t
possible, when we had put the old woman in her grave and the relatives
made haste to get away and left me sitting here?"

"Yes, it is the unexpected that often happens, Roswitha, and
occasionally for our good. Let us go now. Rollo is getting impatient
and keeps running down to the gate."

Roswitha was ready at once, but went back to the grave, mumbled a few
words and crossed herself. Then they walked down the shady path and
back to the churchyard gate. * * *

CHAPTER XIV

In less than a quarter of an hour the house was reached. As they
stepped into the cool hall * * * Effi said: "Now, Roswitha, you go in
there. That is our bedroom. I am going over to the district
councillor's office to tell my husband that I should like to have you
as a nurse for the baby. He will doubtless agree to it, but I must
have his consent. Then when I have it we must find other quarters for
him and you will sleep with me in the alcove * * *"

When Innstetten learned the situation he said with alacrity: "You did
the right thing, Effi, and if her testimonials are not too bad we will
take her on her good face * * *"

Effi was very happy to have encountered so little difficulty, and
said: "Now it will be all right. Now I am no longer afraid * * *"

That same hour Roswitha moved into the house with her few possessions
and established herself in the little alcove. When the day was over
she went to bed early and, tired as she was, fell asleep instantly.

The next morning Effi inquired how she had slept and whether she had
heard anything.

"What?" asked Roswitha.

"Oh, nothing. I just meant some sound as though a broom were sweeping
or some one were sliding over the floor."

Roswitha laughed and that made an especially good impression upon her
young mistress. Effi had been brought up a Protestant and would have
been very much alarmed if any Catholic traits had been discovered in
her. And yet she believed that Catholicism affords the better
protection against such things as "that upstairs" * * *

All soon began to feel at home with one another, for Effi, like most
country noblewomen of Brandenburg, had the amiable characteristic of
liking to listen to such little stories as those for which the
deceased widow, with her avarice, her nephews and their wives,
afforded Roswitha an inexhaustible fund of material. Johanna was also
an appreciative listener.

Often, when Effi laughed aloud at the drastic passages, Johanna would
deign