"Anselmus," said the
Spirit-prince, "not thou, but a hostile Principle, which strove
destructively to penetrate into thy nature and divide thee
against thyself, was to blame for thy unbelief. Thou hast kept thy
faithfulness; be free and happy." A bright flash quivered through the
spirit of Anselmus; the royal triphony of the crystal bells sounded
stronger and louder than he had ever heard it; his nerves and fibres
thrilled; but, swelling higher and higher, the melodious tones rang
through the room; the glass which inclosed Anselmus broke; and he
rushed into the arms of his dear and gentle Serpentina.
ELEVENTH VIGIL
Conrector Paulmann's anger at the madness which had broken out in
his Family. How Registrator Heerbrand became Hofrat; and, in the
keenest Frost, walked about in Shoes and silk Stockings. Veronica's
Confessions. Betrothment over the steaming Soup-dish.
"But tell me, best Registrator, how the cursed punch last night could
so mount into our heads, and drive us to all manner of _allotria_?"
So said Conrector Paulmann, as he next morning entered his room,
which still lay full of broken sherds, and in whose midst his hapless
peruke, dissolved into its original elements, was floating in the
punch-bowl. After the student Anselmus ran out of doors, Conrector
Paulmann and Registrator Heerbrand had still kept trotting and
hobbling up and down the room, shouting like maniacs, and butting
their heads together; till Fraenzchen, with much labor, carried her
vertiginous papa to bed, and Registrator Heerbrand, in the deepest
exhaustion, sank on the sofa, which Veronica had left, taking refuge
in her bedroom.
Pages:
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570