THE SECRET.
AFTER Paul had shaken off his companion, he accomplished, as we know,
his cruel purpose, and according to appointment joined Robert after
the fireworks were over. He was careful not to run across Hans, as he
did not wish to tell his friend what he had done until the following
morning; for Paul was sure that he was revenged on Hans when he heard
the exclamation of intense pain which escaped him before he had time to
glide away.
"Let me see you first thing to-morrow," said Paul, when he parted
from Robert, just after they had passed the bridge. "I've some work
to finish off, but shall be ready by ten o'clock; I want to tell you
something."
"Tell me now."
"I'm afraid there are too many people about. It's a great secret.
To-morrow is time enough. Good night."
Robert wondered for a few moments what secret Paul could have to tell
him, but he forgot all about it when he reached home, for he had to
give an account of his day spent at Naumburg to his mother and sisters,
who had not ventured to the fête.
The next morning Robert was taking his coffee in the kitchen with the
rest of the family, except his father, who came in before the meal was
ended.
"I've been talking to Karl Schmidt," he said, "and didn't know it was
so late. Did you hear of an accident which happened to young Hans last
night?" he asked his son.
"No, father."
"He managed to get his left hand badly burnt by a squib; and what is
very odd about the accident is that he felt the squib was pushed into
his hand, and then it exploded."
Robert turned pale, and red. No one was observing him, for all eyes
were fixed on the miller, so he had time to regain his self-possession;
and right glad was he that a customer came to see his father on
business, and he was able to make his escape.
Robert was not a bad boy at heart, nor would he ever have injured
another in the cruel manner in which Paul had injured Hans. He was
appalled at what he had heard, and all that was noble in his character
rose up for the moment in judgment against Paul. He walked quickly
away from the mill, and took the back road into the town, nor did he
slacken his pace until he reached Herr Ebhardt's house. He found his
friend stitching away diligently in a little parlour at the back of his
father's shop.
"You're early, old fellow," said Paul, scarcely looking up from
his work, "but I've nearly done, and then we'll go as far as the
Hümmel-reich, for I've to take this coat home to a customer who lives
on the way."
"All right; I'll wait outside until you're ready," replied Robert.
As he passed into the street again, he found himself face to face
with Hans, who was going to the doctor. He looked pale and ill, very
different to the bright lad of the previous day.
Robert could not help stopping him, and asking, in a concerned tone,
"Is your hand very bad? I heard from my father that you met with an
accident last night."
"It's very bad," answered Hans, "dreadfully burnt. Good-bye, I'm going
to see the doctor."
Robert was thoroughly unhinged; though he was really innocent, he felt
in some degree guilty, and he was glad when Paul joined him, for he
was most anxious to hear his secret, and was sure that it had some
connection with the accident that had befallen Hans.
"Now for your secret," he said to Paul.
"Wait a bit; let's get up the Hümmel-reich."
"It will take us a good half-hour to walk there, and I want to hear
what you've got to say," urged Robert, impatiently.
"Gently, old fellow; we've plenty of time before us. It's a jolly
morning for an outing. Let us get rid of the coat, and then we'll enjoy
ourselves. You will be right glad to hear what I've got to tell you."
"I know what it is before you speak, and I call it a wicked shame of
you to hurt a fellow as you've hurt Hans. I've a great mind to tell of
you, that I have!" burst out Robert.
The boys were out of the village and walking through a field when he
spoke thus angrily.
"What do you mean?" asked Paul, scowling at his companion.
"Why, I mean that I've a great mind to tell every one in Kösen that it
was you who put the squib into the hand of poor Hans, and that you did
it out of revenge."
There was something so resolute in Robert's face, and so different from
the idle, careless expression it usually wore, that Paul felt a little
afraid, for he was a coward at heart.
"Oh, Robert, how can you be so unkind! It was all for you I did it; and
now you find fault with me." And his voice trembled as if he were about
to cry.
"It wasn't all for me, and you know that, Paul; you hate Hans, and you
made up your mind to pay him off after he tripped you up. But you've
gone too far this time, and what's more, I think you've put me in such
a corner that I can't shoot for the prize this year."
"Not shoot, Robert!" answered Paul, standing still in his astonishment.
"You don't mean what you say. Why, I've made it an easy matter for you.
Now, old fellow, shake hands, and tell me you're glad I got rid of your
rival thus. He would certainly have come off conqueror, so you must
thank me, for I'm a true friend to you. And, really, if I hadn't been
so fond of you, I shouldn't have interfered, but suffered Hans to win."
"I'm not so sure he would have won; and I declare I'd rather he had
beaten than see him look so ill."
"When did you see him?"
"A few minutes ago; he was on his way to the doctor's."
"Then he is really hurt?"
"How can you ask me that question? You know he is, Paul. It was nothing
but revenge that made you push the squib into his hand; I see it in
your face, you look so spiteful."
"What's come to you to-day, Robert? I tell you what it is, you may try
me too far. You're my friend, and I'm your friend, but I can't stand
being preached at. Now, let's forget this little difference; what is
done can't be undone. And, remember, if I have acted unkindly to Hans,
it was all for you, so don't blame me. I'll just run in, and leave this
coat at yonder house, and then we'll go on to the Hümmel-reich, as we
are so near, and be jolly for the rest of the way."
This pretty spot derives its name from the great beauty of its
situation. It merely consists of a little hotel built on a flat
hill-top, which commands the valley of the Saale at a point where the
river makes a bend in the shape of a horse-shoe. On the opposite side
are the ruins of two old castles, the Rudolsburg and the Saalech;
while, as far as the eye can reach, little villages with their quaint
old churches lie nestling among the trees of this highly-cultivated
valley, and thus add to the picturesqueness of the scene.
Robert was not convinced, but he nevertheless accompanied Paul on to
the Hümmel-reich, which was not thronged with visitors so early in the
day. The friends spent a couple of hours pleasantly, for there was a
target so that Robert was able to practise for the festival, and Paul
stood by and praised him. They only left off in time to reach home by
one o'clock, and, as Paul was going out with his father, they parted at
Herr Ebhardt's door, and made no plans for the evening.
"Ain't we just as good friends as ever?" Paul asked Robert, as they
entered the village.
"Oh yes," he replied.
But though Robert answered Paul in the affirmative, he was oppressed
and out of spirit, and could not resist taking a stroll in the
direction of the toll-house after dinner; he had no definite object in
view beyond a sort of restless feeling to see Hans.
The latter was sitting outside the door with a book on his knee,
looking very pale, and with his left arm in a sling. He was so absorbed
in the contents of his volume that he started when Robert addressed him
in these words: "I'm so sorry you're hurt. I am alone this afternoon,
and thought I would come and see if I could do anything for you."
Hans was very much surprised, but Robert seemed so thoroughly in
earnest that he answered: "Thank you; no one can help me bear the pain,
but it is very kind of you to think of me. My master does not mind my
being idle until I am better. It would be much worse if I were thrown
out of my place."
"What are you reading out of? You seem to have got a queer old book
there," asked Robert, by way of continuing the conversation.
"Queer outside, perhaps," replied Hans, "but the inside is all gold."
"Let me see it."
Hans opened his father's old Bible.
"Why, it's a Bible!" exclaimed Robert, in a tone of disappointment. "I
thought it was something very particular."
"So it is," answered Hans; "if you will sit down, I will read you a few
verses that are worth more than thousands of sovereigns."
At another time Robert would have laughed, and jeered, and perhaps run
away, but he was softened towards Hans, and wanted to show him some
attention, so he quietly sat down on the door-step by his side.
Hans felt sure his master would not be angry at his speaking to Robert
when he told him that he had an opportunity of bidding him stick to
the Raft; so he turned over the pages of his Bible to find a suitable
passage to read, and in that moment he asked God to help him for
Christ's sake to say something to Robert that would make him think.
"I declare it is difficult to settle what to read to you, there are
so many beautiful things in this book; but, of course, you know your
Bible?" said Hans.
"I can't say I'm much up to it," replied his companion.
"But you read it, or hear it read, every day, don't you?"
"No, I don't; please go on where you were reading when I came up."
"I had just got to these words: 'A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another.' I will read the chapter through."
"You read splendidly," said Robert, at its conclusion. "Where did you
learn?"
"In our village, and in the forest. My mother was a very good scholar,
and I'm so fond of learning. My master gives me lessons every evening.
Are not those grand words, 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another'? Oddly enough, you were in my thoughts when I first
read them—I mean just before you spoke to me."
"I! How?"
"I will tell you. I have been practising hard at the target, and meant
to try for the Burgomaster's prize, which you have won for the last two
years. My master said that you had no rival to fear in Kösen, and that
the Burgomaster wished to find another who would compete with you; for
though many boys usually entered their names on the list, it was only
for the pleasure of being mixed up with the fête, but with no chance
of success. My master found I had a steady hand and a correct eye, so
he lent me his bow and arrows, and I have been practising regularly
with him every evening; and I think I had a fair chance of winning the
prize. But this morning the doctor said that I should be unable to use
my hand for at least three weeks, and, as you know, the Schutzen Fest
comes off in eight days. I was very jealous of you this morning, and
inclined to murmur and rebel because I could not use my hand. But,
thank God, the feeling is passing away, for it came into my mind that
if I were to encourage it, I should break Christ's new commandment, and
shut out love, for love and jealousy cannot live together; and, Robert,
I had rather stick to the Raft than win the prize."
Robert looked his astonishment, and Hans explained his meaning, and
added: "Christ gave Himself for us—that was His love; and He asks us in
return to give ourselves to Him. Will you give yourself to Him? I shall
bear my pain and disappointment without murmuring if any words which
I have read out of God's book make you think about Him, for I shall
remember that you would not have spoken to me if you had not been sorry
for my accident, and that it was because you knew I was in pain that
you took the trouble to come here to see me."
Robert could scarcely bear these words, they made him inclined to tell
Hans the whole truth, but the fear of Paul kept him silent, and right
glad was he to see Karl Schmidt walking towards them.
"Your master is coming," he said; "I had better be off. I know he will
not care to see me here, so good-bye. I dare say I shall come again
soon to hear how you are getting on."
And Robert walked away in a more thoughtful mood than usual. There was
something so manly and noble about Hans. He was so different to his
chosen friend Paul. He felt a few pricks of conscience too when he
recalled the words which Hans had spoken about the Burgomaster's prize.
"I wish Paul hadn't interfered," he muttered, "that I do, with all my
heart. I would rather have been beaten fairly than win and carry about
the secret knowledge that if it hadn't been for Ebhardt's cowardly
behaviour to Hans, we should have tried our luck together. And to think
of his saying that he didn't mind the pain if it made me stick to the
Raft; that beat's all."
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