IN SUSPENSE
As things do not usually happen as we foresee, the visit of Herr von
Kassewitz to Alsheim did not take place on the date Farnow said it
would. Towards the end of June--at the moment when the prefect,
returned from taking the waters, was getting ready to go to ask for
Lucienne's hand, a telegram had asked him to put off the visit. The
condition of M. Philippe Oberlé had suddenly become worse.
The old man, whom it was necessary to inform of what was going on in
the house, had just learned the truth. His son had gone up one
morning to the sick man's room. "With circumlocution and in ways
that he took out of respect and consideration for him, he let it be
seen that Lucienne was not indifferent to the advances of a cavalry
officer belonging to a high German family; he had said that the
liking was spontaneous; that he, Joseph Oberlé, in spite of certain
regrets, did not believe that he had the right to thwart the freedom
of his children, and that he hoped that his father, in the interests
of peace, would be resigned.
"My father," he said, "you are not ignorant of the fact that your
opposition would be useless and purely vexatious. You have a chance
to give Lucienne a great proof of your affection, as we ourselves
have given; do not repulse her."
The old man had asked in signs:
"And Monica; has she consented?"
M. Joseph Oberlé had been able to answer yes, without telling a lie,
for the poor woman, threatened with a separation, had yielded once
more. Then the sick man put an end to his son's long monologue by
writing two words, which were his answer:
"Not I!"
The same evening, fever declared itself. It continued the following
day, and soon became so persistent and weakening that the condition
of the sick man troubled the Oberlés.
From this day on, the health of M. Philippe Oberlé became the topic
of anxious inquiries, evening and morning. They questioned Madame
Monica or Jean, whom he received whilst excluding the others.
"How is he? Is his strength returning? Has he still all his wits
about him--the full use of his mental faculties?"
Each one was wondering what was happening up above in the room where
the old fighter, who had half disappeared from the world of the
living, still governed his divided family, holding them all
dependent on him. They spoke of their uneasiness, and under this
name, which they rightly used, what projects were hid, what
different thoughts!
Jean himself awaited the issue of this crisis with an impatience in
which his affection for his grandfather was not the only interest
involved. Since the explanation he had had with Lucienne, especially
since the party at the Geheimrath's, all intimacy between brother
and sister had ceased. Lucienne was as amiable and just as
officiously kind as she could be, but Jean no longer responded to
her advances. When work kept him no longer at the factories he fled
from the house: sometimes to the country, where the first hay
harvest attracted all the life from the Alsatian farms. Sometimes he
would go and talk to his neighbours the Ramspachers, already his
friends, when at nightfall they came back from the plain; and there
he was led on by the hope that he should see the daughter of M.
Bastian walking along the path. But more often still he went up to
Heidenbruch. M. Ulrich had received his nephew's confidences and a
mission at the same time. Jean had said to him:
"I have now no hope of winning Odile. My sister's marriage will
prevent mine. But in spite of that I am bound to ask for the hand of
her to whom I have confessed my love. I wish to be certain of what
is already breaking my heart, although I am only afraid of it. When
M. Bastian has heard that Lucienne is betrothed to Lieutenant von
Farnow or that she is going to be--and that will not be delayed if
grandfather gets better--you will go to M. Bastian. You will speak
to him on my behalf. He will answer you, knowing fully all the
facts; you will tell me if he refuses, once for all, his daughter to
the brother-in-law of von Farnow; or if he insists on some time of
probation--I will accept it, no matter how long it may be; or if he
has the courage--in which I do not believe--to pay no attention to
the scandal which my sister's marriage will cause."
M. Ulrich had promised.
Towards the middle of August the fever which was wearing out M.
Philippe Oberlé disappeared. Contrary to the expectation of the
doctor, his strength returned very quickly. It was soon certain that
the robust constitution of the invalid had got the better of the
crisis. And the truce accorded by M. Joseph Oberlé to his father had
come to an end. The old man, having recovered to that sad condition
of a sick man whom death does not desire, was going to be treated
like the others, and would not be spared. There was no fresh scene
between the sick man and his son. All went on quietly. On the 22nd
of August, after dinner in the drawing-room, where Victor had just
brought the coffee, the factory owner said to Madame Oberlé:
"My father is now convalescent. There is no longer any reason to put
off the visit of Herr von Kassewitz. I give you notice, Monica, that
it will take place during the next few days. You would do well to
tell my father, since you alone go to him. And it is necessary that
everything should be done in order, without anything like surprise
or deception. Is that your opinion?"
"You do not wish to put off this visit any longer?"
"No."
"Then I will tell him!"
Jean wrote the same evening to Heidenbruch, where he was not able to
go.
"My uncle, the visit is settled. My father makes no mystery about
it; not even before the servants. He evidently wishes that the
report of the marriage should be spread abroad. As soon as you hear
some one from Alsheim get indignant or sad about us, go and see, I
implore you, if the dream that I dreamed can still live on. You will
tell M. Bastian that it is the grandson of M. Philippe Oberlé who
loves Odile."