Part 3 (1/2)
”Yes, very true; but let us leave Hartmut alone now and consider the education of your own son. You have really decided----”
”To keep him at home. Do not trouble yourself, Herbert. You may be an important diplomat and carry the whole political business in your pockets, but nevertheless I do not surrender my boy to you. He belongs to me alone, and I keep him--settled!”
A hearty slap upon the table accompanied this ”settled,” with which the reigning mistress of Burgsdorf arose and walked out of doors; but her brother shrugged his shoulders, and muttered half audibly: ”Let him become a country squire, for all I care--it may be best, anyhow.”
CHAPTER III.
In the meantime, Hartmut and Willibald had reached the forest belonging to the estate. The Burgsdorf pond, a lonely water bordered by rushes in the midst of the forest, lay motionless, s.h.i.+ning in the sunlight of the quiet morning hour.
The young lord found for himself a shady place upon the bank, and devoted himself comfortably and persistently to the interesting occupation of fis.h.i.+ng, while the impatient Hartmut roamed around, starting a bird here, plucking rushes and flowers there, and finally indulging in gymnastics upon the trunk of a tree which lay half in the water.
”Can you never be quiet in one place? You scare off all the fishes,”
said w.i.l.l.y, displeased. ”I have not caught a thing to-day.”
”How can you sit for hours in one spot waiting for the stupid fishes--but, of course, you can roam through field and forest all the year round whenever you like. You are free--free!”
”Are you imprisoned?” asked w.i.l.l.y. ”Are not you and your companions out of doors every day?”
”But never alone--never without restraint and supervision. We are eternally on duty, even in the hours of recreation. Oh, how I hate it--this duty and life of slavery!”
”But, Hartmut, what if your father should hear that?”
”He would punish me again, then, as usual. He has nothing for me but severity and punishment. I don't care--it's all the same to me.”
He threw himself upon the gra.s.s, but harsh and disagreeable as his words sounded, there was in them something like a pained, pa.s.sionate complaint.
w.i.l.l.y only shook his head deliberately fastening a new bait to his hook meanwhile, and deep silence reigned for a few moments.
Suddenly something dashed down from on high, lightning-like; the water, just now so motionless, splashed and foamed, and in the next moment a heron rose high in the air, carrying the struggling, silver-s.h.i.+ning prey in his bill.
”Bravo! that was a splendid shot,” cried Hartmut, starting up, but w.i.l.l.y scolded vexedly. ”The con---- robber strips our whole pond. I shall tell the forester to keep an eye on him.”
”A robber!” repeated Hartmut, as his eyes followed the heron, which now disappeared behind the tree-tops. ”Yes, surely; but it must be beautiful--such a free robber's life high up in the air. To dash down from the heights like a flash of lightning--to grab the booty, then soar high with it again where no one can follow--that is worthy of the chase.”
”Hartmut, I actually believe you have a good notion to lead such a robber's life,” said w.i.l.l.y, with the deep horror of a well-raised boy for such inclinations.
His companion laughed, but it was again that harsh, strange laugh which had in it nothing youthful.
”And if I should have it, they would know how to get it out of me at the cadets' school. There is obedience--discipline--the Alpha and Omega of all things, and one finally learns it, too. w.i.l.l.y, have you never longed for wings?”
”I? Wings?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed w.i.l.l.y, whose full attention was again directed to hook and line. ”Nonsense! who could wish for impossibilities?”
”I wish I had some,” cried Hartmut, flaming up. ”I wish I were one of the falcons of which we hear. Then I would soar high up into the blue air--always higher and higher toward the sun, and would never, never come back.”
”I think you are crazy,” said the young lord calmly; ”but I have not caught anything yet; the fish will not bite at all to-day. I must try another spot.”
He gathered up his fis.h.i.+ng paraphernalia and went to the other side of the pond.