Читать книгу When Thoughts Will Soar - Bertha von Suttner - Страница 8

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The gloomy autumnal sense of depression, which had settled down on Franka’s mind and the whole of Sielenburg, grew ever deeper. Death was making his entrance into the castle. For more than a week the sick count’s passing away had been expected from hour to hour. The physicians had expressed their opinion that it was inevitable and immediately at hand. At Countess Adele’s suggestion the priest had already been summoned in order to administer extreme unction to the man who lay unconscious in his bed; the warder of the tower was ready at a moment’s notice to raise the black standard, and the sexton of the adjacent church was only waiting for the signal to ring the passing-bell.

Franka ventured several times to enter the sickroom which was now a death-chamber, and the moans which came from the bed, and mingled with the storm howling without in an unspeakably melancholy dirge, rang incessantly in her ears, even after she had left the room and repaired to her own, which was situated in the other wing of the castle, where the wind could not be heard.

Here she was now sitting in the dark,—it was about seven o’clock in the evening,—and was thinking of her own father’s death, which so short a time before had left her an orphan. Now, by the loss of her grandfather, she would be once more quite friendless in that house. Her tears flowed for the poor departed father, for the poor departing count, and likewise for the poor deserted maiden—for herself.

Suddenly she pricked up her ears. In the prevailing silence she heard a distant commotion: the opening and shutting of doors, hurrying footsteps, voices.... With a throbbing heart she sprang up and turned on the light. At the same instant her maid came hurrying into the room.

“What has happened?... My grandfather?...”

“Yes, Miss Franka; the count has passed away!”

On the morning after the funeral, which was conducted with imposing state, the Countess Adele sent for Franka.

“I have summoned you, my dear child, to have a few serious words with you. Sit down.”

“What can this mean?” queried Franka in some perturbation.

“You have shown deep and, as it seems to me, genuine sorrow at the death of my poor brother.”

“Oh, yes, I loved him so!”

“And you were right, for he was very kind—perhaps a little too kind to you. He has not left you unprovided for. His will has not been opened as yet, but I know about it, for he told me before you came that he intended to leave you a legacy of forty or fifty thousand crowns. That is a very neat little fortune. It is enough to cover the bond and you can marry an officer. Besides, that is your natural vocation—to marry. You could not be a canoness because you have bourgeois blood; and since you have bourgeois blood, you can have no claim to marriage in our class. Of course, you will not think of remaining at the Sielenburg. Here you would have no opportunity... and you do not get along very well with us. I have never referred again to that fatal matter of the books, but the sting remains.... At all events, I would not think of casting you off. After all, you are my beloved brother’s granddaughter—he recognized you as such... so you are not to sink back into the sphere in which you were brought up. Therefore, Cousin Albertine and I have decided that she—Cousin Albertine—should take charge of you. She lives in Teschen—a little city in Silesia. A very large garrison is quartered there, and no doubt, as soon as it is known that you possess the necessary amount, you will have suitors among the officers, for you are a pretty girl. One should not depend too much on mere physical beauty; still it is a recommendation—especially in matrimonial affairs.... Albertine remained unmarried simply because she was excessively homely... that is still very evident. You will be very comfortable at her house—she keeps up a very nice establishment—all the officers’ wives attend her ‘At Homes,’ and young men will not stay away as soon as it is known that the pretty niece is not quite without means. But you must take great care not to give utterance to such anti-military views as are preached in another terrible book which we found in your room—‘Das Rote Lachen’—what a title! However, Aunt Albertine will instruct you in the proper rules of behavior. As you know, she is very plain-spoken, for she is extraordinarily frank—but that should never offend you! She means it for your best good.”

Franka let the old lady talk on, and did not make a sign. Formerly she would have rebelled against much that her aunt said, especially against the expressions, “sink back into the sphere in which she had been brought up”; but now, on the day after the count’s burial she would have no quarrel with his sister. She keenly felt that she could not exist in the “sphere” to which they were trying to elevate her; she had decided to depart from the Sielenburg and to refuse Aunt Albertine’s offer. If it was true that her good grandfather had so generously remembered her,—the amount mentioned seemed to her a very considerable sum,—she was protected against poverty, and was her own mistress. And even if there was no legacy for her, she would prefer to go out into the world and obtain some situation. Anything but this state of dependence! Anything but this moral dungeon!

“Well, what do you say to this?” said the aunt in conclusion, after she had gone on in the same tone for some time.

“Excuse me, at present I have nothing to say. I am so affected by the sad occurrences of the last few days—I really cannot answer.”

“Very good; go back to your room again. I certainly appreciate that you are quite unstrung, first from grief at your grandfather’s death and also by joy at the brilliant prospects which I have disclosed to you.... So, then, we will take up the subject another time. There is no hurry—Aunt Albertine will not return to Teschen for six weeks; till then you can remain here.”

Franka stood up. “May I go?”

“Yes, but at three o’clock this afternoon come to the green salon. At that time we are to meet there and Dr. Fixstern, who has Eduard’s will, is to read it. As you are probably mentioned in it, you should attend the meeting.”

At the specified hour all the members of the family present at the castle assembled in the “green salon.” Besides the Countess Adele, Miss Albertine, and Cousin Coriolan, there were a few distant relatives who had come to the Sielenburg for the funeral. Franka entered last and took her place in a chair by the wall near the doorway. The others sat in a semicircle in front of the table where Dr. Fixstern was engaged in taking documents out of a portfolio.

“Are all the persons concerned present?” he asked after he had taken his seat in the armchair.

“Yes, all are here,” answered the Countess Adele. “You may proceed, Doctor.”

Great excitement was visible in the features of those in the semicircle. They were all more or less pale and breathless. The doctor straightened his spectacles and began:—

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have here the testament of my honored patron and client, Count Eduard von Sielen, and I will now read it before the assembled family. For more than twenty years, I have had the honor of serving as the attorney and agent of the late count. It is, therefore, only natural that he should have put into my hands the will which I and my solicitor have signed as witnesses, and that he should have designated me as his executor. I am fully acquainted with the condition of his affairs and I have an inventory of all the real estate and personal property which he has left. Here it is: if you will grant me permission, I will first put this fully before you.

“The count’s property was larger than might have been supposed from his comparatively modest scale of living. It consists: (1) Of the domain of Sielenburg in Moravia, of Grossmarkendorf in Lower Austria, and of Hochberg in Carinthia. These possessions amount altogether to 8700 acres of land and are unencumbered; (2) the Sielen palace on the Wieden in Vienna; (3) bank-deposits in English and national banks amounting nominally to two million five hundred thousand crowns. I have also a complete list of the jewels, silver plate, paintings, and furniture to be found in the various castles, in the Vienna palace, and also in storage. And now I will proceed to the reading of the will.”

The excitement in the semicircle had grown still more intense, and while the lawyer was breaking the seal of the envelope and unfolding a large sheet of parchment, one might have heard the beating hearts of those in the assembly.

Dr. Fixstern cleared his throat a second time and read in a loud voice:—

“This is my last will.

“I commend my soul to God.

“Since my property is not entailed, I am free to dispose of it in accordance with my best judgment.

“I make my disposition as follows: I nominate as my universal legatee my granddaughter, Franka Garlett.”

At this all uttered an “Ah!” which was more like a shriek than an exclamation. Cries of astonishment, of disillusionment, of indignation, of dismay. Only the cry of joy was lacking, for Franka had sprung to her feet, mute with terror, and then instantly sank back again. She would have preferred to run away—to her father, that she might bring to him this astounding piece of news!—to her grandfather that she might thank him.... But they were both dead. Here among the living there was no one who would look on her with anything but envy. Then before her mind arose the thought of her anonymous correspondent whose tender word had flown to her: “I am fond of you”.... If only he were by her side...!

A moment passed before the general stupefaction had subsided, and Dr. Fixstern could proceed. Now followed various bequests. All the relatives, even the most distant, were remembered with larger or smaller legacies; for the functionaries and servants were bequests either in money or in pensions; various charitable institutions were also remembered. Mr. Chlodwig Helmer, “whose character I have learned to value very highly,” received a valuable ring; Dr. Fixstern as the executor received a handsome legacy. After the bequests were paid, the property descending to the residuary legatee would be diminished by not far from a million crowns. After he had finished reading the document, Dr. Fixstern arose and went to Franka, who was still sitting near the entrance to the salon, and made a low bow:—

“Miss Garlett, receive my congratulations: you are the mistress of Sielenburg.”

The others came also and congratulated her with bitter-sweet looks. Franka was still, as it were, stunned.

“It seems to me,” she said, “as if I ought to ask the forgiveness of you all”; and the tension of her nerves gave way in a spasmodic fit of weeping.

Aunt Albertine began to busy herself tenderly with her:—

“Come, come; I will conduct you to your room... you must recover from the shock...”

The way from the green salon to Franka’s chamber was through a suite of salons down the long corridors, up the monumental staircase; and this way, which she had so often taken, now seemed to her wholly new—it was all her own property, her realm.... Under Miss Albertine’s affectionate guidance she reached her room, but there she asked to be left alone for a while—she desired to rest, she felt so unstrung....

“Yes, my darling, now get a good rest. I will go.” Franka locked the door as soon as Miss Albertine had left the room. No one must disturb her—she wanted to be alone with her great destiny. She drew deep audible sighs just as one does after climbing a mountain-peak. Indeed, it was a peak to which she had been elevated—a dizzy peak. What possibilities lay open before her—what duties must she fulfill! Like a flash of lightning the thought went through her mind: “I must accomplish something!”

What?

That she knew not. This thought was only a germ: but she felt that something would come to fruition. A voice seemed to say to her: “Franka, something great, something marvelous has happened to you”; and in the depths of her soul came her answer: “I will be worthy of this marvelous thing.”

“Be worthy?” Where had she seen or heard that word lately? Oh, yes, now she remembered: she took from her writing-table Helmer’s letter—there it was. “Show yourself—let us all show ourselves—worthy of having been born under the glory of the twentieth century....”

Some one knocked at the door. Franka put the letter back into the drawer and went to open the door.

The Countess Adele entered. “So you wanted to rest after your being so startled? Yes, it is startling, to be sure.... Who could ever have imagined!—I must have a little talk with you about it.... We must have a clear understanding as to what is to be done now.”

She sat down, and Franka, resigning herself, took a seat. What would Aunt Adele have to say now? Probably a whole series of suggestions and counsels.... But in her heart the purpose stirred: “I will do what I please.”

“Well, aunt,” she said aloud, “let us talk. It is truly an unexpected, overpowering stroke of Fate. I am still perfectly dazed by it.”

“I can believe you. Now everything is changed. Nothing more needs to be said about the plan of your going to Teschen which we discussed this morning. Albertine, of course, would be only too glad to have you come to her—she told us so before—but there would be no sense in it;—you will remain with me at the Sielenburg—until you are married.”

“And whom am I going to marry?”

“That will take care of itself. You will not lack suitors, now that you are a brilliant match. You would bring your husband several landed estates, a palace, and a considerable sum of money. Your choice must fall on a solid, sensible man who understands the careful management of property. I could suggest one to you, but it is premature to talk about it as yet. But in the mean time we shall keep up the establishment, have some great hunting-parties, and the right person will come at the right moment. Of course, for the present we shall live secluded—you see we shall be in mourning for a year, and it would not do at all to go into society during these twelve months. But you can utilize the time by trying to cultivate good manners. You are so lacking in what is required for the rank which you will take in our circle.... I will invite two young nieces to come here as companions for you, and you can improve your ways by observing how they behave, and then you can obtain from them good sound ideas—the dear girls have been educated in the Sacré Cœur Convent and are very religious and ‘comme il faut’ in their opinions. Yet at the same time they are merry as becomes their age and yours.... And if you wish to keep these rooms as yours, it will be all right. Or, if you like, I can have prepared for you the apartments that belonged to your mother and which have been unoccupied since her flight. You need have no care concerning the housekeeping—in the first place, you do not understand anything about it, and, besides, I have been in charge of it for years. And naturally you know nothing about managing the estate.... But we have an excellent intendant and Cousin Coriolan will gladly have an eye to the direction of affairs and take charge of the accounts. I will talk with Dr. Fixstern about the management of your property—of course, you know nothing about that either, and so you need not have any bother about all that. For your own little expenditures—toilet, charities, and so forth—I will allow you suitable pocket-money. Are you listening to me? You look so distraite.”

“I? Oh, yes, I have heard you.”

“Well, and what have you to say?”

“I have nothing at all to say to-day. As you just remarked, it is too soon. I must first collect my thoughts.”

“Well, you need not think and worry. Experienced people are here to relieve you. So we will talk no more about these things now—‘To-morrow is another day.’ Adieu for now, and do not be too late in coming down to dinner.”

“I should like to be excused for to-night, aunt. I am going to bed very shortly.”

“That is a good idea; then I will have your dinner sent up to you. Have a good night’s sleep and wake up to-morrow fresh and rested. You look so scared—not at all like the lucky creature that you are; and do not forget to fall on your knees and thank the good God for pouring out such a blessing on you.”

“Horrible!” exclaimed Franka aloud, as soon as she was alone. And then she began to laugh. The humor of the thing had not escaped her. That very morning the countess had said to her that, of course, her further stay at the Sielenburg was not to be thought of, and now the old lady was willing to let her stay “with her,” and would undertake the management of her whole future—a future which lay before her so great, so enigmatical, so full of power and magnificence—a future opening out before such duties and possibilities. Again her mind turned to the as yet unformulated germ of plans half-conceived—such as Aunt Adele, in her narrow horizon, had never even dreamed. No, no, this proposed tyranny must be shaken off as speedily and as decisively as possible. Franka felt that she had the courage and the power to do so, although she was alone.

Alone in this milieu, yes; but she felt as if she had comradeship and support in the world outside, in the hovering spirit of her father, in the souls of those new men who were striving for lofty aims, in—how had Chlodwig Helmer expressed it?—in community with all that is holy in the eternal and the infinite.... All she needed was freedom, and this was now brought to her by her wealth; also by the fact that no sort of tradition or duty bound her to the environment in which it was planned to asphyxiate and strangle her, if she could not tear herself away from it. But she could and she would.... She was mistress of the Sielenburg, and what was most precious to her—she was mistress of herself.

The following morning she sent for Dr. Fixstern to come to her. She asked him to explain to her once more her rights and her title in the property. Then she told him of the Countess Schollendorf’s proposals and of her own firm resolve not to accept them. She was greatly relieved to find that Dr. Fixstern was not at all on the side of the countess, as she had feared, but wholly on hers. He was righteously indignant at the old lady’s presumption; and when Franka told him of her proposal to dole out to the unrestricted possessor of millions a limited sum of pocket-money he laughed heartily.

The conference lasted some time. Franka had many questions to ask and Dr. Fixstern had also many things to tell her, many explanations, much good advice to give her. Only after the estate had been fully settled would the exact amount of her fortune be known, but in the mean time she would be able to get some idea of what she would have by glancing over the inventory that he had with him; and he read to her the figures representing the income and the payments which would have to be deducted from it. Franka listened with increasing delight as she began to comprehend what enormous wealth had fallen into her lap. The joyous sensation of the discoverer of a treasure filled her heart. For the very reason that she had gone through the school of poverty and deprivation, she was now able to appreciate the value of riches, and she had already got an inkling of the independence, the esteem, and the enjoyment which her property was to vouchsafe her.

At the same time, as a sort of absolution from the sin of pride in possession, she cherished the consciousness that she should make use of the power that had come to her for something noble and grand and daring.

Franka expressed her desire to go that very winter to Vienna and take up her residence in her palace. Dr. Fixstern entirely acquiesced, and declared that he and his wife would do everything to aid her; he assured her that she might depend upon him in every way; the long devotion which he had showed to the late count he was ready now to show the granddaughter.