Thishad indeed not been a part of his scheme, and
he emitted sigh on sigh.
Nor was it any better with the
regulationcoffee-parties given by the wives of other Professors.
If they went farther afield, she rode in a
bath-chair,which was pushed by an old, one-eyed man.
All ofwhich gave her manner something childishly
unformed. Hardly had the sound of steps on the wooden stair died away, before
Elsawas dissolved in tears. Again, the whole thing could not have happened, for him,
at a moreinconvenient time. Otherwise, supper wouldbe one long jeremiad. What aprop,
said they, for a young wife to have at her side.
In Annemaries presence, Elsa never lost the sense
of beingan unfinished child.
We have not tasted so delicately prepared a potato
sinceour departure. Elsa burst outcrying, and locked herself in the
bedroom.
Nor was it any better with the
regulationcoffee-parties given by the wives of other Professors. And thethoughts
that darted through her brain in answer were dark and unwifely.
They sat opposite each other at table, and
Annemarie prepared toapportion the food. All said and done though, she formedbut a
trifling drawback to the match.
At this rate,we shall hardly reach the Spiegelbergs
before they go to table.
She could not open a book unrebuked: they must
always be commenting onwhat she read. Andthe fine inborn gaiety of her nature
declined from day to day. Without even ordinary domestic tasks to fill them, Elsas
days grew everlonger and drearier.
They buzzed and hummed round Elsa, a very Greek
chorus ofapprobation. Annemarie did not minceher words; the Professor reasoned and
expostulated.
Her father came to seeher every
afternoon.
But out of Elsas hearing he was more explicit, and
even hinted darkly ata constitutional weakness.
The Professor spent a distracted night, and the
letter he wrote to hisbride was stiff and cold.
Annemarie was a woman; such feelings were a closed
book to her.
Nevershould interloping stranger come between!
Well, well, we know who is to blame forthat!