Part 51 (1/2)
”And do you know,” interrupted Louise, with animation, ”what I have been thinking of? In the spring she shall come to us and try the milk cure: she shall occupy this room, with the view towards the beautiful birch grove, and shall enjoy the country air, and all the good things which the country affords and which I can obtain for her--certainly this will do her good. Don't you think that then she will recover? Don't you think that it is a bright idea of mine?”
The sisters thought that really it was bright, and Louise continued:
”Now I must show you what I have brought for her. Do you see these two damask breakfast cloths, and these six breakfast napkins?--all spun in the house. I have had merely to pay for the weaving. Now, how do they please you?”
”Oh, excellently! excellently!” said one sister.
”How very handsome! How welcome they will be!” said the other.
”And you must see what I have bought for my father--ah! Jacobi has it in his carpet-bag--one thing lies here and another there--but you will see it, you will see it.”
”What an inundation of things!” said Gabriele, laughing. ”One can see, however, that there is no shortness of money.”
”Thank G.o.d!” said Louise, ”all is comfortable in that respect, though you may very well believe that it was difficult at first; but we began by regulating the mouths according to the dishes. Ever since I married I have had the management of the money. I am my husband's treasurer; he gives over to me whatever comes in, and he receives from me what he wants, and in this way all has gone right. Thank G.o.d, when people love one another all does go right! I am happier than I deserve to be, with such a good, excellent husband, and such well-disposed children. If our little girl, our little Louise, had but lived! Ah! it was a happiness when she was born, after the eight boys; and then for two years she was our greatest delight. Jacobi almost wors.h.i.+pped her; he would sit for whole hours beside her cradle, and was perfectly happy if he only had her on his knee. But she was inexpressibly amiable--so good, so clever, so quiet; an actual little angel! Ah! it was hard to lose her. Jacobi grieved as I have never seen a man grieve; but his happy temperament and his piety came to his help. She has now been dead above a year. Ah!
never shall I forget my little girl!”
Louise's tears flowed abundantly; the sisters could not help weeping with her. But Louise soon collected herself again, and said, whilst she wiped her eyes, ”Now we have also anxiety with little David's ankles; but there is no perfect happiness in this world, and we have no right to expect it. Pardon me that I have troubled you; and now let us speak of something else, whilst I get my things a little in order. Tell me something about our acquaintance--Aunt Evelina is well?”
”Yes, and sits as grandmother of five nephews at Axelholm, beloved and honoured by all. It is a very sweet family that she sees about her, and she has the happiest old age.”
”That is pleasant to hear. But she really deserved to be loved and honoured. Is her Karin also married?”
”Ah, no! Karin is dead! and this has been her greatest sorrow; they were so happy together.”
”Ah, thou heaven! Is she dead? Ah, yes, now I remember you wrote to me that she was dead----Look at this dress, sisters--a present from my dear husband; is it not handsome? and then quite modern. Yes, yes, dear Gabriele, you need not make such an ambiguous face; it is very handsome, and quite in the fas.h.i.+on, that I can a.s.sure you. But, _a propos_, how is the Court-preacher? Exists still in a new form, does it? Now that is good! I'll put it on this afternoon on purpose to horrify Jacobi, and tell him that for the future I intend to wear it in honour of his nomination to the office of court-preacher.”
All laughed.
”But tell me,” continued Louise, ”how will our 'great astonishment' go on? how have you arranged it?”
”In this manner,” returned one of the sisters. ”We shall all meet for a great coffee-drinking in the garden, and during this we shall lead the conversation in a natural sort of way to the piece of ground on the other side the fence, and then peep through the cracks in it, and then express that usual wish that this fence might come down. And then, at this signal, your eight boys, Louise, are to fall on the fence and----”
”How can you think,” said Louise--”to be sure my boys are nimble and strong, but it would require the power of Berserkers to----”
”Don't be alarmed,” answered the sisters, laughing, ”the fence is sawn underneath, and stands only so firm that a few pushes will produce the effect--the thing is not difficult. Besides, we'll all run to the attack, if it be needful.”
”Oh, heaven help us! if it be only so, my young ones will soon manage the business--and _a propos_! I have a few bottles of select white sugar-beer with me, which would certainly please my father, and which will be exactly the right thing if we, as is customary on such occasions, have to drink healths.”
During this conversation little Alfred had gone round ineffectually offering two kisses, and was just on the point of growing angry because his wares found no demand, when all at once, summoning resolution, he threw his arms round Gabriele's neck, and exclaimed, ”Now I see really and thoroughly, that Aunt Gabriele has need of a kiss!” And it was not Aunt Gabriele's fault if the dear child was not convinced how wholly indispensable his gift was.
But Louise still turned over her things. ”Here,” said she, ”I have a waistcoat-piece for Bergstrom, and here a neck-kerchief for Ulla, as well as this little brush with which to dust mirrors and tables. Is it not superb? And see, a little pair of bellows, and these trifles for Brigitta.”
”Now the old woman,” said the sisters, ”will be happy! She is now and then out of humour, but a feast of coffee, and some little present, reconcile her with all the world; and to-day she will get both.”
”And see,” continued Louise, ”how capitally these bellows blow: they can make the very worst wood burn--see how the dust flies!”
”Uh! one can be blown away oneself,” said Gabriele, laughing.
While the sisters were still occupied with cleaning and dusting, and Louise was admiring her own discoveries, the Judge came in, happy and warm.
”What a deal of business is going forward!” exclaimed he, laughing. ”I must congratulate you,” said he, ”Louise; your boys please me entirely.