Part 35 (1/2)

”Take me to Freyer, Ludwig. I must see him this very day. Oh, my friend! let me wash myself clean in your soul, for I feel as if the turbid surges of the world had soiled me with their mire.”

Ludwig Gross pa.s.sed his arm lightly about her shoulders as if to protect her from the unclean element. ”Come,” he said soothingly, ”I will take you to Freyer. Or would you prefer to have me bring him here?”

”No, he would not come now. I must go to him, for I have done something for which I must atone--there can be no delay.”

Ludwig hurriedly wrapped her in a warm shawl. ”You will be ill from this continual excitement,” he said anxiously, but without trying to dissuade her. ”Take my arm, you are tottering.”

They left the house before the eyes of the astonished Gross family.

”She is a very singular woman,” said Sephi, shaking her head. ”She gives herself no rest night or day.”

It was only five days since the evening that Madeleine von Wildenau had walked, as now, through the sleeping village, and how much she had experienced.

She had found the G.o.d whom she was seeking--she had gazed into his eyes, she had recognized divine, eternal love, and had perceived that she was not worthy of it. So she moved proudly, yet humbly on, leaning upon the arm of her friend, to the street where a thrill of reverence had stirred her whole being when Andreas Gross said, ”That is the way to the dwelling of the Christ.”

The house stood across the end of the street. This time no moonbeams lighted the way. The damp branches of the trees rustled mournfully above them in the darkness. Only a single window on the ground floor of Freyer's house was lighted, and the wavering rays marked the way for the pair. They reached it and looked in. Freyer was sitting on a wooden stool by the table, his head resting on his hand, absorbed in sorrowful thought. A book lay before him, which he had perhaps intended to read, but evidently had not done so, for he was gazing wearily into vacancy.

Madeleine von Wildenau stepped softly in through the unfastened door.

Ludwig Gross waited for her outside. As she opened the door of the room Freyer looked up in astonishment ”You?” he said, and his eyes rested full upon her with a questioning gaze--but he rose with dignity, instead of rus.h.i.+ng to meet her, as he would formerly have greeted the woman he loved, had she suddenly appeared before him.

”Countess--what does this visit mean--at this hour?” he asked, mournfully, offering her a chair. ”Did you come alone?”

”Ludwig brought me and is waiting outside for me--I have only a few words to say.”

”But it will not do to leave our friend standing outside. You will allow me to call him in?”

”Do so, you will then have the satisfaction of having a witness of my humiliation,” said the countess, quietly.

”Pardon me, I did not think of that interpretation!” murmured Freyer, seating himself.

”May I ask your Highness' commands?”

”Joseph--to whom are you speaking?”

”To the Countess Wildenau!”

She knelt beside him: ”Joseph! Am I _still_ the Countess Wildenau?”

”Your Highness, pray spare me!” he exclaimed, starting up. ”All this can alter nothing. You remain--what you are, and I--what I am! This was deeply graven on my heart to-night, and nothing can efface it.” He spoke with neither anger nor reproach--simply like a man who has lost what was dearest to him on earth.

”If that is true, I can certainly do nothing except go again!” she replied, turning toward the door. ”But answer for it to G.o.d for having thrust me forth unheard.”

”Nay, Countess, pray, speak!” said Freyer, kindly. She looked at him so beseechingly that his heart melted with unutterable pain.

”Come--and--tell me what weighs upon your heart!” he added in a gentler tone.

”Not until you again call me your dove--or your child.”

Tears filled his eyes, ”My child--what have you done!”

”That is right--I can speak now! What have I done, Joseph? What you saw; and still worse. I not only treated you coldly and distantly in my father's presence, I afterwards disowned you three times--and I come to tell you so because you alone can and--I know--will forgive me.”