Withered Leaves. Vol. III.(of III)

i Sevilla" be postponed again and again, to the great annoyance of the impre

e bedside, a mighty strugg

s, when his wounded chest heaved with convulsive breathing. For her he had gone to meet death. Was

rnative of losing him for ever, or of conquer

e language which passion spoke, even if it drove her

aws of the heart had the right to triumph. Brigandage lives in the blood of Italians; there is also a brigantaggio of the heart, which breaks into the sanctuaries of the law with daring boldness, and deems the power of life higher than that which o

ssessed a knightly mind, which never thinks of deception. She could only be really his if she too

impossible, which could only become possible by impudent deception, and unbroken silence? Should she not now, if she

she could only obtain and enjoy this felicity with heart-throbbings and anguish of conscience, condemned to everlasting anxiety, dependent upon the good-will, the whims of

would free her; ever again she repressed it firmly, as the huntsman r

idedly not give up all hope, and thought he would still allow himself to be persu

thought that could only come to me in utter helplessness. Then, too, Blanden would be lost to me; would there be anything m

him with kisses, but she shuddered inwardly, both with joy and fear. Ever nearer dre

home. Beate was all the more cheerfu

it appears to me to be almost like

dding in prospect,

which I would not reject, even if my soul's salvation were at stake--and side by side w

may still be a m

not danger ever hover ove

are means of

Beate. I hunger for a word of hope, of c

ld be a

rder to be free from this r

only I, and the consequences if it f

bring me rescue. And yet how could I plunge you too into destruction,

ble friendship in life and d

said Giulia, as she cordi

lan have succeeded, ah, what a triumph! Then people will say, 'what does not lie in such a pretty little head,' then one imagines oneself like the mouse that, in the fable, gnawed the lion's bonds. But to play a trick upon such an overbearing villain and

o you think

y, I will tra

It

rta, to the islan

wil

st be left to the impulse of the moment. The past is a fairy tale

ea

skin of that snake, which Saint Giulo killed; well, I hope that the little viper into whic

ontemplati

heart, but a truth for the world; a vile, shameful truth if I do not--but what matter is that to you? Do not question me too

e give her consent to a deed which, as she su

she was obliged to confess to herself that every act of Beate's was less of a sacrilege than that which she

irst emancipated herself from her stern duty, this lawless deed wa

g her hands

hastily accede to the transient idea!

he wind--and

fully "is my life not one already? And if

have crouched under rocky boulders, or in concealment behind the lofty Arves, have slided down glaciers without being afraid of the yawning crevasses in whic

and begged for a few m

be appeased no longer, and Giuli

with Blanden. The duel, it is true, had not come to the official knowledge of the authorities, but it was spoken of in every circle. People pitied Blanden, but with the pity soon was mingled the condemning verdict, "he loves adventures!" The Sig

ut none could fail to guess it was she. Side by side with them appeared criticising treatises upon the art of song, containing most violent attacks upon Signora Bollini, who was invariably held up as an appalling example of bad mannerisms and taste. Müller von Stallup?hnen, who with his

stirred up the depths of the orchestra, so that in almost every bar some old musical rule suffered shipwreck, and the most outrageous impossibilities, the most startling dissonances dashed into the air like spectral water spouts out of the foaming, splashing waves; then indeed must enthusiasm, ecstasy know no bounds, and even the public be transformed into a stormy, raging mass, out of which the thunder of applause should break loose as if with elementary power. This Müller had, it is true, never experienced, but he saw and heard it in imagination. If he could

r disquiet prevailed, as if some unusual event were in the air. Kuhl sat in the stalls

his public already applauded? G?ethe as much as Aubery's dog, Schiller not less than a fiddler, who plays upon one string; the greatest poet and the most miserable clown! Often the rheumatism of idiotcy possesses its joints, which are paralysed, and do not move before what is sublime; then again it is electrified by the most foolish joke, and the unwieldy mass moves hands and feet like a marionette! As the wind rushes through an empty furnace, so does so-called public opinion rush through these empty heads. Thus it sometimes causes a mighty disturbance! The crowd has a certain instinct when it is gathered together, and a species of common feeling; it is like a huge body revolving upon the same pivot; it tastes with

en if many a genius has been shipwrecked, we rejoice for those who have gained the

kers heard a lively some

k to spoil our morals; all varieties of reports are circulated which even penetrate into our establishment. There is no quarantine against it, however many proper means

old governess, to whom Lori had addressed these words, as

this singer; he had fought for her

doubtful origin had borne away undoubted victory from a daughter of the educated classes; she was the lotus-flower, the goddess who

manded

, she forgot her dignity as mistress of the school, so far as to initiate her pupils into this delicious piece of scandal. Her heart was too full, she must speak to Dr. Sperner

Herr Doctor?" asked she

Herr von Bland

ch as his con

en, I thought you were a friend of that gentleman, for I had the hon

l's disposal, who was soon in a position to make use of his offer, for public opinion was supremely excited--the "effects of the reports behind the scenes," of which Spiegeler had spoken, had not failed in their result; the singer's next appearance mus

den and the singer. Our French governess, whose accent may God improve, would term it dépit amo

r's fiery eyes rested so triumphantly and with such

might lose pupils, the consequences would be serious. There are sensitive girlish natures which close their calix-like delicate flowers when the sun ceases to shine. For these your smile, Fr?ulein Baute, is the sunshine of the establishment. We, we who are not so sensitive, are, at least, angry at the winter of your displeasure! All the same--if an execu

eally not calculated for a girl's ears. I will forget it. As to the rest, you have the right

sat in a very determined attitude in several rows in front of the mistress of the school. Lori's eyes r

o-day," Lori whispered to C?ci

he world?" as

ir with B

will not sing false

in art; we must set ourselves against the importation of the equivocal doings o

in a theatre has only to judge of the singing and not to distribute the Month

vasive opinion, and leaned back in her ch

f the audience; here and there small groups might be

aithful adherents under the chandelier, gathered there like a dense dark cloud. Here and there appeared a noncommissioned officer, who shoul

few large bouquets of flowers upon the balustrade, and with yet greater displeasure he saw that his former friend and companion

werful shake of the hand promised vigorous work; brigh

nce sacrificed him to her Egmont, and he still runs about the market and mobilises

ddenly increased, when a noisy human stream suddenly poured into the pi

accustomed to obey the leader's signal, to work together in irresistible onslaught, obstinate and tough enough to overcome all resistance. That was

unteers, with their undisciplined enthusiasm do against thes

ndship. Despite all menaces, the critic had not brought the affair into court, because he did not wish that the episode at the "fleck" boiler's, by means of a trial and newspapers, should becom

o surrounded him like a lightning-laden cloud, and hoped that at the co

tempestuously applauded. Giulia's friends aired their enthusiasm; their opponents, on the other hand, wished t

nts amid the most beautiful dreams of a future that fluttered through his mind; at last his great talent had met

hanged into Bartolo's

and gave the signal for applause; the young merchant guards in the pit joine

n fire and water are mingled. Others again commanded silence. Rosina began in a frightened voice; her

ith all he

ery pow

mains v

es, that, even before a partial judge, she would surely have gained her cause. But here th

se and hissing which issued from pit and gallery; for a moment she seemed to stand in the pillory. In vain Basilio sought to waft to the audience a whispered, a

es from tong

words to inf

ile and th

urmur the

y were mixed up in dark wild confusion. Spiegeler stamped with his crutches like a madman, and, passing it from hand to hand, something was thrust out of the door; it was a figure striking right and left with hands and feet. Baluzzi had given too lively expression to his anger agai

of a crowd of people coming exultantly towards her, as she had seen it in Florence, Barcelona, London and even here! What evil demon had metamorphosed the public into a rage-foaming monster! Yet over her career as an actress writhed on

ld defy it with a good conscience. And, yet shuddering internally, she felt as if a Divine

in the stalls, in which Doctor Sperner and his friends we

s and

al so

i's favour, remembe

ns and

st they

s the

rious r

mocking laugh from every portion of the house

in fell, the performance

ooked on very triumphantly, her eyes flashed, and Dr. Sperner was permitted to accompany her home. Kuhl had h

eech all their friends to be silent about it; she should take care that the newspapers containing the report

d to preserv

million-fold want of sense. What is most wretched pleases it, and yet it is really sincere when its honest displeasure has been roused, if indeed it is possible to transform this slee

act from such daring views. Arrived at home, she sat a long time talking to Beate; she gave her compan