\"But,Lizzie,didyounothear,then,howherepudiatedandabusedyou,thefaithlessBavarian?\"askedherfather。
\"Idid,andIforgivehim,\"shesaidgently,\"forIknowfullwellthathedoesnotmeanwhathesays。Areyousostupid,men,asnottocomprehendthathecannotactotherwise,andthathemustspeakthusandnototherwise?Father,yousaidIwasatruedaughteroftheTyrol,andthatyoulovedmeandwerecontentwithme。Iprayyou,then,dearestfather,sparethelifeofmybetrotheduntilto—
morrowmorning,andhavehimtakenbackasaprisonertoourhouseuntilthen。Schroepfelmaywatchhim,andnottakehiseyesfromhim。Oh,dear,kindfriends,bravemen,havemercyuponme!Bearinmindthatwefoughttogetherforourbelovedcountry,andthatyoutoldmeyouwouldneverforgetme,andwouldcomplywithmywisheswheneveryoucould。Iwishnowthatyousparethelifeofmybetrothedonlyuntilto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Hesaysheisnotyourbetrothed,Lizzie,andwillnevermarryyou!\"exclaimedthemen,withirresolutefaces,andalreadyhalfsoftenedbythebeseeching,touchingexpressionofEliza\'scountenance。
\"Hesaysso,\"shesaid,castingafieryglanceonthecaptain,whostoodpaleandmotionless,heardeveryword,andwasunabletomakeareply;\"hesaysso,butIknowthathelovesme,andwillbejoyouslyreadyto—morrowmorningtodowhatIaskofhim。Father,\"
sheadded,inalowvoice,seizingAnthonyWallner\'sarm,anddrawinghimasidequickly,\"doyounotcomprehend,then,thatUlrichcannotspeakdifferently?Wouldnothisking,afterhisreturntoBavaria,pronouncehimatraitor,andchargehimwithhavingjoinedusandtheAustrians,andwithhavingconvictedhimselfbymarryingaTyrolesegirl?Bewise,dearestfather,andseehowshrewdlyUlrichmanageseverything,andthatheactspreciselyasItoldhim。Itmustlookasthoughhedidnotmarrymeofhisownaccord,butcompelledbyyou;otherwisehiskingandhisfather,whoisaveryproudman,wouldneverforgivehim。Butwhentheyhearwhathasoccurredhere,andthatyouthreatenedtoshootUlrichbecausehewouldnotmarryme,thegentlemenatMunichwillunderstandthatUlrichhadtotakemeinordertosavehislife。\"
\"Andareyousatisfiedtohaveitlookasthoughhemarriedyouonlyundercompulsion?\"askedherfather,gloomily。
\"Iam,father,\"shesaid,\"forIlovemybetrothed;andheshallnotbecomeunhappyformysakeandforfeitthegoodgracesofhiskingandhisfather。Stateallthistoyourfriends,dearfather,andtellthemtoletUlrichandmealoneforto—day;butaskthemalltocometoourhouseto—morrowmorningandaccompanythebrideandbridegroomtothechurch,forUlrichwillmarrymeatnineto—morrowmorning。\"
\"But,Lizzie,whynotto—day?\"askedherfather。\"Whynotatthishour?\"
\"Itwillnotdo,father。Ifyouhadtoldmebeforehandwhatwastobedonehere,IshouldhavetoldyouatoncewhatIamtellingyounow:itwillnotdoforayounggirltoappearbeforeGod\'saltarwithoutduepreparation,andasthoughsheweregoingtoadance。
WhatIamgoingtodoissomethingveryserious,andIwilldoitseriously。IwillpraytoGodto—day,gotoconfession,andhaveagreatmanythingstotalkoverwithUlrich,forIknowhewantsmetosetoutwithhimimmediatelyafterwehavebeenmarried,andthatitmaynotlookasthoughhehadstayedvoluntarilywithyouinourvalley。Imust,therefore,packupmythingsandpreparefordepartingassoonaswehavebeenmarried。Letusalone,then,dearfather,to—day,andinvitethementocometo—morrowmorningandattendmymarriagewithCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg。\"
\"Well,then,Lizzie,Iwillcomplywithyourwishes,\"saidWallner,afterashortreflection。\"Iwillgiveyouandhimtimeuntilto—
morrowmorning;butItellyou,mydaughter,ifhecontinuesthesamegameto—morrow,andtalkstheninthesamestrainasto—day,I
shalltakethejestindeadearnest,andwillnotbelieveawordofallyousaytoexcusehim:andthenhislifeisforfeited,andhemustdie。——No,Schroepfel,comehere;taketheprisonerbacktomyhouse,andconfinehimwhereyouhavekepthimforaweekpast。ButItellyou,watchhimwell,andadmitnoonetohimexceptLizzie,andpreventhimfromtalkingwithanybodybuthisbetrothed。\"
\"Iwilldoso,andwatchhimasIhavedoneuptothistime,\"saidSchroepfel,gloomily。\"Heshallnottalkwithanybody,andIshouldlikeitbestifhewerenotpermittedeithertospeakwithLizzie,forIdonotbelieveatallthatsheishisbetrothed。\"
\"Weshallseeto—morrowmorning,whenthemarriageistotakeplace,\"saidAnthonyWallner。——\"Taketheprisoneraway。\"
\"Youlethimgo?\"exclaimedthemen。\"Yousparehislife?\"
\"Onlyuntilto—morrowmorning,becauseLizziebeggedmetodoso,\"
saidAnthonyWallner。\"Theweddingwilltakeplaceatnineto—morrowmorning;Iinviteyoualltoattendit,men,andweshallseethen。
To—morrowmorningtherewillbeaweddingoranexecution。Nowletusspeaknomoreofitto—day;letusforgetwhathashappenedtoAnthonyWallnerandhisdaughter;andletusbearinmindonlythatwehavereturnedafterdeliveringourdearTyrolfromtheFrenchandBavarians。Letusgonowtomyhouse,wheremywifeawaitsuswithakegofexcellentwine。Come,wewilldrinktothewelfareofourfatherland,andtothehealthofourdearEmperorFrancis!\"
CHAPTERXXII。
ELIZAANDULRICH
Schroepfel,thefaithfulservant,hadtakenUlrichvonHohenberg,inobediencetoAnthonyWallner\'sorder,backtothesmallroomwherehehadpassedthelasteightdaysasaprisoner。Sincehehadhimagaininhiscustody,noadditionalprecautionswerenecessary,forSchroepfelknewthathecouldrelyonhisownvigilance,andthattheprisonersurelywouldneverescapefromhim。Hence,heloosenedthecordswithwhichhehadbeentied,andremovedthehandkerchiefwithwhichhehadbeengagged。
\"Ifitaffordsyoupleasure,\"saidSchroepfel,\"youmayuseyourmouthandinveighagainstLizzieWallner,whohassavedyourlifeto—dayasecondtime,andwhomyourewardedlikeagenuineBavarian,thatistosay,withblackingratitudeandtreachery。ButIadviseyounottoabuseherloudenoughformetohearyououtside,forI
amnotapatientasLizzie,andIshallneverpermityoutoabuseandtreatsocontemptuouslythenoblestandbestgirlinthewholecountry。Sheactedtowardyouto—dayasagoodChristianandabravegirl,foryouinsultedher,andshenotonlyforgaveyou,butprotectedyouandsavedyourlife。Andnow,sir,abuseherifyoucannothelpit;butItellyouoncemore,donotspeaktooloudlestIshouldhearyou。\"
AndSchroepfelturnedwithalastthreateningglanceandlefttheroom。Outsidehesatdownonthecane—setteewhich,forthepasteightdays,hadbeenhisseatbydayandhiscouchbynight;andhepressedhiseyetothemiddleholewhichhehadboredinthedoor。
Hecoulddistinctlyseeandwatchthecaptainthroughit。Ulrichhadsunkdownonachairandleanedhisheadonhishand;heliftedhissombreeyestoheaven,andtherewasastrangeexpressionofemotionandgriefuponhisface。ButheseemednottointendavailinghimselfofthepermissionwhichSchroepfelhadgivenhimtoabuseLizzieWallner,forhislipswerefirmlycompressed,andnotasoundfellfromthem。OrcouldSchroepfel,perhaps,nothearhim,becausethemendowninthebar—roomwerelaughingandshoutingsomerrily,andspeakingsoloudlyandenthusiasticallyoftheTyrol,anddrinkingthehealthoftheemperorandtheArchdukeJohn,whohadagaintakenpossessionofthecountryandsolemnlyproclaimedthathewouldrestoretheancientandliberalconstitutionoftheTyrolese?
\"Howmerrytheyaredown—stairs!\"growledSchroepfel。\"Imightbethereto;Ihaveamplydeservedtohavealittleexerciseandpleasure。InsteadofthatImustsiteherewithadrymouth;andifthisgoesonmuchlonger,Ishallsurelygrowfasttomysettee。Andallthatforthesakeofthemean,perfidiousBavarian,whoisutterlydishonest,andwhotreatedourbeautiful,nobleLizzieinsoinfamousamanner!Well,ifIwereinthegirl\'splace,Iwouldnottaketheperfidiouswretchwhohasdeniedhertwicealready。Oh,howmerrytheyaredown—stairs!NoonethinksofmeandgivesmeadropofwinethatImaylikewisedrinktothewelfareofthefatherland。\"
ButSchroepfelwasmistakenforonce,forquickfootstepsascendedthestaircaseatthismoment,andnowappearedthelovelyheadofElizaWallnerabovetherailing,thenherwholeform,andasecondafterwardshestoodinthepassageclosebeforeSchroepfel。Inherhandssheheldaplatewithalargepieceofthefinecakewhichhermotherherselfhadbaked,andalargeglassofexcellentredwine。
\"There,good,faithfulSchroepfel,\"shesaidinhergentlevoice,noddingtohimpleasantly,andhandingtheplatetohim,\"eatanddrink,andletmeinthemeantimegoandseeyourprisoner。\"
\"Whatdoyouwantofhim?\"askedSchroepfel,moodily。
\"Iwanttoseehimaboutourweddingto—morrow,\"saidElizacalmly;
\"andyouknowfatherhasgivenmepermissiontogotohimandspeakwithhim。\"
\"Yes,hedid,andIcannotpreventyoufromentering,whichIwoulddootherwise,\"growledSchroepfel。\"Goin,then,butdonotstaytoolong;andifheshouldabuseyouagain,praycallme,andIwillassistyou。\"
\"Thankyou,dearSchroepfel,\"saidEliza,\"butprayadmitmenow。\"
SchroepfelwithdrewhissetteefromthedoorandallowedElizatoopenit,and,enteringtotheprisoner,closeditagainbehindher。
UlrichvonHohenbergstillsat,asSchroepfelhadseenhim,atthetable,leaninghisheadonhishand;onlyhehadnowcoveredhiseyeswithhishands,andlongsighsissuedfromhisbreast。Heseemednottoknowthatthedoorhadopenedandsomeonehadentered,orratherperhapshethoughtitwasonlySchroepfel,andhedidnotwishtotakeanynoticeofhim。
ElizaWallnerstoodleaningagainstthewall,andgazedathimalongtimewithawondrousexpressionofloveandgrief;foramomentshelaidherhandonherbosom,asiftostiflethecrywhichherlipswerealreadyabouttoutter;thenshecastabeseechingglancetowardheaven,and,asifstrengthenedbythismuteinvocation,shesteppedforward。
\"CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg!\"shesaid,inhersweet,melodiousvoice。
Hegaveastart,droppedhishandfromhisface,andjumpedup。
\"ElizaWallner!\"hesaid,breathlesslyandingreatconfusion。
Sheonlynoddedherhead,andfixedherclear,piercingeyeswithaproud,reproachfulexpressiononhisface;hedroppedhiseyesbeforehergaze。Onseeingthis,Elizasmiled,and,crossingtheroomwitharapidstep,wenttothewindow。
\"Comehere,sir,andlookatthat。Whatdoyouseeyonder?\"
Ulrichsteppedtoherandlookedout。\"Iseethemountainsandthesummitsoftheglaciers,\"hesaid;\"andinthedirectioninwhichyouarepointingyourfinger,Iseealsomyuncle\'scastle。\"
\"Doyouseealsothebalcony,UlrichvonHohenberg?\"sheasked,somewhatsarcastically。
\"Ido,\"hereplied,almosttimidly。
Shelookedathimwiththeproudandloftyairofaqueen。
\"Whenwemetlastandspokewitheachother,westoodonyonderbalcony,\"addedEliza。\"Doyourememberwhatwesaidatthetime,sir?\"
\"Eliza,\"hemurmured——
\"Yourememberitnolonger,\"sheinterruptedhim,\"butIdo。Onyonderbalconyyousworetomethatyoulovedmeboundlessly;andwhenIlaughedatyou,youinvokedheavenandearthtobearwitnessofyourlove。Now,sir,heavenandearthgaveyouanopportunitytoproveyourardentloveforElizaWallner。Didyouprofitbythatopportunity?\"
\"No,\"hesaid,inalowvoice;\"itistrue,Iactedharshlyandcruellytowardyou,Ioccasionedyoubittergrief,I——\"
\"Idonotcomplain,\"sheexclaimed,proudly。\"Idonotspeakofmyself,butonlyofyou。Yousworeeternallovetomeatthattime,butyoudidsoasamendaciousBavarian;Ididnotbelieveyou,andknewfullwellthatyouhadnohonestintentionstowardme。ForthisreasonIlaughedatyou,andsaidthepeasant—girlwasnosuitablematchforyou,andrejectedallyouroathsandprotestationsofpassionatelove。\"
\"Butafterwards,topunishmeforventuringtospeakoflovetoyou,\"heexclaimed,impetuously,\"youfeignedtohavebelievedmyprotestationsandoaths;andalthoughyouhadpreviouslylaughedatme,youwishednowtobecomemywife。\"
\"No,\"shesaid,withafieryglanceofdisdain;\"no,afterwardsI
onlywishedtosaveyourlife。YouhaveutterlymistakenElizaWallner\'scharacter,UlrichvonHohenberg。YouthoughtLizzieWallnerwoulddeemherselfexceedinglyfortunatetobecomethewifeofanaristocraticgentleman,eventhoughhetookheronlybycompulsion:youthoughtshewouldbecontenttoleavetheTyrolbythesideofthenoblemanwhodisdainedher,andgotothelargeforeigncityofMunich,wherethearistocracywouldscornandmockthepoorTyrolesegirl。No,sir,Itellyou,youhaveutterlymistakenmycharacter。Iattachnovaluewhatevertoyouraristocraticname,nortothedistinguishedpositionofyourfamily;
whenImarry,Ishallchooseahusbandwholovesmewithallhisheart,andwhodoesnotwishtolivewithoutme,andtakesmeofhisownaccord,andwiththefullenthusiasmofanobleheart。ButhewouldhavetoremaininthemountainsandbeasonoftheTyrol;formyheartisattachedtothemountains,andneverwouldIorcouldI
leavethemtoremovetoalargecity。Yousee,therefore,Ulrich,thatamarriagewithyouwouldbynomeansappeartomeaveryfortunatething;and,moreover,ifyouhadallowedyourselftobecompelledtomarryme,hadyounotrefusedtodoso,Ishouldhavedespisedyouallmylifelongasamiserablecoward。Ithankyou,therefore,forresistingthemensobravely,forIshouldhavebeensorrytobeobligedtodespiseyou;youaremydearElza\'scousin,andImyselfhavealwayslikedyousowell。\"
\"Eliza,\"heexclaimed,impetuously,\"youareanangelofgoodnessandlenity,andIstandbeforeyoufilledwithshameandgrief。Yousayyoualwayslikedmesowell,andItreatedyouwithsomuchingratitudeanddisdain!Oh,letmepressthisdearhandtomylips,letmethankyouforallthatyouhavedoneforme!\"
Hetriedtoseizeherhand,butshewithdrewitfromhimquickly。
\"CaptainvonHohenberg,\"shesaid,\"wearenolongeronthebalconyyonder;norisitnecessarythatyoushouldkissmyhand。Thatmaybesuitablewhenyouhavefairladiesfromthecitybeforeyou,butnotwhenyouarespeakingwithaTyrolesegirl。Besides,Ididnottellyouallthistoobtainpraiseandadmirationfromyou,buttopreventyoufromtakingmeforamean—spiritedgirl,respectingherselfsolittleastotrytogetahusbandinsodishonorableamanner。No,bytheHolyVirgin,Iwouldratherdieandbeburiedunderanavalanchethanactsomeanlyanddisgracefully。Butwhenthepeasantsweregoingtokillyou,therewasnootherwayformetosaveyourlifethanthatofsayingthatyouweremybetrothed,andthatwastheonlyreasonwhyIsaidso。How。ever,Ihadnoideathattheweddingwastotakeplaceto—day,formydearfatherhadconcealeditfromme,andwishedtosurpriseme,becausehereallybelievedthatIlovedyou。IfIhadknownbeforehandwhatfatherhadinview,Ishouldhavedevisedsomewayofpreventinghimfromcarryinghisplanintoeffect。ButIsweartoyou,Ihadnoinklingofit。Therefore,Ibegyourpardon,sir,fortheharshtreatmentyoureceivedattheirhandsformysake。\"
\"Eliza,\"hesaid,mournfully,\"yourwordsrendmyheart。Oh,donotbesogentleandgenerous!Beangrywithme,callmeaninfamousvillain,who,inhisblindness,didnotpenetrateyourmagnanimityandheroicself—sacrifice;donottreatmewiththischarmingmildnesswhichcrushesme!Youactedlikeanangeltowardme,andI
treatedyoulikeaheartlessbarbarian。\"
\"Iforgiveyouwithallmyheart,andthereforeyoumayforgiveyourself,\"shesaid,withagentlesmile。\"Butletusspeaknolongerofthepast;letusthinkonlyofthefuture。Youheardwhatfathersaid:\'To—morrowmorningtherewillbeaweddingoranexecution。\'\"
\"Well,then,therewillbeaweddingto—morrowmorning,\"exclaimedUlrich,castinganardentglanceontheyounggirl;\"yes,therewillbeaweddingto—morrowmorning。Pray,Eliza,savemylifeathirdtimeto—morrow;becomemywife!\"
\"Iwillsaveyourlife,\"shesaid,throwingbackherhead,proudly;
\"butfortunatelyitisunnecessaryformetobecomeyourwifeforthatpurpose。Ihavecomehereonlytosaveyou。Sir,youmustescapeto—night。\"
\"Escape,\"hesaid,shrugginghisshoulders;\"escape,whenSchroepfelisguardingmydoor?\"
\"Hush!donotspeaksoloud,sir;hemighthearyou,andhemustknownothingaboutit。Bendyourheadclosertomeandlisten:Gotobedearlythisevening,butextinguishyourlightbeforehand,lestSchroepfelshouldseeanything。MymothertoldmeSchroepfelhadboredholesinthedoor,andwaswatchingyouallthetime。
Therefore,gotobedearly,andleaveyourwindowopen。Whenthechurch—clockstrikestwo,listenforanynoise,andholdyourselfinreadiness。ThatisallIhavetosaytoyou,andnowgood—by。\"
Shenoddedtohim,andturnedtothedoor。
\"ButI。Eliza——Ihavetotellyoumanythingsyet,\"saidUlrich,detainingher。\"Pray,stayyetawhileandlistentome!\"
\"No,sir,itistimeformetogo;mymotheriswaitingforme,\"
repliedEliza,withdrawingherhandfromhis。\"Good—by,andifyoucanpray,praytoGodtoprotectyouto—night!\"
Sheopenedthedoorhastilyandsteppedout,andsmiledatSchroepfel,buttheoldservantlookedathergloomily。
\"YoustayedalongwhilewiththeBavarian,\"hegrowled。
\"Andyetyoudidnoteatyourcakenoremptyyourglassinthemeantime,\"saidEliza,withasmile。\"Youlookedagainthroughtheholeinthedoor,didyounot?Yousaw,then,Schroepfel,thatwestoodtogetherlikeapairofsensiblelovers。\"
\"Ididnotseeanything,\"exclaimedSchroepfel,angrily,\"foryouplacedyourselfclosetothewindow,andmyholedoesnotenablemetolookaroundthecorner;nordidIhearanything,foryouwhisperedassoftlyasthoughyouwereacoupleofsparrowswhichunderstandeachotherwhenbillingandcooing。\"
\"Fie,Schroepfel!donottalksuchnonsense,\"criedEliza,blushingdeeply。\"Behaveyourself,Schroepfel,andIwillbringyouanotherbottleofwineto—day,andbegfathertoletyoucomedowntosupperto—night,andpermityoutosleepinyourbedchamber。\"
\"Ishalltakegoodcaretodonosuchthing,\"growledSchroepfel。\"I
amasentinelhere,andmustnotdesertmypost。\"
\"Butyoumaytakeyoursentry—boxwithyou,\"saidEliza,pointingtohissettee。\"Whenasoldierremainsclosetohissentry—box,hedoesnotdeserthispost。Well,good—by,Schroepfel;thesentinelwillberelievedto—night。\"
Eliza\'swordswerefulfilled。TowardnightfallsheinformedSchroepfelthatherfatherpermittedhimtotakehissupperatthetabledown—stairs,andafterwardgotobedinhisownchamber。
\"Well,andwhoistowatchtheprisonerinthemeantime?\"askedSchroepfel。
\"Youyourself!Look,youwilllockthedoorandputthekeyinyourpocket。Inaddition,youmayputthatheavyboxyonderagainstthedoor;thenyouwillbesurethatyourprisonercannotgetout,forI
thinkhischamberhasnootheroutlet。\"
\"Yes,ithas——thewindow!\"
\"DoyouthinktheBavarianhaswingsandwillflyoutofthewindowto—night?\"
\"Itistruehecannotflyout,norcanhejumpout,forhewouldsimplybreakhisneck。But,nevertheless,Idonotlikethisarrangementatall。Somethingtellsmethatitwillturnoutwrong。
Ishall,atleast,unchainthewatch—dog,whowillpreventtheBavarianfromescapingthroughthewindow。Fortherest,Ifeelthatallmylimbsarestiff,andthatIhaveatlengthdeservedsomerepose。Asitisyourfather\'swill,Iwillgodown—stairs,takesupper,andafterwardgotobedinmychamber。Ifanythinghappens,Ishallwashmyhandsofit。\"
\"Washthemasmuchasyouplease,Schroepfel,butcomedowntosupper,\"criedEliza,hasteningdown—stairswiththeagilityofabird。
Schroepfellookedafterher,shakinghishead;hethenlockedthedoor,putthekeyinhispocket,andplacedtheheavyiron—boundboxagainstthedoor。
\"AndbeforegoingtobedIshallunchainPhylax,\"hesaid,asiftoconsolehimself,whilehewasgoingslowlyandstifflydown—stairs。
Schroepfelkepthisword。Wearyandexhaustedashewas,hewaiteduntilalltheinmatesofthehousebadgonetobed,anduntilallnoisehaddiedaway。Hethenwentintotheyardandunchainedtheformidableandill—humoredwatch—dog。Phylaxhowledandtrembledwithjoyanddelightatbeingreleased;butSchroepfelseizedhisearandpointedhisotherhandattheprisoner\'swindow,whichwasbrightlyilluminatedbythemoon。
\"Watchthatwindowwell,Phylax,\"hesaid,\"watchitwell;andifyouseeanythingsuspicious,callmeatonce。Ishallnotsleepsofastasnottohearyourbasking。Watchitwell,Phylax。\"
Thedoglookeduptothewindowasifhehadunderstoodtheorder;
hethenfixedhisclear,lustrouseyesonSchroepfel,andutteredathreateninggrowl。
\"Verywell,\"saidSchroepfel,\"youhaveunderstoodme。Youwillwatchhim,andImaygotobed。\"
Hedroppedtheearofthedog,whothereuponboundedwildlythroughtheyard,whileSchroepfellimpedbackintothehouse。Hewasheardslowlyascendingthestaircaseandopeningthecreakingdoorofhisbed—chamber,andthenallbecamesilent。
Nightspreaditspallovertheweary,thesleepers,andtheweeping;
themoonstoodwithsilverylustrehighintheheavens,andilluminatedthesnow—cladsummitsofthemountainsrisingintherearoftheoutbuildingsinWallner\'syard。Hourafterhourpassedby,andallremainedsilent;notasoundbroketheholystillnessofnight。
Hourafterhourpassedby;nothingstirredintheyard;thedogsat,asifhehadreallyunderstoodSchroepfel\'swords,inthemiddleoftheyard,andstaredsteadfastlyattheprisoner\'swindow。Phylaxwatched,asSchroepfelhadgonetobed;Phylaxwatched,anddidnotaverthiseyesfromthewindowonwhichhiswholeattentionseemedtobeconcentrated,forhedidnotstir,hedidnotevendisturbthefliesbuzzingroundhisears;bewasallattentionandvigilance。
Allatoncesomethingoccurredthathadneverhappenedtohimduringhisnocturnalservice;awondrous,appetizingscentwaswaftedtohimonthewingsofthenight—breeze。Phylaxavertedhiseyesforamomentfromthewindowandglancedsearchinglyroundtheyard。
Nothingstirredinit,butthiswonderfulscentofaroastsausagestillimpregnatedtheair,andseemedtogrowevenstrongerandmoretempting;forPhylaxprickeduphisears,raisedhisnose,snuffingeagerlytoinhalethescent,androsefromtheground。Heglancedagainroundtheyard,andthenadvancedafewstepstowardthewindowyonderonthesideofthehouse。Thiswindowwasopen,andthekeennoseofthedogtoldhimthattheappetizingscenthadcomefromit。Allatonce,however,Phylaxstoodstill,asifrememberinghismaster\'sorders,andlookedagaintowardtheprisoner\'swindow。
Atthismomentalowvoicecalledhim:\"Phylax!comehere,Phylax!\"
Thedoghesitatednolonger;hehadrecognizedthevoiceofhisfriendandplaymate,ElizaWallner。Withtwotremendousboundshewasatthewindow,and,raisinghimselfup,laidhisforepawsonthewindow—sill,andstretchedouthishead,waitinglonginglyfortheappetizingsausage。
\"Come,Phylax,come,\"whisperedEliza,andshesteppedbackwiththesausageintotheinterioroftheroom。\"Cometome,Phylax,cometome。\"
Thetemptationwastoostrong。Phylaxhesitatednolonger;hemovedbackastep,andleapedthroughthewindowintotheroom。
Thewindowwasclosedbehindhimimmediately,andthefour—footedcustodianoftheprisonerwasnowaprisonerhimself。
Theyardwasemptynow。Schroepfelsleptsoundlyinhisbed—chamberup—stairs,andPhylaxwasrevellinginepicureanjoysinthelarder。
Theyardwasemptynow,butnotlong,forthedoorofthehouseopenednoiselessly,andahumanformsteppedout。Foramomentitstoodstillnearthedoor,andtwovoiceswereheardwhisperinginalowtone。
\"Good—by,dearestmother,\"saidonevoice。\"Itistimenow,Imustgo。\"
\"GodandtheHolyVirginwillprotectyou,dearLizzie,\"saidtheothervoice:\"forthatwhichyouaregoingtodoisrightandnoble;
andfatherhimselfwillseebeforelongthatyoudidright。Go,Lizzie,andreturnsafely。\"
\"Ishallbebackateightinthemorning,\"whisperedLizzie。\"Untilthen,youmustsaynothingaboutit,dearmother,buttellfatherI
wishedtobealoneinmychambertillthewedding—hour。Good—byuntilthen。\"
Sheimprintedakissonhermother\'slips,andhastenedintotheyard。Thedoorwasclosedsoftly。Atthismomentthechurch—clockstrucktwo。
Elizaglidednoiselesslyacrosstheyardtowardthelargeladderleaningagainstthestable。Shelifteditupwithvigoroushands,carrieditacrosstheyard,andplaceditagainstthedwelling—
house,sothatitstopreachedtheopenwindowoftheprisoner。Sheexaminediftheladderstoodfirm,laidafewstonesatitsfoot,topreventitfromsliding,andthenascendeditwithcat—likeagility,carryingasmallbundleonherarm,whileshehadputdownanotherintheyard。
Nowshehadreachedthecaptain\'swindow。
\"Areyouawake,sir?\"sheasked,inalowvoice。
\"Iam,Eliza,\"whisperedavoiceinside。\"Ihavebeenawakeandwaitingforyouanhour。\"
\"Takethis,sir,\"shesaid,handingthebundleintothewindow。\"Itisasuitofclotheswhichyoumustputon。Itismyfather\'sholidaydress,foryoumustnotweartheBavarianuniformnow。YoumustputupforafewdayswithbeingdisguisedasaTyrolese。Putitonquickly,andthenwrapupyouruniformintheblanketinwhichIbroughtthesuitofclothes。Butmakehaste,andwhenyouareready,descendtheladder,andcomedownintotheyard,whereI
shallawaityou。Bringthepackagewiththeuniformwithyou,and,aboveallthings,makehaste。\"
Shegavethecaptainnotimeforreply,butglidedrapidlyandnoiselesslydowntheladder。Onarrivingintheyard,shetookthehaversackwhichshehadleftthere,hungitoverhershoulder,andtookuptherifle。Thensheseatedherselfquietlyonalargelogclosetotheladder,andlookeduptothemoon,whichilluminatedherfaceandherwholeform。Herfaceworeawonderfullycalmexpression;onlyroundhercrimsonlipsquiveredattimessomethinglikehiddengrief,andatearglistenedinherlarge,darkeyes。Butwhenthistearrolleddownhercheekslowly,Elizashookherheadindignantly,andbrusheditawaywithherhand。
\"Foolishgirl!\"shemurmured,\"howcanyouweepnow?Youmustbravelytakeyourheartinyourhandsnow,andholditsofirmlythatitcanneithercrynortremble。Youmustbeproudandstiff,andneverforgetwhatisduetoyourhonor,andwhatyouowetoyourfriendElza。Therefore,donotweep,butbeabraveTyrolesegirl。
To—morrownightyoumayweepinyourchamber,fornobodywillseeyouthere;butnotto—night—no,no,notto—night!\"
Sheshookherheadviolently,forcedherselftosmile,andgazedpleasantlyuptothemoon。\"Godblessthee,golden,rapidwanderer!\"
shesaid。\"Thoushaltaccompanyusto—night,andpray,dearmoon,sendallcloudshome,andremainasbrightandclearasnow;forourrouteisadangerousone,andifthoudostnothelpus,wemayeasilyfallintoanabyss,and——Hush,hush,heiscoming。\"
Sheroseandlookeduptothewindow,whencethecaptainemergedatthismoment,andappearedontheladder。
\"Throwdownyourpackage,sir——Iwillcatchit,\"whisperedEliza。
\"Thankyou,Icancarryitmyself,\"saidUlrich,inalowvoice;andhewassoonatthefootoftheladder,andstandingintheyardclosetoEliza。
\"Nowcome,\"shesaid;\"treadlightly,anddonotspeak,butgosoftlybehindme。\"
Shelefthimnotimeforreply,butwalkedacross,openedthedoorofthesmallshed,whichwasajar,wentquicklythroughit,andpassedthroughtheoppositedoorintotheorchardlyingbehindit。
Shestoodstillinfrontofthedooroftheshed,andwhenUlrichhademergedfromit,shelockedit,andputthekeyintoherpocket。
\"Nowletuswalkasfastaspossible,sir,\"shewhispered。\"Wemustwalkforthreehours。Keepyoureyesonme,andfollowmewhereverI
go。\"
\"Iwillfollowyou,Eliza,\"saidthecaptain,earnestly,\"whereveryougo。YouseeIhaveimplicitconfidenceinyou,forIdonotevenaskwhitheryouintendtoconductme,orwhatyouwishtodowithme。Iplacemylifeandmyfutureinyourhands,andshalldowhateveryouwantmeto。\"
\"Itwillbethebestforyou,\"shesaid,noddingherheadslightly。
\"Nowcome。\"
Andwiththequick,firmsteppeculiartotheTyrolese,sheadvancedthroughthegarden,outofthegate,andintothenarrowpathleadingthroughthevalleyanduptothemountainsrisingontheoppositeside。Themoonstillshonebrightlyuponthevalley,andilluminatedthetwoformsrapidlywalkingbehindeachother,castingtheirlong,darkshadowsonthesideoftheroad。
UlrichyonHohenbergsawinthemoonlightthatElizawascarryingthehaversackandrifle;hethereforeadvancedquicklyuntilhestoodbyherside,andlaidhishandonherarm。
\"Eliza,\"hesaid,vehemently。\"prayletmecarrytherifleandthehaversack;letmetakeyourburdenuponmyself!\"
Shelookedathimwithasingularexpression。\"Everyonehastocarryhisownburden,\"shesaid;\"youhaveyours,andIhavemine。\"
\"Butwhatarethearmsfor,Eliza?Youhavearmedyourselfagainstme?\"