"How do Herr von Prell's intrigues with the housemaids concern my honour?" Lilly ventured to interrupt, hoping, by playing the innocent a little, to gain time for thought as to how her friend was to be helped out of this scrape.
Fräulein von Schwertfeger was beginning to enlighten her on what all the disastrous results might be of such profligate conduct, when the tea-things rattled at the approaching footsteps of the colonel.
"Say nothing ... yet," implored Lilly; and to hide her fears and confusion she rushed into his arms.
He did not notice that anything was wrong. His once ever-wakeful and easily irritated suspicion had slumbered since he had confided his young wife to the vigilant care of the duenna.
In these days he was no longer the zealous lover, aping the gallantry of youth, who had wished to be master of her every look and word. The playful patronage with which he now regarded the antics of this lovely, gentle-souled child gave him quite a paternal air that became him well. His expeditions to the casino in the nearest garrison town, at first rare, had become more and more frequent. He often went by the afternoon train, but as a rule started after the evening meal, when he did not come home till two or three in the morning, as there were no trains back earlier.
To-day he told them good-humouredly at breakfast that he had to go to town on business, to get rid of the barley crop to the Jews.
A happy thought struck Lilly, filling her with infinite satisfaction. The colonel's absence must be utilised to save him. How it was to be done she didn't know. But save him she would. If she did not intervene on his behalf, who else was there to steer this stormy petrel into safe harbour?
When the colonel had retired to his room, she took heart and made her cautious plea to Anna, who, however, declined to relent.
"He will only be worse next time," she said, "and then the disgrace will be greater for all of us."
"Oh no!" said Lilly, "he will not get worse; he will reform. Just give him a lecture."