Part 11 (1/2)
”Perhaps some mistake of the servants----”
”No, it is a plot of the Baroness's,” Frau von Lasberg interposed, indignantly. ”But pray let us have no scene. When supper is over----”
”I shall take Molly directly home!” Ernsthausen concluded the sentence, opening his napkin with an energy that boded no good to his disobedient daughter.
The supper began and followed its course with all the splendour to be expected from an entertainment in the Nordheim mansion. The tables were almost overloaded with heavy silver and glittering gla.s.s, among which bloomed the rarest flowers. There was an endless variety of food, with the finest kinds of wine. The usual toasts to the betrothed couple were offered, the usual speeches made, and over it all brooded the weariness inseparable from such displays of princely wealth.
Nevertheless certain of the younger folk enjoyed themselves excessively; notably Baroness Molly, who, quite unaffected by her approaching doom, laughed and talked with her neighbour at table, while Gersdorf would have been no lover had he not forgotten all else and quaffed full draughts of the unexpected happiness of this interview.
Not less eager, if graver and of more significance, was the conversation carried on at the upper end of the table between Fraulein von Thurgau, who as the nearest relative of the family had her place opposite the betrothed couple, and Ernst Waltenberg, who was a distinguished guest. Hitherto he had seemed to take but little interest in the a.s.semblage and had been rather silent, but now he made it plain that where it pleased him to charm by his conversation he was fully able to do so.
He did indeed tell of distant lands and peoples, but he described them so vividly that his hearer seemed to see them. As he spoke of the charm of the southern seas, the splendour of the tropical landscape, Erna, listening with sparkling eyes, seemed carried away. Now and then Wolfgang, beside Alice on the opposite side of the table, scanned the pair with an oddly searching glance; his conversation with his betrothed did not seem to be of a particularly lively nature, master of the art though he were.
At last supper was over, and all returned to the reception-rooms. The universal mood seemed less constrained, laughter and talk were louder, and so general was the mingling of various groups that it was difficult to single out any particular individual, as Baron Ernsthausen found to his vexation, for his young daughter had disappeared for the time.
Ernst Waltenberg had conducted Erna to the conservatory, and was seated beside her, deep in the conversation begun at supper, when the betrothed couple entered. Wolfgang started as he perceived the pair, he bowed coldly to Waltenberg, who sprang up to offer his place to Fraulein Nordheim, and said, ”Alice complains of weariness and thinks it will be quieter here. We are not intruding?”
”Upon whom?” Erna asked, quietly.
”Upon yourself and Herr Waltenberg. You were in such earnest conversation, and we should be very sorry----”
Instead of replying, Erna took her cousin's hand and drew her down beside her: ”You are right, Alice, you need rest. It is a hard task even for those stronger than you to be the centre of such an entertainment.”
”I only wanted to withdraw for a few moments,” said Alice, who really did look fatigued. ”But we seem to have disturbed you; Herr Waltenberg was in the midst of a most interesting description, which he broke off when we entered.”
”I was telling of my last visit to India,” Waltenberg explained, ”and I took the opportunity to make a request of Baroness Thurgau, which I should like to make of you also, Fraulein Nordheim. In the course of my ten years of absence from Europe I have collected a quant.i.ty of foreign curiosities. They were all sent home, and form a veritable museum which I am just having arranged by an experienced hand. May I entreat the ladies to honour me with a visit,--with yourself, of course, Herr Elmhorst? I think I can show you much that will interest you.”
”I fear my engagements will not allow me to accept your kind invitation,” Elmhorst replied, with rather cool courtesy. ”I must leave town in a couple of days.”
”So shortly after your betrothal?”
”I must. In the present condition of our work I cannot allow myself a longer leave of absence.”
”Do you agree to this, Fraulein Nordheim?” Waltenberg appealed to Alice. ”I should think under present circ.u.mstances you would have the first claim.”
”Duty has the first claim upon me, Herr Waltenberg,--in my opinion, at least.”
”Must you take it so seriously,--even now?”
”Wolfgang's eyes flashed. He understood this 'even now?' and understood also the look which he encountered; he had seen the same expression on another face a few hours ago. He bit his lip; for the second time he was reminded that he was considered in society only as 'Alice Nordheim's future husband,'--one who could with her fortune in prospect purchase immunity from duties which he had undertaken to fulfil.
”To fulfil a duty is with me a point of honour,” he replied, coldly.
”Yes, we Germans are fanatics for duty,” Waltenberg said, negligently.
”I have lost somewhat of this national characteristic in foreign countries. Oh, Fraulein von Thurgau, not that disapproving look, I entreat. My unfortunate frankness will ruin me in your estimation, but remember I come from quite another world, and am absolutely uncivilized according to European ideas.”
”You certainly seem so with respect to some of your views,” Erna said, lightly, but withal with a shade of severity.
He smiled, and, leaning over the back of her chair, said, in a lower tone, ”Yes, I need to be harmonized with mankind, and with our worthy Germans. Perhaps some one will have pity upon me and undertake the task. Do you think it would be worth the trouble?”
”Can you really endure this close, stifling temperature, Alice?”