[Effi was met at the Berlin station by her mother and Cousin von
Briest. While drinking tea in the mother's room Cousin von Briest was
asked to tell a joke, and propounded a Bible conundrum, which Effi
took as an omen that no more sorrow was to befall her. The following
day began the search for an apartment, and one was found on Keith
street, which exactly suited, except that the house was not finished
and the walls not yet dried out. Effi kept it in mind, however, and
looked further, being as long about it as possible. After two weeks
Innstetten began to insist on her return and to make pointed
allusions. She saw there was nothing left but to sham illness. Then
she rented the apartment on Keith street, wrote a card saying she
would be home the next day, and had the trunks packed. The next
morning she stayed in bed and feigned illness, but preferred not to
call a doctor. She telegraphed about her delay to her husband. After
three days of the farce she yielded to her mother and called an old
ladies' doctor by the name of Rummschüttel ('Shake 'em around'). After
a few questions he prescribed a mixture of bitter almond water and
orange blossom syrup and told her to keep quiet. Later he called every
third day, noticing that his calls embarrassed her. She felt he had
seen through her from the start, but the farce had to be kept up till
Innstetten had closed his house and shipped his things. Four days
before he was due in Berlin she suddenly got well and wrote him she
could now travel, but thought it best to await him in Berlin. As soon
as she received his favorable telegram she hastened to the new
apartment, where she raised her eyes, folded her hands, and said:
"Now, with God's help, a new life, and a different one!"]