by Mór Jókai
A BALL.
DEAREST ILMA,--I am in despair! I am very ill, and in bed! Ah! I shallnever dance a quadrille again. I will go into a convent, or marry, ormake away with myself in some other way. Conceive what has happened tome! Oh! it is too dreadful, too shocking! you never read such a thingin a romance!
You may have heard that the Hungarian troops marched through here lastweek, after the battle of Branyisko; there was the greatest panic andconfusion at the news of their approach; we expected that they wouldhave set fire to the town, and pillaged, and killed us--indeed, mammasaid there was no knowing what horrors they might commit, and shedesired me to scratch my face with my nails, and disfigure myself, incase they should wish to carry me off! Did you ever hear such an idea?
Well! ere long the national guards marched in with their bandsplaying. Papa went to meet them with a deputation. Our servants allran out to see the soldiers, and I could not find mamma anywhere; theday before, she had never ceased searching for a place to concealherself in--never answering me when I called and looked for her; andif by chance I found her in a wardrobe, or in the clock, she scoldedme severely for discovering her hiding-place.
As I was left quite alone, I thought the best thing I could do was tolay out the table with every sort of eatable and wine I could find;that at least these national guards should not eat me, but findsomething else prepared for them; and I determined in my own mind togive them quietly every thing they asked for, and let them see I didnot fear them in the least; and then I waited with the utmostresignation to hear cries for help through the streets.
At last the sound of spurred footsteps and clinking swords echoedalong the corridor, but no noise or swearing; _au contraire_, a verypolite double knock at the door. In my terror or flurry, however, Ihad no power to say, Come in. But do not imagine they broke in thedoor with their muskets--not at all, they only repeated the knock, andwaited till I gave permission, in a trembling voice--expecting atleast six dog-faced Tartars to enter, with square heads and skincaps--beards down to their girdles, and dressed in bears' hides, withleather sacks over their shoulders, to thrust their plunder into; andcovered all over with pistols and knives, as I have heard mammadescribe them; but conceive my surprise, when, instead of all this,two young officers walked in; one fair, and the other dark, but verywell dressed, and just like other people.
They wore small fur cloaks across their shoulders, and under this, atight-fitting attila--no idea of skins or square heads; indeed, thedark one was quite a handsome youth.
Their first action was to beg pardon for any inconvenience they mightcause; to which I replied, that I considered it no inconveniencewhatever, and was ready to serve them in any way they wanted.
The dark youth, glancing at the table, could scarcely refrain from asmile, which embarrassed me extremely, as I thought he must havesupposed I had prepared all this on purpose for him. At last theother relieved my embarrassment, by thanking me politely for all myproffered services, and only begged I would show them an apartmentwhere they could take some rest, as they were very tired, not havingslept in a bed for six weeks, or lain down at all for two days.
Poor creatures! I quite pitied them--not to have slept in a bed forsix weeks!
"Indeed!" I exclaimed, "it must have been very uncomfortable to havebeen obliged to sleep on a divan, or even in a camp-bed, for sixentire weeks!"
They both laughed. "On the bare ground--on the snow--under the clearsky," they replied.
Oh, heavens! even our servants would have died, had they been obligedto pass one winter's night out of doors.
I begged them to follow me, and showed them our best room, in whichthere were two beds. As the servants were all out, I was going to makedown the bed myself.
"Oh, we cannot allow that!" they both exclaimed, "we can do thatourselves;" and seeing they had need of rest, I bowed, and hastened toleave them alone.
Scarcely had I reached my own room, when I heard a terrible shriek,which seemed to proceed from the apartment I had just left, and criesof "Help! robbers! murder!"
I knew the voice, but in my terror I could not remember who it was,and still the cries continued, "Help! murder!"
If you can imagine my situation, you may suppose that I never movedfrom the spot on which I stood, till the voice, echoing through therooms, at last approached my apartment.
It was my dear mamma!--but in what a plight!
Her clothes all crumpled, her cap over her eyes, one of her shoes off,and her whole face as red as if she had come out of an oven. It was along time before I could make out where she had been, or what hadhappened to her. Well! only fancy. She had hid in the very room whereI had quartered my two guests, and where, do you think?--in one of thebeds, under all the feather quilts! Now you may imagine the rest, andthe surprise of the national guard officer when he threw himself downhalf dead with fatigue. Poor mamma had good reason to cry out; butwhat an idea, to hide there!
After much trouble, I calmed her a little, and endeavoured to persuadeher that these national guards had not come to rob or kill us; and,finally, I succeeded so far, that she promised not to hide again, andI undertook to explain to the officers, that mamma had the rheumatism,and was obliged to get under all these feather beds, by way of avapour bath!
Meanwhile our guests had scarcely time to fall asleep, when an orderlyarrived, who desired to speak with them.
"You cannot see them at present," I replied--"they are both asleep;but you may wait, or come again."
"Where are they sleeping?" he asked.
I showed him the room, and without the slightest consideration, as towhether it was proper to awake them, after being two whole dayswithout rest, he walked coolly into the room.
I expected they would have immediately cut the man in pieces fordisturbing them, instead of which, in a few minutes, they bothappeared, completely dressed, and followed the orderly, without theslightest sign of displeasure. The major had sent for them.
How strange this military life must be, how people can submit withoutthe least resistance! I should be a very bad soldier indeed, for Ialways like to know beforehand why I am ordered to do a thing.
In about half an hour the officers returned--no ill-humour orsleepiness was visible; they did not even return to their rooms; butasked for mamma and me, and announced to us in very flattering terms,that the officers' corps had _improvised_ a ball for that night, towhich we were invited, and then they immediately begged to engage mefor a _francaise_, a csardas, and a polonaise (there was to be nowaltzing), and I naturally promised everything.
It was our first ball since the Carnival, and they seemed to enjoy thethoughts of it as much as I did, for they would not hear of sleepingany more.
Mamma, however, never ceased making every objection and difficulty shecould think of.
"You have no ball dress."
"My white dress, dear mamma; I only wore it once."
"It is old-fashioned."
"A little bow of national ribbon, and you will have the prettiest ofnew fashions," interrupted the dark officer.
"But my foot aches," persevered mamma.
"But there is no absolute necessity for your dancing, dear mamma."
The officers did not laugh--out of politeness; and for the samereason, mamma did not scold me till they had gone away.
"You foolish child," she said angrily, "to rush openly in the face ofdanger, and ruin yourself intentionally!"
I thought mamma was afraid I should take cold, as she always was, whenI prepared for a ball; and to calm her fears I reminded her that therewas to be no waltzing. This made her still more angry. "You have nosense," she exclaimed. "Do you suppose they are giving this ball thatthey may dance? not at all! it is all finesse--all a plot of thenational guards, to get the young girls of the town together, whenthey will probably seize them, and carry them off to Turkey."
"Ah, mamma! why, officers are not allowed to marry in time of war," Ireminded her, laughing.
On this she scolded me still more, called me
a little goose, and toldme I should find out to my cost; and with this threat she left me toprepare for the ball.
I was busy enough until evening getting everything ready. According tothe officer's advice I wore a broad red-white-green ribbon as a sash,and my _coiffure_ was a simple bouquet of white and red roses, towhich the green leaves gave the national colour. I never observedbefore how well these colours blend.
The two officers waited on us _en pleine parade_, and paid us so manycompliments, I could not imagine how they learnt them all. I wasobliged to laugh, to put off my embarrassment.
"Well, you will see tears will be the end of all this," said mamma;but nevertheless she continued arranging and altering something orother about my dress, that if they did carry me away, they should atleast find everything in order.
The officers accompanied us to the ballroom. I was already enjoyingthe idea of the effect which my national ribbon and our two beauxwould produce; and, _entre nous_, I could not give up the hope, thatif all the others really had square heads, we should have the only tworound ones in the room!
But great was my mistake and surprise.
There was not one of my companions who had not at least twice as muchnational ribbon on her dress as I had; and as to the officers, our twocavaliers held but the third rank among them.
One was more agreeable, more fascinating, handsomer, livelier than theother; how is it possible that men like these can shed so much blood!
There was one in particular who attracted my attention--not minealone, but everybody's. He was a young captain--his strikinglyhandsome face, and tall, graceful figure became the braided attila sowell, it seemed to have been moulded on him.
And then his dancing! with what animation he went through the mazurand csardas; one could have rushed through the crowd to embrace him--Ido not talk of myself; and, what was more than dancing--more thancompliments, a _je ne sais quoi_ in the large, dark, dreamy eyes; youcannot imagine _that_, it is not to be described--it bewildered,inspired, overpowered, and enchanted at the same moment. In less thanan hour, every girl in the room was in love with him. I do not exceptmyself. If they are as irresistible on the field of battle, I do notknow what could withstand them. Imagine my feelings, when all at oncehe stepped up to me and requested the honour of the next quadrille!
Unfortunately, I was engaged. What would I not have given at thatmoment, had a courier entered to call away my dancer.
"Perhaps the next one?" said the captain, seating himself beside me.
I do not know what I said, or whether I replied at all; I only know Ifelt as I do when flying in a dream.
"But you will forget, perhaps, that you promised me?" he continued.
Had I not suddenly recollected myself, I should probably have told himthat sooner could I forget my existence; however, I only replied, in avery indifferent tone, that I should not forget.
"But you do not know me!"
A country simpleton would have answered in my place, "Among ahundred--among thousands! at the first glance!"
Not I! As if I were doing the simplest thing in the world, I took asingle rosebud from my breast and gave it to him. "I shall know you bythis," I said, without betraying the slightest agitation.
The captain silently pressed the rose to his lips; I did not look, butI _knew_ it. I would not have encountered his eyes at that moment forall the world.
He then left me and sat down under a mirror opposite; he did notdance, and seemed absorbed in his own reflections.
Meanwhile two csardas and a polonaise were danced, after which ourquadrille would come. You may conceive how long the time appeared;these eternal "harom a tanczes" seemed absolutely to have no end. Inever saw people dance so furiously; and although it was the thirdnight they had not slept, nothing would tire them out. However, Iamused myself pretty well by making the acquaintance of the commanderof the battalion, Major Sch----, who is a most diverting person.
His name is German; and though he speaks Hungarian shockingly, he willalways speak it, even if he is addressed in German or French. Then heis most dreadfully deaf, and accustomed to such loud-tonedconversation, one would think the cannons were conversing together.
They say he is a very gallant soldier; but his appearance is notprepossessing--an uncouth, grotesque figure, with a long thin face,short-cut hair, and a grisly beard, which is not at all becoming. Butthe most amusing thing was, that what I spoke he did not hear; andwhat he spoke I did not understand. He brought me over a box of_bonbons_; and I complained of the badness of confectionary in ourtown. He probably supposed from my grimace that somebody had offendedme at the ball, and answered something, from which--by the gestureswhich accompanied it--I could only infer that he intended cutting theoffender in pieces; unless indeed what others would express under suchcircumstances may be the common gesticulation of men who live in war.
At last, my quadrille came. The band played the symphony, and thedancers hastened to seek their partners.
My heart almost burst from my dress when I saw my dancer approach,and, bowing low, press the little flower to his heart.
I fear my hand trembled as he took it in his; but I only smiled, andmade some observation about the music.
"Ah, you are carrying off my neighbour!" cried the major, laughing,with one of his "annihilating" gesticulations.
As we joined the columns, somebody whispered behind us, "What awell-matched couple!"
Ah, Ilma! how happy I was! I felt, as we stood there, hand in hand, asif his blood were flowing into mine, and mine into his! We waited forthe music; but before it could begin, the noise of horses' feet wereheard galloping up the street, and, at the same time, several cannonswere fired at a distance, which made all the windows rattle. Suddenlyan officer entered the ballroom, with his csako on his head, andcovered with mud, and announced that the enemy had attacked theoutposts.
The major had heard the cannon, and read from the courier's face whathe could not understand from his words.
"Ah, that's right!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands, and again thosefearful gestures by which people express killing. "We were onlywaiting for them, _messieurs_; we must ask our ladies for a fewmoments' leave--just a few moments, _mes dames_; we shall returnimmediately, and meanwhile you can rest."
And he hastened to put on his sword; all the other officers ran to gettheirs--and I saw the gay, courtly, flattering expressions suddenlychange to angry, fierce, threatening countenances; but one and allseemed eager to start, as if they had expected it all along.
My dancer, too, forsook me to look for his sword and csako. His stepwas the firmest, his eye the keenest of all; if I had hitherto felthappiness--more than happiness--in looking at him, admiration,enthusiasm now filled my breast.
As he buckled on his sword, a strange fever seemed to burn in all myveins; I could have wished to be in the battle with him, to ridebeside him, and dash with him into the midst of the enemy!
He still held my rose in his hand, and, as he took up his csako, heplaced it beside the cockade; and then he turned back, as if he soughtsomething through the crowd--our eyes met!--he hastened away, and theballroom was empty!
Meanwhile we remained alone, as if nothing had happened; the major hadgiven orders that none should leave the rooms before his return. Itwas the longest hour I ever spent.
Many of us stood at the windows listening to the cannon, and trying toguess the result, as they sounded now nearer, now more distant. Nonejudged it advisable to go home, as the combat might have ended in thestreets, and they thought it better to await the decision where wewere.
Ere long, the sounds began to recede further and further, till at lastthey ceased entirely. The civilians concluded by this that thenational guards had gained the victory. They were right. In less thana quarter of an hour we heard them return with great noise andclatter. And the officers entered the room gaily, as if nothing hadhappened; many of them wiped something from their dross--perhaps mudor blood--and each hastened to find and cheer his partner.
"Wher
e did we leave off?" cried one.
"At the quadrille," replied several at once, and began arranging thecolumns as if they had just come out of the supper-room. My dancer andthe major were alone absent!
In vain my eyes were fixed on the door--every instant some oneentered, but not the one I sought.
At last the major appeared. He looked round, and when he saw me,immediately approached, and, making a grotesque bow, without waitingfor me to speak, "Fair lady!" he said, "your dancer entreats yourpardon for this breach of politeness; but he is unable with the bestwill to enjoy the happiness of dancing the _francaise_ with you,having been shot through the leg, which is obliged to be amputatedabove the knee."
Oh, Ilma! I shall never dance a quadrille again.
I am very ill! I am overwhelmed by despair!
THE END.
In the Press, 2s. 6d. cloth, Volume II. of
THE MISCELLANY OF FOREIGN LITERATURE.
A VOLUME OF RECENT TRAVELS IN GREECE.