AFTER ESCAPING A FALL INTO THE ELBE, I AM IN DANGER OF FALLING
IN LOVE.
Though the majority of the inhabitants of Glückstadt had retired to
adjacent villages or elsewhere, on the town being occupied by foreign
troops, a considerable crowd surrounded us in the market-place,
attracted no doubt by the martial and imposing aspect of the garb we
wore. The women--they interested me most, of course--seemed to be
all rather pretty, with blooming complexions and fair tresses; and
I--being fresh from King's College--was reminded of those
yellow-haired dwellers by the banks of the Elbe, of whom I had read
in Lucan. They were all gaudily dressed in hoods, cloaks, and
fardingales, of many colours, among which the Danish red predominated.
By command of the magistrates, the whole regiment had free
inquartering on the burgesses; and thus, after marching our colours,
under a guard of pikes with pipes sounding, to the residence of Sir
Donald, who had been invited to occupy the mansion of our good
countryman the governor, I looked about for my billet, which, as I
have said, was at a corner of the Platz, and almost opposite the
great church of the town.
The house was a large building of Dutch brick and plaster, crossed in
various ways by diagonal bars of wood, like many of the old
timber-fronted "Lodgings" in the borough-towns at home in the
Lowlands; it had a row of poplars before it, and was surmounted by a
high peaked roof, with a double tier of dormer windows. Several
solemn-looking storks sat on the sharp ridges, twisting their long
throats and clapping their wings. I would not have discovered the
place (each fantastic house being just like its neighbour) but for
the kindness of a cavalier whom I met in the street, and knew by his
white silk scarf to be one of my countrymen. This was the renowned
Sir Quentin Home, rittmaster of a corps of mounted Holsteiners, of
whom more anon. On showing him my billet order, addressed _Otto
Roskilde, Hausmeister_, he led me at once to the place.
Like the houses of the Scottish and French towns, this mansion had
six or seven stories, opening on each side from one common staircase;
but, as nearly all its inhabitants had either fled or perished of the
plague, there were but two flats occupied, and one of these was by a
personage who styled himself the Hausmeister, having been appointed
by the proprietor, as he afterwards told me, to watch over the
building and its tenants, and generally to attend to its safety and
preservation. Among the Austrians, I have since met with many such
officials, who were considered little better than gate-porters or
link-boys; but my Holsteiner, or Dane, or Dutchman (for I could not
discover what country claimed the honour of giving him birth),
received me with all the formality of the governor of a fortress
welcoming his successor. There was an ill-concealed scowl on his
forbidding face as he met me at the door, on which I had knocked
loudly more than once, with the hilt of my dirk, before it was opened.
"Otto Roskilde?" said I inquiringly, shewing my slip of paper,
stamped with the town arms.
He replied with a "Yes," which sounded like a long yawn, and bowed.
He was a great and powerful fellow, with a broad tiger-like mouth,
and sinister eyes, that shone like pieces of grey glass. He wore
enormous red roses on his shoes; a plum-coloured doublet, a pair of
bombasted fardingale breeches, Spanish leather boots with lawn tops,
a high sugar-loaf hat, which every puff of wind that shook the
poplars threatened to blow away; a long Dutch espadone and spurs,
though I suppose the fellow never had a horse in his stable, or rode
any other nag than the wooden mare, or _cheval de bois_, with a
six-pound shot at each of his heels. To my words of
compliment--craving pardon for my intrusion and so forth--he answered
by another profound bow, which tilted up the end of his great sword;
then, ushering me in, he shut the door, and left me to shift for
myself.
The staircase was dark, the building silent; I felt as if still in
the rolling ship, and my footing seemed wavering and uncertain, as I
ascended. Every apartment sounded hollow, and appeared to be
empty--unfurnished and uncarpeted. I knew that my billet was to be
on the third floor, and continued my ascent, but by mistake tried the
doors on the second. Six different apartments which I entered were
empty, destitute of furniture, cold, desolate, and rendered damp by
the slimy atmosphere of the canal, which flowed beneath the window.
I was on the point of retiring, and descending again to seek this
rude and unceremonious host or Hausmeister, who treated me with such
inattention, when before me there appeared a door half open,
revealing beyond an apartment, that was, at least, furnished.
"Zounds!" thought I, "right at last--this is the floor, and that is
my room!"
I knocked gently, however, but without receiving an answer; pushed
the door fully open, and entering, found myself in a bedchamber
furnished with innumerable articles of ornament and luxury.
In the chimney, which was lined with the blue ware of Delft, a
cheerful fire burned on the hearth, between the brass-knobbed
andirons. Warm tapestry covered the walls, which were hung with
pictures and gaudily tinted engravings, by the great Westphalian
engraver, Israel Van Meknen, who died in the last century; statues of
alabaster and vases of flowers, jars of red Bohemian glass and little
figures, decorated the mantelpiece and oak side-tables; a guitar and
music-book lay on a chair in one corner; a small library occupied
another, and within a recess stood a most enchanting little bed, with
graceful silk drapery. There, indeed, beauty might sleep softly,
intrenched among downy pillows edged with the finest lace.
"All this for me?" I muttered aloud; "Oh no! it cannot be--there is
some mistake."
One glance had just made me acquainted with all these items of
luxury, when another made me aware that this pretty little boudoir,
or bedchamber, had an occupant; for on a sofa, which stood between me
and the fireplace, a young lady lay fast asleep, with a book in her
hand. She had fine features, a brilliant complexion, long lashes,
and the most luxuriant jet hair. Her figure was small and graceful
in its contour; her hands and fine bosom white as snow, for though
she wore a high ruff, it opened considerably in front. She had on a
great tub-fardingale of crimson satin, with a monstrous hoop, like
those of the Countess of Essex (of happy memory), flounced and
slashed with black velvet; but this, instead of spoiling her figure
from her position, gave it rather a new charm; for it permitted more
than usual to be seen of two very handsome taper ankles, encased in
scarlet silk stockings, which were embroidered with silver about
eight inches above the shoe, in the Spanish fashion.
In the whole aspect of this sleeping beauty there was a nameless
charm, which extremely interested me. Courtesy compelled me to
retire immediately; but I could not restrain my desire to know what
book she had been reading, and it proved to be a Spanish drama by
Cervantes, that brave soldier whose name will ever reflect immortal
lustre on the noble profession of arms.
Charmed with the air of innocence and candour which pervaded this
unknown beauty, I would fain have kissed the little hand that drooped
over one arm of the sofa; but hearing voices, I softly and hastily
withdrew, mentally resolving--like a rogue who had fought his way
through all the classes of the King's College--that our acquaintance
should end less abruptly than it had begun.
Ascending to the third story of the great and seemingly desolate
house, I found myself in presence of my cousin Ian, and our
lieutenant M'Alpine, for, as I have said, we had all been happily
billeted in the same edifice; and in one of its unfurnished chambers
Phadrig Mhor was lighting a fire, and preparing a meal with all the
ease and rapidity of a Highland mountaineer.