history.  The devil knows how it ever came to possess such awful, absolute dominion.  Form a league of mothers, I should counsel women.  Each member shall give token of her motherhood by having children without the sanction of a man, that is, without regard for so-called honour.  In this lies woman’s strength, but only if she takes pride in her child, instead of bearing it with a troubled conscience, in cowardice, concealment, and fear.  Reacquire your proud, instinctive consciousness, which you are fully justified in having, of being the mothers of humanity; and having that consciousness, you will be invincible.”

Doctor Wilhelm, who kept in touch with professional circles, was acquainted with Frederick’s name and the outcome of his scientific career.  His unfortunate bacteriological work was on his book shelf.  Nevertheless, the name of Frederick von Kammacher had an authoritative ring, and association with the great man flattered him.  He listened to Frederick’s exposition intently.

The Red Cross sister entered again to summon Doctor Wilhelm to a first-class woman patient.  The physician’s small, close hermitage, in which Frederick was now left alone, gave him opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of his remarkable journey.  The Roland was proceeding more smoothly, and while he sat there smoking cigarettes, a sense of comfort came over him, partly attributable, however, to the general effect of a sea trip on one’s nerves.  It seemed wonderful to him to be on this great transport of human cargo, to be driven onward to a new continent along with so many fellow-men, subject to the same weal and woe.  And the cause of his presence on the ship was so curious!  Never before had he had so strange a sense of being a will-less puppet in the hands of destiny.  Again dark and light illusions mingled in his brain.  He thought of Ingigerd, whom he had not yet seen; and when he touched the quivering wall of the low room, he was penetrated by happiness, that the same walls were protecting him as the little dancer and that the same bottom was holding them up.

“It’s not true.  It’s a lie,” he repeated half aloud, referring to the statement of the armless man, that Hahlstroem was exposing his daughter to dishonour and was exploiting her.

Doctor Wilhelm’s return aroused Frederick from his dreams with a painful shock.  Doctor Wilhelm laughed and continued to laugh, as he threw his cap on the bed and said: 

“I’ve just dragged our little Hahlstroem and her pet dog on deck.  The little imp has been giving a regular performance, in which her faithful poodle, Achleitner, plays the part, one moment of the beaten cur, the next moment of the spoiled darling.”

Doctor Wilhelm’s report made Frederick uneasy.  The first time he had seen Mara, she seemed to him the incarnation of childish purity and innocence.  But since then, rumours had reached his ears which shook his faith in her chastity and caused him many agonised hours and sleepless nights.  He had even had an excellent opinion of her father, and that, too, was shaken.