She lifted her hand to her throat. It was encircled by a necklace composed of seven rows of garnets and fastened in front with an agraffe. And how clever Mademoiselle Kramer was! How many things she could do!
She had placed a large mirror behind Walpurga, who could now see how she looked in the back, and on all sides. Oh, how clever these people are! What do they know out our way? Nothing of the world, and less about themselves!
"And this is how Walpurga looks to those who walk behind her? And so," turning herself on one side, "and so," turning again on the other. "I must say, I like your looks; you're not out of the way, at all! So that's Hansei's wife? He ought to feel satisfied with her; but then, he's good and true and has well deserved her."
Giddy with excitement, Walpurga thus talked to herself; it was the first time that she had ever seen a full length reflection of herself.
The first stranger who saw her thus was Baum.
He always wore shoes without heels and, putting down his whole foot at once, managed to step so softly that you could never know when he was coming. He always approached with a modest air, as if fearful of disturbing you, but always kept his own counsel and was an available tool, no matter what the nature of the service might be.
"Oh! how pretty!" he exclaimed, staring at her as if quite lost with admiration.
"It's nothing to you, sirrah, at any rate," said Walpurga; "you're a married man and I'm a married woman."
Assuming an air of command, and acting as if these were the first words uttered since he entered the apartment, Baum went on to say:
"It's the lord steward's pleasure that the nurse shall come to the court chapel immediately, if His Royal Highness the crown prince, is asleep. The rehearsal is about to begin."