Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/394

388 and had not spirit enough remaining to be actively unfriendly, still she thought it unfeeling of Dr Komers to keep painful recollections alive by his presence. Since there was no more family cause, there could be no more need for a family lawyer.

Dr Komers himself did not quite know why he was staying here so long, although he gave himself a great many reasons for doing so. What good could come from following Gretchen about, since he had sworn to himself that he would woo her no more, and since he meant to hold to what he had sworn? He was strong enough to keep his oath, but not quite strong enough to put the matter aside once for all, as irrevocably fixed. In fact, during these days poor Vincenz began to suspect that he was not an iron character.

The sight of Tolnay by Gretchen's side was a continual irritant, and it did much to darken the sunshine and poison the breeze. Since Gretchen could not belong to him, of course she must belong to some other man. But, he told himself, that other man ought not to be István Tolnay. It should be an individual of peculiar excellence, and of a character more elevated than the character of any person he had ever yet met. If such a man were to be found, Vincenz felt confident that he could with calmness, almost with resignation, and perhaps a fatherly blessing on his lips, join their two hands together. He felt quite amicably disposed towards this vague man of the future; but, strangely enough, whenever the vague man threatened to become distinct, the amicable feeling turned into vehement dislike. He passed all Gretchen's acquaintances in review, and rejected them all in turn. The future man was only bearable as long as his outline remained undefined; and perhaps it was because István Tolnay's personality was so very clearly defined, both mentally and physically, that Vincenz disliked him so much. He not only disliked, he also mistrusted him. This in itself was an excellent reason for not leaving the Hercules valley. It was his misfortune that he had so many excellent reasons, and not one that could stand on its own legs. Each leant a little against the other for support, and they ended by all knocking each other down.

It was on a clear August day that Vincenz again had taken his post of guardian and protector. The party had followed the course of the Djernis until they had come to a ruined watch-house, which marked the borders of Roumania on this side.

The season had reached its climax, and had passed it. Though the change was scarcely noticeable, yet the short-lived summer glory of the Hercules Baths was slowly declining. Autumn, with its tints, was stealing over the world, "with his gold hand gilding the falling leaf." The mornings were keen and the evenings fresh already. The green brambles in the hedges were turning black; and along the path beside the Djernis, and on the rocks by the mountain-foot, and over the ruin of the old watch-tower by the border, the wild grapes hung in bunches, slowly ripening in the sun.

Gretchen, with Tolnay by her side, had been gathering the tiny fruit, and now made a step towards a luxuriant cluster which hung from the branch of a neighbouring tree.

"Stop, Fräulein!" said the Bohemian, running to her side – "stop, for heaven's sake! You dare not go a step further than this!"