Part 167 (1/2)
He wore a light dress and a hat with a feather. She felt as if her heart must burst and, with convulsive grip, she held fast to one of the iron rails of the fence in order to support herself. Then she walked on toward the garden-gate.
”Frau von Gerloff--the prince--my child! my child!” she cried, while she rushed toward the prince and, kneeling down in the gra.s.s, kissed and embraced him.
The boy screamed.
”Oh, that's his voice!” cried Walpurga.
Startled for a moment, Frau von Gerloff stood there as if rooted to the spot. Then she approached and ordered Walpurga away. The servants also advanced and ordered her to go. The prince nestled against Frau von Gerloff, as if to hide himself.
Walpurga was still kneeling in the gra.s.s, and could not rise.
”He don't know me any more, and I'm his nurse!” she cried, looking around confusedly at those about her. Her voice seemed to exert an influence on the child. It turned its face toward her. It was flushed with red and a tear still hung on his eyelashes, although his face was wreathed in smiles.
”G.o.d greet you!” said he. He had been taught this expression, on account of their sojourn in the country.
”He can say 'G.o.d greet you'--oh, he can speak! Dear me, he can speak!
Now just say, 'Walpurga,' child. Can you say, 'Walpurga'?”
”Walpurga,” repeated the child.
The queen approached, attended by Countess Brinkenstein and Paula.
Walpurga was about to hasten toward her, but the queen motioned her away, and ordered Frau von Gerloff to remove the prince. The prince was led out of the garden, but he looked back at Walpurga, who nodded to him and quite forgot that she was in the presence of the queen, until the latter said:
”You have thrust yourself in here. You must certainly be aware that we did not desire to see you, and you know why.”
”I don't want to defend myself now. I've come for something else,”
urged poor Walpurga.
”What is it?” asked the queen.
Breathing heavily, and with frequent pauses, Walpurga hurriedly said:
”Your Majesty, one may be looked upon as wicked, or may not be looked upon at all, and yet be honest. You and I are both of us in good health and can settle that some other time. But I have a few words to tell you--quite alone. Dear queen! for mercy's sake!--you'll be glad of it to your dying hour. Dear queen, you must die as well as the rest of us--I beg you, for pity's sake, listen to me alone, only for one minute! Send the others away, there's no time to lose!”
The queen motioned Countess Brinkenstein and Paula to withdraw. She was alone with Walpurga, and the latter, with throbbing heart, said:
”Irma lives!”
”What do you say?”
”She's dying; perhaps she's dead by this time!”
”I don't understand you. Are you mad?”
”No, dear queen. Sit down here on this seat. You're trembling all over.
I've been awkward about it, but I couldn't help it. But it doesn't matter about me, now. Do with me what you choose--Irma lives--perhaps only this day, perhaps not even that long. Dear queen, you must go with me. You must go to her. It's all that's left her on earth--A single word--a hand--”
Countess Brinkenstein and Paula, who saw that the queen was leaning back, as pale as death, hurried to her a.s.sistance. As soon as she heard the rustling of their dresses, she raised herself and said:
”Walpurga, repeat what you have just told me.”