Poems by George Pope Morris Part 40

COUNTESS (receiving letters and looking at them.) Mr. Wedgewood, from Esturia and London; and--

WEDGEWOOD (introducing ALBERT.) Mr. Albert Worrendorf.

COUNTESS (introducing FREDERICA.) My daughter Frederica.

ALBERT (aside.) The angel we met by accident this morning!

WEDGEWOOD (aside.) Seraphically odd!

FREDERICA (to ALBERT.) We have seen each other before, Mr. Worrendorf.

ALBERT.

To my great happiness, madam.

(ALBERT and FREDERICA converse apart.)

COUNTESS (to WEDGEWOOD.) It was very kind in my correspondent, Mr. Wedgewood, to introduce a gentleman of your celebrity to my chateau.

WEDGEWOOD.

You do me honor, madam. We Englishmen are plain-spoken people. We are not unlike our earthenware--delf and common clay mixed together. If our outsides are sometimes rough, all within is smooth and polished as the best of work. It is the purest spirit, which, like the finest china, lets the light s.h.i.+ne through it. (Aside.) Not a bad compliment to myself, and metaphorically odd!

COUNTESS.

Your reply reminds me of the object of your visit. The Prussians are very proud of the manufactory which has claimed the attention of the king.

WEDGEWOOD.

Oh, how I long to see the great Frederick!

COUNTESS.

You will like him, I am confident.

WEDGEWOOD.

I don't know that. I don't at all fancy his edict.--What! marry a parcel of handsome, innocent, industrious girls to his great whiskered horse-guards, whether they will or no? It's a piece of moral turpitude--an insult to common sense--and infamously odd--

FREDERICA (advancing.) Have a care, Mr. Wedgewood--have a care how you talk about the king. He possesses a sort of magical ubiquity--and is here, there, and every where at the same moment.

WEDGEWOOD.

How does he manage that?

FREDERICA.

He wanders about in secrecy and disguise--enters all kinds of mansions--and often over-hears conversations that were never intended for the court. By this means, it is said, he gathers information from every nook and corner of his kingdom.

WEDGEWOOD.

Strange kind of hocus-pocus work for a monarch!--Peripatetically odd!

ALBERT.

I have been told that he knows more of the character and condition of his subjects and soldiers than they do themselves.

COUNTESS.

And he never knows of a wrong done among his people that he does not instantly redress--though it often puzzles them to learn how he arrives at his knowledge of the facts. Many think him a wizard.

WEDGEWOOD.

And not without reason, madam. Never before have I heard of such a compound of sagacity, courage, and eccentricity. Oh, I am all in a glow to see and converse with the jolly old boy!

(Enter Count LANISKA.)

COUNTESS (introducing him.) My son, the Count Laniska, will present you to his majesty.

WEDGEWOOD (bowing to COUNT.) If it is convenient. (Aside.) Most martially and uniformly odd! (To LANISKA.) But, first, I should like to have a glimpse at the factory.

COUNT.

I shall be happy to show it to you. There is one extraordinary subject connected with it, that will surprise you both--a young girl of singular talent and beauty--

FREDERICA.

Ah, brother! upon your favorite theme again. That young girl occupies more of your thoughts than all he porcelain in these dominions.

ALBERT (aside.) Poor Sophia!

FREDERICA (observing the COUNT looks thoughtful.) Why, what's the matter with you, brother?

WEDGEWOOD.

He is no doubt studying the mixture of different kinds of clay, and contriving a furnace that will not destroy it by too much heat. Ingeniously odd!

COUNT.

You are mistaken, sir. I was thinking at what time I should have the pleasure of waiting upon you.

WEDGEWOOD.

I will be at your service as soon as I have had time to adjust my outward and refresh my inward man.--Necessarily odd! (Seeing the COUNTESS about to retire.) Madam, allow me (takes her hand)--If it is convenient.

[Exit WEDGEWOOD and COUNTESS.

FREDERICA (to COUNT.) Now, brother, that the countess has retired, pray favor us with your confidence. You need not mind Mr. Worrendorf--I have told him all about Sophia Mansfield--I love that poor girl myself, not less for her misfortunes than her genius.

ALBERT.

I love her too--

FREDERICA (aside.) Oh, dear! what's the matter with me? My head turns round--I am ready to drop!

COUNT (with emotion.) You love her! Wherefore?

ALBERT.

She is my countrywoman, and for that I love her.

FREDERICA (recovering.) Well, gentlemen, I must say this is very gallant of you both, to be praising one lady so highly when there is another in the room. (Aside.) Oh, dear me, how near I came to betraying myself!

ALBERT.

Your pardon, my dear madam. When I look at you, I almost forget there is another woman in the world. (Kisses FREDERICA's hand, who turns away with evident confusion.)--But for the present I must leave you, to join Mr. Wedgewood. [Exit.

COUNT (noticing them.) (Aside.) So, so, Frederica--fairly caught, I perceive! (To Frederica.) Ah, sister, sister! as in all things else, there is a destiny in love.