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must be his good or his evil genius。
At first； and perhaps to the last； I pitied him exceedingly。 But
my pity soon ceased to be mingled with respect。 Before the arrival
of Mr。 Wyndham he had shown himself generous； indeed magnanimous。
But never was there so painful an overthrow of a noble nature as
manifested itself in him。 I believe that he had not himself
suspected the strength of his passion； and the sole resource for
him； as I said often； was to quit the cityto engage in active
pursuits of enterprise； of ambition； or of science。 But he heard
me as a somnambulist might have heard medreaming with his eyes
open。 Sometimes he had fits of reverie； starting； fearful；
agitated； sometimes he broke out into maniacal movements of wrath；
invoking some absent person； praying； beseeching； menacing some
air…wove phantom； sometimes he slunk into solitary corners；
muttering to himself； and with gestures sorrowfully significant； or
with tones and fragments of expostulation that moved the most
callous to compassion。 Still he turned a deaf ear to the only
practical counsel that had a chance for reaching his ears。 Like a
bird under the fascination of a rattlesnake； he would not summon up
the energies of his nature to make an effort at flying away。
〃Begone； while it is time！〃 said others； as well as myself； for
more than I saw enough to fear some fearful catastrophe。 〃Lead us
not into temptation！〃 said his confessor to him in my hearing （for；
though Prussians； the Von Harrelsteins were Roman Catholics）； 〃lead
us not into temptation！that is our daily prayer to God。 Then； my
son； being led into temptation； do not you persist in courting；
nay； almost tempting temptation。 Try the effects of absence；
though but for a month。〃 The good father even made an overture
toward imposing a penance upon him； that would have involved an
absence of some duration。 But he was obliged to desist； for he saw
that； without effecting any good； he would merely add spiritual
disobedience to the other offenses of the young man。 Ferdinand
himself drew his attention to THIS； for he said： 〃Reverend father！
do not you； with the purpose of removing me from temptation； be
yourself the instrument for tempting me into a rebellion against
the church。 Do not you weave snares about my steps； snares there
are already； and but too many。〃 The old man sighed； and desisted。
Then cameBut enough！ From pity； from sympathy； from counsel； and
from consolation； and from scornfrom each of these alike the poor
stricken deer 〃recoiled into the wilderness；〃 he fled for days
together into solitary parts of the forest； fled； as I still hoped
and prayed； in good earnest and for a long farewell； but； alas！ no：
still he returned to the haunts of his ruined happiness and his
buried hopes； at each return looking more like the wreck of his
former self； and once I heard a penetrating monk observe； whose
convent stood near the city gates： 〃There goes one ready equally
for doing or suffering； and of whom we shall soon hear that he is
involved in some great catastropheit may be of deep calamityit
may be of memorable guilt。〃
So stood matters among us。 January was drawing to its close； the
weather was growing more and more winterly； high winds； piercingly
cold； were raving through our narrow streets； and still the spirit
of social festivity bade defiance to the storms which sang through
our ancient forests。 From the accident of our magistracy being
selected from the tradesmen of the city； the hospitalities of the
place were far more extensive than would otherwise have happened；
for every member of the corporation gave two annual entertainments
in his official character。 And such was the rivalship which
prevailed； that often one quarter of the year's income was spent
upon these galas。 Nor was any ridicule thus incurred； for the
costliness of the entertainment was understood to be an expression
of OFFICIAL pride； done in honor of the city； not as an effort of
personal display。 It followed； from the spirit in which these
half…yearly dances originated； that； being given on the part of the
city； every stranger of rank was marked out as a privileged guest；
and the hospitality of the community would have been equally
affronted by failing to offer or by failing to accept the
invitation。
Hence it had happened that the Russian guardsman had been
introduced into many a family which otherwise could not have hoped
for such a distinction。 Upon the evening at which I am now
arrived； the twenty…second of January； 1816； the whole city； in its
wealthier classes； was assembled beneath the roof of a tradesman
who had the heart of a prince。 In every point our entertainment
was superb； and I remarked that the music was the finest I had
heard for years。 Our host was in joyous spirits； proud to survey
the splendid company he had gathered under his roof； happy to
witness their happiness； elated in their elation。 Joyous was the
dancejoyous were all faces that I sawup to midnight； very soon
after which time supper was announced； and that also； I think； was
the most joyous of all the banquets I ever witnessed。 The
accomplished guardsman outshone himself in brilliancy； even his
melancholy relaxed。 In fact； how could it be otherwise？ near to
him sat Margaret Liebenheimhanging upon his wordsmore lustrous
and bewitching than ever I had beheld her。 There she had been
placed by the host； and everybody knew why。 That is one of the
luxuries attached to love； all men cede their places with pleasure；
women make way。 Even she herself knew； though not obliged to know；
why she was seated in that neighborhood； and took her place； if
with a rosy suffusion upon her cheeks； yet with fullness of
happiness at her heart。
The guardsman pressed forward to claim Miss Liebenheim's hand for
the next dance； a movement which she was quick to favor； by
retreating behind one or two parties from a person who seemed
coming toward her。 The music again began to pour its voluptuous
tides through the bounding pulses of the youthful company； again
the flying feet of the dancers began to respond to the measures；
again the mounting spirit of delight began to fill the sails of the
hurrying night with steady inspiration。 All went happily。 Already
had one dance finished； some were pacing up and down； leaning on
the arms of their partners； some were reposing from their
exertions； whenO heavens！ what a shriek！ what a gathering tumult！
Every eye was bent toward the doorsevery eye strained forward to
discover what was passing。 But there； every moment； less and less
could be seen； for the gathering crowd more and more intercepted
the view；so much the more was the ear at leisure for the shrieks
redoubled upon shrieks。 Miss Liebenheim had moved downward to the
crowd。 From her superior height she overlooked all the ladies at
the point where she stood。 In the center stood a rustic girl；
whose features had