Lonely and sad Marianne was standing in the kitchen in the morning of her first work day when the landlord entered the room. He welcomed her in a very friendly way. Since he noticed that all things were still new and strange to her and that she felt lost, he showed her where to find everything and which appliances she had to use for her work. Politely Marianne thanked him and started her work with relief. She was not afraid of any work since she was used to working and found a lot of pleasure in it from childhood onwards already her father had taught her how to approach a task and how the work had to be organized to get it done.
Well, in this way she managed to get her work done on time. She closed the windows which she had opened while cleaning up and then the chairman of the parish council entered the office, gave her a pat on the back and said with a complacent voice: "Well, this way I like you, you black-haired little girl, you have done an excellent job. I did not expected you to do it that way at your age!"
"Well", said Marianne with a voice showing a mixture of relief, cheerfulness and gratitude, "work itself, getting it organized and handled correctly that was what my father taught me already when I was a child. He always used to tell us that whoever is able to work and knows how to handle it doesn't have to be ashamed. Work is no disgrace but is good for your health."
"Well", so the chairman of the parish council confirmed her words, "your father has done the very right thing since laziness results in lack of character ….."
Later on the landlady showed Marianne the rooms which had to be thoroughly cleaned during the next few days and Marianne had to listen very carefully to understand everything quite well. She did not want to do something the wrong way and the landlady always talked very quickly and imperiously. A couple of days later when all the three were together for having a coffee she said to Marianne: "You've done all quite well, my dear, yet I think that you should be a bit quicker as time goes by. You have also to keep in mind that there is the big garden, too, which requires some work. It has to be cleaned and looked after."
Besides the landlady did not want to make the coffee anymore in the morning but requested to be called as soon as the coffee was ready, since now she had a maid for doing this job. She could very well do without getting up so early already to make coffee for her husband.
The girl answered cheerfully: "Yes, my dear lady, this goes without saying, I am happy to take over this task." The landlord smiled at Marianne in a friendly way as if he wanted to say that she had given the right answer. As Marianne noticed this the cold look of the landlady could not harm her anymore. She organized her work in a way so that the landlady did not find anything to grumble about. When Marianne did not quite know how to manage certain things being quite new to her she asked the landlord for advice and help. Thus, some trust had build up by this helpful cooperation.
End of part II
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