frederick the great and his family-第135节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


isper　such　evil　and　fearful　things　in　the　ears　of　every　returned　soldier；　that　he　will　become　wild　with　rage；　and　distrust　his　wife；　no　matter　how　innocent　she　may　be。〃

〃I　shall　not　be　guilty　of　this　fault；〃　said　Major　du　Trouffle。　〃If　I　find　slander　lying　in　wait　at　my　door；　I　will　kick　it　from　me　and　enter　my　home　calmly　and　smilingly；　without　having　listened　to　her　whispers；　or；　if　I　have　heard　them　involuntarily；　without　believing　them；〃

〃Then　there　will　be　at　least　one　house　in　Berlin　where　peace　will　reign；〃　said　Louise；　sweetly；　〃and　that　house　will　be　ours。　I　welcome　you　in　the　name　of　our　lares；　who　have　been　long　joyfully　awaiting　you。　I　have　also　an　agreeable　surprise　for　you。〃

〃What　surprise；　Louise？〃

〃You　often　told　me　that　my　daughter　Camilla　disturbed　your　happiness；　that　she　stood　like　a　dark　cloud　over　my　past；　which　had　not　belonged　to　you。〃

〃It　is　true！　I　could　not　force　my　heart　to　love　her；　her　presence　reminded　me　always　that　you　had　been　loved　by　another；　had　belonged　to　another；　and　had　been　made　thoroughly　wretched。〃

〃Well　then；　friend；　this　cloud　has　been　lifted　up；　and　this　is　the　surprise　which　awaited　your　return　home。　Camilla　has　been　married　more　than　a　year。〃

〃Married'〃　cried　the　major；　joyfully；　〃who　is　the　happy　man　that　has　undertaken　to　tame　this　wilful　child；　and　warm　her　cold　heart？〃

〃Ask　rather；　who　is　the　unhappy　man　who　was　enamoured　with　this　lovely　face；　and　has　taken　a　demon　for　an　angel？〃　sighed　Louise。　〃He　is　a　young；　distinguished；　and　wealthy　Englishman；　Lord　Elliot；　an　attache　of　the　English　embassy；　who　fulfilled　the　duties　of　minister　during　the　absence　of　the　ambassador；　Lord　Mitchel；　who　was　generally　at　the　headquarters　of　the　king。〃

〃And　Camilla；　did　she　love　him？〃

Louise　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃When　he　made　his　proposals；　she　declared　herself　ready　to　marry　him；　but；　I　believe；　his　presence　was　less　agreeable　and　interesting　to　her　than　the　splendid　gifts　he　daily　brought　her。〃

〃But；　Louise；　it　was　her　free　choice　to　marry　him？　You　did　not　persuade　her？　you　did　not；　I　hope；　in　order　to　humor　my　weakness；　induce　her　by　entreaties　and　representations　to　marry　against　her　will？〃

〃My　friend；〃　said　Louise；　with　the　proud　air　of　an　injured　mother；　〃however　fondly　I　may　have　loved　you；　I　would　not　have　sacrificed　for　you　the　happiness　of　an　only　child。　Camilla　asked　my　consent　to　her　marriage　after　she　had　obtained　her　father's　permission；　and　I　gave　it。　The　marriage　took　place　three　days　after　the　engagement；　and　the　young　pair　made　a　bridal…trip　to　England；　from　which　they　returned　a　few　months　since。〃

〃And　where　are　they　now？〃

〃They　live　in　Berlin　in　an　enchanting　villa；　which　Lord　Elliot　has　converted　into　a　palace　for　his　young　wife。　You　will　see　them　this　evening；　for　they　are　both　here；　and〃

Louise　ceased　to　speak；　a　well…known　voice　interrupted　the　silence；　and　drew　nearer　and　nearer。　〃Ah；〃　whispered　she；　lightly；　〃the　proverb　is　fulfilled；　'Speak　of　the　wolf；　and　he　appears。'　That　is　Lord　Elliot　and　Camilla　speaking　with　such　animation。　Let　us　listen　awhile。〃

The　youthful　pair　had　now　drawn　near；　and　stood　just　before　the　grotto。

〃I　find　it　cruel；　very　cruel；　to　deny　me　every　innocent　pleasure；〃　said　Camilla；　with　a　harsh；　displeased　voice。　〃I　must　live　like　a　nun　who　has　taken　an　eternal　vow；　I　am　weary　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　my　Camilla；　you　slander　yourself　when　you　say　this；　you　are　not　well；　and　you　must　be　prudent。　I　know　you　better　than　you　know　yourself；　my　Camilla。　Your　heart；　which　is　clear　and　transparent　as　crystal；　lies　ever　unveiled　before　me；　and　I　listen　with　devout　love　to　its　every　pulse。　I　am　sure　that　you　do　not　wish　to　dance　to…day；　my　love。〃

〃I　wish　to　dance；　and　I　will　dance；　because　it　gives　me　pleasure。〃

〃Because　you　are　like　a　sweet　child　and　like　the　angels；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　eagerly；　〃your　heart　is　gay　and　innocent。　You　are　like　a　fluttering　Cupid；　sleeping　in　flower…cups　and　dreaming　of　stars　and　golden　sunshine；　you　know　nothing　of　earthly　and　prosaic　thoughts。　I　must　bind　your　wings；　my　beauteous　butterfly；　and　hold　you　down　in　the　dust　of　this　poor；　pitiful　world。　Wait；　only　wait　till　you　are　well；　when　your　health　is　restored；　you　shall　be　richly　repaid　for　all　your　present　self…denial。　Every　day　I　will　procure　you　new　pleasures；　prepare　you　new　_fetes_；　you　shall　dance　upon　carpets　of　roses　like　an　elfin　queen。〃

〃You　promise　me　that？〃　said　Camilla；　〃you　promise　me　that　you　will　not　prevent　my　dancing　as　much　and　as　gayly　as　I　like？〃

〃I　promise　you　all　this；　Camilla；　if　you　will　only　not　dance　now。〃

〃Well；〃　sighed　she；　〃I　agree　to　this；　but　I　fear　that　my　cousin；　Count　Kindar；　will　be　seriously　displeased　if　I　suddenly　refuse　him　the　dance　I　promised　him。〃

〃He　will　excuse　you；　sweetheart；　when　I　beg　him　to　do　so；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　with　a　soft　smile。　〃I　will　seek　him　at　once；　and　make　your　excuses。　Be　kind　enough　to　wait　for　me　here；　I　will　return　immediately。〃　He　kissed　her　fondly　upon　the　brow；　and　hastened　off。

Camilla　looked　after　him　and　sighed　deeply；　then；　drawing　back　the　long　leaves　of　the　palm；　she　entered　the　grotto；　she　stepped　hastily　back　when　she　saw　that　the　green　divan　was　occupied；　and　tried　to　withdraw；　but　her　mother　held　her　and　greeted　her　kindly。　Camilla　laughed　aloud。　〃Ah；　mother；　it　appears　as　if　I　am　to　be　ever　in　your　way；　although　I　no　longer　dwell　in　your　house；　I　still　disturb　your　pleasures。　But　I　am　discreet；　let　your　friend　withdraw；　I　will　not　see　him；　I　will　not　know　his　name；　and　when　my　most　virtuous　husband　returns；　he　will　find　only　two　modest　gentlewomen。　Go；　sir；　I　will　turn　away；　that　I　may　not　see　you。〃

〃I　rather　entreat　you；　my　dear　Camilla；　to　turn　your　lovely　face　toward　me；　and　to　greet　me　kindly；〃　said　Major　du　Trouffle；　stepping　from　behind　the　shadow　of　the　palm；　and　giving　his　hand　to　Camilla。

She　gazed　at　him　questioningly；　and　when　at　last　she　recognized　him；　she　burst　out　into　a　merry　peal　of　laughter。　〃Truly；〃　said　she；　〃my　mother　had　a　rendezvous　with　her　husband；　and　I　have　disturbed　an　enchanting　marriage　chirping。　You　have　also　listened　to　my　married　chirp；　and　know　all　my　secrets。　Well；　what　do　you　say；　dear　stepfather；　to　my　mother　having　brought　me　so　soon　under　the　coif；　and　made　her　wild；　foolish　little　Camilla　the　wife　of　a　lord？〃

〃I　wish　you　happiness　with　my　whole　soul；　dear　Camilla；　and　rejoice　to　hear　from　your　mother　that　you　have　made　so　excellent　a　choice；　and　are　the　wife　of　so　amiable　and　intellectual　a　man。〃

〃So；　does　mamma　say　that　Lord　Elliot　is　all　that？　She　may　be　right；　I　don't　understand　these　things。　I　know　only　that　I　find　his　lordship　unspeakably　wearisome；　that　I　do　not　understand　a　word　of　his　intellectual　essays；　though　my　lord　declares　that　I　know　every　thing；　that　I　understand　every　thing；　and　have　a　most　profound　intellect。　Ah；　dear　stepfather；　it　is　a　terrible　misfortune　to　be　so　adored　and　worshipped　as　I　am；　I　am　supposed　to　be　an　angel；　who　by　some　rare　accident　has　fallen　upon　the　earth。〃

〃Truly　a　misfortune；　for　which　all　other　women　would　envy　you；〃　said　the　major；　laughing。

〃Then　they　would　make　a　great　mistake；〃　sighed　Camilla。　〃I　for　my　part　am　weary　of　this　homage；　I　have　no　desire　to　be；　I　will　not　consent　to　be　an　angel；　I　wish　only　to　be　a　beautiful；　rich　young　woman　and　to　enjoy　my　life。　Do　what　I　will；　my　husband　looks　at　every　act　of　folly　from　an　ideal　stand…point；　and　finds　thus　new　material　for　worship；　he　will　force　me　at　last　to　some　wild；　insane　act　in　order　to　convince　him　that　I　am　no　angel；　but　a　weak　child　of　earth。〃

〃You　were　almost　in　the　act　of　committing　such　a　folly　this　evening；〃　said　her　mother；　sternly。

〃Ah；　you　mean　that　I　wished　to　dance。　But　only　think；　mamma；　with　whom　I　wished　to　dance；　with　my　cousin；　whom　all　the　world　calls　'the　handsome　Kindar；'　and　who　dances　so　gloriously；　that　it　is　a　delight　to　see　him；　and　bliss　to　float　about　with　him。　He　only　returned　this　evening；　and　he　came　at　once　to　me　and　greeted　me　so　lovingly；　so　tenderly；　you　know；　mamma；　we　have　always　loved　each　other　fondly。　When　I　told　him　I　was　married；　he　turned　pale　and　looked　at　me　so　sorrowfully；　and　tears　were　in　his　eyes。　Oh；　mamma；　why　was　I　obliged　to　wed　Lord　Elliot；　who　is　so　grave；　so　wise；　so　learned；　so　virtuous；　and　with　whom　it　is　ever　wearisome？　Why　did　you　not　let　me　wait　till　Kindar　returned；　who　is　so　handsome；　so　gay；　so　ignorant；　before　whom　I　should　never　have　been　forced　to　blush；　no　matter　how　foolish　I　had　been；　and　with　whom　I　should　never　have　been　weary？〃

〃But　how　did　you　know　that　the　handsome　Kindar　wished　to　marry　you？〃　said　Louise；　laughing。

〃Oh；　yes；　mamma；　I　knew　it　well；　he　has　often　told　me　so；　even　when　I　was　a　little　girl　and　he　was　a　cadet。　This　dreadful　war　is　the　cause　of　all　my　misery；　it　led　to　his　promotion；　then　he　must　join　his　regiment；　then；　alas！　I　must　marry　another　before　his　return。〃

〃Yes；　but　a　noble；　intellectual；　and　honorable　cavalier；　who　does　honor　to　your　choice；〃　said　Du　Trouffle。

〃Lord　Elliot　has　red　hair；　squints　with　both　eyes；　and　is　so　long　and　meagre　that　he　looks　more　like　an　exclamation…point　than　a　man。　When　he　appears　before　me　in　his　yellow…gray　riding　costume；　I　am　always　r