must take his
nap; she had had the library warmed on purpose, and the Major was not a
little proud that he was to sleep in the arm-chair there.

"Ah," he said, "I can sleep as well as the best Professor; but so many
books, so many books! it's frightful to think that a man can read them
all! I don't understand how it's possible."

The Major slept the sleep of the righteous; but he would have had no
rest if he could have guessed what was passing between the ladies.

Fraeulein Milch sat at the window by the Professorin, who listened in
astonishment as the simple housekeeper said how strange it was that
Eric should have consented to read the harrowing drama of Othello; the
Major had been driven almost crazy by it, and, besides, there were so
many points in it which could not be touched upon in the family.

"Do you know the play?" asked Frau Dournay.

"Indeed I do," replied Fraeulein Milch, her whole face flushing to her
very cap-border. Then, to the Professorin's surprise, she went on to
remark upon the poet's wonderful stroke of art in placing the young
married pair on the island of Cyprus, where strong wine is produced and
drunk, not always in moderation; for in that solitude, and under that
hot sun, wild, burning passions were fostered, too. The greater the
happiness of a fondly loving pair on such an island, the more miserable
would they be if any discord rose between them.

The Professorin listened as if a new person were speaking, whom she
had never known before; but she said nothing of her thoughts, only
asking:--

"Do you think then that the play was unsuitable to have been read there
because Herr Sonnenkamp has been a slave-holder?"

"I would rather not say more about it," said Fraeulein Milch evasively.
"I do not like to talk about the man; it rejoices me,--no, that isn't
the right word,--it makes me easier that he scarcely notices me, and
seems to think me too insignificant to be looked at. I am not angry
with him for it, but rather grateful, because it is not necessary for
me to look at him; and friendliness towards him would be hypocrisy."

"But you must not turn me off in that way. Can't you tell me why you
thought it unsuitable for being read?"

"I cannot."

Aunt Claudine, thinking she saw that Fraeulein Milch had something to
tell which was not for her to hear, quietly left the room.

"Now we are quite alone," said the Professorin, "you can tell me every
thing. Shall I assure you that I can kee