"Destiny often pulls off leaves, as we treat the vine, that itsfruits may be earlier brought to maturity."--JEAN PAUL.
It was not until toward morning that Otto fell into sleep. Wilhelmand he were allowed to take their own time in rising, and thus itwas late in the day before these two gentlemen made theirappearance at the breakfast-table; the Kammerjunker was alreadycome over to the hall, and now was more adorned than common.
"Mr. Thostrup shall be one of the initiated!" said the mother. "Itwill be time enough this evening for strangers to know of it. TheKammerjunker and my Sophie are betrothed."
"See, it was in the bright moonlight, Mr. Thostrup, that I becamesuch a happy man!" said the Kammerjunker, and kissed the tips ofSophie's fingers. He offered his other hand to Otto.
Otto's countenance remained unchanged, a smile played upon hislips. "I congratulate you!" said he; "it is indeed a joyful day! IfI were a poet, I would give you an ode!"
Louise looked at him with an extraordinary expression of pain inher countenance.
Wilhelm called the Kammerjunker brother-in-law, and smiling shookboth his hands.
Otto was unusually gay, jested, and laughed. The ladies went totheir toilet, Otto into the garden.
He had been so convinced in his own mind that Sophie returned hispassion. With what pleasure had she listened to him! with what anexpression had her eye rested upon him! Her little jests had beento him such convincing proofs that the hope which he nourished wasno self-delusion. She was the light around which his thoughts hadcircled. Love to her was to him a good angel, which sung to himconsolation and life's gladness in his dark moments.
Now, all was suddenly over. It was as if the angel had left him;the flame of love which had so entirely filled his soul, was in amoment extinguished to its last spark. Sophie was become a strangerto him; her intellectual eye, which smiled in love on theKammerjunker, seemed to him the soulless eye of the automaton. Astupefying indifference went through him, deadly as poison that isinfused into the human blood.
"The vain girl! she thought to make herself more important byrepelling from her a faithful heart! She should only see howchanged her image is in my soul. All the weaknesses which my lovefor her made me pass over, now step forth with repulsive features!Not a word which she spoke fell to the ground. The diamond has lostits lustre; I feel only its sharp corners!"
Sophie had given the preference to a man who, in respect ofintellect, stood far below Otto! Sophie, who seemed to beenthusiastic for art and beauty, for everything glorious in thekingdom of mind, could thus have deceived him!
We will now see the sisters in their chamber.
Louise seemed pensive, she sat silently looking before her.
Sophie stood thoughtfully with a smile upon her lips.
"The Kammerjunker is very handsome, however!" exclaimed she: "helooks so manly!"
"You ought to find him love-worthy!" said Louise.
"Yes," replied her sister, "I have always admired these strongcountenances! He is an Axel--a northern blackbearded savage. Facessuch as Wilhelm's look like ladies'! And he is so good! He hassaid, that immediately after our marriage we shall make a tour toHamburg. What dress do you think I should wear?"
"When you make the journey to Hamburg?" inquired Louise.
"O no, child! to-day I mean. Thostrup was indeed very polite! hecongratulated me! I felt, however, rather curious when it was toldto him. I had quite expected a scene! I was almost ready to beg ofyou to tell him first of all. He ought to have been prepared. Buthe was, however, very rational! I should not have expected it fromhim. I really wish him all good, but he is an extraordinarycharacter! so melancholy! Do you think that he will take mybetrothal to heart? I noticed that when I was kissed he turnedhimself suddenly round to the window and played with the flowers. Iwish that he would soon go! The journey into foreign countries willdo him good--there he will soon forget his heart's troubles.To-morrow I will write to Cousin Joachim; he will also besurprised!"
Late in the afternoon came Jakoba, the Mamsell, the preacher, andyet a few other guests.
In the evening the table was arranged festively. The betrothed sattogether, and Otto had the place of honor--he sat on the other sideof Sophie. The preacher had written a song to the tune of "Be thouour social guardian-goddess;" this was sung. Otto's voice soundedbeautifully and strong; he rang his glass with the betrothed pair,and the Kammerjunker said that now Mr. Thostrup must speedily seekout a bride for himself.
"She is found," answered Otto; "but now that is yet a secret."
"Health to the bride!" said Sophie, and rung her glass; but soonagain her intellectual eye rested upon the Kammerjunker, who wastalking about asparagus and stall-feeding with clover, yet herglance brought him back again to the happiness of his love.
It was a very lively evening. Late in the night the party broke up.The friends went to their chamber.
"My dear, faithful Otto!" said Wilhelm, and laid his hand on hisshoulder; "you were very lively and good-humored this evening.Continue always thus!"
"I hope to do so," answered Otto: "may we only always have as happyan evening as this!"
"Extraordinary man!" said Wilhelm, and shook his head. "Now we willsoon set out on our journey, and catch for ourselves the happinessof the glorious gold bird!"
"And not let it escape again!" exclaimed Otto. "Formerly I used tosay, To-morrow! to-morrow! now I say, To-day, and all day long!Away with fancies and complainings. I now comprehend that which youonce said to me, that is. Man can be happy if he only will beso."
Wilhelm took his hand, and looked into his face with a half-melancholyexpression.
"Are you sentimental?" inquired Otto.
"I only affect that which I am not!" answered Wilhelm; and withthat, suddenly throwing off the natural gravity of the moment,returned to his customary gayety.
The following days were spent in visiting and in receivingvisitors. On every post-day Otto sought through the leathern bag ofthe postman, but he found no letter from German Heinrich, and heardnothing from him. "I have been deceived," said he, "and I feelmyself glad about it! She, the horrible one, is not my sister!"
There was a necessity for him to go away, far from home, and yet hefelt no longing after the mountains of Switzerland or the luxuriantbeauty of the south.
"Nature will only weaken me! I will not seek after it. Man it isthat I require: these egotistical, false beings--these lords ofeverything! How we flatter our weaknesses and admire our virtues!Whatever serves to advance our own wishes we find to be excellent.To those who love us, we give our love in return. At the bottom,whom do I love except myself? Wilhelm? My friendship for him isbuilt upon the foundation,--I cannot do without thee! Friendship isto me a necessity. Was I not once convinced that I adored Sophie,and that I never could bear it if she were lost to me? and yetthere needed the conviction 'She loves thee not,' and my strongfeeling was dead. Sophie even seems to me less beautiful; I seefaults where I formerly could only discover amiabilities! Now, sheis to me almost wholly a stranger. As I am, so are all. Who isthere that feels right lovingly, right faithfully for me, withouthis own interest leading him to do so? Rosalie? My old, honestRosalie? I grew up before her eyes like a plant which she loved. Iam dear to her as it! When her canary-bird one morning lay dead inits cage, she wept bitterly and long; she should never more hear itsing, she should never more look after its cage and its food. Itwas the loss of it which made her weep. She missed that which hadbeen interesting to her. I also interested her. Interest is thename for that which the world calls love. Louise?" He almost spokethe name aloud, and his thoughts dwelt, from a strong combinationof circumstances, upon it. "She appears to me true, and capable ofmaking sacrifices! but is not she also very different from all theothers? How often have I not heard Sophie laugh at her for it--lookdown upon her!" And Otto's better feeling sought in vain for ashadow of self-love in Louise, a single selfish motive for hernoble conduct.
"Away from Denmark! to new people! Happy he who can always be onthe wing, making new friendships, and speedily breaking them off!At the first meeting people wear their intellectual Sunday apparel;every point of light is brought forth; but soon and the festival-dayis over, and the bright points have vanished."
"We will set off next week!" said Wilhelm, "and then it shall be--
'Over the rushing blue waters away! We will speed along shores that are verdant and gay!'
Away over the moors, up the Rhine, through the land of champagne tothe city of cities, the life-animating Paris!"