“And what came of it?”

“The thing that was bound to come and always does come.  He was still much too young and when my papa appeared on the scene, who had already attained the title of baronial councillor and the proprietorship of Hohen-Cremmen, there was no need of further time for consideration.  She accepted him and became Mrs. von Briest.”

“What did Innstetten do?” said Bertha, “what became of him?  He didn’t commit suicide, otherwise you could not be expecting him today.”

“No, he didn’t commit suicide, but it was something of that nature.”

“Did he make an unsuccessful attempt?”

“No, not that.  But he didn’t care to remain here in the neighborhood any longer, and he must have lost all taste for the soldier’s career, generally speaking.  Besides, it was an era of peace, you know.  In short, he asked for his discharge and took up the study of the law, as papa would say, with a ‘true beer zeal.’  But when the war of seventy broke out he returned to the army, with the Perleberg troops, instead of his old regiment, and he now wears the cross.  Naturally, for he is a smart fellow.  Right after the war he returned to his documents, and it is said that Bismarck thinks very highly of him, and so does the Emperor.  Thus it came about that he was made district councillor in the district of Kessin.”

“What is Kessin?  I don’t know of any Kessin here.”

“No, it is not situated here in our region; it is a long distance away from here, in Pomerania, in Farther Pomerania, in fact, which signifies nothing, however, for it is a watering place (every place about there is a summer resort), and the vacation journey that Baron Innstetten is now enjoying is in reality a tour of his cousins, or something of the sort.  He wishes to visit his old friends and relatives here.”

“Has he relatives here?”

“Yes and no, depending on how you look at it.  There are no Innstettens here, there are none anywhere any more, I believe.  But he has here distant cousins on his mother’s side, and he doubtless wished above all to see Schwantikow once more and the Belling house, to which he was attached by so many memories.  So he was over there the day before yesterday and today he plans to be here in Hohen-Cremmen.”

“And what does your father say about it?”

“Nothing at all.  It is not his way.  Besides, he knows mama, you see.  He only teases her.”

At this moment the clock struck twelve and before it had ceased striking, Wilke, the old factotum of the Briest family, came on the scene to give a message to Miss Effi:  “Your Ladyship’s mother sends the request that your Ladyship make her toilet in good season; the Baron will presumably drive up immediately after one o’clock.”  While Wilke was still delivering this message he began to put the ladies’ work-table in order and reached first for the sheet of newspaper, on which the gooseberry hulls lay.