Part 20 (2/2)

Willibald was roused now. He continued: ”I am no boy, I am the heir of Burgsdorf, and twenty-seven years old. You have always forgotten that, mother, and so have I, for that matter, but I remember it to-day.”

Frau von Eschenhagen gazed astonished at her son, so tractable all his life until this moment. ”I verily believe you are becoming refractory.

Let us have no more of it, for you know I would never permit such a thing. What has come over you that you make such reckless a.s.sertions?

Because I have seen fit to bring this very unsuitable intercourse to an end, and dismiss this Marietta, do you take it upon yourself, as soon as my back is turned, to make formal apologies and present her with roses which you have just plucked for your bride? I don't know what's come over you. It's the first time in your life you ever acted so. Toni will be very much displeased when she learns what has become of her roses. It served you just right to have the little vixen trample them under foot.

You won't be guilty of such idiotic folly soon again, I fancy.”

”I did not pluck the roses for Toni, but for Fraulein Volkmar,” Will explained, defiantly.

”For--?” the name stuck in the excited woman's throat.

”For Fraulein Volkmar! She was wis.h.i.+ng she had a rose to wear in her hair this evening, and said she could not get any in Waldhofen. So I went to the gardener and got them for her--now you know all about it, mother.”

Frau von Eschenhagen stood like the pillar of salt; she had become deadly pale and for a moment the light seemed to go out; she saw such fearful possibilities that she lost all power of speech and motion. Then suddenly she regained all her old strength. She grasped her son's arm impressively, as if to make sure of him under all circ.u.mstances, and said curtly:

”Will--we will start to-morrow.”

”Start where?”

”For home. We will start early, at eight o'clock, in order to catch the afternoon express, and reach Burgsdorf the day following. So go at once to your room and do your packing.”

The commanding tone did not this time make the slightest impression on her son. ”I do not intend to pack,” he declared, doggedly.

”You will pack at once, I tell you!”

”No,” said the son. ”If you wish to go, mother, then go--I remain here.”

This was rebellion, and it removed the last doubt in the mother's mind that there was something at the bottom of all her son's a.s.sertiveness.

She said now in her hardest tone: ”Boy, wake up, be yourself again! I really don't believe you know what has come over you. But I will tell you. You are in love--in love with Marietta Volkmar.”

She brought out the last words in a towering rage, but Will was not overwhelmed by them. He stood for a moment staring in surprise, as if wondering if it was really that which had overtaken him, then a light seemed to dawn upon him.

”O!” he said, drawing a deep breath, and a slight smile flitted across his face.

”O! is that your only answer?” broke forth the furious mother, who, in spite of everything, still hoped for a contradiction. ”You do not even deny it. And this is what I must live to see in my own son, whom I educated so carefully and never allowed to leave my side. While I was having you watch and protect your betrothed from this infamous woman, you were acting a hypocrite. And she playing the virtuous, deeply injured part before me, that creature--”

”Mother, be silent! I will not allow that,” interrupted Willibald, angry too, now.

”You will not allow it--what does that mean?”

Frau von Eschenhagen stopped suddenly and listened.

”There comes Toni, your betrothed bride, to whom you have pledged your word, who wears your ring. How do you purpose treating her?” She had at last found the right means to conquer her son, who now hung his head despondently as Antonie entered the room.

”You're here already, are you, Will?” she asked. ”I thought--but what is the matter? Has anything happened?”

”Yes,” said Regine, who, as usual seized the reins without fear. ”We have just received a telegram from Burgsdorf which will compel us to start for home to-morrow morning. You need not be alarmed, my dear child, it is nothing serious, only a piece of stupidity,”--she laid a sharp accent upon the last words,--”a piece of stupidity which will soon right itself, and the sooner its checked, the sooner the matter'll be ended. I'll explain it all to you later, but we must go now; it can't be helped.”

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