old fritz and the new era-第33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！


with　useless　phrases　and　tedious　lamentations。　I　will　speak　to　the
point。　Marie　is　the　daughter　of　General　Werrig　von　Leuthen；　whose
name　would　become　extinct　if　the　grace　and　favor　of　the　king　had　not
prevented　it；　by　permitting　the　husband　whom　we　have　chosen　for　our
daughter　to　take　our　name；　and　therewith　become　our　son。　You　may
think；　in　your　arrogance　of　commoner；　and　the　pride　you　take　in
having　won　the　love　of　the　daughter　of　General　von　Leuthen；　that　you
could　be　this　husband　and　son…in…law。　But　two　things　fail　you：
first；　the　necessary　fortune；　and；　secondly；　the　king's　consent；　and
that　of　her　father。　If　you　were　rich；　it　might　be　possible　that　we
should　be　touched　by　the　tender　amorousness　of　our　daughter；　and
conquer　our　aversion　to　you　for　her　sake。　You　are　of　low　birth；　and
take　a　subordinate　position　in　society。　It　would　be　extremely
laughable　for　the　schoolmaster　Moritz　to　change　suddenly　into　a　Herr
von　Werrig　Leuthen。　Our　son…in…law　must　be　a　rich　man；　in　order　to
be　able　to　give　his　new　title　consideration；　and；　fortunately；　the
wooer　of　my　daughter's　hand　possesses　this　qualification；　and
therefore　we　have　given　our　consent。　The　king　has　approved　our
choice；　and　permits　the　rich　banker　Ludwig　Ebenstreit　to　become　our
son…in…law；　and　take　our　name。　The　king　has　in　this　communication；
which　lies　upon　the　table；　and　which　Marie　has　heard　read；　given　his
assurance　to　ennoble　Ebenstreit　upon　two　conditions：　first；　that　the
banker　should　give　up　his　business；　and　live　upon　his　income；　and；
secondly；　that　the　marriage　should　not　take　place　until　the　papers
of　nobility　are　made　out　and　published；　so　that　the　daughter　of
General　von　Werrig　should　not　make　a　misalliance。　You　know　all　now；
and　you　will　at　last　understand　that　there　is　but　one　thing　for　you
to　doconquer　your　foolish　presumption；　and　beg　to　be　excused　for
your　unheard…of　boldness　in　forcing　yourself　into　our　house；　and
then　withdraw　quickly。　If　my　ear　does　not　deceive　me；　your
accomplice　has　opened　the　doors。　I　think　I　heard　rightly；　if　my
heart　has　no　ears；　my　head　possesses　better。　We　have　finished。　I
would　again　enjoin　upon　you　the　duty　of　begging　for　pardon；　and　then
I　close　this　unrefreshing　scene　with　the　same　words　with　which　it
openedthere　is　the　doorgo　out！〃

〃Yes；　there　is　the　doorgo　out　of　it！　I　want　to　be　quietgo！　My
daughter　is　the　betrothed　of　the　rich　banker　Herr　Ebenstreit；　she
will　be　his　wife　as　soon　as　the　papers　are　made　out　and　published。
Go！〃　cried　the　general。

The　young　couple　still　stood　there；　hand　in　hand；　looking　at　the
general；　until　now　their　eyes　met；　beaming　with　tenderest　affection
for　each　other。　〃Is　it　true；　Marie？　Speak；　my　beloved；　is　it　true；
will　you　be　the　wife　of　this　rich　man　whom　your　parents　have　chosen
for　you？〃

〃No；　Philip；〃　she　calmly　and　firmly　replied。　〃No；　I　will　not；　for　I
do　not　love　him；　I　love　only　you；　and　here；　in　the　presence　of　God
and　my　parents；　I　swear　to　you　that　I　will　be　constant　to　death！
They　can　prevent　my　becoming　your　wife；　but　they　cannot　force　me　to
wed　another。　I　swear；　then；　that　if　I　cannot　be　yours；　I　will　never
marry！〃

〃I　receive　your　oath；　and　God　has　heard　it　also！〃　said　Moritz；
solemnly。

〃I　have　also　heard　it；　and　I　tell　you；〃　said　Frau　von　Werrig；　〃that
this　romantic　heroine　will　become　a　perjurer；　for　I　will　find　means
to　make　her　break　her　silly　oath。〃

〃We　will；　perhaps；　find　means　to　delay　the　marriage；〃　said　Moritz
proudly；　〃or；　much　more；　prevent　the　marriage　ceremony。〃

〃I　am　very　curious　to　know　the　means；〃　said　Frau　von　Werrig。　〃From
this　hour　Marie　is　the　betrothed　of　Herr　Ebenstreit；　and　the　wedding
will　take　place　so　soon〃

〃So　soon　as　the　title　of　nobility　is　published。　That　is　it；　is　the
clause　to　be　filled；　and　therefore　I　tell　you；　beloved；　wait　and
hope！　This　woman　is　without　pity　and　without　mercy；　but　God　is　in
heaven；　and　Frederick　the　Great　on　the　earth。　Wait　and　hope。　Be　firm
in　hope；　and　constant　in　love。　Do　not　lose　courage；　and　let　them
force　you　to　compliance　by　threats　and　anger。　I　have　only　you　to
confide　in　and　to　love　in　the　world；　and　you　are　my　hope；　my　goal；
and　the　happiness　of　my　life。　If　you　forsake　me；　I　lose　my　good
angel；　and　am　a　lost；　miserable　man；　whom　it　would　be　better　to　hurl
into　the　deepest　abyss　than　let　him　suffer　the　torments　of　hated
existence。　The　knowledge　of　your　love　gives　me　strength　and　courage；
it　will　inspire　me　to　fight　like　a　hero；　to　win　the　dear；　beloved
wife；　to　whom　I　would　yield　my　life　in　order　to　receive　it　anew　from
her　purified　and　sanctified。　The　knowledge　that　I　had　lost　you；
would　ruin　me。〃

Laying　both　hands　upon　his　shoulder；　Marie　looked　at　him　with　eyes
beaming　with　affection；　renewing　her　vow　that　she　would　never　love
or　marry　another。　〃We　will　be　courageous　in　hope；　and　brave　in
constancy。　Listen　to　me；　my　beloved；　listen；　my　motherI　betrothed
myself　to　this　dear　man！　You　can　prevent　my　becoming　his　wife　now；
but　in　four　years　I　am　of　age；　and　then　I　shall　be　my　own　mistress。
Then；　my　dear　Philip；　I　will　be　your　wife。　Let　us　wait　and　hope！〃

〃Yes；　Marie；　we　will　wait　and　hope。Farewell！　Do　not　forget　that
there　is　a　great　God　in　heaven；　and　a　great　king　upon　earth。
Farewell！〃

He　pressed　the　hand　clasped　in　his　own　passionately　to　his　tips；　and
felt　from　the　pressure　of　her　delicate　fingers　a　renewed　vow　of
constancy。　Buoyed　with　this　hope　in　the　sad　hour　of　parting；　they
were　happy　and　joyful。　Marie　accompanied　him　to　the　doorstill　hand
in　hand。

〃Presume　not　to　go　a　step　farther；〃　commanded　her　mother；　and　Marie；
obedient　to　her　wishes；　remained　near　the　door；　bowed　to　Moritz；　and
never　ceased　to　regard　him；　with　love　beaming　in　her　eyes；　until　the
door　closed。　Outside　stood　old　Trude；　to　tell　him　that　she　would　be
at　the　baker's　at　seven　o'clock　every　morning；　and　wait　for　his
commissions；　〃and　may　be　I　shall　have　something　to　bring　you；〃　she
said。　〃So　do　come！〃

〃I　will；　my　good　Trude；　you　are　the　only　person　who　is　friendly　to
us。　Watch　over　my　angel；　console　her　with　your　affection；　and　when
they　are　too　hard　upon　her；　come　to　me。〃

〃I　surely　will；　but　listenthey　are　already　quarrelling　with　my
good　angel。　I　will　go　in；　to　serve　as　a　lightning…rod　for　dear
Marie。　I　often　do　it；　and　it　pleases　me　when　the　lightning　strikes；
and　dashes　my　hard　old　head　to　the　ground；　but　does　not　hurt　me　at
alLFarewell；　Herr　Moritz；　the　lightning…rod　must　go　in。〃

Trude　entered　suddenly　and　noiselessly　the　sitting…room；　and
interrupted　the　angry　reproaches　which　Frau　von　Werrig　hurled
against　Marie　in　a　furious　stream　of　words。　The　countess's　rage
turned　against　Trude；　who　stared　as　if　to　challenge　her。　〃What　do
you　want？　How　dare　you　enter　uncalled？〃

〃I　thought　you　were　calling　deaf　old　Trude；　or　why　did　you　scream
so？〃　replied　Trude；　tartly。

〃Perhaps　it　was　the　general。　Ah！　there　lies　the　poor；　dear　old　man；
groaning　and　crying；　and　nobody　has　any　pity　for　him。〃

〃Ah！　Trude；　it　is　good　luck　that　you　are　here；〃　whined　the　general。
〃No　one　troubles　himself　about　me。　Quick；　bring　warm　covering　for　my
leg；　the　pain　is　fearful！〃

〃Poor；　dear　father；　I　will　take　care　of　you；　I　will　nurse　you；〃　said
Marie；　hastening　to　him。　Her　mother　pushed　her　back　violently。　〃Not
a　step　farther；　you　have　no　right　to　go　near　him；　you　are　his
murderess。　On　your　head　will　fall　the　guilt；　if　these　dreadful
scenes　should　cause　his　death。〃

〃No；　no；　the　general　will　not　die　quite　yet；〃　said　Trude　busying
herself　about　his　arm…chair。　〃But；　Fraulein；　you　have　got　something
else　to　do　than　stay　here。　They　have　already　sent　for　the　flowers
twice；　and　the　French　lady　is　waiting　up…stairs　to　parlez…vous。〃

Marie　looked　her　friendly　thanks；　and　quietly　and　quickly　left　the
room。

〃Now；　bold　woman；　I　have　a　last　word　to　say　to　you。　Who　locked　the
door　when　that　creature　came？〃　〃I；　madame；〃　answered　Trude；　who　was
just　bringing　a　great　cushion　from　the　back…room　to　cover　the
general's　feet。

〃You　acknowledge　that　you　locked　the　door　intentionally？〃

〃Now；　my　dear；　good　Frau　von　Werrig；　one　does　not　lock　a　door　by
mistake。　I　did　not　want　Herr　Moritz　to　run　away　with　fright；　before
you　had　given　him　your　mind；　and　set　his　head　straight。　He　would
certainly　have　escaped；　and　only　heard　the　half　of　your　beautiful
talk；　for　he　had　no　idea　what　a　miserable　fellow　he　is。　So　I　locked
both　doors；　and　he　was　obliged　to　listen　to　you；　and　has　gone　away
contrite　and　repentant。　There；　there；　my　poor；　dear　general；　is　your
foot　high　enough？　Shall　I　not　bring　the　foot…warmer？〃

〃You　shall　not　bring　any　thing；　nor　do　any　thing　more。　You　are　a
hypocrite；　who　connives　with　Moritz。　Leave　my　house　this　very　hour！
You　are　dismissed　my　service。　Go　pack　up　your　things　and　be　off！〃
cried　Frau　von　Werrig。

〃Oh；　do　not　go；　Trude；　for　mercy's　sake；　for　then　I　have　no　one　to
help　me；〃　cried　the　general。

〃I　cannot　do　otherwise；　she　has　given　me　my　dismissal。〃　Trude
approached　Frau　von　Werrig　respectfully；　saying；　〃So　I　must　pack　up
and　go　away　at　once？〃

〃Immediately；　you　deceitful　creature！〃

〃Immediately！　but　Frau　von　Werrig　will　be　so　good　as　to　give　me　my
wages。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　in　a　slower　and　more　subdued　voice。　〃That　shall
be　done　presently。〃

〃It　will　not　be　so　very　difficult　to　reckon　them；　I　have　been　here
twenty　years；　just　as　many　years　as　Marie　is　old；　for　I　came　as
child's　nurse；　and　have　helped　her　learn　to　talk　and　walk；　and
played　mother　to　the　dear　child　a　bit。　Then　I　obtained　my　wages；　for
they　were　good　times；　but　the　pension…time　came；　and　we　had　no　cook
or　servant　but　me。　'The　rats　run　away　if　the　ship　springs　a　leak；'
but　the　old　mole　Trude　stayed。　Mankind　is　in　the　world　to　work；　I
said；　and　why　should　not　I　be　the　cook　and　waiting…maid　too；　that　my
little　Marie　should　not　want　any　thing？　So　I　became　maid…of…all…work
and　have　stayed　here　ever　since。　Then；　you　told　me　you　would　double
my　wages；　and　give　me　twenty　thalers　a　year；　and　four　thalers　at
Christmas。　Is　it　not　so；　Frau　von　Werrig？〃

〃I　believe　that　was　the　agreement。〃

〃I　am　quite　certain　about　it；〃　cried　the　general；　who　began　to
understand　the　drift　of　Trude。　〃Yes；　Trude　was　to　have　twenty
thal