Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/59

 "Then perhaps, Miss Jagemann, you have made yourself acquainted with our literature?" I asked.

To this opening she replied very readily, and we then—almost word for word—reproduced the whole of our conversation at "Wotans Ruhe" about Faust and Aladdin. Only it ran more fluently, as a well-studied scene, and was urged on by an undercurrent of youthful hilarity which now and then brought forth a new and happy idea. Such an improvisation in the rôle on the part of one speaker, gave at once an incentive to the other, who did not care to be surpassed, but also, with a smile expressive of "I'll give you tit for tat," showed a new side to the question. And in this way the discussion got fuller and deeper, though the subject now was indifferent to us, and only a means for coquetry. We, however, made such an impression upon our audience, that Mr. Hertz said to me: "How talkative you have made the little Minna; she is not generally so communicative." And, later on, Minna herself confided in me that Mrs. Hertz had said to her: "There, now you have found one with whom you can talk."

These remarks seemed to breathe a real satisfaction, and I think that the old people, after this meeting, came to the rather hurried conclusion that we were well-matched. As they had taken us both to their hearts, it was easy to understand that they wished us to become better acquainted, and so much the more because they thought that Minna needed to have some sweet, though only too painful, remembrance banished by the awakening of another and fresh interest. This idea, even in those days, I had already grasped, and afterwards it was still further proved to me. And so it came to pass that several times a week we met each other at the little house by the Elbe. Minna could, without difficulty, get off from her duties in the evening,