Part 39 (2/2)

Marietta dropped her eyes in confusion. Mutely she accepted the flowers and fastened one of them at her throat. Then she stretched out her hand to the giver just as mutely.

He fully understood the apology.

”Of course you are accustomed to different floral offerings,” he said, apologetically. ”I hear a great deal of the homage people pay you.”

The young girl smiled, but with a more pathetic than happy expression.

”You have been a witness to what this homage is at times, and it was not the first time it has happened. The gentlemen seem to think they are permitted to venture anything when one is on the stage. Believe me, Herr von Eschenhagen, it is often hard to bear this lot, for which I am envied by so many.”

Willibald listened intently to these words.

”Hard to bear? I thought you loved your vocation above everything, and would not leave it at any price.”

”Oh, surely I love it; but I had not thought that so much bitterness and hards.h.i.+p were connected with it. My teacher, Professor Marani, says: 'One must rise as on eagle's wings; then all the low and vulgar will remain far below.' He may be right, but one must be an eagle for that, and I am only a '_singvogelchen_,' as my grandfather calls me, which has nothing but its voice and cannot rise so high. The critics often tell me that fire and strength are wanting in my rendering. I feel myself that I have no real dramatic talent. I can only sing, and would rather do that at home in our green forests than here in this golden cage.”

The voice of the usually bright, cheery girl sounded full of deeply suppressed emotion. This last occurrence had shown her again very plainly her unprotected position, and now her heart opened to the man who had interfered so bravely for her.

He listened in rapt attention and seemed to read the words from her lips, but at this truly sad report his face beamed as if something very joyful was being related, and now he interrupted vehemently:

”You long to get away from here? You would like to leave the stage?”

Marietta laughed aloud, in spite of her sorrow.

”No, I really do not think of that, for what should I do then? My grandfather saved and economized for years to make my education as a singer possible, and it would be poor grat.i.tude if I should be a burden to him in his old age. He does not know that at times his little _singvogel_ longs for its nest, or that life is made hard for her here.

I am not usually without courage. I persevere and stand strong whenever it must be so. Do not let these, my laments, be heard at Furstenstein.

You are going there?”

A shadow pa.s.sed over the beaming face of young Eschenhagen, and he was the one now to lower his eyes.

”I, indeed, go to Furstenstein this afternoon,” he replied, in a strangely suppressed tone.

”Oh, I ask this one thing more. You must tell your betrothed everything--you hear?--everything. We owe it to her. I shall write her to-day about the occurrence, and you will confirm my letter with your words--yes?”

Willibald raised his eyes slowly and looked at the speaker. ”You are right, Fraulein. Toni must hear everything the whole truth. I had already decided on that before I came here; but it will be a hard hour for me.”

”Oh, surely not,” said Marietta, encouragingly. ”Toni is good and full of trust. She will believe your word and my word, that we are both innocent in this affair.”

”But I am not without guilt--at least toward my bride-elect,” declared Willibald, earnestly. ”Do not look at me in such affright. You must hear it later, anyway, and it is perhaps better that I tell you myself.

I am going to Furstenstein only to ask Toni”--he stopped short and drew a deep breath--”to give me back my troth.”

”For heaven's sake, why?” cried the young girl, horrified at this explanation.

”Why? Because it would be wrong should I offer Toni my hand and stand with her at the altar, with my heart as it is now. Because only now do I see what the princ.i.p.al thing is for betrothal and marriage--because----” He did not finish, but his eyes spoke so plainly that Marietta fully understood the rest.

Her face suddenly colored crimson. She drew back and made a violently repellent gesture.

”Herr von Eschenhagen, be silent; do not speak another word.”

<script>