Part 88 (1/2)
”Korlin Kegel, what does this mean?”
”Ah, Madam, I don't know; to be sure, she got a long letter this evening.”
Mining returned quickly, and Frau Nussler and Korlin took the young Frau into the bedroom, and when she was undressed, and had drunk the tea, and lay in Frau Nussler's bed, her senses returned, for it was mere physical weakness which had overpowered her, and if the first shock, and the dreadful feeling that there was no creature who could help her, had turned her brain a little, here by this friendly face, and this friendly treatment, she was herself again. She sat up in bed, and looked confidingly into Frau Nussler's eyes: ”You told me once, if I were ever in trouble, you would help me.”
”And so I will,” said Frau Nussler, quite overcome, and stroking her hands she said ”Tell me, what is it?”
”Ah, much!” cried the young Frau, ”our laborers are discontented, we are in debt, deeply in debt, they are going to sell the estate----”
”Preserve us!” cried Frau Nussler, ”but there is time enough for that!”
”I could have borne that,” said the young Frau, ”but another trouble has driven me to you, and I cannot and dare not tell you----”
”Don't speak of it, then, gracious Frau. But this isn't business for women; we ought to have a man's counsel, and if you feel able, we might drive over to see my brother Karl, at Rahnstadt.”
”Ah, I could go; but how should I look the man in the face, whom----”
”That is where you are mistaken, gracious Frau, you don't know him.
Jochen!” she cried at the door, ”let Krischan harness up, but let him make haste, and do you make haste, too! Mining!” she cried at another door, ”bring your new Sunday mantle and hat, and a shawl; we are going out.”
All was quickly ready, and as she got into the carriage, Frau Nussler said to Krischan:
”Krischan, you know I don't like fast driving; but drive fast to-night!
We must be in Rahnstadt in half an hour. Else they will have gone to bed,” she added to the young Frau.
The little a.s.sessor had just gone home from the Frau Pastorin's, Habermann and Brasig had said ”Good-night!” and gone up-stairs, and Brasig opened the window and looked out, to observe the weather: ”Karl,” said he, ”what a fragrance there is after the storm! The whole air is full of atmosphere.” Just then a carriage stopped at the Frau Pastorin's, and the light from the house shone directly upon it.
”Preserve us!” cried Brasig. ”Karl, there are your sister and Mining, at this time of night!”
”Can any misfortune have happened!” exclaimed Habermann, s.n.a.t.c.hing the candle, and running down to the door.
”Sister,” he asked hastily, as Frau Nussler met him at the foot of the stairs, ”why have you come here, in the night? Mining,”--but he stopped abruptly,--”gracious Frau! You here, at this time?”
”Karl, quick!” said Frau Nussler, ”the gracious Frau wishes to speak with you alone. Make haste, before the others come!”
Habermann opened the Frau Pastorin's best room, and led the young Frau in; he followed her, just catching, as he shut the door, the beginning of Brasig's speech, on the stairs:
”May you keep the nose on your face! What have you come here for?
Excuse me, for coming down in my s.h.i.+rt sleeves; Karl very inconsiderately took away the light, and I couldn't find my coat, in the dark. But where is he, and where is Mining?”
Frau Nussler was not obliged to answer these questions, for Louise came out of the Frau Pastorin's room with a light.
”Bless me! aunt!”
”Louise, come in here, and you, Brasig, put your coat on, and come down to the Frau Pastorin's room!” They did so, and Frau Pastorin came in also, and the hall was left empty and still, and if one had put his ear to the door on the right, he would have heard the honest, touching confession, which the young Frau, at first with embarra.s.sment and bitter tears, but afterwards with entire confidence and secret hope in her heart, poured out to the old inspector; and if he had listened at the door on the left, he would have heard the most frightful lying from Frau Nussler, for it had occurred to the good lady that, since they had taken the gracious Frau for Mining, she might as well pa.s.s for Mining, till she had finished her business, so that they need not torment her with questions, and so she told them that Mining had a dreadful toothache, and that her brother Karl knew of a remedy, a sort of magnetism, which must be applied between twelve and one o'clock at night, in perfect silence; and Frau Pastorin said she thought that was an unchristian proceeding, and Brasig remarked, ”I never knew that Karl had any taste for magnetism and doctoring.” And after a little, Habermann put his head in at the door, and said, ”Frau Pastorin, leave the door unlocked, I have an errand out, but I shall be back soon,” and before Frau Pastorin could say a word, he was gone, and he went to the street where Moses lived.
CHAPTER XLV.