“Never mind the form; the substance is important to me. You gave me some advice—you almost laid down the law, and I should like to do what you demand of me; only you must say what ... how! I must become great, at least, attempt to do something great. What do you consider me capable of doing? What do you consider great? Instead of vague words, I desire to hear from you some definite, tangible, feasible scheme.”
Chlodwig’s eyes beamed with delight. “Really, you will....”
“Yes. An enormous property has fallen into my possession ... that pledges me ... what ought I to do, what can I do, apart from so-called charity?”
“What can you do? In order to answer that, I must know you better, Miss Franka; I must measure the flying capacity of your soul. The young girl to whom I wrote was more a vision of my fancy than of my experience. What do I know of your real nature, of your views, of your ideals, your powers?”
“I believe I have the same ideals as you have, Mr. Helmer; otherwise your letters would not have awakened an echo in my soul—and as to my views?” She took up from the table the notebooks in which she had just been reading and handed them to Helmer. “Glance over these notes ... they are extracts from the thoughts of my father and instructor, who tried to form me after his own model. You will find ideas and expressions like those in your own letters. And, look, these are my favorite books.” She directed his attention to a book-rack which hung on the wall behind her writing-table. “They came from my father’s library, and they are the fountains from which he nourished my mind. My father’s ideas and yours are in accordance—so, Chlodwig Helmer, in spirit we are brother and sister....”
At this moment Frau Eleonore entered the room without knocking. She had several packages in her hands: “Here I am, dear Franka. Forgive me if I was gone too long....”
The two others both thought simultaneously, “Not long enough!”
Franka introduced her caller. Frau Eleonore shook hands with him and then began to undo her packages. “Please look, dear Franka, and see if these are the right kind.”
Helmer in the mean time was doing as he had been bidden: he glanced through the notebooks and examined the volumes. Then he came back to Franka and said:—
“May I go now? As soon as you send me word, I will be at your service again.”