第60章

HATE AND LOVE

"Herr Conrector Moritz wishes to pay his respects," called out Trude again.

"We do not wish to receive him," cried Frau von Werrig.

"He dare not presume to enter!" shrieked the general.

Marie cried, "Moritz! Oh! my beloved Moritz," rushing with outstretched arms toward her lover, who just appeared at the door.

"God has sent you to sustain me in this fearful hour."Old Trude peeped through the half-closed door, well satisfied to see her dear young lady folded in Moritz's arms, and her head leaning upon his shoulder. "Yes," she murmured, closing softly the door, "Marie is right, God himself sent her lover in this hour, and Iwould not let her wicked, hard-hearted parents send him away."Quick as thought she turned the key, fastening the door, and betook herself to the farthest room, carefully closing every door between them. "Now we will see for once whether they will show him the door, and pitch him out. No, they will be obliged to listen to him. Old Trude wishes it, for it will make her dear Marie happy. It is all the same to me if the old German tries to scratch my eyes out for it; I will take good care to keep out of his way. I must go and listen once."She put her ear to the keyhole, and then her eye, to see how the quarrellers looked.

At first the general and his wife were quite alarmed, and almost speechless as they witnessed the joyful meeting of the lovers. The father sprang up suddenly, with clinched fist, but instead of bitter invectives only a fearful shriek of pain was heard, as he sank groaning and whimpering into his armchair. The gout had again seized its victim. Anger had excited the general's blood, and had also brought on the pain in his leg again. His wife took no notice of his cries and groans, for it was quite as agreeable to her to be the only speaker, and have her moaning husband a kind of assenting chorus. "Leave each other!" she commanded, as she approached the lovers, flourishing her long shrivelled arms about. "Leave each other, and leave my house!"Laying her hand on Marie's arm, which was thrown around her lover's neck, she endeavored to tear her away, and draw her daughter toward herself. But Marie clung only the more firmly, and Moritz pressed her more fervently to his heart. They heeded not and heard not the outburst of anger which the mother gave way to. They read in each other's eyes the bliss, the joy of meeting again, and the assurance of constant, imperishable love.

"You are pale and thin, my beloved!"

"Sorrow for you is consuming me, Marie, but, thank Heaven, you are unchanged, and beautiful as ever!""Hope and love have consoled and strengthened me, Philip.""Enough! I forbid you to speak another word to each other," and with the power which rage lends, the mother tore Marie away. "Herr Moritz, will you tell me by what right you force yourself into our house, and surprise us like a street-thief in our peaceful dwelling?

But no! you need not tell me, I will not listen to you. Those who permit themselves to enter our room unasked and unwelcomed--I will have nothing to say to them. Leave! there is the door! Out with you, off the threshold!"With calm demeanor, Moritz now approached Fran von Werrig, demanding her pardon, saying: "You see, madame, that I am not so unwelcome here, therefore you will be obliged to let me remain.""Yes, that she will," sneered Trude, outside the door. "It will be difficult for her to send him off so long as I am unwilling.""No, I will not permit it. We have nothing to do with each other.

Out of my sight!--Away!"

"Away!" cried the general. "Oh, the gout, the maddening pains! Icannot throw the bold fellow out of the house! I must lie here, and writhe like a worm! I cannot be master of my house. Oh, oh! what pain!""Stay, Philip," whispered Marie, as she again leaned toward Moritz.

"They wish to sell me and force me to a hated marriage. Do not yield! save me!""You are mine, Marie; yon have sworn to me eternal constancy, and no one can compel you to marry if you do not wish to.""We are her parents; we can, and we will compel her," triumphantly cried Frau von Werrig. "The king has given his consent, and if it is necessary we will drag her to the altar by force!""Do it, mother, and I will say no before all the world.""We will take care that no one hears you but the priest, and he will not listen, as he knows that the king has commanded you to say yes!""But God will hear her, Frau yon Werrig, and He will take vengeance on the cruel, heartless mother.""I will await this vengeance," she sneered. "It does not concern you, and you need not trouble yourself about it. Leave the house!""I came here to speak with you, and I will not go away until you have listened to me.""Then I will leave, for I will not hear you, and I command you to follow me, Marie!"She seized Marie with irresistible force, and drew her toward the side door, which was fast. Then hurried toward the entrance, dragging her daughter after her, but shook it in vain; that door was fastened also.