rrupted in our conversation when Jahnke came by with the school.
At least I cannot imagine that the furs, of which you were speaking at
that time, should have been your only wish. So let me know, darling,
what further things you have set your heart upon."

"None, mama."

"Truly, none?"

"No, none, truly; perfectly in earnest. But, on second thought, if
there were anything--"

"Well?"

"It would be a Japanese bed screen, black, with gold birds on it, all
with long crane bills. And then perhaps, besides, a hanging lamp for
our bedroom, with a red shade."

Mrs. von Briest remained silent.

"Now you see, mama, you are silent and look as though I had said
something especially improper."

"No, Effi, nothing improper. Certainly not in the presence of your
mother, for I know you so well. You are a fantastic little person,
you like nothing better than to paint fanciful pictures of the future,
and the richer their coloring the more beautiful and desirable they
appear to you. I saw that when we were buying the traveling articles.
And now you fancy it would be altogether adorable to have a bed screen
with a variety of fabulous beasts on it, all in the dim light of a red
hanging lamp. It appeals to you as a fairy tale and you would like to
be a princess."

Effi took her mother's hand and kissed it. "Yes, mama, that is my
nature."

"Yes, that is your nature. I know it only too well. But, my dear Effi,
we must be circumspect in life, and we women especially. Now when you
go to Kessin, a small place, where hardly a streetlamp is lit at
night, the people will laugh at such things. And if they would only
stop with laughing! Those who are ill-disposed toward you--and there
are always some--will speak of your bad bringing-up, and many will
doubtless say even worse things."

"Nothing Japanese, then, and no hanging lamp either. But I confess I
had thought it would be so beautiful and poetical to see everything in
a dim red light."

Mrs. von Briest was moved. She got up and kissed Effi. "You are a
child. Beautiful and poetical. Nothing but fancies. The reality is
different, and often it is well that there should be dark instead of
light and shimmer."

Effi seemed on the point of answering, but at this moment Wilke came
and brought some letters. One was from Kessin, from Innstetten. "Ah,
from Geert," said Effi, and putting the letter in her pocket, she
continued in a calm tone: "But you surely will allow me to set the
grand