old fritz and the new era-第31部分

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seat；　and　approached　Marie；　who　rose；　regarding　her　mother　with　a
firm；　sad　expression。　〃Why　can　you　not　be　the　wife　of　the　man　we
have　chosen　for　you？　Answer　me；　WHY　you　cannot？〃

〃You　know；　mother；〃　she　replied；　and　gradually　her　voice　assumed　a
more　decided　tone；　her　cheeks　reddened；　and　an　inspired　expression
beamed　from　her　eyes；　and　pervaded　her　whole　being〃　you　know；
mother；　that　I　can　never　be　the　wife　of　Herr　Ebenstreit；　for　I　do
not　love　him。　I　despise　and　abominate　him；　because　he　is　a　man
without　honor；　he　knows　that　I　do　not　love　him；　and　yet　he　insists
upon　marrying　me。　If　it　were　not　so；　if　I　did　not　despise　and
abominate　him；　I　would　not　receive　his　suit　and　marry　him。〃

〃Why　not？〃　cried　the　general；　shaking　his　fist　at　his　daughter。

〃Why　not？〃　cried　the　mother；　with　a　cold；　icy　glance；　void　of　pity
or　anger。

Marie　encountered　these　looks　with　beaming　eyes。　〃Because　I　am
betrothed　to　another；〃　and　the　words　came　like　a　cry　of　joy　from　her
heart〃　because　I　am　engaged　to　my　beloved　Moritz！〃

〃Shameless；　obstinate　creature；　have　we　not　forbidden　it？〃　cried　her
father。

〃Stop！〃　interrupted　his　wife；　with　a　commanding　wave　of　her　hand；
which　silenced　the　obedient　husband　immediately。　〃It　belongs　to　me
to　question　her；　for　I　am　her　mother；　and　my　daughter　owes　me
submission　and　obedience　above　all　things。Answer　me；　Marie；　did
you　not　know　that　we　had　forbidden　you　to　speak　to　this　man；　or　have
any　communication　with　him？　Did　you　not　know　that　I；　your　mother；
had　menaced　you　with　a　curse　if　you　married　this　man；　or　even　spoke
to　the　miserable；　pitiable　creature？〃

〃Mother；〃　cried　Marie；　vehemently；　〃he　is　not　a　poor；　miserable
creature。　You　may　hate　him；　but　you　dare　not　outrage　the　noble；　the
good；　and　just　man！〃

〃He　is　a　good…for…nothing　fellow；〃　cried　her　father；　〃he　has　tried
to　win　a　minor　behind　the　parents'　back。　He　is　a　shameful；　good…for…
nothing　seducer。〃

〃He　is　dishonorable；〃　cried　the　general's　wife〃a　dishonorable　man；
who　has　misused　our　confidence。　We　confided　to　him　our　daughter　to
teach；　and　paid　him　for　it。　He　improved　the　opportunity　to　make　a
declaration　of　love；　and　stole　the　time　from　us　to　infatuate　the
heart　of　our　daughter　with　flattery；　and　from　his　pupil　win　a
bride。〃

〃Oh；　unworthy；　shameful　slander！〃　cried　Marie；　her　eyes　flashing
with　anger。　〃You　well　know　that　it　is　a　vile　scandal；　that　Moritz
was　no　paid　teacher。　If　he　had　beenif　he　had　felt　obliged　to　yield
to　the　sad　necessity　of　being　paid　for　his　valuable　time；　because　he
was　poor；　and　forced　to　live　by　his　intellect；　he　was　a　free　man；
and　had　the　right　to　love　whom　he　chose。　He　loves　me；　and　I　have
accepted　his　love　as　the　most　precious；　most　beautiful；　and　most
glorious　gift　of　my　life。　Ah！　do　not　look　so　angry　with　me；　father；
I　cannot　say　otherwise。　I　cannot　crush　or　deny　the　inmost　life　of　my
life。Oh；　mother；　forgive　me　that　I　cannot　change　it！　You　know　that
otherwise　I　have　been　a　most　obedient　daughter　to　you　in　all　things；
although　you　have　never　taught　me　the　happiness　of　possessing　a
loving　mother；　though　neither　of　you　could　ever　forgive　your　only
child　for　not　being　a　son；　who　could　inherit　your　name；　and　win　a
brilliant　position；　yet　I　have　always　loved　you　tenderly　and　truly；
and　never　complained　that　the　unwelcome　daughter　received　neither
love　nor　tenderness；　only　indifference　and　coldness　from　her
parents。〃

〃Beautiful；　very　beautiful！〃　replied　the　mother；　contemptuously。
〃Now　you　wish　to　blame　us　that　you　are　a　heartless　and　thankless
daughter。We　have　not　understood　her　heart；　and　it　is　our　fault
that　her　love　has　flown　somewhere　else。

This　is　the　language　of　romance。　I　have；　indeed；　read　it　in　the
romances　of　Herr　Moritz；　and　my　daughter　has　only　repeated　what　she
learned　as　a　docile　pupil　from　her　schoolmaster。　Very　fine；　to　pay
Herr　Moritz　to　form　our　daughter　into　the　heroine　of　a　romance！　She
ought　to　have　learned　the　languages；　but　has　learned　only　the
language　of　romances。〃

〃You　are　very　severe　and　very　cruel；　mother；〃　said　Marie；　sadly。　〃I
would　not　complain；　only　excuse　myself；　and　implore　pity　and
indulgence；　and　defend　myself　from　the　reproach　of　having　been　a
cold；　unloving　daughter。　Oh！　God　knows　how　I　have　longed　for　your
love；　that　I　would　willingly　prove　that　I　would　joyfully　do　every
thing　to　embellish　your　life　and　make　you　happy。　It　gave　me　such
pleasure　to　earn　something　for　you　with　my　dear　flowers　and　lessons；
and　afford　you　a　little　gratification！〃

〃Ah！　now；　she　will　reproach　us　with　having　toiled　for　us　and
sacrificed　herself。　Husband；　thank　yourself　for　the　victim　who
worked　for　you；　who　gave　her　youth　for　us　that　she　might　strew　our
life　with　roses。〃

〃I　have　had　enough　of　this　talking　and　whining；〃　cried　the　general；
furiously　beating　the　table　with　his　fist。　〃My　daughter　shall　not　be
a　heroine　of　romance；　but　an　obedient　child；　who　submits　to　the　will
of　her　parents。　You　shall　marry　the　man　that　we　have　chosen　for　you；
the　king　has　given　his　consent；　and　it　shall　take　place。　I　command
you！　That　is　sufficient！　I　will　hear　no　more　about　it；　the　thing　is
done　with。　Herr　Ebenstreit　is　coming　this　afternoon　to　make　you　a
proposal　of　marriage　with　our　consent；　and　you　must；　accept　him。　I
command　you　to　do　it！〃

〃I　cannot　obey　you！　Oh；　do　not　force　me　to　rebel　against　God's　holy
laws！　Have　pity　upon　me！　I　have　obeyed　you　until　now；　and　yielded　to
your　wishes；　although　I　thought　it　would　break　my　heart　sometimes。
You　have　forbidden　Moritz　the　house；　and　turned　him　out　of　doors
like　a　servant；　with　scorn　and　contempt；　and　he　has　silently　borne
it　on　my　account。　You　have　forbidden　me　to　write　or　receive　letters
from　him；　or　ever　to　meet　him。　My　mother　would　curse　me　if　I
disobeyed　her；　and　I　submitted。　I　have　given　up　every　thing；
sacrificed　every　wish；　and　renounced　my　love。　But　you　cannot　expect
more　from　me；　or　dare　ask　it。　I　can　forego　happiness；　but　you　cannot
ask　me　to　consent　to　be　buried　alive！〃

〃And　what　if　we　should　wish　it？〃　asked　her　mother。　〃If　we　should
demand　our　daughter　to　give　up　a　romantic；　foolish　love；　to　become
the　wife　of　a　young　man　who　loves　her；　and　who　loves　us；　and　who　is
rich　enough　to　assure　us　a　comfortable　old　age；　free　from　care？〃

〃Marie；〃　cried　the　general；　in　a　begging　and　almost　imploring　tone；
〃Marie；　prove　to　us　now　that　you　are　really　a　good　and　grateful
childwe　have　had　so　much　care　and　want　in　our　life；　so　many
sorrowful　days！　It　lies　in　your　hands　to　make　our　declining　days
joyous　and　bright；　and　free　us　from　want。　We　have　often　grumbled
against　God；　that　He　did　not　give　us　a　son；　now　make　us　to　rejoice
that　He　has　given　us　a　daughter；　who　will　bring　us　a　son　and　inherit
our　name　through　her　children；　and　who　will　give　us　what　we　have
never　knownprosperity　and　riches。　I　beg　you；　my　dear；　good　child；
grant　your　parents　the　few　last　years　of　their　life　freedom　from
care！〃

〃And　I；　Marie；〃　said　her　mother；　in　a　softened　and　tender　tone；
which　Marie　had　never　heard　from　her〃I　beg　you　also；　be　a　good
daughter；　pity　your　mother！　I　have　always　led　a　joyless；　unhappy
life。　I　lived　unmarried；　a　native…born　countess；　with　proud
relations；　who　made　me　feel　bitterly　my　dependence；　when　married　my
existence　was　only　trouble；　privations；　care；　and　sorrow。　I　beg　you；
Marie；　teach　me　to　know　happiness；　for　which　I　have　so　longed　in
vain；　give　me　independence　and　prosperity；　which　I　have　always
desired；　and　never　known。　I　pray；　Marie；　make　us　happy　in　bringing
us　a　rich；　genteel；　and　good　son…in…law；　Herr　Ebenstreit。〃

Marie；　who　met　the　scorn　and　threats　of　her　mother　with　firmness　and
a　proud　demeanor；　trembled　as　she　heard　these　severe　and　merciless
lips；　always　so　cold　and　harsh；　now　begging　and　imploring。　At　first
she　was　quite　frightened；　and　then　terrified；　and　covered　her　face
with　her　hands；　her　head　sinking　upon　her　breast　as　her　mother
spoke。

〃Speak；　my　daughter；〃　cried　the　general；　as　his　wife　was　silent。
〃Speak；　my　dear　Marie。　Say　the　word；　and　we　shall　be　all　happy；　and
there　will　be　no　happier　family　found　in　Berlin；　or　the　world　even。
Say　that　you　will　marry　Ebenstreit；　and　we　will　love　and　bless　you
so　long　as　we　live。　Do　say　yes；　dear　Marie！〃

Her　hands　fell　from　her　face；　and　stretching　them　out　toward　her
parents；　she　looked　at　them　in　despair。

There　was　a　fearful　pause。　〃I　cannot；　it　is　impossible！〃　she
shrieked。　〃I　cannot　marry　this　man；　for　I　do　not　love　him。　I　love
another；　whom　I　can　never　forget；　whom　I　shall　love　forever。　I
love〃

〃Herr　Conrector　Moritz！〃　announced　Trude；　hastily　bursting　open　the
door；　and　looking　in　with　a　triumphant　smile。




CHAPTER　XV

HATE　AND　LOVE


〃Herr　Conrector　Moritz　wishes　to　pay　his　respects；〃　called　out　Trude
again。

〃We　do　not　wish　to　receive　him；〃　cried　Frau　von　Werrig。

〃He　dare　not　presume　to　enter！〃　shrieked　the　general。

Marie　cried；　〃Moritz！　Oh！　my　beloved　Moritz；〃　rushing　with
outstretched　arms　toward　her　lover；　who　just　appeared　at　the　door。
〃God　has　sent　you　to　sustain　me　in　this　fearful　hour。〃

Old　Trude　peeped　through　the　half…closed　door；　well　satisfied　to　see
her　dear　young　lady　folded　in　Moritz's　arms；　and　her　head　leaning
upon　his　shoulder。　〃Yes；〃　she　murmured；　closing　softly　the　door；
〃Marie　is　right；　God　himself　sent　her　lover　in　this　hour；　and　I
would　not　let　her　wicked；　hard…hearted　parents　send　him　away。〃

Quick　as　thought　she　turned　the　key；　fastening　the　door；　and　betook
herself　to　the　farthest　room；　carefully　closing　every　door　between
them。　〃Now　we　will　see　for　once　whether　they　will　show　him　the　door；
and　pitch　him　out。　No；　they　will　be　obliged　to　listen　to　him。　Old
Trude　wishes　it；　for　it　will　make　her　dear　Marie　happy。　It　is　all
the　same　to　me　if　the　old　German　tries　to　scratch　my　eyes　out　for
it；　I　will　take　good　care　to　keep　out　of　his　way。　I　must　go　and
listen　once。〃

She　put　her　ear　to　the　keyhole；　and　then　her　eye；　to　see　how　the
quarrellers　looked。

At　first　the　general　and　his　wife　were　quite　alarmed；　and　almost
speechless　as　they　witnessed　the　joyful　meeting　of　the　lovers。　The
father　sprang　up　suddenly；　with　clinched　fist；　but　instead　of　bitter
invectives　only　a　fearful　shriek　of