frederick the great and his family-第3部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She stood before the glass and surveyed once more her appearance； then acknowledged with a pleased smile that she was beautiful enough to fascinate all men； to arouse in all hearts a painful longing。
〃But I shall love no one but the prince；〃 she said； 〃and when my power over him is sufficient to induce him to marry me； I shall reward him by my faith； and entire submission to his wishes。 Oh！ I shall he a virtuous wife； a true and faithful mother； and my lovely little Camilla shall find in her mother a good and noble example。 I shall promise this to my angel with my farewell kiss； and thento the ball！〃
She entered the next chamber； and stood at her child's bed。 What a strange sight！ This woman； in a fantastic； luxuriant costume； bending over the cot of the little girl； with such tender； pious looks； with folded hands； and soft； murmuring lips； uttering a prayer or holy wish！
〃How beautiful she is！〃 murmured Louise； not dreaming that her own beauty at this moment beamed with touching splendorthat mother love had changed the alluring coquette into an adorable saint〃how beautiful she is！〃
The gay； ringing laughter of her daughter interrupted her； the child opened her large black eyes； and looked amused。
〃You naughty child； you were not asleep；〃 said Louise。
〃No； mamma； I was not asleep； I was playing comedy。〃
〃Ah！ and who taught you to play comedy； you silly child？〃 said Louise； tenderly。
The child looked earnestly before her for a few moments as children are wont to do when a question surprises them。
〃I believe； mamma；〃 she said； slowly〃I believe I learned it from you。〃
〃From me； Camilla？ When have you seen me act？〃
〃Oh； very often；〃 she cried； laughing。 〃Just a few days ago； mamma； don't you remember when we were laughing and talking so merrily together； Prince Henry was announced； and you sent me into the next room； but the door was open； and I saw very well that you made a sad face； and I heard the prince ask you how you were； and you answered； 'I am sick； your highness； and how could it be otherwise； as I am always sad or weeping？' Now； mother； was not that acting？〃
Louise did not answer。 Breathing heavily； she laid her hand upon her heart； for she felt a strange sorrow and indescribable fear。
Camilla continued； 〃Oh！ and I saw how tenderly the prince looked at you； how he kissed you； and said you were as lovely as an angel。 Oh； mamma； I too shall be beautiful； and beloved by a prince！〃
〃To be beautiful； darling； you must be good and virtuous；〃 said the fair odalisque； earnestly。
Little Camilla arose in her bed； the white gown fell from her shoulders and exposed her soft childish form； her brown ringlets curled down her neck and lost themselves in her lace…covered dress。
The chandelier that hung from the ceiling lighted her lovely face； and made the gold and silver embroidered robes and jewels of her mother sparkle brilliantly。
At this moment； as with folded arms she glanced up at her mother； she looked like an angel； but she had already dangerous and earthly thoughts in her heart。
〃Mamma；〃 she said； 〃why should I be virtuous； when you are not？〃
Louise trembled； and looked terrified at her daughter。 〃Who told you I was not virtuous？〃
〃My poor； dear papa told me when he was here the last time。 Oh； he told me a great deal； mamma！ He told；〃 continued the child； with a sly smile； 〃how you loved a beautiful gardener； and ran off with him； and how he； at the command of the king； married you and saved you from shame； and he said you were not at all grateful； but had often betrayed and deceived him； and； because he was so unhappy with you； he drank so much wine to forget his sorrow。 Oh； mamma； you don't know how poor papa cried as he told me all this； and besought me not to become like you； but to be good； that every one might love and respect me！〃
Whilst Camilla spoke； her mother had sunk slowly； as if crushed； to the floor； and； with her face buried in the child's bed； sobbed aloud。
〃Don't cry； mamma；〃 said Camilla； pleadingly； 〃believe me； I will not do as papa says； and I will not be so stupid as to live in a small town； where it is so still and lonesome。〃
As her mother still wept； Camilla continued； as if to quiet her：
〃I shall be like you； mamma； indeed； I will。 Oh； you should but see how I watch you； and notice how you smile at all the gentlemen； what soft eyes you make； and then again； how cold and proud you are； and then look at them so tenderly！ Oh； I have noticed all； and I shall do just the same； and I will run away with a gardener； but I will not let papa catch meno； not I。〃
〃Hush； child； hush！〃 cried the mother； rising； pale and trembling； from her knees； 〃you must become a good and virtuous girl； and never run away with a man。 Forget what your bad father has told you； you know he hates me； and has told you all these falsehoods to make you do the same。〃
〃Mamma； can you swear that it is not true？〃
〃Yes； my child； I can swear it。〃
〃You did not run off with a gardener？〃
〃No； my child。 Have I not told you that a virtuous girl never runs away？〃
〃You did not make papa unhappy； and； being his wife； love other men？〃
〃No； my daughter。〃
〃Mamma；〃 said the child； after a long pause； 〃can you give me your right hand； and swear you did not？〃
Louise hesitated a moment； a cold shiver ran through her； she felt as if she was about to perjure herself； but as she looked into the beautiful face of her child； whose eyes were fixed on her with a strange expression； she overcame her unwillingness。
〃Here is my handI swear that all your father told you is false！〃
Camilla laughed gleefully。 〃Oh； mamma； I have caught you： you always want me to tell the truth； and never give my right hand when a thing is not true； and now you have done it yourself。〃
〃What have I done！〃 said the mother； trembling。
〃You gave me your right hand； and swore that all papa told me was false； and I say it is true； and you have sworn falsely；〃
〃Why do you believe that； Camilla？〃 she asked。
〃I don't believe it； I know it；〃 said the child； with a sly smile；
〃When papa spoke to you； for the last time； and told you good…by forever； he told you the same he had told me。 Oh！ I was there and heard all； you did not see me slip into the room and hide behind the fire…place。 Papa told you that you had been the cause of all his unhappiness and shame； that from the day you had run off with the gardener and he； at the king's command； went after you； and married youfrom that day； he had been a lost man； and when he said that； you cried； but did not tell him； as you told me； that it was not true。〃
Louise did not answer。 This last taunt had crushed her heart； and silenced her。 Still leaning on the bed； she looked at her child with painful tenderness。 Camilla's mocking laughter had pierced her soul as with a dagger。
〃Lost；〃 she murmured； 〃both of us lost！〃
With passionate despair she threw her arms around the child； and pressed her closely； kissed her wildly again and again； and covered her face with burning tears。
〃No； Camilla； no！ you shall not be lost； you must remain good and pure！ Every child has its guardian angel； pray； my child； pray that your angel may watch over you！〃
She pressed her again in her arms； then returned to her chamber； sadder and more hopeless than she had ever been before。
But this unusual sadness commenced to annoy her； her heart was not accustomed to feel sorrow； and her remorseful； dreary feeling made her shudder。 〃If the carriage would but come！〃 she murmured； and then； as if to excuse her thoughtlessness； she added； 〃it is now my holy duty to listen to the prince； I must regain the respect of my child。 Yes； yes； I must become the wife of Henry I I can accomplish this； for the prince loves me truly。〃
And now； she was again the coquette； whose captivating smile harmonized perfectly with her alluring costumeno longer the tender mother； no longer the sinner suffering from repentance and self… reproach。
She stood before the glass； and arranged her disordered dress and smoothed her dishevelled hair。
〃I must be bewitching and fascinating；〃 she murmured； with a smile that showed two rows of pearl…like teeth； 〃the prince must gain courage from my glance； to offer me his hand。 Oh； I know he is quite prepared to do so； if it were only to annoy his brother！〃 As she saw the carriage drive up； she exclaimed； with sparkling eyes； 〃The battle beginsto victory！〃
CHAPTER IV。
AT THE MASKED BALL。
The feast had commenced。 As Louise von Kleist； the beautiful odalisque； entered the dancing…saloon； she was almost blinded by the gay and sparkling assembly。 The fairy…like and fantastic robes sparkled with gold and jewels。 The sea of light thrown from the crystal chandelier upon the mirrors and ornaments of the brilliant saloon dazzled the eye。 The entertainments of the Prince of Prussia were renowned for their taste and splendor。
Unrecognized； the beautiful Louise slipped through the gay assembly of masks； and； when detecting some friends under the muffled forms of their disguise； she murmured their names； and some mischievous and witty remark； then springing gayly on to shoot again her arrow； and excite astonishment and surprise。
〃Oh； that life were a masked ball！〃 she murmured softly to herself； 〃mysterious and sweet！ where you find more than you seek； and guess more than is known。 No one recognizes me here。 The brave and handsome Count Troussel； who is leaning against that pillar； and casting such melancholy glances through the crowd； hunting for the one his heart adores； never dreams that she is standing opposite him； and is laughing at his perplexity。 No； he does not recognize me； and no one knows my costume but the prince and Pollnitz； and as they have not yet found me； I conclude they have not arrived。 I will therefore amuse myself during their absence。〃
She was just approaching the sentimental cavalier； when she suddenly felt her arm touched； and； turning around； saw two masks wrapped in dark dominoes before her。
〃Beautiful odalisque； I bring you your sultan。〃 murmured one of them； in whom she recognized Baron Pollnitz。
〃And where is my sultan？〃 she asked。
〃Here；〃 said the second mask； offering the beautiful lady his a
