Elective Affinities (15 page)

They all therefore came to an unspoken agreement to pretend the pavilion was to be finished on this particular day without any reference to what other significance this day might have, and that this would offer an occasion for announcing a celebration and for inviting the local populace as well as their friends.

But Eduard’s affection was boundless. As his desire to possess Ottilie was without measure so in sacrificing, giving, promising he likewise knew no measure. For the presents he wanted to give Ottilie on this day Charlotte had made a number of suggestions but they were far too niggardly. He consulted his valet, one of whose tasks was to take care of his wardrobe and who was consequently always in touch with the dealers in the latest fashions; and the valet, who was not unfamiliar with the most acceptable sort of gifts nor with the most agreeable way of presenting them, at once ordered in the town the most elegant chest covered in red morocco,
secured by steel pins, and filled with presents worthy of such a container.

He also suggested something else to Eduard. They had a small collection of fireworks which they had always intended to let off but had never done so. It would be easy to add to these, to buy more of the sort they had got and other sorts they had not got. Eduard seized on the idea and the valet undertook to take care of it. The matter was to remain a secret.

Meanwhile as the day drew closer the Captain had been instituting the policing arrangements he considered so necessary whenever a crowd had been summoned or induced to assemble. He had even taken thorough precautions against begging and other inconveniences which spoil the pleasure of a celebration.

Eduard and his confidant were occupied above all with the fireworks. They were to be set off beside the middle lake in front of the great oak-trees; the audience was to stand under the plane-trees on the opposite side of the lake where, in safety and comfort, they could observe the effect from the proper distance, see the reflections in the water and watch the fireworks which were intended to burn while floating on the water.

Under another pretext Eduard had the space beneath the plane-trees cleared of undergrowth, grass and moss, and only now on the cleared ground did it appear how magnificently high and broad the trees had grown. The sight gave Eduard the greatest pleasure. ‘It was about this season of the year I planted them. How long ago could that have been?’ he asked himself. As soon as he was back in the house he consulted the diaries his father had kept very regularly especially when he was in the country. It was true the planting of the plane-trees would not be mentioned, but another event of domestic importance which happened on the same day and which Eduard could still remember well must inevitably have been
recorded. He skims through several volumes. He finds the event he has in mind. But he is astonished, he is delighted, when he notices the most miraculous coincidence. The day, the year when he planted the trees is also the day, the year when Ottilie was born.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A
T
last the morning Eduard ardently longed for dawned. Gradually the guests arrived, many guests, for invitations had been sent out far and wide and many who had missed the laying of the foundation-stone and had heard so much about it were the more determined not to miss this second celebration.

Before the meal the carpenters appeared in the courtyard of the mansion playing instruments and carrying a swaying ornate garland composed of foliage and flowers laid in alternate stepwise layers. They spoke their greeting and prevailed upon the women to hand over silk kerchiefs and ribbons with which, in accordance with tradition, the carpenters adorned themselves. They continued with their triumphal procession while the ladies and gentlemen were dining, and after stopping for a time in the village, where they also deprived the women and girls of many ribbons, they at last came to the hill where the completed pavilion stood, accompanied by a great crowd and with a great crowd awaiting them.

After the meal Charlotte delayed the company for a little. She wanted no solemn formal procession and they found their way to the spot gradually in separate groups without regard to rank or formality. Charlotte hung back with Ottilie and this did not improve matters, because since Ottilie was in fact the last to arrive it seemed as if the trumpets and drums had been waiting only for her, as if proceedings had to start at once now she had arrived.

To take the newness off the pavilion they had decorated it with an ornament of branches and flowers according to the Captain’s directions, only without his knowledge Eduard had
had the architect inscribe the date in flowers across the cornice. That might be let pass, but the Captain arrived in time to prevent Ottilie’s name too from blazing forth from the pediment. He was able tactfully to stop this undertaking and to have the flower-letters already in place taken down.

The garland was hoisted up and could be seen from far and wide. Ribbons and kerchiefs fluttered many-coloured in the air and a short speech was for the most part lost in the wind. The solemnities had ended, the dance on the levelled and foliage-enclosed space in front of the building could now begin. A smartly-dressed apprentice led a lively peasant girl up to Eduard and invited Ottilie, who was standing close by, to dance. The two couples were at once joined by others and Eduard very soon changed partners, taking Ottilie and circulating with her. The younger guests joined happily in the dance, while the older guests were content to look on.

Then, before the dance broke up and the people dispersed among the walks and paths, it was agreed to assemble again at sunset under the plane-trees. Eduard arrived there first, saw that everything was in order and held a consultation with the valet who, in company with the fireworks expert, had to look after the spectacle on the other side of the lake.

The Captain regarded the arrangements made for this entertainment with misgiving and he was going to speak to Eduard about the pressure of spectators that was to be expected when Eduard asked him somewhat brusquely to leave this part of the celebrations to him.

The tops of the dams had been staked out and cleared of grass and the soil was uneven and insecure. The people had already crowded on to them. The sun went down, twilight came on, and while waiting for it to grow darker the company under the plane-trees was served with refreshments. They found the spot incomparable and looked forward to the future view they would have of a great and so variously bounded lake.

A calm evening, not a breath of wind, all seemed right for the nocturnal festival, when suddenly a terrible shrieking and shouting started up. Big lumps of earth had come away from the dam, several people could be seen falling into the water. The earth had given way under the pressure and trampling of the ever-increasing crowd. Everyone wanted the best position and now no one could go forward or back.

Everyone not on the dam leaped up and ran towards it, but more to see what had happened than to do anything about it, for what could anyone do, since no one could reach the place where it had broken? The Captain with a few others who had their wits about them raced to the dam and drove the crowd down from it on to the bank so as to leave room for people on the dam to try to pull out those who had fallen into the lake and were going under. Partly through these efforts, partly through their own they were all soon back on dry land, except a boy whose panicky strugglings had taken him away from the dam instead of bringing him back to it. His strength seemed to leave him, only fitfully did he bring up a hand or foot. The boat was unfortunately on the other side of the lake filled with fireworks, it was a slow job unloading it, and it looked as if any assistance from that quarter would come too late. The Captain had made up his mind what he should do, he threw off his outer clothing, all eyes were on him, and his splendid strong figure was a sight to inspire confidence; but a cry of surprise nonetheless broke from the crowd when he dived into the water. Every eye followed him as, swimming skilfully, he soon reached the boy and brought him back to the dam. The boy appeared to be dead.

The boat then came up, the Captain boarded it and inquired of everyone around whether they were sure there was no one else missing. The doctor comes and takes charge of the boy who appears to be dead. Charlotte also appears and begs the Captain to look after himself, to get back to the house
and get changed. He hesitates to leave and does not do so until certain responsible, sensible people who have been close to the scene and have themselves helped with the work of rescue assure him solemnly that everyone has been saved.

Charlotte watches him go back to the house, she remembers that wine, tea or whatever else he might need are locked away, and that on occasions like this people often lose their bearings, and she hurries through the confused company still standing about under the plane-trees. Eduard is telling everyone to stay where they are, he is soon going to give the signal for the fireworks to start. Charlotte goes up to him and asks him to postpone an entertainment which is now out of place, which cannot properly be enjoyed at that present time. She asks him to show some consideration for the boy and his rescuer. ‘The doctor is already doing what he can,’ Eduard replied: ‘he has everything he needs and our interference would only hinder him.’

Charlotte stuck to her point and gestured to Ottilie, who at once made to leave. Eduard sized her hand and cried: ‘Don’t let us end this day in the hospital! She is too good to be a sister of charity. The apparently dead will reawaken and the living will dry themselves even without our assistance.’

Charlotte said nothing and walked away. Some of them followed her, some stayed with Eduard and Ottilie. Finally no one wanted to be the last to stay and they all followed. Eduard and Ottilie found themselves alone under the plane-trees. She begged, she implored him to go back with her to the mansion but he insisted on staying where they were. ‘No, Ottilie!’ he cried. ‘Extraordinary things don’t come about smoothly, don’t happen in an everyday way. The unexpected accident this evening has brought us together more quickly. You are mine! I have told you so and vowed it so often: let us leave saying and vowing, now it shall be so in fact!’

The boat from the other side floated across. The valet was
in it. He was at a loss to know what to do and asked what was now going to be done about the fireworks. ‘Set them off!’ Eduard shouted across to him. ‘It was for you alone I got them Ottilie, and now you alone shall see them! Permit me to sit beside you and enjoy them with you.’ He sat down beside her gently and modestly, he did not touch her.

Rockets roared, maroons exploded, fireballs floated up, squibs coiled around and burst, catherine-wheels foamed sparks, at first singly, then in pairs, then all together, more and more violently one after the other and all at once. Eduard, whose heart was aflame, followed this fiery spectacle with shining eyes and a feeling of satisfaction. To Ottilie’s tender agitated heart the roaring and flashing, the sudden bursting forth and vanishing, was rather distressing than pleasurable. She leaned herself shyly against Eduard and when he felt her draw near him so trustfully he felt she now belonged to him entirely.

Night had hardly resumed her reign before the moon arose and illumined the course of Eduard and Ottilie as they returned to the mansion. A figure stepped before them hat in hand and begged alms, saying he had received none that festive day. The moonlight revealed his face and Eduard recognized the importunate beggar of a former occasion. But he was too happy, too happy to be angry, too happy to remember that begging had been strictly prohibited and on that day especially. He searched in his pocket and found a gold piece and gave it to the beggar. Since his own happiness seemed to be without limit he wanted to make everybody happy.

At home everything had meanwhile been going well. The doctor had worked, everything needed had been to hand, Charlotte had assisted, all had collaborated together and the boy had been restored to life. The guests dispersed, partly to see something of the fireworks from a distance, partly to get back to their own quiet homes after such scenes of confusion.

The Captain had quickly changed and he too had taken an active part in the first-aid operation. Now it was all quiet, and he found himself alone with Charlotte. He gently confided to her that he would very soon be leaving. She had gone through so much that evening that this revelation made little impression on her. She had seen how her friend had been ready to sacrifice himself, how he had rescued others and had himself been rescued. These strange events seemed to her to presage a significant but not an unhappy future.

Eduard came in with Ottilie and he was likewise told of the Captain’s coming departure. He suspected that Charlotte had known all about it earlier but he was far too involved with himself and his plans to trouble his head about that.

On the contrary, he heard attentively and with satisfaction of the good and honourable position the Captain was to take up. His secret desires raced impetuously ahead of events. Already he saw the Captain united with Charlotte, himself with Ottilie. No finer present could have been given him to mark this festive day.

But how astonished Ottilie was when she went to her room and found the exquisite little chest on her table. She opened it at once. Inside everything was packed and arranged so beautifully she could not bring herself to disturb it, she hardly liked to keep the lid open. Muslin, cambric, silk scarves and lace vied with one another in delicacy, elegance and costliness. There was jewellery there too. She could see she had been given enough to clothe her from head to foot several times over, but it was all so costly and unfamiliar she did not dare to think it hers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T
HE
following morning the Captain had gone. He had left behind a note for his friends telling them of his gratitude. He and Charlotte had said a brief halting farewell the previous evening. She felt they were parting for ever and she acquiesced in it: the Captain had at last shown her the Count’s other letter and in that letter the Count also spoke of the prospect of an advantageous marriage; and although the Captain did not make any mention of that point, she took it for a certainty and wholly and entirely renounced him.