CHAPTER IX.
A DOUBLE RESCUE.
It happened, as if by accident, that Eric and Frau Bella walkedtogether, and Bella tried a little experiment to see in what directionit would be safe to venture, by remarking that she was surprised atEric's understanding her good husband so thoroughly, for it was not soeasy to live with him as it seemed. She said this very warily, and itmight be taken for simple praise. Eric replied:--
"The world is so much the more indebted to you, gracious lady, for thecount has gained new youth through you."
Bella nodded. Eric had quietly and securely taken the first step towarda good understanding; to recognize her sacrifice was a delicatepoliteness on his part. She went on to speak very enthusiastically ofClodwig, and of her happiness in being able to do anything towardscherishing a pure spirit, without making any demand for herself. It wasso beautiful to sacrifice one's self, to serve quietly, unrecognizedand unnoticed; and here there came in a word about the childlike mind,so placed that Eric could apply all she had said to his vocation as ateacher.
Eric expressed his agreement with her, simply and withoutembarrassment, and Frau Bella could not tell whether he had really notunderstood her, or whether he chose to seem not to understand. She knewhow to intimate with delicacy how difficult it was to deal with justsuch a man as Clodwig, though he seemed so unexacting and so yielding;she begged Eric to help her in making the evening of his dayscompletely happy; she said all this with a tone of feeling which wasnot to be mistaken.
Eric expressed his doubt whether it would be well to disturb sopeaceful a life by the introduction of a third person; he acknowledgedthat he was still wanting in tact, was capricious, and passionate.
"You are so sincere that you have no need of being diffident," answeredBella.
She looked searchingly at Eric; her fan fell, and as he picked it upshe gave him her hand in thanks. With much tact and elegance ofexpression, but with emotion which made her breast heave, she extolledthe good fortune which allowed her to devote herself to a noble man,and to have a friend who thoroughly understood her. Eric could not tellwhether the latter part of her remark applied to him or to Clodwig.
"There he comes!" cried Bella suddenly. "See, it is a peculiarity ofhis never to carry a cane, though he needs it."
She went to meet her husband, and he turned his steps towards her.Clodwig seated himself under a fine cedar, where pretty rustic chairswere placed; Eric and Bella stood before him. And now Clodwig explainedhis whole plan, painting so attractively the pleasantly busy life whichthey would lead together, that Eric's cheeks glowed. In a voice full ofemotion he expressed his gratitude, and said that he felt bound by dutyto the decision which his heart had made.
Bella rested one hand on Clodwig's chair, and Eric went on to say thathe rejoiced that anything so attractive had been offered him, becausehe derived thence an assurance that he had chosen the right course,that which accorded with his duty. A great and difficult task was laidupon him in Roland's education, and the very fact, that so differentand charming a life was now opened to him, made him happy by renewingand confirming his confidence in his decision; and the offeredalternative helped him to recognize his choice as a real duty.
For a while Clodwig looked down, and Bella, taking her hand from hischair, stood suddenly erect. Then, as Eric represented his delight inRoland, and the mysterious, happy attraction which he felt towards him,even towards his faults, Clodwig smiled, as he looked up into thebranches, for just as Eric felt drawn to Roland with enthusiastic love,he was drawn to Eric; the sentiments were exactly analogous. Yet he wasunwilling to give Eric up, and pointed out to him again that he couldnot cut off all other influences in educating Roland, but that he wouldhave to contend with elements which perhaps he could never conquer.
"Ah, there comes the doctor," he interrupted himself; "are you willingto call in a third person to the decision?"
"No one but myself can make the decision," answered Eric, "howeverdifficult it may be; but I have not the least objection to entrust theoffice of umpire to our friend."
This was done; but, to the surprise of all, the physician decidedagainst both parties; he expressed his wish that some one would enableEric to see Italy and Greece.
Before Clodwig could answer, Eric interposed, saying that he was benton finding some employment, so that he could support himself and hismother from his own means.
Rising with difficulty, Clodwig said,--
"Young friend, give me your arm." He stood erect, and turned towardEric, on whose arm his hand lay heavy and trembling.
"I don't know," said he, "I should not think I was the man who had beenthrough such hard experience as I have; I am today undergoing a bitterexperience. Is it old age which makes it so difficult for me to give upa desire? I have learned to do so before now. Yes, yes; a man becomeschildish--childish; a child cannot give up."
He leaned heavily on Eric, who was shaken to the depth of his soul bythe emotion of the noble man. He did not know what to reply, andClodwig continued:--
"I feel as if I knew not where I am. Do you not think it is veryclose?"
"No. Will you not sit down?"
Hastily loosing his hold of Eric's arm to pass his hand over his face,Clodwig said,--
"My young friend, when I die--"
Hardly had he uttered the word, when he sank down: Eric caught him inhis arms. Bella, who was walking behind with the physician, uttered acry; the physician hurried to the spot; Eric stooped, raised Clodwig inhis arms like a child--all this was the work of a moment.
Clodwig was carried into the great drawing-room, and laid upon a sofa.Bella sobbed aloud, but the doctor soothed her. He had a remedy withhim which soon restored Clodwig to consciousness; he begged Eric andBella to leave the room as soon as the count had spoken.
Outside, Bella threw herself on Eric's breast, and he trembled as hefelt her breath on his face, and a thrill ran through him as thebeautiful woman leaned upon him in such passionate and unrestrainedexcitement.
"You are our helper, our friend in need! O my friend, my friend!"
Sonnenkamp entered hastily, and Bella, standing erect, with wonderfulcomposure addressed him, saying,--
"Herr Sonnenkamp! our mutual friend. Captain Dournay, is a blessing tous all; with the strength of a giant he carried my husband. Thank himwith me."
Eric was astonished at this rapid recovery of self-control.
The physician came out, and Sonnenkamp asked anxiously,--
"How is he? how is he?"
His mind was set at rest by the doctor's declaration that it had been avery slight attack, which would have no bad consequences. Clodwigrequested that Eric would come to him.
Eric entered the drawing-room. Clodwig sitting upright held out hishand to Eric, saying, with a wonderfully bright smile,--
"I must finish my sentence; I was going to say: When I die, my youngfriend, I should like to have you near me. But don't be anxious, itwill not be for a long time yet. There, now sit down by me. Where is mywife?"
Eric went to call her, and she entered, with the physician andSonnenkamp.
The doctor was not only willing, but expressly desired that Bella andClodwig should return directly to Wolfsgarten. Sonnenkamp raisedvarious objections, wishing to keep his noble guests with him, andsaying with great hospitality,--
"Consider my house exactly as if it were your own."
"Will you permit Herr Dournay to accompany us?" asked Clodwig.
Sonnenkamp started as he answered quickly,--
"I have no permission to give the captain, but if you are determined togo, I would ask him as a favor to accompany you, with a promise ofreturning to us."
"You will go with us also?" begged Bella of the physician, whoassented.
So the four drove off through the mild spring night; little was said,though once Clodwig seized Eric's hand, with the words, "You are verystrong."
Eric and the doctor spent the night at Wolfsgart
en. In the earlymorning, the physician prepared for departure while Eric was stillsleeping soundly; he woke him and said,--
"Doctor, remain here to-day, but no longer."
Eric stared at him.
"Did you understand me?"
"Yes."
"Now, good-bye."
Again Eric spent a whole day at Wolfsgarten. Clodwig was as cheerfuland serene as ever; Bella's bearing toward Eric was shy, almost timid.
In the evening Sonnenkamp and Roland rode over, and Eric returned withthem to Villa Eden. Sonnenkamp was in very good spirits, and the bloodmounted to Eric's face as he said, looking sharply at him,--
"Countess Bella will make a beautiful widow."
On the evening of the following day the physician appeared again atVilla Eden; he had been at Wolfsgarten and brought a good report. Hetook Eric aside, and said,--
"You have confided to me that you neither expect, nor will accept in apersonal interview, a decisive answer from Herr Sonnenkamp. I approveof that; it can be much better settled by letter. You will see moreclearly, away from him, and so will he. So I advise you to leave thehouse; every hour that you remain is your ruin."
"My ruin?" Eric was startled.
The physician said, smiling,--
"Yes, my dear friend, this forced exhibition of yourself, which has nowlasted almost a week, is injuring you."
He continued, after a pause,--
"No man can be on parade for a week without receiving some harm. Youmust go away, or you will become an actor, or a preacher, or bothtogether. You repeat what you have learned, and repeat it with theconscious purpose of producing a given effect. Therefore away with you!you have been examining, and examined, long enough. Come with me, spendthe night at my house; to-morrow return to your mother, and waitquietly for what may come next."
"But Roland," asked Eric, "how can I leave the boy behind? His hearthas turned to me, as mine has to him."
"That's well, very well. Then let him wait and long for you. Let himlearn that the rich cannot have everything. Let him feel obliged to suefor you. All that will give you a power of incalculable influence inthe family and over your pupil. Let me act for you now; to-morrowmorning you will see with my eyes."
"There is my hand. I'll go with you!" answered Eric.
There was great surprise in the house when the announcement of Eric'ssudden departure was made; an hour had scarcely elapsed when he enteredthe physician's carriage.
Eric was glad that his leave-taking of Roland was hurried. The boycould not understand what had happened; his emotion prevented him fromspeaking. After Eric had seated himself in the doctor's carriage,Roland came with one of the puppies and laid it in his lap, but thephysician gave it back, saying that he could not take it, it was tooyoung to be taken from the mother; but he would see that Eric shouldhave it eventually.
Roland gazed wonderingly after the departing guests. In the boy's heartthere was a confused whirl of all the feelings which he had experiencedin the few days since Eric's arrival; but Eric did not look back. Inhis father's house the boy felt as if abandoned in a strange land. Hetook the young dog by the nape of the neck, and was about to throw itfrom him, but the puppy whimpered pitifully, and he pressed it to hisbreast, saying,--"Be quiet, nothing is hurting you; but I'm not a dog,and I don't whine, now don't you whine any more either. He didn't wanteither of us." Roland carried the dog to its mother, who was very gladto see her pup again.
"I'll go to my mother, too," said Roland; but he had first to beannounced. She allowed him to enter, and when he lamented that Eric hadgone so suddenly, she said,--
"That's right; I advised him to go."
"You? Why?"
"Oh, your stupid _why_! One can't be always answering your why!"
Roland was silent, and his mother's kiss almost pained him.
He wanted to go to his father, but found that he had driven to thecastle with the Major.
Deserted and lonely, he stood in the court; at last he went into thestable, sat down by his dogs and watched their amusing actions; then hewent to his horse, and stood quietly leaning on his neck for a longtime. Strange thoughts rolled tumultuously through the boy's brain.The horse and dog are yours; only what one can buy and possess is hisown.
Like a flash of lightning, just seen, then gone again, there woke inthe boy's soul the idea that nothing but love can give one human beingpossession of another. He was not used to steady thinking, and thisinto which he had fallen brought on a real headache. He had his horsesaddled, and rode off over the road which Eric and the doctor hadtaken.