Chapter 7 - Page 2

enterprise."

"What, Gräuben, won't you dissuade me from such an undertaking?"

"No, my dear Axel, and I would willingly go with you, but that a poorgirl would only be in your way."

"Is that quite true?"

"It is true."

Ah! women and young girls, how incomprehensible are your femininehearts! When you are not the timidest, you are the bravest ofcreatures. Reason has nothing to do with your actions. What! did thischild encourage me in such an expedition! Would she not be afraid tojoin it herself? And she was driving me to it, one whom she loved!

I was disconcerted, and, if I must tell the whole truth, I wasashamed.

"Gräuben, we will see whether you will say the same thing tomorrow."

"To-morrow, dear Axel, I will say what I say to-day."

Gräuben and I, hand in hand, but in silence, pursued our way. Theemotions of that day were breaking my heart.

After all, I thought, the kalends of July are a long way off, andbetween this and then many things may take place which will cure myuncle of his desire to travel underground.

It was night when we arrived at the house in Königstrasse. I expectedto find all quiet there, my uncle in bed as was his custom, andMartha giving her last touches with the feather brush.

But I had not taken into account the Professor's impatience. I foundhim shouting- and working himself up amidst a crowd of porters andmessengers who were all depositing various loads in the passage. Ourold servant was at her wits' end.

"Come, Axel, come, you miserable wretch," my uncle cried from as faroff as he could see me. "Your boxes are not packed, and my papers arenot arranged; where's the key of my carpet bag? and what have youdone with my gaiters?"

I stood thunderstruck. My voice failed. Scarcely could my lips utterthe words:

"Are we really going?"

"Of course, you unhappy boy! Could I have dreamed that yon would havegone out for a walk instead of hurrying your preparations forward?"

"Are we to go?" I asked again, with sinking hopes.

"Yes; the day after to-morrow, early."

I could hear no more. I fled for refuge into my own little room.

All hope was now at an end. My uncle had been all the morning makingpurchases of a part of the tools and apparatus required for thisdesperate undertaking. The passage was encumbered with rope ladders,knotted cords, torches, flasks, grappling irons, alpenstocks,pickaxes, iron shod sticks, enough to load ten men.

I spent an awful night. Next morning I was called early. I had quitedecided I would not open the door. But how was I to resist the sweetvoice which was always music to my ears, saying, "My dear Axel?"

I came out of my room. I thought my pale countenance and my red andsleepless eyes would work upon Gräuben's sympathies and change hermind.