Cornelli

by Johanna Spyri

  When Mr. Hellmut sat down to his coffee in the morning he always foundletters and newspapers on the breakfast table.

  "Good gracious!" he exclaimed on the morning after the ladies'departure, "what correspondents have you in town, Cornelli? Here isa letter for you."

  Cornelli, looking up from her cup, glanced incredulously at the letter.

  "It is really for you. Listen! Miss Cornelli Hellmut, Iller-Stream,Iron Foundry," the father read. "Here it is!"

  Cornelli opened the letter under great suspense and read:

  DEAR CORNELLI:

  Only think! I am ill and have to lie in bed. The doctor has forbiddenme to read and write, so this letter will be very short. It is verytiresome to be sick, for my sisters are in school all day. Mama alwayshas a lot to attend to and Mux is still a very useless little fellow.Could you not come here and pay me a little visit? I should love tosee you and should enjoy hearing all about Iller-Stream. You couldtell me all about good old Martha, whom I love nearly as much as agrandmother, about your little kid and Matthew, the horses andeverything else, and especially about yourself. I always had such agood time with you that I should be terribly pleased if you came tovisit me. Please come very, very soon! Your faithful friend,

  DINO.

  When Cornelli was folding up the letter again, her father said: "CanI read it, too?"

  Cornelli promptly handed him her letter.

  "What friend is this that wants you to come to visit him?" the fatherasked with astonishment. "I expect you to cry immediately, though, foryou might have to go to town."

  "Oh, no, Papa, I really would love to see him," said Cornelli. "It isDino, who stayed with Martha this summer."

  The father put down his spoon from pure surprise and looked wonderinglyat his daughter.

  "How strange you are, Cornelli!" he said finally. "Now you suddenlywant to visit a strange family. You only know this boy and you do nothesitate about it and are not even shy about appearing in your presentcondition."

  "Dino knows me well and knows that I would come to see him alone. Hewill arrange everything for me so that I won't have to see his motheror his sisters. He knows everything," was Cornelli's explanation.

  "That has no sense at all," the father said curtly, and gathering uphis papers he went away.

  Soon afterwards he entered Martha's little house.

  "Here I am again. I wonder what you will say to me?" he called to thesurprised old woman. "Here is a letter with an invitation which camefor Cornelli to-day. It is from a boy who stayed with you. Who is he?Who are his parents?"

  This question made Martha fairly overflow with praises of the boy. Shetold Mr. Hellmut that she had never known a boy who was so polite andfriendly to simple folks as this boy had been; he had been well broughtup, had the most refined and charming manners, and was well educated,and at the same time so simple and childishly devoted to old, plainMartha. She had never read letters like the mother's letter to herson, so beautiful, affectionate and elevating. He had always read themto her, and she had had to cry every time from sheer emotion. She hadnever before seen as beautiful linen as the boy had worn, and it hadall been his two sisters' work.

  "Martha," the Director finally interrupted her, "according to youraccount, it would be a great blessing for my daughter to spend evena day in such a family."

  "If you would really take her there, Director, I certainly would behappy--ah! I would not know a greater happiness."

  Martha had to wipe her eyes, she was so stirred.

  "You shall know it, Martha. We'll go tomorrow, and on the same eveningyou shall hear an account of all that happened." With these words theDirector seized her hand, and after shaking it heartily, departed.

  "Get everything ready, Cornelli! We are going to town to-morrow," hecalled to his daughter, who sat on the garden bench quietly thinking."Esther shall call you early, at six o'clock."

  "Indeed, I shall," came Esther's voice through some open window. Shewas a good sentinel, for she always seemed to know what was going onin the house and its immediate neighborhood.

  Early next morning the two shiny brown horses were trotting down thevalley. They had to go for four full hours, but that seemed a purepleasure to them; the longer they ran, the more spirit they seemed toget, and Matthew had to keep them from galloping all the time.

  In her corner Cornelli meditated as to how she could tell the maid ather arrival that she wanted to visit no one but Dino, and wanted tobe taken straight to his room. She planned also to forbid Dino to callhis sisters and his mother, for she wanted to see him alone. She wouldpay Dino a long visit and then steal quietly away without being noticed.She was also reflecting about everything she wanted to tell her friend.First of all, she had to tell him that the news had at last come outregarding who had been standing on the sofa. She had told him all aboutthis deep grief she had borne for so long.

  So they came to town much sooner than Cornelli had ever thoughtpossible. The carriage was already halting before the hotel where herfather usually stopped, and Cornelli jumped down.

  "Shall I come back again in four hours, Papa?" she asked. "I can findmy way alone, for Dino has described it to me."

  "Stop, stop! That is not the way; I am coming, too," the father said.

  Cornelli was quite sorry not to be able to start off alone, for thathad been her plan. Now everything was quite different.

  As Dino had written his exact address in his letter and the Directorknew his way about town very well, they passed quickly from street tostreet till they reached a narrow little lane. Here stood the housethey had been seeking. When finally four high stairs had been climbed,the Director stood on the highest narrow step where the door took uphalf of the standing room.

  "If the inhabitants correspond to their dwelling place, we shallprobably not remain here very long," he said, looking up doubtfullyat the inconvenient entrance.

  "Dino does not correspond," said Cornelli quickly. She had not quiteunderstood her father's words, but felt them to be an attack on herfriend.

  "Climb up there, Cornelli, and pull the bell-rope!" he commanded. "Whenthe door is open I'll probably find room to stand there, too."

  Cornelli obeyed. A slender girl a good deal taller than Cornelli openedthe door and looked with surprise at the new arrivals through a pairof dark and serious eyes. Cornelli retreated suddenly.

  "Well, what I see is not very dreadful," the Director said, steppingforward.

  "How do you do, child. Is your mother at home, and can I speak to hera moment?"

  The girl who had opened the door was Nika. With great politeness sheled the gentleman to a room and informed him that she would go at onceto fetch her mother, who was with her sick brother.

  Upon her polite invitation the Director followed her, and settled downin an arm-chair. He looked about him with astonishment at the smallbut scrupulously neat room, which was decorated with several charmingpictures.

  When Nika neared the door, Cornelli said to her in a low voice: "Iwant to visit Dino."

  "Come, I'll show you the way," came a small voice from behind the door.It was Mux, who had quickly hidden there to peep with curious eyes atthe new arrivals. He came out and seizing Cornelli's hand, pulled heraway with him. The mother had heard the stranger's voice and at thismoment entered from an adjoining chamber.

  "She does not correspond, either, as Cornelli puts it," the Directorsaid to himself with a smile. He rose and introduced himself. "Followingyour son's summons, Mrs. Halm, I have brought you my daughter," hesaid. "She can stay a few hours with her sick friend, if that suitsyou, and then she can join me again at my hotel."

  "I am so much obliged to you for the great favor of bringing her. Myson has looked forward so much to this visit. We all know and loveCornelli already from what he has told us about her. She has been sokind to him and has entertained him so well when he was alone inIller-Stream that she has earned his and my sincere thanks. Could Inot beg of you to leave Cornelli here for a few days, or at least forall of to-day?"


  "You are very kind, Mrs. Halm," he replied, quite astonished to hearthat his shy, unfriendly child should have furnished the boy anyentertainment. "Those are just polite words," he said to himself, butaloud he added: "I am afraid that it won't be possible, for my childwould not stay. She is very shy and has all kinds of peculiar habits,as you probably have noticed from her looks. Your daughter certainlylooks different."

  "I shall not keep Cornelli here against her will, of course, but mayI hope to have your permission if the child should want to stay?"

  The rector's widow had such a pleasing manner that it was hard torefuse her anything. The Director therefore gladly assented, for itwas his wish as well as hers.

  "Certainly, Mrs. Halm, I shall joyfully give it," he assured her. "Whatcould please me more than to have my daughter in surroundings likethese? But I am perfectly certain that Cornelli will desire to go backwith me. Just the same, I want to thank you sincerely for your greatkindness; it will help her to spend even a single day in your charminghousehold."

  The Director said farewell and departed. At the entrance door downstairs a school girl, carrying her schoolbag and books, ran towardshim so violently that a collision could not be avoided, so the Directoropened his arms wide and caught Agnes in them. Agnes always approachedeverything like a wind storm. She could not behave otherwise. TheDirector laughed heartily and so did Agnes.

  "I am sure you belong to Mrs. Halm, too," he said, looking with pleasureat the lively face with the wide-open, bright eyes. How nice and trimeverything was about her!

  "Yes, indeed," she replied quickly, and ran away.

  "What a happy mother, what a happy woman!" said the Director to himself."And to compare my child to such children. I cannot bear it! Suchchildren, and mine beside them!"

  Dino had told his mother about his experiences in Iller-Stream andespecially of his acquaintance with Cornelli. He had also related toher the child's strange trouble, but she had had to give her promiseto keep it to herself. It did not seem wrong to Dino to tell his mother,because she always knew everything he knew. When the invitation hadbeen sent to Cornelli, Mrs. Halm had seriously told the children notto make any remarks about Cornelli's hair in case she should come. Shehad told them not to show any surprise if Cornelli wore her hair ina rather strange fashion and not to notice it further; that was theway the mother wished it to be.

  Little Mux was very much pleased at having a new companion. He lookedupon her as an old acquaintance, for Dino had talked so much abouther. First he took her to see the kitchen.

  "But I am sure Dino does not sleep here," said Cornelli, surprised.

  "No, this is the kitchen; there are no beds here," Mux asserted. "ButI shall show you first why Agnes cried one whole hour to-day, or perhapsit was two." And Mux led his new friend to a whole pile of apple peelswhich lay in a bucket. "Isn't Agnes stupid to cry when we get goodapple tarts afterwards."

  "But why did she cry?" asked Cornelli, full of sympathy. She knewexactly what it was like when one simply had to cry.

  "We don't know," retorted Mux.

  "But why does the maid not peel the apples?" asked Cornelli again.

  "There is no maid, except block-headed Trina," Mux informed her.

  "Who is block-headed Trina?" Cornelli wanted to know.

  "She has to help; she is small and fat," Mux described her. "Mama hasto show her how to cook, and she has to fetch what we need and alwaysbrings the wrong thing. So Dino says: 'We really must send block-headedTrina away.' And then Mama says: 'Trina has to live, too.' And thenshe is not sent away after all."

  Cornelli had great sympathy for Agnes, who apparently had a secrettrouble like her own; she did not have to be afraid of her, as she wasof the proud sister who had received her.

  "I am sure, Mux, that your other sister never cries. Are you not afraidof her?" asked Cornelli.

  "Not the least little bit," replied the little boy. "She often makesa face, though, as if she wanted to cry and a thousand, thousand timesshe begins to when nobody knows why. I don't know why, either, for shedoesn't tell me."

  Immediately Cornelli's great shyness of Nika changed into great pity.If Nika could not even talk about her sorrow, she might have the deepestsorrow of all.

  "Now we shall go to Dino," she said, hurrying to the door which thelittle boy had pointed out to her.

  "But wait! I shall first show you our big picture book. You'll loveit," Mux assured her. "There is something in it that looks just likeyou; it is an owl that has rags over its eyes like you. But you mustnot talk about it, because Mama has forbidden it."

  "No, no, I don't want to see the book. Please take me to Dino now,"Cornelli urged.

  Mux pulled Cornelli away from the kitchen at last and, not far fromthere, opened a door.

  "Are you coming at last, Cornelli?" Dino cried to her. He was sittingup in bed. He glanced happily at his approaching friend, and Cornelli,too, felt deep joy at seeing him again. The hours she had spent withhim had been the only happy ones she had had all summer. Quickly sittingdown by his bed, she began to relate to him everything that had happenedin Iller-Stream since his departure. Dino asked many questions thatCornelli had to answer, and the time went by they knew not how.

  Mux had disappeared. As long as he could not have his new friend'swhole attention, he preferred to find out what was being prepared fordinner in the kitchen.

  Now the mother entered the room.

  "I have hardly seen you yet, dear child," she said, taking Cornelli'shand, "but I thought I would leave you and Dino undisturbed for alittle while. You must have many things to talk over about yourexperiences and friends in Iller-Stream. Dino has looked forward somuch to your visit. Please come to lunch now. Dino has to sleep alittle while afterwards, and then you can go back to him again, if youwish."

  A difficult moment had now come for Cornelli. She had secretly hopedthat she would be able to spend all day alone with Dino, and thatnobody else would notice her. Now she had to sit at table with Dino'smother and sisters. Mux, however, was her consolation; he seemed soconfiding and so friendly. She had felt immediately to her greatdiscomfort how different and how horrible she looked in comparisonwith these charming children. When she had stood in front of Nika, whowas so very pretty, she felt sure that the elder girl must be filledwith disgust at the sight of her, even if she did not show it. Mux hadseen her peculiarity immediately and had remarked upon it. And nowAgnes would be there, too.

  That Agnes, as well as the proud-looking Nika, had a secret sorrowmade Cornelli feel as if there were a bond between them. This gave hera little courage to follow Dino's mother, who was waiting in thedoorway. When Cornelli entered Agnes was standing, full of expectation,in the middle of the room. Going up to the visitor, she shook her hand.

  "I am so glad you came, Cornelli," she said with animation. "Dino hastalked so much about you that we, too, wanted to meet you."

  "I want to sit beside you," said Mux, dragging his chair to Cornelli'sside.

  "Just stay where you are! That is my seat," Agnes cut him short. Shecould not be misunderstood, for she pushed back the chair and Mux quitevigorously.

  The mother had again gone out to the kitchen, so he could not get herhelp, which made him very angry.

  "Yes, yes, you always want to order everybody around all the time,"he cried out furiously, "and you even broke somebody on the wheel,once."

  Now the mother entered.

  "Oh, Mama, Mux is saying such frightful things. Shouldn't he go tobed?" Agnes called to her.

  Mux was just gathering up his strength to fight against this proposedpunishment, when the mother cut short their quarrel.

  "No, no," she said kindly. "To-day Cornelli is here for the first timeand it is a feast day for us. Mux shall not go to bed, but he must sitdown quietly in his chair and say grace; then all will be well."

  Mux was soon calmed by the soothing words and the good soup's deliciousodor which penetrated his nostrils. So he said grace in quite atolerable manner. Cornelli had been
very much touched by his desireto sit beside her. She was anxious to do him a favor, too, and shetried to think of something that might please him.

  Directly after lunch Nika and Agnes had to hurry off to school againand the mother had to supervise Trina's work, so Mux was entrustedwith the task of entertaining Cornelli for a little while. That suitedhim exactly.

  "Now, I'll show you that Agnes has really broken a man on the wheel,"he said triumphantly.

  "But I don't believe it, Mux. And why should the man have held still?"asked Cornelli.

  "You can read it here. See, it is written there!" said Mux, placinghis picture book on Cornelli's lap and pointing to a splendid coloredpicture. "Read what is written here," he directed. "Dino once read italoud to me and then I knew it."

  Cornelli read aloud: "Agnes orders Rudolph von Warth to be bound tothe wheel."

  "Now you see it," Mux said complacently.

  Cornelli did not quite know what the picture was supposed to mean, soshe began to read the story that explained it. She read more eagerlyeach instant, for it was described so vividly that she had to consumeone page after another.

  "Now you know it," said Mux a little impatiently. "Now look at the goatwagon."

  "But Mux," Cornelli said eagerly, "it is quite a different Agnes, itis a queen. You must never think any more that your sister has donesuch a dreadful thing."

  "Oh, but look at the goat wagon, now," begged Mux, a littledisappointed.

  "Why is the child here crying on the road? Just look how he is pressinghis hands up to his eyes! Oh, he is so unhappy! Do you know why?"

  Mux shook his head.

  "Then I have to read it quickly," said Cornelli. She became so absorbedin the story that she did not notice how Mux was pulling her and urgingher to stop reading; he even shook the book.

  The mother came into the room now and said: "Dino has shortened hisrest a little, for he is longing to see you again, Cornelli. Will youcome?"

  Cornelli immediately shut the book, for she was extremely glad to goto her friend. She felt some regret, however, at having to leave thestory unfinished; she would have loved to know what happened further.

  "So you like the book? It was the joy of all my children from theoldest to the youngest," said the mother. Cornelli's regretful glanceat it had not escaped her. "You can look at it again later on, for westill have lots of time."

  But Cornelli had to talk over so many things with Dino that the timehad passed before they had thought it possible, and it was not longbefore Mux came running with the message that supper was ready. Themeal had to be early because Cornelli had to leave immediately afterit.

  "Oh, what a shame!" said Cornelli, jumping up because she knew herfather did not like to wait.

  "Bring mother here, Mux," said Dino, and the little one departed."Wouldn't you like to stay with us a few days, Cornelli? It would beso nice. Wouldn't you like to? Oh, I think you would!" said Dinoeagerly.

  Cornelli had quite a strange sensation. She hardly dared to say yes;it seemed so incredible to her that everybody in the house should beso friendly to her and really want her to stay. But that probably wouldnot last if she remained and they got to know her better. Soon themother came in with Mux. The little boy had heard Dino's last wordsto Cornelli and had already announced to his mother that Cornelli wassure to stay, because Dino would not let her go.

  "Oh, I am so glad that you have settled it all between you! I am sopleased that you are going to stay, Cornelli," she said, full of joy."I was just going to propose it to you, and I am so glad that Dino haspersuaded you. Your father has already given me his permission and allI have to do is to let him know right away. Now you can stay quietlytogether, for there is no hurry about supper."

  The mother immediately wrote to Mr. Hellmut, and soon after that, fatlittle Trina was running over to the hotel.

  Cornelli had again settled down beside Dino with a mixed feeling ofwonderful delight and fear. He noticed her timidity.

  "Oh, yes, Dino, I love to stay with you and Mux," she assured him."Your mother is so good to me, too, but I am afraid of your two sisters.I have to think of poor little block-headed Trina all the time, whenshe does everything wrong and does not know how to do otherwise; youall despise her for it and she can't help it. I know what it is liketo be so block-headed."

  Dino had to laugh a little.

  "Why do you suddenly think of our Trina?" he asked. "Do not worry abouther, for mother is very good to her. Just be happy, Cornelli, and donot imagine all kinds of things about block-headed Trina."

  Cornelli did not say another word, but Dino noticed that she kept onthinking just the same. After a while the mother came to announce thatit was time for Dino's rest. The prospect of seeing each other againon the following day was a great consolation to them both.

  Then Cornelli and the mother went back to the room where the sisterswere sitting at their school work. Mux was bending over his picturebook, hatching out new ideas, no doubt. Just then the half grown Trinaentered with a basket on her arm. While she was passing Nika's chair,her basket got caught on it. Pulling violently to free it, she turnedthe chair around quite suddenly.

  "You are getting more awkward every day, Trina," Nika said crossly.

  Cornelli blushed. She felt as if these words were meant for her aswell. She must be just as awkward in Nika's eyes as Trina was. Thelatter failed to excuse herself and from embarrassment became moreclumsy in her movements. Cornelli understood this perfectly; that waswhat she always did, she knew it quite well.

  "Now we shall have supper," said the mother, "and when the children'swork is done we shall all sing together. Don't you sing, too, Cornelli?"

  "I probably do not know the songs, and so I can't sing," she repliedshyly.

  After supper Mux fled back to Cornelli with his book. He wanted torenew his conversation with her, but his mother had a different plan.

  "Give your book to Cornelli, for it is time for you to retire," shesaid. "You can join us again to-morrow."

  Mux departed reluctantly.

  When his mother was firmly leading him away, he was still able to callto Cornelli: "Be sure not to go till I come back!"

  Cornelli felt quite frightened when her confiding little friend hadgone. Now for the first time she was left alone with the two sisters.She wondered what would happen. But nothing happened. They were bothso deeply occupied with their work that they did not even raise theirheads. Cornelli now remembered the lovely story book. She had alreadybegun a story and she simply had to know how it would end. So she beganto read. As soon as she finished one story, a new wonderful picturewould lead her to another story.

  Suddenly some splendid music sounded close beside her, and Cornellistarted. Agnes was sitting at the piano close to her side and playing.Cornelli could not read any more, for Agnes played one lovely tuneafter another as quickly and easily as if it did not cause her anytrouble. She knew from Dino that Agnes was not much more than a yearolder than she was. She listened with admiration to the beautifulmelodies that were pouring forth from the instrument. Finally themother returned. She had made her nightly visit to Dino and had hadseveral things to say to him.

  "Mama," Agnes called to her eagerly, "I am playing all the merry piecesI know to-night, for I have just finished my long composition."

  "You are right, Agnes. And how are you getting along with your painting,Nika?" asked the mother.

  Nika replied quite sadly that she had hoped to finish it that day, butthe days were very short now and she could not paint by lamp light.Her mother should see how little her work still lacked.

  "If I had one hour more of daylight, I could finish it," she sighed.

  Nika placed a large painting under the bright lamp. It somewhatresembled the beautiful pictures which decorated the walls of the room.The colors in it were perfectly wonderful, and Cornelli had neverbefore seen such a lovely picture. Sparkling crimson roses were hangingdown an old wall and dense ivy was creeping up between them with shinygreen leaves. An old oak tree
was stretching large gnarled branchesover the decayed wall, and below, a clear stream was peacefully flowingout to a meadow, where glowing red and blue flowers seemed to greetit joyfully.

  Cornelli stared at the lovely picture; she had never seen anythinglike this glittering stream, the painted trees and flowers; one seemedto hear the murmuring of the brook, far, far away through the meadow.It was all so full of life! And to think that Nika had painted it!Cornelli felt as if a deep, deep gulf lay between her and the twosisters, a chasm that separated her from them forever.

  The two sisters seemed to stand before her like two splendid creatures,full of beauty and fine gifts, while she stood there a stupid, awkward,block-headed Trina, whom nobody on earth ever could possibly love.Mrs. Halm gave Nika great encouragement by praising her work and urgingher to begin promptly next day.

  Then she sat down at the piano, for they always concluded their eveningwith a song.

  Cornelli remained still. The rector's wife urged her to join them, butCornelli had had too many impressions that day to be able to sing. Sheknew quite well the old evening song that they were singing, for Marthahad taught it to her long ago, but she felt as if she could not uttera note.

  At the end of the song Agnes suddenly exploded: "Oh, mother, that isnothing at all. When you are hoarse and Dino is in bed, our singingis frightful. Nika only squeaks like a little chicken with a sorethroat."

  "Well, then one has to stop singing," said Nika, shaking her shouldersa little proudly.

  "No, the whole household has to sing, otherwise it is not worthanything," Agnes declared. "It is a shame that the most beautiful thingin the world should be so little practiced."

  After the song was ended the mother took Cornelli kindly by the handand said: "I am sure that you are tired, dear child. I am going totake you to a tiny bedroom, for I have no larger one. Your door leadsinto Agnes' and Nika's room," she continued, when she was standingwith Cornelli in the little chamber.

  "You can open the door and then you are practically all three in asingle room."

  Then she said good-night cordially and wished Cornelli a good rest.

  Nika and Agnes quickly said good-night, too, and then Cornelli wasalone in her room.

  She had no desire to open the door, for her shyness had only increasedsince her arrival. How high the two stood above her! Cornelli was nota bit sleepy and kept on thinking of all the things that had happenedto her that day.

  What did Agnes mean when she spoke about the most beautiful thing inthe world? Did she mean singing? That was not the most beautiful thingby any means. The most wonderful of all was a painting like Nika's,with lovely roses and trees and the meadow with clear water. At lastCornelli's eyes closed, but she kept on seeing the flowers and seemedto be looking up admiringly at Nika, who stood beside her, tall andbeautiful. Cornelli thought: If she would only say one pleasant wordto me. Then Nika turned around to her and said: "You are an awkward,block-headed Cornelli!" All this Cornelli saw and heard in her dream.

  Agnes said to her sister in the other room: "If only Cornelli wouldsay something! One cannot tell what she is thinking about. How couldDino find her so amusing, and become her friend? She sits there allthe time and never says a word."

  "That is her least fault," Nika returned. "But it is horrid that sheinsists on looking like a wild islander. I do not understand why Mamadid not push the frightful locks out of her eyes."

  CHAPTER IX

  A GREAT CHANGE