.

Suddenly she checked herself.

Klaere Guentz did not exactly regard such moments of tender emotion as
inadmissible; but one should not give way to feelings of this sort too
long. Recognition of great happiness should always manifest itself in
cheerful activity. So she sat up, and began stitching energetically.

But the work was almost mechanical. Like Caesar, Klaere Guentz could do
two things at once: mend, darn, sew, or anything else of the kind, and
think at the same time.

She was anxious about her husband,

Not on account of his health; she tended and cared for him too wisely,
with her housewifely watchfulness and love. But he, who usually stood
so firmly before the world, was suffering now from inward uncertainty.
His moods were unequal; and sometimes the cheerful, determined man
would be quite overcome by irresolute depression.

This depression was connected with the service. Klaere had found that
out at once. The eternal disputes with a disagreeable superior were
probably to blame. For Captain Mohr, who feared a rival and a successor
in the senior-lieutenant, opposed tooth and nail every improved
regulation that Guentz endeavoured to introduce in the battery, thus
causing endless discussion and unpleasantness.

At last Frau Klaere had made a move. She came to the conclusion that she
must appeal to the colonel, who at once agreed to her request that
Guentz should be transferred, and Klaere was not a little proud of her
success. In reality, however, she was only responsible for it in the
very smallest degree.

True, Falkenhein had heard her attentively, whereas he usually only
listened to ladies out of pure courtesy. He had a very high opinion of
this clever, capable woman. But he would have refused even her request
without hesitation had he not himself been convinced of the necessity
for the measure demanded. The discipline of the fifth battery, loose
enough already, suffered more and more from the constant friction
between the two officers. He regarded Mohr as a very harmful element in
the service. The captain, through some outside influence--a very
influential relative of high position, it was said--had managed so far
to retain his post; but he, as colonel of the regiment, would see to it
that the undesirable officer should receive his dismissal in the spring
at latest. And meanwhile Guentz must be transferred from the fifth
battery. It fell out conveniently that Wegstetten should be ordered
away ju