The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Xii Part 29

Pardon me for saying so, plainly. (_Ingratiatingly_.) Is the misfortune so great if you become member for this town a few years later, or even not at all?

OLDENDORF.

Miss Runeck, I am not conceited. I do not rate my abilities very high, and, as far as I know myself, there is no ambitious impulse lurking at the bottom of my heart. Possibly, as you do now, so a later age will set a low estimate on our political wrangling, our party aims, and all that that includes. Possibly all our labor will be without result; possibly much of the good we hope to do will, when achieved, turn out to be the opposite--yes, it is highly probable that my own share in the struggle will often be painful, unedifying, and not at all what you would call a grateful task; but all that must not keep me from devoting my life to the strife and struggle of the age to which I belong. That struggle, after all, is the best and n.o.blest that the present has to offer. Not every age permits its sons to achieve results which remain great for all time; and, I repeat, not every age can make those who live in it distinguished and happy.

ADELAIDE.

I think every age can accomplish that if the individuals will only understand how to be great and happy. [_Rising_.] You, Professor, will do nothing for your own little home-happiness. You force your friends to act for you.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Permission F. Bruckmann, A.-G. Munich IN THE BEERGARDEN Adolph von Menzel]

OLDENDORF.

At all events cherish as little anger against me as possible, and speak a good word for me to Ida.

ADELAIDE.

I shall set my woman's wits to aiding you, Mr. Statesman.

[_Exit_ OLDENDORF.]

ADELAIDE (_alone_).

So this is one of the n.o.ble, scholarly, free spirits of the German nation! And he climbs into the fire from a sheer sense of duty! But to conquer anything--the world, happiness, or even a wife--for that he never was made!

_Enter_ CARL.

CARL (_announcing_).

Dr. Bolz!

ADELAIDE.

Ah! He at least will be no such paragon of virtue!--Where is the Colonel?

CARL.

In Miss Ida's room.

ADELAIDE.

Show the gentleman in here.

[_Exit_ CARL.]

I feel somewhat embarra.s.sed at seeing you again, Mr. Bolz; I shall take pains to conceal it.

_Enter_ BOLZ.

BOLZ.

A poor soul has just left you, vainly seeking consolation in your philosophy. I too come as an unfortunate, for yesterday I incurred your displeasure; and but for your presence, which cut short a vexatious scene, Mr. von Senden, in the interests of social propriety, would doubtless have pitched into me still harder. I thank you for the reminder you gave me; I take it as a sign that you will not withdraw your friendly interest in me.

ADELAIDE (_aside_).

Very pretty, very diplomatic!--It is kind of you to put so good a construction on my astonishing behavior. But pardon me if I presume to interfere again; that scene with Mr. von Senden will not, I trust, give provocation for a second one?

BOLZ (_aside_).

This eternal Senden! (_Aloud_.) Your interest in him furnishes me grounds for avoiding further consequences. I think I can manage it.

ADELAIDE.

I thank you. And now let me tell you that you are a dangerous diplomatist. You have inflicted a thorough defeat on this household.

On this unfortunate day but one thing has pleased me--the one vote which sought to make you member of Parliament.

BOLZ.

It was a crazy idea of the honest wine-merchant.

ADELAIDE.

You took so much trouble to put your friend in, why did you not work for yourself? The young man I used to know had lofty aims, and nothing seemed beyond the range of his soaring ambition. Have you changed, or is the fire still burning?

BOLZ (_smiling_).

I have become a journalist, Miss Adelaide.

ADELAIDE.

Your friend is one, too.

BOLZ.

Only as a side issue. But I belong to the guild. He who has joined it may have the ambition to write wittily or well. All that goes beyond that is not for us.

ADELAIDE.

Not for you?

BOLZ.

For that we are too flighty, too restless and scatter-brained.

ADELAIDE.

Are you in earnest about that, Conrad?

BOLZ.