Magda Part 4

VON KELLER.

And she went away?

MAX.

Yes. Then, a year later, when she wrote that she was going on the stage, it made the breach complete. But what else did you hear?

VON KELLER.

That's all.

MAX.

Nothing else?

VON KELLER.

Well, well,--I met her once or twice at the opera-house where she had a pa.s.s.

MAX.

And you know absolutely nothing of her life?

VON KELLER.

[_With a shrug_.] Have you heard nothing from her?

MAX.

Nothing at all. Well, at any rate, I am grateful to you. I beg you, however, not to mention the meeting to my uncle, unless he asks you about it directly. He knows of it, of course, but the name of the lost daughter is never mentioned in this house.

VON KELLER.

Oh, I have tact enough not to do that.

MAX.

And what do you think has become of her?

VON KELLER.

Oh, music is a lottery. Ten thousand blanks and one prize. A host of beginners and but one who makes a career. If one becomes a Patti or a Sembrich, or, to come down to our own Festival--

_Enter_ Schwartze _and_ Mrs. Schwartze.

SCHWARTZE.

[_Shaking hands_.] Welcome to my house! Councillor von Keller, my wife.

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

Pray sit down.

VON KELLER.

I should not have dared, madam, to ask the honor of this introduction had I not wished so strongly to share in the good and useful work which centres here. My purpose may excuse my temerity.

SCHWARTZE.

You're very kind; but you do us too much honor. If you seek the centre of the whole movement, Pastor Heffterdingt is the man. He inspires all; he controls all; he--

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

Do you know our pastor, sir?

VON KELLER.

I have heard him speak many times, dear lady, and have admired equally the sincerity of his convictions and his nave faith in human nature.

But I cannot comprehend the influence he exerts.

MRS. SCHWARTZE.

You will find it out. He is so plain and simple that one hardly realizes what a man he is. He brings every one round.

VON KELLER.

I am almost converted already, dear lady.

SCHWARTZE.

As for us here, all I can do is to give these weak and useless hands to help on the great work. It's only right that an old soldier should dedicate the little strength left him by the throne to the service of the altar. Those are the two causes to fight for.

VON KELLER.

That's a great thought!

SCHWARTZE.

Thanks, thanks, but no more of this. Ah, ten years ago, when they gave me my discharge, I was a devil of a fellow. Max, doesn't my old battalion still tremble at my name?

MAX.

That they do, uncle.

SCHWARTZE.

Ah, that is one thing you escape in the civil service,--being laid on the shelf without any fault of your own,--without the shadow of a fault. Then there came a slight stroke of apoplexy. See how my hand trembles now! And what had I to look forward to? It was then that my young friend, Heffterdingt, showed me the way, through work and prayer, to a new youth. Without him I never should have found it.

MRS. SCHWARTZE.