ANOTHER WORLD.
"Good evening, Mr. Lenz," a voice cried to the dispirited wayfarer, as
he was turning sadly away. Lenz started. Who could be calling him "Mr.
Lenz?"
A sleigh drew up by his side, and the engineer, throwing back his fur
wrappings, pressed him to jump in and occupy his empty seat. There was
no resisting his cordial manner. He made Lenz, who was warm from
walking, take the fur robe, while he covered himself over with the
horse-blanket. The horses set off at a brisk pace; the bells jingled
merrily; they seemed to be flying through the strangely soft air.
Annele is right; I ought to have managed to keep a carriage and horses,
was Lenz's bitter thought in his poverty and debasement. A tormenting
spirit seemed ready to turn every occurrence of this day into a
reminder of his life's failure, and a temptation to unholy desires.
The engineer was very communicative. He spoke with peculiar
satisfaction of the friendly relations that existed between himself and
Pilgrim. With his knowledge of drawing,--for he had studied a year at
the academy before entering upon his present profession,--and Pilgrim's
eye for coloring; they could not only teach one another a great deal,
but hoped to invent some new designs for furniture and wooden
ornaments. They had already made some sketches of clock-cases, which
they hoped would be of benefit to the trade. Pilgrim was as happy as
possible in the exercise of his inventive genius, and in the prospect
of seeing his pet plan carried into execution.
Lenz listened as in a dream. What was the man talking about? Were there
still persons in the world who took an interest in such things, and
rejoiced to further another's plans? Lenz spoke little, but felt the
better for his drive. To be borne along so was much pleasanter than to
have to walk wearily over the mountain and valley. For the first time
in his life he felt something like envy.
At the doctor's door he was most hospitably obliged to descend and
enter the house.
How delicious it was within! He had almost forgotten there were such
peaceful, happy homes in the world, where all was so genial and warm,
and fragrant hyacinths bloomed at the double windows; where all things
showed that no angry word was ever spoken, but that the kind, true
hearts that lived together gave out a pleasanter warmth than the best
of fires.
"I am glad to see you once in our house," said Amanda, handing him a
cup of tea. "How is Annele? If I thought your wife would like to see
me, I should be glad to call on her some time."
"I have not been at home since four o'clock this morning, or was it
longer ago? it seems to me a week. I believe she is well. I will send
you word when she is ready to receive visitors." His voice was firm,
but his eyes turned searchingly from one to the other as he spoke.
Strange thoughts were sweeping through his brain.
How different his life might have been had he tried to win this woman
for his wife! Pilgrim had seemed sure she would not refuse him. Then he
would be sitting here at home; would have a position in the world, a
wife to honor and uphold him, and all these kind friends for his own
family. His first swallow of tea almost choked him.
The old mayoress, the doctor's mother, who sat at the tea-table eating
her oatmeal porridge, had a great fancy for Lenz. He was made to sit
close beside her and raise his voice very loud in order that she might
hear. She had been a playmate of his mother when a girl, and liked to
tell of the gay times they used to have together, especially on their
Shrove-tide sleighing parties, which now were given up with many other
of the old sports. Marie was always the merriest of the company. The
old mayoress inquired about Franzl, listened with interest to Lenz's
account of his visit to her,--he omitting, of course, all mention of
the money she had offered him,--rejoiced at hearing of Katharine's
prosperity and beneficence, and sympathized with her desire to adopt a
child.
The whole company listened with polite attention. Poor Lenz, so long
accustomed to being contradicted in all he said, or interrupted by
exclamations of "O, what is that to me!" looked from one to another in
amazement.
The old mayoress urged him to come often and bring his wife, adding: "I
hear a great deal said of her goodness and cleverness. Give my
greetings to her and your children." Lenz hardly knew how to respond to
such unwonted words. He would have thought she was mocking at him, had
her manner been less sincerely cordial. It must be that nothing but
good was spoken of others in this house, and therefore she had heard
only the good of Annele.
"Just as you arrived," said the old lady, "we were speaking of your
father and my dear husband. A clock-dealer from Prussia had been saying
that our clocks were not so good as they used to be when your father
and my husband were alive; that they did not keep so good time. I told
him I did not agree with him; that, with all respect to the dead, I was
sure the clocks were just as exact now as in old times, but that the
men who used them were more particular. Was I not right, Lenz? You are
an honest man; tell me if I was not right."
Lenz assured her she was perfectly right, and thanked her for not
extolling the old times at the expense of the new.
The engineer cited railways and telegraphs as proofs of the superior
exactness of the present day.
When the conversation became general, the doctor drew Lenz aside and
said to him, "Lenz, you will not be offended at what I have to say to
you?" Lenz's heart sank within him. So the doctor, too, was going to
speak of the ruin in his house.
"What is it?" he said, with difficulty.
"I wanted to propose, if it were not distasteful to you, and I really
do not see why you should object--but what need of so much preparation?
I want you to be director in the clock manufactory which my son and
son-in-law have set up here. Your knowledge will be of service to them,
and you shall receive in time a share of the profits besides your
regular salary."
Here was a hand stretched out from heaven to save him. "I should be
very glad to undertake it, certainly," returned Lenz, turning red and
hot; "but you know, doctor, it has always been my endeavor to form an
association of all the clockmakers of our district. Various
circumstances have thus far prevented my accomplishing this plan, but I
still cherish it, and therefore can only join this enterprise on
condition that your two sons promise to connect the manufactory with
the association, perhaps in time even to make it a part of the property
of the association."
"That is precisely our intention; I am glad to see you still so
thoughtful of others."
"Agreed then; yet I must make one other condition; please say nothing
of our plan till--" Lenz hesitated.
"Well, till when?"
"Till I have spoken with my wife. She has her own ideas on such
matters."
"I know her well. She is always rightly disposed when her pride does
not stand in the way. An honest pride is greatly to be respected."
Lenz cast down his eyes, accepting the doctor's lesson, so kindly and
courteously given.
His thoughts quickly reverted to the manufactory, however, and he
begged leave to ask the doctor yet another question.
"Certainly; don't be so modest."
"Who among our best workmen are to be admitted?"
"We have as yet spoken with no one. Proebler we shall offer some
subordinate position to,--not so high a place as yours, of course. He
is ingenious, and his ingenuity may, perhaps, be turned to practical
account. The poor devil ought to be put in the way of laying up
something for his old age. He has been almost out of his senses since
his grand secret was sold at auction."
After some hesitation Lenz told of the condition in which he had found
Proebler, and said, in conclusion: "I have one more favor to ask,
doctor. I cannot myself speak with my uncle; will you intercede with
him for me? You are the foremost man in our district, and one to whom
nobody, with a heart in his body, can refuse a request. I do not think,
the more I consider the matter, that my wife will consent to my
entering the factory, and, as you yourself say, her pride is to be
respected."
"I will go at once. Shall I leave you here, or will you go with me to
the town?"
"I will go with you."
He shook hands all round, each one wishing him a cordial good-night,
and the old mayoress taking his hand in both of hers with peculiar
tenderness.
They heard Pilgrim playing on his guitar and singing, as they passed
his house. The faithful fellow felt a hearty sympathy for his friend,
but sympathizing with another's grief is a different thing from bearing
it. One's own life asserts the first claim.
Where the path began to ascend the hill, Lenz and the doctor parted.
"Wait at home till I come," the latter said. "What a singular softness
there is in the air this evening! We shall certainly have a thaw."
Here have I been seeking help abroad, while it was waiting for me at my
own door. There are good people still in the world; better than I ever
was, Lenz said to himself, as he went homewards up the hill.