🧚 A Historical Tale., part 2

Henry had no sympathy for prayers and church-going, neglected his pale, youthful wife, seldom visiting the wing of the gloomy old castle she occupied except when etiquette demanded his presence.1

In this deplorable state of things Eva von Trotta appeared at Court.2 She stood in the courtyard by her father's war-horse to take leave of him, promised to be good, which promise she fully intended to keep; the stern old soldier kissed her, sprang on his horse, brushed away a tear which defied all his iron firmness, stormed over the drawbridge, and never saw his fair child again.3

Suddenly it began to be reported at Court that Henry had bridged over the cleft between himself and his high-born wife.4 He was seen every evening at her side in the stone balcony, whence they could look down into the courtyard and witness the sports of the courtiers and the drilling of steeds, and his conjugal attentions were most edifying to witness; while the new maid of honour Eva stood behind the seat of her ducal mistress, a picture of bewildering loveliness.5

But the Court did not permit itself long to be deceived by the royal hypocrite.6 It was not the pale, pious Duchess who had so suddenly fascinated Henry, but the maid of honour, radiant in black Genoa velvet and silver spangles, into whose clear blue eyes Henry's brown ones looked so willingly.7

It soon became perfectly well known to Henry when Eva was on duty in the antechamber of the Duchess, and half-hidden by the heavy hangings of the deep windows, he chatted with her by the hour, and no favourite maid dared tell her royal mistress who entertained the lady-in-waiting while she sat alone.8

At last, one day, the Mistress of the Robes, who had more than once reproved Eva for frivolity, and whose curiosity had got the better of her dignity, listens and hears Henry ask Eva to meet him in the evening at ten o'clock in the linden allée for a walk to the arbour at the end of it, and the thoughtless girl consents.9 At the same time she sees Henry present her with a watch and his portrait.10

Horrified, she at once informs the Duchess of this proposed rendezvous, and persuades her to accompany her in disguise to the arbour at the appointed hour, where, concealed behind the thick foliage, she might learn what was best to be done.11

Later on this same day Eva sat alone in her boudoir gazing at the portrait, an exquisite enamel set in diamonds.12 It was a beautiful chamber, adorned with frescoes and paintings, mirror panellings, books, and flowers.13

Opposite where Eva was sitting hung a life-size portrait of Duke Henry the Lion in tapestry.14 The old nurse Magda had just left her beloved young mistress, and Eva held the portrait in her hand, while a tumult of emotions shook her heart.15

She was interrupted by a knock, and slipped the portrait hastily out of sight.16 It was her foster-sister Alice, who was her favourite maid.17

"Why do you disturb me at this hour, Alice?" inquired her mistress, who struggled to conceal her emotion. "18 You know I am in the habit of spending this hour alone."19

"Pardon, gracious lady, but I have something to tell you which admits of no delay," replied Alice, who had caught a glimpse of the portrait, and noticed the agitation of her mistress. "20 I wish to leave the Court.21 It is my wish to enter the convent of Gandersheim.22 I intend to become a nun."23

"Become a nun!24 When did that insane idea enter your head?"25

"I am weary of the Court.26 I am unhappy here.27 Let me go."28

Alice did not tell her of the Court gossip she had overheard, and that grief and pain drove her to the convent.29

"Magda will not leave me, Alice; why will you?30 Stay with me.31 You knew my dear mamma; you are nearly of my own age; I should miss you sadly."32

"No, I have determined to take the veil; it is my calling.33 Let me go:"34

Eva sighed, and replied, rising and laying her hand on Alice's shoulder, at the same time glancing nervously at the portrait of Henry the Lion, "I am not happy either, dear Alice.35 Oh!36 I wish I had never left my uncle's castle, and the protection of my brothers.37 Why was I doomed to lose my mother?38 You seem to me more like a friend than a servant, Alice; how can I do without you, my foster-sister?"39

Again Eva paused and listened.40 Suddenly the portrait of Henry the Lion advanced into the room, and Duke Henry stood in the opening it had left in the wall.41 Eva flushed, turned pale, and stood in confusion, while Alice looked on in bewildered amazement.42 But Henry said carelessly, "The Duchess is coming, Fräulein von Trotta; I am only a minute in advance."43

Alice saluted and retired, muttering to herself, "It is true, then, and worse than I thought.44 A secret door.45 And what does that portrait mean?46 I wonder if mother knows all this?"47

The following day Alice departed for the convent.48

The castle clock was ringing ten when two muffled figures stole through a postern gate of the garden wall behind it into the park, and, concealed by the darkness, hastened through by-paths to the lime-tree arbour.49 Here they waited some time, when at last steps and voices were heard approaching through the lime-tree avenue.50

Eva was saying, "Do not ask me to stay at Court, Henry.51 I cannot, I must go at once.52 The courtiers are talking; Alice insists on leaving me; I know it is out of sorrow she condemns me who am so far innocent.53 Think of my youth--I am only sixteen.54 My mother is dead, my father absent.55 Oh, I cannot deceive the Duchess.56 She has been so kind to me, and she is so good.57 I shall return your presents, which I should never have accepted, and go back to my uncle's little castle."58

"And forsake me, and leave me to loneliness and wretchedness?59 Oh Eva! pity me and remain."60

"And bring disgrace and misery and ruin upon you and myself, and anguish to the Duchess?61 Maria's royal father is all-powerful with the Kaiser, who would betray you to the Pope, and you would be excommunicated.62 I do love you, Henry--but--it is too late.63 If we had met earlier, we might have belonged to each other.64 I would live shut out from the world for ever for you, and you alone, and, safe from disturbance and discovery, would be happy."65

"How very noble and self-sacrificing we would be!" exclaimed the Duchess, coming forward from her concealment. "66 And such is my reward for my affection bestowed upon a motherless maiden!67 To such a shameful conversation must I listen between her and my husband.68 But I have the power to punish you both, and I will use it;" and the Duchess and her attendant speedily disappeared in the darkness.69

The storm had broken upon them.70 The two figures stood in the arbour, motionless as marble, while Maria hastened to send messengers immediately to her father and other princes, acquainting them of Henry's perfidy.71

But Eva at bay seems suddenly to have changed her character.72 She forgets her former scruples, and with a single move checkmates her rival, but at what a cost!73 She proposes perhaps the most extraordinary plan that ever entered a human brain, and all the more astounding as coming from a girl of sixteen.74

"What is to become of me?" at last exclaimed Eva, starting from the stupor of terror the sudden appearance of the Duchess had caused. "75 There is not a place where I can go where disgrace and shame will not follow me."76