Effi Briest (24 page)

‘It looks just as it did when we arrived here. Do you still remember that, Effi?’

She nodded.

‘Except that the shark with his spruce branch is behaving more calmly today, and Rollo’s conducting himself with restraint too and not putting his paws on my shoulders any more. What’s wrong with you Rollo, old boy?’

Rollo rubbed against his master’s legs on his way past and wagged his tail.

‘He’s not pleased about something, either it’s me or other people. Well, I suppose it must be me. Anyway, let’s go in.’ And he stepped into his room, and sitting down on the sofa, asked Effi to sit beside him. ‘It was so nice in Berlin, unexpectedly so; but all the time I was enjoying myself I was still longing to be back. And how well you’re looking! A little pale and a little changed, but it suits you.’

Effi blushed.

‘And now you’re blushing too. But it’s just as I say. Before you could sometimes look like a spoilt child, and now all of a sudden you look like a woman.’

‘I’m pleased to hear that Geert, but I think you’re just saying it.’

‘No, not at all, you must accept the credit, if it’s something creditable…’

‘I should think so.’

‘And now guess who sends you greetings.’

‘That’s not hard Geert. And in any case we wives, I count myself among them now that you’re back again’ – and she gave him her hand and laughed – ‘we wives are good at guessing. We’re not as slow as you.’

‘Well, who then?’

‘Cousin Briest of course. He’s the only person I know in Berlin, not counting my aunts whom you won’t have called on, and who are much too envious to send their greetings. Haven’t you found that old aunts are always envious?’

‘Yes Effi, that’s true. And when you say that, I hear my old Effi again. For you know, the old Effi, the one who still looked like a child, was also much to my taste. Just as much as my lady wife is today.’

‘Was she indeed? And if you had to choose between the two…’

‘That’s a question for scholarly research, I don’t intend to get involved in that. But here’s Friedrich with the tea. How I’ve been longing for this moment! And I said as much too, to your cousin Briest no less, when we were sitting in Dressel’s toasting you in champagne… Your ears must have been burning… and do you know what your cousin replied?’

‘Something foolish, no doubt. That’s his forte.’

‘That’s the blackest ingratitude I’ve heard in my whole life. “Here’s to Effi,” he said, “my beautiful cousin… You know, Innstetten, what I’d most like would be to challenge you to a duel and shoot you dead. For Effi is an angel, and you’ve deprived me of that angel.” And as he said it he looked so serious and mournful that one could almost have believed him.’

‘Oh, I know that mood that takes him. How many glasses had you had?’

‘I don’t remember, and possibly I wouldn’t have known even at the time. But I do believe he was being absolutely serious. And it might even have been the right thing. Don’t you think you would have got on well with him?’

‘Got on well with him? That’s not saying much Geert. But I’m almost sure I wouldn’t even have got on well with him.’

‘Why not? He really is a very delightful and pleasant chap and he’s even quite clever.’

‘Yes, he’s all that…’

‘But…’

‘But he’s a bit silly. And that’s not a quality we women appreciate, not even when we’re half children, which is how you’ve always seen me, and maybe still do, in spite of my progress. Silliness is not for us. Men should be men.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. By Jove, that puts one on one’s mettle. And by happy chance I can claim to have just come from something that was very like being put on my mettle, or at least will require it in the future. Tell me, what would you say to a ministry?’

‘A ministry? That can be one of two things. It can be people, clever, distinguished gentlemen who govern the country, and it can also just be a building, a palazzo, a Palazzo Strozzi or Pitti, or if you don’t care for them, some other palace. You can see, I didn’t go on my Italian journey for nothing.’

‘And could you bring yourself to live in such a palazzo? I mean in such a ministry?’

‘Goodness gracious Geert, they haven’t made you a minister? Gieshübler said something of the sort. And of course Prince Bismarck can do anything. My goodness, has he actually managed that, and me only eighteen?’

Innstetten laughed. ‘No Effi, not a minister, we’re not as far as that yet. But it may be that I’ll prove to have all kinds of talents, and then it won’t be impossible.’

‘So not for the moment, not a minister yet?’

‘No. And I have to say we won’t even live in the Ministry, but I shall be at the Ministry every day, just as now I’m at the Landrat’s office, and I shall report to the Minister and travel with him when he goes to inspect the provincial authorities. And you’ll be the wife of a Ministerialrat and live in Berlin, and in six months’ time you’ll almost have forgotten being here in Kessin with nothing but Gieshübler and the dunes and the Plantation.’

Effi said nothing, her eyes only grew wider; there was a nervous twitch at the corner of her mouth and her whole delicate frame quivered. Suddenly she slid down from her seat in front of Innstetten, hugged his knees and in
a tone as if she were praying said, ‘Thank God.’

Innstetten paled. What was this? Something that had been with him on and off for weeks was back and could be read so clearly in his eyes that Effi was alarmed by it. She had been swept away by a noble sentiment that was little short of a confession of guilt and had said more than she should have. She had to counteract that again, had to find something, some way out, whatever the cost.

‘Get up Effi. What’s wrong?’

Effi stood up quickly. She didn’t resume her place on the sofa, but instead pulled up a high-backed chair, evidently because she didn’t feel she had the strength to hold herself erect without support.

‘What’s wrong?’ Innstetten repeated. ‘I thought your days here had been happy. And now you exclaim “Thank God” as if the whole thing here had been an ordeal. Was
I
an ordeal for you? Or was it something else? Tell me.’

‘I don’t know how you can still ask Geert,’ she said, trying her utmost to control the tremor in her voice. ‘Happy days! Of course there were happy days, but there was another kind too. I’ve never been completely free from fear here, never. It’s not two weeks since I saw it over my shoulder again, the same face, the same sallow complexion. And these last nights, with you away, it came back again, not the face, but the shuffling, and Rollo barked again, and Roswitha heard it too and came to my bedside and sat by me, and we only nodded off again when it was getting light. This house is haunted, and I was meant to believe that business about the ghost – for you’re a pedagogue. Yes Geert, that’s what you are. But never mind that, all I know is I’ve been afraid in this house for a whole year and more, and when I get away from here, I’ll expect to be rid of all that and be free again.’

Innstetten’s eyes had not left her and he had followed every word. What did she mean, ‘you’re a pedagogue’? – and the other thing she had said just before, ‘and I was meant to believe that business about the ghost’. What was all that? Where did it come from? And he felt that slight suspicion of his stir again and settle in more firmly. But he had lived long enough to know that all signs are deceptive and that in our jealousy, despite its hundred eyes, we more often go wrong than in the blindness of our trust. It could well be just as she said. And if it was, why shouldn’t she exclaim, ‘Thank God!’

And so, quickly reviewing all the possibilities, he overcame his suspicions and reached out to her across the table. ‘Forgive me Effi, but all that took me so much by surprise. All my fault, of course. I’ve always been too wrapped up in my own affairs. We men are all self-centred. But that is going to change. There’s one good thing about Berlin: it has no haunted houses. Where would they come from? And now let’s go over and see Annie; otherwise Roswitha will accuse me of being an unfeeling father.’

Listening to these words, Effi had gradually. grown calmer, and the feeling that she had successfully extricated herself from a danger of her own making restored her resilience and composure.

‘I’ve been thinking about it Effi,’ said Innstetten, ‘you’re not entirely wrong in all you said against our house here. It may have been good enough for Captain Thomsen, but not for a spoilt young woman; everything old-fashioned, no room for anything. You’ll be better off in Berlin, with a proper reception room, not like the gallery here, and a hallway and staircase with tall stained-glass windows, Kaiser Wilhelm with crown and sceptre, or something religious perhaps, Saint Elizabeth, or the Virgin Mary. Let’s say the Virgin Mary, we owe it to Roswitha.’

Effi laughed. ‘So be it. But who’s going find us a place? I can’t very well send Cousin Briest to look. Or my aunts for that matter! Anything’s good enough as far as they’re concerned.’

‘Yes, house-hunting. A thankless task to impose on anyone. I’m afraid you’ll just have to go yourself’

‘And when, do you think?’

‘Mid-March.’

‘Oh, that’s far too late Geert. Everything will have gone by then. The good places are hardly going to wait for us.’

‘That’s true. But I only got back yesterday, so I can’t very well say “Go tomorrow.” It just wouldn’t do, and it wouldn’t suit me either; I’m pleased to have you again.’

‘No,’ she said, gathering the coffee service together noisily to conceal her rising embarrassment, ‘no, that wouldn’t do, not today or tomorrow, but one day soon. And as soon as I find something, I’ll be straight back. But there’s one more thing, Roswitha and Annie must come with me. It would be best of all if you could come too. But it can’t be done, I can see that. And it won’t be a long separation. I already know where I’m going to take an apartment…’

‘Yes? Tell me.’

‘That’s my secret. I want to have a secret too. Then I can surprise you with it.’

At that moment Friedrich came in with the post. It was mostly official communications and newspapers. ‘Ah, there’s a letter for you too,’ said Innstetten. ‘And if I’m not mistaken, it’s your mother’s writing.’

Effi took the letter. ‘Yes, it’s from Mamma. But it’s not postmarked Frie-sack; look, it clearly says Berlin.’

‘So it does,’ laughed Innstetten, ‘You’re acting as if it’s a miracle. Your mother must be in Berlin, and she’s written her darling a letter from her hotel.’

‘Yes,’ said Effi, ‘you’re probably right. But I’m almost afraid, and I don’t take any comfort in what Hulda Niemeyer always used to say on the subject: that it’s better to fear than to hope. What do you think Geert?’

‘Not quite up to the mark for a pastor’s daughter. But do read the letter. Here’s a paper-knife.’

Effi slit open the envelope and read:

Innstetten fell right into the trap. ‘Well Effi, why so silent?’

‘Oh Geert, there are two sides to everything. On the one hand I’d be so happy to see Mamma again, perhaps in a few days’ time. But there’s so much against the idea too.’

‘What?’

‘Mamma, as you know, has such fixed ideas and she only knows her own wishes. With Papa she has always been able to get her own way. But I want a place that’s to
my
taste, and newly furnished to suit
me
.’

Innstetten laughed. ‘Is that all?’

‘Well, that would be enough. But it isn’t all.’ And at this point she collected herself and looked him in the eye and said, ‘And then Geert, I don’t want to leave you again straight away.’

‘Minx, you’re just saying that because you know my weak spot. But we all have our vanity, so I’ll believe it. I’ll believe it, but at the same time I’ll play the heroic role of renunciation. Go as soon as you think fit, as soon as your heart will allow.’

‘You mustn’t talk like that Geert. “Your heart will allow” – what’s that supposed to mean? You’re as good as forcing me to play the sweet young thing who, out of pure coquetry, must reply, “Oh Geert, then I can never go.” Or something of the sort.’

Innstetten wagged a finger at her. ‘Effi, you’re too subtle for me. I always thought you were a child, and now I see that in fact, like most women, you’ve got the measure of your husband. But let’s drop the subject, or as your Papa always used to say, “that’s too vast a subject.” Just tell me when you’re going.’

‘Today’s Tuesday. Let’s say Friday on the midday boat. Then I’ll be in Berlin by evening.’

‘Settled. And when will you be coming back?’

‘Well, let’s say Monday evening. That’s three days.’

‘Can’t be done. That’s too soon. You can’t do everything in three days. And your mother won’t let you go so soon anyway.’

‘Well, when I choose then.’

‘All right.’

And with that Innstetten rose to go across to the Landrat’s office.