The Child Manuela: Mädchen in Uniform book (new translation)

Chapter 6: XIX

"The child must be punished as an example."

Frau Headmistress' cane thuds on the floor. Frau Headmistress paces up and down. Fräulein von Bernburg is standing pale and composed at the table next to the lamp.

"This child is a pest! She infects the rest of us! This is going to be fashionable! The child endangers the house, the institution's reputation.

Fräulein von Bernburg does not flinch. "The reputation?" she repeats quietly, questioningly.

"Is more important than anything else."

"May I ask what Frau Headmistress has decided?"

"Decided. What should one decide . . . decide."

Fräulein von Bernburg waits. She stands before her superior in exemplary posture. She awaits her sentence— her one—because what is decided here will be decided about her.

"You, my dear. You are to blame for this. If you care to remember, I have already told you once. You are breeding an unhealthy enthusiasm at your own expense."

"Frau Headmistress . . ."

But Fräulein von Bernburg is not to have her say. "You should have nipped this infatuation in the bud. Everything has its limits. You can see where it leads." And as if she were talking to herself, "An unhealthy thing—decide?" She sits down and looks into the completely immobile face of the young woman opposite her.

"Well, above all, of course, to be away from you! Finish! Strike out! To end! Do you understand?"

"Yes." The answer comes like a breath.

"And then away from the other children too! Isolate her! Lock her up! Don't let the others go crazy too! I'd love to write to her father and tell him to take her away. But how am I supposed to explain such a conspicuous move by the Princess? That is the difficulty. The matter must be hushed up. The servants talk far too much. But how am I supposed to explain such a remarkable step to the Princess? That is the difficulty. The matter must be hushed up. The servants talk far too much."

"Servants!" says Fräulein von Bernburg, and her tone is bitter against her will.

"Yes, that's where the greatest inconvenience arises. Gossip. Rumours. So let's get down to business: Manuela will be isolated!"

"But what if, Frau Headmistress—I ask you to consider— what if the child suffers a nervous breakdown? The child is overly nervous, she is sensitive, she . . ."

Fräulein von Bernburg clasped her slender hands tightly.

"That's none of my business! Nervous breakdown—what kind of term is this? It didn't exist when I was a child. Fräulein von Bernburg, we have soldiers' children to educate here."

"I fear for Manuela, Frau Headmistress. She is weak. She will take separation from me and the children to heart."

"That will be the punishment! Fräulein von Bernburg, I expect obedience from you."

"I know that I have to obey. But, Frau Headmistress, I beg you to let me slowly bring the child back from her excitement."

"Slowly? Excitement? Do you know what this is really about? Manuela is abnormally predisposed." Frau Headmistress takes a step towards Fräulein von Bernburg. "And do you know what the World thinks of women like that—our world, Fräulein von Bernburg?"

Fräulein von Bernburg does not avoid the gaze. Her mouth is closed tightly. She looks the old woman firmly in the face.

"I know it, Frau Headmistress."

And then quieter, as if she was only talking to herself,

"Manuela is not a bad child. But I want her to become a free, independent person, and that's why I want to detach her from me."

"Well, if only you understand this. I don't think we have anything more to say to each other today."

Fräulein von Bernburg is still standing, as if she hadn't heard that she has been dismissed; only because of silence, she realises that Frau Headmistress is waiting.

As if she were still thinking about something, she walks slowly to the door.

"Good night, Frau Headmistress."

"Good Night, Fräulein von Bernburg."

But in the doorway, she is once again overcome by fear, a terrible fear.

"Matron, if Manuela . . . If she can't bear it . . . I mean, if the child falls ill . . ."

"Then we send her home because of illness."

And as if this were the final solution, Frau Headmistress puts her stick on the table to show that she wants to be alone now.