stetten is so conscientious and he desires to be
thought well of, I believe, and has his own plans for the future.
Kessin, you know, is only a stepping stone. And, after all, I am not
going to run away from him. He has me, you see. If he were too
affectionate--beside the difference between our ages--people would
merely smile."

"Yes, they would, Effi. But one must not mind that. Now, don't say
anything about it, not even to mama. It is so hard to say what to do
and what not. That is also a wide field."

More than once during Effi's visit with her parents such conversations
as the above had occurred, but fortunately their effect had not lasted
long. Likewise the melancholy impression made upon her by the Kessin
house at the moment of her return quickly faded away. Innstetten was
full of little attentions, and when tea had been taken and the news
of the city and the gossip about lovers had been talked over in a
merry mood Effi took his arm affectionately and went into the other
room with him to continue their chat and hear some anecdotes about
Miss Trippelli, who had recently had another lively correspondence
with Gieshuebler. This always meant a new debit on her never settled
account. During this conversation Effi was very jolly, enjoying to the
full the emotions of a young wife, and was glad to be rid of Roswitha,
who had been transferred to the servants' quarters for an indefinite
period.

The next morning she said: "The weather is beautiful and mild and I
hope the veranda on the side toward the 'Plantation' is in good order,
so that we can move out of doors and take breakfast there. We shall be
shut up in our rooms soon enough, at best, for the Kessin winters are
really four weeks too long."

Innstetten agreed heartily. The veranda Effi spoke of, which might
perhaps better be called a tent, had been put up in the summer, three
or four weeks before Effi's departure for Hohen-Cremmen. It consisted
of a large platform, with the side in front open, an immense awning
overhead, while to the right and left there were broad canvas
curtains, which could be shoved back and forth by means of rings on an
iron rod. It was a charming spot and all summer long was admired by
the visitors who passed by on their way to the baths.

Effi had leaned back in a rocking chair and said, as she pushed the
coffee tray toward her husband: "Geert, you might play the amiable
host today. I for my part find this rocker so comfortable that I do