Part 44 (1/2)
Antonie shook her head impatiently. Apparently she liked the role of guardian angel, and found her position one she could fill without any great exertion, since her affection for her betrothed had always been a very cool one.
”There was no sign of love-making, as the doctor was too seriously ill,” she returned. ”Marietta cried incessantly and we had plenty to do to console her. Now you see and understand that I am not at all betrayed, and that w.i.l.l.y has acted openly and honestly. I asked him myself to be silent to you, and, in fact, the matter concerns us only----”
”Do you think so? It is therefore of no concern to us?” interrupted the Chief Forester furiously.
”No, papa. w.i.l.l.y is of the opinion that we need not mind our parents in this matter at all.”
”What does Willibald mean?” demanded Frau von Eschenhagen, who regained her speech at this unheard-of a.s.sertion.
”That each must love the other before marrying, and he is right,”
declared Toni, with unusual vivacity. ”It was not in our engagement at all--in fact, we were not even consulted--but I shall not permit it another time. I see now what it means for two people to love each other with all their heart, and how remarkably w.i.l.l.y has changed through it.
I, too, want to be loved as Marietta is loved, and if I do not find a man who loves me exactly like that--then I shall not marry at all.”
And after this remark Fraulein Antonie walked out of the room with much decision and a highly elevated head, leaving father and aunt in an indescribable condition.
The Chief Forester was the first to regain composure, but suppressed vexation was still in his voice as he turned to his sister-in-law and said: ”Your boy has managed nicely, I must confess, Regine. Now Toni wants to be loved also, and begins to get romantic ideas in her head, and w.i.l.l.y seems to be far gone already in that respect. I actually believe he has managed to make this second proposal by himself.”
Frau von Eschenhagen paid no attention to this bitter hint of her interference at the former time. Her face bore an expression which promised nothing good.
”You seem to look upon this affair from a comic standpoint,” she said.
”I take it differently.”
”That will not help you any,” returned Schonan. ”When such a model son commences to rebel, the affair is usually hopeless, especially when he is in love. But I am curious to know how w.i.l.l.y behaves himself as a lover--it must be a remarkable sight!”
CHAPTER XLI.
Herr von Schonan's curiosity was to be immediately satisfied, for w.i.l.l.y now appeared. He had heard of the arrival of his mother and was therefore prepared for anything, for that there must be something especial to bring her to Furstenstein so unexpectedly, he knew. But the young lord did not shrink back this time as he did two months ago, when he timidly concealed the rose in his pocket. His bearing betrayed that he was determined to take up the unavoidable contest.
”Here is your mother, w.i.l.l.y,” commenced the Chief Forester. ”I suppose you are very much surprised to see her here?”
”No, uncle, I am not,” was the answer, but the young man made no attempt to approach his mother, for she stood there like a threatening storm cloud, and her voice rumbled like distant thunder as she said: ”So you know why I have come?”
”I at least guess it, mamma, even if I cannot understand how you have heard----”
”The papers have told all--there it lies,” interrupted Frau von Eschenhagen, pointing to the table, ”and, besides, Toni has told us everything--do you hear? everything!”
She p.r.o.nounced this last word in an annihilating tone. w.i.l.l.y was not moved from his composure, but replied tranquilly:
”Well, I shall not have to tell you, then. I should have spoken to uncle to-day about it.”
This was too much. The storm cloud burst now with thunder and lightning; it loaded and discharged with such vehemence over the head of the young lord that really nothing seemed left for him to do but to disappear quickly under the ground, which could not bear a person of his kind any longer.
But he did not disappear; he only bowed his head to the storm, and when it finally subsided--for Frau Regine had necessarily to draw breath some time--he drew himself up and said: ”Mamma, please let me talk.”
”You want to talk? that is remarkable,” declared Schonan, who was not used to such efforts from his daughter's betrothed; but Willibald actually began, hesitatingly and uncertainly at first, but he gradually acquired firmness in speech and bearing.
”I am sorry that I have to offend you, but it could not be helped. I am just as innocent about the duel as Marietta is. She was being followed by an impertinent fellow persistently. I protected her and chastised the offender, who sent me a challenge, which I never could nor would decline. I have to beg Toni's pardon alone for loving Marietta, and I did that immediately upon my arrival. She heard everything and gave me back my pledge. Indeed, we have broken our engagement much more independently than we formed it.”