Page:Tales by Musæus, Tieck, Richter, Volume 2.djvu/37

Rh other guest into your house, which, in truth, is full enough already.”

“You are aware yourself,” replied the mother, “that extensive as it is, I could scarcely find another chamber.”

“Notwithstanding, I have partly managed it already,” cried Leopold; “I have had the large apartment furbished up.”

“Why, that is quite a miserable place,” replied the mother; “for many years it has been nothing but a lumber-room.”

“But it is splendidly repaired,” said Leopold; “and our friend, for whom it is intended, does not mind such matters, he desires nothing but our love. Besides, he has no wife, and likes to be alone; it is the very place for him. We have had enough of trouble in persuading him to come, and show himself again among his fellow-creatures.”

“Not your dismal conjuror and gold-maker, certainly?” cried Agatha.

“No other,” said the bridegroom, “if you will still call him so.”

“Then do not let him, mother,” said the sister. “What should a man like that do here? I have seen him on the street with Leopold, and I was positively frightened at his face. The old sinner, too, almost never goes to church; he loves neither God nor man; and it cannot come to good to bring such infidels under the roof, on a solemnity like this. Who knows what may be the consequence!”

“To hear her talk!” said Leopold, in anger. “Thou condemnest without knowing him; and because the cut of his nose does not please thee, and he is no longer young and handsome, thou concludest him a wizard, and a servant of the Devil.”

“Grant a place in your house, dear mother,” said the bridegroom, “to our old friend, and let him take a part in our general joy. He seems, my dear Agatha, to have endured much suffering, which has rendered him distrustful and misanthropic; he avoids all society, his only exceptions are Leopold and myself. I owe him much; it was he that first gave my mind a good direction; nay, I may say, it is he alone that has rendered me perhaps worthy of my Julia’s love.”

“He lends me all his books,” continued Leopold; “and,