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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Herman
+       A Novel
+
+Author: E. Werner
+
+Translator: Helen Keer Brown
+
+Release Date: February 2, 2011 [EBook #35142]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERMAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+   1. Page scan source:
+      http://books.google.com/books?id=ZBUCAAAAQAAJ&dq
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                           AT EVERY LIBRARY.
+
+                                NEW WORK
+
+                                   BY
+
+                         GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+                          PARIS HERSELF AGAIN
+                               In 1878-9,
+
+
+                    With Four Hundred Illustrations
+
+                                   BY
+
+           Cham, Bertall, Pelcoq, Grévin, Gill, Marie, Morin,
+              Deroy, Lalanne, Benoist, Lafosse, Mars, etc.
+
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+            2 Vols. Demy 8vo. Cloth, Handsomely Bound. 25s.
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+
+                                London:
+                REMINGTON & CO., 5, Arundel Street, W.C.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                                HERMANN.
+
+
+                                A Novel,
+
+
+
+                                   BY
+
+                               E. WERNER.
+
+     _Author of_ "_Success and How He Won it_," "_Under a Charm_,"
+               "_Riven Bonds_," "_No Surrender_," _etc_.
+
+
+                             TRANSLATED BY
+                           HELEN KEER BROWN.
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+                                London:
+                           REMINGTON AND CO.,
+                    5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.
+                               *   *   *
+                                 1879.
+
+                        [_All Rights Reserved_.]
+
+
+
+
+
+                                HERMANN.
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+
+
+"But, Doctor, for heaven's sake tell us what this is all about."
+
+"The whole town is talking of it already, and still we have heard no
+particulars!"
+
+"Surely it is impossible, Doctor, it cannot be true!"
+
+He, to whom all these questions and exclamations were addressed, rapped
+his stick with an air of impatient vexation against the pavement, and
+replied in a rather dry, concise tone--
+
+"What you may think possible or impossible, gentlemen, is not for me to
+decide; the fact is simply this, that the sum of 20,000 thalers is
+missing, and that the steward, Brand, has shot himself this morning.
+You can decide for yourselves the connection between the two
+circumstances."
+
+The assembled officers of the Prince's household surrounded, with pale,
+horrified faces, the principal physician of the town, from whose lips
+they had just received confirmation of a report, which had already
+agitated the little town for some hours.
+
+"It is really true, then! And they say that the misfortune happened in
+Count Arnau's own room."
+
+"In his business room! The Count had suspected the steward for some
+days, and therefore sent for him this morning. He called him to
+account, and finally charged him to his face with the robbery. Brand
+attempted to deny it at first, but at last confessed to it, and begged
+for mercy, which, of course, could not be granted to him; and as the
+Count turned to ring the bell, in order to have him taken into custody,
+he drew out a pistol and shot himself before his Excellency's eyes."
+
+"Did you hear this from his Excellency himself?" asked one of the older
+members of the Count's household.
+
+"From his own lips."
+
+"Indeed?"
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the Doctor, surprised at the strange tone of
+this "indeed?"
+
+"O, nothing! Only I cannot understand how Brand could be a thief.
+Brand, the most punctual, most conscientious of all men, who would
+never allow the slightest irregularity in his work--"
+
+"Appearances deceive sometimes. Just this apparent conscientiousness
+must have been the cloak for his villany."
+
+The old man shook his head.
+
+"And yet--it cannot be. I would have believed any one capable of it,
+sooner than Brand! Has it been proved already then, that--"
+
+The Doctor made a movement of impatience.
+
+"My dear Weiss, I am no judge in a court of law. Of course an
+examination will disclose all particulars; for the present the papers
+of the deceased have been seized, and I hear that Count Arnau has
+himself undertaken to look over them--but I have no time to waste. I
+must attend the Countess."
+
+"Ah, yes, poor lady!" said a third, joining in the conversation. "How
+is she?"
+
+The Doctor shrugged his shoulders gravely.
+
+"Very unwell! which is, unfortunately, only what we can expect. Such an
+event in one's own house is enough to make any one ill, and when one is
+in the last stage of consumption, and ought to be carefully guarded
+from all agitation, it is enough to cause one's death. Adieu,
+gentlemen!"
+
+So saying, he lifted his hat, and with a hurried greeting, left the
+steward's office, where the conversation had taken place, and hurried
+towards the house of the chamberlain, Count Arnau, which lay about
+midway between the former and the Prince's residence.
+
+In the drawing-room of the large, splendidly appointed dwelling sat two
+ladies, the wife of the Count, and her mother, the widowed Präsidentin
+von Sternfeld, who had left her estates in the neighbourhood in order
+to visit her daughter, and had now been with her about a quarter of an
+hour. At the first glance no one would have taken the two ladies for
+mother and daughter, for, indeed, one could not trace the slightest
+resemblance between them. The Präsidentin was a woman about fifty, with
+a not very tall, but powerful figure, and with features, which, indeed,
+could never have been beautiful, but were now striking from their
+remarkable expression of energy and decision. There was nothing
+attractive, nor womanly in this sharply-cut countenance, and her whole
+appearance coincided with it. Carriage, speech, everything, was short,
+decided, and commanding, as is usual with any one accustomed to
+unconditional authority and command. The Countess, on the other hand,
+was a young, and still beautiful woman, though her form showed but too
+plainly the devastating traces of severe bodily suffering. The
+delicate, stooping figure, the gentle pale face, the low, soft voice,
+all formed the sharpest contrast to the mother's appearance.
+
+The subject of the two ladies' conversation was naturally the dreadful
+event of the morning.
+
+The Countess had just related it with renewed agitation; her eyes
+showed the traces of newly-shed tears, and her pale cheeks showed two
+burning, feverish spots. The Präsidentin apparently possessed stronger
+nerves than her daughter; the Countess's agitated relation seemed to
+make only a very slight impression upon her. The most painful feature
+in the whole affair appeared to her, that it should have happened in
+the Count's own house.
+
+"Well, I hope they took care to inform you of it gradually?"
+
+The Countess shook her head gently.
+
+"O, mamma, that was impossible! I heard a shot in my husband's study;
+and of course I flew along the corridor, frightened to death, and just
+reached the door as Adalbert opened it for me. He hurried past me to
+call for help, and--"
+
+"And took no notice of you, when it was enough to kill you on the
+spot!" interrupted the Präsidentin, very angrily. "What
+incomprehensible want of consideration!"
+
+"Ach, Adalbert was so upset himself, so beside himself, indeed, more
+than I have ever seen him! He seemed quite unnerved, and I understand
+that only too well. To think that he should have been the one, though
+against his will, to drive the unhappy man to that terrible step."
+
+"Your husband only did his duty," said the mother, decidedly, "and the
+man suffered the punishment he deserved. He has at least been spared
+public disgrace, since he unfortunately cannot be called to account in
+any way."
+
+"But he leaves behind a family, a wife, and a child only a few months
+old--a little girl, I believe."
+
+"That is sad; but better for them that the husband and father should be
+dead, than know him to be in prison. Don't make such a trouble of it,
+Ottilie, this is not the first time that an untrue servant has
+anticipated justice in this way. And if he possessed any character at
+all, scarcely anything else would have been open to him after the
+unavoidable discovery."
+
+The Countess sighed; she apparently had not philosophy enough to throw
+aside the dreadful event which had happened almost before her eyes, so
+easily as her mother, who now asked--"Where is Adalbert?"
+
+"I have not seen him since. He is himself undertaking the seizure and
+examination of the steward's papers; I expect he is still occupied with
+them."
+
+"And Hermann? Why does not he come as usual to see me?"
+
+Before the Countess could answer, the folding doors opened which
+communicated with the next room, and a boy, about eight years old,
+appeared. The little Count Arnau was a strong, but rather unattractive
+child, who bore little or no resemblance to his mother, though a very
+striking one to his grandmother.
+
+It was the same cast of face, the same high, broad forehead, the same
+clear, sharp glance, and round the small mouth were already forming the
+first lines of that energy and decision which made the grandmother's
+countenance so repellant and so striking. Was the boy always as pale as
+this? or had he, too, been influenced by the terrible event of this
+morning, the news of which had spread through the whole house? In any
+case, he did not run merrily to his grandmother, but went slowly
+towards her--almost shyly, and without speaking, put his arm round her
+neck.
+
+"Why, Hermann," asked she severely, "you were in the ante-room, and did
+not come in? What does that mean? How long have you been accustomed to
+listening behind the curtains?"
+
+The grave, but not severely-meant reproof, had a strange effect upon
+the boy. He shrank back at the last words, and a sudden flush dyed his
+formerly pale cheek; at the same time his eyes rested upon his
+grandmother with such an expression of anxious pain, that she
+involuntarily softened her tone, and asked, "But what is the matter,
+child? Have you become shy and timid all at once?"
+
+"The poor child is still frightened," said the Countess, intercedingly.
+"I suddenly found him at my side in the study, so that he, too,
+like myself, must have witnessed the terrible scene. Wasn't it so,
+Hermann--you heard the report in papa's room, and hurried after me?"
+
+The boy did not answer; he hid his face on the grandmother's shoulder,
+and she felt how his whole body trembled in her arms. But the
+Präsidentin was not the woman to suffer any display of feeling in her
+grandson, she lifted up his head in rather ungentle fashion.
+
+"I should not have expected this from Hermann. If his poor, suffering
+mamma, is made worse by this fright, that is only natural; but if a
+boy, who is ever to become a _man_, trembles like this for hours after,
+it is a sign of weakness and effeminacy which ought to be struggled
+against as early as possible."
+
+These sharp, severely-spoken words, evidently wounded the boy deeply.
+There was no fear or pain, but decided defiance in the hasty movement
+with which he turned away from his grandmother. With flashing eyes, and
+deeply offended mien, he opened his mouth for some passionate retort,
+when his glance fell upon his mother, and a strange change passed over
+the child's face. His little lips pressed themselves firmly together,
+as if they would force back any words that might rise to them; the
+defiance disappeared from his features, which suddenly showed an
+expression of decision, astonishing for a boy of his age, and which
+brought out more clearly than before the likeness to the Präsidentin;
+then he hung his head, and let the reproof pass without remark.
+
+The Präsidentin shook her head, and was about to express her surprise
+at this unaccountable behaviour, when the Doctor was announced. The
+Countess, who did not wish her mother to find out how terribly she was
+really affected by the event of the morning, rose apparently without
+effort, and went into the ante-room; the Doctor's visit did not last
+long, after an absence of scarcely two minutes she returned to the
+drawing-room.
+
+The Präsidentin still sat in the same place as before; but her head was
+bent low as she listened to what little Hermann was telling her. He
+knelt beside her on the sofa, his arms thrown round her neck.
+
+Both grandmother and child started as the Countess entered; the former
+hastily laid her hand on the child's mouth, and, raising her head,
+turned slowly towards her daughter.
+
+"_Um Gotteswillen_, mamma, what is the matter?" cried she, looking
+dreadfully frightened.
+
+The Präsidentin's face was pale as death, justifying only too much the
+anxious question; she tried to answer, but her trembling lips refused
+to do so; a mute, deprecatory wave of the hand was her only reply.
+
+The Countess raised her hand towards the bell. "You are not well, I
+will call my maid, she shall--"
+
+"Stop! I want no one," cried the Präsidentin, almost roughly. The
+energetic woman had already mastered her weakness, though the colour
+still did not return to her paleface, and her lips trembled as they
+added more quietly--"It is nothing! A sudden giddiness, it will be gone
+directly."
+
+But Countess Ottilie had never seen her mother's iron constitution
+yield to any bodily weakness, therefore this sudden attack alarmed her
+so much the more.
+
+"Would you not like to lie down in your room for a time?" asked she,
+anxiously. "The long drive has over-tired you. Go away just now,
+Hermann, you see grandmamma is not well."
+
+But the grandmother drew the boy convulsively towards her. "Hermann
+shall go with me. I should like to have him. Do not trouble, Ottilie, I
+repeat, the giddiness has quite gone; you need rest and quiet quite as
+much as I do, and therefore I will take Hermann with me, he may disturb
+you with his chatter."
+
+This proposal was made in such a decided tone, that the Countess, who
+had never been accustomed to contradict her mother in anything, made no
+objection; she silently complied, though still with visible anxiety.
+
+And the poor woman was to experience still more that was strange and
+puzzling in the course of this day, which had begun so terribly. The
+Präsidentin excused herself from appearing at dinner, she was still not
+quite well, but refused most decidedly to see a doctor, and requested
+instead, that her son-in-law would come and see her for a few minutes,
+so soon as dinner was over.
+
+The Count, apparently thoroughly out of humour, not only through the
+dreadful event of the morning, but also from the numerous unpleasant
+business duties incumbent upon him, seemed inclined to be irritable and
+impatient, and complied with the request with visible unwillingness; so
+much the more was the Countess astonished that he remained so long with
+her mother. The interview lasted more than an hour, and she heard
+nothing of what had passed, for, during the whole time, not only the
+door of the room, but that of the ante-room remained fast shut. The
+only apparent result of the conversation, as far as the Gräfin was
+concerned, was, that her mother informed her, she intended to return as
+early as the next day, and would like to take her grandson, who, indeed
+had been with her ever since she had retired to her room. She stated
+that the boy's naturally lively disposition disturbed and annoyed the
+mother in her present state, and that it would be best for him to
+remain away some time, so that she should be left perfectly undisturbed
+to recover from her recent agitation. The Count seconded the
+grandmother's proposal most decidedly, but Ottilie was anxious and
+disturbed, and strove against the decision. She did not like losing her
+only son, whom she loved so tenderly, and called it cruel kindness to
+take away the only comfort of the long, weary days of illness--but in
+vain--mother and husband, usually most indulgent to the gentle patient,
+for once withstood her wishes with incomprehensible hardness, and the
+Countess, too weak and too little accustomed to independent resistance,
+was obliged to comply.
+
+The next morning the travelling carriage stood early before the door.
+
+Ottilie was greatly agitated as she bade farewell to her son, and,
+bathed in tears, threw her arms round him again and again, but the
+boy's peculiar nature was proof even against his mother's distress.
+True, his little mouth quivered, and his breast heaved with a
+suppressed sob, but no tears came into his eyes, and he submitted
+mutely to the caresses lavished upon him, till at last the Count became
+impatient, and drew him away from his wife's arms. But as he did so,
+Hermann suddenly drew back, with unconcealed dread, indeed, almost
+horror, from the father's caress, and the Count was only too well aware
+of it. A deep flush rose to his brow, he seized the boy's hands,
+pressing them fast in his, and drew him thus towards him, with apparent
+gentleness, but in reality with no little force. This time Hermann made
+no resistance, and no cry of pain escaped his lips, though the pressure
+of his father's hands must have hurt him, but he clenched his little
+teeth, and his face wore such an aspect of dark defiance, that his
+father suddenly loosened his hold and pushed him away. But the glance
+which met the boy's eyes was so fearfully threatening, that the
+Präsidentin involuntarily threw her arm protectingly round the child.
+
+"Adalbert!"
+
+He turned round quickly, and a momentary glance passed between them,
+unobserved by any one else. The Countess still lay sobbing on the sofa,
+and when the servant entered the Count had recovered his usual
+equanimity, and offered his mother-in-law his arm.
+
+"Calm yourself, Ottilie! We are only giving up Hermann to his
+grandmother, who will look after him well."
+
+There was something like oppression in the tone of these harmless
+words, and his glance sought the Präsidentin's, who returned it
+unswervingly.
+
+"Do not be the least anxious, Adalbert," replied she shortly, "whatever
+I undertake I can answer for."
+
+Some minutes later the travellers were seated in the carriage; the
+Count, who had accompanied them to the door, bowed farewell, and
+retired from the carriage door, above which the Countess's tearful face
+appeared at the window, waving her handkerchief. As the carriage rolled
+away, the Präsidentin gave a sigh of relief, and drew the boy
+convulsively towards her, as if she had just rescued him from some
+great danger. He hid his head on her shoulder, and, for the first time,
+burst into tears, and sobbed bitterly.
+
+The guilt and suicide of the steward, Brand, had brought the whole
+town, usually a quiet, sleepy place, where anything of importance
+seldom happened, into a state of great agitation. The event excited so
+much the more stir, as the opinion which the old servant had expressed
+to the doctor, on hearing of the disaster, was one which represented
+the town in general. All thought any other person capable of the deed,
+sooner than Brand, who had been everywhere considered a most capable
+and clever man of business, as well as a pattern of conscientiousness,
+and faithfulness in duty.
+
+Indeed, it was just these qualities, or rather the strictness with
+which he enforced his own punctuality and carefulness from others, and
+the blame he bestowed (especially upon his inferiors), for the
+slightest irregularity in business, which had made him many enemies,
+but no one had ever dared to withhold the highest respect towards him,
+and now, all at once, this man was declared to be a cheat, an impostor!
+
+There could be no doubt about it, his own confession and suicide had
+declared his guilt, but what had become of the enormous sum embezzled?
+That was, and continued to be, an unexplained question. There lay,
+indeed, a certain obscurity over the whole matter, which was not
+smoothed away, and, perhaps, never could be, since he, who alone could
+account for it, was now beyond the reach of earthly justice.
+
+The examination brought nothing further to light, beyond the already
+existing facts. The steward had given out the above-mentioned money
+from the Prince's revenue to Count Arnau, the chamberlain and confidant
+of his Highness; and hitherto he had been most punctual in payment of
+the instalments, but the last time he had put it off for eight days,
+for some apparently plausible excuse. At first the Count appeared quite
+satisfied, though his suspicions were aroused when he heard by chance
+that Brand had obtained some days' leave on account of "family
+affairs," and was on the point of setting off. He sent for him
+privately, demanded an explanation, threatened him with immediate
+examination into the Prince's affairs, and forced confession from the
+guilty steward, who instantly committed suicide, when the forbearance
+which he pleaded for was denied to him.
+
+Count Arnau had taken up the matter energetically at once. He took upon
+himself the seizure of the dead man's accounts and papers, and
+subjected them to a careful, personal examination, though the office
+which he held did not require him to do so; but they were not strict
+about such matters in the little town, especially when the interest of
+the Prince's house was at stake, and thought a man of the Count's
+position and influence was quite justified in interfering in such
+matters, added to which, they considered it only natural that the
+Count, whose pardonable indulgence had delayed the discovery some days,
+and thereby probably caused the loss of the money, should now redouble
+his efforts to make it good. But all his zeal remained without result,
+neither he, nor the police officers of the town (though it must be
+confessed that the latter were by no means gifted with extraordinary
+intelligence), succeeded in finding any trace of the missing sum, or
+even the smallest allusion to the disposal of it in the official and
+private papers of the deceased. He must have first secured it, and then
+hoped to avoid the inevitable discovery by instant flight, asking, in
+the first place, merely for permission for a few days' absence, to
+cover the first few days' disappearance, and the boxes stood ready for
+his departure, when his deserved fate overtook him. Count Arnau
+confirmed on oath the declaration he had already made, and with this
+the matter was at an end. No further examination followed. The
+unfortunate man was buried as quietly as possible, and his widow, with
+her child, left the town, where their name would henceforth be branded
+with shame. The income which her husband's office had kept up was, of
+course, no longer forthcoming, and the little property he possessed was
+seized, though it did not cover more than the smallest part of the
+embezzled sum. So ended the drama, at least, so far as the town here
+was concerned.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+
+"I do wish, Eugen, you would make up your mind. What is the good of all
+this doubting and fluctuating?"
+
+The young man to whom these words were addressed, lifted his head
+slowly and said in a tone of unconcealed bitterness--
+
+"I wish you knew what such a conflict was, then you would understand
+how difficult decision is!"
+
+"I don't think I should. If my whole future lay on one side, and a
+youthful love affair, already half cooled down, on the other, there
+would be no conflict at all in my case, but simply necessity, which I
+should bow to, at any price."
+
+"And if it cost the breaking of a heart?"
+
+"_Mein Gott!_ don't look at the matter in such a terribly tragical way.
+Broken hearts, dying in sacrifice to unhappy love, may be very
+effective and touching in novels, but don't exist in actual life, and
+such a simple girl as your _fiancée_, is not likely to fall a victim to
+this romantic martyrdom. Of course the loss of her _bräutigam_[1] will
+cost her some tears, but she will get over it, and a year and a day
+after will marry some respectable Bürger and Councillor of B., who will
+suit her much better, and make her much happier than you would ever be
+able to do."
+
+"I wish you would be quiet, Hermann!" cried Eugen violently. "You don't
+know Gertrud, and for that reason you are always unjust to her."
+
+"That may be. I have, as you know, a decided antipathy to everything
+narrow and _bürgerlich_,[2] and when it stands in the way of a man's
+career, and drags him down into the lowest sphere of life, I simply
+hate it!"
+
+Eugen had no reply ready for these decided words. He sprang up, went to
+the window, and pressing his brow against the glass, looked out on the
+park, which lay before him in the dewy freshness of a June morning. The
+sun shone warmly into the ancient pavilion, with its half obliterated
+frescoes on walls and roof, on the gilded, richly carved furniture,
+with its faded figured damask of the last century; and lighted up
+brightly the figures of the two young men seated there. The one who
+leaned against the window had a tall, slender figure, and a face,
+which, without being regularly beautiful, was yet singularly attractive
+at first sight. There was a mighty charm in these features, a world of
+passion and dreaminess in the dark eyes, and cloudy brows, and the
+inward conflict which was now shown plainly enough in his countenance,
+gave a still deeper interest to this artistic head, with its wealth of
+dark hair.
+
+His companion possessed little or none of these fascinating
+attractions. He was smaller, but more powerfully built, with irregular
+features, which would have made him decidedly plain, but for the high,
+finely moulded brow, which gave a remarkable and peculiar character to
+the whole countenance. His keen grey eyes, almost too keen for a man of
+four-and-twenty, looked out calmly and clearly from beneath it, and
+seemed in keeping with the sharply defined lines round the mouth, a
+feature full of energy and decision, but cold and bitter in expression,
+robbing the countenance of all youthfulness, and making it at some
+moments almost repulsive. The young man spoke calmly, leaning back at
+his ease in the arm chair, and contemplating his agitated friend with
+almost indifference, but in spite of his calmness and indifferent mien,
+there was an air of unconscious nobility in his bearing, a decided
+superiority, which was wanting in Eugen, who, leaning gracefully
+against the window, dreamily contemplating the clouds, was certainly
+interesting, but perhaps a little theatrical in appearance.
+
+A momentary pause in the conversation had occurred, suddenly broken by
+Hermann with the question--
+
+"What is your feeling with regard to Antonie?"
+
+A deep sigh, and a movement of impatience was the only answer.
+
+"You love her?"
+
+"I worship her!"
+
+"And this worship gives her only too much satisfaction. But now, do you
+imagine that my proud cousin would be the one to suffer a rival in the
+shape of an unknown, insignificant little Bürgermädchen? Take care, if
+she should find it out sooner or later; I assure you, it would dash all
+your hopes to the ground at once."
+
+Eugen looked moodily into space.
+
+"Hopes! How could I dare to have any? Am not I _bürgerlich_, with no
+great name, no fortune--do you really imagine that she would be ready
+to sacrifice her name and rank for me, that Countess Arnau could ever
+become the wife of an unknown painter?"
+
+A sarcastic smile quivered round Hermann's lips--
+
+"Well, if you cannot tell, I am not the one to give you any certainty
+about the matter. But," added he, mockingly, "it seems to me you are
+pretty sure of your ground, and that there is not much danger of having
+'No' for an answer. Just on that account you must decide for yourself.
+How shall it be? What have you decided?"
+
+Eugen threw himself back into his chair with a despairing exclamation.
+
+"Do not torment me with such questions, Hermann! You see my
+difficulties! It would be kinder to show me some way out of this
+labyrinth."
+
+"The way is plain enough before you! Be a man, and rouse yourself to
+action energetically. Break quickly and decidedly the chain which has
+held you down so far, you owe it to Antonie, to your own future, if you
+do not intend your love for her to be an insult. And then, when you are
+free, come with me to Italy. The tour is really necessary for the
+completion of your art studies; if your finances don't admit of it,
+mine are at your disposal. Come, make haste and decide."
+
+The decided, almost commanding manner of the friend, did not seem to
+admit of any contradiction, and did not fail to impress the young
+painter, who wrung his hands in deep inward conflict with himself.
+
+"I know you are right, only too right. I feel it in every word you say,
+but, Gertrud! Gertrud! Call me weak, call me what you will, but I
+cannot bear to know that she is unhappy, unhappy through me."
+
+With a movement of the greatest impatience, Hermann pushed back his
+chair and sprang up.
+
+"Well, then, if you cannot, I shall act for you. Ah, here comes
+Antonie, just at the right time."
+
+"What are you going to do?" cried Eugen, alarmed.
+
+"Cut the knot which ties you to despair! Good morning, _liebe Toni_."
+
+Eugen longed to protest and entreat against his friend's intentions,
+which he dimly portended, but it was already too late. A dress rustled
+before the door of the pavilion, and a young lady crossed the
+threshold.
+
+Countess Antonie Arnau was certainly a being whose appearance could
+well justify the passion of a young artist. A slender refined figure,
+and a face of truly poetic beauty. A pair of dark eyes, full of dreamy
+fire, looked out from a somewhat pale face, surrounded by dark hair,
+artistically arranged, and falling thickly on her white embroidered
+morning dress. Her movements and bearing were full of grace, but
+nevertheless, there was a something in her air which betrayed that the
+young Countess was quite as well aware of her beauty as of her position
+in the world.
+
+She shook hands with her cousin confidentially, while she answered
+Eugen's greeting with a smile, and then said playfully--,
+
+"I thought I was the first in the park today, but I see the gentlemen
+are already before me, and are holding a most important conference
+here."
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Important, yes, but entirely without result! I have been trying in
+vain for an hour to convince Eugen of the necessity of his
+companionship on my tour to Italy."
+
+"What, Herr Reinert," and the beautiful woman glanced surprised and
+reproachfully at the young artist. "You hesitate? I thought it was a
+settled matter, and fully expected to see you again in Rome with
+Hermann."
+
+Eugen was silent, and sent across a half pleading, half threatening
+glance to Hermann, who appeared not to see it, for he replied calmly--
+
+"You were mistaken, Antonie; Eugen has altered his plans. He
+declines to go, and prefers returning to his native town, to lead his
+_fiancée_--"
+
+"Hermann!" cried Eugen, who had hitherto vainly endeavoured to put in a
+word.
+
+"To lead his _fiancée_, a Bürgermädchen there, to the hymeneal altar,"
+concluded Hermann, not the least disturbed.
+
+But these words had a formidable effect upon Antonie. For the first
+moment she was deadly pale, and her hand unconsciously grasped the arm
+of the chair to support herself, then a sudden flush suffused her
+countenance, and a flash shot from her dark eyes--a glance which
+disfigured the beautiful face, a glance which seemed ready to
+annihilate Eugen, who stood resistless before her. Then, gathering
+together all her strength, she turned away from both to the window,
+thus shielding at least her countenance from Hermann's sharply
+observant eyes.
+
+The latter evidently felt that a third was superfluous in the
+explanation, which must inevitably follow, Antonie already knew enough.
+He took up his hat from the table--
+
+"Excuse me a few moments. I have forgotten to give an order in the
+Castle. I will be back directly."
+
+The excuse was hardly necessary; neither Antonie nor Eugen appeared to
+hear it, and the young Count Arnau, who detested "scenes," and saw a
+most stormy one impending, hurried away from the pavilion, closing the
+door behind him.
+
+The two occupants of the room stood at first silently before one
+another. Antonie was still striving for self-command, and Eugen could
+find no words with which to defend himself.
+
+He fought between anger against Hermann, and shame at the painfully
+humiliating situation in which he found himself, in which, indeed, his
+friend had placed him. The Countess was the first to speak.
+
+"I regret, Herr Reinert, that I have only this moment become aware of
+your engagement through my cousin, or I should have congratulated you
+long since."
+
+The icy glance and freezing tone roused Eugen from his insensibility,
+and he made an attempt to hurry towards her, "_Um Gotteswillen_,
+Antonie, not that tone!"
+
+With a look of the proudest contempt she drew back.
+
+"Sir, you seem to forget that you are addressing Countess Arnau."
+
+Neither words nor expression could have been chosen, which could convey
+more scorn, Eugen turned pale, his self confidence returned and gave
+him back new courage, deeply offended, he retired a step--"Pardon,
+_gnädigste Gräfin_![3] I believe it is the first time that you have
+found it necessary to remind me of the gulf between us, and I give you
+my word that it shall be the last."
+
+He bowed and strode towards the door, Antonie looked after him
+waveringly. She felt she had gone too far, and that she at least ought
+not to have spoken thus, and quick in repentance as in anger, she
+called him back.
+
+"Reinert!"
+
+He half turned.
+
+"What are your commands, _gnädigste Gräfin_?"
+
+But the passionate woman's pride and self command had come to an end
+alike, she had never possessed more than a small share of either.
+Accustomed to give way to every outbreak of feeling, she sank down on
+the sofa and burst into a violent fit of weeping.
+
+Eugen heard this, and stopped; he looked back, saw the beautiful
+tear-wet countenance turned towards him, and the next minute he was by
+her side.
+
+"You are crying, Gräfin? May I speak to you? Antonie, will you condemn
+me unheard?"
+
+This time no hard refusal followed his confidential tone. She looked up
+at him, fighting between love and anger, but Eugen saw that he might
+now dare to justify himself, and did not hesitate to do so.
+
+"Yes, it is true I am bound, and this bond has become the curse of my
+life. When I returned to my native town some years ago, I saw once more
+a young girl, who had been a playfellow of mine. She was an orphan,
+scarcely beyond childhood, I thought I loved her, and her guardian
+urged me to declaration--so she became my _fiancée_. It was a step too
+hastily taken, but I wore the chain, and would have worn it patiently
+to the end. Then I came here and saw you, Antonie, and from that moment
+began the long fearful conflict between duty and passion. I must tear
+myself away from you, indeed, from every remembrance of you, if I would
+not succumb to this. Let my talent, let my whole future perish in that
+narrow confined sphere, let me know despair in an empty, joyless
+marriage--what is art to me, what, indeed, life itself, if I must
+renounce you!"
+
+He had spoken with ever rising agitation, and Antonie had ceased
+weeping, anger had given place to compassion, and, as he concluded,
+every reproach had perished in the fear of losing the beloved one.
+
+Countess Arnau was not the woman to recognise the claims of an
+outsider, where she alone would possess all.
+
+"Renounce?" asked she softly, with dropped eyelids. But a world of
+encouragement lay in the tone, "and why?"
+
+"You ask me? May I dare, then, to woo you? I am poor, you know it. I
+have nothing but my art. You stand so high, your position in life is so
+brilliant--"
+
+His glance, resting with burning passion upon the beautiful woman's
+face, contradicted these words of renunciation. She looked up and
+smiled.
+
+"And I am free, Eugen, quite free! You had forgotten that!
+
+"Antonie!"
+
+He rushed passionately to her feet.
+
+"Give me the hope, give me the certainty, that I may one day win you,
+and I will break my chain, cost what it may. Tell me, that you will be
+mine, in spite of your name, in spite of your family, and I will burst
+all bonds asunder, and win happiness, if need be, by force!"
+
+Antonie bent down to her kneeling lover, love plainly to be seen in her
+eyes--she was, indeed, wonderfully beautiful at this moment.
+
+"I fear no bonds. I know by experience how empty splendour and riches
+can make life, in a marriage where there is no love. Free yourself,
+cultivate your genius, and then, when your first work has won you an
+artist's fame,--then come and fetch the prize of victory!"
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The freshness of the morning was over, and the heat of a midday sun in
+June brooded over the village, which lay about half-an-hour's distance
+from the Schloss, where Count Arnau and Eugen Reinert were at present
+guests. The stage coach, which had passed through an hour ago, had put
+down travellers, an old gentleman and a young girl. The narrow, close,
+room of the inn seemed oppressive to both alike; the old man sat in the
+little garden behind the house, whilst his companion had sauntered to
+the front, and was now thoughtfully contemplating the scene around her.
+
+The village lay almost as still as death, the people were nearly all at
+work in the fields. No one was to be seen, save a group of children,
+playing in the broad village street, untroubled by the hot sunshine.
+
+Suddenly the distant rumble of a carriage was heard, and a moment after
+an elegant conveyance came in sight. The groom sat behind, and a
+gentleman himself managed the spirited black horses;--there was no
+doubt that he saw the children, but he seemed to imagine that they must
+also see him, and would move out of the way in time, for he drove
+straight through the village at the sharpest pace, though in such a
+broad street, it would have been quite easy to have turned out of the
+way. The little group of children flew right and left as he approached;
+only one, a little fellow, perhaps two years old, sat still, quite
+unconscious of his danger, and when the frightened children at last
+roused him by their cries, the carriage was already almost upon him. He
+now, at last, attempted to get up, but stunned, and unaccustomed to
+run, he stumbled at the first step, and fell down right in front of the
+horses. The driver of the carriage, only perceiving the child at that
+instant, drew them up with all his strength, but they were in full
+trot, and very spirited animals, so that he did not succeed in stopping
+them at once, and the boy seemed lost. Then the young girl suddenly
+flew towards the child, and, quick as lightning, tore him away almost
+from under the hoofs of the horses, took him in her arms and sprang
+aside. An instant later would have been fatal to him! A moment after
+the driver had succeeded in pulling up the fiery animals, but their
+hoofs stamped the place where the child lay a few seconds since, and
+he, quiet enough from fright in the moment of danger, now that he found
+himself safe, burst into a loud scream.
+
+Count Arnau gave the reins to his groom, sprang from the carriage, and
+approached the two.
+
+"Is any one hurt?" asked he, hastily.
+
+"I am not, but the child--"
+
+Without answering a word, Hermann took the little one from her arms,
+felt and examined him rather roughly, but very thoroughly, on all
+sides, and soon convinced himself that he was not the least injured.
+
+"It is nothing," said he calmly. "He was only frightened; come,
+cry-baby, you are all right enough!"
+
+So saying, he carelessly put down the child, who, intimidated by the
+rough tone, was now silent and looked up at him anxiously with great
+eyes, still full of tears. The Count then turned politely to the young
+girl who had saved him.
+
+"You showed great courage, _mein Fräulein_. It was impossible to stop
+the horses so quickly, and the little fellow would have been lost but
+for you."
+
+His eyes looked over the girl quickly and sharply during this speech.
+She was still very youthful looking, as she stood there before him,
+certainly not more than seventeen years of age, with a slender, refined
+figure. Her dress was extremely simple. During the hasty movement which
+she made to save the child, her round straw hat had slipped off, and
+hung loosely on her neck, so that the full, warm, midday sun lit up her
+face, and the shining golden hair which surrounded it, the latter
+simply parted in front, and wound round the back of her head in heavy
+coils. Perhaps the blinding illumination of the sun made her look
+particularly charming at this moment, else her face was not actually
+beautiful, at least, not yet, though the lines of future beauty might
+already be traced in her features. At present they were still unformed
+and childish; the only characteristic which gave the face a particular
+charm were the great, deep, blue eyes, with their unusual, almost
+mysterious expression. There lay an earnestness beyond her years in
+these eyes, something more even than that, a shade, such as a life of
+care, suffering, and oppression, which cannot be fled from, will
+imprint upon a human countenance. Certainly the young face showed no
+trace of this, except in the one feature, the childish brow showed no
+furrow, the mouth no hard lines, but only in the eyes this shade lay
+deeply, as she lifted them, now, full of gravity and reproach.
+
+"A human life does not seem worth much in your eyes, or surely you
+would have given more thought to his danger."
+
+Count Arnau looked greatly astonished at this reprimand, and measured
+the youthful admonitress with a long, surprised glance.
+
+"The child is all right!" said he, in an off-hand tone, "he cried for
+pleasure, I suppose."
+
+"But a moment later, and he would have been run over."
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders. "Would have been!--Yes, if we always
+troubled ourselves about what might have happened, the day would not be
+long enough for every one's complaints. Fortunately all is well in this
+case, your courageous interference saved me from a disagreeable
+responsibility. I greatly regret having frightened you."
+
+"I was not frightened."
+
+Her words sounded cold and repellant, the way in which the Count
+treated the whole matter appeared to hurt the young girl. She knelt
+down by the boy, and busied herself in rubbing off the sand with which
+his little face and hands were covered, fortunately the only trace
+which the accident had left.
+
+Hermann remained where he was, watching her. Hitherto, he had always
+stoutly maintained, that, with the exception of his grandmother, who,
+in consequence of her energetic, masculine character, he hardly
+reckoned as belonging to the feminine race, every woman either went
+into hysterics or fainted at the sight of danger, and was greatly
+astonished to find a second exception here. "I was not frightened," she
+had declared, and, indeed, she had not been. Her face had retained its
+usual colour, her hands did not tremble, as she went gently and deftly
+to work, the young girl showed just as much calmness now as she had
+just before shown presence of mind.
+
+The door of the neighbouring house now opened, and a woman, poorly and
+untidily dressed, with rough hair, and a dull, expressionless face,
+came hurriedly out to take the boy from a stranger's arms, the Count
+felt in his pocket.
+
+"The child was almost run over by my carriage, take more care of it in
+future. Here is something for the fright he got."
+
+The dull features of the woman, which had hitherto hardly shown any
+concern, lighted up at sight of the shining thalers which he held out
+to her in his haughty, indifferent way. She curtseyed low, and thanked
+the Gnädigen Herrn Grafen[4] for his kindness. The young girl had half
+risen, her large eyes travelling slowly from the mother to the child,
+and then back to the money, which the former held in her hand. She
+stood up suddenly, turned her back upon the group, and without saying a
+word, went towards the inn.
+
+With quick steps Hermann overtook her.
+
+"You see the fright was soon atoned for. The woman will bless the
+chance which has thrown her day's wages for three weeks into her
+hands."
+
+The words sounded half mocking, and half like a sort of excuse. The
+girl pressed her lips together.
+
+"I did not think it possible that a mother could possess so little
+self-respect as to let anxiety for her child's safety be bought off in
+that way."
+
+Hermann smiled sarcastically.
+
+"Self respect! In a village woman? Pardon me, Fräulein, you must come
+from a town, and cannot know our country folks."
+
+"One can make acquaintance with poverty in the town too, especially
+when no very great depth separates one from it, Herr Graf."
+
+Hermann bit his lips.
+
+"I meant," said he sharply, "that the education, which separates you
+from those people, is quite as wide a cleft. Have you really such
+sympathy for these dull-witted, degraded people?"
+
+"I sympathise with any one who is oppressed and miserable."
+
+"Really?"
+
+Meanwhile they had reached the inn, the young girl bowed slightly, and
+laid her hand upon the latch, but Hermann anticipated her. He opened
+the door for her, and followed her into the inn.
+
+She stopped and looked at him repellantly and with surprise, it was
+easy to see she did not wish to continue the conversation. But in spite
+of this the Count went on.
+
+"Really?" repeated he, and added in rather an irritated tone, "it seems
+to me that you imply that I am one of the oppressors. I hope you don't
+credit me with having seen the child, and purposely driven on."
+
+"No, but you must have seen all the children. Why did you not turn out
+of the way for them?"
+
+"For the village children!" cried the young Count, with such
+unconcealed astonishment that one could see the thought had never
+entered his head. "I ought to drive out of the way of my uncle's
+labouring people?"
+
+The proposal seemed to him evidently unheard of, and the young stranger
+was on the point of answering, but suddenly stopped and leaned forward,
+listening attentively. A half stifled cry of delight escaped her lips;
+she involuntarily raised her arms, and was on the point of hurrying
+away, when she suddenly remembered Hermann's presence. A deep flush
+suffused her countenance, she let her arms fall and remained where she
+was, as if rooted to the ground. The Count had followed the direction
+of her eyes, and now saw the cause of this sudden change. Eugen
+Reinert, who, after a hasty question in the passage, strode hastily
+into the room without observing his friend.
+
+"Gertrud! _Um Gotteswillen_, you here!"
+
+She flew towards him, holding out both hands, with a beaming smile,
+which transformed and glorified her youthful face, but she appeared at
+the same time, by a whispered word to draw his attention to the fact
+that they were not alone. Eugen looked up and almost started.
+
+"Oh, Hermann, is it you?"
+
+A minute's oppressive pause followed. Gertrud looked surprised and
+questioningly at Eugen, who, pale and visibly disturbed, held fast her
+hand without speaking a word.
+
+Count Hermann leaned silently against the table with folded arms, and
+contemplated the pair steadfastly; the hard hostile look his features
+sometimes wore, almost alarmingly visible at this moment.
+
+"Pardon me, Gertrud," began Eugen at last, "I expected to find you
+alone. You know--?"
+
+"No," interrupted she quickly. "I met with this gentleman by chance."
+
+It seemed to cost Eugen a tremendous effort to make known his _fiancée_
+to Count Arnau, but he took her hand and led her towards him.
+
+"My--my _braut_,[5] Hermann! Gertrud, my nearest and best friend, Graf
+Arnau."
+
+Gertrud was on the point of returning Hermann's cold and very measured
+bow, in the same manner, but at the mention of his name, she gave a
+sudden start. Her face, so beaming a moment since, became deathly pale,
+and her widely opened eyes fixed themselves upon the young Count with
+an expression which startled Eugen, although he could not in the least
+account for it.
+
+"What is the matter, Gertrud? What is it?"
+
+"Nothing! nothing!"
+
+She strove visibly to command herself, and succeeded in doing so
+somewhat, but the strange look did not leave her eyes, and she
+involuntarily retreated gradually, drawing Eugen with her almost by
+force.
+
+Hermann turned away quickly.
+
+"I will not disturb your first meeting with your _braut_," said he,
+laying a sharp, sarcastic accent upon the word. "I am going to drive
+back to the Castle. _Au revoir!_"
+
+With a hurried bow he left the room and gained the outer door.
+
+So that was Gertrud Walter, Eugen's betrothed, the "little
+Bürgermädchen," who had appeared so distasteful to his haughty friend,
+because she "stood in the way of a man's career, and would draw him
+down to her own narrow sphere." Yes, to be sure, he had pictured her
+differently, but what a strange contradiction between her childish
+appearance and the very unchildish answers which she knew how to give.
+Neither met with the Count's approval; on the contrary, he was vexed
+that he had allowed himself to be the least impressed by this girl. And
+then--why did she hate him? Hermann was a closer observer than his
+passionate friend, he knew very well that it was not fright nor fear,
+but actual hate, a glowing, energetic hate, which he had seen in her
+eyes at the mention of his name, such as he had never before seen in
+any woman's countenance. For what reason did she hate him?
+
+"Bah, I know how it is, Eugen must have betrayed to her in his letters,
+that it is I who always urge him against this match, and Mademoiselle
+Walter sees in me the hostile element which threatens her happiness,
+and therefore honours me with her hate. A pity she wastes her energies
+on such a small matter!"
+
+The Count's lips curled scornfully, and he mounted to the box in very
+bad humour, took the reins from the groom, and drove away at a sharp
+pace. There was a dark, defiant look in his face, as he drove the
+horses almost recklessly before him; but when, at the end of the
+village, he met two old women by the wayside, who were on the point of
+turning out of the way for the Count's equipage in a great hurry, they
+observed, to their great astonishment, that the Count drove aside and
+flew past, at some little distance from them.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+Evening had come, but the sultriness of the day still remained, in the
+west a great thunder cloud hung threateningly, and the harvest people
+hurried homewards. Without any suspicion of the coming storm, since the
+wood hid the lowering clouds as yet, Gertrud Walter walked slowly along
+the footpath which led to the Schloss. She looked still graver and more
+thoughtful than in the morning, for Eugen's whole being seemed so
+strangely altered and disturbed. He had not been able to hide his
+visible disquiet and agitation, had seemed unwilling to answer her
+questions, and had hurried away, after barely a quarter of an hour's
+conversation with her, under the pretext that his presence was
+necessary at the Schloss. Gertrud was certainly embarrassed at this
+behaviour, but had not the slightest suspicion of anything seriously
+wrong, she had perfect faith in her _fiancé's_ explanation, that an
+unpleasant circumstance had occurred, which had greatly annoyed him,
+and she waited impatiently for the night's meeting, in which he had
+promised to explain all. She wished to have some share in his
+unhappiness, wished to advise, comfort, help, so much as she could--she
+little imagined what explanation awaited her.
+
+It was the hour agreed upon; she had come to meet him, and now stood
+waiting, having already accomplished her half of the way. She did not
+dare to go further, for the Schloss could already be seen through an
+opening in the wood, where, as Eugen said, some commission kept him,
+with the completion of which he was now occupied. The young girl sat
+down upon the trunk of a tree, and let her folded hands fall into her
+lap. At this moment she looked childish enough, and in spite of the
+shade of care, her face bore the aspect of full confidence, as she
+gazed out into the distance. But this expression suddenly changed; she
+had been looking towards the Schloss, which one could see to the left
+through the tall fir trees, and with the sight of it some dark
+remembrance seemed to come back to her. A shade passed over the
+youthful features, and her lips pressed themselves together, her
+clasped hands loosened, she passed her hand several times hastily over
+her forehead, as if she would smooth away some tormenting thought, and
+then looked anxiously towards the spot where she expected Eugen to
+appear.
+
+Steps were now really heard in the distance. Gertrud sprang up, but it
+was the voices of two persons she heard. The young girl stood undecided
+whether to hurry forwards or wait, then a clear sharp voice reached
+her, and she no longer hesitated. But she turned pale; meet Eugen in
+this company? No, indeed. The next minute she was safely hidden behind
+a bush, which effectually shielded her from notice.
+
+"I have been trying to get a minute alone with you all the afternoon,"
+said Eugen's voice, "but you seemed to avoid it purposely, and Antonie
+would not let me leave her side for an instant. You must really listen
+now, Hermann, I need your advice, your assistance."
+
+"What for?"
+
+Meanwhile both the young men had reached the entrance of the wood, and
+the Count stopped close by the bush where Gertrud was hidden.
+
+"What for?" repeated he.
+
+Eugen looked at him, somewhat surprised at the cool tone.
+
+"You ask me? Why, you know, Gertrud is here, and surely can imagine my
+painful, dreadful situation."
+
+"Tell me first of all, how does your future bride happen to be here?"
+
+"Through the most unlucky chance in the world! Her guardian is on the
+way to visit some relations in A, and is taking her with him. They had
+to pass this village, and Gertrud, who knew I was here, persuaded her
+uncle to stay a day, to give me, as she imagined, a pleasant surprise!
+I thought I should have, sunk into the earth when I heard she was here
+to-day!"
+
+"Indeed?" The peculiar coldness of the Count's tone formed a sharp
+contrast to Eugen's passionate voice.
+
+"A very painful chance, certainly! And what do you intend to do?"
+
+The young man passed his hand over his brow--
+
+"I don't know!" said he, in a constrained voice. "I was obliged to make
+an excuse for appearing so disturbed to-day, and got away as quickly as
+I could, so as to escape questions; but she expects me to-night, and
+will persecute me with questions and entreaties. Do advise me, Hermann,
+what am I to do?"
+
+The Count sat down upon the trunk of a tree, with his back to the
+before-named bush; he did not for a moment alter his cold, repellant
+manner.
+
+"Something which will be anything but easy, but nevertheless _must_
+happen--tell her the truth."
+
+"Impossible! I cannot!"
+
+"Eugen!"
+
+"I cannot!" repeated Eugen passionately. "To any one else I could, but
+demean myself in her eyes by such a confession, I cannot!"
+
+"You seem to fear those eyes very much. But if you dare not confess it,
+what then?"
+
+Eugen cast down his eyes.
+
+"I thought," said he, hesitating after a pause, "I thought I would not
+tell her anything at present. She is going away again this evening, and
+next week I shall leave for Italy with you. From then I thought of
+gradually loosening the tie--"
+
+"Gradually loosening the tie--well, I'm waiting to hear the next."
+
+The young painter seemed to be becoming more and more uncomfortable
+under his friend's steadfast glance.
+
+"I do not wish to wound Gertrud by allowing her to know of my relations
+with Antonie," said he hastily. "She may think that reasons of another
+kind, losses or unfortunate circumstances, oblige me to break off the
+connection. I have already hinted at something of the sort. It will be
+easier to explain by letter, and from a distance--you can understand
+that I wish to spare her as much as possible."
+
+"Spare her? Then why will you torment the girl for weeks, perhaps
+months, with uncertainty as to her future, and anxiety about you? You
+intend to _spare_ her by giving her the poison by drops, and, after you
+have attracted to yourself all the womanly anxiety and tenderness she
+is capable of, you will give her the boundless humiliation of hearing
+that her _fiancé_, whom she imagines in the depths of need and despair,
+is the chosen spouse of the rich Countess Arnau, is about to make one
+of the most brilliant matches in the country. Rather an odd way of
+sparing her!"
+
+Eugen looked at him in great astonishment.
+
+"Why, Hermann, what has taken you today? You have quite altered your
+views!"
+
+"My views have nothing to do with it, the question is, whether you were
+in earnest in what you said."
+
+The young man was silent.
+
+"You really mean it, then?" continued the Count, adding energetically.
+"Well, I must say I should not have expected it of you!"
+
+"I cannot understand," began Eugen, irritated at his friend's scornful
+tone, "how you can judge my intentions so severely. Was it not you who
+urged me against this match from the first, and continually drove me to
+break it off, and almost forced me to make a declaration to Antonie? I,
+at least, have suffered in the conflict, but you are one of those
+ice-natures who stride on, indifferent to the joy or sorrow of others,
+not troubling whether hearts are broken or not. You know you have
+openly confessed to these unscrupulous principles, how is it, then,
+that you have changed all at once, and argue just the opposite, and
+condemn me because I follow your example?"
+
+Hermann was silent a moment--did his conscience convict him? There was
+truth enough in what he said, and this was proved, since, for once,
+Count Arnau was in want of an answer, but in a moment he replied with
+perfect calmness--
+
+"You are mistaken! I _was_ averse to this match, and am still, because
+I see no good for your future in it. That you must break off this match
+I still think, but our opinions differ as to the way in which it is to
+be done. I _am_ regardless, unscrupulous, when an important end to be
+gained is at stake, there you are right, and I suppose in this case, I
+should actually have broken the girl's heart; but to invent excuses in
+order to hide what she must discover eventually, pretend I was the
+victim of a cruel fate, and thus knit a tissue of falsehoods of all
+kinds about the matter--that Eugen, I would not do, for to tell you the
+truth, I think such a proceeding pretty cowardly."
+
+"Hermann!" burst out Eugen.
+
+"Don't be absurdly sensitive," said the Count, authoritatively, "it is
+out of place here. I have told you my opinion frankly, now do what you
+like. By-the-by, I think the storm is coming on, I must go back to the
+Castle. I suppose you are on the way to the village, adieu!"
+
+Eugen did not answer, he turned away and walked off angrily without any
+word of greeting. Hermann shrugged his shoulders, he knew his friend's
+temper, and also knew it would not last long. Such scenes were not of
+unfrequent occurrence between them. Reinert, after such a one, usually
+played the part of an injured person, but ended generally by leaning to
+his friend's superior wisdom.
+
+Meanwhile the sky had grown darker and darker, the wind rose and
+whistled in the tops of the trees. Graf Arnau glanced at the clouds,
+and turned towards the Schloss. Just then the wind, with a sudden gust,
+blew aside the neighbouring bushes, and something glimmered amongst
+them like a woman's dress. Struck with a sudden presentiment, Hermann
+stopped and peered sharply through the bushes, nothing could be made
+out distinctly, but he strode a few steps forward, and the next moment
+stood before Gertrud Walter.
+
+The girl had sunk on her knees, her head against the root of a great
+tree, her face hidden in both hands. By no sound had she betrayed
+herself, but she had broken down at the sudden news, which had come
+upon her unexpectedly like a flash of lightning. Hermann only needed to
+stand there an instant, in order to understand and feel how fearfully
+humiliating his presence would be to her at this moment. For an instant
+he looked down at her silently, then turned and walked away as quietly
+and quickly as he had come.
+
+But after walking a few steps, he stopped and looked back. She lay as
+still and motionless as a statue--perhaps she had fainted--perhaps--the
+Count had not decided within himself what common humanity and
+compassion demanded in this case, before he again stood at her side.
+
+"Fräulein!"
+
+No answer, nor the slightest movement.
+
+Hermann bent down and lifted her up. She received his help silently,
+and whilst she mechanically raised her head, her eyes gazed
+unconsciously at his face.
+
+"You are not well! May I offer you my assistance as far as the
+village?"
+
+He ought not to have spoken, for with the tone of his voice came back
+at once strength and consciousness, and with it hostility against him.
+There it was once more, that terrified shrinking, which she had shown
+in the morning, the same strange hostile look returned to her eyes, it
+seemed, as if in the one feeling of detestation against him, even the
+remembrance of the last quarter of an hour was forgotten.
+
+"I need no help--I am well--quite well--"
+
+She walked a few steps, but tottered, and was obliged to lean against a
+tree to keep herself from falling. The wind shook the branches and sent
+a shower of leaves down upon her; the first flash of lightning quivered
+through the air, and a distant growl of thunder followed it. Hermann,
+who had again turned away, once more returned to the young girl, and
+said, with a decision, through which some bitterness sounded--
+
+"I am sorry to be troublesome to you by my presence, but you are _not_
+well, _mein Fräulein_. You are alone, and a stranger here, and the
+village is half an hour's distance from this spot. You will therefore
+accept my assistance, and the assurance that I will not be troublesome
+to you a moment longer than is actually necessary."
+
+Quietly, as if a refusal were unheard of, he took her arm, like that of
+a child, to lead her, but this had a truly alarming effect upon
+Gertrud. As if stung by a snake, she could not have started more
+fearfully, nor shrunk back with greater horror. With almost a cry she
+tore her hand out of his, and Hermann seemed suddenly to behold a
+changed being before him. Nothing more of the "child" was to be seen;
+her figure, as she stood before him, drawn up to her full height, had
+something commanding and powerful about it. So mysterious was this
+commanding glance, that any one else would have quailed before it, as
+with a tone and expression which perfectly electrified the Count, she
+cried, threateningly--
+
+"Do not touch me, Count Arnau. I will not accept of your assistance!"
+
+She turned away, took the road to the village and disappeared behind
+the bushes. Hermann stood motionless, looking after her, but the next
+minute anger had overcome his silent astonishment.
+
+Never had the young Count been treated so, never so insulted, and
+here--when, for the first time in his life he had approached any one
+with warm sympathy, had for the first time diverged from his
+indifferent character! How could this girl dare to behave so to him?
+And wherefore?
+
+He laughed aloud bitterly.
+
+"H'm, well now, I can understand that Eugen would not care to demean
+himself in her eyes! He is not the man to have much influence upon a
+nature which can act in this way, just after it has experienced such
+humiliation. She would have withered him with that look!"
+
+The thunder, becoming ever louder, and the frequent flashes of
+lightning, put an end to the Count's observations, and warned him to
+make the best of his way back to the Castle, which he had scarcely
+reached before heavy drops began to fall.
+
+An hour later--the storm was over, but the rain still fell in torrents.
+In the Castle the last preparations were being completed for the great
+ball, which was to take place that night. Eugen came back from the
+village, pale, excited, and wet through, and at once hastened to
+Hermann's room. They had some conversation, and the servants, hurrying
+backwards and forwards, heard their voices raised loudly in dispute,
+and also noticed that Herr Reinert came out of the Count's room with a
+remarkably grave and displeased air, so that they imagined some scene,
+not of the pleasantest nature, had taken place between them.
+
+The two avoided each other as much as possible the whole evening, but
+their quarrel went no farther, at least, outwardly. The carriages of
+the guests now rolled in from all sides, and so soon as night descended
+the whole row of windows in the Castle streamed with light.
+
+The centre point and crown of the brilliant company, was, of course,
+the beautiful Countess Arnau. She appeared this evening more charming
+and bewitching than ever before, and Eugen hardly left her side for an
+instant. To-day, for the first time, he ventured publicly to offer her
+his homage, which Antonie accepted in such a manner as left scarcely
+room for a doubt as to the impending relations between them.
+
+All eyes followed the pair, everywhere one heard whispered observations
+and questions, as to whether it were possible that the proud, much
+courted Countess Arnau could really seriously think of marrying a
+young, unknown painter, who, _quelle horreur!_ instead of offering her
+the coronet of a Count, could only give her a _bürgerlich_ name. What
+unpardonable extravagance! What a scandal for the family!
+
+An old baroness, who was possessed of more curiosity, and more
+indignation at such improprieties, than all the others, determined to
+find out the truth at any price, and therefore to turn to the surest
+source of information, namely, Count Hermann.
+
+It was some time before she found him. The Count did not care for
+dancing much at any time, and did not, as usual, take part in it
+to-night. The clang of a post horn sounded below on the country road,
+mixing itself strangely with the noisy dance music.
+
+"My dear Count, what in the world are you doing here in this secluded
+room, at the open window? All the guests have missed you already!"
+
+Hermann turned round, with a face on which vexation at the interruption
+was written plainly enough.
+
+"It is oppressive in the ball-room," replied he, very coldly and
+repellantly. "I found it necessary to get a few minutes' fresh air."
+
+"You are right, it is terribly warm there, and the air after the storm
+is so refreshing! But you are missing too much here--your cousin
+waltzes so charmingly with your friend, the young artist--_àpropos_, my
+dear Count, is it true then--this report, that the Gräfin returns the
+passion of this Herr Reinert, which he takes no pains to conceal? Does
+she actually intend to honour him with her hand?"
+
+Hermann shut down the window hastily.
+
+"I regret, my _gnädigste Baronin_, that I cannot give you any
+information upon the subject. I am as little instructed by my cousin as
+to her intentions as you can be. And, by the way, I think it is
+becoming too cool for you here, allow me to conduct you back to the
+_saal_."
+
+So saying, he offered his arm with cool politeness, and led her back to
+the ball-room. The waltz was not yet finished as they entered; Gräfin
+Antonie floated past them in the full light of the wax tapers, moving
+in time to the lively music, with Eugen as her partner--and in the
+distance died away the last note of the post horn!
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Seven years had passed by, altering many things, and burying away and
+blotting out others, and, as often happens in life, so also here the
+reality had been very, very different from the hopes and expectations
+of mankind.
+
+Of the artistic fame of Eugen Reinert one heard little or nothing.
+Certainly his first great work, the portrait of Countess Arnau, which
+was exhibited publicly, created much stir, and justified the highest
+hopes for the future. But with this picture, which certainly bore the
+stamp of originality, and created a name for him in the artistic world,
+he appeared to have exhausted his best powers. He still painted
+portraits, though exclusively of those who belonged to aristocratic
+circles, the _entrée_ of which he had obtained through his wife, and in
+these his work was always considered as full of genius, but real art
+critics did not think much of them, and they were little noticed by the
+public.
+
+Eugen's principal fault, want of energy and perseverance, became more
+and more perceptible as time went on. He fluctuated continually between
+different studies of all sorts, tried everything and finished nothing,
+sketched out the most ambitious plans, but carried none into execution,
+and wasted his great talent upon the distinguished, but often
+uninteresting faces of counts and "excellencies," and the albums of
+aristocratic ladies. Since good fortune had thrown the gifts into his
+lap, without trouble on his part, which he had once hoped to obtain
+through his art, his pleasure in it, and even his capabilities, seemed
+to be exhausted. What reason had he for working still? The riches,
+which his wife brought him, and the connections he was able to make
+through these, as well as the splendidly appointed house supported
+through them, secured all the enjoyments of life to him, as well as an
+undisputed position in society, and when, in the course of a few years,
+the title of "Von" was added to his name, "on account of his services
+to art," the highest degree of earthly fame seemed to have been
+attained.
+
+Meanwhile the once so promising talent had all but perished, and
+quietly enough, on the other hand, great gifts were developing where
+they had been least expected, namely, in Count Hermann, who, on account
+of his reserved and silent nature, was little known, and still less
+liked. His genius seemed to have taken a sudden leap forward,
+astonishing every one. After his return from a long tour, which he had
+undertaken as a completion of his education, he entered into the
+service of the State, and went with his Prince's ambassador to Vienna.
+Scarcely two years elapsed before the young _attaché_ had become the
+right hand of the ambassador, who was not particularly capable or
+gifted, he asked his advice and support in any difficult matters, and
+finally Count Hermann became his representative, and undertook all the
+business which gave the title to his Excellence. By chance, the way in
+which this business was conducted was revealed to the Prince; he began
+to notice the young Count attentively, and presently called upon him to
+fill a post in the capital, important for a man of his age, and it was
+not long before Hermann had become as influential and noticeable here.
+His quick foresight, which saw through every matter so plainly, the
+never failing energy with which he undertook everything, and the
+almost incredible activity he manifested, secured for him success
+after success. He mounted from step to step, and now, at the age of
+thirty-two, already held one of the highest offices in the country, in
+the exercise of power, and stood upon the threshold of the post of
+Minister, which would undoubtedly be open to him at the next change of
+politics. Of course the ancient title which he bore, together with his
+riches, and the personal favour of the Prince, had contributed to this
+extraordinarily rapid career; but in reality they only served to smooth
+the way, and remove the hindrances, with which a bürgerlicher would
+first have had to contend with. Hundreds of the same rank and income
+would have remained at the foot of, or halfway up the ladder, to the
+topmost rung of which he had now climbed--truly his success was only
+owing to himself.
+
+On the widowed Präsidentin von Sternfeld's estate, preparations had
+been made for the reception of different guests. The eldest son, Baron
+von Sternfeld, had already been there for a week with his wife and two
+little daughters, Count Arnau had also arrived this morning from the
+capital, and Herr and Frau von Reinert were expected next day.
+
+In the garden house of the old family mansion, by the open glass doors,
+which led on to the broad stone terrace, Count Hermann sat with his
+grandmother. The appearance of the old lady, now more than seventy,
+still showed the intellectual and physical strength which had always
+made her the centre point of the family, over which she practised her
+old authority. The powerful form appeared to bow unwillingly to age;
+her hair was snow-white, her face full of lines and wrinkles, but it
+was a face which age could not change much. It had not been able to dim
+the sharp, clear eye, nor soften the authoritative expression of
+energy, and if she was somewhat bowed by the weight of years, her head
+was still carried as erect as ever.
+
+Count Arnau, too, was little altered by the lapse of time; it seemed to
+leave no trace on these decided, cold features. His glance was,
+perhaps, still keener, the peculiar lines round his mouth still
+firmer, and his bearing, in spite of its simplicity, showed more
+self-assurance; but more conspicuous than ever was now the likeness to
+the grandmother, whose face, seemed to repeat his, feature by feature,
+as his character resembled hers.
+
+A long conversation had ensued about the affairs of the capital, and
+Hermann's post there, together with his views for the future, and thus
+the talk had gradually ended in a political discussion; now the Count,
+commencing a new topic, asked--
+
+"So Antonie and Eugen are to arrive to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes--according to your openly expressed wish. I am sacrificing my
+feelings a great deal, Hermann! You know I shall never pardon Antonie
+this _mésalliance_, and if I have prevailed upon myself to invite her,
+and Herr Reinert, it is _only_ on your account."
+
+"Thank you, dear grandmother; I know what it costs you; but the
+recognition of the marriage on your side had become with time
+necessary. And by the way, as the outer form of nobility is no longer
+wanting, you need fear no hindrance in introducing Herr and Frau von
+Reinert as relations, in society."
+
+The Präsidentin shrugged her shoulders. "Making him a 'Von' was a
+necessity, since Antonie had once taken that mad step. She is, and will
+always be, Gräfin Arnau, in spite of all, and as such cannot be simply
+_bürgerlich_ Frau Reinert, if she comes back here. But a consideration,
+which was due to the world to cover the scandal to the family, has no
+influence upon my judgment. To me Herr Reinert remains, as he always
+was, _bürgerlich_."
+
+Hermann gazed moodily into the distance, and his brow clouded somewhat.
+
+"I hoped Eugen would gain an artist's name for himself, which would
+make this 'nobility' superfluous; unfortunately it has come to
+nothing."
+
+"What?" The Präsidentin's voice involuntarily became sharper. "Do you
+mean to say that the fame of an artist can make up for the inherited
+coronet of a count?"
+
+"Make up for it--no! but it can atone for the want of it in a certain
+sense, especially with such a romantic nature as Toni's."
+
+The Präsidentin's face showed how little this answer pleased her.
+
+"You always had a weakness for this Reinert," said she, shaking her
+head deprecatingly.
+
+"He was once very dear to me!"
+
+"Was?"
+
+"Yes. But several things have happened to cause a coldness between us.
+I had the greatest hopes for his talents and future, but nothing has
+come of them."
+
+The Präsidentin drew herself up in her arm chair and fixed her eyes
+upon Hermann.
+
+"I confess to you openly, Hermann, that formerly I was much concerned
+about this friendship. You were true to the aristocratic traditions of
+your family in all else; but you always and everywhere made an
+exception in favour of this Reinert. Toni would not have dared under my
+eyes to misuse her liberty in this manner. Unfortunately I was absent,
+but you were near. You ought to have acted in my place, and guarded the
+honour of the family. Instead of that you favoured the match openly,
+brought them together in Rome, and even took their part against me. I
+really had serious fears for your principles at that time."
+
+The Count smiled, his old sarcastic smile, without a trace of
+cheerfulness.
+
+"Your fears were groundless; you ought to have known me better,
+grandmother. I am constituted differently, and what I thought suitable
+in Eugen and Toni's case, I should not have pardoned in myself,--I
+should not make a _mésalliance_, you can be sure of that."
+
+"I know it," said the Präsidentin, with calm assurance. "Fortunately
+you have not a trace of absurd romance about you."
+
+"No!--and besides that--you know I have much reason for keeping my name
+clear!"
+
+His voice sank at the last words, and his brow clouded heavily, whilst
+his eyes sought the ground. The Präsidentin, too, became graver, but at
+the same time there was something like impatience in her manner.
+
+"The old conflict still? Haven't you been able to put away from you
+that remembrance yet?"
+
+"I envy you for being able to do so. I forget it certainly for a few
+hours sometimes, but for days and weeks--never!"
+
+The Präsidentin shook her head.
+
+"You torment yourself with self-created fears! We alone know the
+secret, and can guard it securely enough. The world can and will never
+know more than a breath of it."
+
+The Count raised his head slowly, his brow dark as night.
+
+"The world! But _I_ know that I am dishonoured! I know the disgrace,
+the curse which rests upon my name, and upon my riches, and that is the
+dark spot of my life which I can never, never, blot out. Whatever I may
+accomplish, whatever I may attain to, this dark memory continually
+forces itself between. I cannot forget it!"
+
+The grandmother laid her hand authoritatively upon his arm--
+
+"Let that rest, Hermann! I hardly know you, whenever this unhappy
+circumstance is touched upon. You, so strong, so energetic in
+everything else, are in this as weak as a child. As a boy, you showed
+more courage, you kept silence towards your mother, who would have been
+killed if she had heard it, and only revealed it, where you knew it
+would be safely guarded. And you were silent years afterwards, as
+perhaps no other child would have been, and that made my guardianship
+of you easy. Must the man, then, hesitate, and be ready to throw off
+the burden of responsibility he has incurred by no fault of his own?"
+
+Hermann did not answer, but looked moodily into the distance.
+
+"If only we could find a trace of the wife and child! Your enquiries
+were fruitless, but I renewed them with redoubled zeal, every possible
+means of discovery are at my command now, but in vain. It really seems
+as if they had disappeared from the face of the earth."
+
+"They must have left the country."
+
+"And perhaps perished miserably, whilst I--"
+
+He sprang up suddenly, went to the door, and pressed his forehead
+against the glass panes; the usually calm man was fearfully agitated.
+The Präsidentin was silent, she had seen him before in this mood;
+however great her influence over her grandson might be, this was a
+point on which she did not dare to argue further with him, over which
+her power did not extend, she knew that he must now be let alone,
+unless she wished to make matters worse.
+
+A minute's silence followed, at last Hermann turned round. His features
+were calm and cold as usual, but a dark cloud was still on his brow.
+
+"Pardon me, grandmother, that I have tormented you, too, with this
+subject."
+
+"You are right, it is better to let it rest? What were we talking of
+before?"
+
+He sat down again by her side, and she at once seized the opportunity
+of introducing another subject.
+
+"I have wished to ask you a question some time, Hermann. Have you not
+yet thought that it will soon be necessary for you, as head of our
+family, and only male representative of the house of Arnau, to form an
+alliance with some daughter of the nobility?"
+
+The Count leaned his head on his hands.
+
+"Certainly I have thought of it," replied he indifferently, "especially
+now that I see the necessity of forming an establishment in the
+capital, and of moving frequently in society there."
+
+"Have you made a choice?"
+
+"No. You are aware that ladies have not much attraction for me, and
+from my standpoint I consider a marriage of convenience the best. I
+shall have very little time to devote to my wife, and seek in her
+chiefly a representative of my house."
+
+The grandmother bowed her head assentingly.
+
+"And what qualities do you lay claim to in choice of a wife?"
+
+"Much, and little, just as one takes it. Above all things, she must be
+of ancient and noble family; wealthy, for I have found that poor
+ladies, who are thrown suddenly into the arms of fortune, are apt to
+give way to all sorts of extravagances, and not too beautiful, for I
+have no desire to have to watch over my wife continually--the rest is
+of small importance."
+
+The young Count set forth these qualifications for his future marriage
+with as perfect indifference, as if he were speaking of the purchase of
+an estate, but his way of looking at the matter seemed to meet with the
+Präsidentin's full approval.
+
+"I quite agree with you," replied she, "and I am very glad that you
+look at the affair so clearly. What do you want, my dear?" interrupted
+she at this moment, turning towards the door.
+
+"The children wished to say good-bye to the Frau Präsidentin before
+going for their walk."
+
+Count Hermann got up from his chair at the sound of this voice, and
+looked at the lady with an expression of boundless astonishment as she
+entered, leading two little girls of six and eight by the hand. It was
+Gertrud, once betrothed to Reinert. The Präsidentin observed his
+surprise.
+
+"Ah, so! Mademoiselle Walter--the Herr Count Arnau."
+
+She bent down to her two grandchildren and gave them her cheek to kiss.
+
+Hermann's bow was returned with the most measured formality and
+coldness, and not the slightest change in Gertrud's face betrayed her
+recognition. She took the children's hands, and at once prepared to
+leave the garden house.
+
+"Do not make the walk too long to-day, mademoiselle, it is too hot for
+the children."
+
+"I will see that they do not go too far, we will not go beyond the park
+to-day."
+
+A second bow, as formal as the first, and she crossed the terrace with
+the children, and went down towards the park. The Präsidentin turned
+once more to her grandson.
+
+"I think we were saying--but why don't you sit down, Hermann?"
+
+He still remained standing, his hand on the arm chair, and his eyes
+fixed upon the avenue, where the three had disappeared; mechanically
+following the invitation, he sat down once more.
+
+"Well, I thing we were speaking of your future wife. I imagine the
+choice lies open to you; Count Hermann Arnau will hardly receive a
+refusal, however ambitious he may be."
+
+"Who is this Mademoiselle Walter?" asked Hermann, instead of answering,
+without turning his eyes from the window.
+
+The grandmother looked at him with some astonishment, the question
+seemed to her to have very little place in this important conversation.
+
+"She is the new governess for Eurt's daughters," replied the
+Präsidentin coldly. "She is said to be pretty well educated and useful,
+and the children are wonderfully fond of her considering the short time
+she has been with them. I have a certain antipathy against her, for I
+fear that she carries something like haughtiness underneath her
+unfailing calm politeness, which is, of course, insufferable in a
+person of her dependent position."
+
+Hermann was silent, he knew by experience, that here, too, the
+Präsidentin's penetration had not deceived her.
+
+"But to come back to our subject--"
+
+The Count got up suddenly.
+
+"Pardon me, grandmother, if I beg you to let it rest for to-day. My
+night journey has rather tired me out, I really feel the want of some
+rest. Allow me, now that I have seen you, to go to my room for a time."
+
+So saying, he kissed the hand extended to him, and left the room. The
+Präsidentin leaned back in her arm chair, and once more thought over
+all the plans and hopes connected with her grandson's future alliance,
+this grandson who had always been the dearest to her, and who had
+fulfilled all her expectations so brilliantly. But it would have
+astonished her somewhat, had she seen how Count Hermann, in spite of
+his petition to be allowed to rest, had not yet thought of going to his
+room, but went off at once from another side to the park, and in spite
+of the midday-heat, wandered about in it on all sides.
+
+Under the shade of a great plane tree, in the centre of a large grass
+plot, sat Gertrud with her two little charges, telling them a fairy
+tale. The eldest of the two children had nestled closely against her
+governess, and looked up into her face with the most breathless
+attention, as if she feared to lose a single word; the younger knelt on
+the grass, her two little arms upon Gertrud's lap, listening as
+breathlessly as her sister. It was a charming group; surely that was
+not the cold, grave _gouvernante_, who had bowed so formally, and
+answered so shortly. The expression of her face was now as warm and
+glowing as the golden sunlight itself, which played upon her
+countenance through the leafy screen above her, and there was something
+unusually gentle and lovely in her tone and attitude, as, in low tones,
+with head bent down to the children, she told them of elves and
+fairies, something which it had never been permitted for either the
+Präsidentin nor the Baronin von Sternfeld to see.
+
+But Count Hermann saw it as he stood unobserved behind a clump of
+bushes, and watched her closely. Yes, these features had indeed
+fulfilled what they had promised seven years ago.
+
+The delicate, pale, and childish form had blossomed into almost perfect
+beauty, and at sight of the tall, beautiful figure, the pure classic
+profile and rich masses of pale gold hair, Hermann could not refrain
+from thinking that his aunt must have been wanting in her usual sense
+and tact in receiving into her house a lady before whose attractions
+both she and every other lady must seem plain.
+
+But he was not allowed to remain long unobserved, for one of the
+children noticed him suddenly, and pointed in the direction where he
+stood. Gertrud rose at once, and freed herself from the children's
+encircling arms.
+
+An iciness seemed to creep over her countenance, under which all the
+warmth and life which had streamed from it a moment before, seemed
+suddenly to wither; cold, grave, and perfectly immoveable, she awaited
+the Count's approach.
+
+He now stood opposite, and looked straight towards her. Those were the
+same mysterious dark blue eyes which he remembered so well, and the
+same shade still lay in them, but it had become only heavier and
+deeper. But these eyes flashed somewhat under his searching glance; was
+it the old (to him incomprehensible) hatred, or was it some other
+feeling?
+
+Hermann, who usually saw through all matters so clearly, did not know
+how to interpret it; he only felt that it was hostile to him, and that
+the strange girl was still the same.
+
+"I do not know, mein Fräulein," began he, "whether you will allow me to
+renew a former acquaintanceship. I can scarcely hope so after the way
+in which you returned my greeting."
+
+"You would oblige me, Herr Graf, if you would forget this
+acquaintanceship."
+
+But Hermann was not prepared for such a repulse as this, she
+involuntarily irritated him, and just as he had hitherto hesitated as
+to whether he should approach her, so now he felt inclined to continue
+the conversation in spite of all.
+
+"As you wish; but before we begin to ignore one another, allow me to
+inform you of something which you are surely not aware of, and which
+might be painful for you to experience were you unprepared for it."
+
+"I know to what you refer!"
+
+"You know, and--?" Hermann's eyes completed the question, which his
+lips could not ask--"and you remain here?"
+
+Gertrud's countenance became a shade paler, but she remained
+unmoveable.
+
+"You forget, Herr Graf, that I am in a dependent position here. I have
+already requested the Frau Baronin to allow me some weeks' absence, but
+she thinks that the children need my superintendence, and refused my
+request. I must therefore stay."
+
+"If you will accept of my mediation," said Hermann, quickly, "I will go
+at once to my aunt, and secure you the fulfilment of your wish."
+
+"No, thank you, Herr Graf; I wish for your interference least of all."
+
+That was speaking plainly enough. Hermann bit his lips and drew back.
+
+"It seems to me, mein Fräulein, that you have a decided aversion to my
+person. You insulted me once before, just as intentionally. I regret
+that my approach, should give you cause for it. Be assured that in
+future it shall not happen again."
+
+Gertrud's lips quivered, but she made no answer. The Count bowed
+hastily, and disappeared.
+
+"Well, this is unheard of. Neither my grandmother nor Toni would have
+put on such airs, and neither of them would have dared to say that to
+me. 'I wish your interference least.' She condescends, as it were, to
+dismiss me in disgrace, and I--"
+
+The calm, immovable Graf Arnau actually forgot himself so far that he
+stamped with his foot.
+
+What vexed him most, though he would not confess it to himself, was,
+that the manner in which Gertrud had dismissed him resembled his own,
+on such occasions, to a hair. That was just the calm, cold, and
+repellant tone which he allowed himself towards some one who did not
+know how to keep at a distance. Certainly it was the first time it had
+been used towards him, and who had dared to do this? A "Mademoiselle
+Walter"--the governess of his little cousins!
+
+Yes, the grandmother was right; there was an unbearable haughtiness
+hidden under the calm exterior of this girl, and he felt it so much the
+more deeply, as, in his present position and importance, he was courted
+and spoiled on all sides by compliance with his wishes, especially from
+women. Hitherto he had looked down pretty scornfully on all the efforts
+he had seen to please him, and now, all at once, he was met with open
+opposition, with open intention to displease, and even wound him.
+
+Count Hermann had already once sought in vain for a reason for this
+strange hostility, and could find a clue for it now as little as then.
+Gertrud's whole demeanour was, and remained, mysterious to him, as well
+as her presence here. Why did she not rather go without permission, and
+lose her appointment, than expose herself to such a humiliation as a
+meeting with Eugen? Was she too proud to fly before her former lover?
+Or did she still love him, and could not resist the temptation of
+seeing him once more?
+
+The last thought seemed to surprise the Count very much, for he stopped
+and knitted his brow--
+
+"Well, I shall see to-morrow! They cannot fail to meet. I will see if
+this unfathomable, sevenfold secret will be revealed at last!"
+
+It was the afternoon of the next day. Herr and Frau von Reinert had
+arrived somewhat earlier than they were expected, and were received by
+Hermann, who would not allow his grandmother's midday rest to be
+disturbed.
+
+Directly after the first greetings were over, Antonie had retired to
+her room to lay aside her travelling dress, and her husband was now
+with Count Arnau in a small ante-room, close to the Gartensaal.
+
+The friends had not seen each other for five years, in fact, since
+Eugen's marriage, and these five years had not left so little trace
+upon him as upon Hermann.
+
+He would still always pass for a handsome and interesting man; but his
+expression, as well as his voice, were much altered. Weariness,
+languor, satiation, were all written there only too plainly. The
+features, once glowing with life, were weak and vigourless; the eyes,
+formerly so enthusiastic, languid; the whole being of the man scarcely
+three-and-thirty, had a touch of half-bitter, half-painful, deep,
+inward discontent. And this was betrayed in his tone, as, after the
+first indifferent questions and enquiries, he said--
+
+"In spite of your laconic letters, I have heard enough of you from a
+distance. You have become a celebrity, and if report be true, will
+shortly take a high office in State affairs!"
+
+"Is that the report? Well, no one ever expected or took it for granted
+that _I_ should become a celebrity!"
+
+Eugen understood the reproach.
+
+"But it was expected of me, you mean? Yes, I did promise you, in those
+days, to begin a greater work. I have made plans and sketches enough;
+but--our life is so disturbing, so full of changes--hitherto I have
+always wanted leisure and quiet to carry them out."
+
+"And the necessary desire to work."
+
+"Well, if you like, the desire too. The dreams of one's youth, with
+which one surrounds everything, come to an end at last. In reality,
+there is not much in art, or in happiness, or, indeed, in life
+altogether!"
+
+He leaned back in his chair with an expression of the greatest
+weariness.
+
+Hermann gave no answer; but Eugen felt what lay in the grave, searching
+glance with which he regarded him.
+
+"You think my observation strange?"
+
+"From your lips, yes. Any one, to whom life has brought nothing but
+disappointments, may speak so; you, who enjoy all its gifts, have no
+right to."
+
+"And when I find that these wonderful gifts, this dream of happiness,
+are all illusions, is not my disappointment as great?"
+
+Hermann got up and took a turn through the room--
+
+"I hoped that, at least, your marriage with Antonie would be a happy
+one," said he, after a pause.
+
+Eugen was silent.
+
+"Then you are not happy?"
+
+Reinert made an impatient movement.
+
+"I do not know. She often torments me terribly with her varying moods,
+her jealousy, and then--I have to hear often enough, whom I have to
+thank for all, what she has sacrificed for my sake."
+
+An expression of inexpressible scorn curled Hermann's lips.
+
+"Ah! so it has got as far as that! She throws that in your face, and
+you endure it?"
+
+"Have I a weapon against it?"
+
+"It lay with you to make yourself independent. I imagined that just
+your wife's rank and riches would be a spur to urge you to rise to an
+equal height through your own powers."
+
+Eugen heaved a sigh of resignation.
+
+"Confound it, Hermann, you take it for granted that I have an iron
+nature like yours, which never needs rest nor refreshment, which pushes
+forward unceasingly and takes everything by storm. I have a different
+constitution."
+
+"I know that!" said Hermann, with calm bitterness, "and believe me,
+Eugen, I have repented often enough, that I had any part in causing
+your life to take the direction it has. You ought to be free from the
+cares and limitations of ordinary life, ought to find the road to your
+future an open one, and it was with that view that I favoured your
+marriage. You are right, it was a fatal error to judge you by myself.
+You are one of those natures which need continual spurring forward;
+when the necessity for work was removed, the food for your talent was
+gone; had I left you to yourself, and you had had to work to live, it
+had been better!"
+
+"You speak," said Eugen, pettishly, "as if I had done nothing since I
+saw you last, and yet my portraits are valued and admired--"
+
+"Because you are the husband of Gräfin Antonie. Since that great
+picture of Antonie, in which you seem to have exhausted your genius, no
+work of yours has risen above mediocrity."
+
+Eugen bit his lips.
+
+"I must say you are very--sincere."
+
+"And you have forgotten how to hear the truth. I cannot refrain from
+telling it you frankly."
+
+Reinert drew himself up angrily, his vanity would not bear a reproach,
+the justice of which he nevertheless felt; he was on the point of
+answering hastily, but Hermann turned away suddenly from him, and
+looked with strained attention towards the door, which opened at this
+instant. A triumphant smile quivered round his lips, he had not led
+Eugen into this ante-room for nothing. He well knew who must pass
+through it, to fetch the children to their lessons, the former being
+generally with their mother at this hour--this first meeting must and
+should be watched.
+
+Eugen, too, had turned his head, but he all at once sprang up and
+became deathly pale, stretching out his arms as if against a spectre,
+and with a cry of fright, exclaimed--
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+It was, indeed, Gertrud who stood upon the threshold. She knew what
+awaited her to-day, but she was unprepared for a meeting at this
+moment, and here. She, too, turned pale, and made a movement as if to
+fly, but her eyes met Hermann's, which rested upon her face as if he
+would read her inmost soul. The girl's foot seemed suddenly rooted to
+the spot; she drew herself up, and returned the glance proudly and
+coldly. And there was something in her look which was nobler than
+defiance, and mightier than hate; he saw how a deep red flush rose into
+her countenance, whilst she met his steadfast glance, but her eyes did
+not sink. They stood thus for some seconds, then the Count suddenly
+turned away, Gertrud closed the door behind her, and with firm steps
+passed by the two gentlemen, disappearing into the neighbouring
+apartment.
+
+Hermann clenched his hand angrily.
+
+"Unbending! I knew it! This girl cannot be humiliated; did she not
+almost compel my eyes to quail before her?"
+
+Eugen, who had stood during the whole scene as if rooted to the spot,
+now seemed to come to his senses.
+
+"Hermann, what does this mean? Was that my--was that Gertrud Walter?
+Did you know--_Um Gotteswillen_, speak--speak!"
+
+The Count leaned against the window with folded arms, his face at this
+moment showed that repellant expression peculiar to him in moments of
+deep irritation, but there lay an almost alarming brusqueness in his
+tone as he answered--
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter is at present here as governess in my uncle
+Sternfeld's house, and has come with them. I can understand that the
+meeting must be painful to you both, but you see that she possesses
+sufficient tact to ignore you completely, and as for you, it will be
+easy to avoid her, as she devotes, herself exclusively to the children,
+and appears seldom or never in society."
+
+Eugen hardly seemed to hear the last, words, his eyes still remained as
+if magnetically fixed upon the door which had closed upon her.
+
+"Gertrud here!" repeated he still, "and I must see here, must see her
+again _thus_! O, she is no longer the child I left behind! How
+beautiful, how wonderfully beautiful she has become!"
+
+With a hasty movement Count Hermann drew himself up from his careless
+position.
+
+"I think it is time to join Antonie, she must have finished her
+toilette by this time, and if so, I will take you at once to my
+grandmother. Come!"
+
+"No, no," cried Eugen, violently, "not now! After this meeting, and in
+this fearful agitation, I cannot endure the stiff formality of such an
+introduction. I cannot now!"
+
+"My dear Eugen," the Count's voice was once more perfectly calm, but
+there was a cutting sarcasm in the sound of it, "this stiff formality
+concerns the recognition of your marriage from your wife's side, and
+you will show this family the consideration which is due from you. Have
+the goodness to control your emotions, and follow me. My grandmother,
+the Präsidentin von Sternfeld, is not accustomed to wait."
+
+And with the commanding authority, which he had once practised over the
+young artist, he now took Herr von Reinert's arm, and drew his
+unwilling companion away with him.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The fourteen days which had been fixed for the stay of the guests were
+drawing to a close. They had been entirely devoted to all the pleasures
+and amusements of country life. The Präsidentin, who, on account of her
+advanced age, usually made a duty of rest and retirement, could not
+this time entirely withdraw from all the visits and invitations which
+chiefly concerned her grandson. Count Arnau had, indeed, become a
+celebrity, and visitors came from the whole neighbourhood round to see
+and admire the "lion;" the report, too, that he intended, at no very
+distant period, to make the choice of a fitting partner for his exalted
+station, made him still more the centre-point of attention on all
+sides, in reality, because each was anxious to form a match, brilliant
+in every respect, for some daughter, sister, or relation. The Count
+took all in his cool, reserved, and sarcastic manner, without being in
+the slightest degree impressed.
+
+The duties which he owed to society he undertook with that resignation
+accorded to a painful but unavoidable necessity, for in this unceasing
+round of visits and amusements he found the safest weapon against the
+fermenting discontent, which, in spite of the so-called reconciliation,
+still reigned in the bosom of the family. Certainly the Präsidentin, in
+spite of her aristocratic prejudices, was perfectly well-bred, and
+never failed in the politeness and consideration which she owed towards
+the guests she had herself invited, but she, nevertheless, managed to
+make her granddaughter and Herr von Reinert feel that they were only
+tolerated, and that they owed only this toleration itself to Hermann's
+influence. Naturally, this knowledge did not contribute to the comfort
+of the visit. Antonie was sensitive and petulant upon every
+opportunity, Eugen continually bitter and irritable, and often it was
+only Hermann's interference or mediation which hindered the threatening
+breach.
+
+This visit and meeting of relations would, indeed, have been, probably,
+most unpleasant, had not the frequent presence of strangers laid a
+wholesome restraint upon all.
+
+It was the last day but one of the guests' stay, towards evening.
+
+The Präsidentin had asked for the children to be sent to her, and
+Gertrud seized one of the few free hours which her appointment left
+open to her, to go into the park alone. During the last fortnight she
+had endeavoured to avoid Herr von Reinert as much as possible, or, at
+least, never to meet him, except when in charge of her two pupils, but
+to-night she felt secure; she knew that several farewell calls had to
+be made in the neighbourhood, and, in the enjoyment of this security,
+gave herself up freely to the pleasure of an often-desired walk alone.
+
+A book in her hand, she went slowly to her favourite place under the
+great plane tree.
+
+The park seemed at this time perfectly deserted. The evening sun lay
+golden upon the bushes and grass plots; in the distance glimmered the
+white plumage of the swans, sailing lazily up and down on the pond; no
+sound broke the deep stillness.
+
+Gertrud sat down, leaning her head on her hand. So they had come to an
+end at last, these much-feared fourteen days of intercourse, and, on
+the whole, had passed away better than she had hoped. No one had in any
+possible manner made any hindrance to her manifest desire for
+retirement. The Präsidentin had a somewhat out-spoken antipathy against
+"Mademoiselle Walter," and Antonie, though she had not the slightest
+suspicion of any former relations with her husband, by no means loved
+the presence of this _gouvernante_, who had the impertinence to be so
+beautiful, that even she, aristocratic lady as she was, felt herself
+put in the shade so soon as Gertrud even appeared. After the stormy
+surprise of the first moment, Eugen seemed to have come back to his
+senses, perhaps he also feared his wife's jealousy; in any case, he
+seemed to understand better how to control himself than in the first
+sudden meeting, and when they saw one another, which happened usually
+only at table, and in the presence of others, his demeanour was as
+distant as hers could be.
+
+And Count Arnau? He had kept his word, and given Gertrud no cause to
+offend him again. There was an iron consistency in the way with which
+he seemed to ignore her completely after their last conversation; not a
+word, not a recognition did she now receive from him, not the
+slightest, most unimportant attention, accorded even to persons in such
+a dependent position. The governess appeared no longer to exist for
+him, and when he was obliged to acknowledge her presence by a cold,
+forced bow, he did so with manifest reluctance. Certainly this was what
+she from the first had hoped and striven for, now she had obtained her
+desire, and all the rest of her difficulties were coming to an end. The
+day after to-morrow Baron Sternfeld, with his wife and children, would
+return to his estate; the rest would return to the capital, the party
+would be broken up--it was to be hoped never to meet again, as far as
+some were concerned.
+
+Gertrud gave a deep sigh of relief at this thought, or rather
+endeavoured to do so, but a heavy weight still seemed to be upon her
+heart, and she clasped her folded hands closer together in wild pain.
+The young girl had grown much paler these few weeks, and the shade did
+not lie as of old in her eyes, it was effaced, forced into the
+background by another expression. There was an anxious unrest, a
+tormenting pain to be read there now, and the firmly-pressed lips
+seemed to hold back some secret, which she hardly dared to speak of,
+even to herself. She took her book and tried to read, but she could
+not. She opened it in the middle, at the end, in vain. Her eyes
+wandered over the words without taking in the sense; her thoughts were
+too strong to be banished.
+
+With a passionate movement, which betrayed the hidden conflict within,
+she at last threw it down, and hid her face in both hands.
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+She sprang up with a look of terror.
+
+"Herr von Reinert! You here!"
+
+It was, indeed, Eugen, who stood at some little distance from her. He,
+too, was pale and agitated, and his voice trembled as with cast down
+eyes, he asked, in a low tone--
+
+"May I--may I approach?"
+
+"No!" was the firm, grave answer.
+
+In spite of the refusal he dared to advance a step.
+
+"Gertrud, do not be so unforgiving! I know you hate me, that I have
+made you unhappy--"
+
+With an expression of indescribable pride Gertrud lifted her head, her
+eyes met his, large, and full of disdain, and not the slightest trace
+of agitation trembled now in her voice, but there was a touch of
+compassionate scorn as she replied, quietly--
+
+"You are mistaken, Herr von Reinert; I do not hate you, and have _not_
+been made unhappy through you."
+
+"Well, then, _I_ am unhappy!" said Eugen, bluntly. "Since the moment
+when I left you, I have never known happiness. I could not forget the
+past, and now that I must meet you again, I am driven to despair!"
+
+With his old passion he threw himself down where she had just been
+sitting, and pressed his hand against his brow. Gertrud stood before
+him; who, that was witness of the mute, but powerful conflict, which,
+but a few minutes since, had agitated the girl's whole being, would
+have understood the calm collectedness with which she now looked down
+upon her former lover.
+
+"Eugen!"
+
+He sprang up, but she gravely motioned him back.
+
+"Do not misunderstand me. I address you now as the playfellow of my
+childish days, whom I have never called anything else. If what torments
+you is the thought of my presumed unhappiness--my loneliness, be calm,
+_such_ a reproach I can bear from you. If I have suffered from our
+separation, it was only through my pride, which rose at the humiliation
+of being forsaken, my _heart_ had no part in it, for I, Eugen--I have
+never loved you!"
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+"Never!" repeated she, firmly. "You released me for the good of us
+both! perhaps, else, I should have had to confess to you that I could
+never be your wife."
+
+"Impossible!" cried Eugen, springing up. "If you did not love me,
+why--"
+
+"Why did I accept your offer, do you mean?" Her eyes sank to the
+ground, and a gentle shade passed over her face, whilst, with a low
+voice, the peculiarly painful tone of which pierced to his heart, she
+continued--"I was scarcely more than a child, I had learnt nothing
+beyond my mother's sick room, but care, sorrow, and many other things
+more difficult to bear. The first ray of sunshine which falls upon such
+a childhood is seldom denied entrance. You came back then from the
+capital in all the brilliance of your rising talent, admired by all in
+our little town. You told me of your love, and I--did, what every girl
+of sixteen does, whose heart is still free. I dreamed myself into the
+idea that I loved you, whilst I really only cherished an affection for
+my old playfellow. That this feeling was not _love_, I began to find
+out, when we separated, now--now I know it!"
+
+The last words came almost inaudibly from her lips, but there was
+indescribable pain in them. Eugen had hitherto controlled himself with
+manifest difficulty, and now he broke out with painful bitterness--
+
+"No, Gertrud, that is not true! It cannot be, you deceive yourself and
+me. You tell me this, and desire me to be calm, and you do not know how
+it makes me still more miserable, if I can no longer believe in your
+love to me. If you knew how unhappy I am in these golden fetters, in
+this marriage with a wife who sees in me only a plaything for her
+varying moods, whom she idolises at one moment, and at another reminds,
+in the most humiliating way, of his unimportance; if you knew how
+deeply I repent the unhappy course, which I once--"
+
+"Let us put an end to this conversation, Eugen," interrupted she
+gravely, "it goes beyond the limits which are drawn between us. You
+have heard the truth from me. I cannot alter anything that I have said,
+now farewell!"
+
+She would have extended her hand, but he took no notice, but continued
+in rising agitation--
+
+"Too late, I see what I once possessed in you, what I gave up in
+foolish madness, and what I have exchanged for it. The fruits of that
+foolish passion have been reaped long ago, and now that Fate had again
+led us together--now the old love flames up mightily, and tears me
+again to your feet--"
+
+In the deepest indignation Gertrud retreated a step.
+
+"You forget yourself, Herr von Reinert, and deeply insult both me and
+your wife through such words. Leave me, instantly, I will not hear a
+word more!"
+
+But even these energetic, commanding words, which would not usually
+have failed in effect, were powerless against a passion which tore
+Eugen away from the bonds of sense and reason. He fell on his knees,
+and repeated his former words, in that glowing, raving language with
+which he had once wooed the girl of sixteen, and which, a year later,
+Antonie had heard from his lips. This time Gertrud did not reply. With
+a look of unconcealed scorn she turned silently away, and would have
+gone, but this seemed to make him beside himself. He sprang up, seized
+her arm, and tried to keep her back by force.
+
+With a cry of indignation, Gertrud endeavoured to free herself, but
+there was no longer need. At the moment Eugen dared to touch her, he
+tottered, thrown back by a powerful arm--
+
+Count Arnau stood between them.
+
+Gertrud, too, had shrunk back at Hermann's sudden appearance, as if it
+were directed against her also. Before Reinert's wild passion she had
+kept her presence of mind. Now it suddenly seemed to leave her, and it
+almost looked as if she feared the protector more than the offender.
+The Count noted her timidity, and an expression of deep bitterness
+showed itself round his lips, nevertheless he placed himself
+protectingly before her, crossed his arms, and calmly awaited the next.
+
+Eugen, meanwhile, had risen, and now came up to him, pale with anger--
+
+"What does that mean, Hermann? Why do you follow me secretly to pry,
+unasked, into my affairs? What right have you to do it?"
+
+The Count remained very calm in face of this threatening violence, but
+there was an icy scorn in the glance, with which he measured him from
+head to foot.
+
+"Can you really dare to ask why I must interfere here?"
+
+"You have insulted me!" cried Eugen, passionately, "insulted me deeply,
+and either you make me an apology, or give me satisfaction with a
+weapon in your hand!"
+
+Without honouring him with an answer, Hermann turned to Gertrud--
+
+"Mein Fräulein, you see that Herr von Reinert is not sufficiently
+master of himself to pay the necessary consideration to the presence of
+a lady. May I beg you to leave us?"
+
+She stood before him, pale, with downcast eyes. Where had the proud
+unapproachable demeanour of the maiden come from? Her eyes, which but
+lately had met his so firmly, so ready for conflict, sank now shyly to
+the ground. She bowed in mute assent, and walked away.
+
+The Count looked after her long and earnestly, then he passed his hand
+over his brow, and turned away.
+
+"We are alone, what do you wish to say to me?"
+
+"That I am at last tired out of being dictated to by you, of being
+treated like a schoolboy, and insulted. What has passed between
+Gertrud and me concerns no third."
+
+"Really?" The Count's voice was still calm, but passion lurked
+underneath it. "You may be mistaken."
+
+"It is all the same to me what you think. You have attacked me, thrown
+me to the ground. I demand satisfaction for this insult; do you hear,
+Hermann, I demand it from you!"
+
+The Count shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"A duel between us? That would indeed be more than ridiculous."
+
+"Ah, you refuse?"
+
+"Yes! It would be a poor return to my grandmother's hospitality, to
+shoot each other dead on her estate, added to which, Antonie is too
+near a relation, and I must openly confess to you, Eugen, my life and
+work are too valuable to me, for me to risk it for the sake of one of
+your mad moods. I certainly refuse."
+
+Eugen clenched his fist in boundless rage.
+
+"Hermann, you are--"
+
+"No insults!" said the Count, authoritatively, raising his hand. "I
+should have thought you have often enough had opportunity to test my
+courage. To-day's scene is the open breach of a friendship which has
+long existed only in name. In the future our paths must lie apart--let
+that be sufficient."
+
+If Hermann really wished to avoid irritating Eugen still further, he
+ought not to have spoken in this proud, scornful tone. It robbed him of
+the last particle of sense remaining to him, and drove him finally to
+the use of force. He came close up to the Count, and with a voice half
+choked with passion, he said between his teeth--
+
+"I ask you for the last time, will you give me satisfaction?"
+
+"No!"
+
+"Well, then, I will compel you to!"
+
+He raised his hand, and the next minute a blow struck the Count.
+
+The effect was terrible. Every drop of blood left Hermann's face, his
+fist clenched convulsively, and for a moment it seemed as if he would
+rush upon the offender and fell him to the earth, but the usual
+self-command conquered; he took a deep breath, and let his arms fall.
+
+"Good, you shall have your way! To-morrow morning early, then!"
+
+There lay something in the iron energy with which this man controlled
+himself, which shamed Eugen's violence, and was not without its effect
+upon him. He stood, perhaps himself frightened at what he had done, as
+if something like repentance were working within him, for he made a
+movement, as if to hold the Count back, but it was too late, Hermann
+had already turned away, and left the place.
+
+On the point of turning into the great avenue, which led towards the
+house, he stood suddenly before Gertrud, who seemed to have gone but a
+few steps. A single glance at her face showed him at once, that in
+spite of her apparent absence, she had been a witness of a
+conversation, the subject of which she must have expected, meanwhile he
+said nothing about it, but coming up asked simply--
+
+"I must beg of you to accept of my companionship to the house, else you
+might be in danger of meeting Herr von Reinert once more."
+
+As before, she made no reply, but silently assented to his proposal.
+They went slowly along the avenue; here, under the shade of the great
+oaks and beeches it was already twilight; high up above, the last
+golden rays gilded the branches, and here and there a bird still
+warbled low and dreamily his evening song.
+
+The two walked side by side as distantly, as if, indeed, chance had
+brought them into a position mutually painful. Count Arnau preserved a
+consistent silence, Gertrud did not raise her eyes from the ground, and
+yet now and then his eyes searched her countenance as if with a gloomy
+question, and her bosom heaved more and more stormily in some hidden
+conflict, which at last gained the victory over her reserve.
+
+"Herr Graf!"
+
+He stopped at once.
+
+"Mein Fräulein?"
+
+She was still silent an instant, the words would not come to her lips,
+and it evidently cost her a powerful effort, as she at last asked--
+
+"You have consented to a duel with Herr von Reinert?"
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"You can bear me witness that I have done all that was possible to
+avoid it, but Eugen knew how to compel me to it. There are forms, the
+hurtfulness and foolishness of which one sees, and yet one has to bow
+to them. After what has passed between us, my honour gives me no other
+choice than to defend it with a weapon in the hand. I must bow to
+necessity."
+
+"On my account? No, that shall not, must not be!"
+
+Her voice became firmer as she went on, but something like a smile
+crossed the Count's features.
+
+"Will _you_ prevent it?"
+
+"Yes!" replied she energetically. "I shall appeal to the Präsidentin,
+and Frau von Reinert, that both by their influence may--"
+
+"You will not do that!" interrupted Hermann, gravely and sternly. "You
+will not misuse the knowledge which a chance possessed you of. This is
+a matter which concerns us men alone, and must be settled by us alone.
+I, for my part, will not suffer the interference of a woman here,
+whoever she may be, and neither my grandmother's reasoning, nor the
+tears and swoons of my cousin will alter my decision in the least."
+
+For the first time during the whole conversation she lifted her eyes to
+his with such a look of inexpressible, entreating anxiety, that the
+Count, who had but just before so proudly declared his inflexibility,
+turned suddenly away, as if he feared to succumb to a temptation. He
+continued speaking, but his voice was much milder, though it had lost
+nothing of its peculiar firmness.
+
+"I know that I impose a hard task upon you to be silent, and, perhaps,
+to tremble, where a word could hinder the bloody decision. I know, too,
+that few women are equal to such a task, but I give _you_ credit for
+it. My honour now demands, that the duel shall take place undisturbed,
+therefore I require your promise to preserve an unbroken silence
+towards every one until to-morrow at noon. Give me your word upon it!"
+
+He held out his hand to her; whether she actually laid hers in his, or
+whether he took it, Gertrud knew not, but the little hand trembled so
+violently that he let it fall the next moment.
+
+"Do not tremble so," said he with bitterness, "I have the first shot,
+and am sure of my weapon, however deeply Eugen may have angered me, I
+shall not forget that I once called him friend. He shall not pay for
+his folly with his life, even if I cannot hope for such generosity from
+him."
+
+Gertrud had let his bitterness pass without remark, but at his last
+words she lifted her head in sudden terror. Something in her
+countenance must have touched the Count magnetically, for his eyes
+suddenly lighted up, he seized both her hands, and asked in a low tone,
+but with quite a different expression from before, "Gertrud, why do you
+hate me?"
+
+The girl started violently, and a suspicious flush bathed her cheeks
+and brow. She tried to free herself, but he would not let her go.
+
+"From the first you have shown the most unconcealed hatred towards me,
+and yet, Gertrud, matters must be clear between us now. What have I
+done to you? Why do you hate me?"
+
+No one would have thought it possible that this cold, hard voice could
+melt into such soft, heart-felt tones, and Gertrud's whole being seemed
+to tremble under them. It is impossible to describe the emotions which
+played in stormy strife upon the young girl's countenance, anxiety,
+pain, despair, and yet behind all these, an unspeakable joy, which
+found vent in the single exclamation, half jubilant, and yet half like
+a deep cry of pain, "O, my God!"
+
+She clasped her hands before her face, Hermann looking steadfastly at
+her. "I see that a secret lies here, which you will not speak out. But
+I must take certainty with me to-morrow, Gertrud, tell me only this one
+thing, for which of us two do you tremble?"
+
+A moment's heavy pause, then she slowly let her hands fall. Her face
+was deadly pale, but calmly, though almost inaudibly, she answered, "I
+tremble for every life which is threatened."
+
+The Count drew back a step, the light in his eyes was suddenly
+extinguished, and his face was once more hard and cold. "You are right,
+_mein Fräulein_," said he icily. "Since you are the innocent cause of
+our duel, the death of either of us must be equally unpleasant to you.
+I understand that perfectly. Adieu!"
+
+He went to the end of the avenue, his foot hesitated an instant, he
+imagined he heard a cry, but when he looked back she still stood
+immovably in the same place. With all his aristocratic pride, Count
+Arnau threw back his head, and strode through the deepening twilight
+towards the house.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The morning broke clear and sunny. At breakfast Count Arnau and Herr
+von Reinert were missing, they had gone for a ride very early with
+several other gentlemen, which had only been settled late the evening
+before. No one thought of attributing any importance to this
+circumstance, but, on the other hand, Baronin von Sternfeld was greatly
+displeased that Mademoiselle Walter had also excused herself, on the
+plea of feeling very unwell. The good lady found this sudden
+indisposition of the _gouvernante_ very inconvenient, for she was
+necessitated thereby to look after the children personally the whole
+day, the _bonne_ and lady's maid being fully occupied with preparations
+for the next day's journey.
+
+In her room, the windows of which looked out towards the fields,
+Gertrud paced restlessly up and down.
+
+There was a limit even to _her_ self-command; she had not felt able to
+appear at breakfast to-day, and to hear the talk over the "early ride,"
+the meaning of which she alone knew. Yes, it was, indeed, a fearful
+task, to be silent and tremble in the full consciousness of what the
+next hour might bring, to remain here inactive, whilst over yonder the
+bloody decision was made; it was almost beyond her strength. She had
+kept the promise wrung from her, no word had passed her lips, but what
+this silence cost her, that she alone knew.
+
+One could see that no sleep had closed the girl's eyes, which rested
+upon the window with an expression of the most painful suspense.
+Cheerful and golden the sunshine lay upon the fields around, over the
+woods, still enveloped in a blue mist. The corn waved gently in the
+morning breeze, and high up in the clear heavens the swallows shot
+backwards and forwards in rapid flight. But the road which led to the
+woods remained empty, not a single rider would appear.
+
+Gertrud's pride and self-command seemed over. What, during the whole
+time, she _would_ not confess to herself, what even yesterday evening
+she had tried to deny, she had been forced to recognise in the fearful
+anxiety of the previous night. "He shall not atone for his folly with
+his life, though I cannot hope for the same generosity from him!"
+
+The words would not be put out of her memory. Eugen would not show any
+generosity; she knew that he was revengeful, like all weak people, and
+seized the opportunity gladly to revenge himself upon the man whose
+intellectual superiority had so often oppressed and embittered him, and
+_he_, too, was sure of his weapon, and seldom failed in his mark.
+
+She fell down on her knees, and in speechless anxiety raised her folded
+hands. She knew now for whom this prayer was offered, and had known
+yesterday, when that grave, hard voice had asked so gently, "Gertrud,
+why do you hate me?" Though she had gathered together all her strength
+for the last despairing resistance, though she had possessed cruel
+courage to refuse him the one single word which he begged for, it was
+in vain now. Now she would like to have called him back, now, when it
+was too late. How icily cold his farewell had sounded--perhaps it was
+the last. Then suddenly a sound of hoofs was heard in the distance.
+Gertrud hurried to the window, as she had so often done before in vain,
+when she had heard any sound, but this time it was no disappointment.
+Her eyes had recognised the rider, though he was still far off on the
+edge of the wood; followed by his groom, Count Arnau rode towards the
+house.
+
+The rebound was too great; the sudden appearance of him whom she had
+feared lost, decided all. In the cry of boundless delight, which
+unconsciously burst from her lips, in the expression of her face, lay
+the secret revealed. She flew to the door, reflection and reason for
+the moment gone; she must and would meet him!
+
+A heavy, dull blow, then a cracking sound followed--she stopped
+suddenly, and looked back alarmed. One of her travelling boxes, which
+she had brought out yesterday, and partly packed, had been thrust out
+of its place by her sudden rush to the door. A simple, easily explained
+circumstance, but the girl's feverishly reddened cheek had become
+suddenly white. Slowly she again closed the door, and hesitatingly,
+step by step, approached the corner by the window. There was a strange
+expression in her face, a shrinking, as if before something
+supernatural, and with a timidity, as if she were really about to meet
+with some spirit, she bent down to examine the injury.
+
+It was a small, unimportant little box, an old fashioned, insignificant
+piece of goods, which had belonged to her father, and which only a
+feeling of filial respect hindered the daughter from parting with. This
+legacy, almost the only one, which the orphan possessed, had hitherto
+accompanied her on every journey, and now it all at once fell over and
+broke, just at the moment when she was on the point of--Gertrud did not
+dare to complete the thought, but hastily pushed aside the books which
+had fallen out, and lifted the lid.
+
+The back of the box had burst in two, and out of the crack, squeezed in
+between the wood and the leather lining, gleamed a piece of white
+paper. Gertrud mechanically pulled it out, and was about to lay it
+aside, when her eyes suddenly fell upon a word, an autograph--she
+passed her hand hastily across her eyes--surely it must be some vision,
+that she always and everywhere should come upon the name that just now
+filled all her thoughts, but at the second glance she saw that her eyes
+had not deceived her. "Hermann Count Arnau" stood there in faded ink,
+but in clear, plain handwriting--stood there on the old fashioned
+paper, which had been long years in its hiding place, where it must
+have fallen from a hole in the inner pocket, through a hasty opening of
+the box. Gertrud's head seemed to swim, incapable of comprehending the
+facts connected with it--still half stunned from her previous agitation
+she unfolded the paper.
+
+It contained only a few lines, apparently very hurriedly put together,
+but in a business like form. The effect, however, upon the girl was
+like a lightning flash. She sprang up; her face, a moment since so
+pale, bathed in a deep flush, her eyes shining in passionate triumph,
+she pressed the new found paper with both hands against her breast, as
+if some one would tear it away, and her bosom heaved deeply--deeply, as
+if the weight of a whole life had been removed from it.
+
+But it was only for a moment, in the next she started at some
+remembrance, which laid an icy hand on her heart, the fateful paper
+sank from her trembling hands, she stared at it despairingly, and then
+raised her eyes with a bitter cry to Heaven. On this paper had once
+hung the honour and happiness of a whole family--then a mischievous
+chance had allowed it to disappear.
+
+Twice ten years had passed--two people had perished through its loss,
+and now chance had given back what was lost.
+
+"O, God, why, just in my hand? And why now, just now?"
+
+No answer came to this despairing question, and no sound from Gertrud's
+lips; mutely she fought out the conflict, the hardest in her life. How
+terrible it was, the convulsively wrung hands bore witness, but the
+lips were silent against the pain. She believed that in the past night
+she had known the fullest measure of tormenting anxiety, and yet, the
+despair of that hour compared with this moment! Now, with her own hand
+she must strike the threatening blow, it would be a deadly one, she
+knew, and this time more was at stake than life alone.
+
+Only few, in face of such a choice, would have possessed the courage
+for conflict; they would have succumbed to swoons or tears, only
+listening to the voice of the heart, and turning away from the fateful
+decision. For her own unhappiness Gertrud was not one of the weak ones.
+A lonely, sad youth, containing bitter experiences enough for a whole
+life, had steeled her to endurance, but also given her that hardness,
+which happy people know nothing of. The iron law of duty, hitherto the
+single principle of her life, here, too, silenced every other voice,
+and, silently, and warningly came back the remembrances of the past,
+still sleeping unforgotten in her inmost soul. Every bitter hour in
+which her childhood had been so rich, every tear which she had shed,
+every humiliation she had endured, the mother's dying bed, the picture
+of her never known, but yet passionately loved father--all, all passed
+vividly before her, and as these remembrances poured upon her, the
+girl's features grew hard and cold, till at last, with dark decision
+she arose. The conflict was at an end; she laid her right hand as if
+with an oath, upon the fateful paper.
+
+"The warning came at the right time! I was on the point of treason to
+myself and to my whole past. My poor sacrificed parents, the daughter
+will know how to guard your rights--even  though she should perish in
+the act!"
+
+Meanwhile, the other inhabitants of the house sat, as usual, after
+breakfast, in the garden house. Baron Sternfeld read aloud to his
+mother from the newspaper, but the political news, which she followed
+with such attention, seemed to weary the Baronin as well as Frau von
+Reinert; the former divided her attention between her embroidery and
+her two little daughters, who were playing outside on the terrace, and
+the latter yawned again and again behind her handkerchief.
+
+The seven years had left their trace clearly enough upon Antonie. She
+was no longer that charming, poetical being, who knew so well how to
+inspire the young artist, that he forgot all else in his passion for
+her. Her beauty was of that delicate, but passing kind, which only
+lasts so long as the bloom and freshness of youth remains, and then
+vanishes, leaving scarcely a trace of its former reign. There were no
+firm, noble lines, no characteristic expression, no _soul_, in fact, to
+make up for these fleeting charms. The former enthusiastic fire in the
+dark eyes was extinguished, lost in that expression of weariness and
+languor, as plainly to be read in her features as in her husband's. The
+Gräfin Arnau, at twenty, had been wonderfully beautiful, Frau von
+Reinert, now thirty, was already faded, and all the magic arts of her
+toilette could not make up for what was lost.
+
+Hermann's entrance put an end both to the Baron's reading and the
+weariness of the ladies. After a short morning greeting, including all,
+he went up to the Präsidentin's chair, and with a few words, excused
+his absence at breakfast.
+
+"Where is Eugen?" asked Baron Sternfeld, surprised.
+
+"Eugen has had a slight accident during our ride, and hurt his arm a
+little, he remained behind at the gamekeeper's, and I have given orders
+for the carriage to be sent to him. It is not at all a dangerous
+affair. Dr. Börner, who was one of our party, assured us so, and he put
+on a bandage at once."
+
+No one thought of doubting this explanation, given in the calmest tone.
+The Baronin made an exclamation of concern, but Antonie cried hastily--
+
+"That wild riding! I have prophesied over and over again to Eugen that
+he would have an accident some day, but he never listens to my
+warnings!"
+
+There was not the slightest trace of anxiety or tenderness in this
+tone, only an unmistakable vexation. The Präsidentin's face certainly
+did not show any great concern or sympathy, but, nevertheless, she said
+gravely--
+
+"Will you not at least go to your husband?"
+
+"What need is there, grandmother? You hear that it is not in the least
+dangerous, and Eugen will be back in an hour in any case."
+
+So saying, she leaned back in her chair with the most perfect
+indifference. The Präsidentin was silent, but her face betrayed what
+she thought of this answer--so this was the end of that unspeakable,
+glowing passion, which had once torn away the Gräfin Arnau from all the
+bounds of reason and sense! Hermann well understood his grandmother's
+look and shrug of the shoulders; was it not he who had favoured the
+match? It is always painful to have to confess to an error, and today
+the Count seemed little in the humour for it. As he came in, his eyes
+had flown restlessly and searchingly through the room, and the cloud
+which already lay on his brow had become darker. Now his unrest seemed
+to increase every moment; he became monosyllabic, and absent, and
+hardly took any part in the conversation.
+
+"Is there no one to take charge of the children to-day?" asked he
+suddenly, looking towards the little girls, who were chasing each other
+up and down the terrace, and becoming rather noisy.
+
+"No!" sighed the Baronin. "Mademoiselle Walter gave me the pleasure of
+excusing herself this morning on the plea of illness, just now, when we
+want to be off!"
+
+"Ah, so!"
+
+The Count's lips pressed themselves together in fierce anger, whilst
+the Baronin continued to complain of the great inconvenience of her
+_gouvernante's_ illness just now, which might possibly even put off
+their journey.
+
+"That is hardly to be feared, I think!" put in Antonie sarcastically.
+"I should imagine Mademoiselle Walter's evening walk yesterday has
+given her a cold, which cannot be of much importance."
+
+"What evening walk?" asked the Baronin, becoming attentive.
+
+"Well, she came back from the park pretty late yesterday evening, and a
+short time before a gentleman had left her. I could not recognize him,
+as it was already too dark, but from his appearance and walk I should
+not imagine that he was either a workman or a servant. Dear me, why
+not? All the gentlemen of the neighbourhood are unanimous in admiration
+of mademoiselle's beauty. It would be certainly no wonder if she
+listened to one of these inspired adorers, and consented to a little
+rendezvous--"
+
+The Präsidentin knitted her brow; in spite of her antipathy to Gertrud,
+she was strictly just, and would suffer no calumnies in her presence.
+
+"You ought first to prove that, Antonie," she interrupted in a grave,
+reproving tone, "as far as I can judge the girl, this accusation is the
+last that could be made against her, and hitherto Bertha has not found
+the slightest cause for complaint in her."
+
+"I should also advise you to wait for an explanation of the matter,
+_liebe Toni_," continued Hermann coldly.
+
+He still stood by his grandmother's chair, upon which he leaned with
+folded arms, and looked stedfastly at his cousin, with a peculiar
+expression. There was something half compassionate, half scornful in
+his look, and his lips already curled with the old, much feared
+sarcasm, which he poured unsparingly upon all around him, when
+irritated by some untoward circumstance.
+
+"It was only a supposition," said Antonie, throwing back her head
+pettishly at the reproof. "But I had intended some time ago to give
+Bertha a hint with regard to Mademoiselle Walter; what I have found out
+lately about her is decidedly not to her credit."
+
+Hermann smiled with unconcealed irony.
+
+"Something you have found out _lately_? Really!"
+
+Antonie looked questioningly at him.
+
+"What do you mean? I don't understand you."
+
+"Oh, I only meant, that what is not in the young lady's favour, namely,
+her outward appearance, you must have found out at the first moment."
+
+Antonie flushed deeply at this malice of Hermann's, which,
+unfortunately, was only too true, and she did not make any denial.
+
+She knew her cousin well enough to know that in a dispute she always
+got the worst of it, and that when he looked, as he did at this moment,
+not the slightest consideration need be expected from him. She
+contented herself, therefore, with darting an angry look at him, and
+completely ignoring the speech, turned to the Baronin, who now
+exclaimed suspiciously--
+
+"But what is this you have found out about her?"
+
+Antonie took a rose from the vase before her, and began to pluck it to
+pieces.
+
+"Well, my information does not concern her so much as her family. I
+suppose you do not know that 'mademoiselle' has no right to the name of
+'Walter.' It is her mother's family name, which the latter re-assumed,
+or rather was obliged to do so, because her husband's name called forth
+very unpleasant remembrances."
+
+The sarcastic calmness with which Hermann had listened hitherto,
+suddenly disappeared and gave place to a deathly paleness. He bent
+forward in the deepest attention, and followed the conversation in
+visible suspense.
+
+"A false name!" cried Baron Sternfeld, also coming nearer, "why, that
+is evident deception! How do you know it, Antonie? And why have you not
+mentioned it before?"
+
+"Because I only found it out myself yesterday. My maid visited
+W---- some years since, and got to know something of Mademoiselle
+Gertrud, whose mother was still living at that time. Therese was not a
+little astonished to find in this Madame Walter the wife of Brand,
+formerly steward to the Prince in N----."
+
+Here the Präsidentin suddenly laid her hand on her grandson's arm, and
+the warning was needed. He had started violently at the name, as if
+struck by a shot, now he slowly turned towards his grandmother, she
+exchanged a deep glance with him, whilst he seized her hand
+convulsively. But the warning was in time, he succeeded in keeping
+command over his features.
+
+The others were all too much occupied with Antonie's disclosure to
+notice the Count.
+
+"Brand--Brand!" said the Baron, thoughtfully, "I seem to have heard the
+name before somewhere. Who was he, did you say, and what do you know of
+him?"
+
+"Not much to his credit. He embezzled money entrusted to him, belonging
+to the Prince, and finally, when he found his crime discovered, had the
+atrocity to shoot himself in Uncle Arnau's business room, before his
+eyes. I was but a child then, but I know the affair was much talked
+about, and made a great stir. Hermann must remember it well enough, for
+the shock almost cost his poor mother her life."
+
+Count Arnau appeared not to have heard the indirect question, at least
+he gave no answer. His hand lay icy cold in the Präsidentin's, she must
+have felt by this how it stood with him, for she suddenly looked up
+anxiously, his face still remained immovable.
+
+The Baronin was in the greatest indignation. "Abominable! The daughter
+of a thief, of a cheat in my house! And she has dared to be silent
+towards me, to be taken into my house under a false name!"
+
+Antonie smiled maliciously. "Good gracious, Bertha, do you think it
+likely she would do otherwise? It would have been simply impossible for
+her to obtain a respectable situation if she had openly confessed her
+antecedents."
+
+"No matter, _I_ cannot suffer such a deception, cannot entrust the
+education of my children to the hands of a person who comes of _such_ a
+family. I shall speak to her to-day and demand an explanation of her."
+
+"You will not do that, Bertha," interrupted the Präsidentin, in her
+sharpest tone. "How do you even know whether the girl knows her
+father's history? I doubt it, and even if she did, the children are not
+responsible for the sins of their parents, in which they have had no
+part. If you wish to dismiss the young lady, do it at least as
+considerately as possible; in any case, I beg that you will take no
+steps in the affair without once more considering the matter with me."
+
+The old lady had risen and stood so imposingly before her
+daughter-in-law, that neither she nor her husband ventured a
+remonstrance, indeed, they were accustomed to bow to the mother's
+authority unconditionally, though her sudden taking of the
+_gouvernante's_ part had somewhat surprised them.
+
+The Präsidentin turned to her grandson. "Have the goodness, Hermann, to
+lead me to my room, I feel somewhat tired. I should advise you,
+Antonie, to get into the carriage and drive down to your husband. If
+his hurt is so indifferent to you, propriety nevertheless demands, that
+you (at least, in the eyes of others) trouble yourself somewhat about
+it. The carriage is just driving up, I see."
+
+This advice, given in the tone of a decided command, was evidently as
+unpalatable to Frau von Reinert as the former to the Baronin, but she,
+too, did not gainsay it. In the worst of tempers, she rang for her maid
+to fetch hat and shawl, whilst the Präsidentin left the saloon,
+supported on Hermann's arm.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+"That Toni should mention that unfortunate name! It makes you beside
+yourself, Hermann, what has become of your self-command, your strength
+of will?"
+
+Grandmother and grandson were alone together, the portières were drawn
+up, the doors closed; they were secure from listeners. The Count had
+not yet spoken a single word, with crossed arms he walked up and down
+incessantly, without answering, without even hearing. The Präsidentin
+shook her head.
+
+"I cannot understand what there is so dreadful in this discovery. You
+have searched long enough for the dead man's wife and child; you
+declared it would give you back your rest if you were able to do
+anything for them. You ought now to bless the chance which gives us at
+last the opportunity of--"
+
+The Count suddenly stopped.
+
+"_Bless_ it? Let me alone, grandmother, you do not, cannot know what
+has perished for me in this discovery!"
+
+She went up to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Hermann, you are beside yourself, and not in a state to look at this
+matter calmly and sensibly, leave it in my hands. It is, of course, an
+understood thing, that after this discovery, the girl cannot remain any
+longer in the family. Bertha intends dismissing her. In any case, I
+will see that it is done in the most considerate manner possible, and,
+later on, we will try to find some guardian to assure her future. Do it
+as handsomely as you are able, return to her the whole income which her
+mother lost. Perhaps we may succeed in finding a suitable husband for
+her, a clergyman, or some one of that sort, and then we might manage
+unsuspiciously--"
+
+The Count suddenly freed himself with a violent movement.
+
+"Make no plans, grandmother," said he bitterly, "it is atonement to
+injury that we have to do with. I had thought of another way of
+expiating it, but I know that she will never, never take it from my
+hand."
+
+"From _your_ hand? I should think not. We must go to work with greater
+care than that. Whatever you have to do with it, she must not suspect
+in the least from whom it comes, or she might ask, _why_ we did it."
+
+"And supposing she already knows?"
+
+"Hermann!"
+
+"She knows it, must know it! Now I understand the glowing, unforgiving
+hate which she has shown towards me from the first moment, this
+aversion to my presence, this altogether mysterious demeanour. How
+strange that no suspicion of the truth ever entered my head; but it was
+the name which led me astray. Oh, she knows all, I tell you, she
+betrays it in every word, in every gesture. But one thing I have never
+been able to tear from her, a secret, which she knows how to keep, and
+yet I _must_ have certainty at any price!" In great agitation he
+recommenced his pacing up and down the room. The Präsidentin stood
+still, speechless. Whether she was terrified at the idea that he was
+right in his conjecture, or at this outbreak of passion in the man who
+was usually so calm and collected, was undecided, for the next moment a
+slight sound was heard at the door.
+
+"What is it? Who is there?" cried Hermann. He pushed back the bolt.
+Without stood a servant, looking much embarrassed.
+
+"I beg your pardon for disturbing you, Herr Count; I did not know that
+the door was locked. I wished to say--"
+
+"Well, what--what?"
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter is in the ante-room, and wishes to speak to the
+Herr Count."
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter?"
+
+"With me?"
+
+The Präsidentin collected herself. First she was evidently on the point
+of sending a refusal, but Hermann anticipated her.
+
+"I--will see her at once!"
+
+The servant disappeared.
+
+"Hermann, you ought not to speak to her now! You will betray yourself
+whilst you are in such agitation! And what can she want?"
+
+The Count had all at once regained his self-command, but an expression
+of unspeakable bitterness appeared in his face.
+
+"Calm yourself, grandmother! I know why she comes, it has nothing
+whatever to do with this affair. It must be deathly anxiety, indeed,
+which compels her to cross _my_ threshold."
+
+The Präsidentin had no time to demand an explanation of what was a
+mystery to her, for the servant had opened the door to show Gertrud in.
+The Count was right; it cost her a fearful effort to cross his
+threshold, and now it was at last done, she remained standing
+speechless, her eyes fixed on the ground, like one conscious of guilt.
+Her features were calm, but there was something almost terrible in the
+fixed look and deathly pallor, almost as if life had left them.
+
+Hermann advanced to meet her.
+
+"You wish to speak with me, mein Fräulein?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The word fell softly, almost inaudibly from her lips.
+
+"Alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Pardon, grandmother,--may I beg you to follow me?"
+
+He drew back the _portière_ of the neighbouring room, and followed her
+in there. The Präsidentin remained behind, she went to the door and
+once more drew the bolt, then trod noiselessly to the closed
+_portière_, and quietly drew the folds somewhat aside--Hermann was
+capable of anything in this mood, he must not remain unobserved.
+
+No word had as yet been spoken between the two. The Count stood, to all
+appearance calm, his hand supported by the table, and silently waited,
+but with the same bitter expression, for Gertrud to speak. She tried to
+do so, but was it really the deathly anxiety of which he had spoken?
+Her voice failed her, she could not.
+
+Hermann's lips trembled, he saw well that he must speak first.
+
+"I can guess what brings you here. You saw me come back unhurt, and
+tremble now for the life of my opponent. Calm yourself! Though our
+_rencontre_ was not altogether without effect, it was not dangerous.
+Herr von Reinert has a slight wound in his arm, which caused his
+usually sure aim to miss me. He has at present remained behind at the
+gamekeeper's, the doctor is with him, and not the slightest danger is
+to be feared."
+
+At his first words Gertrud had raised her eyes with a look almost of
+terror, but she now cast them down again.
+
+"I thank you, Herr Graf, for the news, but you are mistaken--it is not
+that which brings me here."
+
+Not that! Then it was not anxiety which had blanched her cheeks so
+terribly, which had given her this fixed, lifeless look--the Count's
+eyes lighted up suddenly as they had done yesterday evening; the bitter
+expression disappeared; he hastily came a step nearer.
+
+"No! What was it then, Gertrud?"
+
+She shrank back with a start; slowly he let fall his outstretched hand.
+The girl struggled for breath.
+
+"I came--to inform you of something. It concerns you--both of us. I am
+compelled to leave this house to-day; my letter to the Baronin contains
+an excuse--but I owe the truth to you."
+
+She had brought out the words in an almost choked voice, and at the
+same time strove visibly to avoid meeting his eyes. Graf Arnau drew
+himself up decidedly; he knew what was coming now.
+
+"I go as your enemy; but I will not do so secretly behind your back.
+You asked me yesterday if a secret lay between us--you shall know it
+now."
+
+"I know it already!"
+
+"How?"
+
+"An hour ago I learnt your real name, and with it the reason for your
+hatred to me."
+
+She looked up at him as before, but now with the greatest horror.
+
+"That is impossible, you cannot! You cannot know anything--anything,
+except that it was the name of a deceiver, who took his own life, when
+he found his crime discovered. That is what you have been told, is it
+not? Or--did you know _more_?"
+
+Hermann made no answer, his eyes sought the ground darkly.
+
+"Answer me, Count Arnau! If any one on earth has a right to ask, I
+have. What do you know?"
+
+"All!"
+
+In his blunt, broken tone, lay the whole dashed down power of his
+nature in one word; the girl stood for a moment as if struck by
+lightning.
+
+"You knew it, and were silent!"
+
+"It was my _father_, Gertrud!"
+
+She suddenly drew herself up with almost fierce energy.
+
+"You are right, Count Arnau, it was your father--and it was mine! I
+shall not forget that."
+
+A heavy, oppressive pause followed. At last Hermann raised his head
+again.
+
+"We have reached a point now where nothing more can be kept silent or
+spared. Will you tell me _who_ has revealed the secret?"
+
+Since the confession of the Count a strange change had passed over
+Gertrud. The anxiety, the conflict which had hitherto been betrayed in
+her manner, had given place to an unnatural calm; her glance, which had
+avoided his so timidly, looked at him full and threateningly, and her
+voice sounded firm and clear as she replied--
+
+"My mother initiated me into the matter so soon as I was old enough to
+understand it. She had no proofs to make good her rights, nothing but
+the invincible conviction of her heart. My father did not dare to make
+public the suspicion he had held for some time against his powerful and
+influential superior; he mentioned it only to his wife on the morning
+of the fateful day, and therefore she only was capable of guessing at
+the truth. She knew that her husband was no cheat, that he was only the
+sacrifice of a crime; of an already planned, treacherous a
+assassination--"
+
+"No, Gertrud, no, he was not that!" burst in Hermann. "A crime of the
+moment, a deed of despair, but no plan. I know it--I was witness of
+it!"
+
+"Ah--you were a witness!"
+
+The Count's eyes took a rapid survey of the room; it had only one
+entrance, and that, he knew, was well guarded; nevertheless his voice
+sank to a whisper as if he did not dare to trust the secret even to
+dead walls.
+
+"That morning I was in my father's business room; I seldom went into
+it, this time it was childish disobedience which took me there. The day
+before my father had taken away a book which he thought unsuitable for
+me; but my childish fancy was so much excited by the adventurous story
+that I was determined to know the end of it. The book lay in his
+business room; I knew this, and seized the first opportunity to get
+possession of it. Scarcely had this happened before voices were heard
+in the corridor; conscious that I had done wrong, I flew with my book
+into a deep corner of the bay window, thinking that I should not be
+there more than a few minutes, for my father was accustomed to drive
+out at this hour. But this time he came in with your father. On account
+of the sun the drawn curtain concealed me completely, and thus I was a
+witness of a conversation, of which, at that time, I understood almost
+nothing, but which, nevertheless, on account of its fearful
+termination, was impressed upon my mind with terrible clearness. What I
+heard at first was unimportant; the talk was confined entirely to
+business matters. My father must already have made some demand of Herr
+Brand which he now repeated, but which, however, was most decidedly
+refused by him. Brand represented that he had already paid to the Count
+the sum due to him, and, without special authority from the Prince,
+could not give out any of the money entrusted to his charge, for which
+he was of course responsible. My father must have seen that he was
+lost, must have known no other way of escape, for he chose the most
+dangerous plan of all, and made his inferior his confidant. He
+confessed to him that he had already employed the sum received for the
+payment of personal debts, but that the expenses of the Prince's
+household now needed reimbursement, and that immediately, if all was
+not to be discovered. He strove to persuade the steward to give him
+sufficient for this from the balance remaining, promising that all
+should be returned in a few weeks. The Count swore to take all upon
+himself, he entreated, he promised, he at last threatened, but promises
+as well as threats were lost upon the man's unflinching faithfulness to
+duty. He answered, steadfastly, 'No.' I say once more, in spite of all
+this, my father was not capable of such a diabolically thought-out
+plan--the pistol, which lay loaded upon the table, was, it is my firm
+conviction, designed for himself, he had intended, like many another
+ruined man, to end his life by suicide had your father somewhat
+moderated his answer to him, but his stern sincerity and
+conscientiousness hastened the crime. He declared without mercy that
+any one cognisant of guilt, was, in his opinion, a sharer of it, and
+that he should feel himself obliged to make public what he had just
+heard in order to prevent further harm, and thus drove the already
+despairing man to madness. He knew that should _this_ happen his
+honour, the honour of his family, was inevitably lost. I saw my
+father's hand suddenly grasp the pistol, saw a flash--and Brand fell
+dead before him."
+
+Hermann stopped and passed his hand over his brow, which was wet with
+cold drops, it was manifestly a fearful torture to relate this, but
+Gertrud made no effort to spare him; the "iron sense of duty in the
+father" seemed to have descended to the daughter, she listened
+immovably.
+
+After an instant the Count breathed deeply, and then continued--
+
+"Terror must have stunned me, I could not utter a sound. I saw my
+father open the door and cry for help, saw my mother rush in--what
+happened later you know. It was found possible to throw the guilt upon
+the dead--"
+
+"Oh, yes, it was found possible!" interrupted she bitterly. "The only
+voice which upheld the truth, the cry of the widow, was at once
+silenced as the shameful accusation of a highly respected man, And
+Count Arnau swore as witness--"
+
+"Gertrud."
+
+Such terrible hidden torment found vent for itself in the exclamation,
+that Gertrud did not finish the sentence.
+
+"You must pardon me, Herr Graf, if I am overpowered with bitterness at
+the remembrance of this, we have suffered too long and too deeply under
+it. Our little all, which our father had saved so carefully, was, of
+course, seized, and my mother being quite without help, was compelled
+to ask assistance of well-to-do relatives in W----. We found there
+protection from actual hunger, but only under a hard condition. Our
+relatives were honest, strict _bürger_ people, and would not suffer a
+name amongst them which stood in the papers as that of a thief and a
+cheat. My mother was forced to re-assume her family name, she did it in
+order to save her child, then but a few months old, from absolute want.
+But our misfortune was not kept secret by those around us--we have been
+despised so long as I can remember."
+
+It seemed, indeed, as if with these remembrances, all the hatred and
+suffering of the past years was once more awakened, every word became a
+passionate reproach. Hermann had listened in dark silence, now he said
+with a sort of bitter resignation--
+
+"I think it is a question which of us has suffered most under the
+crime. Your youth may have been bitter--mine was terrible. My mother
+died a few months after the dreadful deed, the year after my father
+followed. No one was able to understand how it was that he treated his
+only son and heir with an open hatred, though he at the same time
+obstinately refused to be separated from him for a single hour. No one
+knew that he guarded in him a witness of his guilt, and trembled hourly
+at the thought that his dreadful secret hung upon the silence of a mere
+child. Perhaps you can imagine what a lot that child's was! Had not my
+grandmother at times stood protectingly between us, I know not what
+terrible misfortune might have occurred. She it was who at that time
+interfered with all her influence and wealth to avert threatening ruin,
+which would have inevitably been followed by a discovery of the truth,
+and who later, after the death of my father, and during her ten years
+of guardianship, gradually managed to bring our affairs into order
+again, so that I may now call myself a rich man. Need I tell you,
+Gertrud, what a curse these riches have been to me? I could not give
+back the embezzled sum without arresting suspicion, but I hoped in some
+indirect way to make it up to those left behind. Since my majority I
+have never ceased to try and find trace of you, have taken all possible
+steps--in vain. I looked for Brand's widow and child, and never
+imagined how near to me the latter was. Gertrud! Fate has led us
+together strangely--did it really happen, in order that we might combat
+life and death together?"
+
+At the last words his voice once more sank to those soft, deep tones,
+which she had already once heard from his lips, and the girl's whole
+being trembled before it, as it had done then, but she knew the danger
+now, and fled from it.
+
+"Not this tone, Count Arnau,--I beg you--let us keep to the subject."
+
+He silently bowed in assent.
+
+"At the time my father paid out the sum, he received a receipt from his
+chief, Count Arnau. Did you know of it?"
+
+"No. But my father himself undertook the seizure of the steward's
+papers. He will have destroyed it."
+
+"It was not destroyed. A chance allowed it to lie hidden for years. It
+is in my hands!"
+
+In speechless consternation Hermann drew back, the same moment the
+_portière_ was torn open, and the Präsidentin stood before them.
+
+"You must be mistaken, mademoiselle! It is impossible, it cannot be!"
+
+Gertrud had turned round surprised, but not frightened, and met the old
+lady's threatening glance firmly--
+
+"I am not mistaken. I repeat, the receipt is found, and has been in my
+possession an hour."
+
+Meanwhile Hermann had collected himself, and now once more roused all
+his energy.
+
+"You have the paper with you? May I see it?"
+
+She shrank back at the proposal, and involuntarily laid both hands
+protectingly on her bosom. He smiled bitterly.
+
+"Do you fear a renewed theft? I give you my word of honour that the
+paper shall be returned to you uninjured."
+
+Slowly Gertrud drew it out and gave it to him; he opened it, the
+Präsidentin's eyes hung in breathless suspense on his features.
+
+No one spoke for some seconds, but the Count leaned more and more
+heavily on the table, his cheeks pale as death; with averted face he at
+last, without speaking a word, gave back the paper, threw himself into
+a chair, and covered his eyes with his hand.
+
+The Präsidentin knew enough.
+
+"Mademoiselle--" it was in vain that she endeavoured to make her voice
+firm, it trembled audibly--"Mademoiselle, you can, and will not, make
+any use of this document; it accuses the dead."
+
+Gertrud drew herself up scornfully; so soon as a third interfered, all
+her courage returned.
+
+"You think not, Frau Präsidentin? But the dead Count died as a highly
+respected, honourable man, and my father lies dishonoured and disgraced
+in the grave. Do you imagine that his daughter would refrain from
+avenging him?"
+
+"Do not build too many hopes on this paper; our tribunals cannot
+proceed against the dead, and as for the living--we are ready for any
+sacrifice, for any reparation within the bounds of possibility--" She
+stopped suddenly, even this energetic woman's eyes sank almost timidly
+before Gertrud's. "Take care, mademoiselle!" cried she, breaking out
+into anger, "take care not to drive us to do our utmost. The family of
+Count Arnau is still powerful and influential enough, and they will
+risk all, if it concerns their honour. Do not dare to let that paper
+out of your hands, else ruin might come upon yourself."
+
+An expression of unspeakable scorn curled Gertrud's lips.
+
+"I will wait and see if this mighty influential family succeed for the
+second time in defying justice. I will see if the law of the land will
+dare to refuse it to me when I come before them with this proof. Spare
+your words, Frau Präsidentin. What I had to fear was overcome before I
+came to you, now nothing more can intimidate me."
+
+She had spoken with cold, firm decision. If her features had seemed
+fixed before, now they seemed turned to stone; the only expression in
+them was a fearful determination. The Präsidentin saw that nothing more
+was to be gained here. She placed herself before the door, covering it
+with her body.
+
+"Now then, Hermann, you must guard your own and our honour! It must
+be!"
+
+Her eyes, even more than her words, challenged the Count to get
+possession of the fateful paper by force.
+
+Hermann had risen, he too seemed to have made a last decision, but with
+a wave of the hand, he dismissed his grandmother's proposal, and went
+up to Gertrud, who stood before him, still firm, and fearless.
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+She shrank slightly, but did not alter her decided expression.
+
+"I have no right to expect or ask forbearance from you. Do what your
+conscience tells you. You can raise no accusation against Count Arnau,
+my father--he is dead; but on the ground of this document you can
+publicly demand that the money which was withdrawn from you be
+returned, and thus cleanse your father's name from the stain which
+rests upon it, transferring it to mine instead."
+
+In face of _his_ words Gertrud looked somewhat inclined to waver, she
+hung her head.
+
+"I--know it."
+
+"You know it! Well, then, you also know that it will be my ruin. I
+have tried in strained activity to forget the curse which I have
+inherited. I have accomplished much, and hoped everything from my
+career; that is, of course, at an end, so soon as public shame reaches
+me. Neither my office nor my connection with the Prince's household can
+stand before that; I must resign it, henceforth to hide a dishonoured
+name in darkness and inactivity. For a nature like mine, this means
+ruin, Gertrud; power and the right to use it lie in your hands.
+Retaliate as you will, if you _can_ ruin me, then do it."
+
+A deep sigh heaved the tormented girl's breast, she would have rushed
+away, but the ban of his eyes and voice held her enchained. He stood
+before her, without entreaty, but also without reproach, only his eyes
+burned in passionate unrest, they searched her's deeply--deeply as if
+he must and would read the depths of her soul.
+
+"Gertrud! It concerns your father's honour, and my destruction--do it!"
+
+The girl's arm sank hopelessly, with a heart-rending expression she
+looked up, as if begging for mercy, her eyes met his, a moment passed,
+an eternity for both, then Gertrud suddenly seized the paper
+convulsively with both hands--it fell in fragments at her feet.
+
+The Präsidentin stood speechless; she had not understood the last scene
+between the two, nor Hermann's incomprehensible behaviour, only now
+that she saw him draw the girl passionately towards him, the truth
+began to dawn upon her. The proud old woman tottered and supported
+herself by a chair, this was too much in one hour.
+
+Meanwhile Gertrud lay half insensible in Hermann's arms, and he bent
+over her with an expression of tenderness, which the grandmother had
+never before seen in his firm, cold features.
+
+The passionately longed-for certainty was his at last, now he knew,
+too, for whom she had trembled yesterday.
+
+But the energetic girl did not succumb many minutes to this fearful
+agitation, she raised herself and tried to escape from his arms.
+
+"You are saved, Count Arnau---Farewell!"
+
+He stood as if struck by lightning.
+
+"Gertrud, for heaven's sake, what does this mean?"
+
+"I leave this house at once. Do not hold me back, I must go."
+
+"And do you really imagine," cried Hermann, "that I will let you go?
+Oh, your incomprehensibleness does not alarm me any longer. You have
+given a right over you by this sacrifice which I shall know how to
+use."
+
+Gertrud looked earnestly at him for a moment.
+
+"No," said she at last, "with this sacrifice I have torn every tie
+between us for ever. What has happened does not exist for the world,
+and the daughter of the thief, Brand, can never be the wife of Count
+Arnau."
+
+He took both her hands gently--
+
+"Gertrud, not this bitterness. Can you not credit me with the power of
+protecting my wife before idle tongues?"
+
+"Your wife, perhaps, but not yourself. My real name cannot remain
+unconcealed, so soon as I emerge from dependence and obscurity, and I
+have lived in aristocratic families long enough to know what is thought
+on such points. They would hardly pardon you your _bürgerliche_ wife,
+and you would suffer under the continual persecution, until you would
+at last be compelled to retire to the hated obscurity of private
+life--on my account."
+
+The Präsidentin, who had stood hitherto like one in despair, now
+breathed freely again at these words, which she saw were not without
+effect upon her grandson. He must, indeed, have himself recognized the
+undisputable truth of her argument, but he still strove against it.
+
+"Gertrud, at this moment, under the influence of this agitation, we
+cannot make any weighty decision for our future. Promise me later--"
+
+"No," interrupted she firmly, "the word of separation must be spoken
+now. Count Arnau, you know the relations of our country and Court
+better than any one else--answer me! Can your influence, your career
+still continue the same, if you break your connection with the nobility
+and with the Prince's household?"
+
+The Count looked down, unprepared for an answer.
+
+"I knew it! And now hear my last word. I shall not have made the
+sacrifice in vain, and, therefore, under the circumstances, I can never
+be your wife. Do not try to dissuade me, or to find me, it would be in
+vain. By this sacrifice I save your future, and that, with such a
+nature as yours, will be such as to dispense with a wife's love.
+Farewell!"
+
+An unspeakable bitterness rang in her last words, but she left him no
+time to reply, and erect and stately, walked towards the door; here,
+however, the Präsidentin met her. Deeply moved, she silently held out
+both hands.
+
+For an instant Gertrud took them, then disappeared in the neighbouring
+room.
+
+The Präsidentin went up to her grandson and laid her hand on his
+shoulder.
+
+"You may thank the girl's high principles, Hermann, for saving you from
+a folly which you would have had to repent all your life. She saves
+you, and us all!"
+
+The Count did not answer, his eyes were fixed on the door where Gertrud
+had disappeared.
+
+The Präsidentin bent down, and carefully picked up every fragment of
+the torn paper, then lit a candle, and held the pieces over the flame.
+As the last sank into dust and ashes the old lady breathed freely--
+
+"Thank heaven! The evil is at an end!"
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the
+approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow. The mid-day
+bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere,
+and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry
+children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in
+a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites. Five fresh
+little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner
+table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set
+before them.
+
+The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face,
+seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective. He divided his attention
+between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the
+two youngest children on either side. There was a loving care, as well
+as a quiet firmness in the way which she quieted and kept in order the
+little company, and the children seemed to be tenderly attached to her.
+Fräulein Walter was hardly able to rescue herself from all the
+histories and relations which one little chattering mouth poured out
+after the other. At last the dinner was at an end, and the little wild
+troop, after receiving permission, stormed out again to occupy the hour
+of play still left to them, with a more peaceful occupation, namely,
+the building of a snow man.
+
+Gertrud had taken up her key basket, and was on the point of leaving
+the room, when the pastor detained her with the request that she would
+follow him into his study for a few minutes, as he had something
+important to speak to her about.
+
+She willingly put down her basket and complied with his request. This
+important matter was not difficult to guess at; Christmas was near, and
+five little tables had to be planned for. But the introduction to this
+harmless subject seemed to cost the Herr Pastor some difficulty, he
+cleared his throat several times in an embarrassed manner, and at last
+began with visible hesitation--
+
+"First, Fräulein Walter, accept my heartfelt thanks for all that you
+have been to me and my children."
+
+Gertrud looked surprised, the introduction sounded almost solemn.
+
+"I only did my duty," replied she, quietly.
+
+"Oh, no, you have done much, much more!"
+
+The man's former embarrassment now gave place to warm heartiness.
+
+"You merely undertook the duty of instructing the children, and you
+have been the most loving guardian to them, the most faithful support
+to my orphaned household. Only since you came have I once more known
+that I possess a home, a happy domestic circle."
+
+Gertrud was perfectly calm and unsuspecting.
+
+"I have done what I could. But of course a stranger cannot ever fill
+the mother's place."
+
+"Ah, that was just what I wanted to speak to you about," interrupted
+the pastor, hastily. "In spite of all your goodness, I cannot deny to
+myself that my children need a mother, and my house the superintendence
+of a lady, whilst I--" He suddenly stopped, for Gertrud had shrunk back
+with an involuntary movement of fright. "Do you wish me to be silent?"
+
+She had become pale, but she shook her head gently.
+
+"Please go on."
+
+He got up and seized her hand.
+
+"Since the five months that you have been here I have often been on the
+point of speaking to you, and have as often stopped myself. There was
+something in you which--let me be sincere--that oppressed me, and kept
+me at a distance. However kind and obliging I saw you in the house, and
+everything thriving under your hands, I could not, nevertheless, banish
+the thought that you were intended for quite a different sphere of
+life. But I must speak out at last. You are young, beautiful, and
+richly gifted in every respect, I am already an elderly man, and have
+nothing to offer you but a simple house, modest circumstances, and the
+participation in the care of five children. Can the love of these
+children, the gratitude of a man, who honours and admires you with all
+his heart, atone for the sacrifice you will make by your consent--if
+so--then you will make me very happy."
+
+Gertrud had listened silently with downcast eyes, her face had become
+very pale, but her voice was calm.
+
+"Your offer honours me, Herr Pastor, but you do me wrong if you think
+that a simple life and duties are irksome to me. For the first time in
+your house I have once more known what it is to be surrounded with
+loving kindness; I--"
+
+She raised her hand, and, as if struck by a sudden pain, laid it--not
+in that of the pastor, but upon her breast!
+
+"Is anything the matter?" asked he anxiously.
+
+She forced herself to smile.
+
+"Oh, no, it is nothing. I only wished to ask you for a short time for
+consideration. You shall have my answer in a few hours."
+
+The pastor seemed hardly to have expected his offer to have met with so
+favourable a reception. A short time for consideration is usually only
+a form of propriety, ending with an answer in the affirmative. With
+glad thankfulness he seized both her hands.
+
+"As you will, _liebes_ Fräulein, as long as you like. I do not wish to
+attribute your consent to a hasty decision. Consult your own heart
+undisturbed, and then tell me candidly what you have decided."
+
+An hour had passed, Gertrud sat in her high storied room, lost in deep
+reflection. As before, she involuntarily pressed her hand on her heart.
+There was something there which still obstinately refused to bow to the
+outward calmness of her nature. It had sprung up in burning, trembling
+pain, when she had stood on the point of giving her consent, and had it
+not seemed to tear her back with warning fear as if from a precipice,
+and stopped the "Yes," which already trembled on her lips with a loud
+"No, no"? And yet this weakness must be overcome! If not quite
+forgotten, she had at least imagined that it was overcome, and had not
+guessed that she should have to probe herself with anxious, painful
+self-enquiries. Hermann had made no attempt to try and find her, or
+even send her a last word of farewell. He had fully recognised the
+earnestness of her decision, the truth of her words, and bowed firmly
+and strongly to the unavoidable, but--it tore the girl's heart that he
+could be so firm and strong. Then he had his future to make up for what
+was lost--for which he had surrendered her--and she?
+
+She had made up her mind to accept the pastor's hand. What could she,
+the solitary, homeless one, do better, than to take the home and hearth
+offered to her, the love of an honourable man, and the perhaps heavy,
+but still blessed cares connected with his children. Truly, he had been
+right, there was an element in Gertrud's nature which strove against
+this future in the isolation of the little village, and monotonous
+round of household duties, so far from the busy world with its many
+centres of interest--but Gertrud was tired of ever moving aimlessly and
+with no settled future, from one place of dependence to another; she
+longed for some sure, calm haven, though she knew that it would be the
+grave of all that she called life.
+
+The snow storm had begun once more, Gertrud opened the windows and
+looked out, without regarding the cold--was it not the last free hour
+of her life--the next would bind it for ever. Over there on the distant
+country road, the sound of a post horn came through the falling snow.
+Noiselessly and thickly fell the soft flakes from the grey winter sky
+upon the hard earth. Everything around, the fields and valleys, the
+boughs of the trees, and the roofs of the houses bore the cold,
+shapeless garment of snow, and still and solitary lay the village, like
+death, covered with a white robe.
+
+But this calm was suddenly broken by an unusual event, the post horn
+did not die away as usual in the distance, it came nearer and nearer,
+loud and merry, and was presently joined by the rattle of wheels. Drawn
+by four steaming horses, a post chaise worked itself with difficulty
+through the snow, till it stopped before the pastor's door. A
+gentleman, wrapped in furs, sprang out, and with a cry, half
+consternation, half joy, Gertrud flew from the window.
+
+"Hermann!"
+
+Meanwhile this unexpected event, the arrival of a guest in an extra
+post chaise with four horses, had alarmed the whole household below.
+The flock of children rushed into the hall, the pastor's study-door was
+hurriedly opened, voices were heard on all sides, till finally, a firm
+voice, making itself heard above all the tumult, said--
+
+"Do not trouble yourself, Herr Pastor. Fräulein Walter will excuse me
+if I present myself without being formally announced. I have important
+news for her."
+
+Steps were heard on the stairs, the door flew open, and Count Arnau
+stood upon the threshold.
+
+Gertrud could not utter a word of greeting; trembling in every limb,
+she still stood on the same spot. He closed the door and approached
+her.
+
+"So you have flown from me to this distant, isolated village? Gertrud,
+did you really think I should _not_ find you?"
+
+His eyes rested gravely and reproachfully on her face.
+
+She made an attempt to regain her self-command.
+
+"Herr Graf, I do not know, indeed, what your sudden appearance means
+after--"
+
+"After my long silence? What, Gertrud, did not you know me better? You
+thought I was weak and cowardly enough to accept your generous
+sacrifice unconditionally?"
+
+She dropped her eyes; a "No" to this answer would have been--a lie. He
+came close to her and took her hand.
+
+"I knew _you_ well enough to know that your declaration was made in all
+earnestness, and that every attempt to dissuade you would meet with a
+renewed refusal, and it is contrary to my nature to indulge in useless
+complaints and assurances. I preferred to be silent till I could act."
+
+"Act?"
+
+She looked at him questioningly, doubtingly.
+
+"Yes. Your farewell words were true, no one knew that better than
+myself. In our little capital, where every scandal sleeps unforgotten,
+to wake again through love of talk, to the ruin of some family--in our
+own principality, where every important post depends upon favour at
+Court, and in the midst of a nobility whose prejudices are not yet
+touched by the faintest breath of advancing opinion, my career would,
+indeed, have been shattered if Gertrud Brand had become my wife. A
+union between us under _these_ circumstances would have been
+impossible."
+
+"And now--?"
+
+"These circumstances had to be altered. I am free."
+
+"Hermann! What have you done?"
+
+His countenance lighted up with that expression which hitherto only she
+had seen, and under which the hard features seemed so strangely mild.
+In spite of her consternation there was an unspeakable amount of
+confession in her words, which he had hitherto not been able to tear
+from her; it was the first time she had called him by his name.
+
+"I have bidden farewell to the past. Do not be frightened, I have all
+the future before me. I am not one of those natures who are able to
+vegetate from one year's end to another in the retirement of an estate,
+allowing the world to go its own way as it will, and neither are you
+suited for such a narrow sphere of life. Before the beginning of the
+year I was asked to enter into the service of the State in another
+country, but I then refused, because my connection and prospects gave
+me certain hopes of the first place in our principality. Directly after
+you left the offer was renewed. There are certainly some steps to mount
+in order to gain such a position as that I have renounced, and it may
+cost me more effort than hitherto, but I _will_ rise, be sure of that."
+
+He said all simply and calmly; but Gertrud nevertheless felt deeply
+what a sacrifice the ambitious man had made; her bosom heaved in joyful
+pride, she knew now what she was to him.
+
+"All is settled now," continued he, after a moment's pause. "I shall
+enter upon my new office in B---- next month--but I shall not go there
+without my wife. Gertrud, will you come with me?"
+
+His arms closed passionately round the no longer resisting girl; she
+leaned her head upon his shoulder.
+
+"Do you think, Hermann, then, that there we--"
+
+"We are strangers in B----. There no one knows of the crime and the
+unhappy remembrances connected with it, and if, in the future, anything
+should be heard--in the bustle and life of that great capital there
+will be no lasting place for dim, distant reports of a past generation.
+Besides this, I shall have no connection with the Court there; and if
+it does not choose to receive my _bürgerliche_ wife, it will be easy
+for me to avoid it, and we shall find sufficient to make up for that in
+other circles. _I_ will answer for the Gräfin Arnau's fitting reception
+and position in these."
+
+A deep flush bathed Gertrud's cheeks at the last words; that name--once
+so hated, she heard it now for the first time as her future one.
+
+"And your grandmother?" asked she softly.
+
+The Count's brow darkened.
+
+"I had a hard battle with her, for she alone guessed the reason for my
+determination. She must thank her own hardness and obstinacy if a
+stranger's hand closes her eyes. We parted without reconciliation."
+
+"O, Hermann, you are giving up all for my sake!"
+
+He gently raised her head, and looked into her eyes.
+
+"And you gave up what was most sacred to you, the only treasure you
+possessed, to save me. Sacrifice for sacrifice! Gertrud, I am no longer
+the cold egotist who knows nothing but ambition. You know what had made
+me hard and bitter, what poisoned my youth, and took away, when I was
+but a child, my love, my trust in men; give it back to me!"
+
+The full, passionate look of love in her eyes answered him--
+
+"I have one request, Hermann, it is my first. Let the past be buried
+between us, let us never allude to it, even by a word. We will forget
+it--for ever."
+
+"For ever!"
+
+Without, the snow still fell noiselessly, and laid itself thick and
+cold on the hard earth; but here two hearts beat warm against one
+another, ready to meet the future bravely. The old curse, which had so
+long darkened the lives of both, and appeared as if it must separate
+them for ever, had been banished by their own hands.
+
+Not avenged, but expiated was the crime, and both now felt what the old
+Präsidentin had said, as the last fragment of the fateful paper sank in
+dust and ashes; "God be thanked! The evil is at an end!"
+
+
+
+                               FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Bridegroom.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Belonging to the lower rank, common.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Most gracious--a term used in addressing ladies in
+Germany.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Gracious Count.]
+
+[Footnote 5: Betrothed, bride. A German lady is always called a bride
+as soon as she is betrothed.]
+
+
+
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+      Printed by Remington & Co., 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.
+
+
+
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+
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+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
+<html>
+<head>
+<title>Hermann: A Novel</title>
+<meta name="Author" content="E. Werner">
+<meta name="Publisher" content="Remington and Co.">
+<meta name="Date" content="1879">
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
+<style type="text/css">
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Herman
+       A Novel
+
+Author: E. Werner
+
+Translator: Helen Keer Brown
+
+Release Date: February 2, 2011 [EBook #35142]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERMAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br>
+
+1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=ZBUCAAAAQAAJ&amp;dq</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>AT EVERY LIBRARY.</h3>
+<table cellpadding="10" style="width:60%; margin-left:20%; border-top:solid black 4px;
+border-bottom: solid black 4px; border-right:solid black 4px; border-left:solid black 4px">
+<tr><td>
+
+<h4>NEW WORK</h4>
+
+<h5>BY</h5>
+
+<h3>GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA.</h3>
+
+<hr class="W10">
+
+<h2>PARIS HERSELF AGAIN</h2>
+<h5>In 1878-9,</h5>
+<br>
+
+<h3>With Four Hundred Illustrations</h3>
+
+<h5>BY</h5>
+
+<h4><span class="sc">Cham, Bertall, Pelcoq, Grévin, Gill, Marie, Morin,<br>
+Deroy, Lalanne, Benoist, Lafosse, Mars, etc</span>.</h4>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<hr class="W20">
+<h4><span class="sc">2 Vols. Demy 8vo. Cloth, Handsomely Bound. 25s</span>.</h4>
+<hr class="W20">
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>London:<br>
+REMINGTON &amp; CO., 5, <span class="sc">Arundel Street, W.C</span>.</h3>
+</td></tr></table>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h1>HERMANN.</h1>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>A Novel,</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h5>BY</h5>
+<br>
+<h2>E. WERNER.</h2>
+
+<h4><i>Author of</i> &quot;<i>Success and How He Won it</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>Under a Charm</i>,&quot;
+&quot;<i>Riven Bonds</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>No Surrender</i>,&quot; <i>etc</i>.</h4>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h4>TRANSLATED BY</h4>
+<h2>HELEN KEER BROWN.</h2>
+<br>
+<br>
+<hr class="W20">
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>London:<br>
+REMINGTON AND CO.,<br>
+<span class="sc">5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C</span>.</h3>
+<hr class="W10">
+<h4>1879.</h4>
+
+<p class="center">[<i>All Rights Reserved</i>.]</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h1>HERMANN.</h1>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">&quot;But, Doctor, for heaven's sake tell us what this is all about.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The whole town is talking of it already, and still we have heard no
+particulars!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Surely it is impossible, Doctor, it cannot be true!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He, to whom all these questions and exclamations were addressed, rapped
+his stick with an air of impatient vexation against the pavement, and
+replied in a rather dry, concise tone--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What you may think possible or impossible, gentlemen, is not for me to
+decide; the fact is simply this, that the sum of 20,000 thalers is
+missing, and that the steward, Brand, has shot himself this morning.
+You can decide for yourselves the connection between the two
+circumstances.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The assembled officers of the Prince's household surrounded, with pale,
+horrified faces, the principal physician of the town, from whose lips
+they had just received confirmation of a report, which had already
+agitated the little town for some hours.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It is really true, then! And they say that the misfortune happened in
+Count Arnau's own room.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;In his business room! The Count had suspected the steward for some
+days, and therefore sent for him this morning. He called him to
+account, and finally charged him to his face with the robbery. Brand
+attempted to deny it at first, but at last confessed to it, and begged
+for mercy, which, of course, could not be granted to him; and as the
+Count turned to ring the bell, in order to have him taken into custody,
+he drew out a pistol and shot himself before his Excellency's eyes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Did you hear this from his Excellency himself?&quot; asked one of the older
+members of the Count's household.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;From his own lips.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Indeed?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What do you mean?&quot; asked the Doctor, surprised at the strange tone of
+this &quot;indeed?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;O, nothing! Only I cannot understand how Brand could be a thief.
+Brand, the most punctual, most conscientious of all men, who would
+never allow the slightest irregularity in his work--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Appearances deceive sometimes. Just this apparent conscientiousness
+must have been the cloak for his villany.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The old man shook his head.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And yet--it cannot be. I would have believed any one capable of it,
+sooner than Brand! Has it been proved already then, that--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Doctor made a movement of impatience.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My dear Weiss, I am no judge in a court of law. Of course an
+examination will disclose all particulars; for the present the papers
+of the deceased have been seized, and I hear that Count Arnau has
+himself undertaken to look over them--but I have no time to waste. I
+must attend the Countess.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah, yes, poor lady!&quot; said a third, joining in the conversation. &quot;How
+is she?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Doctor shrugged his shoulders gravely.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Very unwell! which is, unfortunately, only what we can expect. Such an
+event in one's own house is enough to make any one ill, and when one is
+in the last stage of consumption, and ought to be carefully guarded
+from all agitation, it is enough to cause one's death. Adieu,
+gentlemen!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So saying, he lifted his hat, and with a hurried greeting, left the
+steward's office, where the conversation had taken place, and hurried
+towards the house of the chamberlain, Count Arnau, which lay about
+midway between the former and the Prince's residence.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In the drawing-room of the large, splendidly appointed dwelling sat two
+ladies, the wife of the Count, and her mother, the widowed Präsidentin
+von Sternfeld, who had left her estates in the neighbourhood in order
+to visit her daughter, and had now been with her about a quarter of an
+hour. At the first glance no one would have taken the two ladies for
+mother and daughter, for, indeed, one could not trace the slightest
+resemblance between them. The Präsidentin was a woman about fifty, with
+a not very tall, but powerful figure, and with features, which, indeed,
+could never have been beautiful, but were now striking from their
+remarkable expression of energy and decision. There was nothing
+attractive, nor womanly in this sharply-cut countenance, and her whole
+appearance coincided with it. Carriage, speech, everything, was short,
+decided, and commanding, as is usual with any one accustomed to
+unconditional authority and command. The Countess, on the other hand,
+was a young, and still beautiful woman, though her form showed but too
+plainly the devastating traces of severe bodily suffering. The
+delicate, stooping figure, the gentle pale face, the low, soft voice,
+all formed the sharpest contrast to the mother's appearance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The subject of the two ladies' conversation was naturally the dreadful
+event of the morning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Countess had just related it with renewed agitation; her eyes
+showed the traces of newly-shed tears, and her pale cheeks showed two
+burning, feverish spots. The Präsidentin apparently possessed stronger
+nerves than her daughter; the Countess's agitated relation seemed to
+make only a very slight impression upon her. The most painful feature
+in the whole affair appeared to her, that it should have happened in
+the Count's own house.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, I hope they took care to inform you of it gradually?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Countess shook her head gently.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;O, mamma, that was impossible! I heard a shot in my husband's study;
+and of course I flew along the corridor, frightened to death, and just
+reached the door as Adalbert opened it for me. He hurried past me to
+call for help, and--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And took no notice of you, when it was enough to kill you on the
+spot!&quot; interrupted the Präsidentin, very angrily. &quot;What
+incomprehensible want of consideration!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ach, Adalbert was so upset himself, so beside himself, indeed, more
+than I have ever seen him! He seemed quite unnerved, and I understand
+that only too well. To think that he should have been the one, though
+against his will, to drive the unhappy man to that terrible step.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Your husband only did his duty,&quot; said the mother, decidedly, &quot;and the
+man suffered the punishment he deserved. He has at least been spared
+public disgrace, since he unfortunately cannot be called to account in
+any way.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;But he leaves behind a family, a wife, and a child only a few months
+old--a little girl, I believe.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That is sad; but better for them that the husband and father should be
+dead, than know him to be in prison. Don't make such a trouble of it,
+Ottilie, this is not the first time that an untrue servant has
+anticipated justice in this way. And if he possessed any character at
+all, scarcely anything else would have been open to him after the
+unavoidable discovery.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Countess sighed; she apparently had not philosophy enough to throw
+aside the dreadful event which had happened almost before her eyes, so
+easily as her mother, who now asked--&quot;Where is Adalbert?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have not seen him since. He is himself undertaking the seizure and
+examination of the steward's papers; I expect he is still occupied with
+them.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And Hermann? Why does not he come as usual to see me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Before the Countess could answer, the folding doors opened which
+communicated with the next room, and a boy, about eight years old,
+appeared. The little Count Arnau was a strong, but rather unattractive
+child, who bore little or no resemblance to his mother, though a very
+striking one to his grandmother.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was the same cast of face, the same high, broad forehead, the same
+clear, sharp glance, and round the small mouth were already forming the
+first lines of that energy and decision which made the grandmother's
+countenance so repellant and so striking. Was the boy always as pale as
+this? or had he, too, been influenced by the terrible event of this
+morning, the news of which had spread through the whole house? In any
+case, he did not run merrily to his grandmother, but went slowly
+towards her--almost shyly, and without speaking, put his arm round her
+neck.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Why, Hermann,&quot; asked she severely, &quot;you were in the ante-room, and did
+not come in? What does that mean? How long have you been accustomed to
+listening behind the curtains?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The grave, but not severely-meant reproof, had a strange effect upon
+the boy. He shrank back at the last words, and a sudden flush dyed his
+formerly pale cheek; at the same time his eyes rested upon his
+grandmother with such an expression of anxious pain, that she
+involuntarily softened her tone, and asked, &quot;But what is the matter,
+child? Have you become shy and timid all at once?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The poor child is still frightened,&quot; said the Countess, intercedingly.
+&quot;I suddenly found him at my side in the study, so that he, too,
+like myself, must have witnessed the terrible scene. Wasn't it so,
+Hermann--you heard the report in papa's room, and hurried after me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The boy did not answer; he hid his face on the grandmother's shoulder,
+and she felt how his whole body trembled in her arms. But the
+Präsidentin was not the woman to suffer any display of feeling in her
+grandson, she lifted up his head in rather ungentle fashion.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I should not have expected this from Hermann. If his poor, suffering
+mamma, is made worse by this fright, that is only natural; but if a
+boy, who is ever to become a <i>man</i>, trembles like this for hours after,
+it is a sign of weakness and effeminacy which ought to be struggled
+against as early as possible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">These sharp, severely-spoken words, evidently wounded the boy deeply.
+There was no fear or pain, but decided defiance in the hasty movement
+with which he turned away from his grandmother. With flashing eyes, and
+deeply offended mien, he opened his mouth for some passionate retort,
+when his glance fell upon his mother, and a strange change passed over
+the child's face. His little lips pressed themselves firmly together,
+as if they would force back any words that might rise to them; the
+defiance disappeared from his features, which suddenly showed an
+expression of decision, astonishing for a boy of his age, and which
+brought out more clearly than before the likeness to the Präsidentin;
+then he hung his head, and let the reproof pass without remark.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin shook her head, and was about to express her surprise
+at this unaccountable behaviour, when the Doctor was announced. The
+Countess, who did not wish her mother to find out how terribly she was
+really affected by the event of the morning, rose apparently without
+effort, and went into the ante-room; the Doctor's visit did not last
+long, after an absence of scarcely two minutes she returned to the
+drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin still sat in the same place as before; but her head was
+bent low as she listened to what little Hermann was telling her. He
+knelt beside her on the sofa, his arms thrown round her neck.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Both grandmother and child started as the Countess entered; the former
+hastily laid her hand on the child's mouth, and, raising her head,
+turned slowly towards her daughter.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;<i>Um Gotteswillen</i>, mamma, what is the matter?&quot; cried she, looking
+dreadfully frightened.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin's face was pale as death, justifying only too much the
+anxious question; she tried to answer, but her trembling lips refused
+to do so; a mute, deprecatory wave of the hand was her only reply.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Countess raised her hand towards the bell. &quot;You are not well, I
+will call my maid, she shall--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Stop! I want no one,&quot; cried the Präsidentin, almost roughly. The
+energetic woman had already mastered her weakness, though the colour
+still did not return to her paleface, and her lips trembled as they
+added more quietly--&quot;It is nothing! A sudden giddiness, it will be gone
+directly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But Countess Ottilie had never seen her mother's iron constitution
+yield to any bodily weakness, therefore this sudden attack alarmed her
+so much the more.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Would you not like to lie down in your room for a time?&quot; asked she,
+anxiously. &quot;The long drive has over-tired you. Go away just now,
+Hermann, you see grandmamma is not well.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But the grandmother drew the boy convulsively towards her. &quot;Hermann
+shall go with me. I should like to have him. Do not trouble, Ottilie, I
+repeat, the giddiness has quite gone; you need rest and quiet quite as
+much as I do, and therefore I will take Hermann with me, he may disturb
+you with his chatter.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This proposal was made in such a decided tone, that the Countess, who
+had never been accustomed to contradict her mother in anything, made no
+objection; she silently complied, though still with visible anxiety.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And the poor woman was to experience still more that was strange and
+puzzling in the course of this day, which had begun so terribly. The
+Präsidentin excused herself from appearing at dinner, she was still not
+quite well, but refused most decidedly to see a doctor, and requested
+instead, that her son-in-law would come and see her for a few minutes,
+so soon as dinner was over.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count, apparently thoroughly out of humour, not only through the
+dreadful event of the morning, but also from the numerous unpleasant
+business duties incumbent upon him, seemed inclined to be irritable and
+impatient, and complied with the request with visible unwillingness; so
+much the more was the Countess astonished that he remained so long with
+her mother. The interview lasted more than an hour, and she heard
+nothing of what had passed, for, during the whole time, not only the
+door of the room, but that of the ante-room remained fast shut. The
+only apparent result of the conversation, as far as the Gräfin was
+concerned, was, that her mother informed her, she intended to return as
+early as the next day, and would like to take her grandson, who, indeed
+had been with her ever since she had retired to her room. She stated
+that the boy's naturally lively disposition disturbed and annoyed the
+mother in her present state, and that it would be best for him to
+remain away some time, so that she should be left perfectly undisturbed
+to recover from her recent agitation. The Count seconded the
+grandmother's proposal most decidedly, but Ottilie was anxious and
+disturbed, and strove against the decision. She did not like losing her
+only son, whom she loved so tenderly, and called it cruel kindness to
+take away the only comfort of the long, weary days of illness--but in
+vain--mother and husband, usually most indulgent to the gentle patient,
+for once withstood her wishes with incomprehensible hardness, and the
+Countess, too weak and too little accustomed to independent resistance,
+was obliged to comply.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The next morning the travelling carriage stood early before the door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Ottilie was greatly agitated as she bade farewell to her son, and,
+bathed in tears, threw her arms round him again and again, but the
+boy's peculiar nature was proof even against his mother's distress.
+True, his little mouth quivered, and his breast heaved with a
+suppressed sob, but no tears came into his eyes, and he submitted
+mutely to the caresses lavished upon him, till at last the Count became
+impatient, and drew him away from his wife's arms. But as he did so,
+Hermann suddenly drew back, with unconcealed dread, indeed, almost
+horror, from the father's caress, and the Count was only too well aware
+of it. A deep flush rose to his brow, he seized the boy's hands,
+pressing them fast in his, and drew him thus towards him, with apparent
+gentleness, but in reality with no little force. This time Hermann made
+no resistance, and no cry of pain escaped his lips, though the pressure
+of his father's hands must have hurt him, but he clenched his little
+teeth, and his face wore such an aspect of dark defiance, that his
+father suddenly loosened his hold and pushed him away. But the glance
+which met the boy's eyes was so fearfully threatening, that the
+Präsidentin involuntarily threw her arm protectingly round the child.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Adalbert!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He turned round quickly, and a momentary glance passed between them,
+unobserved by any one else. The Countess still lay sobbing on the sofa,
+and when the servant entered the Count had recovered his usual
+equanimity, and offered his mother-in-law his arm.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Calm yourself, Ottilie! We are only giving up Hermann to his
+grandmother, who will look after him well.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was something like oppression in the tone of these harmless
+words, and his glance sought the Präsidentin's, who returned it
+unswervingly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not be the least anxious, Adalbert,&quot; replied she shortly, &quot;whatever
+I undertake I can answer for.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Some minutes later the travellers were seated in the carriage; the
+Count, who had accompanied them to the door, bowed farewell, and
+retired from the carriage door, above which the Countess's tearful face
+appeared at the window, waving her handkerchief. As the carriage rolled
+away, the Präsidentin gave a sigh of relief, and drew the boy
+convulsively towards her, as if she had just rescued him from some
+great danger. He hid his head on her shoulder, and, for the first time,
+burst into tears, and sobbed bitterly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The guilt and suicide of the steward, Brand, had brought the whole
+town, usually a quiet, sleepy place, where anything of importance
+seldom happened, into a state of great agitation. The event excited so
+much the more stir, as the opinion which the old servant had expressed
+to the doctor, on hearing of the disaster, was one which represented
+the town in general. All thought any other person capable of the deed,
+sooner than Brand, who had been everywhere considered a most capable
+and clever man of business, as well as a pattern of conscientiousness,
+and faithfulness in duty.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Indeed, it was just these qualities, or rather the strictness with
+which he enforced his own punctuality and carefulness from others, and
+the blame he bestowed (especially upon his inferiors), for the
+slightest irregularity in business, which had made him many enemies,
+but no one had ever dared to withhold the highest respect towards him,
+and now, all at once, this man was declared to be a cheat, an impostor!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There could be no doubt about it, his own confession and suicide had
+declared his guilt, but what had become of the enormous sum embezzled?
+That was, and continued to be, an unexplained question. There lay,
+indeed, a certain obscurity over the whole matter, which was not
+smoothed away, and, perhaps, never could be, since he, who alone could
+account for it, was now beyond the reach of earthly justice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The examination brought nothing further to light, beyond the already
+existing facts. The steward had given out the above-mentioned money
+from the Prince's revenue to Count Arnau, the chamberlain and confidant
+of his Highness; and hitherto he had been most punctual in payment of
+the instalments, but the last time he had put it off for eight days,
+for some apparently plausible excuse. At first the Count appeared quite
+satisfied, though his suspicions were aroused when he heard by chance
+that Brand had obtained some days' leave on account of &quot;family
+affairs,&quot; and was on the point of setting off. He sent for him
+privately, demanded an explanation, threatened him with immediate
+examination into the Prince's affairs, and forced confession from the
+guilty steward, who instantly committed suicide, when the forbearance
+which he pleaded for was denied to him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau had taken up the matter energetically at once. He took upon
+himself the seizure of the dead man's accounts and papers, and
+subjected them to a careful, personal examination, though the office
+which he held did not require him to do so; but they were not strict
+about such matters in the little town, especially when the interest of
+the Prince's house was at stake, and thought a man of the Count's
+position and influence was quite justified in interfering in such
+matters, added to which, they considered it only natural that the
+Count, whose pardonable indulgence had delayed the discovery some days,
+and thereby probably caused the loss of the money, should now redouble
+his efforts to make it good. But all his zeal remained without result,
+neither he, nor the police officers of the town (though it must be
+confessed that the latter were by no means gifted with extraordinary
+intelligence), succeeded in finding any trace of the missing sum, or
+even the smallest allusion to the disposal of it in the official and
+private papers of the deceased. He must have first secured it, and then
+hoped to avoid the inevitable discovery by instant flight, asking, in
+the first place, merely for permission for a few days' absence, to
+cover the first few days' disappearance, and the boxes stood ready for
+his departure, when his deserved fate overtook him. Count Arnau
+confirmed on oath the declaration he had already made, and with this
+the matter was at an end. No further examination followed. The
+unfortunate man was buried as quietly as possible, and his widow, with
+her child, left the town, where their name would henceforth be branded
+with shame. The income which her husband's office had kept up was, of
+course, no longer forthcoming, and the little property he possessed was
+seized, though it did not cover more than the smallest part of the
+embezzled sum. So ended the drama, at least, so far as the town here
+was concerned.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">&quot;I do wish, Eugen, you would make up your mind. What is the good of all
+this doubting and fluctuating?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The young man to whom these words were addressed, lifted his head
+slowly and said in a tone of unconcealed bitterness--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I wish you knew what such a conflict was, then you would understand
+how difficult decision is!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I don't think I should. If my whole future lay on one side, and a
+youthful love affair, already half cooled down, on the other, there
+would be no conflict at all in my case, but simply necessity, which I
+should bow to, at any price.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And if it cost the breaking of a heart?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;<i>Mein Gott!</i> don't look at the matter in such a terribly tragical way.
+Broken hearts, dying in sacrifice to unhappy love, may be very
+effective and touching in novels, but don't exist in actual life, and
+such a simple girl as your <i>fiancée</i>, is not likely to fall a victim to
+this romantic martyrdom. Of course the loss of her <i>bräutigam</i><a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a>
+will
+cost her some tears, but she will get over it, and a year and a day
+after will marry some respectable Bürger and Councillor of B., who will
+suit her much better, and make her much happier than you would ever be
+able to do.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I wish you would be quiet, Hermann!&quot; cried Eugen violently. &quot;You don't
+know Gertrud, and for that reason you are always unjust to her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That may be. I have, as you know, a decided antipathy to everything
+narrow and <i>bürgerlich</i>,<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a>
+and when it stands in the way of a man's
+career, and drags him down into the lowest sphere of life, I simply
+hate it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen had no reply ready for these decided words. He sprang up, went to
+the window, and pressing his brow against the glass, looked out on the
+park, which lay before him in the dewy freshness of a June morning. The
+sun shone warmly into the ancient pavilion, with its half obliterated
+frescoes on walls and roof, on the gilded, richly carved furniture,
+with its faded figured damask of the last century; and lighted up
+brightly the figures of the two young men seated there. The one who
+leaned against the window had a tall, slender figure, and a face,
+which, without being regularly beautiful, was yet singularly attractive
+at first sight. There was a mighty charm in these features, a world of
+passion and dreaminess in the dark eyes, and cloudy brows, and the
+inward conflict which was now shown plainly enough in his countenance,
+gave a still deeper interest to this artistic head, with its wealth of
+dark hair.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His companion possessed little or none of these fascinating
+attractions. He was smaller, but more powerfully built, with irregular
+features, which would have made him decidedly plain, but for the high,
+finely moulded brow, which gave a remarkable and peculiar character to
+the whole countenance. His keen grey eyes, almost too keen for a man of
+four-and-twenty, looked out calmly and clearly from beneath it, and
+seemed in keeping with the sharply defined lines round the mouth, a
+feature full of energy and decision, but cold and bitter in expression,
+robbing the countenance of all youthfulness, and making it at some
+moments almost repulsive. The young man spoke calmly, leaning back at
+his ease in the arm chair, and contemplating his agitated friend with
+almost indifference, but in spite of his calmness and indifferent mien,
+there was an air of unconscious nobility in his bearing, a decided
+superiority, which was wanting in Eugen, who, leaning gracefully
+against the window, dreamily contemplating the clouds, was certainly
+interesting, but perhaps a little theatrical in appearance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A momentary pause in the conversation had occurred, suddenly broken by
+Hermann with the question--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What is your feeling with regard to Antonie?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A deep sigh, and a movement of impatience was the only answer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You love her?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I worship her!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And this worship gives her only too much satisfaction. But now, do you
+imagine that my proud cousin would be the one to suffer a rival in the
+shape of an unknown, insignificant little Bürgermädchen? Take care, if
+she should find it out sooner or later; I assure you, it would dash all
+your hopes to the ground at once.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen looked moodily into space.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hopes! How could I dare to have any? Am not I <i>bürgerlich</i>, with no
+great name, no fortune--do you really imagine that she would be ready
+to sacrifice her name and rank for me, that Countess Arnau could ever
+become the wife of an unknown painter?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A sarcastic smile quivered round Hermann's lips--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, if you cannot tell, I am not the one to give you any certainty
+about the matter. But,&quot; added he, mockingly, &quot;it seems to me you are
+pretty sure of your ground, and that there is not much danger of having
+'No' for an answer. Just on that account you must decide for yourself.
+How shall it be? What have you decided?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen threw himself back into his chair with a despairing exclamation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not torment me with such questions, Hermann! You see my
+difficulties! It would be kinder to show me some way out of this
+labyrinth.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The way is plain enough before you! Be a man, and rouse yourself to
+action energetically. Break quickly and decidedly the chain which has
+held you down so far, you owe it to Antonie, to your own future, if you
+do not intend your love for her to be an insult. And then, when you are
+free, come with me to Italy. The tour is really necessary for the
+completion of your art studies; if your finances don't admit of it,
+mine are at your disposal. Come, make haste and decide.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The decided, almost commanding manner of the friend, did not seem to
+admit of any contradiction, and did not fail to impress the young
+painter, who wrung his hands in deep inward conflict with himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know you are right, only too right. I feel it in every word you say,
+but, Gertrud! Gertrud! Call me weak, call me what you will, but I
+cannot bear to know that she is unhappy, unhappy through me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a movement of the greatest impatience, Hermann pushed back his
+chair and sprang up.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, then, if you cannot, I shall act for you. Ah, here comes
+Antonie, just at the right time.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What are you going to do?&quot; cried Eugen, alarmed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Cut the knot which ties you to despair! Good morning, <i>liebe Toni</i>.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen longed to protest and entreat against his friend's intentions,
+which he dimly portended, but it was already too late. A dress rustled
+before the door of the pavilion, and a young lady crossed the
+threshold.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Countess Antonie Arnau was certainly a being whose appearance could
+well justify the passion of a young artist. A slender refined figure,
+and a face of truly poetic beauty. A pair of dark eyes, full of dreamy
+fire, looked out from a somewhat pale face, surrounded by dark hair,
+artistically arranged, and falling thickly on her white embroidered
+morning dress. Her movements and bearing were full of grace, but
+nevertheless, there was a something in her air which betrayed that the
+young Countess was quite as well aware of her beauty as of her position
+in the world.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She shook hands with her cousin confidentially, while she answered
+Eugen's greeting with a smile, and then said playfully--,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I thought I was the first in the park today, but I see the gentlemen
+are already before me, and are holding a most important conference
+here.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Important, yes, but entirely without result! I have been trying in
+vain for an hour to convince Eugen of the necessity of his
+companionship on my tour to Italy.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What, Herr Reinert,&quot; and the beautiful woman glanced surprised and
+reproachfully at the young artist. &quot;You hesitate? I thought it was a
+settled matter, and fully expected to see you again in Rome with
+Hermann.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen was silent, and sent across a half pleading, half threatening
+glance to Hermann, who appeared not to see it, for he replied calmly--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You were mistaken, Antonie; Eugen has altered his plans. He
+declines to go, and prefers returning to his native town, to lead his
+<i>fiancée</i>--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann!&quot; cried Eugen, who had hitherto vainly endeavoured to put in a
+word.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;To lead his <i>fiancée</i>, a Bürgermädchen there, to the hymeneal altar,&quot;
+concluded Hermann, not the least disturbed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But these words had a formidable effect upon Antonie. For the first
+moment she was deadly pale, and her hand unconsciously grasped the arm
+of the chair to support herself, then a sudden flush suffused her
+countenance, and a flash shot from her dark eyes--a glance which
+disfigured the beautiful face, a glance which seemed ready to
+annihilate Eugen, who stood resistless before her. Then, gathering
+together all her strength, she turned away from both to the window,
+thus shielding at least her countenance from Hermann's sharply
+observant eyes.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The latter evidently felt that a third was superfluous in the
+explanation, which must inevitably follow, Antonie already knew enough.
+He took up his hat from the table--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Excuse me a few moments. I have forgotten to give an order in the
+Castle. I will be back directly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The excuse was hardly necessary; neither Antonie nor Eugen appeared to
+hear it, and the young Count Arnau, who detested &quot;scenes,&quot; and saw a
+most stormy one impending, hurried away from the pavilion, closing the
+door behind him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The two occupants of the room stood at first silently before one
+another. Antonie was still striving for self-command, and Eugen could
+find no words with which to defend himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He fought between anger against Hermann, and shame at the painfully
+humiliating situation in which he found himself, in which, indeed, his
+friend had placed him. The Countess was the first to speak.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I regret, Herr Reinert, that I have only this moment become aware of
+your engagement through my cousin, or I should have congratulated you
+long since.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The icy glance and freezing tone roused Eugen from his insensibility,
+and he made an attempt to hurry towards her, &quot;<i>Um Gotteswillen</i>,
+Antonie, not that tone!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a look of the proudest contempt she drew back.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Sir, you seem to forget that you are addressing Countess Arnau.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Neither words nor expression could have been chosen, which could convey
+more scorn, Eugen turned pale, his self confidence returned and gave
+him back new courage, deeply offended, he retired a step--&quot;Pardon,
+<i>gnädigste Gräfin</i>!<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a>
+I believe it is the first time that you have
+found it necessary to remind me of the gulf between us, and I give you
+my word that it shall be the last.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He bowed and strode towards the door, Antonie looked after him
+waveringly. She felt she had gone too far, and that she at least ought
+not to have spoken thus, and quick in repentance as in anger, she
+called him back.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Reinert!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He half turned.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What are your commands, <i>gnädigste Gräfin</i>?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But the passionate woman's pride and self command had come to an end
+alike, she had never possessed more than a small share of either.
+Accustomed to give way to every outbreak of feeling, she sank down on
+the sofa and burst into a violent fit of weeping.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen heard this, and stopped; he looked back, saw the beautiful
+tear-wet countenance turned towards him, and the next minute he was by
+her side.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are crying, Gräfin? May I speak to you? Antonie, will you condemn
+me unheard?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This time no hard refusal followed his confidential tone. She looked up
+at him, fighting between love and anger, but Eugen saw that he might
+now dare to justify himself, and did not hesitate to do so.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes, it is true I am bound, and this bond has become the curse of my
+life. When I returned to my native town some years ago, I saw once more
+a young girl, who had been a playfellow of mine. She was an orphan,
+scarcely beyond childhood, I thought I loved her, and her guardian
+urged me to declaration--so she became my <i>fiancée</i>. It was a step too
+hastily taken, but I wore the chain, and would have worn it patiently
+to the end. Then I came here and saw you, Antonie, and from that moment
+began the long fearful conflict between duty and passion. I must tear
+myself away from you, indeed, from every remembrance of you, if I would
+not succumb to this. Let my talent, let my whole future perish in that
+narrow confined sphere, let me know despair in an empty, joyless
+marriage--what is art to me, what, indeed, life itself, if I must
+renounce you!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He had spoken with ever rising agitation, and Antonie had ceased
+weeping, anger had given place to compassion, and, as he concluded,
+every reproach had perished in the fear of losing the beloved one.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Countess Arnau was not the woman to recognise the claims of an
+outsider, where she alone would possess all.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Renounce?&quot; asked she softly, with dropped eyelids. But a world of
+encouragement lay in the tone, &quot;and why?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You ask me? May I dare, then, to woo you? I am poor, you know it. I
+have nothing but my art. You stand so high, your position in life is so
+brilliant--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His glance, resting with burning passion upon the beautiful woman's
+face, contradicted these words of renunciation. She looked up and
+smiled.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And I am free, Eugen, quite free! You had forgotten that!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Antonie!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He rushed passionately to her feet.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Give me the hope, give me the certainty, that I may one day win you,
+and I will break my chain, cost what it may. Tell me, that you will be
+mine, in spite of your name, in spite of your family, and I will burst
+all bonds asunder, and win happiness, if need be, by force!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Antonie bent down to her kneeling lover, love plainly to be seen in her
+eyes--she was, indeed, wonderfully beautiful at this moment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I fear no bonds. I know by experience how empty splendour and riches
+can make life, in a marriage where there is no love. Free yourself,
+cultivate your genius, and then, when your first work has won you an
+artist's fame,--then come and fetch the prize of victory!&quot;</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">The freshness of the morning was over, and the heat of a midday sun in
+June brooded over the village, which lay about half-an-hour's distance
+from the Schloss, where Count Arnau and Eugen Reinert were at present
+guests. The stage coach, which had passed through an hour ago, had put
+down travellers, an old gentleman and a young girl. The narrow, close,
+room of the inn seemed oppressive to both alike; the old man sat in the
+little garden behind the house, whilst his companion had sauntered to
+the front, and was now thoughtfully contemplating the scene around her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The village lay almost as still as death, the people were nearly all at
+work in the fields. No one was to be seen, save a group of children,
+playing in the broad village street, untroubled by the hot sunshine.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Suddenly the distant rumble of a carriage was heard, and a moment after
+an elegant conveyance came in sight. The groom sat behind, and a
+gentleman himself managed the spirited black horses;--there was no
+doubt that he saw the children, but he seemed to imagine that they must
+also see him, and would move out of the way in time, for he drove
+straight through the village at the sharpest pace, though in such a
+broad street, it would have been quite easy to have turned out of the
+way. The little group of children flew right and left as he approached;
+only one, a little fellow, perhaps two years old, sat still, quite
+unconscious of his danger, and when the frightened children at last
+roused him by their cries, the carriage was already almost upon him. He
+now, at last, attempted to get up, but stunned, and unaccustomed to
+run, he stumbled at the first step, and fell down right in front of the
+horses. The driver of the carriage, only perceiving the child at that
+instant, drew them up with all his strength, but they were in full
+trot, and very spirited animals, so that he did not succeed in stopping
+them at once, and the boy seemed lost. Then the young girl suddenly
+flew towards the child, and, quick as lightning, tore him away almost
+from under the hoofs of the horses, took him in her arms and sprang
+aside. An instant later would have been fatal to him! A moment after
+the driver had succeeded in pulling up the fiery animals, but their
+hoofs stamped the place where the child lay a few seconds since, and
+he, quiet enough from fright in the moment of danger, now that he found
+himself safe, burst into a loud scream.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau gave the reins to his groom, sprang from the carriage, and
+approached the two.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Is any one hurt?&quot; asked he, hastily.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I am not, but the child--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Without answering a word, Hermann took the little one from her arms,
+felt and examined him rather roughly, but very thoroughly, on all
+sides, and soon convinced himself that he was not the least injured.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It is nothing,&quot; said he calmly. &quot;He was only frightened; come,
+cry-baby, you are all right enough!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So saying, he carelessly put down the child, who, intimidated by the
+rough tone, was now silent and looked up at him anxiously with great
+eyes, still full of tears. The Count then turned politely to the young
+girl who had saved him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You showed great courage, <i>mein Fräulein</i>. It was impossible to stop
+the horses so quickly, and the little fellow would have been lost but
+for you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His eyes looked over the girl quickly and sharply during this speech.
+She was still very youthful looking, as she stood there before him,
+certainly not more than seventeen years of age, with a slender, refined
+figure. Her dress was extremely simple. During the hasty movement which
+she made to save the child, her round straw hat had slipped off, and
+hung loosely on her neck, so that the full, warm, midday sun lit up her
+face, and the shining golden hair which surrounded it, the latter
+simply parted in front, and wound round the back of her head in heavy
+coils. Perhaps the blinding illumination of the sun made her look
+particularly charming at this moment, else her face was not actually
+beautiful, at least, not yet, though the lines of future beauty might
+already be traced in her features. At present they were still unformed
+and childish; the only characteristic which gave the face a particular
+charm were the great, deep, blue eyes, with their unusual, almost
+mysterious expression. There lay an earnestness beyond her years in
+these eyes, something more even than that, a shade, such as a life of
+care, suffering, and oppression, which cannot be fled from, will
+imprint upon a human countenance. Certainly the young face showed no
+trace of this, except in the one feature, the childish brow showed no
+furrow, the mouth no hard lines, but only in the eyes this shade lay
+deeply, as she lifted them, now, full of gravity and reproach.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;A human life does not seem worth much in your eyes, or surely you
+would have given more thought to his danger.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau looked greatly astonished at this reprimand, and measured
+the youthful admonitress with a long, surprised glance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The child is all right!&quot; said he, in an off-hand tone, &quot;he cried for
+pleasure, I suppose.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;But a moment later, and he would have been run over.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann shrugged his shoulders. &quot;Would have been!--Yes, if we always
+troubled ourselves about what might have happened, the day would not be
+long enough for every one's complaints. Fortunately all is well in this
+case, your courageous interference saved me from a disagreeable
+responsibility. I greatly regret having frightened you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I was not frightened.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her words sounded cold and repellant, the way in which the Count
+treated the whole matter appeared to hurt the young girl. She knelt
+down by the boy, and busied herself in rubbing off the sand with which
+his little face and hands were covered, fortunately the only trace
+which the accident had left.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann remained where he was, watching her. Hitherto, he had always
+stoutly maintained, that, with the exception of his grandmother, who,
+in consequence of her energetic, masculine character, he hardly
+reckoned as belonging to the feminine race, every woman either went
+into hysterics or fainted at the sight of danger, and was greatly
+astonished to find a second exception here. &quot;I was not frightened,&quot; she
+had declared, and, indeed, she had not been. Her face had retained its
+usual colour, her hands did not tremble, as she went gently and deftly
+to work, the young girl showed just as much calmness now as she had
+just before shown presence of mind.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The door of the neighbouring house now opened, and a woman, poorly and
+untidily dressed, with rough hair, and a dull, expressionless face,
+came hurriedly out to take the boy from a stranger's arms, the Count
+felt in his pocket.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The child was almost run over by my carriage, take more care of it in
+future. Here is something for the fright he got.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The dull features of the woman, which had hitherto hardly shown any
+concern, lighted up at sight of the shining thalers which he held out
+to her in his haughty, indifferent way. She curtseyed low, and thanked
+the Gnädigen Herrn Grafen<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a>
+for his kindness. The young girl had half
+risen, her large eyes travelling slowly from the mother to the child,
+and then back to the money, which the former held in her hand. She
+stood up suddenly, turned her back upon the group, and without saying a
+word, went towards the inn.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With quick steps Hermann overtook her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You see the fright was soon atoned for. The woman will bless the
+chance which has thrown her day's wages for three weeks into her
+hands.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The words sounded half mocking, and half like a sort of excuse. The
+girl pressed her lips together.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I did not think it possible that a mother could possess so little
+self-respect as to let anxiety for her child's safety be bought off in
+that way.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann smiled sarcastically.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Self respect! In a village woman? Pardon me, Fräulein, you must come
+from a town, and cannot know our country folks.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;One can make acquaintance with poverty in the town too, especially
+when no very great depth separates one from it, Herr Graf.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann bit his lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I meant,&quot; said he sharply, &quot;that the education, which separates you
+from those people, is quite as wide a cleft. Have you really such
+sympathy for these dull-witted, degraded people?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I sympathise with any one who is oppressed and miserable.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Really?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile they had reached the inn, the young girl bowed slightly, and
+laid her hand upon the latch, but Hermann anticipated her. He opened
+the door for her, and followed her into the inn.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She stopped and looked at him repellantly and with surprise, it was
+easy to see she did not wish to continue the conversation. But in spite
+of this the Count went on.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Really?&quot; repeated he, and added in rather an irritated tone, &quot;it seems
+to me that you imply that I am one of the oppressors. I hope you don't
+credit me with having seen the child, and purposely driven on.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No, but you must have seen all the children. Why did you not turn out
+of the way for them?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;For the village children!&quot; cried the young Count, with such
+unconcealed astonishment that one could see the thought had never
+entered his head. &quot;I ought to drive out of the way of my uncle's
+labouring people?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The proposal seemed to him evidently unheard of, and the young stranger
+was on the point of answering, but suddenly stopped and leaned forward,
+listening attentively. A half stifled cry of delight escaped her lips;
+she involuntarily raised her arms, and was on the point of hurrying
+away, when she suddenly remembered Hermann's presence. A deep flush
+suffused her countenance, she let her arms fall and remained where she
+was, as if rooted to the ground. The Count had followed the direction
+of her eyes, and now saw the cause of this sudden change. Eugen
+Reinert, who, after a hasty question in the passage, strode hastily
+into the room without observing his friend.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud! <i>Um Gotteswillen</i>, you here!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She flew towards him, holding out both hands, with a beaming smile,
+which transformed and glorified her youthful face, but she appeared at
+the same time, by a whispered word to draw his attention to the fact
+that they were not alone. Eugen looked up and almost started.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Oh, Hermann, is it you?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A minute's oppressive pause followed. Gertrud looked surprised and
+questioningly at Eugen, who, pale and visibly disturbed, held fast her
+hand without speaking a word.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Hermann leaned silently against the table with folded arms, and
+contemplated the pair steadfastly; the hard hostile look his features
+sometimes wore, almost alarmingly visible at this moment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Pardon me, Gertrud,&quot; began Eugen at last, &quot;I expected to find you
+alone. You know--?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No,&quot; interrupted she quickly. &quot;I met with this gentleman by chance.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It seemed to cost Eugen a tremendous effort to make known his <i>fiancée</i>
+to Count Arnau, but he took her hand and led her towards him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My--my <i>braut</i>,<a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a>
+Hermann! Gertrud, my nearest and best friend, Graf
+Arnau.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud was on the point of returning Hermann's cold and very measured
+bow, in the same manner, but at the mention of his name, she gave a
+sudden start. Her face, so beaming a moment since, became deathly pale,
+and her widely opened eyes fixed themselves upon the young Count with
+an expression which startled Eugen, although he could not in the least
+account for it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What is the matter, Gertrud? What is it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Nothing! nothing!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She strove visibly to command herself, and succeeded in doing so
+somewhat, but the strange look did not leave her eyes, and she
+involuntarily retreated gradually, drawing Eugen with her almost by
+force.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann turned away quickly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I will not disturb your first meeting with your <i>braut</i>,&quot; said he,
+laying a sharp, sarcastic accent upon the word. &quot;I am going to drive
+back to the Castle. <i>Au revoir!</i>&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a hurried bow he left the room and gained the outer door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So that was Gertrud Walter, Eugen's betrothed, the &quot;little
+Bürgermädchen,&quot; who had appeared so distasteful to his haughty friend,
+because she &quot;stood in the way of a man's career, and would draw him
+down to her own narrow sphere.&quot; Yes, to be sure, he had pictured her
+differently, but what a strange contradiction between her childish
+appearance and the very unchildish answers which she knew how to give.
+Neither met with the Count's approval; on the contrary, he was vexed
+that he had allowed himself to be the least impressed by this girl. And
+then--why did she hate him? Hermann was a closer observer than his
+passionate friend, he knew very well that it was not fright nor fear,
+but actual hate, a glowing, energetic hate, which he had seen in her
+eyes at the mention of his name, such as he had never before seen in
+any woman's countenance. For what reason did she hate him?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Bah, I know how it is, Eugen must have betrayed to her in his letters,
+that it is I who always urge him against this match, and Mademoiselle
+Walter sees in me the hostile element which threatens her happiness,
+and therefore honours me with her hate. A pity she wastes her energies
+on such a small matter!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count's lips curled scornfully, and he mounted to the box in very
+bad humour, took the reins from the groom, and drove away at a sharp
+pace. There was a dark, defiant look in his face, as he drove the
+horses almost recklessly before him; but when, at the end of the
+village, he met two old women by the wayside, who were on the point of
+turning out of the way for the Count's equipage in a great hurry, they
+observed, to their great astonishment, that the Count drove aside and
+flew past, at some little distance from them.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">Evening had come, but the sultriness of the day still remained, in the
+west a great thunder cloud hung threateningly, and the harvest people
+hurried homewards. Without any suspicion of the coming storm, since the
+wood hid the lowering clouds as yet, Gertrud Walter walked slowly along
+the footpath which led to the Schloss. She looked still graver and more
+thoughtful than in the morning, for Eugen's whole being seemed so
+strangely altered and disturbed. He had not been able to hide his
+visible disquiet and agitation, had seemed unwilling to answer her
+questions, and had hurried away, after barely a quarter of an hour's
+conversation with her, under the pretext that his presence was
+necessary at the Schloss. Gertrud was certainly embarrassed at this
+behaviour, but had not the slightest suspicion of anything seriously
+wrong, she had perfect faith in her <i>fiancé's</i> explanation, that an
+unpleasant circumstance had occurred, which had greatly annoyed him,
+and she waited impatiently for the night's meeting, in which he had
+promised to explain all. She wished to have some share in his
+unhappiness, wished to advise, comfort, help, so much as she could--she
+little imagined what explanation awaited her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was the hour agreed upon; she had come to meet him, and now stood
+waiting, having already accomplished her half of the way. She did not
+dare to go further, for the Schloss could already be seen through an
+opening in the wood, where, as Eugen said, some commission kept him,
+with the completion of which he was now occupied. The young girl sat
+down upon the trunk of a tree, and let her folded hands fall into her
+lap. At this moment she looked childish enough, and in spite of the
+shade of care, her face bore the aspect of full confidence, as she
+gazed out into the distance. But this expression suddenly changed; she
+had been looking towards the Schloss, which one could see to the left
+through the tall fir trees, and with the sight of it some dark
+remembrance seemed to come back to her. A shade passed over the
+youthful features, and her lips pressed themselves together, her
+clasped hands loosened, she passed her hand several times hastily over
+her forehead, as if she would smooth away some tormenting thought, and
+then looked anxiously towards the spot where she expected Eugen to
+appear.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Steps were now really heard in the distance. Gertrud sprang up, but it
+was the voices of two persons she heard. The young girl stood undecided
+whether to hurry forwards or wait, then a clear sharp voice reached
+her, and she no longer hesitated. But she turned pale; meet Eugen in
+this company? No, indeed. The next minute she was safely hidden behind
+a bush, which effectually shielded her from notice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have been trying to get a minute alone with you all the afternoon,&quot;
+said Eugen's voice, &quot;but you seemed to avoid it purposely, and Antonie
+would not let me leave her side for an instant. You must really listen
+now, Hermann, I need your advice, your assistance.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What for?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile both the young men had reached the entrance of the wood, and
+the Count stopped close by the bush where Gertrud was hidden.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What for?&quot; repeated he.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen looked at him, somewhat surprised at the cool tone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You ask me? Why, you know, Gertrud is here, and surely can imagine my
+painful, dreadful situation.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Tell me first of all, how does your future bride happen to be here?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Through the most unlucky chance in the world! Her guardian is on the
+way to visit some relations in A, and is taking her with him. They had
+to pass this village, and Gertrud, who knew I was here, persuaded her
+uncle to stay a day, to give me, as she imagined, a pleasant surprise!
+I thought I should have, sunk into the earth when I heard she was here
+to-day!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Indeed?&quot; The peculiar coldness of the Count's tone formed a sharp
+contrast to Eugen's passionate voice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;A very painful chance, certainly! And what do you intend to do?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The young man passed his hand over his brow--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I don't know!&quot; said he, in a constrained voice. &quot;I was obliged to make
+an excuse for appearing so disturbed to-day, and got away as quickly as
+I could, so as to escape questions; but she expects me to-night, and
+will persecute me with questions and entreaties. Do advise me, Hermann,
+what am I to do?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count sat down upon the trunk of a tree, with his back to the
+before-named bush; he did not for a moment alter his cold, repellant
+manner.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Something which will be anything but easy, but nevertheless <i>must</i>
+happen--tell her the truth.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Impossible! I cannot!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Eugen!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I cannot!&quot; repeated Eugen passionately. &quot;To any one else I could, but
+demean myself in her eyes by such a confession, I cannot!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You seem to fear those eyes very much. But if you dare not confess it,
+what then?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen cast down his eyes.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I thought,&quot; said he, hesitating after a pause, &quot;I thought I would not
+tell her anything at present. She is going away again this evening, and
+next week I shall leave for Italy with you. From then I thought of
+gradually loosening the tie--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gradually loosening the tie--well, I'm waiting to hear the next.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The young painter seemed to be becoming more and more uncomfortable
+under his friend's steadfast glance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I do not wish to wound Gertrud by allowing her to know of my relations
+with Antonie,&quot; said he hastily. &quot;She may think that reasons of another
+kind, losses or unfortunate circumstances, oblige me to break off the
+connection. I have already hinted at something of the sort. It will be
+easier to explain by letter, and from a distance--you can understand
+that I wish to spare her as much as possible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Spare her? Then why will you torment the girl for weeks, perhaps
+months, with uncertainty as to her future, and anxiety about you? You
+intend to <i>spare</i> her by giving her the poison by drops, and, after you
+have attracted to yourself all the womanly anxiety and tenderness she
+is capable of, you will give her the boundless humiliation of hearing
+that her <i>fiancé</i>, whom she imagines in the depths of need and despair,
+is the chosen spouse of the rich Countess Arnau, is about to make one
+of the most brilliant matches in the country. Rather an odd way of
+sparing her!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen looked at him in great astonishment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Why, Hermann, what has taken you today? You have quite altered your
+views!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My views have nothing to do with it, the question is, whether you were
+in earnest in what you said.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The young man was silent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You really mean it, then?&quot; continued the Count, adding energetically.
+&quot;Well, I must say I should not have expected it of you!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I cannot understand,&quot; began Eugen, irritated at his friend's scornful
+tone, &quot;how you can judge my intentions so severely. Was it not you who
+urged me against this match from the first, and continually drove me to
+break it off, and almost forced me to make a declaration to Antonie? I,
+at least, have suffered in the conflict, but you are one of those
+ice-natures who stride on, indifferent to the joy or sorrow of others,
+not troubling whether hearts are broken or not. You know you have
+openly confessed to these unscrupulous principles, how is it, then,
+that you have changed all at once, and argue just the opposite, and
+condemn me because I follow your example?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann was silent a moment--did his conscience convict him? There was
+truth enough in what he said, and this was proved, since, for once,
+Count Arnau was in want of an answer, but in a moment he replied with
+perfect calmness--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are mistaken! I <i>was</i> averse to this match, and am still, because
+I see no good for your future in it. That you must break off this match
+I still think, but our opinions differ as to the way in which it is to
+be done. I <i>am</i> regardless, unscrupulous, when an important end to be
+gained is at stake, there you are right, and I suppose in this case, I
+should actually have broken the girl's heart; but to invent excuses in
+order to hide what she must discover eventually, pretend I was the
+victim of a cruel fate, and thus knit a tissue of falsehoods of all
+kinds about the matter--that Eugen, I would not do, for to tell you the
+truth, I think such a proceeding pretty cowardly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann!&quot; burst out Eugen.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Don't be absurdly sensitive,&quot; said the Count, authoritatively, &quot;it is
+out of place here. I have told you my opinion frankly, now do what you
+like. By-the-by, I think the storm is coming on, I must go back to the
+Castle. I suppose you are on the way to the village, adieu!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen did not answer, he turned away and walked off angrily without any
+word of greeting. Hermann shrugged his shoulders, he knew his friend's
+temper, and also knew it would not last long. Such scenes were not of
+unfrequent occurrence between them. Reinert, after such a one, usually
+played the part of an injured person, but ended generally by leaning to
+his friend's superior wisdom.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile the sky had grown darker and darker, the wind rose and
+whistled in the tops of the trees. Graf Arnau glanced at the clouds,
+and turned towards the Schloss. Just then the wind, with a sudden gust,
+blew aside the neighbouring bushes, and something glimmered amongst
+them like a woman's dress. Struck with a sudden presentiment, Hermann
+stopped and peered sharply through the bushes, nothing could be made
+out distinctly, but he strode a few steps forward, and the next moment
+stood before Gertrud Walter.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The girl had sunk on her knees, her head against the root of a great
+tree, her face hidden in both hands. By no sound had she betrayed
+herself, but she had broken down at the sudden news, which had come
+upon her unexpectedly like a flash of lightning. Hermann only needed to
+stand there an instant, in order to understand and feel how fearfully
+humiliating his presence would be to her at this moment. For an instant
+he looked down at her silently, then turned and walked away as quietly
+and quickly as he had come.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But after walking a few steps, he stopped and looked back. She lay as
+still and motionless as a statue--perhaps she had fainted--perhaps--the
+Count had not decided within himself what common humanity and
+compassion demanded in this case, before he again stood at her side.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Fräulein!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No answer, nor the slightest movement.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann bent down and lifted her up. She received his help silently,
+and whilst she mechanically raised her head, her eyes gazed
+unconsciously at his face.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are not well! May I offer you my assistance as far as the
+village?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He ought not to have spoken, for with the tone of his voice came back
+at once strength and consciousness, and with it hostility against him.
+There it was once more, that terrified shrinking, which she had shown
+in the morning, the same strange hostile look returned to her eyes, it
+seemed, as if in the one feeling of detestation against him, even the
+remembrance of the last quarter of an hour was forgotten.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I need no help--I am well--quite well--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She walked a few steps, but tottered, and was obliged to lean against a
+tree to keep herself from falling. The wind shook the branches and sent
+a shower of leaves down upon her; the first flash of lightning quivered
+through the air, and a distant growl of thunder followed it. Hermann,
+who had again turned away, once more returned to the young girl, and
+said, with a decision, through which some bitterness sounded--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I am sorry to be troublesome to you by my presence, but you are <i>not</i>
+well, <i>mein Fräulein</i>. You are alone, and a stranger here, and the
+village is half an hour's distance from this spot. You will therefore
+accept my assistance, and the assurance that I will not be troublesome
+to you a moment longer than is actually necessary.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Quietly, as if a refusal were unheard of, he took her arm, like that of
+a child, to lead her, but this had a truly alarming effect upon
+Gertrud. As if stung by a snake, she could not have started more
+fearfully, nor shrunk back with greater horror. With almost a cry she
+tore her hand out of his, and Hermann seemed suddenly to behold a
+changed being before him. Nothing more of the &quot;child&quot; was to be seen;
+her figure, as she stood before him, drawn up to her full height, had
+something commanding and powerful about it. So mysterious was this
+commanding glance, that any one else would have quailed before it, as
+with a tone and expression which perfectly electrified the Count, she
+cried, threateningly--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not touch me, Count Arnau. I will not accept of your assistance!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She turned away, took the road to the village and disappeared behind
+the bushes. Hermann stood motionless, looking after her, but the next
+minute anger had overcome his silent astonishment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Never had the young Count been treated so, never so insulted, and
+here--when, for the first time in his life he had approached any one
+with warm sympathy, had for the first time diverged from his
+indifferent character! How could this girl dare to behave so to him?
+And wherefore?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He laughed aloud bitterly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;H'm, well now, I can understand that Eugen would not care to demean
+himself in her eyes! He is not the man to have much influence upon a
+nature which can act in this way, just after it has experienced such
+humiliation. She would have withered him with that look!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The thunder, becoming ever louder, and the frequent flashes of
+lightning, put an end to the Count's observations, and warned him to
+make the best of his way back to the Castle, which he had scarcely
+reached before heavy drops began to fall.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An hour later--the storm was over, but the rain still fell in torrents.
+In the Castle the last preparations were being completed for the great
+ball, which was to take place that night. Eugen came back from the
+village, pale, excited, and wet through, and at once hastened to
+Hermann's room. They had some conversation, and the servants, hurrying
+backwards and forwards, heard their voices raised loudly in dispute,
+and also noticed that Herr Reinert came out of the Count's room with a
+remarkably grave and displeased air, so that they imagined some scene,
+not of the pleasantest nature, had taken place between them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The two avoided each other as much as possible the whole evening, but
+their quarrel went no farther, at least, outwardly. The carriages of
+the guests now rolled in from all sides, and so soon as night descended
+the whole row of windows in the Castle streamed with light.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The centre point and crown of the brilliant company, was, of course,
+the beautiful Countess Arnau. She appeared this evening more charming
+and bewitching than ever before, and Eugen hardly left her side for an
+instant. To-day, for the first time, he ventured publicly to offer her
+his homage, which Antonie accepted in such a manner as left scarcely
+room for a doubt as to the impending relations between them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">All eyes followed the pair, everywhere one heard whispered observations
+and questions, as to whether it were possible that the proud, much
+courted Countess Arnau could really seriously think of marrying a
+young, unknown painter, who, <i>quelle horreur!</i> instead of offering her
+the coronet of a Count, could only give her a <i>bürgerlich</i> name. What
+unpardonable extravagance! What a scandal for the family!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An old baroness, who was possessed of more curiosity, and more
+indignation at such improprieties, than all the others, determined to
+find out the truth at any price, and therefore to turn to the surest
+source of information, namely, Count Hermann.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was some time before she found him. The Count did not care for
+dancing much at any time, and did not, as usual, take part in it
+to-night. The clang of a post horn sounded below on the country road,
+mixing itself strangely with the noisy dance music.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My dear Count, what in the world are you doing here in this secluded
+room, at the open window? All the guests have missed you already!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann turned round, with a face on which vexation at the interruption
+was written plainly enough.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It is oppressive in the ball-room,&quot; replied he, very coldly and
+repellantly. &quot;I found it necessary to get a few minutes' fresh air.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are right, it is terribly warm there, and the air after the storm
+is so refreshing! But you are missing too much here--your cousin
+waltzes so charmingly with your friend, the young artist--<i>àpropos</i>, my
+dear Count, is it true then--this report, that the Gräfin returns the
+passion of this Herr Reinert, which he takes no pains to conceal? Does
+she actually intend to honour him with her hand?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann shut down the window hastily.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I regret, my <i>gnädigste Baronin</i>, that I cannot give you any
+information upon the subject. I am as little instructed by my cousin as
+to her intentions as you can be. And, by the way, I think it is
+becoming too cool for you here, allow me to conduct you back to the
+<i>saal</i>.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So saying, he offered his arm with cool politeness, and led her back to
+the ball-room. The waltz was not yet finished as they entered; Gräfin
+Antonie floated past them in the full light of the wax tapers, moving
+in time to the lively music, with Eugen as her partner--and in the
+distance died away the last note of the post horn!</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">Seven years had passed by, altering many things, and burying away and
+blotting out others, and, as often happens in life, so also here the
+reality had been very, very different from the hopes and expectations
+of mankind.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Of the artistic fame of Eugen Reinert one heard little or nothing.
+Certainly his first great work, the portrait of Countess Arnau, which
+was exhibited publicly, created much stir, and justified the highest
+hopes for the future. But with this picture, which certainly bore the
+stamp of originality, and created a name for him in the artistic world,
+he appeared to have exhausted his best powers. He still painted
+portraits, though exclusively of those who belonged to aristocratic
+circles, the <i>entrée</i> of which he had obtained through his wife, and in
+these his work was always considered as full of genius, but real art
+critics did not think much of them, and they were little noticed by the
+public.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen's principal fault, want of energy and perseverance, became more
+and more perceptible as time went on. He fluctuated continually between
+different studies of all sorts, tried everything and finished nothing,
+sketched out the most ambitious plans, but carried none into execution,
+and wasted his great talent upon the distinguished, but often
+uninteresting faces of counts and &quot;excellencies,&quot; and the albums of
+aristocratic ladies. Since good fortune had thrown the gifts into his
+lap, without trouble on his part, which he had once hoped to obtain
+through his art, his pleasure in it, and even his capabilities, seemed
+to be exhausted. What reason had he for working still? The riches,
+which his wife brought him, and the connections he was able to make
+through these, as well as the splendidly appointed house supported
+through them, secured all the enjoyments of life to him, as well as an
+undisputed position in society, and when, in the course of a few years,
+the title of &quot;Von&quot; was added to his name, &quot;on account of his services
+to art,&quot; the highest degree of earthly fame seemed to have been
+attained.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile the once so promising talent had all but perished, and
+quietly enough, on the other hand, great gifts were developing where
+they had been least expected, namely, in Count Hermann, who, on account
+of his reserved and silent nature, was little known, and still less
+liked. His genius seemed to have taken a sudden leap forward,
+astonishing every one. After his return from a long tour, which he had
+undertaken as a completion of his education, he entered into the
+service of the State, and went with his Prince's ambassador to Vienna.
+Scarcely two years elapsed before the young <i>attaché</i> had become the
+right hand of the ambassador, who was not particularly capable or
+gifted, he asked his advice and support in any difficult matters, and
+finally Count Hermann became his representative, and undertook all the
+business which gave the title to his Excellence. By chance, the way in
+which this business was conducted was revealed to the Prince; he began
+to notice the young Count attentively, and presently called upon him to
+fill a post in the capital, important for a man of his age, and it was
+not long before Hermann had become as influential and noticeable here.
+His quick foresight, which saw through every matter so plainly, the
+never failing energy with which he undertook everything, and the
+almost incredible activity he manifested, secured for him success
+after success. He mounted from step to step, and now, at the age of
+thirty-two, already held one of the highest offices in the country, in
+the exercise of power, and stood upon the threshold of the post of
+Minister, which would undoubtedly be open to him at the next change of
+politics. Of course the ancient title which he bore, together with his
+riches, and the personal favour of the Prince, had contributed to this
+extraordinarily rapid career; but in reality they only served to smooth
+the way, and remove the hindrances, with which a bürgerlicher would
+first have had to contend with. Hundreds of the same rank and income
+would have remained at the foot of, or halfway up the ladder, to the
+topmost rung of which he had now climbed--truly his success was only
+owing to himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">On the widowed Präsidentin von Sternfeld's estate, preparations had
+been made for the reception of different guests. The eldest son, Baron
+von Sternfeld, had already been there for a week with his wife and two
+little daughters, Count Arnau had also arrived this morning from the
+capital, and Herr and Frau von Reinert were expected next day.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In the garden house of the old family mansion, by the open glass doors,
+which led on to the broad stone terrace, Count Hermann sat with his
+grandmother. The appearance of the old lady, now more than seventy,
+still showed the intellectual and physical strength which had always
+made her the centre point of the family, over which she practised her
+old authority. The powerful form appeared to bow unwillingly to age;
+her hair was snow-white, her face full of lines and wrinkles, but it
+was a face which age could not change much. It had not been able to dim
+the sharp, clear eye, nor soften the authoritative expression of
+energy, and if she was somewhat bowed by the weight of years, her head
+was still carried as erect as ever.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau, too, was little altered by the lapse of time; it seemed to
+leave no trace on these decided, cold features. His glance was,
+perhaps, still keener, the peculiar lines round his mouth still
+firmer, and his bearing, in spite of its simplicity, showed more
+self-assurance; but more conspicuous than ever was now the likeness to
+the grandmother, whose face, seemed to repeat his, feature by feature,
+as his character resembled hers.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A long conversation had ensued about the affairs of the capital, and
+Hermann's post there, together with his views for the future, and thus
+the talk had gradually ended in a political discussion; now the Count,
+commencing a new topic, asked--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;So Antonie and Eugen are to arrive to-morrow?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes--according to your openly expressed wish. I am sacrificing my
+feelings a great deal, Hermann! You know I shall never pardon Antonie
+this <i>mésalliance</i>, and if I have prevailed upon myself to invite her,
+and Herr Reinert, it is <i>only</i> on your account.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Thank you, dear grandmother; I know what it costs you; but the
+recognition of the marriage on your side had become with time
+necessary. And by the way, as the outer form of nobility is no longer
+wanting, you need fear no hindrance in introducing Herr and Frau von
+Reinert as relations, in society.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin shrugged her shoulders. &quot;Making him a 'Von' was a
+necessity, since Antonie had once taken that mad step. She is, and will
+always be, Gräfin Arnau, in spite of all, and as such cannot be simply
+<i>bürgerlich</i> Frau Reinert, if she comes back here. But a consideration,
+which was due to the world to cover the scandal to the family, has no
+influence upon my judgment. To me Herr Reinert remains, as he always
+was, <i>bürgerlich</i>.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann gazed moodily into the distance, and his brow clouded somewhat.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I hoped Eugen would gain an artist's name for himself, which would
+make this 'nobility' superfluous; unfortunately it has come to
+nothing.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What?&quot; The Präsidentin's voice involuntarily became sharper. &quot;Do you
+mean to say that the fame of an artist can make up for the inherited
+coronet of a count?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Make up for it--no! but it can atone for the want of it in a certain
+sense, especially with such a romantic nature as Toni's.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin's face showed how little this answer pleased her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You always had a weakness for this Reinert,&quot; said she, shaking her
+head deprecatingly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;He was once very dear to me!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Was?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes. But several things have happened to cause a coldness between us.
+I had the greatest hopes for his talents and future, but nothing has
+come of them.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin drew herself up in her arm chair and fixed her eyes
+upon Hermann.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I confess to you openly, Hermann, that formerly I was much concerned
+about this friendship. You were true to the aristocratic traditions of
+your family in all else; but you always and everywhere made an
+exception in favour of this Reinert. Toni would not have dared under my
+eyes to misuse her liberty in this manner. Unfortunately I was absent,
+but you were near. You ought to have acted in my place, and guarded the
+honour of the family. Instead of that you favoured the match openly,
+brought them together in Rome, and even took their part against me. I
+really had serious fears for your principles at that time.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count smiled, his old sarcastic smile, without a trace of
+cheerfulness.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Your fears were groundless; you ought to have known me better,
+grandmother. I am constituted differently, and what I thought suitable
+in Eugen and Toni's case, I should not have pardoned in myself,--I
+should not make a <i>mésalliance</i>, you can be sure of that.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know it,&quot; said the Präsidentin, with calm assurance. &quot;Fortunately
+you have not a trace of absurd romance about you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No!--and besides that--you know I have much reason for keeping my name
+clear!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His voice sank at the last words, and his brow clouded heavily, whilst
+his eyes sought the ground. The Präsidentin, too, became graver, but at
+the same time there was something like impatience in her manner.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The old conflict still? Haven't you been able to put away from you
+that remembrance yet?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I envy you for being able to do so. I forget it certainly for a few
+hours sometimes, but for days and weeks--never!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin shook her head.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You torment yourself with self-created fears! We alone know the
+secret, and can guard it securely enough. The world can and will never
+know more than a breath of it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count raised his head slowly, his brow dark as night.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The world! But <i>I</i> know that I am dishonoured! I know the disgrace,
+the curse which rests upon my name, and upon my riches, and that is the
+dark spot of my life which I can never, never, blot out. Whatever I may
+accomplish, whatever I may attain to, this dark memory continually
+forces itself between. I cannot forget it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The grandmother laid her hand authoritatively upon his arm--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Let that rest, Hermann! I hardly know you, whenever this unhappy
+circumstance is touched upon. You, so strong, so energetic in
+everything else, are in this as weak as a child. As a boy, you showed
+more courage, you kept silence towards your mother, who would have been
+killed if she had heard it, and only revealed it, where you knew it
+would be safely guarded. And you were silent years afterwards, as
+perhaps no other child would have been, and that made my guardianship
+of you easy. Must the man, then, hesitate, and be ready to throw off
+the burden of responsibility he has incurred by no fault of his own?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann did not answer, but looked moodily into the distance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;If only we could find a trace of the wife and child! Your enquiries
+were fruitless, but I renewed them with redoubled zeal, every possible
+means of discovery are at my command now, but in vain. It really seems
+as if they had disappeared from the face of the earth.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;They must have left the country.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And perhaps perished miserably, whilst I--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He sprang up suddenly, went to the door, and pressed his forehead
+against the glass panes; the usually calm man was fearfully agitated.
+The Präsidentin was silent, she had seen him before in this mood;
+however great her influence over her grandson might be, this was a
+point on which she did not dare to argue further with him, over which
+her power did not extend, she knew that he must now be let alone,
+unless she wished to make matters worse.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A minute's silence followed, at last Hermann turned round. His features
+were calm and cold as usual, but a dark cloud was still on his brow.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Pardon me, grandmother, that I have tormented you, too, with this
+subject.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are right, it is better to let it rest? What were we talking of
+before?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He sat down again by her side, and she at once seized the opportunity
+of introducing another subject.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have wished to ask you a question some time, Hermann. Have you not
+yet thought that it will soon be necessary for you, as head of our
+family, and only male representative of the house of Arnau, to form an
+alliance with some daughter of the nobility?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count leaned his head on his hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Certainly I have thought of it,&quot; replied he indifferently, &quot;especially
+now that I see the necessity of forming an establishment in the
+capital, and of moving frequently in society there.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Have you made a choice?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No. You are aware that ladies have not much attraction for me, and
+from my standpoint I consider a marriage of convenience the best. I
+shall have very little time to devote to my wife, and seek in her
+chiefly a representative of my house.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The grandmother bowed her head assentingly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And what qualities do you lay claim to in choice of a wife?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Much, and little, just as one takes it. Above all things, she must be
+of ancient and noble family; wealthy, for I have found that poor
+ladies, who are thrown suddenly into the arms of fortune, are apt to
+give way to all sorts of extravagances, and not too beautiful, for I
+have no desire to have to watch over my wife continually--the rest is
+of small importance.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The young Count set forth these qualifications for his future marriage
+with as perfect indifference, as if he were speaking of the purchase of
+an estate, but his way of looking at the matter seemed to meet with the
+Präsidentin's full approval.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I quite agree with you,&quot; replied she, &quot;and I am very glad that you
+look at the affair so clearly. What do you want, my dear?&quot; interrupted
+she at this moment, turning towards the door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The children wished to say good-bye to the Frau Präsidentin before
+going for their walk.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Hermann got up from his chair at the sound of this voice, and
+looked at the lady with an expression of boundless astonishment as she
+entered, leading two little girls of six and eight by the hand. It was
+Gertrud, once betrothed to Reinert. The Präsidentin observed his
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah, so! Mademoiselle Walter--the Herr Count Arnau.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She bent down to her two grandchildren and gave them her cheek to kiss.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann's bow was returned with the most measured formality and
+coldness, and not the slightest change in Gertrud's face betrayed her
+recognition. She took the children's hands, and at once prepared to
+leave the garden house.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not make the walk too long to-day, mademoiselle, it is too hot for
+the children.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I will see that they do not go too far, we will not go beyond the park
+to-day.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A second bow, as formal as the first, and she crossed the terrace with
+the children, and went down towards the park. The Präsidentin turned
+once more to her grandson.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I think we were saying--but why don't you sit down, Hermann?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He still remained standing, his hand on the arm chair, and his eyes
+fixed upon the avenue, where the three had disappeared; mechanically
+following the invitation, he sat down once more.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, I thing we were speaking of your future wife. I imagine the
+choice lies open to you; Count Hermann Arnau will hardly receive a
+refusal, however ambitious he may be.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Who is this Mademoiselle Walter?&quot; asked Hermann, instead of answering,
+without turning his eyes from the window.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The grandmother looked at him with some astonishment, the question
+seemed to her to have very little place in this important conversation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;She is the new governess for Eurt's daughters,&quot; replied the
+Präsidentin coldly. &quot;She is said to be pretty well educated and useful,
+and the children are wonderfully fond of her considering the short time
+she has been with them. I have a certain antipathy against her, for I
+fear that she carries something like haughtiness underneath her
+unfailing calm politeness, which is, of course, insufferable in a
+person of her dependent position.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann was silent, he knew by experience, that here, too, the
+Präsidentin's penetration had not deceived her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;But to come back to our subject--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count got up suddenly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Pardon me, grandmother, if I beg you to let it rest for to-day. My
+night journey has rather tired me out, I really feel the want of some
+rest. Allow me, now that I have seen you, to go to my room for a time.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So saying, he kissed the hand extended to him, and left the room. The
+Präsidentin leaned back in her arm chair, and once more thought over
+all the plans and hopes connected with her grandson's future alliance,
+this grandson who had always been the dearest to her, and who had
+fulfilled all her expectations so brilliantly. But it would have
+astonished her somewhat, had she seen how Count Hermann, in spite of
+his petition to be allowed to rest, had not yet thought of going to his
+room, but went off at once from another side to the park, and in spite
+of the midday-heat, wandered about in it on all sides.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Under the shade of a great plane tree, in the centre of a large grass
+plot, sat Gertrud with her two little charges, telling them a fairy
+tale. The eldest of the two children had nestled closely against her
+governess, and looked up into her face with the most breathless
+attention, as if she feared to lose a single word; the younger knelt on
+the grass, her two little arms upon Gertrud's lap, listening as
+breathlessly as her sister. It was a charming group; surely that was
+not the cold, grave <i>gouvernante</i>, who had bowed so formally, and
+answered so shortly. The expression of her face was now as warm and
+glowing as the golden sunlight itself, which played upon her
+countenance through the leafy screen above her, and there was something
+unusually gentle and lovely in her tone and attitude, as, in low tones,
+with head bent down to the children, she told them of elves and
+fairies, something which it had never been permitted for either the
+Präsidentin nor the Baronin von Sternfeld to see.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But Count Hermann saw it as he stood unobserved behind a clump of
+bushes, and watched her closely. Yes, these features had indeed
+fulfilled what they had promised seven years ago.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The delicate, pale, and childish form had blossomed into almost perfect
+beauty, and at sight of the tall, beautiful figure, the pure classic
+profile and rich masses of pale gold hair, Hermann could not refrain
+from thinking that his aunt must have been wanting in her usual sense
+and tact in receiving into her house a lady before whose attractions
+both she and every other lady must seem plain.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But he was not allowed to remain long unobserved, for one of the
+children noticed him suddenly, and pointed in the direction where he
+stood. Gertrud rose at once, and freed herself from the children's
+encircling arms.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An iciness seemed to creep over her countenance, under which all the
+warmth and life which had streamed from it a moment before, seemed
+suddenly to wither; cold, grave, and perfectly immoveable, she awaited
+the Count's approach.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He now stood opposite, and looked straight towards her. Those were the
+same mysterious dark blue eyes which he remembered so well, and the
+same shade still lay in them, but it had become only heavier and
+deeper. But these eyes flashed somewhat under his searching glance; was
+it the old (to him incomprehensible) hatred, or was it some other
+feeling?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann, who usually saw through all matters so clearly, did not know
+how to interpret it; he only felt that it was hostile to him, and that
+the strange girl was still the same.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I do not know, mein Fräulein,&quot; began he, &quot;whether you will allow me to
+renew a former acquaintanceship. I can scarcely hope so after the way
+in which you returned my greeting.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You would oblige me, Herr Graf, if you would forget this
+acquaintanceship.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But Hermann was not prepared for such a repulse as this, she
+involuntarily irritated him, and just as he had hitherto hesitated as
+to whether he should approach her, so now he felt inclined to continue
+the conversation in spite of all.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;As you wish; but before we begin to ignore one another, allow me to
+inform you of something which you are surely not aware of, and which
+might be painful for you to experience were you unprepared for it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know to what you refer!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You know, and--?&quot; Hermann's eyes completed the question, which his
+lips could not ask--&quot;and you remain here?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud's countenance became a shade paler, but she remained
+unmoveable.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You forget, Herr Graf, that I am in a dependent position here. I have
+already requested the Frau Baronin to allow me some weeks' absence, but
+she thinks that the children need my superintendence, and refused my
+request. I must therefore stay.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;If you will accept of my mediation,&quot; said Hermann, quickly, &quot;I will go
+at once to my aunt, and secure you the fulfilment of your wish.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No, thank you, Herr Graf; I wish for your interference least of all.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">That was speaking plainly enough. Hermann bit his lips and drew back.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It seems to me, mein Fräulein, that you have a decided aversion to my
+person. You insulted me once before, just as intentionally. I regret
+that my approach, should give you cause for it. Be assured that in
+future it shall not happen again.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud's lips quivered, but she made no answer. The Count bowed
+hastily, and disappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, this is unheard of. Neither my grandmother nor Toni would have
+put on such airs, and neither of them would have dared to say that to
+me. 'I wish your interference least.' She condescends, as it were, to
+dismiss me in disgrace, and I--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The calm, immovable Graf Arnau actually forgot himself so far that he
+stamped with his foot.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">What vexed him most, though he would not confess it to himself, was,
+that the manner in which Gertrud had dismissed him resembled his own,
+on such occasions, to a hair. That was just the calm, cold, and
+repellant tone which he allowed himself towards some one who did not
+know how to keep at a distance. Certainly it was the first time it had
+been used towards him, and who had dared to do this? A &quot;Mademoiselle
+Walter&quot;--the governess of his little cousins!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Yes, the grandmother was right; there was an unbearable haughtiness
+hidden under the calm exterior of this girl, and he felt it so much the
+more deeply, as, in his present position and importance, he was courted
+and spoiled on all sides by compliance with his wishes, especially from
+women. Hitherto he had looked down pretty scornfully on all the efforts
+he had seen to please him, and now, all at once, he was met with open
+opposition, with open intention to displease, and even wound him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Hermann had already once sought in vain for a reason for this
+strange hostility, and could find a clue for it now as little as then.
+Gertrud's whole demeanour was, and remained, mysterious to him, as well
+as her presence here. Why did she not rather go without permission, and
+lose her appointment, than expose herself to such a humiliation as a
+meeting with Eugen? Was she too proud to fly before her former lover?
+Or did she still love him, and could not resist the temptation of
+seeing him once more?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The last thought seemed to surprise the Count very much, for he stopped
+and knitted his brow--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, I shall see to-morrow! They cannot fail to meet. I will see if
+this unfathomable, sevenfold secret will be revealed at last!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was the afternoon of the next day. Herr and Frau von Reinert had
+arrived somewhat earlier than they were expected, and were received by
+Hermann, who would not allow his grandmother's midday rest to be
+disturbed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Directly after the first greetings were over, Antonie had retired to
+her room to lay aside her travelling dress, and her husband was now
+with Count Arnau in a small ante-room, close to the Gartensaal.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The friends had not seen each other for five years, in fact, since
+Eugen's marriage, and these five years had not left so little trace
+upon him as upon Hermann.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He would still always pass for a handsome and interesting man; but his
+expression, as well as his voice, were much altered. Weariness,
+languor, satiation, were all written there only too plainly. The
+features, once glowing with life, were weak and vigourless; the eyes,
+formerly so enthusiastic, languid; the whole being of the man scarcely
+three-and-thirty, had a touch of half-bitter, half-painful, deep,
+inward discontent. And this was betrayed in his tone, as, after the
+first indifferent questions and enquiries, he said--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;In spite of your laconic letters, I have heard enough of you from a
+distance. You have become a celebrity, and if report be true, will
+shortly take a high office in State affairs!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Is that the report? Well, no one ever expected or took it for granted
+that <i>I</i> should become a celebrity!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen understood the reproach.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;But it was expected of me, you mean? Yes, I did promise you, in those
+days, to begin a greater work. I have made plans and sketches enough;
+but--our life is so disturbing, so full of changes--hitherto I have
+always wanted leisure and quiet to carry them out.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And the necessary desire to work.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, if you like, the desire too. The dreams of one's youth, with
+which one surrounds everything, come to an end at last. In reality,
+there is not much in art, or in happiness, or, indeed, in life
+altogether!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He leaned back in his chair with an expression of the greatest
+weariness.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann gave no answer; but Eugen felt what lay in the grave, searching
+glance with which he regarded him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You think my observation strange?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;From your lips, yes. Any one, to whom life has brought nothing but
+disappointments, may speak so; you, who enjoy all its gifts, have no
+right to.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And when I find that these wonderful gifts, this dream of happiness,
+are all illusions, is not my disappointment as great?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann got up and took a turn through the room--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I hoped that, at least, your marriage with Antonie would be a happy
+one,&quot; said he, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen was silent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Then you are not happy?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Reinert made an impatient movement.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I do not know. She often torments me terribly with her varying moods,
+her jealousy, and then--I have to hear often enough, whom I have to
+thank for all, what she has sacrificed for my sake.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An expression of inexpressible scorn curled Hermann's lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah! so it has got as far as that! She throws that in your face, and
+you endure it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Have I a weapon against it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It lay with you to make yourself independent. I imagined that just
+your wife's rank and riches would be a spur to urge you to rise to an
+equal height through your own powers.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen heaved a sigh of resignation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Confound it, Hermann, you take it for granted that I have an iron
+nature like yours, which never needs rest nor refreshment, which pushes
+forward unceasingly and takes everything by storm. I have a different
+constitution.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know that!&quot; said Hermann, with calm bitterness, &quot;and believe me,
+Eugen, I have repented often enough, that I had any part in causing
+your life to take the direction it has. You ought to be free from the
+cares and limitations of ordinary life, ought to find the road to your
+future an open one, and it was with that view that I favoured your
+marriage. You are right, it was a fatal error to judge you by myself.
+You are one of those natures which need continual spurring forward;
+when the necessity for work was removed, the food for your talent was
+gone; had I left you to yourself, and you had had to work to live, it
+had been better!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You speak,&quot; said Eugen, pettishly, &quot;as if I had done nothing since I
+saw you last, and yet my portraits are valued and admired--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Because you are the husband of Gräfin Antonie. Since that great
+picture of Antonie, in which you seem to have exhausted your genius, no
+work of yours has risen above mediocrity.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen bit his lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I must say you are very--sincere.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And you have forgotten how to hear the truth. I cannot refrain from
+telling it you frankly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Reinert drew himself up angrily, his vanity would not bear a reproach,
+the justice of which he nevertheless felt; he was on the point of
+answering hastily, but Hermann turned away suddenly from him, and
+looked with strained attention towards the door, which opened at this
+instant. A triumphant smile quivered round his lips, he had not led
+Eugen into this ante-room for nothing. He well knew who must pass
+through it, to fetch the children to their lessons, the former being
+generally with their mother at this hour--this first meeting must and
+should be watched.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen, too, had turned his head, but he all at once sprang up and
+became deathly pale, stretching out his arms as if against a spectre,
+and with a cry of fright, exclaimed--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was, indeed, Gertrud who stood upon the threshold. She knew what
+awaited her to-day, but she was unprepared for a meeting at this
+moment, and here. She, too, turned pale, and made a movement as if to
+fly, but her eyes met Hermann's, which rested upon her face as if he
+would read her inmost soul. The girl's foot seemed suddenly rooted to
+the spot; she drew herself up, and returned the glance proudly and
+coldly. And there was something in her look which was nobler than
+defiance, and mightier than hate; he saw how a deep red flush rose into
+her countenance, whilst she met his steadfast glance, but her eyes did
+not sink. They stood thus for some seconds, then the Count suddenly
+turned away, Gertrud closed the door behind her, and with firm steps
+passed by the two gentlemen, disappearing into the neighbouring
+apartment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann clenched his hand angrily.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Unbending! I knew it! This girl cannot be humiliated; did she not
+almost compel my eyes to quail before her?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen, who had stood during the whole scene as if rooted to the spot,
+now seemed to come to his senses.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann, what does this mean? Was that my--was that Gertrud Walter?
+Did you know--<i>Um Gotteswillen</i>, speak--speak!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count leaned against the window with folded arms, his face at this
+moment showed that repellant expression peculiar to him in moments of
+deep irritation, but there lay an almost alarming brusqueness in his
+tone as he answered--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mademoiselle Walter is at present here as governess in my uncle
+Sternfeld's house, and has come with them. I can understand that the
+meeting must be painful to you both, but you see that she possesses
+sufficient tact to ignore you completely, and as for you, it will be
+easy to avoid her, as she devotes, herself exclusively to the children,
+and appears seldom or never in society.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen hardly seemed to hear the last, words, his eyes still remained as
+if magnetically fixed upon the door which had closed upon her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud here!&quot; repeated he still, &quot;and I must see here, must see her
+again <i>thus</i>! O, she is no longer the child I left behind! How
+beautiful, how wonderfully beautiful she has become!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a hasty movement Count Hermann drew himself up from his careless
+position.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I think it is time to join Antonie, she must have finished her
+toilette by this time, and if so, I will take you at once to my
+grandmother. Come!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No, no,&quot; cried Eugen, violently, &quot;not now! After this meeting, and in
+this fearful agitation, I cannot endure the stiff formality of such an
+introduction. I cannot now!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My dear Eugen,&quot; the Count's voice was once more perfectly calm, but
+there was a cutting sarcasm in the sound of it, &quot;this stiff formality
+concerns the recognition of your marriage from your wife's side, and
+you will show this family the consideration which is due from you. Have
+the goodness to control your emotions, and follow me. My grandmother,
+the Präsidentin von Sternfeld, is not accustomed to wait.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And with the commanding authority, which he had once practised over the
+young artist, he now took Herr von Reinert's arm, and drew his
+unwilling companion away with him.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">The fourteen days which had been fixed for the stay of the guests were
+drawing to a close. They had been entirely devoted to all the pleasures
+and amusements of country life. The Präsidentin, who, on account of her
+advanced age, usually made a duty of rest and retirement, could not
+this time entirely withdraw from all the visits and invitations which
+chiefly concerned her grandson. Count Arnau had, indeed, become a
+celebrity, and visitors came from the whole neighbourhood round to see
+and admire the &quot;lion;&quot; the report, too, that he intended, at no very
+distant period, to make the choice of a fitting partner for his exalted
+station, made him still more the centre-point of attention on all
+sides, in reality, because each was anxious to form a match, brilliant
+in every respect, for some daughter, sister, or relation. The Count
+took all in his cool, reserved, and sarcastic manner, without being in
+the slightest degree impressed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The duties which he owed to society he undertook with that resignation
+accorded to a painful but unavoidable necessity, for in this unceasing
+round of visits and amusements he found the safest weapon against the
+fermenting discontent, which, in spite of the so-called reconciliation,
+still reigned in the bosom of the family. Certainly the Präsidentin, in
+spite of her aristocratic prejudices, was perfectly well-bred, and
+never failed in the politeness and consideration which she owed towards
+the guests she had herself invited, but she, nevertheless, managed to
+make her granddaughter and Herr von Reinert feel that they were only
+tolerated, and that they owed only this toleration itself to Hermann's
+influence. Naturally, this knowledge did not contribute to the comfort
+of the visit. Antonie was sensitive and petulant upon every
+opportunity, Eugen continually bitter and irritable, and often it was
+only Hermann's interference or mediation which hindered the threatening
+breach.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This visit and meeting of relations would, indeed, have been, probably,
+most unpleasant, had not the frequent presence of strangers laid a
+wholesome restraint upon all.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was the last day but one of the guests' stay, towards evening.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin had asked for the children to be sent to her, and
+Gertrud seized one of the few free hours which her appointment left
+open to her, to go into the park alone. During the last fortnight she
+had endeavoured to avoid Herr von Reinert as much as possible, or, at
+least, never to meet him, except when in charge of her two pupils, but
+to-night she felt secure; she knew that several farewell calls had to
+be made in the neighbourhood, and, in the enjoyment of this security,
+gave herself up freely to the pleasure of an often-desired walk alone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A book in her hand, she went slowly to her favourite place under the
+great plane tree.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The park seemed at this time perfectly deserted. The evening sun lay
+golden upon the bushes and grass plots; in the distance glimmered the
+white plumage of the swans, sailing lazily up and down on the pond; no
+sound broke the deep stillness.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud sat down, leaning her head on her hand. So they had come to an
+end at last, these much-feared fourteen days of intercourse, and, on
+the whole, had passed away better than she had hoped. No one had in any
+possible manner made any hindrance to her manifest desire for
+retirement. The Präsidentin had a somewhat out-spoken antipathy against
+&quot;Mademoiselle Walter,&quot; and Antonie, though she had not the slightest
+suspicion of any former relations with her husband, by no means loved
+the presence of this <i>gouvernante</i>, who had the impertinence to be so
+beautiful, that even she, aristocratic lady as she was, felt herself
+put in the shade so soon as Gertrud even appeared. After the stormy
+surprise of the first moment, Eugen seemed to have come back to his
+senses, perhaps he also feared his wife's jealousy; in any case, he
+seemed to understand better how to control himself than in the first
+sudden meeting, and when they saw one another, which happened usually
+only at table, and in the presence of others, his demeanour was as
+distant as hers could be.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And Count Arnau? He had kept his word, and given Gertrud no cause to
+offend him again. There was an iron consistency in the way with which
+he seemed to ignore her completely after their last conversation; not a
+word, not a recognition did she now receive from him, not the
+slightest, most unimportant attention, accorded even to persons in such
+a dependent position. The governess appeared no longer to exist for
+him, and when he was obliged to acknowledge her presence by a cold,
+forced bow, he did so with manifest reluctance. Certainly this was what
+she from the first had hoped and striven for, now she had obtained her
+desire, and all the rest of her difficulties were coming to an end. The
+day after to-morrow Baron Sternfeld, with his wife and children, would
+return to his estate; the rest would return to the capital, the party
+would be broken up--it was to be hoped never to meet again, as far as
+some were concerned.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud gave a deep sigh of relief at this thought, or rather
+endeavoured to do so, but a heavy weight still seemed to be upon her
+heart, and she clasped her folded hands closer together in wild pain.
+The young girl had grown much paler these few weeks, and the shade did
+not lie as of old in her eyes, it was effaced, forced into the
+background by another expression. There was an anxious unrest, a
+tormenting pain to be read there now, and the firmly-pressed lips
+seemed to hold back some secret, which she hardly dared to speak of,
+even to herself. She took her book and tried to read, but she could
+not. She opened it in the middle, at the end, in vain. Her eyes
+wandered over the words without taking in the sense; her thoughts were
+too strong to be banished.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a passionate movement, which betrayed the hidden conflict within,
+she at last threw it down, and hid her face in both hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She sprang up with a look of terror.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Herr von Reinert! You here!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was, indeed, Eugen, who stood at some little distance from her. He,
+too, was pale and agitated, and his voice trembled as with cast down
+eyes, he asked, in a low tone--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;May I--may I approach?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No!&quot; was the firm, grave answer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In spite of the refusal he dared to advance a step.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud, do not be so unforgiving! I know you hate me, that I have
+made you unhappy--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With an expression of indescribable pride Gertrud lifted her head, her
+eyes met his, large, and full of disdain, and not the slightest trace
+of agitation trembled now in her voice, but there was a touch of
+compassionate scorn as she replied, quietly--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are mistaken, Herr von Reinert; I do not hate you, and have <i>not</i>
+been made unhappy through you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, then, <i>I</i> am unhappy!&quot; said Eugen, bluntly. &quot;Since the moment
+when I left you, I have never known happiness. I could not forget the
+past, and now that I must meet you again, I am driven to despair!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With his old passion he threw himself down where she had just been
+sitting, and pressed his hand against his brow. Gertrud stood before
+him; who, that was witness of the mute, but powerful conflict, which,
+but a few minutes since, had agitated the girl's whole being, would
+have understood the calm collectedness with which she now looked down
+upon her former lover.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Eugen!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He sprang up, but she gravely motioned him back.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not misunderstand me. I address you now as the playfellow of my
+childish days, whom I have never called anything else. If what torments
+you is the thought of my presumed unhappiness--my loneliness, be calm,
+<i>such</i> a reproach I can bear from you. If I have suffered from our
+separation, it was only through my pride, which rose at the humiliation
+of being forsaken, my <i>heart</i> had no part in it, for I, Eugen--I have
+never loved you!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Never!&quot; repeated she, firmly. &quot;You released me for the good of us
+both! perhaps, else, I should have had to confess to you that I could
+never be your wife.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Impossible!&quot; cried Eugen, springing up. &quot;If you did not love me,
+why--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Why did I accept your offer, do you mean?&quot; Her eyes sank to the
+ground, and a gentle shade passed over her face, whilst, with a low
+voice, the peculiarly painful tone of which pierced to his heart, she
+continued--&quot;I was scarcely more than a child, I had learnt nothing
+beyond my mother's sick room, but care, sorrow, and many other things
+more difficult to bear. The first ray of sunshine which falls upon such
+a childhood is seldom denied entrance. You came back then from the
+capital in all the brilliance of your rising talent, admired by all in
+our little town. You told me of your love, and I--did, what every girl
+of sixteen does, whose heart is still free. I dreamed myself into the
+idea that I loved you, whilst I really only cherished an affection for
+my old playfellow. That this feeling was not <i>love</i>, I began to find
+out, when we separated, now--now I know it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The last words came almost inaudibly from her lips, but there was
+indescribable pain in them. Eugen had hitherto controlled himself with
+manifest difficulty, and now he broke out with painful bitterness--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No, Gertrud, that is not true! It cannot be, you deceive yourself and
+me. You tell me this, and desire me to be calm, and you do not know how
+it makes me still more miserable, if I can no longer believe in your
+love to me. If you knew how unhappy I am in these golden fetters, in
+this marriage with a wife who sees in me only a plaything for her
+varying moods, whom she idolises at one moment, and at another reminds,
+in the most humiliating way, of his unimportance; if you knew how
+deeply I repent the unhappy course, which I once--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Let us put an end to this conversation, Eugen,&quot; interrupted she
+gravely, &quot;it goes beyond the limits which are drawn between us. You
+have heard the truth from me. I cannot alter anything that I have said,
+now farewell!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She would have extended her hand, but he took no notice, but continued
+in rising agitation--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Too late, I see what I once possessed in you, what I gave up in
+foolish madness, and what I have exchanged for it. The fruits of that
+foolish passion have been reaped long ago, and now that Fate had again
+led us together--now the old love flames up mightily, and tears me
+again to your feet--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In the deepest indignation Gertrud retreated a step.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You forget yourself, Herr von Reinert, and deeply insult both me and
+your wife through such words. Leave me, instantly, I will not hear a
+word more!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But even these energetic, commanding words, which would not usually
+have failed in effect, were powerless against a passion which tore
+Eugen away from the bonds of sense and reason. He fell on his knees,
+and repeated his former words, in that glowing, raving language with
+which he had once wooed the girl of sixteen, and which, a year later,
+Antonie had heard from his lips. This time Gertrud did not reply. With
+a look of unconcealed scorn she turned silently away, and would have
+gone, but this seemed to make him beside himself. He sprang up, seized
+her arm, and tried to keep her back by force.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With a cry of indignation, Gertrud endeavoured to free herself, but
+there was no longer need. At the moment Eugen dared to touch her, he
+tottered, thrown back by a powerful arm--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau stood between them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud, too, had shrunk back at Hermann's sudden appearance, as if it
+were directed against her also. Before Reinert's wild passion she had
+kept her presence of mind. Now it suddenly seemed to leave her, and it
+almost looked as if she feared the protector more than the offender.
+The Count noted her timidity, and an expression of deep bitterness
+showed itself round his lips, nevertheless he placed himself
+protectingly before her, crossed his arms, and calmly awaited the next.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen, meanwhile, had risen, and now came up to him, pale with anger--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What does that mean, Hermann? Why do you follow me secretly to pry,
+unasked, into my affairs? What right have you to do it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count remained very calm in face of this threatening violence, but
+there was an icy scorn in the glance, with which he measured him from
+head to foot.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Can you really dare to ask why I must interfere here?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You have insulted me!&quot; cried Eugen, passionately, &quot;insulted me deeply,
+and either you make me an apology, or give me satisfaction with a
+weapon in your hand!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Without honouring him with an answer, Hermann turned to Gertrud--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mein Fräulein, you see that Herr von Reinert is not sufficiently
+master of himself to pay the necessary consideration to the presence of
+a lady. May I beg you to leave us?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She stood before him, pale, with downcast eyes. Where had the proud
+unapproachable demeanour of the maiden come from? Her eyes, which but
+lately had met his so firmly, so ready for conflict, sank now shyly to
+the ground. She bowed in mute assent, and walked away.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count looked after her long and earnestly, then he passed his hand
+over his brow, and turned away.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;We are alone, what do you wish to say to me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That I am at last tired out of being dictated to by you, of being
+treated like a schoolboy, and insulted. What has passed between
+Gertrud and me concerns no third.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Really?&quot; The Count's voice was still calm, but passion lurked
+underneath it. &quot;You may be mistaken.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It is all the same to me what you think. You have attacked me, thrown
+me to the ground. I demand satisfaction for this insult; do you hear,
+Hermann, I demand it from you!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;A duel between us? That would indeed be more than ridiculous.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah, you refuse?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes! It would be a poor return to my grandmother's hospitality, to
+shoot each other dead on her estate, added to which, Antonie is too
+near a relation, and I must openly confess to you, Eugen, my life and
+work are too valuable to me, for me to risk it for the sake of one of
+your mad moods. I certainly refuse.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Eugen clenched his fist in boundless rage.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann, you are--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No insults!&quot; said the Count, authoritatively, raising his hand. &quot;I
+should have thought you have often enough had opportunity to test my
+courage. To-day's scene is the open breach of a friendship which has
+long existed only in name. In the future our paths must lie apart--let
+that be sufficient.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">If Hermann really wished to avoid irritating Eugen still further, he
+ought not to have spoken in this proud, scornful tone. It robbed him of
+the last particle of sense remaining to him, and drove him finally to
+the use of force. He came close up to the Count, and with a voice half
+choked with passion, he said between his teeth--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I ask you for the last time, will you give me satisfaction?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, then, I will compel you to!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He raised his hand, and the next minute a blow struck the Count.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The effect was terrible. Every drop of blood left Hermann's face, his
+fist clenched convulsively, and for a moment it seemed as if he would
+rush upon the offender and fell him to the earth, but the usual
+self-command conquered; he took a deep breath, and let his arms fall.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Good, you shall have your way! To-morrow morning early, then!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There lay something in the iron energy with which this man controlled
+himself, which shamed Eugen's violence, and was not without its effect
+upon him. He stood, perhaps himself frightened at what he had done, as
+if something like repentance were working within him, for he made a
+movement, as if to hold the Count back, but it was too late, Hermann
+had already turned away, and left the place.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">On the point of turning into the great avenue, which led towards the
+house, he stood suddenly before Gertrud, who seemed to have gone but a
+few steps. A single glance at her face showed him at once, that in
+spite of her apparent absence, she had been a witness of a
+conversation, the subject of which she must have expected, meanwhile he
+said nothing about it, but coming up asked simply--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I must beg of you to accept of my companionship to the house, else you
+might be in danger of meeting Herr von Reinert once more.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">As before, she made no reply, but silently assented to his proposal.
+They went slowly along the avenue; here, under the shade of the great
+oaks and beeches it was already twilight; high up above, the last
+golden rays gilded the branches, and here and there a bird still
+warbled low and dreamily his evening song.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The two walked side by side as distantly, as if, indeed, chance had
+brought them into a position mutually painful. Count Arnau preserved a
+consistent silence, Gertrud did not raise her eyes from the ground, and
+yet now and then his eyes searched her countenance as if with a gloomy
+question, and her bosom heaved more and more stormily in some hidden
+conflict, which at last gained the victory over her reserve.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Herr Graf!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He stopped at once.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mein Fräulein?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She was still silent an instant, the words would not come to her lips,
+and it evidently cost her a powerful effort, as she at last asked--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You have consented to a duel with Herr von Reinert?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You can bear me witness that I have done all that was possible to
+avoid it, but Eugen knew how to compel me to it. There are forms, the
+hurtfulness and foolishness of which one sees, and yet one has to bow
+to them. After what has passed between us, my honour gives me no other
+choice than to defend it with a weapon in the hand. I must bow to
+necessity.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;On my account? No, that shall not, must not be!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her voice became firmer as she went on, but something like a smile
+crossed the Count's features.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Will <i>you</i> prevent it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes!&quot; replied she energetically. &quot;I shall appeal to the Präsidentin,
+and Frau von Reinert, that both by their influence may--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You will not do that!&quot; interrupted Hermann, gravely and sternly. &quot;You
+will not misuse the knowledge which a chance possessed you of. This is
+a matter which concerns us men alone, and must be settled by us alone.
+I, for my part, will not suffer the interference of a woman here,
+whoever she may be, and neither my grandmother's reasoning, nor the
+tears and swoons of my cousin will alter my decision in the least.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">For the first time during the whole conversation she lifted her eyes to
+his with such a look of inexpressible, entreating anxiety, that the
+Count, who had but just before so proudly declared his inflexibility,
+turned suddenly away, as if he feared to succumb to a temptation. He
+continued speaking, but his voice was much milder, though it had lost
+nothing of its peculiar firmness.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know that I impose a hard task upon you to be silent, and, perhaps,
+to tremble, where a word could hinder the bloody decision. I know, too,
+that few women are equal to such a task, but I give <i>you</i> credit for
+it. My honour now demands, that the duel shall take place undisturbed,
+therefore I require your promise to preserve an unbroken silence
+towards every one until to-morrow at noon. Give me your word upon it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He held out his hand to her; whether she actually laid hers in his, or
+whether he took it, Gertrud knew not, but the little hand trembled so
+violently that he let it fall the next moment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not tremble so,&quot; said he with bitterness, &quot;I have the first shot,
+and am sure of my weapon, however deeply Eugen may have angered me, I
+shall not forget that I once called him friend. He shall not pay for
+his folly with his life, even if I cannot hope for such generosity from
+him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud had let his bitterness pass without remark, but at his last
+words she lifted her head in sudden terror. Something in her
+countenance must have touched the Count magnetically, for his eyes
+suddenly lighted up, he seized both her hands, and asked in a low tone,
+but with quite a different expression from before, &quot;Gertrud, why do you
+hate me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The girl started violently, and a suspicious flush bathed her cheeks
+and brow. She tried to free herself, but he would not let her go.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;From the first you have shown the most unconcealed hatred towards me,
+and yet, Gertrud, matters must be clear between us now. What have I
+done to you? Why do you hate me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No one would have thought it possible that this cold, hard voice could
+melt into such soft, heart-felt tones, and Gertrud's whole being seemed
+to tremble under them. It is impossible to describe the emotions which
+played in stormy strife upon the young girl's countenance, anxiety,
+pain, despair, and yet behind all these, an unspeakable joy, which
+found vent in the single exclamation, half jubilant, and yet half like
+a deep cry of pain, &quot;O, my God!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She clasped her hands before her face, Hermann looking steadfastly at
+her. &quot;I see that a secret lies here, which you will not speak out. But
+I must take certainty with me to-morrow, Gertrud, tell me only this one
+thing, for which of us two do you tremble?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A moment's heavy pause, then she slowly let her hands fall. Her face
+was deadly pale, but calmly, though almost inaudibly, she answered, &quot;I
+tremble for every life which is threatened.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count drew back a step, the light in his eyes was suddenly
+extinguished, and his face was once more hard and cold. &quot;You are right,
+<i>mein Fräulein</i>,&quot; said he icily. &quot;Since you are the innocent cause of
+our duel, the death of either of us must be equally unpleasant to you.
+I understand that perfectly. Adieu!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He went to the end of the avenue, his foot hesitated an instant, he
+imagined he heard a cry, but when he looked back she still stood
+immovably in the same place. With all his aristocratic pride, Count
+Arnau threw back his head, and strode through the deepening twilight
+towards the house.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">The morning broke clear and sunny. At breakfast Count Arnau and Herr
+von Reinert were missing, they had gone for a ride very early with
+several other gentlemen, which had only been settled late the evening
+before. No one thought of attributing any importance to this
+circumstance, but, on the other hand, Baronin von Sternfeld was greatly
+displeased that Mademoiselle Walter had also excused herself, on the
+plea of feeling very unwell. The good lady found this sudden
+indisposition of the <i>gouvernante</i> very inconvenient, for she was
+necessitated thereby to look after the children personally the whole
+day, the <i>bonne</i> and lady's maid being fully occupied with preparations
+for the next day's journey.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In her room, the windows of which looked out towards the fields,
+Gertrud paced restlessly up and down.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was a limit even to <i>her</i> self-command; she had not felt able to
+appear at breakfast to-day, and to hear the talk over the &quot;early ride,&quot;
+the meaning of which she alone knew. Yes, it was, indeed, a fearful
+task, to be silent and tremble in the full consciousness of what the
+next hour might bring, to remain here inactive, whilst over yonder the
+bloody decision was made; it was almost beyond her strength. She had
+kept the promise wrung from her, no word had passed her lips, but what
+this silence cost her, that she alone knew.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One could see that no sleep had closed the girl's eyes, which rested
+upon the window with an expression of the most painful suspense.
+Cheerful and golden the sunshine lay upon the fields around, over the
+woods, still enveloped in a blue mist. The corn waved gently in the
+morning breeze, and high up in the clear heavens the swallows shot
+backwards and forwards in rapid flight. But the road which led to the
+woods remained empty, not a single rider would appear.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud's pride and self-command seemed over. What, during the whole
+time, she <i>would</i> not confess to herself, what even yesterday evening
+she had tried to deny, she had been forced to recognise in the fearful
+anxiety of the previous night. &quot;He shall not atone for his folly with
+his life, though I cannot hope for the same generosity from him!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The words would not be put out of her memory. Eugen would not show any
+generosity; she knew that he was revengeful, like all weak people, and
+seized the opportunity gladly to revenge himself upon the man whose
+intellectual superiority had so often oppressed and embittered him, and
+<i>he</i>, too, was sure of his weapon, and seldom failed in his mark.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She fell down on her knees, and in speechless anxiety raised her folded
+hands. She knew now for whom this prayer was offered, and had known
+yesterday, when that grave, hard voice had asked so gently, &quot;Gertrud,
+why do you hate me?&quot; Though she had gathered together all her strength
+for the last despairing resistance, though she had possessed cruel
+courage to refuse him the one single word which he begged for, it was
+in vain now. Now she would like to have called him back, now, when it
+was too late. How icily cold his farewell had sounded--perhaps it was
+the last. Then suddenly a sound of hoofs was heard in the distance.
+Gertrud hurried to the window, as she had so often done before in vain,
+when she had heard any sound, but this time it was no disappointment.
+Her eyes had recognised the rider, though he was still far off on the
+edge of the wood; followed by his groom, Count Arnau rode towards the
+house.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The rebound was too great; the sudden appearance of him whom she had
+feared lost, decided all. In the cry of boundless delight, which
+unconsciously burst from her lips, in the expression of her face, lay
+the secret revealed. She flew to the door, reflection and reason for
+the moment gone; she must and would meet him!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A heavy, dull blow, then a cracking sound followed--she stopped
+suddenly, and looked back alarmed. One of her travelling boxes, which
+she had brought out yesterday, and partly packed, had been thrust out
+of its place by her sudden rush to the door. A simple, easily explained
+circumstance, but the girl's feverishly reddened cheek had become
+suddenly white. Slowly she again closed the door, and hesitatingly,
+step by step, approached the corner by the window. There was a strange
+expression in her face, a shrinking, as if before something
+supernatural, and with a timidity, as if she were really about to meet
+with some spirit, she bent down to examine the injury.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was a small, unimportant little box, an old fashioned, insignificant
+piece of goods, which had belonged to her father, and which only a
+feeling of filial respect hindered the daughter from parting with. This
+legacy, almost the only one, which the orphan possessed, had hitherto
+accompanied her on every journey, and now it all at once fell over and
+broke, just at the moment when she was on the point of--Gertrud did not
+dare to complete the thought, but hastily pushed aside the books which
+had fallen out, and lifted the lid.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The back of the box had burst in two, and out of the crack, squeezed in
+between the wood and the leather lining, gleamed a piece of white
+paper. Gertrud mechanically pulled it out, and was about to lay it
+aside, when her eyes suddenly fell upon a word, an autograph--she
+passed her hand hastily across her eyes--surely it must be some vision,
+that she always and everywhere should come upon the name that just now
+filled all her thoughts, but at the second glance she saw that her eyes
+had not deceived her. &quot;Hermann Count Arnau&quot; stood there in faded ink,
+but in clear, plain handwriting--stood there on the old fashioned
+paper, which had been long years in its hiding place, where it must
+have fallen from a hole in the inner pocket, through a hasty opening of
+the box. Gertrud's head seemed to swim, incapable of comprehending the
+facts connected with it--still half stunned from her previous agitation
+she unfolded the paper.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It contained only a few lines, apparently very hurriedly put together,
+but in a business like form. The effect, however, upon the girl was
+like a lightning flash. She sprang up; her face, a moment since so
+pale, bathed in a deep flush, her eyes shining in passionate triumph,
+she pressed the new found paper with both hands against her breast, as
+if some one would tear it away, and her bosom heaved deeply--deeply, as
+if the weight of a whole life had been removed from it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But it was only for a moment, in the next she started at some
+remembrance, which laid an icy hand on her heart, the fateful paper
+sank from her trembling hands, she stared at it despairingly, and then
+raised her eyes with a bitter cry to Heaven. On this paper had once
+hung the honour and happiness of a whole family--then a mischievous
+chance had allowed it to disappear.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Twice ten years had passed--two people had perished through its loss,
+and now chance had given back what was lost.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;O, God, why, just in my hand? And why now, just now?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No answer came to this despairing question, and no sound from Gertrud's
+lips; mutely she fought out the conflict, the hardest in her life. How
+terrible it was, the convulsively wrung hands bore witness, but the
+lips were silent against the pain. She believed that in the past night
+she had known the fullest measure of tormenting anxiety, and yet, the
+despair of that hour compared with this moment! Now, with her own hand
+she must strike the threatening blow, it would be a deadly one, she
+knew, and this time more was at stake than life alone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Only few, in face of such a choice, would have possessed the courage
+for conflict; they would have succumbed to swoons or tears, only
+listening to the voice of the heart, and turning away from the fateful
+decision. For her own unhappiness Gertrud was not one of the weak ones.
+A lonely, sad youth, containing bitter experiences enough for a whole
+life, had steeled her to endurance, but also given her that hardness,
+which happy people know nothing of. The iron law of duty, hitherto the
+single principle of her life, here, too, silenced every other voice,
+and, silently, and warningly came back the remembrances of the past,
+still sleeping unforgotten in her inmost soul. Every bitter hour in
+which her childhood had been so rich, every tear which she had shed,
+every humiliation she had endured, the mother's dying bed, the picture
+of her never known, but yet passionately loved father--all, all passed
+vividly before her, and as these remembrances poured upon her, the
+girl's features grew hard and cold, till at last, with dark decision
+she arose. The conflict was at an end; she laid her right hand as if
+with an oath, upon the fateful paper.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;The warning came at the right time! I was on the point of treason to
+myself and to my whole past. My poor sacrificed parents, the daughter
+will know how to guard your rights--even though she should perish in
+the act!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile, the other inhabitants of the house sat, as usual, after
+breakfast, in the garden house. Baron Sternfeld read aloud to his
+mother from the newspaper, but the political news, which she followed
+with such attention, seemed to weary the Baronin as well as Frau von
+Reinert; the former divided her attention between her embroidery and
+her two little daughters, who were playing outside on the terrace, and
+the latter yawned again and again behind her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The seven years had left their trace clearly enough upon Antonie. She
+was no longer that charming, poetical being, who knew so well how to
+inspire the young artist, that he forgot all else in his passion for
+her. Her beauty was of that delicate, but passing kind, which only
+lasts so long as the bloom and freshness of youth remains, and then
+vanishes, leaving scarcely a trace of its former reign. There were no
+firm, noble lines, no characteristic expression, no <i>soul</i>, in fact, to
+make up for these fleeting charms. The former enthusiastic fire in the
+dark eyes was extinguished, lost in that expression of weariness and
+languor, as plainly to be read in her features as in her husband's. The
+Gräfin Arnau, at twenty, had been wonderfully beautiful, Frau von
+Reinert, now thirty, was already faded, and all the magic arts of her
+toilette could not make up for what was lost.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann's entrance put an end both to the Baron's reading and the
+weariness of the ladies. After a short morning greeting, including all,
+he went up to the Präsidentin's chair, and with a few words, excused
+his absence at breakfast.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Where is Eugen?&quot; asked Baron Sternfeld, surprised.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Eugen has had a slight accident during our ride, and hurt his arm a
+little, he remained behind at the gamekeeper's, and I have given orders
+for the carriage to be sent to him. It is not at all a dangerous
+affair. Dr. Börner, who was one of our party, assured us so, and he put
+on a bandage at once.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No one thought of doubting this explanation, given in the calmest tone.
+The Baronin made an exclamation of concern, but Antonie cried hastily--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That wild riding! I have prophesied over and over again to Eugen that
+he would have an accident some day, but he never listens to my
+warnings!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was not the slightest trace of anxiety or tenderness in this
+tone, only an unmistakable vexation. The Präsidentin's face certainly
+did not show any great concern or sympathy, but, nevertheless, she said
+gravely--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Will you not at least go to your husband?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What need is there, grandmother? You hear that it is not in the least
+dangerous, and Eugen will be back in an hour in any case.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">So saying, she leaned back in her chair with the most perfect
+indifference. The Präsidentin was silent, but her face betrayed what
+she thought of this answer--so this was the end of that unspeakable,
+glowing passion, which had once torn away the Gräfin Arnau from all the
+bounds of reason and sense! Hermann well understood his grandmother's
+look and shrug of the shoulders; was it not he who had favoured the
+match? It is always painful to have to confess to an error, and today
+the Count seemed little in the humour for it. As he came in, his eyes
+had flown restlessly and searchingly through the room, and the cloud
+which already lay on his brow had become darker. Now his unrest seemed
+to increase every moment; he became monosyllabic, and absent, and
+hardly took any part in the conversation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Is there no one to take charge of the children to-day?&quot; asked he
+suddenly, looking towards the little girls, who were chasing each other
+up and down the terrace, and becoming rather noisy.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No!&quot; sighed the Baronin. &quot;Mademoiselle Walter gave me the pleasure of
+excusing herself this morning on the plea of illness, just now, when we
+want to be off!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah, so!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count's lips pressed themselves together in fierce anger, whilst
+the Baronin continued to complain of the great inconvenience of her
+<i>gouvernante's</i> illness just now, which might possibly even put off
+their journey.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That is hardly to be feared, I think!&quot; put in Antonie sarcastically.
+&quot;I should imagine Mademoiselle Walter's evening walk yesterday has
+given her a cold, which cannot be of much importance.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What evening walk?&quot; asked the Baronin, becoming attentive.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, she came back from the park pretty late yesterday evening, and a
+short time before a gentleman had left her. I could not recognize him,
+as it was already too dark, but from his appearance and walk I should
+not imagine that he was either a workman or a servant. Dear me, why
+not? All the gentlemen of the neighbourhood are unanimous in admiration
+of mademoiselle's beauty. It would be certainly no wonder if she
+listened to one of these inspired adorers, and consented to a little
+rendezvous--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin knitted her brow; in spite of her antipathy to Gertrud,
+she was strictly just, and would suffer no calumnies in her presence.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You ought first to prove that, Antonie,&quot; she interrupted in a grave,
+reproving tone, &quot;as far as I can judge the girl, this accusation is the
+last that could be made against her, and hitherto Bertha has not found
+the slightest cause for complaint in her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I should also advise you to wait for an explanation of the matter,
+<i>liebe Toni</i>,&quot; continued Hermann coldly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He still stood by his grandmother's chair, upon which he leaned with
+folded arms, and looked stedfastly at his cousin, with a peculiar
+expression. There was something half compassionate, half scornful in
+his look, and his lips already curled with the old, much feared
+sarcasm, which he poured unsparingly upon all around him, when
+irritated by some untoward circumstance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It was only a supposition,&quot; said Antonie, throwing back her head
+pettishly at the reproof. &quot;But I had intended some time ago to give
+Bertha a hint with regard to Mademoiselle Walter; what I have found out
+lately about her is decidedly not to her credit.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann smiled with unconcealed irony.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Something you have found out <i>lately</i>? Really!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Antonie looked questioningly at him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What do you mean? I don't understand you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Oh, I only meant, that what is not in the young lady's favour, namely,
+her outward appearance, you must have found out at the first moment.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Antonie flushed deeply at this malice of Hermann's, which,
+unfortunately, was only too true, and she did not make any denial.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She knew her cousin well enough to know that in a dispute she always
+got the worst of it, and that when he looked, as he did at this moment,
+not the slightest consideration need be expected from him. She
+contented herself, therefore, with darting an angry look at him, and
+completely ignoring the speech, turned to the Baronin, who now
+exclaimed suspiciously--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;But what is this you have found out about her?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Antonie took a rose from the vase before her, and began to pluck it to
+pieces.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, my information does not concern her so much as her family. I
+suppose you do not know that 'mademoiselle' has no right to the name of
+'Walter.' It is her mother's family name, which the latter re-assumed,
+or rather was obliged to do so, because her husband's name called forth
+very unpleasant remembrances.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The sarcastic calmness with which Hermann had listened hitherto,
+suddenly disappeared and gave place to a deathly paleness. He bent
+forward in the deepest attention, and followed the conversation in
+visible suspense.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;A false name!&quot; cried Baron Sternfeld, also coming nearer, &quot;why, that
+is evident deception! How do you know it, Antonie? And why have you not
+mentioned it before?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Because I only found it out myself yesterday. My maid visited
+W---- some years since, and got to know something of Mademoiselle
+Gertrud, whose mother was still living at that time. Therese was not a
+little astonished to find in this Madame Walter the wife of Brand,
+formerly steward to the Prince in N----.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Here the Präsidentin suddenly laid her hand on her grandson's arm, and
+the warning was needed. He had started violently at the name, as if
+struck by a shot, now he slowly turned towards his grandmother, she
+exchanged a deep glance with him, whilst he seized her hand
+convulsively. But the warning was in time, he succeeded in keeping
+command over his features.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The others were all too much occupied with Antonie's disclosure to
+notice the Count.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Brand--Brand!&quot; said the Baron, thoughtfully, &quot;I seem to have heard the
+name before somewhere. Who was he, did you say, and what do you know of
+him?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Not much to his credit. He embezzled money entrusted to him, belonging
+to the Prince, and finally, when he found his crime discovered, had the
+atrocity to shoot himself in Uncle Arnau's business room, before his
+eyes. I was but a child then, but I know the affair was much talked
+about, and made a great stir. Hermann must remember it well enough, for
+the shock almost cost his poor mother her life.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Count Arnau appeared not to have heard the indirect question, at least
+he gave no answer. His hand lay icy cold in the Präsidentin's, she must
+have felt by this how it stood with him, for she suddenly looked up
+anxiously, his face still remained immovable.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Baronin was in the greatest indignation. &quot;Abominable! The daughter
+of a thief, of a cheat in my house! And she has dared to be silent
+towards me, to be taken into my house under a false name!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Antonie smiled maliciously. &quot;Good gracious, Bertha, do you think it
+likely she would do otherwise? It would have been simply impossible for
+her to obtain a respectable situation if she had openly confessed her
+antecedents.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No matter, <i>I</i> cannot suffer such a deception, cannot entrust the
+education of my children to the hands of a person who comes of <i>such</i> a
+family. I shall speak to her to-day and demand an explanation of her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You will not do that, Bertha,&quot; interrupted the Präsidentin, in her
+sharpest tone. &quot;How do you even know whether the girl knows her
+father's history? I doubt it, and even if she did, the children are not
+responsible for the sins of their parents, in which they have had no
+part. If you wish to dismiss the young lady, do it at least as
+considerately as possible; in any case, I beg that you will take no
+steps in the affair without once more considering the matter with me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The old lady had risen and stood so imposingly before her
+daughter-in-law, that neither she nor her husband ventured a
+remonstrance, indeed, they were accustomed to bow to the mother's
+authority unconditionally, though her sudden taking of the
+<i>gouvernante's</i> part had somewhat surprised them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin turned to her grandson. &quot;Have the goodness, Hermann, to
+lead me to my room, I feel somewhat tired. I should advise you,
+Antonie, to get into the carriage and drive down to your husband. If
+his hurt is so indifferent to you, propriety nevertheless demands, that
+you (at least, in the eyes of others) trouble yourself somewhat about
+it. The carriage is just driving up, I see.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This advice, given in the tone of a decided command, was evidently as
+unpalatable to Frau von Reinert as the former to the Baronin, but she,
+too, did not gainsay it. In the worst of tempers, she rang for her maid
+to fetch hat and shawl, whilst the Präsidentin left the saloon,
+supported on Hermann's arm.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">&quot;That Toni should mention that unfortunate name! It makes you beside
+yourself, Hermann, what has become of your self-command, your strength
+of will?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Grandmother and grandson were alone together, the portières were drawn
+up, the doors closed; they were secure from listeners. The Count had
+not yet spoken a single word, with crossed arms he walked up and down
+incessantly, without answering, without even hearing. The Präsidentin
+shook her head.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I cannot understand what there is so dreadful in this discovery. You
+have searched long enough for the dead man's wife and child; you
+declared it would give you back your rest if you were able to do
+anything for them. You ought now to bless the chance which gives us at
+last the opportunity of--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count suddenly stopped.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;<i>Bless</i> it? Let me alone, grandmother, you do not, cannot know what
+has perished for me in this discovery!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She went up to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann, you are beside yourself, and not in a state to look at this
+matter calmly and sensibly, leave it in my hands. It is, of course, an
+understood thing, that after this discovery, the girl cannot remain any
+longer in the family. Bertha intends dismissing her. In any case, I
+will see that it is done in the most considerate manner possible, and,
+later on, we will try to find some guardian to assure her future. Do it
+as handsomely as you are able, return to her the whole income which her
+mother lost. Perhaps we may succeed in finding a suitable husband for
+her, a clergyman, or some one of that sort, and then we might manage
+unsuspiciously--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count suddenly freed himself with a violent movement.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Make no plans, grandmother,&quot; said he bitterly, &quot;it is atonement to
+injury that we have to do with. I had thought of another way of
+expiating it, but I know that she will never, never take it from my
+hand.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;From <i>your</i> hand? I should think not. We must go to work with greater
+care than that. Whatever you have to do with it, she must not suspect
+in the least from whom it comes, or she might ask, <i>why</i> we did it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And supposing she already knows?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;She knows it, must know it! Now I understand the glowing, unforgiving
+hate which she has shown towards me from the first moment, this
+aversion to my presence, this altogether mysterious demeanour. How
+strange that no suspicion of the truth ever entered my head; but it was
+the name which led me astray. Oh, she knows all, I tell you, she
+betrays it in every word, in every gesture. But one thing I have never
+been able to tear from her, a secret, which she knows how to keep, and
+yet I <i>must</i> have certainty at any price!&quot; In great agitation he
+recommenced his pacing up and down the room. The Präsidentin stood
+still, speechless. Whether she was terrified at the idea that he was
+right in his conjecture, or at this outbreak of passion in the man who
+was usually so calm and collected, was undecided, for the next moment a
+slight sound was heard at the door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;What is it? Who is there?&quot; cried Hermann. He pushed back the bolt.
+Without stood a servant, looking much embarrassed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I beg your pardon for disturbing you, Herr Count; I did not know that
+the door was locked. I wished to say--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Well, what--what?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mademoiselle Walter is in the ante-room, and wishes to speak to the
+Herr Count.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mademoiselle Walter?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;With me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin collected herself. First she was evidently on the point
+of sending a refusal, but Hermann anticipated her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I--will see her at once!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The servant disappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann, you ought not to speak to her now! You will betray yourself
+whilst you are in such agitation! And what can she want?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count had all at once regained his self-command, but an expression
+of unspeakable bitterness appeared in his face.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Calm yourself, grandmother! I know why she comes, it has nothing
+whatever to do with this affair. It must be deathly anxiety, indeed,
+which compels her to cross <i>my</i> threshold.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin had no time to demand an explanation of what was a
+mystery to her, for the servant had opened the door to show Gertrud in.
+The Count was right; it cost her a fearful effort to cross his
+threshold, and now it was at last done, she remained standing
+speechless, her eyes fixed on the ground, like one conscious of guilt.
+Her features were calm, but there was something almost terrible in the
+fixed look and deathly pallor, almost as if life had left them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann advanced to meet her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You wish to speak with me, mein Fräulein?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The word fell softly, almost inaudibly from her lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Alone?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Pardon, grandmother,--may I beg you to follow me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He drew back the <i>portière</i> of the neighbouring room, and followed her
+in there. The Präsidentin remained behind, she went to the door and
+once more drew the bolt, then trod noiselessly to the closed
+<i>portière</i>, and quietly drew the folds somewhat aside--Hermann was
+capable of anything in this mood, he must not remain unobserved.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No word had as yet been spoken between the two. The Count stood, to all
+appearance calm, his hand supported by the table, and silently waited,
+but with the same bitter expression, for Gertrud to speak. She tried to
+do so, but was it really the deathly anxiety of which he had spoken?
+Her voice failed her, she could not.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann's lips trembled, he saw well that he must speak first.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I can guess what brings you here. You saw me come back unhurt, and
+tremble now for the life of my opponent. Calm yourself! Though our
+<i>rencontre</i> was not altogether without effect, it was not dangerous.
+Herr von Reinert has a slight wound in his arm, which caused his
+usually sure aim to miss me. He has at present remained behind at the
+gamekeeper's, the doctor is with him, and not the slightest danger is
+to be feared.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At his first words Gertrud had raised her eyes with a look almost of
+terror, but she now cast them down again.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I thank you, Herr Graf, for the news, but you are mistaken--it is not
+that which brings me here.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Not that! Then it was not anxiety which had blanched her cheeks so
+terribly, which had given her this fixed, lifeless look--the Count's
+eyes lighted up suddenly as they had done yesterday evening; the bitter
+expression disappeared; he hastily came a step nearer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No! What was it then, Gertrud?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She shrank back with a start; slowly he let fall his outstretched hand.
+The girl struggled for breath.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I came--to inform you of something. It concerns you--both of us. I am
+compelled to leave this house to-day; my letter to the Baronin contains
+an excuse--but I owe the truth to you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She had brought out the words in an almost choked voice, and at the
+same time strove visibly to avoid meeting his eyes. Graf Arnau drew
+himself up decidedly; he knew what was coming now.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I go as your enemy; but I will not do so secretly behind your back.
+You asked me yesterday if a secret lay between us--you shall know it
+now.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I know it already!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;How?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;An hour ago I learnt your real name, and with it the reason for your
+hatred to me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She looked up at him as before, but now with the greatest horror.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That is impossible, you cannot! You cannot know anything--anything,
+except that it was the name of a deceiver, who took his own life, when
+he found his crime discovered. That is what you have been told, is it
+not? Or--did you know <i>more</i>?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann made no answer, his eyes sought the ground darkly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Answer me, Count Arnau! If any one on earth has a right to ask, I
+have. What do you know?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;All!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In his blunt, broken tone, lay the whole dashed down power of his
+nature in one word; the girl stood for a moment as if struck by
+lightning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You knew it, and were silent!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It was my <i>father</i>, Gertrud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She suddenly drew herself up with almost fierce energy.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are right, Count Arnau, it was your father--and it was mine! I
+shall not forget that.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A heavy, oppressive pause followed. At last Hermann raised his head
+again.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;We have reached a point now where nothing more can be kept silent or
+spared. Will you tell me <i>who</i> has revealed the secret?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Since the confession of the Count a strange change had passed over
+Gertrud. The anxiety, the conflict which had hitherto been betrayed in
+her manner, had given place to an unnatural calm; her glance, which had
+avoided his so timidly, looked at him full and threateningly, and her
+voice sounded firm and clear as she replied--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;My mother initiated me into the matter so soon as I was old enough to
+understand it. She had no proofs to make good her rights, nothing but
+the invincible conviction of her heart. My father did not dare to make
+public the suspicion he had held for some time against his powerful and
+influential superior; he mentioned it only to his wife on the morning
+of the fateful day, and therefore she only was capable of guessing at
+the truth. She knew that her husband was no cheat, that he was only the
+sacrifice of a crime; of an already planned, treacherous a
+assassination--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No, Gertrud, no, he was not that!&quot; burst in Hermann. &quot;A crime of the
+moment, a deed of despair, but no plan. I know it--I was witness of
+it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah--you were a witness!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count's eyes took a rapid survey of the room; it had only one
+entrance, and that, he knew, was well guarded; nevertheless his voice
+sank to a whisper as if he did not dare to trust the secret even to
+dead walls.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;That morning I was in my father's business room; I seldom went into
+it, this time it was childish disobedience which took me there. The day
+before my father had taken away a book which he thought unsuitable for
+me; but my childish fancy was so much excited by the adventurous story
+that I was determined to know the end of it. The book lay in his
+business room; I knew this, and seized the first opportunity to get
+possession of it. Scarcely had this happened before voices were heard
+in the corridor; conscious that I had done wrong, I flew with my book
+into a deep corner of the bay window, thinking that I should not be
+there more than a few minutes, for my father was accustomed to drive
+out at this hour. But this time he came in with your father. On account
+of the sun the drawn curtain concealed me completely, and thus I was a
+witness of a conversation, of which, at that time, I understood almost
+nothing, but which, nevertheless, on account of its fearful
+termination, was impressed upon my mind with terrible clearness. What I
+heard at first was unimportant; the talk was confined entirely to
+business matters. My father must already have made some demand of Herr
+Brand which he now repeated, but which, however, was most decidedly
+refused by him. Brand represented that he had already paid to the Count
+the sum due to him, and, without special authority from the Prince,
+could not give out any of the money entrusted to his charge, for which
+he was of course responsible. My father must have seen that he was
+lost, must have known no other way of escape, for he chose the most
+dangerous plan of all, and made his inferior his confidant. He
+confessed to him that he had already employed the sum received for the
+payment of personal debts, but that the expenses of the Prince's
+household now needed reimbursement, and that immediately, if all was
+not to be discovered. He strove to persuade the steward to give him
+sufficient for this from the balance remaining, promising that all
+should be returned in a few weeks. The Count swore to take all upon
+himself, he entreated, he promised, he at last threatened, but promises
+as well as threats were lost upon the man's unflinching faithfulness to
+duty. He answered, steadfastly, 'No.' I say once more, in spite of all
+this, my father was not capable of such a diabolically thought-out
+plan--the pistol, which lay loaded upon the table, was, it is my firm
+conviction, designed for himself, he had intended, like many another
+ruined man, to end his life by suicide had your father somewhat
+moderated his answer to him, but his stern sincerity and
+conscientiousness hastened the crime. He declared without mercy that
+any one cognisant of guilt, was, in his opinion, a sharer of it, and
+that he should feel himself obliged to make public what he had just
+heard in order to prevent further harm, and thus drove the already
+despairing man to madness. He knew that should <i>this</i> happen his
+honour, the honour of his family, was inevitably lost. I saw my
+father's hand suddenly grasp the pistol, saw a flash--and Brand fell
+dead before him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann stopped and passed his hand over his brow, which was wet with
+cold drops, it was manifestly a fearful torture to relate this, but
+Gertrud made no effort to spare him; the &quot;iron sense of duty in the
+father&quot; seemed to have descended to the daughter, she listened
+immovably.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After an instant the Count breathed deeply, and then continued--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Terror must have stunned me, I could not utter a sound. I saw my
+father open the door and cry for help, saw my mother rush in--what
+happened later you know. It was found possible to throw the guilt upon
+the dead--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Oh, yes, it was found possible!&quot; interrupted she bitterly. &quot;The only
+voice which upheld the truth, the cry of the widow, was at once
+silenced as the shameful accusation of a highly respected man, And
+Count Arnau swore as witness--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Such terrible hidden torment found vent for itself in the exclamation,
+that Gertrud did not finish the sentence.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You must pardon me, Herr Graf, if I am overpowered with bitterness at
+the remembrance of this, we have suffered too long and too deeply under
+it. Our little all, which our father had saved so carefully, was, of
+course, seized, and my mother being quite without help, was compelled
+to ask assistance of well-to-do relatives in W----. We found there
+protection from actual hunger, but only under a hard condition. Our
+relatives were honest, strict <i>bürger</i> people, and would not suffer a
+name amongst them which stood in the papers as that of a thief and a
+cheat. My mother was forced to re-assume her family name, she did it in
+order to save her child, then but a few months old, from absolute want.
+But our misfortune was not kept secret by those around us--we have been
+despised so long as I can remember.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It seemed, indeed, as if with these remembrances, all the hatred and
+suffering of the past years was once more awakened, every word became a
+passionate reproach. Hermann had listened in dark silence, now he said
+with a sort of bitter resignation--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I think it is a question which of us has suffered most under the
+crime. Your youth may have been bitter--mine was terrible. My mother
+died a few months after the dreadful deed, the year after my father
+followed. No one was able to understand how it was that he treated his
+only son and heir with an open hatred, though he at the same time
+obstinately refused to be separated from him for a single hour. No one
+knew that he guarded in him a witness of his guilt, and trembled hourly
+at the thought that his dreadful secret hung upon the silence of a mere
+child. Perhaps you can imagine what a lot that child's was! Had not my
+grandmother at times stood protectingly between us, I know not what
+terrible misfortune might have occurred. She it was who at that time
+interfered with all her influence and wealth to avert threatening ruin,
+which would have inevitably been followed by a discovery of the truth,
+and who later, after the death of my father, and during her ten years
+of guardianship, gradually managed to bring our affairs into order
+again, so that I may now call myself a rich man. Need I tell you,
+Gertrud, what a curse these riches have been to me? I could not give
+back the embezzled sum without arresting suspicion, but I hoped in some
+indirect way to make it up to those left behind. Since my majority I
+have never ceased to try and find trace of you, have taken all possible
+steps--in vain. I looked for Brand's widow and child, and never
+imagined how near to me the latter was. Gertrud! Fate has led us
+together strangely--did it really happen, in order that we might combat
+life and death together?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At the last words his voice once more sank to those soft, deep tones,
+which she had already once heard from his lips, and the girl's whole
+being trembled before it, as it had done then, but she knew the danger
+now, and fled from it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Not this tone, Count Arnau,--I beg you--let us keep to the subject.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He silently bowed in assent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;At the time my father paid out the sum, he received a receipt from his
+chief, Count Arnau. Did you know of it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No. But my father himself undertook the seizure of the steward's
+papers. He will have destroyed it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;It was not destroyed. A chance allowed it to lie hidden for years. It
+is in my hands!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In speechless consternation Hermann drew back, the same moment the
+<i>portière</i> was torn open, and the Präsidentin stood before them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You must be mistaken, mademoiselle! It is impossible, it cannot be!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud had turned round surprised, but not frightened, and met the old
+lady's threatening glance firmly--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I am not mistaken. I repeat, the receipt is found, and has been in my
+possession an hour.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile Hermann had collected himself, and now once more roused all
+his energy.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You have the paper with you? May I see it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She shrank back at the proposal, and involuntarily laid both hands
+protectingly on her bosom. He smiled bitterly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do you fear a renewed theft? I give you my word of honour that the
+paper shall be returned to you uninjured.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Slowly Gertrud drew it out and gave it to him; he opened it, the
+Präsidentin's eyes hung in breathless suspense on his features.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">No one spoke for some seconds, but the Count leaned more and more
+heavily on the table, his cheeks pale as death; with averted face he at
+last, without speaking a word, gave back the paper, threw himself into
+a chair, and covered his eyes with his hand.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin knew enough.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Mademoiselle--&quot; it was in vain that she endeavoured to make her voice
+firm, it trembled audibly--&quot;Mademoiselle, you can, and will not, make
+any use of this document; it accuses the dead.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud drew herself up scornfully; so soon as a third interfered, all
+her courage returned.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You think not, Frau Präsidentin? But the dead Count died as a highly
+respected, honourable man, and my father lies dishonoured and disgraced
+in the grave. Do you imagine that his daughter would refrain from
+avenging him?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not build too many hopes on this paper; our tribunals cannot
+proceed against the dead, and as for the living--we are ready for any
+sacrifice, for any reparation within the bounds of possibility--&quot; She
+stopped suddenly, even this energetic woman's eyes sank almost timidly
+before Gertrud's. &quot;Take care, mademoiselle!&quot; cried she, breaking out
+into anger, &quot;take care not to drive us to do our utmost. The family of
+Count Arnau is still powerful and influential enough, and they will
+risk all, if it concerns their honour. Do not dare to let that paper
+out of your hands, else ruin might come upon yourself.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An expression of unspeakable scorn curled Gertrud's lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I will wait and see if this mighty influential family succeed for the
+second time in defying justice. I will see if the law of the land will
+dare to refuse it to me when I come before them with this proof. Spare
+your words, Frau Präsidentin. What I had to fear was overcome before I
+came to you, now nothing more can intimidate me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She had spoken with cold, firm decision. If her features had seemed
+fixed before, now they seemed turned to stone; the only expression in
+them was a fearful determination. The Präsidentin saw that nothing more
+was to be gained here. She placed herself before the door, covering it
+with her body.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Now then, Hermann, you must guard your own and our honour! It must
+be!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her eyes, even more than her words, challenged the Count to get
+possession of the fateful paper by force.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hermann had risen, he too seemed to have made a last decision, but with
+a wave of the hand, he dismissed his grandmother's proposal, and went
+up to Gertrud, who stood before him, still firm, and fearless.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She shrank slightly, but did not alter her decided expression.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have no right to expect or ask forbearance from you. Do what your
+conscience tells you. You can raise no accusation against Count Arnau,
+my father--he is dead; but on the ground of this document you can
+publicly demand that the money which was withdrawn from you be
+returned, and thus cleanse your father's name from the stain which
+rests upon it, transferring it to mine instead.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In face of <i>his</i> words Gertrud looked somewhat inclined to waver, she
+hung her head.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I--know it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You know it! Well, then, you also know that it will be my ruin. I
+have tried in strained activity to forget the curse which I have
+inherited. I have accomplished much, and hoped everything from my
+career; that is, of course, at an end, so soon as public shame reaches
+me. Neither my office nor my connection with the Prince's household can
+stand before that; I must resign it, henceforth to hide a dishonoured
+name in darkness and inactivity. For a nature like mine, this means
+ruin, Gertrud; power and the right to use it lie in your hands.
+Retaliate as you will, if you <i>can</i> ruin me, then do it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A deep sigh heaved the tormented girl's breast, she would have rushed
+away, but the ban of his eyes and voice held her enchained. He stood
+before her, without entreaty, but also without reproach, only his eyes
+burned in passionate unrest, they searched her's deeply--deeply as if
+he must and would read the depths of her soul.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud! It concerns your father's honour, and my destruction--do it!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The girl's arm sank hopelessly, with a heart-rending expression she
+looked up, as if begging for mercy, her eyes met his, a moment passed,
+an eternity for both, then Gertrud suddenly seized the paper
+convulsively with both hands--it fell in fragments at her feet.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin stood speechless; she had not understood the last scene
+between the two, nor Hermann's incomprehensible behaviour, only now
+that she saw him draw the girl passionately towards him, the truth
+began to dawn upon her. The proud old woman tottered and supported
+herself by a chair, this was too much in one hour.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile Gertrud lay half insensible in Hermann's arms, and he bent
+over her with an expression of tenderness, which the grandmother had
+never before seen in his firm, cold features.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The passionately longed-for certainty was his at last, now he knew,
+too, for whom she had trembled yesterday.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But the energetic girl did not succumb many minutes to this fearful
+agitation, she raised herself and tried to escape from his arms.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You are saved, Count Arnau---Farewell!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He stood as if struck by lightning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud, for heaven's sake, what does this mean?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I leave this house at once. Do not hold me back, I must go.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And do you really imagine,&quot; cried Hermann, &quot;that I will let you go?
+Oh, your incomprehensibleness does not alarm me any longer. You have
+given a right over you by this sacrifice which I shall know how to
+use.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud looked earnestly at him for a moment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No,&quot; said she at last, &quot;with this sacrifice I have torn every tie
+between us for ever. What has happened does not exist for the world,
+and the daughter of the thief, Brand, can never be the wife of Count
+Arnau.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He took both her hands gently--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud, not this bitterness. Can you not credit me with the power of
+protecting my wife before idle tongues?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Your wife, perhaps, but not yourself. My real name cannot remain
+unconcealed, so soon as I emerge from dependence and obscurity, and I
+have lived in aristocratic families long enough to know what is thought
+on such points. They would hardly pardon you your <i>bürgerliche</i> wife,
+and you would suffer under the continual persecution, until you would
+at last be compelled to retire to the hated obscurity of private
+life--on my account.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin, who had stood hitherto like one in despair, now
+breathed freely again at these words, which she saw were not without
+effect upon her grandson. He must, indeed, have himself recognized the
+undisputable truth of her argument, but he still strove against it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Gertrud, at this moment, under the influence of this agitation, we
+cannot make any weighty decision for our future. Promise me later--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;No,&quot; interrupted she firmly, &quot;the word of separation must be spoken
+now. Count Arnau, you know the relations of our country and Court
+better than any one else--answer me! Can your influence, your career
+still continue the same, if you break your connection with the nobility
+and with the Prince's household?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count looked down, unprepared for an answer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I knew it! And now hear my last word. I shall not have made the
+sacrifice in vain, and, therefore, under the circumstances, I can never
+be your wife. Do not try to dissuade me, or to find me, it would be in
+vain. By this sacrifice I save your future, and that, with such a
+nature as yours, will be such as to dispense with a wife's love.
+Farewell!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An unspeakable bitterness rang in her last words, but she left him no
+time to reply, and erect and stately, walked towards the door; here,
+however, the Präsidentin met her. Deeply moved, she silently held out
+both hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">For an instant Gertrud took them, then disappeared in the neighbouring
+room.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin went up to her grandson and laid her hand on his
+shoulder.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You may thank the girl's high principles, Hermann, for saving you from
+a folly which you would have had to repent all your life. She saves
+you, and us all!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count did not answer, his eyes were fixed on the door where Gertrud
+had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Präsidentin bent down, and carefully picked up every fragment of
+the torn paper, then lit a candle, and held the pieces over the flame.
+As the last sank into dust and ashes the old lady breathed freely--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Thank heaven! The evil is at an end!&quot;</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+<br>
+
+<p class="continue">Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the
+approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow. The mid-day
+bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere,
+and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry
+children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in
+a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites. Five fresh
+little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner
+table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set
+before them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face,
+seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective. He divided his attention
+between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the
+two youngest children on either side. There was a loving care, as well
+as a quiet firmness in the way which she quieted and kept in order the
+little company, and the children seemed to be tenderly attached to her.
+Fräulein Walter was hardly able to rescue herself from all the
+histories and relations which one little chattering mouth poured out
+after the other. At last the dinner was at an end, and the little wild
+troop, after receiving permission, stormed out again to occupy the hour
+of play still left to them, with a more peaceful occupation, namely,
+the building of a snow man.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud had taken up her key basket, and was on the point of leaving
+the room, when the pastor detained her with the request that she would
+follow him into his study for a few minutes, as he had something
+important to speak to her about.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She willingly put down her basket and complied with his request. This
+important matter was not difficult to guess at; Christmas was near, and
+five little tables had to be planned for. But the introduction to this
+harmless subject seemed to cost the Herr Pastor some difficulty, he
+cleared his throat several times in an embarrassed manner, and at last
+began with visible hesitation--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;First, Fräulein Walter, accept my heartfelt thanks for all that you
+have been to me and my children.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud looked surprised, the introduction sounded almost solemn.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I only did my duty,&quot; replied she, quietly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Oh, no, you have done much, much more!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The man's former embarrassment now gave place to warm heartiness.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;You merely undertook the duty of instructing the children, and you
+have been the most loving guardian to them, the most faithful support
+to my orphaned household. Only since you came have I once more known
+that I possess a home, a happy domestic circle.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud was perfectly calm and unsuspecting.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have done what I could. But of course a stranger cannot ever fill
+the mother's place.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Ah, that was just what I wanted to speak to you about,&quot; interrupted
+the pastor, hastily. &quot;In spite of all your goodness, I cannot deny to
+myself that my children need a mother, and my house the superintendence
+of a lady, whilst I--&quot; He suddenly stopped, for Gertrud had shrunk back
+with an involuntary movement of fright. &quot;Do you wish me to be silent?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She had become pale, but she shook her head gently.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Please go on.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He got up and seized her hand.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Since the five months that you have been here I have often been on the
+point of speaking to you, and have as often stopped myself. There was
+something in you which--let me be sincere--that oppressed me, and kept
+me at a distance. However kind and obliging I saw you in the house, and
+everything thriving under your hands, I could not, nevertheless, banish
+the thought that you were intended for quite a different sphere of
+life. But I must speak out at last. You are young, beautiful, and
+richly gifted in every respect, I am already an elderly man, and have
+nothing to offer you but a simple house, modest circumstances, and the
+participation in the care of five children. Can the love of these
+children, the gratitude of a man, who honours and admires you with all
+his heart, atone for the sacrifice you will make by your consent--if
+so--then you will make me very happy.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud had listened silently with downcast eyes, her face had become
+very pale, but her voice was calm.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Your offer honours me, Herr Pastor, but you do me wrong if you think
+that a simple life and duties are irksome to me. For the first time in
+your house I have once more known what it is to be surrounded with
+loving kindness; I--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She raised her hand, and, as if struck by a sudden pain, laid it--not
+in that of the pastor, but upon her breast!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Is anything the matter?&quot; asked he anxiously.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She forced herself to smile.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Oh, no, it is nothing. I only wished to ask you for a short time for
+consideration. You shall have my answer in a few hours.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The pastor seemed hardly to have expected his offer to have met with so
+favourable a reception. A short time for consideration is usually only
+a form of propriety, ending with an answer in the affirmative. With
+glad thankfulness he seized both her hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;As you will, <i>liebes</i> Fräulein, as long as you like. I do not wish to
+attribute your consent to a hasty decision. Consult your own heart
+undisturbed, and then tell me candidly what you have decided.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An hour had passed, Gertrud sat in her high storied room, lost in deep
+reflection. As before, she involuntarily pressed her hand on her heart.
+There was something there which still obstinately refused to bow to the
+outward calmness of her nature. It had sprung up in burning, trembling
+pain, when she had stood on the point of giving her consent, and had it
+not seemed to tear her back with warning fear as if from a precipice,
+and stopped the &quot;Yes,&quot; which already trembled on her lips with a loud
+&quot;No, no&quot;? And yet this weakness must be overcome! If not quite
+forgotten, she had at least imagined that it was overcome, and had not
+guessed that she should have to probe herself with anxious, painful
+self-enquiries. Hermann had made no attempt to try and find her, or
+even send her a last word of farewell. He had fully recognised the
+earnestness of her decision, the truth of her words, and bowed firmly
+and strongly to the unavoidable, but--it tore the girl's heart that he
+could be so firm and strong. Then he had his future to make up for what
+was lost--for which he had surrendered her--and she?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She had made up her mind to accept the pastor's hand. What could she,
+the solitary, homeless one, do better, than to take the home and hearth
+offered to her, the love of an honourable man, and the perhaps heavy,
+but still blessed cares connected with his children. Truly, he had been
+right, there was an element in Gertrud's nature which strove against
+this future in the isolation of the little village, and monotonous
+round of household duties, so far from the busy world with its many
+centres of interest--but Gertrud was tired of ever moving aimlessly and
+with no settled future, from one place of dependence to another; she
+longed for some sure, calm haven, though she knew that it would be the
+grave of all that she called life.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The snow storm had begun once more, Gertrud opened the windows and
+looked out, without regarding the cold--was it not the last free hour
+of her life--the next would bind it for ever. Over there on the distant
+country road, the sound of a post horn came through the falling snow.
+Noiselessly and thickly fell the soft flakes from the grey winter sky
+upon the hard earth. Everything around, the fields and valleys, the
+boughs of the trees, and the roofs of the houses bore the cold,
+shapeless garment of snow, and still and solitary lay the village, like
+death, covered with a white robe.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But this calm was suddenly broken by an unusual event, the post horn
+did not die away as usual in the distance, it came nearer and nearer,
+loud and merry, and was presently joined by the rattle of wheels. Drawn
+by four steaming horses, a post chaise worked itself with difficulty
+through the snow, till it stopped before the pastor's door. A
+gentleman, wrapped in furs, sprang out, and with a cry, half
+consternation, half joy, Gertrud flew from the window.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile this unexpected event, the arrival of a guest in an extra
+post chaise with four horses, had alarmed the whole household below.
+The flock of children rushed into the hall, the pastor's study-door was
+hurriedly opened, voices were heard on all sides, till finally, a firm
+voice, making itself heard above all the tumult, said--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do not trouble yourself, Herr Pastor. Fräulein Walter will excuse me
+if I present myself without being formally announced. I have important
+news for her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Steps were heard on the stairs, the door flew open, and Count Arnau
+stood upon the threshold.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gertrud could not utter a word of greeting; trembling in every limb,
+she still stood on the same spot. He closed the door and approached
+her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;So you have flown from me to this distant, isolated village? Gertrud,
+did you really think I should <i>not</i> find you?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His eyes rested gravely and reproachfully on her face.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She made an attempt to regain her self-command.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Herr Graf, I do not know, indeed, what your sudden appearance means
+after--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;After my long silence? What, Gertrud, did not you know me better? You
+thought I was weak and cowardly enough to accept your generous
+sacrifice unconditionally?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She dropped her eyes; a &quot;No&quot; to this answer would have been--a lie. He
+came close to her and took her hand.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I knew <i>you</i> well enough to know that your declaration was made in all
+earnestness, and that every attempt to dissuade you would meet with a
+renewed refusal, and it is contrary to my nature to indulge in useless
+complaints and assurances. I preferred to be silent till I could act.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Act?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She looked at him questioningly, doubtingly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Yes. Your farewell words were true, no one knew that better than
+myself. In our little capital, where every scandal sleeps unforgotten,
+to wake again through love of talk, to the ruin of some family--in our
+own principality, where every important post depends upon favour at
+Court, and in the midst of a nobility whose prejudices are not yet
+touched by the faintest breath of advancing opinion, my career would,
+indeed, have been shattered if Gertrud Brand had become my wife. A
+union between us under <i>these</i> circumstances would have been
+impossible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And now--?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;These circumstances had to be altered. I am free.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Hermann! What have you done?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His countenance lighted up with that expression which hitherto only she
+had seen, and under which the hard features seemed so strangely mild.
+In spite of her consternation there was an unspeakable amount of
+confession in her words, which he had hitherto not been able to tear
+from her; it was the first time she had called him by his name.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have bidden farewell to the past. Do not be frightened, I have all
+the future before me. I am not one of those natures who are able to
+vegetate from one year's end to another in the retirement of an estate,
+allowing the world to go its own way as it will, and neither are you
+suited for such a narrow sphere of life. Before the beginning of the
+year I was asked to enter into the service of the State in another
+country, but I then refused, because my connection and prospects gave
+me certain hopes of the first place in our principality. Directly after
+you left the offer was renewed. There are certainly some steps to mount
+in order to gain such a position as that I have renounced, and it may
+cost me more effort than hitherto, but I <i>will</i> rise, be sure of that.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He said all simply and calmly; but Gertrud nevertheless felt deeply
+what a sacrifice the ambitious man had made; her bosom heaved in joyful
+pride, she knew now what she was to him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;All is settled now,&quot; continued he, after a moment's pause. &quot;I shall
+enter upon my new office in B---- next month--but I shall not go there
+without my wife. Gertrud, will you come with me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His arms closed passionately round the no longer resisting girl; she
+leaned her head upon his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;Do you think, Hermann, then, that there we--&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;We are strangers in B----. There no one knows of the crime and the
+unhappy remembrances connected with it, and if, in the future, anything
+should be heard--in the bustle and life of that great capital there
+will be no lasting place for dim, distant reports of a past generation.
+Besides this, I shall have no connection with the Court there; and if
+it does not choose to receive my <i>bürgerliche</i> wife, it will be easy
+for me to avoid it, and we shall find sufficient to make up for that in
+other circles. <i>I</i> will answer for the Gräfin Arnau's fitting reception
+and position in these.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A deep flush bathed Gertrud's cheeks at the last words; that name--once
+so hated, she heard it now for the first time as her future one.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And your grandmother?&quot; asked she softly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Count's brow darkened.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I had a hard battle with her, for she alone guessed the reason for my
+determination. She must thank her own hardness and obstinacy if a
+stranger's hand closes her eyes. We parted without reconciliation.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;O, Hermann, you are giving up all for my sake!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He gently raised her head, and looked into her eyes.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;And you gave up what was most sacred to you, the only treasure you
+possessed, to save me. Sacrifice for sacrifice! Gertrud, I am no longer
+the cold egotist who knows nothing but ambition. You know what had made
+me hard and bitter, what poisoned my youth, and took away, when I was
+but a child, my love, my trust in men; give it back to me!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The full, passionate look of love in her eyes answered him--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;I have one request, Hermann, it is my first. Let the past be buried
+between us, let us never allude to it, even by a word. We will forget
+it--for ever.&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">&quot;For ever!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Without, the snow still fell noiselessly, and laid itself thick and
+cold on the hard earth; but here two hearts beat warm against one
+another, ready to meet the future bravely. The old curse, which had so
+long darkened the lives of both, and appeared as if it must separate
+them for ever, had been banished by their own hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Not avenged, but expiated was the crime, and both now felt what the old
+Präsidentin had said, as the last fragment of the fateful paper sank in
+dust and ashes; &quot;God be thanked! The evil is at an end!&quot;</p>
+
+<p class="normal"></p>
+
+<p class="normal">FOOTNOTES:</p>
+
+<p class="normal"><p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>:
+Bridegroom.</p>
+
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Belonging
+to the lower rank, common.</p>
+
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: Most
+gracious--a term used in addressing ladies in
+Germany.</p>
+
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: Gracious
+Count.</p>
+
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Betrothed,
+bride. A German lady is always called a bride
+as soon as she is betrothed.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<hr class="W90">
+<h5>Printed by <span class="sc">Remington &amp; Co</span>., 5, Arundel Street,
+Strand, W.C.</h5>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERMAN ***
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+</body>
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+
diff --git a/35142.txt b/35142.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b5f8a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35142.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4289 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Herman
+       A Novel
+
+Author: E. Werner
+
+Translator: Helen Keer Brown
+
+Release Date: February 2, 2011 [EBook #35142]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERMAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+   1. Page scan source:
+      http://books.google.com/books?id=ZBUCAAAAQAAJ&dq
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                           AT EVERY LIBRARY.
+
+                                NEW WORK
+
+                                   BY
+
+                         GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+                          PARIS HERSELF AGAIN
+                               In 1878-9,
+
+
+                    With Four Hundred Illustrations
+
+                                   BY
+
+           Cham, Bertall, Pelcoq, Grevin, Gill, Marie, Morin,
+              Deroy, Lalanne, Benoist, Lafosse, Mars, etc.
+
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+            2 Vols. Demy 8vo. Cloth, Handsomely Bound. 25s.
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+
+                                London:
+                REMINGTON & CO., 5, Arundel Street, W.C.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                                HERMANN.
+
+
+                                A Novel,
+
+
+
+                                   BY
+
+                               E. WERNER.
+
+     _Author of_ "_Success and How He Won it_," "_Under a Charm_,"
+               "_Riven Bonds_," "_No Surrender_," _etc_.
+
+
+                             TRANSLATED BY
+                           HELEN KEER BROWN.
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+                                London:
+                           REMINGTON AND CO.,
+                    5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.
+                               *   *   *
+                                 1879.
+
+                        [_All Rights Reserved_.]
+
+
+
+
+
+                                HERMANN.
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+
+
+"But, Doctor, for heaven's sake tell us what this is all about."
+
+"The whole town is talking of it already, and still we have heard no
+particulars!"
+
+"Surely it is impossible, Doctor, it cannot be true!"
+
+He, to whom all these questions and exclamations were addressed, rapped
+his stick with an air of impatient vexation against the pavement, and
+replied in a rather dry, concise tone--
+
+"What you may think possible or impossible, gentlemen, is not for me to
+decide; the fact is simply this, that the sum of 20,000 thalers is
+missing, and that the steward, Brand, has shot himself this morning.
+You can decide for yourselves the connection between the two
+circumstances."
+
+The assembled officers of the Prince's household surrounded, with pale,
+horrified faces, the principal physician of the town, from whose lips
+they had just received confirmation of a report, which had already
+agitated the little town for some hours.
+
+"It is really true, then! And they say that the misfortune happened in
+Count Arnau's own room."
+
+"In his business room! The Count had suspected the steward for some
+days, and therefore sent for him this morning. He called him to
+account, and finally charged him to his face with the robbery. Brand
+attempted to deny it at first, but at last confessed to it, and begged
+for mercy, which, of course, could not be granted to him; and as the
+Count turned to ring the bell, in order to have him taken into custody,
+he drew out a pistol and shot himself before his Excellency's eyes."
+
+"Did you hear this from his Excellency himself?" asked one of the older
+members of the Count's household.
+
+"From his own lips."
+
+"Indeed?"
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the Doctor, surprised at the strange tone of
+this "indeed?"
+
+"O, nothing! Only I cannot understand how Brand could be a thief.
+Brand, the most punctual, most conscientious of all men, who would
+never allow the slightest irregularity in his work--"
+
+"Appearances deceive sometimes. Just this apparent conscientiousness
+must have been the cloak for his villany."
+
+The old man shook his head.
+
+"And yet--it cannot be. I would have believed any one capable of it,
+sooner than Brand! Has it been proved already then, that--"
+
+The Doctor made a movement of impatience.
+
+"My dear Weiss, I am no judge in a court of law. Of course an
+examination will disclose all particulars; for the present the papers
+of the deceased have been seized, and I hear that Count Arnau has
+himself undertaken to look over them--but I have no time to waste. I
+must attend the Countess."
+
+"Ah, yes, poor lady!" said a third, joining in the conversation. "How
+is she?"
+
+The Doctor shrugged his shoulders gravely.
+
+"Very unwell! which is, unfortunately, only what we can expect. Such an
+event in one's own house is enough to make any one ill, and when one is
+in the last stage of consumption, and ought to be carefully guarded
+from all agitation, it is enough to cause one's death. Adieu,
+gentlemen!"
+
+So saying, he lifted his hat, and with a hurried greeting, left the
+steward's office, where the conversation had taken place, and hurried
+towards the house of the chamberlain, Count Arnau, which lay about
+midway between the former and the Prince's residence.
+
+In the drawing-room of the large, splendidly appointed dwelling sat two
+ladies, the wife of the Count, and her mother, the widowed Praesidentin
+von Sternfeld, who had left her estates in the neighbourhood in order
+to visit her daughter, and had now been with her about a quarter of an
+hour. At the first glance no one would have taken the two ladies for
+mother and daughter, for, indeed, one could not trace the slightest
+resemblance between them. The Praesidentin was a woman about fifty, with
+a not very tall, but powerful figure, and with features, which, indeed,
+could never have been beautiful, but were now striking from their
+remarkable expression of energy and decision. There was nothing
+attractive, nor womanly in this sharply-cut countenance, and her whole
+appearance coincided with it. Carriage, speech, everything, was short,
+decided, and commanding, as is usual with any one accustomed to
+unconditional authority and command. The Countess, on the other hand,
+was a young, and still beautiful woman, though her form showed but too
+plainly the devastating traces of severe bodily suffering. The
+delicate, stooping figure, the gentle pale face, the low, soft voice,
+all formed the sharpest contrast to the mother's appearance.
+
+The subject of the two ladies' conversation was naturally the dreadful
+event of the morning.
+
+The Countess had just related it with renewed agitation; her eyes
+showed the traces of newly-shed tears, and her pale cheeks showed two
+burning, feverish spots. The Praesidentin apparently possessed stronger
+nerves than her daughter; the Countess's agitated relation seemed to
+make only a very slight impression upon her. The most painful feature
+in the whole affair appeared to her, that it should have happened in
+the Count's own house.
+
+"Well, I hope they took care to inform you of it gradually?"
+
+The Countess shook her head gently.
+
+"O, mamma, that was impossible! I heard a shot in my husband's study;
+and of course I flew along the corridor, frightened to death, and just
+reached the door as Adalbert opened it for me. He hurried past me to
+call for help, and--"
+
+"And took no notice of you, when it was enough to kill you on the
+spot!" interrupted the Praesidentin, very angrily. "What
+incomprehensible want of consideration!"
+
+"Ach, Adalbert was so upset himself, so beside himself, indeed, more
+than I have ever seen him! He seemed quite unnerved, and I understand
+that only too well. To think that he should have been the one, though
+against his will, to drive the unhappy man to that terrible step."
+
+"Your husband only did his duty," said the mother, decidedly, "and the
+man suffered the punishment he deserved. He has at least been spared
+public disgrace, since he unfortunately cannot be called to account in
+any way."
+
+"But he leaves behind a family, a wife, and a child only a few months
+old--a little girl, I believe."
+
+"That is sad; but better for them that the husband and father should be
+dead, than know him to be in prison. Don't make such a trouble of it,
+Ottilie, this is not the first time that an untrue servant has
+anticipated justice in this way. And if he possessed any character at
+all, scarcely anything else would have been open to him after the
+unavoidable discovery."
+
+The Countess sighed; she apparently had not philosophy enough to throw
+aside the dreadful event which had happened almost before her eyes, so
+easily as her mother, who now asked--"Where is Adalbert?"
+
+"I have not seen him since. He is himself undertaking the seizure and
+examination of the steward's papers; I expect he is still occupied with
+them."
+
+"And Hermann? Why does not he come as usual to see me?"
+
+Before the Countess could answer, the folding doors opened which
+communicated with the next room, and a boy, about eight years old,
+appeared. The little Count Arnau was a strong, but rather unattractive
+child, who bore little or no resemblance to his mother, though a very
+striking one to his grandmother.
+
+It was the same cast of face, the same high, broad forehead, the same
+clear, sharp glance, and round the small mouth were already forming the
+first lines of that energy and decision which made the grandmother's
+countenance so repellant and so striking. Was the boy always as pale as
+this? or had he, too, been influenced by the terrible event of this
+morning, the news of which had spread through the whole house? In any
+case, he did not run merrily to his grandmother, but went slowly
+towards her--almost shyly, and without speaking, put his arm round her
+neck.
+
+"Why, Hermann," asked she severely, "you were in the ante-room, and did
+not come in? What does that mean? How long have you been accustomed to
+listening behind the curtains?"
+
+The grave, but not severely-meant reproof, had a strange effect upon
+the boy. He shrank back at the last words, and a sudden flush dyed his
+formerly pale cheek; at the same time his eyes rested upon his
+grandmother with such an expression of anxious pain, that she
+involuntarily softened her tone, and asked, "But what is the matter,
+child? Have you become shy and timid all at once?"
+
+"The poor child is still frightened," said the Countess, intercedingly.
+"I suddenly found him at my side in the study, so that he, too,
+like myself, must have witnessed the terrible scene. Wasn't it so,
+Hermann--you heard the report in papa's room, and hurried after me?"
+
+The boy did not answer; he hid his face on the grandmother's shoulder,
+and she felt how his whole body trembled in her arms. But the
+Praesidentin was not the woman to suffer any display of feeling in her
+grandson, she lifted up his head in rather ungentle fashion.
+
+"I should not have expected this from Hermann. If his poor, suffering
+mamma, is made worse by this fright, that is only natural; but if a
+boy, who is ever to become a _man_, trembles like this for hours after,
+it is a sign of weakness and effeminacy which ought to be struggled
+against as early as possible."
+
+These sharp, severely-spoken words, evidently wounded the boy deeply.
+There was no fear or pain, but decided defiance in the hasty movement
+with which he turned away from his grandmother. With flashing eyes, and
+deeply offended mien, he opened his mouth for some passionate retort,
+when his glance fell upon his mother, and a strange change passed over
+the child's face. His little lips pressed themselves firmly together,
+as if they would force back any words that might rise to them; the
+defiance disappeared from his features, which suddenly showed an
+expression of decision, astonishing for a boy of his age, and which
+brought out more clearly than before the likeness to the Praesidentin;
+then he hung his head, and let the reproof pass without remark.
+
+The Praesidentin shook her head, and was about to express her surprise
+at this unaccountable behaviour, when the Doctor was announced. The
+Countess, who did not wish her mother to find out how terribly she was
+really affected by the event of the morning, rose apparently without
+effort, and went into the ante-room; the Doctor's visit did not last
+long, after an absence of scarcely two minutes she returned to the
+drawing-room.
+
+The Praesidentin still sat in the same place as before; but her head was
+bent low as she listened to what little Hermann was telling her. He
+knelt beside her on the sofa, his arms thrown round her neck.
+
+Both grandmother and child started as the Countess entered; the former
+hastily laid her hand on the child's mouth, and, raising her head,
+turned slowly towards her daughter.
+
+"_Um Gotteswillen_, mamma, what is the matter?" cried she, looking
+dreadfully frightened.
+
+The Praesidentin's face was pale as death, justifying only too much the
+anxious question; she tried to answer, but her trembling lips refused
+to do so; a mute, deprecatory wave of the hand was her only reply.
+
+The Countess raised her hand towards the bell. "You are not well, I
+will call my maid, she shall--"
+
+"Stop! I want no one," cried the Praesidentin, almost roughly. The
+energetic woman had already mastered her weakness, though the colour
+still did not return to her paleface, and her lips trembled as they
+added more quietly--"It is nothing! A sudden giddiness, it will be gone
+directly."
+
+But Countess Ottilie had never seen her mother's iron constitution
+yield to any bodily weakness, therefore this sudden attack alarmed her
+so much the more.
+
+"Would you not like to lie down in your room for a time?" asked she,
+anxiously. "The long drive has over-tired you. Go away just now,
+Hermann, you see grandmamma is not well."
+
+But the grandmother drew the boy convulsively towards her. "Hermann
+shall go with me. I should like to have him. Do not trouble, Ottilie, I
+repeat, the giddiness has quite gone; you need rest and quiet quite as
+much as I do, and therefore I will take Hermann with me, he may disturb
+you with his chatter."
+
+This proposal was made in such a decided tone, that the Countess, who
+had never been accustomed to contradict her mother in anything, made no
+objection; she silently complied, though still with visible anxiety.
+
+And the poor woman was to experience still more that was strange and
+puzzling in the course of this day, which had begun so terribly. The
+Praesidentin excused herself from appearing at dinner, she was still not
+quite well, but refused most decidedly to see a doctor, and requested
+instead, that her son-in-law would come and see her for a few minutes,
+so soon as dinner was over.
+
+The Count, apparently thoroughly out of humour, not only through the
+dreadful event of the morning, but also from the numerous unpleasant
+business duties incumbent upon him, seemed inclined to be irritable and
+impatient, and complied with the request with visible unwillingness; so
+much the more was the Countess astonished that he remained so long with
+her mother. The interview lasted more than an hour, and she heard
+nothing of what had passed, for, during the whole time, not only the
+door of the room, but that of the ante-room remained fast shut. The
+only apparent result of the conversation, as far as the Graefin was
+concerned, was, that her mother informed her, she intended to return as
+early as the next day, and would like to take her grandson, who, indeed
+had been with her ever since she had retired to her room. She stated
+that the boy's naturally lively disposition disturbed and annoyed the
+mother in her present state, and that it would be best for him to
+remain away some time, so that she should be left perfectly undisturbed
+to recover from her recent agitation. The Count seconded the
+grandmother's proposal most decidedly, but Ottilie was anxious and
+disturbed, and strove against the decision. She did not like losing her
+only son, whom she loved so tenderly, and called it cruel kindness to
+take away the only comfort of the long, weary days of illness--but in
+vain--mother and husband, usually most indulgent to the gentle patient,
+for once withstood her wishes with incomprehensible hardness, and the
+Countess, too weak and too little accustomed to independent resistance,
+was obliged to comply.
+
+The next morning the travelling carriage stood early before the door.
+
+Ottilie was greatly agitated as she bade farewell to her son, and,
+bathed in tears, threw her arms round him again and again, but the
+boy's peculiar nature was proof even against his mother's distress.
+True, his little mouth quivered, and his breast heaved with a
+suppressed sob, but no tears came into his eyes, and he submitted
+mutely to the caresses lavished upon him, till at last the Count became
+impatient, and drew him away from his wife's arms. But as he did so,
+Hermann suddenly drew back, with unconcealed dread, indeed, almost
+horror, from the father's caress, and the Count was only too well aware
+of it. A deep flush rose to his brow, he seized the boy's hands,
+pressing them fast in his, and drew him thus towards him, with apparent
+gentleness, but in reality with no little force. This time Hermann made
+no resistance, and no cry of pain escaped his lips, though the pressure
+of his father's hands must have hurt him, but he clenched his little
+teeth, and his face wore such an aspect of dark defiance, that his
+father suddenly loosened his hold and pushed him away. But the glance
+which met the boy's eyes was so fearfully threatening, that the
+Praesidentin involuntarily threw her arm protectingly round the child.
+
+"Adalbert!"
+
+He turned round quickly, and a momentary glance passed between them,
+unobserved by any one else. The Countess still lay sobbing on the sofa,
+and when the servant entered the Count had recovered his usual
+equanimity, and offered his mother-in-law his arm.
+
+"Calm yourself, Ottilie! We are only giving up Hermann to his
+grandmother, who will look after him well."
+
+There was something like oppression in the tone of these harmless
+words, and his glance sought the Praesidentin's, who returned it
+unswervingly.
+
+"Do not be the least anxious, Adalbert," replied she shortly, "whatever
+I undertake I can answer for."
+
+Some minutes later the travellers were seated in the carriage; the
+Count, who had accompanied them to the door, bowed farewell, and
+retired from the carriage door, above which the Countess's tearful face
+appeared at the window, waving her handkerchief. As the carriage rolled
+away, the Praesidentin gave a sigh of relief, and drew the boy
+convulsively towards her, as if she had just rescued him from some
+great danger. He hid his head on her shoulder, and, for the first time,
+burst into tears, and sobbed bitterly.
+
+The guilt and suicide of the steward, Brand, had brought the whole
+town, usually a quiet, sleepy place, where anything of importance
+seldom happened, into a state of great agitation. The event excited so
+much the more stir, as the opinion which the old servant had expressed
+to the doctor, on hearing of the disaster, was one which represented
+the town in general. All thought any other person capable of the deed,
+sooner than Brand, who had been everywhere considered a most capable
+and clever man of business, as well as a pattern of conscientiousness,
+and faithfulness in duty.
+
+Indeed, it was just these qualities, or rather the strictness with
+which he enforced his own punctuality and carefulness from others, and
+the blame he bestowed (especially upon his inferiors), for the
+slightest irregularity in business, which had made him many enemies,
+but no one had ever dared to withhold the highest respect towards him,
+and now, all at once, this man was declared to be a cheat, an impostor!
+
+There could be no doubt about it, his own confession and suicide had
+declared his guilt, but what had become of the enormous sum embezzled?
+That was, and continued to be, an unexplained question. There lay,
+indeed, a certain obscurity over the whole matter, which was not
+smoothed away, and, perhaps, never could be, since he, who alone could
+account for it, was now beyond the reach of earthly justice.
+
+The examination brought nothing further to light, beyond the already
+existing facts. The steward had given out the above-mentioned money
+from the Prince's revenue to Count Arnau, the chamberlain and confidant
+of his Highness; and hitherto he had been most punctual in payment of
+the instalments, but the last time he had put it off for eight days,
+for some apparently plausible excuse. At first the Count appeared quite
+satisfied, though his suspicions were aroused when he heard by chance
+that Brand had obtained some days' leave on account of "family
+affairs," and was on the point of setting off. He sent for him
+privately, demanded an explanation, threatened him with immediate
+examination into the Prince's affairs, and forced confession from the
+guilty steward, who instantly committed suicide, when the forbearance
+which he pleaded for was denied to him.
+
+Count Arnau had taken up the matter energetically at once. He took upon
+himself the seizure of the dead man's accounts and papers, and
+subjected them to a careful, personal examination, though the office
+which he held did not require him to do so; but they were not strict
+about such matters in the little town, especially when the interest of
+the Prince's house was at stake, and thought a man of the Count's
+position and influence was quite justified in interfering in such
+matters, added to which, they considered it only natural that the
+Count, whose pardonable indulgence had delayed the discovery some days,
+and thereby probably caused the loss of the money, should now redouble
+his efforts to make it good. But all his zeal remained without result,
+neither he, nor the police officers of the town (though it must be
+confessed that the latter were by no means gifted with extraordinary
+intelligence), succeeded in finding any trace of the missing sum, or
+even the smallest allusion to the disposal of it in the official and
+private papers of the deceased. He must have first secured it, and then
+hoped to avoid the inevitable discovery by instant flight, asking, in
+the first place, merely for permission for a few days' absence, to
+cover the first few days' disappearance, and the boxes stood ready for
+his departure, when his deserved fate overtook him. Count Arnau
+confirmed on oath the declaration he had already made, and with this
+the matter was at an end. No further examination followed. The
+unfortunate man was buried as quietly as possible, and his widow, with
+her child, left the town, where their name would henceforth be branded
+with shame. The income which her husband's office had kept up was, of
+course, no longer forthcoming, and the little property he possessed was
+seized, though it did not cover more than the smallest part of the
+embezzled sum. So ended the drama, at least, so far as the town here
+was concerned.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+
+"I do wish, Eugen, you would make up your mind. What is the good of all
+this doubting and fluctuating?"
+
+The young man to whom these words were addressed, lifted his head
+slowly and said in a tone of unconcealed bitterness--
+
+"I wish you knew what such a conflict was, then you would understand
+how difficult decision is!"
+
+"I don't think I should. If my whole future lay on one side, and a
+youthful love affair, already half cooled down, on the other, there
+would be no conflict at all in my case, but simply necessity, which I
+should bow to, at any price."
+
+"And if it cost the breaking of a heart?"
+
+"_Mein Gott!_ don't look at the matter in such a terribly tragical way.
+Broken hearts, dying in sacrifice to unhappy love, may be very
+effective and touching in novels, but don't exist in actual life, and
+such a simple girl as your _fiancee_, is not likely to fall a victim to
+this romantic martyrdom. Of course the loss of her _braeutigam_[1] will
+cost her some tears, but she will get over it, and a year and a day
+after will marry some respectable Buerger and Councillor of B., who will
+suit her much better, and make her much happier than you would ever be
+able to do."
+
+"I wish you would be quiet, Hermann!" cried Eugen violently. "You don't
+know Gertrud, and for that reason you are always unjust to her."
+
+"That may be. I have, as you know, a decided antipathy to everything
+narrow and _buergerlich_,[2] and when it stands in the way of a man's
+career, and drags him down into the lowest sphere of life, I simply
+hate it!"
+
+Eugen had no reply ready for these decided words. He sprang up, went to
+the window, and pressing his brow against the glass, looked out on the
+park, which lay before him in the dewy freshness of a June morning. The
+sun shone warmly into the ancient pavilion, with its half obliterated
+frescoes on walls and roof, on the gilded, richly carved furniture,
+with its faded figured damask of the last century; and lighted up
+brightly the figures of the two young men seated there. The one who
+leaned against the window had a tall, slender figure, and a face,
+which, without being regularly beautiful, was yet singularly attractive
+at first sight. There was a mighty charm in these features, a world of
+passion and dreaminess in the dark eyes, and cloudy brows, and the
+inward conflict which was now shown plainly enough in his countenance,
+gave a still deeper interest to this artistic head, with its wealth of
+dark hair.
+
+His companion possessed little or none of these fascinating
+attractions. He was smaller, but more powerfully built, with irregular
+features, which would have made him decidedly plain, but for the high,
+finely moulded brow, which gave a remarkable and peculiar character to
+the whole countenance. His keen grey eyes, almost too keen for a man of
+four-and-twenty, looked out calmly and clearly from beneath it, and
+seemed in keeping with the sharply defined lines round the mouth, a
+feature full of energy and decision, but cold and bitter in expression,
+robbing the countenance of all youthfulness, and making it at some
+moments almost repulsive. The young man spoke calmly, leaning back at
+his ease in the arm chair, and contemplating his agitated friend with
+almost indifference, but in spite of his calmness and indifferent mien,
+there was an air of unconscious nobility in his bearing, a decided
+superiority, which was wanting in Eugen, who, leaning gracefully
+against the window, dreamily contemplating the clouds, was certainly
+interesting, but perhaps a little theatrical in appearance.
+
+A momentary pause in the conversation had occurred, suddenly broken by
+Hermann with the question--
+
+"What is your feeling with regard to Antonie?"
+
+A deep sigh, and a movement of impatience was the only answer.
+
+"You love her?"
+
+"I worship her!"
+
+"And this worship gives her only too much satisfaction. But now, do you
+imagine that my proud cousin would be the one to suffer a rival in the
+shape of an unknown, insignificant little Buergermaedchen? Take care, if
+she should find it out sooner or later; I assure you, it would dash all
+your hopes to the ground at once."
+
+Eugen looked moodily into space.
+
+"Hopes! How could I dare to have any? Am not I _buergerlich_, with no
+great name, no fortune--do you really imagine that she would be ready
+to sacrifice her name and rank for me, that Countess Arnau could ever
+become the wife of an unknown painter?"
+
+A sarcastic smile quivered round Hermann's lips--
+
+"Well, if you cannot tell, I am not the one to give you any certainty
+about the matter. But," added he, mockingly, "it seems to me you are
+pretty sure of your ground, and that there is not much danger of having
+'No' for an answer. Just on that account you must decide for yourself.
+How shall it be? What have you decided?"
+
+Eugen threw himself back into his chair with a despairing exclamation.
+
+"Do not torment me with such questions, Hermann! You see my
+difficulties! It would be kinder to show me some way out of this
+labyrinth."
+
+"The way is plain enough before you! Be a man, and rouse yourself to
+action energetically. Break quickly and decidedly the chain which has
+held you down so far, you owe it to Antonie, to your own future, if you
+do not intend your love for her to be an insult. And then, when you are
+free, come with me to Italy. The tour is really necessary for the
+completion of your art studies; if your finances don't admit of it,
+mine are at your disposal. Come, make haste and decide."
+
+The decided, almost commanding manner of the friend, did not seem to
+admit of any contradiction, and did not fail to impress the young
+painter, who wrung his hands in deep inward conflict with himself.
+
+"I know you are right, only too right. I feel it in every word you say,
+but, Gertrud! Gertrud! Call me weak, call me what you will, but I
+cannot bear to know that she is unhappy, unhappy through me."
+
+With a movement of the greatest impatience, Hermann pushed back his
+chair and sprang up.
+
+"Well, then, if you cannot, I shall act for you. Ah, here comes
+Antonie, just at the right time."
+
+"What are you going to do?" cried Eugen, alarmed.
+
+"Cut the knot which ties you to despair! Good morning, _liebe Toni_."
+
+Eugen longed to protest and entreat against his friend's intentions,
+which he dimly portended, but it was already too late. A dress rustled
+before the door of the pavilion, and a young lady crossed the
+threshold.
+
+Countess Antonie Arnau was certainly a being whose appearance could
+well justify the passion of a young artist. A slender refined figure,
+and a face of truly poetic beauty. A pair of dark eyes, full of dreamy
+fire, looked out from a somewhat pale face, surrounded by dark hair,
+artistically arranged, and falling thickly on her white embroidered
+morning dress. Her movements and bearing were full of grace, but
+nevertheless, there was a something in her air which betrayed that the
+young Countess was quite as well aware of her beauty as of her position
+in the world.
+
+She shook hands with her cousin confidentially, while she answered
+Eugen's greeting with a smile, and then said playfully--,
+
+"I thought I was the first in the park today, but I see the gentlemen
+are already before me, and are holding a most important conference
+here."
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Important, yes, but entirely without result! I have been trying in
+vain for an hour to convince Eugen of the necessity of his
+companionship on my tour to Italy."
+
+"What, Herr Reinert," and the beautiful woman glanced surprised and
+reproachfully at the young artist. "You hesitate? I thought it was a
+settled matter, and fully expected to see you again in Rome with
+Hermann."
+
+Eugen was silent, and sent across a half pleading, half threatening
+glance to Hermann, who appeared not to see it, for he replied calmly--
+
+"You were mistaken, Antonie; Eugen has altered his plans. He
+declines to go, and prefers returning to his native town, to lead his
+_fiancee_--"
+
+"Hermann!" cried Eugen, who had hitherto vainly endeavoured to put in a
+word.
+
+"To lead his _fiancee_, a Buergermaedchen there, to the hymeneal altar,"
+concluded Hermann, not the least disturbed.
+
+But these words had a formidable effect upon Antonie. For the first
+moment she was deadly pale, and her hand unconsciously grasped the arm
+of the chair to support herself, then a sudden flush suffused her
+countenance, and a flash shot from her dark eyes--a glance which
+disfigured the beautiful face, a glance which seemed ready to
+annihilate Eugen, who stood resistless before her. Then, gathering
+together all her strength, she turned away from both to the window,
+thus shielding at least her countenance from Hermann's sharply
+observant eyes.
+
+The latter evidently felt that a third was superfluous in the
+explanation, which must inevitably follow, Antonie already knew enough.
+He took up his hat from the table--
+
+"Excuse me a few moments. I have forgotten to give an order in the
+Castle. I will be back directly."
+
+The excuse was hardly necessary; neither Antonie nor Eugen appeared to
+hear it, and the young Count Arnau, who detested "scenes," and saw a
+most stormy one impending, hurried away from the pavilion, closing the
+door behind him.
+
+The two occupants of the room stood at first silently before one
+another. Antonie was still striving for self-command, and Eugen could
+find no words with which to defend himself.
+
+He fought between anger against Hermann, and shame at the painfully
+humiliating situation in which he found himself, in which, indeed, his
+friend had placed him. The Countess was the first to speak.
+
+"I regret, Herr Reinert, that I have only this moment become aware of
+your engagement through my cousin, or I should have congratulated you
+long since."
+
+The icy glance and freezing tone roused Eugen from his insensibility,
+and he made an attempt to hurry towards her, "_Um Gotteswillen_,
+Antonie, not that tone!"
+
+With a look of the proudest contempt she drew back.
+
+"Sir, you seem to forget that you are addressing Countess Arnau."
+
+Neither words nor expression could have been chosen, which could convey
+more scorn, Eugen turned pale, his self confidence returned and gave
+him back new courage, deeply offended, he retired a step--"Pardon,
+_gnaedigste Graefin_![3] I believe it is the first time that you have
+found it necessary to remind me of the gulf between us, and I give you
+my word that it shall be the last."
+
+He bowed and strode towards the door, Antonie looked after him
+waveringly. She felt she had gone too far, and that she at least ought
+not to have spoken thus, and quick in repentance as in anger, she
+called him back.
+
+"Reinert!"
+
+He half turned.
+
+"What are your commands, _gnaedigste Graefin_?"
+
+But the passionate woman's pride and self command had come to an end
+alike, she had never possessed more than a small share of either.
+Accustomed to give way to every outbreak of feeling, she sank down on
+the sofa and burst into a violent fit of weeping.
+
+Eugen heard this, and stopped; he looked back, saw the beautiful
+tear-wet countenance turned towards him, and the next minute he was by
+her side.
+
+"You are crying, Graefin? May I speak to you? Antonie, will you condemn
+me unheard?"
+
+This time no hard refusal followed his confidential tone. She looked up
+at him, fighting between love and anger, but Eugen saw that he might
+now dare to justify himself, and did not hesitate to do so.
+
+"Yes, it is true I am bound, and this bond has become the curse of my
+life. When I returned to my native town some years ago, I saw once more
+a young girl, who had been a playfellow of mine. She was an orphan,
+scarcely beyond childhood, I thought I loved her, and her guardian
+urged me to declaration--so she became my _fiancee_. It was a step too
+hastily taken, but I wore the chain, and would have worn it patiently
+to the end. Then I came here and saw you, Antonie, and from that moment
+began the long fearful conflict between duty and passion. I must tear
+myself away from you, indeed, from every remembrance of you, if I would
+not succumb to this. Let my talent, let my whole future perish in that
+narrow confined sphere, let me know despair in an empty, joyless
+marriage--what is art to me, what, indeed, life itself, if I must
+renounce you!"
+
+He had spoken with ever rising agitation, and Antonie had ceased
+weeping, anger had given place to compassion, and, as he concluded,
+every reproach had perished in the fear of losing the beloved one.
+
+Countess Arnau was not the woman to recognise the claims of an
+outsider, where she alone would possess all.
+
+"Renounce?" asked she softly, with dropped eyelids. But a world of
+encouragement lay in the tone, "and why?"
+
+"You ask me? May I dare, then, to woo you? I am poor, you know it. I
+have nothing but my art. You stand so high, your position in life is so
+brilliant--"
+
+His glance, resting with burning passion upon the beautiful woman's
+face, contradicted these words of renunciation. She looked up and
+smiled.
+
+"And I am free, Eugen, quite free! You had forgotten that!
+
+"Antonie!"
+
+He rushed passionately to her feet.
+
+"Give me the hope, give me the certainty, that I may one day win you,
+and I will break my chain, cost what it may. Tell me, that you will be
+mine, in spite of your name, in spite of your family, and I will burst
+all bonds asunder, and win happiness, if need be, by force!"
+
+Antonie bent down to her kneeling lover, love plainly to be seen in her
+eyes--she was, indeed, wonderfully beautiful at this moment.
+
+"I fear no bonds. I know by experience how empty splendour and riches
+can make life, in a marriage where there is no love. Free yourself,
+cultivate your genius, and then, when your first work has won you an
+artist's fame,--then come and fetch the prize of victory!"
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The freshness of the morning was over, and the heat of a midday sun in
+June brooded over the village, which lay about half-an-hour's distance
+from the Schloss, where Count Arnau and Eugen Reinert were at present
+guests. The stage coach, which had passed through an hour ago, had put
+down travellers, an old gentleman and a young girl. The narrow, close,
+room of the inn seemed oppressive to both alike; the old man sat in the
+little garden behind the house, whilst his companion had sauntered to
+the front, and was now thoughtfully contemplating the scene around her.
+
+The village lay almost as still as death, the people were nearly all at
+work in the fields. No one was to be seen, save a group of children,
+playing in the broad village street, untroubled by the hot sunshine.
+
+Suddenly the distant rumble of a carriage was heard, and a moment after
+an elegant conveyance came in sight. The groom sat behind, and a
+gentleman himself managed the spirited black horses;--there was no
+doubt that he saw the children, but he seemed to imagine that they must
+also see him, and would move out of the way in time, for he drove
+straight through the village at the sharpest pace, though in such a
+broad street, it would have been quite easy to have turned out of the
+way. The little group of children flew right and left as he approached;
+only one, a little fellow, perhaps two years old, sat still, quite
+unconscious of his danger, and when the frightened children at last
+roused him by their cries, the carriage was already almost upon him. He
+now, at last, attempted to get up, but stunned, and unaccustomed to
+run, he stumbled at the first step, and fell down right in front of the
+horses. The driver of the carriage, only perceiving the child at that
+instant, drew them up with all his strength, but they were in full
+trot, and very spirited animals, so that he did not succeed in stopping
+them at once, and the boy seemed lost. Then the young girl suddenly
+flew towards the child, and, quick as lightning, tore him away almost
+from under the hoofs of the horses, took him in her arms and sprang
+aside. An instant later would have been fatal to him! A moment after
+the driver had succeeded in pulling up the fiery animals, but their
+hoofs stamped the place where the child lay a few seconds since, and
+he, quiet enough from fright in the moment of danger, now that he found
+himself safe, burst into a loud scream.
+
+Count Arnau gave the reins to his groom, sprang from the carriage, and
+approached the two.
+
+"Is any one hurt?" asked he, hastily.
+
+"I am not, but the child--"
+
+Without answering a word, Hermann took the little one from her arms,
+felt and examined him rather roughly, but very thoroughly, on all
+sides, and soon convinced himself that he was not the least injured.
+
+"It is nothing," said he calmly. "He was only frightened; come,
+cry-baby, you are all right enough!"
+
+So saying, he carelessly put down the child, who, intimidated by the
+rough tone, was now silent and looked up at him anxiously with great
+eyes, still full of tears. The Count then turned politely to the young
+girl who had saved him.
+
+"You showed great courage, _mein Fraeulein_. It was impossible to stop
+the horses so quickly, and the little fellow would have been lost but
+for you."
+
+His eyes looked over the girl quickly and sharply during this speech.
+She was still very youthful looking, as she stood there before him,
+certainly not more than seventeen years of age, with a slender, refined
+figure. Her dress was extremely simple. During the hasty movement which
+she made to save the child, her round straw hat had slipped off, and
+hung loosely on her neck, so that the full, warm, midday sun lit up her
+face, and the shining golden hair which surrounded it, the latter
+simply parted in front, and wound round the back of her head in heavy
+coils. Perhaps the blinding illumination of the sun made her look
+particularly charming at this moment, else her face was not actually
+beautiful, at least, not yet, though the lines of future beauty might
+already be traced in her features. At present they were still unformed
+and childish; the only characteristic which gave the face a particular
+charm were the great, deep, blue eyes, with their unusual, almost
+mysterious expression. There lay an earnestness beyond her years in
+these eyes, something more even than that, a shade, such as a life of
+care, suffering, and oppression, which cannot be fled from, will
+imprint upon a human countenance. Certainly the young face showed no
+trace of this, except in the one feature, the childish brow showed no
+furrow, the mouth no hard lines, but only in the eyes this shade lay
+deeply, as she lifted them, now, full of gravity and reproach.
+
+"A human life does not seem worth much in your eyes, or surely you
+would have given more thought to his danger."
+
+Count Arnau looked greatly astonished at this reprimand, and measured
+the youthful admonitress with a long, surprised glance.
+
+"The child is all right!" said he, in an off-hand tone, "he cried for
+pleasure, I suppose."
+
+"But a moment later, and he would have been run over."
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders. "Would have been!--Yes, if we always
+troubled ourselves about what might have happened, the day would not be
+long enough for every one's complaints. Fortunately all is well in this
+case, your courageous interference saved me from a disagreeable
+responsibility. I greatly regret having frightened you."
+
+"I was not frightened."
+
+Her words sounded cold and repellant, the way in which the Count
+treated the whole matter appeared to hurt the young girl. She knelt
+down by the boy, and busied herself in rubbing off the sand with which
+his little face and hands were covered, fortunately the only trace
+which the accident had left.
+
+Hermann remained where he was, watching her. Hitherto, he had always
+stoutly maintained, that, with the exception of his grandmother, who,
+in consequence of her energetic, masculine character, he hardly
+reckoned as belonging to the feminine race, every woman either went
+into hysterics or fainted at the sight of danger, and was greatly
+astonished to find a second exception here. "I was not frightened," she
+had declared, and, indeed, she had not been. Her face had retained its
+usual colour, her hands did not tremble, as she went gently and deftly
+to work, the young girl showed just as much calmness now as she had
+just before shown presence of mind.
+
+The door of the neighbouring house now opened, and a woman, poorly and
+untidily dressed, with rough hair, and a dull, expressionless face,
+came hurriedly out to take the boy from a stranger's arms, the Count
+felt in his pocket.
+
+"The child was almost run over by my carriage, take more care of it in
+future. Here is something for the fright he got."
+
+The dull features of the woman, which had hitherto hardly shown any
+concern, lighted up at sight of the shining thalers which he held out
+to her in his haughty, indifferent way. She curtseyed low, and thanked
+the Gnaedigen Herrn Grafen[4] for his kindness. The young girl had half
+risen, her large eyes travelling slowly from the mother to the child,
+and then back to the money, which the former held in her hand. She
+stood up suddenly, turned her back upon the group, and without saying a
+word, went towards the inn.
+
+With quick steps Hermann overtook her.
+
+"You see the fright was soon atoned for. The woman will bless the
+chance which has thrown her day's wages for three weeks into her
+hands."
+
+The words sounded half mocking, and half like a sort of excuse. The
+girl pressed her lips together.
+
+"I did not think it possible that a mother could possess so little
+self-respect as to let anxiety for her child's safety be bought off in
+that way."
+
+Hermann smiled sarcastically.
+
+"Self respect! In a village woman? Pardon me, Fraeulein, you must come
+from a town, and cannot know our country folks."
+
+"One can make acquaintance with poverty in the town too, especially
+when no very great depth separates one from it, Herr Graf."
+
+Hermann bit his lips.
+
+"I meant," said he sharply, "that the education, which separates you
+from those people, is quite as wide a cleft. Have you really such
+sympathy for these dull-witted, degraded people?"
+
+"I sympathise with any one who is oppressed and miserable."
+
+"Really?"
+
+Meanwhile they had reached the inn, the young girl bowed slightly, and
+laid her hand upon the latch, but Hermann anticipated her. He opened
+the door for her, and followed her into the inn.
+
+She stopped and looked at him repellantly and with surprise, it was
+easy to see she did not wish to continue the conversation. But in spite
+of this the Count went on.
+
+"Really?" repeated he, and added in rather an irritated tone, "it seems
+to me that you imply that I am one of the oppressors. I hope you don't
+credit me with having seen the child, and purposely driven on."
+
+"No, but you must have seen all the children. Why did you not turn out
+of the way for them?"
+
+"For the village children!" cried the young Count, with such
+unconcealed astonishment that one could see the thought had never
+entered his head. "I ought to drive out of the way of my uncle's
+labouring people?"
+
+The proposal seemed to him evidently unheard of, and the young stranger
+was on the point of answering, but suddenly stopped and leaned forward,
+listening attentively. A half stifled cry of delight escaped her lips;
+she involuntarily raised her arms, and was on the point of hurrying
+away, when she suddenly remembered Hermann's presence. A deep flush
+suffused her countenance, she let her arms fall and remained where she
+was, as if rooted to the ground. The Count had followed the direction
+of her eyes, and now saw the cause of this sudden change. Eugen
+Reinert, who, after a hasty question in the passage, strode hastily
+into the room without observing his friend.
+
+"Gertrud! _Um Gotteswillen_, you here!"
+
+She flew towards him, holding out both hands, with a beaming smile,
+which transformed and glorified her youthful face, but she appeared at
+the same time, by a whispered word to draw his attention to the fact
+that they were not alone. Eugen looked up and almost started.
+
+"Oh, Hermann, is it you?"
+
+A minute's oppressive pause followed. Gertrud looked surprised and
+questioningly at Eugen, who, pale and visibly disturbed, held fast her
+hand without speaking a word.
+
+Count Hermann leaned silently against the table with folded arms, and
+contemplated the pair steadfastly; the hard hostile look his features
+sometimes wore, almost alarmingly visible at this moment.
+
+"Pardon me, Gertrud," began Eugen at last, "I expected to find you
+alone. You know--?"
+
+"No," interrupted she quickly. "I met with this gentleman by chance."
+
+It seemed to cost Eugen a tremendous effort to make known his _fiancee_
+to Count Arnau, but he took her hand and led her towards him.
+
+"My--my _braut_,[5] Hermann! Gertrud, my nearest and best friend, Graf
+Arnau."
+
+Gertrud was on the point of returning Hermann's cold and very measured
+bow, in the same manner, but at the mention of his name, she gave a
+sudden start. Her face, so beaming a moment since, became deathly pale,
+and her widely opened eyes fixed themselves upon the young Count with
+an expression which startled Eugen, although he could not in the least
+account for it.
+
+"What is the matter, Gertrud? What is it?"
+
+"Nothing! nothing!"
+
+She strove visibly to command herself, and succeeded in doing so
+somewhat, but the strange look did not leave her eyes, and she
+involuntarily retreated gradually, drawing Eugen with her almost by
+force.
+
+Hermann turned away quickly.
+
+"I will not disturb your first meeting with your _braut_," said he,
+laying a sharp, sarcastic accent upon the word. "I am going to drive
+back to the Castle. _Au revoir!_"
+
+With a hurried bow he left the room and gained the outer door.
+
+So that was Gertrud Walter, Eugen's betrothed, the "little
+Buergermaedchen," who had appeared so distasteful to his haughty friend,
+because she "stood in the way of a man's career, and would draw him
+down to her own narrow sphere." Yes, to be sure, he had pictured her
+differently, but what a strange contradiction between her childish
+appearance and the very unchildish answers which she knew how to give.
+Neither met with the Count's approval; on the contrary, he was vexed
+that he had allowed himself to be the least impressed by this girl. And
+then--why did she hate him? Hermann was a closer observer than his
+passionate friend, he knew very well that it was not fright nor fear,
+but actual hate, a glowing, energetic hate, which he had seen in her
+eyes at the mention of his name, such as he had never before seen in
+any woman's countenance. For what reason did she hate him?
+
+"Bah, I know how it is, Eugen must have betrayed to her in his letters,
+that it is I who always urge him against this match, and Mademoiselle
+Walter sees in me the hostile element which threatens her happiness,
+and therefore honours me with her hate. A pity she wastes her energies
+on such a small matter!"
+
+The Count's lips curled scornfully, and he mounted to the box in very
+bad humour, took the reins from the groom, and drove away at a sharp
+pace. There was a dark, defiant look in his face, as he drove the
+horses almost recklessly before him; but when, at the end of the
+village, he met two old women by the wayside, who were on the point of
+turning out of the way for the Count's equipage in a great hurry, they
+observed, to their great astonishment, that the Count drove aside and
+flew past, at some little distance from them.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+Evening had come, but the sultriness of the day still remained, in the
+west a great thunder cloud hung threateningly, and the harvest people
+hurried homewards. Without any suspicion of the coming storm, since the
+wood hid the lowering clouds as yet, Gertrud Walter walked slowly along
+the footpath which led to the Schloss. She looked still graver and more
+thoughtful than in the morning, for Eugen's whole being seemed so
+strangely altered and disturbed. He had not been able to hide his
+visible disquiet and agitation, had seemed unwilling to answer her
+questions, and had hurried away, after barely a quarter of an hour's
+conversation with her, under the pretext that his presence was
+necessary at the Schloss. Gertrud was certainly embarrassed at this
+behaviour, but had not the slightest suspicion of anything seriously
+wrong, she had perfect faith in her _fiance's_ explanation, that an
+unpleasant circumstance had occurred, which had greatly annoyed him,
+and she waited impatiently for the night's meeting, in which he had
+promised to explain all. She wished to have some share in his
+unhappiness, wished to advise, comfort, help, so much as she could--she
+little imagined what explanation awaited her.
+
+It was the hour agreed upon; she had come to meet him, and now stood
+waiting, having already accomplished her half of the way. She did not
+dare to go further, for the Schloss could already be seen through an
+opening in the wood, where, as Eugen said, some commission kept him,
+with the completion of which he was now occupied. The young girl sat
+down upon the trunk of a tree, and let her folded hands fall into her
+lap. At this moment she looked childish enough, and in spite of the
+shade of care, her face bore the aspect of full confidence, as she
+gazed out into the distance. But this expression suddenly changed; she
+had been looking towards the Schloss, which one could see to the left
+through the tall fir trees, and with the sight of it some dark
+remembrance seemed to come back to her. A shade passed over the
+youthful features, and her lips pressed themselves together, her
+clasped hands loosened, she passed her hand several times hastily over
+her forehead, as if she would smooth away some tormenting thought, and
+then looked anxiously towards the spot where she expected Eugen to
+appear.
+
+Steps were now really heard in the distance. Gertrud sprang up, but it
+was the voices of two persons she heard. The young girl stood undecided
+whether to hurry forwards or wait, then a clear sharp voice reached
+her, and she no longer hesitated. But she turned pale; meet Eugen in
+this company? No, indeed. The next minute she was safely hidden behind
+a bush, which effectually shielded her from notice.
+
+"I have been trying to get a minute alone with you all the afternoon,"
+said Eugen's voice, "but you seemed to avoid it purposely, and Antonie
+would not let me leave her side for an instant. You must really listen
+now, Hermann, I need your advice, your assistance."
+
+"What for?"
+
+Meanwhile both the young men had reached the entrance of the wood, and
+the Count stopped close by the bush where Gertrud was hidden.
+
+"What for?" repeated he.
+
+Eugen looked at him, somewhat surprised at the cool tone.
+
+"You ask me? Why, you know, Gertrud is here, and surely can imagine my
+painful, dreadful situation."
+
+"Tell me first of all, how does your future bride happen to be here?"
+
+"Through the most unlucky chance in the world! Her guardian is on the
+way to visit some relations in A, and is taking her with him. They had
+to pass this village, and Gertrud, who knew I was here, persuaded her
+uncle to stay a day, to give me, as she imagined, a pleasant surprise!
+I thought I should have, sunk into the earth when I heard she was here
+to-day!"
+
+"Indeed?" The peculiar coldness of the Count's tone formed a sharp
+contrast to Eugen's passionate voice.
+
+"A very painful chance, certainly! And what do you intend to do?"
+
+The young man passed his hand over his brow--
+
+"I don't know!" said he, in a constrained voice. "I was obliged to make
+an excuse for appearing so disturbed to-day, and got away as quickly as
+I could, so as to escape questions; but she expects me to-night, and
+will persecute me with questions and entreaties. Do advise me, Hermann,
+what am I to do?"
+
+The Count sat down upon the trunk of a tree, with his back to the
+before-named bush; he did not for a moment alter his cold, repellant
+manner.
+
+"Something which will be anything but easy, but nevertheless _must_
+happen--tell her the truth."
+
+"Impossible! I cannot!"
+
+"Eugen!"
+
+"I cannot!" repeated Eugen passionately. "To any one else I could, but
+demean myself in her eyes by such a confession, I cannot!"
+
+"You seem to fear those eyes very much. But if you dare not confess it,
+what then?"
+
+Eugen cast down his eyes.
+
+"I thought," said he, hesitating after a pause, "I thought I would not
+tell her anything at present. She is going away again this evening, and
+next week I shall leave for Italy with you. From then I thought of
+gradually loosening the tie--"
+
+"Gradually loosening the tie--well, I'm waiting to hear the next."
+
+The young painter seemed to be becoming more and more uncomfortable
+under his friend's steadfast glance.
+
+"I do not wish to wound Gertrud by allowing her to know of my relations
+with Antonie," said he hastily. "She may think that reasons of another
+kind, losses or unfortunate circumstances, oblige me to break off the
+connection. I have already hinted at something of the sort. It will be
+easier to explain by letter, and from a distance--you can understand
+that I wish to spare her as much as possible."
+
+"Spare her? Then why will you torment the girl for weeks, perhaps
+months, with uncertainty as to her future, and anxiety about you? You
+intend to _spare_ her by giving her the poison by drops, and, after you
+have attracted to yourself all the womanly anxiety and tenderness she
+is capable of, you will give her the boundless humiliation of hearing
+that her _fiance_, whom she imagines in the depths of need and despair,
+is the chosen spouse of the rich Countess Arnau, is about to make one
+of the most brilliant matches in the country. Rather an odd way of
+sparing her!"
+
+Eugen looked at him in great astonishment.
+
+"Why, Hermann, what has taken you today? You have quite altered your
+views!"
+
+"My views have nothing to do with it, the question is, whether you were
+in earnest in what you said."
+
+The young man was silent.
+
+"You really mean it, then?" continued the Count, adding energetically.
+"Well, I must say I should not have expected it of you!"
+
+"I cannot understand," began Eugen, irritated at his friend's scornful
+tone, "how you can judge my intentions so severely. Was it not you who
+urged me against this match from the first, and continually drove me to
+break it off, and almost forced me to make a declaration to Antonie? I,
+at least, have suffered in the conflict, but you are one of those
+ice-natures who stride on, indifferent to the joy or sorrow of others,
+not troubling whether hearts are broken or not. You know you have
+openly confessed to these unscrupulous principles, how is it, then,
+that you have changed all at once, and argue just the opposite, and
+condemn me because I follow your example?"
+
+Hermann was silent a moment--did his conscience convict him? There was
+truth enough in what he said, and this was proved, since, for once,
+Count Arnau was in want of an answer, but in a moment he replied with
+perfect calmness--
+
+"You are mistaken! I _was_ averse to this match, and am still, because
+I see no good for your future in it. That you must break off this match
+I still think, but our opinions differ as to the way in which it is to
+be done. I _am_ regardless, unscrupulous, when an important end to be
+gained is at stake, there you are right, and I suppose in this case, I
+should actually have broken the girl's heart; but to invent excuses in
+order to hide what she must discover eventually, pretend I was the
+victim of a cruel fate, and thus knit a tissue of falsehoods of all
+kinds about the matter--that Eugen, I would not do, for to tell you the
+truth, I think such a proceeding pretty cowardly."
+
+"Hermann!" burst out Eugen.
+
+"Don't be absurdly sensitive," said the Count, authoritatively, "it is
+out of place here. I have told you my opinion frankly, now do what you
+like. By-the-by, I think the storm is coming on, I must go back to the
+Castle. I suppose you are on the way to the village, adieu!"
+
+Eugen did not answer, he turned away and walked off angrily without any
+word of greeting. Hermann shrugged his shoulders, he knew his friend's
+temper, and also knew it would not last long. Such scenes were not of
+unfrequent occurrence between them. Reinert, after such a one, usually
+played the part of an injured person, but ended generally by leaning to
+his friend's superior wisdom.
+
+Meanwhile the sky had grown darker and darker, the wind rose and
+whistled in the tops of the trees. Graf Arnau glanced at the clouds,
+and turned towards the Schloss. Just then the wind, with a sudden gust,
+blew aside the neighbouring bushes, and something glimmered amongst
+them like a woman's dress. Struck with a sudden presentiment, Hermann
+stopped and peered sharply through the bushes, nothing could be made
+out distinctly, but he strode a few steps forward, and the next moment
+stood before Gertrud Walter.
+
+The girl had sunk on her knees, her head against the root of a great
+tree, her face hidden in both hands. By no sound had she betrayed
+herself, but she had broken down at the sudden news, which had come
+upon her unexpectedly like a flash of lightning. Hermann only needed to
+stand there an instant, in order to understand and feel how fearfully
+humiliating his presence would be to her at this moment. For an instant
+he looked down at her silently, then turned and walked away as quietly
+and quickly as he had come.
+
+But after walking a few steps, he stopped and looked back. She lay as
+still and motionless as a statue--perhaps she had fainted--perhaps--the
+Count had not decided within himself what common humanity and
+compassion demanded in this case, before he again stood at her side.
+
+"Fraeulein!"
+
+No answer, nor the slightest movement.
+
+Hermann bent down and lifted her up. She received his help silently,
+and whilst she mechanically raised her head, her eyes gazed
+unconsciously at his face.
+
+"You are not well! May I offer you my assistance as far as the
+village?"
+
+He ought not to have spoken, for with the tone of his voice came back
+at once strength and consciousness, and with it hostility against him.
+There it was once more, that terrified shrinking, which she had shown
+in the morning, the same strange hostile look returned to her eyes, it
+seemed, as if in the one feeling of detestation against him, even the
+remembrance of the last quarter of an hour was forgotten.
+
+"I need no help--I am well--quite well--"
+
+She walked a few steps, but tottered, and was obliged to lean against a
+tree to keep herself from falling. The wind shook the branches and sent
+a shower of leaves down upon her; the first flash of lightning quivered
+through the air, and a distant growl of thunder followed it. Hermann,
+who had again turned away, once more returned to the young girl, and
+said, with a decision, through which some bitterness sounded--
+
+"I am sorry to be troublesome to you by my presence, but you are _not_
+well, _mein Fraeulein_. You are alone, and a stranger here, and the
+village is half an hour's distance from this spot. You will therefore
+accept my assistance, and the assurance that I will not be troublesome
+to you a moment longer than is actually necessary."
+
+Quietly, as if a refusal were unheard of, he took her arm, like that of
+a child, to lead her, but this had a truly alarming effect upon
+Gertrud. As if stung by a snake, she could not have started more
+fearfully, nor shrunk back with greater horror. With almost a cry she
+tore her hand out of his, and Hermann seemed suddenly to behold a
+changed being before him. Nothing more of the "child" was to be seen;
+her figure, as she stood before him, drawn up to her full height, had
+something commanding and powerful about it. So mysterious was this
+commanding glance, that any one else would have quailed before it, as
+with a tone and expression which perfectly electrified the Count, she
+cried, threateningly--
+
+"Do not touch me, Count Arnau. I will not accept of your assistance!"
+
+She turned away, took the road to the village and disappeared behind
+the bushes. Hermann stood motionless, looking after her, but the next
+minute anger had overcome his silent astonishment.
+
+Never had the young Count been treated so, never so insulted, and
+here--when, for the first time in his life he had approached any one
+with warm sympathy, had for the first time diverged from his
+indifferent character! How could this girl dare to behave so to him?
+And wherefore?
+
+He laughed aloud bitterly.
+
+"H'm, well now, I can understand that Eugen would not care to demean
+himself in her eyes! He is not the man to have much influence upon a
+nature which can act in this way, just after it has experienced such
+humiliation. She would have withered him with that look!"
+
+The thunder, becoming ever louder, and the frequent flashes of
+lightning, put an end to the Count's observations, and warned him to
+make the best of his way back to the Castle, which he had scarcely
+reached before heavy drops began to fall.
+
+An hour later--the storm was over, but the rain still fell in torrents.
+In the Castle the last preparations were being completed for the great
+ball, which was to take place that night. Eugen came back from the
+village, pale, excited, and wet through, and at once hastened to
+Hermann's room. They had some conversation, and the servants, hurrying
+backwards and forwards, heard their voices raised loudly in dispute,
+and also noticed that Herr Reinert came out of the Count's room with a
+remarkably grave and displeased air, so that they imagined some scene,
+not of the pleasantest nature, had taken place between them.
+
+The two avoided each other as much as possible the whole evening, but
+their quarrel went no farther, at least, outwardly. The carriages of
+the guests now rolled in from all sides, and so soon as night descended
+the whole row of windows in the Castle streamed with light.
+
+The centre point and crown of the brilliant company, was, of course,
+the beautiful Countess Arnau. She appeared this evening more charming
+and bewitching than ever before, and Eugen hardly left her side for an
+instant. To-day, for the first time, he ventured publicly to offer her
+his homage, which Antonie accepted in such a manner as left scarcely
+room for a doubt as to the impending relations between them.
+
+All eyes followed the pair, everywhere one heard whispered observations
+and questions, as to whether it were possible that the proud, much
+courted Countess Arnau could really seriously think of marrying a
+young, unknown painter, who, _quelle horreur!_ instead of offering her
+the coronet of a Count, could only give her a _buergerlich_ name. What
+unpardonable extravagance! What a scandal for the family!
+
+An old baroness, who was possessed of more curiosity, and more
+indignation at such improprieties, than all the others, determined to
+find out the truth at any price, and therefore to turn to the surest
+source of information, namely, Count Hermann.
+
+It was some time before she found him. The Count did not care for
+dancing much at any time, and did not, as usual, take part in it
+to-night. The clang of a post horn sounded below on the country road,
+mixing itself strangely with the noisy dance music.
+
+"My dear Count, what in the world are you doing here in this secluded
+room, at the open window? All the guests have missed you already!"
+
+Hermann turned round, with a face on which vexation at the interruption
+was written plainly enough.
+
+"It is oppressive in the ball-room," replied he, very coldly and
+repellantly. "I found it necessary to get a few minutes' fresh air."
+
+"You are right, it is terribly warm there, and the air after the storm
+is so refreshing! But you are missing too much here--your cousin
+waltzes so charmingly with your friend, the young artist--_apropos_, my
+dear Count, is it true then--this report, that the Graefin returns the
+passion of this Herr Reinert, which he takes no pains to conceal? Does
+she actually intend to honour him with her hand?"
+
+Hermann shut down the window hastily.
+
+"I regret, my _gnaedigste Baronin_, that I cannot give you any
+information upon the subject. I am as little instructed by my cousin as
+to her intentions as you can be. And, by the way, I think it is
+becoming too cool for you here, allow me to conduct you back to the
+_saal_."
+
+So saying, he offered his arm with cool politeness, and led her back to
+the ball-room. The waltz was not yet finished as they entered; Graefin
+Antonie floated past them in the full light of the wax tapers, moving
+in time to the lively music, with Eugen as her partner--and in the
+distance died away the last note of the post horn!
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Seven years had passed by, altering many things, and burying away and
+blotting out others, and, as often happens in life, so also here the
+reality had been very, very different from the hopes and expectations
+of mankind.
+
+Of the artistic fame of Eugen Reinert one heard little or nothing.
+Certainly his first great work, the portrait of Countess Arnau, which
+was exhibited publicly, created much stir, and justified the highest
+hopes for the future. But with this picture, which certainly bore the
+stamp of originality, and created a name for him in the artistic world,
+he appeared to have exhausted his best powers. He still painted
+portraits, though exclusively of those who belonged to aristocratic
+circles, the _entree_ of which he had obtained through his wife, and in
+these his work was always considered as full of genius, but real art
+critics did not think much of them, and they were little noticed by the
+public.
+
+Eugen's principal fault, want of energy and perseverance, became more
+and more perceptible as time went on. He fluctuated continually between
+different studies of all sorts, tried everything and finished nothing,
+sketched out the most ambitious plans, but carried none into execution,
+and wasted his great talent upon the distinguished, but often
+uninteresting faces of counts and "excellencies," and the albums of
+aristocratic ladies. Since good fortune had thrown the gifts into his
+lap, without trouble on his part, which he had once hoped to obtain
+through his art, his pleasure in it, and even his capabilities, seemed
+to be exhausted. What reason had he for working still? The riches,
+which his wife brought him, and the connections he was able to make
+through these, as well as the splendidly appointed house supported
+through them, secured all the enjoyments of life to him, as well as an
+undisputed position in society, and when, in the course of a few years,
+the title of "Von" was added to his name, "on account of his services
+to art," the highest degree of earthly fame seemed to have been
+attained.
+
+Meanwhile the once so promising talent had all but perished, and
+quietly enough, on the other hand, great gifts were developing where
+they had been least expected, namely, in Count Hermann, who, on account
+of his reserved and silent nature, was little known, and still less
+liked. His genius seemed to have taken a sudden leap forward,
+astonishing every one. After his return from a long tour, which he had
+undertaken as a completion of his education, he entered into the
+service of the State, and went with his Prince's ambassador to Vienna.
+Scarcely two years elapsed before the young _attache_ had become the
+right hand of the ambassador, who was not particularly capable or
+gifted, he asked his advice and support in any difficult matters, and
+finally Count Hermann became his representative, and undertook all the
+business which gave the title to his Excellence. By chance, the way in
+which this business was conducted was revealed to the Prince; he began
+to notice the young Count attentively, and presently called upon him to
+fill a post in the capital, important for a man of his age, and it was
+not long before Hermann had become as influential and noticeable here.
+His quick foresight, which saw through every matter so plainly, the
+never failing energy with which he undertook everything, and the
+almost incredible activity he manifested, secured for him success
+after success. He mounted from step to step, and now, at the age of
+thirty-two, already held one of the highest offices in the country, in
+the exercise of power, and stood upon the threshold of the post of
+Minister, which would undoubtedly be open to him at the next change of
+politics. Of course the ancient title which he bore, together with his
+riches, and the personal favour of the Prince, had contributed to this
+extraordinarily rapid career; but in reality they only served to smooth
+the way, and remove the hindrances, with which a buergerlicher would
+first have had to contend with. Hundreds of the same rank and income
+would have remained at the foot of, or halfway up the ladder, to the
+topmost rung of which he had now climbed--truly his success was only
+owing to himself.
+
+On the widowed Praesidentin von Sternfeld's estate, preparations had
+been made for the reception of different guests. The eldest son, Baron
+von Sternfeld, had already been there for a week with his wife and two
+little daughters, Count Arnau had also arrived this morning from the
+capital, and Herr and Frau von Reinert were expected next day.
+
+In the garden house of the old family mansion, by the open glass doors,
+which led on to the broad stone terrace, Count Hermann sat with his
+grandmother. The appearance of the old lady, now more than seventy,
+still showed the intellectual and physical strength which had always
+made her the centre point of the family, over which she practised her
+old authority. The powerful form appeared to bow unwillingly to age;
+her hair was snow-white, her face full of lines and wrinkles, but it
+was a face which age could not change much. It had not been able to dim
+the sharp, clear eye, nor soften the authoritative expression of
+energy, and if she was somewhat bowed by the weight of years, her head
+was still carried as erect as ever.
+
+Count Arnau, too, was little altered by the lapse of time; it seemed to
+leave no trace on these decided, cold features. His glance was,
+perhaps, still keener, the peculiar lines round his mouth still
+firmer, and his bearing, in spite of its simplicity, showed more
+self-assurance; but more conspicuous than ever was now the likeness to
+the grandmother, whose face, seemed to repeat his, feature by feature,
+as his character resembled hers.
+
+A long conversation had ensued about the affairs of the capital, and
+Hermann's post there, together with his views for the future, and thus
+the talk had gradually ended in a political discussion; now the Count,
+commencing a new topic, asked--
+
+"So Antonie and Eugen are to arrive to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes--according to your openly expressed wish. I am sacrificing my
+feelings a great deal, Hermann! You know I shall never pardon Antonie
+this _mesalliance_, and if I have prevailed upon myself to invite her,
+and Herr Reinert, it is _only_ on your account."
+
+"Thank you, dear grandmother; I know what it costs you; but the
+recognition of the marriage on your side had become with time
+necessary. And by the way, as the outer form of nobility is no longer
+wanting, you need fear no hindrance in introducing Herr and Frau von
+Reinert as relations, in society."
+
+The Praesidentin shrugged her shoulders. "Making him a 'Von' was a
+necessity, since Antonie had once taken that mad step. She is, and will
+always be, Graefin Arnau, in spite of all, and as such cannot be simply
+_buergerlich_ Frau Reinert, if she comes back here. But a consideration,
+which was due to the world to cover the scandal to the family, has no
+influence upon my judgment. To me Herr Reinert remains, as he always
+was, _buergerlich_."
+
+Hermann gazed moodily into the distance, and his brow clouded somewhat.
+
+"I hoped Eugen would gain an artist's name for himself, which would
+make this 'nobility' superfluous; unfortunately it has come to
+nothing."
+
+"What?" The Praesidentin's voice involuntarily became sharper. "Do you
+mean to say that the fame of an artist can make up for the inherited
+coronet of a count?"
+
+"Make up for it--no! but it can atone for the want of it in a certain
+sense, especially with such a romantic nature as Toni's."
+
+The Praesidentin's face showed how little this answer pleased her.
+
+"You always had a weakness for this Reinert," said she, shaking her
+head deprecatingly.
+
+"He was once very dear to me!"
+
+"Was?"
+
+"Yes. But several things have happened to cause a coldness between us.
+I had the greatest hopes for his talents and future, but nothing has
+come of them."
+
+The Praesidentin drew herself up in her arm chair and fixed her eyes
+upon Hermann.
+
+"I confess to you openly, Hermann, that formerly I was much concerned
+about this friendship. You were true to the aristocratic traditions of
+your family in all else; but you always and everywhere made an
+exception in favour of this Reinert. Toni would not have dared under my
+eyes to misuse her liberty in this manner. Unfortunately I was absent,
+but you were near. You ought to have acted in my place, and guarded the
+honour of the family. Instead of that you favoured the match openly,
+brought them together in Rome, and even took their part against me. I
+really had serious fears for your principles at that time."
+
+The Count smiled, his old sarcastic smile, without a trace of
+cheerfulness.
+
+"Your fears were groundless; you ought to have known me better,
+grandmother. I am constituted differently, and what I thought suitable
+in Eugen and Toni's case, I should not have pardoned in myself,--I
+should not make a _mesalliance_, you can be sure of that."
+
+"I know it," said the Praesidentin, with calm assurance. "Fortunately
+you have not a trace of absurd romance about you."
+
+"No!--and besides that--you know I have much reason for keeping my name
+clear!"
+
+His voice sank at the last words, and his brow clouded heavily, whilst
+his eyes sought the ground. The Praesidentin, too, became graver, but at
+the same time there was something like impatience in her manner.
+
+"The old conflict still? Haven't you been able to put away from you
+that remembrance yet?"
+
+"I envy you for being able to do so. I forget it certainly for a few
+hours sometimes, but for days and weeks--never!"
+
+The Praesidentin shook her head.
+
+"You torment yourself with self-created fears! We alone know the
+secret, and can guard it securely enough. The world can and will never
+know more than a breath of it."
+
+The Count raised his head slowly, his brow dark as night.
+
+"The world! But _I_ know that I am dishonoured! I know the disgrace,
+the curse which rests upon my name, and upon my riches, and that is the
+dark spot of my life which I can never, never, blot out. Whatever I may
+accomplish, whatever I may attain to, this dark memory continually
+forces itself between. I cannot forget it!"
+
+The grandmother laid her hand authoritatively upon his arm--
+
+"Let that rest, Hermann! I hardly know you, whenever this unhappy
+circumstance is touched upon. You, so strong, so energetic in
+everything else, are in this as weak as a child. As a boy, you showed
+more courage, you kept silence towards your mother, who would have been
+killed if she had heard it, and only revealed it, where you knew it
+would be safely guarded. And you were silent years afterwards, as
+perhaps no other child would have been, and that made my guardianship
+of you easy. Must the man, then, hesitate, and be ready to throw off
+the burden of responsibility he has incurred by no fault of his own?"
+
+Hermann did not answer, but looked moodily into the distance.
+
+"If only we could find a trace of the wife and child! Your enquiries
+were fruitless, but I renewed them with redoubled zeal, every possible
+means of discovery are at my command now, but in vain. It really seems
+as if they had disappeared from the face of the earth."
+
+"They must have left the country."
+
+"And perhaps perished miserably, whilst I--"
+
+He sprang up suddenly, went to the door, and pressed his forehead
+against the glass panes; the usually calm man was fearfully agitated.
+The Praesidentin was silent, she had seen him before in this mood;
+however great her influence over her grandson might be, this was a
+point on which she did not dare to argue further with him, over which
+her power did not extend, she knew that he must now be let alone,
+unless she wished to make matters worse.
+
+A minute's silence followed, at last Hermann turned round. His features
+were calm and cold as usual, but a dark cloud was still on his brow.
+
+"Pardon me, grandmother, that I have tormented you, too, with this
+subject."
+
+"You are right, it is better to let it rest? What were we talking of
+before?"
+
+He sat down again by her side, and she at once seized the opportunity
+of introducing another subject.
+
+"I have wished to ask you a question some time, Hermann. Have you not
+yet thought that it will soon be necessary for you, as head of our
+family, and only male representative of the house of Arnau, to form an
+alliance with some daughter of the nobility?"
+
+The Count leaned his head on his hands.
+
+"Certainly I have thought of it," replied he indifferently, "especially
+now that I see the necessity of forming an establishment in the
+capital, and of moving frequently in society there."
+
+"Have you made a choice?"
+
+"No. You are aware that ladies have not much attraction for me, and
+from my standpoint I consider a marriage of convenience the best. I
+shall have very little time to devote to my wife, and seek in her
+chiefly a representative of my house."
+
+The grandmother bowed her head assentingly.
+
+"And what qualities do you lay claim to in choice of a wife?"
+
+"Much, and little, just as one takes it. Above all things, she must be
+of ancient and noble family; wealthy, for I have found that poor
+ladies, who are thrown suddenly into the arms of fortune, are apt to
+give way to all sorts of extravagances, and not too beautiful, for I
+have no desire to have to watch over my wife continually--the rest is
+of small importance."
+
+The young Count set forth these qualifications for his future marriage
+with as perfect indifference, as if he were speaking of the purchase of
+an estate, but his way of looking at the matter seemed to meet with the
+Praesidentin's full approval.
+
+"I quite agree with you," replied she, "and I am very glad that you
+look at the affair so clearly. What do you want, my dear?" interrupted
+she at this moment, turning towards the door.
+
+"The children wished to say good-bye to the Frau Praesidentin before
+going for their walk."
+
+Count Hermann got up from his chair at the sound of this voice, and
+looked at the lady with an expression of boundless astonishment as she
+entered, leading two little girls of six and eight by the hand. It was
+Gertrud, once betrothed to Reinert. The Praesidentin observed his
+surprise.
+
+"Ah, so! Mademoiselle Walter--the Herr Count Arnau."
+
+She bent down to her two grandchildren and gave them her cheek to kiss.
+
+Hermann's bow was returned with the most measured formality and
+coldness, and not the slightest change in Gertrud's face betrayed her
+recognition. She took the children's hands, and at once prepared to
+leave the garden house.
+
+"Do not make the walk too long to-day, mademoiselle, it is too hot for
+the children."
+
+"I will see that they do not go too far, we will not go beyond the park
+to-day."
+
+A second bow, as formal as the first, and she crossed the terrace with
+the children, and went down towards the park. The Praesidentin turned
+once more to her grandson.
+
+"I think we were saying--but why don't you sit down, Hermann?"
+
+He still remained standing, his hand on the arm chair, and his eyes
+fixed upon the avenue, where the three had disappeared; mechanically
+following the invitation, he sat down once more.
+
+"Well, I thing we were speaking of your future wife. I imagine the
+choice lies open to you; Count Hermann Arnau will hardly receive a
+refusal, however ambitious he may be."
+
+"Who is this Mademoiselle Walter?" asked Hermann, instead of answering,
+without turning his eyes from the window.
+
+The grandmother looked at him with some astonishment, the question
+seemed to her to have very little place in this important conversation.
+
+"She is the new governess for Eurt's daughters," replied the
+Praesidentin coldly. "She is said to be pretty well educated and useful,
+and the children are wonderfully fond of her considering the short time
+she has been with them. I have a certain antipathy against her, for I
+fear that she carries something like haughtiness underneath her
+unfailing calm politeness, which is, of course, insufferable in a
+person of her dependent position."
+
+Hermann was silent, he knew by experience, that here, too, the
+Praesidentin's penetration had not deceived her.
+
+"But to come back to our subject--"
+
+The Count got up suddenly.
+
+"Pardon me, grandmother, if I beg you to let it rest for to-day. My
+night journey has rather tired me out, I really feel the want of some
+rest. Allow me, now that I have seen you, to go to my room for a time."
+
+So saying, he kissed the hand extended to him, and left the room. The
+Praesidentin leaned back in her arm chair, and once more thought over
+all the plans and hopes connected with her grandson's future alliance,
+this grandson who had always been the dearest to her, and who had
+fulfilled all her expectations so brilliantly. But it would have
+astonished her somewhat, had she seen how Count Hermann, in spite of
+his petition to be allowed to rest, had not yet thought of going to his
+room, but went off at once from another side to the park, and in spite
+of the midday-heat, wandered about in it on all sides.
+
+Under the shade of a great plane tree, in the centre of a large grass
+plot, sat Gertrud with her two little charges, telling them a fairy
+tale. The eldest of the two children had nestled closely against her
+governess, and looked up into her face with the most breathless
+attention, as if she feared to lose a single word; the younger knelt on
+the grass, her two little arms upon Gertrud's lap, listening as
+breathlessly as her sister. It was a charming group; surely that was
+not the cold, grave _gouvernante_, who had bowed so formally, and
+answered so shortly. The expression of her face was now as warm and
+glowing as the golden sunlight itself, which played upon her
+countenance through the leafy screen above her, and there was something
+unusually gentle and lovely in her tone and attitude, as, in low tones,
+with head bent down to the children, she told them of elves and
+fairies, something which it had never been permitted for either the
+Praesidentin nor the Baronin von Sternfeld to see.
+
+But Count Hermann saw it as he stood unobserved behind a clump of
+bushes, and watched her closely. Yes, these features had indeed
+fulfilled what they had promised seven years ago.
+
+The delicate, pale, and childish form had blossomed into almost perfect
+beauty, and at sight of the tall, beautiful figure, the pure classic
+profile and rich masses of pale gold hair, Hermann could not refrain
+from thinking that his aunt must have been wanting in her usual sense
+and tact in receiving into her house a lady before whose attractions
+both she and every other lady must seem plain.
+
+But he was not allowed to remain long unobserved, for one of the
+children noticed him suddenly, and pointed in the direction where he
+stood. Gertrud rose at once, and freed herself from the children's
+encircling arms.
+
+An iciness seemed to creep over her countenance, under which all the
+warmth and life which had streamed from it a moment before, seemed
+suddenly to wither; cold, grave, and perfectly immoveable, she awaited
+the Count's approach.
+
+He now stood opposite, and looked straight towards her. Those were the
+same mysterious dark blue eyes which he remembered so well, and the
+same shade still lay in them, but it had become only heavier and
+deeper. But these eyes flashed somewhat under his searching glance; was
+it the old (to him incomprehensible) hatred, or was it some other
+feeling?
+
+Hermann, who usually saw through all matters so clearly, did not know
+how to interpret it; he only felt that it was hostile to him, and that
+the strange girl was still the same.
+
+"I do not know, mein Fraeulein," began he, "whether you will allow me to
+renew a former acquaintanceship. I can scarcely hope so after the way
+in which you returned my greeting."
+
+"You would oblige me, Herr Graf, if you would forget this
+acquaintanceship."
+
+But Hermann was not prepared for such a repulse as this, she
+involuntarily irritated him, and just as he had hitherto hesitated as
+to whether he should approach her, so now he felt inclined to continue
+the conversation in spite of all.
+
+"As you wish; but before we begin to ignore one another, allow me to
+inform you of something which you are surely not aware of, and which
+might be painful for you to experience were you unprepared for it."
+
+"I know to what you refer!"
+
+"You know, and--?" Hermann's eyes completed the question, which his
+lips could not ask--"and you remain here?"
+
+Gertrud's countenance became a shade paler, but she remained
+unmoveable.
+
+"You forget, Herr Graf, that I am in a dependent position here. I have
+already requested the Frau Baronin to allow me some weeks' absence, but
+she thinks that the children need my superintendence, and refused my
+request. I must therefore stay."
+
+"If you will accept of my mediation," said Hermann, quickly, "I will go
+at once to my aunt, and secure you the fulfilment of your wish."
+
+"No, thank you, Herr Graf; I wish for your interference least of all."
+
+That was speaking plainly enough. Hermann bit his lips and drew back.
+
+"It seems to me, mein Fraeulein, that you have a decided aversion to my
+person. You insulted me once before, just as intentionally. I regret
+that my approach, should give you cause for it. Be assured that in
+future it shall not happen again."
+
+Gertrud's lips quivered, but she made no answer. The Count bowed
+hastily, and disappeared.
+
+"Well, this is unheard of. Neither my grandmother nor Toni would have
+put on such airs, and neither of them would have dared to say that to
+me. 'I wish your interference least.' She condescends, as it were, to
+dismiss me in disgrace, and I--"
+
+The calm, immovable Graf Arnau actually forgot himself so far that he
+stamped with his foot.
+
+What vexed him most, though he would not confess it to himself, was,
+that the manner in which Gertrud had dismissed him resembled his own,
+on such occasions, to a hair. That was just the calm, cold, and
+repellant tone which he allowed himself towards some one who did not
+know how to keep at a distance. Certainly it was the first time it had
+been used towards him, and who had dared to do this? A "Mademoiselle
+Walter"--the governess of his little cousins!
+
+Yes, the grandmother was right; there was an unbearable haughtiness
+hidden under the calm exterior of this girl, and he felt it so much the
+more deeply, as, in his present position and importance, he was courted
+and spoiled on all sides by compliance with his wishes, especially from
+women. Hitherto he had looked down pretty scornfully on all the efforts
+he had seen to please him, and now, all at once, he was met with open
+opposition, with open intention to displease, and even wound him.
+
+Count Hermann had already once sought in vain for a reason for this
+strange hostility, and could find a clue for it now as little as then.
+Gertrud's whole demeanour was, and remained, mysterious to him, as well
+as her presence here. Why did she not rather go without permission, and
+lose her appointment, than expose herself to such a humiliation as a
+meeting with Eugen? Was she too proud to fly before her former lover?
+Or did she still love him, and could not resist the temptation of
+seeing him once more?
+
+The last thought seemed to surprise the Count very much, for he stopped
+and knitted his brow--
+
+"Well, I shall see to-morrow! They cannot fail to meet. I will see if
+this unfathomable, sevenfold secret will be revealed at last!"
+
+It was the afternoon of the next day. Herr and Frau von Reinert had
+arrived somewhat earlier than they were expected, and were received by
+Hermann, who would not allow his grandmother's midday rest to be
+disturbed.
+
+Directly after the first greetings were over, Antonie had retired to
+her room to lay aside her travelling dress, and her husband was now
+with Count Arnau in a small ante-room, close to the Gartensaal.
+
+The friends had not seen each other for five years, in fact, since
+Eugen's marriage, and these five years had not left so little trace
+upon him as upon Hermann.
+
+He would still always pass for a handsome and interesting man; but his
+expression, as well as his voice, were much altered. Weariness,
+languor, satiation, were all written there only too plainly. The
+features, once glowing with life, were weak and vigourless; the eyes,
+formerly so enthusiastic, languid; the whole being of the man scarcely
+three-and-thirty, had a touch of half-bitter, half-painful, deep,
+inward discontent. And this was betrayed in his tone, as, after the
+first indifferent questions and enquiries, he said--
+
+"In spite of your laconic letters, I have heard enough of you from a
+distance. You have become a celebrity, and if report be true, will
+shortly take a high office in State affairs!"
+
+"Is that the report? Well, no one ever expected or took it for granted
+that _I_ should become a celebrity!"
+
+Eugen understood the reproach.
+
+"But it was expected of me, you mean? Yes, I did promise you, in those
+days, to begin a greater work. I have made plans and sketches enough;
+but--our life is so disturbing, so full of changes--hitherto I have
+always wanted leisure and quiet to carry them out."
+
+"And the necessary desire to work."
+
+"Well, if you like, the desire too. The dreams of one's youth, with
+which one surrounds everything, come to an end at last. In reality,
+there is not much in art, or in happiness, or, indeed, in life
+altogether!"
+
+He leaned back in his chair with an expression of the greatest
+weariness.
+
+Hermann gave no answer; but Eugen felt what lay in the grave, searching
+glance with which he regarded him.
+
+"You think my observation strange?"
+
+"From your lips, yes. Any one, to whom life has brought nothing but
+disappointments, may speak so; you, who enjoy all its gifts, have no
+right to."
+
+"And when I find that these wonderful gifts, this dream of happiness,
+are all illusions, is not my disappointment as great?"
+
+Hermann got up and took a turn through the room--
+
+"I hoped that, at least, your marriage with Antonie would be a happy
+one," said he, after a pause.
+
+Eugen was silent.
+
+"Then you are not happy?"
+
+Reinert made an impatient movement.
+
+"I do not know. She often torments me terribly with her varying moods,
+her jealousy, and then--I have to hear often enough, whom I have to
+thank for all, what she has sacrificed for my sake."
+
+An expression of inexpressible scorn curled Hermann's lips.
+
+"Ah! so it has got as far as that! She throws that in your face, and
+you endure it?"
+
+"Have I a weapon against it?"
+
+"It lay with you to make yourself independent. I imagined that just
+your wife's rank and riches would be a spur to urge you to rise to an
+equal height through your own powers."
+
+Eugen heaved a sigh of resignation.
+
+"Confound it, Hermann, you take it for granted that I have an iron
+nature like yours, which never needs rest nor refreshment, which pushes
+forward unceasingly and takes everything by storm. I have a different
+constitution."
+
+"I know that!" said Hermann, with calm bitterness, "and believe me,
+Eugen, I have repented often enough, that I had any part in causing
+your life to take the direction it has. You ought to be free from the
+cares and limitations of ordinary life, ought to find the road to your
+future an open one, and it was with that view that I favoured your
+marriage. You are right, it was a fatal error to judge you by myself.
+You are one of those natures which need continual spurring forward;
+when the necessity for work was removed, the food for your talent was
+gone; had I left you to yourself, and you had had to work to live, it
+had been better!"
+
+"You speak," said Eugen, pettishly, "as if I had done nothing since I
+saw you last, and yet my portraits are valued and admired--"
+
+"Because you are the husband of Graefin Antonie. Since that great
+picture of Antonie, in which you seem to have exhausted your genius, no
+work of yours has risen above mediocrity."
+
+Eugen bit his lips.
+
+"I must say you are very--sincere."
+
+"And you have forgotten how to hear the truth. I cannot refrain from
+telling it you frankly."
+
+Reinert drew himself up angrily, his vanity would not bear a reproach,
+the justice of which he nevertheless felt; he was on the point of
+answering hastily, but Hermann turned away suddenly from him, and
+looked with strained attention towards the door, which opened at this
+instant. A triumphant smile quivered round his lips, he had not led
+Eugen into this ante-room for nothing. He well knew who must pass
+through it, to fetch the children to their lessons, the former being
+generally with their mother at this hour--this first meeting must and
+should be watched.
+
+Eugen, too, had turned his head, but he all at once sprang up and
+became deathly pale, stretching out his arms as if against a spectre,
+and with a cry of fright, exclaimed--
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+It was, indeed, Gertrud who stood upon the threshold. She knew what
+awaited her to-day, but she was unprepared for a meeting at this
+moment, and here. She, too, turned pale, and made a movement as if to
+fly, but her eyes met Hermann's, which rested upon her face as if he
+would read her inmost soul. The girl's foot seemed suddenly rooted to
+the spot; she drew herself up, and returned the glance proudly and
+coldly. And there was something in her look which was nobler than
+defiance, and mightier than hate; he saw how a deep red flush rose into
+her countenance, whilst she met his steadfast glance, but her eyes did
+not sink. They stood thus for some seconds, then the Count suddenly
+turned away, Gertrud closed the door behind her, and with firm steps
+passed by the two gentlemen, disappearing into the neighbouring
+apartment.
+
+Hermann clenched his hand angrily.
+
+"Unbending! I knew it! This girl cannot be humiliated; did she not
+almost compel my eyes to quail before her?"
+
+Eugen, who had stood during the whole scene as if rooted to the spot,
+now seemed to come to his senses.
+
+"Hermann, what does this mean? Was that my--was that Gertrud Walter?
+Did you know--_Um Gotteswillen_, speak--speak!"
+
+The Count leaned against the window with folded arms, his face at this
+moment showed that repellant expression peculiar to him in moments of
+deep irritation, but there lay an almost alarming brusqueness in his
+tone as he answered--
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter is at present here as governess in my uncle
+Sternfeld's house, and has come with them. I can understand that the
+meeting must be painful to you both, but you see that she possesses
+sufficient tact to ignore you completely, and as for you, it will be
+easy to avoid her, as she devotes, herself exclusively to the children,
+and appears seldom or never in society."
+
+Eugen hardly seemed to hear the last, words, his eyes still remained as
+if magnetically fixed upon the door which had closed upon her.
+
+"Gertrud here!" repeated he still, "and I must see here, must see her
+again _thus_! O, she is no longer the child I left behind! How
+beautiful, how wonderfully beautiful she has become!"
+
+With a hasty movement Count Hermann drew himself up from his careless
+position.
+
+"I think it is time to join Antonie, she must have finished her
+toilette by this time, and if so, I will take you at once to my
+grandmother. Come!"
+
+"No, no," cried Eugen, violently, "not now! After this meeting, and in
+this fearful agitation, I cannot endure the stiff formality of such an
+introduction. I cannot now!"
+
+"My dear Eugen," the Count's voice was once more perfectly calm, but
+there was a cutting sarcasm in the sound of it, "this stiff formality
+concerns the recognition of your marriage from your wife's side, and
+you will show this family the consideration which is due from you. Have
+the goodness to control your emotions, and follow me. My grandmother,
+the Praesidentin von Sternfeld, is not accustomed to wait."
+
+And with the commanding authority, which he had once practised over the
+young artist, he now took Herr von Reinert's arm, and drew his
+unwilling companion away with him.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The fourteen days which had been fixed for the stay of the guests were
+drawing to a close. They had been entirely devoted to all the pleasures
+and amusements of country life. The Praesidentin, who, on account of her
+advanced age, usually made a duty of rest and retirement, could not
+this time entirely withdraw from all the visits and invitations which
+chiefly concerned her grandson. Count Arnau had, indeed, become a
+celebrity, and visitors came from the whole neighbourhood round to see
+and admire the "lion;" the report, too, that he intended, at no very
+distant period, to make the choice of a fitting partner for his exalted
+station, made him still more the centre-point of attention on all
+sides, in reality, because each was anxious to form a match, brilliant
+in every respect, for some daughter, sister, or relation. The Count
+took all in his cool, reserved, and sarcastic manner, without being in
+the slightest degree impressed.
+
+The duties which he owed to society he undertook with that resignation
+accorded to a painful but unavoidable necessity, for in this unceasing
+round of visits and amusements he found the safest weapon against the
+fermenting discontent, which, in spite of the so-called reconciliation,
+still reigned in the bosom of the family. Certainly the Praesidentin, in
+spite of her aristocratic prejudices, was perfectly well-bred, and
+never failed in the politeness and consideration which she owed towards
+the guests she had herself invited, but she, nevertheless, managed to
+make her granddaughter and Herr von Reinert feel that they were only
+tolerated, and that they owed only this toleration itself to Hermann's
+influence. Naturally, this knowledge did not contribute to the comfort
+of the visit. Antonie was sensitive and petulant upon every
+opportunity, Eugen continually bitter and irritable, and often it was
+only Hermann's interference or mediation which hindered the threatening
+breach.
+
+This visit and meeting of relations would, indeed, have been, probably,
+most unpleasant, had not the frequent presence of strangers laid a
+wholesome restraint upon all.
+
+It was the last day but one of the guests' stay, towards evening.
+
+The Praesidentin had asked for the children to be sent to her, and
+Gertrud seized one of the few free hours which her appointment left
+open to her, to go into the park alone. During the last fortnight she
+had endeavoured to avoid Herr von Reinert as much as possible, or, at
+least, never to meet him, except when in charge of her two pupils, but
+to-night she felt secure; she knew that several farewell calls had to
+be made in the neighbourhood, and, in the enjoyment of this security,
+gave herself up freely to the pleasure of an often-desired walk alone.
+
+A book in her hand, she went slowly to her favourite place under the
+great plane tree.
+
+The park seemed at this time perfectly deserted. The evening sun lay
+golden upon the bushes and grass plots; in the distance glimmered the
+white plumage of the swans, sailing lazily up and down on the pond; no
+sound broke the deep stillness.
+
+Gertrud sat down, leaning her head on her hand. So they had come to an
+end at last, these much-feared fourteen days of intercourse, and, on
+the whole, had passed away better than she had hoped. No one had in any
+possible manner made any hindrance to her manifest desire for
+retirement. The Praesidentin had a somewhat out-spoken antipathy against
+"Mademoiselle Walter," and Antonie, though she had not the slightest
+suspicion of any former relations with her husband, by no means loved
+the presence of this _gouvernante_, who had the impertinence to be so
+beautiful, that even she, aristocratic lady as she was, felt herself
+put in the shade so soon as Gertrud even appeared. After the stormy
+surprise of the first moment, Eugen seemed to have come back to his
+senses, perhaps he also feared his wife's jealousy; in any case, he
+seemed to understand better how to control himself than in the first
+sudden meeting, and when they saw one another, which happened usually
+only at table, and in the presence of others, his demeanour was as
+distant as hers could be.
+
+And Count Arnau? He had kept his word, and given Gertrud no cause to
+offend him again. There was an iron consistency in the way with which
+he seemed to ignore her completely after their last conversation; not a
+word, not a recognition did she now receive from him, not the
+slightest, most unimportant attention, accorded even to persons in such
+a dependent position. The governess appeared no longer to exist for
+him, and when he was obliged to acknowledge her presence by a cold,
+forced bow, he did so with manifest reluctance. Certainly this was what
+she from the first had hoped and striven for, now she had obtained her
+desire, and all the rest of her difficulties were coming to an end. The
+day after to-morrow Baron Sternfeld, with his wife and children, would
+return to his estate; the rest would return to the capital, the party
+would be broken up--it was to be hoped never to meet again, as far as
+some were concerned.
+
+Gertrud gave a deep sigh of relief at this thought, or rather
+endeavoured to do so, but a heavy weight still seemed to be upon her
+heart, and she clasped her folded hands closer together in wild pain.
+The young girl had grown much paler these few weeks, and the shade did
+not lie as of old in her eyes, it was effaced, forced into the
+background by another expression. There was an anxious unrest, a
+tormenting pain to be read there now, and the firmly-pressed lips
+seemed to hold back some secret, which she hardly dared to speak of,
+even to herself. She took her book and tried to read, but she could
+not. She opened it in the middle, at the end, in vain. Her eyes
+wandered over the words without taking in the sense; her thoughts were
+too strong to be banished.
+
+With a passionate movement, which betrayed the hidden conflict within,
+she at last threw it down, and hid her face in both hands.
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+She sprang up with a look of terror.
+
+"Herr von Reinert! You here!"
+
+It was, indeed, Eugen, who stood at some little distance from her. He,
+too, was pale and agitated, and his voice trembled as with cast down
+eyes, he asked, in a low tone--
+
+"May I--may I approach?"
+
+"No!" was the firm, grave answer.
+
+In spite of the refusal he dared to advance a step.
+
+"Gertrud, do not be so unforgiving! I know you hate me, that I have
+made you unhappy--"
+
+With an expression of indescribable pride Gertrud lifted her head, her
+eyes met his, large, and full of disdain, and not the slightest trace
+of agitation trembled now in her voice, but there was a touch of
+compassionate scorn as she replied, quietly--
+
+"You are mistaken, Herr von Reinert; I do not hate you, and have _not_
+been made unhappy through you."
+
+"Well, then, _I_ am unhappy!" said Eugen, bluntly. "Since the moment
+when I left you, I have never known happiness. I could not forget the
+past, and now that I must meet you again, I am driven to despair!"
+
+With his old passion he threw himself down where she had just been
+sitting, and pressed his hand against his brow. Gertrud stood before
+him; who, that was witness of the mute, but powerful conflict, which,
+but a few minutes since, had agitated the girl's whole being, would
+have understood the calm collectedness with which she now looked down
+upon her former lover.
+
+"Eugen!"
+
+He sprang up, but she gravely motioned him back.
+
+"Do not misunderstand me. I address you now as the playfellow of my
+childish days, whom I have never called anything else. If what torments
+you is the thought of my presumed unhappiness--my loneliness, be calm,
+_such_ a reproach I can bear from you. If I have suffered from our
+separation, it was only through my pride, which rose at the humiliation
+of being forsaken, my _heart_ had no part in it, for I, Eugen--I have
+never loved you!"
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+"Never!" repeated she, firmly. "You released me for the good of us
+both! perhaps, else, I should have had to confess to you that I could
+never be your wife."
+
+"Impossible!" cried Eugen, springing up. "If you did not love me,
+why--"
+
+"Why did I accept your offer, do you mean?" Her eyes sank to the
+ground, and a gentle shade passed over her face, whilst, with a low
+voice, the peculiarly painful tone of which pierced to his heart, she
+continued--"I was scarcely more than a child, I had learnt nothing
+beyond my mother's sick room, but care, sorrow, and many other things
+more difficult to bear. The first ray of sunshine which falls upon such
+a childhood is seldom denied entrance. You came back then from the
+capital in all the brilliance of your rising talent, admired by all in
+our little town. You told me of your love, and I--did, what every girl
+of sixteen does, whose heart is still free. I dreamed myself into the
+idea that I loved you, whilst I really only cherished an affection for
+my old playfellow. That this feeling was not _love_, I began to find
+out, when we separated, now--now I know it!"
+
+The last words came almost inaudibly from her lips, but there was
+indescribable pain in them. Eugen had hitherto controlled himself with
+manifest difficulty, and now he broke out with painful bitterness--
+
+"No, Gertrud, that is not true! It cannot be, you deceive yourself and
+me. You tell me this, and desire me to be calm, and you do not know how
+it makes me still more miserable, if I can no longer believe in your
+love to me. If you knew how unhappy I am in these golden fetters, in
+this marriage with a wife who sees in me only a plaything for her
+varying moods, whom she idolises at one moment, and at another reminds,
+in the most humiliating way, of his unimportance; if you knew how
+deeply I repent the unhappy course, which I once--"
+
+"Let us put an end to this conversation, Eugen," interrupted she
+gravely, "it goes beyond the limits which are drawn between us. You
+have heard the truth from me. I cannot alter anything that I have said,
+now farewell!"
+
+She would have extended her hand, but he took no notice, but continued
+in rising agitation--
+
+"Too late, I see what I once possessed in you, what I gave up in
+foolish madness, and what I have exchanged for it. The fruits of that
+foolish passion have been reaped long ago, and now that Fate had again
+led us together--now the old love flames up mightily, and tears me
+again to your feet--"
+
+In the deepest indignation Gertrud retreated a step.
+
+"You forget yourself, Herr von Reinert, and deeply insult both me and
+your wife through such words. Leave me, instantly, I will not hear a
+word more!"
+
+But even these energetic, commanding words, which would not usually
+have failed in effect, were powerless against a passion which tore
+Eugen away from the bonds of sense and reason. He fell on his knees,
+and repeated his former words, in that glowing, raving language with
+which he had once wooed the girl of sixteen, and which, a year later,
+Antonie had heard from his lips. This time Gertrud did not reply. With
+a look of unconcealed scorn she turned silently away, and would have
+gone, but this seemed to make him beside himself. He sprang up, seized
+her arm, and tried to keep her back by force.
+
+With a cry of indignation, Gertrud endeavoured to free herself, but
+there was no longer need. At the moment Eugen dared to touch her, he
+tottered, thrown back by a powerful arm--
+
+Count Arnau stood between them.
+
+Gertrud, too, had shrunk back at Hermann's sudden appearance, as if it
+were directed against her also. Before Reinert's wild passion she had
+kept her presence of mind. Now it suddenly seemed to leave her, and it
+almost looked as if she feared the protector more than the offender.
+The Count noted her timidity, and an expression of deep bitterness
+showed itself round his lips, nevertheless he placed himself
+protectingly before her, crossed his arms, and calmly awaited the next.
+
+Eugen, meanwhile, had risen, and now came up to him, pale with anger--
+
+"What does that mean, Hermann? Why do you follow me secretly to pry,
+unasked, into my affairs? What right have you to do it?"
+
+The Count remained very calm in face of this threatening violence, but
+there was an icy scorn in the glance, with which he measured him from
+head to foot.
+
+"Can you really dare to ask why I must interfere here?"
+
+"You have insulted me!" cried Eugen, passionately, "insulted me deeply,
+and either you make me an apology, or give me satisfaction with a
+weapon in your hand!"
+
+Without honouring him with an answer, Hermann turned to Gertrud--
+
+"Mein Fraeulein, you see that Herr von Reinert is not sufficiently
+master of himself to pay the necessary consideration to the presence of
+a lady. May I beg you to leave us?"
+
+She stood before him, pale, with downcast eyes. Where had the proud
+unapproachable demeanour of the maiden come from? Her eyes, which but
+lately had met his so firmly, so ready for conflict, sank now shyly to
+the ground. She bowed in mute assent, and walked away.
+
+The Count looked after her long and earnestly, then he passed his hand
+over his brow, and turned away.
+
+"We are alone, what do you wish to say to me?"
+
+"That I am at last tired out of being dictated to by you, of being
+treated like a schoolboy, and insulted. What has passed between
+Gertrud and me concerns no third."
+
+"Really?" The Count's voice was still calm, but passion lurked
+underneath it. "You may be mistaken."
+
+"It is all the same to me what you think. You have attacked me, thrown
+me to the ground. I demand satisfaction for this insult; do you hear,
+Hermann, I demand it from you!"
+
+The Count shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"A duel between us? That would indeed be more than ridiculous."
+
+"Ah, you refuse?"
+
+"Yes! It would be a poor return to my grandmother's hospitality, to
+shoot each other dead on her estate, added to which, Antonie is too
+near a relation, and I must openly confess to you, Eugen, my life and
+work are too valuable to me, for me to risk it for the sake of one of
+your mad moods. I certainly refuse."
+
+Eugen clenched his fist in boundless rage.
+
+"Hermann, you are--"
+
+"No insults!" said the Count, authoritatively, raising his hand. "I
+should have thought you have often enough had opportunity to test my
+courage. To-day's scene is the open breach of a friendship which has
+long existed only in name. In the future our paths must lie apart--let
+that be sufficient."
+
+If Hermann really wished to avoid irritating Eugen still further, he
+ought not to have spoken in this proud, scornful tone. It robbed him of
+the last particle of sense remaining to him, and drove him finally to
+the use of force. He came close up to the Count, and with a voice half
+choked with passion, he said between his teeth--
+
+"I ask you for the last time, will you give me satisfaction?"
+
+"No!"
+
+"Well, then, I will compel you to!"
+
+He raised his hand, and the next minute a blow struck the Count.
+
+The effect was terrible. Every drop of blood left Hermann's face, his
+fist clenched convulsively, and for a moment it seemed as if he would
+rush upon the offender and fell him to the earth, but the usual
+self-command conquered; he took a deep breath, and let his arms fall.
+
+"Good, you shall have your way! To-morrow morning early, then!"
+
+There lay something in the iron energy with which this man controlled
+himself, which shamed Eugen's violence, and was not without its effect
+upon him. He stood, perhaps himself frightened at what he had done, as
+if something like repentance were working within him, for he made a
+movement, as if to hold the Count back, but it was too late, Hermann
+had already turned away, and left the place.
+
+On the point of turning into the great avenue, which led towards the
+house, he stood suddenly before Gertrud, who seemed to have gone but a
+few steps. A single glance at her face showed him at once, that in
+spite of her apparent absence, she had been a witness of a
+conversation, the subject of which she must have expected, meanwhile he
+said nothing about it, but coming up asked simply--
+
+"I must beg of you to accept of my companionship to the house, else you
+might be in danger of meeting Herr von Reinert once more."
+
+As before, she made no reply, but silently assented to his proposal.
+They went slowly along the avenue; here, under the shade of the great
+oaks and beeches it was already twilight; high up above, the last
+golden rays gilded the branches, and here and there a bird still
+warbled low and dreamily his evening song.
+
+The two walked side by side as distantly, as if, indeed, chance had
+brought them into a position mutually painful. Count Arnau preserved a
+consistent silence, Gertrud did not raise her eyes from the ground, and
+yet now and then his eyes searched her countenance as if with a gloomy
+question, and her bosom heaved more and more stormily in some hidden
+conflict, which at last gained the victory over her reserve.
+
+"Herr Graf!"
+
+He stopped at once.
+
+"Mein Fraeulein?"
+
+She was still silent an instant, the words would not come to her lips,
+and it evidently cost her a powerful effort, as she at last asked--
+
+"You have consented to a duel with Herr von Reinert?"
+
+Hermann shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"You can bear me witness that I have done all that was possible to
+avoid it, but Eugen knew how to compel me to it. There are forms, the
+hurtfulness and foolishness of which one sees, and yet one has to bow
+to them. After what has passed between us, my honour gives me no other
+choice than to defend it with a weapon in the hand. I must bow to
+necessity."
+
+"On my account? No, that shall not, must not be!"
+
+Her voice became firmer as she went on, but something like a smile
+crossed the Count's features.
+
+"Will _you_ prevent it?"
+
+"Yes!" replied she energetically. "I shall appeal to the Praesidentin,
+and Frau von Reinert, that both by their influence may--"
+
+"You will not do that!" interrupted Hermann, gravely and sternly. "You
+will not misuse the knowledge which a chance possessed you of. This is
+a matter which concerns us men alone, and must be settled by us alone.
+I, for my part, will not suffer the interference of a woman here,
+whoever she may be, and neither my grandmother's reasoning, nor the
+tears and swoons of my cousin will alter my decision in the least."
+
+For the first time during the whole conversation she lifted her eyes to
+his with such a look of inexpressible, entreating anxiety, that the
+Count, who had but just before so proudly declared his inflexibility,
+turned suddenly away, as if he feared to succumb to a temptation. He
+continued speaking, but his voice was much milder, though it had lost
+nothing of its peculiar firmness.
+
+"I know that I impose a hard task upon you to be silent, and, perhaps,
+to tremble, where a word could hinder the bloody decision. I know, too,
+that few women are equal to such a task, but I give _you_ credit for
+it. My honour now demands, that the duel shall take place undisturbed,
+therefore I require your promise to preserve an unbroken silence
+towards every one until to-morrow at noon. Give me your word upon it!"
+
+He held out his hand to her; whether she actually laid hers in his, or
+whether he took it, Gertrud knew not, but the little hand trembled so
+violently that he let it fall the next moment.
+
+"Do not tremble so," said he with bitterness, "I have the first shot,
+and am sure of my weapon, however deeply Eugen may have angered me, I
+shall not forget that I once called him friend. He shall not pay for
+his folly with his life, even if I cannot hope for such generosity from
+him."
+
+Gertrud had let his bitterness pass without remark, but at his last
+words she lifted her head in sudden terror. Something in her
+countenance must have touched the Count magnetically, for his eyes
+suddenly lighted up, he seized both her hands, and asked in a low tone,
+but with quite a different expression from before, "Gertrud, why do you
+hate me?"
+
+The girl started violently, and a suspicious flush bathed her cheeks
+and brow. She tried to free herself, but he would not let her go.
+
+"From the first you have shown the most unconcealed hatred towards me,
+and yet, Gertrud, matters must be clear between us now. What have I
+done to you? Why do you hate me?"
+
+No one would have thought it possible that this cold, hard voice could
+melt into such soft, heart-felt tones, and Gertrud's whole being seemed
+to tremble under them. It is impossible to describe the emotions which
+played in stormy strife upon the young girl's countenance, anxiety,
+pain, despair, and yet behind all these, an unspeakable joy, which
+found vent in the single exclamation, half jubilant, and yet half like
+a deep cry of pain, "O, my God!"
+
+She clasped her hands before her face, Hermann looking steadfastly at
+her. "I see that a secret lies here, which you will not speak out. But
+I must take certainty with me to-morrow, Gertrud, tell me only this one
+thing, for which of us two do you tremble?"
+
+A moment's heavy pause, then she slowly let her hands fall. Her face
+was deadly pale, but calmly, though almost inaudibly, she answered, "I
+tremble for every life which is threatened."
+
+The Count drew back a step, the light in his eyes was suddenly
+extinguished, and his face was once more hard and cold. "You are right,
+_mein Fraeulein_," said he icily. "Since you are the innocent cause of
+our duel, the death of either of us must be equally unpleasant to you.
+I understand that perfectly. Adieu!"
+
+He went to the end of the avenue, his foot hesitated an instant, he
+imagined he heard a cry, but when he looked back she still stood
+immovably in the same place. With all his aristocratic pride, Count
+Arnau threw back his head, and strode through the deepening twilight
+towards the house.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The morning broke clear and sunny. At breakfast Count Arnau and Herr
+von Reinert were missing, they had gone for a ride very early with
+several other gentlemen, which had only been settled late the evening
+before. No one thought of attributing any importance to this
+circumstance, but, on the other hand, Baronin von Sternfeld was greatly
+displeased that Mademoiselle Walter had also excused herself, on the
+plea of feeling very unwell. The good lady found this sudden
+indisposition of the _gouvernante_ very inconvenient, for she was
+necessitated thereby to look after the children personally the whole
+day, the _bonne_ and lady's maid being fully occupied with preparations
+for the next day's journey.
+
+In her room, the windows of which looked out towards the fields,
+Gertrud paced restlessly up and down.
+
+There was a limit even to _her_ self-command; she had not felt able to
+appear at breakfast to-day, and to hear the talk over the "early ride,"
+the meaning of which she alone knew. Yes, it was, indeed, a fearful
+task, to be silent and tremble in the full consciousness of what the
+next hour might bring, to remain here inactive, whilst over yonder the
+bloody decision was made; it was almost beyond her strength. She had
+kept the promise wrung from her, no word had passed her lips, but what
+this silence cost her, that she alone knew.
+
+One could see that no sleep had closed the girl's eyes, which rested
+upon the window with an expression of the most painful suspense.
+Cheerful and golden the sunshine lay upon the fields around, over the
+woods, still enveloped in a blue mist. The corn waved gently in the
+morning breeze, and high up in the clear heavens the swallows shot
+backwards and forwards in rapid flight. But the road which led to the
+woods remained empty, not a single rider would appear.
+
+Gertrud's pride and self-command seemed over. What, during the whole
+time, she _would_ not confess to herself, what even yesterday evening
+she had tried to deny, she had been forced to recognise in the fearful
+anxiety of the previous night. "He shall not atone for his folly with
+his life, though I cannot hope for the same generosity from him!"
+
+The words would not be put out of her memory. Eugen would not show any
+generosity; she knew that he was revengeful, like all weak people, and
+seized the opportunity gladly to revenge himself upon the man whose
+intellectual superiority had so often oppressed and embittered him, and
+_he_, too, was sure of his weapon, and seldom failed in his mark.
+
+She fell down on her knees, and in speechless anxiety raised her folded
+hands. She knew now for whom this prayer was offered, and had known
+yesterday, when that grave, hard voice had asked so gently, "Gertrud,
+why do you hate me?" Though she had gathered together all her strength
+for the last despairing resistance, though she had possessed cruel
+courage to refuse him the one single word which he begged for, it was
+in vain now. Now she would like to have called him back, now, when it
+was too late. How icily cold his farewell had sounded--perhaps it was
+the last. Then suddenly a sound of hoofs was heard in the distance.
+Gertrud hurried to the window, as she had so often done before in vain,
+when she had heard any sound, but this time it was no disappointment.
+Her eyes had recognised the rider, though he was still far off on the
+edge of the wood; followed by his groom, Count Arnau rode towards the
+house.
+
+The rebound was too great; the sudden appearance of him whom she had
+feared lost, decided all. In the cry of boundless delight, which
+unconsciously burst from her lips, in the expression of her face, lay
+the secret revealed. She flew to the door, reflection and reason for
+the moment gone; she must and would meet him!
+
+A heavy, dull blow, then a cracking sound followed--she stopped
+suddenly, and looked back alarmed. One of her travelling boxes, which
+she had brought out yesterday, and partly packed, had been thrust out
+of its place by her sudden rush to the door. A simple, easily explained
+circumstance, but the girl's feverishly reddened cheek had become
+suddenly white. Slowly she again closed the door, and hesitatingly,
+step by step, approached the corner by the window. There was a strange
+expression in her face, a shrinking, as if before something
+supernatural, and with a timidity, as if she were really about to meet
+with some spirit, she bent down to examine the injury.
+
+It was a small, unimportant little box, an old fashioned, insignificant
+piece of goods, which had belonged to her father, and which only a
+feeling of filial respect hindered the daughter from parting with. This
+legacy, almost the only one, which the orphan possessed, had hitherto
+accompanied her on every journey, and now it all at once fell over and
+broke, just at the moment when she was on the point of--Gertrud did not
+dare to complete the thought, but hastily pushed aside the books which
+had fallen out, and lifted the lid.
+
+The back of the box had burst in two, and out of the crack, squeezed in
+between the wood and the leather lining, gleamed a piece of white
+paper. Gertrud mechanically pulled it out, and was about to lay it
+aside, when her eyes suddenly fell upon a word, an autograph--she
+passed her hand hastily across her eyes--surely it must be some vision,
+that she always and everywhere should come upon the name that just now
+filled all her thoughts, but at the second glance she saw that her eyes
+had not deceived her. "Hermann Count Arnau" stood there in faded ink,
+but in clear, plain handwriting--stood there on the old fashioned
+paper, which had been long years in its hiding place, where it must
+have fallen from a hole in the inner pocket, through a hasty opening of
+the box. Gertrud's head seemed to swim, incapable of comprehending the
+facts connected with it--still half stunned from her previous agitation
+she unfolded the paper.
+
+It contained only a few lines, apparently very hurriedly put together,
+but in a business like form. The effect, however, upon the girl was
+like a lightning flash. She sprang up; her face, a moment since so
+pale, bathed in a deep flush, her eyes shining in passionate triumph,
+she pressed the new found paper with both hands against her breast, as
+if some one would tear it away, and her bosom heaved deeply--deeply, as
+if the weight of a whole life had been removed from it.
+
+But it was only for a moment, in the next she started at some
+remembrance, which laid an icy hand on her heart, the fateful paper
+sank from her trembling hands, she stared at it despairingly, and then
+raised her eyes with a bitter cry to Heaven. On this paper had once
+hung the honour and happiness of a whole family--then a mischievous
+chance had allowed it to disappear.
+
+Twice ten years had passed--two people had perished through its loss,
+and now chance had given back what was lost.
+
+"O, God, why, just in my hand? And why now, just now?"
+
+No answer came to this despairing question, and no sound from Gertrud's
+lips; mutely she fought out the conflict, the hardest in her life. How
+terrible it was, the convulsively wrung hands bore witness, but the
+lips were silent against the pain. She believed that in the past night
+she had known the fullest measure of tormenting anxiety, and yet, the
+despair of that hour compared with this moment! Now, with her own hand
+she must strike the threatening blow, it would be a deadly one, she
+knew, and this time more was at stake than life alone.
+
+Only few, in face of such a choice, would have possessed the courage
+for conflict; they would have succumbed to swoons or tears, only
+listening to the voice of the heart, and turning away from the fateful
+decision. For her own unhappiness Gertrud was not one of the weak ones.
+A lonely, sad youth, containing bitter experiences enough for a whole
+life, had steeled her to endurance, but also given her that hardness,
+which happy people know nothing of. The iron law of duty, hitherto the
+single principle of her life, here, too, silenced every other voice,
+and, silently, and warningly came back the remembrances of the past,
+still sleeping unforgotten in her inmost soul. Every bitter hour in
+which her childhood had been so rich, every tear which she had shed,
+every humiliation she had endured, the mother's dying bed, the picture
+of her never known, but yet passionately loved father--all, all passed
+vividly before her, and as these remembrances poured upon her, the
+girl's features grew hard and cold, till at last, with dark decision
+she arose. The conflict was at an end; she laid her right hand as if
+with an oath, upon the fateful paper.
+
+"The warning came at the right time! I was on the point of treason to
+myself and to my whole past. My poor sacrificed parents, the daughter
+will know how to guard your rights--even  though she should perish in
+the act!"
+
+Meanwhile, the other inhabitants of the house sat, as usual, after
+breakfast, in the garden house. Baron Sternfeld read aloud to his
+mother from the newspaper, but the political news, which she followed
+with such attention, seemed to weary the Baronin as well as Frau von
+Reinert; the former divided her attention between her embroidery and
+her two little daughters, who were playing outside on the terrace, and
+the latter yawned again and again behind her handkerchief.
+
+The seven years had left their trace clearly enough upon Antonie. She
+was no longer that charming, poetical being, who knew so well how to
+inspire the young artist, that he forgot all else in his passion for
+her. Her beauty was of that delicate, but passing kind, which only
+lasts so long as the bloom and freshness of youth remains, and then
+vanishes, leaving scarcely a trace of its former reign. There were no
+firm, noble lines, no characteristic expression, no _soul_, in fact, to
+make up for these fleeting charms. The former enthusiastic fire in the
+dark eyes was extinguished, lost in that expression of weariness and
+languor, as plainly to be read in her features as in her husband's. The
+Graefin Arnau, at twenty, had been wonderfully beautiful, Frau von
+Reinert, now thirty, was already faded, and all the magic arts of her
+toilette could not make up for what was lost.
+
+Hermann's entrance put an end both to the Baron's reading and the
+weariness of the ladies. After a short morning greeting, including all,
+he went up to the Praesidentin's chair, and with a few words, excused
+his absence at breakfast.
+
+"Where is Eugen?" asked Baron Sternfeld, surprised.
+
+"Eugen has had a slight accident during our ride, and hurt his arm a
+little, he remained behind at the gamekeeper's, and I have given orders
+for the carriage to be sent to him. It is not at all a dangerous
+affair. Dr. Boerner, who was one of our party, assured us so, and he put
+on a bandage at once."
+
+No one thought of doubting this explanation, given in the calmest tone.
+The Baronin made an exclamation of concern, but Antonie cried hastily--
+
+"That wild riding! I have prophesied over and over again to Eugen that
+he would have an accident some day, but he never listens to my
+warnings!"
+
+There was not the slightest trace of anxiety or tenderness in this
+tone, only an unmistakable vexation. The Praesidentin's face certainly
+did not show any great concern or sympathy, but, nevertheless, she said
+gravely--
+
+"Will you not at least go to your husband?"
+
+"What need is there, grandmother? You hear that it is not in the least
+dangerous, and Eugen will be back in an hour in any case."
+
+So saying, she leaned back in her chair with the most perfect
+indifference. The Praesidentin was silent, but her face betrayed what
+she thought of this answer--so this was the end of that unspeakable,
+glowing passion, which had once torn away the Graefin Arnau from all the
+bounds of reason and sense! Hermann well understood his grandmother's
+look and shrug of the shoulders; was it not he who had favoured the
+match? It is always painful to have to confess to an error, and today
+the Count seemed little in the humour for it. As he came in, his eyes
+had flown restlessly and searchingly through the room, and the cloud
+which already lay on his brow had become darker. Now his unrest seemed
+to increase every moment; he became monosyllabic, and absent, and
+hardly took any part in the conversation.
+
+"Is there no one to take charge of the children to-day?" asked he
+suddenly, looking towards the little girls, who were chasing each other
+up and down the terrace, and becoming rather noisy.
+
+"No!" sighed the Baronin. "Mademoiselle Walter gave me the pleasure of
+excusing herself this morning on the plea of illness, just now, when we
+want to be off!"
+
+"Ah, so!"
+
+The Count's lips pressed themselves together in fierce anger, whilst
+the Baronin continued to complain of the great inconvenience of her
+_gouvernante's_ illness just now, which might possibly even put off
+their journey.
+
+"That is hardly to be feared, I think!" put in Antonie sarcastically.
+"I should imagine Mademoiselle Walter's evening walk yesterday has
+given her a cold, which cannot be of much importance."
+
+"What evening walk?" asked the Baronin, becoming attentive.
+
+"Well, she came back from the park pretty late yesterday evening, and a
+short time before a gentleman had left her. I could not recognize him,
+as it was already too dark, but from his appearance and walk I should
+not imagine that he was either a workman or a servant. Dear me, why
+not? All the gentlemen of the neighbourhood are unanimous in admiration
+of mademoiselle's beauty. It would be certainly no wonder if she
+listened to one of these inspired adorers, and consented to a little
+rendezvous--"
+
+The Praesidentin knitted her brow; in spite of her antipathy to Gertrud,
+she was strictly just, and would suffer no calumnies in her presence.
+
+"You ought first to prove that, Antonie," she interrupted in a grave,
+reproving tone, "as far as I can judge the girl, this accusation is the
+last that could be made against her, and hitherto Bertha has not found
+the slightest cause for complaint in her."
+
+"I should also advise you to wait for an explanation of the matter,
+_liebe Toni_," continued Hermann coldly.
+
+He still stood by his grandmother's chair, upon which he leaned with
+folded arms, and looked stedfastly at his cousin, with a peculiar
+expression. There was something half compassionate, half scornful in
+his look, and his lips already curled with the old, much feared
+sarcasm, which he poured unsparingly upon all around him, when
+irritated by some untoward circumstance.
+
+"It was only a supposition," said Antonie, throwing back her head
+pettishly at the reproof. "But I had intended some time ago to give
+Bertha a hint with regard to Mademoiselle Walter; what I have found out
+lately about her is decidedly not to her credit."
+
+Hermann smiled with unconcealed irony.
+
+"Something you have found out _lately_? Really!"
+
+Antonie looked questioningly at him.
+
+"What do you mean? I don't understand you."
+
+"Oh, I only meant, that what is not in the young lady's favour, namely,
+her outward appearance, you must have found out at the first moment."
+
+Antonie flushed deeply at this malice of Hermann's, which,
+unfortunately, was only too true, and she did not make any denial.
+
+She knew her cousin well enough to know that in a dispute she always
+got the worst of it, and that when he looked, as he did at this moment,
+not the slightest consideration need be expected from him. She
+contented herself, therefore, with darting an angry look at him, and
+completely ignoring the speech, turned to the Baronin, who now
+exclaimed suspiciously--
+
+"But what is this you have found out about her?"
+
+Antonie took a rose from the vase before her, and began to pluck it to
+pieces.
+
+"Well, my information does not concern her so much as her family. I
+suppose you do not know that 'mademoiselle' has no right to the name of
+'Walter.' It is her mother's family name, which the latter re-assumed,
+or rather was obliged to do so, because her husband's name called forth
+very unpleasant remembrances."
+
+The sarcastic calmness with which Hermann had listened hitherto,
+suddenly disappeared and gave place to a deathly paleness. He bent
+forward in the deepest attention, and followed the conversation in
+visible suspense.
+
+"A false name!" cried Baron Sternfeld, also coming nearer, "why, that
+is evident deception! How do you know it, Antonie? And why have you not
+mentioned it before?"
+
+"Because I only found it out myself yesterday. My maid visited
+W---- some years since, and got to know something of Mademoiselle
+Gertrud, whose mother was still living at that time. Therese was not a
+little astonished to find in this Madame Walter the wife of Brand,
+formerly steward to the Prince in N----."
+
+Here the Praesidentin suddenly laid her hand on her grandson's arm, and
+the warning was needed. He had started violently at the name, as if
+struck by a shot, now he slowly turned towards his grandmother, she
+exchanged a deep glance with him, whilst he seized her hand
+convulsively. But the warning was in time, he succeeded in keeping
+command over his features.
+
+The others were all too much occupied with Antonie's disclosure to
+notice the Count.
+
+"Brand--Brand!" said the Baron, thoughtfully, "I seem to have heard the
+name before somewhere. Who was he, did you say, and what do you know of
+him?"
+
+"Not much to his credit. He embezzled money entrusted to him, belonging
+to the Prince, and finally, when he found his crime discovered, had the
+atrocity to shoot himself in Uncle Arnau's business room, before his
+eyes. I was but a child then, but I know the affair was much talked
+about, and made a great stir. Hermann must remember it well enough, for
+the shock almost cost his poor mother her life."
+
+Count Arnau appeared not to have heard the indirect question, at least
+he gave no answer. His hand lay icy cold in the Praesidentin's, she must
+have felt by this how it stood with him, for she suddenly looked up
+anxiously, his face still remained immovable.
+
+The Baronin was in the greatest indignation. "Abominable! The daughter
+of a thief, of a cheat in my house! And she has dared to be silent
+towards me, to be taken into my house under a false name!"
+
+Antonie smiled maliciously. "Good gracious, Bertha, do you think it
+likely she would do otherwise? It would have been simply impossible for
+her to obtain a respectable situation if she had openly confessed her
+antecedents."
+
+"No matter, _I_ cannot suffer such a deception, cannot entrust the
+education of my children to the hands of a person who comes of _such_ a
+family. I shall speak to her to-day and demand an explanation of her."
+
+"You will not do that, Bertha," interrupted the Praesidentin, in her
+sharpest tone. "How do you even know whether the girl knows her
+father's history? I doubt it, and even if she did, the children are not
+responsible for the sins of their parents, in which they have had no
+part. If you wish to dismiss the young lady, do it at least as
+considerately as possible; in any case, I beg that you will take no
+steps in the affair without once more considering the matter with me."
+
+The old lady had risen and stood so imposingly before her
+daughter-in-law, that neither she nor her husband ventured a
+remonstrance, indeed, they were accustomed to bow to the mother's
+authority unconditionally, though her sudden taking of the
+_gouvernante's_ part had somewhat surprised them.
+
+The Praesidentin turned to her grandson. "Have the goodness, Hermann, to
+lead me to my room, I feel somewhat tired. I should advise you,
+Antonie, to get into the carriage and drive down to your husband. If
+his hurt is so indifferent to you, propriety nevertheless demands, that
+you (at least, in the eyes of others) trouble yourself somewhat about
+it. The carriage is just driving up, I see."
+
+This advice, given in the tone of a decided command, was evidently as
+unpalatable to Frau von Reinert as the former to the Baronin, but she,
+too, did not gainsay it. In the worst of tempers, she rang for her maid
+to fetch hat and shawl, whilst the Praesidentin left the saloon,
+supported on Hermann's arm.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+"That Toni should mention that unfortunate name! It makes you beside
+yourself, Hermann, what has become of your self-command, your strength
+of will?"
+
+Grandmother and grandson were alone together, the portieres were drawn
+up, the doors closed; they were secure from listeners. The Count had
+not yet spoken a single word, with crossed arms he walked up and down
+incessantly, without answering, without even hearing. The Praesidentin
+shook her head.
+
+"I cannot understand what there is so dreadful in this discovery. You
+have searched long enough for the dead man's wife and child; you
+declared it would give you back your rest if you were able to do
+anything for them. You ought now to bless the chance which gives us at
+last the opportunity of--"
+
+The Count suddenly stopped.
+
+"_Bless_ it? Let me alone, grandmother, you do not, cannot know what
+has perished for me in this discovery!"
+
+She went up to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Hermann, you are beside yourself, and not in a state to look at this
+matter calmly and sensibly, leave it in my hands. It is, of course, an
+understood thing, that after this discovery, the girl cannot remain any
+longer in the family. Bertha intends dismissing her. In any case, I
+will see that it is done in the most considerate manner possible, and,
+later on, we will try to find some guardian to assure her future. Do it
+as handsomely as you are able, return to her the whole income which her
+mother lost. Perhaps we may succeed in finding a suitable husband for
+her, a clergyman, or some one of that sort, and then we might manage
+unsuspiciously--"
+
+The Count suddenly freed himself with a violent movement.
+
+"Make no plans, grandmother," said he bitterly, "it is atonement to
+injury that we have to do with. I had thought of another way of
+expiating it, but I know that she will never, never take it from my
+hand."
+
+"From _your_ hand? I should think not. We must go to work with greater
+care than that. Whatever you have to do with it, she must not suspect
+in the least from whom it comes, or she might ask, _why_ we did it."
+
+"And supposing she already knows?"
+
+"Hermann!"
+
+"She knows it, must know it! Now I understand the glowing, unforgiving
+hate which she has shown towards me from the first moment, this
+aversion to my presence, this altogether mysterious demeanour. How
+strange that no suspicion of the truth ever entered my head; but it was
+the name which led me astray. Oh, she knows all, I tell you, she
+betrays it in every word, in every gesture. But one thing I have never
+been able to tear from her, a secret, which she knows how to keep, and
+yet I _must_ have certainty at any price!" In great agitation he
+recommenced his pacing up and down the room. The Praesidentin stood
+still, speechless. Whether she was terrified at the idea that he was
+right in his conjecture, or at this outbreak of passion in the man who
+was usually so calm and collected, was undecided, for the next moment a
+slight sound was heard at the door.
+
+"What is it? Who is there?" cried Hermann. He pushed back the bolt.
+Without stood a servant, looking much embarrassed.
+
+"I beg your pardon for disturbing you, Herr Count; I did not know that
+the door was locked. I wished to say--"
+
+"Well, what--what?"
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter is in the ante-room, and wishes to speak to the
+Herr Count."
+
+"Mademoiselle Walter?"
+
+"With me?"
+
+The Praesidentin collected herself. First she was evidently on the point
+of sending a refusal, but Hermann anticipated her.
+
+"I--will see her at once!"
+
+The servant disappeared.
+
+"Hermann, you ought not to speak to her now! You will betray yourself
+whilst you are in such agitation! And what can she want?"
+
+The Count had all at once regained his self-command, but an expression
+of unspeakable bitterness appeared in his face.
+
+"Calm yourself, grandmother! I know why she comes, it has nothing
+whatever to do with this affair. It must be deathly anxiety, indeed,
+which compels her to cross _my_ threshold."
+
+The Praesidentin had no time to demand an explanation of what was a
+mystery to her, for the servant had opened the door to show Gertrud in.
+The Count was right; it cost her a fearful effort to cross his
+threshold, and now it was at last done, she remained standing
+speechless, her eyes fixed on the ground, like one conscious of guilt.
+Her features were calm, but there was something almost terrible in the
+fixed look and deathly pallor, almost as if life had left them.
+
+Hermann advanced to meet her.
+
+"You wish to speak with me, mein Fraeulein?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The word fell softly, almost inaudibly from her lips.
+
+"Alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Pardon, grandmother,--may I beg you to follow me?"
+
+He drew back the _portiere_ of the neighbouring room, and followed her
+in there. The Praesidentin remained behind, she went to the door and
+once more drew the bolt, then trod noiselessly to the closed
+_portiere_, and quietly drew the folds somewhat aside--Hermann was
+capable of anything in this mood, he must not remain unobserved.
+
+No word had as yet been spoken between the two. The Count stood, to all
+appearance calm, his hand supported by the table, and silently waited,
+but with the same bitter expression, for Gertrud to speak. She tried to
+do so, but was it really the deathly anxiety of which he had spoken?
+Her voice failed her, she could not.
+
+Hermann's lips trembled, he saw well that he must speak first.
+
+"I can guess what brings you here. You saw me come back unhurt, and
+tremble now for the life of my opponent. Calm yourself! Though our
+_rencontre_ was not altogether without effect, it was not dangerous.
+Herr von Reinert has a slight wound in his arm, which caused his
+usually sure aim to miss me. He has at present remained behind at the
+gamekeeper's, the doctor is with him, and not the slightest danger is
+to be feared."
+
+At his first words Gertrud had raised her eyes with a look almost of
+terror, but she now cast them down again.
+
+"I thank you, Herr Graf, for the news, but you are mistaken--it is not
+that which brings me here."
+
+Not that! Then it was not anxiety which had blanched her cheeks so
+terribly, which had given her this fixed, lifeless look--the Count's
+eyes lighted up suddenly as they had done yesterday evening; the bitter
+expression disappeared; he hastily came a step nearer.
+
+"No! What was it then, Gertrud?"
+
+She shrank back with a start; slowly he let fall his outstretched hand.
+The girl struggled for breath.
+
+"I came--to inform you of something. It concerns you--both of us. I am
+compelled to leave this house to-day; my letter to the Baronin contains
+an excuse--but I owe the truth to you."
+
+She had brought out the words in an almost choked voice, and at the
+same time strove visibly to avoid meeting his eyes. Graf Arnau drew
+himself up decidedly; he knew what was coming now.
+
+"I go as your enemy; but I will not do so secretly behind your back.
+You asked me yesterday if a secret lay between us--you shall know it
+now."
+
+"I know it already!"
+
+"How?"
+
+"An hour ago I learnt your real name, and with it the reason for your
+hatred to me."
+
+She looked up at him as before, but now with the greatest horror.
+
+"That is impossible, you cannot! You cannot know anything--anything,
+except that it was the name of a deceiver, who took his own life, when
+he found his crime discovered. That is what you have been told, is it
+not? Or--did you know _more_?"
+
+Hermann made no answer, his eyes sought the ground darkly.
+
+"Answer me, Count Arnau! If any one on earth has a right to ask, I
+have. What do you know?"
+
+"All!"
+
+In his blunt, broken tone, lay the whole dashed down power of his
+nature in one word; the girl stood for a moment as if struck by
+lightning.
+
+"You knew it, and were silent!"
+
+"It was my _father_, Gertrud!"
+
+She suddenly drew herself up with almost fierce energy.
+
+"You are right, Count Arnau, it was your father--and it was mine! I
+shall not forget that."
+
+A heavy, oppressive pause followed. At last Hermann raised his head
+again.
+
+"We have reached a point now where nothing more can be kept silent or
+spared. Will you tell me _who_ has revealed the secret?"
+
+Since the confession of the Count a strange change had passed over
+Gertrud. The anxiety, the conflict which had hitherto been betrayed in
+her manner, had given place to an unnatural calm; her glance, which had
+avoided his so timidly, looked at him full and threateningly, and her
+voice sounded firm and clear as she replied--
+
+"My mother initiated me into the matter so soon as I was old enough to
+understand it. She had no proofs to make good her rights, nothing but
+the invincible conviction of her heart. My father did not dare to make
+public the suspicion he had held for some time against his powerful and
+influential superior; he mentioned it only to his wife on the morning
+of the fateful day, and therefore she only was capable of guessing at
+the truth. She knew that her husband was no cheat, that he was only the
+sacrifice of a crime; of an already planned, treacherous a
+assassination--"
+
+"No, Gertrud, no, he was not that!" burst in Hermann. "A crime of the
+moment, a deed of despair, but no plan. I know it--I was witness of
+it!"
+
+"Ah--you were a witness!"
+
+The Count's eyes took a rapid survey of the room; it had only one
+entrance, and that, he knew, was well guarded; nevertheless his voice
+sank to a whisper as if he did not dare to trust the secret even to
+dead walls.
+
+"That morning I was in my father's business room; I seldom went into
+it, this time it was childish disobedience which took me there. The day
+before my father had taken away a book which he thought unsuitable for
+me; but my childish fancy was so much excited by the adventurous story
+that I was determined to know the end of it. The book lay in his
+business room; I knew this, and seized the first opportunity to get
+possession of it. Scarcely had this happened before voices were heard
+in the corridor; conscious that I had done wrong, I flew with my book
+into a deep corner of the bay window, thinking that I should not be
+there more than a few minutes, for my father was accustomed to drive
+out at this hour. But this time he came in with your father. On account
+of the sun the drawn curtain concealed me completely, and thus I was a
+witness of a conversation, of which, at that time, I understood almost
+nothing, but which, nevertheless, on account of its fearful
+termination, was impressed upon my mind with terrible clearness. What I
+heard at first was unimportant; the talk was confined entirely to
+business matters. My father must already have made some demand of Herr
+Brand which he now repeated, but which, however, was most decidedly
+refused by him. Brand represented that he had already paid to the Count
+the sum due to him, and, without special authority from the Prince,
+could not give out any of the money entrusted to his charge, for which
+he was of course responsible. My father must have seen that he was
+lost, must have known no other way of escape, for he chose the most
+dangerous plan of all, and made his inferior his confidant. He
+confessed to him that he had already employed the sum received for the
+payment of personal debts, but that the expenses of the Prince's
+household now needed reimbursement, and that immediately, if all was
+not to be discovered. He strove to persuade the steward to give him
+sufficient for this from the balance remaining, promising that all
+should be returned in a few weeks. The Count swore to take all upon
+himself, he entreated, he promised, he at last threatened, but promises
+as well as threats were lost upon the man's unflinching faithfulness to
+duty. He answered, steadfastly, 'No.' I say once more, in spite of all
+this, my father was not capable of such a diabolically thought-out
+plan--the pistol, which lay loaded upon the table, was, it is my firm
+conviction, designed for himself, he had intended, like many another
+ruined man, to end his life by suicide had your father somewhat
+moderated his answer to him, but his stern sincerity and
+conscientiousness hastened the crime. He declared without mercy that
+any one cognisant of guilt, was, in his opinion, a sharer of it, and
+that he should feel himself obliged to make public what he had just
+heard in order to prevent further harm, and thus drove the already
+despairing man to madness. He knew that should _this_ happen his
+honour, the honour of his family, was inevitably lost. I saw my
+father's hand suddenly grasp the pistol, saw a flash--and Brand fell
+dead before him."
+
+Hermann stopped and passed his hand over his brow, which was wet with
+cold drops, it was manifestly a fearful torture to relate this, but
+Gertrud made no effort to spare him; the "iron sense of duty in the
+father" seemed to have descended to the daughter, she listened
+immovably.
+
+After an instant the Count breathed deeply, and then continued--
+
+"Terror must have stunned me, I could not utter a sound. I saw my
+father open the door and cry for help, saw my mother rush in--what
+happened later you know. It was found possible to throw the guilt upon
+the dead--"
+
+"Oh, yes, it was found possible!" interrupted she bitterly. "The only
+voice which upheld the truth, the cry of the widow, was at once
+silenced as the shameful accusation of a highly respected man, And
+Count Arnau swore as witness--"
+
+"Gertrud."
+
+Such terrible hidden torment found vent for itself in the exclamation,
+that Gertrud did not finish the sentence.
+
+"You must pardon me, Herr Graf, if I am overpowered with bitterness at
+the remembrance of this, we have suffered too long and too deeply under
+it. Our little all, which our father had saved so carefully, was, of
+course, seized, and my mother being quite without help, was compelled
+to ask assistance of well-to-do relatives in W----. We found there
+protection from actual hunger, but only under a hard condition. Our
+relatives were honest, strict _buerger_ people, and would not suffer a
+name amongst them which stood in the papers as that of a thief and a
+cheat. My mother was forced to re-assume her family name, she did it in
+order to save her child, then but a few months old, from absolute want.
+But our misfortune was not kept secret by those around us--we have been
+despised so long as I can remember."
+
+It seemed, indeed, as if with these remembrances, all the hatred and
+suffering of the past years was once more awakened, every word became a
+passionate reproach. Hermann had listened in dark silence, now he said
+with a sort of bitter resignation--
+
+"I think it is a question which of us has suffered most under the
+crime. Your youth may have been bitter--mine was terrible. My mother
+died a few months after the dreadful deed, the year after my father
+followed. No one was able to understand how it was that he treated his
+only son and heir with an open hatred, though he at the same time
+obstinately refused to be separated from him for a single hour. No one
+knew that he guarded in him a witness of his guilt, and trembled hourly
+at the thought that his dreadful secret hung upon the silence of a mere
+child. Perhaps you can imagine what a lot that child's was! Had not my
+grandmother at times stood protectingly between us, I know not what
+terrible misfortune might have occurred. She it was who at that time
+interfered with all her influence and wealth to avert threatening ruin,
+which would have inevitably been followed by a discovery of the truth,
+and who later, after the death of my father, and during her ten years
+of guardianship, gradually managed to bring our affairs into order
+again, so that I may now call myself a rich man. Need I tell you,
+Gertrud, what a curse these riches have been to me? I could not give
+back the embezzled sum without arresting suspicion, but I hoped in some
+indirect way to make it up to those left behind. Since my majority I
+have never ceased to try and find trace of you, have taken all possible
+steps--in vain. I looked for Brand's widow and child, and never
+imagined how near to me the latter was. Gertrud! Fate has led us
+together strangely--did it really happen, in order that we might combat
+life and death together?"
+
+At the last words his voice once more sank to those soft, deep tones,
+which she had already once heard from his lips, and the girl's whole
+being trembled before it, as it had done then, but she knew the danger
+now, and fled from it.
+
+"Not this tone, Count Arnau,--I beg you--let us keep to the subject."
+
+He silently bowed in assent.
+
+"At the time my father paid out the sum, he received a receipt from his
+chief, Count Arnau. Did you know of it?"
+
+"No. But my father himself undertook the seizure of the steward's
+papers. He will have destroyed it."
+
+"It was not destroyed. A chance allowed it to lie hidden for years. It
+is in my hands!"
+
+In speechless consternation Hermann drew back, the same moment the
+_portiere_ was torn open, and the Praesidentin stood before them.
+
+"You must be mistaken, mademoiselle! It is impossible, it cannot be!"
+
+Gertrud had turned round surprised, but not frightened, and met the old
+lady's threatening glance firmly--
+
+"I am not mistaken. I repeat, the receipt is found, and has been in my
+possession an hour."
+
+Meanwhile Hermann had collected himself, and now once more roused all
+his energy.
+
+"You have the paper with you? May I see it?"
+
+She shrank back at the proposal, and involuntarily laid both hands
+protectingly on her bosom. He smiled bitterly.
+
+"Do you fear a renewed theft? I give you my word of honour that the
+paper shall be returned to you uninjured."
+
+Slowly Gertrud drew it out and gave it to him; he opened it, the
+Praesidentin's eyes hung in breathless suspense on his features.
+
+No one spoke for some seconds, but the Count leaned more and more
+heavily on the table, his cheeks pale as death; with averted face he at
+last, without speaking a word, gave back the paper, threw himself into
+a chair, and covered his eyes with his hand.
+
+The Praesidentin knew enough.
+
+"Mademoiselle--" it was in vain that she endeavoured to make her voice
+firm, it trembled audibly--"Mademoiselle, you can, and will not, make
+any use of this document; it accuses the dead."
+
+Gertrud drew herself up scornfully; so soon as a third interfered, all
+her courage returned.
+
+"You think not, Frau Praesidentin? But the dead Count died as a highly
+respected, honourable man, and my father lies dishonoured and disgraced
+in the grave. Do you imagine that his daughter would refrain from
+avenging him?"
+
+"Do not build too many hopes on this paper; our tribunals cannot
+proceed against the dead, and as for the living--we are ready for any
+sacrifice, for any reparation within the bounds of possibility--" She
+stopped suddenly, even this energetic woman's eyes sank almost timidly
+before Gertrud's. "Take care, mademoiselle!" cried she, breaking out
+into anger, "take care not to drive us to do our utmost. The family of
+Count Arnau is still powerful and influential enough, and they will
+risk all, if it concerns their honour. Do not dare to let that paper
+out of your hands, else ruin might come upon yourself."
+
+An expression of unspeakable scorn curled Gertrud's lips.
+
+"I will wait and see if this mighty influential family succeed for the
+second time in defying justice. I will see if the law of the land will
+dare to refuse it to me when I come before them with this proof. Spare
+your words, Frau Praesidentin. What I had to fear was overcome before I
+came to you, now nothing more can intimidate me."
+
+She had spoken with cold, firm decision. If her features had seemed
+fixed before, now they seemed turned to stone; the only expression in
+them was a fearful determination. The Praesidentin saw that nothing more
+was to be gained here. She placed herself before the door, covering it
+with her body.
+
+"Now then, Hermann, you must guard your own and our honour! It must
+be!"
+
+Her eyes, even more than her words, challenged the Count to get
+possession of the fateful paper by force.
+
+Hermann had risen, he too seemed to have made a last decision, but with
+a wave of the hand, he dismissed his grandmother's proposal, and went
+up to Gertrud, who stood before him, still firm, and fearless.
+
+"Gertrud!"
+
+She shrank slightly, but did not alter her decided expression.
+
+"I have no right to expect or ask forbearance from you. Do what your
+conscience tells you. You can raise no accusation against Count Arnau,
+my father--he is dead; but on the ground of this document you can
+publicly demand that the money which was withdrawn from you be
+returned, and thus cleanse your father's name from the stain which
+rests upon it, transferring it to mine instead."
+
+In face of _his_ words Gertrud looked somewhat inclined to waver, she
+hung her head.
+
+"I--know it."
+
+"You know it! Well, then, you also know that it will be my ruin. I
+have tried in strained activity to forget the curse which I have
+inherited. I have accomplished much, and hoped everything from my
+career; that is, of course, at an end, so soon as public shame reaches
+me. Neither my office nor my connection with the Prince's household can
+stand before that; I must resign it, henceforth to hide a dishonoured
+name in darkness and inactivity. For a nature like mine, this means
+ruin, Gertrud; power and the right to use it lie in your hands.
+Retaliate as you will, if you _can_ ruin me, then do it."
+
+A deep sigh heaved the tormented girl's breast, she would have rushed
+away, but the ban of his eyes and voice held her enchained. He stood
+before her, without entreaty, but also without reproach, only his eyes
+burned in passionate unrest, they searched her's deeply--deeply as if
+he must and would read the depths of her soul.
+
+"Gertrud! It concerns your father's honour, and my destruction--do it!"
+
+The girl's arm sank hopelessly, with a heart-rending expression she
+looked up, as if begging for mercy, her eyes met his, a moment passed,
+an eternity for both, then Gertrud suddenly seized the paper
+convulsively with both hands--it fell in fragments at her feet.
+
+The Praesidentin stood speechless; she had not understood the last scene
+between the two, nor Hermann's incomprehensible behaviour, only now
+that she saw him draw the girl passionately towards him, the truth
+began to dawn upon her. The proud old woman tottered and supported
+herself by a chair, this was too much in one hour.
+
+Meanwhile Gertrud lay half insensible in Hermann's arms, and he bent
+over her with an expression of tenderness, which the grandmother had
+never before seen in his firm, cold features.
+
+The passionately longed-for certainty was his at last, now he knew,
+too, for whom she had trembled yesterday.
+
+But the energetic girl did not succumb many minutes to this fearful
+agitation, she raised herself and tried to escape from his arms.
+
+"You are saved, Count Arnau---Farewell!"
+
+He stood as if struck by lightning.
+
+"Gertrud, for heaven's sake, what does this mean?"
+
+"I leave this house at once. Do not hold me back, I must go."
+
+"And do you really imagine," cried Hermann, "that I will let you go?
+Oh, your incomprehensibleness does not alarm me any longer. You have
+given a right over you by this sacrifice which I shall know how to
+use."
+
+Gertrud looked earnestly at him for a moment.
+
+"No," said she at last, "with this sacrifice I have torn every tie
+between us for ever. What has happened does not exist for the world,
+and the daughter of the thief, Brand, can never be the wife of Count
+Arnau."
+
+He took both her hands gently--
+
+"Gertrud, not this bitterness. Can you not credit me with the power of
+protecting my wife before idle tongues?"
+
+"Your wife, perhaps, but not yourself. My real name cannot remain
+unconcealed, so soon as I emerge from dependence and obscurity, and I
+have lived in aristocratic families long enough to know what is thought
+on such points. They would hardly pardon you your _buergerliche_ wife,
+and you would suffer under the continual persecution, until you would
+at last be compelled to retire to the hated obscurity of private
+life--on my account."
+
+The Praesidentin, who had stood hitherto like one in despair, now
+breathed freely again at these words, which she saw were not without
+effect upon her grandson. He must, indeed, have himself recognized the
+undisputable truth of her argument, but he still strove against it.
+
+"Gertrud, at this moment, under the influence of this agitation, we
+cannot make any weighty decision for our future. Promise me later--"
+
+"No," interrupted she firmly, "the word of separation must be spoken
+now. Count Arnau, you know the relations of our country and Court
+better than any one else--answer me! Can your influence, your career
+still continue the same, if you break your connection with the nobility
+and with the Prince's household?"
+
+The Count looked down, unprepared for an answer.
+
+"I knew it! And now hear my last word. I shall not have made the
+sacrifice in vain, and, therefore, under the circumstances, I can never
+be your wife. Do not try to dissuade me, or to find me, it would be in
+vain. By this sacrifice I save your future, and that, with such a
+nature as yours, will be such as to dispense with a wife's love.
+Farewell!"
+
+An unspeakable bitterness rang in her last words, but she left him no
+time to reply, and erect and stately, walked towards the door; here,
+however, the Praesidentin met her. Deeply moved, she silently held out
+both hands.
+
+For an instant Gertrud took them, then disappeared in the neighbouring
+room.
+
+The Praesidentin went up to her grandson and laid her hand on his
+shoulder.
+
+"You may thank the girl's high principles, Hermann, for saving you from
+a folly which you would have had to repent all your life. She saves
+you, and us all!"
+
+The Count did not answer, his eyes were fixed on the door where Gertrud
+had disappeared.
+
+The Praesidentin bent down, and carefully picked up every fragment of
+the torn paper, then lit a candle, and held the pieces over the flame.
+As the last sank into dust and ashes the old lady breathed freely--
+
+"Thank heaven! The evil is at an end!"
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the
+approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow. The mid-day
+bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere,
+and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry
+children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in
+a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites. Five fresh
+little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner
+table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set
+before them.
+
+The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face,
+seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective. He divided his attention
+between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the
+two youngest children on either side. There was a loving care, as well
+as a quiet firmness in the way which she quieted and kept in order the
+little company, and the children seemed to be tenderly attached to her.
+Fraeulein Walter was hardly able to rescue herself from all the
+histories and relations which one little chattering mouth poured out
+after the other. At last the dinner was at an end, and the little wild
+troop, after receiving permission, stormed out again to occupy the hour
+of play still left to them, with a more peaceful occupation, namely,
+the building of a snow man.
+
+Gertrud had taken up her key basket, and was on the point of leaving
+the room, when the pastor detained her with the request that she would
+follow him into his study for a few minutes, as he had something
+important to speak to her about.
+
+She willingly put down her basket and complied with his request. This
+important matter was not difficult to guess at; Christmas was near, and
+five little tables had to be planned for. But the introduction to this
+harmless subject seemed to cost the Herr Pastor some difficulty, he
+cleared his throat several times in an embarrassed manner, and at last
+began with visible hesitation--
+
+"First, Fraeulein Walter, accept my heartfelt thanks for all that you
+have been to me and my children."
+
+Gertrud looked surprised, the introduction sounded almost solemn.
+
+"I only did my duty," replied she, quietly.
+
+"Oh, no, you have done much, much more!"
+
+The man's former embarrassment now gave place to warm heartiness.
+
+"You merely undertook the duty of instructing the children, and you
+have been the most loving guardian to them, the most faithful support
+to my orphaned household. Only since you came have I once more known
+that I possess a home, a happy domestic circle."
+
+Gertrud was perfectly calm and unsuspecting.
+
+"I have done what I could. But of course a stranger cannot ever fill
+the mother's place."
+
+"Ah, that was just what I wanted to speak to you about," interrupted
+the pastor, hastily. "In spite of all your goodness, I cannot deny to
+myself that my children need a mother, and my house the superintendence
+of a lady, whilst I--" He suddenly stopped, for Gertrud had shrunk back
+with an involuntary movement of fright. "Do you wish me to be silent?"
+
+She had become pale, but she shook her head gently.
+
+"Please go on."
+
+He got up and seized her hand.
+
+"Since the five months that you have been here I have often been on the
+point of speaking to you, and have as often stopped myself. There was
+something in you which--let me be sincere--that oppressed me, and kept
+me at a distance. However kind and obliging I saw you in the house, and
+everything thriving under your hands, I could not, nevertheless, banish
+the thought that you were intended for quite a different sphere of
+life. But I must speak out at last. You are young, beautiful, and
+richly gifted in every respect, I am already an elderly man, and have
+nothing to offer you but a simple house, modest circumstances, and the
+participation in the care of five children. Can the love of these
+children, the gratitude of a man, who honours and admires you with all
+his heart, atone for the sacrifice you will make by your consent--if
+so--then you will make me very happy."
+
+Gertrud had listened silently with downcast eyes, her face had become
+very pale, but her voice was calm.
+
+"Your offer honours me, Herr Pastor, but you do me wrong if you think
+that a simple life and duties are irksome to me. For the first time in
+your house I have once more known what it is to be surrounded with
+loving kindness; I--"
+
+She raised her hand, and, as if struck by a sudden pain, laid it--not
+in that of the pastor, but upon her breast!
+
+"Is anything the matter?" asked he anxiously.
+
+She forced herself to smile.
+
+"Oh, no, it is nothing. I only wished to ask you for a short time for
+consideration. You shall have my answer in a few hours."
+
+The pastor seemed hardly to have expected his offer to have met with so
+favourable a reception. A short time for consideration is usually only
+a form of propriety, ending with an answer in the affirmative. With
+glad thankfulness he seized both her hands.
+
+"As you will, _liebes_ Fraeulein, as long as you like. I do not wish to
+attribute your consent to a hasty decision. Consult your own heart
+undisturbed, and then tell me candidly what you have decided."
+
+An hour had passed, Gertrud sat in her high storied room, lost in deep
+reflection. As before, she involuntarily pressed her hand on her heart.
+There was something there which still obstinately refused to bow to the
+outward calmness of her nature. It had sprung up in burning, trembling
+pain, when she had stood on the point of giving her consent, and had it
+not seemed to tear her back with warning fear as if from a precipice,
+and stopped the "Yes," which already trembled on her lips with a loud
+"No, no"? And yet this weakness must be overcome! If not quite
+forgotten, she had at least imagined that it was overcome, and had not
+guessed that she should have to probe herself with anxious, painful
+self-enquiries. Hermann had made no attempt to try and find her, or
+even send her a last word of farewell. He had fully recognised the
+earnestness of her decision, the truth of her words, and bowed firmly
+and strongly to the unavoidable, but--it tore the girl's heart that he
+could be so firm and strong. Then he had his future to make up for what
+was lost--for which he had surrendered her--and she?
+
+She had made up her mind to accept the pastor's hand. What could she,
+the solitary, homeless one, do better, than to take the home and hearth
+offered to her, the love of an honourable man, and the perhaps heavy,
+but still blessed cares connected with his children. Truly, he had been
+right, there was an element in Gertrud's nature which strove against
+this future in the isolation of the little village, and monotonous
+round of household duties, so far from the busy world with its many
+centres of interest--but Gertrud was tired of ever moving aimlessly and
+with no settled future, from one place of dependence to another; she
+longed for some sure, calm haven, though she knew that it would be the
+grave of all that she called life.
+
+The snow storm had begun once more, Gertrud opened the windows and
+looked out, without regarding the cold--was it not the last free hour
+of her life--the next would bind it for ever. Over there on the distant
+country road, the sound of a post horn came through the falling snow.
+Noiselessly and thickly fell the soft flakes from the grey winter sky
+upon the hard earth. Everything around, the fields and valleys, the
+boughs of the trees, and the roofs of the houses bore the cold,
+shapeless garment of snow, and still and solitary lay the village, like
+death, covered with a white robe.
+
+But this calm was suddenly broken by an unusual event, the post horn
+did not die away as usual in the distance, it came nearer and nearer,
+loud and merry, and was presently joined by the rattle of wheels. Drawn
+by four steaming horses, a post chaise worked itself with difficulty
+through the snow, till it stopped before the pastor's door. A
+gentleman, wrapped in furs, sprang out, and with a cry, half
+consternation, half joy, Gertrud flew from the window.
+
+"Hermann!"
+
+Meanwhile this unexpected event, the arrival of a guest in an extra
+post chaise with four horses, had alarmed the whole household below.
+The flock of children rushed into the hall, the pastor's study-door was
+hurriedly opened, voices were heard on all sides, till finally, a firm
+voice, making itself heard above all the tumult, said--
+
+"Do not trouble yourself, Herr Pastor. Fraeulein Walter will excuse me
+if I present myself without being formally announced. I have important
+news for her."
+
+Steps were heard on the stairs, the door flew open, and Count Arnau
+stood upon the threshold.
+
+Gertrud could not utter a word of greeting; trembling in every limb,
+she still stood on the same spot. He closed the door and approached
+her.
+
+"So you have flown from me to this distant, isolated village? Gertrud,
+did you really think I should _not_ find you?"
+
+His eyes rested gravely and reproachfully on her face.
+
+She made an attempt to regain her self-command.
+
+"Herr Graf, I do not know, indeed, what your sudden appearance means
+after--"
+
+"After my long silence? What, Gertrud, did not you know me better? You
+thought I was weak and cowardly enough to accept your generous
+sacrifice unconditionally?"
+
+She dropped her eyes; a "No" to this answer would have been--a lie. He
+came close to her and took her hand.
+
+"I knew _you_ well enough to know that your declaration was made in all
+earnestness, and that every attempt to dissuade you would meet with a
+renewed refusal, and it is contrary to my nature to indulge in useless
+complaints and assurances. I preferred to be silent till I could act."
+
+"Act?"
+
+She looked at him questioningly, doubtingly.
+
+"Yes. Your farewell words were true, no one knew that better than
+myself. In our little capital, where every scandal sleeps unforgotten,
+to wake again through love of talk, to the ruin of some family--in our
+own principality, where every important post depends upon favour at
+Court, and in the midst of a nobility whose prejudices are not yet
+touched by the faintest breath of advancing opinion, my career would,
+indeed, have been shattered if Gertrud Brand had become my wife. A
+union between us under _these_ circumstances would have been
+impossible."
+
+"And now--?"
+
+"These circumstances had to be altered. I am free."
+
+"Hermann! What have you done?"
+
+His countenance lighted up with that expression which hitherto only she
+had seen, and under which the hard features seemed so strangely mild.
+In spite of her consternation there was an unspeakable amount of
+confession in her words, which he had hitherto not been able to tear
+from her; it was the first time she had called him by his name.
+
+"I have bidden farewell to the past. Do not be frightened, I have all
+the future before me. I am not one of those natures who are able to
+vegetate from one year's end to another in the retirement of an estate,
+allowing the world to go its own way as it will, and neither are you
+suited for such a narrow sphere of life. Before the beginning of the
+year I was asked to enter into the service of the State in another
+country, but I then refused, because my connection and prospects gave
+me certain hopes of the first place in our principality. Directly after
+you left the offer was renewed. There are certainly some steps to mount
+in order to gain such a position as that I have renounced, and it may
+cost me more effort than hitherto, but I _will_ rise, be sure of that."
+
+He said all simply and calmly; but Gertrud nevertheless felt deeply
+what a sacrifice the ambitious man had made; her bosom heaved in joyful
+pride, she knew now what she was to him.
+
+"All is settled now," continued he, after a moment's pause. "I shall
+enter upon my new office in B---- next month--but I shall not go there
+without my wife. Gertrud, will you come with me?"
+
+His arms closed passionately round the no longer resisting girl; she
+leaned her head upon his shoulder.
+
+"Do you think, Hermann, then, that there we--"
+
+"We are strangers in B----. There no one knows of the crime and the
+unhappy remembrances connected with it, and if, in the future, anything
+should be heard--in the bustle and life of that great capital there
+will be no lasting place for dim, distant reports of a past generation.
+Besides this, I shall have no connection with the Court there; and if
+it does not choose to receive my _buergerliche_ wife, it will be easy
+for me to avoid it, and we shall find sufficient to make up for that in
+other circles. _I_ will answer for the Graefin Arnau's fitting reception
+and position in these."
+
+A deep flush bathed Gertrud's cheeks at the last words; that name--once
+so hated, she heard it now for the first time as her future one.
+
+"And your grandmother?" asked she softly.
+
+The Count's brow darkened.
+
+"I had a hard battle with her, for she alone guessed the reason for my
+determination. She must thank her own hardness and obstinacy if a
+stranger's hand closes her eyes. We parted without reconciliation."
+
+"O, Hermann, you are giving up all for my sake!"
+
+He gently raised her head, and looked into her eyes.
+
+"And you gave up what was most sacred to you, the only treasure you
+possessed, to save me. Sacrifice for sacrifice! Gertrud, I am no longer
+the cold egotist who knows nothing but ambition. You know what had made
+me hard and bitter, what poisoned my youth, and took away, when I was
+but a child, my love, my trust in men; give it back to me!"
+
+The full, passionate look of love in her eyes answered him--
+
+"I have one request, Hermann, it is my first. Let the past be buried
+between us, let us never allude to it, even by a word. We will forget
+it--for ever."
+
+"For ever!"
+
+Without, the snow still fell noiselessly, and laid itself thick and
+cold on the hard earth; but here two hearts beat warm against one
+another, ready to meet the future bravely. The old curse, which had so
+long darkened the lives of both, and appeared as if it must separate
+them for ever, had been banished by their own hands.
+
+Not avenged, but expiated was the crime, and both now felt what the old
+Praesidentin had said, as the last fragment of the fateful paper sank in
+dust and ashes; "God be thanked! The evil is at an end!"
+
+
+
+                               FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Bridegroom.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Belonging to the lower rank, common.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Most gracious--a term used in addressing ladies in
+Germany.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Gracious Count.]
+
+[Footnote 5: Betrothed, bride. A German lady is always called a bride
+as soon as she is betrothed.]
+
+
+
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+      Printed by Remington & Co., 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.
+
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+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Herman, by E. Werner
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