here, just above its mouth, was rather broad and stately.  It was a striking view and Effi did not hesitate to give lively expression to her pleasure.  “Yes, very beautiful, very picturesque,” answered Innstetten, without going more into detail, and then opened a double door to the right, with leaves hanging somewhat askew, which led into the so-called social room.  This room ran clear across the whole story.  Both front and back windows were open and the oft-mentioned curtains swung back and forth in the strong draft.  From the middle of one side wall projected an open fireplace with a large stone mantlepiece, while on the opposite wall there hung a few tin candlesticks, each with two candle sockets, just like those downstairs in the hall, except that everything looked dingy and neglected.  Effi was somewhat disappointed and frankly said so.  Then she remarked that she would rather look at the rooms across the hall than at this miserable, deserted social room.  “To tell the truth, there is absolutely nothing over there,” answered Innstetten, but he opened the doors nevertheless.  Here were four rooms with one window each, all tinted yellow, to match the social room, and all completely empty, except that in one there stood three rush-bottomed chairs, with seats broken through.  On the back of one was pasted a little picture, only half a finger long, representing a Chinaman in blue coat and wide yellow trousers, with a low-crowned hat on his head.  Effi saw it and said:  “What is the Chinaman doing here?” Innstetten himself seemed surprised at the picture and assured her that he did not know.  “Either Christel or Johanna has pasted it there.  Child’s play.  You can see it is cut out of a primer.”  Effi agreed with that and was only surprised that Innstetten took everything so seriously, as though it meant something after all.

Then she cast another glance into the social room and said, in effect, that it was really a pity all that room should stand empty.  “We have only three rooms downstairs and if anybody comes to visit us we shall not know whither to turn.  Don’t you think one could make two handsome guest rooms out of the social room?  This would just suit mama.  She could sleep in the back room and would have the view of the river and the two moles, and from the front room she could see the city and the Dutch windmill.  In Hohen-Cremmen we have even to this day only a German windmill.  Now say, what do you think of it?  Next May mama will surely come.”

Innstetten agreed to everything, only he said finally:  “That is all very well.  But after all it will be better if we give your mama rooms over in the district councillor’s office building.  The whole second story is vacant there, just as it is here, and she will have more privacy there.”