CHAPTER XVIII.
Everything at Furstenstein was in a state of preparation for the arrival of the Court. Their stay was to be of longer duration than for a short hunting expedition; they were to remain several weeks, for which time the Duchess also was expected. The upper stories of the castle, with their numerous suites of rooms, were being aired and put in order. A portion of the court officials and servants had already arrived. Extensive and festive preparations were also being made in Waldhofen, through which the Court was to pass on its way to the castle.
Wallmoden's stay, which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been short, was prolonged. The Duke, who was pleased to distinguish the Ambassador in every way, had heard of his attending a family fête at Furstenstein, and had expressed a wish to find him and his wife still there. The invitation was equivalent to a command which had to be obeyed.
Frau von Eschenhagen and her son also wished to remain to look at the Court in close proximity; and the Chief Forester, who wished to distinguish himself in the probably extensive hunts, held daily conferences with the Head Forester and his subordinates, and put the whole forestry in motion.
There was much bustle already about the castle. A sound of merry chattering and clear laughter came from Fraulein von Schonan's room. Marietta Volkmar had come to her friend for an hour, and as usual there was no end to the talking and laughing.
Toni sat near the window, and Willibald, who was acting as guard at his mother's command, stood beside her.
Frau von Eschenhagen so far had not had her way about the intercourse of the two girls. Her brother-in-law had remained obstinate, and even her future daughter-in-law, usually so compliant, rendered unexpected resistance when the subject was broached.
"I cannot, dear Aunt," Toni had answered. "Marietta is so sweet and good that I cannot offend her so bitterly."
Sweet and good! Frau Regine shrugged her shoulders over the inexperience of the young girl, whose eyes she did not wish to open, but she felt bound to interfere, and concluded to act diplomatically this time.
Willibald, accustomed to confess everything to his mother, had narrated to a fine point the encounter with the young singer. Frau von Eschenhagen had naturally been beside herself to think that the master of Burgsdorf should have carried a satchel behind the "theatre princess!" On the other hand, she heard the description of his horror upon learning who this lady really was, and his running away, with high pleasure, and thought it exceedingly praiseworthy that he objected to the rôle of guard over the girl. Of course he disliked every touch with such a person; but since his mother found it beneath her dignity to attend these meetings, he must protect his bride-elect.
He was given the curt command to never leave the young ladies alone, but to report explicitly how this Marietta actually behaved herself. After the first report, which would undoubtedly be atrocious, Frau Regine would impress upon her brother-in-law's conscience the frivolous association he had allowed his child; would call upon her son as witness, and request emphatically the breaking off of the friendship.
Willibald had finally consented. He had been present when Fraulein Volkmar made her first visit to Furstenstein. He had accompanied his fiancée when she returned the call at Waldhofen, and now stood at his post to-day.
Antonie and Marietta talked about the expected arrival of the Court, and the former, who had but little taste in dress, asked her friend's advice, which was gladly given.
"What must you wear? Roses, of course," said Marietta; "white or delicate-colored ones. They will look lovely with the dainty blue."
"But I do not like roses," declared Toni. "I intended to wear asters----"
"Then why not sunflowers? Do you wish to appear autumnal in spite of everything, although you are a young girl and a bride-elect? And how can you help liking roses? I love them passionately and use them at every opportunity. I wanted so much to wear a rose in my hair at the Mayor's party to-night, and am quite unhappy because none are to be found anywhere in Waldhofen. Of course it is late in the season."
"The gardener has roses in the hothouse," remarked Antonie in the sleepy manner which was such a sharp contrast to her vivacious friend.
The latter shook her head laughingly.
"They are doubtless for the Duchess' use, and we poor mortals dare not venture to ask for one. What's the use? I must deny myself that pleasure---- But to return to the dress question. You are quite superfluous in this, Herr von Eschenhagen. You do not understand a thing about it and must be bored to death, but in spite of it you do not waver nor move; besides, what is there so remarkable about me that you look at me so constantly?"
The words sounded very ungracious. Willy started, for the last reproach was well founded. He had been meditating upon how a fresh, half-open rose would look in the dark, curly locks, and, of course, had to subject the curls and the head belonging to them to a minute observation, which his fiancée had passed unnoticed.
"Yes, Willy, go," she now said good-naturedly. "You must really feel bored over our dress affairs, and I have much to talk over yet with Marietta."
"Just as you wish, dear Toni," returned the young lord; "but may I not come back?"
"Of course, as soon as you wish."
Willibald left the room, not in the least remembering that he was deserting his post. He was thinking of something quite different as he stood for a few moments in the little ante-room. In consequence of this meditation he finally descended the stairs and turned his steps straight to the house of the castle gardener.
He had scarcely left when Marietta sprang up and exclaimed with comic vehemence: "Gracious heavens! what a tiresome couple you are!"
"But, Marietta----"
"Yes, whether you are offended or not, I declare it is a sacrifice to friendship to stand it in your presence, and I had anticipated such a jolly time when I heard you were engaged. You were never particularly lively, but your betrothed seems to have lost his speech entirely. How did you manage to become engaged? Did he actually speak then, or did his mamma attend to that?"
"Stop your foolishness," replied Antonie, displeased. "Willy is only so silent in your presence. He can be quite entertaining when we are alone."
"Yes, over the new threshing machine he has bought. When I came I listened a moment before I entered. He was singing the praise of the before-mentioned threshing machine, and you were listening attentively. Oh, you will reign as a model couple, but--may heaven protect me in mercy from such a marriageable blessing!"
"You are very naughty. Marietta," said the young Baroness, now really angry, but her mischievous little friend instantly clung to her neck.
"Don't be mad, Toni. I do not mean any harm, and wish you happiness with all my heart, but you see my husband has to be of a different nature."
"Ah, and how, pray?" asked Toni, half pouting, half reconciled by the coaxing plea.
"First, he has to be under my command, and not under his mother's. Second, he must be a genuine man in whose protection I feel safe. He need not talk much--I do that--but he must love me so much--so much that he will not talk about papa or mamma, or his estates, or the new threshing machine, but let them all go if only he has--me."
Toni shrugged her shoulders with compassionate superiority.
"You have very childish views at times, Marietta--but now let us talk about the dresses."
"Yes, we will, before your elect returns and posts himself at our side like a guard. He has a remarkable talent for mounting guard. Now, you wear with the blue silk----"
The pending question was not destined to receive a solution this time, either, for the door opened and Frau von Eschenhagen entered, calling for Antonie, whose presence was desired elsewhere.
Antonie arose obediently and left the room. Frau Regine made no effort to follow her, but took her vacant seat at the window instead.
The reigning mistress of Burgsdorf was not diplomatically inclined like her brother; she had to interfere everywhere with force. She had become impatient, for Willy had as good as reported nothing. He grew red and stammered every time he should have repeated what the "theatre princess" had said and done, and his mother, who would not believe in a harmless girls' chat, concluded to take the affair in her own hands.
Marietta had dutifully risen at the entrance of the older lady, whom she had scarcely seen at the first visit, and whose hostile bearing she had not observed in the joy of the first meeting. She only thought that Toni's future mother-in-law had little friendliness about her, but troubled herself no further about the severe lady who was now measuring her from head to foot, with the stern mien of a judge.
In point of fact this Marietta looked just like other young girls, but she was pretty--very pretty, which was that much worse. She wore her hair in short curls--that was improper; other bad attributes would doubtless make their appearance in the conversation which was now begun.
"You are a friend of the fiancée of my son?"
"Yes, gracious lady," was the unembarrassed rejoinder.
"A friendship which dates from childhood, as you were raised in the house of Dr. Volkmar?"
"Certainly; I lost my parents very early."
"Quite right; my brother-in-law told me so. And to what calling did your father belong?"
"He was a physician like my grandpapa," replied Marietta, more amused than surprised at this examination, the object of which she did not guess. "My mother was also the daughter of a physician--a whole medical family, is it not? Only I have taken a different course."
"Alas, yes," said Frau von Eschenhagen with emphasis.
The young girl looked at her with surprise. Was that a jest? The mien of the lady was not at all mirthful, though, as she continued: "You will admit, my child, that if one has the good fortune to come from an honorable and respected family, one ought to show oneself worthy of it. You ought to have chosen your vocation accordingly."
"Mon Dieu! but I could not study medicine like my father and grandfather," exclaimed Marietta, breaking into an amused laugh. The affair gave her endless fun, but the remark displeased her stern judge, who replied with considerable sharpness:
"There are, God be thanked, plenty of proper vocations for a young girl. You are a singer?"
"Yes, gracious lady, at the Court Theatre."
"I know it. Are you disposed to accept a dismissal?"
The question was put so suddenly, in such a domineering tone, that Marietta involuntarily retreated.
She was still of the opinion that the lord of Burgsdorf, with his obstinate silence and stormy leave-taking, was not quite sane, and now she was struck by the thought that it might be a family failing which he had inherited from his mother, for it was very apparent that everything was not quite right with her.
"A dismissal?" she repeated. "But why?"
"For the sake of morality. I am willing to offer you a helping hand. Turn aside from this path of frivolity and I pledge myself to find a place as companion for you."
Now at last the young singer comprehended the object of the conversation. Half angrily and half scornfully she tossed back the little, curly head.
"I must thank you for it, but I love my work and cannot think of exchanging it for a dependent position. I am not fit, anyway, for an upper maid."
"I have expected this answer," said Frau von Eschenhagen with a grim nod of the head, "but I consider it my duty to once more appeal to your conscience. You are still very young and are therefore not responsible to a great extent for it; the heaviest reproach falls on Doctor Volkmar, who allowed the daughter of his son to accept such a calling."
"Gracious lady, I must beg you to leave my grandfather entirely out of the question," cried Marietta indignantly. "You are Toni's future mother-in-law--otherwise I should not have stood this examination--but I will not suffer an insult to my grandfather from anybody on the earth."
In their excitement the two ladies had not noticed that the door leading to the ante-room had opened quietly, and that Willibald had appeared. He was much surprised when he saw his mother, and hastily thrust in his pocket something that he carried carefully wrapped in paper, but he remained standing in the door.
"I do not intend to argue with you," said Frau von Eschenhagen in lofty tones, "but since I am Toni's future mother-in-law, I have the right to warn her of a friendship which does not seem proper to me. Pray do not misunderstand me. I am not haughty. The granddaughter of Dr. Volkmar would be quite welcome to a continuance of friendship, but a lady from a theatre probably has all of her connections in theatrical circles, and here at Furstenstein---- I hope you understand me?"
"Oh, yes, I understand you, gracious lady," cried Marietta, whose face was suddenly suffused by a deep blush. "You do not need to say anything more. I ask but for one more word. Is Herr von Schonan--is Antonie--of the same opinion as yourself?"
"Chiefly so as to the matter of it, but, of course, they do not wish--with explanations--to----" A very graphic shrug finished the sentence.
The otherwise just and truth-loving woman did not even feel that she was plainly telling an untruth. So taken up with her idea was she that she was firmly convinced that the Chief Forester kept up the intercourse only through a spirit of spite, and Antonie through her good nature, although it must be uncomfortable to them, and she was firmly decided to bring this thing to an end.