ANOTHER WORLD.
"Good evening, Herr Lenz!" called out some one to the unhappy wanderer;
Lenz started--who could call him "Herr" Lenz?
A sledge stopped, the Techniker threw back the furs from his face, and
said:--
"There is plenty of room, let me give you a lift."
He got down, took off a fur cloak, and said:--
"Put this on, and wrap yourself well up in it, for you are heated from
walking; I will take the horse's blankets, which will be quite
sufficient for me."
Resistance was no use. Lenz took his place beside the Techniker,
enveloped in the fur cloak, and the horses stepped out merrily; it was
a most comfortable sledge, and the bells rung out cheerily; it was
almost like flying through the night air, and now, in his poverty and
abandonment, Lenz thought:--
"Annele was perfectly right I ought at this moment to have been driving
my own carriage."
The thought made him still more sad; it was as if some malicious spirit
had disposed every circumstance today, to place before Lenz's eyes the
fact that his life had failed in its aim, and thus to awaken evil
passions within him.
The Techniker was very conversable, and said especially what pleasure
it gave him that Pilgrim was so intimate with them. Pilgrim had a
remarkable sense of colour, but was deficient in correct drawing; he
had himself studied in the academy for a year, but he had seen very
soon that he had little real talent, and that a more practical
profession was better suited to him. Now he was resuming his drawing in
his leisure hours; Pilgrim helped him in the proper tone of colour, and
he repaid this by instructing the latter in drawing; they hoped
mutually to improve each other, and at this moment they were more
particularly occupied in making new patterns for joiners, turners, and
carvers in wood; they had also made various sketches for the dials of
clocks, which would, no doubt, be most welcome and useful to the
clockmakers. Pilgrim had considerable imagination, and seemed quite
delighted that his old favourite project was really likely to be
carried into effect.
Lenz listened to all this as if in a dream. How can this be? are there
still men in the world who can occupy themselves with such things, and
rejoice in mutually improving each other? Lenz said very little, but
the drive did him good. To be carried along so luxuriously, is
certainly better than plodding wearily along hill and valley.
For the first time in his life Lenz felt something like envy. He was
obliged to get out at the Doctor's house, but the kind family there
insisted on his coming into the house.
How comfortable it all seemed! Are there really then such pretty, quiet
houses in the world, where it is so warm and cheerful, and where
blooming hyacinths exhale their fragrance at the window? and the
inhabitants are so kind and peaceful, for it is evident that no
passionate or loud words are heard here; and to see them all sitting
together with their faithful, honest hearts, imparts more warmth than
the best stove.
Lenz must drink some tea. Amanda gave him a cup, and said:--"I am so
glad to have you among us again. How is Annele? If I thought your wife
would like to see me, I should be glad to pay her a visit."
"Since five o'clock this morning--it seems to me eight days--I have not
been at home; I believe Annele is quite well, and I will let you know
when to come to us." After Lenz had said this, he looked round the room
as if seeking some one. And who knows what thoughts passed through his
soul?
How different would it have been if he had married one of these girls!
Pilgrim had positively assured him that he would not have been
rejected. He would then have been sitting here as one of the family,
with a position in the world--and what a position! and his wife would
have honoured and esteemed him, and all the good people here would have
been his relations.
Lenz nearly choked on the first mouthful of tea he swallowed. The old
lady--the Doctor's mother--who was eating her gruel at the tea-table,
had always been very fond of Lenz. She made him sit down beside her,
and as she was deaf, he was obliged to speak loud. She had been the
companion of his mother, and liked to relate anecdotes of her, and how
gay they had been together in their youthful days, especially in their
sledging parties during the carnival, which are now quite out of date.
Marie in those days used to be full of fun and frolic. The old lady
inquired, too, after Franzl, and Lenz mentioned having seen her this
very day--of course he made no allusion to her offer of money--and also
of Kathrine's kindness to Franzl, and her wish to adopt a child. He
related all this very pleasantly. All present listened to him quietly
and attentively, and it seemed quite surprising to Lenz to relate
anything without either being flatly contradicted, or hearing at all
events, "What's all that to me?"
The good old grandmother begged him to come often, and to bring his
wife with him. "Your wife is a clever, good woman; remember me to her
and the children." Lenz felt it so strange to hear all this, and to be
obliged to accept it thankfully. The old lady spoke so cordially, that
there could be no doubt she meant what she said. It was evident that in
this family nothing but good was spoken of any one, and that was the
reason the old lady heard only pleasant things of her neighbours.
"Just as you came in," said the grandmother, "we were speaking of your
father, and also of my dear deceased husband. A clock merchant from
Prussia has just been here, and he said the clocks are not so neatly
finished, as in the days when your father and my husband worked
together; they don't keep time so exactly: but I replied on the
contrary, all honour to the dead! but the present clocks go certainly
quite as well as in the old time, but men were not so exact in those
days as they are now, that is the reason. Am I not right, Lenz? You are
an honest man: say, am I right or wrong?"
Lenz pronounced her to be perfectly right, and said how particularly
good and fair it was on her part, not to allow the good old times to be
praised at the cost of the new.
The Techniker attributed the extreme and strict accuracy of modern
days, to railroads and telegraphs.
Now that the conversation had become more general, the Doctor took Lenz
aside, and said: "Lenz, you will not, I hope, be offended with what I
am about to say." Lenz shrunk from him. Is the Doctor, too, going to
speak to him about the state of his family? He could scarcely stammer
forth: "What do you mean?"
"I only wished to say, if it was not disagreeable to you, and I think
you would perhaps not object to it--but what is the use of a long
preface? I wish you to enter the clock manufactory of my son and my
son-in-law, in the capacity of overseer. You will be of great use to
them, and in time they propose giving you a certain share in the
business, in addition to your salary."
This was like a hand from Heaven stretched forth to succour him. Lenz
replied in feverish haste: "Yes, indeed, I can and will gladly accept.
the offer. But, Herr Doctor, you are aware that I sought by every means
in thy power, to induce all the clockmakers in our district, to enter
into an association. So many things have occupied me lately, that the
affair has gone quite out of my head. I should not like to enter the
manufactory, unless both your sons were to agree that their
establishment should also belong to the association, perhaps one day
become its property."
"That is quite our own idea."
"Very well, then. I have only one favour to ask. Do not mention it till
I----" Lenz stopped short.
"Well! till when?"
"Till I have spoken to my wife about it; she has her peculiarities."
"I know her of old, but she is sensible, when her pride does not
interfere. But we ought to respect her proper pride."
Lenz looked down; the Doctor was giving him a deserved lesson, and with
a good motive as well as in a kind manner. That is the right way to
speak; then advice is useful and acceptable.
His thoughts, however, speedily returned to the manufactory, and he
said: "Herr Doctor, may I take the liberty of asking one more
question?"
"Certainly; don't be so ceremonious."
"Which of our masters, hereabouts, are also to be included?"
"We have not yet spoken to any one--but, by the bye, we wish Proebler to
be one of our people, though, of course, in a subordinate situation,
not like you; for he has a considerable talent for invention, and has
made various discoveries, that may be made practically useful. It is to
be hoped that the poor old man may prosper in his old age, for he is
becoming most eccentric, indeed, almost crazy, since his secret, for
which he expected a patent, was sold by auction at the 'Lion.'"
Lenz was silent for a time, and then he related where he had found
Proebler, and concluded by saying: "I have still another request to
make, Herr Doctor. I cannot speak to my uncle. You are the first man in
this country, and he who could refuse you anything can have no heart or
feeling. Herr Doctor, do speak to my uncle, and beg him to help me. I
scarcely think--the more I reflect on the matter--that my wife will
allow me to enter the manufactory, and you said yourself that we must
respect her proper pride."
"Certainly, I will go to your uncle forthwith; will you wait for me
here, or go with me into the village?"
"I will go with you."
They all wished Lenz cordially good night; shaking hands kindly with
him, and the old grandmother laid her left hand on his head as if
blessing him, when she gave him her right hand.
Lenz went along with the Doctor; as they passed Pilgrim's house they
heard him whistling, and playing on his guitar. This faithful friend
felt deep sympathy at heart for Lenz's misfortunes, but to sympathise
with any one, is after all a very different thing from being involved
yourself in difficulty; a man's own life claims its rights.
Where the path went up the hill, Lenz left the Doctor, who only said:
"Wait at home, I will come to you later. How wonderfully close it is
this evening! I am sure we are going to have a rapid thaw."
"I sought aid far away, and after all it seems I am to find it at home.
There are still good men in the world, far better than yourself," said
Lenz to himself, as he went up the hill towards home.