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Villa Eden Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Villa Eden novel. A total of 236 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Villa Eden.by Berthold Auerbach.BOOK I.CHAPTER I.THE APPARITION."Be patient a few:
Villa Eden.by Berthold Auerbach.BOOK I.CHAPTER I.THE APPARITION."Be patient a few: minutes longer! There's a man beckoning to go with us," said the boatman to his pa.s.sengers, two women and one man. The man was gray-haired, of slender form
- 236 Is not the quiet communion with one's self, which is our most precious treasure, destroyed or banished by living in such close relations with others?I think that it is not, and only those who pine for rest shall enter the home.I beg you not to consid
- 235 Thy living, loving, beloved son Eric.(Then in Manna's hand-writing:) Don't be alarmed at these unsteady strokes. The physician says that all danger is over, and nothing is needed but absolute rest.Oh, mother! How can I adequately thank the Eternal Spiri
- 234 "Come! come! I did not kill him, he gave the masonic sign--I dared not kill him--he's lying outside there.""Who?""The man--the man."I had great difficulty in getting him to speak the name. It was Sonnenkamp.I took a phys
- 233 We have fought a battle; we have been defeated. Roland has distinguished himself, and been promoted. I have to use all my influence to restrain his daring.The coolness and deliberation of your grand-nephew Hermann are a great help to me.The hardest thing
- 232 Our good Major wants to have a room built in the hot-house, and, next winter, live there all day long among the plants, breathing in their fragrance; then, he a.s.serts, he should live to be a hundred years old.[Claudine to Manna.]If you feel overwhelmed
- 231 Have I already told you that our friend Knopf has found a charming little wife? She is full of intelligence, modesty, and energy. She, too, has had religious conflicts to undergo, as I have, not so severe; but then she has had a hard fight with herself. L
- 230 Oh, what glorious people we Germans are! Wherever we are transplanted, here in the air of freedom especially, we shoot up, and show, for the first time, what we really are.I stood by when Roland and Lilian met; they must have some secret sign of recogniti
- 229 I have not written for five days, and now, mother, the man who is writing to you has been, with his nearest and dearest, in the jaws of death.We have lived through a storm such as our captain, a seaman of three-and-twenty years experience, has never seen
- 228 The glee-club made its appearance with a band of music, and clear songs rang out from the pretty and graceful steamer which now came down the stream. The cannon were fired; the boat stopped; and hurried partings were made. Eric, Manna, and Roland kissed t
- 227 The moon stood over the stream, bathing with trembling light tree and bush, where the buds were gently bursting and the nightingale unweariedly singing. The world was flooded with bliss.For three days they remained alone at the castle, and on the third ev
- 226 "You are to be present too."The Major, having called thither the Banker and Professor Einsiedel, declared his readiness to yield to the instance of his friends, and reside at the Villa, in order to superintend and keep everything in good condition; but
- 225 "You did bravely, young--forgive me--my brother!"On returning to the hall they all rose; and Weidmann, bidding Roland and Eric take Adams's hand, began as follows,-- "Here, while we clasp our dusky brother in our arms, you see what we are! Through the
- 224 One evening, when they were all together at Mattenheim, Weidmann read a letter from Doctor Fritz, in which he described the base league of the so-called Knights of the Golden Circle. A network of their societies extended over all the Southern States, and
- 223 Weidmann paused, adding the remark that Prince Valerian, who was now leaving for his native land, would there find a similar state of transition.The last remark was lost upon Manna, who said to Eric in an undertone,-- "Oh, our father! Do you not think th
- 222 "On the one hand, you deny the operation of eternal laws; on the other, you fear it. Now look at these ma.s.ses of ice in the river. Do you care to learn something of that immeasurable and all-pervading wisdom which interrupts the laws of Nature when the
- 221 Weidmann, on the other hand, revealed them in their simple, natural aspect. He introduced method into Roland's thought, life, and work; for, thus far, the latter had been too unstable, even in spiritual things. He gave Roland a course of lessons in agric
- 220 The next day, Eric went back to Villa Eden, and announced to Manna and his mother his own intention of removing to Mattenheim.A strange conflict ensued in Manna's breast; but, as she made no allusion to it, Eric thought it right to respect her reserve.Th
- 219 But who would have guessed that the covetousness of the Cabinetsrathen would be first discussed as a kind of appetizing morsel! This was the way with great people. Of course, one could get clothes from Paris by such machinations. A magnificent system of b
- 218 The Banker's daughter-in-law, a lady of n.o.ble bearing, treated Eric and Roland with marked cordiality, and expressed a great desire to become acquainted with the Professorin and Manna.Eric was surprised at being reminded of an incident that had almost
- 217 There was a pause in which no one stirred, and the Priest resumed,-- "I have spoken, I have warned, I have called as I was forced to, and because I was forced. I appeal to thee whose mortal frame we are here consigning to the earth, speak to thy children
- 216 "Oh, no! What seems eccentric to others appears to me the only natural and consistent course, Bella could not have acted otherwise than she has: this very step was a part of her heroism. Your son can tell you that I suspected something of this sort b
- 215 The notary now came from the adjoining room. Eric and Weidmann returned, and signed a receipt for the whole amount.Eric now learned for the first time that Roland had insisted on Adams being brought. Knopf said in an aside to Eric, that he might be proud
- 214 "Is he alone?""No.""That, too, must we have to bear!""Does your mother know?""She only knows that father has fled; and she keeps crying, 'Henry, Henry, come back!' For hours, she has kept saying those
- 213 Suddenly the cry was raised,-- "Hurrah! here comes the story-teller."Eric recognized the man who had been a great favorite with all ever since he had spent his first night in the city, at the Doctor's house.He had one of those faces, red wi
- 212 "O Bella! n.o.ble soul, alone great among women, cast away all these European casuistries; with a single step put this whole, old-maidish Europe behind you!"A still longer pause followed: there was no sound but the screaming of the parrot."
- 211 CHAPTER XVI.AWAY UNDER FIERY RAIN!A damp, autumnal fog penetrated Clodwig's sick-room through the open windows, and lay in drops on the brow of the statue of Victory.Still and desolate it was at Wolfsgarten: even Pranken had gone.Bella sat in her roo
- 210 "When you drive to Wolfsgarten again, take me with you."Manna begged Eric to rest; but Eric saw that there was no rest for him, for he received very soon a note from Bella by a messenger, in which were these words, written in great haste,-- &quo
- 209 MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD OF A DYING SEER.Clodwig slept several hours, while Eric sat with the Banker, and drew refreshment from his self-forgetting sympathy. The Banker failed in many of the ordinary forms of society; but he possessed a nature full of tact,
- 208 She gave Eric her hand, and it was cold as ice. The three were speechless for some time, until Eric asked,-- "Is there no hope?""No. The Doctor says that he has probably only a few hours to live. Do you hear any thing? The Doctor has promis
- 207 A tornado swept through the park, eddying around the house; and the fires just kindled in it were extinguished. The many fire-places were of no avail, the whole house was full of smoke; and a whirling gust of wind seemed to tear all the inmates of Villa E
- 206 He rode to the Priest's, and sent for Fraulein Perini, who came.First he asked her if she wished to remain any longer in the family.Fraulein Perini, looking him full in the face, declared that she hoped she had not mistaken him in supposing that he w
- 205 And then she added:-- "Very well, let him take me up here."The carriage drove up; and Bella seated herself by Clodwig's side without his getting out: he sat s.h.i.+vering in one corner."Why do you not ask how I am?" said he, in a
- 204 Clodwig whispered to Eric,-- "Cain slew his brother: the Cain of today sells his brother."CHAPTER IX.CONSULTATION OF THE MEN, AND A WOMAN'S VERDICT.Who could describe the various changes of expression in the features of the judges during So
- 203 CHAPTER VIII.THE NEW CAIN.After the men had a.s.sembled, Eric knocked at the door, according to a pre-concerted arrangement; and, as it opened, Sonnenkamp came forward.A bluish pallor rested on his countenance, as he stepped up to the little table where t
- 202 "Indeed? Then you expect still to be believed? Yes, fine, n.o.ble, good, magnanimous man, I possess a great deal, but not what you ask,--faith in you. I had this faith once, it was my last illusion. I don't swear it; but I know that it's my
- 201 Sonnenkamp supported himself by grasping the table. A vertigo seemed to seize him, and he cried,-- "Do you hear, Manna? Do you hear? And will you reject such a n.o.bleman?Revoke your decision, my child; I will implore you on my knees. See, how perver
- 200 "Will you allow me to send for the Priest?""Certainly, I will bring him myself.""No! Remain here."He gave through the speaking-tube an order that the Priest should be requested to come to him; then, turning again to Pranken,
- 199 "No.""Nothing at all? Did she speak of no member of this household?""Oh! yes. Of the children.""Indeed! Of the children? Well, I thank you. Pleasant dreams."Eric went to his chamber. He stood long at the window, gaz
- 198 CHAPTER V.ACQUIESCENCE AND RELUCTANCE.It was already night when Eric reached Mattenheim. The Weidmann family had entered their winter residence, as they called the beautiful, bright rooms on the upper story of their house, with pictures on the walls, and
- 197 "Poor man! Poor man!" he repeated, over and over again, "He was not open with me; but then, neither was she. I do not take it ill of him.She was not so either: it was the first time in her life. She"--this was of course, Fraulein Milch
- 196 "Rise," said the Superior severely. "We suffer no vehemence here. It is to be hoped you yet remember this. Have you been in the church?""No," said Manna, rising.It was long ere the Superior spoke. She probably-expected Manna
- 195 "Because he is understood as a matter of course, and also the Priest,"replied Sonnenkamp.Eric named, besides, Prince Valerian, the Banker, and Knopf. The number was full.Sonnenkamp urged that not an hour should be lost, and Eric ordered a horse
- 194 Sonnenkamp's countenance relaxed. It was nothing after all. This woman seemed in truth n.o.ble and pure; for she was not so prudent, no one could be so prudent, as to a.s.sume forthwith such a mask of virtue. He was not a little astonished, however,
- 193 "I must recover my composure; for I alone can help myself.""Thou alone?" he asked again, and his thoughts pa.s.sed to Bella. There is a woman such as he has never found before. There is courage, power, genius. But in what can even she
- 192 BOOK XIII.CHAPTER I.OBLITERATED TRACES.The gardeners raked smooth the footpaths: they bound up the down-trodden shrubs again, removing the broken ones. Even the grooms a.s.sisted to-day in the garden, while up in the house the glaziers were already busy,
- 191 "Let him clear out!" "Hustle him out!" was the general cry.Just as this was yelled forth, Sonnenkamp appeared on the steps. The howling, shrieking, and kettle-banging began anew; stones crashed through the great window-panes.The Scream
- 190 From that day forth, she had determined to keep clear of every luxurious indulgence which this ostentatious man might feel like putting in her way, and this she would do in a modest and retiring manner; from that day forth she looked upon herself as a tra
- 189 You can be happy, you have imparted to the boy genuine strength.When at last they were bidding good-bye, Roland begged Knopf to ride home on the pony. Knopf a.s.sured him repeatedly that it was a pleasure to him to roam about in the dark on foot; Roland a
- 188 Roland rose to his feet in the next room. Would this really be better than musing by one's self? He kept quiet, and heard the Prince ask how the daughter and how the wife had received the exposure of the dreadful secret.The Prince spoke in a loud, Er
- 187 "It is I, the Countess Bella."Sonnenkamp s.h.i.+vered.Is it a trick? It is some one who insists on speaking to him, a.s.suming that name and that voice.Well! At any rate, the person who puts on that mask is very cunning.Let us see who it is that
- 186 Roland thanked him and went on. As he entered the Huntsman's house, the latter cried out to him:-- "Knew you were coming. Have a salve for you. Needn't tell me anything, know everything this long while. Can give you something.""Wh
- 185 "If slaves could not speak, could not pray, they would be happy like you, and like you, my faithful dogs!"Manna was becoming uneasy at the unwearying tenor of Roland's thoughts; she said:-- "You must now remain all the time with our fr
- 184 "Do you know the story of the little brother and the little sister?They lost themselves in the wood, and then found their way home again.And we are like two children in the wild forest. But we are children no longer; you are grown up, you are strong,
- 183 "Indeed?" cried Sonnenkamp. "Have you not walked the horse out for exercise? Has any one ridden him?""Yes; the Herr Captain ordered the horse to be saddled the night before, and was a long time gone with him.""So! Come,
- 182 CHAPTER VIII.THE TRIUMPH OF THE OPPRESSED.Roland entered the cottage, and found the Professorin, Eric, and Manna in grave conversation together; they had imparted the dreadful secret to each other, and what weighed the most heavily upon them was the thoug
- 181 Roland went into the garden, where a bright voice called to him:-- "Mutual congratulations! we congratulate you, and you should congratulate us, too; we are betrothed."Lina and the Architect were coming, holding each other's hand, through t
- 180 And again father and son sat opposite to each other in silence, until Roland began:-- "Father, let us go home to-day.""No, not to-day. We must both, first of all, get some strength."Pranken had withdrawn into the adjoining room; he now
- 179 "Herr Sonnenkamp, I always go counter to the public sentiment; I respect you, notwithstanding, and I love your daughter. I am almost glad that I can show you by a sacrifice how my intention----""Herr von Pranken, you do not know what you ar
- 178 "Does this Herr Sonnenkamp know that you are acquainted with his past life?""O no, and he must never know it."Again there was a long pause.From the cathedral near by came the stroke of noon; the bells rang out the Angelus, the Priest r
- 177 It breathed new life into him to think that the world so despised him."Just so! I can do that too; I despise you all!""But the children! the children!" something whispered to him. When he was waging war in America, the children knew no
- 176 "And would you--" asked the Prince, "No, I will put another question to you. How do you regard a man who traffics in beings of this inferior race?"Sonnenkamp started up immediately from his chair, but he sat down again quickly, and sai
- 175 Sonnenkamp did not know how he ought to take this freedom; but the best way was to put up with it silently. He listened with a.s.senting nods, and thought to himself, What a way they have of doing things here in the palace! It is just as if the people in
- 174 Proud and erect, he strode for a long time up and down the chamber.Then he recollected that the Cabinetsrath had informed him that the Prince liked certain ceremonies, and that he would have to make oath with his bare hand. He looked at his hand. How woul
- 173 In a very courteous tone she said,-- "Oh, I a.s.sure you, I should be very sorry to antic.i.p.ate Herr Sonnenkamp's dismissal."The calm bearing which the Professorin had been accustomed to maintain in all extremities, now failed her for the
- 172 Eric escorted Bella to the villa, but he could not utter a word.Fortunately, Fraulein Perini came up, and he could hand Bella over to her. He hastened to Manna and informed her in a few hasty words that Bella had arrived. She looked up, half roguishly, ha
- 171 Fraulein Milch, who saw very plainly that Eric had something to communicate, was about to leave the room, but he called out,-- "You are to hear it too, you and my friend here. I entrust it to your true hearts. I am betrothed.""To Manna?&quo
- 170 "Yes, my parents!" said she. "My parents!" Her voice became fainter, her countenance turned suddenly pale, and she drew closer to Eric, as if she were cold. He put his hand upon her head, and played with her tresses, while she held his
- 169 "We were comrades, never friends."They were silent again; there were so many things to be spoken of, crowding upon both of them, that they did not seem to know where to begin.The evening bell tolled, and Manna saw that Eric did not remove his ha
- 168 Eric looked at his mother; he did not know what answer to give, and the Mother said:-- "According to the ordinary conception of the word 'looking,' we cannot conceive its being done without eyes. We have no conception how a spirit exists, b
- 167 "Take in the package," said Manna to the servant.She walked quietly on with Eric.CHAPTER XIV.FROM SIBYLLINE BOOKS.On the way Manna said:-- "Do you know that I had an aversion for you, when I came here?""Yes indeed, I knew it."
- 166 Eric's countenance brightened; he had no reason for putting faith in Fraulein Milch's conjecture, and still he did put faith in it. And now it occurred to him, that he had joyfully antic.i.p.ated something, he knew not what, to-day; now he had e
- 165 The Professorin shuddered inwardly. The restlessness and terror, the wilful, overbearing, and weak nature of Frau Ceres were now for the first time made clear to her; here was a woman who sought to torment her husband by revealing to her child the father&
- 164 Fraulein Perini a.s.sented; she knew that she would have to do the whole herself, but Frau Ceres had now become somewhat calmer."Will you not send for the Priest, or hadn't we better go and visit him ourselves?""As you see fit."&q
- 163 The Professorin rose to go, and Sonnenkamp begged her in a kindly tone to keep his wife company during his absence, and give her all the instruction and advice necessary to enable her to enter upon her new sphere of life with becoming repose and dignity.T
- 162 "Ah, I wish it may not be with you as it is with me; the older I become, the more mysterious and complicated are many things to me. You men are fortunate; individual things do not vex you so much, because you can see a united whole."As the mothe
- 161 He fumbled hurriedly in his pocket finally he brought out the ring of keys, went to the fire-proof safe built in the wall, rattled back the k.n.o.bs on it, and at once opened both the folding-doors."See here," said he, "all this will, one d
- 160 Knopf had seized hold of Eric's hand, and in his excessive enthusiasm he kissed it.Eric was calm, and Knopf had a beatific look; his countenance with its smiles was like the stream, on whose bosom the wind tosses along the rippling waves. He maintain
- 159 "Herr Sonnenkamp, or rather, not Herr Sonnenkamp, but, as his name really is, Herr Banfield, is in so many words the most notorious slave-dealer ever known in the Southern States; nay, more. My nephew, Doctor Fritz, could tell you many a thing he has
- 158 "No, that's the second. The first is a sound human understanding. There are far more intellectual men than there are men of genuine common sense."The Prince nodded to Knopf, and he gave a merry nod in return.Weidmann opposed, with a warmth
- 157 Roland and Lilian accompanied Frau Weidmann into the house.CHAPTER IV.VOCATION AND FATHER-LAND.While the children had been dreaming and chattering together in the garden, the men had gone into the house. They stepped into the large wainscoted entrance-hal
- 156 Of all his knowledge, nothing else now occurred to him."You are very clever!" exclaimed the child. "Now tell me, do you think, too, that the bees smell the flowers as we do, and that the flowers put on such pretty colors so that the bees an
- 155 "Ah, good evening, Brindy! Do you feel proud because you've taken the prize? Shall you tell your neighbors of it? Will you enjoy yourself now at home, or don't you know anything about your honors?"The heifer was led to the barn, and th
- 154 "Miracles still take place! Miracles still take place!" he kept exclaiming, flouris.h.i.+ng at the same time his flute. "But now, children, follow me; do not speak--not a single word. Roland can dance, and you can dance too, Lilian. I beg y
- 153 In the great hall Weidmann was standing behind a table, and giving to the people a scientific and at the same time a perfectly comprehensible and directly practical essay on the best method of "making flesh;" for such was the term he continually
- 152 The Major came one day with a request, that Sonnenkamp would allow the Free Masons to have an entertainment in the newly finished armory of the castle, as Herr Weidmann was desirous of having the fete come off there. Sonnenkamp's first impulse was to
- 151 Roland was too much moved to speak; he could only kiss the old man's delicate childlike hand. The people at a distance looked on in amazement. The postilion blew his horn till he started the echoes in mountain and valley. With no decisive point gaine
- 150 Clodwig had several objects in view in speaking thus; he wanted to make a direct appeal to his companions in rank, and he wanted, once for all, to divert from their purpose Sonnenkamp and the Banker, who he knew had also been induced to aspire to a t.i.tl
- 149 "Not yours," said the gipsy. "But I want that one next you to show me her hand." With great reluctance, Manna consented. The old woman gave a wild cry, and exclaimed:-- "You have a lover by your side, but you must go across the wa
- 148 "Or if you mean to devote yourself to practical life," he added, "I have nothing to say against that; only you must decide on one or the other."Eric returned to the hotel as one roused from a dream. He saw the danger which threatened h
- 147 "It would make his happiness; without that he would have no happiness.I am sure you will not misunderstand me, my very dear, n.o.ble friend. I frankly confess to you that I prize money highly; I have worked hard for it, and should like to keep it; I
- 146 He whirled her swiftly among the circle of dancers, and she felt as if she were no longer upon the ground, but were floating in the air."Let us go!" said Roland to Eric in the gallery. They left the hall, and took by moonlight the same beautiful
- 145 Both agreed perfectly in looking upon all communities, all human society, as nothing but a tacit agreement to tell lies: no one believes his neighbor, no one honors his neighbor; all that is valued is a certain outside show, a humbug, which must be kept u
- 144 Sonnenkamp fumed with rage over the whole business, and now, for the first time, it struck him how strange it was that these people should treat all this humbug of rank so seriously; they knew that it was humbug, but its very existence depended on their v
- 143 He obeyed, and was welcomed by their royal Highnesses in a very cordial manner.The Prince went towards the house, where the Professorin was standing on the steps with Eric; he went up to her with quick step, holding out both hands, and saying how glad he
- 142 This must be kept a profound secret, but it was very proper that Sonnenkamp should be informed of it. He sent back the request that the visit of the Prince should be announced by a telegram.He seemed to himself now a prisoner in his own domains. He had ha
- 141 CHAPTER IX.DEMONSTRATION OF RESPECT FROM BELOW.When a person is to be surprised in the evening by a demonstration of respect, what does he do in the morning?Sonnenkamp must pretend not to notice anything, but nevertheless, he watched the barometer very cl
- 140 As soon as Lina heard it she clapped her hands, exclaiming,-- "The princess is set free! Manna has, heretofore, been the princess who couldn't laugh. Captain, you've broken the spell! What name shall we give to the knight who has set our Ma
- 139 Sonnenkamp promised to carry out the idea, and unfolded a plan which he had much at heart, of establis.h.i.+ng general benevolent inst.i.tutions, the first of which should be a fund for the widows and orphans of boatmen.Manna stroked her beautiful white p
- 138 "Allow me to take more time," answered Eric; "I must take a longer spring.""Proceed! proceed!" said Pranken sharply, twirling the ends of his moustache."The largest cathedrals," Eric began by saying, "are unfin
- 137 Manna listened eagerly. As she looked out of the window, her eyes rested on her father's house, with the park and garden, and it seemed to her as if they must all be overwhelmed, the waters surge up from the Rhine, the everlasting floods submerge the