Das landhaus am Rhein. English

by Berthold Auerbach

  CHAPTER VIII.

  TRANSPLANTED.

  Roland, meanwhile, was living quietly at the commercial town,industrious and happy. He resided in the Banker's house, and madefriends with the children of the latter, particularly with a youngerson, who, just returning from the University, had laid aside his books,and entered immediately upon the banking business. But for Weidmann'syoungest son he cherished a genuine youthful friendship, very unlikethat artificial intimacy with the cadet, which had been forced upon himby others. They were incessantly busy during the day, which closed witha late dinner, after which they had a game in the billiard-room, orattended some concert or play, or, more frequently, read or studiedquietly, each by himself.

  Roland often sat in his room till late at night, teaching English tohis young friends Weidmann and Fassbender.

  He, too, had now become a teacher, and derived a singular pleasure fromthus imparting something of himself, and not merely of hispossessions,--a pleasure which was exalted into the purest joy by thebright and cordial nature of young Weidmann.

  Wherever Roland appeared, he was the object, first of remark,afterwards of kindly attention. He thought often of his winter at thecapital, and how different life had been there. Here he found a circleof commoners, understanding itself thoroughly, and not without pride inits own strength. All the officials at the counting-house wereparticularly friendly to Roland. His beauty, his confiding disposition,above all his hard fate, seemed to recommend him to their especialconsideration. The Banker praised him for having mastered, in so shorta time, the essentials of the business; for he could now compute theprice of any public funds by means of the exchange lists, and had agood insight into book-keeping.

  So passed several weeks, until the elder Weidmann arrived, and invitedhis son, the cashier Fassbender, and Roland to visit him.

  Weidmann first saw his son and Fassbender alone, and learned fromthem that the younger tradesmen had discussed the subject of theslave-trade, and had even held a meeting, and formally debated thequestion, but disagreed in their final vote. They stood twelve againsttwelve; it having been strongly urged that a man might lawfully carryon this traffic, provided he were not personally engaged in it;especially since others would be sure to carry on the lucrativebusiness if he were held back by scruples.

  Weidmann looked grave.

  Roland came. He was very animated, and re-assured by Weidmann'sencouraging glance, he begged to be allowed to return to Mattenheim.

  The Banker assented readily.

  With expressions of genuine affection, they bade Roland good-by. Firstof all, he revisited Villa Eden with Herr Weidmann. He had left it aboy; he returned a mature man.

  In a few days, Roland's effects were all packed, ready for a removal toMattenheim.

  Eric accompanied him thither, and Roland turned crimson, when,on entering his room--it was the same that Lilian had formerlyoccupied--Knopf handed him a note from the latter. She had expresslyrequested that it might not be given to Roland until he returnedpermanently to Mattenheim.

  The next day, Eric went back to Villa Eden, and announced to Manna andhis mother his own intention of removing to Mattenheim.

  A strange conflict ensued in Manna's breast; but, as she made noallusion to it, Eric thought it right to respect her reserve.

  The Major, to whom Eric confided his plan, complained that he, too, hadgot to build himself a new nest in his old age; for his brother, theGrand-master, whose wife had died, had become engaged, and was to bemarried again in the spring. Now, Fraeulein Milch had no mind to betolerated, and patronized by a young wife; and when his Masonicbrother, the Grand-master, had informed them that he should wish toreserve one of the rooms which the Major had formerly occupied, for aguest-chamber, Fraeulein Milch had behaved in a most independent manner.

  She thanked him, but declared her fixed determination to leave thehouse.

  They had never had a quarrel before.

  But when the Major perceived how sorrowfully Fraeulein Milch repentedher obstinate determination, he scolded himself for being too meek andyielding, and thanked the Fraeulein for preserving her dignity as heought to have done himself, but which he was so apt to lose sight of.

  He proposed to Fraeulein Milch the plan of removing to the castle, wherethere were fine rooms all in readiness, and where it must be verypleasant to live; but Fraeulein Milch would hear nothing about living ina knightly castle. She set forth to the Major the bother it wouldentail: with the butcher, the baker, the grocer, the milkmaid, with allthe various trades and callings, did she persecute the Major, until hewas sore dismayed.

  "We will say no more about it," he cried, "but pray don't let me forgetto ask Captain Dournay how the old knights used to live."

  Upon Eric's arrival, this had been the Major's opening question, andthen, for the first time, he made known his own difficulty.

  Eric did not regret it; for he hoped, that, in the spring, the Majorwould remove to the green cottage, while his mother would live withManna at the Villa.

  The Major laughed. "Did you ever hear," said he, "the story of the manwho was a suitor forty years? Courting-time is very fine, I tell you;but even ten years is too long. And now away with you! There issomething for you to learn yet. But don't tell a soul about that staleold suitor, will you? On your honor? He, too, was once young."

  On the eve of his departure, when he and Manna were alone, Eric said,--

  "Manna, we have no betrothal time. Our hearts are torn by sorrow andseparation, we must comfort one another."

  "And might I know why you, too, forsake me?"

  "I shall be much with you and my mother; but I must be alone also. Justthink, I have to become a new man, to change my scholarly vocation forsome other, I know not what; but whether I am near you, or not, whetherI hold your hand, and look into your eyes, or am far away, be sure thatyou are the inmost life of my heart: I bear you about with me like ablessed faith."

  As Eric continued in this strain, a new and delightful understandingwas established between the two, and Manna embraced him, saying,--

  "I will not shed a tear to-morrow when you leave; and I will follow youin all your wanderings with trustful eyes. I know that I am with youand in you, as you are with me and in me. It seems inconceivable to methat I never knew you before that spring day. I cannot think what theworld was like before I knew you; for I cannot imagine the worldwithout you."

  When Eric left for Mattenheim, the next day, he kissed his betrothedfor the first time before his mother; and, after he had mounted hishorse. Manna said to him,--

  "I am glad you are going; and I will stay quietly with your mother, andbe perfectly content. Thank you for letting me be a child once morebefore I become your wife. Ah! I had no childhood; but forgive me. Iwill never cease to be grateful for what has come to me, and I will notmingle sorrow with it all. And I promise that you shall have in me astrong and trustworthy wife."

  So Eric departed.

  Adams went with him. He, too, was to learn husbandry at Mattenheim.

  The ladies were now alone with Professor Einsiedel and the Major, whowas more at the Villa than ever.

  The Villa itself, however, was silent and deserted; for they all livedat the green cottage. Many of the servants were dismissed, and thegardeners only were kept at the Villa.