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CHAPTER V.
The baron had, for several days, been cheering Wilhelm with the hope of
being formally presented to the countess. “I have told this excellent lady,” said
he, “so much about the talent and fine sentiment displayed in your compositions,
that she feels quite impatient to see you, and hear one or two of them read. Be
prepared, therefore, to come over at a moment’s notice; for, the first morning she
is at leisure, you will certainly be called on.” He then pointed out to him the
afterpiece it would be proper to produce on that occasion; adding, that doubtless
it would recommend him to no usual degree of favor. The lady, he declared, was
extremely sorry that a guest like him had happened to arrive at a time of such
confusion, when they could not entertain him in a style more suitable to his
merits and their own wishes.
In consequence of this information, Wilhelm, with the most sedulous
attention, set about preparing the piece, which was to usher him into the great
world. “Hitherto,” said he, “thou hast labored in silence for thyself, applauded
only by a small circle of friends. Thou hast for a time despaired of thy abilities,
and are yet full of anxious doubts whether even thy present path is the right one,
and whether thy talent for the stage at all corresponds with thy inclination for it.
In the hearing of such practised judges, in the closet where no illusion can take
place, the attempt is far more hazardous than elsewhere; and yet I would not
willingly recoil from the experiment: I could wish to add this pleasure to my
former enjoyments, and, if it might be, to give extension and stability to my
hopes from the future.”
He accordingly went through some pieces; read them with the keenest critical
eye; made corrections here and there; recited them aloud, that he might be
perfect in his tones and expression: and finally selected the work which he was
best acquainted with, and hoped to gain most honor by. He put it in his pocket,
one morning, on being summoned to attend the countess.
The baron had assured him that there would be no one present but the lady
herself and a worthy female friend of hers. On entering the chamber, the
Baroness von C — — advanced with great friendliness to meet him,
expressed her happiness at gaining his acquaintance, and introduced him to the
countess, who was then under the hands of her hair-dresser. The countess
received him with kind words and looks. But it vexed him to see Philina
kneeling at her chair, and playing a thousand fooleries. “The poor child,” said
the baroness, “has just been singing to us. Finish the song you were in the midst
of: we should not like to lose it.”
Wilhelm listened to her quavering with great patience, being anxious for the
friseur’s departure before he should begin to read. They offered him a cup of
chocolate, the baroness herself handing him the biscuit. Yet, in spite of these
civilities, he relished not his breakfast: he was longing too eagerly to lay before
the lovely countess some performance that might interest and gratify her.
Philina, too, stood somewhat in his way: on former occasions, while listening to
him, she had more than once been troublesome. He looked at the friseur with a
painful feeling, hoping every moment that the tower of curls would be complete.
Meanwhile the count came in, and began to talk of the fresh visitors he was
expecting, of the day’s occupations or amusements, and of various domestic
matters that were started. On his retiring, some officers sent to ask permission of
the countess to pay their respects to her, as they had to leave the castle before
dinner. The footman having come to his post at the door, she permitted him to
usher in the gentlemen.
The baroness, amid these interruptions, took pains to entertain our friend, and
showed him much consideration; all which he accepted with becoming
reverence, though not without a little absence of mind. He often felt for the
manuscript in his pocket, and hoped for his deliverance every instant. He was
almost losing patience, when a man-milliner was introduced, and immediately
began without mercy to open his papers, bags, and bandboxes; pressing all his
various wares upon the ladies, with an importunity peculiar to that species of
creature.
The company increased. The baroness cast a look at Wilhelm, and then
whispered with the countess: he noticed this, but did not understand the purpose
of it. The whole, however, became clear enough, when, after an hour of painful
and fruitless endurance, he went away. He then found a beautiful pocket-book,
of English manufacture, in his pocket. The baroness had dexterously put it there
without his notice; and soon afterwards the countess’s little black came out, and
handed him an elegantly flowered waistcoat, without very clearly saying whence
it came.
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