old fritz and the new era-第30部分
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her。 What beautiful black eyes they were as they sparkled underneath
the delicately…arched; black eyebrows!
〃Now; old one;〃 said she; kindly; 〃what do you wish? Did you forget
that I wanted to work undisturbed to…day?〃
〃Didn't forget it; my Fraulein; but〃
〃But you have forgotten that up here; in my attic…room; I am not
your Fraulein; but your Marie; whom you have taken care of and
watched over when a child; and whose best and truest friend you have
been。 Come; give me your hand; and tell me what you have to say。〃
Old Trude shuffled hurriedly along in her leather slippers。 Her old;
homely face looked almost attractive; with its expression of glowing
tenderness; as she regarded the beautiful; smiling face before her;
and laid her hard brown hand in the little white one extended to
her。 〃Marie;〃 she said; softly and anxiously; 〃you must go down at
once to your mother and father。 They have something very important
to tell you。〃
〃Something very important!〃 repeated Marie; laying aside her work。
〃Do you know what it is?〃
〃Nothing good; I fear;〃 sighed the old woman。 〃A soldier has been
here from the war department and brought a letter for the general;
and he told me that it was sent from the king's cabinet at Breslau。〃
〃Oh; Heaven! what does it mean?〃 cried Marie; frightened; and
springing up。 〃Something is going to happen; I know。 I have noticed
certain expressions which escaped my father; the proud; threatening
manner of my mother; but above all the bold importunity of that man;
whom I despise as one detests vice; stupidity; and ennui。 They will
not believe that I hate him; that I rather〃
〃Marie; are you not coming?〃 called the mother; with a commanding
voice。
〃I must obey;〃 she said; drawing a long breath; and hastening to the
door; followed by Trude; who pulled her back and held her fast upon
the very first step。 〃You have forbidden me to speak of him; but I
must。〃
Marie stood as if rooted to the spot; her face flushed; and in
breathless expectation looking back to old Trude。
〃Speak; Trude;〃 she softly murmured。
〃Marie; I saw him to…day; an hour ago!〃
〃Where; Trude; where did you see him?〃
〃Over on the corner of Frederick Street; by the baker's。 He stood
waiting for me; as he knows I always go there。 He had been there two
hours; and feared that I was not coming。〃
〃What did he say? Quick! what did he say?〃
〃He said that he was coming to see you to…day at twelve o'clock;
that he would rather die than live in this way。〃
〃To…day? and you have just told me of it!〃
〃I did not mean to say any thing at all about it; I thought it would
be better; and then you would not have to dissemble。 But now; if any
harm comes to you; you know he is coming; and will stand by you!〃
〃He will stand by meyes; he will〃
〃Marie!〃 cried her mother; and her dry; gaunt figure appeared at the
foot of the stairs。 Marie flew down to the sitting…room of her
parents; following her mother; who took her place in the niche at
the open window without speaking to her。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE KING'S LETTER。
〃Marie;〃 said the general's wife; after seating herself upon the
hard cushion of the divan; near which sat the general in his arm…
chair; busily stroking his painful right leg〃Marie; take a chair;
and sit near us。〃
Marie noiselessly brought a cane…chair; and seated herself by the
table; opposite her parents。
〃We have just received a communication from the king's cabinet;〃
said the mother; solemnly。 〃It is necessary that you should know the
contents; and I will read it aloud to you。 I expressly forbid you;
however; to interrupt me while I am reading; in your impetuous
manner; with your remarks; which are always of the most obstinate
and disagreeable kind。 You understand; do you; Marie?〃
〃Perfectly; mother; I will listen without interrupting you;
according to your command。〃
〃This communication is naturally addressed to your father; as I
wrote to the king in his name。〃
〃I did not know that you had written to his majesty at all; dear
mother。〃
The mother cast a furious glance at the gentle; decided face of her
daughter。 〃You already forget my command and your promise to listen
without interrupting me。 I did; indeed; write to his majesty; but it
is not necessary to tell you what I; or rather your father;
solicited; as you will hear it in the answer from our most gracious
king。 It runs thus: 'My faithful subject: I have received your
petition; and I was glad to learn by this occasion that you are
well; and that you now lead a steady; reasonable life。 Formerly you
gave good cause of complaint; for it is well known to me that you
led a dissolute life; and your family suffered want and misfortune
from your abominable chance…games。 You know that I have twice paid
your debts; that at the second time I gave you my royal word of
assurance that I would never pay a groschen for you again。 If you
gave yourself up to the vice; and made gambling…debts; I would send
you to the fortress at Spandau; and deprive you of your pension。
Nevertheless you played again; and commenced your vicious life anew。
Notwithstanding which; I did not send you to prison as I threatened;
and as you deserved; because I remembered that you had been a brave
soldier; and did me a good service at the battle of Leuthen。 For
this reason I now also grant your request; that; as you have no son;
your name and coat…of…arms may descend to your son…in…law。 The name
of Werrig…Leuthen is well worthy to be preserved; and be an example
to succeeding generations。 I give my permission for Ludwig
Ebenstreit; banker; to marry your daughter and only child; and'〃
Marie uttered a cry of horror; and sprang from her seat。 〃Mother!〃
〃Be still! I commanded you not to interrupt me; but listen; with
becoming respect; to the end; to the words' of his majesty。〃 And;
with a louder voice; occasionally casting a severe; commanding
glance at her daughter; she read on: 〃'And call himself in future
Ludwig Werrig yon Leuthen。 I wish that he should honor the new name;
and prove himself a true nobleman。 Ludwig Ebenstreit must give up;
or sell; without delay; his banking business; as I cannot permit a
nobleman to continue the business of citizen; and remain a merchant。
A nobleman must either be a soldier or a landed proprietor; and if
your future son…in…law will not be either; he can live upon his
income; which must indeed be ample。 But I command him to spend it in
the country; not go to foreign countries to spend what he has gained
in the country。 If he should do it; it will not be well with him;
and he shall be brought back by force。 You may communicate this to
him; and he can judge for himself。 I will have the letters of
nobility made out for him; for which he shall pay the sum of one
hundred louis d'ors to the 'Invalids' at Berlin。 It depends upon him
whether as a true nobleman he will not give my poor 'Invalids' a
greater sum。 The marriage shall not take place until the letters of
nobility have been published in the Berlin journals; for I do not
wish the daughter of a general; and a countess; to marry beneath
her。 You can prepare every thing for the wedding; and let them be
married as soon as publication has been made。 I will give the bride
a thousand thalers for a dowry; that she may not go to her rich
husband penniless; the money will be paid to your daughter from the
government treasury at her receipt。 As ever I remain your well…
disposed king; FREDERICK。'
〃And here on the margin;〃 continued the general's wife; looking over
to her husband with malicious pleasure; 〃the king has written a few
lines in his own hand: 'I have given orders that the money shall be
paid to your daughter in person; with her receipt for the same; for
I know you; and know that you do not play; not because you have not
the money; but the gout。 If you had the cash and not the gout; you
would play your daughter's dowry to the devil; and that I do not
wish; for a noble maiden should not marry a rich husband as poor as
a church mouse。 FREDERICK。'〃
A profound stillness prevailed when the reading was finished。 The
general busied himself; as usual; rubbing his gouty leg with the
palm of his hand。 Marie sat with her hands pressed upon her bosom;
as if she would force back the sighs and sobs which would break
forth。 Her great; black eyes were turned to her mother with an
expression of painful terror; and she searched with a deathly
anxiety for a trace of sympathy and mercy upon her cold; immovable
face。
Her mother slowly folded the letter; and laid it upon the table。
〃You know all now; Mariethat; as it becomes parents; we have
disposed of your future and your hand。 You will submit to their
wishes without murmuring or opposition; as it becomes an obedient;
well…brought…up daughter; and receive the husband we have chosen for
you。 He will come today to hear your consent; and you from this day
forth are the betrothed of the future Herr von Werrig。 Of course
from this very hour you will cease the highly improper and ungenteel
business which you have pursued。 You must not make any more flowers;
or give any more lessons。 The time of such degradation and
humiliation is past; and my daughter can no longer be a school…
mistress。 You have only to write the receipt to…day; and I will go
with you to the treasury to get the money。〃
〃I will not write the receipt;〃 said Marie; gently but firmly。 Her
mother; in the act of rising; sank back upon the divan; and the
general; apparently quite occupied with his leg; stopped rubbing;
and raised his red; bloated face to his daughter in astonishment。
〃Did I understand rightly your words; that you would not write the
receipt?〃
〃Yes; mother; I said so; I cannot and will not write it;〃 replied
Marie; gently。
〃And why cannot you; and will you not write it?〃 said her mother;
scornfully。
〃Because I have no right to the money; and cannot take it; mother;
as I will never be the wife of the man you intend me to marry。〃
The general sprang with a savage curse from his arm…chair; and would
have rushed to his daughter; but his wife pushed him back into his
seat; and approached Marie; who rose; regarding her mother with a
firm; sad expressi