CHAPTER XV.
YOUNG HEARTS.—A BETROTHAL.
Lenz stayed at home and worked incessantly. By the intervention of the balancemaker in Kunslingen, he had the good fortune to dispose of a smaller musical clock, that he had nearly finished. He worked with great eagerness at its completion, and was busy preparing for the new one that the Landlord of the "Lion" had as good as bespoken; he was so happy thus constantly occupied that he often thought—"I don't care to marry, and I cannot. How can I find room for thoughts of wife or children, when my heart and head are so full of my business?"
Pilgrim had resumed his old plans and designs for new models for clocks, and worked at them incessantly in the evening hours, for he could not spend his regular work hours in this manner. Thus the friends saw each other less frequently, and Lenz now no longer came on the evenings when the Choral Society practised singing.
Faller's wedding, however, brought Lenz once more into the village. His worthy companion never rested, till the founder of his happiness promised to go to church with him, in spite of his mourning.
The wedding was not numerous, and without guests or music, for Faller declared:—"When the time comes that I have anything to spare, I will then invite my friends, and the music I can make myself."
Lenz was obliged to hear himself much praised at the wedding for all he had done, and the old mother said:—"If you, God willing, soon marry, then I will wear your mother's Sunday clothes in church. I am not ashamed of wearing her things; on the contrary, everyone says that I ought to feel it a great honour."
"And what a capital bed I have now!" said Faller, and his strong, loud voice sounded almost musical, as it trembled with emotion:—"Oh, Lenz! I pray to God now oftener for you, than for myself. May God preserve you from all harm! but I can't help wishing that if ever you were to be in difficulty or danger, I might be the means of rescuing you. I should like to turn to the people in church and call out:—'It is through the goodness of God that I stand here, but He assisted me through my friend, and I hope the good Lord will bless him for it, and his parents in heaven.' Lenz, you cannot fail to be happy, for you have made a whole family happy."
Honest, rough Faller could not say another word, but twirled his soldierly moustaches.
Lenz was an object of more respect and attention at the wedding, than even the young couple, and he was glad when it was time to go to church.
The Choral Society sang beautifully in church, but the two principal voices were wanting—that of Lenz and also of Faller.
Nearly the whole village, above all, the women and girls, were present at the wedding; those that were married were glad to hear again the exhortation to the newly wedded pair, and the unmarried wished to take a lesson how to behave when it came to their turn, which they fervently hoped might be soon. The women cried, and the girls glanced curiously round the church, and if Lenz had looked up, he would have met many eyes fixed on him.
After the ceremony was over Lenz left them, and went alone towards his home. At the hedge of the churchyard he was greeted by Kathrine, standing with a handsome young man, who, from his costume, seemed to be the son of a farmer in the neighbouring valley. She coloured as Lenz looked earnestly at her, and passed on. He next took off his hat in courteous greeting. The Doctor's two eldest daughters were walking on the road, and they wore neat laced boots, which their short dresses in the wet weather fully displayed.
"We really thought that you had gone on a journey," said Bertha, the boldest of the two.
"No; I have never left home," answered Lenz.
"Nor we either," continued Bertha. Lenz did not say a word.
"Are you engaged in some new great work?" asked Amanda.
"Both in new and old; in our calling work never comes to an end."
"Is it not very fatiguing, such incessant labour?" asked Amanda again.
"Oh! no; I don't know what I should do without it."
"Yes, indeed, clockmakers," said Bertha, playfully, "are like their own clocks, they always want winding up."
"And you are like the key that winds them;" answered Lenz, quickly.
He would have liked to have made some other reply, but could not think of one.
"Quite right, Herr Lenz, to pay her back in her own coin," said Amanda; "but our paths separate here, so now we must say good-bye."
"Perhaps Herr Lenz is going our way," said Bertha; "perhaps you are going to see Pilgrim?"
Lenz's heart beat; he wished to say yes, and that he meant to go to Pilgrim's; but involuntarily he said in a shy voice, "No, I am going home—Adieu!"
"Adieu!"
Lenz went up the hill breathing hard: he thought of turning back, and who knows what might come of it! he could still overtake them; but while thinking thus, he went on and on, and at last reached his own door, his heart still beating restlessly, and he felt as if he were taking refuge in his own house. Refuge! from what? He cannot say; but he was very restless all this day—he had never felt so uneasy or out of sorts.
Towards evening he dressed, and went to the village; he wished to call on Pilgrim and on the Doctor also, who had long since asked him to come. Pilgrim was not at home; and Lenz stood for some minutes at the Doctor's door without having courage to pull the bell. He walked up and down several times. Perhaps the Doctor may come out and speak to him, and take him into the house, but no one came. Don Bastian went past, and Lenz fled like a thief into the village: he was better there, and one house was sure to be open. The "Lion" Inn is a capital place of refuge.
Lenz was thankful that there was still a quiet resting place to be found in the world; chairs on which people can sit down, and tables on which you can put your hat and stick; and those who live here don't know what it means to have your heart beat as if it would choke you; they are calm and composed; and here comes the most cool and indifferent of them all, and welcomes Lenz kindly.