As soon as she was outside, she wiped her own tears, wondered if the profound state of shock she had caused her husband might not be dangerous and if it might be advisable to call a doctor? For the evening she cooked for him everything she could assemble in the kitchen which was strengthening and calming, made up and warmed his bed so that she could lay him in it just as soon as their daughter would lead him in by the hand, then crept, because he still hadn’t come and the table was already laid, to the Marquise’s room so that she could hear what was happening there. As she listened, her ear pressed gently against the door, she could hear a light but audible whisper which seemed to her to come from the Marquise, and when she looked through the keyhole she saw her sitting in the Commandant’s lap, something he had never allowed before. At that she finally opened the door and saw—her heart now leaping with joy—her daughter, her head bent backwards, eyes tight shut, lying in her father’s arms, while he sat in an armchair and pressed long, hot and hungry kisses on her mouth, his wide-open eyes wet with tears—just like a lover! The daughter was silent; he was silent. His face bowed over her as over his first love, his mouth near hers, and he kissed her. The mother felt blessed like a saint as, standing unseen behind his chair, she hesitated to interrupt the joy of this heaven-sent reconciliation her house was once again enjoying. Finally, she approached the father and, bending round from her chair, watched him from the side again hovering over the mouth of his daughter with fingers and lips in inexpressible bliss. On seeing his wife, the Commandant looked down angrily and wanted to say something, but she cried, “What sort of a look is that!” and kissed him herself to resume the natural order and made light of all the emotion. She invited and led both of them like a bridal couple to the evening meal, at which the Commandant, despite being very jolly, wept now and then, ate and spoke little, looked down at his plate and played with his daughter’s hand.