I. AN EXCHANGE
The novel begins in a beautiful mountain meadow where a young, dark-haired man of obvious wealth and privilege is contemplating suicide. Egon von Ernau, who lost his mother at an early age and who was raised by a cold and distant father who provided him with wealth and material opportunity but not affection, has a very negative and cynical attitude despite having enjoyed a life more fortunate than most. He is intelligent, athletic, musically talented, and very well educated. Speaking multiple languages and skilled in billiards, boxing, swimming, horseback riding, and pistol marksmanship, Egon has also enjoyed the very best that upper-class Berlin has to offer, including the attention of beautiful women. Yet because his early experiences with materialistic peers taught him that many of the people around him valued him only for his money and influence, Egon has become morbid and negative. Because of his wealth and position he never has to learn self-control or consideration for others, and he is therefore impulsive and self-absorbed. His habit of mocking everyone and everything, and of distancing himself from people before they disappoint him, makes him almost universally disliked except by people who want to use him for his money. Thus, he creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. He even dislikes the beautiful, clear skies and lovely forest surroundings, reflecting that he would have preferred some thunder and lighting. His life, which has not featured much adversity or challenge, has become boring and meaningless to him. He seeks to commit suicide in the most shocking and hurtful possible way.
As Egon is about to shoot himself, he hears a clear, strong tenor voice singing a hymn. Realizing his shot will be overheard, Egon tracks down the singer, who is a man about his own age but much heavier. The man finishes his song and throws himself into a mountain pool. Egon impulsively jumps in and rescues him. The man, a tutor named Pigglewitch, relates the sad story of his life. Orphaned at an early age and raised by his uncle, Pigglewitch has become a compulsive gambler who has squandered not only what is left of his patrimony but a sum of money entrusted to him. The amount of money lost--trivial by Egon's standards--is impossible for Pigglewitch to repay, so he decides to drown himself. Only Egon's intervention keeps him from carrying out his plan.
On a whim, Egon offers to buy Pigglewitch's identity. For the sum of money Pigglewitch owes plus a little extra, Egon buys Pigglewitch's identification papers. They exchange clothing and Egon--who now resembles a scarecrow--continues to Castle Osternau, intending to live for a while as a man with no rank and no wealth. Egon intends to do this to entertain himself for a few days before following through on his initial plan to kill himself. Egon never tells Pigglewitch who he is, and gives only the name "Fritz Fortune".
II. OSTERNAU
This chapter describes the setting of Castle Osternau, a rural estate owned by the agriculturally-minded Baron von Osternau. This is a model farm with the most advanced possible technology. Living there is the pleasure-loving former Lieutenant, Albrecht von Osternau. He was once the heir-presumptive to the title and estate, since his cousin the Baron had only one daughter and no sons to inherit. By law, Albrecht's status as the Baron's closest male relative made him the heir. Then the Baron's wife Emma gave birth to a son, Fritz. Albrecht's creditors, who had advanced him large sums of money because they expected him to inherit wealth, could no longer afford his life of leisure. Furthermore, he was cashiered from the army for failure to pay his debts. Although the Baron Friedrich ("Fritz") von Osternau tried to satisfy the creditors, he was not quick enough to save Albrecht's career or his reputation. Albrecht continues on the farm as a chief inspector, but he hates his cousin. Work-wise Albrecht is not a competent or hardworking administrator. He is only nominally in charge. All the administrative work is done by Herr Storting and Hugo von Wangen, who is serving an apprenticeship of sorts.
III. THE CASTLE'S LORD AND LADY
The Baron Friedrich ("Fritz") von Osternau is a middle-aged man with a bad lung condition. Farming is his avocation and he administers to as much of it in person as he can. He has a wife, Emma, and two children named Elise (Lieschen) and Friedrich ("Fritz" or "Fritzchen"). Today he and Emma are awaiting the arrival of the tutor, Herr Pigglewitch. They observe Egon from a distance in Pigglewitch's ill-fitting clothing, and discuss him.
Despite his odd attire and his tendency to refer to himself in the third person (to avoid lying and saying that he is in fact Pigglewitch), the Baron and Baroness are surprised to find that their tutor has the grace and bearing of a member of their own rank. He walks into the drawing-room as though he has spent his entire life in the homes of the upper crust, and he speaks respectfully to his employers but shows no sign of being intimidated by them. He speaks freely, expresses his approval of the music he finds on the piano, and puts on a splendidly heartfelt performance.
It becomes obvious that the Baron is considerate of his wife's opinion and takes her suggestions seriously especially on the subject of the children, yet his word is law in the household.
IV. A CATO IN GOLDEN CURLS.
Having impressed the lord and lady of the castle, "Pigglewitch" is shown to his room, where he decides to continue passing himself off as a tutor for a few days.
This chapter introduces the Baron's son, Friedrich (or "Fritz", or "Fritzchen"), and daughter, Elise or "Lieschen" as her family calls her. The boy is a fine young man with close-cropped golden curls. Elise is seventeen years old, blond, blue-eyed, intelligent, and extremely candid and headstrong with some tomboyish habits. She has a very black-and-white way of looking at the world and wants very much to do what is right, however she is only beginning to develop an adult's awareness of moral ambiguity.
Fritz is a young boy who has unfortunately inherited his father's weakness of the lungs. He is not allowed to study much but is encouraged to strengthen himself by spending time outdoors.
The children arrive to meet "Pigglewitch" in his room, and Lieschen freely laughs at his ridiculous clothing, which is completely inappropriate: overly formal and decades out of fashion. She arranges for Herr Storting, a farm inspector employed by her father who is roughly Egon's size, to lend him a suit.
V. DINNER AND DESSERT
Egon, dressed in Herr Storting's clothing, attends dinner with the family. This plot device works only because of the setting. In a rural environment the von Osternaus do not have access to the rich social opportunities of Berlin. Although they have company often by farm standards, it is not enough to allow everyone good social interaction. So, all of the "educated" household employees are welcome to dine with the family. This allows the newly-dressed "Pigglewitch" to meet Herr Albrecht, Herr Storting, and Hugo von Wangen.
Before dinner, the Baron admonishes the children to not laugh at Pigglewitch's appearance or his unusual name. The Baron is not afraid to use his authority, although he has a weakness where his cousin Albrecht is concerned. He demands very little of Albrecht and allows him to shirk his duty.
Egon appears in Herr Storting's clothing and cuts quite a dashing figure. He greets everyone appropriately, but responds to Albrecht's curt and dismissive attitude by offering the minimum expected obeisance. The two recognize one another as rivals and hate each other instantly.
With Lieschen, Egon interacts with her by bantering the way he would with a young woman in a Berlin drawing-room. However, Lieschen objects to his patronizing and blasé attitude and his habit of ridiculing everything, including his own ancestors and other subjects people generally considers sacred. Shocked at being corrected for his objectively bad behavior-- and by a young girl at that-- Egon recognizes that his conduct really is out of line, and that he could in fact learn from the von Osternaus. His idea is further confirmed when the Baron delivers a short lecture about agricultural science. Egon, who inherited his mother's estate in West Prussia, has only been there once and he realizes now just how ignorant he is about the source of his income: he doesn't even know whether his own estate is being well run in his absence.
Emma, a middle-aged woman, is seldom without her knitting. She has no wealth of her own, and-- as was customary among women of her class-- lives entirely from money belonging to her husband. She enjoys music and is very skilled on the piano. Her tastes in music are sophisticated, running more to Beethoven than to the fashionable drawing-room music. She speaks French and English, and quizzes Egon in both of them when the conversation comes around to the subjects "Pigglewitch" is qualified to instruct.
In showing off his very expensive liberal education, Egon makes another blunder: the skills he has are appropriate to a nobleman but not to a graduate of what today would be considered a local trade school or community college. He then defeats Albrecht at billiards, a game that requires substantial investments of time to master. Albrecht says that "Pigglewitch" is likely a professional gambler, whereupon Egon demands that he withdraw the insult or fight it out. The Baron intervenes on behalf of "Pigglewitch", noting that Albrecht was out of line, but Egon has once again failed to conceal who he is and reacts instinctively the way a gentleman could be expected to react. The incident brings out the hidden steel in the otherwise genial Baron, who forces Albrecht to apologize. Albrecht does so, insultingly, and Egon recognizes that although he himself would have been free to escalate the quarrel, as Pigglewitch he must accept the apology.
VI. SOLIMAN'S TRICKS
Egon passes a pleasant hour in tutoring Fritzchen, puts his entire effort into creating a good lesson for the child, and for the first time in his life takes something seriously. The hour of tutoring is a success, and afterwards the children invite "Pigglewitch" to accompany them for a ride.
Egon insists on riding Albrecht's temperamental horse, Soliman. In doing so, he shows himself to be an expert horseman-- again outperforming the Lieutenant who as a cavalry officer took great pride in being the best rider in the area.
VII. THE HARVEST-FIELD
While riding with Lieschen and Fritz, Egon develops an appreciation for a beautiful and well-managed farm. His hitherto purposeless life is beginning to take shape, and he is beginning to have a goal of understanding and managing his own estate. He is beginning to see how satisfying a life of purpose, with the well-earned respect of his fellow human beings, can be. Whereas he had previously only really been excited by drama, with metaphorical lightning and thunder, now he sees the beauty in calm and order. He is also beginning to be attracted to Lieschen.
In response to a well-intentioned warning from Herr Storting, and possibly with the intent of impressing Lieschen, Egon takes Soliman on a foolhardy gallop into dangerous terrain. He also speaks offhandedly about the risk he is taking and asserts that he has a right to end his own life. Lieschen reprimands him for this irreverence, and Egon takes her words to heart. He apologizes, and his apology is not irreverent or flippant but sincere.
VIII. NEWS FROM BERLIN
The Baron, who watched the episode with Soliman from his upstairs window, is impressed by "Pigglewitch's" horsemanship but finds it inconsistent with what a Candidate should display. He and Emma get out the original letter of recommendation from a Herr Kramser and compare the attributes listed in the letter with the attributes "Pigglewitch" displays. There is not much resemblance. Emma is concerned that Lieschen might develop a romantic attachment to "Pigglewitch", who by now is behaving like a dashing young gentleman. The Baron refuses to send Pigglewitch away, since his lesson with Fritz was so successful and since the tutor so far has done nothing wrong and has fulfilled his tasks very well.
The Baron revealed that he initially had the hope that Lieschen and Albrecht would fall in love, but since Albrecht is such a self-absorbed adult brat the Baron has completely abandoned the idea. Elise is acting far more mature, and her parents decide there is no serious danger of her entertaining warmer regard for the Candidate Pigglewitch than was appropriate given their differences in class. The Baron invites "Pigglewitch" to tea at eight.
At the appointed hour, Egon arrives for tea with the family. He performs on the piano, singing a folk song that pleases everyone but the Lieutenant. The Baron distributes the mail that has arrived.
Among the letters is one from Emma's Uncle Sastrow in Berlin saying that Egon von Ernau had vanished, and is presumed dead. This is seen by some as no great loss since Egon is considered to be a self-absorbed man who yields constantly to the impulse of the moment and who has no self-control or consideration for others. His fianceé, Bertha von Massenburg, is being wrongly blamed for his disappearance and is a target of malicious gossip. She needs to spend some time away, and since Bertha is a distant relative, the Baron decides to invite her to Osternau. Egon, who has never actually met Bertha, hears all the family business. Although events are playing out exactly how he thought they would, with his self-absorbed father enjoying all the attention he's receiving, Egon is horrified by an unforeseen problem: the devastating impact his impulsive decision has had on an innocent young woman he has never met, who has reportedly described his behavior as "cowardly". He shakes off his mood by agreeing to play again, and plays a Schumann song, putting so much emotion into it that he brings Lieschen to tears.
IX. A LETTER AND ITS REPLY
Egon, after tea, returns to his room and realizes that he has decided to live. Furthermore, he has decided to mend his ways and no longer yield to the impulse of the moment. He considers throwing his revolver away but decides to keep it as a reminder to control himself.
"Pigglewitch" too has received a letter, although the drama at tea kept Egon from reading it until he was alone in his suite. It is from the real Pigglewitch, who has again gambled away the money Egon gave him, and is in need of more. Although Egon would like very much to refuse, he is now intrigued by the events at Osternau and feels himself on the cusp of some great new understanding. He resents Pigglewitch's feeble attempt to blackmail him. But because refusing his demand would expose Egon's true identity, Egon writes back to Pigglewitch, giving him the money he wants and informing him that the letter, in Pigglewitch's own handwriting, makes him complicit in any fraud that might be occurring. Impersonating someone else is a crime, but Egon has never actually said that he was Pigglewitch.
Egon decides to return to Berlin to undo some of the damage caused by his disappearance, but wishes to stay a little longer at Osternau to see more of Lieschen. He knows she despises lies and deception so he can't bring himself to tell the truth.
X. CONTENT AND PEACE
Egon, having woken early after the night's storm, meets Herr Storting in the field at five o'clock in the morning. At the Baron's request, he carries a letter to Colonel von Sastrow when he goes with Herr Storting to Breslau in search of new clothing. Although Egon has more than enough money to pay for the clothing, as Pigglewitch he would have been unable to afford to pay except by quarterly installments. For the first time Egon signs his name as Pigglewitch-- actually committing a potential crime-- and because the tailor is unwilling to give credit to a stranger Herr Storting co-signs for "Pigglewitch". This act of generosity stuns Egon, because he is aware that Storting is not a wealthy man and that he is contributing to the support of a younger sister who is preparing for the governess examinations in Berlin.
For the first time, Egon begins to understand the value of money to ordinary people, who have to make sure they get a reasonable bargain even when selling used clothing. He is also impressed by Herr Storting's kindness to him, which is due in part to Lieschen's influence, because in the past the only people of Storting's rank who had been kind to Egon were those who were interested in his rank and money. The kindness and respect, unexpected as they are, stokes Egon's almost-forgotten appetite for it.
Over the next several days, Egon thoroughly enjoys tutoring Fritz, teaching Lieschen music, listening and learning during the agricultural discussions, and riding with the children around the farm. He is becoming aware of the pleasures of a life with purpose.
XI. GOOD ADVICE
On the eve of Bertha's arrival at Osternau, Lieschen is unsure whether she should be kind or welcoming. In Lieschen's black-and-white view of the world, Bertha behaved inappropriately by agreeing to marry Egon, and Lieschen does not believe she should be kind or friendly to someone whose choices she disapproves of: it seems too much like a lie, or like hypocrisy. So, she asks her piano teacher "Pigglewitch" for his perspective.
Egon asserts that Lieschen should consider the life Bertha has had, which has not been loving or supportive, and the fact that Bertha believes she can inspire her future husband to improve and mature. He also tells her that she doesn't know what Egon's life has been like, or why he has become such a self-absorbed, impulsive, and immature man. He shares some of what Egon has experienced-- the loss of his mother, his thirst for love and affection, and the cold indifference of his father combined with the rather mercenary approach of his peers and servants. Over the course of the conversation, Elise suspects that "Pigglewitch" knows Egon extremely well. The advice she receives-- to follow her own heart-- she decides to obey. She will be civil and polite to Bertha until she knows the young woman well enough to judge her character.
XII. BERTHA VON MASSENBURG
Egon's intended bride arrives at Osternau and "Pigglewitch" finally gets to meet her. She is a stunningly beautiful dark-haired woman only a few years older than Lieschen, and she plays beautifully on the piano but without feeling. She is superficially charming, and both Albrecht and Hugo find her appealing. Egon recognizes that Bertha is a human being, not a ball-room puppet, and that she has thoughts and feelings. He improvises on the piano, playing with feeling and from the heart.
Over the rest of the evening, Bertha gradually wins over the entire household. Egon feels himself attracted to her as well as to Lieschen, although at this point his feelings for Lieschen are stronger.
XIII. A WISE YOUNG JUDGE
Lieschen alone is immune to Bertha's charms and although she likes the young woman she is also suspicious. Bertha is especially kind to Hugo von Wangen, the heir to a sizable farm in West Prussia. Hugo is shy and not much of a talker, but Bertha draws him out. However most of Bertha's attention is focused on "Pigglewitch".
In conversation, Bertha shows herself to be more focused on wealth and rank than on love. She is not greedy, but believes nobility should marry within their own rank. She believes marriage for wealth is reasonable and appropriate.
Egon appears to be nursing a physical attraction to Bertha but a more platonic, happy feeling about Lieschen. His piano playing becomes darker and more dissonant, reflecting his emotional state. Meanwhile, Lieschen has matured: she is sitting with needlework and thinking a lot.
XIV. PASTOR WIDMAN AS A CORRESPONDENT
The Lieutenant has returned from Berlin with news for Bertha in particular: they whisper together, and then Bertha comes out from the corner to charm Hugo von Wangen. Meanwhile a letter arrives from Pastor Widman for the Baron, stating that Pigglewitch had not delivered the money entrusted to him. Egon receives a letter addressed to Pigglewitch, from the same Pastor, demanding to be repaid. It's clear that Pigglewitch has lost or gambled away.
XV. RENEWED CONFIDENCE
The next morning the Baron is visited by Albrecht, who asks for money to pay the gambling debts he accrued in Berlin. The Baron refuses, but sends money to his relative Sastrow to be offered as a loan to Albrecht.
Next, Egon is summoned to explain "Pigglewitch's" decision to not yet forward the money to Pastor Widman, who was by no means kind to Pigglewitch as a boy. Egon shows the Baron the bank-notes he has in his possession and counts out the money for the Baron to forward to the pastor. The Baron insists that "Pigglewitch" take a leave of absence to carry the money to the Pastor. The Baron also sends ten thousand marks in a letter to Sastrow.
XVI. ROBBED
Albrecht asks for a leave of absence to take care of his "money matter" in Berlin. The next morning, news arrives that Egon's body, or a body determined to be his, has been recovered from the Spree. Lieschen predicts that Bertha will transfer her attention to Hugo.
Albrecht asks for a small sum of money to go to Berlin with, and the Baron agrees only to find that the key to his secretary desk no longer works. A substantial amount of cash has been taken. It is money the Baron had set aside to buy a couple small farms to be Lieschen's personal property and to support her financially if she was widowed or if she chose not to marry.
Albrecht accuses Pigglewitch, but the Baron knows that Albrecht was the thief. Rather than expose the theft and create gossip about the family, the Baron insists on secrecy. "Pigglewitch" is exonerated in any case: the money he was entrusted with to send to Sastrow was distributed appropriately and the Pastor has likewise received what he was owed.
XVII. TWO LETTERS AGAIN
Herr von Wangen announces his engagement to Bertha, pending the approval of their families. The approval is secure almost immediately, and the betrothal is formally announced. An unsigned letter arrives that is obviously from Egon, bidding everyone at Osternau farewell. Not long afterwards, word arrives in a letter from Albrecht that Egon is alive, well, and in Berlin. Furthermore the Lieutenant has evidence that the real Pigglewitch had been there, and that whoever was at Osternau was an impostor.
XVIII. A FORCED RESOLVE
Egon, while hiking in the mountains and deciding what to do, runs into an old friend who recognizes him. He decides not to return to Osternau.
XIX. THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN
Egon returns to Berlin to find Bertha engaged to Hugo. Egon's father, who is shocked to see him, offers to have the engagement cancelled. But when Bertha's father arrives, Egon feels himself trapped. He asserts his desire to not interfere with the marriage between Bertha and Hugo. Egon has decided to educate himself as an agriculturalist and then go to manage his own estate at Plagnitz. For the first time, he resists temptation.
XX. LINAU
Hugo and Bertha have been married about four years. They live at Linau (Linorov, in Polish) in West Prussia. They have no children, and since Hugo's father has died Hugo has inherited the estate. It is not modern or lavish, but comfortable in an old-fashioned, frugal way. Hugo doesn't want to update it or change it to suit Bertha's tastes, except he has built her a fine garden room that she has furnished in an opulent way. She spends most of her time there.
Clara, Hugo's teenage sister, lives with them not just because Hugo's father made him promise to look after her. The late Baron von Wangen could not divide an entailed estate, but created a mortgage and made Clara the mortgage-holder until such time as she marries. Despite Bertha's wishes, Clara cannot be sent away from Wangen or forced to marry.
Elise is visiting but is a frequent target of Bertha's wrath. Herr Storting has accepted work for Egon von Ernau at Plagnitz, but nobody has met von Ernau yet.
XXI. AN ACCIDENT
During a thunderstorm, a mysterious visitor is injured when he impulsively tries to cross a mountain pass. The man, with a significant head injury, is brought to Wangen and revealed to be Egon von Ernau. Elise, Hugo, and Bertha recognize him as "Pigglewitch" and the mystery is solved.
XXII. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE
Egon awakens, having dreamed that Elise was nursing him back to health. Hugo enters the room and concludes that Egon's four years of wandering had something to do with Bertha.
XXIII. MISCHIEF FOR IDLE HANDS
Egon has recovered enough to be presented to Bertha, who has decided to conceal the fact that Elise is at Linau. Elise's family has fallen on hard times, and Elise believes Bertha's insinuation that everyone thinks Elise is after Egon's money. Elise asks Hugo and the others to conceal her presence and to not tell Egon that she is there. Bertha follows it up by asserting to Hugo that Elise is a malicious person who is trying to entrap Egon, and that Hugo and Bertha owe it to Egon to protect him from Elise.
XXIV. PAST AND PRESENT
Egon has matured during his four-year education process and is no longer attracted to Bertha. He meets Clara, who is an outgoing girl of about fifteen and who in some ways reminds him of Elise. When Egon is taken in to see Bertha, he apologizes for his earlier deception at Osternau. He then heads for Plagnitz despite his injury.
XXV. AT HOME
Herr Storting greets Egon as "Pigglewitch", and recalls that the debt for which he had co-signed in Breslau had been paid in full after the tutor departed from Osternau. The two men chat, and Storting fills Egon in on everything that has happened to the von Osternaus.
On the 18th of November, a few months after Egon left Osternau, the castle burned down and Albrecht was obviously the arsonist. Storting was able to save the family, but the Baron died due to smoke inhalation. Before dying, he revealed to Storting that there had been another theft from his strong-box, and the fire was set to cover it. Storting tried to have Albrecht arrested but the nobleman was able to avoid prosecution.
The Lieutenant pretended to be so grievously insulted at being accused of arson that he would not return to Osternau. Five months later, young Fritz died of scarlet fever. This made Albrecht the new Baron of Osternau. He proposes marriage to Lieschen, who refuses despite her mother's entreaties. Albrecht offers Storting a great deal of money to work for him, but Storting refuses and quits. He accepts lower-paying work elsewhere.
In retaliation, Albrecht turns them both out. The farm still functions and generates income, but he makes no provision for Emma or Elise beyond the tiny stipend for Emma required by law. Since Emma has no assets of her own, and the stipend cannot support a noblewoman who must pay for her own lodging, Elise is forced to go to work. She does embroidery while studying for her governess examinations, which she passed brilliantly.
XXVI. A CONSPIRACY
Egon sends Storting with a bank draft for enough money to relieve Frau von Osternau's financial trouble. They make it appear to be repayment of a large loan made by the Baron to a businessman several years ago. He leaves immediately to find Emma.
XXVII. A MISCHIEVOUS COQUETTE
While Storting is gone, Egon passes the time inspecting his estate and playing the piano. He is visited by Hugo, Bertha, and Clara. Hugo and Clara go on a tour of the estate while Bertha talks with Egon, who is now mature enough to recognize her shallowness and falsehood. Clara, who contrives to leave her umbrella behind to talk to Egon, indicates that there's someone at Linau who would very much like to see him, but Egon thinks it's Bertha trying to flirt indirectly. He's not interested. But, to appease Clara, Egon promises to come before Sunday.
XXVIII. CLARA TO THE RESCUE
Elise is leaving on Sunday. Not only can she bear no more of Bertha's viciousness, but she has a job offer.
Clara begs Elise to stay and tells her that she is fully aware of Elise's fondness toward Egon von Ernau.
XXIX. CLARA DEA EX MACHINA
Egon receives Storting's letter describing his success: he has found Emma, the dowager Baroness is thrilled and relieved by what appears to be the repayment of a debt, and Lieschen is at Linau but will be leaving Sunday for a job in Hirschberg.
Egon immediately drives to Linau and is greeted by Clara, who arranges to put Egon in a place in the garden where he and Lieschen can meet. Before long Elise arrives and Egon engages in the most romantic possible apology. Each has been nourishing a secret love for the other for the past four years.
XXX. CONCLUSION
Hugo, who is a little bit jealous and nervous at Egon's reappearance and who thinks Bertha may be flirting with him, is on the way back to Wangen. He sees Egon's carriage and is convinced he is paying court to Bertha. But before he can burst in and ruin the scene, he hears Egon say "darling Lieschen" and realizes that he nearly made a horrible blunder. He backs away discreetly, returns to Bertha, and expresses his delight with how everything has turned out. Egon and Elise marry. Emma comes to stay at Plagnitz and is very happy. Hugo is happy in his marriage to Bertha, and there's a chance Bertha may yet improve.
