Part 9 (1/2)
”So that's what you call a sensible choice, do you, when a girl of eighteen marries a man old enough to be her father?” asked Schonau, who, in the heat of discussion, came back to his sister-in-law again. ”To be sure she has a high place in society now, as the wife of His Excellency, the Amba.s.sador, and is a baroness and all that. But to me this beautiful, cool Adelheid, with her 'sensible' ideas, which would do a grandmother credit, is not at all sympathetic. A thoughtless maiden, who falls over head and ears in love, and then declares to her parents, 'This one, or none,' suits me far better.”
”Those are fine opinions for the father of a family to express,” cried Frau von Eschenhagen, much ruffled. ”It's a good thing that Toni inherited my sister's good sense, otherwise she would be coming to you with some such a speech one of these days. But Stahlberg educated his daughter better. I know it from himself. She was trained to follow his wishes, and accepted Herbert at once when he offered himself. But of course you know nothing about educating children; it stands to reason that you should not.”
”What? I, a man and a father, and know nothing about educating children?” cried Schonau, red with anger. They were now both on the fair way to have another pitched battle, when they were happily interrupted by the appearance of a young girl, the daughter of the house, who stepped out on the terrace at this moment.
Antonie von Schonau could never be called beautiful, but she had her father's fine figure and a fresh, glowing face, with clear brown eyes.
Her nut-brown hair was laid in smooth braids around her head, and her attire, although perfectly suitable for a girl of her station, was yet quite simple. But Antonie was in the first bloom of youth, and that charm outweighed all others. As she stepped out now, looking so fresh and rosy and healthy, she was a daughter after Frau Regine's own heart, and that lady immediately brought the strife to an end and gave her a smiling nod.
”Father, the carriage is on its way back from the station,” said the young lady, in very deliberate, almost drawling tones. ”It is at the foot of the castle hill already, and Uncle Wallmoden will be here in fifteen minutes.”
”Bless me, they have driven quickly!” exclaimed her father, whose face had cleared at the news. ”Are the guest chambers in order?”
Toni nodded composedly, as if to say her duties were never neglected; then, as her father left the terrace to watch the approach of the guests, Frau von Eschenhagen, with a glance at the basket which the girl carried on her arm, said:
”Well, Toni, you are always busy.”
”I have been in the kitchen-garden, dear auntie. The gardener declared there were no more ripe pears, so I went out to see for myself, and picked a whole basket full.”
”That's right, my child,” said her future mother-in-law, highly pleased, ”you must keep an eye on the servants and use your hands, too, occasionally, if you want to get on in this world. You'll make a fine housekeeper. But come, now, we must go to meet your uncle, too.”
Herr von Schonau was already far across the terrace, and was just starting down the broad flight of stone steps which led from the castle court, when a man stepped out from one of the side buildings, and stood, respectful and silent, with his hat off.
”Well, Stadinger, is that you? What's brought you to Furstenstein?” the head forester called out. ”Come here!”
Stadinger approached as commanded; in spite of his snow-white hair he came forward with a firm, erect step, while a pair of sharp, dark eyes peered out from his brown, weather-beaten face.
”I was with the castellan, Herr von Schonau,” he explained, ”and have been asking him to lend us a few of his servants to help us, for we're busy up to our eyes at Rodeck, and have not people enough for all the work.”
”Ah, yes, Prince Egon is back from his Oriental tour. I heard that before,” said Schonau. ”But how does it happen that he's come to such a small place as Rodeck, with little room and less comfort?”
Stadinger shrugged his shoulders. ”Heaven knows! But our young prince follows his own sweet will, and no one dare ask why. One morning the news came, and the castle people hardly know whether they are standing on their heads or their heels. I had enough trouble to get the place ready in two days.”
”I can believe that; no one has visited Rodeck for years, but the prince's visit will put some life in the old walls, at any rate.”
”Well, it turns everything topsy-turvey,” growled the castle steward.
”If you only knew how we have been upset, Herr Schonau. The hunting-room is crammed full of lion and tiger skins, and all sorts of stuffed animals, and monkeys and parrots are sitting around in all the rooms.
The whole place is in such an uproar from them that one can't hear one's self speak. And now his highness has just announced to me that there are a troop of elephants and a great sea-serpent on the way. I think I struck a blow at them, though.”
”What is on the way?” inquired the head forester, who did not believe he had heard aright.
”A sea-serpent and a dozen elephants. I have fought against them with all my might. 'Your highness,' I said, 'we cannot accommodate any more animals, and as to the sea-serpent, such a beast will need water and we have no pond at Rodeck. And if the elephants do come we'll have to chain them to trees in the forest, I know no other way.'”
”'That's just the thing' his highness answered, 'just chain them to the trees, that'll be very wild and picturesque, and we'll send the sea-serpent to board at Furstenstein; the castle fish-pond is big enough.' Herr Schonau, he will people the whole neighborhood with these monsters, I believe.”
The head forester laughed aloud, and gave the steward, who seemed to enjoy his special favor, a hearty slap on the shoulder.
”But, Stadinger, have you really taken all this in earnest? You ought to know the prince better. He certainly does not seem to come back any steadier than he went away.”
”No indeed, he does not,” sighed Stadinger. ”And what his highness does not devise for himself, Herr Rojanow hatches for him. He is the worst of the two. It's hard lines that such a dare-devil should be quartered on us.”