But think of theoccupation it will afford Annemarie
during our absence. First, he would drink a cup of tea, savouring to the full
thefine flavour of Annemaries brew. BeforeAnnemarie, she stood the eternal
schoolgirl in face of her mistress.
Afterwards came the exquisitepleasure of
correction. And leaning over, he mischievously tweaked his wifes ear.
If they went farther afield, she rode in a
bath-chair,which was pushed by an old, one-eyed man. Elsa gave no trouble; put up no
fight for self-assertion. But both were kind to her now; being both highly satisfied
with the turnevents had taken. For he was that most distracted of mortals, the
creative artist whoseinspiration has failed him. In Annemaries presence, Elsa never
lost the sense of beingan unfinished child.
For, towards the unborn child, her brothers
child,Annemaries heart was already tender. Helistened into the darkness, straining
his ears.
All the same, she would not have been a woman if
she had not felt aslight malicious satisfaction. Putting out his hand, hedrew them
to him.
There, when the academicterm ended, the Professor
would join them.
None the less, deep down in him, there houseda
bitter resentment.
And for the first time in his life, the
Professorfound himself a person of secondary importance. They lay just as on the day
Elsa wastaken ill, virgin-pure of ink-mark or correction. To give way to emotion in
the presence of her betrothed or his sister wasunthinkable.
There had also been an abundance oftalk, and
gossip, and loving raillery.
But both were kind to her now; being both highly
satisfied with the turnevents had taken. In Annemaries presence, Elsa never lost the
sense of beingan unfinished child.
Never a day passed, however, but what Herr Braun
toiled up thesteep stairs to visit her.
Her father came to seeher every afternoon. And he
grew rounder and ruddierthan before.
For now she had to sing: there was nokeeping back
the tunes that rose to her lips. Forhim, the tall angular spinster stood for the
epitome of all a woman oughtnot to be.