Read Victoria for Free Online Page B

him: there were errands to do, purchases to make, bills to be paid, and the evening and the morning passed. He rushed about like a lunatic.
    At last he rang the bell at the chamberlain’s. Was Victoria there?
    Victoria was running some errands.
    He explains that they, Miss Victoria and he, came from the same place, he would simply have liked to pay his respects if she’d been in—have permitted himself to pay his respects. There was a message he would have liked to send home. No matter.
    Then he went downtown. Perhaps he would meet her, spot her, perhaps she was riding in a carriage. He wandered about until evening. Seeing her in front of the theater, he bowed to her, smiled and bowed, and she returned his greeting. He was about to go up to her—she was only a few steps away—when he noticed that she was not alone but with Otto, the chamberlain’s son. He was in a lieutenant’s uniform.
    Perhaps she’ll give me a hint, a small signal with her eyes, Johannes thought. She hurried into the theater, flushed and head bent, as if trying to hide.
    Maybe he could see her inside? He bought a ticket and went in.
    He knew where the chamberlain’s box was—those wealthy people had a box, of course. There she sat in all her glory, looking about her. Did she look at him? Never!
    When the act was over he looked for her in the vestibule. Again he bowed to her; she looked at him, a bit surprised, and nodded.
    “You can get water over there,” Otto said, pointing ahead.
    They walked past.
    Johannes gave them a long look. A strange dimness settled over his eyes. All these people were annoyed with him and jostled him; he begged their pardon mechanically and stayed put. There she disappeared.
    When she returned he bowed deeply to her and said, “Pardon me, Miss . . .”
    Otto answered him, screwing up his eyes.
    “It’s Johannes,” she said, introducing him. “Don’t you recognize him?”
    “I suppose you want to know how things are at home,” she went on, her face calm and beautiful. “I really don’t know, but I believe all’s well. Very good, I’ll convey your kind regards to the Møllers.”
    “Thank you. Will you be leaving soon?”
    “In a few days. Certainly, I’ll convey your regards.”
    She nodded and walked away.
    Again, Johannes followed her with his eyes until she had disappeared, then he went out. An endless wandering, a sad, heavy walk about the streets, up one and down another, helped while away the time. At ten o’clock he was waiting in front of the chamberlain’s house. Soon the theaters would be closing and she would come. Perhaps he could open the carriage door and take his hat off, open the carriage door and bow to the ground.
    At last, half an hour later, she came. Could he stand there by the gate and remind her again of his existence? He hurried up the street without looking right or left. He heard the gate at the chamberlain’s being opened, the carriage driving in, and the gate being slammed to. Then he turned around.
    He continued strolling up and down in front of the house for an hour. He wasn’t expecting anyone and had no errand. Suddenly the gate is opened from the inside and Victoria steps into the street. She’s bareheaded and has thrown only a shawl over her shoulders. She gives him a half-scared, half-embarrassed smile and, to start with, asks, “So you’re walking about here, thinking?”
    “No,” he replies. “Thinking? No, I’m just walking about.”
    “I saw you pacing up and down outside and so I wanted to . . . I saw you from my window. I’ll have to go right back.”
    “Thanks for coming, Victoria. I was in such despair a moment ago, but now it’s over. I’m sorry I spoke to you in the theater; I’m afraid I’ve asked for you here at the chamberlain’s too. I wanted to see you and find out what you meant, what you intend to do.”
    “Well,” she said, “you must know that by now. I said enough the day before yesterday to leave no room for