the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第7章
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plain people down here and don't understand these fine； grand ways。 You
must pass as my friend whom I brought herebut I make one condition。''
He drew a long breath and looked at Hilda。 For the first time she heard
him； the real Otto Heilig； speak。 ‘‘Hilda；'' he went on； ‘‘I don't want to
hurt you I'd do anything for you； except hurt you。 And I can't stand for
this felfor Mr。 Feuerstein； unless you'll promise me you won't marry him；
no matter what he may say； until your father has had a chance to find out
who and what he is。''
Mr。 Feuerstein drew himself up grandly。 ‘‘Who is this person； Miss
Brauner？'' he demanded with haughty coldness。
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‘‘He don't know any better；'' she replied hurriedly。 ‘‘He's an old
friend。 Trust me； Mr。 FeuerCarl！ Everything depends on it。''
‘‘I can not tolerate this coarse hand between me and the woman I love。
No more deception！ Carl Feuerstein''how he did roll out that name！
‘‘can guard his own honor and his own destiny。''
The door into the private hall opened and in came Brauner and his
wife； fine pictures of homely content triumphing over the discomforts of
Sunday clothes。 They looked at Mr。 Feuerstein with candidly
questioning surprise。 Avenue A is not afraid to look； and speak； its mind。
Otto came forward。 ‘‘This is Mr。 Feuerstein；'' he said。
At once Brauner showed that he was satisfied； and Mrs。 Brauner
beamed。 ‘‘Oh； a friend of yours；'' Brauner said； extending his hand。
‘‘Glad to see any friend of Otto's。''
Mr。 Feuerstein advanced impressively and bowed first over Brauner's
hand； then over Mrs。 Brauner's。 ‘‘I am not a friend of thisyoung man；''
he said with the dignity of a Hoheit。 ‘‘I have come here to propose for
the honor of your daughter's hand in marriage。''
Mr。 Feuerstein noted the stupefied expression of the delicatessen
dealer and his wife； and glanced from Otto to Hilda with a triumphant
smile。 But Hilda was under no delusion。 She shivered and moved
nearer to Otto。 She felt that he was her hope in this crisis which the mad
love of her hero…lover had forced。 Brauner was the more angry because
he had been thus taken by surprise。
‘‘What nonsense is this？'' he growled； shaking his head violently。
‘‘My daughter is engaged to a plain man like ourselves。''
At this Heilig came forward again； pale and sad； but calm。 ‘‘No； Mr。
Brauner she is not engaged。 I'm sure she loves this gentleman； and I
want her to be happy。 I can not be anything to her but her friend。 And I
want you to give him a chance to show himself worthy of her。''
Brauner burst out furiously at Hilda。 The very presence of this gaudy；
useless…looking creature under his roof was an insult to his three gods of
honor and happiness his ‘‘Arbeit und Liebe und Heim。''
‘‘What does this mean？'' he shouted。
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‘‘Where did you find this crazy fellow？ Who brought him here？''
Hilda flared。 ‘‘I love him； father！ He's a noble； good man。 I shall
always love him。 Listen to Ottoit'll break my heart if you frown on my
marrying the man I love。'' There was a touch of Mr。 Feuerstein in her
words and tone。
‘‘Let's have our game； Mr。 Brauner；'' interrupted Otto。 ‘‘All this can
be settled afterward。 Why spoil our afternoon？''
Brauner examined Mr。 Feuerstein； who was posing as a statue of
gloomy wrath。
‘‘Who are you？'' he demanded in the insulting tone which exactly
expressed his state of mind。
Mr。 Feuerstein cast up his eyes。 ‘‘For Hilda's sake！'' he murmured
audibly。 Then he made a great show of choking down his wrath。 ‘‘I； sir；
am of an ancient Prussian familya gentleman。 I saw your peerless
daughter； sought an introduction； careless who or what she was in birth
and fortune。 Love； the leveler； had conquered me。 I''
‘‘Do you work？'' Brauner broke in。 ‘‘What are your prospects？
What have you got？ What's your character？ Have you any respectable
friends who can vouch for you？ You've wandered into the wrong part of
town。 Down here we don't give our daughters to strangers or do…nothings
or rascals。 We believe in loveyes。 But we also have a little common
sense and self…respect。'' Brauner flung this at Mr。 Feuerstein in High…
German。 Hilda； mortified and alarmed； was also proud that her father
was showing Mr。 Feuerstein that she came of people who knew something；
even if they were ‘‘trades…folk。''
‘‘I can answer all your questions to your satisfaction；'' replied Mr。
Feuerstein loftily； with a magnanimous wave of his white hand。 ‘‘My
friends will speak for me。 And I shall give you the addresses of my noble
relatives in Germany； though I greatly fear they will oppose my marriage。
You； sir； were born in the Fatherland。 You know their prejudices。''
‘‘Don't trouble yourself；'' said Brauner ironically。 ‘‘Just take yourself
off and spare yourself the disgrace of mingling with us plain folk。 Hilda；
go to your room！'' Brauner pointed the stem of his pipe toward the
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outside door and looked meaningly at Mr。 Feuerstein。
Hilda； her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed； put herself between
Mr。 Feuerstein and the door。 ‘‘I guess I've got something to say about
that！'' she exclaimed。 ‘‘Father； you can't make me marry Otto Heilig。 I
HATE him。 I guess this is a free country。 I shall marry Mr。 Feuer
Carl。'' She went up to him and put her arm through his and looked up at
him lovingly。 He drew her to him protectingly； and for an instant
something of her passionate enthusiasm fired him； or rather； the actor in
him。
Otto laid his hand on Brauner's arm。
‘‘Don't you see； sir；'' he said in Low…German； very earnestly； ‘‘that
you're driving her to him？ I beg you''in a lower tone ‘‘for the sake of
her futuredon't drive him out； and her with him。 If he really would
make her a good husband； why not let her have him？ If he's not what he
claims； she won't have him。''
Brauner hesitated。 ‘‘But she's yours。 Her mother and I have
promised。 We are people of our word。''
‘‘But I won't marry hernot unless she wishes it； she herself。 And
nothing can be done until this man has had a chance。''
It was evident from Brauner's face that he was yielding to this
common sense。 Hilda looked at Otto gratefully。 ‘‘Thank you； Otto；''
she said。 He shook his head mournfully and turned away。
Brauner gave Mr。 Feuerstein a contemptuous glance。 ‘‘P
