andreas hofer-第32章
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soldiers were lying in idle repose on a bench； while others in the
side…wing of the castle allotted to them were looking out of the
windows； and dreamily humming a Bavarian song； frequently
interrupted by loud yawns。
Eliza walked past them with a slight greeting and entered the house。
The old footman sitting in the hall received her kindly； and told
her； in reply to her inquiry； that the castellan； old Baron von
Hohenberg； had set out early in the morning for Salzburg to attend
court； but that his daughter and her cousin； Captain Ulrich von
Hohenberg； were lunching in the small dining…room up…stairs。
This was all the information Eliza needed； she nodded to the
footman； and ascended the staircase quickly。 The old footman did not
follow her； he knew that it was unnecessary for him to announce
beautiful Lizzie to his mistress； but that she always was welcome to
her。 He therefore sat down again quietly； and took up the wood…work
with which he had been occupied before。
Eliza reached the dining…room and threw open the door with a hasty
hand； a blissful smile then overspread her flushed face； for on the
balcony yonder； behind the open glass door； she beheld the tall
slender form of Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg。 She heard him chatting
and laughing gayly； and through the door she also saw her friend
Elza von Hohenberg； who was listening to her cousin's words in
smiling repose。 Scarcely touching the floor with her feet； she
hastened through the room。
〃I assure you； cousin；〃 said Elza at this moment； in her clear；
distinct voice； 〃I believe at times that she is the resuscitated
Maid of Orleans； and that she will perform heroic deeds one day。 Oh；
I know my dear beautiful Eliza Wallner； and〃
〃Don not speak of me； for I am listening to you；〃 exclaimed Eliza；
entering the balcony。
〃Ah； my Lizzie；〃 exclaimed Elza； rising and tenderly embracing her
friend。 〃Have you come at length； my merry； beautiful lark？〃
〃Yes； I have； and I am glad that I am here；〃 said Eliza and her
large hazel eyes turned for a moment smilingly to the young officer；
who； like his cousin； had risen on beholding Eliza Wallner。 He did
not utter a word of salutation； nevertheless； Eliza blushed on
meeting his glance； and averted her eyes timidly from him； turning
them toward the distant summits of the glaciers which were
glittering around the horizon yonder in wonderful majesty。
〃You are glad that you are here； my sweet child？ Why did you not
come at an earlier hour？〃 asked Elza。 〃You are always expected。 My
dear silent cousin； she is always expected； is she not？ 〃
〃Most assuredly she is；〃 said the young captain； with a smile； 〃and
she is as welcome as the first rose of May。〃
〃How impudent you are！〃 exclaimed Miss Elza； laughing； 〃you bid my
Lizzie welcome as the first rose of May； and yet I was here before
her！〃
〃He means only the wild hedge…rose； Elza；〃 said Eliza； smiling
archly； 〃for you know very well that the beautiful and aristocratic
roses do not yet bloom in May。〃
〃Well； tell me； cousin； did you really intend to compare my darling
here with a wild hedge…rose？〃 asked Elza。
〃Do not answer； sir；〃 exclaimed Eliza； eagerly。 〃You have blundered
in trying to flatter me； and that is good。 You will see at length
that fine phrases amount to nothing； and that they are colors that
fade in the sunshine。 You had better speak frankly and honestly to
me； for I have often told you I am a stupid daughter of the Tyrol；
and do not know what to reply to such fine city phrases。〃
〃But for all that you are not stupid； my beautiful Eliza；〃 said
Ulrich von Hohenberg。 〃In truth； I who compare you with a rose am
not a liar； but he would be who should charge you with stupidity。〃
〃But if I should； nevertheless； assert that I am stupid； whom would
it concern？〃 asked Eliza； defiantly。
〃Ah； there they are quarrelling again；〃 exclaimed Elza； laughing。
〃Come to me； sweet Lizzie； sit down by my side on this bench and
give me your hand。 I am so glad that you are here； for it always
seems to me as though I were a lonely orphan when my dearest Lizzie；
with her pretty face and her merry laughter； is absent from me。 But
here； Lizzie； you must look upon me with due awe to…day； for to…day
I am not only your friend and sister； but I am the castellan！ My
father will be absent four days； and I represent him here。 He
delegated his whole power to me； and intrusted me with all the keys。
Treat me； therefore； with great respect； Lizzie。〃
〃That is what I always do； Elza；〃 said Lizzie； tenderly； pressing
the slender white hand of her friend to her lips。 〃You are always my
better self； and I obey you because I love you； and I love you
because I obey you so gladly！〃
〃Well； then； I command you； Lizzie； to be our guest all day and stay
with us until nightfall。 Oh； no objections； Lizzie； if you love me；
you must obey！〃
〃And I obey you willingly； Elza； only when my father sends for me； I
must go； for you know we must not violate the fourth commandment；
our worthy priest would never forgive us。〃
〃When your father sends for you； Eliza； I shall myself go down to
him and beg him to leave you here。 Well； then； you belong to us for
the whole day； and we will consider now how we shall spend this day。
Cousin； do not stand there in silence all the time； staring at the
glaciers； but look at us and propose quickly some excursion for us
to make to…day。〃
〃What could I propose？〃 asked the young officer； shrugging his
shoulders。
〃I submit rather silently and obediently to your proposals； for Miss
Eliza would certainly reject all my proposals merely because I make
them。〃
Eliza burst into merry laughter。 〃Elza； dearest Elza；〃 she
exclaimed；〃 he calls me 'Miss Eliza！' No sir； let me tell you； a
poor Tyrolese girl like me is no 'miss；' no aristocratic lady；
people call me Lizzie； only Lizzie； do not forget that！〃
〃People here call her 'beautiful Lizzie；'〃 said the officer in a low
voice； casting an admiring glance on the young girl。
〃That does not concern you； sir；〃 she replied； blushing like a
crimson rose； 〃you do not belong to the people here； and you must
not call me anything but Lizzie； do you hear？ I think the notions
which city folks entertain about beauty are different from those of
peasants like us。 We consider the daisy and the Alpine rose
beautiful； though they are but small flowers； yet they suit us。
However； the city folks laugh at our taste； and step recklessly on
our flowers。 They consider only the proud white lilies and the large
gorgeous roses beautiful flowers。 I do not belong to them； I am only
a daisy； but my Elza likes this daisy and fastens me to her bosom；
and I rest there so soft and sweetly。〃
She encircled Elza's neck with her arms； leaned her head against her
breast； and looked tenderly up to her with her hazel gazelle eyes。
Elza bent over her and kissed her eyes and white forehead。 Ulrich
von Hohenberg looked at them both with a tender； ardent glance； then
he averted his head to conceal the crimson glow suffusing his
cheeks。
At this moment the door opened； and the castellan's overseer entered
with an air of hurry and self…importance。
〃Miss Elza；〃 he said； 〃the wood…cutters have brought wood and are
waiting for a receipt。 Besides； the head dairy…woman wishes to see
you about the butter which she is to send to town； and the cattle…
dealer has arrived； and〃
〃I am coming； I am coming；〃 exclaimed the young lady； laughing。 〃Do
you see； Lizzie； what an important person I am？ But for me the whole
machine would stand still and sink in ruins。 Fortunately； I am equal
to the occasion； and set the wheels in motion； and the machine can
go on。 You may stay here and consider how we are to amuse ourselves
to…day。 In the mean time I shall regulate our domestic affairs a
little； and when I come back； you will inform me what pleasure you
have devised for us to…day。〃
〃No； Elza； let me go with you；〃 begged Eliza； almost anxiously； 〃I
shall assist you〃
〃You cannot help me outside； Lizzie；〃 said Elza； laughing； 〃but here
you can take my place and be my cousin Ulrich's companion。 Be merry；
my dear children； until I come back！〃
She nodded pleasantly t
