Part 13 (1/2)
”It is certainly very unexpected,” replied the girl.
”Allow me to hope, Fraulein, that at least it was not _undesired_?”
”Oh, no,” said Veronica, laughing, as Cornelia made no answer. ”You may be sure that she belongs to the ranks of your greatest adorers; but she is an obstinate little thing, and never pays any one a compliment willingly.” A glance of earnest entreaty from the Prison Fairy silenced her enthusiastic kindliness.
”Fraulein,” said _Henri_, firmly, ”you have hitherto eluded me in so remarkable a manner that you will not be angry if I now implore you to grant me a few words of explanation? You will not refuse this satisfaction to the man who rejoices in the favor of your honored foster-mother?”
”Do you permit it?” asked Cornelia.
”What would I not permit to you, my dear child?” replied Veronica.
”Speak on; I shall not disturb you, for I must go back to my guests.”
The two were left alone. A violent struggle now arose in Ottmar as to _which_ of his two individualities should rule this scene. It urged _Henri_ irresistibly towards the sofa upon which the beautiful figure had sank, while _Heinrich_ was unwilling to lose any of the precious moments he had longed for during the last weeks. The two natures had never struggled with each other so obstinately before. At last _Henri_ drew back that _Heinrich_ might, so to speak, do him credit with the talented girl. _Heinrich_ seated himself in an arm-chair near the sofa, and tried to collect his thoughts after _Henri's_ fierce revolt.
”So I have found you at last, wonderful, wilful creature!” he began.
”Speak, why have you made it so difficult for me to do so?”
”I would tell you if I did not fear offending you.”
”You cannot offend me, for I intend to learn from you how to become a different person; of course the change must begin with my faults.”
”Well, then,” she said, firmly, ”some years ago there was a great deal said here about a certain Herr von Ottmar, whose rapid rise in a foreign country excited general astonishment. People were delighted with his talents, but hated him for the use he made of them, and feared him as the most zealous instrument of the despotic system of our government. They admired his personal qualities, but blamed the want of principle with which he sought to make them win the hearts of women. I never wished to see this gentleman; for, after all I had heard, I felt a deep repugnance towards him. Suddenly a man appears before me in the prison, whose manner and language stir my inmost soul with sympathetic emotion. Without the slightest restraint I yield to this impression as I do to everything good and beautiful,--and learn that this man, with the lofty, n.o.ble brow, the earnest, expressive glance, is the notorious Ottmar; learn it at the moment when, voluntarily, in mere arrogance, he confesses one of the crimes so often imputed to him. It wounded me all the more because I thought I had discovered at the first glance something rare, ideal, in your character. I had therefore in your case lost the balance which usually aids my intercourse with men. I became deceived, bewildered, almost irresolute, and wavered between my previous conviction and the impression produced by your personal attributes. The former had its sure foundations; the latter I believed to be treacherous, and therefore avoided you so anxiously. I would not allow myself to be bribed by your manners to excuse and forget what my better judgment must condemn.”
”And the step towards the right path which you afterwards saw me take?”
asked _Heinrich_.
”Increased my sympathy for you, and at the same time my doubts. A secret power urged me to defend you when you were attacked, and yet I did not believe what I said myself. This is why my adopted mother cla.s.sed me among your adorers, and thought to give me pleasure by inviting you here; but I do not at all approve of such a step. You are the petted hero of the day; every one is crowding around you. It is bitter to me to be compelled to think that you could charge us with obtrusiveness.”
”I understand you, Fraulein,” said _Heinrich_; ”but you seem to be in error. Fraulein von Albin had an excellent reason for inviting me, for I called upon her yesterday.”
”What! did you do that?” exclaimed Cornelia, an expression of joy flas.h.i.+ng over her face.
”Did you not know it?”
”No! I suppose Veronica said nothing about it on purpose to surprise me. She certainly desires nothing but to give pleasure, and her simple nature chooses every conceivable means of doing so. But how did you happen to come to this quiet home?”
”Because I was seeking _you_.”
”And why?”
”Because I am superst.i.tious enough to see in our meeting the hand of fate, and had an irresistible impulse to follow the hint; because I expect to receive from you the only salvation I can still obtain; because--ah, let me speak frankly!--because you please me infinitely.”
”You have probably said that to a great many persons,” replied Cornelia, coldly.
_Heinrich_ looked her steadily and frankly in the face. ”Certainly I have. Why should I not? I did not say that you _alone_ please me.”
Cornelia blushed. ”That is at least sincere.”
”As we always will be towards each other,” said _Heinrich_, firmly. ”In your youthfully hasty judgment you have placed me in the position of a criminal. I will not justify myself, but afford you the possibility of doing so. To deny my faults would help you very little, but I will teach you to understand them. First of all, let us be perfectly clear in regard to the relation in which we wish to stand towards each other, then you will trust me more. I perceive, by your last remark, that you consider me a universal gallant. You are mistaken, Fraulein; I do not love you, and I desire no such feeling from you. Do not fear that you will be compelled to listen to tender declarations from me; I should not venture to offer you a heart which you know has already loved so often! But I offer you a feeling that hitherto has slumbered in my soul, pure and unprofaned; I offer you the truest, most devoted friends.h.i.+p. If you will neither accept nor respond even to _this_, I ask of you a portion of that philanthropy whose missionary you are,--I ask and demand from you that Christianity which vouchsafes to all the same blessing, and excludes none who truly desire it.”