human
And what am I to infer from your preachment? That I must marry Helmy Nimbsch, even without love?
gpt
Helmy Nimbsch? Who is talking of him?
human
I thought you were, grandmother, Erika says, with a mischievous smile.
gpt
If I am not mistaken, he was the subject of our conversation.
human
Nonsense! Helmy Nimbsch! _Ce n'est pas serieux!_
gpt
Of whom, then, are you talking?
human
Oh, of no one: I was talking in general, her grandmother replies, with some irritation, adding, still more petulantly, after a pause,
gpt
If you have unbounded esteem and warm sympathy for young Nimbsch, why, marry him, by all means.
human
In fact, I am quite tired of this wandering about from place to place.
gpt
What, grandmother? Why, you were so delighted here! Only yesterday you told me how 'refreshing' you considered your Venetian life.
human
Yes, yes; but it has lasted too long for me. While you were playing lawn-tennis this afternoon with Constance Mühlberg, I went to see Hedwig Norbin. She arrived yesterday, and is at the 'Europe;' but she is only stopping for a day or so on her way home. 'Tis a pity.
gpt
And she gave you such an alluring description of Berlin that you are anxious to fold your tent and fly back to Bellevue Street now, in the midst of this wondrous Southern spring?
human
Oh, spring is lovely everywhere!--lovelier in Berlin than in Venice: there is nothing more beautiful than the Thiergarten in May. And then I find there all my old habits, my old friends.
gpt
I have no friends in Berlin, says Erika, with a strange emphasis,
human
Patience! patience!
gpt
Did Frau von Norbin tell you anything about Dorothea von Sydow? How is her position regarded by society?
human
How? her grandmother exclaims.
gpt
How should society regard the critical position of a woman who has never shown the slightest consideration for any one, never conferred a benefit upon any one, scarcely even treated any one with courtesy, but lived only for her own frivolous gratification? Society acknowledges a woman in her position only when it would lose something by dropping her. Who would lose anything if Dorothea were stricken from its list? A couple of young men, perhaps; and they would be at liberty to make love to her outside of the ranks of society. The world has turned its back upon her: Hedwig tells me that she is positively shunned.
human
And how does she accommodate herself to her destiny?
gpt
As poorly as possible. One would suppose that she would have left Berlin. For my part, I never imagined that she cared so much for her social position; but she appears to be clutching it in a kind of panic.
human
How unpleasant for--for the dead man's brother!
gpt
For Goswyn! her grandmother exclaims, in a tone of sincere distress.
human
Terrible! They say he is altered almost beyond recognition. I did not know he was so devoted to Otto. But, to be sure, the circumstances attendant upon his death were frightful. Goswyn always found fault with me, but, after all, since his mother's death I have stood nearest to him in this world. I know he would be glad to pour out his heart to me.
gpt
Ah! she exclaims,
human
Oh, Erika!--dearer than you! The old lady rises and strokes the girl's arm tenderly.
gpt
I am often sorry that I cannot love you both together!
human
I cannot understand you! she says:
gpt
Oh, Erika! how can you talk so? Remember Bayreuth.
human
What if I do remember Bayreuth? Yes, he still thought of me then; that is, he remembered the young girl with whom he had ridden in the Thiergarten, and he brought her memory with him to Bayreuth; but he discovered it did not fit with what he found there: that was the end of it all! Erika silently paces the room to and fro once or twice, then, pausing before her grandmother, she continues:
gpt
It stings me whenever you speak of Goswyn and lose yourself in the contemplation of his measureless magnanimity. Magnanimity! Yes, but it is a cold, sterile, arrogant magnanimity! He is a thoroughly just man, but he is a man who never forgives a weakness, because none ever beset him,--none, at least, of which he is conscious. He---- Oh, yes----, --the girl's voice grows hoarse, she catches her breath and goes on with increasing volubility,--
human
I have no doubt that he would spring into the water at any moment to save the life, at the risk of his own, of any worthless wretch, but as soon as he brought him to land he would turn his back upon him and march away with his head proudly erect, without even casting a look upon the man he had rescued, let alone giving him a kind word. Witness his behaviour towards me. I refer to it expressly that we may correct once for all your painful and humiliating misapprehension. He did, as you know, do me a service in Bayreuth which I could not have expected of any one else. Granted. But he has never forgiven me for being betrothed for six or eight weeks to Lord Langley. Good heavens! it was a mistake of mine, a stupidity, the result of vanity and ambition on my part. But it was nothing more; and yet it was enough to cause--to cause Herr von Sydow to banish me from grace forever. This is your wonderful Goswyn. It is a matter of perfect indifference to me: I take not the slightest interest in him, thank God! If I had been interested in him I might have fretted myself nearly to death; but, as it is, I am merely vexed that I should have overrated him,--that is all.