For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.
Yesterday, I forgot to mention two important points in the conversation. The first is the comment about the tragic results of Russian stories. This was a foreshadowing before and a foreshadowing here. I'm certain you got that. The second was the Graf's question: "Are you pleased with him?" This was basically a refined way of saying: "Do you love him?" Aksinya's answer is not very encouraging: "He is pleasant to me." I really don't want you to miss this point. That's why I keep bringing it up (in the novel); does Akinsya appear like a woman in love? To the Graf, this point isn't really important, he isn't interested in love...
Aksinya took a small spoonful of the soup, it was a delicate consume of partridge and spices. She sipped her wine again and glanced over her glass at the Graf, “I would not wish Ernst to become dour.”
The Graf smiled, “Dour by working? How should he support a family otherwise?”
“I have spoken to him about this. In Russia, my father was always busy with the affairs of our county. I would expect Ernst to do the same.”
“Well said and good advice to him.” He turned toward Ernst, “Has this wise woman been so candid with you?”
“Yes, father,” Ernst’s voice sounded slightly strained.
“Then you should listen to her, and not become dour. What, dear Countess, do you think a young nobleman should be about? That is, to prepare his way in the world?”
Ernst scowled, “Father, this is much too candid a conversation for the table.”
“What do you think, Countess?”
“What do you wish Ernst to do to prepare himself? He told me he was in the military during the war.”
Graf von Taaffe frowned a little, “He was.”
“Were you not proud of him? I was.”
The Graf’s smile returned, “We have not been a military family for a long while. I was also proud of him, but I feared for his life. I could not stand to think I would lose him too.”
Aksinya’s face displayed her curiosity.
The Graf continued, “I lost his mother, and I do not wish to lose him. To me that is unthinkable.”
“Perhaps a little frivolity is owed to a man who is willing to protect that which he believes is important.”
The Graf puffed out his chest, “Well said, Countess. And well turned.” He raised his glass to Ernst, “Ernst, you have chosen well.”
Aksinya raised her glass and took a sip of wine, “Chosen?”
“Why, he has chosen to court you, Countess. If you are willing to defend and to admonish him, this is a very welcome thing to me. His mother would have done the same.”
Aksinya blushed, “You attribute too much to me, I think.”
The Graf only continued to smile.
The servants brought out the fish course next. Ernst was unusually silent. The main course followed the fish. Then the salad was followed by the cheese. Afterward, the Graf stood, “The gentlemen shall retire to the smoking room, and the ladies may retire to the parlor for dessert.”
Now, the Graf finally begins to get to his real point. You see this conversation is a very delicate inquiry into the thoughts of Aksinya. There is a give and take, but mostly gentle probing by the Graf. Aksinya is a natural at this, but she really doesn't have any agenda, the Graf does.
As before, Aksinya thinks a little before answering. The last point the Graf made was this: “Now, Ernst, I simply state the obvious. Although I understand very well why you might want to spend every evening entertaining the Countess, I do wish you to be as serious as she is about your future.” The Graf's point is about Ernst's (and Aksinya's) future. He is trying to get (shame) Ernst to face the future (with Aksinya). Look at Aksinya's answer, it is so coy and well thought out: “I would not wish Ernst to become dour.” The point here is that she would not want Ernst to change. We know why; she wants the luxuria. There is a second innuendo in her statement. For Ernst to become dour, the story would have to have a tragic end. We can guess the answer to that, but it is inconceivable in the current bright environment.
Aksinya's statement gives the Graf the opportunity to bring out the big guns. This was the point he wanted an opportunity to make since the beginning: “Dour by working? How should he support a family otherwise?” There it is. The Graf will refine and make this point more than once, but his point in inviting Aksinya to this party is to get Ernst to become responsible and begin to work so that Ernst can support a family (obviously with Aksinya as his wife).
Aksinya's response is to the point, but do you get the idea that she hasn't put everything together. She doesn't seem to get the idea that the Graf means her when it comes to family. Aksinya's advice is the same as that which she gave Ernst at their first dinner meeting. The Graf thinks Aksinya is working along with him. She is simply stating what to her is obvious. Ernst remembers his and Aksinya's conversation on this subject.
The Graf complement's Aksinya's statement and makes a nice turn in the conversation. The implication is that if Ernst accepts his responsibility then he will not become dour (there won't be a tragic ending). The Graf keeps pushing. He has enlisted Aksinya as his helper, and believes she will continue to support him. His question: "What, dear Countess, do you think a young nobleman should be about? That is, to prepare his way in the world?”
This angers Ernst, but the Graf continues. Aksinya isn't a pawn of anyone. We are not certain she fully grasps what the Graf is about. Her response supports Ernst. Remember back to their first dinner conversation. Aksinya was impressed with Ernst's participation in protecting his country. Aksinya was proud of this--we could guess that. Military service is indeed the major reason for the nobility. She was proud of him--his father was worried about him. Aksinya has turned the conversation. We are not certain if she did it on purpose because she didn't like where the Graf was taking it, or if it was accidental and based on just her peception of the conversation itself.
The turn brings up Ernst's mother. Since Aksinya is sitting in the seat reserved for Ernst's dead mother, the irony and depth of this statement can't be ignored. We learn that the Graf is likely overprotective of his son and that he loved his wife and loves Ernst very much. Aksinya's next statement is very ironic on many levels: “Perhaps a little frivolity is owed to a man who is willing to protect that which he believes is important.” Although Ernst participated in the war, he was only partially willing to protect Aksinya and her friends when they were about to be raped. His lack of action resulted in her making the great enchantment in the street. He stole her book. He has not been protecting Aksinya. We are not certain what is important to Ernst--other than frivolity. We know what is important to Aksinya and that is akin to frivolity. Still, the Graf doesn't understand the irony in Aksinya's words. She didn't say them or understand them to be ironic, we just know they are.
The Graf's response and Aksinya's reaction shows us how clueless Aksinya is. When the Graf raises his glass to her and Ernst, she thinks it is raised to Ernst alone; she takes a sip. She knows Ernst is courting her with the intention of marriage. That is obviously why he brought her to his father and that his father invited Aksinya to this party. She was chosen. Aksinya doesn't get it. Aksinya has proven to the Graf that she would make a perfect mate for Ernst. She is bright and polished. She defended him to his father. She admonished Ernst and admonished the Graf. In the eyes of both, Aksinya is perfect. She is a perfect noblewoman and a perfect choice as the next Gräfin (countess) von Taaffe. Aksinya kind of begins to understand what the conversation was about--her and Ernst's future. The Graf made his point, therefore, he smiles. You might wonder just what the Graf has prepared the atmosphere for. Tomorrow, dancing together.
Showing posts with label dour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dour. Show all posts
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A New Novel, Part 153 I Have Not Found Him Dour at All
For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.
Aksinya, Natalya, and the Bockmanns are at Ernst father's, Graf von Taaffe's, estate for a New Years party and dance. They have been called to dinner...
They entered a large dining room and Ernst escorted Aksinya to the seat next to the head of the table. It was the seat usually reserved for the lady of the house. Ernst sat beside her and the Graf von Taaffe at the head. Natalya was seated by the Graf next to Ernst. Across from Aksinya sat her uncle and next to him, her aunt.
As soon as the first course of wine and appetizer was served, the Graf asked her, “I understand you are attending the gymnasium at Sacré Coeur.”
Aksinya touched her lips with her napkin, “My lady-in-waiting and I.”
“Yes, you made the acquaintance of my son there?”
“Through my aunt and uncle…”
“Yes, through your aunt and uncle. Your uncle is a very good friend of mine. Do you intend to continue your studies?”
“I would like to.”
“I understand you are as fond as my son of the ballet, opera, and theater.”
Aksinya tasted a bite of the appetizer. It was a small piece of hart in a light wine sauce. She took a sip of wine before she answered, “Yes, although I am still getting used to comedy. In Russia, not so many of the stories end without tragic consequences.”
The Graf laughed, “I thought we Austrians were dour.”
“I have not found Ernst dour at all.”
“That is good. Are you pleased with him?”
“He is pleasant to me.”
“Good. I intend for him to take over the business from me. Perhaps you can encourage him in this direction. He can’t continue to spend his life in frivolity.”
“Father,” Ernst complained.
“Now, Ernst, I simply state the obvious. Although I understand very well why you might want to spend every evening entertaining the Countess, I do wish you to be as serious as she is about your future.”
A servant removed the appetizer plates and another served the soup. Aksinya’s glass was filled with a new wine that was a little sweeter than the first.
You can make all you want of this--Aksinya is seated at the place reserved for the lady of the house. This place would usually go to the highest ranking woman in the household--it goes to Aksinya. Like I said, make of it what you want. The Graf honors the Bockmanns, but we could have guessed he would. He is interested in their support for Ernst in his courting of Aksinya. Plus they seem to be the highest ranking couple next to the Graf and Aksinya. The Graf also allowed Ernst to escort Aksinya to dinner. He introduced Aksinya as Ernst's suitor so it is natural that Ernst should escort her. These little plays have their place. They are the norm for the culture and are not random or by simple desire.
At the table, the responsibility of the man on the right of the lady is to engage the lady in conversation. The Graf begins immediately. His question is simple. Aksinya's answer is not as simple as it sounds. She tells the Graf that both she and Natalya are attending the school together. A small detail. The Graf's response is straight to the point--can you see, he wanted to bring up Ernst. We learn that Freiherr Bockmann is a good friend of the Graf von Taaffe. This shouldn't surprise us, but it does make everything become clearer about the past events.
The second point the Graf wanted to bring up is about studies. Ernst and studies, whatever could he have in mind? The Graf makes a statement that lets us know he is very familiar with the evening meetings of Ernst and Aksinya. The Graf's statement is simple, but it is a statement not a question. Aksinya answers thoughtfully. Note she does take a long moment to think through her answer. She acknowledges the Graf's knowledge and provides an attempt to turn the conversation. This gives me the opportunity to bring up the joke and point about being "dour." This was a part of Ernst and Aksinya's first event conversation. The Graf mirrors his son in the treatment of the subject. This shows the connectin between the two. Aksinya makes it personal: “I have not found Ernst dour at all.”
This allows the Graf to get to one of his main points: "Are you pleased with him?" Aksinya's answer allows the Graf to bring up his second point--this is about Ernst's life and work. Ernst isn't happy with the direction of the conversation. This is obviously a point of contention between Ernst and his father. The problem here is that the Graf has made a terrible mistake about Aksinya's dedication to her studies. Perhaps she wishes to study, but we know she doesn't. She is not a model student at all. She is in some ways as bad as Ernst. To use Aksinya as an example of proper dedication is not the best idea. Neither Ernst nor the Graf realize this. Aksinya might not even realize this. She is a dedicated student of sorcery and luxuria, but not of much else. Still the dinner continues and tomorrow, we shall see where the Graf's conversation will go.
Aksinya, Natalya, and the Bockmanns are at Ernst father's, Graf von Taaffe's, estate for a New Years party and dance. They have been called to dinner...
They entered a large dining room and Ernst escorted Aksinya to the seat next to the head of the table. It was the seat usually reserved for the lady of the house. Ernst sat beside her and the Graf von Taaffe at the head. Natalya was seated by the Graf next to Ernst. Across from Aksinya sat her uncle and next to him, her aunt.
As soon as the first course of wine and appetizer was served, the Graf asked her, “I understand you are attending the gymnasium at Sacré Coeur.”
Aksinya touched her lips with her napkin, “My lady-in-waiting and I.”
“Yes, you made the acquaintance of my son there?”
“Through my aunt and uncle…”
“Yes, through your aunt and uncle. Your uncle is a very good friend of mine. Do you intend to continue your studies?”
“I would like to.”
“I understand you are as fond as my son of the ballet, opera, and theater.”
Aksinya tasted a bite of the appetizer. It was a small piece of hart in a light wine sauce. She took a sip of wine before she answered, “Yes, although I am still getting used to comedy. In Russia, not so many of the stories end without tragic consequences.”
The Graf laughed, “I thought we Austrians were dour.”
“I have not found Ernst dour at all.”
“That is good. Are you pleased with him?”
“He is pleasant to me.”
“Good. I intend for him to take over the business from me. Perhaps you can encourage him in this direction. He can’t continue to spend his life in frivolity.”
“Father,” Ernst complained.
“Now, Ernst, I simply state the obvious. Although I understand very well why you might want to spend every evening entertaining the Countess, I do wish you to be as serious as she is about your future.”
A servant removed the appetizer plates and another served the soup. Aksinya’s glass was filled with a new wine that was a little sweeter than the first.
You can make all you want of this--Aksinya is seated at the place reserved for the lady of the house. This place would usually go to the highest ranking woman in the household--it goes to Aksinya. Like I said, make of it what you want. The Graf honors the Bockmanns, but we could have guessed he would. He is interested in their support for Ernst in his courting of Aksinya. Plus they seem to be the highest ranking couple next to the Graf and Aksinya. The Graf also allowed Ernst to escort Aksinya to dinner. He introduced Aksinya as Ernst's suitor so it is natural that Ernst should escort her. These little plays have their place. They are the norm for the culture and are not random or by simple desire.
At the table, the responsibility of the man on the right of the lady is to engage the lady in conversation. The Graf begins immediately. His question is simple. Aksinya's answer is not as simple as it sounds. She tells the Graf that both she and Natalya are attending the school together. A small detail. The Graf's response is straight to the point--can you see, he wanted to bring up Ernst. We learn that Freiherr Bockmann is a good friend of the Graf von Taaffe. This shouldn't surprise us, but it does make everything become clearer about the past events.
The second point the Graf wanted to bring up is about studies. Ernst and studies, whatever could he have in mind? The Graf makes a statement that lets us know he is very familiar with the evening meetings of Ernst and Aksinya. The Graf's statement is simple, but it is a statement not a question. Aksinya answers thoughtfully. Note she does take a long moment to think through her answer. She acknowledges the Graf's knowledge and provides an attempt to turn the conversation. This gives me the opportunity to bring up the joke and point about being "dour." This was a part of Ernst and Aksinya's first event conversation. The Graf mirrors his son in the treatment of the subject. This shows the connectin between the two. Aksinya makes it personal: “I have not found Ernst dour at all.”
This allows the Graf to get to one of his main points: "Are you pleased with him?" Aksinya's answer allows the Graf to bring up his second point--this is about Ernst's life and work. Ernst isn't happy with the direction of the conversation. This is obviously a point of contention between Ernst and his father. The problem here is that the Graf has made a terrible mistake about Aksinya's dedication to her studies. Perhaps she wishes to study, but we know she doesn't. She is not a model student at all. She is in some ways as bad as Ernst. To use Aksinya as an example of proper dedication is not the best idea. Neither Ernst nor the Graf realize this. Aksinya might not even realize this. She is a dedicated student of sorcery and luxuria, but not of much else. Still the dinner continues and tomorrow, we shall see where the Graf's conversation will go.
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