CHAPTER XII

asfun,butover-crowded,fortherestofPomeraniahadgonetheretoo.Helenlovedthecountry,andherletterglowedwithphysicalexerciseandpoetry.Shespokeofthescenery,quiet,yetaugustofthesnow-cladfields,withtheirscamperingherdsofdeeroftheriveranditsquaintentranceintotheBalticSeaoftheOderberge,onlythreehundredfeethigh,fromwhichoneslidalltooquicklybackintothePomeranianplains,andyettheseOderbergewererealmountains,withpine-forests,streams,andviewscomplete.“Itisn’tsizethatcountssomuchasthewaythingsarearranged.”InanotherparagraphshereferredtoMrs.Wilcoxsympathetically,butthenewshadnotbittenintoher.Shehadnotrealisedtheaccessoriesofdeath,whichareinasensemorememorablethandeathitself.Theatmosphereofprecautionsandrecriminations,andinthemidstahumanbodygrowingmorevividbecauseitwasinpaintheendofthatbodyinHiltonchurchyardthesurvivalofsomethingthatsuggestedhope,vividinitsturnagainstlife’sworkadaycheerfulness—allthesewerelosttoHelen,whoonlyfeltthatapleasantladycouldnowbepleasantnolonger.ShereturnedtoWickhamPlacefullofherownaffairs—shehadhadanotherproposal—andMargaret,afteramoment’shesitation,wascontentthatthisshouldbeso. Theproposalhadnotbeenaseriousmatter.ItwastheworkofFrauleinMosebach,whohadconceivedthelargeandpatrioticnotionofwinningbackhercousinstotheFatherlandbymatrimony.EnglandhadplayedPaulWilcox,andlostGermanyplayedHerrForstmeistersomeone—Helencouldnotrememberhisname.HerrForstmeisterlivedinawood,and,standingonthesummitoftheOderberge,hehadpointedouthishousetoHelen,orrather,hadpointedoutthewedgeofpinesinwhichitlay.Shehadexclaimed,“Oh,howlovely!That’stheplaceforme!”andintheeveningFriedaappearedinherbedroom.“Ihaveamessage,dearHelen,”etc.,andsoshehad,buthadbeenverynicewhenHelenlaughedquiteunderstood—aforesttoosolitaryanddamp—quiteagreed,butHerrFor