He was still lost in astonishment at the turn affairs had taken, and which he had never perceived.
He looked at his daughter. Her deep blushes, and the bashful, yet imploring expression of her eyes, convinced him that G.o.d had joined two hearts together, and that it would ill beseem him to part them. He loved von Wendenstein, and could only rejoice at the prospect of being more closely connected with him; but his intentions and plans for his daughter had been so different, he could not accommodate himself at once to the change.
Helena sprang to her feet, she hurried to her father and threw herself upon his breast.
The old gentleman looked gravely at his nephew, he stood with downcast eyes, and gentle smiles.
"My dear Herr von Wendenstein," said the pastor, "you well know the great esteem I have ever entertained for you and your family, and if my daughter has given you her heart, as a father and as a priest I must lay my hand upon your heads and bless you. I must own, however, that all this has greatly surprised me. I had quite different ideas as to my daughter"s future life," and he again looked enquiringly at the candidate.
But he came up to the pastor, and said in a calm voice, though without raising his eyes:
"Let there be no discord in the friendly harmony of this hour, my dear uncle. You know I am devoted above all things to my sacred calling; earthly wishes, however dear to my heart, cannot disturb the spiritual calm of my soul, and if heaven has decreed that my hopes and desires are to be denied, I shall only see a gracious dispensation of Providence, intended to turn away my soul from earthly things, that all its powers may be devoted to the accomplishment of my sacred office. I shall pray for my cousin"s happiness with my whole soul! I congratulate you most heartily, Herr von Wendenstein," he added, holding out his hand to the young officer. He seized it and looked at the young clergyman with emotion. But the hand was cold as ice, and a deep shudder pa.s.sed through his nerves, as he felt its smooth serpent-like pressure.
The last time that all the family friends a.s.sembled around the hospitable board of the old Castle of Blechow, was at the celebration of the lieutenant"s betrothal with Helena. The president had thus willed it, and he also insisted that old Deyke, Fritz, and Margaret, as well as Lohmeier, who was with them, should take part in the family festivity, which was also a day of farewell. The president wished to make a sad farewell less melancholy, by thus solemnizing the union of two hearts.
He wished that all should carry away a happy recollection of their last day at Blechow, and that the last rays of the old times should sink brightly into the ocean of the past.
Everything was packed up, and ready to start; only the dinner service and the heavy old plate was still used, and displayed its glories for the last time.
The president"s eldest son had arrived early in the morning, and had had a long and serious conversation with his father.
He told him he had been offered the a.s.sistant-secretaryship in the Ministry of the Interior in Berlin, and he expressed a wish to accept the appointment, since he hoped by this means to alleviate the condition of his native country, under its new circ.u.mstances. Yet he left the decision entirely to his father.
The president stood for a long time in grave thought
"You are young, my son," he said, at last, in a gentle voice; "your life belongs to the future--you must go forth and work in the present--you ought not to bury yourself in the past. The king has released all his civil servants from their oath; you are therefore free,--seize the opportunity of making a career for yourself, and of labouring for the general good. But never forget that good and faithful Hanover is your fatherland,--keep that remembrance sacredly in your heart, and when you can, work that it may be treated lovingly, for the sake of it; fair and honourable history in the past. My blessing be upon you in your new path!"
The son kissed his father"s hand in silence, and nothing more was said by either of them on the subject.
The guests sat around the table in the dining-room of the old castle with grave emotion. Old Deyke took his place beside the president with great dignity. Fritz and Margaret sat beside each other embarra.s.sed, but happy,--the lieutenant"s eyes sparkled with joy. Helena"s fair face expressed thoughtful happiness; and though a tear sometimes shone in Madame von Wendenstein"s soft eyes, when she looked at her son and his lovely bride, such a happy smile came to her lips, that it was hard to say whether the pearly drop came from the bitter cup of grief or the pure spring of joy.
"Do you remember, dearest Helena," said the lieutenant, "how you showed me the dark cloud, which was driven away from the silver beams of the moon? You see it has returned, and now rests in its pure, full light; but it brings no storm, no tempest, but blessing and happiness to the garden of our lives!"
She looked at him with her loving eyes, smilingly.
"I think," she whispered, "you have found the magic key of the kingdom of dreams and fancies, which you once thought you could only have from my hands."
"And did I not have it from your hands?" he said; "you gave it to me when I was on the borders of death, and I will guard it truly in the golden light of life!"
The dessert was brought. A post-horn was heard.
The old servant in a few minutes announced Baron von Klentzin.
"The successor to your office in Blechow, my dear father," said the a.s.sessor; "the civil commissioner von Hardenberg has desired him to release you."
They all rose gravely.
The Prussian entered; he was a tall, slender young man, elegant in his appearance, graceful in his movements.
The president advanced towards him with calm dignity.
"You are welcome, Baron von Klentzin, to my house,--the house that is still mine, and that to-morrow will be yours. We are celebrating a family festivity,--the betrothal of my son,--and I beg you will join us."
He introduced the young man to his wife, and to the others, and then requested him to be seated beside Madame von Wendenstein. He signed to the servant to fill his guest"s gla.s.s with champagne.
"To-morrow I shall resign my office to you, and I hope you will find everything in order," said the old gentleman,--"to-day allow me to treat you as my guest."
Baron von Klentzin bowed.
"I enter your circle as a stranger," he said, "and I feel I can scarcely be welcome. But I beg you, sir, and all here present, to believe that I deeply respect your feelings,--we know what love to the Fatherland is,--and," he added warmly, "we come to you with open hands and hearts. May the future unite us all, without grief or bitterness, in one glorious Germany! Now, permit me to empty my gla.s.s to the happiness of the youthful pair!"
"Sir," said the president, with deep melancholy in his voice, "it has ever been the unalterable custom at my table to drink to the health of our king and commander-in-chief. He is no longer sovereign of this country. You will understand how I wish this last day not to deviate from the old custom of my house. A new time arises, but let us think of the old with thankfulness and love!"
Baron von Klentzin seized his gla.s.s.
"Only from love of the past can bloom a blessing on the future," he said feelingly; "and far be it from me to prevent, by my presence, the last farewell to such a past."
They all rose.
The president said, solemnly--
""The King!" who was our lord, and to whom the service of my life belongs. May G.o.d"s blessing be upon him!"
They all repeated the toast.
Herr von Klentzin, deeply moved, touched his gla.s.s against his host"s, and the slight sound reverberated through the room.
They all emptied their gla.s.ses silently.
That was the last toast to George V. in the old castle of Blechow.
Klentzin looked down thoughtfully.
"We have won a fair country," he said to himself; "G.o.d grant that we may win these hearts to true brotherhood."
CHAPTER XXIX.
"G.o.d AND THE FATHERLAND!"
King William had returned to Berlin. The nation received him with the wildest joy, scarcely knowing how to express its delight and enthusiasm at this unparalleled seven days" campaign, the wonderful success of which had placed Prussia so high amongst the first-cla.s.s powers of Europe, and had so completely consolidated the unity of Germany. The first wild burst of delight was over in Berlin. Everything began to return to its accustomed course, at least outwardly, for every heart still swelled high with the proud feeling of victory.
Early one morning King William entered his cabinet. He was dressed, as always, in uniform, with the iron cross and the Order of Merit.
"Is Schneider here?" he enquired of the attendant on duty.