The Breaking of the Storm, Vol. III.

ghts Re

KING OF

.--Con

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lk; and thinking that Carla and the Count were already gone, was going, out of courtesy, to invite Frau von Wallbach to accompany her. Hat and shawl in hand, she was coming out of the Baroness's rooms, and innocently lifting the portière of the anteroom, had become a very unwilling spectator of the little scene which took place between the Count and Carla. In her consternation she had let the curtain fall again, and without even thinking wh

oken--in good time! But that would not be like Ottomar. No man would take it patiently--and he! so sensitive, passionate, and violent, who had so often risked his life in a duel on the slightest provocation--a disagreeable word, a look--which gave him offence! But, on the other hand, had he really a right to feel himself offended? Had he really tried to retain Carla's love, or even first to win it, as it was his duty to do, after he became engaged to her? Had he not neglected her in the eyes of the world? left her, unguarded and unsheltered, to throw herself into that roaring whirlpool of social life in which she had formerly moved with such fatal enjoyment, and in which she had gained such brilliant triumphs? If so, he would have no betrayed love, only wounded vanity to avenge--to risk his life for a thing in which he d

misery, and never, never again to leave him. And if this highest happiness were denied her, if she must return to the slavery of these intolerable circumstances--out into the open then, over the brown meadows, through the dark fields, to the white dun

it. Elsa did not like it; she would rather have met no one, since she dared not hope to meet him for whom she longed; but an attempt to get round the outside of the barn was frustrated by wet ground here and a hedge there. She must turn back or pass through the farm--a little, melancholy, quiet farm, a few tumble-down out-

y. The man called the animal back. At the first sound of his voice, Elsa, to whom the whole scene had appeared wonderfull

, holding out her hand.

unburnt face. "Come, this is

en, that I wa

iled in his m

h a thing? But that you should have rem

with some embarrassment, that during the week she had been at Warnow she had never been beyond the garden, and had not now intended any visit; in fact, that she had not known that these buildings, whi

armer; "but since you say so, I believe you. Bu

speak to your wife an

child

the farmer laid his brown hand on

over there in the churchyard. It was a sorrowful Christma

As she went in, the figure of a woman rose up from a stool near the stove, whom Elsa in the dusk, which already prevailed in the room, with its small, dull windows, took for Frau P?li

a low voice and turning away his head. "Will you not sit down

oly face, in the girl's white cheeks, in everything on which her glance fell--even in the gloomy silence of the wretched farmyard and in the dilapidated house. Had she fled from the splendid misery of the castle only to find the same helpless sorrow in the little f

day, but that in a few days she would come and spend a longer time with them. "Hardly in a few days," said the farmer;

t the room, murmuring a few words of apology, o

own one corner, and must now cover it over as well as he can, that the storm may not ca

that?" a

er is coming either. Everything here is to be pulled down and a

mething else, and if capital was wanting to rent a new, and perhaps larger and better farm, some means would be devised for that also. The great thing was, not to lose courage herself. She must think only of her husba

miled throu

ot last long, but for the moment one feels lighter; and that is a great deal when on

d had been here! He had also sought the plac

tz; "only the day before yesterday he came on fo

it to Wissow

nd half as much down to Wissow. You can see it there from the top. It is very fine up

a key from a shelf near the doo

e you?" said Elsa. "The poor girl s

w nearer to Elsa on the little sofa, and went on in a low voice, "I ought not to talk about

bidden you to speak, you

n shook

-at least I hope not, although since

said Elsa, who was frightened a

y his family, which has seen better days, and especially this sister, who had always been his pet. But what was to be done? What is done is done, and when at Christmas our little Carl died, and I could not well manage the household work, I wrote to the President's lady and she sent her here to us, and wrote at the same time such a kind letter. I will show it to you next time you come. Marie has been a real help to me, and has cost us nothing. She has saved something, and the President's lady also helped, and she has often offered me her little store. Of course I have never taken it, although I am convinced that it is honestly earned, and that he--the father--has never troubled himself about the poor thing. She told me that herself, but always added, 'He knew nothing of it--nothing at all.' But that is impossible to believe, even if we, my husband and I, had no suspicion as to who could be the father. The name should never pass her lips, the poor girl said. And even

lsa, by a strong effort overcoming her

ked out, so that I thought she had let the heater of the iron fall on her foot, or that the child had hurt itself, and rushed in. There she lay on her back on the floor, and I thought she was dead, as she neither moved nor stirred, and was cold as ice and white as a sheet. You may easily imagine how frightened I was, and I may thank God that it was no worse. I called out, and Rike, our maidservant, came, and I sent her for my husband; and it was well I did so, for Marie came to herself, looked all round her with a bewildered, glassy stare, and then to the window, and asked timidly, 'Is he still there?' I knew then for certain, and begged her, for

hands clasped in hers and l

husband. It seems to me that all the evil in the world comes from our keeping and concealing from one another o

ed her hat and shawl

rau P?litz sorrowfully; "but in

said Elsa, putting on her hat

ere

, as if she were talking nonsense. "Yes," sa

a great bend at Ahlbeck on account of the brook. But, my dear y

l you. To have one look--one look only--at the place where the man I love lives.

t of Pilots?" excl

and burst int

im," said Elsa w

z, sobbing; "and oh! how happy my h

tell whom

me this. It makes me feel quite young again. Such a charming gentleman as he is,

t tears. Elsa gently disengaged herself. "I wil

up, "you must not walk such a lon

ined to walk

already beginning to get dark, and we a

She was a good walker and had eyes like a hawk.

use, and farm, and was walking quickly through the fields along the road, of which the farm

TER

ly sign of human life. Besides that, only the brown plain, like a desert waste, as far as her eye could reach. No large trees, only here and there a few stunted willows, and some wretched shrubs by the ditches which intersected each other here and there, and by the broad sluggish st

be the sea, although she could scarcely distinguish it from the sky, for the sky above her was the same leaden colour too, only that towards the east, over the sea, it seemed somewhat darker than over the hills to the west, and in the leaden firmament hung here and there a solitary whitish speck like the smoke of gunpowder, which in the motionless air remained always in the sam

d startled from one of the many hollows on the moors, and which now hovered hither and thither in the grey atmosphere, their

t-like breath, threatening and warning her with supernatural voices. And then came another more terrible fear. Far away in the distance, at the foot of the headland, which ever stood out more majestically before her, she had

nearest to her. The men, who were already working lazily enough, let their barrows stand, and stared at her without returning her greeting. As she passed on, loud shouts and coarse la

e turned back in the deepening twilight the men would perhaps have left off work; no overseer would be there to keep their rudeness in check, and there would be the whole endless plain as far as Warnow in which these rough men might bewilder, terrify, and insult her. Should she turn back at once, while it was yet time? b

der a spell, with beating heart, up the incline, whose top stood out s

e wandered out to where the vapour of the sea and sky mingled together, and over the beautifully cur

e foot of the promontory, now lay almost directly at her feet. There also, between the houses and the sea, on the broad strand, were long moving lines of workmen as far as the two piers, which, curving towards each other, ran out into the sea. At the piers were two or three large vessels, which seemed to be unloading, whilst a fleet of fishing-boats, all

hile his thoughts are at home, tasting the rapture which he will feel after his long separation from those he loves. And she, alas! dared not hope to look int

e, where Wissow must lie, only the sky looked leaden over the edge of the plateau. Perhaps she might see it if she followed the broader road that she had now reached, and that, coming from her right,

e and there a sail was seen, and at last, immediately beneath her on this side, a white point of dune, which spread gradually like a wedge towards the headland, until it for

rms, felt that the object of her desires still lay so far off, so utterly beyond her reach--now for the first time she believed that she understood the dum

rst into tears like a helpless, lost child. She did not see that a man, who was leaning against the signal-post behind the logs, watching

ls

p with a hal

ls

ang strangely through the stillness, and she lay on

d! My Re

he cried again and again

t the sweet surprise, he drew her down to hi

on his breast. "I ha

y darlin

ome. My home is there with you. With you! Do not drive me out again into the desolate, false and loveless world which lies behind me. With you only is happiness, peace,

I came up here because it gave me no peace. I wanted to hav

t--for heav

lose to the edge of the hill, which sloped so precipitously down from its frowning

below us will be tossed in wild waves, whose spray will be thrown up even to this height. Woe to the ships that are not already safe in harbour, and perhaps even there they are not secure from its wild fury.

uty, he could not be the brave true man whom I love, if he knew that I were weeping and wringing my hands, whilst he must guide and command as on that evening;' do you remember? Do you know, my darling, that I loved you then! and do you

re looking through my telescope; it lay on the deck and I took it up. Since then it has never left me. See! it has been my talisman.

, the desert which surrounded them, the darkness which was ever deepening, and the storm which was brooding in the leaden air, over the leaden sea, like the angel of destruction over a world which he hoped to annihilate for ever, and to cast back into prim

ld spr

n I thought. We have

you goin

ke you

m this moment there shall be no fear, even before the world. I cannot live any longer without you, and you cannot live without me. If I were still in ignorance--but now I know! And, believe me, my dear father will be the first to understand. He must have known already when he said to me, what

nd then would have freed hers

t will be night. You cannot be certain of keeping to the road, which can no longer be di

t to look upon your love as a burden, if I did so? How do you know that you may not be wanted at the shortest notice? At this

ndeed righ

hand along the path by which Elsa had before reached the top, and now stood on t

I know you are on the ri

arther. Hark!

fore them and concealed from them any farther view of the other and more precipitous side. The next moment a rider appeared in si

e Count,"

ust accompany me a little way now," sh

oping down the slope, was with them in a trice. He had no doubt recognised Reinhold at once, for when he checked his horse and took off his hat

your aunt will be. She is waiting there;

ndle of his whip over

?litz that you had come here--a strange fancy, by Jove!--your aunt was determined to come herself--I had just returned with Fr?ulein von Wallbach,

om his saddle, and held

nto Elsa's eyes. She under

ll not trespass on your kindness one instant longer than is n

aid the

ll her in what company he had had the happiness of meeting her niece. He took it for granted that on his arrival the fellow would take himself off to Wissow, with some embarrassed words of explanation. And now he c

" he cried, as bowing sarcastically he galloped past and hasten

hankful I am, nor why I am so thankful. I will not trouble your loving heart yet with the hateful things I have learned. I will tell you ano

ervant. The Count had vanished. As soon as he had imparted the great discovery, with a sneering laugh to the Baroness, receiving no other reply than, "I am ob

ds her aunt. Her impetuous embrace told all that was necessary. As Reinhold stepped forward, the Baroness held o

no time to make speeches," he said, "and you

, throwing her arms round him; "God ble

isappeared behind the hill, and half an hour must elapse before it again came in sight on the plain. He had no time to wait for that. He dared not lose another moment. The beacons were already lighted below in Wissow. At that moment a light shone over the sea, it was the signal for a pilot. It would be instantly obeyed, he knew; but at any moment some new arrangements might be

hurry now, it seem

from his quick run, as he tried to pass the horse. Th

!" cried

n land," answe

oad is

for freedom i

ore! Ma

it sui

e, struck sharply by the spurs on either

a long dirk, which, sailor-

he horse," he cried, "bu

vening to you, Captain; I fo

gh, turned his horse round again, and rode off

s he now did, in the terrible moment when the sword descended upon him. Her father's sword. Good God! is it really true that the sins of the fathers are visited upo

again by a tremendous gust of wind, not this time in the upper strata of clouds, but already descending upon the heights and slopes, and wail

e would seem as child's play, and human hatred an offen

ke up for the moments lost in so painfully trifling a way, and hastened dow

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sive sultriness of the thick damp atmosphere, in which even Elsa herself found breathing difficult. She also was silent though her heart was full, for she had thankfully perceived that, come what might, her aunt would be on her side. Had she not answered the announcement of Elsa's engagement to Reinhold, startling as it must

s, and was immediately conducted by her, with the help of Elsa, to her own apartments.

te seat on account of the view from the window over the plain as far as the sea and Wissow Head, and wrote with flying pen a few heartfelt lines to her father. Neither she nor Reinhold had intended, since they were assured of each other's love, to do otherwise than wait patiently for brighter and happier days. But after what had happened she must be careful; there must be no gossip connected with the name of her father's daughter. No one could know that better, or feel it more deeply, than the dear kind father in whose righteous hands she now laid her righteous cause. She gave the letter into the care of an old and faithful servant, who, during the long absence of the owners, had been in charge of the castle, and now walked up and down her room in a strange, half-frightened, half-joyful, but wholly overpowering state of emotion. "Elsa von Werben--Reinhold Schmidt, Superintendent of Pilots. Betrothed. Berlin--Wissow." A Superintendent of Pilots! How odd! What is it exactly?--and Wissow! Does anybody know where Wissow is?--Wissow, ladies and gentlemen, is a little sandy peninsula, with about twenty houses, not one of which is a quarter the size of the shooting-box at Golmberg, or of one of the out-buildings of the ancestral castle of Golm, whose courtyard gate you pass on the road from Prora to Warnow. How extraordinary! Really! But she always had extraordinary taste!--and how wise of the Count to draw back in time from so unseemly a competition. He is said to be otherwise an agreeable man. That i

ndous thunderclap had increased her aunt's malady to this pitch; she begged her to calm herself; to allow herself to be put to bed; she would remai

her hand convulsively, and pulled her down by her on the seat. "No, no," she murmured, "not that; it is y

ringing her hands, through the large room, whi

Now or never is the time. I mu

s if struck down by the thunder which just t

! To free myself from the thraldom in which my tyrant holds me. To make the highest, gr

id Elsa, "whatever you may conf

dear hands tremble, how your whole body shakes, how you are

to you, notwithstanding that every hour I spend with you only makes me more certain that you--you above all others--would be just in the position to set aside the prejudice with which even my dear father is surrounded. Shall I confess it to you? Your relations with--with Signor Giraldi, however much you must have suffered and still must suffer from them--have seemed to me on this account to be comforting and encouraging. Whether you approve of my love or not, you will at least understand it, will be able to sympathise with what you must once have felt yourself, that one may love a man for himself alone, because one

ale face, which seemed already somewhat calmer and more composed, threw her arms round her and made her lie down

dear eyes," said Valerie. "From any other

sts, and whistled and howled round the walls, between the gables, as if wild with

o-morrow and demands his victim, and she does not and will no

t my heart has gone from him--how much, how entirely, he does not know, he does not even suspect, or she whom he once loved as well as he is capable of loving, and who so passionately loved him, would certainly no longer be alive. Yes, my dearest El

ome under his pernicious influence, and whom you must have known in the beauty and lustr

rt, I do not know, but so it was that my heart and imagination were alike undisciplined and uncontrolled. How otherwise could it have been that the bride, whose wedding was to take place in a few weeks, fell desperately in love in one moment with a man whom she saw for the first time, and against whom, moreover, even her dulled conscience warned her, and that, in spite o

did not shudder, who, laughing, pointed to one who had already done so, and before whom no gentleman took off his hat the less respe

d from us the lustre which surrounded her. From whom did the fame of the Medician Court proceed, if not from us and suc

t a mere form of words, it did not mean much at least to my mind. The fact is, he had, in his usual methodical way, made a regular programme for his whole life, and in it was laid down, that after he had served the State for a certain number of ye

y one faint consolation for me, that the mission on which Giraldi had been employed at our Court (our duchess was a Roman Catholic, you know) was ended, and he must at any rate return to Ro

in despair. And with despai

ll things a well-meaning man, who endeavoured to the utmost to act up to his favourite saying, 'Give every man his due,' so far as he understood it, and another woman would perhaps have been very happy with him. I was not, and could not be so. The profound difference between our characters could not be concealed, but seemed to show more clearly, the harder I tried to overcome it. He was extremely well-informed, I might even say learned, but with a want of sensibility which provoked me, and with a poverty of imagination which drove me to despair. Nothing was

d, in which he moved and spoke. I felt that in the dry sands of this unvarying commonplace life the roots of my mind were one after another dying down, that I began

u, Elsa, that was all I wished for. In four such years of suffering one fancies one has learned to give up even the faintest glimmer and hope of happiness. Strange delusion! As

is on looking back, but when one

Courts which we visited. I may boast that I victoriously withstood all the temptations with which I was surrounded; and yet not altogether. For if I did so--if I remained cold in presence of the passionate feelings which I roused in other hearts--if I was not touched by the love with which I inspired men whose worth I well knew, it was not conviction of the sacredness of marriage that guarded me; it was not pride; it was, although I knew it

at he was at that moment in the far West, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. A command from the Pope--or, as he said, his star--had brought him back. You will believe me, Elsa, that I speak the truth, that the agreem

nd

eady seen--had, like all the world, perceived the extraordinary charm which was even more remarkable in the man who had ripened to such splendid maturity under a tropical sun, than in the fascinating youth of former days; he probably remembered what kind friends then no doubt had told him, and what in his pride and self-confidence he had certainly not believed. And now this confidence was not broken;

assion, and would certainly give no expression to it; and, what was worse than all, he must see, or fancy he saw, that he was too late in treading the path which led to my heart--which perhaps even now would have led to it. It is so hard for a woman to shut her heart against the charm which the knowledge that she is loved sheds around her. I saw how he suffered. I suffered terribly under it; for I held it to be impossible that I could ever return his sentiments; yet I suffered with him, and pity is so near akin to love! If children had played around us, perhaps everything would have happened differently, and I truly believe that their gracious influence at this stage of our affairs would have brought about a happier ending. But as it was, the reckoning was not between father and mother, but always between man and wife, and

himself. Your father advised most strongly against it; not that he doubted that I should be victorious in the struggle to which I was to be exposed--a Werben would always, and in all circumstances, do her duty--but because he took the whole thing for a romance, that might do very well in a French play, but was altogether out of place in the realities of German life, and particularly in the case of a German nobleman and his wife. If we h

in the formalities of the service, and which revolted me the more as I had clung to him who could so write with true sisterly love, and believed myself belove

aled from you the frivolous levity with which I approached the altar. The evil disposition of my young and half-corrupted heart had not been fulfilled. I had continued a better woman than I had believed myself--yes, I may say I had grown better in time. Now that all my honest efforts were fruitless, that I knew them to be slighted and misunderstood, that I saw fate insolently challenged by the man who should have been

re terrible as it did not remain the mere fancy of a disto

ld willingly have begged her to leave off for that day, but she felt that she could not take the bitter cup from the lips of the unh

s, and then again seized Elsa's hand, which she had all along held tightly in hers, and went on with her sorrowful confes

the deepest repentance may expiate the heaviest guilt. I might call it a sudden insanity that threw me into the arms of this terrible man, in other words, that brought me to my ruin; and many things conspired together, too, to dull my feelings and judgment; the long torture which I had borne, and borne in vain, the violence with which I had been torn from such a hard-won act of resignation, the madness of a passion which, after having so long been forcibly restrained, now overflowed all barriers; the unholy charm which guilt offers to an undisciplined mind! How many have fallen who had not such temptations! But that this insanity lasted so long! that I should have known I was mad! that I chose to be so! It all appears to me now like a dark dream, in spite of the golden sun of Italy which illuminated it, of the perfume of orange blossom which surrounded it, and of the gentle tides of the blue sea which flowed about it. My husband had, after a few months, given up the futile struggle; he had gone away, beaten, broken down, without even the strength to come to any decision, on

sist upon a divorce, and as we--thanks to the devilish ingenuity of that fearful man--had never openly violated public decorum, as my husband had gone

d; we thought over what excuses I should make if I did not obey the call; but the messenger never came. But neither did that come for which we waited in more intense suspense, as my time drew ever nearer. Though indeed we should not have been easily found. We had hidden ourselves deep in the mountains in a lonely place between Amalfi and Salerno. My old Feldner was our only companion. The loveliest boy was born, and as soon a

retreat, and that she had only escaped discovery by the merest chance. The faithful soul begged us to liberate her and the child

his powers of persuasion to keep me from a step which he assured me would overthrow all our carefully-arranged plans. 'And if you do not consider yourself,' he cried, 'whom such an open admission of your position would reduce to beggary, think of our son, who would become a beggar with you. His future depends upon our caution, our foresight, our prudence; but prudence enjoins u

heir unconcealed happiness. 'Those are the people,' said Giraldi, 'to whom to entrust our Cesare. The young wife will think but little of such an addition to her cares, and the strong husband will be an admirable protector to the child. Moreover, the presence of a detachment of soldiers a

hild was well; the good Panaris (that was the name of the guide) full of joy over the

y huts. The Panaris, too, had been ready enough to undertake the charge of the child, but the man was not without many doubts, which he had secretly imparted to her. The brigands were just then gathered in unwonted force in the mountains, and in spite of the soldiers posted in various places, and of the militar

gleaming in the mildest sunshine, naturally looked upon one cause of this anxiety as exaggerated, and Giraldi laughed to scorn the other objections. 'At the worst,' he said, 'it is an attempt on the part of the

news came that my husband had breathed his last here in Warnow,

one bright spot in the infernal darkness of my unhappy soul that I never thought of myself. I lived only for him, lied for him, intrigued for him, stifled the voice of nature for him. I would have

d a nature made upon life; nay, must make if it would not lose any of the charm which surrounded it. But if the will forbade me, under penalty of disinheritance, to call the man I loved my husband before

n so deeply without asking anyone's permission--to nature and love--not one link shall fail of the chain which nature and love can forge;

ully to share. I see him now, pale and disturbed, pacing through the room, and then standing still and spu

he cried, 'and we are losing hours

?stum, when an old woman, who had been crouched on the steps of the hotel, hobbled up, and in the cool

ked round at him the old woman was disappearing round the corner of the hotel, with greater activity than I should have given her credit for, whilst he, with his back to us, was standing in the entrance of the h

e. His face was so pale, his eyes looked so gloomy, tha

just marched hastily through, a second company was on its way from Salerno to P?stum, a third was lying in wait for the robbers in the mountains. Such a measure had become really necessary. The robbers had swarme

centre of the horrors! It was in vain now that Giraldi attempted to calm me by arguing that the approach of th

k. The carriage had passed the lines against the distinct order of the colonel, and we could go no farther, as the banditti had rendered the bridge over the Sele impracticable for carriages

losing it, perhaps of having already lost it, drove me almost frantic. For the first time Giraldi had lost his po

which the banditti had carried off to the mountains. This had taken place unfortunately the evening before last, so that the robbers had had time to convey to a place of safety their prey, on which indeed they must set great store, as they had made the most tremendous efforts to attain it, and had put themselves in such evident danger to place it in safety. There was, however, still a hope of snatching their prey from them. The pursuit was hot, and the p

iciously, I did not venture to look up for shame and horror; I h

d, her sweet little Cesare. I forbade her to cry. I threatened to dismiss her. I would not endure that he who appeared to suffer so terribly under the blow should be still further distressed by her complaints. He had in no way given up hope; prisoners had reported that a certain Lazzaro Cecutti, one of their principal leaders, who had for reaso

our authorities dies quickly, they will emerge in some distant spot and demand the ransom, which is naturally the only thing they care for; and

your direction have never openly claimed the child

come to us unnoticed. You do not know either the loquacity or the cunning of my country people. The Panaris have assuredly not kept their counsel, and Lazzaro, before he achieved the robbe

ed any more about the affair, it was buried in profound silence; the silence of death! Lazzaro was dead--he must be dead--he and his mother, and--my child! They, wounded to th

aven, who had seen our firstborn given over to be a prey to the fox and the eagle, would not co

s be simple and natural like other people's? How can I do other than shudder at the possibility of finding him again when I think to myself how I must find him, who has grown up amongst robbers and murderers? in whom I have no share, save that I bore him, in whose soul I have no part? The son who would only come to help his father to rivet again the worn-out chain at the very time when I was

ers descend on to the plain, that he might be carried off at any time, that is, as soon as I showed a serious intention of producing him before the world, before the right time came. He--he himself had thrown the prey to these villains. He had learnt from the woman who came to the carriage-door that the villainous plot was c

e bond that unites bad men, that between a thoroughly bad man and one who is not utterly lost to nobler impulses is almost unbreakable, especially when that other is a woman. If she has repented her sinful life, and would turn with h

e phases. I thank heaven and you, whom heaven ha

ways been such. Even my old Feldner had long been in his pay--apparently. She takes the wages of sin, with which he pays her betrayal of her mistress, and we give it to the poor. She says nothing to him but what we have agreed upon beforehand. But since we have been here, he no longer employs her. He must even have begun to suspect Fran?ois, a crafty bad man, who had at first promised to be a particularly useful tool, an

rning after my arrival in Berlin, a few minutes before I saw your dear face for the first time. I may not, and will not importune you wi

s forfeited her inheritance, he shall have his answer, and if he announces in triumph that Ottomar has also returned to his forsaken love, and equally forfeits his inheritance, he shall not long await his answer; and if with lips trembl

dreadful confession had cost her, with what rapture her poor heart, which so thirsted for comfort, was now filled. It was long before Elsa could in any degree calm her, only at last through the consideration that she mus

showed that Nature had asserted her rights. But at last she lay really asleep. Elsa sat

nd to absolve. And as another tremendous clap of thunder now shook the old castle, and the sleeper moaned in terror, she folded her hands, not in fear, but in thankful emotion that whilst her lover was risking his dear l

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night through the straig

ifice on the Stock Exchange in quite another fashion, and many a great house which appeared this morning to stand firm enough, and command the market, will be shattered to its foundations, and will drag others down with it to disgraceful failure. Like this one here for instance; it is just finished after years of labour, having cost untold sums, and its magnificence having roused the astonishment of everybody who was favoured with a view of it, and the eager curiosity of the many who were obliged to content themselves

ms through the great plate-glass windows, with their crimson silk hangings, and shines like daylight upon us out here in the dark! No contemptible gas except in the passages and corridors! That is how it is in the Emperor's palace, and he must have the same. That splendid awning before the door, which is being blown about by the wind, the Brussels carpet which is laid in the dirt of the street from the door to the carriages, will be thrown into the dust-hole to-morrow in rags and tatters. Why not? That is what they are for. But come--the police are already beginning to look indignantly at us. They suspect our wicked doubts about the sacred rights of order, which consist in plate-glass windows, marble doorways, fringed awnings,

r an invitation, but eventually entrusted the honour to Herr von Wallbach. The dissension between the Werbens and the Wallbachs was no longer a secret, at least from her. Dear Giraldi, who was, however, discretion itself, and

areful about the most trifling details. And if dear Carla had tried to comfort herself in her grief--of course, my dear Wallbach, what was she to do? It speaks for itself. And she had the dear Count there under her very hand! Oh! Mon Dieu! How I have been deceived in Ottomar, but they have, none of them, been good for anything. I knew his grandfather, and even saw his great grandfather when I was

onjure you by all that

rm, and point out a few interesting people. Will Lasker be here, too? What do you say? One ought not to talk of the hangman.-- What is it to me if tag and rag fall out

his house, though several illustrious names would not appear in the list of those present; as, for instance, that of Count Golm. One could not have everything and everybody at once. He was, and always had been, a modest man; and that "a king's glory was his state, and our glory was the labour of our hands," was a saying which he had, all his life, held to, and hoped to continue to do so. Were the pillars which supported the orchestra real marble? Certainly. He was the son of a worker in marble. He might say that everything her ladyship saw here was real, save, perhaps, a little of th

t is much more comfortable. What a capital idea to put a refreshment-room so close to the ball-room, and such good things too. What have you got there, my dear! Oyster patties? Delicious! Young man, bring some oyster patties and a glass of Chateau Yquem. How well that sort of man understands bringing people together. Of co

s, dear Baroness," whis

ourselves!" cried B

s expected to be h

g quite common. Come, come, I meant no harm; I readily allow the greatest latitude in the upper circles, if only th

began waving her gigan

ness?" whispered Baroness Holzwe

n ourselves, you kn

imagine, de

dies disappeared for a long

e all facts,

ere are limits to everything. Is not that him there behind the door? Actually! and tal

h her glass to her half-blind eyes, towards the two gentl

sitting, with an evil smil

can understand either secret or open engagements, but not those that cannot be made public! And his arrogant sister,

s with Baroness Kniebreche, and I could not get away from Madame Veitel, or whatever she calls herself. She chatters and chatt

s between ours

quite easy

one maliciously listening, the other spiteful

ooms for half an hour, met Herr von Wallbach

"the heat, the noise, the eve

e said, "Lasker! it is a terrible blow. Such a splendid business. We shall never recover the

find that the sun of radicalism, which shines so brightly just now, is itself not without a flaw. The Government, if only to anger the opposition, will guarantee the interest for a sufficient loan f

ave to wait a long time for the payment of the seco

you paid him have gone down so far. If I had only been listened to, he must have paid the whole million at once, when

instalment. The money, if all happens as you say, is as good as the Baroness's property already; but, nevertheless, we must one of these da

re e

e when I was quit of the whole thing. At any rate I shall make Schieler represent me at the trustees' meeting.

ignatures which must be amongst them--how should he have managed otherwise

At the best there wil

hear of the new engagement at the same time that they hear

bach looked v

" he said, "the Count's position has become much

res may go up again, or the powerful hand which enabled him to pay the first instalment may be held out to him again. If it is not, why, the trustees must ag

von Wallbach; "that woul

s hand over

seen Wer

s dancing away the sorrows of her young widowhood. The polka is over. I will beg for a few more details from the c

m, making as he passed a sign to Bertalda, whom he met on the arm of a very smart officer. Bertalda di

ting Bertalda by a gesture to take a pla

d to you. I was really in great

ey. So long as you oblige me, that is sufficient

really did my best,"

e?" asked Gira

r so much about her br

ss--and s

l, one knows what it is when a girl, who is really in love, is waiting for her lover. A ring was heard. 'Who can that be?' said I. 'Perhaps it is Herr von Werben,' said Johanna, who naturally knows all about it. 'What brings him here to-day? Perhaps a bouquet; he is always so attentive,' said Johanna. She turned white and red in one mo

, "as if I could wait a hundred years. I had so set my ho

will do himself a mischief, if he doesn't get the girl. It is no joke, I can tell you, to deal with them both. If

ant to come h

will come still. An hour or so of that sort of thing gets tiresome, here it is d

that I expect him to-morrow morning b

for you everywhere,

tastefully-dressed partner, who smilingly took his arm,

had not his conversation with Herr von Wallbach just now shown him that there were at any rate waverings in that quarter as to whether matters should be allowed to come to extremities? Herr von Wallbach had from the first declared that he did unfortunately share Giraldi's "suspicion" that there had been some ugly circumstances connected with Ottomar's continual drawing of bills of exchange, but that he would never directly interfere upon that point himself. If this suspicion should be justified--possibly at the next final settlement of the trustee business--he should of course be obliged to take notice of it; all the more in proportion to the extent to which the report might already have spread, but still he should only do so to express his sorrow and his conviction that such ugly rumours must disappear as absolutely as they had arisen mysteriously. On the other hand, if any positive proof appeared of the relations that Giraldi maintained still existed between Ottomar and Ferdinanda, he--Wallbach--was quite determin

err von Wallbach indeed!

ys a little unsteady, was thinking of anything

plainly, to mix himself up more directly in the business than before, an

t hand, his crush-hat on his knees, while from time to time joyous couples hastened past him to the ball-room, where they

then, before it was fired, be so deeply laid that not one stone upon another should remain of the edifice of th

uld appear as the mistress and superior? Well, she would do so at her peril! He was prepared for it too. The time for temporising, waiting, diplomatising, would be over at once; th

up, and he started as he met the fie

ut his hand with his most bewitching

e offered hand to his heart; "the maestro was desired to bring a

re you not

ng acquainted with so many beaut

ised in Bertalda the veiled lady who came to see Ferdinanda. It was extremely improbabl

my happiness, An

ness. Who can deserve it better?" ans

Have a little patience only, and your probation will be ended, and you will have everything your heart can wish for--yes, more than you have dreamed of in your wildest dreams; but, above all, revenge--the most brilliant, triumphant, heart-stirring revenge--upon your

all-room, again pressed

Why had he not told him the real state of the case? Why did he not tell him the lady's name today? Why had he passed as quickly as possible to another subject--or rather had only repeated the same fine speeches with which he had so often flattered his confiding companion, although to this day not one of his promises had come true? And were these to suffice him? Was he to prolong his miserable life for this--he whom the clever signor had long ceased t

should wait for him, whether it would not be better to go away now and leave things to take their course. The train for Sundin started at one o'clock. It was now twelve; he had still half an hou

e lost son! But the experiment had entirely failed; it had even rather had the contrary result, and had shown him more clearly than ever that her heart was more and more, perhaps was entirely, turned against him. And even if, perhaps under other circumstances, he returned to his plan, there was no use thinking any more of Antonio, against whom Valerie's suspicions had once been roused. She would not now believe in the strongest proof, to say nothing of a more or less well-invented fiction. And it was for this, for this hollow mockery, that he had inspired that passionate spirit with brilliant hopes and ambitious dreams, which must soon prove themselves an empty nothing, in which the young man himself perhaps no longer believed. There was sometimes a wild glare in the black eyes that had suggested to him that the young man would sooner or later go mad--perhaps w

nd still had his back to him. He could still get away through the door against which he was leaning into the next room, and out of the house. That would be best. After all his arrangements were made, the manager might give up the stage to his puppets. What need was there of a dagger in this domestic drama?

and, passing through some side-rooms and down the brilliantly

, and an elderly gentleman, who took off his fur coat whilst the servant was helping Giraldi on with his. The I

iraldi! Are you

cillor, and the heat and n

vain. I must talk to you at least for a moment. What do y

wh

f what? Good heavens! Is it possible to talk abo

man and every fourth lady is talking about it

e only man who would not hear of a postponement of the date of payment of the second half of the

cile oneself to

up for it. I only heard to-day that you--I presume on the part of the Baroness,

met together lik

talking--against h

ows his shares into the market, depreciates their value, and in short amuses himself. I regret,

said G

alf million of the mortgage, after you had declared your fixed resolution in any other case to move for an immediate public sale. I cannot blam

bbener's finances by

our business with him. He was furious. He said it had done for him, and for our whole enterprise. Lasker's speech this morning--shares went

said Giraldi. "But pardon me, Coun

not come

o acc

or. "I would go with you if it were not fo

not s

that I have just heard from the Minister who sent for me, and has only jus

ave of you. I am rea

these downstairs rooms sounded from above the wild strains of a furious waltz, and the dumb rush an

ve been obliged to pay him with shares, of course, like all the world. How he is to meet his engagements now that our shares ha

world were coming to an end in ha

ed look had shot out of Giraldi's great black eyes, although h

r before the big looking-glass. "Strange what odd ideas come into my head when I am with that man! Such calmness at such a moment! He doe

aving the cloak-room, when another guest stepped hastily in, and throwing his fur coat on the table, called to the servant, in a

bbener, what is th

orrified Councillor into the farthest corner of the cloak-room, and said, as he stood on the tips of h

mind was still full of the Italian's im

ilip--S

rey, was now ashy-white; the little black eyes, which generally twinkled so merrily, were now fixe

selow just before closing-time, to see if he could not help me with a hundred thousand or so to-morrow, as I had had a somewhat heavy payment to make, for which I was not pr

"as the agent of the Baroness, to whom the half belongs,

p the price notwithstanding to thirty; this morning that abominable speech of Lasker's--down they go to twenty; this afternoon I have to

Minister, too, was quite in despair to-day; but--shall we not go upstairs? We can go on

said L

h he could see out of the cloak-room into the vestibule, shook his head and

r now?" said the C

om. They could hear nothing, and were moreover occupied in arranging their

ted with his finger in the direction from which the noise of the ball came--"was

s!" said the

told the clerk I had some business still to do--true enough"--the Councillor had bent his head so low that the banker was whispe

matter for the

ssed the banker's

at deal of trouble to

then

nker n

d w

wanted me to show myself here, bec

lor. "It is very, very painful--still--I wi

tep towards the

t," cried Lübbener, hold

servants rushed from behind their table to the window. The pretty girls who had

re blowing on the broad landing of the staircase. They turned their instruments upwards to right and left, as if to summon the assembly from ab

re, could not but allow, whilst the servants broke out into loud cries of admiration; only Herr Lübbener's grey

surrounding passages were still swarming with the gay crowd, which while waiting for the stairs to be free for them, could meanwhile enjoy the brilliant spectacle from above all the longer. Preceded by the trumpeting heralds they paraded the vestibule, which was decorated by Justus's four st

" asked Lübbener,

ighing; "with my old friend Baroness Kniebreche on

or," said Lübbener; "if only for the reason that

cillor, sighing; "then there is

e, into the vestibule, where they mingled with the last comers, who, now that

PTE

or eight or ten people each. But as it had been foreseen that this would not be the case, tables were also laid in the great conservatory, which stood at right angles with the dining-room and

rs and some ladies belonging to the theatre, amongst whom was Bertalda, were tryin

ew friends there in the corner, and if our garden is not quite

is the lady in silver gre

carnival freedom reigns here. She is a cousin of

resounded from t

s!" from that

enjoy yourself,

ustus; and to himself

om he kept up a constant correspondence, new and worse things of Carla, wh

and Carla have got some understanding between them. If only Ottomar would let her go! but he is the sort of man who, if any one tries to take from him w

artistic tastes, you know!"--and how darkly and restlessly gleamed the eyes in which he had just looked! "The handsome face sunken and wasted as if in the

for?" cried Kille, the architect, a

ere!" cried Bencke, t

ndustry,' which is so much awry that it i

ch has been cutting everybo

ll!" said Justus, taking a place next to Bunzel's "cousin," and passing

all belief, while the architect declared that the man might certainly be right on the whole--there were stranger stories even connected with some of the railroads--but of actual building he knew no more than a new-born babe; till one or the other who thought the conversation was getting too serious, threw in some wild joke, and the laughter that had been for a short time checked resounded again louder and more heartily than ever. And at the other tables, if there was perhaps less mirth, there was no less noise. The champagne flowed in streams. The innumerable servants had enough to do to renew the empty bott

accustomed in such a house as this. It is and will always remain the house of a parvenu. But I was going to ask you,

child, you have told me so much, that I positively have forgotten

hat our relations have been disturbed lately, is mos

t wash fur without wetting it. That's nonsense. If you want to have a row, have it--if not, let it alone; but don't bo

ered Wallbach, as he returned

with praises of the splendid feast, there with cordial shouts, "Splendid, my dear fellow!" "Well done, my boy!" and at several points with hurrahs and drinking of healths; while at others people seemed to require

aller table close by, and with a wave of his hand and a jesting word to the young men was passing on farther, when a hoarse well-known voice said: "Now then, Schmidt, are not we to have the honour?" Philip's face quivered, but it was beaming as if in joy

or, touching Philip's extended glass wit

re amusing yourse

"We can see here into both roo

t place in the room. The best in the house! Where would r

s arms, and held him, not daring to resist, pressed to his bre

d Philip, letting Lübb

and gent

er speeches. He had so placed himself, glass in hand, between the dining-room and the conservatory that he might have been hear

a chair,

r, h

airs, Norberg; o

and gent

der! Silence

they drew the attention of their neighbours, and though silence was not attained, Herr Norberg, with renewed hopes, exerted the full force of his lungs

rman proverb says that every

! hear

nd smith's work, and the work fails in consequen

Hear! Sile

assured that it is a work which he need not

Bravo! B

o have still much to learn, and who wish to learn, will watch his fingers in order to

o! Br

rr Norberg, now sure of his effect,

urse, the anvil--the immovable anvil,

r! h

s, and tested as it is by the enduring and flattering confidence of the initiated,

o! br

e raised against it and its like, if such there be, even sh

ndemned by the majority of the company, it was impossible to decide. Encouraging, even enthusiastic acclamations, in which Norberg's particular friends were the loudest, words of dissatisfaction, of disapproval, even of the greatest indignation, all

on which belongs to all creative power. Provided with these tools, and gifted with these qualities, it had been possible for the master to attain to this imposing result; to carry through his vast plans in spite of the indifference of the public, in spite of the ignorant opposition of the authorities; to make new roads for trade, convenient ways for commerce, towards the completion of which he was now working, it might reasonably be hoped not in vain, in spite of all and everything. Lastly, as the keystone of the e

sy flourish from the band, while the speaker descended from his chair and received, with proud modesty, the thanks of his host and the congratulations of the guests

answered Herr Norberg complacently; "but now, Schm

lf!" chimed in the guests;

, "after such a speech! Let me hav

couragingly and patronisingly, "I know all about

u thin

isten! don'

and as his appearance in that place was already expected, there ensued at any

artfelt as it was, could be expressed in a few words which, however, came from the heart. Besides, it was not expected from the man of deeds, in which capacity he had just been honoured, that he should be an orator like his predecessor, whose speech it was easier to criticis

n--without discount--with interest!

so, the full praise! But, gentlemen, what of the head, the min

thousand shares in you!" shri

hing exists, the King himself must lose his rights. I am no Prince and Imperia

the storm of applause which his last wo

le must combine. And with me it is no accidental chance, but a dispensation of Providence, and a sure confirmation, that in this moment, without any previous agreement, as you will believe me on my word, the two men who are my associates in b

ext moment, raised and held fast by the irresistible hands of the half-intoxicated crowd, the two gentlemen named by Philip

m I were nothing; but as we three are one, and cannot with the best wishes for health drink our own healths, I ask you, we ask you for a cheer, a hearty cheer for those whom we hav

had sprung quickly from their chairs, were overpowered with shaking of hands and congratulations, great excitement reigned in the group of artists. Of course somebody must answer, but who should it be? The historical painter would just as soon have mounted the

l; "he can take the opportunity of p

here that requires setting to rights undoubted

! hear! Silence!" th

a capo!" shrieke

gentlemen," said Justus, who w

he eldest nor the youngest amongst us, neither the one who has the greatest merit with regard to this beautiful house, nor perhaps the one amongst us who has sinned most with regard to it; b

o!" exclaime

o give a cheer for him, who has already spoken himself to-day, and has spoken to my heart, and, I know, to the hearts of many in this company; and to give a second cheer for him, because it would ill become this company if a wor

figure, and his clear voi

ve Edwar

been shocked at the previous offensive words, and they were many, cheered with them, and the music sounded in the midst, so that th

tlemen who were all talking to him at once, with violent gesticulations, hoping and expecting that he would properly resent and punish such a public insu

s he unwillingly bent towards him, whispered in his ear, it became white as

s the ge

he billiard-room," answere

and brought the words out with diffic

ne wit

and out in the street and i

ill you

ingly

to have had at least another week's law. The devil must have prompted Lübbener. However, the great haul must in the end have failed, and he had got the ready money, at any rate, provided; but he must venture it! If he could only get out of the house, they must be more than cunning--he had had everything prepared for weeks in case of

"I have still some arrangements to make for the cotil

at the same time he caught Lübbener by the wrist, as if i

want?" gasp

ding his teeth, "that you shall

rvatory with a firm step, passed into the billiard-room, to meet a gentleman who stood there alone with folded arm

d Philip, who still hel

r, unfolding his arms so slowly that he cou

s me this pleasur

btful one, Herr Schmidt. I

hat Philip could easily have read it by the lamp over the billiar

there! a double hazard too! Are y

m have--for instance, not at present. I must t

just imagine--four hundred people, and

t be po

less. Remain by my side, of course--a cousin who has just arrived--what you will! Your men, in plain clothes I take it

f equipages, so that we need not again pass through the vestibule. You see, Herr Schmidt, I go to work wit

he held in his hand from hi

ll satisfy you; but I hop

hat, only you must submit

Müller, between men!

In the library, which opened out of the billiard-room,

, Herr Müller," said P

, Herr S

honour to make no attempt at escape, which would moreover be quite fruitless, I can"

err Müller, I can think of nothing else. I would van

could not

vestibule again,

-gilt railing, by means of which the library was connected with the upper story of the right wing, which was se

ient as it certainly is to me, I cannot

oor in the corridor i

ight, through that door into my living rooms, which are to-day being used also as company r

o first; for the time being, at

shut the door upon him, which opened inwards, to stop it with his outstr

ssed through, was brilliantly lighted with wax candles; "furnished in French style, and as if it were for a young lady who had just returned home from

round as if to assure the Inspector that there was no second door in the space left free by the carved oak wardrobes, and that the one they

droom while you are dre

hite waistcoat and undid his tie; "I hope yo

out quite shutting the door, and took hi

y, although I cannot see it. Only a few minutes, Herr Müller; I am just as if I had come out of the river. My whole house is ventilated after the

ly afraid that, discreet as I have been, the rumo

hat he had been for some days in frightful difficulties, and was certain that our preference shares were not safe from him. No respectable bank would advance him a farthing upon the whole four million; but some swindling firm--he knows plenty of them--might advance him six or eight hundred thousand--a mere nothing in his position, but when there is nothing better to be had the devil himself eats fl

rds, in which he was hunting about. "Varnished boots? Impossible! these are the right ones--these," the officer heard him say, as if

behind which one or two ladies and gentlemen could be seen. The supper had apparently lasted too long for the lovers of dancing, and since the master of the house had vanished, they wanted to set

ertainly not literally as he represents it, but Lübbener is perhaps the biggest

window back into the room.

ans

! the man must have d

e candelabra burnt on the dressing-table--coats

dt," said the officer, looking towards the

t! This scarcely perceptible crack, where the darker stripes of the hangings met the lighter wainscoting--wonderfully done!--and here below, hardly visible, the tiny lock. Herr Müller pushed and kicked against the door, only to discover that it was made of iron and would

horses of a third recoil. In the midst of the frightful confusion and the tremendous noise that ensued, the shouts of the officer were overpowered, until at last one of the policemen remarked them, but without being able to understand a word his superior said. Nevertheless, he hurried out of the court into the vaulted passage which, running on the right side of the building and round behind the court, connected the latter with the street, and was used for the exit of the carriages, those coming in entering on the opposite side, to tell his comrades who were posted there that something had happened, and t

ed upstairs?" cr

ed the tall servant. "I am going for the doctor,

glance at the card. "Let him pass. He is g

e steps," was the

e off w

cabs which stood before the house, only carriages being allowed inside the courtyard, and sprang into the end o

fusion increased as the ab

was Baroness Kniebreche, although Herr vo

yes; at the same table? I have noticed him already this evening--a foreigner, we do not grow such plants. He, moreover, never takes his eyes off Ottomar's table. He seems to be struck by the pretty ballet-dancer. I cannot understand how Ottomar can go on flirting with Ferdinanda, when he has such a choice before him. But it is no use disputing about taste; it is a wonderful thing. That faded Agnes Holzweg and Prince Wladimir. Well, he cannot be very particular, and it seems to be going off too, as he has not even been here for a few minutes. Ta

horrified Wallbach, "you have n

losed fan, "there, at the first--second--fourth table! The men are coming

Herr von Wallbach; "it is getting too bad. A

ed," said the Baroness, "but I am

with wine and ices seemed little inclined to do his errand, and he was

alking to his friend Bunzel as quietly as if the storm which he had raised, and w

th you, He

stus, jumping up; "but for heav

ha

cheerful before, but now--has an

in--I know that you are very intimate with Captain Schmidt, and I have just heard that t

zing with fury and an excitement which rose above the fu

part has made my friend hold back, and caused him to leave you in ignorance of his understand

eeply regret that I did not cultivate Captain Schmidt's friendship--however, I admire and esteem him highly, v

is hand ove

possibility?" ask

le passed over t

nd that out--this evening--just now--a man in my position cannot allow his name to be in ever

nd Justus into the room as if seeking some one, and they kept thei

e by your eyes that you know what I mean. And you--but the others, who are talking of it all round

e everything at the sa

s until it suits one of them to speak out. I

crifices has Moloch already required! Poor boy! I like him in spite of all the harm that he has already done and that he stil

ing eagerly, near the table at which Ottomar and the other officers had supped, with the piquante young lady whom one of the officers

ched the insinuating manners of his handsome assistant and the smiles of

ho belonged to the "young men's table." "He will soon finish them off," thought Jus

o wish long life to Laske

answered Justus, with a courteous bow, as he con

her, although it, as well as half those at the table, had long been unoccupied, said in

will you allow me to tro

tomar wanted to ask, and that Baroness Holzweg must have repeated what she had t

u like, my dear

ach on the other, and which have come to my ears from Herr von Grieben amongst others, are traced hack to yo

, my dear child," said t

uch the shorter. From who

ll the world is t

at answer, my dear lady; I m

aid the Baroness in her rudest

ainly sought for some willing messenger through the whole room, now returned

erson who has set in motion certain rumours about myself and your

h, who had turned very pale, "this is n

nce, but often, and with many people. However, I have naturally no desire to enter into a controver

just possible--made some communication

explanation which Herr von Wallbach will be good enough to give me? You say, Herr von Wallbach, that it is quite poss

mmunication you are thinking

ornful movement of his lip, whilst his flashing eyes seemed to pierce

"of course, I will put you au courant at once. Herr von Wallbach, yo

ss, whilst Wallbach was surrounded by several of his acquaintances, who from a distance had watched the scene betwee

on Werben," Bertalda was just saying, her eyes shining w

to that gentleman

is to take me back again. He wanted to go before.

n, with a shake of the hand and the words, "To

to dance the next waltz with me," said Berta

new it was in Justus's studio. This was Justus's Italian assistant, whom Ferdinanda had warned him against, of whom she had said that he persecuted her with his love, that she trembled before his jealousy! In the black eyes which were fastened upon him there gle

d in his haughtiest tone; "I was just going

artists, who were greater frequenters of

y home by-and-by," he said

lew into Ot

ried between his teeth,

ttomar's arms, and drew him on one side. At that moment, a perfect swarm of men, who had assembl

ide--from the vestibule into the supper-room. It had already reached the dancers above, who were hastening down the broad stairs, whilst many others met them from the supper-room. "Is it possible?--Have you heard?--Good heavens!--Pretty

ere streaming out of the rooms into the vestibule and clo

n tried to stem the current. The terrified people crowded in confused masses from the brightly-illuminated house, whic

OK

PTE

ich not com

Gen

already upon the door,

t!" said t

in his countenance, not anger, as August assured himself by one nervous glance upwards, but something

nt; Friedrich will perhaps not return immediately, and I am losing pr

e could answer: "Yes, General; Friedrich told me, and he has already two or three times had to take things there when the Lieuten

riedrich to me now. It is possible that I may

ill be ready

ot breakfa

oming to speak to you,

am busy--you must te

eartfelt anxiety, longed to say: "If only our young lad

urmured the General, "so I su

breath and passed his hand over his bushy brows, as if trying to sweep away from his mind, like a bad dream, the fearful thing which he read there. Not merely what he read! between the lines there flitted to and fro terrible things which he himself had mentally inserted whilst he read, as in a ba

was that to which the unhappy man's wandering

life upon his unimpeachable honour. Might not Wallbach's cowardice--he had always thought the man a coward--be taking advantage of Ottomar's difficulties, which "had reached a height and as

hat he possessed, he could not make up more than about ten thousand thalers. That might not be enough; as much again might perhaps be wanted; it should be found then, it must be found--it must! Ottomar had evidently sent his man for his sash that he might make the necessary communication to his colonel of what had occurred. Herr von Bohl would of course require that the money difficulties should be settled before bringing the matter before a court of honour. He himself would then become surety to the fullest extent for Ottomar's debts; their old friend would for once--once more! not look too closely into it; he would accept the surety and let the matter rest till all was settled. If only Ottomar would not now, at this very time, let himself be led into taking steps--that must be the meaning of the obscure part of Wallbach's letter; what else could the man mean?--steps which

ming in unannounced, but I did not find your servan

ally marked the Captain's well-cut features had given pl

d the General, mastering his fears, and

hose bills of Ottomar's which are due to-day, and are in the hands of a banker here, whose address I know, must be paid. I know also the total of them. The sum is large, so large that so far as I know, General, neither you nor I alone could pay it

of his position, perhaps make it impossible for his friends, with the best will in the world, to help him. However painfully his pride was wounded by the conviction that he could not avert the threatening danger by his own efforts, he had made up his mind, even while Sch?nau was speaking, to accept t

sked, "and for how much s

and I only ask now for a line to y

tion," said the General, as with ra

isfied that the remainder does not surpass my means, and that it will

clear voice faltered as

th each other. He had shared this view, not without some regret. Could he have been mistaken? Could Sch?nau--it would be no detraction from his generosity--be offering help less to the father of his friend than to the father of the girl he loved? In the exc

round the Captain's

xpect nothing, I assure you, but the continuatio

ke everything from the full hands of this generous friend, with no power of returning to him anythin

nature wanting," urged Sch?na

t, Sch?nau!" s

Captain, "life and death

or, he had turned and saw Col

with a desperate effort to save what was

then had been to him already--had told him everything; the affair

the stamp of a solemn gravity upon it now, as he

e a communication to make to the General which will adm

s lips, but he restrained him

ay my respects meanwhile to Fr?ulein Sidonie!" then, after a little pause: "In ca

t Sch?nau had not said, and that the Colonel had now come to say. He shuddered as before when he had laid down Wallbach's letter; again there came upon him that agony of fear, only now it was no longer lingering at the threshold; now it

and said to himself, at the same

el shook

ld not tell you all, or rather, as I suspe

anything," said the Ge

olonel shoo

You must be prepared for the worst; your son's b

el sprang forward to save him from falling, but with a frightful effort the unhappy man recovere

o his chair, pressing his cold hands to his throbbing temples,

eat difficulty retain his own compo

oo well that you will not take it as an extenuating circumstance that it w

id the General; "the fact is irr

so steady, stared vacantly into nothing; the voice that had formerly been so strong and decided, sounded harsh and wavering as if his mind

concerning on the one hand his relations with Fr?ulein Ferdinanda Schmidt, and on the other Fr?ulein von Wallbach's conduct with Count Golm, which reports could only have originated with Herr von Walbach. That Herr von Wallbach, without further reference to the truth or untruth of these reports, or to his share in spreading th

tion, he refused to mention even to Herr von Lassberg, could only be, according to your son's assertion, the very man with whose assistance this mi

d the General. "My son

difficulties, to speculate on the Exchange, under a feigned name of course; that he enticed him into the wildest speculations, allowed him to win two or three times at first, till suddenly the luck changed and turned more and more against him; and then, as usual, bills had to be given, to which at first your son's name was put, and afterwards, as the sums grew larger, yours, General, was forged, with the help of the credit which Signor Giraldi enjoyed, although he declares himself to be without any available means. That the bills might not come into your hands too soon, they were lodged at first with various bankers, and finally with one alone whose name has unfortunately escaped me. Signor Giraldi undertook to meet them regularly as they fell due, and promised of course to meet them also to-day when the enormous sum of twenty thousand thalers is due. Herr von Werben of course went at once, on the receipt of Herr von Wallbach's answer, to Signor Gir

d of the story, and undoubtedly also upon the same brief and bloody end which in his innermost heart he felt to be unavoidable. But this man was the father! he had not fully considered that before.

found

h?nau to come in

tanding why the Colonel should ask the question, having

y informed his commanding officer of his misconduct, and that the latter, as was to be expected from his opinions and his ideas of honour, had acquainted Ottomar's father with what had occurred; with the miserable anxiety which increased every moment till it became an unspeakable terror, that now--now--at this very moment might happen, perhaps had already happened, what must pl

who has been educated in those pernicious principles has no safeguard in the critical moments of his life such as religion and family honour, thank God, afford us. At such moment he seizes--not I dare say without some struggles--for after all we are all children of God, however few of us walk in His ways--but still he seizes upon improper, doubtful, desperate, and even criminal means. Millions, so I am told, he has stolen from a safe entrusted to him; and then to take flight at the very moment when he was giving a large party. What recklessness! what a want of the most ordinary delicacy, although, quite between ourselves, my dear Sch?nau, I do not think it particularly delicate of us to take part in festivities which end in such a wa

in a way which so little agreed with his usual irreproachable demeanour, that Sidonie, as the door clo

said August, as they crossed t

looked

ld not you let a faithful servant, sir, who has been eight years in the family, and would go

e honest fellow's cheeks, and

tell you. We must hope

August h

ink man can do much. But I wanted to say, too, if you wished, sir, to speak t

n, but, as the youngest, did not venture to break the unnatural stillness. At last the General raised his head;

aptain, what--on

with difficulty

Signor Giraldi had initiated him into the minutest details of this unfortunate affair. From him also I learned the sum at stake, and the name of the banker who held the bills, who happens to be also my uncle's banker, and with whom I am personally acquainted through business which I have transacted for my uncle--Messrs. Haselow & Co, I hastened there at once, but came too late; Ottomar had just been there. I am s

tain he

just punishment," said the

beyond all men, from unmerited

, Captain von Sch?nau!" said t

Colonel, had received an official communication, of which you were obliged to take notice, the more

ent was effected you would have considered the affair at an end? I confess

, I did not inte

would communicate your opinion to me without res

ourse would require also that my friend should be spared to a certain degree. That is to say, the bills must be paid, as I hoped to be able to pay them with the General's help, and they must be paid as the

s action if not to his views. Even in this light the matter was one of great gravity, the Colonel felt and knew this well; but the sight of the venerable man before him so utterly broken down, the remembrance of Ottomar's thousand proofs of courage before the enemy, and all the tender memories and compas

three days' leave of absence, which he had requested on account of private affairs, though he entered into no particulars on the subject, nor did he confide to me the object of the journey which he must undertake in consequence. This leave of absence will be a very proper prepara

ard the unexpectedly happy result of the interview, and he knew too

atter of the bills, if the General will have the goodness to give me his authority, and then, with your permission, inform Herr von Werben, whom I think I k

el had ri

entlemen," sai

per and tore it into two pieces, which

e alone in his study had torn up and thrown away a letter that had now become worthless. The Captain

r the humanity which would have extended to another man's son the mercy you would surely have denied to your own; you, my dear

rbid!--allowed a man who is himself not rich, like you, my dear Sch?nau, to impoverish himself for the sake of a swindler, my son would then be allowed, there being nothing further against him, to retire with honour. His Majesty, our gracious commander-in-chief, would certify to the honour of a man, who, before God and his conscience, before his father and yo

a thousand new lies; and we who sit here should have spun this web of dece

determine to exist at the mercy of even his best and most generous friends; to live under the sword of the doubtful reputation that must precede

of a court of honour which had to decide upon this case; forget for a moment

t!" cried Sch?nau

General, "as the Colone

General was undoubtedly right, and he would thus be rel

doing, however difficult I allow such a solution may be. Meanwhile, Herr von Werben is on leave of absence. Bills of exchange have, if I remember rightly"--the Colonel attempted a smile--"three d

sing on their caps more firmly, which the storm that raged through the streets threatened to blow

e going

s,

less case, my

ear

l bring

ainly

ock now; I shall b

al for him, turned up the collar of his overcoat, and went on d

he others, and listened mechanically to their steps upon the stone floor of

were gone, these men of the highest honour, the representatives of his class, gon

sentence

y his o

r must announ

o himself; only say: "Your father, agrees to what you have

and heavy cold drops of sweat s

my God, have mercy

hin him, in his burning head, in his panting breast, and thr

rom him, at his writing-table, leaning his head upon his hand. On the round table behind him,

aster kept the two beautiful old pistols which he had inhe

letter. You will go to him at once, and take him the box and the letter; there is no further message, the letter conta

y to say something, and so perhaps to ge

carefully taken up the letter a

g kind from you to t

ments' pause befor

ed all hi

to God to be wit

be something very bad, much worse than it had ever been before, but if the General hoped to meet the Lieutenant again, and th

f with ague, or at others a dull groan was forced from his oppressed breast, as he prayed for his son's soul, and took leave of that son of whom he had been so pro

en-down man, with but one thi

w that his stren

son, but with a steady hand and rigid flaming eyes did he load the second, with which to s

PTE

ut, in spite of the determination which she had long exercised in subduing her talent to her will, and the su

time," said

t, high room, as if not she but some one else had said them--a ghostly, prophetic voice speakin

voice to convince her of what her o

ciation, vain--even the tender remonstrances, the gentle

delled two months ago from her, and prayed that the all-merciful love with which the heart of the blind girl overflowed might de

ld have proved that,

tion, and see him again whom she had solemnly sworn never more

shattered, bleeding? Her deadly wound had never been healed, only insufficiently and with difficulty bo

kchen had brought the terrible news, and had wept and lamented so that it might have moved a heart of stone, she had not even been touched. She had received it like any other piece of sensational intelligence which her aunt was in the

least, for so enormous, so unsurpassable a sacrifice, by multiplying his own love to her a hundredfold? Perhaps his pride forbade him that, or he shrank from hers, which he knew so well. Well, then, she was well acquainted with his pride too. She could see his expression if she went to hi

ortune him with their troubles, and humble themselves before him--her

a thousand frugal ways, and by unceasing self-denial through so many long years, should have been lost in one night, with the millions of the gambler on whose cards he had staked his little fortune! Then she would comfort the old man, and believe every word that

kin had grown in the last few weeks; how spiritually beautiful the expres

nd above, if there was anything above--and for her there must surely be--a heaven which she had already created for

streams which roll gleefully and exultingly into it, and now it was pining away like the barren desert under a sky of brass; and her vigorous form seemed made to drag the weary burden of life through the never-ending years to a far-distant, desolate grave, li

here. Death was very sure f

e fear

h

ol from off her table, she would ac

oice had not wailed and whispered: "Do not die! for so you would kill me, the last and mightiest of all the sisters. O

-day; and there had been much talk as to whether, when there was a Mrs. Sculptor--some wit had suggested this--things would be quite so

Was it he who tapped at the window-pane, and knocked at the door? Good heavens! there was really a knock at

, her heart beating as if it

d window now! and was the

re back the bolts, flung open the do

ertalda, "but he

breathless from the haste she had made, and could hardly bring out

your house? for God's

essing her hands in hers, and puttin

k! sp

--America! I dare say! He will never leave my room if you do not come to him and tell him that you would remain with him if he had forged his father's name for a hundred thousand instead of this miserable twenty thousand. Why, my goodness! an Englishman once offered me forty thousand, but I didn't like him,

r her first words was moving wildly about the studio, looking for h

sofa even, or the carpet?--it would be all the same to me, if only the poor boy were at ease. And this morning again! I should like to see the woman who would go through it for her husband! That would be a fine fuss! and I, like a good-humoured fool, agree to everything, and persuade h

he had been pulling out and ransacking drawers from the desk which stood in a cor

about?" repe

ill writing; "a thousand thalers! There! take up t

ready offered him what I had, but of course he would not take it f

cried Fe

ich she had been writing,

I to do

father, whilst

but I won't have anything to do with your father. Just leave it there.

to him," said

e studio into the narrow passage between the house and garden, and unnoticed by the others had been presen

tell me that I am doing right, that I may, that I ought to follow him

s before her;--"with you both! He only asks for love, and yet again for love, the love that beareth all things.

n the forehead, as the other rose sob

your dear hands are cold as

ll get over it. He is asleep now--Aunt Rik

her own sad

ewell! for th

e have lost only too much time already! What

e fair being who had come to her, as the good Samaritan came to the wounded man in the burning desert sand. An inward foreboding warned her that this was a farewel

a better world upon this dark sinful earth, to take this earthly burden u

father myself!"

well stay here altog

!" said

ot quickly enough put on the cloak which she had thrown off in th

ting at the door; we shall be at my house in five min

s in the act of following her, when the driver of the se

gent

led me. Doesn't

aid Bertalda, getting in and

oak over his shoulders--he had brought them both from Italy, and they were the first things which he had laid his hands upon--and w

to wait at

ther one at the door, and I

distance that we are now, not a step ne

id the driver,

TER

in the studio. She sat down on a low stool, holding in her lap the pap

nhold himself; even he could not feel with me as I feel. Oh! my poor heart, why do you throb so wildly! Ca

ing heart, as had so often happened in the last few days. The terrible attack passed off, but the exhaustion which followed was so great, that she made s

the door of her own dwelling, she stood still and listened at the foot of the stairs which led to their rooms above. All was still, and her father was sleeping under good Aunt Rikchen's care. He would not miss her; her poor father did not even know that her

e stairs. A step came down towards her, and she stood still, l

Grol

me you here? And how ill you look! Dea

ollmann, but I do feel very weak;

e do you w

-to Herr

n shook

h trouble about your good father; but you really cannot possibly go to Herr Schmidt. If you want anything for your good father--

i, "nor about myself, but I have such

ther word of reply, not even to ask her what was that paper which she had slipped inside

ce you, Fr?ulei

he door, dea

girl across the threshold with outstretched arm, without himself entering, closed th

downstairs again," he mutter

back, lost in sullen meditation, had not heard the gentle opening of the d

laimed with a l

he went up to her, where

been plunged, and the angelic, radiant face into which he now looked; and his hand, which had taken hers, tremble

Cilli, "although I know

red pounds would not have made you happy. And what have I done to him that he should be afraid that I would not take care of him and you

you this morning to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all tha

nything about that

ile flitted over

y voice, which comes from a heart where Death has taken up his abode, might penetrate to your heart, which

culty in understanding her. What did the poor child

know that I can refuse you nothing, howev

ersecutors, forgave all men, and all who sin, however wise they may be in worldly wisdom, they know not what they do. But he who sins in men's eyes because he loves, not himself but another, to whom his whole heart and soul belong, so that he no longer feels his own pangs but suffers a hundredfold f

ched the unattainable height where he was enthroned? or reached it only to unloose the storm, the thunder of his wrath, which she had so often heard rolling and raging above her head? Would he stoop down to her and raise her up, as he had raised so many from the dust, with hi

but I am not angry with you--not in the least.

osom, "You ought not to look at the words; they are wild, perhaps bad words!

ye over the lines. "Ferd

ago--perhaps more; I

carry

long had no secrets, mentioned

thank you for your honesty. I have always thought highly of you, I see that I did not think nearly highly e

," said Cilli; "she has been there the

will t

o think that I have been here in vain, you have

r and folded her hands

n, if you rea

he gazed sadly and gloomily after her, then felt for the handle. The door opened from the outside. Grollmann, as before,

; "Reinhold, Rike, that old man, all, all! And she, good child, who is probably w

t the paper which h

ced my heart, my soul, my love to your pride, as a fanatical priest slaughters the lamb at the altar of his gods. And that other--his father! Truly when the spirit has been k

it then

e fragments on the floor, put his hands behind his back, and began once

the fragments which were fluttering about here and there. He tried to pu

that moment an insecurely fastened window was blown open by the st

and conscience! Have not I done so, so long as I can remember? If our knowledge and our wisdom are imperfect, is that our fault? Why dost Thou punish us for that of which we are not guilty? Surely Thou art pledged

s eyes; he staggered to the open window, offering to the storm which raged agains

storm he heard a voic

thout, the echo of

ith uplifted hands from the open door of Justus's studio towa

rl! Is it Cil

and ran into the house; Uncle

his master, but she was so fearfully pale, and her breathing was so quick and hurried, that he had not the heart to ask her any questions, even if the answer could have been

answer," thought the ol

but if you would like me to carry you, just nod. I a

ross the corner of the courtyard, into the narrow passage between the garden and the nei

" said

teps more," s

ken leave of my fa

till he had not the courage to make any further objection as she pointed, with an imploring gesture, to

me now, and may

?ulein!" sai

as, sometimes raising her arms for a moment, like a bird about to take wing, thought Grollmann, she moved amongst all the

al. It was a portrait of Herr Anders' betrothed, and Grollmann, who had lived so long among artists that he was something of a connoisse

nd alone. Then she raised her hands and stroked the face--her hands were as white as the marble--and nodded to it just as if she were talking to the bust, and kissed it as if it had been a living c

eath of cold; it is quite cold now, and there will be no more fire made u

t that was necessary, for he was quite determined to wake her if sh

was stand

ith half-shut eyes, and how sweetly she is smiling! It really would b

sudden noise. The old man turned round much annoyed--he had certainly awo

as fast as his old legs would carry him out of the studio into the house after Aunt Rikchen, whom he had just seen going in, cryin

d communicate his terrible news, Justus and Me

PTE

ight be wiser to go first to some large shop, there to choose and order their necessary furniture, and then to look for the fanciful part; but Justus had proved to her that the whole matter had begun with fancy, and that they could not be wrong in pursuing the same road a little further--firstly, because the road, on the whole, w

had begun to be somewhat wanting in lucidity, and the broker's direction had consequently remained in an obscurity which Justus considered to be highly appropriate to the whole affair, and whi

declared that he had come as far as he could with his horse and carriage, and that if his fare took the matter as a joke, as they seemed to be doing, he di

ray of light has illuminated his benighted soul; he has no faith in the woodcarving of the six

very hungry. They had better try this one street more, and if Herr Isaac Lob

ch all had the immense advantage over the cabinet that the young couple were looking for, of being bran-new; while as for oak, that was quite out of fashion, and not the right sort of wood

t the "young couple," feeling quite crushed, bought the first wardrobe that came to hand for a very consid

ver was not far wrong. Hang that fello

a grimace, that Meta burst into a fit of laughter, in w

g up of the company, and how with all the trouble which this break up had brought to so many people, it had done this good, that it had at last obtained consent to their marriage from Meta's father, as Reinhold had foretold; and what effect the affair would have upon Reinhold and Elsa's fate; and how poor Herr Kreisel, who had put his sa

specially Meta, who sat for some time quite still

rried her, only that if she were not blind and could see what a dreadfully ugly old darling you are, she would not

ughed again as Justus suggested that she had better have both windows shut, so that he had much t

you see she is simply an angel. She has shown herself so more than ever lately, in the way she has borne with poor Ferdinanda, who really does not deserve it, as only an angel could. And it was not

his time ente

ere in a church here, you know, like that time when Cilli--oh

he

under

p artist's eyes, that the sleep in which the pale ang

varying countenance had told her all more plainly than even the sight of the sleeping figure. She trembled all over, but she held fa

," whispered Justus; "the la

e. Meta threw herself

tus, how we must

g the strange group had been suddenly seized by a terrible misgiving of what had happened. He had come nearer to t

tears as often as they threatened to dim her eyes, proving the truth of what she had always maintained of herself, that in spite o

to follow, and her brother, who had let her do everything quietly, took her hand, and said with a long-drawn breath, "Thank you, Rikchen," was the warm brave heart suddenly stirred to its depths, and she wo

n, but she did not say it, and followed th

folded across his breast, and looking fixedly at the spot wh

meekly, and I did not understand it. There are no more miracles, but t

from his eyelashes and rolled down his furrowed cheeks to his g

low, but a step as firm a

PTE

m of the Berlin and Sundin railway station, and August jumped quickly from the box to assis

er, handing the small portmantea

s master, who was standing in the empty hall at the booking-office, b

ight after all,"

r," said

ck since the first of this month. The next through train was at midnight, as before. A superior offi

count of the storm which was said to be raging fearfully towards Sundin. And they were obliged to keep a few engines in reserve, in case of any accident happening, particularly as the telegraphic communication with Sundin was already broken off, and they could o

anically. The other then said that he would himself go and see after the matter, and would bring him back word,

gust went away greatly disturbed in mind; it was the first time since he ha

of the plot--had now robbed him of his son, as formerly of his sister, and heaped shame and disgrace upon the proud name of Werben. At the moment when, with this one thought in his mind, he entered the carriage which was to take him to the railway, two letters arrived, one by the post in Elsa's handwriting, and a note brought by Sch?nau's servant. He had open

on, by a mechanical impulse he tore it open and read it, only to crush the paper in his hand afterwards, and thrus

latform, to the door into the entrance hall, and then back again, stopping only sometimes at the centre table in front of th

mself, let things take their course, and people have their own way? At any rate confess to himself his helplessness in regard to things or men, and that he was a brok

he had dreamed for her, but to that he was resigned; it was not a brilliant lot which she had chosen for herself, but she loved the man, and, other considerations apart, he was

dured in these last terrible hours? And if it were, Ottomar must surely know how to die; he could not add to the disgrace of his forgeries, the thousand times greater disgrace of a cowardly flight. And could Sch?nau have given his consent to this shameful course? He had not done so with goodwill evidently; he hinted even at accompanying circumstances, which he could have wished omitted, but which appeared to have been unavoidable, though he could not take upon himself the responsibility of them. Could this man think and write so, whom he had often, and not merely in jest, called a knight sans peur et sans reproche? Had he so entirely misconceived his and the Colonel's opinion? Did he remain the

ay, and the rain had pattered against the window just as it did now. It had been a terrible hour, when he had been forced to humble himself so deeply before the proud plebeian, even though the man himself bore the stamp of nobility--which nature can gi

oor, looked up as one of the glass doors on to the platform opened with some noise, and the ma

in the deep eyes was extinguished?--why the head, which had been held so high, was now bent low?--why the voice which now addressed him was not harsh with an

st suppose, for the same business that takes me there. I have been promised a sp

hat Uncle Ernst could not but feel, as the other had done before, that he was now the stronger and more collected. With a courteous movement he pushed for

received Herr von Sch?nau's letter, and that yo

the words. What did Herr Schmidt know of Sch?nau's letter? He uttered the questi

ived a letter from

es

at your son--h

neral

from this stat

h before his death? He might have left it to his father; but, still, here was a gleam of light in the terrible darkness--a spark from the heart of the son, who was not, after all, so entirely lost, into that of the father. "It was not

id Uncle Ernst; "bu

and his voice sounded harsher, almost as

did not mention the circumstance that Herr von Werbe

nexpected insult. The looks of the two men met; but while Uncle Ernst's eyes blazed more fi

n!" he mutter

mean the intervention of my daughter--th

for that," replied the

has not the son's d

e been able to endure

uppose," mutte

gloomy and downcast; but this was neither the time nor the

r von Werben was gone, and that he was with m

ruin upon my son, as he has already brought ruin and shame upon my family

de a movement

asked the favour of an interview; now that chance--if we may call it chance--has brought us

his bushy brows a dark, unce

ever, that I have indeed forgotten nothing, but have also learned nothing. It was a hard saying to a man like myself, whose highest pride had been to have striven from his youth up after a better and purer experience, after truth and light; and I put it from me, therefore, as an absolute injustice. But it has returned upon me again and again, all through these dark and gloomy winter months, day after day, and night after night, and it has gnawed at my heart till I almost went mad over it, f

tand upon his own feet and trust in his own strength was perverted by him into the doctrine that he who had the might had the right also to take all that his hand could grasp, and to tread under foot whatever was weak enough to allow itself to be trampled upon? He has been corrupt from his childhood,' I cried, 'let Nature be answerable for all that she has created in her dark recesses! What matters it to us who, out of the chaos where right and wrong, reason and folly, are wavering and mingling confusedly together, are striving after the light of

circle. She came to tell me that my daughter had fled--fled with your son, to save him whom she loved with every fibre of her warm, passionate heart, to shield him from the death to which his own father, for what reason I knew not, had condemned him. But I had thrust the spectre from my door, I would not listen now to the angel's soft

eyes, and, suppressing his deep emot

nor the wish further to withstand, in order to save what is perhaps not yet utterly lost. Suffice it to you to know that I have ascertained from the woman who has been your son's confidante lately, and also, without k

abhorred by me, to you, above whom in my own self-righteousness I stood so high, a confession which has not been easy to my pride; if I have acknowledged that the principle of unbounded liberty and absolute self-dependence when carried to its extreme consequence may lead weaker spirits into error, must so lead them perhaps, as I see my two children erring now, one irrecoverably lost, the other only trembling on the edge of the abyss, into which some mere accident may precipitate her; have you, too, General von Werben, nothing to repent of, nothing to atone for? Have not the narrow fetters of

is--loves with all the force of which his heart is capable, and certainly far more than his own life; and this woman, who is not unworthy indeed of such love, says to him in tones which can only come from a loving and

choked by the thoughts which surged in his powerfully working mind. The Gene

be?--it

ife, which stretches boundless and beautiful before them! Life, in whose immeasurable space there is a thousand-fold room for the man who has erred, if he has but courage and can rise firmly to his feet again to resume the battle, and to conquer in a new sphere of work, a home for himself, for the woman he loves--for his children! The children, General, with whom a new world is born which kn

usiasm; but the General's troubled face gave not the

to bring us down from this region of bright and, to my thinking, fantastic dreams to th

is glance was dimmed, and some mom

it hoped, I know, to make good, and to which he had been after all led away by fiendish suggestions, differs from a proceeding whic

ile there can be no a

restlessly, impati

you mean,

the speculator, the reckless adventurer, would in their hearts, if such men have hearts, condemn your son as the man of honour, the honest manufacturer does, although he is his father? And can you blame an honourable soldier because he condemns and brands the dishonour

a long breath, almost a groan, that e

eling exist for the whole class, and must so exist if it is not to be swept away; and so they exist also for my son. Never, under any circumstances can he forget that he has cast a stain upon the shield of his forefathers, that he has himself broken the sword which he received from his commander-in-chie

eneral drew a l

thought to conquer by one effort, and which he had afterwards tried through long weary years to carry off stone by stone! And not one stone was missing after all; it stood straight and strong, unap

pran

st set to

as your

ere movement seemed difficult to the

. Herr von Sch?nau even, after many objections, had agreed to this. When, therefore, the unhappy man wished to kill himself, in spite of the presence of his friend, who felt his own powerlessness and yet could advise my daughter to return home, as flight with her at this moment would make it absolutely impossible for him to intervene further on behalf of his brother-officer, when it became the first consideration for her who wished to save her lover at any cost, even that of the pitying contempt of his best friend, to escape from the influence of this very cautious friendship, no matter whither; then the adroit confidante brought forward again the idea of Warnow, merely, I believe, because the train for Sundin was t

t, which stood on the table by the General's little box, as the man who had before offered his services to the General entered the room from the platform

ved, through Stettin, having been handed in early this m

er, which in the hurry h

Aunt alone then with that wretch. Come for my sake, Ottomar's, and aunt

nst came

you good-by

come w

had been looking after the two gentlemen's things, and had now returned, seized the little box to carry it after his master to the carriage

of one mind so fa

will be made up before we g

not blow us off the rail

is A 1,"

PTE

, just as if she were at home in the Behrenstrasse and a dozen big parties were breaking up at the same moment, and an alarm of fire sounding between whiles. What coul

But why have you come in so early? I

ow, ma'am; it will b

if you do not op

it even last night. One shutter has already been torn o

Wallbach. "You have pac

erg has sent over to say that he is very sorry, but it can't be done; there

at could

only get up, ma'am, and see for yourself. One would think the world was coming to an e

of you. Is Fr?ulein

as already inquire

the Baroness, and ask her if she will be so kind as to lend me her horses

yes. Carla assured her that this was only the dreadful light, and besides, she had not slept quite so well as usual; but this was certainly less the result of the storm than of the co

ked Louisa, sipp

esterday, but which she cannot help believing, now that the last inte

shments she considered necessary for her purpose, an a

d her second cup, which she usually

do you say?"

tend to be so very much astonished to-day. What does it signify after all to you or Golm? I should have thought you had both very go

l Edward say?

us here to settle it between you. Only I think it would have been more civil of him--and of you too, by the way--if

ister-in-law, and was playing with one

he. "I thought you mean

elf in your place, only I suppose you are too much in love to know what you are talking about.

ing decided betwee

nnot remain another day as a guest in the house of Ottomar's aunt; it would be perfectly sca

oisily, and a pane of glass fe

up with a scr

s to travel in

bach; "and now have the goodness to get re

Baroness was very sorry that she could not oblige Frau von Wallbach; she was herself obliged to go out with Fr?ulein von Wer

Wallbach, "I cannot go away on f

certain, but Fr?ulein von Werben's maid

at window is put right. I will go myself to the Barone

did not go away, she had at least the pleasant prospect of seeing the two other ladies out of the house, perhaps for the whole day. She could soon talk over Louisa into not putting any insurmountab

aroness's room, "you would not do such a thing by me as to make any allusion to Count Golm in

een decided between you,

ore then,"

ady dressed for her drive. She, too, looked pale and ti

to be frightful. I will go with Elsa, that sort of thing does not hurt me; or, what would be the

ill willingly remain with you, and p

eming to see Carla,

sed and disappointed, therefore, at not finding me, and so I wanted to ask you to tell him that I have gone to Wissow with my niece, whose betrothed--of course you have heard of it all from Fr?ulein von Wallbach--is exposed to great danger in this fearful storm. We have waited until now for

eyes tears were standing; "go, my dear Baroness, and think no more o

morning, but no doubt the violence of the storm

"I will do the honours to him. The chief thing is

. And she could not help admiring the honesty with which this woman, whose insignificance had become a byword, declared herself on the side which she considered right in the decisive moment, even in Carla's presence, following the impulse of her own heart with no thought for anything further. What Carla might think of

g since last night. They saw traces of this as soon as they had left the comparatively higher ground on which the castle with the park and home farm were situated, and had reached the hollow which extended along the side of the chain of hills on which the vill

ch might reach far inland, and measures should be taken to prepare for it. Well, the castle and the home farm lay high enough, unless things got worse than bad; but the hollow here, whose bottom was on the same level as, or even lower than the marshes, would at any rate be flooded, and then at Warnow they would be on an island. And a pleasant situation that would be, particularly as inland here they had

n. Well, my lady, I must go back now, and look after things at home, before they all lose their heads there. I hope your ladyship and the young lady wil

d taken off, well down upon his forehead, set spurs to his horse, and rode

roken off in quantities, and even the trees themselves blown down. On the little green before the inn-door, about the highest spot in the place, lay the great lime-tree, the pride of the village, torn up by the roots. It had only happened half an hour before, and it was fortunate that the three waggons which had come down from Jasmund, on their way to Prora, had not already stood where they were waiting now, at the inn-door, for if so horses and men must all have bee

, go on!"

elements, from which she had been sheltered in the castle, broke upon her from all sides, and appeared to her by a thousand terrible signs; when she saw written upon so many fac

e your poor anxious heart. They are pure and gentle tears, and truly you ne

ays think he will find out if I am not, and then he will not be so stron

flitted across V

heir faith in those they love as you can do! Oh, Elsa

y ashamed of myself for burdening you

th me to the grave, and so end my life joyfully, as a wild, fever-haunted night ends with a gentle morning dream. It might all be over then; for the day s

to hasten to Reinhold, and that I ought not to leave you without sending for my father. I telegraphed to him early this morning; he will come, I am sure. But he cannot be here before the evening, and that is why, my dear aunt, I have let you accompany me. Everything fits in so well

h the tears which ran

nswers also, have never moved him. Cold and repelling was the look with which he met me after so long a lapse of time, which generally softens the sternest; cold and repelling the few words which he deigned to address to me, merely to tell me what was the first step I must take if there were to be peace between him and me. He did not see what you, my darling, perceived at the first glance, that I could n

troyed all his hopes for my future. And it was he, too, who made the first advance to Reinhold's

t it was just his father's intervention that had made Ottomar's union with Ferdinanda impossible; and that even his consent in Elsa's case was not the

ses. They would have been even slower in their movements over the ill-made road, which in some places was almost destroyed by the rain, if the hill, along the side of which they were drivi

he grey dunes from Golmberg to the point, another white line rising and falling, and here and there shooting up thirty or forty feet into the air, and falling upon the land in dense clouds. They knew that this was surf, the surf of that same sea whose waves generally rippled and splas

evening had seemed to her brighter than the brightest day! Whither, ah! whither, the joyous heart that knew nothing of love, nor wished to know anything excepting as the rose-scented, nightingale-haunted idea reflected back fr

id not meet

wide at the foot of the headland, looked with its small houses, as seen from the moderate elevation at which they were, like a narrow plank on which children had built their toy-houses, and had then set afloat in a brawling stream. The surf, which till now they had seen only from a d

ld be one of the twenty or thirty vessels of all sizes which were rocking at anchor immediately below them, in the bay between the little peninsula and the mainland? He would be out beyond, beyond

e! Th

lips; the hand with which she had poi

the cold, r

l retur

shook h

TER

mes, which, after many vain efforts, had at last been successfully kindled; and, notwithstanding the terrible uproar that raged round the ca

von Wallbach. "Well, it is all the same to me; let dinner be

cularly wishes to see

is all the sa

lling dress, having only thrown down his wet cloak in the hall; his black beard, which was usually so carefully arranged, was wild and dishevelle

nge you look!" sai

ained by the most provoking hindrances, and I arrive here at last to learn that the Baroness, with

"You make me quite nervous by standing

gise again,"

receive you, although I tell you fair

up another moment of y

a fool; but children and fools speak the truth, and the truth, my dear Signor Giraldi, is, that if you had not intermeddled and set everything at sixes and sevens, Carla would be Ottomar's wife by this time, and everything would be prop

h makes heart meet heart," answered Giraldi, with an attempt at his usual

r power. And you have succeeded very nicely, as Carla would say. But I don't think it nice at all, but perfectly horrid of you; for Ottomar has always been pleasant and good-natured to me, and I like him a thousand times better than the Count; and if I had never respected Elsa before, I should now that I see she does not care one bit for the Count, but has declared honestly, as the Baroness told me and Carla this morning in Elsa's name, that she is going to marry her sailor, although it is rather a strange proceeding for a Fr?ulein von Werben; but that is her affair; and she has gone with the Baroness to see him at Wissow, or whatever the name of the place is, which is quite right, I think, under the circumstanc

as the former ones, with her pretty head resting sideways against the back of her chair, and her eyes turned awa

imperturbable calmness and blunt sincerity affected him from a woman whom he had hitherto considered a nonentity, as the emptiest of all empty-headed dolls, and who now dared to tell him this to his very face; to unfold the web of intrigue which he

nearly choked him. He stamped, he swore, he tore his beard, like a madman, thought Fran?ois, who handed him his soup as calmly as if monsieur's wild gesture

u speak?" shr

for monsieur

ak,

bservations to monsieur

bout the intimacy that has sprung up between madame and her niece, and which you

nfortun

founded long words! I have no time

, I know absolutely nothing of importance. A

e should say it or not. He could not speak without betraying madame as he had betrayed monsieur, but for what purpose take money from both if not to betray both? So far everything had go

ried Giraldi, shaki

cois, looking with impudent coolness into

dropped

h?" he e

me has been lately so extraordinarily kind to me, and has given me, through Madame Feldner, so many sterling proofs of her kindness,

!" shriek

and francs

om which he took a handful of bank-

nt t

e thousand thal

hem and

o less carefully into one side of his pocket-book

be most deeply ashamed if I were not convinced that mon

Giraldi the paper--a copy of

ered himself in vain. Monsieur, who had been trembling all over with rage and fury, and who had gesticulated and raved like a madman, now stood, after gla

here was th

by a man on horseback, whom I sent myself,

raphic communication between Berlin and Sundin has

ome chance there. Inquiry made at Grünwald. Reply, 'Yes, and on through Stettin.' The messenger, an old trustworthy servant, one of the late Herr von Warnow's, monsieur, took note of everyth

ce, do you say?

hrugged hi

matters--an old courier, monsieur! To speak the truth, I

e you no

ois s

am not fond of roughing it. I said I c

, and you know th

ois b

is it,

t, one may do it

rough th

k so, m

would the ladi

over the hill and through the villages, monsieur;

tch and was making a calcula

ust be ready in ten minutes, at latest, to

lock, Frau von Wallbach, who was bent upon going away,

e horses whic

e exhausted. It must be a good, fresh horse, monsieu

r thousand thalers in case madame is b

usand, m

ow, paper an

s already writing at the table beside his untouched dinner, when Fran?ois left the din

ldi

my own hands), will awake new flames from the ashes, as he has awoke to life for us, in whose death I could never believe. And as my faith was the stronger, so am I in all things stronger, and would make unrestrained and pitiless use of that strength, no longer for myself, but for our son. You know me, Valerie! As the clock strikes six, I leave the cas

ral

past four in t

me from Philip's party, and had first found time to read in the waiting-room at t

rvation, the stolen child beside her almost at the last gasp too, the wounded Lazzaro having breathed his last an hour before, during their flight. The woman Michele took pity upon these unfortunate creatures; the two women swore, on the Host, the one never to say that she had received the child from Barbara, and the other that she had given him to the Michele, so that Barbara might wear out the end of her life undisturbed by the police, and that Father Michele might make no inquiries after the parents of the child,

bro

ar

to eternal blessedness, as no purgatory can be needed for him who was a saint on earth, I send you his bequest, and beg you to transfer to my poor conven

r of the

hele at

gen

n, admitting Fran?ois, who wore a long cloak, below which a

which mademoiselle had forgotten! If it had only been an umbrella! In fact, monsieur, they wanted to get rid of the man; we shall hear nothing of either of them before to-morrow morning, you may take

Giraldi, laying his hand on the impudent fello

wered Fran?ois, putting the letter

he courtyard, and watched while he mounted the handsome beast, whose bridle the gr

down with the glass of wine that Fran?ois had poured out for him. Then he began

hour to do the distance--half a nautical mile! Fiend against fiend! Gregorio Giraldi was the stronger. If the telegram had really reached the General at Berlin in proper time--if he left Berlin by the eleven o'clock train, he could not be at Sundin before three o'clock, or at Warnow before six. An hour! Kingdoms had been lost and won in an hour; and everything, everything else was on his side: Ottomar irretrievably entangled in the net which he had cast over him, and already at deadly feud with Wallbach, whose giddy sister was now in love with the Count, to say nothing else! the proud Elsa betrothed to a man of low degree, paying for her love with her inheritance!--the course clear from all obstacles, and at its goal the rich treasures, the g

icture, and looked at

e mouldering in the tomb of your ancestors! And he, whom in life you could not vie with, stands still alive here, in his undiminished s

ure, to which he was looking up, and which had hung from its rusty nail for a generation past, shook and fell, so that the m

rang

rsed dust? Down into hel

om the depths of hell to which he had called,

TER

the groom as he gallo

said th

wards him, and he put his right arm round her slender

n!" sai

il which the wind was blowing between their

do be s

her horse's neck and ti

m really alone for the first time with

he tried to renew the charming game. "You shall not have another kis

y side, lost in each other, eye meeting eye, and often hand touchi

mpy ground in which they had now sunk above the fetlock. They were frightened, and tried to turn back. "Pooh!" said the Co

ong!" cr

ertain ground, through pools of water, over a wooden bridge, throu

are to get back I do not know. We shall have to stay togethe

foot of which ran the long line of the railway embankment towards Ahlbeck. The gale was right in their teeth now, so that they felt its full power; and the panting

d Carla, as her glowing cheek almost tou

ee the bridge now, though it is only two minutes since we passed it! it is extraordinary! We shall have to go round by G

as so dis

her

ch horrid things

t h

a dreadful scen

as I have

n you ha

ar

engagement in the presence of the Baroness, of Elsa, and of Si

t need

have a

and and pressed

hand? by that fair form? by your own sw

our h

ing tone--the words came with an effort

ame hesitatingly and f

owards her, avoided hers; she drew her hand hastily out

him to have prevented it. But now he even held back his hor

I let h

halers; the recollection of a cousin in Silesia, who would have brought him a dowry of a million, and a marriage with whom had been proposed to him the other day most unexpectedly--he had been

its rider forced it down, darted forward like an arrow. The Count could not perhaps at this moment have held it in, but he d

a, Ca

do not

d catch the bridle of her horse, t

l not esc

t him almost

a, this is

d," murm

in love with you.

putting his arm round her, he laughingly

me! Take me! I a

olish d

r horses suddenly round, they rode on side by side in the teeth of the gale--as his horse was the stronger and f

k another word; t

turned into a fashionable hotel. It was kept by a young widow--a protégée of the Count's. In the upper story of the house were two rooms, often used by the Count as night quarters when he had stayed out shooting too late to get back to Golm or Golmberg. If the lady and gentleman chose to have these rooms no one would trouble themselves about it, least of all the landlady, who would have q

fine days, might be seen a wonderful view of the village running down to the beach; and beyond the village the beach itself, always covered with boats; and beyond again, the boundless ocean. They had gained this spot by the utmost, exertion

rn back!"

ke out at all. It could not possibly be the foam and froth of the storm-beaten surf? If this were the surf, where were the houses which had stood there in a long line close to the beach? Where were the hundred and fifty Ahlbeck fishing smacks which had come in yesterday on account of the storm? Where the six boats laden with cut stone from Sundin which had anchored yesterday evening at the breakwater? Where the two breakwaters them

horse up the hill to the right, while between his teeth he mut

ad foll

he now perceived hastening in small parties up the ridge of Wissow Head, at the foot of which stood a part of the village. They might be the people who lived nearest to the beach, the navvies, perhaps, who had run up their temporary huts on the level sand. What did it matter to him? Let them help themselves as best they might. The tide had certainly not reached the inn, and

to draw Carla on, who had again several times anxiously inquired whether they had not better turn back. The rest might be managed; it might not perhaps be so bad as it ha

It seemed to the Count strangely short; and indeed the sea, which used to leave several hundred yards of smooth sand uncovered, now flung its waves far up the street. And that street was crowded with crying, shrieking, screaming wom

ke way!" called the

unded like a curse, too, which the woman called after him, whom by accident--why did she not get out of the way?--he had knocked down, and who now in the door of

ngineer called to him, who had suddenly--he could not see wh

kers--boats wrecked--people

to me?" screamed bac

y too--unpardonabl

ger below, but in the direct

in his saddle, and at the same moment set spurs to his horse. He had seen a crowd of men and women--fore

eople, perhaps from the window--fear had evidently driven them wild. And with this purpose, dashing on before Carla, he had

ed vessel, with the surf at their feet, whose storm-beaten foam was blowing in clouds of spray over them, were dancing and raging--as only madmen or men who had drunk to mad

ible evils that must be brought upon the unhappy village by these madmen, but he had already repeatedly had the most violent scenes with these ruffians, wh

even astonished when, having turned aside from the main street, and dashing at a venture down a side lane to t

time!" cried he; "those scou

also that the man at whose side she now rode had deserted her at the critical moment, and that she had to thank only the speed of her horse and her own powers of riding for her life. Would Ottomar have dashed forward in such a way, careless whether she succeeded in following him or not; whe

of course, though after all, anybody else would have done the

aloud, by way of sayin

swered n

" thought the Count, r

l stood over the brook which ran into the sea close by Ahlbeck, through a sharp cut in the dunes; the brook even had not overspread its banks so much here as above, where the lower ground offered no opposition to the water; but the Count thought with a shudder of what might happen when they got to the P?litz farm, on the edge of the broad hollow which extended to the sea almost en

opple over. More than one wave must have broken through already, which had left smaller and larger pools in the lowest parts of the ground; ev

arla!" he cried, as

ered not a

he Count to himself; "she will neve

t the wall of surf, which had stood in the opening of the dunes, was in movement and seemed to be advancing

peed with whip and spur. He did not look round, he dared not look behind him; he

e staggered up t

itself. Carla stopped by his side. How had she got

he loo

broken through above also, on the other side of the P?litz's farm, and then in all probability the waters would have united behind the farm. If this were the case, only two places of refuge remained--the farm itself, or the lofty du

re only to give the horses a rest in some so

nt, Carla followed. Her

y life for her! And now to go to P?litz--after the scene we had yesterday!--a pretty

e could see beyond; the whole immense space between the farm and the Golmberg

ossible now between this place and Warnow; they were on a long, narrow island, one end of which was lost in the waters towa

foundedly disagreeable; and all on account of this mute, perverse young lady, who

an, whose rough hair was being blown wildly about his head by the wind, was vainly exerting his giant strength to shut the great woo

!" called the County "on

where he stood with his gigantic form in his torn clothes, his dishevelled hair, his face convulsed with despai

sonable, P?li

se's bridle. "Back! we will die alone! Back with y

glass, and as its splinters fell, the beams of the falling roof of the barn crashed down just in front of the horses, who started back in mad terror, and turning short round, dashed across a fallow-field to the pollarded willows which used to stand at the edge of the common, but behind which now eddied the turbid waters of the invading flood; then turning off to the right, led by their instinct, they followed the field to the dune which rose in dusky

s ill luck that had led him to the steepest part, and yet not daring to turn farther to the left, since here at least there was grass and scrub to cling to, while there the smooth sand offered no hold. Drops of anguish trickled from his brow into his eyes--he could see n

from him, lay

? How came s

ved. He tottered f

ar

s and stared fixedly at him, a

ouched her, than she star

die alone! Back to your other mistre

her hat, blew her long hair about her, some locks crossin

trough, with sides which yesterday had been at least five feet high, with sharp clear edges, and which the storm had already reduced to two or three feet of smooth surface. How long would it be

had entirely disappeared; the farm itself, barely three hundred yards from him, seemed every moment to sink deeper in the water, which, as far as his eye could reach, covered fields and meadows far inland, perhaps even as far as Warnow, which only appeared at intervals out of the mist like a phantom castle. To the right, the thundering, raging, roaring sea, around him the surf creeping higher and higher up the dune, and here and there send

gony, and clasped his hands before his fa

PTE

four," said Els

ht remai

by the midday train, he could not be at Warnow yet; but that terrible man is certa

to him," mur

him alone; I will not all

us any comfort for

ly perceive that by my voice and manner." And

ight hand as you entered the one-storied house, which was imp

-the rough, hairy hands of two or three invalided old sailors who crept out from the warm chimney-corners; powerful sunburnt hands from strong, sunburnt women; hard little hands from ruddy, flaxen-haired children, who looked up curiously with their blue eyes to the beautiful strange lady, and could not believe what their mothers told them, that she was no princess, but the Captain's betrothed, who was coming to live here always, and was so pleased with everything! And the Captain would co

last Superintendent, though he had been a good man too; and here again they all said pretty nearly the same thing, almost in the same words, with the same hearty expression and the same monotonous

erected, and behind the dune which still afforded some shelter--stood a close group of men in high sea-boots and sou'westers, looking out over the raging sea, who, as the young lady came up to them, pulled off their hats, while Cl

it was on smooth sand, if only the heavy sea did not wash off the crew. From the Oie no one could get at them; an ordinary boat would be swamped at once by the waves. Half an hour later the lifeboat had been launched, with the Captain on board, and for three hours they had kept it in sight, as it worked against the wind, and had seen it at last in the surf near the Oie; but the sea was too high there, and the weather very thick, and so they had lost sight of it, even from the look-out above, and

haken the man's rough hand and the hands of the other men, and had gone back to the houses with her escort of women and children; and while she talked to them--the storm blowing away half their words--she had always repe

s! And how tasteful, when Frau Rickmann's province of kitchen and store-rooms was passed, and that of the Captain himself began! The furniture, as if she herself had been consulted in the choice of every article; the large writing-table, covered with books and carefully-arranged papers and pamphlets; and the handsome bookcase, with glass-doors, full of well-bound books, another case of mysterious nautical instruments, and a third with splendid shells, corals, and stuffed birds! Then Frau Rickmann opened the door of a little room which adjoined the study, and Elsa nearly exclaimed aloud: it was her own little room next to the drawing-room--

o see about the Captain's dinner, if the ladies really would have nothing but tea and cakes. She said it as quietly as if the Captain were only rather late in r

or alarm, as the house would stand a good shaking, and Wissow Head sheltered them from the worst; and as for the flood, the

urn her thoughts to that of which she knew the other's heart was full, from time to time exchanging a loving word or a pressure of the hand, till Elsa, noticing the growing uneasiness on h

rt in the deliberations. The ladies might as well wait another hour; it would not get darker now

a finger knocked at the window, and a ro

o her; and then she was in another place where the beach was flat and the surf did not roar so fearfully, and she saw the boat again, which seemed now twice as big as it had been before, and the whole keel was lifted out of the white foam and sunk again, and rose a second time, while some dozens of the men ran into the foam which closed over their heads in spray. And a man came up through the ebbing waves, in high boots and just such another odd hat, and she gave a cry of joy and rushed towards him and threw her arms round him, and he lifted her up and carried her a little way, till she could set her feet again upon the sand; and whether he carried her again, or whether they flew, or walked on side by side, she never knew, and only saw him really when he had changed his clothes and was sitting at his dinner-table, while

for the first time that Aunt Valerie had left them. Elsa, who had no secrets from her Reinhold, explained to him in a few wo

old, rising; "I will give t

erie, who had heard the last words as sh

py lovers, as had been also the approach of the rider, whom Aunt Valer

room to the left, standing at the open window, while Fran?ois stood outside--and then the enclosure; and as she read the letter she had laughed al

be impressive; "but I can assure madame that it is no laughing matter, and that if

ill

arriage which had been put into the head pilot's barn up in the village, and then with a heavy heart went to separate the happy pair. But if she made up her mind to a last meeting with her dreaded, hated tyrant, it was only for the sake of those she loved, and for whom in the threatening catastrophe she would

d have dearly liked to go with her, but that was not to be thought of. He must not

lmberg, and had kept inshore as much as possible, to make out if the sea had broken through there as the Captain had foretold. They could not make quite certain at first, just on account of the heavy sea; but when they went in closer still, so as to be sure, Clas Lachmund first, and then all the rest too, had seen two people on the White Dune, one of whom looked like a woman and had not moved, but the other--a man--had made signs to them. They could not reach them, however, try as they would, and might think themselves lucky that they got off again even, fo

rtunate people be

at else could they be

ging to him, half laughing, half crying: "Take si

shall not drive down from the village to the castle, if from the hei

was not exactly his duty, any more than the morning's work had been; only none

ot well be from P?litz's farm either, though that was close by, for Frau Rickmann had told him when he went to change his clothes, that P?litz had sent back word by the messenger he had despatched to him, that he would send

imilar cases, there was danger any way; danger for poor Frau P?litz, who was kept to the house by the most sacred of duties; gr

PTE

ar, snuffing the tallow-candles and bawling even louder than his guests, for he must be the best judge whether a railway from Golm direct by Wissow Head to Ahlbeck, without passing by Warnow, were a folly or not. And the Count, who had ridden in that afternoon, would pull a long face when he saw what havoc had been made; but

the door, while the maid took the two brass candlesticks from the cupboard, into which she put candles, and then lighted them and ran after her mistre

aid the landlord; "wh

gentlefolks I broug

ive quick enough for 'em; but how's a man to drive fast in this weather? We came a foot's pace. Two horses or one made no difference. A one-ho

morning; he's got a devil of a horse! Well, come along; we'

they encountered the gentleman whom he had brought, who too

ding for the time, led them under the overhanging roof of a barn, where they would be sheltered at any rate from the worst of

id the gentleman; "perhaps not more than an

e to,

k to Neuenf?hr; I

t be don

y n

es couldn

es can do; I will give y

tradict him. The gentleman, who now wore a greatcoat with metal buttons--during the drive he had worn a plain overcoat--

oesn't forget these things, however long one has been in

eny everything afterwards, and entangle his aunt again in his web of lies as he had entangled them all. Or was it all an arranged plot between him and his aunt! It looked suspicious that she should have left the castle so early to-day, when he must have been expected to come to call the villain to account. She had gone with Elsa, it was true; but might not the affection which she seemed to bestow upon Elsa--in secret, like all the rest of these dark mysteries--be affection after the pattern of Giraldi's? Perhaps his aunt had undertaken to allure and befool Elsa as Giraldi had done by him; and they had both fallen into the snare, and the crafty fowlers were laughing

, waiting for your lover who is out in the storm, perhaps, to

stle, he sat down upon a stone which projected from the extreme edge of the gorge towards the hollow, and was only held in its hazardous position by the roots of a magnificent fir-tree, w

ld gladly have held us up cannot do it; rather the reverse. And if there come one great storm, such as this, we must both fall. I wish to God we lay ther

erable fate that bound her to a man weaker than herself. She was strong, she would endure it all, come what would. But what could come for her? She had repeated to him a hundred times on the road, that he was not to trouble himself any more about that miserable money; that her father was far too proud to refuse her entreaty, the first she had

r beautiful luxurious home?--what does a girl know of the things that make up her life!--her art? that she could carry with her ever

twisted, and the soil showered down the steep gorge, while in the branches the wind whistled and howled and crackled like grape-shot

nstead of sending me a pistol now, as if I did not know as well as he that it is all over for Ottomar von Werben; and Elsa wo

behind the castle, though in the wet, grey mist which was driving in his face he could no longer distinguish individual objects. The castle itself, which must surely be close under his feet, seemed to be a mile off; he could hardly have seen it sometimes, if lights had not been constantly flickering in the windows. In the indistinct masses of building to the left of the castle, which must belong to the farm, lights also glimmer

pine was a blazing chandelier, under which he was dancing with Carla, in defiance of the Count, who looked on with furious glances, while the double bass boomed, and the violins squeaked, and the dancing couples whirled in and out: Tettritz with Emilie von Fischbach, that tall Wartenberg with little Fr?ulein von Strummin. Then it was a bivouac fire with the trumpets sounding to the attack at Vionville, against the batteries which thundered in return, and he called laughingly to Tettritz and Warte

ge and helping the coachman to turn the

are the

hat the carri

y in the meadows to the park. Oh, Lord! oh, Lord! if

en into, poured into the hollow way, and eddied up under the horses' feet, who could no longer be restrained but dash

lligible by the storm, as to gather that Elsa was in danger. What was this causeway? Where

PTE

er to which he had made the old servant show him the way; he could see the tide advancing like storming columns which, step by step, slowly but irresistibly, gained ground, following up the skirmishers, which as soon as the main body reached them were swallowed up in it. Over there, where an hour ago he had seen a narrow line of water running through the lower ground--it was the brook, the old servant said--the foaming waves of a broad gulf were now tossing; ther

ad seen the farmer there from the window of the

ere the village stands, and between which and us again is the lowest part of all. If the flood rises above that higher ground which has checked it as yet the hollow will be filled to the brim like a basin; and I shall think myself lucky if it does not get into my stabl

whirled them like chaff over the courtyard. The terrified farm-servants came running up from all sides, while the farmer g

n hour before, had sworn that he was convinced that madame would start immediately after him. T

is was not to be found; some one had seen him a short time before

e has got his money and takes himself off. I am in t

first, that the Warnow money had been withdrawn, from the bank. Elsa's telegram too! All these things coming together would rouse the most sluggish of men, how much more one so active and energetic! And yet everything was not lost, everything might still be won, was won already, if Valerie were on his side; the half million of mortgage money, which he had withdrawn from L

wind whistled and howled, and louder and louder grew the roar of the sea breaking against the barrier

e road to Wissow over the hills could be seen. If indeed in the darkness, which seemed deepening at every moment, anything could be seen at a distance! And where was this south corner? As i

e darkness and silence which surrounded him, he had mused as he went yet farther and higher, and reached the Belvedere, where his beloved Rome, bathed in moonshine, lay at his feet; there he had sworn by St. Peter's, on whose gigantic dome streams of soft golden light were pouring down from the blue heavens, that the love of this fair northern woman should be the golden stepping-stone to his power, which he, the layman, in the service of St. Peter's, and yet free--free as an eagle here above the world--would extend over the whole earth. It had taken him longer than he had then hoped--much too long; he had held fas

d the repeater--he could not hear the faint stroke through the roaring of the storm which crash

elve feet above the enclosing hedge, high enough as he could see from the balcony to overlook the ground outside between the park and the hill; a long trough-shaped bit of ground, some fifty or a hundre

of his post of observation he could see his watch now; it wanted ten minutes to six, and there was not a moment to be lost. He would go back through the park to the castle and find out if Valerie had arrived, or perhaps th

nes in the meadow were hardly visible, he should have trouble in finding them; the dark line waved up and down, the stones seemed in movement. Something was really moving there--that was not the stones. There were people there--women--two--coming across the stones--she, no

pirit had created. He rushed down the steep steps, through the beech avenue, where it was almost completely dark, to the little door which he had noticed before at the entrance to t

lsa, at her aunt's entreating "Let me be alone with him!" unwillingly obeyed her, and remained standing at the shattered door, following with her keen eyes their retreating figures through the dark pathway, ready and deter

d of the path; she thought she could catch a few broken words in Italian--an entreating "Il nostro figlio" from him--a passionate "Giammai! giammai!" from her. Then again the wild raving of the storm and t

cry. She rushed down the path to the summer-house, crying: "Aunt! aunt!" though she expected

a warm stream trickled. But she still lived! she had attempted to press with her slender fingers the hand which had g

fall against the railing as he flung,

l beat; it was only a swoon, the result of the terror a

--she considered whether she should try to carry the slender figure to the castle, or whether it would be better to hasten home alone and procure assistance. She would lose a great deal of time either way

strange and horrible noise that made Elsa's blood run chill. For a moment she listened breathlessly, and then with a wild shriek started to her feet, snatching up her aunt, and with the strength of despair dragging her up the steps to save the helpless woman and herself from the flood which had broken over the park. She had hardly reached the last step before the water was pouring through the low

e, who was falling from one fainting fit into another, after wrapping h

ared around her, and shook the frail slender wooden edifice in every joint of its worm-eaten planks,

TER

omar had last seen her--her face in her hands, her head leaning against the back of the sofa. But she had not cried then, neither did she cry now; she had no tears to shed; she had no hope left, no wish save one--to

n officer should be forced to retire from the service on account of debts, that his betrothal should on this account be broken off, that he should even in his delicate position neglect to call to account the gossips and scandal-bearers--all this may occur, does occur unfortunately only too often. But at the same time, forgive me for saying so, the door is open wide for scandal. A man who at such a moment can think of anything but of saving what still is possible out of the shipwreck of his honour, or, if there is nothing left to save, of giving up with dignity perhaps even life itself--who instead of this drags down with him another person whom he professes to love, a stainless woman, a lady who has always been highly respected--that man has throw

What answer had he had for the pictures of the future which she had painted for him in colours whose glow was drawn from her overflowing heart, but a sad, gloomy smile, or monosyllabic absent words, evidently only spoken because he must say something, while his spirit was weighed down with the burden of his thoughts about his angry father, his pitiful or scornful brother officers, and of the possibility of forcing a duel upon Herr

eft him without in the barren wilderness of life to despair and perish without her! She who had been so proud! so proud, because she knew that she had boundless wealth to give; that he

therefore to sacrifice the ideal, however yearningly her heart might throb, however stormily the warm blood might rush through her veins. She had but this one best thing to lose, to be

rithing despair! days and nights whose terrors would long since have brought even her strength low, if his beloved, fascinat

it was himself; no longer fascin

ever! immeasurably more in his helpl

thout one more heart-beat, without for a moment losing the despairing thought that weighed down her heart: "He will breathe no new strength, no new life from my kisses

courage to live, t

me, if I can hope that from this hour you will despise life, and because you despise it, will

tion: whether she should make a cup of tea for her ladyship? Her ladyship did not seem to understand the question; at any rate she did not answer, and the landlady thought to herself, "She will ring if she wants anything," and went into the bedroom with the candle which she had in her hand, half closing the door--which always took several efforts to shut it--so as not to disturb her ladyship, and then took the candle to the windows, to see if they were properly fastened. One of them was not, the upper bolt had stuck fast, and as she pulled up the lower one, the wind blowing through the narrow opening put the candle out, which she had set upon the window-sill. "I can find my way, however," thought the landlady, and turned in the dim light towards the beds, but stopped as she came near the door, and heard the lady give a faint cry. "Good gracious!" thought the landlady, "it is almost worse

er be a dog, I will no longer suffer worse than a beast. I know all now--all--all! how he was faithless to you, the dishonourable coward, that he might go to another, and again from her to you, and lay at your door whimpering for mercy while they settled it

e half-scornful, half-melancholy smile wh

limb! for whom I would give every drop of my heart's blood, if you would only allow me to kiss the hem of your garment, to kiss the ground upon which you have trod! How often--how often have I done it without your knowledge--in your studio, the spot where your fair

lace where he stood, his wild eyes,

whom you say it. I can give you nothing; I have nothin

passing by the kneeling man, who, as her dress touched his glowi

hael Angelo! I see them coming in moving crowds, singing hymns in praise of the immortal Antonio; bearing flowers, twinin

ws of the advancing flood, and were hastening to the scene of the catastrophe; from the tower of the neighbouring chur

cried the mania

s eyes, lighted with joy and triumph, fixed

arm was withdrawn with a shudder, his hand convulsively clutched at his breast, as immediately under t

! And thinner cord--as much as possible. There are so

tairs at once, came up the creaking

an accident, for sure, if the gentleman came in now, when that strange, disagreeable man was with t

owardly, mad flight at sight of the crime that he had never intended, and that had broken through the night of his insanity as if by a flash of lightning--fled down the stairs, through the crowd below, who had been summoned by the clang of the alarm-bell and the cries of terror of the hasty passers-by from the tap-room and all parts of the h

TER

f?hr man, "I must go in here! One mo

ing into the carriage drew back

se against me?" he crie

in the afternoon, and where he hoped to find some vehicle to convey him farther, he had met the Neuenf?hr driver, who was just harnessing his horse

n had said to himself; "the best thi

the harness, which had got twisted, when som

ive me a li

e to,

euenf

ll you p

ing yo

ge back this long distance empty, he had found a passenger who would pay him anything he l

ntleman; "and I shall run the risk of meeting him a

to give more authority to his words, mentioned his name, and that it was his aunt and si

e carriage stood. He would make sure of not being seen in any case. Bu

murdered by a foreign vagabond--the same no doubt whom he had seen hanging about in Neuenf?hr, when he drew up at the inn by the bridge--a young fellow with black hair and black eyes; and he had noticed the black hair a

ly remained; he was evidently a person of importance here, and the gentleman had quite staggered back when

remain h

n! I will give you d

hr man had meant to ask five thalers, now he woul

ht leave even a

his whip loudly over the heads of the dark figures who were running towards

worth while running over

then as they came to Grausewitz, "We had better stop at Grausewitz, sir;" but the young gentleman--Herr von Werben--had always called out, "Drive on, drive on! Farther, farthe

at all against the storm. To the right of the road was a steep clay bank some five or six feet high, at whose edge stood two or three willows wildly tossed about by the win

cried the

w, and need not snap up an old soldier of the reserve in that way; but he whipped his horses up again, when suddenly the gentleman, who had been s

?" said t

r where!

in the narrow road they could not get out of the way of a carriage which had just appeared

caught him by

ed the Neuenf?hr m

you a hundr

rowned for a h

hun

oad down to the marshes. The water oozed up under their feet, but then came firmer ground again. It mig

But when he looked round, the road and the trees had alike disappeared, as if all had been wiped out with a wet sponge. And from the thick, dark atmosphere the mist was falling so that he could not tell at last whether he ought to go straig

em? Was he an accomplice of the foreign vagabond? He had just the same black eyes and black hair, and a long black beard too, and just such a curious foreign accent! Was it the devil himself to whom he had sold his miserable soul for two hundred thalers, and who had meant to wring his neck just now when he took

it splashing against the wheels. He flogged his horses madl

e would help him. He had just got the second horse out, and raised his head, when--his hair stood on end, as if all that had passed before were child's play to what he saw now! There had been only one person in the carriage, and now there were two; an

m, and then he was up to his waist in water, and then up to his neck and the horses swimming; and again he had dry land under him, and got on to firm ground, and the horses sto

line from the sea, and there behind him, from where he came--it was a little clearer now, so that he could see some little distance-

e kittens, and my beautiful

n felt as if he coul

led them, almost exhausted, at a foot's pace int

TER

ed the village Mayor

thirty men who had hold of

om the nearest houses, and let it go into the stream experimentally. Instantly it had bee

ld rise so much, more especially as in the last few minutes it had already gone down about a foot. The gale had shifted more to the north, the incoming flood would be driven towards the headland; and although the storm still raged with unabated fury, it had grown a little lighter. The first comers had no need now to point out the place

t them had flung a stone, fastened to the end of a thin cord; but the stone had not flown ten feet, and with the cord had been blown away like gossamer. And now a huge wave from the other s

ing over there will have given way. Another such wave, and it must be knocked to pie

nst it we should go to pieces and be upset ou

in the water instead of two,"

d there before our very eyes. We'll take the raft thirty yards higher up, and the

uire twice as much. Half-a-dozen courageous men had been found, too, to make the attempt; the Mayor m

n the raft. "Let go!" The raft shot out li

already attained, fearing only that the raft would b

own and cling fast, then darted down like an arrow against the near shore, to the spot where they had stood before. It took all the strength of the fifty men the

ieutenant would come back; they are his relations. H

on the balcony, and even the balcony itself was not visible to all. At the same time the gale decidedly increased in violence, and had again veered from north-east to south-east, while the water rose considerably in consequence of the backward flow from Wissow Head. Now might have been a good opportunit

had to shout it into each other's ears; no word spoken in an

en in the whole position at a glance. "A rope h

rushed to the nearest houses and dragged out armfuls of fir-wood and pitch, and thrust it all into the hollow trunks, which fortunately opened to westward. Two or three vain efforts--and then it flamed up--blazing, crackling--

he hol

ng, wailing, pressing their nails into their hands, tearing their hair, shrieking aloud ma

ther minute he had recovered it. He had been carried down some way, too; but he had chosen his point of d

e first. He did not seem to make any progress, but slid slowly down stream. Still the

ith close-cut grey hair and thick grey moustache, who had just arrived, breathless, from the village, stood close to the burning willows, almost touched by the flames, and followed the swimmer with fixed gaze, and fervent prayers and promises--that all, all should be

s too

ers like some monster risen from the deep, now showing its mighty roots still grasping the stone, now lifting its head, now rising erect as it had once stood in the sunshine, and the next

tched on the bank, with only one broad, gaping wound upon his forehead, like a soldier who has met his death gallantly, t

! He was my son! And

ut the old one! He threw off coat and waistcoat. He might be an ol

p up, General, give us a signal

w-stumps, which were burning now from the roots to the stiff branches, threw a light almost like day over the bank, the crowd, the stream, and

the back entrance of the castle, as if at a quay. They had heard there how matters stood, and the man sitting at the helm had said: "My men, she is my betrothed!" And the six others, had shouted, "Hurrah for the Captain! and hurrah for his betrothed!" And now they shot past with lowered mast, and the crew holding their oars erect, as if

ts flight; and the six men took to their oars, at one stroke--and "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"--the oars were withdrawn again, and the boat lay alongside the balcony, over which and over th

e decaying fire that the summer-house was gone, and there w

relieved from a weight of fear. And "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" resou

e helm knew what he was about, and the six men who were with him knew what they we

PTE

w Head. The slanting golden rays shone dazzlingly in Reinhold's eyes, as he steered his boat from the lake into the broad gulf close by the White Dune, against whose steep side

knew that the Captain would always allow talk that was to the purpose at the right time, even when as to-day he was in full uniform, with the Iron Cross on his broad breast; but he had pulled his cocked hat low down upon his forehead, and if he occasional

r and sadder than the honest fel

s; what were they to them but a couple more fellow-creatures, saved as a matter of duty, and added to the others whom they had already saved that d

icture of utter misery, her clothes soaked through with wet, her tender limbs shaken by icy cold, half out of her senses with terror, and hardly resembling a human creature; as he carried her to the boat, and at the moment when he

ice of anything that passed, till they had worked their way to the P?litz's farm, and prepared to take the poor wretches there into the boat through the window of the attic in which they had taken refuge. Then he had sprung to his feet, and shrieked like a madman that he would not be

t seemed to Reinhold himself almost a miracle that he had been successful, that he had been able to save the poor creatures from this abyss of m

called the memory now of the mother as she lay in the boat, her little one in her bosom, her head on her husband's knee, while poor Marie, full of compassion, supported in her arms the senseless Carla. What would the wretched man in the bow of the boat have th

beloved from certain death, and with her the unhappy woman who loved them both as if they had been her childr

light? Did not the most apparently firm ground quake, just as the waves here were dancing over the field where the countryman used to drive his plough, over the meadow where the shepherd had tended his flock? Must they needs die--so young, so beautiful, so richly dowered with the noblest gifts and qualities? And

ere already from Ahlbeck, and even from villages farther distant along the coast. From all parts--from miles around--they had come, for everywhere for miles around had the story been repeated from mouth to mouth, with

to him before he met the family. He knew the worthy man's punctuality; and, indeed, he had hardly reached the open space in front of the inn, where a whole arm

r the good man was too much moved to be able to speak at once, until, af

py you must be! It will not add to your happiness--I mean it will not increase the joy with which your heart must be full--but it is right and proper that such good service should meet with its proper recognition in the eyes of the world. Neither has your former conduct, which roused so much ill-feeling at the time, been forgotten. Had your advice been followed, the unfortunate harbour works at least would never have been begun, and millions and millions would have been spared to our poor country, to say nothing of the damage done. The Minister thinks that such heads should not be left idle; he has telegraphed to me, in answer to my brie

untry, by land or water, wherever or however I can. Any summons that comes to me will always f

eat things can be done in comparatively insignificant positions. But the matter has its social side too, which it would be false heroism to overlook. The thorough appreciation o

nhold, much touched. "How yo

ted affairs it is better not to trust to oneself, but to make use of the experience and judgment of one's friends. And who could be better placed than I to give advice and assistance in this case? I have thought over everything already, and settled a good deal in my own mind, and have even taken some preliminary steps, which have met with the readiest concurrence on all sides. We will speak of this more at length when you come to see me at Sundin, which you must do shortly. For to-day, as I must return immediately

Wissow Head and Faschwitz was so frightfully violent that the waters that first entered the so-formed gulf must have been emptied out by the succeeding waves as out of a basin, with everything that was floating in it. The wa

t dreadful man in his last interview with the Baroness, not less than a million. How much good might have been done with it! And in your hand

the two Italians met in their flight, and were drowned together. I hope the unuttera

ot believe

le thing for an invention and sheer lie of Giraldi's. You may suppose that we strengthen her in this idea, and than

way; but for a man such as your uncle from all I hear must be, so high-minded and upright, to be haunted by the vision of a son who is pursued whichever way he turns by warrants and detectives; for such sorrow as that I think no greatness of

ome points the poor man may see life, I can easily imagine that even to him the question may present i

ark; but a loud shout from a rough voice close by them left him no time. The shouter was Herr von Strummin, who with Justus came so quickly down the lane which led from the High Street of the village to the parsonage, that Reinhold, who

loor saloon; looks like the church at Strummin. Yes, my dear President, an artist you know; we must all give way to him. And now, only think, President, the clergyman cannot, or rather will not, say the last words over the grave! declines doing so at the last moment! We--my son-in-law and I--have just come from him; he would not receive

ummin!" said the President

Count has forbidden him; the Count and he are alw

request, moderated his loud voice, brought forward in further support of his views. They had d

d Uncle Ernst have determined that the two shall rest in one grave! He implored the General to alter the arrangement; they had not even been publicly betrothed! only think! But the General stood firm, and has asked your uncle to say a few words. Even that the parson won't have; but the two old gentlemen will not give in; they hold together like brothers. A telegram came just now for your uncle; I was with him when he opened it, and saw how he started; I am certain it has something to do with that unfortunate Philip, he has been arrested probably. It is terrible that your uncle must have that to bear too, on such a day as this; but he has said nothing to any one excepting the General. I saw them go aside together, and he showed him the telegram, and then they

" cried Herr von Str

es already to-day!" said Justus with a sigh,

an, no longer with the foaming waves and roaring whirlpools of that night of terror, but in calm transparent ripples, which met and joined together to form fresh ripples that plashed against the keels of the five large boats on which had been laid the temporary bridge that connected the head of the gorge with the old stone gateway of the castle yard. The battlements of the gateway and the great shield above, bearing the Warnow arms, shone in the evening light, as did the round tower of the castle and the higher roofs and gables, down to the sharply-cut line of the blue shadow t

ought; he seemed to have forgo

ome," Reinhold

rgling and splashing against the sharp keels; throu

said those who knew him, and they were the majority, to the others. "If the President, who was the principal person in the whole province, and such a good gentleman too, who was sure to act for the best, had come here and was going to be present at the funeral, why then the parson could not possibly stay at home. And if the parson had known that the President would be here, he would never have been ill. He wouldn't get the parsonage at Golm for a long time yet, a

came first, he commanded his regiment too, and any one who had served under him in France could see that he knew how to command, by the look of his eyes and nose; and the Captain, who came next to him, was one of the Staff who had been sent here by Field Marshal Moltke himself; and the tall Lieutenant, also in the uniform of Herr von Werben's regiment, was the young Herr von Wartenberg of the Bolswitz Wartenberg

to receive them, and to conduct them into the room on the right hand where the company was assembled. Then he made a sign to Reinhold to follow him, and led him throug

rranged in a semicircle opening towards the entrance to the room, and surrounding the two coffins which stood on a high da?s, carpeted and covered with flowers. The walls around were adorned with old armour which Justus had rescued from the lumber-room, a

it--he the armour, and she the statues! But the most beautiful things here are themselves. I must call the family now, Rei

rtments; and Reinhold mounted the steps and stood between th

ps that had been so proudly closed was a tender, happy, humble smile, while from his delicate pure features death had wiped away with the restless glance of the nervous eyes and the impatient quiver of the delicate mouth, all that was imperfect and unfinished, and left nothing but the expression of heroic determination with which he had gone to his death, and to which a solemn seal was set by the broad red scar on the white forehe

olemn yet exciting moment, the details of which Reinhold's tear-filled eyes could not seize or retain, while to Justus's keen artist's eye one touching and beautiful picture followed another--none more touching or beautiful to him, who knew these people and their circumstances so well, than the last which he saw: the General with tender care almost ca

ust what we did when he stood by our sleeping angel, t

n the other a black flag, and passed over the bridge of boats, up the gully, and from there turning to the right, entered the gradually ascending road to

sin to her last resting-place; and the other with the warlike emblems of the man for whom she had died, and whom a merciful fate had permitted to die the death of a brave man, worthy of the decorations he had won in presence of the enemy, and which the sergeant of his troop carried behin

brilliant company of other officers, the neighbouring gentry with their wives, Herr and Frau von Strummin, the Wartenbergs, the Griebens, the Boltenhagens and Warnekows, and all the rest of the desce

banks, and now and then the shrill cry of a gull, as skimming over the dazzling water, it seemed curiously to watch the

procession reached the graveyard, "Do you feel strong enough?" and that whic

ad heard. Uncle Ernst had not shown to any one yet, excepting the General, the telegram of

emerhaven to Chili, recognised, and shot himself with a revolver in his cabin; misapp

w that he might say to himself that his unhappy son was not at least one of the cowards who prized life above all things; that even for him there had been a meas

the head of the grave stood Uncle Ernst bareheaded, and

ly man whose figure stood out giant-like fr

sembly in one glance, and now he raised his deep voice, whose bell-lik

r his portion, which should, he thinks, belong to him; and he forgets that it is only an outward show that he so eagerly desires, a glittering show without warmth, and that the warmth which he should indeed desire dwells in the heart of every man, and is that alone which makes life worth having, or even po

have done on innumerable battle-fields in the most glorious and most righteous of all wars, only on returning home to begin anew the struggle over mine and thine--the wild, desolating struggle of self-advancement, that feels no shame and knows no mercy, desires no peace and gives no pardon, and respects

an nation cannot, w

as a token that the storm which is now raging through German society will sweep away the poisonous vapours of self-love, and make the glorious German sun shine brighter th

of the earth--this hope, this assurance, and the certainty that they have not died in vain; that they were blos

oyfully, without asking whether they might not still live, hastening to deat

uder and more urgently, the longer the road stretches before y

e make at the grave of these too early dead: to renounce from this hour all littleness and meanness, to live henceforth in the light of truth, to love

as they pressed silently round to offer the last honours to the dead, bathed in the reflection of the

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