Part 28 (2/2)
”This is the benefactress of the whole neighborhood.”
Jorgli took the lady's delicate hand in his large one, and said:
”I've heard of you before. You are a n.o.ble woman; it is well. In old times women were not of so much account as they are now. But it is quite right now. And is that your son? Did you not once come to see me when you were a student? You have behaved yourself n.o.bly.”
He clapped the lieutenant on the shoulder, and every one was astonished that Walderjorgli still talked so well, and knew everything that was going on. It was considered a great honor to be spoken to by him.
t.i.tus said very cleverly what an honor it was that Walderjorgli had come to the celebration, and begged that he would ascend the platform and speak a few pithy words to the a.s.sembly. The judge's wife added that it would be a precious memory to old and young, to children and children's children, if they could say that they had heard the last Master of Justice speak.
Walderjorgli looked at t.i.tus and the judge's wife with a penetrating, almost contemptuous glance; for he was not vain, nor did he wish to be considered wise, and play the part of a prophet; so he shook his great head, and stuck his thumbs into the arm-holes of his long red vest, but straightened himself to his full height, and his eyes sparkled, when the district forester, who knew exactly how to deal with Jorgli, added that it would be well if the clergy were not allowed to entirely monopolize everything, even the soldier's a.s.sociations, and to dedicate the flag; it would be particularly appropriate that a man like Jorgli should drive the nail that fastened the flag to the staff: the Emperor Joseph would certainly have approved of that.
When the Emperor Joseph was mentioned it seemed as if a new life were awakened in Jorgli. Around Emperor Joseph, who was venerated like a holy martyr, were gathered recollections of Jorgli's father, which he almost considered events in his own life.
He clenched his hands, and raising his arms, said, ”Very well; so let it be.”
He was led to the platform, and boundless were the acclamations of joy when he appeared, supported on the right hand by t.i.tus, and on the left by the lieutenant.
There fell such a silence that the people noticed the whirring of the wings of a pair of doves which flew over the speaker's stand. Pointing to them, Jorgli cried:
”There they fly! One says not to the other, 'We will turn this way or that.' Their flight agrees by nature. So it is. Agreeing by nature--”
He paused, and seemed unable to proceed. The figure had evidently led him off from what he meant to say. He looked around perplexed, and seemed not to be able to speak another word--yes, even to have forgotten that he stood upon the platform.
His two companions above, and the audience below, stood in painful embarra.s.sment. It was wrong to have brought an old man of a hundred on the stand.
Just then the district forester, who stood near, said audibly, ”Emperor Joseph.”
Jorgli opened his mouth wide and nodded. Yes, now he had his guiding-star again. Almost inaudibly, and in a very confused manner, he spoke of the Emperor Joseph and of the new emperor. Only this much was plain--that he considered the present emperor as the direct successor and continuer of the Emperor Joseph's struggles against the Pope.
t.i.tus handed Jorgli a nail, and the lieutenant gave him a hammer. He nailed the flag to the flag-staff, and this widely visible act was more than the best speech; and he left the stand amid cheers and the sounds of trumpets.
He immediately called for his wagon. He wished to go home, and no one dared urge him to remain.
The four-horse wagon drove up the meadow. Landolin pushed his way up to it, and said, ”Jorgli, I will go home with you. Take me along.”
”Give my greetings to your wife,” said Jorgli, turning away from him.
He let himself be helped into the wagon, and then drove away. The wheels were hardly heard on the meadow, and the people on both sides saluted reverently, as they made way for him.
”How glad I should have been, if I could have sat in the wagon beside him!” thought Landolin.
No one ever prayed--no one ever offered to an angel,--to a saint,--more childlike pet.i.tions than these--”Take me with you; deliver me from this misery,”--which had just pa.s.sed Landolin's lips. But in these days the best are no longer good, and have no pity.
When Jorgli had gone the merriment began anew. They invited one another to drink, and new groups were soon formed. Only Landolin was not invited. He stood alone. Stop! Landolin struck his hand on his pocket, and the money jingled. With that a man can call a comrade who will talk with him better than any one else, and make him forget his cares.
He turned away from the meadow, and went to the city side of the Sword Inn. There were no guests there to-day. An old servant brought him wine. He drank alone, and had his gla.s.s refilled again and again.
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