almost every
look. But his suspicions were not justified. Heppner was polite,
easy, and perfectly unconstrained; while Albina chatted easily and
naturally, and accepted the homage of their guest with a kind of
haughty tranquillity. Towards her husband she displayed quite unusual
tenderness, so long as the sergeant-major was present.

Heimert was somewhat reassured by this. When Heppner rose to take leave
Heimert would fling his arm confidently about Albina's waist, with a
gesture which seemed to say: "You see, my wife is my own. I have her
and hold her, and you won't get her, however much you may covet her.
That's the right of possession. And so it will be, no matter how much
you may hate and envy me. And when you have gone I shall claim my
rights, and this woman must obey my will."

The sergeant-major read this defiance plainly in Heimert's face, and it
had the effect of causing him to swear inwardly that he would seduce
his comrade's wife.

In the middle of May Ida bore a child,--a fat, strong, healthy boy,
weighing nine pounds. A splendid weight for a new-born baby!

At first the sergeant-major rather fancied himself as a father. Every
one said that the fine boy was his living image. Certainly there was no
need to be ashamed of being seen with such a child. Of course this son
of his should be a soldier, an artilleryman. He should learn to ride as
soon as he could sit on the saddle, and woe to him if he showed any
fear!

Ida was happy beyond measure, and there could not have been a tenderer
or more careful mother. Motherhood awoke in her much that had hitherto
been unapparent in her somewhat stolid nature.

Heppner thought her little occupations silly and tiresome. The first
sight of his boy at the healthy young mother's breast seemed to him
charming enough. But before long he was continually scolding Ida for
her over-indulgence of the child, telling her he would grow up a
milksop, always hanging on to his mother's skirts.

And it soon bored him to be much with the child. If one wanted to rest
the youngster was sure to start whining and squalling or if one felt
inclined to play with him, to tickle his fat sides and toss him in the
air, he was certain to have just dropped off to sleep, and Ida would
stand sentinel over him, not suffering him to be disturbed at any
price. She, indeed, seemed now to be nothing but mother, and to have
forgotten altogether that she was also a wife.

Heppner consequently redoubled