“You are a bad woman, Märta Dohna,” she said. “No decent woman ought to speak to you.”
Countess Märta lost her temper too.
“Out with you, mamselle!” she said. “I have had enough of your folly.”
“Yes, I shall go,” said Mamselle Marie; “but first I will be paid for my covers and curtains which you have put up here.”
“The old rags!” cried the countess. “Do you want to be paid for such rags? Take them away with you! I never want to see them again! Take them away immediately!”
Thereupon the countess threw the table-covers at her and tore down the curtains, for she was beside herself.
The next day the young countess begged her mother-in-law to make her peace with Mamselle Marie; but the countess would not. She was tired of her.
Countess Elizabeth then bought of Mamselle Marie the whole set of curtains and put them up in the upper floor. Whereupon Mamselle Marie felt herself redressed.
Countess Märta made fun of her daughter-in-law for her love of knitted curtains. She too could conceal her anger—preserve it fresh and new for years. She was a richly gifted person.