CHAPTER XI

AndsoitcametopassthatHerrDremmel,armedonlywithsimplicity,setasidetheresistancesofprinces,potentates,andpowers,andwasmarriedtoIngeborgbyherfathertheBishopinhisowncathedral.Anditwasdoneasquicklyasthelawallowed,notonlybecauseHerrDremmelwasdetermineditshouldbe,butbecausetheenduringofhisdailyarrivalforcourtingpurposesfromCoops,wherehewasstaying,becamerapidlyimpossiblefortheBishop.AlsotherewastheMasterofAnanias,spurredtoafrenzyofactivitybyHerrDremmel'ssuccessingettingthingshurriedon,insistingthathehadbeenengagedlongenoughanddemandingtobemarriedonthesameday. Intheendhewas,andIngeborg'swedding,beingJudith'saswell,wasunavoidablysplendid.AllalongthelinetheBishop'shandwasforced.Theverywedding-dresshadtobeasbeautifulfortheoneasfortheotherofhisdaughtersand,absurdlyandwickedly,hewasobligedtospendasmuchonhertrousseauwhowasgoingintopauperdomandobscurityfortherestofherdaysasonherswhowouldnodoubtbesoon,thoughofcourseonlyinGod'sgoodtime,themostmagnificentofwidows.HeneverafterwardswasabletofeelquitethesametotheDuchess.Withoutknowinganythingofthecircumstances,ofthesecretdisgraceoftheaffair,oftheblankundesirabilityinanycaseofsuchason-in-law,oftheextraordinaryinconvenienceandpecuniarylossofIngeborg'smarryingatall,shehadtakenupHerrDremmeltoanextentthatwaspositivelynearmakingherridiculous,supposingthat,humanlyspeaking,werepossible,andhadrammedhimdownthecounty'sthroattillatlastitbelievedthatofthetwohusbandsIngeborghadsecuredthebetter.AndthisgossipfilteredthroughintothePalace,andJudith,whoneverdidspeak,spokelessthanever,butedgingawaymoreandmoredecidedlyfromtheblandishmentsoftheMaster,whohadnotbeeninvitedtoCoops,spentmostofhertimeinherownroomengagedinnotlookingathertrousseauandthePalacebecamesuchanuncomfortableplacewhatwithonethingandanother,andthestrainofremainingcalmandbecominginconducttotheducallyprotectedHerrDremme