He stood in high repute in the county, which was proved by his election to be the president of the Society for the Cultivation of Moors and Marshes, a society founded by his followers and admirers, and which counted among its members some of the most important landowners of the whole of Northern Germany.
These circumstances could not fail to react on Paul's character.

He no longer tried to look as much as possible like a smart officer, but rather like a country gentleman of ancient lineage.

The thick fair mustache had abandoned its enterprising upward curl, and now hung down straight and long.

The model parting of the hair was in any case out of the question, a distinguished baldness having taken the place of the old luxuriance, and his figure had fulfilled all the promises of his youth.

In his dress Paul still cultivated extreme elegance, only that it partook more of the bucolic now in style than of the drawing-room as in former days.