Helmer, as soon as he returned to his room, sat down to write to Franka. He felt compelled to speak to her. His heart was full to bursting. Yet he did not know what he should write her. Only the necessity was upon him to direct to her another of his “Brother Chlodwig” letters, after the manner of those which he had sent to her at several of the serious crises of her life. He began:—
“Sister Franka”—but hardly had his eyes rested on the dear name when he was irresistibly impelled to add, “I worship thee!” Of course, it was evident to him that he must tear up this sheet and throw it into the waste-paper basket. But first he wanted to let his feelings exhaust themselves to a certain degree in the same vein, and so he wrote further:—“Yes, I worship thee! Sweet ... lovely ... the only one! I press thee to my heart and kiss thee ... kiss thee....” (Oh, how this word flamed on the paper—he wrote it a third time.) “Kiss thee on thine eyelids, on thy parted lips! Franka, Franka, that another man will have a right to do ... it is horrible!... I am wretched!... How can I endure it? Let us not think of it. I kiss thee again, Franka, my Franka, mine, mine, mine.... The dear lovely name, ‘Franka,’ in French, ‘Franche,’ isn’t it? Franchetta, donna idolatrata! Frankie, my own darling! Dost thou suspect what bliss thou hast to dispose? Dost thou know also....”
This brought him to the end of the page. He did not turn the sheet over, but tore it up and flung it into the basket. Then he put another sheet before him, sat for some time buried in thoughts, and then began again to write. This was to be the actual letter which he would send:—
Franka Garlett!
Again you stand at the turning of the ways and it is the privilege of Brother Chlodwig to bring you a few words—words of blessing. To-day you have withdrawn yourself apparently in order to think over the crisis that affects your heart and your future. I do not have any faith in that excuse of a headache! So it is forbidden me to talk with you about the matter: therefore I am writing. It is, after all, more agreeable for me to do so. If I first offer you my congratulations, it will be possible for me to meet you more calmly. For I must confess that I am deeply stirred. I should not have found the right attitude, the right words, if I had been obliged to sit by your side at the luncheon-table, knowing what I know, and appear calm and at my ease in the presence of all those people, while inwardly I was more disturbed than ever before in all my life.
Franka, do you remember? I was the first to give you the Valkyrie consecration; you received from my hands the shield and the spear. These weapons have certainly to-day become a burden to you, and yet you perhaps feel a reproach from your conscience at the thought of laying them down. Now I will be helpful to you, and I myself will put forth my hand to relieve you of them. My noble Valkyrie, you have gallantly battled and have won the victory—it is enough! Be henceforth—and be unregretfully—merely a joyous human being, just a happy woman. A fire-spell flames around you, but there is nothing fabulous about it—it is only Love....
By Victor Adolph’s side, you will, moreover, be able to work for the loftiest human ends. For he himself stands now facing mighty tasks, which he has energetically assumed and which you will be able, by your influence, your advice, your sympathy, greatly to forward. Certainly, the epoch which is approaching is pregnant with fate—so much explosive material has been heaped up, and yet wisdom enough also has been collected to hinder the explosion, enough also to conduct the forces on hand from destructive to beneficent uses. Your betrothed will help in this work and you will help him. Is not that a proud destiny?
But, above all, let it be a beautiful, gladsome destiny! Smile, be rapturous, live, be crowned with roses.
Chlodwig.
Helmer folded the sheet and thrust it into an envelope. One might judge from the contents of the letter that he did this with a sort of gentle ceremoniousness; not at all: he did it grinding his teeth, with fever-cold hands, with swift-beating pulses. Then he rang for his man and ordered him to deliver the letter immediately.