Das landhaus am Rhein. English by Berthold Auerbach

  CHAPTER VII.

  PRELIMINARIES.

  The days passed away quiet and dull. Sonnenkamp sent off many letters,and read the newspapers, without sending them to Frau Ceres, as was hisformer custom.

  The men came who had declared themselves ready to constitute the jury.

  Sonnenkamp sent word to them that he would see no one until the timecame for appearing before the tribunal. But an exception was made inregard to one person. Lootz was made the confidential agent, and Bellacame to Sonnenkamp's room, through the climbing mistaria and theseed-room.

  "Just a few words," Sonnenkamp said. "You could not form one of thejury; but I assure you, because such a being lives with me on theearth, I will live, and will yet show what constitutes a man. Here, inthis room, will I speak."

  He escorted her back through the seed-room: she knew that the doorwould be left open.

  Bella went restlessly about the Villa, and she saw Lina who had comewith her father, and who wanted to keep Manna company at this terribletime; but Lina was at a loss what to do with herself, when she foundhow the family was scattered.

  She entreated Bella to go with her to Aunt Claudine, who was the onlyone left at home.

  Bella said that she would come by and by.

  Lina went to Aunt Claudine, and afforded her some real consolation, andeven pleasure.

  "Oh," asked Lina, "are Africans and negroes the same thing?"

  "Most certainly."

  "Well, I can't tell you how much I dislike Africans and negroes. I'venothing to say against their being free, why shouldn't they be? Butthey might have become so before this or afterwards: why, just at thisvery time? Why must they deprive me of my beautiful season ofbetrothal? Nobody is disposed to be merry, nobody talks of any thingelse, by reason of these negroes. It's the fashion even to wearchains now, called _Chaines d'esclaves_,--Oh, I wanted to ask yousomething--what was it--yes, I know now. Just tell me what they'regoing to do when the negroes get to be good people just like everybodyelse, what they're going to do then with the Devil?"

  "What has the Devil to do with it?"

  "Why, how are they going to paint the Devil, if he's not to be blackany longer?"

  Aunt Claudine had to indulge in a most hearty laugh, and she was verymuch rejoiced to be reminded that, in the midst of this monotonouslysombre life, there was some liveliness still left in the world.

  She was ready to go with Lina to the Castle, but just as they wereleaving the house, Bella came. She begged that Aunt Claudine and Linawould not put off their excursion on her account, and shut herself upin the library, while the Aunt and Lina proceeded to the castle. Theyremained there until the afternoon, and often looked down to the Villawhere "the men were all engaged in such a queer business," as Linaexpressed herself.

  Bella did not stay long in the library, but quickly returned to thevilla, and noiselessly went up the steps overgrown with mistaria.

  Sonnenkamp went to his wife, thinking that he must inform her of whatwas now going on. She tauntingly reminded him of his promise to returnto America; she did not want the decision to be in the hands ofstrangers.

  Sonnenkamp's practice was to let Frau Ceres speak just as long and asmuch as she pleased; for it was a matter of perfect indifference to himwhat she said.

  When he had got through with this, he returned to his room, and sentword to those who arrived, that he would extend a welcome to them whenhe appeared before the tribunal.

  Weidmann came first with the Prince Valerian and Knopf, then Clodwigwith the Banker, and the Doctor with the Justice. Professor Einsiedelstopped a while at the dog-house, and talked very earnestly with thefield-guard, and was highly delighted at the sound views of the man indog-training. Once he tapped upon his forehead with the fore and middlefingers, wishing to impress upon his memory one observation of Claus,which explained to him a passage in the eighth book of Pliny, treatingof land-animals.

  The Major came in full uniform, wearing all his decorations; and whenhe saw that Clodwig had come in plain citizen's clothes, without asingle decoration, he said to himself in vexation,--

  "She was right here, too; but I thought as it was a tribunal ofhonor--well, no matter; it's no harm, anyhow."

  Eric had made all the requisite arrangements in the music-saloon; butby Sonnenkamp's order, the chairs, the side-board set out with eatablesand drinkables, and every thing else needful, were removed toSonnenkamp's room. He placed his chair with a table before it near thedoor leading into the seed-room, to which he then withdrew.