Part 86 (1/2)
They repeated the verse again, although, at times, the joyous shouting of the child and the neighing of the foal bade fair to interrupt it.
The singing and shouting was suddenly interrupted by a young sailor, who cried out:
”There's some one floating there! it's a human being--there! the head's over water! don't you see it? there's the long, coal-black hair floating on the water. Some woman's drowned herself, or has fallen overboard.”
Every one in the boat looked toward the point indicated. The object rose and fell on the waves. It appeared to be a human face that would, now and then, rise to the surface and sink again. All were dumb with terror, and Hansei rubbed his eyes, asking himself: ”Was it imagination or was it reality?” He thought he had recognized the face of Black Esther rising on the waves and sinking again. It floated on, further and further, and, at last, sank out of sight.
”It's nothing,” said Walpurga, ”it's nothing. Don't let us make ourselves unhappy.”
”You're a stupid fellow,” said the old boatman, scolding his comrade.
”It was nothing but a dead crow or some other bird floating on the water. Who'd say such a thing?” added he in a whisper. ”If we get but little drink-money, it'll be your fault. They were so happy that they'd have given us a thaler at least, but now you can see Hansei rummaging in his purse. He's looking for small change, and it's all your fault.”
Without knowing why, Hansei had indeed pulled out his purse, and was fumbling in it. He was so bewildered with what he had seen--it was true, after all--but it could not be right--just now--to-day, when all was forgiven and past; and, after all, he hadn't sinned.
In order to regain his composure, he counted out several pieces of money. That restored his spirits. He was able to count; his senses had returned. He had resigned the oar and, with his piece of chalk, had actually been making some calculations on the bench. But he soon rubbed them out again.
”There's the other sh.o.r.e,” said he, looking up and lifting his hat, ”we'll soon be there. I can see the wagon and horses and Uncle Peter there already. I can see our blue chest.”
”Heavens!” cried Walpurga, and the oar remained motionless in her hands. ”Heavens! Who is it? Who is that figure? I can take my oath that, while we were singing, I thought to myself: If only my good Countess Irma could see us sitting in the boat together. It would have made her happy to see that, and just then it seemed to me as if--”
”I'm glad,” said Hansei, interrupting her, ”that we're getting to sh.o.r.e.
If this lasts much longer, we'll all lose our wits.”
On the distant sh.o.r.e, some one was seen running to and fro. The figure was wrapped in a flowing dress, and suddenly started when the wind wafted the sound of music across toward her. She sank to the earth and seemed to be crouching on the bank. Now that the sound had died away, she arose and fled, disappearing among the bushes.
”Didn't you see anything?” asked Walpurga again.
”Yes, indeed. If I was superst.i.tious, and it wasn't in the day-time, I'd have thought it was the Lady of the Lake.”
The boat reached the bank. Walpurga was the first to leap ash.o.r.e.
Leaving her people, she ran toward the bushes as fast as she could, and there, behind the willows, the figure fell on her neck and fainted.
BOOK V.
CHAPTER I.
The summer was almost at an end when the court returned from the baths.
The king's first official act was to sign the proclamation of the Schnabelsdorf ministry, dissolving the refractory Chamber of Deputies and ordering a new election.
The king was displeased; and yet, that which now surprised him was the inevitable consequence of his previous doings. He had returned in high spirits, but, like an importunate creditor, the state was already thrusting its claims upon him.
He felt happy that his government met with popular approval; but that, he thought, should be a matter of course. And now a great question was to be submitted to the country, and there were doubts as to what the answer might be.