recommended as they were by a personal beauty so rare； was somewhat
too potent for the comfort and self…possession of ordinary people；
and really exceeded in a painful degree the standard of pretensions
under which such people could feel themselves at their ease。 He
was not naturally of a reserved turn； far from it。 His disposition
had been open； frank； and confiding； originally； and his roving；
adventurous life； of which considerably more than one half had been
passed in camps； had communicated to his manners a more than
military frankness。 But the profound melancholy which possessed
him； from whatever cause it arose； necessarily chilled the native
freedom of his demeanor； unless when it was revived by strength of
friendship or of love。 The effect was awkward and embarrassing to
all parties。 Every voice paused or faltered when he entered a
roomdead silence ensuednot an eye but was directed upon him； or
else； sunk in timidity； settled upon the floor； and young ladies
seriously lost the power； for a time； of doing more than murmuring
a few confused； half…inarticulate syllables； or half…inarticulate
sounds。 The solemnity； in fact； of a first presentation； and the
utter impossibility of soon recovering a free； unembarrassed
movement of conversation； made such scenes really distressing to
all who participated in them； either as actors or spectators。
Certainly this result was not a pure effect of manly beauty；
however heroic； and in whatever excess； it arose in part from the
many and extraordinary endowments which had centered in his person；
not less from fortune than from nature； in part also； as I have
said； from the profound sadness and freezing gravity of Mr。
Wyndham's manner； but still more from the perplexing mystery which
surrounded that sadness。
Were there； then； no exceptions to this condition of awestruck
admiration？ Yes； one at least there was in whose bosom the spell
of all…conquering passion soon thawed every trace of icy reserve。
While the rest of the world retained a dim sentiment of awe toward
Mr。 Wyndham； Margaret Liebenheim only heard of such a feeling to
wonder that it could exist toward HIM。 Never was there so
victorious a conquest interchanged between two youthful hearts
never before such a rapture of instantaneous sympathy。 I did not
witness the first meeting of this mysterious Maximilian and this
magnificent Margaret； and do not know whether Margaret manifested
that trepidation and embarrassment which distressed so many of her
youthful co…rivals； but； if she did； it must have fled before the
first glance of the young man's eye； which would interpret； past
all misunderstanding； the homage of his soul and the surrender of
his heart。 Their third meeting I DID see； and there all shadow of
embarrassment had vanished； except； indeed； of that delicate
embarrassment which clings to impassioned admiration。 On the part
of Margaret； it seemed as if a new world had dawned upon her that
she had not so much as suspected among the capacities of human
experience。 Like some bird she seemed； with powers unexercised for
soaring and flying； not understood even as yet； and that never
until now had found an element of air capable of sustaining her
wings； or tempting her to put forth her buoyant instincts。 He； on
the other hand； now first found the realization of his dreams； and
for a mere possibility which he had long too deeply contemplated；
fearing； however； that in his own case it might prove a chimera； or
that he might never meet a woman answering the demands of his
heart； he now found a corresponding reality that left nothing to
seek。
Here； then； and thus far； nothing but happiness had resulted from
the new arrangement。 But； if this had been little anticipated by
many； far less had I； for my part； anticipated the unhappy
revolution which was wrought in the whole nature of Ferdinand von
Harrelstein。 He was the son of a German baron； a man of good
family； but of small estate who had been pretty nearly a soldier of
fortune in the Prussian service； and had； late in life； won
sufficient favor with the king and other military superiors； to
have an early prospect of obtaining a commission； under flattering
auspices； for this only sona son endeared to him as the companion
of unprosperous years； and as a dutifully affectionate child。
Ferdinand had yet another hold upon his father's affections： his
features preserved to the baron's unclouded remembrance a most
faithful and living memorial of that angelic wife who had died in
giving birth to this third childthe only one who had long
survived her。 Anxious that his son should go through a regular
course of mathematical instruction； now becoming annually more
important in all the artillery services throughout Europe； and that
he should receive a tincture of other liberal studies which he had
painfully missed in his own military career； the baron chose to
keep his son for the last seven years at our college； until he was
now entering upon his twenty…third year。 For the four last he had
lived with me as the sole pupil whom I had； or meant to have； had
not the brilliant proposals of the young Russian guardsman
persuaded me to break my resolution。 Ferdinand von Harrelstein had
good talents； not dazzling but respectable； and so amiable were his
temper and manners that I had introduced him everywhere； and
everywhere he was a favorite； and everywhere； indeed； except
exactly there where only in this world he cared for favor。
Margaret Liebenheim； she it was whom he loved； and had loved for
years； with the whole ardor of his ardent soul； she it was for
whom； or at whose command； he would willingly have died。 Early he
had felt that in her hands lay his destiny； that she it was who
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 di