In the meantime a letter came from the Count to the Captain--two,
indeed--one which he might produce, holding out fair, excellent
prospects in the distance; the other containing a distinct offer of an
immediate situation, a place of high importance and responsibility at
the Court, his rank as Major, a very considerable salary, and other
advantages. A number of circumstances, however, made it desirable that
for the moment he should not speak of it, and consequently he only
informed his friends of his distant expectations, and concealed what was
so nearly impending.
He went warmly on, at the same time, with his present occupation, and
quietly made arrangements to insure the continuance of the works without
interruption after his departure. He was now himself desirous that as
much as possible should be finished off at once, and was ready to hasten
things forward to prepare for Ottilie's birthday. And so, though without
having come to any express understanding, the two friends worked side by
side together. Edward was now well pleased that the cash-box was filled
by their having taken up money. The whole affair went forward at
fullest speed.
The Captain had done his best to oppose the plan of throwing the three
ponds together into a single sheet of water. The lower embankment would
have to be made much stronger, the two intermediate embankments to be
taken away, and altogether, in more than one sense, it seemed a very
questionable proceeding. However, both these schemes had been already
undertaken; the soil which was removed above being carried at once down
to where it was wanted. And here there came opportunely on the scene a
young architect, an old pupil of the Captain, who partly by introducing
workmen who understood work of this nature, and partly by himself,
whenever it was possible, contracting for the work itself, advanced
things not a little, while at the same time they could feel more
confidence in their being securely and lastingly executed. In secret
this was a great pleasure to the Captain. He could now be confident that
his absence would not be so severely felt. It was one of the points on
which he was most resolute with himself, never to leave anything which
he had taken in hand uncompleted, unless he could see his place
satisfactorily supplied. And he could not but hold in small respect,
persons who introduce confusion around themselves only to make their
absence felt and are ready to disturb in wanton selfishness what they
will not be at hand to restore.
So they labored on, straining every nerve to make Ottilie's birthday
splendid, without any open acknowledgment that this was what they were
aiming at, or, indeed, without their directly acknowledging it to
themselves. Charlotte, wholly free from jealousy as she was, could not
think it right to keep it as a real festival. Ottilie's youth, the
circumstances of her fortune, and her relationship to their family, were
not at all such as made it fit that she should appear as the queen of
the day; and Edward would not have it talked about, because everything
was to spring out, as it were, of itself, with a natural and delightful
surprise.
They, therefore, came all of them to a sort of tacit understanding that
on this day, without further circumstance, the new house in the park was
to be opened, and they might take the occasion to invite the
neighborhood and give a holiday to their own people. Edward's passion,
however, knew no bounds. Longing as he did to give himself to Ottilie,
his presents and his promises must be infinite. The birthday gifts which
on the great occasion he was to offer to her seemed, as Charlotte had
arranged them, far too insignificant. He spoke to his valet, who had the
care of his wardrobe, and who consequently had extensive acquaintance
among the tailors and mercers and fashionable milliners; and he, who not
only understood himself what valuable presents were, but also the most
graceful way in which they should be offered, immediately ordered an
elegant box, covered with red morocco and studded with steel nails, to
be filled with presents worthy of such a shell. Another thing, too, he
suggested to Edward. Among the stores at the castle was a small show of
fireworks which had never been let off. It would be easy to get some
more, and have something really fine. Edward caught the idea, and his
servant promised to see to its being executed. This matter was to remain
a secret.
While this was going on, the Captain, as the day drew nearer, had been
making arrangements for a body of police to be present--a precaution
which he always thought desirable when large numbers of men are to be
brought together. And, indeed, against beggars, and against all other
inconveniences by which the pleasure of a festival can be disturbed, he
had made effectual provision.
Edward and his confidante, on the contrary, were mainly occupied with
their fireworks. They were to be let off on the side of the middle water
in front of the great ash-tree. The party were to be collected on the
opposite side, under the planes, that at a sufficient distance from the
scene, in ease and safety, they might see them to the best effect, with
the reflections on the water, the water-rockets, and floating-lights,
and all the other designs.
Under some other pretext, Edward had the ground underneath the
plane-trees cleared of bushes and grass and moss. And now first could be
seen the beauty of their forms, together with their full height and
spread, right up from the earth. He was delighted with them. It was just
this very time of the year that he had planted them. How long ago could
it have been? he asked himself. As soon as he got home he turned over
the old diary books, which his father, especially when in the country,
was very careful in keeping. He might not find an entry of this
particular planting, but another important domestic matter, which Edward
well remembered, and which had occurred on the same day, would surely be
mentioned. He turned over a few volumes. The circumstances he was
looking for was there. How amazed, how overjoyed he was, when he
discovered the strangest coincidence! The day and the year on which he
had planted those trees, was the very day, the very year, when Ottilie
was born.