old fritz and the new era-第69部分

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list　of　the　invited　guests。　You　can　add　to　it　at　your　pleasure。〃

〃I　have　no　one　to　invite；〃　cried　her　husband。

〃No　matter！　Make　the　necessary　preparations。　I　will　go　to　my　room　to
make　my　toilet。〃

〃Will　you　not　allow　me　to　accompany　you？　You　are　not　yet　familiar
with　the　house。〃

〃Trude　will　show　it　to　me；　and　you　can　at　the　same　time　give　the
orders。〃

Nodding　proudly　to　Ebenstreit；　she　told　Trude　to　precede　her；
following　the　old　woman　through　the　suite　of　brilliant　rooms。

〃Here　is　my　lady's　dressing…room；〃　said　Trude；　entering　one
ornamented　with　mirrors；　laces；　and　gauzes。

The　French　waiting…maid　was　busy　within；　unpacking　the　large　trunks
filled　with　silk　and　satin　dresses　which　had　been　purchased　by　the
dozens　in　Paris。

〃Lay　out　an　elegant　visiting　toilet；　I　will　return　directly；　after
Trude　has　shown　me　the　house；〃　They　entered　the　adjoining　chamber；
Marie's　sleeping…room　and　found　the　German　maid　arranging　the　lace
and　silk　coverings　for　her　mistress　to　repose　herself　after　the　long
journey。　Marie　betrayed　no　inclination　for　repose；　but　questioned
Trude　as　to　whither　the　other　door　led　to。

〃Into　the　little　corridor；　baroness。〃

〃Did　I　not　order　that　there　should　be　but　one　entrance　to　my
sleeping…room；　and　that　from　the　dressing…room？〃

〃Your　commands　have　been　strictly　obeyed；〃　replied　Trude。　〃The　only
door　from　the　corridor　leads　to　my　two　rooms；　and　there　is　but　one
entrance　to　them　upon　the　other　side；　which　can　be　securely
fastened。〃

Into　the　simple；　quiet　room；　at　the　baroness's　request；　Trude　opened
the　door；　saying；　〃Here　we　can　be　alone。〃

Marie　pointed　silently　to　the　second　door；　and　the　old　woman　nodded：
〃That　is　it；〃　said　she。　〃I　have　done　every　thing　as　you　directed。
After　you　left；　they　sent　me　the　furniture　of　your　little　garret…
room；　which　I　have　arranged　exactly　as　it　stood　there。〃

As　Marie　opened　the　door　and　found　herself　in　the　small　room；　so
like　the　one　where　she　had　made　flowers；　given　lessons；　consoled　by
her　only　friend；　Trude；　her　pride　and　reserve　vanished。　Sinking　upon
her　knees；　as　if　crushed；　she　gave　way　to　her　long…pent…up　grief　in
one　cry　of　anguish；　clinging　to　Trude；　and　weeping　bitterly。

〃Here　I　am；　my　faithful　nurse；　returned　to　you　more　wretched　and
miserable　than　when　I　left：　then；　I　felt　that　I　could　scorn　the
world；　and　now　I　despise　myself。　Oh；　Trude；　they　have　caused　my
wretchedness；　they　have　made　me　selfish　and　unkind。　I　was　contented
until　now；　and　rejoiced　in　my　misery；　and　triumphantly　thought　of
the　time　when　I　was　wont　to　bewail　my　broken　heart　and　lost　soul。
Once　more　with　you；　and　surrounded　with　the　souvenirs　of　my
girlhood；　I　feel　a　horror　of　myself；　and　could　sink　in　shame　and
contrition。　I　have　become　as　bad　as　they　are。　Can　you　forgive　the
hard…hearted　daughter　who　banished　her　own　mother　from　her　house？　I
felt　that　I　could　not　endure　her　presence；　and　feared　that　an
inveterate　rancor　and　hate　would　overpower　me；　and　that　I　should
curse　her。〃

〃She　deserves　it；　my　poor　child；〃　whispered　Trude；　the　tears
streaming　down　her　cheeks。　〃She　has　just　told　you　that　she　never
loved　you；　and　in　this　painful　scene　she　thought　only　of　bargaining
and　making　money。　God　has　heard　her　and　forgiven　you　as　I　do；　and　I
beg　and　implore　Him　to　punish　those　who　have　made　you　so　wretched；
and　that　He　will　have　no　mercy　upon　them；　as　they　have　shown　none　to
you。　It　breaks　my　heart　to　see　you　so　changed；　and　I　can　hardly
believe　this　cold；　haughty　lady　is　my　Marie。　In　your　tears　I
recognize　you；　and　I　bless　God　that　you　can　weep；　your　grief　proves
to　me　that　you　are　yet　the　child　of　my　heart。〃

〃Oh　Trude；　you　know　not　how　I　have　longed　to　see　you　；　it　was　my
only　consolation　in　these　painful　years。　When　I　doubted　every　human
being；　then　I　thought　of　you；　and　was　comforted　and　sustained。〃

〃And　was　there　no　one　else　to　think　of；　my　child？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　gently　murmured；　〃I　thought　of　him。　Tell　me　all　you　know
about　him；　and　hide　nothing　from　me　in　this　hour。〃

〃I　thought　you　would　ask　me；　and　I　went　to　Director　Gedicke
yesterday；　to　inform　myself。〃

〃What　did　you　hear？　Tell　me　the　most　important。　Does　he　live？　Is　he
restored　to　health？〃

〃He　lives；　but；　for　one　year；　he　was　so　wretched　that　he　could　not
teach；　now　he　is　better。　Herr　Gedicke　went　himself　to　Spandau；
immediately　after　the　wedding；　and　brought　him　back　with　him；
relating　as　forbearingly　and　carefully　as　possible　the　circumstances
of　your　marriage；　and　of　your　sacrificing　yourself　for　him　alone。〃

〃How　did　he　receive　it？　What　did　he　say？〃

〃Nothing。　His　eyes　were　fixed；　and　his　lips　uttered　not　a　sound。
This　lasted　for　weeks；　and　suddenly　he　became　excited；　enraged；　and
they　were　obliged　to　bind　him　to　keep　him　from　injuring　himself。〃

〃Tell　me　no　more；　cried　Marie；　shuddering。　〃I　thought　myself
stronger；　nay；　heartless；　and　yet　it　seems　as　if　a　hand　of　iron　were
tearing；　rending　my　soul！〃

〃That　is　well；〃　said　Trude；　gently；　〃you　must　awaken　from　this
hardened　indifference；　giving　way　to　your　grief　in　tears　will　soften
your　heart；　and　it　will　again　be　penetrated　with　the　love　of　God　and
mankind。　I　will　tell　you　every　thing；　you　ought　to　know　how　poor；
dear　Moritz　suffered。　After　he　vented　his　rage　he　became　melancholy；
and　withdrew　to　Halle　in　solitude；　living　in　a　hay…loft。　His
favorite　books　and　an　old　piano　were　his　only　companions；　no　one
presumed　to　intrude　him；　and　they　even　conveyed　his　food　secretly　to
him；　shoving　it　through　a　door。　He　talked　aloud　to　himself　for　hours
long；　and　at　night　sang　so　touchingly；　accompanying　himself　upon　the
piano；　that　those　who　listened　wept。〃

Marie　wept　alsoscalding　tears　trickled　through　her　fingers　as　she
lay　upon　the　floor。

Trude　continued：　〃Moritz　lived　in　this　way　one　year；　his　friends
knew　how　he　was　suffering；　and　they　proved　in　their　deeds　how　much
they　loved　and　esteemed　him。　The　teachers　at　the　Gymnasium　divided
his　hours　of　instruction　among　them；　that　he　should　not　forfeit　his
place　and　lose　his　salary。　Even　the　king　showed　great　sympathy　for
him；　sending　to　inquire　for　him。　Herr　Gedicke　visited　him　frequently
at　Halle；　and　once　when　about　to　mount　the　ladder　to　the　hay…loft　he
met　Moritz　descending；　carefully　dressed；　in　a　reasonable；　gentle
mood；　and　then　he　returned　with　him　to　Berlin。　There　was　great
rejoicing　in　the　college　over　his　return；　and　they　feted　him；
witnessing　so　much　love　for　him　that　it　was　really　touching。　He　has
been　promoted　to　professor；　and　at　the　express　command　of　the　king
he　teaches　the　young　Prince　Frederick　William　in　Latin　and　Greek。
Oh；　he　is　so　much　esteemed　and〃

〃And　is　married　I　hope；〃　murmured　Marie。　〃Is　he　not　happily　married；
Trude？〃

〃No。　Herr　Gedicke　says　he　could　marry　a　wealthy　girl；　for　he　is　a
great　favorite；　and　is　invited　into　the　most　distinguished　society。
He　repels　every　one；　and　has　become　a　woman…hater。〃

〃He　hates　themdoes　that　mean　that　he　hates　me？〃

〃Yes；　he　thoroughly　scorns　and　despises　you；　so　much　so　that　Herr
Gedicke　says　you　should　know　of　it；　and　keep　out　of　his　way。　He　has
sworn　to　publicly　show　his　contempt　for　you；　and　therefore　his
friends　wish　you　to　be　apprised　of　it；　and　not　encounter　him　in
society。〃

〃It　is　well；　I　thank　you；〃　said　Marie；　rising；　〃I　will　act
accordingly。　Kiss　me　once　more；　my　dear　mother；　and　let　me　repose　my
weary　head　upon　your　bosom。　Ah；　Trude；　what　a　sorrow　life　is！〃

〃You　will　yet　learn　to　love　it　again；　Marie。〃

〃If　I　thought　that　I　could　sink　so　low；　I　would　kill　myself　this
very　hour。　I　know　myself　better；　and　only　for　revenge　do　I　live。
Hush！　say　nothing　more。　Look　at　me！　I　am　cursed；　and　there　in　those
gaudy　rooms　in　my　purgatory；　here　is　my　paradise；　and　here　the
wicked　demon　may　dare　to　change　into　the　sad；　wretched　wife；　who
mourns　the　happy　days　already　flown；　and　weeps　the　inconsolable
future。　Oft　will　I　come　here　in　the　night　when　those　sleep　who　think
me　so　proud　and　happy；　and　you　alone　shall　behold　me　as　I　am。　Now　I
must　back　to　purgatory。Farewell！〃

A　half　hour　later　a　splendid　carriage　drove　from　the　house　of　Herr
Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen。　The　people　upon　the　street　stood　in
wondering　admiration　of　the　beautiful　Arab　horses　with　the　costly
silver…mounted　harness；　and　sought　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the
occupants　of　the　carriage；　an　insignificant；　meagre；　blond…haired
man；　who　appeared　like　a　servant　beside　the　lovely　pale　wife；　though
proud　and　indifferent；　who　kept　her　eyes　fixed　steadily　before　her。

The　chasseur；　with　his　waving　plumes；　sat　upon　the　box　beside　the
rich…liveried　coachman。

As　the　married　couple　returned　from　their　drive；　having　left　their
cards　at　the　most　distinguished　houses　in　Berlin；　the　baroness
handed　the　list　of　guests　to　he　invited　to　the　baron　to　examine。　He
glanced　hastily　over　it；　assuring　her　that　every　thing　should　be
directed　as　she　desired；　deferring　all　to　her　superior　knowledge。
Suddenly　he　seemed　confused；　even　frightened。　〃What　is　the　matter？
What　were　you　about　to　remark？〃　asked　Marie；　indifferently。

〃I　was　in　error。　I　have；　without　doubt；　read　it　wrong。　I　beg　pardon
for　a　foolish　blunder；　but　will　you　tell　me　this　name？〃

Marie　bent　forward　to　look　at　the　paper　which　her　husband　handed
her；　and；　pointing　with　her　finger；　read　〃Professor　Philip　Moritz。〃

〃Do　you　intend　to　invite　him？〃　asked　Ebenstreit；　quite　alarmed。

〃Why　should　I　not？　He　belongs　to　the　circle　of　friends　and
acquaintances；　and　it　is　natural　that　I　should　include　him。
Moreover；　there　is　not　a　little　gossip；　and　it　is　necessary　to
silence　it。　If　you　are　not　of　my　opinion；　strike　out　the　name。〃

〃Not　at　all；　dearest。　On　the　contrary；　you　are　perfectly　right；　and
I　admire　you　for　it。〃

〃Then　give　the　list　to　the　butler；　for　it　is　quite　time　that　the
invitations　were　given　out。〃




CHAPTER　XXXV。

THE　CURSE。


The　evening　of　the　soiree　had　arrived。　In　quick　succession　drove　the
carriages　up　the　broad　entrance　to　the　mansion　of　Herr　Ebenstreit；
The　curious　street　public　pressed　in　compact　masses　near　the　gate　to
peep　in；　or　at　least　catch　a　fugitive　glance　of　the　ladies　alighting
from　their　carriages；　who　were　received　by　the　butler　at　the　foot　of
the　carpe