O. T., A Danish Romance | Page 3

prae caeteris!"
"Yet it was very provoking," cried another, "that he received the only
Non in mathematics. Otherwise he would have been called in. Now he
will only have to vex himself about his many brilliant characters."
"Yes, and he is well versed in mathematics!" added Wilhelm "There
was something incorrect in the writing; the inspector was to blame for
that, but how I know not. Thostrup is terribly vehement, and can set all
respect at defiance; he became angry, and went out. There was only a
piece of unwritten paper presented from him, and this brought him a
cipher, which the verbal examination could not bring higher than non.
Thostrup is certainly a glorious fellow. We have made a tour together
in the steamboat from Helsingöer to Copenhagen, and in the written
examination we sat beside each other until the day when we had
mathematics, and then I sat below him. I like him very much, his pride
excepted; and of that we must break him."

"Herr Baron," said his neighbor, "I am of your opinion. Shall not we
drink the Thou-brotherhood?"
"To-night we will all of us drink the Thou!" said the host; "it is nothing
if comrades and good friends call each other you."
"Evoe Bacchus!" they joyously shouted. The glasses were filled, one
arm was thrown round that of the neighbor, and the glasses were
emptied, whilst several commenced singing "dulce cum sodalibus!"
"Tell me what thou art called?" demanded one of the younger guests of
his new Thou-brother.
"What am I called?" replied he. "With the exception of one letter, the
same as the Baron."
"The Baron!" cried a third; "yes, where is he?"
"There he stands talking at the door; take your glasses! now have all of
us drank the Thou-brotherhood?"
The glasses were again raised; the young Baron laughed, clinked his
glass, and shouted in the circle, "Thou, Thou!" But in his whole bearing
there lay something constrained, which, however, none of the young
men remarked, far less allowed themselves to imagine that his sudden
retreat, during the first drinking, perhaps occurred from the sole object
of avoiding it. But soon was he again one of the most extravagant;
promised each youth who would study theology a living on his estate
when he should once get it into his own hands; and proposed that the
Latin disputations should commence with him, and on the following
Friday. Otto Thostrup, however, should he of the party--if he chose, of
course being understood; for he was a capital student, and his friend
they had made a journey together and had been neighbors at the green
table.
Among those who were the earliest to make their valete amici was the
Baron. Several were not yet inclined to quit this joyous circle. The
deepest silence reigned in the streets; it was the most beautiful

moonlight. In most houses all had retired to rest--only here and there
was a light still seen, most persons slept, even those whose sense of
duty should leave banished the god of sleep: thus sat a poor
hackney-coachman, aloft upon his coach-box, before the house where
he awaited his party, and enjoyed, the reins wound about his hand, the
much-desired rest. Wilhelm (henceforth we will only call the young
Baron by his Christian name) walked alone through the street. The
wine had heated his northern blood--besides which it never flowed
slowly; his youthful spirits, his jovial mood, and the gayety occasioned
by the merry company he had just quitted did not permit him quietly to
pass by this sleeping Endymion. Suddenly it occurred to him to open
the coach-door and leap in; which having done, he let the glass fall and
called out with a loud voice, "Drive on!" The coachman started up out
of his blessed sleep and asked, quite confused, "Where to?" Without
reflecting about the matter, Wilhelm cried, "To the Ship in West
Street." The coachman drove on; about half-way, Wilhelm again
opened the coach-door, a bold spring helped him out, and the coach
rolled on. It stopped at the public-house of the Ship. The coachman got
down and opened the door; there was no one within; he thrust his head
in thoroughly to convince himself; but no, the carriage was empty!
"Extraordinary!" said the fellow; "can I have dreamed it? But still I
heard, quite distinctly, how I was told to drive to the Ship! Lord
preserve us! now they are waiting for me!" He leaped upon the box and
drove rapidly back again.
In the mean time Wilhelm had reached his abode in Vineyard Street; he
opened a window to enjoy the beautiful night, and gazed out upon the
desolate church-yard which is shut in by shops. He had no inclination
for sleep, although everything in the street, even the watchmen