Part 8 (1/2)
”And your old home?”
”It has pa.s.sed into other hands. On the death of both my parents, which occurred within a few years, I was left entirely without resources, save such as I could create for myself, and it became necessary to dispose of the estate in order to get the means which I required to pursue my studies.”
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to be thus confiding to Odile my intimate affairs, though ordinarily I guarded such matters with jealous care; but I felt, I know not why, that her expression of interest was more a wish to learn the real facts of my condition than merely to evince a civil concern in my interests. Such feelings are intangible; they cannot be explained.
”You are living now in Tubingen?”
”Yes; after six years' study in Germany and France, I have returned to the scenes of earlier times to try what fortune may have in store for me. I feel that I never should be contented anywhere else; and I am better satisfied to remain here with a modest success than in the cities with, maybe, a more considerable one.”
”How well I can understand that feeling,” replied the Countess musingly.
”Long ago, when we used to visit the court each year, I remember that, in spite of all its gaieties and pleasures, so well calculated to charm young minds, I was always glad when the time came to return to the Castle; and that for a girl of eighteen is unusual, I think.”
I was silently musing upon the fair face opposite me, and the charming personality of my n.o.ble hostess, which piqued my curiosity and aroused in me a singular desire to learn more of it. The young Countess conducted the affairs of the table with captivating grace, and the ready Offenloch was ever on the watch for her slightest nod or glance.
Truly, I felt myself under a spell no less potent than the companions of Ulysses of old.
Rousing myself at length from these agreeable reflections, I resumed:
”You too, mademoiselle, are fond of the hunt, I suppose? for the Count's devotion to it is proverbial.”
”Yes!” she replied, ”when it is not a deer or fox that is being hunted.
Somehow the wild boar claims less of my sympathy, for it is often a question which comes off the better, the man or the beast.”
The truth of this remark it was reserved for me to learn at a later day.
”As for me, I have never had any experience in the chase, as the years which I might have spent so were pa.s.sed in foreign cities, but some time I hope to give it a thorough trial.”
A pause succeeded, during which Odile prepared the coffee. From time to time I glanced at Marie, whose admiration for my person expressed the evening before seemed in no way to have decreased, judging from the senile simper which invariably appeared on her face when she caught my eye.
”This Castle has an indescribable charm for me,” I continued after a little; ”it has such a delightfully ancient air, and its old stones seem so full of romance;” and my eyes wandered to the two suits of armor at the further end of the room, which from their shadowy corners nodded at each other, gaunt and sightless, in the uncertain firelight.
”I am fond of it,” replied Odile; ”indeed, I feel that I could never be happy anywhere else; but at times it is lonely, nevertheless.”
Then I began to reflect upon the singular vow which this charming young creature, so eminently lovable in every trait of character and person, had taken, it seemed almost wantonly and in a spirit of perversity; and yet I was satisfied that no such explanation could be sufficient, for I felt instinctively that no small or trivial thought could gain admittance to Odile's mind.
”Perhaps,” I thought, ”some day the wanderer will come to implant the magic kiss, and she, like others of her sisters, will be obliged to obey the inexorable laws of the little G.o.d.”
So I thought. It seemed to me that one might be happy here, could he continue forever, as I was then, in Odile's companions.h.i.+p, amid gay companies and festivals, hunting-parties and the like, which I felt would become immediately inaugurated, were the Count's recovery to become an established fact. Then my thoughts reverted once more to my patient, and, speculating for the fiftieth time on all that Sperver had told me of his master, I was recalled to a less alluring train of reflections, and I became grave as I realized the burden of duty which rested upon me.
An hour pa.s.sed, the breakfast was finished. I rose and took leave of the Countess, who inclined her head with a friendly smile. As I stepped into the hallway, I descried Sperver in the distance.
”The Count has waked, and he wishes to see you,” he said, as he reached me.
”He is no worse?” I asked.
”Apparently not; he seems quiet enough.”
Still engrossed with the experience of the last hour pa.s.sed in the dining-room, I moved along with Sperver down the corridor.