come of old
families it is a very easy matter, because we gladly recognize every
sort of noble-mindedness, no matter from what source it may come. At
least that is the way I was brought up by my father, as well as by my
mother. I am a Briest by birth and am descended from the Briest, who,
the day before the battle of Fehrbellin, led the sudden attack on
Rathenow, of which you may perhaps have heard."

"Oh, certainly, most gracious Lady, that, you know, is my specialty."

"Well then I am a von Briest. And my father has said to me more than
a hundred times: Effi,--for that is my name--Effi, here is our
beginning, and here only. When Froben traded the horse, he was that
moment a nobleman, and when Luther said, 'here I stand,' he was more
than ever a nobleman. And I think, Mr. Gieshuebler, Innstetten was
quite right when he assured me you and I should be good friends."

Gieshuebler would have liked nothing better than to make her a
declaration of love then and there, and to ask that he might fight and
die for her as a Cid or some other campeador. But as that was out of
the question, and his heart could no longer endure the situation, he
arose from his seat, looked for his hat, which he fortunately found at
once, and, after again kissing the young wife's hand, withdrew quickly
from her presence without saying another word.

CHAPTER IX

Such was Effi's first day in Kessin. Innstetten gave her half a week
further time to become settled and write letters to her mother, Hulda,
and the twins. Then the city calls began, some of which were made in a
closed carriage, for the rains came just right to make this unusual
procedure seem the sensible thing to do. When all the city calls had
been made the country nobility came next in order. These took longer,
as in most cases the distances were so great that it was not possible
to make more than one visit on any one day. First they went to the
Borckes' in Rothenmoor, then to Morgnitz, Dabergotz, and Kroschentin,
where they made their duty call at the Ahlemanns', the Jatzkows', and
the Grasenabbs'. Further down the list came, among other families,
that of Baron von Gueldenklee in Papenhagen. The impression that Effi
received was everywhere the same. Mediocre people, whose friendliness
was for the most part of an uncertain character, and who, while
pretending to speak of Bismarck and the Crown Princess, were in
reality merely scrutinizing Effi's dress, which some considered to