Bertram, too, had heard the warlike sounds. He leaned back in his
writing chair and listened with bated breath.
"How her heart is sure to beat!" he said to himself.
He rose and went to the open window. From the elevation on which he
was, he could see a considerable portion of the high road, could
discern the flash of the bayonets through the clouds of dust which a
brisk breeze was scattering at times, so that sections of the columns
on the march became visible.
In the village below they were firing cannon; from the mountains yonder
the echo came rolling.
"How this will resound within her heart!"
From the adjoining bedroom, where he had already begun to put up his
master's things in view of their departure, fixed for the day
following, Konski came hurrying in to ask, if the Herr Doctor was not
going to dress? It was getting late.
"I am in no hurry," said Bertram.
"Well, sir," said Konski, "My Lady is most anxious you should be
present at the reception of the officers. Aurora has twice come to the
door with a message about it."
And he pointed, as he spoke, to the bedroom door and grinned.
"I do not intend to be present at the reception," Bertram said; "but I
may as well dress now." And he followed Konski into the bedroom.