Problematic Characters Part 77

"I feel quite well, quite well," said Bruno. "Do not hurry yourself. I shall sleep delightfully till you come back."

CHAPTER XXI.

In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Who is there?"

"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick. Did you not tell me he was a great favorite of yours?"

"Yes. Have you any news about----"

"About my Czika? No."

Oldenburg's face was clouded over. "Shall we go in?" he asked.

In one of the reception-rooms they met the old baron. Oldenburg exchanged a few words with him, and then went into the ball-room, while Oswald had to give the baron a circ.u.mstantial account of Bruno's condition during the last hours.

"Well, that is nice, that is very nice," he said; "I hope he will escape being really sick. I was almost afraid it might turn into typhoid fever. Go and tell my daughter that Bruno is better; I know she will be glad to hear it. She has asked me several times."

Oswald went into the ball-room. They were just commencing a new dance, the last one before the great pause, during which supper was to be served in the great dining-hall up stairs. There was a low divan running all around the ballroom, and Oswald remained standing on the step that led to it, near the door. The dancers near him were continually changing. Once Emily and her betrothed came to stand almost immediately before him. She pretended not to notice him; she laughed and talked aloud, perhaps a little too loud, but it is difficult not to exaggerate when one is playing a part which requires an effort; Baron Cloten, on the contrary, availed himself to the fullest extent of the privilege men in his position have a right to enjoy, and whispered unceasing nonsense in his lady's ear with a most expressive smile.

Oswald had heard of the sudden engagement of the two; he knew probably better than anybody else how it had come about. He recollected how disparagingly Emily had spoken of Baron Cloten that night at Barnewitz.

Now she had promised to marry him! How happy they will be, Oswald thought, and he had to confess that, if harm came of it, no one was to blame but himself.

A few moments afterwards Helen found herself near him. She was dancing with Sylow. Oswald had observed her for some time, and noticed that she was standing cold and silent, like a marble statue, by the side of her partner, who seemed to have discovered his utter inability to begin a conversation, and was studying the chandelier with praiseworthy industry. As soon as she saw Oswald, a flash of life seemed to pa.s.s over her beautiful but sad features. She beckoned him with the eye to come near her.

"How is Bruno?"

"Thank you, better; he was going to sleep."

"Are you going to stay?"

"No, I am going back directly."

"Give my love to Bruno--and here--take this rosebud to him."

Helen took a rosebud from the bouquet she was holding in her hand and gave it to Oswald, who took it, bowing deeply. He noticed that Sylow had suddenly withdrawn his attention from the chandelier and was fixing his eyes upon his own face with an expression which was by no means agreeable.

The next moment another couple was standing in this place.

"Did you see your old admirer, Emily?" asked Cloten.

"Who do you mean?"

"Why, Dr. Stein! he was standing right behind us."

"Ah, yes! My old admirer? Are you mad, Arthur?"

"Well, well. You need not be angry. I don't believe a word of the whole story. But, for Heaven's sake! just look! He is speaking to Helen Grenwitz--she gives him a rose. Well, that is too bad! Upon my word, that caps the climax!"

"I told you there was an understanding between them. He beats you all."

"Upon my word! That is too bad! But I have taken care to make the matter known."

"What have you done?"

"Well, I have told everybody what you mentioned to me in secret. The whole ball-room knows it now, ha, ha, ha!"

"But I did not give you leave to do so."

"I thought you meant me to do so. Mr. Stein will pay for it if he does not get out of the way immediately with his rosebud."

"What are you going to do?"

"I am not going to do anything myself, but we mean to teach the fellow how to behave. It will be a glorious affair, I tell you. You shall hear all about it when its over. Ha, ha, ha!"

The happy man led his betrothed back to her place, as the dance was at an end, and turned to Sylow, who was coming towards him.

"Did you see it, Cloten?"

"I should think so."

"Is not it a scandal?"

"I am only sorry for poor Felix."

"We must tell him all about it. Do you know where he is?"

"He said just now he was tired dancing. He was going to the card-tables. I think Barnewitz is keeping bank somewhere. Suppose we go, too? There will be no more dancing until supper. We have just time to win a few louis. What do you say?"

"Of course I'll go."

Emily had watched their conversation from a distance. She saw them leave the ball-room, laughing, arm in arm. Oswald also had disappeared.

Suddenly, a terrible fear overcame her. She had been the first to couple Oswald's name with Helen's name, to gratify her mad desire to be avenged on him, and it was she who had, for the same purpose, informed Felix of her pretended discovery. She had commenced telling the same story to-night again, merely for the purpose of making an end to Cloten's stupid teasing. Now only she became aware that she had gone too far, and that she had, in all probability, exposed Oswald to very great danger. And yet she loved him still with the whole strength of her pa.s.sionate heart. She might have murdered him with her own hands when the fit of mad jealousy was on her, but the thought of exposing him to brutal ill-treatment at the hands of Cloten and others was terrible to her. She looked around in the ball-room to see where help might be found.

Her brother happened to come near her. She called him:

"What do you want, little one?"

"Have you seen Doctor Stein?"