The German Classics Of The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries, Volume 12

iefly because there had been no suffering from disagreeable and, one might almost say, inferior relatives. Immediately after their arrival Effi

ther at all." The mother had finally agreed to this, had, in fa

er and keep them in good spirits to the end of their stay. "Dagobert," said Effi at the moment of parting, "remember that you are to come to my nuptial-eve celebration; that you are to bring a cortège goes without saying. But don't you bring any porter or mousetrap seller. For after the theatrical performances there wi

f that he launched out into a long account of what he had experienced in the meantime. "A while ago you were telling me about the National Gallery and the 'Isle of the Blessed.' Well, while you were away, there was something going on here, too. It was our overseer Pink and the gardener's wife. Of course, I h

aised his glass and invited his wife and daughter to join him in a toast. After dinner, when some of the handsomest purchases were unpacked and laid before him for his judgment, he betrayed a great deal of interest, which still remained alive, or, at least did not die out entirely, even after he had glanced over the bills. "A little bit dear, or let us say, rather, very dear; however, it makes no

to say: "Incorrigible," and then left him to his

*

l lines containing a modest application to Innstetten and Effi. He himself was satisfied with his effort and at the end of the first rehearsal heard only very favorable criticisms of it, with one exception, to be sure, viz., that of his patron lord, and old friend, Briest, who, when he had heard the admixture of Kleist and Niemeyer, protested vigorously, though not on literary grounds. "High Lord, and over and over, High Lord-what does that mean? That is misleading and it distorts the whole situation. Innstetten is unquestionably a fine specimen of the race, a man of character and energy, but, when it comes to that, the Briests are not of base parentag

e surprises planned that she declared to her mother with all emphasis: "I can wait and see," and, when Mrs. von Briest still doubted her, Effi closed the conversation with repeated assurances that it was really true and her mother might just as well believe it. And why not? It was all just a theatrical performance, and prettier and more poetical than Cinderella, which she had seen on the last evening in Berlin-no, on second thought, it couldn't be prettier and more poetical. In this play she herself would have been glad to take a part, even if only for the purpose of making a cha

erable extent, occupied with the future, which after all was a good sign. Furthermore Effi, by virtue of her wealth of imagination, often launched out into descriptions of her future life in Kessin for a quarter of an hour at a time,-descriptions which, incidentally, and much to the amusement of

h the supplies of linen and underclothing kept increasing, whereas the newspapers, which merely took up space, were constantly decreasing. "I hope you have everything now, Ef

is always in

advantage of. So speak. Several times during our stay in Berlin I had the

all decided that I am to go so far north-let me say in passing that I have no objections; on the contrary I look forward with pleasure to

at is empty folly. Yo

rg or Ar

am a part o

Russia. However, if you want some furs you shall have them. But let me tell you beforehand, I advise you not to buy them. Furs are proper for elderly people; even

about it, rushed suddenly away from the work-table, past the circular plot and the pond, in the direction of a balcony built on the churchyard wall, to which one could climb by six steps not much broader than the rungs of a ladder. In an instant she was at the top and, surely enough, there came all the school children marching along, Jahnke strutti

ir work. It was an exceptionally beautiful day; the heliotrope growing in a neat bed around the

an't think of heaven as more beautiful. And, after all, who

ly, Niemeyer has only the one daughter, and for this reason the comparison really falls to the ground. In one regard, to be sure, he was only too right, viz., in each and every thing that he said about 'Lot's wife,' our good pastor's better half, who again this year, as was to be expected, simply ruined our Sedan celebration by

e, m

ly,

n earnest. But, on second tho

el

ds on it, all with long crane bills. And then perhaps, b

riest rema

nt and look as though I had said

of the future, and the richer their coloring the more beautiful and desirable they appear to you. I saw that when we were buying the traveling articles. And now you fancy it would be altoget

and and kissed it. "Yes,

Kessin, a small place, where hardly a streetlamp is lit at night, the people will laugh at such things. And if they would only stop with laughing!

But I confess I had thought it would be so beautifu

Beautiful and poetical. Nothing but fancies. The reality is different, an

n easel. I can't be entirely without you. Oh, how I shall be homesick to see you, perhaps even on the wedding tour, and most certainly in Kessin. Why, they say the place has no garrison, not even a staff surgeon, and how fortunate it is that it is at least a watering place. Cousin von Briest, upon whom I shall rely as my chief support, always goes with his mother and sister to Warnemunde. Now I really do not see why he should not, f

ho

Dago

e time has now come to know what he writes. You

forgotten it." She opened th

smiling. And yet he always writes such bright and entert

have my youth. I should shake my finger at hi

the same time just and sensible and knows very well what youth means. He is always reminding himself of that and

I am almost ashamed to say it-I am not so very muc

d now tell me, pray, what

ever, do not believe, well, then I am in favor of wealth and an aristocratic house, a really aristocratic one, to which Prince Frederick Charles will come for an elk or grouse hunt, or where the old Emperor will

out of pure sauci

lendor and honor, and then comes amusement-yes, amusement, always something new,

in the world have you mana

ay for six hours, or perhaps even longer, and Aunt Gundel and Aunt Olga eye me from head to foot and find me impertinent-and Aunt Gundel once

ll, sobbing convulsively, at her

as you and facing her wedding and the uncertain future. But now read me t

int of telling me some, but the most of what he writes might with perfect propriety be posted on the bulletin board at the m

d, r

elung, who is to furnish everything, is an odd original. I shall tell you about him the next time. Now I must tell you first of all how happy I am over you, over my sweet little Effi. The very ground beneath my feet here is on fire, and yet our good city is growing more and more quiet and lonesome. The last summer guest left yesterday. Toward the end he went swimming at nine degrees above zero (Centigrade), and the attendants were always rejoi

ter and put it back

. von Briest, "and that it observes due

ation it surely

letter did not observe due moderation? Do you wish that i

truly no, I do not wish that

er. And by the by, a moment ago you were weeping. Is somethin

kind to me and humor me. No doubt Geert will humor me, too. To be sure, in his own way. You see he is already thinking of giving me jewelry in Venice. He hasn't the faintest suspicion that I care nothing for j

also love your Co

uch. He alwa

e liked to marry C

a man, a handsome man, a man with whom I can shine and he will mak

I am glad to hear it. But there

rha

l, s

. After all he is not old and is well and strong and is so soldierly and so keen. And I might al

pray,

nage. We were talking about Innstetten and all of a sudden old Mr. Niemeyer wrinkled his forehead, in wrinkles of

at he i

me, is something more. Alas, and I-I have none. You see, mama, there is something about this that wor