As always, what's italicized is what I'm unsure about.
The sport week had started. Now from the early morning until the late evening began an uninterrupted competition on all areas of physical exercise. Horse racing on impeccable fields in view of the sea, air-gondolas gliding above it, law sports, soccer, running and jumping and throwing games on the Manzen Square, hunting-like shooting at clay pigeons, [Kipp-] and wood hares in positions of the municipal manor forest, swimming and sailing competitions, and flower trips on the sea.
A bigger draw than all the others, however, was the great tennis tournament in which, with the most well known players of the world, the crown prince participated, who had arrived in Zoppot on the evening before the opening day.
For Hans all of these events offered little attraction, and therefore they were not unwelcome to him, they made his favorite walks on the beach and through the beautiful forest free from the crowd of people, who had spoiled them for him so many times; never had he been able to talk a walk in such wonderful solitude as in these days.
One afternoon, however, he decided, but at Nuscha's request, to witness a tennis tournament as a spectator with her. And he didn't regret it because, although he didn't understand the slightest thing about the game, he enjoyed the unspoilt youth and naturalness with which the German crown prince right in front of him moved among the players, the sure smoothness with which he gave and took his balls and laughed from his heart when one or the other was unsuccessful for him.
Most of all, however, Nuscha captivated his eye. She sat opposite him, her gaze was alternately directed, one minute on the playing crown prince, the next on his
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charming wife, who, without participating in the tournament herself, lingered in the middle of the space with her entourage. And in this gaze was such life, such burning desire: "Could you be there in the midst of them a single time, giving and taking such balls!" that something like a regret with this wonderful child became awake in him.
And now something else happened that lent this week a special attraction: the German fleet appeared in front of Zoppot with a few cruisers and torpedos. Proud and majestic it lay, the beams of the sun playing around it, in the shining silver-gray mirror of the sea, visible very near to the coast, however, in reality at a considerable distance. The pinnaces rushed here and there, they brought the forces to land, they took, almost full beyond their strength, the Zoppot swimming crowd on board, because one was hospitable on the ships and granted a visit to everyone. Officers, naval cadets, sailors filled the sea bridge, the paths, the casino and with their dapper uniforms and hardened sunburnt faces gave new colors to the colorful pictures.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, Pastor?"
Hans was one of the first to get up from the lunch table and, a navy blue cap on his head and a light coat over his arm, was about to leave the "Sea Star" when Nuscha's voice sounded on his ear.
"Out to the fleet. Yester-day in the casino I met an old friend who has been a naval chaplain for several years. He invited me on his ship for this afternoon, the pinnace is waiting for me at the landing."
"I'm pleased to hear it! That must be a pleasure, the whole afternoon under such direction
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on one of these beautiful ships! And then a cup of coffee up on the deck, and the quick sailors serve the dishes with cake. And above one the sky and below one the water. Nothing else!"
"Yes, I am looking forward to it too!"
"Take me with, Pastor!"
Her dark, shining eyes cajoled him, her slender hands folded themselves together involuntarily, like a begging child she stood facing him.
He was caught in a difficult spot. It became hard for him to give her a negative reply, but on the other hand - he was invited, and by a brother of the office at that. What would he, what would the officers say if he appeared in the company of a lady, especially one so young, pretty, and not least discreet?
He wavered a moment, but there was something so compelling in her eyes, something so harmless in her pleading...
"Yes, you are taking me with!" she shouted triumphantly. "You don't need to say anything, I read it on your face. Oh, you are good, very good! I knew it from the first moment I met you - here in this spot, in the hall!"
She clapt her hands, she stretcht them towards him, it wasn't much different than if she had embraced him. ["]And now, won't you permit me a very short little while... yes, you will... I must change clothes."
"The pinnace will be on the beach at three o'clock."
"Oh, she won't leave without us, and it won't take me long, you will see, quick as a flash!" She was gone. But once again she turned around: Are you staying here in the same spot? Or in the garden? So that you don't run away from me!"
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It really went quick as a flash. He had just taken a newspaper and sat down in one of the comfortable wicker chairs that stood immediately in front of the building when a loud, shrill whistle from the veranda startled him.
"Oh, there you are, I expected you to be much further in the garden and wanted to make myself audible."
"Where did you get a whistle all of a sudden?"
She laughed. "It's not a whistle, I do that with my mouth... look, like this..." She set her red lips at a little of an angle and whistled even more loudly and piercingly than the first time, so that he put his hands over his ears.
"For God's sake, stop!"
"It's not such a despicable skill, it is perhaps the best that I have learned in my life. We used to call it the 'family whistle.' All of my siblings have learned it; so we could make ourselves heard everywhere. Even later, it has served me well."
Again her old manner that had caught his attention so many times. She said something, broke off in the middle of a word, and then for a few seconds lookt half frightened, half forgotten to herself.
Going through the garden, they reached the south promenade, which led them to the landing in a few minutes. A quick glance that he let examine and wander over her figure showed him that she had appropriately and not without taste dressed herself for the purpose of their trip. A dark green wool dress, closed at the top, and a cap, similar to his, which was fastened in her frizzy hair with a pin. He could let himself be seen with her.
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It was still quiet everywhere, Zoppot was taking its afternoon rest. Like a thick curtain the sky lay over the sea. At first, the two appeared to be one, then the curtain slowly rose; now they began to separate, a lighter blue shone through the dark gray, no wind stirred. And yet the sea was not very calm and let small foam-crowned waves break against the beach. As if its agitation lived in the deepest depth and rose to the surface only in furtive vibrations. For a brief moment, the sky opened like a wide, tall gate that showed the way to eternity. Very noticeably, almost within reach, the warships lay before them, and the peninsula Hela stood out from the horizon so clearly and in sharp outline that one could recognize its lighthouse with a naked eye. That was not a good sign, for it indicated a storm and bad weather.
The pinnace was already waiting. It was a small, pretty thing, and Hans enjoyed the sparkle of pride and joy that rose in Nuscha's face while the fresh, lively blue boys stood at attention before her and saluted her. Now she sat on the soft backseat, her two arms stretcht out on the upholstered [Gewandung] leaned, on her pretty features, on her whole supple figure [were] cosy happiness and contentment. 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. "Down below in our mess it is more comfortable now," said the young second lieutenant, "we ask the lady and gentlemen to take part in our pared down evening snack, it has just been prepared."
When Hans went homewards with Nuscha on the fast pinnace, the touch of the rising night already lay on the water. The wind had
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died down, but the sky remained gray, cloudy, heavy with rain. Only on the horizon did it glow crimson in a strange contrast like a [lohendes] fire. Up to the shadows it dropt deeply and with its black wings covered even the thin, shaking streak of light. Over there lay the fleet. It was like looking at an illuminated city in the middle of the sea. Signals flew from one ship over to an-other, now and then a rocket crackled up to the night sky.
They had left the pinnace and walkt along the south promenade to their home. Contrary to her habit, Nuscha had remained silent a long time, only the image of the illuminated fleet had loosened her tongue. Now she spoke with shining enthusiasm about the experiences of the afternoon... but suddenly she stopt short, stared with large dull eyes at a lanky male figure that, looking around on all sides, slowly walkt right in front of them, murmured a few confused words of apology, and disappeared.
