ANXIETIES OF THEOBALD--WORSHIP OF MARY--- THEOBALD INFORMED WHERE HE IS.
"No news yet?" asked the chevalier, sadly; "and the night has come, and
a long day has also passed! Matthew led me to hope the speedy arrival of
the express; but he does not come: and I know not why, I experience in
my heart oppression and anguish. O, who will tell me what has become of
Hildegarde and my children? But what have I to fear? Rothenwald is
impregnable, and should all our enemies surround it, is it not under the
protection of Our Lady? Who shall conquer it?"
"He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High," said Gottfried,
"shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Happy is the man who
makes his refuge in the shadow of his wings, until his calamity be
overpast."
"Your confidence is then in God alone!" replied Theobald. "You do not
even name the Holy Virgin!"
"It is because she did not create me, nor does she keep me alive. This
woman, blessed as she has been, did not purchase me with her blood, and
is only a creature of God. What dependence can I place upon a creature?"
"But," said Theobald, "if God made the queen of heaven and the angels,
and if all power has been given them----"
"Chevalier!" exclaimed Gottfried, "it is Jesus--it is the Eternal Son of
the Father--it is the King, sitting on the holy mount of Zion--who says
these words, applying them to himself, 'All power has been given to me
in heaven and on earth.' Beware then, for the love of your soul, of
attributing this authority to a woman, to whom, when she forgot that she
was in the presence of her son, Jesus said, reproachfully, 'Woman! what
have I to do with thee?'"
Upon this, Gottfried approached Theobald, whom he looked at
affectionately, as he pressed his hand, saying, "May God himself be with
you, and strengthen your heart! To-morrow, certainly, we shall have news
of your family, and we know it will be good news, since it will be the
will of God: and God, Theobald, is love."
Gottfried went out, and Matthew came to sit with the chevalier, whom he
was to take care of during the night, and to whom he had orders to say a
few words about Arnold and his arrival.
The night rolled away, and Theobald could not sleep. He was suffering,
and sometimes groaned, and the name of Hildegarde was continually on his
lips.
Matthew did not cease to pray to God in his heart, that he would visit
this soul in mercy; and as the chevalier exclaimed, "O, how my heart
aches!" Matthew approached him, and said, "My lord is suffering. What
can I do for him?"
"Ah, Matthew!" replied Theobald, "it is my heart that suffers. It seems
to me that it will break."
"If my lord," said Matthew, gently, "could weep, it would surely relieve
him."
"Weep!" exclaimed Theobald, looking at Matthew; "weep, do you say? I do
not know what it is. I have never wept. Shall the Iron-Hearted become a
woman?"
"'Jesus wept!' is written in the Gospel," replied Matthew. "And our good
Saviour is our pattern in all things."
"You weep, then, here?" said the chevalier, with visible interest; "for
here you do in all things like Jesus?"
_Matthew, (humbly.)_ At least, we desire to. Our pious lord--
_Theobald_. Gottfried is then a nobleman?
_Matthew_. My master is the Count of Winkelthal.
_Theobald, (with agitation.)_ The Count of Winkelthal, Matthew? Arnold,
the Lion, was then his son? Am I then, indeed, in the house of his
father?
_Matthew_. Arnold is the only son of my master; and he is not dead!
"Not dead!" exclaimed Theobald, extending his hands to the domestic.
"Tell me, Matthew, are you sure of this?"
_Matthew_. Arnold is living. God has preserved him, and he is here; he
is near you--yes, in the room adjoining!
"Now I can weep!" said Theobald, putting his hands over his face, and
sobbing aloud.
Matthew approached him with emotion, and Theobald, passing his arm
around the neck of the servant, leaned his head upon his bosom, weeping
abundantly, and saying,
"Have pity on me, Matthew. My soul is overwhelmed!"
"O, my lord!" said the Christian to him, "it is God himself who has
visited you and who calls you. Fear not; and let your tears flow before
him."
"Matthew! dear Matthew!" said Theobald, clasping his hands; "pray to God
for me!"
Matthew knelt beside the bed of the chevalier, and poured out his soul
in prayer. Theobald was still weeping when the servant rose; and it was
only by degrees that he became composed, and at last fell asleep.