"When you kindly helped Minna to get that letter yesterday,"she went on,"you were the innocent means of inflicting a disappointment on me--one disappointment more,after others that had gone before it.I came here to place my case before some wealthy relatives of mine in this city.They refused to assist me.I wrote next to other members of my family,living in Brussels.The letter of yesterday contained their answer.Another refusal!The landlady of this house is an afflicted creature,with every claim on my sympathies;she,too,is struggling with poverty.If I failed to pay her,it would be too cruel.Only yesterday I felt it my hard duty to give her notice of our departure in a week more.I have just written to recall that notice.The reason is,that I see a gleam of hope in the future--and you,Mr.David,are the friend who has shown it to me."I was more than surprised at this."May I ask how?"I said.
She patted my hand with a playful assumption of petulance.
"A little more patience,"she rejoined;"and you shall soon hear.If Ihad only myself to think of,I should not feel the anxieties that now trouble me.I could take a housekeeper's place to-morrow.Yes!I was brought up among surroundings of luxury and refinement;I descended in rank when I married--but for all that,I could fill a domestic employment without repining my lot,without losing my self-respect.Adversity is a hard teacher of sound lessons,David.May I call you David?And if you heard of a housekeeper's place vacant,would you tell me of it?"I could hardly understand whether she was in jest or in earnest.She went on without waiting for me to reply.
"But I have my daughter to think of,"she resumed,"and to add to my anxieties my daughter has given her heart to Mr.Keller's son.While Iand my dear Minna had only our own interests to consider,we might have earned our daily bread together;we might have faced the future with courage.But what might once have been the calm course of our lives is now troubled by a third person--a rival with me in my daughter's love--and,worse still,a man who is forbidden to marry her.Is it wonderful that I feel baffled,disheartened,helpless?Oh,I am not exaggerating!I know my child's nature.She is too delicate,too exquisitely sensitive,for the rough world she lives in.When she loves,she loves with all her heart and soul.Day by day I have seen her pining and fading under her separation from Fritz.You have revived her hopes for the moment--but the prospect before her remains unaltered.If she loses Fritz she will die of a broken heart.Oh,God!the one creature Ilove--and how I am to help her and save her I don't know!"For the first time,I heard the fervor of true feeling in her voice.She turned aside from me,and hid her face with a wild gesture of despair that was really terrible to see.I tried,honestly tried,to comfort her.
"Of one thing at least you may be sure."I said."Fritz's whole heart is given to your daughter.He will be true to her,and worthy of her,through all trials.""I don't doubt it,"she answered sadly,"I have nothing to say against my girl's choice.Fritz is good,and Fritz is true,as you say.But you forget his father.Personally,mind,I despise Mr.Keller."She looked round at me with unutterable contempt flashing through the tears that filled her eyes."A man who listens to every lie that scandal can utter against the character of a helpless woman--who gives her no opportunity of defending herself (I have written to him and received no answer)--who declares that his son shall never marry my daughter (because we are poor,of course);and who uses attacks on my reputation which he has never verified,as the excuse for his brutal conduct--can anybody respect such a man as that?And yet on this despicable creature my child's happiness and my child's life depend!For her sake,no matter what my own feeling may be,I must stoop to defend myself.I must make my opportunity of combating his cowardly prejudice,and winning his good opinion in spite of himself.How am I to get a hearing?how am I to approach him?Iunderstand that you are not in a position to help me.But you have done wonders for me nevertheless,and God bless you for it!"She lifted my hand to her lips.I foresaw what was coming;I tried to speak.But she gave me no opportunity;her eloquent enthusiasm rushed into a new flow of words.
"Yes,my best of friends,my wisest of advisers,"she went on;"you have suggested the irresistible interference of a person whose authority is supreme.Your excellent aunt is the head of the business;Mr.Keller _must_listen to his charming chief.There is my gleam of hope.On that chance,I will sell the last few valuables I possess,and wait till Mrs.
Wagner arrives at Frankfort.You start,David!What is there to alarm you?Do you suppose me capable of presuming on your aunt's kindness--of begging for favors which it may not be perfectly easy for her to grant?
Mrs.Wagner knows already from Fritz what our situation is.Let her only see my Minna;I won't intrude on her myself.My daughter shall plead for me;my daughter shall ask for all I want--an interview with Mr.Keller,and permission to speak in my own defense.Tell me,honestly,am Iexpecting too much,if I hope that your aunt will persuade Fritz's father to see me?"It sounded modestly enough in words.But I had my own doubts,nevertheless.
I had left Mr.Keller working hard at his protest against the employment of women in the office,to be sent to my aunt by that day's post.Knowing them both as I did,I thought it at least probable that a written controversy might be succeeded by a personal estrangement.If Mr.Keller proved obstinate,Mrs.Wagner would soon show him that she had a will of her own.Under those circumstances,no favors could be asked,no favors could be granted--and poor Minna's prospects would be darker than ever.