ANOTHER PROMONTORY COMES IN SIGHT.
The long summer days as they passed were happy indeed for Thea, and all
the more cloudless and sunny because of the absence at a watering-place
of the old Countess Eichhof.
The young wife had wellnigh forgotten the shadow that had been cast
upon her path for a moment by the figure of Frau von Wronsky, and she
was no longer in the least jealous of the old superintendent, for she
was now Bernhard's daily companion and her advice and opinion were
eagerly sought for. Bernhard was almost as inexperienced as herself in
the management of an estate, and, since she had more leisure and less
ambition for distinction than he, the old superintendent sometimes
declared that the Frau Countess really understood matters better than
the young master. Lothar frequently occupied his room at Eichhof, rode
Bernhard's horses, ate almond-cakes, and entertained his comrade,
Werner, with accounts of his sister-in-law's constantly increasing
beauty. Werner seldom came to Eichhof, but when he did come, Thea
always had much to tell him. She read the books that he recommended to
her, and he was the only one who seemed to take any interest in Walter.
Thea corresponded with her youngest brother-in-law, and hoped in time
to be the medium of reconciliation between him and Bernhard, who made
no objection to this correspondence, although he refused to listen to
Walter's letters. Lothar was not so decided in his antagonism towards
his younger brother, but he yawned whenever Thea spoke of him, and so
she was driven to seek sympathy solely from her father and from Werner.
Each listened attentively to all she had to say of Walter, for,
although Werner did not know him personally, the young fellow's pluck
and determination interested him greatly.
In all things else perfect harmony existed between Thea and her
husband. And yet these sunny summer days were not long cloudless. For
some time it had seemed to the superintendent that his master's
enthusiasm was on the wane. "It will increase again," he thought at
first, but before long he began to shake his head over the state of
affairs. At last Thea too noticed that Bernhard was often out of sorts
and not so actively employed as heretofore. The reason for this was to
be found not in outward circumstances, but in Bernhard himself. He had,
it is true, had many disappointments, and had encountered many
obstacles, but what especially galled him was the reflection that he
was not turning his talents to sufficient account. When, young as he
was, he entered upon his inheritance he had determined to effect
extraordinary results. In his ardour for accomplishment he had
forgotten that there must be a certain knowledge acquired for such
accomplishment, and now he could not but frankly confess to himself
that he had really done very little, that those in his employ had been
the real workers and had understood matters far better than had their
master. There had been much outlay of capital also, and it was
questionable whether this outlay had always been judicious.
"I fritter away my powers of mind in too many directions," he said to
Thea one day, "and I fear I am not precisely fulfilling my vocation. I
attempt to be architect, mathematician, grazier, and ever so many other
things besides, and I know that I am really none of all these, and do
not indeed desire to be. I fancied the management of a landed estate to
be something vastly more important."
"But it certainly is a fine thing to arrange and to create as you are
doing," Thea replied. "I feel proud as we drive through the meadows,
where your will has transformed what was unprofitable land into green
grassy fields."
"Yes, I am pleased with that too, but in fact I have had very little to
do with it; others have done it for me, and would have done it as well
without me."
Thea sighed; she was so content, and she had been so proud of this very
industry of Bernhard's that he was now depreciating.
Then Lothar came to Eichhof one day and reported that several of the
most respectable citizens of R---- had asked him whether he thought
that his brother would accept a nomination for the Reichstag. Bernhard
knew that there had been some such proposition talked of in official
circles, and he had cherished the idea, since he was the largest landed
proprietor in his district, and the seat that it commanded would fall
vacant just when he had completed his twenty-fifth year and was thus
eligible for a nomination.
"I know that some of our neighbours are thinking of you, too," said
Lothar; "and you will see, when you come to the Diet-assembly
to-morrow, that you will be offered the nomination."
Bernhard's eyes sparkled. "I confess that the possibility occurred to
me," he replied. "Hohenstein said something about it the other day; but
I'm afraid that the ultramontane candidate has the only chance."
"That's a question," said Lothar. "Herr M----, it seems, has some blots
on his scutcheon, which his opponent will use to the best advantage;
and since Wronsky, in view of his Polish ancestry, I suppose, is to be
their second candidate, there will hardly be a due amount of enthusiasm
among the ultramontanists, since he is, to my certain knowledge, a very
lukewarm Romanist. And, besides, you, with all your dependants here,
have more votes at your disposal than any one of them."
"I never would force my people to vote against their own convictions."
"Nonsense! If they are not convinced that their master is the fittest
man to represent them, let them find another master."
"Now you are talking just like Hohenstein," said Bernhard, laughing.
"Did you not discuss a bowl of punch together last night while he
explained to you his views upon the coming election?"
"You're right as far as the punch goes, Bernhard, but as for the views,
they are my own, and I think you owe it to the good cause to accept the
nomination, since every one says that you have by far the best chance
to defeat the ultramontanist."
"Well, we shall see how matters look to-morrow at the Diet," said
Bernhard.
"You will be there, at all events?"
"Of course."
Thea had hitherto listened in silence. "Bernhard," she now said,
suddenly, "if you were elected you would have to go to Berlin in the
autumn."
"Possibly."
"But, Bernhard, you know----" She leaned over him and whispered a few
words in his ear.
"No need to trouble ourselves about it, my child," he replied. "In the
first place, my nomination is entirely uncertain, not to speak of my
election----"
"But you would accept it?"
"Good heavens! I really do not know. 'Tis a matter for grave
reflection."
He tried to convince himself that he had come to no decision, and he
was nevertheless exulting in his inmost heart at the thought of
political activity. Politics were assuredly fitted to employ all his
powers, to call forth all his energy. Here was a field in which a man
could gratify his ambition and achieve prominence without the petty
labour, the commonplace effort required by the management of an estate.
Lothar, usually so slow to reflect and to draw conclusions, was
clearer-sighted than Thea in this matter. He knew that his brother
would accept this nomination, while the young wife hoped to induce him
to decline it. She had taken great pains to fit herself to share in her
husband's present interests, and she was proud that she had succeeded.
What possibility was there of her gaining any insight into politics,
when that was to take place in the autumn which would prevent her from
accompanying her husband to Berlin?
There was no room for doubt upon the subject, however, by the evening
of the next day, when Bernhard came home, accompanied by the Freiherr
von Hohenstein, who presented her husband to Thea as "our future member
for the Reichstag, madame."
"Bernhard?" she exclaimed, in involuntary alarm.
"Certainly not member yet," said Bernhard: "but the confidence reposed
in me by my old friends and neighbours is so flattering, dear Thea,
that I could not do otherwise than accept the nomination with thanks."
"Nonsense! your election is a certainty," said Hohenstein; "leave that
to us. I'll have no one in my service or on my land who does not vote
with me; nor shall those who do not vote with me be benefited by my
bounty during the winter. Every man of them has something to gain from
us, and must do our pleasure if he hopes to retain our good will."
"But, papa," cried Adela, who had ridden over to Eichhof to meet her
father, "you must not send Jusak away. He is the best groom we ever
had, and keeps my mare in such beautiful trim; besides, he rides
superbly. Only a week ago the poor fellow was groaning over the coming
election, because his wife is such a terrible scold and the most devout
Catholic in the entire village, always going twice to church every
Sunday and holiday. He says his vote must cost him either dismissal
from your service or a terrible row at home that will last he cannot
tell how long."
Hohenstein laughed. "Why doesn't the rascal keep his wife in better
order, then?" he rejoined.
"He keeps the mare and everything else in his charge in perfect order."
"Nevertheless, if he votes against me he shall go. All our neighbours
think as I do in this matter, and you, Eichhof, are, I suppose, no
exception."
"Bernhard, you would not really act thus?" asked Thea. Her husband
shrugged his shoulders.
"Hohenstein has far more experience in such affairs than I," he
replied. "Such a course is hardly what I should like, but it may be the
only one to pursue. It is not simply a personal question; the
principles that I advocate are at stake, and they must be maintained;
each vote that I lose adds one to the opposition. We must look to the
end in view."
"And shut your eyes to the means; there speaks the Jesuit, Thea!" Adela
exclaimed, laughing.
"You do not understand, Fraeulein Adela," said Bernhard, who was still
under the influence of the excited speakers to whom he had been
listening in R----. "I was disposed to be of your opinion, and even now
I am not in favour of harsh measures to secure votes, but I see clearly
that some pressure must, be brought to bear. The vote of one of us,
trained as we have been to reflect and decide, to draw logical
conclusions, is of no more weight than is that of an ignorant groom,
whose ideas are centred in his stables. These people scarcely know what
questions are at stake in the choice of a member for the Reichstag, and
cannot possibly judge who would best represent the interests of the
country. They have been strongly influenced all their lives long, and
to suppose that they can suddenly form an independent judgment in so
important a matter as an election of this kind is perfect nonsense.
Therefore it is for their own good that they should be influenced now."
"Yes, with food, fagots, and dismissals," exclaimed Adela. "Very well,
Count Bernhard; if I lose Jusak through your fault all friendship
between us is at an end."
"Then all I can do to regain your good will, Fraeulein Adela, is to
raise my voice in the Reichstag, if I ever get there, in favour of the
emancipation of woman."
"That would go far to appease me, to be sure," she said; and then,
taking Thea's arm, she added, "Come, Thea; when men begin to talk
politics they are simply detestable, and I see very well that they are
to be the topic here."
"Not at all; we would far rather enjoy your charming society," said
Bernhard.
"Oh, yes; and in order to do so plunge into discussions as to where the
next election meeting shall be held, and what you mean to say at it,
and what some one else will say then, and how many votes you have, and
how many your opponent has. It's all excessively interesting, no doubt.
I heard it all last year at the official elections for the lower
chamber, and I know that papa and you and all the rest will think of
nothing else for weeks to come, and that I shall be bored to death.
Thank heaven, officers cannot vote; my hope is in them for the
present."
The gentlemen laughed, and even Thea smiled at Adela's irritation.
Since, however, Herr von Hohenstein was evidently eager for the
discussion which his daughter so reprobated, she allowed herself to be
drawn away to the next room, where Adela instantly began to describe a
dress she intended to wear at a picnic to be given by the officers of
hussars in the neighbourhood. Thea listened but vaguely, for her mind
was much occupied by Bernhard's election. She could not quite
understand or approve his sudden enthusiasm for political life. She
felt it her duty as a wife to rejoice in the distinction conferred upon
him, and yet she could not control her dislike of this hasty change in
her husband's views and plans.
"Alma is to be dressed just as I am," Adela chattered on meanwhile.
"Tell me, Thea, have you noticed that Lothar seems very attentive to
Alma?" Thea's attention was aroused.
"Lothar?" she repeated. "How did such an idea enter your head? I have
seen nothing of it."
Adela declared that she did not believe there was anything in it, but
Thea resolved to watch Lothar more closely and to talk more with him,
for hitherto, although he was older than she, she had treated him as a
younger brother, who told funny stories very well and ate almond-cakes
with a grateful relish, but who could not possibly be suspected of
falling honestly and seriously in love. But when her own sister was
thus spoken of, it behoved her to be more observant.
Adela, whose moods were as variable as an April day, suddenly fell
silent and looked very grave. Then she asked, "Walter is not coming to
Eichhof this year, is he?"
"No; Walter is very economical, and, since he will accept nothing from
Bernhard, he must find going to Berlin quite expensive."
"He is going to Berlin, then?"
"Yes; he is to continue his studies there. Did you not know that? Oh, I
remember you would not listen to his letter the other day when I wanted
to read it to you."
Adela blushed crimson, and rejoined, with a laugh, "I wish I could stop
saying everything that comes into my head, without stopping to think.
But come, let us see if the gentlemen are still as tiresome as ever."
When they returned to the drawing-room they found Bernhard and his
friend still discussing the election. But Adela joined them, and sat
still between Bernhard and Thea for the remainder of the evening, as
though she dreaded another _tete-a-tete_ with the latter.
Bernhard was extremely animated. He spoke with more energy and fluency
than usual, and Thea thought, "Perhaps he is now choosing the career
for which he is best fitted, and it is silly and petty of me not to
rejoice in it." When he looked towards her inquiringly, she nodded with
a smile; but still it seemed to her as though there were another shadow
rising between her husband and herself.