Part 10 (1/2)

Jacobi went towards him: ”Judge Frank,” said he, with a firm but humble voice, ”you behold here a----”

”Silence, Jacobi!” interrupted Elise, quickly; ”you need not blush on account of your bended knee, nor is any explanation needful. It is not, is it, Ernst?” continued she, with the undaunted freshness of innocence: ”you desire no explanation; you believe me when I say that Jacobi now, more than ever, deserves your friends.h.i.+p. A bond is formed between us three, which, as I hope before G.o.d, nothing will disturb, and no poisonous tongues censure. You believe me, Ernst?”

”Yes,” said he, giving her his hand; ”if I could not, then----” he did not finish his sentence, but fixed his eyes with a stern expression immovably on her. ”I will speak with you,” said he, after a moment, and in a calmer voice. ”Good night, Mr. Jacobi.”

Jacobi bowed, withdrew a few steps, and then returned. ”Judge Frank,”

said he, in a voice which showed the excitement of his feelings, ”give me your hand; I will deserve your friends.h.i.+p.”

The outstretched hand was grasped firmly and powerfully, and Jacobi left the room in haste.

”Come here, Elise,” said the Judge, with warmth, leading his wife to the sofa, and enclosing her in his arms. ”Speak to me! Tell me, has anything in my behaviour of late turned your heart from me!”

Elise's head sunk upon the breast of her husband, and she was silent.

”Ah, Ernst!” said she at length, with a painful sigh, ”I also am dissatisfied with myself. But, oh!” added she more cheerfully, ”when I lean myself on you thus, when I hear your heart beating, and know what is within that heart, then, Ernst, I feel how I love you--how I believe on you! Then I reproach myself with being so weak, so unthankful, so ready to take offence, then--oh, Ernst! love me! Look on me always as now, then life will be bright to me; then shall I have strength to overcome all--even my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a cloud, only a shadow of mist, and no reality can come between us. But now all is vanished. Now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopholes of my heart--can tell you all my weaknesses----”

”Be still, be still now,” said the Judge, with a bright and affectionate look, and laying his hand on her mouth. ”I have more failings than you; but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me kiss away your tears! Do you not feel, as I do now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each other? Let us forgive and forget, and have peace together. Hereafter, when the error of this time has in some measure pa.s.sed from our remembrance, we will talk it over, and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright between us, and we both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better?

Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence in me?”

”I can! I have!” said she; ”there is not a grain of dust any longer between us.”

”Then we are one!” said he, with a joyful voice. ”Let us, then, in G.o.d's name, go thus together through life. What He has united, let no man, no accident, nothing in this world, separate!”

Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife.

The furrow of disunion bears commonly thorns and thistles, but it may likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] According to the Northern mythology, Nidhogg, the snake-king, lives in Niflhem, the nether world.

CHAPTER XI.

JACOBI.

When Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near his bed. He recognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank, and quickly opened it. A bank-note of considerable value fell out; and the letter contained the following words:

”You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to do as possible. Within, you will find the means of satisfying their demands. Receive it as from a paternal friend, who sincerely wishes you to regard him as such, and who embraces with pleasure an opportunity of making an acknowledgment to the friend and instructor of his children. To the preserver of my child I shall always remain indebted; but should you desire anything, or need anything, do not apply to any other than

”Your friend, E. Frank.”

”He! and he, too!” exclaimed Jacobi, deeply agitated. ”Oh, the kind, n.o.ble, excellent man! And I--I shall, I will become worthy of him! From this day I am a new man!”