[At seven o'clock dinner was served. At the table Sidonie Grasenabb
had much to say against the loose modern way of bringing up girls,
with particular reference to the Forester's frivolous daughters. After
a toast to Ring, in which Güldenklee indulged in various puns on the
name, the Prussian song was sung and the company made ready to start
home. Gieshübler's coachman had meanwhile been kicked in the shin by
one of the horses and the doctor ordered him to stay at the Forester's
for the present. Innstetten undertook to drive home in his place.
Sidonie Grasenabb rode part of the way with Effi and Crampas, till a
small stream with a quicksand bottom was encountered, when she left
the sleigh and joined her family in their carriage. Crampas who had
been sent by Innstetten to look after the ladies in his sleigh, was
now alone with Effi. When she saw that the roundabout way was bringing
them to a dark forest, through which they would have to pass, she
sought to steady her nerves by clasping her hands together with all
her might. Then she recalled the poem about _God's Wall_ and tried two
or three times to repeat the widow's prayer for protection, but was
conscious that her words were dead. She was afraid, and yet felt as
though she were under a spell, which she did not care to cast off.
When the sleigh entered the dark woods Crampas spoke her name softly,
with trembling voice, took her hand, loosened the clenched fingers,
and covered them with fervent kisses. She felt herself fainting. When
she again opened her eyes the sleigh had passed out of the woods and
it soon drove up before her home in Kessin.]