Now of nights the Wild Huntsman was often heard riding with mad crew of wood-sprites through the forest; and as the days shortened and the dusk of twilight8 gathered earlier than before, it happened that not a few of the churls and serfs of the castle caught glimpses of vague forms stealing through the gathering darkness, now on earth and anon in the air, as if the wood-folk were watching what was in progress at Rittenberg with the most careful eagerness. Father Christopher, when these tales came to his hearing, sighed and shook his head. He could easily comprehend that all the wild soulless folk of the wood, whether in league with the powers of darkness or not, might well be interested in the fate of one of their band who from a wood-creature had become human, and, whether they were plotting to do him harm or no, would long to watch how he bore his new powers and his gift of immortality9. But withal was Father Christopher troubled in his mind lest these strange sprites might be other than creatures who looked upon Albrecht with wonder and longing10. He knew how prone11 are the wood-folk to do mischief12; and as the wild herd13 will set upon a tame animal though he be of their kind, so it might well be that the unbaptized crew were eager to do harm to one who had deserted14 their ranks.
More than the doings of the creatures of the forest, however, did the ways at Rittenberg concern the priest. There was day by day a more and more jocund15 stir in the castle. The countess seemed to drink in animation16 from the air, which was now chill in the morning, and ever did she become more and more eager in the chase and in all merry-making. The hounds and the hawks17 were well looked to in these days; and old Rupert, the chief huntsman, whose office had become a mere19 idle name in the days before the coming of the Baron20 Albrecht, found himself so busy that he lay down at night on his hard pallet with all his aged21 bones an ache. He was full of pride in the revival22 of his art, and he began to boast that the sport was as well followed now as in the days of his former master, the late count; but he sighed to himself now and then when he was alone, and shook his head, wondering whether he should be much longer able to keep up to the pace which was now the custom of the castle. He began to say to himself more and more frequently that he was, after all, an old man, and that it was getting to be time for him to make way for the young fellows he had trained. It made him melancholy23 enough to consider this possibility, but it was a great comfort to him that the revival of venery at Rittenberg gave him a chance to show those who were to take his place how things should be done, and to prove his own cunning in the chase before he resigned forever the boar-spear which was his badge of office.
For there were gay doings at Rittenberg in these autumn days. The doves that of old had sailed so smoothly24 and sleepily about the castle towers, had now no rest, so greatly were they excited by the sound of hunting-horn by day and of lute25 by night, the stir of huntsmen in the courtyard, and the laughter of Erna and her maidens26 ringing out through the windows of the great hall.
"All the castle," quoth the Lady Adelaide to Father Christopher, "seems to have caught the spirit of the baron. Everybody is full of life now, and Heaven knows we were dull enough before he came. Count Stephen told me that he felt as if he were in the tower of the Sleeping Beauty when he was here."
"The sleeper28 has awakened," the priest responded, with a smile that was not without some secret shadow. "In truth, the countess and her husband have become so truly one that it is not possible to say that either is gayer than the other. They think alike, and they feel in all things the same."
He spoke29 reflectively, and even as he spoke there came into his mind a doubt whether his words were exactly true. He had watched with the keenest interest and anxiety the growth of the spiritual in Albrecht, and the gradual humanizing that had been wrought30 in the kobold by his marriage. He felt profoundly his own responsibility in regard to both the baron and Erna, and the beads31 of his rosary were growing more and more smooth under his fingers in the days and nights that had sped since the wedding.
He had watched Erna no less carefully than Albrecht, and he was beginning to wonder with some sense of fear how far the influence of her husband was destined32 to lead her from the condition of innocent and spiritual calm in which the Baron von Waldstein had found her upon that spring day when she had first met him in the great hall. There was nothing in the life of Erna which the priest could look upon with blame, and yet he was vaguely33 uneasy when he thought of her. He said to himself that he was really only unduly34 affected35 by the changes which were natural under the circumstances, and that his charge had only developed; and yet the more he pondered the less was he satisfied. He found Albrecht every day more interested in things which concerned the soul which he had won. Continually he became a deeper student of things spiritual, and less wholly given up to the pursuit of pleasure. Erna, on the other hand, seemed each day more intoxicated36 with the joy of living, and more absorbed in the delights of the world which belongs to the senses.
"It is natural that husband and wife should become alike," Lady Adelaide answered the last remark of Father Christopher's with an air of the greatest wisdom; "that is, if they are at all in accord. He hath waked her, and she hath toned him down, and it is an improvement on both sides. I must say that taking into account the magnificence of the Morgengabe, I do not see that the countess could possibly have done better. The baron was always delightful37, but thou must remember that he was as wild as a hawk18 when he came to Rittenberg."
"He has certainly changed much, and that for the better," answered her companion.
The priest was thinking of how he had stopped a moment to chat with Rupert, the huntsman, as he crossed the courtyard that morning, and how Rupert had praised the kindness of the baron to the dogs, telling how in the boar-hunt yesterday Baron Albrecht had been as tender with Gelert, the hound that was so badly hurt, as could have been Rupert's own wife, who was used to tending and nursing hurt dogs. Father Christopher remembered how in the early days of his coming to the castle Albrecht had laughed at the bare idea of one's caring for the suffering of an animal, and that even when his man-at-arms had been ill he had shown not the slightest comprehension of any reason why one should be affected by the pain of another.
The priest stood by the window in the hall where he had been talking with Lady Adelaide for a long time after she had gone, thinking of the problems which her words suggested. It was too evident that Erna and Albrecht had greatly influenced each other for even the most careless observer to overlook it, and no one could tell where this change of character would end. Out in the courtyard he could see the workmen who were finishing the preparations for a show of the mummers which was to take place that morning. Directly after the wedding day Herr von Zimmern had announced his intention of going to visit his family, and since then they had had no word from him directly. He had however given them proof that he did not forget his former lord, since from time to time troupes38 of dancers, jugglers, or of mummers arrived at Rittenberg, sent by the cripple or directed by some hint which had evidently come from him. Father Christopher was secretly troubled by these evidences of the continued remembrance of Herr Frederich. The priest had distrusted him from the first, and since he had been acquainted with Herr von Zimmern's history he had dreaded40 him, feeling sure that the time would come when he would seek revenge for his long captivity41 and the cruel maiming inflicted42 upon him by the kobold king.
Erna welcomed these wandering bands of players with more and more eagerness, while the priest was confident that in Albrecht he perceived signs of a growing weariness of their dances, their tricks, and their clumsy mumming. The present troupe39 was more numerous than any of its predecessors43, and the preparations were of far more than usual elaborateness. As the priest looked down into the courtyard the last touches were being put to the stage; and presently the players, already in their dresses, began to appear from the quarters which had been assigned to them upon the side of the court opposite to that from which the windows of the great hall looked. The household was gathering, and the Lady Adelaide, with Elsa behind her chair, had taken her seat, although those of the lord and lady of the castle were still vacant.
Divided in his mind whether to go down and join the company of spectators or not, the priest was standing44 irresolutely45 at the casement46 when Albrecht and Erna came together into the hall.
"Come, Father," the countess said gayly, "they say these are the best mummers that have ever been seen in all the Schwarzwald. They are to give a wonderful play of the life of Helen of Troy, and after that there are to be dances."
She was as joyous47 as a child, her cheeks flushed with eagerness and her lips parted with laughter. She was a being as far removed as could well be imagined from the serene48, pensive49 maiden27 who had watched the Baron von Waldstein ride out of the pine forest below the castle slope so few short weeks ago. Her mouth had shaped itself to a new seductiveness, her eyes had kindled50 with a new and less heavenly lustre51, and her bosom52 had swelled53 into a new fulness. She was more beautiful, and yet the priest could not repress a sigh as he looked at her, so far from her old state of innocence54 and of spirituality did she seem in her rich beauty.
Before the priest had time to answer her invitation to the mummers' show, the countess's woman, Fastrade, appeared and came down the hall toward the group.
"I beg pardon, gracious lady," she said, with a little hesitation55, "but the charcoal-burner is below."
"Well?" demanded Erna, a shadow flitting across her bright face.
"He says," Fastrade continued with evident unwillingness56, "that his little daughter is dying, and that she prays the gracious countess to come with the priest to see her before she dies."
There was a moment's silence in the hall. Both Albrecht and the priest looked at Erna in evident solicitude57 in regard to her answer. She herself seemed to feel their looks as a sort of challenge, and she threw back her head with an almost defiant58 gesture as she replied:
"Father Christopher will go, of course, but I could do no good, and just now I am engaged."
Her husband laid his hand lightly upon her arm, and bent59 toward her beseechingly60.
"But surely," he said, "since the little maid is dying, thou wilt61 go. The mummers can wait. There is time for that afterward62, and for this it would be too late."
The priest did not speak, but he waited with the deepest anxiety for her answer, since it seemed to him that it would be so significant of whatever change might really have taken place in her who once would have let nothing stand between her and a call of mercy. He saw her lips harden, and a cold light come into her eyes.
"What is the charcoal-burner's daughter," she asked slowly, "that I should give up my pleasure for her whim63, even if she be dying?"
The waiting-woman stared at the countess in amazement64, the priest regarded her with a look of deep sorrow, but in the eyes of Albrecht Father Christopher saw an expression in which were both remorse65 and terror.
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1
glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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2
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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3
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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4
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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5
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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7
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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8
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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9
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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10
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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12
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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13
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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14
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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15
jocund
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| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
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16
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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17
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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18
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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19
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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20
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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21
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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22
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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23
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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24
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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25
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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26
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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27
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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28
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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29
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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30
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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31
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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32
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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33
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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36
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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37
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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38
troupes
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| n. （演出的）一团, 一班 vi. 巡回演出 | |
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39
troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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40
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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41
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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42
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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44
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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45
irresolutely
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| adv.优柔寡断地 | |
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46
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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47
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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48
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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49
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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50
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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51
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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52
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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53
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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54
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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55
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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56
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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57
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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58
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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59
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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60
beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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61
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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62
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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63
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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64
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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65
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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