Fickle Fortune

losure, declaring their sentiments in most unambiguous terms, and the effects produced were precisely those expected. First came a simultaneous outb

king her avowal, encountered a small hurricane, before which she was fain for a while to bow her head. The Councillor grew fairly distracted with wra

hibited, as a matter of course, from holding any further communication, they calmly within the hour sat down to write to ea

ve her infuriated parent to himself for a while. The worthy gentleman, finding his daughter beyond his reach, turned fiercely upon his unhappy cousi

the needlework she had in hand. She waited patiently for a pause to supervene. When at length her ex

rich, what objection you really

pression in every possible way to his anger, his fury, his indignation, and now he was coolly asked what objection he re

ttersberg, in himself, is a most charming person. That unhappy lawsuit, which has so tried your temper during the whole of the winter, will be brought to the si

mentative tone of hers. 'Because I will not suffer my daughter to m

hrugged her

as those. She will simply appeal to the example of her

er,' interrupted Rüstow hotly.

umstances were far more unfavourable than they are now, when really preju

he Councillor, breaking forth anew. 'Prejudice! obstinacy! Have you any more fl

, tranquilly resuming the work which for a few minutes had been discont

ut affectation. Put that confounded sewing stuff away, do. I can't endure to see you dra

rs. Don't take the trouble; it will stand after all

at Ettersberg. She will show more obstinacy even than I, you may depend upon it. We can't endure each other; we are doing our very best to harass and torment each other by raising fresh quibbles

sent very readily,' said Aunt Lina, in a pensive tone

ry familiar we are, quite like relations already! You regard him altogether in the light of a nephew

all the windows jarring. Aunt Lina must indeed have conquered 'her nerves,' for she did not start a

ng it will be be

ountess thought the matter serious enough to warrant her in sending for her brother, Baron Heideck, who, in all cases of difficulty, was h

e had preserved an almost youthful appearance, a premature look of age, on the contrary, was to be remarked in him. Cold, grave, and methodical in speech and bearing, his outwa

rsists stubbornly in this marriage-scheme, and is constantly urging me to give my co

he necessary firmness to resist your darling, and refuse him his heart's desire. I think, howev

scussed is how we are to prevent it. Edmund will shortly come of ag

yours,' remarked the Count. 'H

eeling. 'But now another shares his love. It remains to be seen

hich has made you shrink from the thought of his marriage. That was why you refused to entertain the proposal I made to you last year. An alliance suitable in point of rank a

for wealthy in this

his own particular line. Even at the Ministry his opinion on all subjects connected with agriculture carries weight with it. Add to this his connection by marriage with the Ettersbe

k Edmund builds

not stepped in in time. You owe it to your husband's memory and to the name you bear to resist this marriage, which, as you know, he never

aid the Countess, a little piqued;

what means. This plebeian blood must not again be infused

, and the Countess grew pale

at do you m

'The reminder was, I think, necessary to warn you that there must be no weakness now. You are n

emphasis. 'I have had no one but him to love since

our youth sufficient experience of poverty and privations to make you bless your brother

half-stifled voice. 'No, Armand, I have

eideck

e, and to secure for yourself a brilliant and much-envied position. If I used some pressure--some force to deliver you from the trammels of a first and foolish attachment, I did so with the

d as he spoke these w

iniscences, Armand;

y avoided any discussion of it until I had spoken to you; but a very decided impression was left on my mind that we have not to do with a very deep or serious passion, capable of breaking down all barriers and setting all at defiance in order to obtain its

n her composure, and speak in an ordinary conversational tone. '

shook

t to you he will yield, for he is accustomed to be guided by you. Place before him the choice between this new fancy of his and yourself. Threaten that

Countess in a tone of absolute conv

bt not you will, to the fullest extent. You are well aware, Constance, that in your son's case, in

s, drawing a deep breath. 'Yo

ed. Then Baron He

u send for Oswald? I should like to have some talk

ess rang

ishes to speak to him, and is waiting for him here

nstructions, and Heideck co

add lustre to the family name. One is bent on marrying the daughter of a ci-devant farmer, and the

y now, just when he is on the point of passing his examination, that he thinks fit to publish his plan. I have declared to hi

ply did he m

f and punishment, the look of insufferable defiance which he always has in readiness, though his lips remain

g man who, like Oswald, is absolutely without resources of his own, must, no matter in what

young son and nephew was held. They merely wished to lead, to guide him back into the paths of prudence, and the love he bore his mother was the only constraining influence suggested. But from the moment Oswald's name was mentioned, another and a

sure; but a keen observer might have detected the fact that he had armed himself for the coming scene. He stood before them in the 'sombre, obstin

r interest. What are these absurd ideas you are so suddenly disclosing? You refused formerly to enter the army, and now you object to a Govern

replied Oswald quietly. 'I was destined first for the army and then

at it would please you in the last instance to set y

that by taking us unawares he might paralyse our resistance. But you are mistaken, Oswald. My sister has already informed you that we consider the name and ra

all thus be obliged to pursue the course I have determ

ted up in anger, but her bro

never said to yourself that without some assured means of existence you can neither pass the examination in the capital, nor live on for years until an income of your own be forthcoming? Have you not reflected that these means may be withdrawn, if y

ed Oswald. 'Edmund knows that I shall

, to inquire how you propose to live during the next

Councillor Braun, a lawyer of eminenc

He has a considerable

as at the university, he gave me many hints how best to direct my studies with a view to the career I had already chosen, and since then we have remained in constant correspondence. He wishes now for some assistance in his really overgrown practice, and the assista

s,' and quell the rebellious nephew whose dependent position placed him so completely at their mercy. Instead of this, they were met by a steady resolve, a practical, matured plan, every detail of which had b

ger suppress her anger. 'So you have been conspiring against us with a

rvice to you; it would have assured you a career. But the advantages you possess you deliberately put from you in order to embrace the law as

or years accepting--accepting benefits I have hitherto enjoyed; and to this I will not consent. The path I have

ken, but at the same time they were barbed with a r

so long that you can now convenien

composure seemed to be giving way at length. His quick, short breathing betray

or an Ettersberg to go out into the world and seek his fortune, as a man of humbler origin might have done. I could but yield to the tradit

s of which you speak, in open opposition to the friends to whom you owe everything. Could my husband have foreseen this, he never would have directed that you should be

eyes, and they flashed upon the speake

my veins had but to show itself to be instantly repressed. My uncle carried his point, and had me received into this house; beyond that, he made no attempt to shield or protect me. To you I was, from the first, simply a troublesome legacy left by an unfriendly and detested brother-in-law. I was accepted with disinclination, and endured with absolute dislike, and the consciousness of this has sometimes well-nigh

lowed out in a stream of fierce rebellion against this woman who, outwardly at least, had been as a mother to him. She had risen in her turn, and they now stood face to face

cried. 'How can you venture to a

tess sank slowly back into her seat, and her nephew retreated a step. For a few seconds a

. The path I shall follow will, in all probability, take me from Ettersberg for ever, and all further connection may cease bet

nswer, or any sign of dismissa

e Countess in a low voice, whe

ld you not understand it, Constance? It

om. Even the bureaucrat's cold and measured calm was not proof ag

very different aspect. Active resistance on our part might lead to

ally th

ically. She was still gazing fixedly over at

rritate him--besides which, we have no longer any power to control his acts. By this masterly scheme of his, he has secured for himself an u

lties. 'Not without reason have I feared those cold, searching eyes. From the very first time I saw that boy

he great excitement of the moment that he allowed that hint to escape him; but no matter, there must not be a renewal of this scene. He is right in one thing at least--i

into the corridor, where he met Edmund on his way to his mother. Gay, lighthearted, and careless as u

same boat--only my case smacks of romance, whereas yours has a dry legal savour. I underwent a sort of preliminary examination

ngracious to you,' w

cle to her aid. He is just a trifle more difficult to manage, though I don't suppose even he will bear too hardly on me. But you, Oswald'--he came close up to his cousin, and l

d evasively. 'But I have gained my end, notwithstanding. One word more, Edmund. I shall prob

until the autumn. Has my uncle offended you, that you now talk of leaving at once

hing whatever has happened. My aunt and her brother are naturally rather

d in surprise. He evidently could not un

go and stand your trial. They will not be too hard on you. You have only

ed at him i

ou really do sometimes use the

Oswald. 'I can give you an acco

dden departure of yours. You promised to stay until the autumn, and nothing shall induce me to let you go before. It will be bad enough for me to

h, we must learn to do without each other for good and for all,' he said. The