CHAPTER II.
THE IGNORANT IS READY TO BE TAUGHT.
Sonnenkamp went from his cabinet to the room of Frau Ceres; she sentword to him in the ante-chamber by a maid, that she desired to see noone. Paying no attention to the message, he went in and found her lyingon the sofa, with the curtains drawn, so that in the large room therewas a dusky twilight. Frau Ceres looked at him with her large darkeyes, but spoke not a word, only extending to him her delicate, smallhand with long finger-nails. He kissed the hand, and then seatedhimself by the side of his wife.
There was silence for sometime, and then he began to explain to herthat a nearer approach was to be made to the accomplishment of his planthrough the guest now in the house, for this lady's hand would open thefolding-doors of the apartments of the princely palace.
At the mention of the palace, Frau Ceres raised herself a little; herrestless look showed how she was stirred by hope; for, beyond the sea,and in all his devious wanderings, Sonnenkamp had always held beforehis wife this idea, like some bright fairy-tale, that she would be ableto enter into the court-circle, and it seemed to her as if she were tobe introduced into some heavenly sphere, where everything wasresplendent and glorious, a perpetual round of godlike existence. Suchwas the idea Frau Ceres had entertained of court-life. She was awarenow that this was an exaggerated notion, but, wherever she went, sheheard of this good fortune, and saw that every one was striving towardsthe court-circle, and she was angry with her husband, that his promisesmade so often and so long ago had never been fulfilled. They came toEurope; they had retired into seclusion, where people said everythingwas so beautiful, but whence she was continually expecting to besummoned to Court.
Why is there so long delay? Why are people so distant? Even Bella, theonly one who exhibited any friendliness, treated her like a parrot,like some strange bird whose bright plumage she was amused with, butwith whom she had nothing more to do than from time to time to give ita lump of sugar, and address to it some casual, pretty word. Even therecollection of her having surpassed all others in splendor at the feteof Herr von Endlich was only half satisfactory to Frau Ceres.
In the midst of all her apparent listlessness and want of interest inexternal things, she was continually harping upon one thought, and thisthought had been instilled into her by Sonnenkamp; but it had becomestronger than he desired, taking exclusive possession of her being.
He understood how to represent in a very plausible way, that theProfessorin--to whom the Cabinetsraethin herself looked up, because shehad been the favorite and most influential lady of the Court, even thefriend and confidante of the Princess-dowager--that this lady wouldgive to the whole family a new splendor, and surely be the means oftheir attaining the desired end.
Sonnenkamp succeeded in impressing her so deeply with his sagacity,that Frau Ceres at last yielded, saying,--
"You are, in fact, very wise. I will speak to the tutor's mother."
He now proceeded to give some instructions, how she should bear herselftowards her, but, like a spoiled child,--even almost like an irrationalanimal, Frau Ceres shrieked out, clapped her hands, stamped her feet,crying,--
"I won't have any instructions! not a word more! Bring the lady to me!"
Sonnenkamp went to the Widow, deeply moved and troubled; he wanted togive to her some directions in regard to her interview with his wife,but was afraid of every hint, and only said,--
"My dear little wife has been a little spoiled, and is very nervous."
Eric's mother visited Frau Ceres, and found her lying quietly upon thesofa; she had sense enough to know that the less demonstrative one is,the more effect does one produce upon others.
When the visitor on entering made a very graceful courtesy, Frau Ceressuddenly forgot everything, and before a word could be said, shecried,--
"You must teach me that! I would like to courtesy in that way. Is notthat the way they do at Court?"
The visitor knew not what to reply. Is this something worse than anervous person,--is she insane? She retained self-command enough,however, to say:--
"I can very well conceive that our forms must be rather strange to you,in your free Republic; I think that it is better at the first interviewto shake hands."
She extended her hand, which Frau Ceres took, and rose as if forgettingherself.
"You are ill, I will not disturb you any longer," said the Professor'swidow.
Frau Ceres considered it would be better to pass for a sick person, andsaid,--
"Ah, yes! I am always ill. But I beseech you, remain."
And when the Mother now addressed her, the sound of her voice, itstones of deep feeling, made such an impression upon her excitablenature, that she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, greattear-drops stood upon her long lashes.
The Mother expressed her regret that she had made her shed tears, butFrau Ceres shook her head violently.
"No, no, I thank you. I have not been able to weep for years--thesetears have lain here--here." She struck her bosom with violence. "Ithank you."
The Mother wanted now to withdraw, but Frau Ceres rose up quickly, wentup to her as she stood there struck with astonishment, and shrinking asif from a crazy person, fell on her knees before her, and kissed herhand, crying,--
"Protect me! Be a mother to me; I have never called any one mother; Ihave never known a mother."
The Mother raised her up, saying,--
"My child, I can be a mother to you--I can and will. I am happy thatsuch fair tasks are assigned me here, tasks that I can lovingly fulfil.But now be composed."
She led Frau Ceres back to the sofa, carefully helped her to lie down,and covered her with a large shawl; it was an odd complication of softcushions in which she always lay muffled, as if she were buried.
She held the Mother's hand fast, and sobbed without cessation.
The Mother now extolled their happiness in having each of them such ason, speaking less of Eric than of Roland; and as she went on to relatehow in the twilight he had appeared like the transfigured form of herown dead child, Frau Ceres turned towards her and kissed her hand. Sheproceeded quietly to speak of herself as a person of manypeculiarities, which rendered it no easy thing for any one to live withher; she had been in the habit of being too much alone, and she fearedthat she was not young enough and had not animal spirits sufficient tobe the companion of a lady who had every claim to the brilliancy andjoy of a stirring life.
Frau Ceres requested her to draw back the curtains a little, and as shesaw her more plainly she smiled; but immediately her countenance, withthe fine, half-opened mouth, assumed again the listless look which wasits habitual expression; she took the fan and fanned herself.
At last she said,--
"Ah yes, to learn! You cannot think how stupid I am, and yet I would solike to be clever, and I would have learned so many things, but henever wanted me to, and has not let me learn anything, and always said:'You are fairest and dearest to me just as you are.' Yes, it may be tohim, but not to myself. If Madame Perini were not so kind, I don't knowindeed what I should do. Do you play whist? Do you love nature? I amvery simple, am I not?"
Perhaps Frau Ceres expected that the mother would contradict her, butshe did not, only saying:--
"If there is anything that I can teach you, I'll do it cheerfully. Ihave known other ladies like yourself, and I could tell you why you arealways ailing."
"Why! Do you know that? you?"
"Yes, but it is not flattering."
"Ah, no matter; tell me."
"My dear child, you are all the time ill, because you are all the timeidle. If a person has nothing to do, then his health gives himsomething to do."
"Oh, you are wise, but I am weak," said Frau Ceres.
And there was in her an utter helplessness and weakness; she lookedupon herself, and was looked upon by Sonnenkamp, as a fragile toy; andat the same time she was indolent, and the least effort was a burden toher. She did not know whether to hear or
to see required the greaterexertion; but she found the latter the greater bore, for while one wasreading one must hold the book and hold one's self in a particularposition, and therefore she always let Fraeulein Perini read aloud toher; this had the advantage that one could go to sleep whenever therewas the inclination.
This was the case now.
Whilst the Mother was speaking, Frau Ceres suddenly let go her hand,and it was soon evident that the reclining one had fallen asleep; FrauDournay sat there in that chamber furnished splendidly and richly as ifit were an apartment in some fairy tale. She held her breath, and didnot know what course to take. What is the meaning of all this? Here areriddles in plenty. She did not dare to change her position, for she wasafraid of waking the sleeper. The latter turned now and said,--
"Ah, go now, go now,--I will come down soon myself." She left the room.
Sonnenkamp was waiting for her outside.
"How did she seem?" he asked anxiously.
"Very gentle and quiet," replied the Mother. "But I have one request. Ihope to cure the excitability or lassitude of your wife, but I beg younever to ask me what we have said to each other. If I am to gain herentire confidence, I must be able to say to her in good faith, thatwhat she tells me is told to me alone; and that what she imparts to mewill never pass my lips. Are you willing to promise that we ladiesshall do as we like together?"
"Yes," answered Sonnenkamp. It seemed hard for him to consent, but hefelt that he must.
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