Driven by the torment of her soul, Eleanore had gone to Martha Ruebsam's
only to hear that her father had been there three hours earlier. From
the confused and embarrassed conduct of her friend she learned that her
father had made a request of Judge Ruebsam, and a fruitless one at that.
Then she stood for a while on one of the leading streets, and stared in
bewilderment at the throngs of people surging by. It was all so cruelly
real.
She thought of whom she might go to next. A wave of purple flashed
across her face as she thought of Eberhard. Involuntarily she made a
passionate, deprecating gesture, as if she were saying: No, no, not to
him! The first ray of this hope was also the last. Her conscience struck
her; but she was helpless. Here was a feeling impervious to reason;
armed ten times over against encouragement. Anyhow, he was not at home.
She thought of this with a sigh of relief.
Would Daniel go to the Baroness? No; that could not be thought of for a
minute.
She could no longer endure the city nor the people in it. She walked
through the park out into the country. She could not stand the sight of
the sky or the distant views; she turned around. She came back to The
Fuell, entered the Carovius house, and rang Frau Benda's bell. She knew
the old lady was away, and yet, as if quite beside herself, she rang
four times. If Benda would only come; if the good friend were only
sitting in his room and could come to the door.
But there was not a stir. From the first floor the sounds of a piano
floated out the window; it was being played in full chords. Down in the
court Caesar was howling.
She started back home with beating heart. At the front gate she saw
Philippina.
"I have heard all about your misfortune," said Philippina in her shrill
voice. "Nobody can help you but me."
"You? You can help?" stammered Eleanore. The whole square began to move,
it seemed, before her.
"Word of honour--I can. I must simply have a talk with Daniel first.
Let's lose no time. Is he upstairs?"
"I think he is. If not, I will get him."
"Let's go up, then."
They went up the stairs.