Quicksands Part 6

Again Herr von Osternau exchanged a glance of intelligence with his wife. They had each used almost the same words which Lieschen had just uttered to express their own inability to p.r.o.nounce judgment upon the stranger.

"This sparkling-eyed Candidate must be an extraordinary man," Albrecht remarked. "What is his name? You have not mentioned his name, cousin."

"Pigglewitch."

The name produced an instant effect. Albrecht burst into a laugh, in which Lieschen and Fritz joined, while even Frau von Osternau could not suppress a smile.

"Pigglewitch! A charming name! I am really curious to make his acquaintance."

"You will stop laughing, and never bestow a thought upon either his ridiculous name or his odd appearance, when you see him at the piano and hear the wondrous charm of his music," Herr von Osternau replied to Albrecht's remark. "There's magic in his playing. It positively bewitched me. I scarcely ventured to breathe while the melody lasted, and when the tones had died away on the air the echo still rang on in my heart."

"He'll not bewitch me," Albrecht declared, still laughing. "The name of Pigglewitch will act as a counter-charm to provoke laughter in spite of all the melody imaginable."

Lieschen agreed with her cousin, and Fritz seemed quite of the same opinion, inasmuch as he repeated the name several times, and always with fresh merriment. Frau von Osternau had some difficulty in subduing the young people's mirthfulness, in which she was half tempted to join, strictly forbidding Fritz to offend the Herr Candidate by any show of amus.e.m.e.nt at his odd name. It would be best that, until he became used to its sound, he should address his tutor as Herr Candidate, "and Lieschen and Cousin Albrecht," she added, with a glance towards the pair, "would do well to observe the same rule." Whereupon Cousin Albrecht declared that he could not promise to do so, that ridiculous people existed in order that others might have the pleasure of chaffing them, and that if the Candidate's name was Pigglewitch he must expect to have it laughed at. Besides, there was no fear of offending the man, that sort of people ought to feel it an honour to be noticed at all, he would doubtless be flattered by their laughter.

Herr von Osternau objected to this remark of his cousin's, but Albrecht maintained that he was right, and there ensued a sharp war of words, in which Albrecht showed himself a thorough conservative aristocrat, despising all, even the most cultivated, of the _bourgeoisie_, and quite unable to conceive how a Candidate could prefer any claim to be received in what he called society, while the elder cousin with much greater persistence expressed his liberal views and declared that he required that the Herr Lieutenant should treat their new inmate with the courtesy due to every man of culture, whatever might be his social standing.

Herr von Osternau was always extremely forbearing in his treatment of Cousin Albrecht, for whose disappointment with regard to his inheritance he felt great compa.s.sion, but to-day he showed some irritation in the warmth of his defence of the Candidate's rights. He declared that he would not suffer any slight or want of courtesy to be shown in his house to a young man to whom he had confided the instruction of his children.

Albrecht rejoined that he would have no rules laid down for his conduct towards a man who was too much his inferior to be worthy of notice; he could not possibly treat the Candidate as a social equal; such people could not but be conscious that they were merely tolerated.

The dispute between the cousins threatened to become warmer still, and the gentle words of Frau von Osternau failed of their usual soothing effect, when fortunately the bell of the castle clock tolled three, and before it had finished the folding doors of the dining-hall were opened, and Herr Storting and the Candidate Pigglewitch appeared, followed by Johann bearing the soup-tureen.

But was this really the Candidate Pigglewitch? Herr and Frau von Osternau could scarcely believe their eyes, so complete was the transformation. There was no longer a trace to be seen of the awkwardness of gait or carriage that had seemed a part of his antique, dangling habiliments. So easy and unconstrained were his movements in the simple summer coat with which Herr Storting had provided him that there was hardly anything about him by which to recognize Pigglewitch.

His first glance as he entered the room was for Lieschen, his first bow of course for her mother, whom he approached with respectful courtesy, while he was quite conscious of the roguish sparkle in the fairy's eyes, by which she showed her satisfaction in the metamorphosis her power had effected.

In consequence of the interrupted dispute the lord of the castle received the Candidate with extreme kindliness, offering him his hand as he said, "Welcome to our small circle, Herr Pigglewitch. Most of its members you are already acquainted with, my children have introduced themselves to you, and Herr Storting has become known to you as I see by your coming into the room together; my cousin, then, is the only stranger to you here. Herr Candidate Pigglewitch, Herr Lieutenant Albrecht von Osternau."

At this formal introduction Egon was about to bow courteously, but, observing that the lieutenant held himself haughtily erect with the faintest acknowledgment of his cousin's introduction, he only slightly inclined his head, with a half-smile at the scowl with which Albrecht noted his behaviour. Not a word was exchanged between the young men, but each felt instinctively that they were foes.

"The soup is upon the table," said Herr von Osternau, who had observed this little scene with some displeasure and was in a hurry to cut it short. "Let us be seated. Your place is here between Lieschen and Fritz, Herr Pigglewitch."

Herr von Osternau was wont during dinner to discuss with his inspectors the various agricultural interests of the estate. Of course it would have been natural that he should apply first in such matters to his superintendent, Cousin Albrecht, but he knew that he should receive unsatisfactory replies from that quarter, and accordingly he conversed upon these subjects directly with Herr Storting and the third inspector, Herr von w.a.n.gen. As, however, the latter had excused himself from dining with the family to-day, being too much occupied with the harvesting, Herr von Osternau directed his inquiries and remarks to Herr Storting only.

These farming disquisitions, questions as to the yield of hay to be expected from this or that meadow, as to the excellence of the crop, etc., matters of vivid interest to the landed proprietor, were utterly devoid of such for Egon. He knew perfectly well that hay was dried gra.s.s and was used for fodder for horses and cattle, but he had no idea of the importance of the labour which was necessary to gather in and duly store this precious product of the fields. He really could not follow the conversation which was carried on almost entirely between Herr von Osternau and Storting, with here and there a remark thrown in by Cousin Albrecht by way of a.s.serting his dignity as superintendent, and he would have been very much bored had his attention not been entirely absorbed by his neighbour on his right.

As he took his place beside her Lieschen had given him a charming little nod, and when her father began his agricultural talk with Herr Storting, she turned to Egon and said, in a low tone,--

"I thank you, Herr Piggle----" She paused; "Herr Candidate," she added.

"Why do you interrupt yourself, Fraulein Lieschen?"

"I promised not to laugh at you at table, and I do not wish to break my word. You must not take it amiss, but indeed your name is too comical, I should laugh if I said it, and that would mortify you."

"Not in the least. I resign my ridiculous name with pleasure to your tender mercies. Laugh if you like, and I will join your laughter at 'Pigglewitch.' The owner of such a name must make up his mind to have it laughed at, so it is his best policy to laugh too."

Lieschen looked at him in surprise.

"That I cannot understand," she said. "How can any one laugh at his own name, however ridiculous it may be? For him who bears it a name must be something sacred, to be revered as a memento of parents and grandparents who have borne it."

"If you think thus, Fraulein Lieschen, you ought not to laugh at a ridiculous name."

"You are right, Herr Pigglewitch. I will call you by your name, and I promise you that not a muscle of my face shall stir as I do so."

"No, no, Fraulein Lieschen, I was not in such grave earnest. You will not mortify me, on the contrary it will please me if the name of Pigglewitch excite your merriment, and I am convinced that all the Pigglewitches now with G.o.d would take no offence at a smile upon such charming lips."

"Now you are laughing at your ancestors. I do not like to have you do that. Some things are too sacred to be trifled with. I do not know what to think of you. You really pleased me just now when you reproved me, but your sneer at what every man should hold sacred spoils it all. I am afraid you are not a good man, Herr Pigglewitch."

"I do not think I am, and yet I am not as bad as I might be," Egon replied. "I pray you, Fraulein Lieschen, take me for what I am; besides, I am capable of improvement, as I have proved to you. Have I not sacrificed to you my beautiful coat with its charming long tails, and consented to appear no longer in the part of scarecrow, but as an ordinary human being in Herr Storting's clothes?"

"I have already thanked you for that."

"Quite unnecessarily. I deserve no thanks. You read me a charming homily, and I deserved it. I knew you were right, and the result you have before you. I have even arranged with Herr Storting, who has been extremely kind to me, to go early to-morrow to Breslau, where my beautiful black coat is to find its grave in the shop of some humane old-clothes dealer until some needy wretch effects its resurrection. I shall return from Breslau stripped of the borrowed plumes which at present adorn me, but in attire, I trust, which will allow me to appear before you without being considered a ridiculously ugly scarecrow."

"You have not forgotten my thoughtless word," Leischen said, with a blush.

"No, I do not mean to forget it, it was just, and made a deep impression upon me. You see I am capable of being instructed. Perhaps you may be induced to be kind enough to occupy yourself somewhat with my neglected education."

Lieschen opened her eyes in wonder. "It would seem to be really necessary," she said, gravely. "I know you are laughing at me when you ask an inexperienced girl of seventeen and your future pupil to attend to your education, but indeed you might learn one thing from me,--frankness. Papa blamed me a little while ago for always speaking out my thoughts, but indeed I cannot help it, and I tell you plainly that I think your way odious of ridiculing everything, even yourself, your name, your parents and ancestors, and--me for venturing to declare your old clothes ugly. Your ridicule wounds and offends me. We shall never be good friends if you talk so to me."

The girl's sharp reproof surprised Egon so much that he was at a loss for a reply. He was used in society to meet with the greatest complaisance from any young lady upon whom he bestowed attention. It is true he understood the reason for this, he knew why the belles of the capital lent so ready an ear to him, manifesting the greatest interest in everything that he said, and from this knowledge he had acquired the habit--now become to him second nature--of treating them with an easy air of superiority. He was consequently greatly surprised to find a girl scarcely more than a child administering to him for the second time to-day a rebuke which he could not but be conscious was well merited. He was really in some embarra.s.sment as to how he should reply to her, when he was fortunately relieved of the necessity for doing so.

The discussion of the important agricultural matters which had claimed Herr von Osternau's entire attention, and had been listened to with such interest by his wife that she had paid no heed to the conversation between the Candidate and her daughter, came to an end after Herr von Osternau had arranged operations for the next day, and he now turned to Egon, saying, kindly, "You must have been somewhat bored, Herr Pigglewitch: you can hardly take any great interest in agricultural pursuits, but if you are to live at Castle Osternau I trust you will find some in what concerns us here so nearly. It will come, I think, on a closer acquaintance with the subject. The management of an extensive landed estate, the pursuit of agriculture, always seems to one town-bred as an inferior, unintellectual occupation. To him the ordinary peasant is stupidity personified,--a man who follows his plough like some soulless machine,--and the landed proprietor is but slightly the superior of his peasants. Among our t.i.tled official circles, if a son is too dull for diplomacy they make a soldier of him, and if there are fears as to his pa.s.sing his examination as an officer he is thought at all events clever enough for agriculture. They buy him an estate, and should he find a clever, well-taught superintendent, the machinery of his farms works well, and the opinion that the dullest fellow is not too dull for an agricultural career receives confirmation. The poor development of our agricultural resources in many parts of our country is owing to this wretched prejudice. The larger number of landed proprietors have no idea of the significance of their vocation, they farm after the fas.h.i.+ons which have been handed down to them through long generations, without a thought of the study which should be devoted to the agriculture of to-day. For the enlightened management of a large farming interest a constant and keen observation of nature's methods is required, and an understanding that must be well directed by a cultivated intellect. It is so easy to tread the well-worn paths that our forefathers have trod, and in doing so one wins approval as a practical farmer from those who are always ready to point out the mistakes of others whom they regard as given over to theories, never suspecting how study might enable them to treble the produce of their fields and meadows. The intelligent farmer makes science his servant, by whom he wrings nature's secrets from her and turns them to the best advantage. The smallest agricultural details are of importance to him, for through exact.i.tude in these the whole vast machinery of a large estate is kept in order, and small results will be reached by those who despise them. But I hardly meant, Herr Pigglewitch, to deliver you a lecture upon agriculture. I only wish to prove to you that an interest in the details of a large farming establishment is not so tiresome and belittling as you may have hitherto believed. When you have been here some time you will begin to perceive the complicated wheel-work of the vast machine, and will perhaps take some pleasure in our daily discussion of agricultural matters."

Egon listened attentively to this long explanation, and as he did so a new sphere of ideas lay revealed before him. He himself possessed an extensive estate in Western Prussia, Plagnitz, which he had inherited from his mother, but he had never concerned himself in the slightest degree with its management; indeed, he had never visited it but once, when, after a stay of somewhat less than a week, he had left it with the determination never to see it again, so flat, stale, and unprofitable did life seem to him in a country where the scenery was not particularly fine, in an old manor-house that might have been a mediaeval castle. His administrator, who bore the reputation of a good, practical agriculturist, was interested in nothing save rye and wheat, cows and sheep. Upon no other subject could a word be exchanged either with him or with his wife, who was an admirable housekeeper. He had conducted his young master through stalls and stables, and would, if allowed, have told him the history and pedigree of every horse and ox.

He knew just how much milk every cow gave daily, and the number of calves born on the estate in a year, all which details he was desirous of giving to his master. The sheep were pa.s.sed in review before their lord, and the administrator grew enthusiastic over the merits of Negrettis and Merinos. Egon hardly understood a word of his explanation, and was simply bored. Then horses were brought, and the two men rode over the entire estate. Egon was called upon to admire the crops, when he really did not know the difference between wheat, oats, and rye. Everything that the administrator admired tired his master.

Egon was delighted to leave Plagnitz at the end of four days; he made up his mind that nothing was more stupid or conducive to intellectual torpor than the pursuit of agriculture. Since this visit he had not even read his administrator's letters; he gave them to some one of his father's clerks to answer, and drew from his father's bank the income from the estate, heedless whether it was as large as it ought to be or not. Such details were too insignificant to occupy his attention. He had more money than he knew how to spend. He really had not thought of his West Prussian estate for a long time, when it suddenly occurred to him during Herr von Osternau's discourse. With the remembrance of it came, however, the memory of the intolerable tedium of his visit there.

Could it have been his own ignorance that made the management of his estate so utterly devoid of interest for him? Was his administrator one of the practical farmers spoken of by Herr von Osternau? Was it possible to introduce more enlightened methods at Plagnitz,--methods with a scientific basis, which might make of it a model for the cultivation of the surrounding estates? He would consider this when he returned to Berlin. But should he ever return to Berlin? Had he then quite relinquished the purpose for which he had left the capital? His present existence was to have been only a short episode before the close of a useless career, and here he was thinking of the future and of something to be done after a while. It was folly. He must live in the present, there was no future for him.

For a moment he lost himself in memory and reflection. He was recalled to the present by a sneering remark of the Lieutenant's: "You are preaching to deaf ears, my dear cousin. Herr Pigglewitch does not find your admonitions worth listening to."

"You are mistaken, Herr Lieutenant," Egon rejoined, hastily, "I have not only been listening attentively, but have been drawing conclusions from what Herr von Osternau has been saying which may prove of advantage to me, and for which I thank him. I frankly confess that I have hitherto had no idea that the cultivation of the soil required any amount of intellectual capacity, and I cannot tell whether I shall ever feel any real interest in agriculture. At present I am so absolutely ignorant upon the subject that the meaning of various words and phrases that fell upon my ear during your discussion, as, for instance, four-course rotation, naked fallow, extirpator, is unknown to me."

Herr von Osternau laughed at the young man's frank confession of ignorance, at which Frau von Osternau was much surprised.

"You amaze me, Herr Pigglewitch," she said. "Director Kramser wrote me that you were the son of a country clergyman and had been brought up in the country."

"Again I have made a blunder," thought Egon. "Impudence, befriend me!"

and, without seeming at all confused, he turned to the lady of the house. "I confess, to my shame, madame," he replied, "that as a boy I had a great dislike for every sort of occupation not connected with my books. And then the small farm attached to a country parsonage is a very insignificant affair. I took no kind of interest in it then, nor did my tastes change with years. A teacher who is not content with inferiority in his training has very little time for any occupation save what is connected with his future vocation."

"Ah! with such incessant study you must have become wonderfully learned," the Lieutenant observed.

Egon took no notice of the remark: he was only too glad that he had been able to satisfy the mistress of the house without telling a direct falsehood. He saw that he had come off conqueror when Frau von Osternau gave him a kindly nod and said, "You have turned your time to good account, Herr Pigglewitch, your wonderful music to-day was proof of that. I can understand how long and how diligent has been the practice which has given you so brilliant an execution. The expression, the feeling in your playing cannot be taught or learned, it is a G.o.d-given inspiration possessed by comparatively few of us. I shall be too happy if you are able to call forth only a hint of it in my children."

"Herr Pigglewitch is then an artist as well as a scholar," the Lieutenant observed. "Really, I begin to stand in awe of him, and to consider Fritz most fortunate in having such a light to illumine the path of wisdom for him. 'Tis a pity that for the present Fritz must confine himself to the A B C of learning, or Herr Pigglewitch could regale him with chemistry, physics, mathematics, Latin, Greek, French, English,--in short, with everything worth knowing."

"Add Italian, and your list of the subjects upon which I ought to be competent to teach will be complete," Egon rejoined, quietly, as if unconscious of any irony in the Lieutenant's words.

"What! you understand five languages besides your own?" Herr von Osternau asked in amazement that a Candidate should be thus accomplished. "I thought that modern languages were rather neglected in our first-cla.s.s schools."