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Back Married Life Save as PDF
Chapters (42)
  1. About the Author
  2. Title Page
  3. PART ONE
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. PART TWO
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. PART THREE
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. PART FOUR
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. PART FIVE
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35

The woman, who had been tugging at his sleeve all this time and repeating, ‘Stop it, Schurl, stop it,’ now stood up. ‘Come on, Schurl, we have to change trams. Here we are at Nussdorf already.’

‘Shut up, you old bag! I don’t need you to tell me where to change!’

They got off, and Gurdweill and Dr Astel resumed their seats. The conductor said apologetically, ‘The man was completely drunk,’ and went away. The two workers went back to sleep. New passengers got in and the tension died down.

Dr Astel, whose anger had vanished in an instant, said with satisfaction, as if he had just won a decisive victory: ‘What a swine! Guzzling beer like a pig and then coming to sling mud at the Jews!’

No one replied. Gurdweill, for some reason, felt ashamed, as if he had been the cause of the quarrel. He sensed vaguely that he had missed the chance to do something he should have done, and was seized by a feeling of dissatisfaction with himself. He looked out of the window at the half-empty streets, which seemed to him alien and unwelcoming. He did not dare to look at Lotte, as if he had in some way offended her. When they finally reached the Schottentor, he felt saved.

It was midnight. Dr Astel and Lotte had to change to the Ring tram and he had to go in the opposite direction. When they parted, Lotte said, ‘Well, Gurdweill, we probably won’t see each other before I leave. Unless you feel like dropping in tomorrow or the day after in the afternoon.’

To his regret, he would not be able to make it. The afternoons were particularly difficult for him.

At that, she remembered that she too would be busy. There were still a number of things to see to before her trip. Some shopping she had to do. They had better say goodbye now. But she promised to send him a postcard … perhaps even a letter …

‘Of course, of course!’ said Gurdweill eagerly, taking no notice of her sarcastic tone. ‘Please do write, and I’ll write and tell you how I am, and Martin too. Only if you’re interested, naturally.’

‘Interested isn’t the word!’ replied Lotte with a hint of mockery. ‘I wish you well until we meet again!’

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