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There was no time like the present, thought the sturdy Berbel, and no day like to-day for doing unpleasant things which could not be avoided. It was necessary to find an opportunity of speaking with Hilda alone, without danger of interruption, and as soon as possible.
'Oh, if you are in a hurry, you may take the bundle without any explanation, replied Wastei, holding it out towards her. Berbel took it, and felt it, as though trying to guess what it contained. 'What is it? she asked at length, as her imagination failed to suggest the nature of the contents. 'It is my coat, said Wastei. 'The old wolf's coat, if you like it better.
She had superintended everything and everybody, from the baby Sigmund to Greif himself, from the christening cake to the potato dumplings of the labourers' feast. Nothing had escaped her quick eyes, or her ready memory, and all had gone well to the end. But when all was over Berbel was tired, and she was fain to acknowledge that she was not the woman she had been twenty years before.
Berbel carried the paper to her own room and put it into a strong wooden box with her own most sacred belongings, the few relics of her husband which she possessed, a dozen letters written to her during the war, an old button from his uniform, a faded bit of ribband which had carried the medal for the war of 1866, and which she had once replaced with a new one, a pair of his old soldier's gloves and a lock of his hair.
After all, it might possibly contain some message, or some especial injunction which Greif ought to receive at once. To keep such a document concealed for any length of time would have been wholly unjustifiable. On the other hand Berbel was not sure how such a disclosure might affect Greif.
'When the years begin to come, he wants that and other things too. May- wine in May, Frau Berbel, and brown beer in October. 'And all the cherry spirits you can pick up, between times, I suppose. What are the other things? 'A good house to live in, and a good wife to roll the potato dumplings. These are two things that are good when the grey years come.
'Better leave dead people alone, she answered, thoughtfully rubbing the mole on her chin. 'In God's peace, said Wastei, lifting his small hat from his head. 'Or wherever else they may be, he added, putting it on again. There was a pause, during which Berbel reflected upon the situation, and Wastei leaned back against the grey wall, watching a hawk that was circling above the distant crags.
'I only wanted to spare you, said Berbel humbly. Hilda looked up quickly and then took the old servant's hand kindly in hers. 'I know, she said softly. 'But you must think first of him, always if you love me. Berbel are you perfectly sure that all this is true and real, that no wicked person is trying to do us some harm? 'I am as sure as I can be Wastei said I might ask the Jew, if I pleased.
It was the silence of a great happiness. On that fair June morning Hilda had borne her husband an heir to Sigmundskron. Berbel, transformed into the housekeeper of Sigmundskron, was busy with the preparations for the christening.
When they had reached their destination Berbel carefully bolted the door and turned to her mistress. It was a small bright room, vaulted and whitewashed, simply but comfortably furnished. Hilda sat down and looked up at Berbel's face, somewhat anxiously. 'It is nothing bad, said Berbel. 'But it will give pain to the baron, and so I consulted you.
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