Part 9 (2/2)

Suddenly quick steps were heard behind her--she thought ”Jacobi”--turned round, and saw her husband; but never before had she seen him looking as then; there was an excitement, an agitation, in his countenance that terrified her. He threw his arm violently round her waist, riveted his eyes upon her with a glance that seemed as if it would penetrate into her inmost soul.

”Ernst, Ernst, be calm!” whispered she, deeply moved by his state of mind, the cause of which she imagined. He seized her hand and pressed it to his forehead--it was damp and cold; the next moment he was gone.

We will now return to the Candidate.

Wine and love, and excited expectation, had so inflamed the imagination of the young man, that he hardly knew what he did--whether he walked, or whether he flew; and more than once, in descending the stairs, had he nearly precipitated Mrs. Gunilla, who exclaimed with kindness, but some little astonishment, ”The Cross preserve me! I cannot imagine, heart's-dearest, how either you or I go to-night! I think we are all about to--see, now again, all's going mad.--No, I thank you, I'll take care of my nose, crooked as it is. I think I can go safer by myself. I can hold by----”

”A thousand thousand times pardon,” interrupted the Candidate, whilst he pressed Mrs. Gunilla's arm tightly; ”it is all my fault. But now we will go safely and magnificently; I was a little dizzy!”

”Dizzy!” repeated she. ”Heart's-dearest, we should take care on that very account; one should take care of one's head as well as one's heart; one should take care of that, or it may go still more awry than it now is with us! He, he, he, he--but listen to me, my friend,” said Mrs.

Gunilla, suddenly becoming very grave: ”I will tell you one thing, and that is----”

”Your most gracious Honour, pardon me,” interrupted he, ”but I think--I feel rather unwell--I--there, now we are at your door! Pardon me!” and the Candidate tumbled up-stairs again.

In the hall of the Franks' dwelling he drew breath. The thought of the mysterious meeting with Elise filled him at the same time with joy and uneasiness. He could not collect his bewildered thoughts, and with a wildly-beating heart went into the room where Elise awaited him.

As soon as he saw her white lovely figure standing in the magical lamplight his soul became intoxicated, and he was just about to throw himself at her feet, when Elise, hastily, and with dignity, drew back a few paces.

”Listen to me, Jacobi,” said she, with trembling but earnest voice.

”Listen to you!” said he, pa.s.sionately--”oh, that I might listen to you for ever!--oh, that I----”

”Silence!” interrupted Elise, with a severity very unusual to her; ”not one word more of this kind, or our conversation is at an end, and we are separated for ever!”

”Good heavens!” exclaimed Jacobi, ”what have----”

”I beseech you, listen to me!” continued Elise; ”tell me, Jacobi, have I given you occasion to think thus lightly of me?”

Jacobi started. ”What a question!” said he, stammering, and pale.

”Nevertheless,” continued Elise, with emotion, ”I must have done so; your behaviour to me this evening has proved it. Could you think, Jacobi, that I, a wife, the mother of many children, could permit the sentiment which you have been so thoughtless as to avow this evening?

Could you imagine that it would not occasion me great uneasiness and pain? Indeed, it is so, Jacobi; I fear that you have gone sadly wrong; and if I myself, through any want of circ.u.mspection in my conduct, have a.s.sisted thereto, may G.o.d forgive me! You have punished me for it, Jacobi--have punished me for the regard I have felt for you and shown to you; and if I now must break a connexion which I hoped would gladden my life, it is your own fault. Only one more such glance--one more such declaration, as you have made this evening, and you must remove from this house.”

The crimson of shame and indignation burned on Jacobi's cheek. ”In truth,” said he, ”I have not deserved such severity.”

”Ah! examine yourself, Jacobi,” said she, ”and you will judge yourself more severely than I have done. You say that you love me, Jacobi, and you do not dread to destroy the peace and happiness of my life. Already, perhaps, are poisonous tongues in activity against me. I have seen this evening glances directed upon me and upon you, which were not mild; and thoughts and feelings are awakened in my husband's soul, which never ought to have been awakened there. You have disturbed the peace of a house, into which you were received with friends.h.i.+p and confidence. But I know,” continued she, mildly, ”that you have not intended anything criminal!--no bad intentions have guided your behaviour; folly only has led you to treat so lightly that relations.h.i.+p which is the holiest on earth. You have not reflected on your life, on your duty, and your situation, in this family, with seriousness.”

Jacobi covered his face with his hands, and a strong emotion agitated him.

”And seriousness,” again began Elise, with warmth and deep earnestness--”seriousness! how it clothes--how it dignifies the man!--Jacobi, the saviour of my child--my young friend! I would not have spoken thus to you if I had not had great faith on your better--your n.o.bler self;--if I had not hoped to have won a friend in you--a friend for my whole life, for myself and my Ernst. Oh, Jacobi, listen to my prayer!--you are thrown among people who are willing from their very hearts to be your friends! Act so that we may love and highly esteem you; and do not change into grief that hearty goodwill which we both feel for you! Combat against, nay, banish from your heart, every foolish sentiment which you, for a moment, have cherished for me. Consider me as a sister, as a mother! Yes,” continued she, pausing over this word, and half prophetically, ”perhaps you may even yet call me mother; and if you will show me love and faith, Jacobi, as you have said, I will accept it--from my son! Oh, Jacobi! if you would deserve my blessing, and my eternal grat.i.tude, be a faithful friend, a good instructor of my boy--my Henrik! Your talents as a teacher are of no common kind. Your heart is good--your understanding is capable of the n.o.blest cultivation--your path is open before you to all that which makes man most estimable and most amiable. Oh, turn not away from it, Jacobi--tread this path with seriousness----”

”Say not another word!” exclaimed Jacobi. ”Oh, I see all! forgive me, angelic Elise! I will do all, everything, in order to deserve hereafter your esteem and your friends.h.i.+p. You have penetrated my heart--you have changed it. I shall become a better man. But tell me that you forgive me--that you can be my friend, and that you will!”

Jacobi, in the height of his excitement, had thrown himself on his knee before her; Elise also was deeply affected; tears streamed from her eyes, whilst she extended her hand to him, and bending over him said, from the very depths of her heart, ”Your friend, for ever!”

Calmly, and with cheerful countenances, both raised themselves; but an involuntary shudder pa.s.sed through both as they saw the Judge standing in the room, with a pale and stern countenance.

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