Effi, who expected to be with her parents in Hohen-Cremmen from the middle of August on, would have liked to postpone the baptism till then.  But it was not feasible.  Innstetten could not take a vacation and so the 15th of August * * * was set for the ceremony, which of course was to take place in the church.  The accompanying banquet was held in the large clubhouse on the quay, because the district councillor’s house had no dining hall.  All the nobles of the neighborhood were invited and all came.  Pastor Lindequist delivered the toast to the mother and the child in a charming way that was admired on all sides.  But Sidonie von Grasenabb took occasion to remark to her neighbor, an assessor of the strict type:  “Yes, his occasional addresses will pass.  But he cannot justify his sermons before God or man.  He is a half-way man, one of those who are rejected because they are lukewarm.  I don’t care to quote the Bible here literally.”  Immediately thereafter old Mr. von Borcke took the floor to drink to the health of Innstetten:  “Ladies and Gentlemen:  These are hard times in which we live; rebellion, defiance, lack of discipline, whithersoever we look.  But * * * so long as we still have men like Baron von Innstetten, whom I am proud to call my friend, just so long we can endure it, and our old Prussia will hold out.  Indeed, my friends, with Pomerania and Brandenburg we can conquer this foe and set our foot upon the head of the poisonous dragon of revolution.  Firm and true, thus shall we gain the victory.  The Catholics, our brethren, whom we must respect, even though we fight them, have the ’rock of Peter,’ but our rock is of bronze.  Three cheers for Baron Innstetten!” Innstetten thanked him briefly.  Effi said to Major von Crampas, who sat beside her, that the ‘rock of Peter’ was probably a compliment to Roswitha, and she would later approach old Councillor of Justice Gadebusch and ask him if he were not of her opinion.  For some unaccountable reason Crampas took this remark seriously and advised her not to ask the Councillor’s opinion, which amused Effi exceedingly.  “Why, I thought you were a better mind-reader.”

“Ah, your Ladyship, in the case of beautiful young women who are not yet eighteen the art of mind-reading fails utterly.”

“You are defeating your cause completely, Major.  You may call me a grandmother, but you can never be pardoned for alluding to the fact that I am not yet eighteen.”

When they left the table the late afternoon steamer came down the Kessine and called at the landing opposite the clubhouse.  Effi sat by an open window with Crampas and Gieshuebler, drinking coffee and watching the scene below.  “Tomorrow morning at nine the same boat will take me up the river, and at noon I shall be in Berlin, and in the evening I shall be in Hohen-Cremmen, and Roswitha will walk beside me and carry the child in her arms.  I hope it will not cry.  Ah, what a feeling it gives me even today!  Dear Gieshuebler, were you ever so happy to see again your parental home?”