Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 6.djvu/182

156 Husband and wife made a circumstantial confession; but scarcely had he caught the substance of the matter, when he started angrily up from the table, rushed out of the saloon, and ordered his horse to be saddled instantly.

"Either you do not know me, you do not understand me," he cried, "or you are sorely mischievous. Do you call this a quarrel? Is there any want of help here? Do you suppose that I am in the world to give advice? Of all occupations which man can pursue, that is the most foolish. Every man must be his own counsellor, and do what he cannot let alone. If all go well, let him be happy, let him enjoy his wisdom and his fortune; if it go ill, I am at hand to do what I can for him. The man who desires to be rid of an evil, knows what he wants; but the man who desires something better than he has is stone-blind. Yes, yes, laugh as you will, he is playing blindman's-buff: perhaps he gets hold of something; but the question is, what he has got hold of. Do as you will: it is all one. Invite your friends to you, or let them be: it is all the same. The most prudent plans I have seen miscarry, and the most foolish succeed. Don't split your brains about it: and if, one way or the other, evil comes of what you settle, don't fret: send for me, and you shall be helped. Till which time I am your humble servant."

So saying, he sprang on his horse, without waiting the arrival of the coffee.

"Here you see," said Charlotte, "the small service a third person can be when things are off their balance between two persons closely connected: we are left, if possible, more confused and more uncertain than we were."

They would both probably have continued hesitating some time longer, had not a letter arrived from the captain in reply to Edward's last. He had made up