CHAPTER V
Disturbance in School and Home
Never before had the schoolmaster of Upper Wood had such hard work withhis schoolchildren as on the morning after this night. Of course therewere times that some were more restless and more dense than usual; butthere were usually a good many with whom he could work successfully. Buttoday it seemed as though a crowd of excited spirits had takenpossession of the children. All the boys cast uncanny, warlike glancesat each other, even suppressed threatenings were thrust hither andthither, and when the teacher turned his back such threatening gestureswere made to those who faced him, that they, one and all, rolled theireyes with wrath and gave the most ridiculous answers. They all were soeager for the battle, that they could no longer distinguish betweenfriend and foe, and each shook his clenched fist at the other.
Sally and Kaetheli, those model scholars, kept putting their headstogether and whispered continuously like the ripple of a brook. Yes,indeed, Kaetheli was so brim full of news that she even kept onwhispering to Sally while the latter had to answer questions inarithmetic and of course got into the most inexplicable confusion. EvenEdi, the very best scholar, forgot his studies and was staring sadlybefore him. For just now had come before his mind's eye, during therest-period, the great bravery of his troops who, from want of a realenemy, had put each other in a sorry shape. And he was not allowed tolead these courageous soldiers against the boasting Churi, and to showthis fellow how a great general does his work! The teacher was juststanding before him and called on him, continuing in the geographylesson: "Edi, will you tell me the most important productions of UpperItaly?"
Italy! At the sound of that name, the whole war operation stood beforeEdi's eyes, for he had studied the minutest details of that region wherethe Romans had met their enemies, and Churi, as Hannibal, stoodtriumphant before him. Edi, heaving a deep sigh, answered nothing forthe present.
"Edi," the master said when no answer came, "I cannot understand whatsadness can be found in our topic, nor what can burden your mind, butone thing I can see, that today you all are like a herd of thoughtlesssheep with whom nothing can be done. Kaetheli, you magpie, can you stopa moment and listen to what I am saying? You all are going home. I havehad enough, and everyone--do you understand?--everyone takes home somehome-work for punishment. As you go out, come to my desk, one after theother, and each will receive his special task."
So it was done, and at once the whole crowd rushed with joyous heartsinto the open. For the home-work did not at all suppress the joy thatschool had closed a whole half-hour early. Outside on the playground,the groups who had common interests at once crowded together. Thelargest throng pressed around Edi, to listen with much shouting andnoise to his battle plans.
At once after leaving the schoolroom Kaetheli took Sally by the hand andsaid: "I will go with you for a while, then I can finish telling youwhat Marianne told Mother this morning." With this Kaetheli continuedher story, which she had begun in school, and told Sally everything thathad happened last night in Marianne's cottage. Sally listened veryquietly and never said a word. When they arrived at the garden, Kaethelihad just finished her sad tale; she stood still for a moment and wassurprised that Sally did not say anything; then she said, "Good-bye!"and ran away.
At the noon meal Ritz related faithfully all that had happened inschool: for now, since Sally and even Edi had received home-tasks, hefound that to be more remarkable than sorrowful. Edi seemed somewhatdejected. When now the small, golden, roasted apples were placed on thetable, Ritz stopped his report and applied himself thoroughly to thework of eating them. When he had cleared his plate, which was done veryquickly, he looked slyly at the plates of his brother and sister, for heknew that the second supply of the things on the table came only afterall three had finished their first. When he looked at Sally, his eyesstayed on her, and after he had watched her attentively for some time,he said: "Sally, you keep on swallowing as much as you can, but you see,nothing can go down, because you have put nothing into your mouth, andyour plate stays filled."
Now Sally could not restrain her tears longer, for she had with greatdifficulty swallowed them, and had been very quiet. Now she burst outinto loud sobbing and said through her tears: "Poor Erick, too, cannoteat today. Now he has neither father nor mother and is all alone in theworld."
Sally's weeping grew louder and louder, for she could not stop, sinceshe had restrained herself so long. Ritz looked, surprised and startled,from one to the other; he did not quite understand whether he was toblame for this. The mother rose, took Sally by the hand, and led her outof the room.
This incident caused a great disturbance at the midday meal. The fatherwas annoyed and sat without saying a word. The aunt, with greatanimation, tried to point out to him with this proof, how excitablechildren become when they do not go to bed in good time. Edi, too, satquite ill-humoredly before his plate, as if he had to swallow sorrelinstead of little golden apples; for he felt much troubled that hisfather had heard of his inattention in the school. Ritz had expected akind of admonishing speech from him, because the outburst had takenplace right after he had spoken to Sally. Since it did not come and noone seemed to trouble about him, he settled himself firmly in his seatand ate everything that was on Sally's and his mother's plates.
When the father went out in the garden soon after, the mother followedhim and led him to the small bench under the apple tree. Seated thereshe told him what Sally, continuously interrupted by loud sobbing, hadtold her: what had happened during the past night in Marianne's cottage.And she now asked her husband whether he did not think that someenquiries ought to be made about these strangers, and whether one oughtnot to do something for the little boy who, as it seemed, was standingall alone in the world. But the pastor was not of her opinion, and saidthat these people had turned to Lower Wood for school and church,therefore he could not interfere at present. His colleague in Lower Woodwould no doubt take everything in hand and see what could be done withthe boy. He was sure that the pastor in Lower Wood would find somerelations of the boy, and he perhaps knew already more about thestrangers, than was suspected. The woman, no doubt, had confided in hiscolleague about herself, since she would have had to do that as she hadsent her boy to Lower Wood to school, and perhaps also to Sunday school.One could not possibly give in to Sally in all her manifold emotions andpay attention to them. The child had too vivid an imagination and wasyet too young to have the gift of discrimination, and if one should givein to her fancies one soon would fill the house with Leopoldys and othercreatures, who soon would be turned out of the house or, at least, bepushed aside by the same Sally, as soon as she saw that the good peoplewere not as she had imagined them.
"I have to take Sally's part somewhat, dear husband," said the mother."You are right, she feels very strongly, and she shows these feelings toeveryone whom she meets; but I do not find that wrong, for, wherever shemeets with a response, there she remains faithful to her feelings, andshe loves her friends warmly and constantly. With what devotion has sheadhered to Kaetheli from babyhood! And I much prefer that she go throughlife with her warm heart, and expect to find a friend in every humanbeing, than that she should pass people indifferently, and have noconception of friendship, although she may meet with many adisappointment and many a condemnation through this trait."
"Both will be her share, in plenty," said the father. "In this directionwe therefore will do our share in saving her from these things as muchas she can be saved."
So the mother saw that the best that could be done was to pacify Sallyand to explain to her that nothing could be done at present butsomething would be done later from another source.
When it became known that the strange woman had died, there was a greatdeal of talk, especially among the Middle Lotters, in whose midst thewoman had lived, but had never been seen--a fact which had always causedsuspicion. Since no one knew anything about her past life, then everyonehad the more to say about who she might have been. At any rate, nothingvery good, in that they al
l agreed, else she would have been friendlywith them and would not have kept herself so apart. When now norelations appeared and she had to be buried without any mourners, then anumber of stories began to circulate which became more and moremysterious. For the official of the community had said that, no doubt,she had been an exile, and the Justice of Peace had added that then shemust have committed very great political crimes. 'Lizebeth was not loathto bring these stories to the pastor and his wife, for she had neverbeen able to overcome the thought of the velvet pants. The pastor'swife shook her head incredulously and forbade 'Lizebeth to carry thestories further. The pastor said: "There must have been somethingcrooked, but the woman is now buried, and we will say nothing more aboutit."
Marianne alone stood opposed to all and told them to their faces that itwas an injustice and wickedness to talk as they did; none of them hadknown the woman, else they would know that there was nothing bad abouther, but that she had been an angel of goodness, gentleness and kindlydeeds. And although the lady had appeared as aristocratic as a princess,she had been more friendly with humble folk, such as Marianne, than manya Middle Lotter who ran about in torn stockings. But if Marianne wasasked if she had known the woman well, who she was, and why not a singlerelative enquired after her, although the notice of her death was putinto all the papers; then she too could give no explanation, since shedid not know anything.
A few wicked people then said: "No doubt Marianne will have had herprofit from it." But she had not, and never had looked for it. The womanhad paid the low rent in advance for the month, which had just ended; ithad been the month of August. When now, immediately after the funeral ofthe poor woman, the officials came and looked to see what theinheritance of the little boy would be, then it was found that there wasnothing but the piano and the black silk skirt. The officials decided togive the latter to Marianne, since she had rendered her the lastservices and put her in her last bed.
The dress had once been very beautiful, for the material was heavy andcostly, but it was much worn, and yet Marianne thought: "It is toohandsome for me. I will not wear it but it is a dear remembrance," forshe had only seen the dear woman in that one dress. While they werestill talking over what should be done with the piano, the landlord ofthe Krone in Lower Wood drove up with an empty wagon and took the piano,the beds, the table and the two easy chairs, for everything had beenhired from him; but he had been paid in advance up to this time.
So nothing was left for the little boy but the velvet suit that he wore.Now they began to talk about what was to be done with the boy, and somepropositions were made as to how he could be cared for. At this pointMarianne stepped forth and said that she would keep the little boy untilshe was leaving. In three weeks she was going to move down to Oakwood toher cousin's, for her house was as good as sold. The officials weregreatly pleased with this offer; many things could turn up in threeweeks, and for the time being the little waif was cared for. So theyparted from one another satisfied with their work.