ind of a woman is she anyhow?" asked Mrs. Paaschen.

"She is very young."

"Well, that is no misfortune, but rather the opposite. Young wives,
and that is just the good thing about them, never do anything but
stand before the mirror and pull at themselves and put on some
ornament. They don't see much or hear much and have not yet formed the
habit of counting the stubs of candles in the kitchen, and they don't
begrudge a maid a kiss if she gets one, simply because she herself no
longer gets any."

"Yes," said Johanna, "that was the way with my former madame, and
wholly without occasion. But there is nothing of that kind about our
mistress."

"Is he very affectionate?"

"Oh very. That you can easily imagine."

"But the fact that he leaves her thus alone--"

"Yes, dear Mrs. Paaschen, but you must not forget--the Prince. After
all, you know, he is a district councillor, and perhaps he wants to
rise still higher."

"Certainly he wants to, and he will, too. It's in him. Paaschen always
says so and he knows."

This walk over to the office had consumed perhaps a quarter of an
hour, and when Johanna returned, Effi was already sitting before the
pier-glass, waiting.

"You were gone a long time, Johanna."

"Yes, your Ladyship--I beg your Ladyship's pardon--I met Mrs. Paaschen
over there and was delayed a bit. It is so quiet here. One is always
glad to meet a person with whom one can speak a word. Christel is a
very good person, but she doesn't talk, and Frederick is such a
sleepy-head. Besides, he is so cautious and never comes right out with
what he has to say. True, one must be able to hold one's tongue when
necessary, and Mrs. Paaschen, who is so inquisitive, is really not at
all according to my taste. Yet one likes to see and hear something
once in a while."

Effi sighed. "Yes, Johanna, it is better so."

"Your Ladyship has such beautiful hair, so long, and soft as silk."

"Yes, it is very soft. But that is not a good thing, Johanna. As the
hair is, so is the character."

"Certainly, your Ladyship. And a soft character is better than a hard
one. I have soft hair, too."

"Yes, Johanna. And you have blonde hair, too. That the men like best."

"Oh, there is a great difference, your Ladyship. There are many who
prefer black."

"To be sure," laughed Effi, "that has been my experience, too. But it
must be because of something else entirely. Now, those who are blonde
always have a white complexion. You have,