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Updated: June 3, 2025
At the iron gate two cabs were standing, evidently waiting for visitors at the house. He was shown, not into the little blue-room, but into the large drawing-room near the winter garden, and found several people there in lively conversation. Beside Loulou and Frau Ellrich there were Fraulein Malvine Marker, with her mother, and also Herr von Pechlar, the lieutenant of hussars of cotillion fame.
"Might I speak to you, Fraulein?" he said, in a low, constrained voice. Malvine went very white, all the blood seemed to leave her heart, and she almost gasped for breath. After a short silence she whispered, "Certainly, Herr Doctor," and took him into the little room next the drawing-room, which contained a modest bookcase, a writing table, and chairs in red damask.
There were many tears and sobs, but the cup was drained like the others; and Marker began his new life in the Lutzowstrasse with his wife, his mother-in-law, and the little Malvine, who was the only child of their marriage. At first things went on pretty well.
While Malvine blushed and became confused when he entered the room, Wilhelm, on his side, spoke to the grandmother, mother, and daughter with exactly the same pleasant smile, and his hand rested not a moment longer in Malvine's than in that of her grandmother. On his side there was evidently nothing to dread. He felt he had a defender and support in Frau Brohl.
Malvine cried anxiously: "Let him go, Willy!" But Wilhelm reassured her. "He won't hurt him, he is quite gentle." Fido allowed himself to be dragged without much resistance into the middle of the room, only turning his head away nervously and eying the child askance, as if doubtful as to his intentions.
"I implore you, Wilhelm," said he in an anxious way, "just answer 'yes' or 'no, because the happiness of my life depends on your answer." "But I never thought of it," cried Wilhelm, grasping Paul's hand. "What put such an idea into your head?" "Then you are not in love with Malvine?" asked Paul obstinately. "No, I am not in love with Malvine, if you will have the answer in that precise form."
The separation from Malvine dissolved her grandmother and mother into sighs and tears, but during the short time that they had known Paul, his quiet, determined character had made such an impression on the two women that they submitted without a word to whatever he arranged.
He gave up his post as lecturer, in spite of the fact that the appointment as professor for the next six months depended on it; he left his young wife for three weeks, during which nothing was heard of him, except an occasional letter bearing the postmarks of Hamburg, Altona, or Harburg, then he appeared again, and told Malvine that they were to remove from Berlin, to spend in future a portion of the year in Hamburg, but to live chiefly on some property near Harburg.
Malvine threw him a quick glance from her blue eyes and looked down again. "What a good thing that I was here when you came," he said softly; "I might certainly not have seen you but for this chance." "The fact is, gnadiges Fraulein," he stammered, "our duties demand so much of our time." "Is Herr Haber in your regiment?" she asked. "No; he has remained with our old Fusilier Guards."
"Never mind; it is not all over yet. I know Malvine. She is a simple-minded girl, without a bit of sentiment in her, mentally and morally healthy. If she knew she had nothing to expect from you, I am perfectly certain that nothing would stand in the way of my happiness." "I will do whatever you wish and first of all, I must put a stop to my visits there."
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