CHAPTER XXII

utwhatrevenge?"heasked. "NothingtodowithMissEstcourt,ofcourse.Leaveheralone——" "Leaveheralone?"criedhiswife,"what,whensheitis——" "Silence,Frau!"roaredDellwig."Leaveheralone,Isay.Youwon'tgainanythingthere,youngman.ButgotoherBr?utigamLohmandtellhimaboutit,andshowhimthestuff.He'llbeinterested." Dellwiglaughedboisterously,andtooktwoorthreerapidturnsupanddowntheroom.HehadnotlivedwitholdJoachimandseenmuchofoldLohmandthesurroundinglandownerswithouthavinglearnedsomethingoftheirviewsonquestionsofhonour.AxelLohmheknewtobespeciallystrictandstrait-laced,topossessinquiteanunusualdegreetheidealsthatDellwigthoughtsoabsurdandsounpractical,theideals,thatis,ofaChristiangentleman.Hadhenotknownhimsincehewasachild?Andhehadalwaysbeenaprig.HowwouldhelikeMissEstcourttobetalkedabout,asofcourseshewouldbetalkedabout?Klutz'smouthcouldnotbestopped,andthewholedistrictwouldknowwhathadbeengoingon.AxelLohmcouldnotandwouldnotmarryayoungladywhowroteversestovicarsandifallrelationsbetweenLohmandKleinwaldeceased,whythenlifewouldresumeitsformerpleasantcourse,he,Dellwig,stayingonathispost,becoming,aswasnatural,hismistress'ssoleadviser,andcertainlyafterduepersuasionachievingallhewanted,includingthebrick-kiln.Theplainnessandclearnessofthefuturewasbeautiful.Hewalkedupanddowntheroommakingoddsoundsofsatisfaction,andsilencinghiswifewithvigoureverytimesheopenedherlips.Evenhiswife,soquickasaruleofcomprehension,hadnotgraspedhowthispoemhadchangedtheirsituation,andhowitbehovedthemnownottoabusetheirmistressbeforeamischief-makingyoungman.Shewasblinded,heknew,byherhatredofMissEstcourt.Womenwerealwaystheslaves,indefianceoftheirowninterests,tosomeemotionorotherifitwasnotlove,thenitwashatred.Nevercouldtheywaitforanythingwhatever.Thepassingpassionmustoutandbeindulged,howeverfataltheconsequencesmightbe.Whatasettheywere!Andthebestofthem,whatfools.Heglancedangrilyathiswifeashepassedher,buthisglance,travellingfromhertoKlutz,whosatquitestillwithheadsunkonhischest,legsstraightoutbeforehim,thehandwiththepaperlooselyheldinithangingdownoutofthecufflesssleevenearlytothefloor,andvacanteyesstaringintospace,hisgoodhumourreturned,andhegaveanotherharshlaugh."Well?"hesaid,standinginfrontofthisdejectedfigure."Howlongwillyousitthere?IfIwereyouI'dlosenotime.Youdon'twantthosetwotobemakingloveandenjoyingthemselvesanhourlongerthanisnecessary,doyou?Withyououtinthecold?Withyousocruellydeceived?Andmadetolooksoridiculous?I'dspoilthatifIwereyou,atonce." "Yes,youareright.I'llgotoHerrvonLohmandseeifIcanhaveaninterview." Klutzgotupwithagreatshowofdetermination,putthepaperinhispocket,andbuttonedhiscoatoveritforgreatersecurity.Thenhehesitated. "Itisashamefulthing,isn'tit?"hesaid,hiseyesonDellwig'sface. "Shameful?It'sdownrightcruel." "Shameful?"beganhiswife. "Silence,Itellthee!Youngladies'jokesaresometimescruel,yousee.Ibelieveitwasajoke,butaveryheartlessone,andonethathasmadeyoulookmorefoolisheventhanhalf-fledgedpastorsofyouragegenerallydolook.Itisonlyfairinreturntospoilhergameforher.Takeanotherglassofbrandy,andgoanddoit." KlutzstaredhardforamomentatDellwig.Thenheseizedthebrandy,gulpeditdown,snatcheduphishat,andtakingnofarewellnoticeofeitherhusbandorwife,hurriedoutoftheroom.Theysawhimpassbeneaththewindow,hishatoverhiseyes,hisfacewhite,hisearsaflame. "Theregoesafool,"saidDellwig,rubbinghishands,"andasusefulaoneaseverIsaw.Buthere'sanotherfool,"headded,turningsharplytohiswife,"andIdon'twanttheminmyownhouse." Andheproceededtotellher,inthevigorousandconvincinglanguageofajustlyirritatedhusband,whathethoughtofher.