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CHAPTER VI.
Melina, in the mean time, had been making strict inquiry about the wrecks of
the late theatrical establishment. The wardrobe, as well as decorations, had been
pawned with some traders; and a notary had been empowered, under certain
conditions, to dispose of them by sale, should purchasers occur. Melina wished
to see this ware, and he took Wilhelm with him. No sooner was the room
opened, than our friend felt towards its contents a kind of inclination, which he
would not confess to himself. Sad as was the state of the blotched and tarnished
decorations; little showy as the Turkish and pagan garments, the old farce-coats
for men and women, the cowls for enchanters, priests, and Jews, might be, —
he was not able to exclude the feeling, that the happiest moments of his life had
been spent in a similar magazine of frippery. Could Melina have seen into his
heart, he would have urged him more pressingly to lay out a sum of money in
liberating these scattered fragments, in furbishing them up, and again combining
them into a beautiful whole. “What a happy man could I be,” cried Melina, “had
I but two hundred crowns, to get into my hands, for a beginning, these
fundamental necessaries of a theatre! How soon should I get up a little
playhouse, that would draw contributions from the town and neighborhood, and
maintain us all!” Wilhelm was silent. They left these treasures of the stage to be
again locked up, and both went away in a reflective mood.
Thenceforth Melina talked of nothing else but projects and plans for setting up
a theatre, and gaining profit by it. He tried to interest Philina and Laertes in his
schemes; and proposals were made to Wilhelm about advancing money, and
taking them as his security. On this occasion, Wilhelm first clearly perceived
that he was lingering too long here: he excused himself, and set about making
preparations for departure.
In the mean time, Mignon’s form, and manner of existence, were growing
more attractive to him every day. In her whole system of proceedings there was
something very singular. She never walked up or down the stairs, but jumped.
She would spring along by the railing, and before you were aware would be
sitting quietly above upon the landing. Wilhelm had observed, also, that she had
a different sort of salutation for each individual. For himself, it had of late been
with her arms crossed upon her breast. Often for the whole day she was mute. At
times she answered various questions more freely, yet always strangely: so that
you could not determine whether it was caused by shrewd sense, or ignorance of
the language; for she spoke in broken German interlaced with French and Italian.
In Wilhelm’s service she was indefatigable, and up before the sun. On the other
hand, she vanished early in the evening, went to sleep in a little room upon the
bare floor, and could not by any means be induced to take a bed or even a
paillasse. He often found her washing herself. Her clothes, too, were kept
scrupulously clean; though nearly all about her was quilted two or three plies
thick. Wilhelm was moreover told, that she went every morning early to hear
mass. He followed her on one occasion, and saw her kneeling down with a
rosary in a corner of the church, and praying devoutly. She did not observe him;
and he returned home, forming many a conjecture about this appearance, yet
unable to arrive at any probable conclusion.
A new application from Melina for a sum of money to redeem the often-
mentioned stage apparatus caused Wilhelm to think more seriously than ever
about setting off. He proposed writing to his people, who for a long time had
heard no tidings of him, by the very earliest post. He accordingly commenced a
letter to Werner, and had advanced a considerable way with the history of his
adventures, in recounting which he had more than once unintentionally swerved
a little from the truth, when, to his vexation and surprise, he observed, upon the
back of his sheet, some verses which he had been copying from his album for
Madam Melina. Out of humor at this mistake, he tore the paper in pieces, and
put off repeating his confession till the next post-day.
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