Part 16 (1/2)
They thought only of the pleasant trip over the swelling billows of the lake. Magde finished lading the skiff; but her heart was overflowing with grief, for she had no glad tidings with which to gladden the heart of the old man.
Nanna who during the busy activity of the morning had successfully endeavored to suppress her sorrow, was so much overcome as she was about stepping into the boat that she nearly fainted. She saw in her imagination the pale and suffering countenance of her father; who was however smiling patiently as he stood ready to greet his children, that were to leave him again in his dreary and lonely prison.
The poor child in antic.i.p.ation suffered all the pangs of a second farewell with her imprisoned parent.
”It will not do for you to accompany us,” said Magde in a firm and motherly tone, ”you are ill, and therefore had better return.”
”I am afraid,” replied Nanna trembling violently, ”that I shall be obliged to do so. Give my love to him, and tell him--” and now her long suppressed tears burst forth in torrents--”tell him if I do not come, it is not because I do not love him.”
”Silence, silence my poor sister, I know myself what I have to say--Go and may G.o.d be with you--here is the key--Lock the door--Carl take the oars.”
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BANISHMENT--THE RE-UNION.
When Magde's boat pa.s.sed the mansion at Almvik, two persons were walking on the verge of the sh.o.r.e near the lake. The one was Mistress Ulrica, and her companion was Gottlieb, who had returned a few days before, from his trip through Norway.
As the boat shot round a rocky point of land, Gottlieb exclaimed, as he recognized its occupants, and bowed friendly to them: ”Where are they all going! They look so sorrowful and dejected!”
”Sorrowful!” repeated Mrs. Ulrica, ”you may thank G.o.d that it is not necessary for you to partic.i.p.ate in the sorrows of the lower cla.s.ses.”
”If they are in trouble, I do not see why I should not sympathise with them.”
Aunt Ulrica shook her head with a dissatisfied expression of countenance.
”You may certainly boast of your firmness of mind, and your knowledge of human nature; I have shown you the danger of a.s.sociating with such persons. I sent you away--I--”
”I beg your pardon,” interrupted Gottlieb, hastily, ”I was not _sent_ away. I took a journey which I had decided on myself, and returned as I departed, with a heart ever ready to sympathise with the afflicted.”
”Then go, and partic.i.p.ate in the sorrows of your beggar friends. I suppose, from your liberal words, that you are well supplied with money.”
”What has happened to them?”
”The old man, in connection with his son, has been detected in smuggling foreign goods, and of course his property was confiscated. The old gentleman in whose name the business was transacted, was sent to prison because he had no money to pay the penalty, and there he will remain until you go to his release.”
”And he shall not wait long,” replied Gottlieb. ”I have accomplished greater undertakings than that in my time.”
”Ah, ha,” sneered Mrs. Ulrica, ”you speak boldly, boy. I am astonished.”
”If any one should be astonished, I am the person.”
”Indeed!”
”I come to relatives who at first welcomed me cordially. My affections attached themselves to my kind friends, for it is a necessary quality for me to be grateful; but suddenly everything is changed, and I am treated like a school boy, whom you must curb, or else fear that he might commit some folly. To this description of guardians.h.i.+p I have not been accustomed, and as it is not my desire to submit to your control, I must beg you, Aunt Ulrica, not to attempt to govern me in this manner, for I a.s.sure you that your efforts will always be fruitless.”
”Foolish boy! You forget that I could be useful to you; could smooth your path by my wealth and influence.”
”I do not forget it, and I should have been very happy to have been able to retain your good will; but at the price of my liberty of thought and action, I do not desire your favor.”