Greifenstein

von Greifenstein, throwing herself into the arms of the pale and quiet baro

n impossibly high garden hat crowned her faded head, allowing certain rather unattached-looking ringlets of colourless blonde hair to stray about her cheeks. She made o

oetic! It is no wonder that you look like Cinderella and the fairy godmother! I am sure they both lived at Sigmundskron-and Greif will be the Prince Charmant with his Puss i

great hall, and he was glad that there was something to look at, for he did not know whether he was most amused by his mother's chatter, or ashamed of the ridiculous figure she made. The impression was certainly a painful one, and he had not attained to his father

u von Greifenstein. The situation did not last long, however, and half an hour later

satisfaction. 'Is there anything so tires

hough reconsidering the que

is it, s

d, I must love your

ung man with a puzzled expression.

ve her as much as my own mo

so much,

love her

Greif cheerfully.

our f

eels more sympathy for his

am not

mother either. That is a

xclaimed Hilda, turning her bright eyes to hi

, dear,' he answered quietly.

ted to know if it was exactly my duty-because-you see, I do no

as you do now. Besides, I was going to propose something, if your mothe

, are you

Why

of her husband discovering the utter desolation of the old castle, but at the same time sh

ould like it. Of course it has gone to ruin, more

rooms are perfectly desolate, no furniture, hardl

ames and get some furniture. We

everything, everything. Yo

u,' answered Greif looking at her,

know. Pe

you in a woodman's hut

ied Hilda a lit

erhaps." I am q

the meaning of it, the true spirit of it? Why does it sometimes last and sometimes-not? Are all men so different one from another, and women too? Is it not like religion, that when you once believe you

cheek. Her colour never changed. With innocent sim

e read them all. Can you not tell me, you who know so much? What is the use of all you

on? What does the meaning

if I knew what made it? And besides, I do know, for I have learned about storms in my books. But it is not the same thing. Love is not p

e does not ch

t changes,' argued Hilda. 'There must be somethin

gical with love, any mo

the most logical thing

very much in their opinions of

uired Hilda calmly. 'Religion would be illogical if it taught that sinners should al

hing. 'But then, if you look at love in the same way, you get the same res

does not only consist

am not sure-' Greif interrupted himself. '

ove mean something

g as we are everything to each other

so l

t means

ome knowledge by which you can tell

yours, sw

enough. I shall never ch

not beli

n the end, whenever we talk about it, and I am ne

em, that their hearts beat fast and that their hands grew cold-simple expressions out of simple and almost childish tales. But none of these things happened to her. Why should they? Had she not expected to meet Greif that day? Why should she feel surprise, or fear, or whatever it was, that made the hearts of maidens in fiction behave so oddly? He was very handsome, as he sat

g,' she repeated after a

nd gazing at her from under the brim of his straw hat. 'You are a strange girl, Hilda,' he added p

ike me? Or do you like m

'I would write such things about you as have never been written a

ma told me that they belonged to the "best

e poetry in gen

ting in a word more than is needed, or for pinching oneself so as to cut one out that would be useful for the sense, just because by doing that you can make everything fit a certain mould and sound mechanical-ta ra

Greif, smiling at the t

ra ta ra ta tum" of words quite unnecessary to the thought, and which you only hear because they ji

ating argument! I will never think of w

feel that you cannot love me in plain language-in pr

e better than

ything would be

iant colour. It was possible that she only thought of him as a brother, as a part of the world she lived in, as something dearer than her mother because nearer to her own age. It was possible that if she had been in the world she might have seen some man whose mere presence could make her feel all she had never felt. It was conceivable that she should

of yourself, sweethe

wh

lly love me.

ct of his own words. Hilda was very angry, perhaps for the first time in her whole life. The brightness of her eyes almost startled him, and there was a

at you say,' she an

d me!' exclaimed Greif in dist

y loved you,' said Hilda very gravely. 'Y

ecause-you see, you are so different

a knife. He was too inexperienced to know what to do, and he instinctively assumed that look of injured superiority wh

ave quite misunderstood me. I

answered Hilda, l

t you were saying a little while ago. You wanted an explanation of the na

your experience,

either!' exclaimed Greif, suddenl

m so different from other wome

er women, and ta

ut l

' answered Greif, anno

ry different from mine?' inquired the young g

rha

sh you would explain yourse

not interrupt m

thought my questions

he was in love. And then I wondered whether your love was like mine, and as I am very sure, I supp

why I am angry. That

f shrugged his shoulders and said nothing mor

with whom you have talked. I know that as well as you do, though I have never seen them. It is quite possible that the difference may come from my education, or want of education. In that case, if you are going to be a

il

m what I have read I fancy that they are not at all simple, nor straightforward in their likings and dislikes, nor in their speech either. I do not even know whether I look like them, nor whether if I went to their places they would not take me for some strange wild animal. I make my own clothes. I have heard

ou say suc

each me, they sing from written music-for that matter, I can sing without, which I suppose ought to be harder. But they can do all those little things, which I suppose amuse you, and of which I cannot do one. Perhaps those accomplishments, or tricks, change them so that they feel more than I do. But I do not believe it. If I had the chance of learning them I woul

of inferiority. She turned her bright eyes towards Greif with a look of curiosity, a

Greif exclaimed with all the resentment of a

eather and your mother's ribbands! There must be something more. And yet I feel that if you married some one else, I should be very unhappy and should perhaps die. Why not? There would not be anything to live for. Why can I not find some way of letting

Hilda-I nev

eeply the words had wounded her. 'It is natural, I suppose, and then, is it not better that I sh

howed itself in temperate words, which indicated a greater solidity of character than the young man had given her credit for. He had not realised that a love developed by natural and slow degrees, without a shadow of opposition, could be deeper and more enduring than the spasmodic passion that springs up amidst the unstable

er passive hand in his, hoping to make the peace as quickly as he

use, in some way or other, it must be my fault. Forgive you? There is nothing to forgive, dear. Why should one not speak out

f sm

ve told me you thought I might change-do you not r

' she answered. 'E

e answer to what she had said, he could think of nothing better than to press her hand gently and stroke her long straight fingers. Presently, the pressure was returned an

and you better tha

ame again quite passive in his, and she onc

ked indifferentl

id Greif, finding that he had made a mis

do you mean?' Hild

st,' answered Greif, w

for ever! Love is so much better than any discussion about it, so much sweeter than anything that you or I can say in its favour, so much more real and lasting than the meaning

, sweetheart. Where did yo

e the heart feels what it is talking about, and the head only thinks it feels. Do you see

se, which indeed contain

osophy understand that,' he answered, 'yo

re were a professor here, I would try and persuade

ill be-you represent what Plato

was

ly perfection,'

o himself? I do not know much about him, but I have r

for no one has noticed it, not even the

warzburg?' Hilda asked,

me. It will not seem long-t

hat she and her mother must do before the wedding. 'But the lo

. 'And in the new year we will be married,

gmundskron, as you

we will go away for

married. We will go to Italy,

o you think we shall not be as happy here as anywher

nor anything of the world. Would you not care

gh on that day, and the big firs-they saw my great-grandfather's wedding, Greif! I would rather stay in the old place, for a little while. And, after all, you h

s he drew her cheek to his, and he said no m

sappeared, but the discussion had left its impress far in the depths of Hilda's heart. It had never occurred to her in her whole life before that any one, and especially Greif, could doubt the reality or the strength of her love. What had now passed between them had left her with a new aspiration of which she had not hitherto been conscious. She felt that hereafter she must find