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quite a hanging garden； in which wild raspberries and hart's…tongue
ferns throve； and even a little mistletoe had taken root； and grew
gracefully in the old willow branches； which were reflected in the
dark water beneath when the wind blew the chickweed into the corner of
the pool。 A footpath which led across the fields passed close by the
old tree。 High up； on the woody hillside； stood the new mansion。 It
had a splendid view； and was large and magnificent； its window panes
were so clear that one might have thought there were none there at
all。 The large flight of steps which led to the entrance looked like a
bower covered with roses and broad…leaved plants。 The lawn was as
green as if each blade of grass was cleaned separately morning and
evening。 Inside； in the hall； valuable oil paintings were hanging on
the walls。 Here stood chairs and sofas covered with silk and velvet；
which could be easily rolled about on castors； there were tables
with polished marble tops； and books bound in morocco with gilt edges。
Indeed； well…to…do and distinguished people lived here； it was the
dwelling of the baron and his family。 Each article was in keeping with
its surroundings。 〃Everything in the right place〃 was the motto
according to which they also acted here； and therefore all the
paintings which had once been the honour and glory of the old
mansion were now hung up in the passage which led to the servants'
rooms。 It was all old lumber； especially two portraits… one
representing a man in a scarlet coat with a wig； and the other a
lady with powdered and curled hair holding a rose in her hand； each of
them being surrounded by a large wreath of willow branches。 Both
portraits had many holes in them； because the baron's sons used the
two old people as targets for their crossbows。 They represented the
counsellor and his wife； from whom the whole family descended。 〃But
they did not properly belong to our family；〃 said one of the boys； 〃he
was a pedlar and she kept the geese。 They were not like papa and
mamma。〃 The portraits were old lumber； and 〃everything in its right
place。〃 That was why the great…grandparents had been hung up in the
passage leading to the servants' rooms。
The son of the village pastor was tutor at the mansion。 One day he
went for a walk across the fields with his young pupils and their
elder sister； who had lately been confirmed。 They walked along the
road which passed by the old willow tree； and while they were on the
road she picked a bunch of field…flowers。 〃Everything in the right
place；〃 and indeed the bunch looked very beautiful。 At the same time
she listened to all that was said； and she very much liked to hear the
pastor's son speak about the elements and of the great men and women
in history。 She had a healthy mind； noble in thought and deed； and
with a heart full of love for everything that God had created。 They
stopped at the old willow tree； as the youngest of the baron's sons
wished very much to have a flute from it； such as had been cut for him
from other willow trees； the pastor's son broke a branch off。 〃Oh；
pray do not do it！〃 said the young lady； but it was already done。
〃That is our famous old tree。 I love it very much。 They often laugh at
me at home about it； but that does not matter。 There is a story
attached to this tree。〃 And now she told him all that we already
know about the tree… the old mansion； the pedlar and the goose…girl
who had met there for the first time； and had become the ancestors
of the noble family to which the young lady belonged。
〃They did not like to be knighted； the good old people；〃 she said；
〃their motto was 'everything in the right place；' and it would not
be right； they thought； to purchase a title for money。 My grandfather；
the first baron； was their son。 They say he was a very learned man；
a great favourite with the princes and princesses； and was invited
to all court festivities。 The others at home love him best； but； I
do not know why； there seemed to me to be something about the old
couple that attracts my heart！ How homely； how patriarchal； it must
have been in the old mansion； where the mistress sat at the
spinning…wheel with her maids； while her husband read aloud out of the
Bible！〃
〃They must have been excellent； sensible people；〃 said the
pastor's son。 And with this the conversation turned naturally to
noblemen and commoners； from the manner in which the tutor spoke about
the significance of being noble； it seemed almost as if he did not
belong to a commoner's family。
〃It is good fortune to be of a family who have distinguished
themselves； and to possess as it were a spur in oneself to advance
to all that is good。 It is a splendid thing to belong to a noble
family； whose name serves as a card of admission to the highest
circles。 Nobility is a distinction； it is a gold coin that bears the
stamp of its own value。 It is the fallacy of the time； and many
poets express it； to say that all that is noble is bad and stupid； and
that； on the contrary； the lower one goes among the poor； the more
brilliant virtues one finds。 I do not share this opinion； for it is
wrong。 In the upper classes one sees many touchingly beautiful traits；
my own mother has told me of such； and I could mention several。 One
day she was visiting a nobleman's house in town； my grandmother； I
believe； had been the lady's nurse when she was a child。 My mother and
the nobleman were alone in the room； when he suddenly noticed an old
woman on crutches come limping into the courtyard； she came every
Sunday to carry a gift away with her。
〃'There is the poor old woman；' said the nobleman； 'it is so
difficult for her to walk。'
〃My mother had hardly understood what he said before he
disappeared from the room； and went downstairs； in order to save her
the troublesome walk for the gift she came to fetch。 Of course this is
only a little incident； but it has its good sound like the poor
widow's two mites in the Bible； the sound which echoes in the depth of
every human heart； and this is what the poet ought to show and point
out… more especially in our own time he ought to sing of this； it does
good； it mitigates and reconciles！ But when a man； simply because he
is of noble birth and possesses a genealogy； stands on his hind legs
and neighs in the street like an Arabian horse； and says when a
commoner has been in a room： 'Some people from the street have been
here；' there nobility is decaying； it has become a mask of the kind
that Thespis created； and it is amusing when such a person is
exposed in satire。〃
Such was the tutor's speech； it was a little long； but while he
delivered it he had finished cutting the flute。
There was a large party at the mansion； many guests from the
neighbourhood and from the capital had arrived。 There were ladies with
tasteful and with tasteless dresses； the big hall was quite crowded
with people。 The clergymen stood humbly together in a corner； and
looked as if they were preparing for a funeral； but it was a festival…
only the amusement had not yet begun