d."

But Effi was not quite right in all that she expected. Hulda behaved
very well, preserving her composure absolutely and leaving the
indication of anger and vexation to her mother, the pastor's wife,
who, indeed, made some very strange remarks. "Yes, yes, that's the
way it goes. Of course. Since it couldn't be the mother, it has to be
the daughter. That's nothing new. Old families always hold together,
and where there is a beginning there will be an increase." The elder
Niemeyer, painfully embarrassed by these and similar pointed remarks,
which showed a lack of culture and refinement, lamented once more the
fact that he had married a mere housekeeper.

[Illustration: _Permission F. Bruckmann A.-G. Munich_
A SUNDAY IN THE GARDEN OF THE TUILERIES ADOLPH VON MENZEL.]

After visiting the pastor's family Effi naturally went next to the
home of the precentor Jahnke. The twins had been watching for her and
received her in the front yard.

"Well, Effi," said Hertha, as all three walked up and down between the
two rows of amaranths, "well, Effi, how do you really feel?"

"How do I feel? O, quite well. We already say 'Du' to each other and
call each other by our first names. His name is Geert, but it just
occurs to me that I have already told you that."

"Yes, you have. But in spite of myself I feel so uneasy about it. Is
he really the right man?"

"Certainly he is the right man. You don't know anything about such
matters, Hertha. Any man is the right one. Of course he must be a
nobleman, have a position, and be handsome."

"Goodness, Effi, how you do talk! You used to talk quite differently."

"Yes, I used to."

"And are you quite happy already?"

"When one has been two hours betrothed, one is always quite happy. At
least, that is my idea about it."

"And don't you feel at all--oh, what shall I say?--a bit awkward?"

"Yes, I do feel a bit awkward, but not very. And I fancy I shall get
over it."

After these visits at the parsonage and the home of the precentor,
which together had not consumed half an hour, Effi returned to the
garden veranda, where coffee was about to be served. Father-in-law and
son-in-law were walking up and down along the gravel path by the plane
trees. Von Briest was talking about the difficulties of a district
councillor's position, saying that he had been offered one at various
times, but had always declined. "The ability to have my own way in all
matters has always been the thing t