Part 24 (1/2)
”Thank heaven, now we are left to ourselves, and can go to the dance!”
said Molly, rising to lead the way.
”What! among the peasants?” Alice asked, in alarm.
”In their very midst,” the young wife undauntedly replied. ”Do not look so horrified. You ought to thank G.o.d that your duenna has the headache, for else she never would have let you go. Benno, offer your arm to Fraulein Nordheim.”
Benno looked equally horrified at this command; but Molly had taken possession of her husband, and Waltenberg had given his arm to Erna, so there was nothing for it but to obey.
”Fraulein Nordheim,--will you allow me?” he asked, timidly.
Alice hesitated a moment, but then, either tempted by the gaiety outside, or induced by the timid address, she smiled, and took the offered arm, to follow the others, who had already left the garden.
The pair walked slowly; the doctor was a rather mute cavalier: he hardly spoke, but looked with shy admiration at the young girl beside him, who did not, however, seem to him half so unapproachable and distinguished as she had been on their first interview. She looked graceful and simple in her light-blue muslin and her flower-trimmed straw hat; it was just the frame for her face, if only the face were not so pale. She was apparently somewhat afraid of the crowd, and when loud shouting was heard from the dancing floor she paused, and looked up timidly at her escort.
”Are you afraid, Fraulein Nordheim?” he asked. ”Then let us go back.”
Alice shook her head, and replied, in an undertone, ”I am unused to it; but I do not believe the people are really rude.”
”Indeed they are not!” Benno declared. ”There is nothing to fear from our Wolkensteiners,--that I can testify, having lived as long as I have among them.”
”Yes, for five years, Wolfgang tells me. How have you managed it?”
The question was put in a tone of such compa.s.sion that Benno smiled: ”Oh, it is not so terrible as you suppose. It is, to be sure, a lonely life, and at times a laborious one, but it has its pleasures.”
”Pleasures?” Alice repeated, dubiously, raising her large brown eyes to his, which so confused the doctor that he forgot to reply.
Suddenly there was a movement among the crowd: they perceived Reinsfeld for the first time,--for on his arrival he had come through the inn,--and instantly a circle was formed about him. ”The Herr Doctor!
Our Herr Doctor! Here he is!” resounded from all sides, while twenty, thirty heads were bared, and as many brown hands were stretched out to the young physician. Old and young thronged about him eager for a word or a look or to bid 'G.o.d bless' him. There was an outburst of enthusiasm at sight of their 'doctor.'
Reinsfeld glanced with some anxiety at his companion,--he feared she might be annoyed by these stormy demonstrations; but Alice seemed, on the contrary, to enjoy them; she clung rather closer to his arm, but she looked unusually happy and interested.
No sooner did the doctor explain that the young lady wished to look on at the dance than all began eagerly to arrange a place for her. The entire crowd about the doctor accompanied them to the dancing-floor; the rows of spectators were ruthlessly parted asunder, a chair was brought, and a few moments later Alice was seated in the midst of all the joyous tumult of St. John's day, and the st.u.r.dy mountaineers formed a sort of _garde d'honneur_ on each side of her, taking care that the whirling couples did not fly past her close enough to brush the Fraulein's skirt. There was a certain rude chivalry in the way in which they arranged the place for the companion of their doctor.
”The people seem very fond of you,” said Alice. ”I did not imagine that the peasantry were so devoted to their physician.”
”They are not usually,” was Reinsfeld's reply. ”They are apt to see in him only a man who costs them money, and they try not to avail themselves of his help. But the relation between the Wolkensteiners and myself is exceptional. We have gone through some hard times together, and they give me credit for not leaving them in the lurch, and for going indiscriminately to every one who needs me, even although the poor wretch have only a 'G.o.d bless you!' by way of fee. There is a great deal of poverty among the people, and it is impossible to think only of one's self; at least I have found it so.”
”Yes, that I know,” Alice interposed, with unusual vivacity. ”You did not think of yourself when a better position was offered you. Wolfgang mentioned that during your visit the other day.”
As she referred to it Benno coloured slightly: ”Do you really remember that remark of his? Yes, Wolf was very much provoked with me at the time, and I suppose he was right. The position was undoubtedly a good one, in a hospital in one of our large cities, and by a lucky chance I was preferred beyond any of my colleagues; but the condition attached was that I should report myself at the election, and enter immediately upon the duties of my office.”
”And you had patients here in the village who were very ill at the time?”
”Not only here, but everywhere throughout the district. Diphtheria had broken out, and the children brought home contagion from school. One or two were lying ill in almost every house, and most of the cases were very serious, for the epidemic was particularly virulent,--and just when it was at its height the place was offered me! The nearest physician lived half a day's journey away, and my distinguished colleagues in Heilborn do not come up to the lonely farms through storm and snow,--it would cost the people too dear. I delayed my departure from day to day, and Wolfgang kept urging me, but I _could_ not go.
Hansel, come here!”
He beckoned to a boy of about six who had worked his way to the front and stood looking on delightedly at the dancers. He was a st.u.r.dy little fellow, with flaxen hair and a fresh, chubby face. He obeyed the call instantly, very proud to be summoned by the doctor, and looked up confidingly at the young lady to whom he was presented.