"But,Lizzie,didyounothear,then,howherepudiatedandabusedyou,thefaithlessBavarian?"askedherfather。
"Idid,andIforgivehim,"shesaidgently,"forIknowfullwellthathedoesnotmeanwhathesays。Areyousostupid,men,asnottocomprehendthathecannotactotherwise,andthathemustspeakthusandnototherwise?Father,yousaidIwasatruedaughteroftheTyrol,andthatyoulovedmeandwerecontentwithme。Iprayyou,then,dearestfather,sparethelifeofmybetrotheduntilto—
morrowmorning,andhavehimtakenbackasaprisonertoourhouseuntilthen。Schroepfelmaywatchhim,andnottakehiseyesfromhim。Oh,dear,kindfriends,bravemen,havemercyuponme!Bearinmindthatwefoughttogetherforourbelovedcountry,andthatyoutoldmeyouwouldneverforgetme,andwouldcomplywithmywisheswheneveryoucould。Iwishnowthatyousparethelifeofmybetrothedonlyuntilto—morrowmorning。"
"Hesaysheisnotyourbetrothed,Lizzie,andwillnevermarryyou!"exclaimedthemen,withirresolutefaces,andalreadyhalfsoftenedbythebeseeching,touchingexpressionofEliza'scountenance。
"Hesaysso,"shesaid,castingafieryglanceonthecaptain,whostoodpaleandmotionless,heardeveryword,andwasunabletomakeareply;"hesaysso,butIknowthathelovesme,andwillbejoyouslyreadyto—morrowmorningtodowhatIaskofhim。Father,"
sheadded,inalowvoice,seizingAnthonyWallner'sarm,anddrawinghimasidequickly,"doyounotcomprehend,then,thatUlrichcannotspeakdifferently?Wouldnothisking,afterhisreturntoBavaria,pronouncehimatraitor,andchargehimwithhavingjoinedusandtheAustrians,andwithhavingconvictedhimselfbymarryingaTyrolesegirl?Bewise,dearestfather,andseehowshrewdlyUlrichmanageseverything,andthatheactspreciselyasItoldhim。Itmustlookasthoughhedidnotmarrymeofhisownaccord,butcompelledbyyou;otherwisehiskingandhisfather,whoisaveryproudman,wouldneverforgivehim。Butwhentheyhearwhathasoccurredhere,andthatyouthreatenedtoshootUlrichbecausehewouldnotmarryme,thegentlemenatMunichwillunderstandthatUlrichhadtotakemeinordertosavehislife。"
"Andareyousatisfiedtohaveitlookasthoughhemarriedyouonlyundercompulsion?"askedherfather,gloomily。
"Iam,father,"shesaid,"forIlovemybetrothed;andheshallnotbecomeunhappyformysakeandforfeitthegoodgracesofhiskingandhisfather。Stateallthistoyourfriends,dearfather,andtellthemtoletUlrichandmealoneforto—day;butaskthemalltocometoourhouseto—morrowmorningandaccompanythebrideandbridegroomtothechurch,forUlrichwillmarrymeatnineto—morrowmorning。"
"But,Lizzie,whynotto—day?"askedherfather。"Whynotatthishour?"
"Itwillnotdo,father。Ifyouhadtoldmebeforehandwhatwastobedonehere,IshouldhavetoldyouatoncewhatIamtellingyounow:itwillnotdoforayounggirltoappearbeforeGod'saltarwithoutduepreparation,andasthoughsheweregoingtoadance。
WhatIamgoingtodoissomethingveryserious,andIwilldoitseriously。IwillpraytoGodto—day,gotoconfession,andhaveagreatmanythingstotalkoverwithUlrich,forIknowhewantsmetosetoutwithhimimmediatelyafterwehavebeenmarried,andthatitmaynotlookasthoughhehadstayedvoluntarilywithyouinourvalley。Imust,therefore,packupmythingsandpreparefordepartingassoonaswehavebeenmarried。Letusalone,then,dearfather,to—day,andinvitethementocometo—morrowmorningandattendmymarriagewithCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg。"
"Well,then,Lizzie,Iwillcomplywithyourwishes,"saidWallner,afterashortreflection。"Iwillgiveyouandhimtimeuntilto—
morrowmorning;butItellyou,mydaughter,ifhecontinuesthesamegameto—morrow,andtalkstheninthesamestrainasto—day,I
shalltakethejestindeadearnest,andwillnotbelieveawordofallyousaytoexcusehim:andthenhislifeisforfeited,andhemustdie。——No,Schroepfel,comehere;taketheprisonerbacktomyhouse,andconfinehimwhereyouhavekepthimforaweekpast。ButItellyou,watchhimwell,andadmitnoonetohimexceptLizzie,andpreventhimfromtalkingwithanybodybuthisbetrothed。"
"Iwilldoso,andwatchhimasIhavedoneuptothistime,"saidSchroepfel,gloomily。"Heshallnottalkwithanybody,andIshouldlikeitbestifhewerenotpermittedeithertospeakwithLizzie,forIdonotbelieveatallthatsheishisbetrothed。"
"Weshallseeto—morrowmorning,whenthemarriageistotakeplace,"saidAnthonyWallner。——"Taketheprisoneraway。"
"Youlethimgo?"exclaimedthemen。"Yousparehislife?"
"Onlyuntilto—morrowmorning,becauseLizziebeggedmetodoso,"
saidAnthonyWallner。"Theweddingwilltakeplaceatnineto—morrowmorning;Iinviteyoualltoattendit,men,andweshallseethen。
To—morrowmorningtherewillbeaweddingoranexecution。Nowletusspeaknomoreofitto—day;letusforgetwhathashappenedtoAnthonyWallnerandhisdaughter;andletusbearinmindonlythatwehavereturnedafterdeliveringourdearTyrolfromtheFrenchandBavarians。Letusgonowtomyhouse,wheremywifeawaitsuswithakegofexcellentwine。Come,wewilldrinktothewelfareofourfatherland,andtothehealthofourdearEmperorFrancis!"
CHAPTERXXII。
ELIZAANDULRICH
Schroepfel,thefaithfulservant,hadtakenUlrichvonHohenberg,inobediencetoAnthonyWallner'sorder,backtothesmallroomwherehehadpassedthelasteightdaysasaprisoner。Sincehehadhimagaininhiscustody,noadditionalprecautionswerenecessary,forSchroepfelknewthathecouldrelyonhisownvigilance,andthattheprisonersurelywouldneverescapefromhim。Hence,heloosenedthecordswithwhichhehadbeentied,andremovedthehandkerchiefwithwhichhehadbeengagged。
"Ifitaffordsyoupleasure,"saidSchroepfel,"youmayuseyourmouthandinveighagainstLizzieWallner,whohassavedyourlifeto—dayasecondtime,andwhomyourewardedlikeagenuineBavarian,thatistosay,withblackingratitudeandtreachery。ButIadviseyounottoabuseherloudenoughformetohearyououtside,forI
amnotapatientasLizzie,andIshallneverpermityoutoabuseandtreatsocontemptuouslythenoblestandbestgirlinthewholecountry。Sheactedtowardyouto—dayasagoodChristianandabravegirl,foryouinsultedher,andshenotonlyforgaveyou,butprotectedyouandsavedyourlife。Andnow,sir,abuseherifyoucannothelpit;butItellyouoncemore,donotspeaktooloudlestIshouldhearyou。"
AndSchroepfelturnedwithalastthreateningglanceandlefttheroom。Outsidehesatdownonthecane—setteewhich,forthepasteightdays,hadbeenhisseatbydayandhiscouchbynight;andhepressedhiseyetothemiddleholewhichhehadboredinthedoor。
Hecoulddistinctlyseeandwatchthecaptainthroughit。Ulrichhadsunkdownonachairandleanedhisheadonhishand;heliftedhissombreeyestoheaven,andtherewasastrangeexpressionofemotionandgriefuponhisface。ButheseemednottointendavailinghimselfofthepermissionwhichSchroepfelhadgivenhimtoabuseLizzieWallner,forhislipswerefirmlycompressed,andnotasoundfellfromthem。OrcouldSchroepfel,perhaps,nothearhim,becausethemendowninthebar—roomwerelaughingandshoutingsomerrily,andspeakingsoloudlyandenthusiasticallyoftheTyrol,anddrinkingthehealthoftheemperorandtheArchdukeJohn,whohadagaintakenpossessionofthecountryandsolemnlyproclaimedthathewouldrestoretheancientandliberalconstitutionoftheTyrolese?
"Howmerrytheyaredown—stairs!"growledSchroepfel。"Imightbethereto;Ihaveamplydeservedtohavealittleexerciseandpleasure。InsteadofthatImustsiteherewithadrymouth;andifthisgoesonmuchlonger,Ishallsurelygrowfasttomysettee。Andallthatforthesakeofthemean,perfidiousBavarian,whoisutterlydishonest,andwhotreatedourbeautiful,nobleLizzieinsoinfamousamanner!Well,ifIwereinthegirl'splace,Iwouldnottaketheperfidiouswretchwhohasdeniedhertwicealready。Oh,howmerrytheyaredown—stairs!NoonethinksofmeandgivesmeadropofwinethatImaylikewisedrinktothewelfareofthefatherland。"
ButSchroepfelwasmistakenforonce,forquickfootstepsascendedthestaircaseatthismoment,andnowappearedthelovelyheadofElizaWallnerabovetherailing,thenherwholeform,andasecondafterwardshestoodinthepassageclosebeforeSchroepfel。Inherhandssheheldaplatewithalargepieceofthefinecakewhichhermotherherselfhadbaked,andalargeglassofexcellentredwine。
"There,good,faithfulSchroepfel,"shesaidinhergentlevoice,noddingtohimpleasantly,andhandingtheplatetohim,"eatanddrink,andletmeinthemeantimegoandseeyourprisoner。"
"Whatdoyouwantofhim?"askedSchroepfel,moodily。
"Iwanttoseehimaboutourweddingto—morrow,"saidElizacalmly;
"andyouknowfatherhasgivenmepermissiontogotohimandspeakwithhim。"
"Yes,hedid,andIcannotpreventyoufromentering,whichIwoulddootherwise,"growledSchroepfel。"Goin,then,butdonotstaytoolong;andifheshouldabuseyouagain,praycallme,andIwillassistyou。"
"Thankyou,dearSchroepfel,"saidEliza,"butprayadmitmenow。"
SchroepfelwithdrewhissetteefromthedoorandallowedElizatoopenit,and,enteringtotheprisoner,closeditagainbehindher。
UlrichvonHohenbergstillsat,asSchroepfelhadseenhim,atthetable,leaninghisheadonhishand;onlyhehadnowcoveredhiseyeswithhishands,andlongsighsissuedfromhisbreast。Heseemednottoknowthatthedoorhadopenedandsomeonehadentered,orratherperhapshethoughtitwasonlySchroepfel,andhedidnotwishtotakeanynoticeofhim。
ElizaWallnerstoodleaningagainstthewall,andgazedathimalongtimewithawondrousexpressionofloveandgrief;foramomentshelaidherhandonherbosom,asiftostiflethecrywhichherlipswerealreadyabouttoutter;thenshecastabeseechingglancetowardheaven,and,asifstrengthenedbythismuteinvocation,shesteppedforward。
"CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg!"shesaid,inhersweet,melodiousvoice。
Hegaveastart,droppedhishandfromhisface,andjumpedup。
"ElizaWallner!"hesaid,breathlesslyandingreatconfusion。
Sheonlynoddedherhead,andfixedherclear,piercingeyeswithaproud,reproachfulexpressiononhisface;hedroppedhiseyesbeforehergaze。Onseeingthis,Elizasmiled,and,crossingtheroomwitharapidstep,wenttothewindow。
"Comehere,sir,andlookatthat。Whatdoyouseeyonder?"
Ulrichsteppedtoherandlookedout。"Iseethemountainsandthesummitsoftheglaciers,"hesaid;"andinthedirectioninwhichyouarepointingyourfinger,Iseealsomyuncle'scastle。"
"Doyouseealsothebalcony,UlrichvonHohenberg?"sheasked,somewhatsarcastically。
"Ido,"hereplied,almosttimidly。
Shelookedathimwiththeproudandloftyairofaqueen。
"Whenwemetlastandspokewitheachother,westoodonyonderbalcony,"addedEliza。"Doyourememberwhatwesaidatthetime,sir?"
"Eliza,"hemurmured——
"Yourememberitnolonger,"sheinterruptedhim,"butIdo。Onyonderbalconyyousworetomethatyoulovedmeboundlessly;andwhenIlaughedatyou,youinvokedheavenandearthtobearwitnessofyourlove。Now,sir,heavenandearthgaveyouanopportunitytoproveyourardentloveforElizaWallner。Didyouprofitbythatopportunity?"
"No,"hesaid,inalowvoice;"itistrue,Iactedharshlyandcruellytowardyou,Ioccasionedyoubittergrief,I——"
"Idonotcomplain,"sheexclaimed,proudly。"Idonotspeakofmyself,butonlyofyou。Yousworeeternallovetomeatthattime,butyoudidsoasamendaciousBavarian;Ididnotbelieveyou,andknewfullwellthatyouhadnohonestintentionstowardme。ForthisreasonIlaughedatyou,andsaidthepeasant—girlwasnosuitablematchforyou,andrejectedallyouroathsandprotestationsofpassionatelove。"
"Butafterwards,topunishmeforventuringtospeakoflovetoyou,"heexclaimed,impetuously,"youfeignedtohavebelievedmyprotestationsandoaths;andalthoughyouhadpreviouslylaughedatme,youwishednowtobecomemywife。"
"No,"shesaid,withafieryglanceofdisdain;"no,afterwardsI
onlywishedtosaveyourlife。YouhaveutterlymistakenElizaWallner'scharacter,UlrichvonHohenberg。YouthoughtLizzieWallnerwoulddeemherselfexceedinglyfortunatetobecomethewifeofanaristocraticgentleman,eventhoughhetookheronlybycompulsion:youthoughtshewouldbecontenttoleavetheTyrolbythesideofthenoblemanwhodisdainedher,andgotothelargeforeigncityofMunich,wherethearistocracywouldscornandmockthepoorTyrolesegirl。No,sir,Itellyou,youhaveutterlymistakenmycharacter。Iattachnovaluewhatevertoyouraristocraticname,nortothedistinguishedpositionofyourfamily;
whenImarry,Ishallchooseahusbandwholovesmewithallhisheart,andwhodoesnotwishtolivewithoutme,andtakesmeofhisownaccord,andwiththefullenthusiasmofanobleheart。ButhewouldhavetoremaininthemountainsandbeasonoftheTyrol;formyheartisattachedtothemountains,andneverwouldIorcouldI
leavethemtoremovetoalargecity。Yousee,therefore,Ulrich,thatamarriagewithyouwouldbynomeansappeartomeaveryfortunatething;and,moreover,ifyouhadallowedyourselftobecompelledtomarryme,hadyounotrefusedtodoso,Ishouldhavedespisedyouallmylifelongasamiserablecoward。Ithankyou,therefore,forresistingthemensobravely,forIshouldhavebeensorrytobeobligedtodespiseyou;youaremydearElza'scousin,andImyselfhavealwayslikedyousowell。"
"Eliza,"heexclaimed,impetuously,"youareanangelofgoodnessandlenity,andIstandbeforeyoufilledwithshameandgrief。Yousayyoualwayslikedmesowell,andItreatedyouwithsomuchingratitudeanddisdain!Oh,letmepressthisdearhandtomylips,letmethankyouforallthatyouhavedoneforme!"
Hetriedtoseizeherhand,butshewithdrewitfromhimquickly。
"CaptainvonHohenberg,"shesaid,"wearenolongeronthebalconyyonder;norisitnecessarythatyoushouldkissmyhand。Thatmaybesuitablewhenyouhavefairladiesfromthecitybeforeyou,butnotwhenyouarespeakingwithaTyrolesegirl。Besides,Ididnottellyouallthistoobtainpraiseandadmirationfromyou,buttopreventyoufromtakingmeforamean—spiritedgirl,respectingherselfsolittleastotrytogetahusbandinsodishonorableamanner。No,bytheHolyVirgin,Iwouldratherdieandbeburiedunderanavalanchethanactsomeanlyanddisgracefully。Butwhenthepeasantsweregoingtokillyou,therewasnootherwayformetosaveyourlifethanthatofsayingthatyouweremybetrothed,andthatwastheonlyreasonwhyIsaidso。How。ever,Ihadnoideathattheweddingwastotakeplaceto—day,formydearfatherhadconcealeditfromme,andwishedtosurpriseme,becausehereallybelievedthatIlovedyou。IfIhadknownbeforehandwhatfatherhadinview,Ishouldhavedevisedsomewayofpreventinghimfromcarryinghisplanintoeffect。ButIsweartoyou,Ihadnoinklingofit。Therefore,Ibegyourpardon,sir,fortheharshtreatmentyoureceivedattheirhandsformysake。"
"Eliza,"hesaid,mournfully,"yourwordsrendmyheart。Oh,donotbesogentleandgenerous!Beangrywithme,callmeaninfamousvillain,who,inhisblindness,didnotpenetrateyourmagnanimityandheroicself—sacrifice;donottreatmewiththischarmingmildnesswhichcrushesme!Youactedlikeanangeltowardme,andI
treatedyoulikeaheartlessbarbarian。"
"Iforgiveyouwithallmyheart,andthereforeyoumayforgiveyourself,"shesaid,withagentlesmile。"Butletusspeaknolongerofthepast;letusthinkonlyofthefuture。Youheardwhatfathersaid:'To—morrowmorningtherewillbeaweddingoranexecution。'"
"Well,then,therewillbeaweddingto—morrowmorning,"exclaimedUlrich,castinganardentglanceontheyounggirl;"yes,therewillbeaweddingto—morrowmorning。Pray,Eliza,savemylifeathirdtimeto—morrow;becomemywife!"
"Iwillsaveyourlife,"shesaid,throwingbackherhead,proudly;
"butfortunatelyitisunnecessaryformetobecomeyourwifeforthatpurpose。Ihavecomehereonlytosaveyou。Sir,youmustescapeto—night。"
"Escape,"hesaid,shrugginghisshoulders;"escape,whenSchroepfelisguardingmydoor?"
"Hush!donotspeaksoloud,sir;hemighthearyou,andhemustknownothingaboutit。Bendyourheadclosertomeandlisten:Gotobedearlythisevening,butextinguishyourlightbeforehand,lestSchroepfelshouldseeanything。MymothertoldmeSchroepfelhadboredholesinthedoor,andwaswatchingyouallthetime。
Therefore,gotobedearly,andleaveyourwindowopen。Whenthechurch—clockstrikestwo,listenforanynoise,andholdyourselfinreadiness。ThatisallIhavetosaytoyou,andnowgood—by。"
Shenoddedtohim,andturnedtothedoor。
"ButI。Eliza——Ihavetotellyoumanythingsyet,"saidUlrich,detainingher。"Pray,stayyetawhileandlistentome!"
"No,sir,itistimeformetogo;mymotheriswaitingforme,"
repliedEliza,withdrawingherhandfromhis。"Good—by,andifyoucanpray,praytoGodtoprotectyouto—night!"
Sheopenedthedoorhastilyandsteppedout,andsmiledatSchroepfel,buttheoldservantlookedathergloomily。
"YoustayedalongwhilewiththeBavarian,"hegrowled。
"Andyetyoudidnoteatyourcakenoremptyyourglassinthemeantime,"saidEliza,withasmile。"Youlookedagainthroughtheholeinthedoor,didyounot?Yousaw,then,Schroepfel,thatwestoodtogetherlikeapairofsensiblelovers。"
"Ididnotseeanything,"exclaimedSchroepfel,angrily,"foryouplacedyourselfclosetothewindow,andmyholedoesnotenablemetolookaroundthecorner;nordidIhearanything,foryouwhisperedassoftlyasthoughyouwereacoupleofsparrowswhichunderstandeachotherwhenbillingandcooing。"
"Fie,Schroepfel!donottalksuchnonsense,"criedEliza,blushingdeeply。"Behaveyourself,Schroepfel,andIwillbringyouanotherbottleofwineto—day,andbegfathertoletyoucomedowntosupperto—night,andpermityoutosleepinyourbedchamber。"
"Ishalltakegoodcaretodonosuchthing,"growledSchroepfel。"I
amasentinelhere,andmustnotdesertmypost。"
"Butyoumaytakeyoursentry—boxwithyou,"saidEliza,pointingtohissettee。"Whenasoldierremainsclosetohissentry—box,hedoesnotdeserthispost。Well,good—by,Schroepfel;thesentinelwillberelievedto—night。"
Eliza'swordswerefulfilled。TowardnightfallsheinformedSchroepfelthatherfatherpermittedhimtotakehissupperatthetabledown—stairs,andafterwardgotobedinhisownchamber。
"Well,andwhoistowatchtheprisonerinthemeantime?"askedSchroepfel。
"Youyourself!Look,youwilllockthedoorandputthekeyinyourpocket。Inaddition,youmayputthatheavyboxyonderagainstthedoor;thenyouwillbesurethatyourprisonercannotgetout,forI
thinkhischamberhasnootheroutlet。"
"Yes,ithas——thewindow!"
"DoyouthinktheBavarianhaswingsandwillflyoutofthewindowto—night?"
"Itistruehecannotflyout,norcanhejumpout,forhewouldsimplybreakhisneck。But,nevertheless,Idonotlikethisarrangementatall。Somethingtellsmethatitwillturnoutwrong。
Ishall,atleast,unchainthewatch—dog,whowillpreventtheBavarianfromescapingthroughthewindow。Fortherest,Ifeelthatallmylimbsarestiff,andthatIhaveatlengthdeservedsomerepose。Asitisyourfather'swill,Iwillgodown—stairs,takesupper,andafterwardgotobedinmychamber。Ifanythinghappens,Ishallwashmyhandsofit。"
"Washthemasmuchasyouplease,Schroepfel,butcomedowntosupper,"criedEliza,hasteningdown—stairswiththeagilityofabird。
Schroepfellookedafterher,shakinghishead;hethenlockedthedoor,putthekeyinhispocket,andplacedtheheavyiron—boundboxagainstthedoor。
"AndbeforegoingtobedIshallunchainPhylax,"hesaid,asiftoconsolehimself,whilehewasgoingslowlyandstifflydown—stairs。
Schroepfelkepthisword。Wearyandexhaustedashewas,hewaiteduntilalltheinmatesofthehousebadgonetobed,anduntilallnoisehaddiedaway。Hethenwentintotheyardandunchainedtheformidableandill—humoredwatch—dog。Phylaxhowledandtrembledwithjoyanddelightatbeingreleased;butSchroepfelseizedhisearandpointedhisotherhandattheprisoner'swindow,whichwasbrightlyilluminatedbythemoon。
"Watchthatwindowwell,Phylax,"hesaid,"watchitwell;andifyouseeanythingsuspicious,callmeatonce。Ishallnotsleepsofastasnottohearyourbasking。Watchitwell,Phylax。"
Thedoglookeduptothewindowasifhehadunderstoodtheorder;
hethenfixedhisclear,lustrouseyesonSchroepfel,andutteredathreateninggrowl。
"Verywell,"saidSchroepfel,"youhaveunderstoodme。Youwillwatchhim,andImaygotobed。"
Hedroppedtheearofthedog,whothereuponboundedwildlythroughtheyard,whileSchroepfellimpedbackintothehouse。Hewasheardslowlyascendingthestaircaseandopeningthecreakingdoorofhisbed—chamber,andthenallbecamesilent。
Nightspreaditspallovertheweary,thesleepers,andtheweeping;
themoonstoodwithsilverylustrehighintheheavens,andilluminatedthesnow—cladsummitsofthemountainsrisingintherearoftheoutbuildingsinWallner'syard。Hourafterhourpassedby,andallremainedsilent;notasoundbroketheholystillnessofnight。
Hourafterhourpassedby;nothingstirredintheyard;thedogsat,asifhehadreallyunderstoodSchroepfel'swords,inthemiddleoftheyard,andstaredsteadfastlyattheprisoner'swindow。Phylaxwatched,asSchroepfelhadgonetobed;Phylaxwatched,anddidnotaverthiseyesfromthewindowonwhichhiswholeattentionseemedtobeconcentrated,forhedidnotstir,hedidnotevendisturbthefliesbuzzingroundhisears;bewasallattentionandvigilance。
Allatoncesomethingoccurredthathadneverhappenedtohimduringhisnocturnalservice;awondrous,appetizingscentwaswaftedtohimonthewingsofthenight—breeze。Phylaxavertedhiseyesforamomentfromthewindowandglancedsearchinglyroundtheyard。
Nothingstirredinit,butthiswonderfulscentofaroastsausagestillimpregnatedtheair,andseemedtogrowevenstrongerandmoretempting;forPhylaxprickeduphisears,raisedhisnose,snuffingeagerlytoinhalethescent,androsefromtheground。Heglancedagainroundtheyard,andthenadvancedafewstepstowardthewindowyonderonthesideofthehouse。Thiswindowwasopen,andthekeennoseofthedogtoldhimthattheappetizingscenthadcomefromit。Allatonce,however,Phylaxstoodstill,asifrememberinghismaster'sorders,andlookedagaintowardtheprisoner'swindow。
Atthismomentalowvoicecalledhim:"Phylax!comehere,Phylax!"
Thedoghesitatednolonger;hehadrecognizedthevoiceofhisfriendandplaymate,ElizaWallner。Withtwotremendousboundshewasatthewindow,and,raisinghimselfup,laidhisforepawsonthewindow—sill,andstretchedouthishead,waitinglonginglyfortheappetizingsausage。
"Come,Phylax,come,"whisperedEliza,andshesteppedbackwiththesausageintotheinterioroftheroom。"Cometome,Phylax,cometome。"
Thetemptationwastoostrong。Phylaxhesitatednolonger;hemovedbackastep,andleapedthroughthewindowintotheroom。
Thewindowwasclosedbehindhimimmediately,andthefour—footedcustodianoftheprisonerwasnowaprisonerhimself。
Theyardwasemptynow。Schroepfelsleptsoundlyinhisbed—chamberup—stairs,andPhylaxwasrevellinginepicureanjoysinthelarder。
Theyardwasemptynow,butnotlong,forthedoorofthehouseopenednoiselessly,andahumanformsteppedout。Foramomentitstoodstillnearthedoor,andtwovoiceswereheardwhisperinginalowtone。
"Good—by,dearestmother,"saidonevoice。"Itistimenow,Imustgo。"
"GodandtheHolyVirginwillprotectyou,dearLizzie,"saidtheothervoice:"forthatwhichyouaregoingtodoisrightandnoble;
andfatherhimselfwillseebeforelongthatyoudidright。Go,Lizzie,andreturnsafely。"
"Ishallbebackateightinthemorning,"whisperedLizzie。"Untilthen,youmustsaynothingaboutit,dearmother,buttellfatherI
wishedtobealoneinmychambertillthewedding—hour。Good—byuntilthen。"
Sheimprintedakissonhermother'slips,andhastenedintotheyard。Thedoorwasclosedsoftly。Atthismomentthechurch—clockstrucktwo。
Elizaglidednoiselesslyacrosstheyardtowardthelargeladderleaningagainstthestable。Shelifteditupwithvigoroushands,carrieditacrosstheyard,andplaceditagainstthedwelling—
house,sothatitstopreachedtheopenwindowoftheprisoner。Sheexaminediftheladderstoodfirm,laidafewstonesatitsfoot,topreventitfromsliding,andthenascendeditwithcat—likeagility,carryingasmallbundleonherarm,whileshehadputdownanotherintheyard。
Nowshehadreachedthecaptain'swindow。
"Areyouawake,sir?"sheasked,inalowvoice。
"Iam,Eliza,"whisperedavoiceinside。"Ihavebeenawakeandwaitingforyouanhour。"
"Takethis,sir,"shesaid,handingthebundleintothewindow。"Itisasuitofclotheswhichyoumustputon。Itismyfather'sholidaydress,foryoumustnotweartheBavarianuniformnow。YoumustputupforafewdayswithbeingdisguisedasaTyrolese。Putitonquickly,andthenwrapupyouruniformintheblanketinwhichIbroughtthesuitofclothes。Butmakehaste,andwhenyouareready,descendtheladder,andcomedownintotheyard,whereI
shallawaityou。Bringthepackagewiththeuniformwithyou,and,aboveallthings,makehaste。"
Shegavethecaptainnotimeforreply,butglidedrapidlyandnoiselesslydowntheladder。Onarrivingintheyard,shetookthehaversackwhichshehadleftthere,hungitoverhershoulder,andtookuptherifle。Thensheseatedherselfquietlyonalargelogclosetotheladder,andlookeduptothemoon,whichilluminatedherfaceandherwholeform。Herfaceworeawonderfullycalmexpression;onlyroundhercrimsonlipsquiveredattimessomethinglikehiddengrief,andatearglistenedinherlarge,darkeyes。Butwhenthistearrolleddownhercheekslowly,Elizashookherheadindignantly,andbrusheditawaywithherhand。
"Foolishgirl!"shemurmured,"howcanyouweepnow?Youmustbravelytakeyourheartinyourhandsnow,andholditsofirmlythatitcanneithercrynortremble。Youmustbeproudandstiff,andneverforgetwhatisduetoyourhonor,andwhatyouowetoyourfriendElza。Therefore,donotweep,butbeabraveTyrolesegirl。
To—morrownightyoumayweepinyourchamber,fornobodywillseeyouthere;butnotto—night—no,no,notto—night!"
Sheshookherheadviolently,forcedherselftosmile,andgazedpleasantlyuptothemoon。"Godblessthee,golden,rapidwanderer!"
shesaid。"Thoushaltaccompanyusto—night,andpray,dearmoon,sendallcloudshome,andremainasbrightandclearasnow;forourrouteisadangerousone,andifthoudostnothelpus,wemayeasilyfallintoanabyss,and——Hush,hush,heiscoming。"
Sheroseandlookeduptothewindow,whencethecaptainemergedatthismoment,andappearedontheladder。
"Throwdownyourpackage,sir——Iwillcatchit,"whisperedEliza。
"Thankyou,Icancarryitmyself,"saidUlrich,inalowvoice;andhewassoonatthefootoftheladder,andstandingintheyardclosetoEliza。
"Nowcome,"shesaid;"treadlightly,anddonotspeak,butgosoftlybehindme。"
Shelefthimnotimeforreply,butwalkedacross,openedthedoorofthesmallshed,whichwasajar,wentquicklythroughit,andpassedthroughtheoppositedoorintotheorchardlyingbehindit。
Shestoodstillinfrontofthedooroftheshed,andwhenUlrichhademergedfromit,shelockedit,andputthekeyintoherpocket。
"Nowletuswalkasfastaspossible,sir,"shewhispered。"Wemustwalkforthreehours。Keepyoureyesonme,andfollowmewhereverI
go。"
"Iwillfollowyou,Eliza,"saidthecaptain,earnestly,"whereveryougo。YouseeIhaveimplicitconfidenceinyou,forIdonotevenaskwhitheryouintendtoconductme,orwhatyouwishtodowithme。Iplacemylifeandmyfutureinyourhands,andshalldowhateveryouwantmeto。"
"Itwillbethebestforyou,"shesaid,noddingherheadslightly。
"Nowcome。"
Andwiththequick,firmsteppeculiartotheTyrolese,sheadvancedthroughthegarden,outofthegate,andintothenarrowpathleadingthroughthevalleyanduptothemountainsrisingontheoppositeside。Themoonstillshonebrightlyuponthevalley,andilluminatedthetwoformsrapidlywalkingbehindeachother,castingtheirlong,darkshadowsonthesideoftheroad。
UlrichyonHohenbergsawinthemoonlightthatElizawascarryingthehaversackandrifle;hethereforeadvancedquicklyuntilhestoodbyherside,andlaidhishandonherarm。
"Eliza,"hesaid,vehemently。"prayletmecarrytherifleandthehaversack;letmetakeyourburdenuponmyself!"
Shelookedathimwithasingularexpression。"Everyonehastocarryhisownburden,"shesaid;"youhaveyours,andIhavemine。"
"Butwhatarethearmsfor,Eliza?Youhavearmedyourselfagainstme?"