What's italicized is what I'm unsure about.
A July evening. Fritz had, as he now tended to do more often, ridden to Pronitten for a short rest after the difficult harvest. At the family table of the quiet parsonage, he didn't say a word. When, however, old Mrs. Teichgräber, on whose weakened condition this day had a disastrous effect, drew back to rest and the pastor had set to work dealing with a few items of official business in his study, he lookt at Hanna with the expressive glance of his clever, serious eyes and said, "Now the beautiful, peaceful agricultural activity has quickly reached its end.""There's a war, even for us; isn't there?""Without any doubt. While we speak here, there is among us feverish activity everywhere. But we are prepared, thanks be to God!"They had left the dark parlor and stept into the garden. Fog fell softly over the grass. Dark, not moved by any wind, the trees stood, like a mysterious language it went from one to the other. But also they were soundless like the entire night. The thin crescent moon that now and then came out from the slowly moving clouds only let the darkness appear so much deeper. From the flowerbeds pungent smells wandered out and lay over the slumbering earth like oppressive dreams.---108---A solemn, almost anxious tension was in this night."It was here on the same spot," said Fritz, after he had stood by Hanna's side for a while, "on an autumn evening - it wasn't quite a year ago - I spoke of war, and they were all shocked at my thoughts. Now they are become reality."Now there was silence between them, even Hanna's nature and disposition were quiet and withdrawn. They were both the same in this: they could be happy and cheerful, but the matter was serious."And you?" she askt finally."I am going along, of course. As soon as I come home to-day, I will write and volunteer.""You told me once that you received your discharge so easily only because the doctor had certified a heart defect for you.""That was then, but now that all of my comrades are campaigning, it would be unthinkable to stay at home! To take the plow in peace and the sword in war, that was always what I like."He said it in his simple, masculine way, without the slightest vainglory. To her, however, it was as if through the dark night, she saw the warm shining of his eyes, which she liked so much. "I knew it," she replied, and nothing more."Admittedly, I would have rather my uncle left Bärwalde. It suits him well now because Uncle Hugo has just arrived here and could take him with to his apartment in Berlin. But he clings to his home tightly and is fearless. It will not be easily kept.""I believe that too, as far as I know the old man.---109---And especially now, when the war isn't even here yet and is conducted only in the thoughts of a young, merry cavalry captain.""It is already here," he replied, without responding to her joke, "we just don't know it yet. What is coming now is formality - nothing more. We are lying here not too far from the border, that is no place for old and frail people.""And Bärwalde?""That is taken care of. The Hutemach and Borowski, the Lithuanian and the East Prussian-born, those are a good watch. I know them both, they have nerves like steel and real East Prussian blood. They do not yield, not one step, even if the Cossacks take the two poplars in front of the door!"She laughed. "Those would certainly be beautiful sights, for us here too!"He was concerned for a moment. Actually, he hadn't thought of her at all! But she knew him, such was his way."Of course, we won't let them come that far, that is surely clear. And then - Pronitten is a city, even if only a small one, that provides some security, and the youth know nothing of danger; that is its beautiful privilege.""I honestly have no fear. Exactly as little as your Hutemach, who embodies the feminine ideal for you. If she has the house full, then she can confidently send some of the Cossacks over to me. I would politely ask them into our pipe leaf house over there and pour them coffee so calmly, like I did for the cavalry captain in Bärwalde, yes, perhaps even a little more calmly."And as she was afraid that her blushing, which this last remark had involuntarily brought to her face, could not escape from him in this---110---darkness: "It was curiosity, I didn't know him at all yet, but I had heard so much about him, especially about his wicked mind.""And then found him as gentle as a child.""Of course!" But she wanted to break off from this subject, or turn to what he had said earlier, which was still in her head: "Grandfather will also not go, of course, come what may, and I will gladly stay with him. There is a lot in him: great and faithful. He doesn't preach a word that he doesn't believe and, what is probably the main thing, on which he doesn't act. Your brother Hans knows, which is why he admires him so much. And I know too. But the grandmother had to go away. So much misery and bloodshed in close vicinity would be unbearable for her, not to mention any danger... but we are talking about the war, even if it had broken out around us already, and so it has, to God be praise and thanks, here in the midst of the most beautiful peace. You really set one alight every time. I didn't know at all that you are such a pessimist."
