"Oh, this is glorious!" he cried, smiling. "What splendor, what luxury! Tell me, my dear mother, is not this beautiful reception-room very aristocratically and appropriately fitted up?""I should think a princess or a queen might be satisfied with it,"she cried, with enthusiasm. "Even in royal palaces there is nothing of the kind to compare to this gold-embroidered tapestry.""Baron," said Marie, commandingly, "have the kindness to dismiss the steward. I wish to speak with you and Frau von Werrig."The steward slipped out without waiting to be sent, and Trude stood near the door, turning to the young baroness, as if to ask if she might remain.
"Did you not hear, Trude?" cried the mother, impatiently. "Tell her to go!""Remain, Trude," said Marie, quietly. "You are familiar with the past. I have nothing to deny to you; shut the door and stay here.--And now," she continued, as her voice lost its gentleness, when she addressed her mother, "if it is agreeable to you, I should like to have an understanding with you!""But, my child," sighed the mother, "how strangely altered you are!
You address me, your mother, as Frau von Werrig, and you speak to Ebenstreit in a very formal manner, who has been your dear, faithful husband for three years. Oh, my darling son, what does this ceremonious manner mean?""The very first hour, after our marriage, that we were alone my dear Marie severely reproved me for having addressed her in an intimate, affectionate manner, like the common class, as she called it, and Ihave never done so since."
"You must be convinced that I am right," said Marie, calmly, "and that it does not become two beings, who neither love nor esteem each other, and who live in the most ceremonious manner, to address one another with endearing epithets. At any rate we are not accountable to any one, and Frau von Leuthen must know the relations we bear to each other in the so-called marriage, as it is her arrangement for the most part.""And I pride myself upon it," she cried, with animation. "I have brought about this marriage, which is good fortune to us, and I hope my daughter will prove her gratitude, and my son will show me the affection he has so often sworn to me.""I do not know what my husband may have sworn to you, but permit me to say, I do not understand whom you, Frau von Werrig, address as daughter here; if you accidentally refer to me, you are in error; Ihave never possessed a mother to love me, although formerly, during long years I endeavored with tender assiduity to win a parent's heart. That is long past, however. The very day that I married Herr von Ebenstreit I renounced all family ties, and resolved to be self-reliant. My husband will witness that he has never known me to yield, and that I have always been firm and resolute in my decision.""No one would doubt it," replied Ebenstreit, timidly. "We had a very strange marriage, which scarce deserves the name. We resemble more two companions who have joined in business, the one side reluctantly, and the other joyfully. I long for a happy married life, which has been quite impossible thus far.""And will be to the end, which you will yet learn; and Fran von Werrig should understand it, as she brought about the union, and should not be in doubt as to the conclusion.""I acknowledge that I am almost speechless and quite paralyzed with that which I see and hear. I should doubt that this cold, proud woman before me were my daughter, if it were not for the name she bears, and her features.""That which you and my husband have caused me to become. He knew that I neither loved nor esteemed him, and that a union with him seemed so unendurable that I would have sought refuge in death, if Ihad not vowed to support life to attain the aim which I imposed upon myself. That is all past; it is the future which we must arrange. Iam glad that you are here, Frau von Werrig, that we may understand each other once for all; but you came against my wishes.""You must excuse it, dear Marie. It was the longing of mother's heart which led me hither; the love--"A cold, contemptuous glance of the large eyes caused the mother to cease, and quail before her daughter.
After a short pause Marie continued: "I wish to exercise alone and unhindered the executive rights of a lady in her own house. Do you acknowledge the justice of this, my husband?""Perfectly and unconditionally, dear Marie. You know that I have no other will but yours, which is my highest happiness to submit myself to in all things, always hoping to gain your love and win your heart; that--""That this woman has changed to stone," said Marie, coldly, pointing to her mother. "As you then recognize me as the mistress of this house, I shall avail myself of my just right, and no one can prevent me, for I stand alone, absolved from all family ties. By my birth and your riches, I shall occupy the position of a woman of the world, and as such I shall live.""I am delighted to hear it, Marie," cried her husband. "For this reason I have had the drawing-rooms furnished in the most costly manner, and I shall be proud to receive the aristocratic society who will come to render homage to my wife, as they have done everywhere in Paris, London, Rome, Madrid, and St. Petersburg. We have frequented the highest circle in all these cities, and they have crowded our drawing-rooms, charmed with the beauty, distinguished manners, tone of the world, of your daughter.""I beg of you to make but one subject the sole object of conversation," said Marie, harshly. "I have said that I will avail myself of the privilege, as mistress of this house, of receiving no one whom I do not wish to see, and no one can enter without consent.
Is it clearly understood, husband?"