The Kammerjunker's carriage was now also brought out; in this was more than sufficient room for two, whereas in the other carriage they had been crowded. The Kammerjunker, therefore, besought that they would avail themselves of the more convenient seat which he could offer; and Otto saw Sophie and her mother enter the Kammerjunker's carriage. This arrangement would shortly before have confounded Otto, now it had much less effect upon him. His mind was so much occupied by his visit to German Heinrich, his soul was filled with a bitterness, which for the moment repelled the impulse which he had felt to express his great love for Sophie.
"I have been made Heinrich's plaything--his tool!" thought he. "Now he ridicules me, and I am compelled to bear it! That horrible being is not my sister!--she cannot be so!"
The street was now quiet. They mounted into the carriage. In the corner house just opposite there was a great company; light streamed through the long curtains, a low tenor voice and a high ringing soprano mingled together in Mozart's "Audiam, audiam, mio bene."
"The bird may not flutter from my heart!" sighed Otto, and seated himself by the side of Louise. The carriage rolled away.
The full moon shone; the wild spiraea sent forth its odor from the road side; steam ascended from the moor-lands; and the white mist floated over the meadows like the daughters of the elfin king.
Louise sat silent and embarrassed; trouble weighed down her heart. Otto was also silent.
The Kammerjunker drove in first, cracked his whip, and struck up a wild halloo.
Wilhelm began to sing, "Charming the summer night," and the Kammerjunker joined in with him.
"Sing with us man," cried Wilhelm to the silent Otto, and quickly the two companies were one singing caravan.
"Destiny often pulls off leaves, as we treat the vine, that its fruits may be earlier brought to maturity."--JEAN PAUL.
It was not until toward morning that Otto fell into sleep. Wilhelm and he were allowed to take their own time in rising, and thus it was late in the day before these two gentlemen made their appearance at the breakfast-table; the Kammerjunker was already come over to the hall, and now was more adorned than common.
"Mr. Thostrup shall be one of the initiated!" said the mother. "It will be time enough this evening for strangers to know of it. The Kammerjunker and my Sophie are betrothed."