Part 28 (1/2)

She would do fine was.h.i.+ng and ironing for the one-year volunteers; and he, Henke, should arrange it with them.

Henceforth the young wife spent her days over the wash-tub and the ironing-board. She found plenty to do; for the young men liked to have their things brought home by a lovely little person like the trumpeter's wife, in her neat fresh attire.

A special friends.h.i.+p soon established itself between her and Trautvetter. She looked upon the plump volunteer as a good-natured person, who did not, at any rate now, show any of the evil characteristics imputed to him by her husband. He looked rather embarra.s.sed when she thanked him heartily for giving back the notes-of-hand; and as he was acquainted with her husband's weaknesses it came to pa.s.s that they often talked about Henke. The woman felt a need of speaking out to some one about her husband, and Trautvetter gave her the best advice he could.

The young woman pleased him with her industrious, intelligent ways.

Formerly he would probably have thoughtlessly tried to seduce her; but now he felt an involuntary respect for her diligent activity, and her love for her husband impressed him.

The trumpeter soon became aware that his wife had a certain influence over the one-year volunteer, and he immediately used this discovery to make Lisbeth a means of obtaining further small loans of money.

Lisbeth was ashamed of the deception this entailed upon her; she always refused to undertake the commission, but on each occasion Henke managed to prevail upon her to do so. Then when she brought him the money he would laugh sarcastically. It was capital to have a pretty wife who could manage things so nicely. He had no need even to be jealous; she was helplessly in love with himself!

But in the course of time his wife's eyes were opened. She learnt to examine her husband more closely, and saw through him more clearly every day. How blind she had been! Now that her perceptions were sharpened her fondness suddenly disappeared, and nothing remained but a dim feeling of duty towards him. She would at any rate make good the wrong she had done to Trautvetter in her foolish adoration for her husband, and would not conceal the truth from the one-year volunteer.

She said nothing about a new request for money with which Henke had charged her, but confessed to him instead that all he had already given her for housekeeping and such-like had been appropriated by her husband, who had used it to buy himself a gold watch-chain, an extra sword, and silver spurs.

Trautvetter looked down upon her fair head. She had hung down her blus.h.i.+ng face and would not look up at him.

”I thought as much,” he said.

Without raising her eyes she asked: ”Then why did you do it?”

Trautvetter hesitated a moment, then he said gently: ”I thought I was doing you a pleasure, Frau Lisbeth.”

The young woman looked him full in the face for an instant. Then she stood up quickly, took her was.h.i.+ng-basket, and departed.

Henke had been awaiting her at home anxiously. He had just engaged in a love-affair with a music-hall singer, who had been entertaining the country people of the neighbourhood with her ditties during the August cattle-market season. ”Countess Miramara” was a great success on the boards, for her costume reached upwards and downwards only just as far as was absolutely necessary; but she repelled the advances of the farmers, though they jingled persuasively the coin they had received in exchange for their oxen and pigs. She preferred to distinguish with her favour the handsome black-bearded trumpeter.

Henke now wanted to show himself a gallant lover. He intended to present the countess with a bracelet.

”Give me the money!” he cried to Lisbeth when she entered.

”I have none,” she replied. ”Trautvetter won't give me any more.”

Henke tugged at his beard. This was a fatal upset to his calculations.

What would the countess say if he broke his promise?

He began quietly; ”Oh, yes, he'll give you some! You must just be a bit nice to him.”

Lisbeth looked surprised. ”What do you mean?” she said.

”Well, you women can always manage a man if you only want to, don't you see? Just be really nice to him. It's all the same to me.” And he left the room, much put out.

His pretty wife shook her head thoughtfully. What had he meant by ”a bit nice”?

Going into the town on an errand she met the one-year volunteer. They walked part of the way together. Lisbeth had forgotten her embarra.s.sment, and chattered away gaily.

Suddenly she remembered her husband's incomprehensible words, and she began, smilingly; ”Do you know, Herr Trautvetter, what my husband has just been saying to me, that I was to be really nice to you. Have I not been nice then?”