... "We live through others,We think we are others; we seemOthers to be ... And so think others of us." SCHEFER.
When the buds burst forth we will burst forth also! had Otto andWilhelm often said. Their plan was, in the spring to travelimmediately to Paris, but on their way to visit the Rhine, and tosail from Cologne to Strasburg.
"Yes, one must see the Rhine first!" said Cousin Joachim; "when onehas seen Switzerland and Italy, it does not strike one nearly asmuch. That must be your first sight; but you should not see it inspring, but toward autumn. When the vines have their full varietyof tint, and the heavy grapes hang from the stems, see, it is thenthe old ruins stand forth. These are the gardens of the Rhine!Another advantage which you have in going there in autumn is thatyou then enter Paris in winter, and that one must do; then one doesnot come post festum; then is the heyday of gayety--the theatre,the soir閑s, and everything which can interest the beau monde."
Although Otto did not generally consider the cousin's words of muchweight, he this time entered wonderfully into his views. "It wouldcertainly be the most prudent to commence their journey towardautumn," he thought: "there could be no harm in preparingthemselves a little more for it!"
"That is always good!" said Joachim; "but, what is far moreadvantageous abroad than all the preparations you can make at home,is said in a few words--give up all intercourse with your owncountry-people! Nowadays every one travels! Paris is not nowfurther from us than Hamburg was some thirty years ago. When I wasin Paris I found there sixteen or seventeen of my countrymen. O,how they kept together! Eleven of them dwelt in the same h魌el:they drank coffee together, walked out together, went to therestaurateur's together, and took together half a bench in thetheatre. That is the most foolish thing a person can do! I considertravelling useful for every one, from the prince to the travellingjourneyman. But we allow too many people to travel! We are notrich, therefore restrictions should be made. The creative artist,the poet, the engineer, and the physician must travel; but Godknows why theologians should go forth. They can become mad enoughat home! They come into Catholic countries, and then there is anend of them! Wherefore should book-worms go forth? They shutthemselves up in the diligence and in their chambers, rummage alittle in the libraries, but not so much as a pinch of snuff dothey do us any good when they return! Those who cost the mostgenerally are of the least use, and bring the country the leasthonor! I, thank God! paid for my journey myself, and am thereforefree to speak my opinion!"
We will now hear what Miss Sophie said, and therefore advance a fewdays.
"We keep you then with us till August!" said she, once when she wasalone with Otto. "That is wise! You can spend some time with us inFunen, and gather strength for your journey. Yes, the journey willdo you good!"
"I hope so!" answered Otto. "I am perhaps able to become asinteresting as your cousin, as amiable!"
"That would be requiring too much from you!" said Sophie, banteringhim. "You will never have his humor, his facility in catching upcharacter. You will only preach against the depravity of theParisians; you will only be able to appreciate the melancholygrandeur of Switzerland and the solitude of the Hungarian forests."
"You would make a misanthrope of me, which I by no means am."
"But you have an innate talent for this character!" answeredSophie. "Something will certainly be polished away by this journey,and it is on account of this change that I rejoice."
"Must one, then, have a light, fickle mood to please you?" askedOtto.
"Yes, certainly!" answered Sophie, ironically.
"Then it is true what your cousin told me!" said Otto. "If one willbe fortunate with the ladies, one must at least be somewhatfrivolous, fond of pleasure, and fickle,--that makes oneinteresting. Yes, he has made himself acquainted with the world, hehas experience in everything!"
"Yes, perfectly!" said Sophie, and laughed aloud.
Otto was silent, with contracted brow.
"I wish you sunshine!" said Sophie, and smiling raised her finger.Otto remained unchanged--he wrinkled his brow.
"You must change very much!" said she, half gravely; and danced outof the room.
Three weeks passed by, rich in great events in the kingdom of theheart; it was still a diplomatic secret: the eyes betrayed it bytheir pantomimic language, the mouth alone was silent, and it isafter all the deciding power.
Otto visited the merchant's family. Maren had departed just the daybefore. In vain had she awaited his visit throughout the threeweeks.
"You quite forget your true friends!" said the ladies. "Believe us,Maja was a little angry with you, and yet we have messages. Now sheis sailing over the salt sea."
This was not precisely the case; she was already on land, and justat this moment was driving over the brown heath, thinking ofCopenhagen and the pleasures there, and of the sorrow also--it isso sad to be forgotten by a friend of childhood! Otto was sohandsome, so clever--she did not dream at all how handsome andclever she herself would appear at home. Beauty and cleverness theyhad discovered in her before she left; now she had been in thecapital, and that gives relief.
The little birds fluttered round the carriage; perhaps they sang toher what should happen in two years: "Thou wilt be a bride, thesecretary's lovely little bride; thou shalt have both him and themusical-box! Thou wilt be the grandest lady in the town, and yetthe most excellent mother. Thy first daughter shall be called Maja--that is a pretty name, and reminds thee of past days!"