The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. II | Page 7

what he felt at greater length.
The next day, as they were walking to the same spot, Charlotte took the
opportunity of bringing back the conversation to the subject, perhaps
because she knew that there is no surer way of rooting out any plan or
purpose than by often talking it over.
It was what Edward was wishing. He expressed him self in his own
way, kindly and sweetly. For although, sensitive as, he was, he flamed
up readily--although the vehemence with which he desired anything
made him pressing, and his obstinacy made him impatient--his words
were so softened by his wish to spare the feelings of those to whom he
was speaking, that it was impossible not to be charmed, even when one
most disagreed, with him.
This morning, he first contrived to bring Charlotte into the happiest
humor, and then so disarmed her with the graceful turn which he gave
to the conversation, that she cried out at last:
"You are determined that what I refused to the husband you will make
me grant to the lover. At least, my dearest," she continued, "I will
acknowledge that your wishes,--and the warmth and sweetness with
which you express them, have not left me untouched, have not left me
unmoved. You drive me to make a confession;--till now, I too have had
a concealment from you; I am in exactly the same position with you,
and I have hitherto been putting the same restraint on my inclination
which I have been exhorting you to put on yours."
"Glad am I to hear that," said Edward. "In the married state, a
difference of opinion now and then, I see, is no bad thing; we learn
something of each other by it."
"You are to learn at present, then," said Charlotte, "that it is with me
about Ottilie as it is with you about the Captain. The dear child is most
uncomfortable at the school, and I am thoroughly uneasy about her.
Luciana, my daughter, born as she is for the world, is there training

hourly for the world; languages, history, everything that is taught there,
she acquires with so much ease that, as it were, she learns them off at
sight. She has quick natural gifts, and an excellent memory; one may
almost say she forgets everything, and in a moment calls it all back
again. She distinguishes herself above every one at the school with the
freedom of her carriage, the grace of her movement, and the elegance
of her address, and with the inborn royalty of nature makes herself the
queen of the little circle there. The superior of the establishment
regards her as a little divinity, who, under her hands, is shaping into
excellence, and who will do her honor, gain her reputation, and bring
her a large increase of pupils; the first pages of this good lady's letters,
and her monthly notices of progress, are forever hymns about the
excellence of such a child, which I have to translate into my own prose;
while her concluding sentences about Ottilie are nothing but excuse
after excuse--attempts at explaining how it can be that a girl in other
respects growing up so lovely seems coming to nothing, and shows
neither capacity nor accomplishment. This, and the little she has to say
besides, is no riddle to me, because I can see in this dear child the same
character as that of her mother, who was my own dearest friend; who
grew up with myself, and whose daughter, I am certain, if I had the care
of her education, would form into an exquisite creature.
"This, however, has not fallen in with our plan, and as one ought not to
be picking and pulling, or for ever introducing new elements among the
conditions of our lives, I think it better to bear, and to conquer as I can,
even the unpleasant impression that my daughter, who knows very well
that poor Ottilie is entirely dependent upon us, does not refrain from
flourishing her own successes in her face, and so, to a certain extent,
destroys the little good which we have done for her. Who are well
trained enough never to wound others by a parade of their own
advantages? and who stands so high as not at times to suffer under such
a slight? In trials like these, Ottilie's character is growing in strength,
but since I have clearly known the painfulness of her situation, I have
been thinking over all possible ways to make some other arrangement.
Every hour I am expecting an answer to my own last letter, and then I
do not mean to hesitate any more. So, my dear Edward, it is with me.
We have both, you see, the same sorrows to bear, touching both