Chapters 25-28 Summary

Innstetten and Rollo meet Effi at the station. He thought she would not keep her word. He has professional and social matters on his mind. They are obligated to entertain, and she must delight officialdom. Occasions remain rare, and they spend time mostly at home with Wüllersdorf, Dagobert, and the Gizickis, a young married couple who live above them. They often share anecdotes about small-town life, including "good old Kessin," among whose characters Major Crampas numbers first. Effi is hard-pressed to join in the laughter about her fancying him. She feels pursued by a shadow. Her anxieties are less frequent and less severe than before, and she receives affection from her husband. The Briests visit occasionally and are happy Annie's growth, but are concerned that it appears she will be an only child and the family name will die out...