Reconciliation
For the first time in his life since the joys of his earliest
childhood Feodor's son Alexander experienced a real pleasure. It was
now when, pointing to Mashinka, he was able to say to his guest:
"See, here is my mother."
For to him she was really so. Since his earliest years this woman had
indeed filled a mother's place to him. His real mother had now other
cares. This woman alone loved him. From her alone he had learnt that
there should be any other feeling than anger and hate on earth.
Still greater, however, was his pleasure as he presented his guest.
"Look, mother!" he cried. "This is Paul--Paul von Ungern. Father told
me to bring him to see you. He said we were to be good friends."
Tears were glistening in his eyes. For well he knew who this Paul von
Ungern really was.
There was, in fact, one secret which Mashinka had never disclosed to
Feodor during all these years. This same Paul, she well knew, had
already entered the world when the great catastrophe overcame her
master. It was, indeed, mainly this boy's birth which had caused the
catastrophe. Two people whom a sinful passion had made to fall had
their reasons for preventing Feodor from learning their guilt. The
woman, having committed the first fault, was compelled to conceal it
with fresh sins. The husband, therefore, had never learnt this secret.
In an hour of confidence, however, when the boy had fled to her in
horror from the frightful teachings of his father, Mashinka had told
young Alexander the truth. Under her breath she told him that he had
mighty enemies in that world which had vanished from him in childhood:
that they were his uncle and his uncle's son--a half-brother. It was
because of them, she told him, that he was compelled to waste away his
life in that dreary rocky fortress. But she also taught him that it
was the duty of good men who wish to please God to forgive their
enemies; and taught him, too, a simple prayer which a good man might
pray for his enemies--a prayer that God might turn their hearts, that
they might cease from persecuting him, and that they should become
reconciled with him, free him from that life of captivity, and once
more hold out to him the hand of friendship. She had taught him even
to pray for the welfare of that brother who from his very birth had
unwittingly been the boy's persecutor.
So, now that he was able to say to Mashinka, "Look, here is Paul von
Ungern," it seemed to him as if these words said simultaneously, "My
prayer has at length been answered. My enemy is reconciled, and has
come to free me. And God is indeed good, and so is my father. Now I
can love both God and my father--yes, and my enemy also."
Mashinka understood the boy's thoughts well. She threw her arms round
both their necks and kissed them.
"Yes, yes," she said smiling, "you must indeed be good friends."
She then brought forth from her cupboard a host of dainties, and
spread quite a little feast for them. While partaking of this Paul
began to tell Alexander of the great world of adventure so well known
to him, and of his frequent encounters with the pirates of the
northern seas. Here it occurred to Alexander that the swordsmanship of
pirates is distinguished by its peculiar cuts and thrusts, with the
exercise of which he was but too familiar. He therefore brought out
his weapons and gave Paul some lessons in these useful devices, so
that he might be able to put them into practice if he should again
find himself in any piratical fray.
How happy he felt in having for once the companionship of a lad like
himself--a true playmate. How his heart throbbed with joy when he
looked at this brother of his. How glad he was, too, to find that Paul
was such a fine strong fellow. As they fought, he took good care not
to hit his opponent with his blunted weapon so hard as to hurt him.
And if Paul, in return, chanced to give him a good sturdy blow, he
would laughingly cry, "No, no; it didn't hurt at all!" And then he
would praise him for his dexterity.
Mashinka stood at her window and silently looked on as they knocked
each other about in the garden. And as she looked up she wiped away
the tears that rose to her eyes. They were indeed tears of joy.
[Illustration]