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every female fancy was busy in depicting the personal appearance of
this gay apparition。
On his arrival at my house； I became sensible of a truth which I
had observed some years before。 The commonplace maxim is； that it
is dangerous to raise expectations too high。 This； which is thus
generally expressed； and without limitation； is true only
conditionally； it is true then and there only where there is but
little merit to sustain and justify the expectation。 But in any
case where the merit is transcendent of its kind； it is always
useful to rack the expectation up to the highest point。 In
anything which partakes of the infinite； the most unlimited
expectations will find ample room for gratification； while it is
certain that ordinary observers； possessing little sensibility；
unless where they have been warned to expect； will often fail to
see what exists in the most conspicuous splendor。 In this instance
it certainly did no harm to the subject of expectation that I had
been warned to look for so much。 The warning； at any rate； put me
on the lookout for whatever eminence there might be of grandeur in
his personal appearance； while； on the other hand； this existed in
such excess； so far transcending anything I had ever met with in my
experience； that no expectation which it is in words to raise could
have been disappointed。
These thoughts traveled with the rapidity of light through my
brain； as at one glance my eye took in the supremacy of beauty and
power which seemed to have alighted from the clouds before me。
Power； and the contemplation of power； in any absolute incarnation
of grandeur or excess； necessarily have the instantaneous effect of
quelling all perturbation。 My composure was restored in a moment。
I looked steadily at him。 We both bowed。 And； at the moment when
he raised his head from that inclination； I caught the glance of
his eye； an eye such as might have been looked for in a face of
such noble lineaments
〃Blending the nature of the star
With that of summer skies；〃
and； therefore； meant by nature for the residence and organ of
serene and gentle emotions； but it surprised； and at the same time
filled me more almost with consternation than with pity； to observe
that in those eyes a light of sadness had settled more profound
than seemed possible for youth； or almost commensurate to a human
sorrow； a sadness that might have become a Jewish prophet； when
laden with inspirations of woe。
Two months had now passed away since the arrival of Mr。 Wyndham。
He had been universally introduced to the superior society of the
place； and； as I need hardly say； universally received with favor
and distinction。 In reality； his wealth and importance； his
military honors； and the dignity of his character； as expressed in
his manners and deportment； were too eminent to allow of his being
treated with less than the highest attention in any society
whatever。 But the effect of these various advantages； enforced and
recommended as they were by a personal beauty so rare； was somewhat
too potent for the comfort and self…possession of ordinary people；
and really exceeded in a painful degree the standard of pretensions
under which such people could feel themselves at their ease。 He
was not naturally of a reserved turn； far from it。 His disposition
had been open； frank； and confiding； originally； and his roving；
adventurous life； of which considerably more than one half had been
passed in camps； had communicated to his manners a more than
military frankness。 But the profound melancholy which possessed
him； from whatever cause it arose； necessarily chilled the native
freedom of his demeanor； unless when it was revived by strength of
friendship or of love。 The effect was awkward and embarrassing to
all parties。 Every voice paused or faltered when he entered a
roomdead silence ensuednot an eye but was directed upon him； or
else； sunk in timidity； settled upon the floor； and young ladies
seriously lost the power； for a time； of doing more than murmuring
a few confused； half…inarticulate syllables； or half…inarticulate
sounds。 The solemnity； in fact； of a first presentation； and the
utter impossibility of soon recovering a free； unembarrassed
movement of conversation； made such scenes really distressing to
all who participated in them； either as actors or spectators。
Certainly this result was not a pure effect of manly beauty；
however heroic； and in whatever excess； it arose in part from the
many and extraordinary endowments which had centered in his person；
not less from fortune than from nature； in part also； as I have
said； from the profound sadness and freezing gravity of Mr。
Wyndham's manner； but still more from the perplexing mystery which
surrounded that sadness。
Were there； then； no exceptions to this condition of awestruck
admiration？ Yes； one at least there was in whose bosom the spell
of all…conquering passion soon thawed every trace of icy reserve。
While the rest of the world retained a dim sentiment of awe toward
Mr。 Wyndham； Margaret Liebenheim only heard of such a feeling to
wonder that it could exist toward HIM。 Never was there so
victorious a conquest interchanged between two youthful hearts
never before such a rapture of instantaneous sympathy。 I did not
witness the first meeting of this mysterious Maximilian and this
magnificent Margaret； and do not know whether Margaret manifested
that trepidation and embarrassment which distressed so many of her
youthful co…rivals； but； if she did； it must have fled before the
first glance of the young man's eye； which would interpret； past
all misunderstanding； the homage of his soul and the surrender of
his heart。 Their third meeting I DID see； and there all shadow of
embarrassment had vanished； except； indeed； of that delicate
embarrassment which clings to impassioned admiration。 On the part
of Margaret； it seemed as if a new world had dawned upon her that
she had not so much as suspected among the capacities of human
experience。 Like some bird she seemed； with powers unexercised for
soaring and flying； not understood even as yet； and that never
until now had found an element of air capable of sustaining her
wings； or tempting her to put forth her buoyant instincts。 He； on
the other hand； now first found the realization of his dreams； and
for a mere possibility which he had long too deeply contemplated；
fearing； however； that in his own case it might prove a chimera； or
that he might never meet a woman answering the demands of his
heart； he now found a corresponding reality that left nothing to
seek。
Here； then； and thus far； nothing but happiness had resulted from
the new arrangement。 But； if this had been little anticipated by
many； far less had I； for my part； anticipated the unhappy
revolution which was wrought in the whole nature of Ferdinand von
Harrelstein。 He was the son of a German baron； a man of good
family； but of small estate who had been pretty nearly a soldier of
fortune in the Prussian service； and had； late in life； won
sufficient favor with the king and other military superiors； to
have an early prospect of obtaining a commission； under flattering
auspices； for this only sona son endeared to him as the companion
of unprosperous years； and as a dutifully affectionate child。
Ferdinand had yet another hold upon his father's affections： his
features preserved to the baron's unclouded remembrance a most
faithful and living memorial of that angelic wife who had died in
giving birth to this third childthe only one who had long
survived her。 Anxious that his son should go through a regular
course of mathematical instruction； now becoming annually more
important in all the artillery services throughout Europe； and that
he should receive a tincture of other liberal studies which he had
painfully missed in his own military career； the baron chose to
keep his son for the last seven years at our college； until he was
now entering upon his twenty…third year。 For the four last he had
lived with me as the sole pupil whom I had； or meant to have； had
not the brilliant proposals of the young Russian guardsman
persuaded me to break my resolution。 Ferdinand von Harrelstein had
good talents； not dazzling but respectable； and so amiable were his
temper and manners that I had introduced him everywhere； and
everywhere he was a favorite； and everywhere； indeed； except
exactly there where only in this world he cared for favor。
Margaret Liebenheim； she it was whom he loved； and had loved for
years； with the whole ardor of his ardent soul； she it was for
whom； or at whose command； he would willingly have died。 Early he
had felt that in her hands lay his destiny； that she it was who
must be his good or his evil genius。
At first； and perhaps to the last； I pitied him exceedingly。 But
my pity soon ceased to be mingled with respect。 Before the arrival
of Mr。 Wyndham he had shown himself generous； indeed magnanimous。
But never was there so painful an overthrow of a noble nature as
manifested itself in him。 I believe that he had not himself
suspected the strength of his passion； and the sole resource for
him； as I sai