So she was very eager to correct her mistake the
best she could, and when she had got up and taken a seat before the
pier-glass she resumed the conversation, saying: "Moreover, his
Lordship is quite right. Always to be up early was likewise the rule
in my parents' home. When people sleep away the morning, everything is
out of gear the rest of the day. But his Lordship will not be so
strict with me. For a long time last night I couldn't sleep, and was
even frightened a little bit."
"What must I hear, your Ladyship? What was it, pray?"
"There was a very strange noise overhead, not loud, but very
penetrating. At first it sounded as though gowns with long trains were
dragging over the floor, and in my excitement it seemed a few times as
though I heard little white satin slippers. It seemed as though they
were dancing overhead, but quite softly."
As the conversation ran on thus Johanna glanced over the shoulder of
the young wife at the tall narrow mirror in order the better to
observe Effi's facial expressions. In reply she said: "Oh, yes, that
is up in the social room. We used to hear it in the kitchen, too. But
now we don't hear it any more; we have become accustomed to it."
"Is there anything unusual about it?"
"God forbid, not in the least. For a while no one knew for sure what
it came from, and even the preacher looked embarrassed, in spite of
the fact that Dr. Gieshuebler always simply laughed at it. But now we
know that it comes from the curtains.
Pages:
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345