"The young man has probably not had much intercourse with ladies," he said, evasively; "and he seems to stand somewhat in awe of his mother, but he appears to please his fiancée very well, and that is surely the most important thing."
"Yes, he is handsome," said Marietta, somewhat thoughtfully; "even very handsome. But I believe, grandpapa, he is also very stupid."
In the meantime Willibald had run like a storm to the next corner, where he came to a standstill and tried to collect his thoughts, which were in great confusion. It was a long time before he succeeded, but he looked back once more to the doctor's house before he walked on.
What would his mother say to it? She who had placed the whole world of actresses under a ban; and she was right. Willy plainly felt that something bewitching belonged to the tribe; one had to beware of them.
But what if this Marietta Volkmar should take a notion to visit her friend at Furstenstein? The young lord ought to have been horrified at the thought, and was convinced that he was horrified; but with all that the strange flash returned to his eyes. He suddenly saw in the reception room, at the piano where Toni had been a little while ago, a small, delicate figure, whose dark, curly head moved to and fro like a bird, and the thunder of the march changed into the soft, rippling notes of the old carol, while between all again sounded the gay, silvery laugh which also was music.
And all this loveliness must be ruined and lost because it belonged to the stage! Frau von Eschenhagen had often expressed such an opinion, and Willibald was too good a son not to consider her an oracle. But he heaved a deep sigh, and murmured: "Oh, what a pity; what a great pity!"
CHAPTER XV.
About half way between Furstenstein and Rodeck, where the forest mountains rose to their greatest height, lay the Hochberg, a popular resort for sight-seeing on account of its magnificent views. The old stone tower upon its summit, the last remnant of an otherwise totally demolished castle ruin, had been made an object of interest, and at its foot nestled a little inn, which entertained numerous guests from the neighborhood. Strangers did not often come into these almost unknown forest mountains and valleys. Visitors of any sort were somewhat rare now in the fall, but to-day's beautiful weather had enticed several people out on the trip. Half an hour ago two gentlemen had arrived on horseback, attended by a groom, and now a carriage, bringing more sight-seers, drove up to the inn.
Upon the flat roof of the tower, near the stone breastwork, stood the two gentlemen, the younger one zealously occupied in pointing out and explaining the various points of interest.
"Yes, our Hochberg is renowned for its views." he said. "I was obliged to show them to you, Hartmut. Is not the view over this wide, green forest ocean incomparable?"