louisa of prussia and her times-第31节

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he　makes　his　appearance。〃

〃But　suppose　he　does　not　want　to　marry　a　girl　who　does　not　love
him？〃

〃Then　he　is　the　one　who　breaks　off　the　match；　not　I；　and　father
cannot　blame　me　for　it。　But　do　you　not　hear　footsteps　in　the　hall？
It　is　my　betrothed。　I　begged　him　to　be　here　a　quarter　of　an　hour
previous　to　the　commencement　of　the　ceremony；　because　I　desired　to
speak　to　him　about　a　very　serious　matter。　He　is　coming。　Now　pray　go
to　the　parlor；　and　wait　for　me　there。　I　shall　rejoin　you；　perhaps
alone；　and　in　that　case　I　shall　be　free；　perhaps；　however；　Arnstein
will　accompany　me；　and　in　that　eventuality　he　will　have　accepted　the
future　as　I　am　going　to　offer　it　to　him。　Farewell；　sisters；　may　God
protect　us　all。〃

〃May　God　protect　YOU。〃　said　Lydia；　tenderly　embracing　her　sister。
〃You　have　a　courageous　and　strong　soul；　and　I　wish　mine　were　like
yours。〃

〃Would　that　save　you；　Lydia？〃　asked　Fanny；　sharply。　〃Courage　and
energy　are　of　no　avail　in　our　case；　in　spite　of　our　resistance；　we
should　have　to　submit　and　to　suffer。　He　is　coming。〃

She　pushed　her　sisters　gently　toward　the　parlor　door；　and　then　went
to　meet　her　betrothed；　who　had　just　entered。

〃Mr。　Arnstein；〃　said　Fanny；　giving　him　her　hand；　〃I　thank　you　for
complying　so　promptly　with　my　request。〃

〃A　business　man　is　always　prompt；〃　said　the　young　baron；　with　a
polite　bow。

〃Ah；　and　you　treat　this　interview　with　me　likewise　as　a　business
affair？〃

〃Yes；　but　as　a　business　affair　of　the　rarest　and　most　exquisite
character。　A　conference　with　a　charming　young　lady　is　worth　more
than　a　conference　with　the　wealthiest　business　friend；　even　if　the
interview　with　the　latter　should　yield　a　profit　of　one　hundred　per
cent。〃

〃Ah；　I　believe　you　want　to　flatter　me；〃　said　Fanny；　closely　scanning
the　small　and　slender　figure　and　the　pale　face　of　the　baron。

He　bowed　with　a　gentle　smile；　but　did　not　raise　his　eyes　toward　her。
Fanny　could　not　help　perceiving　that　his　brow　was　slightly　clouded。

〃Baron；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　begged　you　to　come　and　see　me；　because　I
do　not　want　to　go　to　the　altar　with　a　lie　on　my　soul。　I　will　not
deceive　God　and　yourself；　and　therefore　I　now　tell　you；　frankly　and
sincerely；　I　do　not　love　you；　baron；　only　my　father's　will　gives　my
hand　to　you！〃

There　was　no　perceptible　change　in　the　young　baron's　face。　He　seemed
neither　surprised　nor　offended。

〃Do　you　love　another　man？〃　he　asked　quietly。

〃No；　I　love　no　one！〃　exclaimed　Fanny。

〃Ah；　then；　you　are　fortunate　indeed；〃　he　said；　gloomily。　〃It　is　by
far　easier　to　marry　with　a　cold　heart；　than　to　do　so　with　a　broken
one；　for　the　cold　heart　may　grow　warm；　but　the　broken　one　never。〃

Fanny's　eyes　were　fixed　steadfastly　on　his　features。

〃Mr。　Arnstein；〃　she　exclaimed；　impetuously；　〃you　do　not　love　me
either！〃

He　forced　himself　to　smile。　〃Who　could　see　youyou；　the　proud；
glorious　beautywithout　falling　in　love　with　you？〃　he　exclaimed；
emphatically。

〃Pray；　no　empty　flatteries；〃　said　Fanny；　impatiently。　〃Oh；　tell　me
the　truth！　I　am　sure　you　do　not　love　me！〃

〃I　saw　you　too　late；〃　he　said；　mournfully；　〃if　I　had　known　you
sooner；　I　should　have　loved　you　passionately。〃

〃But　now　I　am　too　lateand　have　you　already　loved　another？〃　she
asked；　hastily。

〃Yes；　I　love　another；〃　he　said；　gravely　and　solemnly。　〃As　you　ask
me；　I　ought　to　tell　you　the　truth。　I　love　another。〃

〃Nevertheless；　you　want　to　marry　me？〃　she　exclaimed；　angrily。

〃And　you？〃　he　asked；　gently。　〃Do　you　love　me？〃

〃But　I　told　you　already　my　heart　is　free。　I　love　no　one；　while　you
why　don't　you　marry　her　whom　you　love？〃

〃Because　I　cannot　marry　her。〃

〃Why　cannot　you　marry　her？〃

〃Because　my　father　is　opposed　to　it。　He　is　the　chief　of　our　house
and　family。　He　commands；　and　we　obey。　He　is　opposed　to　it　because
the　young　lady　whom　I　love　is　poor。　She　would　not　increase　the
capital　of　our　firm。〃

〃Oh；　eternally；　eternally　that　cold　mammon；　that　idol　to　whom　our
hearts　are　sacrificed　so　ruthlessly！〃　exclaimed　Fanny；　indignantly。
〃For　money　we　sell　our　youth；　our　happiness；　and　our　love。〃

〃I　have　not　sold　my　love。　I　have　sacrificed　it；〃　said　Baron
Arnstein；　gravely；　〃I　have　sacrificed　it　to　the　interests　of　our
firm。　But　in　seeing　you　so　charming　and　sublime　in　your　loveliness
and　glowing　indignation；　I　am　fully　satisfied　already　that　I　am　no
longer　to　be　pitied；　for　I　shall　have　the　most　beautiful　and
generous　wife　in　all　Vienna。〃

〃Then　you　really　want　to　marry　me？　You　will　not　break　off　the　match；
although　your　heart　belongs　to　another　woman；　and　although　you　know
that　I　do　not　love　you？〃

〃My　beautiful　betrothed；　let　us　not　deceive　each　other；〃　he　said；
smiling；　〃it　is　not　a　marriage；　but　a　partnership　we　are　going　to
conclude　in　obedience　to　the　wishes　of　our　fathers。　In　agreeing　upon
this　partnership　only　our　fortunes；　but　not　our　hearts；　were　thought
of。　The　houses　of　Itzig；　Arnstein；　and　Eskeles　will　flourish　more
than　ever；　whether　the　individuals　belonging　to　these　houses　will
wither　is　of　no　importance。　Let　us　therefore　submit　to　our　fate；　my
dear；　for　we　cannot　escape　from　it。　Would　it　be　conducive　to　your
happiness　if　I　should　break　off　the　match？　Your　father　would
probably　select　another　husband　for　you；　perhaps　in　Poland　or　in
Russia；　and　you　would　be　buried　with　all　the　treasures　of　your
beauty　and　accomplishments　in　some　obscure　corner　of　the　world；
while　I　shall　take　you　to　Vienna；　to　the　great　theatre　of　the　world…
…upon　a　stage　where　you　will　at　least　not　lack　triumphs　and　homage。
And　I？　Why　should　I　be　such　a　stupid　fool　as　to　give　you　upyou　who
bring　to　me　much　more　than　I　deserveyour　beauty；　your
accomplishments；　and　your　generous　heart？　Ah；　I　shall　be　the　target
of　general　envy；　for　there　is　no　lady　in　Vienna　worthy　of　being
compared　with　you。　As　I　cannot　possess　her　whom　I　love；　I　may　thank
God　that　my　father　has　selected　you　for　me。　You　alone　are　to　be
pitied；　Fanny；　for　I　cannot　offer　you　any　compensation　for　the
sacrifices　you　are　about　to　make　in　my　favor。　I　am　unworthy　of　you；
you　are　my　superior　in　beauty；　intellect；　and　education。　I　am　a
business　man；　that　is　all。　But　in　return　I　have　at　least　something
to　givewealth；　splendor；　and　a　name　that　has　a　good　sound；　even　at
the　imperial　court。　Let　me；　then；　advise　you　as　a　friend　to　accept
my　handit　is　the　hand　of　a　friend　who；　during　his　whole　life；　will
honestly　strive　to　compensate　you　for　not　being　able　to　give　his
love　to　you　and　to　secure　your　happiness。〃

He　feelingly　extended　his　hand　to　her；　and　the　young　lady　slowly
laid　hers　upon　it。

〃Be　it　so！〃　she　said；　solemnly；　〃I　accept　your　hand　and　am　ready　to
follow　you。　We　shall　not　be　a　pair　of　happy　lovers；　but　two　good　and
sincere　friends。〃

〃That　is　all　I　ask；〃　said　Arnstein；　gently。　〃Never　shall　I　molest
you　with　pretensions　and　demands　that　might　offend　your　delicacy　and
be　repugnant　to　your　heart；　never　shall　I　ask　more　of　you　than　what
I　hope　I　shall　be　able　to　deserveyour　esteem　and　your　confidence。
Never　shall　I　entertain　the　infatuated　pretensions　of　a　husband
demanding　from　his　wife　an　affection　and　fidelity　he　is　himself
unable　to　offer　her。　In　the　eyes　of　the　world　we　shall　be　man　and
wife；　but　in　the　interior　of　your　house　you　will　find　liberty　and
independence。　There　you　will　be　able　to　gratify　all　your　whims　and
wishes；　there　every　one　will　bow　to　you　and　obey　you。　First　of　all；
I　shall　do　so　myself。　You　shall　be　the　pride；　the　glory　and　joy　of
my　house；　and　secure　to　it　a　brilliant　position　in　society。　We　shall
live　in　princely　style；　and　you　shall　rule　as　a　queen　in　my　house。
Will　that　satisfy　you？　Do　you　accept　my　proposition？〃

〃Yes；　I　accept　it；〃　exclaimed　Fanny；　with　radiant　eyes；　〃and　I
assure　you　no　other　house　in　Vienna　shall　equal　ours。　We　will　make
it　a　centre　of　the　best　society；　and　in　the　midst　of　this　circle
which　is　to　embrace　the　most　eminent　representatives　of　beauty；
intellect；　and　distinction；　we　will　forget　that　we　are　united
without　happiness　and　without　love。〃

〃But　there　will　be　a　day　when　your　heart　will　love；〃　said　Arnstein。
〃Swear　to　me　that　you　will　not　curse　me　on　that　day　because　I　shall
then　stand　between　you　and　your　love。　Swear　to　me　that　you　will
always　regard　me　as　your　friend；　that　you　will　have　confidence　in
me；　and　tell　me　when　that　unhappy　and　yet　so　happy　hour　will　strike；
when　your　heart　begins　to　speak。〃

〃I　swear　it　to　you！〃　said　Fanny；　gravely。　〃We　will　always　be　sincere
toward　each　other。　Thus　we　shall　always　be　able　to　avert
wretchedness；　although　it　may　not　be　in　our　power　to　secure
happiness。　And　now；　my　friend；　come；　give　me　your　arm　and　accompany
me　to　the　parlor　where　they　are　already　waiting　for　us。　Now；　I　shall
no　longer　weep　and　mourn　over　this　day；　for　it　has　given　to　me　a
friend；　a　brother！〃

She　took　his　arm　and　went　with　him　to　the　parlor。　A　gentle　smile　was
playing　on　her　lips　when　the　door　was　opened　and　they　entered。　With
an　air　of　quiet　content　she　looked　at　her　sisters；　who　were　standing
by　the　side　of　their　betrothed；　and　had　been　waiting　for　her　with
trembling　impatience。

〃There　is　no　hope　left；〃　murmured　Lydia；　〃she　accepts　her　fate；　too；
and　submits。〃

〃She　follows　my　example；〃　tho