tence
with, "Oh, Roswitha, I am again afraid," then the faithful soul always
had a good answer ready, always comfort and usually advice.

Until Christmas they got on excellently, but Christmas eve was rather
sad and when New Year's Day came Effi began to grow quite melancholy.
It was not cold, only grizzly and rainy, and if the days were short,
the evenings were so much the longer. What was she to do! She read,
she embroidered, she played solitaire, she played Chopin, but
nocturnes were not calculated to bring much light into her life, and
when Roswitha came with the tea tray and placed on the table, beside
the tea service, two small plates with an egg and a Vienna cutlet
carved in small slices, Effi said, as she closed the piano: "Move up,
Roswitha. Keep me company."

Roswitha joined her. "I know, your Ladyship has been playing too much
again. Your Ladyship always looks like that and has red spots. The
doctor forbade it, didn't he?"

"Ah, Roswitha, it is easy for the doctor to forbid, and also easy for
you to repeat everything he says. But what shall I do? I can't sit all
day long at the window and look over toward Christ's Church. Sundays,
during the evening service, when the windows are lighted up, I always
look over that way; but it does me no good, it always makes my heart
feel heavier."

"Well, then, your Ladyship ought to go to church. Your Ladyship has
been there once."

"Oh, many a time. But I have derived little benefit from it. He
preaches quite well and is a very wise man, and I should be happy if I
knew the hundredth part of it all. But it seems as though I were
merely reading a book. Then when he speaks so loud and saws the air
and shakes his long black locks I am drawn, entirely out of my
attitude of worship."

"Out of?"

Effi laughed. "You think I hadn't yet got into such an attitude. That
is probably true. But whose fault is it? Certainly not mine. He always
talks so much about the Old Testament. Even if that is very good it
doesn't edify me. Anyhow, this everlasting listening is not the right
thing. You see, I ought to have so much to do that I should not know
whither to turn. That would suit me. Now there are societies where
young girls learn housekeeping, or sewing, or to be kindergarten
teachers. Have you ever heard of these?"

"Yes, I once heard of them. Once upon a time little Annie was to go to
a kindergarten."

"Now you see, you know better than I do. I should like to join some
suc