Part 22 (2/2)

”I come at an inconvenient time. You have a party,--a dance, I hear. Go, go; don't let me interrupt it,” he growled. ”Stop!” he added, as she was retreating timidly; ”I do not wish you to proclaim my arrival with that ghastly face. It shall not be said that the return of the master of the house scared away the guests from Donninghausen. You may tell my sister that I am here, but no one else, and I will not see even Thekla until the fiddling is over; then I wish to speak to you all. All,--do you hear?--to Monsieur Otto especially.” With these words he pa.s.sed on, accompanied by Leo, who went on barking, whining, and wagging his tail in a rapture of welcome.

Johanna stood dismayed. From the tone in which the Freiherr spoke, she saw only too clearly that he knew all. The many sounds from the ball-room pained her, and when she returned to it she seemed to be surrounded by the confused images of a dream. She withdrew more persistently than before into corners and window-recesses, and avoided Aunt Thekla. In spite of the commission she had received, she could not make up her mind to mention to her her brother's return. She feared lest the old lady should be unable to conceal her agitation.

Nevertheless, the intelligence was not long suppressed. Perhaps some one of the guests had seen the Freiherr arrive, or one of the servants in spite of his prohibition had mentioned it. Groups were shortly seen whispering together here and there, Countess Klausenburg gave the signal for departure unusually early, and half an hour afterward the last carriage drove out of the court-yard.

When Magelone and Otto, who had been taking leave of the guests, came up the stairs chatting gayly, they were confronted by Aunt Thekla and Johanna.

”Do you not know,” the old lady asked, ”that your grandfather is here?”

”The deuce he is! Then I'm off!” cried Otto.

”It would be just like you!” the Freiherr called out in tones of thunder from the threshold of the drawing-room door, where his tall figure appeared at this moment. ”Falsehood and cowardice belong together. But come in; I wish to speak with you all.” With these words he stood aside and let them pa.s.s him into the drawing-room, which he then entered, closing the door after him.

Aunt Thekla collected herself by a mighty effort. ”Dear Johann!” she stammered, ”I am delighted to see you here again.”

”Delighted? You look so,” he growled in reply. ”But never mind: the present is no time for sentiment. Sit down and listen to what I have to say.”

The ladies obeyed. Otto stood leaning against the chimney-piece. The Freiherr paced the room heavily to and fro. After a pause he said,--

”First, Thekla, let me say that it seems to me rather unbecoming to give entertainments in my house while I am away. No discussion, I entreat!”

he added, waving his hand forbiddingly. ”I know it was not your idea.

Magelone, silly child that she is, probably arranged the nonsense. But we old people are here to be a check upon the young ones. Instead of which you aid and abet--not Magelone alone----” He broke off, as was his custom when he dreaded his own violence, then took a letter from his pocket with a trembling hand and threw it into his sister's lap. ”There, read that,” he said, with difficulty commanding his voice. ”Lobel Wolf offers to buy the jewels you have p.a.w.ned. It has come to this with the Donninghausens; you have brought it to this! And you, Johanna,”--his tone grew louder and sharper,--”you have proved to me that you do not possess a spark of filial piety. Family jewels like your grandmother's bridal _parure_ are not to be thrown away for the sake of such a scoundrel.”

Otto started forward. ”Sir,” he cried, ”pray control yourself. I am an officer----”

”You have been an officer,” the Freiherr corrected him. ”To-morrow morning you will hand in your resignation. The man who forfeits his word as you have done can no longer wear the king's uniform; or do you dare deny that you have been gambling again?”

Otto had grown pale. He seemed to wish to speak, but only breathed heavily and hung his head.

Aunt Thekla felt impelled to interfere. ”Dear Johann, I entreat you----”

she began in a trembling voice.

The Freiherr interrupted her. ”Hush, Thekla; you understand nothing about it,” he said, harshly.

But she was not to be intimidated. ”What will become of the poor boy?”

she asked, softly.

”You are right,--the poor boy!” the Freiherr exclaimed, with a scornful laugh. ”It is strange that such fellows can always wheedle you women.

But make yourself easy, the 'poor boy' will be treated better than he deserves. He is my grandson, unfortunately; is a Donninghausen,--I cannot turn him out into the streets. I will at least give him one more trial. He shall return to agriculture,--I ought to have insisted upon it after the war. If he does well, I will, perhaps, give him one of my estates to farm; if not----” The Freiherr made a backward wave of his hand as a finish to his sentence, and then went on pacing to and fro, while no one ventured to speak.

The minutes pa.s.sed: the ticking of the tall clock had a weird sound in the stillness; at last the Freiherr stood still. ”Let the disgraceful affair be disposed of as decently as possible,” he said. ”It must be announced that Otto leaves the army of his own free choice. To-morrow morning at eight the fine fellow must come to my room for further orders. As for the jewels, of course they must be redeemed and restored to Johanna, but they must be given to me to keep for her until you have all acquired some sense.”

After these words the old Herr strode angrily from the room. Aunt Thekla, whose bedroom was just underneath her brother's, heard him pacing to and fro in it until dawn.

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