old fritz and the new era-第30部分

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her。　What　beautiful　black　eyes　they　were　as　they　sparkled　underneath
the　delicately…arched；　black　eyebrows！

〃Now；　old　one；〃　said　she；　kindly；　〃what　do　you　wish？　Did　you　forget
that　I　wanted　to　work　undisturbed　to…day？〃

〃Didn't　forget　it；　my　Fraulein；　but〃

〃But　you　have　forgotten　that　up　here；　in　my　attic…room；　I　am　not
your　Fraulein；　but　your　Marie；　whom　you　have　taken　care　of　and
watched　over　when　a　child；　and　whose　best　and　truest　friend　you　have
been。　Come；　give　me　your　hand；　and　tell　me　what　you　have　to　say。〃

Old　Trude　shuffled　hurriedly　along　in　her　leather　slippers。　Her　old；
homely　face　looked　almost　attractive；　with　its　expression　of　glowing
tenderness；　as　she　regarded　the　beautiful；　smiling　face　before　her；
and　laid　her　hard　brown　hand　in　the　little　white　one　extended　to
her。　〃Marie；〃　she　said；　softly　and　anxiously；　〃you　must　go　down　at
once　to　your　mother　and　father。　They　have　something　very　important
to　tell　you。〃

〃Something　very　important！〃　repeated　Marie；　laying　aside　her　work。
〃Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃

〃Nothing　good；　I　fear；〃　sighed　the　old　woman。　〃A　soldier　has　been
here　from　the　war　department　and　brought　a　letter　for　the　general；
and　he　told　me　that　it　was　sent　from　the　king's　cabinet　at　Breslau。〃

〃Oh；　Heaven！　what　does　it　mean？〃　cried　Marie；　frightened；　and
springing　up。　〃Something　is　going　to　happen；　I　know。　I　have　noticed
certain　expressions　which　escaped　my　father；　the　proud；　threatening
manner　of　my　mother；　but　above　all　the　bold　importunity　of　that　man；
whom　I　despise　as　one　detests　vice；　stupidity；　and　ennui。　They　will
not　believe　that　I　hate　him；　that　I　rather〃

〃Marie；　are　you　not　coming？〃　called　the　mother；　with　a　commanding
voice。

〃I　must　obey；〃　she　said；　drawing　a　long　breath；　and　hastening　to　the
door；　followed　by　Trude；　who　pulled　her　back　and　held　her　fast　upon
the　very　first　step。　〃You　have　forbidden　me　to　speak　of　him；　but　I
must。〃

Marie　stood　as　if　rooted　to　the　spot；　her　face　flushed；　and　in
breathless　expectation　looking　back　to　old　Trude。

〃Speak；　Trude；〃　she　softly　murmured。

〃Marie；　I　saw　him　to…day；　an　hour　ago！〃

〃Where；　Trude；　where　did　you　see　him？〃

〃Over　on　the　corner　of　Frederick　Street；　by　the　baker's。　He　stood
waiting　for　me；　as　he　knows　I　always　go　there。　He　had　been　there　two
hours；　and　feared　that　I　was　not　coming。〃

〃What　did　he　say？　Quick！　what　did　he　say？〃

〃He　said　that　he　was　coming　to　see　you　to…day　at　twelve　o'clock；
that　he　would　rather　die　than　live　in　this　way。〃

〃To…day？　and　you　have　just　told　me　of　it！〃

〃I　did　not　mean　to　say　any　thing　at　all　about　it；　I　thought　it　would
be　better；　and　then　you　would　not　have　to　dissemble。　But　now；　if　any
harm　comes　to　you；　you　know　he　is　coming；　and　will　stand　by　you！〃

〃He　will　stand　by　meyes；　he　will〃

〃Marie！〃　cried　her　mother；　and　her　dry；　gaunt　figure　appeared　at　the
foot　of　the　stairs。　Marie　flew　down　to　the　sitting…room　of　her
parents；　following　her　mother；　who　took　her　place　in　the　niche　at
the　open　window　without　speaking　to　her。




CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　KING'S　LETTER。


〃Marie；〃　said　the　general's　wife；　after　seating　herself　upon　the
hard　cushion　of　the　divan；　near　which　sat　the　general　in　his　arm…
chair；　busily　stroking　his　painful　right　leg〃Marie；　take　a　chair；
and　sit　near　us。〃

Marie　noiselessly　brought　a　cane…chair；　and　seated　herself　by　the
table；　opposite　her　parents。

〃We　have　just　received　a　communication　from　the　king's　cabinet；〃
said　the　mother；　solemnly。　〃It　is　necessary　that　you　should　know　the
contents；　and　I　will　read　it　aloud　to　you。　I　expressly　forbid　you；
however；　to　interrupt　me　while　I　am　reading；　in　your　impetuous
manner；　with　your　remarks；　which　are　always　of　the　most　obstinate
and　disagreeable　kind。　You　understand；　do　you；　Marie？〃

〃Perfectly；　mother；　I　will　listen　without　interrupting　you；
according　to　your　command。〃

〃This　communication　is　naturally　addressed　to　your　father；　as　I
wrote　to　the　king　in　his　name。〃

〃I　did　not　know　that　you　had　written　to　his　majesty　at　all；　dear
mother。〃

The　mother　cast　a　furious　glance　at　the　gentle；　decided　face　of　her
daughter。　〃You　already　forget　my　command　and　your　promise　to　listen
without　interrupting　me。　I　did；　indeed；　write　to　his　majesty；　but　it
is　not　necessary　to　tell　you　what　I；　or　rather　your　father；
solicited；　as　you　will　hear　it　in　the　answer　from　our　most　gracious
king。　It　runs　thus：　'My　faithful　subject：　I　have　received　your
petition；　and　I　was　glad　to　learn　by　this　occasion　that　you　are
well；　and　that　you　now　lead　a　steady；　reasonable　life。　Formerly　you
gave　good　cause　of　complaint；　for　it　is　well　known　to　me　that　you
led　a　dissolute　life；　and　your　family　suffered　want　and　misfortune
from　your　abominable　chance…games。　You　know　that　I　have　twice　paid
your　debts；　that　at　the　second　time　I　gave　you　my　royal　word　of
assurance　that　I　would　never　pay　a　groschen　for　you　again。　If　you
gave　yourself　up　to　the　vice；　and　made　gambling…debts；　I　would　send
you　to　the　fortress　at　Spandau；　and　deprive　you　of　your　pension。
Nevertheless　you　played　again；　and　commenced　your　vicious　life　anew。
Notwithstanding　which；　I　did　not　send　you　to　prison　as　I　threatened；
and　as　you　deserved；　because　I　remembered　that　you　had　been　a　brave
soldier；　and　did　me　a　good　service　at　the　battle　of　Leuthen。　For
this　reason　I　now　also　grant　your　request；　that；　as　you　have　no　son；
your　name　and　coat…of…arms　may　descend　to　your　son…in…law。　The　name
of　Werrig…Leuthen　is　well　worthy　to　be　preserved；　and　be　an　example
to　succeeding　generations。　I　give　my　permission　for　Ludwig
Ebenstreit；　banker；　to　marry　your　daughter　and　only　child；　and'〃

Marie　uttered　a　cry　of　horror；　and　sprang　from　her　seat。　〃Mother！〃

〃Be　still！　I　commanded　you　not　to　interrupt　me；　but　listen；　with
becoming　respect；　to　the　end；　to　the　words'　of　his　majesty。〃　And；
with　a　louder　voice；　occasionally　casting　a　severe；　commanding
glance　at　her　daughter；　she　read　on：　〃'And　call　himself　in　future
Ludwig　Werrig　yon　Leuthen。　I　wish　that　he　should　honor　the　new　name；
and　prove　himself　a　true　nobleman。　Ludwig　Ebenstreit　must　give　up；
or　sell；　without　delay；　his　banking　business；　as　I　cannot　permit　a
nobleman　to　continue　the　business　of　citizen；　and　remain　a　merchant。
A　nobleman　must　either　be　a　soldier　or　a　landed　proprietor；　and　if
your　future　son…in…law　will　not　be　either；　he　can　live　upon　his
income；　which　must　indeed　be　ample。　But　I　command　him　to　spend　it　in
the　country；　not　go　to　foreign　countries　to　spend　what　he　has　gained
in　the　country。　If　he　should　do　it；　it　will　not　be　well　with　him；
and　he　shall　be　brought　back　by　force。　You　may　communicate　this　to
him；　and　he　can　judge　for　himself。　I　will　have　the　letters　of
nobility　made　out　for　him；　for　which　he　shall　pay　the　sum　of　one
hundred　louis　d'ors　to　the　'Invalids'　at　Berlin。　It　depends　upon　him
whether　as　a　true　nobleman　he　will　not　give　my　poor　'Invalids'　a
greater　sum。　The　marriage　shall　not　take　place　until　the　letters　of
nobility　have　been　published　in　the　Berlin　journals；　for　I　do　not
wish　the　daughter　of　a　general；　and　a　countess；　to　marry　beneath
her。　You　can　prepare　every　thing　for　the　wedding；　and　let　them　be
married　as　soon　as　publication　has　been　made。　I　will　give　the　bride
a　thousand　thalers　for　a　dowry；　that　she　may　not　go　to　her　rich
husband　penniless；　the　money　will　be　paid　to　your　daughter　from　the
government　treasury　at　her　receipt。　As　ever　I　remain　your　well…
disposed　king；　FREDERICK。'

〃And　here　on　the　margin；〃　continued　the　general's　wife；　looking　over
to　her　husband　with　malicious　pleasure；　〃the　king　has　written　a　few
lines　in　his　own　hand：　'I　have　given　orders　that　the　money　shall　be
paid　to　your　daughter　in　person；　with　her　receipt　for　the　same；　for
I　know　you；　and　know　that　you　do　not　play；　not　because　you　have　not
the　money；　but　the　gout。　If　you　had　the　cash　and　not　the　gout；　you
would　play　your　daughter's　dowry　to　the　devil；　and　that　I　do　not
wish；　for　a　noble　maiden　should　not　marry　a　rich　husband　as　poor　as
a　church　mouse。　FREDERICK。'〃

A　profound　stillness　prevailed　when　the　reading　was　finished。　The
general　busied　himself；　as　usual；　rubbing　his　gouty　leg　with　the
palm　of　his　hand。　Marie　sat　with　her　hands　pressed　upon　her　bosom；
as　if　she　would　force　back　the　sighs　and　sobs　which　would　break
forth。　Her　great；　black　eyes　were　turned　to　her　mother　with　an
expression　of　painful　terror；　and　she　searched　with　a　deathly
anxiety　for　a　trace　of　sympathy　and　mercy　upon　her　cold；　immovable
face。

Her　mother　slowly　folded　the　letter；　and　laid　it　upon　the　table。
〃You　know　all　now；　Mariethat；　as　it　becomes　parents；　we　have
disposed　of　your　future　and　your　hand。　You　will　submit　to　their
wishes　without　murmuring　or　opposition；　as　it　becomes　an　obedient；
well…brought…up　daughter；　and　receive　the　husband　we　have　chosen　for
you。　He　will　come　today　to　hear　your　consent；　and　you　from　this　day
forth　are　the　betrothed　of　the　future　Herr　von　Werrig。　Of　course
from　this　very　hour　you　will　cease　the　highly　improper　and　ungenteel
business　which　you　have　pursued。　You　must　not　make　any　more　flowers；
or　give　any　more　lessons。　The　time　of　such　degradation　and
humiliation　is　past；　and　my　daughter　can　no　longer　be　a　school…
mistress。　You　have　only　to　write　the　receipt　to…day；　and　I　will　go
with　you　to　the　treasury　to　get　the　money。〃

〃I　will　not　write　the　receipt；〃　said　Marie；　gently　but　firmly。　Her
mother；　in　the　act　of　rising；　sank　back　upon　the　divan；　and　the
general；　apparently　quite　occupied　with　his　leg；　stopped　rubbing；
and　raised　his　red；　bloated　face　to　his　daughter　in　astonishment。
〃Did　I　understand　rightly　your　words；　that　you　would　not　write　the
receipt？〃

〃Yes；　mother；　I　said　so；　I　cannot　and　will　not　write　it；〃　replied
Marie；　gently。

〃And　why　cannot　you；　and　will　you　not　write　it？〃　said　her　mother；
scornfully。

〃Because　I　have　no　right　to　the　money；　and　cannot　take　it；　mother；
as　I　will　never　be　the　wife　of　the　man　you　intend　me　to　marry。〃

The　general　sprang　with　a　savage　curse　from　his　arm…chair；　and　would
have　rushed　to　his　daughter；　but　his　wife　pushed　him　back　into　his
seat；　and　approached　Marie；　who　rose；　regarding　her　mother　with　a
firm；　sad　expressi