Carlsruhe next day, on its way from Heidelberg to Baden.
The major put down his guide-book, Amy opened her eyes, and Helen removed her shawl from the opposite seat, as a young man, wrapped in a cloak, with a green shade over his eyes, and a general air of feebleness, got in and sank back with a sigh of weariness or pain. Evidently an invalid1, for his face was thin and pale, his dark hair cropped short, and the ungloved hand attenuated2 and delicate as a woman's. A sidelong glance from under the deep shade seemed to satisfy him regarding his neighbors, and drawing his cloak about him with a slight shiver, he leaned into the corner and seemed to forget that he was not alone.
Helen and Amy exchanged glances of compassionate3 interest, for women always pity invalids4, especially if young, comely5 and of the opposite sex. The major took one look, shrugged6 his shoulders, and returned to his book. Presently a hollow cough gave Helen a pretext7 for discovering the nationality of the newcomer.
"Do the open windows inconvenience you, sir?" she asked, in English.
No answer; the question evidently unintelligible8.
Instantly a smile broke over the handsome mouth, and in the purest French he assured her that the fresh air was most agreeable, and begged pardon for annoying them with his troublesome cough.
"They tell me I can have no other fate; that my malady12 is fatal; but I still hope and fight for my life; it is all I have to give my country now."
A stifled13 sigh and a sad emphasis on the last word roused the sympathy of the girls, the interest of the major.
He took another survey, and said, with a tone of satisfaction, as he marked the martial14 carriage of the young man, and caught a fiery15 glance of the half-hidden eyes,—
"You are a soldier, sir?"
"I was; I am nothing now but an exile, for Poland is in chains."
The words "Poland" and "exile" brought up all the pathetic stories of that unhappy country which the three listeners had ever heard, and won their interest at once.
"You were in the late revolution, perhaps?" asked the major, giving the unhappy outbreak the most respectful name he could use.
"From beginning to end."
"Oh, tell us about it; we felt much sympathy for you, and longed to have you win," cried Amy, with such genuine interest and pity in her tone, it was impossible to resist.
Pressing both hands upon his breast, the young man bent16 low, with a flush of feeling on his pale cheek, and answered eagerly,—
"Ah, you are kind; it is balm to my sore heart to hear words like these. I thank you, and tell you what you will. It is but little that I do, yet I give my life, and die a long death, instead of a quick, brave one with my comrades."
"You are young to have borne a part in a revolution, sir," said the major, who pricked17 up his ears like an old war-horse at the sound of battle.
"My friends and myself left the University at Varsovie, as volunteers; we did our part, and now all lie in their graves but three."
"You were wounded, it seems?"
"Many times. Exposure, privation, and sorrow will finish what the Russian bullets began. But it is well. I have no wish to see my country enslaved, and I can no longer help her."
"Let us hope that a happier future waits for you both. Poland loves liberty too well, and has suffered too much for it, to be kept long in captivity18."
"It is a kind prophecy; I accept it, and take courage. God knows I need it," he added, low to himself.
"Are you bound for Italy?" said the major, in a most un-English fit of curiosity.
"For Geneva first, Italy later, unless Montreaux is mild enough for me to winter in. I go to satisfy my friends, but doubt if it avails."
"Where is Montreaux?" asked Amy.
"Near Clarens, where Rousseau wrote his Heloise, and Vevay, where so many English go to enjoy Chillon. The climate is divine for unfortunates like myself, and life more cheap there than in Italy."
Here the train stopped again, and Hoffman came to ask if the ladies desired anything.
At the sound of his voice the young Pole started, looked up, and exclaimed, with the vivacity20 of a foreigner, in German,—
"By my life, it is Karl! Behold21 me, old friend, and satisfy me that it is thyself by a handshake."
"Casimer! What wind blows thee hither, my boy, in such sad plight22?" replied Hoffman, grasping the slender hand outstretched to him.
"I fly from an enemy for the first time in my life, and, like all cowards, shall be conquered in the end. I wrote thee I was better, but the wound in the breast reopened, and nothing but a miracle will save me. I go to Switzerland; and thou?"
"Where my master commands. I serve this gentleman, now."
"Hard changes for both, but with health thou art king of circumstances, while I?—Ah well, the good God knows best. Karl, go thou and buy me two of those pretty baskets of grapes; I will please myself by giving them to these pitying angels. Speak they German?"
Karl disappeared, and Helen, who had understood the rapid dialogue, tried to seem as unconscious as Amy.
"Say a friendly word to me at times; I am so homesick and faint-hearted, my Hoffman. Thanks; they are almost worthy24 the lips that shall taste them."
Taking the two little osier baskets, laden25 with yellow and purple clusters, Casimer offered them, with a charming mixture of timidity and grace, to the girls, saying, like a grateful boy,—
"You give me kind words and good hopes; permit that I thank you in this poor way."
"I drink success to Poland." cried Helen, lifting a great, juicy grape to her lips, like a little purple goblet26, hoping to hide her confusion under a playful air.
The grapes went round, and healths were drunk with much merriment, for in travelling on the Continent it is impossible for the gruffest, primmest27 person to long resist the frank courtesy and vivacious28 chat of foreigners.
The major was unusually social and inquisitive29, and while the soldiers fought their battles over again the girls listened and took notes, with feminine wits on the alert to catch any personal revelations which might fall from the interesting stranger. The wrongs and sufferings of Poland were discussed so eloquently30 that both young ladies were moved to declare the most undying hatred31 of Russia, Prussia, and Austria, the most intense sympathy for "poor Pologne." All day they travelled together, and as Baden-Baden approached, they naturally fell to talking of the gay place.
"Uncle, I must try my fortune once. I've set my heart upon it, and so has Nell. We want to know how gamblers feel, and to taste the fascination32 of the game which draws people here from all parts of Europe," said Amy, in her half-pleading, half-imperious way.
"You may risk one napoleon each, as I foolishly promised you should, when I little thought you would ever have an opportunity to remind me of my promise. It's not an amusement for respectable Englishwomen, or men either. You will agree with me there, monsieur?" and the major glanced at the Pole, who replied, with his peculiar33 smile:—
"Surely, yes. It is great folly34 and waste of time and money; yet I have known one man who found some good in it, or, rather, brought good out of it. I have a friend who has a mania35 for giving. His own fortune was spent in helping36 needy37 students at the University, and poor professors. This displeased38 his father, and he refused supplies, except enough for his simple personal wants. Sigismund chafed39 at this, and being skilful40 at all games, as a gentleman may be in the way of amusement, he resolved to play with those whose money was wasted on frivolities, and give his winnings to his band of paupers41."
"How did it succeed, this odd fancy?" asked Helen, with an interested face, while Amy pinched her arm at the word "Sigismund."
"Excellently. My friend won often, and as his purpose became known it caused no unkind feeling, this unusual success, for fortune seemed to favor his kind object."
"Wrong, nevertheless, to do evil that good may come of it," said the major, morally.
"It may be so: but it is not for me to censure42 my benefactor43. He has done much for my countrymen and myself, and is so truly noble I can see no fault in him."
"What an odd name! Sigismund is German, is it not?" asked Amy, in the most artless tone of interest.
"Yes, mademoiselle, and Palsdorf is a true German; much courage, strength and intellect, with the gayety and simplicity44 of a boy. He hates slavery of all kinds, and will be free at all costs. He is a good son, but his father is tyrannical, and asks too much. Sigismund will not submit to sell himself, and so is in disgrace for a time."
"Palsdorf!—was not that the name of the count or baron45 we heard them talking of at Coblentz?" said Helen to Amy, with a well-feigned air of uncertainty46.
"Yes; I heard something of a duel47 and a broken betrothal48, I think. The people seemed to consider the baron a wild young man, so it could not have been your friend, sir," was Amy's demure49 reply, glancing at Helen with mirthful eyes, as if to say, "How our baron haunts us!"
"It is the same, doubtless. Many consider him wild, because he is original, and dares act for himself. As it is well known, I may tell you the truth of the duel and the betrothal, if you care to hear a little romance."
Casimer looked eager to defend his friend, and as the girls were longing50 to hear the romance, permission was given.
"In Germany, you know, the young people are often betrothed51 in childhood by the parents, and sometimes never meet till they are grown. Usually all goes well; but not always, for love cannot come at command. Sigismund was plighted52, when a boy of fifteen, to his young cousin, and then sent away to the University till of age. On returning, he was to travel a year or two, and then marry. He gladly went away, and with increasing disquiet53 saw the time draw near when he must keep his troth-plight."
"Hum! loved some one else. Very unfortunate to be sure," said the major with a sigh.
"Not so; he only loved his liberty, and pretty Minna was less dear than a life of perfect freedom. He went back at the appointed time, saw his cousin, tried to do his duty and love her; found it impossible, and, discovering that Minna loved another, vowed54 he would never make her unhappiness as well as his own. The old baron stormed, but the young one was firm, and would not listen to a marriage without love; but pleaded for Minna, wished his rival success, and set out again on his travels."
"And the duel?" asked the major, who took less interest in love than war.
"That was as characteristic as the other act. A son of one high in office at Berlin circulated false reports of the cause of Palsdorf's refusal of the alliance—reports injurious to Minna. Sigismund settled the matter in the most effectual manner, by challenging and wounding the man. But for court influence it would have gone hardly with my friend. The storm, however, has blown over; Minna will be happy with her lover, and Sigismund with his liberty, till he tires of it."
"Is he handsome, this hero of yours?" said Amy, feeling the ring under her glove, for in spite of Helen's advice, she insisted on wearing it, that it might be at hand to return at any moment, should chance again bring the baron in their way.
"A true German of the old type; blond and blue-eyed, tall and strong. My hero in good truth—brave and loyal, tender and true," was the enthusiastic answer.
"Take a new hero, then; nothing can be more romantic than that," whispered Helen, glancing at the pale, dark-haired figure wrapped in the military cloak opposite.
"I will, and leave the baron to you;" said Amy, with a stifled laugh.
All was bustle57 in a moment, and taking leave of them with an air of reluctance58, the Pole walked away, leaving Amy looking after him wistfully, quite unconscious that she stood in everybody's way, and that her uncle was beckoning59 impatiently from the carriage door.
"Poor boy! I wish he had some one to take care of him." she sighed, half aloud.
"Mademoiselle, the major waits;" and Karl came up, hat in hand, just in time to hear her and glance after Casimer, with an odd expression.
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1
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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attenuated
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| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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7
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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8
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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9
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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11
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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12
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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13
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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14
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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16
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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17
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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18
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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19
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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20
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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21
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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23
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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24
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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primmest
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| adj.循规蹈矩的( prim的最高级 )；整洁的；（人）一本正经 | |
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28
vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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29
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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30
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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31
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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32
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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34
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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35
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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36
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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38
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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39
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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40
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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41
paupers
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| n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷 | |
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42
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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43
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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44
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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45
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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46
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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47
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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48
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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49
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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51
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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52
plighted
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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53
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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54
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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55
pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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57
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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58
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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59
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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