was not troubling herself any too much about the pre-nuptial
exercises and the wedding day. Mrs. von Briest had her own ideas on
the subject, but did not permit herself to worry about it, as Effi's
mind was, to a considerable 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 her mother, revealed
a remarkable conception of Further Pomerania, or, perhaps it would be
more correct to say, they embodied this conception, with clever
calculation and definite purpose. For Effi delighted to think of
Kessin as a half-Siberian locality, where the ice and snow never fully
melted.

"Today Goschenhofer has sent the last thing," said Mrs. von Briest,
sitting, as was her custom, out in front of the wing of the mansion
with Effi at the work-table, upon which 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, Effi. But if you still cherish little wishes you must speak them
out, if possible, this very hour. Papa has sold the rape crop at a
good price and is in an unusually good humor."

"Unusually? He is always in a good humor."

"In an unusually good humor," repeated the mother. "And it must be
taken advantage of. So speak. Several times during our stay in Berlin
I had the feeling that you had a very special desire for something or
other more."

"Well, dear mama, what can I say? As a matter of fact I have
everything that one needs, I mean that one needs _here_. But as it is
once for 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 it, to the northern lights and the brighter splendor of
the stars--as this has been definitely decided, I should like to have
a set of furs."

"Why, Effi, child, that is empty folly. You are not going to St.
Petersburg or Archangel."

"No, but I am a part of the way."

"Certainly, child, you are a part of the way; but what does that mean?
If you go from here to Nauen you are, by the same train of reasoning,
a part of the way to 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 pr