Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.

Chapter Five.  Elizabeth Goes Shopping.
   It was Saturday and Elizabeth had left Bettina playing at Katerina's
house whilst she went shopping in Frankfurt.  She had boarded the early
train, and had been in the city just in time to see the shopkeepers opening
up for business.  Elizabeth disliked the city.  Noise, dust, too many
horses.  And the smell!  Horse dung everywhere!  On the few occaisions she
had ventured into Frankfurt she had executed her business and left as
quickly as possible.  Today, however, she was just a little slower going
about her errands!  She had more money today than she had ever possessed!
Over the weeks she had simply put the money that Herr Poppel and Father
Jacob provided, in the draw of the little table in the corner of her living
room.  This, added to the money that the Baron had given her, she had
brought with her today.  The thought of all those Deutchmarks nestling in
her purse made her smile.  Having prostituted herself to get them, she felt
she had earned every one of them!  Yes.  She deserved them all!  Her smile
faded a little, and a guilty tension crept across her stomach.  Some of
those Deutchmarks had been given to her to buy her co-operation.  Given by
the Baron, to enable him to have the opportunity to seduce her little girl.
She was desperately hoping that Bettina would not let him have his way. 
She would, Elizabeth reasoned, probably reject his advances.  She was
fairly sure that Bettina knew nothing of sex.  She was also desperate to
find hope in the situation!  And the money....well, he was giving her money
not simply to bed Bettina, but only to have the opporrtunity to ask her to
sleep with him!  If Bettina refused, that was not her problem!  She had
already been paid!  If Bettina agreed, well, that was between her and the
Baron.
   Elizabeth put the problem out of her mind, and entered one of the big
department stores that towered above the Frankfurt streets.  She began her
search for the blue velvet dress that the Baron had insisted she buy for
her daughter.  It had been years since she had been shopping in the city,
and she had never been so well provided for!  A blue velvet dress....and
new shoes....black would go well with blue....and of course Bettina should
have new underwear too.  Up to the second floor and the Ladies Lingerie
Department.  She stared in amazement at the articles on display here.  Just
look at that!  How fashions changed!  The smile came back to her face.  Her
gentlemen would certainly approve of some of these!  To her surprise,
underwear for girls was also quite, well, brief, was the only description
that she could think of!  Bettina had started to develop as well, so there
was now quite a lot to think about!  But just look at these knickers! 
Outrageous!  She giggled to herself as she imagined Helmut or Father
Jacob's face as they saw her for the first time wearing these!  Pink silk,
tight and cut at an angle to expose the maximum amount of leg!  A whole
world away from the sober white linen drawers with their ribbon tie-ups!
   'The latest Parisienne offerings, Madam.' The sour looking woman behind
the counter informed her.  The look in her eye told Elizabeth that the
woman expected her to put the items down as she told her the price.  Her
bulging purse boosted her confidence.  'Such lovely things!  I'll take
them! Do you have them in red, and in white?' The surprised saleswoman
busied herself fulfilling the unexpected order.  'I'll take some for my
daughter too.  She'll love them!  And stockings.  Three pairs.  Silk.  I
assume you have matching brassierres?' 'Of course Madam!  Sizes?' And so it
went on for a full half hour.  When Elizabeth had finished, the pile of
parcels was far too big for her to carry!  As she stared at the packages,
the shop assistant, with no signs of sourness on her face now, asked,
'Would you prefer us to deliver, Madam?' Elizabeth looked at her.  She
continued in a lower, almost conspiritorial tone.  'A complimentary service
for our better clients, Madam.' 'Yes!  How convenient!  Thank You!'
   On the train back to Polheim, Elizabeth took stock of the situation. 
Although she had spent what she considered a huge amount on new clothing
for herself and Bettina, she still had an appreciable amount of money left
over.  Life had taken a very unexpected, and profitable turn, mused
Elizabeth.  The little steam engine wheezed and puffed it's way towards
Polheim.  In a second class carriage, Elizabeth's thoughts turned to
Monday. Seven o' clock on Monday evening to be precise, and another round
of rather profitable pleasure!  Life, it seemed to Elizabeth Schmidt, was
not so bad at all!
   
  
Elizabeth Goes Shopping