grudge against you.”
She thinks a while longer. Suddenly she draws herself up. “Then all’s well,” she says. “Oh, I should have known. It didn’t leave enough of an impression on you for that. Very well, we won’t say any more about it.”
“No, let’s not. My impressions matter as little to you now as before.”
“Good-bye,” she said. “Good-bye for now.”
“Good-bye,” he replied.
They went their separate ways. He stopped and turned around. There she was, moving along. He stretched out his hands and whispered, speaking tender words to himself: “I don’t bear a grudge against you, oh, no, I don’t; I love you still, love you. . . .”
“Victoria!” he called.
She heard him, gave a start and turned, but continued walking.
A few days went by. Johannes was extremely restless and couldn’t work or sleep; he spent almost all his time in the woods. He climbed the big pine-clad knoll where the Castle flagpole stood; the flag was flying. They had also hoisted the flag on the Castle’s round tower.
A strange excitement laid hold of him. Visitors were expected at the Castle, they were going to celebrate.
The afternoon was calm and warm; the river throbbed like a pulse as it flowed through the steamy landscape. A steamer came gliding into port, leaving a fan of white streaks in the bay. And now four carriages were leaving the Castle yard, heading for the pier.
The ship came alongside, gentlemen and ladies stepped ashore and took their seats in the carriages. Then salvos of gunfire came from the Castle; two men with sporting guns stood in the round tower loading and firing, loading and firing. When they had let fly twenty-one rounds, the carriages rolled in through the Castle gate and the firing ceased.
Yes, indeed, there would be festivities at the Castle; the visitors were received with flags and salutes. In the carriages there were some military gentlemen—Otto, the Lieutenant, among them perhaps.
Johannes came down from the knoll and went home. He was overtaken by a man from the Castle, who stopped him. The man had a letter in his cap, he had been sent by Miss Victoria and requested an answer.
Johannes read the letter, his heart going pit-a-pat. Victoria was inviting him all the same, she wrote in a cordial manner and asked him to come. This was the one time she wanted to invite him. Reply by the messenger.
A wonderful, unexpected happiness had befallen him; the blood rose to his head and he answered the man that he would come, yes, he would come presently, thanks.
“There you are!” He handed the messenger a ridiculously large coin and raced home to get dressed.
VIII
For the first time in his life he walked through the Castle gate and climbed the stairs to the second floor. A buzz of voices reached him from inside, his heart was thumping, he knocked and went in.
He was met by the still youthful hostess, who greeted him amiably and shook his hand. Very glad to see him, she remembered him from when he was only so high, and now he was a great man. . . . It looked as though she would have liked to say something more, she held his hand for a long time and gave him a searching look.
The host also appeared and gave him his hand. As his wife had said, a great man in more than one sense. A famous man. Very pleased . . .
He was introduced to gentlemen and ladies, to the chamberlain, who was wearing his decorations, to the chamberlain’s wife, to a neighboring landowner, to Otto, the Lieutenant. He didn’t see Victoria.
Some time went by. Victoria came in, pale, diffident; she was leading a young girl by the hand. They made a tour of the room, greeting one and all, exchanging a few words with each. They stopped before Johannes.
Victoria smiled and said, “Look, here is Camilla, isn’t that a surprise? You know each other.”
She observed them both briefly, then left the room.
For a moment Johannes stood rooted to the spot, rigid and confused. Here was the surprise! Victoria had kindly
She thinks a while longer. Suddenly she draws herself up. “Then all’s well,” she says. “Oh, I should have known. It didn’t leave enough of an impression on you for that. Very well, we won’t say any more about it.”
“No, let’s not. My impressions matter as little to you now as before.”
“Good-bye,” she said. “Good-bye for now.”
“Good-bye,” he replied.
They went their separate ways. He stopped and turned around. There she was, moving along. He stretched out his hands and whispered, speaking tender words to himself: “I don’t bear a grudge against you, oh, no, I don’t; I love you still, love you. . . .”
“Victoria!” he called.
She heard him, gave a start and turned, but continued walking.
A few days went by. Johannes was extremely restless and couldn’t work or sleep; he spent almost all his time in the woods. He climbed the big pine-clad knoll where the Castle flagpole stood; the flag was flying. They had also hoisted the flag on the Castle’s round tower.
A strange excitement laid hold of him. Visitors were expected at the Castle, they were going to celebrate.
The afternoon was calm and warm; the river throbbed like a pulse as it flowed through the steamy landscape. A steamer came gliding into port, leaving a fan of white streaks in the bay. And now four carriages were leaving the Castle yard, heading for the pier.
The ship came alongside, gentlemen and ladies stepped ashore and took their seats in the carriages. Then salvos of gunfire came from the Castle; two men with sporting guns stood in the round tower loading and firing, loading and firing. When they had let fly twenty-one rounds, the carriages rolled in through the Castle gate and the firing ceased.
Yes, indeed, there would be festivities at the Castle; the visitors were received with flags and salutes. In the carriages there were some military gentlemen—Otto, the Lieutenant, among them perhaps.
Johannes came down from the knoll and went home. He was overtaken by a man from the Castle, who stopped him. The man had a letter in his cap, he had been sent by Miss Victoria and requested an answer.
Johannes read the letter, his heart going pit-a-pat. Victoria was inviting him all the same, she wrote in a cordial manner and asked him to come. This was the one time she wanted to invite him. Reply by the messenger.
A wonderful, unexpected happiness had befallen him; the blood rose to his head and he answered the man that he would come, yes, he would come presently, thanks.
“There you are!” He handed the messenger a ridiculously large coin and raced home to get dressed.
VIII
For the first time in his life he walked through the Castle gate and climbed the stairs to the second floor. A buzz of voices reached him from inside, his heart was thumping, he knocked and went in.
He was met by the still youthful hostess, who greeted him amiably and shook his hand. Very glad to see him, she remembered him from when he was only so high, and now he was a great man. . . . It looked as though she would have liked to say something more, she held his hand for a long time and gave him a searching look.
The host also appeared and gave him his hand. As his wife had said, a great man in more than one sense. A famous man. Very pleased . . .
He was introduced to gentlemen and ladies, to the chamberlain, who was wearing his decorations, to the chamberlain’s wife, to a neighboring landowner, to Otto, the Lieutenant. He didn’t see Victoria.
Some time went by. Victoria came in, pale, diffident; she was leading a young girl by the hand. They made a tour of the room, greeting one and all, exchanging a few words with each. They stopped before Johannes.
Victoria smiled and said, “Look, here is Camilla, isn’t that a surprise? You know each other.”
She observed them both briefly, then left the room.
For a moment Johannes stood rooted to the spot, rigid and confused. Here was the surprise! Victoria had kindly
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