Part 25 (1/2)
Landolin had to wait long before Thoma asked what it could be, and he explained that the joy which her wedding with Anton would give her mother was the remedy. Thoma said, in a hollow voice,
”That can never be, no more than”--she stopped suddenly.
”Well! No more than what?”
Thoma gave no answer, and Landolin knew that she would have said--”No more than Vetturi can live again.”
A well-known voice suddenly broke in upon the silence which followed.
”Good evening to you both!”
Anton stood before them. Landolin arose and held out his hand. Thoma kept her seat, and wrapping both arms in her ap.r.o.n, said only ”Good evening.”
Landolin made room for Anton beside him, and told Thoma to come and sit on the bench too. But she replied, ”I am quite comfortable where I am; besides, I must go in to mother. She is not at all well.”
”You will stay here,” said Landolin, in his old commanding voice. Then he explained to Anton that he would have liked to go to see his father, but--and it was hard for him to say this--he did not wish to be obtrusive; and so he waited for people to come to see him. He thanked Anton for his favorable testimony at the trial, and said, that he was glad that he had kept his conscience so clear.
”When I saw you standing there so resolutely, and heard you speak so firmly, I loved you twice as much as before,” he added.
Anton understood what it meant for the proud and arrogant Landolin to speak in this manner.
Hesitatingly, at first, and then in well-considered words, Anton explained that he had come to beg father and daughter to go with him to the celebration; that would show the whole world at one stroke that everything was all right again, and everybody would congratulate them anew.
No word, no motion showed that Thoma had heard him. Anton continued in a tremulous tone:
”Thoma, dear Thoma! You sit there as though you were frozen, but I know that deep in your heart, love for me is still burning. Thoma, for this once throw away your pride.”
”Pride?” said Thoma, in a low voice.
Anton did not hear her, for he went on: ”Thoma, you turned me away. I too am proud, but not with you. I have come back again. Show yourself as good and loving as you really are. Give me one single word--one kind word.”
Thoma arose.
”I thank you, Anton. I thank you a thousand times; but I cannot. Good night; I thank you.”
”No! You shall stay here, and I will go,” cried Landolin, as Thoma turned toward the house.
”Anton, for my part, I am----But settle matters alone between yourselves.”
He hastened into the house. Anton and Thoma were alone.
”You need not speak, Thoma. Give me a kiss, and that will say everything.”
”I cannot. Anton, 'tis hard for me to talk. I would far rather be dumb, and unable to speak. Anton, it's good and kind of you to come. But tell me,--you are honest--tell me, does your father feel toward my father as you do? Is it not true,--you can't say yes?--you are here against his will. Your father”----
”My father honors and loves you.”
”I believe that. But, Anton, I can never be happy again, nor bring happiness to others. I beg of you strike our house from your mind. One blow will be enough to destroy it.”
”Oh! Your house still stands firm. Thoma, you were right. On that day I did not know what I saw or what I heard; but now that is all past.