ll narrow mirror in order the better to
observe Effi's facial expressions. In reply she said: "Oh, yes, that
is up in the social room. We used to hear it in the kitchen, too. But
now we don't hear it any more; we have become accustomed to it."

"Is there anything unusual about it?"

"God forbid, not in the least. For a while no one knew for sure what
it came from, and even the preacher looked embarrassed, in spite of
the fact that Dr. Gieshuebler always simply laughed at it. But now we
know that it comes from the curtains. The room is inclined to be musty
and damp, and for that reason the windows are always left open, except
when there is a storm. And so, as there is nearly always a strong
draft upstairs, the wind sweeps the old white curtains, which I think
are much too long, back and forth over the floor. That makes a sound
like silk dresses, or even satin slippers, as your Ladyship just
said."

"That is it, of course. But what I cannot understand is why the
curtains are not taken down. Or they might be made shorter. It is such
a queer noise that it gets on one's nerves. And now, Johanna, give me
the little cape and put just a little dab of powder on my forehead.
Or, better still, take the 'refresher' from my traveling bag--Ah, that
is fine and refreshes me. Now I am ready to go over. He is still
there, isn't he, or has he been out?"

"His Lordship went out earlier; I believe he was over at the office.
But he has been back for a quarter of an hour. I will tell Frederick
to bring the breakfast."

With that Johanna left the room. Effi took one more look into the
mirror and then walked across the hall, which in the daylight lost
much of its charm of the evening before, and stepped into Geert's
room.

He was sitting at his secretary, a rather clumsy cylindrical desk,
which, however, he did not care to part with, as it was an heirloom.
Effi was standing behind him, and had embraced and kissed him before
he could rise from his chair.

"So early?"

"So early, you say. Of course, to mock me."

Innstetten shook his head. "How can I?" Effi took pleasure in accusing
herself, however, and refused to listen to the assurances of her
husband that his "so early" had been meant in all seriousness. "You
must know from our journey that I have never kept you waiting in the
morning. In the course of the day--well, that is a different matter.
It is true, I am not very punctual, but I am not a late sleeper. In
that respect my p