This Month's Installment
As always, what's italicized is what I'm unsure about.There was something of both in her: of a princess who sailed over the sea in her launch and of a small cst, which, purring, [muschelt] itself in the soft cushion of a sofa.
Like a nutshell the pretty thing danced and rockt through the water. Hard and firmly the waves beat
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against its flanks with a steady sound, and every time a small splash came overboard, Nuscha jumpt up with a horrified shriek yet at the same time shook with pleasure. The theatricality of her character then emerged, and he was afraid once again of her introduction onto the ship. The pinnace slowed its course, stopt - they were actually there already!
Quickly, the ship stairs were let down, at the top stood the young naval chaplain, who waved to Hans. When he saw a lady in his company, he was quite taken aback for a moment, but then walkt towards them both and expressed to Nuscha his joy that he was also able to welcome her onto his impressive, beautiful ship. "Provided it is alright with the gentleman, I will lead her first."
He gave a short summary about the type of the cruiser, mentioned the year of its construction, the class to which it belonged, and emphasized the completely new fittings, which distinguished it before others. A loving pride in his ship spoke out of each of his words. Then he began the actual tour, from high up on the command deck down to the lowest engine rooms.
Hans, who had already often been on warships, followed the explanations of his friend with much understanding, but his attention was pulled away from them to his companion. With a true fervor Nuscha listened to every word, she lookt at every room, every corner, every little part of the engines with an interest that made itself known both in the excitement in her features and in the questions that she askt her guide now and then. And these questions, while they might have even seemed a little childish at first, made sense when properly considered.
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He noticed that his friend, at whom she often lookt very astonished and then with such desire for knowledge that probably had not yet appeared to him in a young lady, visibly excited, let follow the most precise explanations.
Now and then an officer encountered them in their wandering. And every time he too was immediately fascinated by the strange girlish figure, gazed after her for a longer time or - after he exchanged a few word with the pastor - asked to be introduced to her; a young, handsome second lieutenant followed them, hardly left from Nuscha's side, and told her many pleasant things in his calm, elegant manner.
She paid just as little attention to it as to the general attention that she excited. Her interest remained directed only on business. Under such circumstances, the tour claimed many more hours, it had become late when the naval chaplain askt them to a cup of coffee.
And now it came, as Nuscha's bright imagination foresaw: they sat at a small covered table on the quarterdeck, and quick sailors served cake in small crystal dishes. And above them the sky and below them the water. And over there, the coast getting darker in the evening. Only that it was rather cool up here, especially when the sun crept behind the clouds and a fresh breeze rose from the sea.
Grammatical Minutiae/Commentary
In my last post, I noted that I didn't translate "Rücksitz" as "backseat" because I didn't think it fit the context. For some reason, I thought it referred to a bench along the shore. After translating the next sentence, I realized that the setting had changed and that Hans and Nuscha are already on the boat, which is definitely suitable context for a backseat.As far as word order, the sentence "He noticed that his friend, at whom she often lookt very astonished and then with such desire for knowledge that probably had not yet appeared to him in a young lady, visibly excited, let follow the most precise explanations" is a terrible mess, but I can't think of how to straighten it out.
I don't like that I used "attention" twice in the sentence "She paid just as little attention to it as to the general attention that she excited" - once for "achtete" and once for "Aufmerksamkeit." I couldn't think of a different word to use, however, and my dictionary was no help in suggesting others.
