The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 02: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
General
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 02: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
German literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English; German literature -- 20th century -- Translations into English
The most remarkable feature, however, which was observed about Ottilie
was that, for the first time, she had now unpacked the box, and had
selected a variety of things out of it, which she had cut up, and which
were intended evidently to make one complete suit for her. The rest,
with Nanny's assistance, she had endeavored to replace again, and she
had been hardly able to get it done, the space being over full, although
a portion had been taken out. The covetous little Nanny could never
satisfy herself with looking at all the pretty things, especially as she
found provision made there for every article of dress which could be
wanted, even the smallest. Numbers of shoes and stockings, garters with
devices on them, gloves, and various other things were left, and she
begged Ottilie just to give her one or two of them. Ottilie refused to
do that, but opened a drawer in her wardrobe, and told the girl to take
what she liked. The latter hastily and awkwardly dashed in her hand and
seized what she could, running off at once with her booty, to show it
off and display her good fortune among the rest of the servants.
At last Ottilie succeeded in packing everything carefully into its
place. She then opened a secret compartment which was contrived in the
lid, where she kept a number of notes and letters from Edward, many
dried flowers, the mementos of their early walks together, a lock of his
hair, and various other little matters. She now added one more to them,
her father's portrait, and then locked it all up, and hung the delicate
key by a gold chain about her neck, against her heart.
In the meantime, her friends had now in their hearts begun to entertain
the best hopes for her. Charlotte was convinced that she would one day
begin to speak again. She had latterly seen signs about her which
implied that she was engaged in secret about something; a look of
cheerful self-satisfaction, a smile like that which hangs about the face
of persons who have something pleasant and delightful which they are
keeping concealed from those whom they love. No one knew that she spent
many hours in extreme exhaustion, and that only at rare intervals, when
she appeared in public through the power of her will, she was able to
rouse herself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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