Barbara Blomberg — Complete

by Georg Ebers

  CHAPTER XVII.

  As soon as the captain's limping steps died away on the stairs, Wolfsummoned all his courage and moved nearer to Barbara.

  His heart throbbed anxiously as he told himself that the next fewminutes would decide his future destiny.

  As he saw her before him, fairer than ever, with downcast eyes, silentand timid, without a trace of the triumphant self-assurance which shehad gained during his absence, he firmly believed that he had made theright choice, and that her consent would render him the most enviableof happy mortals. If she refused him her hand--he felt this no lessplainly--his life would be forever robbed of light and joy.

  True, he was no longer as blithe and full of hope as when he entered herplain lodgings a short time before.

  The doubt of the worthy man, behind whom the house door had just closed,had awakened his doubts also. Yet what he now had it in his power tooffer, since his conversation with the syndic, was by no means trivial.He must hold fast to it, and as he raised his eyes more freely to herhis courage increased, for she was still gazing at the floor in silentsubmission, as if ready to commit her fate into his hands; nay, in thebrief seconds during which his eyes rested upon her, he perceived anexpression which seemed wholly alien to her features, and bestowed uponthis usually alert, self-assured, vivacious creature an air of wearyhelplessness.

  While he was generally obliged to maintain an attitude of defence towardher, she now seemed to need friendly consolation. So, obeying a hastyimpulse, he warmly extended both hands, and in a gentle, sympathizingtone exclaimed, "Wawerl, my dear girl, what troubles you?"

  Then her glance met his, and her blue eyes flashed upon him with anexpression of defiant resistance; but he could not help thinking of theyoung witch who was said to have resembled her, and a presentiment toldhim that she was lost to him.

  The confirmation of this foreboding was not delayed, for in a tone whoserepellent sternness startled him, she angrily burst forth: "What shouldtrouble me? It as ill becomes you to question me with such looks andqueries as it pleases me." Wolf, in bewilderment, assured her that shehad seemed to him especially charming in her gracious gentleness. Ifanything had happened to cloud her fearless joyousness, let her forgetit, for the matter now to be considered concerned the happiness of twohuman lives.

  That was what she was saying to herself, Barbara replied in a morefriendly tone, and, with newly awakened hope, the young knight informedher that the time had now come when, without offending against modesty,he might call himself a "made man."

  With increasing eagerness and confidence he then told her what thecouncillor had offered. Without concealing her father's scruples,he added the assurance that he felt perfectly secure against thetemptations of which there would certainly be no lack while he was inthe service of a Protestant magistracy.

  "And when you, devout, pure, true girl, stand by my side," he concludedwith an ardour which surprised Barbara in this quiet, reserved man,"when you are once mine, my one love, then I shall conquer the hardestobstacle as if it were mere pastime, then I would not change places withthe Emperor, for then my happiness would be----"

  Hitherto she had silently permitted him to speak, but now her cheekssuddenly flamed with a deep flush, and she warmly interrupted: "Youdeserve to be happy, Wolf, and I could desire nothing more ardently thanto see you glad and content; but you would never become so through me.How pale you grow! For my sake, do not take it so much to heart; itgrieves me to see you suffer. Only believe that. It cuts me to the heartto inflict such great sorrow upon one so loyal, good, and dear, whovalues me so much more than I deserve."

  Here Wolf, deeply agitated, wildly called her name, and besought hernot to cast aside so harshly the wealth of love and fidelity which heoffered.

  His own anguish of soul, and the pain inflicted by the cruel blow whichcrushed his dearest hopes, robbed him of fortitude and calmness. Withtears in his eyes, he threw himself on his knees before her and gazedinto her face with anxious entreaty, exclaiming brokenly: "Do not--donot inflict this suffering upon me, Wawerl! Rob me of everything excepthope. Defer your acceptance until I can offer you a still fairer future,only be merciful and leave me hope!"

  Tears now began to glitter in Barbara's eyes also, and Wolf, noticingit, hastened with reviving courage to assure her how little it wouldcost him to reject, once for all, to please her, the tempting positionoffered to him here. He could soon obtain a good office elsewhere, sincetheir Majesties were not only favourably disposed toward him, but nowtoward her also. True, to him even the most brilliant external gifts oflife would be valueless and charmless without her love.

  But here Barbara imperatively commanded him to rise, and not make hisown heart and hers still heavier without avail.

  Wolf pressed his hands upon his temples as violently as if he fearedlosing his senses; but the young girl voluntarily put her arm aroundhis shoulders, and said with sincere emotion: "Poor Wolf! I know howthoroughly in earnest you are, but I dare not even leave you hope--Ineither can nor ought. Yet you may hear this: From my childhood you havebeen dearer to me than any one else, and never shall I forget how firmlyyou cling to me, how hard it is for you to give me up."

  Then Sir Wolf vehemently asked to know what stood between them; andBarbara, after a brief pause for reflection, answered, "Love foranother."

  The confession pierced him like a dagger thrust, and he passionatelyentreated her to tell him the name of the man who had defrauded him ofthe happiness to which he possessed an older and better right than anyone else.

  He paced the room with long strides as he spoke, gazing around him as ifhe imagined that she had his rival concealed somewhere.

  In doing so his glance fell upon Herr Schlumperger's bouquet, and hewildly cried: "He? So, after all, wealth----"

  But this was too much for Barbara, and she stopped him with theexclamation: "Fool that you are! As if You did not know that I am not tobe bought for the paltry florins of a Ratisbon moneybag!"

  But the next instant she had repented her outbreak, and in words soloving and gentle, so tender and considerate that his heart melted andhe would fain have flung himself again at her feet, she explained tohim more particularly why she was obliged to inflict this suffering uponhim.

  Her heart was no longer free, and precisely because he was worthy of thewhole affection of a loyal heart she would not repay him in worthlessmetal for the pure gold of his love. She was no prophetess, yet she knewfull well that some day he would bless this hour. What she concealedfrom every one, even her father, as an inviolable secret, she hadconfessed to him because he deserved her confidence.

  Then she began to speak of Dr. Hiltner's offer, and discussed its prosand cons with interest as warm as if her own fate was to be associatedwith his.

  The result was that she dissuaded him from settling in Ratisbon. Sheexpected higher achievements from him than he could attain here amongthe Protestants, who, on account of his faith, would place many astumbling-block in his way.

  Then, changing her businesslike tone, she went on with greater warmth tourge him, for her sake, and that he might be the same to her as ever, toremain loyal to the religion they both professed. She could not fulfilhis hopes, it is true, but her thoughts would often dwell with him andher wishes would follow him everywhere. His place was at court, wheresome day he would win a distinguished position, and nothing could renderher happier than the news that he had attained the highest honour,esteem, and fame.

  How gentle and kind all this sounded! Wolf had not imagined that shecould be so thoughtful, so forgetful of self, and so affectionate inher sympathy. He hung upon her lips in silent admiration, yet it wasimpossible for him to determine whether this sisterly affection fromBarbara was pouring balm or acrid lye upon his wounds.

  Positively as she had refused to answer his question concerning thehappy mortal whom she preferred to him, Wolf could not help secretlysearching for him.

  Agitated and tortured to the verge of despair, even the friendlinesswith which she was tryi
ng to sweeten his cruel fate became unbearable,and while she was entreating him to continue to care for her and toremain on the same terms of intimacy with her father and herself, hesuddenly seized her hand, covered it with ardent kisses, and then,without a farewell word, hastily left the room.

  When Barbara was alone she retired into the bow-window and fell into asilent reverie, during which she often shook her head, as if amazed atherself, and often curled her full lips in a haughty smile.

  The maid-servant brought in the modest meal.

  Her father had forgotten it, but he would undoubtedly find moresubstantial viands at the Black Bear. Barbara was speedily satisfied.How poorly the food was cooked, how unappetizing was the serving! Whenthe maid had removed the dishes, Barbara continued her reverie, and evenher father had never gazed into vacancy with such gloomy earnestness.

  What would she now have given for a mother, a reliable, faithfulconfidante! But she had none; and Wolf, on whose unselfish love shecould depend, was the last person whom she could initiate into hersecret.

  Her father!

  If she had confided to him the matter which so deeply troubled her andyet filled her with the greatest pride, the poor old warrior, who valuedhonour far more than life, would have turned her out of the house.

  Early that morning she had averted her lips from his because she feltas if the Emperor's kiss had consecrated them. She was still under themastery of the feeling that some disagreeable dream had borne her backto these miserable rooms, while her true place was in the magnificentapartments of royalty.

  She had slept too late to attend mass, and therefore went to the privatechapel, the abode of the only confidante to whom she could open herwhole heart without reserve or timidity--the Mother of God.

  She had done this with entire devotion, and endeavoured to reflect uponwhat had happened and what obligations she must meet. But she had hadlittle success, for as soon as she began to think, her august lover rosebefore her eyes, she imagined that she heard his tender words, and hermind wandered to the future.

  Only she had clearly perceived that she had lost something infinitelygreat, and obtained in its place something that was far more exquisite,that she had been deemed worthy of a loftier honour, a richer happinessthan any one else.

  Ah, yes, she was happy, more than happy, and yet not entirely so, forhappiness must be bright, and a dark, harassing shadow fell again andagain over the sunny enthusiasm which irradiated her nature and lent hera haughtier bearing.

  She ascribed it to the novelty of her elevation to a height of which shehad never dreamed. Eyes accustomed to twilight must also endure pain,she told herself, ere they became used to the brilliance of the sun.

  Perhaps Heaven, in return for such superabundant gifts, demanded asacrifice, and denied complete enjoyment. She would gladly do all in herpower to satisfy the claim, and so she formed the resolve--which seemedto her to possess an atoning power--no longer to deceive the worthy manwho loved her so loyally, and for whom she felt an affection. At thevery next opportunity Wolf should learn that she could never become his,and when she had just confessed it so gently and lovingly, she had onlyfulfilled the vow made in the chapel before the Virgin's image. There,too, she had determined, if the Emperor ever gave her any power over hisdecisions, to reward Wolf's loyal love by interceding for him whereverit could be done.

  Now he had left her; but she could wait for her father no longer. Shemust go to Fran Lerch.

  The idea of confiding to her the secret which filled her with happydread was far from her thoughts; but love had both increased her vanitytenfold, and confined it within narrower limits. She could not bebeautiful enough for the lover who awaited her, yet she wished to bebeautiful for him alone. But her stock of gowns and finery was so veryscanty, and no one understood how to set off her charms so well asthe obliging, experienced old woman, who had an expedient for everyemergency.

  Retiring to her little bow-windowed room, she examined her store ofclothes.

  There, too, lay her royal lover's gift, the glittering star.

  She involuntarily seized it to take the jewel to the Grieb and showit to the old woman; but the next instant, with a strange feeling ofdissatisfaction, she flung it back again among the other contents of thechest.

  Thus, in her impetuous fashion, she thrust it out of her sight. MaestroGombert had pronounced the star extremely valuable, and she desirednothing from the Emperor Charles, nothing from her beloved lord save hislove.

  She had already reached the outer door, when her two Woller cousins fromthe Ark greeted her. They were merry girls, by no means plain, and veryfond of her. The younger, Anne Mirl, was even considered pretty, and hadmany suitors. They had learned from their house steward, who had beentold by a fellow-countryman in the royal service, that his Majesty hadrewarded Barbara for her exquisite singing with a magnificent ornament,and they wanted to see it.

  So Barbara was obliged to open the chest again, and when the starflashed upon them the rich girls clapped their hands in admiration, andAnne Mirl did not understand how any one could toss such an exquisitememento into a chest as if it were a worn-out glove. If the EmperorCharles had honoured her with such a gift, she would never remove itfrom her neck, but even wear it to bed.

  "Everybody to her taste," replied Barbara curtly, shrugging hershoulders.

  Never had her cousins seemed to her so insignificant and commonplace;and, besides, their visit was extremely inopportune.

  But the Woller sisters were accustomed to see her in all sorts of moods,and Nandl, the elder, a quiet, thoughtful girl, asked her how she felt.To possess such heavenly gifts as her voice and her beauty must be themost glorious of all glorious things.

  "And the honour, the honour!" cried Anne Mirl. "Do you know, Wawerl,one might almost want to poison you from sheer envy and jealousy. HolyVirgin! To be in your place when you sing to the Emperor Charles again!And to talk with him as you would to anybody else!"

  Barbara assured them that she would tell the whole story at their nextmeeting, but she had no time to spare now, for she was expected at therehearsal.

  The sisters then bade her good-bye, but asked to see the star again, andAnne Mirl counted the jewels, to be able to describe it to her motherexactly.

  At last Barbara was free, but before, still vexed by the detention, shecould set out for Fran Lerch's, she heard loud voices upon the stairs.It startled her, for if the Emperor sent Don Luis Quijada, or evenBaron Malfalconnet, to her wretched lodgings, it would now be even moreunpleasant than before.

  Barbara was obliged to wait some time in vain. Her cousins had beenstopped below, and were talking there with her father and another man.At last the captain came stumping up the stairs with his limping steps.Barbara noticed that he was hurrying, and he reached the top morequickly than usual and opened the door.

  He looked merry, and his massive but well-formed and manly features wereflushed. He came from Erbach in the Black Bear, it is true, but in soshort a time--his daughter knew that--the spirits of the wine could havedone him no harm. Besides, his voice sounded as deep and firm asusual as he called to her from the threshold: "A guest, Wawerl, adistinguished guest! A splendid fellow! You've already spoken of him,and I made his acquaintance in the Bear. I learned many and many a pieceof news from him about how things are going in the world-news, I tellyou, girl! My heart is fairly dancing in my body. And, besides, a littlepuss like you is always glad to hear of an admirer, and only a shorttime ago you praised him loudly enough as a splendid dancer. A downrightgood fellow, child, just as I was myself at his age. An uncle of his, acaptain of arquebusiers, Pyramus Kogel."

  Hitherto Barbara, with increasing displeasure, had only suspected whomher father meant; but when he now mentioned his new friend's name, theindignant blood crimsoned her cheeks.

  She had liked the handsome officer, for it was true that few men so wellunderstood the art of guiding a partner through the dance; she, foolthat she was, had made eyes at him in order not to let pretty ElspetZohrer have the
precedence. But he had himself confessed how muchfarther he had entered the snare than she intended when, on her way homefrom Fran Lerch's after her meeting with Wolf, the young officer had mether outside of the Grieb and sued for her hand.

  Now the amorous swain had probably tried his luck with her father, andhow the latter, in spite of poor Wolf and Herr Schlumperger, had treatedhim was evident from the fact that he, who usually closed his homeagainst old friends, opened it wide to this stranger.

  This was not only unpleasant to Barbara, but anger crimsoned her cheeks.

  How dared the man whom she had so positively and sternly refused ventureto continue his suit? Since the Emperor had loved her, she feltraised infinitely above the poor nobleman. Nay, she considered it areprehensible impropriety that he still sought her. And, besides whatconsequences the visit of so stately a ladykiller, whose unusual heightrendered him easily recognised, might now entail upon her! Suppose thathe should meet a messenger from the Emperor on the stairs, or it shouldbe rumoured at court that she received such visitors. How quicklywhatever happened in Ratisbon was noised abroad among the people she hadjust learned through the Woller girls.

  The happiness which filled her was so great that everything whichthreatened to affect it, even remotely, alarmed her, and thus anxietyblended with indignation as, deeply agitated, she interrupted herfather, and in the most unfilial manner reproached him for allowing theflattery of a boastful coxcomb to make him forget what he owned to herand her good name.

  The brave champion of the faith dejectedly, almost humbly, stroveto soothe her, and at least induce her not to offend his guest byunfriendly words; but she ignored his warnings with defiant passion,and when the recruiting officer, who had been detained some time onthe staircase by the Wollers, knocked at the door, she shot the boltnoisily, calling to her father in a tone so loud that it could not failto be heard outside: "I repeat it, I will neither see nor speak to thisimportunate gentleman. When he attacked me in the street at night, Ithought I showed him plainly enough how I felt. If he forces his wayinto our house now, receive him, for aught I care; you have a right tocommand here. But if he undertakes to speak to me, he can wait for ananswer till the day of judgment!"

  Then she hastily slipped the bolt back again, darted past Pyramus Kogel,who did not know what had befallen him, without vouchsafing him a singleglance, and then, with haughty composure, descended the stairs.

  The officer, incapable of uttering a word, gazed after her.

  The feeling that attracted him to Barbara was something entirely new,which since the last dance at the New Scales had robbed him of sleep bynight and rest by day. He had fallen under her spell, body and soul, andhe, whose business took him from city to city, from country to country,had resolved, ere he accosted Barbara in the street, to give up thefree, gay life which he enjoyed with the eager zest of youth, and seekher hand in marriage.

  Her first rebuff had by no means discouraged him; nay, the handsome,spoiled soldier was firmly convinced that her ungracious treatment wasnot due to his proposal, but to its certainly ill-chosen place. A wifeof such rigid austerity would suit him, for he would often be compelledto leave her a long time alone.

  When he heard the day before that he would find her among PeterSchlumperger's guests in Prufening, he had joined them, as if byaccident, toward evening, and Barbara had danced with him twice.

  In the schwabeln she had trusted herself to his guidance even longerthan usual, and with what perfect time, with what passionate enjoymentshe had whirled around with him under the sway of the intense excitementwhich had mastered her! He imagined that he felt her heart throb againsthis own breast, and had surrendered himself to the hope that it wasnewly awakened love for him which had deprived her of her calm bearing.

  True, she had refused his company on the way home, but this was probablybecause she was afraid of being gossipped about in connection with him.

  Well satisfied with his success, he had gone to Red Cock Street thenext morning to renew his suit. On the way he met her father, and in theBlack Bear had tried on the old warrior, with excellent success, the artof winning other men, in which, as a recruiting officer, he had becomean adept.

  Joyously confident of victory, he had accepted Blomberg's invitation,and now had experienced an unprecedentedly mortifying rebuff.

  With a face blanched to the pallor of death, he stood before the oldman. The wound which he had received burned so fiercely, and paralyzedhis will so completely, that the clumsy graybeard found fitting wordssooner than the ready, voluble trapper of men.

  "You see," the captain began, "what is to be expected from one's ownchild in these days of insubordination and rebellion, though my Wawerlis as firm in her faith as the tower at Tunis of which I was tellingyou. But trust experience, Sir Pyramus! It is easier, far easier for youto exact obedience from a refractory squad of recruits than for a fatherto guide his little daughter according to his own will. For look! If itgets beyond endurance, you can seize the lash, or, if that won't do, aweapon; but where a fragile girl like that is concerned, we can't givevent to our rage, and, though she spoils the flavour of our food anddrink by her pouting and fretting, we must say kind words to her intothe bargain. Mine at least spares me the weeping and wailing in whichmany indulge, but it is easier to break iron than her obstinacy whenher will differs from that of the person whom, on account of the fourthcommandment, she----"

  Pyramus Kogel, with both hands resting on the large basket handle ofhis long rapier, had listened to him in silence; now he interrupted thecaptain with the exclamation: "Iron against iron, comrade! Throw it intothe fire, and swing the hammer. It will bend then. All that is needed isthe right man, and I know him. If I did not feel very sorry for such acharming creature, I would laugh at the insult and go my way. But, as itis, I have a good memory, and it will be a pleasure, methinks, to keepso unruly a beauty and artistic nightingale in mind. It shall be doneuntil my turn comes. In my pursuit I do not always succeed at the firstattempt, but whoever I once fix my eyes upon comes on the roll at last,and I will keep the foremost place open for your lovely, refractorydaughter. We shall meet again, Captain, and I haven't said my last wordto your ungracious daughter either."

  He held out his hand to Blomberg as he spoke, and after a brief delaythe latter clasped it.

  The fearless foe of the Turks was troubled by the recruiting officer'smysterious menaces, but his kind heart forbade him to add a new offenceto the bitter mortification inflicted upon this man by his daughter.Besides, he had taken a special fancy to the stately, vigorous soldier,whose height and breadth of shoulder were little inferior to his own,and while descending the stairs he thought, "It would serve Wawerl rightif yonder fellow put a stop to her obstinacy, pranks, and caprices."

  But he quickly silenced the wish, for Barbara did not often givethe rein to her self-will so freely, and her objectionable traits ofcharacter had been inherited from her mother. She was a good girl atheart, and how much pleasure and favour her beautiful gift brought, howmuch honour came to him and his ancient name through this rare child!Yet at that time he was not aware of the new benefit he was to owe toher within the next hour.

  Before Barbara had returned home the treasurer of the imperial and royalmusicians came to his house and, in the regent's name, handed him thegold of which Barbara had spoken for services rendered in the boy choirof her Majesty Queen Mary. He was obliged to sign the receipt in hisdaughter's name, and when the portly Netherlander, who could also makehimself understood in German, asked where a sup of good wine or beercould be had in Ratisbon, he was ready to act as his guide.

  Thanks to his daughter's rich gifts, he need not wield the graver anylonger that day, and for the second time could grant himself a specialtreat.

  When he returned home he learned from the one-eyed maid that Barbara hadbeen summoned by the Queen of Hungary to sing for her.

  Weary as he was, he went to rest, and soon after the young girl enteredhis room to bid him "good night."

  The Queen
had been very gracious, and after the singing was over hadinquired about hundreds of things--who had been her singing master, whather religion was, whether her mother was still living, what calling herfather followed, whether he, too, had drawn the sword against the Turks,her husband's murderers, whether she was accustomed to riding, and,lastly, whether she was obliged to endure the narrow city streets in thesummer.

  Barbara had then been able to answer that the Wollers sometimes invitedher to their country seat at Abbach, and intentionally added that theywere her nearest relatives, and owned the Ark, the large, handsomefamily mansion which stood exactly opposite to the Golden Cross andher Majesty's windows. She had also often been the guest of her uncleWolfgang Lorberer, who stood at the head of the community at Landshut.

  It had gratified her to boast of these distinguished blood relations.

  She had then been asked whether she could consent to leave her fatherfor a time to go into the country with the old Marquise de Leria, whomshe knew, and who was charmed with the beauty of her singing.

  The leech desired to remove the invalid lady in waiting from the cityair, and she had chosen Barbara for a companion.

  Here the young girl hesitated, and then carelessly asked her father whathe thought of the plan.

  As Blomberg knew the name of Leria to be one of the most aristocratic inthe empire, and many things were beckoning to him in the future inwhich Barbara's presence would only have been a hindrance, he left thedecision to her.

  He had made the acquaintance at the Black Bear, through Pyramus Kogel,of various soldiers who had fought in the same ranks--good Catholics,eager for a fray, who were waiting here for the outbreak of the waragainst the Smalkalds. What delightful hours their companionship wouldbestow if Barbara was provided for at present, now that he himself wasno longer obliged to save every shilling so carefully!

  But he had also thought of something else which was far more important,for the warlike conversation had affected him as the blast of a trumpetstirs the battle charger drawing a plough.

  He had found complete enjoyment of life only in war, in the presence ofdeath, in cutting and slashing, and he felt by no means too old to keephis seat in the saddle and lead his company of horsemen to the assault.He was not mistaken there, and, besides not only the recruiting officer,but also the scarred old captain whom they called little Gorgl, assertedthat the Emperor would welcome every brave, tried soldier, even thougholder than he, as soon as war was declared.

  Meanwhile Pyramus Kogel was constantly in his mind, and at last hethought it his duty to speak to Barbara about her unseemly treatment ofthis estimable man.

  He had intended ever since she entered to call her to account for it,but, though he did not admit it even to himself, the old soldier dreadedhis daughter's firm power of resistance.

  Yet he could not keep silence this time; her behaviour had transgressedthe bounds of propriety too far.

  So he summoned up his courage, and, with a "What I was going to say,"began to speak of the admirable officer whom he had brought into hishouse.

  Then, clearing his throat, he drew himself up, and, raising hisvoice, asked how she dared to assail this gallant nobleman with suchabominable, arrogant, and insulting words.

  But he was to wait an answer in vain, for, with the brief declarationthat she had not come to be lectured like a schoolgirl, Barbara bangedthe door behind her. Directly after, however, she opened it again, andwith a pleasant, "No offence, father," wished the old gentleman a noless pleasant goodnight.

  Then she went to her room, but in old Ursel's chamber, at the same houras on the preceding night, a similar conversation took place.

  The one-eyed maid spoke of the rats which had forced their way into thehouse, and the sick woman repeated impatiently, "The rats!" and, withprudent reserve, silently kept her thoughts to herself.