least, that Saalburg—” “O see, father,” said Eleonora, interrupting the request, “see how impatiently my pony arches his delicate neck, and beats with his hoofs on the ground to call me! And this clear, sparkling sun, and this blue heaven, and every thing so smiling, I can stay no longer.”
She was gone. In a few moments the Baron saw her flying through the gate, with Schirmwald by her side. “There they go,” cried the old man, “and I am left alone.” A tear gathered in his eye. “Accursed delusion, that thus expels from the heart its best, and purest, and dearest feelings!”
He continued in deep thought, till the sound of a carriage awakened him from his reverie. He looked down into the court. A cavalier sprung out. “Saalburg!” cried the old man, in an extacy of delight; “it is he himself!” and he ran down stairs like lightning.
“Welcome, my dear, excellent young friend—welcome! Whom have you brought with you?” “Frau von Rehfield, most excellent forest-master?” “Is it possible? What! my sister, and Miss Rose, and Miss Lise, and all of them!” “Dear brother,” “Dear uncle,” resounded from all sides. “Paul, Christian, John,” bawled Neideck; “where are all the fellows?”
The whole household soon surrounded the carriage, and found ample employment in unloading its contents. Besides the human inhabitants of the ponderous vehicle, a cat, two lap-dogs, a canary bird in a cage, and a whole pile of trunks and band-boxes, were dug out. At last, At last, however, the whole party were safely landed.
“Where is Leonora—where is our dear cousin?” cried all of them, speaking at once. Her father was just commencing an apology, when she galloped up to the door. She welcomed her visitors, and while she thus gave way to the natural ease of disposition, she was enchanting. Saalburg could not withdraw his eyes from her beauty. She, too, seemed at first a little surprised to see the raw, wild stripling changed into a handsome man; but that emotion seemed to disappear, and she took no further notice of him. The father seemed only to admire him the more. His graceful figure, his countenance, in which sweetness was blended with firmness, his good humour and strong feeling, tempered by a knowledge of the world, enchanted the old man. He was determined that no other person should be the husband of Eleonora, and felt almost distracted with anxiety, till he should find an opportunity of tellling him how matters stood. He had not long to wait, for the young man was as impatient as himself. But what were Saalburg’s feelings, when the Baron informed him, that all the old ties of youth between him and Eleonora were dissolved, and that another now possessed her affections! Pride and anger contended in his heart, when he learned who it was that Leonora thus preferred to him. But Saalburg was prudent, as well as noble and honourable. Before deciding on his plans, he wished to know from the Baron whether there was any thing to be hoped for. Neideck told him, that, during the disturbances occasioned by the war, Leonora had been sent to reside with a relation in town, the young wife of old Count Horst; that, during her residence there, the round of idle amusements in which she mingled, the flatteries to which she was constantly exposed, and the influence of fashionable example, had entirely altered the native artlessness and modesty of her character. The tenderness of her feelings had disappeared,—she had become cold and affected,—the country wearied her,—the affection of her father she seemed to receive almost with indifference; she was also at that critical period when the heart must have employment.
By powerful recommendations, Schirmwald had contrived to get admittance into her father’s house. He had heard of her beauty and her fortune, and was resolved to hazard every thing to make the lady his own.
Neideck had received more than one anonymous intimation of his views, but he had paid little attention to them, partly because he believed it almost impossible that Eleonora could forget Saalburg, or give pain to her father by any opposition to his choice, and partly because he
