Cihlar & Egeler - The Saint and her Fool

„When have you seen someone with long curly hair?”

„The night before yesterday, when Fräulein Braun and I went up to the red velvet room.”

„Darling” he says sternly, „if you know so much about the word of honour; a lie does not agree well with it.”

For a moment, it seems as if she wants to cry, but suddenly she smiles; just like a sunray which comes out from behind a dark cloud.„Harro is coming for sure and I may really give him the ring?” Surprised, the father sees her eyes light up. What an incomprehensible, mysterious child; it is quite difficult to follow her thoughts. He remembered what his sister had once said, in her rather blunt way: „Your little girl is as mad as a March hare. You must see to it that someone teaches her to be strong and realistic for the world outside of these walls.”

In the large entrance hall, Harro is facing a long embedded mirror on the wall, which reflects his whole figure. The mirrors in the ruin only admit a limited view.

„With elegance disfigured beyond recognition,” he mutters and beckons to a servant. „Can you please add this to the gifts for the Princess?” The servant nods and disappears with the wrapped up doll. Almost at the same moment, the Duke, with his little daughter by the hand, enters the hall to greet the Earl in a most friendly manner.

„What a pleasure that you have found time to spend the evening with us! To some extent, we both live a quite isolated life and we must be content with this one little lady.”

Harro is startled as he sees his Saint Rose; the child looks pathetic. She seems so frail, as if she could barely stand on her own two feet and yet, her pale grey eyes seem to blaze in devouring flames. He feels a longing to lift her onto his arms and ask her: „What is the matter, my dear little Rose? Let me help you.”

But today, he has no right to the child. They walk along the many rooms to the Great Hall where the room is illuminated by the burning candles on the trees that have been set up. The large, vaulted hall with its pillars and gilded heraldic animals, now throw strange shadows along the walls. Solemn stiff figures, almost all life-size on the walls and the light of the candles are flickering in their painted eyes. In the background, there are several women, among them a distinctive English Lady, surely Miss Whart, whom Harro regards with sincere distrust. A pretty woman with black hair and rosy cheeks in a silk blouse and a gold belt is probably Miss Brown. A long gift table stands between two enormous pine trees, the third pine, the largest and most beautiful one, is situated separately in front of a painting of a strong and bold looking, middle aged man with dark hair. It is by far the most vivid painting of the gallery; a soldier’s head, broad chest in brown leather jerkin, a long sword in his hands.

Under this tree seems to lie the presents for the little Princess; everything that could be found in an elegant toy warehouse. Three in velvet and silk shining dolls, trolleys and trains, a fur-covered horse. This is from Aunt Helen. Accompanying this present is a letter which states: „If the girl ever has the courage to ride this horse, send me a telegraph immediately.” With a shy glance, she hardly looks at all this magnificence; standing motionless, holding her father’s hand. Then, she walks towards Miss Whart and the others with the timid attempt to lead them to their gift-table. But the Miss takes her from her father’s hand and whispers something to her. The Duke shrugs and asks Miss Whart: „Is this really necessary?” Then he sighs. „Well then, my Darling, please try.”

So small and fragile she stands under the Christmas tree, looking like a helpless, injured dove in her white dress, that the tall Thorsteiner feels mercy burning inside of him, as if an injustice is happening to someone so utterly defenceless. She is only supposed to recite, the poor girl! Then, he can hear her tender, high strung voice echoing through the hall and it feels as if all the eyes in the paintings, hanging on the wall and which seem to be alive tonight, are turning to look at her as the wax candles crackle in the background. Piteous and memorized sound the words of the English psalm… then her voice falters and she stops. Miss Whart whispers forcibly into her ear, a few more faltering words, the Duke begins to frown, her narrow face shows enflamed cheeks and her anxious eyes looking at Harro for help…then she throws back her golden mane, her eyes firmly fixed on her friend and she begins anew:

„There were shepherds in the field and it was with them the amount of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth and goodwill toward men”.

„Come here, my precious little one,” the Duke joyfully calls out „carried it through for the first time!” The performance seems not to have been as Miss Whart had wished; she looks angry.

Then is the time for all the lovely presents to be given to the ladies and girls employed in the castle, who then leave with their treasures, curtseying thankfully on their way out. Only Miss Whart and Miss Brown stay and escort the Princess to her seat.

„It is tradition,” explains the Duke. „First we always bestow the others, and then it is our turn. ”The Duke saunters over to his table, where he finds the gift from his sister, which he looks upon with his mouth smiling and his forehead frowning and shows it to the Earl. His gaze then strays and he lays his hand on Harro’s arm. „Now, just look at her, such a pity. Whatever I buy for her, it is never the right thing.”

The child is standing at her table full of presents, with her hands on her back. Miss Whart is showing her a new doll, dressed in a frilly, rose-silk dress. Fräulein Braun winds up a miniature dancing couple, set in a box of velvet, which immediately begin to spin to a waltzing melody. Suddenly, life comes into the small child; she rigorously shoves the rose-silk doll away and cheers out in utter joy.

„Oh Daddy, oh Harro, look at it, at the lovely doll, it is laughing… oh, may I keep it, for always and forever?”

„Has something finally found your approval, Darling? How lucky we are!” For a moment little Saint Rose glances at Harro, and then she throws her arms around her father.

„May I keep it?”

„Don’t be foolish; of course, it is all your own. Let me see what pleases you so much. Well, that is lovely, Darling, one should think it resembles you. If only you had such healthy, chubby cheeks!”

Little Rose holds the doll tenderly in her arms. „What is her name, Harro?” She does not seem to doubt for a moment where the gift has come from, yet she avoids showing her preference for this one gift, so as not to hurt her father’s feelings. Harro appreciates her sense of tact, because he had been a bit concerned if his gift wasn’t an inappropriate gesture. The Duke nods to Miss Whart, as Harro and Saint Rose agree upon giving the doll the name „Snow White”, and the English woman withdraws herself from the room. The Duke returns to his table and takes up a gift he had shown to Harro; a framed picture.

„Her mother….my sister had it made for me for my travel-case. Unfortunately, such well-meant presents bring also melancholy with them.” It was a beautiful, friendly face with golden hair and warm brown eyes that reflected the innocence of a child.

„A resemblance is hardly to be recognized,” speaks the Duke, a bit lost in his thoughts.

„Not really.” The Earl answers kindly. „But in such copies, the characteristics of a person are often obscured.”

He actually considers the painted picture as quite dreadful and cannot understand the emotion, with which the Duke looks at the colourful porcelain doll image of a woman. Maybe the painting brought some fading memories back to life. The Duke and little Rose have disappeared behind the Christmas tree and are whispering. While Harro’s glance drifts from the picture of this frail woman to the prominent war hero’s profile on the wall, he can see through the branches that father and daughter exchange something.