CHAPTER VIII.
RESERVATIONS.
Eric entered; he did not venture to look at Sonnenkamp; he dreadedevery word he might have to say to him; for every thought thatSonnenkamp expressed to him, everything which his thoughts had touchedon, seemed to him polluted. But now as he fixed his gaze upon him,Sonnenkamp seemed to be transformed, as if he had by some charmcontracted his powerful frame. He looked so modest, so humble, sochildlike, smiling there before him. He informed Eric, in a quiet tone,that the Prince had seen fit in his graciousness to invest him with atitle of nobility, and was soon to deliver him the patent confirming itwith his own hand.
Eric breathed with still greater difficulty, and could not utter aword.
"You are surprised?" asked Sonnenkamp. "I know the Jewish banker hasbeen refused,--and I even think--the gentlemen are very shrewd--I eventhink--however, it doesn't make any difference; every one works his ownway. I know also that a certain Doctor Fritz has been at thephilanthropist Weidmann's, and that he has spoken a good deal ofslander about a man whom I unfortunately resemble--isn't it so? I seeit in your countenance. I hope, however, that you will not--no, bequite at ease, my dear, good friend; rejoice with me and for ourRoland."
Eric looked up now freely. There is certainly some mistake here, forthe man could not be so composed, if he had anything to dread.
Sonnenkamp continued:--
"You will remain our friends, you and your noble mother."
He held out his hand; now again Eric shuddered all over. The ring onhis thumb--is that too a mystery, a deception? Sonnenkamp could not butfeel that there was something wrong; he suddenly drew back theoutstretched hand, as if a wild beast had extended its claw towards it,but said with great composure:--
"I know you are an opposer of election to the nobility."
"No; more than that, I wanted to say something," interposed Eric; butSonnenkamp interrupted him hastily.
"Excuse me if I do not wish to hear any more."
Suddenly shifting the conversation, he continued in an earnest tone,saying that Eric had now only the finishing stroke to put to his work,by guiding and fortifying Roland into a true appreciation of his newposition and his new name.
"It would be a fine thing if you should take the Professorship; I wouldthen let Roland, until we ourselves moved into town, and perhaps eventhen, occupy the same residence with you; you would remain his friendand instructor, and everything would go on excellently."
With great frankness, he added, that he desired, since he, as a father,was not in the position to see to it himself, that Roland should bewisely and discreetly led to a personal knowledge of that thing whichmen call vice; this alone would preserve him from excess.
Eric remained silent; he had come with warnings, and full of anxiety;now the whole affair was ended, now nothing remained to be done; yes,through Sonnenkamp's own acknowledgment that he was mistaken for HerrBanfield, every objection seemed to be put at rest. For the sake ofsaying something, Eric asked where the Major was. With greatsatisfaction, Sonnenkamp replied that the building of the castle hadfortunately so far progressed, that they would be able on their returnfrom the capital to open it; the Major had just gone to the castle tomake the necessary arrangements.
"Have you seen your mother yet?"
"No."
"She has, I am sorry to say, sent word to me that she is a littleunwell, and will not be able to partake in our rejoicing."
Eric hastened to his mother. He had never yet seen her ill; now she layexhausted on the sofa, and was delighted at his returning soimmediately upon the reception of her letter. Eric knew nothing of anyletter, and heard now, also for the first time, that Sonnenkamp hadsent a messenger, to whom his mother had also given a letter.
His mother, who was feverish, said that she felt as if a severesickness was threatening her; it seemed to her as if the house in whichshe was, was floating on the waves nearer and nearer to the sea; shehad to force herself to keep awake, for as soon as she closed her eyes,this sensation returned to her more frightful than ever. She sat up andsaid:--
"Now you have come back, everything will be well once more. I felttimid alone here in this perverse world."
Eric felt that it was impossible to tell his mother anything of what hehad learned at Weidmann's.
His mother complained:--
"Ah, I wish it may not be with you as it is with me; the older Ibecome, the more mysterious and complicated are many things to me. Youmen are fortunate; individual things do not vex you so much, becauseyou can see a united whole."
As the mother gazed confusedly about her she looked upon her son, andher eye sank; she would willingly have imparted her trouble to him; butwhy burden him when he could do no good? She kept it to herself.
Eric told her of the interesting life he had seen at Mattenheim, andhow fortunate he had been in gaining there a fatherly friend. In theway in which he described the energetic activity of the family, itseemed as if he were bringing a fresh breeze into the room; and themother said:--
"Yes, we forget in our troubles that there are still beautiful,harmonious existences in the world for a maiden like Manna." And justas she mentioned her name, a messenger from Manna came with therequest, that the Professorin would come to her.
Eric wanted to say to the messenger in reply, that his mother wasunwell, and to ask Fraeulein Manna therefore to have the goodness tocome to her; but his mother sat erect, and said:--
"No, she requires my assistance; I must be well, and I am well. It isbest that my duty saves me from yielding to this weakness."
She got up quickly, and said to the messenger:--
"I will come."
She dressed hurriedly, and went with her son to the villa.
Das landhaus am Rhein. English Page 156