can easily reveal to the observer the keynotes of its +soul; and you did this. Wherever I struck, it echoed. I know the whole +scale of your nature, although a thousand sweet harmonies which may be +formed from it are still concealed from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me, <i>Heinrich</i>, how long have you loved me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since, since--permit me to answer you with the most common of all +forms of speech,--since the first time I saw you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since our meeting in the prison?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I cannot tell you what a powerful impression I received from you. +I was astonished! Your boldness, your disregard of my dignity, your +philanthropic enthusiasm, so entirely devoid of all affectation and +sentimentality, aroused the greatest admiration, and your beauty +excited my love. Had you been merely beautiful, I should only have +desired you; but since you showed an equal intellect, I love you, and +loved you from the beginning as I never did any other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you never loved any other?" asked Cornelia. She had seated herself +upon the sofa, and he took a chair beside her. She folded her arms upon +the little barrier the broad side of the divan formed between them, and +they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I never loved any other," repeated <i>Henri</i>. "If you fully realized +your own value, you would not look at me so incredulously. You would +know that you must be loved differently from the commonplace girls with +whom people can only trifle, whose insignificance renders all serious +conversation impossible. There is nothing which continues to keep a +woman interesting to a man except <i>originality</i>; and before I knew you +I almost despaired of finding it. The female mind cannot reach the +perception of things by the established, endlessly long path marked out +for it; it has not sufficient perseverance, cannot keep pace with man. +Most women pause half-way, with the goal before their eyes, but unable +to reach it; they then become weary, disgusted with the world, and +consume themselves in idle longings, which they at last permit some +friend to heal. Others turn into by-paths of fruitless scholarship, and +wonder aimlessly to and fro; such persons become utterly disagreeable, +a terror to every man, for they enter into a sort of intellectual +competition with him, which is charmless and a mere waste of time, +because there is no true honorable victory to be obtained in such an +unequal struggle. The true womanly nature knows the extent of her +powers; she does not strive for things too far beyond her, for she +cheerfully makes out her own object and builds her own path to it. This +unthinking exercise of natural instincts, this radiance of free, pure +thought, beaming from a youthful brow, is extremely refreshing, and +while I am with you I regret every moment that I cannot philosophize +with you about everything in earth or heaven. But the mouth which +speaks so wisely is far too sweet, and so my senses are constantly +battling with my intellect. I cannot kiss you without wishing you were +talking, and I cannot hear you speak without wanting to kiss you. Is +not this an unfortunate contradiction?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ought it not to be harmonized? Cannot people be both sensible and +affectionate?" asked Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my angel! In your presence I have not the necessary calmness," +said <i>Henri</i>, involuntarily casting down his eyes. "Clearness of +thought requires cool blood; and when I am so near you, when your sweet +breath floats over me, and your warm hand rests in mine, my heart +throbs violently, and sends the blood so quickly through my veins, that +I can think of nothing but you and my ardent love!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not look at me so fiercely! Your kindling eyes pierce my soul +until I cannot help blushing. You do not know how terribly your glances +flash. I do not fear you, but a strange horror overwhelms me when I see +you thus. I feel myself a match for the spirit that darts menacing +looks from those eyes, and a shudder thrills my soul as the wind +rustles gently through the banners before a battle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you are belligerently disposed towards me, Cornelia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed; except when you are in your present mood then, I know, I +shall often be compelled to uphold my standard against you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what standard might that be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That of gentleness, truth: in one word, virtue," she said, simply and +firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think me destitute of them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Understand me correctly. You have a multitude of great and +lovable qualities which distinguish you from the million,--a multitude +of <i>virtues</i>, but not the <i>virtue</i> which we designate by one word, and +in an indivisible sense. A person may not possess nearly as many noble +traits, and yet be far more virtuous than you. Virtue is the pure, +conscious will which unites the scattered capacities for good, and +matures them to moral actions; and this quality you lack."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar had become very grave. <i>Henri</i> was present no longer: <i>Heinrich</i> +had taken his place. Cornelia laid her head upon his hands, and said, +in a tone of the fondest affection: "Now you are so quiet and cold, +have I vexed you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my child; but you have given me something to think about, which +makes me grave. You women have a wonderful talent for moralizing. Your +conscience wishes to make up for the too great indulgence of your +hearts, and therefore you are the sternest censors of the man you +love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We women? Have you said the same thing to other women?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only one except yourself; but her theories were repellent. She gave me +no proof in her own person that she possessed a cheering power in her +own nature. She was a sad, pale, melancholy vision, so her influence +over me also faded; yet, I shall always hold her memory sacred."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who was she? Heinrich, a shadow has fallen upon your mood: who was it +you mourn for as a departed spirit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A poor creature, whose suffering constantly pervades all my joys, +whose misery always appears greater to me the more my own happiness +increases, the more I learn to believe in the might of true feeling. +Yes, yes, Cornelia, you are right; I may have virtues, but they +principally exist in the fact that I can still regret the virtue I +lack. Oh, if I could but cast aside my past with all its errors and +reproaches, like the cocoon of a butterfly, and soar forth in freedom +as a new, winged, purified creature!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you the name of the unhappy woman about whom remorse +is now torturing you," began Cornelia, after a pause of earnest +thought,--"it is Princess Ottilie."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> started up. "Girl! How did such an idea enter your head?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked at him intently. "It is so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who told you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought of it myself. Ottilie imposed inviolable secrecy upon +Röschen; what motive induced her to do so if she did not love you? What +duty led Princess Ottilie to spare Herr von Ottmar except a tender +obligation of the heart? All this, however, might be explained; but I +was at the harbor when you arrived, I saw the princess turn pale, saw +you approach anxiously and whisper a few words, perceived how, with a +glance at you, she composed herself, how earnestly you watched her, and +at last sprang to her assistance as if the whole responsibility of +caring for her devolved upon you alone. I saw this lady was +experiencing some great inward conflict; and your anxiety showed that +you were aware of it. I felt there was some silent, mutual bond between +you,--in what it exists I know not, but it does exist; and if I make it +agree with what you have just said, then, <i>Heinrich</i>, I fear you have +great cause for self-reproach."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have watched me with the eyes of love, and formed a tolerably +clear idea of the true state of affairs. It would be useless to deny +your guess, you would still believe it. In such matters one can deceive +the world, but not the instinct of a clever woman. What shall I say to +you?--spare me further particulars concerning things which are not my +secret. I will freely confess that, with the exception of yourself, she +was my only friend,--that I owe her much and shall always pity her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor lady!" said Cornelia, softly. "If she loves you, she is greatly +to be pitied, for she can never forget you,--never be happy again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does your own heart tell you that, Cornelia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Whoever has once felt the magic of your nature can never love +another, and is bound to you for life; the whole world contains nothing +nobler than yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> took her hands and pressed them to his breast. "Dearest, you +are my happiness and my salvation! Cornelia, I love you. I would fain +breathe forth my life in those few words: 'I love you!" Cornelia felt +that tears were dimming her eyes, and tried to conceal them. "Oh, do +not be ashamed of these tears! Happy is the human being who can weep. +Teach me the lesson too, and you will have accomplished what not even +God could do!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if I should succeed, <i>Heinrich</i>, it would still be only by the +help of God, who blessed my efforts. He will let me find means to do +so, if he wishes to raise you by my hand. Do not smile. I cannot help +calling the power to which you give a thousand titles by the name of +God; cannot intentionally fail in my duty to him. I cannot live without +this God,--may not deny him. When I was a child he stood beside my bed +and I could talk to him. I associated with him all my thoughts of my +father; my mother appeared to me beautiful and radiant in his heavenly +majesty, I have so often folded my little hands reverently and thought +he heard me; and am I now to believe the soulless air wafted my fervent +prayer away,--that so much love, so much devotion, was lavished an a +phantom? Oh, my childish faith has increased with my growth!--it has +somewhere become part of my nature; for if I try to separate from it, a +pang passes through my soul, and I feel that some spiritual nerve, the +connecting link between God and myself, is wounded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a woman, Cornelia, and it would be wicked to cast a word of +doubt into the sanctuary of your pious heart. We have already spoken of +this matter once, and you almost made me an enthusiast."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it really so?" interrupted Cornelia. "Oh, if you confess that, much +is gained, and I shall henceforth work upon your 'enthusiasm'! You +know, <i>Heinrich</i>, that natures like ours are always set apart from the +rest of mankind. Life often becomes unendurable; reverses of fortune +may occur which even philosophy can no longer help us to bear, and we +can nowhere find a home. Then it is fortunate if we can flee from earth +to that wonderland of fancy, our inalienable home. There are sorrows, +too, <i>Heinrich</i>, which cannot endure the classical training of an empty +doctrine, and which, destroying everything in their course, dash wildly +over us. Then the soul grasps for some support, and in its agony +shrieks for a God; and if there were none, it would create him for +itself, that its cry for help might not echo back from an empty void. +But such a self-created God gives no comfort, but jeers at you +mockingly, like the spectre of your own agony, and melts away before +your eyes, while the true God cannot approach to comfort you, for you +do not believe in him, and only by faith does he work his miracles." +Cornelia paused; for <i>Heinrich</i> was on his knees before her with his +face buried in her lap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If in such an hour I still have you, I need no God!" he exclaimed, +fairly beside himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not blaspheme!" pleaded Cornelia "And suppose you did not have +me? Suppose it should be God's will to separate us, and you were +alone,--entirely alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, how can you think of such a thing while you clasp me in your +arms? If we should lose each other, what should I become? An embodied +negation, separated from all connection with mankind, withered in mind +and body,--a living corpse, to which the world is only a grave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Heinrich</i>, dear, dear <i>Heinrich</i>! you inspire me with both compassion +and horror! Oh, banish these gloomy spirits from your mind, and become +light-hearted and gentle! Fate is not subdued by threats and +blasphemies; the ground on which happiness willingly builds its nest +must be firm and peaceful, not trembling with volcanic shocks and +rumbling with peals of thunder. Come, be gentle; such wicked words suit +your delicate mouth. Smile again; Veronica will soon wake up, and then +we can no longer express our love in fond caresses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is true!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>; "let us enjoy the moment while +we may." And it was <i>Henri</i> who now threw himself upon the sofa beside +Cornelia and drew her closely to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. His eyes were beaming with +ardent feeling; a warmer color tinged his cheeks; his mouth, +half-pouted for a kiss was irresistibly alluring. "It often seems as if +you changed places with some one, and in an instant became an entirely +different man. I never saw such sudden alterations of mood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, do not speak! kiss me!" pleaded <i>Henri</i>. "Darling, how I have +longed for those lips! Many a night have I tossed as if in a fever, +thirsting, yearning for you. Did you think of me when you went to +rest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, a thousand times. I have never fallen asleep without calling +'Good-night, <i>Heinrich</i>!' and the words became my nightly prayer. I +shall never forget it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How beautiful! What time do you say it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At eleven: when I am in bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In future I shall always say, 'Pleasant dreams, Cornelia!' You will +remember it, won't you, my darling?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I shall," she whispered, pressing her cheek close to his.</p> + +<p class="normal">Light, scarcely audible footsteps approached. Cornelia started up. +"Veronica is coming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The door slowly opened, and she entered, kindly as ever, but pale, as +if there was not a drop of blood in her sunken features. Her slender +figure seemed still more shrunken, and there was not a tinge of color +about the ghostly apparition except the light-blue ribbon upon her +white cap. The lovely eyes were more hollow, more lustreless, than in +former days; the silvery curls drooped more negligently about her face. +<i>Henri</i> perceived a change in her, and as it soon became evident that +there was no alteration in her intellectual powers it must be a bodily +one. In such delicate equable natures all secret changes give very +faint external tokens of their existence, and it requires a watchful, +practiced eye to detect them. Cornelia was too mach preoccupied with +her own feelings, the slight, gradual alterations in Veronica's +appearance did not attract her attention; but <i>Henri</i>, who had not seen +her for a long time, noticed them at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear count, I did not know you were here, or I should not have +yielded to the heavy slumber which always overpowers me now. I must beg +you to excuse me, but I have no doubt Cornelia has entertained you so +well that you have not missed me. Besides, age no longer harmonizes +with youth. It is too dull for the sympathy and susceptibility required +to enter into the rapidly changing details of a conversation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not say that!" pleaded <i>Henri</i>. "With your fresh intellect one +can accommodate one's self to every form of change; but it would be +uncourteous to Fräulein Cornelia, if I did not say that I am indebted +to her for a most delightful hour." He smilingly took her hand and +pressed it warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica looked earnestly at them both, and <i>Henri</i> noticed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you satisfied with my influence over your Cornelia? Is she not +once more as blooming as a rose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I am very grateful to you for your friendship, my dear count! But, +Cornelia, you are not only blooming, you are fairly glowing to-day. You +must have been talking very earnestly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia's blushes grew still deeper at this remark. She glanced at +<i>Henri</i>; he was apparently gazing irresolutely into vacancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter, my child? Does your head ache? You really make me +uneasy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia started up and threw herself at Veronica's feet. "No, I cannot +bear it; I could keep silent, but I cannot lie. Veronica, forgive my +past reserve,--it was painful enough to me but now you question me, I +will tell you the truth. Veronica, must I speak plainly? Yes, yes, it +is as you think."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> was in a state of painful embarrassment, and thought to +himself, "Who can teach a woman to be silent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica sat speechless and clasped her trembling hands. After a pause +<i>Henri</i> approached and touched Cornelia's head. "Here is all the +happiness that earth contains. You will not refuse it to me, my +motherly friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have wished and thought that this might be, but now it has happened +I am so greatly startled that I can scarcely speak!" Overpowered by her +emotion, she clasped Cornelia in her arms. "My child, my only one, my +all, whom I have so faithfully cherished, I confide you to the +protection of this noble man, and am perfectly assured that he will +make you happy. Come, my son, and receive my blessing." She laid her +clasped hands upon his brow. "May God be merciful unto you and bless +you, and show you the light of his countenance and be merciful unto +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The last words died upon her lips; the emotion was too great. She sank +back, while <i>Henri</i> and Cornelia affectionately supported her. The +latter was deeply agitated. She now perceived, for the first time, in +what a frail shell this beloved life was contained, by what feeble +threads it was still bound to earth, and hot tears rolled down her +cheeks. <i>Henri</i> himself was not wholly destitute of sympathy. He +esteemed Veronica, and understood Cornelia's feeling. At last she +regained her consciousness, and gazed at them with her loving eyes. +"Have I alarmed you? I most sincerely regret it; but my life has long +flowed an so calmly and equably that I am unaccustomed to all emotion. +But, dear Cornelia, you must remember the possibility of my leaving +you. Do not weep; let the consciousness that you have never cost me a +single sorrowful hour console you. You have developed a lofty, free, +and noble nature, and yet always given me the submissive heart of a +child; have spared my weaknesses, and never permitted me to feel how +far you had risen above me. God will reward you for it. And now that my +last wish is fulfilled, and I know you are safe in the arms of your +betrothed, I can cheerfully depart to my sainted lover."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not talk so, Veronica!" pleaded Cornelia. "You are strewing +wormwood over this blissful hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my child? You do not grudge me the peace contained in the thought +of death, and I feel that the time which separates me from my betrothed +is drawing to a close. If you only knew how I rejoice over it! We have +been obliged to wait for long years,--he there and I here; but a human +life is but a short span compared to eternity. We shall meet again, and +our temporary separation will only be an interruption, not the +destruction of our intercourse."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed silently into vacancy. The grave conversation had +brought <i>Heinrich</i> into <i>Henri's</i> place. "It is a beautiful and +enviable faith," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which you do not share, because you are a man, and still young; but, I +assure you, the older we grow the thinner becomes the partition our +earthly bodies form between our immortal souls and eternity, and single +rays from the other shore often fall through. This gives to us old +people the religious trust at which you young philosophers smile."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not laugh at it, Veronica," said <i>Heinrich</i>; "but I think you +have yet many years to enjoy life and our happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it is as God wills. I will gladly live and gladly die,--both are +welcome to me."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> looked at her in astonishment. "Fortunate is the person who +can say that, and contemplate with equal serenity the day and night of +existence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough of this grave subject; tell me, my son, how soon you wish to +take Cornelia away? I shall miss her so terribly that I dread the +thought of losing her, and really do not know how I am to live without +her."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> bit his lips. "Calm yourself; unfortunately, I cannot call +her mine as soon as I would gladly do, and must even request you to +keep our engagement a secret for the present. My position at the court +is just now in a very important crisis. This must first be decided +before I can establish a home here. There are a thousand things to be +considered, a thousand little difficulties to remove, and six months +may elapse before my affairs are settled. So you will have Cornelia +longer than I like, for if it depended only upon myself I would take +her in my arms to-morrow, and show her to the envious world as my +dearest possession."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, dear Ottmar," said Veronica; "but I only wonder that +you, who have stood so firmly in your office, should suddenly find +yourself in a crisis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately it is so. The ministry is now engaged upon new laws, +which, if unapproved, will lead to a change of ministers, and perhaps I +may also fall a victim. This is an important time in my life, which +claims all my activity and attention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God that I am permitted to keep my angel so long! You are very +sensible, my son, to wish to wait until after this epoch. Besides, a +marriage made outside the limits of the most aristocratic circles will +not be very favorably received at court, and it is, therefore, best to +keep the matter secret until your position has been confirmed anew."</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation was beginning to be painful to <i>Heinrich</i>, and the +striking of the great clock afforded him a welcome pretext for rising +and pleading the necessity of attending a court soirée. He bade +Veronica farewell, and begged Cornelia to accompany him to the door. +The young girl was grave and quiet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not grieve about Veronica, my child," he said, in the antechamber; +"it is the way of all old people, to talk continually about dying,--she +may live a long time still."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think so too," replied Cornelia; "but I feel oppressed. It is like +the plants whose leaves droop after being exposed to too much sunlight. +I was too happy just now,--there must be a reaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what troubles you, my angel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it is nothing that can be changed. The thought of being so much +your inferior that such strict secrecy is needful grieves me. To +conceal from the world the beautiful emotion that fills my breast, +perhaps even often be compelled to profane it by a falsehood, is +painful; but do not let it grieve you,--I shall soon conquer this +mood."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> drew her to his breast, and stroked her luxuriant hair. "My +own sweet love, I understand you. But consider that this burdensome +constraint is only imposed upon us for a <i>short</i> time, and that it also +has its good side. I can say no more than I wrote in my letter. As +regards making the affair public, you see, by what Veronica says, the +necessity of the precautions I am compelled to take. Come, love, smile +upon me again; do not let me go with the knowledge that you are +sorrowful." He took her hand and placed it on his heart. "Do you feel +that its every throb is yours?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia threw her arm around his neck, and gazed intently into his +face; but he closed her eyes with kisses, and left the house. She went +to the window and watched her lover's tall figure as he strode away. No +one could bear himself more proudly, no one could hold his head more +haughtily erect. Now he met an acquaintance, removed his hat slowly and +condescendingly, and continued his way without glancing up, for he +seemed to have noticed that the gentleman was looking after him. It +wounded Cornelia, and when the latter raised his eyes to the window she +blushed with a strange feeling of shame and retreated. She would not go +to Veronica; something in her mood demanded solitude, so she leaned +back on one of the ancient carved chairs and gazed thoughtfully at the +dark oak wainscoting on the walls. Twilight spread its shadows over +her,--twilight also brooded over her soul, and she knew not whether it +would change into night or day. Why should she feel ashamed because +that stranger looked after Ottmar and then glanced at her? why should +it cause her pain because Ottmar passed on without looking? Secrecy +made this caution necessary. It required that he should deny her in the +presence of the first chance-comer, that she should steal a glance at +her lover like a thief in the night, and blush if surprised in the act, +as if she were doing wrong. How painful! how humiliating! But was this +secrecy really needful? Were the reasons he alleged sufficient and +strong enough not to be vanquished by the strength of a genuine, manly +love? Ought he not to sacrifice everything to spare her such a +humiliation? How far would his marriage with her, with their mutual +fortunes, be dependent upon a crisis in office? What induced the ardent +lover to consent to this patient waiting? Could his private relations +exert a disturbing influence upon his position as a servant of the +government? What made him so timid, if it was not the fear of +forfeiting his place at court by a mesalliance with a plebeian, the +daughter of a republican? But what would the delay of a few months +avail?--would not the marriage be precisely the same at whatever time +it occurred? If he feared that, he would <i>never</i> dare to wed her. She +fell into a deep reverie. Suddenly her eyes flashed, and she held +her breath as if the very air was poisoned. Suppose he should be +false?--suppose the dread of prejudicing himself should be stronger +than his integrity? She could not doubt his love, for his ardor had +already made her tremble. Suppose he wished to plunge her into the same +abyss that had engulfed so many others? suppose the reports concerning +him were true, and he should prove false, terribly, fiendishly false? +Yet scarcely was the suspicion born ere her whole nature rose against +it in all its strength. What a monster you are to have the thought of +such baseness arise in your young brain! Is your imagination so corrupt +that the most sacred thing is not too holy to be thus sullied? Her +horror was now not of him, but of herself. He was not the traitor, but +she,--she who could cherish so disgraceful a doubt, whose love was not +strong enough to crush it in the bud; she had betrayed him in her own +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">She started up, rushed into her room, and lighted a lamp; then in the +anguish of her soul threw herself on the floor before his picture,--the +same one she had received from Fräulein Hedwig. Her eyes wandered over +the sketch and strove to animate the mute features and unravel their +mystery; in vain, the solution was concealed in her own breast, and +everything there was confused and gloomy. Thus, tortured by doubts of +him and of herself, she was at last attracted towards the pure, +faithful heart of her foster-mother. She entered the tea-room and found +Veronica sitting with her clasped hands resting in her lap, absorbed in +sorrowful thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you come at last, my darling? You have left your old Veronica +alone a long time. But I understand it. In this solemn hour you must +first be at peace with yourself. You happy, fortunate child!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia threw herself upon a stool at Veronica's feet, and asked, +cautiously, for she did not wish this unprejudiced mind to catch a +glimpse of her troubled soul, "Do you believe in <i>Heinrich</i> as firmly +as I do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Veronica. "I think he has given us sufficient +proof that he is a man of honor."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old servant brought a lamp and the musical urn into the room; +Veronica took out her knitting-work, and as they sat so quietly +together with the sweet melodies circling round them with the rising +steam, the memory of the evening of their first unseen meeting rose +gently before Cornelia's mind with all its magic and blessedness. Her +excited nerves grew calm, her mood dissolved in tears. She remembered +so many lofty words, so many glances full of true nobility of feeling. +All those fair moments passed before her. With what joyful affection he +had met her that day! Can one who has any evil design be so frank, so +confident? Oh, if he should suspect how she had doubted him!</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think it necessary to keep our love a secret?" she asked, at +last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, my child," said Veronica, calmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To me it is only very painful," murmured Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be; but it is something that happens a thousand times. You +must be reasonable. We cannot know that he is not in the act of +obtaining a higher position, and in that case his engagement with you +would be an obstacle in his way. Therefore he must deny it until the +expected promotion is secured; then only he can venture to defy all the +prejudices of his circle and take you for his wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not see what his private relations should have to do with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Cornelia, you speak as if you knew nothing of the world! Are you +not yet aware how much personal matters are taken into consideration in +these circles? Besides, we cannot conceal from ourselves that you bear +a name with which the most unfortunate political associations are +connected. Perhaps he also hopes that in the course of time our noble +princess may exert a softening influence upon our strict aristocracy, +and wishes to await this favorable opportunity. There are a thousand +things to be considered, and it is very delicate in him to conceal them +from us. You are a young, enthusiastic hot-head, and always want to +fight your way through to your ideal; he a steady, experienced man who +takes things as they are, and yields to them with prudent self-control. +I would far rather trust you to such a character than a fanatical +reformer, like your unhappy father."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia listened with delight to this argument in favor of what she +herself most ardently desired. Veronica was so calm, so confident, and +she was not blinded by love; should not this restore all the peace of +confidence? Oh, if her deeply injured lover were only here, that she +might implore his pardon for the wrong she had done him! How she would +embrace him if he came to-morrow! how happy she would be with him!</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica's voice roused her from these thoughts and dreams. "Let us +take tea, Cornelia; I am very tired and would like to get up early +to-morrow morning to go to church. I long to raise my heart to God."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia silently obeyed. When tea was over Veronica went to bed, and +Cornelia, who had helped her undress, knelt before her. "I thank you, +dear Veronica, for having been so kind to me and <i>Heinrich</i>; I thank +you also, at this turning-point of my life, for all the love with which +you have treated me as a daughter, and made me a good and happy +creature. I can never repay you for it, but your clear eyes look into +my heart and see what no words can express." Overpowered by her +emotion, she pressed Veronica's hand to her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my child! my dear, dear child! God knows how fully, how richly, +this hour repays me for all I have done! What better things can one +purchase than a hand to close one's eyes, and a warm tear to fall upon +one's grave? This is a happiness which comprehends the joys of a whole +life,--and for this I thank you. Good-night, my child."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia embraced her and went to her own room with tearful eyes. As +she reached it she heard Veronica call, and went back. The latter held +out her arms. "Let me press you to my heart once more. God bless you, +joy of my old age! Good-night. Wake me to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia remained awake for a long time. Veronica's manner had roused a +feeling of subdued melancholy. Besides, the wonderful day must be lived +over anew, its discords harmonized, its joys and sorrows interwoven +with her inner nature, ere dreams could be permitted to lead her into +another kingdom.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was broad daylight when, after a short slumber, she rose and went to +wake Veronica.</p> + +<p class="normal">The little dusky sleeping-room was cosy and silent. Single shafts of +sunlight stole through the closely-drawn green curtains and flickered +over the hangings of Veronica's bed. No sound of breathing, no motion, +disturbed the stillness of this sanctuary of slumber. Cornelia softly +entered and stood for a long time before the bed; she was loth to +disturb the peaceful silence in which Veronica reposed. But she had +requested it, and it must be done. She drew the curtains slowly aside. +There she lay, apparently lost in pleasant dreams, but--was it the +green light?--pallid as a corpse! Cornelia took her hand. Oh, God, how +chill! "Veronica, dear Veronica, wake!" In vain; in her slumber she had +passed into another life. The pale face seemed in death to wear a +smile, to greet the loved one for whom she had always lived and so +confidently expected to meet again. Her death was as peaceful as her +life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wake me to-morrow," were her last words. "Oh, if I could only do so!" +sobbed Cornelia, sinking upon her knees as if utterly crushed.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">XVII.</a></h2> + +<h3>INSNARED</h3> + +<p class="normal">Anton was fastening a new order upon Ottmar's court dress, when the +latter violently pulled his bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's unbearable!" grumbled the old servant as he took the last stitch +and hurried in with the uniform.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> was striding impatiently up and down the room. "Are you +ready at last? Give it to me; make haste, and let me get off. I have no +time to lose."</p> + +<p class="normal">The dressing was quickly finished. "The new star is magnificent," said +Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> looked at his image in the mirror with the satisfaction of a +man who knows he is handsome, and reckons his beauty among his own +merits, as if he had compelled nature to give him the form he desired.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must go to Cornelia after dinner and show myself to her. She +understands and values my beauty better than any one else," he thought, +pushing the order straight. "Besides, it will do no harm to let her see +some of my importance as a courtier; old Veronica takes the matter too +easily. It is not I, but she, who lulls the dear creature into dreams +for which I am not responsible. It is not I who deceive her, but +Veronica, when she assumes as a matter of course assurances I never +gave; and yet I cannot, by a premature contradiction, destroy my whole +happiness. I would far rather resolve to verify them, if there could be +no other arrangement." A ray of sunlight fell upon the diamonds in his +order and made them glitter. "Do you wish to warn me, you star of +honor, that you sparkle so? No, I will not forget you. Let others yearn +for the stars of you unattainable distance; my earthly wishes depend +upon you, that you may not pale before the sun, but with your rays make +your chosen one shine forth from the darkness of obscurity, and +distinguish him from the masses. With you on my heart, and Cornelia's +love within it, what do I need more?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A servant announced that the carriage was waiting.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> took his gold-embroidered hat, and smiling, threw himself +upon the soft cushions. The beautiful white horses tossed their heads, +and dashed away through sunlit avenues and crowds of gayly-dressed +foot-passengers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dinner, the first which had been given since the marriage, was +magnificent. The court displayed its greatest splendor. Ottilie herself +was one of the most stately personages who ever graced a throne. +Although no smile rested upon her lips, she did the honors in a most +winning manner, and was gracious even to <i>Heinrich</i>, although no more +so than to all others. The prince, however, treated him with marked +distinction, and once whispered, casting a well-pleased glance at +Ottilie, "You were right; she is a real princess." The princes, +princesses, and courtiers who were present followed their master's +example and loaded Ottmar with civilities; had never been so attractive +or so much admired. He stood at the zenith of his favor at court; and +when, after the dinner was over, he drove to Cornelia, he scarcely saw +that it was already dusk, so brightly did the lights, the white necks, +the sparkling glances, the diamonds, and the gold-embroidered uniforms +still gleam before his eyes; glittering silken robes rustled around +him; smiling faces looked forth longingly from behind costly bouquets. +The material comfort of the moment was too great not to rouse the other +half of his nature. <i>Henri</i> alighted when the carriage stopped. He +pulled the bell, and the door of the silent house slowly opened. The +staircase was dark. The black form of a servant glided by and ushered +him into the anteroom. The salon stood open; he entered. It, too, was +dark and empty; everything was in disorder: the furniture was pushed +back, and there were no roses blooming on the flower-stand. <i>Henri</i> +felt strangely oppressed. The gloomy silence ill suited his mood. A +glimmer of light and a dull murmur of voices penetrated through a door +which was partly ajar. He opened it, and stood as if rooted to the +spot. Several women were engaged in dressing a corpse. <i>Henri</i> pressed +his hand to his brow; was he awake, or did some dream torture him with +its sudden changes, in order to show him in a single hour the splendor +of the world and the end of all lives? Just at that moment Cornelia, +who had been completely absorbed in her mournful occupation, suddenly +perceived him, came forward in her mourning robes, looking very pale +and languid, and drew him aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Cornelia," said <i>Henri</i>, kissing her tearful eyes, "what has +happened since yesterday? I can scarcely trust my senses. What a +contrast!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, <i>Heinrich</i> thank God, you have come at last! Ever since early this +morning I have borne this terrible sorrow alone, longing in vain for +your warm heart. Alas, how heavily such an unexpected blow falls!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor, sweet love, you are trembling as if in an ague-fit! Who would +have thought of this? Kind Veronica dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She nestled timidly in his arms. "<i>Heinrich</i>, my heart aches terribly, +and besides I feel this horror of death. You do not know what it is to +dress a cold body which is no longer the dear one it personates."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then leave the others to finish the task, and stay with me, my angel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have finished it, and they want to bring her in here. You must go +into the tea-room, or they will see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Willingly. But now leave everything to these women and come with me. +You are completely worn out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I will stay with you. I can no longer be a witness," said +Cornelia; then gave the necessary orders to the servants, and went into +the tea-room with <i>Henri</i>. They had scarcely entered it when they heard +pieces of furniture pushed aside, and the creaking of the coffin, +which, when once heard, is never forgotten. Cornelia trembled +violently, sank down beside <i>Henri</i>, and bursting into tears, hid her +face upon his breast until the noise was over. Then she looked up. "You +think me very weak, do you not? I have kept up all day, but now my +strength is exhausted; terror has overpowered me."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> gently raised her and drew her on his knee. She made no +resistance, but threw her arms around his neck; her head sank wearily +upon his shoulder, and joy and sorrow, deadly horror and sweet content, +began to mingle strangely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not give way!" said <i>Henri</i> to himself, while his throbbing +heart seemed ready to burst. He cradled her in his arms as if she had +been a child, and breathed upon her cold hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gradually her tears ceased, and warmth returned to her cheeks and +hands. Never is a woman more grateful or more susceptible to love than +when a great sorrow has broken her strength, and she gropes helplessly +for some support. At this moment Cornelia could have worshiped her +lover as some superior being; all suspicion was forgotten, she clung to +him as if he were some consoling angel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, are you happy now that you are clasped to my heart?" +whispered <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, infinitely happy!" she murmured. "What should I be without you, my +life? Now I am cast wholly upon you, you will never forsake your +orphaned love?"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> strained her to his breast with almost suffocating violence, +and exclaimed from his inmost heart, with the utmost sincerity, "If I +ever forsake you, accursed be the hour when I was born, the couch on +which I rest, the air I breathe, the lips with which I kiss! I raise my +hand and call upon all the powers of evil to witness against me if I +break my oath."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia laid her finger on his lips. "Do not be so violent; that is no +oath, but a curse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not equally binding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; but it makes me anxious: as if there would be no blessing +upon it; as if you felt the possibility of becoming faithless, and your +better self was threatening you with punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You angel! Look me in the eyes; do you no longer believe in your +<i>Heinrich</i>, and yet love him still?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, <i>Heinrich</i>, forgive my distrust! I feared to lose you, because +you are the dearest thing in the would to me. I cannot think clearly +to-day, I am so bewildered and worn out by grief. How contemptible I +must seem to you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you knew how lovely you are in your weakness! You are not +contemptible, you are only a true, tender woman, and therein lies your +charm. Do you suppose firm muscles, large bones, and nerves of steel +are attractive to men? It is your very helplessness that rouses our +magnanimity; your delicacy demands our indulgence. To support a +beautiful, trembling woman on his strong arm, and defend her from real +or fancied terrors, is a sweet joy to a man,--sweeter than admiration +of an abnormal strength, which woman attains only at the cost of her +charms."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia listened to his words with increasing delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you suppose," he continued, "that you were ever dearer to me than +at this hour, when I am permitted to cradle your weary form upon my +knees and fondly caress you? when your strong mind succumbs to the laws +of womanly nature and you fly to me in your horror of death? You have +trusted yourself to me more than ever before, and in your sorrow are +sacred. You have nestled confidingly to this heart, and it shall never +deceive you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Heinrich</i>! <i>Heinrich</i> What a magic you exert! You banish all griefs +with a single glance of love, and your words fill my soul with peace. +Ah, it is beautiful to love in happiness! But we only know what we +are to each other when we need each other. No language can express what +you have been to me in this hour. A dark, starry sky arches over me in +your eyes and invites me to repose; it extends over my whole soul and +seems as if it enthroned the God to whom I bewail my sorrows, in +whom I trust, to whom I shall send up my nightly prayer, and then +rest--sleep!" She closed her eyes as if exhausted, and laid her head +upon his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> clasped her closely in his arms. "Oh, bear this happiness! bear +it firmly!" he murmured to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat upright again. "I cannot lean upon you; your hard orders hurt +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then rest on the other side," he pleaded.</p> + +<p class="normal">She pushed her hair back from her brow, looked sadly at the flashing +decorations, and rose. "It is late, Heinrich; you must leave me now."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> cursed the diamond stars with sincere vexation. What had they +availed him? They had destroyed the happiest moment of his life; and +the magic night of love, with all its sweet dreams and illusions, which +Cornelia's weary soul had spread around herself and him, had melted in +their rays.</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose and extended his hands imploringly to Cornelia. "My darling, +you shall never again be parted from the place where you belong. I +promise you. I shall never wear them in your presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, yes, put them away; they have hurt my cheek, but wounded my heart +still more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, are you angry with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I angry with you? Ah, Heinrich, I love you only too well! Tell me, +where is this to end? If I am away from your side a moment, I feel as +if the cold breath of the grave floated over me, and a throb of pain +thrills my frame as if I had torn away a part of my own nature. +Heinrich,--beloved, terrible Heinrich,--where is this to end?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In a happy, ardent love," cried <i>Henri</i>, radiant with joy. "You shall +not miss me often. I will spend every leisure hour with you. But say, +my angel, shall you still be accessible to me? Does Veronica's death +make no change in your situation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I had entirely forgotten that. Old Herr Linderer is my guardian, +and the executor of Veronica's will. He proposed that I should reside +in his family for the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! would you do that?" cried <i>Henri</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be very painful to me, and I might remain, for through +Veronica's generosity the house and everything she possessed is mine; +but a young girl ought not to live so entirely alone, without +protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And have you not a moral protection in yourself, and a personal one in +your servants?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I cannot visit you when you are living with Herr Linderer is a +matter of course. Our intercourse must be broken off, for it cannot +exist under the watchful eyes of that family; so you have but one +choice, my darling,--either to remain here and be the happiest of +betrothed brides, or dispense with my society for the sake of a world +that will not thank you for the sacrifice."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia clung closely to him. "Do without you? Oh, <i>Heinrich</i>, how +could I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, promise me you will take courage and refuse Linderer's proposal; +then, Cornelia, I shall first believe in the strength of your love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the world,--how would it judge of such a plan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, I should have thought you philosopher enough to despise the +world and its judgments."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps,--but custom--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may offend against custom, but not morality. Our love bears the +highest consecration in itself. If you are thoroughly pervaded with its +influence, you may trust yourself to it without fear. But what am I +talking about? Ask your own heart whether you will make me of less +importance than consideration for the opinion of the world,--whether +you can inflict this sorrow upon yourself and your <i>Heinrich</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you not take the same precautions, <i>Heinrich</i>? Do you not deny +me before society for the sake of 'its despicable prejudices'?"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> was embarrassed for a moment; then he said, calmly, "If I now +make confessions to the influential circles which have the decision of +my fate, it will be done while I am not compelled to be deprived of +you. If I had only the choice of leaving you or giving up my plans, I +should not hesitate a moment to do the latter. If you go to Herr +Linderer's, you will place me in this alternative. I must either give +you up for a long time, or prematurely acknowledge our relations and +destroy my hopes for the future. Speak, my angel! If you demand the +latter, be proud to prove that I love you better than you do me, and +can make greater sacrifices."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, my dearest! You shall not think me so selfish; I should be +ashamed to accept such an one from you. I will stay in this house and +refuse Herr Linderer's offer. People may say what they please; better +they should suspect me than that you should doubt my love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those words were worthy of you, Cornelia!" cried <i>Henri</i>. "What +gratitude can reward you as you deserve?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed into his eyes long and earnestly. "Justify my +confidence, <i>Heinrich</i>, and you will give me the highest, the only +reward I ask. And now farewell for to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must I leave you? Ah, one moment more!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia shook her head sadly. "No, it cannot be; it is late, and I +must rest; but you can go through the room with me,--will you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my angel, I will go with you to the threshold of your room; and +then turn away from the door of heaven like a condemned spirit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come," said Cornelia; and slowly entered the room leaning on his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">There lay the corpse in the coffin, a wreath of blossoming myrtle on +the head, and Cornelia's red roses on the heart. Her tears flowed +again, her grief burst forth anew, as she looked down on the silent, +pale, old bride.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, faithful guardian of my childhood!" she sobbed, "will you leave +your Cornelia alone? Open your lips once more and tell me, oh! tell +whether I am doing right in what I have just promised my beloved one! +Ah, speak to me once, only once more, true, pure heart, which has been +my refuge in joy and sorrow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you forgotten that I am by your side, Cornelia?" said <i>Henri</i>, +reproachfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned from the body, pressed a fervent kiss upon his lips, and +allowed him to lead her through the apartment to her own room. Here she +paused. "Thanks, dearest Heinrich! farewell!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must I leave you alone with your tears?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, the would gush forth again whenever you went, no matter how long +you might remain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not fear your own thoughts while you are in this excited mood?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in this cheerful chamber. It is protected by all the thousand +dreams of love I have had here. There is your picture; where that is +the icy breath of death cannot enter. Farewell!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, if I might only sleep on the threshold before your door, I would +never seek soft pillows!" Again he clasped her in his arms; then, with +an effort, tore himself away. "Good-night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night, Heinrich!" she cried in a tone which revealed all the +wealth of ardent feeling she had repressed with so much difficulty; +then disappeared in her own room and locked the door.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> averted his face as he passed the corpse. He had once more +received a solemn lesson, and it was only when his agitated feelings +began to grow calm that he was able to justly comprehend the importance +of the last hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned home absorbed in thought, and the first thing he did was to +cast aside the star-bedecked uniform. Then he paced up and down his +room, while the most conflicting thoughts whirled through his brain. +Cornelia's sacrifice had shamed him deeply. Was he to misuse it, and +abuse her confidence? Must he not reward her better?</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he paced up and down the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he would requite her with a thousand joys. Free love was spared the +heavy cares of the married state. He could easily teach her to despise +the social "prejudices of morality," and as soon as she disregarded +them, of what would she be deprived if their relations lacked the legal +stamp? He would never desert her,--he had sworn it; so their union +would contain the fundamental principle of marriage. He would never wed +another. What did she want more? He believed her unconventional enough +to regard the claims of custom lightly. She had already done so to a +certain extent by the promise she had given that day. The first--most +difficult--step was taken. But if he misjudged her, if his plan failed, +and she could not endure the disgrace. If he should lose her! He was +obliged to confess that he could no longer live without her. Did she +not outweigh his triumphs and his prospects at the court? But suppose +the new law did not pass? could not fall a victim to it, as he had made +Veronica suppose, for he was one of its opponents. To whom could the +prince turn, in forming a new ministry, except himself? Suppose, by his +marriage with Cornelia, he should lose the prince's favor, and with it +the portfolio? This turned the scale. This period must be awaited.</p> + +<p class="normal">The magnanimity of love! How many an innocent, womanly heart has +already been led astray by this will-o'-the-wisp of tender sophistry! +Deeds like Cornelia's sacrifice of a public betrothal, and her promise +to live alone, veil themselves beneath a semblance of such nobility +that an unsuspecting nature does not hesitate to perform them, +believing itself to be yielding to an impulse of generosity, and not +suspecting that it is merely following the guidance of its own passion. +Cornelia was too innocent and inexperienced to penetrate <i>Henri's</i> +unprincipled tactics. If doubts again arose they could not give +sufficient proofs of their justice, and were always crushed as "idle +fancies" by the power of her love.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veronica's funeral took place, and it touched Cornelia deeply that +Heinrich was present; she considered it a fresh proof of his +uprightness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Archivrath Linderer heard with actual tears her refusal to become +one of his family. He ventured a few timid remonstrances, but was far +too courteous to use his right as guardian and compel her to yield to +his views. He could not force himself to be uncivil to any one, and +according to his ideas he would have been so had he attempted to impose +any restraint upon Cornelia. Therefore, when he saw that his timidly +uttered, kindly meant representations were wholly disregarded, he could +only wipe the sweat of anxiety from his brow and take leave of her with +a deeply saddened heart. Even the sulky servant took his leave, to live +upon the legacy Veronica had left him, as soon as he learned that +Cornelia intended to keep up an independent establishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several weeks now quietly elapsed in a gentle alternation of joy and +sorrow, until the image of the beloved dead receded into the background +more and more, and love took exclusive possession of Cornelia's whole +existence. At first she did not notice that the number of her +acquaintances lessened; and when she at last became aware of it, +<i>Henri's</i> influence had already taught her to disregard it. She +despised the pitiful souls which only judged from appearances, and +clung to the few faithful friends that remained to her. But it was +unavoidable that one or another of them should meet Ottmar during his +frequent visits. It would not do,--people must not always find him with +her; so, if he was present, other visitors were refused. When this +happened too frequently, and Cornelia perceived that it must lead to +misunderstandings with her best friends, she at last consented that +Ottmar should spend the evening hours with her. Thus the meetings with +others were prevented; but as his presence had been noticed, his +absence was now the cause of comment. Had their interviews ceased, or +been deferred until another hour? This must be ascertained. A few +zealous friends watched her, and saw him come and go. They sorrowfully +confided this incredible thing to each other under the seal of silence, +warned her, half openly and half by hints, that her fair fame was +endangered, and mourned for her as one dead. Yet she still stood erect +and stainless, her girlish brow loftily upraised against the +humiliations she endured, and pitied the world for being too corrupt to +believe in the purity of anything; her last consolation was her good +conscience. She trusted to herself and to her lover, and awaited the +day which would solve the mystery before the eyes of men and restore +her their lost esteem. This gave her strength to endure the "trial."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar did everything in his power to employ her time and occupy her +thoughts. He was well aware that he could only win this noble woman +gradually, and by noble means. He read with her, gave her the most +beautiful classical works, explained the thoughts of the ancient and +modern philosophers, and perused with her the best of modern +literature. Thus she learned to associate with him the impressions made +by the noblest productions of the intellect, from which he obtained a +certain halo that made him worthy of worship in her eyes. He understood +all these grand works, and made them comprehensible to her,--it seemed +as great a deed as if he had created them himself. She looked up to him +as a superior being, and at last could really neither think, feel, nor +live without him. He, in his turn, was delighted with her +susceptibility and active mind, and became accustomed to impart +everything good and beautiful which came in his way to Cornelia, and +enjoy it doubly with her. Thus he unconsciously entangled himself in +the net he was weaving for the young girl; she became as great a +necessity to him as he to her, and he had never been so happy before. +Yet this life was not wholly without discord. His twofold nature often +wounded Cornelia; he was either passionately excited, or brilliant and +cold. She could not be at ease; one she was forced to repel, the other +repelled her. Both prevented the calm happiness of loving intercourse +which woman's platonic nature so fully understands and needs. She often +took for want of love what was merely lack of sensuous feeling, and the +glowing ardor which alternated with the coldness could not supply the +place of the uniform warmth of deep affection. Ottmar at last +understood what she lacked. He perceived that there was a middle path, +that he must be at once less cold and less warm, to obtain entire +control over her. During the time that his intellect was in the +ascendant, he endeavored to assume a more affectionate tone, and the +oftener this happened the better it pleased <i>Heinrich</i> to press his +lips to the brow which contained the thoughts that delighted him, and +stroke the hair that veiled it, while it afforded him still higher +enjoyment to study in her classic form and features the idea of the +beautiful. She became a living work of art to him, and as art is the +first mediator between mind and matter, he began to rejoice in her +physical charms from an artistic stand-point. <i>Henri</i>, on the contrary, +ennobled the expression of his love and appropriated more and more of +the impulses of Cornelia's soul. Thus intellect began to grow warmer, +sensuality to be spiritualized. The separation between them had been +lessened by struggling for a common object; if his moral consciousness +had ripened in the same proportion as the two extremes approached a +normal union, he would have adopted a different course of action. But +the individual conflict was not yet entirely settled, and the moral one +could not be decided. His mistakes and transgressions had proceeded +solely from the gulf in his nature; only when the parts were united in +one harmonious whole could they be expelled, for right and truth can +only thrive in a soul at peace with itself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Months elapsed, and the political event which was to decide his own +fate and Cornelia's drew near. Ottmar awaited it with eager suspense. +He longed to have this uncertain condition of affairs ended. He +perceived more and more clearly that to possess Cornelia would outweigh +his present position, and made himself familiar with the thought of +sacrificing it, if driven to extremities. But the appointment of +minister cast a weight into the scale of his ambition which outbalanced +the feeble efforts of his conscience; as minister he could not inflict +upon himself and the court the disgrace of a politically suspicious +mesalliance,--then he would induce Cornelia to make the sacrifice, and +he did not doubt that she would do so.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">XVIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>CORNELIA AND OTTILIE</h3> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia did not suspect what a sword was hanging over her head, did +not question the near or distant future, but lived wholly in the +present moment. One thing alone she did not forget,--her visits to the +prisoners. She devoted the usual time to them; the place where she +first saw Ottmar had become sacred to her, and by her mournful labors +for the unfortunate men, her patience with their sufferings and +obstinacy, she believed that she was paying fate a tribute for the +happiness enjoyed in her love. She rarely appeared in public, for she +could not bear the glances that accused her of guilt of which she knew +herself to be innocent. She therefore no longer entered a church or +theatre; her church was her love, her God in Heinrich's breast, and her +studies with him conjured up a world of beauty. She wanted nothing, +needed nothing, but him. She made no subtle inquiries and no longer +doubted him; he was everything to her, and she knew that with him she +should lose all.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus it sounded like a voice from another world when one day a +"stranger lady" was announced. Who could visit her still? The lady +entered, and fixed a half-timid, half-questioning, glance upon +Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are Fräulein Erwing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is my name. With whom have I the honor of speaking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come on an errand from her Highness the princess."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed dreamily into eyes whose blue vied with the ribbons on +the stranger's hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her Highness wishes to make your acquaintance, and begs you to pay her +a visit to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl's voice trembled slightly, and she looked expectantly at +Cornelia. The latter stood motionless with amazement, almost terror. +What did Ottilie want of her? Röschen--for she alone could execute this +confidential commission--was unable to turn her eyes from the noble +figure its sweeping black robes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you not at least tell what has procured me the great happiness of +being permitted to wait upon the princess?" asked Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Fräulein; I only know you will be received with the greatest +kindness, and that only sincere interest induced the princess to see +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say to her Highness that I am truly grateful to her, and that I will +wait upon her to-morrow at the time appointed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her Highness will be very glad. Farewell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse me, Fräulein; one question more: is your name Röschen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep blush suffused the lovely face. "Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia, deeply moved, went up to her, took her hands, and pressed a +kiss upon her fresh lips. "We have known each other a long time, have +we not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Röschen was surprised and greatly agitated. "Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, +pressing Cornelia's hand to her lips. "Let me thank you for all you +have done for Albert. We can never repay you for it; but the dear God +will know how to reward you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed into her eyes for a long time with ever-increasing +interest. "You ought to have become Albert's wife: the poor fellow has +suffered so much for your sake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot leave the princess, and besides,"--Röschen hesitated a +little,--"besides, he did not wish it so very much. Ah, I understand it +now: he who has once seen you can never love another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my dear girl, what are you saying? You will be reconciled to each +other again, or I shall regret what I did for Albert." She glanced +anxiously at the clock; for it was almost the hour when Ottmar might be +expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">This did not escape Röschen's natural delicacy of feeling. "I am +detaining you, dear Fräulein, and the princess is waiting. Farewell! +your kindness has made me very happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you not come again, that we may continue our talk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest pleasure. But there is one thing more I had almost +forgotten: the princess begs you to tell no one that you have been +requested to come to her. She will refuse all visitors to-morrow on the +plea of indisposition, and fears people might take it amiss if she----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand," interrupted Cornelia, "and will say nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">After Röschen had gone she stood for a long time absorbed in thought. +The solution of this enigma could not be guessed. She rejoiced over the +strange event, for she had loved Ottilie ever since she knew her +relations with Ottmar; yet it grieved her to think that she would +perceive at every breath a happiness denied the princess. Suppose her +eyes should rest upon Cornelia with sorrowful jealousy as her fortunate +rival.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following day and the appointed hour came. In great agitation, and +not without a little timidity at the idea of the grandeur that +surrounded Ottilie, Cornelia entered the magnificent apartments of the +princess. The groom of the chambers conducted her through a long +succession of rooms. At last he paused, pointed to a half-open glass +door, and disappeared. The silken portières were drawn aside, and +Ottilie stood before Cornelia!</p> + +<p class="normal">A long pause followed. Both looked at each other in breathless +suspense. Ottilie was paler than ever; Cornelia deeply flushed. At last +Ottilie gently took her hand and murmured almost inaudibly, with a sort +of sorrowful satisfaction, "Yes; so my fancy pictured you! So you must +be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness bestows upon me so great a favor that I seek in vain for +words to express my joyful surprise and gratitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There can be no question of gratitude here; but no doubt you were +surprised that I should request you to visit me." Ottilie seated +herself, and drew Cornelia down upon the sofa beside her. "I have a +great and important matter to intrust to you, Fräulein, and believe I +can read in your eyes, an your lofty brow, the certainty that I have +applied to the right person." Cornelia looked at Ottilie in eager +expectation. After a short pause, the latter continued: "Accident, +Fräulein, or rather destiny, made me acquainted with your labors among +the prisoners. I perceived with admiration how you had aimed at results +which the wisest provisions of the law could not attain; how you were +the first to strew over the lifeless forms of punishment the living +germs from which sprang new life, remorse, and amendment. You will +believe me when I say that no mere idle curiosity, but heartfelt +sympathy, impelled me to make the acquaintance of so remarkable a +character. I will even confess that I trembled lest I should find your +person did not harmonize with the ideal I had formed." She paused, and +once more gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's eyes; then bent +towards her and pressed a kiss upon her brow. "Thank God that I now +dare love you in reality, as I have already done in fancy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness," began Cornelia, deeply moved as she sought for words, +while her bosom rose and fell more rapidly, "I know I do not deserve +what you say; and yet a blissful content, for which I can find no +expression, overflows my whole nature. You see me in the light that +streams from yourself; but its rays fall upon my soul also, and wake +their concealed powers of good, which fill me with pride,--not for what +I have done, but for what I shall accomplish. God knows I performed +these works of mercy without any desire or hope of recognition. I have +long supposed I labored wholly unobserved; but there is so great a +recompense in this moment that it would crown the toil of a whole life; +and I will struggle all my life to deserve it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are enthusiastic, my child; but this very enthusiasm makes you +what you are; so I will accept the flattery contained in your words as +the tribute every noble soul offers to the ideal towards which we all +strive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, not as that alone, your Highness! Deign to accept the childlike, +humble reverence of a heart which has long looked up to you as the +noblest of women. I know not whether I ought to express in words what +has been hovering upon my lips ever since the first moment of our +meeting. It might, perhaps, be a great offense against etiquette, but I +hope your Highness will regard the essence rather than the form."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you will do me the honor to be assured of it," interposed +Ottilie, with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, permit me to tell your Highness that I have long loved you +with my whole heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is true, my child, I rejoice to hear it. Love is a voluntary +gift, which, whether deserved or not, we are always permitted to +receive. I thank you for it; yes, I thank you from the inmost depths of +a lonely heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, if you were not a princess!" murmured Cornelia, involuntarily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear child, how often I have said that myself! God has placed me in +this position only to test my strength; for that which compensates +others in a similar station for their secret lack of happiness--delight +in splendor and grandeur, sovereignty and renown--is denied me. Nothing +has any charm for me; my joys are rooted solely in the heart; and even +these are sparingly meted out. The gulf which severs the princess from +her subjects does not exist in my soul, and cannot separate my +affection from them. I love men, respect their rights, admire their +works, and thus stand ever alone upon my lofty height, consumed with +vain longings, and stretching out my arms across the abyss which yawns +between me and the warm hearts of humanity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor princess!" said Cornelia, earnestly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, poor princess," replied Ottilie, her eyes resting dreamily upon +Cornelia's beautiful features.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But your Highness can taste great joys, and satisfy your benevolence +by your power of benefiting so many thousands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so, my dear child?" asked Ottilie, with a sorrowful +smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was the one thing for which I always envied princes," continued +Cornelia, "which always made sovereignty appear so beautiful, so +alluring."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the thought tempted me, too," said Ottilie, lowering her voice to +a scarcely audible whisper, "when I allowed myself to be wedded to the +prince; but I was disappointed, as I have been in so many other things. +Believe me, my child, it is sad to be compelled to look an helplessly, +while the right way of making a nation happy is earnestly sought, but +always missed. The prince's views are so immovable, and so entirely +opposed to my own, that I have given up the effort to exert any +influence whatever for the welfare of my country, although my heart +bleeds for it. I know that no good can come for either party; I see a +time approaching when the dissension will increase to such a degree +that one or the other must fall a victim. I shall not live to see it; +if I am anxious, it is only for my subjects, my husband, and--perhaps +my children," she paused. "God grant that I may not be denied the +opportunity of teaching them a better understanding of their times!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But cannot the joyful blessings of the many to whom your Highness +gives special aid offer you some compensation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even this is limited. Every one who makes his narrow circle happy in +his own way receives more pleasure from his efforts than I: the +princess lacks the power of immediate bestowal and reception; but this +directness is the source of all the joys of the soul. If you, my child, +do good according to your circumstances, you will be rewarded a +thousandfold more than I, though I should give a thousand times more. +The poor man, whose sufferings you instantly relieve, can show you his +joy; it is not only the alms, but your manner of bestowing them, that +console him, and the tears sparkling in his eyes certainly reward you +far more than I am recompensed by the official addresses of thanks and +humble bows of delegates from whole parishes I have saved from misery. +I am well aware that we should not perform charitable works for the +sake of gratitude, nor do I; but it is so natural to be cheered by the +success of a good deed, the same sympathy which induces us to alleviate +the sorrows of others makes us long to spare the joys we have prepared. +This is denied me; etiquette always stands between me and the hearts of +my subjects, and with its icy breath transforms every voluntary show of +feeling into the unvarying mien of reverence. You see, my child, the +halo your imagination spread around sovereignty is vanishing more and +more." She paused, and her large, tearful eyes gazed sorrowfully at +Cornelia. "I shall depend upon your well-known greatness of soul to +communicate the purport of this conversation to no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your confidence, your Highness, and will justify it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you," said Ottilie. "And now let me proceed to the principal +matter. I do so with a heavy heart, for fondly as I have become +attached to you, I must now make a proposal whose acceptance will +deprive me of your society, because it depends upon your leaving the +city. But I have learned to sacrifice my own wishes for the welfare of +others, and will not be so selfish as to claim your presence here when +it may prove the salvation of so many unfortunates."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed at Ottilie in speechless expectation. She felt afraid, +for she had gathered nothing from the princess's words except an +intention to send her out of the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand with evident emotion, and continued: "I +have founded in T----, whose lovely scenery seemed peculiarly adapted +for it, an institution for the reformation of female criminals, who, on +being discharged from the custody of the law, perhaps wholly destitute +of means, and alone in the world, would be led to enter the path of +wrong anew in order to escape hunger and despair. The idea is not new; +it has already been attempted in Germany many times, usually with very +indifferent success. All such undertakings require not only money, +skillful and conscientious management, and carefully watched exercises, +but a genial spirit and loving heart to breathe life into the empty +forms, and rouse in the penitents themselves an impulse of repentance, +for whose development the peace prevailing in the institution, the +pious exercises, and useful occupations will afford a suitable soil. +But how many women are there who unite to the highest qualities of the +heart a sound understanding, and are noble enough to devote them to +such a purpose? You, Cornelia, are such a being; you possess the +requisite grandeur of soul and self-denial, and your heart beats warmly +for the moral sufferings and infirmities of mankind: you have already +proved it. Do you now understand what I wish to ask of you? You shall +secure blessings and prosperity for my subjects, you shall receive the +position of directress of the institution at T----, and I am sure that +this sphere of influence among the poor wanderers of your own sex will +suit you far better than to associate with the rude, degraded men in +the prison."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked down. "I see with painful confusion," she began, at +last, "how greatly your Highness has over-rated me, and how little I +deserve the favor you have permitted to fall to my lot in consequence +of these expectations. Will your Highness most graciously permit me to +correct the last opinion you expressed, that I must prefer to associate +with female criminals rather than with men. I feel far less sympathy +and interest for a guilty woman; for she has much less excuse than a +man. He is created stronger and more ungovernable by nature, therefore +his passions must be more violent, his desires fiercer, his acts and +thoughts ruder, more energetic, while the moral support given him is +not proportionally greater than that of the woman. On the contrary, the +moral instincts are more vivid in the latter, and her moral horizon +more contracted. How much worse, then, must she be, to sink into crimes +which often have no foundation in her nature! No doubt, woman is also +the cause of many crimes,--or rather womanly weaknesses; yet these are +as repulsive to me as the crimes committed at the expense of all +womanly feeling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a very harsh judgment," Ottilie interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not harsh, your Highness; I condemn such feeble creatures less, +but I have not sufficient sympathy, even for them, to be able to devote +myself to them with the necessary self-sacrifice. Besides, I should be +unable to believe that my efforts in their behalf would be attended +with sufficient success, for the same weakness that permitted them to +fall into sin would, it true, make them easily susceptible to +repentance, but expose them just as readily to any evil influence as +soon as they were left to themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may unfortunately be true in many cases. But are you not +attracted towards the poor creatures who have fallen victims to the +highest earthly power,--who have erred through love?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia started, and a deep blush suffused her face; she knew not why. +Her conscience was pure, and yet she could not bear the clear, +penetrating glance of the princess. Why did she feel so startled by +that word? Why did the look that accompanied it weigh upon her brow +like a secret sentence? Surely she had not erred through love, but she +had not been heedful of appearances. Suppose Ottilie judged by +appearances, and had spoken with a meaning? Oh, that she could banish +this treacherous blush! Must it not seem to Ottilie the token of a bad +conscience? She could not bear that. She raised her head and looked the +princess steadily in the face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness, the law does not punish the errors of love; but if a +woman falls so low that she commits from love crimes which make her +amenable to the law, she becomes as detestable to me as all others. You +see I lack the first requisite for the vocation your Highness did me +the honor to propose,--the true Christian charity which does not judge +but pardons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But which has already been so touchingly proved by your care for the +prisoners of state," replied Ottilie. "I will not be indiscreet, but I +cannot help remarking that the reason you have just given cannot be the +only one which withholds you from a vocation of Christian charity you +have hitherto voluntarily chosen, under circumstances far more +favorable to you; for your labors in my institution would not only +secure you every pecuniary advantage you could ask,--not only win +gratifying success with those intrusted to your care,--but make you +famous in the eyes of the would. Your ambition, if you possess any, +would also obtain the most brilliant satisfaction abroad the name and +spirit of Cornelia Erwing could soar away from the pleasant work- and +prayer-rooms of the institution far more easily than through the +gloomy, impenetrable dungeon-walls of the prison."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, your Highness, pardon the freedom of my words!" said Cornelia, +with noble pride; "but you now undervalue as much as you lately +overrated me. Does your Highness really suppose that these prospects +could induce me to prefer laboring in the institution at T---- to my +present sphere of influence in the prison? Do you imagine a pecuniary +advantage I do not even need, or ambition for the cheaply-bought fame +of being a Good Samaritan, which every hypocrite can obtain, would +induce me to do anything to which my own feelings did not urge me? No, +your Highness, you cannot think so meanly of one to whom, a few moments +ago, you condescended to show the greatest favor. I have no other +motive for my actions than my heart. In this alone is rooted my +strength or my weakness, as you may choose to term it,--perhaps my +selfishness. But all selfishness that arises solely from calculating +reason is foreign to my nature; therefore, when I tell you that my +heart does not draw me to the Christian work in T----, your Highness +may be assured that no worldly advantage would lead me to it; yet, if +the contrary were the case, I would joyfully renounce every material +reward."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you," said Ottilie; "but may I ask what has so strongly +attracted you towards the prisoners?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, also, I only followed the impulse of my own feelings. Love for +one of them led me accidentally to the scene of his misery. Love for +the individual taught me to understand and pity the sorrows of his +companions. Ordinary crimes would have terrified me and filled me with +horror. I should have been as little inclined to aid in reforming a +debased man as a base woman, but at that time the prisoners were +principally political criminals. The idea for which most of them had +struggled and erred, to which my father and my dead lover were martyrs, +was necessarily sacred to my heart; and although I admit that it may +have been erroneous,--even pernicious in the extremes and manner in +which they strove to establish it,--I could neither condemn nor abhor +those who had suffered for the same conviction to which my father had +sacrificed himself. At first I employed my efforts only in behalf of +the political prisoners. An accident, however, made me acquainted with +a--as people usually say--'common murderer'; and I found in him a +weak-minded, but thoroughly noble man, who had been driven by the force +of circumstances to do what is recognized among all nations, not only +as a right, but a duty; he punished the tempter of his betrothed +bride!" She paused a moment, while again a deep blush suffused her +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie, too, blushed slightly, and murmured, "I know the particulars +of the occurrence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That convinced me," continued Cornelia, "how many good and evil powers +can exist in the broad breast of a man at the same time,--how mighty +the impulses often are to commit crimes which arise in his life; and +from that moment I went into the cells of all who justified this view."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And were there many of them?" asked Ottilie.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, your Highness. With the exception of the political prisoners, at +the utmost only or five among a hundred and twelve; but these few were +sufficient to confirm my assertion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And among a hundred female convicts, would you not perhaps find four +or five deserving of your sympathy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very possibly, your Highness; but I could not devote myself only to +these: I should be compelled to care for the many wicked creatures who +could only arouse my loathing and abhorrence. I have always considered +my labors in the prison as an episode, and only employed a few hours of +the day in them; but here I should be compelled to devote my whole +time--nay, my life--to a vocation which could not satisfy me. I am not +one of those persons who do anything systematically, who make the work +of mercy a trade,--a mechanical, daily occupation,--in which, through +habit, they become so dull that they scarcely feel the blessing of +their labors. I wish to perform it freely and earnestly, whenever and +wherever I find an opportunity: and whose destiny does not afford one? +I do not even want you to be obliged to make it for me,--it must come +as a revelation from the inmost heart of life; and when I seize upon +it, it must be a quick, joyful deed, gushing full and warm from the +depths of a loving breast. Thus alone can it make me and others happy; +thus alone can I practice charity."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand, and gazed into her eyes with +increasing delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This may be selfish," the latter continued, "but it is natural, +and I cannot make myself different from what I am. I want events, +emotions, and--love. I want art pleasures. I feel the pulsations of an +ever-advancing civilization throbbing within me, and am ennobled by my +enthusiasm for everything beautiful which it has created. With this +tide of life swelling in my breast, I cannot bury myself behind the +walls of an institution for penitents,--cannot turn my delighted eyes +from the loftiest model of human greatness to fix them forever upon the +lowest caricatures of depravity. In the monotony of such a life I +should die of longing for the warm human love which has hitherto +streamed forth from the noble hearts that surrounded me. I see no moral +obligation to do so, for I am proud enough, your Highness, to believe +that God has destined me to make a good and noble being happy. Does it +not seem to your Highness far more beautiful to devote a life to this +purpose, rather than allow it to wither away in an institution for the +reformation of degraded creatures?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia had scarcely ended when she found herself clasped in Ottilie's +arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me," said the princess, with deep emotion. "I have esteemed +you highly, but not known you; now I understand you. You shall hear no +more from me of an expectation so ill suited to your character. You are +born for higher things; you belong to the great band of those who are +appointed to restore the ideal balance of the world. You are right. +Fate allots to each his sphere of labor, and you are to make the +happiness of an equally gifted nature. To seek to withdraw you from +this object would be committing a wrong against him for whom God +created you; and, in truth, he must love the man to whom he has given +you for a companion." Again a short pause followed. "Let those for whom +life has no longer any hopes, whom it has robbed of all the heart of +woman needs, devote themselves to the vocation I have mentioned. For +you many great joys and duties are still reserved,--but do not deceive +yourself, perhaps many sorrows also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I have never blinded myself to that!" replied Cornelia. "I do not +fear them. No one is spared, and what all suffer will not be too heavy +for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is easy for us to say so. God grant you may be spared the hours +when we doubt our own strength! Shall I be frank?" she asked, with +sudden resolution; and then continued, without waiting for a reply, "I +thought I could guard you from such sorrows when I selected you for the +position at T----. I believed you to be under dangerous influences, and +as I had become deeply interested in you from the descriptions I had +heard, thought it any duty to constitute myself your protectress. But I +now feel ashamed in your presence, for I am convinced that you are too +noble to need my protection; you have the best support in yourself. It +depends upon you to make the power that will be exerted over you +beneficial or otherwise, and I know now it will be the former."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, your Highness," cried Cornelia, her eyes dim with tears, "I thank +you for those words! But I beseech you not to overvalue me at the +expense of another whose influence I have thus far felt as one rich in +blessing. I should despise myself if I did not gratefully remember all +the beauty and goodness I have received through the very intercourse +you feared for me. Least of all, your Highness, could I bear to see the +heart which is the dearest thing on earth to me misunderstood by you." +She was silent in alarm. Ottilie coughed and pressed her handkerchief +to her lips, then removed it and looked at Cornelia with a smile. +Cornelia could not speak: she was gasping for breath; she had seen +blood on the transparent folds.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you suppose," Ottilie began, as quietly as if nothing had +happened,--"do you really suppose I misunderstand this heart? Ah, no! +But I see its faults, and wished to warn you of them. God knows whether +he has a truer friend than I. As long as he lived at my court in H---- +I devoted the most kindly care to him; but my influence was too weak. +Perhaps the blissful task of ennobling him is assigned to her whom he +loves. May God bless and strengthen you for this work! And of whatever +nature the faults you will discover in the course of time may be, +beware of them; but do not let yourself be discouraged, they are only +the goblin shapes of his twofold nature, which will melt into nothing +as soon as your pure, noble spirit is united to his better self. Bear +with him faithfully, for he will love you as he never did any one, and +must be utterly wretched without you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose. Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes again beamed with the +unearthly expression of a spirit about to take its flight from the +earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia kissed her hand with deep emotion. "Your Highness, I stand +before you as if in the presence of the guardian angel of my betrothed, +and take a solemn vow that nothing shall part me from him except +himself! I knew his faults before his good qualities, and they were so +great they made me forget the latter. I began by despising, and ended +by loving him; and if I should lose faith in him again I should die!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my child, we outlive a great deal! May God protect you and him! +Farewell. Remember me kindly until I can see you again." She dismissed +Cornelia with a warm embrace. "He will not corrupt her; she will save +him," she murmured. "My God, I thank thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you come at last?" cried a well-known voice, as Cornelia entered +the room. "Where have you been? I have been waiting for you an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are so much accustomed to have me devote myself entirely to +you," said Cornelia, as she laid her hat and shawl aside, "that you are +angry because I have given even a few hours to some one else." She sat +down beside him, drew back his head, and gazed with winning tenderness +into his clouded face. "Must I ask whether you have come to-day as a +schoolmaster or a lover? The book lying beside you, and your stern +manner, predict the former; but I must confess that I have no mind to +give to anything except the wonderful event of this day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what has happened to you?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, resting his head +upon her shoulder. "Tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have just come from the princess."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> started up in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She offered me the position of directress at T----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, she wanted to get you out of the City! She is jealous," he +murmured.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how meanly you think of that noble soul! She had other reasons +which I cannot discuss more particularly and indeed, Heinrich, she is +an angel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What answer did you make to her proposal?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rejected it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There I see my own Cornelia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, is this the first time you understand me? I think you ought to +have done so before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right; you have already made greater sacrifices,--if it is a +sacrifice you are making for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it is. I do not know whether I might not have accepted +Ottilie's proposal if, after Veronica's death, I had been left alone +with my heart full of philanthropic enthusiasm and without your love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case, you would have been committing a great piece of folly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to your ideas, but not mine. You will never believe how much +happiness the good we do to others can bestow; and yet you are not +happy, although all your life you have lived only for yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Believe me, dearest, the benefits we confer upon others recoil upon +ourselves, as well as the wrongs we inflict upon them; and as often as, +mindful only of our own advantage, we are compelled to injure others, +so often we shall reap a curse instead of a blessing."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich's</i> eyes were still more gloomy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He who wishes to grasp and keep happiness solely for himself will find +it quickly fade, as we cannot make a flower our own by plucking it and +placing it in the breast; it will only gladden us a few minutes, and +then wither uselessly. Only when you plant happiness in the soil of +other hearts, and share their joys, will it bear flowers and fruits for +you. The law of multiplication does not merely extend through the +material, but the spiritual world. All the elements of our being are +united in us, and in this unity they collect their strength, but are +intended to be scattered abroad when they develop, so luxuriantly that +we can no longer seek the limits of our being within the narrow bounds +of our own hearts, but in the wide sphere of our beneficent influence. +The egotist never knows the satisfaction found in the execution of +every great or insignificant law of the universe, for he shuts himself +mentally within himself, and draws the juices from the soil which he is +rooted without ever enriching it. He believes it well to receive +without giving, and yet feels withered within. He does not understand +himself, bitterly accuses the world and destiny which have thus +insulated and placed him in a false position, and does not perceive +that the blessing he vainly expected from others ought to have emanated +from himself!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> started up. "Yes, my Cornelia, in many instances you have +hit the mark wonderfully. But, believe me, my child, the sphere in +which I live is not adapted to that beneficent expansion of self. It +is, in reality, a sphere of egotism, in which one must greedily cling +to his own advantage if he would not have it torn from him. There is no +individual connection between us diplomats, we are only united by our +functions as constituent parts of the great mechanism which drives the +machinery of the government; and neither can the heart develop warm +benevolence when one has accustomed himself to look upon nations +merely as the material to be manufactured by this machinery into a +well-regulated whole. Imagine the feelings of a man, a statesman. You +speak of diffusing his own character abroad: I know what you understand +by it; it is all very noble and beautiful for the philanthropic members +of the masses, but it is the duty of statesmen to guide and govern the +populace, and we must not mingle among those we rule. We, too, devote +our strength to them, but we associate a more abstract idea with the +word than you sanguine philanthropists. You understand it to mean only +the people, but we the government, the law, the extension of the +interests of trade, the protection of the highest interests in foreign +countries,--in short, everything upon which the prosperity of a country +depends. To you the nation has a personal, to us only a political, +individuality; you are incessantly caring for its position towards the +throne, but we for its position towards the world!" He looked at +Cornelia, who was hanging upon his words in breathless expectation. +"Well, my Cornelia, do we not both live for the whole,--each in our own +way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are your sophisms again, against which my natural intuition +strives with so much difficulty. I confess that none of your words have +made any other impression than the sorrowful one of self-deception. +Heinrich! Heinrich! what will become of you if you accustom yourself to +make sport of truth? You have described how a statesman thinks and +feels, but not how you think and feel. Of course, there are statesmen +who have the welfare of the people at heart; but such men cannot live +in a country like this, or they must be short-sighted enough to see +happiness in despotism. But you are not so blind. Heinrich, you +understand the conditions of a higher national development, and know +you are working against it; you are sinning against the most sacred +rights of humanity, yet say you are laboring for the whole. What do you +understand by this word? To you it is merely an empty sound; for that +which gives it life and meaning to us, anxiety for the common welfare, +is unknown to you. Do not say you live for the state, if not for the +people! Is there a state without a nation? Establish one with ideas +instead of men; govern these, and you will have the same reason to +boast of your labors for 'the whole.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are becoming violent and unjust, my Cornelia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It always makes me indignant when I see you palliating such faults as +these. I can forgive the worst offense if frankly confessed and +recognized, but to a palliated error I am unrelenting. Forgive me, if I +was violent," she pleaded, clinging fondly to him. "Come, kiss me; you +are so cold to-day." She drew him nearer her as they sat on the sofa. +"Let us talk quietly; I feel more anxious to discuss this subject fully +to-day than ever before. You love power. The impulse of asserting +itself is associated with every important endowment; it is a stimulus +for it to develop and become of value to the world. Nothing is more +just and natural than that you should feel it also. But in you it has +taken a false direction; you perceive power only in your present +position. But what power? It was voluntarily placed in your hands from +above, and arbitrarily endured by the nation; so it is a purely +external one, without change of action or spiritual echo. You are +conscious of it yourself only by the possibility of having your will +executed by means of a few strokes of the pen on a sheet of paper, and +extending it further than is permitted to the private citizen. Accident +has given you this power, accident may deprive you of it again; +therefore it neither makes you happy nor satisfies you. There is only +one real pleasure of that nature,--mastery over minds; this can neither +be given to us nor taken away, we must win and retain it by our own +strength. And what pride can be more noble than that we take in the +result of our own merits? Cease to be a machine among machines, and +become conscious of the privileges of independent effort; be at least a +man among men. Leave your present residence and return to your former +home; go into the Chambers, there your intellect and personal magnetism +will produce a great effect upon the multitude; there you will first +learn to know the manifold charms to be found in such a direct +subjugation of minds! Descend from your false height, and let yourself +be borne by the hands of the people to the summit of a powerfully +increasing development of civilization. You have hitherto served a +prince, while you gave laws to the nation; you can henceforth give +orders to a prince, while you are a king in the hearts of the people." +She rested her cheek against his, and asked, with loving emotion, "Does +not this prospect charm you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If all this could be done in reality as easily as in your vivid fancy, +my glorious Cornelia, it might well charm me. But I am a practical man; +I shall not resign a secure and brilliant position to, perhaps, obtain +nothing except the favor of miserable proletarians, or cast aside the +moral and political credit I possess, with the probability of losing, +by another change of opinion, all trust here and elsewhere! You cannot +ask that of me. Let him who has nothing at stake make the desperate +venture, but I have not only the advantage but the honor of an +established career to lose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Honor and advantage,--but happiness? Oh, Heinrich! you have no +happiness to lose, for you have never possessed any; and you will only +save your honor before yourself and God when you begin a new life. So +what do you risk? I do not ask you to proclaim your change of opinion +at once to all the world. Leave the service of the government, withdraw +to your estates, and live there as a private citizen; win the +sympathies of the whole neighborhood, and come forth from your +seclusion as a deputy. How can you be threatened with any loss of +honor? Be assured the world is not so degenerate as to refuse its +esteem for an honest action. You will not fall here, you will +voluntarily resign your brilliant position for the sake of your +convictions: a manly deed which demands and will receive recognition. +Your former party will hail you with joy, and trust you on account of +the sacrifice you made to return to it; and in a short time you will +have obtained all you now think one of my fantastic ideas. Oh, believe +me, I see clearly the path you must choose,--the only one that will +lead to happiness!"</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> released himself from Cornelia's encircling arms, and, +starting up, went to the window and leaned his brow thoughtfully +against the panes. Cornelia watched him in silence. She left him +entirely to himself, for she knew he was inaccessible to tenderness +when anything occupied his mind. This was the mood to which she had +found it so difficult to accustom herself, and now it appeared +especially harsh. Suddenly he turned, took up his hat, and kissed +Cornelia on the forehead. "Farewell!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heinrich!" she exclaimed, "are you going already? Have I offended you +so deeply?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not offended, but you have given me much food for thought; roused a +new conflict within me. Leave me to myself to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why especially to-day? What does that mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will learn when the time comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Another secret! Oh, Heinrich! You never share anything with me except +your tenderness and the poetic effusions of your vivid imagination. I +am shut out from your intellectual life, and know nothing of it except +what my own penetration enables me to guess."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be angry, my child; sooner or later a time will come when there +will no longer be anything between us, when you will obtain possession +of my whole existence." With these words he kissed her again, and left +the room without looking back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sooner or later a time must come, when--" Cornelia repeated the words. +A roseate flush of joy suffused the grave face. Was not the end of her +humiliation approaching? Was--she scarcely ventured to confess what +sweet, proud hopes these words aroused. Why had her conversation made +so strange an impression upon him? Her heart throbbed expectantly: +would her fate perhaps be decided that day?</p> + +<p class="normal">It was decided. <i>Heinrich's</i> inmost soul had been stirred by Cornelia's +ideas. The thought of playing a great part in the Chamber, of joining +the new and undeniably strong movement, charmed him. He could find +more change, more excitement, in this path than in the worn-out +interests of his court life, and possibly even attain the object of his +ambition,--the portfolio. He could marry Cornelia, noble, beautiful +girl, without injury to his plans; nay, she would even be necessary to +him in this career. Perhaps he might yet be a happy man. If the prince +did not take him into the ministry, there was nothing better for him to +do than to exchange the worn-out old life for a new one; and by the +time he reached home he almost wished it. As he entered his room, +absorbed in thought, Anton handed him a paper. He started as he read +it,--it was his nomination as minister of foreign affairs. The die was +cast.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">XIX.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE CATASTROPHE</h3> + +<p class="normal">The following day Cornelia awoke with the first glimmer of dawn. The +vague expectation excited by <i>Heinrich's</i> ambiguous words had kept her +long awake, and now drove her from her couch earlier than usual. She +made a hasty toilet and hurried out into the autumn morning. It was +damp and gloomy; a thick fog made earth and sky vanish in a gray cloud; +the withered leaves fell from the wet bushes with a low rustle as her +garments brushed against them. She did not heed it. Spring was in her +heart, and the warm life in her breast seemed to glow through the +chilling scene around her. Mechanically she entered the path she was +most accustomed to follow. It led to the churchyard. She walked through +the long rows of graves, apparently the only living creature in the +broad place of death; but as she approached the well she suddenly saw, +at a few paces' distance, two grave-diggers lowering a little coffin +into the earth. She approached and asked, "Whose child is this you are +burying so entirely alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is illegitimate," said one of the men, dryly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia shuddered. "Oh, how terrible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it's a pity for silly girls to allow themselves to be so blinded. +If they thought more of their honor, they wouldn't meet with +misfortune. And the poor children always have to suffer for it. This +one was put out to board with strangers, who neglected it so that it +fell sick and died. The girl to whom it belonged was obliged to go out +to service again because her lover deserted her before the child was +born, so she couldn't trouble herself about it, and was obliged to +leave it to die."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor, poor child!" thought Cornelia, looking at the grave with tearful +eyes. "Usually when a child is born it is received with joy and love; +but shame stood beside your cradle, shame hovers over your lonely +grave. No happy father took you in his arms, no gladsome mother's eyes +answered your first trusting smile; nobody wanted you, and the only one +who loved you was obliged to deny you until God had compassion upon you +and took you to himself. Now your forsaken mother may perhaps be +stretching out her arms despairingly to grasp the empty air, and must +conceal her anguish as deeply as her darling has just been buried in +the earth. Terrible fate! May God protect every loving woman from it!" +Tears flowed more and more quickly down her cheeks; she turned away and +wept out the emotion that had seized upon her on the graves of Veronica +and Reinhold. As she went home she noticed for the first time that it +was misty and dreary, and entered the house in a graver mood than she +had left it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Marie," she said to her chambermaid, "while I was at the churchyard it +occurred to me that this is Veronica's birthday. Order some wreaths for +her grave; I wish to have it adorned on such anniversaries."</p> + +<p class="normal">The hours dragged slowly away. Ottmar did not appear at the usual time; +but instead the evening paper announced his appointment as minister. +That was why he had been so absent-minded yesterday, why his words had +contained a vague promise of a speedy decision of her fate; so this was +the secret. Surely the turning-point in her life must now be reached; +he had obtained what he desired, and might dare to marry. Her heart +beat more and more violently. Quarter of an hour after quarter of an +hour passed away. He could not come today: he probably had too much to +do; and yet she longed so anxiously to see him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her servants asked whether they should carry the wreaths the gardener +had just skillfully arranged to the grave. "Yes, go," said Cornelia, +absently; "no one will come to-day now." But scarcely had the maids +left the house when the bell was impatiently pulled. Cornelia opened +the door with trembling expectation, and sank upon Ottmar's breast.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> had just met the two servants in the street. Had Cornelia +ventured to send them away when she knew he was coming? or was she +preparing to leave the house? He could form no conclusion, but +explained the incident in his own favor; knew himself to be alone with +Cornelia, and gave himself up entirely to his own excited feelings.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a minister," she began. "You have now obtained that for which +you struggled. It will afford you no greater happiness than your +present position; but I perceive this throws too heavy a weight into +the scale not to outbalance my counsels."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come here, my Cornelia do not let us discuss such matters now," said +<i>Henri</i>, drawing her upon his knee. "I can do nothing to-day but look +at and caress you. Do not grudge me the sweet refreshment after long +hours of burdensome ceremonies and fatiguing business. My mind is so +wearied that I can no longer think of anything, only feel that I clasp +you to my heart, that you are mine, wholly mine! Is it not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia leant silently upon his breast. "At last, at last he will +utter the word I have so longed to hear!" she thought, clinging to him +in a fond embrace. He pressed his lips to her ear, and whispered so low +that she could not understand him, but felt he must be making promises +of eternal love and tenderness, while his hot breath bewildered her +like the fumes of opium. Then a word fell upon her ear more distinctly, +causing a thrill never felt before. He had called her his "wife." +Overwhelmed with happiness she closed her eyes, her head sank upon his +shoulder, and tears of unspeakable delight stole from beneath her long +lashes. In this name, for which she knew but one meaning, he had +expressed the fulfillment of her fairest hopes. She remained in this +blissful confidence a moment longer. <i>Henri's</i> voice grew still more +persuasive, fell still more distinctly upon Cornelia's ear. Suddenly +the veil which had surrounded her soul was torn away; she was forced to +hear, forced to understand, what she had never been willing to believe. +Springing up, she stood before <i>Henri</i> as if frozen into a statue; +there was neither life nor color in the face blanched to the pallor of +marble, save in the eyes, which rested with increasing firmness and +brilliancy upon his startled countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> had prepared himself for an outburst of indignation or grief; +this speechless amazement, this frozen horror, first revealed to him +how deep her trust had been, and how he had ascribed many things to +levity, or believed them a triumph of love, which had been rooted +wholly in the security of this unshaken confidence. He perceived he had +prepared Cornelia badly for his plans; but it was too late: he could +not unsay what had been said. At last her lips moved, and word after +word began to struggle through them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So this is the meaning you give to the sacred words 'my wife,'--in +this way I shall not be denied the privilege of becoming yours? This +relation does not dishonor--the--minister!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," cried <i>Henri</i>, with a slight shudder, "not this scorn! I +cannot bear it. Do you not understand that I have inviolable duties +towards my position and the dignity with which my prince trustfully +invested me? that there are barriers far more difficult for a man to +overleap than for a woman to pass the bounds prescribed by what we call +morality? Speak, Cornelia: could you expect me, the representative of +the highest aristocracy in the country, the supporter of the most rigid +despotic principles of government, to suddenly present to the +astonished world as my wife the daughter of a fugitive traitor, who has +herself hitherto moved exclusively in plebeian and democratic circles? +Would not your pure brow flush beneath the contemptuous glances which +would see only your origin, not yourself? I could not present you at +court; and would it not be far more humiliating if, as my lawful wife, +you were excluded from the circles to which I belong, if you were +always compelled to conceal yourself in the darkness of obscurity, like +one proscribed, while feeling that the lofty name you bore was a +burning-glass to draw upon you the fiery rays of public curiosity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia pressed her hand upon her heart as if she felt the stroke of a +dagger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could you bear this ignominy?--could you suffer your husband to bear +it with you? You know that to me you are a queen; but the world in +which I live would never weary of preparing humiliations for you that +even I, as your husband, could not always prevent, and which would +perhaps lower my proud, noble love in my own eyes. All this you can +avoid if you will remain outside the sphere into which our marriage +would bring you, if you will live in seclusion as the sweet wife of my +heart, unknown and unnoticed, but surrounded by the glory with which a +great self-sacrificing love invests a woman. That I would be a faithful +husband to you, my Cornelia, I swear by every solemn oath. No other +shall ever stand at my side; no one shall bear the name which, before +God, belongs to you, and which I dare not give you before the world. I +will open a heaven of bliss to you, and at the end of our days you +shall tell me whether, in the true, real sense of the word, you have +not been my wife, whether I have not deserved the sublime confidence +with which, without the customary guarantees, you placed the happiness +of your life in my hands. Come, Cornelia, come to my heart." And, as he +uttered the words, he threw himself on his knees before her, extending +his arms imploringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia still stood motionless. She saw him at her feet, looking so +noble with that mute entreaty on his lips, gazed at him for a second, +then, like a despairing cry of agony, the words burst forth,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Heinrich, why, why must it come to this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? How can it be otherwise?" cried <i>Henri</i>, starting up. "Cornelia, +be more merciful than the fate that denies you to me. Could I reject my +prince's call to the aid of the throne, withdraw my powers from the +service of the state at the moment they were most needed? Ought I to +have made such a sacrifice to my love when I was sure you would +joyfully offer the lesser one, which is necessary to our happiness? +What have you to fear? You are living in exceptional circumstances, +have no one's permission to ask, have told me a hundred times that you +despised the judgment of the world, that you felt within your own heart +a higher power, which justified you in taking your own course. If I had +believed any woman capable of a love which had sufficient morality in +self to be able to cast aside all laws without degenerating, it would +have been yourself; and you are such a woman, you alone. In your lofty +breast human nature has developed free and unfettered, as it came from +the hand of the Creator; it does not judge according to the ordinances +of the church-police, or so-called moral tradition, but, pure and +undefiled, unquestioningly follows the guidance of the love which +pervades all creation, and which mankind first disfigured and chained +by arbitrary laws."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Cornelia. "And our ideas of virtue, of the sacredness of +marriage, they would lack all firm foundation had not God placed a +guard upon our passions in our own breasts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, can <i>you</i> ask such questions? They are a protection to the +weak, of course. Marriage, as a sacrament, is a great institution, +which the infirmities of human nature rendered necessary; but for those +strong exceptional natures that feel themselves nearer the deity it is +an empty form."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So would be morality, honor, family happiness,--all would be mere +illusions, and our most immediate aim nothing more than to become +thinking animals. This would bring us nearest to our divine origin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not scorn me thus, Cornelia; I do not deserve it, for I am in +solemn earnest. Is marriage, then, merely a civil union formed under +the eyes of the church-police? Is it not rooted in those who truly love +each other? Cannot they, without marriage-certificate or altar, found a +true, peaceful family life apart from society, and therefore the more +untroubled? If they have become truly one in spirit, do they need the +compulsion of the world and the church to remain faithful to each +other? Is not marriage a mere superfluous ceremony to such beings? and +is not a relation that depends upon the most profound mental and +physical sympathy, and endures through its own power, more moral than a +so-called legal marriage, which exists only in form where two persons +are united that are repulsive to each other,--two souls that do not +understand each other,--where people seek refuge from despair in crime, +and, after committing infidelities, play the old falsehood to +themselves and the world until loathing and constraint stupefy their +souls and the individual sinks into a mere animal? Is this more moral, +Cornelia? Could the church consecrate what was commonplace, disunited, +separated? Is not such an alliance a greater blasphemy than if two +beings, with the loftiest feelings, give themselves to each other for a +life of free love and voluntary faithfulness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And would it be blasphemy if two such beings sanctioned their alliance +before the world by a marriage, if they made that which is hallowed in +itself saved in the eyes of society?" asked Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri's</i> eyes fell before her glance. "It would not be blasphemy; and +any one whom circumstances permitted to do so would be very wrong not +to avail himself of the beautiful form, with its many benefits. But +where it would disturb a whole life, natures like ours have a right to +dispense with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And wherein does this disturbance of the whole life consist? In the +possible loss of the portfolio! This is the lofty object to which +everything else must yield, even the feeling whose 'divine power,' +according to your views, might dispense with the sanction of the law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no, my angel! Shall I love you less if you are mine of your own +free choice? On the contrary, I shall but hold you the more tenderly in +my heart. You are too noble, too unselfish, to compel me to sacrifice +either the proud goal of my efforts, or the happiness of my love, when +it is in your power to afford me both."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if I do not possess this unselfishness,--if I asked your hand as a +proof of your integrity,--then I must yield to the interests of your +ambition, and the statesman would conquer the lover."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, I no longer know you. Is this the self-sacrificing woman who +has always cared only for others, never for herself? and could you now +suddenly transform yourself into a calculating egotist, who bargains +and higgles for a price, and demands the sacrifice of a whole career in +return for her love? Cornelia, an unconditional sacrifice, a complete +forgetfulness of self, might have won me to anything, but this is not +the way to obtain my hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked up and recoiled a step in horror, for before him stood the +gorgon he had once imagined in those eyes. The disheveled hair seemed +to move; her gaze rested upon <i>Henri</i> with petrifying power. At last +the tension of the nerves relaxed, the blood surged into her face, and +her noble indignation flushed her cheek with as deep a crimson as it +had before been pale. "Heinrich!" she cried, "I have borne your +fiendish dialectics long enough! I wished to know you thoroughly, and +therefore forced myself to be calm. Now this must cease; the measure is +full! Do you really believe I would so far humiliate myself as to +bargain and beg for your hand? Do you really suppose the sacrifice you +ask would be too great for me, if I could justify it before God and my +own conscience,--if you were worthy of it? That you are not you have +now shown me. I was obliged to hear the answer you gave me with my own +ears, or I should not have believed it; therefore I asked the question. +I was forced to learn your falsehood from your own lips, to be able to +offer you the only thing you deserve, my scorn. Yes, my nature is so +healthful that I have strength to thrust evil from me, though my very +life should cleave to it. Oh, Heinrich, that it must come to this! You +have stripped the bloom from my existence, stolen the most sacred +emotions of a young, trusting heart, wished to take from me honor, +faith, all that affords support and protection to a woman, torn the +wings from my soul to chain me, and then, when you wished to disown me, +to say 'fly away.' Oh, treacherous soul-murderer, beautiful and winning +as no other can ever be, for whose creation an angel must have mated +with a fiend, I love and hate you with equal fervor! I would gladly +ennoble you, yet feel already how you have corrupted me. Yes, I +understand that no one resisted you,--that you conquered wherever you +went; but here, proud man, is the limit of your victory. The shame you +destined for me does not humiliate me, for I am conscious I have not +deserved it. See, it rouses every hostile power within me. I feel, with +a shudder, how they are taking possession of my heart, calling +mockingly in my ears, 'Count Ottmar's mistress,' and painting +scenes,--scenes which might well drive me to madness. And there stands +the man who loves me, and from pure affection dooms me to such +tortures; who will not suffer me to stand by his side before the world; +will not give me his name in return for the life he demands: and all +this is from pure love; and I,--why do I not from pure love thrust a +knife into his false breast to avenge the law he derides?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that is it? Because I will not make you Countess Ottmar! That is +what causes you such bitter grief? Oh, Cornelia, you are far more +haughty than virtuous!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my God, how have I deserved this?" cried Cornelia. "Heinrich, +Heinrich, vengeance will come upon you! You will some day be compelled +to answer before God for the heart you have crushed! You wish by your +sophisms to drive me to sacrifice my virtue, merely to prove that I am +noble and unselfish, that I love the man and not the count. Oh, it is a +clever calculation, and may already have led many a gentle heart +astray! But it recoils from my firm reason, for the supposition is +false, Heinrich. If your love and esteem are only to be obtained by +sin, you are so evil that you are not worth the trouble of winning. +Believe that I am more haughty than virtuous; believe that my anger is +only roused because I am not to become Countess Ottmar; I cannot +convince you to the contrary, for God and his commands are higher than +you, and God sees my heart and knows how it bleeds and quivers!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be so violent, Cornelia; you cannot leave me. You are mine; own +that you are. You have inhaled the sweet poison from my lips, and your +soul absorbed in full draughts the fiery language of my passion. You +have foreseen all the joys of love; womanhood has unfolded its perfect +flower. You cannot go back. Come, my dove, you are fluttering timidly, +and yet feel that you are bound. Come, my angel, demand my vows; I will +give them all to you as if before the altar. Does not Christ himself, +to whom you pray, say, 'Where two are gathered together in my name, +there am I in the midst of them'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold, blasphemer, to whom nothing is sacred!" cried Cornelia, +releasing herself from his arms in mortal terror; and with sudden +resolution she rushed to the door, along the passage, down the +staircase,--heard him following her, and hurried through the dark +streets. She did not know herself what she wanted, or where she was +going; "away, away from him" was her only thought. A door stood ajar, +and a faint light streamed through the opening. It was the church of +the Jesuits. She fled into it. The house of God was empty, only +a priest was praying at the altar beneath the red glow of the +ever-burning lamp. <i>Henri's</i> steps echoed behind her. She rushed up to +the dark figure, and sank senseless before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven has apparently chosen me to be your good spirit, Count Ottmar, +since I always stand in your way when you are in the act of doing +things you might afterwards regret," said the Jesuit, bending over +Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the haste of the pursuit <i>Henri</i> had recognized Father Severinus too +late. Now he stood before him in amazement, and beheld his precious +treasure lying senseless in the arms of his mortal enemy. <i>Henri</i> was +painfully embarrassed. "Severinus," said he, "I assure you this whole +scene is the result of the folly of an innocent, enthusiastic girl, and +that you may safely trust me to escort her home."</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus gazed with increasing admiration at Cornelia's pure, pale +features, as he aided her to rise. "It depends on the decision of the +lady herself whether she will go with you, or place herself under my +protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia!" cried <i>Henri</i>, in tones so loud, so full of agony, that she +opened her heavy eyes. "Cornelia, angel of my life, do not abandon me! +Come with me, and forgive me for having alarmed you. Give me your dear +hand, and let me take you home. Cornelia, have you no longer a single +glance for your Heinrich?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood trembling before him with downcast eyes, and did not move. +"If this reverend gentleman will take me, I will ask him to accompany +me. With you, Heinrich, I shall go no more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, my daughter," said Severinus, with inexpressible gentleness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Deep grief, such as he had never felt before, overmastered <i>Henri</i>. He +tried to kiss her hand, but she withdrew it. "Will you act in +opposition to the dictates of your own heart, Cornelia?" he exclaimed. +"My love, do not cause yourself so much pain. See, you are pitying me +almost more than I pity myself. Be more womanly, Cornelia; you cannot +treat the man in whom your life is rooted thus. This is not the place +for such discussions. I will forgive your want of confidence and your +having exposed me to this gentleman in such a manner. To-morrow, my +Cornelia, I shall hope to find you more reasonable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More reasonable? You will never find me again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you will feel yourself that between us no reconciliation is +possible. We are parted!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia! and you have loved me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I have loved, still love--I fear you," she breathed almost +inaudibly. "Should I need to fly from you if I hated you as I ought?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She fixed her eyes once more on the wondrously beautiful features, now +ennobled by pain; tear after tear rolled slowly down her cheeks; she +shivered violently, and sank sobbing at the feet of a life-size figure +of Christ, resting her burning head against the cold stone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Cornelia," whispered <i>Henri</i>, his voice trembling with emotion; +"unhappy child, why do you lacerate your own heart and mine so cruelly? +Tell me, wherefore do you now suffer all this? wherefore do you +renounce me, do you bear this anguish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wherefore?" she said, looking up to the Christ to which she still +clung. "Ask Him. He will teach you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus had stood a little apart, watching Cornelia as if in a dream; +he was deeply moved. With a manner more tender than <i>Henri</i> had ever +seen in him, he now approached and offered her his arm. She obeyed him +almost unconsciously, and passed slowly by Ottmar. The latter threw +himself before her, and pressed her dress to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Girl, girl, I will not leave you! It is not possible that you can cast +me off,--it is unnatural! Cornelia, am I to lose you? can it be? will +you take all the joy and happiness from my life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia stood with her hands pressed upon her bosom, struggling for +breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you no longer a word, a glance, for me? can you see the head you +have so often cradled an your bosom at your feet, and not bend and +raise it forgivingly to your heart? will you not look smilingly into my +eyes, and say, 'Enough of punishment, I am appeased'? Draw your arm +from that stranger's and place it around my neck, and I will bear you +through the world as lovingly, as watchfully, as a god. See, I kiss the +spot where your heart is beating, and it does not burst; its blood does +not gush forth upon my breast with infinite sorrow at the thought of a +separation. You do not stir; you let me plead, let me extend my arms +despairingly to you, and will not throw yourself into them,--say no +word of compassion to the man whom you have called a thousand times by +every fond name love could utter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heinrich! Heinrich!" cried Cornelia, throwing her arms around him and +pressing her lips to his, "this is more than human nature can bear!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my Cornelia! Do you then feel you are mine?--that all your +purposes are false?--that nothing is true and eternal except our love?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My daughter," said Severinus, gently, "be steadfast as you were just +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked up and brushed the tears from her face. "I thank you; I +am steadfast," she replied, with firm resolution. "Good-night, +Heinrich, <i>for the last time</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned to leave the church with Severinus.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Henri</i> started up like a wounded tiger; all tenderness was transformed +into fury. "Go, then!" he shouted, trembling with rage; "you are no +woman,--you are a fiend! You have deserted <i>me</i>, not I <i>you</i>; now we +are quits."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl tottered out of the church with Severinus without +casting another glance behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Both reached Cornelia's house in silence. Severinus paused. "Command +me, Fräulein. Shall I leave you alone, or can I be of any further +service to you? A young girl doubtless needs protection against such a +man as Ottmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know him?" asked Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask you to come in with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most joyfully."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servants, on their return, had found the house open, and were in +the greatest anxiety about Cornelia. Her maid came to meet her, crying, +"Oh, heavens, how you look!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They entered the drawing-room, the apartment so short a time ago the +scene of peace and joy; whose atmosphere was still pervaded with +<i>Henri's</i> glowing breath. There lay the gloves he had forgotten in his +haste. Her tears burst forth afresh. It seemed as if she had just come +from his funeral, and could not part from these last sad tokens of +his life. She mutely motioned Severinus to be seated; she could not +speak,--could not express her emotions in words. Severinus understood +her thoroughly, and watched her in silence. She sat with bowed bead, +speechless and pale; her hands resting on her lap; her loosened tresses +falling around her, wet with tears. She still saw the impression made +on the soft carpet where he had knelt before her; there lay a velvet +ribbon he had torn from her arm; with a deep blush she looked up at the +priest, as if he could read her thoughts. Now, for the first time, she +noticed his delicate features, the melancholy expression of his large +dark eyes, and gazed at him more earnestly. With an involuntary motion +he pushed the hair from his brow, and a broad scar became visible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are Severinus!" she exclaimed, starting up and seizing both his +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you not know it?" he asked, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I did not hear your name just now; but I think I once saw you in a +brighter hour than this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the churchyard a few months ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Ah, it was a fleeting happiness!" she murmured. "It is strange +that we should meet. Oh, I salute you: the only person of whom Heinrich +always spoke with reverence, whom God has sent to be my preserver!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the Almighty grant that I shall prove so! But what can I do for +you? Will you raise me to the rank of your friend, that as such I may +console you, since I am not permitted to bestow the blessings of my +ecclesiastical office upon a Protestant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know I am of the Lutheran faith?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I have long known you, long watched your quiet labors in the +prison; and of late, since the report of your relations with Ottmar +went abroad, prayed that the Almighty might save the honor of a being +whom he had created or his glory, if at any time she was in danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A report? Oh, God! had matters already gone so far with me? Ah, this +despicable world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Calm yourself, my daughter. Do not accuse the world: you yourself are +not wholly blameless. Had you submitted more to the laws of womanly +custom, everything might now be very different."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia covered her face. "Alas, I believed all men as pure as +myself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right. If you had been less innocent, you would have paid more +attention to appearances. Yet you now see yourself where it leads when +a woman breaks down the barriers that protect her. If you had belonged +to our church, and had a confessor whom you trusted, he would have +called your attention betimes to the dangers that threatened you, and +spared you many a bitter pang."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, many faithful friends warned me, but I would not listen: I had +no thought for anything except this man. I was bound by a magic spell, +which permitted me only to breathe with his breath, live in his life. I +had forgotten God and the world for him; and therefore I am now +punished."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You recognize the hand of God, my child. Ah, yes! I know it rests +heavily upon those he loves. You had suffered yourself to become +absorbed too thoughtlessly in the passions of earth, and therefore he +tore you away to the purer sphere of self-sacrifice and sorrow. Many an +earthly happiness can still bloom for you, but you will be purified and +enjoy it with grateful consciousness. This is the blessing of your +sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how nobly you speak! Go on," pleaded Cornelia, clasping her hands +and kneeling like a little child beside the arm-chair which Severinus +was seated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have conquered, my daughter, and your heart bleeds from honorable +wounds; yet do not imagine that the contest is ended with this one +victory: it will not save you. In the languor into which the soul falls +after great moral efforts, it is all the more defenseless against a +fresh assault. You must leave here, must withdraw into solitude, where, +as your days form the links of a continuous chain of self-sacrifice, +you will obtain a quiet, unassuming victory over your passions. In the +stillness of a magnificent, lonely region, you will once more hear the +gentle voices in which God speaks to mankind. Beneath shady trees, and +beside cool brooks, the tumult of the blood will be allayed, the life +and labors of millions of innocent creatures will employ your fancy, +lead you back to simplicity and childlike faith, and with devout +reverence you will receive the duty that takes up its abode in every +purified soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, reverend sir, you are right: I need repentance and rest; and balm +for all sorrows can be found only in beautiful nature. I must leave +here; but where shall I go? I have traveled very little; know not +whither to turn; and since my engagement to Ottmar have become so much +estranged from all my friends that I could not now ask any one to +accompany me; besides, I know of no one whom I would suffer to look +into my heart. You are the only person whom a strange accident has made +my confidant, you understand, and in these few moments have become so +necessary to me that it would be very difficult for me to part with +you. Help, counsel me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You still have a faithful maid?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, promote her to be a 'companion,' and take me for your +fatherly guide, if you believe I know how to judge and treat you in the +present state of your soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! would you devote your precious time to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you need me, yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I need you? Oh, reverend sir, how can I thank you, how can I reward +you for a sympathy of which I am so unworthy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To save your immortal soul, to reconcile you with God, is the only +reward and gratitude I ask. I am only doing my duty if I aid your +erring spirit to find its home again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my friend, you arouse an emotion never felt before! I never knew +my parents. Let me find in you that of which I have so long been +deprived: a father on whose heart I can weep out my sorrows. Alas, I +have never enjoyed this blessing I know not what it is when a child, +overwhelmed with remorse, falls at its father's feet, and the latter, +kindly absolving it from its guilt, says, 'Come, you are forgiven!' I +have sinned deeply; yet if I had had my parents, everything would have +been different. Father Severinus, can you enter into an orphan's +feelings? Ah, one who, clasped in the arms of his family, has never +lacked love, cannot know what it is to grow up alone, without that warm +affection, that blissful interchange of parental and filial love, and, +with an overflowing heart, which in its ardor could contain a world, +find only sober friendship and partial understanding! My dear Veronica +was an angel! I owe her all the good qualities I possess: she reared me +lovingly, and treated me like a mother; but she had not a mother's +affection, that rich, gushing tenderness which a warm, childish heart +demands. I did not need an angel, but a noble, mature human being, and +strict discipline. My powers soon carried me beyond her narrow +intellectual sphere; she became more and more beneath me mentally, and +indulged me wonderfully. I remained an obedient child, and loved her +devotedly; but she could not give me what I required. An unfortunate +youthful fancy passed over me like a dream. My aspiring mind knew no +bounds; my thirst for love vainly sought satisfaction, in society, in +toiling for the poor and miserable. Then I met Heinrich, with his +ardor, his winning charm; and all the affection a child has for its +father and mother, all the passion a woman can feel, I had for him. Now +came the result of my education. Always habituated to do as I pleased, +I despised the commands of custom, the warnings of friends. After being +so long deprived of love, it burst over me like a flood: I gave myself +up to it blindly. Perhaps I thereby forfeited my lover's respect, and +apparently justified him in inflicting upon me the humiliation from +which I fled to your protection, sir." She sighed heavily. "Ah, thank +God that I could pour out my heart to you! For the first time in my +life I feel the happiness of confessing a fault with remorseful sorrow, +divesting my soul of its pride, and placing myself in the hands of a +merciful judge! Impose the punishment, and I will bear it; tell me the +penance, and I will perform it; but then, then bend down to me and tell +me as my father would have done, 'Come; you are forgiven'!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She laid her clasped hands upon the arm of the chair, and looked at +Severinus imploringly. The latter sat absorbed in thought, gazing into +her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear child, you give me the right to punish and pardon; I can only +make use of the latter privilege. Your intellectual development, as you +have described it to me, excuses your relations with Ottmar, and your +pathetic submission to this unprincipled man. I, too, was orphaned; I, +too, have wandered through the world with a loving heart, and never +found what I sought. To me also men have seemed cold and empty; they +did not respond either to my ideas or feelings. But what drew you down +raised me; the overmastering impulse led me to a purer sphere. In our +church, Cornelia, reigns the man-born God. I could seize upon him, +throw myself into his arms, and there find the love, the condescension, +I needed. Our church alone is the bridge which unites the Deity with +the earth. The symbols, Cornelia, are the steps by which the clumsy +human mind, so long as it is fettered by temporal ideas, climbs upward +to the supernatural. Even the most sinful man can reach God, if he +makes the symbols his own. While your church requires a purified +spiritual stand-point in order to give consolation and edification, +ours bends down to the man imprisoned in sensuality and leads him +upward, step by step, gradually removing him from his sinful +condition." He paused and looked at Cornelia, then continued: "These +blessings fell to my lot. My heart also bled when it tore itself away +from all the human ties entwined about it; I, too, Cornelia, have +struggled until I resisted the false allurements, and so spiritualized +myself that the world became dead, and the kingdom of God a living +thing to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh," exclaimed Cornelia, "I shall never bring myself to that! The +world dead! No longer love this beautiful earth, the master-piece of +God! No, I cannot; it would be ungrateful to him who created it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not ask that, my child; I am not one of those bigoted priests who +believe that men were made only to pray, that the pious and chaste +alone are the elect, and the others the mere wretched laborers of +creation, destined to propagate the race. Such a thought is far from +me. Whomsoever. God destines to be his servant he calls; and let those +whom he does not rejoice in the world for which they were born, and +serve God by doing good in their own sphere. I will only warn you not +to forget the Giver in the gifts; to remember the Dispenser while you +enjoy his alms, is a duty you children of the world so easily neglect. +This I will teach you to fulfill, and show you that it does not detract +from happiness, but hallows and strengthens it. If you had thought more +of God when he gave you Ottmar's love, you would have been more +discreet, and perhaps matters would never have gone so far."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that is terribly true!" sobbed Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Calm yourself, my child; I do not wish to burden your poor heart still +more heavily. You were innocent, and Ottmar's influence was injurious +to you. No mortal has a right to decide whether you would have been +able to avoid this; I least of all, for I know Ottmar's personal power. +I, too, trusted him, and was betrayed, for he is no man's friend, not +even his own!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unhappy man! Created in the image of God, so handsome, so noble, so +capable of giving happiness, and yet a living lie, a deceitful phantom, +which irresistibly allures us, and, as soon as we wish to hold it; +melts into thin air. Do you understand, Severinus, that one may love +him with all the strength of one's life, and when parted from him be +but a broken bough which can do nothing but wither?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand it, for no other was ever so dear to me. I hoped to make +him an instrument for the advancement of the good cause, thought God +had given me in him a being to whom the heart might still be permitted +to pay the tribute of human feelings, aided with admiration in the +development of his great talents, and nursed him with tender anxiety. I +listened to his breathing while he slept, watched him like a brother, +and saw with delight that his health gradually improved. When he came +up to me with beaming eyes, and said, 'My dear Severinus, how shall I +thank you?' my heart swelled with proud delight, and I clasped him in +my arms." He paused, covered his eyes with his hand, and continued, in +a trembling voice: "And when I was compelled to lose him, such sorrow +seized upon me that I struggled as if the foul fiend had possession of +him and I must wrest Heinrich's soul from his grasp. It was the +punishment that befell me because my love did not still belong +exclusively to Heaven, as it ought. I endeavored to disarm his malice +against the order as much as possible; I had nurtured the serpent, so +it was my duty to deprive it of its venom, and thus I was forced to +pursue as an enemy one who had been the dearest person on earth to me. +Believe me, my daughter, your tears are not the only ones which have +been shed for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia seized Severinus's hand with deep emotion; he rose. "I will +now leave you alone: you need rest. Compose yourself, and pray. I hope +to find you ready to travel early to-morrow morning, and will consider +tonight whither I will guide you."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Severinus went out into the street he met a brother-priest, who was +just coming from the Jesuit church.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father Severinus!" he said, in astonishment. "How did you come here? +what are you doing in Fräulein Erwing's house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am gaining a soul for the church!" he answered, proudly, and passed +on.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">XX.</a></h2> + +<h3>THITHER</h3> + +<p class="normal">The minister of foreign affairs sat in his office alone. Stray, feeble +rays from the winter sun fell through the window and gleamed upon a +heap of documents and papers with huge seals; but the minister's eyes +did not rest upon them, they were fixed absently on vacancy. From time +to time he dipped his pen in the ink, only to let it fall again unused, +upon a diplomatic dispatch which had just been commenced. At last he +started up and went to the door. His figure was not so elegant, nor his +bearing so haughty, as in former days: his hair and beard were +neglected, his eyes and cheeks sunken. Was it work or sorrow that had +thus shaken this noble frame? He seemed aged, even ill. Anton brought +in some letters, which he hastily seized, then threw them all but one +upon the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it may be some good news!" said Anton, casting a troubled +glance at his master's haggard features as he left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it!" repeated <i>Heinrich</i>; and his breath came quickly and +anxiously as he read:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Your Excellency</span>,--In reply to your highly esteemed favor of the 15th, +I have the honor to say that I must positively reject the denunciation +it contains against our reverend brother in Christ, Father Severinus: +namely, that without my knowledge he had secretly fled with a young and +beautiful lady, and kept her concealed for several months against her +will. Father Severinus is a pattern to the whole order for humble +obedience and the strictest devotion to all. No false appearances can +render his blameless and immovable purity suspicions in our eyes. His +relation to that lady is one well pleasing to God and the order, and +his course has my entire approval. This I must permit myself to say in +correction of your Excellency's erroneous suspicion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no right to inform your Excellency of the residence of Father +Severinus and the lady in question until your Excellency has given us +the most satisfactory proofs of your right to the possession of the +young lady's person.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With all due respect to your Excellency, etc.,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:60%">"<span class="sc">Father R</span>----</p> + +<p class="continue">"<i>General of the Holy Congregation of the Fathers of Jesus</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc2">Rome, -- 20, 18--</span>." +<br> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> sank upon the sofa with the paper in his hand. "This failed +too! All, all in vain!" he murmured, crushing the letter convulsively +in his clinched fingers. "What is to be done now? Shall I give notice +to the embassies of every country? Shall I add to this consuming +anguish the disgrace that I am pursuing an adventuress, who is rambling +about with a Jesuit? Cornelia! Cornelia! Have these pious fathers or +have you obtained so much mastery over yourself that you can inflict +this upon me? It is not possible that they have subdued your free +will. You are not one of these natures which allow themselves to +be ruled. You have done the most difficult, the most unprecedented +thing,--conquered me and yourself in a moment when passion was most +aroused. You would not suffer the arts of these men to obtain dominion +over you! Noble, wonderful woman! By what cords do you hold me that I +will go to utter ruin rather than forget you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rested his head wearily upon his hand. His whole life passed before +him. He thought of all the unhappy creatures who had clung to him with +the same ardor he now felt for Cornelia, and been repulsed as he was +now by her. Again Ottilie's image rose before him. The sorrow gnawing +at his heart made him for the first time understand the tortures she so +silently, so patiently, bore for him, and for the first time he +experienced the true human sympathy he had never felt while grief was +unknown to him. "Poor Ottilie! We are now companions in suffering!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A low knocking roused him from his gloomy thoughts. It was his private +secretary, to ask whether Ottmar had prepared the dispatch for the +court of R----. "Oh! good heavens, no!" he exclaimed, in great +impatience, and sat down to finish it. Thrice he began, erased the +words, and then flung the pen aside with a sigh of the bitterest +despondency. "I am not in the mood," he said, at last. "My head aches +too violently. I cannot give myself up to work now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me to remind your Excellency that you will be expected at the +council of ministers at twelve o'clock," said the young man, timidly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right: thanks! Remind me of it again at eleven."</p> + +<p class="normal">With the most painful effort of self-control he applied himself to the +preparation of the document, and then hurried away to dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency ought to get a long leave of absence," said Anton, as +he assisted him to make his toilet. "You cannot live on so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very likely, Anton. It is an existence which is becoming more and more +unendurable to me. But I cannot take a leave now. I must either +disappear from the scene entirely or remain at my post."</p> + +<p class="normal">He left the room with a slow step and drooping head. Anton looked after +him sadly. "Poor master! It must have been bad news again. No doubt the +young lady has good cause for her acts; but I pity him, for he never +loved so before."</p> + +<p class="normal">A few hours afterward the prince entered his wife's apartments. "My +dear Ottilie, I must entreat you to grant me a favor. You did not wish +to see any one on account of your indisposition, but I beseech you to +make one exception."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be as you wish, Alfred," said Ottilie, in a faint voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was reclining upon a couch under an arbor of dense exotic plants, +which made one forget the cold, wintry landscape without. The prince +took a chair and sat down beside her. "The matter concerns Ottmar," he +began, breaking a withered leaf from a gum-tree, and thus not observing +how Ottilie started. "I do not know what I am to do with the man. +Something is wrong with him; I cannot discover what. He seems entirely +changed. The youngest attaché could not make so many diplomatic +blunders as he. He brought to the council to-day the rough sketch of a +dispatch to R----, which was totally useless. He, our most talented +statesman! It is incomprehensible! He is apathetic and reserved; nay, +he even permits himself to fail in the personal respect which, as his +prince, I am entitled to demand, and whose punctilious observance has +hitherto endeared him to me. I do not think this proceeds from any +diminution in his loyalty,--he has so often assured me that I was his +only friend,--but is the result of some secret disturbance, some +physical or mental suffering. All my efforts to obtain his confidence +are fruitless, so I thought of applying to my charming wife and calling +her to my aid in this, to me, very important affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how can I be of any assistance?" asked Ottilie, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall speak to him, my dear. You are mistress of the art of +assuming a condescending manner which induces people to give their +confidence freely without forgetting in whose presence they stand. I +confess that in this respect you far surpass me. You remove my +subjects' awe of the grandeur of your position, and substitute +reverence for your person. Thus you succeed in being affable without +forfeiting any portion of your dignity, and people, open their hearts +to you without overstepping the bounds prescribed by etiquette. It is a +great art, for which not only intellect and heart, but the unusual +queenliness of air that distinguishes you, are requisite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it is an 'art' which, at all events, I practice very +unconsciously," interposed Ottilie, smiling. "Yet I thank you, Alfred, +for this praise; it makes me very proud. And now I shall try to earn it +by attempting to prove my skill upon Ottmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no praise you have not already fully earned. But I will beg +you to subdue this reserved diplomat with your--if I may so call +it--diplomacy of the heart, and discover what is really the matter with +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But have we a right to interfere, my prince?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not only a right, but a duty. If he merely neglected me, I would +ignore it; but he neglects the obligations of his high position, and +thereby injures the interests he ought to defend. This cannot continue, +so we must discover the cause of Ottmar's trouble and try to remove it. +If this does not succeed, then----" The prince rose with the shrug of +the shoulders he always used to express what was not yet sufficiently +decided to put into words. "At the present critical moment, when +everything is crowding upon us, we need men who are thoroughly in +earnest, and will hold the reins with a firm hand," said he, continuing +his interrupted chain of ideas. "It is no time for personal +considerations and indulgent delays. Every moment brings and demands +important decisions, which should not be permitted to suffer from the +absence of mind of any individual. There must be a change soon. I +cannot lecture him like a school-boy, but you can say many things as a +proof of friendly sympathy, which, from my lips, would sound like an +implied reproach."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will try; although I do not expect much from the interview. I can +scarcely flatter myself that I shall be able to win from him what he +withholds from you, and perhaps the secret may be of such a nature that +he cannot confide it to us. Perhaps--he has some love-sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my dear! Would a polished man of the world, a thorough diplomat, +give himself up to such sentimentality?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The glance that Ottilie cast at the prince had a shade of compassionate +contempt. "You call it sentimentality because you have never felt the +power of a passionate emotion. You must consider that the moderation +inculcated into the minds of royal personages, that they may be able to +rule themselves and others, is an almost exclusive prerogative of their +rank, which no one else shares----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Except the priests," interposed the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right. But Ottmar does not belong to that class, but to one of +great privileges and few duties, who are accustomed to drop the reins +of self-control; and these men often lack all support against their +passions. I have already told you that I do not consider Ottmar a +genuine diplomat. He has talent, and will therefore for a time +skillfully accomplish whatever he undertakes, but he is far too great +an enthusiast to be a good statesman. For this he lacks calmness, +firmness of conviction, perseverance in labor, and sooner or later the +contradiction between his nature and his profession must appear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lord C---- made the same remark about him several years ago. Your +knowledge of human nature shows itself more and more, and I daily +perceive with gratitude what wise counsels I am always sure of +receiving from you. Then you will make the sacrifice for me, and speak +to Ottmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should be deserving of great blame if I refused my husband's +request. Under what pretext do you wish the interview to take place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think we will give a family dinner to-morrow, and invite him to it. +Do you feel well enough for such an effort? In my opinion, it would be +the most fitting opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree with you, and think my strength will enable me to do the +honors."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you in advance, my dearest, and hope I have not imposed any +very disagreeable task upon you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary, I so rarely have the happiness of being permitted to +do you a favor, that I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not say so; your whole life is a succession of kindnesses and +self-sacrificing amiability towards me. How ignoble it would be for me +to require more than you voluntarily bestow! Pray take care of +yourself; the anxiety you feel is felt for me. Au revoir." He pressed a +hasty kiss upon Ottilie's small white hand and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie looked after him quietly. Not a feature in her pale face +altered. She gratefully perceived that the prince tried to give her at +least civility, even deference; instead of love. She had never asked +more; and now it was easier than ever to resign it. She was no longer +solitary, the life that stirred under her heart filled her with +blissful promises of an infinite love never known before. This new and +cheering emotion aided her to bear more resolutely than before even the +thought of being again thrown into Ottmar's society. The outward world +passed by her like a dream: there was but one reality to her,--the +approaching fulfillment of her mission as a woman; all her powers were +exerted for this great end, and peace brooded over her soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, on the following day, she met Ottmar. The strength of her soul +conquered her physical weakness; and when the dinner was over and the +prince was conversing with the other guests, she calmly approached +Ottmar with an air of quiet dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The prince has commissioned me to speak to you, count," she whispered, +almost inaudibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His Highness?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but I do not do so in his name, but my own. We are anxious about +you, for we both see that you are suffering. Your manner reveals it to +me, while he notices the change by the decreasing interest you take in +your business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it!" exclaimed <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He now wishes to obtain some explanation through me; he hopes you will +be more open than with him; but fear nothing, I shall not degrade +myself to become a spy upon you; nor should I need to do so, for I know +the cause of your anguish, and shall guard it as a sacred secret. Yet I +consented to the conversation the prince desired because I believed the +wish to be a sign from God. Besides, I wanted to speak to you once more +about some of the last events in your life; perhaps I may finally +produce some good result."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed at her in the greatest astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you permit a friend of many years' standing to meddle with your +secrets? Will you trust me?" she asked, with all her former winning +grace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my princess!" cried <i>Heinrich</i>, in delight. "How long it is since +you have bestowed any such words upon me! how your returning favor +soothes and cheers me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God is my witness that my favor was never withdrawn from you, count." +She raised her sparkling blue eyes, and her lips parted to say more; +then she recollected herself: her lids drooped again, and she was +silent. After a pause she began, in an altered tone, "The prince wishes +through me to learn the cause of the change in you, that he may help +you; but I can aid you without telling him your secret, and thus save +both, and betray no one. Is that right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly! But, my beloved, noble princess, how can you help me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have been deserted by the young girl you loved. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; but how do you know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The unhappy fate that has come between you is a secret to me, and one +I do not wish to fathom. The fault, my friend,--pardon my usual +frankness,--must be with you; for I know her, and will answer for it +that you were loved with a rare, pure, and fervent affection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, your Highness, you cut me to the heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must do so, count, if I am to be of use to you; and this is the only +occasion upon which I can. That you love Cornelia Erwing with the first +real passion of your life I see by the deep sorrow expressed in your +outward appearance, as well as your acts and conduct; and I hail this +mood with joy, count, as the gloomy twilight which precedes the dawn of +a new day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Princess, you do not know what I suffer. If I ever sinned against a +noble heart, I am now making bitter atonement. Pity me; do not triumph +in my anguish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how greatly you misunderstand me, count I triumph in your anguish! +May God keep me from such a thought! I rejoice because your sorrows are +a proof of a salutary change in your heart! I rejoice that you love +deeply, truly, sadly; because I hope to be able to restore that to +which your heart clings so loyally!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could you do so, your Highness?" whispered <i>Heinrich</i>, his eyes +sparkling with new life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia Erwing conceals her residence from you. Have you searched for +her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have summoned the police of the whole country to my aid, left no +means untried, but all in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why did you do that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?" asked Ottmar, in astonishment. "Because I wished to win her, to +have her again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And will you permit me to ask one more bold question? If you did +succeed in winning her again, what would be her fate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar drew back a step in astonishment and looked doubtfully at +Ottilie. Should he tell her? was she strong enough to hear it? should +he confess the resolution which, during months of agony and exhausting +struggle, had obtained such a powerful influence over him that it +governed his whole character and conduct?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you make Cornelia Erwing your wife?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If this is the case, I am ready, on my own responsibility, to tell you +her present residence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Noble, royal soul!" murmured Ottmar, involuntarily. "Well, then, yes. +Learn what no one else respects, that I, whom you have so often +reproached for my heartlessness, am subdued by a passion stronger than +my selfishness, stronger than everything, for I feel I could give up my +life rather than this girl, who has become so great a necessity to my +mind and heart. For weeks a letter imploring her hand has been lying in +my portfolio, but I can find no means of sending it to her, and am +almost in despair. Have compassion upon me. If you--ever"--he +hesitated--"ever felt for any one what I now feel for this cruel girl, +you will know how heavily I am punished."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie would gladly have extended her hand to him; but etiquette must +not be offended in the prince's presence. She turned, so that the rest +of the company could not see her face, and looked at Heinrich with an +inexpressibly loving expression. The old melancholy, yet happy, smile +played around her lips, while tear after tear rolled down her pale +cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, my dear, dear friend, I can really do something for you. +Cornelia is now living Rome, and as soon as the company have been +dismissed I will send you her address."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God, how do I deserve the favor of such a woman? Your Highness, +how shall I thank you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make Cornelia Erwing happy; this is the best gratitude I can ask, for +it will be the warrant of your own welfare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, if I might fall at your feet and kiss the hem of your garments! +No, you are no creature of earth!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottilie involuntarily pressed her hand upon her heart, and thought, +"Who knows how soon he may be right!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe I can succeed in moving the heart of this wonderful, +resolute girl?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, for I am sure Cornelia still loves you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did she tell you so in her letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; but I know how you were beloved, and therefore cannot be +forgotten. Besides, she only wrote to me once that I might know what +had become of her, if I should send for her and hear she had gone away. +She lamented that an unfortunate misunderstanding compelled her to part +from you, and begged me to preserve the strictest silence in regard to +her residence that you might not be able to take any steps to shake +this resolution, which was necessary for the sake of both. I gave the +promise and said nothing; but now I should think it wrong if I did not +contribute, as far as I am able, to reunite two such hearts. I had long +doubted whether any such woman as you need existed; but I recognized +Cornelia as the person whom, in imagination, I had destined for you; +therefore she must belong to you. Do you remember the evening I +predicted that you would feel a new, great love? It has now entered +your heart, and, by the goodness of God, I am permitted to show you the +way to the woman in whom the happiness of your life will bloom. My +prophecy is fulfilled, my mission to watch over your salvation +completed." Tears again glittered in her eyes as she uttered the words, +"May blessing and peace be with you both! Farewell."</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the prince saw Ottilie's farewell bow, he approached +<i>Heinrich</i>, and, after doing the honors to the company a short time +longer, the noble pair withdrew. The prince supported his wife with a +strong arm, for she tottered as she left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar had scarcely reached home when Ottilie's groom of the chambers +brought him a sealed envelope. It contained Cornelia's address, written +with an unsteady hand.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> immediately sent a proposal of marriage to Cornelia, +overflowing with the ardor of unrestrained passion and the most +sincere, humble repentance. Great as was his sense of what he had lost +in her, it was equaled by his self-accusation, his impetuous pleading +for her pardon, her hand; and the whole letter bore the impress of +spiritual purification and bitter, heart-felt remorse. A few days after +Cornelia's answer arrived.</p> +<br> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Rome</span>, February, 18--.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ask for my hand, Heinrich. I have read the words with tears of +grateful surprise. You bear a beautiful and noble testimony, both to +yourself and me; and in spirit I fall upon my knees before you, and +implore your pardon for the reproaches and upbraidings hurled at your +dear head on that terrible evening of our parting. Your letter reveals +all the wealth of your deep heart, and shows me that you undervalued +yourself when you wished to commit a deed so unworthy of you. Forgive +me that I too then believed you worse than you are. I thank God for the +merciful kindness with which he restored my only treasure, esteem for +you; for nothing humiliates a woman more deeply than to feel affection +for a man she must despise. I frankly confess, Heinrich, that I could +not cease to love you, even for a moment, that I was torn by the most +torturing struggle between heart and my consciousness of right. Now, +since I have, received your letter and know you deserve my love, I am +once more at peace with myself. I write this that you may not think me +prompted by anger or bitterness when I refuse your hand. My eyes grow +dim at the sight of these cruel words, the fingers that guide the pen +are paralyzed; I must pause a moment and collect my thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot become your wife after what has passed between us,--I dare +not. You have wounded my womanly honor too deeply, shown with too +little consideration what a great sacrifice you would make if you +raised me to the position of your wife, for me to be able to reconcile +my conscience or my pride to its acceptance. I cannot belong to a man +who found me in a station so far below him that he thought he could +degrade me to the lowest ignominy; although a nobler emotion or an +unconquerable affection afterwards leads him to atone for the wrong. I +should always fear that, according to the opinions you have often +declared, you would consider your marriage with me a mesalliance. +Besides, you have described my position as the plebeian wife of Count +Ottmar too clearly and distinctly for me not to shrink from the picture +with dread and horror; while even if I could myself suffer the +humiliations the pride of your aristocratic circle would prepare, I +could not bear that you, as my husband, should be compelled to share +them with me; for even if your love at first helped you to endure them, +they would only too soon stifle it. There would be a perpetual conflict +between your heart and the prejudices the world in which you live has +stamped upon you. This must banish peace from your breast, and sooner +or later make you as miserable as before. Love would yield, and +prejudice conquer, for society would neglect no opportunity of bringing +new and painful proofs of the justice of its views before your eyes, +and then what would be left me in return for all the humiliations I had +suffered? Your scorn! Oh, I was foolish ever to permit myself to be so +blinded as to believe that happiness for yourself or me could ever be +expected to result from a marriage with Count Ottmar! The extent of my +folly you first taught me to know in that hour of agony. Do not rebuke +the application I have made of your lessons as exaggerated. It might, +perhaps, be so in regard to a man who stood further above the views and +demands of a narrow-minded circle than you. But with you, Heinrich, it +is the direct result of your whole character. You are far too much +fettered by the ideas of those who surround you, cling too closely to +the false lustre of brilliant positions, accidental aristocratic +prerogatives, and personal distinction, to long retain your love for a +woman who would constantly inflict the most painful wounds upon your +aristocratic vanity. Believe me, love has no worse enemy than doubt of +the equality of its chosen object; and even if you thought me worthy of +you in intellect, the inferiority of my birth, and the want of esteem +shown by society, would weigh heavily against me. You must become +another man for me to accept your hand; and--forgive me if I am +harsh--your letter gave me no proof of this, although it revealed a +depth of feeling for which, since our separation, I had not given you +credit. But you are and will remain the minister, Count Ottmar, the +court favorite; I can only make him unhappy, as he would me. If you +were once more yourself, Heinrich von Ottmar, my Heinrich, who has +nothing in common with that unprincipled aristocracy,--if you openly +acknowledged what I taught you, what I believe requisite to true manly +dignity and greatness,--then, then you should learn how I love you. +Count Ottmar, who wished to inflict such disgrace upon me, I do not +love, and have sworn never to marry. Farewell! For your happiness and +my own I must avoid you, and leave it to God whether and how he dispose +your heart towards me. If your love is more than the obstinacy of a +passion irritated by resistance, it will unite with your better self +and make you a new man, will remove from our path the obstacles that +separate us, and upon the open way will find me once more; of that you +may be assured. But if it has not the strength to do all this, it would +in the end only make both you and myself miserable,--thrice as +miserable as we are now.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you receive this letter, I shall have left Rome for another place +of residence. Do not try to seek me: you will not find me. Do not call +me 'cruel'; in these lines you see only the victory I have obtained +over myself, but not my anguish, my tears. Beloved, I extend my arms to +you, and would fain press you to my aching heart, but only the cold +phantom of womanly duty and honor bends toward me, and breathes an icy +kiss on my burning lips. Oh, it is hard to be cast off by one you love, +and compelled to renounce your most ardent desire! But, Heinrich, it is +still harder to reject him yourself, and voluntarily resign that for +which you long. These, Heinrich, are superhuman victories, and they +strip all blossoms of youth from the heart; but it is better to lose +them than reap the envenomed fruit of eternal remorse. May God keep his +gentle, fatherly hand over you! He can still lead you to happiness, and +he alone.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:60%">"<span class="sc">Cornelia Erwing</span>." +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was morning when <i>Heinrich</i> read and re-read this letter, until a +sorrow never imagined before made the words swim before his eyes, and +lay like a weight upon his chest, until, with a half-stifled cry of +agony, he bent his head upon the sheet lying before him. He started as +if bewildered, when Anton suddenly appeared, and informed him that a +message had come, summoning him to go to the palace as soon as +possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few hours after, the bells rang, the cannon thundered, and the +populace shouted with joy, for in the palace a new-born child, a +prince, lay in a golden cradle. The hope of the country, whose +fulfillment slumbered in that little heart, stood by its side uttering +a benediction, and the promise of a great future encircled the baby +brow with an invisible crown.</p> + +<p class="normal">But beside him a precious life was struggling silently and +uncomplainingly with death. Ottilie had fulfilled her last and highest +task, but it had exhausted the remnant of her strength. She felt that +her pulse had but a few more throbs, her breast would rise and fall +only a few more times, and, gazing gently and submissively around the +circle, Said, "Give me my son,"--took him from the arms of the prince +and pressed him closely to her heart. "Oh, God! what do I need more +than the happiness of this moment?" Yet a tear fell from her glazing +eyes as she kissed the little one and softly whispered, "You are so +sweet, so dear! Oh, it must be an immeasurable delight to cradle such a +child in one's arms, protect, foster, and watch the awakening of its +slumbering powers! It is not allotted to me. I must leave you and give +you up to your father. May his soul open itself to <i>you</i>! may you +become the innocent mediator between him and his poor people!" She +pressed the boy more and more feebly to her breast. "Farewell! it +grieves me to leave you,--grieves me deeply. Yours was the only heart +an which I relied. But I will not complain. I have <i>borne</i> you,--this, +too, is a mercy from God, and with a kiss upon your rosy lips it is +sweet to die." The child fell from her arm, and her head sank back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is asleep," said the prince, dismissing the bystanders, that he +might not be compelled to show any grief.</p> + +<p class="normal">That evening the bells rang out another peal, and thousands wept aloud +under the brilliantly-lighted windows of the palace, for behind them, +on a black-draped bed of state, lay the beautiful corpse of the +princess, and her people's love stretched its arms towards her in vain. +With her the last bond that bound the sympathies of the masses to the +throne was sundered, and in the child-like ideas of the nation, +Ottilie's glorified spirit rose from her death-bed as that of a saint, +a martyr, who had vainly struggled and suffered to the end. She hovered +above the mourning country in a halo of glory and grief, and despair +transformed the angel of peace into a goddess of freedom, who with a +mighty power revealed to their oppressed hearts the consciousness of +their crushed rights.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">XXI.</a></h2> + +<h3>SPRING STORM</h3> + +<p class="normal">The political atmosphere constantly grew darker and more threatening. +Throngs of people had streamed from all the provinces to attend +Ottilie's funeral, all with the same sorrow, the same rancor; and, +after the obsequies were over, they assembled for consultations of the +most serious nature, and these consultations resulted in resolutions. +Unions were formed and dissolved, deputations sent and dismissed, the +press rose and was suppressed. The evidences of the advancing movement +became more and more decided, the measures of the government yet more +stringent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly a shout rang through the whole country.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Ottmar has formed an opposition in the ministry! Count Ottmar +has declared for the constitution!" The news ran like wildfire. Ottmar, +who had been so long hated as the enemy of all progress, the powerful +favorite of the prince, suddenly threw influence, position, and +authority into the wavering scale, and acknowledged before the world +the cause against which he had so long battled. No one took time to +question the motive of this sudden change; enough that it was so, it +was help in the hour of the utmost need; and new courage animated the +elastic minds of the people. Ottmar was now the centre of universal +attention; the last hope was bound up in him. This consciousness gave +him a dignity which pervaded his whole character. He was once more the +old Ottmar, who strode on haughtily erect, in triumph; but another and +a nobler triumph was now depicted in his sparkling eyes, his lofty +bearing; it was not the victory of subtle arts over the hearts of +feeble women, credulous princes, and less gifted diplomats; but the +conquest of a manly action upon minds, and the pride of an honest +purpose in lieu of treacherous fascinations.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was animated with new life. The conflict between his principles and +his course of action, as well as that between his love and his career, +which Cornelia so greatly feared, had arisen; and although the first +impulse to his new deeds, as in the case of Albert's liberation, had +been merely the selfish desire to enter the path upon which he might +hope to find Cornelia, he again felt with great satisfaction the +blessing of his good action.</p> + +<p class="normal">There is scarcely any soil more favorable for the efforts of man than +to represent a nation, be it in whatever form it may, none in which the +noblest and purest philanthropy can be better developed; but there is +also none from which personal vanity reaps a more abundant harvest. +Cornelia knew this, and therefore had sought to lead Ottmar into this +career. Vanity was the tie by which she endeavored to unite the egotist +to a great cause, until its own nature could enter into him and raise +him above himself. The moment had now arrived when her expectation +began to prove itself correct. <i>Heinrich</i> found himself obtaining an +importance in the eyes of the whole country, which he had hitherto +possessed only within the narrow circle of the court; saw himself +beloved where he had formerly been hated; surrounded with shouts of +joy, instead of having men shrink from him in fear, and he would have +been unnatural if it had not both flattered him and stirred the silent +chords of benevolence within him. Thus the way was opened which he must +follow if his opposition in the ministry succumbed, and he sacrificed +the portfolio to his new confession of faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, wonderful woman, what have you made me?" he said to himself +a hundred times, while his breast heaved with a sigh of longing. He +pressed his hand upon his heart, which he felt more and more to be the +centre of gravity of his nature; where the head whose lofty ideas had +given him new life had so often rested and thought. "When shall I hide +you here again? When, after all these tumultuous conflicts, shall I +hold quiet, blissful intercourse with you? When will your sparkling +eyes rest lovingly upon me, and say, I am satisfied with you, +Heinrich'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Weeks elapsed, and the people still hoped, while Ottmar saw the +catastrophe he expected approach nearer and nearer,--for he knew the +situation of affairs too well to believe for a moment that his +opposition would effect anything more than to give him the confidence +he needed for his new career, and make his change of opinion easier. He +was not mistaken. From the moment he acknowledged his real views he was +excluded from all personal intercourse with the prince, and the +majority in the ministry was against him. The prince, calm and +immovable in his convictions, did not suspect that in Ottmar alone lay +the pledge of his security; his eyes, which were constantly gazing into +the obscurity of a long-buried past, did not perceive the feeling of +the nation which had assembled menacingly about the liberal minister. +But Ottmar felt this invisible power hovering around his brow with +whispers of promise, and knew that he was the real ruler of the moment; +for with him fell the last barrier that withheld the rising flood from +the steps of the throne, and with a proud smile he at last hailed his +overthrow in the ministry as the first real triumph of his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May you never be compelled by force, your Highness, to acknowledge the +spirit you now deny!" were his last words, as he left the council of +ministers. He did not suspect how soon, for the first time, he was to +know and estimate at its full power the spirit that, with scornful +menace, he had held up as a ghost before the eyes of the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the evening of the same day the rumor that Ottmar had sent in his +resignation spread through the city, so that undoubtedly the question +of the constitution had been unfavorably decided. The streets were +deserted, but the public-houses were filled to overflowing; +conversations were carried on a low tone, and several arrests were +made.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning the newspapers confirmed the report that Count +Ottmar's resignation had been sent in and accepted; and further +remarked that the government, spite of its eagerness to accede to all +just and reasonable demands, could not suffer itself to be borne on by +the extreme views of this man, etc.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was too hard a blow for the newly-excited hopes of the nation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar himself, by his previous conduct, had unconsciously increased +its expectations to such an extent that they could only be crushed by a +terrible rebuff, but not subside peacefully.</p> + +<p class="normal">A nation which has long pleaded and had its most reasonable demands +rejected, its highest expectations disappointed, is a terrible power +when, with its last hope, its last fear is cast aside. Scarcely had the +news of Ottmar's withdrawal from the ministry spread abroad, when all +the machines stood still, all the looms stopped. A strange bustle began +to make itself heard in the streets. Workmen ran busily to and fro, +groups formed and separated. Crowds of men, engaged in earnest +conversation, surged up and down. Towards evening the strange +mysterious rabble, the vermin which always crawl forth when the soil of +popular order is disturbed, began to mingle with the throng. The +questions and interference of the police were answered with contempt or +a slap in the face. At last, with the gathering darkness, the aimless +tumult assumed purpose and direction; Ottmar's house was the point +towards which the pulsing life of the whole City streamed. A cheer was +raised for the discharged minister, the fallen representative of the +people. A few hasty charges from the patrol dispersed the scarcely +organized, defenceless crowd; but the result was that the following day +it assembled again, and the scene was repeated; this time with a cheer +for Ottmar and a hiss for the government. The advancing soldiers found +a part of the crowd armed, and a struggle ensued. When the first +wounded man fell a furious yell burst forth, and the resistance became +desperate, until a second detachment of mounted gendarmes dashed upon +the combatants with drawn sabres and forced them asunder.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first blow dealt upon such occasions opens the artery of a whole +nation, and the wild blood streams forth until strength is utterly +exhausted, and the arm yields feebly to the bandage which often only +conceals a new fetter.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the third day the City looked as if some public festival were being +celebrated. An inexplicable concourse of strangers thronged the +streets; the trains arrived crowded with the inhabitants of the +provinces; new bands constantly flocked to the City; the soldiers were +consigned to the barracks, the places of business closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still the demon of insurrection, imprisoned in every throbbing heart, +waited until the scattered masses obtained a definite form, and +then burst forth with all his long-repressed power; one mind in a +many-limbed, gigantic body. Roaring and shouting he rushed forward with +the wings of the storm, ever swelling and increasing, destroying all +peaceful life as he dashed along. The breezes fled before and around +him, the earth shook and whirled its stones upward to the glittering +palaces; while shattering and crashing, groaning and roaring, was the +accompanying harmony to the terrible, howling, and shouting song of +fury of the unchained revolution.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pale terror stared hollow-eyed at the passing desolation, while the +Nemesis of the insulted law dashed after on snorting steeds. But the +ghost of fratricide rested with paralyzing power upon the pursuers, and +unreached, unchecked, a part of the mighty crowd rushed on to the +arsenal. The guard stationed for its defense fell at the first +tremendous assault; the huge doors yielded, and with an exultant roar +of "Arms!" the combatants rushed in over the treasured emblems of +battle-traditions centuries old, to prepare for the most important +conflict--the victory of the new over the old time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Vengeance hastened after with lightning and thunder; and the infuriated +forces, crashing and shrieking, rushed upon each other and struggled in +the most terrible of all conflicts--the narrow, crowded battle of the +streets. Repeated volleys of artillery and new bands of soldiers at +last forced a way through the throng before the arsenal was plundered. +But, as a wave which the tempest lashes asunder always rushes together +with redoubled violence, the crowd divided and grew denser here and +there before the regular weapons of the troops. Hotter and more deadly +grew the struggle. Darkness was gradually added to the thick smoke of +the powder, which enveloped the noisy city and absorbed every ray of +light. Barricades, those terrible fortifications of the populace, +had risen, and around them the conflict raged, so that the walls +of the houses groaned and trembled, and with the last gleam of day the +last appearance of definite purpose vanished, darkness shrouded the +heated brains, and both within and without all outline of form +and plan vanished. Murder was no longer committed for the sake +of a certain object, but became the object itself. Nature asserted +her rights, not in a peaceful, normal manner, but with horrible +degeneracy,--stupefaction in the place of sleep, the delirium of fury +instead of dreams. The animal developed itself in forms of hideous +distortion, and the most dangerous madness took possession of the soul: +joy in cruelty, pleasure in destruction. Hour after hour elapsed in a +wild tumult of excesses and crimes; anarchy writhed and twisted +horribly beneath the superior force of fresh bodies of troops, clung +giddily to her bulwarks, and defended them with convulsive energy as +her last support. The struggle now became monotonous. Signals, volleys +of artillery, and fierce howls, like those of wild beasts, alternated +at regular intervals, while above them rose the notes of the +alarm-bells, and only the crash of falling barricades, the glare of +burning houses, interrupted the terrible rhythm with which the yielding +revolution was uttering its last sighs. Limb after limb began to die, +street after street became quiet.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, towards morning, the over-taxed strength was exhausted, the +thirst for blood slaked. Death was gleaning in the houses where battle +had cast its mangled victims, and trembling hands were busied in +binding up wounds, while compassion and horror struggled for the +mastery. The last shot died away, the insurrection was quelled. Silence +spread over the scene the lassitude of death. Slowly the ever-patient +heavens flushed with the rosy hues of dawn, and the still reeking city +lay purple in its blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar stood at the window gazing silently, now at the glowing sky and +now at the blood-stained earth. Horror had stupefied him. In the angles +of the streets soldiers, who had fallen asleep while standing in the +ranks, leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder. Now and then a +body covered with straw was borne past; pallid women stepped +noiselessly over the barricades, urged on by the courage of despair, +and crept along the streets to seek their husbands and sons; invisible +angels of death floated through the air, guided them into the right +path, and hovered around them when, in some lifeless body, they were +forced to recognize a relative.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> gazed motionless at these changing scenes of misery; but his +inmost heart was strangely stirred. The spirit of murdered freedom +celebrated in him its resurrection, built a temple in his soul, raised +its arches heavenward, and led him away from this sorrowful scene of +his former unhallowed labors to his own home, where the lists stood +open to the missionaries of national happiness, where he could obey the +call which had appealed to his conscience in the death-cry of an +ill-used country. All the frivolity and brilliancy that had formerly +charmed him was swallowed up in the streams of blood he had seen +flow,--all striving and struggling to assert his own merits vanished in +the newly-awakened consciousness of the duties devolving upon every +talented man for the development and culture of the masses. The +solemnity of the moment had seized upon him and stripped off all that +was false and superficial. He could not answer with sophisms the great +question propounded by the times; he must at last be himself again, +must acknowledge the truth, and from amidst all the horrors of +vengeance, the rushing streams of blood, once more arose in its pure +beauty the thought of the eternal rights of man he had so grievously +profaned.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">XXII.</a></h2> + +<h3>LIGHT AND SHADOW</h3> + +<p class="normal">A radiant morning sky arched over a green island which lay in the midst +of a broad, ruffled lake. Blue mountain-peaks, veiled in mist, bounded +the almost-immeasurable surface of water. Who can describe all the +changeful lights upon the tide when the young rays of the morning sun +play upon the dancing wavelets--the rising and falling, the sparkling +and flashing, the confused blending of the reflections? A fresh breeze +swept over the lake to the island and rustled the leaves of the lofty +trees; with that exception, a deep silence, a sabbath-like peace, +brooded over the scene.</p> + +<p class="normal">A girlish figure stood upon the shore, gazing, in a trance of delight, +at the starry shimmer of the waves, and inhaling with parted lips the +cool breath of the water; dewy leaves and blossoms kissed her floating +robes, and dragon-flies sported upon the tide at her feet. Her eyes +followed with a longing look a bird of prey which soared in a majestic +flight towards the pure, vaulted firmament. Just then the sound of the +matin-bell rang out upon the silence, and at the same moment a tall +man, in long, dark robe, appeared in the doorway of a peasant's house +near by, and, standing motionless, gazed at the slender figure, whose +marvelous proportions were sharply outlined against the sparkling lake! +"Cornelia!" he called at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned and hurried towards him. "My dear Severinus! Oh, how happy I +am! Here the free German air blows once more; here I again hear the +rustling of German oaks and pines. Home surrounds me in this fresh, +simple nature, speaks in the familiar language, looks from the kindly +blue eyes. I live once more,--I am awake,--and what surrounds me is +charming, bright reality."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you only been dreaming while in our glorious Italy?" asked +Severinus, gravely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Severinus; a beautiful, wonderful dream, but a dream after all. I +was torn from my native soil; my heart could not take root anywhere; no +dear relations with my past existed; no new ones were formed with the +present. What I saw and experienced only enriched my intellect, not my +heart; it afforded me pleasure without making me happy; occupied my +mind without obtaining any hold upon my nature. I gazed, admired, +learned, and reveled in a wealth of beauty; but I was not myself,--my +individual life had no connection with my surroundings. What is this +except a dream into which we bring nothing, and from which we take only +a memory?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had hoped you would not return so empty from a country of the +loftiest revelations. I expected your great soul would there find its +only true home, and the sorrow of finding myself mistaken shall be the +last the world can prepare for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not talk so, Severinus, dear, pious father! Do not Look at me +so sadly; do not be so stern and bitter, but enjoy with me the blessing +of this peaceful morning. Let holy nature be the church in which our +souls can unite in adoration of our common God. See, my friend, +clearness of vision is as unavoidable a necessity to me as light and +air; in clearness of vision God shows himself to me, while you only +perceive him in mysteries. In order to see him I open my spiritual +eyes; you close yours. I receive his manifestations with sharpened, you +with artificially deadened, senses. I see him in each of these light +clouds floating over the sunny sky; you darken your churches, and +shroud yourselves in clouds of incense, that in the mysterious, +rich-hued twilight you may paint a vague, fanciful picture. His natural +and moral laws everywhere announce themselves to me in shining +characters, and I serve him by cheerful obedience to them; you collect +from the ambiguous writings of the Bible a book of church regulations, +to which you slavishly submit, and exhaust your hearts and minds the +superhuman effort of satisfying all your self-created duties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope this is not the only result of your observation of our sublime +worship. It must be the short residence on this dull German soil which +has loosened the strings that resounded so clearly in Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not cherish such a fancy, Severinus," said Cornelia, as she walked +up and down the shore with him. "The forms of your worship, as I saw +them in Rome, delighted me; nay, their grandeur and poesy aroused a +wild enthusiasm. But it was the revelation of art, not that of the +Deity, at which I gazed. All your miracles, all your lofty precepts, +proved nothing except the grandeur of the human intellect, and in this +the existence and influence of a God, which I never doubted, and which +had been just as clearly revealed to me in every creation of genius. My +God, to whom I pray in childish adoration, has remained the same; he +has come from Rome with me the same as he went. You neither +strengthened nor shook my belief; I cherish the deepest reverence for +your worship of God; it is more beautiful, more sublime, than ours; my +heart has opened to much that revealed a character of sincere piety, +but I still see in it only a transitory <i>form</i>, liable to alter with +the changes of centuries; while I bear within me the imperishable +essence, ever the same through the lapse of ages."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Cornelia, how I pity you!" said Severinus, as he leaned against an +oak, covering his dark eyes with his hand, while his breast rose and +fell as if he were struggling for breath. "Cornelia," he suddenly +exclaimed, encircling her forehead with both hands, "free your mind, +your godlike mind, from the clutches of this prejudice; cast aside the +arrogance of independent judgment; bend your haughty brow in obedience +to our church. Oh, if I could give you the blessing to be found in +unconditional submission,--blind faith,--I would willingly sacrifice my +life to save for the church this soul, which has no peer in human form! +Cornelia, a fiend has taken possession of you; that of pride, doubt, +indifference. He has concealed himself under the false lustre of an +abstract reverence for God, to lull your conscience to sleep, in order +that you may the more surely fall into unbelief and destruction." He +suddenly threw himself at her feet, and gazed despairingly into her +eyes. "Here I lie before you in the dust, and I plead in infinite +anguish for the precious imperiled property of Christ. The next moment +of time may perhaps decide your fate, and part us forever. Cornelia, +join our church; believe me, she alone can save you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, God, how hardly you try me! You wrong me, Severinus. No evil +spirit, no prejudice, guides me. Have you ever seen me arrogant? If I +were, should I not go over to you? for you have opened the most +tempting prospects to my pride; you would halt my conversion with joy, +and receive me with every kind of pomp and distinction. My self-love +would be so greatly flattered that it would far, far outweigh the +self-denial of an outward subordination to the church, while in my own +congregation no one asks about Cornelia Erwing. But I cannot thus belie +myself. Do not sadden my heart with entreaties and lamentations: +convince me, Severinus; for so long as you do not succeed in that I can +do nothing but weep, because I must grieve my best friend so deeply."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Convince you!" cried Severinus, starting up. "If the whole gigantic +structure of our religion, whose foundations certainly do not rest upon +air, the marvels of our worship, the words of the fathers of the +church, the historical proofs of our traditions which reach beck to the +time of the establishment of Catholicism by Peter himself, could not +convince you, there is nothing left for me to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All that, my friend, even granting that they were proofs, could not +make me forget the causes of the Reformation. The Reformation is the +mother of my faith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, do not utter these words in the same breath! What had your +Reformation in common with faith? Were your dry, philosophical +Melanchthon, your rough, sensual Luther, your chiding, physically +and morally starving Hutten, representatives of a religious +transformation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were men who had the courage to appear before the hypocrisy of +your degenerate priesthood as they really were; who did not seek the +halo of sanctity in the denial of human nature, but honored God and his +wisdom in his laws. Besides, we too do not lack sainted martyrs, and +the flames that consumed a Huss branded an eternal stigma upon your +church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot argue with you about the means the church was permitted to +use against such apostates. I will only tell you, my child, that the +Reformation of the sixteenth century was nothing more than a secular +insurrection against abuses in the church, which unfortunately cannot +be denied. But a secular revolution can never create a religion, and +therefore Protestantism lacks the positive character the human heart +needs, and where it strives to appropriate it, becomes a monster, for +it is and remains nothing more than a--protest against Catholicism."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our Reformation was not to create a religion; its purpose was merely +to free one already existing from abuse and error. Its task was to +restore Christianity to its original purity, and if it did not wholly +succeed, if in Protestantism it has only produced a transitory, +imperfect form, we still thank it for the highest blessings of +civilization, and most precious of all, that freedom of conscience +which permits the dissatisfied mind to choose its own religion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this much-praised 'freedom of conscience' leads directly to want +of principle, and becomes the destruction of all virtue, all religion!" +cried Severinus, indignantly. "The human race cannot dispense with a +positive church discipline without falling into anarchy. And in you, +Cornelia, unhappily, I have already had an opportunity to learn the +effects of this emancipation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have learned, Severinus," interrupted Cornelia, with noble pride, +"that I resisted evil with the same power with which I now repel the +flattering allurements of a church adorned with all the magic of fancy +and attraction of rites, because it is at variance with my own +convictions. Is this a want of moral discipline?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus walked on beside Cornelia in silence. The sun had risen +higher in the heavens, and the bell for mass rang from the neighboring +convent. Severinus paused and gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's +eyes. "Girl, does not that innocent voice fall upon your ear in tones +of touching warning, like the pleading of a mother calling to her lost +child?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be such a bigoted Catholic to-day, Severinus," said Cornelia, +gazing at him beseechingly. "All the joy of this earthly life is +stirring in my heart, and must I constantly argue with you about the +best means of reaching heaven? Oh, let me enjoy with a thankful soul +the rich abundance of happiness my Creator has poured out for me! Do +not cast the black shadow of your religious harshness over the sunny +picture of this day. Severinus, my dear, gloomy friend, be mild and +gentle. Look at me as kindly as you used to do. See, see, there is the +glimmer of a smile upon your face! Ah, it has already vanished again! +What a pity! Ever since the news of Ottmar's going over to the liberal +party brought me back to Germany, and filled me with the blissful +certainty of being reunited to him, you have become a different person. +When I lost him, I gained you; and now that I am to gain him once more, +I lose you. When I felt miserable and lonely, you were as loving and +patient as a father; but since I have been animated with new hope, you +have retired coldly into yourself, and you have hidden yourself behind +the walls of your work of conversion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My task, Cornelia, is only to aid the afflicted; the happy do not need +me." Severinus looked silently up towards heaven. His eyes were +bloodshot; his wasted face, bronzed by the Italian sun, glowed with +fervor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia laid her clasped hands compassionately and beseechingly upon +his breast. "Severinus, you are suffering; I see it."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment he pressed her hands closely to his throbbing heart, then +hurled them away, with an expression of horror, and hurried off.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked after him in astonishment, but did not try to follow, +for she felt that the emotion which moved him was a secret she ought +not to fathom. She turned towards the rural inn where she lodged, and +now observed for the first time that one of the artists who came to the +island to sketch was seated an a little hillock not far from the spot +where she had been pacing with Severinus, and recognized him as the +very person to whose talent she owed her first picture of Ottmar. She +approached, and he hastily concealed in his portfolio the paper upon +which he had been working.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You only arrived yesterday evening, and are already sketching the +scenery, Herr A----. Is it not a little hasty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already made myself familiar with all its details," said A----, +with evident embarrassment. "I am very much hurried, because I would +like to finish the picture in time for the exhibition at H----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will not detain you, but wish you all possible success. Au +revoir, Herr A----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will do myself the honor of waiting upon you at a later hour, +Fräulein Erwing," said A----, bowing respectfully; and, as Cornelia +turned away, he drew out his sketch, and eagerly continued his work.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia entered the public room, to ask if the newspapers had arrived. +It was full of active life. Some twenty young artists were standing +together consulting about a trip they were to take; most of them +handsome young fellows, with large beards, boldly-curved Calabrian +hats, open shirt-collars, and the general adventurous negligence of +apparel with which the young representatives of the laws of beauty seek +to remove the pedantic stiffness of modern costume.</p> + +<p class="normal">A general "ah!" echoed through the room at Cornelia's entrance, and a +movement took place which made the dense clouds of tobacco-smoke that +filled the low apartment whirl as if driven by the wind. The hats were +removed; the beer-glasses noiselessly set aside. All crowded around +Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein Erwing!" cried one, to whom a waving red mane and +widely-dilated nostrils gave the appearance of a lion, "we have at last +caught you without your black guardian! You must yield to superior +force, and let us steal your face. We are a terrible band of robbers, +and a person for whom we once lay snares does not escape us so easily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but we must first have a fight, to decide which of us she will +allow to paint her," said another, waving a staff in the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein Erwing," cried a little black-bearded Pole, with a shrill +accent, "I will shoot the first man to whom you sit!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not necessary," growled he of the lion's mane; "we will all +paint her at once!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes!" cried many voices at the same moment. "That's a good idea! +We will all paint her at once!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is, if I will sit to you," laughed Cornelia, "for I have not yet +resigned all right of ownership in my own face, gentlemen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein Erwing," began the man of the lion's mane, with great pathos, +"we do not know in what branch of Christian duty your reverend father +instructs you, but he has certainly taught you that our advantages are +only bestowed upon us that we may make them available for the profit +and welfare of others; so you will perceive that it is your duty to pay +the debt you owe Providence for your face, by using it to aid the +development of youthful talent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes!" cried another; "you could not justify yourself before God if you +displayed such a wealth of beauty to idle gazers, and grudgingly +refused the struggling artist permission to use and perpetuate its +lines in an inspired creation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would make me unconscionably vain, gentlemen," said Cornelia, "if +the fame of being the most beautiful on this little island were not so +cheaply purchased."</p> + +<p class="normal">A general "Oh, oh!" expressed the indignation of the enthusiastic +artists at this modesty, and a torrent of eager protestations +threatened to follow; but Cornelia cut them short by exclaiming, gayly, +"Well, well, if you can make me of any use for a picture, I will give +you a sitting; but one only, and at the utmost two hours long. So, +whoever wants to paint me must take advantage of the opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is excellent!" they all cried, joyously. "It's a very short time, +to be sure, but we'll see about the rest. But when may we draw you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whenever you choose, gentlemen. Perhaps the best time would be now!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; we will take her at her word," said one of the older ones of +the party. "It shall be done now; and when the two hours are over, +Fräulein Erwing shall see the sketches, and decide which of us she +considers worthy the honor of another sitting for the completion of her +picture."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But our excursion," said a tall lad, whose whole vitality seemed to +have run into an immense length of limb. "Shall we defer our +excursion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let your chicken legs take you where you like, man," thundered he of +the lion's mane; "but don't say you are an artist, if you talk about +excursions while our eyes are permitted a glimpse into the holy of +holies of beauty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him go!" cried another. "He can't help it; all his vital functions +are expended in the use of his feet. It will be one the less to take up +the room; there are twenty-three of us without him. The number is still +too large. I scarcely believe that there were ever so many assembled on +the island at one time before."</p> + +<p class="normal">A long debate now followed concerning the place where they should +sketch Cornelia, while the latter had meantime obtained possession of +the newspaper, and was reading it in breathless suspense. Suddenly she +started. She had found what she sought,--Ottmar's name as a candidate +for the H---- Chambers. Her face was suffused with a rosy flush of joy, +and her eyes sparkled as she laid the sheet aside and turned towards +the artists, who were disputing violently because some thought it too +hot out of doors, and others considered the room too small.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen," she cried gayly, "peace is the first condition I shall +impose if I am to sit for you. We will go out into the open air and +look for some shady spot; if you all want to paint me at the same time, +we shall certainly need more room than there is here."</p> + +<p class="normal">The proposal was accepted, and the whole party went out with Cornelia. +On a lofty part of the shore, not far from the inn, was a large open +space surrounded with lofty trees, beneath which stood wooden benches +and tables, and where, in spite of the heat, it was cool and pleasant. +The eye could wander undazzled over the rippling lake and the beautiful +island, which rested on the waters like a large green leaf. The light +surges gently rocked the boats fastened near by; in one of them, under +the spreading branches of an ancient linden, a peasant lad was extended +sleeping comfortably, undisturbed by the loud bustle of the approaching +artists. It seemed as if all nature was slumbering in her sunny +noontide brightness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, gentlemen," exclaimed Cornelia, "is it not delightful here? Have +we not shade, fresh breezes, and comfort?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," cried the artists in one breath; "we will stay here. Out +with the portfolios, and let every one take his place and go to work!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They buzzed about Cornelia like a swarm of bees which are about to +settle and fly from one spot to another, now alighting, now rising +again, now dispersing, and anon collecting at the same point, scuffling +with each other about places, and filling the inexperienced observer +with anxiety lest they should never get established. Such were the +preparations of the artists at the beginning of their work. Here +several were disputing about the profile, yonder a group wished to sit +opposite to her, not unfrequently a slight skirmish decided the matter, +and those who did not succeed in conquering a place climbed up into the +trees and established themselves and their portfolios among the +branches.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must form the narrowest possible semicircle," advised he of the +lion's mane, who, as the possessor of the strongest lungs in the +company, undertook the duty of organizing the party, in which, by means +of a great expenditure of voice and unwearied energy, he at last +succeeded; and when, with the aid of the trees, a half-circle was +formed in the shape of an amphitheatre whose extremities could not even +obtain a full profile, but merely a portion of the cheek and ear, the +zealous artist first perceived that he had completely excluded himself. +His nostrils dilated to an unprecedented size as his large eyes +wandered around the circle, while his broad freckled hands were thrust +helplessly through his unkempt mane. A shrill peal of laughter echoed +jeeringly from the circle and the trees, "Richard Cœur de Lion has +no place!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be calm, Richard," cried one; "we will get you into the exhibition +after all. We'll paint Fräulein Erwing as the lion's bride, and you as +the monster!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jeer away, you mocking-birds!" he thundered. "Because I am an artist, +I thought more of the subject than myself, and I'll show you what an +artist can do. I'll paint a neck and heir such as the world never yet +saw!" and with these words he strode majestically on, seated himself +behind Cornelia, and began to work with the must grotesque movements.</p> + +<p class="normal">Silence now reigned while the three-and-twenty artists struggled in the +greatest possible haste to perpetuate her features.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia had watched the tumult absently; her thoughts were wandering +far away, and the stillness that ensued was most welcome. She could +give herself up to her dreams undisturbed. "She is marvelously +beautiful!" suddenly cried one of the younger artists from his perch in +the tree. Universal applause answered this naïve expression of delight. +"The birds in the trees are singing your praises, Fräulein Erwing!" +cried another. "Doesn't that flatter you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, certainly," she answered, smiling as indifferently as if she had +not understood the compliment paid her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The best likeness will flatter her most," growled Richard Cœur de +Lion from behind Cornelia. "Express your admiration by work instead of +words, and she will value it more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well growled, lion!" said the young enthusiast in the tree.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on the stage and declaim verses; you are more fit for an actor than +an artist," exclaimed Richard, without having the slightest suspicion +that he was himself in his appearance the most theatrical of all; for +naturalness, when carried too far, becomes as great a caricature as +affectation, and the stage is certainly the home of caricatured forms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, gentlemen," cried Cornelia, laughing; "the time you spend in +disputing you will lose in work; for I must tell you that I will not +sit a moment longer than the two hours agreed upon! It is altogether +too uncomfortable to endure the gaze of three-and-twenty pairs of +eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">This threat re-established peace; for the artists once more devoted all +their energy to their work, and henceforth nothing was heard but the +wondering exclamations of several country people who stationed +themselves here and there on the outskirts of the shaded spot to gaze +at a proceeding utterly incomprehensible to them. The time agreed upon +passed away, and Cornelia rose. Neither grumbling nor entreaties +availed; she kept resolutely to her determination. The sketches were +laid before her, and as she looked at them in succession she burst into +a merry laugh. She saw her own face taken from some twenty different +stand-points. "Dear me, can I be like all these?" she exclaimed, +clasping her hands in astonishment. "If I ever knew how I looked, I +should not from this day! Who can decide which of these many faces is +mine? If this is, of course that can't be; and if this profile taken +from the right is a good likeness, how can the one sketched from the +left resemble me? The right side of my face must be entirely different +from the left,--and that would be horribly abnormal. According to these +profile views I should have two kinds of eyes, eyebrows, cheeks; nay, +even my nose would consist of two dissimilar halves. Now, can you +dispute this, gentlemen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The artists themselves could not help laughing as they looked at their +pictures.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now you will get an idea of the variety and abundance of beauty your +features possess, Fräulein Erwing," said one of the oldest of the +group. "When compared with you the majority of the sketches seem +passable likenesses, although so different from each other that one +would almost doubt whether they all represented the same face."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very pretty compliment to me--and an admirable defense of your +colleagues," said Cornelia, courteously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Fräulein Erwing," cried another; "you have not yet noticed a +picture which is at all events unique in its way; and our Cœur de +Lion, with unusual modesty, has already been waiting a long time for +your opinion."</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed Richard's drawing to Cornelia, and all gazed at it in +astonishment, for it was a master-piece. A woman's upraised head, +adorned with a wealth of hair so boldly drawn that one felt tempted to +pass it through the fingers. A few curls which had escaped from the +braids fell upon a most beautiful neck. Cornelia looked at the sheet in +amazement. "You are indeed an artist," said she, fixing her large eyes +with winning kindness upon Richard's rugged face. He blushed to the +roots of his tawny hair with delight. "Fräulein Erwing," he exclaimed, +"no praise ever made me so proud!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, Cœur de Lion, Fräulein Erwing is right," said several of +the group; "this hair and neck irresistibly tempt the beholder to turn +the head and see the face, which is concealed from us. You have +produced a master-piece."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you go on so much longer, he'll get so vain that he will comb his +hair to-morrow. Just see! he is running his fingers through his mane!" +said others, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," exclaimed the rest, "we will hope that at the exhibition +Fräulein Erwing's features will yet win the victory over the beauty of +her hair."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus each was cheered by the conviction that he alone would obtain the +prize.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you will not sit longer to any of us?" asked Richard, as he placed +his sketch in his portfolio.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, gentlemen. I was in the mood to enter into your jest; but if you +ask me in earnest, I must tell you that it would not be at all +agreeable to me to expose my face to the eyes of the whole public. I am +both too proud and too modest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this your final decision?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is irrevocable," said Cornelia, with courteous resolution.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we will not be ungrateful. In these two hours we have at least +fixed the outlines of your features," said one of the quieter members +of the party.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the others would not yield at once, and began to plead again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you understood the spirit that animates these features, you would +beg no longer, for you would know it to be vain," cried Richard, with +his usual artless pathos. Then he held out his hand to Cornelia and +continued: "I should probably have the best right to entreat you for +another sitting, since I was so great a loser; but I will not ask it +after what you have just said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your delicacy of feeling, Herr Richard," replied +Cornelia, with unconcealed admiration. "You may be assured that if I +sat to any of these gentlemen it would be to you; yet if you understand +the reason of my refusal, you will not be angry if I make no exception, +even in your favor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Richard buried Cornelia's hand in his prickly beard to press a kiss +upon it. "Angry with you? Who that had the heart of a true artist could +be? For, although we are not permitted to make portraits of you, we +still owe you thanks for a type of beauty which will be of service to +us all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; he is right," they all assented. "You have not only enriched +our eyes, but our imaginations! Long live Cornelia Erwing! Hurrah!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the sound of the dinner-hell echoed from the inn, and at +the same instant Severinus's black-robed figure appeared, coming from +the neighboring convent. The artists wiped the perspiration from their +brows, for the noonday sun and their zeal had made them very bot.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There comes your pious father!" declaimed the young enthusiast, who +always spoke in quotations. "Now, brothers, let us fly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And partly fear of the "black coat," partly hunger, drove the noisy +group to the table. They departed waving their hats, nodding, and +singing; and Cornelia was still looking after them with a smile, when +Severinus approached with a pale, gloomy face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such ovations certainly do not prepare one for the church," he +murmured, somewhat bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Severinus! I am so happy!" cried Cornelia, frankly. "What +open-hearted, gay, magnificent men they are! How I laughed! It +is a pity you were not here! Tell me, Father Severinus,--you are +sincere,--am I really as beautiful as they all say?" she asked, with +mischievous naïveté.</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus looked timidly away from her, and with a deep flush fixed his +eyes upon the ground. "I do not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think only your soul beautiful, but not your body. Physical beauty +is something so perishable that it is unheeded by one who perceives, +and knows how to value, that of the soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia became embarrassed. She was ashamed of the want of reserve +which had induced her to ask Severinus so inappropriate a question, and +did not see the strange glance with which he gazed at her blooming +cheeks and lips, and then clinched his teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me for disturbing your grave mood with such jests, my reverend +friend; but I cannot help it. The gayety natural to my youth will +sometimes assert its rights. I was very glad they thought me beautiful. +The sight of a lovely face is always a pleasure to me, and the idea +that my appearance could also rejoice the eyes and hearts of others +pleased me. If this is vanity, is, at least, very innocent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, my child," said Severinus, and his tone gradually lost its +assumed harshness. "I will not embitter the harmless little pleasures +of your youth. I am sure they will not smother the earnestness of your +nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus," said Cornelia, smiling, "isn't it a fact that you do not +know what hunger is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, certainly not. But you seem to know; so come,--let us go to +dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia was glad to have put an end to the uncomfortable conversation, +and hastened lightly on before him. Since her joy in life was once more +awakened, and hope and cheerfulness again stirred within her, she felt +Severinus's gloomy mood as a heavy burden. As long as she was at +variance with her own heart and the world, the character of the ascetic +priest suited her better than aught else; but now it began to form +a disagreeable contrast with her mood, and cast a shadow over the +newly-risen sun of her love. Yet she was too grateful to forget for a +moment what consolation his assistance had afforded her in the time of +her heavy visitation; so she maintained an unaltered, frank cordiality +towards him, although he now began to torture her with a thousand +contradictions and absurdities.</p> + +<p class="normal">The scene with the artists, innocent as it was in itself, seemed to +have made Severinus very thoughtful, in consequence of the pleasure +Cornelia derived from it. Such impressions must be kept from her at any +cost, for they were not adapted to aid his work of conversion. Even if +he should remove her from the neighborhood, he could not prevent these +young enthusiasts from traveling after her. He therefore went to the +superior of the convent on the island, and, when he returned, brought +an invitation from her to Cornelia to take up her residence in the +cloister, "as it was not proper for a young girl, with an equally young +companion, to remain in a country inn with a party of gay young men." +Cornelia, who did not care where she lodged, easily allowed herself to +be persuaded to fulfill Severinus's wish, and accept the friendly +superior's offer. Her removal to the cloister took place immediately, +and the astonished hostess told the artists, on their return from an +excursion, that the beautiful Fräulein Erwing had just entered a +convent. They were beside themselves at the news, for who could doubt +that the poor victim of the black coat had been brought here to +commence her novitiate? Thus Severinus's design of spreading a halo of +inaccessibility around Cornelia, and cutting off any intrusive pursuit, +was effectually attained; but that neither she nor her companion should +betray the truth in their unavoidable walks, it was necessary that they +should be taken away with all secrecy. On that very evening Severinus +excited Cornelia's interest in the B---- Oberland to such a degree that +she herself expressed a wish to continue her journey as soon as +possible, and he was merely fulfilling her own desire when he proposed +that they should leave the Island at daybreak, not to return. As no one +saw or heard anything of this departure, Cornelia was, and remained, in +the convent, whose strict seclusion made any inquiries impossible, and +the young artists grieved deeply that the world was robbed of so much +beauty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime Severinus took the supposed victim farther and farther away, +and several months passed so quickly in the constant change from one +beautiful scene to another, and in grave but intellectually exciting +conversation with Severinus, that she was not conscious how skillfully +he managed to cut her off from all society. Priests and nuns were the +only persons with whom she held occasional intercourse; and she passed +them by with friendly indifference, which rendered any advances +impossible. Severinus's hopes of a conversion drooped more and more; he +could not conceal from himself that a sorrow was gnawing at his soul +which exhausted his best powers, and felt, with increasing despair, +that he should succumb himself before he could conquer Cornelia's +resolute temper.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">XXIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH</h3> + +<p class="normal">Severinus entered Cornelia's room one evening when they were to spend +the night in a peasant's house in the B---- forest. She was standing at +the window, gazing out into the sultry night. The sky arched over the +earth like a leaden-hued canopy; not a breath of air was stirring, not +a leaf moved on the trees; here and there a star gleamed forth where +the dense masses of clouds parted for a moment, and now and then a +distant flash of lightning glittered in the horizon, revealing the dim +outlines of the forest-crowned heights. "Severinus," she said, drawing +a long breath, as she turned toward him, "let us go out into the open +air before the storm breaks: the air is so oppressive here; perhaps it +is cooler outside."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come to speak to you about very serious subjects: it will be +better for us to stay here," said Severinus. And now for the first time +Cornelia noticed his gloomy expression, and looked with anxious +expectation into his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, the time when your fate must be decided has arrived. The day +of election is approaching. I must not allow Ottmar to move forward +unrestrained upon the road in which he can only bring ruin upon our +church. If he is elected to the parliament, a powerful enemy will arise +against us. I have already told you what papers the order has in its +hands: they must be used now, if they are not to become useless. Let +Ottmar be a deputy; let him speak, and--as is to be foreseen--win the +masses, and everything we undertake against him will be in vain. The +last point of time is reached, when I must decide what is to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that is a publication of his relations with Jesuitism, the +destruction of the toilsomely obtained confidence of his party, in +order to prevent his election. Am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you not know that you will not convert a man like Ottmar by +such means, but simply render him miserable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We wish to make him harmless,--nothing more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you do far worse," cried Cornelia, indignantly. "You bar the path +upon which he might become a better man; hurt him back to the cheerless +void of a life without a purpose: perhaps even entangle him in fresh +snares of falsehood and hypocrisy; and thus destroy a nature which, in +its own way, might accomplish great things for the world. Who gives you +the right thus violently to interfere with an independent existence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same right which the government has to punish secular crimes, we, +as the representatives of the kingdom of God, possess against him who +sins against God and his servants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus, when the government chastises, it represents the insulted +law, and uses honest means; but you avenge only your own boundless +pride, and your weapons are hypocrisy and deceit! Are you better than +he whom you punish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia!" cried Severinus, with flashing eyes, "do you dare say that +to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never spoken anything but the truth all my life. You could not +expect me to call wrong right; and if God should descend to the earth +once more he would judge the zeal of those who commit sin for his +honor, and misuse his name for selfish purposes, far more harshly than +the errors of the men who have deserted him in form, but not in +reality."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is only natural that the child of the world should speak in her +lover's favor; and I will be patient now, as I have often been before. +I cannot ask you to perceive the sublimity of a subordination to the +will of a chief, as our order practices it. Our General alone bears the +responsibility; God will call him only to an account; and he can lay it +aside: for God is higher than the law, and whoever represents him on +earth cannot have his acts measured by the standard of earthly +justice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed at Severinus long and silently. "You told me a short +time ago that you pitied me. Now I must answer you in the same words: +Severinus, I pity you! I am not angry; but you will perceive that from +this hour our paths must lie apart. If you deal a blow which will +destroy Ottmar's honest efforts, it is my duty to be at his side."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, it is in your power to avert this dangerous blow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The order has determined to give up the papers to you at the price of +your conversion to Catholicism. The order feels itself justified in +resigning the pursuit of this faithless man; if it can thereby win for +the good cause another soul, which will be pleasing to God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" cried Cornelia, fixing a piercing glance upon Severinus. "Is +it thus you advance your work of conversion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We leave you the choice between the only church which can save souls +and your lover's prosperity, or his destruction and our hostility. Can +you hesitate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia stood before him with noble dignity. "And do you believe you +can win me over to a religion which sanctions such means? Do you think +to bribe me by any advantage--even the welfare of the man I love--to +deny that which is highest and most sacred to me: the knowledge of the +truth? No, Severinus; I feel I possess the power to make the man of my +heart happy without being compelled to save him from your persecution +by abjuring my own faith!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May you not trust to yourself too much? He whom we wish to ruin is not +so easily saved by any one, even the bold spirit of Cornelia Erwing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus, you frighten me! I never saw you in this mood before. I +feel as if in my sleep I had wandered into a tiger's den, and on +awakening found myself shut up alone with the terrible enemy!" She +paused and looked at Severinus; then growing calmer, shook her head: +"No, no, Severinus; that is a bad comparison; forgive me for it! Those +pure eyes give the lie to your threats; the dignity enthroned upon your +brow cannot suffer you to become the tool of a base revenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, you will never learn to understand the nature of Jesuitism. +I am no blind tool who mechanically performs what is imposed upon him, +but a living part of the whole, who abhors what injures the order, and +labors for its advantage. Our obedience is no mere form which we can +outwardly satisfy without real sympathy: it is an allegiance in spirit +and in truth, which makes the will it serves its own. Thus I hate +Ottmar, since he became faithless to his obligations towards us, as the +order hates him, and will destroy him as the order commands, if you do +not comply with the condition upon which we will spare him."</p> + +<p class="normal">He watched Cornelia for a moment, then drew out some papers and spread +them upon the table before her. "Here are the documents which are to +serve us as weapons against Ottmar; read them, and convince yourself +whether they will be destructive enough to him to outweigh the +sacrifice you must make to secure his safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked over the papers, the very ones with which years before +Severinus had succeeded in intimidating Ottmar, and binding upon him +the chains he now wished to strip off. When she had finished, she gazed +sorrowfully into vacancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is certainly material enough to devise a snare for him. Oh, +Severinus, throw these papers into the fire, and I will revere you as a +saint!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will only cost you a few words, Cornelia. Say, 'I will become a +Catholic,' and these papers are <i>yours</i>!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia drew herself up proudly. "I have already told you that I would +drive no bargain with my convictions. This is my final resolution!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Noble woman!" thought Severinus, gazing at her in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gathered up the documents, restored them to the priest, then +clasped her hands, and gazed into his face with her irresistible charm. +"Severinus, give me these papers."</p> + +<p class="normal">A long pause ensued. The priest was absorbed in watching the beautiful +face, and made no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia took his hand; he started back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus, for once, be more obedient to the law of love and +forbearance God has written in our hearts, than the stern commands of +your order; destroy these proofs of Heinrich's, and also your, +dishonor,--or give them to me that I may do so. You do not answer! Oh, +let my entreaties move you, dear, honored friend!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus covered his eyes with his hand, and exclaimed, almost +imploringly: "Cease, Cornelia; you know not what you are doing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am well aware of it,--I am torturing you; for I am bringing you into +a conflict with what you believe to be your duty. I see the struggle +between your Jesuit's conscience and your heart. True, genuine manhood +will conquer; it will burst the fetters in which your whole life is +bound."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rushed to the table, took up a light, and held it towards +Severinus, that he might set the papers on fire. A gust of air that +blew through the open window made the flame flicker to and fro, +and her light dress float around her like a cloud. As she stood thus +with the arm that held the candle raised high above her head, bathed in +the red gleam of the flickering light, in the earnestness of her +enthusiasm,--half pleading, half commanding,--she seemed like an angel; +and without knowing what he was doing he threw the papers towards her, +bent down, and pressed the hem of her dress to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you!" cried Cornelia. But ere she could gather up the +scattered papers Severinus recollected himself, and caught her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop! these papers are not yours nor mine; they belong to the order +which intrusted them to my care, and only an evil spirit could have so +bewildered my mind that I wavered in my duty." He made the sign of the +cross, pressed his hands tightly upon his heart, and softly murmured +the "<i>Anima Christi, sanctifica me</i>,"<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> then collected the papers and +went to the window. The rain was pouring in torrents; he leaned out and +let the cool water drench his head. "Extinguish, oh, extinguish the +fire!" he prayed, looking up with a deep sigh at the dark watery masses +of clouds.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia watched him with mingled surprise and grief. "Severinus, you +are playing a part with yourself, like all who hold ideas founded on +sophisms and principles contrary to nature; you must do so, at a moment +when your illusion forms so striking a contrast with the truth. I can +only pity you; but may God let those who made you a Jesuit,--who robbed +you of the world and the world of you,--reap the fruits of their deed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not blame them," replied Severinus, turning calmly away from the +window. "They were my parents, and both are dead. I, too, have often +cursed them for giving me life; but since I became a Jesuit, I bless +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unhappy man, what secret weighs upon the past which you have hitherto +so closely concealed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Disgrace, girl! To you alone I will confess it, that some day you may +think of me more kindly when we are parted. I have no name save that +the church gave me; no father save God; no home save the Casa al Gesu; +no human dignity save that of my holy office. If I had belonged to the +world, I should have been an outcast. But my parents turned the curse +into a blessing when they dedicated to Heaven the life they denied on +earth; and for the sake of that deed may God pardon the sin which gave +me birth!" He raised his head, while his face kindled with enthusiastic +feeling. "But I, Cornelia, will devote my strength, to my latest +breath, to that Jesuitism which accomplished the miracle of making the +child of sin the supporter of the highest and holiest cause, which +produces everything great and noble that can be done for the honor of +God, and desires nothing except by all means, both mild and gentle, to +lead men to heaven."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia gazed thoughtfully into vacancy, then suddenly looked +earnestly at the regular features of the handsome man before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus," she said, with strange eagerness, "who was your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know; I never saw him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did your mother tell you nothing about him? or did you not know her +either?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She could tell me nothing except how she loved him, and how he had +deceived her. His accent betrayed that he was a German, but he +concealed his name and residence. When I was scarcely a year old he +disappeared, and no longer gave my mother any signs of existence except +the remittance, through some unknown hand, of money for my education +upon the condition that I should become a priest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And your mother; what was her name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Girl, why do you ask me all these questions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall learn the reason after you have told me who your mother +was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no right to expose the name of the unhappy woman, and have +never mentioned it to any one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not even to Heinrich?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never disclosed the secret of my past to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia approached him; her breath came more quickly. "Was your +mother's name Angelina, Severinus?" said she, her voice tremulous with +some secret emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus gazed at her in astonishment. "Yes, yes; how did you know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was she the sister of a Carmelite monk in Compatri?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where did you learn this?" exclaimed Severinus, greatly agitated. +"What connection have you with my past? Speak; of what are you +thinking? Your eyes sparkle, your cheeks glow; do not torture me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you your mother's only child?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So truly as she expiated all her remaining days in a cloister, the one +error of her life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then God has sent me to you to warn you at the right time not to +commit a most grievous wrong. Do you know who the man is whom you thus +inexorably pursue?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A suspicion began to arise in Severinus's mind; he recoiled and +extended his hands repellently, as if he feared the words that hovered +upon Cornelia's lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is your brother!" she cried, tears gushing from her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus involuntarily pressed his hand upon his brow, his fingers +quivered slightly as they touched the broad scar upon it, and he gazed +absently before him as if in a dream.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do not crush the feeling that stirs in your heart! Give me your +hand, and let me tell you how warmly I greet the brother of my beloved! +Oh, God, to see the two men dearest to me on earth united, the souls +which always struggled with each other, and yet could never resist the +impulse of sympathy, reconciled in brotherly love! And it is I, I who +am permitted to bring you together, to give you to each other! Ah, my +friend, this is inexpressible joy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And are you so sure you are not deceiving yourself?" asked Severinus, +gloomily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Deceiving? Oh, you incredulous man! Heinrich's father is yours also. +Ten years before his marriage in Germany he traveled in Italy. In wild, +romantic Compatri he was attracted by the beauty of your mother, +Angelina, who was living in the greatest poverty upon the products of +her vines and the scanty gifts of the Carmelite convent in that place, +then falling to decay. He took her to Rome, and remained there two +years,--until his duties compelled him to return to Germany and desert +Angelina, with her eleven-months-old boy. What afterwards became of her +and her child, Heinrich did not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how did Heinrich happen to tell you this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He told me a great many things about his father's life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And where did he learn this sad history?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From Anton, who, as valet, accompanied old Herr von Ottmar on his +travels, and whose statements were confirmed by the dead man's papers. +Heinrich did not then foresee how important this discovery might some +day become. But if all this is not sufficient proof for you, question +your own heart; remember what an inexplicable affection still bound you +to Heinrich, even after you believed him lost to the church. Does not +this impulse of the heart harmonize with all that has been so strangely +revealed to you? Oh, you feel it yourself at this moment! I see it by +the tears that will steal out from beneath your lashes; you feel, you +believe, that he is your brother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus covered his face. "He is! he is! Oh, God, and I must ruin my +brother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God," cried Cornelia, joyously, "you are moved, touched! The +voice of blood is again stirring within you; you will be reconciled to +him, will spare him! Oh, say you will!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus raised his head and leaned against the window-sill; the tears +that Cornelia had seen in his eyes were dried. "Do you believe that a +pupil of Loyola will listen to the voice of blood? Do you know what the +saint, who is our protector and pattern, did? He burned, unread, the +letters from his own family, that he might break off all ties with the +world; and I, should I spare the enemy of my church because he is +related to me? Should I allow my zeal in God's cause to grow cold +because my heart warms with a mere animal instinct? No, Cornelia, my +brothers are in Christ; he who does not belong to him is no brother of +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cruel, hard-hearted man!" cried Cornelia, in horror. "I do not know +whether it is compassion or terror that seizes upon me, but my soul +trembles at the power of an illusion which can thus petrify the noblest +heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Petrify!" cried Severinus. "Oh, do not speak so, child that you are! +Have you ever cast a glance into this 'petrified heart'? Have you a +suspicion of the strength of the love I must tear away from earth and +consecrate to God? Have you ever heard the outcry of the tortured man +when he is obliged to accomplish his regeneration from earthly to +heavenly things? Do you know how mighty nature writhes and struggles +and groans under the prickly iron ring of the cilicium?<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> You are +spared these agonies, because God requires only the easiest sacrifices +from you; but we, who are appointed to be the imitators of Christ upon +earth, are compelled taste them to the dregs. We must fulfill our great +task, and no human eye is permitted to see that the sacrifice it +admires trickles from the warm heart's blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor Severinus!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not pity me; I want no one's compassion. I only want you to +understand me; the more difficult the victory, the greater the fame. I +shall one day be proud of my tortures. But I must labor without rest or +sleep, and watch over myself at every hour, for the enemy is cunning, +and if he chooses can clothe himself in the garb of an angel." His +large eyes rested ardently upon Cornelia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Severinus," she answered, sadly, "do you take me for this false +angel--me, who preach nothing to you except the first and simplest laws +of Christianity? Do you think the 'foul fiend' is in me, because I +oppose a belief which rejects the purest impulse of nature as a mere +animal instinct, if it is not of use to its plans,--denies the tie God +himself has hallowed, if it bars its progress; and acknowledges nothing +which does not----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Redound to the greater honor of God," interrupted Severinus. "Yes, we +do all for the honor of God. That is the word which permits no false +meaning; the path from which we cannot deviate an inch; the object from +which we dare not turn our eyes, even though we trample underfoot the +bodies of our dearest friends. He who opposes us must fall, for we +cannot allow ourselves to be stopped. For the honor of God we live, and +are ready to die."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And are you sure that in this you act only for the honor of God? Are +you sure you do not abuse this great word as a pretext for an act of +selfishness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus looked at her inquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">She struggled with her Feelings, and then began, gently: "Tell me, my +friend, if in the execution of a punishment commanded by the order a +Jesuit should also find the gratification of a personal desire for +revenge, would he not profane the cause of God by making it his own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Severinus, in a hollow tone, fixing his eyes upon +the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are many kinds of passions, of which the man who ardently +desires only what is right is scarcely conscious, because he does not +even allow them to take the form of a thought; yet they are there, and +the so-called foul fiend undermines in them the more securely, because +concealed, the toilsomely-erected structure of virtue. Let me quote an +example. Suppose a Jesuit hated an enemy of his order, not only because +the order hates him, but because he is loved by a girl who is dear to +the Jesuit himself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus started; a deep flush suffused his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia continued: "Suppose he used against him the weapons the order +placed his hands, not for the sake of the church, but to serve the +instincts of his own jealousy, and should suddenly perceive what he had +not confessed, even to himself, what would be his duty then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus was now as pale as he had before been red. He stood like a +marble statue, not a breath stirred his breast; but at last his +delicate lips opened to utter the words, "Then it would be his duty to +resign the work he would profane to another, who could perform it with +pure hands, solely for the sake of God and the order."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, Severinus, do what you believe to be your duty. I have +nothing more to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep silence followed. Severinus still stood motionless, and Cornelia +did not venture to look at him; she did not wish to read the pale face. +She was terrified at what, for Heinrich's sake, she had done to this +noble man, and involuntarily feared the results.</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus slowly approached her, laid his hand upon her head, and said, +"Let us bid each other farewell."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked up. The pure features expressed no bitterness, no +anger, only the repose of an immovable resolution. "Farewell?" she +asked, in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For life!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Remorse suddenly seized upon her. She had overstepped the bounds of +womanly delicacy, and pitilessly assailed the heart which, in spite of +its errors, she had always seen rise superior to every weakness. She +now felt for the first time how much she should lose in him, and, with +sincere shame, bent down, and before he could prevent it, pressed her +lips to his hands. "Severinus, can you forgive me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have nothing to forgive," he replied, gently drawing back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what takes you to Rome so suddenly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had already resolved to return there some weeks ago; only the hope +of still winning you for the church, and the hostile mission against +Heinrich, detained me. This hour is the destruction of all my plans. +Nothing is left for me to do except to place the papers intrusted to me +in the General's hands, and explain to him that I am unworthy of his +confidence,--that I am not fit for the business of the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then,--what will happen then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the General will commit the office I held to another, and, if God +wills, sanction the penance I shall impose upon myself of voluntary +seclusion in the monastery during the remainder of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you retire from the world,--bury yourself within the walls of a +cloister?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I may the more surely rise again in God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And is such a resolution compatible with your zeal for the order? +Suppose your office falls into the hands of a man who will not act with +the wisdom and dignity you have shown,--who will perhaps injure the +interests and authority of your association,--would you not reproach +yourself for having been to blame for this injury by resigning the +'holy cause' into unworthy hands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are many among our ranks who are perfectly competent to fill my +place; the General's keen eye will discover the right man. I can +perform my duties to the order. Even in the silence of a convent-cell, +I can write the words with which I should cheer souls and strengthen +them in the faith, and, in undisturbed intercourse with the Highest +One, they will gain more sanctity and power than in the profane society +of the world. Nay, my writings may perhaps influence future generations +long after spoken words have died away. Is not such an expectation +edifying to true faith?--such a resolution the highest victory over our +earthly nature?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A victory! Oh, Severinus, do not deceive yourself! A spark of the warm +life you wish to deny still glows in your breast. Suppose, Severinus, +you should perceive too late that you had formed your resolution too +early? Suppose you should long despairingly for a breath of freedom, +and in the suffocating agony of being walled up alive in the wild +struggle of its contending elements, your soul should forget itself and +God, and fall into the apparently liberating hand of Satan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus recoiled a step in horror. "Stop, I implore you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Cornelia's unfettered stream of eloquence would not allow itself to +be repressed. "You go into the cloister, not because you have +conquered, but because you fear to yield; you go there to fly from the +battle, not to rest after the victory; but that which would have caused +the conflict here will go with you, will disturb the peace of your +devout solitude; and you must conquer it with anguish there as well as +here, can succumb to it in the narrow convent-cell as well as in God's +wide world."</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus's broad breast heaved painfully. "Oh, God! my God! let me +withstand this last trial!" he prayed, fervently. "Cornelia, I do not +retreat to the cloister on account of the danger, but to fly from the +evil I abhor; that I may no longer see the world that stands between me +and heaven, which I hate----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The world to you is mankind; if you detest the former it is for the +sake of the latter. But why? What have men done to you? You are a +servant of Christ. Does this humanity, which Christ so loved that he +suffered and bled for it, deserve your love less than the Master's? Why +do you scorn the race whose form a God did not hesitate to assume,--for +which a God bore the tortures of life and death? Has it injured you +more than him? It has not pressed upon your brow the crown of thorns; +it has not nailed you to the cross; and yet he could forgive, while you +cannot!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A God might do this,--but I am a man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you know why you hate mankind? Because you dare not love like a +human being. You curse your own earthly nature, because it always +opposes your task. You are a man, and would fain be a god; you have +human passions, and desire to practice a divine self-sacrifice. This is +the fatality of your position, this the foul fiend you fear! Oh, I know +my words fall upon you as the surges dash against a rock, but it seems +as if a higher power urged me on to struggle again and again against +the unhappy errors of your church!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," cried Severinus, starting up, "my church does not err,--she +is infallible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, I tell you, it is an error that Christ has required of his +priests what the church demands from you. If Christ was God, it is +presumption for you mortals to imitate his divine person, and attempt +to give the world an example of what you do not attain yourselves. You +are merely to announce it and show it in all its beauty in yourselves. +But how can you do this,--shut off from life behind convent walls? Only +when, like our ministers, in real life, before the eyes of a whole +parish, oppressed by the same anxieties, pursued by the same enemies, +assailed by the same temptations as all, you can practice the virtues +you preach, will you become a true representative of the Christian +religion, will you have a right to require of others what was not too +difficult for yourself, and be what Christ desires, a true, perfect +man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus hastily approached the door: his whole manner betrayed tokens +of violent emotion. "I dare not listen to you longer, terrible, +dangerous woman! God sees my anguish that I cannot save your soul, make +your noble powers useful to the good cause. In you all the hostile +powers of the world assume a bodily form; in you I have convinced +myself that I am no match for them, and only the repentance of a whole +life can atone for the weakness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must I, then, lose you forever?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forever! But my prayers will be with you,--implore the protection of +the Holy Virgin for you." His voice trembled. "God cannot let such a +soul go to destruction!" He turned and, with averted face, opened the +door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Cornelia's sincere affection burst forth in all its fervor; she +rushed up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and with childlike +contrition laid her head upon his breast. "Will you go without a +farewell?" she cried, sobbing. "Ah, Severinus, a deep, inexpressible +pity for you overwhelms me! Poor, noble man, I loved you so dearly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Severinus stood as if a thunderbolt had struck him; he did not move a +finger, did not clasp Cornelia to his heart or push her from him. But +suddenly a cry of anguish burst from his compressed lips, so full of +torture that Cornelia's very soul was filled with terror, and she no +longer ventured to detain him when, as if driven by some mortal dread, +he hurried away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Late at night, before she went to rest, she saw him wandering about in +the storm and rain, and before dawn he entered the carriage which bore +him away from Cornelia forever. He traveled without pausing until he +reached Rome, where he delivered the papers to the General; confessed, +resigned his office, and entered the Casa al Gesu as a monk, to atone +by the strictest seclusion for the crime of being a man.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">XXIV.</a></h2> + +<h3>REGENERATION</h3> + +<p class="normal">While Cornelia was confidently looking forward to a meeting with +Ottmar, proud in the consciousness of having repelled all the attacks +of his enemies, <i>Heinrich</i> was tortured by uncertainty in regard to her +fate. Ever since his return home, he had lived exclusively on his +estates, engaged in making preparations for his new calling. In this +complete seclusion from the would, whose influence had been so hostile +to Cornelia, engrossed by the ideas of which she was the charming +representative, he fed his longing for her more and more. At every step +in his new career he had expected some sign of life from her, but in +vain. His hope began to waver. He knew that she was in the hands of the +Jesuits, and trembled lest her young, susceptible soul, her easily +excited fancy, should not remain closed to their influences, for then +she would be irrecoverably torn from him. He had fulfilled every +condition mentioned in her letter. It was not possible that she still +loved him if, after all this, she still persisted in her obstinate +silence. A deep melancholy began to overpower him once more; his +prospects lay before him like a region destitute of sunlight; his whole +career would lack purpose if Cornelia was not won again. As yet no +success had crowned his efforts. He had no anticipation of the +happiness he would feel if he could some day consider himself as the +true benefactor of a whole nation. The quiet labor for his new vocation +did not yet satisfy him, and he therefore founded all his hopes upon +his entrance into parliament, and longed for the day of election as the +last limit Cornelia had perhaps allowed herself. One day, in his +restlessness, he drove into the city to divert his thoughts. He wished +to visit the Exhibition, and as he went up the broad staircase of the +museum he noticed with secret pleasure that people whispered to each +other, "That is Ottmar!" and looked at him with interest and approval. +He entered the large hall where reigned the solemn silence with which +men receive into their souls the wonders of art. The first and second +rooms were empty of spectators. The dead and yet lifelike forms upon +the walls looked down upon him with their eternal laughing, weeping, or +anger. An exhibition is a mute world of a brilliant-hued medley of +times, customs, and passions, petrified as if by some magic, and +imprisoned in frames, condemned to remain motionless in the attitude +assumed at the moment when the spell began to work. There a Magdalen +repents with inexhaustible tears; yonder a Roman maiden allures, ever +unsuccessfully, with her motionless, half-opened lips; and here an Alva +rages in implacable fury, while close by a Huss burns in never-dying +flames; below a wolf snaps in unappeasable hunger at a child, which, +fortunately, he will never reach; a mother seeks to tear it away, and +cannot draw it to her protecting breast; the poor woman is condemned to +perpetual dread, and the spectator with her. Not far away is--and will +forever remain--a pair of lovers in the act of exchanging a kiss. +Upon the other side ships struggle with waves, nations contend in a +never-decided battle, a vanquished man awaits the death-stroke of the +conqueror, and high up, an a golden background, flooded by the light +that streams through the glass dome, is enthroned the Virgin, in her +calm peace, surrounded by her heavenly glory.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the passions, joys, griefs, and hopes of humanity, fixed and +beautified by the power of genius, displayed themselves to <i>Heinrich's</i> +wandering gaze, but his thoughts dwelt only with Cornelia; nay, it even +seemed as if here and there he found some resemblance to her. One +picture had her eyes, another her profile or her mouth,--her brow. He +fancied he saw her everywhere; it was doubtless a trick of his excited +imagination, or the likeness all regular beauties bear to each other. +He passed on into the third hall, which was crowded. Two oil-paintings +attracted the especial attention of the public, and the universal +verdict pronounced them to be the best in the Exhibition. It was +difficult for him to make his way in, but he could scarcely trust his +eyes when he saw one of them,--for it was Cornelia again; the likeness +was so speaking that no doubt was possible, and the figure of Severinus +beside her was equally unmistakable. Both were really only minor +accessories to a beautiful landscape, but painted in a most masterly +manner. They were standing under lofty trees which formed the +foreground, by the shore of a lake, which, surrounded by beautiful +mountain-peaks, stretched out into the background. Severinus had one +arm extended, pointing to a church-tower almost shrouded in mist. +Cornelia, with clasped hands, was looking up into his face. In +the catalogue, the work was merely named "View of the Ch---- See, +by A----."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> could not understand it; and when an acquaintance came up +and called his attention to the other famous painting, he turned +carelessly towards it; but his astonishment was inexpressible, as here +also he found Cornelia. The figures were life-size. The picture +represented the moment before a novice assumes the garb of a nun. She +was leaning upon the window-sill of a gloomy convent-room, gazing up +towards heaven, whose brilliant blue gleamed through the bars, while a +green branch, swayed by the wind, tossed against the rusty iron +gratings. The artist, by a singular fancy, had drawn his principal +figure with her back towards the spectators, probably to show in all +its magnificence the beautiful brown hair which was so soon to fall +under the scissors. But the bright panes of the window, which opened +inwards, revealed the face, upraised in fervent prayer. This face was +Cornelia's, as well as the hair he had so often stroked; the youthful +neck, which the thin undergarment she was soon to cover with the nun's +dress, lying close by, clearly revealed, and which he had so often +admired. He rubbed his eyes; he looked again and again; it was still +Cornelia. A gloomy, haggard prioress was in the act of advancing with +the scissors, and a sweet-faced young nun was gazing with evident +compassion at the beautiful, devout novice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not a true work of genius?" said <i>Heinrich's</i> companion. "The +expression of enthusiastic devotion in the face reflected in the +window, and the wonderfully painted hair! One really dreads the moment +when that stern, unfeeling prioress will cut it off!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By whom was the picture painted?" asked <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By a B---- artist of the name of Richard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does any one know whom he had for a model?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; he keeps it a profound secret. I could almost believe he +has--Heaven knows how!--witnessed such a scene. People don't create +such things purely from imagination."</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Heinrich</i> made no reply, and his acquaintance, perceiving his strange +emotion, withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ottmar went from one picture to another; but reflect and consider as he +would, one thing only was clear to him, that Cornelia must have sat to +these artists herself, for such a resemblance could not be accidental; +and although the window-panes in one picture reflected her face but +dimly, it was all the more unmistakable in the other,--and Severinus +too. So in this way she had consented to make known to the world her +connection with Jesuitism! She must consider these relations an honor +of which she publicly boasted, and this she could not do unless she had +been converted to Catholicism,--unless they had impressed upon her mind +the dogma of the supremacy and infallibility of the one saving church. +There was a mysterious connection of ideas between the two pictures; +and although he would not give way to it, it oppressed his heart with a +torturing dread. The words "people don't create such things purely from +imagination" still rang in his ears. Suppose the artist had really +taken the idea of his work from the fact that Cornelia, whom he perhaps +painted a short time before, had entered a convent? In conditions of +the soul like that into which he had cast Cornelia, where the whole +existence is pervaded with pain, and every foundation is shaken, the +seeds of the Jesuits thrive best; in such moods they most easily obtain +a mastery over man. Now, for the first time, it occurred to him that +her letter had been redolent of that pride of self-sacrifice, which, +after great conflicts, chills so many a young heart, and drives it into +the nursery of such virtues, the convent. Suppose Cornelia had gone so +far? It was not impossible! Her enthusiasm in everything, especially +her zealous desire to be of use, the inclination to sacrifice herself +for great ideas which she had so often shown, her susceptibility to the +poesy of religion,--all this seemed to him material enough to form an +agent of the church; and as the psychological fathers would not have +ventured to send such a fiery genius into the world, they had perhaps +taken advantage of some moment of weakness to imprison her in one of +the convents which lead young girls "to the heart of Jesus." The more +<i>Heinrich</i> thought of this, the more probable and clear it appeared. +Urged on by his agony, he hastened to ascertain the residences of the +two artists. He wished to buy the pictures spite of their extremely +high price,--wished to learn some particulars about Cornelia. He would +and must have some certainty; he could not bear this terrible doubt. He +wrote to Richard and A----, but at the same time to Cornelia, +addressing the letter to the Ch---- See. Perhaps the people there knew +her present residence and could send it to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reply of the artist A---- was extremely unsatisfactory. He would +give no account of the manner in which he had succeeded in obtaining +the portrait, for he had stolen her features on that first morning by +the lake, when Cornelia, thinking herself unobserved, had walked upon +the shore with Severinus. Richard wrote: "The lady had been painted +from memory, and he had really taken the subject of his picture from +the fact that she had entered a convent, where she had been kept +rigidly secluded, since no information concerning her had been +obtained."</p> + +<p class="normal">So she had really entered a convent, and there was no possibility of +learning any further particulars! <i>Heinrich's</i> condition was pitiable. +To wait--to do nothing but wait--with this burning longing and +uncertainty in his breast, for an event which perhaps might never +occur, to hope for a fortunate dispensation that perhaps was already +baffled,--such was his fate! He lived in a feverish dream, but forced +himself to enter with all his powers into what would promote the +decision of his fate, his election to the parliament. The newspapers +mentioned his name connection with those of the most honored patriots; +and if Cornelia still had free control over herself, she must at least +be touched by the loyalty with which he struggled to reach the +prescribed goal; if she were silent, then there could be no doubt that +she was lost to him. Just at that time the blow Cornelia had vainly +sought to avert suddenly fell upon him. The Jesuits executed their +threats, but this time in a different way from that Severinus had +adopted years before. The organ of ultramontanism in H---- printed an +article headed, "Contributions to the Traits of Character of a New +Candidate." This essay contained a biography of Ottmar, from the time +of his entrance into the Jesuit college to that of his present change +of opinions, which, animosity, distortion of facts, and compromising +indiscretions, surpassed everything for which Ottmar had given them +credit. The style was in the so-called interests of the nation, so +often merely the cloak beneath which partisan writers strive to win the +applause of the masses; but the worst part of all was that the author, +Geheimrath Schwelling, who years before had played so contemptible a +part as Severinus's companion in the interview with <i>Heinrich</i>, offered +to exhibit to any one who might desire it written proofs of most of his +accusations. There was no lack of credulous and doubtful persons who +wished to convince themselves with their own eyes. The Geheimrath's +house became the rendezvous of the curious of all parties, and the +papers Severinus had returned to the General for a more worthy use +passed from hand to hand. The matter made all the greater excitement an +account of the great expectations which had been fixed upon Ottmar. The +sheet containing the scandalous article had an immense circulation; and +although the cultivated portion of the community turned with disgust +from its coarse tone, the facts were not to be denied, and people +shrugged their shoulders doubtfully. But the lower classes even gave +credence to the charges, in consequence of the amusement the +commonplace wit of the style afforded them. In vain Ottmar's friends +printed articles in his defense; in vain his banker proved that he had +spent the greater portion of his property in purchasing expensive +agricultural implements, which he allowed all the country people in the +neighborhood to use gratis, and for other national purposes; it was now +an easy matter for his enemies to convince the suspicious masses that a +man who had gone from rationalism to Jesuitism, then back again to the +former, next to despotism, and finally to liberalism once more, was not +to be trusted in any relation. "Hold psychological discussions about +the motives which forced you to deny your convictions, you will be +laughed at, and your name will be branded before all parties," +Severinus had said contemptuously years before, and now the result +proved how completely he had been in the right. The facts spoke against +him, and he could not succeed in giving the people a correct +understanding of them, because he had only words,--no contradictory +proofs at his command. Even the sincerity with which in N---- he had +stood forth in behalf of the constitution was no longer acknowledged, +for the scandalous article rendered even this deed suspected as a mere +prudential measure. He had perceived that he could no longer hold his +ground against the progressive party, and therefore took sides with +them in time. This belief appeared only too probable in the case of a +man whose life had been so full of contradictions. The confidence which +had just been obtained was shaken; the voters began to hesitate. Many +forgot what they owed him since his return; others made all the +acknowledgments of his services as a public benefactor which were his +due; but even they did not wish to elect, as the representative of the +most important interests, one whose politics were doubtful. The day of +decision came and crowned his enemies' labors with success. Ottmar was +defeated by a large majority. He saw himself scorned, insulted; all his +hopes crushed, his honor lost; and she for whom he suffered such +intolerable torments, who alone could repay him for what he had +lost,--Cornelia,--was silent! For love of her he had sacrificed +everything; for love of her entered the path which was to lead him to +find an abundant reward for ignominy in her arms; and day by day +elapsed without bringing any tidings, convincing him more and more that +she was torn from him,--that he had gained nothing save the fruits of +his sins.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every morning he went to meet the postman, who brought the letters to +his estate, and always in vain. Fourteen times since the election he +had borne the tortures of renewed and disappointed hope, had rushed +towards the postman in breathless haste only to return with empty +hands. He had lain awake on his couch all through the long nights, and +welcomed the first ray of light as a preserver from his feverish, +agonizing impatience. One morning this restlessness drove him out even +earlier than usual, for it was the anniversary of the day on which +Cornelia had left him. Perhaps she would give herself to him again on +this day; perhaps she had waited for it intentionally. One who has +hoped and expected so long at last clings to every conceivable +possibility. Thus Ottmar's feet were winged with double speed as he +hurried through pleasure-grounds and woodlands, to obtain that for +which he longed a half-hour earlier. Wearied with his haste, he emerged +from the thicket upon the highway. A fresh autumn breeze was rustling +through the tops of the poplars, bending their stiff boughs asunder +like the fingers of menacing giant hands. The broad, level road, with +its dazzling white sand, stretched before him, endless and empty,--the +storm had swept it clean; nothing was to be seen on the wide plain, and +Ottmar hurried restlessly onward. Just at that moment the dark figure +of the postman appeared in the distance, and with a beating heart +<i>Heinrich</i> quickened his pace. At last he reached the man, who was +already holding out his bag; but again he was disappointed,--it +contained nothing but unimportant business letters. The last +possibility of hope had now disappeared; now he could no longer doubt +that Richard had written the truth, that Cornelia was in a convent.</p> + +<p class="normal">His measure was full. The Nemesis he had so long seemed to escape had +overtaken him, and he must patiently endure her fury with fettered +hands. Fortune, love, honor, all were lost, irrevocably lost, and every +accusation he wished to heap upon others recoiled upon himself. He was +the cause of his own misery, he alone. Fate had given him everything he +desired; but he had only demanded that which contained the germ of his +ruin. No disaster had befallen him which was not the punishment of a +crime. Absorbed in these reflections, the deeply-humbled man slowly +returned and reached the wood. The bright rays of the autumn sunlight +fell through the branches and made the yellow leaves glitter like gold; +the farther he went the more quiet and pleasant it became. The withered +foliage, alternated with the dark-green hue of a dense grove of firs; +the forest murmured and whispered to him in a soothing tone,--he did +not hear it, did not remember that the enchanted ground be entered was +his own property; his heart remained closed, no source of comfort could +force an entrance. In silent agony the man was collecting his thoughts +to pass a stern, hopeless judgment upon himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">A bench stood beside a beautiful forest stream; he involuntarily turned +towards it, and sat down with his face turned towards the rushing +water. He did not think of going home: he had one no longer; the house +in which he lived contained nothing dear to him; the whole world had no +spot where love and joy awaited him, where he would be missed; if he +remained away, society had no place for him to fill, no interests which +it would confide to him. What was he better than an outcast, a homeless +man? Could he endure the disgrace of such a life? Was it not more +honorable to extinguish it in the pure current of this stream? Who +would lose, from whom would he take anything, if he cast off the burden +of a hated, purposeless existence? And yet God had so endowed him that +his death must have made a void in the world, if he had been to it what +he ought. He gazed down into the murmuring water, which incessantly +glided by him pursued by the wind; his soul allowed itself be carried +on by the waves like a loosened vine. The eternally changing movement +before his eyes made him giddy; he looked away, and now, for the first +time, became aware to what thoughts he had involuntarily yielded. Did +no power then live in him except that of despising and destroying +himself? Could he atone for his faults by committing a crime against +himself? Should he steal away like an unfaithful steward who allowed +the property intrusted to his care to go to ruin? Should he add to the +dishonor which had fallen upon his name the eternal disgrace of +suicide, incur Cornelia's contempt, because he could not bear the loss +of her love? No, he had not fallen so low as not to repel such a +thought with a blush.</p> + +<p class="normal">But what could, what ought he to do now, since the only profession for +which his education and studies fitted him--that of politics--was +closed to him in every direction? A quiet, inactive, private life, +which but a few hours before, in the hope of a marriage with Cornelia, +had appeared endurable, now seemed to him a moral death. He did not +understand nature, the occupations of an agriculturist had no charms +for him. Should he turn his estates into money, and invest it in some +other way? But in what? All the pleasures that can be purchased he had +already enjoyed to the dregs; life could afford him nothing more. The +egotist had reached the end of his career, and could neither advance +nor recede. Crushed and helpless, he looked back upon his past life, +and now the point at which he had turned from the right path revealed +itself to his searching gaze. The hours stood forth before his soul +when he had struggled in his first conflict between inclination and +duty, and inclination had conquered. All the strange, feverish fancies +once more rose before his memory, and he perceived that they were the +voices of his own heart which had spoken to him in the forms of +delirium. Now he understood--now, after it was fulfilled--what they had +said. With the first false step to which egotism urged him, he was +lost. The frivolity with which he had degraded the first woman he +loved, to be the prey of his passion, robbed him of his best +possession, respect for the sex. Thus every base materialism, which +only sought the enjoyment of the senses and thereby often formed the +sharpest contrast with the demands of his intellectual nature, +developed itself. The more frequently this conflict occurred, the +greater it became, the further the two extremes became separated from +each other, and the more distinctly their characteristics were stamped. +The more the feelings were severed from the intellect, the lower they +sank into sensuality, the stronger the passions became, and the more +peremptorily they demanded their victim; while, on the other hand, the +more exclusively the intellect withdrew into its own sphere, the +further it banished the feelings, the colder and more obstinate it +became, the more dull to everything which did not concern its own +advantage, and therefore the more unprincipled. From this sprang the +crimes which <i>Henri</i> on the one hand, and <i>Heinrich</i> on the other, had +committed, whose consequences now drove him to despair, and had even +terrified and driven from him forever the only woman for whom both +extremes longed with equal ardor. Thus the cause of all the evil in his +whole mistaken life was the separation between the mind and heart; the +pleasure-seeking of the one, the immoderate ambition of the other, was +the curse which had sprung from this division, the form under which +egotism had taken possession of both portions of his nature. And of +what he had enjoyed and obtained--nothing was left! His life had been +fruitless to himself as well as to others. He had deceived and +sacrificed confiding natures, and brought a nation to ruin for the sake +of tasting the delights of ruling; the pleasure was over, and the +curses of the unhappy accompanied him. Everything life could offer was +exhausted, drained, and worn out! All the threads by which the heart +draws its nourishment from the world were cut off and withered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He now felt the deep truth of what Cornelia had wished to teach him, +what he had once in a dream bodingly anticipated: "Remember that the +end of life is neither to enjoy nor to obtain, but to be useful and +accomplish good works." But now, when this great knowledge seized upon +him,--when he perceived the fruitlessness of all selfish efforts,--now +when a powerful impulse urged him to do what mankind, and accomplish +what God, could ask of him,--now it was too late; every path was +closed, and the woman who alone could restore harmony to his nature, +lost! The guilt of the past had destroyed the hope of the future.</p> + +<p class="normal">He rested his forehead upon his hand and closed his eyes; he could form +no plans for the future, while repentance and anguish stirred his heart +so violently--the first true repentance, the first great sorrow, of his +life. True, his powers rose and expanded in the struggle with the +unknown enemy as they had never done before, and the mighty assault of +the contending elements widened and swelled his breast, as if now for +the first time he became a man, now for the first time there was room +in his heart for lofty feelings, resolutions, and efforts; true, the +consciousness of the strength ennobled and increased by sorrow +conquered for a moment: but as if with this, the longing for the nature +that had always guided him towards the right path strengthened, the +thoughts of Cornelia's loss once more gathered in the depths of his +soul to break over him with renewed violence. What could life still +offer him? There was no longer any love like Cornelia's, any mind like +hers, any woman who could compare with her. He felt that this sorrow +would never die; that he might perhaps obtain honor, but never +happiness again. He threw himself despairingly upon the bench, face +downward. The stream hurried along at his feet, plashing and +glittering; the birds looked down from the branches at the tall, quiet +man, turned their heads inquisitively, and softly twittered a timid +question. Far above his head the summits of the ancient firs rustled +and told the azure sky of the sorrow concealed beneath their shade.</p> + +<p class="normal">Softly and slowly the bushes near him parted,--he did not hear it,--and +a slender girlish form glided over the soft moss with a light step; +cautiously approached, and as she stood beside him, bent down, holding +her breath. Her glances beamed through tears, and she trembled like a +wild rose under the morning dew. <i>Heinrich</i> heard a heart beating close +beside his ear, felt his head raised and pressed to a heaving bosom; +looked into a pair of eyes like two shining worlds. It was no dream, +and yet he could not utter a sound; all that he thought and felt +blended together in an unspeakable something, which swelled his heart +with glowing warmth, rose higher and higher till it reached his eyes, +overflowed as if his whole soul was gushing forth with it: he had wept +his first tears upon Cornelia's breast, and holding her in a mute +embrace reveled in this unspeakable bliss!</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The noonday sun shone brightly and glowed through the ripe clusters of +grapes which hung from a trellis that surrounded the steward's pretty +little house not far from Ottmar's castle. A charming young woman stood +in the doorway, looking with eager expectation towards the forest; the +steward was working busily in the garden, but he, too, often glanced +into the distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't understand where they could stay so long, if they met each +other," said the little woman, at last. "It would be a pity if she +missed him. I grieve over every hour the poor master is obliged to +spend in his sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," gasped the man, wiping his brow, "it was time for her to show +herself; the master's melancholy manner and wretched looks were +becoming the talk of the whole neighborhood and, after all, she +couldn't have been kept concealed much longer: we were always in a +fright." He threw his tools aside, went up to his wife, and put his arm +around her neck. "You would not have borne seeing me suffer so long, +would you, my Röschen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She nestled fondly to his side and nodded. "No, indeed, my dear Albert! +But these great people are very different from us. Cornelia has a +grand, noble soul, which we must not judge by our own."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right; it would not be proper for us to apply our standard to +them. Let us thank God we are made as is needful for our situation and +welfare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, thank God for it!" cried Röschen, joyously. "Oh, Albert! how +unhappy these aristocratic people often make themselves with their +over-refinement and their lofty requirements! I saw that in my poor +dead princess. Heaven knows what sorrow was gnawing at her heart! +According to my ideas, she might have been very happy; but it often +seemed as if she did not wish to be. At any rate, it was a very +aristocratic sorrow. If she had been in our condition in life, and had +not had so much time to give way to her thoughts, she would undoubtedly +be alive now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, those two at least are not making themselves wretched," laughed +Albert, pointing to Cornelia and <i>Heinrich</i>, who were rapidly +approaching.</p> + +<p class="normal">The married pair modestly withdrew, and Cornelia and <i>Heinrich</i>, +absorbed in delightful conversation, reached the house, and entered a +pleasant little room on the ground floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, Heinrich, here is the hiding-place where I waited for three +weeks. From behind the curtains of that window I saw you pass, day +after day, and watched your face with a throbbing heart. Will you +forgive me for becoming a spy upon you? I wished, I was obliged, first +to discover whether you were at last a man to whom I might dare to +intrust my fate, whether you still loved me, and whether in my +affection I should offer you a welcome gift. I was obliged to give you +time to collect your thoughts after the blow that had fallen upon you, +and to raise yourself by your own might. If you had shown yourself to +my secretly watchful gaze otherwise than I hoped, otherwise than I +might dare to love you, I should have gone away as I came, unobserved +by you; perhaps with a broken heart, but silently and forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yon would have gone as already many a happiness has fled from the +threshold of him who did not deserve it," said <i>Heinrich</i>, clasping her +closely in his arms. "Oh, God, my salvation and my ruin were both so +near! Your eyes watched me like those of God, and if I had not stood +the test you would have left me for the second time, and been +irrevocably lost to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, I did not doubt that you would stand the test! A man has rarely +made greater sacrifices for a woman than you for me in the course of +this last year; for I clearly perceived that you would never have acted +as you have done if it had not been for my sake. But for your love for +me you would in a few years have conquered your longing for a higher +satisfaction, and remained till the end of your days in the cold +splendor of your position at the court of N----. Love for me--I may be +allowed to say so, since it is no merit of mine--was the impulse that +led you to take the first steps in another path. It guided you hither, +and I did not fear that it would desert you now, when it was apparently +leading you into misery. But a noble woman asks more than love from the +man of her choice: she demands character, firmness in misfortune as +well as prosperity, the power which is to be her support and +protection, the greatness to which she can cheerfully submit, +admiringly look up. It is a necessity of our natures to honor what we +love; in this humility lies our pride. If we cannot truly consider the +man to whom we belong far superior to us, we feel humiliated in +acknowledging him as our master. That is why I remained concealed so +long; I wished to investigate your whole life and conduct here, to see +what influence you exerted, whether you did good and made those around +you happy, what pleasures and employments you choose, how you would +bear the misfortune that had fallen upon you. And what I saw and heard +convinced me that you had entered upon your new calling not only in +appearance, but reality; that you had become a man to whom I might +confidently give myself. Yet the tears you have just shed told me more +than all. With these tears a new and better man was born in you; they +have atoned for every wrong, washed away every spot. Ah, if the bigoted +priests who believe you a lost soul had witnessed that one moment, they +would have understood that there is something holy outside their +church!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia," cried <i>Heinrich</i>, "dear, precious girl, say no more to me +about the Jesuits! Although I bear no towards the unhappy Severinus, +whom you have taught me to know as my brother, although I forgive the +intrigues they plotted against me, I will never pardon them for having +torn you from me and attempted to make you a proselyte, for having +intrusted you for so long a time to that handsome, dangerous Severinus, +whose perhaps unintentional conquests over women's hearts are well +known to the order. I can only consider it as a miracle that you +remained faithful to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia smilingly shook the hair back from her brow. "The miracle is +nothing more than that I have a faithful heart and a firm head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are the highest gifts a woman can possess. And this jewel has +fallen to my lot, mine of all others; this loyal, sorely wounded heart +clung to me; this proud firm brow, no power has ever humiliated, bent +to me. Oh, Cornelia, strong, gentle, forgiving woman, no man ever yet +repented more deeply, or was more truly grateful, than I repent my +crimes and thank you for your love! A thousand others in your place +would either have been dragged down by me, or cast me off forever; but +you would not permit yourself to be misled by all my faults and sins, +you believed a noble germ within me. Instead of punishing, you reformed +me, have been faithful to me; and now give yourself to me as trustfully +and freely as in the first moment of our love. Oh, girl, there is no +word for this bliss my thoughts are whelmed in a sea of emotions!" He +paused and laid his head upon hers, as if he wished to rest from his +overmastering emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heinrich," said Cornelia, with deep, loving, earnestness, "let the +past rest; the Heinrich to whom I always belonged, and shall as long as +I live, never wronged me; he suffered with me when that other came +between and tore us from each other. That Count Ottmar, whose wife I +never wished to become, has atoned for his fault; he is dead. Never +conjure up his gloomy shade before me, even to arraign him, I beseech +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my angel, you are right. Never was it so clear to me as to-day +that I bore my worst enemy in myself, and in the last few hours I have +buried him forever. One complete in himself, Cornelia, receives you in +his arms; it shall be his one task to live for you and your happiness; +he no longer seeks or hopes for anything but you and a quiet family +happiness, unnoticed, but rich in blessing."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. "Would you renounce politics +and every manly profession?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I help it? What can I begin after this failure? My political +credit is ruined here as well as elsewhere. What can it avail to +convince myself more and more that I cannot make amends for my +errors in this province? But here,"--he laid his band an Cornelia's +shoulder,--"here, thank God, I can atone for the wrongs I have +committed; here I can and will prove that I have become a different +man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Heinrich," cried Cornelia, deeply touched. "I thank you for these +words, and for the cheerfulness with which you hope to find in me a +compensation for all; but I think too highly of you to be able to share +this hope. No wife, not even the most beloved, can make that +superfluous for which her husband was born: to work in a lofty +vocation. What you now feel, in the first ebullition of joy, you cannot +always experience. The storm that now fills your heart now will subside +in time, and the calm which will then follow would at last make you +find a void in yourself. You are no 'shepherd,' Heinrich. An idyllic, +private life would not long satisfy you; a quiet withdrawal into your +own family circle, a limiting of yourself to that which is personally +dear to you, would be again an egotistical, and therefore only a +partial, happiness. You possess the power of solving comprehensive +problems. Every power imperiously demands its right to assert itself; +if the opportunity is denied, it turns destructively against the +barriers imposed upon it, and that which is also within them. Thus it +would be with you and our peace. Woe betide the wife who believes that +she can and must be the whole world to her husband! She does not +understand his larger nature, and will only make herself or him +unhappy. I do not belong to that class. I pride myself in taking into +account all the just demands of your character, thus only can I make +you happy. I will not regret you in the hours your profession claims, +for I shall take possession of you doubly in spirit, when I know you to +be toiling for that for which I myself would fain strive with all my +powers, and must not because I am a woman. I will not bewail the +time you take from me to give to mankind, for I love all men far too +much to grudge them what you can do for their welfare. And then, +Heinrich,"--she laid her head on his breast, and gazed into his face +with a bride's ardent love,--"then when you return home to your wife +weary but joyous in the consciousness of duty then you shall rest in my +arms, in my faithful love, and let me have the proud belief that my +heart is the soil from which the roots of your life draw nourishment +for the glorious fruits that you permit the world to reap!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cornelia, glorious creature! What a picture you conjure up before the +soul! These are divine revelations, and I will follow them +unquestioningly. Yes, I will begin anew; guide me with your inspired, +prophetic glance, lead me to the path upon which my first step +faltered; you alone know what is for my welfare." He gazed long and +earnestly into her eyes. "Oh, do not reproach me as unmanly because I +give myself up entirely to you, since through you I first became what I +am, through you alone I first learned to perceive in laboring for +others a duty, an object, in life! The representatives of these noble +ideas are principally women; for to labor and care for others is +woman's mission, to sacrifice herself for others' interests her +greatest power. The man who allows himself to be guided by a woman need +not become womanish, nor the woman masculine. If, like you, Cornelia, +she rises above her narrow subjective world to ideas which comprehend +all humanity, she confers the qualities inherent in her upon them, and +then doubtless becomes capable of guiding the more egotistical man to +honest efforts for the race, self-sacrifice, and true philanthropy! +Thus the strength of your love and virtue, in one word, your lofty +womanhood, draws me upward." He threw his arms around her and pressed +her ardently to his heart. "Cornelia, my betrothed bride, oh, tell me +again and again that I can never lose you, that you are mine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She clasped her hands. "Forever! forever! and may God's blessing be +with us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen!" said <i>Heinrich</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the power of a genuine love had healed the secret conflict in +Ottmar. Intellect and sensuous feelings, both equally attracted, +equally satisfied, united in the same object, and in the soft +atmosphere of a true happiness his shattered nature healed into a +symmetrical whole.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ghostly apparitions of his dual existence disappeared before the +reality of an all-reconciling feeling which seized upon the inmost +kernel of life, and from this brought forth the source of never-failing +joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the whole man was in harmony with himself, his long-scattered and +dispersed powers concentrated in the depths of his soul, and now for +the first time showed unity of purpose and noble, honest action: for +the first time he became a man. And when he thus once more appeared +before the world with head erect, he conquered; for real ability and +honest convictions always find allies in the natural instincts of the +people, and against these even the hostility of the Jesuits was +powerless. The web they had entwined around him was only that of +his own cowardice and duplicity. His manly conduct at last tore it +asunder. He was now free, and his purified character afforded no +opening for a new snare. After a few years he saw the noblest ambition +gratified,--that of being useful and accomplishing some good result. He +was the main support of the Party in favor of the constitution, averted +a threatening reaction by his ready dialectics, felt the mighty breath +of an applauding nation hovering like a vivifying spring-storm about +his head, and everywhere, far and wide, saw the seeds springing up +which his reawakened philanthropy had sown.</p> + +<p class="normal">And with inexpressible joy he clasped his blooming wife in his arms, +compared the lifeless splendor of the former minister with the warm, +evermore richly developing activity of the simple deputy, and his full +heart gratefully overflowed in the proud words, "Yes, my wife, you were +right; it is not what the world is to us, but what we are to the world, +that is the measure of our happiness."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: A Jesuit prayer.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: An instrument used by the Jesuits for penance and +punishment.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 36789-h.htm or 36789-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/8/36789/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/36789-h/images/hillern.png b/36789-h/images/hillern.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..131ccfb --- /dev/null +++ b/36789-h/images/hillern.png diff --git a/36789.txt b/36789.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c49e43 --- /dev/null +++ b/36789.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13499 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +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: A Twofold Life + +Author: Wilhelmine von Hillern + +Translator: M. S. + +Release Date: July 19, 2011 [EBook #36789] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=OBstAAAAYAAJ&dq + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS VOLUME + + * * * * * + + TWO POWERFUL ROMANCES + BY WILHELMINE VON HILLERN. + + I. + + ONLY A GIRL. + FROM THE GERMAN, BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + _12mo. Fine Cloth. $2_. + +"This is a charming work, charmingly written, and no one who reads it +can lay it down without feeling impressed with the superior talent of +its gifted author." + + + II. + BY HIS OWN MIGHT. + FROM THE GERMAN, BY M.S. + _12mo. Fine Cloth. $2_. + +"A story of intense interest, well wrought."--_Boston Commonwealth_. + + * * * + +For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postpaid, on +receipt of the price by + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, + _715 and 717 Market St., Philadelphia_. + + + + + + +[Illustration: WILHELMINE VON HILLERN.] + + + + + + + A TWOFOLD LIFE. + + + + + BY + WILHELMINE VON HILLERN, + AUTHOR OF "ONLY A GIRL," "BY HIS OWN MIGHT," ETC. + + + + * * * + +It is not what the world is to _us_, but what we are to the world, that +is the measure of our happiness. + + * * * + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN + By M. S., + TRANSLATOR OF "BY HIS OWN MIGHT." + + + + * * * + + + + PHILADELPHIA: + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1873. + + + + + + + * * * * * + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., + In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + * * * * * + + + + + + + TO + + MY HONORED AND BELOVED MOTHER, + + CHARLOTTE BIRCH-PFEIFFER. + + TO YOU, DEAR MOTHER BELONGS THIS FIRST PRODUCT OF AN ASPIRATION YOU + AWOKE, AND, IN LOYAL UNION WITH MY BELOVED FATHER, AIDED BY + YOUR POWERFUL EXAMPLE TO DEVELOP. RECEIVE IT AS A + FAINT TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR A LOVE WHICH + A WHOLE LIFE WOULD NOT BE + SUFFICIENT TO REPAY. + + THE AUTHORESS. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + I.--Mental Strife. + II.--Dual Apparitions. + III.--From Falsehood to Falsehood. + IV.--A Guardian Angel. + V.--Master and Pupil. + VI.--The Prison Fairy. + VII.--An Aristocrat. + VIII.--In the Prison. + IX.--Fraulein Veronica von Albin. + X.--Progress. + XI.--A New Life. + XII.--The Search for a Wife. + XIII.--A Sacrifice. + XIV.--Churchyard Blossoms. + XV.--A Royal Marriage. + XVI.--The Two Betrothed Brides. + XVII.--Insnared. + XVIII.--Cornelia and Ottilie. + XIX.--The Catastrophe. + XX.--Thither. + XXI.--Spring Storm. + XXII.--Light and Shadow. + XXIII.--Between Heaven and Earth. + XXIV.--Regeneration. + + + + + A TWOFOLD LIFE. + + I. + + MENTAL STRIFE. + + +In an elegant apartment which luxury and wealth had adorned with +everything that the fantastic industry of our times affords, two +stately figures were pacing rapidly up and down: a lady no longer young +but still magnificently beautiful, a true Parisienne and _lionne_ of +society, and a young man with an aristocratic, though somewhat stern, +bearing, dark hair, and strongly marked features. At times they eagerly +approached each other with flashing eyes, then turned away to resume +their restless pacing to and fro. + +"It is useless, we must part!" cried the youth, after a pause. "My +passion for you is destroying my whole life: my studies are neglected, +nothing has any charm for me unless connected with you; my fancy is +unceasingly busied with your image. I can no longer work, no longer +think, no longer create anything, and unless I can break loose from +this conflict I shall become a dishonored wretch, or consume my +strength in endless torture and go to destruction! We must part +forever!" + +There was no answer. The lady had thrown herself upon a causeuse which +stood just under a niche overgrown with ivy and lighted with lamps that +gleamed through crimson shades, and was gazing steadily into the soft +gloom, while a tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Our hero turned, +after vainly waiting for a reply, and looked ardently at the beautiful +picture. + +The deepest silence pervaded the elegant apartment, only interrupted by +the low plashing of a tiny fountain which fell into a marble basin +filled with goldfish. Countless hyacinths exhaled their fragrance amid +tall exotic plants, and between the heavy silken curtains and portieres +gleamed marble statues, which in the dim purple light seemed instinct +with life. Everything breathed love and secret bliss. Allured by some +magnetic attraction our hero knelt before the silent figure, and +kissing the hand that hung by her side, whispered: "Great Heaven, if +you weep how shall I find strength to conquer this moment? Oh, do not +condemn me to suffer all the torments which only a fiend can devise for +feeble human beings! If you have a heart that can weep, in mercy soften +this farewell. If you really loved me, you would not by every alluring +art seek to place me in a relation where your better self must renounce +and despise me." + +"What do I desire?" was the reply. "I wish to keep you, you who are the +sole happiness of my life. I will not, cannot, see you leave me so +coldly, cannot loose you from these arms, which in your person hold my +very life. What will my husband lose if through you he receives what he +does not know how to win himself: a happy wife? what will he lose if +the smile I _feign_ for him becomes _real_? What has he made me? A doll +to amuse society, a puppet to minister to his empty vanity. What does +he lose if the doll receives life? He has never asked for my heart,--do +I rob him if I give that which he neither knows nor prizes to another +who longs for it, and whom it can make happy?" She paused and pressed a +light kiss on the listening ear of her friend. Bewildered by her +musical whisper and warm breath, he leaned his burning cheek upon her +breast and could find no reply. + +She clasped him in a closer embrace and continued, in a tone of +reproachful tenderness, "Now that our relation must be decided, you are +so stern, so coldly conscientious, and yet--who woke this love in my +frozen heart? Who implored me to prolong my stay in Germany? Who +increased my passion by a thousand sweet nothings? Was it not you, who +now reject me?" + +"Alas! my wretched frivolity, it punishes me heavily," he murmured, +with a deep sigh; "but as it has brought me to this pass, it shall at +least lead me no further." + +He tried to rise, but she still clung to him. "Do you no longer love +me?" she cried, bursting into tears. + +"Yes, my heart is glowing with love for you!" he exclaimed, clasping +her in his arms. "But shall I become unprincipled because I have been +thoughtless? Because I have taken peace from your heart, shall I rob +you of a quiet conscience? Because ennui and ignoble desires have led +me to form an unworthy friendship with D'Anneaud, your mindless, +heartless husband, shall I now become traitor to his honor and my own?" + +"Go, then," murmured the beautiful woman, removing her arms,--"go, if +you have the strength to do so." + +"You give me the power yourself, for you do not understand me. The more +firmly you cling to me, the more surely my nobler being finds the +strength to escape you. I am aware that I have two natures within me: +one longs for you, but the other turns resolutely away, and at this +moment solemnizes its greatest, most agonizing victory, since it +compels me to resign you. Yes, its most _agonizing_ victory," he +repeated, clasping the angry woman to his heart with passionate love. +"You weep, but my very heart is bleeding, beautiful, lovely woman; no +tongue can express what I suffer." + +For a moment they stood with their lips clinging together; at last with +a violent effort he tore himself from her embrace and rushed out of the +room without another word. + +"Henri!" she cried, faintly. + +In vain: Henri ran down the staircase, sprang into his carriage, and +shouted to the coachman, "To Ottmarsfeld!" + +Ottmarsfeld, Heinrich von Ottmar's family estate, where he lived alone +with his servants, was a two hours' drive from the capital. While +within the limits of the city Heinrich looked incessantly back towards +the tempting house, but when the carriage rolled through the gate he +wrapped himself in his cloak and sank into a profound reverie. + +The keen night air blew sharply upon him, and he shrank back into one +corner of the carriage with a shiver. The trees along the highway +towered stiff and bare in the darkness. Now and then one of the horses +shied at the sight of some strange shadow. A muttered oath and the +crack of the whip followed, then all was silent again except the +regular beat of the hoofs as the horses trotted forward. _Heinrich's_ +heated fancy compared this cold, ghostly drive with the hour he had +spent in the elegant perfumed boudoir, by the side of the fair, +frivolous Parisienne. He closed his eyes to shut out the surrounding +gloom, and conjured up the statues, flowers, and the moment when the +graceful, weeping woman reclined before him on the silken causeuse. + +"I am a fool," he said to himself; "to what phantom am I sacrificing +myself? What object, what reward, can I hope for in return for my +superhuman self-denial? None, save curses from the lips which offered +me blissful happiness, and tears of sorrow in my own eyes. Yes, she was +right. Who will lose anything if we are happy? Shall the fairest hours +of my youth pass away in consuming, unsatisfied longing?--shall I allow +my studies to suffer from this secret struggle, and draw upon myself +the disgrace of failing in the examination? Are all these things +outweighed by the imaginary duty imposed upon me by the title of +friend, with which I have honored her fool of a husband, and whose +violation he will notice as little as the most conscientious +fulfillment of it? Will they be outweighed by the preservation of one's +self-respect, and is not this, after all, a matter of opinion?--is it +not a sort of coquetting with one's self? What will all my self-esteem +avail, if the world calls me a simpleton because, under the ban of my +passion, I neglected my studies and social interests? If I am pointed +at as an incapable man, shall I not sink in my own eyes?" His blood +grew more and more fevered as his reason coldly analyzed what a short +time before had seemed to him an inviolable duty. The moral stand which +he had taken in his conversation with Madame d'Anneaud was not +sufficiently powerful to protect, him from the relapse which had now +come. "I shall never rest," he thought, "until the beautiful woman is +_mine_, then only I shall be myself again! My father always said that +we could find no better way of defending ourselves against the power a +woman obtains over our hearts than by degrading her. How the cold, +shrewd man of the world would laugh if he were alive, and could see how +I am toiling to keep this woman in a position from which she herself +wishes to descend!--if he could see how my love hallows one who does +not desire to be held sacred! And her husband! Well, if he discovers it +I would give him satisfaction by a few ounces of blood, and none of my +acquaintances would despise me for the scandal half as much as I might +perhaps despise myself." + +He drew out his watch: he would turn back if there was still time. It +was too late: it was already past the hour when he could see Madame +d'Anneaud alone. He clinched his teeth and hid his face in his cloak, +as if shivering from a feverish chill. The carriage entered a thick +wood, and at last stopped before a large iron gate. + +"You are ill, Herr Baron," said the old valet de chambre as Heinrich +entered the castle, trembling violently. + +"Yes, yes, I feel very ill," he replied, passing an to his +sleeping-room to wait with burning impatience for the following day, +which would afford him an opportunity to atone for his previous reserve +in the arms of the beautiful Madame d'Anneaud. But the next morning +brought a farewell letter from the lovely Parisienne, who informed him +that she should return at once to her home in France. It was written +with all the pride and anger of a woman who has experienced the deepest +possible humiliation; who, having offered more than was desired or +accepted, now wishes to make amends for her too great willingness to +yield by a double measure of coldness and harshness. The youth of +twenty was still too great a novice in a woman's words to perceive that +this cold reserve had as little real foundation as the pride from which +it sprung, and which with such ladies too often supplies the place of +true honor. Heinrich was hopelessly crushed, and as everything that is +denied us doubly excites our desires, the indignant woman who had cast +him off was far more charming in his eyes than when she had pleaded for +his love. Remorse and passion strove in his heart with all the fury of +the hot blood of twenty. It was the first connection of such a nature +that Heinrich had ever formed, the first great feeling of his life. +Such periods, with their secret resolutions, are those in which the +elements of the inner life are analyzed, separated from each other, or +harmoniously blended. They are the standard for the guidance of the +whole life. + +Heinrich von Ottmar had been educated entirely without love. His +mother died before he reached his fifth year; his father, a heartless +aristocrat, was Grand Steward of the Court of the Principality of +H----, where Heinrich was now to commence his career, and all the +efforts of the haughty, ambitious noble were directed solely to the one +object of inoculating his son with the ideas which, as he believed, had +made him great, and might prepare a similar destiny for Heinrich. He +was one of those tyrannical persons who make even those they wish to +benefit unhappy, because they take no account of individuality, and +compel the victim of their anxiety to be happy, not in _his own_, but +_their_ way. He brought only discord into _Heinrich's_ young soul, +which was already sympathetically attracted by the development of the +times, for while he succeeded on one hand in rousing and directing it +entirely towards one object,--that of obtaining power and position on +the loftiest heights of society,--he could not suppress his leaning +towards the struggles for freedom peculiar to the times, which were an +abomination to the man whose inclinations tended towards +ultramontanism. Here also, influenced by the illusion that everything +could be done by force, there were many violent scenes, in which he +threatened the young defenseless boy with expulsion from his home, a +father's curse, and disinheritance. But no opinions are changed, no +convictions uprooted, by menaces and blows; they are at most forced to +conceal themselves where it is impossible to struggle with them. +Heinrich accustomed himself _to be silent_ and to _dissimulate_ at an +age when he was incapable of understanding the moral wrong and evil of +these qualities. Thus, under this father's tyrannical sway, every +budding germ of manly truth was suffocated, and shot forth +unavailingly. There are two results from such a course of training. +When the parental authority asserts itself also in the petty details +and interests of life, a most independent and rugged character is often +developed, firmly determined to exchange a hated, tyrannical present +for a free future, however dark it may be. This was not the case with +Heinrich von Ottmar; on the contrary, his worldly-wise father allowed +him full liberty in all the trifles on which youth sets so high a +value,--greater liberty than a more conscientious man would have done. +He knew how to make his home-life pleasant enough to him, induce him to +fear expulsion from it as the greatest misfortune; thus he always +retained his influence, and the youth, spoiled by the glitter and +pleasures of life, bore the intellectual tyranny of his father because +it allowed the most unlimited personal freedom, and learned to yield +and submit. He was naturally generous and warmhearted, capable of +enthusiasm for everything good and beautiful; but under these +circumstances only his intellectual, not his moral, powers could +develop, and his affections were forced to pine for the lack of food. +But his hot blood asserted its rights, and as it found in his soul no +lofty ideal against which its strong, youthful waves might dash, it +lost itself in the broad, shallow stream of sensuality. His father held +the opinion that there could be nothing more disadvantageous, more +injurious to the thinker, as well as to the man of the world, than a +deep feeling; and as he desired to make his son both, if possible, he +wished to save him from the evil. He also knew that there is no better +protection from it than the habit of frivolous, careless intercourse +with insignificant natures, and therefore cheerfully endured this phase +of _Heinrich's_ character. He had no esteem for women himself, and it +seemed to him a matter of indifference if the impulsive youth turned +where favors were granted most speedily, and where he unconsciously +lost his reverence for the sex. Thus the blinded father, with his +inexorable sternness on the one side, converted a noble, many-sided +nature into an ambiguous, varying character, and, by his unprincipled +indulgence on the other hand, transformed a heart-craving love into a +disposition of unbridled license; and when, in _Heinrich's_ nineteenth +year, he closed his eyes, he left his son entangled in a confusion of +inextricable contradictions, with an incomprehensible impulse towards +goodness and beauty in his breast, and without any compass to enable +him to obtain them, _desiring_ the right with the yet undestroyed power +of a noble nature, but defrauded of the power of _doing_ it; in spite +of his father's influence a philanthropist, and through it an egotist. +Thus he was a mystery to himself, whose solution he expected to find in +life, not suspecting with what sacrifice he should be compelled to +purchase it. Tortured by this secret conflict, he sought refuge and +support in science, and devoted himself to the study of political law. +He was too deeply imbued with the spirit of the times to find +satisfaction for his ambition solely in the prerogatives of the +nobility and a mere court office. True, he desired a position near the +throne, but it must be one which should have some political importance, +and deal not only with the organization of the court, but of the state. +This was the highest aim which appeared before him, and he labored with +honest zeal to reach it. Then he made the acquaintance of Madame +d'Anneaud, who was visiting a married relative in H----. She was the +first highly cultured woman he had ever known, and the impression made +by her beauty, united to the polished manners and dainty coquetry of an +aristocratic Parisienne, exerted an intoxicating influence over the +mind and imagination of the young man. Her sudden departure inflamed +his passion to the highest pitch; but in order to approach the +beautiful woman he had formed a friendship with her husband, and the +very bond which had brought the lovers together now formed a wall of +separation between them. To mislead the wife of a confiding, +unsuspicious friend was an act of dishonor from which his skeptical +reason recoiled. In this conflict month after month elapsed in +idleness. It was the year in which he was preparing for his +examination; he felt that he should fail if he did not conquer his +inertness and return to his studies. He had been too long accustomed to +receive all the favors of love to be able to endure a hopeless wish and +longing for any length of time. He must either possess Madame d'Anneaud +or avoid her. He had chosen the latter ere he knew how difficult it +would be to deny himself anything he ardently desired. He wished to do +right; but when he felt the bitterness of such self-denial his strength +to carry out the impulse failed, for he was already far too great an +egotist to make any sacrifice, and without sacrifice there is no +virtue. + +Thus his first victory over himself was transformed into a defeat when +Madame d'Anneaud's implacable letter robbed him of the ground on which +he expected to enjoy with her the fruits of a shameful peace. Now, as +he fancied, he had lost all, committed a wrong both against his beloved +and himself, for which he must strive to atone with all the energy of +passion. He drove into the city to see Madame d'Anneaud, but she +refused to admit him. He wrote a despairing note and sent it to her by +a confidential waiting-maid, but it was returned with the seal +unbroken. + +He spent three days in the most terrible excitement. The blood coursed +madly through his veins; his brain burned and whirled with plans to +regain the lost one and prevent her return to Paris. On the third +Monsieur d'Anneaud called to bid him farewell, complaining bitterly of +the caprices of his wife, who had suddenly dismissed her whole +household, would see no one, and wished to set off at once for Paris. +Everything around him grew dim as he heard these words; his heart +throbbed as if it would burst, and when his friend had taken leave he +turned deadly pale and sank exhausted upon the sofa. Now for the first +time he felt what, in the suspense of the last few days, he had not +heeded, that he was ill; but he dared not yield to it. Madame d'Anneaud +was to set out that very evening. The thought drove him back to the +city, that he might at least watch her window and witness her +departure. She saw him, and as she entered her carriage cast a long +and, as it appeared to him, sorrowful glance at him. + +He returned to the castle wild with despair. What was he to do now, +follow her, perhaps to be again repulsed? sacrifice his scientific +studies at the decisive time of the examination to rush around Paris +imploring love, perchance in vain? It seemed too useless and degrading +for him to resolve upon it without further reflection. He strove with +superhuman exertion to busy himself in his work; in vain, his thoughts +refused to obey his will. Day and night he sat over his books, gazing +with burning eyes and bewildered brain at the letters, to him so +unmeaning and disconnected, while the maddest longing raged in his +panting breast. In this torturing, mental struggle his bodily health +failed more and more; the illness which he had felt ever since his +first great emotion made itself the more apparent the less he spared +himself. At last he yielded, and became the prey of a most violent +feverish attack. The physician who was summoned shrugged his shoulders +thoughtfully, for the young man's condition afforded every symptom that +nervous fever was to be apprehended. + + + + + II. + + DUAL APPARITIONS. + + +The fever increased day by day. Heinrich became very delirious and +required incessant watching. On one of his worst nights the nurse, +overpowered by fatigue, fell asleep. The patient seemed to become more +quiet for a few minutes, and gazed with half-closed eyes at the dull +glimmer of the night-lamp. For a time in his stupefaction followed a +fixed train of ideas,--it was the conflict between duty and inclination +which had made him so ill. His imagination incessantly painted pictures +which his conscience destroyed. He lamented that he did not possess +that thoughtless frivolity which receives every enjoyment as a gift +from the loving Father, without doubt, struggle, or conflict with what +we term conscience, duty, honor. "Oh, God! Thou who hast given me +life," he murmured, "what didst thou bestow in putting me under the +dominion of a power which feeds upon the blood of my murdered joys, and +absorbs the sweetest marrow of this existence! The only happy natures +are those which can so divide intellect and feeling that they can no +longer bias each other. Oh, would that I might also!" + +Amid such thoughts be fell into that feverish, half slumber in which +dreams and reality are often so strangely blended. We know that we are +in bed, know that we are dreaming, and yet cannot prevent the creations +of our fancy from appearing before us, surrounding us like substantial +forms, and arbitrarily forcing their existence upon us. Such was the +case with Heinrich. His mind was busily weaving the torn threads of his +thoughts into fairy-like figures, at first quaint like arabesques, but +by degrees revealing a strange secret connection. The faces became more +and more distinct as his consciousness of the outside world grew dim. +He still felt vaguely that egotism and ideality were waging a fierce +battle in his heart, and by degrees the ideal he could no longer think +of in the abstract assumed a bodily form. There seemed to be something +in the room which terrified him,--something that crawled and glided +over the floor. "Do not fear," it whispered hypocritically. "I do not +come to destroy but to aid. I am the impulse of self-preservation, and +when in aristocratic society I cultivate my mind and call myself +Egotism." The shape writhed and glided nearer, while over _Heinrich's_ +head sounded a melodious yet powerful rustling of wings, and a voice +from above rang like the low notes of an organ, "Fear not, I am the +Genius of the Ideal, and will save you." + +Heinrich gasped for breath, he feared the whispering, ghostly +apparitions that surrounded him, his breast and neck seemed bound with +heavy cords, he strove to cry out but his voice refused to obey him, he +tried to open his eyes but in vain; he only felt the overmastering +presence of the two original elements of humanity, and his ear thrilled +at their words. "See what cowardly monsters you men are!" laughed the +fiend on the floor. "You carry hideous forms within you and think you +imperiously rule them, but recoil in horror when you have conjured them +from the secret depths of your hearts. I was nearer to you when in your +own breast than I am now, yet you fostered and cherished me; now that I +appear before you, you fear me." + +The voice above murmured: "Compose yourself, we are only the powers you +have felt struggling within your soul, but now we have united in the +common object of gratifying your wishes, for your folly will never be +satisfied until you perceive the vanity of your desires. Your wishes +shall be fulfilled, that you may learn to perceive in what the end of +life and true happiness consist." + +"Oh, mighty beings!" groaned Heinrich, "we are so proud of what we +accomplish by your aid, and yet it is we who serve you while you do +everything. What sustains us, that in our weakness we do not fall +helpless victims to one or the other of you?" + +"The Hand which rules over all things and appoints to each its bounds," +answered the Genius of the Ideal. "It has so wisely apportioned the +powers of evil that we exert an equal influence over the human race. As +the law of attraction holds worlds in their courses, our opposing +strength maintains the right balance in your minds if all the elements +are properly blended; but sometimes that is not the case, then your +lives take their direction from the strongest, for spirit strives +towards spiritual things, outweighs the earthly nature, releases itself +from the world, and follows my guidance above." + +"But the earthly nature tends towards the earth," grinned Egotism, "and +more frequently you sink down." + +"Thus," said both, "you human beings preserve the equilibrium between +mind and matter,--therefore you can neither withdraw from the world," +cried Egotism,--"nor be dragged down by it," said the Genius of the +Ideal. + +"Oh, you are right!" murmured Heinrich; "but I have lost this +equilibrium." + +"You have not lost it," replied the Genius of the Ideal, "the divine +and earthly natures are striving in you with equal power: that you may +not arbitrarily crush either, we wish to _separate_. You shall lead a +twofold life. Passion shall not disturb intellect, and intellect shall +not destroy pleasure." + +"Yes, yes," cried Heinrich, eagerly, "has the dear God sent you to me +to bestow the whole precious substance of life? How has such favor +fallen to my lot?" + +"You will learn some day that God has reserved greater mercies than +these," was the reply. + +"And now, you crawling creature, what do you want here while this +divine being is holding converse with me?" said Heinrich, proudly. + +"You will henceforth have little use for _him_," replied Egotism; "it +is _my_ service you need first, and _I_ must gratify your wishes. I am +a merry companion: you need not shun me. I appear in constantly varying +forms: now a usurer paying like a hardened miser, now an elegant +spendthrift throwing money away with lavish hands; now secretly +murdering a helpless enemy, now wrapping myself in the shining armor of +duty and slaying thousands; now with an honest, enthusiastic manner +gliding through the darkness to the innocent young maiden, ruling over +hearts and nations, kneeling before thrones and altars,--who knows all +the myriad forms I assume? If the spirit above your head did not work +against me, the world would be filled with my masks. Where the heart +and intellect are equal I prosper least, for then man is a harmonious +creature, as his Maker intended. Still, I often succeed in separating +them, and then my power is strengthened. It shall be so with you. Soul, +divide into two portions! Part, mind and feeling, move asunder and form +two wholes! Heinrich, have your wish, possess a double nature with a +mind destitute of sensibility, and a soulless heart." + +Heinrich's breast heaved violently, his heart throbbed with redoubled +speed, every vein swelled to bursting. Pleasure and pain thrilled his +frame; by degrees something within him seemed to be tearing itself +away, inexpressible grief overwhelmed him. A voice in his heart +murmured, "Farewell." "Farewell," answered every nerve; the chasm in +his soul yawned wider, as if a burning wound had passed through his +nature. Tears of inexplicable sorrow gushed from his eyes, and a cry of +agony at last burst from his lips as he felt that he was leaving his +body. He now stood face to face with _himself_, exchanging glances of +astonishment. All anguish was over, and he felt free and careless. "I +have been born again!" he cried, in delight. + +But the Genius of the Ideal answered,--"You have only divided your +nature. Your desire is accomplished, and will last until you no longer +wish it. Woe betide you if you remain in this condition and no longer +call upon me for aid! Egotism has produced this separation, he will +henceforth be your companion; cold reason and coarse sensuality will +make you their prey. But if from beautiful eyes the pure ray of a noble +soul falls upon you, let it enter your heart, it is I who command it to +shine upon you. If an earnest voice strikes upon your ear in tones of +warning, heed it, it is I who speak to you; and if you are at last +convinced that everything done and enjoyed without me is empty, turn to +me and I will guide you back to the source of happiness." Then turning +to the divided natures, the vision cried "Be friends; you are now two +forms, but you possess but one life, therefore remain at peace, and +take my blessing," exclaimed Egotism. "Enjoy," he cried, turning to +sensuality. "Attain," he said to intellect. "But remember," said the +Genius of the Ideal, "that the end of life is neither to enjoy nor +obtain, but to be useful and accomplish good works." With these words +the apparitions disappeared. + +The two shapes were alone. The first at last broke the silence. "I +shall dub myself _Henri_, that is what Madame d'Anneaud used to call +me, and French names give one better luck with women." + +"I will remain _Heinrich_," said the other. + +"Give me your hand!" exclaimed _Henri_. "I will enjoy for you, you +shall labor for me, and when I am about to commit an act of folly you +can warn me." So saying be merrily compared himself with his image. "I +don't doubt that we shall make our fortune. To be useful and accomplish +good works the object of life! Bah the object of life is to be happy, +and only success and pleasure can give happiness. 'For _myself_,' is +henceforth my motto!" + +"And mine," cried Heinrich: "it is the only sound philosophy." + +Just then the nurse awoke, and sprang from his chair in terror, for his +patient was not in bed, but standing before his long dressing-glass, +looking into it and talking to his reflected image in the greatest +excitement. It was with the utmost difficulty that he would allow +himself to be led away from the mirror and put to bed. His delirium had +reached its height, and showed him the true state of his own soul in +the form of an allegory. That which his reason had never been able to +solve was depicted before him in bodily form, by the divining power of +the instincts of feverish hallucinations; and thus this vision was the +true picture of his life, and the separation he had witnessed only the +symbol of his own secret struggles. + + * * * + +After three months of great suffering, Ottmar at last recovered, but so +slowly that the physician forbade him to resume his studies, and +advised him to seek health and diversion for his thoughts in travel. + +As he heard that Madame d'Anneaud was still living in Paris, he +hastened thither to resume his former relations with her. But here, for +the first time, the signs of his twofold nature became apparent. The +glittering, alluring form in which materialism clothes itself on the +one hand, intellectual suggestions on the other hand, and French +frivolity, did not fail to produce their effect. The man of reason and +sensuality developed such rude contrasts of character that he became +what he had beheld in his dream, "_Heinrich_" the cold thinker, and +"_Henri_" the careless _bon vivant_ in one person, changing as often +and as suddenly as if they were two separate individuals forced to +inhabit the same body. He was proud of this transformation, for he +could now enjoy and obtain everything: but happy he was not. The same +thing befell Ottmar that has happened to so many others in whom the +strange wonder of a secret rupture has taken place. Where intellect +reigned it required only cold knowledge and understanding; where +feeling ruled it degenerated into a burning fire, which, when the +moment of extinction arrived, left nothing but emptiness and +indifference. Thus by turns both extremes took possession of the pliant +body, and his beautiful features, gradually moulding themselves +according to the division in the soul, now bore the impress of the +astute thinker, and anon the winning charm of the lover. He possessed +one of those temperaments at which one gazes as a "marvel of genius," +which exert an alluring charm over women, who perceive in them a +"demoniac spell," a tempting enigma which irresistibly occupies their +thoughts, but in whose solution many a woman's heart has slowly bled to +death. + +At the same time he was what the world calls a man of honor. As social +integrity may be a result of cleverness, he never allowed himself to be +in fault in his civil or social position, for there the intellectual +_Heinrich_ ruled. The errors which the sensual, elegant _Henri_ +secretly committed, if detected, were not ascribed to him. There were +and are too many such natures for society not to stretch its very +relative standard of morality for the sake of their good qualities. + +Everywhere he was the centre of interest,--sought, petted, and honored. +His many-sided character attracted the most opposite temperaments; yet +he was unhappy, life was shallow and wearisome. + +There is an invisible something, on which human happiness depends. We +have soul organs, by means of which we receive and impart the inner +world of sensuous feeling,--organs which we call organs of the heart; +and those of _Henri_ were very active when passion was once aroused. We +have also organs to unite us with the spiritual world,--organs of +thought,--and _Heinrich_ possessed them in the highest perfection. But +we have besides these an organ that forms the bond between the other +two, like a connecting vein, through which the streams of thought and +feeling flow into each other, and which carries the mingled tide +through the entire being. This is the emotional nature. Where the heart +and intellect are not peculiarly disunited, the emotional nature must +exert an influence; it is the organ by means of which we make our +simple every-day life pleasant, endurable, if possible poetical. This +tie between the heart and intellect was of course torn asunder by the +division that had taken place in Ottmar, and thus he not only felt +painfully the eternal dissatisfaction of both natures, but quiet +every-day life lost all charm and value, and found him cold and +unsympathizing. He desired great contrasts, great passions, or great +problems. It was only when these occupied his thoughts that the two +extremes of his nature could assert themselves. Then only he felt at +ease. + +_Henri_ sought the material pleasures, which are always the same, and +always result in emptiness. _Heinrich_ unceasingly pursued the course +of ambition, which is ever renewed just as we believe we have reached +the goal. Between the two Ottmar found nothing but satiety. He now had +what he had so eagerly desired,--two lives, two natures, in one person. +True, he could no longer suffer, but neither could he enjoy; he could +neither love nor hate. _Henri's_ feelings were only instincts, and his +thoughts the refinement of sensuality; to which _Heinrich_ sometimes +lent a loftier language when in the presence of noble women, in whom +his shallow frivolity would have excited only repugnance. Ottmar, as on +the night of his delirium, fancied, with vain satisfaction, that he had +been born again; but he had, in truth, only divided himself. It seemed +to him as if he possessed a twofold nature, and must now enjoy life +doubly. But the law of true humanity cannot be denied without rebuke. +He had erred. Instead of two natures there were only two disjointed +halves; instead of enjoying a double share, he enjoyed but half, for +what pleased _Henri_ _Heinrich_ did not feel, and what _Heinrich_ +obtained was useless to _Henri_. + +This was not yet clear to Ottmar. He only knew that the apparitions had +given what he desired, and did not understand why he was not happy. He +had not comprehended their sneers, like all who, in the impetuous whirl +of life, hear the prophetic voices of their own breasts, and first +understand them when their predictions begin to be fulfilled. + +In Paris, Ottmar gave free course to his inclinations, and for some +time lived in intimate relations with Madame d'Anneaud. But the +beautiful woman soon became wearisome to him, and he deserted her for a +fairer face, for faith, as a matter of course, had become an +impossibility to this nature. + +Then he hurried from face to face, exhausting one empty pleasure after +another, until at last, after a year of idle dissipation, ambition +obtained the upper hand, and intellect asserted its claims. He would, +as he said, try philosophy for a time, and returned to Germany. Another +life now began. "Quick! You must do something,--accomplish something," +he said to himself. "But how? of what nature?" In the whirl of empty +pleasures he had become too superficial and frivolous to recommence his +neglected scientific studies with the redoubled industry which, after +so long an interruption, they required; he could no longer adopt any +regular profession. By means of his great ability, favored by his +position, he did and learned what and where he pleased. As he began too +much at the same time, he acquired nothing thoroughly, and obtained +that so-called cosmopolitan education which dabbles in all colors, is +skilled in all branches, whose variety often excites admiration, but +cannot be of any practical value. For five years he visited +universities, heard lectures from the most distinguished professors, +and passed in review the various sciences. None satisfied him, for none +aided him to reach the goal of his ambition with sufficient rapidity. + +At last the years of his early youth passed away, and he had as yet +obtained nothing. Insignificant fellow-students went out into the world +to enter upon the honorable career of government service, while he did +not even know to what branch it would be best to devote himself in +order to become a man of mark. + +He wrote several semi-scientific, semi-poetical works. The critics +acknowledged their merit, but they were not read. The scientific +portion was too commonplace for learned men, the poetry too dry for +ordinary people; for, in spite of his genius, _Heinrich_ was no poet. +His nature lacked that which alone can carry away the masses, and which +no thought can supply,--heart impulse; and he did not succeed in +becoming popular. An earnest, uninterrupted course of study would, in a +very short time, have made him competent to enter upon some settled +career; but too frequently _Heinrich's_ assiduous industry yielded to +_Henri's_ pursuit of pleasure, and the wearied frame threatened to give +way under this constant change from one extreme to the other. + +When he had at last exhausted all the intellectual and material +treasures of his native land without the slightest profit to himself, +some secret power again drove him forth to seek in a foreign country +the happiness he could not find at home. He went to Italy. + + + + + III. + + FROM FALSEHOOD TO FALSEHOOD. + + +On the way to Rome he met a gentleman whose striking appearance +attracted his attention. _Heinrich_ thought he had never seen a +handsomer and at the same time more intellectual countenance, and a +conversation arose between them which greatly interested _Heinrich_, +and very soon led him to make disclosures about himself and his course +of life, to which the stranger listened with an attention extremely +flattering to Ottmar's self-love, and entered, with affable +condescension, into every subject introduced by the latter. He appeared +to be so familiar with every sphere of life, all the relations of +European courts, that _Heinrich_ took him for a diplomat, and eagerly +gathered up all the information he communicated, because it always bore +the stamp of accurate, positive knowledge. But the stranger had so much +noble enthusiasm, his language was often so eloquent, that _Heinrich_ +frequently felt tempted to think him an artist, and his curiosity +increased more and more when he baffled, with consummate skill, every +effort to turn the conversation upon himself. The hours flew by +_Heinrich_ like the scenes through which he was passing, but he noticed +nothing to which the stranger did not call his attention. He had eyes +and ears only for him. He knew not which he most admired,--the +comprehensive knowledge of society, the elegant modes of expression, or +the aristocratic, yet winning, manners of this mysterious man. The +latter himself felt an increasing interest in his young companion, and +when the gigantic dome of Saint Peter's rose before them _Heinrich_ +eagerly expressed his regret that the delightful journey was over. + +"Will you seek me out in Rome?" asked the stranger. + +"Most gladly!" cried _Heinrich_, with delight. + +"Very well; then promise me to come to-morrow after early mass." + +"Certainly; but how shall I find you?" + +"Ask for Father Severinus, the Prefect of the Collegium Germanicum." + +_Heinrich_ gazed at him in unconcealed amazement. + +"You are----" + +"A Jesuit," said the priest, laughing; and left _Heinrich_ to his +speechless astonishment. + +The short disenchantment the latter experienced very soon yielded to +redoubled admiration for the remarkable things this man had +accomplished in spite of the narrow sphere to which he was limited by +his position as a priest. His father's predilection for the Jesuits +recurred to his mind, and many tales of the wondrous labors and +successes of this order no longer seemed so incredible and exaggerated +as before. He felt a desire to know more of the institution which +cultivated such remarkable charms of mind and person, and did not fail +to go to the Casa al Gesu the following day. The reception he met with +far surpassed all his anticipations. + +Father Severinus introduced him to the other chiefs of the order, and +when at last the General himself requested him to pay him a visit there +was not a single point in which _Heinrich's_ vanity was not flattered +and his curiosity excited to the utmost. + +The visit to the General ended with an invitation to dinner, and during +the meal the latter appointed a certain day upon which _Heinrich_ +should be his guest every week. + +Ottmar had never before been so well entertained among men, and soon +found himself nowhere so agreeably situated as when with Father +Severinus and his companions. The holy fathers procured for him every +pleasure that a stranger can enjoy in a new place. They showed him an +admirable selection of the glories of Rome, afforded him an opportunity +to see many curiosities which are usually inaccessible to strangers, +were always at hand when he needed them, and did not appear to be in +the world when he did not require their services. Under their guidance +he obtained a sight of the treasures in the library of the Vatican, and +they also afforded him a glimpse of their own archives; but as soon as +his desire for knowledge was excited, and he wished to penetrate +farther, the interesting matter was withdrawn because it was allowed +only to the actual adherents of Jesuitism. Yet the fathers imparted +much confidential and extremely useful information, by means of which +they gave him to understand that they were in possession of still more +important secrets, into which, however, only actual students of the +institution, whose loyalty to the order had been severely tested, could +be initiated. + +_Heinrich_ at last could not resist inquiring into the conditions upon +which he might be considered a tried servant of the order and be +permitted to share these favors. For their agents in the world, these +consisted of a novitiate of one year for the trial and practice of +obedience, and another year of voluntary residence and study in the +college. As he already knew more than was taught in the Germanicum and +Propaganda, he, of course, did not think of going through a school +course; but the thought entered his mind that at the cost of a +novitiate, which he already perceived would not be too strict, he could +obtain information which might be of the greatest use to him in his +career. He did not doubt that no one knew the world and mankind better +than the all-observant, inquiring Jesuits; and they did not neglect to +represent the principal European states and courts as a department of +their restless and manifold branches of labor. He was assured that he +could graduate from no better school of diplomacy than the quiet Jesuit +convent, and it seemed to him well worth the trouble of shutting +himself up here for a year, to emerge such a brilliant personage as his +admired Severinus. The priests gave him plainly to understand that his +novitiate would be only a name, for they had too much knowledge of +human nature to repel a young man of the world, like Ottmar, by the +prospect of monastic austerities. This promised indulgence was by no +means contrary to the rules of the order, since Ottmar was not to be +trained for priesthood, but the world, and therefore must be considered +as a guest rather than a pupil of the Germanicum. He possessed the +entire confidence of the fathers, for first from courtesy to his +hospitable hosts, and afterwards from prudence, he had been silent in +regard to his differences of opinion, but showed a sincere appreciation +of some of their institutions, which they naturally mistook for +devotion to the order. The principal reason was that his father was +known to have been a devout Catholic, a circumstance which so +completely deceived the holy fathers, that _Heinrich_ had no occasion +to do anything but keep silence and submit patiently to the rules of +the order to enjoy all the advantages of this rare confidence. The +temptation was too great, he had been too long accustomed to yield to +every caprice, every fancy, to be punctilious about the concessions of +his own convictions he would be compelled to make, and decided to enter +the Casa al Gesu. The Jesuits were extremely delighted with their new +conquest; for they hoped to make the unusually gifted young man an +agent for Germany, particularly the Protestant court of H----, which +had hitherto been closed against their influence. They willingly +acceded to _Heinrich's_ desire to enter the college under another name; +for it was of importance to them that his stay should remain unknown, +that he might afterwards act in their cause with fewer impediments. + +Thus the first step was taken on the path of deceit which his blind +egotism considered the speediest road to the goal, and upon which a man +always enters when he lacks the self-denial to make his opinions his +rule of conduct. Many a favorite of fortune is a miserable egotist, and +passes for a man of honor only because his fate has never chanced to +bring him in conflict with his selfishness; had such been the case he +would quickly have lost his cheaply-won fame. Thus it fared with +_Heinrich_ at a time when his acts and conduct were not yet burdened +with any responsibility or visible result. His proceeding had no +objective importance because he had not as yet gained any influence as +a public character, or formed any political relations. In his view he +committed no treason against the party to which in his own mind, though +not formally, he belonged, by depriving it for another year of the man +who was nothing to it. The point in question did not concern an actual +change of opinion,--for when he once entered the world he would be +faithful to his long-chosen colors,--but the attainment of a purely +personal advantage. It did not occur to his inexperienced mind that, as +a member of the party, he would be responsible to his followers not +only for his future but the past. He did not shrink from abusing the +confidence of the holy fathers, because he thought himself morally +justified in using for his own advantage men who merely wished to make +him a source of profit to themselves. It was doubtless repugnant to him +to feign a faith he did not possess, but he was filled with admiration +for various different individuals of the order, always felt happy with +them, and in truth was indifferent to what religion they belonged, for +he had, as previously mentioned, the toleration of carelessness. To him +all confession was a mere phenomenon of historical culture. The pious +exercises were empty pantomimes, on whose performance nothing depended +except the approval of the fathers, and they were all the easier +because he had grown up among Catholic ceremonies. The political and +social influence of the Jesuits he considered too feeble for him to +fear that he should ever be placed in a situation where he would be +compelled to oppose it. But he was to learn too late how terribly he +had erred. + +Thus his novitiate began, and what he had once undertaken he carried +into execution most persistently. He appeared to be a most obedient, +zealous pupil, and succeeded in blinding the good fathers so completely +that, to serve their own ends, they gave him instruction in everything +that could win him esteem at courts,--the most accurate information +about all personal and diplomatic relations, the royal families, +reports made by the emissaries of the Jesuits in every country, a +quantity of secrets whose judicious use must procure him a great +influence, and, in short, impressed their whole sophistical moral +teachings upon his mind. But with these things, so important to him, he +learned something which was to destroy the anticipated result of their +efforts,--to undervalue the order more and more. The more equivocal and +selfish these motives seemed to him, the more he thought himself +justified in deceiving them and casting aside the claims of gratitude. +He perceived with terror what an influence the Jesuits exerted over +everything; how relentlessly, with a thousand weapons, they subdued +everything that he numbered among the greatest intellectual blessings +in the world. The farther he penetrated into their mysteries the +greater his repugnance became, and the more distinctly he saw the wide +gulf which lay between him and Jesuitism. + +When the first year of study was drawing to a close, he formed the +resolution to seize upon the first good pretext to release himself from +the distasteful bonds into which, with youthful carelessness, he had +entered. He did not wish to burden himself with any further +obligations, which he now knew he should never discharge. But he was +too familiar with the power to which he had committed himself, not to +be aware that an open breach with the Jesuits might make his career +impossible, perhaps destroy his whole future. Therefore it seemed to +him unavoidable to keep friends with them for the present, and under +his father's authority he had already learned to submit to such +"necessities." + +Thus he must find a pretext which would apparently compel him to +sacrifice the second year of study and leave the Casa al Gesu before +its commencement. The moment was favorable to him. It happened that the +government of H---- took certain decisive steps against the Jesuits' +intended settlement in that principality, which aroused the greatest +excitement among the whole order. _Heinrich_ took advantage of this +opportunity. With remarkable address he induced the fathers to send him +to H---- in order to ascertain the actual state of affairs, and in +their interests begin as quickly as possible the career for which they +considered him sufficiently mature. The expectations which the priests +placed upon him justified this step; for he had increased and +strengthened them by an act which usually requires the greatest +readiness for self-sacrifice, he had at the expiration of his novitiate +presented to the order a sum of ten thousand thalers. The holy fathers +did not suspect that it was the payment by which he wished to relieve +his conscience from every burden of gratitude, that with it he paid for +his residence and instruction as he would have defrayed the expenses of +his studies at a university, because, as a man of aristocratic +disposition, he wished to be in debt for nothing. So they took for an +act of devotion what was really an effort to obtain moral freedom, and +their confidence in the man who had made such a sacrifice for them +became as great as is possible for the cautious, circumspect Jesuits. +So they allowed him to set out. + +"Become a diplomat and act for us; practice the arts of the world to +serve the cause of Heaven," they said, when they bade him farewell. And +he thought, with a sarcastic smile, "I will become a diplomat not to +serve Heaven, but myself." On returning to his home, his rank and +striking character made it easy for him to begin a diplomatic career. + +The government of H---- was Protestant and liberal. He therefore +carefully concealed the fact of his stay in the Jesuit college, and, +with his large means, succeeded in a few years in raising himself to a +lofty position. He became councillor of the legation, a friend of the +minister, a favorite at court, and now stood upon the height from which +he could begin to discharge his debt to the order, and the admonition +was not delayed. The point in question, of course, related to procuring +admittance into the country for, and also extending the privileges of, +the ubiquitous Jesuits. + +Ottmar was to introduce these claims--and did not. The moment had +arrived when he must break with the order openly and forever. Now, for +the first time, he perceived the danger resulting from the step. Ought +he to become the representative of a faith which he denied, and during +his stay in Rome had found utterly irreconcilable with his opinions? +Was it to become the shibboleth, which would betray the earlier +associations he had so carefully concealed, perhaps forever crush his +aspirations to obtain a portfolio in the government of H----? At this +price the year of study in the college had been too dearly bought. +Should he, on the other hand, forfeit the powerful assistance of the +Jesuits, and make unrelenting enemies where he had formerly possessed +trusting friends? + +The outward advantages of the two courses to be chosen seemed tolerably +equal; his convictions of right must turn the scale, and did so. In +vain were the more and more vehement warnings that followed. He wished +to make the unfettered tendency of his intellect the guide of his life, +and deserted the teachings and struggles of the order; for there still +remained in him a remnant of that feeling of duty which commands men to +oppose what they consider false and pernicious. + +But vengeance was not delayed. + +_Heinrich_ soon felt that his position in the government and at court +was no longer the same. While hitherto, from the prince down to his +humblest subject, the greatest respect, even admiration, had been paid +him, he now suddenly found himself eyed distrustfully, and even +avoided, without being able to discover a reason. Formerly no important +measure had been taken upon which the minister had not privately +requested his counsel, now the latter enveloped himself in a cloak of +cold reserve. Thus days and weeks elapsed, leaving him in a most +distasteful position. + +But one person at the court remained the same towards him: his +patroness, the niece of the widowed prince, Princess Ottilie, an +ethereal vision, who combined the haughty grace of a born aristocrat +with the charms of a feeling soul. In her he possessed a true friend, +whom he honored as a higher being; nay, he was often inclined to +believe he loved her, although not even the faintest wish to possess +her had ever arisen in his mind. All real merit was attracted to the +princess, and she won every one by her poetic mind and clear intellect, +as well as the charms of her maidenly character, although she had +already passed her first youth. She had distinguished Ottmar beyond all +others at the court, but for some time she had been unable to receive +him. It was reported that Ottilie was ill, and in his very +uncomfortable situation he was totally bereft of counsel and +consolation. + + + + + IV. + + A GUARDIAN ANGEL. + + +At last a court ball was given, and _Henri_,--for it was _Henri_ who +went to balls,--who was always the star that dazzled all eyes, found +himself as much neglected as ever. Only the members of the court who +were suspected of ultramontanism approached him with mysterious +cordiality; and whenever a number of observers were present, some +persons whom he knew to belong to the ranks of his worst enemies cast +strange glances at him which could scarcely fail to be noticed. +Infuriated by this irritating and to him incomprehensible conduct, he +turned to the young girls to pass away a few moments in their society; +but the first whom he approached, a distant relative, drew back with +mingled sorrow and alarm. He laughingly seized the little finger of her +outstretched hand and drew her into a window corner. "Why do you avoid +me, little Elsie? What have I done to harm you?" he asked. + +"Oh, go away, you are a Jesuit!" whispered the girl, half timidly, half +sullenly. + +"Ah!" A flush slowly mounted into _Henri's_ face, but without the +slightest change of countenance he pushed a gold bracelet which had +slipped down to the young girl's wrist so far up the rounded limb that +for the first time in her life she shrank from the sight of her bare +arm. + +"Do you know that a Jesuit is something so very bad?" + +"No," was the embarrassed reply. "I only know it is--must be--something +you ought not to be; or else you would not do it so secretly." The +young girl paused. + +"Well, and who told you this?" asked _Henri_, in the greatest suspense, +gazing so steadily and firmly into the large childlike eyes, that she +continued in the greatest bewilderment. + +"Why, Herr von Neuenburg told my mother so, and she was very unhappy +about it, and they both said you could not be trusted any more. Now you +know, let me go. Oh, dear, I ought not to have said anything about it!" + +With these words she ran away, and his smiles fled with her. It was no +longer the careless, jesting _Henri_, but _Heinrich_ who stood +haughtily erect in the alcove surveying the assembly with cold, +contemptuous glances. + +"These people wish to be diplomats, and discuss such important matters +before children! Fortunately, I know you well enough to perceive that +this rumor proceeds from you Jesuits. Oh, to be chained to such a life! +to be forced to sacrifice all one's power for an honor the miserable +breath of a liar's lips can blow away like dust! Is this life worth the +trouble?" + +"Not this life," murmured the fiend who was to help him "obtain." "You +must enter a wider field, and mount higher and higher to a sphere where +these petty intrigues can have no power over you; then only will you +find rest." + +These reflections, which were not by any means the first of the kind, +were disturbed by the rustle of a dress, and when he looked up Princess +Ottilie was standing before him. She gazed at him for a long time in +silence, while he bowed low, murmuring a few words of apology for his +absence of mind. + +"Not so, Herr von Ottmar," she interrupted; "we already know that even +when surrounded by the bustle of a crowd, you sometimes hold +intercourse with your own thoughts; in any case, a much greater source +of entertainment than society could offer you." + +"Ah, your Highness, if society consisted of the elements united in my +gracious princess, it would be the highest enjoyment to devote to it +every power; but when people are compelled, like me, to wander +perpetually, held aloof and misunderstood, through this labyrinth of +pretensions, disappointments, and prejudices, they are sometimes glad +to take refuge in the unsubstantial world of thought." + +"But why do you not release yourself from surroundings so distasteful?" +asked the princess. "Why do you not find strength to withdraw, if not +to the world of spirits, at least to that of the intellect?" + +"Your Highness," replied Ottmar, after a slight pause, "if I could take +with me to that realm what has hitherto chained me to the court, how +gladly would I resign this whirl of society! But so long as the object +of my holiest longing is still clasped in the arms of the world, so +long I will at least maintain a place near her, and fill it as well as +I am able." + +With these words he cast upon the princess one of the glances whose +power he had so often tried. She involuntarily turned her head to see +if any one could hear her. + +"Herr von Ottmar," said she, and her voice became lower, her expression +more sympathetic, "may I speak to you frankly?" + +"Oh, my most gracious, benevolent friend!" murmured _Heinrich_, in a +tone whose submissive devotion produced an irresistible influence upon +the impressionable soul of the princess. + +"Do not imagine that I have not perceived your design of winning me by +flattery; I have read that, as well as your whole character. I am +gracious enough to forgive you for placing the same estimate upon me as +upon every other woman whom you may have misled by similar speeches. I +forgive you, because I believe you to be greater than such arts would +make you appear; you possess no false nature, and if you deceive it is +only in cases which have no connection with your secret life, and no +reality for you. Where you have to answer for yourself, your own +established convictions, you will be true. I have this confidence in +you, and therefore can calmly look on and see you make sport of the men +and circumstances which, from your lofty stand-point, must appear so +small; nay, I can even see you test your superiority over myself; and +while I know all you say is false, am unable, I frankly confess, to +resist the charm which your masterly acting exerts over me, and feel +attracted towards you as the ignorant man is drawn to the artist whose +skill he admires. Do not deny the truth of my assertion. Be noble; or, +better still, show yourself to me as you really are, and confess I am +right." + +"Princess," cried Ottmar, "you are right. I grant that you have +understood me; but I must oppose you in one thing, that I have been +hypocritical to you. Ten minutes ago you might perhaps have termed me a +flatterer, but now everything I said has become simple truth, and I +should have far more to say to you if time and opportunity favored me." +"I fear this is the last opportunity I shall have of speaking to you +undisturbed, and therefore I speak now. I know you will not remain here +under existing circumstances, and was not willing to have you go +without taking with you on your weary way a word of conciliation, +perhaps of warning; for you do not deserve the sentence passed upon +you, and it grieves me deeply to see a noble, great-hearted man so +misunderstood through his own fault." + +"Has it already gone so far?" asked Ottmar, in surprise. + +"Unfortunately, yes, my friend. You are considered a very dangerous +man. Your enemies have decried you as a secret agent of the Jesuits, +and at last placed before the prince proofs that you spent a year as a +student in the Jesuit college at Rome. Your whole secret is betrayed." +"And do they not suppose," replied Ottmar, "that the Jesuits would know +how to guard such a secret better, unless it suited their interests to +reveal it?" + +"You must consider that you are at a _Protestant_ court. You have +hitherto passed for a free-thinker, now you are discovered to be a +pupil of the Jesuits. Thus one or the other must be false; people find +themselves mistaken in you, and are so blindly enraged that they will +believe your enemies rather than you. They consider everything you have +done and are doing against the Jesuits to be merely a mask. The +cordiality which several gentlemen, who are known to be adherents of +the order, showed you this evening confirmed the prince still more in +his opinion. You know his passionate temper; I have just heard a +conversation between him and the minister which I have neither time nor +inclination to repeat; but my conscience urged me to warn you, and--" + +"And your heart, princess; it tells you that, spite of the equivocal +part you see me play, I am a man of honor, who at any moment can cast +aside hypocrisy and deceit as contemptible tools, and whom you can +trust." + +"I know not whether I may venture to do so. You were sincere with none, +and I can only entreat you always to remember that falsehood is as +dangerous as a poisonous dye, by means of which men often color things +of trifling value, but which by constant use so pervades the atmosphere +that they at last can no longer breathe in it themselves." + +"Your Highness," whispered _Heinrich_, "let me at least know why, in +spite of my faults, you can still feel so much sympathy for me." + +"Because I have recognized your great talents, the conflict, the want +of peace, in your soul; because I know that the contradictions which +make you suspected by the world at large are rooted in the contrasts of +your own nature; and because I cannot help feeling the deepest +compassion for you," she said, at last, with an outburst of feeling, +laying her hand carelessly upon his. Her voice rang upon _Heinrich's_ +ear in tones of strange warning, and tears were glittering in her deep +blue eyes as she continued: "Oh, there is something so noble, so +godlike, in a true human soul, that when I see one struggling and +battling in the prison of this earthly body, ensnared and tortured, my +heart bleeds and I would fain extend my hands protectingly over the +wildly fluttering wings, until the hour when it can free itself and +soar away unfettered! We are observed. God be with you! Farewell!" She +glided away and disappeared among the crowd. + +"My Ideal spoke from her lips," said Ottmar, gazing after her. + +A strange conflict now ensued between the opposing elements in his +breast. + +"She loves me; she, this noble creature, so full of intellect and +feeling," said _Heinrich_. "She could not speak more distinctly, and +what she concealed I read in her eyes, which absorbed my image in their +blue depths and reflected it again, as the sun paints a Fata Morgana +upon the clouds." + +"And I," _Henri_ rejoined, "I feel ashamed and miserable when in her +presence, for I can give her nothing in return for the treasures she +brings me. I do not love her." + +"And why not?" asked _Heinrich_. "Can she not make a man happy for his +whole life? Does she not hold a lofty position, is she not as noble as +she is intellectual, and has she not sufficient strength of mind to +accept my hand, if I offer it, in spite of all intrigues?" + +"True," replied _Henri_; "but she is neither young nor blooming, and is +an invalid. How can I bind myself forever to one who has not the +slightest personal charm for me? A beautiful soul and noble mind are +phantoms, but a sickly body is the most comfortless reality, and a +burden which I must drag about with me during my whole life. No: so +long as I am still young I wish to enjoy this miserable life; when I am +old and decrepit I shall have enough to do to bear my own ailments +without the addition of an invalid wife." + +"Ah, I could love her!" said _Heinrich_. "You should not extend your +arms to me vain, beautiful soul; I would foster and cherish you as my +most sacred possession; but it is impossible. Even if I should give her +this man, what would she possess? A cold intellect and a sensuality +which this poor ethereal nature would be unable to attract, and by +which she would sooner or later be betrayed." Absorbed in these +thoughts, he walked through the rooms to take his leave. He wished to +go home, for he had lost all inclination for the entertainment. When he +reached the last apartment a new dance had just commenced and drawn +every one into the large salons. The room was silent and empty, only +the lights in the candelabra burned with a low crackle; fans and +withered bouquets lay scattered over the tables, and cloaks that had +been carelessly cast aside were thrown upon the sofas. Everything bore +witness to the bright and joyous life that had reigned here a few +minutes before, and now the deserted chamber with its marble columns +and gilded arches seemed like a mausoleum, where the soul might take a +last farewell. He paused an instant. "Ottilie!" he murmured, half +unconsciously, and the solemn mood he had felt a short time before +again overmastered him. It seemed as if beneficent spirits were +floating in the waves of light that surrounded him and trying to +whisper something, but he could no longer understand them. Just then he +suddenly heard a low rustle: some living creature was near. He looked +around him and saw the princess standing in the doorway gazing at him +with deep earnestness. + +"Ottilie," cried _Heinrich_, "God has sent you here! The angel of my +life called me, but I could no longer understand his words; for in the +tumult of the world I have grown deaf to his spirit voice. He dwells +in you; become his oracle, let him speak to me through your lips." + +"Herr von Ottmar, my heart is filled with the thought of your welfare, +but bow to help you I know not. I will pray your good angel to show me +some means of fathoming the trouble in your soul. I know of no way +unless"--she hesitated, less from embarrassment than to seek the right +word,--"unless you can find a nature which will understand and have for +you the patience of true love. Only the anxiety of a heart entirely +devoted to you will discover the means of restoring your lost peace. +That you may win such a being is the hope and desire of my soul." + +"Princess," cried _Heinrich_, whom Ottilie's lovely enthusiasm had +deeply charmed, "if I now say that I find such a being in you, that +there is no woman to whom I will intrust my life except you--" + +"No, my friend," said Ottilie calmly, though she turned pale. "You are +deceived in yourself at this moment. You do not love it is the longing +for the right which, thank God, always lives in you, which attracts you +to my--I may be allowed to say it--pure soul. This is not love; I know +it, and would never strengthen you in an error which would defraud you +of the best portion of your life. Yet I thank you for your confession. +It makes you appear still more lovable in my eyes; not because you have +made it to me, but to the ideal to which I would so gladly see you +rise." + +"Ottilie, let me thank you on my knees for the light you have poured +into my darkened soul, and let me swear I will do everything good and +great of which I may be capable in your name, your spirit!" _Heinrich_ +impulsively threw himself at her feet and clasped her hands. "Oh, my +soul loves you, Ottilie, with a love which--" + +"Which is not of this world," interrupted Ottilie, bending over him. +"Another love will enter your heart, and you will bless me for having +had strength to refuse what does not belong to me! And now I entreat +you to rise and leave me to myself." + +_Heinrich_ rose and started back as he looked at Ottilie. She was +standing proudly erect, struggling for breath, as her tears flowed +more and more violently; her eyes were closed, her delicate lips +firmly compressed, she was a most touching picture of agonizing +self-sacrifice. + +"Poor heart! you love me, and yet are noble enough to reject me?" asked +_Heinrich_. + +"Yes, my friend," murmured Ottilie, "so truly as God will sustain me in +my last hour, so truly I desire your happiness more than my own, so +truly I resign you. You must be free, and choose freely. God grant you +may find the right!" + +"After this vow I have nothing more to hope," said _Heinrich_. +"Farewell, my friend! One who has power to exercise such self-restraint +has also strength to conquer her sorrow." He kissed her cold, pale +brow, and hastily left the room. + +"Thank God it has turned out so!" whispered _Henri_; and _Heinrich_ +also uttered a sigh of relief: he felt that he had escaped a great +danger. He had been hurried on by a momentary impulse and Ottilie's +unconcealed love to a step which he would have bitterly repented; for +he was equally convinced that no one would ever understand him like +Ottilie, and also that her appreciation alone would not satisfy him. As +_Henri_ desired more sensual, _Heinrich_ demanded greater intellectual, +charms. He wished to be excited, kept in a state of suspense, +enlivened, amused: Ottilie's uniform, quiet earnestness would not have +afforded him this, and he thanked her for having rightly understood his +hasty enthusiasm and been generous enough to reject him. + +Meantime, the queenly Ottilie stood motionless in the glittering +apartment, her hand pressed to her heart and her eyes raised towards +heaven. "Which of us is most to be pitied, he or I?" + + + + + V. + + MASTER AND PUPIL. + + +On his way home, Ottmar remembered that he had appointed this very hour +for a tender meeting, and gradually the solemn impression made by the +last few moments faded before the charming picture which now obtained +the mastery over his soul. When he returned home his old valet, who had +served him from childhood, met him with a pale, sleepy face, and slowly +lighted the candles. + +"Has not the little girl come yet?" asked _Henri_. + +"Who?" + +"Who should it be? Roeschen," he added. + +"Roeschen, Marten the beadle's daughter, do you expect her?" + +"Of course I do; I persuaded her to meet me in the garden. Keep watch +at the window, and when she comes take her into the pavilion," he said, +absently, throwing himself into a chair. + +"Permit me to warn you, Herr Baron," said the old man with sorrowful +earnestness. "Roeschen is an innocent maiden, the only daughter of an +honest, poor man, whose sole joy is in this child. Have you considered +this?" + +"Don't bore me with your reproaches, man!" cried _Henri_. "Don't grudge +me this little pleasure; life with these frivolous, coquettish women is +already gradually becoming so shallow that it is no longer endurable. I +must have something pure and simple, which can refresh my mind and +interrupt the everlasting sameness; and she is really a charming +creature!" he murmured, admiringly. + +"Herr Baron," said the old man, with deep emotion, "I promised your +dying mother to watch over you as far and as long as it was in my +power. In former days my influence often prevailed; but since your +severe illness and residence in France you have become a different +person; still, I did all that was possible in my limited sphere to keep +you from evil of every kind. Of late I have feared more for the safety +of your soul than your bodily welfare. I have had occasion to perform +services of which I have been ashamed. To carry letters and attend +light-minded ladies home is not the business of a respectable man; yet +I did it out of affection for you, and because no innocent person +suffered. You gave me no thanks for my obedience, but took it as a +proof that I shared your views, and probably secretly despised me for +it. I bore all patiently and did my duty. But today, Herr Baron, it is +time to hold you back from the path on which you have entered. To ruin +an innocent girl is a crime of which I would not have believed you +capable, and to which I will lend no aid." + +"Old fool!" muttered _Henri_, looking at the clock, "if you were not so +useful I would have dismissed you to some quiet place long ago. Don't +pretend to be more silly than you are, Anton. I've already heard so +much morality to-day that I was on the point of doing a very foolish +thing. Do you suppose I shall begin again with my valet? Go, and let me +alone!" + +"Herr Baron," replied Anton, firmly, "I am sorry to be obliged to tell +you that I must leave your service if you insist upon seeing the girl, +and beg you to discharge me to-night." + +"Anton," cried _Henri_, in a furious passion, "I have borne with you +for a long time! You were faithful to me, even resisted the temptations +of the Jesuits, and always attended to my welfare. All this I have +recognized and rewarded; but I can no longer keep a servant who wishes +to set himself up as a judge of my conduct, were he ever so +indispensable to me; so remember your place better, or go!" + +At that moment the door-bell rang gently. "Ah, she is coming!" +exclaimed _Henri_, exultantly; and forgetting everything else, he +turned to Anton, calling, "Lights!" + +The old servant did not move, but stood with clasped hands praying, +under his breath, "Dear God, save this young soul!" + +_Henri_ rushed down the staircase on which the moonlight lay in broad +bars; his hands trembled with joyful impatience. "Wait, my Roeschen! my +little pink rose! I will admit you, my darling!" he whispered, as he +turned the key and threw open the heavy door, half bending forward to +embrace his angel; but a tall figure, on which the moon cast a ghostly +light, entered and fixed a pair of dark, searching eyes upon the +astonished _Henri_. + +"Oh, Christ! what is this?" he exclaimed, staggering back as if +overwhelmed with terror and disappointed expectation against the door, +which he closed again. + +"It is not Christ, but one who comes in his name," replied the +stranger's deep voice in the purest Italian. + +"By all good angels, Father Severinus!" murmured _Henri_, recoiling a +step. A low knock sounded from without; the young man's blood mounted +to his brow, and he hesitated a moment in the greatest embarrassment. + +"Here are my companions," said the Italian. "Allow me to open the +door." He threw it back, and two figures, clad in the same dress as his +own, entered, accompanied by one of the Jesuits who had spoken to +_Henri_ that night at the ball. They greeted him respectfully, and he +was man of the world enough to instantly accommodate himself to his +painful situation as well as the torturing disappointment of the +moment. + +"You are welcome, reverend sirs," he said, smiling, and led the way +up-stairs. + +Old Anton stood upon the landing with a light, and one of the priests +saluted him with his "Praised be Jesus Christ." + +"Forever, amen!" replied the old man, with a deep sigh, as he placed +chairs for the strangers and left the room, casting a sorrowful glance +at his master. + +"We have been looking for you at the ball, my son," Father Severinus +began; "because I only arrived from Rome this evening, and must set out +again early tomorrow morning. I am taking a journey through Germany, +and thought it my duty to see you, my favorite pupil, and look after +the welfare of your soul. But, unfortunately, I was compelled to learn +that the soil which so readily received our lessons was a mere +sand-heap, whose best harvest is blown away by the wind." + +_Heinrich_, who had taken _Henri's_ place, quietly listened to the +priest's words with his usual satirical smile. "Reverend sir, I must +first observe that I am no longer in the mood to allow myself to be +treated like a schoolboy. There are times when a peculiar fatality +seems to pursue us; to-day appears to have been set apart for giving me +moral lectures, and I assure you the more of them I hear the less +successful they are; so you perceive you will not be able to accomplish +much in this way, especially with a man who has returned at one o'clock +in the morning, weary and heated, from a ball." + +"Perhaps Princess Ottilie also belongs to the number of those whose +'moral lectures' have been so unsuccessful," sneeringly remarked +Ottmar's ball-room companion, Geheimrath Schwelling. + +"What do you know about that?" exclaimed _Heinrich_. + +"Enough, I should think; the noble lady did not speak so low that any +one in the adjoining window corner could not hear everything, and it is +really a duty to inform her how useless her admonitions are, that she +may not trouble herself vainly in future." + +_Heinrich_ cast a glance of inexpressible contempt at the sleek, fat +face and restless eyes of the speaker. "Princess Ottilie is the noblest +woman I know," he exclaimed, with deep emotion, "and is too lofty to +lend her ear to such vulgar insinuations. If, however, you succeed in +betraying me to her, remember that you will do me no harm, but only +inflict useless pain upon a noble heart." + +"Or heal it," replied the Geheimrath, contemptuously. + +"Cease this aimless conversation, gentlemen," said Severinus. "I am +astonished, Herr Geheimrath, to hear what language you employ towards a +man whose great talents, even as an enemy, should command your respect. +Surely these are not the means worthy of so great an end; and if our +affairs in Germany are managed thus, I can understand why the word +'Jesuit' is here used as a bugbear to frighten children. _In majorem +Dei gloriam_, never forget that. Unfortunately, I see you men of the +world must be reminded of it more frequently than our dead General has +done. It was time a more powerful hand should seize the reins; I +perceive that more and more at every step I take upon this soil." + +He had risen from his seat as he uttered these words, and there was +something so menacing and imperious in his bearing that the Geheimrath +exclaimed, with mingled fear and anger, "By what authority do you use +this language towards me, Father Severinus?" + +"By the authority the General, who sends me, gave me over every worldly +coadjutor who enjoys the advantages of our alliance without showing +himself worthy of them." + +The word General and Severinus's majestic bearing utterly crushed the +Geheimrath, who sank into a chair in silence, passing his hand over a +brow bedewed with cold perspiration. + +"Take me to a room where I can speak to you in private, my son," said +the priest in a very different tone, turning to Ottmar. "We alone have +understood each other, and we shall come to an understanding again." + +"As you please," said _Heinrich_, hesitatingly, and was about to take +one of the candlesticks from the table. + +"Nay," observed Severinus, checking him. "You know my habits; do not +refuse me the favor of being allowed to speak to you in darkness as in +former days. The soul can collect its powers better when external +objects are concealed." + +"As you please," Ottmar repeated, while a faint smile played around his +lips. + +He led the priest into the adjoining library; then left the room a +moment and said to Anton, in low tone, "Examine my study, remove the +papers lying around, and bolt the door leading into the dining-room. If +Roeschen comes, I also rely upon your faithfulness to take her into the +garden and shut her up in the pavilion." + +Then he quietly returned to his guest. The library was dimly lighted by +the moonbeams. The books towered aloft in immense cases, and from the +most exhaustive works of the _intellect_, bound in these lifeless cases +to arise again in spirit, the eye wandered to the most perfect works of +_nature_ imperishably imprisoned in stone and colors to refresh the +weary thinker, and gently win him back from his dizzy heights to this +world and its lovely forms. Statues and pictures of every kind stood +and hung around. + +If a moonbeam shone upon the gilt letters of the names of the greatest +poets and learned men, it also revealed the mute embrace of Cupid and +Psyche, and brought out in strong relief the marble shoulder of the +Venus de Medici. In a niche filled with palms and climbing plants, it +cast flickering shadows upon Schwanthaler's nymph, which seemed to be +lamenting that she was stone, and glittered upon a marble basin at her +feet. Then its pale gleam struggled with the vivid hues of the +exquisite copy of a Titian, or glided over a table filled with charts, +sketches, and plans, whose half-rolled sheets fluttered gently. The +room revealed a strange, mysterious life and nature. Ghosts seemed to +be gliding to and fro,--the tall, chastely-veiled ghosts of philosophy +and poetry,--the nude, caressing genii of love and pleasure. Now all +appeared to have gathered curiously around the dark, tall form of the +priest, who stood leaning thoughtfully against the pedestal of a Hebe. + +"This study, or library, is characteristic of you, my son," began +Severinus, when Ottmar returned. "I see everywhere the results of the +two dominant powers of your nature,--intellect and sensuality,--but no +piety; a worship of the mind, a worship of nature: but where, where are +the traces of religion? Have you, then, utterly cast aside what you +adopted when with us?" + +"Father Severinus," said _Heinrich_, advancing until he stood face to +face with him, "we are alone. Be frank; do you ask, _you_, that I shall +become a devotee?" + +Severinus gazed at him bong and earnestly. "That you should become a +devotee? No! What I ask of you is consistency! When with us you +apparently became deeply imbued with religious feeling, and openly +displayed it an all occasions. Now you deny it; therefore you have +either _lost_--in which case you are to be pitied, or never _possessed_ +it, when you deserve great blame for the deception you have practiced +in relation to the most sacred things and towards us." + +_Heinrich_ was silent. He felt the justice of the priest's reproof, and +found no reply; at the same time he was stupefied by the dim, +flickering light and the excitement of the last hour, and could not +suppress a slight yawn. Father Severinus was also silent, and waited +patiently for a reply. At last _Heinrich_ said, impatiently: "Most +reverend father, you might spare a great deal of your pathos. I do not +deny the truth of your reproach; the only doubt is whether it specially +concerns me, for I must confess to you that it is a matter of +comparative indifference whether you have cause to be indignant or not. +I have released myself from your authority, and belong to another +party, so I have nothing more to expect or endure from you. True, you +have succeeded in making me suspected at this court; but I shall find +means to justify myself, and then we will see which of us has most +occasion to fear the other." + +"I am deeply grieved to hear this language, which, by my faith in +Christ, I have not deserved," replied Severinus. "I am guiltless of the +measures the hasty, newly-appointed agent for Germany induced the +Father General to employ against you. Will you believe me?" + +_Heinrich_ bowed. "I am well aware that you are too proud to adopt such +a course." + +"Well then, for what wrong can you upbraid me, which justifies this +inconsiderate, heartless language?" He paused and looked at _Heinrich_, +who bit his lips and drummed on the arm of his chair. "What wrong has +the order done you that you take upon yourself the task of entering +upon a contest with it?" repeated Severinus. Another pause ensued. +"What could induce you to commit such a breach of faith?" + +"I have committed no breach of faith!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, "for I +never belonged to you; I am and was a free-thinker. For a long time I +admitted your great and manifest excellences, but the longer I remained +among you the more I learned to hate you and the principles of your +order, whose sole aim is the subjection of the mind to your dogmas, or +rather your authority, an object to attain which you know how to employ +every conceivable means, good as well as bad. Do you really ask a man +of my nature to submit to become the tool of such plans? If you could +expect it, it was your fault, not mine, if you now find yourselves +deceived." + +"To that, my son, I have two answers," replied Severinus, after a short +pause of reflection. "If the principles of our order, which the hand of +God has hitherto wonderfully protected, seem to you so worthy of blame +that you consider it a duty to oppose them and prepare a better fate +for your nation by your own ideas, I can say nothing against it in my +own person, except that I pity your error, while I can pay a certain +respect to the man who has at heart the welfare of his people, even +though his views may be mistaken. But you, _Heinrich_, do not oppose us +from the necessity of preserving your country from a supposed evil, nor +from the sanctity of a firm though erroneous conviction, but merely out +of vanity, that thereby you may play a prominent part before your +revolutionary party. You know nothing more sublime and imperishable +than the worldly admiration bestowed upon you, because the reward and +recognition of Christ, promised by his vicars throughout eternity, are +incredulously scorned by your narrow soul. Vanity and egotism are +answerable for your actions towards us, and even destroy the paltry +merit of having sacrificed yourself for your convictions." + +"Oh, Ottilie," _Heinrich_ suddenly exclaimed, in bitter wrath, "gentle, +innocent angel! How much better you understood me!" + +"That is not all I have to say in reply," continued Severinus, without +permitting himself to be at all disturbed by the interruption. "If, as +I have just seen, the reproach of acting from selfish impulses wounds +you so deeply, tell me what noble motive induced you to remain a year +with men whom you abhor, receive every possible proof of friendship +from them, and feign enthusiastic interest in a faith which seems to +you pernicious and criminal? Pray answer this, if you can." + +"I can," replied _Heinrich_, quietly. "Chance and ennui threw me into +your hands. You took me to the college. The genius of your system +attracted me; I wished to penetrate the mysterious nimbus which +surrounded you, to investigate you and your nature, as people desire to +examine every curiosity. You interested me, and I very soon perceived +that it would only cost me a little hypocrisy to acquire knowledge +which would be useful all my life. I looked upon it as a necessary +entrance-fee, and paid you with it. Why did you not see that the coin +was false? You trained me for diplomacy, and drilled me in the arts of +dissimulation, to which you gave the noble name of 'self-command.' As I +learned them I tested them on you, and thus you see that my diplomatic +career began by making you the first victims of your own teachings, and +by deceiving you. Truth will pardon my year of faithlessness for the +sake of a lifetime of repentance." + +"That sounds very strange," said Severinus. "Did we teach you +hypocrisy? To _conceal_ the truth without _telling a lie_ is the art we +communicated to aid you in your diplomatic career. But granted that it +was so, granted that we taught you dissimulation to obtain certain +necessary ends, should not common human gratitude have withheld you +from betraying in such a despicable manner the men who trusted you?" + +"Gratitude," laughed _Heinrich_, "for what? Did you receive me +cordially and bestow your instruction upon me for my own sake? +Certainly not. Why did you expel poor Albert Preheim, who was miserably +poor, dependent, and sincerely devoted to you? Because he had not +sufficient ability to serve you, because he was a man of limited +intellect. You did not keep me for my good but your own, because you +expected to find in me a useful tool, because a skillful agent for this +country was necessary. Tell me yourself, would you have done all this +for me if the matter had only concerned my welfare?" + +"No," said Severinus; "our mission is to serve God alone. This claims +us so entirely that the interests of individuals must be excluded. We +cannot trouble ourselves about any one who is not in some manner useful +to this end; he must apply to those orders whose sole vocation is the +practice of Christian charity. If he cannot find among them the +benefits he seeks, he would not be worthy of ours." + +"Well, for what do I owe you gratitude?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Because you were afforded an opportunity to advance the holiest cause, +to become a fellow-laborer in the service of the Highest Being. What +are we men, what is our feeble influence? Only when we belong to a +great band, unite our strength, direct our manifold powers towards +_one_ lofty aim, do we feel strong and have real weight. And the more +we enter into the struggle of the whole, the more petty cares for +ourselves disappear, then only do we obtain true contentment." + +"My noble Severinus," exclaimed _Heinrich_, "do you not suppose that I +too belong to such a band, like all who are imbued with one great aim? +Do you not suppose that there are sacred interests in the world and +among nations, whose representatives are united by an invisible bond of +common activity? Are you not sure that in our world also there are such +associations which, without compulsion or vows, without being bound by +time and space, or ruled by statutes, have an eternal existence?" + +"What you say sounds very noble; I know these are your philosophical +catch-words, but it is untenable," said Severinus. "Your union, +supposing that such an one might exist in fancy, is too diffuse to +produce the consciousness of mutual dependence, which can alone +suppress selfishness in individuals; you gentlemen, who desire to +promote the happiness of the world, always have room enough within the +limits of your imaginary union to cherish your individual cares and +interests, and make war upon yourselves. Even though your object may +perhaps be the same, you are always at variance about the means of +attaining it; nay, you are often, from purely personal motives, most +bitter enemies. You may have an association, but you have no unity, and +your efforts are unsuccessful in consequence of your want of harmony. +You lack positive legal consolidation, which is the secret of our +power; and while you win at tea-tables men of superior minds to join +your confederacy, we deprive you of the masses. You can undoubtedly +belong to such a band without injury to your egotism," he added, +smiling; "but you will always feel discontented and solitary." He +paused and gazed at _Heinrich_, then continued: "How differently you +would labor with us! My son, is there no way of bringing you back? Is +there no feeling of devotion which binds you to me? You say you are +free from every obligation to the order; are you also free from all +obligations to me? I think I have done more for you than even our +purpose would have rendered necessary. As prefect of the college, all +manner of claims were made upon me; yet when my days were occupied I +sacrificed my nights to initiate you into secrets which the order +confides only to a chosen few. I have borne with your thousand +caprices, smothered your passions with inexhaustible indulgence, and +unweariedly labored to develop your great talents. I wished to obtain +you for our cause, not only because we needed remarkable powers, but +also because I knew of no greater happiness for yourself. In you I +learned to love men once more; for your sake, I have become tolerant, +for your sake I have come from Rome. My chilled heart warmed towards +you as towards a son. Does this deserve no love,--not even +forbearance?" + +"Love!" said _Heinrich_, impatiently. "What do you desire? Men do not +love each other. I honor you, for you are the best and noblest of all +in the college, and if we had a common interest I would gladly join +you; but I do not deal in useless feelings, and frankly confess that I +don't understand how people can have them, except towards women." + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed Severinus. "So you believe you love only +what you desire to possess. You love nothing at all, _Heinrich_, and I +resign all hope of moving you by gentleness and kindness." So saying, +he started up and again leaned against the pedestal of the marble Hebe, +who vainly held her goblet of joy above his head. His delicately cut +features were slightly flushed, and his dark eyes flashed an imperious +glance at _Heinrich_. "Here stands a man who has devoted his whole life +to the service of a divine idea. Educated in a Jesuit college, sent +into the would as an ecclesiastical coadjutor, and finally promoted to +the rank of assistant, I learned to share all the joys and sorrows of +our order, and have become a Jesuit from the crown of my head to the +sole of my foot. I have felt every passion struggle within me and +subdued them all: for the honor of God was the object unchangeably +before my eyes; I used my life only as a preparation for eternity, and +therefore proudly approach death without blanching. Will you meet the +annihilation in which you believe as calmly?" + +"I hope so," said _Heinrich_, coldly. + +"And if, instead of your deities of sensuality which beckon to you +here, a bleeding Christ should appear before you in his chaste mother's +lap, pleading, 'Turn back to those who will guide you in my ways--'" + +"I would say to him, 'Lord, guide me in thy ways _thyself_!'" exclaimed +_Heinrich_, with a forced laugh. + +"And if we threatened you with the curse of the church?" + +"I would become a Protestant." + +"Misguided, accursed son of the flesh, with which you defile the vessel +of divinity, your joys shall one day be shivered by the hand of the +Lord like this idol!" cried Severinus in an outburst of fury, seizing +the Hebe and dashing it so violently at the feet of the startled +_Heinrich_ that the room shook and the graceful head rolled a long +distance. The dust rose from the floor in clouds. + +For a moment _Heinrich_ stood petrified with astonishment, gazing +regretfully at the beautiful broken limbs. "So you intend to close our +conversation with this resounding crash, father?" he asked at last, +when he had recovered his former sarcastic mood. + +"Close? Oh, no; we have not done with each other yet," said Severinus, +as he paced up and down the apartment several times, and then suddenly +paused with quiet dignity before _Heinrich_. "This is the most +disgraceful trick my impetuous temper has ever played me. Fortunately, +I can replace your broken property. It would be far more difficult to +repair the moral loss you have sustained in this hour. We will come to +an understanding quietly. My recent violence was the last outbreak of +my sorrow for your loss, but your cold derision has chilled my +affection forever. Ascribe it to your own conduct if my dealings with +you are henceforth destitute of all consideration. The _man_ is dead to +me, you are now simply the enemy of my church, whom at any cost I must +disarm." + +_Heinrich_ looked at him in astonishment. "Indeed, I am curious to +learn in what way you will propose to effect this." + +"You shall know at once. We must first determine the relations in which +you will in future stand towards our order." + +"That would be useless labor, father, since for a long time no +relations have existed between us, and none will ever be formed again!" + +"They will, they must exist! The tie was formerly a voluntary one on +your part, now it will be compulsory: that is the only difference. You +have proved to me that you have secretly deserted us, my care will be +to prevent your making it public; and since persuasion is unavailing, +this must be done by force." + +"Force?" cried _Heinrich_, starting up. "What do you mean?" + +"Simply that I possess means to compel you to that which you will not +do of your own free will." + +"Father Severinus, we intimidate children in this way, but not men!" + +Severinus looked him steadily in the face. "Have you ever seen me +employ empty threats?" + +"No," replied _Heinrich_, with visible anxiety. + +"Very well; then let us come to the point without further +circumlocution. You must first of all be fully informed of your present +situation. That you are pointed out as our agent, and consequently in +disfavor here, you know, and also that you must take leave as soon as +possible, if you prefer an honorable voluntary resignation to a +disgraceful dismissal." + +"And why must I do this? Who can dismiss me on the ground of such vague +accusations?" + +"These accusations will be proved." + +"They cannot be, for I shall find means to justify myself. Although I +cannot deny having been for some time connected with you, it does not +follow that this is still the case." + +"That too is provided for. We possess the most irrefutable proofs that +you still maintain an intercourse with us by letter." He drew out a +small portfolio. "Now I will ask you for a lamp." _Heinrich_ lighted +the candles, and saw two envelopes, which Severinus held out to him, +addressed in his own hand. "You see,--these envelopes contained the +replies to the General's requests concerning the erection of a private +institution in H----. We shall know how to conceal the fact that these +answers were refusals. It is enough that the postmarks on envelopes +addressed by your own hand will afford proofs of the recent existence +of a secret correspondence." + +"And of what use will they be if you are forced to conceal their +contents? Suppose you are asked why you do not produce the letters +themselves?" + +"It will be sufficient reason to say that they contained important +secrets which we cannot reveal on any account." + +_Heinrich_ passionately struck his brow. "Oh, could I suspect that I +had to deal with men to whom no measures are too petty, and who are not +ashamed to collect pitiful envelopes and use them to aid their +designs!" + +"Nothing is so trivial that it is not worth the trouble of keeping, if +it can serve the honest cause. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to +pick up a piece of old iron; why should not we, his servants, make even +the most trifling things useful for his designs?" + +"I hope, father, that you yourself feel the humorousness, not to say +absurdity, of such logic at this moment." + +"Let us not digress. I am aware that our proceedings can in no case +meet with your approval, and bear you no ill will for it; therefore I +have not submitted them to your judgment. Every word which does not +directly concern the matter in hand is a mere waste of time." + +"Well, then, father, we will use very few. Tell me exactly what you +require." + +"That you should bind yourself to contend with us no longer." + +_Heinrich_ burst into a loud laugh. "And by these untenable threats you +wish to induce me to take such a step! No, father, we have not yet gone +so far. Although I have no proofs that our correspondence was a hostile +one, you are equally unable to show that it was confidential and +friendly; far less, that I have failed in my duty towards my own +government. Our risks are equal." + +"If they are, I need only throw in these papers and your scale will +sink!" held aloft a roll of manuscript. "Here are the proofs of the +offenses you committed against your government and court during your +stay in Rome. Whoever sees them will no longer doubt that you are a +traitor now as well as then!" + +"Severinus!" cried _Heinrich_, fairly beside himself with fury. + +"Be calm, my friend; we are only weighing our comparative advantages +and disadvantages. If you compel me to make these papers public, your +honor and all your ambitious plans are destroyed!" + +"If you rob me of my future career as a statesman, woe betide you! Do +you see what an enemy you will find in me? I, too, am in possession of +secrets which you would not desire to have revealed!" + +"As we know this, my friend, we do you the honor of treating with you. +Towards any one else we should have adopted a shorter course. The only +point in question now is which of us has most to lose, and it is you!" + +"What do those papers contain?" asked _Heinrich_, in a hollow tone. + +"In the first place an article in your own hand, which you prepared at +the rector's command, containing the characteristics of this court and +those of the most influential persons who surround the prince." + +"That can only compromise me personally," said _Heinrich_, with forced +composure. + +"It can be displayed by a malevolent person as an act of treachery to +your court in favor of the Jesuits' designs,--and in fact it was +intended to aid us in our first steps here." + +"It failed, however, for the characteristics were not correct. Any one +who is familiar with the relations existing here will instantly +perceive that they are intentionally falsified, to mislead any one who +might wish to use them." + +"This may have proceeded from want of judgment quite as much as +design." + +_Heinrich_ suppressed a smile. "Oh, father, pardon my lack of modesty +if I doubt that any would impute want of judgment to _me_!" + +Severinus bit his lips. "You were a very young man, whose penetration +could not have been so well disciplined as now. Meantime, where many +proofs are brought together the number turns the scale, and I possess +one which will weigh heavier than all the rest." He drew a printed +document from his breast and pointed to the title. "Who is the author +of this pamphlet written in favor of the Jesuits and against your +government?" + +"I," said _Heinrich_, coldly. "But, fortunately, you can create no +proofs of the fact." + +"We can procure them." + +"_No_, father; there was but one, the manuscript written by my own +band; and this no longer exists, for I threw it into the fire myself, +and saw it burn with my own eyes. I knew you crafty gentlemen too well +to allow such a dangerous document to fall into your possession." + +"You burned the manuscript, but not the proof-sheets," said Severinus. +"When you asked for them you were told that they had already been +destroyed. Here are the corrections written in your own hand! You +wondered at the time that we should have such miserable compositors in +our secret printing-establishments, because you found whole words +wrong. You were unsuspicious enough not to perceive that the errors +were only made in order to obtain as many corrections as possible in +your handwriting; no one who knows its peculiar characteristics will +doubt the authenticity of this document." _Heinrich_ turned very pale. +He cast a glance of deadly hatred at Severinus, who was quietly +watching him. "Moreover, here is also the letter you sent to Father K. +with the pamphlets he had ordered; and although you took the precaution +not to name the title, no one will believe that you submitted to the +judgment of the General of the Jesuits any other manuscript than one +written in the interests of the order." expression of bitter irony +played around the priest's delicate lips. "It seems to me that you were +not aware how 'crafty' we are! You can now proceed to make public all +these 'contemptible coercive measures,' as you call them; you may +perhaps thereby injure us a little, but you will not justify yourself. +As soon as this secret is revealed you are lost. Suppose you hold +psychological discussions with your court and government concerning the +transformation which has taken place in you, and the causes that +induced you to deny your convictions for an entire year,--you will be +laughed at, and your name will be handed before all parties." + +_Heinrich_ trembled with rage. The painful dilemma into which he found +himself hurried without the slightest warning, the incomprehensibility +of his situation, the priest's crushing dialectics, and his own +physical exhaustion--all these combined causes so bewildered him that +he lost all control over himself, and following only the blind impulses +of his instinct, he vigorously rushed upon Severinus, who had just +replaced the document in his breast. "Hold!" he cried, seizing his arm. +"Do you really suppose I will voluntarily leave these papers, which +decide the destiny of my whole life, in your hands?" + +Severinus remained perfectly calm, and measured him with a contemptuous +glance. "Ottmar, I could defend myself if I did not have sufficient +confidence in your good sense to know that I am safe from violence." + +After a long pause, Severinus approached him; his expression became +more gentle, his harsh tone softened, and it seemed as if sorrow was +mirrored in his eyes as he laid his hand gently upon the young man's +shoulder and in a low tone murmured his name. The latter looked up +sullenly. + +"Ottmar, I do not act for myself, but for my church." + +"It is a matter of indifference to me for when you act if you destroy +my career. Oh, it is despicable! I have robbed you of the labors of a +year, but you are defrauding me of a whole life! Woe to him who rashly +ventures within your charmed circle! He can never break through it +without being crushed." + +"Ottmar, I do not understand how you could ever have imagined we would +send such an invaluable power into the world without holding in our +hands the leading-strings by which we could draw you back at any +moment. Let us come to some conclusion. I have the most positive orders +not to leave here without the security I have already mentioned. If you +do not promise to-night that you will voluntarily send in your +resignation, to-morrow I must commence proceedings which will make you +a dishonored man." + +"And I am to allow my hands to be tied, I am to mount to this height, +and in the zenith of my success to be hurled back to every-day +obscurity, laughed at and dishonored! No, I will not and cannot be +ruined by you! You recognize only the fanaticism with which you +incessantly pursue your own aims. I too am a fanatic; but it is in the +cause of ambition, and to this everything must yield, good and bad. You +shall perceive that I have not been your pupil in vain. You have +impressed upon me the stamp of your society to brand me in the eyes of +my party; but what will injure me at _Protestant_ courts will aid me in +_Catholic_ ones. If I am reported to be a Jesuit, I will make the rumor +profitable. I will enter the service of a Catholic country under the +guise of being in accord with you. You cannot contradict yourselves so +far as to decry me here as an ultramontanist and there as a liberal. I +will go to N----, where you are sure that I am powerless against you. +If this is not sufficient security, let the battle begin,--I can do no +more!" + +"It is the only expedient that you still have, if you seek your +happiness solely in the brilliancy of a diplomatic career; and it is +not our intention to exclude you from it, for we do not wish to drive +you to extremities unnecessarily. N---- is at least the only place +where you cannot injure us. On this condition we will mutually spare +each other and keep the peace; but if you succeed in obtaining +influence in N----, and should ever attempt to use it against us, we +have the power there to crush you at once: not by stratagem, but by our +firmly-established might. Do not forget this." + +"Ottilie," thought _Heinrich_, "you spoke the truth. I have so poisoned +the air with my falsehoods that I breathe nothing but corruption, and +am rightly served." "Well, then," he said to Severinus, "your holy +object is attained by the noblest means. You thrust a man, who has +hitherto made only a short digression from the path of right, into a +course of wrong and hypocrisy, careless whether a soul is destroyed, so +that appearances are preserved." + +Severinus cast down his eyes. "The cause must be saved; the individual +must be sacrificed to the cause. May God have mercy upon his soul, if +that which should lead him to good turns him to evil! Come, we will +repeat our agreement before witnesses." Severinus opened the door, and +they entered the drawing-room, where the others were waiting with +anxious faces. + +_Heinrich's_ offer was discussed in detail and confirmed by his word of +honor, after which he took a formal leave of the gentlemen. + +Severinus turned in the doorway and clasped his hand. "I do not know +what mysterious impulse of affection binds me to you, that, while +treating you as my worst enemy, tears of sorrow dim my eyes, although I +have only faithfully obeyed my orders. For Christ's sake forgive me, as +I pardon you, and if ever you need me call upon me!" He gazed at +_Heinrich_ with all the strange meaning of his wonderful eyes. It +seemed as if their brilliancy was shadowed by tears as he asked, "Shall +I not see you again when I return to H---- in a few weeks?" + +"No," said _Heinrich_. "I shall send in my resignation to-morrow, and +depart as soon as possible." + +Severinus suddenly clasped him passionately to his breast. "Farewell, +my lost son! From this hour I will love nothing but God!" Then he went +down the staircase with a steady step, without casting another glance +behind. Old Anton lighted the way, and then returned, pale but calm. + +"Where is Roeschen?" exclaimed _Henri_, who was longing to forget the +tortures of the past hour in the arms of love. + +"She is not here," said the old man. + +"Not here?" asked _Henri_, in amazement. "Where is she?" + +"Forgive me, Herr Baron! I could do nothing else,--I took her home to +her father." + +"What! what!" cried _Henri_, fairly beside himself with rage. "Did you +dare to oppose your master? Leave this house early to-morrow morning +before I am up! I will never see you again!" + +He threw a heavy purse at his feet. The old man burst into tears, and +his knees trembled under him. + +"Herr Baron," he said, in a choking voice, "may you never regret having +driven such a faithful servant from you! Farewell! may God preserve +you!" + +With these words he tottered out of the room, while Ottmar threw +himself upon his couch in a mood of sullen discontent; for the first +time consciousness of his marred existence came over him with crushing +distinctness. + +The second step was taken; he had fallen one degree lower. The warning +voice had not failed him, but Egotism must complete his work at the +cost of everything else. + +The first act _Heinrich_ had committed against his conscience, under +the influence of this terrible demon, was the game he had played for a +year with the Jesuits, in order to obtain knowledge which would be +useful in his career. When he afterwards came to the decision, where he +had an equal amount to lose or gain, he chose the path of truth; but +now he again encountered the necessity of sacrificing his ambition or +his convictions, and principle was compelled to yield to egotism. He +would henceforth choose the path of falsehood, of worldly advantage, +instead of the only one which could lead him to higher things. + +He had bound himself to appear in N---- as an enemy of progress,--to +aid in oppressing an impoverished nation. He must persuade his +conscience that all his ideas of right and freedom were dead, and not +worth the sacrifice of a whole life of honor and influence,--that the +philanthropy which, in the guise of an earnest sense of duty, had lived +his cold intellect, was an eccentricity of his youth, and must yield to +his own advantage; in truth, it could not be otherwise. Only the +emotional nature makes all ideas so living that we weep, suffer, and +bleed for them as if they were real sentient beings, and gives us, for +men whom we cannot draw within the circle visible to our senses, that +warm feeling of sympathy which we call philanthropy. But he had lost +this power, and with it a true sense of honor, yet to-night he found no +repose. He was formed by nature for noble ends, and although he no +longer felt as he had done in former days, he knew what his emotions +were once. He knew the difference between right and wrong, and that he +was choosing the latter, and looked back with shame upon the preceding +day. + +Both _Heinrich_ and _Henri_ had fallen equally low. If _Heinrich_ had +crushed his sense of right and yielded to ambition, _Henri_ had gone so +far in his pursuit of pleasure that he had sought to destroy a young, +trusting heart, and angrily driven away the old man who had opposed his +design. _Egotism had completed his victory over both natures_. Haunted +by these and similar thoughts, he at last fell asleep just before dawn. + +It was late in the forenoon when he awoke. The rays of the winter sun +were shining upon the bright, blooming landscapes on his window +curtains; a few freezing, starving birds were twittering loudly; +everything bore a delusive semblance of spring, which had as little +existence in the outside world as in his own breast. He opened his +eyes, looked around him, and with a deep sigh murmured those words of +painful disappointment: "Thank God, you have only been dreaming!" He +sank back upon his pillows for a moment; it seemed as if his soul had +not yet opened its eyes and was still slumbering, while he watched the +bright colors upon his curtains. It seemed to him as if the door would +open and old Anton come in to wake him. "Yes!" he called aloud, and +started up. But he found himself alone. He rubbed his eyes and +remembered that for the first time in his life Anton had failed to +rouse him at the right hour. He had sent him away that very night! It +was no dream: he had really done and experienced everything! "What has +been begun must be finished," he said, with gloomy resolution, and rose +to enter upon his sinful new career. + + + + + VI. + + THE PRISON FAIRY. + + +Six years afterwards, on a cold, dreary November day, a grumbling, +discontented crowd was waiting before the building in which the weal +and woe of the country of N---- were decided. An important conference +had just been concluded,--a consultation concerning increasing the +severity of the punishments inflicted upon political criminals. +Carriages drove up, and ministers and councilors entered them. At last +a brilliant equipage, drawn by two snorting, spirited gray horses, +dashed up so quickly that the crowd shrank back in terror, and looked +at the door in eager expectation. Two servants hastily let down the +steps. A slender man appeared who had not yet reached middle life, but +on whose pallid face sharp lines were already visible. He did not +vouchsafe to cast a glance at the throng, but as he entered the +carriage he heard those near him whisper, "That is Ottmar; he is one of +the worst of them." The door was closed, the footmen sprang back to +their places, and the impatient steeds dashed through the crowd like +griffins. + +"Do you hate me at last?" murmured the cold man in the carriage. "It is +well; if I once see I am hated I shall be able to shake off this +remnant of conscientiousness that still tortures me, and henceforth +live only for myself and my own aims." + +The carriage stopped before a castle-like building, the state prison. +Ottmar had for some time been commissioner of one of the revolutionary +provinces of the country, where of late a new uprising was feared, and +had therefore received orders to try to draw from the political +prisoners, who were natives of that region, disclosures which might +place some clue to the conspiracy in the hands of the government. The +prince had selected him for this office because his cold watchfulness, +smoothness, and skill in dealing with different natures seemed to make +him peculiarly fitted for it. During the short time that Ottmar had +been in the employ of the N---- government he had risen to the rank of +privy councilor and member of the council of state, and displayed his +talents in the widest spheres. He was the trusted friend of the young +prince, over whom he exerted an inexplicable power, executor of the +most secret measures, not unfrequently employed to deal with the agents +of foreign courts, and his enemies began to fear him more and more when +they perceived too late that his influence had already pervaded the +whole court. + +What it had cost him to submit and cringe to a system which his inmost +soul abhorred, though with the longing to be or strive for something +better he had violently crushed down every other feeling, as egotism +and ambition had always suppressed the better emotions of unbiased +convictions, was stamped in terrible characters upon the haggard, +pallid, but still handsome face, the frail but haughtily erect figure. + +He walked in gloomy silence behind the guide, who was taking him to the +worst criminals in the lower story. A cold breeze blew over him, +chilling his breast, and he involuntarily said to himself, "Yet men are +compelled to live here!" It seemed as if the sound of despairing sobs +reached his ear through one of the iron doors. He paused and listened. +A low, soft voice appeared to be speaking words of solemn warning. + +"Open this cell," he said to his guide; but the latter did not move. + +"Oh, Herr Baron!" he said, imploringly, "shall we not go to the others +first?--the man in there is very violent." + +"Open the door!" said _Heinrich_, imperiously. + +"Have mercy; we are all ruined men if you do not have mercy upon us!" +stammered the guide, in the greatest confusion. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked _Heinrich_, extremely perplexed. +"I will be merciful if I can, but open the door at once." + +The man hesitatingly unlocked the low door, and _Heinrich_ stood in the +entrance as if spell-bound. A young girl, thoughtful and beautiful as +artists paint the Muse of History, was sitting on a stool holding in +her lap a book, from which she had apparently just been reading aloud. +She was bending over the prisoner, who had thrown himself weeping on +the ground at her feet, and speaking to him consolingly. _Heinrich_ +motioned to the guide to be silent, and hastily retreated behind the +door that he might not be seen. + +"You have come too early, surely. I have not yet spent half an hour +with Sebastian," said the young girl. A pale sunbeam fell upon her as +she raised her head and shook back from her face a mass of luxuriant +curls. Her full lips pouted a little as she asked the jailer, "What is +the matter with you to-day? why do you look at me so?" + +"You must come out now," said he. + +She rose slowly. + +"Stand up, Sebastian; be reasonable." + +She bent over the despairing man and tried to help him rise; but he +pressed his face still more closely to the damp ground. + +"Stand up!" she suddenly commanded. "Behave like a man, not like a +child, if you wish me ever to come here again." + +The prisoner rose. He was an old man, decrepit and thin, with the +staring eyes peculiar to those who for years have vainly endeavored to +pierce with their glances the dungeon walls that surround them. + +"Oh, do not be angry!" he pleaded. "I am calm now." + +"Farewell for to-day, my poor Sebastian!" she said, returning to her +former wonderfully gentle tone, and walked quickly along the passage to +the next door. As she looked round to see if the warden was going to +open it for her she perceived _Heinrich_, who could now no longer +conceal himself. He advanced towards her, and she watched his approach +with surprise, but very calmly. Her gaze had only been fixed upon his +breast, which glittered with orders; but as he stood silently before +her in his manly dignity she raised her dark eyes to his, and their +glances met like electric sparks. A flush slowly suffused the young +girl's clearly cut face, and she involuntarily cast down her eyes as if +she had received a shock. + +"I am very much surprised to find such charming society in these +inhospitable apartments, Fraeulein," _Heinrich_ began. + +"I do not think it so very astonishing if the jailer's daughter seeks +to aid her father in his arduous duties." + +"Pardon me, Fraeulein, if I take the liberty of doubting the accuracy of +that statement," said _Heinrich_. "A jailer's daughter does not use +such language; besides, the alarm displayed just now when I wished to +enter the cell was far too great for me not to attribute more +importance to your incognito. I am, unfortunately, compelled to look at +your romantic appearance here through the extremely prosaic spectacles +of an official, whose duty it is to obtain information in regard to +every unusual event; therefore, by virtue of my office, I must inquire +your name as well as request an explanation of your object." + +The young girl looked at him with a long, steady gaze, while an +expression played around her lips which _Heinrich_ had never before +seen on a woman's face,--a slight shade of irony. + +"Very well, sir; if these people have already betrayed me I need use no +further deception. I did not employ it for my own sake, but on account +of these poor employees whom I have estranged from their duty. My name +I hope I may be permitted to conceal; but I owe you an explanation +about my object: it is only to do good. As others go to hospitals to +heal diseased bodies, the majority of which can no longer be saved, I +come hither to aid sick souls, where often the best and highest results +may be effected. Do you think that so romantic? I have surely done no +wrong in bribing the officials here, partly by money, partly by kind +words, to allow me to make a daily round through the cells. In +charitable institutions the doors and gates stand open to all who wish +to bring aid and consolation to the sufferers. The thrice wretched +unfortunates in our prisons are refused all means of cheering and +ennobling them. No account is taken of individuality here, where +individuality is the sole standard of measurement. A chaplain is sent +to admonish criminals to repent, who is to convert them all in a lump +according to his own theories; but people trouble themselves very +little about the result of this manufacturing method of conversion, and +when at the expiration of their imprisonment the criminals are sent +back into the world, they begin again just where they stopped years +before." + +"Oh, Fraeulein, you go too far! The punishment itself does most, for it +terrifies them," replied _Heinrich_. + +"Some, but certainly by far the smallest number. Many in the course +of years become so hardened to it by custom that it loses its terrors, +and the only moral the majority draw from imprisonment is--to manage +more cautiously in future. There is only one guarantee for the +permanent harmlessness of the criminal who cannot be imprisoned for +life--amendment; but this principal object of punishment is always made +subservient to the principle of avenging the insulted law." + +"Well, and can you tell me also how this amendment is to be effected?" +asked _Heinrich_, with increasing interest. + +"I think by the admitting of judicious, trustworthy persons who can +understand these different characters, and influence by advice and +instruction, where the latter is needed." + +"I admire your sanguine, philanthropic ideas," replied _Heinrich_; "but +tell me yourself, my honored Fraeulein, would not the state have too +much to do if it was compelled to take into account the peculiarities +of each individual criminal, and establish and pay a whole corporation +of amendment officials?" + +This jeer wounded the young girl, and a deep flush crimsoned her noble, +intellectual brow for a moment; but after a pause she continued, +undaunted: "Such a task would perhaps be too visionary and +comprehensive for the government; but the citizens would come to its +aid in this as well as in benevolent institutions, and from the hearts +of the populace a corps of volunteer amendment officials would arise, +in which our noblest patriots would undoubtedly be associated. But I +have no intention of discussing a subject upon which folios have been +already written, and which you understand better than I. I only wished +to give the motive for my actions; and your recent sneer," she added, +in a slightly defiant tone, "has fully convinced me that you will at +least consider these 'sanguine philanthropic ideas' in the mind of a +fanciful young girl too harmless to put them on official record, so my +examination is doubtless over." + +"Not yet," said _Heinrich_, firmly. "Your ideas and language do not +seem to me quite so harmless as you suppose. I cannot help desiring to +obtain more exact information concerning the motives of your acts and +the bearing of your influence. I must and shall find means to do so. +You stand too proudly and firmly before me for me to be able to believe +so implicitly in the purposelessness of your enthusiasm. I am a servant +of the government; as such it is both a duty and a right to ask, 'Who +are you? in what relations do you stand towards the prisoners? what is +your object?'" + +"Who I am I shall not tell you; in what relations I stand towards the +prisoners and what influence I exert you can learn from themselves; as +for my object, can you not understand it? I am making myself useful. Do +you think it requires another and more important purpose to act as I +have done?" + +"Making yourself useful?" repeated _Heinrich_, thoughtfully. "Do you +really imagine you are of much use here?" + +"_How much_ is not for me to measure, I make myself as useful as I can. +If every one only did this the world would be happier. It is not the +success, but the will, that determines the value of an act. Vanity asks +only about the result, honest purpose is satisfied with the doing." + +"Indeed!" said _Heinrich_. "Are you so totally free from vanity?" + +"Oh, no!" She suddenly burst into a merry laugh, and a ray of bright +healthful enjoyment sparkled in her eyes. "I will not say that. God +forbid that I should surround myself with a false halo. I am as vain as +every other young girl; it is only where the sphere of my earnest labor +is concerned that I am humble and modest, then my own person retires +completely into the background, and I live solely to accomplish my +purpose. But in the outside world, where I am least useful, I am vain, +assuming, and selfish. I have often thought of this contradiction." + +"I understand that," said _Heinrich_; "you feel small in comparison to +your ideas and wishes, because like all gifted human beings you always +desire more than you can accomplish. But when, outside of this sphere, +you meet with commonplace, petty natures, you feel great, because you +desire and accomplish so much more than they. Am I not right?" + +The girl raised her eyes in astonishment, and looked at him earnestly. +"You are right, and must have studied psychology more than one would +have expected from a 'servant of the government.'" + +"There is a singular blending of jest and earnest in your disposition," +said _Heinrich_. "I have never before witnessed such rapid transitions +from gay to grave and grave to gay in any one. Yes, I might really +believe you followed only your own impulses without motive or purpose." + +"Indeed, indeed you can! Believe me, I am doing nothing and want +nothing, except to prove my love for mankind in every possible way. You +seem to give me credit for political intrigues and dangerous +connections. Oh, go to the prisoners, and convince yourself whether the +spirit I instill is a revolutionary one or one of humility and +repentance! By the manner in which I have taught these people to bear +their misfortunes you will see whether my intentions are good and pure; +and then you will give no information, but permit me to continue my +office here, will you not?" + +_Heinrich_ made no reply; he was gazing earnestly into the sparkling +eyes of the suppliant. Suddenly he pointed to the nearest door. "Go in +to the prisoner there,--unobserved; I will watch how you discharge the +duties of your office and then decide." + +The warder opened the door, and the young girl quietly entered. A +shrill cry of joy greeted her. "Oh, Prison Fairy! dear Prison Fairy! +have you come at last?" exclaimed a young man. + +"Why does he call her that?" _Heinrich_ asked the turnkey, in a low +tone. + +"One of the prisoners gave her the name, and since then we have all +called her by it, because we know no other, and this suits her so +well." + +"Oh, dear Fairy, I have passed another terrible night! So long as you +are here I am as good as a child," continued the prisoner; "but when +you go away, the old sorrow bursts forth again in all its fury. Oh, if +I could go out into the world and satisfy the impulses of my own heart! +Something might be made of me now, but after five years it will perhaps +be too late. I felt that last night. True, the power to do evil may +perhaps be broken in a ten years' imprisonment, but so is the strength +to do well; and when I am sent out of this place, crippled in body and +soul, an outcast from society, robbed of all civil honors and ability, +it will get the dominion over me again. Then I shall be a mere idiot, +who can no longer think of or feel anything except the greatness of his +own misery; and for the assault I committed in a moment of passion, a +twofold murder will have been practiced upon my body and soul during +these ten years!" + +"Albert, why are you in such a horrible mood to-day?" asked the young +girl, in alarm. "You have not been so for a long time." + +"Because I have been obliged to wait for you during so many painful +hours; because I thought you were not coming again, and felt that in +you alone is rooted the power which has upheld me for the last three +years, that I should be lost if you remained away. No, I have not +deserved this punishment." + +"Albert, shall I repeat what I have always told you? Repeat it +yourself." + +"You said I was aware of the punishment, and voluntarily drew it upon +myself by my crime, that I must bear what was the result of my own +guilt; but I assure you again and again that if that terrible moment I +had been sufficiently master of myself to be able to think, I should +never have committed the crime; not from fear of the punishment, but of +the sin." + +"That excuses you in my eyes, but not in those of the law. Will you +never be able to perceive that a man of such blind passions must be +made harmless? Who will guarantee that the next instant, spite of all +good resolutions, he may not be attacked by the same madness and commit +a second murder?" + +"Harmless! Yes, yes, I have been made harmless!" he groaned. "Why do +you conjure up all the stings of conscience when I so greatly need +consolation?" + +"Because I see more clearly than ever that only the memory of your +guilt makes your misery endurable; because you complain of the +injustice of your punishment, and always become calmer when forced to +acknowledge that, if not deserved, it was at least necessary and +unfailing. And has not God sent a comfort to you in your sorrow,--a +soul which understands you, which brings news of your beloved into your +dungeon, and keeps the heart of your betrothed bride faithful to you? +Is not this a divine mercy which can cheer you?" + +"Yes, yes, I acknowledge the blessing, and for the sake of this mercy +will strive and hope that I may procure for you the only reward you can +receive, noble, wonderful creature!--the consciousness of having saved +a soul!" + +"Yes, my friend, give me that reward; it is the noblest gift which can +be bestowed upon me for my efforts; and if I live to see the day when, +purified and ennobled, you return to the world, I shall thank God more +fervently than ever for having given me a heart to suffer with others, +and also make them rejoice." + +"And some day I will tell my children of the 'Prison Fairy!'" cried the +young man, transported with hope. + +Just at that moment _Heinrich_ appeared in the doorway. "Well, sir," +said the young girl, "is any other motive needed for my conduct? Do you +now believe that such a moment would outweigh years of fruitless toil?" + +"I understand and believe you, for you are a perfect enthusiast," said +_Heinrich_, seizing her hand. + +"Do you call this enthusiasm?" she said. "If so, every great act of +love, from Christ's down to our own times, has been enthusiasm, and +nothing is true and real except enthusiasm and its results. I confess, +sir, that if all mankind shared your views, I would rather live with my +prisoners in this dungeon than in the outside world!" + +_Heinrich_ gazed in astonishment at the proud, girlish figure, with the +natural dignity of a pure, unshaken self-appreciation on the undaunted +brow, and the alluring grace of true womanhood in the soft, undulating +outlines of the whole frame; and an admiring reverence overwhelmed him, +such as, for many a long year, no woman had inspired in his breast. + +"Do not misunderstand me, Fraeulein. You take the word in a different +sense from the one intended. Where enthusiasm is united to such energy +as you possess, it has always accomplished the noblest deeds the world +has ever known; but we usually give that name----" + +"To what we have no power to feel ourselves," involuntarily interrupted +the excited girl; and it seemed as if her glance rested sorrowfully +upon _Heinrich's_ beautiful, expressive features. + +_Heinrich_ stood speechless. He felt as if a burning brand had suddenly +been cast into the dark recesses of his soul, and his spiritual eyes +were following the light as it penetrated deeper and deeper. + +Just at that moment the prisoner's voice interrupted his reverie. + +"Pardon me, sir," he began, timidly, "have I not the honor of seeing +Herr von Ottmar?" + +"Albert!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, "is it really you? I thought I +recognized you, but doubted it, because I should have expected to find +you in a monastery rather than a dungeon, and besides, you are very +much altered. How did you, of all the world, happen to be placed in +such close confinement?" + +"Oh, Herr von Ottmar, you were so kind to me at college, may I tell you +the story of my misfortune?" said Albert, the person who had been at +the Jesuit college with _Heinrich_, and of whom he had spoken in his +interview with Severinus. + +"Will you allow it, Fraeulein?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly," replied the young girl, joyfully. "Perhaps the tragical +history may for once arouse even in you the enthusiasm of compassion." + +With these words she glanced at _Heinrich_ with a pleading, +inexpressibly charming smile. The latter could not turn his eyes away +from the wonderfully changeful face, but murmured, as if in assent, +"Prison Fairy!" + +Meantime Albert had commenced his story. At first _Heinrich_ gave it +very little attention; gradually, however, he became attracted and +listened eagerly, even anxiously. Albert related how, after being +expelled from the order in the second year of his novitiate, he had for +some time earned a scanty support, and at last lived several years as a +tutor in the family of a wealthy German merchant. Six years before, +this family removed from Italy to Germany, and in fact to the very +capital where Ottmar had lived before his departure for N----. "There," +said he, "I became acquainted with a young girl,--a girl who was really +as pure and blooming as a rose. I had never loved a woman before,--the +dark, ardent Italians were repulsive to my quiet nature,--but when I +found the thoughtful, golden-haired German maiden, I clung to her with +fervent affection. She loved me; and I, who had been tossed about the +world from a child, was intoxicated by her tenderness, as if it were +the aroma of some costly wine. I gradually neglected my pupils, my +duty, and several times received censure; but in vain. Passion, so long +repressed, was aroused, and locked me, the novice, completely within +its magic circle. + +"But now I became the sport of other feelings, which were more +dangerous to me,--I grew jealous. My beloved suddenly seemed changed. +She became timid, absent-minded, embarrassed, and day by day colder. I +spoke to her father. The old man asked me whether I doubted the virtue +of his child. The fever of jealousy and suspicion increased. I had no +thoughts for anything else, and no longer knew what I was doing. Then +one day my employers dismissed me. They had grown weary of my indolence +and absence of mind, and I was penniless. With an agonized soul I +hurried through the gathering twilight to seek my betrothed. I wished +to find her heart once more,--the heart for which I had sacrificed and +lost all. She was deeply moved when I told her of my misfortune and the +tortures I had suffered for her sake; and as in decisive moments a +long-concealed truth is often revealed, her innocent breast in this +agitation could no longer hide its secret. She confessed, amid tears of +agony and remorse, that she was on the point of being lost to me +forever; that an aristocratic, handsome, brilliant gentleman had +tempted her, and she was too weak to withstand him; that he had loaded +her and her father with favors of all kinds, and she had thought +gratitude made it her duty to obey him; nay, he had even persuaded her +to come to his garden, but there, heaven be praised! she had been saved +from disgrace by his old valet. The gentleman must have gone away an a +journey, for she had heard nothing more from him. + +"So I had sacrificed everything, and this was my reward. I stood +silent, trembling from head to foot, as I leaned against the window in +the little dark room on the ground-floor. I was not accustomed to say +much, but I felt all the more. A cold perspiration trickled down my +forehead; my clammy hands clinched the sill; the lights out-of-doors +cast strange, unsteady shadows into the room, and dim, restless shadows +settled upon my brain. At last I asked with difficulty, 'Who is the +scoundrel?' The young girl had been standing beside me pale and +trembling, with her eyes fixed intently upon the street. Suddenly she +screamed and retreated from the window alarm. There he comes! so he +hasn't gone yet! It is he! he is coming!' I saw a tall, slight figure, +closely wrapped in a cloak approach the house; heard that it was he! +The blood rushed to my brain! I seized an axe that was lying near the +stove, dashed out, and felled the approaching figure to the ground! The +young girl ran after me terror, saw the wounded man, and screamed, +Jesus Maria! it is not he! You have killed an innocent person!' I felt +bewildered and unable to move. Just then the man opened his eyes, +looked at me, and gasped my name. My heart seemed to stop beating! I +had killed Father Severinus!" + +A long pause ensued. The prisoner was living over these scenes again, +and needed a moment to collect his thoughts. + +_Heinrich_ gazed fixedly at the floor in silence. The Prison Fairy, in +her dark dress, leaned calmly against the wall, her eyes resting on +_Heinrich's_ agitated face. + +"What is the young girl's name?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Roeschen, the daughter of Martin the beadle," replied Albert. + +"And you do not know the name of your rival?" + +"I have never learned it," continued Albert "I said no more to Roeschen +that terrible evening. She was the first to regain composure, and made +me understand I must go home. Her father returned immediately after, +and procured assistance for the wounded man, who did not again recover +his consciousness while in his house. The old man stated that he had +found him in the street. He could swear to this deposition, for he did +not suspect the true state of affairs. So no one thought of me except +Roeschen. She thought he would never open his eyes again to betray me, +and before the police came to Martin's house, to avoid a possible +cross-examination, went to one of Princess Ottilie's maids. The latter +instantly took her to the princess--" + +"What, to Ottilie?" eagerly interrupted _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly," replied Albert; "the princess has known her for a long +time through the maid, who was well disposed towards Roeschen, and often +gave her work. The princess, gracious and benevolent as she always is, +had once told her if she had anything to ask to come to her. So on this +terrible day Roeschen told the noble lady all her troubles, and the +princess induced her to take an oath never to reveal to me nor any one +else who her tempter was." + +"Did Roeschen mention his name to her?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Yes; and the princess must have been very kindly disposed towards the +gentleman,--she insisted so earnestly that it should remain concealed. +Then she gave Roeschen money to aid me to escape and enable me to +support myself for a long time, and promised to take her under her +protection. In the firm conviction that Severinus could not survive the +blow, I was mad enough to fly to N----, my native country. But although +the doctors gave him up, he recovered his senses sufficiently to +denounce me as the criminal. He expressed the most positive suspicion +that I had made the murderous assault solely from revenge towards him +because he had been the first in the college to declare me useless. A +warrant was issued, and I was arrested and brought up for trial." + +"But how did you happen to receive so severe a punishment, when +Severinus escaped with his life and you had no premeditated design?" +asked _Heinrich_. + +"But I had no means of proving the fact!" cried Albert, despairingly. +"I could do nothing but protest that I did not wish to punish +Severinus, but the man who had tempted my betrothed bride. I could not +tell who this tempter was, for I did not know; and I wished to conceal +the name of my betrothed, for I would have died rather than bring the +hitherto blameless girl into a disgraceful trial and brand her for +life. Thus I could not prove the circumstances which might have placed +my act in a more favorable light, and consequently my whole defense was +rejected as a mere subterfuge. The statements of the angry Severinus +were far more clear and positive than mine, so I was sentenced to ten +years' imprisonment in irons, and would gladly bear my misery, nay, +even death," he added, gnashing his teeth, "if I had only struck down +that scoundrel of a seducer instead of the innocent Severinus, or at +least could ever discover who he is!" + +"Who he is? Look at me, Albert!" cried _Heinrich_. "I am that +_scoundrel_!" + +"Sir, you only tell me so because I stand before you in chains," cried +Albert, starting like a wounded animal. His veins swelled, his fingers +tore at his fetters, his breast heaved convulsively. + +"Do you think so, unhappy man?" cried _Heinrich_. "Now let us see +whether you will venture to lay hands upon me." + +With these words he led the young girl out of the cell, and ordered the +jailer to remove the irons at once. + +"I command it, and will be responsible," he said, imperiously, as they +hesitated, "and then lock us both in from the outside." The fetters +were taken off, and the turnkeys withdrew, locking the door behind +them. + +"Now summon up your courage; you see that I am unarmed and your chains +are removed," said _Heinrich_, standing directly before him, and gazing +at him with an unwavering glance. + +The unhappy roan stood motionless for a moment, engaged in a most +violent struggle with his emotions. At last his whole frame trembled, +his hands fell as if weighed down by fetters of double weight, and he +sank at _Heinrich's_ feet, unable to utter a word. + +The latter gazed at him a moment in silence, and then knocked on the +door. The turnkeys came in anxiously and raised Albert, but his knees +still trembled so violently that he was obliged to sit down on his bed. +The Prison Fairy, with a sublime expression of sympathy, stroked his +burning brow, and gazed at _Heinrich_ with imploring expectation. + +The latter quietly approached the group. "Albert, I have convinced +myself that you can subdue your passions. You are worthy of the freedom +I shall now help you secure. You shall no longer suffer for my +frivolity, and both you and this lady shall be convinced that I am no +scoundrel. Farewell for to-day." + +Albert suddenly clasped his hands over his brow, and a flood of tears +relieved his oppressed heart. _Heinrich_ looked for a long time at the +young girl, who, with pallid face, was gazing silently at the floor, +then begged her to follow him, and left the cell. + +When they were outside, he asked, "What do you think of me now?" + +"If you go on and give yourself up to the law, as the best proof of +Albert's deposition, I shall think well of you." + +"I have determined to do something of the kind," said _Heinrich_, "and +I hope you will then be convinced that I am not so entirely destitute +of all enthusiasm." + +"I shall be very glad, for the sake of my prisoners." + +"Only for your prisoners? Why not for your own sake too?" + +"Because it will principally concern the welfare of the unfortunate men +who are now apparently dependent upon your compassion. I, thank God, +have nothing to hope from you." + +"Indeed!" said _Heinrich_, in an irritated tone. "But if, after those +words, I refuse you permission to go to your _proteges_ again?" + +"You will not do that," replied the young girl, firmly. "If you really +feel compassion, you will not, merely from an irritable whim, deprive +the prisoners of the only comfort that can be afforded them in their +cheerless situation." + +"Fraeulein," said _Heinrich_, with his usual winning courtesy, "you +certainly do very little to bribe the government official; yet this +very course wins me still more, and I do not merely permit, I entreat +you to return and accept me as your assistant." + +"So long as you are with the prisoners, sir, they will not need me. +Permit me to come here at a time when you are absent." + +"You have become suspicious of me; we are farther apart now than at the +first moment of meeting. My candor in your presence was over-hasty. +Forgive me, and mingle a little of your kindness of heart with the +austerity of your youthful ideas of virtue, that you may not utterly +condemn. Will you? You forgive, and try to reform even criminals: +reform me too. Why are you so intolerant to me alone?" + +She gazed at him with gentle earnestness, and slowly shook her head. +"When I enter a prison, I know I shall find a criminal, and am prepared +for arguments about sin which are not too difficult to disprove. But +with you I am disappointed and embarrassed, for your face promised +something better, and I cannot enter into your delicate sophistry. I am +an 'enthusiast'; you a 'servant of the government': the two characters +are not easily harmonized. Farewell. Allow me to choose the time of my +visits here, and forgive the poor jailers whom I have outwitted." With +these words she hastily ran up the stone staircase. + +_Heinrich_ stamped his foot angrily on the floor. "Willful, haughty +witch!" he murmured, as he hurried after her. + +She paused on the upper step and nodded to him with all the winning +charm of heartfelt emotion. "Be kind to my prisoners, Herr von Ottmar, +and I will be kind to you!" Then, turning a corner, she disappeared +before _Heinrich_ could follow her. He gazed into vacancy, as if he +wished to trace in the air the shadow into which she seemed to have +dissolved before his eyes. + +The jailers timidly approached him with their petition for pardon. "You +shall be forgiven for the sake of this lady's eloquence, which is +difficult to resist. But on pain of losing your places let no one hear +of what has taken place to-day, or may occur in future," said +_Heinrich_, sternly, and left the building. + +The two turnkeys looked at each other a long time in silence; at last +one said, as the result of his meditations, "It's the Prison Fairy!" + +_Heinrich's_ astonishment was raised to the highest pitch by the +appearance of this young girl. Even the thought of the strange fatality +which had made Severinus the innocent victim of the sensuality he had +denounced so bitterly, a few weeks before, could not long fix his +attention. He was convinced that Severinus had discovered to what +"rose" he had wished to open his doors, and had gone to Martin's house +with the intention of obtaining his daughter's confidence, and using it +against him. "Poor Severinus!" said he. "You were compelled to pay +dearly for your efforts to save souls. The ghost of the artist whose +Hebe you so mercilessly shattered has revenged itself upon you; but the +innocent tool of this vengeance was the very person whom you had most +deeply injured, the poor, rejected Albert! Oh, the wonderful justice of +fate!" + +Then he returned again to the remarkable apparition of the young girl, +which unceasingly occupied his thoughts. She had such a peculiar, +changeful temperament that she had pleasantly affected every chord of +his being. A deep earnestness gleamed through the naive coquetry by +which she had sought to bribe him to favor her _proteges_. He perceived +that hers was a kindred spirit, that she too, like himself, was under +the influence of supernatural powers, but in her childlike soul had +unconsciously united these forces in harmonious, changeful action, +instead of, like him, being their sport. + +This perception awed him. He felt that he would be understood by this +nature if he showed himself openly to her, and rejected a thousand +plans to discover who she was. "What strength is it that, in a feeble +woman, rules powers which have crushed and conquered me--a man? Would +not this strength exert a blissful influence over me also? With what +joyous pride she said, 'I am making myself useful.' She is happy in the +thought, and wants nothing more. Is it possible? Yet it must be. In her +character lies concealed that spirit of martyrdom which dies smiling +for its idea. + +"There is something strange in a philanthropy which rejoices in making +others happy. Hitherto I have not desired to give joy to any one except +myself! Perhaps she will teach me her art. + +"She joyously collects the tears of her dirty criminals as if they were +the most precious pearls. I wear on my breast the jewels of various +orders,--and yet all have never given me so much pleasure as a single +tear causes her. + +"Who knows, perhaps I have not yet done as much to earn my orders as +she was compelled to do to win her pearls from the secret depths of +those hardened souls. Oh, she is a glorious creature! She has the +cleverness of a man, and yet is so thoroughly womanly. She proves +conclusively that woman can really rise above her narrow sphere of +ideas without becoming unwomanly, and that the true emancipation of the +mind has nothing in common with that emancipation from principles and +forms which so often repels us in those termed women of genius. Yes, +such a woman would be capable of obtaining an influence over me. + +"But what shall I do to find her again? First of all, I will do what +she desired, I will confess the truth to the prince and obtain Albert's +pardon. Noble as she is in thought and feeling, she will be touched and +conciliated,--will believe in me. So, when occasion offers, I am doing +a good deed once more. The prince is a sensible man. He will see the +affair in its true light and not refuse me the little favor." + + + + + VII. + + AN ARISTOCRAT. + + +_Heinrich_ went to the palace that very day and requested a private +audience. The prince, a young man with stern features and aristocratic +bearing, received him in his study. He had just risen from his +writing-table, which was covered with a pile of papers, and upon his +lofty brow still rested the shadows of thought, which began slowly to +disappear at the sight of Ottmar. The large blue eyes seemed wearied +with toil, and gazed earnestly into vacancy, as if in search of some +ideal country that could be better governed than his own. Long, fair +whiskers framed his delicate face. His youthful, earnest character +confined itself rigidly to the strict forms of unapproachable dignity. +Words flowed from his lips as purely, readily, and smoothly as a cool +breeze, and any one who saw him for the first time would be chilled by +the frigid reserve which pervaded his whole appearance. He was the very +type of the aristocrat by birth and education, who had polished his +manners into an impalpable shield against the common herd. The +foundation of all aristocratic deportment is economy of time. The +aristocrat husbands all personal exertion as far as possible. He +chooses the shortest, most indispensable forms of speech, limits his +voice to the lowest tone that can be heard, and his gestures to those +absolutely unavoidable. He considers this a duty towards himself and +others; he speaks curtly and rapidly, because he is always in a hurry +himself and is not sure that others may not be also; uses a low tone, +because he does not know whether it will be agreeable to others to hear +more of his voice than may be necessary to comprehend his meaning; +makes few or no gestures, because he does not wish to compel the eyes +of others to follow aimless courses and bendings. In intercourse with +his superiors or equals, modesty forbids him to intrude more of his +personal character than is indispensably connected with the affair, and +pride withholds him from revealing to his inferiors anything more than +is unavoidable. Thus alone the aristocrat acquires the self-control and +delicacy that distinguish him. Only by this silent accommodation to +forms, limited to the lowest minimum of personal exertion, does he when +a courtier regain the time of which the necessary ceremonials rob him, +and only this extreme indulgence and careful use of his physical +strength gives him the endurance demanded by the exactions of +court-life. + +The young prince was a perfect type of these precepts. Whether a warm +or cold heart throbbed beneath that smooth exterior, even _Heinrich_, +his confidant, did not venture to decide. + +"You have come at a very opportune moment, my dear Ottmar," said he. "I +was about to send for you." + +_Heinrich_ bowed low, in answer to this greeting. + +"See, here are a pile of papers and letters which I wish to share with +you. So much has come at the same time." + +"You know, my prince, that you have no more devoted servant than I. Let +me bear a part of your burden," said _Heinrich_, in his most persuasive +tones, for his power of imitating the expression of what he did not +possess was most masterly. + +"I know that you have often proved it. If I can find truth anywhere it +is in you. You alone are impartial, and see clearly, while the circle +of vision in most men is limited by personal interests and prejudices." + +"I have the good fortune to have my prosperity secured by perfectly +independent circumstances, and therefore can follow my convictions; but +this falls to the lot of very few. Do not judge them too harshly, your +Highness, for the majority of mankind are fettered by anxieties +concerning their means of livelihood." + +"It may be so, but they lack the essential thing,--genius,--the clean, +far-seeing gaze which no lessons in state-craft can supply; besides, +those who do understand anything rarely possess the art of telling the +truth without wounding others or becoming brutal. One cannot well have +any dealings with such people. + +"There is the new press-law again. Good Minister B---- once took it +into his head to carry it through. You know his blunt manner of urging +a decision. I must confess that this preliminary, which almost entirely +abolishes the right of censorship, is contrary to my feelings and +conscience. Shall I permit every revolutionary wretch to scatter poison +among my thoughtless, credulous people? Ought I to do so, as a prince, +whose duty it is to watch over the nation intrusted to his care as a +father watches his children?" + +"This question presents only two different points of view, your +Highness. Do you prefer to win, by this act of clemency, a transient +gratitude? or, by persistently following your better convictions, +obtain lasting satisfaction? If the former, make the desired +concessions; yet consider that this first favor will draw an +immeasurable number of consequences in its train. From the moment this +new freedom of the press is fairly established, you will regret having +undertaken obligations which you cannot execute without inaugurating a +totally different _regime_. Your Highness knows that the intoxication +of freedom, caused by the victorious revolution, has penetrated here +also, and the fire now and then still glimmers beneath the ashes. Will +you, by means of the press, permit air to reach the scarcely suffocated +flames?" + +"May God have mercy upon my poor country!" murmured the prince, under +his breath. + +"Must not a moment come when your Highness's duty will compel you to +check the progress of this seditious literature? and will you not then +have broken your promise and forfeited the transient gratitude which +would be paid you?" + +"Very true." + +"Well, what withholds your Highness from following your convictions, +which you have already so often tested, that your own feelings were +always the best guides?" + +"The doubt whether I can silence and conciliate the discontented masses +in a way that will be beneficial to them,--the doubt regarding the +means I ought to employ," said the prince, thoughtfully, rubbing his +brow. + +"But surely this is not the right expedient, your Highness. By granting +the freedom of the press you only afford discontented people an +opportunity of making their useless complaints and wishes public, and +thus making them still more persuaded of hardships, while you neither +can, nor desire to, remove their causes. Will not this bring you into a +thousand conflicts between your heart and your most sacred convictions +in regard to popular education?" + +"Certainly." + +"If I might venture to give your Highness my humble counsel, I should +say that the freedom of the press is the last thing that ought to be +granted to a nation. The people must first be contented; then they may +be allowed to speak. Pardon my frankness, your Highness; you know I am +always truthful." + +"That is the very quality I prize in you; but since you are now in the +mood to express your opinions even more sincerely than usual, I should +also like to hear by what means you propose to content the country." + +_Heinrich_ was astonished by this question. He perceived that he had +gone incautiously near the verge of truth, and felt he must return, for +to-day he had more cause than ever to desire to win the prince's favor, +while strangely enough he had never taken less pleasure in deceit. + +"Your Highness," he said, at last, "do not ask me whether your subjects +are contented, for you must yourself answer the question with a 'no,' +without being able to alter the state of affairs. If you ask whether +they are prosperous, I may be permitted to reply 'yes.' To make a +nation prosperous is within the power of princes; to keep them +contented depends upon the power of time. Your country, your Highness, +is prospering admirably under your august sceptre. The causes of +discord do not come from within, but from without. They do not result +from your government, but from the tempest of freedom which roars from +foreign frontiers. When this tempest subsides the nation will once more +perceive its prosperity. To await this time quietly and indulgently +seems to me the only counsel a conscientious man is permitted to lay at +the feet of your Highness." + +"You are right, Ottmar. I have already said the same thing to myself. +If every prince had a friend like you ('Who apparently contradicts him +while telling him the very thing he wants to hear,' _Heinrich_ mentally +interposed), matters would not proceed so far," said the sovereign, +extending three fingers of his slender hand to _Heinrich_. "I shall not +sign the press-law. I hope my throne, which has outlasted the storms of +so many centuries, will also be strong enough to withstand the pressure +of these times. If I perceived that these innovations would produce +happiness, I certainly would not withhold them from my country. But I +cannot. Other nations possibly may be ripe for freedom; my people are +not. The men called 'patriots' may say what they like; their intentions +are doubtless good, but they wish to raise the masses to a position of +which they are not and never will be worthy. No one can see into this +matter more clearly than the priests. We must ask them, if we wish to +learn to know the people, and the ideal we have imagined will soon +vanish. If freedom can be given to these rough natures, it is +emancipation from evil by the perception of good, and this only +religion and her representatives can bestow. Therefore, my dear Ottmar, +I will scorn to purchase a cheap popularity by frivolous concessions, +and content myself with fulfilling the duties God imposed upon me with +the holy oil. I do not desire to hold the highest place, I only wish to +be the protector and guide of the nation intrusted to my care: so, as +you have very justly observed, away with all inconsequent and aimless +innovations!" + +The prince carelessly pushed away the papers and drew out several +letters. "Here is this marriage business again. You must do me a favor +which no one else can bestow. I have the privilege of choosing between +two charming princesses, neither of whom I know, as one has just +entered society and the other resides at a court I have never visited. +You are prudent and skillful,--a connoisseur in female beauty and +character; you must take a private pleasure trip, and make the +acquaintance of one of the ladies, that you may be able to give me +exact information concerning her, and thus perhaps save me the trouble +of a useless journey in search of a wife. But more of this hereafter. I +see you wish to tell me something, and have been indiscreet in delaying +you so long." + +"I have nothing to say which could be more important than listening to +you, my prince. However, as you command, I must obey; besides, the +matter does not concern me, but an unfortunate man, who is suffering +unjustly for my fault, and whom I feel it my duty to aid. Will your +Highness graciously condescend to permit me to appeal from the prince +to the man, to make a confession which not the prince, but the man, +should hear?" + +"Speak frankly." + +"Five years ago a certain Albert Preheim was sentenced to ten years' +imprisonment in irons for having committed a murderous assault upon the +present assistant and former prefect of the Collegium Germanicum, who +was spending a few days in H----." + +"Oh, yes; I remember," interrupted the prince. "The man defended +himself by the incredible statement that he had mistaken him for a +rival, but could prove nothing and was sentenced." + +"Well, your Highness, the man is too severely punished. He is no +murderer, and his statements are true. He acted without premeditation, +when almost unaccountable for his deeds and under the impulse of the +blindest jealousy. The act he committed concerns me, since he had +reason to believe me the seducer of his betrothed bride." + +The prince drew his breath through his shut teeth like a person whose +sensitive feelings have been rudely jarred, and made no reply. +_Heinrich_ noticed it and possessed sufficient tact to represent the +whole affair as if he had himself been the victim of accident. The +nocturnal visit he had induced the young girl to make he prudently +omitted, and ascribed everything else to the simplicity of an +inexperienced maiden, who, in the agony roused by the stings of +conscience, had represented the matter to her deceived lover in a very +vague and exaggerated manner. In this case, as usual, he succeeded in +convincing the prince. + +"Make no further apologies about so natural an indiscretion," said he. +"True, I confess that, for my own part, I cannot understand how the +most tempting opportunity can ever obtain the mastery over the will. As +a prince, everything is at my command, but my wishes have never led me +to the pleasures of mere sensuality; still, I judge no man who thinks +and feels differently in regard to these matters,--you least of all; +therefore do not consider it any token of disfavor if I am compelled to +request you to make amends for your error, for such it is, yourself. +Unfortunately, I am unable to be of any assistance to you." + +"Your Highness!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, in astonishment, "will you not +pardon the unfortunate man?" + +"You ask a pardon for Severinus's would-be murderer. I cannot believe +that you have maturely considered this matter. Severinus still suffers +from the effects of that dangerous wound, and ought I to release the +man who dealt it? Severinus is the soul of the whole reverend order of +Jesuits. He has relations with the leading ecclesiastics in my domains. +The order, nay, even the whole church, was greatly agitated by this +unprecedented crime, whose punishment my confessor thought far too +light, and now, after five years, I am to perform a most unusual act of +clemency. Tell me yourself, how would it be received? how would it be +looked upon by the whole priesthood, which was then deeply offended +because I would not make the criminal a terrible example? If you so +firmly believe the man's deposition, leave the matter to the regular +course of the law; then he will not need my pardon." + +"I thought, your Highness, in consideration of the certainty that the +unhappy man did not wish to kill Severinus----" + +"That is all very fine, my dear fellow," interrupted the prince, with +somewhat more animation than usual; "but who knows it? And if I should +bring it forward as the cause of my clemency, who will believe it? Can +I prove that my private opinion is the correct one, and a sufficient +cause for remitting a punishment universally considered to be well +merited? My individual opinion ought not voluntarily to take sides with +Severinus's assailant, and decide a matter so complicated. Only the +calm, unanimous judgment of a court of justice can determine the true +meaning of the act, and free him by the power of the law. If you are +convinced of the truth of your assertion, you will certainly succeed in +persuading the court to believe it, and you doubtless feel that the +duty of bearing the punishment for your error rests with you rather +than me." + +The prince said all this in a low, rapid tone, with a most friendly +smile, yet every word fell upon _Heinrich's_ soul like a blow. He +clinched his teeth even while he smiled, mentally called the prince a +smooth, cold egotist, and was convinced that he was a martyr of +self-sacrifice in comparison with this man. When two egotists meet, +each, with mournful self-satisfaction, considers himself the victim of +the other. This was the case with the prince, who also reflected upon +the selfishness of _Heinrich's_ expectations, and thought himself very +noble because he forgave him. + +"Your Highness," said _Heinrich_, with the frankness which was his most +dangerous mask, "if I avoided adopting the means you mentioned, it was +because as a member of the court and council of state I dared not +venture to compromise myself by any public transactions in regard to +this delicate matter. I thought I was obliged to honor your Highness's +servant in myself as well as in any one else. I did not suppose that a +powerful prince like my most gracious ruler need fear the anger of the +priesthood for performing such a truly Christian deed, and therefore +most humbly beg pardon for my indiscreet petition." + +"You know you are indispensable to me, Ottmar, and can ask a great +deal; but, even though you may feel angered, I cannot grant this +request. Even if, as you apparently wished to intimate just now, I need +not fear the anger of the priests, I will not rouse it uselessly. If I +am the head, the priesthood is the heart of my body politic; shall I +wound it if it can be avoided? Of course, something must be done for +the poor man; but if one of us is to make a sacrifice for him, it is +surely better and more natural for you to do it than for me. Give the +information therefore, and after his release I will grant him every +favor you may ask." + +"So your Highness really commands the affair to be made public?" + +"Say yourself. Will it not become so under any circumstances? You know +that I could only pardon Albert Preheim by convincing all as well as +myself that he was not guilty of the murderous assault upon Severinus. +To attain this object should I not be compelled to reveal your acts, +first to the priests, and afterwards, for their satisfaction, to the +public? You would then be quite as much exposed as if you appeared +before a court of justice, and much more harshly judged than if you +atoned for your indiscretion by a frank confession in favor of +Preheim." + +"Of course," said _Heinrich_, bitterly. + +"Although the affair will then attract attention, which will be as +disagreeable to me as to you, it will in any event be forgotten in the +course of a few months. You must take the journey which I just +mentioned to you at once,--and when you return no one will give it +another thought." + +"So, your Highness, it is your wish that a man whom you openly honor +with your confidence, who has a voice in the council, and with whom you +deign to share your cares concerning the weal and woe of the state, +should appear before a court of justice and a curious public to make +confession of his youthful errors?" + +"Oh," said the prince, "I leave it entirely to your conscience to +decide whether you do not consider a man whom you thought worthy of my +protection sufficiently deserving for you to perform an act of +magnanimity in his behalf. If you are perfectly satisfied that he is +too severely punished, I know your sense of honor well enough to be +sure that you will act for him. If you are not, you need not expose +yourself for him any more than you will ask me to grant his pardon. +Give this matter careful consideration; I hope you will not force upon +me the alternative of making an innocent man suffer unjustly, or +offending those members of my state whom I esteem most highly." He +looked at his watch. "It is eight o'clock: I must dress. Shall I see +you this evening at the princess mother's?" + +"I am at your service, your Highness." + +"A pity that it is so small a company. I can have no further +conversation with you about that affair of the marriage to-day." + +"I deeply regret that I have not better employed the precious moments +your Highness condescended to bestow." + +"Well, _au revoir_," said the prince, rising, and dismissing _Heinrich_ +with a gracious wave of the hand. + +_Heinrich_ had required all his self-control to avoid making several +subtle rejoinders that hovered on his tongue. He was furiously enraged +by the failure of his plan and the prince's terror of the priesthood, +as he called it. He perceived that the young, strictly religious man +was right from his point of view, but rejected his whole standard of +measurement with indescribably bitter irony. For the first time since +he had lived in N---- this trait in the prince's character had become +personally detrimental, and he felt anew the full severity of the fate +which had forced him to bend to this hated system. + +His longing to win the Prison Fairy and his sense of right struggled +violently with his pride. Should he give up the whole affair now? Could +he rest satisfied with a single, useless effort, without being ashamed +of himself, lowered in the eyes of the prince, and, above all, in the +opinion of the Prison Fairy? Must not her pure, noble soul withdraw +from him forever, after she had obtained this glimpse of his nature? +Was she not the only joy for which he hoped in his cheerless life, and +was he to lose it just as he had found it? + +Then he asked himself whether she was really what she seemed, whether +she deserved the sacrifice he was making for her sake. With deep +loathing he saw himself standing before the court, in the presence of +the malicious public; his pride struggled against the thought with all +its power, and amid these painful considerations _Henri_ even allowed +himself to be influenced by the fear that, after the confession of his +error, the ladies of the court would be implacably lost to him. Would +the Prison Fairy outweigh all this to _Heinrich_ as well as _Henri_? +Would a smile from her have power to compensate _Heinrich_ for the +sneering laugh on the faces which had hitherto shown only fawning +affability? Was her esteem more than the admiration of the court, which +would now have nothing for him save the scornful shrug of the +shoulders? + +While _Henri_ was charming the ladies at the court _soiree_ by his +shallow gallantries, these considerations ceaselessly occupied +_Heinrich's_ thoughts, and he resolved, cost what it might, to see the +Prison Fairy again on the following day. + + + + + VIII. + + IN THE PRISON. + + +_Heinrich_ excused himself from the evening gathering on the plea of +illness, and went to the prison. Here be ordered Albert to be removed +to another, as he asserted, healthier cell, and remained in his stead +in the narrow, gloomy dungeon, which, according to his opinion, the +young girl would doubtless visit first. He also gave the most positive +orders that nothing should be said to her about his presence or the +change that had been made in Albert's cell, and thus hoped that she +could not escape him. At eight o'clock in the morning he was listening +in the greatest suspense to every step that approached his door. All +passed by. His expectation increased to impatience,--his impatience to +longing. He, who was accustomed to command, to whom all hastened, sat +in a lonely cell like a poor criminal, and was forced to wait patiently +until the moment of deliverance approached. He, who had so often been +ardently expected behind silken curtains and flowers, now gazed through +the iron bars of a little grated window at a the patch of sky, as if +imploring that he might be granted what he desired. He had not even +thought of taking a book with him, and the most terrible ennui was +added to the monotony of the one thought that occupied his mind. The +clocks in the various steeples struck the quarter and half hours; to +count the near and distant strokes was the sole interruption of his +dull reverie. And he had submitted to all this for the sake of a coy +young girl, a stranger to him, though he did not even know who and what +she was, or what she could ever be to him! He voluntarily put himself +in the place of the prisoners, especially that of Albert, who had +probably listened with a beating heart for days to hear if she were +coming,--she, the only thing he still possessed in the eternal monotony +of his imprisonment. His excited fancy pictured more and more vividly +how the prisoner must live, year after year, exposed to the most +terrible ennui, with only the sight of his four bare walls and his +gnawing thoughts; how the only signs of human life that could reach him +were a dull roar and the sound of the bells, and the only change in his +slowly dragging days the transition from light to darkness. "I can open +this door when I choose,--can go out when I please; only the necessity +of gratifying an idle whim detains me; and yet the thought of being +compelled to spend twenty-four hours here chills my breast, to say +nothing of three hundred and sixty-five days and nights, and _five_ +times,--_ten_ times as many!" He drew a long breath, and, merely to +employ his thoughts, began to calculate with nervous eagerness how many +hours this would be. How often Albert must already have reckoned it! +What does such a man _think_ during the long years? The soul needs +nourishment as well as the body. Albert would doubtless have become +imbecile had it not been for the Prison Fairy. She is the one thought +that keeps his soul awake. The clock struck eleven. "I have been +waiting three hours already. Suppose she should not come? What must it +be to the prisoner, when she remains away all day, and he has waited +through the twenty-four hours in vain!" + +Worn out by involuntary idleness, he sinks upon his couch at night, +looks up to the little window, and watches for the thousandth time the +motions of the clouds and the gathering darkness; perhaps even greets a +twinkling star as a joyful event, compares it to the eyes of the +Prison Fairy, and wonders why she did not come to-day, and whether she +will come to-morrow, until he falls into his feverish slumber. He +wakes early in the morning longing for her, would gladly hasten the +hours with his panting breath, urge on the strokes of the clocks +by the pulsations of his heart, and yet he has no resource but +patience,--continual patience. His soul rises and falls between fear +and hope, his head burns, his limbs ache under the pressure of his +chains. The sun sends its wandering rays into the cell and shines upon +the door; suddenly it springs open, and, as if allured by the rays, +bathed in the splendor, the beautiful figure stands in the entrance in +all the brightness of her living, loving presence, greeted by a cry of +joy as piercing as I heard yesterday from Albert's lips. "Prison +Fairy!" She approaches him; she touches the fetters with her +flower-white hands, and they become light; her breath cools his +feverish brow; she speaks to him a tone thrilling with the melody of +enthusiastic feeling; she looks at him with her mysterious eyes, and on +her brow is throned that dignity which no bold desire, no injustice, +dare approach. + +Oh, how longingly he must await such consolation! how he must---- + +The door opened: a female figure was about to enter; he turned, and the +painful suspense escaped in a shrill exclamation,--"Prison Fairy!" The +door was closed, and light footsteps rapidly retreated. As in a dream +we often vainly strive to reach something with trembling haste, the +width of the little space he must pass to pursue the fugitive seemed +far too great for Ottmar. His hands trembled so violently in his hurry +that he opened the heavy old lock with difficulty, and when he emerged +she had disappeared. + +"Where is she?" he asked of a jailer who was just coming up the +passage. + +"Does your lordship mean the Prison Fairy? I have not seen her to-day." + +"That is a lie! She was here just now." + +"Yes, your lordship, it may be so; she always bids the Herr Inspector +good-morning before she goes to the prisoners." + +"Call the inspector here," said _Heinrich_, returning to the cell. + +The official, an elderly man, with honest features, obeyed the summons. + +"Herr Inspector," said _Heinrich_, sternly, "you have for several years +allowed a lady secret access to the prisoners." + +"Yes, Herr Geheimrath," said the man, with dignified composure. + +"Have you ever received permission to do so from any higher authority?" + +"No, Herr Geheimrath." + +"And yet you have exceeded the limits of your instructions?" + +"I must bear the punishment patiently." + +"Are you so courageous?" + +"Herr Geheimrath," said the old man, modestly, "I have done what my own +heart dictated, and was aware that in following my convictions of +Christian duty I was violating only the letter, not the spirit, of my +office." + +"A prison official, and possessed of a heart! The two do not harmonize, +Herr Inspector." + +"Pardon me, I did not know it. I cherish the belief that our wise +government desires to have the criminal justly not cruelly treated; and +to serve the arm of justice is an office which a man who has a heart +can hold, although it sometimes falls heavily upon it." + +"These are the subtle reasonings of the Prison Fairy, as she is called +here. Yet I am disposed to pass over the affair if you will instantly +tell me the lady's name, social position, and residence." + +"Herr Geheimrath," said the inspector, smiling, "I think if my offense +deserves pardon you will be sufficiently just to grant it without +conditions, for I cannot possibly fulfill those you have just +mentioned." + +"Herr Inspector!" + +"Herr Geheimrath, I give you my word of honor that I do not know who +the lady is, nor where she lives." + +"I must believe you; but in that case your course is all the more +inexplicable." + +"I see, Herr Geheimrath, that I owe you a detailed account of the +matter, and am ready to confirm each of my statements upon oath." + +"Well?" said _Heinrich_, with ill-repressed curiosity. + +"When, five years ago, the jail was filled with political prisoners, a +young man named Reinhold was brought in who excited my compassion in +the highest degree. He had taken part in the conflicts in the Province +of B----, but seemed so feeble and gentle that I could not understand +how he had been concerned in such deeds. He was sentenced to death, but +the prince commuted the decree to an imprisonment of twenty years. His +winning, lovable character aroused the sympathy of all who saw him. Day +by day the unfortunate man grew paler and more feeble; but he said +nothing. No one heard a word of complaint from his lips, and he always +had the same gentle smile for all who entered his cell. Even the +jailers pitied this quietly endured, silent suffering, and remarked to +each other that the prisoner seemed ill. I went to him, and urgently +pressed him to tell me what was the matter. He thanked me and protested +that he was quite well; his heart was heavy, but no one could help him +there except the one whose coldness had made him rush into his crime +and misfortune, and whom he must love till the day of his death. I did +not wish to press him with any further questions, because the +recollection seemed to exhaust him. One day the young lady of whom we +are speaking came to me and implored me through her tears to procure +her an interview with the prisoner, Reinhold. I refused. The next day +she came again, as she said, to inquire after the prisoner's health, +and begged me to allow her to do so daily. This, of course, I could not +deny her. She appeared in my little room regularly every afternoon at a +certain hour, and I must confess that the young girl soon became as +dear to me as if she had been my own child. She did not tell me who she +was, but her whole conduct showed that she must belong to a good +family, and be perfectly pure in heart; besides, I was too modest to +ask what she did not tell me of her own free will. One day I could give +her no good news about the prisoner's health. His weakness had greatly +increased. She received my communication with so much sorrow that I +could no longer doubt some close tie bound her to Reinhold, and that +she was the very person for whom he was grieving so bitterly. She +clasped my hands in agony and implored me only to let her look at him a +moment through the open door of his cell. I could not refuse the poor +child this. I led her to the spot, went to the prisoner, and left the +door slightly ajar, that she, concealed behind it, might look in. But +who can depend upon the unruly heart of seventeen? Scarcely had I +addressed two words to Reinhold when she rushed in, and, with a cry of +agony, threw herself upon his breast. Neither could speak, and my own +tears flowed freely. The unhappy man was so weak that he could not +endure this tempest of joy, but fell from her arms pale and lifeless. +She sank on the floor beside him and silently took his head in her lap. +There she sat as if the Virgin had appeared in bodily form with the +dead Christ. Herr Geheimrath, no one worthy of the name of man could +have separated them; it would have seemed to me like sacrilege!" + +"Go on," said _Heinrich_, in the greatest suspense. + +"When Reinhold had partially recovered, a touching scene ensued,--a +scene which may be felt but not described. They had never spoken to +each other before; she did not even seem to have returned his +affection, and implored his forgiveness for her want of love which had +driven him out into the world to his ruin. But she would make amends. +She called me to witness that she solemnly betrothed herself to him, +and implored me in the name of the God before whom I should one day +have to stand in the great and final account, to give her once for all +free admittance to her betrothed husband's cell. I perceived how she +had outwitted me by so completely captivating me during her daily +visits, that I could no longer refuse her anything. I was convinced +that the prisoner had in her one who would faithfully care for his +soul, for she is pure and gentle as a child, wise and firm as a man. So +I granted her desire, and up to this moment have never repented it; she +has brought a better spirit into the institution, and exerts a +remarkable power over the prisoners." + +"And the betrothed bridegroom 2" asked _Heinrich_. + +"She thought she could still save him by her affection, and nursed him +with admirable tenderness. He was happy; but even as grief had once +threatened to destroy him, so it was now with love,--he slowly +languished. + +"After a time she perceived it and attributed it to prison life. She +found that the greatest suffering a man can feel is loss of freedom, +bore in her heart the deepest compassion, not only for him but his +companions in misfortune, and several times assured me that if she did +not need all her time for Reinhold she would gladly visit the other +prisoners, but she did not wish to deprive him of a moment." + +"Just then a political criminal who had been sentenced to fifteen +years' imprisonment was brought in, so infuriated by his fate that he +tore at his chains with his teeth, and tried to dash out his brains +against the heavy irons like Caius C[oe]lius, as he said; in short, he +behaved like a madman. No one could obtain any influence over him; he +cursed all who approached him and scoffed at the priests. Then I +thought I would ask the Prison Fairy--her lover had jestingly called +her so because she forbade him to mention her real name--if she would +not try to bring the lunatic to reason. She went to him with the utmost +readiness, and the man was so charmed by her beauty and courage that he +yielded to her and obeyed her with the greatest devotion. If he ever +regain freedom, he will owe it to that girl that he is not lunatic or a +reprobate. + +"Six months had elapsed, when we heard a cry of despair from Reinhold's +cell; and when we hurried to it, found her in the same attitude as on +their first meeting,--kneeling on the floor supporting her lover's head +in her arms. But this time he was not to wake again,--he was dead. The +Prison Fairy wept over the pallid face so bitterly that the jailers +crept noiselessly out of the cell, that they might not see her grief. +The physician attached to the prison was summoned; said that he had had +heart disease, and perhaps would have lived no longer under any +circumstances. We talked to her as well as we could; and when she saw +how deeply her sorrow grieved us, she composed herself and consoled +_us_. But when the prison door opened and the corpse was borne out, she +broke down, and shrieked, Poor Reinhold, now you are _free_!' The tone +still rings in my ears; I shall never forget it as long as I live. + +"When we were alone she thanked me with touching affection, and +entreated me henceforth to grant her admittance to all the prisoners, +to alleviate the mental tortures, which often far exceeded the crime +and the purpose of the punishment. After witnessing her success with +the furious Sebastian, I could not refuse the noble and benevolent wish +in which her soul sought consolation; and you must permit me to +believe, Herr Geheimrath, that a blessing follows her wherever she +goes." + +"But does she seem to be entirely consoled now?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"For two years she mourned deeply; nay, I often watched her with real +anxiety; but at last time and her healthful nature asserted their +rights. She grew stronger, gradually became calmer, even gay, and for +the last year has been the same vivacious child she was five years ago. +Now you know all, honored sir, and can judge for yourself." + +_Heinrich_ gazed into vacancy long and thoughtfully. At last he said, +kindly, "Under such extraordinary circumstances people must of course +make exceptions. You are an honest man, Herr Inspector!" + +"I thank you, Herr Geheimrath!" + +"But now, tell me, has it never occurred to you to send some one after +this strange girl, to see what direction she takes?" + +"She always went to the stand of hackney-coaches and drove away in one +of them. There is a consistency in everything she does, which would +sometimes terrify one if he had not learned to know her kind heart." + +"I thank you for your report. Farewell, Herr Inspector." _Heinrich_ +took his hat and went out. + +"Albert must be free! the Prison Fairy must become mine!" said he, as +he left the prison. + + + + + IX. + + FRAULEIN VERONICA VON ALBIN. + + +Thus his resolution was at last formed. He perceived that Albert's +liberation was the only price with which he could again purchase the +confidence of the obstinate girl. The impressions he had received +during his voluntary confinement in the cell convinced him of the +unwarrantable cruelty he should commit if he allowed poor Albert to +suffer unjustly any longer. The useless hours of waiting for the Prison +Fairy had increased his interest in her to a longing, and the +inspector's story gave him the assurance that she was worthy of a +sacrifice. The simple experience of this afternoon had destroyed the +web of doubt that overpowered him. He intended to treat the whole +affair with the ease of a man of the world, and disarm the malicious +public by a display of amiable qualities which no one could resist, and +which must of course win the heart of the Prison Fairy. He was +conscious of the power of his personal attractions, and, after he +became accustomed to the thought of a public examination, took pleasure +in the idea of making all his advantages sparkle in the light of her +delighted glances. Since there was no other way of gaining possession +of her, he ordered the investigation of Albert Preheim's murderous +assault to be once more taken up by the courts. + +A week passed away before the matter was publicly discussed, and during +this time _Heinrich_ and _Henri_ pursued but one object: to find the +Prison Fairy. But all plans were set at naught by the cunning obstinacy +with which she eluded him. Ottmar went daily to the jail and showed the +prisoners every conceivable kindness, but none of them could tell him +anything more than that she had not come of late. The poor men were +almost in despair,--it was the first time for five years that she had +remained away so long. No one could explain the cause. _Heinrich_ knew +it and wondered at her firmness,--it could not be indifference that +made her avoid him so anxiously; and this thought goaded his impatience +to its height. + +The day of the examination came. Upon this all his hopes were fixed. +The galleries of the hall were crowded. Ottmar, the haughty, dreaded +aristocrat, enters the lists to defend a poor, persecuted plebeian, and +confesses his own error to prove the innocence of his _protege_. This +was the rumor that ran through the whole city. Every one wanted to see +it for himself before he believed it; and instead of the malicious +public he had expected, appeared a joyful throng, already half +conciliated. A crowd of ladies of all ranks and ages had also assembled +to see the famous Ottmar in the role of a penitent sinner. It is +characteristic that women in general will not pardon the smallest error +if it is concealed, while, on the contrary, they will forgive the +greatest sin if an appeal is made to their generosity by a frank +confession. _Heinrich_ hoped to find this experience confirmed by the +Prison Fairy, and was persuaded that his conduct on this occasion would +completely subdue her defiance. The examination began. All eyes were +fixed compassionately upon the pallid Albert, broken down in the flower +of his years, as entered the court-room with tottering steps, supported +between two gendarmes. + +The presiding officer opened the proceedings by a short history of the +case, the statements of the absent Severinus were read aloud, and +passed on for the assent of the accused and the witnesses. At first no +one paid much attention to the course of affairs. They had learned five +years ago that the charge against Albert was a heavy one, so they were +now only curious about the examination of the witnesses, and that +strange, familiar murmur of impatience became distinctly audible after +the presiding officer had finished his speech. But, eagerly as the +public awaited Ottmar's entrance, he still remained behind the door of +the witness-box. At last the presiding officer commanded Baron von +Ottmar to be summoned. + +A satisfied "ah!" ran through the crowd, as a gust of wind rustles +through withered leaves, when _Heinrich_ appeared. With all the power +of his natural and acquired charm of manner he revealed the +psychological causes of the event, and with convincing legal acuteness +represented them in their relations to the law. He forbearingly +concealed the name of Albert's betrothed, and confessed his fault with +the dignity of a man who, on the ground of great and noble qualities, +feels entitled to rise above the errors of his youth, and has no +timidity in acknowledging a wrong if by so doing he can avoid a greater +one. While _Heinrich_ was speaking he scanned the galleries, and +_Henri_ gazed into many a beautiful, joy-beaming face, but the one both +sought was absent. + +All hearts yearned towards Ottmar; only she for whom all had been done +unsympathizingly avoided the sole opportunity which might show him in a +more favorable light. And yet he could not believe it; she _must_ be +there, and had probably only concealed herself from his gaze. + +This doubt aroused the greatest agitation. Almost mechanically he +continued to play his part as a noble man. He had spoken so admirably +that there was very little left for Albert's lawyer to say; but his +thoughts were not fixed upon Albert, but the gallery; and the more +firmly he was convinced that the Prison Fairy was not there, the more +his joy in his good deed disappeared; he no longer dared hope to gain +access to the obstinate fairy by any such means. + +The court had summoned old Anton from his home to give his testimony; +but he had not yet arrived, so another session must be called. If she +did not appear then, he had lost the game. + +Just at that moment a thought entered his mind which might place him on +the right track. She could have obtained her remarkable education only +in scientific circles, and had probably been reared in a very +intellectual family. Ottmar proposed to make a round of visits to all +the prominent literary and scientific people in N----. "She is not a +native of this capital, her German is too correct for that, so I will +begin with the strangers," he thought. He had hitherto confined himself +exclusively to the court circle, and was entirely unknown in the +society he now proposed to seek. + +Sunday intervened between the first and second session of the court, +and Ottmar availed himself of it. He drove around the city in his +elegant carriage all the morning, and was everywhere cordially +received. Many, beautiful and ugly, forward and retiring, simple and +highly educated young ladies were introduced to him. She was nowhere to +be found. + +When he paid the last visit on his list, and there also met only +unfamiliar, commonplace faces, he asked the friendly head of the +household, in an under-tone, whether he could mention any particularly +interesting people whom a stranger in N---- ought to know. + +The old gentleman reflected a short time, and finally inquired whether +he had yet heard nothing of old Fraeulein Veronica von Albin. + +"Oh, you must seek her out!" he exclaimed when _Heinrich_ answered his +question in the negative. "She is a perfect original, a petrifaction of +the period of sentimentality, and withal a really intellectual person, +in whose salon you will find every one who has any pretensions to fame, +and is enrolled under the banner of poetry and sensibility." + +Wearied by his minute explanation, _Heinrich_ expressed his thanks, +inquired the way to her dwelling, and drove thither. He had made it a +duty to follow every suggestion of destiny, but knew in advance that he +should not find what he sought in the home of a sentimental old maid. + +The carriage stopped before a massive stone house. Two colossal figures +on the right and left of the door held lanterns adorned with intricate +iron scroll-work in the fashion of the last century. The lower windows +were grated with thick wrought-iron bars, and the heavy oaken door did +not lack the shining brass lion's head, with the ring in its mouth. +Above the door was a somewhat weather-beaten coat-of-arms, carved in +stone, overshadowed by a tiny balcony provided with manifold sculptured +ornaments and iron scrolls. _Heinrich_ pulled the bell. The door was +opened, and when he entered a statue placed in a niche in the staircase +extended its arms as if in welcome. + +A pleasant subdued light fell upon the stone stairs through a tall +pointed window, and _Heinrich_, most agreeably impressed by this +old-fashioned but massive luxury, mounted the broad stone steps. + +A precise, respectable servant was standing on the landing, and +silently ushered him into a little antechamber. Ottmar gave him his +card, and he went forward on tip-toe to announce him. For a few moments +_Heinrich_ had time to admire the few but costly articles of furniture, +rich carpet, and Chinese vases in the anteroom. His hopes began to +sink. The quiet, pedantic spirit which breathed from these carefully +preserved relics of a former century could not have trained the +original, modern, enthusiastic nature of the Prison Fairy. + +At last a pair of richly-carved folding-doors were thrown open. The old +servant, with a low bow, silently motioned to him to approach, and +_Heinrich_ entered a large apartment, furnished in the ancient French +style, with silken curtains, and a polished, inlaid floor. The sofas +and chairs were of richly inlaid walnut, covered with faded but heavy +yellow damask. An old-fashioned screen, ornamented with an embroidered +coat-of-arms, stood before a huge stove adorned with Chinese designs. +On the clumsy carved tables lay magnificent velvet, covered albums, +faded and time-worn, as well as small new books of every description. A +gilt eagle extended its wings over an immense mirror, and a pair of +sphinxes supported a marble pier-table, bearing a clock. Family +portraits, centuries old, stared solemnly from the walls, and fresh +roses breathed their rich fragrance over this peaceful image of bygone +days. + +Almost at the same moment Ottmar entered, the lady of the house, +Fraeulein Veronica von Albin, advanced through a pair of folding-doors +directly opposite to him. She had a slight ethereal figure, whose +movements still retained the elasticity of youth, and a pair of +beautiful blue eyes sparkled in a wrinkled face, over which at least +seventy years had passed. Thin white curls were carefully arranged +around the kindly old forehead, and an old-fashioned but dazzlingly +white morning dress rustled softly around her. She advanced, or rather +floated, towards Ottmar, and held out both hands. + +"You are most welcome, Herr von Ottmar," she said, with so cordial an +expression that the latter bowed low in astonishment. "You wonder at my +affectionate address, do you not?" she continued, offering him a chair. +"It is because we always think those whom we know so well must know us. +Since the public legal investigation you have become common property, +and indeed such property as every one would most gladly appropriate to +himself." + +"Have you been present at the examination, Fraeulein?" asked Ottmar. + +"Certainly; and I can assure you that I became very mach attached to +you in the few hours I saw and heard you. Nothing could have afforded +me greater pleasure than to receive this visit. Thank God, I am old +enough to be able to tell you so without embarrassment," she continued, +smiling. + +_Heinrich_ found the youthful old Lady possessed very good taste, and +involuntarily thought "women are really attractive only at the +beginning and end of life." + +"My dear Fraeulein," he began, "you do not know how happy your kindness +makes me. I am a stranger here, and seek those who will understand me. +The empty life of the court no longer satisfies me. I long for +something else, and come to you because I was told that I should here +find what I sought; and indeed I hope if I meet with it anywhere it +will be here." + +"I think you may be right," said she, looking at him with winning +affection. Old age, by relaxing the lids, had drawn a veil over the +bright blue eyes, but a glance so full of soul, and pure youthful +emotion, beamed from them that _Heinrich_ gazed at her with increasing +admiration. "Not that I imagine you could find amusement in an old +woman like me, but I have the pleasure of drawing young and brilliant +people around me, in whom you will surely find something to please +you." + +"You certainly have some relations?" asked _Heinrich_, expectantly. + +"Not exactly relations," she said, shortly; "but it is a great mercy +that God gave me the faculty of living with young persons, and that +there is at least nothing repulsive in my old age. The young people +cling to me, and daily bring new joys into my quiet house." + +"Permit me to ask you one question, Fraeulein," said _Heinrich_,--then +hesitated a moment, and continued in a very different tone: "How is it +possible that time has passed you by without leaving more traces?" + +"Yes, it is singular. I have really remained twenty years behind my +true age. The machinery continued to move, but the hands were stopped +by a great shock, and never overtook the time. It is a strange, +sorrowful story, and some day when we are sitting by my cozy, singing +tea-urn I will tell you about it." + +"A sorrowful story?" asked _Heinrich_. "I should have thought you were +very happy and contented." + +"Yes, I am now. Time effaces everything, and I seem to myself like a +transfigured spirit. I have no longer anxieties or wishes, look upon +life calmly and impartially, and love all men. My body, as you see, is +no very heavy burden, and thus, thank God, I am not so widely separated +from the angels." + +There was such a depth of earnestness concealed under these jesting +words that _Heinrich_, strangely moved, passed his hand over his brow. +It seemed as if a good genius with a gentle smile had raised him to a +height from whence he could view at a single glance all the +perishableness and emptiness of life. "Oh, who could bring heaven so +near as you?" he said, at last. + +"Dear friend," she replied, with a winning glance, "there is also a +heaven upon earth in our own breasts. Do not seek it without, but +within your heart; then you will not _come_ into heaven for the first +time when you die, but _remain_ in it always." + +"My dear Fraeulein'," pleaded _Heinrich_, "permit me now and then to +linger a short time in yours until I have created one of my own. Will +you?" + +"Certainly; with the greatest pleasure. It does you honor that, without +any other design, you can take pleasure in spending a few hours with an +old lady like myself; and I assure you that your good intention will be +rewarded,--rely upon it." + +"I do not doubt it," said _Heinrich_; "but I ask no other reward than +your favor and counsel in many things that oppress my heart." + +"I will tell you,"--Veronica cast a hasty glance at the great clock. +"Come and take tea with me to-morrow evening. Some of my chosen friends +will be here, and I am curious to see how they will please you. One +thing I can positively assure you beforehand: you will find only _good_ +men with me. Old and independent as I am, I need not receive any except +those whom I love; and only such as have preserved a childlike, +unassuming character (now, unfortunately, so rarely found) take +pleasure in my simple nature." + +"Who could be so unfeeling as to find no charm in you?" said +_Heinrich_. + +"Who? Alas! unfortunately there are many. Believe me, our young people +are now very old. When I think how it used to be in my time! There are +no longer any illusions,--any enthusiasms. I have often talked to young +people who seemed so old that I have asked myself with shame, 'Oh, God! +am I really so childlike, or already so childish, that the young people +of the present day are so much wiser and more steady?' And that is not +the worst. I have always seen that the childlike or childish old woman +is much happier in her simple existence than all these hopeful young +persons, upon whom life still smiles with rosy hues; and it makes me +feel sad." + +"She might have educated the Prison Fairy;" thought _Heinrich_, and at +last determined to ask her; but Veronica, without allowing herself to +be interrupted, continued, with the loquacity of age: "I know they call +me the Sensitive Plant, because I have preserved my quick feelings and +ready tears; but I do not think they are mocking me, for they know I +play no sentimental comedy, but rejoice with those who rejoice, and +even follow with sincere interest the struggles of the age, although +they do not please me. To me the only true voices are those that speak +from sentiment and in its behalf; therefore I must confess that I +prefer them to the modern spirit of speculation, piquant as it is, and +shall listen to them devoutly until death some day solves for me the +mystery of life." She again glanced at the clock and made _Heinrich_ a +confused apology for having chattered so long. + +_Heinrich_ could do nothing but take leave, and was compelled to defer +receiving the ardently desired assurance until the morrow; he bowed as +low and as frequently as possible, and withdrew from the apartment as +slowly as he could. The lock of the door stuck in his hand as if it +were bewitched, and he was so absentminded that he was obliged to pause +some time in the ante-chamber to remember which was the way out; he did +not know where he was or what he was doing. Meantime bitter reflections +upon his hasty dismissal, his own strange embarrassment, which had made +the harmless question falter on his lips more and more the longer he +delayed it, until at last he could no longer utter it; upon the old +lady's loquacity, which had not allowed him to speak: in short, the +striking of a large cuckoo-clock, which also seemed to jeer at him, +first made him aware that he must at last leave the house. With a +despairing glance at the different doors he went away, and on reaching +the carriage could not help laughing at himself. _Heinrich_ scoffed at +_Henri_, and _Henri_ derided _Heinrich_. An impulse of rejoicing over +something, he knew not what, overpowered him. + + + + + X. + + PROGRESS. + + +Early the following day there was a fresh crowd and bustle in the hall +where the court held its session. The pressure was so violent that it +was already necessary to have police stationed before the building to +preserve order. At last all became quiet, for the judges entered. +Ottmar, with his eyes fixed intently upon the gallery, looked handsomer +than ever. His stern bearing seemed more gentle, his slight figure more +elastic, the harsh, rigid outline youthfully soft, and around the +delicately modeled lips played an irresistible smile. His dark hair was +brushed back, and the peace of a quiet conscience seemed to rest upon +his noble brow. His eyes were fixed constantly on the same spot with a +remarkably friendly glance, until at last all eagerly followed the +direction of the look, but to their great surprise saw no one except +old Fraeulein von Albin, with several elderly ladies and gentlemen. + +"What has he to do with her?" they asked each other. + +The examination lasted only a short time. Old Anton arrived and +confirmed his master's deposition. The court withdrew to deliberate +upon the sentence. An expectant stillness greeted its reappearance. All +eyes were fixed upon Albert, who awaited the announcement of the +sentence with feverish suspense. + +It found him guilty of the attempt to murder while in a passion, and +deserving of three years' imprisonment; but, as the accused had already +endured a longer and more severe punishment, ordered his immediate +release. + +Albert seemed confused and did not appear to understand anything. + +"You are free!" cried _Heinrich_. But Albert with a deep sigh sank +senseless into the arms of the bystanders like a somnambulist suddenly +aroused from a heavy slumber. Ere long, however, he opened his eyes and +threw himself at _Heinrich's_ feet, murmuring, "Forgive me!" + +"We have both forgiven each other long ago," replied _Heinrich_, +raising him kindly from the ground. + +The presiding officer approached him, saying, "Herr von Ottmar, allow +me in the name of the whole court to thank you for having given us an +opportunity to rescind an undeserved sentence, and changed the sad duty +of condemnation to the joy of pronouncing a decree of liberation; +permit me to give you the assurance that I have become your sincere +friend." + +_Heinrich_ took a cordial farewell of the worthy man, whose eyes beamed +with heartfelt esteem. But when he came out of the building to enter +his carriage the multitude had assembled before it, and for the first +time in his life a loud cheer of universal approbation greeted him. +_Heinrich_ felt every nerve thrill pleasantly at the unwonted sound, +and as he raised his hat in acknowledgment murmured, with joyful +emotion, "Prison Fairy, I thank you!" + +He had intended to play a part; but the seriousness of the matter had +laid hold upon him and converted acting to reality. He perceived this +fact with a throb of strange elation; and if the joy he felt sprang +more from the result than the act itself, the pleasure was so pure, the +vanity so legitimate, that even he could scarcely distinguish it from +the emotions of an unselfish, satisfied conscience. Enough: he had done +a noble deed, felt the happier for it, and formed the resolution to +take advantage of every opportunity of procuring this delight again. +But of course he thought only of those occasions which would secure him +a similar popular recognition; he did not think of the unfortunates he +might aid, but of the gratitude he should receive from them and the +public. To his heartless egotism no other course of reflection was +possible, yet even this was a great advance towards better things. + +There are natures which, incited by the love of applause, first do good +merely from vanity; but the more frequently this occurs, the more they +become accustomed to it, and at last do it, with or without success, +from habit. But inasmuch as every habit gradually becomes a necessity, +so it is with this, until at last they do right from a secret need. + +Ottmar was such a man. Amid all his great faults and errors, it was not +the opposition between right and wrong that was the point of +controversy in his nature, but that between the heart and intellect. +The cause of all the dissensions about right and wrong into which +_Heinrich_, as well as _Henri_, had fallen, was that his heart and +intellect opposed each other, instead of harmonizing. All _Heinrich's_ +errors were rooted solely in the selfishness of his cold intellect, as +_Henri's_ were founded upon the egotism of his material nature. If any +great influence could succeed in uniting the two extremes he would +become the most noble and estimable of men. Society, therefore, is not +so far wrong when it allows itself to be dazzled by the ideal nimbus +which such persons understand how to diffuse around them; for beneath +it there is always an instinct of good by means of which they may +really become what they seem. + +There are also noble, sensitive souls which understand such men, and +wish to aid them in reaching the right path. The extent of their +success of course depends upon their own capacity. + +Ottilie was one of these souls, but Ottmar knew that the Prison Fairy +would become more, infinitely more, to him if he could succeed in +approaching her. That which in the fading, suffering Ottilie had failed +to make any deeper impression upon him, because it had appeared in a +form too sentimental, too little akin to his own nature, kindled an +ardent enthusiasm in him when he encountered it in the energetic, +vivacious Prison Fairy. Ottilie seemed to him a distant, glorified +ideal; her self-denial, her capacity for self-sacrifice, appeared +superhuman, and only rooted in the indifference of a spirit striving to +cast off its earthly nature; it never entered his mind to try to +imitate, greatly as he admired it. The Prison Fairy, while possessing +Ottilie's ideal character, was also in every respect congenial to him, +and thus he _could_ follow her. He had seen the former suffer from her +ideas, which repelled him; but the latter was happy, and attracted him. +In a word, the princess gave him the _theory_, the Prison Fairy the +_practice_. + +He owed Ottilie nothing save a fruitless knowledge of himself; but to +the impression the unknown girl had made upon him he was already +indebted for this first hour of happiness, and all his hopes were fixed +upon this noble, womanly apparition. + +Albert, whom he had taken home with him, as he had no friends in the +city, gave all the information he could bestow, which was only that she +came to his cell very early in the morning of the day before the court +held its session and took leave of him, as she was sure he would be +liberated. She gave him several louis-d'or to supply his immediate +wants, and told him to write a letter containing news of himself every +week, addressed to the initial B., _poste restante_. He was obliged to +repeat the simple story to _Heinrich_ every half-hour. Thus the +afternoon passed away, and Ottmar went to dress,--the time appointed +for the tea-party had almost arrived. Will she be there?--or will she +not?--was the axis around which all his thoughts revolved. + + +A merry company engaged in eager conversation about Ottmar had +assembled in Fraeulein von Albin's salon. Veronica was unusually bright. +She wore a tight dress of light yellow satin, richly trimmed with old +lace, kid mitts, and a cap with a light yellow ribbon. When she sat +down she could scarcely be distinguished from the sofa, which had a +covering of the same hue; and when she walked she looked like one of +the oblique rays of light that fall through old church windows. + +"Come, pray do me the favor to stop talking about Ottmar," she said, +uneasily. "Can't you speak of something else?" + +"Ah! what subject could we have that would be more interesting?" +murmured the young girls. + +Veronica sent them into an adjoining room, and the ladies and gentlemen +discussed a wider range of topics. Just then the folding-doors were +thrown wide open, and with his usual haughty bearing the much-talked-of +Ottmar entered. A murmur of pleasure ran through the astonished +company, but as yet the young girls in the adjoining room noticed +nothing. + +Veronica received her visitor with the pride with which one sees an +agreeable surprise prepared for one's guests safely enter upon the +scene. After the first introductions and remarks, _Heinrich's_ eyes +wandered hastily around the room. She was not there. + +"Will you not present me to your young friends also?" he said, at last, +turning beseechingly to Veronica. + +The latter led him triumphantly into the "second salon," where, +unobserved, he paused a few moments in the doorway and scanned the +company. + +The young girls were playing "Guess by the dancing." One of them was +obliged to stand in the centre of the circle, dance blindfolded with a +gentleman, and guess his name by his dancing. A young girl whose +wonderful figure aroused _Henri's_ astonishment was now within the +ring. She wore a thin white dress embroidered with crimson flowers, her +rich curling hair was arranged in two heavy braids, and a spray of +crimson blossoms fell upon her beautiful neck. + +_Henri_ would gladly have seen the face concealed under the broad +handkerchief. A gentleman was to be led up to her: Veronica took +Ottmar's hand, motioned to the company to say nothing, and drew him +forward to the young girl. _Henri_ threw his arm around her, and they +swept round the room in rapid circles. Delighted with the grace and +ease of her dancing, he drew the soft, pliant figure more closely to +him; her breath fanned his cheek, and his gently stirred the hair upon +her brow. The narrow space visible under the bandage became suffused +with a deep blush; a magnetic bond was being woven between them. She +paused and released herself from his clasp. + +"Well, who is it?" cried Veronica. + +"I don't know," replied the young girl, panting for breath. "It is none +of the gentlemen who were here before." + +_Henri_ stood as if spell-bound; surely he ought to know that soft, +rich voice, and he removed the bandage himself. "Prison Fairy," he +murmured, as a pair of large, dark eyes gazed at him as if in a dream. + +She was so much startled that she turned pale and tottered. _Henri_ +supported her, and the others rushed forward. "Oh, it is nothing," said +she; "dancing with my eyes bandaged makes me dizzy." Then thanking +_Henri_ with a slight bow, she begged to be excused till she had +recovered her breath, and went into an adjoining room, where it was +cool and quiet. + +_Henri_ sought Veronica to request her to introduce him to the charming +young girl. "Certainly," said she; "I have anticipated this moment with +great pleasure." + +They found the Prison Fairy in the tea-room leaning against an open +window. She was gazing thoughtfully into the darkness, and did not feel +the cold night air that blew over her white shoulders. + +"Cornelia," cried Veronica, "you will take cold. How can people be so +careless?" The young girl closed the window and turned towards the +approaching pair. + +"Herr von Ottmar," said Veronica, presenting him. "This is the child of +my dead adopted daughter, and therefore my adopted granddaughter, +Fraeulein Cornelia Erwing. The one sole treasure I still possess in this +world!" + +Both bowed in silence. + +"See, my child," said the old lady, joyously; "this is the surprise I +told you about yesterday." + +"It is certainly very unexpected," replied the girl. + +"Allow me to hope, Fraeulein, that at least it was not _undesired_?" + +"Oh, no," said Veronica, laughing, as Cornelia made no answer. "You may +be sure that she belongs to the ranks of your greatest adorers; but she +is an obstinate little thing, and never pays any one a compliment +willingly." A glance of earnest entreaty from the Prison Fairy silenced +her enthusiastic kindliness. + +"Fraeulein," said _Henri_, firmly, "you have hitherto eluded me in so +remarkable a manner that you will not be angry if I now implore you to +grant me a few words of explanation? You will not refuse this +satisfaction to the man who rejoices in the favor of your honored +foster-mother?" + +"Do you permit it?" asked Cornelia. + +"What would I not permit to you, my dear child?" replied Veronica. +"Speak on; I shall not disturb you, for I must go back to my guests." + +The two were left alone. A violent struggle now arose in Ottmar as to +_which_ of his two individualities should rule this scene. It urged +_Henri_ irresistibly towards the sofa upon which the beautiful figure +had sank, while _Heinrich_ was unwilling to lose any of the precious +moments he had longed for during the last weeks. The two natures had +never struggled with each other so obstinately before. At last _Henri_ +drew back that _Heinrich_ might, so to speak, do him credit with the +talented girl. _Heinrich_ seated himself in an arm-chair near the sofa, +and tried to collect his thoughts after _Henri's_ fierce revolt. + +"So I have found you at last, wonderful, wilful creature!" he began. +"Speak, why have you made it so difficult for me to do so?" + +"I would tell you if I did not fear offending you." + +"You cannot offend me, for I intend to learn from you how to become a +different person; of course the change must begin with my faults." + +"Well, then," she said, firmly, "some years ago there was a great deal +said here about a certain Herr von Ottmar, whose rapid rise in a +foreign country excited general astonishment. People were delighted +with his talents, but hated him for the use he made of them, and feared +him as the most zealous instrument of the despotic system of our +government. They admired his personal qualities, but blamed the want of +principle with which he sought to make them win the hearts of women. I +never wished to see this gentleman; for, after all I had heard, I felt +a deep repugnance towards him. Suddenly a man appears before me in the +prison, whose manner and language stir my inmost soul with sympathetic +emotion. Without the slightest restraint I yield to this impression as +I do to everything good and beautiful,--and learn that this man, with +the lofty, noble brow, the earnest, expressive glance, is the notorious +Ottmar; learn it at the moment when, voluntarily, in mere arrogance, he +confesses one of the crimes so often imputed to him. It wounded me all +the more because I thought I had discovered at the first glance +something rare, ideal, in your character. I had therefore in your case +lost the balance which usually aids my intercourse with men. I became +deceived, bewildered, almost irresolute, and wavered between my +previous conviction and the impression produced by your personal +attributes. The former had its sure foundations; the latter I believed +to be treacherous, and therefore avoided you so anxiously. I would not +allow myself to be bribed by your manners to excuse and forget what my +better judgment must condemn." + +"And the step towards the right path which you afterwards saw me take?" +asked _Heinrich_. + +"Increased my sympathy for you, and at the same time my doubts. A +secret power urged me to defend you when you were attacked, and yet I +did not believe what I said myself. This is why my adopted mother +classed me among your adorers, and thought to give me pleasure by +inviting you here; but I do not at all approve of such a step. You are +the petted hero of the day; every one is crowding around you. It is +bitter to me to be compelled to think that you could charge us with +obtrusiveness." + +"I understand you, Fraeulein," said _Heinrich_; "but you seem to be in +error. Fraeulein von Albin had an excellent reason for inviting me, for +I called upon her yesterday." + +"What! did you do that?" exclaimed Cornelia, an expression of joy +flashing over her face. + +"Did you not know it?" + +"No! I suppose Veronica said nothing about it on purpose to surprise +me. She certainly desires nothing but to give pleasure, and her simple +nature chooses every conceivable means of doing so. But how did you +happen to come to this quiet home?" + +"Because I was seeking _you_." + +"And why?" + +"Because I am superstitious enough to see in our meeting the hand of +fate, and had an irresistible impulse to follow the hint; because I +expect to receive from you the only salvation I can still obtain; +because--ah, let me speak frankly!--because you please me infinitely." + +"You have probably said that to a great many persons," replied +Cornelia, coldly. + +_Heinrich_ looked her steadily and frankly in the face. "Certainly I +have. Why should I not? I did not say that you _alone_ please me." + +Cornelia blushed. "That is at least sincere." + +"As we always will be towards each other," said _Heinrich_, firmly. "In +your youthfully hasty judgment you have placed me in the position of a +criminal. I will not justify myself, but afford you the possibility of +doing so. To deny my faults would help you very little, but I will +teach you to understand them. First of all, let us be perfectly clear +in regard to the relation in which we wish to stand towards each other, +then you will trust me more. I perceive, by your last remark, that you +consider me a universal gallant. You are mistaken, Fraeulein; I do not +love you, and I desire no such feeling from you. Do not fear that you +will be compelled to listen to tender declarations from me; I should +not venture to offer you a heart which you know has already loved so +often! But I offer you a feeling that hitherto has slumbered in my +soul, pure and unprofaned; I offer you the truest, most devoted +friendship. If you will neither accept nor respond even to _this_, I +ask of you a portion of that philanthropy whose missionary you are,--I +ask and demand from you that Christianity which vouchsafes to all the +same blessing, and excludes none who truly desire it." + +Cornelia sat in silence, with her eyes fixed upon the floor. + +"You are silent! you have no answer for me! Prison Fairy, Prison Fairy, +must I remind you of your mission? Oh, girl! do not let me be perplexed +by you; do not let me think that those eyes,--that the mighty +pulsations of a breast animated by a lofty idea,--have deceived me; +that you are less noble than they seem: it would be the last, the most +terrible disappointment of my life." + +Cornelia gazed at the ardent speaker with a searching glance. Her +breath came more quickly, her lips parted several times before she +could utter the words, "We will be friends, Herr von Ottmar." + +_Heinrich_ bent over her with a winning smile. "You are forcing back +something that hovers on your tongue, Fraeulein! Do you know that on +that first meeting you promised to be good to me if I would be good to +the prisoners! I have redeemed my promise; but _you_?" + +"That is not sufficient; you must abide by it still longer. Keep your +word, and I will keep mine." + +"Dear Fairy," said _Heinrich_, "cast aside this cold formality, which +is ill-suited to you and not at all in place towards me. Be the warm, +earnest creature, loving both God and mankind, whom I found in the +dungeon, and who, by her rich soul, could transform the prisoner's +punishment to reward. Be gentle; you know not how necessary you are to +this wounded heart, burdened by heavy chains. We are nearly akin to +each other, and you will perceive it some day. I see it in the flashing +of those mysterious eyes; in you also slumbers a secret before whose +revelation you would recoil in terror did not the faithful arm of an +experienced friend guard you from the horrors in your own breast. Come, +give me your hands,--so,--now you look kindly at me; that haughty brow +grows smooth,--does that mild, thoughtful glance rest willingly upon my +features? Say nothing, our souls are talking together, and confiding +things of which neither of us has any knowledge. Oh, dear one our souls +already understand each other better than we." + +"We and our souls are one," murmured Cornelia; "if they understand each +other, so do we. Let me confess that I believe I have done you a great +wrong; if that is the case, forgive me, for the sake of this moment." + +"There is no wrong, Cornelia, for which a single moment of true love +could not make amends." + +Cornelia pressed his hand with the half-grave, half-friendly smile +which had so great a charm for _Heinrich_. + +"So I have found you at last, you dear, beautiful child!" he exclaimed. +"Cling to me faithfully; you shall not be mistaken in me." + +She rose to return to the guests. "Surely you will not deceive me?" she +asked, half doubtfully and half firmly, but with charming sincerity. + +"Prison Fairy, do you need any other assurances? Only try yourself, and +you will refute your doubt better than modesty allows me to do." + +"Are you so sure of that?" she asked, smiling; "now I think your +modesty does not weigh very heavily upon you." An expression of the +most charming petulance gleamed over her face as she glided away. + +"You are caught, wild, changeful soul; yet not to cause you pain, only +to do me good, I impose upon you this chain, whose weight you shall +never feel," said _Heinrich_. "You soar towards the sun; let us see +whether you will have the strength to draw me up with you!" + +"You can be borne towards the sun on the wings of her aspiring spirit!" +cried _Henri_, "if only the lovely form which enthrals me as no other +ever did before remains upon the earth. Guide her _soul_ whither you +please, and leave me alone with its _earthly husk_. Then we can both +possess a happiness we have never yet known." + +"So long as I can be with her I shall maintain my place," said +_Heinrich_; "and this time I do not think you will obtain the victory +over me!" + +"Indeed! Well, let us see who will first conquer the other," said the +aroused spirit of sensuality. "Will you all at once meet me in a +hostile encounter, after letting me have my own way so long? What will +come of it if the gulf between us should be so greatly enlarged?" + +"What will come of it?" asked _Heinrich_. "I do not know; probably +merely what has always happened,--a loss of peace; and, although I have +hitherto indulged you, it has only been because I could share your +pleasures as little as you could find joy in mine. Here, for the first +time, we unite in a common desire; our mutual interest is captivated by +one and the same object, but it is our curse that the very thing which +ought _unite_ us _severs_ us most violently. Her noble mind attracts me +as greatly as her beautiful person charms you, and I will not +voluntarily resign to you a single hour I can spend conversation with +her. Therefore, we must struggle." + +"Yes, we will," said _Henri_. + +"Herr von Ottmar," cried Veronica from the door, "will you join the +young people's games, or do you prefer the salon?" + +"Don't grudge me the privilege of mingling with the young people for a +time," he answered, and entered the room where Cornelia, radiant with +mirth and mischievousness, was bantering the young girls who were +standing around her. + +"Veronica," she cried, "the ladies have been industrious; we sha'n't +play games any longer. There are poems and essays to be read aloud. +Come in, Messrs. Critics; collect your thoughts; we have a severe judge +to-day." + +"Will you take part in our little college, Herr von Ottmar?" + +"I am very anxious to do so," he replied. + +"You must have patience and be indulgent to this kind of +entertainment," laughed Cornelia. "It is the personal friendship that +unites our little circle which makes it interesting to us, and of +course that is a thing you cannot yet share." + +"You must know," said Veronica, in a low tone, "that my darling child +has established among her friends a sort of nursery, in which she +wishes to rear clearness of intellect and feeling, noble principles, +and independent judgment; and the gentlemen eagerly assist her; they +are all more or less in love with her. Every week Cornelia gives the +young girls a subject for prose or poetic treatment, or a work to be +critically examined. Whoever receives the greatest praise from the +majority obtains the prize,--a picture by some one of the artists +present, or the dedication of a song by one of our musicians. The young +poets criticise the essays and read their own productions aloud. +Finally, the older gentlemen pronounce their ultimatum. You will +probably belong to this last and highest court to-day, though less +entitled to do so by age than intellect." + +"That is a charming idea," said _Heinrich_, "and is in harmony with you +both. You thus give society an intellectual seasoning which it usually +lacks. Have you poets in your circle?" + +"Oh, certainly!" replied Veronica. "Don't you know our young +celebrities? See, that one yonder is the tender lyric poet, D----, a +sensitive, foreboding soul; the stout, broad-shouldered man is the +bold, patriotic bard, B----; and the pale aristocrat, with the bent +head, is the poet T----, a very talented person. You have surely heard +of the enthusiastic reception of his first tragedy. I only fear his +intellect is developing too rapidly. Sooner or later this premature +growth will make it sickly, and that would be a pity. There is splendid +material in him, which, by the forcing system of our times, would be +made to shoot upwards too quickly to form a stout, healthy trunk, from +whence the productive power is always freshly supplied. The young man +is only twenty-four years old, and his work is already much more +massive than Schiller's first attempts; but he accomplishes a +remarkable amount in his department, and is a noble, estimable man. +These are the poor victims of our times, where the utmost is extorted +from every one." + +"You are right," replied _Heinrich_. "I am familiar with young T--'s +work, and, like you, think it unnaturally mature for his years. +Schiller and Goethe themselves won their way by degrees to what is +recognized as the highest stand-point. But our young people want to be +born upon this height and begin where they ended. It is perfectly +comprehensible that they don't wish to remain where they begin, but +struggle on and test the powers of their young intellects, as Lessing, +Goethe, and Schiller did when they gradually raised themselves above +the inferior performances and requirements of their times." + +"That is just what I always say," cried Veronica; "and this runs +through all circles of society. Our young people no longer have any +_simplicity_, and I think this is the glass case beneath which the +young plants of the soul should grow, with all their faults and +excrescences, until they are strong enough to bear without injury the +storms of life and the shears of negation. Without simplicity there are +no illusions, and without illusions there is no youth! You will perhaps +find here a circle which answers to my demand in this respect. True, +there are only a few poets of importance among them, but these +compensate me for all the famous, keen, analytical minds which pluck +the fragrant rose to find faults its calyx would have concealed, and +give us only the purified but empty branch of thorns. You see I am not +called the Sensitive Plant without reason." + +"Yes, yes," said _Heinrich_, with a kindly smile, "we must learn from +you how to keep young!" + +Meantime a reading-table had been placed in the centre of the room. +With cheeks glowing with embarrassment, a young girl seated herself at +it, cast a hasty glance at Ottmar, and read aloud from a manuscript an +essay whose subject and title were the justification of sympathy in +opposition to the judgments of reason. It was simple, but written in a +style free from faults; some of the ideas were not devoid of talent; +and it revealed a more thorough culture than is usually to be found in +young girls. _Heinrich_ perceived Cornelia's influence. His eyes rested +steadily upon her; she was standing behind the reader's chair, and +often looked thoughtfully at him. It was evident that she had given +this subject from a recollection of him. + +The following essays, which were read aloud in turn by the young girls, +all treated the same idea with more or less talent, and three poems +reproduced it in rhyme. + +_Heinrich_ perceived with increasing admiration the activity of the +Prison Fairy, whose strong, earnest will effected good results, even +under the garb of jest, and gave purpose to the most useless things. + +The reading ended, and the gentlemen, in mingled jest and earnest, gave +a stern criticism. Each sought the lady whose essay had made the most +impression upon him,--discussed and opposed the separate points. The +authoresses were obliged to defend themselves, and thus the argument +continued till Cornelia, who had previously been inclosed in the +circle, suddenly started up, exclaiming: "Say what you please against +sympathy, it is the only true oracle among us! If our reason enjoined +upon us ever so strictly to keep together as we are now, should we not +rush apart to all quarters of the globe if it were not for sympathy? +And if reason causes a person to appear ever so wicked, and sympathy +attracts us to him, we follow the latter, and often convince ourselves +that reason, which judges only by deceptive facts, misled us. Reason +disjoints and severs, sympathy conciliates. Reason calculates, sympathy +discovers; and, what is after all the principal thing, reason does not +make people happy,--sympathy does." + +"Cornelia," cried the poet T--, "I have never heard you talk so before! +What has become of the logic, the clearness of perception, with which +you gave these young ladies the guiding threads for their essays upon +this subject?" + +"If we were permitted to refer to this enthusiasm, we should be greatly +delighted, my dear T----; but I fear it is one of her whims," said +H----, the novelist. + +The gentle poet D---- whispered, softly, "I know what you mean, +Cornelia, but I no longer understand you." + +"I understand you," a voice which thrilled all the chords in her nature +suddenly murmured in her ear. "I thank you, Prison Fairy!" She turned +towards _Heinrich_ and looked up into his face. She was bewilderingly +beautiful at that moment, with the bold, noble profile half turned +towards him, the slender neck thrown back, the full lips curved in a +smile which made the small, white teeth glitter in the light, and the +hair combed up to form a natural diadem above the thoughtful brow. The +floating folds of her dress, the drooping crimson flowers, which +trembled at every motion, gave her an ideal, fairylike aspect, which +was increased by her dark eyes. Those eyes belonged to the class which, +the ancient myth tells us, had power to turn to stone any one on whom +their gaze rested. The large, sparkling pupils allowed very little of +the white of the eye to be seen. They often gleamed like two suns when +the long lashes were raised; and softly and sweetly as they rested upon +the object of their observation, their expression must be terrible in +anger. Ottmar gazed at her with increasing rapture. "Yes, yes," he +said, under his breath, "that is the Medusa from whose blood Pegasus +sprang." + +"How little she knows herself, that she thinks I could see her without +coveting her!" thought _Henri_, making a fresh effort to dislodge +_Heinrich_; _Heinrich_ resisted his attack with unaccustomed strength. +He gazed into the depths of those mysterious eyes; and the secrets +which, unconsciously to herself, slumbered within them, irresistibly +allured him. + +"Cornelia," said the young girl who had read the first essay,--and a +tear trembled on her lashes,--"they are looking for you." + +Cornelia looked up as if aroused from a dream, threw her arm around her +friend's neck, and embraced her warmly. "I thank you, Hedwig!" Then she +entered the noisy circle and summoned the gentlemen to select the essay +most worthy of the prize. + +The company voted, and the majority decided in favor of the first one +read. + +"Oh, I am glad, dear Hedwig!" said Cornelia, hastily, taking the +garland of fresh flowers she had woven for the victor and placing it +upon her brow. + +It was a beautiful sight as the loveliest maiden in the throng adorned +the diffident young girl and led her triumphantly into the middle of +the room. The gentlemen came forward, bringing the prize upon a +cushion. Poor Hedwig, who, in her embarrassment, had by no means the +air of a conqueror, received the gift from the hands of the young +artist A----, who whispered, gently, "I beg you all not to show it to +the original, if it can be avoided. I did not know he would be here." + +The young girl did not understand him, and hastily raised the cover, +but dropped it again in terror when she saw the sketch, while a burning +blush overspread her face. + +"Why, what is the matter?" asked Cornelia, taking out the picture. "A +study of a head! Herr von Ottmar,--a perfect likeness!" she exclaimed, +undisturbed by the young artist's embarrassment. + +_Heinrich_ stepped forward and gazed in astonishment at the successful +portrait. + +"I must crave your pardon for presuming to steal your features, Herr +Geheimrath," stammered the artist. "I know you are very highly esteemed +in this circle, and could not refrain from robbing my portfolio of the +picture, in order to give pleasure to those who assemble here; +otherwise this bold attempt of my talent would have remained entirely +concealed." + +_Heinrich_ smilingly listened to the long apology, and watched, with +silent amusement, an old gentleman standing at some distance from the +artist, who was accompanying his speech with numerous bows. This +gentleman was a certain Archivrath Linderer, an old friend of +Veronica's. The worthy man possessed such a wonderful impulse of +courtesy that he could not see any one make a bow without mechanically +imitating him, and never heard any sort of speech without mentally +making one also. + +_Heinrich's_ inclination to laugh was so greatly aroused by this sight +that he could scarcely utter a few reassuring words in reply to the +embarrassed artist. He was about to go in search of Veronica, to +question her about this comical man, when he saw Cornelia, who had been +gazing at the picture in silence, go to a table and take up a pencil. +He went up and glanced over her shoulder at the portrait. She cast a +hasty look at him and then fixed her eyes upon the sketch. She felt his +beard touch her hair, and shrank back. + +"Look, my dear A----!" she exclaimed. "Here are only two false strokes! +When these are altered the picture will be masterly! The lines just +over the eyebrows, expressing penetration, are very strongly marked in +Herr von Ottmar, and you have not brought them out sufficiently. The +upper portion of the brow is also remarkably expressive; there must be +a shadow here, and here." + +"You may be right," said A----, looking at Ottmar's forehead; "make the +strokes." + +Cornelia rapidly deepened the shadows, and all the bystanders +exclaimed, in astonishment, "Ah, that's it exactly! One would think you +had studied the head!" + +Cornelia quietly compared the picture with the original. "It is a noble +work! You have really been carried away by your subject! The eyes and +mouth seem as if they were about to speak!" + +"Your praise makes me very proud," said the young man. + +"And me!" whispered _Heinrich_, almost inaudibly. + +"May I ask you to come in to tea?" cried Veronica, from the doorway. +"If any one of the gentlemen has anything to read aloud, he must be +kind enough to defer it until after supper. It is already somewhat +late." + +_Heinrich_ was in the act of offering Cornelia his arm when Veronica +requested him to take her to the table. He patiently submitted to this +duty, and the ill-assorted pair moved on into the tea-room followed by +the others. + +Cornelia and Hedwig stood together a moment alone. Hedwig threw herself +on her friend's breast, and exclaimed, in a low, rapid tone,-- + +"I will give you the picture, Cornelia. I don't want it." + +"You don't want it?" asked the latter, in astonishment. + +"What should I do with it? I think you would value it more, and take +more pleasure in it than I," replied Hedwig. + +"But, Hedwig, you were always so enthusiastic about him." + +"Even if I were, it was all in joke. But you know and value him in +earnest: I saw that to-day; and if _he_ had given the picture, he would +have bestowed it on no one but you; so how could I take a thing to +which I have no right? Keep it, I beg of you. It is of no value to me." + +"But ought I to accept it from you?" asked Cornelia. "Shall I not be +robbing you?" + +"Robbing me? I owe you so much, and am so poor in comparison with you, +that it will make me rich if I can offer anything that will please you. +I would give you more, far more, if I had it to bestow." + +She pressed Cornelia lovingly to her heart, and the young girls were +holding each other in a close embrace when T---- came in search of +them, and Heinrich appeared behind him in the doorway. + +"Good heavens! Here they stand, kissing each other, while we have been +waiting for them so impatiently!" cried T----. + +"We humbly beg pardon for having had no one to escort us to the table," +laughed Cornelia. "We were consoling each other for the misfortune." + +"How malicious you are again! We were so sure that you would be +escorted to the table by your lucky Herr von Ottmar that we did not +even look for you," said T----, apologetically. + +"And you were not mistaken in your belief, sir," said _Heinrich's_ +voice. + +He went up to Cornelia and offered her his arm. T---- stood petrified +with astonishment. There was nothing left for him to do except to turn +to Hedwig. _Heinrich_ led Cornelia to her place, and then went back to +Veronica. Cornelia sat opposite to him, and on his right and left hand +were the fairest and brightest young girls in the whole circle. Many +mothers and fathers looked towards them with almost imperceptible +hopes, but everything fell into the lap of the one who neither hoped +nor desired anything. _Heinrich's_ interest was centred in Cornelia +alone. + +"You see, my dear Herr von Ottmar," Veronica began, "I have tried to +make amends to you for being obliged to take an old lady to the table. +My most charming young ladies are around you." + +"You would give me far greater pleasure if you would permit me to spend +my evenings with you and your adopted daughter, for I must confess that +I prefer you to all other ladies, be they ever so charming," he +whispered. + +"Oh, that you shall certainly do!" exclaimed Veronica, in delight. +"Come as often as you please. You will be a welcome guest." + +"I thank you," replied _Heinrich_. + +Meantime, Cornelia had been conversing with the extremely polite old +gentleman, and _Heinrich_ now asked who this eccentric person was. + +With gay humor she described his peculiarities, and in a low tone +related how, on festival occasions and during public speeches, he often +disturbed the bystanders by repeating the words half under his breath, +and supplying the bows omitted by the orator; how he always most +dutifully repeated the last words said to him; how he invariably +removed his hat when he saw two persons salute each other in the +street, etc. etc. + +"Do you know," she said, at last, "I think this proceeds from an excess +of benevolence and sympathy! It must be the same feeling that prompts +the mother who hears her daughter say a pretty thing to put on +precisely the same expression. The mother enters into her child's +situation so earnestly that she involuntarily imitates all her looks +and gestures; nay, I once saw an actress, starring with her daughter, +so carried away by the latter's playing that she unconsciously imitated +her darling, and almost merged her own part in her child's. What is +this except an excess of sympathy for the beloved being?" + +She then, in a most masterly manner, imitated the different mothers and +the tragic scene of the two ladies upon the stage, so that those around +burst into shouts of laughter. + +Yet the gayer the others became the more serious _Heinrich_ looked: and +she asked, with mingled surprise and anxiety, why they all had so +little success in amusing him. + +"Oh, you do not know how happy I am!" he replied; "but I am reflecting +about something. I see you develop so many different traits and talents +that I am bewildered. When I have at last succeeded in harmonizing one +of your changeful moods with your whole character, before I am aware of +it a new picture appears before me, which I must again incorporate with +the whole. You keep me in a perpetual mental excitement, and it +seems as if I were compelled to sketch the different waves upon the +sea-shore. Scarcely have I fixed my eyes upon one ere it is already +swallowed up in another, and I am constantly raising my eyes again to +sketch the whole as it spreads before me in its infinite majesty." + +He gazed at her with so strange an expression that she looked down as +if dazzled. + +"Oh, what are you making me?" she said, in confusion. "I am a very +simple person, who am merry with the mirthful and serious with the +grave. If I am different from others in any way it is because I am +always natural. Thousands feel as keenly, change their moods as +frequently, as I; but it is not noticed in them, because they have +accustomed themselves to a uniform etiquette, an unvarying manner. I +have often envied such persons, for they know how to give themselves +the stamp of a finished individuality far better than natures like +mine, which are sometimes thought gay, sometimes melancholy, now good +and then bad, or not at all what they seem, which are sometimes too +little, sometimes too much, trusted, and rarely or never understood." + +"Oh, Cornelia!" cried one of the guests, the famous actor N----, across +the table. "Do you mean to say that we don't understand you?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Cornelia. "I had principally in view those +whom I consider different from myself. You understand me because you +resemble me, and are all, more or less, artist natures!" + +"Do you mean that all artist natures are as truthful as yourself?" +asked _Heinrich_, doubtfully. + +"Certainly; when I trust a man it is the artist, especially those who +represent things." + +"I am curious to know upon what you found that idea," murmured +_Heinrich_, in a low tone. "The actor certainly practices dissimulation +as his profession." + +"Oh, do not say that! You will surely admit that in every man there is +an impulse towards truth and falsehood, as well as good and evil," +began Cornelia. "With almost all persons this impulse, like their other +good and bad qualities, exerts an influence upon their lives; they lie +and deceive in personal intercourse. But there are exceptions, among +those in whom this propensity to deceive is decomposed by Heaven knows +what process of intellectual chemistry, and becomes objective; that is, +forms a power of acting entirely apart from the subject. This power +seeks an independent form, and finds it in art, wherein it develops the +highest, most artistic structure, and those in whom such a process has +been completed are artists, especially actors. Then if the commonplace +man can satisfy that strange and undeniable propensity towards +falsehood only in real life, in the actor it is to a certain extent +_guided_ into a higher, loftier region, and he becomes in reality truer +and more natural than many who are only considered honest because they +are too awkward to feign." + +"Your explanation is logical," replied _Heinrich_, "but you cannot +carry it into practical execution. Opportunity makes thieves, a +capability for falsehood tempts to falsehood. Even the actor will not +disdain to obtain an advantage at the expense of truth, and the +temptation is all the greater the more he is convinced that the +deception will be successful. Nay, I can even imagine that there must +be a charm to him in making use of his histrionic skill, not only upon +the stage, but off the boards, and I have seen celebrated actors who +could not help perpetually performing a part." + +Cornelia reflected a moment, and then said, calmly: "There are such +instances, of course, but I do not call such people artists; there are +two distinct classes of men who bear that name. If this talent we have +just mentioned is coupled with more or less mental capacity, the union +produces more or less brilliant _performers_; if, however, there is a +counterpoise of the great qualities of the soul and heart, it produces +_artists_. The performer, it is true, employs the talents at his +command in life as well as in art; he knows no higher object than +effect. He deceives in life as well as in art when it will make an +effect, and in both is true to the same purpose. As he has neither +character nor heart, he is neither good nor bad upon principle; he +simply turns his talents to his own profit where and as he can. It is +this class of people who have in many respects degraded the position of +artists. The artist, on the contrary, perceives and seeks something far +higher than effect! Like all men of noble aims, he, too, has an ideal +towards which he unselfishly struggles--truth. If he seeks this in his +art, often even at the expense of the applause so indispensable to the +actor, if he is so conscientious in the realm of illusion, why should +he not be equally so in the domain of reality? The power of +transforming his whole nature at will he considers as a gift bestowed +to serve the holy purpose of art, and would no more turn it to his own +advantage than the honorable citizen would obtain an illegal profit +from an accidental or fairly won supremacy over others. A keener, more +active, sensitive faculty, and the habit of an elevated manner of +expression, may give him a peculiar, 'exaggerated,' perhaps 'affected' +appearance,--words with which the commonplace man so eagerly points out +what he does not understand; but you will acknowledge that a person may +be affected and yet possess true, genuine feelings; as, on the other +hand, the falsest and most designing men often appear the most +artless." + +"Certainly," said _Heinrich_. + +"You see," continued Cornelia, "that as from the worst and most +different materials the brightest, purest flame can be produced, so art +transfigures deception with the highest manifestations. Thus in real +artists falsehood aspires towards truth! The highest object of his +performance is the union of both, and the triumph of falsehood becomes +in him a triumph of truth!" + +Cornelia glanced gayly upwards towards the jets of gas in the +chandelier. In her enthusiastic defense she had involuntarily raised +her voice, and did not notice that every one was looking at her. When +she paused, all shouted a hearty bravo. _Heinrich_ sat motionless, with +his head resting on his hand, gazing earnestly at her; he could not +smile and applaud with the others,--he was asking himself, "Do I +deserve this woman?" + +The supper was over; he started up and approached her as the company +prepared to take leave. "Cornelia, Prison Fairy, you have opened a new +world to me. My mind is so full of all I have heard from you that I +cannot speak. Only tell me whether I may come again tomorrow?" + +"Certainly, Herr Baron." + +"Oh, do not be so formal, Prison Fairy! Let me hear my name from your +lips as you bid me farewell, that I may hold it dearer; or my baptismal +name. Ah, Cornelia, I should like to hear how it sounded if you would +say Good-night, _Heinrich_.'" + +"No, Herr von Ottmar, I cannot; you are still too great a stranger." + +_Heinrich_ bit his lips as if deeply abashed, and said, with a low bow, +"Pardon me, Fraeulein, I was indiscreet." + +Cornelia held out her hand and looked at him with all her winning charm +of manner. "No, no, Herr von Ottmar, I did not wish to cause you pain. +I promise you that ere I sleep I will say in thought, 'Good-night, +_Heinrich_!' Does that satisfy you?" + +_Heinrich_ kissed her hand in a transport of delight. "Thanks, lovely +creature! And now good-night, my fairy; send me a pleasant dream." + +Veronica approached: he took leave of her; the departing guests pressed +him back, and, waving a farewell to Cornelia, he left the house. When +he reached the street he raised his hat from his head to allow the +night wind to cool his burning brow; and now he was _Henri_ again, for +he knew he was expected by a beautiful woman who had followed him home +from his last journey, and hitherto held his senses in her chains. He +mechanically obeyed the force of old habit and turned his steps towards +her residence. But when he stood before the house behind whose lighted +windows the glittering daughter of sin awaited him in dreams heavy with +forebodings, a strange, incomprehensible feeling overpowered him. +Cornelia's pure, wonderful charms appeared so vividly before his soul +that he turned with repugnance from the desecrated image that allured +him. He perceived that no one had any power of attraction except +Cornelia, and that nothing could satisfy his longing for her. He went +home, and that very night wrote a farewell letter to his purchased +love, and freed himself from his unworthy chains. + + +A ray of light fell through the heavy silken curtains of Veronica's +bed, and waked the sleeper. She looked around and saw Cornelia, who, +with a lamp in her hand, was noiselessly gliding through the chamber +towards the door of the salon. "What do you want there, child?" asked +Veronica; "why are you still dressed? I had already fallen asleep." + +Cornelia started. "I forgot something," she replied, and slipped out of +the room. When she returned through Veronica's chamber she carried a +portfolio in her hand. + +"What have you there?" asked Veronica. + +"Don't be angry with me for waking you, dear," said Cornelia, kissing +the white, aged brow, "I only wanted to read Hedwig's essay again; it +was left in the parlor." + +When she had closed the door of her pleasant bedroom behind her, she +took Ottmar's portrait from the portfolio, placed it on a reading-desk, +sat down before it, and, shielding her eyes with both hands, rested her +arms on the table, and became absorbed in studying the mysterious head. +The more she looked at it the more beautiful she found it. "How simple +those lines are, and yet how rich, how infinitely expressive! Oh, who +could decipher the mute language of that ardent mouth, whose kiss still +burns upon my hand? How can people kiss so with such delicate lips? It +is not the lips that kiss, it is his heart, which lies between them; +that is why his caress is so soft, so warm; that is why it penetrates +to the inmost soul. And when he speaks they are again only the +beautiful, slender banks over which the flood of feeling streams! And +those eyes,--oh, they reveal all the wonders of the soul! He might err, +nay, he might even be shattered by life, but the look that shines in +his eyes is divine; it will raise him above his lower nature, and +everything else. And I,--I will aid him; I will join the good genius +that floats above the darkness of his soul like the Spirit of God over +chaos, and teach him to perceive his own greatness, his ideal +strength." + +She sat long, absorbed in thought; but, by degrees, it seemed as if the +pictured head moved to and fro, the eyes turned, the lips parted and +closed again. She gazed and made the light burn brighter; in vain. +Nature asserted her rights, sleep was casting her deceptive veil over +her weary head. She rose, removed the flowers from her hair, and +released her lovely form from its clinging drapery. Again and again her +eyes rested upon the drawing. She paused. "How you look at me, as if +you were alive! as if I ought to be confused! Stop, wait! You shall not +see me undress." So saying, she hastily placed the picture in the +writing-table, went to bed, extinguished the light, and nestled +comfortably among the pillows. "Good-night, _Heinrich_." + + + + + XI. + + A NEW LIFE. + + +After _Henri_ had written his letter, the exhausted body imperiously +demanded rest, and while it slept _Heinrich_ hastened to Cornelia and +hovered round her slumbering soul as if it were the petals of a folded +rosebud. She did not know, but she suspected it; the magic of the soul +revealed his presence, and she felt his spiritual kiss. + +When Ottmar awoke the following morning he thought he had not slept +well, and had been dreaming a great deal of the Prison Fairy. Yet +neither had been dreaming; although their bodies slept, their souls +were together. _Heinrich_ remained in bed some time. He was in the best +of humors, and compared this awakening with the one six years before, +when he had resolved to yield to the power of the Jesuits. At that time +he was in the act of beginning a new but worse life, as to-day he had +awakened to a new and better one. He thought of Cornelia with grateful +reverence. Through her he obtained a peace of which he had long been +deprived; for, while in himself there was naught save opposition and +contrast, in her he found the complement of his nature and the full +satisfaction of homogeneousness. Thus _Heinrich_ already preferred to +dwell upon her harmonious character rather than the struggles in his +own breast, and this was one step, though scarcely perceptible, towards +liberation from the egotism that was constantly throwing him back upon +himself. Even _Henri_, the night before, had rejected the pleasure of +the moment, and yielded to an ardent love for an object he could never +expect to obtain his way. Even in this hopeless submission there was a +slight contest with his usual selfish pursuit of pleasure. It was with +a certain feeling of abhorrence that he compared the base passions of +the past with his longing for Cornelia's intellectual charms, and fell +into this temporary self-sacrifice. Thus egotism sooner or later +defeats itself. The true egotist ends with a feeling of loathing and +disgust, not only towards the world, but himself. Unmistakable tokens +of this state were already visible both in _Heinrich_ and _Henri_; but, +fortunately for him, he was at an age when fresh buds can shoot forth +and supply the places of those that are dead. These germs now began to +stir with life. Intellect and feeling, with equal power, drew +_Heinrich_ and _Henri_ towards a being whose bodily and mental gifts +were equal. In this the two extremes already began to approach; but +they did not yet understand each other, and their meeting must still +produce conflict instead of reconciliation. + +Ottmar lay for a long time absorbed in meditations upon his strange +twofold nature. A servant entered to wake him. He remembered how he had +expected old Anton to come in that morning, and, for the first time, a +strange face appeared instead. "Good old Anton, no doubt he was right," +thought _Heinrich_; "and how shamefully he was treated! Now he would +certainly have no occasion to be angry about such faults. He was the +best servant I ever had. I will take him back again." He rose, ordered +a message to be sent to the inn for old Anton, and sat down to write to +Cornelia. + +"Her name is Erwing," said he; "that is the name of the famous +democrat. Can she be his daughter? If so, she can scarcely have known +her father, for Erwing must have fled from North Germany to America at +least twenty years ago. It must be so. That is why she concealed her +name in the prison; she probably knew it would be no letter of +recommendation. That accounts for her relations with Reinhold, too. It +is decidedly unpleasant! I shall not get much honor at court by the +acquaintance. But it need never be known there. It is winter, night +shuts in at four o'clock; I shall only go to her house in the evening, +so the whole affair can be concealed from the eyes of the jeering +aristocracy. My occasional appearance in literary circles will not be +misconstrued, as I have the reputation of unusual erudition." He began +to write: "Cornelia!" He paused. "Cornelia! It was a lofty spirit that +gave her this proud name; is she a true child of this spirit? I almost +believe it. That she glides into the cells of the lowest criminals does +not spring from humility,--it is the defiance of compassion against the +harshness of force, and the consciousness of the joy-giving power of +her own individuality. Woe to him who ventured to wound her pride! He +would have lost her." + +Just at that moment Anton was announced. He threw aside his pen and +went forward to meet him. It seemed, as he rejoiced over the return of +the old servant, as if some kind of companionship was now a necessity. + +"Welcome, faithful companion of my past!" he cried. "Will you share my +future?" + +"I don't come to force myself upon you as a servant, Herr Baron," said +Anton, whose voice trembled with emotion, "but I must give you one +parting hint before my return,--it seems to be intended that I am to +keep watch for you." + +"Well?" + +"Your beautiful estates at H----, Herr Baron, really need your +oversight again. The steward and inspector are both in league to let +everything go to ruin and fill their own pockets." + +"What, what! How do you know that? Do you know that during the last few +years my income from the estates has lessened so materially that it has +caused me serious anxiety, and were it not for my salary I should find +it difficult to live?" + +"A proof that I speak the truth. On my way here I passed by +Ottmarsfeld, and a secret impulse led me into the old castle and the +gardens where I saw you, Herr Baron, grow to manhood. But it caused me +real sorrow to see how everything had changed for the worse. The +stately castle is out of repair in many places, the gardens have run +wild, and the cattle are miserable beasts. There are only fifteen +day-laborers on the estate, and they are lazy and carelessly watched." + +"That is certainly shameful!" cried _Heinrich_. "The inspector has put +down thirty day-laborers to my account every year, and charged me many +hundreds for repairs on the buildings." + +"You will convince yourself that you have been deceived, and your +splendid property must soon be ruined if matters go on in this way," +said Anton. + +_Heinrich_ paced thoughtfully up and down the room, then turned to +Anton and held out his hand. "You are the most faithful soul that I +have in the world. Anton, you must enter my service again; surely you +cannot yet live without me." + +"You know why I left you, Herr Baron," he answered. + +"I know," cried _Heinrich_, laughing; "but I don't think you will have +any further occasion to fear similar cases. I am not quite so bad as +you think, and have become much more steady of late." + +"Oh, I can never think my own dear master wicked!" said Anton, deeply +touched. "But what suits you--is not quite so proper for me. It may be +perfectly natural for an aristocratic young gentleman to follow the +inclinations of his heart, while it would be wrong for a sedate old man +to lend his assistance to things which went against his conscience. So +I might be placed in a position where I should be compelled to disobey +you, and then you would only send me away again. Let me go home,--I +cannot promise unconditional obedience." + +"And you need not, Anton," said _Heinrich_, gravely. "I do not wish to +make a mere machine of you; I will compel you to do nothing that is +against your principles, and you shall even tell me your opinion as +much as you please, if it should ever prove necessary. It is tiresome +for a man to have no one to quarrel with except himself. I have blessed +you a thousand times during the last few weeks for having had the +boldness to baffle my wishes, and therefore in atonement I will assure +you an inalienable asylum with me as long as you live. Can I do more?" + +"Oh, my dear, kind master!" cried Anton, kissing _Heinrich's_ hands +with a flood of joyful tears. "After such, generosity it is surely my +duty to devote all the rest of my life to you, and serve you in all +honesty as long as I can. Ah, I really believe you are going to be the +dear little master I had thirty years ago!" + +He was interrupted by the entrance of Albert, who looked paler and +graver than Ottmar had expected. + +"Well," asked _Heinrich_, "have you slept off your first intoxication +of joy, and do you now feel somewhat depressed?" + +"Yes, dear Herr Baron," replied Albert. "It is strange; yesterday I +felt nothing, thought of nothing, except that I was free; to-day I +already perceive the necessity for me to act, and as the prison was +formerly too narrow, the world is now too wide for me. I totter and +know not where I can obtain support. Yesterday I only felt that the +dungeon had cast me out; to-day I feel that life has not yet received +me, and seem so helpless that I could weep like a lost child." + +"I understand that, Albert. You cannot yet feel at ease in your new +position. Your strength of will has been asleep during your five +years' imprisonment, and now, when you need it, refuses to obey your +bidding. This, as a matter of course, makes you anxious; but it is +ungrateful to consider yourself deserted. Can a man receive more +abundant assistance than you have had from me?" + +"Oh, my noble, generous patron, my whole life belongs to you! How can +you believe me ungrateful? I bless you with every breath of God's free +air I take. But ought I to eat the bread of charity in your house, even +if you wished it? Must I not go out into the world and earn something, +that I may at last make a home for the unhappy girl who has suffered +and atoned so truly? But what am I to do? I can accomplish so little, +my superficial knowledge makes me so dependent. Who will trust the +murderer?" + +"Any one who knows you, Albert," said _Heinrich_, kindly. + +Albert's frank brown eyes gazed at him doubtfully. "Do you think so? +Ah, when I was in prison, among the criminals whose fate I unjustly +shared, I seemed like a saint; but now I am free and in the society of +irreproachable men, I feel for the first time like a criminal, and +scarcely venture to raise my shame-dyed face." + +"Albert, in spite of your error, you are a man of more delicate and +noble feelings than millions of the irreproachable citizens who pride +themselves upon their phlegmatic honesty. That is why there are so few +who understand you well enough to disregard your past as I do. I will +take you henceforth into my employment. Will you undertake to become my +steward?" + +"The steward of your estates?" asked Albert, in joyful astonishment. + +"Yes; I know you studied agriculture with a landowner in V---- before +you turned to the career of a priest, and came to the college. However, +if you did not learn enough there, I will send you to the agricultural +school at C---- for six months to perfect your education; and then I +think you will become a faithful manager of my property. You can marry +your Roeschen; and the steward's house is so large that in the course of +a few years you can tell a number of children the story of the Prison +Fairy." + +A deep blush suffused Albert's face, and he clasped his hands with an +involuntary sigh. "Oh, the Prison Fairy, Herr Baron! You and the Prison +Fairy are the noblest human beings the Lord ever made! What shall I say +to you? I can give you no better thanks than the wish that destiny may +unite you!" With these words he hurried from the room. + +_Heinrich_ gazed after him for a long time in silence. "So that is the +greatest blessing you can desire for me? Poor fellow! You too, without +knowing it, love the Prison Fairy. It is because you must be deprived +of her that freedom itself seems cold and barren; and yet she is so far +above you that you do not venture to raise your eyes towards her. To me +alone you will not grudge her, whom you consider the essence of +everything admirable. And I? Does not the blood mount into my cheeks +when I think how little I deserve what you wish me; and how, like a +thief, I steal the semblance of virtues I do not possess!" + + +Veronica and Cornelia were sitting in their little tea-room, engaged in +needle-work. "Cornelia, you sew very little, and talk still less," said +Veronica to the young girl, who was sitting silent and motionless, +gazing at the green shade that covered the lamp. + +"I can neither sew nor talk: I am thinking of Ottmar," she answered, +frankly. "Is not such a soul, which approaches ours for the first time +and opens a new world to us, worthy of being received with quiet +solemnity? Are we to rest on that day which commemorates a miracle that +happened long ago and has never been fully proved? and when the Deity +reveals one of its greatest wonders to our eyes, ought we to grudge our +souls a time of sabbath repose in which to receive this lofty guest? +You must not reproach me if, under this impression, I spend a few days +longer in idle dreams. It is my nature!" + +"You are just what I wish to see you, my Cornelia. God grant that you +may remain so! Give yourself up to your own thoughts undisturbed. Put +aside your work and remain silent. People do not hold communion with +each other only when they talk." + +Another pause followed, and nothing was to be heard except the clicking +of Veronica's knitting-needles. But the old lady was not silent long. +"You have a deep mind, Cornelia: I could not reflect so long upon any +subject; and in spite of my years I enjoy life more unquestioningly +than you. What approaches me lovingly I believe in, and when I trust I +enter into no subtle inquiries." + +Cornelia smiled but made no reply, for these words showed her that +Veronica only partially understood her mood; and she did not feel +disposed to disclose her feelings any further, though she could not +have given a reason for it even to herself. Her large eyes rested +affectionately upon the old lady, and she merely asked, "Dear Veronica, +are people investigating a subject when they are silently enjoying it?" + +"Make the tea, my little angel," said Veronica; "the organ will suit +your solemn mood." + +Cornelia arranged the tea-table, lighted the wick under an +old-fashioned silver tea-kettle, and then sat down to listen to the +charming music that instantly became audible. At first one could only +distinguish the different tones of boiling water, but by degrees they +became more melodious, and blended together not into a confused +bubbling, but the notes of the choral song, "Blick hin nach Golgotha!" +It was a wonderfully artistic plaything, concealed in the lid, and set +in motion by a glass roller, by the pressure of steam. The tones of +course were louder or fainter as the water boiled more or less +violently, and thus the whole sounded like the singing of a tea kettle, +transformed into melody by some invisible fairy. + +This tender, mysterious music did indeed harmonize with Cornelia's +mood, and she looked up as if roused from a dream when the stiff, +precise old servant entered, and, with a doubtful mien, said that Herr +von Ottmar wished to see the ladies. + +"He is very welcome," said Veronica, joyfully; and the old man, casting +a sullen glance at Cornelia's blushing face, opened the door. + +_Heinrich_ entered. He apologized for the late hour of his visit by +saying that he had received a note from the prince, directing him to +prepare for a journey, and expect further orders the following day. +Thus it might happen that he would be compelled to set out at once +without having any time for farewells. + +Veronica assured him that no apology was necessary, and begged him to +take tea with them. The old servant, to his great disgust, was ordered +to bring another plate, and sternly placed a chair for _Heinrich_ +beside Veronica, pressing it violently on the floor, as if he would +like to make it grow there; but _Heinrich_ involuntarily pushed it +towards Cornelia, and the old man withdrew, shaking his head. + +Cornelia said nothing, and _Heinrich_ looked at her inquiringly. In the +silence that followed he noticed the singing of the tea-kettle. + +"What strange little organ have you there?" he asked, in surprise. + +"It is a relic of my sentimental youth," replied Veronica, "and is +really closely connected with a portion of my life." + +"Why, that is very interesting! What air is it playing?" + +"A choral I often sang in my young clays. Tell Herr von Ottmar the +words, Cornelia, or he will think you have forgotten how to speak." + +Cornelia repeated the well-known strophe: + + + "Schau hin nach Golgotha! + Dort schwebt am Kreuzes-stamm' + Im Todeskampf dein Jesus, + Mit deiner Schuld beladen. + Schau hin nach Golgotha! + Er neigt sein sterbend Haupt, + Es bricht sein Herz, + Selbst Engel weinen: + Der Welterloeser todt!" + + +"It is a beautiful choral, but it does not suit a gay social circle," +said Cornelia, evidently deeply moved. She had felt that her voice grew +tremulous during the recital, and thought herself obliged to apologize. +"The profound melancholy of that sublime death overwhelms me in those +few lines. They conjure up the whole picture of the saddest hour earth +has ever known, and I cannot refrain from tears." + +"While you spoke I saw only the angels who were weeping there," +whispered _Heinrich_, gazing at her with delight, "and yet your +trembling voice touched me strangely. Who gave you this prophetic +inspiration, which, after the lapse of centuries, feels agonies perhaps +never endured? All the sufferings of Christ were mirrored in your +eyes." + +"Oh, who could help feeling them?" replied Cornelia. "Who that truly +entered into them could help being thrilled with the deepest grief? +What a sacrifice, to make himself the bleeding example of his +teachings! What a love, which devotes itself to secure the happiness of +a world! When I read the history of the passion, it seems as if I had a +thousand hearts, so keenly, so painfully, do I feel the death-agony of +the One Heart that bore in itself the sorrows of all, suffered for all, +bled for all, loved all,--even those who betrayed it,--and was +understood and valued by so few. I see him turn pale, and feel how Mary +counts his last sighs and dies ten deaths with him. The breezes pause +in their course and are silent: the clouded sky bends heavily towards +the earth; all creation is frozen with terror, and listens for the +fearful moment when the God-man shall die,--when the monstrous murder +of the Guiltless One shall be completed. And now he bends his head, and +all is over. It is done, and the long-repressed woe breaks forth. The +storm rages over the earth, rends the veil, bursts the false temple. +The world groans; and the Lord himself, touched even in his +unapproachable divinity, extends his arms to his beloved Son to receive +him to his heart. Oh, my friend, who can read or hear this story +without being moved to the very depths of his soul? Even if you deny +this great event and prove that it never existed, and even reveal who +invented it,--who subjected a world to the might of this thought,--he +too was inspired by a higher power,--he too came from God and has +performed a miracle; a miracle that no one can deny, for it uplifts +itself in gigantic structures of stone in every land; it stamps its +impress upon every grave; it receives the new-born infant with a holy +ordinance; it is the last consolation of the dying; nay, at this very +moment it fills your own breast with silent veneration: I can see it in +you." + +_Heinrich_ could scarcely breathe; he did not know what had befallen +him. Was it a supernatural creature who was speaking to him? He was +obliged to start up and go to the window, so strangely did his thoughts +pulse through his brain. Was it the artistic impression of her +powerful, eloquent words, her animated play of expression, the capacity +for suffering in her nature bodingly revealed in this description, or +the effect of the words themselves? He knew not, but he felt as much +agitated as if Christianity had just been revealed to him for the first +time. + +"You could do more good than many preachers," he said, at last, +returning to his seat. "You understand how to obtain a hold upon the +soul, and I am amazed at your religious enthusiasm. I should have +supposed you to have more tendency towards rationalism. Are you a +Protestant?" + +"Oh, do not ask whether I am Catholic or Protestant! I am a +Christian,--that is the principal thing. By faith and education I +am a Protestant; but I belong to no creed, for I have no faith in +miracles,--at least the miracles the church teaches. I recognize too +entirely the divinity of the laws of the universe to believe that God +must remove Nature from her usual course to reveal himself. Every +deviation from natural laws is an abnormal condition, and therefore +unlovely, for all beauty consists in the harmony of each individual +part with the whole; but I can accept and reverence nothing that is not +beautiful,--far less consider God, the soul of the system of the world, +as the author of an anomaly. Herein I am a rationalist. I hate those +who bar the progress of science, because they fear the natural +explanation of things may destroy the dogma of revelation; but I also +hate those who think that by the natural explanation of things they can +deny the existence of a higher power. God reveals himself indirectly in +the laws of nature, and directly in the soul. The noblest man is to me +the greatest wonder of creation; and if I believe Christ to be the son +of Joseph, I adore him none the less as the true Son of God, spirit of +his Spirit, proceeding from and returning to him. Thus I am a Christian +with my whole soul, and, with ardent love, bear my Saviour in my heart +as my highest model. What would all my acts be if I had not this +fundamental principle of Christianity? if I did not perform my +charitable deeds in the spirit of self-sacrifice Christ taught us, what +should I be? A sentimental adventuress, a heroine of romance, who has +one eccentric caprice today and another to-morrow; is always playing a +part, and constantly unhappy because she has no object, no purpose, in +life; for selfishness leaves us always empty and unsatisfied, while +Christianity is its most powerful opponent." + +_Heinrich_ sat for some time in silence, with his eyes fixed upon the +floor; when he looked up Cornelia was gazing into his grave countenance +with an expression of affectionate inquiry,--she felt that her last +words had touched some sensitive point. _Heinrich_ passed his hand +through his hair as if he wished to banish the obtrusive thoughts that +crowded upon him. + +"The poetry of Christianity has excited and enchained your fancy. It +would be useless to convince you by scientific proofs, since you have +formed a religion which is not dependent upon them." + +"Certainly," laughed Cornelia. + +"You _wish_ to believe, and therefore you do. You are fortunate! You +have produced a wonderful harmony between your skeptical reason and +enthusiastic heart. I admire you; for this theory of spiritual +revelation by natural means, which can go hand in hand with science, is +the best that a talented woman can appropriate. Who taught you all +this?" + +"Her own harmonious soul," said Veronica. "She has a keen intellect, +and a soft, feeling heart; therefore she does not believe +unconditionally, as we are obliged to do, and yet is full of religious +devotion. Thus she found that harmony, as you call it, and restored +peace to her mind. When you know her better, you will be astonished at +the wonderful symmetry of her nature." + +"I am already!" exclaimed _Heinrich_; "I never had any intellectual +pleasure which could be compared to my intercourse with you. I could +listen forever in rapturous delight to the thousand turns her thoughts +take. Tell me, Cornelia, from what noble union of wondrous hearts did +you spring, to be mentally and bodily so beautiful,--so beautiful?" + +Cornelia looked at Veronica. The latter passed _Heinrich_ a cup. "Take +some tea, and I will tell you the story of my musical urn, which +interested you so much just now. You will thereby learn our whole +history, if you care to know it." + +"Oh. pray tell me whatever I may be permitted to hear. You do not know +how eagerly I desire it." + +"I have already told you," began Veronica, "that Cornelia is the child +of my adopted daughter. This adopted daughter, the wife of the +political martyr Erwing, was thrown upon my hands by a singular +destiny, and I thank God, that, through her and afterwards through +Cornelia, he gave my life a purpose and meaning. I enjoyed a mother's +pleasures without being compelled to suffer her pains; for when God +took my dear adopted daughter from me, my grief would have been +infinitely greater if the lost one had been mine by birth. But Cornelia +has, as yet, given me nothing but joy. She was difficult to educate, +but even the toil of reducing these chaotic talents to order was a +pleasure. That I have succeeded in doing so is a wonder to myself, for +I never had an opportunity to study these powerful characters. My +mother, to the day of her death, had a childlike heart. She was only +sixteen years older than I, and seemed like a friend and playmate +rather than a mother. The governess my father procured for me really +educated the mamma at the same time with the little daughter! This gay, +innocent youth has been the foundation of my character. My grandfather +was a Danish nobleman, who became a widower at my mother's birth, and +lived a solitary life upon his estates at Soroee, though he opened his +house to all the nobility in the neighborhood. It chanced that an +acquaintance one day introduced a friend named Albin, a native of +Holstein, who was traveling through the country. Herr von Albin, a +handsome, attractive man of fifty, was seated at dinner next to my +mother, who at that time was not quite fifteen, and she particularly +remembered that when some magnificent strawberries were served at +dessert, the gentleman assured her that much larger and finer ones grew +on his estate. This greatly astonished my mother, for she had always +believed the strawberries in her garden the best in the world. + +"A few weeks after a servant summoned her to her father's room, and the +latter informed her that she would soon be married. She said, 'As you +please, dear father,' and went sorrowfully back to her governess. When, +however, on the following day Herr von Albin was presented to her as +her future bridegroom, she was greatly delighted, for she thought of +the wonderful strawberries that grew on the kind gentleman's estate. + +"This Herr von Albin was my father. He loved my mother with touching +tenderness, and did everything in his power to prevent her from feeling +the great difference in their ages. He took journeys with her, and as +German society pleased her far better than the formal Danish etiquette +of those days, lived by turns upon his Holstein estates in summer, and +the North German City of B---- in winter. Thus it happens that my whole +nature is thoroughly North German, and I have also inculcated some of +it into Cornelia's mind. When I was in my fourteenth year I lost my +father, and my mother, then scarcely thirty, was still very girlish in +her appearance, and equally so in character. The death of the kind +husband whom she had loved with childlike reverence was the first +sorrow of her life. + +"With the same obedience with which she had formerly married Herr von +Albin she now, at her father's command, wedded a second husband; but +this time she did not rejoice over beautiful strawberries. + +"My stepfather, an attache of the Danish Embassy in N----, was very +rich; and as my father's estates were entailed an male heirs, and my +mother had also inherited little or nothing, my grandfather, whose +property likewise reverted to the crown at his death, wished by this +marriage to secure his daughter a future free from care. But whether my +mother was happy with this man I will leave you to decide. He was a +cold aristocrat, chose society which was distasteful to us, and left us +much alone at a retired country seat, where we led a life devoted to +books and belles-lettres. + +"Chance made me acquainted with a young officer, who, despite his +youth, was already a widower, and the father of a little two-year-old +daughter. We loved each other, and he asked for my hand; but my +stepfather refused his consent, because the marriage did not suit his +plans for me, and perhaps, also, because he had no inclination to give +me a dowry. What a nature that young man possessed! Alas! he bore the +doom of an early death. During our stay at our country seat my mother +sometimes permitted him to visit us. She became constantly sadder and +paler, and the only hours that she seemed more animated and joyous were +those we all spent together. I sang and played upon the piano passably +well, and the choral we have just mentioned, which was peculiarly in +harmony with my Edmund's religious feelings, I sang for him again and +again. We spent many such evenings as this together, and were never +happier than when assembled around the steaming tea-urn in North German +fashion. My friend often said it would be charming if its confused +humming could be transformed into a distinct melody, for he found all +the charm of northern sentimentality in its mysterious music. + +"Just at this time my stepfather suddenly died, leaving my mother a +large fortune, and there was now no further impediment to our marriage. +We wished to have my betrothed husband resign from the army at once; +but he would not consent. He wished to take part in the last great +campaign against Napoleon before he resigned himself to the happiness +of private life. We parted as betrothed lovers; I took his little +daughter from her boarding-school to my own home, to be a mother to +her, for I loved the child; but my mother clung to the little one with +peculiar affection. After the departure of my affianced husband, she +was often confined to her bed, but her still youthful and beautiful +features beamed with almost superhuman love when she clasped the +little girl in her arms. She was then thirty-eight years old, and I +two-and-twenty. Alas! it was only later that I first suspected the true +cause of my mother's quiet illness. Her poor heart had never known +love,--let me be silent." The speaker's bright eyes suddenly grew dim, +and tears ran down her pale cheeks. + +"Oh, God!" murmured _Heinrich_, involuntarily. + +"She was constantly thinking of what we could do to surprise Edmund on +his return," continued Veronica. "One day she said she would like to +have him find on our table an urn constructed exactly as he had +desired, and that the toy, whose idea she suggested to me, should play +his favorite choral, 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' As I saw how greatly +she had set her heart upon it, I instantly gave the order to the +celebrated mechanician, Gebhardt, and in the course of a few months the +work was completed. Alas! it afforded her the last pleasure she ever +knew. It played for the first time one dreary autumn evening. She sat +up in bed with her arm around the little girl, and listened with +childlike devotion. 'May you solemnize a beautiful service of love with +this organ!' said she. 'Make his home-life bright and pleasant, that he +may always be glad to stay with you; believe me, a solitary wife is a +most wretched creature. Make him happy, my Veronica; he deserves it.' +'Grandmamma,' lisped the child, throwing her little arms lovingly +around the neck of the fair, youthful 'grandmother.' Her cheeks flushed +feverishly, and she concealed her tears upon the neck of the 'little +angel.' Do you know, Veronica, that I have begun to write poetry in my +old age!' she said, suddenly, with a mournful smile. Yesterday I +composed these verses: + + + "Thank thy God, oh, happy mortal! + Love's thy portion here below, + And, glorified in death by love, + Thy immortal part shall glow. + + "Love suffered for thee on the cross, + Upon Golgotha died for thee; + Is ever near, though far away + He whom thou lov'st may be. + + "Cheer thee, my heart, though here on earth + Thou seekest love in vain; + Feel that there is no lack with God; + Cry blessings on his name. + + +"'Oh, mother!' I exclaimed, deeply touched, 'why is this? Do you lack +love? Do we not all love you most tenderly?' Weeping bitterly, I +pressed her to my heart. Just at that moment a letter was brought in. +From him she exclaimed, broke the seal, and sank back senseless upon +the pillows. I tore the letter from her rigid hands,--it was the notice +of my lover's death. I rushed into the next room to conceal the +outbreak of my anguish from my mother, and, throwing myself upon my +knees, prayed for strength. Suddenly I heard strange sounds, which made +me start up, and, at the same time, the child screamed aloud. In mortal +terror I hurried back to find my mother in her death-agony. 'Mother, +mother,' I shrieked, despairingly, 'do not leave me alone in my +misery!' With a look of inexpressible love, she placed the little one +in my arms; I clasped them both in a wild embrace; felt the last breath +of her pure lips, and then sank back senseless, dimly hearing, as if +from another world, the air 'Schau hin nach Golgotha!' Spare me the +description of my sufferings. For a year I struggled with a disease of +the lungs, but my strong, youthful constitution obtained the victory. +Yet one tiny flower of happiness bloomed for me upon my lover's grave: +his little daughter,--his own flesh and blood,--a part of himself. I +had not wholly lost him,--was not entirely alone. Nay, the child +resembled him so much that with silent delight I saw his living image +always before me, but the double blow had so crushed my soul that I +needed and sought seclusion. I purchased a small estate in the province +of R----, where I devoted myself entirely to the sorrowful pleasure of +educating my Antonie and cherishing memories of my lover,--let people +say what they chose,--and shut myself up in my little world of feeling. +I read everything new that appeared in the kingdom of literature, and +in all found myself and my own grief. By degrees I became not only calm +but happy; the lonely life I led caused all the pictures of my memory +to assume so tangible a form that my lover and my dear mother appeared +before me,--I was surrounded by all whom I loved. Thus the dead became +alive to me, and the living, with the exception of my child, dead. The +happier I felt in these dreams the more anxiously I avoided all contact +with reality, that the delicate webs of my fancy might not be torn +asunder by its rude touch. Nor was this difficult, for no one troubled +themselves about the stranger. Beautiful scenes of nature entranced me +with their ever-varying charms; an excellent servant managed my little +household; and thus for fourteen years I lived entirely apart from the +world with my adopted daughter, my books, and my dead. This is the +reason why I seem too young for my age,--I stood still for many years +of my life. But when Antonie grew up, I perceived that I ought not to +make the bright, blooming young girl a hermit. My parents' house in +N---- was empty, and I resolved to move here and introduce my adopted +child to society; but how was I astonished to find it so entirely +different from what I had left it! Since peace had once more smiled +upon the country,--since no universal sorrow impressed its deep seal +upon every soul,--men seemed to me more selfish, more material. They +doubtless still coquetted with a certain sentimentality, but it seemed +to me that with true sorrow true feeling had also vanished. Time had +advanced, while during my long seclusion I had remained standing still; +I felt that I did not understand this world, and was even allowed to +perceive that I no longer suited it. As through my extensive course of +reading Antonie and I had obtained knowledge, and also, probably, +formed some opinions, several literary people became interested +in us, and thus, with Antonie's full consent, I again withdrew from +society, to collect around me a circle of men and women who possessed +similar tastes. The unfortunate republican, Erwing, then a quiet, +much-respected man and a distinguished author, was also introduced to +me. He loved and married Antonie; Cornelia was born the following year. +At that time Erwing was already developing his dangerous political +tendencies. He was a noble man, and sacrificed himself to his +principles, and, alas! his wife also, who died of grief for him. God +took her from the world; her death broke down all the barriers that had +hitherto restrained Erwing, and his sorrow for her increased his +political wrath to its height. Soon after, the unhappy man was obliged +to fly to America, where he died, leaving the orphan, to whom, since +her father's flight, I have filled a mother's place, as I did to her +mother. In so doing I have fulfilled a sweet and sacred duty to my dead +love, who lives and hovers around me in eternal youth, and blesses my +efforts in behalf of his granddaughter!" + +The old maid paused, with cheeks crimsoned with blushes; she had folded +her hands over her knitting, and seemed wholly absorbed in memories of +the past. Cornelia sat lost in thought, with her head resting on her +hand. + +"What a face, so victorious in its calm pride!" said _Heinrich_ to +himself; "what hair, what a neck, what an arm! What movements, and +lines! What grace! Yes, it is the _soul_ that animates this frame, and +warm blood that gleams through it so rosily!" + +He laid his open palm before her on the table; she placed her hand in +it. There was nothing very singular in the action, but her cheeks +glowed; it seemed as if he was drawing her head towards him, as if she +must bend forward yet he held her hand calmly in his. Veronica, +absorbed in her memories, rose to get _Heinrich_ a picture of her +lover. They were alone! A new expression flashed over Ottmar's +face,--_Heinrich_ and _Henri_ had changed places! the moment had +tempted the latter irresistibly. He slowly drew Cornelia's hand towards +him, and bent his handsome head to hers; his eyes beamed with +inexpressible love, and his voice trembled with fervor as he whispered: + +"Poor heart, how mach you must have suffered, must still suffer, in the +memory of your unhappy father! Oh, if you could but look into the +depths of this soul and know how I feel for you!--oh, love!" He pressed +his lips gently upon her hand, and let them rest there, without kissing +it. + +Cornelia scarcely breathed; the touch thrilled through her whole frame +like an electric shock. She felt that a new happiness, never known +before, was entering her heart, and yielded to it without the slightest +movement. Then the organ slowly played the strophe, "Selbst Engel +weinen," and died away. _Henri_ raised his head, and asked, gently, +"What do you think of me now?" + +She could not speak, but looked into his eyes with an expression so +dreamy and ardent that _Henri_ needed no words. His quick ear heard +Veronica's approach, and he leaned back in his chair and attracted the +attention of Cornelia, who was completely absorbed in her own feelings. +The old lady showed _Henri_ her lover's miniature, and found it +perfectly natural that after these reminiscences Cornelia should burst +into tears. Cornelia herself did not know their cause, for she really +had no sorrowful memories; the things we hear in early childhood do not +make so vivid an impression; and her youth, under Veronica's care, had +been a happy one. Far less was it the recollection of her first love, +for this now seemed to her like a dream. What was it, then? What had +happened? He had told her that he pitied her; that was very natural: +she had given him her hand and he had kissed it,--no, not even kissed +it, he had only allowed his lips to rest upon it; but it was perhaps +that very thing,--how strange! + +_Henri's_ accustomed eyes read all these thoughts in Cornelia's face, +and with exultant satisfaction saw the net resting upon the wings of +her soul. "Cornelia," he said, softly, while Veronica was counting her +stitches, "you are reflecting upon the nature of sympathy again, but +you will not fathom it yet!" + +"You are right," she answered. + +She had been playing mechanically with one of her rings, and it now +fell from her-hand. _Henri_ picked it up, and, with a smile, replaced +it on her finger. Again she blushed. "Why?" she asked unconsciously. + +"Our child is sad," he said to Veronica, with the winning expression +which had always prevailed upon women to devote their lives to him. +"What can we do to cheer her?" + +Cornelia, as if spell-bound by the magic of these tones, made no reply. + +"How kind you are!" said Veronica. + +"Are you angry because I call you 'our child'?" asked _Henri_, with +admirably assumed simplicity. "I am becoming intimate too rapidly, am I +not? Be kind, and attribute it to my warm, truthful nature. Sooner or +later we shall meet more familiarly, I am sure; so why delay and so +lose the precious moments for the sake of troublesome forms. I would +gladly take you to my heart as carefully and protectingly as--a father. +Fraeulein Veronica will allow me to do so, I am sure. Be our dear child, +and let me take some small share in your education." + +He arose and stood before her in all his gentlemanly dignity, bent down +and kindly took her hands; but the quick pulsations of his heart, which +Cornelia heard close beside her ear, accorded strangely with these +paternal words. This was the well-calculated charm he had for her: the +manly, noble superiority which expressed itself in this fatherly +authority, and involuntarily extorted a childlike reverence; and the +enthusiastic, almost boyish, tenderness which bowed before her to raise +her to giddy heights. + +"Teach me, then but permit me to do the same by you," she said, with an +embarrassed smile, rising from her chair. + +"Certainly," replied _Henri_; "I need it more than you. Oh, I will +follow you blindly; the words of those pure lips shall be my oracle!" +His eyes-rested upon the young girl's fresh, beautiful mouth with +ardent longing. He felt that it would be better to go, and allow the +impression he had made to produce its effect upon her in silence. With +a violent effort he released Cornelia's hands and hastily took his +leave. As he opened the door he heard his name called gently: he +turned; Cornelia had followed him a step and asked, with the most +lovable frankness,-- + +"When will you come again?" + +"Cornelia!" cried _Henri_, and was about to rush back to her; but +_Heinrich_, with a tremendous effort, checked the excited feelings, +made her a low bow, said, in a fatherly tone, "I will come as soon as I +can; I cannot fix any positive time now," and left the room without +looking back. + +"What was that?" asked Cornelia, covering her eyes with her hand. "Did +it not seem as if another person was speaking from his lips? Did he not +call my name so eagerly, and the next moment take leave of me so +distantly, so coldly? Can a man's mood change so suddenly? Whims can +alter in an instant, I know that by myself; but what we feel, +what is deeply and firmly rooted our hearts, we cannot so suddenly +deny,--it cannot yield to a caprice. Which is true, his warmth or his +coldness?--or is it possible that they can both exist? Ah, do not +question, incredulous heart! What he has given you to-day is true: let +that satisfy you; and where you cannot understand him, trust him." With +a heavy sigh she threw herself on her knees before Veronica and laid +her head on her lap. "Ah, Veronica, how could I live without the man +you loved!" + + +"What a submission!" thought _Henri_, as he walked towards home in the +proud conviction of a certain victory. + +"Take care!" said _Heinrich_: "this submission is no amorous weakness, +but the implicit confidence every innocent, loving girl places in the +man she adores. If you ever abuse this faith, you will perceive with +terror her power of resistance." + + + + + XII. + + THE SEARCH FOR A WIFE. + + +"My dear Herr von Ottmar," said the prince, holding out his hand to +_Heinrich_, "you came out of the vexatious affair, which unfortunately +I could not spare you, like a hero. Am I to do anything for your +_protege_? Tell me how I can assist the young man." + +_Heinrich_ had intended to affect reserve, and to-day was just in the +right humor for it. He bowed low with the air of a deeply offended man. + +"I thank you most humbly, your Highness. I have already provided for +Albert Preheim. I am happy to have proved to your Highness that I have +given my protection to no unworthy person, and am always ready to +answer for my acts like a man. I have made Albert Preheim the steward +of my estates, which have greatly depreciated in value during my long +absence. I will also venture to request your Highness to grant me leave +of absence for an indefinite time, that I may be able to instruct him +in his duties there." + +"You wish to leave me now, when I need you most?" + +"If I could hope that your Highness still needed me, I should feel +happier than is the case at present." + +"Do you believe, Ottmar, that a time will ever come when we shall be +unnecessary to each other? I rely more upon your friendship for my +person, even if, as an independent man, you can do without the prince." + +"Your Highness, let me be frank with you. How faithfully I have served +you, the sleepless nights during which I have shared your Highness's +arduous labors and heavy cares for your country, my deserted home, my +ruined estates, may prove. Compelled to leave my own court because I +was an adherent of the priesthood, I found with you a sphere of +activity in harmony with my political convictions, an only too generous +recognition of my humble services, and the highest possible reward in +your personal friendship. But now, your Highness, I stand here as a +compromised man, a hero of comedy, who played the martyr for his own +sins for the amusement of the rabble. This, your Highness, I cannot +endure. Society has a morbidly sensitive feeling for indecorum far more +than crime; it can ignore a secret sin, but not a public impropriety. +It is not for my guilt but its open acknowledgment that men will turn +their backs upon me, and I must go into retirement, for I cannot bear +to have the finger of scorn pointed at me." + +The prince smiled. "Oh, if that is all that drives you away, Ottmar, +you can be perfectly at ease: I will become your security. Do you +suppose I would have asked my friend to expose himself if I had not +possessed the means to make amends for his humiliation at any moment? I +am astonished at your simplicity, Ottmar. Should you not have known +society better? Why, even if I would allow you to fall, you would still +be esteemed; but if I uphold you, people will treat you with the utmost +consideration. What advantage would it be to be ruler if I could not +even manage the handful of puppets around my throne? You must take a +journey, it is true, but on my business; if you wish to visit your +estates on the way, I have no objection; but I beg you to remain there, +no longer than is absolutely necessary. Do you consent?" + +"My time has only the value it possesses for your Highness. If I can be +of more use in any other place than here, command me." + +"You will be at ease here again when you have forgotten this +disagreeable affair. In the first place we will seal people's mouths by +a striking proof of my continued favor. This very night I shall present +you to my mother as Count von Ottmar." + +"Your Highness! I do not know how to thank you for so much kindness." + +"As one friend always does another: by honest counsel and assistance +when I need them!" + +The prince fixed his large, blue eyes upon Ottmar with so kindly an +expression that the latter was surprised. + +"I am well aware that the title of Count does not make amends for the +mortification I imposed upon you; but perhaps the consciousness that, +by this act of self-sacrifice, you have won a still larger share of my +esteem and confidence, may be some slight recompense. Therefore, my +friend, you shall advise me to-day in the most important event of my +life. I have summoned you to discuss my marriage." + +"Do I know the princesses?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"One of them, certainly; and you shall make the acquaintance of the +other. One is Princess Ottilie of H----." + +"What!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, almost losing his self-command. "Princess +Ottilie!" + +"Hist! _Pas si haut, mon ami_, the walls have ears. Remember that this +is still a profound secret; you are to be the first to mature the +affair. I have the privilege of choosing between Princess Ottilie and +Princess Marie of D----. The latter is still a mere child; but the +former has lost the first bloom of youth. I do not wish to select the +lady who will please me best, but the one who will most satisfactorily +fill the position of mistress of my realm; it is not permitted me to +marry according to the choice of my heart. My love, as you know, is +given to the beautiful Hellbach; but I can neither raise her to the +rank of my wife, nor degrade her to that of my mistress, and have +learned to conquer my wishes. The private happiness my wife can bestow +is merely to make no claims upon my love, which has been effaced from +my breast with this one image, and not press upon me an affection which +is valueless to me. A sincere friendship, and a pure conscience, are +all that I shall give and demand." + +_Heinrich_ had been reflecting in silence. "What your Highness asks in +a wife is little, and yet the most difficult requirement that can be +made upon a woman. She is to offer her wedded husband no feeling, +desire none from him, save what might be accorded to the merest +stranger. She is to give your country the heir to the throne, and yet +be permitted to adopt no other manner towards the father of her child +than that prescribed by the laws of the coldest etiquette. But she must +bestow upon no other the love that her husband disdains; must enjoy +through no other the happiness he denies her; and yet is always to feel +a calm affection for the man who has thus destroyed the joys of married +life. Pardon me, your Highness, I know women well; this is a task which +only a princess can perform,--a princess in the true sense of the word; +not a young immature creature, who only wears the mask of her position, +and in whose mind natural rights far outweigh the claims of her high +station. A princess such as your Highness requires, one who has subdued +the first eager longings of her heart and resigned herself to consider +the duties of her lofty rank as the first necessity, is the Princess +Ottilie. Moreover, she is intellectual, lovable as a young girl, truly +royal in her bearing, and although no longer in the first bloom of +youth, extremely attractive." + +"If you, who are so exacting, think her all this, she must really be +somewhat remarkable in every respect," said the prince. "You are right +in saying I could hardly expect so much self-sacrifice from a young +creature like the Princess Marie. Besides, the priests favor the +alliance with Ottilie because they rest great hopes upon her influence +over her Protestant uncle, the Prince of H----. There is only the +consideration that Ottilie is said to be delicate, and thereby the hope +of an heir to the throne might be endangered." + +"Ob, I do not think so, your Highness. She is nervous, like all lofty, +intellectual natures; but such women are usually benefited by marriage. +Doctors chatter a great deal of exaggerated nonsense; and besides, it +is not for their advantage that the generous princess should be married +and leave the country. I have watched her for a long time, and can +assure your Highness that she has no more serious illness than all +ladies of her rank and age." + +The prince paced up and down the room several times, and then paused +before Ottmar. "Are you giving me conscientious advice, Ottmar? +Remember that the sole object of the heavy sacrifice I am making is to +obtain an heir to the throne." + +"Egotist!" thought _Heinrich_. + +"Your Highness," he replied, "I am no physician. I can only say how I +judge of her as an unprofessional person, and that I have never thought +her ill." + +The prince again walked up and down the room. "Shall I venture?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +The prince turned towards his writing-table and showed _Heinrich_ a +picture. "Is this a good likeness?" + +"Yes, your Highness; but she is more beautiful," said the latter, who +could not gaze at Ottilie's gentle, noble features without emotion. + +"Now look at Marie's portrait." + +_Heinrich_ knit his brow as he looked at the picture. "I should not +have the courage to choose this Lady. Those eyebrows, that pouting, +scornful mouth." + +"Yes, Ottilie's pleases me far better," said the prince. + +"And besides, I see no object in this marriage. What is an alliance +with the little country of D---- to a prince like your Highness? +Princess Ottilie, on the contrary, is immensely rich; more friendly +relations with the court of H---- would be desirable in every respect, +and Ottilie is a Catholic; she might--that is----" + +A clock struck ten. The prince started up. + +"The council must begin. Ottmar, you are my ambassador; set out on your +journey to-morrow morning, and negotiate the matter for me at the court +of H----. Consult the physicians, and if you think it advisable, in +God's name win Ottilie for my wife! From all you say she will be best +suited to me. The sacrifice must be made at once. Farewell till we meet +in the council of state, dear count." + +Thus was the weal or woe of a noble, precious life decided, and again +_Heinrich's_ egotism demanded a victim. Accident had thrown one into +his hands in the person of Ottilie. _Heinrich's_ resolution was firm. +He knew that if Ottilie became his protectress at the court of N---- +his power would be unbounded and immovable; for he did not doubt that +with her intellect she must succeed in ruling the prince as well as the +country. In any case, his influence over her was more assured than it +could be over a princess who was a stranger to him; so a marriage with +the latter must be prevented at any cost: it might baffle all his +hopes. When he passed through the antechamber, his plan was already +formed, and around his lips played the triumphant smile which was +always visible when he guided men like puppets. Every preparation was +immediately made for the journey: + +"Anton," said _Heinrich_, during the packing, "didn't you see anything +of Princess Ottilie on your way through H----?" + +"No, Herr Baron. She seldom drives out, for she is much worse than she +used to be." + +"Anton, for Heaven's sake, do me the favor not to tell any one that! Do +you hear? Finish the packing, and then go this very night to the +Hohmeier'sche Restaurant; there you will find the valet of the prince's +confessor, Ehrhardt,--they will point him out to you if you ask for +him; join him as if by chance. Tell him about H----, and turn the +conversation upon the Princess Ottilie. Then say what you know of her +beauty, her piety, etc. See that you have as many listeners as +possible,--the more the better. Speak of her hair, her eyes, but +especially her generosity; in short, make their mouths water, but do +not allow any design to be perceived." + +"I understand, Herr Baron," said Anton, smiling. "I'll manage as +carefully as possible, and to-morrow the whole city shall be full of +the princess's praises." + +"That is right, my old friend. I don't think you forgot anything in the +village," said _Heinrich_, well pleased. + +He wanted to see Cornelia again, but the evening was spent in making +various preparations for his journey, and his plan of obtaining Ottilie +for the prince required thought and time for consideration. He would +compensate himself for the sacrifice after his return, and meantime +devote himself entirely to his mission. "How am I to appear before +her?--how am I to woo her for another without offending her, when I +know that she has loved me, perhaps does still?" This question +engrossed his mind, and its difficulties had a peculiar charm for him. + +In the course of the evening a court official brought a bill of +exchange for five thousand florins for "Count Ottmar's steward, Albert +Preheim." The prince had given him this sum from his own private purse +as a sort of compensation for his sufferings. He would not allow +himself to be humbled by _Heinrich's_ proud reserve, and thus made +amends for the injustice which had thrown Albert entirely upon +_Heinrich_ for assistance. + +Albert's joy knew no bounds, but his gratitude to _Heinrich_, whom he +considered the indirect cause of this favor, was even greater. Thus +they set out on their journey, Albert and Anton as happy men, while he +to whom both owed their good fortune, whom both loved and honored, knew +no happiness, no peace, destitute of support in himself, and +unsympathizing even towards those to whom he showed kindness. Already +the city lay behind him. He looked back towards Cornelia's house, from +thence the dawn would crimson the horizon, from thence his sun would +rise to pour light and warmth upon him, and with foreboding longing he +gazed over the snow-covered fields towards the golden streaks in the +east. The morning air blew icily over his brow; here and there under +the snow lay dry branches of frozen weeds; not a bird, not an insect, +was stirring far or near: frozen nature was silently awaiting the +spring. It was even so with him. His mission, his petty intrigues, +everything at that moment retreated into the background, and covered +itself with the icy mantle of eternal indifference. From that strip of +light life must come to rescue him and lure fresh germs from the frozen +clods. The rising sun threw its rosy glimmer into his eyes till they +filled with tears; it seemed as if they flowed from his own breast, as +if his own feelings and not the light had called them forth, and he +might shed more. But he was mistaken, for when he turned his eyes from +the dazzling rays the treacherous fountain dried. The unfeeling man +could not weep: the blessing of tears was denied him; and the vanished +spell left the egotist cold and unsatisfied. + + + + + XIII. + + A SACRIFICE. + + +Directly after his arrival, _Heinrich_ went to Ottilie's physician to +make inquiries about the state of her health. It was of importance to +himself to be correctly informed in this respect; for it would have +been very useless to base his ambitious plans upon one doomed to an +early death. With her, these, and perhaps even the favor of the prince, +might sink into the grave; since he had described her as healthy, the +responsibility would fall upon him if she died. The physician, it is +true, said that she was delicate, but, according to the principles of +the old school, declared that her illness was a nervous one; and +_Heinrich_ boldly requested a private audience with Ottilie to obtain +her consent before he presented himself to the Prince of H---- as an +ambassador. + +As he passed through the antechamber, a fair-haired little waiting-maid +issued from Ottilie's room, glided by, starting violently as she caught +sight of him, and disappeared through a side door. _Heinrich_ perceived +with astonishment that it was Roeschen. The servant ushered him into the +reception-room. The uniform, unvarying stream of hot air from a Russian +stove vibrated around him with suffocating sultriness, increased by the +fragrance of numberless flowers grouped in hot-house fashion in the +lofty windows of stained glass. The heavy carpets and portieres exhaled +warmth; it seemed to _Heinrich_ as if his lungs were bursting with the +longing for a breath of fresh air. He dreaded this first meeting, for +in Ottilie's presence his insolent frivolity deserted him, and he stood +before her as if she were his conscience. The fervent heat and +deathlike stillness that surrounded him increased his embarrassment. +There is something strange in the official silence of royal apartments, +which rouses the greatest excitement and impatience in any one who is +anxiously awaiting an important audience. This was the case with +_Heinrich_. He wished to repeat what he was to say to Ottilie, but +could no longer remember it. "How shall I appear before her?" was his +only thought; and the polished courtier feared this great soul whose +prophetic vision had penetrated his inmost heart, and which he now +approached like a thief, to try to steal it for his own plans. + +A clock struck twelve, and was answered from every side by a multitude +of larger and smaller ones, whose buzzing and humming lasted several +minutes; then all was silent as before. _Heinrich_ uttered a deep sigh. +Why did she linger so long? Was she, too, obliged to collect her +thoughts, and could she not obtain the composure needed to receive him? +"Oh, God! if she should love me still!" he thought, wiping the cold +perspiration from his brow. + +Just then a door opened noiselessly,--he did not notice it,--and +Ottilie floated across the room as lightly as if her feet did not touch +the carpet. + +_Heinrich_ started as if roused from a dream, when, beautiful as a +glorified spirit, she stood before him. Both looked at each other a +moment in silence neither could find words; their souls were too full +for the narrow forms of speech. + +At last Ottilie held out her hand to him, and there was deep sadness in +her expression as she said, "Is it really you?" + +"I understand the reproof in your question, princess," replied +_Heinrich_. "I was prepared for it; and yet accompanied with that voice +and glance, it now pierces deep into my breast. As the ambassador of my +princely master, I had courage to appear before you--as your friend. My +heart trembles, for I well know I shall not bear your sublime, angelic +judgment." + +Ottilie motioned to him to be seated. "Yes," she began, after a pause, +"I had wished to see you a different man, and I do not even know +whether I still have the right to tell you so." + +"Speak! heap upon my head the whole burden of your accusation, +princess." + +"Do not fear reproaches from me. All that there is to be said I +represented to you, if I remember rightly, long ago. You did not obey +my warning voice; what was useless then will also be vain now." + +_Heinrich_ covered his eyes with his hand, as if obliged to conceal his +tears; and yet it was not all hypocrisy, for it really seemed to him as +if a pang of remorse shot through his breast. + +Ottilie remained silent for a long time. + +"Be merciful, princess," pleaded _Heinrich_; "you reproach me with my +change of opinions, but you do not know what may exert an influence +over a life, how even the most independent man may be forced into a +course contrary to his wishes, and where he must be untrue to himself; +therefore be charitable, princess; do not give me up!" + +"Ah, how could I!" exclaimed Ottilie, in an outburst of feeling. "Do +you not see that I grieve for you, pity you, deeply and sincerely? I do +not accuse you; but let me lament that you have defrauded yourself of +all true happiness. Do not tell me the career you have adopted +satisfies you; in it you can neither follow your own convictions nor +develop your talents. I speak now as a woman who has done with self, +who is bound to life by no wish, no hope. What have you made of +yourself, Ottmar? How have you used the gifts God so richly, so +abundantly, bestowed? I have carefully watched your political activity; +alas that I must say it you have fallen lower in my eyes the higher you +rose in the world. Forgive the harshness," she pleaded, extending her +hand to him, "it is the most heartfelt anxiety that speaks from my +lips. Do you not see the double danger to which you are exposed? You +are robbing yourself of your moral freedom as well as the nation of its +political rights; you are servilely bending your noble soul to the +dominion of principles in which you do not believe, making yourself the +slavish supporter of an impotent reaction. Thus you are losing your +intrinsic dignity, and sooner or later your influence as a statesman; +for a new and invincible spirit, purer than that of the revolution, is +pervading the nations,--the spirit of a profound political knowledge. +We cannot subdue this with cannon, nor shut it into prisons; where we +believe it to be shattered, it unites again above our heads. It is the +child of the age, and unceasingly advances, demanding its rights. And +you, instead of throwing yourself into the free current and allowing +your breast to expand with the universal impulse, prop yourself with +narrow-hearted blindness against the crumbling steps of a throne, to +withstand the weight of the approaching shock. You will fall, and as an +enemy of ideas which you cherish with every drop of your blood, fall a +victim to your hypocrisy, not your convictions. Then you will seek to +find compensation in yourself, and perceive with despair that by your +perpetual untruthfulness you have destroyed yourself." + +"It is very possible," murmured _Heinrich_. + +"Oh, believe me; through many a sleepless night I have stretched out my +hand to you to draw you out of the gulf into which I saw you sinking. +Yet I still trust you; what you did could not estrange me. I still +hope, still pray for you; I can say no more than I have already done; +but I know that although you have not yet listened to me, quiet hours +will come, hours of repentance, when my long silent words will unite +with the voice of your conscience,--then, perhaps, you will obey me." + +_Heinrich_ seized Ottilie's hands and gazed into her sparkling eyes. A +deep blush was glowing upon her cheeks. "Ah, the old magic! Ottilie, +Ottilie," he cried, "I fear I am too deeply entangled in hypocrisy! If +you could read my soul you would reject me." + +"This is one of the moments of depression which utterly subdue such +natures. To-morrow, in another mood, you will smile at it. But it is +true that you think yourself worse than you really are, that you have +less faith in yourself than I in you. Every power needs to be used, +even that of the soul. Exert your strength in doing right, then you +will first ascertain your own capabilities." + +"Ah, princess, how am I to help myself? I know not; I have gone astray +into this path, and cannot find strength to retrace my steps. I am well +aware that my political career is not in accordance with the spirit of +the age; when I entered upon it I really had no other thought than to +save myself from a momentary humiliation by the Jesuits, and therefore +considered my position in N---- a mere episode. But by degrees my +success, and the magnificent means at my command for the advancement of +my apparent purposes, charmed me. My influence over the prince tempted +me irresistibly. The power he placed in my hands roused all the +ambition of my nature. Power, Ottilie, has often transformed a hero +into a despot. This being the history of my political development, +everything else follows as a matter of course. As everything was +at the command of the feared and admired favorite, I felt myself +justified in enjoying all. That, in so doing, I formed many a sacred +tie only to break it again, and profaned many a bond that already +existed,--everything was considered allowable, because everything was +granted to me,--you will of course suppose. But I will confess to you, +to you alone of all human beings, that this haughty, envied Ottmar +became a crushed, wearied, joyless man, an egotist,--who does not even +love himself. I can no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood; +for everything has two sides, and, as no voice within my breast pleads +for either, I decide in favor of the one which will bring me the most +immediate advantage. There is no philanthropy in my nature, and thus I +make men happy or miserable according as it will be profitable or +injurious to myself. I perceive that all this is reprehensible; I envy +those who act from principle; I would fain be virtuous, yet cannot +discover what virtue is; for my blase feelings make me perceive, in all +the dogmas of religion, morality, and philosophy, only arbitrary +beliefs without any eternal foundation, which change at every advance +of the nations in civilization, are now wrested here, now there, nay, +even dependent upon the fashion of the day; and thus I have formed the +despairing conclusion, that there is no virtue, believe the loathing of +my own deeds which sometimes seizes upon me to be a relic of old school +prejudices, and despise myself. Therefore I have no rule of conduct for +my acts except advantage; and when this is obtained, it does not make +me happy. I scorn it, as well as the men by whose weakness I won it!" + +Ottilie had hung upon his words in breathless suspense. This frank +self-accusation had borne her along with it, and she was obliged to +collect her thoughts before she could reply. + +"Then you are even more unhappy, more worthy of commiseration, than I +feared. All lofty, independent natures yield unwillingly to the human +law of right and wrong; for the same power which instilled the theories +of goodness lives also in them and justifies them in giving its law to +themselves. But in you, my friend, this power was only sufficient to +dissolve existing beliefs, not to make them unnecessary to you, for you +are now wandering, unsupported, without any clear standard of +measurement, amid the ruins of your shattered world of ideas. You are +seeking for a higher divine law, and because it does not reveal itself +to you you despair of virtue. It would be useless to refer you to +religion, for you do not believe it; but even without religion a man of +lofty character feels a moral want, which, without regard to reward or +punishment, impels him toward the right. Though such a man is never +quite happy, for only faith can give the highest joy, he will yet +experience that peace which a pure conscience bestows. But you have +destroyed even this. Your heart is desolate, your soul flutters wearily +upon the ground. I no longer see deliverance, blessing, or hope for +you. So I must behold the fairest work God and nature ever made, the +noble image in which I joy with reverent admiration, sink into the +dust, and stand powerless, unable to stretch out a hand to save for God +a soul which he has favored beyond all others. Alas, Ottmar! By the +sorrow in my own heart, I feel how your Creator mourns over you!" She +leaned back upon the sofa and wept aloud. + +_Heinrich_ could not resist the contagion of her emotion. For the first +time the request he was about to make seemed like sacrilege, and yet he +could not give up all his carefully matured plans for the sake of a +"fit of sentimentality," as he mentally called it. He perceived that +she clung to him with unchanging affection, and that no political +considerations whatever would induce her to wed with such a nature as +that of the prince. If he won her, it would only be by means of his +influence over the heart so susceptible to his power. Years before she +had taken an oath that she would never become his wife, so she must +either part with him or marry his ruler. The more she loved him the +greater was his power over her, the more surely he would succeed in +convincing her that she could not live without him. Thus he was +compelled to throw the whole weight of his own personal attractions +into the scale, and there was a strange blending of honesty and +hypocrisy in his plan of persuasion. He really felt what he wished to +say, but his manner of turning it to account was artfully calculated, +and converted truth into falsehood. "Your Highness," he exclaimed, at +last, "I have come to bring you a crown; but at this moment I see a +halo shining around your head, and can scarcely venture to offer the +pitiful diadem of royalty. Princess, it is of great importance to my +interests to bind you to the country in which I play a part; I came +here to obtain your hand for the prince, to cunningly win your consent, +even at the cost of your happiness. But before your noble nature all +the arts of diplomacy dissolve into nothing. Therefore, my friend, I +will leave you free to choose, will not steal the decision of your +destiny, but tell you frankly that it is from selfishness I press my +master's offer, for I wish, I long, to have you near me. Your character +is formed, your opinions are matured, you will advise me when God is +silent in my own breast. You will aid me to give a new direction to our +politics, one more in harmony with the spirit of the age; supported by +you, I will venture it, without you I cannot. Look, Ottilie, the crafty +diplomatist is prostrate in the dust before your victorious +truthfulness, and prattles out his whole programme like a school-boy. I +do not plead for the country whose salvation you would be, nor in the +name of a philanthropy I have never known, but by which I might win +your gentle heart; I do not implore you to aid a nation I helped to +crush: I renounce all this acting, and plead simply and openly for +myself; for in this hour I perceive more clearly than ever what you are +to me. If I have hitherto thought I needed you for the attainment of +certain advantages, I now know that you will do more for me by teaching +me to despise as well as dispense with them." + +Ottilie gazed silently into vacancy; her breath came more quickly, and +her hands were burning as though with fever. + +"I know," continued _Heinrich_, "that it is the sacrifice of your whole +life; but you have yourself given me the courage to ask it, for you +give me the belief that you will make it." + +"Oh, God I what do you ask?" Ottilie began. "You wish me to marry,--to +destroy my life! Is it possible? Have I deserved this from you? You +wish to lure me from my home to a desolate career of grandeur, to chain +me to a man whom I know to be a cold-hearted weakling, and scorn as a +mere tool in the hands of the oppressors of his people. And by the +painful act I am to perform I do not even make one person happy." + +"Ottilie, how can you say so? Thousands will lavish blessings upon you, +the gratitude of thousands will recompense you, if the happiness of one +whom your presence can transform into another man does not reward you," +cried _Heinrich_, reproachfully. + +"Ottmar, if I knew that I should be permitted to exert a good influence +over you, no sacrifice would seem too great. But you are deceiving +yourself now, as usual. You are easily moved, easily excited: the +moment carries you away with it; the present person is in the right +with you, and when you turn your back upon this room the emotions you +have experienced will be effaced with all their impressions. What +influence did I exert over you while you lived in H----? It would be +precisely the same thing again, and then I should not even be allowed +the one consolation of mourning for you unheeded, in quiet solitude." + +"Do you think me so unstable?" + +"Confess, my friend, that you have given me proofs of it. Besides, you +are mistaken if you hope to obtain goodness from any influence +whatever. The true man is everything to himself; what he does not +become by his own strength, no other can make him. A character that +depends upon influences is unmanly; the acts and developments of such a +temperament are decided solely by ever-changing accidents. Prosperity +has spoiled you; you have measured your powers only against those +weaker than yourself; they have thereby become relaxed; and, if destiny +does not compel you to put forth your strength in a contact with more +powerful elements, all is vain, you will remain----" She paused. + +"Pray go on," said _Heinrich_, bitterly; "I shall remain a +characterless weakling, who balances to and fro like a juggler on the +narrow line between right and wrong! Is not that what you meant to +say?" + +Ottilie gazed into his beautiful, restless eyes with an expression of +deep sorrow. "Forgive me if I have caused you pain; I only wished to +convince you that the use which I might be to you is too little for the +sacrifice you demand." + +_Heinrich_ felt the moment for persuading her had now arrived; for he +knew by experience that a woman can never be more easily won than at +the moment she believes she has been too harsh. + +"You feel you have caused me pain, Ottilie. Oh, make amends for it, and +follow me to my country as my protectress, my guardian angel! You +reproach me with being unmanly. Well, if I am so, and depend upon +influences, the one you exert over me will be my salvation, and that of +all with whom I am connected by any ties. What do I ask of you that is +so very terrible? I wish to make you mistress of a beautiful and +wealthy land, to give you a position in which alone your superior +qualities can make themselves valuable, wed you to a prince whom you +greatly undervalue, and who will understand and love you as you +deserve." + +"I want no love," interrupted Ottilie, "I am weary of suffering; do not +grudge my repose; I have, by a violent struggle obtained the peace of +the grave. Oh, do not drag me back to life! for life is conflict. Ah, +Ottmar, have pity upon me! Your glance sinks into my soul, and the +spark that flashes from it kindles anew the vital flame which was +buried beneath the ashes of my dead hopes. You seize my hand, and by +some magnetic attraction I am compelled to follow you. I know not by +what invisible threads you hold me: loose them and I sink peacefully +towards the grave; draw them firmly and I am forced to yield to your +wishes. Oh, the victory you obtain is an easy one! Renounce it, leave +me, Ottmar! You can test your power everywhere; why must you try it an +one who has no longer any defense save the resignation of a dying +woman?" + +"Good heavens, princess, what a strange mood you are in! See, this is +the result of your seclusion. Whence come these thoughts of the grave? +You are healthy, in the very prime of life, beloved by all, regarded by +the nation with the warmest affection. How could you resign yourself to +such melancholy fancies? Nay, I will rouse you now. You must learn to +use your vital powers, as well as I my moral strength. Why should you +wither here, useless and lonely, without having fulfilled the eternal +vocation of a woman? Even if you have no feeling for the man to whom I +wish to unite you, you do not know that he may not become dear to you." + +Ottilie sadly shook her head. + +"But granted that you can never love him as a husband, you will some +day as the father of your children. Fate has granted no desire of your +heart, and with royal dignity you have learned to crush it; but, +because the first joy of love was denied you, must you now also +renounce the maternal happiness this marriage can bestow,--the only one +which is a wellspring of lasting joy to a woman? I cannot believe, +Ottilie, that with your pure, womanly feelings, the thought of being a +mother would have no charm for you." + +"Oh, God! have often dreamed of such bliss; but I am not born for it. I +shall perish without object or joy in life." + +"Do not believe it," said _Heinrich_, with melting tenderness. "Rise +again in the strength of hope; a prosperous future is still before you. +You will find the prince a man full of delicacy of feeling and dignity, +a man formed to understand you. He, too, bears a secret sorrow in his +heart, and needs a wife who will know and pity the wound." + +"Alas, poor prince!" murmured Ottilie. "That would rouse my sympathy +for him." + +_Heinrich_ suppressed a smile. "Do you perceive the true state of the +case? You will become attached to him, for he is noble and wishes to do +good to all. His despotic principles are rooted in his education; to +him despotism is an absolute dogma, like religion. He now depends upon +his confessor and upon me,--errors which are the result of his youth. +When you are his wife, he will, like all of us, rely on you. But even +if you could never produce any change in his maxims of government, you +will, perhaps, have the satisfaction of inculcating into the mind of a +son what you have vainly tried to obtain from the father, and through +the former obtain for your people the fulfillment of their dearest +hopes. Then, Ottilie, your name will be blessed by thousands and +recorded in history; then you may bend to death your royal brow, armed +with the noble words, 'I have not lived in vain!' Oh, I know you will +some day smile at the thought of the time when you were consuming away +in fruitless dreams, and could find strength neither to live nor die! +Then I shall perhaps stand as your most faithful servant at the steps +of the throne to which you gave new splendor, and a friendly glance, +radiant with the pleasure of ruling and giving happiness, will be my +highest reward, my greatest satisfaction. Take courage, Ottilie, and +gain new strength to live, to rule, to make others happy." + +Ottilie's breath came more and more quickly, as, following _Heinrich's_ +movements, she rose from her seat. Her sparkling eyes were fixed upon +his lips, and a ray of melancholy pride flashed over her face. "Ottmar, +you have conquered. Happy I can never be, so let us try whether I can +still accomplish some good." + +"Then I have your promise, princess? You think me right?" + +"You are right; yet it is not that conviction, but a secret necessity, +which impels me to obey you, although I feel it will be my death. In +you, I am well aware, my destiny is fulfilled; you have made me the +prince's wife, you overmaster me by your powerful will, and call from +my lips the 'yes' that you ask, and I am forced to utter it, no matter +for whom. I must utter it because you ask it." + +_Heinrich_ was perplexed by this outburst of long-repressed feeling. +The seriousness of his relations with Cornelia had already taken so +deep a root in his nature that none of that frivolous delight which +overwhelms vain men at the sight of their conquests stirred within him. +On the contrary, a holy awe seized upon him at the sight of the frank +truthfulness of an omnipotent feeling. But he did not understand that +this very feeling no longer needed to disguise itself; because, by +self-renunciation, it had become purified and transfigured. He +therefore thought himself obliged to lead Ottilie's feelings, as far as +possible, back to their former moderation, and yet dared not wound this +sore heart by coldness. "Ottilie," he said, at last, after a long +pause, with an air of sorrowful resignation, "princess, do not make it +too difficult for me to perform my duty as suitor in my princes's +place. I might forget that I now stand before you as your subject, who +no longer dares desire what belongs to his master!" + +Ottilie looked at him earnestly. "Ottmar, that recollection would shame +me if I could suppose you did not remember the oath I took in your +presence years ago, and doubted the firmness of my resolution. But that +you cannot do; you will not inflict upon me the humiliation of seeing +myself misunderstood by you. I belong to your prince,--my heart to the +past." + +"Then let me offer you the first homage as my princess, my saint!" +exclaimed _Heinrich_, and sank an one knee to kiss her hand. + +"The saints are above," whispered Ottilie, waving him back. "May they +take us under their protection!" + +_Heinrich_ did not notice that it was difficult for her to stand erect +while she dismissed him, and armed with Ottilie's consent, pressed +forward as unyielding as fate. With this promise, he held in +imagination the portfolio which was to be the price of his years of +self-deception. That he would rule where Ottilie reigned was to him a +matter of course; to secure her influence over the prince should be his +care, and to rule appeared to him the only really valuable gift in +life. To assert his power everywhere, to use the terrible will which +had divided his own nature according to his pleasure, to let it weigh +upon a whole country bending before him, to promise joy or sorrow by +his smile or frown,--this alone seemed divine, and could make him +resemble God. He confidently expected to be appointed ambassador +extraordinary to conduct the affair of the marriage; the prince had no +one more suitable, no one with whom his relations were so intimate. He +reported Ottilie's consent, and requested further instructions, then +arranged his own and Albert's business in regard to the estate, which +was very badly managed. + +Albert sought Roeschen at her father's house, and learned that since the +death of Ottilie's head waiting-maid, which had occurred two years +before, she had filled her place. _Heinrich_ smiled when he heard this; +he readily perceived that love for him had induced Ottilie to keep near +her person the young girl he had tried to win; for true love embraces +not only its object but everything connected with it. He had already +often observed how noble womanly natures did not hate those of whom +they were jealous, but treated them with sorrowful tenderness, how they +kissed them as if seeking on their cheeks and lips traces of their +lover's caresses. As we keep a flower or a handkerchief because the +absent one has touched it, Ottilie had taken Roeschen into her service +to inhale from her presence the lingering breath of his love. + +Poor Ottilie! + +The prince kept him waiting a long time for his instructions, and +Ottmar began to grow weary of his incognito. "Albert," said he one day, +"you don't seem to have any great desire to see your Roeschen. Try to +arrange a meeting with her, and let me be a secret witness of it; I +should like, for a change, to be present at such a touching scene." + +"I have settled it with her father that I am to have an interview next +Sunday, Herr Count," replied Albert. "Roeschen cannot leave the palace +whenever she chooses, so I must wait. But, if you are tired,--excuse +the boldness of my question,--why don't you write to the Prison Fairy?" + +"To the Prison Fairy? Why, my good fellow, you don't understand such +matters. I neglect it because I wish her to love me." + +"No, I don't understand it," cried Albert. "If that is what you want, I +should think you would be obliged to write to her at once." + +_Heinrich_ smilingly shook his head. "Blessed simplicity! Ten letters +would not have the success obtained by the weeks of anxiety in which +she has brooded over my silence." + +Albert looked at _Heinrich_ almost sorrowfully. "But you have caused +her pain. How can any one wish to grieve a creature he loves?" + +"She will be all the happier in my affection afterwards." + +Albert was painfully agitated, but kept silence; and in a few moments +turned to leave the room, murmuring, "poor Prison Fairy!" + +On the same day a letter arrived from the prince, containing +instructions to make an official request for the hand of Ottilie, and +appointing him ambassador extraordinary. _Heinrich's_ duties now began. +It was a great satisfaction to him to play a distinguished part at the +very court from which he had been so ignominiously dismissed; and when, +in a private audience with the Prince of H----, he presented his +credentials, and the request for an alliance with Ottilie, written by +his master's own hand, he was delighted at the sight of his +embarrassment, and felt fully conscious of his own importance. The +prince, pleased with the proposal made to his niece, overwhelmed him +with marks of honor, which he accepted very condescendingly, almost +patronizingly. + +"Herr Count," said the old man, "you have shamed us deeply; for I know +it is to you we owe this great piece of good fortune, and do not +deserve it at your hands." + +"Your Highness," replied _Heinrich_, "I joyfully seized upon this +opportunity of proving that my loyalty to your royal house is greater +than the sense of the mortification I suffered." + +"You are a noble man, count," said the prince, pressing his hand; "our +political opinions are dissimilar, but I have the highest respect for +your character." + +_Heinrich_ bowed low and smiled as he thought: "If I do not soon +believe myself a noble man, modesty will be my greatest fault." + +The solemn betrothal at last took place, and Ottilie remained firm. In +the presence of what was now unalterable, and before the eyes of her +man, she was every inch a princess. Pale, and almost as inanimate as a +marble statue, she went through the usual ceremonies; but not the +slightest change of countenance betrayed the conflict within. A weary +smile sometimes curved her delicate lips; but even this was +conventional; her eyes did not join in it: the same shadow lingered in +their depths; and when she had coldly and firmly signed the deed, it +seemed to _Heinrich_ as if her manner conveyed a gentle reproach. Her +glance rested upon him as if to say, "You have conquered, cruel man, +and I am your victim." The look haunted him incessantly, and long after +the ceremony was over he felt as if there was a weight upon his heart, +as if the deed he was to take to his master was stolen property, from +which the mute reproach in Ottilie's glance constantly warned him. He +had no compassion for the sufferings of this noble nature, deceived by +all; but he perceived that there was a fiendish mockery in adorning +such misery with the colors of joy. We have pity upon a sick animal, +and let it die in peace; but he dragged a writhing, dying heart to a +bridal mummery. It was devil's work, he confessed it to himself; and +yet--the deed could not now be undone. Why did she allow herself to be +so easily persuaded? + +Meantime Albert's interview with Roeschen had taken place, but led to no +union. Roeschen declared she would gladly become his wife and atone for +the wrong she had done him, if she did not know that the poor princess +needed her more than any one else in the world. She was very unhappy, +and there was no one to whom she could betray her feelings. Only a +short time before, when she found Ottilie half fainting and in tears, +the princess said, "You will stay with me, Roeschen, if I go to a +foreign country, will you not? you will stay with me as long as I live, +that I may have one true, faithful soul near me?" Then Roeschen had +promised never to leave her, and she would keep her word. + +Albert asked why the princess was unhappy, but Roeschen said she did not +know; and even if she did she would never betray what was not her +secret. When Albert repeated this to _Heinrich_, the latter exclaimed, +with a laugh: "A rare instance of discretion; really Roeschen might be a +worthy companion of John of Nepomuk. Were you equally prudent, Albert? +Did you confide as little of my affairs?" + +Albert reddened with embarrassment. "Herr Count, I only spoke of things +which I supposed were no secrets: your kindness to me, your friendship +for the Prison Fairy--" + +"But, for Heaven's sake!" interrupted _Heinrich_, vehemently, "how +could you tell her that, of all people?--her!" Albert looked at him in +alarm. "If she should tell the pr---- Oh, Albert, it was very +imprudent!" + +_Heinrich_ now watched Ottilie closely at all the entertainments given +by the court, but observed nothing except her immovable calmness and +apparent coldness; this, however, might be the result of her royal +pride. But when, after the betrothal ceremony, he requested a private +audience and was refused, he bit his lips and muttered, "Albert's +prating has already produced its effect; she is aware of my relations +with Cornelia!" + +Yet he had again misjudged Ottilie. At the official farewell audience, +in the presence of the ladies of the court, although very dignified and +evidently exhausted, she was so gracious, and the prescribed forms of +etiquette were pervaded with such an atmosphere of true feeling, that +_Heinrich_ could not doubt that he still retained her favor. When she +dismissed him she whispered, "Take all my future subjects my kind +wishes and blessing." The words were simple, but they were accompanied +by a significant, tearful glance which told _Heinrich_ all. + +He again assumed the air of struggling to repress emotion, which he +could so skillfully adopt. "Will your Highness deign to accept my +heartfelt gratitude for the message, and the assurance that the +blessing cannot be fully received until your Highness appears in the +home of your subjects in person." + +Thus the audience ended, and Ottmar was obliged to confess that Ottilie +was a mystery to him. This was because the comprehension of true +womanhood was still denied him. The power of virtue, the strength of +self-sacrifice, which woman, spite of her many weaknesses, possesses, +were unknown to him; fate still reserved this great lesson. He was to +buy it dearly enough. + + + + + XIV. + + CHURCHYARD BLOSSOMS. + + +_Heinrich_ departed to take his master the betrothal documents, and +Albert cheerfully remained behind as steward of the estates of +Ottmarsfeld. He did not make himself unhappy about Roeschen's refusal. +He had wished to keep his word, and asked her to be his wife, but he +could not help secretly acknowledging that, after all that had passed, +he now loved her only with a brother's affection. Both were in the same +situation, for both had formed ideals of beauty and perfection. They +dared not even raise their eyes longingly towards them, but they could +not bear their mutual comparisons with them, and in their +insignificance no longer satisfied each other. These glittering images +must be obliterated by time before the old calm affection could revive +in their hearts. + +When Ottmar once more saw the steeples of the city where Cornelia +lived, his long-repressed desire to see her seized upon him with such +power that he thought his impatience must hasten the locomotive. After +all these days and weeks of constraint, and of deprivation of all +pleasure, he was at last to taste once more rich, infinite joy. _Henri_ +longed to clasp the beautiful, love-breathing woman in his arms, and in +one burning kiss relieve his oppressed heart of its secret. _Heinrich_ +wished for the fresh, full tide of her intellect, and with astonishment +felt a world of new ideas spring to life at the thought of her. When +the train arrived he hurried home, changed his dress, and went to the +palace to deliver the papers he had brought. While the prince was +reading the documents, the ground seemed fairly to burn under his feet; +but his alarm was indescribable when the latter informed him that he +had a second mission for him. _Heinrich_ must set out immediately as +envoy extraordinary to the court of R----, ostensibly to announce the +betrothal, but at the same time to secretly ascertain how the +government of R---- was disposed towards the commercial treaty which +had long been a favorite project with the prince. + +The journey to R---- would occupy several days, for at that time +railways had not yet penetrated the country; so that _Heinrich_ foresaw +he must spend weeks in settling the business, and be deprived of +Cornelia's society still longer. But he was obliged to submit and thank +the prince for this new proof of his confidence. + +When the audience was over he hurried to Cornelia, but she and Veronica +had gone to spend a few days with a friend at her country seat, and +thus the hopes he had fixed upon this interview were blasted. In the +worst possible humor, he set out upon his journey that very evening. On +arriving in R----, he was loaded with honors. As usual, the most +distinguished ladies coquetted with him, and displayed all the +magnificence and all the charms which the luxury of a great and +brilliant court can bestow upon women. Now and then a dazzling beauty +or a bold, exuberant intellect surprised, but nothing captivated, him; +he had long been familiar with the blending of social qualities in all +their shades and variations, and every comparison only served to +increase his longing for Cornelia. At last his mission was performed. +In return for the announcement of the betrothal he received a diamond +cross, and his secret diplomatic commission was rewarded with the best +possible success. He induced the government of R---- to favor the ideas +of the prince, arranged the preliminaries of the commercial treaty as +far as his office permitted, and set out on his return, followed by +many angry and many tearful glances, for the ladies of R---- would not +believe that a man of so much intellect and personal beauty could +reserve his advantages for a "simple German." + +After a long and toilsome journey he reached N----. Once more his first +visit was to the prince, and he now received instructions to go to +H---- to arrange the marriage ceremonies. But this time he was more +fortunate, when, after the audience, he hurried to Cornelia. The old +servant with the sulky face opened the door, and without waiting to be +announced Ottmar entered the salon. It was very silent and lonely; the +setting sun shone upon the yellow damask furniture, and the roses in +the flower-stands exhaled their fragrance as usual. _Henri's_ heart +beat almost audibly; he gasped for breath, for the opposite door +opened,--and Veronica in her light robes floated into the room. _Henri_ +stood before her completely disenchanted; he had so confidently +expected to have a moment alone with Cornelia that it cost him an +effort to maintain his usual winning courtesy. + +"My dear count!" cried Veronica, holding out her thin hand in its white +net glove. "I am glad you still remember us. You have been traveling +about the world so much without giving us any news of you that we +supposed ourselves entirely forgotten." + +"I do not deserve this reproach, my dear Fraeulein," said _Heinrich_, +apologetically, for in Veronica's presence he was again _Heinrich_. "I +could not suspect that I might venture to give you written news of me; +how and upon what pretext could I have done so?" + +"My dear count," said Veronica, with her simple frankness, "that is not +truthfully and sincerely spoken; for our great interest in you could +not have escaped your notice. You would have needed no other pretext +for sending a letter than the consciousness that by doing so you would +give us pleasure. Yet Heaven forbid that this should seem like a +reproach; we have not the smallest right to make one. We must even be +grateful that when here you bestow many an hour upon us. I, at least, +make no claim to occupy a place in your memory." + +"_You_ do not? But, Fraeulein, Cornelia?" asked _Heinrich_, watchfully. + +"Nor does Cornelia; yet she took your silence less calmly than I. In +such matters youth is more unreasonable than age." + +_Heinrich_ no longer controlled himself. "Tell me, where is she?" + +"Who? Cornelia? She has gone out." + +"Gone out!" exclaimed _Heinrich_. "Gone out, and I set out again at ten +o'clock to-night to remain absent for weeks! For months I have longed +for her society, and now shall not see her! I hear she is angry with +me, and shall not be able to defend myself! I have caused her pain, and +cannot make amends! Oh, tell me where she is, the sweet, lovely +creature!" + +"Alas, my dear count, I cannot," replied Veronica, while a shadow stole +over her face. + +"Why not? Do you not know?" + +"I know, but----" + +"Then tell me, my dear, kind, motherly friend. You are weeping: what is +the matter with Cornelia? I must know!" + +"You are completely beside yourself," exclaimed Veronica. "Well, I +cannot help it; I must tell you. She is in the churchyard." + +"In the churchyard?" asked _Heinrich_, in amazement. + +"Cornelia goes there every day and mourns over the grave of a friend. +Go, my dear count, go to her; I see you feel more affection for her +than we supposed. Ah, I hope your presence may exert a favorable +influence upon the poor child." + +"What is the matter with her?" asked _Heinrich_. "She was once +betrothed----" + +"I know it," he interrupted. + +"But her lover died under very painful circumstances." + +"That I know also." + +"She seemed to have long since ceased to grieve over the unfortunate +affair; but some time ago the old affection and sorrow broke forth +afresh. She has become silent and sad; goes to his grave every day, and +at night it often seems to me as if she were weeping gently." + +_Heinrich_ heard all this with strange emotion. + +"You have an influence over Cornelia," continued Veronica, amid her +tears; "if you could cheer my child, remove the black shadow from our +once sunny life, under what infinite obligations you would place me!" + +"I will!" cried _Heinrich_, pressing Veronica's hand to his lips. "Is +she in St. Stephen's churchyard, where the revolutionists are buried?" + +"Yes," replied Veronica. + +"Farewell till we meet again." And he hurried out of the house. + +For the first time in many years _Heinrich_ entered a churchyard alone; +he had formerly only visited them as a part of the throng which +attended some aristocratic funeral; and in spite of the haste with +which he moved along the paths, the holiness of the spot, the silence +of the dead, unconsciously allayed the excitement of his soul, and made +his mood grave and gentle. With downcast eyes he wandered through the +long rows of graves adorned with headstones and flowers; he was well +aware that it was useless to seek Cornelia here, and hastened on by the +churchyard wall to where the lonely, simple crosses of the criminals +rose above the mounds. In one corner he at last perceived among the +neglected graves a group of trees and bushes, surrounded by a hedge of +wild roses. The cool breath of the spring evening rustled through the +leaves, and amid the branches the nightingales softly trilled their +songs. _Heinrich_ paused and gazed through the shrubbery. Upon a +hillock, overgrown with lilies of the valley and ivy, sat Cornelia her +head rested on her hand, and her bosom rose and fell slowly, as if +burdened with the weight of sorrowful thought. + +Just at that moment _Heinrich_ emerged from the shrubbery. She sprang +up with a startled cry and gazed at him as if in a dream; then a deep +flush overspread her face, her limbs refused to support her, and, +without a word, she sank fainting upon the mound. + +"Cornelia!" exclaimed _Heinrich_, and there was the promise of +inexpressible happiness in the tone, as he threw himself at her feet +and laid his clasped hands in her lap. They gazed at each other long +and silently. "At last! ah, at last!" he murmured, in delight. + +"At last!" repeated Cornelia, with a heavy sigh; then she gently +clasped his hands in hers, held them more and more firmly, and asked, +with an expression of unspeakable delight, "Ottmar, is it you?" Tears +dimmed her eyes, her voice trembled, and she averted her face to +conceal her emotion. + +"Cornelia, my life, my soul!" exclaimed _Henri_, who, after a violent +struggle, supplanted _Heinrich_. "Grieve no more; love has arisen. You +wished to conjure up the shade of the dead man to be an ally against my +image in your heart, and instead he sends me to you. Your place is not +by this grave, but here, here, on my warm breast! here throbs the heart +in which your life is rooted; here breathes the love you vainly sought +under moss and stones. Rise, come away; do not press your beautiful +face upon the damp grass. He who sleeps below does not feel; but I do, +and long for you so ardently, so inexpressibly! You do not answer; what +is the cause of your struggle? Do you find it so difficult to choose +between this tomb and me? Come, come, be truthful. I know you love me; +say so, say so, Cornelia!" + +She rose and bent towards him; he clasped her in his arms, and the two +noble figures clung to each other in an ardent, silent embrace. At that +moment it seemed to Ottmar as if his two natures also embraced, as if +their opposing qualities were blended by the enthusiasm that pervaded +both his intellectual and sensuous existence, and all the powers of the +harmonious man expanded to exhaust the intellect and physical delight +of the moment. He closed his eyes and clasped Cornelia more and more +closely to his heart; he thought and felt nothing except, "She is +mine!" And blissful peace descended upon him. Just then a funeral-bell +tolled, and roused the lovers to a consciousness of what place they had +selected for the cradle of their happiness. + +"Come away from this ghostly spot, Cornelia." + +"Oh, stay! the scene is a dear and familiar one to me." + +"Strange child, who must be sought in dungeons or graveyards! How does +it happen that you always choose so gloomy a background for the radiant +picture of your life? Does a churchyard suit our mood? have not the +flowers which garland our first embrace sprung from corruption? Why +think of death when we are just crossing the threshold of a new life?" + +"Why not? Death has no terrors for me. Is it not pleasant to see how +life rises anew from corruption? Look the bodily form of a friend is +springing up around me in spring flowers; his nature was as pure, +delicate, and fragrant as a lily of the valley, and perhaps in these +evening breezes his gentle spirit hovers around me in benediction. Why +should I not rejoice here, where I have so long mourned you? How often +the rustling of this shrubbery has deceived me when I thought I had +summoned you hither by my ardent longing! how often these birds have +sung of hope and consolation when I believed myself lonely and +forgotten, and came here to atone to the dead man for having forsaken +him for the sake of one who loved me not! I have never left here +without being aided, and am I now to carelessly turn away from the spot +because I no longer need its modest consolation? Should I avoid the +grave of my young friend,--the grave which, in the perfume of these +flowers, has so often poured forth blissful promises of love?" + +"Cornelia, how happy you are even when grave, and how profoundly +earnest! I have never known a nature upon which all the delicate and +noble instincts of the soul were so clearly impressed. Come, let me +clasp you to my heart again, that I may convince myself you are really +flesh and blood, and no glorified spirit, which may some day soar +upward from whence it came." + +"Even if I were a spirit, I would not fly from you," said Cornelia, +gazing up at him with a face radiant with joy. "I would gladly submit +to all the sorrows of this earthly life, in order to be able to taste +its joys in your heart, you noble man." + +"Girl!" cried _Henri_, his eyes blazing with a sudden light, "what a +world of love your tender breast conceals! Yes, you will know how to +love as I desire,--warmly, nobly, overpoweringly. Come, kiss me once +more; it is so lonely here: no one is watching us. You cannot kiss yet, +Cornelia. When I return I will teach you." + +"When you return? Are you going away again?" + +"This very day; but it is for the last time, then I will stay with +you." + +"Where are you going?" + +"To attend the marriage ceremonies between Princess Ottilie and our +prince. Only a few weeks more, and I shall be wholly yours." + +"But you will write to me now?" + +"Every day. My sweet one, did my long silence grieve you?" + +"Oh, deeply!" sighed Cornelia, and her eyes filled with tears. "How I +have wept for you!" + +"Poor angel! If I had known how you love me, I would never have +tortured you so; but I will make amends for it. Do you believe I can?" + +"A thousandfold!" laughed Cornelia, amid her tears. + +"And now come, Cornelia; I will accompany you home, for I must prepare +for my journey." + +"No, _Heinrich_; I cannot appear before others with you now. Go alone, +and leave me here a half-hour longer, until I have collected my +thoughts; such sweet sounds must echo through the stillness." + +"You are right. Oh, if I could only stay with you! Farewell. Do not +look at me with that earnest gaze, or I cannot turn away. I feel as if +I were a banished man, let me press you to my heart once more. Now send +me away, or I cannot leave you!" + +There was a rustling in the branches. "Hark! What was that? Has any one +been watching us?" + +"It was the evening breeze that warns you to go if you must set out on +your journey to-day. Go, my beloved; think of our meeting, not of our +farewell. I will shut my eyes, that they may not detain you." + +"Then, farewell, until I have discharged my duty to the prince. Do not +fly away to heaven, my angel!" + +When Cornelia again raised her eyes, _Henri_ had departed. She watched +him striding rapidly along, then clasped her hands upon her breast, as +if to conceal the overwhelming burden of her happiness. A deep +stillness surrounded her; the sun had set, the birds were silent. +Suddenly a dark figure appeared as if it had started from the earth, a +tall, handsome man with a broad scar upon his brow, clad in the long +coat of a priest. He fixed his dark eyes upon Cornelia for a moment, +and then walked silently on. + +"Who was that?" she murmured, in terror. "Why did he look at me so +strangely? What had the gloomy apparition to do with this bright hour?" +She now felt the chill of the night air for the first time, shivered, +and overwhelmed by a haunting dread, hurried swiftly between the graves +towards home. + + + + + XV. + + A ROYAL MARRIAGE. + + + "H--, May 15th. + +"You ask me, my Cornelia, whether our love is to remain a secret. Yes, +I entreat you to keep it so. Let no one, no matter who it may be, touch +the tender plant which is budding in our hearts. So young an affection +needs concealment until it is strong enough to withstand all storms; +and believe me, my angel, they will not be spared you. I am far too +well known, have too often had occasion to thrust others aside, not to +have obtained the ill-will of persons who will take pleasure in casting +poison into your heart merely out of malice towards me. That I have +given them sufficient cause, I will frankly confess; for until a +character like mine is complete within itself, it must fall into a +thousand errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies. No man of real +ability escapes this crisis of development. The more variously and +richly he is endowed by nature, the more severe a process of +purification he must endure; and this cannot be accomplished without +expelling, by a violent fermentation, the dross which indelibly sullies +his outward life, if, like me, he has been exposed to the eyes of the +public. The private citizen experiences such epochs in silence; he is +not watched, and therefore his errors are not observed; the false step +taken in a position as lofty as mine is visible to the whole world, it +is imprinted not only upon the personal _chronique scandaleuse_ but +upon the history of the times, and receives an official character. +Therefore beware, Cornelia, of wishing to become acquainted with my +nature through any other person than myself; beware of exposing the +chaste secret of your heart to curiosity, malice, perhaps even envy. Do +not think that foolish vanity makes me use this word, for the present +inordinate thirst for marriage it is only natural that envy should be +excited in all circles, when a young girl is loved by so prominent a +man. Keep aloof from all these profaning influences. Believe me, I know +woman's nature, with its thousand delicate threads of feeling and +consequent excitability and sensitiveness, and I warn you to conceal my +image in your inmost soul. We do not at first perceive the injury such +a tie sustains by a rude touch; but as a fruit beaten by the hail +continues to grow and shows the blemish and bitterness only when eaten, +so the sore spot our hearts disturbs our happiness, and at last +develops a bitterness all our love cannot soften. I make the greatest +sacrifice because I can only see you clandestinely; but the time will +come when our love will dare to show itself openly before the world, +when we can no longer lose each other, and then you will perceive that +I was right and thank me for my present self-sacrifice. + +"Say nothing, even to Veronica; age is garrulous; I sincerely respect +her, but I cannot acquit her of this peculiarity of her years; you have +already made her so accustomed to your independent habits, you dear +little piece of obstinacy, that she will not think it strange if you +keep this letter from her as well as the others. It will be the last I +shall write from here, for Prince Edward, who is to marry Ottilie as a +proxy, arrived day before yesterday; the ceremony will be performed day +after tomorrow, and then we shall set out at once. As the princess's +health is somewhat delicate, and a journey by rail exhausts her more +than to travel by ship, I shall bring her from B---- by water. We shall +arrive on the 21st. Be sure to be at the harbor; the papers will give +you all the particulars. Then, Cornelia, I will lay my weary head upon +your breast, and rest peacefully after the thousand miserable anxieties +of diplomacy and etiquette, which torture a poor ambassador +extraordinary. Yes, you may be right when you say I was born for +something higher than to be the servant of a prince. When I read such +words, something stirs within me like an awakening power, which only +needs the impulse to cast off its chains, to shake itself free by one +mighty effort. Whether and from whence this will come to me, from +without or from within, I know not; but this I do know, that only you +can rouse the ideal powers which a misdirected life has lulled to +sleep. + +"Farewell till we meet, my angel. + + "Your own _Heinrich_." + + +It was late at night when _Heinrich_ finished this letter, and while he +went calmly to rest and fell asleep with Cornelia's name upon his lips, +the princess was wandering up and down her chamber like a restless +ghost. The lamps were burning brightly in their ground-glass shades +beside her bed, whose silken curtains waved slowly to and fro as +Ottilie passed them. + +"It is impossible; I cannot do it," she said, as she leaned for a +moment against the window. "If it were only day! The night makes all +anxieties rise before us like impassable mountains! Or, if sleep would +overpower me! But now it has been wholly put to flight by the thought +that I have but one more day of freedom,--freedom to love and suffer; +and then--then I must tear my heart from all to which it clings so +fondly,--forget, cease to feel: and woe betide me if I do not wholly +succeed in doing so! To see him daily, to be obliged to distinguish him +from among the nobles of my country as my husband's favorite, and yet +force back what my own heart feels; to feign an indifference which +makes the forms of courtesy--the true expression of my opinions--a lie! +And you could undertake such a task, unhappy one? You could allow +yourself to be so confused and persuaded that you did not shrink +from the tortures your consent would impose? If it were only +suffering!--alas! I am accustomed to that. It is the fear of guilt that +terrifies me. It is not only in act that we can sin, but in thought. +Each thought that steals back to that time of quiet, patient longing is +a robbery of what I owe my husband,--a crime against my vow. Woe betide +me if those ardent dark eyes, which beam only with love, even upon +those for whom he does not feel it, should ever rest in all their power +on mine! Shall I be able to prevent absorbing death from them with +ardent longing? And if at such a moment my husband should approach, +secure in my affection----" + +She threw herself on her knees and hid her blushing face in her hands. +"Oh, God! my God! thou who knowest better than I whether I am right in +thy sight, have mercy upon me and deliver me from this night of doubt +and anguish! Thou hast placed me in this lofty station! Give me the +strength, the coldness, the dignity,--not only the outward, but the +inward dignity,--which raises the reigning princess above ordinary +women. Let me not be compelled to expiate it so terribly, because I +willfully cherished an affection for a man whom thou didst not destine +for me. Have mercy, have mercy, oh, Father, thou who hast been the only +one to extend thine arms lovingly in answer to my search!--thou to whom +alone I could fly when, like a lost child, I despaired in this cold +world! I have brought thee my tears, complained to thee of the sorrows +other children weep out on their mothers' breasts, and to-day--to-day +for the first time--thou wilt not permit thyself to be found." + +She rose and saw that a bar of light was bordering the horizon. +Her glance fell upon the mirror and showed her a face so pale, so +tear-stained, that she was almost startled at the sight of her own +image. She gasped for breath, and, utterly exhausted, at last threw +herself upon her bed and fell asleep. When she awoke the sun was +already high in the heavens. The deep slumber had strengthened her, and +she rose with a feeling of new life. With the light of day more +calmness and clearness of judgment had returned. She collected the last +remnant of her strength, and felt ashamed of her weakness. + +"Be a princess, be proud, Ottilie! Worthily fill the place for which +God has appointed you. Pay the debt you owe him for the gifts he has +bestowed, and which you have held at so cheap a rate because they were +valueless to one. Perceive that it is the call of God that rouses you +from this selfish melancholy. Obey it, fulfill your destiny like all +other created beings; and if your strength fails, what can befall you +worse than the death for which you are always longing? Life will never +be so dear to you that you cannot hail it as a last blessing. My Lord +and God, I lay my broken heart, my hopes, my wishes at thy feet, and +make but one prayer,--grant that, in return for all my sacrifices, I +may not be denied the joy of fulfilling my task and making others truly +happy." + +She stood erect, as if surrounded by a halo of self-abnegation, when +Roeschen suddenly begged permission to enter. "I most humbly pray your +Highness's pardon for having come without being summoned," said the +young girl, "but the chamberlain has just brought your Highness the +news that Prince Edward was thrown from his horse this morning and so +dangerously injured that he cannot appear at the wedding as proxy." + +"What? Oh, God! is it possible?" exclaimed Ottilie. + +"Will your Highness deign to receive the chamberlain's news in person?" + +"No, no! But ask him whether the marriage will be deferred, or if some +one else will take the place of the prince." + +Roeschen withdrew, and came back with the reply that the wedding would, +in all probability, be deferred. Count Ottmar had already sent a +telegram to N----, and they were now awaiting an answer. + +Ottilie seemed to be animated with new life. A delay,--a +respite,--although only a short one, enabled her to breathe more +freely. "Dress me, Roeschen, and then send for Countess Carlstein. I +will drive for an hour; I need the sun and air. Ah, Roeschen," she +continued, as the young girl was arranging her toilet, "how will you +feel in a foreign country?" + +"Oh, I shall be contented anywhere, if I am with your Highness; +especially as you have graciously given my father a place in your +train. We shall still be able to see each other when I have any spare +time." + +"Good, contented little one," smiled Ottilie. "Tell me frankly, +Roeschen, has your heart no need of love? Do you not regret that you +have rejected Albert, and must go through life alone?" + +"No, your Highness," exclaimed Roeschen, cheerily; and two charming +little dimples appeared in her plump, rosy cheeks. "Life in your +service is so pleasant, and I love you and my father so dearly, that I +haven't the slightest wish for the constant restlessness and feverish +excitement of a betrothal." + +Ottilie stood thoughtfully before her. "Tell me, my child, how did you +succeed in forgetting Herr von Ottmar so easily, since you love no one +else?" + +"Oh, your Highness, I did not forget him easily," said Roeschen, raising +her large, childlike, blue eyes frankly to Ottilie's face. "I cried a +great deal at first, and thought I should die; but by degrees I saw +that it is a sin to covet anything we know the dear God does not intend +for us; besides, my confessor, Herr Lorenz, represented how hard it +would be for my old father if he was compelled to see his daughter +waste away thus. Then I felt ashamed of myself, went busily to work +again, and broke myself of my useless longing and sighing. Ah, work is +good for everything: it leaves one no time to weep, and at night one is +so tired that sleep conquers all grief. So I soon began to take +pleasure in living again, and thanked God that he had punished my sin +so mildly. Anxiety about poor Albert was the only thing that troubled +me, and now I am relieved even from this. He is a happy man." + +The princess felt the reproof contained in the young girl's artlessly +prattled philosophy. Her glance fell upon the mirror, and, as if +reflecting the reproach in Roeschen's words, it showed cheeks paled by +her long-nourished sorrow, in the sharpest contrast to the bright, +blooming face of the waiting-maid. + +"Yes, yes, you are right," she murmured, at last, gazing at Roeschen's +image in the mirror. After a long pause she began, in an almost +expressionless tone, "Have you learned no particulars from Albert as to +whether an acknowledged love exists between the count and the young +girl called the Prison Fairy?" + +"Albert does not know it positively, your Highness, but he is almost +sure of it; for ever since the count came back from N---- he has +written to her very often, and seems entirely different from what he +used to be,--much more cheerful and happy." + +Ottilie compressed her lips, and involuntarily laid her hand upon her +heart, as if she felt a sudden pang. + +"Does anything hurt you, your Highness? Does the pin I put in there +prick you?" asked Roeschen, anxiously. + +"Yes, take it out; it hurts me," said Ottilie, and thought, "Ah, if you +only could!" + +"Your Highness, your heart is beating violently! Your Highness is +certainly suffering from that pain in the breast again! If you would +only tell the doctor about it!" + +"My good girl, he can do me no good." A short cough interrupted her, +and she glanced smilingly at Roeschen's troubled face. "Be calm, my +child, people do not die of such things; and if I should, I shall leave +you a legacy which will support you all your life." + +"Your Highness!" exclaimed Roeschen, with a deep blush, while the +tears rushed into her eyes. "If your Highness thinks it is only for +that,"--she could say no more. + +"My dear Roeschen, have I hurt your feelings? Indeed, I did not intend +to do so. Then there is one heart that loves me for myself. God will +reward you for it far better than I. Do not cry: give me my dress." + +Roeschen smiled through her tears, threw the dress over Ottilie's +shoulders, knelt down, and pulled the folds straight. Then she gazed +with childish admiration at her mistress's tall, stately figure. "Ah, +how beautiful your Highness looks now! I cannot imagine that any one +can be handsomer or more noble. Your Highness is so--what shall I call +it?--such a holy apparition." + +Ottilie smiled involuntarily. "Oh, how delighted your Highness's proud +husband will be when he sees he has obtained such a beautiful wife!" + +"Do you think so?" + +"Of course; he must be pleased. He has chosen your Highness without +knowing you. Even if you were ugly, he would still be compelled to keep +you; but if you are beautiful, it is a real piece of good fortune,--a +true gain to him. He will undoubtedly rejoice." + +For the first time in many days, Ottilie felt tempted to laugh. "You +are a perfect child," said she. "May God preserve your innocence! You +are like a fresh spring day to my soul, and that is of great value to +me. But do you know we have spent two hours in curling hair and +dressing?" + +"Yes, your Highness; but I can't help it," replied Roeschen, +apologetically. + +"No, no; I know it. Tell me, Roeschen, how would you feel if you were +obliged to meet a stranger and greet him as your husband?" asked +Ottilie, with as much apparent unconcern as possible. + +"Oh, dear me! It must be strange, I think. No doubt it is very hard for +a royal lady that she cannot have her own free choice and take the one +she wants; but she must bear something in return for the many +advantages over others which she enjoys, or she would have everything +quite too pleasant; and every human being must have one sorrow, or he +will not deserve heaven." + +"Very true; but what would you do if you were in my place?" + +"Why, your Highness, if matters had gone so far that I couldn't change +anything, then I would in God's name reconcile myself to them, and make +every effort to become as fond of my betrothed as I could, that I might +have some pleasure in him myself, for it must be terrible to belong to +a man whom one doesn't love." + +"But if you cannot love him?" asked Ottilie, with interest. + +"Why should one not love the husband to whom one is wedded in the sight +of God? One can become fond of any worthy man, if one has a kind heart, +like your Highness: and the prince is said to be both handsome and +good. It is better for any one who can choose freely not to betroth +herself to a man whom she doesn't love, or to a stranger; but if one +must take him, and can't get rid of it, one ought to meet him +trustfully and lovingly, that it may be not only outwardly but inwardly +a true Christian marriage." + +"Yes, we must question the oracle of a simple heart, if in our +over-refinement we wish to find the way to truth and nature," murmured +Ottilie. Her toilet was now complete, and she thought that she looked +better than usual. "If the Lord so wills, he can speak from the lips of +a child!" she thought to herself, for she had received unexpected +consolation from the simple girl who was so greatly her inferior. + +Just at that moment the chamberlain announced the ambassador +extraordinary, Count Ottmar, who requested a private audience to +communicate the wishes of his prince. + +Ottilie started at the sound of his name, but moved on with a firm step +to the reception-room where _Heinrich_ awaited her. + +"Pardon me, princess, for having ventured to request permission to +speak to you once more alone." + +"My future husband's messenger must always be welcome to me," said +Ottilie, with stately courtesy. + +_Heinrich_ looked at her in astonishment. It was difficult for him to +find the precise tone that would harmonize with this address. He was +unaccustomed to such coldness from Ottilie, and felt confused. This did +not escape her delicate feelings, and to fill up the little pause of +embarrassment she motioned him to be seated. + +Meantime _Heinrich_ had regained his composure, and began, in a firm, +grave tone: "Your Highness, permit me to speak to you once more in the +language in which I formerly had the happiness of making myself +understood; for the point in question does not merely concern a +commission from the prince, but private relations of a delicate nature +with which it is connected, and which I can only discuss with your +Highness if you will permit me once more, and for the last time, to +approach you as your friend." + +"Count Ottmar," replied Ottilie, in a low but firm voice, "you may be +assured that I am not contemptible enough to seek to deny the existence +of 'relations of a delicate nature' between you and myself, but I must +also expect that you will be considerate enough to say no more about +them than is absolutely necessary." + +"You may be sure of that, princess. I regret that my introduction to +this conversation should have given you cause to fear the reverse." + +"Tell me my bridegroom's message. What can he ask to which I would not +consent in advance?" + +"Then I will discharge my duty. The reason I have used so much +circumlocution you will perceive without any further explanation. You +are aware of the misfortune that has befallen Prince Edward. I +telegraphed at once to N----, as my office required, and have just +received from the prince the dispatch I now have the honor to deliver +to you." + +Ottilie took the paper, went to the window, and read: "Impossible to +defer the marriage. All the preparations are completed. The whole +country in readiness to give a brilliant reception. Unadvisable to +disappoint the expectations of the nation. If agreeable to the +princess, I appoint Count Ottmar proxy on Prince Edward's place. Count +Ottmar will inform the court at once, etc." Ottilie could read no more: +the remainder concerned only matters of etiquette; the words lost their +meaning, the letters swam before her eyes. She stood motionless as if +struck by a thunderbolt. Every tinge of color faded from her cheeks, +she seemed frozen into a marble statue. She must exchange rings with +Ottmar, be wedded to the man for whom she longed, only to belong to +another; she must vow to be faithful to her husband, and she loved his +proxy. The forms which would have sealed her life-long happiness, had +they been true, now only served to sanction the lie at the thought of +which her heart bled. And yet ought she, as the betrothed bride of +another, to make the humiliating confession to _Heinrich_ that she felt +too weak to bear his presence at the altar?--ought she to give way to +such weakness herself? + +_Heinrich_ read these thoughts reflected upon her brow. "I knew this +news must affect you unpleasantly, princess, and therefore preferred to +give you the information privately, that you might be able to tell me +frankly whether it would be agreeable to you to stand before the altar +with me or not. I hope you will understand my 'consideration' now; for +if the inquiry had been made officially, you would not have been able +to offer before the eyes of the world the insult of refusing to accept +me as a substitute. But here, alone, you can tell me if it will be +painful to you to have me beside you; and I will not take the +acknowledgment as a humiliation, but receive it as a sacred confidence, +and find means to delay the progress of affairs without mentioning your +name." + +Ottilie struggled with her feelings for a moment, and then held out her +hand to him. "I thank you, my friend. Your forbearance is kind and +noble, but it is unnecessary. How could I meet the prince, my husband, +if I had not done with--everything?--if I shrank from this last drop in +the bitter cup? What has been begun must be finished. If I have the +courage to accomplish the great falsehood of my life, it ought not to +fail me in this short, painful comedy. Ought I to rob an expectant +country of its festival of joy, leave its garlands to wither, suffer +its good-will to be transformed into anger, on account of the cowardice +of a sore heart? Ought I not, as the mother of the country, to +understand my duties better? No, no, Ottmar; I am stronger than you +thought. I will go with you to the marriage ceremony; I will think only +of my people, pray for them alone,--my kind people, who are hopefully +expecting me: that will give me strength to bear the mockery of fate +which places my hand in yours,--to part me from you forever." Here +emotion suffocated her voice: she motioned to Ottmar to withdraw, and +turned away. + +"Oh, princess," he cried, "if you knew what grief I feel at the sight +of your silent suffering, at the thought that I am its author, and can +now do nothing, nothing to lessen it! I am an unhappy man, who always +acts solely from egotism, and yet is not bad enough to be able to +witness the result of his deeds coldly and without remorse. No, God is +my witness that I am now speaking the truth, and not acting a part!" He +threw himself on his knees before her. "Forgive me, princess; I have +committed a terrible crime against you!" + +She laid her band gently on his head. "I forgive you all, Ottmar. May +God bless and guide you in the right path!" + +"I thank you!" cried _Heinrich_, springing up. "Then I am to give the +court notice that the marriage will take place?" + +"I have already said so." + +When _Heinrich_ had closed the door behind him, Ottilie gave free +course to her tears. "Oh, God! oh, God! how much can a heart bear +without breaking?" + + +She had told the truth: hers was not one of those natures in which +grief, by a violent assault, swells the veins to bursting, strains the +nerves to their utmost tension, and excites a wild conflict in the +heart; she belonged to those deep, silent characters, which do not have +the strength to offer the resistance which increases it to despair, or +conquers it, but patiently suffer it to obtain complete possession of +them, and conceal it in the deepest recesses of their souls, where it +gently and gradually gnaws away the roots of life. This proceeds from +no lack of strength or courage. They use all their moral power in the +conscientiousness and capacity for self-sacrifice peculiar to them, in +order to accomplish the tasks of superhuman difficulty which fate most +frequently imposes upon these very natures. + +Ottilie performed such a task when on the following day she went to the +altar with _Heinrich_, and succeeded in stifling the thought of his +close proximity by fervent prayer. She did not cast a single glance at +his face, but stood as pale and calm as a corpse adorned for the grave. +All were weeping around her, although they could have given no reason +for it, even to themselves. Her manner after the wedding exerted a +sorrowful influence: it seemed to each person who offered her his +congratulations as if he were uttering a lie, and a thrill of +melancholy ran through his whole frame as she bowed her beautiful head +in acknowledgment. With the firmness to which all royal personages are +trained, she went through all the customary ceremonies; but in saying +farewell she could not restrain her tears, and held her uncle's hand +closely clasped in hers as she thanked him for all his kindness. + +The old prince was deeply moved. "Ah, Ottilie," said he, "I fear that +in you my country is losing its good angel. True, I ought not to +complain, since it will obtain great advantages by your marriage; but +they will be no compensation to my heart for you. Farewell! May God +give you happiness!" + +The journey was the greatest martyrdom to Ottilie's weakened nerves; +for she now had not a moment in which she was unwatched. She must guard +every word, every look; she dared not yield to any feelings of +exhaustion or depression. Thus passed a day of torture. Fortunately, +when night came, her bodily fatigue was so great that sleep relieved +her for a few hours from her excitement and anxiety. + +The following day they reached the frontiers of Ottilie's second home. +Here she received a portion of her new court, and dismissed her former +train, with the exception of those who were appointed to a place among +the ranks of her future attendants. The exchange between the old and +new courtiers was a matter of comparative indifference to her, for she +had never expected to find these men anything more than mere +conventional machines. She welcomed one party with the same affability +that she displayed in bidding farewell to the other, without any +special feeling. The cordial reception given her by the country people +in the first little town on the frontier was a joyful surprise, and +when she at last reached the prince's yacht which lay awaiting her and +gave her a royal salute, when she had entered it with her train, and on +a most lovely day floated down the broad stream, past shores adorned +with tokens of welcome, her heart began to swell with the thought, "You +are the mistress of this country. It belongs to you, and its happiness, +its freedom, will perhaps be in your hands." And this ray of hope +cheered her soul for a moment. + +_Heinrich_ watched her with alternate dread and joy, according to the +mood expressed upon her features. It was a great source of anxiety to +him how Ottilie would bear all these exertions. If her strength failed, +if she met the prince as a sickly, feeble woman, all the blame would +fall upon him who had made this match. She still seemed outwardly firm; +but in spite of her faultless bearing it did not escape him that her +breast rose and fell more and more rapidly the nearer she approached +her destination. He would gladly have sustained and animated her spirit +as one seeks to save and protect en expiring light, but the +unapproachable dignity of manner which she had adopted towards him +since her marriage made it impossible, and caused him the greatest +perplexity. The last stage of the journey was reached: he saw her grow +still paler; and she received deputations from the city at which they +had arrived, and some of the highest staff-officers who had come out in +two yachts to meet her, in a voice so faint that the words were +scarcely audible. It was with great anxiety that _Heinrich_ saw the +moment of the meeting between her and the prince approach. And he was +not wrong. + +When the three steamers left the last stopping-place and glided, calmly +and majestically, side by side down the broad stream, countless boats +adorned with gay streamers put off from both shores and accompanied the +large vessels; on the right and left, before and behind, they assembled +hundreds; as far as the eye could reach there was nothing to be seen +but a moving stream of fluttering pennons. The mistress of ceremonies +signified to Ottilie that she ought to go on deck and show herself to +the people. Scarcely had she done so when a loud cheer rang from +thousands of throats: a greeting from the students, the most promising +young men in the country. And now music rose from the foremost boats, +like an eagle extending its wings above the confused, brilliant throng. +The echo repeated the strains majestically from the rocky shores; a +fresh breeze ruffled the water, and as if borne along by the sound the +boats dashed on. + +Ottilie clung dizzily to the railing of the deck. It seemed as if her +soul must escape from its tenement and soar into eternity upon those +tones, and she gazed with a strange, unearthly expression at the +magnificent spectacle and the sunny air thrilling with the notes of the +music. The sweet sounds blended into a threatening roar, a volley of +artillery! Masts, flags, and steeples appeared in the distance. + +"The harbor is close at hand, your Highness," said _Heinrich_. Ottilie +turned pale: the shadow of death rested upon her face. "Take courage; +compose yourself, or all is lost," he whispered. + +She still stood erect, and he watched her in painful suspense. The +distant steeples became still more distinct; there was a second roar of +artillery from the accompanying yachts,--a third,--the harbor opened +before Ottilie's eyes, and now began the thunder of a hundred guns, +while the ringing of bells floated athwart them in majestic waves of +sound. The boats fell back with a repeated cheer, and the steamers +slowly entered the harbor. The rigging of the ships that lay at anchor +was filled with sailors, who waved their hats and shouted a wild +"hurrah!" A countless throng of people on the edge of the harbor, at +the windows, and on the roofs of the houses, which were gayly adorned +with flowers and tapestry, sent forth their shouts of welcome to +Ottilie, amid the thunder of cannon and the ringing of bells. +Everything swam before her eyes. The impression was too powerful; all +this produced too violent an emotion in her oppressed heart. Yonder +stood a group of gentlemen, the foremost must be the prince just ready +to enter the boat which was to bear him to the ship; a mist gathered +before her eyes, her heart stopped beating, the blood flowed coldly +through her veins: she laid her damp, icy hand upon the shoulder of the +mistress of ceremonies, and tottered. _Heinrich_ caught her by the arm, +and both carried her down into the cabin, where she sank back utterly +unconscious. + +"I thought so," muttered _Heinrich_, and went up to receive the prince, +and if possible detain him. + +The mistress of ceremonies knew not what to do, and called the lady's +maid. Roeschen appeared and applied the usual restoratives. Ottilie +breathed faintly, but was unable to raise her head. + +"The prince is on board," said a chamberlain. + +"Oh, God!" moaned Ottilie; and again she trembled violently. + +"Will not your Highness try to rise?" pleaded the mistress of +ceremonies, in the greatest anxiety; for the prince might now enter at +any moment. Roeschen caught her in her arms, the door was thrown open, +and "his Highness" was announced. One last violent effort, and Ottilie +stood erect. The mistress of ceremonies withdrew with Roeschen. The +prince entered. Ottilie bowed with her usual stately grace. The +prince's eyes rested with surprise and pleasure upon the beautiful, +although pallid, face. The aroma of aristocracy which surrounded her +was wonderfully pleasing to the man of forms. + +"Allow me to express to your Highness my most heartfelt gratitude for +the confidence with which you intrust your future to me, a stranger; +and receive the assurance that I shall hold so precious a gift as +sacred, and know how to guard it." + +Twice Ottilie essayed to speak, and twice her voice failed. At last her +tongue obeyed her will, and she began: "Your Highness, the confidence +for which you compliment me so highly is only a fitting tribute that +every noble-minded person must pay to a prince whose political as well +as private life lies open and blameless before the gaze of all. It is +far different with me. My existence has flowed on in silent seclusion. +You know me only from descriptions and from my letters; the latter +might be dictated, the former invented. I myself, my own character, can +alone win for me your esteem, your friendship. Your Highness will +perceive it is only natural that this consciousness should disturb me, +and pardon my embarrassment. Moreover, the kind and magnificent +reception your Highness and the people of the country have bestowed +upon me has moved and confused me deeply. I am not accustomed to such +things. I am well aware that it is not given to my person, but my +position; but I have so identified myself with my new dignity and its +duties that I cannot help taking these festivities to myself, and +allowing their overmastering impression to influence me." + +The prince had listened admiringly to the melody and grace of her +language. "Your Highness is in error if you suppose this reception is +given solely to your position. Certain forms of course are +indispensable on such occasions; but a rumor has preceded you, which +not only secured my esteem, but excited the greatest enthusiasm for you +among the people, and this you must have felt. The reception was a +sincere one, and if you had been known the tokens would have become +still more enthusiastic, for I freely confess that your appearance has +surpassed all our expectations, and must win the heart of every one who +sees you." + +"This praise from your lips, your Highness, makes me very proud; for I +believe you far too noble to expect insincere flattery from you in so +solemn an hour." + +"You are perfectly right, princess; the hour in which two human beings, +who are united for life, see each other for the first time, is a very +solemn one, for it holds the key of our whole future. I am therefore +the more joyfully surprised to find in you a nature which opens to me +the hope of a happy marriage. Permit me to believe that at least you do +not feel the contrary to be the case?" + +Ottilie tried to speak. + +"Do not answer me," interrupted the prince. "How could I be so +ungallant as to seek to call forth complimentary assurances from a +lady? No, you shall not tell me so; you shall only allow me to feel it. +I shall eagerly await the moment when your eyes will tell me that your +heart has confirmed the choice which destiny imposed." + +"Your Highness," replied Ottilie, "receive the assurance that I have no +other wish than that of making you and your people happy. I will be an +obedient, and faithful wife, and never ask anything of you except +indulgence. Be assured that I shall never claim any tokens of love from +you. No feeling of affection has united us who are total strangers to +each other; we both yielded to the commands of political necessity. It +depends upon ourselves to lend value to such a tie, to form a more or +less cordial bond of friendship, but not to conjure up emotions which +the heart receives only as revelations. I tell you this, your Highness, +that in your noble chivalrousness you may not think it necessary to +delude yourself and me by the expression of such feelings. I shall have +attained the highest goal of my hopes if you will some day bear witness +that I have not entered your life as a disturbing element, but to bring +a blessing." + +"I understand your Highness's delicacy of feeling. Your every word +affords me a fresh proof of the treasure I possess in you, and I hope a +bond will be developed between us higher and firmer than one founded on +mere chance sympathy,--a bond of mutual comprehension and unchanging +esteem. Shall it not be so, my Ottilie?" + +"May God grant it, your Highness!" + +"Etiquette commands that I should now leave your Highness. To-morrow at +the cathedral I shall take pride in presenting you to the nation as its +princess,--as a true princess. Yes, I am proud of my noble wife," he +added, emphasizing the words, while a cold smile gleamed over his +smooth features. He pressed his lips lightly to Ottilie's hand and +withdrew. She stood motionless and exhausted; tears no longer dimmed +her eyes: her destiny was fixed. She now knew the man to whom she +belonged, and what she had to expect from him. + +The mistress of ceremonies entered, and again she was forced to add +another link to the chain of self-denial which already rested so +heavily upon her weary shoulders. _Heinrich_ breathed more freely when +the prince's own lips expressed his satisfaction with his choice; +although he regretted his deed, he must still desire it to be crowned +with complete success, since his whole destiny depended upon it. +Moreover, his remorse was not so sincere as he had made Ottilie believe +in their last interview, or even as he had believed himself. It had +unconsciously been heightened by the selfish fear that he had +sacrificed Ottilie uselessly,--uselessly for himself, for he could no +longer doubt that he had been mistaken in her character. She was wholly +changed from what she had been in former days; with the same greatness +of soul which had led her to show her love for him when free, she +concealed it now that she was bound. He perceived that she possessed +one of those deep natures which seize upon all that they believe to be +their appointed destiny with silent, unassuming tenacity of purpose, +and hold it steadfastly to the end. So had she clung to him when she +believed herself marked out for no other fate than to love and suffer; +and now she seemed to cleave with the same self-denial, if not to her +husband, to the duties of her new vocation. Here was the solution of +his false reckoning; and he now quickly came to the conclusion that he +had nothing more to hope from her for the furtherance of his ambition +than any other; that she would even consider it a needful victory +over herself not to favor him. Thus he had now accomplished an act +which he must despise as one of the most horrible results of his +selfishness,--robbed himself of a friend to whom he might have fled in +every vicissitude of life; he had solved so many difficult problems in +politics and love, ruled the most reserved and haughtiest women, +struggled victoriously with the first intellects of his court, but by +the simple greatness of her character his plan was baffled,--because he +knew only the strength of her love, not the power of her virtue. +Ottilie was a complete contrast to himself; with all his intellect he +could not understand a character destitute of all, even the most +necessary selfishness; and thus he was at last compelled to confess +himself vanquished by the power of a goodness in which he had never +believed. He pitied Ottilie as the martyr of exaggerated ideas, and +felt that across the barriers of this loyal "prejudice" no sympathizing +intercourse could ever take place between them. He was now thrown +entirely upon himself and Cornelia; he did not possess even one friend, +for he lacked the only foundations of friendship,--unselfishness and +confidence. Cornelia alone now captivated his sensual as well as his +intellectual nature. She was the last and only thing left him, and the +secretly lonely and dissatisfied man clung to her with all the strength +of his life. The hours during which he was compelled to attend the +marriage festivities dragged slowly and painfully. + + + + + XVI. + + THE TWO BETROTHED BRIDES. + + +Meantime Cornelia awaited him in her quiet salon, where the roses +always bloomed like eternal lamps of love. She was alone. Veronica's +health had become somewhat delicate of late, and she was taking an +afternoon nap in her room. Cornelia hoped to receive _Heinrich's_ first +glance unobserved. She had spent the three days since Ottilie's arrival +in idle dreams, longings, and expectations, and had sought solitude +that Veronica might not perceive her indolence. It was impossible for +her to fix her attention upon anything except the one thought,--"He +will soon arrive." She had never believed that any one could spend +three whole days in such complete inaction. She did not go out, even to +visit the prison, lest she should miss him, and thanked God when any +one rang the bell, because she had the pleasure of fancying for a +moment that it was he. To-day this satisfaction had fallen to her lot +very rarely; the street and house were silent, and she walked +impatiently up and down the smooth inlaid floor, played with the roses, +made an old mandarin nod his head, incessantly looked into the glass to +see whether she would please her lover, threw herself on the yellow +sofa, and fancied he was beside her; thought of a thousand things she +wanted to tell him, took up one of the faded velvet-covered albums, +turned the leaves without reading a word, and at last started up in +joyful surprise, for the bell was now really pulled, and so violently, +so impatiently,--it must be he. She hurried into the antechamber. + +"I'll tell you if any one comes," said the old servant, as sulkily as +if he knew whom Cornelia expected, and walked slowly on to open the +door. + +Cornelia retired in great embarrassment, and waited behind the +folding-doors. Yes, it was the well-known step upon the stairs, along +the corridor; he was approaching. The blissful certainty overwhelmed +her with suffocating violence, and now she could see nothing, for two +eager arms had clasped her and pressed her closely to a throbbing +heart. + +There was a moment of silence, a moment when the world seemed to be +hushed, and divinity itself listened in delight to the sweetest +language given to the human heart,--the mute language of love. Then +_Henri's_ lips sought her own, and softly, softly she whispered a +thousand sweet names; but every word died in a kiss; and thus words and +caresses struggled long in a secret conflict for the mastery. + +"Let me look at you," said Cornelia, at last; and drawing back, took +his head between her hands and raised it. "You have grown handsomer; +you look milder, graver, and yet happier." + +"It is my love for you, Cornelia. If the features take the impress of +the soul, I must become more and more like you. You are so perfect, +Cornelia, that your Creator in his delight over his work wished to make +a copy of you; and see, he chose me! My soul is nothing more than the +background upon which the finger of God has engraved your image." + +"Ob, noble spirit, you always give the fairest expression of every +feeling,--earth and heaven are open to your flight! Will you now linger +with me? Do I hold this dear head clasped in my hands? Dare I call you +mine, and kiss the brow on which you are enthroned?" asked Cornelia, in +dreamy delight. + +"Yes, yes, Cornelia, the spirit is yours, for you have been the first +to awaken it. Lay the head that contains it on your breast, let your +hand rest lovingly upon it, and it will disdain heaven and earth, and +linger here, here on this one sweet spot forever, forever!" + +He stooped and pressed a kiss upon Cornelia's heart. Blushing deeply, +she laid her clasped hands upon his dark hair and raised her eyes in an +ecstasy of love. "Oh, God, one who had denied thee throughout a whole +lifetime must acknowledge thee in such an hour!" + +"You pious priestess, priestess of a religion whose blessings I +gratefully feel at this moment, shall I tell you how I pray to +you,--yes, pray fervently and devoutly? I know that in you I possess +the greatest blessing earth can offer, and that I do not deserve it. If +I had not found it I should have gone to destruction; but you will lead +me back from the exhausted pleasures of the world to pure nature, to +truth and simplicity of heart. A new day breaks upon me through +you,--an Easter-day,--for in you my better self celebrates its +resurrection. Your breath is the fresh air of morning, the dawn glows +upon your cheeks, and in your eyes beams the sunrise of a happiness +never known before. Come, let me inhale your breath. Ah, youth, purity, +and strength emanate from you to revive and cheer!" He again pressed +his lips to hers for a moment. "Now," he continued, "the whole man is +exclusively and entirely yours, yours forever; do with him whatever you +choose, for he has no longer any claim to a life which you alone +preserved to him, and which without you would have been lost." + +"What shall, what can, I say to you in return for such words? Not I, +but you yourself took the new flight which has made you so dear to me. +What could I be to you? What influence could the few moments we have +spent together exert?" + +"And if I should ask you the same question, and inquire how you could +love me in so short a time, what would you reply?" + +"Why, that love and mutual understanding do not depend upon time." + +"The case is precisely the same with me, my child. Years of study and +intercourse are not necessary to understand a superior nature. A few +traits enable it to be characterized, single extremes allow its full +compass to be measured, and as one accord contains the elements of +music, so it can easily reveal to the observer the keynotes of its +soul; and you did this. Wherever I struck, it echoed. I know the whole +scale of your nature, although a thousand sweet harmonies which may be +formed from it are still concealed from me." + +"Tell me, _Heinrich_, how long have you loved me?" + +"Since, since--permit me to answer you with the most common of all +forms of speech,--since the first time I saw you." + +"Since our meeting in the prison?" + +"Yes; I cannot tell you what a powerful impression I received from you. +I was astonished! Your boldness, your disregard of my dignity, your +philanthropic enthusiasm, so entirely devoid of all affectation and +sentimentality, aroused the greatest admiration, and your beauty +excited my love. Had you been merely beautiful, I should only have +desired you; but since you showed an equal intellect, I love you, and +loved you from the beginning as I never did any other." + +"As you never loved any other?" asked Cornelia. She had seated herself +upon the sofa, and he took a chair beside her. She folded her arms upon +the little barrier the broad side of the divan formed between them, and +they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. + +"As I never loved any other," repeated _Henri_. "If you fully realized +your own value, you would not look at me so incredulously. You would +know that you must be loved differently from the commonplace girls with +whom people can only trifle, whose insignificance renders all serious +conversation impossible. There is nothing which continues to keep a +woman interesting to a man except _originality_; and before I knew you +I almost despaired of finding it. The female mind cannot reach the +perception of things by the established, endlessly long path marked out +for it; it has not sufficient perseverance, cannot keep pace with man. +Most women pause half-way, with the goal before their eyes, but unable +to reach it; they then become weary, disgusted with the world, and +consume themselves in idle longings, which they at last permit some +friend to heal. Others turn into by-paths of fruitless scholarship, and +wonder aimlessly to and fro; such persons become utterly disagreeable, +a terror to every man, for they enter into a sort of intellectual +competition with him, which is charmless and a mere waste of time, +because there is no true honorable victory to be obtained in such an +unequal struggle. The true womanly nature knows the extent of her +powers; she does not strive for things too far beyond her, for she +cheerfully makes out her own object and builds her own path to it. This +unthinking exercise of natural instincts, this radiance of free, pure +thought, beaming from a youthful brow, is extremely refreshing, and +while I am with you I regret every moment that I cannot philosophize +with you about everything in earth or heaven. But the mouth which +speaks so wisely is far too sweet, and so my senses are constantly +battling with my intellect. I cannot kiss you without wishing you were +talking, and I cannot hear you speak without wanting to kiss you. Is +not this an unfortunate contradiction?" + +"Ought it not to be harmonized? Cannot people be both sensible and +affectionate?" asked Cornelia. + +"No, my angel! In your presence I have not the necessary calmness," +said _Henri_, involuntarily casting down his eyes. "Clearness of +thought requires cool blood; and when I am so near you, when your sweet +breath floats over me, and your warm hand rests in mine, my heart +throbs violently, and sends the blood so quickly through my veins, that +I can think of nothing but you and my ardent love!" + +"Oh, do not look at me so fiercely! Your kindling eyes pierce my soul +until I cannot help blushing. You do not know how terribly your glances +flash. I do not fear you, but a strange horror overwhelms me when I see +you thus. I feel myself a match for the spirit that darts menacing +looks from those eyes, and a shudder thrills my soul as the wind +rustles gently through the banners before a battle." + +"So you are belligerently disposed towards me, Cornelia?" + +"No, indeed; except when you are in your present mood then, I know, I +shall often be compelled to uphold my standard against you." + +"And what standard might that be?" + +"That of gentleness, truth: in one word, virtue," she said, simply and +firmly. + +"Do you think me destitute of them?" + +"Yes. Understand me correctly. You have a multitude of great and +lovable qualities which distinguish you from the million,--a multitude +of _virtues_, but not the _virtue_ which we designate by one word, and +in an indivisible sense. A person may not possess nearly as many noble +traits, and yet be far more virtuous than you. Virtue is the pure, +conscious will which unites the scattered capacities for good, and +matures them to moral actions; and this quality you lack." + +Ottmar had become very grave. _Henri_ was present no longer: _Heinrich_ +had taken his place. Cornelia laid her head upon his hands, and said, +in a tone of the fondest affection: "Now you are so quiet and cold, +have I vexed you?" + +"No, my child; but you have given me something to think about, which +makes me grave. You women have a wonderful talent for moralizing. Your +conscience wishes to make up for the too great indulgence of your +hearts, and therefore you are the sternest censors of the man you +love." + +"We women? Have you said the same thing to other women?" + +"Only one except yourself; but her theories were repellent. She gave me +no proof in her own person that she possessed a cheering power in her +own nature. She was a sad, pale, melancholy vision, so her influence +over me also faded; yet, I shall always hold her memory sacred." + +"Who was she? Heinrich, a shadow has fallen upon your mood: who was it +you mourn for as a departed spirit?" + +"A poor creature, whose suffering constantly pervades all my joys, +whose misery always appears greater to me the more my own happiness +increases, the more I learn to believe in the might of true feeling. +Yes, yes, Cornelia, you are right; I may have virtues, but they +principally exist in the fact that I can still regret the virtue I +lack. Oh, if I could but cast aside my past with all its errors and +reproaches, like the cocoon of a butterfly, and soar forth in freedom +as a new, winged, purified creature!" + +"I will tell you the name of the unhappy woman about whom remorse +is now torturing you," began Cornelia, after a pause of earnest +thought,--"it is Princess Ottilie." + +_Heinrich_ started up. "Girl! How did such an idea enter your head?" + +Cornelia looked at him intently. "It is so." + +"Who told you?" + +"I thought of it myself. Ottilie imposed inviolable secrecy upon +Roeschen; what motive induced her to do so if she did not love you? What +duty led Princess Ottilie to spare Herr von Ottmar except a tender +obligation of the heart? All this, however, might be explained; but I +was at the harbor when you arrived, I saw the princess turn pale, saw +you approach anxiously and whisper a few words, perceived how, with a +glance at you, she composed herself, how earnestly you watched her, and +at last sprang to her assistance as if the whole responsibility of +caring for her devolved upon you alone. I saw this lady was +experiencing some great inward conflict; and your anxiety showed that +you were aware of it. I felt there was some silent, mutual bond between +you,--in what it exists I know not, but it does exist; and if I make it +agree with what you have just said, then, _Heinrich_, I fear you have +great cause for self-reproach." + +"You have watched me with the eyes of love, and formed a tolerably +clear idea of the true state of affairs. It would be useless to deny +your guess, you would still believe it. In such matters one can deceive +the world, but not the instinct of a clever woman. What shall I say to +you?--spare me further particulars concerning things which are not my +secret. I will freely confess that, with the exception of yourself, she +was my only friend,--that I owe her much and shall always pity her." + +"Poor lady!" said Cornelia, softly. "If she loves you, she is greatly +to be pitied, for she can never forget you,--never be happy again!" + +"Does your own heart tell you that, Cornelia?" + +"Yes. Whoever has once felt the magic of your nature can never love +another, and is bound to you for life; the whole world contains nothing +nobler than yourself." + +_Heinrich_ took her hands and pressed them to his breast. "Dearest, you +are my happiness and my salvation! Cornelia, I love you. I would fain +breathe forth my life in those few words: 'I love you!" Cornelia felt +that tears were dimming her eyes, and tried to conceal them. "Oh, do +not be ashamed of these tears! Happy is the human being who can weep. +Teach me the lesson too, and you will have accomplished what not even +God could do!" + +"And if I should succeed, _Heinrich_, it would still be only by the +help of God, who blessed my efforts. He will let me find means to do +so, if he wishes to raise you by my hand. Do not smile. I cannot help +calling the power to which you give a thousand titles by the name of +God; cannot intentionally fail in my duty to him. I cannot live without +this God,--may not deny him. When I was a child he stood beside my bed +and I could talk to him. I associated with him all my thoughts of my +father; my mother appeared to me beautiful and radiant in his heavenly +majesty, I have so often folded my little hands reverently and thought +he heard me; and am I now to believe the soulless air wafted my fervent +prayer away,--that so much love, so much devotion, was lavished an a +phantom? Oh, my childish faith has increased with my growth!--it has +somewhere become part of my nature; for if I try to separate from it, a +pang passes through my soul, and I feel that some spiritual nerve, the +connecting link between God and myself, is wounded." + +"You are a woman, Cornelia, and it would be wicked to cast a word of +doubt into the sanctuary of your pious heart. We have already spoken of +this matter once, and you almost made me an enthusiast." + +"Is it really so?" interrupted Cornelia. "Oh, if you confess that, much +is gained, and I shall henceforth work upon your 'enthusiasm'! You +know, _Heinrich_, that natures like ours are always set apart from the +rest of mankind. Life often becomes unendurable; reverses of fortune +may occur which even philosophy can no longer help us to bear, and we +can nowhere find a home. Then it is fortunate if we can flee from earth +to that wonderland of fancy, our inalienable home. There are sorrows, +too, _Heinrich_, which cannot endure the classical training of an empty +doctrine, and which, destroying everything in their course, dash wildly +over us. Then the soul grasps for some support, and in its agony +shrieks for a God; and if there were none, it would create him for +itself, that its cry for help might not echo back from an empty void. +But such a self-created God gives no comfort, but jeers at you +mockingly, like the spectre of your own agony, and melts away before +your eyes, while the true God cannot approach to comfort you, for you +do not believe in him, and only by faith does he work his miracles." +Cornelia paused; for _Heinrich_ was on his knees before her with his +face buried in her lap. + +"If in such an hour I still have you, I need no God!" he exclaimed, +fairly beside himself. + +"Do not blaspheme!" pleaded Cornelia "And suppose you did not have +me? Suppose it should be God's will to separate us, and you were +alone,--entirely alone?" + +"Cornelia, how can you think of such a thing while you clasp me in your +arms? If we should lose each other, what should I become? An embodied +negation, separated from all connection with mankind, withered in mind +and body,--a living corpse, to which the world is only a grave." + +"_Heinrich_, dear, dear _Heinrich_! you inspire me with both compassion +and horror! Oh, banish these gloomy spirits from your mind, and become +light-hearted and gentle! Fate is not subdued by threats and +blasphemies; the ground on which happiness willingly builds its nest +must be firm and peaceful, not trembling with volcanic shocks and +rumbling with peals of thunder. Come, be gentle; such wicked words suit +your delicate mouth. Smile again; Veronica will soon wake up, and then +we can no longer express our love in fond caresses." + +"Yes, that is true!" cried _Heinrich_; "let us enjoy the moment while +we may." And it was _Henri_ who now threw himself upon the sofa beside +Cornelia and drew her closely to him. + +Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. His eyes were beaming with +ardent feeling; a warmer color tinged his cheeks; his mouth, +half-pouted for a kiss was irresistibly alluring. "It often seems as if +you changed places with some one, and in an instant became an entirely +different man. I never saw such sudden alterations of mood." + +"Ah, do not speak! kiss me!" pleaded _Henri_. "Darling, how I have +longed for those lips! Many a night have I tossed as if in a fever, +thirsting, yearning for you. Did you think of me when you went to +rest?" + +"Yes, a thousand times. I have never fallen asleep without calling +'Good-night, _Heinrich_!' and the words became my nightly prayer. I +shall never forget it." + +"How beautiful! What time do you say it?" + +"At eleven: when I am in bed." + +"In future I shall always say, 'Pleasant dreams, Cornelia!' You will +remember it, won't you, my darling?" + +"Of course I shall," she whispered, pressing her cheek close to his. + +Light, scarcely audible footsteps approached. Cornelia started up. +"Veronica is coming!" + +The door slowly opened, and she entered, kindly as ever, but pale, as +if there was not a drop of blood in her sunken features. Her slender +figure seemed still more shrunken, and there was not a tinge of color +about the ghostly apparition except the light-blue ribbon upon her +white cap. The lovely eyes were more hollow, more lustreless, than in +former days; the silvery curls drooped more negligently about her face. +_Henri_ perceived a change in her, and as it soon became evident that +there was no alteration in her intellectual powers it must be a bodily +one. In such delicate equable natures all secret changes give very +faint external tokens of their existence, and it requires a watchful, +practiced eye to detect them. Cornelia was too mach preoccupied with +her own feelings, the slight, gradual alterations in Veronica's +appearance did not attract her attention; but _Henri_, who had not seen +her for a long time, noticed them at once. + +"My dear count, I did not know you were here, or I should not have +yielded to the heavy slumber which always overpowers me now. I must beg +you to excuse me, but I have no doubt Cornelia has entertained you so +well that you have not missed me. Besides, age no longer harmonizes +with youth. It is too dull for the sympathy and susceptibility required +to enter into the rapidly changing details of a conversation." + +"Oh, do not say that!" pleaded _Henri_. "With your fresh intellect one +can accommodate one's self to every form of change; but it would be +uncourteous to Fraeulein Cornelia, if I did not say that I am indebted +to her for a most delightful hour." He smilingly took her hand and +pressed it warmly. + +Veronica looked earnestly at them both, and _Henri_ noticed it. + +"Are you satisfied with my influence over your Cornelia? Is she not +once more as blooming as a rose?" + +"Oh, I am very grateful to you for your friendship, my dear count! But, +Cornelia, you are not only blooming, you are fairly glowing to-day. You +must have been talking very earnestly." + +Cornelia's blushes grew still deeper at this remark. She glanced at +_Henri_; he was apparently gazing irresolutely into vacancy. + +"What is the matter, my child? Does your head ache? You really make me +uneasy." + +Cornelia started up and threw herself at Veronica's feet. "No, I cannot +bear it; I could keep silent, but I cannot lie. Veronica, forgive my +past reserve,--it was painful enough to me but now you question me, I +will tell you the truth. Veronica, must I speak plainly? Yes, yes, it +is as you think." + +_Henri_ was in a state of painful embarrassment, and thought to +himself, "Who can teach a woman to be silent?" + +Veronica sat speechless and clasped her trembling hands. After a pause +_Henri_ approached and touched Cornelia's head. "Here is all the +happiness that earth contains. You will not refuse it to me, my +motherly friend?" + +"I have wished and thought that this might be, but now it has happened +I am so greatly startled that I can scarcely speak!" Overpowered by her +emotion, she clasped Cornelia in her arms. "My child, my only one, my +all, whom I have so faithfully cherished, I confide you to the +protection of this noble man, and am perfectly assured that he will +make you happy. Come, my son, and receive my blessing." She laid her +clasped hands upon his brow. "May God be merciful unto you and bless +you, and show you the light of his countenance and be merciful unto +you!" + +The last words died upon her lips; the emotion was too great. She sank +back, while _Henri_ and Cornelia affectionately supported her. The +latter was deeply agitated. She now perceived, for the first time, in +what a frail shell this beloved life was contained, by what feeble +threads it was still bound to earth, and hot tears rolled down her +cheeks. _Henri_ himself was not wholly destitute of sympathy. He +esteemed Veronica, and understood Cornelia's feeling. At last she +regained her consciousness, and gazed at them with her loving eyes. +"Have I alarmed you? I most sincerely regret it; but my life has long +flowed an so calmly and equably that I am unaccustomed to all emotion. +But, dear Cornelia, you must remember the possibility of my leaving +you. Do not weep; let the consciousness that you have never cost me a +single sorrowful hour console you. You have developed a lofty, free, +and noble nature, and yet always given me the submissive heart of a +child; have spared my weaknesses, and never permitted me to feel how +far you had risen above me. God will reward you for it. And now that my +last wish is fulfilled, and I know you are safe in the arms of your +betrothed, I can cheerfully depart to my sainted lover." + +"Oh, do not talk so, Veronica!" pleaded Cornelia. "You are strewing +wormwood over this blissful hour." + +"Why, my child? You do not grudge me the peace contained in the thought +of death, and I feel that the time which separates me from my betrothed +is drawing to a close. If you only knew how I rejoice over it! We have +been obliged to wait for long years,--he there and I here; but a human +life is but a short span compared to eternity. We shall meet again, and +our temporary separation will only be an interruption, not the +destruction of our intercourse." + +Cornelia gazed silently into vacancy. The grave conversation had +brought _Heinrich_ into _Henri's_ place. "It is a beautiful and +enviable faith," said he. + +"Which you do not share, because you are a man, and still young; but, I +assure you, the older we grow the thinner becomes the partition our +earthly bodies form between our immortal souls and eternity, and single +rays from the other shore often fall through. This gives to us old +people the religious trust at which you young philosophers smile." + +"I do not laugh at it, Veronica," said _Heinrich_; "but I think you +have yet many years to enjoy life and our happiness." + +"Well, it is as God wills. I will gladly live and gladly die,--both are +welcome to me." + +_Heinrich_ looked at her in astonishment. "Fortunate is the person who +can say that, and contemplate with equal serenity the day and night of +existence." + +"Enough of this grave subject; tell me, my son, how soon you wish to +take Cornelia away? I shall miss her so terribly that I dread the +thought of losing her, and really do not know how I am to live without +her." + +_Heinrich_ bit his lips. "Calm yourself; unfortunately, I cannot call +her mine as soon as I would gladly do, and must even request you to +keep our engagement a secret for the present. My position at the court +is just now in a very important crisis. This must first be decided +before I can establish a home here. There are a thousand things to be +considered, a thousand little difficulties to remove, and six months +may elapse before my affairs are settled. So you will have Cornelia +longer than I like, for if it depended only upon myself I would take +her in my arms to-morrow, and show her to the envious world as my +dearest possession." + +"I understand, dear Ottmar," said Veronica; "but I only wonder that +you, who have stood so firmly in your office, should suddenly find +yourself in a crisis." + +"Unfortunately it is so. The ministry is now engaged upon new laws, +which, if unapproved, will lead to a change of ministers, and perhaps I +may also fall a victim. This is an important time in my life, which +claims all my activity and attention." + +"Thank God that I am permitted to keep my angel so long! You are very +sensible, my son, to wish to wait until after this epoch. Besides, a +marriage made outside the limits of the most aristocratic circles will +not be very favorably received at court, and it is, therefore, best to +keep the matter secret until your position has been confirmed anew." + +The conversation was beginning to be painful to _Heinrich_, and the +striking of the great clock afforded him a welcome pretext for rising +and pleading the necessity of attending a court soiree. He bade +Veronica farewell, and begged Cornelia to accompany him to the door. +The young girl was grave and quiet. + +"Do not grieve about Veronica, my child," he said, in the antechamber; +"it is the way of all old people, to talk continually about dying,--she +may live a long time still." + +"I think so too," replied Cornelia; "but I feel oppressed. It is like +the plants whose leaves droop after being exposed to too much sunlight. +I was too happy just now,--there must be a reaction." + +"But what troubles you, my angel?" + +"Oh, it is nothing that can be changed. The thought of being so much +your inferior that such strict secrecy is needful grieves me. To +conceal from the world the beautiful emotion that fills my breast, +perhaps even often be compelled to profane it by a falsehood, is +painful; but do not let it grieve you,--I shall soon conquer this +mood." + +_Heinrich_ drew her to his breast, and stroked her luxuriant hair. "My +own sweet love, I understand you. But consider that this burdensome +constraint is only imposed upon us for a _short_ time, and that it also +has its good side. I can say no more than I wrote in my letter. As +regards making the affair public, you see, by what Veronica says, the +necessity of the precautions I am compelled to take. Come, love, smile +upon me again; do not let me go with the knowledge that you are +sorrowful." He took her hand and placed it on his heart. "Do you feel +that its every throb is yours?" + +Cornelia threw her arm around his neck, and gazed intently into his +face; but he closed her eyes with kisses, and left the house. She went +to the window and watched her lover's tall figure as he strode away. No +one could bear himself more proudly, no one could hold his head more +haughtily erect. Now he met an acquaintance, removed his hat slowly and +condescendingly, and continued his way without glancing up, for he +seemed to have noticed that the gentleman was looking after him. It +wounded Cornelia, and when the latter raised his eyes to the window she +blushed with a strange feeling of shame and retreated. She would not go +to Veronica; something in her mood demanded solitude, so she leaned +back on one of the ancient carved chairs and gazed thoughtfully at the +dark oak wainscoting on the walls. Twilight spread its shadows over +her,--twilight also brooded over her soul, and she knew not whether it +would change into night or day. Why should she feel ashamed because +that stranger looked after Ottmar and then glanced at her? why should +it cause her pain because Ottmar passed on without looking? Secrecy +made this caution necessary. It required that he should deny her in the +presence of the first chance-comer, that she should steal a glance at +her lover like a thief in the night, and blush if surprised in the act, +as if she were doing wrong. How painful! how humiliating! But was this +secrecy really needful? Were the reasons he alleged sufficient and +strong enough not to be vanquished by the strength of a genuine, manly +love? Ought he not to sacrifice everything to spare her such a +humiliation? How far would his marriage with her, with their mutual +fortunes, be dependent upon a crisis in office? What induced the ardent +lover to consent to this patient waiting? Could his private relations +exert a disturbing influence upon his position as a servant of the +government? What made him so timid, if it was not the fear of +forfeiting his place at court by a mesalliance with a plebeian, the +daughter of a republican? But what would the delay of a few months +avail?--would not the marriage be precisely the same at whatever time +it occurred? If he feared that, he would _never_ dare to wed her. She +fell into a deep reverie. Suddenly her eyes flashed, and she held +her breath as if the very air was poisoned. Suppose he should be +false?--suppose the dread of prejudicing himself should be stronger +than his integrity? She could not doubt his love, for his ardor had +already made her tremble. Suppose he wished to plunge her into the same +abyss that had engulfed so many others? suppose the reports concerning +him were true, and he should prove false, terribly, fiendishly false? +Yet scarcely was the suspicion born ere her whole nature rose against +it in all its strength. What a monster you are to have the thought of +such baseness arise in your young brain! Is your imagination so corrupt +that the most sacred thing is not too holy to be thus sullied? Her +horror was now not of him, but of herself. He was not the traitor, but +she,--she who could cherish so disgraceful a doubt, whose love was not +strong enough to crush it in the bud; she had betrayed him in her own +heart. + +She started up, rushed into her room, and lighted a lamp; then in the +anguish of her soul threw herself on the floor before his picture,--the +same one she had received from Fraeulein Hedwig. Her eyes wandered over +the sketch and strove to animate the mute features and unravel their +mystery; in vain, the solution was concealed in her own breast, and +everything there was confused and gloomy. Thus, tortured by doubts of +him and of herself, she was at last attracted towards the pure, +faithful heart of her foster-mother. She entered the tea-room and found +Veronica sitting with her clasped hands resting in her lap, absorbed in +sorrowful thought. + +"Are you come at last, my darling? You have left your old Veronica +alone a long time. But I understand it. In this solemn hour you must +first be at peace with yourself. You happy, fortunate child!" + +Cornelia threw herself upon a stool at Veronica's feet, and asked, +cautiously, for she did not wish this unprejudiced mind to catch a +glimpse of her troubled soul, "Do you believe in _Heinrich_ as firmly +as I do?" + +"Certainly," replied Veronica. "I think he has given us sufficient +proof that he is a man of honor." + +The old servant brought a lamp and the musical urn into the room; +Veronica took out her knitting-work, and as they sat so quietly +together with the sweet melodies circling round them with the rising +steam, the memory of the evening of their first unseen meeting rose +gently before Cornelia's mind with all its magic and blessedness. Her +excited nerves grew calm, her mood dissolved in tears. She remembered +so many lofty words, so many glances full of true nobility of feeling. +All those fair moments passed before her. With what joyful affection he +had met her that day! Can one who has any evil design be so frank, so +confident? Oh, if he should suspect how she had doubted him! + +"Do you think it necessary to keep our love a secret?" she asked, at +last. + +"Oh, yes, my child," said Veronica, calmly. + +"To me it is only very painful," murmured Cornelia. + +"That may be; but it is something that happens a thousand times. You +must be reasonable. We cannot know that he is not in the act of +obtaining a higher position, and in that case his engagement with you +would be an obstacle in his way. Therefore he must deny it until the +expected promotion is secured; then only he can venture to defy all the +prejudices of his circle and take you for his wife." + +"I do not see what his private relations should have to do with it." + +"Why, Cornelia, you speak as if you knew nothing of the world! Are you +not yet aware how much personal matters are taken into consideration in +these circles? Besides, we cannot conceal from ourselves that you bear +a name with which the most unfortunate political associations are +connected. Perhaps he also hopes that in the course of time our noble +princess may exert a softening influence upon our strict aristocracy, +and wishes to await this favorable opportunity. There are a thousand +things to be considered, and it is very delicate in him to conceal them +from us. You are a young, enthusiastic hot-head, and always want to +fight your way through to your ideal; he a steady, experienced man who +takes things as they are, and yields to them with prudent self-control. +I would far rather trust you to such a character than a fanatical +reformer, like your unhappy father." + +Cornelia listened with delight to this argument in favor of what she +herself most ardently desired. Veronica was so calm, so confident, and +she was not blinded by love; should not this restore all the peace of +confidence? Oh, if her deeply injured lover were only here, that she +might implore his pardon for the wrong she had done him! How she would +embrace him if he came to-morrow! how happy she would be with him! + +Veronica's voice roused her from these thoughts and dreams. "Let us +take tea, Cornelia; I am very tired and would like to get up early +to-morrow morning to go to church. I long to raise my heart to God." + +Cornelia silently obeyed. When tea was over Veronica went to bed, and +Cornelia, who had helped her undress, knelt before her. "I thank you, +dear Veronica, for having been so kind to me and _Heinrich_; I thank +you also, at this turning-point of my life, for all the love with which +you have treated me as a daughter, and made me a good and happy +creature. I can never repay you for it, but your clear eyes look into +my heart and see what no words can express." Overpowered by her +emotion, she pressed Veronica's hand to her lips. + +"Oh, my child! my dear, dear child! God knows how fully, how richly, +this hour repays me for all I have done! What better things can one +purchase than a hand to close one's eyes, and a warm tear to fall upon +one's grave? This is a happiness which comprehends the joys of a whole +life,--and for this I thank you. Good-night, my child." + +Cornelia embraced her and went to her own room with tearful eyes. As +she reached it she heard Veronica call, and went back. The latter held +out her arms. "Let me press you to my heart once more. God bless you, +joy of my old age! Good-night. Wake me to-morrow." + +Cornelia remained awake for a long time. Veronica's manner had roused a +feeling of subdued melancholy. Besides, the wonderful day must be lived +over anew, its discords harmonized, its joys and sorrows interwoven +with her inner nature, ere dreams could be permitted to lead her into +another kingdom. + +It was broad daylight when, after a short slumber, she rose and went to +wake Veronica. + +The little dusky sleeping-room was cosy and silent. Single shafts of +sunlight stole through the closely-drawn green curtains and flickered +over the hangings of Veronica's bed. No sound of breathing, no motion, +disturbed the stillness of this sanctuary of slumber. Cornelia softly +entered and stood for a long time before the bed; she was loth to +disturb the peaceful silence in which Veronica reposed. But she had +requested it, and it must be done. She drew the curtains slowly aside. +There she lay, apparently lost in pleasant dreams, but--was it the +green light?--pallid as a corpse! Cornelia took her hand. Oh, God, how +chill! "Veronica, dear Veronica, wake!" In vain; in her slumber she had +passed into another life. The pale face seemed in death to wear a +smile, to greet the loved one for whom she had always lived and so +confidently expected to meet again. Her death was as peaceful as her +life. + +"Wake me to-morrow," were her last words. "Oh, if I could only do so!" +sobbed Cornelia, sinking upon her knees as if utterly crushed. + + + + + XVII. + + INSNARED. + + +Anton was fastening a new order upon Ottmar's court dress, when the +latter violently pulled his bell. + +"It's unbearable!" grumbled the old servant as he took the last stitch +and hurried in with the uniform. + +_Heinrich_ was striding impatiently up and down the room. "Are you +ready at last? Give it to me; make haste, and let me get off. I have no +time to lose." + +The dressing was quickly finished. "The new star is magnificent," said +Anton. + +_Heinrich_ looked at his image in the mirror with the satisfaction of a +man who knows he is handsome, and reckons his beauty among his own +merits, as if he had compelled nature to give him the form he desired. + +"I must go to Cornelia after dinner and show myself to her. She +understands and values my beauty better than any one else," he thought, +pushing the order straight. "Besides, it will do no harm to let her see +some of my importance as a courtier; old Veronica takes the matter too +easily. It is not I, but she, who lulls the dear creature into dreams +for which I am not responsible. It is not I who deceive her, but +Veronica, when she assumes as a matter of course assurances I never +gave; and yet I cannot, by a premature contradiction, destroy my whole +happiness. I would far rather resolve to verify them, if there could be +no other arrangement." A ray of sunlight fell upon the diamonds in his +order and made them glitter. "Do you wish to warn me, you star of +honor, that you sparkle so? No, I will not forget you. Let others yearn +for the stars of you unattainable distance; my earthly wishes depend +upon you, that you may not pale before the sun, but with your rays make +your chosen one shine forth from the darkness of obscurity, and +distinguish him from the masses. With you on my heart, and Cornelia's +love within it, what do I need more?" + +A servant announced that the carriage was waiting. + +_Heinrich_ took his gold-embroidered hat, and smiling, threw himself +upon the soft cushions. The beautiful white horses tossed their heads, +and dashed away through sunlit avenues and crowds of gayly-dressed +foot-passengers. + +The dinner, the first which had been given since the marriage, was +magnificent. The court displayed its greatest splendor. Ottilie herself +was one of the most stately personages who ever graced a throne. +Although no smile rested upon her lips, she did the honors in a most +winning manner, and was gracious even to _Heinrich_, although no more +so than to all others. The prince, however, treated him with marked +distinction, and once whispered, casting a well-pleased glance at +Ottilie, "You were right; she is a real princess." The princes, +princesses, and courtiers who were present followed their master's +example and loaded Ottmar with civilities; had never been so attractive +or so much admired. He stood at the zenith of his favor at court; and +when, after the dinner was over, he drove to Cornelia, he scarcely saw +that it was already dusk, so brightly did the lights, the white necks, +the sparkling glances, the diamonds, and the gold-embroidered uniforms +still gleam before his eyes; glittering silken robes rustled around +him; smiling faces looked forth longingly from behind costly bouquets. +The material comfort of the moment was too great not to rouse the other +half of his nature. _Henri_ alighted when the carriage stopped. He +pulled the bell, and the door of the silent house slowly opened. The +staircase was dark. The black form of a servant glided by and ushered +him into the anteroom. The salon stood open; he entered. It, too, was +dark and empty; everything was in disorder: the furniture was pushed +back, and there were no roses blooming on the flower-stand. _Henri_ +felt strangely oppressed. The gloomy silence ill suited his mood. A +glimmer of light and a dull murmur of voices penetrated through a door +which was partly ajar. He opened it, and stood as if rooted to the +spot. Several women were engaged in dressing a corpse. _Henri_ pressed +his hand to his brow; was he awake, or did some dream torture him with +its sudden changes, in order to show him in a single hour the splendor +of the world and the end of all lives? Just at that moment Cornelia, +who had been completely absorbed in her mournful occupation, suddenly +perceived him, came forward in her mourning robes, looking very pale +and languid, and drew him aside. + +"My dear Cornelia," said _Henri_, kissing her tearful eyes, "what has +happened since yesterday? I can scarcely trust my senses. What a +contrast!" + +"Ah, _Heinrich_ thank God, you have come at last! Ever since early this +morning I have borne this terrible sorrow alone, longing in vain for +your warm heart. Alas, how heavily such an unexpected blow falls!" + +"My poor, sweet love, you are trembling as if in an ague-fit! Who would +have thought of this? Kind Veronica dead!" + +She nestled timidly in his arms. "_Heinrich_, my heart aches terribly, +and besides I feel this horror of death. You do not know what it is to +dress a cold body which is no longer the dear one it personates." + +"Then leave the others to finish the task, and stay with me, my angel." + +"We have finished it, and they want to bring her in here. You must go +into the tea-room, or they will see you." + +"Willingly. But now leave everything to these women and come with me. +You are completely worn out." + +"Yes, I will stay with you. I can no longer be a witness," said +Cornelia; then gave the necessary orders to the servants, and went into +the tea-room with _Henri_. They had scarcely entered it when they heard +pieces of furniture pushed aside, and the creaking of the coffin, +which, when once heard, is never forgotten. Cornelia trembled +violently, sank down beside _Henri_, and bursting into tears, hid her +face upon his breast until the noise was over. Then she looked up. "You +think me very weak, do you not? I have kept up all day, but now my +strength is exhausted; terror has overpowered me." + +_Henri_ gently raised her and drew her on his knee. She made no +resistance, but threw her arms around his neck; her head sank wearily +upon his shoulder, and joy and sorrow, deadly horror and sweet content, +began to mingle strangely. + +"Oh, do not give way!" said _Henri_ to himself, while his throbbing +heart seemed ready to burst. He cradled her in his arms as if she had +been a child, and breathed upon her cold hands. + +Gradually her tears ceased, and warmth returned to her cheeks and +hands. Never is a woman more grateful or more susceptible to love than +when a great sorrow has broken her strength, and she gropes helplessly +for some support. At this moment Cornelia could have worshiped her +lover as some superior being; all suspicion was forgotten, she clung to +him as if he were some consoling angel. + +"Cornelia, are you happy now that you are clasped to my heart?" +whispered _Henri_. + +"Oh, infinitely happy!" she murmured. "What should I be without you, my +life? Now I am cast wholly upon you, you will never forsake your +orphaned love?" + +_Henri_ strained her to his breast with almost suffocating violence, +and exclaimed from his inmost heart, with the utmost sincerity, "If I +ever forsake you, accursed be the hour when I was born, the couch on +which I rest, the air I breathe, the lips with which I kiss! I raise my +hand and call upon all the powers of evil to witness against me if I +break my oath." + +Cornelia laid her finger on his lips. "Do not be so violent; that is no +oath, but a curse." + +"Is it not equally binding?" + +"Certainly; but it makes me anxious: as if there would be no blessing +upon it; as if you felt the possibility of becoming faithless, and your +better self was threatening you with punishment." + +"You angel! Look me in the eyes; do you no longer believe in your +_Heinrich_, and yet love him still?" + +"Ah, _Heinrich_, forgive my distrust! I feared to lose you, because +you are the dearest thing in the would to me. I cannot think clearly +to-day, I am so bewildered and worn out by grief. How contemptible I +must seem to you!" + +"If you knew how lovely you are in your weakness! You are not +contemptible, you are only a true, tender woman, and therein lies your +charm. Do you suppose firm muscles, large bones, and nerves of steel +are attractive to men? It is your very helplessness that rouses our +magnanimity; your delicacy demands our indulgence. To support a +beautiful, trembling woman on his strong arm, and defend her from real +or fancied terrors, is a sweet joy to a man,--sweeter than admiration +of an abnormal strength, which woman attains only at the cost of her +charms." + +Cornelia listened to his words with increasing delight. + +"Do you suppose," he continued, "that you were ever dearer to me than +at this hour, when I am permitted to cradle your weary form upon my +knees and fondly caress you? when your strong mind succumbs to the laws +of womanly nature and you fly to me in your horror of death? You have +trusted yourself to me more than ever before, and in your sorrow are +sacred. You have nestled confidingly to this heart, and it shall never +deceive you." + +"_Heinrich_! _Heinrich_ What a magic you exert! You banish all griefs +with a single glance of love, and your words fill my soul with peace. +Ah, it is beautiful to love in happiness! But we only know what we +are to each other when we need each other. No language can express what +you have been to me in this hour. A dark, starry sky arches over me in +your eyes and invites me to repose; it extends over my whole soul and +seems as if it enthroned the God to whom I bewail my sorrows, in +whom I trust, to whom I shall send up my nightly prayer, and then +rest--sleep!" She closed her eyes as if exhausted, and laid her head +upon his breast. + +_Henri_ clasped her closely in his arms. "Oh, bear this happiness! bear +it firmly!" he murmured to himself. + +She sat upright again. "I cannot lean upon you; your hard orders hurt +me." + +"Then rest on the other side," he pleaded. + +She pushed her hair back from her brow, looked sadly at the flashing +decorations, and rose. "It is late, Heinrich; you must leave me now." + +_Henri_ cursed the diamond stars with sincere vexation. What had they +availed him? They had destroyed the happiest moment of his life; and +the magic night of love, with all its sweet dreams and illusions, which +Cornelia's weary soul had spread around herself and him, had melted in +their rays. + +He rose and extended his hands imploringly to Cornelia. "My darling, +you shall never again be parted from the place where you belong. I +promise you. I shall never wear them in your presence." + +"Ah, yes, put them away; they have hurt my cheek, but wounded my heart +still more." + +"Cornelia, are you angry with me?" + +"I angry with you? Ah, Heinrich, I love you only too well! Tell me, +where is this to end? If I am away from your side a moment, I feel as +if the cold breath of the grave floated over me, and a throb of pain +thrills my frame as if I had torn away a part of my own nature. +Heinrich,--beloved, terrible Heinrich,--where is this to end?" + +"In a happy, ardent love," cried _Henri_, radiant with joy. "You shall +not miss me often. I will spend every leisure hour with you. But say, +my angel, shall you still be accessible to me? Does Veronica's death +make no change in your situation?" + +"Oh, I had entirely forgotten that. Old Herr Linderer is my guardian, +and the executor of Veronica's will. He proposed that I should reside +in his family for the future." + +"What! would you do that?" cried _Henri_. + +"It would be very painful to me, and I might remain, for through +Veronica's generosity the house and everything she possessed is mine; +but a young girl ought not to live so entirely alone, without +protection." + +"And have you not a moral protection in yourself, and a personal one in +your servants?" + +"Certainly." + +"That I cannot visit you when you are living with Herr Linderer is a +matter of course. Our intercourse must be broken off, for it cannot +exist under the watchful eyes of that family; so you have but one +choice, my darling,--either to remain here and be the happiest of +betrothed brides, or dispense with my society for the sake of a world +that will not thank you for the sacrifice." + +Cornelia clung closely to him. "Do without you? Oh, _Heinrich_, how +could I?" + +"Well, promise me you will take courage and refuse Linderer's proposal; +then, Cornelia, I shall first believe in the strength of your love." + +"But the world,--how would it judge of such a plan?" + +"Cornelia, I should have thought you philosopher enough to despise the +world and its judgments." + +"Perhaps,--but custom--" + +"You may offend against custom, but not morality. Our love bears the +highest consecration in itself. If you are thoroughly pervaded with its +influence, you may trust yourself to it without fear. But what am I +talking about? Ask your own heart whether you will make me of less +importance than consideration for the opinion of the world,--whether +you can inflict this sorrow upon yourself and your _Heinrich_." + +"And do you not take the same precautions, _Heinrich_? Do you not deny +me before society for the sake of 'its despicable prejudices'?" + +_Henri_ was embarrassed for a moment; then he said, calmly, "If I now +make confessions to the influential circles which have the decision of +my fate, it will be done while I am not compelled to be deprived of +you. If I had only the choice of leaving you or giving up my plans, I +should not hesitate a moment to do the latter. If you go to Herr +Linderer's, you will place me in this alternative. I must either give +you up for a long time, or prematurely acknowledge our relations and +destroy my hopes for the future. Speak, my angel! If you demand the +latter, be proud to prove that I love you better than you do me, and +can make greater sacrifices." + +"No, no, my dearest! You shall not think me so selfish; I should be +ashamed to accept such an one from you. I will stay in this house and +refuse Herr Linderer's offer. People may say what they please; better +they should suspect me than that you should doubt my love." + +"Those words were worthy of you, Cornelia!" cried _Henri_. "What +gratitude can reward you as you deserve?" + +Cornelia gazed into his eyes long and earnestly. "Justify my +confidence, _Heinrich_, and you will give me the highest, the only +reward I ask. And now farewell for to-day." + +"Must I leave you? Ah, one moment more!" + +Cornelia shook her head sadly. "No, it cannot be; it is late, and I +must rest; but you can go through the room with me,--will you?" + +"Yes, my angel, I will go with you to the threshold of your room; and +then turn away from the door of heaven like a condemned spirit." + +"Come," said Cornelia; and slowly entered the room leaning on his arm. + +There lay the corpse in the coffin, a wreath of blossoming myrtle on +the head, and Cornelia's red roses on the heart. Her tears flowed +again, her grief burst forth anew, as she looked down on the silent, +pale, old bride. + +"Oh, faithful guardian of my childhood!" she sobbed, "will you leave +your Cornelia alone? Open your lips once more and tell me, oh! tell +whether I am doing right in what I have just promised my beloved one! +Ah, speak to me once, only once more, true, pure heart, which has been +my refuge in joy and sorrow!" + +"Have you forgotten that I am by your side, Cornelia?" said _Henri_, +reproachfully. + +She turned from the body, pressed a fervent kiss upon his lips, and +allowed him to lead her through the apartment to her own room. Here she +paused. "Thanks, dearest Heinrich! farewell!" + +"Must I leave you alone with your tears?" + +"Oh, the would gush forth again whenever you went, no matter how long +you might remain!" + +"Do you not fear your own thoughts while you are in this excited mood?" + +"Not in this cheerful chamber. It is protected by all the thousand +dreams of love I have had here. There is your picture; where that is +the icy breath of death cannot enter. Farewell!" + +"Ah, if I might only sleep on the threshold before your door, I would +never seek soft pillows!" Again he clasped her in his arms; then, with +an effort, tore himself away. "Good-night!" + +"Good-night, Heinrich!" she cried in a tone which revealed all the +wealth of ardent feeling she had repressed with so much difficulty; +then disappeared in her own room and locked the door. + +_Henri_ averted his face as he passed the corpse. He had once more +received a solemn lesson, and it was only when his agitated feelings +began to grow calm that he was able to justly comprehend the importance +of the last hour. + +He returned home absorbed in thought, and the first thing he did was to +cast aside the star-bedecked uniform. Then he paced up and down his +room, while the most conflicting thoughts whirled through his brain. +Cornelia's sacrifice had shamed him deeply. Was he to misuse it, and +abuse her confidence? Must he not reward her better? + +Again he paced up and down the room. + +But he would requite her with a thousand joys. Free love was spared the +heavy cares of the married state. He could easily teach her to despise +the social "prejudices of morality," and as soon as she disregarded +them, of what would she be deprived if their relations lacked the legal +stamp? He would never desert her,--he had sworn it; so their union +would contain the fundamental principle of marriage. He would never wed +another. What did she want more? He believed her unconventional enough +to regard the claims of custom lightly. She had already done so to a +certain extent by the promise she had given that day. The first--most +difficult--step was taken. But if he misjudged her, if his plan failed, +and she could not endure the disgrace. If he should lose her! He was +obliged to confess that he could no longer live without her. Did she +not outweigh his triumphs and his prospects at the court? But suppose +the new law did not pass? could not fall a victim to it, as he had made +Veronica suppose, for he was one of its opponents. To whom could the +prince turn, in forming a new ministry, except himself? Suppose, by his +marriage with Cornelia, he should lose the prince's favor, and with it +the portfolio? This turned the scale. This period must be awaited. + +The magnanimity of love! How many an innocent, womanly heart has +already been led astray by this will-o'-the-wisp of tender sophistry! +Deeds like Cornelia's sacrifice of a public betrothal, and her promise +to live alone, veil themselves beneath a semblance of such nobility +that an unsuspecting nature does not hesitate to perform them, +believing itself to be yielding to an impulse of generosity, and not +suspecting that it is merely following the guidance of its own passion. +Cornelia was too innocent and inexperienced to penetrate _Henri's_ +unprincipled tactics. If doubts again arose they could not give +sufficient proofs of their justice, and were always crushed as "idle +fancies" by the power of her love. + +Veronica's funeral took place, and it touched Cornelia deeply that +Heinrich was present; she considered it a fresh proof of his +uprightness. + +Old Archivrath Linderer heard with actual tears her refusal to become +one of his family. He ventured a few timid remonstrances, but was far +too courteous to use his right as guardian and compel her to yield to +his views. He could not force himself to be uncivil to any one, and +according to his ideas he would have been so had he attempted to impose +any restraint upon Cornelia. Therefore, when he saw that his timidly +uttered, kindly meant representations were wholly disregarded, he could +only wipe the sweat of anxiety from his brow and take leave of her with +a deeply saddened heart. Even the sulky servant took his leave, to live +upon the legacy Veronica had left him, as soon as he learned that +Cornelia intended to keep up an independent establishment. + +Several weeks now quietly elapsed in a gentle alternation of joy and +sorrow, until the image of the beloved dead receded into the background +more and more, and love took exclusive possession of Cornelia's whole +existence. At first she did not notice that the number of her +acquaintances lessened; and when she at last became aware of it, +_Henri's_ influence had already taught her to disregard it. She +despised the pitiful souls which only judged from appearances, and +clung to the few faithful friends that remained to her. But it was +unavoidable that one or another of them should meet Ottmar during his +frequent visits. It would not do,--people must not always find him with +her; so, if he was present, other visitors were refused. When this +happened too frequently, and Cornelia perceived that it must lead to +misunderstandings with her best friends, she at last consented that +Ottmar should spend the evening hours with her. Thus the meetings with +others were prevented; but as his presence had been noticed, his +absence was now the cause of comment. Had their interviews ceased, or +been deferred until another hour? This must be ascertained. A few +zealous friends watched her, and saw him come and go. They sorrowfully +confided this incredible thing to each other under the seal of silence, +warned her, half openly and half by hints, that her fair fame was +endangered, and mourned for her as one dead. Yet she still stood erect +and stainless, her girlish brow loftily upraised against the +humiliations she endured, and pitied the world for being too corrupt to +believe in the purity of anything; her last consolation was her good +conscience. She trusted to herself and to her lover, and awaited the +day which would solve the mystery before the eyes of men and restore +her their lost esteem. This gave her strength to endure the "trial." + +Ottmar did everything in his power to employ her time and occupy her +thoughts. He was well aware that he could only win this noble woman +gradually, and by noble means. He read with her, gave her the most +beautiful classical works, explained the thoughts of the ancient and +modern philosophers, and perused with her the best of modern +literature. Thus she learned to associate with him the impressions made +by the noblest productions of the intellect, from which he obtained a +certain halo that made him worthy of worship in her eyes. He understood +all these grand works, and made them comprehensible to her,--it seemed +as great a deed as if he had created them himself. She looked up to him +as a superior being, and at last could really neither think, feel, nor +live without him. He, in his turn, was delighted with her +susceptibility and active mind, and became accustomed to impart +everything good and beautiful which came in his way to Cornelia, and +enjoy it doubly with her. Thus he unconsciously entangled himself in +the net he was weaving for the young girl; she became as great a +necessity to him as he to her, and he had never been so happy before. +Yet this life was not wholly without discord. His twofold nature often +wounded Cornelia; he was either passionately excited, or brilliant and +cold. She could not be at ease; one she was forced to repel, the other +repelled her. Both prevented the calm happiness of loving intercourse +which woman's platonic nature so fully understands and needs. She often +took for want of love what was merely lack of sensuous feeling, and the +glowing ardor which alternated with the coldness could not supply the +place of the uniform warmth of deep affection. Ottmar at last +understood what she lacked. He perceived that there was a middle path, +that he must be at once less cold and less warm, to obtain entire +control over her. During the time that his intellect was in the +ascendant, he endeavored to assume a more affectionate tone, and the +oftener this happened the better it pleased _Heinrich_ to press his +lips to the brow which contained the thoughts that delighted him, and +stroke the hair that veiled it, while it afforded him still higher +enjoyment to study in her classic form and features the idea of the +beautiful. She became a living work of art to him, and as art is the +first mediator between mind and matter, he began to rejoice in her +physical charms from an artistic stand-point. _Henri_, on the contrary, +ennobled the expression of his love and appropriated more and more of +the impulses of Cornelia's soul. Thus intellect began to grow warmer, +sensuality to be spiritualized. The separation between them had been +lessened by struggling for a common object; if his moral consciousness +had ripened in the same proportion as the two extremes approached a +normal union, he would have adopted a different course of action. But +the individual conflict was not yet entirely settled, and the moral one +could not be decided. His mistakes and transgressions had proceeded +solely from the gulf in his nature; only when the parts were united in +one harmonious whole could they be expelled, for right and truth can +only thrive in a soul at peace with itself. + +Months elapsed, and the political event which was to decide his own +fate and Cornelia's drew near. Ottmar awaited it with eager suspense. +He longed to have this uncertain condition of affairs ended. He +perceived more and more clearly that to possess Cornelia would outweigh +his present position, and made himself familiar with the thought of +sacrificing it, if driven to extremities. But the appointment of +minister cast a weight into the scale of his ambition which outbalanced +the feeble efforts of his conscience; as minister he could not inflict +upon himself and the court the disgrace of a politically suspicious +mesalliance,--then he would induce Cornelia to make the sacrifice, and +he did not doubt that she would do so. + + + + + XVIII. + + CORNELIA AND OTTILIE. + + +Cornelia did not suspect what a sword was hanging over her head, did +not question the near or distant future, but lived wholly in the +present moment. One thing alone she did not forget,--her visits to the +prisoners. She devoted the usual time to them; the place where she +first saw Ottmar had become sacred to her, and by her mournful labors +for the unfortunate men, her patience with their sufferings and +obstinacy, she believed that she was paying fate a tribute for the +happiness enjoyed in her love. She rarely appeared in public, for she +could not bear the glances that accused her of guilt of which she knew +herself to be innocent. She therefore no longer entered a church or +theatre; her church was her love, her God in Heinrich's breast, and her +studies with him conjured up a world of beauty. She wanted nothing, +needed nothing, but him. She made no subtle inquiries and no longer +doubted him; he was everything to her, and she knew that with him she +should lose all. + +Thus it sounded like a voice from another world when one day a +"stranger lady" was announced. Who could visit her still? The lady +entered, and fixed a half-timid, half-questioning, glance upon +Cornelia. + +"You are Fraeulein Erwing?" + +"That is my name. With whom have I the honor of speaking?" + +"I have come on an errand from her Highness the princess." + +Cornelia gazed dreamily into eyes whose blue vied with the ribbons on +the stranger's hat. + +"Her Highness wishes to make your acquaintance, and begs you to pay her +a visit to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock." + +The young girl's voice trembled slightly, and she looked expectantly at +Cornelia. The latter stood motionless with amazement, almost terror. +What did Ottilie want of her? Roeschen--for she alone could execute this +confidential commission--was unable to turn her eyes from the noble +figure its sweeping black robes. + +"Can you not at least tell what has procured me the great happiness of +being permitted to wait upon the princess?" asked Cornelia. + +"No, Fraeulein; I only know you will be received with the greatest +kindness, and that only sincere interest induced the princess to see +you." + +"Say to her Highness that I am truly grateful to her, and that I will +wait upon her to-morrow at the time appointed." + +"Her Highness will be very glad. Farewell." + +"Excuse me, Fraeulein; one question more: is your name Roeschen?" + +A deep blush suffused the lovely face. "Yes." + +Cornelia, deeply moved, went up to her, took her hands, and pressed a +kiss upon her fresh lips. "We have known each other a long time, have +we not?" + +Roeschen was surprised and greatly agitated. "Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, +pressing Cornelia's hand to her lips. "Let me thank you for all you +have done for Albert. We can never repay you for it; but the dear God +will know how to reward you." + +Cornelia gazed into her eyes for a long time with ever-increasing +interest. "You ought to have become Albert's wife: the poor fellow has +suffered so much for your sake." + +"I cannot leave the princess, and besides,"--Roeschen hesitated a +little,--"besides, he did not wish it so very much. Ah, I understand it +now: he who has once seen you can never love another." + +"Oh, my dear girl, what are you saying? You will be reconciled to each +other again, or I shall regret what I did for Albert." She glanced +anxiously at the clock; for it was almost the hour when Ottmar might be +expected. + +This did not escape Roeschen's natural delicacy of feeling. "I am +detaining you, dear Fraeulein, and the princess is waiting. Farewell! +your kindness has made me very happy." + +"Will you not come again, that we may continue our talk?" + +"With the greatest pleasure. But there is one thing more I had almost +forgotten: the princess begs you to tell no one that you have been +requested to come to her. She will refuse all visitors to-morrow on the +plea of indisposition, and fears people might take it amiss if she----" + +"I understand," interrupted Cornelia, "and will say nothing." + +After Roeschen had gone she stood for a long time absorbed in thought. +The solution of this enigma could not be guessed. She rejoiced over the +strange event, for she had loved Ottilie ever since she knew her +relations with Ottmar; yet it grieved her to think that she would +perceive at every breath a happiness denied the princess. Suppose her +eyes should rest upon Cornelia with sorrowful jealousy as her fortunate +rival. + +The following day and the appointed hour came. In great agitation, and +not without a little timidity at the idea of the grandeur that +surrounded Ottilie, Cornelia entered the magnificent apartments of the +princess. The groom of the chambers conducted her through a long +succession of rooms. At last he paused, pointed to a half-open glass +door, and disappeared. The silken portieres were drawn aside, and +Ottilie stood before Cornelia! + +A long pause followed. Both looked at each other in breathless +suspense. Ottilie was paler than ever; Cornelia deeply flushed. At last +Ottilie gently took her hand and murmured almost inaudibly, with a sort +of sorrowful satisfaction, "Yes; so my fancy pictured you! So you must +be." + +"Your Highness bestows upon me so great a favor that I seek in vain for +words to express my joyful surprise and gratitude." + +"There can be no question of gratitude here; but no doubt you were +surprised that I should request you to visit me." Ottilie seated +herself, and drew Cornelia down upon the sofa beside her. "I have a +great and important matter to intrust to you, Fraeulein, and believe I +can read in your eyes, an your lofty brow, the certainty that I have +applied to the right person." Cornelia looked at Ottilie in eager +expectation. After a short pause, the latter continued: "Accident, +Fraeulein, or rather destiny, made me acquainted with your labors among +the prisoners. I perceived with admiration how you had aimed at results +which the wisest provisions of the law could not attain; how you were +the first to strew over the lifeless forms of punishment the living +germs from which sprang new life, remorse, and amendment. You will +believe me when I say that no mere idle curiosity, but heartfelt +sympathy, impelled me to make the acquaintance of so remarkable a +character. I will even confess that I trembled lest I should find your +person did not harmonize with the ideal I had formed." She paused, and +once more gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's eyes; then bent +towards her and pressed a kiss upon her brow. "Thank God that I now +dare love you in reality, as I have already done in fancy!" + +"Your Highness," began Cornelia, deeply moved as she sought for words, +while her bosom rose and fell more rapidly, "I know I do not deserve +what you say; and yet a blissful content, for which I can find no +expression, overflows my whole nature. You see me in the light that +streams from yourself; but its rays fall upon my soul also, and wake +their concealed powers of good, which fill me with pride,--not for what +I have done, but for what I shall accomplish. God knows I performed +these works of mercy without any desire or hope of recognition. I have +long supposed I labored wholly unobserved; but there is so great a +recompense in this moment that it would crown the toil of a whole life; +and I will struggle all my life to deserve it." + +"You are enthusiastic, my child; but this very enthusiasm makes you +what you are; so I will accept the flattery contained in your words as +the tribute every noble soul offers to the ideal towards which we all +strive." + +"Oh, not as that alone, your Highness! Deign to accept the childlike, +humble reverence of a heart which has long looked up to you as the +noblest of women. I know not whether I ought to express in words what +has been hovering upon my lips ever since the first moment of our +meeting. It might, perhaps, be a great offense against etiquette, but I +hope your Highness will regard the essence rather than the form." + +"I hope you will do me the honor to be assured of it," interposed +Ottilie, with a smile. + +"Well, then, permit me to tell your Highness that I have long loved you +with my whole heart." + +"If that is true, my child, I rejoice to hear it. Love is a voluntary +gift, which, whether deserved or not, we are always permitted to +receive. I thank you for it; yes, I thank you from the inmost depths of +a lonely heart." + +"Ah, if you were not a princess!" murmured Cornelia, involuntarily. + +"My dear child, how often I have said that myself! God has placed me in +this position only to test my strength; for that which compensates +others in a similar station for their secret lack of happiness--delight +in splendor and grandeur, sovereignty and renown--is denied me. Nothing +has any charm for me; my joys are rooted solely in the heart; and even +these are sparingly meted out. The gulf which severs the princess from +her subjects does not exist in my soul, and cannot separate my +affection from them. I love men, respect their rights, admire their +works, and thus stand ever alone upon my lofty height, consumed with +vain longings, and stretching out my arms across the abyss which yawns +between me and the warm hearts of humanity." + +"Poor princess!" said Cornelia, earnestly. + +"Yes, poor princess," replied Ottilie, her eyes resting dreamily upon +Cornelia's beautiful features. + +"But your Highness can taste great joys, and satisfy your benevolence +by your power of benefiting so many thousands." + +"Do you think so, my dear child?" asked Ottilie, with a sorrowful +smile. + +"That was the one thing for which I always envied princes," continued +Cornelia, "which always made sovereignty appear so beautiful, so +alluring." + +"And the thought tempted me, too," said Ottilie, lowering her voice to +a scarcely audible whisper, "when I allowed myself to be wedded to the +prince; but I was disappointed, as I have been in so many other things. +Believe me, my child, it is sad to be compelled to look an helplessly, +while the right way of making a nation happy is earnestly sought, but +always missed. The prince's views are so immovable, and so entirely +opposed to my own, that I have given up the effort to exert any +influence whatever for the welfare of my country, although my heart +bleeds for it. I know that no good can come for either party; I see a +time approaching when the dissension will increase to such a degree +that one or the other must fall a victim. I shall not live to see it; +if I am anxious, it is only for my subjects, my husband, and--perhaps +my children," she paused. "God grant that I may not be denied the +opportunity of teaching them a better understanding of their times!" + +"But cannot the joyful blessings of the many to whom your Highness +gives special aid offer you some compensation?" + +"Even this is limited. Every one who makes his narrow circle happy in +his own way receives more pleasure from his efforts than I: the +princess lacks the power of immediate bestowal and reception; but this +directness is the source of all the joys of the soul. If you, my child, +do good according to your circumstances, you will be rewarded a +thousandfold more than I, though I should give a thousand times more. +The poor man, whose sufferings you instantly relieve, can show you his +joy; it is not only the alms, but your manner of bestowing them, that +console him, and the tears sparkling in his eyes certainly reward you +far more than I am recompensed by the official addresses of thanks and +humble bows of delegates from whole parishes I have saved from misery. +I am well aware that we should not perform charitable works for the +sake of gratitude, nor do I; but it is so natural to be cheered by the +success of a good deed, the same sympathy which induces us to alleviate +the sorrows of others makes us long to spare the joys we have prepared. +This is denied me; etiquette always stands between me and the hearts of +my subjects, and with its icy breath transforms every voluntary show of +feeling into the unvarying mien of reverence. You see, my child, the +halo your imagination spread around sovereignty is vanishing more and +more." She paused, and her large, tearful eyes gazed sorrowfully at +Cornelia. "I shall depend upon your well-known greatness of soul to +communicate the purport of this conversation to no one." + +"I thank you for your confidence, your Highness, and will justify it." + +"I believe you," said Ottilie. "And now let me proceed to the principal +matter. I do so with a heavy heart, for fondly as I have become +attached to you, I must now make a proposal whose acceptance will +deprive me of your society, because it depends upon your leaving the +city. But I have learned to sacrifice my own wishes for the welfare of +others, and will not be so selfish as to claim your presence here when +it may prove the salvation of so many unfortunates." + +Cornelia gazed at Ottilie in speechless expectation. She felt afraid, +for she had gathered nothing from the princess's words except an +intention to send her out of the city. + +Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand with evident emotion, and continued: "I +have founded in T----, whose lovely scenery seemed peculiarly adapted +for it, an institution for the reformation of female criminals, who, on +being discharged from the custody of the law, perhaps wholly destitute +of means, and alone in the world, would be led to enter the path of +wrong anew in order to escape hunger and despair. The idea is not new; +it has already been attempted in Germany many times, usually with very +indifferent success. All such undertakings require not only money, +skillful and conscientious management, and carefully watched exercises, +but a genial spirit and loving heart to breathe life into the empty +forms, and rouse in the penitents themselves an impulse of repentance, +for whose development the peace prevailing in the institution, the +pious exercises, and useful occupations will afford a suitable soil. +But how many women are there who unite to the highest qualities of the +heart a sound understanding, and are noble enough to devote them to +such a purpose? You, Cornelia, are such a being; you possess the +requisite grandeur of soul and self-denial, and your heart beats warmly +for the moral sufferings and infirmities of mankind: you have already +proved it. Do you now understand what I wish to ask of you? You shall +secure blessings and prosperity for my subjects, you shall receive the +position of directress of the institution at T----, and I am sure that +this sphere of influence among the poor wanderers of your own sex will +suit you far better than to associate with the rude, degraded men in +the prison." + +Cornelia looked down. "I see with painful confusion," she began, at +last, "how greatly your Highness has over-rated me, and how little I +deserve the favor you have permitted to fall to my lot in consequence +of these expectations. Will your Highness most graciously permit me to +correct the last opinion you expressed, that I must prefer to associate +with female criminals rather than with men. I feel far less sympathy +and interest for a guilty woman; for she has much less excuse than a +man. He is created stronger and more ungovernable by nature, therefore +his passions must be more violent, his desires fiercer, his acts and +thoughts ruder, more energetic, while the moral support given him is +not proportionally greater than that of the woman. On the contrary, the +moral instincts are more vivid in the latter, and her moral horizon +more contracted. How much worse, then, must she be, to sink into crimes +which often have no foundation in her nature! No doubt, woman is also +the cause of many crimes,--or rather womanly weaknesses; yet these are +as repulsive to me as the crimes committed at the expense of all +womanly feeling." + +"That is a very harsh judgment," Ottilie interposed. + +"I am not harsh, your Highness; I condemn such feeble creatures less, +but I have not sufficient sympathy, even for them, to be able to devote +myself to them with the necessary self-sacrifice. Besides, I should be +unable to believe that my efforts in their behalf would be attended +with sufficient success, for the same weakness that permitted them to +fall into sin would, it true, make them easily susceptible to +repentance, but expose them just as readily to any evil influence as +soon as they were left to themselves." + +"That may unfortunately be true in many cases. But are you not +attracted towards the poor creatures who have fallen victims to the +highest earthly power,--who have erred through love?" + +Cornelia started, and a deep blush suffused her face; she knew not why. +Her conscience was pure, and yet she could not bear the clear, +penetrating glance of the princess. Why did she feel so startled by +that word? Why did the look that accompanied it weigh upon her brow +like a secret sentence? Surely she had not erred through love, but she +had not been heedful of appearances. Suppose Ottilie judged by +appearances, and had spoken with a meaning? Oh, that she could banish +this treacherous blush! Must it not seem to Ottilie the token of a bad +conscience? She could not bear that. She raised her head and looked the +princess steadily in the face. + +"Your Highness, the law does not punish the errors of love; but if a +woman falls so low that she commits from love crimes which make her +amenable to the law, she becomes as detestable to me as all others. You +see I lack the first requisite for the vocation your Highness did me +the honor to propose,--the true Christian charity which does not judge +but pardons." + +"But which has already been so touchingly proved by your care for the +prisoners of state," replied Ottilie. "I will not be indiscreet, but I +cannot help remarking that the reason you have just given cannot be the +only one which withholds you from a vocation of Christian charity you +have hitherto voluntarily chosen, under circumstances far more +favorable to you; for your labors in my institution would not only +secure you every pecuniary advantage you could ask,--not only win +gratifying success with those intrusted to your care,--but make you +famous in the eyes of the would. Your ambition, if you possess any, +would also obtain the most brilliant satisfaction abroad the name and +spirit of Cornelia Erwing could soar away from the pleasant work- and +prayer-rooms of the institution far more easily than through the +gloomy, impenetrable dungeon-walls of the prison." + +"Oh, your Highness, pardon the freedom of my words!" said Cornelia, +with noble pride; "but you now undervalue as much as you lately +overrated me. Does your Highness really suppose that these prospects +could induce me to prefer laboring in the institution at T---- to my +present sphere of influence in the prison? Do you imagine a pecuniary +advantage I do not even need, or ambition for the cheaply-bought fame +of being a Good Samaritan, which every hypocrite can obtain, would +induce me to do anything to which my own feelings did not urge me? No, +your Highness, you cannot think so meanly of one to whom, a few moments +ago, you condescended to show the greatest favor. I have no other +motive for my actions than my heart. In this alone is rooted my +strength or my weakness, as you may choose to term it,--perhaps my +selfishness. But all selfishness that arises solely from calculating +reason is foreign to my nature; therefore, when I tell you that my +heart does not draw me to the Christian work in T----, your Highness +may be assured that no worldly advantage would lead me to it; yet, if +the contrary were the case, I would joyfully renounce every material +reward." + +"I believe you," said Ottilie; "but may I ask what has so strongly +attracted you towards the prisoners?" + +"Here, also, I only followed the impulse of my own feelings. Love for +one of them led me accidentally to the scene of his misery. Love for +the individual taught me to understand and pity the sorrows of his +companions. Ordinary crimes would have terrified me and filled me with +horror. I should have been as little inclined to aid in reforming a +debased man as a base woman, but at that time the prisoners were +principally political criminals. The idea for which most of them had +struggled and erred, to which my father and my dead lover were martyrs, +was necessarily sacred to my heart; and although I admit that it may +have been erroneous,--even pernicious in the extremes and manner in +which they strove to establish it,--I could neither condemn nor abhor +those who had suffered for the same conviction to which my father had +sacrificed himself. At first I employed my efforts only in behalf of +the political prisoners. An accident, however, made me acquainted with +a--as people usually say--'common murderer'; and I found in him a +weak-minded, but thoroughly noble man, who had been driven by the force +of circumstances to do what is recognized among all nations, not only +as a right, but a duty; he punished the tempter of his betrothed +bride!" She paused a moment, while again a deep blush suffused her +face. + +Ottilie, too, blushed slightly, and murmured, "I know the particulars +of the occurrence." + +"That convinced me," continued Cornelia, "how many good and evil powers +can exist in the broad breast of a man at the same time,--how mighty +the impulses often are to commit crimes which arise in his life; and +from that moment I went into the cells of all who justified this view." + +"And were there many of them?" asked Ottilie. + +"No, your Highness. With the exception of the political prisoners, at +the utmost only or five among a hundred and twelve; but these few were +sufficient to confirm my assertion." + +"And among a hundred female convicts, would you not perhaps find four +or five deserving of your sympathy?" + +"Very possibly, your Highness; but I could not devote myself only to +these: I should be compelled to care for the many wicked creatures who +could only arouse my loathing and abhorrence. I have always considered +my labors in the prison as an episode, and only employed a few hours of +the day in them; but here I should be compelled to devote my whole +time--nay, my life--to a vocation which could not satisfy me. I am not +one of those persons who do anything systematically, who make the work +of mercy a trade,--a mechanical, daily occupation,--in which, through +habit, they become so dull that they scarcely feel the blessing of +their labors. I wish to perform it freely and earnestly, whenever and +wherever I find an opportunity: and whose destiny does not afford one? +I do not even want you to be obliged to make it for me,--it must come +as a revelation from the inmost heart of life; and when I seize upon +it, it must be a quick, joyful deed, gushing full and warm from the +depths of a loving breast. Thus alone can it make me and others happy; +thus alone can I practice charity." + +Ottilie clasped Cornelia's hand, and gazed into her eyes with +increasing delight. + +"This may be selfish," the latter continued, "but it is natural, +and I cannot make myself different from what I am. I want events, +emotions, and--love. I want art pleasures. I feel the pulsations of an +ever-advancing civilization throbbing within me, and am ennobled by my +enthusiasm for everything beautiful which it has created. With this +tide of life swelling in my breast, I cannot bury myself behind the +walls of an institution for penitents,--cannot turn my delighted eyes +from the loftiest model of human greatness to fix them forever upon the +lowest caricatures of depravity. In the monotony of such a life I +should die of longing for the warm human love which has hitherto +streamed forth from the noble hearts that surrounded me. I see no moral +obligation to do so, for I am proud enough, your Highness, to believe +that God has destined me to make a good and noble being happy. Does it +not seem to your Highness far more beautiful to devote a life to this +purpose, rather than allow it to wither away in an institution for the +reformation of degraded creatures?" + +Cornelia had scarcely ended when she found herself clasped in Ottilie's +arms. + +"Forgive me," said the princess, with deep emotion. "I have esteemed +you highly, but not known you; now I understand you. You shall hear no +more from me of an expectation so ill suited to your character. You are +born for higher things; you belong to the great band of those who are +appointed to restore the ideal balance of the world. You are right. +Fate allots to each his sphere of labor, and you are to make the +happiness of an equally gifted nature. To seek to withdraw you from +this object would be committing a wrong against him for whom God +created you; and, in truth, he must love the man to whom he has given +you for a companion." Again a short pause followed. "Let those for whom +life has no longer any hopes, whom it has robbed of all the heart of +woman needs, devote themselves to the vocation I have mentioned. For +you many great joys and duties are still reserved,--but do not deceive +yourself, perhaps many sorrows also." + +"Oh, I have never blinded myself to that!" replied Cornelia. "I do not +fear them. No one is spared, and what all suffer will not be too heavy +for me." + +"It is easy for us to say so. God grant you may be spared the hours +when we doubt our own strength! Shall I be frank?" she asked, with +sudden resolution; and then continued, without waiting for a reply, "I +thought I could guard you from such sorrows when I selected you for the +position at T----. I believed you to be under dangerous influences, and +as I had become deeply interested in you from the descriptions I had +heard, thought it any duty to constitute myself your protectress. But I +now feel ashamed in your presence, for I am convinced that you are too +noble to need my protection; you have the best support in yourself. It +depends upon you to make the power that will be exerted over you +beneficial or otherwise, and I know now it will be the former." + +"Oh, your Highness," cried Cornelia, her eyes dim with tears, "I thank +you for those words! But I beseech you not to overvalue me at the +expense of another whose influence I have thus far felt as one rich in +blessing. I should despise myself if I did not gratefully remember all +the beauty and goodness I have received through the very intercourse +you feared for me. Least of all, your Highness, could I bear to see the +heart which is the dearest thing on earth to me misunderstood by you." +She was silent in alarm. Ottilie coughed and pressed her handkerchief +to her lips, then removed it and looked at Cornelia with a smile. +Cornelia could not speak: she was gasping for breath; she had seen +blood on the transparent folds. + +"Do you suppose," Ottilie began, as quietly as if nothing had +happened,--"do you really suppose I misunderstand this heart? Ah, no! +But I see its faults, and wished to warn you of them. God knows whether +he has a truer friend than I. As long as he lived at my court in H---- +I devoted the most kindly care to him; but my influence was too weak. +Perhaps the blissful task of ennobling him is assigned to her whom he +loves. May God bless and strengthen you for this work! And of whatever +nature the faults you will discover in the course of time may be, +beware of them; but do not let yourself be discouraged, they are only +the goblin shapes of his twofold nature, which will melt into nothing +as soon as your pure, noble spirit is united to his better self. Bear +with him faithfully, for he will love you as he never did any one, and +must be utterly wretched without you!" + +She rose. Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes again beamed with the +unearthly expression of a spirit about to take its flight from the +earth. + +Cornelia kissed her hand with deep emotion. "Your Highness, I stand +before you as if in the presence of the guardian angel of my betrothed, +and take a solemn vow that nothing shall part me from him except +himself! I knew his faults before his good qualities, and they were so +great they made me forget the latter. I began by despising, and ended +by loving him; and if I should lose faith in him again I should die!" + +"Oh, my child, we outlive a great deal! May God protect you and him! +Farewell. Remember me kindly until I can see you again." She dismissed +Cornelia with a warm embrace. "He will not corrupt her; she will save +him," she murmured. "My God, I thank thee!" + +"Are you come at last?" cried a well-known voice, as Cornelia entered +the room. "Where have you been? I have been waiting for you an hour." + +"And you are so much accustomed to have me devote myself entirely to +you," said Cornelia, as she laid her hat and shawl aside, "that you are +angry because I have given even a few hours to some one else." She sat +down beside him, drew back his head, and gazed with winning tenderness +into his clouded face. "Must I ask whether you have come to-day as a +schoolmaster or a lover? The book lying beside you, and your stern +manner, predict the former; but I must confess that I have no mind to +give to anything except the wonderful event of this day." + +"Well, what has happened to you?" asked _Heinrich_, resting his head +upon her shoulder. "Tell me." + +"I have just come from the princess." + +_Heinrich_ started up in astonishment. + +"She offered me the position of directress at T----." + +"Ah, she wanted to get you out of the City! She is jealous," he +murmured. + +"Oh, how meanly you think of that noble soul! She had other reasons +which I cannot discuss more particularly and indeed, Heinrich, she is +an angel!" + +"What answer did you make to her proposal?" + +"I rejected it." + +"There I see my own Cornelia." + +"Oh, is this the first time you understand me? I think you ought to +have done so before." + +"You are right; you have already made greater sacrifices,--if it is a +sacrifice you are making for me." + +"Of course it is. I do not know whether I might not have accepted +Ottilie's proposal if, after Veronica's death, I had been left alone +with my heart full of philanthropic enthusiasm and without your love." + +"In any case, you would have been committing a great piece of folly." + +"According to your ideas, but not mine. You will never believe how much +happiness the good we do to others can bestow; and yet you are not +happy, although all your life you have lived only for yourself." + +_Heinrich_ sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor. + +"Believe me, dearest, the benefits we confer upon others recoil upon +ourselves, as well as the wrongs we inflict upon them; and as often as, +mindful only of our own advantage, we are compelled to injure others, +so often we shall reap a curse instead of a blessing." + +_Heinrich's_ eyes were still more gloomy. + +"He who wishes to grasp and keep happiness solely for himself will find +it quickly fade, as we cannot make a flower our own by plucking it and +placing it in the breast; it will only gladden us a few minutes, and +then wither uselessly. Only when you plant happiness in the soil of +other hearts, and share their joys, will it bear flowers and fruits for +you. The law of multiplication does not merely extend through the +material, but the spiritual world. All the elements of our being are +united in us, and in this unity they collect their strength, but are +intended to be scattered abroad when they develop, so luxuriantly that +we can no longer seek the limits of our being within the narrow bounds +of our own hearts, but in the wide sphere of our beneficent influence. +The egotist never knows the satisfaction found in the execution of +every great or insignificant law of the universe, for he shuts himself +mentally within himself, and draws the juices from the soil which he is +rooted without ever enriching it. He believes it well to receive +without giving, and yet feels withered within. He does not understand +himself, bitterly accuses the world and destiny which have thus +insulated and placed him in a false position, and does not perceive +that the blessing he vainly expected from others ought to have emanated +from himself!" + +_Heinrich_ started up. "Yes, my Cornelia, in many instances you have +hit the mark wonderfully. But, believe me, my child, the sphere in +which I live is not adapted to that beneficent expansion of self. It +is, in reality, a sphere of egotism, in which one must greedily cling +to his own advantage if he would not have it torn from him. There is no +individual connection between us diplomats, we are only united by our +functions as constituent parts of the great mechanism which drives the +machinery of the government; and neither can the heart develop warm +benevolence when one has accustomed himself to look upon nations +merely as the material to be manufactured by this machinery into a +well-regulated whole. Imagine the feelings of a man, a statesman. You +speak of diffusing his own character abroad: I know what you understand +by it; it is all very noble and beautiful for the philanthropic members +of the masses, but it is the duty of statesmen to guide and govern the +populace, and we must not mingle among those we rule. We, too, devote +our strength to them, but we associate a more abstract idea with the +word than you sanguine philanthropists. You understand it to mean only +the people, but we the government, the law, the extension of the +interests of trade, the protection of the highest interests in foreign +countries,--in short, everything upon which the prosperity of a country +depends. To you the nation has a personal, to us only a political, +individuality; you are incessantly caring for its position towards the +throne, but we for its position towards the world!" He looked at +Cornelia, who was hanging upon his words in breathless expectation. +"Well, my Cornelia, do we not both live for the whole,--each in our own +way?" + +"There are your sophisms again, against which my natural intuition +strives with so much difficulty. I confess that none of your words have +made any other impression than the sorrowful one of self-deception. +Heinrich! Heinrich! what will become of you if you accustom yourself to +make sport of truth? You have described how a statesman thinks and +feels, but not how you think and feel. Of course, there are statesmen +who have the welfare of the people at heart; but such men cannot live +in a country like this, or they must be short-sighted enough to see +happiness in despotism. But you are not so blind. Heinrich, you +understand the conditions of a higher national development, and know +you are working against it; you are sinning against the most sacred +rights of humanity, yet say you are laboring for the whole. What do you +understand by this word? To you it is merely an empty sound; for that +which gives it life and meaning to us, anxiety for the common welfare, +is unknown to you. Do not say you live for the state, if not for the +people! Is there a state without a nation? Establish one with ideas +instead of men; govern these, and you will have the same reason to +boast of your labors for 'the whole.'" + +"You are becoming violent and unjust, my Cornelia." + +"It always makes me indignant when I see you palliating such faults as +these. I can forgive the worst offense if frankly confessed and +recognized, but to a palliated error I am unrelenting. Forgive me, if I +was violent," she pleaded, clinging fondly to him. "Come, kiss me; you +are so cold to-day." She drew him nearer her as they sat on the sofa. +"Let us talk quietly; I feel more anxious to discuss this subject fully +to-day than ever before. You love power. The impulse of asserting +itself is associated with every important endowment; it is a stimulus +for it to develop and become of value to the world. Nothing is more +just and natural than that you should feel it also. But in you it has +taken a false direction; you perceive power only in your present +position. But what power? It was voluntarily placed in your hands from +above, and arbitrarily endured by the nation; so it is a purely +external one, without change of action or spiritual echo. You are +conscious of it yourself only by the possibility of having your will +executed by means of a few strokes of the pen on a sheet of paper, and +extending it further than is permitted to the private citizen. Accident +has given you this power, accident may deprive you of it again; +therefore it neither makes you happy nor satisfies you. There is only +one real pleasure of that nature,--mastery over minds; this can neither +be given to us nor taken away, we must win and retain it by our own +strength. And what pride can be more noble than that we take in the +result of our own merits? Cease to be a machine among machines, and +become conscious of the privileges of independent effort; be at least a +man among men. Leave your present residence and return to your former +home; go into the Chambers, there your intellect and personal magnetism +will produce a great effect upon the multitude; there you will first +learn to know the manifold charms to be found in such a direct +subjugation of minds! Descend from your false height, and let yourself +be borne by the hands of the people to the summit of a powerfully +increasing development of civilization. You have hitherto served a +prince, while you gave laws to the nation; you can henceforth give +orders to a prince, while you are a king in the hearts of the people." +She rested her cheek against his, and asked, with loving emotion, "Does +not this prospect charm you?" + +"If all this could be done in reality as easily as in your vivid fancy, +my glorious Cornelia, it might well charm me. But I am a practical man; +I shall not resign a secure and brilliant position to, perhaps, obtain +nothing except the favor of miserable proletarians, or cast aside the +moral and political credit I possess, with the probability of losing, +by another change of opinion, all trust here and elsewhere! You cannot +ask that of me. Let him who has nothing at stake make the desperate +venture, but I have not only the advantage but the honor of an +established career to lose." + +"Honor and advantage,--but happiness? Oh, Heinrich! you have no +happiness to lose, for you have never possessed any; and you will only +save your honor before yourself and God when you begin a new life. So +what do you risk? I do not ask you to proclaim your change of opinion +at once to all the world. Leave the service of the government, withdraw +to your estates, and live there as a private citizen; win the +sympathies of the whole neighborhood, and come forth from your +seclusion as a deputy. How can you be threatened with any loss of +honor? Be assured the world is not so degenerate as to refuse its +esteem for an honest action. You will not fall here, you will +voluntarily resign your brilliant position for the sake of your +convictions: a manly deed which demands and will receive recognition. +Your former party will hail you with joy, and trust you on account of +the sacrifice you made to return to it; and in a short time you will +have obtained all you now think one of my fantastic ideas. Oh, believe +me, I see clearly the path you must choose,--the only one that will +lead to happiness!" + +_Heinrich_ released himself from Cornelia's encircling arms, and, +starting up, went to the window and leaned his brow thoughtfully +against the panes. Cornelia watched him in silence. She left him +entirely to himself, for she knew he was inaccessible to tenderness +when anything occupied his mind. This was the mood to which she had +found it so difficult to accustom herself, and now it appeared +especially harsh. Suddenly he turned, took up his hat, and kissed +Cornelia on the forehead. "Farewell!" + +"Heinrich!" she exclaimed, "are you going already? Have I offended you +so deeply?" + +"Not offended, but you have given me much food for thought; roused a +new conflict within me. Leave me to myself to-day." + +"Why especially to-day? What does that mean?" + +"You will learn when the time comes." + +"Another secret! Oh, Heinrich! You never share anything with me except +your tenderness and the poetic effusions of your vivid imagination. I +am shut out from your intellectual life, and know nothing of it except +what my own penetration enables me to guess." + +"Do not be angry, my child; sooner or later a time will come when there +will no longer be anything between us, when you will obtain possession +of my whole existence." With these words he kissed her again, and left +the room without looking back. + +"Sooner or later a time must come, when--" Cornelia repeated the words. +A roseate flush of joy suffused the grave face. Was not the end of her +humiliation approaching? Was--she scarcely ventured to confess what +sweet, proud hopes these words aroused. Why had her conversation made +so strange an impression upon him? Her heart throbbed expectantly: +would her fate perhaps be decided that day? + +It was decided. _Heinrich's_ inmost soul had been stirred by Cornelia's +ideas. The thought of playing a great part in the Chamber, of joining +the new and undeniably strong movement, charmed him. He could find +more change, more excitement, in this path than in the worn-out +interests of his court life, and possibly even attain the object of his +ambition,--the portfolio. He could marry Cornelia, noble, beautiful +girl, without injury to his plans; nay, she would even be necessary to +him in this career. Perhaps he might yet be a happy man. If the prince +did not take him into the ministry, there was nothing better for him to +do than to exchange the worn-out old life for a new one; and by the +time he reached home he almost wished it. As he entered his room, +absorbed in thought, Anton handed him a paper. He started as he read +it,--it was his nomination as minister of foreign affairs. The die was +cast. + + + + + XIX. + + THE CATASTROPHE. + + +The following day Cornelia awoke with the first glimmer of dawn. The +vague expectation excited by _Heinrich's_ ambiguous words had kept her +long awake, and now drove her from her couch earlier than usual. She +made a hasty toilet and hurried out into the autumn morning. It was +damp and gloomy; a thick fog made earth and sky vanish in a gray cloud; +the withered leaves fell from the wet bushes with a low rustle as her +garments brushed against them. She did not heed it. Spring was in her +heart, and the warm life in her breast seemed to glow through the +chilling scene around her. Mechanically she entered the path she was +most accustomed to follow. It led to the churchyard. She walked through +the long rows of graves, apparently the only living creature in the +broad place of death; but as she approached the well she suddenly saw, +at a few paces' distance, two grave-diggers lowering a little coffin +into the earth. She approached and asked, "Whose child is this you are +burying so entirely alone?" + +"It is illegitimate," said one of the men, dryly. + +Cornelia shuddered. "Oh, how terrible!" + +"Yes, it's a pity for silly girls to allow themselves to be so blinded. +If they thought more of their honor, they wouldn't meet with +misfortune. And the poor children always have to suffer for it. This +one was put out to board with strangers, who neglected it so that it +fell sick and died. The girl to whom it belonged was obliged to go out +to service again because her lover deserted her before the child was +born, so she couldn't trouble herself about it, and was obliged to +leave it to die." + +"Poor, poor child!" thought Cornelia, looking at the grave with tearful +eyes. "Usually when a child is born it is received with joy and love; +but shame stood beside your cradle, shame hovers over your lonely +grave. No happy father took you in his arms, no gladsome mother's eyes +answered your first trusting smile; nobody wanted you, and the only one +who loved you was obliged to deny you until God had compassion upon you +and took you to himself. Now your forsaken mother may perhaps be +stretching out her arms despairingly to grasp the empty air, and must +conceal her anguish as deeply as her darling has just been buried in +the earth. Terrible fate! May God protect every loving woman from it!" +Tears flowed more and more quickly down her cheeks; she turned away and +wept out the emotion that had seized upon her on the graves of Veronica +and Reinhold. As she went home she noticed for the first time that it +was misty and dreary, and entered the house in a graver mood than she +had left it. + +"Marie," she said to her chambermaid, "while I was at the churchyard it +occurred to me that this is Veronica's birthday. Order some wreaths for +her grave; I wish to have it adorned on such anniversaries." + +The hours dragged slowly away. Ottmar did not appear at the usual time; +but instead the evening paper announced his appointment as minister. +That was why he had been so absent-minded yesterday, why his words had +contained a vague promise of a speedy decision of her fate; so this was +the secret. Surely the turning-point in her life must now be reached; +he had obtained what he desired, and might dare to marry. Her heart +beat more and more violently. Quarter of an hour after quarter of an +hour passed away. He could not come today: he probably had too much to +do; and yet she longed so anxiously to see him. + +Her servants asked whether they should carry the wreaths the gardener +had just skillfully arranged to the grave. "Yes, go," said Cornelia, +absently; "no one will come to-day now." But scarcely had the maids +left the house when the bell was impatiently pulled. Cornelia opened +the door with trembling expectation, and sank upon Ottmar's breast. + +_Henri_ had just met the two servants in the street. Had Cornelia +ventured to send them away when she knew he was coming? or was she +preparing to leave the house? He could form no conclusion, but +explained the incident in his own favor; knew himself to be alone with +Cornelia, and gave himself up entirely to his own excited feelings. + +"You are a minister," she began. "You have now obtained that for which +you struggled. It will afford you no greater happiness than your +present position; but I perceive this throws too heavy a weight into +the scale not to outbalance my counsels." + +"Come here, my Cornelia do not let us discuss such matters now," said +_Henri_, drawing her upon his knee. "I can do nothing to-day but look +at and caress you. Do not grudge me the sweet refreshment after long +hours of burdensome ceremonies and fatiguing business. My mind is so +wearied that I can no longer think of anything, only feel that I clasp +you to my heart, that you are mine, wholly mine! Is it not so?" + +Cornelia leant silently upon his breast. "At last, at last he will +utter the word I have so longed to hear!" she thought, clinging to him +in a fond embrace. He pressed his lips to her ear, and whispered so low +that she could not understand him, but felt he must be making promises +of eternal love and tenderness, while his hot breath bewildered her +like the fumes of opium. Then a word fell upon her ear more distinctly, +causing a thrill never felt before. He had called her his "wife." +Overwhelmed with happiness she closed her eyes, her head sank upon his +shoulder, and tears of unspeakable delight stole from beneath her long +lashes. In this name, for which she knew but one meaning, he had +expressed the fulfillment of her fairest hopes. She remained in this +blissful confidence a moment longer. _Henri's_ voice grew still more +persuasive, fell still more distinctly upon Cornelia's ear. Suddenly +the veil which had surrounded her soul was torn away; she was forced to +hear, forced to understand, what she had never been willing to believe. +Springing up, she stood before _Henri_ as if frozen into a statue; +there was neither life nor color in the face blanched to the pallor of +marble, save in the eyes, which rested with increasing firmness and +brilliancy upon his startled countenance. + +_Henri_ had prepared himself for an outburst of indignation or grief; +this speechless amazement, this frozen horror, first revealed to him +how deep her trust had been, and how he had ascribed many things to +levity, or believed them a triumph of love, which had been rooted +wholly in the security of this unshaken confidence. He perceived he had +prepared Cornelia badly for his plans; but it was too late: he could +not unsay what had been said. At last her lips moved, and word after +word began to struggle through them. + +"So this is the meaning you give to the sacred words 'my wife,'--in +this way I shall not be denied the privilege of becoming yours? This +relation does not dishonor--the--minister!" + +"Cornelia," cried _Henri_, with a slight shudder, "not this scorn! I +cannot bear it. Do you not understand that I have inviolable duties +towards my position and the dignity with which my prince trustfully +invested me? that there are barriers far more difficult for a man to +overleap than for a woman to pass the bounds prescribed by what we call +morality? Speak, Cornelia: could you expect me, the representative of +the highest aristocracy in the country, the supporter of the most rigid +despotic principles of government, to suddenly present to the +astonished world as my wife the daughter of a fugitive traitor, who has +herself hitherto moved exclusively in plebeian and democratic circles? +Would not your pure brow flush beneath the contemptuous glances which +would see only your origin, not yourself? I could not present you at +court; and would it not be far more humiliating if, as my lawful wife, +you were excluded from the circles to which I belong, if you were +always compelled to conceal yourself in the darkness of obscurity, like +one proscribed, while feeling that the lofty name you bore was a +burning-glass to draw upon you the fiery rays of public curiosity?" + +Cornelia pressed her hand upon her heart as if she felt the stroke of a +dagger. + +"Could you bear this ignominy?--could you suffer your husband to bear +it with you? You know that to me you are a queen; but the world in +which I live would never weary of preparing humiliations for you that +even I, as your husband, could not always prevent, and which would +perhaps lower my proud, noble love in my own eyes. All this you can +avoid if you will remain outside the sphere into which our marriage +would bring you, if you will live in seclusion as the sweet wife of my +heart, unknown and unnoticed, but surrounded by the glory with which a +great self-sacrificing love invests a woman. That I would be a faithful +husband to you, my Cornelia, I swear by every solemn oath. No other +shall ever stand at my side; no one shall bear the name which, before +God, belongs to you, and which I dare not give you before the world. I +will open a heaven of bliss to you, and at the end of our days you +shall tell me whether, in the true, real sense of the word, you have +not been my wife, whether I have not deserved the sublime confidence +with which, without the customary guarantees, you placed the happiness +of your life in my hands. Come, Cornelia, come to my heart." And, as he +uttered the words, he threw himself on his knees before her, extending +his arms imploringly. + +Cornelia still stood motionless. She saw him at her feet, looking so +noble with that mute entreaty on his lips, gazed at him for a second, +then, like a despairing cry of agony, the words burst forth,-- + +"Oh, Heinrich, why, why must it come to this?" + +"Why? How can it be otherwise?" cried _Henri_, starting up. "Cornelia, +be more merciful than the fate that denies you to me. Could I reject my +prince's call to the aid of the throne, withdraw my powers from the +service of the state at the moment they were most needed? Ought I to +have made such a sacrifice to my love when I was sure you would +joyfully offer the lesser one, which is necessary to our happiness? +What have you to fear? You are living in exceptional circumstances, +have no one's permission to ask, have told me a hundred times that you +despised the judgment of the world, that you felt within your own heart +a higher power, which justified you in taking your own course. If I had +believed any woman capable of a love which had sufficient morality in +self to be able to cast aside all laws without degenerating, it would +have been yourself; and you are such a woman, you alone. In your lofty +breast human nature has developed free and unfettered, as it came from +the hand of the Creator; it does not judge according to the ordinances +of the church-police, or so-called moral tradition, but, pure and +undefiled, unquestioningly follows the guidance of the love which +pervades all creation, and which mankind first disfigured and chained +by arbitrary laws." + +"Indeed!" said Cornelia. "And our ideas of virtue, of the sacredness of +marriage, they would lack all firm foundation had not God placed a +guard upon our passions in our own breasts." + +"Cornelia, can _you_ ask such questions? They are a protection to the +weak, of course. Marriage, as a sacrament, is a great institution, +which the infirmities of human nature rendered necessary; but for those +strong exceptional natures that feel themselves nearer the deity it is +an empty form." + +"So would be morality, honor, family happiness,--all would be mere +illusions, and our most immediate aim nothing more than to become +thinking animals. This would bring us nearest to our divine origin." + +"Do not scorn me thus, Cornelia; I do not deserve it, for I am in +solemn earnest. Is marriage, then, merely a civil union formed under +the eyes of the church-police? Is it not rooted in those who truly love +each other? Cannot they, without marriage-certificate or altar, found a +true, peaceful family life apart from society, and therefore the more +untroubled? If they have become truly one in spirit, do they need the +compulsion of the world and the church to remain faithful to each +other? Is not marriage a mere superfluous ceremony to such beings? and +is not a relation that depends upon the most profound mental and +physical sympathy, and endures through its own power, more moral than a +so-called legal marriage, which exists only in form where two persons +are united that are repulsive to each other,--two souls that do not +understand each other,--where people seek refuge from despair in crime, +and, after committing infidelities, play the old falsehood to +themselves and the world until loathing and constraint stupefy their +souls and the individual sinks into a mere animal? Is this more moral, +Cornelia? Could the church consecrate what was commonplace, disunited, +separated? Is not such an alliance a greater blasphemy than if two +beings, with the loftiest feelings, give themselves to each other for a +life of free love and voluntary faithfulness?" + +"And would it be blasphemy if two such beings sanctioned their alliance +before the world by a marriage, if they made that which is hallowed in +itself saved in the eyes of society?" asked Cornelia. + +_Henri's_ eyes fell before her glance. "It would not be blasphemy; and +any one whom circumstances permitted to do so would be very wrong not +to avail himself of the beautiful form, with its many benefits. But +where it would disturb a whole life, natures like ours have a right to +dispense with it." + +"And wherein does this disturbance of the whole life consist? In the +possible loss of the portfolio! This is the lofty object to which +everything else must yield, even the feeling whose 'divine power,' +according to your views, might dispense with the sanction of the law." + +"Oh, no, my angel! Shall I love you less if you are mine of your own +free choice? On the contrary, I shall but hold you the more tenderly in +my heart. You are too noble, too unselfish, to compel me to sacrifice +either the proud goal of my efforts, or the happiness of my love, when +it is in your power to afford me both." + +"But if I do not possess this unselfishness,--if I asked your hand as a +proof of your integrity,--then I must yield to the interests of your +ambition, and the statesman would conquer the lover." + +"Cornelia, I no longer know you. Is this the self-sacrificing woman who +has always cared only for others, never for herself? and could you now +suddenly transform yourself into a calculating egotist, who bargains +and higgles for a price, and demands the sacrifice of a whole career in +return for her love? Cornelia, an unconditional sacrifice, a complete +forgetfulness of self, might have won me to anything, but this is not +the way to obtain my hand." + +He looked up and recoiled a step in horror, for before him stood the +gorgon he had once imagined in those eyes. The disheveled hair seemed +to move; her gaze rested upon _Henri_ with petrifying power. At last +the tension of the nerves relaxed, the blood surged into her face, and +her noble indignation flushed her cheek with as deep a crimson as it +had before been pale. "Heinrich!" she cried, "I have borne your +fiendish dialectics long enough! I wished to know you thoroughly, and +therefore forced myself to be calm. Now this must cease; the measure is +full! Do you really believe I would so far humiliate myself as to +bargain and beg for your hand? Do you really suppose the sacrifice you +ask would be too great for me, if I could justify it before God and my +own conscience,--if you were worthy of it? That you are not you have +now shown me. I was obliged to hear the answer you gave me with my own +ears, or I should not have believed it; therefore I asked the question. +I was forced to learn your falsehood from your own lips, to be able to +offer you the only thing you deserve, my scorn. Yes, my nature is so +healthful that I have strength to thrust evil from me, though my very +life should cleave to it. Oh, Heinrich, that it must come to this! You +have stripped the bloom from my existence, stolen the most sacred +emotions of a young, trusting heart, wished to take from me honor, +faith, all that affords support and protection to a woman, torn the +wings from my soul to chain me, and then, when you wished to disown me, +to say 'fly away.' Oh, treacherous soul-murderer, beautiful and winning +as no other can ever be, for whose creation an angel must have mated +with a fiend, I love and hate you with equal fervor! I would gladly +ennoble you, yet feel already how you have corrupted me. Yes, I +understand that no one resisted you,--that you conquered wherever you +went; but here, proud man, is the limit of your victory. The shame you +destined for me does not humiliate me, for I am conscious I have not +deserved it. See, it rouses every hostile power within me. I feel, with +a shudder, how they are taking possession of my heart, calling +mockingly in my ears, 'Count Ottmar's mistress,' and painting +scenes,--scenes which might well drive me to madness. And there stands +the man who loves me, and from pure affection dooms me to such +tortures; who will not suffer me to stand by his side before the world; +will not give me his name in return for the life he demands: and all +this is from pure love; and I,--why do I not from pure love thrust a +knife into his false breast to avenge the law he derides?" + +"So that is it? Because I will not make you Countess Ottmar! That is +what causes you such bitter grief? Oh, Cornelia, you are far more +haughty than virtuous!" + +"Oh, my God, how have I deserved this?" cried Cornelia. "Heinrich, +Heinrich, vengeance will come upon you! You will some day be compelled +to answer before God for the heart you have crushed! You wish by your +sophisms to drive me to sacrifice my virtue, merely to prove that I am +noble and unselfish, that I love the man and not the count. Oh, it is a +clever calculation, and may already have led many a gentle heart +astray! But it recoils from my firm reason, for the supposition is +false, Heinrich. If your love and esteem are only to be obtained by +sin, you are so evil that you are not worth the trouble of winning. +Believe that I am more haughty than virtuous; believe that my anger is +only roused because I am not to become Countess Ottmar; I cannot +convince you to the contrary, for God and his commands are higher than +you, and God sees my heart and knows how it bleeds and quivers!" + +"Do not be so violent, Cornelia; you cannot leave me. You are mine; own +that you are. You have inhaled the sweet poison from my lips, and your +soul absorbed in full draughts the fiery language of my passion. You +have foreseen all the joys of love; womanhood has unfolded its perfect +flower. You cannot go back. Come, my dove, you are fluttering timidly, +and yet feel that you are bound. Come, my angel, demand my vows; I will +give them all to you as if before the altar. Does not Christ himself, +to whom you pray, say, 'Where two are gathered together in my name, +there am I in the midst of them'?" + +"Hold, blasphemer, to whom nothing is sacred!" cried Cornelia, +releasing herself from his arms in mortal terror; and with sudden +resolution she rushed to the door, along the passage, down the +staircase,--heard him following her, and hurried through the dark +streets. She did not know herself what she wanted, or where she was +going; "away, away from him" was her only thought. A door stood ajar, +and a faint light streamed through the opening. It was the church of +the Jesuits. She fled into it. The house of God was empty, only +a priest was praying at the altar beneath the red glow of the +ever-burning lamp. _Henri's_ steps echoed behind her. She rushed up to +the dark figure, and sank senseless before him. + +"Heaven has apparently chosen me to be your good spirit, Count Ottmar, +since I always stand in your way when you are in the act of doing +things you might afterwards regret," said the Jesuit, bending over +Cornelia. + +In the haste of the pursuit _Henri_ had recognized Father Severinus too +late. Now he stood before him in amazement, and beheld his precious +treasure lying senseless in the arms of his mortal enemy. _Henri_ was +painfully embarrassed. "Severinus," said he, "I assure you this whole +scene is the result of the folly of an innocent, enthusiastic girl, and +that you may safely trust me to escort her home." + +Severinus gazed with increasing admiration at Cornelia's pure, pale +features, as he aided her to rise. "It depends on the decision of the +lady herself whether she will go with you, or place herself under my +protection." + +"Cornelia!" cried _Henri_, in tones so loud, so full of agony, that she +opened her heavy eyes. "Cornelia, angel of my life, do not abandon me! +Come with me, and forgive me for having alarmed you. Give me your dear +hand, and let me take you home. Cornelia, have you no longer a single +glance for your Heinrich?" + +She stood trembling before him with downcast eyes, and did not move. +"If this reverend gentleman will take me, I will ask him to accompany +me. With you, Heinrich, I shall go no more." + +"Come, my daughter," said Severinus, with inexpressible gentleness. + +Deep grief, such as he had never felt before, overmastered _Henri_. He +tried to kiss her hand, but she withdrew it. "Will you act in +opposition to the dictates of your own heart, Cornelia?" he exclaimed. +"My love, do not cause yourself so much pain. See, you are pitying me +almost more than I pity myself. Be more womanly, Cornelia; you cannot +treat the man in whom your life is rooted thus. This is not the place +for such discussions. I will forgive your want of confidence and your +having exposed me to this gentleman in such a manner. To-morrow, my +Cornelia, I shall hope to find you more reasonable." + +"More reasonable? You will never find me again." + +"Cornelia!" + +"I think you will feel yourself that between us no reconciliation is +possible. We are parted!" + +"Cornelia! and you have loved me!" + +"Because I have loved, still love--I fear you," she breathed almost +inaudibly. "Should I need to fly from you if I hated you as I ought?" + +She fixed her eyes once more on the wondrously beautiful features, now +ennobled by pain; tear after tear rolled slowly down her cheeks; she +shivered violently, and sank sobbing at the feet of a life-size figure +of Christ, resting her burning head against the cold stone. + +"Oh, Cornelia," whispered _Henri_, his voice trembling with emotion; +"unhappy child, why do you lacerate your own heart and mine so cruelly? +Tell me, wherefore do you now suffer all this? wherefore do you +renounce me, do you bear this anguish?" + +"Wherefore?" she said, looking up to the Christ to which she still +clung. "Ask Him. He will teach you." + +Severinus had stood a little apart, watching Cornelia as if in a dream; +he was deeply moved. With a manner more tender than _Henri_ had ever +seen in him, he now approached and offered her his arm. She obeyed him +almost unconsciously, and passed slowly by Ottmar. The latter threw +himself before her, and pressed her dress to his lips. + +"Girl, girl, I will not leave you! It is not possible that you can cast +me off,--it is unnatural! Cornelia, am I to lose you? can it be? will +you take all the joy and happiness from my life?" + +Cornelia stood with her hands pressed upon her bosom, struggling for +breath. + +"Have you no longer a word, a glance, for me? can you see the head you +have so often cradled an your bosom at your feet, and not bend and +raise it forgivingly to your heart? will you not look smilingly into my +eyes, and say, 'Enough of punishment, I am appeased'? Draw your arm +from that stranger's and place it around my neck, and I will bear you +through the world as lovingly, as watchfully, as a god. See, I kiss the +spot where your heart is beating, and it does not burst; its blood does +not gush forth upon my breast with infinite sorrow at the thought of a +separation. You do not stir; you let me plead, let me extend my arms +despairingly to you, and will not throw yourself into them,--say no +word of compassion to the man whom you have called a thousand times by +every fond name love could utter." + +"Heinrich! Heinrich!" cried Cornelia, throwing her arms around him and +pressing her lips to his, "this is more than human nature can bear!" + +"Oh, my Cornelia! Do you then feel you are mine?--that all your +purposes are false?--that nothing is true and eternal except our love?" + +"My daughter," said Severinus, gently, "be steadfast as you were just +now." + +Cornelia looked up and brushed the tears from her face. "I thank you; I +am steadfast," she replied, with firm resolution. "Good-night, +Heinrich, _for the last time_." + +She turned to leave the church with Severinus. + +_Henri_ started up like a wounded tiger; all tenderness was transformed +into fury. "Go, then!" he shouted, trembling with rage; "you are no +woman,--you are a fiend! You have deserted _me_, not I _you_; now we +are quits." + +The young girl tottered out of the church with Severinus without +casting another glance behind. + +Both reached Cornelia's house in silence. Severinus paused. "Command +me, Fraeulein. Shall I leave you alone, or can I be of any further +service to you? A young girl doubtless needs protection against such a +man as Ottmar." + +"Do you know him?" asked Cornelia. + +"I do." + +"May I ask you to come in with me?" + +"Most joyfully." + +The servants, on their return, had found the house open, and were in +the greatest anxiety about Cornelia. Her maid came to meet her, crying, +"Oh, heavens, how you look!" + +They entered the drawing-room, the apartment so short a time ago the +scene of peace and joy; whose atmosphere was still pervaded with +_Henri's_ glowing breath. There lay the gloves he had forgotten in his +haste. Her tears burst forth afresh. It seemed as if she had just come +from his funeral, and could not part from these last sad tokens of +his life. She mutely motioned Severinus to be seated; she could not +speak,--could not express her emotions in words. Severinus understood +her thoroughly, and watched her in silence. She sat with bowed bead, +speechless and pale; her hands resting on her lap; her loosened tresses +falling around her, wet with tears. She still saw the impression made +on the soft carpet where he had knelt before her; there lay a velvet +ribbon he had torn from her arm; with a deep blush she looked up at the +priest, as if he could read her thoughts. Now, for the first time, she +noticed his delicate features, the melancholy expression of his large +dark eyes, and gazed at him more earnestly. With an involuntary motion +he pushed the hair from his brow, and a broad scar became visible. + +"You are Severinus!" she exclaimed, starting up and seizing both his +hands. + +"Did you not know it?" he asked, in astonishment. + +"No, I did not hear your name just now; but I think I once saw you in a +brighter hour than this." + +"In the churchyard a few months ago." + +"Yes. Ah, it was a fleeting happiness!" she murmured. "It is strange +that we should meet. Oh, I salute you: the only person of whom Heinrich +always spoke with reverence, whom God has sent to be my preserver!" + +"May the Almighty grant that I shall prove so! But what can I do for +you? Will you raise me to the rank of your friend, that as such I may +console you, since I am not permitted to bestow the blessings of my +ecclesiastical office upon a Protestant?" + +"How do you know I am of the Lutheran faith?" + +"Because I have long known you, long watched your quiet labors in the +prison; and of late, since the report of your relations with Ottmar +went abroad, prayed that the Almighty might save the honor of a being +whom he had created or his glory, if at any time she was in danger." + +"A report? Oh, God! had matters already gone so far with me? Ah, this +despicable world!" + +"Calm yourself, my daughter. Do not accuse the world: you yourself are +not wholly blameless. Had you submitted more to the laws of womanly +custom, everything might now be very different." + +Cornelia covered her face. "Alas, I believed all men as pure as +myself!" + +"You are right. If you had been less innocent, you would have paid more +attention to appearances. Yet you now see yourself where it leads when +a woman breaks down the barriers that protect her. If you had belonged +to our church, and had a confessor whom you trusted, he would have +called your attention betimes to the dangers that threatened you, and +spared you many a bitter pang." + +"Alas, many faithful friends warned me, but I would not listen: I had +no thought for anything except this man. I was bound by a magic spell, +which permitted me only to breathe with his breath, live in his life. I +had forgotten God and the world for him; and therefore I am now +punished." + +"You recognize the hand of God, my child. Ah, yes! I know it rests +heavily upon those he loves. You had suffered yourself to become +absorbed too thoughtlessly in the passions of earth, and therefore he +tore you away to the purer sphere of self-sacrifice and sorrow. Many an +earthly happiness can still bloom for you, but you will be purified and +enjoy it with grateful consciousness. This is the blessing of your +sorrow." + +"Oh, how nobly you speak! Go on," pleaded Cornelia, clasping her hands +and kneeling like a little child beside the arm-chair which Severinus +was seated. + +"You have conquered, my daughter, and your heart bleeds from honorable +wounds; yet do not imagine that the contest is ended with this one +victory: it will not save you. In the languor into which the soul falls +after great moral efforts, it is all the more defenseless against a +fresh assault. You must leave here, must withdraw into solitude, where, +as your days form the links of a continuous chain of self-sacrifice, +you will obtain a quiet, unassuming victory over your passions. In the +stillness of a magnificent, lonely region, you will once more hear the +gentle voices in which God speaks to mankind. Beneath shady trees, and +beside cool brooks, the tumult of the blood will be allayed, the life +and labors of millions of innocent creatures will employ your fancy, +lead you back to simplicity and childlike faith, and with devout +reverence you will receive the duty that takes up its abode in every +purified soul." + +"Yes, reverend sir, you are right: I need repentance and rest; and balm +for all sorrows can be found only in beautiful nature. I must leave +here; but where shall I go? I have traveled very little; know not +whither to turn; and since my engagement to Ottmar have become so much +estranged from all my friends that I could not now ask any one to +accompany me; besides, I know of no one whom I would suffer to look +into my heart. You are the only person whom a strange accident has made +my confidant, you understand, and in these few moments have become so +necessary to me that it would be very difficult for me to part with +you. Help, counsel me." + +"You still have a faithful maid?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, promote her to be a 'companion,' and take me for your +fatherly guide, if you believe I know how to judge and treat you in the +present state of your soul." + +"What! would you devote your precious time to me?" + +"If you need me, yes." + +"If I need you? Oh, reverend sir, how can I thank you, how can I reward +you for a sympathy of which I am so unworthy?" + +"To save your immortal soul, to reconcile you with God, is the only +reward and gratitude I ask. I am only doing my duty if I aid your +erring spirit to find its home again." + +"Oh, my friend, you arouse an emotion never felt before! I never knew +my parents. Let me find in you that of which I have so long been +deprived: a father on whose heart I can weep out my sorrows. Alas, I +have never enjoyed this blessing I know not what it is when a child, +overwhelmed with remorse, falls at its father's feet, and the latter, +kindly absolving it from its guilt, says, 'Come, you are forgiven!' I +have sinned deeply; yet if I had had my parents, everything would have +been different. Father Severinus, can you enter into an orphan's +feelings? Ah, one who, clasped in the arms of his family, has never +lacked love, cannot know what it is to grow up alone, without that warm +affection, that blissful interchange of parental and filial love, and, +with an overflowing heart, which in its ardor could contain a world, +find only sober friendship and partial understanding! My dear Veronica +was an angel! I owe her all the good qualities I possess: she reared me +lovingly, and treated me like a mother; but she had not a mother's +affection, that rich, gushing tenderness which a warm, childish heart +demands. I did not need an angel, but a noble, mature human being, and +strict discipline. My powers soon carried me beyond her narrow +intellectual sphere; she became more and more beneath me mentally, and +indulged me wonderfully. I remained an obedient child, and loved her +devotedly; but she could not give me what I required. An unfortunate +youthful fancy passed over me like a dream. My aspiring mind knew no +bounds; my thirst for love vainly sought satisfaction, in society, in +toiling for the poor and miserable. Then I met Heinrich, with his +ardor, his winning charm; and all the affection a child has for its +father and mother, all the passion a woman can feel, I had for him. Now +came the result of my education. Always habituated to do as I pleased, +I despised the commands of custom, the warnings of friends. After being +so long deprived of love, it burst over me like a flood: I gave myself +up to it blindly. Perhaps I thereby forfeited my lover's respect, and +apparently justified him in inflicting upon me the humiliation from +which I fled to your protection, sir." She sighed heavily. "Ah, thank +God that I could pour out my heart to you! For the first time in my +life I feel the happiness of confessing a fault with remorseful sorrow, +divesting my soul of its pride, and placing myself in the hands of a +merciful judge! Impose the punishment, and I will bear it; tell me the +penance, and I will perform it; but then, then bend down to me and tell +me as my father would have done, 'Come; you are forgiven'!" + +She laid her clasped hands upon the arm of the chair, and looked at +Severinus imploringly. The latter sat absorbed in thought, gazing into +her face. + +"My dear child, you give me the right to punish and pardon; I can only +make use of the latter privilege. Your intellectual development, as you +have described it to me, excuses your relations with Ottmar, and your +pathetic submission to this unprincipled man. I, too, was orphaned; I, +too, have wandered through the world with a loving heart, and never +found what I sought. To me also men have seemed cold and empty; they +did not respond either to my ideas or feelings. But what drew you down +raised me; the overmastering impulse led me to a purer sphere. In our +church, Cornelia, reigns the man-born God. I could seize upon him, +throw myself into his arms, and there find the love, the condescension, +I needed. Our church alone is the bridge which unites the Deity with +the earth. The symbols, Cornelia, are the steps by which the clumsy +human mind, so long as it is fettered by temporal ideas, climbs upward +to the supernatural. Even the most sinful man can reach God, if he +makes the symbols his own. While your church requires a purified +spiritual stand-point in order to give consolation and edification, +ours bends down to the man imprisoned in sensuality and leads him +upward, step by step, gradually removing him from his sinful +condition." He paused and looked at Cornelia, then continued: "These +blessings fell to my lot. My heart also bled when it tore itself away +from all the human ties entwined about it; I, too, Cornelia, have +struggled until I resisted the false allurements, and so spiritualized +myself that the world became dead, and the kingdom of God a living +thing to me." + +"Oh," exclaimed Cornelia, "I shall never bring myself to that! The +world dead! No longer love this beautiful earth, the master-piece of +God! No, I cannot; it would be ungrateful to him who created it." + +"I do not ask that, my child; I am not one of those bigoted priests who +believe that men were made only to pray, that the pious and chaste +alone are the elect, and the others the mere wretched laborers of +creation, destined to propagate the race. Such a thought is far from +me. Whomsoever. God destines to be his servant he calls; and let those +whom he does not rejoice in the world for which they were born, and +serve God by doing good in their own sphere. I will only warn you not +to forget the Giver in the gifts; to remember the Dispenser while you +enjoy his alms, is a duty you children of the world so easily neglect. +This I will teach you to fulfill, and show you that it does not detract +from happiness, but hallows and strengthens it. If you had thought more +of God when he gave you Ottmar's love, you would have been more +discreet, and perhaps matters would never have gone so far." + +"Ah, that is terribly true!" sobbed Cornelia. + +"Calm yourself, my child; I do not wish to burden your poor heart still +more heavily. You were innocent, and Ottmar's influence was injurious +to you. No mortal has a right to decide whether you would have been +able to avoid this; I least of all, for I know Ottmar's personal power. +I, too, trusted him, and was betrayed, for he is no man's friend, not +even his own!" + +"Unhappy man! Created in the image of God, so handsome, so noble, so +capable of giving happiness, and yet a living lie, a deceitful phantom, +which irresistibly allures us, and, as soon as we wish to hold it; +melts into thin air. Do you understand, Severinus, that one may love +him with all the strength of one's life, and when parted from him be +but a broken bough which can do nothing but wither?" + +"I understand it, for no other was ever so dear to me. I hoped to make +him an instrument for the advancement of the good cause, thought God +had given me in him a being to whom the heart might still be permitted +to pay the tribute of human feelings, aided with admiration in the +development of his great talents, and nursed him with tender anxiety. I +listened to his breathing while he slept, watched him like a brother, +and saw with delight that his health gradually improved. When he came +up to me with beaming eyes, and said, 'My dear Severinus, how shall I +thank you?' my heart swelled with proud delight, and I clasped him in +my arms." He paused, covered his eyes with his hand, and continued, in +a trembling voice: "And when I was compelled to lose him, such sorrow +seized upon me that I struggled as if the foul fiend had possession of +him and I must wrest Heinrich's soul from his grasp. It was the +punishment that befell me because my love did not still belong +exclusively to Heaven, as it ought. I endeavored to disarm his malice +against the order as much as possible; I had nurtured the serpent, so +it was my duty to deprive it of its venom, and thus I was forced to +pursue as an enemy one who had been the dearest person on earth to me. +Believe me, my daughter, your tears are not the only ones which have +been shed for him." + +Cornelia seized Severinus's hand with deep emotion; he rose. "I will +now leave you alone: you need rest. Compose yourself, and pray. I hope +to find you ready to travel early to-morrow morning, and will consider +tonight whither I will guide you." + +As Severinus went out into the street he met a brother-priest, who was +just coming from the Jesuit church. + +"Father Severinus!" he said, in astonishment. "How did you come here? +what are you doing in Fraeulein Erwing's house?" + +"I am gaining a soul for the church!" he answered, proudly, and passed +on. + + + + + XX. + + THITHER. + + +The minister of foreign affairs sat in his office alone. Stray, feeble +rays from the winter sun fell through the window and gleamed upon a +heap of documents and papers with huge seals; but the minister's eyes +did not rest upon them, they were fixed absently on vacancy. From time +to time he dipped his pen in the ink, only to let it fall again unused, +upon a diplomatic dispatch which had just been commenced. At last he +started up and went to the door. His figure was not so elegant, nor his +bearing so haughty, as in former days: his hair and beard were +neglected, his eyes and cheeks sunken. Was it work or sorrow that had +thus shaken this noble frame? He seemed aged, even ill. Anton brought +in some letters, which he hastily seized, then threw them all but one +upon the table. + +"God grant it may be some good news!" said Anton, casting a troubled +glance at his master's haggard features as he left the room. + +"God grant it!" repeated _Heinrich_; and his breath came quickly and +anxiously as he read: + + +"Your Excellency,--In reply to your highly esteemed favor of the 15th, +I have the honor to say that I must positively reject the denunciation +it contains against our reverend brother in Christ, Father Severinus: +namely, that without my knowledge he had secretly fled with a young and +beautiful lady, and kept her concealed for several months against her +will. Father Severinus is a pattern to the whole order for humble +obedience and the strictest devotion to all. No false appearances can +render his blameless and immovable purity suspicions in our eyes. His +relation to that lady is one well pleasing to God and the order, and +his course has my entire approval. This I must permit myself to say in +correction of your Excellency's erroneous suspicion. + +"I have no right to inform your Excellency of the residence of Father +Severinus and the lady in question until your Excellency has given us +the most satisfactory proofs of your right to the possession of the +young lady's person. + +"With all due respect to your Excellency, etc., + + "Father R---- + +"_General of the Holy Congregation of the Fathers of Jesus_. + +"Rome, -- 20, 18--." + + +_Heinrich_ sank upon the sofa with the paper in his hand. "This failed +too! All, all in vain!" he murmured, crushing the letter convulsively +in his clinched fingers. "What is to be done now? Shall I give notice +to the embassies of every country? Shall I add to this consuming +anguish the disgrace that I am pursuing an adventuress, who is rambling +about with a Jesuit? Cornelia! Cornelia! Have these pious fathers or +have you obtained so much mastery over yourself that you can inflict +this upon me? It is not possible that they have subdued your free +will. You are not one of these natures which allow themselves to +be ruled. You have done the most difficult, the most unprecedented +thing,--conquered me and yourself in a moment when passion was most +aroused. You would not suffer the arts of these men to obtain dominion +over you! Noble, wonderful woman! By what cords do you hold me that I +will go to utter ruin rather than forget you?" + +He rested his head wearily upon his hand. His whole life passed before +him. He thought of all the unhappy creatures who had clung to him with +the same ardor he now felt for Cornelia, and been repulsed as he was +now by her. Again Ottilie's image rose before him. The sorrow gnawing +at his heart made him for the first time understand the tortures she so +silently, so patiently, bore for him, and for the first time he +experienced the true human sympathy he had never felt while grief was +unknown to him. "Poor Ottilie! We are now companions in suffering!" + +A low knocking roused him from his gloomy thoughts. It was his private +secretary, to ask whether Ottmar had prepared the dispatch for the +court of R----. "Oh! good heavens, no!" he exclaimed, in great +impatience, and sat down to finish it. Thrice he began, erased the +words, and then flung the pen aside with a sigh of the bitterest +despondency. "I am not in the mood," he said, at last. "My head aches +too violently. I cannot give myself up to work now." + +"Allow me to remind your Excellency that you will be expected at the +council of ministers at twelve o'clock," said the young man, timidly. + +"You are right: thanks! Remind me of it again at eleven." + +With the most painful effort of self-control he applied himself to the +preparation of the document, and then hurried away to dress. + +"Your Excellency ought to get a long leave of absence," said Anton, as +he assisted him to make his toilet. "You cannot live on so." + +"Very likely, Anton. It is an existence which is becoming more and more +unendurable to me. But I cannot take a leave now. I must either +disappear from the scene entirely or remain at my post." + +He left the room with a slow step and drooping head. Anton looked after +him sadly. "Poor master! It must have been bad news again. No doubt the +young lady has good cause for her acts; but I pity him, for he never +loved so before." + +A few hours afterward the prince entered his wife's apartments. "My +dear Ottilie, I must entreat you to grant me a favor. You did not wish +to see any one on account of your indisposition, but I beseech you to +make one exception." + +"It shall be as you wish, Alfred," said Ottilie, in a faint voice. + +She was reclining upon a couch under an arbor of dense exotic plants, +which made one forget the cold, wintry landscape without. The prince +took a chair and sat down beside her. "The matter concerns Ottmar," he +began, breaking a withered leaf from a gum-tree, and thus not observing +how Ottilie started. "I do not know what I am to do with the man. +Something is wrong with him; I cannot discover what. He seems entirely +changed. The youngest attache could not make so many diplomatic +blunders as he. He brought to the council to-day the rough sketch of a +dispatch to R----, which was totally useless. He, our most talented +statesman! It is incomprehensible! He is apathetic and reserved; nay, +he even permits himself to fail in the personal respect which, as his +prince, I am entitled to demand, and whose punctilious observance has +hitherto endeared him to me. I do not think this proceeds from any +diminution in his loyalty,--he has so often assured me that I was his +only friend,--but is the result of some secret disturbance, some +physical or mental suffering. All my efforts to obtain his confidence +are fruitless, so I thought of applying to my charming wife and calling +her to my aid in this, to me, very important affair." + +"But how can I be of any assistance?" asked Ottilie, in astonishment. + +"You shall speak to him, my dear. You are mistress of the art of +assuming a condescending manner which induces people to give their +confidence freely without forgetting in whose presence they stand. I +confess that in this respect you far surpass me. You remove my +subjects' awe of the grandeur of your position, and substitute +reverence for your person. Thus you succeed in being affable without +forfeiting any portion of your dignity, and people, open their hearts +to you without overstepping the bounds prescribed by etiquette. It is a +great art, for which not only intellect and heart, but the unusual +queenliness of air that distinguishes you, are requisite." + +"But it is an 'art' which, at all events, I practice very +unconsciously," interposed Ottilie, smiling. "Yet I thank you, Alfred, +for this praise; it makes me very proud. And now I shall try to earn it +by attempting to prove my skill upon Ottmar." + +"There is no praise you have not already fully earned. But I will beg +you to subdue this reserved diplomat with your--if I may so call +it--diplomacy of the heart, and discover what is really the matter with +him." + +"But have we a right to interfere, my prince?" + +"It is not only a right, but a duty. If he merely neglected me, I would +ignore it; but he neglects the obligations of his high position, and +thereby injures the interests he ought to defend. This cannot continue, +so we must discover the cause of Ottmar's trouble and try to remove it. +If this does not succeed, then----" The prince rose with the shrug of +the shoulders he always used to express what was not yet sufficiently +decided to put into words. "At the present critical moment, when +everything is crowding upon us, we need men who are thoroughly in +earnest, and will hold the reins with a firm hand," said he, continuing +his interrupted chain of ideas. "It is no time for personal +considerations and indulgent delays. Every moment brings and demands +important decisions, which should not be permitted to suffer from the +absence of mind of any individual. There must be a change soon. I +cannot lecture him like a school-boy, but you can say many things as a +proof of friendly sympathy, which, from my lips, would sound like an +implied reproach." + +"I will try; although I do not expect much from the interview. I can +scarcely flatter myself that I shall be able to win from him what he +withholds from you, and perhaps the secret may be of such a nature that +he cannot confide it to us. Perhaps--he has some love-sorrow." + +"Oh, my dear! Would a polished man of the world, a thorough diplomat, +give himself up to such sentimentality?" + +The glance that Ottilie cast at the prince had a shade of compassionate +contempt. "You call it sentimentality because you have never felt the +power of a passionate emotion. You must consider that the moderation +inculcated into the minds of royal personages, that they may be able to +rule themselves and others, is an almost exclusive prerogative of their +rank, which no one else shares----" + +"Except the priests," interposed the prince. + +"You are right. But Ottmar does not belong to that class, but to one of +great privileges and few duties, who are accustomed to drop the reins +of self-control; and these men often lack all support against their +passions. I have already told you that I do not consider Ottmar a +genuine diplomat. He has talent, and will therefore for a time +skillfully accomplish whatever he undertakes, but he is far too great +an enthusiast to be a good statesman. For this he lacks calmness, +firmness of conviction, perseverance in labor, and sooner or later the +contradiction between his nature and his profession must appear." + +"Lord C---- made the same remark about him several years ago. Your +knowledge of human nature shows itself more and more, and I daily +perceive with gratitude what wise counsels I am always sure of +receiving from you. Then you will make the sacrifice for me, and speak +to Ottmar?" + +"I should be deserving of great blame if I refused my husband's +request. Under what pretext do you wish the interview to take place?" + +"I think we will give a family dinner to-morrow, and invite him to it. +Do you feel well enough for such an effort? In my opinion, it would be +the most fitting opportunity." + +"I agree with you, and think my strength will enable me to do the +honors." + +"I thank you in advance, my dearest, and hope I have not imposed any +very disagreeable task upon you." + +"On the contrary, I so rarely have the happiness of being permitted to +do you a favor, that I----" + +"Oh, do not say so; your whole life is a succession of kindnesses and +self-sacrificing amiability towards me. How ignoble it would be for me +to require more than you voluntarily bestow! Pray take care of +yourself; the anxiety you feel is felt for me. Au revoir." He pressed a +hasty kiss upon Ottilie's small white hand and left the room. + +Ottilie looked after him quietly. Not a feature in her pale face +altered. She gratefully perceived that the prince tried to give her at +least civility, even deference; instead of love. She had never asked +more; and now it was easier than ever to resign it. She was no longer +solitary, the life that stirred under her heart filled her with +blissful promises of an infinite love never known before. This new and +cheering emotion aided her to bear more resolutely than before even the +thought of being again thrown into Ottmar's society. The outward world +passed by her like a dream: there was but one reality to her,--the +approaching fulfillment of her mission as a woman; all her powers were +exerted for this great end, and peace brooded over her soul. + +Thus, on the following day, she met Ottmar. The strength of her soul +conquered her physical weakness; and when the dinner was over and the +prince was conversing with the other guests, she calmly approached +Ottmar with an air of quiet dignity. + +"The prince has commissioned me to speak to you, count," she whispered, +almost inaudibly. + +"His Highness?" asked _Heinrich_, in astonishment. + +"Yes; but I do not do so in his name, but my own. We are anxious about +you, for we both see that you are suffering. Your manner reveals it to +me, while he notices the change by the decreasing interest you take in +your business." + +"I know it!" exclaimed _Heinrich_. + +"He now wishes to obtain some explanation through me; he hopes you will +be more open than with him; but fear nothing, I shall not degrade +myself to become a spy upon you; nor should I need to do so, for I know +the cause of your anguish, and shall guard it as a sacred secret. Yet I +consented to the conversation the prince desired because I believed the +wish to be a sign from God. Besides, I wanted to speak to you once more +about some of the last events in your life; perhaps I may finally +produce some good result." + +_Heinrich_ gazed at her in the greatest astonishment. + +"Will you permit a friend of many years' standing to meddle with your +secrets? Will you trust me?" she asked, with all her former winning +grace. + +"Oh, my princess!" cried _Heinrich_, in delight. "How long it is since +you have bestowed any such words upon me! how your returning favor +soothes and cheers me!" + +"God is my witness that my favor was never withdrawn from you, count." +She raised her sparkling blue eyes, and her lips parted to say more; +then she recollected herself: her lids drooped again, and she was +silent. After a pause she began, in an altered tone, "The prince wishes +through me to learn the cause of the change in you, that he may help +you; but I can aid you without telling him your secret, and thus save +both, and betray no one. Is that right?" + +"Perfectly! But, my beloved, noble princess, how can you help me?" + +"You have been deserted by the young girl you loved. Is it not so?" + +"Yes, yes; but how do you know?" + +"The unhappy fate that has come between you is a secret to me, and one +I do not wish to fathom. The fault, my friend,--pardon my usual +frankness,--must be with you; for I know her, and will answer for it +that you were loved with a rare, pure, and fervent affection." + +"Oh, your Highness, you cut me to the heart!" + +"I must do so, count, if I am to be of use to you; and this is the only +occasion upon which I can. That you love Cornelia Erwing with the first +real passion of your life I see by the deep sorrow expressed in your +outward appearance, as well as your acts and conduct; and I hail this +mood with joy, count, as the gloomy twilight which precedes the dawn of +a new day." + +"Princess, you do not know what I suffer. If I ever sinned against a +noble heart, I am now making bitter atonement. Pity me; do not triumph +in my anguish." + +"Oh, how greatly you misunderstand me, count I triumph in your anguish! +May God keep me from such a thought! I rejoice because your sorrows are +a proof of a salutary change in your heart! I rejoice that you love +deeply, truly, sadly; because I hope to be able to restore that to +which your heart clings so loyally!" + +"Could you do so, your Highness?" whispered _Heinrich_, his eyes +sparkling with new life. + +"Cornelia Erwing conceals her residence from you. Have you searched for +her?" + +"I have summoned the police of the whole country to my aid, left no +means untried, but all in vain." + +"Why did you do that?" + +"Why?" asked Ottmar, in astonishment. "Because I wished to win her, to +have her again." + +"And will you permit me to ask one more bold question? If you did +succeed in winning her again, what would be her fate?" + +Ottmar drew back a step in astonishment and looked doubtfully at +Ottilie. Should he tell her? was she strong enough to hear it? should +he confess the resolution which, during months of agony and exhausting +struggle, had obtained such a powerful influence over him that it +governed his whole character and conduct? + +"Would you make Cornelia Erwing your wife?" + +"Your Highness!" + +"If this is the case, I am ready, on my own responsibility, to tell you +her present residence." + +"Noble, royal soul!" murmured Ottmar, involuntarily. "Well, then, yes. +Learn what no one else respects, that I, whom you have so often +reproached for my heartlessness, am subdued by a passion stronger than +my selfishness, stronger than everything, for I feel I could give up my +life rather than this girl, who has become so great a necessity to my +mind and heart. For weeks a letter imploring her hand has been lying in +my portfolio, but I can find no means of sending it to her, and am +almost in despair. Have compassion upon me. If you--ever"--he +hesitated--"ever felt for any one what I now feel for this cruel girl, +you will know how heavily I am punished." + +Ottilie would gladly have extended her hand to him; but etiquette must +not be offended in the prince's presence. She turned, so that the rest +of the company could not see her face, and looked at Heinrich with an +inexpressibly loving expression. The old melancholy, yet happy, smile +played around her lips, while tear after tear rolled down her pale +cheeks. + +"You see, my dear, dear friend, I can really do something for you. +Cornelia is now living Rome, and as soon as the company have been +dismissed I will send you her address." + +"Oh, God, how do I deserve the favor of such a woman? Your Highness, +how shall I thank you?" + +"Make Cornelia Erwing happy; this is the best gratitude I can ask, for +it will be the warrant of your own welfare." + +"Ah, if I might fall at your feet and kiss the hem of your garments! +No, you are no creature of earth!" + +Ottilie involuntarily pressed her hand upon her heart, and thought, +"Who knows how soon he may be right!" + +"Do you believe I can succeed in moving the heart of this wonderful, +resolute girl?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"Certainly, for I am sure Cornelia still loves you." + +"Did she tell you so in her letter?" + +"No; but I know how you were beloved, and therefore cannot be +forgotten. Besides, she only wrote to me once that I might know what +had become of her, if I should send for her and hear she had gone away. +She lamented that an unfortunate misunderstanding compelled her to part +from you, and begged me to preserve the strictest silence in regard to +her residence that you might not be able to take any steps to shake +this resolution, which was necessary for the sake of both. I gave the +promise and said nothing; but now I should think it wrong if I did not +contribute, as far as I am able, to reunite two such hearts. I had long +doubted whether any such woman as you need existed; but I recognized +Cornelia as the person whom, in imagination, I had destined for you; +therefore she must belong to you. Do you remember the evening I +predicted that you would feel a new, great love? It has now entered +your heart, and, by the goodness of God, I am permitted to show you the +way to the woman in whom the happiness of your life will bloom. My +prophecy is fulfilled, my mission to watch over your salvation +completed." Tears again glittered in her eyes as she uttered the words, +"May blessing and peace be with you both! Farewell." + +As soon as the prince saw Ottilie's farewell bow, he approached +_Heinrich_, and, after doing the honors to the company a short time +longer, the noble pair withdrew. The prince supported his wife with a +strong arm, for she tottered as she left the room. + +Ottmar had scarcely reached home when Ottilie's groom of the chambers +brought him a sealed envelope. It contained Cornelia's address, written +with an unsteady hand. + + +_Heinrich_ immediately sent a proposal of marriage to Cornelia, +overflowing with the ardor of unrestrained passion and the most +sincere, humble repentance. Great as was his sense of what he had lost +in her, it was equaled by his self-accusation, his impetuous pleading +for her pardon, her hand; and the whole letter bore the impress of +spiritual purification and bitter, heart-felt remorse. A few days after +Cornelia's answer arrived. + + + "Rome, February, 18--. + +"You ask for my hand, Heinrich. I have read the words with tears of +grateful surprise. You bear a beautiful and noble testimony, both to +yourself and me; and in spirit I fall upon my knees before you, and +implore your pardon for the reproaches and upbraidings hurled at your +dear head on that terrible evening of our parting. Your letter reveals +all the wealth of your deep heart, and shows me that you undervalued +yourself when you wished to commit a deed so unworthy of you. Forgive +me that I too then believed you worse than you are. I thank God for the +merciful kindness with which he restored my only treasure, esteem for +you; for nothing humiliates a woman more deeply than to feel affection +for a man she must despise. I frankly confess, Heinrich, that I could +not cease to love you, even for a moment, that I was torn by the most +torturing struggle between heart and my consciousness of right. Now, +since I have, received your letter and know you deserve my love, I am +once more at peace with myself. I write this that you may not think me +prompted by anger or bitterness when I refuse your hand. My eyes grow +dim at the sight of these cruel words, the fingers that guide the pen +are paralyzed; I must pause a moment and collect my thoughts. + +"I cannot become your wife after what has passed between us,--I dare +not. You have wounded my womanly honor too deeply, shown with too +little consideration what a great sacrifice you would make if you +raised me to the position of your wife, for me to be able to reconcile +my conscience or my pride to its acceptance. I cannot belong to a man +who found me in a station so far below him that he thought he could +degrade me to the lowest ignominy; although a nobler emotion or an +unconquerable affection afterwards leads him to atone for the wrong. I +should always fear that, according to the opinions you have often +declared, you would consider your marriage with me a mesalliance. +Besides, you have described my position as the plebeian wife of Count +Ottmar too clearly and distinctly for me not to shrink from the picture +with dread and horror; while even if I could myself suffer the +humiliations the pride of your aristocratic circle would prepare, I +could not bear that you, as my husband, should be compelled to share +them with me; for even if your love at first helped you to endure them, +they would only too soon stifle it. There would be a perpetual conflict +between your heart and the prejudices the world in which you live has +stamped upon you. This must banish peace from your breast, and sooner +or later make you as miserable as before. Love would yield, and +prejudice conquer, for society would neglect no opportunity of bringing +new and painful proofs of the justice of its views before your eyes, +and then what would be left me in return for all the humiliations I had +suffered? Your scorn! Oh, I was foolish ever to permit myself to be so +blinded as to believe that happiness for yourself or me could ever be +expected to result from a marriage with Count Ottmar! The extent of my +folly you first taught me to know in that hour of agony. Do not rebuke +the application I have made of your lessons as exaggerated. It might, +perhaps, be so in regard to a man who stood further above the views and +demands of a narrow-minded circle than you. But with you, Heinrich, it +is the direct result of your whole character. You are far too much +fettered by the ideas of those who surround you, cling too closely to +the false lustre of brilliant positions, accidental aristocratic +prerogatives, and personal distinction, to long retain your love for a +woman who would constantly inflict the most painful wounds upon your +aristocratic vanity. Believe me, love has no worse enemy than doubt of +the equality of its chosen object; and even if you thought me worthy of +you in intellect, the inferiority of my birth, and the want of esteem +shown by society, would weigh heavily against me. You must become +another man for me to accept your hand; and--forgive me if I am +harsh--your letter gave me no proof of this, although it revealed a +depth of feeling for which, since our separation, I had not given you +credit. But you are and will remain the minister, Count Ottmar, the +court favorite; I can only make him unhappy, as he would me. If you +were once more yourself, Heinrich von Ottmar, my Heinrich, who has +nothing in common with that unprincipled aristocracy,--if you openly +acknowledged what I taught you, what I believe requisite to true manly +dignity and greatness,--then, then you should learn how I love you. +Count Ottmar, who wished to inflict such disgrace upon me, I do not +love, and have sworn never to marry. Farewell! For your happiness and +my own I must avoid you, and leave it to God whether and how he dispose +your heart towards me. If your love is more than the obstinacy of a +passion irritated by resistance, it will unite with your better self +and make you a new man, will remove from our path the obstacles that +separate us, and upon the open way will find me once more; of that you +may be assured. But if it has not the strength to do all this, it would +in the end only make both you and myself miserable,--thrice as +miserable as we are now. + +"When you receive this letter, I shall have left Rome for another place +of residence. Do not try to seek me: you will not find me. Do not call +me 'cruel'; in these lines you see only the victory I have obtained +over myself, but not my anguish, my tears. Beloved, I extend my arms to +you, and would fain press you to my aching heart, but only the cold +phantom of womanly duty and honor bends toward me, and breathes an icy +kiss on my burning lips. Oh, it is hard to be cast off by one you love, +and compelled to renounce your most ardent desire! But, Heinrich, it is +still harder to reject him yourself, and voluntarily resign that for +which you long. These, Heinrich, are superhuman victories, and they +strip all blossoms of youth from the heart; but it is better to lose +them than reap the envenomed fruit of eternal remorse. May God keep his +gentle, fatherly hand over you! He can still lead you to happiness, and +he alone. + + "Cornelia Erwing." + + +It was morning when _Heinrich_ read and re-read this letter, until a +sorrow never imagined before made the words swim before his eyes, and +lay like a weight upon his chest, until, with a half-stifled cry of +agony, he bent his head upon the sheet lying before him. He started as +if bewildered, when Anton suddenly appeared, and informed him that a +message had come, summoning him to go to the palace as soon as +possible. + +A few hours after, the bells rang, the cannon thundered, and the +populace shouted with joy, for in the palace a new-born child, a +prince, lay in a golden cradle. The hope of the country, whose +fulfillment slumbered in that little heart, stood by its side uttering +a benediction, and the promise of a great future encircled the baby +brow with an invisible crown. + +But beside him a precious life was struggling silently and +uncomplainingly with death. Ottilie had fulfilled her last and highest +task, but it had exhausted the remnant of her strength. She felt that +her pulse had but a few more throbs, her breast would rise and fall +only a few more times, and, gazing gently and submissively around the +circle, Said, "Give me my son,"--took him from the arms of the prince +and pressed him closely to her heart. "Oh, God! what do I need more +than the happiness of this moment?" Yet a tear fell from her glazing +eyes as she kissed the little one and softly whispered, "You are so +sweet, so dear! Oh, it must be an immeasurable delight to cradle such a +child in one's arms, protect, foster, and watch the awakening of its +slumbering powers! It is not allotted to me. I must leave you and give +you up to your father. May his soul open itself to _you_! may you +become the innocent mediator between him and his poor people!" She +pressed the boy more and more feebly to her breast. "Farewell! it +grieves me to leave you,--grieves me deeply. Yours was the only heart +an which I relied. But I will not complain. I have _borne_ you,--this, +too, is a mercy from God, and with a kiss upon your rosy lips it is +sweet to die." The child fell from her arm, and her head sank back. + +"She is asleep," said the prince, dismissing the bystanders, that he +might not be compelled to show any grief. + +That evening the bells rang out another peal, and thousands wept aloud +under the brilliantly-lighted windows of the palace, for behind them, +on a black-draped bed of state, lay the beautiful corpse of the +princess, and her people's love stretched its arms towards her in vain. +With her the last bond that bound the sympathies of the masses to the +throne was sundered, and in the child-like ideas of the nation, +Ottilie's glorified spirit rose from her death-bed as that of a saint, +a martyr, who had vainly struggled and suffered to the end. She hovered +above the mourning country in a halo of glory and grief, and despair +transformed the angel of peace into a goddess of freedom, who with a +mighty power revealed to their oppressed hearts the consciousness of +their crushed rights. + + + + + XXI. + + SPRING STORM. + + +The political atmosphere constantly grew darker and more threatening. +Throngs of people had streamed from all the provinces to attend +Ottilie's funeral, all with the same sorrow, the same rancor; and, +after the obsequies were over, they assembled for consultations of the +most serious nature, and these consultations resulted in resolutions. +Unions were formed and dissolved, deputations sent and dismissed, the +press rose and was suppressed. The evidences of the advancing movement +became more and more decided, the measures of the government yet more +stringent. + +Suddenly a shout rang through the whole country. + +"Count Ottmar has formed an opposition in the ministry! Count Ottmar +has declared for the constitution!" The news ran like wildfire. Ottmar, +who had been so long hated as the enemy of all progress, the powerful +favorite of the prince, suddenly threw influence, position, and +authority into the wavering scale, and acknowledged before the world +the cause against which he had so long battled. No one took time to +question the motive of this sudden change; enough that it was so, it +was help in the hour of the utmost need; and new courage animated the +elastic minds of the people. Ottmar was now the centre of universal +attention; the last hope was bound up in him. This consciousness gave +him a dignity which pervaded his whole character. He was once more the +old Ottmar, who strode on haughtily erect, in triumph; but another and +a nobler triumph was now depicted in his sparkling eyes, his lofty +bearing; it was not the victory of subtle arts over the hearts of +feeble women, credulous princes, and less gifted diplomats; but the +conquest of a manly action upon minds, and the pride of an honest +purpose in lieu of treacherous fascinations. + +He was animated with new life. The conflict between his principles and +his course of action, as well as that between his love and his career, +which Cornelia so greatly feared, had arisen; and although the first +impulse to his new deeds, as in the case of Albert's liberation, had +been merely the selfish desire to enter the path upon which he might +hope to find Cornelia, he again felt with great satisfaction the +blessing of his good action. + +There is scarcely any soil more favorable for the efforts of man than +to represent a nation, be it in whatever form it may, none in which the +noblest and purest philanthropy can be better developed; but there is +also none from which personal vanity reaps a more abundant harvest. +Cornelia knew this, and therefore had sought to lead Ottmar into this +career. Vanity was the tie by which she endeavored to unite the egotist +to a great cause, until its own nature could enter into him and raise +him above himself. The moment had now arrived when her expectation +began to prove itself correct. _Heinrich_ found himself obtaining an +importance in the eyes of the whole country, which he had hitherto +possessed only within the narrow circle of the court; saw himself +beloved where he had formerly been hated; surrounded with shouts of +joy, instead of having men shrink from him in fear, and he would have +been unnatural if it had not both flattered him and stirred the silent +chords of benevolence within him. Thus the way was opened which he must +follow if his opposition in the ministry succumbed, and he sacrificed +the portfolio to his new confession of faith. + +"Cornelia, wonderful woman, what have you made me?" he said to himself +a hundred times, while his breast heaved with a sigh of longing. He +pressed his hand upon his heart, which he felt more and more to be the +centre of gravity of his nature; where the head whose lofty ideas had +given him new life had so often rested and thought. "When shall I hide +you here again? When, after all these tumultuous conflicts, shall I +hold quiet, blissful intercourse with you? When will your sparkling +eyes rest lovingly upon me, and say, I am satisfied with you, +Heinrich'?" + +Weeks elapsed, and the people still hoped, while Ottmar saw the +catastrophe he expected approach nearer and nearer,--for he knew the +situation of affairs too well to believe for a moment that his +opposition would effect anything more than to give him the confidence +he needed for his new career, and make his change of opinion easier. He +was not mistaken. From the moment he acknowledged his real views he was +excluded from all personal intercourse with the prince, and the +majority in the ministry was against him. The prince, calm and +immovable in his convictions, did not suspect that in Ottmar alone lay +the pledge of his security; his eyes, which were constantly gazing into +the obscurity of a long-buried past, did not perceive the feeling of +the nation which had assembled menacingly about the liberal minister. +But Ottmar felt this invisible power hovering around his brow with +whispers of promise, and knew that he was the real ruler of the moment; +for with him fell the last barrier that withheld the rising flood from +the steps of the throne, and with a proud smile he at last hailed his +overthrow in the ministry as the first real triumph of his life. + +"May you never be compelled by force, your Highness, to acknowledge the +spirit you now deny!" were his last words, as he left the council of +ministers. He did not suspect how soon, for the first time, he was to +know and estimate at its full power the spirit that, with scornful +menace, he had held up as a ghost before the eyes of the prince. + +On the evening of the same day the rumor that Ottmar had sent in his +resignation spread through the city, so that undoubtedly the question +of the constitution had been unfavorably decided. The streets were +deserted, but the public-houses were filled to overflowing; +conversations were carried on a low tone, and several arrests were +made. + +The next morning the newspapers confirmed the report that Count +Ottmar's resignation had been sent in and accepted; and further +remarked that the government, spite of its eagerness to accede to all +just and reasonable demands, could not suffer itself to be borne on by +the extreme views of this man, etc. + +This was too hard a blow for the newly-excited hopes of the nation. + +Ottmar himself, by his previous conduct, had unconsciously increased +its expectations to such an extent that they could only be crushed by a +terrible rebuff, but not subside peacefully. + +A nation which has long pleaded and had its most reasonable demands +rejected, its highest expectations disappointed, is a terrible power +when, with its last hope, its last fear is cast aside. Scarcely had the +news of Ottmar's withdrawal from the ministry spread abroad, when all +the machines stood still, all the looms stopped. A strange bustle began +to make itself heard in the streets. Workmen ran busily to and fro, +groups formed and separated. Crowds of men, engaged in earnest +conversation, surged up and down. Towards evening the strange +mysterious rabble, the vermin which always crawl forth when the soil of +popular order is disturbed, began to mingle with the throng. The +questions and interference of the police were answered with contempt or +a slap in the face. At last, with the gathering darkness, the aimless +tumult assumed purpose and direction; Ottmar's house was the point +towards which the pulsing life of the whole City streamed. A cheer was +raised for the discharged minister, the fallen representative of the +people. A few hasty charges from the patrol dispersed the scarcely +organized, defenceless crowd; but the result was that the following day +it assembled again, and the scene was repeated; this time with a cheer +for Ottmar and a hiss for the government. The advancing soldiers found +a part of the crowd armed, and a struggle ensued. When the first +wounded man fell a furious yell burst forth, and the resistance became +desperate, until a second detachment of mounted gendarmes dashed upon +the combatants with drawn sabres and forced them asunder. + +The first blow dealt upon such occasions opens the artery of a whole +nation, and the wild blood streams forth until strength is utterly +exhausted, and the arm yields feebly to the bandage which often only +conceals a new fetter. + +On the third day the City looked as if some public festival were being +celebrated. An inexplicable concourse of strangers thronged the +streets; the trains arrived crowded with the inhabitants of the +provinces; new bands constantly flocked to the City; the soldiers were +consigned to the barracks, the places of business closed. + +Still the demon of insurrection, imprisoned in every throbbing heart, +waited until the scattered masses obtained a definite form, and +then burst forth with all his long-repressed power; one mind in a +many-limbed, gigantic body. Roaring and shouting he rushed forward with +the wings of the storm, ever swelling and increasing, destroying all +peaceful life as he dashed along. The breezes fled before and around +him, the earth shook and whirled its stones upward to the glittering +palaces; while shattering and crashing, groaning and roaring, was the +accompanying harmony to the terrible, howling, and shouting song of +fury of the unchained revolution. + +Pale terror stared hollow-eyed at the passing desolation, while the +Nemesis of the insulted law dashed after on snorting steeds. But the +ghost of fratricide rested with paralyzing power upon the pursuers, and +unreached, unchecked, a part of the mighty crowd rushed on to the +arsenal. The guard stationed for its defense fell at the first +tremendous assault; the huge doors yielded, and with an exultant roar +of "Arms!" the combatants rushed in over the treasured emblems of +battle-traditions centuries old, to prepare for the most important +conflict--the victory of the new over the old time. + +Vengeance hastened after with lightning and thunder; and the infuriated +forces, crashing and shrieking, rushed upon each other and struggled in +the most terrible of all conflicts--the narrow, crowded battle of the +streets. Repeated volleys of artillery and new bands of soldiers at +last forced a way through the throng before the arsenal was plundered. +But, as a wave which the tempest lashes asunder always rushes together +with redoubled violence, the crowd divided and grew denser here and +there before the regular weapons of the troops. Hotter and more deadly +grew the struggle. Darkness was gradually added to the thick smoke of +the powder, which enveloped the noisy city and absorbed every ray of +light. Barricades, those terrible fortifications of the populace, +had risen, and around them the conflict raged, so that the walls +of the houses groaned and trembled, and with the last gleam of day the +last appearance of definite purpose vanished, darkness shrouded the +heated brains, and both within and without all outline of form +and plan vanished. Murder was no longer committed for the sake +of a certain object, but became the object itself. Nature asserted +her rights, not in a peaceful, normal manner, but with horrible +degeneracy,--stupefaction in the place of sleep, the delirium of fury +instead of dreams. The animal developed itself in forms of hideous +distortion, and the most dangerous madness took possession of the soul: +joy in cruelty, pleasure in destruction. Hour after hour elapsed in a +wild tumult of excesses and crimes; anarchy writhed and twisted +horribly beneath the superior force of fresh bodies of troops, clung +giddily to her bulwarks, and defended them with convulsive energy as +her last support. The struggle now became monotonous. Signals, volleys +of artillery, and fierce howls, like those of wild beasts, alternated +at regular intervals, while above them rose the notes of the +alarm-bells, and only the crash of falling barricades, the glare of +burning houses, interrupted the terrible rhythm with which the yielding +revolution was uttering its last sighs. Limb after limb began to die, +street after street became quiet. + +At last, towards morning, the over-taxed strength was exhausted, the +thirst for blood slaked. Death was gleaning in the houses where battle +had cast its mangled victims, and trembling hands were busied in +binding up wounds, while compassion and horror struggled for the +mastery. The last shot died away, the insurrection was quelled. Silence +spread over the scene the lassitude of death. Slowly the ever-patient +heavens flushed with the rosy hues of dawn, and the still reeking city +lay purple in its blood. + +Ottmar stood at the window gazing silently, now at the glowing sky and +now at the blood-stained earth. Horror had stupefied him. In the angles +of the streets soldiers, who had fallen asleep while standing in the +ranks, leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder. Now and then a +body covered with straw was borne past; pallid women stepped +noiselessly over the barricades, urged on by the courage of despair, +and crept along the streets to seek their husbands and sons; invisible +angels of death floated through the air, guided them into the right +path, and hovered around them when, in some lifeless body, they were +forced to recognize a relative. + +_Heinrich_ gazed motionless at these changing scenes of misery; but his +inmost heart was strangely stirred. The spirit of murdered freedom +celebrated in him its resurrection, built a temple in his soul, raised +its arches heavenward, and led him away from this sorrowful scene of +his former unhallowed labors to his own home, where the lists stood +open to the missionaries of national happiness, where he could obey the +call which had appealed to his conscience in the death-cry of an +ill-used country. All the frivolity and brilliancy that had formerly +charmed him was swallowed up in the streams of blood he had seen +flow,--all striving and struggling to assert his own merits vanished in +the newly-awakened consciousness of the duties devolving upon every +talented man for the development and culture of the masses. The +solemnity of the moment had seized upon him and stripped off all that +was false and superficial. He could not answer with sophisms the great +question propounded by the times; he must at last be himself again, +must acknowledge the truth, and from amidst all the horrors of +vengeance, the rushing streams of blood, once more arose in its pure +beauty the thought of the eternal rights of man he had so grievously +profaned. + + + + + XXII. + + LIGHT AND SHADOW. + + +A radiant morning sky arched over a green island which lay in the midst +of a broad, ruffled lake. Blue mountain-peaks, veiled in mist, bounded +the almost-immeasurable surface of water. Who can describe all the +changeful lights upon the tide when the young rays of the morning sun +play upon the dancing wavelets--the rising and falling, the sparkling +and flashing, the confused blending of the reflections? A fresh breeze +swept over the lake to the island and rustled the leaves of the lofty +trees; with that exception, a deep silence, a sabbath-like peace, +brooded over the scene. + +A girlish figure stood upon the shore, gazing, in a trance of delight, +at the starry shimmer of the waves, and inhaling with parted lips the +cool breath of the water; dewy leaves and blossoms kissed her floating +robes, and dragon-flies sported upon the tide at her feet. Her eyes +followed with a longing look a bird of prey which soared in a majestic +flight towards the pure, vaulted firmament. Just then the sound of the +matin-bell rang out upon the silence, and at the same moment a tall +man, in long, dark robe, appeared in the doorway of a peasant's house +near by, and, standing motionless, gazed at the slender figure, whose +marvelous proportions were sharply outlined against the sparkling lake! +"Cornelia!" he called at last. + +She turned and hurried towards him. "My dear Severinus! Oh, how happy I +am! Here the free German air blows once more; here I again hear the +rustling of German oaks and pines. Home surrounds me in this fresh, +simple nature, speaks in the familiar language, looks from the kindly +blue eyes. I live once more,--I am awake,--and what surrounds me is +charming, bright reality." + +"Have you only been dreaming while in our glorious Italy?" asked +Severinus, gravely. + +"Yes, Severinus; a beautiful, wonderful dream, but a dream after all. I +was torn from my native soil; my heart could not take root anywhere; no +dear relations with my past existed; no new ones were formed with the +present. What I saw and experienced only enriched my intellect, not my +heart; it afforded me pleasure without making me happy; occupied my +mind without obtaining any hold upon my nature. I gazed, admired, +learned, and reveled in a wealth of beauty; but I was not myself,--my +individual life had no connection with my surroundings. What is this +except a dream into which we bring nothing, and from which we take only +a memory?" + +"I had hoped you would not return so empty from a country of the +loftiest revelations. I expected your great soul would there find its +only true home, and the sorrow of finding myself mistaken shall be the +last the world can prepare for me." + +"Oh, do not talk so, Severinus, dear, pious father! Do not Look at me +so sadly; do not be so stern and bitter, but enjoy with me the blessing +of this peaceful morning. Let holy nature be the church in which our +souls can unite in adoration of our common God. See, my friend, +clearness of vision is as unavoidable a necessity to me as light and +air; in clearness of vision God shows himself to me, while you only +perceive him in mysteries. In order to see him I open my spiritual +eyes; you close yours. I receive his manifestations with sharpened, you +with artificially deadened, senses. I see him in each of these light +clouds floating over the sunny sky; you darken your churches, and +shroud yourselves in clouds of incense, that in the mysterious, +rich-hued twilight you may paint a vague, fanciful picture. His natural +and moral laws everywhere announce themselves to me in shining +characters, and I serve him by cheerful obedience to them; you collect +from the ambiguous writings of the Bible a book of church regulations, +to which you slavishly submit, and exhaust your hearts and minds the +superhuman effort of satisfying all your self-created duties." + +"I hope this is not the only result of your observation of our sublime +worship. It must be the short residence on this dull German soil which +has loosened the strings that resounded so clearly in Rome." + +"Do not cherish such a fancy, Severinus," said Cornelia, as she walked +up and down the shore with him. "The forms of your worship, as I saw +them in Rome, delighted me; nay, their grandeur and poesy aroused a +wild enthusiasm. But it was the revelation of art, not that of the +Deity, at which I gazed. All your miracles, all your lofty precepts, +proved nothing except the grandeur of the human intellect, and in this +the existence and influence of a God, which I never doubted, and which +had been just as clearly revealed to me in every creation of genius. My +God, to whom I pray in childish adoration, has remained the same; he +has come from Rome with me the same as he went. You neither +strengthened nor shook my belief; I cherish the deepest reverence for +your worship of God; it is more beautiful, more sublime, than ours; my +heart has opened to much that revealed a character of sincere piety, +but I still see in it only a transitory _form_, liable to alter with +the changes of centuries; while I bear within me the imperishable +essence, ever the same through the lapse of ages." + +"Oh, Cornelia, how I pity you!" said Severinus, as he leaned against an +oak, covering his dark eyes with his hand, while his breast rose and +fell as if he were struggling for breath. "Cornelia," he suddenly +exclaimed, encircling her forehead with both hands, "free your mind, +your godlike mind, from the clutches of this prejudice; cast aside the +arrogance of independent judgment; bend your haughty brow in obedience +to our church. Oh, if I could give you the blessing to be found in +unconditional submission,--blind faith,--I would willingly sacrifice my +life to save for the church this soul, which has no peer in human form! +Cornelia, a fiend has taken possession of you; that of pride, doubt, +indifference. He has concealed himself under the false lustre of an +abstract reverence for God, to lull your conscience to sleep, in order +that you may the more surely fall into unbelief and destruction." He +suddenly threw himself at her feet, and gazed despairingly into her +eyes. "Here I lie before you in the dust, and I plead in infinite +anguish for the precious imperiled property of Christ. The next moment +of time may perhaps decide your fate, and part us forever. Cornelia, +join our church; believe me, she alone can save you." + +"Oh, God, how hardly you try me! You wrong me, Severinus. No evil +spirit, no prejudice, guides me. Have you ever seen me arrogant? If I +were, should I not go over to you? for you have opened the most +tempting prospects to my pride; you would halt my conversion with joy, +and receive me with every kind of pomp and distinction. My self-love +would be so greatly flattered that it would far, far outweigh the +self-denial of an outward subordination to the church, while in my own +congregation no one asks about Cornelia Erwing. But I cannot thus belie +myself. Do not sadden my heart with entreaties and lamentations: +convince me, Severinus; for so long as you do not succeed in that I can +do nothing but weep, because I must grieve my best friend so deeply." + +"Convince you!" cried Severinus, starting up. "If the whole gigantic +structure of our religion, whose foundations certainly do not rest upon +air, the marvels of our worship, the words of the fathers of the +church, the historical proofs of our traditions which reach beck to the +time of the establishment of Catholicism by Peter himself, could not +convince you, there is nothing left for me to say." + +"All that, my friend, even granting that they were proofs, could not +make me forget the causes of the Reformation. The Reformation is the +mother of my faith." + +"Ah, do not utter these words in the same breath! What had your +Reformation in common with faith? Were your dry, philosophical +Melanchthon, your rough, sensual Luther, your chiding, physically +and morally starving Hutten, representatives of a religious +transformation?" + +"They were men who had the courage to appear before the hypocrisy of +your degenerate priesthood as they really were; who did not seek the +halo of sanctity in the denial of human nature, but honored God and his +wisdom in his laws. Besides, we too do not lack sainted martyrs, and +the flames that consumed a Huss branded an eternal stigma upon your +church." + +"I cannot argue with you about the means the church was permitted to +use against such apostates. I will only tell you, my child, that the +Reformation of the sixteenth century was nothing more than a secular +insurrection against abuses in the church, which unfortunately cannot +be denied. But a secular revolution can never create a religion, and +therefore Protestantism lacks the positive character the human heart +needs, and where it strives to appropriate it, becomes a monster, for +it is and remains nothing more than a--protest against Catholicism." + +"Our Reformation was not to create a religion; its purpose was merely +to free one already existing from abuse and error. Its task was to +restore Christianity to its original purity, and if it did not wholly +succeed, if in Protestantism it has only produced a transitory, +imperfect form, we still thank it for the highest blessings of +civilization, and most precious of all, that freedom of conscience +which permits the dissatisfied mind to choose its own religion." + +"And this much-praised 'freedom of conscience' leads directly to want +of principle, and becomes the destruction of all virtue, all religion!" +cried Severinus, indignantly. "The human race cannot dispense with a +positive church discipline without falling into anarchy. And in you, +Cornelia, unhappily, I have already had an opportunity to learn the +effects of this emancipation." + +"You have learned, Severinus," interrupted Cornelia, with noble pride, +"that I resisted evil with the same power with which I now repel the +flattering allurements of a church adorned with all the magic of fancy +and attraction of rites, because it is at variance with my own +convictions. Is this a want of moral discipline?" + +Severinus walked on beside Cornelia in silence. The sun had risen +higher in the heavens, and the bell for mass rang from the neighboring +convent. Severinus paused and gazed long and earnestly into Cornelia's +eyes. "Girl, does not that innocent voice fall upon your ear in tones +of touching warning, like the pleading of a mother calling to her lost +child?" + +"Do not be such a bigoted Catholic to-day, Severinus," said Cornelia, +gazing at him beseechingly. "All the joy of this earthly life is +stirring in my heart, and must I constantly argue with you about the +best means of reaching heaven? Oh, let me enjoy with a thankful soul +the rich abundance of happiness my Creator has poured out for me! Do +not cast the black shadow of your religious harshness over the sunny +picture of this day. Severinus, my dear, gloomy friend, be mild and +gentle. Look at me as kindly as you used to do. See, see, there is the +glimmer of a smile upon your face! Ah, it has already vanished again! +What a pity! Ever since the news of Ottmar's going over to the liberal +party brought me back to Germany, and filled me with the blissful +certainty of being reunited to him, you have become a different person. +When I lost him, I gained you; and now that I am to gain him once more, +I lose you. When I felt miserable and lonely, you were as loving and +patient as a father; but since I have been animated with new hope, you +have retired coldly into yourself, and you have hidden yourself behind +the walls of your work of conversion." + +"My task, Cornelia, is only to aid the afflicted; the happy do not need +me." Severinus looked silently up towards heaven. His eyes were +bloodshot; his wasted face, bronzed by the Italian sun, glowed with +fervor. + +Cornelia laid her clasped hands compassionately and beseechingly upon +his breast. "Severinus, you are suffering; I see it." + +For a moment he pressed her hands closely to his throbbing heart, then +hurled them away, with an expression of horror, and hurried off. + +Cornelia looked after him in astonishment, but did not try to follow, +for she felt that the emotion which moved him was a secret she ought +not to fathom. She turned towards the rural inn where she lodged, and +now observed for the first time that one of the artists who came to the +island to sketch was seated an a little hillock not far from the spot +where she had been pacing with Severinus, and recognized him as the +very person to whose talent she owed her first picture of Ottmar. She +approached, and he hastily concealed in his portfolio the paper upon +which he had been working. + +"You only arrived yesterday evening, and are already sketching the +scenery, Herr A----. Is it not a little hasty?" + +"I have already made myself familiar with all its details," said A----, +with evident embarrassment. "I am very much hurried, because I would +like to finish the picture in time for the exhibition at H----." + +"Then I will not detain you, but wish you all possible success. Au +revoir, Herr A----." + +"I will do myself the honor of waiting upon you at a later hour, +Fraeulein Erwing," said A----, bowing respectfully; and, as Cornelia +turned away, he drew out his sketch, and eagerly continued his work. + +Cornelia entered the public room, to ask if the newspapers had arrived. +It was full of active life. Some twenty young artists were standing +together consulting about a trip they were to take; most of them +handsome young fellows, with large beards, boldly-curved Calabrian +hats, open shirt-collars, and the general adventurous negligence of +apparel with which the young representatives of the laws of beauty seek +to remove the pedantic stiffness of modern costume. + +A general "ah!" echoed through the room at Cornelia's entrance, and a +movement took place which made the dense clouds of tobacco-smoke that +filled the low apartment whirl as if driven by the wind. The hats were +removed; the beer-glasses noiselessly set aside. All crowded around +Cornelia. + +"Fraeulein Erwing!" cried one, to whom a waving red mane and +widely-dilated nostrils gave the appearance of a lion, "we have at last +caught you without your black guardian! You must yield to superior +force, and let us steal your face. We are a terrible band of robbers, +and a person for whom we once lay snares does not escape us so easily." + +"Yes, but we must first have a fight, to decide which of us she will +allow to paint her," said another, waving a staff in the air. + +"Fraeulein Erwing," cried a little black-bearded Pole, with a shrill +accent, "I will shoot the first man to whom you sit!" + +"That is not necessary," growled he of the lion's mane; "we will all +paint her at once!" + +"Yes, yes!" cried many voices at the same moment. "That's a good idea! +We will all paint her at once!" + +"That is, if I will sit to you," laughed Cornelia, "for I have not yet +resigned all right of ownership in my own face, gentlemen." + +"Fraeulein Erwing," began the man of the lion's mane, with great pathos, +"we do not know in what branch of Christian duty your reverend father +instructs you, but he has certainly taught you that our advantages are +only bestowed upon us that we may make them available for the profit +and welfare of others; so you will perceive that it is your duty to pay +the debt you owe Providence for your face, by using it to aid the +development of youthful talent." + +"Yes!" cried another; "you could not justify yourself before God if you +displayed such a wealth of beauty to idle gazers, and grudgingly +refused the struggling artist permission to use and perpetuate its +lines in an inspired creation." + +"You would make me unconscionably vain, gentlemen," said Cornelia, "if +the fame of being the most beautiful on this little island were not so +cheaply purchased." + +A general "Oh, oh!" expressed the indignation of the enthusiastic +artists at this modesty, and a torrent of eager protestations +threatened to follow; but Cornelia cut them short by exclaiming, gayly, +"Well, well, if you can make me of any use for a picture, I will give +you a sitting; but one only, and at the utmost two hours long. So, +whoever wants to paint me must take advantage of the opportunity." + +"That is excellent!" they all cried, joyously. "It's a very short time, +to be sure, but we'll see about the rest. But when may we draw you?" + +"Whenever you choose, gentlemen. Perhaps the best time would be now!" + +"Yes, yes; we will take her at her word," said one of the older ones of +the party. "It shall be done now; and when the two hours are over, +Fraeulein Erwing shall see the sketches, and decide which of us she +considers worthy the honor of another sitting for the completion of her +picture." + +"But our excursion," said a tall lad, whose whole vitality seemed to +have run into an immense length of limb. "Shall we defer our +excursion?" + +"Let your chicken legs take you where you like, man," thundered he of +the lion's mane; "but don't say you are an artist, if you talk about +excursions while our eyes are permitted a glimpse into the holy of +holies of beauty." + +"Let him go!" cried another. "He can't help it; all his vital functions +are expended in the use of his feet. It will be one the less to take up +the room; there are twenty-three of us without him. The number is still +too large. I scarcely believe that there were ever so many assembled on +the island at one time before." + +A long debate now followed concerning the place where they should +sketch Cornelia, while the latter had meantime obtained possession of +the newspaper, and was reading it in breathless suspense. Suddenly she +started. She had found what she sought,--Ottmar's name as a candidate +for the H---- Chambers. Her face was suffused with a rosy flush of joy, +and her eyes sparkled as she laid the sheet aside and turned towards +the artists, who were disputing violently because some thought it too +hot out of doors, and others considered the room too small. + +"Gentlemen," she cried gayly, "peace is the first condition I shall +impose if I am to sit for you. We will go out into the open air and +look for some shady spot; if you all want to paint me at the same time, +we shall certainly need more room than there is here." + +The proposal was accepted, and the whole party went out with Cornelia. +On a lofty part of the shore, not far from the inn, was a large open +space surrounded with lofty trees, beneath which stood wooden benches +and tables, and where, in spite of the heat, it was cool and pleasant. +The eye could wander undazzled over the rippling lake and the beautiful +island, which rested on the waters like a large green leaf. The light +surges gently rocked the boats fastened near by; in one of them, under +the spreading branches of an ancient linden, a peasant lad was extended +sleeping comfortably, undisturbed by the loud bustle of the approaching +artists. It seemed as if all nature was slumbering in her sunny +noontide brightness. + +"Well, gentlemen," exclaimed Cornelia, "is it not delightful here? Have +we not shade, fresh breezes, and comfort?" + +"Yes, yes," cried the artists in one breath; "we will stay here. Out +with the portfolios, and let every one take his place and go to work!" + +They buzzed about Cornelia like a swarm of bees which are about to +settle and fly from one spot to another, now alighting, now rising +again, now dispersing, and anon collecting at the same point, scuffling +with each other about places, and filling the inexperienced observer +with anxiety lest they should never get established. Such were the +preparations of the artists at the beginning of their work. Here +several were disputing about the profile, yonder a group wished to sit +opposite to her, not unfrequently a slight skirmish decided the matter, +and those who did not succeed in conquering a place climbed up into the +trees and established themselves and their portfolios among the +branches. + +"We must form the narrowest possible semicircle," advised he of the +lion's mane, who, as the possessor of the strongest lungs in the +company, undertook the duty of organizing the party, in which, by means +of a great expenditure of voice and unwearied energy, he at last +succeeded; and when, with the aid of the trees, a half-circle was +formed in the shape of an amphitheatre whose extremities could not even +obtain a full profile, but merely a portion of the cheek and ear, the +zealous artist first perceived that he had completely excluded himself. +His nostrils dilated to an unprecedented size as his large eyes +wandered around the circle, while his broad freckled hands were thrust +helplessly through his unkempt mane. A shrill peal of laughter echoed +jeeringly from the circle and the trees, "Richard C[oe]ur de Lion has +no place!" + +"Be calm, Richard," cried one; "we will get you into the exhibition +after all. We'll paint Fraeulein Erwing as the lion's bride, and you as +the monster!" + +"Jeer away, you mocking-birds!" he thundered. "Because I am an artist, +I thought more of the subject than myself, and I'll show you what an +artist can do. I'll paint a neck and heir such as the world never yet +saw!" and with these words he strode majestically on, seated himself +behind Cornelia, and began to work with the must grotesque movements. + +Silence now reigned while the three-and-twenty artists struggled in the +greatest possible haste to perpetuate her features. + +Cornelia had watched the tumult absently; her thoughts were wandering +far away, and the stillness that ensued was most welcome. She could +give herself up to her dreams undisturbed. "She is marvelously +beautiful!" suddenly cried one of the younger artists from his perch in +the tree. Universal applause answered this naive expression of delight. +"The birds in the trees are singing your praises, Fraeulein Erwing!" +cried another. "Doesn't that flatter you?" + +"Oh, certainly," she answered, smiling as indifferently as if she had +not understood the compliment paid her. + +"The best likeness will flatter her most," growled Richard C[oe]ur de +Lion from behind Cornelia. "Express your admiration by work instead of +words, and she will value it more." + +"Well growled, lion!" said the young enthusiast in the tree. + +"Go on the stage and declaim verses; you are more fit for an actor than +an artist," exclaimed Richard, without having the slightest suspicion +that he was himself in his appearance the most theatrical of all; for +naturalness, when carried too far, becomes as great a caricature as +affectation, and the stage is certainly the home of caricatured forms. + +"Come, gentlemen," cried Cornelia, laughing; "the time you spend in +disputing you will lose in work; for I must tell you that I will not +sit a moment longer than the two hours agreed upon! It is altogether +too uncomfortable to endure the gaze of three-and-twenty pairs of +eyes." + +This threat re-established peace; for the artists once more devoted all +their energy to their work, and henceforth nothing was heard but the +wondering exclamations of several country people who stationed +themselves here and there on the outskirts of the shaded spot to gaze +at a proceeding utterly incomprehensible to them. The time agreed upon +passed away, and Cornelia rose. Neither grumbling nor entreaties +availed; she kept resolutely to her determination. The sketches were +laid before her, and as she looked at them in succession she burst into +a merry laugh. She saw her own face taken from some twenty different +stand-points. "Dear me, can I be like all these?" she exclaimed, +clasping her hands in astonishment. "If I ever knew how I looked, I +should not from this day! Who can decide which of these many faces is +mine? If this is, of course that can't be; and if this profile taken +from the right is a good likeness, how can the one sketched from the +left resemble me? The right side of my face must be entirely different +from the left,--and that would be horribly abnormal. According to these +profile views I should have two kinds of eyes, eyebrows, cheeks; nay, +even my nose would consist of two dissimilar halves. Now, can you +dispute this, gentlemen?" + +The artists themselves could not help laughing as they looked at their +pictures. + +"Now you will get an idea of the variety and abundance of beauty your +features possess, Fraeulein Erwing," said one of the oldest of the +group. "When compared with you the majority of the sketches seem +passable likenesses, although so different from each other that one +would almost doubt whether they all represented the same face." + +"A very pretty compliment to me--and an admirable defense of your +colleagues," said Cornelia, courteously. + +"But, Fraeulein Erwing," cried another; "you have not yet noticed a +picture which is at all events unique in its way; and our C[oe]ur de +Lion, with unusual modesty, has already been waiting a long time for +your opinion." + +He handed Richard's drawing to Cornelia, and all gazed at it in +astonishment, for it was a master-piece. A woman's upraised head, +adorned with a wealth of hair so boldly drawn that one felt tempted to +pass it through the fingers. A few curls which had escaped from the +braids fell upon a most beautiful neck. Cornelia looked at the sheet in +amazement. "You are indeed an artist," said she, fixing her large eyes +with winning kindness upon Richard's rugged face. He blushed to the +roots of his tawny hair with delight. "Fraeulein Erwing," he exclaimed, +"no praise ever made me so proud!" + +"Yes, yes, C[oe]ur de Lion, Fraeulein Erwing is right," said several of +the group; "this hair and neck irresistibly tempt the beholder to turn +the head and see the face, which is concealed from us. You have +produced a master-piece." + +"If you go on so much longer, he'll get so vain that he will comb his +hair to-morrow. Just see! he is running his fingers through his mane!" +said others, laughing. + +"Well," exclaimed the rest, "we will hope that at the exhibition +Fraeulein Erwing's features will yet win the victory over the beauty of +her hair." + +Thus each was cheered by the conviction that he alone would obtain the +prize. + +"So you will not sit longer to any of us?" asked Richard, as he placed +his sketch in his portfolio. + +"No, gentlemen. I was in the mood to enter into your jest; but if you +ask me in earnest, I must tell you that it would not be at all +agreeable to me to expose my face to the eyes of the whole public. I am +both too proud and too modest." + +"Is this your final decision?" + +"It is irrevocable," said Cornelia, with courteous resolution. + +"Well, we will not be ungrateful. In these two hours we have at least +fixed the outlines of your features," said one of the quieter members +of the party. + +But the others would not yield at once, and began to plead again. + +"If you understood the spirit that animates these features, you would +beg no longer, for you would know it to be vain," cried Richard, with +his usual artless pathos. Then he held out his hand to Cornelia and +continued: "I should probably have the best right to entreat you for +another sitting, since I was so great a loser; but I will not ask it +after what you have just said." + +"I thank you for your delicacy of feeling, Herr Richard," replied +Cornelia, with unconcealed admiration. "You may be assured that if I +sat to any of these gentlemen it would be to you; yet if you understand +the reason of my refusal, you will not be angry if I make no exception, +even in your favor." + +Richard buried Cornelia's hand in his prickly beard to press a kiss +upon it. "Angry with you? Who that had the heart of a true artist could +be? For, although we are not permitted to make portraits of you, we +still owe you thanks for a type of beauty which will be of service to +us all." + +"Yes, yes; he is right," they all assented. "You have not only enriched +our eyes, but our imaginations! Long live Cornelia Erwing! Hurrah!" + +At that moment the sound of the dinner-hell echoed from the inn, and at +the same instant Severinus's black-robed figure appeared, coming from +the neighboring convent. The artists wiped the perspiration from their +brows, for the noonday sun and their zeal had made them very bot. + +"There comes your pious father!" declaimed the young enthusiast, who +always spoke in quotations. "Now, brothers, let us fly!" + +And partly fear of the "black coat," partly hunger, drove the noisy +group to the table. They departed waving their hats, nodding, and +singing; and Cornelia was still looking after them with a smile, when +Severinus approached with a pale, gloomy face. + +"Such ovations certainly do not prepare one for the church," he +murmured, somewhat bitterly. + +"Ah, Severinus! I am so happy!" cried Cornelia, frankly. "What +open-hearted, gay, magnificent men they are! How I laughed! It +is a pity you were not here! Tell me, Father Severinus,--you are +sincere,--am I really as beautiful as they all say?" she asked, with +mischievous naivete. + +Severinus looked timidly away from her, and with a deep flush fixed his +eyes upon the ground. "I do not know." + +"You don't know?" + +"I think only your soul beautiful, but not your body. Physical beauty +is something so perishable that it is unheeded by one who perceives, +and knows how to value, that of the soul." + +Cornelia became embarrassed. She was ashamed of the want of reserve +which had induced her to ask Severinus so inappropriate a question, and +did not see the strange glance with which he gazed at her blooming +cheeks and lips, and then clinched his teeth. + +"Forgive me for disturbing your grave mood with such jests, my reverend +friend; but I cannot help it. The gayety natural to my youth will +sometimes assert its rights. I was very glad they thought me beautiful. +The sight of a lovely face is always a pleasure to me, and the idea +that my appearance could also rejoice the eyes and hearts of others +pleased me. If this is vanity, is, at least, very innocent." + +"Certainly, my child," said Severinus, and his tone gradually lost its +assumed harshness. "I will not embitter the harmless little pleasures +of your youth. I am sure they will not smother the earnestness of your +nature." + +"Severinus," said Cornelia, smiling, "isn't it a fact that you do not +know what hunger is?" + +"No, certainly not. But you seem to know; so come,--let us go to +dinner." + +Cornelia was glad to have put an end to the uncomfortable conversation, +and hastened lightly on before him. Since her joy in life was once more +awakened, and hope and cheerfulness again stirred within her, she felt +Severinus's gloomy mood as a heavy burden. As long as she was at +variance with her own heart and the world, the character of the ascetic +priest suited her better than aught else; but now it began to form +a disagreeable contrast with her mood, and cast a shadow over the +newly-risen sun of her love. Yet she was too grateful to forget for a +moment what consolation his assistance had afforded her in the time of +her heavy visitation; so she maintained an unaltered, frank cordiality +towards him, although he now began to torture her with a thousand +contradictions and absurdities. + +The scene with the artists, innocent as it was in itself, seemed to +have made Severinus very thoughtful, in consequence of the pleasure +Cornelia derived from it. Such impressions must be kept from her at any +cost, for they were not adapted to aid his work of conversion. Even if +he should remove her from the neighborhood, he could not prevent these +young enthusiasts from traveling after her. He therefore went to the +superior of the convent on the island, and, when he returned, brought +an invitation from her to Cornelia to take up her residence in the +cloister, "as it was not proper for a young girl, with an equally young +companion, to remain in a country inn with a party of gay young men." +Cornelia, who did not care where she lodged, easily allowed herself to +be persuaded to fulfill Severinus's wish, and accept the friendly +superior's offer. Her removal to the cloister took place immediately, +and the astonished hostess told the artists, on their return from an +excursion, that the beautiful Fraeulein Erwing had just entered a +convent. They were beside themselves at the news, for who could doubt +that the poor victim of the black coat had been brought here to +commence her novitiate? Thus Severinus's design of spreading a halo of +inaccessibility around Cornelia, and cutting off any intrusive pursuit, +was effectually attained; but that neither she nor her companion should +betray the truth in their unavoidable walks, it was necessary that they +should be taken away with all secrecy. On that very evening Severinus +excited Cornelia's interest in the B---- Oberland to such a degree that +she herself expressed a wish to continue her journey as soon as +possible, and he was merely fulfilling her own desire when he proposed +that they should leave the Island at daybreak, not to return. As no one +saw or heard anything of this departure, Cornelia was, and remained, in +the convent, whose strict seclusion made any inquiries impossible, and +the young artists grieved deeply that the world was robbed of so much +beauty. + +Meantime Severinus took the supposed victim farther and farther away, +and several months passed so quickly in the constant change from one +beautiful scene to another, and in grave but intellectually exciting +conversation with Severinus, that she was not conscious how skillfully +he managed to cut her off from all society. Priests and nuns were the +only persons with whom she held occasional intercourse; and she passed +them by with friendly indifference, which rendered any advances +impossible. Severinus's hopes of a conversion drooped more and more; he +could not conceal from himself that a sorrow was gnawing at his soul +which exhausted his best powers, and felt, with increasing despair, +that he should succumb himself before he could conquer Cornelia's +resolute temper. + + + + + XXIII. + + BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. + + +Severinus entered Cornelia's room one evening when they were to spend +the night in a peasant's house in the B---- forest. She was standing at +the window, gazing out into the sultry night. The sky arched over the +earth like a leaden-hued canopy; not a breath of air was stirring, not +a leaf moved on the trees; here and there a star gleamed forth where +the dense masses of clouds parted for a moment, and now and then a +distant flash of lightning glittered in the horizon, revealing the dim +outlines of the forest-crowned heights. "Severinus," she said, drawing +a long breath, as she turned toward him, "let us go out into the open +air before the storm breaks: the air is so oppressive here; perhaps it +is cooler outside." + +"I have come to speak to you about very serious subjects: it will be +better for us to stay here," said Severinus. And now for the first time +Cornelia noticed his gloomy expression, and looked with anxious +expectation into his face. + +"Cornelia, the time when your fate must be decided has arrived. The day +of election is approaching. I must not allow Ottmar to move forward +unrestrained upon the road in which he can only bring ruin upon our +church. If he is elected to the parliament, a powerful enemy will arise +against us. I have already told you what papers the order has in its +hands: they must be used now, if they are not to become useless. Let +Ottmar be a deputy; let him speak, and--as is to be foreseen--win the +masses, and everything we undertake against him will be in vain. The +last point of time is reached, when I must decide what is to be done." + +"And that is a publication of his relations with Jesuitism, the +destruction of the toilsomely obtained confidence of his party, in +order to prevent his election. Am I not right?" + +"Certainly." + +"And do you not know that you will not convert a man like Ottmar by +such means, but simply render him miserable?" + +"We wish to make him harmless,--nothing more." + +"But you do far worse," cried Cornelia, indignantly. "You bar the path +upon which he might become a better man; hurt him back to the cheerless +void of a life without a purpose: perhaps even entangle him in fresh +snares of falsehood and hypocrisy; and thus destroy a nature which, in +its own way, might accomplish great things for the world. Who gives you +the right thus violently to interfere with an independent existence?" + +"The same right which the government has to punish secular crimes, we, +as the representatives of the kingdom of God, possess against him who +sins against God and his servants." + +"Severinus, when the government chastises, it represents the insulted +law, and uses honest means; but you avenge only your own boundless +pride, and your weapons are hypocrisy and deceit! Are you better than +he whom you punish?" + +"Cornelia!" cried Severinus, with flashing eyes, "do you dare say that +to me?" + +"I have never spoken anything but the truth all my life. You could not +expect me to call wrong right; and if God should descend to the earth +once more he would judge the zeal of those who commit sin for his +honor, and misuse his name for selfish purposes, far more harshly than +the errors of the men who have deserted him in form, but not in +reality." + +"It is only natural that the child of the world should speak in her +lover's favor; and I will be patient now, as I have often been before. +I cannot ask you to perceive the sublimity of a subordination to the +will of a chief, as our order practices it. Our General alone bears the +responsibility; God will call him only to an account; and he can lay it +aside: for God is higher than the law, and whoever represents him on +earth cannot have his acts measured by the standard of earthly +justice!" + +Cornelia gazed at Severinus long and silently. "You told me a short +time ago that you pitied me. Now I must answer you in the same words: +Severinus, I pity you! I am not angry; but you will perceive that from +this hour our paths must lie apart. If you deal a blow which will +destroy Ottmar's honest efforts, it is my duty to be at his side." + +"Cornelia, it is in your power to avert this dangerous blow." + +"How?" + +"The order has determined to give up the papers to you at the price of +your conversion to Catholicism. The order feels itself justified in +resigning the pursuit of this faithless man; if it can thereby win for +the good cause another soul, which will be pleasing to God." + +"Indeed!" cried Cornelia, fixing a piercing glance upon Severinus. "Is +it thus you advance your work of conversion?" + +"We leave you the choice between the only church which can save souls +and your lover's prosperity, or his destruction and our hostility. Can +you hesitate?" + +Cornelia stood before him with noble dignity. "And do you believe you +can win me over to a religion which sanctions such means? Do you think +to bribe me by any advantage--even the welfare of the man I love--to +deny that which is highest and most sacred to me: the knowledge of the +truth? No, Severinus; I feel I possess the power to make the man of my +heart happy without being compelled to save him from your persecution +by abjuring my own faith!" + +"May you not trust to yourself too much? He whom we wish to ruin is not +so easily saved by any one, even the bold spirit of Cornelia Erwing!" + +"Severinus, you frighten me! I never saw you in this mood before. I +feel as if in my sleep I had wandered into a tiger's den, and on +awakening found myself shut up alone with the terrible enemy!" She +paused and looked at Severinus; then growing calmer, shook her head: +"No, no, Severinus; that is a bad comparison; forgive me for it! Those +pure eyes give the lie to your threats; the dignity enthroned upon your +brow cannot suffer you to become the tool of a base revenge." + +"Cornelia, you will never learn to understand the nature of Jesuitism. +I am no blind tool who mechanically performs what is imposed upon him, +but a living part of the whole, who abhors what injures the order, and +labors for its advantage. Our obedience is no mere form which we can +outwardly satisfy without real sympathy: it is an allegiance in spirit +and in truth, which makes the will it serves its own. Thus I hate +Ottmar, since he became faithless to his obligations towards us, as the +order hates him, and will destroy him as the order commands, if you do +not comply with the condition upon which we will spare him." + +He watched Cornelia for a moment, then drew out some papers and spread +them upon the table before her. "Here are the documents which are to +serve us as weapons against Ottmar; read them, and convince yourself +whether they will be destructive enough to him to outweigh the +sacrifice you must make to secure his safety." + +Cornelia looked over the papers, the very ones with which years before +Severinus had succeeded in intimidating Ottmar, and binding upon him +the chains he now wished to strip off. When she had finished, she gazed +sorrowfully into vacancy. + +"This is certainly material enough to devise a snare for him. Oh, +Severinus, throw these papers into the fire, and I will revere you as a +saint!" + +"It will only cost you a few words, Cornelia. Say, 'I will become a +Catholic,' and these papers are _yours_!" + +Cornelia drew herself up proudly. "I have already told you that I would +drive no bargain with my convictions. This is my final resolution!" + +"Noble woman!" thought Severinus, gazing at her in astonishment. + +Cornelia gathered up the documents, restored them to the priest, then +clasped her hands, and gazed into his face with her irresistible charm. +"Severinus, give me these papers." + +A long pause ensued. The priest was absorbed in watching the beautiful +face, and made no reply. + +Cornelia took his hand; he started back. + +"Severinus, for once, be more obedient to the law of love and +forbearance God has written in our hearts, than the stern commands of +your order; destroy these proofs of Heinrich's, and also your, +dishonor,--or give them to me that I may do so. You do not answer! Oh, +let my entreaties move you, dear, honored friend!" + +Severinus covered his eyes with his hand, and exclaimed, almost +imploringly: "Cease, Cornelia; you know not what you are doing." + +"I am well aware of it,--I am torturing you; for I am bringing you into +a conflict with what you believe to be your duty. I see the struggle +between your Jesuit's conscience and your heart. True, genuine manhood +will conquer; it will burst the fetters in which your whole life is +bound." + +She rushed to the table, took up a light, and held it towards +Severinus, that he might set the papers on fire. A gust of air that +blew through the open window made the flame flicker to and fro, +and her light dress float around her like a cloud. As she stood thus +with the arm that held the candle raised high above her head, bathed in +the red gleam of the flickering light, in the earnestness of her +enthusiasm,--half pleading, half commanding,--she seemed like an angel; +and without knowing what he was doing he threw the papers towards her, +bent down, and pressed the hem of her dress to his lips. + +"I thank you!" cried Cornelia. But ere she could gather up the +scattered papers Severinus recollected himself, and caught her hand. + +"Stop! these papers are not yours nor mine; they belong to the order +which intrusted them to my care, and only an evil spirit could have so +bewildered my mind that I wavered in my duty." He made the sign of the +cross, pressed his hands tightly upon his heart, and softly murmured +the "_Anima Christi, sanctifica me_,"[1] then collected the papers and +went to the window. The rain was pouring in torrents; he leaned out and +let the cool water drench his head. "Extinguish, oh, extinguish the +fire!" he prayed, looking up with a deep sigh at the dark watery masses +of clouds. + +Cornelia watched him with mingled surprise and grief. "Severinus, you +are playing a part with yourself, like all who hold ideas founded on +sophisms and principles contrary to nature; you must do so, at a moment +when your illusion forms so striking a contrast with the truth. I can +only pity you; but may God let those who made you a Jesuit,--who robbed +you of the world and the world of you,--reap the fruits of their deed!" + +"Do not blame them," replied Severinus, turning calmly away from the +window. "They were my parents, and both are dead. I, too, have often +cursed them for giving me life; but since I became a Jesuit, I bless +them." + +"Unhappy man, what secret weighs upon the past which you have hitherto +so closely concealed?" + +"Disgrace, girl! To you alone I will confess it, that some day you may +think of me more kindly when we are parted. I have no name save that +the church gave me; no father save God; no home save the Casa al Gesu; +no human dignity save that of my holy office. If I had belonged to the +world, I should have been an outcast. But my parents turned the curse +into a blessing when they dedicated to Heaven the life they denied on +earth; and for the sake of that deed may God pardon the sin which gave +me birth!" He raised his head, while his face kindled with enthusiastic +feeling. "But I, Cornelia, will devote my strength, to my latest +breath, to that Jesuitism which accomplished the miracle of making the +child of sin the supporter of the highest and holiest cause, which +produces everything great and noble that can be done for the honor of +God, and desires nothing except by all means, both mild and gentle, to +lead men to heaven." + +Cornelia gazed thoughtfully into vacancy, then suddenly looked +earnestly at the regular features of the handsome man before her. + +"Severinus," she said, with strange eagerness, "who was your father?" + +"I do not know; I never saw him." + +"Did your mother tell you nothing about him? or did you not know her +either?" + +"She could tell me nothing except how she loved him, and how he had +deceived her. His accent betrayed that he was a German, but he +concealed his name and residence. When I was scarcely a year old he +disappeared, and no longer gave my mother any signs of existence except +the remittance, through some unknown hand, of money for my education +upon the condition that I should become a priest." + +"And your mother; what was her name?" + +"Girl, why do you ask me all these questions?" + +"You shall learn the reason after you have told me who your mother +was." + +"I have no right to expose the name of the unhappy woman, and have +never mentioned it to any one." + +"Not even to Heinrich?" + +"I never disclosed the secret of my past to him." + +Cornelia approached him; her breath came more quickly. "Was your +mother's name Angelina, Severinus?" said she, her voice tremulous with +some secret emotion. + +Severinus gazed at her in astonishment. "Yes, yes; how did you know?" + +"Was she the sister of a Carmelite monk in Compatri?" + +"Where did you learn this?" exclaimed Severinus, greatly agitated. +"What connection have you with my past? Speak; of what are you +thinking? Your eyes sparkle, your cheeks glow; do not torture me." + +"Are you your mother's only child?" + +"So truly as she expiated all her remaining days in a cloister, the one +error of her life." + +"Then God has sent me to you to warn you at the right time not to +commit a most grievous wrong. Do you know who the man is whom you thus +inexorably pursue?" + +A suspicion began to arise in Severinus's mind; he recoiled and +extended his hands repellently, as if he feared the words that hovered +upon Cornelia's lips. + +"He is your brother!" she cried, tears gushing from her eyes. + +Severinus involuntarily pressed his hand upon his brow, his fingers +quivered slightly as they touched the broad scar upon it, and he gazed +absently before him as if in a dream. + +"Oh, do not crush the feeling that stirs in your heart! Give me your +hand, and let me tell you how warmly I greet the brother of my beloved! +Oh, God, to see the two men dearest to me on earth united, the souls +which always struggled with each other, and yet could never resist the +impulse of sympathy, reconciled in brotherly love! And it is I, I who +am permitted to bring you together, to give you to each other! Ah, my +friend, this is inexpressible joy!" + +"And are you so sure you are not deceiving yourself?" asked Severinus, +gloomily. + +"Deceiving? Oh, you incredulous man! Heinrich's father is yours also. +Ten years before his marriage in Germany he traveled in Italy. In wild, +romantic Compatri he was attracted by the beauty of your mother, +Angelina, who was living in the greatest poverty upon the products of +her vines and the scanty gifts of the Carmelite convent in that place, +then falling to decay. He took her to Rome, and remained there two +years,--until his duties compelled him to return to Germany and desert +Angelina, with her eleven-months-old boy. What afterwards became of her +and her child, Heinrich did not know." + +"And how did Heinrich happen to tell you this?" + +"He told me a great many things about his father's life." + +"And where did he learn this sad history?" + +"From Anton, who, as valet, accompanied old Herr von Ottmar on his +travels, and whose statements were confirmed by the dead man's papers. +Heinrich did not then foresee how important this discovery might some +day become. But if all this is not sufficient proof for you, question +your own heart; remember what an inexplicable affection still bound you +to Heinrich, even after you believed him lost to the church. Does not +this impulse of the heart harmonize with all that has been so strangely +revealed to you? Oh, you feel it yourself at this moment! I see it by +the tears that will steal out from beneath your lashes; you feel, you +believe, that he is your brother!" + +Severinus covered his face. "He is! he is! Oh, God, and I must ruin my +brother!" + +"Thank God," cried Cornelia, joyously, "you are moved, touched! The +voice of blood is again stirring within you; you will be reconciled to +him, will spare him! Oh, say you will!" + +Severinus raised his head and leaned against the window-sill; the tears +that Cornelia had seen in his eyes were dried. "Do you believe that a +pupil of Loyola will listen to the voice of blood? Do you know what the +saint, who is our protector and pattern, did? He burned, unread, the +letters from his own family, that he might break off all ties with the +world; and I, should I spare the enemy of my church because he is +related to me? Should I allow my zeal in God's cause to grow cold +because my heart warms with a mere animal instinct? No, Cornelia, my +brothers are in Christ; he who does not belong to him is no brother of +mine." + +"Cruel, hard-hearted man!" cried Cornelia, in horror. "I do not know +whether it is compassion or terror that seizes upon me, but my soul +trembles at the power of an illusion which can thus petrify the noblest +heart." + +"Petrify!" cried Severinus. "Oh, do not speak so, child that you are! +Have you ever cast a glance into this 'petrified heart'? Have you a +suspicion of the strength of the love I must tear away from earth and +consecrate to God? Have you ever heard the outcry of the tortured man +when he is obliged to accomplish his regeneration from earthly to +heavenly things? Do you know how mighty nature writhes and struggles +and groans under the prickly iron ring of the cilicium?[2] You are +spared these agonies, because God requires only the easiest sacrifices +from you; but we, who are appointed to be the imitators of Christ upon +earth, are compelled taste them to the dregs. We must fulfill our great +task, and no human eye is permitted to see that the sacrifice it +admires trickles from the warm heart's blood." + +"My poor Severinus!" + +"Do not pity me; I want no one's compassion. I only want you to +understand me; the more difficult the victory, the greater the fame. I +shall one day be proud of my tortures. But I must labor without rest or +sleep, and watch over myself at every hour, for the enemy is cunning, +and if he chooses can clothe himself in the garb of an angel." His +large eyes rested ardently upon Cornelia. + +"Severinus," she answered, sadly, "do you take me for this false +angel--me, who preach nothing to you except the first and simplest laws +of Christianity? Do you think the 'foul fiend' is in me, because I +oppose a belief which rejects the purest impulse of nature as a mere +animal instinct, if it is not of use to its plans,--denies the tie God +himself has hallowed, if it bars its progress; and acknowledges nothing +which does not----" + +"Redound to the greater honor of God," interrupted Severinus. "Yes, we +do all for the honor of God. That is the word which permits no false +meaning; the path from which we cannot deviate an inch; the object from +which we dare not turn our eyes, even though we trample underfoot the +bodies of our dearest friends. He who opposes us must fall, for we +cannot allow ourselves to be stopped. For the honor of God we live, and +are ready to die." + +"And are you sure that in this you act only for the honor of God? Are +you sure you do not abuse this great word as a pretext for an act of +selfishness?" + +Severinus looked at her inquiringly. + +She struggled with her Feelings, and then began, gently: "Tell me, my +friend, if in the execution of a punishment commanded by the order a +Jesuit should also find the gratification of a personal desire for +revenge, would he not profane the cause of God by making it his own?" + +"Certainly," replied Severinus, in a hollow tone, fixing his eyes upon +the floor. + +"There are many kinds of passions, of which the man who ardently +desires only what is right is scarcely conscious, because he does not +even allow them to take the form of a thought; yet they are there, and +the so-called foul fiend undermines in them the more securely, because +concealed, the toilsomely-erected structure of virtue. Let me quote an +example. Suppose a Jesuit hated an enemy of his order, not only because +the order hates him, but because he is loved by a girl who is dear to +the Jesuit himself?" + +Severinus started; a deep flush suffused his face. + +Cornelia continued: "Suppose he used against him the weapons the order +placed his hands, not for the sake of the church, but to serve the +instincts of his own jealousy, and should suddenly perceive what he had +not confessed, even to himself, what would be his duty then?" + +Severinus was now as pale as he had before been red. He stood like a +marble statue, not a breath stirred his breast; but at last his +delicate lips opened to utter the words, "Then it would be his duty to +resign the work he would profane to another, who could perform it with +pure hands, solely for the sake of God and the order." + +"Well, then, Severinus, do what you believe to be your duty. I have +nothing more to say." + +A deep silence followed. Severinus still stood motionless, and Cornelia +did not venture to look at him; she did not wish to read the pale face. +She was terrified at what, for Heinrich's sake, she had done to this +noble man, and involuntarily feared the results. + +Severinus slowly approached her, laid his hand upon her head, and said, +"Let us bid each other farewell." + +Cornelia looked up. The pure features expressed no bitterness, no +anger, only the repose of an immovable resolution. "Farewell?" she +asked, in surprise. + +"For life!" + +Remorse suddenly seized upon her. She had overstepped the bounds of +womanly delicacy, and pitilessly assailed the heart which, in spite of +its errors, she had always seen rise superior to every weakness. She +now felt for the first time how much she should lose in him, and, with +sincere shame, bent down, and before he could prevent it, pressed her +lips to his hands. "Severinus, can you forgive me?" + +"I have nothing to forgive," he replied, gently drawing back. + +"Where are you going?" + +"To Rome." + +"And what takes you to Rome so suddenly?" + +"I had already resolved to return there some weeks ago; only the hope +of still winning you for the church, and the hostile mission against +Heinrich, detained me. This hour is the destruction of all my plans. +Nothing is left for me to do except to place the papers intrusted to me +in the General's hands, and explain to him that I am unworthy of his +confidence,--that I am not fit for the business of the world." + +"And then,--what will happen then?" + +"Then the General will commit the office I held to another, and, if God +wills, sanction the penance I shall impose upon myself of voluntary +seclusion in the monastery during the remainder of my life." + +"Will you retire from the world,--bury yourself within the walls of a +cloister?" + +"That I may the more surely rise again in God." + +"And is such a resolution compatible with your zeal for the order? +Suppose your office falls into the hands of a man who will not act with +the wisdom and dignity you have shown,--who will perhaps injure the +interests and authority of your association,--would you not reproach +yourself for having been to blame for this injury by resigning the +'holy cause' into unworthy hands?" + +"There are many among our ranks who are perfectly competent to fill my +place; the General's keen eye will discover the right man. I can +perform my duties to the order. Even in the silence of a convent-cell, +I can write the words with which I should cheer souls and strengthen +them in the faith, and, in undisturbed intercourse with the Highest +One, they will gain more sanctity and power than in the profane society +of the world. Nay, my writings may perhaps influence future generations +long after spoken words have died away. Is not such an expectation +edifying to true faith?--such a resolution the highest victory over our +earthly nature?" + +"A victory! Oh, Severinus, do not deceive yourself! A spark of the warm +life you wish to deny still glows in your breast. Suppose, Severinus, +you should perceive too late that you had formed your resolution too +early? Suppose you should long despairingly for a breath of freedom, +and in the suffocating agony of being walled up alive in the wild +struggle of its contending elements, your soul should forget itself and +God, and fall into the apparently liberating hand of Satan?" + +Severinus recoiled a step in horror. "Stop, I implore you!" + +But Cornelia's unfettered stream of eloquence would not allow itself to +be repressed. "You go into the cloister, not because you have +conquered, but because you fear to yield; you go there to fly from the +battle, not to rest after the victory; but that which would have caused +the conflict here will go with you, will disturb the peace of your +devout solitude; and you must conquer it with anguish there as well as +here, can succumb to it in the narrow convent-cell as well as in God's +wide world." + +Severinus's broad breast heaved painfully. "Oh, God! my God! let me +withstand this last trial!" he prayed, fervently. "Cornelia, I do not +retreat to the cloister on account of the danger, but to fly from the +evil I abhor; that I may no longer see the world that stands between me +and heaven, which I hate----" + +"The world to you is mankind; if you detest the former it is for the +sake of the latter. But why? What have men done to you? You are a +servant of Christ. Does this humanity, which Christ so loved that he +suffered and bled for it, deserve your love less than the Master's? Why +do you scorn the race whose form a God did not hesitate to assume,--for +which a God bore the tortures of life and death? Has it injured you +more than him? It has not pressed upon your brow the crown of thorns; +it has not nailed you to the cross; and yet he could forgive, while you +cannot!" + +"A God might do this,--but I am a man!" + +"And do you know why you hate mankind? Because you dare not love like a +human being. You curse your own earthly nature, because it always +opposes your task. You are a man, and would fain be a god; you have +human passions, and desire to practice a divine self-sacrifice. This is +the fatality of your position, this the foul fiend you fear! Oh, I know +my words fall upon you as the surges dash against a rock, but it seems +as if a higher power urged me on to struggle again and again against +the unhappy errors of your church!" + +"Cornelia," cried Severinus, starting up, "my church does not err,--she +is infallible!" + +"But, I tell you, it is an error that Christ has required of his +priests what the church demands from you. If Christ was God, it is +presumption for you mortals to imitate his divine person, and attempt +to give the world an example of what you do not attain yourselves. You +are merely to announce it and show it in all its beauty in yourselves. +But how can you do this,--shut off from life behind convent walls? Only +when, like our ministers, in real life, before the eyes of a whole +parish, oppressed by the same anxieties, pursued by the same enemies, +assailed by the same temptations as all, you can practice the virtues +you preach, will you become a true representative of the Christian +religion, will you have a right to require of others what was not too +difficult for yourself, and be what Christ desires, a true, perfect +man!" + +Severinus hastily approached the door: his whole manner betrayed tokens +of violent emotion. "I dare not listen to you longer, terrible, +dangerous woman! God sees my anguish that I cannot save your soul, make +your noble powers useful to the good cause. In you all the hostile +powers of the world assume a bodily form; in you I have convinced +myself that I am no match for them, and only the repentance of a whole +life can atone for the weakness!" + +"Must I, then, lose you forever?" + +"Forever! But my prayers will be with you,--implore the protection of +the Holy Virgin for you." His voice trembled. "God cannot let such a +soul go to destruction!" He turned and, with averted face, opened the +door. + +Then Cornelia's sincere affection burst forth in all its fervor; she +rushed up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and with childlike +contrition laid her head upon his breast. "Will you go without a +farewell?" she cried, sobbing. "Ah, Severinus, a deep, inexpressible +pity for you overwhelms me! Poor, noble man, I loved you so dearly!" + +Severinus stood as if a thunderbolt had struck him; he did not move a +finger, did not clasp Cornelia to his heart or push her from him. But +suddenly a cry of anguish burst from his compressed lips, so full of +torture that Cornelia's very soul was filled with terror, and she no +longer ventured to detain him when, as if driven by some mortal dread, +he hurried away. + +Late at night, before she went to rest, she saw him wandering about in +the storm and rain, and before dawn he entered the carriage which bore +him away from Cornelia forever. He traveled without pausing until he +reached Rome, where he delivered the papers to the General; confessed, +resigned his office, and entered the Casa al Gesu as a monk, to atone +by the strictest seclusion for the crime of being a man. + + + + + XXIV. + + REGENERATION. + + +While Cornelia was confidently looking forward to a meeting with +Ottmar, proud in the consciousness of having repelled all the attacks +of his enemies, _Heinrich_ was tortured by uncertainty in regard to her +fate. Ever since his return home, he had lived exclusively on his +estates, engaged in making preparations for his new calling. In this +complete seclusion from the would, whose influence had been so hostile +to Cornelia, engrossed by the ideas of which she was the charming +representative, he fed his longing for her more and more. At every step +in his new career he had expected some sign of life from her, but in +vain. His hope began to waver. He knew that she was in the hands of the +Jesuits, and trembled lest her young, susceptible soul, her easily +excited fancy, should not remain closed to their influences, for then +she would be irrecoverably torn from him. He had fulfilled every +condition mentioned in her letter. It was not possible that she still +loved him if, after all this, she still persisted in her obstinate +silence. A deep melancholy began to overpower him once more; his +prospects lay before him like a region destitute of sunlight; his whole +career would lack purpose if Cornelia was not won again. As yet no +success had crowned his efforts. He had no anticipation of the +happiness he would feel if he could some day consider himself as the +true benefactor of a whole nation. The quiet labor for his new vocation +did not yet satisfy him, and he therefore founded all his hopes upon +his entrance into parliament, and longed for the day of election as the +last limit Cornelia had perhaps allowed herself. One day, in his +restlessness, he drove into the city to divert his thoughts. He wished +to visit the Exhibition, and as he went up the broad staircase of the +museum he noticed with secret pleasure that people whispered to each +other, "That is Ottmar!" and looked at him with interest and approval. +He entered the large hall where reigned the solemn silence with which +men receive into their souls the wonders of art. The first and second +rooms were empty of spectators. The dead and yet lifelike forms upon +the walls looked down upon him with their eternal laughing, weeping, or +anger. An exhibition is a mute world of a brilliant-hued medley of +times, customs, and passions, petrified as if by some magic, and +imprisoned in frames, condemned to remain motionless in the attitude +assumed at the moment when the spell began to work. There a Magdalen +repents with inexhaustible tears; yonder a Roman maiden allures, ever +unsuccessfully, with her motionless, half-opened lips; and here an Alva +rages in implacable fury, while close by a Huss burns in never-dying +flames; below a wolf snaps in unappeasable hunger at a child, which, +fortunately, he will never reach; a mother seeks to tear it away, and +cannot draw it to her protecting breast; the poor woman is condemned to +perpetual dread, and the spectator with her. Not far away is--and will +forever remain--a pair of lovers in the act of exchanging a kiss. +Upon the other side ships struggle with waves, nations contend in a +never-decided battle, a vanquished man awaits the death-stroke of the +conqueror, and high up, an a golden background, flooded by the light +that streams through the glass dome, is enthroned the Virgin, in her +calm peace, surrounded by her heavenly glory. + +All the passions, joys, griefs, and hopes of humanity, fixed and +beautified by the power of genius, displayed themselves to _Heinrich's_ +wandering gaze, but his thoughts dwelt only with Cornelia; nay, it even +seemed as if here and there he found some resemblance to her. One +picture had her eyes, another her profile or her mouth,--her brow. He +fancied he saw her everywhere; it was doubtless a trick of his excited +imagination, or the likeness all regular beauties bear to each other. +He passed on into the third hall, which was crowded. Two oil-paintings +attracted the especial attention of the public, and the universal +verdict pronounced them to be the best in the Exhibition. It was +difficult for him to make his way in, but he could scarcely trust his +eyes when he saw one of them,--for it was Cornelia again; the likeness +was so speaking that no doubt was possible, and the figure of Severinus +beside her was equally unmistakable. Both were really only minor +accessories to a beautiful landscape, but painted in a most masterly +manner. They were standing under lofty trees which formed the +foreground, by the shore of a lake, which, surrounded by beautiful +mountain-peaks, stretched out into the background. Severinus had one +arm extended, pointing to a church-tower almost shrouded in mist. +Cornelia, with clasped hands, was looking up into his face. In +the catalogue, the work was merely named "View of the Ch---- See, +by A----." + +_Heinrich_ could not understand it; and when an acquaintance came up +and called his attention to the other famous painting, he turned +carelessly towards it; but his astonishment was inexpressible, as here +also he found Cornelia. The figures were life-size. The picture +represented the moment before a novice assumes the garb of a nun. She +was leaning upon the window-sill of a gloomy convent-room, gazing up +towards heaven, whose brilliant blue gleamed through the bars, while a +green branch, swayed by the wind, tossed against the rusty iron +gratings. The artist, by a singular fancy, had drawn his principal +figure with her back towards the spectators, probably to show in all +its magnificence the beautiful brown hair which was so soon to fall +under the scissors. But the bright panes of the window, which opened +inwards, revealed the face, upraised in fervent prayer. This face was +Cornelia's, as well as the hair he had so often stroked; the youthful +neck, which the thin undergarment she was soon to cover with the nun's +dress, lying close by, clearly revealed, and which he had so often +admired. He rubbed his eyes; he looked again and again; it was still +Cornelia. A gloomy, haggard prioress was in the act of advancing with +the scissors, and a sweet-faced young nun was gazing with evident +compassion at the beautiful, devout novice. + +"Is it not a true work of genius?" said _Heinrich's_ companion. "The +expression of enthusiastic devotion in the face reflected in the +window, and the wonderfully painted hair! One really dreads the moment +when that stern, unfeeling prioress will cut it off!" + +"By whom was the picture painted?" asked _Heinrich_. + +"By a B---- artist of the name of Richard." + +"Does any one know whom he had for a model?" + +"No; he keeps it a profound secret. I could almost believe he +has--Heaven knows how!--witnessed such a scene. People don't create +such things purely from imagination." + +_Heinrich_ made no reply, and his acquaintance, perceiving his strange +emotion, withdrew. + +Ottmar went from one picture to another; but reflect and consider as he +would, one thing only was clear to him, that Cornelia must have sat to +these artists herself, for such a resemblance could not be accidental; +and although the window-panes in one picture reflected her face but +dimly, it was all the more unmistakable in the other,--and Severinus +too. So in this way she had consented to make known to the world her +connection with Jesuitism! She must consider these relations an honor +of which she publicly boasted, and this she could not do unless she had +been converted to Catholicism,--unless they had impressed upon her mind +the dogma of the supremacy and infallibility of the one saving church. +There was a mysterious connection of ideas between the two pictures; +and although he would not give way to it, it oppressed his heart with a +torturing dread. The words "people don't create such things purely from +imagination" still rang in his ears. Suppose the artist had really +taken the idea of his work from the fact that Cornelia, whom he perhaps +painted a short time before, had entered a convent? In conditions of +the soul like that into which he had cast Cornelia, where the whole +existence is pervaded with pain, and every foundation is shaken, the +seeds of the Jesuits thrive best; in such moods they most easily obtain +a mastery over man. Now, for the first time, it occurred to him that +her letter had been redolent of that pride of self-sacrifice, which, +after great conflicts, chills so many a young heart, and drives it into +the nursery of such virtues, the convent. Suppose Cornelia had gone so +far? It was not impossible! Her enthusiasm in everything, especially +her zealous desire to be of use, the inclination to sacrifice herself +for great ideas which she had so often shown, her susceptibility to the +poesy of religion,--all this seemed to him material enough to form an +agent of the church; and as the psychological fathers would not have +ventured to send such a fiery genius into the world, they had perhaps +taken advantage of some moment of weakness to imprison her in one of +the convents which lead young girls "to the heart of Jesus." The more +_Heinrich_ thought of this, the more probable and clear it appeared. +Urged on by his agony, he hastened to ascertain the residences of the +two artists. He wished to buy the pictures spite of their extremely +high price,--wished to learn some particulars about Cornelia. He would +and must have some certainty; he could not bear this terrible doubt. He +wrote to Richard and A----, but at the same time to Cornelia, +addressing the letter to the Ch---- See. Perhaps the people there knew +her present residence and could send it to her. + +The reply of the artist A---- was extremely unsatisfactory. He would +give no account of the manner in which he had succeeded in obtaining +the portrait, for he had stolen her features on that first morning by +the lake, when Cornelia, thinking herself unobserved, had walked upon +the shore with Severinus. Richard wrote: "The lady had been painted +from memory, and he had really taken the subject of his picture from +the fact that she had entered a convent, where she had been kept +rigidly secluded, since no information concerning her had been +obtained." + +So she had really entered a convent, and there was no possibility of +learning any further particulars! _Heinrich's_ condition was pitiable. +To wait--to do nothing but wait--with this burning longing and +uncertainty in his breast, for an event which perhaps might never +occur, to hope for a fortunate dispensation that perhaps was already +baffled,--such was his fate! He lived in a feverish dream, but forced +himself to enter with all his powers into what would promote the +decision of his fate, his election to the parliament. The newspapers +mentioned his name connection with those of the most honored patriots; +and if Cornelia still had free control over herself, she must at least +be touched by the loyalty with which he struggled to reach the +prescribed goal; if she were silent, then there could be no doubt that +she was lost to him. Just at that time the blow Cornelia had vainly +sought to avert suddenly fell upon him. The Jesuits executed their +threats, but this time in a different way from that Severinus had +adopted years before. The organ of ultramontanism in H---- printed an +article headed, "Contributions to the Traits of Character of a New +Candidate." This essay contained a biography of Ottmar, from the time +of his entrance into the Jesuit college to that of his present change +of opinions, which, animosity, distortion of facts, and compromising +indiscretions, surpassed everything for which Ottmar had given them +credit. The style was in the so-called interests of the nation, so +often merely the cloak beneath which partisan writers strive to win the +applause of the masses; but the worst part of all was that the author, +Geheimrath Schwelling, who years before had played so contemptible a +part as Severinus's companion in the interview with _Heinrich_, offered +to exhibit to any one who might desire it written proofs of most of his +accusations. There was no lack of credulous and doubtful persons who +wished to convince themselves with their own eyes. The Geheimrath's +house became the rendezvous of the curious of all parties, and the +papers Severinus had returned to the General for a more worthy use +passed from hand to hand. The matter made all the greater excitement an +account of the great expectations which had been fixed upon Ottmar. The +sheet containing the scandalous article had an immense circulation; and +although the cultivated portion of the community turned with disgust +from its coarse tone, the facts were not to be denied, and people +shrugged their shoulders doubtfully. But the lower classes even gave +credence to the charges, in consequence of the amusement the +commonplace wit of the style afforded them. In vain Ottmar's friends +printed articles in his defense; in vain his banker proved that he had +spent the greater portion of his property in purchasing expensive +agricultural implements, which he allowed all the country people in the +neighborhood to use gratis, and for other national purposes; it was now +an easy matter for his enemies to convince the suspicious masses that a +man who had gone from rationalism to Jesuitism, then back again to the +former, next to despotism, and finally to liberalism once more, was not +to be trusted in any relation. "Hold psychological discussions about +the motives which forced you to deny your convictions, you will be +laughed at, and your name will be branded before all parties," +Severinus had said contemptuously years before, and now the result +proved how completely he had been in the right. The facts spoke against +him, and he could not succeed in giving the people a correct +understanding of them, because he had only words,--no contradictory +proofs at his command. Even the sincerity with which in N---- he had +stood forth in behalf of the constitution was no longer acknowledged, +for the scandalous article rendered even this deed suspected as a mere +prudential measure. He had perceived that he could no longer hold his +ground against the progressive party, and therefore took sides with +them in time. This belief appeared only too probable in the case of a +man whose life had been so full of contradictions. The confidence which +had just been obtained was shaken; the voters began to hesitate. Many +forgot what they owed him since his return; others made all the +acknowledgments of his services as a public benefactor which were his +due; but even they did not wish to elect, as the representative of the +most important interests, one whose politics were doubtful. The day of +decision came and crowned his enemies' labors with success. Ottmar was +defeated by a large majority. He saw himself scorned, insulted; all his +hopes crushed, his honor lost; and she for whom he suffered such +intolerable torments, who alone could repay him for what he had +lost,--Cornelia,--was silent! For love of her he had sacrificed +everything; for love of her entered the path which was to lead him to +find an abundant reward for ignominy in her arms; and day by day +elapsed without bringing any tidings, convincing him more and more that +she was torn from him,--that he had gained nothing save the fruits of +his sins. + +Every morning he went to meet the postman, who brought the letters to +his estate, and always in vain. Fourteen times since the election he +had borne the tortures of renewed and disappointed hope, had rushed +towards the postman in breathless haste only to return with empty +hands. He had lain awake on his couch all through the long nights, and +welcomed the first ray of light as a preserver from his feverish, +agonizing impatience. One morning this restlessness drove him out even +earlier than usual, for it was the anniversary of the day on which +Cornelia had left him. Perhaps she would give herself to him again on +this day; perhaps she had waited for it intentionally. One who has +hoped and expected so long at last clings to every conceivable +possibility. Thus Ottmar's feet were winged with double speed as he +hurried through pleasure-grounds and woodlands, to obtain that for +which he longed a half-hour earlier. Wearied with his haste, he emerged +from the thicket upon the highway. A fresh autumn breeze was rustling +through the tops of the poplars, bending their stiff boughs asunder +like the fingers of menacing giant hands. The broad, level road, with +its dazzling white sand, stretched before him, endless and empty,--the +storm had swept it clean; nothing was to be seen on the wide plain, and +Ottmar hurried restlessly onward. Just at that moment the dark figure +of the postman appeared in the distance, and with a beating heart +_Heinrich_ quickened his pace. At last he reached the man, who was +already holding out his bag; but again he was disappointed,--it +contained nothing but unimportant business letters. The last +possibility of hope had now disappeared; now he could no longer doubt +that Richard had written the truth, that Cornelia was in a convent. + +His measure was full. The Nemesis he had so long seemed to escape had +overtaken him, and he must patiently endure her fury with fettered +hands. Fortune, love, honor, all were lost, irrevocably lost, and every +accusation he wished to heap upon others recoiled upon himself. He was +the cause of his own misery, he alone. Fate had given him everything he +desired; but he had only demanded that which contained the germ of his +ruin. No disaster had befallen him which was not the punishment of a +crime. Absorbed in these reflections, the deeply-humbled man slowly +returned and reached the wood. The bright rays of the autumn sunlight +fell through the branches and made the yellow leaves glitter like gold; +the farther he went the more quiet and pleasant it became. The withered +foliage, alternated with the dark-green hue of a dense grove of firs; +the forest murmured and whispered to him in a soothing tone,--he did +not hear it, did not remember that the enchanted ground be entered was +his own property; his heart remained closed, no source of comfort could +force an entrance. In silent agony the man was collecting his thoughts +to pass a stern, hopeless judgment upon himself. + +A bench stood beside a beautiful forest stream; he involuntarily turned +towards it, and sat down with his face turned towards the rushing +water. He did not think of going home: he had one no longer; the house +in which he lived contained nothing dear to him; the whole world had no +spot where love and joy awaited him, where he would be missed; if he +remained away, society had no place for him to fill, no interests which +it would confide to him. What was he better than an outcast, a homeless +man? Could he endure the disgrace of such a life? Was it not more +honorable to extinguish it in the pure current of this stream? Who +would lose, from whom would he take anything, if he cast off the burden +of a hated, purposeless existence? And yet God had so endowed him that +his death must have made a void in the world, if he had been to it what +he ought. He gazed down into the murmuring water, which incessantly +glided by him pursued by the wind; his soul allowed itself be carried +on by the waves like a loosened vine. The eternally changing movement +before his eyes made him giddy; he looked away, and now, for the first +time, became aware to what thoughts he had involuntarily yielded. Did +no power then live in him except that of despising and destroying +himself? Could he atone for his faults by committing a crime against +himself? Should he steal away like an unfaithful steward who allowed +the property intrusted to his care to go to ruin? Should he add to the +dishonor which had fallen upon his name the eternal disgrace of +suicide, incur Cornelia's contempt, because he could not bear the loss +of her love? No, he had not fallen so low as not to repel such a +thought with a blush. + +But what could, what ought he to do now, since the only profession for +which his education and studies fitted him--that of politics--was +closed to him in every direction? A quiet, inactive, private life, +which but a few hours before, in the hope of a marriage with Cornelia, +had appeared endurable, now seemed to him a moral death. He did not +understand nature, the occupations of an agriculturist had no charms +for him. Should he turn his estates into money, and invest it in some +other way? But in what? All the pleasures that can be purchased he had +already enjoyed to the dregs; life could afford him nothing more. The +egotist had reached the end of his career, and could neither advance +nor recede. Crushed and helpless, he looked back upon his past life, +and now the point at which he had turned from the right path revealed +itself to his searching gaze. The hours stood forth before his soul +when he had struggled in his first conflict between inclination and +duty, and inclination had conquered. All the strange, feverish fancies +once more rose before his memory, and he perceived that they were the +voices of his own heart which had spoken to him in the forms of +delirium. Now he understood--now, after it was fulfilled--what they had +said. With the first false step to which egotism urged him, he was +lost. The frivolity with which he had degraded the first woman he +loved, to be the prey of his passion, robbed him of his best +possession, respect for the sex. Thus every base materialism, which +only sought the enjoyment of the senses and thereby often formed the +sharpest contrast with the demands of his intellectual nature, +developed itself. The more frequently this conflict occurred, the +greater it became, the further the two extremes became separated from +each other, and the more distinctly their characteristics were stamped. +The more the feelings were severed from the intellect, the lower they +sank into sensuality, the stronger the passions became, and the more +peremptorily they demanded their victim; while, on the other hand, the +more exclusively the intellect withdrew into its own sphere, the +further it banished the feelings, the colder and more obstinate it +became, the more dull to everything which did not concern its own +advantage, and therefore the more unprincipled. From this sprang the +crimes which _Henri_ on the one hand, and _Heinrich_ on the other, had +committed, whose consequences now drove him to despair, and had even +terrified and driven from him forever the only woman for whom both +extremes longed with equal ardor. Thus the cause of all the evil in his +whole mistaken life was the separation between the mind and heart; the +pleasure-seeking of the one, the immoderate ambition of the other, was +the curse which had sprung from this division, the form under which +egotism had taken possession of both portions of his nature. And of +what he had enjoyed and obtained--nothing was left! His life had been +fruitless to himself as well as to others. He had deceived and +sacrificed confiding natures, and brought a nation to ruin for the sake +of tasting the delights of ruling; the pleasure was over, and the +curses of the unhappy accompanied him. Everything life could offer was +exhausted, drained, and worn out! All the threads by which the heart +draws its nourishment from the world were cut off and withered. + +He now felt the deep truth of what Cornelia had wished to teach him, +what he had once in a dream bodingly anticipated: "Remember that the +end of life is neither to enjoy nor to obtain, but to be useful and +accomplish good works." But now, when this great knowledge seized upon +him,--when he perceived the fruitlessness of all selfish efforts,--now +when a powerful impulse urged him to do what mankind, and accomplish +what God, could ask of him,--now it was too late; every path was +closed, and the woman who alone could restore harmony to his nature, +lost! The guilt of the past had destroyed the hope of the future. + +He rested his forehead upon his hand and closed his eyes; he could form +no plans for the future, while repentance and anguish stirred his heart +so violently--the first true repentance, the first great sorrow, of his +life. True, his powers rose and expanded in the struggle with the +unknown enemy as they had never done before, and the mighty assault of +the contending elements widened and swelled his breast, as if now for +the first time he became a man, now for the first time there was room +in his heart for lofty feelings, resolutions, and efforts; true, the +consciousness of the strength ennobled and increased by sorrow +conquered for a moment: but as if with this, the longing for the nature +that had always guided him towards the right path strengthened, the +thoughts of Cornelia's loss once more gathered in the depths of his +soul to break over him with renewed violence. What could life still +offer him? There was no longer any love like Cornelia's, any mind like +hers, any woman who could compare with her. He felt that this sorrow +would never die; that he might perhaps obtain honor, but never +happiness again. He threw himself despairingly upon the bench, face +downward. The stream hurried along at his feet, plashing and +glittering; the birds looked down from the branches at the tall, quiet +man, turned their heads inquisitively, and softly twittered a timid +question. Far above his head the summits of the ancient firs rustled +and told the azure sky of the sorrow concealed beneath their shade. + +Softly and slowly the bushes near him parted,--he did not hear it,--and +a slender girlish form glided over the soft moss with a light step; +cautiously approached, and as she stood beside him, bent down, holding +her breath. Her glances beamed through tears, and she trembled like a +wild rose under the morning dew. _Heinrich_ heard a heart beating close +beside his ear, felt his head raised and pressed to a heaving bosom; +looked into a pair of eyes like two shining worlds. It was no dream, +and yet he could not utter a sound; all that he thought and felt +blended together in an unspeakable something, which swelled his heart +with glowing warmth, rose higher and higher till it reached his eyes, +overflowed as if his whole soul was gushing forth with it: he had wept +his first tears upon Cornelia's breast, and holding her in a mute +embrace reveled in this unspeakable bliss! + + +The noonday sun shone brightly and glowed through the ripe clusters of +grapes which hung from a trellis that surrounded the steward's pretty +little house not far from Ottmar's castle. A charming young woman stood +in the doorway, looking with eager expectation towards the forest; the +steward was working busily in the garden, but he, too, often glanced +into the distance. + +"I don't understand where they could stay so long, if they met each +other," said the little woman, at last. "It would be a pity if she +missed him. I grieve over every hour the poor master is obliged to +spend in his sorrow." + +"Yes," gasped the man, wiping his brow, "it was time for her to show +herself; the master's melancholy manner and wretched looks were +becoming the talk of the whole neighborhood and, after all, she +couldn't have been kept concealed much longer: we were always in a +fright." He threw his tools aside, went up to his wife, and put his arm +around her neck. "You would not have borne seeing me suffer so long, +would you, my Roeschen?" + +She nestled fondly to his side and nodded. "No, indeed, my dear Albert! +But these great people are very different from us. Cornelia has a +grand, noble soul, which we must not judge by our own." + +"You are right; it would not be proper for us to apply our standard to +them. Let us thank God we are made as is needful for our situation and +welfare." + +"Yes, thank God for it!" cried Roeschen, joyously. "Oh, Albert! how +unhappy these aristocratic people often make themselves with their +over-refinement and their lofty requirements! I saw that in my poor +dead princess. Heaven knows what sorrow was gnawing at her heart! +According to my ideas, she might have been very happy; but it often +seemed as if she did not wish to be. At any rate, it was a very +aristocratic sorrow. If she had been in our condition in life, and had +not had so much time to give way to her thoughts, she would undoubtedly +be alive now." + +"Well, those two at least are not making themselves wretched," laughed +Albert, pointing to Cornelia and _Heinrich_, who were rapidly +approaching. + +The married pair modestly withdrew, and Cornelia and _Heinrich_, +absorbed in delightful conversation, reached the house, and entered a +pleasant little room on the ground floor. + +"See, Heinrich, here is the hiding-place where I waited for three +weeks. From behind the curtains of that window I saw you pass, day +after day, and watched your face with a throbbing heart. Will you +forgive me for becoming a spy upon you? I wished, I was obliged, first +to discover whether you were at last a man to whom I might dare to +intrust my fate, whether you still loved me, and whether in my +affection I should offer you a welcome gift. I was obliged to give you +time to collect your thoughts after the blow that had fallen upon you, +and to raise yourself by your own might. If you had shown yourself to +my secretly watchful gaze otherwise than I hoped, otherwise than I +might dare to love you, I should have gone away as I came, unobserved +by you; perhaps with a broken heart, but silently and forever." + +"Yon would have gone as already many a happiness has fled from the +threshold of him who did not deserve it," said _Heinrich_, clasping her +closely in his arms. "Oh, God, my salvation and my ruin were both so +near! Your eyes watched me like those of God, and if I had not stood +the test you would have left me for the second time, and been +irrevocably lost to me." + +"Ah, I did not doubt that you would stand the test! A man has rarely +made greater sacrifices for a woman than you for me in the course of +this last year; for I clearly perceived that you would never have acted +as you have done if it had not been for my sake. But for your love for +me you would in a few years have conquered your longing for a higher +satisfaction, and remained till the end of your days in the cold +splendor of your position at the court of N----. Love for me--I may be +allowed to say so, since it is no merit of mine--was the impulse that +led you to take the first steps in another path. It guided you hither, +and I did not fear that it would desert you now, when it was apparently +leading you into misery. But a noble woman asks more than love from the +man of her choice: she demands character, firmness in misfortune as +well as prosperity, the power which is to be her support and +protection, the greatness to which she can cheerfully submit, +admiringly look up. It is a necessity of our natures to honor what we +love; in this humility lies our pride. If we cannot truly consider the +man to whom we belong far superior to us, we feel humiliated in +acknowledging him as our master. That is why I remained concealed so +long; I wished to investigate your whole life and conduct here, to see +what influence you exerted, whether you did good and made those around +you happy, what pleasures and employments you choose, how you would +bear the misfortune that had fallen upon you. And what I saw and heard +convinced me that you had entered upon your new calling not only in +appearance, but reality; that you had become a man to whom I might +confidently give myself. Yet the tears you have just shed told me more +than all. With these tears a new and better man was born in you; they +have atoned for every wrong, washed away every spot. Ah, if the bigoted +priests who believe you a lost soul had witnessed that one moment, they +would have understood that there is something holy outside their +church!" + +"Cornelia," cried _Heinrich_, "dear, precious girl, say no more to me +about the Jesuits! Although I bear no towards the unhappy Severinus, +whom you have taught me to know as my brother, although I forgive the +intrigues they plotted against me, I will never pardon them for having +torn you from me and attempted to make you a proselyte, for having +intrusted you for so long a time to that handsome, dangerous Severinus, +whose perhaps unintentional conquests over women's hearts are well +known to the order. I can only consider it as a miracle that you +remained faithful to me." + +Cornelia smilingly shook the hair back from her brow. "The miracle is +nothing more than that I have a faithful heart and a firm head." + +"Those are the highest gifts a woman can possess. And this jewel has +fallen to my lot, mine of all others; this loyal, sorely wounded heart +clung to me; this proud firm brow, no power has ever humiliated, bent +to me. Oh, Cornelia, strong, gentle, forgiving woman, no man ever yet +repented more deeply, or was more truly grateful, than I repent my +crimes and thank you for your love! A thousand others in your place +would either have been dragged down by me, or cast me off forever; but +you would not permit yourself to be misled by all my faults and sins, +you believed a noble germ within me. Instead of punishing, you reformed +me, have been faithful to me; and now give yourself to me as trustfully +and freely as in the first moment of our love. Oh, girl, there is no +word for this bliss my thoughts are whelmed in a sea of emotions!" He +paused and laid his head upon hers, as if he wished to rest from his +overmastering emotion. + +"Heinrich," said Cornelia, with deep, loving, earnestness, "let the +past rest; the Heinrich to whom I always belonged, and shall as long as +I live, never wronged me; he suffered with me when that other came +between and tore us from each other. That Count Ottmar, whose wife I +never wished to become, has atoned for his fault; he is dead. Never +conjure up his gloomy shade before me, even to arraign him, I beseech +you." + +"Yes, my angel, you are right. Never was it so clear to me as to-day +that I bore my worst enemy in myself, and in the last few hours I have +buried him forever. One complete in himself, Cornelia, receives you in +his arms; it shall be his one task to live for you and your happiness; +he no longer seeks or hopes for anything but you and a quiet family +happiness, unnoticed, but rich in blessing." + +Cornelia looked at him in astonishment. "Would you renounce politics +and every manly profession?" + +"How can I help it? What can I begin after this failure? My political +credit is ruined here as well as elsewhere. What can it avail to +convince myself more and more that I cannot make amends for my +errors in this province? But here,"--he laid his band an Cornelia's +shoulder,--"here, thank God, I can atone for the wrongs I have +committed; here I can and will prove that I have become a different +man!" + +"No, Heinrich," cried Cornelia, deeply touched. "I thank you for these +words, and for the cheerfulness with which you hope to find in me a +compensation for all; but I think too highly of you to be able to share +this hope. No wife, not even the most beloved, can make that +superfluous for which her husband was born: to work in a lofty +vocation. What you now feel, in the first ebullition of joy, you cannot +always experience. The storm that now fills your heart now will subside +in time, and the calm which will then follow would at last make you +find a void in yourself. You are no 'shepherd,' Heinrich. An idyllic, +private life would not long satisfy you; a quiet withdrawal into your +own family circle, a limiting of yourself to that which is personally +dear to you, would be again an egotistical, and therefore only a +partial, happiness. You possess the power of solving comprehensive +problems. Every power imperiously demands its right to assert itself; +if the opportunity is denied, it turns destructively against the +barriers imposed upon it, and that which is also within them. Thus it +would be with you and our peace. Woe betide the wife who believes that +she can and must be the whole world to her husband! She does not +understand his larger nature, and will only make herself or him +unhappy. I do not belong to that class. I pride myself in taking into +account all the just demands of your character, thus only can I make +you happy. I will not regret you in the hours your profession claims, +for I shall take possession of you doubly in spirit, when I know you to +be toiling for that for which I myself would fain strive with all my +powers, and must not because I am a woman. I will not bewail the +time you take from me to give to mankind, for I love all men far too +much to grudge them what you can do for their welfare. And then, +Heinrich,"--she laid her head on his breast, and gazed into his face +with a bride's ardent love,--"then when you return home to your wife +weary but joyous in the consciousness of duty then you shall rest in my +arms, in my faithful love, and let me have the proud belief that my +heart is the soil from which the roots of your life draw nourishment +for the glorious fruits that you permit the world to reap!" + +"Cornelia, glorious creature! What a picture you conjure up before the +soul! These are divine revelations, and I will follow them +unquestioningly. Yes, I will begin anew; guide me with your inspired, +prophetic glance, lead me to the path upon which my first step +faltered; you alone know what is for my welfare." He gazed long and +earnestly into her eyes. "Oh, do not reproach me as unmanly because I +give myself up entirely to you, since through you I first became what I +am, through you alone I first learned to perceive in laboring for +others a duty, an object, in life! The representatives of these noble +ideas are principally women; for to labor and care for others is +woman's mission, to sacrifice herself for others' interests her +greatest power. The man who allows himself to be guided by a woman need +not become womanish, nor the woman masculine. If, like you, Cornelia, +she rises above her narrow subjective world to ideas which comprehend +all humanity, she confers the qualities inherent in her upon them, and +then doubtless becomes capable of guiding the more egotistical man to +honest efforts for the race, self-sacrifice, and true philanthropy! +Thus the strength of your love and virtue, in one word, your lofty +womanhood, draws me upward." He threw his arms around her and pressed +her ardently to his heart. "Cornelia, my betrothed bride, oh, tell me +again and again that I can never lose you, that you are mine!" + +She clasped her hands. "Forever! forever! and may God's blessing be +with us!" + +"Amen!" said _Heinrich_. + +Thus the power of a genuine love had healed the secret conflict in +Ottmar. Intellect and sensuous feelings, both equally attracted, +equally satisfied, united in the same object, and in the soft +atmosphere of a true happiness his shattered nature healed into a +symmetrical whole. + +The ghostly apparitions of his dual existence disappeared before the +reality of an all-reconciling feeling which seized upon the inmost +kernel of life, and from this brought forth the source of never-failing +joy. + +When the whole man was in harmony with himself, his long-scattered and +dispersed powers concentrated in the depths of his soul, and now for +the first time showed unity of purpose and noble, honest action: for +the first time he became a man. And when he thus once more appeared +before the world with head erect, he conquered; for real ability and +honest convictions always find allies in the natural instincts of the +people, and against these even the hostility of the Jesuits was +powerless. The web they had entwined around him was only that of +his own cowardice and duplicity. His manly conduct at last tore it +asunder. He was now free, and his purified character afforded no +opening for a new snare. After a few years he saw the noblest ambition +gratified,--that of being useful and accomplishing some good result. He +was the main support of the Party in favor of the constitution, averted +a threatening reaction by his ready dialectics, felt the mighty breath +of an applauding nation hovering like a vivifying spring-storm about +his head, and everywhere, far and wide, saw the seeds springing up +which his reawakened philanthropy had sown. + +And with inexpressible joy he clasped his blooming wife in his arms, +compared the lifeless splendor of the former minister with the warm, +evermore richly developing activity of the simple deputy, and his full +heart gratefully overflowed in the proud words, "Yes, my wife, you were +right; it is not what the world is to us, but what we are to the world, +that is the measure of our happiness." + + + + FOOTNOTE: + +[Footnote 1: A Jesuit prayer.] + +[Footnote 2: An instrument used by the Jesuits for penance and +punishment.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Twofold Life, by Wilhelmine von Hillern + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TWOFOLD LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 36789.txt or 36789.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/8/36789/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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